Doug Surratt brought his own bucket to transport beautiful bouquets purchased at the Farmer's Market.

At  last – a weekend of wonderful weather to end the month of May and welcome June.  Blue skies and less humidity were perfect for any outdoor activity, whether visiting vendors at the Farmer’s Market or enjoying a picnic on the lawn in front of the Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

Today Around Davidson brings you a few glimpses caught on camera last weekend plus news of new graduates including Will Kerr, Darla Beam and Brian Cotter.

FARMER’S MARKET IS A SPECIAL SUMMER TREAT

Georgia Ringle shopped for tomatoes and Swiss chard with her mother-in-law, Marie Ringle.

If you have not strolled the length of the Davidson Farmer’s Market, you are in for a real treat.  The market provides a chance to plan the weekend menus, hear music, visit with friends and neighbors and delight in having fresh produce right at your “door” so to speak.

The market is open each Saturday for the summer from 8 a.m. until noon.  Plan to bring your own cloth bags and ample cash since you will find unexpected treats to tempt your wallet.  How nice to have this Saturday morning activity for our residents.

LUNCH ON THE LAWN

A long standing tradition for the Davidson College Presbyterian Church (DCPC) is “lunch on the lawn.”

Church picnics provide some of the best eating in town!

Late spring and early fall are special picnic dates for the church:  the late spring gathering marks the beginning of summer; the early fall welcomes the students back to the campus.  With perfect weather this past Sunday, hundreds of members of DCPC enjoyed fried chicken provided by the church and every possible side dish and dessert brought by the congregation.

Beautiful shade trees on the Davidson College campus provided a welcome respite from the noonday sun as church members sampled the many tasty recipes and visited with family and friends.  With college graduations behind us and high school graduations scheduled from now through June 14, there are many demands on our time and schedules so the picnic was a wonderful chance to relax on enjoy lunch (without having to wash a dish!).

HOORAY FOR GRADUATES

More names of college and high school graduates are cropping up on emails and newsletters.  Be sure to send us a photo and brief paragraph about your graduate.  Around Davidson is eager to tell our readers about the accomplishments of each.

Will Kerr

Will Kerr stands with his parents, Martin and Sallie Kerr, following Cannon School graduation.

William Wallace Kerr, middle son of Sallie and Martin Kerr of Davidson, graduated last month on May 22 from Cannon School.  In addition to his parents and brothers, Russ and Dan, his grandmother, Peyton Tarry, was in attendance for the commencement exercises as well as his aunt, Christina Tarry.

Following a summer of working at the Peninsula Yacht Club, Will will attend Clemson University this fall (note the Clemson necktie in his graduation photo!).  In addition Will will find time to spend a long weekend in NYC this month, a graduation gift from his grandmother.  Good luck, Will, and congratulations to you and all your family.

Darla Beam

Darla Beam, daughter of Alex and Daisy Beam of Mooresville (formerly of Davidson), graduated from North Carolina State University on May 9, 2009.

Darla Beam

She graduated with a double major, which brought  a bachelor of science degree in two areas: accounting (with a concentration in financial analysis), and business administration (with a concentration in finance). Darla graduated magna cum laude with honors in each major.

While at NCSU Darla was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and was a Bible study leader.  She is the granddaughter of Eugene Alexander and the late Edith Alexander of Mooresville and the late Sam and Dorothy Beam of Davidson. She will continue her education at the graduate level, pursuing her Master’s of Science in Accountancy degree from Wake Forest University starting in the fall.

Congratulations to you, Darla, and all your family.  (Interesting to note that David Boraks and his family now live in Darla’s late grandparents’ home on South Street.)

Brian Cotter

Brian Cotter, son of Tom and Pat Cotter of Davidson, has had a busy spring.  Following final exams at Southlake Christian Academy, he and 25 members of his senior class plus six chaperons (including his dad) traveled to Peru with Scripture Union, a Christian organization that helps Peruvian street boys.  This organization has five orphanages around the country that provide food, clothing, education and recreation for boys as young as four who have been rescued from living on the streets.

Tom Cotter and his son, Brian, at a monument in Yungay, Peru.

The group left on May 17 and returned on May 26.  During their days in Peru, they spent time in a Scripture Union home in Lima, sleeping on the floor, stayed in a hostel in Caras and traveled to the town of Yungay where they experienced making 645 bricks of mud and straw, enough for two walls of a small building.  How proud the students were to set a record for bricks made in a two day period.  The Southlake students also delivered water to squatters living in the desert outside Lima.

A highlight for the high school seniors was spending time with the orphan boys.  There were lots of soccer matches, humorous skits and  chances to visit during meals. Each member of the group brought a second suitcase with donated items for the orphanages.  It was a most rewarding nine days for the group and life lessons learned as Tom Cotter wrote:  “The trip taught Brian and his schoolmates that owning iPods and computer games is not as important as having food, water and a place to live.

Brian Cotter

Once back in the country, Brian and his classmates got ready for the May 29 graduation ceremony at Southlake Christian Academy.  Brian was active in baseball, cross country and wrestling while at Southlake Christian and captained each of these varsity sports this past year. Before heading to Wake Forest University this fall where he plans to major in communications, Brian will work mornings at a sports camp on Fire Island, N.Y., and afternoons and evenings will flex his muscles scooping ice cream at the Ice Cream Shoppe there.

In town to celebrate with Brian and his family were his grandmother, Johanna McCloskey from Sherrills Ford, and his great aunt, Christa Skiebe, of Davidson.  Coming from New York were his grandmother, Carmela Vignona, and extended family:  Joseph, Valerie and Alexandra Vignona; Bob, Camille and Terence Meade; and Peter Cotter. Congratulations, Brian, and best wishes for your college career.

Send us your news

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