On New Year’s Eve, we’re looking at events in Davidson this week and beyond. Davidson College men’s and women’s basketball teams play at home this week, the Davidson Community Players begin a two-week run with “The Spitfire Grill” at Charlotte’s Spirit Square. And don’t forget: Town Hall, the library, and the post office are closed New Year’s day. Coming next week: The Town Board monthly meeting and a lecture by Charlotte Observer food editor Kathleen Purvis.

Week of Dec. 30-Jan. 6

TUESDAY, JAN. 1 – Town Hall and Davidson public library closed for New Year’s.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2, 5-7 p.m., Cornelius Town Hall – A series of four-town Transportation Task Force meetings begin, with a session on air quality issues. The task force is chaired by retired mayor Randy Kincaid and includes representatives from Davidson, Mooresville, Cornelius and Huntersville. Details in our Dec. 14 article announcing the task force.

THURSDAY, JAN. 3, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – men’s basketball vs. Georgia Southern.

JAN. 4-13 – Davidson Community Players will head to Charlotte’s Spirit Square to re-stage their award-winning production “The Spitfire Grill.” The run will include two Sunday matinee and five evening performances. More in our Dec. 18 report.

SATURDAY, JAN. 5, 2 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Women’s basketball vs. Western Carolina.

SATURDAY, JAN. 5, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Men’s basketball vs. Western Carolina.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• TUESDAY, JAN. 8, 6:30 p.m., Davidson College Tyler-Tallman Hall – Charlotte Observer food editor Kathleen Purvis will give a free lecture at Davidson College on food traditions and trends in the New South.
• TUESDAY, JAN. 8, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Town Board monthly meeting. Agenda to be posted on the town website.
• WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 – Davidson Elementary School students and families will participate in their monthly Walking Wednesday walk and bike to school day, organized by town and school officials and the Davidson Walks citizen committee. Walking school buses and bicycle trains are being organized. Details: For more information, contact Mary Kim Folds (704-987-2191) or Eileen O’Flaherty (oflynch@roadrunner.com).
• WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9, 5-7 p.m., Cornelius Town Hall – Second in a series of four-town Transportation Task Force meetings. This session on widening I-77. The task force is chaired by retired mayor Randy Kincaid and includes representatives from Davidson, Mooresville, Cornelius and Huntersville. Details in our Dec. 14 article announcing the task force.
• THURSDAY, JAN. 10, 7 p.m., Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St., Mooresville – State park ranger Kelly Cooke will discuss the history of Lake Norman at a meeting of the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists. Mr. Cooke will share his research into the land now occupied by Lake Norman, how the lake was formed and its impact on the area’s wildlife. Free. Details: www.lakenormanwildlife.org or 704-332-5696.
• FRIDAY, JAN. 11, 7-10:30 p.m., Davidson IB Middle School – Contra Dance Carolina presents an evening of contra dancing with David White & Co. Lessons begin at 7, dancing 7:15 to 10:30.
• JAN. 12-13 – 10th annual Polar Bear Weekend sponsored by The Rocky River Road Club. Saturday’s events include the 10th annual Polar Bear Metric Century bicycle ride, beginning at 10 a.m. at Bailey Road Middle School, 11900 Bailey Rd., Cornelius. On Sunday at 11 a.m., the club and the Davidson Parks & Recreation Department co-sponsor the Polar Bear Cyclocross Race, an off-road bike race at Fisher Farm Park, off Shearers Road, Davidson. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Cyclo-cross combines elements of road racing, criterium racing and mountain bike racing into a sport raced on a variety of surfaces. Details on the club website: www.rockyriverroadclub.org or www.nccyclocross.com.
• JAN. 14, 11:30 a.m., Market Properties, 310 S. Main St. – A 12-week session of Weight Watchers “At Work” meetings begins. Led by Amy Powell, the sessions will combine a healthy pot-luck lunch and meeting. Cost: $144, checks due by Jan. 8. For details or to register, email or call Celeste Colcord, 704-655-2600.
• JAN. 14, 9:30 a.m., Chambers Hall Hance Auditorium, Davidson College – Spring 2008 Humanities Lecture Series for college alumni, parents and friends: Dr. Jeanne Neumann lectures on “Roman Religion and Mystery Cults.” Reservations required. Contact Hope Childress, 704-894-2021, or hochildress@davidson.edu.
• JAN. 20-FEB. 17 – The Royal Shakespeare Company returns to Davidson College for a new play project.
• JAN. 20, 4 p.m., Town Hall – 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Historical Society program with Leslie Rindoks, author of “A Town by Any Other Name,” a history of Cornelius since the 1700s. She’ll talk about our southern neighbor and how its history intertwines with Davidson’s. Free and open to the public. Details: 704-896-8718.
• JAN. 21, 6:30 p.m., Iredell County Library, 201 N. Tradd St., Statesville – Carolina Adoption Services’ adoption information session, with information about international adoption. Reservations and information, call Cindi Roger at 1-800-632-9312 or info@carolinaadoption.org.
• 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. 24-27 – Davidson Community Players and the college Department of Theatre perform “Jack and the Beanstalk.”
• JAN. 25, 8 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall – Fugaku Taiko drumming ensemble performs traditional Japanese drumming as part of the Davidson College artist series. Tickets are $15.
• JAN. 26, River Run Country Club – 2nd annual ICE gala to raise money for the Ada Jenkins Center. The black-tie optional gala begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by dinner and live auction, emceed by Larry Sprinkle, WCNC-TV weather anchor. Proceeds will support the center’s after school program, mobile dental clinic and free medical clinic, and other education and assistance programs. Sponsorships are available. Details: www.adajenkins.org
• JAN. 29., 8 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall – Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performs works by young choreographers as part of the Davidson College artist series. Tickets are $20.
• JAN. 31, 7 p.m., Huntersville Town Hall – Davidson-Concord/N.C. 73 Area 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.
• FEB. 8, 9:30 a.m., Chambers Hall Hance Auditorium, Davidson College – Spring 2008 Humanities Lecture Series for college alumni, parents and friends: Dr. John Swallow on “From Cult to Church.” Reservations required. Contact Hope Childress, 704-894-2021, or hochildress@davidson.edu
• FEB. 26, 8 p.m. – Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon (photo) will give a free lecture at Davidson College.
• APRIL 16, 9:30 a.m., Chambers Hall Hance Auditorium, Davidson College – Spring 2008 Humanities Lecture Series for college alumni, parents and friends: Dr. Hansford Epes lectures on “Dante.” Reservations required. Contact Hope Childress, 704-894-2021, or hochildress@davidson.edu.