Hydrangeas in Davidson are the prettiest we have seen in years!
It is just a matter of hours before the public schools end this academic year and parents start scratching their heads trying to decide how to keep their children occupied for the wonderful long weeks of summer. Today Around Davidson has a few ideas to consider from festivals to music camps to Bible schools.
In addition we bring news of some Davidson young people who are doing interesting things: Spencer Barnes, James Shaul, Matthew Shaw, Eloise Andry and Kathleen Elkins. Also we send birthday wishes to Jody Seymour who turned pretty old this past Sunday.
Happy Birthday, Jody!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JODY!
Could it be that Jody Seymour is eligible for Medicare? Indeed, it is true. Last Sunday, June 3, Jody celebrated his 65th birthday with best wishes from the congregation at Davidson United Methodist Church (DUMC) where he is the senior minister. Lots of changes this summer at DUMC as the church welcomes new staff. To that end, Jody and his wife, Betsy, have moved from the manse on Pine Road to their new home in River Ridge off East Rocky River Road. Whew! Moving is never easy but what about all the plants Betsy so carefully tended at the manse for the past nine years? First congratulations to Betsy as her hard work paid off with a feature of her Pine Road garden in the June issue of Carolina Garden magazine. But for news of her new garden, read on …
One of the beautiful day lilies Betsy Seymour will have for sale on Saturday.
BETSY’S BOUNTY ON SALE
Gardening is a full time activity for Betsy Seymour. A recent email from Betsy told us the following: “Our new garden is in and blooming. Several wonderful church members (Ron Turner, Christian Turner, Jack Packard and Debbie Shutt) moved 15 truckloads of plants to our new home. I had 6 dump truck loads of new soil blend delivered and spread and then planted the 15 truck loads in 5 days.”
For all those day lilies Betsy has loved to nurture, there are many which will not move to the new Seymour home. Some 500 lilies, all potted, will be for sale this Saturday, June 9, from 9-noon in Betsy’s old back yard at 421 Pine Road. Be sure to stop by and take a couple home for your garden. Potted lilies are $5 each.
Spencer Barnes (l) and James Shaul are planning on a big festival this Saturday.
A “FINALE” FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
For the second year, Bailey Middle School 6th graders Spencer Barnes and James Shaul are planning an end of school festival called “Finale.” This event will occur this Saturday, June 9th, from 5-8 p.m. on the Village Green with carnival games and live music plus food and ice cream for sale. “Finale” is planned for school age children to have a fun and safe place to hang out with their friends and families for a few hours.
Admission to the event is $2 with tickets for games at $1 each for a book of eight tickets. Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Cornelius Animal Shelter which will also have a presence on The Green.
Great idea for these youngsters to end the school year on a high note and benefit the Shelter as well.
Matthew Shaw is a natural science teacher.
SCIENCE WITH MATTHEW SHAW
The Community Room is buzzing with activity when Matthew Shaw holds his monthly science programs for elementary age children. Matthew is 13 years old and a rising 9th grader at Woodlawn School. The son of Brian and Pat Shaw, he started the “Saturday Science Book Club” at the Davidson Public Library this past winter. With guidance from librarian Beverly Swanson, Matthew decides on a theme for each session and completely on his own, provides hands-on instruction to a dozen or more youngsters in these morning programs.
Matthew’s previous sessions have included “Crime Scene Investigation,” Silly Science, Archeology (his favorite), Coin Collecting and Rocks & Minerals. Coming up on July 7 is “Under your Skin: Your Amazing Body.” Aug. 4 will find a group examining “Bugs.” These Saturday programs begin at 2 p.m. and are free but school age children are encouraged to sign up ahead of time at the library’s circulation desk so Matthew knows how many will be attending a session. Matthew is not volunteering his time for any service hours but rather because he loves doing it. Kudos to you, Matthew!
Just a catch-up on the family – the Shaws moved to Davidson 13 years ago. Matthew has an older brother, John Patrick (15), who is a rising junior at Woodlawn. Dad Brian is a professor of Political Science at Davidson College and last month received the Hunter Hamilton Love of Teaching Award at commencement. Mom Pat teaches at the DCPC Weekday School and participates in lots of town activities. Glad to have all their talents in our town.
Evelyn at the famous Williams College gate
DAVIDSON-WILLIAMS CONNECTIONS
Three young ladies who live in Davidson, all graduates of Woodlawn School, are accumulating honors at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. Evelyn Denham, daughter of Scott and Cathy Denham of Peter’s Place (see the Feb. 23, 2012, Around Davidson column) graduated June 3 with 512 other seniors. There to cheer her on were her parents, her sister Beatrice (Wellesley ’14), paternal grandparents Bob and Rachel Denham and maternal grandfather, Neel Rich. Evelyn ended up with many accolades including graduating summa cum laude with highest honors in history, Phi Beta Kappa, recognition for the best senior thesis prize in the History Department as well as departmental prizes in History and German. Evelyn will head to Cambridge University for the next two years with a Gates Scholarship and a Herchel Smith Scholarship. She also received a Fulbright grant for study in Vienna, Austria, but declined that to accept the Gates. Congratulations, Evelyn, on your graduation and best wishes for your continued success at Cambridge.
(left to right) granddad Bob Denham (DC '61), Beatrice (Wellesley '14), Evelyn Denham, grandmother Rachel Denham and grandfather Neel Rich (Cathy's dad).
In addition to Evelyn, two rising juniors are engaged in noteworthy endeavors. Kathleen Elkins, daughter of Hugh and Diane Elkins of River Run, continues to excel in tennis as well as academics. Last month she competed in the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Tournament held in The Cary (NC) Tennis Park. Currently she leads the Williams College team in singles with a record of 26-4 this year and posted the best record at Cary by going 7-1. (http://www.ncaa.com/news/tennis-women/article/2012-05-23/williams-wins-fifth-consecutive-title) In her spare time, if there is any, Kathleen serves as the team’s racquet stringer. Busy gal!
Outstanding tennis player, Kathleen Elkins, stands with her older brother, Michael, and her parents Diane and Hugh Elkins.
Kathleen is a pre-med/Spanish major and will travel to Valencia, Spain, this fall to study for a semester. Most appropriate for Kathleen since Valencia is the home of her tennis idol, Rafael Nadal, and she models her game after his.
Eloise Andry, the daughter of Allain and Mary Andry of Davidson-Concord Road, is a Chinese major at Williams with an additional concentration in geoscience. This summer, after a nice two-week visit at home, she is working at a camp in western Massachusetts that runs an AmeriCorps-affiliated program for underprivileged kids. In early September she flies to Beijing and will be there until mid-December studying in the intensive language program at Minzu University.
A strong forehand keeps Kathleen Elkins in the winner's bracket! (Williams Athletics photo)
Like Kathleen, Eloise is interested in outdoor sports with a love for rock climbing, which is her main extracurricular activity. In addition to climbing for fun, she teaches rock climbing classes for the Williams P.E. Department, is a manager of the college’s climbing wall and is on the board of Williams Outing Club.
Eloise Andry will study at Minzu University in China this fall.
We look forward to hearing much more about these multi-talented young ladies.
And just a further Williams’ connection for those who grew up in Davidson with the Locke White and Peter Nicholls families: Alan White, son of the late Locke White and his widow, Anne, who now lives at The Pines, married Jane Nicholls, daughter of the late Peter Nicholls and his widow, Scotty, who also now lives at The Pines. Alan is a professor of Philosophy at Williams College and Jane works in Alumni Relations. Small world!
BIBLE SCHOOL ALREADY?
Hopewell Baptist Church
It is true. Hopewell Baptist Church at the corner of Davidson-Concord and Barnhardt Roads, welcomes you to their Vacation Bible School (VBS) beginning this Sunday evening, June 10, from 6:30 – 9 p.m. (Dinner is served each evening in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. if you don’t want to turn on the stove…) With the theme, “Amazing Wonders Aviation,” the evening sessions run from Sunday through Thursday, June 14, and are suitable for all ages of children and adults. Please see the flier at right for more information.
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
St. Alban’s Episcopal church located in the New Neighborhood in Old Davidson, off Concord Road, is also having an evening Vacation Bible School. Their VBS is taking place from 5:30-7:30pm June 17-20th. It’s for ages 3 (potty trained) through rising 5th grade. The fee is $25 a child and $40 max for a family. A simple supper is included every night for participants. (http://www.saintalbans-davidson.org/mura4sad/sad/)
AND MORE … Additional church Vacation Bible Schools will occur at mornings at Davidson United Methodist Church June 25-28, Music Camp at DUMC July 9-12, and also VBS at Davidson College Presbyterian Church the week of July 9-12. Contact the individual churches to register.
SEND US YOUR NEWS
Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.
