Friday, September 28, 2018

9/27/2018 Classic COTU Weekend: Parties, Music, Food, & Old Friends


It seems too good to be true.

The weather report for this Saturday doesn't seem normal considering all the clouds and rain that we have had for 2018, BUT the forecast calls for sunshine, clear skies, and a high of 76.  It will be a beautiful day for all things Ashland, which means being out and socializing.


A big happy birthday to the place that has raised so many Ashland kids!  Kiddie Kingdom will be throwing a big birthday party this Saturday, Sept. 29th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  There will be carnival games, music, food, and lots of fun seeing familiar faces.  Bring your kids by to visit the classrooms and teachers that they loved!





It should be a wonderful afternoon on the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center!  This Craft Beer Festival has become so popular in the past few years, and it is easy to see why!  Live music will be provided from the Mike Lucci Band, the HD Band, and The Bush League.  Visitors will have many breweries to choose from, including Ardent Ales, Hardywood, COTU, Bold Rock Hard Cider, and Devil's Backbone.  Yours truly will be pouring at the Legends tent from 3:00 to 5:00, so please stop by and say hi!  Tickets are $15 at the door and include a commemorative pint glass.

The Ashland Farmer's Market is a lovely place to visit as fall fruits and vegetables arrive.  Make it a part of your weekend routine!

The Hanover County School Board announced that it will combine Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary Schools into one sometimes within the next 3 to 4 years.  We hope that they can find a way to keep these school children at a school that is connected to the town by sidewalks.  We always enjoyed walking to school when scheduled allowed it.  Those minutes were filled with good conversation and frequent stops along the way when the honeysuckle was in bloom. 

Keep the Ashland elementary school within the town limits; it's why people move here. 

 Enjoy this beautiful weekend, Ashlanders!  Stay up late with the windows open; you live in a beautiful place.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.



Friday, September 14, 2018

9/14/2018 The Storm that Wasn't, Craft Beer on the Lawn, Small Town Friday Nights



Murphy's Law # 327:  
The amount of effort one puts into hurricane preparations is inversely 
reflected in the strength of said storm on the prepare-er.  

Example:
This past Tuesday, we tied the trampoline to a tree, ya'll.



In light of the non-weather event this weekend that cancelled all of our plans, I propose multiple post-hurricane parties where we use up all of these supplies we purchased.  

Have you gotten your tickets to the Off the Rails Craft Beer Festival on the 29th?  This is such a fun event for the Arts and Activities Center, and a perfect evening in our wonderful little town.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Caboose, at the gate, or online here.  The Randolph-Macon football team will be playing away at Washington & Lee that Saturday, so there should be no conflict of interest this year!

Your Ashland Coffee and Tea has just undergone some intense renovations, so plan an evening to come listen to some music and see the changes!  On October 5th, Carl Waterford & Three Bars Down will lend their Chicago blues to ACT's Blues and Burgers night.  Visit the website for more information!

This coming Friday, September 21st, your Patrick Henry football team will take on Henrico High School at home, under the lights, at 7:00 PM.  Come cheer on the patriots and partake in a great, small-town evening.  

Nest Saturday, the 22nd, is National Free Museum Day and you can download two free tickets to lots of museums in our area.  I bet there is at least one participating museum that you haven't been to yet; Scotchtown is on the list!  Visit www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2018/ to get your free ticket.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.  There is so much happening in this Center of the Universe...why would you ever want to leave?

Thursday, August 23, 2018

8/23/2018 Late Summer Storms, Yellow Jackets return, Open-Air Film Festival


Like a hurricane always makes that turn to the north along the east coast, so does summer always turn towards fall. I have hurricanes on my mind because it is that time of year.  I was working in my yard last Friday around 6:00 PM, and I noticed how quiet it was- the cicadas had stopped their constant singing and the air was still.  "Oh," I immediately thought, "its hurricane weather." 

Our Atlantic has let the Pacific take center stage this week as Hurricane Lane moves towards Hawaii, and let that remind us to check our supply of batteries and candles.

The Patrick Henry Half this weekend, so be prepared for some detours if you are headed west out of town on Saturday morning. Come out and cheer if you live along the route!

It's always nice to see the students coming back to town- they add a youthful spirit to our town that we all enjoy.  The first home football game for the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets will be Saturday, September 8th at 6:00 PM against Averett College. 

Who doesn't love watching movies under the stars?  Whether by the pool or by the Library, Ashland has a long history of showing film outdoors.  The opportunity arises once again with the Randolph-Macon Open-Air Film Festival this September.  The first film will be "Alone in Berlin," staring Emma Thompson and Brenden Gleeson (in English with German accents) on Friday, September 7th. The film begins at 7:30, but there will be a light reception before at 7:00 PM.  Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy this event which is free and open to the public!

You can learn more about the RMC Open-Air Film Festival by visiting their events calendar here.

Fall is a lovely time in the Center of the Universe, and we have so much to look forward to: cooler evenings on the porch, the return of sweaters, and Halloween planning.  Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.  Have a lovely weekend!




Thursday, August 16, 2018

8/16/2018 Summer Stretched Thin, Patrick Henry Half, September Schedule

It's mid-August.  College kids are packing to leave, and grade-schoolers are eyeing school supplies.  Carter Park pool is quiet most afternoons, and most of us are focused on September instead of August.  These last weeks can be a blur; what did we not accomplish this summer?



It reminds me of how fast the days in Ashland have flown by.  Our summers used to be filled with the activities of kids, pool trips, camps, sleep-overs with friends.  I can see this era ending as we now have two college kids in our house and a middle-schooler left at home.  They don't need me to manage their days any more, which was a goal that I dreamed about ten years ago.  Like many things that we think we need, the actual thing that we are longing for fails to live up to our expectations.  


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 twelfth year through the streets of Ashland on Saturday, August 25th at 7:00 AM.  Come rain or come shine (or hurricane) the runners will loop from Randolph-Macon, 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: www.rrrc.org.



Congratulations to the new Wawa for putting up framing that shows us that they actually do plan on constructing an actual building!  

In an effort to help with your planning, here are a few upcoming events that you can add to your calendar:

August 18th  Ashland Library End of Summer Celebration
September 3rd  Last Whistle of Ashland Pool
September 4th  First Day of School
September 15th  Last Street Party of the Summer
September 20th  Car Maintenance for Teens @ Ashland Library
September 22nd  Free Museum Day
September 29th  Kiddie Kingdom 50th Anniversary Celebration
                    Also  Off the Rails Craft Beer Festival


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.  





Thursday, August 2, 2018

8/02/2018 Empty Lots, Swimmers End Season, Main Street Welcome New Director, 32 Days Left



We are very tempted to hang out own signs on the chain-link fence that surrounds the empty lot on the corner of Rt. 1 and England Street.  "Coming soon- more PVP pipes sticking out of the ground!"  "Coming soon- better pop-up tents!"  "Watch up dig up dirt so we can smooth it out again!" 

Although the Ashland Barracudas took a small group to the Championship meet, they succeeded in cleaning up quite well!  Grace Gordon took home two gold medals in the 50 meter free-style and the 50 meter butterfly.  Andrew Datovech was awarded one of the GRAL scholarships, and the team took home first place for their video.  Christine Datovech won first place in the Virginia State Championship for the 50 free-style. 

If you have school-aged kids, the Ashland Barracudas is a wonderful summer activity.  It's great cross-training for other sports, and it gives them a very important life-skill.  Visit the ashlandswimteam.com or find them on Facebook for more info.

The next Ashland Street Party is Saturday, August 18th.  Bring your lawn chairs and your dancing shoes, and meet up behind the library from 6:30 to 11:00 PM.  Buy your tickets ahead of time and save $10.  You can purchase tickets online here.

The Ashland Main Street Association recently held a mixer to introduce their new director, Maggie Longest, and several new board members, including Lorie Foley, Bob Brown,Bill Gateway, Kelly Thomasson, and Paul Davies from RMC.  This organization has been intregal in promoting Ashland and working to preserve and protect our wonderful downtown area. 

Are you recieveing the "Get Centered" newsletter?  Visit here to sign up for your copy!

OK, Ashland, there are 32 days left before those big yellow school buses start rolling.  Ignore all those back-to-school sales and spend some time being lazy!

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



Thursday, July 19, 2018

7/19/2018 Life Guards Make Two Saves, Barracudas Close Season, Traveler Returns, Summer Stock


Congratulations to the Ashland Barracudas who concluded another successful swim season last night!  We'd also like to congratulate all of the seniors who stood on the blocks last night with a combined 86 years of participation.  Standing on those blocks of Carter Park Pool while Coach Trent reads off their accomplishments and college destination has become just as much as a rite of passage as the actual graduation ceremony. 

The Barracuda coaching staff is the reason that families keep returning and that kids stay on the team for so many years.  Kevin Trent, Alan Rosenberg, Jenny Younce, and Curran Henry have taught these kids how to swim, but also how to be good people.

Never, ever doubt the necessity or importance of a well-trained life guard.  This past week two of your Carter Park guards rescued drowning children from the pool.   Both instances occurred in the shallow end, and both children were younger than five.  There are life jackets available for use, and any parent who is not sure about their child's swimming ability can request one from any guard.  If you are near the pool this week, be sure to thank those guards for doing an excellent job.  You could also take them some food.  #feedtheguards

We'd like to welcome Susannah Gilmore back to the Center of the Universe!  Susannah was an intern at the American Embassy in Berlin, Germany, for eight weeks this winter, and then spent the spring semester studying politics and German at Freiburg University.  Susannah will begin her senior (4th) year at UVA in August. 

Origins Beer Lab is hosting a Thursday Run Club for anyone who would like to burn some calories before drinking beer.  Running starts at 7:00 PM and there are multiple route maps available.  You could even just walk around the block, if you want.


The Whistle Stop Theatre Company will present the second annual Ashland Summer Theater Festival on Saturday, August 11th, at the Arts and Activities Center. Bring the whole family to see productions of Thumbalina, Cattywampused, and Rumpelstiltskin!  Between the shows, kids can enjoy crafts, games, and deals sponsored by the Ashland Mainstreet Association.  Tickets are $10 for all shows and events.  Email  whistlestoptheatre@gmail.com to reserve your seats!

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.  The summer is almost gone, Ashland- have you paused enough? 





Thursday, July 12, 2018

7/12/2018 The Gravitational Pull of the Center of the Universe

Last week I took a trip far on the other side of the world and I almost didn't come back.  

Now, don't be alarmed, I love Ashland more than I have ever loved another town, but I have always felt the desire to move and have a great love of the unknown destination.  I never liked the feeling of being settled, and I struggle with it as I attempt to have a normal life with kids, a husband, a dog, and good friends.  







I discussed stealing a sailboat and heading south towards Casablanca, but my traveling companions refused to crew the ship.  






Do you know what finally turned my wandering mind back to thoughts of home?  It was a bus; a mundane, ordinary bus.  We were standing on the sidewalk outside of the Newark airport after a bumpy ride across the sea, and a big, blue James River bus pulled up to drive us down 95.  It was like unexpectedly finding an old friend there to pick you up, saying, "Glad you're back; lets go home."  

So as many times as I travel, or pretend like I'm running away to the far ends of the earth, there is a part of me who will always be lulled by the soft voices of Virginia, by the cacophony of evening locusts, and by the sweet faces of my town.  It's good to be back.

In Ashland news, your Ashland Barracudas beat the Ashcreek Crocodiles last night by a score of 905.5 to 857.5.   Thomas Senfield broke the team record in 9/10 boys' 100 free for the third time this year. He keeps breaking his own record- make a note of that.  

Those taking home four blue ribbons were: Caleb Flanagan, Kaylee Morgan, and Annie Topich.  Triple winners were: Christine Datovech, Paul Datovech, Julia Dull, Grace Gordon, Kyle Henry, Davis Luck, Brette Nicely, Elizabeth Roberts, Emmeline Roberts, Thomas Senfield and Aiden Spence.  

And what about Miss Christine Datovech?   I spoke to both her mother and coach about this record-breaking streak that she is on, and asked them, is there any record that she HASN'T broken?  
Why yes, they said, she can't break the breaststroke record.  

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that claim is now false as Christine broke the GRAL record in the 11/12 girls' 100 freestyle and the team record in 11/12 girls' 50 breaststroke last night.  It is exciting to watch the trajectory of a young athlete.

Congratulations to the Richmond Kickers North girls teams coached by Tony Santos and Ed Fallen competed in the Torneio Internacional Futebol Feminino in Aviero, Portugal!  This group of Hanover high-school girls were true ambassadors of good-will and sportsmanship as they made friends on the pitch.  Soccer is a beautiful game that transcends languages and cultures, and  many of these girls started with the Ashland Youth Soccer League which will begin practices in the fall!

Enjoy this lovely town that always welcomes us home! Ride your bike to the Farmer's Market on Saturday and bring home fresh bread for breakfast.  Have a beer in the afternoon by the tracks and speak to the people who walk by you.  Pack a picnic and bring your Sunday paper to read by the Carter Park pool.  Pause awhile and look at this beautiful life.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Tenha um bom fim de semana! 

Thursday, June 28, 2018

6/28/2018 Swimming Records Breaking, 4th of July Preparation, Keep the Guards Well Fed

Do Not Attempt.  
It's a short column this week, chaps, because there is just too much to do to be spending time in front of a computer screen. 

Your Ashland Barracudas are on a winning streak after defeating Chestnut Oaks by a score of 1088.5 to 985.5!  Christine Datovech broke another GRAL record for the 11/12 girls 50 meter free style.  If you haven't noticed, this happens every time she gets in the water. Watching her swim reminds me of Ted Schubert, as they both seem to glide on top of the water, not in it.  Ted is currently swimming for UVA.

Thomas Senfield is following close behind her and broke a pool record for the 9/10 boys 100 meter free style.  Swimmers who took home four blue ribbons were Mark Dinger, Grace Gordon, and Thomas Senfield.  Those with three blue ribbons were Kate Balut, Deklan Cauthorne, Christine Datovech, Paul Datovech, Claire Grant, Hunter Lee, Elizabeth Roberts, Emmeline Roberts, Samantha Senfield, and Ethan Spencer.

Are you ready for the 4th?  I've given you lots of advance notice, so I think you need to have a list for the grocery store this weekend to get ready.  Be at the Arts and Activities Center early on the 4th!

And I must say that Carter Park Pool is looking great these days. The snack bar is great, although the lifeguards still seem hungry.  Bring them a snack if you stop by, and keep your eyes open for info about movie nights!  #feedthelifeguards

Stay busy, stay active Ashland!  The weather has been really nice this past week, and any evening is a nice time to walk down to the tracks.  I guarantee you will see people you know. 


Have a wonderful week, COTU!  No column next week for the 4th of July holiday.  Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. 


Thursday, June 21, 2018

6/21/2018 Looking for Uncle Sam, Barracudas Breaking Records, Spoonfuls of Sugar, and Observing the Sunshine Law



Patriotism in the United States can be a tricky thing: too much and its scary nationalism, not enough and its apathetic socialism.  

To celebrate who and what we are as a country means taking a good look at our 242 years and saying, "How can we make it better?"  An easy way to do this is to turn to your neighbors, friends, and family.  Start with them.  

Your COTU, your Center of the Universe, your valentine town will be decked in red, white, and blue soon, and it is the perfect time to come together and celebrate what being an American means to us.  So, this weekend, look for that perfect apple pie recipe and go find that bunting for the front porch.  I think we all could use some John Philip Sousa marches.  Call the Center for more information on the events: 804-798-2728.

The Ashland Barracudas swim team season is in full swing right now.  Many thanks to Jessie Gordon for providing background music for the home meets; his music selections rival that of former announcer Jeff Reihl.  The Barracudas lost last week to The Colonies, but there were a lot of personal victories.  Christine Datovech (don't blink or you'll miss her) broke a league record for her 50 meter free-style, and Thomas Senfield broke a team record for the 100 meter free-style.  As I write this, the Barracudas are in the middle of a two-day meet (thunderstorms from the west on Wednesday) and hope to give the Welleseley team a run for their money.  

Do you have your tickets yet to see Mary Poppins?  Last summer,
the Center Players brought us Shrek which was just incredible, and now they are bringing us the wonderful sensibility and magic of that quintessential British nanny. Performances will be June 27th through July 1st at the Hanover Tavern.  Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased here, or bought for $15 at the door.  Please email tickets@hanoverarts.org for more information. 

The remodeled, restructured Cross Brothers is lovely inside!  They are open seven days a week, and have a lovely selection of vegetables, meat, sweets, and sandwiches.  And also lots of locally made gifts.  It really is like a farmer's market everyday.

The Ashland Town Council meetings are broadcast live on the Comcast Government Access channel, which I believe is channel 17 in our area.  So even if you can't make it out to a meeting, you can learn about what is going on- and there is a lot these days,   especially with a multi-million dollar Town Hall getting ready to be built.  You can also find a video archive of Town Council meetings here.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.  There is so much going on in your town- don't waste a single evening!

Lucy Lynne, July 4th, 2008




Thursday, June 14, 2018

6/14/2018 An Open Letter to WHAN, Feed the Life Guards, Local Kids Earn Their PHDs

We have been without a local newspaper now for two months and the void is still there.  It hasn't been without effort, though.  I have reached out to the Richmond-Times Dispatch and the Mechanicsville Local, and I have been in touch with the owner/editor of the Progress-Index in Petersburg who was interested in continuing the H-P, but nothing.  I know that no one has had any success with Lakeview Publishing who doesn't seem interested in selling the rights to the name.  What do they care anyway?  Makes me so mad.

There are wonderful online efforts to connect our community: this blog, the Ashland Hawk, the Hanover Ledger- all small, grass-roots, and led by passion and dedication.  But we cannot assemble and disseminate the news like a local newspaper.

Is it morose to say that we miss being able to read the local obituaries?  Those short stories of lives-well-lived made me feel grounded to this place, and we miss that.  We miss local church news and sports' teams scores.  We miss the pictures of people traveling and holding up their copy of the H-P outside of the British Parliament or Big Ben.  When is the next salt-fish breakfast?

We do have one local voice that is free to the public and readily available in any home, and that it WHAN radio, 102.9 "The Mater."

When I was growing up in the Northern Neck, my grandmother's kitchen radio was always tuned to WRAR in Warsaw, and we were treated to all the quirkiness of a small radio station.  They had a show called the "Swap Shop" where they would open the phone lines and people would call in to say that they had a refrigerator for sale, or that they were looking for a cheap garden tiller.  Sometimes they would call in to say that they had lost a hunting dog somewhere near Farmer's Fork.  And everyday the DJ would read the report from the local funeral home while heavy organ music played in the background.  It's the soundtrack from a hot summer day in my childhood, when my life was so boring that shelling beans on the front porch was a welcome chore.

So, WHAN, I'm talking to you- I think your role here could be bigger than you know.

If you have a kitchen radio, or one in your car, save the 102.9 spot.  It's a really great station with interesting and fun music.  The signal is pretty strong, too, I can listen all the way down in the West End.  Now is your time, 'Mater...

In other Ashland news, the brand new snack bar at the Carter Park pool is up and running although they are maintaining some tight security so none of my informants can tell me much about it.  Apparently all the life guards are not allowed in the snack bar, nor do they get a discount on the food items.  Poor lifeguards- they are always hungry and texting their parents to bring them food.  The next time someone is at the store, maybe you could pick them up some nabs. #carterpark4ever

Sweet Henry Clay Elementary School, has two wonderful inner courtyards that were created when the school was enlarged many years ago.  This summer, they will begin renovations to one of those spaces as a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) outdoor classroom.  Funding of this project is underway, and you can purchase an engraved brick to be used in the walkway.  These bricks are $50 each and can be engraved with a message up to 60 characters.  What a great way to leave a piece of your family at Henry Clay after your kids have grown up!  Stop by the office at Henry Clay to get an order form this summer.

Congratulations to all the kids who will be graduating from Patrick Henry this weekend!  I remember when you were all at Henry Clay.  It was just last week, you know.  I am so excited to hear stories of where you land and the good things that you will do out there.  Please come home on holidays and maybe for a few more summers. Be glad you got to grow up here; you have so many wonderful stories to take with you.

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

Thursday, June 7, 2018

6/7/2018 Things of Summer: Bees, Pool Water, Books, Tomatoes





And just like that it is summer.  Randolph-Macon has sent its graduates out into the world and the streets around campus are empty and quiet.  Swim team practices have begun at the pool with the wonderful addition of Ari Brothers as a coach.  She is reportedly tough, but encouraging, and the allure of ribbons and a ticket to the championship meet surrounds her swimmers.  There are a few days left of school, but those days are all half-days next week; for the seniors, their last day is tomorrow.  

Mosquitoes, wasps, lightening bugs, may flies- all manner of Virginia summer buzzers have returned.  We avoid walking bare-footed in the grass so that we don't step on a bee, and every evening we try and destroy the wasp nests that have develop daily in the upper eaves of the porch.  Magnolias are in bloom, morning glories are just starting to appear and are looking for something to climb, and I spend too much time looking online at vacation cottages along salty rivers in the Northern Neck.

All of this is to say that it is another summer in the COTU and we have a wonderful couple of months ahead of us!  A wise man from Arkansas once told me, "Ya'll are the most gettin-together people I've ever met."  Yes, we do like to get together; it is so much fun.

Saturday mornings have become market days in Ashland. Everything is alive and awake as the Farmer's Market draws record crowds, and the shops in town line their sidewalk space with flowers, plants, and toys.  Saturdays around here are really how every mornings should be: no long, hectic commutes, no scrambling to get kids out to the bus.  Just a nice walk or bike ride into town to see what the farmers have brought in today.  

The newly remodeled Cross Brothers continues to attract lots of customers and attention!  They are accomplishing a lot in the smaller space, and we are enjoying all the delicious pre-made goods.  I have heard wonders about a certain ice cream sandwich.  

This Saturday, come out to see the new concession stand at the Carter Park Pool and enjoy a day in the sun for free!  The Town is hosting "A Day in the Park" on June 9th.  Residents and visitors will have the chance to learn more about the parks in town and the recreational offerings.  The pool will be open for all, and visitors will be able to provide input on new playground equipment at the Kiwanis Pufferbelly Park.  There will also be volleyball, corn hole, and other games.    

Summer Reading sign-ups are happening now at your neighborhood library.  Just like waiting for a train forces us to take a breath and put the car into "park," a visit to the library instantly calms and settles you.  I think we should all be stopping by there at least once a week.  Look for their schedule of events on their website, and find a good book to read by the pool this Saturday.  

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


Thursday, May 31, 2018

5/31/2018 Season of Mud, First Street Party of Summer- CANCELLED, Will Kimbrough, Ashland Hawk

I think somehow we missed spring this year; winter lasted into April and May has been a soggy mess.  Now, we know that it's almost summer because a tropical system moving up from the south and hurricane season begins Friday. Regrettably, all signs point to a very humid summer. 
Sorry to report that this event has been cancelled due to the predicted weather for the evening.   The first Ashland Street Party of Summer is this Saturday, June 2nd, from 6:30 to 11:00 PM behind the Library on South Center Street.  Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased online here or  in town at The Caboose Wine and Cheese, Ace Hardware, SONA Bank, and Coldwell Banker to name a few spots.  Tickets purchased at the gate are $20 each, but kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult.  Bring a lawn chair if you'd like to sit between dances, but no coolers or pets please.  There is always an abundance of food and drinks available to purchase there. 

Also this Saturday night Will Kimbrough returns to the Ashland Coffee and Tea, indoors! Will is an amazing singer and songwriter that we have seen several times on his tours through the COTU- once with Rodney Crowell.  He has worked with Roseanne Cash, Todd Snider, Steve Earle, and John Prine.  The concert starts at 8:00 PM; tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 at the door.  There is no need to leave the town limits this weekend. 

This evening is the Senior Awards night at Patrick Henry High School.  I know that a certain amount of euphoria exists naturally with those seniors, and rightfully so, these kids are full of enthusiasm, hope, and optimism. But on the Senior Awards night, the stage will be full of people handing out scholarships to these kids so that they can continue their education.  Some of the presenters are alumnae of Patrick Henry, and some are parents who have lost a child but give the scholarships out in their name as a way of remembering.  It is the most touching evening that I have ever experienced as a parent of a Hanover County student.  If you get the chance to go, you certainly should.

Congratulations to the Randolph-Macon Baseball team who made it all the way to the final eight teams in the NCAA Division III College World Series this past week!  What a wonderful showing for the team's first trip to this tournament.  We are so very proud and look forward to their season next year.

And as we wade through the trough of information, now unaided by any sort of local newspapers, we find ourselves creating and putting together communication in any way that we can.  I even thought about printing several hundred one-page newsletters and delivering them to doorsteps, but the web seems to be our only resource for now.

Ragan Phillips has recently founded The Ashland Hawk to serve as our virtual opinion section, or letters-to-the-editor page.  The Hawk will focus on public issues: education, housing, jobs, economic stress, and will strive to be a forum where ideas can be exchanged respectfully.  Stay informed at www.theashlandhawk.com.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5302, ashlandnews@gmail.com.  Have a wonderful weekend; buy a newspaper!



Thursday, May 24, 2018

5/24/2018 Yellow Jackets Look To World Series, Cross Brothers Re-opens, Saturday Shopping, Memorial Day

Photo courtesy of Randolph-Macon College

So, not only are they headed to the 2018 NCAA Division III Baseball World Series, but the Randolph-Macon Baseball team is seeded number 1!  The team leaves today bound for Appleton, Wisconsin- way over on the other side of Lake Michigan- almost a thousand miles away.  Their first game will be tomorrow, Friday, May 25th, at 2:15 (our time) against the Misericordia Cougars.  Sportspage Grille, 504 England Street, will be streaming all of the RMC games



Ten years ago when the football field was flipped, and there was no Andrews Hall, you could sit in the stands and see the baseball field. In 2008, Ashland was getting ready for their big 150th birthday celebration to be held on the football field, and the elementary kids of Gandy and Henry Clay came out one afternoon to practice singing the national anthem.  The RMC baseball team was practicing behind them, but as these little kids started to sing, all of those boys stopped, took off their caps, and turned to face the kids.  It wasn't the start of a game, or a professional singer with a microphone, just some little kids from way across the field who weren't even aware that anyone was listening. 

The Randolph-Macon softball team had a great season this year.  Even though they got eliminated in the Regional Championships, it is a young team who will be exciting to watch next year!

Saturday will be a big day as we all have been looking forward to Cross Brother's re-opening!  We have been tempted with lots of pictures online, but the one that grabbed my attention was the box of tomatoes from Farnham, Virginia.  That's in Richmond County, folks, the Northern Neck, which grows some amazing tomatoes in its sandy soil.  All I ask is that you leave some for me. 

As always this Saturday in May, the Ashland Farmer's Market will be open and busy- I go mostly for the flowers and plants.  The Feed Store is stocked with any kind of vegetable plant that you may need for your beautiful garden.  The soil is pretty perfect now after all that rain, for planting.  I will probably have to pull a wagon with me to bring everything home.

There's a great town event this Sunday, May 27th: Ticket to Ride, a Run, Bike, Walk event through the streets of Ashland.  This 4.5 mile route will feature train stops along the way where you can learn more about Ashland and the trains that visit us each day.  This event is free, so come check in at 2:00 at the table on the south side of Archie Cannon Drive at the Railroad Track trail. 

Do you have a senior getting ready to graduate next month?  We have Patrick Henry kids getting ready to leave us for James Madison, UVA, Virginia Tech, Longwood, VCU, Tulane, and the University of Washington.  It's always wonderful to see where these kids will spread their wings and we look forward to each holiday when they come home.  

Happy birthday to A.C. Bruce who celebrates this Sunday!  Not only is he a great home builder, but a superb neighbor as well.

This Monday, Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember all the men and women who gave their lives for our freedoms.  

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



Thursday, May 17, 2018

5/17/2018 Rain, Street Party Moved, Rain, Cross Brothers Reopens, Rain



 Oh, now I remember what I forgot to bring out last week when I put winter clothes away...rain boots.  Although we don't have it as bad as our New England friends who are just beginning their mud season, it is certainly wet around here.  Our spongy Ashland soil will soaks up all this moisture to ensure that we have lots of humidity as soon as the sun returns.  We are the lucky ones.



And speaking of this soggy weather, the first Ashland Street Party of 2018 has had to move to Saturday, June 2nd, at 6:30 PM.  You can buy tickets online at here, for $10 each before the show, or $20 each at the gate.  Children 12 and under get in free with a paying adult.  There will be food and beverages available at the party, so please just bring a lawn chair if you would like a place to sit.  



We are excited to learn that the grand opening for the newly remodeled and restructured Cross Brothers will be next Saturday, May 26th!  I think we are all anxious to see what things look like in there, and there will be some veggies, right?  Just asking for a friend.  



Registration is now open for the Ashland Barracuda Swim Team!  Practices will start after school on Thursday, May 24th.  Will the pool be filled?  Will the water be cold?  And what about that snack bar? Well, friends, those mysteries are just one part of the excitement.  Sign up your kids, pull out the beach towels, and come find out.  Register at www.ashlandswimteam.com



There is always a cozy corner at your Ashland Library to sit and read a book.  It's a perfect retreat if you wanted to get away from things.  I wouldn't even think to look for you there.  This evening, Thursday, May 17th, there is a fun metal stamping class from 5:00 to 6:00 PM for kids ages 11-18, and this is free like almost everything at the library!  Call 798-4072 for more information.


There are so many opportunities to hear good music within walking distance of your Ashland home:

Ashland Coffee & Tea

England Street Tavern

Ironhorse


Enjoy the rain if you can.  From my kitchen, I can imagine that train whistles are really boats, and the clank of a flag pole in the wind is actually rigging.  You know I love you COTU, but I really wish you had a harbor.  Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Go buy a newspaper.  


Thursday, May 10, 2018

5/10/2018 Variety Show Delayed; All Citizens Devastated


Maybe that heading was a little extreme, but it was written after hearing the news that the Ashland Musical Variety Show, which is normally held every odd year, will be postponed until March 2020 due to renovations at Randolph-Macon's Blackwell Auditorium.  While the improvements will be very welcome, it was with shock and disappointment that we read this news.  Even years?  It's like the whole town has been thrown off its axis.  What will we do this winter with no rehearsals, no costume search, and no glitter?  We will have to plan something to keep us occupied, and to support the Arts and Activities Center, as we all struggle to hold on until 2020.

I have been reading a lot of Richmond newspapers from the early part of the 1900s, and a large majority of the news from Ashland focused on baseball games.  So nothing much has changed in one hundred years.

Eyes are watching the Randolph-Macon Baseball team who is currently ranked No. 1 in the Massey Ratings.  The boys of summer will be in Lynchburg this weekend for a double-elimination tournament to determine the ODAC champion, and to see who will be moving on to the NCAA Tournament. As you can see from this 1908 article, R-MC had "invincible battery" even then.

Not to be outdone, the Randolph-Macon softball team who is now ranked 5th in the national Division III poll!  Coach Kevin Proffit and his team are in New Jersey today getting ready to face the College of Staten Island tomorrow, Friday, at 2:30 PM in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

I don't have any Ashland Little League news other than to say that I can hear the sounds of an evening ball game in my back-yard, and it is such a wonderful noise.

CSX is performing track maintenance for a few days this week, which means all the wooden pedestrian board walks have been removed.  Cross carefully!  Do you know what CSX stands for?  They originally wanted to call it "CSM" which stood for Chessie Seaboard Merger, but that was already taken on the stock exchange.  They decided to go with "CSX" and have the X symbolize the train tracks, as any train crossing sign has a large X across it.  Just a little bit of info for the COTU.

We were all lucky to have another summer here, don’t you think?  I know that life in Ashland is not perfect, but I hope that you know it is special.  This column should never comes across as being Pollyanna-ish, or ignorant of the trials of life, but I want to remind you of the small things that we sometimes overlook: the odd sign in front of the dry cleaners, decorated bike gardens, opera singer sightings, and pool towels hung on a porch railing. 

Life in this town is good NOT because of the size of your house, the kind of car you drive, or the clothes that you wear.  Life is good here because we laugh a lot at silly things.  We have an affinity for organizing events, and we love it best when our sidewalks are crowded with people.  We leave things on each other’s front porches, we stand in the middle of the road to talk, and we absolutely love to decorate. 

This is a good town, and we will always be lucky because we found our way here. The summer is really something to look forward to in the Center of the Universe. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com.

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 ...