Riverwalk Newsletter
January - 2006
Parks Commission
November 21: Park Commission members were impressed when a large group of “Riverwalkers” turned out in support of completing the nature park which lies between Bear Creek and Clinton Street. The half acre site under discussion borders Clinton Street and is currently the home of a big green dumpster. Commission members appeared receptive to the preliminary conceptual design presented by Bow Seltzer. This was followed by a hearty outpouring of hopes and visions which included a grassy area with tables and benches, shade trees, and barrier plants which would prevent the area from being used as a parking lot.
We will have further opportunity to participate in the design process, so make sure your ideas are included. Meanwhile, this project will have to pass through city design and budgetary channels. For more info contact Bow at 621-2596.
Mountain Avenue
October 10: A few of us who have been concerned about excessive speed of vehicles
traveling on Mountain Avenue met for the second time with a Traffic Commission
sub-committee. We learned the city had tested current vehicle speeds several
times and found a substantial number of violations of the posted 25 mph limit.
This led to their proposing a series of possible changes to slow traffic:
1. four well-marked crosswalks between Bear Creek and Hersey Street,
2. increased signage designating the park and the presence of pedestrians,
3. narrowing the traffic lanes to 9’ which, it is hoped, would cause drivers
to slow down.
Bear Creek Pathway
Ask anyone connected with the Parks Dept about plans for the Bear Creek bike trail and you’ll probably get a shrug, a blank stare, or both. The original plan to run it along our side of the creek and then on the creek’s northwest edge over to Nevada Street has been dropped. A couple of recalcitrant property owners have refused to grant permission for the trail to cross their land. That, coupled with a shift in the creek itself, has resulted in a temporary halt in plans. Meanwhile, many of us enjoy the short walk out our back doors and through our wonderful park.
The Nature Center
Many of you received the notice regarding the problem with neighborhood cats in the Nature Center across Mountain Avenue. The cats are disturbing their efforts to encourage ground-nesting birds to settle in. We need to be very sensitive to this issue and do everything possible to protect the wildlife across the street as well as protect the health and well being of our pets. And now, the wildlife is starting to use the wetland ponds adjacent to our community, which only makes the problem worse. We all love animals and we all love the Nature Center.
Riverwalk Homeowners Association
The expression, “Rome was not built in a day,” can surely be used to describe the progress as we try to establish our Riverwalk Homeowners Association. Right now we are waiting on a number of items, including a copy of the landscape maintenance contract, a copy of the insurance policy, and other important information that is needed before we can proceed. Sidney Bonte and Dennis Funk have met several times with Russ Dale, the person designated to assist in this process. Hopefully we will have this wrapped up after the first of the year. At that time we will proceed with the election of officers and the legal formation of our association.
CERT – Community Emergency Response Team
What would you do if Ashland had a catastrophic earthquake? What about a flood of biblical proportions? Are you prepared if we are without electrical power for a month? What if five feet of snow traps everyone in their homes? There are many ‘what-if’ scenarios but the bottom line is that any of these events can happen in Ashland.
Ashland has 27 full time firemen, each trained and certified as an emergency medical technician. In a full-fledged catastrophe, it could be hours or even days before these dedicated individuals could address all the problems in a community the size of Ashland. For this reason, Ashland Fire and Rescue has instituted the CERT program – Community Emergency Response Team. Over 160 volunteers have been certified and are poised and ready to jump into service when called upon in an emergency. CERT training includes search and rescue, fire suppression, medical triage, and the psychology of disaster and trauma. Visit the Ashland CERT website at http://www.ashland.or.us.
Kevin Calkins, 431 Clinton, and Dennis Funk, 514 Clinton, are part of the CERT team. In an emergency, their first priority will be to check on the safety and well being of Riverwalk residents. Both Kevin and Dennis have a fully supplied emergency kit along with communication radios in case of phone outage. They will be canvassing the neighborhood in the coming weeks to assess special needs in our community should an emergency arise. If you would like assistance in creating your own emergency kit, contact Kevin or Dennis.
If you are interested in becoming a CERT volunteer, contact Lucy Edwards, CERT
Coordinator, at 552-2226 or email at edwardsl@ashland.or.us to sign up for the
next training opportunity.
SOLIR: Southern Oregon Learning in Retirement
You can choose a place on either side of the lectern at SOLIR. Classes meet at the university on Siskiyou Boulevard. The winter session begins in January, but the deadline for registration has passed so check it out now for spring classes which begin March 17 and run until June 2. A fee of $100 entitles you to take as many classes as you wish. You may not get every class you want but, since an effort is made to accommodate first choices, prioritize your list for that advantage.
The winter session includes Practical Ethics; Bicycle Touring; Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets; Marcel Proust; The Fred Astaire Story; Physics for Non-scientists: How do Musical Instruments Make a Sound? (My own choice this session.)
Wednesday “one-shots” are included. These popular once-only classes are available to all SOLIR members and include such offerings as visits from the staff of our Science museum and the Rogue Valley Creamery (complete with yummy samples.)
New instructors are always sought. If you have an area of expertise or special
interest, SOLIR would love to entertain your proposal for a class. For more
info, visit the website at www.sou.edu/siskiyoucenter/solir/index.shtml
(Submitted by Charlie West, westword@jeffnet.org)
Riverwalk Readers
“Riverwalk Readers” meet at 7:00 pm the third Monday of each month
in member’s homes. Books are selected by group consensus and may be ordered
from Bloomsbury Books on East Main Street at a 30% discount when you use our
group number, 150.
The following books and discussions were scheduled:
October 17: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Debby Baugh’s home at 525
Clinton.
November 21: Postponed in favor of attending the Park Commission meeting.
December 19: “The Big Year” by Mark Obmascik and “A Child’s
Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas. Debbie Baugh’s home
January 14: “The Dive from Clausen’s Pier” by Ann Packer. Hosted
by Charlie and Trish West, to be held at the home of Debbie Baugh (525 Clinton.)
The book discussions are a great way to meet neighbors, discuss your unique
opinions about books (and life), and enjoy snacks and beverages. All avid book
readers are welcome to join.
Contact Charlie West, westword@jeffnet.org).
Riverwalk Writers
Barry Vitcov is putting together a Riverwalk Writers Group. If you are interested
in writing, contact Barry at barryshirley@charter.net.
RiverWalk Film Club
Dennis and Sharon Funk have initiated the new Riverwalk Film Club. On Monday, December 5th, interested neighbors gathered to watch the film, “The Future of Food,” a documentary on genetically modified seeds. If you would like to borrow this film for viewing, contact Dennis or Sharon at 482-1114. The next film night will be on Monday, January 9th at 7:00 pm at which time we will view “The Conscientious Objector,” a documentary about the only non-combatant ever to win the Medal of Honor. If you have a movie you think others would enjoy, contact Dennis or Sharon at dlfunk@aol.com or slfunk@aol.com. Popcorn and soft drinks are provided.
New ideas for joining your neighbors??
If any of the following interest you, please contact me, Shirley Bell, at 482-2365 and 282-4549 or shirlbell@opendoor.com so I can include the new info in our next newsletter.
Take the initiative and volunteer to host a new event.
___I’d be willing to host a non-denominational meditation group beginning
in February.
___How about a series of monthly or bi-monthly dinners which feature ever-changing
groups of 6 - 8 people at various host homes with a pre-set menu for all groups
involved (so food doesn’t overwhelm the social aspect).
___If you are a gardener, perhaps you’d like to form a group not only for
exchanging ideas with other gardeners, but one which might additionally help
beautify our subdivision.
___Do you enjoy foreign films and other movies? And talking about them after
viewing them?
___These are just a few suggestions. Let us know your ideas.