By JAMES BLAKEY
Davidson Committee on Aging

As important as community service is to Davidson today, surely the desire to give to others existed since the town’s very beginning in 1835. Looking back at the past, it is easy to see volunteerism flourishing throughout the years. For instance, the Davidson College Enterprise newspaper, published between 1879-1883, used the motto, “Dum Vivimus Servimus,” which translates to, “While we live, we serve.” Interestingly, notice how the motto does not say, “While we are young, we serve.” The beauty of service is that it includes people of every generation, even unites them. All that is required of a volunteer is time and a willingness to serve, two qualities every person can give. Read the full story

The Davidson Committee on Aging will host a symposium titled “Home for a Lifetime” on Saturday, May 18, focusing on tactics for “universal design” – ways to adapt homes for changes that come with aging.

The symposium runs from 1 to 5pm May 18, at Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Read the full story

Ginger Watkins of Davidson (left) and Cassie Hosier of Huntersville decorated cupcakes during a recent Valentine’s Day program at North Mecklenburg Senior Center in Huntersville.

Seniors were treated to a little sweetness at the North Mecklenburg Senior Center in Huntersville the other day during a Valentine’s Day cup cake Decorating Program. Sue Weber, of NC Littlecakes, provided all the materials including yellow cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, and more for the seniors to make Valentine Cupcakes for their loved ones and themselves. It was hard not to lick our fingers!!

- Joanne Ahern

DavidsonLearns, the “lifelong learning” program in Davidson, is accepting registration for two new courses: Rabbi Michael Shields of Davidson’s Temple Kol Tikvah will teach a course beginning in February on “Critical Issues for Jewish Christian Relations.” Meanwhile, poet and Davidson College Professor Emeritus Tony Abbott will lead another session of his popular poetry writing class. Details below. Read the full story

Proposed retirement residence on Peninsula Drive.

The Davidson Planning board meets Monday, Jan. 28, with an agenda that includes discussion and possible recommendations on signage for MSC Industrial Direct and a master plan for the Davidson Retirement Residence, on Peninsula Drive in the Exit 30 area. The board also will review plans for a “pocket neighborhood” on Delburg Street. See the full story in REAL ESTATE & HOME»

Scott Misenheimer

The town’s long, reluctant farewell to retiring police Sgt. Scott Misenheimer will wrap up this weekend with a community reception Sunday afternoon at the Ada Jenkins Center. Residents will gather to share stories and wish the longtime officer farewell as he retires after 30 years as a police officer, and 24 in Davidson.

The reception is scheduled Sunday, Jan. 27, from 2 to 5pm at the Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St. in Davidson. Read the full story

We all have memories of special Christmas presents. Maybe a first bicycle? A brand new box of crayons? Recently we heard from Davidson native D. G. Martin about a special Christmas gift of violin lessons from his 7-year-old grandson, Jake Bryan, older son of Cotton and May Martin Bryan. Reading what D.G. wrote about this gift in his weekly One-on-One column, we were so impressed that we contacted him for permission to include it on DavidsonNews.net.

D.G., son of the late Grier and Louise Martin, grew up in Davidson, graduated from Davidson College and Yale Law School. He and his wife, Harriet Wall Martin, live in Chapel Hill, as does budding violinist Jake, his older sister, Maggie and younger brother, David. We thank D.G. for sharing “The Violin Lesson” with our readers.

- Brenda Barger

D.G. Martin gets a lesson from Jake.

THE VIOLIN LESSON

By D.G. MARTIN

What was the best Christmas present?

For me, it would be something a family member made, like the pictures and the book my granddaughters made and gave to me last month.

Or, maybe it would be the certificate for “free violin lessons” from my seven-year-old grandson, Jake.

Jake has been taking violin for about a year. One day he will be a good performer, but he is not yet ready for Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, nor has he been trained to teach others to play. Read the full story

Goodness, we need the moisture but these rainy days keep us indoors on the couch rather than outside walking or running the greenways. Do you feel like you have been on an eating “binge” starting with Thanksgiving and continuing through December? As always, the New Year brings so many ads and television commercials urging us to tone our abs, stretch our hamstrings, tighten our glutes and get serious about healthy eating. What’s a person to do? Your curious columnist decided to check on one group of ladies who have a unique approach to fitness.

Today Around Davidson tries something a little different and visits with a group of women who have found a way to make exercise fun – thanks in great part to an innovative instructor. Calling themselves the Snappettes, they are committed to routines at Davidson’s SNAP Fitness facility (www.Snapfitness.com) that should make even the laziest couch potatoes sit up and take notice. Read the full story