12/3/09 It's Beginning to look a lot like Chirstmas...

Did you appreciate Thanksgiving? Did you take full advantage of the food, the family, and the friends? I hope so. My Thanksgiving was different this year without my grandmother. But that's what holidays do- they evolve through the years as people grow up and move along with their lives. Kids get married and move away, grandparents die, and new traditions emerge. It's one of those lovely (said while rolling my eyes) lessons that life feels the need to teach us: don't become complacent.

Congratulations to Corporal Marie Kemp and Corporal Ethan Hicks, the two Ashland Police Officers who were promoted to the rank of Sergeant on November 25th! We really have a wonderful police department here in town, don't we? I always fall asleep feeling safe and sound knowing they're looking out for us.

Mark your calendar for the Gandy Art Auction to be held on December 10th from 6-8pm at John M. Gandy Elementary. The students and teachers at Gandy have been busy creating beautiful and whimsical pieces of art for many weeks now, and you will be amazed at the things they are making! This will be an excellent opportunity to find one-of-a-kind Christmas presents, and support your local public schools at the same time. There will be a pizza dinner followed by a silent auction and a live auction. Dinner is $4 per person and reservations may be made by emailing me (ashlandnews@gmail.com) by December 7th. All proceeds from the auction will be used for the Gandy Garden Project, building gardens to cultivate learning, imaginations, and creativity.

You must be in town this weekend: December 5th and 6th. The Ashland Holiday Weekend is shaping up to be a wonderful time for all. There will be pictures with Santa at the Henry Clay Inn, a Ginger-Bread House Contest, a trolley taking riders all around town, a Santa's Secret Workshop for kids at the Arts and Activities Center (remember Miller & Rhodes Fawn Shop?), Magician Jonathan Austin, and a Tree-Lighting Ceremony on the Town Hall Lawn. This is just a little bit of all the activities. Visit http://www.hanoverarts.org/ for more information.

It's not too late to enter the Gingerbread House Contest! Bring your house to the Arts and Activities Center this Saturday morning by 10am. Call 798-2728 with any questions. Let your imagination run wild!

Apparently Santa loves to eat breakfast in Ashland, because you will find him eating somewhere around here for the next two Saturdays...

On Saturday, December 5th, Lower Ashland welcomes St. Nick with a Snowflake Breakfast at Elmont Elementary School from 8 to 11am. No tickets will be sold at the door, so the only way you're getting a seat is to call Corinne Luck at 752-2308. I've heard that Ross is the head pancake chef, so you know they must be good!

On Saturday, December 12th, the Man with the Bag will be eating at the Masonic Lodge on England Street from 9 to 11am. Pancakes, Sausgage and Eggs can be had for just $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. Bring your camera to get a picture with Santa Claus.

When you read this, Roger, Rachel and Charlotte Reynolds will be getting the royal treatment in Disney World right now courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A limo picked them up at their home in Slash Cottage on December 1st and delivered them to the airport. How wonderful for them to be pampered! I have never really appreciated the Make-A-Wish Foundation until now, and will put them on the top of my charity list this year. There are lots of ways that you can support this organization; visit http://www.makeawish.org/ for more information.

The 5th Annual Deck the Halls Event is this Sunday, December 6th from noon to 4:30pm at Pine Grove Farm just off Elmont Road here in town. Carolyn and Jerry Peart have once again opened their yard & barn, and filled it with everything you'd need to make as many wreaths, center pieces, and decorative holiday greenery as you can carry. Call right away for reservations: 798-9131. Susan Greenbaum will be performing, and refreshments will be served. $25 for adults, $10 for youth 6-16, and free for kids under 6.

Here's a great event no matter how old you are... Baby Boomers Remember Ashland on Wednesday, December 16th at 7pm. Local Baby Boomers will share their memories of growing up in the Center of the Universe. Refreshments will be served.

We have absolutely no time to lose, do you hear me Ashland? Get those lights lit, and wreaths hung! We cannot waste a moment here during this holiday season. I want you to do something special everyday. It doesn't have to be a big thing, it can be small like calling your sister and saying hello. Make some cookies this evening to give away. Put on a Santa hat while you rake leaves this weekend. Sleep with your pajamas on inside-out so we can have some snow. Shine Ashland, sparkle and shine. You do it better than any town I know.

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

11/19/09 Thanksgiving Preparations, COTU Marathoners, Gandy Art Auction, Ashland Holiday Weekend

With Halloween behind us now, the pumpkins gone, and the decorations blown by the wind, we are warmed by the thought of Thanksgiving. I love that Thanksgiving is a holiday for everyone, regardless of religion. I love that Thanksgiving is about family, friends, good food, and a warm table. No gifts to buy, only food to cook. It's rather low-key and relaxed, if you think about it.

Happy Birthday to Kitty Banks on November 22! We hope that she has a delicious cake to eat and many wonderful presents to open!

Congratulations to all the Ashlanders who ran in the Richmond Marathon this past weekend, including Dave Klisz, Susan Spence, JoAnn Hunter, and Tammy Proffitt! If you want to be inspired, if you need to be reminded of the strength & the power of the human spirit- go watch a marathon. Go stand by the finish line and watch the runners come in after running for several hours, and after months of training. You will see that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary feats, and really, nothing is beyond your grasp if you work at it.

A special congratulations to those who ran the Half Marathon as well! Rodney Bardwell, Mary Clay Thomas, Corinne Luck, and Tracy & Bob Brown all showed grace and speed on the course through the Northside. We hear that the hills in Bryan Park were especially enjoyable!

Here, I'm going to teach you a new word: "brax." It is a noun, plural, meaning congratulations- but it is shorter and easier to spell. I learned it while living in Baltimore, and now I'll use it in a sentence...

Brax to all the spectators and coaches who cheered on the marathon runners! I saw your signs, heard your cheers, and know how you drove (or walked) all over Richmond to see your runners! You know that you helped make those 26.2 miles not seem so long. Your enthusiasm made a big difference.

The Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale will present four performances of its 2009 Holiday Concert, one on December 11, and again on December 12th, at 7:30 pm, at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. The third performance will be Sunday, December 13, 4:00 pm, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 520 N. Boulevard, in Richmond. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students. They may be purchased in advance at Cross Brothers’ Grocery in Ashland or from any Chorale member, and may also be purchased at the door prior to each performance. To reserve tickets, call 804-798-3283. Visit http://www.cvamc.org/ for more information.

Mark your calendar for the Gandy Art Auction to be held on December 10th from 6-8pm at John M. Gandy Elementary. The students and teachers at Gandy have been busy creating beautiful and whimsical pieces of art for many weeks now, and you will be amazed at the things they are making! This will be an excellent opportunity to find one-of-a-kind Christmas presents, and support your local public schools at the same time. There will be a pizza dinner followed by a silent auction and a live auction. Dinner is $4 per person and reservations may be made by emailing me (ashlandnews@gmail.com) by December 7th. All proceeds from the auction will be used for the Gandy Garden Project, building gardens to cultivate learning, imaginations, and creativity.

Also, plan to be in town on December 5th and 6th. The Ashland Holiday Weekend is shaping up to be a wonderful time for all. There will be pictures with Santa at the Henry Clay Inn, a Ginger-Bread House Contest, a trolley taking riders all around town, a Santa's Secret Workshop for kids at the Arts and Activities Center (remember Miller & Rhodes Fawn Shop?), Magician Jonathan Austin, and a Tree-Lighting Ceremony on the Town Hall Lawn. This is just a little bit of all the activities. Visit http://www.hanoverarts.org/ for more information.

So, let's get ready for the holidays, Ashland. You don't need a ton of money, of piles of presents. The real gift is what we have here: good neighbors, good friends, and warm hearts. The COTU economic forecast predicts wonderful days ahead.

Call or email me with you Ashland news: 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com. Be happy.

11/5/09 Best Halloween Ever

I think I just had the best Halloween ever. We were home and in bed by 11- the kids were fine, safe, and full of chocolate. We all laughed tonight, screamed tonight, and ran down the damp sidewalks. This is what makes life in Ashland almost unbearable and close to inexplicable.
A friend said, as we walked down Center Street with our kids, “Look , we’re on a movie lot.” The wet leaves stuck to the sidewalk, a big moon glided in and out of the clouds, and streams of little ghosts and goblins made their way down the front walks of the Victorian houses on either side of the railroad tracks.


We struggled with flashlights swung from the arms of 3-yr olds as they constantly shined in our faces. We tried to activate glow sticks so that we could recognize our kids from far away, and found that biting them often doesn’t work. We now know that if a glow stick breaks in your mouth, it will take like insecticide and your tongue will not even glow which would have been cool and almost worth the temporary numbness and tingling.


We delighted in clever children’s costumes, and ridiculous adult outfits. Anyone who saw a 10 foot gorilla walking down the street in a Santa costume must have both squealed with laughter and shivered with the disturbing unease of the sight. Indeed, Halloween at its best.


This Saturday make your way down to LA (Lower Ashland) for the Elmont Elementary Fall Festival from 11:00 to 3:00 pm. There will be games for the kids, craft vendors, a bake sale, silent auction, and lots of things to eat for lunch. Items up for bidding include 4 round trip Amtrak tickets to Philadelphia, a Jessica Robertson photo session, Panera bagels for a year, and Theatre IV tickets.


A very happy birthday to Susan Chambers who will be having a big party on November 7th! Susan is such a valuable resource in our town; she gives herself and her time to so many people.


The 7th Annual Train Day is November 14th, from 10am to 4pm, which promises to be a beautiful, bright sunny day. There will be model train displays at the Library and the Arts and Activities Center (hereafter referred to as “the Center”), music, food, kids activities- all along our beloved railroad tracks. Don’t we have a fickle relationship with those tracks? We grumble when they make us late, or block the road to our house, or slowly pass throw town loaded with garbage. We also worry that not enough trains will come through, and we miss those whistles when we travel away from home.


The Ashland Library will host an afternoon of tennis and bowling for adults and seniors on Thursday, November 12th beginning at 1:30 pm. Come play these fun Wii games- even boxing! This afternoon event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.


The next evening, 11/13, is Teen Movie Night beginning at 6pm with pizza! Call the library and tell them that you’re coming- 798-4072.


I heard that Bart’s new restaurant is open on the tracks! Stop by and visit his restaurant- it’s such a good feeling to see entrepreneurs alive and well in the COTU.


Now, when I said that life in Ashland is “almost unbearable” I hope you didn’t take it the wrong way. It is just so incredibly precious sometimes, and I have these moments when I have to stop and take it all in. I’d like to scoop the moment up in my hands and put it in a jar, to save- to open on a rainy day when all I want to do is run away. I would open my Halloween jar, and hear a child’s voice singing our town song as she swung her bag of candy and skipped down the sidewalk. No one told her to sing it; no one suggested it to her. She was absolutely content. And that alone will be enough reason to never leave.


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

10/15/09 Indian Summer, Ashland Kids, Pedro's Boys, Good Eats

Ahh, that wonderful Mid-Atlantic weather: never happy, never content, and constantly changing. Just when you think you know how to dress in the morning, the temperature falls and we’re searching for hats and gloves. I even heard rumors of snow last week- wicked, wicked rumors. Can we go back to those 70 degree days for a little bit? I want a few more chances to sleep with the windows open.

Here’s a funny thing to observe at the Ashland Library. Stand in the children’s area and wait for a train to come by. You’ll see one group of kids yell “Train!” and race to the windows, and then there’s another group of kids who don’t even look up from their puzzles. Which kids are the Ashland kids?

Friday, October 23rd is Teen Game Night at the Ashland Library. Send your middle-schooler over at 6pm for an evening of Wii Games, Guitar Hero, and board games with their friends. Snacks served by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Bring your kids in their Halloween costumes down to the Randolph-Macon Brock Center this Saturday for the Annual Fall Festival from 2 to 4 pm. This is a perfect example of how RMC gives back to our community. Come enjoy food, games, prizes, and a moon bounce with the students!

Well done, Pedro’s Boys- a 19-0 wipe-out against Emory and Henry. Can you smell that Hampton-Sydney game? I just can’t wait for November 14th!
Please mark your calendars to attend the Ashland Town Center grand opening event this Friday, October 23rd at 1pm. This is the largest redevelopment project that has occurred in downtown Ashland, so please come and support Yancey & Jane Jones, and the tenants of the Center.

The 6th Annual Ashland Harvest 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk is set for Saturday, October 24th, and will benefit the St. James the Less Free Clinic and Western Hanover Emergency Action Team (WHEAT). The St. James Clinic is very successful in providing medical, dental and vision care and is a 100% volunteer organization funded by donations. WHEAT benefits citizens in western Hanover with food, electricity, phone service and clothing. The race will begin and end at Carter Park, where a Community Health Faire will be held. You can register online by visiting http://www.ashlandharvestrun.com/

The Ashland Farmer’s Market is still going strong these days with wonderful fall vegetables, fruits, and flowers. There are also baked goods, fresh eggs & meat, and homemade soaps. The Market is open each Saturday morning from 9 until noon behind Town Hall.

I believe that there are now three new restaurants on the verge of opening in town. Not that I don’t love the ones we already have, but it would be fun to add to the mix. Call me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, or email ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!

10/15/09 Trains at Night, Autumn Races, RMC Fall Festival

Why are the trains so much louder at night than in the day? Has anyone else noticed this? Is it just quieter, so there aren’t as many other noises to compete with the trains? Do they go through town faster at 10pm than they do at 8am in the morning? I live a few blocks from the tracks, and you really don’t notice the sound unless it’s late at night. Then the train sounds like it’s in my back yard, even with all the windows shut.

Have you driven past Randolph-Macon recently and seen the tent by the football fields? I know it’s for Homecoming Weekend, but it certainly looks like the circus has come to town. It is a very, very tall tent.

The 6th Annual Ashland Harvest 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk is set for Saturday, October 24th, and will benefit the St. James the Less Free Clinic and Western Hanover Emergency Action Team (WHEAT). The St. James Clinic is very successful in providing medical, dental and vision care and is a 100% volunteer organization funded by donations. WHEAT benefits citizens in western Hanover with food, electricity, phone service and clothing. The race will begin and end at Carter Park, where a Community Health Faire will be held. You can register online by visiting http://www.ashlandharvestrun.com/

Remember, the Ashland Farmers’s Market continues to be open through this month and into November. You can find gorgeous fall flowers and wonderful fruits and vegetables. It’s open every Saturday from 9am to noon. Grab a cup of coffee at the Coffee and Tea and stroll on over.

Randolph-Macon will hold their annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 25th from 2-4pm at the Brock Center. There will be games and fun for kids of all ages. Come dressed in your Halloween costume! Contact Whitney at reginaedwards@students.rmc.edu for more information.

Friday, October 23rd come to the Ashland Library for Teen Game Night beginning at 6pm. This event is open to Middle and High Schoolers. Play Guitar Hero, Wii Games, and Board Games with your friends. Snacks will be served. Call 798-4072 to register.

Story times for younger kids continue to be offered throughout the week at your friendly, neighborhood library. Visit http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org/ for more information.

All anyone can talk about these days is the beautiful weather. The smell of wood smoke, the crackle of dry leaves, the crickets in the dying grass: all aspects of autumn here. We have seen geese flying south, and deer grazing in the morning fog. The aging soybeans have turned our fields a brilliant shade of yellow, and the trees are close behind as they begin to change. If I was writing a letter to someone far away, I would tell them it is an excellent time of year to live in Ashland. I’m sure they would laugh as they read those words, because I say that all the time.

Don’t forget how lucky we are. Don’t get so wrapped up in work or school, or volunteer projects that you forget about the simple things around you. Slow down and think for a minute about what a nice country we have, and how good life can be here. For all the unknown factors, all the worry, all the stress- life is very sweet here. There will always be a reason to smile in the COTU. I promise.

Send me your Ashland news, your Halloween costume ideas, your trick-or-treating plans. I think everyone should dress up- young and old. You can reach me at ashlandnews@gmail.com, or 310-5320. Cheers!

10/01/09 Flowers, Football, Storytime, Seniors

October is a great month around here. I always forget how pleasant it is until it rolls around again. We are past the time frame for a hurricane, those summer storms are gone, and the chance of frost won’t come for many weeks. As the humidity leaves, so does the angst that accompanies it, and a calmer atmosphere remains. We more resemble our New England cousins now, than the fiery ones to the south. It is hard to get too worked up while wearing corduroy.


Everyone should be outside this Saturday. The Ashland Farmer’s Market has tons of great fall produce and beautiful plants and flowers. It is a very good time of year to plant new trees and flowers. Just don’t plant any apple trees close to a cedar. Ask Dave Gilmore what happens if you do that.

On Saturday, October 10th, from 9-2pm, the Hanover Master Gardeners will be holding a fall plant sale at the Hanover Human Resource Complex on Rt.1. You know- the Social Services building at Ashcake and Rt. 1. That must be the formal name of the building. They will be selling perennials, shrubs, trees, pumpkins, and other garden items, like rain barrels. All proceeds will support the horticultural programs in our public schools.

If you are 55 or better join the Hanover Seniors. Meetings include educational programs, mini field trips, lunch bunch and guest speakers. The Hanover Senior meets the first Thursday of each month (except June, July and August) at 10am at First Baptist Church, 800 Thompson St. On Thursday, Oct. 1st Maxim Healthcare Services will be in attendance and will offer flu shots free of charge to those with Medicare Part B. Maxim Health Care Services also participates with most insurance companies (fee may apply). For more information, please call 779-7948 or 365-4695, or log on to http://www.co.hanover.va.us/.

Family story time at the Library will be Monday, October 5th at 6:30 pm. It is perfectly acceptable to come dressed in your pajamas.

We were glad to hear that Pedro’s boys beat those Catholics this past weekend, 31-21. They’ll play Washington & Lee this Saturday at home at 1pm. And let me tell you, W&L has lost their past two games, so I think the Yellow Jackets are in a perfect position to take care of them.

Speaking of football, Patrick Henry High School continued their celebration of their 50th year this past weekend with a great football game. Yes, they lost, but I think everyone had a great time and enjoyed themselves. The Patriots will play Thomas Jefferson this Friday at home, at 7pm.

Be sure to spend plenty of time this month looking at the sky. It will never be as clear or as blue as it is right now. Towards the end of the month when the leaves change, the contrast will be striking.

Call or email me with your Ashland news: 310-5320, or ashlandnews@gmail.com. You can find a record of these columns at http://www.ashlandnews.blogger.com/. As always, have a wonderful week.

9/24/09 Tiger Trot, JDRF Walk, September Birthdays, Bluestone Pickles

Did you survive this past weekend? Did you crawl into bed Sunday night and immediately fall asleep? Oh, I am still rubbing my eyes this morning and trying to recount all the events…

What a beautiful day we had for the Third Annual Tiger Trot at Henry Clay Elementary! I am always amazed at how smoothly this event unfolds, and that is largely due to the leadership of the two race directors: JoAnn Hunter and Tracy Brown. This event has one specific purpose in mind- to help our Ashland schools be incredible places of learning. And even if you don’t have a child in either Henry Clay or Gandy, you should know that our community is only as good as its schools. Education makes the world a better place.

The Central Virginia Walk to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation was this past Sunday on Byrd Park, and once again, the team led by Jennifer and Buddha Morris was the largest family team in attendance. Of course, this should come as no surprise to many considering how many people love and care about Jen, Buddha, and their kids: Kellan & Rosie. Jen & Buddha wage a daily battle against juvenile diabetes, as both of their kids have the disease.

We were happy to hear good news from Roger & Rachel Reynolds. Their daughter, Charlotte, who is fighting a brain tumor, has gotten excellent reports from doctors lately.
The fight is long from over, but it is encouraging to see that progress is being made. We are glad that everyone is home in Ashland.

The news from LA is that Davis Luck had one of the most spectacular birthdays in recent memory! Apparently the Death Star landed in his backyard, and he and his guests successfully defended Lower Ashland from Darth Vader. We’re sending many birthday wishes to this sweet boy who turned 6 on September 22nd.

Happy Birthday to Kipp Proffit & Trey Inge who both turned 12 on September 18th! While these boys might not have had to wage inter-galactic war on their birthdays, I have no doubt that the festivities were thrilling. It’s hard to believe how fast these kids are growing up.

Wait, wait- I’m not done with birthdays yet! Lorie Foley and Jen Burch both celebrated their birthdays on September 20th!

The Ashland Kiwanis are having their 38th Annual BBQ on October 17th at A.D. Whittaker’s farm just outside of town. There’ll be lots of good food (with their top secret sauce) music, kids’ games, and lots of free parking. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids aged 7-12, and free for kids 6 and under. Tickets are available from any Kiwanis or KEY Club member. You can also call 883-6118, or email ashkbbq@earthlink for information. The Kiwanis do so much to support the youth in our community, and this is one of their biggest fundraisers.

It’s a beautiful time of year here in the Center- are you tired of me saying that? I just can’t get enough of those crickets; they are some of the best background music that I’ve ever heard. Oh, and the other day I found my grandmother’s recipe for sweet pickles. Have I told you the story about her pickles? Her recipe calls for some “bluestone” to be added to the mix to help the pickles keep their green color. I decided not to use the bluestone once I found out that you can also put it in your pond to prevent pond scum, or on your apple trees to keep the worms away. Yes, bluestone can even help your sheep stay away from foot-rot! In other words, my little grandmother used to put fertilizer in her pickles, but she lived to be 91, so it can’t be all that bad.

Send me your Ashland news, and tell me what’s going on. I don’t like to be out of the loop. Call or email: 310-5320, ashlandnews@gmail.com. Have a wonderful week!