9/30/10 Community Survey, Davis Luck's Brithday, Fall Races

What would we do without the State Fair to bring up some rain in September? I know it’s awful for people who want to walk the midway, but we’d all love a few rainy days.

The Ashland Police Department would like our community’s assistance in providing feedback on their performance. "Constant review of performance measures, to include community feedback is key to the success in completing our mission," said Chief Doug Goodman. Please take a few moments to complete this survey online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5D73CCX.

Surveys will also be available at the Town Municipal Building and the Ashland Police Department for those who do not have internet access. Surveys will be accepted until October 15, 2010 and they’d like to thank the community in advance for their assistance!

Happy Birthday to Davis Luck who celebrated in regal style in Lower Ashland on September 22^nd!

This cooler weather is perfect for getting outside and the 7th Annual Harvest Run will be held on Saturday, October 16th. The 10K will begin at 9:00am and the 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:10 from Carter Park. This very important event benefits the Hanover Safe Place, and WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team). You can register online at www.ashlandharvestrun.com

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is open for registrations! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23, and save money by registering early. This is a wonderful 5K run through our fair streets to support the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

Happy Birthday also to Tom Wilkinson who celebrated his birthday on the other side of the world last week! We hope he’s home safe and sound in the COTU soon.

The fall weather is here, and it can only get cooler from now on. I’m looking forward to jeans and sweaters, and things pumpkin-flavored. Sleep with the windows open if your allergies will let you! Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com . Have a wonderful week!

9/23/10 Hollywood comes to COTU, World Class Athletes

Beautiful weather these days, citizens of Ashland! It is the perfect time of year to be outside and enjoy anything: a game, a concert, a cook-out, anything! I would add a sleeping porch to my house if it was in my budget, for it is delightful sleeping weather.

There were lots of birthdays recently, most notably Lorie Foley and Jen Burch who share September 20^th ! Cake was also consumed at the Proffitt household for Kip’s 13^th birthday on the 14^th. I hope all of you have a wonderful year.

This Saturday, September 25th, bring your unused, unneeded, and expired prescription medications to the Ashland Police Department from 10am to 2pm. The APD is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency in this first, nationwide prescription drug take-back. This is a great way to get rid of those old medicines without throwing them in a landfill or contaminating our ground water.

Congratulations to Shelly Adair who recently returned from competing in the Duathlon World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland! Shelly had a wonderful biking the very hilly Scottish countryside which included an extinct volcano.

Did you all see all the fuss in town this past Monday? I love it when Hollywood finds our picturesque little town. We’ll have to stay tuned to see when this Lifetime Movie will be available for viewing!

This cooler weather is perfect for getting outside and the 7th Annual Harvest Run will be held on Saturday, October 16th. The 10K will begin at 9:00am and the 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:10 from Carter Park. This very important event benefits the Hanover Safe Place, and WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team). You can register online at www.ashlandharvestrun.com

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is open for registrations! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23, and save money by registering early. This is a wonderful 5K run through our fair streets to support the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The last Street Party of the year was a great party- but does that surprise anyone? Hank Lowery and his team of volunteers have created an indispensible event that we look forward to every summer. Not only do we get to have fun and laugh with our friends, but the money that’s made goes directly back to our community. The Street Party Organization has been very generous, and we thank them so much. Look forward next May for the first sign of summer.

Good Luck to Corinne Luck who will compete in the Naylor’s Beach Olympic Triathlon this weekend at Naylor’s Beach in the Northern Neck. This race consists of a one mile swim in the Rappahannock River, then a 26 mile bike ride, then a 6.2 run through the back roads and gullies of Richmond County. Ashland loves you, Corinne- have a great race!

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com . Have an wonderful week!

10/7/10 Good Dogs, Harvest Run, Tiger Trot, APD Survey

I am writing this on a cold rainy Monday. It’s a day that I’d rather be sitting in front of a fire laughing with friends, than under the fluorescent lights of an office. I’d rather be sitting in a big chair reading a newspaper, or walking through the wet woods with an old dog. If you are lucky enough to have an old dog, then you’ve spent many years knowing the unending loyalty and love that they have. They have a perfect disposition: never moody, always grateful, always happy to see you. The only problem is that we know they’ll leave us one day, and we will miss them so much that our hearts will ache. We are sending condolences to the Kliszs who lost their sweet Basil this past weekend.

Happy birthday to Ross Luck who blew out a ton of candles on October 4^th. We’ve heard that the glow from Lower Ashland could be seen for miles!

Remember the 7th Annual Harvest Run will be held on Saturday, October 16th. The 10K will begin at 9:00am and the 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:10 from Carter Park. This very important event benefits the Hanover Safe Place, and WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team). You can register online at www.ashlandharvestrun.com

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is fast approaching! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23 and come out to support this is a wonderful 5K run that benefits the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The Ashland Police Department would like our community’s assistance in providing feedback on their performance. "Constant review of performance measures, to include community feedback is key to the success in completing our mission," said Chief Doug Goodman. Please take a few moments to complete this survey online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5D73CCX.

Surveys will also be available at the Town Municipal Building and the Ashland Police Department for those who do not have internet access. Surveys will be accepted until October 15, 2010 and they’d like to thank the community in advance for their assistance!

I have spent the past two weekends out of Ashland, and I am tired of it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, though, and we always find ourselves talking about the COTU when we are away. “We’re from Ashland- just north of Richmond- Randolph-Macon College is there, and the train tracks go right through the middle of town.” Once we say that, it’s inevitable that we ramble on and monopolize the conversation.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com . It’s the kind of week where you should call a friend and go have a cup of coffee. Cheers!

9/16/10 RMC Football, Harvest Run, Tiger Trot, Street Party

As you all know, there is always something fun going on here in the Center of the Universe. On any given day you can find music, laughter, and entertainment- if only on your neighbor’s front porch. This past Saturday afternoon was a perfect day for watching football, and when you can stand close enough to the field so that you can hear the thud of a tackle, that’s the best possible venue. The Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets scored with 33 seconds left on the clock to beat Johns Hopkins 41 to 37. Congrats to Coach Aruzza and his hard working team!

You’ll have another chance to cheer on the home team this Saturday at 1pm as the Yellow Jackets take on Shenandoah.

Happy Birthday this week to Daphne Read Gilmore who turned 10 on Tuesday, Sept. 14^th. Miss Gilmore will celebrate with a birthday apple pie, which has become a tradition because she does not like cake.

This cooler weather is perfect for getting outside and the 7th Annual Harvest Run will be held on Saturday, October 16th. The 10K will begin at 9:00am and the 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:10 from Carter Park. This very important event benefits the Hanover Safe Place, and WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team). You can register online at www.ashlandharvestrun.com

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is open for registrations! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23, and save money by registering early. This is a wonderful 5K run through our fair streets to support the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The last Street Party is this Saturday, September 18^th. Come dance under the stars to Ron Moody and the Centaurs beginning at 6pm behind the Ashland Library. Tickets are $10 per person in advance, and $15 at the door. Buy your tickets early at Cross Brothers Grocery, The Caboose Wine & Cheese, and Ashland Ace Hardware. There’s more information available at http://www.ashlandstreetparties.com/

September 12^th through 18 ^th is Virginia Bicyclists and Pedestrian Awareness Week. Our beautiful roads are a haven for bikers and runners who enjoy the patience and courtesy of our drivers. Remember, a bike is considered a vehicle and has the same rights and responsibilities of a vehicle. Be alert to others on these country roads, and visit http://www.drivesmartva.org/.

I hope everyone had a good first week of school and is settling comfortably into fall. I am looking forward to reconnecting with my corduroy and tweed, and one of these mornings I may even have to put on a jacket! We have so much to look forward to- do you know that there’s a Variety Show coming in February? Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have an easy week!

9/2/10 End of Another Ashland Summer, Tiger Trot, Street Party

Here is the end of summer in Central Virginia- the dry grass, cicadas in the trees, and hurricanes off the coast. I cannot ignore the first day of school anymore, and I am forced by my children to go back-to-school shopping. The last Bluemont Concert was bitter-sweet this past weekend. We’re always sorry to see those evenings end. Many thanks to all the volunteers who made it possible, especially Jen Chambers and Elizabeth Melson!

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is open for registrations! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23, and save money by registering early. This is a wonderful 5K run through our fair streets to support the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The Randolph-Macon students are returning and classes start Labor Day. I love having that campus full and alive with activity. It’s a great asset to this town.

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is still going strong these Saturdays and is packed with delicious late season fruits and vegetables. We’ll see pumpkins before you know it. Visit the Market every Saturday morning from 9am to noon.

Also marking the end of the summer is the last Street Party on Saturday, September 18^th. Come dance under the stars to Ron Moody and the Centaurs beginning at 6pm behind the Ashland Library. Tickets are $10 per person in advance, and $15 at the door. Buy your tickets early at Cross Brothers Grocery, The Caboose Wine & Cheese, and Ashland Ace Hardware. There’s more information available at http://www.ashlandstreetparties.com/.

There was lots of birthday cake on Howard Street last week: Happy belated birthday to Sharon Stiles and Kevin Proffitt!

I hope you all have a fun weekend an Labor Day! I would advise spending as much time at the Ashland Pool as possible. It will all be gone on Tuesday. Was it a fun summer? Will the memories warm your toes when the first frost comes? I hope so. This is life in Ashland, this is home.

Call or email me your Ashland news: 804-310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!