Scott Galloway amused the crowd Friday night as an updated version of Gong Show host Chuck Barris.

Almost November 3 – Election Day for North Carolina.  The ballot will not be long or complicated but we each need to be an informed voter before entering the polling area. Come to St. Alban’s this evening at 7 p.m.to hear candidates for School Board and Davidson Town Commission speak.

Any questions?  Call the Board of Elections (704.336.2133) or go online to www.meckboe.org.  Better yet, stop by the North County Public Library and Vote Early.  See more information below.

Today Around Davidson visits The Gong Show at DCPC and well known man in town, Bill Vinson.  There is also a literary note about Irish poet Ann Leahy. In addition you will find  Election Notes on Early Voting.

GOING, GOING, GONG!

Presbyterians at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church (DCPC) won’t be called “the frozen chosen” much longer after ”thawing” the audience with delightful humor and creativity at last Saturday evening’s Gong Show.

Linda Griffeth (center) chose some fine company in Susan Boyle (l) and Elvis (r) at the Gong Show.

Thanks are due to Scott Galloway, who created the evening of entertainment  staged in the church’s Congregation House.  Associate Pastor Julie Hill assisted Scott and the committee with the planning. The show proved to be educational as well as amusing.

More than 300 church members and their guests filled every seat in the room while Master of Ceremonies Scott (aka Chuck Barris) introduced the acts ranging from true talent such as Dennis Appleyard of The Four Coursemen Barbershop Quartet to total trash with Pat Millen dressed as Susan Boyle of Britain’s idol fame who lip synched to “I Dream the Dream.”   (Even Elvis was in the building.  Just ask Jay Harris.)

John Bragg (whose considerable talent on the drums – he claims from You Tube lessons – did not go unnoticed) summed up the evening in this way:  “Even though the event was meant to be a fun night, enjoying our member’s variety of talents, it had a larger purpose. Each church committee was invited to give a one minute pitch to the audience as to what the committee does and how they serve our church, our community or the world. This allowed church members to learn more about our church committees and how they could be involved in serving others. After the one minute pitch, each committee then put forth their best talent for judging.”

"Roxology" featuring (l-r) Alexander Weir on guitar, Davidson College student Matt Gilliland on guitar, Beach Galloway on glockenspiel, Caroline Yuen singing and Sara Beeken on drum (not pictured: Ben Yuen on piano)

The numerous acts were judged on a scale of 1-10 by judges Adrienne Rothrock, Greg O’Brien and John Kuykendall provided they did not get gonged immediately.  At evening’s end, the clogging/singing group representing The Pines’ Connection and the original rap college/youth band Roxology representing Community Missions tied for first place.  Applause for each group broke the tie giving Roxology a slight edge and the distinction of Gong’s #1 talent.  (Thanks to Hannah Rothrock and Donna Hatfield for the photos.)

AN HONOR FOR BILL VINSON

This past Tuesday was a memorable day for Bill Vinson.  He joined 104 other Charlotte area World War II veterans to fly, free of charge, to Washington, D.C. to view the memorial built to honor them and the many other Americans who fought in what is sometimes called “the Good War.”  Rising early for his ride to the Charlotte airport, Bill was joined on the chartered USAirways flight by former US Senator Elizabeth Dole.  Mrs. Dole paid most of the costs for the flight, touring and patriotic programs in honor of her brother, John Hanford, a WWII veteran who died last year.

Proud WWII veteran Bill Vinson shows off his hat and ID worn for his special honor in Washington, D.C.

The 105 veterans, all in their 80′s and 90′s, wore special blue hats identifying them as passengers on the special “John Hanford Memorial Flight.”  The group and their “guardians” who accompanied them were greeted with cheers, bagpipes, and music at every stop.  In Washington their buses had an all day police escort. With picture perfect weather, they viewed the memorial, placed a wreath at the NC pillar, ate lunch under a special tent, observed a Marine silent drill performance, and reminisced a good deal.  A huge crowd greeted them on their after dark return to Charlotte – a wonderful surprise which included his wife, Mary, and son and daughter-in-law, Bill, Jr. and Barbara, from Greensboro.

Two good friends and tennis “buddies” on the flight with 84 year-old Bill were Bill Lawson of Gastonia and Winton Poole of Charlotte.  This program honoring veterans is sponsored by Rotary and participants must apply.  Bill was in the B-12 program at the University of Richmond before attending Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame and being commissioned as an Ensign in October of 1944.  He soon shipped out as a Deck Officer on the USS Wasatch and saw action in three invasions in the South Pacific.  After the war, Bill joined the Active Reserves until the early 1950′s.

Retiring from his civilian career as a consultant for GE, Bill and his wife, Mary, moved to Davidson in 1987 following the remodeling of the 1898 home of his late grandmother, Lillie Vinson.  Bill is well known on the tennis courts of Davidson College as well as in the classroom where he has audited at least 60 courses and at WDAV where he volunteers regularly.

How nice to visit with this “hale and hearty” veteran and hear about his honor.  Asked for a highlight of his trip, Bill replied, “Words cannot describe it.”   Well said!

ANN LEAHY VISITS

Allison Elrod (r) entertained Irish poet Ann Leahy who visited in Davidson last week.

Allison Elrod of South Thompson Street opened her home last Thursday evening for a reception on behalf of the Charlotte Writers Club North (CWCN) honoring Irish poet Ann Leahy.  Ann’s visit to Davidson came through the courtesy of Janice Fuller, Writer-in-Residence and English Professor at Catawba College.  Following the reception, Ann spoke at Sanctuary on Main (formerly the So Alive Gallery at 108 South Main). There she read from her award winning poetry and also talked about Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh.

Joining Ann and Allison for the late afternoon reception were Lou Green, Leslie Rindoks, Louise Rockwell (Chair of CWCN’s Steering Committee), Tony Abbott, Lisa Kline, Sandra Winters, Richard Taylor, past president of the Charlotte Writer’s Club, and Janice Fuller.

Ann Leahy (in red) conversed with Davidson writers.

CWCN normally meets monthly on the first Thursday at 7 p.m. at 108 S. Main Street in Davidson.  A note for November when the group will meet instead on Tuesday, November 10, to welcome Dorothy Allison, the 2009 McGee Professor and writer in residence at Davidson College.  For more information about the Charlotte Writers’ Club, go online to http://www.charlottewritersclub.org/.

GET OUT THE VOTE

“Get out the Vote” is easy to say if you live in the Davidson Town limits and can vote for Town Commissioners (five of eight) or School Board (one of three).  For those within the jurisdiction of Davidson but not the town limits (ETJ), the only item on the ballot is School Board. (Hope one day the Town Commissioners will be proactive and initiate proceedings to allow the ETJ to vote for the town’s officials.)

Kudos to Mecklenburg County for making voting easy – regardless of the length of the ballot.  Beginning this weekend, you can stop by the North County Public Library (intersection of Sam Furr and US #21) and Vote Early regardless of your precinct.  (Davidson precincts are 206 and 127).  Hours are Saturday, October 24, 10-4; Sunday, October 25, 1-4, October 26-30, 11-7 and the last day for Early Voting, Saturday, October 31, 10-1.

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