The Swimming Hole has the best recipe for staying cool on hot days!

It may have been hot but it certainly was a great weekend for all sorts of activities. From birthdays to retirements, picnics to cannonballs in the pools, Davidson residents know how to have a good time. Today Around Davidson brings a photo gallery of delightful weekend events including Lunch on the Lawn at DCPC, hot pizza with Dick Hay, special cakes with candles for Susan Abbott and Marnie Howiler, a new direction for Pat Knox and anniversary wishes for Scott and Pris Woodmansee. (And just a note to area graduates who have sent photos to Around Davidson: be patient, they will appear on DavidsonNews.net very soon!)

Lunch on the Lawn is an annual event at DCPC

An Annual tradition at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church (DCPC) is an end of the school year picnic following Sunday worship. With tables set up on the lawn in front of the church and a welcome breeze blowing through the trees, the picnic provided a large group of church members with an opportunity for fellowship before summer plans take families far afield. With church members bringing side dishes to compliment the fried chicken and “Sunday Union,” a DCPC group, providing musical entertainment, young and old had a wonderful time.

NEVER TOO HOT FOR PIZZA

Around Davidson reported last winter on the marvelous earth oven at the end of Eastway Drive in the yard of Joe and Angie Grooms. An 800 degree oven for perfect Italian pizza is one thing when the temperature outside is 32 but how about 92 sweltering degrees in June?

Dick Hay serves up hot pizza from the Eastway Earth Oven

This past weekend neighbors and pizza aficionados gathered again around the earth oven to enjoy homemade pizza. At 800 degrees, the “pies” are baked in less than 4 minutes with toppings ranging from meats to fruits. When the last one is retrieved from the oven and the temperature drops, it is time for marinated pork loin and focaccia bread. High living on Eastway!

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Happy Birthday, Marnie

A great big Happy Birthday to Marnie Howiler, daughter of Ken and Robbie Howiler! Marnie turned six recently and celebrated with a grand party at the Lake Norman YMCA. In addition to completing kindergarten at Davidson Elementary School, Marnie has also successfully completed ten months of medical treatment for a Wilms tumor. Hooray for Marnie and we know why the big smiles!! (See our Monday story and photos about the party by Betsy Flagler and Gail Woods, “A bash to celebrate Marnie’s 6th – and her health.”)

Susan Abbott – Great to be SIXTY, plus a little

Another birthday to celebrate in town! Susan Abbott’s odometer turned over a big one…let’s just say 60 plus 10! Enjoying relaxing summer days at their lake house, Susan received well wishes from their longtime neighbors – as well as, of course, a poem from hubby English Professor Tony Abbott.

For Susan's birthday, Tony Abbott created memorable verse

We hear that Susan shares a birthday with another Davidson resident, Lynn Brickels. Congratulations to both Susan and Lynn as they turn another year young!

50 YEARS AND LOOKING GOOD!

Could it be that Scott and Pris Woodmansee have been married for fifty years? Wish them well this Thursday as they celebrate and toast each other – waiting for the real party later this summer when the family gathers for a week at the beach.

Then...and Now. Congratulations!

Married June 10, 1960, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, Pris had just graduated from Queens and Scott (Davidson College ’59) had a year of seminary behind him. Warner Hall was the minister. A reception followed in the fellowship hall of the church and the couple journeyed to Williamsburg for their honeymoon. (Davidson resident John Kimbril was in charge of hiding their “getaway” car to avoid the shaving cream decorations and he succeeded!) Married life took Scott and Pris to ministerial assignments in Tennessee, Chaplain’s Office at Davidson College, Georgia, and his last church in High Point. The couple retired to Davidson ten years ago. Their sons, John and David, live in Durham with their families. Congratulations to you both. Fifty years is quite an accomplishment these days.

PAT KNOX RETIRING

Hard to write those words: “Pat Knox is retiring.” Moving here with her husband, Russell, and toddler, Rusty, in 1958, Pat first worked for Bob Currie in the business office of Davidson College before taking a position in the Dean of Faculty’s Office where she worked for Frontis Johnston and Jack Bevan. Soon Beth, Doug and Mike joined Rusty and the growing family moved to a new home on Concord Road in 1963 (and in 1987 to an even newer home a little farther out on Concord Road).

Pat Knox with her dog, Macie

Pat left the college in 1972 and opened Knox Realty in 1973. Russell left his position with Piedmont Bank and joined her in 1976. The logo on the signs has changed over the years but Knox Realty continues to be a well known name in our area. The older Knox children, Rusty, Beth and Doug, have each been active in the business and live in Davidson with their families. Youngest son, Mike, lives in Cabarrus County where he serves as an elected judge. Widowed since 2002, Pat has decided to head for the mountains or the beach instead of to the office. The realty company will no doubt undergo some reorganization and Pat will take her boxes of memories home. But we’re sure we will continue to see her uptown as she stops for coffee at Summit or her mail at the post office.

She looks forward to spending more time with her nine grandchildren, traveling, tending her beautiful garden and taking her Jack Russell terrier, Macie, for walks. Best of luck in retirement, Pat. (And our favorite Knox Realty story will always be the year the McEver Field boys’ ball uniforms were misprinted and announced sponsorship by “Knox Reality!”)

Send us your news

Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbarger@bellsouth.net.