All these eggs can be a bit overwhelming...as these young ladies in McConnell found!

What a wonderful Easter weekend!  Perfect temperatures and warm sunshine.  The Saturday Egg Hunt on the McConnell Green provided fun for young and old.  The Easter Sunday worship services interspersed with egg hunts for the youngsters were wonderful occasions.  Now we move on to college graduations and the final weeks of public school before the much anticipated summer vacations.

Around Davidson visits today with a new baby for Abbey and Garrett Droege as well as news of an honor for Alex Kello.  We also introduce you to Kay and Tim Wahl with news of their vet school bound daughter, Emily.

Henry Droege keeps a close watch on his new baby sister, Lennon Droege.

CRADLE ROLL – LENNON MAIE DROEGE

Congratulations to Garrett and Abbey Wade Droege who welcomed their second child and first daughter on March 11.  Lennon Maie Droege weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. and stretched to 18 inches.  Big brother, Henry (3), is pretty excited to have a baby sister – most of the time – at their home in Cornelius.  Close by to keep Henry entertained are maternal grandparents, Cary and Jay Wade of Davidson.  These proud grandparents are also available frequently to help out with the new baby and spoil both grandchildren just a bit!

Mom Abbey Wade Droege holds her infant daughter, Lennon

Arriving in their RV from Greenville, S.C., on the morning that Lennon was born were paternal grandparents, Candy and Farley Shuler, who were delighted to help with the new arrival.  Uncle Jake Wade made it to the hospital in time to be one of the first to hold baby Lennon.  Jake is a musician in Charlotte, currently playing bass in  Columns and one other band.

Dad Garrett works with his father-in-law, Jay Wade, in insurance in Davidson.  Mom Abbey is a personal chef and author of the food blog, “Everyday Champagne,” which focuses on creating delicious, creative meals on a budget.  (Take a look at everydaychampagne.blogspot.com)  Busy family and we send congratulations to all.

Alex Kello received freshman honors at ASU

AN HONOR FOR ALEX KELLO

Alex Kello, son of Kim and John Kello of River Run, was recently inducted into the Gamma Beta Phi Society at Appalachian State University, where he is completing his freshman year.  Gamma Beta Phi is a national organization which recognizes and supports academic excellence, leadership and character, and service on college campuses.

We are glad to recognize Alex for this honor.  Congratulations to all the family.

VET SCHOOL CALLING

Getting into medical school is none too easy and according to statistics, getting into veterinary school is even harder.  So today we congratulate Emily Wahl who graduates from the University of Florida (UF) on May 1 with a major in animal science and a minor in biology and later this summer will join the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine as a member of the Class of 2015. Veterinary medicine is a natural for Emily who has been riding horses since the age of four and loving all animals for at least that long – not to mention that her mother, Kay Wahl, is a small animal veterinarian (graduating from Purdue’s School of Veterinarian Medicine at age 23!) at LakeCross Veterinary Hospital in Huntersville, or that her mother and dad, Tim Wahl, own the Davidson Equestrian Center on June Washam Road in Davidson.

Meet the Wahl family: (l-r) Maggie, Dad Tim, Shelagh, Emily and Mom Kay

Emily’s parents moved to this area from Boca Raton, Fla., in 1997, first living at the lake and then buying property in Davidson from the Washam estate in October 2000.  Emily graduated from Davidson IB and North Mecklenburg High School as did her older sister, Maggie.  (Maggie graduated from UNCC in 2009 and works in insurance with her dad, Community Association Insurance Services (CAIS).  In addition, Emily and Maggie have an older half sister, Shelagh, who is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and has her own insurance agency in West Palm Beach.

Getting back to Emily, we found out that she has excelled academically as well as in the equestrian area for years.  In addition to National Honor Society and national Technical Honor Society awards, she was 4-H Horseperson of the Year in North Carolina, on the UF Dean’s List and Captain of the UF Equestrian Team.  As her mother mentions, Emily’s dedication to her studies and to her horsemanship have made her goal of vet school a reality.  Emily will join 69 others in the freshman class of the four year veterinary school program and hopes to focus on equine medicine, especially equine rehabilitation.  In addition she would like to come back to North Carolina and establish an equine practice in this area.

Emily Wahl shows championship form as she clears a jump on Bullwinkle

Perhaps Emily will be able to join her mom in establishing a practice that focuses on horses.  Although Kay is a small animal veterinarian, she will soon be certified in equine acupuncture from the Chi Institute in Riddick, Fla.  The sign at the entrance to their almost 30-acre Davidson Equestrian Center on June Washam Road includes mention of equine rehabilitation – of which acupuncture plays a part.  The Wahls’ equestrian center currently has boarding space for 20 horses in addition to the Wahl’s six horses and four donkeys (plus numerous dogs and cats).  Their full time barn manager is Peter Hofstetler who moved here from Ohio a few years ago.  The facility provides board, indoor and outdoor rings, riding trails and a Grand Prix size jumping arena plus instruction.

Kay laughed when she mentioned that the center sponsors Sunday afternoon trail rides for “mature ladies” with wine and cheese afterward poolside.  Not a bad way to spend some hours!  When not tending dogs, cats, horses, donkeys or insurance, Kay likes to participate in competitive trail rides while Tim cuts loose on one of his three Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Congratulations to Emily on her upcoming May 1 graduation and all the best to her as she enters vet school later this summer.  Also best to all the Wahls on their beautiful equestrian facility “right under our noses” and their many achievements.

WEDDING WATCH

Will you get up at 4 a.m. this Friday morning to watch the wedding coverage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton?  Bet lots of our readers will tune in for some part of the ceremony… at least to see what gown Kate is wearing.  This past weekend, Brits got Good Friday and Easter Monday as bank holidays.  This coming weekend is no different: Friday is a bank holiday due to the royal wedding and next Monday is May Day, another bank holiday.  What’s a Brit to do?  Our inside reporters tell us that many are taking a 10-day holiday somewhere far from the hoopla in London.  We do hear a lot, however, about the parties in the small villages for those remaining in country.  Hope to have some on site reporting soon.

Anyone going to London for the weekend?  Be sure to let us know! And bring us a commemorative “Kate and Will” plate at least!

Send us your news

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