Fall means pumpkins! The Davidson United Methodist Church sale is open on South Main. Click for info.

Today is a busy day in the life of Davidson College.  Congratulations to Carol Everhart Quillen who will be inaugurated as the new president of Davidson College.  She has been “on the job” since Aug. 1 but becomes official today.  There is always a lot of pomp and circumstance surrounding an inauguration with a long parade of honored guests from other academic institutions.  Just a shame it is being held indoors at Baker Sports Complex due to the threat of rain showers.  Be sure to access DavidsonNews.net for news and photos of the proceedings.

News today from around our town includes a special fund for Emma Rae Thompson, a special petition for solar panels on the White House from Thomas Greenough and a special poetry reading by Tony Abbott.

EMMA RAE THOMPSON

When the fire engines stream past your home with sirens blaring, you always wonder if someone is at risk in a burning home.  That is just what happened last week to Emma Rae Thompson, two year old daughter of Brandy and Robert Thompson of Mooresville, who was badly burned on her upper body when her grandparents’ home in Statesville caught fire on October 10.  (See DavidsonNews.net, Oct. 14, 2011, “Fund established to aid 2-yr-od burned in Statesville fire.”)

Emma’s dad works in Davidson for Archer’s Towing Service on South Main Street.  (If Archer’s has towed your car in the recent past, you probably got to know Robert.)  With help from Blaine Stein, financial center manager of Fifth Third Bank in Davidson, a fund has been set up to help with expenses for this young burn victim.  Anyone wanting to make donations for Emma’s treatment at the Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem should stop by the bank on Main Street.

A check with the family reports that Emma has made remarkable improvement in the past week.  She is receiving lots of attention from her big sister, Natalie Joe Davids (6) and eager to get home and see her new little sister, Bailey Jay Thompson, born Monday. We send best wishes for a speedy recovery to Emma Rae.

Thomas Greenough needs your vote!

THOMAS GREENOUGH WANTS WHITE HOUSE SOLAR PANELS

Thomas Greenough is a ninth grader at Pine Lake Prep (on N.C. 115 in Mt. Mourne) and has a project that needs your help.  The son of Gail and Wayne Greenough of Huntersville and big brother of Holly (10), Thomas viewed the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car” and got interested in President Jimmy Carter’s Solar America campaign.  It seems that President Carter had solar panels installed on the White House roof, which although partly symbolic, did heat the water for the White House kitchen and did cut energy costs.  What happened to the panels?  President Ronald Reagan had them removed.

Now fast forward to President Barack Obama who promised to put the panels back (a much improved version) on the White House roof no later than Spring 2011.  The current administration preaches “Green Energy” but the solar panel promise has gotten buried somewhere in Washington.  Thomas thinks that President Obama needs to follow through on his pledge and has written a petition to spur the White House to action.

Not letting any grass grow under his feet, Thomas went online to the “We the People” website which states “Something exciting is coming to WhiteHouse.gov. It’s called We the People and it will significantly change how the public — you! — engage with the White House online. Our Constitution guarantees your right to petition our government.  Now, with We the People, we’re offering a new way to submit an online petition on a range of issues — and get an official response.”

The White House (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Thomas wrote his solar panel petition, gathered 150 signatures with the help of his school, Summit Coffee, friends and family, in order for it to be posted on the White House web page. Now his petition is official and awaits your signature.  When Thomas obtains 25,000 signatures, the petition will be presented to the Cabinet and a formal response written to him by President Obama.  To sign, enter http://www.whitehouse.gov/23m in your web address bar (not your Google box!) and see the petition named “To Reinstall Solar Panels on the White House” created Oct. 3, 2011.  (Thomas’ name does not appear on the document.)  You must create an account (to combat fraud) and after you verify your email, your vote is cast.  Thomas would like the whole community to get behind him on this so vote today – and surely if Davidson College can install solar panels on the Baker Sports Complex, the White House can follow suit!  (See DavidsonNews.net, Oct. 11, 2011, “College to add solar panels atop Baker Sports Complex.)

Hats off to Thomas for his enthusiasm to hold our President to his promise and to promote Green Energy!

Tony signs her latest book of poems

“IF WORDS COULD SAVE US”

Congratulations to Tony Abbott who launched his newest book of poetry this past Sunday.  The book is called “If Words Could Save Us” and is compiled from his collection of poems divided into three sections titled “Providence,” “Ordinary Time” and Grace.”  For the first time in Tony’s career of publishing books of poetry, this volume includes a CD of him reciting about half of the printed poems.  Tony often remarks, “Most people do better if they hear poetry.”

Tony Abbott read while the Krumdiecks played

And indeed, the audience at Sunday’s reading and book signing was treated to a marvelous experience.  A full house in the college’s Visual Arts Center lecture hall heard Tony read eight of his poems.  Four were read to music provided by Richard and Barbara Krumdieck on recorder and cello respectively.  Four others were read while viewing Baroque works of art by Caravaggio, Vermeer and Bernini which provided the subject matter for the poems.  The last was a recording of Tony reading “Going Home” to excerpts of Dvorak’s Largo from his New World Symphony to a most appreciative audience.

Following the readings, Tony and his wife, Susan, hosted a wine and cheese reception. Thanks to the Abbotts, college staff and the Krumdiecks for a wonderful chance to relax on a Sunday afternoon in a delightful setting and honor a member of our community who is “very good with words.”

Send us your news

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