Hooray for weekend Yard Sales with bargains galore! Just ask Keith Bayless (l), Mike and Kate Lassiter about last Saturday's successful venture.

Unlike last year’s drought, this year’s wonderful spring showers are making many yards emerald green. Last week the showers put a damper on the middle school party at The Swimming Hole but could not dampen kids’ spirits.  Saturday’s sun was perfect for finding fresh produce and meats at Davidson Farmer’s Market and for shopping at a multifamily yard sale stretching down Caldwell Lane.  There Around Davidson got to visit with Mike and Kate Lassiter , as well as Keith Bayless, who were all smiles as they displayed an array of household treasures for sale.

Today we bring news from Grannie Annie Brindisi, North Mecklenburg Bronco Baseball and Filly Softball Champs, Belle Booker’s graduation, and the end of school pool party. In addition, Noteworthy Notes has news of Paris Nicholls, Blake Ketner and book news.

CRADLE ROLL – CHASE FOLEY BRINDISI

Grandma Ann Brindisi with Jack, 4 (left), Reed Allen, 2, and 2-week-old Chase.

Hooray for grandbabies!  Ann Brindisi agrees with that!  Her son, Jess Brindisi, and wife Sue, just welcomed their third son.  Chase Foley Brindisi was born June 2, weighing 8 lbs., 14 oz. and stretching 21 3/4 inches!  Delighted big brothers waiting to play with him are Jack (4) and Reed Allen (2).  This busy family lives in Lorton, Va., and was excited to have their Davidson Grandma Ann (Grannie Annie) come north to visit.

Additional family close by are Sue Brindisi’s parents, Lynne Foley and John Stephenson of Fairfax, Va., and Ann’s parents, Bobbie and Frank Chabot of Springfield, Va., (who just happen to live in the same retirement complex as Jane Cain’s dad).  Great grandparent Pat Brindisi and his wife, Norma, live a good distance away in Utica, NY.  Uncle Corey Brindisi and his wife, Autumn, are a bit farther afield as they live in Key West, Fla.  Congratulations to all the family.

BELLE BOOKER “MASTERS” EDUCATION

Belle Booker

At this time of year graduation news just keeps coming and we love to honor our graduates on DavidsonNews.net.  Today we hear from Belle Booker, daughter of Ed and Cindy Booker of South Street.  Belle has been teaching biology at North Mecklenburg High School the past three years while attending class at UNC Charlotte.  On May 9, all the hard work and long hours of study paid off as she graduated magna cum laude with a master’s degree in education.

Congratulations to you, Belle, and further congratulations on hearing that you have been accepted into a PhD program in education at UNC-Chapel Hill beginning this fall.  North Meck will miss you.

Catching up on the rest of the Booker clan, Belle’s older brother, Matt, lives in Huntersville and owns his own company assembling residential playground sets.  Younger brother, David, lives in Norfolk, Va., and is a carpenter for Skanska Builders.  David’s crew is currently building a bridge and then will work on the mid-town tunnel.  Always nice to hear news of our “younger” set.

PLAY BALL

North Meck Filly League champs, top from left: Coach Bob Metzger, Sara Kate Harris, Franny Millen, Kathryn Remmey, Liza Mitchell, Morgan Harris, Caroline O'Brien, McKenzie Martin, Coach Kevin O'Brien. Bottom, from left: Kylie Panizza, Drew Graham, Ivy Montague, Zoe Panizza, Keeley Smith. Absent : Katelyn Metzger, Coach Neal Smith.

Anyone in town with children who play or have played baseball or softball knows all about the area ball-playing opportunities for boys and girls. How nice to hear that two Davidson teams took top honors this season.

Taking “Ladies first,” we congratulate the North Meck Filly League softball champions from Davidson. This group of eight and nine year olds, appropriately named the Davidson Dominators, beat a previously undefeated Cornelius team in the Championship game 14-6 to finish Number ONE in a 17 team league. (Quite a feat – especially knowing how serious Cornelius is about softball!) Kudos to the girls and coaches Bob Metzger, Kevin O’Brien and Neal Smith.

The winning Broncos are, front row from left: Connor O'Donnell, Burns Kollme, Jacob Noble, Bennett Kolls, Christian Honecker. Back row from left: Christian Turner, Coach Ron Turner, Paddy Millen, Luke Maye, Bryce Yates, Camden Richardson, Coach Rob Richardson, Ryan Angiouli.

Now to the fellas:  Top honors and congratulations go to the North Meck Bronco League Champs, the Davidson Reds. Thanks to Pat Millen who sent us this recap of the championship game:

“Mayor John Woods was there for the whole game and could vouch for the excellent play of both teams that resulted in a fantastic game between the league’s two best teams:  the Davidson Reds, coached by Rob Richardson and Ron Turner and the Davidson TarDevils, coached by Rob Carroll and Jim Doyle.

The game was so tightly contested that the winning run was scored as Luke Maye (future Major Leaguer) stole home in the top of the last inning to take a one-run lead and the Reds were able to hang on in the bottom of the frame with fantastic pitching from reliever Bryce Yates. A great battle between a lot of great friends on both teams who were all very gracious and shook hands at the end.”

RAINDROPS AND PIZZA

A party in the ladies' room? These girls pulled it off.

Boys hid out from the rain, too.

Middle school youngsters in Davidson had a great idea for an end-of-school “blast.”  Close to 60 boys and girls gathered last Thursday evening at The Swimming Hole on Lorimer Road for a pool party.  Just an hour into their fun, the thunder began and parent chaperones had to keep the party goers under cover in the only places available – the bathrooms or under the water fountain overhang.  Soon the pizza arrived and the party continued - although in limited space.  The group had a great time in spite of the stormy weather cutting short their time together.  Maybe the weather will cooperate if they plan a back-to-school extravaganza in August!

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Paris Nicholls graduates from UNC-CH

Paris Nicholls graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill last month with a degree in philosophy.  Paris is the son of Sandy and Angela Nicholls of North Main Street in Davidson and the grandson of Scotty Nicholls at The Pines, all of whom were at the commencement ceremonies.  Paris’ sister, Zoe, a rising senior in high school, was also there as well as Angela’s dad and stepmom, Jerry and Beverly Mount, from California.

Paris will spend the summer in Lawrence, Kansas, helping with Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) located on the University of Kansas campus.  His plans for the fall are uncertain.

Blake Ketner graduates from Catawba College

Blake Ketner, son of Danny and Susan Ketner (you know Danny from the Davidson Post Office staff) of Davidson, graduated from Catawba College last month.  Blake now holds a degree in business administration and is actively seeking employment.  Further kudos to Blake being named Male Athlete of the Year at Catawba.  He played baseball all four years and excelled at pitching.  (Interesting to note that Blake and Sam Pierce - another pitcher – came up together through youth baseball in Mecklenburg County.)

Danny and Susan will have another graduate in May 2010 when their daughter, Rebecca Ketner, finishes an undergraduate degree in Public Health at UNCC.  Rebecca has an interesting internship this summer in bio-statistics at the new Murdock campus in Kannapolis.  Nice to catch up with this family.

Book Talk

On Tuesday, June 16, at 7 p.m. (today), Main Street Books hosts its Main Street Readers book discussion on “Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee,” by Charles Shields. It’s free, at the bookstore, 126 S. Main. Info: 704-892-6841.

Well known Charlotte writer and historian, Mary Kratt, will speak this Thursday, June 18, at the Cornelius Library at 2 p.m.  She will discuss her latest book, “Charlotte:  a Brief History,” with insights into the people who made the Queen City what it is today.  This program will last one hour and is free and open to the public.  Mary will have copies of her book for sale and signing.  Main Street Books also has copies. Call 704-416-3800 for more information or to register (optional).

Mark your calendars now for the Oct. 15 Book Clubs of Davidson Annual Tea. John Hart, Davidson College graduate and Salisbury native, will be the speaker.  The tea, from 3-4:30 p.m. at The Pines’ Davidson Room, is free and open to the public.  John has written “King of Lies,” “Down River” and his latest, “The Last Child.”  Great summer reading!

Send us your news

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