8/20/09 Northern Neck, Gnomes, Bluemont

Well Ashland, the title of this column is “You Can’t Go Home Again”, and is about traveling back to where you came from. For three days in a row, I drove Rt. 360 and Rt. 301 to the Northern Neck, and the driving was the easy part.


My family has been in the Northern Neck for a while now, so almost everyone I saw was a cousin. My childhood comes flashing back at me with every new person who walked in the door, arms full of ham biscuits, pound cake, or Coca-Colas. Here was my 3rd cousin Julie Christopher; here was her father, Peyton Balderson. Here was Marion James Packett who I hadn’t seen in 20 years and looked like he was still 17. I smiled, gave hugs to many, and told them all that we live in Ashland now, and it is such a wonderful town.

They, of course, did not leave the Northern Neck like I did, and I started to wonder if maybe I should have stayed, too.

The church where my mother’s family is all buried is Menokin Baptist- an old, red-brick church surrounded by quiet bean fields. There are oyster shells in the driveway that have probably been there since my grandparents were married there, and soft-ball trophies line the walls of the parish hall. After the funeral, there was lunch served, but it was hard to eat because there were so many people to talk to. The pecan pie was gone very early, but there was enough corn pudding to last to the end.

At the end of each evening, I would drive home by 360, then 30, then 301, and then the turn onto Rt. 54 at Hanover Court House. Seeing the sign that said, ‘Ashland 6 miles”, was always comforting because I would tell myself that I could walk it from there, and driving into town late at night felt like a blanket around my shoulders.

Not everyone here is a cousin. My friends here have not known me since I was born. Here, I am just me- not my father’s daughter. I tell myself that is life. We are given these contemplative moments to reflect and to wonder about where we have come from. I am lucky to have come from that old place, and even luckier still to have ended up here at the Center.
So, there, I’m done for now. Let me throw in some Ashland News before Greg Glassner fires me.

(Hand on my hips) Who put up all those pictures of gnomes around Ashland? I fully expect someone to solve this mystery for me before we return to town. Hey, Corinne Luck! Will you figure this out for me, please?

Summer is really threatening to leave us, as the last Bluemont concert is this Sunday at 7pm on the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. The Daryl Davis Band will perform a healthy serving of rhythm and blues- enough to make you feel like getting up and dancing. Tickets are $5 at the door. Visit www.hanoverarts.org for more information.

Send me your Ashland news, and your stories of going home. The really lucky ones are those who have lived their lives here. I can be reached at 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a good week.

8/13/09 Peter Pan Debuts, Tiger Trot, Bluemont, Goodnight Billie

For the third year in a row, Lorie Foley has given the children of Ashland a beautiful gift. Her Theater Camp, held at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center, debuted “Peter Pan” this past weekend and we were all amazed and delighted.

The inside of the Center was decorated with a fairy tale set, the children all seemed to sparkle, and the small children who were invited to sit next to the stage were transfixed.
The tale of Peter Pan was especially poignant because none of us wanted those children to have to grow up. I wished that they could have summers like this for the rest of their lives. I hope, hope, hope that they remember this and know what a special thing it was. We could not help but wipe our eyes as the two Wendys, Madison Brown and Elena Reiderer, sang the song ‘Never Say Goodbye”, which asked us to not say “goodbye” which is final, but to instead say “goodnight.” Life goes by much too fast, Ashland.

In that respect, I will say goodnight to my grandmother, Betty Ward, who left us recently. She was 90, and she had lost her sister, Lucy, in January so she was ready to go. Billie was a good grandmother. Her house was an elegant place that smelled like Dove soap. When I was little and stayed at her house, she would let me eat ice cream in her bed while she and my grandfather watched Johnny Carson. She was the last of her generation, and we all seem a little older now. I am no longer a granddaughter to anyone.

The 6th Annual Ashland Harvest 10K Run/5K walk will be on Oct. 24 beginning at 9:00 A.M. at Carter Park. The course weaves through the beautiful, historical town past Randolph Macon College and along the railroad tracks. This year, the Ashcake Woman's Club is adding a Community Health Faire from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. All proceeds to benefit Saint James Free Clinic, WHEAT and various other local charities. Additional information can be found at www.Ashlandharvestrun.com or 752-4815 or 798-9341.

There are just two more Bluemont Concerts left this summer! Even in this hot August weather, the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center is always shady and cool in the evenings. This Sunday we welcome The Lindsay Family- a mother & father and their three kids: 14, 12 & 9! There are always so many children in the audience; it will be fun for them to get to see young performers. Tickets are $5 at the door, and the show starts at 7pm. Visit http://www.hanoverarts.org/ for more information.

Have you signed up for the Tiger Trot 5K Race yet? This is an incredibly well-run race through the streets of Ashland to benefit the Henry Clay and John Gandy PTA’s. The race will be held on Saturday, September 19th at Henry Clay Elementary. You can run in the race in the morning and celebrate at the last Street Party of the season in the evening. Contact Tracy Brown for more information: bob.and.tracy@comcast.net.

Save your shopping for the Farmer’s Market this Saturday behind Town Hall. This heat is just what the Hanover Tomatoes asked for and it’s hard to find better vegetables than those grown on our local farms. The Market is open from 9 to noon. Bring a wagon.

This Friday, August 14th, the Summer Reading Program Celebration at the Ashland Library begins at 6:30 p.m. featuring our very own God Fearin’ Snake Handlers!Free ice cream will be served. Come and enter to win our prize drawings! This event issponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Alright, I supposed if you have to shop for school supplies you can go ahead and do it. As much as I’ve tried to ignore the end of summer, it is still steadily approaching. There is still time for cook-outs and croquet parties, I believe. Let’s keep dancing until the last song.

Send me your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can find a record of these columns at http://www.ashlandnews.blogspot.com/. Have a lovely week!

8/6/09 End is in Sight, Bluemont, Tiger Trot, Bright Beginnings

You know, sometimes August is hard to love. The end is in sight- as goes August, so goes the summer, and it's all down-hill from here. So while we squeeze in one last trip to the beach, one more Friday at the pool, here's a little contest to add some fun. Whoever can come up with the answer to this joke that is closest to my answer (which is sealed in a valut) will win some amazing prize. Extra points awarded for sacrasm!

How many Ashlanders does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

There is a wonderful program called "Bright Beginnings" at the Patrick Henry YMCA that helps less fortunate elementary-aged children get the supplies and clothes they need to go back to school. This year they have 172 children registered for the program and they need your help! There are three ways that you can lend a hand: volunteer to shop with a child at the Virginia Center Target; purchase a backpack filled with supplies (names with grade level and school available at the Dry Y); or make a donation. Each child gets $100 in donations to spend on clothes at Target. There are shopping nights next week where volunteers are still needed: August 10 and 13. Please email Sharon Stiles at smstiles@comcast.net if you can help in some way. Please visit www.ymcarichmond.org/brightbeginnings to learn more about this program.

Happy birthday on August 9th to Clyde Johnson who turns 89! Mr Johnson came to Ashland in 1932 when he was 12 years old, and certainly could tell some stories of what life was like back then.

Do you know where John Dyer was this past weekend? He was in Finland! He was on the other side of the planet competing in the World Masters Athletics Competition in Finland! John finished 4th in he world (did you get that? W-O-R-L-D) in the 400m Hurdles Mens 50 race. Wow. I am so impressed. Not only can he run fast, but he can jump fast, too. Congratulations John!

We had another wonderful summer evening this past Sunday on the lawn of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center listening to Last Train Home. There was a full moon, a yard full of friends, and music to shake the cicadas out of the trees. This coming Sunday will bring the band L'Angelus to Ashland. We can all pretend that we live in New Orleans, especially with this lovely humidity that has come home. Tickets are $5 for adults at the door, and the show starts at 7pm. Visit www.hanoverarts.org for more information.

Have you signed up for the Tiger Trot 5K race yet? This is an incredibly well-run race through the streets of Ashland to benefit the Henry Clay and John M. Gandy PTAs. The race will be held on Saturday, September 19th at Henry Clay Elementary. You can run in the race in the morning and celebrate at the last Street Party of the season that night. Contact Tracy Brown (ne. Stanley) for more information: bob.and.tracy@comcast.net.

So please, please savor every second of this fast month. Spend every available minute at the pool, or lying in a hammock somewhere. Focus on the small and the over-looked, so nothing, take a nap, write a letter. We must fight against the "rip-tide" of time that happens near the COTU. Call me with your Ashland news if you have the time, but if you're too busy counting falling stars, that's ok. I'll make something up.

7/30/09 Pirate Croquet, Children's Market, Bluemont Evenings

We have heard that investigators from the United States Croquet Association were in the area last week looking into reports of rogue croquet games being played in LA. People, please! If you must play croquet, for goodness sake, take the time to read the rules on etiquette, dress code, and how to replace balls that become broken while in play. Palm Beach is watching. Give no quarter!

We had such a fun time at the Children’s Market at the Ashland Farmer’s Market this past Saturday. There are so many talented and industrious kids around here. There were veggies for sale from kids’ gardens, handmade jewelry, soap, magnets, and some of the best lemonade I’ve had in a long time. The next Children’s Market will be on the last Saturday in August, the 29th. If your kids are interested in having a booth, email farmersmarket@town.ashland.va.us.


Happy Birthday to all these Leo girls in Ashland! On July 28th, Lucy Klisz turned eight, and Susannah Gilmore turned twelve. On July 20th, Ruby Adele Marchetti arrived to brighten the world of Stephan, April, Parker and Ellis. Ruby was 9 pounds, 20.5 inches long, and has quickly become the darling of Henry Clay Street. On July 16th, Stella Roane Longmire was welcomed by her doting parents, Abe & Laura, and her beaming grandparents, John & Becky Longmire. Stella was just over 7 pounds, and 20 inches long. So watch out for all these tough, strong-willed girls with old-fashioned names! Certainly they will make the world a better place.

One hundred additional Ashland Yearbooks will arrive at the Ashland Visitor’s Center (old train station) on July 30th. If you didn’t get your copy before, they’re on sale for $65 a piece and make lovely Christmas gifts.

The first Bluemont concert of the summer was lovely last Sunday. John McCutcheon provided wonderful entertainment, as always. The rain held off, and we were able to sit outside with our friends- just the way we like it. This Sunday’s concert will be a big crowd- Last Freight Train Home, so come early to get a good spot. Tickets are $5 per person, $4 Bluemont Friends & seniors, $2 kids under 12. There are no advance ticket sales. The Hanover Arts and Activities Center is located at 500 South Center Street in Ashland.

Registration is now open for the 2009 Tiger Trot benefiting Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools. This year the race will be held on Saturday, September 19th. The kid's races begin at 8:00am and the 5K begins at 9:00am. You can register online at www.raceit.com/Register/?event=506. This is a lovely race and does so much to help out our local elementary schools.

We’re in the thick of summer and it’s hard to get a group of people together because of vacation schedules. I like summer vacations. They’re a good thing. But I rest easier when everyone is home in Ashland and back in their own beds- when “All’s right with the world.” Send me your news- 310-5320, or email ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a good week & travel safely.

The COTU Theory of Quantum Speed-Up and other summer news...

The summer is moving by entirely too quickly for my taste, but I know I’m contributing to this hastening, and one theory is that it is completely inevitable. We are products of our town, Ashland! We have become over-aware of the passing of time because of our affection for time spent in the COTU, and have unwittingly succumbed to a downward spiral of hyper-scheduling! OK, well at least I have. There are just so many things to do here, and we hate to miss any of them. Who wants to lie on the back porch and read a book when there’s Movie Night at the Ashland Pool?

Our Charlotte Reynolds is in Houston, Texas for a while still fighting that awful cancer. She turned 4 on July 9th with a party so big that it lasted for two days. It was a wonderful tribute to Charlotte, and her parents Roger & Rachel- and showed how very many people are pulling for her recovery. Happy Birthday CJ! You’re doing a great job and we’re all so proud of how hard you’re working at getting better. Ashland misses you.

This Sunday marks the first Bluemont Concert of the summer. Come hear John McCutcheon on the front lawn of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center beginning at 7pm. Bring your lawn chairs and bug spray. Tickets are $5 per person, $4 for Bluemont friends, and $2 for kids under 12. The John M. Gandy PTA will have refreshments for sale and will have registration forms for Tiger Trot!

Registration is now open for the 2009 Tiger Trot benefiting Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools. This year the race will be held on Saturday, September 19th. The kid's races begin at 8:00am and the 5K begins at 9:00am. You can register online at https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=506. This is a lovely race and does so much to help out our local elementary schools.

Come to Family Game Night at the Ashland Library next Tuesday July 28 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Beat the heat and play some board games at the library, or try out their new Wii! Check out our selection of books on games and more! This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library who will also serve refreshments

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is in full swing! Get there early on Saturday mornings for the best selection. The Market is open from 9 to noon, and this Saturday will feature a Children’s Market where our COTU kids will be selling their veggies. There are beautiful cut flowers that will last all week on your table, blueberries, plants, herbs, eggs, and of course, tomatoes.

The Ashland Youth Soccer League is taking registrations for fall soccer. We have such a great group of dedicated parents and volunteers who run this organization! Your kids will have a great time and they’ll learn a sport that will stay with them throughout their lives. Register at http://www.aysl.org/ before August 15th.

So go unschedule yourself, oh wait- only unscheduled yourself from activities which I am not involved in. Are we clear on that? Good. Call or email me: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a free-range week!

7/16/09 Lions, Tigers, Bears, Barracudas, and Cicadas.

Alright, who ordered up this New England weather? Hmm? Someone step up and take responsibility for these cool nights and low-humidity days! I bet it was some displaced Northerner- and you know who I’m talking to! Well, I want my Central Virginia summer back. I want my own, personal sauna. I want to be able to fully appreciate things, like central air conditioning, gin & tonics, and October. None of these things matter much when you have to put on jeans in the evening just to sit on your back porch. This is Ashland, VA not Ashland, MA. Good grief.

While we might be considered a suburb of Richmond, we lean more towards the wilderness around here. Deer seem to like our vacant lots, copperheads like of yards, and at least one bear visits regularly each summer. Now I’ve heard of bobcat sightings in Beaverdam and LA (Lower Ashland- you should know that by now). So if you count the Tiger Trot coming up in September, you can say, “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” (Thank you to Mr. Brown for pointing that out.)

Registration is now open for the 2009 Tiger Trot benefiting Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools. This year the race will be held on Saturday, September 19th. The kid's races begin at 8:00am and the 5K begins at 9:00am. You can register online at https://www.raceit.com/Register/?event=506. This is a lovely race and does so much to help out our local elementary schools.

Mark your calendar for the second Street Party of the summer! Saturday, July 18th will bring local wineries for a wine tasting with music by Premiere. Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 at the gate, and are on sale at Cross Brothers Grocery, Ace Hardware, and Hometown Realty. Gates open at 7 pm in the parking lot behind the library.

What is summer without a lemonade stand? The school-age students at Kiddie Kingdom are participating in the 8th Annual Anthem LemonAid on Friday, July 17th. The Children’s Miracle Network Richmond established this fundraiser as a way for children to get involved and to give back to the community. They will be raising money to help children with cancer. Their stand will be located on the front porch and we encourage everyone to drive through and purchase lemonade from Kiddie Kingdom! The stand will be open all day (7:00 am – 6:00 pm), and lemonade will be sold for $1.00 per cup.

Here’s my other, really important Ashland news: The cicadas have returned and can be heard chirping most afternoons and evenings until well past midnight. Sleep with your windows open for a wonderful Virginia lullaby. I would also point out that now is the perfect time to change your diet so that you can eat BLTs all day. They are perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and will never taste as good as they do right now.

The Ashland Barracudas won their meet against Mechanicsville last week, but did you really expect anything other than that? The final score was 1370 to 1080, and Mechanicsville had 24 MORE swimmers registered than Ashland. The last meet is this week against Pebble Creek. I am just so impressed.

Let me know what’s going on down your street. Have you read a good book lately? How are your tomatoes doing? If you catch a June bug, tie a string around it’s leg and you can have a flying pet on a string. Then send me a picture of it. I can be reached at 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can find a record of these columns at http://www.ashlandnews@blogspot.com/. Have a great week!

7/9/09 Ashland the Beautiful, Unstoppable Barracudas, Second Street Party, Bubble Prank

What a beautiful Fourth of July weekend! I’d like to send many thanks to all the volunteers at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center for putting on another wonderful 4th celebration. Carolyn Peart was committee chair for the parade and all the fun on the front lawn, and she did an amazing job as always. The new parade route was different, but I think everything went smoothly. We loved all the pets- the dogs, the puppies, and the rat! The sun shone, the humidity was low, and the controversies over the balloon toss were settled amicably.

I hope all your afternoon activities on the 4th were fun. We spent most of the afternoon and evening on Virginia Street, and might have spent the night if we didn’t have to go see some fireworks. A good time was definitely had by all.

The Ashland Barracudas are completely unstoppable these days. Their meet against Kings Charter was interrupted by a tornado warning this past Wednesday night, and continued the next evening where Ashland prevailed with a 1206 to 1111 win. Ashland was even the smaller team by 50 swimmers!

This Friday, July 10th, is Teen Movie night at the Ashland Library from 6-8pm. This event is hosted by the Friends of the Ashland Library- drinks and pizza will be served.

Mark your calendar for the second Street Party of the summer! Saturday, July 18th will bring local wineries for a wine tasting with music by Premiere. Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 at the gate, and are on sale at Cross Brothers Grocery, Ace Hardware, and Hometown Realty. Gates open at 7 pm in the parking lot behind the library.

The first class to graduate Patrick Henry High School, he class of 1960, will be celebrating a reunion at the Hanover Country Club on September 19th. Reunion chairman is Franklin Jones from Doswell, and he can be reached at 876 3644. Please call for more information- don’t miss this party!

I was late to work this morning because I had to stop and take pictures of the Randolph-Macon campus. Huge blobs of bubbles had escaped from the massive bubble-bath that was the fountain, and had drifted across the street to the Brock Center. There was a R-MC physical plant employee standing next to the fountain with a blank look on his face. I’m sure he’s tired of cleaning up from practical jokers, but it sure was entertaining- it almost looked like a new art installation.

Remember: No news is too small for summertime. Send me your stories of the sublime and the miniscule. Do your hydrangeas like all the wet weather? Did you buy some new flip-flops? Who won the washer game in the backyard last weekend? Everyone wants to know! You can reach me at 310-5320 or email, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!