1/11/08 Ashlands of the US, Doug Wilder to Visit, 30th Annual RR Run, Hanover Idols Deadline

I hope you’ve all had a chance to visit the website dedicated to Ashland 150th Birthday- http://www.ashland150.com/ is filled with information and events that will be going on this year to celebrate this momentous occasion. This will be an easy year for me as I’ll never have a lack of information to write about!

Although we certainly are special, our name is not unique! This Wednesday, January 16th, Betty Carol Stevenson will tell us about all the other Ashlands in the United States. How many Ashlands are there? Are they all named after Henry Clay’s hometown in Kentucky? Are any of them as cool as we are? Not likely. Come to the Ashland Library at 7:30 to find out the answers. Call the library at 798-4072 for more information.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday on Tuesday, January 15th, Mayor Douglas Wilder will speak at Randolph-Macon’s Blackwell Auditorium at 12 noon. This event is free and open to the public. There will also be a musical presentation by R-MC’s Yjima Gospel Choir. Come early to get a good seat- or any seat at all. Call 752-3712 for more information.

Registration is now open for the 30th running of the Ashland Railroad Run on March 15th, 2008. The day begins at 8:30 am for the Kid’s Mile Fun Run, followed by the 10K Run at 9:00 am and the 5K Fun Walk at 9:15. Why run packed like sardines on Monument Avenue when you have room to breathe on our fair streets? Go to http://www.hanoverarts.com/ for a registration form.

Are you a star waiting to be discovered? The deadline for registration to participate in the Hanover Idols Contest is next Friday- January 18th! Go to http://www.hanoverarts.com/ for guidelines and an entry form. Call the Center at 798-2728 with your questions.

As a part of the 150th celebration, an Ashland Yearbook will be assembled to tell the stories of our citizens, churches, businesses, cemeteries, military, and organizations. If you’re a “come-here”, have lived here all your life, or are reading this from far away, please tell your family’s story of living in Ashland in 300 words or less and include a picture. This will be a great historical document of the people living in our town. For years to come, scholars will refer to it in their research. Go to the website (http://www.ashland150.com/) or call 798-7123 with your questions.

There’s a new club in town for seniors- “Ashland Recycled Teenagers” who are proving that you don’t have to be young to have fun. Mark your calendars for the Omni Park Place Talent Show on February 1st at 11:30 am in the Social Hall at Duncan Memorial Church. Watch this space for more information to come.

Charles, have we found the time capsule yet? Send me your news by calling (804) 310-5320, or email ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can also find a record of all these columns at http://www.ashlandnews.blogspot.com/.