A busy week lies ahead, with lectures, public meetings, and music that includes a visit by a Japanese taiko drumming ensemble. The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday brings events at the college. The Town Board’s monthly work session is Tuesday, while the North Meck-South Iredell Transportation Task Force takes up land-use planning on Wednesday. On Thursday, a public workshop seeks input on a proposed town bicycle master plan. And next Saturday, the Davidson Housing Coalition’s HAMMERS home repair program holds its “Souper Bowl” fund-raiser, with local eateries competing for tastiest local soup. Those events and more …

WEEK OF JAN. 20-27

SUNDAY, 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.

SUNDAY, JAN. 20, 10:45 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church – Men in Balance continues in Room 215 of the Alexander Education Building. The weekly sessions, in a Sunday school format, are organized by the non-profit, non-denominational Men in Balance. The group says it aims “to provide support for men seeking balance and integration in their occupational, spiritual and personal lives.” For details or to sign up, email Jerry Hancock at jerry@meninbalance.org. or visit www.meninbalance.org

MONDAY, JAN. 21 – Davidson Town Hall closed for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

MONDAY, 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.

MONDAY, JAN. 21 through WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23, Davidson College – The college plans a series of events to mark Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, including a keynote speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Roger Wilkins. (photo) See our Jan. 4 report for details of the events.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 9:30 a.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Walks committee monthly meeting.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22, Children’s Community School – This charter school in Davidson will host two open houses today (9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.) plus one final open house on Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. The deadline to submit an application for the 2008-09 school year is Jan. 31.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Town Board monthly work session. Agenda had not been announced as of Saturday afternoon. Check the town website for the latest.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 7 p.m., Tyler-Tallman Hall, Davidson College – Sally and Sara Kate Kneidel, a mother-daughter duo, will present a free lecture on food choices and healthy living, titled “Food Activism: Eating for Environmental Change.”

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23, 5 p.m., Cornelius Town Hall – 4-town North Mecklenburg-South Iredell Transportation Task Force meeting, this week focusing on land-use planning.

THURSDAY, JAN. 24, 7 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church (changed from 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.

THURSDAY, JAN. 24, 7 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Bank of America lecture series continues with “Environmental Stress, Security and American Leadership,” by Thomas Homer-Dixon. He is the Gerogia Ignatieff Chair of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Toronto’s Trudeau Center for Peace and Conflict Studies and an expert on the relationship between environmental degradation, resource scarcity and violent political conflict. Free, but tickets required. Available at Davidson College Union box office.

THURSDAY, JAN. 24, 5:30 p.m., Davidson College student union, Room 302 – “What’s going on down the road?” a brief video and discussion with community leaders about current events in the town of Davidson. Followed by a reception. Open to the public. Questions: email aubell@davidson.edu or dascott@davidson.edu.

FRIDAY, JAN. 25, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Davidson Parks & Recreation office, 416 Armour St. – Lectures for Lifetime Learners series presents “Current Events with Jack Perry.” Mr. Perry is a longtime Davidson resident who is a retired U.S. ambassador and former head of the Dean Rusk international studies program at Davidson College. Bring a bag lunch. Details: 704-892-3349.

FRIDAY, JAN. 25, Davidson Elementary School – Davidson Elementary PTA sponsors a “Battery Valet Service.” Old household batteries cannot be disposed of in trash or recycling. Drop used batteries in the marked bin in front of the school today and PTA volunteers will cart them to the North Mecklenburg Recycling Center for environmentally-safe disposal.

SATURDAY, JAN. 26, noon, Chambers Building, Davidson College – “Souper Bowl 2008,” a benefit for the Hammers program, will feature live entertainment, a silent auction and tasty soups from local restaurants. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and $5 for children under 12.

SATURDAY, JAN. 26, 10 a.m.-noon, Ada Jenkins Center – The Town of Davidson and the Ada Jenkins Center are hosting a job fair and informational session for upcoming job opportunities in Davidson. Participants will include the Homewood Suites by Hilton, the Sheraton Hotel, Family Eye Care, Shula 347 Grill and Downtown Davidson. For more information, contact Lauren Blackburn, town planner, (lblackburn@ci.davidson.nc.us). (See also our Jan. 18 article on what’s coming at Exit 30.)

SATURDAY, 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. Details: www.adajenkins.org

MUSIC AND THEATER

JAN. 20-FEB. 17 – The Royal Shakespeare Company returns to Davidson College for a new play project. Performances in February. Details on the college Website.

JAN. 24-27 – Davidson Community Players Connie Company and the Davidson College Theatre Department perform “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Performances Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 4:30 and 7 p.m.; Saturday at 10:30, 2:30 and 4:30; and Sunday at 2:30 and 4:30. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Tickets: 704-892-7918 beginning Jan. 18. For more info, call 704-892-7953.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Michael Rowland, associate music director at DCPC and artist associate for the college’s music department, will precent the opening recital for the “Organ at Davidson” series. Mr. Rowland will play Bach’s arrangement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Minor. Directions or more information: www.dcpc.org or 704-892-5641.

THURSDAY, JAN. 24, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College’s Sloan Music Center – Identical twins Richard and John Contiguglia will perform the second concert in the college’s new Adams Foundation Piano Series. The Contiguglia brothers have devoted their careers to popularizing the great body of music for piano duets by such composers as Schubert, Liszt, Beethoven and Gershwin. Tickets are $20 for general admission. The concert will be held in the Sloan’s Tyler-Tallman Hall.

FRIDAY, 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.

SUNDAY, JAN. 27, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church – “Poultry in Motion” will play a toe-tapping variety of traditional Appalachian music, as part of the St. Alban’s Concert Series. Tickets are $15 for general admission. Photo at left is of Poultry lead fiddler, Jon Singleton.

GALLERY OPENINGS & ART EVENTS

FRIDAY, JAN. 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Creative Art Exchange, 19725 Oak St., behind the police station, Cornelius – Opening reception for “February Artists Three,” an exhibit in honor of black history month, with work by mixed-media artist Nellie Ashford, ceramicist Karla Chambers and painter James Donaldson.  Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 9:30 to 5 p.m., weekends by appointment. Phone: 704-892-7323.

THROUGH JAN. 31, Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Public Art Task Force presents an exhibit of public art proposals by citizen design teams. Opening reception Tuesday, Jan. 15, 6:30-8 p.m. Each design team has chosen a site and proposed an idea for a public art piece or project. Open during Town Hall hours, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and other hours during public meetings and events. More in our Jan. 11 news item.

THROUGH FEB. 29, Van Every Smith Galleries, Davidson College Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – “Joel Shapiro: New Sculpture and Works on Paper.” (photo) Exhibit opens with a lecture by the artist, Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m., followed by a reception. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends, noon to 4 p.m. when the college is in session.

SATURDAY, FEB. 2, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Christa Faut Gallery, Jetton Village, 19818 North Cove Road, Cornelius – Lake Norman Art League presents a workshop for artists with New York City artist Scott Duce, titled “The Artist’s Challenge: Integrating Vision and Technique.” He will speak about finding your voice in art and expressing it through technique. Free, though $15 donations accepted. For details or to download a registration form: www.lknart.org or call 704-237-1042.

SUNDAY, FEB. 3, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Christa Faut Gallery, Jetton Village, 19818 North Cove Road, Cornelius – New York City artist Scott Duce offers critique sessions for artists. Fee: $25. Details: www.lknart.org or call 704-237-1042.

DAVIDSON COLLEGE EVENTS

For an up-to-date listing of events on the college campus, visit the college calendar page.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• JAN. 28, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Monthly planning board meeting. Agenda to be posted on the town website.
• 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. 4, 6:30-8 p.m., Davidson Parks & Recreation office, 416 Armour St. – Mother/daughter self-defense with Ken Nazemetz. For ages 11 and up. Details: use bar code 2113 at www.d-recs.org
• FEB. 19, 7 p.m., Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St. – Main Street Readers book group, reading “Atonement.” Also, March 18, “Pavilion of Women.” Details: Debra Smithdeal, 704-892-6841.
• FEB. 26, 8 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson College – Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon (photo) will give the annual Conarroe Lecture. Mr. Chabon will sign books after his talk. The event is free, but tickets are required and can be picked up at the college union ticket office from 10-4 weekdays, beginning Feb. 12.
• MARCH 3-4, Davidson College – Davidson Garden Club 24th annual Horticultural Symposium, “Herbaceous Havens: Creating Garden Sanctuaries.” Details, including a full schedule of events, at www.davidsonsymposium.org.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

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