-

The late Davidson College math professor Rob Whitton was also a music lover, and often turned up wherever local musicians were performing around town. On Saturday, many of those musicians performed during a day-long tribute at Summit Coffee and The Birdsnest in downtown Davidson.

Professor Whitton died last November after he was struck by a car on Concord Road, near Faculty Drive, while walking home from campus. Read the full story

–
Here’s an introduction to an activity some folks in Davidson are getting hooked on: parkour. What is parkour? A sport, an art form?

Stephan Snyder of Davidson, a sophomore in the I.B. program at North Mecklenburg High School, says: “It’s the practice of moving efficiently from point A to point B using vaulting, climbing, and other techniques.” Read the full story

–
A group called the Davidson Think Tank has produced a one-hour video interview with officials involved in the Red Line Regional Rail Project. Members of the group interviewed Davidson Mayor John Woods, who chairs the Metropolitan Transit Commission’s Red Line Task Force, and Mark Briggs, a consultant to the NC Department of Transportation from engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff. Read the full story

The N.C. 73/U.S. 21 intersection east of I-77 exit 25 has been re-engineered to eliminate some left turns. Here’s an N.C. DOT video explaining how drivers will use new intersection.

See a related story on the changes, “Intersection redesign to end left turns on NC 73 at US 21″

Can’t see the video? Go directly to the DOT page on YouTube.com.

-
Davidson College President Carol Quillen testified Thursday, Feb. 2, about “Innovations in College Affordability” before a U.S. Senate committee hearing in Washington, D.C.

Her testimony for the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) focused on The Davidson Trust, Davidson College’s commitment to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need with grants and employment, and without packaged loans.

For more information, please visit davidson.edu/senate-hearing

See also DavidsonNews.net’s Feb. 2 news report on the Davidson Trust, five years after it was announced, “Davidson’s no-loan policy brings results and attention”

Billie Thomason sat for an interview last week.

As has been our tradition with DavidsonNews.net, Around Davidson provides our readers with a Christmas interview.  Each year we choose someone in our area who has lived here for a long time and is willing to share Christmas memories of years ago.

This year we visited with Billie Wilma Thomason of The Pines.  Born in North Carolina, she traveled the country as a child and then lived her married life in Kannapolis. In 1997, she moved to The Pines at Davidson, where she recently celebrated her 100^th birthday!  It is with great pleasure that we introduce Billie and her family to you today. Read the full story

Watch the Town of Davidson’s short video with a few scenes from the Friday night events at Christmas in Davidson 2011, on Dec. 2 in downtown Davidson.

MORE PHOTOS

Meanwhile, see our photo galleries from Christmas in Davidson and the Saturday, Dec. 3,  North Mecklenburg Christmas parade.

Dec. 4, 2011, Santa had a choice seat for the ride to Cornelius.” – photos of the Christmas Parade.

Dec. 4, 2011, “Was this the best Christmas in Davidson ever?” Brenda Barger’s Around Davidson column and a gallery of photos by Brenda, Bill Giduz, David Boraks and Jay Wilson.

Dec. 2, 2011, “Crowds flock to 1st night of Christmas in Davidson.”

Scott Nolan

Scott A. Nolan started work this month as general manager of Davidson-based classical public radio station WDAV-FM, 89.9. In a video interview with DavidsonNews.net, Mr. Nolan called 32-year-old WDAV one of America’s great classical music radio stations, and said he hopes to help it keep the music accessible to a wide audience for another 32 years. He also talked about a favorite piece of music that once “stopped him in his tracks,” and what he sees as his role as the head of a classical public radio station. Read the full story