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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 Travelers should be alert for wet, but changeable weather Urban goats take to Ashland's yards and sidewalks Ashland Calendar, Nov. 26 Community rallies to light the night for boy 10 things to know for Wednesday Education Teacher's Tips: College not the end-all for every student SOU Honors College team takes on Food Bank project Kiwanis club invites fifth-graders to write flag essay AHS club helps fill Ashland Emergency Food Bank Ashland High School: Students get schooled in interviewing Environment Don't like weather where you are? Move a mile or two Salmon: A force of nature can be restored Students nurturing nature SOU eyes burning biomass instead of gas Navickas ordered to pay court filing fees Business Southern Oregon reports growth in lodging industry Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda CR-V Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Standing Stone stands up for Emergency Food Bank Find your holiday spirit in Ashland’s Season of Celebration Politics and elections Miller write-in campaign lands Ashland Parks and Rec seat Granlund cartoon: GOP wrecking balls Oregon voters narrowly reject GMO labeling measure Kitzhaber wins fourth term Merkley wins re-election by wide margin State News GMO label measure, losing by 809 votes, headed for recount Resent ballots, late results likely to trigger GMO recount Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Fred L. Higginbotham Death Notices Stephen A. Read Death Notices Death Notices Sports Latest Stories Ducks' season has Lone Star roots SOU invites fans to fly with football team Tow overcomes heart condition to spark Raiders Atanda makes most of fresh start Raiders rout Pioneers, to play Carroll in QFs High school Six Grizzlies voted MWL first-teamers Grizzlies roughed up at Silverton Upset-minded Grizzlies brace for undefeated Foxes Georgia Williams commits to Columbia Gabe Lehrburger, Grizzlies clean house in MWL all-star voting Southern Oregon University Ducks' season has Lone Star roots SOU invites fans to fly with football team Tow overcomes heart condition to spark Raiders Atanda makes most of fresh start Raiders rout Pioneers, to play Carroll in QFs Opinion Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Thanksgiving Our View: Pool is not a priority Letters to the Editor, Nov. 26 Jim Brock: Preserving American values? Granlund cartoon: Ferguson verdict Editorial Our View: Pool is not a priority Our view: Keep it simple in OSF courtyard Our view: Expanding the season Our View: Our view: Generating a good idea Letters Letters to the Editor, Nov. 26 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 24 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 15 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 11 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 10 Guest opinions Herb Rothschild Jr.: Greed, love and the Shmoo Guest Opinion: Save the SOU swimming pool Chris Honoré: Was the midterm election a mandate? Herb Rothschild: TPP agreement draws opposition from all sides Guest Opinion: A meaningful step toward political bipartisanship Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Oregon Poetry Association's fall contest winners Movie listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Best Bets: Nov. 20-28 Caleb Klauder Band and The Steel Wheels play the Unitarian Stewart crafts a fine film in 'Rosewater' Theater New design for Bricks takes shape Hard to keep a straight face with 'Red Noses' 'Red Noses' is a romp through slapstick and pathos 'The Drunken City': Bachelorettes meet bar-crawlers Music Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love The Farr Side: Different artists, common songs Longtime area musician Steve Read, 64, dies The Farr Side: CMA telecast was a disappointment Bass Clarinet Takeover Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Foxcatcher’ will leave you shaken and spellbound Movie review: Outrageous comedy, dirty words make ‘Horrible Bosses 2’ tick Movie review: ‘Dumb and Dumber To’ stays true to form Interview: Jennifer Aniston continues to shed good-girl image Movie listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Food and Drink Blue bows out of Granite Street site, Agave moving in Chef count up at feast for the senses Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Ford Mustang 9 ways to green your gift wrap Kent Bush: Don’t regulate Thanksgiving shopping Book review: ‘The Indestructibles: Breakout’ offers twists and turns galore Shayne Looper: Relationships are acts of faith Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Travelers should be alert for wet, but changeable weather ... Urban goats take to Ashland's yards and sidewalks ... Ashland Calendar, Nov. 26 ... Travelers should be alert for wet, but changeable weather ... Urban goats take to Ashland's yards and sidewalks ... Ashland Calendar, Nov. 26 ... ASHLAND Crossing guard clowns, but takes job seriously Dressup started by mistake, but is now embraced by Christopher Miller By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Nov. 14, 2014 @ 7:37 pm By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Nov. 14, 2014 @ 7:37 pm » RELATED CONTENT • Crossing guard told to quit the costumes » Social News Christopher Miller, 67, daily can be found clowning around in elaborate costumes, blasting rock music from his car and welcoming children by name as he helps them across the busy cross-walks at Walker and Homes Avenues.   He may dress up as Groucho Marx, Bob Marley or Edith Piaf — it changes every day — but it’s something the former wine industry professional calls the best job of his life.  “Look at this: no personnel problems, work two hours a day, summers off, it’s wonderful,” says Miller, who helps Ashland Middle School kids across the street in the mornings and Walker School kids in the afternoons.  An employee of Ashland School District for seven years, Miller got the out-of-the-box idea two months ago when he wore pajama bottoms on the wrong day, when it wasn’t "PJ Day." It was the start of a costume theme and a whole new, fun way to be a crossing guard.  Miller just passed his 20th anniversary of sobriety and has struggled with depression all his life, he notes, so his gig as a crossing clown helps a lot — and is quite entertaining to occupants of vehicles.  “It’s wonderful to watch the kids grow up and move onto Middle School and to have fun with them, but first and foremost, I am aware of the safety and well-being of the children. I know where every car is at every moment.”  Miller waves signs urging motorists to slow down or get off cell phones, adding that when the no-phones law went into effect, people obeyed it for a while, but are back to their old bad habits.  Kids in passing cars greet him with waves and smiles. He’s been offered money, but refuses it. He has gotten a few complaints about song noise and wearing dreadlocks, as someone thought it racist. Police even asked for his ID once, but are now used to the act, he notes.  On Wednesday, his costume was a sendup of Steve Retzlaff, AMS principal, whom he invited out to help kids with the crosswalk. The next day, it was Irish singer Van Morrison and Friday, Yoyo Ma. As a youth, Miller had a rock band in Southern California and opened for the Righteous Brothers, Beach Boys and others. He is a member of the Ashland Blues Society. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Nov. 14, 2014 @ 7:37 pm » 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 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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