A big crowd of runners and spectators is expected in downtown Davidson Saturday night for the second annual Summit Coffee Leprechaun Loop 8K road race and post-race festival.  Organizers said 550 runners had signed up by Thursday night, and the total could top 700 by race time, at 6pm Saturday.  Read the full story

To the Editor:

Regarding the Davidson Town Board’s leaning towards supporting a Conditional Planning Area amendment in Davidson Commons East (March 13, 2013, “Board scraps APFO, hints support for auto repair shop”), allowing a Woodie’s Auto Service center across the street from the Community School of Davidson and behind homes on Westside Terrace: I’d like to follow up on a quote attributed to my friend Commissioner Rodney Graham in the article, using it as a straw dog upon which to comment. Read the full story

By CHUCK McSHANE
Davidsonnews.net

Davidson commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved scrapping the town’s Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance and also hinted at support for a zoning change that would allow an auto repair shop on Davidson Gateway Drive, near the Harris Teeter. Read the full story

As way of thanking the local businesses who help bring you this site every day, DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net are pleased to introduce “Meet our Advertisers,” a new advertising feature that showcases our business partners.

The new feature will recognize those local businesses, professionals and organizations who help support local news in our community. We’re publishing these advertiser profiles of our on a new page, under the banner “Meet Our Advertisers.”

“It’s another way we can say thanks to our advertisers, and help spread the word about buying locally – and keeping more dollars in our communities,” said David Boraks, publisher of Davidson News LLC.

Visit our new page now, and read about dentist Dr. Mark Tompkins, and David Eden, whose Second Chance Hard Surface Solutions Inc. helps bring new life to your floors and countertops.

Existing advertisers have been invited to participate in the new feature. To find out more about how to advertise on DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net, contact Lyndsay Kibiloski, ads@davidsonnews.net, or visit our Advertising information page

http://davidsonnews.net/advertisers/

Common Laws is a general legal information column written by two local attorneys, Lyn and David Batty.

We have written five columns since starting this project last October. Topics have ranged from the regulation of Halloween costumes to lawsuits against cheating spouses. For our sixth column we decided to tackle some questions from our readers.

Question: Are you allowed to hunt or trap squirrels or raccoons if they are damaging your property? Read the full story

Lake Norman Transportation Commission will host a public meeting with NCDOT officials and experts  Wednesday to help elected officials and citizens learn more about plans for using a public-private partnership to build and manage the planned I-77 widening project. Read the full story

Here’s an architect’s drawing of the proposed Woodie’s Auto Service off Griffith Street. The project is the subject of a public hearing Tuesday.

Davidson commissioners on Monday are expected to vote to abandon the town’s 12-year-old Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, or APFO, originally passed to help the town pay for the effects of growth. The board also will hold a public hearing on a rezoning that would allow an auto service center off Griffith Street near the Community School of Davidson and Harris Teeter.

The meeting begins at 6pm at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Read the full story

Mike Byrd (left) and Chris Vasiloff of Cool Breeze Cyclery share a joke while waiting for the public to arrive at the expo (Lincoln Davidson/DavidsonNews.net)

By LINCOLN DAVIDSON
DavidsonNews.net

More than 170 area businesses and non-profits assembled at Davidson College’s Belk Arena Friday to show off their goods and services and connect with the community at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. With an estimated attendance of 2000 local residents, the expo was a unique opportunity for local businesses to publicize themselves.

“The expo is really good for us,” said Mike Byrd of Cool Breeze Cyclery in Mooresville. “A lot of people didn’t even know where we are.”

Businesses from a variety of sectors were present on Friday. “The health care sector, attorneys, retail, car dealerships, women’s and men’s apparel, any type of business you can think of, we have them here in the Lake Norman area,” said Bill Russell, president of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.

“They tend to be businesses involved in the community,” added Russell. “They’re not just promoting their business, they’re in the business of promoting the community.”

According to Jeff Beaver, head of sponsorship relations for the Chiquita Classic golf tournament, their relationship with the community is a reciprocal one. “Davidson’s been more than generous to us … we feel really welcomed.”

The Chiquita Classic recently entered into a three year contract with River Run Country Club and will be held there this September.

The Business Expo also provided local business people a chance to meet with each other and network. “It lets me connect to all the people in the industry,” said Jessica Keyes of Virtual Assistant Extraordinaire. Keyes, who is also involved in Toastmasters, a non-profit committed to helping individuals improve their public speaking skills, led a seminar on “Presenting with confidence!” at the expo.

Area non-profits also had an opportunity to engage with the community at Friday’s expo. Upon entering Baker Sports Complex, they were the first booths expo attendees would encounter.

“We showcase the non-profits by the front,” said Russell. “It’s a great way for people to meet our non-profits.”