Davidson Farmer's Market's season comes ends Nov. 1. Holiday markets will be Nov. 22 and Dec. 20. (David Boraks photo)Davidson Farmer's Market announcement

As the leaves change colors and farmers reap the last of their fall harvests, the Davidson Farmer’s Market is close to winding up its successful first season. The market will continue for the next three Saturday mornings until its finale on Nov. 1. But it won’t be done for the year: Two holiday markets are planned – just before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Meanwhile, organizers are looking ahead to next year, recruiting new committee members, planning focus groups and preparing to hire a part-time market manager. Read the full story

A scene from Christmas in Davidson 2007 (Bill Giduz photo)

Downtown Davidson Inc. announcement

More than 50 vendors – twice as many as last year – have signed up to sell their food and wares at this year’s Christmas in Davidson festival, scheduled Dec. 4-6, 6-9 p.m. nightly.

As planning continues for the annual event, Downtown Davidson Inc. is wrapping up sponsorships. If you’re interested in sponsoring, please contact Sandy Lemons at sandy@downtowndavidson.org or 704-892-2118 or Margaret Martens at margaretmartens@gmail.com or 704-658-8730 to discuss details. Read the full story

"Grace" by Philip Williams

There’s a new angel at South Main Square. It’s an eight-foot steel sculpture named “Grace,” overlooking the parking lot and South Main Street/Highway 115, in front of Ultimate Salon.

This public artwork by artist Philip Williams will be formally unveiled Thursday during a Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours” reception.

THURSDAY AFTER WORK

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce will hold a “Business After Hours” to coincide with a grand opening and ribbon cutting at South Main Square on Thursday, Oct. 16, 5 to 7 p.m. More in our Oct. 10 news item.

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Candidates for Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners District 1 and at-large seats and for N.C. House District 99 will answer questions at a public candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Central Piedmont Community College North Campus, 11930 Verhoeff Drive, Huntersville. The event is hosted by Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. Read the full story

A grand opening celebration is planned Thursday, Oct. 16, for South Main Square, which includes this block of new condos and retail spaces. (David Boraks photo)

Downtown Davidson Inc. held its annual meeting Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Campania Café I South Main Square, where members elected three new board members and re-elected three others. Leaders also outlined their plans for the coming year, including plans to raise money from local businesses through a new coordinated sponsorship package.

Also in this column: A grand opening for South Main Square on Oct. 18; a Sunday fund-raising event at The Tea House in Cornelius; a financial planner opens up shop on Main Street; a new interior design shop in Cornelius; and the start of sales at The Brownstones at Harbour Place, near Exit 30. Read the full story

Misenheimer

Davidson police Sgt. Scott Misenheimer’s home near Salisbury was damaged in a fire last week. But he has a little something to be happy about this week: He is among a group of police officers and public safety volunteers from area towns to be honored Thursday at a Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce lunch in Huntersville. Read the full story

With all the grim economic news out there this week, local classical music radio station WDAV-FM decided Tuesday to suspend its fall on-air pledge drive and return to full-time music, which officials called a “calming” service that listeners need right now. The Davidson College-owned station said it was about halfway to its $200,000 goal for the drive, which began Oct. 2 and was to run through Friday, Oct. 10.

In announcements, email messages to existing members and an announcement on its website, WDAV invited supporters to continue pledging online, through www.wdav.org. Read the full story

With five Saturdays left in its first season of operation, the Davidson Farmers Market has been a success for both shoppers and the local farmers and vendors who participate, organizers say. About 300 people visit on a typical weekend, co-chair Mary Jane Leach said. The market has brought new life to downtown on Saturday mornings, where shoppers can be found strolling on Main Street and slipping into local stores. At Summit Coffee, sales are up, and the manager reports they’ve even added staff to handle the traffic.

Catch the market’s sights and sounds in this 7 minute, 22 second audio slide show. Our thanks to the musicians of the market’s Lake Norman Jam for the background music. Click on the video to play. Can’t see the video or is it too fuzzy? Go directly to the YouTube page and watch the high-resolution version.