"Beloved Daughters: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh" opens Thursday at Davidson College. See Gallery Openings and Art Events.

Monday and Tuesday are fall break on the Davidson College campus, so the pace around town may seem slower this week. But the community calendar is as full as ever, with a Town Board meeting Tuesday night and a variety of events both on and off campus. We have a lecture by NPR’s “Math Guy” Keith Devlin, an Organ at Davidson concert, and an exhibit opening and lecture by photographer Fazal Sheikh. This weekend, friends of Carolyn and William Cook, who run one of the last dairy farms in the area, will hold a fund-raising walk to help with Mr. Cook’s lymphoma treatment expenses. And Friday night, don’t miss “A Night with the Cats,” a basketball fan season kickoff, at the college.

WEEK OF OCT. 13-19

TUESDAY, OCT. 14,, 10 a.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church Congregation House, 208 Concord Rd. – Master gardener Dan Rosenberg of Charlotte will speak on “Organic Gardening Made Easy” at a meeting of the church’s Green Group. He is owner of “Instant Organic Gardener” in Charlotte. The Green Group includes people who embrace the Christian ethic of “caring for God’s creation, tending the garden and tending the soul.” Free.

TUESDAY, OCT. 14, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Town Board monthly meeting. Agenda includes public hearings on amendments to the planning and affordable housing ordinances. The board also will hear presentations on the Children’s Community School and a Nov. 4 county bond referendum. The board is expected to approve the Bicycle Master Plan, a minor plan change for the Davidson Commons East development, and setting term assignments for board members at MI-Connection, the town-owned cable system. Commissioners also are scheduled to consider whether to approve the Natural Assets Stakeholder Committee report and recommendations and a proposal to create a regional transportation commission. Agenda on the town website.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Design Review Board monthly meeting. Agenda includes discussion of signs at a Main Street business, Classic Bride & Formals, and a garage addition on East Rocky River Road. Agenda on the Town website.

THURSDAY, Oct. 16 – Early “no excuse” voting starts in Mecklenburg County. The closest location to Davidson is the Cornelius Public Library, which offers voter registration and one-stop voting for the General Election. Click here for previous coverage.

THURSDAY, OCT. 16, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alumni Soccer Stadium – Davidson women’s soccer vs. Appalachian State. Details on the college website.

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.

FRIDAY, OCT. 17, 3-6 p.m., Davidson College campus sculpture garden, outside Little Library – “Taste the Harvest, Meet the Farmers, Hear the Advocates,” a program about sustainable agriculture, land use, environmental justice. With two panel discussions and local food.

FRIDAY, OCT. 17, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Main Street and Concord Road – Organ at Davidson presents a concert by Michael Rowland, associate director of music at the church and a artist associate at Davidson College. He’ll play a concerto by Handel with Davidson College students playing strings, Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue in A Minor,” three chorale-preludes by Bach, compositions of German composer Hermann Schroeder, and a work inspired by a brilliant young organ composer killed in WWII, “Prelude et Fugue sue le Nom d’Alain” by Maurice Duruflé. More about the series in our Sept. 23 season preview. Free, donations encouraged. Information: 704-892-5641.

FRIDAY, OCT. 17, 7:45 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Davidson College men’s and women’s basketball tip-off event with autograph session, team performances, dances, 3-point contests, shirt giveaways, scrimmages and more. Doors open at 5:30 for a Davidson volleyball match vs. UNC-Greensboro. Free.

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.

SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 1 p.m., Davidson College Belk Turf Field – Women’s field hockey vs. Bryant University.

SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 1 p.m., Davidson College Richardson Stadium – Davidson football vs. Dayton.

SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 8:30 a.m., Bailey Road Park, Cornelius – Fund-raising walk organized by friends and family of Carolyn and William Cook. Mr. Cook is one of two remaining dairy farmers in Mecklenburg County and is undergoing treatment for lymphoma. His wife is a school teacher and they are raising two sons with cerebral palsy. Recommended donation: $20 for adults, $10 for those under 18. All proceeds will go toward the Cooks’ expenses. Sponsorships available. For more information, contact Amy Morand at 704-892-5577, Jon Guttman at 704-892-8413, or Carole Eury 704-892-0642.

SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 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. For a listing of this week’s farmers and vendors: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. Market continues Saturdays through October.

SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 7:30 p.m., Charles Mack Citizens Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville – Mooresville Concerts presents the Noel Freidline Quartet. Admission $10. Children under 10, $5. Info: 704-662-3334.

SUNDAY, OCT. 19, 7-8 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church first-floor parlor, Main Street and Concord Road – Davidson College professors Anne Blue Wills and Pat Sellers lead a discussion of faith and politics in advance of Election 2008. Free. Details in our Oct. 10 news item.

ONGOING EVENTS

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.

THROUGH NOV. 16 – Carolina Renaissance Festival is back for a 15th year at its home off N.C. 73 and Poplar Tent Road in Huntersville. They have games, rides, music, food, and 10 stages of entertainment. Open 10:30 to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine. Information at RenFestInfo.com, or call 704-896-5544.

FILM AND THEATER

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, Armour Street Theater, Armour and Watson streets – Davidson Community Players production of “Working,” a musical based on the book by Studs Terkel. Nov. 6-8 & 12-16, 8 p.m.; Nov. 9, 15, 16, 2 p.m. More information: www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org

GALLERY OPENINGS & ART EVENTS

DAVIDSON COLLEGE VAN EVERY/SMITH GALLERIES, Davidson College Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – Oct. 17 to Dec. 10: “Beloved Daughters: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh.” Related events: , 8 p.m., Davidson College Union 900 Room; opening reception Thursday, Oct. 16, 7-9 p.m., at the gallery. Hours: Weekdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Weekends: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

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

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. Information: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org.

"Let's Play," by Angela Alexander, at Merrill-Jennings Gallery.

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERY, 463 S. Main St. – 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 Nov. 11: “A Self That Touches All Edges,” new work by Ulysses Jackson. 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.

WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – October feature: Leaf Leather. Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 1-6 p.m. 704-892-1449. www.woodenstonegallery.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. Details: 704-892-0044.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• TUESDAY, OCT. 21, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union 900 Room – Dean Rusk International Studies Program and the East Asian Studies Program present a lecture by Rebiya Kadeer, the world’s best known spokesperson for the Uyghur people. Uyghurs are a Turkic-speaking, predominantly Muslim population in Xinjiang, northwest China. She has called for an end to Chinese government repression of her people. She is a former political prisoner who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. Her lecture is one of a series of Asian Studies lectures this fall at the college. (Read our Aug. 29 preview.) Free.
• TUESDAY, OCT. 21, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Belle Banks will lead another book review session, discussing “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,” Curtis Sittenfield’s “American Wife,” “The Lace Reader” by Brunonia Barry and Barbara Walters’ “Audition: A Memoir.”
• THURSDAY, OCT. 23 7 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Town of Davidson and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools host a community meeting on education, with a showcase of local schools, information about a new tool CMS is using to communicate with parents, and a Q&A with parents and citizens.
• 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, OCT. 31, 7:30 and 11 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Main Street and Concord Road – A Halloween night tradition continues as Organ at Davidson presents screenings of the 1925 classic horror film “Phantom of the Opera.” It features Lon Chaney with spine-tingling organ improvisations by St. Alban’s Episcopal Church music director Henry Lebedinsky. Free, donations encouraged. See www.dcpc.org or call 704-892-5641.
• 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. 9, 5-9 p.m., Charles Mack Citizens Center, Mooresville – Lake Norman Jewish Congregation hosts a screening of “Paper Clips,” a documentary about a Tennessee school’s project to collect paper clips representing each person that died in the Holocaust. The project offered a lesson in tolerance. The screening marks the Jewish congregation’s second annual Holocaust remembrance. Hosted by Rabbi Michael Shields, Davidson College Chaplain Rev. Robert Spach and other guests. Tickets: $36 for adults, $18 for students. Includes dinner and prizes, with proceeds to benefit the Lake Norman Jewish Congregation.
• 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

DAVIDSONNEWS.NET SCHOOL CALENDAR – Laurie Dennis’s most recent listing of school events, CLICK HERE>

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.