A few summer blooms last through the fall

How glorious is October.  Time to put on a sweater, rake leaves, ride bikes, visit yard sales, count the geese flying overhead and savor the aroma of wood fires burning brightly in fireplaces.  The last bright flowers of fall will soon be past and the trees bare of leaves.  This is a favorite time of year for many of us.

Around Davidson had a chance recently to check on Karen Toney’s surprise visitor, a Hess grandbaby visit and a word about books from Susan Walker, Tom Cotter and ReadDavidson.

Happiness for Boo Hess is introducing her granddaughter, Ana Lu, to Davidson

HELLO ANA LU

Being grandparents for the first time is a very special honor!  Boo and Peter Hess, however, have had to love their granddaughter, Ana Lucia, from afar since she was born in Lima, Peru, and spent the following ten months in La Paz, Bolivia, where her daddy, Jamie Hess, and mom, Karina, lived.  Now the family is back in the USA and living in Alexandria, VA, so visiting Ana Lu is a mere six hour drive as opposed to an international flight.

Boo and Peter visited Ana Lu last winter in La Paz but were able to welcome her to Davidson just this past weekend.  She was honored at her very first “tea” at the home of Margo Williams and slept through most of it.  What a cutie!  With two teeth and the beginnings of a very good crawl, Ana Lu is a delight for Boo and Peter.  Her first birthday in November will be a big celebration for all!

Welcome to Davidson, Ana Lu.  Hope you have lots of Carolina blue outfits to keep Grandpa Peter smiling!

What a treat for Karen Toney (l) to meet singer Sara Groves and treat her to ice cream!

A TREAT FOR KAREN TONEY (and it is not ice cream!)

Could it be random chance or divine providence, Karen Toney, manager of our own Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shoppe, was able to meet her all time favorite female singer/songwriter, Sara Groves.  Sara is an award winning American Contemporary Christian singer, record producer and author.

Karen pre-ordered Groves’ new album, Invisible Empire.  When it didn’t arrive in the mail, she found an email contact on the singer’s website.  Low and behold, Sara Groves’ husband responded to Karen’s inquiry and at the bottom of his email said…”Thanks for your support!  Will definitely have to come get some ice cream if we’re in your area this fall!”

That was all Karen needed.  She responded that she would be happy to buy them ice cream if they were ever in the Charlotte area. It turned out that two days later the singer and her husband were flying into Charlotte on their way to an event at The Cove in Ashville.

Long story short, Karen offered them ice cream and directions to Davidson.  Much to her joy and delight, Sara and Troy Groves with two friends came to our fair village for lunch at the Soda Shop and dessert at Ben & Jerry’s.  They spoke well of our lovely town, and were very gracious to an adoring fan who now appreciates the singer and her music even more.

Only in Davidson!  It will be a photo and memory that Karen keeps for a long time to come!

BOOK TALK

Hats off to Cristina Shaul for another successful ReadDavidson event at the Davidson Presbyterian Church.

ReadDavidson

A large group of Davidson residents gathered at the Davidson Presbyterian Church one evening last week for the fifth event in this fall’s ReadDavidson program focusing on Kathryn Stockett’s book, “The Help.”  After introductions by Cristina Shaul, Moderator Ruby Houston of the Beloved Community Book Group (members of the Davidson College Presbyterian Church and the Davidson Presbyterian Church) introduced Linda Steber (co-chair of the book group). Then she asked panel members (including Jackie Harris, LaGretta Neal, Jane Sherrill, Barbara Bryan, Delores Coleman, and Garfield Carr) to speak for a few minutes sharing stories with memories of “help,” of family and of integration.  Many who grew up in Davidson spoke about the interactions of black and white families and how the railroad tracks were not a deterrent to wonderful friendships. The program ended with all joining hand singing “We shall Overcome.”

The last ReadDavidson program is November 6 at 4 p.m. at the Davidson Town Hall.  All are welcome.

Tom Cotter (r) interviewed Arlo Guthrie for a new book he is writing

HELLO ARLO GUTHRIE

Davidson resident Tom Cotter loves to put words on paper when the subject concerns cars or motorcycles.  He is currently putting the finishing touches on two books:  one covers motorcycles found in barns and the second focuses on rock musicians who have passions for motor vehicles.  What a great gig to travel the States interviewing well known “rockers”  including Arlo Guthrie, John Oates (Hal & Oates), Billy Joel, Brian Johnson (AC/DC), George Frayne (Commander Cody), J Geils, and Brad Whitford (Aerosmith – who lives in Charlotte).  An interview with Nick Mason (of Pink Floyd) in London is on his fall calendar.  We look forward to these new additions to our library shelves.

Susan Walker recommends all the books for Charlotte's October 10th Bibliofeast

BIBLIOFEAST NEWS and WELCOME BACK SUSAN WALKER

Susan Walker, the daughter of Davidson residents Hal and Cathie Walker, moved here with her family in 1965 when she entered 9^th grade and her father joined the French department at Davidson College.  She graduated from North Mecklenburg High School, Duke University and received a Masters in French from Princeton University.  She got her start in books with B. Dalton in NYC before moving to Minneapolis, MN, where she continued with B. Dalton and then worked for an Independent Book Sellers Group.  She remained in the Midwest until this past February when she “came home to roost” and bought a home in neighboring Antiquity.

Enjoying a WWII USS Pavlik reunion were Hal Walker, his wife, Cathie, and daughter Susan

Having worked in the book industry since 1975 with the last 23 Minnesota years spent as the Executive Director of the Midwest Independent Book Sellers, Susan jumped right into volunteering for the Charlotte Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA…founded in 1917 long before WNBA meant women’s basketball…).  In her current capacity as President of the Charlotte WNBA, Susan wants all our readers to know about Charlotte’s 2^nd Annual Bibliofeast on Monday, October 10, 6:30-9 p.m., at South Park Mall’s Maggiano’s Restaurant (http://wnba-charlotte.org/wnba/calendar/bibliofeast-2011/). Membership in the WNBA is not required for attendance. Nine critically acclaimed authors will circulate among dinner tables to talk about their books and answer questions while the guests enjoy their meal.  It promises to be a lot of fun and most informative.  The authors are listed on the website referenced above and include Ellen Baker who will come to The Pines in Davidson to give a program to discuss writing and her latest novel, “I Gave my Heart to Know This” on October 10 at 1:30 p.m.  (www.ellenbakernovels.com). This program is open to the public without charge.

Susan is also working in NC and SC as a commission based sales representative for Tristan and New Harbinger Publishing Companies.  In addition to looking in on her parents who now reside at The Pines, Susan enjoys getaways to the family home at Topsail Beach, performing arts programs in our area, museums, as well as exercise at Gold’s gym and Bindu yoga classes.  Last weekend, she joined her parents for a trip to Chattanooga so her dad could have a mini-reunion with three other men he served with on the USS Pavlik APD 70 (a destroyer escort ship) during WWII.  She also enjoys visiting her two daughters.  Amy (27) is a graduate of Barnard College and works in NYC for Random House Publishing.  Katie (25) is a Davidson College grad (2008) and is currently in graduate school in genetics at the University of Pennsylvania.

We are glad to have this busy former Davidsonian back in our midst once more.
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Have news for Around Davidson? Write to Brenda Barger at hbarger@bellsouth.net.