1www.ci .davidson.nc.us

Mayor’s MusingsDAVIDSON PIONEERSOur quiet, little town is not the sleepy, nothing-happening kind of place it might appear on the surface. Indeed, in addition to enjoying one of the nation’s elite liberal arts educational institutions in our midst, the citizens of Davidson have long pioneered trends in community-building and planning to help create a very attractive community. We are, in fact, the envy of many communi-ties who visit us to discover the whys and hows of what we do…

Starting back in the 1970’s, town leaders realized that the post-World War II style of automobile-dependent, sprawling develop-ment was a curse to community-building. To promote more attractive developments, the first rules prohibiting drive-thrus were instituted, followed by serious restrictions concerning the use of franchise architecture. In the 1990’s the realization that open space was quickly disappearing, changing forever the rural landscape around us, prompted us to action. We also realized that the historic diversity that had strengthened our commu-nity was slipping away due to market supply and demand. As a result, our Planning Ordinance requires open space and afford-able housing in each new neighborhood. Cul-de-sacs are prohibited and connected grid-streets are required. Neighborhoods of mixed housing types and sizes are com-pulsory. Commercial building requirements include minimum and maximum story requirements. And trees are formally recog-nized as very important community assets!

I have often reminded developers and citizens alike that development is welcomed in Davidson, but on our community’s terms -- not in the one-size-fits-all format used else-where. So Davidson stands out among the nation’s communities because we have the backbone to demand only the best develop-ment practices. We are pioneers.

Mayor John Woods

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Davidson Elected Officials Mayor John Woods Commissioners Tim Dreffer Brian Jenest Laurie Venzon Connie Wessner Margo Williams

We are excited to welcome five new members to the Town of Davidson staff:

Marvin Harold and John Shubert both joined the Public Works Department on June 21 as our newest maintenance technicians. Marvin comes to us from Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation where he served as maintenance & operations tech for the horticulture team. John Shubert also comes to us from Meck-lenburg County where he also served as a maintenance tech. Jason Bell and Scott Lang both started July 1 as the Public Works Department’s newest crew leaders. Before joining us, Jason was employed with Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation and served as their maintenance & operations specialist. Scott Lang has over 25 years experience in landscaping and for 20 of those years, Scott owned and operated his own landscaping company. Katherine Faust started at the end of July as our new part-time receptionist working from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. five days a week. Katherine is sitting at the Police Department

window which is now our new reception counter. Among other talents, Katherine is bilingual so we can more easily serve our Hispanic customers. Katherine will be working closely with Cheryl Dellinger, our new police records clerk, who joined us June 1. Cheryl came to us from the Cornelius Police Department. Additionally, Wanda Rust, previously with the City of Concord, is working with the town on assignment as our accountant.

The first full day for Megan Pillow Davis, our new public information officer, was August 23. Before joining our staff, Megan was a reporter for the Mooresville Tribune, a freelance writer, and the director of The Davidson Center.

Interviews to fill the park and recreation manager position were held August 2. Kathryn Spatz, the successful candidate, will join us on September 13. She was the parks and recreation director in Chapel Hill for eight years and assistant director in both Falls Church and Fauquier County, VA. She will begin the selection process to fill the recre-

Managers' Notebook By Leamon Brice & Dawn Blobaum

The

MessageTownNews from the Town of Davidson, NC Fall 2010

continued on page 11

Mayor Woods with Library task force member Kristen Coupal at the "Pave the Way to Save the Library" campaign kickoff. Photo courtesy of David Boraks

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Mayor's Musingscontinued from page 1 Police Department News

by Chief Jeanne A. MillerIn 2001, the town adopted an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, among the first such ordinances in the nation. It rec-ognizes that the costs of new development, including police, fire, parks, greenways, and street intersections, should not be borne solely by existing town residents.

Recently we adopted a three-pronged ap-proach to economic development includ-ing a start-up business incubator, a down-town coordinator focusing on storefront merchants, and the three-town plus private market initiative that forms the Lake Nor-man Regional Economic Development Corporation. A fledgling public art group is creating excitement and conversation with the placement of art in public places.

Pioneers take risks, and today we face legal action from a developer who is challeng-ing our right to require payment for public facilities. We believe we are justified, legally and morally, to require developers to contribute to the community’s infra-structure. We are confident in our posi-tion and respect the court’s judgment on this pioneering matter.

I believe that if our capitalistic market fails to produce a satisfactory answer to a need, or if technology creates a new medium for service delivery, entrepreneurial efforts will fill the gap. This is particularly true in the development of the internet and delivery of news. Right here in Davidson, David Boraks has created davidsonnews.net, a responsive on-line news outlet serving our community, which is not directly served by traditional print media. Davidsonnews.net is attracting national attention as it pioneers delivery of news in a “non-print” medium and develops a sustainable busi-ness plan that could become the model for many more communities to follow. Davidsonnews.net is a pioneer. Similarly, the Davidson Housing Coalition and the Davidson Lands Conservancy stepped in where neither government nor private interests filled a need in the community. They have successfully provided afford-able housing and protected open space in Davidson.

Recognizing a long-standing failure by private industry in the delivery of com-munications services and the looming importance of broadband internet access and use, the town agreed to partner in the purchase of the bankrupt Adelphia cable system. A complete rebuild of that system into a state of the art fiber optic-based

September is National Preparedness Month. This is also hurricane season, and while David-son has not experienced a hurricane since Hugo in 1989, it is confirmation that hurricanes, tornadoes and ice storms remain our greatest natural threat. Since 9-11, the Homeland Security Department has urged citizens to be prepared for any emergency. Natural disas-ters and manmade disasters always hold the potential of disabling a part - or much - of our utility infrastructure causing a loss of electricity, water, telephone service, etc. Depending on the severity of the damage, restoration of any of these utilities could take days or even weeks. The likelihood that you survive a major natural disaster or terrorist attack is depen-dent on your having a plan in place and the supplies and tools to make it on your own for, at minimum, a 3 day period. A simple basic emergency kit includes the following:• one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation; • a three-day supply of non-perishable food; • a battery powered radio and extra batteries; • a flashlight and extra batteries; • a first aid kit; • a whistle (to signal for help); • a filter mask (or cotton t-shirt) to help filter the air; • moist towelettes for sanitation; • a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities; • a manual can opener for food (if the kit contains canned food); • plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place by covering window and door openings in a room); • garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation; • and any unique family needs (prescriptions, infant formula and diapers, important family documents, pet food). Review your basic emergency kit at the same time you change your clocks for daylight sav-ings time. By cycling the food, water and other perishables such as prescription medication or batteries into daily use while re-stocking the kit with newer items twice a year ensures your continued readiness for any emergency.We urge you to develop a family communication plan. In a natural or manmade disaster, whether you stay put and “shelter in place” or you get away is an important decision. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and the informa-tion you learn through television and radio news reports to make your decision. For more information, go to http://www.ready.gov/ or call the Davidson Police Department at 704 892-5131 for a copy of the Preparing Makes Sense-- Get Ready Now pamphlet.The Town of Davidson is also within a ten mile radius of the McGuire Nuclear Station. McGuire Nuclear, owned by Duke Energy, is mandated to have an evacuation plan for those who live, work or go to school within the ten mile radius. Duke Energy and the Town of Davidson want you to be prepared. We want you to know what it means if you hear the sirens sound, and what you need to do. The Mecklenburg County Emergency Management Agency conducts a training exercise every two years with all first responders (police, fire, medic), all government entities (public transportation, schools, public works, etc) and social service agencies (department of social services, American Red Cross) to work through a scenario that challenges and tests the par-ticipants to respond quickly, and work together to utilize all available resources. The goal is to minimize loss of life and effectively and efficiently move large numbers of citizens from the 10 mile radius. We urge all of our citizens to be familiar with the evacuation plan, especially those who have children in our schools. Go to http://www.duke-energy.com/nuclear-emergency-preparedness/mcguire.asp for more information, or call the Davidson Police Department to obtain an Emergency Planning pamphlet for McGuire Nuclear Sta-tion. You will find both of these links on the town’s website at http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/quicklinks.aspx.The Davidson Police Department offers public presentations on preparedness. If you would like a presentation made to your homeowner or neighborhood association, your civic organization, or parent-teacher association, please call 704 892 5131 and ask for Sgt. Barney Poole or Cheryl Dellinger to schedule a presentation.

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Downtown Davidson News by Sandy Lemons

The summer months brought rising temperatures and wave after wave of inquiries and new business openings to downtown Davidson. Friday night Concerts on the Green have been a welcome change and offered us reprieve from the heat. The annual North Carolina Main Street statistical survey has been completed and our new merchant’s “popular” logo will be deployed this fall. We are embarking on a parking study to assess the supply and demand of parking needs in downtown. The Davidson Farmer’s Market is stronger than ever; we are grateful to everyone helping to make the market a success each week. Last but not least… it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

We received positive feedback on our first Friday night Concerts on the Green. One resident commented, “We love Friday night concerts! We don’t have to work the next morning and can relax and enjoy ourselves; it gives our family something to do and we can sleep in the next day.” For information on remaining Concerts on the Green please visit, www.ci.davidson.nc.us/concerts or contact Tina Gibson, event coordinator at 704 596-0342. You may view a slide show from the July 3 concert at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV1_udZsNbY. Our last concert of the year will be September 19.

We distributed 500 folders to Davidson College freshman parents on student move-in day. The folders contained information from our Davidson businesses and merchants.We are looking forward to the results of our parking study. It is critical to understand our parking inventory and needs to adequately park our visitors, residents and business owners. As I always say, a parking problem is a great problem and better than vacant spaces on Main Street.The dates for Christmas in Davidson 2010 are December 2, 3, 4. The advisory committee began meeting in July. There are some new but traditional twists this year. Be on the lookout for our CID page/link on the town website soon. This past quarter we had eight new businesses open and two businesses close. J.G. Denim Thread and Kelly Custom Designs closed.Brittany Burns interned in the Downtown Department over the summer. Brittany lives in Davidson and is a rising junior at Clemson University where she is a member

Bill Giduz announces Da Throw Back Band for their performance at Concerts on the Green.

New business openings:

• New To You Consignment Boutique

428 S. Main

• Ghost Walking Tours

www.ghostwalknc.com

• The Bird Nest Music Studio

102-B S. Main

• All Strings Attached

416-C S. Main

www.allstringsattached.net

• Healing Through Movement

400-E North Harbor Place

• Davidson Cycle Center

109 N. Main

www.davidsoncycle.com

• Flatiron Kitchen & Taphouse

215 S. Main

• Duffy Electric Boats of Lake Norman

200-G North Harbor Place

www.duffylkn.com

of Clemson’s varsity rowing team and majoring in Travel and Tourism Management. Brittany was instrumental in completing our business statistical survey. Highlights of the survey revealed 2,128 full time employees and 642 part-time employees throughout Davidson (including Circles at 30), 2,016,479 occupied square feet, 21 new businesses opened, and 8 businesses closed. Davidson has prospered. Thank you for supporting your local merchants! It is a great day to be in Davidson!

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Economic Development News by Kris Krider

This past July 1, an economic development department was created from a confluence of events: the Town of Davidson staff reorganization, the new Comprehensive Plan, and the adopted goal of economic sustainability by the Board of Commissioners. In typical Davidson fashion, a challenge was turned into an opportunity and it fortuitously allowed me to assume new responsibilities as economic development manager.

I am joined in the economic development department by our downtown manager Sandy Lemons, with strategic assistance from our new public information officer, Megan Pillow Davis. Our team will lead an array of town initiatives, including the Main Street program, implementing our new marketing plan, assisting business prospects, coordinating capital/infrastructure projects, and shepherding new development through our planning process.

While Sandy leads the downtown program and works directly with local merchants, I will staff in-house working groups on town projects such as a second fire station, parking deck and future transit station construction. Utilizing my experience as planning director, I will also staff the Design Review Board and assist the planning department on small area plans and urban design projects.

One of our responsibilities will be the management of a town-funded parking study to begin this fall. It will have three major elements: an inventory and recommendations for our parking capacity, a financial analysis, and consideration of transportation impacts. This will include access to parking through current intersections, way-finding signage, and future street connections.

High on the list of economic development priorities will be our effort to bring Davidson’s smart growth approach to fruition by embracing the 8 livability themes from the Comprehensive Plan. In particular, one of our core responsibilities is: Create Diverse Business and Job Opportunities. Business and the local economy thrive in an environment that builds on local assets and protects against the threats to the community way of life. It is an environment where the small entrepreneur and the international corporation can both thrive. Residents are able to work in Davidson, and employers are able to find skilled labor locally.

Within this livability theme are four areas of significance to the economic development department: 1) Coordinate with the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corporation (LNREDC) to assist prospects

and expanding businesses to find new locations within Davidson. 2) Implement the marketing plan and branding strategy to encourage independent retailers. 3) Manage new development through the approvals process to facilitate a more constructive relationship with developers and investors. 4) Focus on the Main Street program and small business with a particular emphasis on sustaining a thriving retail climate that both captures local dollars, and brings in a significant amount of revenue and services to the community.

To further our economic goals, in the coming months we will begin to draft and implement an Economic Strategic Plan. We will consider new planning areas that represent a potential shift in our tax base from residential to commercial and light industrial, all in a sustainable manner. We will target growth and continue preserving open space, while directing residential development to unfinished neighborhoods and downtown. Our target plan envisions attracting new industries of the future as well as “economic gardening” to grow existing businesses. Most new jobs are created by small businesses; Davidson has a tremendous number of innovative and creative residents, and business professionals that may be interested in future growth opportunities in our traditional strengths of education and finance as well as emerging industries like alternative energy, biotechnology and manufacturing innovation.

Each of these initiatives will be considered through the lens of our town mission statement, unique planning ordinance, livability themes, and Board of Commissioner goals. We will continue to strive for the same high quality standards for design and contextual sensitivity that have guided us for the last fifteen years.

Whether it is finding a tenant to up-fit a small warehouse space, attracting a new retailer downtown, or assisting in the design of a new retail center, the economic development department will be working for Davidson. Our goal is to encourage and contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous Davidson economy.

Concert on the Green crowd.

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Adult Trips

Love Machine The Musical - Celebrating Classic Motown & SoulThe Barn Dinner Theatre, Greensboro – Take a trip down memory lane in this high energy revue of classic Motown! Join us as we pay tribute to Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and more. Box office record breaking show! Reserve your seats early, registration ends September 8.Day: ThursdayTime: 4:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.Date: September 30Fee: $60.00

Lake Lure/Chimney Rock VillageDiscover the beauty and charm of Lake Lure from a covered boat while your skipper guides you past local attractions and landmarks including the locations used in filming “Dirty Dancing” and the recently restored historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn. Listen to the legends,

and learn about the natural and cultural history of Hickory Nut Gorge, home to Lake Lure. Before the one hour tour of Lake Lure you will experience Chimney Rock Village. Registration ends October 5.Day: ThursdayTime: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Date: October 14Fee: $48.00

Dreamgirls at the Belk Theatre, CharlotteTickets to Dreamgirls are one of the hottest commodities on the market today. This Tony Award-winning sensation is in town. Set in the turbulent late 1960’s and early 1970’s, “Dream-girls” follows the rise of a trio of women—Effie, Deena and Lorrell—who have formed a promis-ing girl group called the Dreamettes. At a talent competition, they are discovered by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor, Jr., who offers them the opportunity of a lifetime: to become the back-up singers for headliner James “Thunder” Early. Though the Dreams become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined.Day: Thursday Time: 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.Date: November 11Fee: $71.00

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden/McAdenville Holiday LightsThe holiday tradition continues at the Garden! Christmas has never been brighter with more than 600,000 lights, old fashioned trains, visits from Santa Claus, carriage rides, holiday carols, baked treats, and other holiday fun. And….to

cap the night off we will travel through Christ-mastown, USA. Registration ends November 16.Day: MondayTime: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.Date: December 6Fee: $25.00

Adult Activities

50+ Coffee Club 50+ Coffee ClubJuice up your mid-week outlook with a cup of joe.Day: WednesdaysTime: Drop in between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Fee: A donation is requested to help defray the cost of coffee and snacksThis is a social gathering for those seasoned and not so seasoned adults. A little something for everyone: good conversation, hot cup of coffee, game room activities, snacks, and new friend-ships.

Friendship ProgramThis program matches Davidson’s mature adults with students from Davidson College based on areas of shared interest. The program meets from September through April of each school year. Mature adult and Davidson Col-lege student volunteers are needed to make the program a success. For more information or to put your name on the list, please contact the Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation Office at 704 892-3349.

Davidson Senior Scholars lecture seriesBi-weekly lectures on a variety of topics from healthy lifestyles to stories of international intrigue and espionage are shared with the community. You are invited to join us as we expand our horizons about the modern world and about the world we knew as children. Contact the Town of Davidson Parks and Rec-reation office if you have a topic you would like to share or to be added to the Senior Scholars email notification list. Each month there will be a morning presentation and an afternoon presentation. Call 704 892-3349 or visit the Town of Davidson website at www.ci.davidson.nc.us for an updated schedule.

Programs with low registration will be cancelled. Please register

early to prevent course cancellation.

All programs are held at the Parks and Recreation office, 416 Armour Street, unless otherwise noted. All trips will depart from

the Parks & Recreation office. Call 704 892-3349 or visit www.ci.davidson.nc.us

A group of summer basket ball campers pause for a moment to take a friendly picture during their practice.

Parks and Recreation Programs - Summer 2010

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Health and Fitness

KICK UP YOUR HEELS and your fitness training results with Davidson Parks & Rec this fall! We've got hot new additions to our fitness and wellness offerings along with your favorite classes. Zumba with Tonya Come join Tonya for a fun filled hour of exciting, calorie burning, easy to follow dance moves like the merengue, salsa, cumbia and mambo as well as other styles including hip-hop and belly dancing. Zumba incorporates motivating latin-inspired music with body sculpting, fat burning and total body toning that will burn calories while improving flex-ibility and muscle tone. No prior dance skills are required. Tonya has more than 25 years of dance training, teaching and performing in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and group exercise. Day: Tuesday Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Date: October 5 - 26, November 2 - 30 (no class November 23),December 7 - 21(no class December 21 or 28)Fee: $40.00, $20.00 December

Strengthen and Stretch with NolynnThis 30 minute exercise class is geared to seniors wishing to increase muscular strength and flex-ibility, as well as incorporate meditation. This is a quick and easy way to improve your overall health and balance. Let's get moving on the path to wellness! Day: WednesdayTime: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Date: October 6 - 27, November 3 - December 1 (no class November 24), December 8 - 15 (no class December 22 or 29)Fee: October $20.00, November $15.00, December $10.00

Yoga for EverybodyIntimidated to walk into a yoga studio? Feeling stiff or achy? That’s OK – join us for a gentle but invigorating yoga class designed for all body types. We’ll link our breath with movement and slowly flow in and out of poses that can help strengthen, tone and de-stress the mind and body.Day: Wednesday Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Date: October 6 - 27, November 3 - 17 December 1 - 15Fee: October $40.00, November $30.00 December $30.00

Life Coaching Group for MomsThis action-oriented life coaching group, designed for busy moms, will support, inspire and hold you accountable for working towards goals that you select the first week. Whether you want to organize your house, stick to a fit-ness program, start a business, go back to work or change your thought patterns – you’ll gain structure, support and ideas from a trained life coach and moms who understand. Reach your goal, make that change!Day: FridayTime: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Date: September 13 – October 22, November 5 – December 16Fee: $78.00

Semi-Private Personal Training @ Snap FitnessToday's hectic lifestyles mean you don't have time to waste on ineffective exercise routines. Personal trainers help maximize your time by providing workouts designed to meet your goals quickly and efficiently. Our certi-fied personal trainers will lead a small group through an intense total body workout, twice weekly for up to 12 weeks. Expect quick results from routines that encompass the three key areas of fitness—cardio, strength and flexibility. Personal instruction ensures proper technique, safety, injury avoidance, and the best results. Get all the benefits of a certified personal trainer at a fraction of the cost! Day: Monday and Wednesday 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 6:45 a.m. – 7:15 a.m.Date: October 4 - 29, November 1- 30 (no class November 25), December 1 - 21 (no class 12/22 - 1/2)Fee: Monday/Wednesday: October $130.00, November $145.00, December $100.00 Tuesday/Thursday: October November $90.00 December $100.00Location: Snap Fitness, Davidson

Martial Arts with Sensei Joe Martin

Kung Fu and Tai ChiDay: Tuesday and ThursdayTime: Tai Chi: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Family/Adult Kung Fu: 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Date: September 7 - 30 October 5 - 28 November 2 - 30 (no class Thanksgiving Day) December 7 - 16 (half a month)Fee: $75.00Location: CSD gym, 565 Griffith St.

Adult Art Classes

Watercolor with Jim KerrThe goal of this course is to provide students with a roadmap to successful watercolor paint-ing including: landscapes, seascapes, still life and portraits. Learn various techniques and applications.Day: Tuesday or Thursday Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Tuesday); 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Thursday)Date: September 9 - 30, October 5 - 28, November 2 - 23Fee: $80.00

Ikebana Flower Arranging with Carol CookLearn the art of Ikebana, Japanese flower ar-ranging. Schedule may vary.Day: MondayTime: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Date: September 13 - 27 October 4 - 25 November 8 - 29Fee: $50.00

Teen Activities

Lake Norman Teen CouncilLake Norman Teen Council Mission State-ment:To provide North Mecklenburg teens in middle school and high school an opportunity to de-velop a foundation for volunteer opportunities, social interaction, programming, teamwork, and leadership skills. Teens will serve the com-munity and create programming for their peers in a fun, safe, and structured environment with advice and guidance from their adult advisors.Day: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each monthTime: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.Place: Davidson Parks and Recreation Offices 416 Armour Street, Davidson, NC 28036Visit www.corneliuspr.org, www.huntersville.org, and www.ci.davidson.nc.us, for more information. The council is sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Departments of Corne-lius 704 765-1450, Huntersville 704 766-2220, and Davidson 704 892-3349. Please call your local department for more informa-tion.

Youth Athletics

Cornelius-Davidson Youth Basketball League RegistrationDate: October 4 - 29Age: 5 - 17Where to register: www.corneliuspr.org or stop by either the Town of Davidson or the Town of

7www.ci .davidson.nc.us

Cornelius Parks and Recreation offices. Proof of age is required for first time players.

All registrants are required to participate in a basketball skills assessment session in order to be selected in the team draft process. Those who do not attend skills assessment will be placed on teams through a blind draw process after all other children have been selected. League staff strives to create a balanced league in each age group.

Volunteer coaches and assistant coaches are needed. All volunteers will be required to submit to a full background check and attend training sessions prior to the start of the season. Coach applications may be found online or at each parks and recreation office.

Local businesses, agencies, and organizations are sought to be team sponsors. Sponsor fees are $200.00 per team. Sponsorships help de-fray the costs of the program and give all chil-dren the opportunity to play no matter their family’s ability to pay. For more information please contact the Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation office at 704 892-3349 or the Town of Cornelius PARC office at 704 892-6031.

Learn to play sports with Coach RootThis program, designed for preschool age children who are too young to participate in organized league play, teaches the basic funda-mental skills of each sport offered so that they can be practiced in the backyard or neighbor-hood park. This program requires the partici-pation of at least one adult with each child. The program will be held on the Davidson Village Green located at the corner of Main Street and Concord Road adjacent to the Davidson Public Library.

Preschool SoccerDay: TuesdayTime: 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.Date: September 21 - October 26Fee: $55.00Age: 3 - 4

Golf for YouthDay: TuesdayTime: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.Date: September 21 - October 26Fee: $55.00Age: 5 - 6

Athletic Field Reservation:Use of the Town of Davidson athletic facilities requires reservation. Field reservations will be on a first come, first serve basis. Priority will be given to all Parks and Recreation sponsored programs. For reservations, call 704 940-9641

School Day Out Programs

Gypsy Soup Cooking ClassIs your child looking for an exciting day of learning basic cooking skills? Gypsy Soup is offering hands on cooking classes for children ages 6 – 12. Each class allows the kids to explore cooking, kitchen safety, sanitation, and nutrition in fun ways. Basic knife skills and fundamental cooking techniques are developed through the class. Your child will also enjoy eating all the delicious dishes they have created.Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.Dates: October 28, October 29, November 11Fee: $50 per classAge: 6 - 12

Drama Classes from Davidson Community Players' The Connie CompanyaLooking for a little DRAMA? The Connie Company, Davidson Community Players Theatre for Youth, continues its roster of fun, affordable and authentic drama classes for preschool through high school kids. Classes range from basic theatre play, storytelling and theatre games for the youngest to audition preparation, scene study and a Shakespeare intensive for the oldest. All classes are held at the Armour Street Theatre, an authentic, work-ing theatre. Classes culminate with a sharing for family and friends. The Audition class will include mock auditions and interviews and the Shakespeare Intensive will culminate with an "unplugged" production of “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” Find complete class listings, descriptions and fees at www.ci.davidson.nc.us or on the DCP website: www.davidsoncommu-nityplayers.org.

Special Events

Downtown Halloween “Trick or Treat” March Davidson characters of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite costume and participate in the annual downtown Halloween “Trick or Treat” march. Representatives from the local merchants and businesses located on Main Street will be in front of their business handing out treats with a few tricks mixed in. Local non-profit organiza-tions and groups are asked to volunteer to fill in the gaps that occur along on Main Street. Contact the Parks and Recreation office at 704 892-3349 if you are interested in volunteering during the event.Day: FridayTime: 4:45 p.m. line-up begins; 5:15 p.m. march begins Date: October 29 Location: Davidson Town Hall

Veteran's Day ObservancePlease gather with us as we honor our military veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedoms. Day: ThursdayTime: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Date: November 11Location: Davidson Village Green

North Mecklenburg Christmas ParadeSDay: SaturdayTime: 1:00 p.m.Date: December 4The annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade benefits the Town of Davidson Volunteer Fire Department and the Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire Department. There will be major street closures during the parade. Please check the Town of Davidson website for a map of these closures and to obtain information to register for the parade at www.ci.davidson.nc.us or call the Town of Davidson at 704 892-7591.

Christmas In DavidsonJoin us as we ring in the holiday season, with our largest annual town-wide event featuring a myriad of entertainment venues, horse drawn carriages, food vendors and much more. For more information contact the Sandy Lemons, Downtown Manager, at 704 892-7591. Dates: December 2, 3, 4Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Preschool construction campers are on their way to becoming town planners.

8www.ci .davidson.nc.us

Public Works News by Doug Wright

If you experienced significant stormwater runoff on your property this summer, you are not alone. Data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that the town experienced significant rainfall events on July 12 (1.62 inches) and July 17 (1.86 inches). What role does the town play in managing this impact for property owners?Stormwater is defined as water that falls from the sky, is not absorbed into the ground, and is conveyed via ditches, channels, inlets, and pipe to our streams. This street-to-stream system is completely separate from the system which provides drinking water to, and removes wastewater and sewage from, our houses and businesses. A storm inlet is shown at right. Substances should not be dumped into storm inlets – this is the same as dumping pollutants into our streams and lakes.

A sewer manhole is shown below – this is not part of the storm system.In newer development, stormwater may be filtered and treated by rain gardens or detention ponds, but for most of Davidson, stormwater entering our streams is not treated to remove pollution. As the town grows, new stormwater infrastructure must be added, and the existing system must be maintained.To maintain this system, the town collects a fee, which appears on our CMU water and sewer bills, from residents and businesses. The fee is collected bi-annually, and is based on the impervious (hard) surface on your property. In the illustration above, the house pictured on the right has more impervious area than the house on the left, and therefore sends more rain water into the storm system. Under the town’s fee structure, the house on the right pays a higher rate. Often, a two story house will have the same impervious area as a one-story house, although the two-story house has more square footage. Mecklenburg County uses a geographic information system (GIS) to determine the impervious area on a parcel. Property owners can check their impervious area online via the following link (click on Environment/Water tab): http://maps.co.mecklenburg.nc.us/geoportal/. What service does the town provide with the funds it collects? The most important qualifier for the use of stormwater funds is that the stormwater must be coming off of a public street. The town does not address runoff issues between private parcels – these issues must be resolved between the property owners. Typical services include:• Remove fallen trees and large debris from creeks when those obstructions create a qualifying drainage problem• Clean storm drain pipes, catch basins and culverts• Install larger storm drainage pipes and culverts when necessary• Repair or replace broken storm drainage pipes• Control severe creek bank erosion• Repair sinkholes that occur over a drainage pipe system• Operate a flood notification system for emergency respondersProblems that typically do not qualify for stormwater funds include:• Yard flooding• Drainage problems caused by landscaping or yard grading• Standing water from groundwater conditions• Standing water in drainage channels• Roof/gutter drainage system problems• Runoff from adjacent properties

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NEW SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FEE BILLED IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBERConsumers have become more mindful in recent years to reduce the impact of their household waste on the environment. A financial incentive also exists for individuals to redirect more waste into recycling channels. The town’s cost of providing waste collection services is largely dependent on the total tonnage of trash sent into the waste stream. You may be surprised that our cost to recycle a ton of waste material is only 36% of the cost to dispose of that same waste in a landfill.

During the next two months Davidson homeowners will receive their annual property tax bills. One new item on that bill will be a solid waste fee, adopted last June by the Board of Commissioners as part of the annual budget. That fee is $201 for residents who have rollout carts and recycling bins. Those residents who toss their waste into community dumpsters will pay $57-$85, depending on where they live. Davidson citizens who livein Iredell County, namely the Davidson Pointe neighborhood, will receive a separate bill from the Town of Davidson for their solid waste fee.

The town contracts with Allied Waste for collection of household garbage, recycling, yard waste (limbs, grass clippings), and leaf collection. Al-lied provides most single-family residences 96-gallon rollout containers for garbage and 18-gallon bins for recycling. Residents of condominium and apartment complexes may use a combination of dumpsters and carts. Yard waste and bagged leaves are collected at the curb. All types of refuse are collected weekly in Davidson. The current schedule provides pickup each Wednesday, except during holiday weeks when collection is usually delayed by one day.

Residents should contact Allied directly should rollout carts or bins need to be replaced. Please call them between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday – Friday, at 704 393-6900.

Although property tax bills are normally mailed at the beginning of September, bills for the following properties will not go into the mail until the end of October: • Davidson Landing • Spinnaker Point • Linden Court • Spinnaker Reach • Deer Park at Boardwalk

Please refer to the town’s website for additional information about waste collection services, recycling instructions, and the associated fee.

Finance Department News by Eric Hardy

Our process for picking up leaves this fall has changed: All leaves need to be bagged and set at the curb for pick up. Please check our website www.ci.davidson.nc.us for schedules and more information.

• Minor erosion• Developments with a certificate of occupancy one year old or less• Vacant properties

Repairs that usually do not qualify for stormwater funds include:• Clean up sticks, leaves or debris left on private property after heavy rain or flooding• Repair or replace private property that is damaged by storm water runoff or flooding. Examples include air conditioners, heating units, fences, walls, gardens, lawns, shrubs, swimming pools, mail boxes and dog houses• Mow a storm drainage easement on private property• Clear out incidental debris from creeks and drainage ditches such as trash, leaves, grass clippings or small tree branches• Clear cut vegetation from creek banks as part of routine maintenance

What can residents do to help manage the stormwater system? We should manage our yard waste so that it does not end up covering, or near, storm inlets. Residents are asked to report any illegal dumping of any substance into storm drains. Davidson, like most municipalities, is challenged to keep all of our inlets clear. We appreciate homeowners pitching in by removing leaves and other debris from inlet covers, or calling the town to report a blocked inlet. These contributions from residents, and the efficient use of our stormwater funds by town staff, are both part of the effort to keep our streams and lakes clean.

Public Works News, cont'd

10www.ci .davidson.nc.us

pave the way to save the libraryThe Town of Davidson Library Task Force, in conjunction with the Davidson Public Library, held an open house on Tuesday, August 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. to kick-off its “Pave the Way to Save the Library” fundraising campaign and volunteer drive. Over $20,000 was raised in the first week of the campaign!

Since July 6, hours at community libraries including Davidson and Cornelius have been cut back to four days and 32 hours a week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Both branches will be closed Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

In order to keep the Davidson Public Library open the Town of Davidson promised to pay $175,000 to Mecklenburg County’s library system. The task force is requesting assistance from residents to raise this sum. Donations to the “Pave the Way to Save the Library” campaign go directly to Davidson’s library. Donations will not go to the general library fund for Mecklenburg County. Money raised in Davidson will stay in Davidson. If we raise more than $175,000 the surplus will be placed in the Davidson Library Endowment Fund to ensure that the money stays in Davidson specifically for use by our library.

The task force is raising money by selling engraved bricks to be placed in the patio in front of the raised stage on the Village Green. Bricks may be purchased to honor an individual, family or in memory of a loved one; or they can be engraved with a favorite book title or author. Two sizes of bricks are offered: a 4x8 engraved brick for $100 (tax-deductible) or an 8x8 engraved brick for a minimum of $500 (tax-deductible). The engraved bricks will be used to enhance the lawn in front of the library and other areas on the green. J’Nell Bryson, a landscape architect who is also working on a separate project with the Davidson Public Art Commission - the Book Garden project - will work with the Town of Davidson and Davidson College on a schematic for brick placement.

Jane Ellithorpe, a talented Davidson artist, donated two renderings of the library which have been printed on thank you notes that are sent to all donors. Note cards are also available at town hall for donors who would like to notify those they have honored that a brick has been given in their honor.

Donors can pick up order forms at the library or town hall. Or visit www.savedavidsonlibrary.org to make a purchase. For those not wishing to purchase a brick, tax-deductible donations to the town will also be accepted. They can be mailed to:

Town of DavidsonP.O. Box 579Davidson, NC 28036Memo: Library Fund Raising Project

Additionally, there will be a 15th Anniversary celebration on September 24 at the Davidson Public Library. We encourage everyone to attend, celebrate 15 years of lending books, and learn more about their programs, volunteer opportunities, and the fund drive

Town News

Davidson Public Library- "Pave the Way to Save the Library".

TOWN OF DAVIDSON NOW ACCEPTING ADVISORYBOARD APPLICATIONS

The town will be accepting 2011 advisory board applications until September 30, 2010. The mayor and town board will appoint board members and citizens to sit on several local and regional boards for the 2011 term at the November board meeting. The advisory application can be found on the town website, www.ci.davidson.nc.us and can be submitted to Lillian Smith at town hall email, lsmith@ci.davidson.nc.us or by fax at 703 892-3971 or by mail at P. O. Box 579, Davidson, N.C. 28036.The town is looking for members to sit on the following boards and committees: Planning Board, Design Review Board, Greenways, Trails and Bikeways Advisory Board, Recreation Advisory Board and Public Art Commission.

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Mayor's Musings continued from page 2Planning Newsby Lauren Blackburn

The Board of Commissioners adopted the Davidson Comprehensive Plan in August. Town staff and elected officials continue to express ap-preciation to the many citizens who volunteered their time developing the Comprehensive Plan over the past two years. Following adoption, staff immediately began plans for implementa-tion. The Comprehensive Plan calls for local citizens to be deeply involved in the process of identifying which plan goals are immediate pri-orities, describing strategic steps to implement those goals, and reserving funds in future years of the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and near-term budgets to support the strategic action steps. We encourage those of you who were involved in the initial work of the Compre-hensive Plan to maintain their commitment by attending advisory board meetings and propos-ing what they think are the top priorities for goal implementation.

This fall, staff will ask the Planning Board, the local citizen’s advisory group that facilitated hundreds of hours of Comprehensive Plan study group meetings, to compare current Board of Commissioners’ goals with those found in the Comprehensive Plan. The Board of Commis-sioners will also hear from other advisory boards in late 2010 what they consider to be their top priorities. And the Board of Commissioners will hear staff recommendations for strategies to implement priority goals. We hope to see prior-ity goals achieved within a two- to three-year horizon.

Town staff continues to promote the livability themes and goals found in the Comprehensive Plan among our neighboring jurisdictions and regional agencies. Davidson’s Comprehensive Plan is consistent with several regional initia-tives, and staff will put extra effort toward regional partnerships in order to implement the plan. One recent example of regional col-laboration is the process the Town of Davidson followed to recommend changes to the Meck-lenburg Union Metropolitan Planning Orga-nization (MUMPO) Thoroughfare Plan. The town proposed several significant changes to the MUMPO Thoroughfare Plan as it affects the mobility network within Davidson’s jurisdiction. Staff will continue to work through the regional process for amending long-range transportation plans to more accurately reflect Davidson’s vision for roads, bikeways and transit.

Another regional initiative that may be of interest to Davidson is the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program. Centralina Council of Govern-ments is organizing a regional proposal to HUD to use grant funding to model land use decisions on the natural environment, transportation, and housing. The Town of Davidson will be an active participant in this initiative if Centralina receives the grant. Grant announcements will likely be released in 2011.

taking the next steps

The crowd enjoys a Concert on the Green.

ation supervisor for health and wellness posi-tion once she gets her feet on the ground.

The planner I interviews were conducted in August and Ben McCrary was chosen for the position. He interned with the town’s planning department several years ago before taking a job with the City of Conover. He will assume his new duties September 1.

The goal of the staff reorganization was to put town staff in the best position to implement the Comprehensive Plan and Board of Com-missioners’ goals. We are also changing and developing processes to strategically approach Comprehensive Plan implementation. We look forward to filling all positions, pursuing your Comprehensive Plan vision and continu-ing to provide the best services possible to Davidson citizens.

Managers' Notebook continued from page 1

Police officer David Houk with Athletic Supervisor Harold Voelker at National Night Out in Roosevelt Wilson Park.

broadband system now delivers high defini-tion television, the fastest internet access and voice/phone services coupled with a service commitment to outstanding customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With contin-ued growth and acceptance of the system from consumers and commercial users, the system will reach economic stability. In fact, there is a growing trend of communi-ties developing broadband communications systems - in North Carolina as well as across the nation. The realization that communities who have a state of the art telecommunictions system can control their future and that state of the art broadband communications systems can be an economic development tool is spur-ring this trend. Having an advanced telecom-munications network will not necessarily guarantee economic development success, but NOT having a responsive system will certainly point to failure for a community’s economic development efforts. Davidson pioneers.

Town of Davidson P.O. Box 579 Davidson, NC 28036

http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us

RESIDENT / BOXHOLDER DAVIDSON, NC 28036

C a l e n d a r o f e v e n t s S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R N O V E M B E R

The

Message Town

All meetings are held at town hall unless otherwise specified.

All department meetings, advisory board meetings and charettes are listed on

our website.

September 2 Natural Assets Board

7:00 p.m.

September 6 Town Hall closed for Labor Day

7:00 p.m.

September 10 Concert on the Green-The Extraordinaires

Start: 6:00 p.m. End: 9:00 p.m.

September 14 Town Board Meeting

6:00 p.m.

September 21 Town Board Work Session

7:00 p.m.

September 22 Design Review Board

7:00 p.m.

September 27 Planning Board Meeting

7:00 p.m.

October 5 Recreation Advisory Board

7:00 p.m.

October 7 Natural Assets Board

7:00 p.m.

October 12 Town Board Meeting

6:00 p.m.

October 19 Greenways, Trails & Bikeways Advisory Board

7:00 p.m

October 20 Design Review Board

7:00 p.m.

October 25 Planning Board Meeting

7:00 p.m.

October 27 Town Board Work Session

6:00 p.m.

November 2 Recreation Advisory Board

7:00 p.m.

November 4 Natural Assets Board

7:00 p.m.

November 9 Town Board Meeting

6:00 p.m.

November 17 Design Review Board

7:00 p.m.

November 23 Town Board Work Session

6:00 p.m.

November 24 Jack Burney Community Service Award

9:00 a.m

November 25-26 Town Hall closed for Thanksgiving

November 29 Planning Board Meeting

7:00 p.m.