1/17/2020 Reading the Signs, Hanover Idol, Tickets to the Ball

Bear with me....

Does anyone else not understand this sign, or is it just me?  This sign bothers me every time I drive past it.  It sits at the crosswalk by Sweet Frog and Maple St. and directs pedestrians to cross Rt. 54 on the cross walk and go south towards Maple to avoid the sidewalk closure ahead around the train station.

So if I am walking east on 54 from Rt 1, lets say that I am visiting Randolph-Macon College and want to go have lunch at the Iron Horse, I start walking towards the train tracks and then see this sign.  Not knowing which sidewalks were closed ahead, I would probably just do what it said.  BUT if I lived here, I would know that you can certainly continue to walk straight and ignore the sign, because the closed sidewalks are on the north side of 54 and wouldn't impact me getting to the Iron Horse.  IN FACT, if I continues to walk straight and then crossed the street at the track, I would have a lighted crosswalk to make my crossing safer.

This picture shows the sidewalks that are closed- see the highlighted area.  The only thing that you are prohibited from reaching with this closure would be the north side of the tracks and the parking lot for Randolph-Macon.  

So wouldn't this sign make more sense if it was on the opposite side of 54 and directing pedestrians to cross in front of the Post Office and go north towards the college?  If I was walking from Rt 1 and wanted to go north at the railroad crossing to take a picture of the R-MC sign, I'd have to cross 54 earlier.

Thanks for listening, just had to get that out there.

Have you gotten your ticket to the Ashland Police Officer's Ball yet?  It really is the most elegant event of the year in the Center of the Universe.  Not only is the cause worthy, but the food is incredible, and the people-watching is on point.  Tickets are available at the Caboose or by going online here.


I tell people all the time about the APD. For me, they epitomize what law enforcement should be.  Please come out and support our officers in blue!




Mark your calendar for Sunday, February 23rd, for Untold Stories: Black and White Experiences in Ashland/Hanover from 4:00 to 5:30 PM at Patrick Henry High School.  This evening of story-telling is so important; we will easily forget our shared history if we don't listen to these narratives.  We have only lived in Ashland for 15 years, but I have a lot of COTU history in my head, and that makes my feel more connected to this place.  I know why there are two doors on the front of Off and Dancing.

Are you a shower singer?  Are you keeping your voice hidden behind other choir members?  Gather up your courage and come audition for the Hanover Idol Competition on Saturday, February 8th at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center.  You must sign-up ahead of time at www.hanoverarts.org.  The Junior Idol will be held later, on March 8th.


This Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr, Day, and communities everywhere are marking it as a National Day of Service.  You can find lots of volunteer opportunities by visiting the Corporation for National and Community Service not just for Monday, but all year long.  We are always better people when we give of our time.  "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." MLK, Jr.

Thanks for reading, Ashland; have a great weekend!

xo,
Meriwether

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