Beautiful fall weather was a perfect backdrop for last weekend’s many sports activities. It also made us pause as we remembered the crystal clear skies of New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania 10 years ago, and the lives lost on that terrifying morning of 9/11/01.  In our area, there were many services of remembrance last Sunday reflecting on the 10th anniversary of that terrible event.

On a lighter note, Around Davidson visits today with a new puppy in the Regen household and a new baby in the Manning family.  We also take time to hear more about the Isle of Arran from Ian and June Robb.

A happy Jon Regen with a sleepy "Topper"

HAPPINESS IS A WARM PUPPY

Jon and Barbara Regen moved here five years ago from Richmond, Va.  Davidson was an easy choice since Jon is a Davidson College alum and two of their children, Will Regen and Suzanne Regen Grzeszczak and their families live in our town. (Their third child, Kelsey Regen, lives in Alexandria, Va., with his family.) Anyone who knows Jon knows that he is a dog lover and always has a pooch on the end of a leash.

When the Regens’ pet died a few years ago, Jon tried a few rescue dogs and finally decided he needed to start fresh with a puppy.  Son Will, a veterinarian, suggested a Boykin spaniel as an excellent companion, and soon a beautiful brown puppy arrived.  His papers indicate his pedigreed name is “Levi Top Gun” (his dad is “Levi Shot Gun”) so the obvious choice for him was “Topper.”

Topper loves to chew and play and is a delight to Jon and Barbara.  Next time you see Jon out walking this delightful little 10-week old tyke, be sure to say hello.  By the way, Topper will never be too big, with a top weight of about 35 lbs. and a height of 20 inches.  Perfect pet for a townhome in the St. Alban’s neighborhood.

Welcome to the world: Brooks Snowden Manning

HAPPINESS IS A NEW BABY

Congratulations to John and Victoria (Vic) Manning who welcomed their first child last month.  Brooks Snowden Manning was born on Aug. 18 weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz. and stretching to 21 inches.  Proud papa John is the son of Bob Manning and the late Carolina Manning and grew up in Davidson.  Now living in Charlotte, he is not far from his dad and stepmom, Susan Hutchins Manning, and is also close to his sisters, Mary Alice Manning Mitchell of Davidson and Laura Manning Riley of Charlotte and their families.  John works for Alter Imaging Inc. doing web design and development.

Mom Vic is the daughter of Lessing Shaughnessy of Simpsonville, S.C., and Dr. Dan Huntley of Charlotte.  Her grandparents are Edith and Gene Matheny of Asheboro, NC.  Vic is a grant writer for public health with Cabarrus Health Alliance.  Baby Brooks was named after Vic’s brother, Brooks Huntley, and has a middle name, Snowden, from Dad John.

These proud new parents are doing well and eager for Brooks to get to know his aunts, uncles and cousins.  With the blended Manning/Hutchins family alone, Brooks is the 10th grandchild with ages ranging from three weeks to 10 years.  Family reunions are going to be quite an adventure!  Best wishes to all.

Ian and June Robb now call Davidson home.

CATCHING UP WITH THE ROBBS

Nice to hear from Ian Robb after he read Around Davidson’s item last week about Elisabeth Davis writing a book about the Isle of Arran.  Ian grew up in Greenock, Scotland, not far from the ferry to the Isle of Arran and has fond memories of the island while growing up in the area.  Ian and his wife, June, visit the United Kingdom often to see family and friends.  Just three years ago in 2008, they spent time on Arran hiking and enjoying the beautiful landscape with pastures of Suffolk sheep and Highland cows.  Ian still has a cousin in the Greenock area but with a brother in Dorset and June’s family in the south of England, the couple spends most of their travel time in England.

Leaving Greenock as a young man, Ian worked for Barclay’s bank in London, South Africa and the Bahamas where he met and married June.  June had an amazing childhood.  Her parents had a sailboat in Lymington, England.  June and her three sisters were all born on board and lived on the sailboat as their home.  She has wonderful stories about school vacation when her dad pulled up the anchor and they sailed to the Channel Islands, France or the Mediterranean.  Landing a job teaching in 1965 in Nassau, her Dad pulled the anchor once more and the whole family sailed across the Atlantic to the Bahamas.

Once married, Ian and June spent some years in South Africa where their three sons were born.  Now the boys live in Winston-Salem, High Point, and Dallas, Texas, with their families.  With a wonderful condo on the lake, the Robbs are not too far from their five grandchildren.  Ian continues to work in banking for Wachovia on Main Street in Davidson.  June continues as a legal secretary in Charlotte, something she has done all her life with the exception of 17 years spent raising their sons.

Working on genealogy, the Robbs will head to England for their annual trip this fall – which Ian claims to be the best weather for traveling in the UK.  If your vacation plans include the British Isles, do check with Ian about travel tips from rental cars to money exchange.  He is delighted to help – especially if you want to walk the paths of the Isle of Arran, where Elisabeth Davis has roots and close to Ian’s hometown.

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