2/27/09 Variety Show is Coming to Town, Library Poetry Contest, Railroad Run

The midnight oil is being burned this week at the Arts and Activities Center. If you drive by, you will hear the sounds of rehearsals, and see the lights on until late at night. I am always impressed with the stamina that Lorie Foley and Sue Watson possess when it comes to this show. Based on what I’ve seen so far, this year’s show will be spectacular- jaw-dropping and amazing. Beyond your wildest dreams.

You need to reserve your tickets right away as they always sell out. Reserved seating is available by calling 798-2881, and general admission tickets are available at Cross Brothers and the Arts and Activities Center.

The final Focus Area Meeting of the Ashland Planning Department will be Thursday, March 5th at 6:30 at the Ashland Library. This meeting will focus on the downtown area of our sweet town. Everyone should come to this meeting, because it really affects us all. Please call Zack Robbins with your questions: 798-9219.

The 7th Annual Pamunkey Regional Library Poetry Contest runs from March 2 through the 28th. There are categories for all age levels- kindergarten through adult. Forms can be picked up at the library beginning Monday, and must be returned by the 28th. For more information, stop by and chat with your friendly, neighborhood librarian.

Bring your kiddies in their PJs to the library on Friday, March 6th at 6:30 pm to celebrate Dr Seuss’ birthday! They’ll get to see a movie about a very open-hearted elephant, and have refreshments courtesy of the Henry Clay Woman's Club. The Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale will present two performances of its 2009 spring concert featuring Beethoven’s Mass in C. Other selections will include And There Was War in Heaven by William Gorton, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Chorale.

The first performance will be Sunday, May 17, 6:00 pm, at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 Henry Street, in Ashland. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students, and can be purchased in advance at Cross Brothers’ Grocery or from any Chorale member, and may also be purchased at the door prior to each performance. To reserve tickets, call 804-798-3283.

Register now for the Ashland Railroad Run 10K and 5K Fun Walk to be held on Saturday, April 4th. A fun addition to this year’s race will be a Green Fair with lots of vendors showing examples of green, or environmentally-friendly ideas and products. You can register online through the Arts & Activities website: www.hanoverarts.com. Registration forms can also be found at the Center, 500 S. Center St. Call 798-2728 with any questions.

That Yellow Jacket Softball team is one to watch. This past weekend, they split a doubleheader with Mary Washington; lost the first game 4-1 but came back and won the second game 5-4 in extra innings. Paige Smith hit a three run homerun and Katie McCauley knocked in the game winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 8th inning that scored Ashley Crouch. Coach Proffitt reports that it was a very exciting game.

They’ll play again at home this Saturday, February 28th: a doubleheader that starts at 1:30 versus McDaniel College from Maryland. Come out and cheer on our home-town girls!


The Ashland Yearbooks are beautiful, and if I hadn’t forgotten to pick mine up, I’d be reading it right now. You’ll want to sit and read every single word on every single page. The Yearbook Committee did such a wonderful job! We should all give many, many thanks to Susan Tucker and Betty Carol Stevens who gave this project so much love and devotion.

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

2/19/09 Is February Over Yet?

I would like to give a big, sarcastic “Thank You” to the month of February for ruining winter for me. Just when I was prepared for snow and ice, February reminded me what spring smells like. I just found the ice scraper! I had a good routine of warming up the car in the morning! I did not need to know what I was missing. I had pushed those memories of warm weather to the back of my mind and had accepted the status quo. Now I am impatient and vaguely discontented, and want to throw out all my corduroy pants. But I can’t because February is a big tease who thinks it’s funny to throw me off balance. It’s a good thing you’re only 28 days- that’s all I can take! And no, Valentine’s Day doesn’t make up for it.

Happy Birthday this week to the Town of Ashland, who turned 151 on February 19th!

The fourth Focus Area Meeting of the Ashland Planning Department will be held Monday, Feb 23rd at 6:30 at the Ashland Church of God. This meeting will focus on areas 4 and 5, which is basically the southern part of town. This area is south of Rt. 54 and Ashcake Rd, and includes the Historical District, Henry Clay, Slash Cottage, the Wet YMCA, and the area around Rt. 1, south to the town line. Can you picture that? Visit http://www.ashlandplanning.blogspot.com/ to see a map. If you live in this area, or have interest in it, then you should attend. Please call Zack Robbins with your questions: 798-9219.
The Ashland Yearbook Distribution Party is scheduled for this Friday, February 20 from 4:00-7:00pm at Town Hall. Bring a pen so you can sign each others yearbooks. You may also pick up photos that were lent to the Yearbook committee at that time. Starting February 21, you can purchase any leftover Yearbooks at the Ashland Welcome Center (Train Station). Checks for $65.00 may be made to the “Ashland Foundation.” Please contact Susan Tucker at 798-7123 with any questions.

In celebration of Black History Month, join your neighbors at Gandy Elementary on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7pm for the 150 Year Journey. This will be a program of performances by the Ashland Community Chorus and theatrical portrayals of African-Americans throughout history. Come listen to John Brown tell you his story. Admission is free.

Happy Birthday to Jackson Proffitt, who will turn 15 on February 25th!

On top of all this Spring Fever, I heard two trains coming into town this morning just before the sun came up, which is a sound that makes me feel a little tipsy. I have to stop and just stand there and listen to it. I know some people are tired of hearing me say this, but it does sound like poetry. Not sappy, love poetry- but strong, beautiful poetry that lifts you up off your feet. It is a sound that can chase away these feelings of ennui, and reminds me of how lucky we are to be living in this sweet town.

Call or email me with your Ashland news, your dance cards, and what you saw through your kitchen window last night: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmai.com. Have a wonderful week!

2/12/09 Warm Spell, Strawberry & Comprehensive Planning, Update on Charlotte Reynolds

We slept with windows open last night at our house. February frustrates me because the weather can turn like this; sleet, snow, or a 60 degree sunny day- who knows. This weekend was beautiful, and you could tell that no one wanted to go inside. Driving through town, people were out- riding bikes, walking, running, lingering on their front steps, just standing there remembering all the things that you do when it's warm out. I am sure that's why the original Variety Show organizers planned for it to take place in the winter- getting people to come to rehearsals would have been much harder during the summer with all the distractions of a blue sky and bare feet.

Looking ahead to those warm days, the Strawberry Faire Committee needs your help planning for the 2009 Strawberry Faire. You can visit http://www.ashlandstrawberryfaire.com/ and fill out a volunteer form, or call Mary Claire Coster at 798-8289 if you can help.

Casino Night at St. Ann's went very well this past weekend, as the Catholics were very well behaved. It was fun to see so many Baptists, Methodists and Episcopalians in attendance. We are an ecumenical kind of town, you know.

Susan Tucker, did you get my check for the Yearbook yet? I sealed it with a big kiss!

The third Focus Area Meeting of the Ashland Planning Department will be held Wednesday, Feb 18th at 6:30 at the St. James the Less Episcopal Church. Focus Areas 1,7 will be discussed. Visit http://www.ashlandplanning.blogspot.com/ to see a map. If you live in this area, or have interest in it, then you should attend.

I've been getting reports of some first class soccer games being played at Patrick Henry on the weekends, and no, I don't mean the little kids. The Ashland Adult League Dragons beat the Kixx team 3-1 this past weekend, with Mike Spence, JL Winslow, and Bill Dinkin earning those three points. This coming Saturday promises to be another exciting night as the Dragons will play Scott Vota's team. What better way to spend your Valentine's night then in the old gym at PH?

A little update on Charlotte Reynolds... With fingers crossed, she might be home by the time you read this. Charlotte and her parents, Roger & Rachel Reynolds have spent the past three weeks at MCV battling a brain tumor that descended upon Miss CJ. With two surgeries, the majority of the tumor has been removed, and chemotherapy is scheduled to begin in another 3 to 4 weeks. There is a great website where you can keep up with Charlotte’s progress, and you can see how many people are thinking about her and her parents: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charlottereynolds . They are in for a long fight, so keep them in your prayers, and hug your own kids extra tight.

Just a note to remind you of what you have here in this town- we don't live here because everything is roses, we live here for the good and the completely un-fair things that happen. Those low times are tempered by all the times that we've laughed, danced, and cheered together. Sad stories are a bit softer here, because of all the good stories that have come before.I think that maybe, maybe, the tighter that we hold onto each other- the tighter that we hold onto this place- that we could keep the darkness away. That's what I'd like to believe, anyway. You, Ashland, are my magic.

Call me with your stories, your news, your hopes and dreams: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Happy Valentines Day.

2/5/09 Goodnight Vanilla

Sometimes a story doesn’t end the way we want it to. I hate to have to tell you all this, but the Torrence’s chicken, Vanilla, passed away recently. I know, it’s awful. Vanilla, the scrappy bird who survived over a week on her own, was killed in her own back yard by a slimy raccoon. It’s not right: Vanilla was supposed to live a long life, and her Christmas homecoming was supposed to be a story told over and over again to make people smile. My condolences to the Torrences, and I will personally offer an award to whoever catches that awful raccoon.

The second Focus Area Meeting of the Ashland Planning Department will be held Monday, Feb 9th at 6:30 at the Holiday Inn Express. This meeting will focus on areas 1,2,3,4, which is basically areas east of Rt. 1 to the town line, south of Ashcake Rd., and north of Archie Cannon Drive. Can you picture that? Visit www.ashlandplanning.blogspot.com to see a map. If you live in this area, or have interest in it, then you should attend.

Happy Birthday to Carliegh Luck, of Lower Ashland, who turned 12 on January 28th. Carliegh is the daughter of Ross and Corinne Luck and one of my favorite Ashland kids.

Congrats to the annual Spelling Bee winners: Haley French from Henry Clay, David Sanders from Gandy, Griffin Kelly from Liberty, and Adam Cheek from Elmont. The District Spelling Bee was held on Feb. 4th at the SBO offices where winners from each school competed. It was a real treat for the kids to be greeted at the doors of the School Board Office by “Buzz”, the Randolph-Macon mascot. A yellow-jacket is a bee, right? Many thanks to Buzz for taking the time to visit!

A cash bingo sponsored by the Rockville Ruritan Club will be held at the Farrington Fire House on Friday, February 6th at 7pm. Admission is $20 for 16 games, and half of the total admission collected will be returned in prizes. Doors open at 6pm for hot dogs, BBQ, soft drinks and snacks. This is the first of a regular series of bingo nights the Ruritans expect to offer to raise money for the annual scholarships they award to Patrick Henry seniors. The Farrington Fire house is on Farrington Road at the corner of Route 33. For information please call Susan Eisinger at 883-8833.

Hey, Valentine Town- are you ready for the 14th? Is there a lot of love to go around? Send me your Ashland news, your inflated egos and vacation pictures. You can reach me at 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can find a record of these columns at www.ashlandnews.blogspot.com. Have a beautiful week!

1/29/09 Charlotte Reynolds, John M. Gandy, Zack Morgan's Meetings, and Happy Birthday Rosie

I have no funny stories for you today. I am filled with a feeling of “un-fairness” as I think about little Charlotte Reynolds at MCV and the tough, tough week that her family has had. Charlotte’s parents- Roger and Rachel Reynolds- need all of our good wishes. He and Rachel own the Romp-n-Roll gym at Virginia Center Commons. We hope they are all home soon.

Congratulations to everyone at John M. Gandy Elementary School! Congratulations to the principal, the staff, the teachers, and the students who were awarded the 2009
Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence. We all knew that Gandy had high standards, and that excellence could be found in every corner, but it’s nice for Tim Kaine to recognize it. What a wonderful little school.


View Larger Map

If you consider yourself a resident of North Ashland, then you should make plans to attend the Feb 4th meeting of the Town Planning Department to discuss the ways that your neighborhood could be developed. Zack plans on beginning the meeting at 6:30pm in the Old Chapel at Randolph-Macon. North Ashland is defined as the area around R-MC, north of Rt. 54, east of James St, west of Rt. 1, and south of Archie Cannon Drive. Can you picture that? Visit http://www.ashlandplanning.blogspot.com/ to see a map.

The Ashland Library will have Teen Movie Night on Friday, February 13 at 6pm. Pizza will be served. Bring a friend!

Happy Birthday to Rosie Morris who will be 4 on February 5th and to Monica Klisz who will be 21 on February 6th. We hope they both have wonderful days!

Send me your Ashland news, your stories of playing in the snow when you were little, and a good poem. You can reach me at ashlandnews@gmail.com or 804-310-5320. Have a wonderful week.

1/22/09 The Story of Vanilla, the Chicken

This is a story of love, of forgiveness and redemption, of realizing that what you were looking for was right in your own back yard all along.

Vanilla, the chicken, lived a simple life with the Torrences on Howard Street. Hers was a life of food, attention, and owners who spent hours providing care. And yet, she yearned for something more. She went looking for a life less ordinary: a life of adventure and romance beyond the confines of her back yard. So she left her flock, left Walnut and Corn who warned her not to go, and began her great adventure.

We can only speculate on where she went and who she met along her journey. There were periodic sightings of her- there were phone calls to the Torrences reporting a “large white chicken” pecking in front yards, but she was elusive. She was fast and wily. Eve Torrence and Lorie Foley would look for her, calling out, “Vanilla! Vanilla!” as they walked the streets. They thought that maybe she had taken up with another flock, but the Herberts hadn’t seen her. They thought that maybe she had joined the gang of feral chickens that lives behind Town Hall, but she was not there either.

The Torrences called Animal Control, but were told that no one had brought in any stray chickens “since 4 o’clock” that day. Their hope was running out, and the idea of Vanilla ever returning home began to fade. How could a chicken survive for over a week on her own? Think of all the predators- the dogs, foxes, and raccoons who would have drooled over a fat chicken. Christmas morning came, and as the Torrences struggled to smile while opening their presents, the phone rang. It was Frank Hargrove who said that Vanilla was in his yard, on top of his trash can! Bruce, Eve, Alexandra, and Robert all ran down the sidewalk in their pj’s, and scooped up Vanilla. They triumphantly carried her home, told her that they loved her, and promptly forgave her wandering ways. It was, of course, a Christmas miracle. Vanilla is home now, safe in her backyard with her wings clipped. We hope that she learned a valuable lesson.

And this is why there is no reason on earth to ever leave Ashland.

Congratulations to Dave Klisz & Tom Grant who finished the Swinging Bridge 50K Trail Race this past weekend! That is not a typo- 50 kilometers. That’s almost 32 miles. That’s running all day, through the woods, over creeks; in freezing temperatures, no less. Unbelievable! I am truly in awe at their stamina and determination. You can watch Dave's video at

Zack Robbins has informed me that the Planning Department of the Town of Ashland is very busy these days and has many meetings scheduled for February. Be on the lookout for those dates, and think about what you think our town needs. Maybe a homeless chicken shelter…

Here’s your chance to come and party with those wild Catholics at St. Ann’s Casino Night on Saturday, February 7th. There will be delicious food, fabulous items and events up for auction, childcare, and – the best part- fake gambling in the parish hall! What more could you want? Please call the church office for more information and to purchase your tickets: 798-5039. You do not have to be catholic to attend. You knew that, right?

Call or email me with your Ashland news, love letters, and book reports. You can reach me at ashlandnews@gmail.com, or 804-310-5320. Have a wonderful week!

1/15/08 Breaking News on Proof of Center of Universe Claim

I would like to put the whole "Center of the Universe" question to bed today. Yes, I know that it's somewhat controversial these days with Peter Greenberg trying to prove us all wrong, and I am content to know that Ashland is the Center of my own personal universe. However, I received word this week from my father, Frank Delano, of some interesting facts. It appears that scientists at Cambridge University in England are aware of Ashland's unique position. (This is a direct quote, honest) "As far as we know, Ashland is at the very center of the Universe. This has been confirmed by numerous tests and is taken as given by astronomers worldwide”, says George Becker who is a post-doctoral fellow in astronomy at Cambridge University in England where he's studying the history of the universe.

Now, who are you going to believe, Peter Greenberg, who will obviously say anything to sell a book, or George Becker who spends every living minute of his day studying the history of the universe at Cambridge University? Thanks Daddy. Wow, I love feeling vindicated!

There are two good opportunities to watch some basketball at Randolph-Macon this weekend. The RMC Women’s Team will play Guilford College this Friday, Jan. 16th at 7pm. Then on Saturday, they’ll play Emory & Henry at 4pm. All games are in the Crenshaw Gym and everyone gets a great view of the action.

Happy Birthday to Amy Flagg on January 30th!

Susan Tucker called me and said that she hadn’t gotten your Ashland Yearbook order yet, so please hurry up and get that in the mail! Write out your check for $65- remember, you can’t put a price on posterity- and send it to Susan at 718 South Center Street, Ashland VA 23005. You went to all that work to write your history, it would be a shame not to have your own copy.

By this time last year we had some flurries, so I am a bit disappointed at our lack of winter weather. Can’t someone with some connections order up 5 or 8 inches of snow? C’mon, Father Chris? Enough snow to close school, enough to find a hill and slide down it, and enough snow for it to stay for several days. Do you remember how quiet it is at night when there’s snow on the ground? That’s what I want. I want a fire in the fireplace, and the bright reflection of a moon shining on a soybean field covered in snow.

Well Ashland, you’re quiet these days. I know, I know- you’re still recovering from the holidays and focusing on your Variety Show rehearsals, but I know that people are still celebrating birthdays! I know that there must be some small victories that are being won everyday around here. Hey, Mr. Planner, Zack Robbins! The town calendar is like a sieve- there are holes all in it. Can’t you do something about that?

Call me with your Ashland news, party invitations, and ghost stories. You can reach me at 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful weekend!