Budding trees got a surprise in Wednesday's snow, but the fireplace logs came in handy.

Good ole Punxsutawney Phil!  He predicted six more weeks of winter and the flakes arrived.  What a nice surprise to look out yesterday morning and see the beauty of just enough snow to enjoy but not enough to be a bother.  This weekend’s highs in the sixties will bring out the shirt sleeves and sandals once more!

Today Around Davidson catches up with Mike McFadden as he heads to Central America, looks in on Edith Christian as she celebrates a birthday, thinks about Valentine activities for young people and introduces you to Tonya Gregg, an emerging artist.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDITH!

Always a treat to visit with Edith Christian who has lived in Davidson since 1964 and now calls The Pines home.  Edith just turned 88 years young and laughs aloud as she tells friends, “I am 39 and counting!”  Edith’s actual birthday was last Monday, February 2, but she was treated to a birthday lunch the day before when her two sons took her to Chili’s.  One son, Alan, lives in South Charlotte.  Edith’s other son, John, lives on Dogwood Lane in Davidson.  Her two grandsons are both in college, one at UNCC and one at UNC-W.

Happy Birthday, Edith Christian!

Edith, a registered nurse by training, joined the Davidson College infirmary staff not long after moving here.  She held that job until her retirement in 1991 and still enjoys getting together with retired friends from the college staff for monthly luncheons.  Edith also has a long record of using her nursing skills during the summer months at Camp Thunderbird on Lake Wylie (owned and operated by the Charlotte YMCA). In 1996 she was recognized for three decades of dedication and service to the camp and its thousands of campers and staff.  The plaque from that occasion, citing appreciation and recognition for 30 years of excellent leadership, hangs proudly on the wall of her Pines’ apartment.  Considered a “nurse extraordinaire,” Edith’s name now adorns the “Edith F. Christian Infirmary” on the camp grounds.  Quite an honor and well deserved.

Happy Birthday, Edith!  Congratulations on being another year young and continue to keep us all entertained with your positive attitude and ready smile.

OUTWARD BOUND WITH MIKE MCFADDEN

Mike McFadden

What a wonderful opportunity for an 18-year-old who loves the outdoors to travel in Central America for ten weeks.  The lucky young man is Mike McFadden, the oldest of four children of Michael and Janet McFadden of Davidson.  Mike graduated from North Mecklenburg High School last June and is taking a “gap year” before college this fall.  For the past months he has been working as the pizza and bread “chef” at Bellacino’s in Cornelius.  Now he is embarking on a wonderful adventure when he flies to San Jose next Monday to join half a dozen other young people who will travel together in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua.

Mike will participate in an Outward Bound program involving trekking, surfing and snorkeling as well as language lessons, homestays and service projects.  He will learn about the land, the natural resources, ecology, conservation and backcountry skills.  He hopes to return CRROBS Certified for whitewater training and NAUI Certified for SCUBA diving.  Quite an experience for this young man and we are sure he will have tales to tell upon his return in late April.  Stay safe, Mike, and have a wonderful time.

TWO NOT-TO-MISS YOUTH ACTIVITIES FOR V-DAY

Drop by the Davidson Public Library this week and note the “Fairy House” display as you walk in the door.

What's a Fairy House? Stop by the Davidson Public Library display.

What is a Fairy House?  Apparently it can be any natural setting you choose where a fairy, gnome or woodland creature might hide or live.  Somewhat intriguing to say the least.  To find out more, visit the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve on Saturday, February 14, beginning at 10 a.m. for a Fairy House Festival. There you will find storytelling, face painting, crafts, food, and the chance to learn how to build your own fairy house on one of Latta’s nature trails.  For more information, call 704.895.1391.

Later in the day when you want to be inside and have a chance to sit down, return to Davidson on that Valentine Saturday and be a member of the audience for a performance of “Snoopy” by middle and high school children of the Children’s Theatre Performance Company.  The first 50 attending receive a Snoopy ring!  This 45 minute performance will take place in the community room of the library at 2 p.m.  Both events are free and open to the public.  See you there.

MEET TONYA GREGG

As the press release states: “Tonya Gregg’s new exhibit at the Creative Art Exchange (CAE) in Cornelius is definitely something to put on the to-do list.  Just take one look at her art and you will see she paints with a fresh, vibrant, colorful, festive style.  But, that’s not all.  Her artwork, which focuses on gender roles and identity within African-American culture, also delves into deep issues like race, class and sexuality.”

Tonya Gregg spoke about her art last Friday evening at the Creative Art Exchange.

That should be enough to make you stop at the CAE gallery to view the exhibit of Tonya’s work which opened in January and was celebrated last Friday with a reception for the artist and a chance to hear her talk about her art.

Tonya lives in Baltimore, MD, and holds a BFA from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, and a MFA from the University of Chicago.  Alyssa Wood, the programming coordinator for CAE, met Tonya at a show and arranged the exhibit here which will hang until February 28 with most of the pieces for sale.  This artist’s work certainly exemplifies the “creative” in Creative Arts Exchange.  A nice show and a nice change of pace.

A POINT TO PONDER

Those of us who live east of town often take the “back way” to Bailey Middle School or Huntersville by traveling Davidson-Concord Road through the Bailey Springs Development to Bailey Road. On this route one encounters a speed limit of 45 mph next to the Robert Walker soccer fields but 25 mph driving through winter wheat and soybeans.  Could it be that DOT places greater value on soybeans than youth soccer players?  And how about pedestrians on the bicycle path who dodge speeding vehicles daily as they are forced to cross Davidson Concord Road twice?  Why not establish 35 mph from Beaver Dam all the way to town?  For a walking/bicycle friendly community, it makes GOOD sense.

Send us your news

Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net.