12/12/13 Christmas Lights, A Christmas Carol, PH Swim Team Wins, Firehouse Movies

The Ashland Train Station with "LOVE" sign

 You really should find the time to go for a drive.  One evening when the roads are clear, load up the family into your car and drive around town to see the lights.  We do not have anything outrageous that would qualify for a stop on a “Tacky Lights Tour,” but we have houses that are beautiful, patriotic, quirky, and sweetly old-fashioned with their Christmas lights.


I find it strangely endearing that a fraternity at RMC took the time to spell out their Greek letters in lights, and then to hang those lights in the bushes along the parking lot across from the train station.  I imagine a passenger on a north-bound train smiling to themselves as they catch a glimpse.

Congratulations to the Patrick Henry Swim Team who won back-to-back meets this past weekend!  They swam against Lee-Davis on Friday and then Goochland on Saturday; my arms were tired from just watching them. 

We really should thank Joe and Marilyn Mattys for helping hundreds of people find the holiday spirit for the past 23 years.  That’s how long they have worked to put on “A Christmas Carol” at RMC.  Marilyn adapted the script from Dickens’ original work, and Joe has produced & directed it almost every year with a cast of student and local talent.  It has become a wonderful tradition for our family and we wish Mr. Mattys the best of luck when he retires as Director of Theater this coming May.  I hope RMC find a replacement who will see the beauty in this play.

This Friday is Teen Movie Night at your Ashland Library from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (ages 11& up).  Pizza and beverages will be provided by the Friends of the Ashland Library.  Call 798-4072 for more information.

Then on Saturday, December 14^th, the Library will teach us all how to borrow eBooks from the Library from 10:00 to noon.  Do you have an eReader, a smartphone, a tablet, or laptop?  They will show you how to use Overdrive to find, check-out, and down-load your favorite titles.  Call 798-4072 to register for this class.

The movies return this weekend with “Elf” (rated PG) at the Ashland Firehouse Theater.  This weekend's show raises money for the Model UN team at Patrick Henry, so tickets will be a few more dollars for this special cause.  But the laughs with all your fellow Ashlanders will be plentiful and it will make you feel good to help the PH kids.

The show starts at 7 pm, and the doors will be open at 6:30 p.m.  The Firehouse Theater is located at 201 S. Duncan Street next to the Rescue Squad in Ashland and across from Town Hall and the Farmer's Market.  You can find them on Facebook and on line at
ashlandfirehousetheater.org.  Stay tuned for “Despicable Me” on December 21^st.

If I tried to list every holiday event in Ashland, I would need a whole page in the H-P instead of a column!  Please forgive me for any omissions, and email or call me with your Ashland news: ashlandnews@gmail.com, 310-5320.  Stay warm and dry this weekend!