DavidsonNews.net

Beginning today, “Around Davidson” becomes a regular Thursday feature on DavidsonNews.net.

My thanks to David Boraks and DavidsonNews.net for the seamless transition from print to online news. Keeping the tradition of the “Around Davidson” column is important to me because in some small way, it tries to keep us connected in today’s hurried and harried world. In great part, the news included in “Around Davidson” is from people I know or have been introduced to by an interested reader. Often times I have commented that in this growing community we call home, the column might at best cover 5 percent of residents, whereas years ago the originator of this column, Elizabeth Woods, covered 90+ percent.

Please feel free to offer me tips on news stories or submit your own. I will check them out with camera in hand. There is more going on in our quaint little village than this website can cover, but I will endeavor to keep you informed as best I can. And, of course, if you entertain I will gladly use an “Elizabeth-ism” and close your entry with “delicious refreshments were enjoyed by all!”

SOCIAL NEWS

Back from Iraq
Happy smiles for all the Maiers as they greeted Evan Maier at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport on Dec. 23. Evan, son of Bob and Catherine Maier, recently completed a nine-month tour patrolling in Diyala Province, Iraq. He is now stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, with his battalion. His wife, Bethany, is delighted to have him home. Following Christmas in Davidson with his parents, wife, aunt Pam Maier and brother, Philip, Evan and Bethany flew to Marrakesh, Morocco, for a second honeymoon. At the end of his 30 day leave, Evan and Bethany will return to Ft. Hood until further assignment.
(Photo: l-r) Happy to have Evan Maier home from Iraq are family members: (l-r) wife Bethany, aunt Pam Maier, mother Catherine Maier, Evan and brother, Philip.

60th Birthday
We all know news travels fast in Davidson and newcomer Bill Cockrill has found that out. Although Bill graduated from Davidson College, he only recently returned to Davidson when he accepted the Interim Senior Minister appointment at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Bill and his wife, Kathy, have lived in the New Neighborhood since last summer. Early in the New Year word got out that Bill’s odometer was turning over a big one on Jan. 8. For days now members of the church and community have been wishing him well on his 60th birthday with many cards and greetings. Happy Birthday and best wishes to you, Bill, as you turn another year young!

Blackwell holiday get-together

Irene and Taylor Blackwell (seated in red shirts) had a wonderful holiday celebration with their four children, Betsy, Jeb, Waller and Greg, and their families.

Taylor and Irene Blackwell enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Oriental, N.C., surrounded by their four children and their families. Gathering the Blackwell clan is not easy since they are spread around the globe. Daughter Betsy and her husband, John Watson, are currently making their home in Paris, France, but wanting to have a home stateside, recently purchased an historic home named “China Grove” in Oriental, N.C. Following Christmas celebrations in Paris, they invited the rest of the Blackwells to join them in their new N.C. home for the last weekend of 2007. Betsy and John’s son, John III, is a student at Stanford and their daughter, Liz, is a high school senior in France.

Two of Taylor and Irene’s sons are in Charlotte so their trip to eastern N.C. was easy. Jeb and his wife, Anita, came with their daughters, Kate, a senior in high school, and Hannah, a sophomore. Greg and his wife, Megan, came with their daughter, Stella, who had a BIG first birthday on January 3, 2008. (Many will know Megan, owner of The Village Store on Main Street in Davidson, and Anita, who helps at the store.) Taylor and Irene’s third son, Waller, came from Tokyo, Japan, with his wife, Dawn, and sons, Daniel (15) and David (13). Waller and his family had a long trip to North Carolina since they first stopped in Guam for a swim meet involving son, David. All the cousins had a wonderful time catching up and the adults were able to relax following the Christmas Day festivities. They are now looking to more family gatherings at the Watson’s new home.

‘Gone With the Wind’ evening
For over a decade Belle Banks has been entertaining our community with her quarterly book reviews. To kick off 2008, Belle is presenting “An Evening With Gone With the Wind” on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Davidson Public Library. (Please note change of location). In addition to her somewhat risqué jokes, Belle will be talking about Margaret Mitchell’s famous novel, as well as “Rhett Butler’s People” by Donald McCaig, “The Road to Tara” by Anne Edwards, and “Scarlett” by Alexandra Ripley. This event is free and open to the public but a word to the wise: arrive early to claim a chair.

MORE: New arrivals

Also today in Around Davidson: A trio of girl babies are the first to be announced in 2008, born to the Bryants, Lobpries and the Beach-Verheys. Read more …

SEND BRENDA YOUR NEWS

Have news for “Around Davidson”? Contact Brenda Barger via email or telephone (704-892-7484).

THE HISTORY OF ‘AROUND DAVIDSON’

Jan. 8, 2008, “From Newsprint to the Net,” by Laurie Dennis, a feature on this column’s history and its move to DavidsonNews.net

Filed under: Around Davidson, Davidson people, Links