By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

The return — albeit a brief one — of the American Civil War, along with Davidson College’s annual Green Ball, a performance of an Oscar Wilde classic and the national TV spotlight shining on the Wildcats’ men’s basketball team, all highlight this weekend’s activities in our area. Read the full story

A battle is looming between Fire Chief Jeff Almond and Police Chief Jeanne Miller – a battle of chili recipes.

The two will be among the local celebrities offering up their best chili in a fund-raiser for the Arts & Science Council’s 2010 fund drive. The public is invited to Town Hall this Friday, Feb. 12, at noon to sample the chili and help raise a few dollars for the arts in Davidson.

Those who go to taste the chili Friday will raise money by voting for the best chili with a donation to the ASC.

Who gets money from the ASC? See below. Also, other fund-raisers this week include the Green Ball for Davidson Lands Conservancy, and an “Apocalypse”  step dancing show for Davidson-Cornelius Day Care and American Diabetes Association.

Read the full story

(S. Spivack photo)

DavidsonReads, the community-wide reading program, plans its 2009 finale Saturday – a Davidson Family Reunion on the Village Green. They’ll have food, dancing, music and trivia contests for prizes. And local pie-bakers – both individuals and restaurants – are invited to enter their favorite recipes in a community pie-baking contest.

Judges will be Mayor John Woods; Mary Jane Leach, manager of the Davidson Farmers Market; and Ashley Lawson, baker at MJ’s Sugar Shack on Main Street.

Bring your pie to the tent on the Village Green by noon Saturday. One entry per individual or business.

Saturday’s event will include Davidson trivia, music by local singer/guitarist Rusty Knox, Israeli dancing and more. For more information, visit the DavidsonReads website, www.davidsonreads.org.