8/19/10 Rains of August, Two Bluemonts Left, Charlotte's Legacy

I don’t know what to do with these rainy days that we’ve been having lately. The umbrellas are covered in cobwebs in the garage, and the plants in my yard seem surprised by the sudden abundance of water. I thought that my grandmother’s roses had finished blooming for the summer, but after a good soaking, they opened new blooms for me.

The Bluemont Concerts have avoided the rain and have enjoyed nice evenings on the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. We’re lucky to have five Sundays in August this summer, so that means we’ve got two more concerts to go before it’s all over! This Sunday evening we’ll welcome Mandalele who will entertain us with music from the mandolin, the ukulele, the violin, the viola, and some beautiful voices. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for Bluemont Friends and $2 for kids under 12.

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is larger than ever, and there are more customers that ever- so get there early this Saturday to stock up on wonderful late-summer vegetables, flowers for your kitchen table, home-baked breads, free-range eggs, and anything else to make your kitchen resemble a Southern Living photo-shoot.

The Patrick Henry Half Marathon is about to run it’s fourth year through the streets of Ashland on Saturday, August 28th at 7am. Come rain or come shine the runners will loop from Poor Farm Park, up and down Blunt’s Bridge Road, and through the town to reach 13.2 miles. Come out to cheer them on! You can learn more at the Richmond Road Runners website: http://www.rrrc.org/.

Many of you probably already know about this organization, but it bears repeating. After losing their young daughter, Charlotte, to cancer early this year, Roger and Rachel Reynolds have channeled their grief and energy into helping other families who are living through situations like theirs. They formed CJSTUF, which is a non-profit organization that raises funds for families to help pay the piles of bills that accumulate when a child is hospitalized for days on end. “CJSTUF” is a wonderful way to honor the memory of Charlotte Jennie who fought so bravely, and it should stand as a reminder to all of us that we should never stop reaching out to help.

There will be a Rompy’s Summer Concert to Benefit CJSTUF on Thursday, August 19th from 5:30-7:30 at Stonewall Square in Mechanicsville, VA. Vocalist/Percussionist VINX will be performing and the concert is free and family friendly. There will be lots of organizations represented, many of whom have supported CJSTUF. You can learn more about the organization at http://www.cjstuf.org/.
There are a few weeks of summer left, kids. Do you know that most schools around the country have already opened? If I was you, I’d spend every last day at the Ashland pool. Stay up late, sleep in, and eat popsicles for breakfast. That’s what I’d do if I didn’t have to be an adult. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a lazy, lazy week.