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!

5/3/12 Street Party Returns, Black History Celebrations, Food Baby

May is a beautiful month, isn’t it? Ashland is just awash in color, and the dog-days of summer haven’t started yet. We have so many things going on this month, too!

The (official) Ashland Farmer’s Market celebrates its opening day this Saturday, May 5th! The market is open from 9am to noon behind Town Hall, and you’ll find all kinds of early fruits and vegetables, plus flowers, plants, and home-baked goodies.

Come wish Cross Brother’s a Happy Birthday this Saturday at 5pm in the Library Plaza. There will be music, refreshments, and all your favorite people. The celebrations have been continuous at this Ashland landmark, so stop in & see what’s going on.

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.

Let’s wish a happy birthday to our friendly, neighborhood librarian, Cathy Bach who blew out the candles on, May 1st, and Lower Ashlander, Peyton Luck, who opened presents on April 30th!

Have you seen all the construction on the Randolph-Macon campus lately? It’s exciting to see so much growth happening and we can’t wait to watch the first football game on the new field this fall!

The third and final part of the Black History Celebration will be a visit by Ezibu Muntu - an African Dance Group – on Sunday, May 6, at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Ezibu Muntu African Dance and Cultural Foundation is a professional organization of dancers, drummers, entertainers and other individuals dedicated to invoking a better educated positive understanding of African culture, values, traditions and the cultural arts as a whole. This event is free and open to the public!

Also, come see “Food Baby,” an original musical production directed by Lorie Foley at the Ashland Firehouse Theater this Sunday at 7pm.

My sources must be lazy this week because I still do not know who was in the Bigfoot costume and scaring little old ladies at Garden Week. C’mon Ashland! Call or email me with your information: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a lovely weekend!

4/26/12 Big Foot Sightings, Early Farmers Market, Black History Celebration

Have you recovered from your busy weekend? From all accounts, the Railroad Run and the Garden Club Tour were incredibly successful. The runners were fast, the houses were gorgeous, and, in typical Ashland fashion, we have a mystery! Apparently there was a Big Foot (or someone in a Big Foot costume) who delighted in peeking over fences and startling the ladies. What makes this even more of a mystery is that it was not Jeff Reihl!

If you have any clues to share about this masked marauder, please let me know.

The Saturday night movie at your Firehouse Theater this weekend will be “The Cain Mutiny” starring Humphrey Bogart, Jose Ferrer, Fred MacMurray, and Van Johnson. This 1951 drama takes place on a destroyer in WWII and was nominated for seven Oscars. As always, tickets are free and the curtain goes up at 7:30pm. Popcorn and drinks are available for purchase.

There are several vendors who have been out at the Ashland Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. The Market doesn’t officially open for a few more weeks, but stop by during your weekend errands!

The deals continue at Cross Brothers leading up to their big celebration on May 5th. Spend at least $25 and your name will be entered into a drawing for weekly prizes, with a grand prize winner on May 5th. Mark your calendar!

The third and final part of the Black History Celebration will be a visit by Ezibu Muntu - an African Dance Group – on Sunday, May 6, at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Ezibu Muntu African Dance and Cultural Foundation is a professional organization of dancers, drummers, entertainers and other individuals dedicated to invoking a better educated positive understanding of African culture, values, traditions and the cultural arts as a whole. This event is free and open to the public!

Registration is now open for the Hanover Arts and Activities Center’s Children’s Summer Theater Camp for rising 1st through rising 5th graders. Participants will take fun classes in acting, improvisation, music, dance, makeup and more! This camp will fill quickly, so register today at www.hanoverarts.org.

And sadly, our thoughts and prayers go out to Ashland Police Corporal Grant Bonistalli and his wife, Rachel, who recently lost their infant son, Evan. We truly value the service that Corporal Bonistalli gives to this town, and we are so very sorry for the loss of Evan.



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

4/5/12 Firehouse Movie, Cash Mob, RRR, Sotchtown

The colors of spring are all around town! Hasn’t the wisteria in the woods been spectacular? It reminds of me of the morning after a really good party, before someone has had the chance to clean up- a beautiful mess.

We were so sad to hear about the passing of Mary Francis Luck last week. She will be missed by so many people, but how wonderful to get to spend 98 years in Virginia and the town of Ashland surrounded by friends and family.

The Saturday night movie at your Firehouse Theater will be “The Miracle Worker” starring Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke. This 1962 classis won Oscars for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. As always, tickets are free and the curtain goes up at 7:30pm. Popcorn and drinks are available for purchase.

The crowd at Cross Brothers’ “Cash Mob” was terrific! Stay tuned for lots of 100th Anniversary special events.

Happy birthday to Becky Sewell who celebrates her birthday this week! We are sure that she’ll have lots of presents and cake.

Have you registered to run in the Ashland Railroad Run yet? We’ve seen so many people out running and walking the sidewalks to town that we know you’re ready! Visit www.hanoverarts.org for a registration form or stop by the Center. The 10K, 5K, and Kids’ Mile Run are on Saturday, April 21st.

Scotchtown has some fun reenactments planned for the weekend of April 14th and 15th. Come visit from 10am to 4:30pm as the Hanover Independent Company gathers and prepares to march to Williamsburg to retrieve the gun powder Lord Dunmore took from the Magazine. Our Patrick Henry was a key part of this effort as he was elected Colonel of this company of men. For additional information call 804/227-3500 or email scotchtown@preservationvirginia.org.

One of the best things about Ashland is our talented community of artists. On Sunday, April 22nd, from 1 to 5pm, Cross Mill Gallery will exhibit some of the artwork of Jerry Peart, whose large-scale aluminum sculptures are displayed all over the city of Chicago. Cross Mill will also be showing Jeremy Witt photographs, David Camden pottery, and some vintage Nancy Witt paintings! Who needs the VMFA with Cross Mill in your backyard?

If you’re traveling, enjoy your Spring Break next week. If you’re staying put, enjoy one of the prettiest places on earth. Stop by the Feed Store and get your garden planted. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a lovely weekend.

3/29/12 Beautiful Spring, Cross Brothers, 100K Runners, Ashwood Gardens

Spring has burst out all over this past week. Everyday it seemed as though something new was blooming, and over-night the grass has started to grow in the yard. We have had to shut out windows as our southern yellow pines have begun blooming as well, spreading their yellow pollen everywhere. But I do miss falling asleep to the sound of the frogs from Meachum’s Creek.

There were lots of birthdays in town this past week: Mayor Faye Pritchard, Elizabeth Melson, Jeremy Witt, Chris Dull, and Annika Cline. I hope everyone met their quota for icing and presents!

Cross Brothers Grocery Store is celebrating its 100 Anniversary this year! Do you know how lucky we are to have a store that possesses this kind of staying power? Think of all the stores that have come and gone just in your lifetime: Thalhimers, Ames, A & P. Cross Brothers has weathered it all! Come gather in the store this Friday from 4-6 and participate in a “Cash Mob” to show your love.

Congratulations to Rodney Bardwell and Tom Grant who ran 100K races this past weekend in Florida. I love it when ordinary people show extraordinary strength and endurance. Sign up for the Railroad Run 10K at the end of April and break your own record! Register at www.hanoverarts.org, or stop by the Center for a form.

Come see a wonderful movie at your Ashland Firehouse Theater this Saturday: “Life is Beautiful” about life inside a concentration camp during WWII. This important piece of cinema won three Academy Awards, including a Best Actor Oscar given to Roberto Benigni. Does anyone remember how he stood up in his seat when they called his name? It was such a genuine Hollywood moment. As always, tickets are free with popcorn and drinks available for sale. The curtain goes up at 7:30pm!

Ashwood Gardens celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend with all kinds of wonderful events. You know that you need to work on your yard, so stop by the nursery from 9 to 5pm for planting demonstrations, door prizes, sweet treats, and as always, gorgeous plants and flowers! Visit their website, www.ashwoodgardens.com for more details.

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