Davidson Lands Conservancy will hold its annual meeting tonight (Monday, Nov. 16), with a program that celebrates accomplishments in open space protection, looks at objectives for 2010, and includes a presentation by state Sen. Dan Clodfelter on “The Future of Land Conservation in NC.” The meeting begins at 7:15 p.m. in the Davidson Room at The Pines, 400 Avinger Lane. Read the full story

System allows the market to accept federal food aid and credit cards

By ALEX GREGOR
DavidsonNews.net

The Davidson Farmer’s Market is making it easier to pay for fresh food. A new electronic card reader allows patrons to pay with credit and debit cards. Customers can also redeem government benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service using electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards.

The market’s 2009 regular season is over. It will be back next Saturday, Nov. 21, for the next in a planned series of holiday markets. It will open slightly later than its regular season hours – 9  a.m. – and run through noon, in its location next to Town Hall. Read the full story

Davidson College students rake a South Street lawn Saturday morning in exchange for donations to the campus Habitat for Humanity chapter. The fund-raiser continues the next two weekends. More benefit events in our Fund-Raisers calendar, in The Guide. (David Boraks photo)

More benefit events in our Fund-Raisers calendar, in The Guide. CLICK HERE>

The good ideas of our local kids provide the focus of this week’s School Notes.  At Davidson Elementary, a surplus of books on the shelves led three readers to launch a book drive that surprised everyone by collecting over 5,000 volumes. Meanwhile, at Woodlawn School, friends Scott Murr and Darius Knott have paired up to organize a charity golf tournament that will result in scholarships for kids to attend the popular Davidson College lake campus summer camps.  The scholarships will be given in the name of Scott’s father, G. Michael Murr, who died of cancer when Scott was five and who loved boating on the lake.

Also in the news this week is a “Midnight Madness” hoops night being hosted by Davidson Day, and a full calendar of upcoming school events, including the Nov. 15 charity concert at Davidson College that will benefit PTA-Too, a program for special needs children at Davidson Elementary. Read the full story

By MICHELE MILLER HOUCK
DavidsonNews.net

North Mecklenburg Senior Center in Cornelius will stay open, even though supporters are still trying to meet their goal in a “save the center” fund-raiser that was prompted by United Way funding cuts this summer. Read the full story

A garage sale to benefit the Davidson-Cornelius Day Care is planned Saturday, Oct. 17, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the center, 242 Gamble St. The sale will include toys, children’s clothes, furniture, bikes, games, and much more. The center also is accepting donations of items for the sale. Read the full story

United Way announcement

Want to ensure money donated to United Way supports your community’s needs? Community Investment Volunteers needed for Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson and Mooresville. These volunteers review United Way agency proposals for funding and decide how Community Care Fund dollars can best be utilized to meet community needs. Read the full story

Davidson’s community calendar this week includes a Town Board meeting, an election forum with candidates for school and town boards, a NASCAR scholarship fund-raiser at Brickhouse Tavern, and plenty of music and sports. DavidsonNews.net editor David Boraks visits with the Davidson Senior Scholars, and Davidson’s new middle school football squad hosts a home game against St. Mark’s School at Davidson Day School. On the literary and art scene, a DavidsonReads program on “identity” and “The Color of Water” by James McBride is scheduled Tuesday. Irish poet Anne Leahy visits Charlotte Writers Club North on Thursday. And an exhibit of 30 years of photographs of Davidson by college news director Bill Giduz opens with a reception Thursday night. All the details on those an other events in our This Week calendar, in The Guide.