tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69015202864023666442011-12-13T10:09:06.395-05:00A record of the weekly Ashland column in the Herald-Progress Newspaper <br> by Meriwether GilmoreMeriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-59142382048395605462011-12-06T09:39:00.002-05:002011-12-06T10:02:40.200-05:002011-12-06T10:02:40.200-05:00

Oh, we love a good holiday, don’t we Ashland? We love to have a reason to dress up, decorate, visit with friends, and listen to some wonderful music. The sidewalks of our town were packed with little princesses, zombies, and witches. We especially liked Alan Funk’s “Center of the Universe” costume!Hopefully you got a chance to stop by the Hanover Arts and Activities Center to listen to the

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-2769388676873753072011-10-25T12:30:00.005-04:002011-12-06T09:35:31.256-05:002011-12-06T09:35:31.256-05:00

Most of the time the trains don’t bother me, and I am like the Ashland kids in the Library who hardly look up from their puzzles when a train goes by. They are just a pleasant background noise. But there are times when I’m reminded of what a nice interruption they can be. In this crazy, busy life, it is nice to have a 200-ton mass of steel make me stop and wait. I have to put the car in park and

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-38677272376304340162011-10-18T09:35:00.004-04:002011-10-31T11:53:44.480-04:002011-10-31T11:53:44.480-04:00

Well, apparently the playground wasn’t abducted by aliens, but it was removed for safety reasons: there were lots of splinters on it. We’ve heard that a new playground has been ordered, but we’re wondering why they didn’t leave the old one there until the new one had arrived. And maybe a sign could have been put up telling everyone the details. Just an idea. Bob Krick of the National Park Service

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-75315994895117311202011-10-04T09:47:00.006-04:002011-10-18T09:42:33.228-04:002011-10-18T09:42:33.228-04:00

Ashland, you just don't know how fickle I am. You don't know how many times I've almost thrown in the towel, how many times that I've said: 'I just can't think of anything to write." Do you know how many times I've been teased for my over-use of the word "lucky?" Do you know how many times my father has fussed at me about all the exclamation points? Here I sit, a jaded Ashlander complaining about

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-8276907058661362852011-09-20T10:08:00.004-04:002011-09-29T23:25:15.976-04:002011-09-29T23:25:15.976-04:00

Goodbye linen, madras, and seersucker; hello corduroy, plaid, and wool. This cool weather is always a welcome change as we put away the bathing suits and start thinking about campfires and football games. Autumn is a wonderful time of year in the Center of the Universe. I hope you find some time to get outside and enjoy it!Happy birthday to Father Chris Haydinger, who celebrated his birthday this

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-57144470101593688222011-09-20T10:07:00.004-04:002011-09-20T10:41:20.735-04:002011-09-20T10:41:20.735-04:00

One of the reasons that I like Ashland so much is its oddities. Has anyone else seen the chicken and her friend, the duck, strolling near the 7-11? They seem very content together, and I was wondering if they are pets or if they just happened to find a backyard they like. Happy birthday to Rachel Reynolds who celebrated her birthday just the other day! Rachel is busy getting ready for the CJ’s

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-66311629030577076452011-09-20T10:05:00.002-04:002011-09-20T10:30:09.579-04:002011-09-20T10:30:09.579-04:00

The summer ended the way most summers end, with a final whistle at the town pool and the slow departure of kids from the water. Those Ashlanders do not like to be alone: they celebrate endings and beginnings together. There are frequently not enough chairs, or plates, but that doesn’t seem to matter because no one is ever left without food or conversation.I’d like to thank the staff of the

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-10311565864761337872011-09-20T10:03:00.004-04:002011-09-20T10:26:23.429-04:002011-09-20T10:26:23.429-04:00

I don’t know where to start. Since the last time we’ve talked, there have been earthquakes and a hurricane, and I’m wondering if I shouldn’t have bad-mouthed the month of August.I give my condolences to everyone who is still without power, who lost a beautiful old tree, or who had an old tree fall on top of something. We’ve noticed that most trees seemed to have been blow down by a wind from the

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-11094796317513729782011-08-23T10:59:00.004-04:002011-08-29T07:54:44.671-04:002011-08-29T07:54:44.671-04:00

I knew we were due for a hurricane. And isn’t it just like Mother Nature to send us some beautiful weather right before she blows Irene our way. If you haven’t found your flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and weather radios by now, drop this paper and get moving! You can find a lot of good information on www.vaemergency.com. My sources on Mt Hermon Road have informed me that those

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-37149181706003732752011-08-23T10:54:00.003-04:002011-08-29T07:47:27.439-04:002011-08-29T07:47:27.439-04:00

Has anyone notices two small, propeller planes flying over Ashland lately? Last Friday they were circling over town, flying around each other, and it looked like a scene straight out of a World War II movie. We half expected to hear machine gun fire at any moment, and thought that maybe a war had started but someone forgot to tell us. Earlier this week I saw them again, although this time they

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-50735527776364572682011-08-17T12:12:00.003-04:002011-08-17T13:33:46.682-04:002011-08-17T13:33:46.682-04:00

If I could record what August sounds like, it would be a cricket chirping in the dried up grass. That’s all I heard the other day as I fought with the Bermuda grass that invades our yard every year. I shouldn’t say that; it’s not really invasive- it lives there quite comfortably. Congratulations to the coaches of the Ashland Barracudas swim team on winning the Coaching Excellence award from

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-11067900750099623762011-08-17T12:11:00.004-04:002011-08-17T13:30:21.744-04:002011-08-17T13:30:21.744-04:00

Poor August. Does anyone love you with your exhausting heat, your wilted flowers, and your “Back to School” sales? You are not subtle or sweet; you are tough and stubborn just like all the people born under your hazy sky. So tough, in fact, that it takes a hurricane to cool you off for a few days. You’ll forget about the hear for a while if you come to one of the performances of the Children

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-17180067296467540182011-08-17T12:10:00.004-04:002011-08-17T13:27:14.339-04:002011-08-17T13:27:14.339-04:00

Here we are, saying goodbye to the last few days of July and dreading the beginning of August. As much as it hurts me to say this, August has never been one of my favorite months. It is awful hot, and its arrival means that we have to think about summer ending. However, we are lucky to live in Ashland which means that even a hot, humid August day is filled with music and laughter. See below.

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-64161013884380220572011-08-17T12:09:00.004-04:002011-08-17T13:23:20.575-04:002011-08-17T13:23:20.575-04:00

The heat has found us. It took it a little bit longer than usual, and we’ve spent many late-night at swim meets bundled up in sweat-shirts. No more! It’s now in the eighties when you wake up in the morning and the heat comes up from the ground like we live on a paved parking lot. Stay cool. Move slowly. Drink iced tea. As always, canine Ashlanders seem to enjoy the 4th of July as much as

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-79718986193648528262011-08-17T12:08:00.004-04:002011-08-17T13:15:26.858-04:002011-08-17T13:15:26.858-04:00

We’re glad that no one was hurt in that odd little storm we had last Wednesday. The National Weather Service won’t confirm that it was a tornado, but it sure looks like something decided to take a walk from Dejarnette Park, behind Allan Funk’s house, towards the tracks! Those tree service companies are loving Ashland this week. It’s time to decorate, Ashland! I know it’s one of your favorite

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-17691386822220322882011-08-11T16:55:00.003-04:002011-08-17T13:06:47.999-04:002011-08-17T13:06:47.999-04:00

The Ashland Farmers Market is bursting at the seams with fresh, local produce these days! You can find everything you need for your kitchen from the vegetables and meats, to home-baked bread, and flowers to decorate. Stop by every Saturday morning from 9am until noon. Congratulations to the mighty Ashland Barracudas who won their first swim meet against the Milestone Makos by over 500 points!

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-66806732747564889302011-08-11T16:54:00.004-04:002011-08-17T13:02:13.737-04:002011-08-17T13:02:13.737-04:00

Congratulations to all the kids who are graduating this June: from pre-school to high school, the finishing of a year and looking forward to a fresh start in September is always a satisfying feeling. Can there be anything better than the whole summer stretching out before you? I hope that the Ashland kids get the chance to be lazy & ride their bikes around town. Give them good memories to talk

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-71004345275998055802011-08-11T16:53:00.003-04:002011-08-11T17:02:21.511-04:002011-08-11T17:02:21.511-04:00

I know that this heat feels unbearable sometimes, but it’s this time of year that we have to remind ourselves to switch into that summer gear; slow down, dress lighter, and care less about the sweat rolling down your back. We should all be as lazy as is possible without losing your job, and spend ridiculous amounts of time sitting by the Ashland pool. There are some birthday girls to

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-31996720270912412432011-05-24T10:33:00.004-04:002011-05-26T09:16:53.328-04:002011-05-26T09:16:53.328-04:00

I think there were a lot of people who let out a collective sigh of relief when the Hanover County School Board announced that the new superintendent will be Dr. Jamelle Wilson. How fortunate we are to have a new leader who has been a part of our school system and who understands our county, our schools, and the dreams that our parents have for their children. Congratulations to Dr. Wilson!Happy

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-79847147043398433492011-05-17T10:18:00.003-04:002011-05-26T09:07:21.548-04:002011-05-26T09:07:21.548-04:00

If you could have any view from your bedroom window, what would it be? I was asked this question recently and I had to think about it. The ocean? The Eiffel Tower? The train tracks of Ashland? If I close my eyes, all I can see are the green fields of Westmoreland County. My hat is off to two COTU runners who travelled all the was to the Florida Keys to run in a 50 mile race from Marathon Key to

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-57560863568255181822011-05-10T12:08:00.003-04:002011-05-26T09:02:46.425-04:002011-05-26T09:02:46.425-04:00

Last weekend, some of our COTU girls travelled all the way to New York City to ride in the Five Boroughs Bike Race. Monica Klisz, Tana Garcia, & Laura Boone rode their bikes past the Empire State Building, over the Brooklyn Bridge, through Harlem and past the Statue of Liberty. What a fun way to see the Big Apple! We’ve heard that they all had a marvelous time, and no one crashed- which is

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-15642883987353925122011-05-03T09:24:00.005-04:002011-05-20T11:38:37.627-04:002011-05-20T11:38:37.627-04:00

What a beautiful time of year to be born! We are happy to announce our newest Ashlander, Finn Robert Morris, who was born on April 28th. Finn reserved his spot on the 2026 Patrick Henry football team by weighing in at 10lbs, 11 oz., and was 22 inches long. He is currently getting used to the lullaby of the trains and being thoroughly spoiled by his big brother and sister, Kellan and Rosie, and

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-2312461633747204352011-04-12T10:41:00.006-04:002011-05-20T11:38:59.463-04:002011-05-20T11:38:59.463-04:00

I’m sure that you get tired of me saying this, but there is no better place to live in the springtime than right here. I just don’t believe that the colors are as bright anywhere else, and the azaleas haven’t even started blooming yet. I think we are in for a lovely year- just think of all the things we have to look forward to: the Railroad Run, the Strawberry Faire, the pool opening, the ice

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-9089366556966981552011-04-05T10:18:00.003-04:002011-04-26T10:52:43.885-04:002011-04-26T10:52:43.885-04:00

There is a wonderful opportunity coming up to honor someone who left us too early. Anna Wright graduated from Patrick Henry in 2007, and was a soccer star at Lynchburg College when she was killed in a car accident this past summer. Her family and friends are determined to honor her memory by continuing the work that was important to her: spreading good health around the world.On Saturday, April

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6901520286402366644.post-9432162354168938322011-03-29T10:06:00.003-04:002011-03-30T21:27:38.548-04:002011-03-30T21:27:38.548-04:00

Oh Ashland- could you be any more charming than you are during a Variety Show? People don’t really get it when I tell them about it, and I understand that because it is somewhat un-real. If I wrote the Variety Show into a movie script, they’d say that stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life. But that’s ok. Things are different here.Ashland has incredible talent. The show was perfect. The

Meriwether Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07855531640335566350noreply@blogger.com0