May your holiday be as sweet as these gingerbread confections! Sharing our wishes are the children of DavidsonNews.net staff: Mathilde Boraks (front), and (back, from left) Christina and Kerry Dennis and Emma Boraks.

Merry Christmas to all our readers!

For Around Davidson, a holiday tradition continues. Your correspondent takes Christmas week away from the computer and asks others in our community to write about their Christmas memories. Today we hear from Bill Ringle, journalist extraordinaire, who was a member of the White House press corps from 1968 until 1988. Prior to his duty at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., he spent some holidays away from his family while serving in World War II or teaching journalism in China. Continue Reading

Lovenia Summerville shares some Christmas memories, below.

Christmas week in here! Our days are full with last minute trips to the store and visits with friends and neighbors. The aromas of cider, fresh bread or gingerbread cookies fill our homes. We are truly thankful for all our blessings and try to reach out to those less fortunate.

At Andy Beard’s urging, your correspondent and her husband took an afternoon last week to volunteer on the first day the Salvation Army’s Christmas Bureau in Charlotte was open. We encourage each of our readers to try to find a few hours to do the same in 2009. Meanwhile, we bring you some special memories from Lovenia Summerville, including how her dad used an egg turner to get through a Charlotte snow storm, and the problem with flannel for Christmas stockings.

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Going whole hog on his Hog.

Hope our readers caught a glimpse of Santa cruising through town last evening on Davidson’s big red fire truck. We know he was making a list and checking it twice – and no doubt taking a quick note of chimneys and not-so-steep rooftops to hold his sleigh! Around Davidson found another cool Santa who gave up his sleigh for a motorcycle and then donned “shades” to keep those pesky highway bugs out of his eyes.

The decorations around town are delightful. How nice to take an evening stroll through a neighborhood and see all the bright lights and those big inflatable “things” that youngsters adore. Today, however, your correspondent is taking a few minutes away from holiday fare to clean off her desk and report on a variety of Fall 2008 trips that patiently have been awaiting coverage on DavidsonNews.net. Hear about Siri and Gill Holland in Vietnam, Leland Park in Russia, Gary and Linda Steber in Argentina and Washington, D.C. as well as Tommy and Mary Alice Mitchell in the tropics. Continue Reading

A North Carolina Frasier Fir finds a room at the White House.

The last two weekends have been busy for residents of our town. With the festivities of Christmas in Davidson, the holiday concerts, dance recitals, numerous church programs and happy gatherings of neighbors and friends, we all are feeling the joy of the season.

Today Around Davidson brings you news of two happy holiday events from earlier this month. The first puts the spotlight on Nancy Lammers of Davidson, who had the privilege of playing her violin at The White House. The second reports on fund-raiser for Ada Jenkins Center by the Davidson Day School. Continue Reading

Alyssa Bothelho has prominent roles in N.C. Dance Theatre's "Nutcracker." (Image: Jeff Cravotta Photography)

“While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads,” are familiar words from Clement Moore’s “The Night before Christmas.” But sugarplums also bring to mind sugarplum fairies and the familiar music of “The Nutcracker,” by Tchaikovsky. Numerous area stages are presenting this holiday classic in different ways but the “full blown” Nutcracker can be found only at Belk Theatre in Charlotte, featuring the Charlotte Symphony and North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT). What better way to enjoy December than by taking in a performance this weekend or next of this well-known ballet – especially when local talent is on the stage.

Today Around Davidson highlights NCDT dancers Alyssa Botelho, Phoebe Klett, and Christy and Kerry Dennis. These four young people are in all 12 performances of “Nutcracker.” What a commitment from the dancers as well as the parents who support them day in and day out. We also have notes about a special preschoolers tour of Davidson Fire Department and the scoop on a beautiful addition to the family of Gabriel Cumming and Carla Norwood.

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Betsy Seymour (l) and Nancy Barkemeyer create beautiful greenery for the home or office.

Davidson outdid itself once again in starting December with a holiday celebration. Nightly events at Christmas in Davidson and Saturday’s parade made the weekend a wonderful celebration to keep us warm in this frosty weather.

We found a few highlights to mention, including nutcrackers at the Lyles’ house, the Goats for Boats girls, Betsy Seymour‘s Christmas greenery, the Davidson Garden Club‘s work on Main Street and a special (hint – Mike Minter) assignment for a Davidson police officer.
Plus, we have the scoop on Gingerbread Houses at The Pines, and a few comments on keeping the small town in a big celebration.

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Mary Rood Cunningham of Davidson wins our vote for "beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" (Photo by Mary Mayer)

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” in our village! This evening marks the first night of yet another wonderful celebration of “Christmas in Davidson.” There will be activities from 6-9 p.m. tonight, tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. And don’t forget that the annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of North Main and Griffith Streets. If the weather forecast holds, it should be a wonderful three days of merriment.

Today Around Davidson focuses on some talented members of our community who are contributing to “Christmas in Davidson” through photography, pen and ink drawings and green thumbs. There is also a Thanksgiving “leftover,” and news of upcoming events you will not want to miss, including Davidson alum Martin Clark on Bookwatch Friday. Continue Reading

Whew! It’s December already and thoughts turn to parties, parades, pastries, poinsettias and in some cases a bit of panic about whether we can get it all done before Santa arrives.

John and Paula Kelton are this year's recipients of the prestigious Burney Community Service Award.

Today Around Davidson takes a moment to reflect on a special event held last Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Town Hall. An overflow crowd was on hand to honor John and Paula Kelton as the 2008 recipients of the G. Jackson Burney Community Service Award. It was most appropriate to have the ceremony on the day before Thanksgiving, to remind each of us to be thankful for the outreach and devotion of so many citizens in our town. Continue Reading

This day we remember the familiar words of the Thanksgiving hymn “Come Ye Thankful People, Come” as we count our many blessings. We see the harvest arrangements on church altars and on our own tables and think of the bountiful good fortune we enjoy.

We’re especially thankful for this community, where neighbors look out for neighbors in times of need. How appropriate for Around Davidson to share a story of how people in our town have joined together to help a fellow resident, Nancy Brown. Continue Reading

Can it be almost the end of November? This Sunday marks the first in Advent, when homemade wreaths will decorate our tables and Advent calendars will adorn walls. What fond memories we have of searching for the number matching the date and prying open the tiny window to reveal a glimpse of nature, a toy or Bible verse.

The Hess family of Davidson has a connection to children in Nepal.

This week, as we gather with family and friends for turkey and dressing, it is appropriate to reflect on the things for which we are thankful. Today Around Davidson tells of the blessing of good teachers like Rosemary Klein, of a new baby for the Butlers, and of the Hess family’s commitment to orphans in Nepal. In addition you will find a update on Garnet McAllister’s birthday, comments and a new book on Wildcat Basketball – all to “chew on” with your Thanksgiving dinner.

And check back on Thursday – we’ll offer more to be thankful for on Turkey Day.
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