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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Local Scene Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us February 14, 2006 WEB LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Web letters do not appear in the print version of the Tidings but are placed here as a courtesy to our readers and as an opportunity for greater and more frequent dialogue. Web letters follow the same rules of polite speech as letters appearing in our paper, but receive a lesser degree of editing. The Tidings editors reserve the right to remove or discontinue any thread in this forum that oversteps the boundaries of polite discourse.) Preserving the Green Necklace of Ashland A developer drives by an open field and sees land that can easily be paved over and quickly covered with cheaply-built homes . . . a child wanders into the field and discovers the magic of nature; grasshoppers to catch, tadpoles to watch in the pond, song birds to listen to, a creek to walk down and discover it's connection to our watershed. For our community, what is the value of the open fields at Willow Wind Community Learning Center on East Main? Should we consider sacrificing these fields for more housing development? Who would really benefit from this development? Preserving wide open green space around the present urban growth boundary benefits citizens of all ages. While there are pressures to build more and more subdivisions, at some point we must draw the line at where suburbia ends and countryside begins. This wise way of planning for growth has helped create a highly-valued quality of life for our community. We are a small city surrounded by rolling pastures and forests. Let us not be tempted to cut away at the beautiful green necklace encircling our city. Changing our urban growth boundary does not guarantee the establishment of affordable housing and only guarantees suburban sprawl. The value of retaining open farm lands outside of the city’s urban growth boundaries can not be overstated. The country farm campus of the Willow Wind Community Center is unique in that it is easily accessible from most parts of Ashland. One of the most cherished features of our city is that one can walk or ride their bicycle to wide open fields in the countryside in usually an half an hour or so. The front fields of the Willow Wind campus are being used for educational activities and have much potential to be used for expanded educational opportunities for all students in the district. The front acreage of the Willow Wind campus has several environmental assets. Paradise creek meanders down the front fields and pools into two different ponds. These two ponds are regularly used for wetland studies by students at the Learning Center. The front fields also serve as a buffer zone for the many animals who make their home on the property. Students have observed a wide variety of birds, reptiles even wild mammals in this area. The front acreage is also home for an expansive vegetable garden, a vintage fruit tree garden, a butterfly garden and a chaparral area. Throughout the Willow Wind Property, students have planted wildlife trees which they visit several times each year and record their observations. All of these projects and features of the front acreage of the Willow Wind property can be used by all of the districts’ students as well as other members of our community. The Willow Wind property is a five minute walk from Ashland Middle School, ten minute walk from Walker Elementary School and a fifteen minute walk from Ashland High School. In fact, more than a thousand students, a majority of the students in the district, can easily walk to the campus from their school. Thus, the fields of Willow Wind not only direct contribute to the education of more than 200 students who take classes at the facility, but can also expand and enrich the education of all students. The Ashland School District purchased this property as a long term investment. In generations to come, there may be a need to build a new educational facility at Willow Wind, but for the next few decades, the community can benefit from this open space. Expanding the Urban Growth Boundary and developing these fields would benefit only select few in this community. The developer would certainly benefit financially and the individuals who purchased homes there may also benefit. However, building homes on this section of land would not affect the overall prices of homes in Ashland and there would be no guarantees the homes would be occupied by families. If the city is truly interested in offering "work force" housing for its' employees, it must first look within the city limits. Rather than expanding the Urban Growth Boundary to build a congested group of cheap housing, why not locate work force housing in smaller groups interspersed in different neighborhoods in the city? If we truly celebrate diversity in this town, why not create diversity within our present city limits so that we all can continue to enjoy our remaining countryside? Jeanne Campbell Chouard Ashland Writing with both hands In a recent letter, Jeff Hanson assured readers that water quality in Ashland Creek will not suffer as a result of ski area expansion, and asked to keep discussion “fresh” while ignoring historical evidence of our watershed’s fragility. Fresher evidence of Jeff’s position on water quality exists in a 2003 letter from the Mt. Ashland Association to the U.S. Forest Service, which advocates elimination of requirements to maintain or restore water quality in ground disturbing projects. An excerpt can be viewed at www.reo.gov/library/acs on page C-50. The clearly stated position of the MAA is that aquatic conservation is too onerous and restrictive for ski area expansion. Mountain managers are totally correct on this point because one must excavate wetlands and alter streams to develop the Middle Fork as a playground. Jeff is writing with both hands on this issue. He tells the public, “Trust me,” and simultaneously asks the Bush administration to drop protections affecting his project. Jay Lininger Ashland Mt. Ashland no comparison to Granite Pit I was disappointed but not surprised at Jay Lininger�s (Jan 12) response to my letter (Jan 6) in which I addressed the unchecked run-off that occurs from the Granite pit, in south Ashland, into Tolman Creek. He twisted my letter to best meet his agenda, to stop the Mt. Ashland expansion. Mr. Lininger completely missed my point. Comparing Mt. Ashland, expansion or not, to a huge scar left by over forty years of excavation with no attempt to control any sediment from leaving the site I find misguided. There are no barriers, no hay bales, no sediment ponds, no foliage, nothing to hold it back. This year has been extremely bad because of all the heavy rains. On the other hand the entire ski area is above 6,000 feet. At this time there is over 100 inches of snow at the top � this does not �run off� like a good rain storm at 2,500 feet. There are checks and measures to control sediment at Mt. Ashland. That is the big difference here. I invite Mr. Lininger and anyone else to visit the granite pit site to see for themselves. I would encourage you to visit the site just after a good rain storm. And finally, I am forwarding this and my previous letter to the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Geology and Mineral Industry. I would encourage others to voice their opinion on this issue to those that can make a difference. Jim LeMay Ashland Violence no more — I Can Deam, Can't I? The quick fix for murder, rape, pedophilia, torture - for all felonies? Prison. Pack 'em in! Parole a few. This? A sure-fire cure for crime? One hopes that inside that buzzed gate, calm exists. And that outside, society feels safe. Come come, America! High time we rethink this senseless solution to violence. There's an easier, effective way. It's slow, but start it we must, now. Today. Even if it takes generations. The magic word? PREVENTION. As poet Joe Malins said: "BETTER A FENCE ATOP THE CLIFF THAN AN AMBULANCE DOWN IN THE VALLEY!" Dead right. So let's do it. Early life is when to start. For what better armour for a child than a relaxed, loving home? There, children are less likely to develop two obnoxious traits found in deviants. ONE: The need to control, to run the lives of others. TWO: Low, painfully low self-esteem. When people feel powerless, worthless, they tend to besmirch others - their life styles, character, motives, sex-preference, race and creed. One must ask: WHAT IS IT THAT TRIGGERS SUCH ROCK-BOTTOM SELF-ESTEEM? DARE I RESPOND? My answer may startle - may make your hair stand up on end. Or, steadily, you may keep focused, even if this hurts, or threatens your long-held assumptions. Sad to say, low self-esteem stems from - can largely be laid at the doorstep of religion - those iron-grip, macho religions which pollute the mind with this poison: YOU WERE BORN A MISERABLE SINNER. ONLY CEASELESS REPENTANCE WILL SAVE YOU FROM HELL'S FIRE! What does this accomplish? Intimidation. That's what. Tail between legs, ashes on foreheads, the cowed and the meek sing "WRETCH LIKE ME" songs. Full of unwarrented guilt, and with self-esteem down the drain, they must compensate, resorting to KICK-THE-CAT, HIT-THE-BOTTLE, CURSE-THE-SPOUSE domestic violence. THEN what? Arrest, handcuffs, prison. Clink-clang - the iron gates slam behind them. Now we really DO have bona-fide "miserable sinners" in need of repentance. We who have different gods, or none at all, admire the upbeat tone of "GOD LOVES YOU - MADE YOU IN HIS IMAGE." (Then if we're so wicked, what does that make Him?) Truth to tell, we are NOT miserable sinners. Reject that insult. Minor faults, yes, and misdeeds. But most of us are decent, law-abiders - NOT congenital crooks, NOT Al Capone clones to be roped into endless, repentance rituals. Hear this, ye clergy of many faiths. If the shoe fits, you'd jolly well better QUIT your wholesale condemnation of your congregations before a fed-up "someone" up and sues you for slander! Saintly though you seem, watch out! The faithful will rise, en masse, to protect themselves from stigma by high-powered "predators." Young and old need inducement to build pride and confidence in themselves. We should enable them to look in the mirror, burst into smiles, and shout: "Hey! I'm unique, in fact I'm kind of terrific." Respecting themselves, they can respect others. Having received love and encouragement, they harbor no thoughts of revenge, retaliation - no wish to harm others anywhere, anyway. No need to control, no such word in their dictionary as "violence." And no one, ever again gets to toy with their integrity. It is claimed: "WE ARE ALL EQUAL UNDER THE LAW." (If only!) But still I say: "May the time come when we are all equal in the eyes of organized religion." So that our healthy self-esteem is transformed into genuine love and concern for family, community and nations of this world. VIOLENCE NO MORE? Until then, as we - IF we come to our senses on this urgent PREVENTION versus PRISON issue, I can dream, can't I? Nancy Littell Fox Port Leyden, NY Formerly of Ashland AHS has lots of talent ... and a few jerks OK, starting acknowledgment: There are some high schooler students who are real jerks. I’m thinking their number is small though their impact may be loud and spread far, giving a bad name for the larger majority. Friday night I sat among the majority. That evening there were four conflicting events, each of which I wanted to attend. I chose the Ashland High School talent show and by the time I went home later that evening I felt extremely fortunate. Three things struck me. First, I enjoyed myself and the people around me. Second, there is remarkable talent at the high school, high caliber, life-enhancing talent, some of which took significant skill and extensive work to manifest, and other abilities that appeared to come easily and hinted at tremendous potential. Third, provoking this letter and bringing me close to tears when I fully register, was the spontaneous support from the 2/3 student crowd of those on stage. Most pieces performed took memory that sometimes faltered in the spotlight. It was apparent the acceptance and encouragement was not just for particular friends but for everyone. My spirit was buoyed by an audience responding like a positive family. I was inspired by the courage of the performers and humbled by the maturity of everyone. This is the next generation and they are doing us proud!! Keith MacClaren Ashland Lininger missed the point I was disappointed but not surprised at Jay Lininger’s (Jan. 12) response to my letter (Jan. 6) in which I addressed the unchecked run-off that occurs from the granite pit, in south Ashland, into Tolman Creek. He twisted my letter to best meet his agenda, to stop the Mt. Ashland expansion. Mr. Lininger completely missed my point. I do not doubt that the environmental movement has had a huge positive impact on the protection of ecosystems, fish and wildlife, as he addresses. There seems to rarely be a middle-of-the-road agreement. Extremes on both sides have to battle it out. Unfortunately, no matter what the decision, someone always thinks that the decision was wrong, even if there are concessions from both sides. Comparing Mt. Ashland, expansion or not, to a huge scar left by over 40 years of excavation, with no attempt to control any sediment from leaving the site, I find misguided. There are no barriers, no hay bales, no sediment ponds, no foliage, nothing to hold it back. This year has been extremely bad because of all the heavy rains. On the other hand the entire ski area is above 6,000 feet. At this time, there are more than 100 inches of snow at the top ... this does not “run off” like a good rain storm at 2,500 feet. There are checks and measures to control sediment at Mt. Ashland. That is the big difference here. Mr. Lininger makes several statements that originated from quotes and letters that are over 25 and 30 years old. Oh, and when I last checked, Mt. Ashland was under different management than at the time these quotes and letters originated. Let’s keep current! I invite Mr. Lininger and anyone else to visit the granite pit to see for themselves. I would encourage you to visit the site just after a good rain storm. And finally, I am forwarding this and my previous letter to the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Geology and Mineral Industry. I would encourage others to voice their opinion on this issue to those who can make a difference. Jim LeMay Ashland Taking Copeland to task We have listened to Paul Copeland question the intentions and integrity of Ashland School District personnel and School Board members for the last ten years on a variety of subjects. I speak for many when I say it is time to call him on his tactics and facts. As a community, we need to show our students how one can disagree on important issues without impugning another’s reputation and intentions. We live in a community that highly values kids and education. School Board members, both past and present, share that value and have been and continue to be committed to excellence in education for our students. While individual opinions on boards may diverge, the common intention, to do the very best for our students, is constant. To question that intention and commitment, as Paul has done, is disingenuous at best. Paul’s comment that the current Board came in to office with a mandate requires clarification. In the most recent School Board election the prevailing candidates won by a two to one advantage with a 27% voter turnout. Of every 11 registered voters, 2 voted for the winner, 1 voted for someone else, and 8 didn’t vote at all. This does not diminish the efforts these candidates and their supporters put forth, nor does it question the legitimacy of the election. They won fair and square and now must set policy for the school district. Paul’s use of the word “mandate” however, is a stretch. Paul has called in to question the motivation of previous Boards as it relates to school closures. Previous Board decisions regarding school closures were based on financial realities, significantly declining enrollment, and the desire to keep class sizes as low as possible. Recent demographic information strongly suggests that these decisions were prudent. After a three-year school closure process involving multiple community forums, the overriding concern voiced by parents was keeping class size as small as possible. The Board’s decisions were based on honoring this priority. The Board transferred resources from overhead and administration to directly benefit students in classrooms. Comments made by Paul about overcrowding are misleading because they fail to include the whole picture. None of our elementary schools currently has an enrollment larger than the previous peak enrollment in the early 1990s. One of the benefits from saving money through school closures was the ability to reduce class size. Ashland currently has some of the lowest class sizes in the State of Oregon. Paul implies in his comments that the Youth Activities Levy is interchangeable with general fund monies. Again, this is erroneous. The levy has grown from just less than $1 million in the mid 1990s to the current approximate $2.2 million, not the $2.5 million Paul claims. Because of statewide funding laws, the district can only spend levy money on a very restricted set of programs. These programs cannot be academic programs leading to graduation. While the levy has been tremendously beneficial to the district, it alone has not been able to solve the district’s financial challenges. The Ashland Schools Foundation has provided more that $300,000 per year for several years in unrestricted general fund money. Even the generosity of our community through the Youth Activities Levy and the Ashland Schools Foundation has not closed the gap in education funding. Paul’s language obscures the complexity of the issues facing the school district. His comments are misleading and cause further discord in our community at a time when we need to come together to assure the continued success of our district. His concern about the upcoming bond issue and contract negotiations is well taken and yet his comments “spread fear and ignorance”, the very thing he accuses the Ashland School District of doing. Driving a wedge between people at this critical juncture will not move us closer to success in these endeavors. As a former School Board member, I join many others who wish to move in the direction of bringing the Ashland community together and past the rancor and discord of the last few years. I invite and challenge Paul Copeland to join us by changing the tone of his public discourse and work together in good faith rather than at odds, questioning each other’s motivations and integrity. I thank the current Board for their commitment to serve our students. Ellie Thivierge Ashland Web letters are submissions that did not appear in the print edition. Web letters are edited only to ensure they do not contain personal attacks, inflammatory or obscene language. Web letters may be longer in length than the 250-word limit placed on letters appearing in the print version of the Tidings. However, we suggest a polite 600-word maximum limit on web letters. 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