Happy Fourth of July weekend to all our readers.  Weatherwise this is a wonderful week for any activities.  The dry breezes keep us a little cooler whether mowing the grass, walking the dog or weeding the garden.  The first garden tomatoes are being sliced for sandwiches – yum! – but watch out for the tomato worms.  Those beautiful green creatures can defoliate a tall plant in just hours.

Around Davidson today brings news of travel to Kenya by Davidson church members as well as an in depth report on Max Polley’s trip to Tacoma, Wash., to receive a national theatre award. Read the full story

ASC GRANTS These area groups will get operating grants or other major funding 2009-10. Change from 2008-9 in parentheses. Carolina Raptor Center, $145,430 (-23%) Latta Plantation, $50,000 (-29%) Creative Art Exchange/Children’s Arts Project, Cornelius, $17,500 (-27%) Davidson Community Players, $13,500 (-32.5%) Downtown Davidson (April is for Arts), $6,141 (-12%) Cornelius Youth Orchestra, $6,000, (+20%) Music at St. Alban’s, $6,000 (-23%)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

The suspense is over for local cultural groups waiting to see how much funding they’ll get next fiscal year from Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council. It’s mixed news in north Mecklenburg: Cuts to some groups were bigger than expected, while others were pleasantly surprised just to get any money at all.

The ASC has less to dole out this year because of a 37 percent drop in giving to its annual campaign. Many organizations were already preparing for smaller grants, as well as studying how to make up for reduced contributions by individuals and corporate sponsors. Now, they’re looking closely at how to cut expenses or programs to cope with leaner budgets. Read the full story

From tonight’s sold-out opening of Davidson Community Players’ “West Side Story” to a pair of weekend fund-raisers to the Cowbell Challenge mountain bike festival at Fisher Farm Park, it’s shaping up to be an action-packed weekend in and around Davidson.

Amity & Bailey’s South Main Square block party Friday at 5 p.m. will support United Family Services and provide food and fun for the family. On Saturday, Ada Jenkins Center on Gamble Street hosts its “Fire” fund-raiser, with a morning 5k road race and all-day music and food. The event also includes local jugglers’ performing for World Juggling Day.

Details about those and other events in our Weekend Calendar, in The Guide, CLICK HERE>

How to help See our latest edition of “Fund-Raisers” for a list of coming events, including a South Main Square Block Party on Friday and Ada Jenkins “Fire” 5K race and barbecue fund-raiser on Saturday.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Non-profit and cultural organizations across the region are in the midst of a flurry of fund-raisers and appeals to make up budget shortfalls before their fiscal years end June 30 – and as they brace for more cuts from funding agencies and corporate donors.

Every weekend this spring has brought competing events – from benefit parties to 5K races to family fun days. Public radio stations WFAE-FM and WDAV-FM both are holding short on-air pledge drives this week in hopes of breaking even for the year.

Executives at Ada Jenkins Center and other local organizations are staging events or sending letters and emails and hoping for year-end cash infusions. And they’re biting their nails as they await 2009-10 funding announcements in the coming days. Read the full story

Davidson Community Players’ production of “West Side Story” opens Thursday at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall. Find out how to get tickets and more about the local theater scene in our latest Theater Notes, in The Guide, CLICK HERE>

The latest edition of Theater Notes is now online in DavidsonNews.net‘s The Guide, with news about upcoming theater events. They include Davidson Community Players’ production of “West Side Story” and Warehouse Performing Arts Center’s “An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf.”

Read Theater Notes in The Guide, CLICK HERE>

Davidson Community Players is looking for volunteers to help with set-building for its upcoming production of West Side Story. Read the full story