Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce members have hit their goal of raising $71,500 to pay for construction of a Habitat for Humanity House for a family in Cornelius. The group hit the target thanks to a recent fund-raising party and last-minute pledges from local businesses, according to Denis Bilodeau, chair of the chamber board’s community affairs division. See REAL ESTATE & HOME»

The Rotary Club of North Mecklenburg named Cornelius businessman, Denis Bilodeau, the 2011-12 Distinguished Rotarian of the year. Bilodeau, a Rotarian since 2006, has served in many leadership roles in the club, including serving as President in 2010-11. Under his leadership, The Rotary Club of North Mecklenburg achieved Rotary District 7680′s highest honor, Best off the Best Club Award.  Read the full story

Davidson College on Sunday announced one of the largest gifts in its history, $25 million from an alumnus to support The Davidson Trust, its program to ensure that students can graduate without loans. The donation came from Edward L. “Ted” Baker, a 1957 graduate and former Davidson trustee. Mr. Baker is the retired chairman of Patriot Transportation Holdings Inc. and lives in Jacksonville, Fla. Read the full story

MOORESVILLE – A ribbon cutting with a crowd of veterans Thursday morning officially opened the new Welcome Home Veterans Military Museum at Richard’s Coffee Shop in downtown Mooresville.  The new museum is at 165 N. Main St. Read the full story

The 20th Annual Davidson-Cornelius Child Development Center 5K & Fun Run is scheduled this Saturday, May 19, at the Davidson Village Green. After the race, join the first Davidson Farm-to-Fork ”Taste-nic,” organized by Davidson Farmers Market and Know Your Farms. Read the full story

MOORESVILLE - Welcome Home Veterans Living Military Museum at Richard’s Coffee Shop will celebrate the long-awaited grand opening of its new, permanent home on North Main Street this Thursday to Saturday, May 17-19, during Armed Forces Day Weekend and Mooresville’s Race City Festival. The weekend kicks off with a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony Thursday morning. Read the full story

Hope everyone had a good weekend and had a chance to celebrate, with Mom as the center of attention.  Flower shops were busy and stores with floral departments were watching their supply dwindle by the hour as dads with children in tow were choosing beautiful bundles of fresh flowers to surprise Mom.  Many families spent a good part of the weekend working in the yard knowing that rain was forecast this week.  Gardens are looking gorgeous!

This week Around Davidson catches up with The Pines’ Annual Garden Party, gifts for Ada Jenkins Food Pantry from DUMC and letter carriers, community garden news and a note about Herb Jackson’s art. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson police officer Melvin Waller hasn’t been bicycling regularly in recent years, but recently he found a cause that inspired him to get back to it. The 37-year-old officer and about 65 other riders, including colleagues from area police departments, are in the midst of a grueling 4-day, 500-mile ride from Charlotte to Washington, D.C., to honor officers who have died in the line of duty.

The Bike to DC ride includes officers ranging from hard-core cyclists to new and returning riders with a passion, including Officer Waller. The 5-year Davidson police veteran is riding in part to honor the memory of Mark Swaney, who died on Christmas Day 1997 in an exchange of gunfire that also killed a suspect on Davidson’s West Side.

The ride as a whole has been dubbed “500 Miles for Fred,” in memory of the late CMPD officer Fred Thornton, who died Feb. 25, 2011. This year’s ride comes just before National Police Week, May 13-19.

Riders left from Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters on Wednesday morning. They’ll arrive in Washington on Saturday. On Sunday, they’ll join a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial, where Officer Thornton’s name will be added.

Davidson’s Waller plans to take a rubbing from the memorial of Mark Swaney’s name.

Officer Waller said he was motivated to join the ride by the desire to honor fallen officers like Thornton and Swaney. “We’re giving blood, sweat and tears to remember officers fallen in the line of duty,” officer Waller said Thursday night, after a 118-mile ride from Asheboro to South Boston, Va.

Officer Waller was an “avid rider” about 10 years ago, but hasn’t spent a lot of time on a bike recently, he said. So he’s been training for the past three months with the help of John Finney, of Davidson’s Spirited Cyclist bicycle shop, which also has donated supplies for the Ride to DC. Mr. Finney also is along on the ride. (He’s from a law enforcement family: His dad is a retired state trooper.)

Riders have collected sponsorships to help pay for the cost of the ride, overnight stays and support. A portion of the money raised also will go to the Charlotte’s Finest Legacy Foundation, which provides scholarships for law enforcement students.

Officer Waller has raised more than $1,000 from local businesses and individual sponsors, and he’s still raising money as he rides.

“I just want to bring awareness to the sacrifice we give as police officers, and to the danger we go into every day,” Officer Waller said. “I’m in a lot of pain, but at the same time, those officers who lost their lives have sacrificed a lot more than what I’m sacrificing right now.”

WANT TO HELP?

To donate to the Ride to DC, click on the “donate” button on the web, at http://www.tricharlotte.com/images/policebikeride/howyoucanhelp.htm. Mention Officer Melvin Waller. Or make a check payable to Charlotte’s Finest Legacy Foundation with Officer Waller’s name in the memo line. Mail it to:

Bike to DC
c/o Ron Horton
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
601 E. Trade St
Charlotte, NC 28202-2940