An aging oak stands watch over a blossoming field of rape off Davidson-Concord Road at June Washam Road. (Sara Rubens/DavidsonNews.net)

Read below for info on how to submit your photo of the day. And to see previous photos of the day, CLICK HERE» Read the full story

Leyla Herrera, 8, of Mooresville, helps guide the canoe for her sister, Lydia, 4. More photos below. (Gayle Shomer/DavidsonNews.net)

CORNELIUS – A crowd came out to the Lake Norman YMCA on Lake Cornelius Saturday for the annual Family Fun Day. Activities included canoeing, archery, sports, bounce houses, face painting, and arts and crafts. The event also was a chance for the Y to promote its summer events, from day camps to the annual triathlon to adaptive water skiing, which allows people with disabilities to learn how to ski.

MORE INFO: http://www.ymcacharlotte.org/lakenorman

Bill Gross holds “Fred”, an inflatable dog, while helping out his daughter, Dr. Lori Hoe, at the booth for new her practice, “Main Street Veterinary Hospital” in Cornelius. (Gayle Shomer/DavidsonNews.net)

Brad Larsen, of Cornelius, coaches his son, Noah, 5, in archery. (Gayle Shomer/DavidsonNews.net)

The band 3 Days Leave of Lawrence, SC, performed. (Gayle Shomer/DavidsponNews.net)

Devin Gilroy, 4, of Cornelius, wears bunny ears while playing in the kids’ obstacle course area. (Gayle Shomer/DavidsonNews.net)

Local leaders and officials from Carolinas HealthCare System turned over dirt in a ceremony groundbreaking for CHS’s new behavioral health hospital Friday. (CHS photo)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held a midday Friday for Carolinas HealthCare System’s $36 million behavioral health “campus” off N.C. 73 in east Davidson.

Construction has begun on the new hospital and an out-patient mental health clinic, which are scheduled to open in 2014. The hospital is expected to create 155 permanent jobs, including physicians and other staff.

Dr. James Scully

Officials say the hospital fills a critical need in the region. We have more about the hospital plans and a Q&A with CHS executive Dr. Roger Ray, in HEALTH & FITNESS

Speakers at Friday’s event included CHS chief executive Michael C. Tarwater, Medical director Dr. Roger Ray, newly hired chief clinical officer Dr. John Santopietro, and Dr. James H. Scully Jr., medical director and CEO of the American Psychiatric Association, as well as Davidson Mayor John Woods.

2. Davidson Mayor Davidson Mayor John Woods spoke during the groundbreaking. (CHS photo)

Davidson is re-striping many of Main Street’s parking spots this week. Cones marked the work area on Wednesday afternoon. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Davidson public works is re-striping the parking spaces on Main Street from Griffith Street south to Eugenia Street this week. As work began Wednesday, the street became a lineup of orange cones – and no vehicles. Read the full story

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

It was the definition of a heartbreaker. Fourteenth-seeded Davidson led No. 3 Marquette for most of the way in their NCAA men’s basketball opening round game Thursday afternoon. But an errant in-bounds pass by the Wildcats and a last-second layup by Vander Blue let the Golden Eagles steal a 59-58 victory. Story and photos in SPORTS»

Davidson College’s men’s basketball team traveled to Lexington, KY, Wednesday, where they’ll play the opening game of the NCAA tournament on Thursday afternoon. See Tim Cowie’s photos in SPORTS»

Celebrating commences on day 2 of Galway Hooker’s St. Patrick’s Day event. (Lyndsay Kibiloski/DavidsonNews.net)

Galway Hooker extended their annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration to two days this year. Music, food, drink, bagpipers, dancers, drawings, games and perfect weather…What else could a party goer ask for?

Read below for info on how to submit your photo of the day. And to see previous photos of the day, CLICK HERE» Read the full story