The Shadow
Courtney Fridley Howard, a 2004, honor student graduate from Alleghany High School who is a mother of two, hopes to win one of three seats on the Clifton Forge Town Council on Tues., Nov. 8.
Howard is from Valley Ridge, and she earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology and theater from Emory & Henry College in 2008, where she finished with the highest academic distinction, summa cum laude.
Michael Fridley, her father, retired as an engineer from CSX, and her mother is Emily Haynes Fridley. She has an older brother, Derek Fridley, who was born in 1983.
After deciding to pursue a career as an actress, Courtney moved to Los Angeles in 2010, where she found employment in the film and TV industry.
In 2015, she returned to the Alleghany Highlands, and in 2017, she married Jeremy Howard from Buffalo, W.Va. Jeremy is a pediatric LPN at Carilion Clinic in Daleville.
The couple have two children, Haynes Howard, three; and William “Billy Howard,” one.
Courtney has been active in community affairs since returning from L.A., and she is the project lead of the All-Abilities Playground Project currently in the fundraising phase to compete the improvements at Linden Park.
The funds raised will be used to purchase equipment, for site preparation and for sundry needs to complete the project.
During a recent community gathering at The Historic Masonic Theatre that served as a forum for the six candidates running for the three seats on the Clifton Forge Town Council, Courtney stressed that she believes the Clifton Forge Town Council should not try to market itself as a retirement town or a railroad town, rather the Council should focus on marketing the town as being inclusive, “…a town for everyone.”
She touted the safety of the Town of Clifton Forge and noted that she and her children can walk wherever she desires to take them without worrying about criminal activity.
Courtney also praised the Town of Clifton Forge as being a friendly place with a lot of trails, and she is serving as the chair of the Parks and Trails Committee.
She is also an advocate for creating a splash pad as part of the improvements at Linden Park.
Courtney believes the All-Abilities Playground will draw people from outside of Clifton Forge to enjoy the splash pad during summer months and the All-Abilities Playground year round.
She believes that such a park will create more business for the community while providing additional recreational opportunities for children.
