Happiness is a warm puppy with a best buddy and a soccer ball!

Something about having out of town children, grandchildren, grand-dogs and even a grand-puppy underfoot for the past ten days which found your correspondent focusing more on missing socks and dog treats than Davidson news. Thanks to David for letting me have a day off on Tuesday but now it is “back in the saddle” and a return to the computer keyboard.

Today Around Davidson has news of the fleet feet of Maryline Roux, a new book from Elisabeth Davis and a few gardening notes. Read the full story

It’s here! Tonight at midnight, three sold out screens at Our Town Cinemas will show the most anticipated movie of recent memory, “The Hunger Games.” Based on the first book in a trilogy by author Suzanne Collins, the movie is receiving positive reviews from early screenings by film critics. The book is promoted as a young adult novel but it seems that just as many adults are enjoying this fictional work set in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem. First published in 2008 the novel has been translated into 26 languages and rights of productions have been sold in 38 countries. Every news program this week seems to feature one of the stars.

Film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth may be household words throughout the U.S. but not to worry, we have our own film stars right here in Davidson. Well, OK, they were only extras but we consider them stars – and they will be at Our Town Cinemas tomorrow evening from 6-7 p.m. signing autographs. Davidson talent in The Hunger Games included Beth and Audrey Gibbs, Emma Landau, Rachel Figard, Beach Galloway, Luke Williams and Isabella Taylor.

Around Davidson caught up with Beth and Audrey Gibbs, Beach Galloway and Luke Williams earlier this week and have news today of their experience in the filming of this blockbuster movie as well as other tidbits you need to know about The Hunger Games. Read the full story

Oh those NCAA basketball brackets! When Duke and Missouri were eliminated, all but a handful of brackets were shredded. What a weekend for round ball enthusiasts and especially for Wolfpack and Tarheel fans. Good luck to both NC teams who made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Spring starts today and we all are enjoying the beauty Mother Nature is providing this month. Today Around Davidson has a mention of spring blooms as well as news of an honor for Carol Carroll, results of Road Bowling and a visit with the Pariola family on Davis Road. Read the full story

How about this weather? One has to dive into the closet to find summer clothes in the middle of March. But just a word of warning: Don’t put those sweaters away just yet. Our last frost date for this region is April 15. It is mighty tempting to get flowers in pots and plants in the garden but the Agricultural Extension Service recommends waiting just a bit. This Saturday, however, is St. Patrick’s Day and the traditional time to plant potatoes – so at least give the spuds a try!

Around Davidson today brings happy news of Melissa Sanderson’s wedding, a note about spring arrivals on the farm, a trip report from Russell and Carmen Mase and a musical mention about Lauren Jackson Coplan. Read the full story

Brenda tries out some new Ben & Jerry's flavors.

Was it the basketball, or switching to Daylight Savings Time that left us all a little discombobulated yesterday? What a weekend. Bet CVS was plumb out of antacids for those of us whose stomachs were tied in knots from watching Duke, N.C. State, UNC and Florida State in their last-second cliff hangers! And now we know the pairings for the NCAA tournament with Davidson College playing Louisville on Thursday in Portland, OR. Tip off for the game is Thursday at 1:40 p.m. EDT! Hope you have your brackets filled in. (We hear tell that some are filling in teams according to the pretty colors of their uniforms … probably as good a way as any to pick a winner!)

Leaving round ball behind for now, Around Davidson has news today of yummy new flavors at Ben & Jerry’s, a note about our post boxes, girl scout anniversary wishes and congratulations to Elizabeth Rodes headed for the US Naval Academy. Read the full story

It is a great week to be a Wildcat!

What a great week to be a Wildcat! Congratulations to all the basketball coaches and players at Davidson College for a wonderful Southern Conference Tournament championship win. Now we eagerly await the NCAA tournament pairing for the first playoff game.

With the students away on spring break, it is a nice time to use the college’s facilities for other events. The very successful Business Expo met Monday in the Baker Sports building and Tuesday marked the 28^th Horticultural Symposium which used the Knobloch Student Center as its meeting space. All week visiting Collegiate Challenge students used the Davidson College Presbyterian Church’s Congregation House as its base of operations.

Today Around Davidson has news of the Horticultural Symposium as well as the Collegiate Challenge group from Ohio Northern University. We also remind our readers about upcoming music events and 100th birthday happenings. Read the full story

What makes a sports fan? How to answer that question? Did you cheer for the Patriots or the Giants in this year’s Super Bowl? Do you pull for Coach K. and his Duke Blue Devils basketball team? Or does Carolina basketball with Roy Williams shouting instructions from the sideline send your blood pressure skyward? And we can’t leave out cheering for the Davidson Wildcats and their successful basketball team. Were you awake for hours with your adrenalin still flowing after Davidson’s double-overtime win, 93-91, over the Western Carolina Catamounts last night? What a thriller! Go Cats!

Yes, professional football season is behind us. Spring training is just getting started for baseball fanatics. Go Red Sox! College basketball tournaments will continue until the Final Four in New Orleans in April. Professional basketball has a lot of fans “pumped” watching the rise of Harvard-educated Jeremy Lin playing for the Knicks. We can’t forget that NASCAR is a year-round fan favorite in the Carolinas. Indeed fans of all sizes abound in our area but how many have a room in their home dedicated to a particular team? And how many can boast that they have been a FAN for the past 32 years and have a basement full of memorabilia to prove it!

Today Around Davidson introduces you to such a fan: Tommy Walker. Seldom does this column focus on a single individual but we think this remarkable fan-tastic sports fan-atic deserves his own space. Read the full story

What a cow!!

Almost 80 degrees today! If this is winter, we are not complaining but if you listen to the Farmer’s Almanac, when March comes “in like a lamb,” watch out – it is likely to go “out as a lion.” In the meantime, when one is not talking about GOP primaries, Daytona racing or Davidson Wildcats playing in the Southern Conference Tournament, then the most likely topics of conversation are rising prices at the pump and the grocery costs. With live cattle prices too high to even consider feeding out a steer, we had to smile as we caught up with the Chick Fil-A cow this week. Maybe he is onto something with “Eat Mor Chikin.”

Today Around Davidson has a definite flavor of France with a few suggestions about livestock, poultry, eating out and aging. In addition we go to “market” and introduce you to two new faces in Marketing. Read the full story

An early touch of spring!

Hope each of you has recovered from Sunday night’s Oscar ceremonies and are ready for “Leap Day” tomorrow. Apparently there will be a number of special sales concentrating on the number “29,” such as hotel rooms for $29 and $29 store coupons. Be sure to watch the newspaper ads and the Internet promotions. We all could use gas for $2.29 a gallon … but it looks like that won’t happen for a while.

For today, however, while thinking about Leap Year, you can join in the observation of National Pancake Day by visiting IHOP for a free short stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes. All IHOP asks in return is a voluntary donation to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This is the 7^th year IHOP has served free pancakes on Feb. 29 raising almost $8 million dollars for charities.

Around Davidson today visits with a few pink flamingos, brings news from our Acting Postmistress Sheri Cole, hears from Sylvia Schnople about her five weeks in Bali, and reminds gardeners about spring planting. Read the full story

Winter camellia blooms are a joy to behold!

Have you noticed that the sun is setting later each evening? What a delight to sit outside these pretty afternoons and enjoy a bit of Mother Nature as the sun drops in the sky. Hope you have noticed the beautiful camellias which have been blooming all winter providing a colorful touch of beauty to our landscaping. A quick check of the calendar indicates that Daylight Savings Time kicks back in on March 11! That is just three weeks away. Can’t wait!

Around Davidson has news today of Pink Flamingos, Evelyn Denham honors, Notes from Nepal and Friday events to add to your calendar. Read the full story