Happy Valentine’s Day to all our readers! Florists would have us think only roses will do for our sweethearts, but a leisurely walk or bicycle ride around 
town might make us want to greet our Valentine with a bouquet of fresh daffodils. These cheery blooms let us know spring is coming and we can hardly wait. If your thoughts are turning to gardening, don’t forget the annual Davidson Horticultural Symposium XXIV March 3-4, 2008, on the Davidson College campus. This year’s focus is designing herbaceous gardens using new and native flowering plants, ferns and grasses. Sounds like a wonderful idea especially if we have another summer of minimal rainfall. Check the event’s website, and stay tuned to DavidsonNews.Net for more coverage.
See below for news about Leigh Webb‘s latest bouquet of flowers, the new manager at Harris Teeter, the annual Valentine’s Day photo of the Smith twins, the exciting “Paws to Read” program at the library, a Downtown Davidson reception, and a visit to the Bahamas.
 Leigh Webb of Fiore (Brenda Barger photo) |
Blooms to You!
Leigh Webb, owner of Fiore Home and Garden on South Main in Davidson, has her hands and arms full (as you can see in this photo) of beautiful flowers for Valentine’s Day.
Four years ago when Leigh’s shop was less than six month old, she had less than 50 orders for Valentine flowers. Now, in her fourth year, she has more than 10 times that and sees an increase in sales each year. When asked the secret of her success, Leigh gave credit to her loyal supporters and local enthusiasts who love her arrangements.
Hats off to Leigh for her creative talent and welcoming smile. Maybe, just maybe, she will take the day after Valentine’s off and rest on her laurels!
Welcome, Jerry Furr!
Now that our new Harris Teeter store has been open just over a week, we thought it time to interview the store manager. Welcome to Davidson, Jerry Furr 2d. Having been with Harris Teeter for just two years, Jerry is pleased to be with us. He has three children and lives in Harrisburg so his commute to Davidson is just a bit shorter than to the Harris Teeter he managed in Mountain Island Marketplace.
Jerry mentioned that last week’s opening night in Davidson, the “Taste of Teeter,” drew more customers and visitors than any previous opening night for the grocery chain. It was such a happy event for residents who packed the aisles sampling items from Caesar salad to ice cream sundaes, all the while sipping wine and visiting with friends. This week the store is calmer and you can navigate your shopping cart with ease. Store employees are energetic and eager to please. Lots of fun to check it out.
Look for Jerry Furr next time in the store and tell him how glad we are to have Harris Teeter in town. He is very approachable, has a ready smile, and will help you find any item on your grocery list.
No, the handsome fella pictured above is not the produce manager – but Jerry Furr, Manager of our new Harris Teeter, against a beautiful backdrop of colorful produce.
From Romania with annual love…
So many in Davidson remember February 2000 when well known Davidson Elementary fourth grade teacher Heather Smith, and her husband, Bruce, journeyed to Romania and welcomed twin boys, Tyler and Jared, 
into their hearts and lives on Valentine’s Day of that year. The “Around Davidson” column has remembered that wonderful day with an annual photo of the family chronicling the twins from toddlers to today’s photo of them as thriving nine year olds.
Jared and Tyler are currently in the fourth grade at Davidson Elementary. They both enjoy scouting and participating in the MAC junior swim program. Tyler especially likes to play soccer while Jared is concentrating more on swimming. They boys also are members of the hand chime choir at Davidson United Methodist Church. How glad we are to have them in Davidson!
Happy Valentine’s from the happy family of Bruce and Heather Smith and their twins, Jared (l) and Tyler. Davidson news.net caught the family just as they were leaving to “Scout for Food” in the neighborhood. Scouting is a family affair: the boys are in a Webelo den for Davidson’s Pack 58, Mom Heather is a den leader and Dad Bruce helps as an Activities Director for the Pack Committee.
We think the Davidson Public Library is onto something special. Each Monday afternoon from 3:30-4:30, they are sponsoring the “PAWS to Read” program. The idea is for libraries to schedule reading hours for children and Therapy Dogs where children and dogs bond over a shared story. This encourages the children’s confidence as their reading skills grow in a relaxing environment.
Volunteer Tauron Ferguson of Mooresville is bringing her dog, Dudley, an English Setter trained as a Therapy Dog International, to Davidson each week for this event. Last Monday was the first hour of “PAWS to Read.” Indeed, it was a “howling” success as Dudley lay on his rug, eager to lick the next reader and then settle down for a quick snooze as the pages of the book turned. Stop by next Monday to greet Dudley and read aloud to him. 
Any age reader is welcome! Dudley gladly will listen to an excerpt from “Sports Illustrated” or “Spot, The Dog.” Your choice!
Alexis Green (pictured above), a third grader at the Children’s Community School, read aloud to Dudley, her new best friend at the Davidson Public Library. Davidson IB seventh grader Rayna O’Nan chose a book about Hero Dogs to read to Dudley (who was only mildly impressed).
Christmas ain’t over till you see the reception bling!
CID, you say. What is that? Even this writer had to stop for a minute before realizing that CID stood for Christmas in Davidson – a well known term among members of Downtown Davidson Inc. or “DDI” as they refer to themselves. DDI hosted a reception last week to thank all of the sponsors who helped to make last year’s Christmas in Davidson a success through financial contributions, product donations, discounted services and enthusiastic support.
The late afternoon reception was held at Wooden Stone on South Main Street. Owner Drew Crawford graciously offered his beautiful floor space to a large gathering who enjoyed appetizers from Brickhouse Tavern and refreshments from Harris Teeter. In addition, Drew was offering samples of wine from Round Peak Vineyards, a 32 acre site in Mt. Airy owned by two 1964 Davidson College graduates, George Little and Lee Martin. 
In addition to Round Peak’s Sangiovese and Merlot, Drew also has Gato Rojo available. Gato Rojo is a special wine blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot for alumni and friends of Davidson College.
Well known faces around Davidson make up the Board of DDI including past president Gordon Clark, current President Bud Berro, and Vice President Tim Dreffer. Shannon McIntosh, Board member of DDI, was greeting merchants and visitors at the door (that’s Shannon and Tim holding a CID promotional booklet in the photo at right). Bud Berro thanked numerous individuals who made Christmas in Davidson such a success including Scott Sherrill, a Davidson College senior, who worked closely with the late Kate MacIntyre and now spends 5-10 hours a week helping DDI.
A new face on the DDI Board who joined just last month is Cristal Moncur, director of sales for Homewood Suites. (That’s Cristal in the photo, standing with Gordon at left and Bud at right.) Forecasting an April 20, 2008, opening of the hotel at the roundabout nearest the interstate, Cristal is already busy contacting merchants and getting to know the town. Her goal is to be certain Homewood Suites guests benefit from all the town has to offer. She is also the point of contact for special events at her hotel as well as reservations. Cristal loves the small town atmosphere of Davidson. Her ready smile and energy are already welcome additions to Davidson.
Wonderful Winter Getaway
One thinks of Club Med as a place for swingers so a few of our “swingiest” residents traveled recently to Club Med Columbus Isle for seven days of sun and surf. Best friends for decades, Patty King, Barbara Regen, Pris Woodmansee and Lacy Dick, spent a relaxing ladies’ week together in celebration of a few late 2007 birthdays. The weather was not hot enough for “bikinis” but the foursome still enjoyed time on the beach and in the heated swimming pools of the resort named “Columbus Isle” since Columbus supposedly landed at a spot on the island commemorated by an marker.
Vacationers at this Club Med were a lively mix of Canadians and Europeans with a sampling of Americans. The Davidson ladies enjoyed sailing, snorkeling, sea kayaking, bicycling and even archery during their stay. The food was great and the evening entertainment lots of fun.
In addition to Pris, Lacy, Patty and Barbara, other Davidson residents spending the same week in the Bahamas at Club Med Columbus Isle were Ben and Kaye Yarborough. Kaye’s sister, Marsha Parsons and her husband, Eric, from Drexel, N.C., joined them as well as Kaye’s brother, Stuart Bigham and his wife, Jeanine, from Minneapolis. All enjoyed a wonderful week of sun and sand as well as catching up on family news. Kudos to Ben who completed his SCUBA classroom and pool work while in the Bahamas and earned his open water certification. He commented on the beauty of the ocean at a depth of 60 feet. Congratulations, Ben.
Okay, it’s not a real magazine, but Ben Yarborough really did have a great time diving during his Bahamas visit and who knows? Maybe he will be voted Diver of the Year!
Ben is also in the sailing photo (he’s dressed all in white), enjoying a sunset cruise with (from left) Stuart and Jeanine Bigham, Kaye Yarborough, and Eric and Marsha Parsons.
