March 24, 2025
Subscribe to the newsletter (it's free!)
ashland.news
Support Ashland.news
Sponsor Ashland.news

Their Christmas gift to us: Working

Craig Mesco was busy checking out a continuous line of shoppers at Shop’n Kart Christmas morning. Some people had just a few items, and others were doing last-minute gift shopping. Mesco has been a checker at Ashland grocery stores for almost seven years and said he didn’t mind working on holidays since his family was grown and away. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
December 25, 2023

While most have the holiday off, many show up to work for others’ safety, health and convenience

By Bob & Tracy Palermini, Ashland.news

Ashland streets were quiet Christmas morning. Most businesses were closed in observance of the holiday — but that wasn’t true of every establishment. Gas stations, hotels, senior living communities and police, firefighters and health care workers at Asante Ashland Community Hospital were among those on the job despite the holiday.

Police and fire department shifts were staffed at normal levels. Ashland’s Shop’n Kart, the only grocery store open in town, and a number of mini-marts helped shoppers with last minute needs. The Varsity Theatre opened late in the morning to offer big-screen entertainment.

According to USA Today, “a 2014 poll conducted by Allstate and the National Journal estimated that a quarter of the U.S. population was scheduled to work on at least one of Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day.” 

Bob Palermini is an Ashland.news board member and photographer. Email Ashland.news at [email protected].

The usual team staffing of four Ashland Police officers were out patrolling the town on their 12-hour shift Monday. Officers (from left) Andy Gomez, Stephanie Aguilar and Sgt. J. R. Godley were finishing up a call while officer Bill Fisher left on a transport to the Jackson County Jail. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Craig McMillan was working a 12-hour shift checking in patients to the emergency room at Asante Ashland Community Hospital. McMillan, a 10-year Navy veteran, said he was happy to be part of a close-knit team at the hospital where he does a couple of jobs. His wife, who also worked at the hospital, was recently diagnosed with cancer so he was happy for the extra pay he was receiving for working on a holiday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Varsity Theatre’s first movie showing on Christmas Day started at noon. Employees Tarika Hodgson, at left, and Lily Hall opened the theater. About nine employees were taking two to three hour shifts so that no one would need to work the entire day. They were anticipating that the newly released film “The Color Purple” would be the big draw of the day. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Alexander Warner, who has worked at Shop’n Kart for about one year, “re-faces” the egg display. He also restocks and prices items at the store. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Ashland’s Shop’n Kart was the only grocery store open in Ashland on Christmas Day. The store was very busy at 10 a.m., and they stayed open until 8 p.m. About 25 employees were at the store working according to manager Sophie Henderson. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Four Ashland firefighter/paramedics manned Ashland Fire & Rescue Station No. 2 on Christmas Day. Their 48-hour shift began at 8 a.m. that morning, and they were looking forward to sharing an afternoon meal with family members and fellow firefighters at the downtown station. The fire department schedule tries to spread holiday duty around, but many in this crew have worked a number of Christmas holidays in a row. Firefighters on duty were, from left, Chris Giraudo, who has been with the department for almost one year; Rod Lacoste, with the department for 24 years; Brandon Winwood, with the department for nine years; and Ashley Manning, with the department for 15 years. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

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

Related Posts...

Softball: SOU extends 14-game win streak

March 23, 2025

The top-ranked SOU Raiders softball team (25-1 overall, 9-0 Cascade Conference) matched the best start in team history with Saturday’s 8-0 and 9-1 victories, finishing off both in five innings. Ari Williams, a junior right fielder, went 6-for-6 with seven RBIs, a double, a triple and an inside-the-park home run during the doubleheader.

Read More »

Women’s basketball: Injury dooms Southern Oregon in quarterfinals

March 22, 2025

A giant what-if clouded Southern Oregon’s historic run as the season ended in heartbreak Saturday in the NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinals. Top-seeded Bethel (Tenn.) dinged the No. 2-seeded Raiders’ perfect record and knocked them out of the tournament by storming back for a 74-70 win at the Tyson Events Center.

Read More »

Our Sponsors

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

Latest posts

Softball: SOU extends 14-game win streak

March 23, 2025

The top-ranked SOU Raiders softball team (25-1 overall, 9-0 Cascade Conference) matched the best start in team history with Saturday’s 8-0 and 9-1 victories, finishing off both in five innings. Ari Williams, a junior right fielder, went 6-for-6 with seven RBIs, a double, a triple and an inside-the-park home run during the doubleheader.

Read More >

Women’s basketball: Injury dooms Southern Oregon in quarterfinals

March 22, 2025

A giant what-if clouded Southern Oregon’s historic run as the season ended in heartbreak Saturday in the NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinals. Top-seeded Bethel (Tenn.) dinged the No. 2-seeded Raiders’ perfect record and knocked them out of the tournament by storming back for a 74-70 win at the Tyson Events Center.

Read More >

Viewpoint: Helping Ukrainians in need

March 22, 2025

Jim Nagel: I would like to invite you to join us on March 30 for a benefit concert, film and speakers at the Ashland High School’s Mountain Avenue Theatre. We will show a video interview with Sviatohirsk Mayor Rybalkin thanking the people of Ashland for the truck and the support that we have given them.  

Read More >

Our Sponsors

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

Become a sponsor

Explore More...

‘Does AI have a soul?’: Artificial intelligence conference in Ashland tackles big questions

Four artists were asked if they could define at what line artificial intelligence could compromise human creativity. As they passed a microphone between each other, their conversation challenged the concept of a soul. The deep existential dive came on the first night of the Approaching AI Summit, the second year of an artificial intelligence (AI) summit in Ashland.
Read More >

Picture This: Hannon Library celebrates 20th anniversary

Picture This: Hannon family members joined with Southern Oregon University officials, faculty, staff, students and member of the public Thursday, March 13, to mark the 20th anniversary of Hannon Libary.
Read More >

Softball: SOU extends 14-game win streak

The top-ranked SOU Raiders softball team (25-1 overall, 9-0 Cascade Conference) matched the best start in team history with Saturday's 8-0 and 9-1 victories, finishing off both in five innings. Ari Williams, a junior right fielder, went 6-for-6 with seven RBIs, a double, a triple and an inside-the-park home run during the doubleheader.
Read More >

Women’s basketball: Injury dooms Southern Oregon in quarterfinals

A giant what-if clouded Southern Oregon's historic run as the season ended in heartbreak Saturday in the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals. Top-seeded Bethel (Tenn.) dinged the No. 2-seeded Raiders' perfect record and knocked them out of the tournament by storming back for a 74-70 win at the Tyson Events Center.
Read More >

Men’s basketball: Raiders fall to defending champs in NAIA quarter-finals

The ride is over. In the NAIA Men's Basketball Championship quarterfinal round, Southern Oregon finally ran out of gas. Defending national champ Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), the Duer Quadrant's top seed, stopped the No. 11-seeded Raiders 69-56 on Saturday evening at Municipal Auditorium.
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