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ASHLAND
| Also serving the communities of Montpelier, Beaverdam, Rockville and Doswell
Community organizations seek funding for interactive exhibits
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By Christina Amano Dolan Editor
Ashland Town Council recently heard requests from community organizations to fund a variety of desired projects for fiscal year (FY) 2023. Among the organizations present were representatives from CultureWorks, Inc. and the Ashland Museum, who introduced separate interactive display projects to bring innovative forms of storytelling to visitors and the community.
The March 22 meeting was the second budget work session held by the council, with a portion of the schedule dedicated to community organization funding requests.
“We sort of set up this quarter over the last number of years, giving each organization the opportunity to speak but not requiring that they attend this meeting,” said Matt Reynal, the town’s finance director.
Town administrator Josh Farrar clarified that no decisions were being made during the meeting; the requests offer the opportunity for citizens and council members to listen and ask questions. He said the decisions on funding requests will become available in the form of his recommended budget, which will be published sometime this week or next.
“Prior to that being made public, I will be sure to personally reach out to everyone who’s asked for funds, whether it is how long they’ve been funded, not funded or funded through some percentage,” Farrar said.
He said his recommended budget is largely based on citizen and council input, but there are opportunities to adjust the budget moving forward.
Scott Garka, president of CultureWorks, Inc., presented the organization’s FY2023 funding request to continue its current pilot program of bringing interactive art displays to Ashland communities.
CultureWorks is a nonprofit organization that serves the Richmond and Tri-Cities region, including Hanover County and the town of Ashland. Garka said the nonprofit’s mission is to “strengthen artists in arts and culture organizations to drive a greater impact in the community.”
“And when we talk about impact, it’s education impact, economic impact and that social cohesion that helps build a stronger and healthier community,” Garka said.
CultureWorks has been partnering with the Better Housing Coalition since 2016 to bring unique and accessible art experiences to modestincome communities each year.
CultureWorks received $2,500 from the town’s general fund for FY2022 and is currently working with residents of Ashland’s Sedgefield community, Ashland staff and local artist Alfonso Perez to bring an interactive arts and culture experience this spring.
Garka said an interactive outdoor event is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. May 12 at the Ashland Junction Shopping Center. Alfonso is creating a “mobile message of hope” in the form of an 18-by-24-foot mural. Community members will be invited to add their own color and creativity to pieces of artwork in the form of yard signs that will ultimately complete the mural.
“And when those pieces come together, it reads a message of ‘Mi casa es su casa,’” Garka said. “It will offer a message of welcome and community healing, incorporating a celebration of color and Hispanic culture into the Sedgefield community logo.”
CultureWorks is requesting
Photos courtesy of the Ashland Museum
Above is the current appearance of the Ashland Museum pending planned renovations.
Above is the envisioned fi nal product of the Ashland Museum, located at 105 Hanover Avenue, Ashland. Museum offi cials aim to paint the building a deep teal (not true to picture) and red in honor of Ashland’s town colors, decorate both sides with new signage and replace the damaged awnings.
see COMMUNITY, pg. 16
Ashland Museum’s HistoryTalks presents ‘Hanover County’s Th ree Railroads’ program
Join the Ashland Museum when Art Taylor, president of the Hanover County Historical Society and author, presents the museum’s next HistoryTalks program on Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m. at the Pamunkey Regional Library Ashland Branch, 201 S. Railroad Avenue, Ashland.
Taylor will talk about the early history of railroads in Hanover County and will have some railroad artifacts on display. This talk is free and open to the public. For any questions, leave a voice message at 804-368-7314 or email ashlandmuseum@ comcast.net.
Submitted by Ashland Museum.
Photos courtesy of the Ashland Museum
Shown is the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad tracks looking south from College Avenue and Henry Clay Road.
Contributed Report news@mechocal.com
Beginning in April, the Hanover Arts & Activities Center (HAAC), located at 500 S Center Street, Ashland, will offer a weekly studio art class for all levels and in all media, such as oils, acrylics, watercolors or charcoal. Subjects will include a live model and still lifes.
Weekly class will be limited to the first 15 people who register. The class will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following Mondays: April 11, 18, 25 and May 2. The one-time fee is $80 for all four classes.
Classes will be conducted by Dan Bartges, a nationally-known artist and author whose artwork
see PAINTING, pg. 16
Continued from pg. 14 This class will be presented by ordained Won-Buddhist priest Kaesung Kim.
Mechanicsville Anime Club on Friday, April 8 and 22, 4 to 5 p.m.
Ages 12 to 18. Join the Mechanicsville Library Anime Club. Meet teens with similar interests and watch some cool shows.
Seed Library with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on Saturday, April 9, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Ages 18 and up. Learn the ins and outs of a Seed Library, presented by the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
Outdoor Family Storytimeson Mondays, April 14 and April 28, 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Join the library for an outdoor, all ages story time. Bring a blanket to enjoy some fun songs, rhymes and books. Story time will be held weather permitting. Register at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ to be notified prior to the program if it is canceled due to weather.
Mechanicsville Book Club
on Wednesday, April 20, 11
Photo courtesy of Jessica Robertson Photographic Artistry
Dan Bartges, the art instructor for the new Hanover Arts & Activities Center ‘Spring into Painting’ program, is pictured with his dog as he paints on a sunny spring day.
PAINTING
Continued from pg. 15 appears in the collections of several Fortune 500 companies and in many private collections. Bartges is donating all proceeds from the classes directly to the HAAC.
To register, visit the HAAC website: https://www.hanoverarts.net/workshops-classes.
Some materials are not included. The instructor will send a supply list before the class. For any questions for the instructor, contact Bartges at dkbartges@verizon.net.
a.m. to noon.
Ages 18 and up. Bring ideas for discussion and escape to a world of pure imagination.
Adult Storytime on Friday, April 22, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
Ages 18 and up. If you are, or are the caregiver of, an adult who would enjoy the lively reading of picture books and lighthearted stories, join the library for Adult Storytime.
Cyanotype Photography on Saturday, April 30, 2 to 3 p.m.
For ages 12 to 18. Make a cyanotype photography print using objects found in nature, water and the sun.
Continued from pg. 8 Hunt plus other Fun Activities starting at 10 a.m. at WGBC 7046 Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville.
Sunday, April 10
The Ashland Church of God will hold its Spring Fest beginning at 10:30 a.m., located at 407 Myrtle Street, Ashland. There will be an Easter egg hunt, pig roast, hot dogs, bouncy house, games and hot air balloon rides (weather permitting).
Mechanicsville AARP Chapter 5407 will be meeting from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Mechanicsville Branch Library located at 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place, Mechanicsville. For more information, contact Ed Taylor at 804-398-3759.
Tuesday, April 19
The Hanover Republican Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Anna’s Italian Kitchen, 7009 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville. The guest speaker will be Congressman Rob Wittman, 1st District. For additional information about the meeting or becoming a member of the HRWC, contact Nancy Russell, president at nsrussell29@yahoo. com or visit our website at www.hrwomen.com.
COMMUNITY
Continued from pg. 15 $5,000 for FY2023 with the goal of bringing a similar event next year to another Ashland community. Garka said the funding that they requested is largely put toward artist fees and supplies.
“From my own past experience in these kinds of community events, in addition to creating the beautiful work of art, there's even greater value in the experience that happens of bringing people together, the relationships that are built that come from joint creative experience like this,” Garka said.
Representatives from the Ashland Museum proposed plans to introduce their own interactive exhibit to the Ashland community using popular museum technology provided by Riggs Ward, a multi-disciplinary firm in Richmond that specializes in museum exhibit planning and design. The firm’s interactive developers provide modern audio-visual media systems and touchscreen interactives to elevate art and history museum exhibits.
Tom Wulf, a member of the Ashland Museum Board of Directors, discussed how the museum has archived a vast amount of timely topics and special events throughout the town’s history, including Ashland Train Day, the 100th anniversary of Cross Brothers Grocery, Light up the Tracks, Randolph-Macon College events, special interviews with important town figures and many more.
“All of these video treasures reside in a couple of external hard drives that are connected to my PC,” Wulf said. “Nobody can see them.”
Wulf said they aim to showcase the museum’s rich collection of captured town moments using Riggs Ward touch screen displays. Visitors would be able to walk up to the provided screens, select a category from the listed menu and learn about Ashland through their own interactive experience.
The upgraded technology will allow the museum to share a wealth of information surrounding Ashland’s history and accommodate for new museum content as it becomes available.
“The other thing that is absolutely wonderful about it is we really want to engage youth in the museum,” said Ann Martin, president of the Ashland Museum. “This is their technology… so it’s multigenerational.”
According to Wulf, prices start at around $13,000 for the interactive displays, so the museum is requesting that amount to fund one display. If funding is secured, Wulf said they will decide the scope of the project and potentially add additional monitors and screens.
In addition to enhancing visitor experience with new technology, Ashland Museum board members seek to transform the museum’s appearance. Martin presented a separate budget request for the revamping of the current building, with its current location occupying the old gymnasium at Randolph-Macon College.
“After searching for a larger space within the confines of the town, the board came to the conclusion that a move was not going to happen,” Martin said.
She said in order for the museum to remain relevant and appear welcoming to visitors, the board first voted to transform the interior of the building by covering the cinderblock walls and exposed pipes with wallboard.
Now they seek to address the exterior of the building, with plans currently underway to paint the building a deep teal color with a red trim, representing the Ashland colors of teal and red. A majority of the cost of paint will be gifted to the museum on behalf of George E. Mowbray, Jr. Paint & Wallpaper Company.
In order to address the museum’s lack of visibility, they seek to illuminate two new signs on the north and south side of the building and replace the currently tattered awnings.
The museum is requesting $14,000 in funding to assist in the cost of the building’s past and future renovations. While it is a significant investment, they plan to optimize the building’s use for a minimum of five to 10 years, Martin said.
She pointed out they were recently approved for the town’s Façade Enhancement Grant and will withdraw any secured grant funding from the requested $14,000.
With monetary assistance from the town, Martin said the museum can focus efforts on expanding programming, rotating exhibits and other activities related to admission in order to attract new and returning visitors. By promoting the town of Ashland and its collection of history, local businesses will also benefit from the improved museum.
“The museum tells Ashland’s story, provides programming inside and outside the walls of the museum, and allows residents and visitors to learn and understand our distinctive history,” Martin said.
Th ursday, April 28
The Civil Air Patrol, Hanover Squadron is hosting an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 6930 Cold Harbor Rd, Mechanicsville. Learn
see CALENDAR, pg. 28
