Rev. Jody Seymour

The Rev. Jody Seymour, senior pastor of Davidson United Methodist Church, offers this prayer for today’s inauguration of Barack Obama as president. Rev. Seymour will join other local pastors in a prayer service at 8:30 a.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

O God, we are probably expecting too much; but at this time in our nation and our world, we need to be people of hope. Help us learn from our past. Teach us again that because we “can” have something does not mean that we “must” have it. Read the full story

Inauguration Day!  How exciting for the millions in Washington, D.C., and the millions watching from the comfort of their living room couches.  We hope to have a few photos of the activities in Thursday’s column.

For today, we celebrate birthdays for two wonderful residents:  Ruth Gardner and Betsy Seymour.  In addition Around Davidson had a chance to visit with Dave and Robin Wilgus and learn more about their artistic talents. Read the full story

Carolyn Bacchus poses with musician Bon Jovi at the Lincoln Memorial.

All eyes will be on Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the inauguration of Barack Obama as president. Some local schoolchildren are traveling to the capital for the festivities, including Francisca Gilmore of Cannon School who has a ticket to the swearing-in.

Meanwhile, the Bacchus family of Davidson has already had big adventures while attending inauguration events. Carolyn Bacchus, 18, posed for a picture with musician Bon Jovi, whom she got to meet after unexpectedly scoring tickets near the stage at Sunday’s “We Are One” concert at the Lincoln Memorial. She  and dad Jim Bacchus were interviewed by the Washington Post. More below.

Here in Davidson, local pastors will join a 20-minute prayer service at 8:30 a.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. There also will be public radio coverage on Davidson’s WDAV-FM and other activities here to help mark the occasion. A schedule follows …

Read the full story

Farallon Recorder Quartet performs in the Music at St. Alban's series Sunday.

Today’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Presidential Inauguration Tuesday put the focus on the national scene this week, but local events will help us all reflect and celebrate. On Wednesday, the Design Review Board meets to take a look at the latest designs for the proposed Davidson IB Middle School renovation and town community center project, as well as the site plan for the Hopewell Baptist Church family life center, off Davidson-Concord Road. On Friday, the Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet gives an afternoon master class and an evening concert at the college.

On the sports calendar, Davidson’s women’s basketball team is on the road tonight at against Samford, in Birmingham, Ala. The men’s team returns home Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against Furman. And next Saturday, the college hosts its annual Hall of Fame induction and celebration, with ceremonies plus men’s and women’s home basketball games. On Sunday, Davidson alum and athlete Sterling Martin lectures at a Davidson Historical Society meeting about “The History of Sports at Davidson College.” Read the full story

This is part 3 of our 2008 Year in Review, looking at news in politics, schools and people. Jump to the beginning, CLICK HERE> Go back to part 2, CLICK HERE>

Politics – Election ’08

County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts (left) makes her re-election pitch to Kim Hodgson (right) on Main Street in front of Summit Coffee on a May morning. Budd Berro (center) is a Roberts campaign aide. Roberts was re-elected. (David Boraks photo)

The presidential election was a big topic of conversation most of the year. Beginning before the May primary and continuing into the fall campaign leading up to November’s vote, many Davidsonians chose to roll up their sleeves and get involved. On Election Day, supporters of Democrat Barack Obama were celebrating. Read the full story

Sam Spencer Jr. and Sam Spencer IV at the Electoral College meeting in Raleigh.

As the year draws to a close, we offer a few glimpses of life in our small town this December. First, a bit of young wisdom at the crosswalk near Davidson Elementary School. Then, a visit to the holiday light show everyone’s talking about: The James Family Christmas off Shearers Road. Also, a recap of Sam Spencer IV’s trip to Raleigh as a member of the Electoral College, and listening to a Celtic jam session at one of the many parties we attended this holiday season. Read the full story

Spencer

North Carolina’s Electoral College members will gather at the statehouse in Raleigh today (Monday, Dec. 15) to make official the November election of Barack Obama as president and Joe Biden as vice president. Davidson resident Sam Spencer IV will be among the electors at the ceremony, which begins at noon in the House of Representatives chamber.

Electors are entitled to bring one person to the ceremony. Mr. Spencer says he has invited grandfather Sam Spencer, the former Davidson College president. “I think my grandfather is more excited about it than I am,” the younger Mr. Spencer told DavidsonNews.net. Read the full story

This week’s episode of “The Davidson Show,” Davidson College’s student-produced variety show, is now available online.

Episode 8 features an infomercial by Barack Obama and a visit to Davidson by Sarah Palin. It also offersan endorsement for president in the form of negative attack ads, asks people to rant about things around campus, looks at various campus goings-on on a typical Friday afternoon.