By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Josh Peklo began volunteering with the Davidson Fire Department while a Davidson College student in the mid-1990s. This month, he became the department’s chief, taking the reins from outgoing chief Jeff Almond on Jan. 1. Read the full story

Santa Claus will make his annual pre-Christmas Eve tour of Davidson neighborhoods on Tuesday night, Dec. 13. He’ll be reviewing his route atop a Davidson Fire Department truck between the hours of 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Fire department officials say that because Santa’s time is limited, and turning around in cul-de-sacs and dead end streets is difficult, the best viewing for some residents may be intersections along through-streets.

“Thank you and a Merry Christmas,” the fire department said in announcing the trip.

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce honored area public safety officers at a lunch Oct. 20 at the Havana Banquet and Ballroom in Cornelius. This year’s awards included Davidson police officer Ronnie Messer and firefighter Chris Morris.

Lili Johnson, Associate Dean for Central Piedmont Community College, was the keynote speaker for the sixth annual Lake Norman Chamber Public Safety Awards luncheon. She cited the college’s efforts to train local responders and public safety officers.

Chamber Board Chairman Robert Reed, along with chamber president Bill Russell, spoke to the critical role the police, fire, and first responders play in making the community a great place to live and work. Read the full story

The third annual Barnstock music festival – two nights of live local bands on the Brown family farm off N.C. 73 – raised $6,500 for Davidson Volunteer Fire Department over the weekend.

The event attracted 169 people Friday night for an “Old Folks Barnstock” with several local bands and an older crowd. Another 684 music lovers showed up Saturday for the main Barnstock event, a 15-and-over show that featured five different local bands. Read the full story

Santa Claus enlisted the Davidson Fire Department again this year for a pre-Christmas inspection of local neighborhoods. His ride on top of Davidson Engine 1, announced by siren blasts, took him along major streets in most parts of town. (See our preview story, CLICK HERE>)

Do you have a seasonal scene to share, or a holiday display worth showing off? Send it to us! Read below for info on how to submit your photo of the day. And  see previous photos of the day. Read the full story

Davidson Fire Chief Jeff Almond will serve the last year of a three-year term in 2011, and Carl Cormier and Josh Peklo will be assistant chiefs in the coming year, the department announced this week. Read the full story

Henry Clifton Myers, 50, of Davidson, died Oct. 25, 2010 at Levine-Dickson Hospice House.

He was born on Oct. 4, 1960 in Charlotte. He worked for 18 years with the Town of Cornelius and 33 years with the Davidson Volunteer Fire Department. Read the full story

Fred William Caldwell, Sr., 86, of Huntersville, died Oct. 21, 2010 at Levine-Dickson Hospice House.  A funeral is planned Saturday.

Read the full story