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Guest forum: Embrace the gaps at Fourth parade By Suzanne Mathis McQueen Ashland I want to talk about "the gap." Not The Gap, the store, but the gap that requires a SWAT team to manage; the gap that beats the Holy Begeezers out of the Ashland's Fourth of July Parade every single year. Theoretically a gap is nothing, but I've found it's really a big something. In the year 2000 parade, we were reminded afterward time and time again, that we created this HUGE GAP. It was a big sin for sure. At that time, we were poked and prodded the entire distance by the Red Shirts and probably ran through at least a third of the parade. This caused our very large Egyptian ensemble to spread out even farther. We couldn't get to our water and I saw "going to faint" on several faces of our participants. Not many of us were smiling by the time we reached Water Street and I've got videos to prove it. In 2002 I thought I'd outsmart the gap. We created a tighter force, a faster forward moving dance, and took care of the water situation. I talked and brainstormed with the parade committee (twice) about the gap, took their advice, and also offered some viable suggestions about the gap. In writing, I asked the committee to not ask us to "hurry up" should a gap occur, because we simply couldn't dance any faster. But they came anyway. And they were angry. One red-faced Red Shirt was so "gap" intoxicated that he actually pointed his finger in our faces and threatened to banish us from future parades if we refused to get a move on. The parade is a phenomenal amount of work and expense for everyone involved. As a parade entry, we start brainstorming as early as January - we take our wackiness seriously. It's a six-month project for a one-time shot of 35 minutes of fun. Even though ours was a carefully thought out production (Free to Be Michael Jackson) we had problems with our sound system and tried to make the best of it. The last thing we needed was an out-of-control gap freak telling us we were too slow. Apparently it is the crowd's criticism that has the parade committee declaring war on gaps. So instead of complaining, try one of my top five suggestions of things to do during a gap: 1. Be an official gap entertainer (only with the committee's blessing, of course). Perfect for skate boarders, mimes, etc. The cheerleaders could make up particularly great parade cheers and the two sides of the street could compete. I know, it sounds corny, but think about the potential � 2. Get to know your curbside neighbors. Eat, drink, and be merry! Bring extra food in your cooler to share. 3. Start a wave. See if it can make it up one side and down the other before the next parade entry arrives. 4. Sing B.I.N.G.O. And what about those Red Shirts? They could now be the parade route Samaritans, who ask the parade entries such things as, "Is everything going smoothly here?" or "Here, let me help get that tootsie pop out of your trumpet!" The Ashland Fourth of July parade is not the Tournament of Roses (all floats). It is a small town, old-fashioned parade with no rehearsal; a combo of cars, kids, dogs, old folks, wontons, and bikes - none of which move at the same pace no matter how hard one tries to force them to. The priority should be safety and fun, not impatience. I say, embrace the gap! Embrace the gaps of the Fourth of July parade. Editor's note: Suzanne Mathis McQueen is owner of The Phoenix in Ashland. Election letters: Voting 'no' on activities levy After careful consideration, I have decided to oppose the Ashland Youth Activities Levy even though it would greatly enrich our children's education. First, Oregon has shown its firm resolve to become a domestic equivalent of a third-world nation. Our Legislature has found a niche that few other states are willing to fill. With Oregon's bold cuts in education spending, in the not-too-distant future, other states will likely export low-paying jobs to Oregon instead of abroad. Let's not stand in the Legislature's way now that we have success on the horizon. Ashland will need a work-force to match these jobs, or we will risk losing the work to other cities. So let us be cautious about unduly educating our children. Second, by funding a quality education for our children, we almost guarantee they will have to leave Ashland for greener pastures. Do we really want to be the training ground for tomorrow's leaders somewhere else - perhaps California? Third, if nothing else, Oregon can be the benchmark above which all other states are measured. That is a form of service above self that we should not cast aside lightly. Gary Simms, Ashland Support the levy, and get AFN I would like to suggest two courses of action for Ashland residents: (l) Vote for the Student Activities Levy on May 20. It is worth every penny it will cost us. (2) Sign your television and/or computer up for the services of Ashland Fiber Network. It really bothers me to read that AFN is lacking customers when the only alternative that I know of is Charter Communications. Why in the world would anyone deal with this corporation when excellent local service is available? Am I the only one around who loved the opportunity to tell Charter to stick it in their ear? Try it, you'll like it! Walt Marsh, Ashland Kuenzel will bring his experience to board position I was very pleased to hear that Bob Kuenzel had agreed to run for an Ashland school board position. As everyone knows, these are extremely hard times for the schools and for our children. Bob will bring to this job years of experience listening to people, mediating, and coming up with good solutions to difficult situations. His leadership of the Ashland Schools Foundation during the successful 2002 SOS campaign was an indication of his leadership ability, his vision, his ability to work well with others, and his ability to mobilize people during difficult times. I have found him to be very thoughtful, good at listening to those around him and have been impressed by his ability to consider a multitude of options when looking for solutions. In addition, in his work with the schools foundation he demonstrated his ability to devote whatever time it took to "get the job done." Please join me in voting for Bob Kuenzel for Position #5 on the Ashland School Board. Lisa Sclan Cooper, Ashland Parker can find creative solutions Across the nation, schools are suffering. Tens of thousands of teachers have received pink slips and looming budget deficits only promise worse to come. Yet in Washington, Congress seems unaware of the problems at home. They're talking about cutting taxes and cutting budgets - not about how to keep the schools and essential services going. The final vote on these budget cuts will come in just a few days. Please consider signing a petition to Congress, asking key Congressional leaders to lead the fight against tax and budget cuts, to save education and other basic services from drastic cuts. Sign at http://www.moveon.org/saveschools. Locally, it is imperative that we deeply consider who represents us in educational leadership. Consider voting for Heidi Parker for the Ashland School Board. She works with others to find creative solutions to difficult problems. What better kind of thinker do we need at a time like this? Suzi Aufderheide, Ashland LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -