Editor’s note: Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne covers city government, including its ongoing efforts to find ways to shape policies around homelessness. For better insight into the issue, Rothborne spent a night in early December in the shelter when it was operated by Jobs with Justice in Calvin Hall at First Presbyterian Church of Ashland.
Carrie Dahle: Staging might sound fancy, but it’s just about showing off your home’s best features. Rearrange furniture, bring in cozy touches or work with a pro to create a space that feels both welcoming and aspirational. Trust me — staged homes sell faster and for more money.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek on Thursday continued the homelessness state of emergency she declared on her first day in office for a third year as the state continues to grapple with the crisis of thousands of people living outside.
Although mobile home parks once offered affordable living options, a shift during the past decade found privately owned investment and property management companies purchasing or stepping in to manage mobile home parks which, residents say, have imposed stringent rules that were not in place when they first moved in.
The city of Ashland’s severe weather shelter will move to 2200 Ashland St. and be operated by Rogue Retreat starting Wednesday, Jan. 1, and will operate in that location for 90 days, according to city Emergency Management Coordinator Kelly Burns.
In June, the nation’s highest court ruled in favor of Grants Pass, deciding that cities could impose criminal penalties without running afoul of constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment. Since then, city officials have limited where about 600 homeless people can pitch a tent or sleep to just two locations in the city of 39,000.
Following an outspoken public comment period mainly opposing the project, Ashland School Board voted Thursday evening to approve a development team tasked by the Sunstone Housing Collaborative to build a housing complex at Lincoln Field on North Mountain Avenue.
Councilor Bob Kaplan: Our housing problem may still feel intractable, and progress is slow, but we are focused on removing obstacles and creating opportunities that weren’t on the table five years ago.
Real Estate Corner: I’ve been noticing an interesting trend. There’s movement both ways — people discovering Ashland as their dream destination and others leaving for the next chapter in their lives. So, what’s driving these shifts? Let’s examine why people are moving to (and from) our fantastic town.
A rash of break-ins over the past few days resulted in about $5,000 damage at two Ashland low-income houses under construction by Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity. No suspects have been arrested. Food and drinks for volunteers who were building the house near North Mountain Avenue in the Beach Creek subdivision were eaten.
As of Nov. 3, Ashland Community Food Bank has a new director at the reins. Catie Mahoney will serve in the role with guidance from outgoing director Amey Broeker, who will officially retire on Dec. 31 after serving in the food bank role since 2022.
The Ashland City Council will review a proposal from a potential provider to oversee its extreme weather shelter during its regular business meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
The Ashland Independent Film Festival has added a second screening showcasing Indigenous filmmakers on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Three and a half years into the war with Russia, Ashland violinist and longtime music teacher Faina Podolnaya is still finding ways to help Ukrainian refugees.
Herbert Rothschild: As the number of ads in The New Yorker has shrunk, it seems as if the wealth of its readership has concentrated, just as one might concentrate the flavor of a sauce by reducing it on the stovetop.
Local artist MaryAnn Shank will share the thoughts behind her newest novel “Sor Juana, My Beloved” at Bloomsbury Books Jan. 26. Shank is a finalist of The Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Book of the Year 2025 award, awarded by the International Latino Book Association.
(It’s free)
