Homer is on hand to greet guests even in Davidson

Aside from the fact that we need layers of clothing accessorized with scarves and mittens when we venture out, it is a wonderful time of year.  Friends and neighbors gather to enjoy the season, festive decorations and lights adorn our homes. DavidsonNews.net photo ops are available at every turn.

Today Around Davidson focuses on members of our community bringing good cheers to others.   What follows is a chance to highlight a few names and faces familiar to many in our town. Read the full story

Public officials, investors, managers and other local business people cut a ribbon to celebrate the 1st anniversary of Our Town Cinemas on Dec. 1. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

A year ago Our Town Cinemas opened in Davidson, hoping to lure movie-goers to a venue unlike the area’s big megaplexes. As the theater celebrated its birthday last week, its chief said he’s pleased that his vision for a family-friendly environment has come to life.

Also this week, a preview of the Town of Davidson’s program Thursday, Dec. 9, featuring a visit by the director of the N.C. Main Street Program who will talk about how to improve and promote the town’s shopping district.
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Luminaria lined McConnell's Fairview Road in December 2008. (DavidsonNews.net file photo)

A Davidson holiday tradition that started about a decade ago in the McConnell and St. Alban’s neighborhoods is poised to spread across town next weekend. In a fund-raiser for Davidson Housing Coalition, residents will line walks and streets with luminaria – small lanterns made of candles in bags – on Saturday night, Dec. 11.

Want to join in? Sign up by Wednesday. Details below.

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James "Lubo" Mijak (left) and Phillips Bragg manned the table Friday night where donors are helping build a LEGO schoolhouse and fund construction of a new school in Mr. Mijak's Sudan hometown. (Katie Scruggs photo)

Among the many people visiting town for Christmas in Davidson, James “Lubo” Mijak may be farthest from home. The Sudan native, now a U.S. citizen living in Charlotte, was one of Sudan’s “Lost Boys.” This weekend he is helping to man a booth in front of the post office where they’re building a LEGO school and raising money for a real schoolhouse in his home town of Nyarweng, south Sudan.

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Watch a DavidsonNews.net 4-min. interview with Kim Fleming, interim downtown manager for the Town of Davidson, previewing Christmas in Davidson 2010. (3:53, produced by David Boraks for DavidsonNews.net)

By SARAH BENNETT
DavidsonNews.net

Since 1984 Warner Hall, a women’s social and philanthropic organization at Davidson College, has made HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention a major cause. In recent years, Warner’s women have hosted the annual Red and Black Ball as a fund-raiser for local and international organizations that share those goals.

The 2010 ball is this Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. in Chambers Hall’s Lily Family Gallery on the Davidson campus. Proceeds will go to the Regional Aids Interfaith Networks (RAIN) in Charlotte, as well as the Mwandi Christian Mission Hospital in Mwandi, Zambia. Read the full story

Pam Dykstra (Davidson Lands Conservancy photo)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

The newly-elected president of Davidson Lands Conservancy says she wants to broaden community involvement and expand understanding of the importance of land conservation over the coming year. Pam Dykstra, a local environmentalist and educator, was elected to a one-year term during the conservancy’s annual meeting Nov. 15.

“One of my hopes and goals is to involve more people throughout the community in DLC’s work,” Ms. Dykstra said in an interview this week.
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The Town of Davidson and downtown merchants are selling the annual Christmas in Davidson ornament, which promotes the annual downtown festival and this year depicts and raises money for the campaign to keep open the Davidson public library branch.

Also in our fund-raisers column: The youth of Davidson United Methodist Church are selling box dinners Thursday night during Christmas in Davidson, to support a summer Costa Rica mission trip, and the YMCA is holding its annual Breakfast with Santa. And next week also brings the Red & Black Ball fund-raiser at Davidson College.

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