By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@lcs.net
Though the rain did finally pour at 4 p.m., it was gone in time for revelers to enjoy the After-Hours festivities that lasted until after 9 p.m. The day started off at 9 a.m. with an energetic rush as 200 runners and walkers wound through Lake Caroline for the Wright's Chapel-Lake Caroline 10k/5k. Pastor's assistant Molly Gee reported that $6,000 was raised to benefit Caroline public schools as well as two charitable organizations, the McCutcheon Squadron and Hope for Warriors. Chris Leggett won the 10k at 41:12, and Myandi Peterson was leading woman at 46:57, while Tim Jones won the 5k with 19:54, and Katrenia Wheeler led the ladies at 26:54. The Golden Shoe was awarded to Caroline High School for raising the most money, and Lewis and Clark Elementary School won the Silver Shoe for most participants.
Later that morning at Ladysmith Village, windiness kept the hot air balloon grounded but there was still plenty of fun as kids enjoyed free pony rides, face painting and a petting zoo featuring goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks and a mildly grumpy llama. Winning in the Ladysmith Village raffle were Levi Davis of Woodford who won a 42" Panasonic flat screen plasma TV, and Ms. Duncan Preston who won a hot air balloon trip for two at its base in Hanover at a future date.
Meanwhile, Ladysmith Business Park was thronged for the Street Festival where a highlight was Caroline historian Susan Sili who told of General Grant's invasion of the county that began May 21, 146 years ago. Joining her in Confederate uniform was Kenneth Rineholt whose great-great-grandfather was captured in the desperate delaying action fought at the railroad in Milford, May 22, 1864. With Susan too was Bettie Brezee of Bowling Green, a sunny and gracious belle in hoop skirt and beribboned bonnet, who portrayed her Civil War-era ancestor Maria Heseltine Witherspoon of Hanover. Speaking also was Patsy Acors, in remembrance of Miss Clara Smith who named Ladysmith in 1928 after a diamond mine in South Africa and was instrumental in building Ladysmith Baptist and the Ladysmith Rescue Squad building. "A lot of what you see in Ladysmith is the vision Miss Clara Smith had," added Wayne Acors, Caroline supervisor.
Entertainment at the Street Festival included Message Sent and Milford Station Bluegrass Band which is well-known throughout the state. Making her debut was 13-year-old Megan Green, daughter of Message Sent's Richard Green, playing songs like "Live and Learn" and "Hey Soul Sister," accompanying herself on guitar. Ladysmith Day organizer Eric Diebel said he was pleased that "many more" people attended this year, and he anticipates even more next year.
Molly Gee, pastor's assistant at Wright's Chapel UMC, contributed to the reporting in this article.