How beautiful are the Iris blooming all over town!

Storms, rain, and muggy weather are leading up to a marvelous weather weekend – if you can believe the forecasters.  But first you have to get up early on Friday to see Kate and Will tie the knot and then have your own Royal Affair like The Pines is hosting (with dress designated as a “Royal” or “Commoner”).  In case you are not old enough to qualify for The Pines, we include recipes today so you can “Eat like a Royal” at home and celebrate with the Brits.  What fun!

But there is other news in town and today we visit with Bill and Ellen Giduz; think snow, from a recent trip to Wyoming with the Regens and Grzeszczak families; and catch up with results from the “Greenes going Green.”  There are also a few Noteworthy Notes to remind you of Saturday events.

Bill and Ellen Giduz celebrate 30 years!

Congratulations to Bill and Ellen Giduz as they celebrated 30 years of marriage on April 4.  (We first thought the date was April 3 but Bill reminded us that he was still a free man on April 3, 1981.)  Bill and Ellen married in Hendersonville, N.C., where her parents lived.  Bill already had been living in Davidson since 1980, and Ellen joined him here.

Bill actually lived here before 1980 when he earned a degree from Davidson College (’74).  They now live in the Hillside Drive home of the late Joe Drake, who was Bill’s sociology professor his sophomore year.  Ellen is in charge of the Davidson and Cornelius library branches and Bill works in college communications – always on hand with his camera to cover college news.  Catching up with the Giduz children, we learned that Jenny is studying nursing at Forsyth Technical College in Winston-Salem.  Luke is a junior at Hough High.

To celebrate their three decades of marriage, Bill and Ellen spent a weekend recently in Charleston with a special meal at Hyman’s Seafood Restaurant.  It was a wonderful and relaxing getaway for both.

Nissan LEAF

“GREENE WITH ENVY”

Well, not actually “green with envy” but still disappointed are Jeff and Melinda Greene that their Nissan 30-second video was not the top vote getting video for the Concord Mills Leaf Stop.  (See the April 5, 2011, Around Davidson.) Turns out that a man from Celebration, Fla., won.  Was he in town just to record the video? Or visiting here?  No idea but Melinda said his video focused on driving the car to elementary school to educate children on the future of transportation.  Not a bad idea.  (Google “Nissan Leaf Drive Tour Winning Videos” and click on Concord Mills Stop for the winning 30-second clip.)

So there will not be a Nissan LEAF parked in the Greene’s driveway any time soon.  But we will no doubt hear more in the future about Jeff’s Spec-Electric business so when LEAFs appear in Davidson, there will be a place to charge them.  We applaud Jeff and Melinda’s creativity in their 30 second Leaf promotion!

Warm temps in Davidson? Think dog sledding in Wyoming!

GRANDPA’S BUCKET LIST

The Grzeszczak family of McConnell (Rob, Susanne, Jocelyn and Hank) wanted to fulfill Granddaddy Jon Regen’s bucket-list wish to ski with his grandchildren. So they gave Jon and his wife, Barbara, a ski trip for Christmas – with them.  Last month, all gathered in Jackson Hole for days of skiing and dogsled adventures.  Jon actually did not ski with the grandchildren but cheered them on and then retired with the rest of the family to the outdoor heated pool in the evening.  Smart man!

One night the family members enjoyed a dessert fondue in the hotel lobby – all chocolate.  Yum!  Then one evening was a dinner at the Mangy Moose, a famous Teton Village eatery owned by the brother of a Davidson friend, Cara Lala.  Grandpa Jon and Grandma Barbara also rode the gondola to the very top of the mountain at Jackson Hole to enjoy the beautiful view of the surrounding Tetons and the valley below.

It was a wonderful vacation for the grandparents, Jon and Barbara, and for all the Grzeszczaks.  Glad to know that Jon has checked one more item off his bucket list!

WEDDING WATCH

Okay, next week there will be nothing to talk about, with the Royal Wedding behind us.  So we are linking you today to delightful recipes you can fix at home this Friday and have your own celebration of Kate and Will tying the knot.  Check out ABBC/GMA’s “Eat like a Royal” fare – especially the Minty Peas.  But if these recipes are too time consuming, remember the couple’s favorite supper is beans on toast!  Why not with a glass of champagne!

Judith Stewart of McConnell sent us news that she and John Anderson were invited to some “fanfare” this weekend in London but politely declined.  Instead they have been at home honoring the royals with their Queen Elizabeth roses which have grown from a seedling two years ago to a blooming climbing rose just this week.  Judith writes that “Every day we would say:  Has the Queen graced us with her presence yet?  And the answer was ‘not yet.’  This week two roses bloomed … just in time for the royal wedding!”  The Queen has indeed graced McConnell with her presence!  Perfect timing.

NOTEWORTHY NOTES

This Friday, April 29, at 12:30 will be the last Musical Interlude for this academic year.  Come to Tyler-Tallman Hall, in Davidson College’s Sloan Music Center on campus for this event which is free and open to the public.  It features Davidson student musicians. Also be sure to note that on Friday evening a great treat awaits at 7:30 pm.  Jazz singer Marlene Verplanck will be featured.  Marlene collaborated regularly with Charlotte jazz pianist Loonis McGlohon.  The performance will take place at Duke Family Performance Hall.  The event is free and open to the public.  (For more information, access www3.davidson.edu/cms/x42914.xml)

This Saturday morning, April 30, will be busy if you make a first stop at our Farmer’s Market behind Summit Coffee in Davidson and then drive a few miles south to North Mecklenburg High School to take advantage of their year-end Plant Sale.  Horticulture teacher Stephanie Anderson will have a good variety of bedding plants, annuals, herbs and baskets for sale from 9-12 noon.  Just look for the greenhouse at the end of the bus parking lot.

Coming back home to Davidson, be sure to stop at Main Street Books to greet Elisabeth Davis at her book signing of “Harley, the Throwaway Puppy.”  Maybe Harley will even make an appearance…

Send us your news

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