Polls opened at 6:30am Wednesday across Mecklenburg County for the 2013 local elections, and they were scheduld to be open until 7:30pm. There were no lines, but a steady stream of single voters early at polling places in Cornelius and Davidson. Voters were choosing local officials for Charlotte Mayor and City Council and town mayors and commissioners across the area. The election also includes races for Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board and two bond referendums. Read the full story

United Way of Central Carolinas announcement
On Friday, Nov. 1, more than 47 million Americans saw their food stamp benefits reduced when the 2009 economic stimulus package expired. The resulting loss of $5 billion in food stamp funding will affect 15 percent of households across the country, many of them children, the United Way of Central Carolinas said in an announcement Monday.

To bring attention to the situation, United Way Young Leaders are holding their fifth annual Week to Fight Hunger now through Nov. 11, to raise community awareness of this issue and get young professionals engaged in serving the hungry.

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The Davidson Fire Department had a high volume of calls the past two weeks, including a natural gas leak at Davidson College, numerous motor vehicle accidents, and two structure fires in Cornelius, one that sent a resident to the hospital. Read on for those and other incidents, as well as a summary of this week’s medical calls. Read the full story

Ramah Presbyterian Church is making plans for its annual Ramah Jingle food drive Nov. 16, to aid the Loaves & Fishes Pantry. Also, there’s a busy weekend ahead at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Cornelius, with a concert Friday night featuring New York pianist Katie Reimer and the 74th annual Mt. Zion Barbecue all day Saturday.  Plus other news of support groups, church barbecues and other events.  Read the full story

Here’s a bit of news from South Main Square in Davidson:  The shopping center that includes Fuel Pizza and Davidson Beverage Co. has added a new business: Seasons at the Lake.  The business previously was in Birkdale Village, Huntersville. Read the full story

Updated Wednesday 9:49am
HUNTERSVILLE – A Mt. Holly woman died and two other people were injured in a two-car crash Tuesday morning on N.C. 73 near Babe Stilwell Road and Blythe Landing Park. Police said Wednesday they expect to file criminal charges in the case. Read the full story

A year-long athletic competition among several large area employers, organized by a local bicycle shop, benefiting local nonprofits. That’s a quick description of the Cool Breeze Corporate Challenge, organized by Cool Breeze Cyclery in Mooresville.

On Tuesday, with all the running and cycling races finished, employees at Ingersoll Rand headquarters in Davidson gathered to put the icing on the cake, as it were, with a $60,000 donation to Ada Jenkins Center, a nonprofit regional community services center in Davidson. Read the full story

The Hough High School Marching Band followed up last week’s first in class awards at the Blue Devil Classic by winning top honors at the 8^th Annual Pirate Cove Classic hosted by Porter Ridge High School, in Indian Trail. The Marching Huskies were named Grand Champion, scoring more points than larger bands fielded by traditional marching band powerhouses Myers Park, Cherryville and Independence. The Huskies claimed first place in every category possible, earning the following honors:

• Director Award – Mr. Robert Carrington
• Band of Pirates Spirit Award
• 1st Place – Percussion
• 1st Place – Color Guard
• 1st Place – Drum Major
• 1st Place – Marching
• 1st Place – General Effect
• 1st Place – Music
• 1st Place – Class AAA
• Most Points Class A to AAAAAA

The crowd was thrilled by the Marching Huskies’ performance of Echoes Reflected and applauded loudly at the end of each movement. One judge even danced along with the band at one point. The crowd cheered so loudly at the end of the show it was obvious that the Huskies were the band to beat out of the 18 bands in the competition.

Robert Carrington, Director of Music for the marching band, was proud of the Spirit Award, saying it recognized the band’s “dedication and commitment.”

Carrington also gave credit to the band’s years of training, which began in middle school music programs led by Ruth Petersen at Bailey Middle School and Rick Owens at Bradley Middle School.

RELATED LINKS

Hough High School Band Website, http://www.houghhsband.org/