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INSIDE ▼ Property taxes and road funding concern lawmakers
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PAGE 2A Friday, March 27, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 12
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Mint Hill Montessori school sees opportunity to grow by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MINT HILL – Jasmine and Akeem Williams didn’t intend on opening a school when they started homeschooling their four children. But after moving from Ballantyne to Mint Hill five years ago, they saw a need for more options.
“We felt like what we were doing with our own children was a blessing,” Jasmine said. “We wanted that for more people.” They bought a house across the street from Sunflower Cafe in 2023 and spent more than
18 months bringing it to commercial code. Akeem remembers the home having layers of wallpaper and flooring inside. “It's one of those things where if someone told us what we would have to do in order to make this happen, I'm not sure if we would have made the journey and the jump,” Akeem said. “But looking back at it now, we can look at it as a labor of love.” Creation Acres Montessori now serves about 35 full-time students ages 3 to 15, as well as offering classes to another 40 homeschooled students. The “Christ-centered Story continues, see GROW page 3A
The shaded part of this map shows the 19.9 acres at 6300 Allen Black Road that could become the future campus of Creation Acres Montessori. Photo courtesy of Town of Mint Hill
Business award highlights DeBoer’s impact on community
CMS legends joining NCHSAA Hall of Fame CHAPEL HILL – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools legends Zoe Bell and Vicki Hamilton will be inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Surrounded by colleagues and loved ones, Tammy DeBoer was honored for her transformative influence as a community-centered leader and the strategic vision required to lead a $10 billion regional enterprise. Photo courtesy of Queens University Charlotte
CHARLOTTE – When asked 15 years ago what her dream job would be, Tammy DeBoer’s answer was instant: “I want to lead Harris Teeter.” Today, she is doing exactly that.
Her journey is a reminder of the heights a leader can reach when their path is paved with clear intention. “Intentionality isn't wishful thinking,” DeBoer said. “It is the discipline of knowing your destination so clearly that your daily choices begin to align with it.”
DeBoer highlighted the experiences that shaped her professional journey during a luncheon March 13 to honor her winning the 2025 Queens University Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year. From candy striper to the C-suite, DeBoer’s journey is defined by a willingness to learn and grow at every level. She spoke candidly about her start as a Food Lion cashier, her work on a furniture factory assembly line, and the challenges of her early days as a buyer. That role, in particular, forced her to find her voice. She stepped outside
her comfort zone to negotiate with the "aggressive" edge needed to succeed in the competitive grocery industry. DeBoer concluded her remarks with a challenge to the audience, urging them to lead with the same intentionality that defined her own career. "I encourage you to define your journey, your way," she said. "Declare it boldly, say it out loud. Believe it is possible and then go make it so." Story continues, see BUSINESS page 3A
Matthews Summerfest returns to Stumptown Park in May MATTHEWS – Matthews Summerfest returns in May with a two-day entertainment lineup.
The annual festival, formerly known as BeachFest, will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 8, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 9, in Stumptown Park. Admission is free. Families can enjoy carnival rides, interactive games, shopping, street food, commercial exhibits and several genres of music on the main stage. Scheduled to perform during the two-day event are Hard 2 Handle (Black Crowes tribute), Jim Quick & Coastline (beach), Save Tonight
(1990s and 2000s), Remington Cartee (country), Motown Revue and Rock the 90s. The carnival portion of Summerfest will open early at 4 p.m. May 8, allowing guests to enjoy the rides before the main event begins. Wristbands and tickets will be available for purchase. Seaboard, Southern Range and Edge City breweries are returning in 2026, offering craft beer for purchase for festival-goers 21 and older. Beer patrons can enjoy their drinks within the designated festival area, which includes Stumptown Park and the closed portion of South Trade Street. Novant Health Matthews Medical Center
serves as the presenting sponsor of the festival. Commercial exhibitor spaces are still available for local businesses interested in showcasing their services and connecting with potential customers. 10-by-10 spaces cost $1,000 for the two days. Larger spaces are available. Email lamoore@matthewsnc.gov for an application. Trade Street will close between John Street and McDowell Street starting at 9 a.m. May 8 to accommodate pedestrians and vendors. The closure will expand to Main Street at 4:30 p.m. and remain in effect until the festival concludes. On the web: matthewsnc.gov/specialevents
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This year’s class includes eight people who made significant contributions to high school athletics through leadership, service and achievement. Bell made her mark coaching volleyball at Providence and Ardrey Kell high schools. She compiled an overall record of 853-229, winning five state championships and 16 conference titles while also coaching softball at Providence. Bell is the founder and president of the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association and was named the 2018 American Volleyball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. Hamilton served as the first female director of athletics for CMS from 1994 to 2011, where she championed expanded opportunities for student-athletes and strengthened Title IX compliance. Hamilton also implemented policies requiring student-athletes to maintain strong academic performance while promoting fair opportunities for women in coaching and administration. Others in the 2026 class include Michael Baker (Fairmont), Patty Evers (Elizabethtown), Greg Frey (Woodstock, GA), Beecher “B.W.” Holt (Bristol, Tennessee), Leonardo “Leo” Lockhart (Kinston) and Bobby Reynolds (Cherryville). Honorees represent decades of service as coaches, administrators, officials and advocates for student-athletes. Their achievements include state championships, national coaching honors, pioneering leadership in school systems, and lifelong commitments to mentorship, sportsmanship and community service. The NCHSAA will host a private reception for the new inductees on April 21 at the NCHSAA office. The Class of 2026 will be formally inducted during a ceremony on Aug. 15 at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro.