Organizers hoping to open a planned end-of-life “comfort care” home in Davidson or Cornelius this year are continuing to search for a house or building along the N.C. 115 corridor in the towns. And as they search, they’re starting training for volunteer “angels” who would staff the home. Read the full story

Updated Sunday, 8 p.m.
About 425 cyclists – young and old, men and women, on road bikes and recumbent bikes – braved freezing temperatures Saturday morning at the 2012 Polar Bear Ride. The annual event is organized by the Rocky River Road Club and includes 100-kilometer and 50-kilometer rides through the countryside of Mecklenburg, Iredell, Rowan and Cabarrus counties.

The ride raised about $5,500 for the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson, a regional community services center with free health and dental clinics, a food pantry, an after-school program and other social services.

Both rides started and finished at Ingersoll-Rand, off Beaty Street in Davidson.

“It was perfect weather for it, at this time of year,” said organizer Jim Mead, of the Rocky River Road Club. He said 58 members of the club volunteered for the day, providing support along the route and helping out at the start/finish.

Riders came from as far away as Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia and Texas. They included elite riders tuning up before the start of the racing season in a few weeks, Mr. Mead said.

While most riders enjoyed a nice ride in the countryside Saturday, those elite riders were riding hard. They average 23 mph over the 60 miles, he said.

More information about the ride or the club is at www.RockyRiverRoadClub.org.
GALLERY

See a gallery of photos from the ride by Ron Donson, http://www.donsonphoto.com/

Hundreds of cyclists are expected for Lake Norman’s 14th annual Polar Bear Ride on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Davidson. The Rocky River Road Club sponsors the half and full metric century bicycle rides through the North Mecklenburg/Lake Norman area, as a fundraiser for Davidson’s Ada Jenkins Center. Read the full story and find out how to register in HEALTH & FITNESS»

Brrrrr! The Lake Norman YMCA next Saturday hosts its inaugural Polar Bear Plunge for Community Support at the Lake Cornelius Waterfront. The Y aims to raise awareness of and support for YMCA-based programs, including Y-Readers, Adaptive Water Skiing, Summer Camp and OWLS. Read the full story

Charlotte charity expands to Atlanta, with a Davidson connection

The Spokes Group, an 18-year-old Charlotte charity, annually gives away more than 1,500 bicycles and helmets to disadvantage children through the Salvation Army’s Christmas bureau. Five years ago, the organization expanded to Raleigh. And this year, the tradition expanded to Atlanta.

Like the original Charlotte Spokes Group in 1994, the Atlanta nonprofit has a Davidson connection. Read the full story

New Year’s Day will bring dozens of swimmers to Lake Norman for the 4th annual Polar Bear Plunge lake swim and party, a fund-raiser for child-abuse prevention.

This year may not present much of a challenge to local winter swimmers: The forecast calls for partly sunny skies and a high of 60 on New Year’s Day.

The plunge takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Point Lake & Golf Club, off Brawley School Road, Mooresville. The event includes music, spirits, prizes for best costumes and hats. The party continues from 4-11 p.m. at Lake Norman Tavern. Read the full story

Thanks to all the readers who have become paying subscribers so far during our 5th anniversary subscription drive. It’s hard to believe DavidsonNews.net has been around that long, and for many in town, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like here without it.

If you haven’t made your payment yet, please consider helping to support local news in and around Davidson with a voluntary monthly or annual payment. Read the full story

When you’re at the top of the heap, how do you inspire your team to climb even higher? How about a $1 million challenge? That’s how much a group of current and former Davidson College trustees are offering this week if alumni reach their 10th consecutive year as one of the top U.S. colleges or universities in alumni giving. Read the full story