Professional football has now officially begun. Pre-season games are history and Sunday afternoons are seeing a lot more husbands occupying the couch in front of the television. So what’s a poor, neglected football widow supposed to do? Why not bake a little bread!

Today Around Davidson catches up with area residents who ordered a cup of Louise Nelson Sour Dough Starter so they could bake their own bread. We also heard from Minerva Bullock who has kept bread starter going off-and-on for 25 years and has new recipes to share. In addition there is a note about pedestrian and school bus safety. Read the full story

Okay, we all hear enough about Save the Planet, but do we ever get off the couch and do something? Today a group from the community travels to Charlotte to visit the county’s recycling center and learn more about what can be recycled and reused from our weekly waste. That’s a good start but let’s change directions for a moment and think about a different kind of waste: water. How many of us let the faucet run while we brush our teeth or rinse a plate. How about those 20 minute showers? We expect clean water 24/7 from our taps. But statistics tell us that of the six billion people on earth, 1.1 billion do not have access to safe, clean drinking water.

Today Around Davidson focuses on former Davidsonian Gill Holland Jr. noting his “Green” work in Louisville, Ky., and his film about water, as well as current Davidsonians Hayden Boyd and Ben Wyatt working with a simple shallow well program to bring clean drinking water to villages in sub-Saharan Africa.

There are also a few Noteworthy Notes about upcoming events in our town and a chance meeting of two young people in Raleigh with Davidson connections. Read the full story

Happy Labor Day weekend to all of our readers! If you are headed to the beach, hope that Hurricane Earl passes quickly and allows you a final summer 2010 dip in the Atlantic, ever mindful of rip current warnings. Today, Around Davidson celebrates a birthday with Abe Kessler, catches up with the Goldstein family and brings news of a film opening you won’t want to miss. And don’t miss a couple of tidbits in our Noteworthy Notes. Read the full story

Here we are at the last day of August facing a “last gasp” of summer fun from the Brindisi family just before the Labor Day weekend is upon us. Catching up on some other summertime news, Around Davidson reports today on the June wedding of Amelia Mange and Alex Castaño. In addition we take time to report on Jessica Keener who has an impressive photography business and include some Noteworthy Notes on reading, books and book clubs. Read the full story

First days of school, last days of summer. Today Around Davidson touches on those events and has a note about summer pests. No, not our children, but rather those pesky garden variety “varmints” that require vigilance if we want to harvest any end-of-summer tomatoes. Read the full story

With Mecklenburg County public schools opening Wednesday, what better time for Around Davidson to get on its soapbox and do a little preaching about car and bus safety, patience, consideration of others and acceptance of those less fortunate than we. In today’s column, we also meet Chuck and Barbara Dillman, who epitomize the age-old adage: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Chuck is another reason to put safety first: He’s that guy you see walking every day on Concord Road. Read the full story

Good gracious! Does the summer heat seem worse this year or has your correspondent become a fussy, whining, pampered, air-conditioned housewife! Weeding, watering, hauling livestock feed or turning compost sends one first to the washing machine to toss in the sweaty clothes and then to the shower and a fresh “ensemble” until you head outside once more. Whew! It’s hot!

So with dog days upon us, why not interview a dog? Today’s Around Davidson brings a visit with Labradoodle Oliver Johnson, as well as Car Talk with Wayne Stowe, Jerry Cline and Chris Robbins, and news of another sheet at the Hooper home in Hudson Place. Read the full story

Happy 49^th birthday to our President who celebrated the event yesterday in Chicago. Today Around Davidson has no birthdays to report but there are three important celebrations to share with our readers.

Bill and Sarah Boehmler are delighted to have a first grandchild; Ruben and Marlene McIntosh are honored by their family on the occasion of their 50^th wedding anniversary; and Jimmy Shaw is now a “marked man” as he earns his Eagle Scout award. There are also a few notes about the final day of cruisin’ at The Pines. Read the full story

Hello August! How fast the summer has gone. School is right around the corner and the stores are beckoning us with great deals on school supplies. computers and clothing – just in time for the tax-free weekend coming up.

Around Davidson looks back to June and July today we catch up on summer vacation for the Jackson and Barber families as well as wedding bells for Conor Mooney and Sara Kay Knicely and John Lauer and Alice Burns. There is also up-to-the-minute reporting from DavidsonNews.net’s news anchor in Key West as The Pines sets sail! Read the full story

Thanks for the comments from loyal and concerned readers about Tuesday’s report of geese on Griffith Street. Seems that many remember a sign or two near Roosevelt Wilson Park about a “Duck Crossing.” No such sign at present but we heartily recommend installing one and will let you know when it appears.

Moving on from geese, we go “cruising” today with The Pines, interview a car (a 1961 Wolseley!) and remind you about the Davidson Library Open House next Tuesday by talking to the young ladies spearheading this event. Read the full story