March 20, 2025
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Ashland.news’ second happy hour Wednesday at Martino’s

Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling, standing on bench, talks to the gathering at the first Ashland.news happy hour on March 29 at Oberon's. The upcoming event will be held July 26 at Caldera. Bob Palermini photo
April 24, 2023

Packed house turned out on a cold, rainy night for first one at Oberon’s

By Tod Davies and Bert Etling, Ashland.news

An editor, reporter, several board members and dozens of people interested in Ashland news walked into a bar.

“What are you interested in reading about?” asked the former. “Ashland news!” said the latter.

So it went Wednesday, March 29, at the first Ashland.news happy hour at Oberon’s Restaurant & Bar on the Plaza, “Ashland’s most Ashlandiest spot,” according to its tagline.

It was a cold and rainy night, but inside Oberon’s the warmth was palpable. The first of Ashland.news’ community happy hours was underway, and the festive feeling was contagious.

More than 50 attendees came in out of the wet to meet the staff and board of Ashland.news, have a little something to eat or drink, and share their thoughts and questions about what local news can mean to our community. Oberon’s provided not just a congenial space, but also the “Prior Restraint,” a cocktail invented just for the occasion (pomegranate molasses, bourbon, lemon, and simple syrup, in case you wondered).

Editor Bert Etling jumped up on a bench to welcome the convivial crowd. He introduced Holly Dillemuth, lead reporter for Ashland.news, and gave a shout out to former board president, Herb Rothschild, “who had the idea and started us going.”

Etling said he had no idea that Ashland.news would so quickly find a place in the town’s heart, and gave the happy hour group a hearty thank you.

“It’s you, and the Sustainers, the ones who donate $5, $10, $20 a month, that keep your local news source going and growing.”

The happy hour series of Ashland.news will also keep “going and growing.” Look for it the last Wednesday of every month. It’s an informal, convivial place to share your questions and comments with Ashland.news.

The April edition is coming up from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday April 26, upstairs at Martino’s Upstairs at 58 E. Main St., Ashland.

Tod Davies is an Ashland.news board member. Bert Etling is executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

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

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