Did you see the Queen parachute into the Olympic Stadium in London last Friday evening as part of the opening ceremonies for the XXX Summer Games? With purse and gloves of course, but thank heavens she chose not to include her Corgi dogs in the escapade! Lots of fun to watch on television but not so easy to get tickets to that or any of the other events. Seems those empty seats at so many venues are corporate sponsor connected. Our reporter on the ground in London, Kate Barger, has some thoughts which she shares today.

We also have news of a birthday for Jennifer Thomas, a report on Nicaragua from Emma Montgomery, ideas on transporting melons from the Griffeths and a beach photo from the Michael family. Read the full story

Summertime and the “living is easy!” Children are involved in summer camps and programs while parents plan cool late afternoon activities and meals that involve little time in front of the stove. Recently thunder has halted many suppertime dips in the lake or swimming pools but the refreshing showers are welcome.

Dani Angell shared a beautiful photo from a few days ago saying, “We were driving home tonight and saw this amazing view of a rainbow over the Community School of Davidson (certainly a pot of gold in education). I know Davidson has had its share of rainbows, but I always find them breath-taking!” Thanks, Dani, for sharing.

Today Around Davidson shares notes from summer programs at DUMC and DCPC, a visit for Barb Dillman, a trip for Barbara Bentley and a Noteworthy Note about Election Day (yes, it is today!). Read the full story

Many of us get a holiday weekend coming up with the Martin Luther King holiday. Maybe the weather will remember it is January and drop snow on slopes north of us so families can enjoy some skiing. Interesting this month how we alternate almost daily between winter and spring temperatures! Today, Around Davidson catches up with an annual Freund family trip and a welcome retirement for Bill Tiemann. We also have a note about Steve Langley’s paddle ball record and a further note about parking. Read the full story

Welcome September! Nice to have fall lurking just around the corner. In the meantime, Happy Labor Day to each of our readers. Enjoy this three-day weekend with neighborhood picnics and a chance to catch up with the summer travels of friends.

Around Davidson introduces you today to two new faces in town: Robert Alexander and Kelly Nicholson. We also report on a recent honor for Chuck Dillman and give you an inside glimpse on a talented musical group – Sunday Union. In addition we have a little Chair Talk in a Noteworthy Note. Read the full story

Looking at the calendar to see what’s ahead this month, my eyes spotted next Sunday, Aug. 7, as Friendship Day. Having never heard of or celebrated this special day, it was time to Google the event. Turns out it originated in the US in 1919 based on a recommendation by Hallmark cards that we all should commemorate friends and the bond of friendship on the first Sunday in August. Now we know – and special good wishes to all DNN friends!

Enough of that “nonsense,” it’s time to get back to Around Davidson. Today we visit with Daniel Wyatt and Alex Lee to hear about their soccer project, check in with Andrew Scales at DCPC and hear from Maryline Roux about success on the track. Read the full story

Lots of homegrown lettuce and spinach leaves showing up in salads in our town and now we have radishes to add some color to our meals. Thanks to Leonard McRee for leaving this pretty bundle of bright red vegetables at our door, a memory of gardens past. Some years ago when 4-H gardens provided garden seed to all participants, radishes sprouted early and produced in great numbers. There soon were hundreds of radishes ready for market in the same week. No farmer’s market then, so what to do? Walter Herring, produce manager of the old Cashion’s grocery store made a deal with the youngsters, purchasing bundles (just like Leonards’) from the 4-Hers for five cents each. Hard work for a few dollars, but nothing went to waste. Good lessons learned.

But enough of gardening. Today Around Davidson talks to John Williamson about Bridge Camp, hears from Mike Kayes about Guatemala and has a note about Hiroe Noonan’s continuing origami project and this Friday’s Musical Interlude. Read the full story

Are we getting old, or too accustomed to being pampered? The past few days have made us all thankful we have modern day air-conditioning in our offices, public buildings and homes. The heat was just plain brutal if you had to venture outside, though it did not seem to bother the geese at Roosevelt Wilson Park, or the grasshoppers in Houma, La.

We have comments about them today as well as news of weddings in the Melton and White families. Also there is a long-awaited photo of vuvuzelas in South Africa and a report on a DCPC mission trip to Louisiana. (And a note about the photos included in Around Davidson. Click on any one to enlarge so you don’t have to squint to see the faces.) Read the full story

Hard to believe that one short month from now our town will be preparing for the influx of college students in the Davidson College Class of 2014. How fast these lazy, hazy days of summer are disappearing!

Today Around Davidson has breaking news about Jay Fesperman, a note about last week’s Vacation Bible School fun at DCPC, a fond farewell to Shelli Latham, a belated welcome to Susan Andre and Joel Macht plus an exciting visit to Wookie Payne’s home by a BIG red truck. Read the full story

With picture perfect weather for Easter weekend and summertime breezes this week, things in Davidson have slowed done. College students have departed until classes resume tomorrow. School children have the week off. Best advice: dust off the hammock and climb in with a good book.

Or continue to relish the hoop skills of the Butler Bulldogs and the Duke Blue Devils who squared off last evening for the NCAA College Basketball Championship. Congratulations to Duke on its nail biting win over Butler 61-59. But congratulations are also due to Butler University for their amazing run through the Big Dance brackets. According to the ESPN bracket count, less than one thousand entries had Duke over Butler in the final. What a game!

Around Davidson today includes Easter flower photos and a fond farewell for Karyn Jester as she leaves her job at our Davidson Public Library. We also have news of new babies for Kathryn and David Withers as well as Spence and Rachel Cockrill Spensieri. Read the full story