Joann Rautenberg and Dick Cole (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

We love to read about Cynthia Lawing’s Musical Interlude Programs which occur monthly at Tyler-Tallman Hall on the Davidson College campus. Not everyone can attend the noontime concerts, so Around Davidson decided to bring you today an interlude of music you can listen to at any time: Recordings of two special pianists from The Pines at Davidson retirement community. We know how much talent resides at The Pines, but for today we’re focusing on two home grown folks who love to play the piano: Dick Cole and Joann Rautenberg. We hope you will enjoy getting to know each of them and their music.

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Ground Hog Day! Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Late breaking news tells us he did, so we can expect six more weeks of winter. And by the way, where IS winter? Old timers tell us to beware the blasts of March. We will see – but in the meantime we can all handle the reduced number of kilowatt hours on our meters!

Today we have news of Formula One racing in New Jersey, half marathon success in Hawaii and music notes for your calendar. Read the full story

"Monk" was a star helping court jester Rodney Saunders, a Davidson junior theater major from Wilmington, Del.

Whoops! What happened to January? It certainly felt like April for most of the month but we are not hearing many complaints. Indeed the bright sunny skies of last weekend were perfect to sneak-a-peek at the annual children’s theatre production at Davidson College as well as perfect weather to catch up with feathered friends at the Coleman home. Davidson’s honey bees are not much in evidence at this time of year but the college campus is a small beehive of activity you need to know about. Read the full story

Warm sunny days bring bright pansy faces!

Wow! Two days of warm sunny weather at the end of January! How nice to see gym shorts and t-shirts all around town. But be mindful of Mother Nature. She will be sure to send us a few more wintry blasts to make use of Christmas mittens and scarves.

Holiday gatherings make us remember how much we cherish time spent with families. Today Around Davidson focuses on Davidsonians June Robb and Karen Myers who as adults found new family members. We also highlight two younger Davidsonians, Jason McRee and Kate Barger, who have come “home to roost.” Read the full story

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was in rare form this past weekend! (Bill Giduz photo)

What a great weekend! A little rain did not deter fans from cheering the Davidson College Wildcats to yet another basketball win or stop enthusiastic crowds from cheering the college’s opera workshop production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” And we still have football on our radar as the Patriots and Giants prepare for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on February 5. Despite dreary, soggy days, January still has a lot to offer.

Yes, indeed. January also has daily reminders on the web, in print and on television that we need to get in shape. Our New Year’s resolutions ought to include exercise, exercise, and exercise so today Around Davidson visits SNAP Fitness to check out their SILVER SNEAKERS program. We also include news from the Davidson Garden Club and two catch-up notes on Fli-Backs and One by One Costa Rica plus a bicycle request. Read the full story

John Kimbirl and granddaughter, Meghan, love their Wildcats!

Just noticed that next Monday, January 23, is Chinese New Year. Davidson College’s popular annual celebration, complete with fireworks, is scheduled Saturday, Jan. 28. Watch DavidsonNews.net for the details.

Speaking of catching action, we noticed two very special Wildcat Enthusiasts at a recent basketball game. Sporting very carefully applied face paint were John Kimbirl of Davidson and his granddaughter, Meghan. Nine year old Meghan is the daughter of Peggy and John’s son, Brad Kimbirl and his wife, Jill, who live in Belmont. When asked if she would like to be a cheerleader, Meghan emphatically says “NO”. She wants to be the Davidson Mascot!

Around Davidson has some more news today of Maggie Sellers and other budding musicians in our area. In addition we report on weddings and births in Janet Makee’s family and a Boy Scout Troop 58 trip to Ft. Sumter and the Yorktown. There are also notes about musical events and snow in Seattle. Read the full story

Some of us enjoyed a delightful three day weekend with the MLK holiday yesterday. Now we are back to business as usual – especially since the Davidson College students are returning from a long and restful holiday break.

Today Around Davidson takes a moment to focus on children and youth in our community with news of Sylvie Stanback’s earning oboe honors, Woodlawn first graders collecting funds for a special cause, preschoolers enjoying story time and Girl Scouts taking “a plunge.” There is also a note about upcoming music program this week. Read the full story

Many of us get a holiday weekend coming up with the Martin Luther King holiday. Maybe the weather will remember it is January and drop snow on slopes north of us so families can enjoy some skiing. Interesting this month how we alternate almost daily between winter and spring temperatures! Today, Around Davidson catches up with an annual Freund family trip and a welcome retirement for Bill Tiemann. We also have a note about Steve Langley’s paddle ball record and a further note about parking. Read the full story

Chilly temperatures make beautiful sculptures!

We know it is cold when the fountain outside Health Care at The Pines freezes solid and gives us a glimpse of the beauty of winter on a bright January day. Hoods and hats were very fashionable this week to protect our heads from the stiff breeze but not to worry, warmer days are ahead this weekend.

News today of weddings for Sheena Goldstein and Kirkley Griffeth as well as a trip report from Kevin Beach. In addition we have a note about the career of Timothe Bittle and a word about a book swap in Charlotte. Read the full story

The last week of December 2011 and a definite lull spreads over our town. Schools are out, college is not in session and holiday vacations are luring our citizens away. Those of us left in town are either hitting the stores for after-Christmas sales or curling up on the couch with a book in one hand and the remote control in the other.

Needless to say, your Around Davidson correspondent has succumbed to holiday laziness. The New Year will bring more of the news you’re used to. But for today, we bring you a third Christmas installment about the Barger Farm pet, Steif. (See related stories: Dec. 30, 2010, “Steiffie update” and Dec. 22, 2009, “Steif, the Christmas miracle calf.”) Read the full story