5/31/12 Strawberry Faire, R-MC Graduates, Yard Sales, Pool Membership

Get your wagon or basket ready and plan to spend this Saturday, June 2nd, at the Strawberry Faire. There will be music, arts & crafts, food, and bushels of those sweet berries! Come walk the shade-covered streets of Randolph-Macon and marvel at all the new construction.

Happy belated birthday to AC Bruce, who is making Ashland a beautiful town, one house at a time!

Congratulations to all the Randolph-Macon seniors who graduated this past weekend! I’m sure that none of them are reading this column, but they add another dimension to this town. It is quiet after they have left, and even though that’s nice, I miss their youthful energy.

‘Tis the season for yard sales, and the Hanover Arts and Activities will host a community Yard Sale on Saturday, June 30th, from 7:00 a.m. – Noon. All proceeds go to repair their 153-year-old roof. Donations are gladly welcomed, and you might consider renting a space for $15.00 to sell your own treasures. Contact the Center to schedule a drop off of your goods or to reserve a booth space by phone, 804-798-2728, or email: info@hanoverarts.org.

The Ashland Town Pool is open every weekend from now until the end of school when summer hours start. Membership for the pool is a great deal, and you’ll find yourself there a lot in the summer. Stop by Town Hall to register and get your pass.

Registration is also open for the Ashland Barracudas Swim Team who is looking ahead to another undefeated season. All the coaches are returning, and practice begins Tuesday, May 29th. You can register online at www.ashlandbarracudas.com.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashalndnews@gmail.com. Have a great weekend!

5/24/12 Party in the Street, Memorial Day March, Theater Camp, Redecorated Luck

The first Street Party was a wonderful event: the weather was perfect, the band was great, and the dancers all so talented! If you missed this one, mark your calendar for the next one on Saturday, June 16th- the Saturday after the last day of school. Two Richmond Music legends will electrify the stage: Ron Moody and the Centaurs along with their very special guest, Steve Bassett.

The 11th Annual Memorial Day March, hosted by American Legion Post 206, will be this Monday, May 28th at 12:30 pm at the Library. This event is unique because all patriotic persons are encouraged to participate in this solemn observance. The march ends with a ceremony at Woodland Cemetery, an American Flag Folding, reading of the names of Hanover County War Dead, and our guest speaker, a US Army Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran.

Registration is open for the Hanover Arts and Activities Summer Theater Camp! It’s become an Ashland tradition for kids to sit under those big trees and dream up characters. Participants in 1st through 5th grades will take fun classes in acting, improvisation, music, dance, makeup and more! Visit www.hanoverarts.org for a registration form and more information.

Events, like this theater camp, are possible because of the dedicated volunteers that fill this town. It’s especially nice when they are recognized throughout the county! Recently, our Sharon Stiles was awarded the Hanover’s Spirit of One Volunteerism Award. We are lucky to have Sharon in our town, and even luckier that she gives so much of her time to us.

The Grand Re-Opening of Luck Chevrolet will be on Friday & Saturday, June 8th & 9th. Stop by on Friday from 3 - 6:30 pm, or Saturday from 11- 4pm, to see all the work that they did. They’ll have food & beverages, and a few shiny new cars as well!

Make sure you take the time to write to your Hanover County Supervisor and tell them who you’d like to see in the Ashland seat of the School Board. For Ashlanders, you can reach Chairman Ed Via at (804) 550-2600, or gevia@co.hanover.va.us.

If you’re reading this from outside the Town of Ashland, you have a voice, too. Once Chairman Via nominates someone, the rest of the Board of Supervisors will vote. You can find contact information for all the Supervisors at www.co.hanover.va.us.

The Ashland Town Pool opens this weekend! If you haven’t signed up for your summer membership, do it now. There is no better place to while away the summer than by the crystal blue waters of your community pool. We have the best lifeguards and the best management. Stop by Town Hall to register and get your pass.

Registration is also open for the Ashland Barracudas Swim Team who is looking ahead to another undefeated season. All the coaches are returning, and practice begins Tuesday, May 29th. You can register online at www.ashlandbarracudas.com.

What’s your favorite Ashland sound? I love it when two trains are meeting each other in town, and they whistle back and forth to each other; a great freight melody. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashalndnews@gmail.com. Have a fun Memorial Day weekend!

5/17/12 Losing Sue, Hanover Kids, Street Parties, Farmers Market

Ashland, we are losing a real gem: Sue Watson is retiring after 36 years as the Ashland Representative on the Hanover County School Board. For 36 years, she has worked to make our schools top notch, which has made our county a desired destination for many families.

There are three candidates who have offered to serve in Sue’s place: Hank Lowry, Michael Shannon, and Lorie Foley. All have worked to make Ashland a good place to live, but our Supervisor Ed Via will only nominate one. Do your research and let Chairman Via know who you want on the School Board! He can be reached at (804) 550-2600, or gevia@co.hanover.va.us.

If you’re reading this from outside the Town of Ashland, you have a voice, too! Once Chairman Via nominates someone, the rest of the Board of Supervisors will vote. You can find contact information for all the Supervisors at www.co.hanover.va.us.

Here’s a perfect example of the great kids in our Hanover County Schools! Katie Goodman, 11, was the youngest person ever to be awarded the 2012 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards’ Youth Volunteer Award. Katie has always believed in helping others, especially those less fortunate and in need. Keep your eye on this little girl; she will do great things.

Do you have your ticket yet? The Ashland Street Parties are about to make their spring debut! Get your dancing shoes shined up and arrive early on Saturday, May 19th for Shag lessons from the Richmond Shag Club from 6:30 – 7:30pm. The Band of Oz will provide music, and there will be drinks and food for everyone. Tickets are available around town, or online at www.ashlandstreetparties.org.

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is serving up all kinds of wonderful fruits, vegetables, plants, and homemade treats! Make it a part of your Saturday routine. They are open from 9am to noon, behind Town Hall.

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

5/10/12 Henry Clay Teachers, Endagered Spaces, First Street Party

Have you seen the front steps and sidewalk in front of Henry Clay Elementary? As a surprise for Teacher Appreciation Week, the parents and students got together Sunday evening and decorated with sidewalk chalk! The teachers and staff were met with a rainbow of thanks when they arrived at school Monday morning.

Did you hear that our Ashland Theater was just named as one of the most endangered historic places in Virginia? It is just so sad that this beautiful landmark is sitting vacant and is beginning to fall apart. It is becoming a blight on the town instead of the showcase that it should be. Our town deserves better.

Happy 34th wedding anniversary to Rod & Linda Deal this Sunday, May 13th! We wish them another 34 years together. What an accomplishment!

Congratulations to Kevin Proffitt who was named Coach of the Year at Randolph-Macon! Of course, we always knew that Coach Proffitt is the best coach ever.

The Ashland Street Parties are gearing up for another wonderful season. Get your dancing shoes shined up and arrive early on Saturday, May 19th for Shag lessons from the Richmond Shag Club from 6:30 – 7:30pm. The Band of Oz will provide music, and there will be drinks and food for everyone. Tickets are available around town, or online at www.ashlandstreetparties.org.

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is up and running for the season. Make it a part of your Saturday morning schedule.

May 7th-12th is Children's Book Week, so stop by the library and your child can pick up a free book each day this week! Join in the writing spirit and add a page to their community storybook.

On Thursday May 10th, there will be a special Family Story Time featuring Ashland school board representative, Sue Forbes Watson reading a great children's book. Come have some treats for both your taste buds and your ears! The fun starts at 6 p.m.

A very happy birthday was celebrated by Miss Meriwether Gilmore this past week. We are so lucky to share in the sunshine that she spreads around!

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