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!