DavidsonNews.net

It’s been six months since Stowe’s Exxon closed its doors so DavidsonNews.net decided it was time to check in on Wayne Stowe and his son-in-law, Jerry Cline. A stop at Cline Auto & Tire Inc. - Jerry’s shop now - on Route 115 north of Mt. Mourne is well worth your while if for no other reason than to see the shop’s upscale waiting room, complete with a wireless connection!

Meanwhile, Around Davidson this week continues with graduation news, highlighting Charlotte Ringle, Spencer Johnson and Russell Miller. Also learn of career changes for Ann Roper of the Davidson Housing Coalition, sandwich suppers at The Pines, and some thoughts and opinions on wasting water, charging ETJ residents for their own Fourth celebration and local vandals.

Visiting with Jerry Cline and Wayne Stowe

Receptionist Shari Bankhead said it took the first weeks of 2008 to get the new Cline Auto & Tire ready for its Jan. 21 opening. Hours at the new shop are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Are they busy? You bet! More than 85% of their trade comes from Davidson. As usual, Wayne and Jerry cannot “escape” their friends from Mecklenburg County and as usual, they fussed a bit about posing for a photo on a very hot day. Easy to see though from the picture they haven’t changed a bit. But if you need them to work on your car or truck, go this week or wait until June 23 as next week they will be closed - no doubt with a sign on the door that reads: Gone Fishin’!

Father’s Day idea

This Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day and we recommend treating Dad to a relaxing stroll through a beautiful garden. Betsy Seymour is holding her Annual Garden Open House at 421 Pine Road from 1:30 - 4 p.m. She has more than 85 hydrangeas in bloom and hundreds of day lilies not to mention her outstanding display of other plants. Betsy will be on hand to talk about her garden. Thanks in advance, Betsy, for sharing your beauty with us.

Charlotte Ringle (center) with sister Halle (left), dad Bill and mother Georgia.

Catching up with the Ringle family

Congratulations to Charlotte Ringle who graduated from Emerson College in Boston, Mass., last month. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in stage management/production and already has a summer job working at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre as stage manager for their current production of “Company.”

Charlotte is the daughter of Bill and Georgia Ringle of the McConnell neighborhood. The proud mom and dad, and also sister Halle, were in Boston for commencement activities. Halle just finished her sophomore year at UNC-CH and is working at Bath and Body Works in Birkdale this summer.

Charlotte also has proud grandparents in town. Bill Ringle’s parents, Bill and Marie Ringle, moved to The Pines last month. They are nicely settled in one of the new villas. A visit with the senior Ringles lets one know what wonderful talent and resources are moving to our retirement community and how much each resident has to offer.

Marie and Bill Ringle.

Bill and Marie grew up in Gloversville, NY, and have known each other since kindergarten. Bill graduated from Hamilton College and focused on a career in journalism. Marie is a graduate of Smith College. They married in 1948 and raised three children while moving from Gannett newspaper assignments in Rome, Rochester, Albany, Saratoga Springs, New York City and finally Northern Virginia.

Bill worked for the Gannett News Service with over 90 newspapers under their “umbrella.” While living in McLean, he was the White House correspondent during the Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan years. He journeyed to summit meetings all over the world. What tales he can tell! And needless to say, one of his special interests is world affairs! In 1988 Bill retired from Gannett News Service but continued to free lance and for a while covered news from the U.S. Tax Court. During their time in Virginia, Marie worked for quite a few years in the Fairfax County library system - a happy job for someone who loves to read.

Interested in China from his time there in 1945 with the US Navy, Bill took Marie to Beijing in 1991 for a year while he taught journalism at the graduate level. In 1996, they returned for another semester. Now they have slowed down only slightly and are happy to be close to their son, Bill, and his family. Their daughters, Sarah and Christine, live in NYC and Vincennes, IN, respectively. They have four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Both enjoy reading and many of the programs The Pines has to offer. Welcome, Marie and Bill. We are glad to have you in town!

Spencer Johnson with mother Judy (left) and grandmother Dot Gantt.

Spencer Johnson graduates

It was a busy Memorial Day weekend for Spencer Johnson, son of Judy and the late Marvin Johnson of Hudson Place. Spencer graduated from Elon University receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in international business. His minor was art. In addition to his mother, on hand for the ceremonies were his older brother, Drake, his grandmother, Dot Gantt of Winston-Salem, as well as his Aunt Becky Roediger of Bermuda Run and his Aunt and Uncle, Lynn and Bill Kay of Hickory, with their daughter, Sarah.

Spencer is enjoying some R&R from academics at the moment in Davidson while considering employment opportunities. Interesting to note that Drake Johnson, who graduated a few years ago from NCSU with a degree in textiles is now working for International Automotive Corporation in Albemarle.

Russell Miller has degree in hand

Proud moments for Bob and Charlotte Miller as they watched their son, Russell, graduate May 10 from North Carolina State University with a degree in economics and business management. During his years in Raleigh, he participated for two years in NCSU’s co-op program working for Tipper Tie in Apex. Now that he has his degree in hand, Russell is working there full time. Interesting to note that Tipper Tie is a manufacturing company making packaging and packaging machines for the food industry. Note the metal clips you see holding legs of turkeys and chickens in place before plastic and netting is added and think of the company employing Russell.

Congratulations to Russell and all his family who made it to graduation including Russell’s grandmother, Lee Miller, and his siblings, John and Beth. Catching up on the family, news from older son, John, is that he is a 1st LT now in Airborne training at Ft. Benning having recently completed Ranger training. (Read all about him in the Presbyterian College e-newsletter article, “Two alumni earn Ranger tabs.”) In July he will be assigned to the 10th Mountain Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team at Ft. Polk, LA. From there he expects to be deployed to Iraq. We will be thinking about you, John.

Younger sister, Beth, has just finished her sophomore year at UNC-Chapel Hill and continues her Pre-Med studies. She is currently on the board of the student Red Cross chapter in Chapel Hill and spends quite a lot of time at the UNC hospitals in a surgeon shadow program. This summer she is taking a few weeks “vacation” to travel with a UNC Spanish study group visiting Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco.

Margo Williams (left) and Ann Roper.

Housing Coalition bids adieu to Ann

Folks at the Davidson Housing Coalition are saying farewell to Ann Roper, who has been their management and development fellow for the past two years - not to mention an extra pair of hands for executive director Marcia Webster. Ms. Webster shed a tear or two as the coalition gave Ms. Roper a sendoff with a surprise reception at her final board meeting on Wednesday, June 4, at Town Hall.

Ms. Roper joined DHC after graduating from Davidson College two years ago. She will move to Chapel Hill, where she will begin a two-year program in the fall studying for a master’s degree in public administration at the University of North Carolina. She said she’ll be concentrating in non-profit management.

DHC board member Margo Williams presented Ms. Roper with a gift of a green art glass bowl, and said, “When she goes to grad school to continue her studies, she’ll be taking us - the Davidson Housing Coalition – with her.”

Meanwhile, waiting in the wings as her replacement is another Davidson College graduate: Nancy Waldrop. She completed her degree in May, majoring in history, with an economics minor. She is from Houston, Texas, and plans to live in Mooresville.

Sandwich Supper tradition resumes

Almost ten years ago Davidson College Presbyterian Church started quarterly “Sandwich Suppers” as a way to encourage fellowship between Pines residents and members of the community. Church members would bring generous plates of sandwiches, spread them out on a long buffet table, pour lemonade, provide a program and invite any resident of The Pines to join them.

After a hiatus of more than a year due to construction, the Sandwich Supper tradition resumed last Sunday evening. (Sunday evening is chosen since the dining room is closed following Sunday’s noontime buffet.) The theme was “Germany” because the DCPC choir is traveling to Leipzig this July to participate in a Bach festival. Choir members provided the program singing pieces they will perform next month.

Tables were decorated with flowers and the colors of the German flag which made a welcoming sight for the more than 130 persons who attended. Baron Von Trapp (aka good natured and good sport Gordon Clark) was on hand to greet all in his knickers, authentic Alpine hat with Gamsbart and edelweiss suspenders and necktie. Miriam Bode and Gerry Griffin took a minute to pose with Gordon before viewing the variety of sandwiches and filling their plates.

Hats off to Gordon, Ralph Erb and Stephanie Rollans who head up The Pines’ Connection Committee at DCPC with responsibility for these delightful quarterly events.

Sounding off

A few things on my mind this week.

Wonder if anyone else finds the signs declaring “Well Water Irrigation” so distasteful? With yet another summer of below average rainfall facing the Piedmont of North Carolina, it is important to conserve water regardless of the source. Draining our aquifers just to keep a patch of grass green is irresponsible.

Fourth of July fireworks at McEver Field are going to be wonderful for residents of Davidson who receive a wrist bracelet free. Ever stop to consider those in Davidson’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)? According to Davidson Parks & Rec, the ETJ folks are not residents of the town and will need to pay $5 each to attend this evening event. Members of the Planning Board, shop keepers in Davidson, citizens who contribute daily to the town but live in the rural domain east of town are not considered residents of Davidson. Whatever happened to our sense of community? This decision is a bad one.

A previous Around Davidson column had a plea for respect of another’s property. Some failed to read and heed. Now a garden statue near the front door of the Seymours’ Pine Road home is missing. A simple blue angel with upraised arms but full of meaning to Jody and especially Betsy as the statue was reaching toward the sky exemplifying the spirit Betsy shares with everyone. Turns out the statue, part of it, was recovered days later in a yard in Cabin Creek. Legs and base are missing but hopefully the angel can be repaired enough to take her place once more along the front walk to the house. Summer is almost here and some of our residents will have time and energy on their hands. Why not find a way to help another, do a good deed or volunteer in some way? Channel that energy productively - and respect the property of others.

Filed under: Around Davidson, Church news, Davidson opinions, Davidson people