Works by Jo Rissanen, at So Alive gallery. Reception Sunday, 4 p.m.

Our calendar this week includes important meetings about the proposed Davidson IB School community center project, an election forum with District 1 and at-large candidates for Mecklenburg County Commission Thursday, and an appearance by Def Poetry spoken word artist Amir Sulaiman at the college. Also, the Davidson College football team plays its first home game at Richardson Stadium Saturday against Jacksonville, and organist Robert Parrish leads off the 2008-9 Organ at Davidson series Tuesday.

Beyond Davidson: The Charlotte Film Festival kicks off Thursday in Charlotte, and featured films include the circus documentary “Children of All Ages,” by Davidson-based filmmaker Scott Galloway. The Amazing Maize Maze (a cornfield maze) continues at Rural Hill Farm. Davidson College classics professor Jeanne Neumann continues her Pompeii lectures in Charlotte. And bluegrass legend Doc Watson headlines a benefit bluegrass concert in Harmony.

IB SCHOOL PROJECT

The IB school project calls for the town to work with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools to jointly renovate and expand the school, on South Street. The work would add a gymnasium and offices and classrooms for recreation activities. The school system has asked the town for a decision by month’s end. The town board is expected to take up the matter Tuesday. Then on Wednesday and Thursday, the town planning staff will coordinate a two-day public planning workshop to talk about site planning and design. See our Sept. 19 update, “Key meetings to decide IB school project’s future.”

WEEK OF SEPT. 22-28

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – September Town Board Work Session, with votes on a master plan revision at the Summer’s Walk subdivision and on the town’s proposal to join Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in a project to renovate and expand Davidson IB Middle School on South Street. Agenda on the town website. See our Sept. 19 preview of the IB school project, “Key meetings to decide IB school project’s future.” And read more about the Summer’s Walk project in our Sept. 9 article “Board delays vote on Summer’s Walk plan changes.”

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 6-8 p.m., Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave., downtown Cornelius – Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) public meetings seeking citizen input on budget planning for the next two years. Details: 704-336-7433.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 7 p.m., St. Alban’s Church, 300 Caldwell Lane – St. Alban’s Square Neighborhood Association annual membership meeting. Open to neighborhood residents, to elect Council of Stewards and ratify 2008-2009 budget.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 7 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Hall, Lilly Family Gallery – Dean Rusk International Studies Program, the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Departments of German and History present a lecture by Stephen Stehli on “Church and State in Modern Germany.” Mr. Stehli is counsel to the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Education, Science, and Research in the State of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, and an attorney and ordained minister. Free.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Robert Parrish opens the 2008-9 Organ at Davidson music series with a performance of works by Frescobaldi, Kremer, Bach, Langlais, Hurd and his own Prelude on “Divinum Mysterium.” More about the series in our season preview.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24,, 1:30 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Building, Hance Auditorium – 2008 Malcolm Lester lecture with Jerald Poldair, associate professor of history and Robert French professor of American Studies at Lawrence University, speaks on “Why Biography Matters: Bayard Rustin and the Limits of the American Radical Dream.” Free.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24, 6 p.m., Davidson IB Middle School, South Street – A two-day planning workshop for the planned IB school renovation and community center project begins with a site visit. At 7, the event continues at Town Hall with an introduction. Workshop continues Thursday. For a full schedule and background, see our Sept. 12 preview, “Planning workshop Sept. 24-25 for IB school project.”

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Building, Lilly Family Gallery – “The Laws of War: Lessons Learned from a Year in Iraq,” a lecture by Ross Boyce, Davidson class of 2001, on his experience as a soldier in Iraq in 2004. Now a UNC medical student, he also will discuss his research into civilian casualties of modern guerilla warfare. Free.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24, 6:30 p.m., Sardis Presbyterian Church, 6100 Sardis Road, Charlotte – Davidson Professor and Classics Dept. Chair Jeanne Neumann lectures on “Religion in Pompeii” as part of the Discovery Place/Davidson College Pompeii Lectures. Details: Free. 704-366-1854.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Day 2 of the public planning workshop on the proposed IB School/Recreation Center project. For a full schedule and background, see our Sept. 12 preview, “Planning workshop Sept. 24-25 for IB school project.”

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music with The Orsons.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 7:30 p.m., St. Alban’s Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – St. Albans Neighborhood Discussion Group hosts a forum for at-large candidates for Mecklenburg County Commission. With introductory statements by each candidate, followed by a Q&A.

Sulaiman

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 8:30 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson Muslim Students’ Association presents a free appearance by HBO Def Poetry Spoken Word artist Amir Sulaiman. With an introduction by Davidson student poets. Free tickets available in advance at the college union box office. Doors open at 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 26, 8 a.m., Lake Norman Chamber, 19900 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius – Focus Friday event: A community briefing on the need for a court magistrate in north Mecklenburg. Details: 704-892-1922.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 26, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Turf Field – Davidson women’s field hockey vs. Catawba.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 8 a.m. to noon, beside Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Weekly Davidson Farmers Market, with fresh local produce and meats, baked items, flowers and other goods. This week’s features include a solar oven demonstration by Robert Lee, and music with the Lake Norman Jam. Bring your fiddle or guitar and join in. For a listing of this week’s farmers and vendors: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. Market continues Saturdays through October.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 1 to 7 p.m., VanHoy Farms family campground, Harmony – Bluegrass legend Doc Watson is the featured performer in a benefit concert that includes Richard Watson, David Holt, Michael Kelsh, Wayne Henderson, the Grove Trio and CookShack Gang. Funds will aid Well of Mercy, a spiritual retreat center near Harmony. VanHoy campground is at I-77 Exit 65, 15 miles north of Statesville. Tickets $25, children 10 and under free, available online at www.wellofmercy.org, or phone 704-539-5449, or at the gate. Food, crafts, Camping, picnic, RV sites available.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 1 p.m., Davidson College Richardson Stadium – Davidson College football home opener vs. Jacksonville. Tickets required.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St. – Live music with Joshua Panda. www.summitcoffee.com

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, 8 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Hall, Lilly Family Gallery – Janisse Ray, author, naturalist and environmental activist, will give a free talk. She is author of “Ecology of a Cracker Childhood,” which was assigned reading for all incoming freshmen at Davidson this year. She also wrote “Pinhook: Finding Wholeness in a Fragmented Lands.” Details: Davidson College English Department, 704-894-2254.

THROUGH NOV. 2, Rural Hill Center of Scottish Heritage, Huntersville – 7th Annual Amazing Maize Maze features flashlight mazes, group fun and a chance to get lost in a huge field of corn. The maze is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children ages 5-17. For directions and more, see the maze website.

MUSIC AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE THIS WEEK

For more information, go to www.davidson.edu/music.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, 3:30 p.m., Sloan Music Center, Tyler-Tallman Hall – Classical Indian vocal concert with Sanjay Subramaniam. Admission: $15, seniors $12; free for students and Classical Music Association of Charlotte members.

FILM AND THEATER

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25 to SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, various locations in downtown Charlotte – The 3rd Charlotte Film Festival will showcase 70 quality independent films, including features, shorts and documentaries, by local, national and foreign filmmakers. Also planned are lecture and discussions a closing night screening of the 1927 film “Sunrise” with live piano accompaniment. Tickets $6.50 online or $8 at the door. Full schedule and other details: www.charlottefilmfestival.org

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 2:40 p.m., Discovery Place Wachovia Science Theater, Charlotte – Davidson filmmaker Scott Galloway’s film “Children of All Ages” will be screened as part of the Charlotte Film Festival (see above item). The 78-min. film is described as “a three-ringed documentary that weaves the longest running children’s circus, the largest minature circus in the world, and the greatest living Big Top performers, creating a compelling tribute to the most storied entertainment form in American history…the circus.” Tickets $6.50 online, $8 at the door. Mr Galloway will also be a panelist during filmmaker panels on Saturday.

MONDAY, OCT. 6, 7-9 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Screening of “Darius Goes West” and a discussion with the cast and crew of this award-winning documentary, about Darius Weems, a man who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Along with a group of friends from Davidson College and beyond, he journeyed cross country in an RV to raise awareness about children living with the disease. Free. Proceeds from DVD sales benefit Charley’s Fund for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research. More about the film, www.dariusgoeswest.com.

OCT. 22-26, Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College production of “Communicating Doors” by Alan Ayckbourn, a hilarious, door-slamming comedy about family ties, marriages, and time travel. Directed by Steve Umberger, former artistic director of the Charlotte Repertory Theatre. Oct. 22 and 23, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 24-25, 8:15 p.m.; Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. Details on the college theater department website.

NOV. 6-16, location to be announced, Davidson – Davidson Community Players production of “Working,” a musical based on the book by Studs Terkel. Nov. 6-8 & 13-15, 8 p.m.; Nov. 9 & 16, 2 p.m. More information: www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org

GALLERY OPENINGS & ART EVENTS

GREAT FRAME UP SHOP, Birkdale Village, Huntersville – Through Oct. 12, Art Spectacular Show & Auction preview exhibition, featuring 20 works by area artists, chosen by juror Tom Stanley, gallery director at Winthrop University. Organized by Lake Norman-Huntersville Rotary Club and Lake Norman Art League. Free. The auction will be Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Rotary Club’s Wine Spectacular, with proceeds benefiting Hope House and Lake Norman Free Clinic. For more information, contact Arvind Patil, Art Show Chairperson, at 704-562-5327 or aspatil@bellsouth.net.

"Our Morning Walk," part of an exhibit of mobile phone camera photographs at Cornelius Arts Center.

CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius, in the Oak Street Mill behind the police station – Through Nov. 1: “David Boraks: Photographs,” an exhibit of new work by Davidson photographer (and DavidsonNews.net editor) David Boraks, including a series of photos shot with a mobile phone camera. More about the artist, www.davidboraks.com. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays by appointment. Also, Saturday, Sept. 27, 1-4 p.m., the center will have a “Free for All” open house, with demonstrations of ceramics and woodworking, and information about classes. The Children’s Arts Project will have hands-on art projects for children of all ages in the children’s studio. Information: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org.

Works by Davidson College visiting artist Lydia Musco are on display at Davidson College Visual Art Center this month.

DAVIDSON COLLEGE VAN EVERY/SMITH GALLERIES, Davidson College Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – Through Oct. 8: Faculty Exhibition, with new sculptures by Cort Savage, new paintings by Herb Jackson, and a special site-specific installation by Ryan O’Malley. New Visiting Associate Professor of Art Lydia Musco will present an installation of large-scale concrete works that are inspired by modern and ancient architectural construction practices. Hours: Weekdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Weekends: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERY, 463 S. Main St. – Through Oct. 17: Group show of paintings by Charlotte Faust, Kenneth Nelson, Susan Jennings, Loren DiBenedetto, Tyler Strouth, and Ray Byram. Oct. 18 to Nov. 29: “Dogz n’ and Catz” show, dog and cat art by leading artists, to benefit Lake Norman Animal Rescue. Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 704-895-1213 or on the gallery’s new website, www.merrilljennings.com.

CHRISTA FAUT GALLERY, 19818 North Cove Road, Jetton Village, Cornelius – Through Sept. 30: “Two Mile Radius,” an exhibit of new paintings by Elizabeth Bradford. It’s Ms. Bradford’s 10th exhibit at the gallery and also the gallery’s 20th anniversary. Nearly all the images in this show are from within a two-mile radius of the Bradford Farm, east of Davidson. Oct. 1 to Nov. 11: “A Self That Touches All Edges,” new work by Ulysses Jackson. Opening reception Saturday, Oct. 4, 4-6 p.m. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment. Information: www.christafautgallery.com or 704-892-5312.

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE GALLERY, South Main Square office building, 442 South Main St., next to Masterworks – September show: Lake Norman Art League Fall 2008 Exhibit, with submissions by league members and other area artists. Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Details: www.LKNart.org

Works by potter Brad Tucker featured at Wooden Stone.

WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – Featured: September, potter Brad Tucker; October: Leaf Leather. Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 1-6 p.m. 704-892-1449. www.woodenstonegallery.com.

MOORESVILLE ARTIST GUILD, Depot Gallery, 103 W. Center Ave., Mooresville – Sept. 1-30, work by artists Edna Barker, Pat McGuire, Ginny Boyd. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10-4, Sunday 1-4. Details: www.mooresvilleartistguild.com/

SO ALIVE GALLERY, 108 S. Main St. – Through Oct. 31: “Jo Rissanen: Great and Small,” an exhibit of mixed media works depicting animals in God’s kingdom. Hours: Wednesdays to Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reception: Sunday, Sept. 28, 4 p.m. Details: 704-892-0044.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• MONDAY, SEPT. 29, 2-6:30 p.m., Ben & Jerry’s, 202 S. Main St. – Give a pint, get a pint blood drive. Details: 704-892-0604.
• MONDAY, SEPT. 29 through WEDNESDAY, OCT 1, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Beth Shalom of Lake Norman high holidays services. Details on the Congregation website, www.bslkn.org.
• MONDAY, SEPT. 29 through WEDNESDAY, OCT 1, Fair View United Methodist Church, Mount Mourne – Lake Norman Jewish Congregation high holidays services. More information atwww.lakenormanjc.org.


"One Foot in Eden," by Ron Rash (Click to buy from Amazon.com)

• WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 6:30 p.m., Myers Park Baptist Church, 1931 Selwyn Ave., Charlotte – Davidson Professor and Classics Dept. Chair Jeanne Neumann lectures on “Home & Garden in Pompeii” as part of the Discovery Place/Davidson College Pompeii Lectures. Details: Free. 704-334-7232, ext. 56.
• THURSDAY, OCT. 2, 7 p.m., Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green – Carol Higham, adjunct professor of history at Davidson College, speaks on native American history as part of the Davidson Reads series. Free. Details in our August Davidson Reads preview, “Ready, set, read: Events surround ‘One Foot in Eden.'”


Violinist David Wilson, at St. Alban's Oct. 5

• SUNDAY, OCT. 5, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Classical music concert with Ensemble Vermillian, featuring Frances Blaker, recorders; David Wilson, baroque violin; Barbara Blaker Krumdieck, baroque cello; Henry Lebedinsky, harpsichord. They’ll play “Jewels from the Royal Crown: Music of Fire and Ice from 17th Century London.” Suggested donation: $15 general admission, $10 students and seniors. Under 10 free. Details: 704-941-0650.
• SUNDAY, OCT. 5, 4-6 p.m., Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St. – Social Justice Ministry Team of the church hosts a forum “Our Criminal Justice System: Is it Broken? What Is Our Responsibility?” Panelists: Mecklenburg Sheriff Chipp Bailey, social worker Laverne Fesperman, assistant district attorney Bruce Lillie, Davidson College Police Chief Fountain Walker. Free. Reception to follow. Details: 704-892-4753.


Dr. Keith Devlin, the "math guy"

• THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 7:30 p.m., 900 room of the Davidson College student union – Dr. Keith Devlin, better known as “The Math Guy” on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition. will be giving the annual Bernard Society Lecture for the Davidson College Math Department.
• SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 9 a.m. to noon, Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, 171 Fairview Road, off I-77 Exit 33, Mooresville – Stork’s Landing Maternity Center and Child Birth Education Center at the medical center present their annual Baby Fair, “Falling for Babies.” Free. Info: 704-660-4374. www.lnrmc.com.
• OCT. 24-26, Fisher Farm Park, off Shearers Road – National Mountain Bike Oktoberfest, a three day, family oriented festival with short track, time trials and kids races as well as the season’s final USA Cycling National Ultra Endurance race. Proceeds benefit Davidson Parks & Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund. Featuring national champion and two-time Olympian David “Tinker” Juarez, and co-sponsored by Cowbell Challenge Inc. Details: www.nationalmtboktoberfest.org
• FRIDAY, OCT. 24, 7 p.m., Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green – Ron Rash, author of “One Foot in Eden,” will speak as part of the Davidson Reads series. Rash’s “Eden” is the featured book in this fall’s community reading program. Details in our August Davidson Reads preview, “Ready, set, read: Events surround ‘One Foot in Eden.'”
• SATURDAY, OCT. 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St. – Author Ron Rash signs copies of his “One Foot in Eden” as part of the Davidson Reads series. Free.
• FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 10 a.m., Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green – Lecture by naturopathic doctor Amy Naylor, as part of Davidson Reads.
• SUNDAY, NOV. 16, 4-5 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Historical Society presentation about the history of Lake Norman, in the final event of the 2008 Davidson Reads series. Free.

CALENDARS ON THE WEB

TOWN OF DAVIDSON – Listings of public meetings, citizens committee meetings and other town events are available on the town website, http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/

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

DAVIDSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – http://davidsonumc.changemywebsite.com/calendar.asp

DAVIDSON COLLEGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – Calendar of events. http://www.dcpc.org/article83232.htm

DAVIDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH – Events calendar on Charlotte-Mecklenburg public library’s PLCMC.org website.

ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH online calendar – http://www.saintalbans-davidson.org/

ST. ALBAN’S SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD – http://www.stalbanssq.org/calendar.html

LAKE NORMAN SENIOR CALENDAR, at LKNSenior.com

MUSIC AT ST. ALBAN’S, 2008-9 concert season.

YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTOR – online listing of alternative and holistic health information and events. http://www.yourcommunityconnector.com/

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT
Send listings and press releases to us at editor@davidsonnews.net. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number, in case we have questions.