Reader Photos: Empty Bowls, full hearts

At right, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Tim Bond. To his right is Judge Joe Charter. Dale Robinette photo
October 18, 2023

It may have been Friday the 13th, but luck was anything but bad in Wesley Hall

Ashland-based photographer Dale Robinette submitted this text and photos of the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser last Friday, Oct. 13:

By Dale Robinette

Five p.m. First Methodist Church of Ashland. A little victory, and 12 images to prove it.

Despite it being Friday the 13th, good luck, good food and good company abounded.

The delicious scent of savory soup drew me into Wesley Hall. Celebrity servers like Tim Bond and Tyler Hokama of Oregon Shakespeare Festival were ladling out African peanut soup and clam chowder.

Former Ashland City Councilor and current Ashland Parks & & Recreation Commissioner Stefani Seffinger and former Ashland Mayor and state Sen. Alan DeBoer. Dale Robinette photo
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Interim Executive Director Tyler Hokama. Dale Robinette photo

Alan BeBoer was laughing and portioning out a hearty chicken noodle. 

All in all — six shimmering crock pots beckoned you to the serving table.

Louise Paré, a  staple in our community, served you five different bread choices. 

A smiling Bill Kauth plied you with cookies, cookies and more cookies.  

And our hosts Herbert and Deborah Rothschild scurried all night between kitchen and seated guests. 

Several guests did have seconds — some sampled all the soups.

I would have done the same, except I had my hands filled with cameras.

A touching moment of silence for  Israel was led by Herb Rothschild. 

Thanks to all,

Dale Robinette, photographer

Wesley Hall sign. Dale Robinette photo
Empty bowls. Dale Robinette photo
Deborah and Herb Rothschild Dale Robinette photo

Waiting in line for some soup. Dale Robinette photo
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Tim Bond. Dale Robinette photo
Scooping soup. Dale Robinette photo
Bill Kauth. Dale Robinette photo
Louise Paré. Dale Robinette photo

Email your photos taken in and around Ashland to [email protected]. Be sure and include the names of people in the photo (if any, from left to right and front to back), where and when taken, and say what’s going on in the photo and the name of the person who took it. Note: Photos with a horizontal (“landscape”) orientation work better in our web design.

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Our Sponsors

Camelot Theatre Aretha Talent Oregon
Ashland Community Health Foundation Lights for Life Partners and Donors

Latest posts

Obituary: Vincent Paul Shubat

Obituary: Vincent Paul Shubat died on Dec. 19, 2025, at the age of 90, leaving behind a wide circle of family, friends, and acquaintances. Vince lived a life defined by curiosity, courage, and connection.

Read More >

After brief opening, Mt. Ashland Ski Area ski operations pausing indefinitely

The likelihood of rain and the already low snowpack have resulted in the Mt. Ashland Ski Area pausing ski operations indefinitely as of Thursday, New Year’s Day. In a press release Wednesday afternoon, ski area officials said the New Year’s Day forecast calls for rain with a high near 38 degrees and south-southeast winds around 18 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Ashland Climate Collaborative Sreets for Everyone Ashland Oregon
City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon

Explore More...

Picture This: A reflection of the year through Ashland.news photographer Bob Palermini's camera.
In state and national news, many Oregonians stood out for standing up. From protests and marches against Trump and his administration’s policies, to dozens of lawsuits against the federal government. Massive spending and tax cut packages that passed in Washington D.C. and Salem dominated this year's political coverage
Black Alliance & Social Empowerment (BASE) Southern Oregon hosted a Kwanzaa celebration Sunday at the Historic Ashland Armory, featuring music, dancing, youth presentations and a candle lighting ceremony.
Wanda Petzold Olsrud, known for her quiet but steadfast generosity and the decades she and her late husband Sherm spent supporting community organizations from medical facilities to youth programs, died on Monday at the age of 100.
The likelihood of rain and the already low snowpack have resulted in the Mt. Ashland Ski Area pausing ski operations indefinitely as of Thursday, New Year’s Day. In a press release Wednesday afternoon, ski area officials said the New Year’s Day forecast calls for rain with a high near 38 degrees and south-southeast winds around 18 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.

ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)