Kudos to Ashland’s new emergency management coordinator, Kelly Burns, for providing a cooling center this past week — and even making available a smoke-free place on Saturday morning. Thanks also to the First Presbyterian Church for providing the space. We all can help Burns out by signing on for shifts. He can be contacted at 541-880-3564.
Wendy Eppinger
Ashland
George Kramer: Three members of the Ashland City Council voted against putting the question of whether residents should have a say before new fees or taxes are added to our monthly utility bills. Three others supported asking voters that question. Mayor Graham voted no, against democracy, which means the only way this question can be put to the voters is through the petition process.
Ambuja Rosen: It seems to me that at least some of the time, the City Council is a yes-man for top staff. Not just the top staff who want Ashlanders to fund their substantial and frequent raises. But also the police chief, who has gotten council to “yes” him twice as he increasingly buckles down on our homeless citizens.
Sean McEnroe: Of course, if you’re a busy person, you could save a little time by using a leaf blower — neighbors be damned — or you could pay landscapers to make the noise for you.
John Marciano and Leslie Dwyer: There will be less money to pay for food programs here and across the country. This is an inhumane treatment of struggling families. At the same time, the U.S. has spent billions supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
“We are still here” was the theme for Saturday’s Native American Heritage Celebration at Southern Oregon University, hosted by the SOU Native American Student Union (NASU) and SOU Native Nations Liaison Kenwanicahee (Kenwani) Kravitz (Madesi Bandi, Pit River Nation Winnemem, Nomtipom and Nomsus Bands Northern Wintu).
As Oregon lawmakers stare down a deficit of at least $373 million over the next two years — and brace for the possibility of a bigger shortfall in the state’s next quarterly revenue — they asked state agencies to create lists of ways to cut 5% of their approved budgets.
The 1816 literary fairy tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” will take Cabaret Theater audiences on an imaginative journey through the enchanting world of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s holiday classic.
This bonus “variety” puzzle is an acrostic with a quirky quote about newspapers — in support of year-end fundraising efforts. Solve it in your browser or download and print; how to solve acrostics. Next Friday’s crossword: Turkish Delights #03. Check out the Mini crossword on Tuesdays.
As of Nov. 3, Ashland Community Food Bank has a new director at the reins. Catie Mahoney will serve in the role with guidance from outgoing director Amey Broeker, who will officially retire on Dec. 31 after serving in the food bank role since 2022.
The Ashland City Council will review a proposal from a potential provider to oversee its extreme weather shelter during its regular business meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
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