Wa-Hoo! No more chemistry for this student!

We welcome the much needed rain as well as having the North Carolina primary behind us.  College students in town welcome the end of classes as we found noted on a car window yesterday.  Children will no doubt welcome the chance to honor Mom this weekend since Sunday is Mother’s Day.

Around Davidson today makes note of a birthday for a well known resident, reports on the library’s book sale, reminds us about Saturday’s food drive, includes a Noteworthy Note and takes a minute to recount a few adventures from “a-broad!” Read the full story

Davidson College invites the public to its inaugural Africana Festival on Saturday afternoon April 21. The event will be held in the Alvarez College Union beginning at 4:30 p.m., and there is no charge to attend.

The festival will highlight the heritage and cultures of international students and students who come from families of African ancestry through lectures, performances and workshops. The cultures represented will include African, African-American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-European, Afro-Asian, and Afro-Latino. Read the full story

Olympian Anthony Famiglietti ran a few laps outside Davidson Elementary School with 2nd graders on Monday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Anthony Famiglietti speaks to kids at Davidson Elementary School Monday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Runner Anthony Famiglietti has his sights set on making his third U.S. Olympic team this June. As he chases that goal, he’s also reaching out to his adopted community of Davidson, both for support and to share his philosophy.

On Monday, “Fam,” as he is affectionately known, was at Davidson Elementary School, where he answered questions from second graders. They wanted to know what he eats, how many miles a day he runs, and this one: “What does it feel like to run?”

“It’s a great feeling,” he told students of teachers Dana Higgins and Tina Brock. But, he added, “It hurts.” Read the full story

Professor Mike Dorcas (right) and his assistants showed off a 14 1/2 foot python (Cristina Mourao/DavidsonNews.net)

A long line led into the courtyard of Davidson College’s Baker-Watt Science Complex Saturday afternoon as people waited for a chance to get up close with a collection of snakes, frogs, and salamanders at the annual Reptile Day. College students manned tables, where they explained the critters and offered visitors a chance to touch. Read the full story

Gordon Clark (left), Clan Cameron, and Ian Robb, Clan MacFarlane, posed in downtown Davidson Friday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

A kilted Gordon Clark greeted kilted Ian Robb in the lobby of the Wells Fargo at midday Friday with a handshake and two words, “Clan Cameron.”

“Clan MacFarlane,” replied Mr. Robb.

The two men were dressed proudly in the tartans of their Scottish families to celebrate National Tartan Day, which believe it or not is a Congressionally-proclaimed national holiday.
Read the full story

Local human rights activists are hosting a three-day event called “Abolish” in Davidson beginning Thursday to raise awareness of global sex trafficking. The event is organized by the Davidson College chapter of the International Justice Mission, a global humanitarian aid organization, and will include a Thursday speech and a Saturday night screening of the documentary “Sex + Money: A National Search for Human Worth” – about the U.S. Read the full story

Admiral William Fallon (Chip Dawson/DavidsonNews.net)

By CHIP DAWSON
DavidsonNews.net

In Afghanistan, communications is largely word of mouth, In Iraq, people get information from television, and in most of the world, Facebook and Twitter are popular, with wildly varying levels of credibility. In a speech at Davidson College Wednesday, retired U.S. Navy Adm. William Fallon said the rise of new media – with its brief and concise content – is raising questions for governments. Read the full story

Guinness World Record certificate for the Davidson group paddle ball record of Sept. 3, 2011.

Were you one of the 356 people who bounced paddle balls on the Davidson Green last September shooting for a world record? Pat yourself on the back. It’s now official: You are a Guinness World Record holder. Organizer Steve Langley of Hutnersville, who calls himself the Paddle Ball King, got the word Monday.

“It’s a relief,” Mr. Langley said Monday afternoon. “Although it was success by any measure of the fun … To get the official Guinness certificate is very satisfying. It was a pretty monumental effort and we had to jump through a lot of hoops.”

Read the full story