Let's Feature Talent in Mathews

Do you have a love for photography? Have you taken picturesque photos of our beautiful county? Please reach out to our Building Official's office if interested in having your work displayed in the newly restored County Administration building located at 50 Brickbat Road.

New RAVE Mobile Emergency Alert System

As of October 31, 2020, Mathews County retired CodeRED and upgraded to Rave Mobile's "SMART911" Emergency Alerts System. 

We recommend that all Mathews County citizens (including those previously enrolled in the CodeRED program with a cellphone and/or email) sign up  as soon as possible in order to receive emergency warnings directly to your home phone, cell phone, and/or email. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes, stay safe in Mathews with our SMART911 system!

Join a Book Club! 

Looking for a new hobby? Why not give one of Mathews' local book clubs a try?  The Mathews Memorial Library hosts several book clubs each month including: 

• Read With Mathews Women
• Mathews Men Read
• Bestsellers Book Club

Interested in participating? Check out the Library's calendar of events here to stay up to date, and click on the corresponding links above to learn more about each book club, their current reads, and upcoming events! 

"WiFi To Go" is Now Available

The Mathews Memorial Library's "WiFi To Go" is still in full swing!

"WiFi To Go" is a new service that to provides high speed internet access to library patrons anytime, anywhere. "WiFi To Go" is a kit that library patrons age 18 or older can check out for up to 3 weeks with renewals possible.

The kits are available for immediate circulation as long as they are available or can be reserved for checkout. The kit includes a Verizon MiFi hotspot and external omnidirectional antenna along with a MiFi Quick Start Guide. Unlimited internet data service is provided by Verizon Wireless.

A WiFi hotspot is a device that you can use to connect a wireless-enabled laptop, smartphone, or tablet to the internet. The hotspot is portable and allows you to stay connected wherever you are, provided there is adequate cellular phone data coverage. To enhance coverage in dead zones, the hotspot can be connected to the external antenna included with the kit. Up to 5 devices may connect simultaneously.

Do you have questions about the new "WiFi To Go" program? Contact the Mathews Memorial Library here. 

New Point Comfort Lighthouse Restoration Updates

• Substantial progress on the Masonry Wall for the Lantern Room and completion of the metal restoration on the door from the Lantern Room to the Gallery Deck.

• The metal restoration is complete on the Cupola Top, the Gallery Deck Railing, and the Lantern Pedestal; the Cupola Top has been primed while the railing and pedestal have been repainted. 

Here's what's happening next: 
• Finishing the Masonry Wall for the Lantern Room
• The re-installation of the Cupola Top, the Lantern, and Pedestal
• Conducting Dutchman repairs on the eroded sandstone blocks 
• Repointing down the structure of the NPCL

Check out a few photos below to see the progress in action! Interested in learning more? Contact the Planning, Zoning, and Wetlands department here.

The Broadband Advisory Board
Invites You to "Connect Here"!

Eight Smart Data poles located strategically throughout Mathews County and paid for by the Virginia's CARES Fund, have been erected to help YOU get connected!

Access to the new Smart Data poles is simple and free to the public with no password required. Just follow these instructions:

Each Smart Data pole is equipped with Cradle Point routers and solar lighting for safety and identification at night. Smart Data Pole users may expect download speeds of 25 mbps and upload speeds of 3 mbps and up. 

Looking for a Smart Data pole near you? Check out the map of Mathews County below for specific locations to obtain free WiFi!

Public Hearing: Scale Solar Facilities

At their April 21st, 2021 regular meeting, the Mathews County Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding a potential amendment to the Comprehensive Plan regarding utility scale solar facilities.  Staff and the Commission had been researching this topic for much of the past year.  Staff prepared two draft statements, one which was supportive of such facilities and one that was not.  At the conclusion of the hearing, the Commission voted 4-1 to recommend that the non-supportive statement be included in the Comprehensive Plan.  That statement reads as follows:

Mathews County faces numerous development constraints due to environmental factors, including poorly drained soils, floodplains, wetlands, and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act buffer areas. To minimize the impact on the environment, solar facilities should not be located in any of the aforementioned areas. Furthermore, the prevalence of these areas across the County means that developable land is in short supply. Given the large area requirements of utility-scale solar facilities, these facilities should not be located in Mathews County so that developable land is preserved for residential, commercial, or agricultural uses as identified elsewhere in this plan.

This recommendation was presented to the Board of Supervisors at their May Regular Meeting on 05/24/2021 and was approved for a subsequent public hearing for formal adoption into the Comprehensive Plan.  The Comprehensive Plan is a guidance document; the language is not binding law or regulation. Ultimate regulatory authority for approving or denying any specific application for a solar facility rests with the Board of Supervisors.

The public hearing regarding the Scale Solar Facilities will take place at the Board of Supervisors June Regular Meeting on June 22 at 6PM in the Harry M. Ward Auditorium.

We're Hiring! 

The Clerk of the Circuit Court office is currently seeking applicants to fill its vacant full-time "General Office Clerk" position. 

Are you interested in submitting an application? Click here for the full job description and further instructions.

DMV Select Information

During these uncertain times, there have been a number of questions brought up about the Mathews County DMV Select office located in the Treasurer's office at 10644 Buckley Hall Road, Mathews, VA 23109. 

As of September 28, 2020, the Mathews County Treasurer's office began implementing appointments for all vehicle and trailer title transactions, including substitute or replacement titles. Citizens may schedule an appointment here. 

The Treasurer's/ DMV Select office is still allowing walk-ins for the following transactions: registration renewals, reissue of lost or stolen decals, reissue of plates, overload permits, handicap placard or handicap plates, driving transcript or compliance summary, address change, or surrendering plates. As a reminder, Driver's Licenses and/or IDs are not issued at this DMV Select location.

The Mathews County Treasurer's/ DMV Select office is open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. For further information, please call 804-725-2341 and/or click  here.

Are You Interested in Becoming a Local Office Candidate? 

Citizens interested in becoming a local candidate in the November 2, 2021 election should review the Department of Elections website for up to date instructions, ballot access requirements, and deadlines. 

Potential candidates are also welcome to pick up informational packets at the Voter Registrar's Office located at 10604 Buckley Hall Rd, Mathews, VA 23109. Office hours are from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Monday to Friday; citizens may also contact the office over the phone at 804-725-3200.

Clean up Mathews! 

The Mathews Visitor Center (MCVIC) holds several annual Community Cleanups each year to keep our wonderful county beautiful. Residents are encouraged to sign up and participate in picking up trash along the roadways in Mathews. 

The first Community Cleanup was held this April during Earth month, were you able to attend? Mark your calendars and register here because MCVIC is prepared to hold another cleanup on November 13th, 2021 at 8AM (Rain date: November 20th). 

MCVIC has also launched a new tracking mapping tool for citizens and cleanup groups to log their on-going cleanup efforts in Mathews County! The goal of this map is so that citizens, Adopt-a-highway participants (AAH) and cleanup coordinators can track on-going cleanups in Mathews, and target areas that have not been focused on.

We hope that when residents can see the data visually, they will see that small individual efforts do collectively make a huge difference. Please help us make this a powerful platform for our community by submitting your cleanup to the survey to: visitmathews.com/cleanup

Mathews Farmers Market

Mathews Farmers Market is now back in business! Every Saturday between the months of April - October, the Mathews Farmers Market runs from 9AM - 1PM and offers amazing local options for citizens.

On the third Saturday of the month from April - August, catch the Farmers Market in tandem with the new "Markets on Main".

Gwynn's Island Race - June 26! 

Now in its sixth year, this race, hosted by the Mathews Outdoors Club, typically coincides with the annual Gwynn’s Island Festival always on the 4th weekend of June. The 2021 race includes options for runners & cyclists: a 4 mile run, a 10 mile bike, or combine them for a Duathlon. Hang around after the race to enjoy the festival at one of Virginia’s most unique locations, Gwynn’s Island. Proceeds from this event will be donated to local school athletes.

Interested in participating? Registration lasts until June 18th, click here for more details about how to get involved. 

Spotlight on the
Director of Social Services! 

Director of Mathews Department of Social Services, Tiffany Gordon, talks about her position and the vital role her office plays in Mathews County with Caroline Oxley, Communications Manager, for Mathews.  

Mrs. Gordon, what is your position and how long have you been affiliated with Mathews County?

"For the past five years, I have had the pleasure of being the Director of [the] Mathews Department of Social Services."

What exactly are the functions of your office?

"We assist citizens in meeting their basic needs and we protect those who are most vulnerable."

Could you speak about the vital programs your office offers Mathews County? What programs are utilized the most in Mathews?

"Our agency determines eligibility for benefit programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Care, and Energy Assistance (Fuel, Cooling, and Crisis).

Additionally[,] we provide Adult Protective Services to those age 60 and older or those who are over the age of 18 and disabled. [We also offer] adult services, child protective services, prevention services, foster care services, and we conduct court ordered home studies.

We [also] coordinate community programs that are not funded or offered by the state such as: Back to School supplies, Fresh Start (back to school clothing), Thanksgiving Baskets, and the Christmas Store.

Our agency collaborates with Hands Across Mathews to assist citizens with their needs and home repairs. We [are able to offer] grant funding to assist with transportation or minor car repairs, childcare, prescription medication, rental or mortgage payments, assistance with power bills, and [...] grandparents raising grandchildren or other relatives, which can assist with a variety of needs.

The most utilized programs in [Mathews] County are SNAP and Medicaid."  

Could you speak about your support staff and their valuable roles? 

"We have a team of 17 individuals including myself [in the Department of Social Services]. Our Administrative Support staff of four operate everything from the front desk, agency finances, and multiple community programs. Not to mention the invaluable administrative support they offer to [the rest] of staff.

Our Benefit Team [includes seven individuals, who] last year completed actions on 984 SNAP cases, 61 TANF cases, 1,926 Medicaid cases, 16 child care assistance cases, 143 fuel cases, 83 cooling cases, and 22 crisis cases. There were 2,041 residents in Mathews who received benefits in SFY 2020.

[Additionally,] the Services Team [which includes five individuals,] provided Adult Protective Services to 41 individuals, Child Protective Services to 141 children [and offered] Foster Care, Adoption, and Prevention services as well as conducted court ordered home studies [in 2020]." 

Could you speak about a particularly proud moment you've had while working with Mathews County Social Services?

"Every day, I have the opportunity to work with the most amazing team of selfless individuals who enjoy serving the citizens of Mathews County. When we are faced with a crisis or problem, this team comes together to help each other like no other team I have ever worked with or witnessed.

I am particularly proud [that] our agency pass[ed] our Title IV-E Review, and last year, we had a case that was submitted to the Federal Title IV-E Review that [also] passed.

Additionally, while we have not received the state reports [at this time], we have been verbally told [that] we had a case pass the Virginia Child and Family Services Review with a perfect score [and that] we had no errors on our Management Evaluation Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Review. These reviews are extremely hard to pass[,] not to mention [that we were without errors]. And[,] we did [this] during a pandemic [while] facing telework challenges. This team ROCKS!"

What do you enjoy most about your role?