A Nice Reception; Alleghany Motors; Humane Society Drive & More
RidgeRunner |
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February 27, 2015 -
As I write these few news notes, a nice reception for Chuck Almarez, a well-known Clifton Forge-based photographer, will be held at the Clifton Forge School for the Arts tonight (Friday) at 6 p.m.
Chuck has spent quite a bit of time refining his skills and getting an advanced degree in photography and is Lost River Farm Reflections show, on exhibit through March, is indicative of his talents. Stop by to meet him and see the exhibit if you can.
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I don't know when the new Alleghany Motors building near WalMart will be ready for occupancy, but my hat is off to the designer of the building and site. And, it should also be noted what a huge investment in the community the new facility represents. I don't know the total cost, but it clearly is in the hundreds of thousands. It's a statement by its owners how much they believe in the Covington area. It's going to be a really nice place when all is done.
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I was informed earlier this week that although the owners of the Chinese restaurant in Clifton Forge have indeed purchased what used to be known as the Heirlooms building on Ridgeway St., they won't be occupying it as a restaurant anytime soon. In fact, they may end up staying at their current location at the Oakhill Shopping Center until at least July, my source told me.
I suppose that means that there may be some kind of announcement about changes at that site by owner Dr. Krishna Sankar, but none has come so far. A change there can hardly be anything but positive, with some folks opining that there may be an expansion of the Kroger facility and might even include a fueling station, now pretty much a standard feature at the bigger Kroger locations.
WalMart now has added several smaller stores to its retail set with fueling stations as a plus. If Kroger adds one in Clifton Forge, it probably would be quite a splash with customers, many of whom drive to the current store from all over Alleghany County and Covington as well.
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Three cheers to the Covington, Clifton Forge, and Alleghany County public works crews for their hard work over the course of the past couple of weeks. The trash crews must have frozen their fingers off on their normal runs. The staff doing all the scraping and road clearing really have gone out of their ways to get the snow messes cleaned up. Thanks, good people.
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Another fine season of performances put on by the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council concludes this Monday with the Lula Washington Dance Theatre event, set for 7:30 p.m. at Curfman Hall. Tammy Scruggs-Duncan and staff have done a great job again this season and this event promises to be quite nice. I'm looking forward to it: I just hope that the fact that I haven't shaved in about two years won't get me barred from the event. And, of course, I'll leave my old shotgun at home. See ya there.
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Please consider finding it in your heart to become a member of the Alleghany Humane Society, which is having a membership drive right now. A membership form and many more details may be found by clicking right here.
With no exaggeration, I can tell you that a relative of mine now has three "rescue dogs", one of which is the light of her life. The partnership and companionship of these dogs with their owner is not just wonderful, but extraordinary. There are plenty of kitties available for adoption too.
As a personal note, almost four years ago, a gold and white striped male (orange tabby) cat showed up in my backyard (we mountainside dwellers even have them). He'd obviously been abandoned, but was just skinny, not injured in any manner. It wasn't long before he decided that my shack was "his shack" and he befriended me as I did him.
This new friend now regularly sleeps at the end of my bed, often curls up with me after I've been out a shootin' varmits and snakes, and in general, brings a smile to my face as he often runs off would-be competitors and chases away pigeons. Alas, I am a wildlife lover, but I don't include pigeons in that statement. (I ain't no lover of turkey buzzards, but I respect the fact that they're protected).
My point is that mutts and former strays can make you a wonderful new friend if you'll only let them.
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President Obama has decided to try to ban the ownership of certain types of .223 ammunition or bullets of the .556 caliber. Read more about this misguided action at ATF pushes bullet ban, threatens top-selling AR-15 rifle. Congressman Bob Goodlatte is openly and strongly opposing this move right now, saying that the current administration is simply not following current law. I'm not sure where Congressman Morgan Griffith stands on it. Seems to me it's an attempt to create more gun control by executive order. Federal agencies are becoming, in the words of well-known constitution scholar Jonathan Turley, a "fourth branch of government" and often appear to be violating the very laws they were created to administer. Sheesh.
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Political action is heating up all across the country including an examination of a huge foundation run by the Clinton family. Investigators are accusing Mrs. Clinton and her husband of taking in over $2 BILLION from foreign governments and basically using the foundation to support her political future. The Clintons point out the many good investments the foundation apparently has made in various public health and other foreign development projects. I suspect that there will be a huge amount of controversy over this issue in the coming months. Stay tuned!
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Do NOT become idle and do NOT put away your snow shovel. Despite what appears to be predictions of the weather warming in the next week or so, I say that there is a huge chance that our area will get at least one more big snow before we get into the arms of Spring. That snow will happen sometime between March 15th and March 25th. You can just tell everybody that the RidgeRunner, who has lived her since the time rocks developed in the local mountainsides, said so. Don't bet against me. Get your rock salt or snow melt ready, keep your gloves on a nearby shelf and get ready to shovel a bit more before Mother Nature gives up her wintry chores...
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As usual, send me a rumor, give me some facts. Tell me who's doing what to whom, how often and with what. Let me know the latest news of our area and I'll just pass it along. Email me by clicking email the RidgeRunner.
I'm not happy to note, in closing, that September will be the month that Clifton Forge Main Street director Debby Faulkenbury retires. Debby is part of the foundation of the town's effort to revitalize itself after a devastating loss of business in the 1990s and early 2000s. Things are looking up and she's been on board promoting the town, its businesses and much more. So, I'm happy for her in one sense, but sad on the other. Whoever plans to fill her shoes better have some seriously big feet, in my humble estimation!
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