With college students in the midst of final exams and holiday house parties keeping residents busy, the calendar of public events in town this week is a light one. A few items of note: Santa takes his annual fire engine ride through town Tuesday night (listen for the sirens), residents on the west side face a planned water shutoff overnight Wednesday and the town’s new cable system, MI-Connection, debuts Wednesday.

DEC. 17-23

TUESDAY, DEC. 18, 6 p.m. – Santa Claus will make his annual pre-Christmas tour of Davidson on a fire engine. The Davidson Fire Department uses its special connections with the North Pole to arrange a date each year for chauffeuring the jolly guy in red through local neighborhoods. When you hear the sirens, you’ll know Santa’s coming.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, Neighborhood west of I-77 – Due to the construction of the new Northeast Pump Station, it is necessary for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities to re-route a portion of an old water line that serves the community on the west side of I-77 at Griffith Street (Exit 30). Water will be shut off at 12 a.m. Wednesday (12/19) and restored by 5 a.m. Information: Brian Pate, project manager, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities, 704-391-4682.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, 6 p.m. – The local cable TV an internet system changes hands. Time Warner, which has been running the system, hands off to MI-Connection, a consortium owned by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville. The towns won’t run the system; they’ve hired BVU of Bristol, Va. to do that. Questions? Visit the MI-Connection website at http://www.mi-connection.com or call 704-662-3255.

IN THE GALLERIES

THROUGH DEC. 24, Wooden Stone Gallery, 445 S. Main St., Davidson – “Ed Levin Jewelry Trunk Show, with works gold, sterling silver and gemstones, by jewelry designer Ed Levin. Wooden Stone also includes pottery, furnishings and other artistic usable objects. Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays, 1-6 p.m.

THROUGH DEC. 30, Town Hall, 216 S. Main St., and Bradford subdivision model home, 19918 Davidson-Concord Road – Children’s Photo Project, an exhibit of images by 78 fourth graders from area schools. The students were given disposable cameras to photograph a person or place in town. Each photo is accompanied by a narrative describing the story behind their subject.

THOUGH DEC. 31, Christa Faut Gallery, 19818 N. Cove Road, in Jetton Village off West Catawba Avenue, Cornelius – “All Things Bright: 2007 Holiday Jewelry Collection.” Featuring jewelry artists Peggy Eng, Hiroko Design, Christy Klug, Hongsock Lee and Gabriel Ofiesh.

THROUGH DECEMBER, Cornelius Arts Center, Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak Street, behind the police station, Cornelius –
First Annual Art Show and Sale. Exhibit includes work by faculty and staff of Creative Art Exchange and of Children’s Arts Project. Details: call 704-892-7323.

THROUGH DECEMBER, Mooresville Artist Guild Depot Gallery, 103 W. Center Ave., Mooresville – 2007 Members Holiday Show with paintings, prints, and other works by area artists. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 1-4 p.m.

EVENTS AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE

Find out more about what’s going on Davidson College on the college calendar website.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• DEC. 24-26 – Town Hall closed for Christmas holiday.
• JAN. 24, 7 p.m., Town Hall – Bicycle Master Plan public workshop. The town has hired a consultant to help create a comprehensive bicycle master plan, with recommendations for new bike lanes, greenways, intersection design, bike racks, and public education programs. Come put in your two cents. Please visit the planning department website for more information.
• JAN. 31, 7 p.m., Huntersville Town Hall – Davidson-Concord/N.C. 73Area Plan follow-up workshop. Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville are working with consulting firms to create a long range transportation and land-use plan for undeveloped areas near Davidson Concord Road and NC 73. This is the latest in a series of public meetings. Please visit the planning department website for more information.