Ahh, 85 & Sunny 4 the 4th

My cryptic title may have something to do with the fact that I just got in from a 2-day drive across the US last night, the 100+ degrees where I was vacationing, the fact that this weekend’s forecast is glorious for the parade, or all of the above!

After spending a week in temperatures that ranged from 102 to 107 (with a 110-degree heat index at least one day), I was thrilled to learn that the forecast for this weekend’s July 4 Parade calls for 85 degrees and sunny skies. I just returned from the Gulf Coast. Gluttons for punishment, my family and I took the 18-hour land route, rather than the 5-hour air route. But I happily watched the digital thermometer in our truck gradually drop as we headed north up Interstate 81 this weekend on our return to the Valley. From 99 degrees early Saturday morning (before the day’s high of 102), the gauge had dropped to 79 degrees by the time we hit the Central Shenandoah Valley Sunday night. Bliss.

Two weeks ago I thought 85 degrees was hot. I am now looking forward to a pleasantly COOL day for this weekend’s festivities in the Valley.

Look for the blue “Monster Truck” in Harrisonburg’s Valley 4th Parade. The staff and families of Shenandoah Living magazine will be riding tail-gate style in the parade. Be sure to give us a yell!

Go to Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance website for a schedule of the day’s events.

–Toni Mehling

Glad to be back

As Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.”

I’ll heartily second that view. Leaving the Valley for more than a few days always gives me a better appreciation for where I live upon my return.

I recently spent a few weeks in an urban environment. The “city life” felt crowded and rushed. There were trees, but not the lush landscapes of home. When I’m away from the mountains, I feel I’m missing something.

I was glad to finally leave the concrete and congestion behind, and get back to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Spring hadn’t completely finished sprinkling the landscape with bright new blooms as I got closer to home. Even the mountains looked wonderful in their new green blankets. I welcomed the sight of silos and barns, as well as the new lambs and calves. After weeks of cars speeding past me as if going to a fire and buildings jammed together with little open space, these were refreshing sights, indeed.

There’s nothing better for making me fall in love with the Valley all over again than being gone for a while.

The next time you’ve been away from the Valley, notice when you return whether you appreciate the beautiful place you live just a little more.

~~Colleen

Get Your Grass off Gas

SafeLawns Launches “Get Your Grass off Gas” Campaign

Looking for ways to go green around the house? Forgive the pun, but the SafeLawns campaign offers some great info on going green and making your grass greener, too.

The campaign is an effort to reduce mower emissions and educate homeowners about greener lawncare; but the SafeLawns website offers some great videos and info about caring for your lawn. There’s even a video for making compost tea!

A nationwide “Get Your Grass off Gas” campaign this summer will aim to reduce air pollution related to gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

Beginning June 1, the SafeLawns Foundation will work with Black & Decker, which specializes in electric and battery-powered lawn mowers, trimmers, blowers and other tools to educate homeowners that they can care for their lawns and yards without using gas-powered equipment.

“Statistics show that up to 10 percent of air pollution in the summertime in this country is related to mowing, trimming and blowing lawns,” said SafeLawns founder Paul Tukey, a best-selling author and organic lawn expert. “Converting to equipment that utilizes electric cords or rechargeable batteries can reduce this pollution by up to 90 percent, according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. With the advances that Black & Decker and others have made in battery and electric technology, it is now viable for most small landscapes to be tended without burning gas and oil.”

“Gasoline-powered lawnmowers produce hydrocarbons (a major component of smog), particulate matter (which damages respiratory systems), carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) and carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming),” said Tukey. “And as a personal matter for everyone, when you use a gas-powered piece of equipment, you and your family are breathing those toxic fumes. I believe electric and battery power is a better way to go, all the way around.”

DeAnn Romjue, Director for Black & Decker’s Outdoor Products division says that “by choosing electric or cordless outdoor power equipment, you’re not only helping the environment, your neighborhood and your family, but you are also freeing yourself of the mess and hassles associated with gas-powered products. All of our products offer a convenient and easy way to maintain your lawn, while producing zero emissions in your yard.”

The SafeLawns.org mission is to create a broad based coalition of nonprofit and for-profit organizations committed to educating society about the benefits of organic lawn care and gardening, and effect a quantum change in consumer and industry behavior.

Videos on the website offer useful videos on controlling weeds, creating organic lawns, and alternatives to mowing. (My favorite is the one titled “The Scoop on Worm Poop”) I have 6.5 acres and let the horses graze about 4.5 of it. That leaves only about 2 acres for my husband to mow. That’s a time and gas saver.

Create a greener yard this summer.

Fridays in the ‘Burg

As promised, here’s more on what’s happening in downtown Harrisonburg this Friday.

In addition to First Fridays (schedule below), Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance kicks off Fridays on the Square at the Courthouse. Picnic dinner starts at 6 p.m. (BYOD-bring your own dinner) and music starts at 7 p.m. with the Charlottesville Drum Choir. From HDR: “A fun evening guaranteed for all with this community drumming group that shares the wonder and power of the West African drumming traditions through performance. Sponsored by Joshua Wilton House Inn & Restaurant and Downtown Wine & Gourmet”

Go downtown early for First Fridays and take a walking tour to view local art:

Arts Council of the Valley, Smith House, 311 S. Main

June: Robert Llewellyn, Photography

The Virginia Quilt Museum, 301 S. Main

June: Floral Abundance

The Hardesty-Higgins House, 212 S. Main Street

June: George Lange, Works of Art in Wood

Harrisonburg League of Therapists, 312 S. Main

June: Steven David Johnson and Anna Maria Johnson, Photography, Mixed Media, Fibers

Ameriprise Financial, Linda S. Hoover, CFP®, 165 S. Main Street, # E (exhibitions in Denton Park)

June: Greg Versen, Photography

You Made It Pottery, 163 S. Main

June: Pottery Demonstration on the Sidewalk

OASIS Gallery, 103 S. Main Street

June-July: David Copley, Sculpture

150 Franklin Street Gallery

June:  Jauan Brooks, Prints; Segal, Glass Works; and Jane Ritchey, Paintings.

Clementine Café, 153 S. Main Street

June-October: Art Exhibitions and Music (further details pending)

Artful Dodger, 47 Court Square

June: Robert Gravelin, Painting

Downtown Wine and Gourmet, 41 Court Square

June-October: Wine Tastings and (periodically) Music

Cally’s Restaurant and Brewery, 41-A Court Square

June-October: Beer Tastings

Laughing Dog

June: Dana Flynn, Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry; Keith Mills, Paintings

First Fridays Starts This Week in the ‘Burg

This Friday the Arts Council of the Valley kicks off its annual First Fridays in the ‘Burg. And despite having a brand new director whose still getting her feet wet (Welcome Celia!), this year’s lineup appears to have more variety and plenty of appeal. More about that later.

In addition to movies and music, some of the downtown merchants are getting involved, and the council is teaming up with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance to offer historic walking tours.

This Friday, in conjunction with First Fridays and to kick of their 6-year anniversary, You Made It! Pottery Studio is offering wheel-throwing demonstrations in front of the store from 5-7 p.m. According to co-owner David Miller, the studio has opened a new wheel-throwing room, where you can take lessons, or practice your own throwing. And at a good price, I may add. Practice for one hour costs only $8. I have a feeling the pottery room is going to be very busy.

Dave says later this month they are also opening a new glass warming room. Design your own jewelry, bowls, etc. and they will fire them on site in their new glass kiln. And several summer camps for kids are planned at the studio, featuring work in clay and glass. One week camps are $175 and held Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sounds like a fun place to be. If you’ve never experienced  You Made It!, here’s a nifty video to give you a visual taste of their offerings.

14 Songs in 9 Languages

14 songs in 9 languages. Fifty children from the Valley will be taking on this challenge this summer as they prepare for the Pacific Rim International Children’s Choir Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, under the direction of Julia White, will participate in the international festival July 13-23.

White calls it “no small accomplishment.” Well, that may be an understatement. I’m struggling to remember how to say “How’s the weather?” in French (per my Rosetta Stone French language learning software). Fourteen songs in nine languages would certainly be a stretch. But young minds, they say, grasp languages quicker than we older folks do.

Practice, practice, practice. That’s what the children have been doing all spring. And they will have a week of intense practice the week before they leave for Hawaii.

But singing and learning language are not the only challenges they have accepted. According to White, several of the children have been earning money to pay their expenses for the trip. And for others, says White, the adventure will start when they board an airplane for the first time in their young lives.

While I would love to see the performance in Honolulu, we’ll all have an opportunity to share in this big adventure when the choir performs Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at EMU’s Lehman Auditorium, Harrisonburg. They will present the songs and dances (in costume) that they learned for the Pacific Rim festival.

For more information about the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, visit the website: www.emu.edu/svcc

H’burg Downtown Hot Spots - You Vote

Thanks to Alexis Morehouse of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance for sharing the following info about the DN-R’s Best of the Valley awards. LEAVE A COMMENT. Tell us your FAVs in the Valley. . .

You may or may not have noticed the theme in this year’s Best of the Valley awards.  Once again, Daily News-Record readers have shown their overwhelming support of downtown Harrisonburg shops, restaurants and other businesses with their votes in the annual Best of the Valley survey. These independently-owned businesses have gained increased local, as well as state-wide, attention over the last year with feature articles in the Washington Post, Virginia Living, ShenandoahValley.com, Virginia Explorer and Travel Virginia.

Running away with the most of the valley honors is one-year-old restaurant, Clementine receiving EIGHT awards, including best renovation and best place to be seen. Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market made its first appearance on the list as the best place to take visitors, likely aided by its new location under the Turner pavilion constructed since the last poll. “Downtown Revitalization” was also catapulted from the category of worst use of tax payer money in 2008, to best use of tax payer money in 2009.

Some voter-favorites, like the Little Grill Collective, James McHone Jewelry, and Jess’ Quick Lunch, retained their titles as best vegetarian/breakfast, jeweler, and cheap eats, respectively, while the Artful Dodger showed its expanding versatility by winning the best dancing and best karaoke titles. Downtown services also got a shout out on this year’s list, with the Studio winning best salon and the Beauty Spa taking best day spa. Congratulations to other downtown businesses listed below – 16 in total!

DNR’s “Best of the Valley” Winners: Downtown Highlights