Today in The Guide (http://www.davidsonnews.net/guide ):

• Our latest “Fund-Raisers” column, with information about upcoming benefit events, including the Ice 2010 gala for Ada Jenkins Center, Sunday’s concert by The Beggar Boys at St. Alban’s to help the Mooresville Soup Kitchen, and performances of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”
• An announcement of the Davidson Senior Scholars meeting this Wednesday, featuring Jan Black of the planned Our Town Cinemas.
• A review of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theater.

The Davidson Police & Fire Department needs a few more Angels to visit its Angel Trees at Town Hall and St. Alban’s Church. More than 30 tags remained this morning, and the deadline for returning gifts has been extended, according to Kathleen Rose, who is helping to manage this year’s drive to provide holiday gifts for families in need. Read the full story

Davidson Day students delivered over 1,200 pounds of food to the Ada Jenkins Center in November. (Photo courtesy Davidson Day)

The holiday season is a time when most area schools conduct food drives, several of which benefit the local food shelf at the Ada Jenkins Center.  Davidson Day students made a delivery right before the Thanksgiving holiday, while Bailey Middle will be sending its collection of donations Monday, Dec. 14.  Click here to let us know what your school is doing!

School Notes this week focuses on all the school performances planned for Davidson’s annual holiday festival, “Christmas in Davidson.”  We also have information on the upcoming CMS board meeting, which will include action items about the new W.A. Hough High in Cornelius. Our calendar also lists December events, including open houses and workshops on “Managing Stress for Teens and Parents” (Dec. 10 at Bailey Middle)  and “Young Children and Sports” (Dec. 14 at Cannon School). Read the full story

A special Thanksgiving meal for the staff at Community School of Davidson.

Parent volunteers at Community School of Davidson used the Thanksgiving holiday as a chance to offer a special “thanks” to their teachers, serving up a full holiday meal during a “Thanks for Giving” luncheon (see photo at left).

The charter school does not have a separate cafeteria, so teachers usually eat with their students in their classrooms.  The Nov. 18 luncheon transformed the gym into a dining room, with elegant place settings and a buffet line.

“This gives the teachers some time together,” said parent volunteer Eileen Simon.

School Notes this week includes news of state chorus honors for two Cannon students, Joanna Copio and Stephen Metz, plus an update on the charity golf tournament organized by two Woodlawn students, Scott Murr and Darius Knott, and news of a special plaque for Gethsemane Baptist from Davidson’s newest football team.  We have the honor roll from Davidson IB Middle, and calendar listings of events at “Christmas in Davidson” and more. Read the full story

Volunteers prepared to distribute more than 800 bags of Thanksgiving groceries in the gym at Ada Jenkins Center Monday. (David Boraks photo)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

People who receive food assistance through the Loaves & Fishes pantry at Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson began lining up before 10 o’clock Monday to collect bags of holiday groceries donated by local churches and community groups. When the doors opened, they were greeted by a dozen volunteers who stood in front of a stage where hundreds of grocery bags awaited. Read the full story

Wilson Sadler (left) of the Davidson Fire Department and Davidson Police Sgt. Scott Misenheimer invite you to stop by Town Hall and pick up a tag for the departments' angel tree. (Picture Elegance Photography)

Police and firefighters have 2 locations this year

Davidson police and fire departments are soliciting donations for their annual holiday Angel Tree, which this year is expanding to two locations to respond to an expanding need. The Angel Tree provides needed clothing and wished-for toys to local families during the holiday season.

Trees and collection centers for gifts and donations this year include Davidson Town Hall Rotunda, 216 S. Main St., and St. Albans Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane. The Ada Jenkins Center identify and assist families in need. Read the full story

Runners leave the start of the Sigma Phil Epsilon 5K Turkey Trot, a benefit 5k road race Saturday morning in downtown Davidson. (Bill Giduz photo)

Just over 100 runners registered for a 5K road race in downtown Davidson Saturday morning to raise money for the Free Clinic of Our Towns. The Turkey Trot, organized by the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity collected $4,000 for the clinic, which is at Ada Jenkins Center.

Read about that and other upcoming fund-raisers in our Nov. 18 “Fund-Raisers” column.

An event at Beaver Dam Park brought together (l-r) Steve Fraher, Armin Desch, Leland Park and David Buck.

This past weekend was busy with lots of outdoor activities and perfect balmy temperatures. We will remember these days fondly when the cold winds of January howl around our rooftops!

Around Davidson has news today of numerous events which involved young and old in our community including Davidson Day students singing at The Pines and Cynthia Lawing and Harriette Line Thompson playing pianos through a power outage. 

Armin Desch cut a ribbon at Beaver Dam Park, the Davidson Public Library showed off its renovated bathrooms and Cristina Shaul of the DavidsonNews.net staff had a BIG birthday.  There is also a reminder about St. Alban’s Third Annual Fall Fair this Saturday morning.

Read the full story