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»

Drivers stopped Thursday for a man crossing Concord Road at Faculty Drive, where a new sign has been installed. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Someone has hung a Christmas wreath on a telephone pole at the Concord Road crosswalk where Davidson College Professor Rob Whitton was struck by a car the night of Nov. 3. This week, the town began the first of a series of planned improvements prompted by the fatal incident, installing new warning signs in the middle of the road at Faculty Drive and three other crossings. Meanwhile, improved lighting also is in the works for Concord Road, town officials said. Read the full story

Luminaria stretched the full length of Rollingdale Lane in River Run Saturday night. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Updated Dec. 15
From Naramore to North Main and Winged Oak to North Downing, thousands of luminaria lined the streets and sidewalks of Davidson Saturday night in the annual Noel for Neighbors fund-raiser for Davidson Housing Coalition. The candle-lit displays raised more than $16,500 for the organization, which provides affordable housing and home ownership education programs. Read the full story

Sunrise in the Hobbs Hill neighborhood, off Armour Street, on Friday. (Jay Wilson/DavidsonNews.net)

Do you have a photo to share? We’re looking for interesting, unusual and amazing photos of Davidson, its people and events. Send us your photos for consideration at editor@davidsonnews.net. Read the full story

Students at Community School of Davidson High School will host their 2nd annual Gifts for the Greater Good “donation fair” on Friday, Dec. 9, to provide information and accept donations for area nonprofit organizations. It runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the high school, 404 Armour St., Davidson.
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That's a big check - really. From left, Marcia Avedon, Ingersoll Rand's Senior VP for Human Resources and a United Way of Central Carolinas board member; Robert Zafari, an Ingersoll Rand division president and United Way sponsor; and Randall Rogers, an Ingersoll Rand executive who chaired the campaign, presented a check for $831,622 to United Way executive director Jane McIntyre. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Ingersoll Rand Co. isn’t the biggest employer in the Charlotte region, but on Thursday officials announced a milestone that could be hard for other area companies to top: Big gains in fundraising for its 2011 United Way campaign.

In a brief ceremony at the corporate headquarters off Beaty Street, company and United Way leaders said the 1,200-employee campus raised $831,622. That’s 74 percent more than a year ago and its biggest total ever. Read the full story

Police are investigating a reported theft at the Ingersoll Rand complex off Beaty Street, in which an employee allegedly stole and resold about $850 worth of scrap metal. Meanwhile, a burglar took a handgun during a break-in on O Henry Avenue in the St. Alban’s neighborhood Saturday. And unknown suspects damaged two windows at the Davidson IB Middle School on South Street. Details on these stories along with a tally of the week’s citation and traffic enforcement may be found below. Read the full story

If you were around in the 1970s and 1980s, you probably remember “Schoolhouse Rock,” a TV segment aimed at teaching kids the difference between adjectives and adverbs or how a bill becomes law in Congress. Now it’s on the stage.  A cast of local teens from Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. youth theater will perform a stage version of the show called “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” beginning this weekend and through Nov. 13 at the Armour Street Theatre. Details in our latest Theater News column, in THE GUIDE»