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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 19, 2004 City band article a flawed attempt When I first looked at the back page of the first section of Wednesday's paper, seeing that half the page was dedicated to Jennifer Squires' article on the Ashland City Band really impressed me! And it included nice full-color photography! "WOW!" I thought, "it would be great to scan this and, with the paper's permission of course, add it to the ACB's web site." Then I started reading the article. I saw where she wrote "the 200-plus crowd" and said, "Has she ever been to one of our concerts? Is that a typo? Did she mean 1,200-plus? Or maybe 2,000-plus?" I've been playing in the band for ten years now and I've never seen a crowd as small as 200, even on the days when the concert ended up being canceled on account of rain (twice in that ten-year period). Then later on she misspelled John Philip Sousa's name incorrectly -- twice! I rethought my feelings about adding this to the web site. "Is this something I want the world to see? Audiences in the 200 range? Misspelling of an almost universally-recognized name in music? I don't think so." There was tremendous potential for this article, but it really fell short. Better luck next time. And I really hope there will be a next time! Norman Rowe, Webmaster Ashland City Band Panhandlers are a real problem This letter is regarding your article "Panhandlers Take it Easy (Aug. 7)." Recently, I was at an Ashland grocery store and gave $5 to a seemingly homeless person. While I was leaving the store, I noticed a mini-van pull up to the panhandler, and I overheard the driver ask if they would have enough money to rent another motel room and still have enough for beer. This disturbed me as I realized my contribution was going towards a night of partying instead of for food or clothing in their implied hardship. I'm disgusted your paper provided a positive slant to these vagabonds who don't pay taxes, leach off others simply because they've decided to, stink up the plaza, annoy and harass tourists and hardworking locals like me. What is the financial cost of allowing these individuals to loiter outside of businesses and scare off locals and tourists? My girlfriend was sexually harassed by these free-loaders at least five times this summer alone. I have several customers who have complained of nearly getting into physical altercations with these people because of indecent comments following refusal to provide change. I for one will never give another dime to a homeless person, even if it appears they are mentally ill or on hard times. It's impossible to tell the deceitful and lazy from the indigent. I think the police and the City Council should get even tougher on these street urchins and send them back to where they spend their winters, which obviously isn't here. Jason Cairns Ashland Voters should realize their role I am writing to ask your readers ( and all their family and friends) to vote in your presidential elections. This request is in the interests of the rest of the world who can't vote in your elections. We need you to have the best president available, because what the president does impacts on us all. I would not presume to suggest for whom votes should be cast, but ask that voters exercise their democratic right with great care. The voters will appoint one of their most important employees for the next four years. This appointment needs the same serious consideration that would be applied to choosing a surgeon for an operation on one's self, or someone to care for one's children. Everything except the plain truth and common sense would be black marks against candidates to wield the knife or care for children. I ask your readers; please prove to those who would lead you that they cannot fool enough of the people enough of the time. Margaret Lothian Melbourne, Australia Unfair attack on Vietnam service As a Vietnam Era veteran, I am saddened by the politically motivated vicious attacks on John Kerry. John Kerry served his country as a young man and received decorations for his bravery and valour in combat. The importance of his Vietnam Era service is magnified today by a similar unjust war; waged in Iraq. Will we treat our Iraq war veterans in this way tomorrow? Joe Suste Medford DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams