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INSIDE ▼ Meck voters approve 1-cent sales tax hike 3B SEE MORE ON PAGE 2B
PAGE 2A Friday, November 14, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 46
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Supergroups elevate Union County candidates by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
Marvin United
MONROE – Candidates with shared interests in Waxhaw, Weddington and Marvin joined forces during campaigning to win seats in the Nov. 4 municipal elections.
The Waxhaw Wall, The Weddington Wall and Marvin United promoted themselves as candidates wanting to preserve the smalltown character of their communities.
The community experiencing the most change following the election is Marvin. The village elected a new mayor in Joseph Barbara and three new council members in Tom Eck, Angel Martin and Fred Ilarraza. The four candidates campaigned together as Marvin United. They seek to keep taxes low, maintain zoning ordinances, review land-use plans and incorporate DOGE spending into the village philosophy. The group received endorsements from
another political supergroup – the Union County Wall, which consists of county commissioners Melissa Merrell and Brian Helms. Commissioner Christina Helms supported them, too. Barbara was the only challenger to defeat a sitting mayor in this election, earning 1,044 votes, or 70.11%, against Joe Pollino. Eck, Martin and Ilarraza each captured between 22.24% and 23.36% of the vote in a seven-person race that included incumbents Wayne Deatherage and Andrew Wortman.
Deatherage finished fifth. Wortman came in sixth. One clear distinction Marvin United shared with voters was that all four of its members voted against the parks and recreation bonds and transportation bonds proposals that did not pass during the March 2024 election. The parks and recreation referendum failed with 81.33% of the vote. The transportation referendum was opposed by 78.15%. Story continues, see UNION page 3A
Common Heart, Red Cross to benefit from vending machine
Community leaders and volunteers celebrate the official opening of the Light the World Giving Machine in Charlotte during the 2024 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Giving Machine returns this year in a new location. Visit Carolina Place Mall from Nov. 19 to Dec. 7.
Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
PINEVILLE – The Light the World Giving Machine is returning to the Charlotte area with a new home at Carolina Place Mall.
Visitors can “purchase” meaningful items that provide relief, education and hope for people in need, both locally and globally, from Nov. 19 to Dec. 7. Offerings range from simple necessities, such as laundry detergent for a neighbor in need, to empowering resources like a goat for a family across the world. Donation amounts vary from $5 to $180, inviting individuals, families and community groups of all sizes to participate. “Each year, we’re amazed at how Charlotte shows up to give,” said Kristen Anderson, regional communication director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Every card purchased represents a real act
of kindness, whether it’s diapers for a new mother, groceries for senior citizens, school supplies for underserved students, or home heating for a struggling family. It is generosity made tangible, accessible and truly joyful.” This year’s Giving Machine includes the following charities: • Ada Jenkins Center: Strengthening families in northern Mecklenburg County with integrated services in health, education, and economic mobility. • Classroom Central: Equipping local teachers and students in need with free school supplies to foster learning and success. • Common Heart: Fighting local hunger through food pantries, grocery deliveries and empowerment programs in Union and surrounding counties. • MiraVia: Providing life-affirming support
The Lynes family displays donation item cards representing real gifts, such as hot meals, children’s antibiotics, a handwashing station and a teddy bear for a child in the hospital, that can be purchased at the Light the World Giving Machine. One hundred percent of each donation goes directly to participating charities.
for pregnant women and new mothers, including housing for student-moms pursuing education. • American Red Cross: Delivering disaster response, preparedness, blood services and humanitarian aid. • Church World Service: Supporting refugees and communities worldwide with emergency relief and resilience-building programs. “We are so excited to be part of the Giving Machine,” said Karen Calder, executive director of Classroom Central. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to really rally around our students and teachers. It may sound simple. It’s a backpack or it’s a notebook. But really, it’s that extra something that says to a child: We see you. We believe in you. You can be successful in life.” The Light the World Giving Machine is a
reimagined “vending machine for good.” Instead of dispensing soda and snacks, visitors purchase much-needed items requested by charities. Donors simply select an item card, such as “baby pajamas” or “winter coat”, make their payment, and watch as the card drops into a collection bin to represent their donation. A digital receipt confirms the purchase and the charity receives 100% of the donation to provide that specific kind of help, with all operational costs covered by the initiative’s sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Giving Machine at Carolina Place Mall will be available during mall hours Nov. 19 to Dec. 7 on the first floor on the corner between Belk and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The mall is at 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy.
Plumped opening a med spa in Waxhaw Police identify victims CHARLOTTE – Plumped, a Charlotte med spa, will open a second location in Waxhaw in early 2026.
Founded by advanced aesthetic injector Kristin Cabeda, Plumped first opened in 2020 in a salon loft on Stonewall Street before moving to its current 1,780-squarefoot West Morehead Street location in May 2022. The new, 2,480-square-foot Waxhaw location will open on West North Main Street to give clients in Union County and South Carolina a more convenient option. The space, which currently houses a hair salon, will be reimagined and designed by Amber Cagle of Black Dove Interior Design. “Opening a second location is such a proud moment for me. From the very beginning, my goal with Plumped has been to raise the standard of aesthetic care, delivering next-level treatments and results that make our patients feel confident,”
Cabeda said. “Expanding into Union County and South Carolina means more people can experience the innovation and outcomes we’re known for without ever compromising on quality.” Plumped specializes in non-surgical cosmetic treatments, including injectables and corrections, facials, chemical peels, microneedling, radiofrequency treatments, acne solutions and laser therapy. In addition to a larger footprint, the Waxhaw location will include added benefits and new services. In October, Plumped became the first med spa in the Carolinas to offer advanced laser treatments using the new HALO TRIBRID Laser by Sciton. The triple-wavelength resurfacing laser uses three types of laser energy in one device to target uneven skin tone including sun damage, dark spots, discoloration, rough texture and fine lines while boosting natural collagen.
The Charlotte location also added the BBL HEROic by Sciton for therapy that specifically addresses the appearance of aging, including age spots, freckles, redness and sun damage. Cabeda and her team provide skin and body treatments to help women and men maintain and restore their youthful appearance. Prior to opening Plumped, Cabeda was the lead injector at Urban Skin Med Spa and worked as a physician assistant. She has previously worked in cardiology and critical care medicine at Atrium Health. “We’re excited to be leasing this property to Plumped to support a thriving, women-led business that’s bringing a vital new service to the Waxhaw community,” said Brooks Whiteside, president of Whiteside Properties. “The space has great potential, and we’re confident that Kristin and her team will turn it into something truly special for their growing client base.”
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in double homicide MONROE – The Monroe Police Department has identified the two victims in a double homicide reported Nov. 7.
The victims have been identi- Adam Latif fied as Matthew Charles Moody, Mercado 52, and James Curtis Wallace, 49. Both men were found dead inside an apartment in the 2600 block of Nelda Drive. Officers with the Monroe Police Department responded to Moody’s apartment around midnight Nov. 7 to assist Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives with a welfare check. Officers discovered both victims deceased inside the residence. Detectives worked through the night to follow up on leads. Adam Latif Mercado, 34, of Monroe, has been taken into custody. Police said Mercado will be charged in connection with the murders of Moody and Wallace. Officials are encouraging anyone with information related to the incident to call the Monroe Police Department at 704-282-4700 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600.