A video production crew filmed an Under Armour commercial in January at the Lake Norman Christian School on South Street, before the town adopted its new rules.  (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By ROBERT MAIER

As a video production instructor at Gaston College, and someone who worked for 30 years in film and video production, not to mention the author of “Handbook for Location Scouting and Management for Film, TV and Still Photography,” I am shocked by the Davidson Town Board’s decision to saddle innocent people working in video and photography with new onerous restrictions, some of which even unreasonably threaten freedom of speech. (See our report on May 14 town board meeting.) Read the full story

Mary Miller of Charlotte Shoe Co. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By CHUCK McSHANE
Davidsonnews.net

Mary Miller ran Charlotte Shoe Co. for a year in the “all business” atmosphere of Birkdale Village in Huntersville, all the while longing for something more laid back. She  found it: This year, she moved the women’s shoe boutique to South Main Street in Davidson. Read the full story

By ANDREW WILKINS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson police responded to two high-value thefts, a case of breaking and entering and bank fraud, over the past week. Both cases are currently under investigation. Meanwhile, fire and police responded to an overturned vehicle on East Rocky River Road Thursday where the driver and a passenger fled the scene.
Read the full story

A group of Lake Norman Christian upper school students worked on landscaping at Davidson Cornelius Child Development Center. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

An orange-shirted army of students from Lake Norman Christian School fanned out across Davidson on Wednesday in the private school’s first “Feet on the Street” service day. Read the full story

A Pine Road lemonade stand Saturday was staffed by, from left, Peter Snynder, Rachel Stewart, Sam Ruppenthal, and Liam Wright.

A stand at Woodland and Lorimer. (E3D photo)

That gauntlet of lemonade stands set up on Davidson’s streets on Saturday really delivered, and that means computers for local school kids who need them. Organizers with E3D (Eliminate Davidson’s Digital Divide) said Sunday night the effort raised $3,134 – the equivalent of about 10 new or 30 refurbished computers.

The nonprofit E3D estimates there are 50 students at Davidson Elementary School alone who don’t have the advantage of a home computer with an internet connection. Founded in February by town residents, the group is working with public schools in Davidson and Cornelius as well as the Ada Jenkins Center to obtain computers and provide technical support. Read the full story

Updated Sunday 7:20am
It’s graduation weekend in Davidson, with a swarm of parents strolling Main Street with their soon-to-be grads. Commencement ceremonies for the 447 members of the Davidson College Class of 2013 are Sunday, May 19, at 10am, in Belk Arena. Read the full story

Eden Street Market vendors and local officials cut a ribbon Saturday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Chef Sylvain Rivet demonstrated making shrimp beignet Saturday at Eden Street Market. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Office and retail space are at a premium these days as more businesses want to be in downtown Davidson. And that’s leading to new life for buildings that have long been vacant or underused. The new Eden Street Market is a prime example.

Entrepreneurs joined customers and town officials last Saturday for a ribbon cutting at the new market, in the Metrolina Warehouse, a century-old mill across the railroad tracks from the Davidson post office. The site is a cross between a farmer’s market and a flea market, with a range of shops – some just tables and others full-fledged stalls with walls and doors.

“It’s very different,” Davidson economic development manager Kim Fleming said before Saturday’s grand opening. “I think this is great. It’s a great use of the space. It gives a lot of vendors an opportunity to sell in Davidson.”

That opportunity means a lot to the shopkeepers here. Fleming says she is overwhelmed by inquiries from businesses looking for space, and these days there’s just not much available. Read the full story

Crossing Main Street. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

More than 750 people responded to the Town of Davidson’s recent online survey seeking feedback on conditions for biking and walking in town. Davidson officials say those responses are part of the mix as consultants and officials drafted the proposed Pedestrian Master Plan, which will be presented at a joint meeting of the Davidson Planning Board and Davidson Livability Board Tuesday, May 21. Read the full story