Retired U.S. Navy Admiral William J. Fallon will be at Davidson College Wednesday night for a lecture on “The Media and International Relations.” His free talk begins at 7 p.m. in the Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room. There is no charge to attend. Read the full story

Russ Gavitt has been a longtime supporter of the Davidson Lands Conservancy, but this year, he was looking for a way to do more. Over coffee with the conservancy’s executive director Roy Alexander recently, the photographer and Davidson resident helped come  up with the idea of staging an art and music fund-raiser.

On Friday, Feb. 24, Mr. Gavitt and other artists will be selling their work while a jazz quartet performs at “Spread the Love,” an arts reception to benefit three Davidson institutions: the lands conservancy, the Community School of Davidson and the Ada Jenkins Center. It will run from 7-10 p.m. at Homewood Suites, 125 Harbour Place Drive, off I-77 Exit 30 in Davidson.
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By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

It’s a busy week for meetings about the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project. Mooresville’s Red Line Review Committee meets Tuesday morning. And what could turn out to be dueling meetings are scheduled Wednesday at Cornelius Town Hall – one with an anti-rail expert from the Cato Institute and another featuring a panel discussion with large property owners who support the project. Meanwhile, owners of property in downtown Davidson along the rail line have been invited to a Wednesday afternoon meeting explaining how the proposed financing would work. Read the full story

Davidson Cub Scout Pack 58 will join Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts across the Charlotte area beginning this week for the annual “Scouting for Food” collection drive. The scouts will be distributing shopping bags this week to collect canned goods and toiletries. You can leave the bags outside and they’ll be picked up on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Food also may be dropped off at a designated collection center during the Scouting for Food and the Loaves & Fishes Food Drive, which runs through Feb. 12. Priority needs include canned meat, canned pastas, cereal, canned fruit and 100 percent fruit juice.

WANT TO HELP?

There are three ways to donate food: Read the full story

Mayor John Woods and the Davidson Board of Commissioners invite all Davidson residents to attend a community chat on Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson residents and elected officials at a public hearing on Tuesday quizzed consultants and offered their opinions about the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project between Mooresville and Charlotte. Some wondered about plans to raise money through special tax districts, and about the business reasons for pitching the project as both a freight and commuter line. Others worried how the system might affect Davidson traffic and affordable housing.

About 50 people including town staff filled the Town Hall board room for the meeting. Speakers came from throughout town, and their questions and comments ranged from deep suspicion to support of the $452 million rail project. Read the full story

Davidson’s Town Board on Tuesday will devote its monthly work session to a presentation and public hearing on the proposed financial plan for Red Line Regional Rail Project. The Red Line also is the topic of a Lake Norman Chamber Focus Friday issues session Friday morning in Cornelius. And also this week, there’s a MI-Connection board of directors meeting Thursday.

Meanwhile, a planned meeting of the Cornelius Rail Task Force that had been scheduled Thursday has been canceled. Read the full story

Monday is the Asian Lunar New Year, as the Year of the Dragon chases out the Year of the Rabbit. In Asia, the observance stretches to a week as people return home to visit friends and relatives and to feast. Davidson College’s Asian Culture & Awareness Association will host its annual Lunar New Year party, with performances and fireworks on Saturday, Jan. 28. Read the full story