Augusta Library Board elects new president

Craigsville branch of the Augusta County Library.

A seasoned member of the Augusta County Library Board has been elected as president to lead the organization through the 2013-14 year.

Mr. Terry Sumey, who represents the South River District and has 22 years of experience on the board, was elected president at the bi-monthly meeting held Thursday night at Pasture District's Craigsville branch. Frank Deckert, Riverheads representative, was re-elected vice president.

Board members welcomed a new colleague, Betsy Curry, appointed by Supervisor Marshall Pattie to replace Marsha Elliott, who moved out of the county, as representative of the North River District.

Craigsville's library branch is an example of how the community comes together to help with projects that have seen cuts to budgets the past few years. Wood for shelves was donated by Blue Ridge Lumber in Fishersville, and the craftsmanship was by Frank Jolly at the nearby Augusta Correctional Center.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 18, 2013

Sears Hill Bridge Day offers festive atmosphere in historic downtown Staunton

Sears Hill Bridge Day in Staunton, Virginia - Noon on April 13, 2013 - Dedication of the refurbished foot bridge over the railroad tracks connecting the Sears Hill neighborhood to the Historic Wharf District of downtown Staunton. It was reminiscent of a Mayberry day with the local Stonewall Brigade Band providing music, balloons, and a turnout of citizens from throughout the region to join in the festive mood. City Council members and other local dignitaries joined in with business owners and others.

The crowd spilled out onto the cobblestone parking area and into the street including ladies dressed in Victorian attire. 

The husbands....

President Woodrow Wilson aka Judd Bankert arrived in the Pierce Arrow from the nearby Woodrow Wilson Birthplace accompanied by Mayor Lacy King.

Judd makes a very convincing 28th President of the United States.

Local businessman Tom Sheets recognized businesses who participated as well as donors.

Councilwoman Andrea Oakes on the bridge with a constituent.

Afterward, we walked to the Clocktower Restaurant on Beverley Street for lunch with Kenny and Andrea Oakes.

 
Lunch at Clocktower was followed by a walk to the Ox-Eye Vineyards Tasting Room on Middlebrook Avenue where we enjoyed a tasting and glasses of award-winning wine on the outdoor patio.

Congratulations to homeschool friends and owners John and Susan Kiers who were recently named by the Washington Post as one of the mid-Atlantic top ten wineries to check out. My favorites were the Ox-Eye Riesling and White Ox and, while I'm usually a Riesling girl, the White Ox was a tad sweeter and went home with me ... but I'll be back for a bottle of the Riesling next time.

For more photos of the Ox-Eye Vineyards Tasting Room, check out Ox-Eye Vineyards offers wine tastings and fun in downtown Staunton.

With temperatures in the  mid- to upper-60s and bountiful sunshine, it was a perfect day in downtown Staunton to enjoy the festivities and all this small city has to offer.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
April 13, 2013

Stolen "Chick" sign owner fights back

Newly replaced 4'x8' Chick sign along with the new freedom of speech 4'x8' sign bought by Tom Sheets. The signs are now mounted on the side of his Blue Ridge Lumber business at the back road to Augusta Medical Center, site of the vandalized-and-then-stolen original Chick sign.

4'x8' signs are mounted on Blue Ridge Lumber Company building.

First, the 4'x8' I Am Voting For The Chick sign was vandalized when someone spray-painted "NOT" on it. Owner Tom Sheets left the sign so all could see what the vandals had done.

Then, two weeks ago, the entire sign disappeared overnight leaving a bare spot between the two McCain yard signs ... a fact that was noticed and commented on by many in the community.

Tom Sheets took it in stride and reordered another 4'x8' Chick sign ... along with a 4'x8' message to those who have stolen Chick signs throughout the SWAC area:

BE PATRIOTIC!
Stop Stealing
the "CHICK" Signs
On Nov. 4 vote for Freedom Of Speech

The signs are now mounted on the side of Blue Ridge Lumber Company with a guard keeping an eye on them.

Chick signs continue to be extremely popular. Received an email today from a woman in California who had been in the Valley over the weekend. She wanted "Chick" bumper stickers (we don't have any).

A dad from Dallas, TX, emailed to say he had been in Staunton visiting his daughter at Mary Baldwin College and saw the signs. He wanted 50!

A GOP volunteer in North Carolina saw the signs while up this way on vacation and wanted some ... the wife of a GOP volunteer in West Virginia emailed to say they had seen the signs over the weekend and wanted some.

The hottest sign of this campaign season in this area has been "I Am Voting For The Chick." Amazing. Hat's off to Tom Sheets.

Photos by Beth Godwin

Riding the "Chick" wave ...

Signs were set up for the "Chick" debate party held October 2.

Requests continue to pour in for "I Am Voting For The Chick" signs three weeks after local businessman Tom Sheets came up with the catchy campaign slogan and financed 600 yard and 30 4x8-foot signs.

Tom called this morning to say the two local newspaper articles in the Waynesboro News Virginian and the Staunton News Leader this week had increased calls to his office, and I confirmed that I continue to be inundated with emails and phone calls.

For those who contacted me about signs, please be patient. We are delivering as fast as we can and will do so until we run out because there are more people on the list than signs.

And don't forget ... vote for the Chick on November 4th!

McCain-Palin 2008

Tom Sheets ... the man behind the "I Am Voting For The Chick" signs

Tom Sheets ... the man who started it all!
Augusta County businessman Tom Sheets stands outside Blue Ridge Lumber with one of the signs he created.

For Augusta County businessman Tom Sheets, it was just an opportunity to voice his opinion about the 2008 Presidential campaign.

But what started out as two large "I Am Voting For The Chick" signs for his business to let the community know he liked Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin ... has exploded into a local phenomenon that is spreading beyond the state line.

The "Chick" message hit home with others in the SWAC area who wanted to show their support for Sarah Palin ... something that became possible when Mr. Sheets donated 30 4'x8' and 300 yard signs to the community.

In less than two weeks the first batch had been delivered or spoken for with an additional 300 yard signs ordered and expected next week.

Mr. Sheets started giving away the signs at his Blue Ridge Lumber business ... and he entrusted me to get the bulk of them into the community, something I have enjoyed on these beautiful autumn days. Sometimes with a friend and sometimes alone, I have crisscrossed Augusta County, Waynesboro, and Staunton delivering signs to front yards and businesses who are eager to display the message to their neighbors.

The signs have been fun and their popularity has spread into neighboring states as tourists see them and others search the internet for information. One traveler who saw them on her way to Warm Springs emailed to say she had created Facebook "Flair" resembling the signs ... a local woman's daughter who lives in Maryland found this blog and let her mother know how to get in touch with me ... search hits have come in from states nationwide ... a website picked it up which caused more traffic.

As Sarah Palin speaks around the country, huge crowds rally to show support ... and that enthusiasm is evident by the popularity of the Chick signs. As word has gotten out about the signs, I have received numerous emails and phone calls, and today will be delivering the last spoken-for signs until next week when the new shipment arrives.

One of the original Chick signs was vandalized ... others have been stolen ... but the demand continues for these unique message boards.

A huge thank you to Tom Sheets for his part in causing a local flurry of excitement with a sign that is fun and light-hearted ... and, yet, gets the message across. His creativity and generosity is very much appreciated ... his contribution has been shared with folks all over the community.

Previous posts about the Chick signs:

- Delivering signs throughout SWAC area
- GOP signs in SWAC area
- Leaves are starting to turn in the Valley
- Stuarts Draft yard signs
- SWAC signs for GOP
- I Am Voting For the Chick sign deliveries
- Valley voters for McCain-Palin signs
- Staunton GOP signs
- Chick debate party was success
- Augusta County signs
- Chick debate party: We're ready
- More GOP signs delivered in Augusta
- Another day ... another group of signs

Photo by Beth Godwin