Thomas Lurey, 8, holds an albino king snake while his grandfather, Charlie Wilkins, watches. More photos below. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Eight-year-old Thomas Lurey stood next to a table in the courtyard between two Davidson College science buildings Saturday with a white snake draped around his neck, its head in one hand and tail in the other.

“It’s an an albino king snake … It’s non-venomous,” he told a reporter, with the air of an expert.

Thomas and his grandfather, Charlie Wilkins, drove from Greensboro Saturday for the college’s annual Reptile Day, when Davidson College’s Herpetology Lab brings a horde of slithering, climbing and crawling creatures into the sunlight for a few hours. Read the full story

Students gathered in a darkened 900 Room Wednesday evening to learn about the campus’ new energy dashboard (Lincoln Davidson/DavidsonNews.net)

An online dashboard tracks savings in energy use during the Do It in the Dark competition.

By LINCOLN DAVIDSON
DavidsonNews.net

By turning off the lights, unplugging unused appliances and powering down computers, students living in 11 Davidson College residence halls are banding together to reduce energy consumption. It’s all part of Do It in the Dark, an annual competition to see which living  can reduce energy usage the most, is running from April 3 to 24, when a winner will be declared. Read the full story

Professor Mike Dorcas (right) and student assistants showed off a 14 1/2 foot python at Reptile Day in 2012. (Cristina Mourao/DavidsonNews.net)

Davidson College Herpetology Lab presents its annual Reptile Day on April 6, a day to see, touch and learn about reptiles and amphibians. It’s free and open to the public and a local favorite among kids and adults. The day runs from 10am to 1pm at the college’s Blanche Knox Parker Garden, between Watson and Dana Science buildings, off Concord Road.

Info on the events calendar on Davidson.edu. See also our stories and photos from previous Reptile Days, under the Reptile Day tag.

Davidson’s Town Board has proclaimed Friday, March 22, as Arbor Day in Davidson, and to mark the occasion, the town will plant trees. The town has created a memorial garden at Roosevelt Wilson Park, off Griffith Street, where a ceremony is planned Friday morning. Read the full story

Jennifer Jakubecy and Kathleen McIntyre of Davidson Green School. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Local educators with an interest in the environment are teaming up this year to start a new private school in Davidson to teach children in grades K-8 through “the lens of environmental stewardship.” The Davidson Green School has been holding meetings with parents of prospective students in the past couple of weeks to begin promoting the new school, with an eye toward opening in the fall. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MOORESVILLE – Duke Energy inspectors headed out onto Lake Norman this week to inspect docks and other waterfront structures, and some could wind up being demolished if they’re in disrepair, a Duke official told the Lake Norman Marine Commission Monday. Meanwhile, the commission next month is expected to wrap up a yearlong study of rental boat safety with a report on what steps, if any, it might take. Read the full story

Sam Perkins, director of technical programs at the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, will speak Thursday night at a meeting of the Lake Norman Covekeeper, on the how human activity and land-use have influenced the Catawba River basin. Read the full story

A group of Davidson residents concerned about sustainability and “green living” is organizing a new environmental group in town aimed at individuals. The new group plans an organizational meeting this Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7pm at the Davidson Friends Meetinghouse.

The initial meeting also will include a seed swap. The Friends meetinghouse is at 625 South St., next to Davidson Elementary School. Read the full story