4/26/2018 Little Theaters Everywhere, Spring Cleaning at PH, Summer Plans, and GO VOTE!

There is a great deal of natural talent in the Center of the Universe, and hopefully you are taking every opportunity to see it.

The Patrick Henry Players will debut their spring musical next week: Disney's Beauty and the Beast.  The curtain will rise on Wed., and Thurs., May 2nd and 3rd, at 6:00 PM.  The Friday and Saturday show will start at 7:00.  Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.  Spend an evening with some wonderful kids who are so excited to entertain you!  Please call Patrick Henry for more information: (804) 365-8000.

Randolph-Macon College also has some theater for you,too, starting this weekend, "Vanya and Masha and Sonia and Spike" will debut at the Cobb Theater on April 28th and 29th (7:00 PM) and again on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th.  This play is free for all R-MC students and staff, and $5 per ticket for the public.  Please call the box office to reserve your tickets: 752-7316.

Patrick Henry High School is asking for community help on Saturday, May 5th, to clean up and refresh their campus.  The 2nd Annual PHacelift will be from 9:00 AM to noon, and groups are invited to compete for prizes with costumes. You can sign up at tinyurl.com/PHacelift2.

There are some fun events coming up next week for your little ones at the Ashland Library!  On Thursday, May 3rd, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM,  bring your elementary-aged kids to "Ashland Rocks!" where they will paint rocks to leave as treasures in Ashland for others to find.  Refreshments will be provided and registration is requested (so they can have enough rocks): 798-4072.

Then on Saturday, May 5th, stop by the library at 11:00 AM for the Story Lady as she shares her gift of storytelling with your kids.

Your COTU summer is out there waiting for you, and registration is now open for all of it!  Carter Park Pool is accepting memberships for its 2018 season, which we are calling the "Snack Bar Summer."  Get your pool pass Here!

You can do no better for your children than signing them up to swim for the Ashland Barracudas this summer.  Besides teaching them how to swim well, and learning about sportsmanship, they will find joy in being a part of a team that includes kids from 5 years old to 18.  It's how kids in this town get to know kids who aren't the same age or in the same grade.  It is a wonderful thing.  Registration is open at ashlandswimteam.com.

The Center Players Summer Theater Camp 2018 is open for registrations.  No auditions are required for this wonderful creative opportunity for kids in grades 1 through 5.  Camp will run the week of July 23rd through the 27th, and will exploring the worlds of heroes and villans!  Click here to register.

Lastly, Town Council elections are Tuesday, May 1st!  Come practice democracy at the local level and help select the next leaders for our beloved town.

One of the best things about spring in the COTU is the return of shade.  As the leaves come out and those shadows spread across our lawns, I want to be eight years old again; I want to be bored, and lay in the shade watching ants.  The shade is a peaceful place to be- let’s all go find some this week.  Send me your Ashland news, Little League scores, and ice cream truck sightings.  You can reach me at 310-5320, or Ashlandnews@gmail.com.