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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland's ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum to double classroom space New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Police Reports Schneider Art Museum installation re-imagines Rivera UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Letters to the Editor, March 27 Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community Blog: What is Peace? Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... COUNCIL CORNER Council Corner: Solar power in Ashland's future Comment By Carol Voisin DailyTidings.com By Carol Voisin Posted Mar. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Carol Voisin Posted Mar. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter or email ... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter or email [email protected] .   » Social News After six years of serving the citizens of Ashland as a city councilor, hearing the voice of the public during testimony and at many public events I attend, I can only say that I am in awe of our community and its citizens. We are a visionary, generous, pragmatic and often opinionated community. I know that what makes Ashland special is you — everyone who has chosen to live in a town on the side of a hill where we enjoy the benefits of world-class theater, an excellent public school system, and a vibrant regional university. Ashlanders are gracious in opening their hearts, minds and homes to visitors from every state and from around the world while honoring their community’s history and shared values. I am grateful to be a part of this caring community. Given who we are, we have the tools to face the serious issues before us with confidence. We’ve done it before; we can do it again. I‘m presenting a brief overview of some important issues the city is facing, and then highlighting what I believe we must do in the very near future. Our city’s infrastructure — electric power, water, streets, waste management — provides us with the basic services that allow us to enjoy our quality of life. Support for maintaining and improving our infrastructure must continue to be the focus of everyone in the community, not just our city officials. Ashland is indeed fortunate to own its sewer treatment plant, electric power, fiber network and water treatment plant. We pay for these vital operations through our utility rates and property taxes. The unrecognized and essential resource that we don’t have to pay for and that we use daily is nature and the beautiful setting in which we live. We are beginning to care for the amazing natural resource that is our watershed — thousands of acres of forestland that keep the snow melting slowly in the summer and into the streams that fill Reeder reservoir, our source of water. By removing the fuel for fires in these forests, they are being restored to a more natural state whereby controlled fires can keep our watershed resilient and protected from a catastrophic fire. Our responsibility for our natural surroundings doesn’t stop with this. Here is a glimpse of my vision for what we in Ashland must do within the next five years if we are to do our small part in slowing climate change. First, let’s build a solar farm on the city owned property located across the freeway. This property reaches from about Valley View Road to Eagle Mill Road and Oak, then east to the power lines. Three hundred acres out of this over 800-acre parcel is excellent for solar. In addition to this, federal and state governments are offering funding close to 50 percent for such a project. Let’s act on this to create a solar farm on city property. All we need to do is to invite businesses to bid on a project. Our costs are minimal. This is a win-win for Ashland — renewable energy at our fingertips. Such a resource can keep us from reaching Tier 2 that is far more expensive energy rates from Bonneville Power. The urgency is that Congress is threatening to take away all funding for solar in early 2016. We need to act now in order to ensure a reliable and renewable source of energy for Ashland. Another idea that we have toyed with for years is creating a trolley service downtown during the high tourist season. Dozens of tourist destination cities offer such a service. Visitors take the trolley from their hotels to downtown, to OSF, or to restaurants; and they don’t have to use their cars. This lessens the pressure on existing parking, cuts down on street congestion and carbon emissions. Let’s do a trial run this summer using the Tourist Occupancy Tax, otherwise known as the hotel/motel tax — dollars matched by business community contributions with no expense to residents, who can use the trolley. We need to stop dreaming about it and act now. We must reduce our carbon emissions and our carbon footprint now . I’ve used my word limit so must stop. I want to listen to you. I’m beginning a “Community Listening Post” on March 14 and April 3 at our library. Let’s talk about the issues before the council and our community. Watch for the Tidings ad and flier. Carol Voisin is a member of the Ashland City Council.                 By Carol Voisin DailyTidings.com By Carol Voisin Posted Mar. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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