Mums the word! Area garden shops are featuring mums and more mums for fall planting or porch decorating. Around Davidson‘s camera caught a few fall blooms at Carolina Cones which also offers pansies, fall foundation plants and accessories of all kinds. Always worth a stop to see what’s new for the garden while you enjoy a late summer ice cream cone. Don’t forget that fall officially arrives next Monday at 3:44 p.m.
But in the meantime this week’s news catches up on summer work in Guatemala by a team from the Children’s Community School, as well as a cruise up the East Coast, a new baby, reports on two Washam families and more.
Children’s Community School Outreach
Last July 19-27, a team of teachers, assistants and parents from the Children’s Community School (CCS) in Davidson traveled to Patzicia, Guatemala, to teach for a second summer in their sister school. Doubling their size from last year’s seven to this year’s fourteen, the group taught for a week in El Sitan, which is the name of the school as well as the community around it, located within the village of Patzicia. CCS anticipates a long term commitment with La Escuela El Sitan. Why this school? Debbie Mazariegos, a parent of a CCS student, was born in Guatemala.
Jill Holshouser reads "The Red Eyed Tree Frog" to second graders.
Her father grew up in the small village where the school is located. It is through her efforts that the partnership was formed.
The El Sitan school has 170 children in grades K-6, with sixth grade being the last for the children unless they can afford private school tuition for the higher grades.
For the CCS teachers, their week was packed with units on rain forests and volcanoes. Team members distributed 14 suitcases of basic supplies and books gathered last school year in Davidson. On the last day of teaching, the team was able to treat the school children to their first field trip ever to the nearby Mayan ruins of Iximche. With 200 bag lunches packed the night before, the children could hardly contain their excitement over their first bus ride and the sight of volcanoes just over the mountain from their village.
CCS teachers wrote their lesson plans in Spanish with the help of Debbie Mazariegos, parttime CCS staff, and Karin Solomonson, CCS Spanish teacher, since Spanish is the children’s second language after their Mayan dialect. Quite a challenge for the group, but by adding a great sense of humor to their teaching duties, their efforts were very successful. Members of this summer’s CCS team were staff members: Mia Baugher, Jill Holshouser, Elissa Huffstetler, Sara Lackey Keys, Deb Mazariegos, Heather O’Brien, Kristen Patterson, Patty Quillinan, Karin Solomonson, Kathy Stallard, Tammy Webb and Adam Olmstead. Also traveling with the group were Sean O’Brien and Leslie Olmstead.
Deb Mazariegos helps with planting a "friendship tree" for CCS at the Guatemalan school.
Before leaving the village the children planted a “friendship tree” to symbolize the growing friendship between CCS and El Sitan. It was a wonderful surprise for the team and a heartfelt farewell from the school.
Future plans for the partnership with El Sitan include taking building and medical teams to the school and surrounding community. The group is working to obtain non-profit status and begins collecting donations of school supplies and sports equipment next month. A few week’s ago the El Sitan team presented “A Glimpse of Guatemala” to build awareness of their trip and enthusiasm for next summer’s team participation.
Kudos to the Children’s Community School for making a difference! For more information contact them at guatetrip@carolina.rr.com.
Cruising with family
Leonard McRee of South Main Street joined his brothers this summer for an East Coast cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship, “Grandeur of the Seas.” Leonard and his wife, Beverly, of Davidson traveled with Harry McRee and his wife, Kathleen, from Newton, and Don McRee and his wife, Priscilla, from Raleigh. The cruise left Norfolk on August 7 with stops in Portland and Bar Harbor before entering Canadian waters for additional stops in Saint John, New Brunswick, and the Bay of Fundy as well as Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a side trip to Peggy’s Cove. Heading south once more, the final stop was Boston before returning to Norfolk.
Leonard and Beverly particularly enjoyed the quaintness of Peggy’s Cove, eating lobster in Maine and whale watching from the deck of their ship. They enjoyed great meals, calm seas (for the most part) and beautiful weather which was refreshingly cool after the North Carolina heat.
Loving the beach are the McRee grandchildren: (l-r in back) Sophie, Will, Jack and Lily Grace, plus Ben in the front.
Returning in time to unpack suitcases and mow the lawn, Leonard and Beverly then headed to Sunset Beach for the Labor Day weekend to have another family gathering – but this time with their sons, Jon and Jason, and their families. Jon and his wife, Beth, and their children, Lily Grace (6), Sophie (4) and Ben (2), live in Davidson but Jason and his wife, Emily, and sons, Will (3) and Jack (17 mos), live in Aiken, S.C. All enjoyed a wonderful relaxing time. It was a special occasion for the McRees since they had not had their whole family together since baby Jack was born.
Welcome to Grey Road
Emmett and Becky Montgomery with their daughters, Ellen and Emma, have moved from River Run to the former Claude and Mary Jane McConnell home on Grey Road.
Emmett and Becky Montgomery, with their daughters, Ellen (l) and Emma.
Emmett and Becky are both Internal Medicine doctors with Advanced Healthcare in Mooresville. Judy and Merle Schuh hosted a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” party for them earlier this month. In addition to families in the immediate vicinity, Emmett’s parents, Reid and Martha Montgomery of The Pines were able to join the lively gathering.
The group enjoyed an evening of fellowship and celebration of new neighbors as well as the birthday of Eric Barkemeyer who was surprised with his favorite carrot cake for dessert following the dinner.
Happy Birthday, Eric, and “Welcome to Town” for Emmett and his family.
Cradle Roll – Remy Peters
Welcome to the world, Remy Katelyn Peters! Baby Remy was born on August 29, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz. and stretching to 19 inches. Proud parents are Cory and Leslie Peters of McConnell.
Remy Katelyn Peters
Excited big brother eager to help with his new baby sister is Cade who is almost two years old.
Nearby to help with the new arrival are grandparents Donnie and Sherry Alexander of Mooresville and grandmother Penny Peters of Charlotte. Across the country are grandparents Bob and Sara Siebum who live in Roseburg, Oregon. Delighted great grandmother is Margaret Alexander of Mooresville.
Congratulations to all the family.
Catching up with the Washams
What a trip down memory lane to hear from Amanda Washam Tobler, oldest daughter of Wayne and Sondra Washam. Now living in California, she enjoys catching up on news via DavidsonNews.net.
Wayne grew up in Cornelius, the son of Herman and Merle Knox Washam. (Merle was a sister of Blanche Parker who now lives at The Pines.) The family’s home was located where we now find Chick Fil-A on Catawba Avenue.
Many will remember Wayne’s idea to build an environmentally friendly home on the family’s Catawba Avenue property. Soon surrounded by commercial businesses, Wayne sold the land which is now Liverpool in Cornelius and with his wife, Sondra, raised their three daughters living first in Cornelius and later in Davidson.
Wayne is now retired from his years working as a nurse with Horizon Eye Associates. He bought an RV and travels widely. Sondra, an RN who used to work at the Davidson Clinic, moved from Asheville to San Jose over two years ago to be closer to grandchildren.
Amanda Washam Tobler and her husband, John, relax with their children, Annapurna and Kenyon.
Amanda and her husband, John Tobler, who works for IBM, have two children: Kenyon (5) and Annapurna (3). Jennifer Washam lives in Black Mountain where she works for a coffee shop. Emily Washam is in Charlotte working for ADP, the HR and Payroll Services company.
Thanks to Amanda for catching us up on this branch of the Washam family and for Blanche Parker for filling in any blanks on the Knox connection to the family. (Seems Blanche is related to half of North Mecklenburg!)
Getting to Know another Branch of the Washams
Ever need your glasses adjusted? New frames? Repair or replacement when you sit on your specs, step on them, pull them from the puppy’s teeth? John Washam is the answer to any and all eyeglass difficulties. He can fill any doctor’s prescription (but no contact lenses). He offers frames, lenses and best of all, continuing service for what he dispenses. And you don’t have to drive to Charlotte. You don’t even have to cross the interstate. Furthermore, one afternoon a week Horizon Care opthamologist Royce Syracuse sees patients at John’s office. It’s one-stop shopping – close by!
John’s place of business, Washam Optical, is located on Westmoreland Road, just beside the new Washam Elementary School. Yes, it was named for his father, John Vance Washam, Sr., who owned the land, married Velna Potts, and raised his family on the acreage along Washam Potts and Westmoreland Roads.
Violet and John Washam.
John, Jr. graduated from North Mecklenburg High School and received his optical training at CPCC. Receiving his license as a Dispensing Optician in 1970, John first worked in Charlotte before designing and building his current office in Cornelius which he opened in 1977. His wife, Violet Jones Washam, a Huntersville native and also a graduate of North Meck, worked for Bell South in their Accounting Office in Charlotte until her retirement in 1985. Since that time she has worked for her husband in their optical business as receptionist and office manager. Married for 51 years, they are well known by many in our community and at Bethel Presbyterian Church where they are lifelong members.
John and Violet love to travel and have enjoyed snow skiing for many years, although they readily admit the comfy chairs in the lodge are looking more attractive each year. Violet favorite pasttime is helping others. John’s love from an early age has been collecting antique and classic cars. Many weekends you can find him at area car shows visiting with other collectors or showing off one of his prize vehicles.
If you haven’t visited Washam Optical, be sure to stop by. John and Violet are members of our community well worth knowing.
Send us your news
Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net
