As we begin the first full week of the new year, schools are back in session. Preschoolers can join Main Street Books’ story hour Tuesday morning. Also Tuesday, Davidson Day School dedicates its new arts and athletic center, culminating in a 7 p.m. basketball game vs. Woodlawn School. The Town Board has a special meeting Tuesday to take up a pair of affordable housing tax credit issues. The Charlotte Writers Club North hosts poet Janice Moore Fuller on Thursday. And Saturday, Beth Shalom of Lake Norman presents a concert with the vocal group The Shabbatones.

On the sports calendar, Davidson’s men’s basketball team travels to Duke on Wednesday, while the women’s team hosts Georgia Southern on Saturday. The Rocky River Road Club’s 11th annual Polar Bear Ride, with 50- and 100-kilometer routes, kicks off Saturday morning at 10.

JAN. 5-11

TUESDAY, JAN. 6, 10 a.m., Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St. – Story Time for children 5 and under. Story Time is held twice monthly, on the first and third Tuesday. Future dates Jan. 20, Feb. 3, Feb. 17.

TUESDAY, JAN. 6, 2:15 p.m., Davidson Day School, Griffith and Jetton streets – Ribbon-cutting for the school’s new Art & Athletic Center, followed by a tailgate party (5 p.m.) and pep rally (5:30 p.m.) in advance of the boys’ basketball game vs. Woodlawn (7 p.m.).

TUESDAY, JAN. 6, 6 p.m., McIntosh Law Firm, 209 Delburg St. – Davidson Board of Adjustment meeting. Agenda includes adoption of written findings of fact in an appeal by developer FC Summers Walk LLC. The developer is challenging the town’s assessment of fees under the adequate public facilities ordinance.

TUESDAY, JAN. 6, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Town Board special meeting. The board will consider committing funds to two affordable housing initiatives, one the renovation of Oakhill Apartments and the other involving land in the Bailey Springs subdivision. For details, see our Jan. 2 preview.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7, 8-9:15 a.m., Davidson Elementary School and town streets – Walking Wednesday walk and bike to school day. If you’re driving around town this morning, keep an eye out for school children and parents.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7, 7 p.m., Duke University, Durham – Davidson men’s basketball vs. Duke. Game broadcast on ESPN. Details: www.davidsonwildcats.com.

Janice Fuller, Jan. 8 at Charlotte Writers Club North.

THURSDAY, JAN. 8, 7 p.m., So Alive Gallery, 108 S. Main St. – Charlotte Writers Club North presents poet Janice Moore Fuller, who is writer-in-residence and professor of English at Catawba College in Salisbury. Free. Guests welcome. More info on Janice Fuller’s website, or charlottewritersclub.org.

FRIDAY, JAN. 9, 9 a.m., Homewood Suites, 125 Harbour Place Drive – Downtown Davidson Inc.  merchants meeting, with presentation by Internet marketing expert Corey Creed. RSVP by Wednesday, Jan. 7, to Cristal Moncur, 704-237-2004 or cristal.moncur@hilton.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10, Bailey Middle School, Cornelius – 11th annual Polar Bear Ride organized by the Rocky River Road Club, a portion of the proceeds going to Davidson’s Ada Jenkins Center. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The 50-kilometer and 100-kilometer rides begin at 10 a.m., following routes through the north Mecklenburg and Lake Norman area. Registration, waiver, route sheets and directions to the ride are available at the club website, www.RockyRiverRoadClub.org. Registration is also available at www.sportoften.com. Rain date Jan. 17. More in our Dec. 19 preview.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 2 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Women’s basketball vs. Georgia Southern. Tickets $6 for adults, $3 for youth.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 7:05 p.m., Charleston, S.C. – Davidson men’s basketball visits Citadel for a Southern Conference game. Radio: AM 1350, 610 or FM 95.7. Details: www.davidsonwildcats.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez Student Union – University of Pennsylvania Shabbatones Concert & Havdalah Service, sponsored by Beth Shalom of Lake Norman. The Shabbatones is a student-run Jewish a capella group. Free. Details: www.bslkn.org or call 704-896-6556.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee 128 S. Main St. – Live music and CD release party for guitarist/singer Rusty Knox and friends. His new album “Reason Why” has just been issued.

THEATER

JAN. 8-18, Spirit Square Duke Energy Theatre, Charlotte – Davidson Community Players will re-stage their successful 2007 production of “Driving Miss Daisy” in Charlotte for 8 performances. With the original cast of the sold-out Davidson production. Shows Jan. 8-10 and 15-17, 8 p.m., Jan. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets and information at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center box office, 704-372-1000, or www.carolinatix.org.

JAN. 23-25, Davidson College Cunningham Theatre Center – Davidson College theater department and Davidson Community Players’ Connie Company children’s theater group present “Cinderella,” as retold by Rupert T. Barber Jr. Directed by Melissa Ohlman-Roberge. Proceeds benefit the Constance Welsh Memorial Scholarship and the Rupert Barber Jr. Scholarship. Performances Jan. 23 4:30 and 7 p.m.; Jan. 24 10, 2:30 and 4:30; Jan. 25 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30. Tickets: Davidson Community Players box office 704-892-7918.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College Artist Series presents Aquila Theater Co. in Homer’s “The Illiad.” Ticket information: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets

GALLERY OPENINGS & ART EVENTS

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE – Monthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m., will feature a presentation by photographer Sean Busher and digital imager Peter Godshall. Free and open to the public. Bring a dessert or beverage to share (optional). At Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St., Davidson. www.lknart.org.

LAKE NORMAN ART LEAGUE GALLERY, South Main Square office building, 442 S. Main St. – Through Jan. 23: Lake Norman Art League’s “Small Works 2008 Exhibit & Sale,” with paintings, prints, 3-D and other works by art league members. 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 – Closed Dec. 15-Jan. 14. Next exhibition Jan. 16-Feb. 26: “Re/Formations: Disability, Women and Sculpture,” curated by Jessica Cooley and Davidson professor Ann M. Fox. Artists include: Harriet Sanderson, Rebecca Horn, Judith Scott, Nancy Fried and Laura Splan. Opening reception: Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m. More information on the gallery website.

MERRILL-JENNINGS GALLERY, 463 S. Main St. – 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 – 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.

"Take This With You" by Tonya Gregg, at Creative Art Exchange.

WOODEN STONE, 445 S. Main St. – Functional fine art and hand-made objects. Gallery hours: (New hours Jan. 2009) Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays/Mondays. 704-892-1449. www.woodenstonegallery.com.

CREATIVE ART EXCHANGE/CORNELIUS ARTS CENTER, 19725 Oak St., in the Oak Street Mill behind the police station, Cornelius -  Jan. 12-Feb. 28, paintings by Tonya Gregg. Ms. Gregg’s work, which comments on issues of contemporary culture and identity, has been exhibited throughout the Southeast, New York City, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, and Germany. She has received residencies from the South Carolina Arts Commission and Kaiserslautern Artist Association Wollmagazin studio complex. Opening reception and gallery talk, Jan. 30, 7-9 p.m. Gallery hours: Weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: 704-892-7323 or www.creativeartexchange.org.

SO ALIVE GALLERY, 108 S. Main St. – Through Jan. 31: Artwork by local artists and artisans. Eight artists are being chosen for display and sale during the holiday season. Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 11-6, Saturdays, 10-2, Sundays 12-5. Details: 704-892-0044.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• MONDAY, JAN. 12, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Women’s basketball vs. College of Charleston. Tickets $6 for adults, $3 for youth.
• MONDAY, JAN. 12, 7:30 p.m., Boone – Davidson men’s basketball visits Appalachian State University for a Southern Conference game. Radio: AM 1350, 610 or FM 95.7. Details: www.davidsonwildcats.com.
• WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14, 7 p.m., Davidson College Belk Arena – Davidson College men’s basketball vs. Elon. Radio AM 1350, 610, FM 95.7, and TV on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Details: www.davidsonwildcats.com.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 9:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church chapel, 305 S. Main St. – Davidson AGLOW Community Lighthouse presents “His Banqueting Table” with June Cherry, the former Cornelius AGLOW president. Come at 9:30 for coffee; meeting starts at 10. For more information, call Carol at 704-892-8235.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 7 p.m., Peninsula Club at Lake Norman – Ada Jenkins Center hosts its Ice 2009 fund-raising gala. All proceeds benefit the regional community services center and its programs. Sponsorships available. Details: www.adajenkins.org/ice/
• SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 3 p.m., Statesboro, Ga. – Davidson men’s basketball at Georgia Southern. TV: SportSouth. Radio: AM 1350, 610, FM 95.7. Details: www.davidsonwildcats.com.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee 128 S. Main St. – Live music and CD release party for Davidson mandolin player Michael Orlando. The album “what i see” is due out  Jan. 15. Mr. Orlando’s CDs are available through DualTone Records and Apple’s iTunes. His website: http://www.michaelorlando.com/
• SUNDAY, JAN. 18, 4 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Historical Society presents a free program on “The History of Sports at Davidson College.” Led by Sterling Martin, a 1963 Davidson College graduate and athlete, who retired after over 40 years with the college athletic department and as director of the college’s Lake Campus. For more information, please call 704-892-6022.
• MONDAY, JAN. 19, Davidson College – Martin Luther King Day events at Davidson College: 9:30 a.m., Walk for Change, from Richardson Stadium to Chambers steps, for a reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech; 9:30-11:30 a.m., King Day for Kids at Alvarez College Union, with activities for kids in grades K-5; 11:30, King Day Community Convocation, with Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, president of University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Also, there will be a community reception, faculty and student seminars, and a 7 p.m. community celebration in Duke Family Performance Hall (see next item). Details on the college website.
• MONDAY, JAN. 19, Davidson College – Martin Luther King Day events at Davidson College: 9:30 a.m., Walk for Change, from Richardson Stadium to Chambers steps, for a reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech; 9:30-11:30 a.m., King Day for Kids at Alvarez College Union, with activities for kids in grades K-5; 11:30, King Day Community Convocation, with Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, president of University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Also, there will be a community reception, faculty and student seminars, and a 7 p.m. community celebration in Duke Family Performance Hall (see next item). Details on the college website.
• MONDAY, JAN. 19, 7 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Martin Luther King Day community celebration, featuring Pastor John P. Kee and New Life of Charlotte, Brothers in Christ of Gethesemane Baptist Church of Davidson, The Chosen Disciples of Asheboro, N.C., and Pastor Jeffrey Thomas of Lincolnton. Details on the college website.
• TUESDAY, JAN. 20, 10 a.m., Main Street Books, 126 S. Main St. – Story Time for children 5 and under. Story Time is held twice monthly, on the first and third Tuesday. Future dates Feb. 3, Feb. 17.
• TUESDAY, JAN. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., North County Regional Library, Huntersville – Family Game Night. Info: 704-416-6000, option 4.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 24, Davidson College Baker Sports Complex – 2008 Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame events. Induction ceremonies begin with a reception at 3:45 p.m., following the women’s basketball game against Appalachian State. That game begins at noon in Belk Arena. A dinner and program will begin at 4:30 p.m., and that’s followed at 7 by the men’s basketball game vs. Wofford. Details about this year’s honorees in our Dec. 16 news item.
• SUNDAY, JAN. 25, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Music at St. Alban’s series presents the Farallon Recorder Quartet. Tickets required. Details on the Music at St. Alban’s website.


Souper Bowl, Jan. 31

• TUESDAY, JAN. 27, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Organ at Davidson Series continues with a performance by Jane Dimmock Cain, director of music at DCPC. Details in our Organ at Davidson season preview.
• WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28, 2-3:30 p.m., Davidson Parks & Recreation office, 416 Armour St. – Davidson Senior Scholars program, with a presentation on “Reporting Community News in the Internet Age” by David Boraks, editor of DavidsonNews.net. Learn about how local news reporting is changing and how it’s staying the same as local newspapers shrink and the Internet becomes a local news source. Free. 704-892-3349.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 31, noon to 2 p.m., Davidson College Chambers Hall, Lilly Family Gallery – Davidson Housing Coalition fifth annual Souper Bowl, a food tasting fund-raiser with food from area restaurants. Come help choose the best soup by local chefs. Adults $10, students $8, children $5. Details: www.davidsonhousing.org
• TUESDAY, FEB. 17, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College Artist Series presents “Mike Super: Magic and Illusion.” Ticket information: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets
• SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Music at St. Alban’s series presents countertenor Ian Howell with Tableau: Handel’s Inheritance. They’ll explore the music behind the man who wrote “Messiah.” Tickets required. Details on the Music at St. Alban’s website.
• THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 8 p.m., Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – Davidson College Artist Series presents Celtic Crossroads, a theater concert of invetment arrangements and bass-driven groove in the Celtic tradition. Ticket information: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets
• TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church – Organ at Davidson Series continues with a “Bach Birthday Bash.” Music by Bach accompanies readings from works by Albert Schweitzer. Details in our Organ at Davidson season preview.
• SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 3 p.m., St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane – Music at St. Alban’s series presents VOX & Friends. Vox is a professional vocal group from Charlotte, led by David Tang. Tickets required. Details on the Music at St. Alban’s website.

ONGOING EVENTS

50+ COFFEE CLUB, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, Davidson Parks & Recreation office, 416 Armour St. – Join the 50-Plus Coffee Club, meeting every Wednesday. It’s a relaxing social environment where you can meet old and new friends. Coffee, games, newspapers and pastries provided. No registration required, just show up! Info: 704-892-3349.

CHRONIC AND LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP, first and third Wednesdays each month, 7-8:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church Congregation Care House, 262 South St. -
Individuals coping with an illness or who have family members coping with an illness welcome. Call the church office at 704-892-8277 to register and request child care. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Questions? Contact Karen Gray, Director of Congregational Care, at 704-947-0612.

SEPARATION AND DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP, Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 6, Davidson United Methodist Church Congregation Care House, 262 South St. – Facilitators Mark and Gayle Olenik provide resources to help you cope and work toward a new beginning. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Call the church office at 704-892-8277 to register and request child care.

NOW WHAT? GRIEF BEYOND THE FIRST YEAR, second Saturday each month, 9:30 a.m., beginning Jan. 10 Davidson United Methodist Church Congregational Care House, 262 South St. – If you are coping with the loss of a loved one for one year or more, we welcome you to join. Janet McKee and Bryan Readling will facilitate. You do not need to be a member of the church to participate. Register by calling the church office at 704-892-8277. Questions? Contact Karen Gray, Director of Congregational Care, at 704-947-0612.

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 - Events calendar on Charlotte-Mecklenburg public library’s PLCMC.org website.

NORTH COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY events, Huntersville – Events calendar, www.plcmc.org

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.