By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

MI-Connection Communications System completed its takeover of all the key technical and business operations of the local cable TV and internet network as scheduled Jan. 15, the system’s CEO said Thursday.

Chief executive David Auger told the MI-Connection board of directors at a Davidson Town Hall meeting that MI-Connection has set up a Network Operations Center (NOC) at its Mooresville headquarters – the final step in taking over day-to-day operations from Bristol Virginia Utilities. Read the full story

Every morning at the Davidson Montessori School on South Street, 3-, 4- and 5-year-old students spend a little time practicing letters, sounds and spelling. Teacher Andrea Cruz Solano encourages them, even the youngest, as they reach into a box and pull out wooden letters to spell out words like ham, pan, sad and fan.

The sounding and spelling are a precursor to writing, something the program emphasizes, Ms. Cruz Solano says.

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Cornelius-based Aquesta Bank said Thursday it turned a small profit in the fourth quarter and its income from loans also rose slightly despite weak loan volume. Meanwhile, the bank reported better loan margins, but lower loan volume in the quarter. Read the full story

The head of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce said this week the chamber supports the idea of a rail line north of Charlotte, though current plans to pay for the line require “proper analysis.” Chamber members will get a closer look at the $452 million Red Line Regional Rail Project during the next Focus Friday issues session on Jan 27.

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The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce is accepting registrations for its spring business trade show, planned for March 5 in Davidson College’s Belk Arena. The all-day event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“This is our opportunity to showcase the best of the lake,” said Bill Russell, president of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.

The trade show will feature about 170 businesses and non-profits in the retail, insurance, finance, healthcare and civic industries, among others, and in the past has drawn as many as 2,500 attendees. Admission is free to the public. Read the full story

Summit Coffee is in its 14th year supplying coffee and more on Main Street in downtown Davidson. All is well at the popular community gathering place, but owner Tim Helfrich and marketing manager Brian Helfrich recently decided it was time for a little sprucing up. So over the New Year’s weekend, they and their coworkers slapped on some fresh paint and rearranged the furniture. And that’s not all. See the full story on our FOOD & DINING page.

Lake Norman Chamber press release
Jack Salzman, owner and president of Lake Norman Chrysler Jeep Dodge, has been named chairman of the board of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce for 2012.

Salzman, whose Cornelius dealership employs more than 80 people, has been the top new vehicle Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership in the Carolinas by volume since he purchased it in 2003. He was named the Lake Norman Chamber’s Robert T. Cashion Business Person of the Year in 2006.

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New Year’s Day was a beautiful morning for a run, and about 40 people showed up at the Davidson Village Green for the first Tightwad 5K, a free road race through the streets of Davidson to celebrate the holiday. The race also was a trial run for Davidson Timing LLC, a new Davidson company that provides race timing services. Bobby Aswell Jr. of Cornelius and Julie Alsop of Mooresville were the top male and female finishers. Complete results in SPORTS»