Monday, October 12, 2009

10/15/09 Trains at Night, Autumn Races, RMC Fall Festival


Why are the trains so much louder at night than in the day? Has anyone else noticed this? Is it just quieter, so there aren’t as many other noises to compete with the trains? Do they go through town faster at 10pm than they do at 8am in the morning? I live a few blocks from the tracks, and you really don’t notice the sound unless it’s late at night. Then the train sounds like it’s in my back yard, even with all the windows shut.

Have you driven past Randolph-Macon recently and seen the tent by the football fields? I know it’s for Homecoming Weekend, but it certainly looks like the circus has come to town. It is a very, very tall tent.

The 6th Annual Ashland Harvest 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk is set for Saturday, October 24th, and will benefit the St. James the Less Free Clinic and Western Hanover Emergency Action Team (WHEAT). The St. James Clinic is very successful in providing medical, dental and vision care and is a 100% volunteer organization funded by donations. WHEAT benefits citizens in western Hanover with food, electricity, phone service and clothing. The race will begin and end at Carter Park, where a Community Health Faire will be held. You can register online by visiting http://www.ashlandharvestrun.com/

Remember, the Ashland Farmers’s Market continues to be open through this month and into November. You can find gorgeous fall flowers and wonderful fruits and vegetables. It’s open every Saturday from 9am to noon. Grab a cup of coffee at the Coffee and Tea and stroll on over.

Randolph-Macon will hold their annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 25th from 2-4pm at the Brock Center. There will be games and fun for kids of all ages. Come dressed in your Halloween costume! Contact Whitney at reginaedwards@students.rmc.edu for more information.

Friday, October 23rd come to the Ashland Library for Teen Game Night beginning at 6pm. This event is open to Middle and High Schoolers. Play Guitar Hero, Wii Games, and Board Games with your friends. Snacks will be served. Call 798-4072 to register.

Story times for younger kids continue to be offered throughout the week at your friendly, neighborhood library. Visit http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org/ for more information.

All anyone can talk about these days is the beautiful weather. The smell of wood smoke, the crackle of dry leaves, the crickets in the dying grass: all aspects of autumn here. We have seen geese flying south, and deer grazing in the morning fog. The aging soybeans have turned our fields a brilliant shade of yellow, and the trees are close behind as they begin to change. If I was writing a letter to someone far away, I would tell them it is an excellent time of year to live in Ashland. I’m sure they would laugh as they read those words, because I say that all the time.

Don’t forget how lucky we are. Don’t get so wrapped up in work or school, or volunteer projects that you forget about the simple things around you. Slow down and think for a minute about what a nice country we have, and how good life can be here. For all the unknown factors, all the worry, all the stress- life is very sweet here. There will always be a reason to smile in the COTU. I promise.

Send me your Ashland news, your Halloween costume ideas, your trick-or-treating plans. I think everyone should dress up- young and old. You can reach me at ashlandnews@gmail.com, or 310-5320. Cheers!

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