Crystal Clear Delivery - Serving the Shenandoah Valley

CCD proud to announce latest client - Page News & Courier

2011-11-02T13:19:00.002-04:00

Beginning with the November 3rd edition we will begin single copy delivery of the Page News & Courier. The PN&C is a weekly newspaper based out of Luray,Virginia and it hits the streets every Wednesday morning.
You can find a copy of the newspaper in select locations within Warren County, Shenandoah County and Rockingham County while it is available throughout Page County.
The newspaper is a community based read that includes the work of Sports Editor Bill Meade. You can follow the teams from both Page County and Luray each week as well as keeping up with the athletic endeavors taking place at Mt. Carmel.

Going Once, Going Twice - Sold ! Palooza Auction Update

2011-10-18T23:25:00.002-04:00

We are very excited to announce that Mr. Kerry Painter has signed on to be the Auctioneer for the Panther Palooza 2011.

Kerry will represent his company - Old Dominion Auctions as we look to move 100 items from the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. this Sunday night (October 23rd) at Page County High School

To read all about the Panther Palooza Festival please click the link below:

www.aroundthevalleyin60days.wordpress.com

The Panther Palooza 2011

2011-10-17T09:47:00.003-04:00

Click on the link here to be directed to the site updating the PCHS festival

www.aroundthevalleyin60days.wordpress.com

Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore...

2011-07-15T10:22:00.004-04:00

As the 5 year anniversary of our time with the Washington Post nears (August 7, 2011) it is a great time to reflect on the amount of changes that have taken place during the past 60 months.
When the adventure started back in 2006 we were responsible for the delivery of the Post and Post only in Luray,Virginia. We inherited a customer base of just over 400 from the retiring Gary Ward (30+ years) and started to build relationships with many of our home delivery customers.
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Fast forwarding to today we now have over 2,000 names in our data base and a delivery area that resembles the size of the state of Rhode Island. Add in the trucking responsibilities to an ever growing list of products (The Korea Times is the latest) and one can see just how overwhelming the job has become.
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The list of products now includes the following:
The Washington Post - Page County & Shenandoah County
USA Today - Shenandoah County
Sports Specials & USA Special Editions - Shenandoah County
Sports Weekly - Shenandoah County
Korea Times - Shenandoah County
Capitol Business - Page County & Shenandoah County
Financial Times - Page County & Shenandoah County
Businessweek Magazine - Northern Shenandoah County
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We here at Crystal Clear Delivery continue to provide the level of service that our customers have grown to expect from us. This is and has always been our goal - to put the customer back in "customer service".

TV Books make Sunday April 3RD a long morning.

2011-04-05T10:20:00.002-04:00

About 20% of the way in to the process the morning this past Sunday we noticed that some of the inserts for the newspaper were feeling lighter than others. A quick examination showed us that a large number of them were missing the TV Book. ______________________________________ We try our best every week to verify that the package contains the TV Book but this week a "Cover Ad" was sold to the good folks at Mattress Warehouse. This Ad is given the outside cover of the package which in turn blocks our view of the TV Book. ______________________________________ The next eight hours were spent trying to swap out as many of the "Lite" inserts and we were able to correct over 200 of what we think was about 250 to 300. We then posted a message on the office phone about the situation and ordered some replacement books for redelivery on Monday morning. ______________________________________ It is our hope that everyone ended up with their TV Book and that this glitch will be an isolated occurrence. As always we want to Thank our customer base for their continued support!

Later Sunday Truck forces a shuffling of HD Customers

2011-02-21T19:10:00.002-05:00

Once it became obviuos that the Washington Post Sunday truck was going to continue to arrive at our office later and later we knew that we would have to add an additional HD route. The new route will allow us to keep providing the level of Sunday service we strive for here at Crystal Clear Delivery.
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The changes will mean that a number of customers will be receiving their Sunday paper from a different delivery person. This could cause a slight change in the final resting spot of your newspaper. If you notice that your paper is being left in different location or is arriving at a different time you will know now why.
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One of the areas that will see a noticable change is Western Strasburg / Back Road area. These customers will go from the end of the Strasburg route to the start of the newest route. This would change the ETA as much as 2 hours earlier.

Where have my funny papers gone ?

2011-01-31T07:49:00.002-05:00

With all of the changes to the Sunday newspapers we have received a number of calls asking why weren't the comics inside the plastic? The funny thing for us is we were always calling the "plastic" the Comics.
The funny papers are now located inside the paper but outside of the wrap. We just need to call the plastic by another name... Maybe the guts ?

Adjustments to Our Sunday finishing times...

2011-01-26T07:07:00.003-05:00

For those of you that are early risers, even on Sunday morning, might have noticed your Sunday newspaper arriving just a little later. While we have proudly been able to keep the finishing times inside the Post deadline the 8 routes are finishing later due to a permanent change in the arrival time of our truck.
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We now receive our papers roughly 45 minutes later each week and to most the change would not be noticeable but for the early risers that are at the end of the routes will see a slight difference in delivery time.
If you have any questions about this I welcome you to drop a line or call.

New Additions to the CCD Family !

2011-01-25T07:14:00.000-05:00

While we hope that there was no noticable change in our delivery on those days we are proud to announce that two babies were added to the Family that is Crystal Clear Delivery during the month of January!
Two proud papas welcomed Christopher Noah (1/3/11) and Robert Jackson (1/17/11) to their families and in both cases Dad was able to be there in plenty of time for the big moment!

"Inside" the Sunday Package

2010-12-26T11:46:00.004-05:00

On Thursday of each week the Washington Post sends us 2,500 pre-packs for the newspaper that Sunday. There are a number of names for the advance part of the paper such as "Comics", "Guts" or "Inserts.
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Two of the main ingredients that come in the package are the Washington Post magazine and the weekly Television Guide. Others would argue that the Funny Papers and the sales ads are of equal importance but most go in search of the TV Book and the Magazine.
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The inserts are put together each week in Springfield and then trucked to us. 99 times out of 100 they are complete but there is the rare occasion that one of the items comes up missing. We encourage to call our office (540)-743-4660 if you are missing either item and we will get one sent back out during our Monday morning delivery hours.
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Once or twice a calender year the Post will have a week where they do not produce a magazine and that will be the case on January 9, 2011.
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Thank you for your continued support of the Washington Post here in our Valley!

Merry Christmas to All !

2010-12-22T19:34:00.002-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL and safe travel for those who will be on the road over the Holidays.

Round #1 vs. Mother Nature (Friday 12/17/10)

2010-12-17T07:53:00.002-05:00

One of the biggest fears in delivering newspapers back and forth across the mountain comes in the form of snow & ice. Last night/this morning was our first battle with serious elements and with a little help from Above we managed to complete our routes within the time restraints of 6:00 A.M.!
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Kudos to the trucking company for bringing the newspapers on time and to the entire team for a solid effort of battling the back roads of both Page & Shenandoah Counties. We can only hope that it will warm up enough today to melt the snow and then stay warm enough to prevent it turning the slush in to ice.
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Here is hoping that Round 2 is postponed until the start of 2011!

Today : The origin of the site

2010-12-03T04:36:00.002-05:00

Back in the good ole days when the job only required roaming the streets of Luray at night I had set out to create a way to give back to the community. The idea I came up with was a site that promoted local high school athletes in a positive manner and a few adventures mixed in. Around The Valley in 60 Days was the name and there are nearly a thousand posts between the two sites.
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This site here was the original site and on the front page of this site is a link to the sister site we created. Sadly as the newspaper job became much more labor intense over the consolidations the time was no longer there to continue at the same pace. But we kept both sites up and running so that folks can still look back at the stories and pictures.
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The main goal of this site now is to allow me to try and communicate with a customer base that has us distributing 2,600 Sunday newspapers between Page & Shenandoah Counties. Any angle that allows CCD the opportunity to keep folks informed will always be pursued.
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Feel free to look back through the old stories or just read the Washington Post updates, either way as Paul Harvey was famous for closing with... Now You Know the Rest of the Story!

Today's Word - Billing from the Washington Post

2010-12-01T13:51:00.002-05:00

One of the biggest changes that occurred during the past five years has come in the billing department. The split had been about 50/50 between the number of customers that paid their bills directly to the Post and the number that paid their distributor every four weeks.
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The change was made to take the billing 100% in house about 2 years ago. Every customer that receives the newspaper from the Post is expected to pay the Post directly now. The invoices are mailed back to Richmond, Virginia and processed there. While the Post has taken over complete control of the accounts and they generate the customer invoices they list my name and number on the top of the paperwork.
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The idea is to give the customer a local name and number to call if they have a question about their statement. Solid idea but it can lead to a bit of confusion when a call is placed to me with a concern because I was not the one to generate the bill. More often than not we can walk through the problem together without much delay.
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The only time that I am supposed to be actively involved with the billing is when there has not been a payment made within 30 days of the expiration date. It is my job at this point to verify that the newspaper is still desired and to arrange payment or to stop the account.
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One of the more confusing points comes about when an account reaches its cut off date. A large number of folks believe that the newspaper will simply stop coming as in the case with a magazine subscription. But the Post accounts are set up for delivery to continue until someone stops the account- whether it is the customer or myself. This can be one of the more troublesome times and Thankfully it does not happen but so often.
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I hope that I have been able to shed a little light on this topic and welcome any questions concerning the billing process.

Today's Question - Washington Post News Tubes

2010-11-26T22:54:00.002-05:00

A large number of our customer bases receives their newspaper in a Washington Post tube. The purpose of the tube is to try and protect the paper from the elements as much as possible. For those of you that do not currently have a tube and would like one at your home here is a few things you should know.
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* There is no cost to the customer for the tube.
* In most cases we can have a tube installed inside of a week.
* If the tube becomes worn out or damaged we can replace it.
*If there is a change in your subscription we can remove the tube per your request.
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Hope everyone was able to enjoy their Thanksgiving !

The Thanksgiving Day Newspaper...The Inside Scoop

2010-11-23T21:17:00.003-05:00

Each year the Washington Post publishes a Special Edition of the newspaper on Thanksgiving Day. The goal is to get everyone for Black Friday, especially the ones that are brave enough to hit the stores before the Sun rises.
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The product is the largest Daily newspaper of the year and requires assembly that is a challenge for us and then comes the special delivery instructions.
Step 1-Take the papers to the local stores with a retail price of $2.50 in the outer market.
Step 2-Deliver a copy of the newspaper to all of the 7-Day customers that would be expecting their typical Thursday newspaper. There is no extra charge for the Home Delivery customers.
Step 3- Take a free copy to each and everyone of the Sunday Only customers. Both the set that fall inside of the daily boundaries and the folks that reside in the far reaches of our beautiful Valley.
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We have learned that some of the four previous Distributors had not been driving to the far corners to get everyone a paper so we have to reserve part of the day to explain why they found a newspaper in their driveway or in their news tube. The word still does not reach everyone as we will notice a number of Thursday papers still in the Sunday Only tubes when we make the rounds with their Sunday newspaper.
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Once the dust has settled and the final paper has been delivered the eight of us can head home in search of sleep before sharing the day with our families. The story reads a bit more like the work of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve than how ones spends Thanksgiving but the good news we are "THANKFUL" that we have the opportunity to service our customers and to do so in one of the prettiest places in the country!

Monday October 4TH - One more newspaper merger

2010-11-16T20:10:00.002-05:00

On Monday October 4, 2010 the next addition to the growing list of products took place. In the final steps of eliminating the use of their own carrier force USA-Today made a deal with the Washington Post for Agency #8514 to become responsible for all three of their products in the majority of Shenandoah County. There is no current service for the products in Page County.
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USA-Today, Sports Weekly and the Sports Special magazine were added to the delivery lists from Mount Jackson up to Strasburg. You can check out some of the previous postings for more information on the availability of all three products.
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Each time that there is a tap on the shoulder and more work is issued there is a slight moan but only slight because the choice of taking on more work versus losing what you have is not that difficult when you stop and think about it!

April 19, 2010 - New Product - The Capitol Business Magazine

2010-11-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

04/19/2010 - The Washington Post produced the initial copy of its weekly business magazine today with high hopes of success. Capitol Business will be printed each and every Monday and made available in all 7-Day service areas to home delivery customers.
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The change date for WP Agency #8511 - 2/15/10

2010-11-16T19:19:00.003-05:00

Mr. Fred Haddad provided a high level of service for the Washington Post in northern Shenandoah County for well over two decades. That incredibly successful run ended with the Sunday Post delivery back on February 14TH, 2010.
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In a continued effort to cost costs in the outer market the Post dissolved Fred's agency on that day and moved the folks in Strasburg, Woodstock, Toms Brook and surrounding communities over to Agency #8514 which is based out of Luray, Virginia.
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There was very little fanfare on the date of the change as most of the Shenandoah Valley was trying to dig out of one of the worst winters in recent history. Both Fred and his lovely wife Theresa stayed on to help out with the Sunday product each week as they continue to provide wonderful service to their former customers.
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The removal of Agency #8511 was followed by a smaller move in October which the USA-Today and their list of products was added to the list of responsibilities for Crystal Clear Delivery.
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CCD is the company name for Jerry Carter at Agency #8514. The latest move raised the number of positions to five that have been merged into a single delivery group inside of the past five years dating back to the summer of 2006.
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One more salute to both Fred & Theresa for their years of service in Northern Shenandoah County as well as their continued assistance in the current Sunday delivery.

The change date for WP Agency #8515 - December 22,2008

2010-11-16T18:44:00.000-05:00

The customers in southern Shenandoah County (New Market, Mount Jackson, Quicksburg, Edinburg and Bayse received their Washington Post from Robert Ward and his family for as long as most folks can remember. It takes a special type of individual to give over 40 years of their live to a job and that is exactly what Mr.Ward did along with a number of his family members.
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Even following the passing of Mr.Ward the agency continued forward under the guidance of his wife Mrs. Debbie Ward with some assistance from his daughter Tammy and son-in-law Scott and family friend Dennis. But this changed back on Sunday December 21,2008 when the Washington Post made a cost cutting move and eliminated Agency #8515.
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The Post moved the customer base over to Agency #8514 in Luray, Virginia and the entire delivery crew was able to stay on board in the beginning but over the following months only Deb remained on board with Crystal Clear Delivery (Agency #8514). While the remainder of the folks moved on to the next phases of their lives Deb has remained on a continues to offer Sunday service to the towns of New Market, Mount Jackson and the surrounding areas.
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From time to time Deb still helps out in Mount Jackson during the week while delivering her copies of the Daily News Record based out of Harrisonburg,Virginia. Kudos for all of the effort over the years to the entire family!

In the beginning - Agency #8514 & #8514-SXO (August 7, 2006)

2010-11-16T17:57:00.000-05:00

Both Mr.Gary and Mrs.Ann Ward roamed the streets of Page County every day for over 30 years while providing service to the Washington Post customers here. Gary was the Agent responsible for Luray and Ann was contracted for the outer/Sunday area in Stanley and Shenandoah.
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My son Christopher and I were blessed to be the ones out running some of the fringe products in Page County on the morning that Gary realized that 32 years was long enough of the 7 Day grind that has WP delivery people out there 365 days a year. Both of the Wards were overly kind during the 30 day window we spent together in training and on the morning of August 7, 2006 we became the folks responsible for Agency 8514.
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The first of a series of mergers occurred on that same day when the 8514-SXO agency that belonged to Ann was eliminated and the two agencies became one. Sadly for us on the same day the Washington Post raised the price of the newspaper from .35 to .50 and the Sunday Post went from $1.00 to $1.50.
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Looking back those now look to be the good ole days!

Sports Specials now available @ 9 Locals

2010-10-20T10:54:00.003-04:00

The latest edition (NCAA Basketball Preview) hit the streets in early October!

Stop by either Sheetz, any of the four 7-11 stores, Handy Mart 8 & 10 or the Wilco Hess Truck Stop to purchase your copy today.

Duke University senior duo of Lance Thomas & Kyle Singler grace the cover.

The cost of the magazine is $4.95.

USA TODAY's SPORTS WEEKLY LOCATIONS :

2010-10-20T10:50:00.002-04:00

Every Wednesday you can pick up a copy of the Sports magazine at the following stores-

Mount Jackson - 7-11 Store & Sheetz
Woodstock - Sheetz, 7-11 Store, M & R & Handy Mart #8
Toms Brook - The Brook Store
Strasburg - Both 7-11's

Fall of 2010 Brings Even More Products on Board

2010-10-20T10:36:00.002-04:00

Monday October 4TH marked the beginning of Single Copy service for USA Today, Sports Weekly (formerly Baseball Weekly) and Sports Specials in Northern Shenandoah County. You can purchase the USA Today Monday-Friday (except major holidays) at the following locations...
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Mount Jackson - Sheetz, 7-11 Store & Liberty Truck Stop (Rack)
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Woodstock - Cracker Barrell (Rack), Cook's Country Exxon,
7-11 Store, Handy Mart #8 & Sheetz
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Toms Brook - Love's Truck Stop (Rack), Wilco-Hess Truck Stop (Rack)
& The Brook Store
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Strasburg - Exxon, 7-11 Store North, 7-11 Store,
Family Dollar (Rack)& Handy Mart #10
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Guets staying at the following Hotels can find a copy at the front desk-
Woodstock - Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Hampton Inn
Strasburg - Fairfield Inn & Ramada Inn
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Capitol Business - Available for Home Delivery Every Monday

2010-09-27T04:40:00.003-04:00

The Washington Post continues to produce their own in house view on the comings and goings of the financial world. Every Monday morning you can have a copy of the Capitol Business delivered to your home or business!
Please call the Post at 1-800-477-4679 to sign up for your copy.

Financial Times becomes latest product to be offered for delivery

2010-09-15T06:07:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post has made the Financial Times available to the folks in both Page County & Shenandoah County effective immediately. You can add the FT by contacting them or by going through the Washington Post.

Year 5 is under way !

2010-08-31T16:59:00.002-04:00

On August 8, 2010 we began our fifth year of service with the Washington Post. A number of things have changed in that time with the biggest being the continued expansion of our area with the Post.
In the good ole days we (Crystal Clear Delivery) were responsible for Luray(22835) and parts of Page County. There were four managers that held the same posistion as myself back then but now there is just us. The towns of
Stanley (22851),
Shenandoah (22849),
New Market (22844),
Edinburg (22824)
Mount Jackson (22842),
Woodstock (22664),
Bryce Mountain/Bayse (22810),
Quicksburg(22847),
Toms Brook (22660),
Maurertown (22644),
Fishers Hill (22626),
Strasburg (22657 & 22641),
Star Tannery (22654)
Orkney Springs (22845)
and Rileyville (22650) have all joined the family!

Today's Question - Credit Card Payments

2010-08-31T16:51:00.002-04:00

The Washington Post has a toll free number 1-800-477-4679 for all customers that wish to pay for their subscription with a credit card. They can handle all types of transactions involving all major credit cards.
The system is automated and your choices are as follows:

Press 1 - To start a subscription
Press 2 - For a missed or damaged newspaper
Press 3 - For a Vacation Stop with a re-start date
Press 4 - To Cancel your newspaper
Press 5 - To ask a billing question
Press 0 - To speak with an operator

Luray Wranglers capture another VBL Championship

2010-08-13T09:17:00.002-04:00

Congrats go out to owner Bill Turner and Skipper Mike Bocock as the duo have once again teamed up to lead the Wranglers to a Championship. Luray closed out the best 2 of 3 series by defeating Front Royal 4-0 on Thursday night for a 2-0 sweep.
Luray swept Covington 2-0 in the first round before winning a pair of elimination games versus Winchester.
The number of VBL teams in our delivery area increases to four next summer when the Strasburg Express join Luray, Woodstock & New Market on the diamond.

Strasburg Single Copy Locations

2010-07-31T11:42:00.002-04:00

The following stores carry both the Daily & the Sunday Washington Post in the town of Strasburg.

Exxon / McDonalds - Exit 298 off I-81

Strasburg 7-11 - 225 N. Massanutten Street (540) - 465-3294

Strasburg Food Lion #550 - 794 Shopping Center Road (540)-465-5335

Strasburg Rite-Aid #1893 - 335 Crystal Lane (540)- 465-3725

Strasburg Handy Mart #10 - 314 West King Street
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You can also pick-up the Sunday Post @ :

Strasburg M & R Store - 361 West King Street (540) - 465-5044

New Star Market - 2936 John Marshall Highway (540) - 465-5735
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Near By Stores:

Lebanon Church,Va.

Gradens Super Market & Guitar Shop - 6836 John Marshall Highway (540)-465-4447

Updates from 2010... CCD welcomes Northern Shenandoah County

2010-07-30T11:51:00.003-04:00

Back on Monday February 15TH of this year the Washington Post made the decision to once again combine work areas in hopes of cutting costs here in their outer market area. The latest change included taking over in Strasburg, Toms Brook, Maurertown, Fishers Hill & Woodstock.
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The first piece of business is to acknowledge the amazing job that Mr. Fred Haddad and his wife Theresa did over the past two decades. We were very blessed to have both Fred & Theresa stay on board on Sunday mornings as we attempt to keep the level of service at the bar that was set.
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The biggest challenge in now trying to manage a territory that ranges from the top of Strasburg down the valley and across the New Market Gap over to the town of Shenandoah is trying to keep up the personal touch that all four of the previous distributors provided for their customers.
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I will attempt to use this site to provide as many answers about our distributorship as possible. The hope is that all customers can find answers to any questions that might come up about their subscription.

Please enjoy the Pics & Stories from the Past 3 Years

2010-07-29T13:33:00.000-04:00

As has been the case for the past three years, all photos found on this site are free of charge to anyone that would enjoy them! We hope that from time to time someone will look back and find a reason to smile once more time !

God Bless...

One Final Look Back @ Strasburg VB 2009-2010 !

2009-11-24T15:11:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving is the time to say Thanks for the journey!

2009-11-23T18:35:00.002-05:00

The past four years we have searched for ways to bring the positive to the fore front in the Shenandoah Valley. The search was not for the biggest story but for folks that believed in doing things the right way. Armed with a sense of purpose and an average digital camera the goal was a very simple one: Make People Smile!
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We hope that we have accomplished just that through our time & efforts. Please help yourself to any photo on the site, they are yours for the taking.
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Happy Thanksgiving & God Bless to All !

Gate City Escapes with a 3-2 Victory over Rams

2009-11-20T14:02:00.005-05:00

Strasburg fell to defending state champion Gate City 16-14 in Game 5. __________________________________________________

The amazing run by the 2009-2010 Strasburg Rams came to an end shortly before 2:00 P.M. Friday. The effort that this group of student athletes gave their Head Coach Suzanne Mathias all season was nothing less than superb. These 14 young ladies have done their school and their community proud.

The final record will go in the books at 25-2 for the campaign. The Senior Class will be missed by all that are proud to wear Purple!

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It has been an honor to be a small part of the Strasburg Rams Volleyball family over the past four years. The amount of class and dedication shown from the likes of Kaitlin Smoot, Katie Baker, Bethany Doman, Jenna Smoot, Jaclyn Ayers, Stephanie Conde- just to name a few- has been amazing. It was my hope to create smiles along the way for the athletes, parents, students and coaching staff.

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Congrats to the Class of 2009-2010 and best of luck in your future plans and Thanks for sharing something magical with us all!

Gate City Rallies to Force Game 5

2009-11-20T13:40:00.001-05:00

Gate City evened the match at two sets a piece with a 25-22 victory. Game 5 is in progress.

Strasburg Storms Back from Early Deficit to Win Game 3

2009-11-20T13:13:00.001-05:00

Strasburg trailed early but rallied back to win 25-23 and are now one game away from playing for the state championship!

Strasburg Pulls Even with Game 2 Victory

2009-11-20T12:57:00.000-05:00

The Rams bounce back and win game two 25-15. More to come.

Gate City takes opener 30-28. Game 2 under way @ VCU

2009-11-20T12:36:00.001-05:00

Gate City edged Strasburg 30-28 in Game 1 of the State semi-finals. Game 2 is being played now.

Jeremy Stafford's Friday Column on Rams

2009-11-20T06:36:00.001-05:00

www.nvdaily.com/sports/2009/11/conde-glad-for-richmond-return.php

'Twas the Night Before Richmond...

2009-11-19T23:42:00.000-05:00

All 4 VB Region Champions Advance - Set for Noon on Friday

2009-11-19T14:50:00.002-05:00

4 Matches were played Tuesday night and in each case the home team (Region Champs) captured the victory without playing a fifth game.
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Strasburg 3, Nortumberland 0
Gate City 3, Radford 1
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Mathews 3, Altavista 0
Bath County 3, John Battle 1
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Strasburg and Gate City will square off at Noon on Friday while Mathews & Bath County will get started at 2:00 P.M. The winners are set to meet at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday morning.

All Aboard the Strasburg Express - Next stop : V-C-U !

2009-11-18T13:31:00.002-05:00

On the road again - Rams are set to return to the Siegel Center.

Right after a jump serve Ace from Stephanie Conde ended the 3RD set and the match!

Casey Spiker celebrates a kill with Jenna, Jacyln & Lauran.
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Notes from the match Tuesday night:
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Stephanie Conde- 7 kills,14 service points & 6 Aces
Jenna Smoot- 7 kills & 6 blocks
Jaclyn Ayers - 6 kills & 2 Aces
Lauren Agnew - 4 kills
Samantha St. Clair - 3 kills, 2 Aces
Casey Spiker - 4 kills
Ally Kauffman - 5 Aces
Meghan Gum - 5 service points

More from the QF vs. Northumberland Indians

2009-11-18T13:18:00.003-05:00

The Stuff Block ...

Samantha, Jenna & Jacyln defending the net.

Showing some seriuos hops at the net!

Pics & Notes from Tuesday Night vs. Northumberland

2009-11-18T00:25:00.004-05:00

Rams advance to Final 4 !
The thrill of victory - Right after the final point.

The student body did a wonderful job supporting the Rams in their final home match.

TV-3 Winchester interviewing Coach Suzanne Mathias after the match

Four very Happy ladies!

The coaching staff enjoying a group hug.
Yes that is all 3 of them!

Friday at Noon the Rams will face Gate City in the semi-finals. The two teams have met in the State Championship the past two seasons with the Rams winning in 2007 and the Blue Devils capturing the crown in 2008.

Both TV-3 Winchester and Dennis from the Northern Virginia Daily were getting footage of the match Tuesday night. You can check out the pica and the gamer by Jeremy Stafford at http://www.nvdaily.com/ around 5:30 Wednesday morning.

Waiting for the action to begin...

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High Noon : Gate City vs. Strasburg in Final Four on Friday

2009-11-17T21:30:00.003-05:00

Strasburg needed 3 games Tuesday night to advance to the Siegel Center for the third straight year. When they arrive on Friday for the Noon match they will find a familiar foe waiting for them in the Gate City Blue Devils.
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Gate City defeated Radford High School 3-1 at home Tuesday night to advance and set up the rematch of last two years Championship contests. Strasburg won the title in 2007 while Gate City captured the 2008 crown.
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More to come later !

The Elite Eight is set - Rams return home for Tuesday's Quarter-Final

2009-11-16T01:30:00.014-05:00

Elite Eight Fun Facts:
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Strasburg (24-1) has joined the Elite Eight in Class A Volleyball for the third straight season and will play their Quarter-Final match at home on Tuesday night at 7:00 P.M. As Champions of Region B the Rams will host the Region A runner-up (Northumberland 19-3) while Region B runner-up Altavista will make the trek over to play the Region A Champion (Mathews).
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The other two matches will pit the Region C Champion (Bath County 23-1) vs. Region D runner-up( John Battle High 20-4) & Region D Champion & defending State Champion(Gate City Blue Devils 22-1) vs. Region C runner-up(Radford 16-8). All four matches will take place on Tuesday night with the four winners advancing to Virginia Commonwealth University on Friday.
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The semi-finals are set for Noon and 2:00 P.M. on Friday and the Championship game will be played at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday.
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Gate City captured the State Championship in 2004, 2005 & 2008 with the victory last season coming over Strasburg. The Blue Devils split their season series with Sullivan Central (Blountville, Tenn.) with both matches going 5 sets. Otherwise Gate City has seldom seen a Game 4 this season, let alone more game 5's.
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Strasburg carries a 73-14 record (sets) for the season and is currently riding a 24 match winning streak. The Rams swept the Region B tournament without dropping a set to Stonewall Jackson, Nelson County or Altavista.
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So where exactly is Northumberland located ? The school has 434 students and is located in Heathsville, Virginia. The bus ride over will cover 156 miles and should take 3+ hours. If you are planning to attend the match Tuesday night...

STATE VOLLEYBALL INFORMATION
Date Posted: Sunday Nov 15, 2009
THE STRASBURG VOLLEYBALL TEAM WILL HOST THE REGION A RUNNER-UP ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH @ 7 PM. ADMISSION FOR THE GAME IS $8.00 AS SET BY THE VHSL. NO SHENANDOAH CO. ID BADGES OR PASSES, STRASBURG HS, OR DISTRICT PASSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
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If Strasburg wins on Tuesday they will play the winner of Gate City vs. Radford at Noon on Friday. The second semi-final will follow.
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John Battle High School is 20-4 on the season but all 4 losses have come at the hands of the Blue Devils.If you would like to learn more about Gate City you can click on the link below for their Region D Finals match. The coverage is from the Bristol newspaper.
http://www2.tricities.com/tri/sports/high_school_prep/article/prep_volleyball_john_battle_falls_in_region_d_title_match/35697/

Strasburg 2-day !

2009-11-15T01:59:00.000-05:00

Yes we can !
2ND Region B Trophy in 3 Years.

The lighter side of the ceremony !

Quite a Day for the Ayers family!

The Senior Class enjoying their moment.

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Rams Girls Cross Country places 2ND at the State Championship !

Rams Cheer Squad places 2ND at their State Championship !

Rams Volleyball captures 2ND Region B Championship in 3 years !

Katlyn Ayers brings home the Gold with her individual Cross Country effort !

More from Altavista - Heading Home for Tuesday

2009-11-15T01:52:00.002-05:00

Home of the Colonels
Look what I won !!!

2009 Region B Champions!

Just a moment for a Father & a Daughter.

Ready to get started ? Rams score first 7 points of match after intro's.

Images from Altavista - Rams 3-0 sweep is in the Books

2009-11-15T01:38:00.002-05:00

Greg Brill of the NVD and Head Coach Suzanne Mathias.

Check out Greg's gamer @ www.nvdailysports.com
Smile for the camera!

Matt & Suzanne enjoying the moment!

Lauren at the service line.

Samantha preparing to serve.

Next Stop for the Strasburg Express - Altavista on a Saturday Night

2009-11-12T21:46:00.004-05:00

STRASBURG - Madison County was up 2-1 at Altavitsa Thursday night but the home team rallied back to win games four & five so Strasburg will make the trek down US-29 on Saturday night for the Region B Championship.

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Strasburg (23-1) earned their third consecutive trip to the State Tournament at home tonight by sweeping the Governors of Nelson County 3-0 (25-21, 25-11 & 25-21). Bull Run District Player of the Year Jenna Smoot led the attack for Head Coach Suzanne Mathias with a rare double-double. The senior collected 10 kills and 10 blocks in one of her more dominating performances of the season.

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Smoot hit the court running by collecting 3 kills and 1 block in the first 2 minutes of action as the Rams raced out to a 7-0 lead. Nelson County (19-6) would rally back throughout the opener and cut the lead to 22-19 on an Ace from Keona Loving. Strasburg closed out the first game 25-21 behind a back row kill from Ally Kaufman and a service point from Meghan Gum.

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"Jenna played tonight like she has in the last two matches," Mathias said. "The momentum continued in to the match tonight and that allowed us to get out to a quick start."
Strasburg raced out to a big lead at the start of the second game at 13-4 and this time they would not allow the Govenors back into the contest. The Rams stayed aggressive until the final point and closed out the game with two kills from Jacyln Ayers and two blocks from Smoot. The 25-11 defeat and 0-2 hole would of been enough to crack most opponents but Nelson County answered the bell for Game 3.

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NCHS took its only lead of the match at 3-2 in game 3 and tried to match points with Strasburg. The score was 11-8 when Smoot went on yet another tear by scoring two kills and a block inside of a minute to push the lead out to 15-9 but the Governors continued to battle back.
Strasburg led 19-12 when Stephanie Conde made the play of the night by stretching out to get her right arm on a 3 ball while running away from the net. The senior was able to not only track the ball down but send it to the back row and this allowed Smoot to blast a kill to finish the point. The noise in the gym resembled an airplane taking off after the play and the point pushed the lead to 20-12.

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NVHS made one more push by scoring five straight points to pull within 20-17 and force Mathias to call a time out in an effort to settle her team down. The team traded points until the score was 23-21 and Mathias subbed Smoot back in one rotation early. Samantha St. Clair answered with a cross court kill and then Smoot closed out the match the same way she started it, by slamming a set to the gym floor.

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"We came out tonight and played with a great deal of excitement and we were ready to go," Mathias added. "I told them before the match to have fun and enjoy their ride."

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The match Saturday night will serve dual purposes in that the winner will be crowned Region B Champions and play their next game at home on Tuesday night. The team that comes up on the short end of the score board will take a road trip to the Eastern portion of the State in their next match. While punching their third straight ticket to States Mathias hopes that each team is treated individually.

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"I want it to be about this team this season," Mathias noted. "It is their ride and I want them to be able to enjoy it."
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Brian Eller was in the gym for the Northern Virginia Daily and you can check out his gamer Friday morning around 5:30 at http://www.nvdailysports.com/

How tough ? Ram tough.

2009-11-11T18:01:00.004-05:00

Bull Run Player of the Year - Ms. Jenna Smoot in action versus Stonewall Jackson Tuesday night.

Side Note- If you look out the window in the space between Jenna and Stephanie you will notice Jenna's father taking in the action.

Pics from the Inbox - More coverage from the Strasburg Express

2009-11-11T12:55:00.006-05:00

I believe it was Cyndi Lauper that said "Girls Just wanta have fun" but it is in the pre-game pep talk that Coach Mathias gives her squad before every match- "Play Hard and Have Fun"

Here is the celebration after the Region B QF win over Stonewall Jackson. Next up is Nelson County on Thursday Night.

11 on 11 Volleyball

In the Land of Purple & White

Bull Run Tournament Champions Once Again !

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Always happy to share photos that have been sent in to us and the ones above are a few from Saturday & Tuesday night!

Step 4 in the Books - Strasburg Express rolls on to Regional Semi-Final

2009-11-10T22:25:00.004-05:00

Strasburg hosted Stonewall Jackson Tuesday night in a Region B Quarter-Final Volleyball match and it is safe to say that the Express is running right on time. The Rams (22-1) followed up their impressive Bull Run District Championship victory over Madison County with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-15 & 25-14) sweep of their county rival SJHS.

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Next up for the Rams is a home match in the semi-finals versus Nelson County. The match is slated for a 7:00 start and the winner of that match locks in a spot in the State tournament. The Region B finals will be a road contest for Strasburg if they advance past Thursday night. Madison County will travel to Altavista for the other semi-final match on Thursday.

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Stats from the match:

Jenna Smoot - 13 Kills, 3 Blocks

Stephanie Conde - 13 Kills

Jaclyn Ayers - 8 Kills

Lauran Agnew - 5 kills

Ally Kaufman - 5 Aces

Week #9 - Duke Football @ UNC-Chapel Hill (Kudos to UNC's Defense)

2009-11-09T04:30:00.004-05:00

Waynesboro Little Giants Football - 2009 Season in the Books

2009-11-08T11:55:00.002-05:00

For the past 3 months Chris Graham and myself have traveled with the Waynesboro Little Giants in order to provide Web Coverage of their High School Football season. The season ended this Friday night when WHS fell to Fort Defiance 25-13. While the team might not have put as many W's on the board as they would have liked the team never gave up and that was the case once more Friday night.

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Trailing 25-0 late in the fourth quarter of their final game the Little Giants scored two touchdowns to trim the lead to 25-13. The clock ran out on Coach Issacs and his team but all ten weeks they were playing until the scoreboard read 0:00. The past 11 weeks/10 games have been something I will remember and I am grateful for the opportunity to show our support for the Waynesboro Little Giants!

Bridgewater College VB - Eagles fall in ODAC semi-finals

2009-11-08T11:43:00.003-05:00

HOLLINS- The 2009 season came to an end Saturday morning for the Bridgewater College Lady Eagles Volleyball team. Former Strasburg Rams Katie Baker and Bethany Doman should return next season for more Old Dominion Athlethic Conference play as BC will once again look to build on a ODAC Final Four campaign.

To read more about their season you can click the link to the right and it will take you over to the Bridgewater College site. Congrats to both on another season of dedication and hard work for their school !

Step 3 of 9 - Strasburg captures Bull Run tournament

2009-11-08T06:45:00.002-05:00

Strasburg captured the Bull Run tournament Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over Madison County. Both teams now move on to Region B play on Tuesday night. Here is a look at the brackets:

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Madison County @ Riverheads

Stonewall Jackson @ Strasburg

Central-Lunenburg @ Altavista

Nelson County @ Randolph-Henry

Each Q-Final match is set to start at 7:00 P.M.

Bridgewater College VB advances with 3-1 ODAC Q-Final victory!

2009-11-07T01:07:00.003-05:00

Former Strasburg Rams Katie Baker and Bethany Doman will be back in action Saturday morning at 11:00 after the #4 seeded Lady Eagles defeated #5 Emory & Henry 3-1. The match was one of four held on the opening day @ Hollins University in Roanoke. Next up for the BC squad is #1 seed Randolph-Macon while the other semi-final will pit #3 Lynchburg College vs. #7 Roanoke.
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Roanoke upset #2 Washington & Lee in a thrilling five set match to advance to the semi-finals. Both matches will take place at 11:00 on side by side courts with the winners returning for a 3:30 Championship match.
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Congrats to the Rams duo and their team as well as Elena Kritter (Rapp) of Lynchburg College.
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Strasburg VB - The Nine Step Plan

2009-11-06T00:16:00.006-05:00

After ending the regular season at 19-1, Strasburg was able to turn its focus on a third straight run to Richmond. There are 9 steps along the way and by winning the Bull Run regular season the Rams drew a bye on the first one. Head Coach Suzanne Mathias and her squad took step two Thursday night by defeating Rappahannock County 3-1 in the Bull Run semi-finals.
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Step 3 will take place this Saturday when the Rams host Madison County in the BRD Finals. Step 3 and step 6 are matches where a loss will not end the dream season but simply make the journey a bit more difficult.
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Step 4 is set to take place on Tuesday night when Stonewall Jackson travels to Strasburg for the Region B Quarter-Final match. A win over the Generals will have the Rams home again on Thursday for the Region B Semi-Finals.

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Greg Brill was in the gym last night and his gamer is up now at http://www.nvdailysports.com/ .

Rams Katlyn Ayers is at it again !

2009-11-04T19:34:00.004-05:00

First it was the Bull Run District individual crown and then today Strasburg's super sophomore Katlyn Ayers bested a field of 100 runners to capture the Gold Medal for the Region B Cross Country Championships.
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Ayers posted a winning time of 18:50:00 to finish 43 seconds ahead of runner-up Eva Estrada of George Mason. Strasburg finished second as a team behind Mason and the Rams will now advance to the State Meet next week at Great Meadows.
Ram freshman Kirsten Campbell earned a medal with her 13TH place finish as did fellow freshman Rachel Taylor (15TH Place).
Congrats to Ms. Ayers and the Rams Cross Country team !

Thanks to Chris Graham for making Duke @ UVA a memorable game!

2009-11-02T23:01:00.003-05:00

For the first time in eight weeks my Saturday did not start with my Thad Lewis #9 jersey as part of my Duke Game Day experience. Having traveled to the reaches of Lawrence, Kansas and West Point, New York earlier in the season I only had to travel to Charlottesville for Chapter 8 of the Season with the Blue Devils but it was without the jersey.
It was fitting that on Halloween Day Chris Graham of the Augusta Free Press and the Waynesboro Generals, made it possible for me to dress up as a sideline photographer for the Atlantic Coast Conference tilt between my beloved Duke and the home standing Cavilers. Armed with a press photo pass and wearing neutral colors I headed first to the playing surface and then later to the post game media room of the victorious Blue Devils.
I have experienced a number of "Super Cool" things over the years but I can safely say that getting to "work" the game Saturday makes the cut of things I will always remember, long after the rest of my hair falls out. For this I give a Tip of the Cap to Chris Graham for making a special day into a top of the world day for yours truly.

Week #8 of the 2009 Duke Experience - Blue Devils @ UVA

2009-11-02T22:29:00.006-05:00

Thad Lewis answering questions in the Media Room
Mr. Chris Graham finishing his work for the day.

The Duke Media Room.

Mr. Cav Man

Blue Devils taking a well deserved breather in the fourth quarter.

Mr. Cav Man & Rebecca

Thad Lewis in the pocket.

It's a Mother & Daughter thing.

Inside the Press Box @ Scott Stadium

Orange & Blue Faithful

Thad waiting for the snap.

Yes- I am a fan of Thad Lewis.

The Cavs Sideline & Fans

The Blue Devil letting you know who is #1...

How is that for a Belt Buckle?

Duke's Cheer Squad working the sidelines.

The Coin Toss.

The Cav Man & His Horse

Taking the Field

Here comes the Cavilers.

Coolest job in the Country ?

Presenting the Colors.

"V" marks the spot @ Mid-Field

Duke 28, Cavilers 17 (F)

Game #9 in the books - Stuarts Draft 34, Waynesboro 7

2009-10-31T02:46:00.002-04:00

WAYNESBORO - The Little Giants closed out the home portion of their schedule Friday night by hosting US-340 and Southern Valley District rival Stuarts Draft. The visiting Cougars opened up a 27-0 halftime lead and held on for a 34-7 victory over the home team.

You can read all about the game by connecting on the link below:

http://www2.newsvirginian.com/wnv/sports/high_school_prep/high_school_football/article/draft_wins_the_battle/48287/

We hit the road for the season finale next Friday night when the Little Giants head up I-81 to Fort Defiance for a battle with the Indians.

Bridgewater College VB - Eagles land #4 seed for ODAC Tourney

2009-10-31T01:47:00.006-04:00

BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE VB UPDATE ! & Other smiling faces from Around The Valley in 60 Days

Once again Hollins College will be the site for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament. Bridgewater College finished in the #4 spot in the final league standings and will take the court at 6:30 P.M. Friday Night. The Lady Eagles will face #5 seed Emory & Henry in the opening round. Former Strasburg Rams Katie Baker & Bethany Doman will be in action as BC once again looks to make some noise in the post season event. Former Wilson Memorial Green Hornet Candice Guy is in her junior year at BC and Erica Dirnagl (Sherando/Stephens City) is finishing her senior year for the Lady Eagles.

Freshman Kala Guy (Wilson Memorial) will take the court for the #6 seed Virginia Wesleyan Lady Marlins.

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ODAC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS

Quarterfinals - Friday, November 6

Quarterfinal 1: #8 Guilford vs. #1 Randolph-Macon - 4:00 p.m. (Court 1)

Quarterfinal 2: #7 Roanoke vs. #2 Washington and Lee - 4:00 p.m. (Court 2)

Quarterfinal 3: #5 Emory & Henry vs. #4 Bridgewater*** - 6:30 p.m. (Court 1)

Quarterfinal 4: #6 Virginia Wesleyan vs. #3 Lynchburg - 6:30 p.m. (Court 2)

Elena Kritter (Rappahannock County) will be in action for the LC Hornets

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Semifinals - Saturday, November 7Semifinal 1: Winner 1v8 vs. Winner 4v5 - 11:00 a.m. (Court 1)

Semifinal 2: Winner 2v7 vs. Winner 3v6 - 11:00 a.m. (Court 2)

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Championship - Saturday, November 7Winner Semifinal #1 vs. Winner Semifinal #2 - 3:30 p.m.

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Conference
Overall
GP
Record
Win %
GP
Record
Win %
Last 10
Streak
Randolph-Macon
10
9-1
0.900
29
24-5
0.828
7-3
Won 7
Lynchburg
10
8-2
0.800
26
19-7
0.731
8-2
Won 3
Washington & Lee
10
8-2
0.800
30
18-12
0.600
8-2
Lost 2
Bridgewater
10
7-3
0.700
26
11-15
0.423
4-6
Won 1
Emory & Henry
10
6-4
0.600
23
18-5
0.783
8-2
Won 2
Virginia Wesleyan
10
6-4
0.600
29
22-7
0.759
6-3
Lost 2
Roanoke
10
4-6
0.400
29
13-16
0.448
4-6
Lost 2
Guilford
10
3-7
0.300
25
11-14
0.440
5-5
Lost 1
Eastern Mennonite
10
3-7
0.300
28
10-18
0.357
1-9
Lost 8
Randolph
10
1-9
0.100
28
2-26
0.071
2-8
Lost 3
Sweet Briar
10
0-10
0.000
23
2-21
0.087
0-10
Lost 12

Strasburg caps regular season with victory over Clarke County

2009-10-28T09:30:00.002-04:00

Strasburg completed their fourth straight undefeated Bull Run regular season Tuesday night when they edged Clarke County in Berryville. The final record stands at 19-1 as the squad heads into the Bull Run tournament.
You can check out the gamer at www.nvdailysports.com .

1ST Set of Senior Night Pics from Strasburg VB...

2009-10-23T08:57:00.004-04:00

Once again AD Matt Hiserman was a terrific Master of Ceremonies...

Celebrating the 5-set thriller over a determined Madison County squad!

Smiles were the theme of the evening.

Wish this one was a better pic but the two smiling sisters was too good to pass up.

NVD's Greg Brill interviewing Coach Suzanne Mathias. Check out Greg's gamer at www.nvdaily.com

Jenna Smoot & a proud set of Parents.

Rams VB - It is All in the Family !

Coach tells these young ladies two things- Play Hard & Have Fun . Both were accomplished last night against the Mountaineers.

Exciting Senior Night for Strasburg Volleyball

2009-10-23T00:17:00.002-04:00

Had to go straight to work from the gym after the match but there will be plenty of pics later in the day. Please check back if they are not up yet.

In the mean time you can check out the gamer from Mr. Greg Brill of the Northern Virginia Daily at www.nvdaily.com. The story should be up around 6:00 A.M. and our pictures later in the day.

The Strasburg Express rolls on - Rams make it 17 straight with victory over Rapp

2009-10-21T00:39:00.004-04:00

RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY - Strasburg improved to 17-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the Bull Run by defeating the home standing Panthers Tuesday night by a final score of 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-11).

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Strasburg moves to within two games of completing its fourth straight perfect season in Bull Run play with the victory. The team will look to complete the regular season sweep with a Senior Night home match versus Madison County on Thursday and a road match at Clarke County next Tuesday.

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Five seniors will take the court on Thursday night for their final regular season match at home. Stephanie Conde and Jenna Smoot are completing their third season of varsity action while Jacyln Ayers, Ally Kauffman and Meghan Gum finish their second season of play under veteran Coach Suzanne Mathias.

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Conde and Smoot are 28-0 against Bull Run competition heading into the final week of play but a young Panthers squad made sure they earned the latest victory. Rapp rallied to trim leads in both game 1 and game 2, each time pulling within 24-22 before Strasburg closed out the game. Ayers closed out the opener with a kill that rolled over the top of the net while junior Lauren Agnew finished off game two with a "placed" kill.

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Rapp broke through in game 4, winning 25-21 to force a fourth game but Strasburg closed out the victory in fine fashion with an impressive 25-11 showing. Sadly, there was no roster available for the Panthers which limited the info on their players. If there is someone out there with access to the info Please pass it along.

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You can find stories and photos here the past 3 years

2009-10-08T18:52:00.002-04:00

Feel free to search the older pictures and stories from Around The Valley.

Please make use of any photo you like- there is no charge !

Ram Tough - Strasburg Volleyball continues to roll on

2009-10-07T13:43:00.003-04:00

The Senior Class of 2009-2010 is making sure the Ram program remains on track !
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MADISON - Strasburg pushed its winning streak to 13 matches last night when the Rams defeated Bull Run District foe Madison County 3-1 on the road.
The Rams are now 4-0 in BRD play as well as 13-1 overall. The impressive stat of the season is the 40-7 mark in games played. Strasburg returns home Thursday night to face the other undefeated team in the district, Clarke County.
Congrats to the Rams on their continued success!

Click Link Below to check out new site for the Shenandoah District

2009-10-01T18:43:00.000-04:00

http://www.aroundthevalleyin60days.wordpress.com/

Strasburg-Rapp Volleyball : The College Years / Guy returns for BC

2009-09-30T23:28:00.005-04:00

Sorry about the Saved By the Bell reference but one of the more enjoyable events I have covered over the years is Volleyball matches between Rappahannock County and Strasburg.

The Panthers and the Rams have played some intense matches and the atmosphere in the gyms have been amazing. Three of the former athletes that participated in the rivalry were on the court at Nininger Hall Wednesday night when Lynchburg College played Bridgewater College. Elena Kritter, Bethany Doman and Katie Baker all made the trip to the Final Four in Richmond back in 2007 and it was fun to watch them compete against each other one more time.

Just as it was back in 2007 Kritter (RAPP) was on one side of the net while Doman and Baker (Strasburg) were on the other. The parents of all three were at Bridgewater as were Mr. & Mrs. Guy from Wilson Memorial. Not only was it pleasant to see everyone again but the level of play in the gym was pretty impressive.

Lynchburg trailed 2-0 before rallying back to capture the final three games. How even was the match? The final total in points was 103-103 and game five went to the Hornets by a score of 16-14. Great folks to visit with and great VB to watch, could you ask for anything more?

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During the fourth game a familiar face removed her warm-up jacket and began to loosen up on the sideline. Junior Candice Guy took her place on the court moments later and showed off her left handed Kill stroke almost immediately much to the delight of the BC crowd.

________________________________________________________________

Rapp will travel to Strasburg Thursday night for round 1 of the Bull Run showdown...

Media Day for New Generals Skipper Ronnie Palmer

2009-09-30T05:05:00.003-04:00

I was fortunate enough to spend the better part of Tuesday introducing our new skipper to the local media types as well as the folks that run our organization. Ronnie Palmer will take the field in Waynesboro for the Summer of 2010 and I couldn't be happier.

We sat down with Chris Graham, Rob Sisk and John Leonard at different points of the day and here are the links to their stories-

Rob Sisk - News Virginian

http://www2.newsvirginian.com/wnv/sports/college/article/generals_hire_new_manager/46316/

John Leonard - All things Valley League

http://www.allthingsvalleyleague.typepad.com/

Chris Graham - Augusta Free Press

http://augustafreepress.com/2009/09/29/generals-tap-palmer-as-new-field-manager/

Thanks to all for their time and effort!

Duke reaches 1/3 mark @ 2-2 - Prepare for Hokies on Saturday

2009-09-28T01:21:00.003-04:00

DURHAM - Duke continued their early season trend of rotating wins and losses on Saturday by defeating cross town neighbor North Carolina Central 49-14. The Blue Devils are now 2-2 with the Hokies of Virginia Tech set to invade Wallace Wade Stadium at Noon this Saturday.

Sat, Sep 5
Richmond
L 16-24

Sat, Sep 12
at Army
W 35-19

Sat, Sep 19
at (22) Kansas
L 16-44

Sat, Sep 26
North Carolina Central
W 49-14

Sat, Oct 3
(11) Virginia Tech
12:00 pm

Sat, Oct 10
at North Carolina State
TBA

Sat, Oct 17 - BYE WEEK

Sat, Oct 24
Maryland
TBA

Sat, Oct 31
at Virginia
TBA

Sat, Nov 7
at (22) North Carolina
TBA

Sat, Nov 14
Georgia Tech
TBA

Sat, Nov 21
at (9) Miami (FL)
TBA

Sat, Nov 28
Wake Forest
TBA

Strasburg set to rename Ram Stadium in honor of Glenn Proctor

2009-09-22T06:57:00.003-04:00

STRASBURG -At halftime of their football game vs. Page County on Friday the Ram family will gather to honor one of the greatest Coaches in Virginia High School history. Glenn Proctor stepped down at the end of the 2007 season- his 44TH as the Head Coach of the Purple & White.
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Coach Proctor was one of a kind both on and off the gridiron and was always up to talking with anyone that wanted a moment or two of his time. I will always remember my first time covering his Rams (away game at Madison County in 2006) and not knowing about his legacy at the Shenandoah County school.
_______________________________
I was new to the Valley and was not aware that I was interviewing a Head Coach that was approaching the 300 victory plateau. Coach was just an incredibly considerate individual that was willing to answer any question you might have.
_______________________________
Here is hoping that the ceremony on Friday night goes off with the same amount of Class that Coach Proctor displayed for over 44 years.
_______________________________
Glenn Proctor Field @ Ram Stadium - September 25, 2009.

3 Newspapers were in Penn Laird for Spotswood - Waynesboro on Friday night

2009-09-21T19:59:00.003-04:00

PENN LAIRD - We weren't the only ones at Spotswood for the Little Giants football game last Friday night. It was week 3 of the Augusta Free Press & Waynesboro Generals webcast of the Little Giants season and we were joined by :

http://www.newsvirginian.com/

http://www.newsleader.com/

http://www.dnronline.com/

Road Trip to Kansas - Duke falls 44-16 to Jayhawks in front of 51,000

2009-09-19T15:37:00.003-04:00

Game Ticket for JayHawk football.
Memorial Stadium from the outside view.

The KU Cheerleaders hard at work.

The view of the Missouri River from the Airplane.

Duke's Renfree looking to escape his own goal line.

Both of Duke's QB saw pleanty of action during the game.
Lewis finished 16 of 27 for 181 yards but 3 sacks and 2 interceptions, including one pick six.

The Kansas QB put on a show for the home fans.
Reesing finished with 334 passing yards/3 TD's/0 Sacks/50 rushing yards.

Very Impressive Show put on by the young man.

Walk, Chalk, Jayhawk

Jayhawk fans doing the Wheat Wave after a score.

Next up for Duke - Home vs. North Carolina Central 7:00 P.M. 09/26

Friday Night Football - Covering the Waynesboro Little Giants

2009-09-19T06:13:00.001-04:00

Team Captains for Waynesboro(L to R) - Michael Wood, Steven Ross, Jon Issacs,Tyler Briggs
Waiting for the team to take the field

The Cannon has been a part of Spotswood for 20 years now.

The peak of the Masaanutten Mountain Range is a pretty cool back drop for the football field.

Chris (L) and Josh on the pre-game show.

Week 3 of covering the Waynesboro Little Giants took Chris Graham and myself to the campus of Spotswood High School. Josh was covering the game for the News Virginian and he joined us on both the pre-game show and our half time show.
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We witnessed the first lead of the season for the Little Giants when the team scored a touchdown late in the first quarter to take a 7-6 advantage. While the lead didn't hold up it was still a positive note on the night.

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Waynesboro fell to 0-3 on the season and will return to action Friday night when they travel to Staunton for a Southern Valley District contest with R.E Lee at Gypsy Hill Park.

Helping to support the Luray Volunteer Fire Department

2009-09-18T05:27:00.003-04:00

Chris with Mr. Carroll- known as the nicest man in Page County

#1 Hole @ The Caverns Country Club

#10 was our hole for this years event

Linda, Mr. Tim Beckett and Chris

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Wednesday was the 4TH annual Luray Fire Department Golf Outing and we were fortunate to be a part of it for the third straight year.
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If you live in a small town like we do one of the first things you come to appreciate is the local folks that rally around the community by giving their time and effort for both the Fire Department and EMT's.

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The event was once again held at the Caverns Country Club in Luray with the difference being this year it was in September instead of June. 18 teams signed up for the event and the winning score was a 12 under par 60. But the big winner was the Luray Fire Department...

Mr. John Leonard of the ATVL - One Class Act !

2009-09-16T02:01:00.002-04:00

One of the highlights of my summer was the opportunity to have John Leonard and his family be involved with our baseball team down in Waynesboro. John was there when we started the project and while he won't be returning for year two he will always be a big part of our organization/family.
The amount of Class that John displays was ever so apparent in his posting on his site last month where he explained his reasons for not returning. The story below was written by a man that I feel fortunate to call a Friend.

August 21, 2009
Some News
My self-imposed hiatus is over, so let's get to the off season, shall we? First of all, I've spent some time over the past couple days preparing my top lists of hitters, starters, and relievers, and I will begin those lists soon.
First, though, we have some news we have to get out of the way: I have left the ownership group of the Waynesboro Generals.
The first question that is asked in these situations is why? Let me be very, very clear about this. I am leaving the Generals because of my family. It sounds like a cliche, or at least a cop-out, but it is not. It is the truth. My daughters are nine years old (well, Anisa turns 10 today), and while they enjoyed some of the experience, they missed me, especially at bedtime, when they need that last hug and prayer from Dad. Those who know me well understand what my family means to me: it means, well, everything. I look at parenting as one shot to do the best possible job to give your children what they need to become highly functioning, well-adjusted, happy adults. I will not shirk that responsibility.
I am leaving the team on very good terms with Jerry, Chris, Crystal, and all the others down in the 'Boro. I am not running from anything besides the huge time commitment that the job entailed. Is that clear? Good.
Now, on to something fun: what did I learn this summer?
1. Jerry Carter is an amazing guy. I met no one else over the summer that combines two qualities- being a people-person and thinking about the betterment of the league- than Jerry does. Jerry has a way of making everyone feel heard and important- and trust me, as a teacher in the people business, this isn't easy. I watched him one night, harried from trying to get things done right before the game, stop because a kid wanted to ask him a question. Jerry, in a hurry, totally stopped what he was doing and listened to a child for a few minutes. Did what the kid say matter? Maybe, maybe not- but Jerry took the time to make it matter.
He also thinks- constantly- about how to make the Valley League better. This vision, in my opinion, is a critical piece as the league moves forward. Jerry is not only concerned about the Waynesboro Generals, but the Staunton Braves, and the Haymarket Senators, and the Fauquier Gators, and all the others. He wants this league to be a close second to the Cape Cod League.
2. Running a baseball team takes an incredible amount of coordination and people, but once those people are in place, good things can, and will, happen. The folks down in Waynesboro did a great job this season with their team. The team didn't win as much on the field as desired, but off the field, the season was a success. Chris and Crystal, Brian, Beth, Scott, Keith, Nat, Bill, Webber, Richard, Chuckie, Mike, Benji, and of course, the Carter family- Jerry, Linda, Sabrena, Josh, Becca, Chris, and even Charlie and Jane- did a wonderful job with this team. Mistakes were made, sure, but I wouldn't bet on those mistakes being made a second time.
3. Every fan of the Valley League should take some time to thank the folks running their hometown team. The Valley League is something special- high-quality baseball played with players from all over the country, in your small town in Virginia. The Valley League is a jewel, and too few of us are thankful about what we have. Take some time- right now!- to thank the folks running your team.
4. My daughters absolutely adore the funzone in Waynesboro. They also love the food, chasing foul balls, and every now and then, getting an autograph. Don't worry- we'll still be coming to games next season.
5. I also learned that I enjoy broadcasting baseball games. If I were a little younger, maybe I would go back to school.... ah, never mind. Hanging out with Chris down the left field line and chatting was a blast. I feel like we fell into a rhythm in most games and did a very good job describing the action. (And Chris eats a hot dog faster than anyone I've ever seen!)
This all started with a sit-down with Jerry Carter back in November, when he offered me a chance to come along for the ride. Even though I'm hopping off the wagon at this point, I'll still be doing my little blog, and watching from afar. And maybe showing up at Kate Collins every now and then, hopefully with daughters in tow. Jerry, a million thanks for allowing me the opportunity to join you for this little while. I believe that it won't be long before Waynesboro's organization is run as well, if not better, than every team in this league. Waynesboro, your team is in good hands.
Sincerely,
JLL
Posted at 07:42 AM in
August 17, 2009

News from the old Home Town - Ichiro makes it 9 Straight!

2009-09-14T21:44:00.002-04:00

SEATTLE - Anyone out there old enough to remember Wee Willie Keeler ? Safe money says that there is no one alive today that was around when Keeler ran his record of 200 hit seasons to eight straight back in 1901.
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But we are all talking about Keeler this week because Ichiro Suzuki broke the 108 year old mark my making it nine for nine when it comes to seasons with 200 hits. Ichiro made it to town one year before we left the Great Northwest and he proved to Major League Baseball that an everyday player from Japan can make it in the bigs. Even as our team has struggled over the years it was still fun to check the box score to see how many hits Ichiro picked up that night.
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2,000 hits plus the 1,000+ hits from Japan makes fans wonder just how high can the total number of hits run before Ichiro hangs up his magical bat?

More from West Point - Football Side of Duke Vs. Army

2009-09-13T12:38:00.003-04:00

West Point, New York - Home to USMA - Army (Set 1)

2009-09-13T12:12:00.004-04:00

Strasburg on the road in Shenandoah vs. Page County

2009-09-11T00:19:00.004-04:00

2009-2010 Senior Class

Ally Kauffman, Jacyln Ayers,Meghan Gum, Stephanie Conde and Jenna Smoot.

Jenna Smoot cutting behind Stephanie Conde

Coach Mathias working the sidelines.

Senior Stephanie Conde

Jacyln Ayers awaiting the next serve

Team Strasburg before the start of the match.

High School VB :Jenna Smoot and Heather Stout at the Net

2009-09-10T07:07:00.001-04:00

Thanks for the picture left in the in box !

Waynesboro Generals in the News...Click here for story

2009-09-09T04:13:00.002-04:00

Rob Sisk at the News Virginian talks Summer Baseball with the Generals. Click the title to head
over to the story.

On the road with the Rams and some BC Eagles.

2009-09-08T23:36:00.004-04:00

Strasburg's coaching staff planing out their attack.

Strasburg/BC Connection-
Left to Right-
Casey O'Leary (Quinton, Va.) and former Rams Bethany Doman & Katie Baker.

QUICKSBURG - Strasburg High School traveled down I-81 Tuesday night for a non-district VB contest with Stonewall Jackson. The proximity of Quicksburg to Bridgewater College meant bonus Rams as both Sophomore Katie Baker and Freshman Bethany Doman were in the gym to cheer on their old team.

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Strasburg pushed its winning streak to four matches with a 3-1 (25-16, 25-17, 15-25, 25-22) victory over an improved Generals squad. The Rams (4-1) will head even further south on Thursday night when the team travels to Shenandoah for a match with Page County High School.

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Doman & Baker just returned from San Antonio, Texas where the BC Lady Eagles competed in a tournament last week-end. The team faced the toughest talent they could see outside of the NCAA tournament and Baker feels the team played some of its best volleyball over the two days.

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A look inside the new digs @ James Madison University

2009-09-07T11:16:00.003-04:00

The new home for the JMU Dukes & the VBL's Harrisonburg Turks !

Can't wait for a chance to watch a game in the new park!

Richmond Spiders 24, @ Duke Blue Devils 16

2009-09-07T10:24:00.004-04:00

Blue Devils went 0-2 on FG attempts
Check out the Sea of Blue in the stands. Largest home crowd since 2001!

The top of the Duke Chapel

Thadeus put it in the air 55 times vs. the Spiders

The game changer- Spiders block the punt and return it for the games 1ST TD.

No such problems for the UR special teams.

Part of the special pre-game ceremonies.

Excitement was in the air for the season opener.

Senior Lewis collected 350 yards on the night.

The Blue Devil leading the charge at Wallace Wade Stadium.

4TH Annual Luray Fire Department Golf Tourney- Sept. 16TH

2009-09-07T09:57:00.000-04:00

There is still time to sign up for the 4TH edition of the Luray Fire Department Golf Tournament. This years event will once again be held at the Luray Caverns Country Club next Wednesday at 9:00 A.M.
The cost this year is $85.00 per player/ $340.00 per team for the 4-man scramble. The fee includes golf,cart,prizes and a number of prizes to be raffled off at the post tourney BBQ Chicken dinner held at the Fire Hall in Luray.
Contact Bubba Gochenour or the Fire Department for more information.

All things Durham - BP with the Bulls & Spiders vs. Blue Devils

2009-09-05T00:18:00.002-04:00

Nothing like a 2-for-1 on a Saturday afternoon! The Triple-A Durham Bulls are playing at home on Saturday against the Norfolk (formerly Tidewater) Tides so there will be time to catch BP at one of the more famous minor league parks in the country before heading over to Wallace Wade Stadium for the Duke vs. Richmond game at 7:00 P.M.

Has it really been 20+ years since Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins filmed Bull Durham at the old ball park? 1988 was the year that the Class A (at the time) franchise became bigger than life after the release of the epic film.

BP and seeing the "Bull" will be fun but it will be the Blue Devils that are the focus of our attention tomorrow.

We wouldn't be the only ones on the road as Katie Baker and Bethany Doman and their Bridgewater College Lady Eagles play Volleyball down in the great state of Texas.

Bridgewater College opens with 3-1 victory over Mary Baldwin

2009-09-03T00:39:00.002-04:00

Strasburg's Katie Baker led the attack for the Lady Eagles with 9 kills and 4 blocks as BC started the season with a 3-1 victory over home standing Mary Baldwin Tuesday night in Staunton. The Eagles will be jetting off to San Antonio, Texas for a week-end of Volleyball as the team is scheduled to compete in a 2-day tourney.

In search of six victories - Duke set to open with Richmond

2009-09-02T12:39:00.004-04:00

DURHAM- December 15, 2007 was the day that Duke University football named David Cutcliffe the 21ST Head Coach in school history. It was also the day I began to set aside loose change as a way to prepare for a special journey.

I grew up as big of a Duke fan as there was and as I face my 46TH birthday this week that means I was a fan before it was cool to Love or Hate Duke University. Duke was simply a special place back in the 70's, one where I had hoped to attend college someday. Never made it into a single class but I did live in that unique part of Durham, North Carolina for a year and soaked up all of the magic that I could.

Duke basketball was about to go through its last run to the Final Four pre-Coach K back in the late 70's. Jimmy Spanarkle was a junior guard on a team that made it to St.Louis for the Final Four and won the semi-final game before falling to Kentucky in the Championship by a 94-88 score. Jack "Goose" Givens poured in 41 points to lead Joe B. Hall's Wildcats to the title that night (March 27,1978) in the Checkerdome.

But it was more than basketball for me, it was Duke University and that means you love all things Duke, not just the ones that shine the brightest. Yes, I have been a fan of Duke University
football my entire life. I can proudly say that I have attended EVERY Bowl Game that the Blue Devils have participated in during this span. Yes- that does mean both of them.

Steve Spurrier guided Duke to an 8-3 record back in 1989 and that earned the Blue Devils a trip down to Birmingham, Alabama for the All-American Bowl. The opponent that night was a rather large Texas Tech squad that also finished 8-3 but did so playing a much tougher schedule.

Mark Brace and I drove down to Alabama that night at watched TT (James Gray-280 yards & 4 TD's) run up and down the field for a 49-21 victory in what would prove to be the last game coached at Duke by Mr. Spurrier. Steve packed up and headed down to Florida after the loss but he had put the program back on the map or so we thought.

Fast forward to 1994 and Head Coach Fred Goldsmith opens the season with 7 straight victories before heading to Florida State for a showdown. 7-0 went by the boards that day when FSU defeated Duke 59-20 but we were still heading to a Bowl Game at the end of the season. Back to back 1 point losses to NCSU and UNC at the end left the team at 8-3 but on their way to Tampa, Florida for a New Years Day Bowl (Actually played Jan.2,1995) against a talented Wisconsin team.

I was working in Florence, South Carolina at the time so the drive down to Tampa wasn't that bad of a trip and Duke hung tough before falling 34-20 to the Badgers that day. Duke cut the lead to 27-20 late before Wisconsin sealed the deal with a late touchdown. Bob Muffett and I headed back to Florence and I figured in a few years I would be able to make another Bowl Game trek to follow the Blue Devils.

It has now been almost 15 years since that trip to Tampa and I can't wait for the next journey. One that I have been saving up for since the day Cutcliffe left the staff at Tennessee to lead our Blue Devils!

Don't care which post season bowl game or which city will be the host- just want to see it happen once again. Duke was 4-3 last season with five games to play but failed to win again despite playing Va. Tech tough (14-3) and Wake Forrest (33-30) tough down the stretch.

Duke opens play in 72 hours at home against the University of Richmond. The Spiders are a 1-AA school but they happen to be the 1-AA defending National Champions. Six wins earns you a possible trip to a Bowl Game and the bags are packed!

Strasburg improves to 2-1 with sweep of Central Falcons

2009-09-01T22:54:00.003-04:00

Rams take opening match in County rivalry.

John Galle of the Shenandoah Valley Herald interviewing Rams Head Coach Suzanne Mathias.

WOODSTOCK - Strasburg took round one of the Shenandoah County Rival series Tuesday night by sweeping the Central Falcons 3-0 (25-11,25-11,25-19). The victory was the second straight sweep following a season opening defeat to Class AA Sherando.

While Stephanie Conde led the attack against Page County last week there were plenty of spikes to go around for the visiting Rams versus Central. Juniors Lauran Agnew and Samantha St. Clair matched kill for kill with Conde and fellow senior Jenna Smoot throughout the contest.

Senior setter Jaclyn Ayers controlled the floor and took full advantage of having four different players to set up at the net. The ability to go in a number of different directions to score kept the Falcons off balance for the duration of the match.

Latest project for Augusta Free Press & Waynesboro Generals

2009-09-01T12:31:00.001-04:00

Broadcasting all 10 regular season games of the Waynesboro Little Giants this Fall!

Two former Rams for the price of one - Doman joins Baker @ Bridgewater

2009-09-01T11:18:00.005-04:00

Former Strasburg Ram volleyball standout Katie Baker is set to begin her sophomore season at Bridgewater College. This time around she will be joined by fellow former Ram, freshman Bethany Doman.

The Lady Eagles open their season tonight down in Staunton, Virginia on the campus of Mary Baldwin College. The Fighting Squirrels will be the first in a number of non-conference matches before BC begins play in the highly competitive Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

BC will head to Texas for a weekend tournament this week and then follow that up with a trip to Pennsylvania the following weekend. The level of play for BC is what makes a match at Nininger Hall on campus a Must See if you are in the area.

The link to the schedule is here at:
www.bridgewatereagles.com/sports/wvball/2009-10/schedule

Page County @ Strasburg (Volleyball)

2009-09-01T09:33:00.000-04:00

Ready for the serve!

250 Ram Drive is Ram Country!

Mrs. Smoot & Coach Mason

Greg Brill of the Northern Virginia Daily interviewing Strasburg Head Coach Suzanne Mathias. Check out his gamer at http://www.nvdailysports.com/

New site in the works for Shenandoah District !

2009-09-01T00:06:00.004-04:00

The final stages have yet to be added but the link above will take you to a sister site that is designed to take fans, coaches, players and media types Inside the Shenandoah District.

Click here to check out the new site www.aroundthevalleyin60days.wordpress.com

Strasburg @ Page County - Baseball in the Cold Mountain Air

2009-03-26T02:07:00.004-04:00

Rebecca trying to capture the Field of Dreams look from 2 miles away on top of the mountain.
Page County hurler and a pair of the brave fans.

Some of the Strasburg purple that made the trip down.

If we were both at the game then the pupp couldn't be far behind.

A little plate action shot.

Welcome to Shenandoah, Virginia !

More behind the plate shots.

Really nice crowd considering the sudden drop in temp.

Power swing.

View along side the Rams bench.

From atop the hill @ Page.

Trying to catch the wind-up on this one...

Coach Smoot working from the 3RD base coaching box.

Assistant Ram Coach Joel Morgan

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Final Score : Strasburg 14, Page County 4

Weather permitting the same schools will play Softball down at Page.