Two new films, “Soul Surfer” and “Jane Eyre,” have strong, young female characters showing courage and resilience beyond their years. Columnist Jaletta Albright Desmond was thrilled to take her 12- and 16-year-old daughters to see the films, because the characters are worthy role models. Read her full commentary in THE GUIDE »

Today is National Healthcare Decision Day, and I’m reflecting on my mother’s death and living wills: When my mother was in the final days of her life because of cigarette-related lung cancer a decade ago, my siblings and I had an important tool that let us focus on saying goodbye and grieving – and not on the confusing, chaotic decision making that often surrounds critical illness. My mom had an advance directive, or living will.
Read the full commentary in Health & Fitness, CLICK HERE »

In response to “Lake Norman as the Great Lake? ‘Dunderheaded’” by Gary Knight, March 22, 2011, on CorneliusNews.net:

By BILL RUSSELL

What constitutes “Greatness”? In a sports team do we measure greatness by how old the team is or by how many games they have played? In a restaurant is it the number of items on the menu or how much is charged for the meal? When it comes to a city or town, is greatness determined by the population or where that municipality is located? Finally is the greatness of a lake measured by how deep, how wide, or how much shoreline it has?
Read the full story

In a commentary on our Real Estate & Home page, Davidson home builder Rodney Graham analyzes the results of the recent Mecklenburg County property revaluation. His conclusion: The revaluation shows gains in values for homes within walking distance of a downtown area. Read his thoughts and add your own, in Real Estate & Home, CLICK HERE>

Also today in Real Estate & Home, latest area home sales, Teal Michel’s Interior Design column. See http://davidsonnews.net/realestate/

Mike Maloy's exploits on the court are well-known, but many don't know his contributions to the town's history or race relations.

By JOHN ROGERS
For DavidsonNews.net

This weekend Davidson College will honor Mike Maloy, the college’s first African-American scholarship athlete, who passed away in February 2009. A three-time All-American basketball player, Mr. Maloy’s greatness on the court is undeniable. But his legacy off the court may be more important. Forty years after he left the college late in his senior year before graduating, his name still resonates throughout North Carolina, a reminder of a man with an infectious smile who was not afraid to take the road less traveled. Read the full story

Following is a letter resident Bobby Cashion sent Tuesday to the Davidson Town Board and mayor on the town’s plans to seek legislation the would keep secret some information about the MI-Connection Communications System. It is reprinted with permission.

Dear Board of Commissioners and Mayor,

I am writing you as concerned citizen regarding the pending Resolution Adopting the Town of Davidson Legislative Agenda item (e) which references “seek local legislation allowing MI-Connection to protect certain proprietary information and the MI-Connection Board to discuss the proprietary information in closed session.” (See Feb. 8, 2011, “Town wants to limit disclosures about MI-Connection.” Read the full story

By JALETTA ALBRIGHT DESMOND

I sat on the floor, staring at my vacuum, marveling at my lack of curiosity.

I’ve owned this vacuum for three and a half years and just moments before I had disassembled it enough to finally learn how to detach the long metal wand, making it easier to clean drapes and under couch cushions. We are fans of plantation shutters, so we only have one set of drapes in our home. Read the full story

By JALETTA ALBRIGHT DESMOND

We really need to be careful what we say about a person. It could come back to haunt us when the person is gone.

During the media coverage of Elizabeth Edwards’ life and death and the expressions of sympathy by political figures, I thought how some folks might be feeling bad about things they’d said about her. Obviously, I first thought about John Edwards’ fellow adulterer and baby momma. Also, I thought about the formerly devoted aide who described Elizabeth in some pretty ugly terms. I even thought about the critics who might’ve slammed her tell-all books and her possible motivations for writing them. Read the full story