–

This video recorded by NASA commander Chris Hadfield has gone viral.

–

“Unforgettable return to earth.” That’s how astronaut and Davidson College grad Tom Marshburn described his return from the International Space Station this week.
Read the full story

More than 700 runners joined in for the Run Wild 5K and Wild Child Fun Run in Huntersville’s Birkdale neighborhood Saturday, raising $30,000 for the African Children’s Project. Davidson-based Olympian Anthony Famiglietti won the race in one of the fastest 5K times in the area in recent memory. Claire Naisby of Davidson won the women’s division. See results and photos in our latest Running column, in SPORTS»

Sybil Donaldson gets ready to serve a turkey leg at the Davidson Presbyterian Church tent.  More photos below. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Town Day in downtown Davidson Saturday felt a lot like the Town Days of old, with perhaps a few features you wouldn’t have found in festivals past.

There was plenty of the familiar. Boy Scout Troop 58’s rope bridge challenge another cohort of youngsters. Davidson Presbyterian Church served lunch as always from its massive portable grill. There were games – from ring toss to corn hole – and the “Cake Walk,” a musical contest with cakes and cupcakes for prizes. Read the full story

—

Community School of Davidson middle school students danced for fitness and fun on Wednesday (Gayle Shomer/DavidsonNews.net)

Community School of Davidson middle schoolers joined thousands of other schools nationwide in the “Let’s Move” campaign Wednesday, as they danced to the Beyonce’ video “Move Your Body.” Read the full story

Hough principal Terri Cockherham addressed a crowd of parents and students in the school gym. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

CORNELIUS – Several hundred parents and students filled the gymnasium at W.A. Hough High School Wednesday night, looking for information and reassurance about safety at the school after a series of security scares over the past week. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools leaders did their best, but at times there seemed a huge gap in expectations and even in some audience members’ perceptions of the incidents. Read the full story

Weather couldn’t keep local canines and their owners from frolicking at the 2013 Bark in the Park Top Dog Festival on Saturday, April 27, at Historic Rural Hill in Huntersville. Thousands of visitors came for a variety of activities, from live music to demonstrations to dog contests.  Our photographer Gayle Shomer was there to record the scene. See her photo gallery in PETS & ANIMALS»

A delivery truck delivered about 300 grass carp into Lake Norman last Tuesday, April 24. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – Officials from Duke Energy, the the Lake Norman Marine Commission and the state of North Carolina gathered at the Davidson College Lake Campus in Mooresville one morning last week for a fish release. Not game fish, but “grass carp,” which the state has been using for more than a decade to control the growth of invasive hydrilla on Lake Norman.

Ron Shoultz is executive director of the marine commission, and a 15-year resident and boater. We asked him a few questions as we awaited the arrival of a tractor-trailer from Arkansas, carrying tanks of the large grey fish.

Listen to an audio version of this interview below. Read the full story

Alex Johnson, 8, ponders a move at the after school chess program at Community School of Davidson. (Gayle Shomer/DavidsonNews.net)

“When someone wins, we just shake hands and I don’t care if I lose”, says Alex Johnson, 8. He and other novice players, recently joined seasoned Chess Club members for four weeks of Chess After School Enrichment at Community School of Davidson.

They learned basic moves, strategy and how to lose graciously. Read the full story