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Mary Rood Cunningham of Davidson wins our vote for "beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" (Photo by Mary Mayer)

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” in our village!  This evening marks the first night of yet another wonderful celebration of “Christmas in Davidson.”  There will be activities from 6-9 p.m. tonight, tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday.  And don’t forget that the annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of North Main and Griffith Streets.  If the weather forecast holds, it should be a wonderful three days of merriment.

Today Around Davidson focuses on some talented members of our community who are contributing to “Christmas in Davidson” through photography, pen and ink drawings and green thumbs. There is also a Thanksgiving “leftover,” and news of upcoming events you will not want to miss, including Davidson alum Martin Clark on Bookwatch Friday.

Christy Thornton’s Green Thumb

This Saturday, December 6, from 9-noon, the North Mecklenburg High School Horticulture Department will hold its 14th Annual Poinsettia Sale.

Ready to greet customers at Saturday's sale are (l-r): Kevin Beach, Andy Cave and Ian Stimson, all North Meck seniors from Davidson.

Horticulture teacher Christy Thornton (longtime Davidson resident until a few years ago when she moved to the Lake)  has been at the helm of this event from the beginning.  Growing annually in popularity, the program now has a second teacher, Stephanie Anderson, who has been at North for the past three years. Stephanie has an undergraduate and Master’s degree in Agriculture Education from NCSU.  A nice compliment to the talent of Christy and evidence of the ever growing popularity of the plant program at North.

The sale will be at the school in the greenhouses located at the back of the bus parking lot.  Watch for signs.  In addition to red, white, monet and pink poinsettias, the students will have available paperwhites, red, white and pink amaryllis and Christmas Cacti in a variety of colors.  All plants are wrapped withbows - just perfect for your home or a hostess gift during the holiday season.  Come out Saturday and support the program.  You will also have a chance to visit with these energetic and talented students.

A Talent with Brush on Canvas:  Jane Ellithorpe

Jane Ellithorpe has lived in Davidson with her husband, Chuck, since 1975.  Their children, Andy and Jennifer, grew up in our town and now live in Atlanta and Charlotte respectively.  Jane has been busy with color on canvases for decades.  Her first formal training was during her student days at Syracuse University.

Jane Ellithorpe proudly displays her artwork on the 2008 Davidson Commemorative Ornament.

Just before moving here, she was introduced to watercolor and that has remained her “trademark” and favorite medium. One can find Jane’s colorful note cards at shops in town and can recognize renderings of homes and buildings of Davidson hanging on walls all around the area.

This Christmas Jane donated her pen and ink artwork of historic Main Street to the Town for a beautiful keepsake ornament.  According to Margaret Martens, event director of Downtown Davidson, Inc., “Jane has always been so generous in sharing her enormous talent with the community.”  This charming ornament is now available for sale at the Village Store, Main Street Books and Wooden Stone at a cost of $15.

Jane will have a booth on The Green during “Christmas in Davidson” so be sure to stop by and view her work.

Hammering for a Good Cause

Everyone needs a 2009 calendar and we have just the one for you.  Containing “Images of Hometown” and beautifully formatted by Tomm Lorenzin, this new calendar benefits our own HAMMERS program in Davidson.  Today Around Davidson brings you a snapshot of two recent Davidson College graduates who are involved with HAMMERS and the Davidson Housing Coalition (DHC) and two members of the community who provided their photographic skills for the calendar.

Enjoying the recent unveiling of the 2009 HAMMERS calendar are (l-r): Nancy Waldrop, Bill Russell and Gennine Davis.

We know that many of our readers are familiar with HAMMERS but for those who are not, it is a program under the umbrella of the DHC that provides assistance with emergency home repairs for those unable to afford them.  Recent Davidson College graduate (Class of ‘08), Zach Jakob is the HAMMERS Project Supervisor coordinating volunteers and professionals to provide the work.  Working with Zach is another Davidson classmate, Nancy Waldrop.  Nancy, from Houston, TX, graduated last May and now is the Management and Development Fellow for the DHC following earlier DC grad Ann Roper.  Both Zach and Nancy were assisting with the recent reception at the Davidson Town Hall to introduce the winning calendar photos as were two of the contributors, Bill Russell and Gennine Davis.

April's "Campbell House" by Bill Russell.

Bill Russell retired from GE and moved to Davidson in 1991 with his wife, Karima.  His first camera, a Brownie Hawkeye, piqued his interest in photography, as did time spent with his grandfather, a professional photographer.  After years of taking pictures, Bill considers himself a semi-professional and claims to put the “wow” in photographs he takes for you.  Dealing mostly in landscapes or still life, he is a member of the National Association of Photoshop professionals and enjoys using software to enhance his photos.  His stunning photo of a front porch on SouthMain Street graces the month of April in the 2009 HAMMERS calendar.

June's "Tigers' Baseball" by Gennine Davis

Pinto league ball players of Davidson YouthBaseball is the photo chosen for the monthof June.  “Mom with a camera” Gennine Davis caught the young boys, including her son, Jack (9), at just the right moment of relaxation in the dugout during a baseball game.  Gennine and her husband, Jon, have lived in Davidson for 12 years.  Their children, Jack, and his sister, Sally Maxwell (6), are familiar faces at The Pines visiting grandparents, Gene and Jean Davis, who have lived in this area for decades.  Gennine does not consider herself a professional in any way but rather enjoys a reliable Pentax camera to document the many activities of her active family.

While you are strolling the sidewalks during “Christmas in Davidson,” be sure to get your 2009 HAMMERS Images of Hometowns Calendar, available at The Village Store, The Wooden Stone, as well as the DHC office at 220 Sloan Street. The price is $14.95. You can also order online at www.davidsonhousing.org.  During these difficult financial times, you will be supporting a good cause right here at home.  If you would rather purchase one of the framed photographs on display in the rotunda of the Davidson Town Hall, call Nancy Waldrop at DHC (704-892-4486) for more information.

The Wood Family enjoys Thanksgiving Together

Once your children are grown and making their homes elsewhere, it gets harder and harder to coordinate vacation days and gather everyone under one roof.  Ken and Sauni Wood had a special Thanksgiving last week when their three children’s schedules permitted travel to Tybee Island for a family gathering on this special November holiday.

Sauni and Ken Wood's grandchildren enjoyed Thanksgiving together. From left are: Esteban Wood, Rosa Wardlow and Scot Wood.

John Wood and his wife, Carol Young Wood, came from Asheville.  Lindy Wood and her husband, Irv Wardlow, drove over from Decatur, GA, with their daughter, Rosa Camille (10).  Peter Wood had the longest trip coming from Coral Gables, FL, with his wife, Patty Sierrra, and their sons, Scot (12) and Esteban (10).

The “Wood clan” rented a cottage, enjoyed a bountiful feast prepared by all, but mostly spent time relaxing.  Daytime activities included hiking, pick-up soccer and basketball, exploring the island, climbing lighthouses and touring Fort Pulaski.  Evenings were reserved for board games of all kinds and delightful antics playing charades.  As Sauni wrote in her email:  “We felt very blessed.”  Amen!

Noteworthy Notes

Did you hear that Ben & Jerry’s is carrying delicious products from Dewey’s, the Old Salem Bakery?  Time to throw caution to the wind (and diets as well) and stop by for Moravian cookies or a Moravian Sugar Cake for holiday breakfasts.  Yum!

Martin Clark being interviewed by D.G. Martin.

D.G. Martin reminds us that Phi Beta Kappa Davidson grad, Martin Clark, will be his guest tomorrow, December 5, at 9:30 p.m. on North Carolina Bookwatch.  Martin’s latest novel, “The Legal Limit,” will be discussed.  He is a judge in real life and fills his books with compelling stories that only an insider in the justice system can tell.  This successful novelist credits our own George Laban and Tony Abbott for his writing and intellectual interests.  Be sure to catch the program on UNC-TV or access www.unctv.org/ncbookwatch/ for more information.

Don’t forget that the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus will perform next Monday, December 8, at Huntersville Presbyterian Church, and Tuesday, December 9, at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church.  These marvelous Christmas programs are free and open to the public.  Concerts begin at 8 p.m.  Come early for a good seat - or a seat at all!

Send us your news

Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net.

Filed under: Around Davidson, Davidson people