Rural Hill Farm's 14th annual sheep dog trials are Saturday and Sunday. (David Boraks)

Our community calendar in Davidson week includes the opening of Davidson Community Players’ production of “Working” in their new theater at Armour and Watson streets. Tuesday is Election Day, and also the date of the next Main Street Books story time for kids 5 and under. Lectures at Davidson College this week include one Tuesday on “Issues in Contemporary Tibet” and another Friday afternoon about memory. Writer Al Young returns to Davidson for a meeting of the Charlotte Writers Club North on Thursday. Davidson-Cornelius Day Care holds its annual fund-raising yard sale Saturday. And on Sunday, Davidson businesses plan a Holiday Open House. Those events and more …

WEEK OF NOV. 3-9

TUESDAY, NOV. 4 – Election Day. If you haven’t already cast your ballot during early voting, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall (Precinct 206) and Hopewell Baptist Church, 18841 Davidson-Concord Road (Precinct 127). Voting information at meckboe.org.

TUESDAY, NOV. 4, 10 a.m., Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St. – Story time for children 5 and under. Information: 704-892-6841

TUESDAY, NOV. 4, 8 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union 900 Room – College Republicans and Young Democrats sponsor an election results viewing party, with professors from the political science department. (It’s open to college students, faculty and staff only.) They’ll have refreshments and games as election results come in on big-screen TVs. Free. For more information, call 704-894-2542.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5, 4:30 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Building Room 2164 – “Issues in Contemporary Tibet,” a lecture by Melvyn Goldstein, professor of Anthropology at Case Western Reserve University. It’s the last in a series of public lectures on China this fall. Free and open to the public. More about the lecture series in our Aug. 29 preview.

THURSDAY, NOV. 6, noon to 4 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union – Davidson College Law School Fair, with up to 60 law schools. 704-894-2132.

Al Young is at Charlotte Writers Club North meeting Thursday.

THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union 900 Room – Dean Rusk International Studies Program presents a lecture “Africa South of the Sahara: Many Youths, No Young,” by Stephen Smith, former Africa editor for Le Monde. His talk examines the impact of the region’s youthful population on economies, public health, civil conflicts, education, and the prospects for democracy. Free.

THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 7 p.m., So Alive Gallery, 108 S. Main St. – Charlotte Writers’ Club North presents award-winning poet and novelist Al Young. Mr. Young returns to Davidson, where he was Davidson College’s McGee Professor of Writing in 2003. He is also a screenwriter and was appointed Poet Laureate of California in 2005. Details: www.charlottewritersclub.org

THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Sloan Music Center Tyler-Tallman Hall – Adams Foundation Piano Series presents a recital by pianist James Tocco. Admission: $15 general admission; students and children $5.

THURSDAY, NOV. 6 and FRIDAY, NOV. 7, Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Kick-off meetings for Davidson Comprehensive Planning Process. Thurs., 7-8:30 p.m., public session, 8:30-9 p.m., study group orientation session. Fri., Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m. student planning committee meeting. More on the town website.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 9 a.m., Homewood Suites, 125 Harbour Place Drive (at exit 30) – Downtown Davidson Inc. merchants meeting, with discussions of the Nov. 9 holiday open house, Christmas in Davidson update, new marketing opportunities, and proposed revisions to the Davidson sign ordinance. Open to local merchants. RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 5, to Cristal Moncur at 704-237-2004 or cristal.moncur@hilton.com

Amy Naylor lectures at the library Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. as part of DavidsonReads

FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 10 a.m., Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green – Lecture by naturopathic doctor Amy Naylor, as part of this fall’s Davidson Reads series. She’ll discuss “Widsom in the Woods: Plant Medicine.” Refreshments will be served. She is a naturopathic physician in Statesville.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Davidson College Dana Science Laboratory 146 – William Hirst, professor of psychology at The New School in New York, is the keynote speaker in the college’s “Memory & … “ discussion series at Davidson this year. Free.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 7-8:30 p.m., Cornelius Arts Center, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius, in the Oak Street Mill behind the police station – Opening reception for the Faculty Show featuring works by staff and instructors at Creative Art Exchange and Childrens Arts Project. The exhibit runs through Dec. 27. (See Galleries below for details. Information: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7 and SATURDAY, NOV. 8, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union, Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College Dance Ensemble Fall Show, with jazz, ballet, hip-hop, belly dance, classical Indian, and other dance styles. Tickets on sale at the college union box office. 704-894-2135.

SATURDAY, NOV. 8, 8 a.m. to noon, Davidson-Cornelius Day Care, 242 Gamble St. – Annual yard sale, with all proceeds to benefit the day care program. Davidson-Cornelius Day Care was founded in 1967 and provides child care for about 45 students, aged 2-5, from working families regardless of their ability to pay.

SATURDAY, NOV. 8, 1 p.m., Davidson College Richardson Stadium – Davidson football vs. San Diego.

SATURDAY, NOV. 8, 7:30 p.m., Charles Mack Citizens Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville – Mooresville Concert Series presents The Boys of Buncombe. The bluegrass-Appalachian-Old Time music group is led by Charlotte-based fiddler, banjo player, and jaws harp virtuoso Jon Singleton, with fiddler Steve Trismen of Asheville, and Steve Burnside of Black Mountain on guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. Admission $10, $5 for children under 10. Tickets available at the center, or by calling 704-662-3334.

SUNDAY, NOV. 9, 5-9 p.m., Charles Mack Citizens Center, 15 N. Main St., 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 who 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.

SATURDAY, NOV. 8, and SUNDAY, NOV. 9, Rural Hill Center of Scottish Heritage, 4431 Neck Road, off Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville – 14th annual Rural Hill Sheep Dog Trials, with two days of competition among more than 100 border collies. Also, ride the kiddie train, bring your pumpkin and chuck it on the trebuchet, try your hand at battle-axe throwing, navigate the cornfield maze and mini-mazes. Food and drink available. Details: www.ruralhill.net.

SUNDAY, NOV. 9, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Davidson and Exit 30 area – Downtown Davidson Inc. presents a Holiday Open House at local businesses. With refreshments, music, door prizes, free gift wrapping at many stores. Along Main Street, South Main Street Arts District and Davidson Commons shopping center and the Exit 30 area. Details: www.downtowndavidson.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

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

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

NOV. 12-22, Davidson College Cunningham Theatre Center Barber Theatre – College prodcution of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” will inaugurate the newly renovated facility. Assistant Professor Mark Sutch will direct a student cast. Performances at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12; Friday, Nov. 14; Sunday, Nov. 16; Friday, Nov. 21; and Saturday, Nov. 22, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Nov. 15. General admission $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for students with IDs. Tickets: 704-894-2135 weekdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The production contains adult content and is recommended only for those age 12 and over.

GALLERY OPENINGS & ART EVENTS

TOWN HALL, 216 S. Main St. – Friday, Nov. 7, 4-6 p.m., Davidson Housing Coalition unveils its 2009 Images of Hometowns photographic calendar with an opening reception and silent auction. The calendars and most of the original photographs are being sold to raise money for the coalition’s HAMMERS emergency home repair program. Images will be on display through Nov. 30, and include several you’ve seen on DavidsonNews.net, by David Boraks and Brenda Barger. Details: www.davidsonhousing.org.

CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius, in the Oak Street Mill behind the police station – Nov. 7 through Dec. 27: Instructors and staff at the Creative Art Exchange and Childrens Arts Project will show their work at a Faculty Show. Opening reception Friday, Nov. 7, 7-8:30 p.m. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays by appointment. Information: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org.

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE GALLERY, South Main Square office building, 442 S. Main St. – Nov. 14-Jan. 23: Lake Norman Art League’s “Small Works 2008 Exhibit & Sale,” with paintings, prints, 3-D and other works by art league members. Opening reception Friday, Nov.14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Small Works Exhibit and Sale will be open to the public during Christmas in Davidson, Dec. 4-6, from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Details: www.LKNart.org

DAVIDSON COLLEGE VAN EVERY/SMITH GALLERIES, Davidson College Visual Art Center, Main and Griffith streets – Through 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. (See our Oct. 17 “Letter from the Editor” about the show’s opening.)

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

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERY, 463 S. Main St. – Through 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. – Functional fine art and hand-made objects. Special events: Nov. 9, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Holiday Open House (along with other downtown merchants). Nov. 15, 6-9 p.m., an evening with sculpture Andy Brinkley, of Hickory. Gallery 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 Dec. 31: Artwork by local artists and artisans. Eight artists are being chosen for display of up to 10 pieces each. old at 50 percent commission. Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 11-6, Mondays and Saturdays, 10-2. Details: 704-892-0044.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 4-5 p.m., Davidson College Carolina Inn, Main Street – “Memory & Narrative,” a panel discussion with Davidson professors Scott Denham (German), Matt Samson (anthropology) and Trish Tilburg (history). It’s part of the “Memory & … ” series this year at Davidson. Participating professors are a loose-knit “Memory Group” interested in various aspects of memory. See Nov. 7 for the series keynote speech. Details on the college website.
• TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Monthly Town Board meeting. Agenda on the town website.
• WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12, 2-3:30 p.m., Davidson Parks & Recreation, 416 Armour St. – Davidson Senior Scholars program on “Back Pain and Treatment Options” with Dr. Jeffrey Yablon, board-certified neurosurgeon. He’ll discuss the latest and most effective treatments for degenerative disc disease, which affects more than 12 million people. Register online at www.d-Recs.org or call at 704-892-3349.
• THURSDAY, NOV. 13, 7-8:30 p.m., Davidson public library branch, 119 S. Main St. – “Holistic Self-Care for the Menopausal Years,” with Cristin Gregory, owner of Wellbeing Natural Health in Cornelius, accupuncturist, herbalist and qi gong instructor. Free. To register, call 704-416-4000.
• SATURDAY, NOV. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Homewood Suites, Griffith Street and Harbour Place Drive, off Exit 30 – Men in Balance, a faith-based non-profit organization that helps men with spiritual growth, presents a “Couples Communication Class.” It’s a hands-on workshop where couples can learn to improve communication. Limited to 10 couples. Registration $100 per couple. Details at meninbalance.org or by calling 704-895-8976.
• 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.
• TUESDAY, NOV. 18, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Main Street and Concord Road – Organist Andre Lash performs Spanish Baroque organ works in addition to works by Mendelssohn, Bach, Vierne and other masters in the Organ at Davidson series. Free, donations encouraged. Details and directions at www.dcpc.org or call 704-892-5641.
• DEC. 4-6, 6-9 p.m. nightly, downtown Davidson – Annual Christmas in Davidson festival, with food, music and other entertainment, more than 50 vendors, shopping at local stores, visits with Santa at the public library, a live nativity scene, carriage rides, strolling carolers and more. Sponsors still invited to participate. If you’re interested in sponsoring, please contact Sandy Lemons at sandy@downtowndavidson.org or 704-892-2118 or Margaret Martens at margaretmartens@gmail.com or 704-658-8730.

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.