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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 19, 2005 AARP offers invaluable tax help This past week I was fortunate indeed to have my taxes prepared absolutely free by members of AARP at Pioneer Hall in Ashland. This allowed me to save the one hundred twenty dollars I paid for last year's preparation. Those persons providing this service are competent, efficient and experienced. Each completed form is checked by a senior advisor with many years background, and the forms are filed on the day of the service. AARP tax aide is available for all taxpayers in middle or low-income levels regardless of age. This can be helpful to those unfamiliar with tax preparation. This wonderful service is available at 73 Winburn Way in Ashland, at both Talent and Phoenix libraries and also in Medford and in Jacksonville. Take advantage of this great opportunity now. Ramona DeVaul Ashland Marguilis' column is a joy for visitor I recently visited Ashland for the first time. It was love at first sight. I began reading your publication on line, particularly Jennifer Margulis' refreshingly candid, poignant and extraordinarily descriptive column of life events that touch us all from spoiled cheese to the last visit with grandpa. I've been forwarding her column around to friends. They love it, too. I can't wait until the next issue. She has a very warm style with a familiar voice that makes one feel as if he knows her personally. Susan Buscaglia Atlanta, Georgia City signals a good plan for city coffers When I first noticed downtown traffic signals has been set to force a choice between speeding or missing the next signal, I naturally assumed incompetence on the part of the streets department - after all, they were the ones who designed and managed the Siskiyou Boulevard project. Recently Ashland police have been assigned to enforce the maximum speed and this makes it all clear. Instead of an error, the light setting and reduced speed limit is an incredibly clever means of raising revenue with raising taxes. My hat's off to the mayor, city council and senior management. I think the next logical step is to reduce the duration of the yellow light. If we can get that down to 1 or 2 seconds, we should be able to generate a lot more revenue. The only problem I can see is for the traffic officers - they are certain to get far more lip service than anyone should ever get. But there is an easy solution. The residents of Ashland should demand that a councilor, mayor or senior management person ride with the traffic officers and that these officials be the designated abuse-receiver. Norm Wishart Ashland Violence by county deputies is 'taxing' Josephine County Sheriff Daniel is complaining that protests against the old-growth Biscuit timber sales tax his department. Perhaps his department should stop protecting lawless commercial logging operations and protect and serve the people of Josephine County. Perhaps his officers should refrain from using pain compliance holds against non-violent demonstrators, like the 75-year-old man whose thumb they injured so badly it required treatment, or the young man whose shoulder was injured when he was thrown into a paddy wagon. Perhaps the deputies don't need to hog-tie a passive young woman and tie her down on a flatbed tow-truck. Perhaps his officers should get trained in de-escalation and acquaint themselves with tactics of non-violent civil disobedience. Perhaps before he makes denigrating remarks about protesters' heroic efforts to protect legacy forests and retain environmental protection for decades to come, he should think about entire ecosystems, rather than "burnt sticks," as he so ignorantly stated to reporters. Shelley Elkovich Ashland Ugly dog park incident a betrayal I have genuinely enjoyed going to the Dog Park in Ashland - dogs of all shapes and sizes play together in canine camaraderie. Friendships develop among people as well and everyone quickly learns his/her responsibility for cleaning up after the pets. Recently, I encountered a friend and fellow teacher at the park - she was visibly shaken by an ugly incident. Her dog had just done his doggie business and she directed her son to get a shovel for pick-up. Two ladies quickly assumed negligence on her part and became hostile. My friend, originally from Mexico and dark-complected, tried to explain the situation. As her son was returning with the shovel, he witnessed his mother being told to "go back where she came from; go back to Mexico!" She was shocked to have received this treatment in Ashland. Most of her humiliation stems from having her son hear this slur against his mother. I would like to say to the perpetrators of this shameless behavior that they are the ones that have violated the rules of the park as well as the rules of society. I would like to think this was an isolated incident; however I will never feel quite the same anticipation in going to the dog park. Karen Courtright Ashland Dead Indian plans simply shocking I am shocked to hear of the plans for an asphalt plant on Dead Indian Memorial Road. There are many locations in Jackson County that are already industrial and where the plant would be appropriate, but not in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood! I hope this idea is reconsidered! Leon Pyle Ashland Officials need to protect rights I applaud the man who spoke out, although anonymously, against the continuing problem of panhandling, loud music, crowded sidewalks, and the general litter which is associated with homelessness. It's no surprise that members of the city government turn a deaf ear to public complaint. Cushy jobs seem to elevate the holders above the citizenry and offer the additional bulwark of arrogance as response. Look to Berkeley in the 1970's, '80s and early '90s as what can happen to a community when a city government refuses to place restraints on anti-social behavior. Remember People's Park and the filth of Telegraph Avenue? If this is a city council which has an underlying goal to provide well-being for its local, tax-paying population, and protect civil rights, including the right to proceed in a public place unhindered, it had better look around the town and get involved. 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