We were thrilled to welcome community members to the City of Ashland Town Hall Gathering at Southern Oregon University. It was a fantastic evening of connection, conversation and community spirit. Mayor Tonya Graham kicked off the event with her insightful State of the City address, followed by the presentation of two prestigious awards that highlight the dedication and service of outstanding local individuals.
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Alan C. Bates Award recipients, Keith Swink and Tom Giordano, for their decades of invaluable service on the City’s Historic Preservation Committee. Their extended knowledge of architecture and their passion for history have helped preserve and protect the unique character of Ashland.
We also want to recognize Charisse Sydoriak, recipient of the James M. Ragland Volunteer Spirit Award, for her commitment to wildfire mitigation. Charisse has dedicated over 3,000 hours to protecting Ashland from wildfire risks, co-authoring a $250,000 grant to update our community wildfire risk plan, and completing more than 300 wildfire risk assessments. Her tireless work has a lasting impact on our safety and resilience.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of this gathering! A special thank you to our City Council, staff and all who joined the conversation on important topics such as Ashland Fiber Network, conservation, emergency preparedness, parks and recreation, and wildfire mitigation.
We are truly "Better Together" as we work to strengthen our community and make Ashland an even better place to live. View pictures from the evening or watch the broadcast at ashlandoregon.gov/Townhall.