Document text
1 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 Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Police looking for possible additional victims in Ashland rape cases Bee college takes to the air Police Reports 10 things to know for Friday Education Bee college takes to the air Grizzlies shine at Eugene speech tourney Ashland High School named among best in the state High school Student of the Month: Jackson Richmond Senior party fundraising starts Environment The birdman of Bellview Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Locally grown businesses bid for micro-investor attention Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Seed donation helps grow SOU program Local home brewing scene continues to ferment Politics and elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally State News Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Rita Launa Stitt Rev. James Gillmore Leovy Death Notices Mary Ann (Schuler) Hill Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Blazers overcome Westbrook's triple-double, rally past Thunder Roles reversed for SOU-OIT matchup Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Raiders survive High school Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Grizz boys fend off Eagles, earn second straight win Malcolm's big night powers Ashland past N. Eugene Grizzlies suffer another tough loss; SOU softball team sweeps BC Southern Oregon University Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Roles reversed for SOU-OIT matchup Raiders survive Raiders roll into CCC semis A man among boys Voices Latest Stories Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? Granlund cartoon: Leonard Nimoy dies Our View: A growing concern Jeffrey Gillespie: Generation Y and the baby boomers Our View: A change of scenery Editorial Our View: A growing concern Our View: A change of scenery Our View: Pot tax fairness Our View: Cellular dissonance Our View: Keep pot programs separate Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 25 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 20: Letters at length Feb. 18: Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Guest Opinion: Why so anxious to tax marijuana? Herb Rothschild Jr.: A good day for peace Columns Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? Jeffrey Gillespie: Generation Y and the baby boomers Changes in latitude Michelle Teheux: Will we keep heading down the wrong path? Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Writers, submit HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'Mr. Turner' paints an intense portrait Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Ticket Availability SOU's 'The Glass Menagerie' is memory — and memorable Ticket Availability Joyous re-launch of 'Dames at Sea' Music Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Lazarus Effect’ should have been buried Movie review: Don’t ‘Focus’ on the problems and you’ll enjoy this Neill Blomkamp discusses his new film, ‘Chappie’ Quick Flicks: ‘Jupiter Ascending,’ ‘50 Shades of Grey’ Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Mourning a teacher, treasuring the threads he wove Community Blog: You Are IT Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Health Watch: Sticking to your health plan when your family isn’t helping Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Cheeseburger pie is the perfect winter comfort food Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? ... Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series ... Police looking for possible additional victims in Ashland rape cases ... Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? ... Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series ... Police looking for possible additional victims in Ashland rape cases ... EDITOR'S NOTES Changes in latitude Editor's Notes: Changes in latitude Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Who knew marble has terroir? The term is usually used to describe the influence of where a grape was grown on the taste of wine. The character of the soil and climate affects how what’s grown there turns out. Makes sense. But marble? You’d think its character was, well, set in stone. Yet evidently what Ashland bought to make the fountain recently removed from Chautauqua Square “is not suited to our climate,” according to a theory put forward in an Ashland city staff report. There’s some science — well, at least experience — to back that up. The marble, which was purchased by the city from a Mexican quarry, began to “weep” (shed water through the marble itself, not through a crack) less than two years after its installation in 1990. More than one attempt at repair was made. The most recent, in 2008, worked — until freezing weather set in, according to the same city staff report. So, it seems, the marble was only suitable for climes more temperate than this part of the world. Look, there’s lots of marble fountains (or so I’ve heard) in Italy. But that makes sense; Italian marble, Italian fountains. The rock didn’t have to leave the ’hood to find work. Maybe marble is not the best material for fountains. I know the iconic, marble-tile-lined outdoor Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle, within my old stomping ground, leaks like a sieve. Or did, before they drained it because of the drought. Maybe Ashland should have bought Italian marble. Turns out we’re only about 20 miles north of Rome, relative to the equator. We’re about 1,460 miles north of Ashland’s sister city, Guanajuato, Mexico, near where the marble was quarried. The fountain was not, as some would have it, a gift from Guanajuato. It was designed by the late Bill Emerson of Ashland, who received a city Historic Preservation Award in 2010 for his work on the former Grizzly Roasting Company building at 11 First St. Emerson’s work will not be lost, however, as significant features of the fountain, including its centerpiece “gargoyle head,” were salvaged and will, at some point, find a new home in Ashland. So, besides not working, why was the fountain removed? To make “Chautauqua Square ... a more inviting space for patrons and the community,” said Oregon Shakespeare Festival General Manager Ted Delong, according to the minutes of the Jan. 6 City Council meeting. Its removal, he’s quoted as saying, would make way for a food concession, tables and chairs and “better circulation.” Council discussion, the minutes say, included Councilor Pam Marsh saying OSF “was interested in creating a great public space that invited a cross-section of the community. It was not about getting rid of people, it was about creating a different environment by inviting all kinds of people into the space.” Marsh’s comments echo those of — surprise — Emerson, as reported in a 2006 Tidings story about plans for the Plaza: “(Emerson) said the original (Plaza) design called for another fountain, more benches, the information kiosk to be in a different place and a larger grass area on the East Main Street side of the plaza. ... All of these changes, Emerson said, would have made the plaza more conducive to attracting a more diverse population, thus driving away the people that plaza business owners have complained are bothering tourists and residents. ‘I guess the city removed (benches) because they didn’t want panhandlers.’ ” I guess some things never change, regardless of your attitude or latitude. Bert Etling is editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 26, 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. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501