Around Davidson visits today with Natasha Rath Marcus who has tickets for President Obama’s speech this week and looks in on Skipper Brake, who had a BIG birthday. We also take time to talk to Michael Flake and hear about his You Tube video. Our Noteworthy Note includes a wonderful end of summer photo!

With credentials in hand, Natasha Rath Marcus is ready to hear President Obama this Thursday.

ONE PHONE CALL AT A TIME

Yes, we have each received at least one political phone call in the past month. Some of them may be coming from groups organized by Natasha Rath Marcus. Natasha is a Neighborhood Team Leader for the Obama re-election campaign. This McConnell resident is a busy wife, mother and tireless coordinator for the campaign in Davidson and Cornelius. These neighbor groups are found all over North Carolina with the goal of doing “a little every day.” (See our Aug. 24 Election page story, “Area Obama supporters work the phones and streets”)

In recent weeks, volunteers who have been manning the phone banks each earned a ticket to Bank of America Stadium this Thursday, Sept. 6, if they completed nine hours of calling spread over three shifts. We know that there are a number of Davidson residents who will be in the stadium on Thursday and we’ll be sure to look for Natasha and her family on TV. It will be quite an evening! Let’s hope for good weather.

Happy Birthday, Skipper Brake, who poses with his wife, Kelley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SKIPPER

There were balloons and a sign that read, “Skipper is 40!” So indeed, Around Davidson stopped to wish this “young man” a Happy Birthday! Skipper Brake, his wife, Kelley, and their two sons, Cooper (7) and Eli (3) live in the former Westmoreland home in the Westmoreland Farm neighborhood just off Davidson-Concord Road. Skipper, an ASU grad, has enjoyed his special day, Sept. 1, for the past two weekends. Good friends from his college days have been in town to wish him well so he is well feted as he begins his fifth decade.

The Brake family has lived in Davidson for 10 years. Before moving to Westmoreland Farm three and one half years ago, they lived in town on Catawba Avenue (now the home of Mike Kessler and his family). Skipper is a vice president at Aquesta Bank while Kelley, a UNC-Wilmington grad, works for Chubb Insurance doing marketing for North and South Carolina.

Best wishes to you, Skipper!

The Community Garden motto is featured in a You Tube video with Michael Flake.

MICHAEL FLAKE and YOU TUBE

Before you read any further, you might want to check out this video by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4AJymgOyBU. This video came from Georgia Krueger of Ada Jenkins whose Food Pantry receives wonderful produce from The Community Garden. She wanted to share it with residents interested in the garden and to introduce a local pastor, Michael Flake, who took to heart the garden’s motto, “Tend Some, Take Some, Share a Lot.”

Watching the video was a perfect segue to calling Pastor Flake to learn more about his ministry in our area. Thirty-seven years ago when your correspondent moved to Davidson, choices for churches were like schools. Limited. Unless you were willing to drive miles, your children attended Davidson Elementary and your Sunday worship was at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church or Davidson United Methodist Church. My, how times have changed.

Michael Flake is the pastor of Lake Forest Church/Davidson campus.

Pastor Flake leads Lake Forest Church Davidson, a one-year-old congregation adding to the many choices our residents now have for worship. This growing congregation meets in the gymnasium of the Davidson Elementary School with Sunday School groups in the cafeteria and hallways. Michael smiled when he mentioned that the end of South Street is a “Holy Corner” with his Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) next door to the Davidson Society of Friends Meeting House and just a few feet from the Temple Kol Tikvah (in the former Calvary Church space).

Newlyweds, Michael and Mandi Flake, enjoyed a ski trip this past winter following their February 2012 marriage.

Michael, who grew up in Memphis, is a Davidson grad (’06) and math major. While at Davidson, he attended Lake Forest Church which was then meeting in the Lake Norman YMCA. He continued his education at Vanderbilt Divinity School, returned to Lake Forest Church as Mission Director, was ordained in 2010 and started Lake Forest Davidson Campus in August 2011. Lake Forest feels that reaching out into other communities is more satisfactory than enlarging their current Huntersville campus.

Before starting a church in Davidson, Michael walked the streets of our town to get to know us better and stumbled on The Community Garden. Its motto is what Lake Forest is all about: the importance of giving and sharing what we have – materially or spiritually – and reaching out to others. Sunday services are at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Lake Forest Davidson has 250-300 worshippers each Sunday. To learn more, go to lakeforest.org/discover/Davidson or “lakeforestchurch.org.”

This energetic young man married Mandi Grimes last February. Mandi is a graduate of Wheaton College who worked earlier for Bank of America on their Intelligence Team but decided to give up the long hours and have weekends free. She now works for Crown Trophy in Cornelius. Michael is a regular at Summit Coffee so look for him next time you are getting a cup of Joe and tell him you saw him on You Tube. We are glad to know a bit more about Michael, Mandi and Lake Forest Davidson.

Ah, therapy – the backyard variety. A perfect solution to a hot, humid day!

NOTEWORTHY NOTE

Ah, summer is over and the pools are closing. One family in town, however, has found a way to beat the heat and cool off in a backyard Therapy Pool. Not sure just what that is but the photo is “worth a thousand words.” Utter bliss! More will follow on this lady with those “sexy” legs!

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Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

Butterflies love late summer blooms

August bids us good-bye tomorrow and Labor Day weekend is upon us. A three-day weekend combined with the onslaught of visitors for the Democratic National Convention will keep our area roads and restaurants busy. Pools will be closing and we will have to say farewell to the summer of 2012. Lots of leaves already are falling and bright autumn foliage greets us in yards and along the highways, signaling fall.

Around Davidson talks to Peter and Boo Hess about their summer and has a report from Amelia Slagle and friends running the roads of Oregon. There is a tidbit about a Boo-Hoo Breakfast and also a few Noteworthy Notes worthy of your attention.

HESS HIGHLIGHTS

Nice for Boo and Peter Hess to visit their Hess Vineyard in California!

West Coast Travels

Peter and Boo Hess of Lorimer Road have had a busy summer. At the end of May they flew to California to spend 11 days with their younger son, Joey Hess, who is currently working as an outreach counselor with the nonprofit At the Crossroads, serving homeless youth in San Francisco. While on the West Coast, Boo and Peter celebrated their 39^th wedding anniversary at a family gathering hosted by Peter’s cousin Anne in Corte Madera with her husband and two daughters. Also in attendance were Peter’s aunt and uncle from Steep Falls, Maine, along with their daughter and her fiancé from St. Helena (in Napa Valley).

Proud grandpa, “Papi” Hess holds his new granddaughter, Mariana Isabel Hess.

The Hesses’ trip coincided with the 75^th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge and they were able to view some of the festivities from the ferry transporting them to and from Alcatraz. Sights included seeing the massive Admiral Nimitz aircraft carrier in the bay, along with numerous sailboats, cargo ships and fire boats with their hoses ceremoniously at full tilt. Traveling through the Napa Valley, Boo and Peter had a compulsory tourist stop at the beautiful Hess Collection vineyard, on a hillside between Napa and Sonoma Valleys. There in the Donald Hess’ art gallery they recognized a grouping of headless bodies sculpted by the same Polish artist who did The Group of Ten now standing beside Davidson College’s Little Library. (“This Group of Ten” by Magdalena Abakanowicz was installed on Davidson’s campus last spring.)

Happy smiles for Karina and Jamie Hess and big sister, Ana Lu, at the baptism of Mariana Isabel Hess.

The highlight of the trip was of course the time spent with Joey, walking up and down the streets or riding trolleys, enjoying the ethnic meals offered by eateries in his neighborhood. Yosemite National Park was a treat, too, with its magnificent views of Half Dome, El Capitan and the giant redwoods. A late afternoon walk in Muir Woods with the sun slanting between these tallest of trees was unforgettable. Boo and Peter also enjoyed a drive up the northern California coast to Mendocino which offered spectacular views of the Pacific and the beauty of pounding of waves against the cliff-lined shore.

A packed itinerary for the 11 days even included a most enjoyable visit at the home of former Davidson students Michael and Alison Hall Mauze, both of whom took economics courses with Peter in the early 1980s. Alison returns often to the Davidson campus as a trustee and their two oldest sons are now students at the college.

East Coast Excitement

The Hesses returned from California on June 4 and had just about two months relaxing in Davidson and at their home in Davis, N.C., before heading to northern Virginia for the birth of their second grandchild and second granddaughter. Mariana Isabel Hess was born on August 15 to proud parents, Jamie and Karina Hess. Baby Mariana weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz., stretched to 20 inches, and is the delight of her older sister, Ana Lu, who will be two years old this November. Proud Grandpa Peter and Grandma Boo, as well as Uncle Joey, now have two beautiful little girls to pamper and dote on.

Maternal grandparents of Mariana Isabel and Ana Lu are Leo and Maria Cacho of Lima, Peru. Karina’s sister, Diana Cacho, has been visiting the family in Northern Virginia as has Grandma Maria. Jamie and Karina have busy days ahead as they will soon be leaving for Warsaw, Poland, where Jamie will be employed.

Front, from left: Greg Wadsworth (Cannon School 2008), Zach Eyler (2001), Mike Mitchell (2001), Adam Peindl (2001), Heidi Hecht Campbell (2001), Amelia Slagle (2003), Rob Wadsworth (2005), John Wadsworth (2001).
Back, from left: Matt Campbell, JD Whittemore, Jim Hooper (2002), Jacob Grove (2001), Jackson Letchworth(2002)

FLEET FEET

For young people today, it’s all about networking. Several members of the cross-country team at North Mecklenburg High School a decade or so ago have stayed in contact and recently gathered in Portland, Oregon, to run the 200-mile Hood to Coast Relay from Mt. Hood to Seaside on the Oregon Coast. This was perfect for Nancy Slagle’s daughter, Amelia Slagle, who lives in Portland and ran at North Meck, and has run many races since graduation in 2003.

The Hood to Coast relay team began on Friday morning at 8:45 a.m. and finished in 23 hours and 46 minutes. They were 53rd overall out of 1,050 teams. The 12 runners each ran three legs of the relay. Each leg was between 3 and 8 miles. Two vans shuttled runners back and forth between the exchange zones. The runners ran in broad daylight and in the pitch darkness of back roads from the mountains to the coast. Jim Hooper (North Meck 2002) of Davidson drove the team van.

North Meck runners included Jacob Grove (2001), Jackson Letchworth (2002), Zach Eyler (2001), Mike Mitchell (2001), Adam Peindl (2001), Heidi Hecht Campbell (2001), Rob Wadsworth(2005), John Wadsworth (2001) and of course, Amelia Slagle (2003). Greg Wadsworth (Cannon School 2008) joined the group as well as J.D. Whittemore of Austin, Texas, and Matt Campbell, husband of Heidi Hecht.

Congratulations to these young people who are surely “fleet of foot!”

Crying? or Cheering? to see the little ones in school!

BOO HOO or YAHOO

Tomorrow marks the first full day of kindergarten for Davidson Elementary School. Staggered attendance has been the norm this week but tomorrow the “real” business of behaving begins. What a wonderful idea to have a “Boo-Hoo Breakfast” for parents beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria. No doubt there will be some tears as the youngsters march off to independence from Mom – but we bet there might just be a good deal of cheering as Moms look forward to some REAL free time!

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Has Dave Wilgus found a new home for his “Little Free Library?” Stay tuned!

Little Free Libraries

Around Davidson is already getting feedback about the “Little Free Library” idea so creatively constructed by Davidson’s own Dave Wilgus. Some good ideas are cropping up. You may see more of this marvelous structure in downtown Davidson soon.

ReadDavidson makes Davidson Read

In keeping with thoughts about libraries, the fall programs connected to ReadDavidson have just been announced. The book chosen for community discussion is Anne Patchett’s “State of Wonder.” For more information on events, go to www.townofdavidson.org/ReadDavidson, and be sure to sign up for the ReadDavidson eCrier, as well as following ReadDavidson on Facebook.

SEND US YOUR NEWS

Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

Emmily Cowie loved her Welcome Home banner.

FOOTBALL IN ENGLAND

The banner hanging from the Cowie home in McConnell was big and bright. It read: Welcome Home, Emmily with a colorful spot featuring the Union Jack. Emmily, daughter of Tim and Gwen Cowie traveled to England with the U16 North Mecklenburg Soccer Club (NMSC) girls’ team. The NMSC U16 boys’ team traveled with them as well. The group of 18 girls and 18 boys plus coaches, administrators and parent chaperones made for a lively group when they arrived in Chelsea where they were “headquartered.” It was a wonderful experience for both teams as they trained, played competitive matches and experienced the great London area with emphasis on the Brits football – which is soccer of course to us in the USA.

This large group of U16 (under 16 years of age) stayed in Cobham, went to the Community Shield match with Chelsea playing Manchester City @ Aston Villa as well as the English Premier League (EPL) opener with Fulham and Norwich (current coach was a former Norwich player-identified by some fans). The group also enjoyed sight-seeing, karaoke night, playing three games for each team, and having training sessions with Chelsea coaches. Want to know more? Be sure to visit the “Expedition Chelsea 2012” facebook page that was maintained throughout the trip. It has wonderful pictures of the girls and boys teams as well as some small write-ups on the trip.

Lots of fund raising during this past year made the trip possible for these young athletes. What a grand opportunity. Emmily Cowie at age 14 is a busy, busy young lady. A sophomore at Hough High School, she is a member of the state and national champion Hough High School women’s soccer team and also finds time to play varsity volleyball and basketball at Hough. Her participation in the NMSC is in addition to these other sports. Phew! What a schedule!

(And an interesting note: NMSC Boys’ coach Bobby Rosario is a former player for the Norwich (England) team and was interviewed while attending the Fulham vs. Norwich pro game with the NC youth. The interview is available on the following link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00xkq07)

The Wilgus Playhouse has delighted children for decades

A LITTLE FREE LIBRARY and A WELL SHOD SHED

Bet some of our readers will remember the network news stories last spring about “little free libraries.” (Little Free Library is a program whose purpose is to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.) Boo Hess thought this would be a wonderful idea for her Lorimer neighborhood and asked neighbor Dave Wilgus to make one.

How to describe Dave Wilgus? Independent thinker? Creative woodworker? Exceptional artist who works only in colored pencil? All round nice guy? Certainly all the above and Dave put all these talents to work on a “little free library” – but it got a little bigger than would fit conveniently on a post so now it elegantly rests on a wheeled wagon in Dave’s backyard. The idea was to construct a classic library building in a small size which would promote reading by having neighborhood readers leave books for others to enjoy hoping people would take a book and donate another to that spot. The roof of Dave’s “free library” is fashioned from Habitat’s left over siding and resembles pages of a book. The cedar wood used in the construction comes from pieces of raised garden beds when Country Gardens Magazine came to call.

Dave Wilgus’ “Little Free Library” would love a good home!

Wow! How providential that Around Davidson was so slow getting to interview Dave about his “little free library” that this interview could include the Wilgus playhouse on the cover of Country Gardens Magazine in their Fall (August) 2012 issue. The playhouse in the side yard of their Woodland Street home made the cover of the magazine and on the inside pages, one reads a wonderful story about Dave and his wife, Robin, and the playhouse beginning on page 42. The playhouse was built in 1993 when the Wilgus children, Drew and Dinah were eight and four respectively. (Dinah now works for Wells Fargo in Raleigh and Drew, an architect, and his wife, Brennan, also live in Raleigh and are expecting a baby boy on October 5.) It will soon be time for Grandpa Dave to introduce a new generation to the playhouse.

The August 2012 issue of Country Gardens Magazine features a cover story on Dave and Robin Wilgus’ playhouse – turned garden shed!

Country Gardens Magazine spotted the playhouse last year, brought in all the raised beds, plants, pumpkins and obelisks, did the photo shoot last September 2011 and left. Dave has incorporated the obelisks into his yard, set aside other pieces and used some of the cedar in his “little (big) free library.”

Dave would love for the little free library to have a home somewhere in town where it would be well used and well loved. Any suggestions? Email Around Davidson at hbbarger@gmail.com or speak to Dave next time you see him sitting on his front porch of what was originally the Fulcher home built in 1925 and occupied by the Wilguses since 1987.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Kelly Nicholson presents Hugh Barger with his new Nook.

FROM BOOK TO NOOK

Remember the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library’s adult summer reading club called “Between the Covers?” One had to log in hours spent reading from June 12 through August 10. Readers who completed the necessary requirements were entered into a drawing for prizes of all kinds.

Beverly Swanson of our Davidson public library is pleased to announce that teen Spencer Barnes won a gift card to Best Buy, Pat Jacobs won theater tickets and Hugh Barger won a Nook (won’t Steiffie be excited to have Farmer B. read cow stories aloud to him from the new “gadget!).

NOVEL NEWS

Remember that October is National Reading Group Month. Davidson Book Clubs are getting ready to meet early in September and should include two events on their fall calendars. Thursday, October 18, is the Annual Fall Tea for all Davidson Book Club members and guests. This program will be held at The Pines with Margo Williams and Jon Guttman reading from their recently published book, “Madame President.”

A few days later on Sunday, October 21, Main Street Books is planning an afternoon tea to meet Debra Dean, author of “The Madonnas of Leningrad” and most recently, “The Mirrored World.” Interesting events to attend in October.

SEND US YOUR NEWS

Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

Molly Goode is ready for college life at Davidson!

COLLEGE LIFE IS CALLING MOLLY GOODE

Davidson College for Molly Goode will be a pretty easy transition. The daughter of Mike and Margaret Goode, she lives within shouting distance of the campus; her parents are Davidson College graduates; and she has many relatives who are Davidson College graduates. She knows the campus well but, as many others in her class, is a little anxious about the academic demands.

A Hough High School grad (June 2012), Molly is eager to meet her college roommate from New York City. She moved her belongings into her Belk dormitory room yesterday evening but will spend her first night in the dorm tonight following orientation activities and a legacy luncheon this noon. Molly already knows a number of freshmen since she participated in the Odyssey Program which ran from last Saturday until yesterday. Seven groups enjoyed outdoor Odyssey adventures while Molly’s group focused on service. All Odyssey members spent last Saturday at the lake campus overnight and then Molly and her seven fellow freshmen “camped” at Erwin Lodge while taking part in projects including volunteering at Charlotte’s Plaza Place, Second Harvest Food Bank, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Habitat for Humanity and Hinds Feed Farm.

Two things excite Molly already about the college experience: meeting new students and making new friends plus finally getting to sit in the Student Section at Davidson basketball games! Good Luck, Molly. We look forward to seeing you around campus.

Brother Aaron and sister Emily Grace will miss sharing cookies with big sister Hannah Mae.

KINDERGARTEN BECKONS HANNAH MAE STEVENS

A brand new “Dora, the Explorer” backpack and a Disney “Princess” lunch bag are all that is required to make Hannah Mae Stevens ready to climb on that big yellow school bus and head to Davidson Elementary School (DES) for the very first time. This delightful five year old will soon have the required items including glu-stick, markers, composition book, handi-wipes and change of clothes zippered inside and lunch box filled for next Wednesday, August 29.

With backpack and lunch bag, Hannah Mae Stevens is ready for Kindergarten!

But wait! School starts on Monday, the 27^th. What’s up? This year kindergarteners have staggered entry with a third coming each day Monday-Wednesday. Then they have a vacation day on Thursday while the teachers make assignments and call each student that afternoon to tell them which classroom will be their “home for real” on Friday when they have a first full day for all kindergartners. DES anticipates that there will be 4 full kindergarten classes and two K-1 classes this year (with a student body totaling 672 youngsters in grades K-5). What fun!

Hannah Mae is the oldest child of Erland and Karin Stevens of Davidson. She will be leaving Aaron (3 years) and Emily Grace (20 mos.) behind when she tackles “big school” for the first time. She attended DCPC pre-school five days a week last year so is well practiced in school “things.” She is particularly looking forward to riding the bus with neighborhood friends and most excited about time on the elementary school playground. Best wishes to you, Hannah Mae, for a wonderful school year and a bright beginning for many happy school years to come.

Sterling Martin stands beside the information kiosk showing the trail named for him

STERLING MARTIN IS HONORED

Last Saturday morning an enthusiastic crowd gathered next to Davidson Day School’s playing field to honor Davidson resident Sterling Martin for years of leadership in recreation and conservation and to dedicate a walking trail in his name. Sterling has worked tirelessly on the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve with its entrance just off the sidewalk and along a short path next to Davidson Day. (The school granted the easement so the Town of Davidson could finally have a public access area to Lake Davidson.) The kiosk at the entrance informs visitors that this area is a Town of Davidson Park with Canoe and Kayak Access and is also a partnered project of the Davidson Lands Conservancy (DLC) and Outfitter REI.

There are more canoes and kayaks than racks to hold them.

Over a two year period, REI gave funding of $24,000 to help with the half mile nature trail, canoe racks, gazebo, information kiosks and benches, almost all of which are thanks to Sterling Martin’s expertise with his Kubota tractor with front end loader, hammer, saw and numerous other tools – not to mention untold weeks of donated labor! Sterling’s 14 comfortable benches (after an Aldo Leopold design – he is considered the father of the conservation movement), each have a cut-out featuring a Russ Gavitt nature photo with the name of a DLC board member. Recently teenager Andrew Nielsen’s Eagle Project provided some additional canoe racks so that there is now space for 24 – and not only are the racks filled but a good sampling of water craft are tied to trees nearby. The Town’s Public Works provided the trash bins. Alice Sudduth was instrumental in seeing that trees were identified with World of Wonder (WOW) tags. (WOW is a wing of the Land Conservancy.) The half mile perimeter trail around the property still needs work but is already a delight to hike.

Needless to say, the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve is the work of many people dedicated to spending many hours conserving a beautiful piece of land with lake frontage. And it is not hard to understand why the DLC suggested that the Nature Trail be known always as the Sterling Martin Trail.

Carol Cook and Dick Cole will partner for their sixth piano and voice recital next Tuesday.

NOTEWORTHY NOTE

Next Tuesday, August 28, is the date. The time is 4 p.m. and the location is the Davidson Room at The Pines Retirement Community on Avinger Road. For the sixth time, Dick Cole and Carol Cook will join talents to present a piano and voice recital entitled “Joseph Haydn and Anne Hunter – A Musical Partnership.”

Dick will begin the afternoon program with a Haydn sonata. Then accompanied by Dick at the piano, Carol will sing several of the songs Haydn and Anne Hunter, a respected London poet, collaborated on.

This program is free and open to the public. What a nice way to spend an afternoon.

SEND US YOUR NEWS

Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

Ruth and her husband, John Daniel Harms in 1971

MEET POLLY HARMS

Her real name is Ruth Harms but while serving in the Women’s Marine Corps. during World War II, a boot camp buddy declared, “You look like a Polly” and the name stuck. Polly Harms grew up in Nashville, TN, and met her husband, John Daniel Harms, on a blind double-date for sodas in a Walgreen Drug Store booth back in 1941. When the war was over, they married and spent the first five years of married life in Boston where John Daniel earned a degree in hydraulic engineering from MIT. He was employed with American Air Filter until his unexpected death in Chicago in 1974.

Polly returned to her ancestral home in Nashville, TN, for the next 30 years until her sons, John Daniel (Chicago), Steven (Montclair, NJ) and Peter (Davidson) decided that “Mom” needed to come live with one of them. (Polly remarked that they were trying to “tell her what to do!”) She did relocate, reluctantly, to Davidson to live with Peter for a year. Then she bought a home in Highland Creek for the next 2 ½ years, and this past January came to The Pines. “Good choice,” she says so her boys don’t have to worry about her! And she does not have to move again since she already has “moved 31 times in her life!”

Ruth’s apartment has a perfect spot for her sewing machine

Pines’ residents can tell you about Polly when she appeared at their Memorial Day program recognizing those who had served in the military dressed in her original Women’s Marine Corps uniform – complete with a few moth holes but fitting her trim figure just as well now as it did back in 1943. Polly enlisted that year mentioning that all the young men had gone to war and she thought she also should serve her country. She trained at Camp Lejeune in NC and was assigned to galley work at Quantico, VA., helping prepare meals three times a day for all the enlisted women assigned to the Marine Corps Headquarters. She fondly remembers learning to crack four eggs at a time – two in each hand – and hoping that any shell disappeared in the cooking.

Wearing her original Marine Corps. dress jacket, Ruth Harms sits amid a sampling of beautiful garments she sewed herself

Polly is eager to tell you about her three sons and their wives, her four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her one bedroom apartment is a mini-museum with family treasures and photos throughout the rooms including framed news articles about her service in the Marine Corps. Polly also will show you a closet full of elegant dresses, suits, jackets and formal attire – all of which she sewed herself. Polly has been making her own clothes since she was 11 years old. Her Pfaff sewing machine and sewing table have a perfect spot in her bedroom. She likes Vogue patterns the best but regrets that good fabric is harder and harder to find and Mary Jo’s in Gastonia is too far to drive. Well-made garments from fashionable designer patterns hang neatly on rods and fit her as well today as the day she completed the last stitch. Wow! That in itself is remarkable. (Your Around Davidson reporter, who has also been known to keep a sewing machine working overtime some years ago, examined the collars, linings, buttonholes, zippers and decorative cording only to find all A+ quality.)

When not visiting family and friends, or reading, Polly finds time to knit lap robes for health care patients – and of course, keeps her sewing machine humming. We are glad to know Polly Harms!

J. and Martha Honeywell at home in their cottage at The Pines

FROM NEW YORK TO NORTH CAROLINA

J. and Martha Honeywell left Elizabethtown, NY, and moved into their cottage at The Pines May 1, 2011. The first question posed to this couple was “How did you end up at The Pines?” It seems that in the fall of 2010 they traveled from NY to visit a son in the D.C. area before continuing to Atlanta to spend Thanksgiving with their daughter. It was too long a drive to cover the Interstates from Washington to Georgia in one day so they stopped in Davidson to visit Martha’s sister, Del Murray, a Pines’ resident. Looking around the Honeywells commented that this retirement community might just suit them and at the end of 2010 signed up for a unit – thinking it might be a year or two before a cottage was available. Before they knew it, a cottage was vacant and 16 months ago they arrived with their “pared down” household goods and two 16 year old cats, Rama and Sita.

Making the move from her NY garden to The Pines is Martha’s personally created Inukshuk (or Eskimo directional marker)

J. grew up in Kansas, has a degree from the University of Chicago, taught first at Elmira College and retired from Skidmore College after teaching Philosophy for 25 years and has two daughters who live in England and Santa Fe, NM. Martha grew up outside Boston, graduated from the University of Colorado, taught 20 years in Labrador and another 10 in Vermont before settling with J. in New York State. They both love the outdoors but mobility problems for J. in recent years have kept him dependent on a walker or scooter. Martha, however, continues to hike locally (just ask Sam Hay) and in Europe with J’s daughter who hikes regularly with a group of friends. Martha spent 12 days hiking with these friends in the Vosges Mountains of Alsace Lorraine, France, this past June. Other hikes have taken her to Italy and frequently well-worn paths in the British Isles.

While J. loves to read and play bridge, Martha enjoys yoga and plays the trumpet with the Lake Norman Orchestra. Did we forget to mention that Martha also has a one-man canoe behind their cottage and just this summer traveled to the Adirondacks to paddle with good friends. Martha is also a regular at Summit Coffee “hiking” from The Pines at 7 a.m. with Jean Berg and Joanne Rawson. Goodness! Makes this correspondent weary just to hear of her unlimited energy! Glad to have the Honeywells in Davidson!

SEND US YOUR NEWS

Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

When in Holland, you do need a bicycle!

AN ADVENTURE IN HOLLAND AND AUSTRIA

Pam and Steve Mange recently teamed with nine other couples for a memorable barge/bicycle trip to Holland. Leaving on June 28, they flew to Amsterdam with Mike and Liz Thomason, neighbors in the Cabin Creek neighborhood of Davidson. It seems that their good friends in Charlotte, Chris and Lynn Lakin, knew of a possible European journey by barge where you have the daily option of cycling roadways alongside the canals/rivers until you meet the barge once more in the late afternoon.

A picture postcard view from the abbey in Melk, Austria

Harry and Sandy Johnson of Charlotte had done tours with Vermont Bicycle and decided they might hire their own barge and crew if they got nine other couples to go along and the rest is history. The Lakins, Manges and Thomasons, signed on as well as others Davidson readers will recognize: Dave and Libby Cable (former Davidson College Dean of Admissions, Nancy Cable, is Dave’s sister) and Sarah Minter Ashcraft (daughter of Win Minter of The Pines and the late Virginia Minter) and her husband, Hugh. Another four couples agreed to join them and the trip was “on.”

This lively group of 20 spent a week on the barge. Following breakfast, the travelers packed their own lunches and then chose a 20 or 30 mile bike route. A guide accompanied each group. Each evening after dinner, the group had the option of walking around the town where the barge was tied for the night. A highlight was stopping one of the first mornings in Aalsmeer, close to Amsterdam, at the flower auction. Since Steve and Pam had three days in Amsterdam before boarding the barge, they also enjoyed seeing the sights of the city and visiting the Anne Frank House.

Enjoying their visit to Schonbrunn Castle in Vienna were (front l-r), Steve and Pam Mange, Mike Thomason; (back l-r) Chris and Lynn Lakin and Liz Thomason

The group spent a delightful afternoon and evening in Delft along the barge route as the journey took them in a loop starting and finishing in Amsterdam. Leaving the waterways of Holland, the Manges, Thomasons and Lakins spent an additional six days in Austria. Flying into Vienna, the group enjoyed the sights of Vienna including the Schönbrunn Palace, a Sunday evening in Grinzing, a suburb of Vienna, and a wonderful day trip to Melk. The weather was HOT but in the evenings when it was cooler they could enjoy movies, concerts or opera on a large screen in the Marktplatz or city square.

During the time Steve and Pam were gone, their middle daughter, Amelia and her husband, Alex, were touring in South Africa to visit a good friend who is serving in the Peace Corps. there. It was great fun for Mom and Dad Mange to wish Amelia a Happy Birthday on July 7 via a FaceTime connection from Europe. Pam and Steve returned to Davidson on July 16.

Siblings John (l) and Annie Wacker joined forces to help the Cornelius Animal Shelter.

AN EAGLE PROJECT TO HELP ANIMALS

Kudos to John Wacker for completing his Eagle project. Before he gets too excited he has to “pass” his Eagle Board of Review but after that it should be smooth sailing until his Eagle Court of Honor when he is presented with his Eagle rank in Boy Scouting.

John, his parents, Rachel and Steve Wacker, and his sister, Annie, have lived in Davidson’s McConnell neighborhood for more than a decade. John started in Boy Scouting in the first grade (when Mom Rachel was a den mother) as part of Pack 58. He has been a member of Troop 58 in Davidson for the past four years. Having completed the badge requirements necessary for the “path to Eagle,” John decided on an Eagle Scout project which focused on helping the Cornelius Animal Shelter with platforms for the dogs in their runs and benches for guests (hopefully prospective owners) visiting the Shelter.

Many hands make light work! Just ask the scouts in Troop 58 helping John Wacker with his Eagle project where they posed in an outdoor kennel at the Cornelius Animal Shelter.

Needing to raise money to pay for the supplies, which Hoke Lumber provided at cost, John and his sister, Annie, came up with a plan. Annie would support the project financially by having a book sale at the Farmer’s Market which fit perfectly with her junior year service project at Woodlawn School. This sale, with donated books from Woodlawn School and the McConnell neighborhood, was held last spring at The Farmer’s Market in Davidson and raised $516. In addition, John’s grandfather contributed to the project so that after all project supplies were purchased, Annie still as able to contribute $300 separately to the Cornelius Animal Shelter.

A busy workday for Troop 58 scouts building platforms for outdoor kennels.

John planned two July workdays for Troop 58 members. Both were held at his home. The first Saturday the boys, with adult supervision, built six platforms for dogs to climb on or rest under when in their outdoor shelters. The second Saturday the work group completed two benches for “Shelter guests” and then delivered all pieces to the Shelter. Congratulations to John and Annie for making a difference for dogs at the Cornelius Animal Shelter. We know they will continue to keep up with the shelter’s activities from a distance – since Dad Steve has just taken a new job in Austin and the family will move to Texas in a few days. Annie will start her senior year at Lake Travis High School there and John will be a member of the sophomore class at the same school. Both young people are already members of the cross country team.

We wish the Wacker family the very best as they leave North Carolina but look forward to seeing them once more in Davidson when they visit for John’s Eagle Court of Honor with Boy Scout Troop 58.

Karen Hopper Wruck

KAREN HOOPER WRUCK NAMED RISING STAR

Hope some of our readers saw the article recently in the Wall Street Journal when Karen Hopper Wruck was named one of the rising women stars in the top ranks of business school administration in the United States. Karen (Davidson College ’82) is the daughter-in-law of Esther and Eric Wruck of Davidson and wife of the Wrucks’ late son, Eric.

Karen is currently finance professor and associate dean for graduate programs at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. Earlier in her career she taught at Harvard Business School and was an associate dean for the MBA program. Congratulations, Karen. How nice to be recognized for your hard work and talent in the classroom as well as in administration.

Rusty Knox

DON’T MISS RUSTY!

This Sunday from 6-8 p.m. our own Rusty Knox will be performing on The Village Green as part of Davidson’s Concerts on The Green series. Bring a chair or blanket, something good to eat and get comfortable for two hours of great entertainment. This event is free and open to the public. See you there!

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Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

NI HAO – HELLO IN MANDARIN CHINESE

Imagine knowing that you are headed to Taiwan for a month and will be enrolled in basic Mandarin Chinese classes. This is what faced Emma Boraks and her younger sister, Tilly, daughters of Shelley Rigger and David Boraks this past June. Emma, a rising 10th grader in the IB program at North Mecklenburg High School, agreed to write a few words about her experience. What follows is a delightful report from a very good writer!

500 WORDS ON LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY

DETXiangShan – David, Emma and Tilly posed while hiking Elephant Mountain, to get a good view of Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world.

This summer I had the opportunity to go to Taiwan to learn Mandarin Chinese. I’ve lived in Taiwan before, and knew at least the beginnings of the language, and that had been like a tantalizing glimpse of a hidden world. My memories of the place were blurred, all soft edges and colors and sounds and feelings, save for a few things. One of those things was the day I had been looking at street signs and realized I could understand the song the characters had been trying so hard to whisper in my ear.

To be going back was…amazing.

So my mom and sister and I packed up our bags and went. We had a day to explore the city and then it was time for camp.

Bread Society – Tilly (right) and Emma posed with some classmates outside Bread Society Cafe, a favorite bakery in Taipei.

The first day was horrendous.

At 9:00am sharp, we were brought up to a frigid classroom with messy rows of one person desks. About 50 other kids (one third of the camp) were sitting there, totally silent. Once everyone had arrived, a teacher began giving directions in rapid Mandarin. All the kids looked like they knew what was going on. We were supposed to be taking a placement test to figure out which level of class we needed to go to. Unfortunately (for us), the test was entirely in Mandarin. At the end of the day, I was feeling stupid, stupid, stupid, and I never wanted to go back there again.

The second day, we were sorted into classes. Tilly and I were in the lowest level, which had about 15 kids in it, ranging from ages 9 to 14. We were late, but it only got better from there. Our teacher started teaching us about tones which was something I’ve known since I was eight. I didn’t feel so stupid anymore.

Over the next three weeks, we learned a lot and got to meet some great people. Erin and Haysie, sisters from New Jersey, and Chloe, who was very proud to be Hawaiian, and Brendan, a boy who had grown up in Hong-Kong, and was naturally very good at Mandarin. We didn’t like Brendan much at first, and were convinced he had cheated on the placement test. There were others too, and it’s odd to think of how well we got to know each other in such a short time.

Penghu bridge – The family posed for the mandatory tourist shot before crossing the longest bridge connecting the Penghu Islands.

But I think the best part of school was when it was over and Tilly and I would walk to Bread Society and get delicious cakes or buns or bread, and sit at their delicate tables and do our homework. When we were done, I would read to her from whatever book I happened to be reading.

At the end of the three weeks, I wasn’t ready to go home. It was a great experience and I know I’ll spend hours replaying it in my mind until I get the chance to go back. There are so many more things I could say, but none are as memorable as those I learned at camp.

Zàijiàn!

(And just a note to say that DavidsonNews.net editor does take a vacation once in a while. David Boraks got to join his family in Taiwan for ten days at the end of July. A delightful and welcome break for David!)

Rachel stands in the quad of Corpus Christi College where she took classes this summer

SUMMER STUDIES AT OXFORD

Rachel Mazur, a rising 10th grader at Cannon School, wanted to try something different this summer. She went to the Internet and found a program in Creative Writing offered at Oxford University in England. It turns out that Cannon School was familiar with Oxford’s offerings and had good experiences with other Cannon students. Rachel sent the necessary application and sample essay and soon found herself headed to the British Isles.

Rachel’s specific program was for close to 200 rising 9^th and 10^thgraders from around the world – although about half came from the States. She lived in a college dorm at Oxford and had instruction in Creative Writing three hours a day from 9-noon, six days a week. Rachel’s creative writing teacher was an author who lived in London. She and the 15 other students in his class thought he was wonderful.

Visiting the sights in London

Each student chose an additional area of interest which for Rachel was Studio Art. She had instruction in acrylics three days a week from 1:30-3:30 in the afternoon. Breakfast and dinner were provided for the students in the eating halls. Favorite breakfast foods were “Frosties” (the English version of Frosted Flakes) and Nutella on toast. Dinner was cafeteria style. Lunch was on your own in the town of Oxford. It wasn’t long before Rachel and her best friends found a local Panini restaurant which was their daily “hangout.”

In addition to her studies, Rachel made many new friends. Her “core group” consisted of five other students with hometowns in Canada, Costa Rica, Singapore, Seattle and Philadelphia. On Sundays they explored the area, tried punting (propelling a small boat along a river by pushing against the river bed with a pole) and just relaxed. As many who traveled in England before the Olympics can attest, the weather was cold and wet but national pride was evident everywhere with flags flying everywhere. Rachel even got to see the Olympic torch as it passed through Oxford and finally enjoyed warm, sunny weather during her last week there.

Rachel in front of Christ Church Meadows in Oxford.

Now that she is home in Davidson with Mom Louise and Dad Mike, Rachel can reflect on her weeks in England. She found the Oxford program well managed and academically strong. She looks forward to keeping up with her new friends and is already thinking about spending another summer in England in the future. Right now, however, she is looking forward to her sophomore year at Cannon where she is active in theater in the fall and softball in the spring.

Thanks, Rachel, for sharing your experience with Around Davidson.

COMMUNITY GARDEN TOPS 1,000

We continue to be impressed with the output of produce from the Community Garden on Potts Street in Davidson. A group of energetic, committed workers have been on hand every Saturday throughout the summer to harvest vegetables for distribution through “Loaves and Fishes” at Ada Jenkins. As of August 2, a total of 1,057 pounds of produce was delivered to the pantry. Kudos to these dedicated gardeners! Bet that total has grown a lot with the addition of harvested peppers, cukes, tomatoes, melons, okra and the last of the beans. We will keep you posted.

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Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

How about those blue eyes on two year old Brystan Lowry, youngest child of (off duty) Officer Paul Lowry

THANKS FOR A FUN PICNIC

Jordan Brady and his daughter, Joslyn, chose hot dogs for supper

Tuesday evening a happy crowd of Davidson residents gathered at Roosevelt Wilson Park on Griffith Street to meet and greet our Davidson police officers on National Night Out while enjoying hot dogs, hamburgers and all the trimmings. If you missed it, Brickhouse Tavern owner, Nick Lyssikatos, provided the grilled items, Carlos Springs provided the grill and the Town and local residents provided the sides from coleslaw to cake and ice cream bars. What a nice time to visit with friends and renew acquaintances.

Mickey Pettus (left), Officer Richard Leslie and Town Manager Leamon Brice (right) enjoyed a light moment.

Many thanks to the Davidson Police for providing the “man power” to make for a successful event. Our men and women in blue were there in uniform or street clothes but always eager to answer questions and provide tips on neighborhood safety and crime prevention, which was the focus of the picnic. It was also a great chance to meet Ann and Tommy Davis who spent 33 years living on Lake Norman before downsizing to Davidson’s Spinnaker Reach community. Tommy has been chairman of the board of the North Meck Crime Stoppers since 1990. Congratulations to you, Tommy, for your continuing efforts. Ann and Tommy are regulars at the picnic.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOB MANNING!

Happy Birthday to Bob Manning surrounded by his children, (l-r) Laura Manning Riley, Mary Alice Manning Mitchell and John Manning.

Aug. 2 was a big day for longtime Davidson resident Bob Manning: He turned the BIG 7-0! (What a shame we could not move his favorite outdoor sculpture from the front of the post office to his front yard to mark the occasion!!) Bob was out of town for the big event celebrating with his family at the beach.

Bob and his wife, Susan, gathered their six children and 11 grandchildren at Sunset Beach for a week of rest and relaxation. In addition to roasting and toasting the birthday boy, the family celebrated grandson Brooks (son of John Manning and his wife, Vic, of Charlotte) who was on his first beach trip and took his first steps while there. There was also a welcome for brand new six week old granddaughter, Emily, daughter of Brittany and Adam Kicklighter of Huntersville to the sand and surf. (Emily was born June 20 weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz. and stretching to 20½ inches.)

How do you bake a cake for a fella like Bob? You don’t. You perch all the candles on a half-gallon of ice cream (Bob’s favorite dessert) and surround yourself with 32 family members to help you blow them out. Following a round of Happy Birthday, everyone made their own sundae. Nice idea and it certainly keeps the kitchen cooler when you don’t have to turn on the baking oven!

A busy birthday week for Bob Manning at the beach with children and grandchildren…and this photo represents just some of them!

A calmer vacation for Bob occurred in late May when he and Susan joined 35 other family members and friends from Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Cornelius for an Alaskan vacation. They started in Fairbanks with visits to Denali National Park before traveling by train to Whittier for a seven day cruise on the Inland Waterway. Highlights of the cruise were whale watching in Juneau, a train trip on the historic White Pass Yukon railway up into the Yukon, and totem poles and shopping in Ketchikan along with a spectacular flight-seeing/cruise in the Misty Fjords National Monument wilderness area. Of course, the sightseeing was in addition to wonderful food, rest and relaxation on the beautiful Island Princess ship. Bob and Susan also enjoyed their pre- and post-cruise time in Seattle, where they saw the flying fish at Pike Market and had dinner at the top of the Space Needle.

Congratulations to you, Bob, on a wonderful birthday.

CRUISING WITH THE TODDS

Michael Todd enjoyed the city tour of Lisbon, Portugal and posed in front of the Belem Tower

Michael Todd retired recently after 41 years with DFA (Dairy Farmers of America) and celebrated with a cruise. Michael and his wife, Jane, chose the Iberian Odyssey trip with Oceania Cruise Line (www.oceaniacruises.com) for their 10-night adventure. They started in Lisbon, Portugal and ended in Rome, Italy. Their ship, the Riviera, was launched just this year and the Todds enjoyed the luxury of a brand new ocean liner. The Riviera made stops in Gibraltar, Casablanca, Malaga, Valencia, Barcelona, Marseille, Nice/Eze, Monte Carlo, Florence & Rome. All places that the Todds had never been before. Beautiful weather and smooth sailing made the trip all the more enjoyable.

Yum! Jane’s cooking classes focused on scones, frittata & poached eggs on roasted vegetables
with Chef instructor, David Shalleck

Michael’s trip highlight was seeing the statue of David in Florence. Jane’s was going to all the different cathedrals in Spain, France & Italy and seeing the burial sites of Michelangelo, Galileo & Machiavelli in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. Michael and Jane also enjoyed a cooking class on board the ship, a brunch menu, which was one of many classes offered during the cruise. They found it hard to decide between ship activities or shore excursions.

How did they learn about Oceania Cruise Line? Through the alumni association of Virginia Tech, Michael’s Alma Mater. There were a number of alumni associations with groups on board (the largest from Texas Tech) which made for a lot of reminiscing about college experiences among the travelers.

Congratulations, Michael, on your retirement from DFA and good luck with the beef cattle you are conditioning on your land in Grayson County, VA. Nothing like farming to keep you gainfully employed 24/7 and very “un-retired!”

First you see them…

NOTEWORTHY NOTE

Did you see the town employees busy at work on Tuesday putting up brand new “Two Hour Parking Signs” along Main Street and Concord Road? That is 2-hour parking, from 8-5 on Monday-Friday. We already have two-hour parking on one side of the post office lot, the former public library lot, Depot Street from Main to the 4-way stop, South Street near the Stowe’s Corner building, as well as Main Street on both sides, CVS to the corner of Concord, and Summit Coffee to the College Book Store.

…and then you don’t!

Fasten your seat belts and hold onto your wallets, now the 2-hour restriction is extended on Main Street from Davidson College Presbyterian Church to Cunningham Theatre Center, the Belk Visual Arts Center to Depot Street, and on Concord Road from DCPC to College Street on the north side, and the Village Green to College Street.

Will this help or hinder the merchants? First thing that comes to mind is a meeting (civic, church, or whatever) that follows or precedes a nice lunch at The Soda Shop, Toast or Flatiron. Oops … that takes more than two hours and a parking ticket adorns your windshield. Does that really make sense?

But the best is that no sooner did the signs go up on Tuesday until they were carefully “bagged” yesterday. Around Davidson caught three town employees in the act and when asked “what was up?” they laughed and replied that maybe the signs were awaiting a proper community unveiling! Stay tuned …

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Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

Come “sit a spell” at Raeford’s Barber Shop

TAKING TIME TO SAY THANK YOU

How often we fuss about small things that bother us but how seldom we remember to say THANK YOU to those who make a difference in our lives. Such is the case for Robin Huggins, a transplanted Texan who now calls Mooresville home, and found time recently to say Thank You to some special people in Davidson who have indeed made a difference in his life. Robin, his wife, Susan, and daughters, Hailey and Jillyan, have lived in our area for the past twelve years. At first, Robin visited a barber shop in Mooresville but one morning, finding it closed, sought advice from a customer of Richard’s Military Café who told him, “You should go to Davidson and try Raeford’s – best barbershop in the country!”

What happened next is best told in Robin’s own words. “So I hopped in the car and went to Davidson. I relaxed in the chair while waiting, listening to all the conversations going on, and then after I got my hair cut, I really didn’t want to leave, but had no excuse to stay. It was so comfortable being there…so relaxing…and I watched as two of the Gentlemen read phrases from the Bible. I wasn’t really aware at the time, that they had touched me. Over the next several years, I frequented their barbershop. Actually, I figured out that when I was stressed, or when I had issues, I would go to Raeford’s and get my hair cut.”

Joe McClain listened attentively to Robin Huggins’ story

For a decade Robin continued to visit Raeford’s. Sometimes he got his hair cut; sometimes he just sat and listened. When he lost his job and then his house, he visited the barber shop almost twice a week finding that “every time I needed someone to give me a boost, every time that I needed someone to just chat with, and every time that I needed some ‘inspiration’, I found it at Raeford’s. These are the kindest Gentlemen I have ever had the privilege to say ‘I know’, even though I don’t know any of their names. I want them to know that they have filled a space in my heart, and that just through their kindness, with no direct influence, they have added inspiration and helped keep me calm and sane.”

Back on his feet financially, this 6’2”, 300 lb. Texan/Tarheel “lost his footing” physically when he was hospitalized in Presbyterian Hospital recently for a blood infection. During his time in the ER he could only think “Boy, do I need a haircut,” when in truth he needed some “Raeford Therapy!” Recovering at home, he emailed Around Davidson to see if someone could meet him at the barber shop to document his story as he expressed his tearful Thank You to Joe, Ken, Ron, Thomas, Tim and Quentin. Again to quote Robin, “Now I’m not sure if they have affected other people’s lives this way, but they surely have impacted my life. These kind souls welcomed me into their shop, and every time I’ve been there they have had nothing but good and happy things to say, even when I was totally depressed, they went out of their way to make me smile. Now I don’t feel I owe them anything other than a very big, gracious Thank You, but I wanted to tell them how I felt, how they have affected my life and to thank them for being there when I needed a place to go.”

“Boy, do I need a haircut,” were the only words needed from Robin Huggins to have barbers (l-r) Thomas Marsh, Tim White, Joe McClain and Quentin Feagins surround him!

MEETING AT RAEFORD’S

The “Thank You event” took place on Friday, July 27, just after noon. What an occasion! Customers were few at that hour so we all could sit around and hear Robin tell his story while the barbers listened attentively, interjecting comments now and then, especially Joe McClain who said, “Why didn’t you call? I would have come to the hospital to cut your hair.” Such is the caring atmosphere of the shop. According to Robin, the barbers are far beyond professional barbers. They are masters of small talk, continuous banter among themselves, chatter on all subjects from women to fiber in your diet, and therapists beyond measure. Even if you do not need a haircut, spend an hour sitting in the barber shop across the street from Flatiron Restaurant and exit smiling as you remember the happy atmosphere and ‘educational instruction’ they provide at no charge.

Ken Norton stands behind one of his original Norton Barber Shop chairs

A LESSON FROM THE BARBER SHOP

Okay. Let’s see how your knowledge of the barbers at Raeford’s compares to Robin’s? Can you name all the barbers who cut hair there? Do you know the history of the barber chairs? Do you know who is the oldest barber? Do you wonder how James Raeford is doing? Do you know when the shop opened in its current location? Who sold it to James? Have you visited the Gospel Choir during Christmas in Davidson at the shop? Around Davidson spent quite a few hours at Raeford’s in the past three weeks. Not there for a trim, but rather to sit on the old church pew near the windows, visit with the barbers, hear their stories and marvel at the fellowship one encounters there – even making a lady reporter feel welcome!

Let’s start with the barbers. The elder statesman is Ken Norton (think T-shirts that read “I’ve been Nortonized!”) who is 84 years young and celebrated 70 years of barbering this past June 2012! The original barber pole and one chair from his Main Street shop are part of Raeford’s which started in October 1993 after Ken closed his shop on North Main Street in September of the same year. Ken, now living in Landis, learned the art of cutting hair from the Charlotte Barber School when he was 14 and has been working all his life. He claims he will continue doing something until “the Lord sets him down.” His Bible is always by his side at the shop where he barbers Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the first chair until relinquishing that same seat to Joe McClain (82 years young) for customers on Friday and Saturday. (The shop is closed on Wednesdays.) Joe, the “assistant” elder statesman, graduated from barber school in Winston-Salem, worked for Norton’s Barber Shop as well as Ralph Johnson’s here in Davidson. He also had his own shop on Crane Street for a while before working for Duke Power until retirement in 1990. Now he enjoys part time work at Raeford’s and can tell tales, sprinkled with great humor, about many old timers in our town.

Memorabilia abounds on the walls of Raeford’s Barber Shop

Raeford’s Barber Shop has been in its present location since 1993 when James Raeford opened the business. James graduated from barber college in Durham and first had a barber shop in Fayetteville. Moving to Davidson in 1957, he worked at Ralph Johnson’s Barber Shop for 15 years. He took almost 6 years off to sell cars in Charlotte and Gastonia, and returned to barbering at Pott’s Barber Shop in Cornelius before having his own shop there and finally coming full circle back to Davidson to start Raeford’s Barber Shop. A heart attack seven years ago and subsequent back surgery have slowed James, now 74, down a bit. These days he stays pretty close to home under the watchful eye of his wife, Daisy, and lets his son, Ron Raeford, who has been a barber for 14 years, manage the shop in Davidson now. James laughed as he commented that trips now to get his hair cut just leave him “plumb slap out” since so many customers want to hear how he is doing and talk, talk, talk!

James Raeford is proud to have his son, Ron, managing the barber shop

Other barbers at Raeford’s include Tim White, who worked with James Raeford in Cornelius beginning in August 2006 before coming to Davidson in July 2009. Thomas Marsh has been with Raeford’s since 2000. The “new kid on the block” is Quentin Feagins who joined the team this past January.

What a remarkable group of men who can make you feel welcome (even if you are toting a clipboard and shouldering a camera), make you laugh out loud and send you out the door relaxed. You may pick up a magazine or a section of the daily newspaper but your mind will wander from the print to the barber’s “topic of the hour.” No need to get a word in edgewise; they cover all the possible themes with friendly fussing and much laughter. No question that Robin Huggins got it right the first time. They provide therapy regardless of your troubles whether you visit on a hot day in August or a chilly night in December when friends in a Gospel Choir keep the audience swaying and clapping to the ole timey hymns. We just have to wonder how many other countless citizens of our area this group of caring men have helped over the years?

And how many have stopped by to say Thank You?

SEND US YOUR NEWS

Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbbarger@gmail.com.

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.

The heat is even getting to the mannequins!

HEY, LOOK US OVER!

Indeed we have been looking over the new site of the college bookstore for months now. So glad to see Depot Street returned to two lanes once more – until the moving trucks took up residence and traffic played stop and go again. But according to Mike Kessler, Director of Property Management for Davidson College, things will soon be in “apple pie order” both inside and out with an expected grand opening of the Davidson College store on Monday, August 13. (A “soft opening” will probably occur the week before.)

We caught Mike hauling storage containers along the Depot Street sidewalk while a very naked fella and a just as unclothed lady kept a watch on the proceedings from their air conditioned spot just inside the window. No doubt they will be a bit more respectable by August 13 – and Mike just might find time to relax for a moment and wipe the sweat from his brow. Lots of work to get a business moved and everything up and running (even if only a few doors away). Can’t wait to visit the new space. (Read more in our July 31 report, “Signs of an opening ahead at campus store”)

The Barkemeyers celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a Rhine cruise.

CRUISING THE RHINE

June 3 was the 40^th wedding anniversary date for Nancy and Eric Barkemeyer. To celebrate these four decades of marriage, the couple flew to Berlin, Germany, on July 4, where they toured the city for a few days before heading west to Cologne to join other passengers on a UniWorld river cruise on the Rhine River in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. During their week long tour, they stopped at Konigswinter, Venlo, Maastricht, Antwerp and finally Brussels.

Eric and Nancy checked out the “public art” in Old Antwerp’s City Square.

Nancy and Eric loved touring the many cathedrals along the route and also a Roman castle. They were especially impressed with a side trip to the only WWII American cemetery in the Netherlands, just east of Maastricht. Eric mentioned that this was well worth the visit. A highlight of the cruise was a docking in Venlo so the passengers could spend a day at Floriade, an international exhibition of flowers and gardening, held every 10 years in the Netherlands.

The Barkemeyers flew home from Brussels on July 15 with lots of wonderful photos and great memories of a special anniversary trip.

WEDDING BELLS – Matthew Nelson and Pamela Love

Congratulations to Pamela Love and Matthew Nelson who married on May 12 in Montauk, Long Island.

Congratulations to Matthew Jamison Nelson and Pamela Ellen Love who married on May 12. Matthew is the youngest son of Randy and Susan Nelson of Davidson. Pamela is the daughter of Dr. Joyce Love of West Palm Beach, FL, and the late Dr. Douglas Love. The outdoor ceremony took place on a beautiful spring afternoon at Ruschmeyer’s, a 1950’s summer camp turned into a resort, located in Montauk, Long Island. It was performed by the couple’s good friend, artist Francesco Clemente, for whom Pamela had been a painting assistant early in her career. Appalachian quilts representing Matthew’s Southern roots covered the birch chuppah symbolizing Pamela’s Jewish heritage. Wedding music was performed by guitarist Bo White, a Charlotte musician who is a friend and earlier “Yardwork” band mate of Matthew’s. The bride entered the gathering of 150 guests to Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.”

The happy newlyweds are surrounded by family: (l-r) Pam’s brother, Josh Love, her mother, Joyce Love, and Matthew’s parents, Susan and Randy Nelson

Pamela wore an off-white chiffon dress, designed by Mara Hoffman, with a faint mauve print. She carried a bouquet of wild flowers with additional flowers in a garland accenting her long hair. Matthew’s bespoke suit was made by Billy Reid. Matching white gold wedding bands with turquoise inlays were designed and made by Pamela as well as the wedding jewelry she wore and the blue lapis and silver cuff links Matthew wore.

Following the marriage vows, guests enjoyed dinner in the restaurant on the grounds of the Ruschmeyer’s resort. Guitar music played, wild flowers in mason jars decorated the tables, wooden swings hung from the trees and a relaxed atmosphere prevailed. Pamela commented, “It was perfect, like hippie summer camp. We were having a wedding in the country; I wanted to be able to run around barefoot if I wanted to!” The couple’s free spirited approach made the wedding unique and memorable for all who attended, especially their only surviving grandparent, Nadine Nelson of Mooresville, NC. Matthew’s older brothers, Ian (from Asheville) and Miles (from Charlotte) were on hand to offer support to the groom; Pamela’s brother, Josh Love who lives in Wisconsin was also there. To begin the festive weekend, Randy and Susan Nelson hosted a rehearsal dinner at the Navy Beach Restaurant in Montauk.

When Matthew married Pam, the Nelson brothers, Miles (l) and Ian (r), were delighted to finally welcome a “sister” to the family

Following a wedding trip to Morocco touring the Atlas Mountains, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, and Agadir, the couple is making their home in Brooklyn and Patterson, NY. Pamela is an artist and jewelry designer. Matthew works as an illustrator. More details and pictures from this unique and delightful wedding can be found at http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/flower-child-pamela-loves-wedding-in-montauk/

Best wishes to this talented young couple and their families.

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