How about this weather?  One has to dive into the closet to find summer clothes in the middle of March.  But just a word of warning:  Don’t put those sweaters away just yet.  Our last frost date for this region is April 15.  It is mighty tempting to get flowers in pots and plants in the garden but the Agricultural Extension Service recommends waiting just a bit.  This Saturday, however, is St. Patrick’s Day and the traditional time to plant potatoes –  so at least give the spuds a try!

Around Davidson today brings happy news of Melissa Sanderson’s wedding, a note about spring arrivals on the farm, a trip report from Russell and Carmen Mase and a musical mention about Lauren Jackson Coplan.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Carter Chandler

WEDDING BELLS FOR MELISSA SANDERSON AND CARTER CHANDLER

Saturday, March 3, was a happy occasion for the Sanderson and Chandler families.  On this day in the Davidson College Presbyterian Church Melissa Sanderson married Carter Chandler with the Rev. Robert Alexander officiating.  Melissa is the daughter of Dick and Dawn Sanderson of Davidson.  Carter is the son of Lee and Sue Chandler of Charlotte. Music for the wedding ceremony was provided by organist Jane Cain, soloist Kristine Reynolds, her husband Paul Reynolds, harpist, and trumpeter Richard Harris from the Charlotte Symphony.  Friends and family came from Georgia, Ohio, Virginia and Alabama, including Melissa’s cousins, Rachael and Ryan Zarach from Georgia, who were the program attendants.

Melissa shared a special moment with her Dad Dick and Mom Dawn before the ceremony

Melissa’s Maid of Honor was her sister Amy Sanderson.   Her four bridesmaids were Lindsay Oaten, Marcy Schnitzer, Marissa Black-Motsinger, and Tasha Haston, all college friends. Sara Slattery, whom Melissa has babysat for three years, was the flower girl.  Carter was joined by his Best Man, Brennan Arminoei, a childhood friend, and groomsmen Trey Sanderson, brother of the bride, UNC-Charlotte (UNCC) fraternity brothers, Joe Aumendo and Chris Kientz, and fraternity pledge brother, Jamie Stikeleather.

A reception followed the wedding ceremony at Birkdale Pavilion in Huntersville.  The evening before the parents of the groom hosted a dinner for the wedding party as well as out of town family and friends at the Country Suites event room in Huntersville.  It was a special occasion for everyone to get acquainted before the wedding festivities.  Dawn Sanderson put together an amazing slideshow with photos of Dawn and Carter, which she and Sue Chandler narrated during the dinner.

Carter's dad provided the "getaway" car (just on loan!)

Melissa and Carter’s wedding day could not have been more perfect.  The weather was beautiful despite a 90 percent chance of rain. The service so meaningful, but most of all was the fact that Melissa’s Dad was able to proudly give her away despite his ongoing battle with ALS the past eight years.  One of Melissa’s most memorable moments was when her Dad came to her in the parlor of the church and gave her his “S” hanky to carry with her down the aisle.  One of Carter’s most memorable moment was when his father took his white 1972 Corvette out of retirement for the newlyweds to drive off in (not as a gift!).  What a wonderful day filled with memories for all who attended!

The couple announced their engagement last May.  They met while attending UNCC three years ago.  Melissa is a business marketing graduate while Carter earned a degree as a civil engineer.  The couple lives in an apartment in the UNCC area while they await Carter’s Army commissioning this May. In the meantime Carter is seeking a job in civil engineering and Melissa is employed by Dick’s Sporting Goods as their soft line marketing manager at the Afton Ridge location.    The couple loves the outdoors including softball, basketball, swimming and off-roading in vehicles.

Happiness is hugging a newborn kid! Just ask Rachael (l) and Laina Agnello of Cornelius.

JUST KIDDIN’

Nothing says spring better than baby goats.  Jan Tevepaugh on Grey Road has Nubian-Boer twins born four weeks ago and straight Nubian twins born this past Monday.  Too cute for words as Rachael and Laina Agnello found out this week.  The girls, daughters of Victor and Emily Agnello of Cornelius, were delighted to visit Jan and pose with newborn twins – as yet unnamed but we can tell you that Mama goes by “Velvet.”  And from past experience we can tell you that it is much easier to cuddle with a newborn kid as opposed to one who is a few months old!

Jan and her husband, Mark Tevepaugh, have had chickens for years so we asked about problems with hawks.  It turns out that they have not encountered hawks but lost a few chickens recently to raccoons who have squeezed through a small gate opening and carried away a laying hen.  (Guess no more “foxes in hen houses” these days.)

Carmen and Russell Mase enjoyed cruising on Holland America's ship, the Zuiderdam.

JUST CRUISIN’

Nothing sounds more enticing than a cruise to the Caribbean in the dead of winter.  This prompted Carmen and Russell Mase to head for Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 6 where they boarded Holland America’s Zuiderdam for an 11-day cruise that included stops at Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao on their way to the Panama Canal.  They found the canal was full of ships with many waiting for passage.  It is a testimony to American engineering that all the original equipment, locks, and water lines from Gatun Lake have been functioning perfectly for almost a century.  One can see the new locks being built which will accommodate larger ships, though the original locks will continue to be used.  The Mases were fascinated how the ships maneuvered the narrow locks with only inches to spare on either side.

The cruise ship stopped at Costa Rica where Carmen and Russell visited a banana plantation and other parts of the interior.  Their days at sea gave them plenty of time to eat and walk the promenade deck.  A highlight of the dining was a special lobster menu one evening. They enjoyed perfect weather, smooth “sailing,” gourmet meals – and remarkably neither gained a pound.  Well done!

Lauren Jackson Coplan with her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Sam.

LAUREN JACKSON COPLAN IS COMING TO TOWN

Next week will be a happy time for Davidsonian Mom Shirley Gilpin as she welcomes her daughter, Lauren Jackson Coplan, to town to present a piano program on Friday, March 23.  As part of the Musical Interlude Programs at Davidson College (Sloan Music Center), Lauren Jackson Coplan will perform works by Liszt, Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Ginastera. The program begins at 12:30 and lasts one hour.  (See more, including a video, on Davidson.edu)

Lauren grew up in Davidson and now lives with her husband, Jeff Coplan, and young daughter, Sam, in Nashville, Tenn.  She is currently on the piano faculty at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.  Some of her recent accomplishments include: In the summer of 2010 one of Lauren’s private piano lessons was filmed and broadcast on CMT’s (Country Music Television) “Meet The Wilsons” show; Her student Yi-Ting Huang from Lauren’s work at WO Smith Music School (a nonprofit with all volunteer faculty/lessons are 50 cents!) was singled out to perform at the Governor’s Arts Awards Special Ceremony at Conservation Hall (2011); and A profile of Lauren and her students appeared in the June 2011 issue of HER Magazine.

What a nice homecoming to Davidson for many of us who watched Lauren grow up here.  Be sure to mark Friday week, March 23, on your calendars now.

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