9/23/10 Hollywood comes to COTU, World Class Athletes

Beautiful weather these days, citizens of Ashland! It is the perfect time of year to be outside and enjoy anything: a game, a concert, a cook-out, anything! I would add a sleeping porch to my house if it was in my budget, for it is delightful sleeping weather.

There were lots of birthdays recently, most notably Lorie Foley and Jen Burch who share September 20^th ! Cake was also consumed at the Proffitt household for Kip’s 13^th birthday on the 14^th. I hope all of you have a wonderful year.

This Saturday, September 25th, bring your unused, unneeded, and expired prescription medications to the Ashland Police Department from 10am to 2pm. The APD is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency in this first, nationwide prescription drug take-back. This is a great way to get rid of those old medicines without throwing them in a landfill or contaminating our ground water.

Congratulations to Shelly Adair who recently returned from competing in the Duathlon World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland! Shelly had a wonderful biking the very hilly Scottish countryside which included an extinct volcano.

Did you all see all the fuss in town this past Monday? I love it when Hollywood finds our picturesque little town. We’ll have to stay tuned to see when this Lifetime Movie will be available for viewing!

This cooler weather is perfect for getting outside and the 7th Annual Harvest Run will be held on Saturday, October 16th. The 10K will begin at 9:00am and the 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:10 from Carter Park. This very important event benefits the Hanover Safe Place, and WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team). You can register online at www.ashlandharvestrun.com

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is open for registrations! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23, and save money by registering early. This is a wonderful 5K run through our fair streets to support the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The last Street Party of the year was a great party- but does that surprise anyone? Hank Lowery and his team of volunteers have created an indispensible event that we look forward to every summer. Not only do we get to have fun and laugh with our friends, but the money that’s made goes directly back to our community. The Street Party Organization has been very generous, and we thank them so much. Look forward next May for the first sign of summer.

Good Luck to Corinne Luck who will compete in the Naylor’s Beach Olympic Triathlon this weekend at Naylor’s Beach in the Northern Neck. This race consists of a one mile swim in the Rappahannock River, then a 26 mile bike ride, then a 6.2 run through the back roads and gullies of Richmond County. Ashland loves you, Corinne- have a great race!

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

10/7/10 Good Dogs, Harvest Run, Tiger Trot, APD Survey

I am writing this on a cold rainy Monday. It’s a day that I’d rather be sitting in front of a fire laughing with friends, than under the fluorescent lights of an office. I’d rather be sitting in a big chair reading a newspaper, or walking through the wet woods with an old dog. If you are lucky enough to have an old dog, then you’ve spent many years knowing the unending loyalty and love that they have. They have a perfect disposition: never moody, always grateful, always happy to see you. The only problem is that we know they’ll leave us one day, and we will miss them so much that our hearts will ache. We are sending condolences to the Kliszs who lost their sweet Basil this past weekend.

Happy birthday to Ross Luck who blew out a ton of candles on October 4^th. We’ve heard that the glow from Lower Ashland could be seen for miles!

Remember the 7th Annual Harvest Run will be held on Saturday, October 16th. The 10K will begin at 9:00am and the 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:10 from Carter Park. This very important event benefits the Hanover Safe Place, and WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team). You can register online at www.ashlandharvestrun.com

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is fast approaching! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23 and come out to support this is a wonderful 5K run that benefits the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The Ashland Police Department would like our community’s assistance in providing feedback on their performance. "Constant review of performance measures, to include community feedback is key to the success in completing our mission," said Chief Doug Goodman. Please take a few moments to complete this survey online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5D73CCX.

Surveys will also be available at the Town Municipal Building and the Ashland Police Department for those who do not have internet access. Surveys will be accepted until October 15, 2010 and they’d like to thank the community in advance for their assistance!

I have spent the past two weekends out of Ashland, and I am tired of it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, though, and we always find ourselves talking about the COTU when we are away. “We’re from Ashland- just north of Richmond- Randolph-Macon College is there, and the train tracks go right through the middle of town.” Once we say that, it’s inevitable that we ramble on and monopolize the conversation.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com . It’s the kind of week where you should call a friend and go have a cup of coffee. Cheers!

9/16/10 RMC Football, Harvest Run, Tiger Trot, Street Party

As you all know, there is always something fun going on here in the Center of the Universe. On any given day you can find music, laughter, and entertainment- if only on your neighbor’s front porch. This past Saturday afternoon was a perfect day for watching football, and when you can stand close enough to the field so that you can hear the thud of a tackle, that’s the best possible venue. The Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets scored with 33 seconds left on the clock to beat Johns Hopkins 41 to 37. Congrats to Coach Aruzza and his hard working team!

You’ll have another chance to cheer on the home team this Saturday at 1pm as the Yellow Jackets take on Shenandoah.

Happy Birthday this week to Daphne Read Gilmore who turned 10 on Tuesday, Sept. 14^th. Miss Gilmore will celebrate with a birthday apple pie, which has become a tradition because she does not like cake.

This cooler weather is perfect for getting outside and the 7th Annual Harvest Run will be held on Saturday, October 16th. The 10K will begin at 9:00am and the 5K Run/Walk will start at 9:10 from Carter Park. This very important event benefits the Hanover Safe Place, and WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team). You can register online at www.ashlandharvestrun.com

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is open for registrations! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23, and save money by registering early. This is a wonderful 5K run through our fair streets to support the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The last Street Party is this Saturday, September 18^th. Come dance under the stars to Ron Moody and the Centaurs beginning at 6pm behind the Ashland Library. Tickets are $10 per person in advance, and $15 at the door. Buy your tickets early at Cross Brothers Grocery, The Caboose Wine & Cheese, and Ashland Ace Hardware. There’s more information available at http://www.ashlandstreetparties.com/

September 12^th through 18 ^th is Virginia Bicyclists and Pedestrian Awareness Week. Our beautiful roads are a haven for bikers and runners who enjoy the patience and courtesy of our drivers. Remember, a bike is considered a vehicle and has the same rights and responsibilities of a vehicle. Be alert to others on these country roads, and visit http://www.drivesmartva.org/.

I hope everyone had a good first week of school and is settling comfortably into fall. I am looking forward to reconnecting with my corduroy and tweed, and one of these mornings I may even have to put on a jacket! We have so much to look forward to- do you know that there’s a Variety Show coming in February? Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have an easy week!

9/2/10 End of Another Ashland Summer, Tiger Trot, Street Party

Here is the end of summer in Central Virginia- the dry grass, cicadas in the trees, and hurricanes off the coast. I cannot ignore the first day of school anymore, and I am forced by my children to go back-to-school shopping. The last Bluemont Concert was bitter-sweet this past weekend. We’re always sorry to see those evenings end. Many thanks to all the volunteers who made it possible, especially Jen Chambers and Elizabeth Melson!

The fourth annual Tiger Trot for John M. Gandy and Henry Clay Elementary Schools is open for registrations! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 23, and save money by registering early. This is a wonderful 5K run through our fair streets to support the PTAs of our elementary schools. Our town is unique because we have two schools to serve the K-5^th grade population. While this makes our schools small and cozy, there are also two PTAs to support. Visit http://www.townhound.com/ for a registration form.

The Randolph-Macon students are returning and classes start Labor Day. I love having that campus full and alive with activity. It’s a great asset to this town.

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is still going strong these Saturdays and is packed with delicious late season fruits and vegetables. We’ll see pumpkins before you know it. Visit the Market every Saturday morning from 9am to noon.

Also marking the end of the summer is the last Street Party on Saturday, September 18^th. Come dance under the stars to Ron Moody and the Centaurs beginning at 6pm behind the Ashland Library. Tickets are $10 per person in advance, and $15 at the door. Buy your tickets early at Cross Brothers Grocery, The Caboose Wine & Cheese, and Ashland Ace Hardware. There’s more information available at http://www.ashlandstreetparties.com/.

There was lots of birthday cake on Howard Street last week: Happy belated birthday to Sharon Stiles and Kevin Proffitt!

I hope you all have a fun weekend an Labor Day! I would advise spending as much time at the Ashland Pool as possible. It will all be gone on Tuesday. Was it a fun summer? Will the memories warm your toes when the first frost comes? I hope so. This is life in Ashland, this is home.

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

8/19/10 Rains of August, Two Bluemonts Left, Charlotte's Legacy

I don’t know what to do with these rainy days that we’ve been having lately. The umbrellas are covered in cobwebs in the garage, and the plants in my yard seem surprised by the sudden abundance of water. I thought that my grandmother’s roses had finished blooming for the summer, but after a good soaking, they opened new blooms for me.

The Bluemont Concerts have avoided the rain and have enjoyed nice evenings on the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. We’re lucky to have five Sundays in August this summer, so that means we’ve got two more concerts to go before it’s all over! This Sunday evening we’ll welcome Mandalele who will entertain us with music from the mandolin, the ukulele, the violin, the viola, and some beautiful voices. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for Bluemont Friends and $2 for kids under 12.

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is larger than ever, and there are more customers that ever- so get there early this Saturday to stock up on wonderful late-summer vegetables, flowers for your kitchen table, home-baked breads, free-range eggs, and anything else to make your kitchen resemble a Southern Living photo-shoot.

The Patrick Henry Half Marathon is about to run it’s fourth year through the streets of Ashland on Saturday, August 28th at 7am. Come rain or come shine the runners will loop from Poor Farm Park, up and down Blunt’s Bridge Road, and through the town to reach 13.2 miles. Come out to cheer them on! You can learn more at the Richmond Road Runners website: http://www.rrrc.org/.

Many of you probably already know about this organization, but it bears repeating. After losing their young daughter, Charlotte, to cancer early this year, Roger and Rachel Reynolds have channeled their grief and energy into helping other families who are living through situations like theirs. They formed CJSTUF, which is a non-profit organization that raises funds for families to help pay the piles of bills that accumulate when a child is hospitalized for days on end. “CJSTUF” is a wonderful way to honor the memory of Charlotte Jennie who fought so bravely, and it should stand as a reminder to all of us that we should never stop reaching out to help.

There will be a Rompy’s Summer Concert to Benefit CJSTUF on Thursday, August 19th from 5:30-7:30 at Stonewall Square in Mechanicsville, VA. Vocalist/Percussionist VINX will be performing and the concert is free and family friendly. There will be lots of organizations represented, many of whom have supported CJSTUF. You can learn more about the organization at http://www.cjstuf.org/.
There are a few weeks of summer left, kids. Do you know that most schools around the country have already opened? If I was you, I’d spend every last day at the Ashland pool. Stay up late, sleep in, and eat popsicles for breakfast. That’s what I’d do if I didn’t have to be an adult. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a lazy, lazy week.

8/12/10 Wonderful WIlly Wonka, Third Bluemont Concert, 1950 August Wedding, New YMCA

One of the biggest joys is showing this town to someone who’s never experienced it before. My father, step-mother, and sister came to the matinee performance of “Willy Wonka” at the Arts & Activities Center this past Sunday and were thoroughly impressed. They couldn’t believe the level of volunteer participation (the number of COTU volunteers is an anomaly). They were awed at the number of kids in the production; my father said, “It’s a cast of thousands!” And, very astutely, my step-mother noted that “all the kids in Ashland are so good-looking!”

So thank you Lorie Foley and Mary Kay Thompson for giving me something to brag about! Thank you Lynne for the choreography that made those kids “oompa-loompa” across the stage, and to Chris McKelvy for all the costumes! There are so many people who worked on the set, who helped corral kids backstage, who put on make-up, who helped sell tickets and DVDs. Thank you to Kathy Abbot for filming and editing those DVDs! And thank you to the Hanover Arts and Activity Center- all good things begin there in Ashland.

It’s a busy August! This Sunday is the third Bluemont Concert on the front lawn of the Arts & Activities Center (see what I mean?) beginning at 7pm. Bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket and listen to the Guy Mendilow Band who’ll bring their own style of Middle Eastern and South American street blues. What a wonderful way to listen to music from across the world without crossing the tracks! Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for kids under 12.

Sixty years ago this Sunday, in 1950, Glenn & Jean Williams of Slash Cottage were married in the August heat. Glenn is a retired Methodist minister and an R-MC alumna. He and Jean are members of Duncan Memorial where there will be a special reception on Sunday. We need to send out get well wishes to Glenn as he is having surgery this week, but we’re hopeful that he’ll be feeling good for the reception. Congratulations to both of them for making a long and happy life together!

Have you been to our new YMCA lately? What was once divided is now united, and there is no more Wet Y vs. Dry Y! We have everything in one location! I’ve heard lots of good things about our new facility, so stop by and take a look.

Before your kids go back to school, take them to Scotchtown this Saturday to see what school was like in the 18th century! This second Hands on History Saturday will feature costumed interpreters who will show kids what school was like for Patrick Henry. Also this Saturday, the Backyard Players of Scothtown and the South Anna 4H will present a period play for their debut performance at noon and 2pm on the lawn. Scotchtown is located just 11 miles west of Ashland. Call 227-3500 for more information.

Have you done your back-to-school shopping? Me neither. I’m not doing it until September. It is still August; it is still summer, and Labor Day will be here too soon. Wear white everyday. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 804-310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a scrumdidlyumptious week!

8/4/10 Theater Camp Spectacular Showcase, Willy Wonka Performances, Farmer's Market, Patrick Henry Half Marathon

Here is one of the reasons that I love this town. Just when I am becoming complacent- when I no longer notice the trains, or when the business of life dulls my vision- along comes an event to remind me of what a special place we have here.

This past Friday night we got to see a showcase of everything that the kids had been working on at the Arts & Activities Center’s Theater Camp. Standing outside, waiting for the doors to open, all I could think about were chores & work: the things done and the things left undone. Inside the lights dimmed and Roy Horn started playing the piano as our children, dressed as orphans, sang the song “Maybe” from “Annie.” It made me sit up in my seat, and smile through tears in my eyes. They were so dear, so precious that I wanted to freeze the moment and keep them all like this forever. It was bitter-sweet to think that they would all grow up one day and lose that spontaneous joy that children have.

So, in order to strengthen your faith in the future, in children, in small towns, and in volunteers, come to the show. This weekend is the only weekend that the Arts & Activities Center’s Theater Camp will perform “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” You do not need to have children in the play. You do not need to live in Ashland. You could be a stranger, passing through town, and watching this play will lift your spirits in a way that few things can.

Downtown Ashland is a hub of activity on Saturday mornings! From live music at the Coffee and Tea, to the ever-growing Farmer’s Market, it is THE place to be. The Farmer’s Market brings local produce, meats, eggs, and plants to Town Hall every Saturday from 9 am to noon. Get there early to pick up blackberries, late tomatoes, corn and butter beans.

Have you seen all the runners around town on the weekends? They’re training for the Patrick-Henry Half Marathon that will be held on Saturday, August 28th. This 13.1 mile race starts and ends at Poor Farm Park, and winds its way through our sweet town. Sign up to run in this race which benefits our YMCA, or come out to cheer on the runners. You can find more information at www.raceit.com/register/?event=836.

It was almost chilly last weekend for our first Bluemont Concert, but didn’t we love the change in the weather? This Sunday brings The Taters to the front lawn of the Arts and Activities Center. Bring your blanket or lawn chairs and come listen to music under the stars. Tickets are $5 per person, and kids 12 and under are $2 each. It is the perfect way to end a weekend.

Stay young and beautiful, Sweet Town. I want to remember you like this always- in your summer clothes, dancing, singing, and laughing with your friends. Hold it close in your hands, and enjoy the only August of the year. Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, Ashlandnews@gmail.com . Have a lovely week! Xo, Meriwether