A crowd of riders — some local and some from as far as the Bay Area and Northern Washington — came out to Mount Ashland on Saturday to celebrate the debut of Mt. A-Line, a 1-mile, machine-built jump trail boasting 50 jumps, a 40-foot gap and a beginner-friendly track. The project is being hailed as a potential game-changer for Ashland’s outdoor tourism.
People young and old came from far and wide to gather at Southern Oregon University’s Thalden Pavilion on a sunny Sunday, Sept. 21, to celebrate peace and spread the message of peace to others.
Events Sunday in Ashland and Friday in Phoenix mark the International Day of Peace and the closing of a “Week of Peace.” Sunday’s event at the Thalden Pavilion marking the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission (ACPC) features Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey as keynote speaker and music by the Ashland Peace Choir, all by the world’s only solar-powered World Peace Flame, a living symbol of unity, hope and environmental stewardship.
As the sun rose over Lithia Park on Sept. 14, families gathered to welcome weary runners crossing the finish line of the Pine to Palm 100 — a legendary 100-mile ultramarathon ending its final chapter. Among them was Tim Smith, an Ashland pharmacist who ran to honor his late daughter, pushing through pain, grief, and 25,000 feet of elevation.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association will host an opening party, barbecue, and ribbon cutting for “their most significant trail to date,” according to President Ryan Hawk. The association — funded by donors and fueled by volunteers — creates, maintains and supports hundreds of mountain bike trails from Grants Pass to Ashland.
The Ashland Community Food Bank doubled its volume in August, reflecting a troubling trend fueled by inflation, job loss and tightening access to food assistance programs. Executive Director Amy Broeker warns the level of need could soon become the norm as food bank faces shortfalls in funding and more competition for scarce local grants. Broeker and other leaders are calling on the community to step in.
Local artists talked about their work, what peace means — through sculpture, painting, and poetry at the Langford Art Gallery in Phoenix, during “VISIONARY: Art from the Heart,” part of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission’s 10th anniversary and observance of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.
The art of fermentation takes center stage again Sept. 20-21 as Fermentopia, Harvest Edition, serves up a second helping in Phoenix — a weekend celebrating flavor, culture and connection.
The Ashland Family YMCA has always had an internal safety plan, says Heidi Hill, chief executive of the organization. But not until last fall did the nonprofit have a specific plan for a wildfire evacuation on the books. It is the first local organization to ask Ashland Emergency Management Coordinator Kelly Burns how to make such a plan.
An Ashland artist was given a chance to paint a special mural, one that might help those who are in need. With a mandate to “engage and possibly lighten the load of the people passing beside it,” muralist Sarah Bernard began what would become a four-month project painting a mural on a dining room wall at the OHRA homeless shelter in Ashland.
The Oregon Legislature is meeting this week to consider some major cuts to current spending levels as a large revenue deficit looms. That’s because the state’s tax code automatically replicates new federal tax cuts, including ones passed by Congressional Republicans this summer that will reduce state revenue
Michael O’Looney: Trump and the Texas Legislature are responsible for a partisan power grab that has unleashed bitterness and partisan vindictiveness, all in an effort to subvert an electoral system for partisan ends.
Councilor Bob Kaplan: While the cost of delivering kilowatt-hours to our homes has risen, Ashland Electric has been able to hold our rates steady with just one increase of 5.1% in 2021. I’m sorry to say we’re due for an increase, but fortunately it’s not likely to match recent increases elsewhere.
An estimate for the cost to abate asbestos found in the shuttered Lincoln School recently should be available as early as sometime this week, according to Steve Mitzel, operations director for Ashland School District. The cost to remove asbestos would be separate from the as yet-unknown cost for structural repair.
“We are still here” was the theme for Saturday’s Native American Heritage Celebration at Southern Oregon University, hosted by the SOU Native American Student Union (NASU) and SOU Native Nations Liaison Kenwanicahee (Kenwani) Kravitz (Madesi Bandi, Pit River Nation Winnemem, Nomtipom and Nomsus Bands Northern Wintu).
As Oregon lawmakers stare down a deficit of at least $373 million over the next two years — and brace for the possibility of a bigger shortfall in the state’s next quarterly revenue — they asked state agencies to create lists of ways to cut 5% of their approved budgets.
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