Can you hear the collective sigh of relief from parents as children are back at their school desks for the 2012-2013 year? Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools are anticipating more than 140,000 students. Lots of children crossing streets, boarding buses and riding bicycles which serve as a reminder to us all to be extra careful when we are behind the wheel.

Today Around Davidson reports on a visit with David Wilgus. There is also news of Emmily Cowie’s recent trip to England. A few Noteworthy Notes are added as well.
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Hello Freshmen! This is the day that the new students arrive on the Davidson College campus and prepare to tackle academia. First there will be lots of orientation information for them and for their parents. Then the parents head for home and college life begins. What an exciting time!

Around Davidson visited with one of these eager college freshmen, Molly Goode, and then took time to interview another eager young “freshman,” Hannah Mae Stevens, who will begin kindergarten at Davidson Elementary next week.

There is also news today of the dedication of the Sterling Martin Nature Trail last Saturday plus a Noteworthy Note about an upcoming program at The Pines featuring Dick Cole and Carol Cook. Read the full story

Frequent rains produce marvelous mushrooms!

This is the last week of freedom before Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools open their doors for a new academic year. The yellow buses are already practicing their routes, football games are already being played, and sports teams are honing their skills daily. Cooler temperatures and welcome rain make for a wonderful transition week from vacation to homework! And Mother Nature is making use of the soggy ground to provide a bountiful crop of “designer” mushrooms.

Around Davidson today spent some time at The Pines interviewing J. and Martha Honeywell and Ruth Harms who are fairly recent “newcomers” to the retirement community. We think you will enjoy knowing them. Read the full story

Have you noticed how your mailbox is blooming with Presidential mail already? And the election is still two and one half months away. Autographed photos of the candidates and their families complete with a reminder that your monetary contribution is needed have to bring a smile…especially since the mailings are addressed to you regardless of your party affiliation. Guess the good news is that election materials are providing much needed revenue for our financially ailing United States Post Office.

Around Davidson visits today with John Wacker to hear about his Eagle project, travels to Europe with Pam and Steve Mange and reports on an honor for Karen Hopper Wruck. There is also a reminder about Rusty Knox’s Concert on The Green this Sunday evening. Read the full story

On Motorbikes – Emma, Shelley and Tilly take a rest break while riding motorbikes around Penghu.

Summer is winding down and thoughts are turning to school supplies and lunch box treats. Some of Davidson young people have had interesting summer school adventures and today we highlight Rachel Mazur’s weeks at Oxford University as well as Emma and Tilly Boraks’s month in Taiwan. There is also a note about the Community Garden’s produce numbers. Read the full story

Tommy and Ann Davis visited with Mayor John Woods (right).

My goodness! After this weekend what will we do with our time when there is no Olympic water polo to watch? Think we had enough time to absorb all the finer strategies of the game or gawk at the underwater images of the women’s bathing suits? Bet most of us will not care if we ever see any more footage of water polo or beach volleyball … but gotta hand it to the Brits. The games have been fun for those attending. And just one last factoid: If you scramble the letters in Gabby Douglas’ last name, you get “USA Gold!” How ‘bout that.

Around Davidson has news today of a BIG birthday for Bob Manning, a cruise for Jane and Michael Todd, a few notes about Tuesday’s National Night Out picnic, and a Noteworthy Note about our town’s two hour parking. Read the full story

Hardly seems possible that Around Davidson is halfway through its fifth year on DavidsonNews.net. Most weeks find your correspondent scratching for news from citizens of Davidson and surrounding towns but once in a while, someone sends me an item that evolves into a special stand-alone column like today.

Around Davidson takes time this first Tuesday in August to introduce our readers to Robin Huggins who has a heartfelt story to tell about his visits to Raeford’s Barber Shop over the past decade. Robin’s email not only resulted in a meeting with this Mooresville resident but also a chance to report on barbering on South Main Street in Davidson. Read the full story

Oops! What happened to July? Must have been too involved watching the Olympics to know that August crept in yesterday. In a few short weeks the freshmen class will be arriving at Davidson College and the new Book Store will have its doors open.

Today Around Davidson checks with Mike Kessler about the College Store, has a trip report from the Barkemeyers and marvelous wedding news from Matthew Nelson and Pamela Love. Read the full story

Tower Bridge with the Olympic Rings. (photo by Kate Barger)

Did you see the Queen parachute into the Olympic Stadium in London last Friday evening as part of the opening ceremonies for the XXX Summer Games? With purse and gloves of course, but thank heavens she chose not to include her Corgi dogs in the escapade! Lots of fun to watch on television but not so easy to get tickets to that or any of the other events. Seems those empty seats at so many venues are corporate sponsor connected. Our reporter on the ground in London, Kate Barger, has some thoughts which she shares today.

We also have news of a birthday for Jennifer Thomas, a report on Nicaragua from Emma Montgomery, ideas on transporting melons from the Griffeths and a beach photo from the Michael family. Read the full story

Get ready to cheer for Olympians!

Cheerio! It is time to cheer for London and the opening ceremonies tomorrow for the Summer Olympics. Get out your banners and biscuits and be prepared to have a jolly good time cheering for the Americans – especially kayak team member and Davidson College student Caroline Queen. We wish all the athletes the best – and hope some of our readers will be there in person to take photos and report back to us on their adventures in London!

Today Around Davidson visits with a benefit lemonade stand, a wedding for Stephanie Bosak and Chad Johnson and an update on a former Davidson resident, Polly Griffin. Read the full story