McCrary has served as town planner since September 2010, and also was an intern with the town in 2006.
Before coming to Davidson, McCrary worked in the Department of Community Development with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission in Pittsfield, Mass. He also worked for more than three years with the City of Newton, where he assisted with economic development initiatives, environmental permits and complex ordinance reviews.
Since coming to Davidson, McCrary has assisted with various in-house planning projects, worked with the planning board and helped draft ordinance amendments. He also has been the primary contact for property owners and builders applying for permits, as well as the town’s lead plan reviewer, GIS technician and code enforcement officer.
McCrary graduated from the University of Albany in New York with degrees in geography and urban planning.
Blackburn – who announced last week that she has resigned her post to take a position with the N.C. Department of Transportation – said she’s comfortable leaving the town’s planning efforts in McCrary’s hands.
“Ben provides an insightful and objective perspective to the planning department and projects led by other town departments,” she said. “He is smart, perceptive, a careful listener and has a facility for a variety of tasks. These are all important traits in a decision-maker, especially a planning manager.”
Blackburn’s last day will be April 20.
An evening crawl with local artists
The April is for Arts Gallery Crawl in Davidson is set for Friday, April 13, with venues that will include a variety of Davidson galleries, restaurants and businesses as well as Town Hall. A total of 22 business will be open to the evening’s “crawlers.”
From 6 to 9 p.m., visitors can view works of art in various media — from oils and pastels to photography and jewelry — from more than 40 of the region’s finest artists.
In addition, Melissa Black Reddick, a ceramic artist, art educator and owner of the Black Seed Pottery Studio in Davidson, will demonstrate her craft on the pottery wheel and answer questions about her technique. Ben & Jerry’s will sponsor Reddick outside its shop.
There is no admission fee for the crawl, and a trolley will be available for transportation to the venues from eight parking areas around town.
For more information and to view a gallery crawl map and list of artists, visit www.townofdavidson.org/aprilarts.
Weekend mini golf benefit for autism
Lake Norman Miniature Golf in Cornelius will host “Autism Speaks Awareness Day” on Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., when 50 percent of the day’s ticket sales will benefit Team Kenzie’s Krew for the 10th annual Carolinas Walk Now for Autism Speaks. The walk will take place later this year on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the zMAX Dragway in Concord.
The Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are the signature fund-raising events for Autism Speaks. Last year, Carolinas Walk Now for Autism Speaks attracted more than 9,000 walkers and raised more than $470,000.
This year, thousands of walkers — including individuals with autism, their families and friends — will join together to raise much needed funds for critical scientific research, advocacy efforts and family services as well as to increase awareness about autism spectrum disorder, which is now diagnosed in one in 110 children.
Mini golf tickets for adults and children age seven or older are $8 each. Lake Norman Miniature Golf is at 18639 Statesville Road in Cornelius. For more information, visit www.lknminigolf.com or call 704-892-9800. For more details about the 2012 Carolinas Walk Now for Autism Speaks, visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/carolinas or contact Lauren Kidder at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Lake Norman YMCA hosts some family fun
Families in the mood for a little free entertainment and exercise this weekend can check out the Family Fun Day hosted by the Lake Norman YMCA.
Set for Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free activities at the waterfront venue will include bounce houses, games, canoeing and kayaking, archery, face painting, exotic animals, pony rides and local vendors.
Opportunities to register for summer camp will also be available. Families who sign up on Saturday will receive a special gift.
Event guests and sponsors include Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop, Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry, Cornelius Animal Shelter, Herbalize, Huntersville Eye Care, Our Towns Cinema, Lakecross Veterinary Hospital, Scentsy, So Sweet Embroidery, Zimmerman Family Wellness and more.
Admission is free and is open to the community. For more information, call Honora Ruggiero, youth development director, at 704-716-4432.
Fundraising event planned at Tenders
Thursday, April 19, will feature a special fundraising effort at Tenders Fresh Food in Cornelius. From 5 to 9 p.m., the restaurant will be donating 10 percent of all sales to “Team Camden” for 24 Hours of Booty. There will be food and drink specials, as well as family activities.
Dr. Seth Moliver of Moliver Chiropractic and his wife, Patti, will be teaming up with Tenders to help raise money for the upcoming 24 Hours of Booty, a 24-hour bike ride to raise money for cancer research. The Molivers will be riding in the event in memory of their cousin, Camden, who lost his battle with leukemia at only five months old (visit www.camdensjourney.com to learn more). Tenders is at 18341 Statesville Road in Cornelius.
