Best of Ashland 2010 (People & Businesses)

What a year! Actually, what a decade. On top of economic and foreign policy disasters, we had two wars (three if you count the war on terror), Katrina/Ivan/Ike, the 2004 tsunami, the Twilight movie, Dick Cheney shooting his lawyer with a shotgun, and Michael Vick convicted for sponsoring dog fights in Georgia.
Since the last “Best of Ashland” was published on January 20, 2009, there have been some positive highlights. Barack Obama became the first black man to be inaugurated President of the United States (POTUS), the economy is slowly recovering, and health insurance reform may finally be implemented after 79 years of harboring the most inefficiently run health care system in the world.
On the local front, the City Council continues to flail away, approving a flawed sign ordinance and now trampling on the First Amendment rights of local newspapers by forcing them to distribute their papers only in government-approved boxes which aren’t very effective, thereby “restricting their expression,” which is in violation of Supreme Court rulings.
And to top it off the City Council abrogated their responsibilities last fall by asking the citizens to once again approve an unnecessary meals tax—one that adversely affects restaurants in Ashland and causes the loss of millions of dollars a year to the tourism industry. Now they want to spend $125,000 on a consultant to let us know how we can attract more people to Ashland. It’s just dripping with irony.
But let’s get to more fun things. This year’s readers’ survey was again very popular with our readers, as we received over 375 ballots in the mail. It only took a case of Red Bull to help get me through the tabulations, but I’m sure I’ll come down in a week or two.
As always, I will attempt to list as many people and organizations as possible. In cases where it’s “too close to call,” there will be multiple winners. The methodology of this mail-in survey is not perfect, but after 20 years I have some foolproof methods for minimizing the ballot stuffing.
Anyway, let’s get right into it … the Sneak Preview’s 20th annual readers’ survey, “The Best of Ashland.” Enjoy.

DEMOGRAPHICS

The most common demographic in any survey is age. The results of this question prove that the Sneak Preview is read by everyone. The following numbers reflect who exactly answered this survey.
Under 18:     2%
Ages 18-25:    11%
Ages 26-35:    20%
Ages 36-45:    14%
Ages 46-55:    19%
Ages 56-65:    22%
Ages 65+:    12%

MEDIA

FAVORITE RADIO STATION

The first year I did this survey in Grants Pass in 1987, I got a call from a local radio station upset that I would print this information. They had this little thing going where they did their own surveys, then used the results to sell advertising. The Sneak Preview was allegedly ruining their party, and all I can say is … these results are extremely unscientific, so don’t take them to the bank.
Landing the top spot once again were our friends over at Jefferson Public Radio, which garnered 58% of the votes. Our hats are off to KSMF, KSOR and KSJK (an AM station).
The list also included:
• KCMX, Lite 102: 10%
• KROG (96.9): 4%
• KDOV: 4%
• KCNA: 4%
• KISS-FM: 3%
• KBOY: 2%
• KRWQ: 2%
• KTMT: 2%
• All others: 11%

FAVORITE DJ

They always seem to be perpetually happy, but even happy people can make mistakes. Like when they accidentally play a sonata by Beethoven when the caller specifically asked for something by the Beatles. Or they play “Take This Job and Shove It” when unemployment in Jackson County is 15%.
None of our local deejays are that insensitive and, in fact, our readers were able to name quite a few as their favorites. Spinning his way to the top this year was Eric Alan of JPR’s KSMF, who also won this award in 2007.
Others high on the list were:
• Don Matthews at JPR.
• Colleen Pyke at JPR.
• Gemineye at KISS-FM.
• The Bob & Tom Show at KBOY.
• Darcy Danielson at JPR.

BEST LOCAL
TV NEWS STATION

Now that everybody and his brother has a cell phone and access to YouTube, the news cycle has gone from 24 hours to 24 seconds. While news crews carry their equipment to the latest breaking story and try to cover all angles, the man-on-the-street is shooting his own iPhone footage and placing it almost instantaneously on YouTube, while twittering the information to everyone on his list. All of that, however, is amateur material. When it comes to real coverage of the news, we still rely on the professionals.
In this category, we hate to sound like a broken record, but for the fourth year in a row, the winner was the News Team at Newswatch 12 (KDRV).
KOBI/Channel 5 and KTVL (Channel 10) both received their fair share of the votes, however.

FAVORITE TV WEATHERPERSON

Some people like to read the messages that are encoded in jet contrails as they dissipate in the air to get a read on the weather. Others prefer to make predictions based on how their arthritis is acting up. Most of us, however, rely on our local weather person.
And when it comes to the weather, our readers mentioned all the local meteorologists, including this year’s winner, Scott Lewis of KDRV, Channel 12. Scott has called Southern Oregon home since NewsWatch 12 first went on the air in 1985. He’s a graduate of Oregon State University but admits to having also earned credits from the University of Oregon, among other schools.
Others high on the list were:
• Milt Radford, KDRV-12.
• Jeff Heaton, KOBI-5.
• Kevin Lollis, KTVL-10.
• Kay Schroeder at KOBI-5.

FAVORITE REPORTER AT THE DAILY TIDINGS

They’re out there every day tracking down the news, while we all sit at home oblivious to all the horror and mayhem happening on an hourly basis in our community … just kidding. Ninety-five percent of the news in the Tidings is positive stuff, and we have our local reporters to thank for that.
Taking down top honors for 2010 was Sports Editor Joe Zavala, who covers Ashland High School and SOU in detail. Joe has been with the Tidings for the last nine years. He grew up in McMinnville and moved to Ashland in 2001 to attend SOU.
The Top Nine included:
• Reporter Vickie Aldous.
• Columnist Chris Honoré.
• Reporter Hannah Guzik.
• Revels Editor Laurie Heuston.
• Theater reviewer Roberta Kent.
• Columnist Lance Pugh.
• Reporter John Darling.

FAVORITE COVER STORY IN THE
SNEAK PREVIEW
(LAST TWO YEARS)

Most of our cover stories are written in the style of Gonzo journalism, in which the writer isn’t afraid to get involved in the story or mention his or her biases. The style doesn’t appeal to a small, select group of readers schooled in traditional journalism, but thankfully writing isn’t a popularity contest.
The overwhelming choice by our readers was the recent two part series on the meals tax.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• The Medical Marijuana story (December 2009).
• The chemtrails article (April 2009).
• Dog ban at the Growers’ Market (August 2009).
• The sign ordinance article (July 2008).

PEOPLE/BUSINESS

BEST NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN (LAST YEAR)

There’s nothing more exhilarating than taking every cent you own and investing it into a business that might or might not make it. They estimate that out of every ten businesses that start, two-thirds of them are gone within three years (or something like that; don’t quote me on those exact figures).
Here in Ashland, a number of new businesses were mentioned, but the overwhelming favorite was Noble Coffee Roasting, which opened in January at 281 4th Street (next to the Peerless). The coffeeshop, which also sells roasted coffee by the bulk, is owned by three couples—Jared and Carolyn Rennie, Steve and Kelly Sacks, and Caleb and Libby Peterson.
Coming in a close second was the Yogurt Hut at 140 Lithia Way, serving self-serve frozen yogurt with an island of toppings.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Sesame, an Asian-style restaurant located at 21 Winburn Way, across from Lithia Park.
• Taj, an Indian-style restaurant at 31 Water Street.
• Shasta Base Camp, an outdoor store featuring skis, snowboards, gear and rentals at 1658 Siskiyou.
• Patina Soul, a women’s clothing store at 342 Lithia Way.
• Koko’s, a bento/hot dog stand at 249 “A” Street next to Ace Hardware.
• Tease, a restaurant at the corner of E. Main and 2nd.
• Boulevard Coffee, located at 555 Siskiyou in the Stratford Inn.
• The popcorn stand next to the old Ashland Bakery Café.
• Jerry Solomon’s Ashland Electric Bikes.

BEST LOCAL
“GREEN” BUSINESS

“Green” just doesn’t mean installing energy-efficient lightbulbs and turning the thermostat down. It also means making a commitment to business practices that encourage environmental awareness around the globe. And in that regard, our readers recognized Nectar Eco Boutique at 293 E. Main, where owners Marya Hecht and Nicoya Hecht offer organic, soy, bamboo, recycled and sustainable clothing lines.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Ashland Food Co-op.
• Standing Stone.
• Brammo Motorcyles.
• Valley Rain Harvesting.
• Derek Volkart’s American Clay.
• Ashland Electric Bikes.

MOST COMMUNITY-MINDED BUSINESSPERSON

Most successful businesspeople realize that they exist only because they have the support of the community. For them, it’s only natural that they return the favor by getting involved in one or more community activities.
The winner in this category was Alex Amarotico, owner of Standing Stone Brewery.
Others high on the list were:
• Pam Hammond of Paddington Station.
• Alan DeBoer of TC Chevy.
• Ron Roth, formerly of Geppetto’s.
• Denise Baxter of Ashland Artisan Gallery.
• Jim Teece of Project A and Ashland Home Net.

FAVORITE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER

When it comes right down to it, peer interactions are probably the defining motivators for the way our lives are molded. Yes, our parents instill values and ethics, and teachers provide the knowledge, but out on the playground is when life is learned. Back in the classroom, though, a number of local teachers were mentioned, including the number one choice, Ingrid Hansen, a 4th grade teacher at Bellview Elementary.
Also high on the list were:
• Joyce Schlecht of Bellview.
• Morgan Cottle of Walker.
• Lori Fleuter of Helman.
• Matt Damon of the John Muir School.
• Tia McLean at Helman.

CUTEST BABY BORN IN LAST YEAR

This was an easy category to judge this year, as only one photo was sent in. (To the seven people who nominated their favorite babies, we want to thank you for the input. Unfortunately, it did say “include picture.”)
Our congratulations to Ava Soleil Bechtel-Case for joining Planet Earth last year.

FAVORITE PRINCIPAL

Back in my substitute teaching days, I loved it when the principal would show up at the door of an unruly class. It was extraordinary how a seemingly chaotic mass of youthful energy could turn eerily silent in a matter of seconds.
That same respect carries over into adulthood, as our readers named most of the local principals in this survey. Finishing at the top was Jeff Shlecht, who has been holding down the fort at the high school for the last ten years.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Michelle Zundel at Bellview Elementary
• Susan Hollandsworth of Helman.
• Debbie Pew at Willow Wind.
• Catherine Razi of the Siskiyou School.

FAVORITE
CROSSING GUARD

Pedestrian safety has become a big issue in Ashland over the last couple of years, but the crossing guards have been there helping out forever. It’s a huge responsibility, and it’s crucial that they stay focused.
Leading the way in this category was Bonnie Williams at the high school, followed by:
• Leroi Dedeaux at the high school, although I haven’t seen him out there lately.
• Dorinda Jones at Walker Elementary.
• Lillian.
• Chris Lehman at Bellview.

FAVORITE DENTIST

They start off as 32 of your best friends, and little by little they turn on you, especially if you don’t take care of them. Regular visits to your dentist can prevent a lot of problems down the road, and our readers mentioned 24 different ones in this survey.
Drilling their way to the top was a tie between Pete Schwarzer (who also won this in 2000) and Gary MacGraw (winner in 1991 and 1998).
The final votes were fairly evenly spread out, and the Top Ten were:
• Dan Jackson.
• Jared Anderson.
• Mike Henneman.
• Eugene Robbins.
• Randy Rothfus.
• Tom Dumont.
• Dan Marut.
• Mehdi Ghavam

FAVORITE DOCTOR

No matter how much you exercise or how many supplements and vitamins you put in that smoothie every morning, something is bound to go wrong eventually. The human body has way too many moving parts, and every year it needs a tune-up and oil change.
Quite a few doctors were mentioned in this survey, but diagnosing their way to the top of the list was a tie between Richard Morris of Southern Oregon Family Practice; and Craig Mather.
Also in the hunt were:
• Sylvia Chatroux.
• John Sager.
• John Delgado
• Jani Rollins.
• Dee Christlieb.
• Tim Johnston.
• Deborah Gordon.

FAVORITE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRACTITIONER

It should be interesting to see what comes out of Washington in the next few months with respect to the health care bill. All I know is my wife and I spend $800 a month for a $5,000 deductible, and all we get is a $30 co-pay for a doctor’s visit. Seriously, you could take a group of science fiction writers back in the early 30s, when the current system of health insurance was devised, and ask them to write the worst possible scenario for health care, and the system we have today is what they would have come up with. Not only should everyone be covered, but the accent should be on prevention and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Instead we have a system in which shareholders make money by denying someone else medical care. Crazy!
As far as healthy lifestyles are concerned, alternative medicine practitioners have led the way, concentrating more on maintaining one’s health than curing stuff when things go wrong. Leading the charge in this category were naturopathic doctors Geoff Houghton of Clear Creek Healing Arts, and Shandor Weiss of the Arura Clinic. Linda Herrick, ND, also received recognition.
A lot of acupuncturists were also mentioned, including Jenn Collins; Mark Abelle; Ken Bendat; Suzanne Sky; Jody Herriott; and Chad Moyer.

FAVORITE NURSE

The demand for nurses has soared in the last decade, as the health care industry provides ever more services. Here in the Rogue Valley, our readers named 21 different nurses as doing a particularly good job.
Topping the list was Barb Mason, who works at Southern Oregon Family Practice.
Coming in a close second was Kathryn Stringer at Jani Rollins’ office, followed by:
• Lynn Johnson.
• Dorothy Miner.
• Shari Kuykendall (at Craig Mather’s office).

FAVORITE MASSAGE THERAPIST

Your brother-in-law called last week and wanted you to help move that load of old safes, refrigerators and anvils, and the next morning you could hardly move. Your significant other volunteered to give you a massage, but you decided to turn to a professional instead. Where to go? Our readers named 15 different massage therapists, including their number one choice, which ended up being a tie between Leinani Lundahl; and Deb Cleland (of Waterstone Spa).
Others high on the list were:
• Lily Baty at Sunshine Salon.
• Jode Dawson of Clear Creek Healing Arts.
• Marsha Easterday.
• Serena Beach (Beach House).
• Jane Barton.
• Ruby Henrie.
• Eden McCarthy at the Phoenix.
• Dan Shaw at the Blue Giraffe.

FAVORITE HAIR STYLIST

I went and Googled “Famous Hairdressers,” and the only one I’d ever heard of was Christophe, who gave Bill Clinton his infamous $200 haircut during his first year in office. Then, of course, there’s Joseph Torrenueva who gave John Edwards a $300 haircut in 2003. Here in the Rogue Valley, City Councilor Russ Silbiger was recently seen with a bowl over his head getting a $3.75 haircut from Councilor Eric Navickas at the Black Sheep … just kidding.
This was probably the most popular category in the entire survey, as 30 different hairstylists were mentioned. The top spot for 2010 goes to Shirley Remington of Salon Juliet. Shirley’s family moved to Ashland from northern California when she was  young, and she’s a 1981 graduate of AHS. She’s been a hair stylist for six years.
The Top Eight featured:
• Sarah Gomez.
• Leon Danielle.
• Renee Fox-Rowe of Plaza Salon.
• Annie Brown (of Electric Beach).
• Lisa Caplinger of Mane Attraction.
• Kevin Huggins of Plaza Salon.
• Georgene Crowe of Hair City.
• Shannon Christopher of Renu.

BEST PLACE TO GET FACIALS

As the largest organ in the body, skin needs to be pampered on a daily basis. If it dries out, you can look like a Gila monster; if it gets too oily, it appears as if you just had to withstand three hours of grilling at the Senate Subcommittee on Oily Glands.
According to the Sneak Preview’s resident expert (my wife), a facial should be scheduled at least once a month. Where do our readers recommend you go? The number one choice was the Blue Giraffe, located at 51 Water Street.
They were followed closely in the balloting by:
• Sunshine Salon.
• The Phoenix.
• Abbinnito.
• The Beach House.
• Chloe Salon & Boutique.

BEST PLACE TO GET LUBE & OIL CHANGE

Car maintenance is not one of those things you want to put off for too long, and an oil change is right up there at the top. It’s funny how moving parts tend to freak out when there’s not enough oil available to reduce the friction.
Anyway, our readers were able to single out fifteen different places in this category, with the number one nod going to Ashland Auto Repair, the 76 station located on Lithia Way.
They were followed closely by:
• The Oil Stop.
• Siskiyou Imports.
• McClure’s.
• Valley View Auto Repair.
• A-tech 76.
• Lithia Way Texaco.
• Aaron’s Autowerks in Phoenix.
• Henry’s Auto Repair in Phoenix.

BEST PLACE TO GET CAR DETAILED

You know your car needs to be detailed when you find an old receipt on the floor of the back seat and it’s dated March 10, 1999. Or there’s so much dust on the dashboard that your kids play tic-tac-toe on it.
Whom do you call when you need the dustbusters? Our readers most often mentioned the friendly folks at South Valley Autobody & Repair, located at 246 “A” Street, followed by:
• Talent Car Wash.
• Armour Finish in Talent.
• TC Chevy.

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Digital cameras changed the face of photography forever, but when it comes to doing the job right—lighting, poses, background, etc.—we still trust the professionals. Quite a few photographers were mentioned in this survey, including the top two: Chris Briscoe and Orville Hector.
The first five were actually pretty close, and they included:
• Bryan Devore.
• Pam Danielle.
• Rob Jaffe.
Other favorites featured:
• Sean Bagshaw.
• Jenny Graham.
• Graham Lewis.
• Helga Motley.
• Judith Pavlik.
• Pam Lott.

FAVORITE ATTORNEY

Let’s face it. We live in a country governed by the rule of law. There are probably three million different laws on the books, and not even Philadelphia lawyers can keep up with them. When you need advice or have to appear in court, it’s always good to have a professional by your side.
And in that regard, our readers named 19 different attorneys in this category, starting with Alan Drescher, who has now won this category an unprecedented four times (1991, 1998 and 2003).
Others arguing their way to the top were:
• Alexis Packer.
• Jack Davis.
• Bob Good.
• Susan Saladoff.
• Gary Turner.
• Mike Balocca.
• Chris Hearn.

FAVORITE POLICEPERSON

Your heart rate may take a severe spike when you spot them in the rear view mirror (or hiding behind the Burma Shave sign), but when you get robbed, or your car breaks down, or worthless-as-the-day-is-long type people (i.e., gang members, meth addicts, etc.) begin to terrorize your community, you suddenly realize how important law enforcement is.
Our readers definitely recognized their importance, as they were able to name 18 different police officers as their favorite. Getting written a ticket as the favorite for the second year in a row was police officer Malcus Williams.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• Teri DiSilva, who recently retired.
• Bob Smith.
• Bon Stewart.
• Rich Walsh.
• Police Chief Terry Holderness.

FAVORITE
MAILPERSON

In this era of e-mail, YouTube, Facebook and twittering, the postal service is struggling to redefine itself.  Meanwhile, our ever-faithful mailpeople continue to deliver through rain, hail, sleet and technological innovations.
Taking down top honors in this category for 2010 was Steve Case, followed by:
• David Gall.
• Jacque Anderson.
• Rick Georgeson.
• Debbie McKinnis.

FAVORITE MUSIC INSTRUCTOR

The Beethoven sonata “Fur Elise” has always been my favorite song on the piano, so ten years ago when my daughter was taking piano lessons, I tried to get her to teach it to me. She was very patient and understanding, and despite the fact that I failed to play the song flawlessly, Juliet Hayden is still my “favorite music instructor” of all time.
Here in Ashland our readers were a little more discerning, naming Tish McFadden of Rum Tum Music as their favorite. Also listed a lot were:
• Allen Crutcher, piano instruction.
• Beth Martin.
• Lisa Truelove.
• Michael Hawkeye Herman, guitar.
• Faina Podolmaya, violin.

FAVORITE HYPNOTHERAPIST

It’s not one of those carnie tricks where some Svengali dangles a watch in front of your face, then has you down on all fours barking like a dog and howling at the moon. Hypnotherapy is actually “an effective process to bypass the conscious mind and communicate directly with the subconscious.” The results can be quite illuminating and have been used to deal with any number of issues, including smoking cessation.
Our readers were able to name five local hypnotherapists, with Nancy Walsch of Ashland Hynotherapy getting the number one nod.
The list included:
• Lydia Norris of Ashland Mind Matters.
• Rochelle Jaffe of Ashland School of Hypnotherapy.
• Renee Miereanu.
• Nancy Bloom.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNER

It’s a high-profile job that demands a lot of attention and patience. Things can go wrong at any time, and it takes the military skills of a MacArthur to keep everything flowing when disaster hits the kitchen, from a busted dishwasher to the head chef calling in sick.
Our readers were appreciative of their efforts, naming 21 different restaurant owners. This year’s number one choice were the guys over at Omar’s: Bruce Dwight, James Williams, and Don Mercer (who has come out of retirement for a return engagement).
The list included:
• Tom & Lisa Beam of Pasta Piatti and Sesame.
• Billy Harto of Kobe and Thai Pepper.
• Quinn Courtright and Charles Tobey of Alex’s.
• Michael Cooke of Munchie’s.
• Alex Amarotico of Standing Stone.
• Daniel Greenblatt of Greenleaf.
• Jeven Showers of Tabu.
• Marty Morlan of Macaroni’s/Martino’s.

FAVORITE
WAITPERSON

Once we all grow up, we instantly miss the good old days when “Mom” would do everything for us. She’d cook the meals, set the table, provide us with seconds, make dessert, get us drinks, keep us entertained. You know, kind of like a waitress (or waiter).
This was another popular category, as 26 different waitstaff were mentioned by our readers. Serving her way to the top was Beth Crites of the Wild Goose. Beth grew up in Hawaii (Oahu) and moved to southern Oregon six years ago. She’s worked at the Wild Goose ever since ... a lifer.
Other favorite waitpeople included:
• Amy Wong of Martino’s.
• Sophia Palosaari of Lela’s.
• Elena Withers at Brother’s.
• Jay Holden at Geppetto’s.
• Chris Fidler of Alex’s.
• Sam King at Chateaulin.
• Bill Stringfellow at Peerless.
• Kerri Baldwin and Diane Broxson at the Breadboard.
• Pai Kim of Omar’s.

FAVORITE BARTENDER

If you watched the movies Cocktail (with Tom Cruise) or Coyote Ugly, you probably have a romanticized view of bartending. It’s not all flipping bottles in the air and dancing on the bar. You have to make sure everything stays stocked, you have to make multiple drinks at once, and you have to keep everyone entertained while at the same time ensuring no one gets out of hand.
When it comes to bartenders, our readers were able to name 22 in this category. Finishing number one for 2010 was Paul Schmeling at Martino’s. As a testament to Paul’s ability to withstand the pressures of his job, he also won this category in 1997, when most 21-year-olds were only eight years old.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Bear Whitmore at Omar’s.
• Tonie Stewart at Alex’s.
• Duncan Hightower at Tabu.
• Frank Dalziel at Alex’s.
• Matthew at the Peerless.

FAVORITE
MORTGAGE BROKER

Despite what you hear in the media, now is actually a good time to buy a house. The interest rates are low and prices have probably hit rock bottom. At this point, there’s nowhere to go but up.
Where did our readers recommend you go when you want to talk about a loan? While the votes were spread out fairly evenly, the top choice was Joan Broadfoot at Ashland Mortgage, although we just learned that she’s now associated with Par Mortgage.
Other favorites included:
• Ross Rampey of Par Mortgage.
• Clea Arthur at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
• People’s Bank.

CUTEST PET

Three pictures were sent in and through a rigorous in-house vote we determined that Layla, a dog owned by Tiffany Kokanson, was definitely the cutest.
Runners-up were:
• Chunky Wumpus, which is Dylan Robbins’ cat.
• Willow, a dog owned by Megan Doherty.

FAVORITE
INSURANCE AGENT

You have to be a big-time gambler to hang onto something valuable and not insure it. Writing that check every month might seem inconvenient, but it’s also a relief to know that you’re covered in case something untoward happens.
Anyway, when it comes to insurance agents, our readers mentioned 23 of them, starting with Greg White of Reinholdt O’Harra. Greg moved to Ashland with his family in 1981 and graduated from AHS and SOU, where he also quarterbacked the football teams. He’s been an insurance agent since 1996 and with Reinholdt O’Harra since 2001.
Others high on the list were:
• Brian Conrad of State Farm.
• Paul Volz of Farmers.
• Rob Buckmister.
• John Snowden of State Farm.
• Deborah & Terry Clement of Health Insurance Plans.

FAVORITE PHARMACIST

Two years ago in December, three members of my family went to the emergency room for cuts or burns to the hand in a two-week period. There must have been something in the water (or tequila)! We practically lived at Ashland Drug during that time period picking up pain medications, and according to our readers that’s the most popular place to go, as they voted Sandy Allen their favorite pharmacist.
Others mentioned were:
• The staff at Bi-Mart.


FAVORITE
PLUMBER

Water naturally moves downhill and follows the path of least resistance. Harnessing that water in a house, however, is a different matter. The City provides the water pressure by locating its reservoirs on hills, but all that pent-up energy searches daily for a release. And once you spring a leak, it’s all over but the shoutin’.
Where do our readers go when they want to shout about their plumbing problems? Eighteen different ones were mentioned, with the number one nod going to Gerald Fowler of Economy Plumbing.
The Top Five were close and they included:
• Dominic Smith.
• Greg Sprague.
• John Latham.
• Bob Hopkins.
Other favorites featured:
• Paul at S.O.S.
• Richard Ferguson.
• Rob Murphy of Siskiyou Plumbing.
• Kottke Plumbing.
• The guys at DrainPros.

FAVORITE ELECTRICIAN

This is not a profession for people who can’t pay attention to details. One little mistake (like forgetting to turn off the power or checking to make sure the wire isn’t live) can send your butt flying across the room or at least give you the shock of your life.
Who do our readers most like to get shocked by? Topping the list for 2009 was Steve Rouse of Rogue Valley Electric, who also won this award in 2000.
Zapping their way to some recognition were:
• Jeff Benson.
• Tom Van Lehn of Kaylor Electric.
• Chuck and Sam at Welburn Electric.
• Ashland Electric.
• Bear Creek Electric.

FAVORITE LANDSCAPER

Since gardening and landscaping is my hobby, this was one of my favorite categories. I spend a lot of time weeding, pruning, mowing, planting, dead-heading and watering, and someone once asked me why I don’t just hire someone to do it. My response? “It’s my hobby, dude. Do fishermen hire some guy to sit in the boat and fish for them?”
Anyway, for those of you who want to lessen the load of gardening, there’s a wealth of talent in the valley, including a tie between this year’s winners: Stacy Poole of GreenTime Landscape; and Kerry KenCairn Landscape Architecture.
Others high on the list were:
• Miller’s Renaissance Landscaping.
• Ted Loftus.
• Jane Hardgrove.
• Laurie Sager.
• Ashland Greenscapes.

FAVORITE STORE DOWNTOWN

Downtown Ashland continues to attract shoppers and restaurant goers with its array of fine shops and various promotions. Our readers mentioned 29 different stores in this category, and this year the top spot was a tie between Paddington Station, a veritable shopper’s emporium at 125 E. Main; and Bloomsbury Books, a long-time bookstore located at 290 E. Main.
The Top Five were actually fairly close, and they included:
• Rare Earth.
• b.Ella
• Allyson’s of Ashland.
Others in the hunt were:
• Earthly Goods.
• 250 Main.
• Bug a Boo.
• Unicorn Store.
• Nectar Eco Boutique.
• FlowerTyme.
• Avant Garb.
• Prize.
• Webster’s.
• Renaissance Rose.
• Gold & Gems.

FAVORITE STORE OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN

This includes some of the shops near the north interchange, the Railroad District, the area across from the college, the shopping center, the Market of Choice shopping center, and the area near the south interchange.
Eighteen different stores were mentioned, and for the ninth year in a row this category was won by Déjà Vu, a clothing consignment shop located in the Ashand Shopping Center, next to the Cinema.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• The Music Coop in the Railroad District.
• Ashland Recycled Furniture in the Railroad District.
• The Bookwagon in the Shopping Center.
• The Goodwill Store on Tolman Creek.
• Get n Gear in the Railroad District.
• Spirit of Shakti in the Railroad District.
• Bi-Mart.
• The Grange Co-op
• The Dollar Store in the Shopping Center.
• Ray’s Garden Center.
• DJ’s in the Shopping Center.
• Paradise Garden Supply.
• Rite-Aid.

MOST FUN GIFT SHOP

“Fun” is a relative word, but you definitely want a store where there’s a wide variety of gifts and friendly staff. And in that regard our readers most often mentioned both Unicorn Gifts & Toys, which recently moved to 242 E. Main; and b.Ella, located at 60 E. Main.
The top four were actually pretty close, and they included:
• Rare Earth, on the Plaza.
• Northwest Nature Shop, on Oak Street.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• Prize.
• FlowerTyme.
• Maizey’s.
• Soundpeace.

MOST FUN
ANTIQUE STORE

There’s just something about antiques that brings out the best in everyone. Maybe it’s nostalgia for “the good old days” or the fact that most of the “stuff” back then was handmade and meant to last (as opposed to the things coming out of China these days).
Anyway, Ashland has a few shops where you can find interesting antiques, with the number one nod going to Ashland Recycled Furniture, located on “A” Street in the Railroad District.
Also popular were:
• Antiquarium Books & Antiques.
• A-1 of a Kind in Talent.

MOST FUN TOY STORE

For anyone with kids: enjoy spending $25 on a new doll while you can. My 19-year-old daughter called last summer from Corvallis (where she’s going to college) and wanted me to buy her an $8,000 car! I didn’t realize what a bargain it was buying dolls.
Anyway, back in the good old days, Juliet used to love coming to work with me so that she could visit both Bug a Boo (located at 40 N. Main) and Unicorn Toys & Gifts (242 E. Main), which tied in this year’s balloting.
Others high on the list were:
• Northwest Nature Shop.
• Small Change.
• Tree House Books.
• Paddington Station.
• Earth Friendly Kids.
• Fun Again Games.

BEST TANNING SALON

I ran across some material from my college days in the late 60s and found a piece of paper that had my goals written on it for the spring of 1968. At the top was written, “Get a tan.” I think I might have been just a little shallow in my youth.
Where would our readers recommend I go if I don’t want to deal with hanging out at Emigrant Lake all day when the sun is out? Both Tan Ashland, located at 1680 Ashland Street in the Shopping Center; and Electric Beach, at 1253 Siskiyou, definitely have their supporters, and the voting was extremely close.

BEST PLACE TO BUY CANDY

It’s definitely hard to resist good candy, and here in Ashland, our readers are most impressed with the retail product available at Rocky Mountain Chocolate, located at 33 E. Main. (They are also the home to Truffles the Bear, the downtown icon that sat on the bench outside and which the City Council decided was no good. As of this writing, a new political party is being formed in Ashland to vote the current City Council out of power and hopefully replace some of the top management people at the City. Some kind of sanity needs to return to City government and not this anal-retentive, slavish devotion to alleged codes and rules [that could be changed on a minute’s notice, by the way]. Volunteers for the Truffles the Bear Party [with apologies to Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party] are now being accepted. Write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information, and see my commentary on page 37 of this issue.)
Other retail stores selling great candy included:
• Mix.
• Market of Choice.
• Enchanted Florist.

BEST PLACE TO BUY NEW OR USED BOOKS

It’s hard to imagine a world without books. I suppose those electronic Kindle thingies are fun and convenient, and I don’t want to get all Luddite on everyone, but holding an electronic device in the hand and reading War and Peace isn’t right. It just seems … icky!
Anyway, when our readers wanted to find some real books to read, they most often chose Bloomsbury Books downtown, quickly followed by:
• Bookwagon Books.
• The Book Exchange.
• Shakespeare & Co.
• The SOU Bookstore.
• Ambrosia Books.
• Antiquarium
• Rogue Books.

BEST PLACE
TO BUY
HOME DÉCOR ITEMS

This same category ran last year, and while the overall standings are a little different, the number one choice by our readers was once again Maizey’s Bath Body & Home, located at 90 N. Pioneer.
Other popular stores mentioned were:
• Ashland Recycled Furniture.
• Paddington Station.
• Bi-Mart.
• Prize.
• Rare Earth.
• Paris Green.
• Allyson’s.

BEST SELECTION OF WOMEN’S CLOTHES

When the first caveman brought back the coat of a saber toothed tiger for his wife to wear for the winter, little did he know what kind of trend he was starting. Next to food and cable, clothing is one of our great passions, and in Ashland there are a number of stores with a large selection of women’s clothes. Taking down top honors for 2010 was a tie between Earthly Goods at 142 E. Main; and 250 Main, located at 250 E. Main.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Thread Hysteria.
• Kixx.
• Déjà Vu.
• Nectar Eco Bouti-que.
• Avant Garb.
• Naturals.
• Frederica Lawrence
• Heart & Hands.

BEST SELECTION
OF MEN’S CLOTHES

It’s slim pickins for men’s clothes in Ashland, but Nimbus (25 E. Main) and the Ashland Outdoor Store (37 3rd Street) shared top honors.
Others receiving votes were:
• Mountain Supply.
• Avant Garb.
• Goodwill Store.
• Bi-Mart.

BEST PLACE TO
BUY SHOES

You might be able to get away with an entire shoe wardrobe of flip flops in some tropical countries where the temperature and weather are fairly constant, but here in the northern hemisphere, things are different. We need different kinds of shoes for practically every occasion, from dinner parties to campouts.
This category was a close one, as both Village Shoes, located at 337 E. Main, and Earthly Goods at 142 E. Main, have their supporters.
Other shoes sources included:
• Lithia Park Shoes.
• Rogue Valley Runners.
• Nimbus.
• Hemporium.

MOST FUN
FLORAL SHOP

Your brother-in-law just got elected President of the United States, and you want to send him some flowers. We took the liberty of calling Craig Robinson, coach of the Oregon State Beavers basketball team, to ask him how he handled that assignment, being that his sister is Michelle Obama. He advises our readers to call your local floral shop instead of going through one of those impersonal toll-free numbers or Internet sites. (Note: Just kidding about calling Coach Robinson, but you get the point.)
All of the local floral shops were mentioned in this survey, including the number one favorite, Enchanted Florist, located downtown at 180 E. Main.
But seriously, the top three in this category were extremely close, and you can’t go wrong. They were:
• FlowerTyme, on the Plaza at 55 N. Main.
• Eufloria, located at 449 E. Main.
Our readers also like the flowers at Albertson’s and Safeway.

BEST PLACE TO BUY “STUFF” FOR THE GARDEN

I’m looking out my office window at the garden right now to a.) enjoy the scenery and b.) be on guard against deer. I’ve set up barriers around the entire perimeter, and the only way these horned rats can get into the yard is down the driveway. My office window overlooks their route, and as soon as they show up I chase them down the driveway with my shovel. Soon they’re going to learn to take my garden off their itinerary.
This year’s balloting was hard fought, but in the end The Grange Co-op, located on “A” Street in the Railroad District, came out on top.
Coming in an extremely close second was Ray’s Garden Center at 1679 Jackson Road, across from Butler Ford.
They were followed closely by:
• Ashland Greenhouses.
• Bi-mart.
• Paradise Garden Supply.


BEST PLACE TO BUY OUTDOOR GEAR

We live in one of the most ideal environments for outdoor activities, being in close proximity to mountains, lakes, forests, bike trails and oceans (or at least one ocean). Every year you hear reports of some idiot who either got lost or almost died because he or she wasn’t prepared. Having the proper equipment should be the first rule of every outdoor enthusiast.
The battle for number one in this category was intense, but after the final precincts were counted, the Ashland Outdoor Store at 37 3rd Street edged out Ashland Mountain Supply (located on the Plaza).
The list of favorites also featured:
• Bi-Mart.
• Get ‘n’ Gear.
• Kokopelli.
• The SOU Ski Swap.
• Shasta Base Camp.

BEST DAY SPA/SALON

We try to move these categories around every year, and somehow this made the balloting two years in a row. But that’s okay … we all need to be reminded every year that pampering ourselves is something that really should have been included in the Bill of Rights. I mean, freedom of speech and a free press are important, but getting massages and facials should rank right up there.
And in that regard, our readers once again named The Blue Giraffe, located at 51 Water Street, as their favorite.
The Top Three were very close, and they included:
• The Phoenix.
• Waterstone Spa.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Plaza Salon.
• Sunshine Salon.
• Electric Beach.
• Chloe.
• Abbinitto.

GROCERY STORE WITH BEST MEAT DEPARTMENT

In lieu of hunting deer or finding a ranch where they’ll let you slaughter your own cow and take it home with you, it might be best to just shop around at local grocery stores. And when our readers want to take the easy way out, they most often prefer the friendly environment of the Ashland Food Co-op, located at 237 N. 1st.
The Top Five in this category included:
• Shop ‘n’ Kart.
• Albertson’s.
• Market of Choice.
• Safeway.

BEST PLACE TO
BUY JEWELRY

Life just wouldn’t be any fun without jewelry. As good as the human body looks in its natural state, it’s extraordinary how it can be improved with some great diamonds, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
There are quite a few stores in Ashland offering fine jewelry. The number once choice according to our readers was Gold and Gems, located on the Plaza and operated by the Hansen family for almost thirty years.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Art Fx.
• Crown Jewel.
• Karen Alexandria.
• Soundpeace.
• Heart & Hands.

BEST PLACE TO BUY “STUFF” FOR KITCHEN

For people into cooking, there’s no such thing as having enough gadgets and utensils. You’ll never know when you might need a radish peeler or a soufflé pan shaped like Australia or a special knife that cuts only rhudabagas. I might have been exaggerating a little, but you get the picture.
Anyway, when our readers wanted to find “stuff” for the kitchen, they knew exactly where to turn, as both Allyson’s of Ashland and Paddington Station ran away with this category (and they’re located right next to each other, so it’s very convenient).
Others receiving votes were:
• Bi-Mart.
• The Dollar Store.

BEST PRINT SHOP

Print shops were one of the first to adapt to the digital world, as they quickly discarded their typesetting machines and plates for computers and digital files. In the old days you had to supply printers with hard copies of what you wanted; now you just hand them a disc. The job is a lot easier and the quality is better.
Where to go for your printing needs these days? Topping the list for 2009 was Printfast, located in the Ashland Shopping Center.
The list also included:
• Advanced Photo.
• “A” Street Copy.

FAVORITE GAS STATION

I saw a Norman Rockwell painting the other day depicting a gas station in the 1950s. A family of four were enjoying a day out in their convertible and were getting gas, while five attendants were checking their tires, pumping gas, washing windows, etc. And gas was 19 cents a gallon! It was an extraordinary scene compared to today.
Most of the local gas stations were mentioned in this survey, including their number one pick, a tie between A Tech 76 and Ashland Hills Shell, which are located right across from the street from each (the block parties much be hilacious … just kidding).
Other gas stations recognized were:
• The 76 station downtown.
• The Shell station on Walker.
• Valley View 76.
• The ARCO station.
• The Texaco station near the south interchange.
• Chevron.
• The Astro station downtown.

FAVORITE STORE IN MEDFORD

One reader wrote that this category wasn’t applicable in a “Best of Ashland” survey, but we don’t think it’s a bad thing to get out of town every now and then and explore the known world. And when our readers do venture out of their comfort zone, they most often make their way to CostCo, which has won this category five years in a row.
The Top Ten featured:
• Macy’s.
• Target.
• Grocery Outlet.
• Ross Dress for Less.
• Casa Bellissimo.
• Central Art Supply.
• Suzanne’s Home & Garden.
• Michael’s.


POLITICS

CITY COUNCILOR YOU’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE A DRINK WITH

We changed this category from “Favorite City Councilor” because we think the current City Council really needs to get out more often. They just seem to be a bit uptight. I only say this because I worry about them. The list of important issues this community could tackle are endless, and what do they worry about? Stuffed bears on the sidewalk, signs that might be a quarter-inch too wide, and newspaper racks that need to be regulated (hello, any of you ever heard of the First Amendment?).
The top three in this category were:
• Greg Lemhouse.
• Eric Navickas.
• David Chapman.

WHO’D YOU LIKE
MOST TO SEE
RUN FOR
CITY COUNCIL?

Now that the Truffles the Bear Party has been formed in Ashland (see page 38) to shake up the City Council, whom could they turn to for candidates? Our readers had a few suggestions, including this year’s winner, Paul Mace, a businessman with unlimited experience in technology.
Others mentioned were:
• Ron Roth.
• Larry Medinger.
• George Kramer.
• Pam Hammond.
• Alan DeBoer.
• Michael Donovan.
• Derek Volkart.
• Dave Bobb.
• And some madman named Curt Hayden.

FAVORITE
COUNTY COMMISSIONER

The Jackson County Commissioners’ Office created some shockwaves last month when they opted not to re-up their membership in the Association of Oregon Counties. They argued a.) The dues were too expensive, and b.) The Association was too in bed with counties from the northern end of the state. You have to admire them for taking a stand.
Winning this category was Commissioner Dave Gilmour, who is serving his second term in office

MOST COMMUNITY ACTIVE VOLUNTEER

This community would quickly fall apart without all the unpaid volunteers who make things happen. Taking down the number one spot in this category is John Javna for all the work he has done at ScienceWorks and the Ashland Food Project.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Dolores Marx, for her work with community theater.
• Tracy Harding, for the Growers’ Markets.
• Marge Zettler at the Ashland Food Bank.
• Pam Hammond at the Chamber of Commerce.
• Mark & Maddy DiRenzo at ScienceWorks.

A VERY UNSCIENTIFIC POLITICAL POLL

This is always my favorite part of the “Best of Ashland,” and almost everyone takes the time to answer it. For that reason, I consider it semi-accurate because I doubt if anyone organizes a ballot stuffing campaign for political questions.

1. Should newspaper racks be regulated downtown? You’d think in a country with a Bill of Rights that mandates freedom of the press that this would not even be an issue. In Ashland, however, where our city fathers and mothers want to turn downtown into a pristine mini-version of Disneyland, where everything is neat and tidy and all good dogs go to heaven, they have outlawed the unbridled dissemination of information. Instead, newspapers have been relegated to only city-approved mega-boxes in city-approved locations. So instead of being conveniently available to people, it is now a hassle. They are effectively interfering with the right to disseminate the press, which is unconstitutional. Luckily, I am not the only one who believes that, as these results prove:
Yes, should be regulated: 33%
No, they should not: 67%

2. Do you think chemtrails exist? Our April article on chemtrails was controversial and produced a ton on responses. Proponents of the idea argue that the government is dumping illegal chemicals, including viruses and bacteria, into the atmosphere via airplane contrails, while opponents say nonsense. It is the ultimate conspiracy theory, but the people of Ashland ain’t buying it.
Yes, they exist: 21%
No, they don’t: 79%

3. Is the City Council doing a good job? Not a whole lot of people are happy with this City Council. They just don’t seem to stand for anything that is important. They’re bogged down in meaningless rules and code violations that could be easily rectified if any of them had the gumption to stand up to the city administrator and the city attorney and question the way government is being mishandled. We deserve better.
Yes, good job: 32%
No, bad job: 68%

4. Is the police department doing a good job. Now for some good news. The citizens of Ashland are totally happy with the job the police department is doing.
Yes, good job: 82%
No, don’t: 18%
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