Joseph Roenbeck

Organist Joseph Roenbeck will accompany the 1928 silent French film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” as the second artist in the 2011-12 Organ at Davidson series Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

The concert and film begin at 7:30 p.m. on the Wicks Organ in the church sanctuary, North Main Street and Concord Road in Davidson. Read the full story

"Real Steel" is among the offerings this weekend at Our Town Cinemas in Davidson.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The nip of fall is in the air, and there’s plenty to do in the area for those inclined to spend time outside in the cooling temperatures, from the Carolina Renaissance Festival to Hough High homecoming football to a Haunting Hayride in Huntersville. And for those who prefer to stay out of the weather, there’s plenty as well, from Davidson Community Players’ “Love Letters” on stage to a Cornelius Fire Department open house to the North Meck Senior Center’s annual Harvest Fair. Read the full story

(Carolina Renaissance Festival photo)

The Carolina Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace is open Saturdays and Sundays through the end of November off Poplar Tent Road east of Davidson. We’re giving away adults’ and children’s (age 5-12) tickets in weekly drawings for the next few weeks. (Tickets are normally $20 for adults, $10 for kids.) Send your name and phone number by email to Lyndsay (ads@davidsonnews.net) and tell her if you need a pair of tickets, or family packs (tell us how many kids’ tickets you need). We’ll do a random drawing with several winners every Friday at noon, while supplies last.

Congratulations to the Brissons, Morgans, Tuttles, Sigmons, and Mahoneys, who won last Friday’s drawing. If your name wasn’t picked, we’ll keep your name in for our next drawing.

Tony Abbott

By BILL GIDUZ

Tony Abbott’s new book of poems, “If Words Could Save Us,” continues a prolific outpouring of lyric verse from this retired Davidson College English professor. But the volume is also a first for Abbott.  “It’s the only book of poems I’ve written where every poem is part of the story of the book,” he said.

As for a story, Prof. Abbott has chosen a big one. “It tells life’s story,” he said. “Not my life story. The universal life story.” Read the full story

The Foundation for Respectability, a Cornelius-based anti-bullying group, this month sponsors an afternoon with Peter, Paul and Mary’s Peter Yarrow and award-winning multi-genre musician Billy Jonas. The singers will perform a special concert, “Don’t Laugh at Me,” at the Knight TheatreOct. 30 at 3 p.m. to promote bully-free school and community environments.

Yarrow

Mr. Yarrow has performed “Don’t Laugh at Me” concerts throughout the U.S. and the world through his nonprofit organization, Operation Respect. The Foundation for Respect Ability, together with Mr. Yarrow’s Operation Respect, works to provide “Don’t Laugh at Me” programs, workshops and concerts in local schools. Read the full story

A.R. Gurney'sDavidson Community Players' production of "Love Letters" continues this weekend, with Cat Rutledge and Mike Collins (both seated) in the lead roles.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization will hold its first major fundraising event of the new school year on Friday – the annual Family Bingo Night – with bingo, prizes and pizza. On Sunday afternoon, Davidson author Tony Abbott reads from his new book of poetry “If Words Could Save Us” at Davidson College.  And Davidson Community Players’ production of “Love Letters” continues with four shows this weekend. Read the full story