Pretty, a new beauty and skin care boutique on Main Street Davidson, will hold a formal grand-opening this Saturday, Feb. 11. Meanwhile, Lake Norman Miniature Golf, off Statesville Road in Cornelius, plans to reopen this weekend. And here’s a note for landlords: Davidson College is looking to build its list of rental housing for students. Read the full story

Mooresville police this week arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with the Feb. 3 robbery of a First Citizens Bank off I-77 Exit 33.  In Davidson, police arrested a woman on Griffith Street on a DWI charge after she admitted to driving the right side of the road and smashing into a light pole while texting. An unknown suspect passed two counterfeit $20 bills at the Rushco Oil station, and a known suspect is under investigation for stealing $1,600 worth of jewelry from a Northwest Drive residence. Details on these stories and a tally of the week’s arrests, citations, and traffic enforcement may be found below. Read the full story

Rail critic Randal O'Toole spoke to about 100 people at Cornelius Town Hall Wednesday morning. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By TANNER LATHAM and LISA MILLER
WFAE

The vision for the Red Line is a commuter and freight line that would stretch 25 miles from Charlotte to Mooresville. A task force of elected officials has been working on a plan to get it up and running. The price tag: $452 million. The plan is now on tour stopping at town hall meetings and communities up and down the proposed line. Two of those meetings were held back-to-back Wednesday in Cornelius, drawing both supporters and skeptics.

The town hall’s Community Room was buzzing with about 100 people when the first meeting began at 9 a.m. They were there to see a presentation by Randall O’Toole, a fellow from the conservative, public policy think tank CATO Institute. Read the full story

625 South St. is the site of the planned Friends Meetinghouse.

After nearly two years of planning, the Davidson Friends Meeting will break ground this Sunday, Feb. 12, on an addition to a home it owns on South Street that is to become its first permanent meetinghouse. The ceremony will be at noon at 625 South St., next to Davidson Elementary School.

The $350,000 to $400,000 project will include a renovation of the existing house and a 2,300-square-foot addition, which will provide space for weekly worship services. The group currently meets nearby at Calvary Presbyterian Church, and will remain there until the new meetinghouse is ready, possibly by the end of summer, member Rebecca Ruhlen said Thursday.

The Davidson Friends Meeting was founded in 1989 by six people with ties to Davidson College, including three professors. They met regularly at the college’s Carolina Inn, on North Main Street. They now have 20 or more at weekly services and about 40 members, and have begun seeking a new home.

Architect's view of the planned renovation, which includes a two-story meeting area at rear.

In 2007, the Quakers acquired the property at 625 South St., including a small house that it has used for children’s classes and committee meetings.

“We’ve been using the house, but it’s too small for our Sunday morning meetings for worship,” Ms. Ruhlen said. So they planned the addition.

The meetinghouse was designed by Davidson architect Paul B. Clark and will be built by Meridian DesignBuild and T/A England Custom Builders. See plans and other details about the new meetinghouse on the Friends’ website.

WANT TO GO?

Sunday’s groundbreaking will be at noon at 625 South St. Meanwhile, the Quakers welcome all to join in worship and to experience Quaker community on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 605 South St., Davidson. More information is available at davidson.quaker.org or by calling 704-895-8404.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Feb. 3, 2010, “Workshop Feb. 18 on Quakers’ plans for South St. site”

Jan. 14, 2010, “Friends meeting moves”

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Consultants working on the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project said Wednesday they’ll revise a key section of the financing plan to ease the potential burden on small businesses and property owners along the rail line.

They’re talking about two major changes in the $452 million plan: 1) reducing the assessments on properties that house small businesses; and 2) delaying assessments until the rail line is actually running. Consultants are planning other revisions as well:  On Wednesday, they also said that owners who rent out detached single-family homes in residential neighborhoods won’t have to pay the assessments. Read the full story

A full moon rose Monday night behind the Davidson College Presbyterian Church steeple. (Jay Wilson/DavidsonNews.net)

We’re always looking for good photos of Davidson, people and events. Send us your photos for consideration at editor@davidsonnews.net. Read the full story

Guinness World Record certificate for the Davidson group paddle ball record of Sept. 3, 2011.

Were you one of the 356 people who bounced paddle balls on the Davidson Green last September shooting for a world record? Pat yourself on the back. It’s now official: You are a Guinness World Record holder. Organizer Steve Langley of Hutnersville, who calls himself the Paddle Ball King, got the word Monday.

“It’s a relief,” Mr. Langley said Monday afternoon. “Although it was success by any measure of the fun … To get the official Guinness certificate is very satisfying. It was a pretty monumental effort and we had to jump through a lot of hoops.”

Read the full story

Morning sun streams in to Raeford's Barber Shop on Main Street Davidson Friday. (Jay Wilson/DavidsonNews.net)

We’re always looking for good photos of Davidson, people and events. Send us your photos for consideration at editor@davidsonnews.net. Read the full story