6/11/09 Children's Theater Camp, Tiger Trot 09, Info on AMSA

We had another beautiful weekend in the COTU. The rain went away and the weather was perfect for the Strawberry Faire. Do you remember how hot it was last year? Everyone arrived early and was gone by noon because it was so sticky and humid. This year the crowd never seemed to dissipate, and people were eating strawberries until the very end.

I’ll do a bit of fussing and then move on… If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s complacency. Whether it’s taking someone or something for granted, or being too self-satisfied, complacency has no place in Ashland. We love our town and the relaxed life we have here, but that doesn’t mean that we should let our guard down. If your door (home or car) has a lock on it, lock it at night. There has been a “staggering” increase in theft from un-locked cars in town.

If you see Jo Ann Hunter, ask her how her birthday was on Tuesday, June 9th. Did you know that Jo Ann is training to run in the Richmond Marathon in the fall? I hope she got lots of presents!

A cool place to be this summer is the Ashland Library. On Thursday, June 18th, the Barefoot Puppets will present some Australian Aboriginal folk tales entitled, “Dreamtime: Tales from Down Under”. This fun event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

If your kids are a bit older, bring them over to the library for Duct Tape Art Workshop for Teens on Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. Snacks will be served.

Children's Theatre Camp returns to the Hanover Arts & Activities Center this summer. On July 1, 2009, there will be auditions for Peter Pan from 1-3 pm and 6-8pm at the Center. Camp starts July 6 and continues through Aug. 6, 2009 Mon. - Thursday 3 - 5 pm. Please visit www.hanoverarts.org for more information and a registration form.

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.

Charlotte Reynolds came home last week, and is recovering well from her latest surgery. There will be a Home Business Bazaar fundraiser for her on Sat, June 27th from 10-2pm at St. Ann’s Church. Some of the many vendors attending include: Avon, Arbonne, Pampered Chef, and Creative Memories. You can read about Charlotte at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds.

Lunch on the Lawn continues this week on the front lawn of the Ashland Town Hall. Come out every Wednesday and have lunch with your town! This event is sponsored by the Ashland Main Street Association. Through the months of May and June, before it gets too hot, bring your lunch and picnic from noon to 1:30 pm.

You’re going to hear me talk a lot about an organization called AMSA, which stands for “Ashland Main Street Association”. AMSA is a non-profit group comprised of community volunteers representing businesses, civic organizations and residents of the “Center of the Universe.” Their mission is to enhance and promote Ashland’s Downtown Main Street District, which includes England Street from Route 1 to the other side of the railroad tracks and the business district along the tracks. AMSA is currently gathering input from businesses and residents about four areas: landscaping, lighting, sidewalks, and signage in the downtown district. Surveys and information are available at www.mainstreetashland.org.

School ends this week, and another delightful summer awaits us. I hope you have as many lazy days as you need to relax, and as many parties and events as you need to make you laugh. Spend some time hanging out at the Ashland pool- that’s my favorite spot to be. Call me with your news, and stories of our Ashland kids graduating: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a lovely week!

6/4/09 Strawberry Faire, Updated Town Plan, Summer Reading Program

I am having a very hard time coming to work Monday mornings. The weekends are just too pretty, and there are too many fun things to do. This weekend is no different. The Strawberry Faire will be held on the streets around Randolph-Macon from 10am to 5pm this Saturday, June 6th. I would advise you to bring a wagon, because you’ll need it to help carry all the plants, crafts, and beautiful strawberries. There will be music, food, crafts, including Sunny Girl Signs and Locust Farm Windsor Chairs.

Happy Birthday to Katelynn Brown who will blow out eight candles on June 8th! Katelynn is one of the newest team members of the Richmond Kickers U9 Girls Travel Team. Ahem, maybe she deserves some extra presents, Tracy.

Your Ashland Town Planners have worked hard on integrating all your comments and suggestions for the updated comprehensive plan, and will have an open house to show the final plan on Thursday, June 4th from 6- 9pm, and Saturday from 9:30am to 12:30pm. You could stop by Town Hall before you visit the Farmer’s Market, or the Strawberry Faire.

Lunch on the Lawn continues this week on the front lawn of the Ashland Town Hall. Come out every Wednesday and have lunch with your town! This event is sponsored by the Ashland Main Street Association. Through the months of May and June, before it gets too hot, bring your lunch and picnic from noon to 1:30 pm.

Charlotte Reynolds’ surgery went well this past week, as did a following MRI that didn’t show any growth of the tumor into other areas. By the time you read this, this sweet little girl will have started another round of chemo, or maybe radiation this time. I am so impressed with her strength and stamina- what a fighter. You can read about Charlotte at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds.

There will be a series of Thursday night concerts at the Virginia Center Common’s Chick-fil-a beginning June 11th with The Taters and Chris Mottley. The music starts at 5:30 in the parking lot of Chick-fil-A, with donations being accepted for the VA Food Bank and Charlotte Reynolds.

Happy Birthday to Lisa Funk who will celebrate her birthday on June 7th!

The Summer Reading Program at the Ashland Library will kick-off next Saturday, June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Come sign your kids up for the Summer Reading Program, make bookmarks & other crafts, have your face painted, and listen to stories.This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Watch out, I’m standing on my soap box and yelling really loud: “Look around at this wonderful town we have here! Good grief, are we lucky to be living here!” There is so much to do, that I’ve decided that I’m going to stop sleeping. It is just a waste of time, especially since the night is so beautiful around here. At 5 am on a Sunday morning, it is so quiet- no train noise, no “hum” from 95, and the birds aren’t awake yet. I would highly recommend the early morning hours. At the end of my life, will I wish that I had spent more time with my sweet town? More early morning hours, more middle-of-the-afternoons, and less time cleaning my kitchen floor? Call or email me with your Ashland news, 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!

5/28/09 Lunch on the Lawn, Ballet at HAAC, Update on Charlotte Reynolds

I hope your Memorial Day weekend was lovely! The pool was a popular place to be, and the water didn’t seem that frigid. The Ashland Pool will be open on the weekends now until school gets out. Call the Town for more information: 798-9219.

Happy Birthday to Darcy Inge who celebrated last week with much fanfare!

Congratulations to Ross Luck who answered correctly one of the two questions last week- What do the initials "AC" stand for in AC Bruce's name", and "How did Buddha Morris get his nickname?". Apparently Ross would have had to have gone to middle school with Buddha to understand it, but I'll give him a prize anyway. Ross wins an autographed map of Ashland, with some adjustments made to southern boundary lines to include a blue house by the tracks.

Charlotte Reynolds and her parents are home from their big trip to the MD Anderson Clinic in Houston, TX. When you read this, she will have had another surgery on Wednesday to remove more of the brain tumor and chemotherapy could begin again soon after. The fundraiser this past weekend at Ashland Coffee and Tea was a big success, and so important because while the Reynolds have health insurance, there is a lot that is not covered (like the visit to the clinic in Houston). Watch this space for news on the next fundraiser, and keep up with Charlotte’s fight at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds.

The Summer Reading Program at the Ashland Library will kick-off next Saturday, June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Come sign your kids up for the Summer Reading Program, make bookmarks & other crafts, have your face painted, and listen to stories.This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Lunch on the Lawn continues this week on the front lawn of the Ashland Town Hall. Come out every Wednesday and have lunch with your town! Through the months of May and June, before it gets too hot, bring your lunch and picnic from noon to 1:30 pm.

The Hanover Arts and Activities Center is sponsoring two performances of the ballet, Peter and Wendy, based on the story of Peter Pan. This is a brand new performance of the Storybook series of the Concert Ballet of Virginia. The two performances will be held at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center (500 S. Center St., Ashland) on Sunday, May 31st at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children ages 12 and under. For ticket reservations, please call 804.798.2728. Seating is limited, so advance purchase is recommended.
Good luck to all the Randolph-Macon graduates! I hope you’ll think of Ashland as a home in the years to come. We have all enjoyed you being here. Call or email me with your Ashland news, 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!

5/21/09 Charlotte and Megan Look for a Cure, and We Are Too Complacent

The rain held off, and the First Street Party of the season was lovely this past weekend. As always, the music was sweet and the conversations interesting. The kids had a blast on the moon bounce, and we went home tired.

Before you have your cookout this Memorial Day, come walk in the 8th Annual Memorial Day March which leaves the Ashland Library at 1pm for a silent march down Hanover Street to Woodlawn Cemetery. This event, hosted by the Ashland American Legion, is to remember and honor those service men and women from Hanover who gave their lives defending our freedom. “We do not gather to glorify war.” Make sure your kids know why they got the day off from school.

Little Charlotte Reynolds and her parents, Rachel and Roger, will travel to Houston, TX on the 23rd to visit the M.D. Anderson Clinic where top notch oncology specialists are going to give Charlotte a personalized treatment plan for this next stage of attack on her “ill-behaved” brain tumor. We hope the trip is a smooth one, and we are hanging on the promise of a cure. C’mon, modern medicine, do your stuff.

Megan Mudd is the chairman of this year's 2nd Annual Visionwalk at Short Pump Town Center on Saturday June 6. Registration starts at 9 am, and the walk begins at 10. It's a 3.1 mile walk to raise money for retinal degenerative research. Since 1971, Foundation Fighting Blindness has raised over $270 million to support critical research that may one day lead to the cure of diseases such as RP, macular degeneration, Usher Syndrome and other retinal degenerative diseases. Megan’s involvement is personal since she has been diagnosed with Usher’s Syndrome. I applaud her leadership in this important fundraiser- she is another example of an Ashlander trying to make a difference. Thank you Megan.

Lunch on the Lawn began this week on the front lawn of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center. Come out every Wednesday and have lunch with your town! Through the months of May and June, before it gets too hot, bring your lunch and picnic from noon to 1:30.

On May 1st, Randolph-Macon College Professor of Mathematics Bruce Torrence, Ph.D., was named the first recipient of the Dorothy and Muscoe Garnett Professorship in Mathematics. The amount of talent in this town never ceases to amaze me, and indeed there is an over-whelming allotment of this talent on Howard Street. Congratulations Bruce!

I hope you all have a lovely long weekend. I hope you stop and stand still in your yard and look around you. Look at the blue sky, the fields, the trees. Look at your town, your woods, your street. Look at how much you have and this wonderful place that we live. We are so comfortable here. For all the drama that comes through our lives, our children are safe and we fall asleep unafraid. Lives go by fast. This will be gone before you know it. Do not waste a day. Please.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 804-310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week.

5/14/09 May Babies, Amtrak CEO Coming to Town, Running, Biking, and Our Local Humanitarian

Wow, it was so wonderful to see the sun and have a weekend with beautiful weather. Everyone is thinking of summer, and not just the kids who can almost touch the last day of school. Parents are dreaming of un-hurried mornings, evenings spent in the backyard instead of studying for tests, and Sunday afternoons at the Ashland Pool. I will be very happy not to enforce bedtimes for a while.

For all my formal proclaiming last week, I left out several very important birthdays. My neighbor-who-built-my-house, A.C. Bruce gets to open presents on May 27th, and my friend-who-I'm-probably-related-to-since-his-family-is-from-the-Northern-Neck, Buddha Morris has his cake on the 22nd. I'll give brownie points to anyone who can tell me what AC's initials stand for and how Buddha got his nickname.

Happy Birthday to Mike Spence who deserves a big party (hint, hint) on May 20th! Mike is one of my favorite Ashland guys, but unfortunately is not allowed to enter the trivia challenge above because he’s a past two-time winner of the Ashland Column Contests.

Understanding that the COTU is a hub of rail travel and fierce opinions about railroad usage, Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman will be at Randolph-Macon's Blackwell Auditorium on Thursday, May 28th from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. This event is free, but they'd like you to reserve your seat by calling (804) 783-9368. I expect to see a HUGE turnout. Fill the seats, make some posters! Amtrak needs to know how important passenger rail service is to our sweet town.

While I mentioned last week that guy who ran 40 miles, I neglected to talk about the friends of his that helped him get through it. Tom Grant ran each step of the way and completed his first 40-miler. I say “first” because I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tom run 50 or 100 miles. He never stops. While also a natural runner, Bryan Cline opted to be the support crew for our Ashland runners and worked for over 8 hours supplying water, food, and chairs to sit in. Neither Tom nor Dave could have completed that race without the support of a good friend and family back home.

Tough little Charlotte Reynolds continues to fight an insipid cancer. They recently stopped chemo as the tumor is still growing, and are facing more surgery and radiation now. There’s a great website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds, where you can read daily updates on Charlotte and find out ways that you can help this family. Things shouldn’t be unfair like this, especially not here.

The Second Annual Clunker Cruise was just as successful as the first one, as Joel Street did a wonderful job of organizing and planning the route. The Ashland Police Department was delighted that the 150 cyclists decided not to cross Rt. 1 this year, but opted to stay in downtown Ashland.

Whew, there are so many birthdays this month! If you happen to see Bryan Cline in the next few days, ask him if he got lots of presents on the 14th.

Last week, Parham Henrico Doctor's Hospital awarded Dr. Jeffery Reihl with the first Humanitarian Award. The award reads: "This award recognizes individuals whose daily dedication and care giving epitomize the highest standards of quality and personal commitment." While I have nothing but congratulations to offer, I am not surprised. I have never heard of Jeff doing anything that wasn't of the highest quality, whether that was announcing a swim meet, building a camp fire, or saving a life. Well done Jeff, well done.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and that the sun is shinning when you read this. Keep those galoshes by the back door, and an umbrella handy. It is so green outside that I have to shade my eyes sometimes. See you at the Street Party Saturday night! The music starts at 7pm behind the Library. Contact me at ashlandnews@gmail.com or 310 -5320.

5/7/09 "A Proclamation for May", or "Go Ahead, Dare Me to Use a Word, Anyword"

Whereas this Saturday, May 9th the second Annual Clunker Cruise will begin at 5pm behind the Ashland library with all manner of bikes welcome and an ice cream stop planned, and

Whereas Meriwether Harper Gilmore will celebrate her third birthday on May 8th, and

Whereas Diane Hale will henceforth execute an amazing collection of dance from her talented students this Friday and Saturday at Patrick Henry High School auditorium, sure to bring parents to tears and to their feet in applause, and

Whereas Dave Klisz actually ran 41 miles last weekend due to a bridge being out and a detour taken, and

Whereas Kara Lee Bowles was born April 27th, 2009, weighing 7 pounds even, to Brandon and Jennifer Willis Bowles of Doswell, and

Whereas Kara's grandparents, David and Brenda Willis, her great-grandparents Tom and Catherine Willis, and her brand-new second cousin Brooke Olivia Bryant are all very happy that she has arrived, and

Whereas the first Street Party of the summer will be held Saturday, May 16th featuring King Edward and the BD’s beginning at 7pm behind the Ashland Library, with tickets costing $5, and children under 12 free with a paying adult, and

Whereas the Ashland Farmer's market has henceforth returned with fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, and plants, and

Whereas Vandi Hodges will blow out birthday candles on May 6th, and

Whereas Virginia Thompson will open presents on May 15th, and

Whereas Friday, May 15th is Teen Movie Night at the Ashland Library beginning at 6pm with pizza and soft drinks served,

Therefore be it ordered and resolved that henceforth the month of May shall be closed to any additional events. The calendar is full and dangerously close to over-flowing into the month of June. All inquiries and any objections may be addressed to the author at ashlandnews@gmail.com, or 310-5320.

4/30/09 Pennies from Heaven, 40 Miler Dave Klisz, Clunker Cruise, Street Party

Wow, Ashland in August is a beautiful place, isn’t it? Hmm, what did you say? It’s April? Oh, that’s right- I forgot! Central Virginia weather at its best: frost warnings one day, heat stroke the next. The only way to deal with it is with a healthy sense of humor, and maybe a margarita on the back porch.

Did anyone get out to see Good Morning America visit our Center of the Universe? Too bad this event happens after my deadline. I’ll give you the scoop next week.

A Community Prayer Vigil for the Economy will be held on Thursday, May 7, the National Day of Prayer. The event will be held at Ashland's Town Hall from 7-8 pm. There will be music, speakers, and lots of praying. All denominations are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Peggy Shelton at 798-2008 or Sharon Chidsey at 752-2157. “Silver and gold have I none, But such as I have give I thee…”

The American Cancer Society, Western Hanover Relay for Life is Sat., May 2nd on PHHS Track with activities starting at noon. The Silent Auction will have 50 plus items and over 40 gift certificates, donated by area businesses, available for your bid from 1 to 4 p.m. Raffle tickets on a 2009 Pontiac G-6 will also be available for $5. The Luminary Ceremony is scheduled for 9 p.m. and Closing Ceremony just before Midnight. Please come and enjoy the food, music, theme laps, etc. and help "Construct a Cure" for cancer.

There has been news from Baltimore County this week about Marilyn Mattingly’s grandsons. Michael Spence took 2nd place in his 4th grade Science Fair with his groundbreaking study on mold, and his brother, Gordon Spence, won 1st place in his 2nd grade Spelling Bee (“diagonal”). While we have heard that achievements like these are commonplace among Marilyn’s grandchildren, we offer hearty congratulations!

Do you think that running a marathon, 26.2 miles, sounds like an enormous undertaking? How about running 30 miles? 40? Dave Klisz is voluntarily running in the Strolling Jim 40 Mile Run this weekend in Wartrace, Tennessee. 40 Miles!! I am in awe of Dave’s determination and endurance, and have no doubt that he’ll have a wonderful race. I think that Tom Grant and Bryan Cline are going with Dave to provide support, and we all can’t wait to hear the details. You can listen to Dave’s running podcast at http://ashlanddave.podbean.com/.

Remember: Saturday, May 2nd is Opening Day for the Ashland Farmer’s Market behind Town Hall from 9-noon. Grab your wagon and stroll downtown for the perfect way to begin a weekend.

Saturday, May 9th is the second Annual Clunker Cruise beginning at 5pm behind the library. If you’d like to ride, bring any old bike, some money for an ice cream cone, and meet up behind the library. The Gilmore’s will be there!

Saturday, May 16th is the first Street Party of the summer! King Edward and the BD’s will kick off this popular concert series beginning at 7pm behind the Ashland Library. Tickets are $5, with children under 12 free with a paying adult. Call 752-7944 with any questions.

One of the best things about spring in the COTU is the return of shade. As the leaves come out and those shadows spread across our lawns, I want to be eight years old again; I want to be bored, and lay in the shade watching ants. The shade is a peaceful place to be- let’s all go find some this week. Send me your Ashland news, Little League scores, and ice cream truck sightings. You can reach me at 310-5320, or Ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can find a record of these columns at http://www.ashlandnews.blogspot.com/. Have a perfect week!