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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad July 2, 2005 Detour derby Fourth parade has a few twists this year By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings The Fourth of July will be a day to trade the car keys for walking shoes, a bike or a free ride on the bus in Ashland. Road work on East Main Street will create a larger Fourth of July detour for this year’s parade down Siskiyou Boulevard. Photos by Orville Hector | Ashland Daily Tidings Between detours around the parade route and road race course, street closures due to construction, rising gas prices and the population boom for holiday festivities, maneuvering a motor vehicle through the heart of town will be more trouble than it’s worth. But for many others around the country, traveling by car isn't a luxury, it is a necessary part of the daily grind. Even during vacations, the family vehicle is often the mode of transportation to far away destinations, despite the rising cost of fuel. Nationwide, AAA officials expect the Fourth of July to be the most-traveled holiday weekend of the year, although the price of a gallon of gas has risen 32 cents in the past year. “While people do care about the price of gas, they are willing to sacrifice in other areas,” said Elliott Eki, public and government affairs director for AAA of Oregon and Idaho. “They’ll find other was to economize.” ALETHIA MOORE smiles after filling up her tank for less than $5, which will give her about 46 miles before she has to refuel. Gas prices have gone up between a half-cent and a cent per day this week in Oregon, according to Eki. On average, a gallon of gas bought in the Ashland-Medford area on Friday ran $2.49; a year ago it was $2.11. Many residents of Ashland enjoy the luxury of living within close proximity of downtown and the festivities planned for the Fourth of July. With expected crowds of out-of-towners visiting the city this weekend, officials are advising Ashlanders to leave the car at home. “People should, if they can carpool,” Ashland City Administrator Gino Grimaldi said. “If they live in town it’d be a great time to break out the bicycle or walk.” Approximately 10,000 visitors descend on Ashland each year for Fourth of July festivities. Music in Lithia Park, a crafters market and a wildflower show will fill the afternoon until the American Band College concert at Ashland High School and the evening fireworks display. The parade — the big draw — starts marching at 10:15 a.m. is expected to run just shy of 2 hours. “It’s always a good parade,” Ashland Chamber of Commerce volunteer Art Lundahl, adding the number of entries is down from approximately 150 in 2004 to 86. “[People] get there early and they set up their stuff. They come in from all over.” People can begin staking claim to prime parade-watching locations beginning 7 p.m. Sunday, although the safety of blankets, tarps and chairs is not guaranteed. Any gear put out prior to 7 p.m. may be confiscated by APD officers and could be drenched by city sprinklers, which will water the Siskiyou Boulevard median on Sunday. APD officers will begin cordoning off streets for the parade and road race around 7 a.m. The race kicks off at 7:45 a.m.; the parade starts from Triangle Park at 10:15 a.m. “The less [people] that drive, the better,” Ashland Police Department Sgt. Teresa Selby said, explaining vehicles may not have complete access through the downtown area until mid-afternoon. Detours ( see map ) RVTD will provide free bus service along three different routes in Ashland throughout the day and encourage people to park or walk to bus stops instead of attempting to drive through town. The Boston Brass Quintet are the soloists for The American Band College as it presents its ABC Directors’ Band 17th Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Concert at the Ashland High School Football Stadium. Pre-concert music by small ensembles begins at 7 p.m. A concert by the two 110-member Directors’ Bands begins 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $11 for seniors 62 or older, and free for kids 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are available at Cripple Creek Music in downtown Ashland, online at www.bandworld.org or at the gate on July 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Courtesy photo “We’ve been doing it every year,” RVTD field supervisor Scott Eason said. “I’d rather park my car at Bi-Mart and ride the shuttle than park down there.” Detours will take traffic approaching downtown on North Main Street to the left and down Hersey Street. The route proceeds to Mountain Avenue and then vehicles may continue up Mountain Avenue to Siskiyou Boulevard. Traffic approaching downtown from Siskiyou Boulevard will turn right onto Mountain Avenue and proceed to Hersey Street, then onto North Main. The southbound lanes of North Main Street will be closed to traffic from Wimer Street to the Plaza. Siskiyou Boulevard will be closed from Mountain Avenue north to the fire station on the corner of East Main Street. Side streets along the south side of the closed section of Siskiyou Boulevard will be used as parade staging areas, and East Main Street from Eighth Street to Mountain Avenue remains closed for sewer line and road-bed repairs. No parking will be allowed along North and East Main streets from Church Street to the library until after the parade rolls through town. All city offices, Southern Oregon University, the library and the Ashland YMCA will be closed to observe Independence Day. Staff writer Jennifer Squires can be reached at 482-3456 x 3019 or [email protected]. --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. 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