Matthews-Mint Hill - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

1421-C Orchard Lake DriveCharlotte, NC 28270Phone: 704-849-2261 • Fax: 704-849-2504www.matthewsminthillweekly.comNewsManaging EditorFrank DeLoacheEditorKara LoppSports EditorC. Jemal HortonAssistant Sports EditorAaron GarciaSports WritersChris HuntDenny SeitzBook Club EditorAlison WooStaff WritersAndrew BattenJosh LanierContributing WritersRyan HillErica OglesbyTim RossLayout DirectorMichael KerrProduction ManagerDebbie ArcherMatthews-Mint Hill Weekly is publishedby the Carolina Weekly Newspaper Group,1421-C Orchard Lake Drive, Charlotte, NC28270. All rights reserved. Reproductionwithout permission is strictly prohibited.Advertising:adsales@carolinaweeklynewspapers.comCEOAlain LillieADVERTISINGAccount ExecutivesCathy KowalskiFranchesca LamkinSuzanne WaltersGRAPHICSGraphics DirectorSteve PiggGraphics ArtistJulie AustinAd Coordinator/Classified and Service DirectoryVictoria VizardDISTRIBUTIONManagerGary BonenoAssistant ManagerHarry ParlierFin d us on Fa c e b o o kMichael Porowski/MMHW photoNewsBriefsMatthews sewerspill reachesMcAlpine CreekA broken pipe near 618 W. CharlesSt. in Matthews Aug. 17 caused an estimated2,250 gallons of wastewater toflow into McAlpine Creek, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities spokesman CamColey said.Workers responded to the spill withinsix minutes and fixed the pipe, Coleysaid. No dead fish have been found inMcAlpine Creek as a result of the spill,he said. CMUD Rapid Response Teamsand other crews maintain 4,047 milesof wastewater pipes regionwide.If you see or suspect a sewer spill, call311 (or 704-336-7600). The phone lineis answered 24 hours per day. qVandals strikeIndependenceCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsmaintenance workers used solvents andpressure washers Aug. 18 at IndependenceHigh School to rid the grounds ofspray-painted graffiti.CMS maintenance workers used pressurewashers Aug. 18 to erase graffiti that coveredIndependence High School. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating.Vandals hit the school overnightAug. 17, tagging building walls, columns,sidewalks and mobile classrooms.Charlotte-Mecklenburg Policeare investigating and the case will behanded over to the department’s gangunit because most of the spray-paintedmessages appeared gang-related, saidCMPD spokeswoman Officer RosalynHarrison. The school does have surveillancecameras, she said. qWillow Grove tohonor area veteransAs part of its Freedom Days promotion,Mint Hill’s Willow Grove retirementcommunity, 10043 Idlewild Road,will host a free event from noon-4 p.m.Aug. 21 to honor local veterans. HighSchool JROTC cadets will perform, acomplimentary lunch will be served inaddition to a guest speaker. Afterwarda dunking booth and other activitiesincluding performances from a localchoir and magician will be held.Through Sept. 30, seniors who tourWillow Grove will receive a Freedom Daysscratch card for the chance to instantlywin up to five years of free rent.For more information, call 704-545-0009. qChristian conferencecomes to MatthewsMatthews’ Christ Covenant Church,800 Fullwood Lane, will present itsfirst Christian Heritage Conference,Aug. 20-23.The free conference begins at 7 p.m.Friday, Aug. 20 with speaker Harry Reeder,who was the church’s senior pastor fornearly 20 years. Other activities includea men’s breakfast Saturday, panel discussion,picnic and more. All are welcome.For more information, visit www.christcovenant.org or call 704-847-3505. qMatthews Chamber welcomes PantherMore than 150 people attendedthe Matthews Chamberof Commerce’s monthlyluncheon Aug. 11 featuringguest speaker Danny Morrison,president of the CarolinaPanthers, who spokeabout the football team’supcoming season, trainingcamp and the franchise’s rolein the NFL before answeringquestions from the audience.Here Morrison poses withChamber President JenneferGarrity.Photo courtesy of MatthewsChamber of CommerceC CornerulinaryGadoGadorevamps menu,plans wine tastingDowntown Matthews’ GadoGadorestaurant has a new, simpler menuwith several fresh offerings.The restaurant at 157 North TradeSt. launched the change this week,which includes the addition of aroasted turkey club sandwich, $8.50; avegetarian entree, $11; and four varietiesof Flatbread Pizzettas, $9 each.“I enjoy being in Matthews,” ownerGeorge Poriotas said, noting the restaurantplans a September dinnerspecial. “I think the public has beenvery supportive and I’m looking forwardto staying in town. DowntownMatthews is like a little jewel.”GadoGado also announced a winetasting from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 26. For$15, participants will taste five winesfrom Beaucanon Estate, California.Editor’s Note: Matthews-Mint HillWeekly staffers were among the first to trythe new Flatbread Pizzettas during theirdebut this week. In one word, the initialreaction was “delicious!” Though weenjoyed the variety of each of the Pizzettas,the veggie – piled high with squash,zucchini, tomato, portobello and a lightbasil pesto – was the clear favorite. Therewere comments too about the bread itself,high quality and crispy. And this dish isn’twimpy on size – one Pizzetta can easilyfeed two or be split into two meals. Theslices are filling but yet “not overwhelming,”as one staffer noted. But be warned,as another staffer said, the pizzettas are“dangerously addictive.” qHave culinary news? E-mail kara@matthewsminthillweekly.com.Attention ladies: It’sGirls Night Out!Girls Night Out is coming to two localBelk stores Sept. 22 from 5 to 8:30 p.m.Guests will enjoy free food and beveragesprovided by Best ImpressionsCatering while browsing the latest fallfashions. Guests also can register to wingiveaways while getting 20 percent offpurchases on women’s contemporaryapparel and accessories. Mark your calendarfor a Girls Night Out hosted byBelk at SouthPark Mall, 4400 SharonRoad, or Carolina Place Mall, 11025Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville. q(see News Briefs on page 11)Page 6 • Aug. 20-26, 2010 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weeklywww.matthewsminthillweekly.com