Memorial Day is behind us and we can now slowly slip into those lazy routines. A trip to downtown Davidson often means a stop in the public library to check out a book, view the latest art from the elementary school or catch the latest local news. Doesn’t it seem that college students, doctors, teachers and shopkeepers look younger every year? Well how about an eighth grader sitting at the library desk checking out patron’s books last weekend?

Learn more about that youngster, plus read of a Hugh Casey tribute, the recent Dance Davidson weekend extravaganza, Kenyan connections for Davidson College Presbyterian Church, a new flag for Anne Currie , goodbyes for Pastor Mark Conforti , June Shabbat services for a local Jewish congregation, a nursing award for Beth Bleavins , and wedding bells for Laura McComb . Read the full story

In this special sports edition of “Around Davidson” we bring you news of a repeat win for Douglas Clark-Brown and David Osborn at the collegiate croquet championships, plus Lynn Brickels’ golf hole-in-one. Read the full story

As we think toward summer plans, the cry for many may be “Surf’s Up” but in the meantime the cry from area farmers is “Hay’s Down!” Pastures of tall fescue are ready for mowing which makes trips along rural roads of Mecklenburg and surrounding counties a beautiful scene of tractors cutting the tall grass, raking windrows and baling hay. Frequent showers are certainly welcome if only they would wait for the hay to be packed in those tidy round bales.

Rain, however, did wait for commencement activities to be completed Sunday at Davidson College. The late afternoon wind and rain gave weary graduates a delightful respite from toting boxes and belongings to waiting vehicles. Congratulations to all graduating seniors from Davidson College. We wish you the best in the future.

We bring news this week of this year’s two Sullivan award winners, Elizabeth Anne Henry and Susan Abbott, announced at graduation, plus special recognition for Dr. Ben Klein. In addition, this week’s column has tips on handling flamingos, updates on the Fagg family, a move for Rush and Erin Beam, and a few thoughts on political signs being nabbed from neighborhoods.

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Hooray! Graduation weekend at Davidson College is upon us and the Class of 2008 is ready to gather diplomas and march off to future adventures. A well-known Davidson resident also is ready to journey along new pathways. At one time we might have said that “Elvis has left the building” since he did appear as Elvis but for now we simply wish “The Cat in the Hat” well as he leaves library employment tomorrow and looks for a “new circus” to run. Good luck, Ken Buddington. Happy Travels to you and Paula!

Around Davidson brings you news this week of Troop 58 Eagle honors for Patrick Beck and Kiefer Colcord, the dedication of new buildings at The Pines, a hidden gem of a garden in the McConnell neighborhood, reunions at Union-PSCE in Virginia, and performances by Jenny Giduz, Annie Rhodes and the Dennis dancers. Read the full story

Warm beautiful weather and LOTS of activities have made the past week fly by. Thank heavens we can now relax following the NC primary and let the telephone take a rest from automated calls during the dinner hour! Due to the many events in Davidson in the past seven days, this week’s Around Davidson will cover lots of ground – from the new pastor at DCPC to Melissa and Brad Reddick‘s new baby to a new baseball scholorship in honor of Will Dubose – with more photos and less copy. Hope our readers will take time to study the many faces featured and congratulate each in the coming days on a “job well done!”

Our lead-in photo does not feature a face but rather a “face of nature” found in the beautiful wisteria brightening our town’s landscape in so many places. Read the full story

A busy weekend in Davidson kicked off with a “Derby” Spring Fling Garden Party Friday at The Pines. In honor of the Kentucky Derby, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, current residents plus those on the Waiting List were invited to a buffet dinner, live music, livelier conversation and a beautiful day for spilling out from the Davidson Room onto the courtyard and gazebo area.

A full report will be included Thursday in this week’s Around Davidson but just to give you an indication of the festive occasion, we include a photo of The Pines own Derby Jockey, Becky Cunningham (Marketing Representative and Transition Coordinator), surrounded by Ruth Kimzey (l) and (right center) Grace Nolan and (far right) Sally Manley.

Needless to say, BIG hats were the order of the day!

Long lines at Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day Tuesday got residents in practice for long lines at North Carolina’s Primary Election Day next Tuesday, May 6. The race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination puts North Carolina in the spotlight. However we urge our registered voters to pick up a sample ballot at any Mecklenburg County public library and be informed on the many other races. Also remember Early Voting is as close as the Cornelius Public Library, 11-7 today and tomorrow, 10-1 on Saturday.

This week in Around Davidson, we bring you the story of how Phillip Hazel became a Friend of Bill (Clinton), plus news on a visit to The Pines by U.S. Senate hopeful Kay Hagan, profiles of the scoopers that brought you Free Cone Day and a birthday cruise for Karima Russell. In addition there are “catching-up” reports on Sam Pierce and the Morrisons. Read the full story

Recognize the Davidsonian in this photo? Check the back row, second from right – that’s Ivan Brown, former training officer for the Davidson Police Department. He’s pretty far from home, in Davidson’s St. Alban’s neighborhood. In fact, he’s in Afghanistan with a class photo of Afghan police trainees. Read on for his story. Read the full story

We are into the thick of spring, folks, and it seems like everyone is busy in Davidson. We bring you an update on the local needle guild, plus reports on the confections of M.J. Bowman, a new baby for the Mase family, Kay Elliotte‘s trip to Switzerland, Page Griffin‘s tour in Iraq, and more. Plus, we have coverage of all the spring cleaning performed recently by both the local Presbyterians and the Methodists. Read the full story

What a busy week! From the Wildcat Hoop-lah to cake decorating, pastoral piping to Antique White Work, there was an activity for everyone. And those who did not head out were probably holed up doing last minute tax forms. Frost warnings sent us scurrying to cover tender plants but this weekend’s warmer weather should let them recover. Spring may finally be here! See below for spring break Wildcat T-shirts, Pines twins Loyce and Joyce, the conclusion to Bill Cockrill‘s interim pastorate, Scottish piper Richard Monroe and a horticulture sale at North Meck.

Gabrielle Craig of Davidson made a Wildcat cake for her children – Zachary, Katie and Grace – during a class on cake decorating led by M.J. Bowman and held at the Davidson Public Library. Read the full story