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!