Document text
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 10 things to know about Thursday, Jan. 22 City survey shows residents largely satisfied 'Rogues' characters come out to play at Paschal Winery City's policy, efforts aim for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Police Reports Education Chickenpox in rear-view mirror? Ashland schools expand chicken pox exclusion rules Students go behind the scenes at hospital Ashland robotics team aims to build a winner AHS ranked No. 7 by Niche Environment The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Turning fire fuel threat into wood stove heat Ashland watershed trails would change under proposal Business Silvio Calabi: Ford Escape Still a Solid Player Ride & Drive: 2015 Cadillac Escalade Brammo bought by Polaris They have a plan Ashland coffee roasters win nationwide honors Politics and elections City's policy, efforts aim for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Chief Holderness retiring, wants to help find successor State News State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices James Henry Hopkins Robert Lawrence Death Notices Shareable Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Sports Latest Stories Four Raiders up for SOSC honors Blazers win game, lose Aldridge to hand injury Seahawks see need for improvement Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Leonard's strong return powers Spurs past Blazers High school Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown A Grizz sweep Comets press past Grizzlies Raiders put on a show Graham sparks Grizzly rout Southern Oregon University Four Raiders up for SOSC honors Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Mariota wins Manning award Heisman winner Mariota says he's going to the NFL Buckeyes won title behind line play, Elliott and Jones Opinion Latest Stories Our View: Editor's Notes: King event was a true celebration Letters to the Editor, Jan. 22 Granlund cartoon: Deflated footballs Matthew T. Mangino: A call for independent investigation of officer-related shootings Editorial Our View: Our View: King's other message Our View: A matter of survival Other Views: Get GMO rules right Our View: No benefit from LNG pipeline Letters Letters to the Editor, Jan. 22 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 21 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 19 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 16 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 14 Guest opinions Chris Honoré: The Lewis Glacier on Mount Kenya — an elegy Herb Rothschild Jr.: King's provocation Guest Opinion: Bikes, hikers/equestrians need separate watershed trails Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Guest Opinion: City hiring policy is fair, unbiased Revels Latest Stories Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Brian Freeman presents 'An Evening of Scottish Music' Best Bets: Jan. 22-29 Ballyhoo! brings reggae and rock to Brickroom 'Sniper' reveals the total cost of war Theater Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Theater is an act of co-creation Music The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore The Farr Side: Top 10 album count-up for 2014 Visual Art Schneider winter exhibits on tap: 'Baker's Dozen' and 'New Works' First Friday kicks off a new year Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Sniper' reveals the total cost of war Kevin Costner shares thoughts on race and storytelling Interview: Jennifer Aniston works through her character’s pain in ‘Cake’ Movie review: ‘Blackhat’ is a frustrating 404 error Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Gail Ciampa: Creative ways to explore the oft-maligned cauliflower 'Rogues' characters come out to play at Paschal Winery Healthy Aging: Whether supper or dinner, it's best eaten together 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Jan. 23-25) Paint a room or two in a weekend Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Our View: ... Editor's Notes: King event was a true celebration ... 'Rogues' characters come out to play at Paschal Winery ... Our View: ... Editor's Notes: King event was a true celebration ... 'Rogues' characters come out to play at Paschal Winery ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Save the ski area, bring the community together, end the divisive expansion Move would end divisiveness created by Mt. Ashland plans Comment By Eric Navickas DailyTidings.com By Eric Navickas Posted Jan. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Eric Navickas Posted Jan. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News As another week passes without snowfall and the Mt. Ashland Ski Area remains closed, the Mt. Ashland Association’s financial situation becomes more and more critical. The federal government has already shelled out $750,000 of taxpayer funds to allow the ski area to continue to operate this year, the administrative staff has been radically reorganized, and maintenance has been desperately deferred. Without another major bailout, it is unlikely that the ski area can continue to operate another season. Unfortunately, the unpopular expansion proposal that has been pushed forward for over a decade has created deep division within the community. The uncompromising board of directors has offended many through its unwillingness to look to more modest alternatives. The board even went so far as to sue the city of Ashland at a heavy cost to taxpayers. The city had taken on liability through ownership of the ski area and appropriately requested modest oversight and bonding. Agreements could have easily been resolved without litigation. The board’s staunch refusal to face the realities of operating a ski area within a restricted and critical municipal watershed has frustrated all involved. The board of directors has created a situation where broad community support for the ski area does not exist. The community-supported fundraising campaign that bailed out the ski area in the early '90s is no longer possible. Divisions are too deep and popular support has fully eroded. Although I am a longstanding advocate for protection of the Ashland Creek watershed, I still support maintaining the existing ski area as a community asset and beneficial recreational use area. The necessary community support, however, for another bailout of the ski area will only come with the withdrawal of the expansion proposal. The Forest Service and the MAA Board of Directors both have the power to end this divisive proposal through withdrawing either the decision or the application. I believe the future of the ski area and the ability for fundraising to move forward is contingent on this obvious and necessary decision. The ski area expansion proposal has been costly, divisive and unsuccessful. It has dragged down the ski area’s ability to invest in improvements within the existing area and exhausted reserve funds that were robust when the city took over ownership in the early '90s. Restoration and stabilization of areas with heavy erosion has been limited, at best. There is no issue that has divided the community more deeply and these divisions will take time to heal. We have the opportunity to all come together as a community united and work to save the existing ski area but this will only come with a final end to the unpopular push to expand. The time has come to withdraw the decision toward expansion and bring the community together. Former City Councilor Eric Navickas lives in Ashland. By Eric Navickas DailyTidings.com By Eric Navickas Posted Jan. 20, 2015 @ 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