Glenn Kinken hoisted the steeple in place for the DUMC Gingerbread Church.

Tonight marks the beginning of our annual “Christmas In Davidson” celebration.  With crisp weather predicted, we will be in holiday moods as we stroll the streets and enjoy all the activities packed into our small village.

Be sure to check out the Gingerbread House in the Fellowship Hall of the Davidson United Methodist Church (DUMC).  It is big enough for children to walk through!  If you run into DUMC’s church secretary, Linda Turner, be sure to wish her a Happy Belated Birthday.  And we have news of two other November birthdays at The Pines:  Charlotte Rubel and Whitey Shuman.

We also no will doubt impress you with news of how local weight lifter Shelley Witkin recently broke an American Masters record.  Finally, we have a reminder about North Meck’s Poinsettia Sale.

HOW ABOUT A GINGERBREAD CHURCH?

Debbie Shutt in the kitchen separating all those eggs!

We mentioned in an earlier column that Betsy Seymour’s dream was to create a really BIG gingerbread house that children could walk through.  Betsy, wife of DUMC Senior Minister Jody Seymour, enlisted the help of Linda Pederson, longtime gingerbread decorator, and her husband, Dean, who made the wood form for the house.

Linda Pederson (l) and Betsy Seymour made their dream of a walk-in gingerbread church come true!

Last Tuesday a group of dedicated men and women and youth worked all day to create this masterpiece – really a church – covered in egg white frosting, lots of candy, gingerbread boys and girls and stained glass made from Jolly Rancher candies.  Lunchtime soup simmered on the stove, powdered sugar dusted the floor, egg shells were stacked high on the counter and loose candy stuck to the shoes of the busy “elves” but the result was really amazing.  Be sure to stop by during Christmas in Davidson and admire this awesome confection!

CELEBRATING LINDA TURNER

Happy Birthday, Linda Turner

While keeping track of the gingerbread progress, your correspondent just had to stop and visit with DUMC church secretary Linda Turner who had a wonderful birthday balloon attached to her desk.  Just a few years over 60, Linda celebrated this past Sunday with family as an extension of Thanksgiving and right on the heels of her daughter-in-law’s birthday on Saturday.  Linda grew up in Charlotte and moved to Davidson 12 years ago.  Living in Spinnaker Point, she joined DUMC and jumped at the chance to work in the church office 11 years ago when James Howell hired her.

Linda loves theatre and commented that sometime she would love to be a theatre critic…DavidsonNews.net, are you listening?  Otherwise she is happy keeping DUMC in good order, likes to shag, and loves living on Lake Davidson.  Happy Birthday, Linda.

A WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP

Perhaps some of our readers got to know Charlotte Rubel and Whitey Shuman when they were residents at The Pines from 2000-2007.  They left to return to their home state of Pennsylvania for almost two years but decided that life really was better at The Pines and returned this past October 1.  Perfect timing for them to celebrate birthdays last month:  Whitey turned a youthful 100 and Charlotte turned another year young (you aren’t supposed to ask ladies their age…)!

Celebrating birthdays last month were Charlotte Rubel and Whitey Shuman.

Charlotte hails from State College, Pa., graduated from Oberlin College, was a school counselor for 27 years in the Upper Dublin School District of Pennsylvania, and has two grown children.  Growing up in Pennsylvania as well, Whitey’s passion was baseball.  And he was good enough to play professional ball!

Not many have stories to equal Whitey’s about playing on the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team when they won the World Series against the Chicago Cubs in 1929.  It was the best of seven series and the Cubs were down three games to one.  Playing in Philly’s Shibe Park which had opened in 1909, the A’s (as the Athletics were called) won the fifth and final game when the legendary Hall of Famer Al Simmons crossed the plate with the winning run.  The A’s manager and part owner Connie Mack had brought what many considered the “best team in baseball” to the championship they deserved.  World series rings?  Whitey had to buy his own.  He smiles when he talks about Connie Mack saying, “Connie could be cheap!”  Whitey played with the A’s until the early 1930′s.  Wonderful years and wonderful memories – including players being announced with someone shouting through a megaphone due to the lack of any loudspeakers in Shibe Field.

Due to his baseball skill many job opportunities came his way with companies looking for capable workers who could add “power” to their corporate baseball teams.   Employed by Norden Bombsights in the 1930′s, he received a Presidential pardon from the draft due to the importance of the company’s work.  Later Whitey had jobs in administration with SKF, Conaflo and West Point Products.  While serving on the School Board of Upper Dublin, he met Charlotte and they have been friends ever since.

As has been noted often in Around Davidson, The Pines Retirement Community offers a visitor a rich tapestry of tales of bygone years. What a privilege to have these delightful residents with their colorful stories right in our midst.  Charlotte Rubel and Whitey Shuman certainly add a lot.  Happy Birthday to each of you!

WEIGHTLIFTING HONORS FOR SHELLEY WITKIN

Shelley Witkin earned a first place medal in Weightlifting Competition last month.

Most of us can “pinch an inch” – especially after all the turkey feasting last week.  Not Shelley Witkin. No extra inches on this 61year-old Davidson resident who traveled to York, PA, last month to compete in the USA American Masters Weightlifting Competition.  For her age group (60-65) and weight class (53 kg), Shelley broke the record in the “Clean and Jerk” class and tied the record in the “Snatch.”  Returning home to the New Neighborhood with her medal prompted a visit by DavidsonNews.net.

Shelley and her husband, Mike, moved to Davidson in 2005 just six weeks prior to Hurricane Katrina.  Mike retired after 34 years of work as a endocrinologist in New Orleans and Shelley retired from her job as science coordinator at a private scho0l there.  They chose Davidson because their daughter, Debbie Witkin, and her husband, Joseph Nunn, live here.  (Debbie is a Nurse Practitioner with Davidson Family Medicine. Their other daughter, Karen, and her husband, Sean Swidler, live in Chicago.)  Not willing to be “couch potatoes,” Mike put his medical knowledge to work once more with Mecklenburg Medical Group although he promises  to retire f0r a second time at the end of this month).

Matt Perry and Shelley Witkin, both Davidson residents, are health and fitness professionals at In Motion Fitness.

Shelley signed on with In Motion Fitness, Inc. in Cornelius well qualified as a certified personal trainer (with distinction) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  Shelley works primarily with women in their 40′s and older encouraging nutrition and exercise as a means to build good bone density.  She had studied dance for years, ran regularly and did some weight training but four months ago decided to train for weightlifting in earnest under the direction of Matt Perry, Athletic Trainer and Vice President of In Fitness, Inc.  (Matt also lives in Davidson in Little Gate (near Harris Teeter).  In addition to his work at In Motion Fitness, he also is a triathlon coach and a trainer at River Run’s tennis facility.)

The results speak for themselves.  Shelley made history in last month’s competition.  Can she and Matt help you?  They would love to. Their business is located on North Cove Road in Jetton Village in Cornelius.  Call Shelley at 704.895.8000 or go online for shelley@inmotionfitnessinc.com. Hours are M-F from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8-2.  Matt or Shelley customize a fitness routines for each client but also offer some group classes.  At their facility there are showers, locker rooms and a smoothie bar – nutritional drinks only – but they taste great.

When Shelley is not walking or training with weights, she is looking after and showing her Brittany spaniels.  She has an AKC champion three year old male, Charlie, and a new 9 week old puppy, Kadie.  We are glad to know about this “very strong” and very svelte Davidsonian, her work and her family.

THE BEAUTY OF THE SEASON

North Meck students, and Davidson residents, Melissa Frerichs and Cameron Clark show off poinsettias for sale.

Don’t forget the Horticulture Club’s sale this Saturday, December 5, from 9-noon at their greenhouse located on the campus of North Mecklenburg High School. (Follow the signs in the parking lot.) Poinsettias, paperwhites and amaryllis will be available – all with foil and bows – to add beauty and color to your home this season.  The plants also make a perfect gift.

Send us your news

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