E3D organizer Pat Millen (fifth from left) received a check for $10,320 from Peninsula Community Foundation chair Todd Wiebusch. With them are others associated with both End Davidson’s Digital Divide and the foundation.

The Lake Norman community is responding to the technology challenge issued earlier this year by Davidson-based nonprofit E3D, which wants to put computers in the hands local schoolkids who lack them. Organizer Pat Millen says help is coming in big and small ways – from donors as large as the Peninsula Community Foundation to events like the Biggest Lemonade Stand Day Ever planned in Davidson Saturday.

The Peninsula Community Foundation recently presented E3D with a check for $10,320 to help fund the group’s goal of helping close the digital gap among families in local schools. Working with local social service and school leaders, E3D is identifying students at public schools in Cornelius and Davidson who lack computers and internet connections.

RELATED COVERAGE

May 17, 2013, DavidsonNews.net, “How to end the digital divide: lemonade stands and foundation grants”

Feb. 27, 2013, DavidsonNews.net, “E3D’s goal: Eliminate Davidson’s Digital Divide.”

The tournament honors the late Russell Knox (left) and Don Howie.

Area Lions Clubs are hosting their 11th annual Lake Norman Regional Golf Tournament on Monday, April 22, at Northstone Country Club in Huntersville. The clubs are now seeking sponsors for the event, which is a major fundraiser for Lions’ projects, including employment programs and summer camps for the visually impaired. Read the full story

Terry Laney

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net

Terry Laney, who has led Our Towns Habitat for Humanity for the past 13 years, has stepped down, and the board has appointed a longtime Charlotte-based volunteer as interim director while it looks for a permanent successor. Enrique Sanchez, a retired Bank of America economist and 17-year Habitat volunteer, took over the reins last week at the local Habitat affiliate. Read the full story

Using their iPads to scan an electronic code on the wall are, from left, second graders Avery Jedlick, Stephanie Chavez, Hailey Fanjoy. See more photos below. (Max Dudek and Aiden Dudley photo – 5th grade students)

By ANNE VARI
CorneliusNews.net

Cornelius Elementary School students recently prowled the school corridors using iPads to help decipher electronic codes during the 2nd annual Digital Learning Day. More about that below,  along with news that JV Washam Elementary will name its media center after local resident Violet Washam. Also, a list of upcoming school events, including Monday’s holiday and a Hough High musical. Read the full story

Fundraising is in full swing for the 2013 Big Day at the Lake, an annual outing on Lake Norman for kids served through Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte. Two events this weekend will contribute to the cause: A Beach Blast Friday night at Harvey’s in Cornelius, and Saturday morning’s North Mecklenburg Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Bethel Presbyterian Church. Read the full story

Volunteers at the “checkout” table, from left Lindsey Fletcher and Suzanne Lange (Laurie Venzon photo)

More than 800 area families who need a little extra help with Christmas this year had a chance to go “shopping” for toys for their kids on Sunday in free “toy stores” at the four campuses of Mooresville-based The Cove church.

Every year during December, The Cove church has done “angel trees,” to provide gifts for local families in need. This year, the church took a new approach: setting up “toy stores” at its campuses that allowed families to come “shop” for free.

The “toy stores” were at the main campus in Mooresville as well as satellite sites at W.A. Hough High School, in Statesville and in Newton, in Catawba County. Read the full story

Volunteers helping to wrap presents Saturday at Town Hall included from left Brooke Baucom, Blake Allen, and Josh Allen and Tyler Baucom (back). (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

Cornelius police officers, their families and other volunteers spent Saturday morning giving back, in the department’s annual “Adopt-a-Family” program. About two dozen volunteers gathered at Town Hall to wrap gifts of clothes and toys for needy families in town, then loaded up a truck and delivered the Christmas offerings.
Read the full story