7/3/08 Red, White, and Blue Events, Library Bugs, Have you bought a birthday present for Ashand yet?

Happy, Happy Fourth of July! By now you should have all the ingredients (homemade, and primarily apple) for your apple pie and have planned out your preparations. Bring your pie to the Hanover Arts and Activities Center between 9 and 10am on the 4th with your registration form. Winners will be announced at 12:30 and the pies will be auctioned off to benefit the Center. The registration forms can be downloaded from www.hanoverarts.com.

Pack your picnic basket and find a shady spot on the front lawn at 500 South Center Street. Get your red, white, and blue clothes and come spend the day with your neighbors as we celebrate our independence from those tyrannical British.
New to the festivities this year will be the Most Patriotic Pet Contest. Bring your puppy, cat, chicken or pig and dress them in red, white and blue. A prize will be awarded.

If there are any kazoo players out there, your talents are needed in the Ashland Kazoo Corp for the 4th of July Parade. Kazoos will be provided, but bring your own if you want. Everyone needs to meet in the grassy lot at the corner of Railroad and Henry Clay Street by 10 AM Friday morning. There is also a 150 Brigade that’s open to everyone and anyone who would like to march in the parade.

We’re all going in on a birthday present for our sweet town- a beautiful clock for the train station. You can help out by donating to the Ashland Foundation, which is a 501(c) (3) non-profit. Make your check out to the Ashland Foundation, memo “Town Clock”, and mail it to PO Box 1600, Attn: Josh Farrar, Ashland VA 23005.

While we’re talking about the big birthday party, don’t forget to order one of the Plant 150’s trees that are available. Orders will be taken until Sept. 1st for American Hollies, River Birches, Northern Red Oaks, Red Buds, or Red Maples. Hard to choose, isn’t it? Order forms are available at the library or Ashland Coffee and Tea.

Be sure to check the 150 website: www.ashland150.com every so often for updates on the celebration planning.

There are two fun events coming up at the Ashland Library. On Tuesday, July 8th, at 11:30 am, bring your kids over to learn about the creepy crawlies of Central Virginia with the Virginia Living Museum. We have to live with all those bugs through the summer; we might as well understand them.

Friday, July 11 will be Teen Movie and Pizza Night beginning at 6pm. Isn’t it nice to have the library around? It’s not like we have a movie theater in town or anything…

Have a great weekend and call me with your Ashland news- 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Ta!

6/26/08 Home from Vacation, Planning for the 4th, Benefit for Shyanne

By the time you read this. we will be getting ready to come home from a vacation on Nantucket Island. It is beautiful here, but very different from Virginia. They sleep with windows open all summer and the sound of the surf is always there in the background noise. The wild roses stand out against the gray shingled houses, and the honeysuckle is just beginning to open. But no one has invited me to a party here, or asked me to serve on a committee, so I am ready to come back to my sweet town where people wave to me. How good it will be to hear that conductor say that we're home.


Ashland's new police chief, Doug Goodman, will be sworn in on Monday, June 30th at 4:30 pm in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall. Let's all welcome Chief Goodman- say hello and introduce yourself if you see him around town. We hope he'll be around for a long time.


The mighty Ashland Barracudas secured their first Division I win against Colonies this past week. Triple winners were Claire Grant, Chelsie Gray, Nick Gulas, Rachel Hoar, Quinny Kinser, Will Mallory, Marcus Maphis, Lucas Pienkowski, and Kristen Trexler. We are so lucky to have such great coaches here in Ashland. Kevin Trent, Alan Rosenberg, Jenny Yonce, and Stephen Belyea have taught our kids much more than the proper strokes. They teach good sportsmanship by example, and their light-hearted coaching lets our kids have fun while competing.


The 4th of July is almost here and I'll be looking for you at the Arts and Activities Center! As always, this year there will be the Ashland Library book sale (get there early for the best selection), and then there’s the Apple Pie Contest, so be planning out your award-winning pie. On the lawn there will be performances by the Hanover Concert Band, food for sale, ice cream available, and all kinds of fun things to do. Bring your picnic blanket and plan to stay awhile. You can find details about the Apple Pie Contest and the day's events at www.hanoverarts.com.


If you’re interested in participating in the non-motorized parade (begins at 11am), please give Carolyn Peart a call at 798-9131. Get your kids to decorate their bikes and ride in the parade which starts by the Henry Clay Inn and ends at the Arts and Activities Center. Get your scout group, swim team, or Sunday school class to march together. Come up with some silly, but patriotic theme or song to sing. I can't think of a better way to spend the 4th, then to participate in such an American tradition.I have your Saturday dinner on June 28th all planned out for you.


There will be a fundraiser to benefit Shyanne Shane, who is an Elmont Elementary student battling against neuroblastoma cancer. Come by the Glen Allen Service Station, at 3011 Mountain Rd. for a BBQ Dinner. Each dinner includes BBQ, a roll, cole slaw, and baked beans, and are $8.00 each. Please call Linda Orange with questions or large orders- 798-5697.


Mark your calendar for the second Summer Street Party coming on Sat., July 19th. Music by "Premiere" will begin at 7pm, and food will be sold by the local chefs participating in the annual BBQ cook-off. Tickets are $5 in advance, and $10 at the door. Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult. You can buy your tickets at Cross Brothers, Ace Hardware, and Princess Cleaners- to name a few places. Check out the website: www.ashlandstreetparties.com for more details.


I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you on the 4th! Call or email me with your Ashland news- (804) 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com.