It’s official – I am now a senior citizen! Believe it or not, I have reached the age where I can now join the Davie County Senior Center. It feels like just yesterday that I graduated from Davie High with the Class of 1987. Now I get to enjoy all of the benefits of being a “Senior Citizen.” The Davie Senior Center is top-notch and is highly rated in comparison to our surrounding counties. I had the pleasure of being the emcee for this year’s Ms. Senior Davie pageant. Michelle Ellis and Carrie Miller do an excellent job with every aspect of the Senior Center, but I especially love this annual pageant. I was able to see four lovely ladies courageously step onto a stage and show their pride in who they are and what they have accomplished. Although only one contestant was crowned as queen, all of the ladies were winners for having participated. Since that night I have noticed all of the folks around town that should be showcased for all they have done in their lives. We have a great community full of outstanding people.
Last weekend the Davie County Masonic lodges held the 145th annual Masonic Picnic. I have fond memories of what the picnic once was when there were rides and you got to see your school friends after a whole summer of being apart. There were no amusement rides this year and Covid 19 did its part in canceling the “picnic” aspect of the day; however this year I did see something that brought a spark of joy to my heart. The kids are back! This year’s picnic coordinator- James Taylor- was able to arrange a charter bus for the children to come from the Oxford Masonic Children’s Home to our event. There were kids everywhere! These kids didn’t care that there was no ferris wheel or swings. They had dinosaurs and food trucks and a bouncy house. The whole purpose of the Masonic Picnic for 145 years was to raise money for what was formerly known as the Oxford Orphanage. We have always invited the children, but for various reasons they could not always attend. We all should be proud of this long-standing event that the Davie County Masons hold every year. All of the Masonic lodges across North Carolina and throughout the world are committed to the support of “widows and orphans.” It does make it worthwhile when you see a child smiling and having fun despite the difficulties life has put in his or her path. It was certainly a great day for Davie County!
The Mocksville Town Board of Commissioners is working hard to make good decisions and develop a vision for the future of our town. Your elected officials spend long hours discussing plans for future development and infrastructure, while trying to balance growth and not becoming the next Hanes Mall Blvd or Lewisville-Clemmons Road. The Board made a tough decision at our September meeting to deny the approval of 150 town houses that were to be built near Koontz Road. They chose to “tap the brakes” on growth just to make sure we do not grow too fast. For the developer and folks looking for housing this was not the best decision, but for the citizens of the town and the residents around Koontz Road it was the best decision for this moment in time. Fortunately, we live in a great town with good access to highways, an exceptional infrastructure, and a bounty of amenities for its citizens. Unfortunately this is attractive to all the folks who do not live here and want to be a part of a community like ours.
Growth is inevitable. People want to move here, and businesses want to build here. We just need to be prepared and plan wisely. Thank you for electing officials who care about our town and strive to have a vision for its future.
Mayor Will Marklin