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The days of summer blooms surrounding bright orange pumpkins may be numbered since fall temperatures this weekend may dip into the 40s!  Perfect weather for raking leaves, walking dogs, baking Halloween cookies and getting out TO VOTE.

Remember that EARLY VOTING begins today for Mecklenburg County residents!  See below for more.

This week, Around Davidson catches up with the Cotter family and their Annual Woody Party, brings an update on the Autumn Family Fest, and covers an award for Lib Henderson.   Around Davidson also takes a trip to China with the Hewitts and has reminders from Book Talks to a Pansy Sale.

Bring on the early voters

The debates are finished and now it’s time to make an informed decision in the voting booth.  Early voting begins TODAY (Oct. 16) with hours from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. weekdays, Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.,  and shorter hours on Saturday, November 1, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (which is the LAST day of Early Voting).

NOTE: There is NO Early Voting on Saturday, October 18.

New this year:  You may cast your ballot on one Sunday afternoon, October 26, from 1-4 p.m. Closest EARLY VOTING SITES for Davidson are Cornelius Public Library or North County Regional Library. You can register to vote and vote ONLY during EARLY VOTING. Check with www.meckboe.org if you have questions or call 704-336-2133. (If you live in a surrounding county, be sure to check with your Board of Elections for specifics.)

One last reminder:  If you vote straight party ticket, you MUST vote separately for President, non-partisan races and bonds.  Make sure to study the ballot and make your vote count!

A Cool Car Party

Surfs up! Time to take your vintage Woody from Davidson's annual Woody Party and wow the crowds at the coast!

Saturday, October 4, was one of those beautiful fall days you want to “freeze frame” for the rest of the year!  If you happened to be on the green for the Children’s Schoolhouse Fair, you might have noticed a good number of classic cars cruising through town - and a few muscle cars with louder than normal exhausts.  It was a good bet that all were headed to Tom and Pat Cotter’s home in Westmoreland Farm for Tom’s Annual Woody Party.

The Cotters welcomed the largest-ever number of cars and people to the 10th anniversary of their tribute to the wood-paneled cars of the 1930s and 1940s.  Dining on BBQ and sporting T-shirts commemorating the event, guests swapped elaborate car stories while examining the wonderful array of vehicles ranging from the Woody to Ford Mustang, Stout to a Bentley, and Studebaker to Ferrari.  Billed as “The Best Free Woody Party on The Planet,” one would have to say it certainly was!  Kudos to Tom and Pat, as well as their son, Brian, for a remarkable event for car enthusiasts from up and down the East Coast.

An Eastern Star Honor for Lib Henderson

Elizabeth (Libby) Henderson, wife of the late Joseph Henderson, Sr., formerly of Sumter, S.C., and longtime Davidson resident, brought honor and recognition to Order of the Eastern Star Mecklenburg Chapter 90 of Cornelius. (Eastern Star is the women’s group of the Masonic Lodge.) At an informal gathering in the chapter room Oct. 6, attended by family, several chapter members and caring friends, Libby was presented a 60-year membership pin from the Grand Chapter of North Carolina. Libby was the first member of the chapter to receive such an award.

Minerva Bullock (r) sits with honoree Libby Henderson at the recent Eastern Star Awards Ceremony.

Before the ceremony Libby, a long-time resident of The Pines, was taken to dinner by her family which included her son, Joseph Jr., and his wife, Gay, from Shelby; and their children, Rebecca from Gastonia and Joseph III from Charlotte; her son, Jim, and his wife, Linda, from Harrisburg; and her son, William, from Huntersville. Libby also has a fourth son, David, who lives in Arizona with his wife, Barbara, and their five children, and was unable to be here for the occasion.

Libby was initiated into Beauclare Chapter of Eastern Star in Sumter on April 12, 1941, and actually has been a member in good standing for more than 60 years.  To recognize that, Minerva Bullock of Davidson first presented Libby with her 60-year pin followed by Patti Harper, who awarded Libby a certificate to recognize her 67 years of membership and service.  Congratulations to Libby Henderson for her dedication to Eastern Star.

Autumn Family Fest a Huge Success

A Giving Spirit Foundation introduced itself to the community last Saturday with an Autumn Family Festival at Beaver Dam, off Davidson-Concord Road.  More than 100 families attended the inaugural event.  Kids of all ages were entertained by Dottie the Clown, face painting, carnival games, arts & crafts, relay races and Davidson’s own famous juggler Bill Giduz.

An enthusiastic crowd of children welcomed Billy Jonas to Autumn Fest.

Fabulous food was provided by Market on Main in Hickory and kids enjoyed Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.  The event concluded with a live performance by Billy Jonas!

This event was sponsored by A Giving Spirit Foundation which is guided by the vision of Davidson resident Laura Woodall and her family and will primarily support families of mothers experiencing adversity in the face of an unforeseen health challenge, as well as Project ALS and the ALS Division of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Thanks to the hard working families who organized it, the festival raised almost $30,000 for the foundation.  For more information on “A Giving Spirit Foundation,” please email laurasleague@gmail.com.

China Travels with John and Margaret Hewitt

Davidson residents, John and Margaret Hewitt, had a busy September.  They traveled to China because they wanted to view the equestrian paralympic events in the beautiful Hong Kong equestrian venue as well as vacation and visit friends in the Dalian area.  Flying first to Hong Kong, the Hewitts spent five days enjoying the equestrian events, especially interesting for horse enthusiast Margaret.  They found time to visit museums in Hong Kong with special exhibits regarding the horse in China, as well as taking in the popular sites of Stanley Market and the Peak.  In addition, John and Margaret enjoyed the 20-minute cable car ride to Ngong Ping Village, which now is the modern and touristy home of the Lantau Sitting Buddha.

Margaret Hewitt

Following a two-day stopover in Shanghai, the Hewitts flew to Dalian for a five day vacation.  John said there’s much to do in Dalian, a city of some six million people with an international background and a most diverse architectural culture as well as cuisine choices from all over the world. The Hewitts did a lot of walking, visiting the major city sites, including the largest park in Asia and the Russian State Police Woman’s Riding Academy.  A must for John and Margaret, superb badminton players, was a night at a Badminton Club.  Also while in Dalian John enjoyed catching up with associates he knew from Ingersoll Rand before he retired from the company.

Returning to the States on Sept. 22, the Hewitts had just enough time to get over jet lag before heading to Raleigh for a badminton competition.  Following the weekend tournament, John and Margaret had lots of “hardware” to show for their talent on the court. They won a gold medal in the 65-69 age mixed doubles bracket and then Margaret took first honors in women’s doubles with partner Lynette Plummer while John won men’s doubles with partner of 30 years, Jim Greenlees.  Congratulations to the Hewitts.  A visit with these “badminton pros” and you will know that these latest medals just add a little more bling to their expansive trophy case!

Noteworthy Notes

Today (Oct. 16) is the Combined Book Clubs of Davidson Annual Tea.  D.G. Martin is speaking about his new book on “Interstate Eateries,” detailing places along North Carolina’s Interstate system where good meals can be found.  Come at 3 p.m. for a cup of tea, an entertaining talk by D.G., and a chance to purchase this handy little book.

Don’t forget the Annual BBQ at North Mecklenburg High School this Friday, Oct. 17.  Stop by the school for a delicious meal and support the students.

The next day, Saturday, Oct. 18, is North Mecklenburg High School’s Annual Pansy Sale, 9-noon.  Students in the horticulture program will help with your purchases of pansies, snapdragons and bulbs.  Follow the signs to the greenhouse by the new student parking lot and be sure to get there early for the best selection.

Hale and Farewell to Belle

Belle Banks will retire from a long and successful run of public book reviewing on Tuesday.

After decades of entertaining the public with her zany humor, quick wit and wonderful book reviews, Belle Banks is “hanging it up!”  To honor this wonderful lady, there will be a Retirement Party for Belle next Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Davidson Town Hall.  Come to wish Belle well with a card or note of thanks which will be included in a “retirement album.”  There will be refreshments and much merriment in addition to one last review of Curtis Sittenfeld’s “American Wife,” Brunonia Barry’s “The Lace Reader,” Barbara Walter’s “Audition: A Memoir,” and “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Ron Rash, author of “One Foot in Eden,” will be in town next weekend.  You can meet him on Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Davidson Public Library or the next day, Saturday, Oct. 25, at Main Street Books from 10-11:30 a.m.  This is part of DavidsonReads promoting “one book, one community, and endless conversations.”

Karen Toney of Ben & Jerry’s is planning a “last of the season” outdoor movie on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at dusk on the wall of Summit Coffee.  As a Halloween treat, she has chosen the movie “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”  This event is free and open to the public.  Sponsors are Ben & Jerry’s and Main Street Books.  It will be dusk by 7 p.m. and thus an early activity for schoolchildren.  Come early to spread your blanket in the parking lot and test your knowledge with the trivia questions for which Karen Toney always has great rewards.

Filed under: Around Davidson, Davidson people