What a beautiful winter wonderland that continues on north slopes even today.  Could be the spring temperatures this weekend will erase any trace of the white powder but until that happens we can all enjoy the sightings of snowmen around town, complete with carrot noses and Davidson ball caps.  Lots of creative sculptors at work.

The newest member of the Wright family is ready for a Davidson haircut.

Today Around Davidson has news of two new members of our community plus a recap of this week’s Horticultural Symposium.  We welcome  Eli Reimer and Mateo Wright and applaud the Davidson Garden Club on yet another successful gardening event in our town.

THE FLOWERS WON OUT OVER SNOW AND ICE

Never think that a little ice or snow can deter the planners of the Davidson Horticultural Symposium!  The organized and energetic members of the Davidson Garden Club put on a wonderful show this year, just as they have for the past 24.  The opening dinner and garden tour of Bettie Casey’s yard on Monday afternoon was snowed out but Tuesday’s all-day program went on without a hitch.

Enjoying the Horticultural Symposium are Davidson Garden Club members (l-r) Anne French, Ann Williams (visiting from Maine), Boo Hess and Dana Cox.

Thanks to the hard working grounds crew at Davidson College the parking lots and walkways were clear for symposium attendees to leave their cars in Baker Lot and walk to the Knobloch Center where all the lectures took place.  The symposium brought to Davidson seven speakers talking on subjects around the theme, “Gardens for Our Time.”  There were morning sessions and, after a lunch at Vail Commons, more afternoon presentations.  Chairperson for this year’s symposium was Lacy Woods Dick.  Registrar for the event was Maggie Farrell, who estimates there were more than 270 people attending – down a bit from years past but considering the cold temperatures and threat of black ice, the planners were pleased with the turnout.

In addition to those paid registrations, the garden club always offers scholarships to young people interested in horticulture.  This year there were eight students from North Mecklenburg High School’s Horticulture Club under the leadership of Christy Thornton.  There were also seven students from CPCC, five from Warren Wilson, and one student from UNCC.  All the students got to meet the various speakers and many had a chance to visit with them individually over lunch.

Kudos to all the ladies in our community who put so much time and effort into the planning of this annual event, which occurs on the Davidson College campus while the students are on Spring Break.  Nicely done, club members, and we are eager to hear your ideas for the Davidson Horticultural Symposium XXVI in 2010.

Among attendees at the symposium were these members from the North Mecklenburg High School Horticulture Club: (l-r) Louie Bervick, Blythe McCoy, William Haigler, Hope Katibah, Duncan Culbreth and Jamie Adkins.

ELI LAWRENCE REIMER HAS ARRIVED

How exciting for Tim and Katie Reimer of Cornelius to welcome their second son on February 27, 2009, at Huntersville’s Presbyterian Hospital.  Eli Lawrence Reimer weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and was 21 inches long.  Big brother Owen who will be two years old in May was excited to have a new baby in the house.  He is trying to be a big help to stay-at-home Mom Katie while Dad tends to his duties as Associate Pastor of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.

Big brother Owen is delighted to have Baby Eli as a new family member. (Photo by Portrait Innovations)

Proud grandparents who live in Davidson are Danny and Wendy Faucette and great-grandmother Arlene Lewey, Wendy’s mom, who lives with the family just off Grey Road.  Not too far away are Gene and Evelyn Faucette, Danny’s parents, who live in Brown Summit, NC.  Uncle Brian Faucette does not get to check in on the new arrival too often as he is busy working for art galleries in NYC while living in Brooklyn.

Most of Tim’s family lives in Wisconsin but Grandma Jeanie and Grandpa Dennis Reimer came from Appleton last month to see their newest grandson and also celebrate Tim’s February 18th birthday.  Baby Eli also has another great grandmother, Janet Reimer, of Dore County, WI.  Tim’s siblings will check in when they can but live a bit farther afield:  his brother, Brian, lives in Wisconsin and his sister, Katie, in New York.

Lots of fun when all the family gathers with two Katies and two Brians but no one is worrying as all the attention seems to focus on Owen and Eli.  Best to all of the Faucette and Reimer clan!

WILLIAM MATEO WRIGHT FITS RIGHT IN

North Main Street in Davidson has a new family in the Wright House and it just happens to be a family that fits “Wright” in.  Longtime Davidson residents Penny and Bruce Wright raised their family in this house but decided to downsize and now have a wonderful home in Spinnaker Cove with fewer steps and less upkeep.  In this slow moving real estate market, their son, Bill Wright, and his wife, Coleen, decided it would make sense to have someone living in the “For Sale” North Main Street home and tending the beautiful gardens.  So they left Cornelius and moved in to the Wright home with their four children. (Don’t let the Davidson Historical Society’s plaque in the photo below confuse you.  The house was built by Avery Hobbs in 1901; the Wrights have owned it for the past four decades.)

Bill and Coleen knew each other while students at North Mecklenburg High School.  As a married couple, they have loved back packing in Costa Rica and have taken several mission trips to Guatemala with Habitat.  (Bill is the Contruction Manager for Habitat for Humanity in Gaston County.  Coleen is a stay-at-home mom who does some real estate work with Knox Reality and also serves on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in Davidson.)  Bill’s parents had sponsored a child in Guatemala for quite a while and when Bill and Coleen visited there they fell in love with the people.  With three daughters of their own, they wanted to help another child and decided to adopt a young son from that country.

How wonderful for Mateo to have three big sisters to pamper him and turn him into a Davidson fan! (l-r) Katelyn, Nicolette, Mateo, Mom Coleen, Dad Bill and Attie Grace

Anyone who has pursued a foreign adoption will tell you it is never quite as quick or straight forward as you would hope.  Bill and Coleen, however, persevered with numerous visits to Guatemala to see the child who would become their son. Finally on April 3, 2008, they returned to a cheering group of family and friends at the Charlotte Airport with young William Mateo Wright in their arms.  Mateo has a ready smile and is full of energy as any almost two-year-old would be.  In addition to his ready-made family of sisters, Nicolette (13), Katelyn (12), and Attie Grace (5), there is a large extended family close by.

Coleen’s mother, Linda Rohlfs, lives in Verdict Ridge.  Her brother works with Outback Steakhouse in North and South Carolina.  Her sister lives in Greenville, SC.  And then there is Bill’s side of the family.  His parents, Bruce and Penny, live in Davidson, trying to keep up with their 15 grandchildren. Bill’s older brother, Doug, also lives in Davidson.  Sisters Pam, Sarah and Laurel live in Raleigh.  Another sister, Mary Kate, lives in Greensboro.  Bill’s younger brother, Jamie, lives in Charlotte.  Quite an assignment for Mateo when he learns to talk and can keep all the cousins straight!  We know that you, Mateo, have been a member of our community for almost a year but still we say “Welcome” and give you a big Davidson Wildcat hug!

Send us your news

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