We’ll call this column the “Birthday Edition” this week, because it seems that almost everyone is celebrating these days. October is such a popular month for birthdays that some people (cough, Jim Foley) had a birthday party even though they were born in a completely different month!
A word of caution to my father if he’s reading this column: I’m sorry about all the exclamation points, Daddy! I just couldn’t figure out a way around them!!
Let’s start with the babies, shall we? Congratulations to Leigh Finch, Principal of John M. Gandy Elementary, and her husband David who welcomed their twins in October 20 th! Robert Truman was born first weighing 7.7 pounds, and his sister, Ella Margaret followed weighing 6.4 pounds. What wonderful, big babies!! Their big sister Laurel is going to have her hands full.
Happy birthday to Megan Mudd and Paige Christy who both opened presents on October 25th!
A big “felix sit natalis dies” to Dan McGraw, Latin teacher and soccer coach extraordinaire who will blow out his candles on October 30th !
And a happy, happy birthday to our Halloween boys, Parker Marchetti and Bob Brown who will celebrate on the 31st! We wish them lots of treats, a few fun tricks, and many laughs in this new year.
Good luck to Tammy Proffitt, one of the sweetest girls in Ashland, who will be running the Marine Corp Marathon in D.C. this Sunday! Give her a salute if you see her; Sergeant Proffitt has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
The Fall Festival at Scotchtown will be Saturday, November 6th from 10 to 5pm. Come out for seasonal crafts and artisan booths filled with homemade crafts. There is regular admission for a house tour, but no charge to visit the grounds and vendors. Scotchtown is located at 16120 Chiswell Lane in Beaverdam, and you can call 227-3500 for more information.
The Ashland Farmer’s Market is open these cool Saturdays from 9 to noon, with lots of wonderful seasonal produce, plants, and baked goods. It’s the perfect time of year to work in the garden, and you can find beautiful, native plants to decorate your yard.
Roger Reynolds survived the Chicago Marathon and is hardly giving himself a break before he runs the Richmond Marathon on November 13th. His goal is to raise $3000 for the CJSTUF organization, which was formed this year to help families struggling with medical emergencies. If you’d like to help this wonderful organization, you can visit their website: http://www.cjstuf.org/ to make a donation.
This Halloween, make your first stop the Arts and Activities Center! The costume contest will begin at 6pm with snacks and goodies for all, and the free concert by the Hanover Concert Band begins at 6:30. This really is a wonderful concert with all the musicians in costume, fun props, and all the scary music from movies and TV.
You’ve heard me say it before, but Halloween is a beautiful night to be in the Center of the Universe. Our streets look like a movie set, with laughing children, blowing leaves, and decorated door steps. There is nothing scary about it- it’s only sweet and timeless. Another day in Ashland that I wish I could put in a bottle.
Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a ghostly weekend!
