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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Climate of confusion ... Guest Opinion: A family tragedy revisited ... OSF community dialogue series continues Saturday ... Our View: Climate of confusion ... Guest Opinion: A family tragedy revisited ... OSF community dialogue series continues Saturday ... COUNCIL CORNER Ashland gets prepared for climate challenge By Rich Rosenthal DailyTidings.com By Rich Rosenthal Posted Oct. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Rich Rosenthal Posted Oct. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> We've all heard the bad news about climate change, so what actions are being taken locally? As the City Council liaison to the Conservation Commission and the Climate Action and Energy Plan Committee, I'm pleased to report Ashland is poised to be a regional leader for efforts in reducing emissions and protecting citizens from the impacts of climate change. The schedule of events for Ashland's Climate Week ( Nov. 6-15 ) is taking shape, thanks to the outstanding efforts of Marni Koopman (Geos) and Hannah Sohl (Rogue Climate), a coordinating committee featuring Conservation Commissioners Roxane Beigel-Coryell, Bryan Sohl and James McGinnis and the involvement of OSF, SOU, The Hearth and Ashland Food Co-Op. On Nov. 6 , citizens can learn about clean energy at local art galleries by simply participating in the First Friday Artwalk. The ensuing week features a bike parade, speakers, music, and more, culminating on Sun., Nov. 15, with the Ashland Climate Challenge Kickoff at the Historic Armory, n oon to 4 p.m. The kickoff event is designed to get the community moving toward real and measurable change. Hear about the top three things every resident can do to enter the Ashland Climate Challenge and win great prizes. Also learn how to make your home, business and cars more efficient and what programs and incentives are available. Most important, we need citizen input on climate and energy issues. And as an incentive to "energize" residents to save energy, local restaurants will even provide a free lunch! For more information, or to get involved as a sponsor, visit ashlandclimatechange.org . The Ashland Climate Challenge Kickoff dovetails with the Climate and Energy Action Plan Committee's efforts to develop an organized and prioritized set of actions, strategies and targets for City Council consideration in early 2017. This complex undertaking requires synthesizing citizen input with technical expertise provided by committee members and consultant specialists. To that end, two recent appointees are outstanding additions to the now seven-member committee: Greg Jones, a nationally respected environmental science and policy professor at SOU, and Stuart Green, the sustainability coordinator at Ashland Food Co-Op. With the assistance of city management analyst Adam Hanks, the committee wrapped up its inaugural month by crafting what I think is an excellent request for proposal to attract a top-notch prospective contractor necessary to assist with plan development. I invite public comment and engagement with the committee's work and considerations. The next meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Community Development Building. See the committee's web page at www.ashland.or.us . On a related note, the Conservation Commission will soon launch a can-and-bottle recycling initiative in downtown Ashland. Inspired by the recycling efforts of the Parks and Recreation Department in Lithia Park, the pilot program encompasses the installation of small baskets on the side of existing trash containers. Each basket will be maintained by a local business that volunteers to adopt a basket. Businesses are responsible for sorting garbage and recyclables from the basket, as needed. The baskets will feature small signs, similar to those in Lithia Park, that say “Cans and Bottles Only” with the name/logo of the Conservation Commission, the City of Ashland and the business that adopted the basket. If your business is interested in adopting a downtown recycling basket, contact Adam Hanks at [email protected]. Finally, I want to acknowledge the many folks who have expressed opinions about the Gateway Island public art project. The City Council will learn more about the "Gather" proposal at a joint study session with the Public Arts Commission on Mon., Nov. 30 . The facts and information about the project and the public process, which might not be furnished on Facebook group pages, can be located the "Hot Topics" menu at www.ashland.or.us . Rich Rosenthal is a member of the Ashland City Council. By Rich Rosenthal DailyTidings.com By Rich Rosenthal Posted Oct. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. 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