An April 18 auction is planned for 17 condos next to South Main Square. (David Boraks photo)

Owners of the 26-unit The Condos in South Main Square have scheduled an auction April 18 to sell 17 of the residences. With the economic downturn and tight credit, sales have slowed for owner Martin Grimes Development LLC. So they’ve hired Sperry Van Ness Interstate Auction Co. to help.

“The client sold a number of these units early, but sales have slowed down,” said Bob Haupt, of Sperry Van Ness. “In order to expedite the sellout of the residential portion of the development, they decided to do an auction.”

Open houses are planned Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5 p.m., every weekend until the auction. Read the full story

Drawing shows what the Davidson IB Middle School renovation and expansion would look like, from South Street. Existing entrance at right. (Source: CMS / Insight Architects)

Budget woes and the weak financial markets have led county officials to hold off issuing more than $250 million in bonds this year, and that means a delay in the start of the proposed $7 million Davidson Community Center and Davidson IB Middle School renovation project.

Town and school district officials told DavidsonNews.net Wednesday the project will be delayed “at least a year” until the economy and bond markets improve. Read the full story

The Town Board approved $189,198 in budget cuts Tuesday night to bring this year’s spending in line with lower revenues from taxes and fees amid the weak economy.

Most cuts were in training, supplies and equipment, and maintenance and repairs. But one line item, $19,000 cut from special events, will mean no July 4 fireworks in town this year, the assistant town manager said Tuesday night . Read the full story

The Concord/Kannapolis Independent Tribune will cease daily publication next month as it cuts back to three days a week. The change is part of a series of cutbacks at Media General, which owns the paper.

The Town Board’s monthly meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, where the board will vote on $189,198 in cuts the town manager has recommended to keep the 2008-9 budget in line with lower than expected revenues. Read the full story

Suzie Russum (right), a volunteer for the Free Clinic of Our Towns at Ada Jenkins Center, interviews prospective client Amanda Marie. The clinic provides free basic medical care to the uninsured. (Nathan Hartle photo)

By NATHAN HARTLE
DavidsonNews.net

As times get tougher, Ada Jenkins Center on Gamble Street on Davidson’s West Side is finding its mission more urgent than ever.

“Our role is to help people break the cycle of poverty,” says Georgia Krueger, who has been the center’s permanent executive director since December. “We help people in crisis.” Read the full story

Sauni Wood, at Charlotte Writer's Club North on Thursday. (David Boraks photo)

Davidson’s community calendar this week includes the 25th Davidson Horticultural Symposium today. Tonight at 7, Town Hall hosts a public forum on “Our Economic Future” with planner Michael Gallis and N.C. Department of Commerce representative Ron Leitch. The Charlotte Writers Club North meets Thursday to hear Sauni Wood. It’s spring break at the college, so events on the Davidson campus have come to a standstill for the week. The local Jewish community hosts a Purim Party Saturday at Homewood Suites. And don’t forget to stop by the Davidson Farmers Market on Saturday morning. Details below.

In sports, Davidson’s men’s and women’s basketball teams travel to Chatanooga this week for the Southern Conference Championships. Read the full story