3/19/09 Please Buckle your Safety Belt and Keep Your Hands Inside the Ride at all Times

This is the week when everyone involved with the Ashland Variety Show takes a deep breath and steps on the roller coaster. Rehearsals are every evening and the show runs Thursday, Friday, and then Saturday nights. Things are at a fever-pitch: costumes are being pieced together around the clock, and everyone is practicing their songs over and over again in their heads.

I’ll take a second here to talk about what a wonderful organization we have in the Hanover Arts and Activities Center. This group of volunteers works throughout the year to bring event after event to our sweet town. Their hours of labor number in the thousands, and they do it all with an easy attitude and a smile. They work for you, for our town, and for the guests that flock here to catch a glimpse of life in Ashland. While the Variety Show enters its final week, they are already planning the Railroad Run, the Fourth of July Celebration, even the Christmas House Tour! If you know a HAAC Board Member, thank them for their work. If you’d like to join them, call Faith Boyle, Executive Director and the glue that holds everyone together, at 798-2728. (Stepping down off my soapbox now.)

Register now for the 31st Annual Ashland Railroad Run 10K and 5K Fun Walk to be held on Saturday, April 4th. A fun addition to this year’s race will be a Green Fair with lots of vendors showing examples of green, or environmentally-friendly ideas and products. You can register online through the Arts & Activities website: http://www.hanoverarts.com. Registration forms can also be found at the Center, 500 S. Center St. Call 798-2728 with any questions.

My condolences are with the family of William Shearer Troxell this week. Mr. Troxell was the father of Shearer Luck, and the grandfather of Ross, Andy, Mary Chris, and Kemp. Mr Troxell was born on 11/11/11- what a great birthdate.

Congratulations to Henry Clay Elementary Principal Terri Keck for winning the 2009 R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership! Henry Clay is such a wonderful school; it not only gives its students the opportunity to succeed, but faculty as well!

Happy Birthday to Porter Rhodes who turned three recently! Porter’s Dad is Mike Rhodes, the men’s basketball coach at Randolph-Macon.

Get your poem in to the Ashland Library by March 28th, to be entered in the 7th Annual Pamunkey Regional Library Poetry Contest.

Happy Birthday to Julia Chambers who turned 14 on March 15th- the Ides of March. Unlucky for Caesar, but lucky for Julia!

Friday, March 28th, will be Movie Night at the Ashland Library (since, ahem, the Ashland Theater is still not open). Come see the adaptation on Nora Zeale Hurston’s book, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” at 7pm. Hurston’s book is this year’s Big Read selection and follows the life of Janie Crawford, a proud and independent African-American woman. Refreshments will be served.

By the time you read this, I hope the weather here in Central Virginia has come to its senses and returned to some sunny March days. I would have sworn that I was living in Washington State from the grey skies that we’ve had recently, and overall, I think February was warmer. My fingers are crossed for dry weather on the nights of the Variety Show so that the performers can stay dry as they cross from Duncan to Blackwell. To Lorie Foley and Sue Watson- you two are pretty incredible and we are all lucky to live in the same town. On with the show!

If you get a chance, send me your Ashland news. I can be reached at 310-5320 or ashlandnews@gmail.com. An online record of these columns can be found at www.ashlandnews@blogger.com. Have a wonderful week.