ASHLAND

ASHLAND/WESTERN HANOVER

| Also serving the communities ofMontpelier, Beaverdam, Rockville and Doswell

After a two-year hiatus due to theCOVID-19pandemic,the Parsons ’ Cause Foundation was pleased to presentshowsduring thesummerof2022. In all,741 peopleattendedashowthispast summer.

The foundation is now setting their sights on bringing a superb lineupofperformers to the Historic Hanover Courthousein thesummerof2023. To doso,they

The AshlandGardenClub (AGC), founded on Oct. 12, 1922, is celebrating its Centennialanniversary. Club members took a photo in SeptemberatRhodeen on the campusofRandolph-Macon College. Mary McDermott Beirne, foundingmemberand firstpresidentof the AGC, lived atRhodeenandmany of herwhite daffodilscanstillbe seenbloominginthespring nearthehouse.

Ontheanniversary date, theclubhostedits Fall Fantasy fundraising event. Nancy Hugo gave an exceptionalprogram on “TheExtraordinary Osage Orange.” Fall Fantasyproceeds are used to fundscholarships for students to attend events such as Camp Bloom and 4-HCamp, as wellas a $2,000 scholarshipfor a Patrick Henry High Schoolseniorwhoplans to study horticulture,agriculture, botany orenvironmental are requestingassistancefromthe communityandaskthat residents considerthefoundationfortheir endofthe year charitable contributions.

Taxdeductibledonationscanbe sent to thefoundationatthefollowingaddress:The Parsons'Cause Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 364, Mechanicsville, VA 23111-0364.

The Parsons’Cause Foundation BoardofDirectorsthanksthe community fortheirsupport and considerationand wishesalla Merry Christmasandaprosperous 2023.

studies.The Ashland Museum opened a new exhibitabout the AGC that will run through January 2023.

Additionally, club members are planting 525 daffodilbulbsinpublicspaces around Ashland thisfall as a cheery springtime gift to the town for years to come. Areas planted to date include the Ashland Train Station, Ashland Library, Hanover Arts & ActivitiesCenter, the

Ashland Garden Club celebrates 100 years

Contributed Report TheLocal Contributedphotos

Above, Members oftheTheAshlandGardenClub marktheir Centennialbyplanting daffodilsinpublicspacesaround Ashland.MembersofThe Ashland GardenClub,September 2022in frontof Rhodeen.

Ashland Police Station, Henry Clay Elementary Schooland the town parks. The Parsons’Cause Foundation seeking donationsfor summer 2023 programs Contributed Report TheLocal

Richard S. Gillis, Jr./ Ashland Branch Library

A Royal Storytime at the AshlandBranch Library. Thursday, Dec. 8,6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Calling all Princess and Princesses fora Royal Storyime. Dressin your best royal outfit and join the library for stories and crafts befitting your highnesses. Register fora reminder athttps:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/. Mad aboutMahjong! at the AshlandBranch Library. Fridays, Dec.9,10a.m.to12:30p.m.Looking forexperiencedplayerstoplaywith? Join other Mahjong enthusiastsin playing the culturaltilegame at the Ashland Library.

Santa’s Workshop Family

Escape Room at the Ashland Branch Library. Saturday, Dec. 10, 11a.m. to noon,1 to 2p.m., 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Jack Frostistrying to ruin the holidays by hiding Santa’s magic sleigh key. Can yourfamily figure out the clues to find the key and save the holidays?Register fora timeslotathttps://pamunkeylibrary. libcal.com/. 3 Rivers Livestock Club at the AshlandBranch Library. Tuesday, Dec.13,6:30 to8:30p.m. Ages5-18. Would you like to participate in

DR. GEORGE SPAGNA Special to The Local

Happy New Year! Now that we’re past the solstice on Dec. 21, the time between sunrise and sunset will get a bit longer each day. The tilt of Earth’s axis is steady except for a long-term “precession” which takes some 26,000 year, and some shorter term “nutation” with a period of about 18 years. You won’t notice either in your lifetime – the precession moves the apparent direction of the north pole around a circle 47 degrees wide. The nutation angle is only a few seconds of angle (one second is 1/3600 degrees). Both motions are caused by tidal interaction with the sun and moon.

Just some quick catch-up: Artemis I was successfully returned to Earth right on schedule on Dec 11. Artemis II will launch with a fourperson crew no earlier than 2024. The lunar landing mission of Artemis III will happen no sooner than 2025 and may be delayed if NASA doesn’t get the new lunar surface space suits finished or if the lunar lander isn’t ready. They’ve contracted with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a version of the company’s “Starship.” Prototypes have mostly UpcomingprogramsatAshlandbranchlibraryeither crashed or exploded on test flights, and it has yet to even make planning community service events Earth orbit, let alone to the moon. and hone yourexpressive arts skills?

There was some breathless press At the library’s meetings,learn how noise about Lawrence Livermore toget involved incommunity and Labs achieving ignition in a test public affairs,how to be a good role fusion reaction. While the science is pretty good, there’s a lot of engineering needed before we can claim to have routine fusion power to replace fossil fuels (or even current nuclear fission reactors). I’ll have more to say about fusion in model,how to give backtoyour community, and how to use time management skills to enjoy every part of life. Sew Ready to Learn at the AshlandBranchLibrary.Wednesday, general and this “breakthrough” in Dec.14,5to8p.m.JointheHanover particular in next month’s column. SewingGrouptoworkon various

Lunar phases for January: Full projects as a seasoned quilter talks Moon on Jan. 6, at 6:08 p.m.; Last about various quilting methods, Quarter on Jan. 14, at 9:12 p.m.; ways to runa guild and combining New Moon on Jan 21 at 3:53 p.m.; quilting with other hobbies.

and First Quarter on Jan. 28 at 8:20 p.m. All times are Eastern Standard.

Mercury returns to the predawn sky around mid-month. Look to the southeast for a bright “morning star.” Venus is the bright “evening star,” which will set around 7 p.m. Mars will be due south (“crosses the meridian”) at about 9p.m., setting before dawn at 4 a.m. Jupiter is already up at sunset, crossing the meridian at 5 p.m. It will set before midnight. Think of Saturn as another evening star, but not as bright as Venus, setting at 7 p.m.

Looking overhead about two hours after sunset, you will find the constellation Perseus at zenith. Its two brightest stars are Mirphak and Algol. The latter is a multi-star system whose third component was discovered by my undergraduate advisor, Dr. Alan Meltzer. He had a wry sense of humor, and his joke on this was especially witty for those Latin students who have read Caesar’s commentaries on the gallic wars – “Algol is divided into

New Year brings longer days after solstice METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION three parts.” Ask a Latin teacher if you don’t get it! That bright star to the east of zenith is Capella in the constellation Auriga. It’s the sixth brightest star as seen from Earth. Below zenith and to the southeast we have a wonderful alignment. Sweeping your attention downward, you’ll find the Pleiades, then the constellation Taurus with its brightest star Aldebaran as the heart of the Lion. Below Taurus, Orion is rising. Gemini is to the east with Castor above Pollux its two brightest stars. Cygnus is setting to the northwest in an orientation that makes clear why it is known as the Northern Cross. If readers have questions about astronomy in particular (or science in general) that you would like covered in one of these columns, please feel free to contact me at gspagna@ rmc.edu. (I have retired from Randolph-Macon College but will continue these columns and use of that email address for the foreseeable future.)

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

The Ashland Museum will host singer-songwriter Glenn Birch for a program of original music highlighting historic events, many of which took place in Virginia.

The songs tell stories of Hurricane Camille, Henry “Box” Brown, the Bedford Boys, and others. This program will take place on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 Henry Street on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not needed.

Monthly Trivia Night will continue on the third Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. at a location to be determined by the weather. Watch the museum’s Facebook page or visit the website (ashlandmuseum.org) for a final notice. MC Woody and DJ Brent are busy working on questions to test participants’ knowledge.

The museum thanks the community for their support in 2022 and hopes to see resident at their

Ashland Museum presents musical HistoryTalk PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASHLAND MUSEUM singer-songwriter Glenn Birch is featuring his original music in The ashland Museum’s next HistoryTalk program on Jan. 12. events this year or in the museum, 105 Hanover Avenue in Ashland. The museum’s winter hours begin this weekend on Friday and is open from 12 to 2 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Email the museum at ashlandmuseum@comcast.net or call 804-368-7314 if you have questions about any of these events.

Torres said the program should also reduce traffic congestion.

“Since microtransit service is anticipated to be used by citizens with limited vehicle access who may have had to rely on others to help make their daily trips, it should provide an overall reduction in single occupancy vehicle trips in the region as it replaces these trips with shared rides.”

The program will replace a

THE UNIVERSE FROM THE CENTER

GRTC peak-only fixed-route bus line with all day microtransit service. From 11 Where zones are contiguous to the GRTC service area, microtransit will provide connections to GRTC stops, giving patrons access to the wider Richmond-area transit network. GRTC received TRIP funding in fiscal year 2022 to continue offering free fares and its local bus ridership has exceed pre-pandemic levels. It expects systemwide ridership to recover to 2019 levels by 2023 and grow by 2% per year each year through 2027.

Library of Virginia’s 200th anniversary exhibit

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

The Library of Virginia, one of the oldest state libraries and archives in the nation, will mark its bicentennial in 2023 with a free exhibition — “200 Years, 200 Stories,” running Jan. 24 through Oct. 28. The exhibition and multimedia experience celebrate 200 Virginians whose fascinating narratives are housed in the library’s collections and together reflect the stories of Virginia.

The Library of Virginia was founded by the General Assembly on Jan. 24, 1823, to organize, care for and manage the state’s growing collection of books and official records — many of which date back to the early colonial period. Since then, the collection has grown to 2 million books, newspapers, maps, prints and photographs, as well as 130 million manuscript items, making the Library of Virginia the most comprehensive resource in the world for the study of Virginia history, culture and government.

“We’ve been fortunate to play such an important role in preserving Virginia’s history and culture for two centuries,” said Librarian of Virginia Sandra Treadway, Ph.D. “This exhibition provides a great opportunity to educate the public about the significance of our collections and engage them in exploring the past while reflecting on how it connects to the present and our next century.”

Rather than a top 10 or a who’s who, “200 Years, 200 Stories” profiles Virginians of all stripes: heroes and villains, the famous and infamous, the powerful and the powerless. Stories feature Virginians like Ethel Bailey Furman, one of the

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA shown is an archived photograph of the Furman Contractors made up of builders and tradespeople hailing from historically black neighborhoods that will be featured in the Library of Virginia’s “200 years, 200 stories” exhibition.

first black female architects in Virginia; David Martin, founder of the Martin Agency and creator of the famed tagline “Virginia is for Lovers”; Chinese immigrant Ow Chuck Sam, who became a naturalized citizen and served in the armed forces during World War II; and many more.

History and art specialist Susan Glasser served as guest curator, helping to bring an outside perspective and select content that would reflect the diversity of Virginia’s narratives.

“We want exhibition visitors to experience the joy of discovery felt by our patrons every day when they encounter the treasures within our collections,” said Greg Kimball, Ph.D., the Library’s director of public services and outreach.

The exhibition begins in the lobby with montages of individuals featured in the stories, a large map of Virginia on the lobby floor identifying the locations of the featured individuals, and an interactive kiosk for visitors to explore the evolution of the Library’s physical site or enjoy a look at the institution’s internal workings.

Once visitors enter the Exhibition Gallery, another interactive kiosk presents the stories of 200 Virginians, searchable by themes and location, while “discovery drawers” allow visitors to explore ephemera collections with items such as travel brochures, posters and more.

The exhibition is one of several key events and initiatives planned to celebrate the Library’s bicentennial in 2023. Look for the full 200th anniversary event schedule in the coming weeks on the Library’s calendar at https://www.lva.virginia. gov/eventscalendar/ or the website at lva.virginia.gov.

The Library of Virginia is the state’s oldest institution dedicated to the preservation of Virginia’s history and culture.

The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

Ridolphi

America’s dining habits are changing.

A long row of chairs was placed along the wall to accommodate those waiting for orders, but they remained empty except for one gentleman, who sat nervously on the edge of his seat.

After periods of inactivity, the man would suddenly wave his arms as if he was speaking to a large group of people, but never uttering a sound.

He wasn’t as old as he looked, evidenced by his frothy full head of white gray hair, and I was immediately intrigued by his actions.

There was no wait for my food, and it was sitting ready on a shelved unit marked Online Orders. I turned to thank the person working behind the busy counter.

“Is he OK?” I asked shifting my eyes toward the man in the chair.

“He’s just in here getting warm,” the employee said. “I’m trying to let him stay as long as I can until someone complains.”

I grabbed my bag and exited, heading to my car and eventually the comfort of my warm house, but something would not let me leave the parking lot.

I re-entered the restaurant and immediately took the seat beside the man.

“Hello there. How are you?” I asked him.

He replied with a big smile but no words. But, something in his eyes revealed a dignity not easily recognizable at first glance. I returned his gesture with a smile.

“I’m going to get you something to eat. Is that OK? You stay warm and have a happy holiday,” I said patting him softly on his shoulder.

The smile returned and he looked at me and nodded.

I headed back to the counter and told the employee that I would like to buy the man a sandwich and a cup of soup. When I reached for my wallet, the clerk said no payment was required, and he ordered the food.

I thanked the counter person, waved goodbye to the man in the chair, and headed home. The takeout food was great, and I sat and thought of the man in the chair as I enjoyed it.

Make no mistake, my small act of kindness deserves no recognition and my gesture was uneventful in the general scheme of things; but, the plight of the man is important.

He, most likely, represents only one of America’s walking wounded who survive on the fringes living on the edge. I’m certainly not naïve enough to believe the problem can be solved by one specific act of kindness; or vain enough to pat myself on the back for a humane act I would expect from any of my fellow citizens.

But regarding compassion, one-on-one is not a bad place to start, and as my Mother always advised, when it comes to kindness, you always receive more than you give.

It just might be contagious.

Parks

From 11

Schools, beginning the week of Jan. 17.

Therapeutic: These programs are designed for persons with disabilities or special needs. „ Art and Movement – exercise your mind and your body as you join us for a small group session of simple exercises and crafts. Offered Mondays at Montpelier Park and Tuesdays at Pole Green Park, beginning the week of Jan. 23. „ Cake Pops Like a Boss – decorate delicious and decorative cake pops like a pro. Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Pole Green Park. „ Winter Beach Party – it’s an “aloha” worthy party to take the chill off of your winter blues. Thursday, Jan. 26 at Church of the Redeemer.

To learn more about these and more program offerings and register online, please visit www.hanoverparksrec.com.

Contact Hanover County Parks and Recreation with any questions by phone number, (804) 365-7150 or email parksandrec@hanovercounty. gov.