Letters, Oct. 19 – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News : #Letters #Oct #Medford #News #Weather #Sports #Breaking #News CelebSurgery
Food Project says thanks
You know what’s scarier than a cold, dark Halloween? Opening your cupboard to fix your kids a meal, and finding the cupboard empty.
For many parents in Ashland, the question, “what’s for dinner?” can be incredibly stressful. But thanks to the generosity of the Ashland Food Project’s donors, the shelves at the Ashland Emergency Food Bank are once again stocked, offering folks nutritious food and other supplies.
Last week, the Food Project collected green bags from donors’ front steps and unloaded over 23,000 pounds of food at the Food Bank. It’s an example of what happens when a lot of people take small steps that, taken together, generate a huge impact. Our sponsor this month was the Ashland Shop’n Kart, which has long provided generous support to the Food Project. Please consider taking a small step with your neighbors and becoming a donor. You can sign up at www.AshlandFoodProject.com.
Carolyn Anderson, on behalf of the Ashland Food Project Board
Ashland
A vision for Applegate Valley
The rural Applegate Valley offers much to its surrounding cities: a vacation landscape of swimming holes, hiking trails and wine country. But we receive few resources in return. We pay property taxes, yet lack law enforcement, solid internet infrastructure and have little in the way of codes tailored to our specific rural needs.
Instead, we fall under ill-fitting county and state regulations that are enforced mainly through a complaint-driven system. That’s not all bad: There is a measure of freedom in that no one is watching us.
But it also keeps us in a reactive state: Change only happens after enough gripes pile up. By then the damage is done.
But there’s a bright spot: Our local community-building nonprofit, A Greater Applegate, hosted a series of listening sessions in all of our different “neighborhoods.” In a remarkable act of grassroots self-governance, hundreds of residents turned up to map their assets, line-item their needs and dream up a future. The result is the Applegate Valley Vision Plan, a 90-page document with over 500 ideas for action.
What would our valley be like if it was vision-driven instead of complaint-driven? Forward-looking, instead of reactive?
The Applegate Valley Vision offers a glimpse.
Christina Ammon
Ruch
Learn about Jeff Golden
I have known Jeff for many years. He really cares. Jeff has been to numerous town halls and online forums as a state senator. I have attended a few, and the way he makes room for all voices to be heard and then navigates to find common ground and ways to move forward with solutions that most can agree on is quite a feat.
In a political climate that can push for divisiveness and click-bait sound bites while having candidates’ pockets lined with lobbyists’ money and corporate needs that don’t always see the needs of communities and local folks, Jeff walks to a different tune. He takes your concerns seriously and does his best to govern for the good of our community.
He is intelligent, down to earth, and does the hard task of leaning in when things are complicated and uncomfortable to find the way forward, together.
Eric Grace, business owner
Medford
Reasons to vote
All the things Tina Kotek is promoting are the reasons not to vote for her.
Raising taxes, spending our money, promoting the planned non-parenthood industry, decriminalizing drug use, promising campaign spending limits (her campaign has raised millions), etc. Please remember to vote.
Jim Fleischer
Medford
Vote for Dyer
I have had the pleasure to meet and work with Rick Dyer for eight years.
He is a hard-working person who strives to make life better for those around him. He loves this community and works tirelessly to help the people in it.
In the time I have known him he has always had a consistent message of trying to help make our county be a better place. He is a very good communicator as well as a great problem solver.
Rick grew up here and knows the ins and outs of then county and will fight for what is best for our area. Rick has always been a hard worker and he has been super successful bringing people and teams together. Leaders need the qualities that Rick possesses to collaborate and make the best decision for all. Please join me in voting for Rick Dyer for Jackson County commissioner.
Scott Plankenhorn
Medford
Elect Denise Krause
We urge voters in Jackson County to let Denise Krause, a small business owner and family farmer, contribute her life skills and experiences to Jackson County’s Board of Commissioners on Nov. 8.
Denise has led a citizens group concerned with egregious actions taken by a county pig farm. She discovered the limitations of Jackson County efforts to enforce its own ordinances and protect county residents. She exhaustively researches topics. By actively listening to all stakeholders regardless of party affiliation to solve problems, she brings a balanced approach to address county challenges: allocation of water resources, establishing fire preparedness, proliferation of illegal marijuana grows, and crises in mental health and addiction.
At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, she created a customized program to improve statewide health care access for all. She was responsible for managing multi-million dollar budgets.
Go to https://www.krause4commissioner.org.
Suzanne and Jack Witucki
Ashland
Politicians bought, sold
Almost all state and federal elected officials take money from special interests and political action committees — and they all expect something in return. They are effectively bought and sold in the marketplace like livestock, except the buyers are purchasing influence instead of meat.
Randy Sparacino cannot get enough of that special interest money — take a look at his financial report. Jeff Golden, on the other hand, will not, does not — and never has. His campaign is largely financed by small donors.
Jeff has a level of political integrity that is unsurpassed, one that puts him at a financial disadvantage, but puts him miles ahead of Sparacino on the “who do you represent” question. I have known Jeff for over 30 years, and we are most fortunate to have him as our state senator.
Rich McIntyre
Eagle Point
Vote Joe Yetter
I’m supporting Joe Yetter as our congressman from District 2 because Cliff Bentz sided with Trump in supporting the Big Lie as one of his first acts.
Bentz is anti-choice and denies climate change. On the other hand, Joe will support a woman’s right to choose and will embrace the work required to challenge climate changes threatening our planet. And he will not be a member of the Trump Cult.
Please vote Joe Yetter into Congress. He will support real quality of life measures!
Karen Smith
Ashland
