Davidson Elementary Principal Dana Jarrett presented the 2013 Vincent Campagna Award to a beaming Ben Anderson (center), while Tony Campagna (blue shirt) and Ben’s parents looked on. Read on for more about the award and this year’s winner.

Father’s Day is Sunday and we wish all dads in town the very best.  This special day for fathers always brings to mind the quotation from Mark Twain:

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man learned in seven years.”

Bet lots of our readers are smiling. … Today Around Davidson visits with Ashley Thomas, a short timer at DUMC.  We also congratulate new Eagle Scouts, Patrick and Daniel Griffeth.  In addition, we introduce you to Benjamin Thomas Anderson who received the Vincent Campagna Award at Davidson Elementary School last week. What is the award, anyway? We recount the history behind this annual recognition. Read the full story

Matt Shaw’s Science Saturdays always bring a big crowd to the library

Friday marks the “real” beginning of summer when the Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools celebrate their last day of this 2012-2013 school year. Now is time for summer camps for all ages and sizes: overnight camps and day camps for drama, music, dance, nature and all kinds of sports. And let’s not forget Vacation Bible Schools or Science Saturdays which will continue with Matthew Shaw on the first Saturday of each month at the Davidson public library.

Graduation congratulations today in Around Davidson for Davis Elkins, Kevin Beach and Briar Cotter. Also an update on Kathleen Elkins successes on the tennis court and a report on Dean Quick, Music Therapist at The Pines Retirement Center. There is also a Noteworthy Note about a concert on June 15 at Hopewell Baptist Church. Read the full story

Hope all our readers had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and are enjoying a beautiful week of sunshine and balmy breezes. Perfect for any activity – especially taking a plunge into a neighborhood swimming pool.

Around Davidson visits today with lifeguards at The Swimming Hole and a Retirement Gathering for Lynn Andrus. In addition we have trip reports from European travels with Carol Barber, Lemie and Norman Richards and Kathy Pearce and Paul Wetenhall. Read the full story

Dave Garbrick loves his new “wheels!”

Memorial Day weekend is upon us. Picnics, pool parties and pleasurable pastimes like sleeping in, swinging in the hammock and savoring the aroma of burgers on the grill. It is also the time to enjoy those country roads in a favorite convertible. Just ask Dave Garbrick! He is a fixture on any road in and around Davidson, zipping around with the top down. According to his wife, Alice, a little rain or sleet might force him to raise the top but otherwise, Dave loves the open air in his snazzy new “nebula gray pearl” Lexus (his sixth convertible since his “college Mustang  years” with most of those owned in the 18 years he and Alice have lived in River Run). Love the sporty look, Dave. We’ll wave when we see you!

May is certainly a time for celebrations. Today Around Davidson has wedding news from Matt Murphy and Erica Espino, graduation news from Kristen McDonald, plus congratulations to Joan and Allen Sutton on a new arrival. There is also a trip report from Missy and John Kuykendall and much cheering for a new water hook-up in the Community Garden. Read the full story

North Meck IB 10th grader Emma Boraks with her Chinese students at Davidson Elementary.

It is Commencement Weekend at Davidson College. How we all look forward to the happy smiles on the members of the senior class as they process this Sunday morning from Chambers Building to the front campus. Young and old, big and small are there to cheer each graduate as his or her name is read. What an exciting time for all. Congratulations to the Class of 2013! All that is missing is the Lake Davidson fountain needed to welcome commencement visitors. According to Doug Wright of the Town of Davidson, it is due to be operational any minute.

There will be lots of graduation news in coming weeks in Around Davidson so be sure to send us your photos. Today we focus on some young people as we hear about the Chinese Club meeting at Davidson Elementary School, a chance to catch up with “rowing sensation” Forrest Daugherty and news of Thomas Christy’s new job in New York. We also introduce you to newcomers Susan and David Wittmann. In addition there is a Noteworthy Note about a noteworthy member of our community, David Boraks, who turned another year “young” last week. Read the full story

Beautiful pink rhododendron blossoms grace the Jetton home (now Betsy’s Hazelton’s) on Concord Road

“Hey! No one told me we really lived in Seattle!” was the overheard comment last Sunday as the rain poured down and sweaters reappeared yet again this spring. Hard to dig in red clay that is waterlogged in our gardens but in spite of the lack of sunshine, the rhododendrons are at their prettiest this week and we rejoice in their beauty.

Around Davidson today celebrates a new baby for Tate and Amy Gardner. In addition, we introduce you to some interesting participants in last Saturday’s Town Day. Read the full story

Child’s delight……Gardener’s Fright……weeds are loving this Spring weather!!

Welcome May! That means that summer is just around the corner. Hooray! In the meantime we welcome the cleansing rain to address the pollen and water our beautiful azaleas and iris. Now we labor to eliminate dandelions and chickweed from our yards…so much easier to pull when the ground is wet.

Around Davidson focuses on celebrations today. Walt and Liz Pierce welcome a first grandbaby; Cindy and Kevin Turner rejoice in ten years of marriage; Margo Williams and John Williamson blow out birthday candles; Herb Jackson hangs paintings in a Dallas Art Fest, and Hugh and Brenda Barger return from travels in Eastern Europe. There are also a few Noteworthy Notes to consider. Read the full story

Fairy gardens let your children’s imagination run wild!

As any news source will confirm, for the first time since 1959-61 ACC basketball has gone three consecutive years without a Final Four representative. With no Carolina team, ACC or otherwise, in the Final Four NCAA Basketball Tournament, it is time to move past round ball and think baseball. Maybe, just maybe, this will be a good year for the Red Sox!

This has been a relaxing week with most elementary and secondary schools taking a spring break.  The Easter eggs have been dyed and hunted, the weather has tried to cooperate and families are taking time to vacation. Around Davidson today catches up with baseball enthusiasts, Merle and Judy Schuh, visits the Davidson Pizza Company, learns about Fairy Gardens at Carolina Cones Garden Shop, and reminds all about Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day on Tuesday, April 9.  Plus there are tidbits about Karen Toney’s birthday trip and musical notes from Luke Giduz. Don’t forget the Noteworthy Note about this Sunday’s Music @ St. Alban’s (M@SA). Read the full story