Rusty Knox and his band play a Concert on the Green Sunday in Davidson.

By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net

ReadDavidson kicks off the 2011 Davidson community reading series this week with a screening Tuesday of the movie “The Help,” based on this year’s book. The next Summit Songwriters Showcase is Thursday, featuring Billy Jones, Lindy Dobbins, host Rob McHale and opening act Mike Alicke. On Friday, WFAE-FM celebrates its 30th anniversary with an open house at its University City studios. It’s 70s Night in the Park on Saturday in Bailey Road Park, with Da Throwback Band, while the Rusty Knox Band plays a Davidson Concert on the GreenSunday. And just a reminder: Summit Coffee in Davidson is closed Monday while they install new counters.

These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. Also, at right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas where “Fright Night” and “Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World” open, joining “The Help,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” and “Cowboys & Aliens.” Read the full story

Jennifer Foster

Chopin

Monday, March 1, is the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer Fryderyk Chopin and brings the start of an ambitious year-long project Davidson public-radio station WDAV-FM, 89.9: 200 two-minute segments about Chopin’s life and music.
SCHEDULE: “Radio Chopin” segment and other programs today: see below.
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New faces at WDAV: Lauren RIco, Jeffrey Freymann-Weyr and Sam Van Hallgren (right). (WDAV photos)

Davidson-based classical public radio station WDAV-FM on Thursday announced a series of schedule adjustments, including adding new hosts and expanding the hours of some locally-produced weekend programs. The station also announced a deal with South Carolina ETV/Radio to co-produce “Carolina Live,” a long-running weekly program devoted to live recordings. Read the full story

Nationwide broadcasts of live operas will now flow through Davidson

Public radio station WDAV-FM in Davidson announced Friday it has reached an agreement to take over production of the National Public Radio program “World of Opera” beginning in January. Read the full story

Produced by the local public radio outlet, the program will air nationwide during the holidays

Singer Kathy Mattea stars in "A Carolina Christmas" special on WDAV.

Davidson-based public radio station WDAV-FM, 89.9, will air the holiday special “A Carolina Christmas from Biltmore Estate with Kathy Mattea” on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 3 p.m., offering local listeners a preview of a program WDAV has produced for national syndication during the holiday season. Recorded this fall at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, the show features Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Kathy Mattea along with other regional performers, including the local choral ensemble Vox and the Baroque/Celtic trio The Beggar Boys, led by Henry Lebedinsky of Davidson. Read the full story

Our community calendar this weekend includes dueling Thursday night events – a  school and town board election forum, an Irish poet, and an art opening -  as well as helpings of music and sports. Davidson College’s football team is away (at Dayton) this weekend, but its nationally ranked soccer team takes on Furman at home on Saturday night. And the women’s team has home games Friday and Sunday. “Almost, Maine” continues at Davidson Community Players. And get ready for hoop: Don’t miss Friday’s “Night With Cats”  kickoff for the Davidson College basketball season, complete with dancing, scrimmages, contests and giveaways. Read the full story