Around Town: April 10th, 2024

By: Ernie Wren
I’m not going to get into the election results and specifics, most of which you can find in the other Journal articles, but I do want to say a final THANK YOU to all the candidates for putting yourselves out there and providing voters with diverse options. Congratulations to Mayor Dorise Slinker on his re-election to a second term, and to Alderman Loren Plank for providing ideas and concerns for discussion.

For me, the most important election results were passing the school district proposals. Those passed with significant support from our community. I find that when solid proposals are explained and outlined in detail, as was done by the district, success is far more likely. Now, on to regular business around town!

Looks like the O’Reilly Automotive store east of the new Breaktime is coming along fast. The concrete pad is poured, and the walls will be coming up soon. Congratulations to “Yummy YO’s” on a fantastic grand opening! It’s great to see their business succeeding with community support. I love their traditional banana splits, but they have a great menu of other flavors from which to choose.

In case you’ve been wondering about that new business at 100 E. Broadway, the “503 Collective Event Venue” is an exciting event venue for wedding/baby showers, birthday parties, small weddings, and much more. They also offer a variety of classes such as “paint-the-town” and “singo & bingo.” Check them out!

The “Community Clean Up Day” is scheduled for Saturday, April 20th, 9am. Families are welcome to join in and meet at the Southern Boone Middle School. Gloves and bags will be provided. This is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality family time improving Southern Boone. Thank you to the Southern Boone YMCA, Southern Boone Middle School, and Ashland Parks & Recreation for sponsoring this event.

Whether you can clean up a small area or larger, it all helps makes a difference! There’s also another unique offering at the YMCA coming up, the “Let’s Dance: Line Dancing Night”. It’s an opportunity to get some exercise and have fun engaging in country line dancing! The dancing night is Tuesday, April 16th, 6pm at the YMCA. No sign up is required.

Reminders: This Saturday, April 13, 9am, mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Englewood side by side ride. This is an all-vehicle Poker Run in memory of Crystal Branch. The Facebook page “Cruise for Crystal” will provide more details and display items for purchase and/or auction items.

Mid-Missouri Arts Alliance is also hosting a “Fused Glass Night Light” class this Saturday, April 13th, from 10am to Noon. All materials are included with the $40 class fee. Participants will create their own glass piece in class. You can register on their Facebook page or www.midmissouriartsalliance.com .

There is a lot of fun to be had at the Southern Boone Elementary School’s “Big Truck Showcase” free event, which will be held on Saturday, April 27th, 10am to Noon, at the Primary/Elementary School parking lots.

The annual spring city-wide garage sale will also be held on Saturday, April 27th. It’s one of my favorite days in Ashland! The city-wide cleanup day will be held on May 2nd.

Save the date – on Saturday, May 11th, at 9am, there will be a “Sadie Robinett Memorial Butterfly Garden Build” at the Ashland Ridge City Park on Mustang Drive.

“It’s always consoling to know that today’s Christmas gifts are tomorrow’s garage sales” – Milton Berle