The Rev. Etheleen Jetton is competing in this year’s Our Towns Habitat for Humanity Biggest Cheese in Town contest, and she’s throwing a Smithville Yard Sale on Saturday as part of her fundraising campaign. Sellers and buyers are invited to join in at the Smithville Community Center. Read the full story

Rob Bennett raised more than $4,000 for Habitat for Humanity in the contest.

Rob Bennett of Cornelius was the top fund raiser in Our Towns Habitat for Humanity’s Biggest Cheese in Town 2012 competition. The crown was bestowed on Oct. 26 at the “Cheese Ball,” a reception in Cornelius at Kadi Fit.

Mr. Bennett owns My Aloha Paddle Sports and Fitness. He was among 14 contestants in the event, each of whom was trying to raise at least $1,000 for Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Bennett, 45, was able to attract enough donors and sponsors to raise just over $4,000 through two Aloha Cup events. Read the full story

Cast Iron Filter played to a crowd outside Summit Coffee Friday night. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

A big crowd surrounded Summit Coffee in downtown Davidson Friday night for the 1st Summit Solstice Race + Festival, a road race and post-race festival that included a reunion performance by Davidson band Cast Iron Filter.
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Jack Hart sits in his favorite Windsor chair – one he purchased from the Habitat ReStore for $15 and restored. (Christina Ritchie Rogers / CorneliusNews.net)

CORNELIUS – In his living room Jack Hart has a comfortable recliner, a lovely couch and an artisan table, but his favorite piece of furniture is a small, wooden Windsor chair he bought for $15 at the Habitat ReStore in Cornelius. It was in pieces when he got it, and he meticulously repaired it using only clamps – the way it should be done, he said.

That chair is just one of the many pieces of furniture Mr. Hart, 93, has repaired and restored over the past seven years. A World War II veteran and former engineer, he began volunteering at the Habitat ReStore in Cornelius in 2006 as a merchandise repair expert and has logged more than 3,500 volunteer hours since. This week, he was named Home Instead Senior Care’s North Carolina Senior Volunteer of the Year for his work with Our Towns Habitat for Humanity. Read the full story

Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce members have hit their goal of raising $71,500 to pay for construction of a Habitat for Humanity House for a family in Cornelius. The group hit the target thanks to a recent fund-raising party and last-minute pledges from local businesses, according to Denis Bilodeau, chair of the chamber board’s community affairs division. See REAL ESTATE & HOME»

Davidson Class of 2012 marched out of Chambers Hall for the last time Sunday, led by class president Faheem Rathore. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

On a sunny spring day under the oak trees, 449 students graduated from Davidson College Sunday in a ceremony that included one honorary degree, community service awards to two students and the local leader of Habitat for Humanity, and teaching awards to two veteran faculty.

Davidson doesn’t invite outside graduation speakers, so it’s up to the president to deliver a send-off to graduates. This year, that task fell to first-year President Carol Quillen. The ceremony, including her remarks, seemed aimed at conveying themes of diversity and inclusiveness. Read the full story

MOORESVILLE – A trio of designers took home awards Tuesday night in Our Towns Habitat for Humanity’s second annual ReStore Restyle design challenge at the Mooresville ReStore. The fundraiser required designers to decorate a 10×10 themed room using items from the Mooresville and Cornelius Habitat ReStores. Photos and a list of winners in REAL ESTATE & HOME»

Our Towns Habitat for Humanity Cornelius ReStore will celebrate its 20th Anniversary with an event called “ReStore ReStored” Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day of family fun and entertainment will show off the newly renovated ReStore on North Main Street. Read the full story