Ashland Speaks by Lula Anderson - 19 February 2026

We finally got tolerable weather where we could go outside without fear of blowing away and/or freezing with the below zero temperatures.  We went through our last big 3 day weekend for the ski slopes.  It was pretty much a perfect weekend for skiing.  I remember several years in the not so distant past that we had torrential rain on both MLK and President's weekends. Now, I'm looking forward to the snow melting with warm weather and a chance to get outside and check my gardens.  I check to see what needs to be pruned, but I don't want to wade through the snow to do it.  The deer have been busy pruning the hemlocks and euonymus.  There are tracks all over, then a bare space where they smelled something to eat.  How can they smell through the deep snow and ice?  What do they find that is different than the ground aroundthe spot where they dug?  Ah, the mysteries of nature.

The WAJPL Golden Age meeting is still on schedule for Monday the 23rd.  Don't forget to make your final payment for the trip to VA in April.  

WAJCS Drama Club presentation is coming up quickly.  Don't forget to save some time to see it on March 6, 7, and 8.  Reservations for the Dress rehearsal/Dinner Theater are being taken now until February 28th giving the students a chance to finalize dinner orders.  Call 518-299-3135 and leave a message with how many will be attending and your name.  Although it is a free dinner, bring your donation for the Drama Club.  I wish we had a drama club when I was in school.   All we had was a Senior Play which did very little to showcase our wonderful talents.  We do so little to teach public speaking in our classrooms.  Few people know how to project their voices, or where to look when speaking to a crowd.  Supporting the Drama Club is more than getting new, badly needed, equipment, it's enabling our youth in being poised in public.

News from church that Tom Drum has been  moved to rehab and is making amazing progress.  Greg Beckmann has been out and about on his land, plowing a little snow, and generally getting stronger day by day.  Continued prayers for them both. 

With the Lenten Season comes the annual Hensonville Hose Company Fish Fry.  It starts on Ash Wednesday and continues every Friday until April 10th .  The additional week is a fundraiser for the school Trap Team.  I hear this year they are adding a fish sandwich to the menu.  Price is $20 for fried haddock or clam strip dinner or $15 for fish sandwich or chicken tender meal which includes french fries or baked potato, coleslaw, dinner roll and brownie.  Eat in or take out.  Call 518-734-3040 to preorder.  Help support our local fire departments.  

I have an idea for a future AS I REMEMBER IT column and I need your help.  Does anyone remember who your local Civil Defense members were in the '50's?  I remember local men and women meeting and assigning positions on closing roads and directing people to shelters.  Ted, maybe you can help me with Hensonville?  Any stories would be helpful.  Thanks