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http://www.omniture.com --> 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 Featured Galleries: August 11, 2006 Free ice cream awaits Ashlanders By Mark A. Curci Tidings Correspondent Passport 2 is teaming up with local businesses to bring citizens of Ashland free ice cream and opportunities for what they refer to as "creative networking." Joining Passport2 from 3 to 5 p.m. in Garfield Park will be growing celebrity Matt "Ice Cream Man" Allen. Allen was working as an ice cream truck driver in Ashland three years ago and one day decided that he would have more fun with his life giving ice cream away than charging for it. Since his epiphany, Allen has been driving across the country finding businesses to sponsor his altruistic whims. Now returning from the East Coast and Lollapalooza and being interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine, Allen predicts having given away over 40,000 ice creams. Passport2 updates their internet site with video clips of Allen's progress. Passport2 is a growing local business with wide spreading plans. Co-owner Shields Bialasik explains Passport2 as, "a travel guide to our own town. We focus on what a community is and what makes it work." In its interim, Passport2, with its website and widely mailed monthly publication, focused mainly on businesses and real estate with a mindset towards tourism. Nowadays, however, Passport2 is expanding its scope to become representative of the Ashland community at large. "We aim to demonstrate a creative form of community outreach," says Bialasik. This Saturday marks the third annual free ice ream social. Last year, Bialasik estimates over four hundred attendees with roughly six hundred ice creams distributed. This year, Bialasik expects twice as many to partake in the complimentary dairy goodness. "We have 1,200 ice creams and multiple trucks waiting," says Bialasik. Passport2, a privately owned company whose website attracts 65,000 hits a month, is only the beginning. "it's a really neat way of meeting and connecting with people," says Bialasik. "We hope to keep building the Passport2 program here and then spreading to other towns." Bialasik, who helped solicit ice cream donations from local community businesses, says, "This event is a great way for people to have fun and basically network while building relationships. Come out and experience a bit of Ashland and some ice cream." The ice cream social is from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon in Garfield park and is free to the public. Visit Passport2's website at <www.passport2ashland.com>. Current Comments: Ice cream is a product of cruelty. Baby calves are isolated from their mothers at birth. They cry for days, sometimes so hard that their irritatied lungs develop pneumonia. Males may be raised in narrow crates for veal. After 4 years or so, the cows are slaughtered for hamburger meat. About half the dairy cows in the US are raised in confinement. Organic isn't necessarily more humane. It's also not a healthy food, industry propaganda to the contrary. Visit http://www.milksucks.com/. Ron Elterman - Ashland, OR - August 12th, 12:01 AM Matt is a wonderful guy with a lovely vision. I support him 100%. And to our local angry man who posted about ice cream cruelty, I say this, I apologize for whoever made you think that you were not worthy of a good cone now and then. Maybe you should try it. If not ice cream then perhaps a sorbet? Ice Cream Fan - ashland - August 12th, 8:47 AM What a wonderful idea "Free Ice Cream" To the nut job who likes cows but hates Ice Cream. Maybe you could ask Matt for a SOY PRODUCT ice cream and just appreciate his thoughtfulness. A classic case of what's wrong in our world today. Long time Ashlander - Ashland, Or - August 12th, 2:39 PM Oh yea what's wrong with our world is these ice cream haters. People who oppose cruel treatment of animals are the epitome of evil. Get a clue, numnull. I'll tell you what's wrong with the world it's the fact that people like long time ashlander are unable to respect any opinions but their own. Fear what is different, or anything which might force you to think. Fear the truth. Be afraid of the way soy ice cream tastes better than the kind made from bovine excretions. Farquaar - Ashland - August 14th, 1:30 PM I refuse to take seriously any website that claims to have valid information with the word 'sucks' in the domain name. I'm sure Long Time Ashlander has no problem with the opinions of others, maybe it was the presentation? While ice cream may be a product of cruelty, there are a variety of ways to express and advocate for the rights of these animals. Perhaps you could attend the event and protest. Naked. That seems to be the Ashland thing to do :) Angela - Ashland - August 16th, 12:01 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us