From left, Chase Mueller, Michael Swartz, and Elizabeth Castoral leap into the pool at The Swimming Hole off Lorimer Road this week. The private pool closes Labor Day. End of summer? (Karen Castoral photo)

Read below for info on how to submit your photo of the day. And see previous photos of the day, CLICK HERE» Read the full story

With summer at an ebb, commentator John Syme recounts a summer escape from the digital world, and considers lessons brought back to the office. Mr. Syme is a Davidson resident and senior writer at Davidson College.

On my summer vacation, I decided to take a definitive step back from the imperfect storm of modern digital communications: no e-mail flurries, no cell-phone tempests, no HDTV whirlwinds, no Internet monsoons brewing just behind a dark screen in the next room.

What would happen if it was just me, myself and I for a couple of days, without data raining down on me throughout my days. Would I have an original thought? Would I recognize it? Read the full story

Bees buzz around late-summer flowers at South Main Square, off South Main Street. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

We’re always looking for good photos of Davidson, people and events. Send us your photos for consideration at editor@davidsonnews.net.

LAST CALL FOR SUMMER PHOTOS

We’re about to publish our annual gallery of readers’ summer photos. The deadline is midnight tonight. Send us your family lineups in interesting places, your favorite shot of a landscape or landmark, or even that quirky photo you shot at the beach. Email to editor@davidsonnews.net and we’ll consider them for publication.

Requirements: Color or black-and-white JPGs preferred. If you have the ability to do so, we ask that you resize photos to not more than 600 pixels wide. We can take any shape.

Wondering if you have something worthy? Call (704-896-0569) or email at the address above. And thanks for joining us!

The ad copy read, “With our Sand Castle Kit, and a little imagination, your creation can be best on the beach! p. 4.” Next to the words on the cover of the luxury home decor catalog was an elaborate sand castle six times the size of the preschool girl constructing it.

I know it’s slightly ridiculous to be bothered by this ad when there are so many more offensive things going on in our society. But it is insidious, less obvious things like this that often infect or poison clear thinking. So deconstructing an ad that promotes building pricey sandcastles is a worthwhile summer distraction. Read the full story

Davidson residents traveled far and wide this summer, by bicycle, train and automobile. We asked you to send your favorite photos from the summer, and we got a fascinating variety of activities, tourist-shots, landscapes and art photos. Some of us even photographed the same spots! Here’s our summer gallery. Read the full story

These young travelers shot the Washington Monument in July. Send us your photos to share. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

As summer winds down and thoughts turn to fall activities, it’s time again for DavidsonNews.net’s annual look back at summer vacation. Where did you go this summer? What did you see? Send us a favorite image or two from your travels (or fun here at home) and we’ll publish them next week in a summer vacation picture gallery.

Read below for info on how to submit your images. Read the full story