What a roller-coaster week! In the past seven days, we have had much needed rain, near gale-force winds, ice in puddles, bright blue skies and warm sunshine in protected areas. We lost an hour of sleep Sunday and even more shut-eye as we followed our favorite basketball teams headed toward conference titles and the NCAA “Round Ball” March Madness. Congratulations to the Davidson Wildcats for clinching an NCAA berth Monday evening following their Southern Conference title win against Elon in Charleston.

In last weekend’s much anticipated Duke-UNC game, the Tar Heels wore patches with the word “Eve” on their basketball jerseys signifying the tragic loss of their student body president, Eve Marie Carson, to what appears a random shooting. The Davidson College campus grieves with her brother, Andrew Carson, Class of 2009, as he returns to campus from his sister’s memorial service held Sunday in Athens, Ga.

This week in Around Davidson, we bring you news items from Davidson College Presbyterian Church, praise for “Proof,” an award for Blanche Parker, a 90th birthday for Bill Withers and new grandbabies for Dennis Appleyard and for Dave and Gretchen Smith.

Take note…

This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians as they celebrate Palm Sunday. Look for listings of area churches and their worship services Friday on DavidsonNews.net.

Proof of Excellence

Those of us who have lived in Davidson for the past 30 years or more can remember when Davidson Community Players was made up of a small group of dedicated local residents putting on a summer production in Hodson Hall. How this group has grown! With Cindy Rice at the helm as executive director, DCP will produce five plays this year. “The Spitfire Grill” ran for 10 days in Charlotte in January and this past weekend, “Proof” was the second play of the season.

Staged in the 900 Room of the Davidson College Knobloch Student Center, “Proof” provided ample proof of the talent in our area. Beth Gardner Helfrich and her dad, Joe Gardner, are no strangers to theatre and were perfect as daughter and father in the play. Beth, especially, is no stranger to the 900 room not only because she graduated from Davidson College with a major in theatre but also because the space is named after her grandfather, C. Shaw (“Big Daddy”) Smith, with whom she performed from an early age in his Magic Shows. Newcomers to the DCP stage, Anne Lambert and John Cunningham, rounded out the strong cast for the four day run of this production.

Stay tuned for more DCP offerings: the musical, “Little Women,” in June, “Lend Me a Tenor” in late July and of course, the summer camps run by DCP Children’s Theatre for children 4-15 under the umbrella of “The Connie Company.” Call 704-892-7953 for more information.

Pastor Simmons meets her flock

Following a yearlong national search, Davidson College Presbyterian Church has named the Reverend Lib Simmons as senior pastor of the church. (Click here to see our full covereage of that selection.) Last week Lib and her husband, Gary, visited in town to meet with the church staff, greet members of the congregation and house hunt. The Simmons will move from San Antonio, Texas, to their new Davidson address in the New Neighborhood in April. Lib will preach her first sermon on May 4.

It was a busy few days in town for the couple. One day DCPC planned a morning reception at the Congregation House, an afternoon visit at The Pines and an evening gathering following the fellowship meal. Additional sessions were held to meet in small groups. DavidsonNews.net caught up with Lib and Gary Simmons and two members of the Pastor Nominating Committee, Stephanie Glaser (l) and Missy Kuykendall (r), as they helped with a Wednesday morning receiving line to greet the Simmons. We look forward to having Lib and Gary in town.

Local Y celebrates an outstanding volunteer
Congratulations to Blanche Parker who received the Lake Norman YMCA’s 2008 George William Award at a luncheon in Charlotte last week. At the luncheon a recipient of this award was recognized from each of the area’s 16 YMCA branches. Blanche has been involved as a strong supporter of the Lake Norman YMCA for many years as a board member and enthusiastic fund raiser. The award for outstanding volunteer at the Lake Norman Y was a proud moment for Blanche and her family. Known for her poems, many of which she recites from memory, an excerpt from one was included in the luncheon program. It read:

So now I have some money.
It’s fun to make a plan.
I’ll give it to Lake Norman;
The best Y in the land.
It makes this community
A better place to live.
If you have a little extra
That’s the place to give.

Just who is Blanche Parker? She was born Blanche Knox in 1917 in the country east of Davidson just down East Rocky River Road – a member of the ever growing Knox clan in our area. She graduated from Davidson High School (now the IB). In 1938, she married Charlie Parker and they raised five children in town. During these years Blanche worked as a Long Distance Operator for Southern Bell as well as the Office Manager for Dr. Woods in his office on South Street.

Her husband, Charlie, was the Wrestling Coach at Davidson College for many years until his death in the late 1970′s. Two of the Parker children live nearby: Bruce in Charlotte with his family and Stella, married to Tim Stroud, who now lives in Davidson in the Parker home on Dogwood Lane built by Blanche and Charlie in 1957. The other children live in Pinehurst (Charles Jr. or Buzz), Chapel Hill (Glenda Parker Jones) and Sanford, FL, (Janice Parker Gregory). Blanche boasts 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Photo: Family members on hand to congratulate Award Recipient Blanche Parker were (l-r) Bonnie Parker, Janice Gregory, Anna Parker, Sarah Parker, Bruce Parker, Buzz Parker, Stella Stroud, Glenda Jones, Tim Stroud, and Kristen Eshleman

Blanche moved to The Pines Retirement Community in 2000. She gave her car to a grandchild recently and now “hitches” rides with friends and neighbors. Energetic in her commitment to the “Y,” she reminds family that on birthday or holiday occasions, she does not need a thing but would rather they make a donation to one of her favorite charities…of course, the Lake Norman Y! Blanche, we are glad to know you and to say again, Congratulations on your Volunteer Award.

90 birthday candles for Bill

Bill Withers celebrated his 90th birthday on March 2 at Autumncare in Statesville where he has lived for just over a year. He enjoyed the company of his children, their spouses and grandchildren at the afternoon gathering. There was cake, punch, and his favorite family desserts. Deedie baked a caramel cake; Mary came with a black walnut cake from a special recipe passed down from Ina Pope – a name which may be familiar to some of our readers; and Nancy brought a Strawberry Delight with jello, cream cheese, cool whip, pineapple and pecans. (Sounds good. Bet she would part with the recipe if you stopped by the Davidson Public Library.)

Bill was born on March 2, 1918, at home on South Street. His mother died when he was but a day old so he was raised by his grandmother, Molly Withers, on Walnut Street. Following his marriage to Johnsie Lee Howard in 1940, Bill built their home on Grey Road where they raised their six children. Bill and Johnsie started Withers Electric Company (the current site of Ben & Jerry’s and Fiore) in the late 1940′s. This large brick building was originally constructed in 1922 for the town’s Ford Motor Agency before a member of the Withers family bought it and the Electric Company began. Quoting from Mary Beaty’s book, “Davidson: A History of the Town,” “Throngs of people gathered on the sidewalk in 1949 to watch Davidson’s first television set, on display in the (Withers) store window. “It Pays to be Ignorant” was the crowd’s favorite show.” Johnsie and Bill ran the store for over 40 years until they retired in 1985. Lots of rich Davidson history connected with this family.

Happy Birthday to you, Bill.

Photo: Happy Birthday to Bill Withers who is surrounded by five of his six children: (l-r) Richard Withers from California, Deedie Estes from Richfield, N.C., Mary Sanders from Statesville, Nancy Dishman from Davidson and David Withers from Nashville, TN. Billy Withers from Huntersville was unable to attend the party due to illness.

Twins for grandpa!

Congratulations to Dennis Appleyard who is the proud grandfather of beautiful twin girls born on February 12, 2008, to his daughter, Amy Appleyard, and her husband, Matt Basiliere, who live just outside Boston. Bianca Grace Basiliere weighed 4 lbs. 2 oz. and Raquel Alana Basiliere weighed 4 lbs. 12 oz. Welcoming these new arrivals at home and very eager to be of help was big sister, Lola, who will be 6 years old this spring. Dad Matt is a senior proposal writer for Multiplan, a health services organization in Waltham. Mom Amy is on leave from her job as finance and administration manager for the Boston Lyric Opera. She also is Chief Operating Officer of Spark Craft Studios in Cambridge. Matt’s parents, Jack and Pam Basiliere, live in East Longmeadow, MA, so Grandma Pam was able to come and help this very busy household during the first weeks the twins were at home.

Group photo: Dennis Appleyard delights in being surrounded by his favorite women! (l-r: Grandpa Dennis holding Bianca, Lola holding Raquel, Mom Amy Appleyard Basiliere and Aunt Karen Appleyard)

Dennis, a Professor of Economics at Davidson College, took the first six days of Spring Break to travel to Boston and meet Bianca and Raquel. The twins are thriving and have gained until each weighs some six pounds. Dennis was delighted to be with the family and hold these wonderful babies.

Dennis and the late Gwen Appleyard have two daughters and a son. “Aunt” Karen Appleyard, sister of Amy, came to Boston at the end of last week to help. Catching up with Karen, Dennis tells us that she is now a Research Scientist in the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke. Karen, who lives in Durham, is a Ph.D. psychologist at the Center focusing her work on young children. “Uncle” Doug Appleyard of Raleigh, Amy’s brother, will visit later in April with his wife, Tay, and children, Will (13) and Sarah (12).

Smith granddaughter is all smiles

Grandbabies are wonderful! Just ask Dave and Gretchen Smith of the New Neighborhood! They are eager to tell you all about Maddie, or Madeline Michele Trout, who was born on February 20, 2008, to their daughter, Kerry, and her husband, Gabe Trout of Cary, N.C. Baby Maddie weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and stretched to 20 1/2 inches. Grandpa Dave and Grandma Gretchen drove to Raleigh for the exciting arrival of their first grandchild and have visited often since then. Kerry’s sister, “Aunt” Kristin Smith, is a small animal veterinarian who lives close by in Apex so she can check on Maddie regularly. Proud paternal grandparents are Debbie and Mike Shambro of Lexington, KY. Gabe’s sister, Heidi, and her husband also live in Kentucky. Congratulations to all.

Photo: The camera caught the first smile of Maddie Trout in the arms of her mother, Kerry Smith Trout.

Click here for all the “Around Davidson” birth announcements.