March 20, 2025
Subscribe to the newsletter (it's free!)
ashland.news
Support Ashland.news
Sponsor Ashland.news

Rotary Club’s annual CrabFest a huge success

SOU Rotaract students served as “crab wranglers.” Adrienne Simmons photo
March 3, 2024

Fundraiser brings in about $70K to support vocational scholarships

By Julia Sommer

Stevenson Union’s Rogue River Room was jam-packed with happy crab aficionados Saturday, Feb. 24, as the Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs presented its 25th annual, all-you-can-eat Kids First! CrabFest. The community-based event raised about $70,000.

Proceeds will support local kids, especially scholarships for Ashland High School students wishing to train for careers not requiring a bachelor’s degree. Southern Oregon University Rotaract students helped with serving the massive amounts of fresh crab. Rotaract is Rotary’s club for college students.

Email freelance writer Julia Sommer of Ashland at [email protected].

Ashland High School volunteers Liv Kim and Mia Miranda. Adrienne Simmons photo
Rotary members Russ Schweikert, left, and Dave Dotterer measure 50-50 raffle tickets; a wing span cost $50, half of which went to the winner, the other half to Rotary. Julia Sommer photo
Crab wrangler supervisor and Rotary member Adrienne Simmons. Julia Sommer photo

Chief crab wrangler, Rotary Lithia Springs president-elect, and Ashland’s Presbyterian minister Dan Fowler gets ready for action. Julia Sommer photo
Susan Aaronson, left (development director at Community Works) and Rotary Ashland president and recent recipient of a City of Ashland volunteer award Janet Troy enjoy the event. Adrienne Simmons photo
Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

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

Related Posts...

AI slop is already invading Oregon’s local journalism

December 9, 2024

The Ashland Daily Tidings — established as a newspaper in 1876 — ceased operations in 2021 (its parent company, Rosebud Media, held on until 2023), but if you were a local reader, you may not have known. Almost as soon as it closed, a website for the Tidings reemerged, supposedly boasting a team of eight reporters who cranked out densely reported stories every few days. The reality was that none of the people allegedly working for the Ashland Daily Tidings existed, or at least were who they claimed to be. The bylines listed on Daily Tidings articles were put there by scammers using artificial intelligence, and in some cases stolen identities, to dupe local readers.

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Rogue Gallery and Art Center Medford Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

Study, city staff say Ashland water rates have to go up

March 20, 2025

The cost of a new water treatment plant project combined with the length of time since its last water rate increase force the city’s hand, Public Works Director Scott Fleury told the Ashland City Council during its Tuesday business meeting: rates must be increased. A rate study says a customer with a ¾-inch meter using 700 cubic feet would see an increase of about $7 a month next year and $8 in the following year, moving up to around $11 per month five years out.

Read More >

The Holly Theatre reopening: Revisiting the 1930s

March 19, 2025

Slated for demolition in the 1990s with its doors closed in 1986, the Holly Theatre in Medford reopened last Thursday, March 13, with opening ceremonies and a live performance by the Piano Guys to a full house. The revitalization of downtown Medford through the Holly, helped by all the volunteers, donors and people of Ashland’s Jefferson Public Radio, took more than 13 years and $13 million. 

Read More >

Our Sponsors

City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Ashland Parks and Recreation Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Become a sponsor

Explore More...

Ashland City Council talks housing density, nudges proposed density toward high end

Members of Ashland City Council debated Monday during its study session meeting how to make the need to meet new state requirements an opportunity for improving the city’s housing stock. The city is required to be in compliance with the state’s Climate Friendly Areas rules by June 30.
Read More >

The Holly Theatre reopening: Revisiting the 1930s

Slated for demolition in the 1990s with its doors closed in 1986, the Holly Theatre in Medford reopened last Thursday, March 13, with opening ceremonies and a live performance by the Piano Guys to a full house. The revitalization of downtown Medford through the Holly, helped by all the volunteers, donors and people of Ashland’s Jefferson Public Radio, took more than 13 years and $13 million. 
Read More >

Curtain Call: New Rep Singers interim executive director brings development, media skills to the job

When Rebecca Goldman first attended a Southern Oregon Repertory Singers concert, it was because she had a friend in the choir. Not long after that, she assumed a leadership role for the organization as interim executive director. Taking over for Jessica Bailey, who resigned to take on another project, Goldman is excited about her new job.
Read More >

Ashland Middle School theater students: The show must go on — but will it?

A crowdfunding effort to fund a spring play at Ashland Middle School has raised more than $1,000 — 20% of its $5,000 goal — to ensure that the show will go on, but there is still $4,000 to raise by the end of the week if fundraisers are to meet their goal. The play's GoFundMe page had collected $1,050 as of mid-day Wednesday, March 19. 
Read More >

Review: Loggins and Messina songs sparkle in ‘Spotlight’

"Spotlight on Kenny Loggins With Jim Messina," now playing at the Camelot Theatre in Talent, is an invigorating evening of their celebrated, extraordinarily fine pop-folk tunes. More often than not those tunes are energetically recreated in the spirit of the '70s and sometimes off the charts.
Read More >
ashland.news logo

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

(It’s free)

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.

Subscribe Now
No Thanks