Remember Mama's advice: Be sure to wash behind your ears!

This is Halloween Week and a last chance to find the perfect costume for trick-or- treat.  Next week at this time, Election Day will be drawing to a close bringing an end to the annoying political ads on television.  Hooray!  But in the meantime enjoy the cooler weather with the chance to carve a pumpkin, to watch the geese fly overhead, to savor the aroma of apple butter simmering on the stove and to cheer for the Rangers or Giants in the World Series.  Hard to get up when it is SO dark? Then you will be pleased to set your clocks back an hour in a couple weeks when we revert to Eastern Standard Time.  The earlier sunrise is perfect for camera buffs to catch rural scenes such as the cow and calf pairs brought to you today.

Around Davidson focuses this Tuesday on D.G. Martin and his appearance at an Alzheimer’s event in Charlotte.  There is also news of Davidson friends making a Road Trip to Black Mountain and a report on an energetic fourth grader, Cole Rasenberger, who has been recognized for his efforts on behalf of the environment.  In Noteworthy Notes, we catch you up on Angie Rice-Figueroa’s success on Wheel of Fortune and remind you about this week’s 14^th Annual Book Club Tea.

(l-r) Vera Guise, DG Martin, Lori Walker

D.G. MARTIN SPEAKS IN CHARLOTTE

Many in Davidson know of D.G. Martin, retired lawyer, politician and university administrator.  He grew up in Davidson, the son of the late Grier and Louise Martin.  Some in our town will remember when the early onset of Alzheimer’s forced Grier to retire as President of Davidson College in 1968 and his death from the disease in 1974 at the age of 63.  For decades until her death in 1995 at the age of 82, his widow, Louise, worked tirelessly promoting awareness of Alzheimer’s.  Early on she resolved that no one should be ashamed to face this common tragedy and that no one, as a care giver, should have to face it alone.

Primarily through her efforts, the Piedmont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association was founded, offering support for families, raising funds and striving for a greater national commitment to finding the cure for Alzheimer’s.  On Oct. 8, a Hope & Help Celebration was held honoring the 25^th anniversary of the Western Carolina Chapter, which merged with the Piedmont Chapter and is headquartered in Charlotte (www.alz.org/northcarolina).   The dinner and program took place at The Ivey, a beautiful adult day care center at the edge of Southpark.  (Lynn Ivey is the founder of The Ivey, a non-profit, created in honor of her mother who died with Alzheimer’s disease.  Visit www.theivey.com)

D.G. was one of the featured speakers at the event and spoke about the impact of Alzheimer’s on his family.  He also commented on how much support there now exists for care givers, saying “I love being in this place tonight.  What a difference it would have made to my mother and father.”  Thanks, D.G., for making the trip from your home in Chapel Hill to remember your mother and dad.

The Alzheimer’s Association is a tremendous source for support, education and resources to people with Alzheimer’s, their families, their caregivers, and others who who want to know more about this disease – and to end it. Readers can find out about programs and services in their community at www.alz.org/northcarolina. The Alzheimer’s Association also provides a 24-hour Helpline at 1-800-272-3900 for those in need of support and guidance in facing challenges by memory loss and dementia.

One of the Association’s big fund-raising events, the Charlotte Memory Walk, is coming up on Nov. 13. Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $300 million for the cause. All Memory Walk donations benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. For more information on how to participate: http://memorywalk10.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=344141

Enjoying a beautiful day in Black Mountain were (L to R): Ruby Stroud, Cary Johnston, Nancy Lammers, Jean Jackson, Dot Kaylor, Carol Barber, Paula Kelton and Lacy Dick.

ROAD TRIP

When families leave Davidson to relocate in another North Carolina city, there is always the opportunity for a road trip to visit in the “new” city.  Some months ago, Dave and Dot Kaylor sold their Virginia Avenue home and “retired” to Black Mountain.  Last Thursday on a picture perfect fall day, seven good friends of Dot’s got an early start and drove to Black Mountain to have lunch and catch up on news.

Ruby Stroud, Cary Johnston, Nancy Lammers, Jean Jackson, Carol Barber, Paula Kelton and Lacy Dick met Dot for lunch at a little restaurant called The Blackbird.  Following the meal, the ladies had dessert at the Kaylor home giving them a chance to visit with Dave and see his new wood-turning workshop.  It was a delightful day to be in the mountains and have a chance to reconnect with the Kaylors.  All reports are that Dave and Dot are doing just fine.  How nice that they are only two hours away!

COLE’S CAUSE

Cole (l) hold his Barron "Prize for Young Heroes" plaque while Liam displays a sampling of their 10,000 postcards

Imagine being nine years old and already featured in “Ranger Rick” magazine as well as being named one of ten national winners of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.  Not at all hard to imagine when you meet Cole Rasenberger and hear his plans to make the world better.  Best to remember his name because you no doubt will be hearing a lot more about this young man and his passion for the environment.

Cole, the son of Ken and Kerry Rasenberger, was a student at Mountain Island Elementary last year when his Talent Development (TD) teacher asked each class member to write to a government official on behalf of an endangered species.  Eight years old at the time, Cole decided not to focus on an individual animal but rather on an entire forest ecosystem:  Southern forests.  He contacted the Dogwood Alliance (www.dogwoodalliance.org) and learned from them that many of our trees are used to make paper for fast food restaurants.

Maybe they should be using recycled paper instead, he thought, and started a postcard campaign using his hand-drawn artwork to represent four different forest habitats.  With a team of 24 students, Cole took the postcard campaign to every classroom of Mountain Island Elementary with the resulting mass mailing of over 1,100 cards, bringing a response from McDonalds that they would soon switch their bags to 100 percent recycled paper.  Cole’s young age, good organization and great enthusiasm caught the attention of Ranger Rick magazine (March 2010 issue, “Kids in Action” page) and then the honor of the $2,500 Gloria Barron Prize last month.  (The Barron Prize was founded in 2001 and selects 10 winners nationwide annually.  Half of the winners have focused on helping their communities and fellow human beings; half have focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.)

Ken and Kerry Rasenberger, with Cole and younger daughter, Kaela (2^nd grade), moved to Davidson this past July and guess what?  As a fourth grader at Davidson Elementary School, he already has his sights set on organizing a new mass mailing of postcards to another fast food company using some of the prize money from the Barron award for his materials.  This fall he has the help of classmate and neighbor, Liam Donoghue, son of Marnie and Tom Donoghue.  Liam and Cole are sharing responsibility for the artwork on the newest batch of 10,000 cards (printed on recycled paper of course).  The boys have established a time line and hope to involve other elementary schools to help their cause of protecting our coastal forests. Cole and Liam anticipate having the cards signed and mailed by the end of this year – but they are realistic and know their time line may have to be tweaked a bit.

When these boys are not planning strategies to improve our environment, they enjoy sports, exploring the woods and in particular they love to bounce on the trampoline in Liam’s backyard.  Chances are we will be hearing a lot more about Cole’s Cause in the months to come.  If you have some ideas or suggestions for this project, be sure to email Cole at cole1105@earthlink.net.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

Angie Rice-Figueroa

Spinning the Wheel

Congratulations to Angie Rice-Figueroa who appeared on Wheel of Fortune last Friday evening.  (View the DavidsonNews.net article here)  Angie, who works for the Communications Office at Davidson College, did not make the Bonus Round but had a great showing as she won cash and prizes totaling $11,200.  Way to go, Angie!

Cathy Pickens

14^th Annual Book Club Tea

Don’t forget that all Davidson Book Club members and their guests are invited to the 14^th Annual Book Club Tea this Thursday, October 28, from 3-4:40 p.m. in the Davidson Room of The Pines.  The speaker will be mystery writer Cathy Pickens who is well known in Charlotte as a lawyer, professor and former provost in the McColl School of Business at Queens.  Check her website, www.cathypickens.com for more information prior to attending the tea.  Reputed to be an excellent teacher, Cathy is an author not to be missed.

Send us your news

Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbarger@bellsouth.net.