Wednesday, August 17, 2011

8/11/11 Swim Coaches Win Award, Back-to-School Shopping, Bluemont, BBQ




If I could record what August sounds like, it would be a cricket chirping in the dried up grass. That’s all I heard the other day as I fought with the Bermuda grass that invades our yard every year. I shouldn’t say that; it’s not really invasive- it lives there quite comfortably.


Congratulations to the coaches of the Ashland Barracudas swim team on winning the Coaching Excellence award from the Greater Richmond Aquatics League! Kevin Trent, Alan Rosenberg, Jenny Yonce, and Tim Wiles were chosen for their outstanding leadership and coaching skills, plus their professional demeanor and attitude. This is the third time that these coaches have won this award, and we are not surprised.


St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Montpelier is having a Back-to-School Community Clothes Closet this weekend, August 13th from 8am to 2pm. Families with kids of all ages are welcome. What a great chance to save money on back-to-school shopping! Please call Susan Hendricks at 883-6243 with any questions.


The Bluemont Concert Series continues this weekend on the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. Our fingers are crossed that these summer evening showers wills tay away and we can listen to Ted Garber perform his American Rock-Blues under the starts. Tickets are $5 per person, $4 for Bluemont Friends and seniors, and $2 for kids under 12. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic dinner.


The Ashland Library would like to invite all kids to their Ice Cream Party Finale on Friday August 12 at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program with free ice cream. Ice cream provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library.


Mark your calendar now for the 40th Annual Ashland Kiwanis Club Barbecue on Saturday, Sept. 17th from 4-7pm. Legend has it that the BBQ recipe is top secret, and is better than anything you’ve ever had before. There will be live music, a classic car show, and lots of fun door prizes. This is a major fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club which is such a valuable community group. Tickets are available at Union First Market Bank branches in Ashland, Luck Chevrolet, Cross Brothers Grocery and from any Kiwanis member. You can also buy tickets at www.eventbrite.com/AshlandKiwanis. For more information, call McDaniel at (804) 627-1003 or email jmcdaniel@bbvirginia.com.


Do you have batteries in your flashlights in case a hurricane blows this way? We haven’t had one in a few years, so it will probably be our turn again before too long. Some of my best memories from childhood were running around the yard before a hurricane picking up toys and lawn chairs as the wind started to blow. My mother would tell stories about those famous old hurricanes, Camille and Agnes, and we would be so scared.


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


















8/4/11 August, Schoolhouse Rock, Bluemont, Library Social




Poor August. Does anyone love you with your exhausting heat, your wilted flowers, and your “Back to School” sales? You are not subtle or sweet; you are tough and stubborn just like all the people born under your hazy sky. So tough, in fact, that it takes a hurricane to cool you off for a few days.


You’ll forget about the hear for a while if you come to one of the performances of the Children’s Music Theater’s production of “School House Rock-Live!” at the Hanover Arts and Activities center next week. The singing and dancing happens Friday and Saturday, August 5th and 6th at 6:30pm, and then Sunday, August 7th at 1:30pm. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Please call Becket Franklin for ordering information: (804) 380-6953.


Happy belated birthday to Lucy Klisz who celebrated on July 28th ! We hear she had a fabulous birthday party.


The Bluemont Concert Series returns this weekend to the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. Come out every Sunday in August to while away the evening listening to wonderful music under the stars. August 7th brings us The Flaming Shillelaghs and their traditional Irish dance music. We hear that their performances also feature traditional Irish step-dancing. Tickets are $5 per person, $4 for Bluemont Friends and seniors, and $2 for kids under 12. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic dinner.


The Ashland Library would like to invite all kids to their Ice Cream Party Finale on Friday August 12 at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program with free ice cream. Ice cream provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library.


Lastly, the best celebration of the month may be at the home of Mrs. Annabelle Reynolds who will turn 95 on August 11th! I am sure that Mrs. Reynolds has so many wonderful stories of her 95 years, and I hope that she tells them to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Eat some ice cream: summer is almost over.
















7/28/11 End of July, School House Rock, Bluemont Concerts Nearing



Here we are, saying goodbye to the last few days of July and dreading the beginning of August. As much as it hurts me to say this, August has never been one of my favorite months. It is awful hot, and its arrival means that we have to think about summer ending. However, we are lucky to live in Ashland which means that even a hot, humid August day is filled with music and laughter. See below.


Happy Birthday to Susannah Gilmore who turns 14 today, but who was a toddler last week and who will be off at college next month. At least that’s the way it seems to her mother.


For the third consecutive year, the Barracudas have finished the regular season undefeated. Last week, Ashland defeated Milestone by a score of 1518-1152 .Quadruple winners were: Erin Gannon, Mattie Grant, Seth Gulas, Libby Klinger, Will Mallory, Miranda Menk, Taylor Smith, Kyle Talmage, and Helen Wasz . Triple winners were: Curran Henry, Addy Klinger, Lucas Pienkowski, Will Roberts, Ben Schubert, Ted Schubert, Hill Sewell, Melissa Talmage, Kyle Tyson, and Bender Vaught .

Qualifying for the GRAL championship meet qualifiers were Max Cook, Jacob Davis , Claire Grant, Nick Gulas, Jimmy Foley, Tyler Pimblett , and Jonathan Waller . Coach Kevin Trent would like to remind all the fans of the Barracudas that it wasn’t so long ago that their record was 1 and 5, so don’t get too confident. I believe that’s how Rome was lost.


This town loves a show, so I know that you need to mark your calendar now for the performances of the Children’s Music Theater’s production of “School House Rock-Live!” at the Hanover Arts and Activities center in August. Come see tomorrow’s stars on Friday and Saturday, August 5th and 6th at 6:30pm, and then Sunday, August 7th at 1:30pm.


Happy Birthday to Lorelei Holloway who turned 7 on July 25th ! We hope she had a huge cake and got lots of presents.


The Bluemont Concert Series returns in just about a week to the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. Come out every Sunday in August to while away the evening listening to wonderful music under the stars. August 7th brings us The Flaming Shillelaghs and their traditional Irish dance music. We hear that their performances also feature traditional Irish step-dancing. Tickets are $5 per person, $4 for Bluemont Friends and seniors, and $2 for kids under 12. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic dinner.

The Ashland Library would like to invite all kids to their Ice Cream Party Finale on Friday August 12 at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program with free ice cream. Ice cream provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library. August is a good month to spend with a book; I’ll have to give it that.


Keep your humor in spite of the heat. Enjoy a sub-tropical afternoon at your Ashland pool! Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.







7/15/11 Barracudas Poised for Third Undefeated Season, Street Party




The heat has found us. It took it a little bit longer than usual, and we’ve spent many late-night at swim meets bundled up in sweat-shirts. No more! It’s now in the eighties when you wake up in the morning and the heat comes up from the ground like we live on a paved parking lot. Stay cool. Move slowly. Drink iced tea.


As always, canine Ashlanders seem to enjoy the 4th of July as much as their owners. First place winner of the Patriotic Pet Contest was “Cody” who was dressed as Uncle Sam. Second place winner was “Olivia,” a Setter mix, and third place was won by “Chloe” who was dressed in a festive tutu.


Happy 21st birthday to Assistant Barracuda Coach Tim Wiles! Tim has certainly proved himself a valuable part of the Ashland Swim Team coaching squad. We hope he got lots of presents!Here’s proof: the Ashland Barracudas are well on their way to their third undefeated season!


Last week, the Ashland kids won against Ashcreek by a score of 1399 to 1013. Whew! Samantha Senfield was a quadruple winner, Joseph Boyle, Julia Chambers, Mattie Grant, Seth Gulas, Addy Klinger, Quinny Kinser, Thomas Perkins, Meade Reihl, Emmeline Roberts, Taylor Smith, Kyle Talmage, Robbie Talmage, Ben Williams, and Elisa Worrell were all triple winners.


Elisa Worrell also broke the team record in senior girls’ 100 fly. When she leaves this fall for the University of South Carolina, (on a full swimming scholarship no less) she will leave some big shoes to fill!


Practice for the Arts and Activities Center’s annual Summer Children’s Theater is going strong. Mark your calendar now for the shows in August: Friday and Saturday, August 5th and 6th at 6:30pm, and then Sunday, August 7th at 1:30pm. This summer’s show is “School House Rock- Live!” Remember those from Saturday morning cartoons?


A great way to fight this heat wave is to come dancing this Saturday night behind the Ashland Library! Come dance to King Edward and the B.D.’s at the Mid-Summer Wine Festival, this Saturday from 7 to 11pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Advance tickets can be found in all the usual spots until June 15th .


We are lucky to have the sounds of the Bluemont Concert Series returning to the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center this August! A complete schedule of the concerts can be found on http://www.hanoverarts.org/ .


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










6/30/11 Summer Storms, 4th of July Celebrations, Ashland Tweets, Crepe Myrtles



We’re glad that no one was hurt in that odd little storm we had last Wednesday. The National Weather Service won’t confirm that it was a tornado, but it sure looks like something decided to take a walk from Dejarnette Park, behind Allan Funk’s house, towards the tracks! Those tree service companies are loving Ashland this week.



It’s time to decorate, Ashland! I know it’s one of your favorite things to do. Shake out those flags and that bunting, and show your patriotic pride. It’s time to stock up on crepe paper and decorate those bikes for the Annual Ashland 4th of July Parade. Line up begins at 10:15am (on the 4th) in the Henry Clay Elementary parking lot.


Pack a picnic and plan to spend the 4 th on the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. This event is the epitome of what a 4th of July celebration should be: friends, family, mom, apple pie, and John Philip Sousa marches played by the Hanover Concert Band. The Friends of the Ashland Library will be having their annual used book sale, so you might want to bring a big box, or a wagon, to carry home your books.


Have you thought about your pie for the Apple Pie Contest? You can drop off your homemade apple pie between 9 and 10:30am on the 4th for judging. I might have a shot at it this year if Jill Voekler stays away. Call the Center at 798-2728 for rules.


This Friday, July 1st is Movie night at the Ashland pool! Bring your rafts and floats to relax in the pool and watch the movie, “Hoot” around 8pm. A sweatshirt usually comes in handy when the sun goes down. Regular admission applies.


Do you Tweet? The Town of Ashland and the Ashland Police Department are now both using Twitter to help inform citizen quickly of town emergencies. If you have a cell phone and a texting plan, this might be something for you to try. I know it comes in handy when a train gets stopped on the tracks and you’re just about to walk out the door for work. Visit http://www.twitter.com/ and search on “townofashland.”


Today, the crepe myrtles are heavy with their white, pink, and purple blossoms. If you look upward, there are big fluffy clouds in a beautiful blue sky. I would advise you to find a hammock. Call or email with your Ashland news: ashlandnews@gmail.com, 310-5320. Have a lazy week!










It's a shame we didn't get any snow this winter...

Especially since we're building this new town ski lodge.  I mean, I guess it could potentially bring in tourism dollars, if we ...