7/16/09 Lions, Tigers, Bears, Barracudas, and Cicadas.

Alright, who ordered up this New England weather? Hmm? Someone step up and take responsibility for these cool nights and low-humidity days! I bet it was some displaced Northerner- and you know who I’m talking to! Well, I want my Central Virginia summer back. I want my own, personal sauna. I want to be able to fully appreciate things, like central air conditioning, gin & tonics, and October. None of these things matter much when you have to put on jeans in the evening just to sit on your back porch. This is Ashland, VA not Ashland, MA. Good grief.

While we might be considered a suburb of Richmond, we lean more towards the wilderness around here. Deer seem to like our vacant lots, copperheads like of yards, and at least one bear visits regularly each summer. Now I’ve heard of bobcat sightings in Beaverdam and LA (Lower Ashland- you should know that by now). So if you count the Tiger Trot coming up in September, you can say, “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” (Thank you to Mr. Brown for pointing that out.)

Registration is now open for the 2009 Tiger Trot benefiting Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools. This year the race will be held on Saturday, September 19th. The kid's races begin at 8:00am and the 5K begins at 9:00am. You can register online at https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=506. This is a lovely race and does so much to help out our local elementary schools.

Mark your calendar for the second Street Party of the summer! Saturday, July 18th will bring local wineries for a wine tasting with music by Premiere. Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 at the gate, and are on sale at Cross Brothers Grocery, Ace Hardware, and Hometown Realty. Gates open at 7 pm in the parking lot behind the library.

What is summer without a lemonade stand? The school-age students at Kiddie Kingdom are participating in the 8th Annual Anthem LemonAid on Friday, July 17th. The Children’s Miracle Network Richmond established this fundraiser as a way for children to get involved and to give back to the community. They will be raising money to help children with cancer. Their stand will be located on the front porch and we encourage everyone to drive through and purchase lemonade from Kiddie Kingdom! The stand will be open all day (7:00 am – 6:00 pm), and lemonade will be sold for $1.00 per cup.

Here’s my other, really important Ashland news: The cicadas have returned and can be heard chirping most afternoons and evenings until well past midnight. Sleep with your windows open for a wonderful Virginia lullaby. I would also point out that now is the perfect time to change your diet so that you can eat BLTs all day. They are perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and will never taste as good as they do right now.

The Ashland Barracudas won their meet against Mechanicsville last week, but did you really expect anything other than that? The final score was 1370 to 1080, and Mechanicsville had 24 MORE swimmers registered than Ashland. The last meet is this week against Pebble Creek. I am just so impressed.

Let me know what’s going on down your street. Have you read a good book lately? How are your tomatoes doing? If you catch a June bug, tie a string around it’s leg and you can have a flying pet on a string. Then send me a picture of it. I can be reached at 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can find a record of these columns at http://www.ashlandnews@blogspot.com/. Have a great week!

7/9/09 Ashland the Beautiful, Unstoppable Barracudas, Second Street Party, Bubble Prank

What a beautiful Fourth of July weekend! I’d like to send many thanks to all the volunteers at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center for putting on another wonderful 4th celebration. Carolyn Peart was committee chair for the parade and all the fun on the front lawn, and she did an amazing job as always. The new parade route was different, but I think everything went smoothly. We loved all the pets- the dogs, the puppies, and the rat! The sun shone, the humidity was low, and the controversies over the balloon toss were settled amicably.

I hope all your afternoon activities on the 4th were fun. We spent most of the afternoon and evening on Virginia Street, and might have spent the night if we didn’t have to go see some fireworks. A good time was definitely had by all.

The Ashland Barracudas are completely unstoppable these days. Their meet against Kings Charter was interrupted by a tornado warning this past Wednesday night, and continued the next evening where Ashland prevailed with a 1206 to 1111 win. Ashland was even the smaller team by 50 swimmers!

This Friday, July 10th, is Teen Movie night at the Ashland Library from 6-8pm. This event is hosted by the Friends of the Ashland Library- drinks and pizza will be served.

Mark your calendar for the second Street Party of the summer! Saturday, July 18th will bring local wineries for a wine tasting with music by Premiere. Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 at the gate, and are on sale at Cross Brothers Grocery, Ace Hardware, and Hometown Realty. Gates open at 7 pm in the parking lot behind the library.

The first class to graduate Patrick Henry High School, he class of 1960, will be celebrating a reunion at the Hanover Country Club on September 19th. Reunion chairman is Franklin Jones from Doswell, and he can be reached at 876 3644. Please call for more information- don’t miss this party!

I was late to work this morning because I had to stop and take pictures of the Randolph-Macon campus. Huge blobs of bubbles had escaped from the massive bubble-bath that was the fountain, and had drifted across the street to the Brock Center. There was a R-MC physical plant employee standing next to the fountain with a blank look on his face. I’m sure he’s tired of cleaning up from practical jokers, but it sure was entertaining- it almost looked like a new art installation.

Remember: No news is too small for summertime. Send me your stories of the sublime and the miniscule. Do your hydrangeas like all the wet weather? Did you buy some new flip-flops? Who won the washer game in the backyard last weekend? Everyone wants to know! You can reach me at 310-5320 or email, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!

7/2/09 Ashland's Fourth of July, Mighty Barracudas, Remembering Harry

In the summer, I like to see beach towels hung to dry on porch railings. I like to see kids riding their bikes everywhere. In our house now, the windows stay shut and the air conditioner stays on, but I miss the sound of a fan in the window. In the seventies, sometimes my parents would sit on the front porch with their friends and their gin & tonics, and I could hear their voices through my bedroom window. It was a comforting sound to listen to as I fell asleep: muffled laughter and the buzz of August cicadas. Are summers ever as perfect as the ones we remember from our childhood?

Rest up for the Fourth of July! The Ashland Library’s Used Book Sale begins at 9am inside the Arts and Activities Center, and your apple pie for the contest needs to be dropped off by 10am.

Get your kids to decorate their bikes and line up for the parade in the Henry Clay Elementary parking lot by 10:15, and the parade starts at 11:00- SHARP! Bring your blanket & chairs, and find a shady spot on the front lawn of HAAC. There will be music, games for the kids, food, ice cream, crafts, and carriage rides around town. It is hard for me to believe that any place on earth could have a better 4th of July than we do.

The Patriotic Pet judging will begin at 11:45 at the corner of Cox Lane, and the winners of the Apple Pie Contest will be announced at noon.

The Ashland Barracudas are unstoppable these days! At press time, they were 3 and 0 against Pebble Creek, Milestone, and Ashcreek. It’s really thrilling to watch these swimmers evolve over the years and just fly through the water. My fingers are crossed for another great meet against Kings Charter this week.

In other news this week, the Spence Manufacturing Co. announced that it was shutting down production on its most popular model. Industry analysts were not surprised by this move, and CEO Susan Spence said that this reorganization was planned for many months and is “just not a big deal”.

The 11 year old Ashland All Star District 5 team opened up play this past weekend with an exciting come from behind win against the Mechanicsville Nationals. The boys of summer on the Ashland team are Garrett Allen, Trey Inge, Phillip Lockwood, Eric O'Malley, Kipp Proffitt, Dylan Ross, Holden Samuels, Hunter Snelson, George Stiles, William Strong and Cole Woods. Dylan Ross got Ashland off to a great start as he led the game with a homerun; he also had 3 runs batted in and came in to pitch in relief and picked up the win for the hometown squad! The team is managed by Kevin Proffitt and the coaches are Steve O'malley and EG Allen, and faced the Chesterfield Little League this past Monday evening.

I doubt if anyone else noticed this sad anniversary, but it was 80 years ago this past Monday that Sargeant Harry Valentine Smeeman was murdered in Ashland. He was young, just 38, and he left behind his wife, Lula, and their two daughters, Dorothy and Mildred. It is a sinister story, one that still gives me chills when I think about it, and it is a story that won’t leave me alone. Perhaps it is destined to remain unsolved. We will see.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful weekend!

Summertime and the living is easy...

So, how many people went out looking for the Ashland bear last week? I heard there were search parties out all over town, and unfortunately I was in Mechanicsville all day and missed out on the fun. I heard that it was on Railroad Ave, then behind the Skateland, then on his way to Doswell. Here’s another perfect example of how we have it all in the COTU- excitement, adventure, even wild animals!

In June of 1959, Henry Clay High School graduated its last class, and the two-story building that was built in 1915 closed its doors forever. That building stood where the parking lot is now at Henry Clay Elementary. The reunion committee for this last class, under the direction of Chairman Bruce Newell, is currently planning for their 50th Reunion on September 19th, at the Hanover Country Club. You can contact Linda T Holt (Virginia Beach) for more information: (757) 481-4176.

Are you ready for the 4th of July? Have you pulled out your bunting, and your patriotic clothes? Get your kids to decorate their bikes and join in the fun by participating in the parade! The new and improved route begins (line up by 10:15 am) at Henry Clay Elementary and will end at the Arts and Activities Center. There will be patriotic music, food, crafts, and games on the front lawn of the Center. Bring your family and friends, bring a picnic lunch, and come spend the Fourth with the best neighbors in the Universe. You can find more details and a map of the parade route at www.hanoverarts.org or call Carolyn Peart (804)798-9131. Remember to make a pie for the Apple Pie Contest!

Lorie Foley brings Children's Theatre Camp back to the Hanover Arts & Activities Center this summer. On July 1, 2009, there will be auditions for Peter Pan from 1-3 pm and 6-8pm at the Center. Camp starts July 6 and continues through Aug. 6, 2009 Mon. - Thursday 3 - 5 pm. Please visit www.hanoverarts.org for more information and a registration form.

Registration is now open for the 2009 Tiger Trot benefiting Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools. This year the race will be held on Saturday, September 19th. The kid's races begin at 8:00am and the 5K begins at 9:00am. You can register online at https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=506. This is a lovely race and does so much to help out our local elementary schools.

There will be a Home Business Bazaar fundraiser for Charlotte Reynolds on Sat, June 27th from 10-2pm at St. Ann’s Church. Some of the many vendors attending include: Avon, Arbonne, Pampered Chef, and Creative Memories. You can read about Charlotte’s struggle against a brain tumor at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds.

The Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra will perform at the Ashland Library on Wednesday, July 1 at 10:30 a.m. Dance along to the “gourdeous” music of the eclectic group, who grow their own instruments locally.

You know, I don’t practice what I preach. I just thought you should know that. I tell you not to take one second for granted and I do it all the time. I waste time in senseless arguments, in ridiculous worries, in unjustified frustrations. I think about too much and not enough at the same time, and I stay up too late at night. So I will try and follow my own advice this summer: relax, have fun, laugh, love, and when you see a shooting star make a wish that you never have to leave this sweet town. Call me with your Ashland news- I also accept news from LA (Lower Ashland): 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Happy summer.

6/11/09 Children's Theater Camp, Tiger Trot 09, Info on AMSA

We had another beautiful weekend in the COTU. The rain went away and the weather was perfect for the Strawberry Faire. Do you remember how hot it was last year? Everyone arrived early and was gone by noon because it was so sticky and humid. This year the crowd never seemed to dissipate, and people were eating strawberries until the very end.

I’ll do a bit of fussing and then move on… If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s complacency. Whether it’s taking someone or something for granted, or being too self-satisfied, complacency has no place in Ashland. We love our town and the relaxed life we have here, but that doesn’t mean that we should let our guard down. If your door (home or car) has a lock on it, lock it at night. There has been a “staggering” increase in theft from un-locked cars in town.

If you see Jo Ann Hunter, ask her how her birthday was on Tuesday, June 9th. Did you know that Jo Ann is training to run in the Richmond Marathon in the fall? I hope she got lots of presents!

A cool place to be this summer is the Ashland Library. On Thursday, June 18th, the Barefoot Puppets will present some Australian Aboriginal folk tales entitled, “Dreamtime: Tales from Down Under”. This fun event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

If your kids are a bit older, bring them over to the library for Duct Tape Art Workshop for Teens on Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. Snacks will be served.

Children's Theatre Camp returns to the Hanover Arts & Activities Center this summer. On July 1, 2009, there will be auditions for Peter Pan from 1-3 pm and 6-8pm at the Center. Camp starts July 6 and continues through Aug. 6, 2009 Mon. - Thursday 3 - 5 pm. Please visit www.hanoverarts.org for more information and a registration form.

Registration is now open for the 2009 Tiger Trot benefiting Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools. This year the race will be held on Saturday, September 19th. The kid's races begin at 8:00am and the 5K begins at 9:00am. You can register online at https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=506. This is a lovely race and does so much to help out our local elementary schools.

Charlotte Reynolds came home last week, and is recovering well from her latest surgery. There will be a Home Business Bazaar fundraiser for her on Sat, June 27th from 10-2pm at St. Ann’s Church. Some of the many vendors attending include: Avon, Arbonne, Pampered Chef, and Creative Memories. You can read about Charlotte at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds.

Lunch on the Lawn continues this week on the front lawn of the Ashland Town Hall. Come out every Wednesday and have lunch with your town! This event is sponsored by the Ashland Main Street Association. Through the months of May and June, before it gets too hot, bring your lunch and picnic from noon to 1:30 pm.

You’re going to hear me talk a lot about an organization called AMSA, which stands for “Ashland Main Street Association”. AMSA is a non-profit group comprised of community volunteers representing businesses, civic organizations and residents of the “Center of the Universe.” Their mission is to enhance and promote Ashland’s Downtown Main Street District, which includes England Street from Route 1 to the other side of the railroad tracks and the business district along the tracks. AMSA is currently gathering input from businesses and residents about four areas: landscaping, lighting, sidewalks, and signage in the downtown district. Surveys and information are available at www.mainstreetashland.org.

School ends this week, and another delightful summer awaits us. I hope you have as many lazy days as you need to relax, and as many parties and events as you need to make you laugh. Spend some time hanging out at the Ashland pool- that’s my favorite spot to be. Call me with your news, and stories of our Ashland kids graduating: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a lovely week!

6/4/09 Strawberry Faire, Updated Town Plan, Summer Reading Program

I am having a very hard time coming to work Monday mornings. The weekends are just too pretty, and there are too many fun things to do. This weekend is no different. The Strawberry Faire will be held on the streets around Randolph-Macon from 10am to 5pm this Saturday, June 6th. I would advise you to bring a wagon, because you’ll need it to help carry all the plants, crafts, and beautiful strawberries. There will be music, food, crafts, including Sunny Girl Signs and Locust Farm Windsor Chairs.

Happy Birthday to Katelynn Brown who will blow out eight candles on June 8th! Katelynn is one of the newest team members of the Richmond Kickers U9 Girls Travel Team. Ahem, maybe she deserves some extra presents, Tracy.

Your Ashland Town Planners have worked hard on integrating all your comments and suggestions for the updated comprehensive plan, and will have an open house to show the final plan on Thursday, June 4th from 6- 9pm, and Saturday from 9:30am to 12:30pm. You could stop by Town Hall before you visit the Farmer’s Market, or the Strawberry Faire.

Lunch on the Lawn continues this week on the front lawn of the Ashland Town Hall. Come out every Wednesday and have lunch with your town! This event is sponsored by the Ashland Main Street Association. Through the months of May and June, before it gets too hot, bring your lunch and picnic from noon to 1:30 pm.

Charlotte Reynolds’ surgery went well this past week, as did a following MRI that didn’t show any growth of the tumor into other areas. By the time you read this, this sweet little girl will have started another round of chemo, or maybe radiation this time. I am so impressed with her strength and stamina- what a fighter. You can read about Charlotte at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds.

There will be a series of Thursday night concerts at the Virginia Center Common’s Chick-fil-a beginning June 11th with The Taters and Chris Mottley. The music starts at 5:30 in the parking lot of Chick-fil-A, with donations being accepted for the VA Food Bank and Charlotte Reynolds.

Happy Birthday to Lisa Funk who will celebrate her birthday on June 7th!

The Summer Reading Program at the Ashland Library will kick-off next Saturday, June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Come sign your kids up for the Summer Reading Program, make bookmarks & other crafts, have your face painted, and listen to stories.This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Watch out, I’m standing on my soap box and yelling really loud: “Look around at this wonderful town we have here! Good grief, are we lucky to be living here!” There is so much to do, that I’ve decided that I’m going to stop sleeping. It is just a waste of time, especially since the night is so beautiful around here. At 5 am on a Sunday morning, it is so quiet- no train noise, no “hum” from 95, and the birds aren’t awake yet. I would highly recommend the early morning hours. At the end of my life, will I wish that I had spent more time with my sweet town? More early morning hours, more middle-of-the-afternoons, and less time cleaning my kitchen floor? Call or email me with your Ashland news, 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!

5/28/09 Lunch on the Lawn, Ballet at HAAC, Update on Charlotte Reynolds

I hope your Memorial Day weekend was lovely! The pool was a popular place to be, and the water didn’t seem that frigid. The Ashland Pool will be open on the weekends now until school gets out. Call the Town for more information: 798-9219.

Happy Birthday to Darcy Inge who celebrated last week with much fanfare!

Congratulations to Ross Luck who answered correctly one of the two questions last week- What do the initials "AC" stand for in AC Bruce's name", and "How did Buddha Morris get his nickname?". Apparently Ross would have had to have gone to middle school with Buddha to understand it, but I'll give him a prize anyway. Ross wins an autographed map of Ashland, with some adjustments made to southern boundary lines to include a blue house by the tracks.

Charlotte Reynolds and her parents are home from their big trip to the MD Anderson Clinic in Houston, TX. When you read this, she will have had another surgery on Wednesday to remove more of the brain tumor and chemotherapy could begin again soon after. The fundraiser this past weekend at Ashland Coffee and Tea was a big success, and so important because while the Reynolds have health insurance, there is a lot that is not covered (like the visit to the clinic in Houston). Watch this space for news on the next fundraiser, and keep up with Charlotte’s fight at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds.

The Summer Reading Program at the Ashland Library will kick-off next Saturday, June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Come sign your kids up for the Summer Reading Program, make bookmarks & other crafts, have your face painted, and listen to stories.This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Lunch on the Lawn continues this week on the front lawn of the Ashland Town Hall. Come out every Wednesday and have lunch with your town! Through the months of May and June, before it gets too hot, bring your lunch and picnic from noon to 1:30 pm.

The Hanover Arts and Activities Center is sponsoring two performances of the ballet, Peter and Wendy, based on the story of Peter Pan. This is a brand new performance of the Storybook series of the Concert Ballet of Virginia. The two performances will be held at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center (500 S. Center St., Ashland) on Sunday, May 31st at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children ages 12 and under. For ticket reservations, please call 804.798.2728. Seating is limited, so advance purchase is recommended.
Good luck to all the Randolph-Macon graduates! I hope you’ll think of Ashland as a home in the years to come. We have all enjoyed you being here. Call or email me with your Ashland news, 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!