James Good rides home to Spinnaker Point and is greeted by his wife, Stephanie, after a cross-country trek.

Welcome rain! Unwelcome humidity! But we should note that the recent weather hits just the right formula for gardens and crops. The corn along Robert Walker Drive is the tallest it has been in years. And speaking of Robert Walker we have an interesting weekend cow tale from that area of town sure to entertain (or dismay) our readers.

Today Around Davidson also reports on James Good who rode his bicycle from Seattle to Davidson last month. In addition there is news from the New Da Daytimers Book Club whose members got to meet in the mountains at the busy summer retreat of Lovenia Summerville.

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Summertime! So nice to swing in a hammock with a good book during a long lazy day.

Louise Lake is the "Commander in Chief" of DUMC's Outreach Singers

Better yet, read on DavidsonNews.net about some of the wonderful volunteers in our community, like Louise Lake and the Outreach Singers, who give so generously of their time and talent to bring music to others.

We also hear about summer vacations, including a trip that Janet Makee, Judy McGinnis and Nina Holcombe took to island paradise on Vieques. In addition we welcome Laurie Dennis home after spending most of the month of June in the Midwest. Laurie is the trusty Around Davidson “sidekick” whose journalistic eye makes this column better each week and she has been missed! Read the full story

How nice to have the Fourth of July fall on a Saturday allowing so many families to enjoy a long weekend. Although no fireworks were brightening the July skies over Davidson, there were were plenty of “booms” each evening as homeowners tried their own firecrackers.

Around Davidson caught up with residents of The Pines dressed in patriotic colors for a small parade to celebrate our Independence Day. Today there is also a news item about Sam Maloney, a family trip for David Boraks and an engagement announcement in the Barger family. Read the full story

Jackie and Max Polley with Max's national theater volunteer award.

Happy Fourth of July weekend to all our readers. Weatherwise this is a wonderful week for any activities. The dry breezes keep us a little cooler whether mowing the grass, walking the dog or weeding the garden. The first garden tomatoes are being sliced for sandwiches – yum! – but watch out for the tomato worms. Those beautiful green creatures can defoliate a tall plant in just hours.

Around Davidson today brings news of travel to Kenya by Davidson church members as well as an in depth report on Max Polley’s trip to Tacoma, Wash., to receive a national theatre award. Read the full story

Libby Appel is 95 years young.

Fourth of July week is here. A good part of our population is out of town now or planning to leave for vacation this weekend. Your correspondent finds herself in neither category but rather with family in town for a visit. Nothing like two preschool-aged grandchildren to put a crimp in news gathering. However two happy items found their way to Around Davidson today: birthday wishes for Libby Appel and happy golden wedding anniversary wishes for Tom and Yvonne Miller.

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"Duck, Duck, Goose?" or "Goose, Goose, Duck?" at Roosevelt Wilson Park.

We’ve always heard June is the month for brides. Nothing to report today about weddings, but we do have news of brides who have stayed with their hubbies for decades. Best wishes to Dot and Sam Hay who celebrated 60 years of marriage this week as well as Judy and Merle Schuh who have been hitched for 40.

Around Davidson also welcomes a new baby in the Thwaites’ household, a note about Kira Brice’s new teaching position, and an admonishment to “watch your step.”

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This dog can fly! Read more about Harley below.

Hope our readers had a wonderful weekend despite the high temperatures and high humidity. Summer is here and the heat is definitely on. Soon there will be news of summer travel, but for today let’s catch up on recent graduations for Caitlin Boon, Gretchen Wells and Jonathan Sekerak. We also announce the arrival of Tess Blackburn and offer a wonderful story about a dog named Harley. Read the full story

Caroline Plyler displays one of the 1048 Helping Hands quilts - this one designed by group member Wilma Ahrens.

Best wishes to all dads this Sunday, Father’s Day. Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing day and get waited-on hand-and-foot! Or if you need a little exercise on the first day of summer, take your family to the annual Open Garden Day at Davidson’s Methodist parsonages from 1:30-3:30 p.m. The Seymour garden on Pine Road and the Hassel garden at Lorimer and Woodland streets will be open for viewing. Besides garden tours, Around Davidson today brings a salute to the women of Helping Hands. And we congratulate another new UNC Charlotte graduate: Dr. Lina Soares. In Noteworthy Notes, an item about the Dunlap family. Read the full story

Hooray for weekend Yard Sales with bargains galore! Just ask Keith Bayless (l), Mike and Kate Lassiter about last Saturday's successful venture.

Unlike last year’s drought, this year’s wonderful spring showers are making many yards emerald green. Last week the showers put a damper on the middle school party at The Swimming Hole but could not dampen kids’ spirits. Saturday’s sun was perfect for finding fresh produce and meats at Davidson Farmer’s Market and for shopping at a multifamily yard sale stretching down Caldwell Lane. There Around Davidson got to visit with Mike and Kate Lassiter , as well as Keith Bayless, who were all smiles as they displayed an array of household treasures for sale.

Today we bring news from Grannie Annie Brindisi, North Mecklenburg Bronco Baseball and Filly Softball Champs, Belle Booker’s graduation, and the end of school pool party. In addition, Noteworthy Notes has news of Paris Nicholls, Blake Ketner and book news. Read the full story

Knit one, Pearl two - always thinking handwork, even in Venice, is Elaine McArn.

Hooray! School is out for summer, to the delight of Davidson children. Ahead are lazy days of swinging in the hammock, splashing in a pool, riding bikes along the greenways or joining friends for lemonade on the front porch. Fond memories for each of us of summertime fun.

Today Around Davidson catches up with two more graduates, Sam Pierce and Beatrice Denham, congratulates David Buck and Paige Baker on their marriage, and travels by bicycle with Elaine McArn in Italy. Read the full story