Part I: the Best of Ashland

Another year, another “Best of Ashland.” It was 27 years ago that we introduced this popular readers’ survey to Ashland, drawing off the success of the “Best of the Rogue Valley,” our sister publication in Grants Pass, which began in 1986. I had modeled the whole concept on a couple of free weekly newspapers in Denver, Colorado, and wondered if Southern Oregon would even care.

Apparently they did, as this readers’ survey has grown in popularity every year. We even put a “Collector’s Edition” on the stands for the tourists to enjoy from April through December. Now there are about four or five copycats that spring their own surveys on an unsuspecting public, but I suppose imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. And I’m sorry, call me old-school, but we don’t allow our readers to vote online because that system makes ballot stuffing way too easy and distorts the results.

The first “Best of Ashland” in January 1991 contained 76 categories, and the results were printed in one issue (unlike today, which is broken down into two parts). Some notable winners back then were Annie Hoy as “Favorite Disc Jockey” (she was at KSOR then and is at the Ashland Food Co-op now); Mike Bianca as “Favorite Policeperson”; Allen Drescher as “Favorite Attorney”; John Gaffey as “Favorite Bartender” (John also did the artwork for the front cover that issue); Gary McGraw as “Favorite Dentist”; Susan Reid as “Favorite City Councilor”; Brian Freeman as “Favorite Local Folk Musician”; and Judy Howard as “Favorite Local Artist.” Of the six “Best New Restaurants” listed, only one—Mihama’s—is still around.

We would like to thank the 417 people who mailed in ballots, and the 30 people who emailed them. This survey is meant to be fun and all-inclusive as we try to mention as many people, businesses and organizations as possible. And when the top vote-getters were close, we went with ties, even multiple ties, which is the only fair way to do it.  We realize that reader surveys can be a bit un-scientific, and these results could be entirely different if another set of 417 people responded. But I would be willing to bet that it would be close.

Anyway, without further ado, the 2017 “Best of Ashland,” our 27th annual readers’ survey …

DEMOGRAPHICS

To gauge what kind of people were answering this survey, we asked the question “Favorite Vacation Spot.” The top answers were:
• Hawaii.
• The Oregon Coast.
• Mexico.
• Italy.
• Bali.
• The Redwoods.

MEDIA

FAVORITE RADIO STATION

When TV came along in the 1950s, everyone predicted the death of radio. Then when Internet streaming became popular, it was supposed to be a dagger in the heart of radio. Well, guess what? There are now forty FM stations in the Rogue Valley and nineteen AM stations. Methinks rumors of radio’s death have been greatly exaggerated.
Our readers were able to name 17 stations as their personal favorites, with JPR (KSOR-FM, KSMF-FM, and KSJK-AM) running away with this category.
They were followed in the balloting by:
• KBOY (95.7).
• KISS 107.5.
• KROG (96.9).
• KCMX (101.9).
• KCNA (102.7).

FAVORITE DISC JOCKEY

You don’t just sit there in your ivory tower playing music all day. You also have to entertain your audience with lively banter, brilliant jokes, self-deprecating humor and a command of the English language that would put Shakespeare to shame. Oh, and you also have to be knowledgeable about every topic on earth, including current events, sports, art, theater and the history of the Crimean War. Did I leave anything out?
What do our readers think of these superhuman people who are probably just faking it by Googling everything? They were able to name 19 different DJs as their favorites, including their number one choice, Gemineye, of KISS 107.5.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Geoffrey Riley, host of JPR’s “The Jefferson Exchange.”
• Danielle Kelly, a JPR Open Air host.
• Kelly Clarke of KBOY.
• JPR’s Eric Teel.
• Don Matthews, Classical Music Director of JPR.

BEST LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR

With the world literally falling apart and the favorability rating of our new president way in the negative range, it’s hard to put on the smiley face in front of the camera every night and act as if everything is cool. At some point, you just want to scream, “I’m totally depressed and you can take this job and shove it!” Or something like that.
And when it came to this category, long-time anchor Brian Morton of KDRV Channel 12 is practically the Walter Cronkite of Southern Oregon, as he swept this award big-time.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• Trish Glose of KTVL (Channel 10).
• Taelor Rian of KOBI (Channel 5).
• Ashley Hall of KDRV.
• Libby Dowsett of KTVL.
• Jennifer Elliot of KOBI.

FAVORITE REPORTER AT THE DAILY TIDINGS

You can have it delivered to your doorstep every morning and easily turn the pages and see everything, or you can go online and laboriously have to decide what to click on, thus missing out on a lot of good stuff. Do I sound old-school? Printer’s ink in my blood, I guess.
Anyway, when it comes to our favorite almost-daily newspaper (they don’t print on Sundays), our readers chose editor Bert Etling as their favorite, mainly for his concise, pithy editorials that seem to have a finger on the pulse of the community.
The list also included:
• Reporter John Darling.
• Reporter Vickie Aldous.
• Sports Editor Joe Zavala.
• Columnist Chris Honoré.
• Reporter Jeff Gillespie.

FAVORITE ADS IN THE SNEAK PREVIEW

To everyone who said “all,” we agree 100%. You can learn a lot about what is going on in town just by reading the ads in the Sneak Preview. Taking down top spot in this category is the creative diary ad by an anonymous writer at The Breadboard, followed by:
• Ashland Automotive.
• Brother’s Restaurant.
• Beyond the Plaza.
• Patina Soul.
• Schneider Museum of Art.
• Bloomsbury’s holiday ads.
• All of the real estate ads.

PEOPLE/BUSINESS

CUTEST BABY BORN IN LAST YEAR

It’s a good thing that employees of the Sneak Preview are still eligible for this category, or Fiona Marks and her cousin Hugo Hayden might have been disqualified. As it is, they won this category in a runaway (smiley face). Also receiving lots of votes were:
• Silas Holden Conley.
• Kleeia Tilly Bramson Wood.

BEST NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN (LAST YEAR)

I stumbled onto a political rally recently, and one of the signs read, “Stop Wage Slavery.” So I said to the guy holding the sign, “Start your own business,” and he seemed kind of befuddled. But it was a valid piece of advice, one that I took to heart 31 years ago when I started the Sneak Preview. It’s estimated that small businesses employ about 43% of the workforce in this country, which is no small number, and they all deserve our undying respect and support.
A number of new businesses were singled out by our readers, and the winner of this category was Culinarium, a gourmet food and cookware shop at 270 E. Main.
Also high on the list were:
• The Good & Will Store at 163 E. Main.
• Mountain Provisions on the Plaza.
• B’Inspired Studio at 250 Oak Street.
• Hello Goodbuy at 2895 Highway 66.
• Zagorska Oasis, located at 111 E. Main.
• Scarpetta Restaurant (145 E. Main).
• Waffle Barn at 2345 Ashland St.
• Luna Café at the Ashland Hills Suites.
• Ride and Roam (72 N. Pioneer).

FAVORITE BUSINESSPERSON

Most businesspeople put their hearts and souls, not to mention their life’s savings, into their businesses, and they should be congratulated for adding to the vibrancy of any community. Nowhere is that more true than at Bloomsbury Books, where Sheila Burns and Karen Chapman, the winners of this category, have provided locals with a bookstore and gathering place for the last 37 years.
The list also included:
• Doug and Becky Neuman of the Neuman Hotel Group.
• Pam Hammond of Paddington Station.
• Michelle Christian of the Ashland Artisan Emporium.
• Judy Howard of Hanson Howard Gallery.
• Dona Zimmerman of Websters.
• Emile Amarotico of the Ashland Food Co-op.

FAVORITE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER

You leave elementary school as a “kid,” and by the time you leave middle school, everyone is expecting you to act like an adult. The pressure during those three years can be intense, and there may be a tendency to act out a little bit. Well, okay, a lot. And that is where the calm, empathic attitude of teachers can turn things around.
Quite a few teachers at Ashland Middle School were named by our readers, including the number one choice, Julie Inada, who teaches Language Arts.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Robert Julian, Social Studies.
• Hillary Harper, Science.
• Wendy Werthaiser, 6th Grade.
• Tina Astor, 7th Grade, Drama, and Speech & Debate teacher.
• Bruce Dresser, Band.

FAVORITE INSTRUCTOR AT SOU/RCC

They have new presidents at both SOU and RCC, and they’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll for another 145 years. They couldn’t do it without a strong, dedicated staff of instructors, and our readers agree with that analysis, naming 25 different ones.
Topping the list for 2017 was Dennis Slattery, who in addition to being a mild-mannered instructor in a great metropolitan business school, also doubles as an Ashland City Councilor.
The list included:
• Craig Wright, Creative Writing.
• Max Reinhardt, Art.
• Paul French, Music.
• Pat Acklin, Geography.
• Lisa Ciasullo, Mathematics.
• Greg Jones, Environmental Studies.

FAVORITE DENTIST

I went on the Internet looking for an appropriate dentist joke, and none of them seemed that funny. It’s not surprising because going to the dentist is no laughing matter unless, of course, you get a good healthy dose of laughing gas, then it’s one joke after another … and they’re actually not that funny. Just kidding. We all love our dentists, especially when they put us at ease, do their thing, and say, “Okay, all done.”
Quite a few dentists were named in this category, and it ended up in a 3-way tie between Brady Frank of Premier Care Dental; Gary McGraw; and Ed Warr of Today’s Dentistry.
The Top Ten included:
• Brian Kitchell.
• Eugene Robbins.
• Mike Henneman.
• Aron Kivel.
• Brandt Cullen.
• Pete Schwarzer.
• Eric Jones.

FAVORITE FAMILY DOCTOR

I saw a statistic the other day that the United States set a record last year by spending an average of $10,000 per person on health care. We’re not talking about health insurance but actual visits to the doctor. Of course, those results are skewed by life-saving operations that can cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and we’re appreciative of those efforts. Visits to the family doctor are another matter. They do their best to make sure we’re at 100% every day of the week, and for just a couple of co-pays a year, it’s money well spent.
This is a popular category, as thirty-two different MDs were mentioned in this year’s survey. Landing at the top was a tie between Jani Rollins and Melissa Noble.
Others high on the list were:
• Miriam Soriano.
• John Delgado.
• Leslie Stone.
• Howard Morningstar.
• David Jones.
• John Sager
• Sylvia Chatroux.

FAVORITE NURSE/NURSE PRACTITIONER

This category is a little confusing these days as there are registered nurses, family nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, nurse’s aides, plus something called physician assistants. Our readers were all over the map on this one, but garnering the most support was Patti Frires, a nurse practitioner with Rollins Family Health.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Dorothy Miner, a physician’s assistant at Ashland Comprehensive Family Medicine.
• Francesca Gunn, NP, Ashland Comprehensive Family Medicine.
• Cindy Parks, NP, Ashland Family Practice.
• Sue Morningstar, NP.
• Kelli LaFleur, NP at SOU’s Student Health and Wellness Center.

FAVORITE ACUPUNCTURIST

It’s only been around for 2,000 years and is a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. While Western medicine floundered all those years trying to figure things out, the Chinese perfected acupuncture, which has been shown to be effective in eliminating pain and treating numerous conditions. The goal is to get everything in the body flowing smoothly and efficiently so that the body is one, big, happy unit.
Acupuncture is certainly popular in Ashland, as 16 different acupuncturists were mentioned in this survey. Taking down the top spot was a tie between Suzanne Skye of Ashland Acupuncture and Leslie Chanai Moyer of People’s choice.
The list of favorites also included:
• Jenn Collins.
• Jody Herriott.
• Ben Stott of Three Harmonies.
• Kara Miller of Jade Mountain Medicine.
• Molly Romero.

FAVORITE PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Like an idiot, you were out on the dance floor doing some fancy behind-the-back moves, when all of sudden, you couldn’t move your arm without it hurting. The next morning you couldn’t even lift your arm to comb your hair. There was definitely something amiss, and after four days of alternating ice and heat and keeping your arm in a sling, it got a little better. After two weeks there was still some lingering pain so you finally went to see the physical therapist. Turns out you tweaked the supraspinatus muscle of the rotator cuff, and after prescribing some ibuprofen and a series of exercises, the PT had you brand new within a week.
Our readers were able to mention 22 different PTs in this survey, reserving their number one choice for both Gavin Kleiman and Debbie Stamper of Kleiman & Stamper Physical Therapy.
Also receiving lots of votes were:
• Roger Bradshaw.
• Tim Palmesano.
• Mary Gorman.
• Sara Campagna.
• Rachael Resch.
• Jeffrey Garbi.
• George Lescher.
• Nathan Lewis.

FAVORITE HAIR STYLIST

I would love to be a fly on the wall listening in to the conversation Donald Trump has with his hairdresser: “Yes, Thurston, let’s go with a little more orange this week, and by the way, there’s a 15 square millimeter of hair loss that’s showing so we’re going to have to get really creative with the comb-over. I don’t care if my head looks like twenty miles of bad roads in West Virginia because if there’s one thing I won’t tolerate in my administration, it’s hair loss. I’ll build a wall on top of my head if I have to keep them out. And I’ll make Mexico pay for it!” Or something like that.
Anyway, where to go when you want to keep eavesdroppers happy with your instructions to the hair stylist? This was another popular category, as it seems everyone has an opinion. Thirty-four different hair stylists were named, including this year’s number one, which was a tie between Gabby Morea of Be Cherished and Mona Bernard of Hair City.
The Top Ten featured:
• Julie Schmiess of Blue Giraffe.
• Linda Hood.
• Georgette Crowe.
• Morgan Johnston of Renu.
• Amber Staten.
• Ann-Britt Malden at Renu.
• The guys at Flat Top.
• Shirley Remington of Salon Juliet.

FAVORITE AESTHETICIAN/FACIALS

Skin is officially the largest organ of the body, and nowhere is it more important than the face, which is why we spend so much time (and money) making sure it looks good. Sometimes it can be a 24/7 job, which is why we trust professionals with the assignment. A good facial can not only smooth out the wrinkles but it can rejuvenate the pores and guide those secretions to keep the face looking as young as a newborn baby.
Where to go when you want to be reborn? Many of our readers mentioned both Jessie Hoppe at the Blue Giraffe and Renee Norman of the Plaza Salon as their number one, followed by:
• Tiana Bramson of Be Cherished.
• Molly Ballew.
• Oona Meade.
• Lilly Baty of Sunshine Salon.
• Jody Sage at Waterstone Spa.
• Serena Beach.

FAVORITE DAY SPA

Keeping up with the Joneses can be stressful. The house has to be immaculate, the yard pristine, the cars all the latest models, the kids perfect, and the dogs well-behaved. Yet sometimes you just feel like walking outside with your bathrobe, your hair in curlers and a cigarette dangling from your mouth as you retrieve the morning paper. “Mornin’, neighbor; whaz up?” Then reality sets in and it’s back to being perfect.
After all that work, where do you go to relax and become a new you? This was another popular category, and the majority of our readers mentioned both The Blue Giraffe at 51 Water Street and Waterstone Spa, located at 14 S. 1st St.
Others high on the list were:
• Chozu.
• Plaza Salon.
• Zagorska Oasis.
• B’Inspired.
• Posh Organics.
• Jackson Wellsprings.

FAVORITE MECHANIC

Next to dogs, the automobile is man’s best friend. I mean, it’s loyal to a fault, it never argues politics, it’s always there when you need it (except when it gets stolen, which can always be a bummer), and it purrs like a kitten when it’s happy. Which is why you want to find the best mechanic possible to ensure all of the above. The last thing you need is for a dirty carburetor forcing the car to take a stand on the trade war with China. It could get ugly.
Our readers definitely agree, as they named 19 different mechanics and auto repair shops in this survey. Once again this category ended up being a tie between Zach Edwards of Ashland Automotive Inc. and Dan Dawson at McClure’s Auto Repair.
They were followed closely in the balloting by:
• Bow DeBey at Siskiyou Imports.
• Rudy’s.
• Butler Ford.
• Miles Automotive in Talent.
• Tony Bonsell at Euro Mek.
• Donny at Southern Oregon Automotive.
• Ashland Auto Repair (Lithia and Pioneer) and Valley View Auto Repair.
• Henry’s Foreign Auto Service in Phoenix.

FAVORITE ATTORNEY

Here are some excerpts taken from real court records:
Q: What happened then?
A: He told me, he says, “I have to kill you because you can identify me.”
Q: Did he kill you?
* * * * *
Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?
* * * * *
Q: I show you Exhibit 3 and ask you if you recognize that picture?
A: That’s me.
Q: Were you present when that picture was taken?
* * * * *
Our readers have a lot more faith in our local attorneys than that, as they named 18 different ones in this survey, including this year’s number one, which was a tie between Allen Drescher and Robert Good.
Also receiving their fair share of votes were:
• Jack Davis.
• Gary Turner.
• Alexis Packer.
• Susan Krant.
• David Seulean.
• Leslie Salem.

FAVORITE POLICEPERSON

It’s a strange time to be a police officer, but we all know that for every bad apple, there are thousands of officers who are dedicated to keeping the peace in a fair and non-prejudicial manner. Because when it comes down to it, their primary job is to protect the community and make sure all the laws are followed. It’s not an easy task, and they deserve all the help and cooperation they can get.
Our readers agree, as they named 15 different police officers in this survey, giving the top nod to Officer Matt Caswell, who also won this category in 2004.
He was followed by:
• Chief Tighe O’Meara.
• Bon Stewart.
• Malcus Williams.
• Hector Meletich.
• Bobby Smith.
• Carrie Hull.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNER

Back in 1970, there were about four restaurants in Ashland. Now there’s something like a hundred! What exactly happened? It’s pretty simple. The Angus Bowmer Theater was constructed and it turned the Oregon Shakespeare Festival into a world-class operation, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and rejuvenating the restaurant and nightlife scene in Ashland. We should count ourselves lucky.
You’ve got to hand it to the local restaurant owners, though. It’s a tough, competitive market and they work overtime to provide excellent food and service. In this survey, 30 different owners were named, and the top spot went to Julie Gurwell, owner of Hearsay Restaurant below Oregon Cabaret Theatre at 1st and Hargadine.
The Top Ten included:
• Jen Sink and Bruce Dwight of Omar’s.
• Billy Harto of Kobe and Thai Pepper.
• Tom and Lisa Beam of Pie + Vine and Sesame.
• Pete & Krystal Foster at the Breadboard.
• Dan Durant of Brothers.
• Salvador de la Cruz at La Casa del Pueblo.
• Dal & Renee Carver of the Wild Goose.
• Marty Morlan of Martino’s and Macaroni’s.
• Crissy Barnett of Peerless.

FAVORITE WAITPERSON

In the Waitperson Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, they walk you through all the intricate steps of being a waitperson: smiling, telling the customer “good choice” when he or she orders something, patiently explaining which dishes are gluten free, more smiling, proper handwriting so that the cook can actually read what you wrote (don’t want to end up with a chili dog when you wrote cheeseburger), how to fit 19 plates of food on two arms, how to listen politely when the customer wants to give you his or her life story (even when you have ten other tables to get to), and did I mention smiling?
This is another popular category, and this year’s winner was Toni DeMello of the Wild Goose, followed by:
• Amy Wong at Martino’s.
• Freddie Herrera at Hearsay.
• Lance Standridge at Peerless.
• Annie Harvey at Beasy’s on the Creek.
• Pai Kim of Omar’s.
• Chino Orozco at El Paraiso.
• Kerrie Baldwin at The Breadboard.
• Katie Butler at Standing Stone.
• Kevin Broadie at Eleven.

FAVORITE BARTENDER

Some jokes from Google: Three men walk into a bar … the fourth one ducks. Or: A goldfish flops into a pub and looks at the bartender, who asks, “What can I get you?” The goldfish answers, “Water.” An Irishman, an Italian and a priest walk into a bar. The bartender say, “What is this, some kind of joke?” A pizza walks into a bar, and the bartender ways, “Sorry, we don’t serve food in here.”
Okay, enough of that. Taking down top honors for Favorite Bartender this year is Lucie Blackinton of Liquid Assets.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Jacob Maciolek of Omar’s.
• Paul Schmeling of Martino’s, who recently retired after a long career in bartending.
• Kekai Enomoto at Thai Pepper.
• Zeke Hudson at Alchemy Restaurant & Bar.
• Flip Romero at Peerless.
• Chris Arthur at Omar’s.

CUTEST PET

This was a tough contest, as we received seven different photos this year, all of them totally adorable. Our team of experts finally decided on Barley (owners: Luke and Erin Brandy). When I emailed Erin the news and asked what breed of dog Barley was, I received this reply: “YES! Just one more step in my plan for total world domination! Muahahaa! Oh, um, I mean, he’s a mutt, we’re not sure exactly what breed he is, but we had him tested with one of those genetic kits once, and the results came back miniature pinscher/miniature poodle, so, he’s a pinny-poo.”
The list also included Wicket (resident pet of Plaza Salon); Sassy Puss (a slinky Siamese): Scooby (a small dog); Punkin (another small dog); Max (a big ol’ hound); and Sophie (a toy poodle).

FAVORITE VETERINARIAN

As I sit here writing this, my boxer Brody is asleep on the couch next to me, and my Abyssinian cat Mau Mau is on her throne atop my vertical files, also sound asleep. It’s hard to imagine life without them, although they are making me sleepy right now listening to them snore. One thing I’ve learned as a pet owner is to place some faith in the veterinarian. You just can’t assume that your pets are going to be totally healthy 24/7.
Our readers agreed, and they listed twelve different vets and veterinary offices in this survey. Topping the charts was a tie between Scott Knox at Ashland Medical Hospital and Anette Heaslet of The Cheerful Vet, followed closely by:
• Stephen Tesluk of Ashland Veterinary Hospital.
• Nile McGhie of Bear Creek Animal Clinic.
• LeAnn Albrecht of Animal Medical Hospital.
• Tiffany Graeber of Animal Medical Hospital.
• Dallas Hymans of A Street Animal Clinic.
• Aiden Costello of A Street Animal Clinic.
• Laura Powell of Best Friends Animal Clinic in Talent.

FAVORITE HOUSE PAINTER

Sure, you can have your brother-in-law come by and help you slap some paint on the house and have it done in two days. Yeah, the price was right (all the beer he could drink), but the final product was a little disappointing. OR … you can have it done right by a professional, with the requisite prep work, primer and the exact color you picked out from the paint store. Yes, it might take a week or more, but you’re going to be happy for the next 10-15 years.
And when it comes to painters, our readers seem semi-knowledgeable, listing 15 of them, starting with Bob Jennings, who also won this category in 1996, showing some consistency and longevity.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Garrett Edmands.
• Derek Volkart.
• Rich Jennings.
• Kenn Conger.
• Phil Hutchings.

FAVORITE STORE DOWNTOWN

You gotta love downtown Ashland. There are great shops, outstanding restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife, all in the midst of one of the largest theater companies in the world. There’s nothing not to like, and that’s why it’s bustling with people regardless of the season. Sure, parking can sometimes be an issue, but you have to take the good with the bad, and if you’re creative, you can almost always find something within a block of where you want to go. So my advice: enjoy the most fun downtown area in the Pacific Northwest.
Taking down top honors once again in this category was Paddington Station, located at 125 E. Main, although it was extremely close with both Bloomsbury Books (290 E. Main) and Papaya Living (33 N. Main on the Plaza) hot on their heels.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Renaissance Rose.
• Nimbus.
• Earthly Goods.
• NW Nature Shop.
• Paddington’s Jewel Box.
• Music Coop.
• Outdoor Store.
• Gold & Gems.
• Crown Jewel.

FAVORITE STORE OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN

Yes, Virginia, there is life outside the downtown area, from the north end and the Railroad District to the college area, the shopping center, and the south end. Twenty-five different stores were mentioned in this survey, including this year’s winner Déjà Vu, a consignment shop in the Ashland Shopping Center that has now won this category 18 years in a row.
It was close at the top, though, as their next door neighbor Ashland Artisan Emporium came in a close second, followed by:
• Ashland Recycled Furniture, in the Railroad District.
• Bi-Mart.
• Ashland Ace Hardware in the Railroad District.
• Rare Earth, in the Railroad District.
• Fun Again Games, in the Shopping Center.
• Earth Friendly Kids, in the Shopping Center.
• Ashland Home Center, at corner of Siskiyou and Ashland Street.
• Nature’s Pet, in the Albertson’s Shopping Center.
• The Goodwill Store on Tolman Creek Road.

BEST PLACE TO BUY MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS

Let’s see … she let you borrow her body for nine months while you sat back and did nothing. Check. She went through some excruciating pain so that you could be born. Check. She watched you like a hawk for two years so that nothing bad could happen. Check. She put up with the “terrible twos.” Check. She put up with the teenage years. Check. She loves you even when you make terrible decisions. Check. That should probably do it as far as reasons to buy her an awesome gift for Mother’s Day.
Where to go? This was actually a tie between Paddington Station and Flower Tyme (located on the Plaza, with its sister store Manzanita a block away on North Main).
The list also included:
• Papaya Living.
• Crown Jewel.
• Prize.
• Rare Earth.
• Nimbus.
• Bloomsbury Books.
• Ashland Artisan Emporium.

BEST PLACE TO FATHER’S DAY GIFTS

 Dad, of course, was always there when you needed him, and luckily he’s not near as picky when it comes to finding gifts for Father’s Day. According to our readers, you can’t miss at the Ashland Outdoor Store at 37 N. 3rd, which won this category.
Others high on the list were:
• Nimbus.
• Bloomsbury Books.
• Ashland Ace Hardware.
• Bi-Mart.
• Mountain Provisions.
• Northwest Nature Shop.

BEST PLACE TO BUY CHILDREN’S TOYS

If kids had their way, we would be buying toys for them every day. Yet what is the average lifespan of a toy? A week? As an experiment, you should find discarded toys, then re-wrap them and make a big deal out of them getting a new present. You think they would notice? Yep. There’s a special area of a child’s brain devoted entirely to remembering every toy they ever received.
And in that regard, both Bug a Boo (in the Claycomb Plaza across from the Plaza) and Unicorn Gifts & Toys (242 E. Main) were tops with our readers, followed by:
• Small Change,
• Tree House Books.
• Earth Friendly Kids.
• NW Nature Shop.
• Rare Earth.
• Bi-Mart.
• Goodwill Store.

FAVORITE BICYCLE SHOP

The Tour de France was big this year, so bike riding must have been on our readers’ minds. Not too many of us will be biking the Pyrennes or the Loire Valley anytime soon, but it’s the thought that counts.
And when you want to get on your bike and ride like the Mistral, you can follow the advice of our readers who most often mentioned both Piccadilly Cycles (525 A Street) and Cycle Sport (Oak and B) as their top choice.
Others high on the list were:
• Get n Gear.
• Ashland Electric Bikes.
• Rogue Bicycle.
• Siskiyou Cyclery.
• Bear Creek Bicycle.
• Ride and Roam.

BEST SELECTION OF WOMEN’S CLOTHES

Why go to San Francisco, Portland, Paris, or even Medford to buy women’s clothes when there are already so many good options here at home? This is a category that always gets a great response from our readers, and this year it ended in a tie between Patina Soul (342 Lithia Way) and Kixx (264 E. Main), although Thread Hysteria on the Plaza came in a close third.
The list also included:
• Earthly Goods.
• Déjà Vu.
• Avant Garb.
• Red’s Threads.
• Heart and Hands.
• Nimbus.
• Paddington Station.
• Fredrica Lawrence.
• Rare Earth.

BEST PLACE TO BUY SHOES

You just walked the Camino de Santiago and were in desperate need of a new pair of shoes. Not wanting to walk to San Francisco, you did exactly what our readers recommended and visited Village Shoes at 369 E. Main, which won this category, followed by:
• Lithia Park Shoes.
• Earthly Goods.
• Outdoor Store.
• Nimbus.
• Rogue Valley Runners.
• Déjà Vu.

BEST PLACE TO BUY OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT/CLOTHING

It may be the dead of winter, but there’s still plenty to do outdoors, and spring is just around the corner. Our readers had that in mind when voting on this category, and they again gave their number one kudos to the Ashland Outdoor Store, located at 37 N. 3rd.
The new kid on the block, Mountain Provisions on the Plaza, also received a lot of votes, followed by:
• Get n Gear.
• Travel Essentials.
• Bi-Mart.

FAVORITE FLORAL SHOP

This is the time of year when I wistfully look out my office window and see a barren yard and garden, knowing perfectly well that in a couple of months there will be a profusion of color. The daffodils and tulips are already poking their heads out of the ground. What to do in the interim? Head down to the local floral shop and stock up on as many flowers as you can. And in that regard, our readers most often named Flower Tyme on the Plaza.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Enchanted Florist.
• Eufloria.
• Albertson’s.
• Market of Choice.

BEST PLACE TO BUY FLOWERS/SHRUBS/TREES

You want to know the great thing about plants? They provide us with all of our food and oxygen, and they remove carbon from the atmosphere, locking it up and passing it on down the food chain where, millions of years later, EXXON will convert it into energy. Flowers are beautiful and help attract bees and butterflies, shrubs provide privacy and homes for birds and small animals, and trees are inspiring just for their grandeur and longevity. So get out there and do some planting and nurturing!
Where to go? The number one choice for our readers was the Grange Co-op, located on A Street in the Railroad District, followed by:
• Valley View Nursery.
• Ashland Greenhouses.
• The Plant Connection on Neil Creek Road.
• Southern Oregon Nursery in Phoenix.
• Shooting Star Nursery in Central Point.

GROCERY STORE WITH BEST SELECTION OF PRODUCE

What you have to hope is that the fruits and vegetables at the supermarket just arrived that day from a farm within ten miles of the store. That’s the ideal. In the back of your mind, though, you’re saying to yourself, “I wonder if this was picked in Ecuador four weeks ago?” And when it comes to questions like that, our readers most often trusted the produce at Ashland Food-Coop, located on 1st Street in the Railroad District.
The Top Six included:
• Shop N Kart.
• Market of Choice.
• Albertson’s.
• Safeway.
• Growers’ Market.

FAVORITE MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

It’s a whole new world out there, and the fledgling marijuana industry is feeling the growing pains similar to the end of Prohibition on December 5, 1933. There are so many rules, regulations and safeguards that it may take five or six years before everything gets straightened out. In the meantime, growers, processors and retailers are all doing their best to comply with a recreational marijuana law that was approved by the voters two years ago. The latest rule from the OLCC (Oregon Liquor Control Commission) requires dispensaries to register with the OLCC if they want to sell to the general public … which is what most of the dispensaries in southern Oregon have done.
It’s hard to get a handle on exactly how many dispensaries there are in Southern Oregon. I Googled a search and counted anywhere from 20 to 24 of them. Our readers, however, only mentioned seven, with Breeze Botanicals at Siskiyou and Walker getting the most votes.
They were followed by:
• House of Leaves.
• Madrone Cannabis Club.
• Siskiyou Medical Supply.
• The Greenery.
• Green Valley Wellness in Talent.
• The Talent Health Club in Talent.

FAVORITE GAS STATION

Yes, gas-inhaling automobiles are one of the prime culprits when it comes to global warming and climate change, and slowly but surely they’re becoming more fuel efficient. The wave of the future may be electric cars but don’t expect gas stations to go away anytime soon. We’ve been addicted to the gasoline-powered automobile for 117 years, and it’s not a habit that’s going to be easily broken.
That being said, our readers mentioned 14 different gas stations as their favorite, including their number one choice, the 76 Station, which is kind of confusing since there are three of them. So congratulations to:
• Ashland Auto 76 at 75 Lithia Way.
• Astro 76 at 449 E. Main (across from the library).
• Valley View Auto 76 at 460 S. Valley View Road.
Others receiving lots of votes were:
• ARCO AM-PM at Exit 14.
• Chevron at Exit 14.
• Texaco at Exit 14.
• Shell station at Siskiyou and Walker.
• Valero at Exit 14.

POLITICS

FAVORITE CITY COUNCILOR

It was an interesting year politically, and we’re not just talking about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Statewide, we elected a governor, Kate Brown, who will only serve two years since she succeeded John Kitzhaber, who resigned in 2015 just two months into his fourth term of office because of a scandal. Brown will finish out the term, then decide in 2018 whether she wants to run for a full four-year term. The most interesting thing locally is that the top two vote-getters in the category “Favorite City Councilor” are not even there anymore. Carol Voisin was defeated in her bid for mayor, and Pam Marsh won elected to the State Legislature.
All eight of the councilors (and the mayor) received votes, with the other two going to:
• Greg Lemhouse.
• Mike Morris.

WORST THING GOVERNMENT HAS DONE IN THE LAST YEAR

Every year I change this from the “best thing government has done” to the “worst.” Electing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was the runaway winner in this category, but we were actually looking for something a little more local. And when it comes to that our readers were not happy with 1.) The new art installation planned for the Gateway area, and 2.) The smoking ban downtown.
Other things our readers were miffed about included:
• The suggestion of turning East Main downtown into a two-lane road.
• Not doing something about out-of-control rent increases.
• The proposed Nevada Street bridge.
• Letting City Administrator Dave Kanner go and paying for nine months of his salary.

A VERY UNSCIENTIFIC POLITICAL POLL

Each year we ask our readers to answer four political questions just to gauge the mood of the community. These answers are “relatively” accurate since very few people stuff the ballot for them.

1. Should East Main downtown be turned into a 2-lane road? This was just one of many suggestions that a consulting firm suggested in a transportation study paid for by the City. The committee that has been meeting for four years to study transportation never signed off on this particular idea, but once it was leaked to the media, all hell broke news. Particularly egregious was the plan to remove 21 parking spaces in front of stores that are already fighting high rents and lack of parking. Do our readers empathize with those businesses? Yep.
   Yes, great idea: 21%
   No, bad idea: 79%
2. Should the City invest in a solar farm across from the Interstate? The Sneak Preview first reported on this idea back in June 2015. City Councilor Carol Voisin and a group of local energy and solar experts thought a solar farm on the 864-acre Imperatrice property would be a sound investment. It was not to be, however, a city project. Coming up with $45 million to get it going would be something outside investors would have to do. All Voisin and her people were asking from the City was $75,000 in seed money to get a Request for Proposal sent out. The Budget Committee voted 9-5 not to approve the money, and the City Council felt it was something that needed to be studied. It’s now almost two years later, and we still think it’s a great idea, especially in light of the recent ordinance requiring the City to convert 10% of its energy use to renewable sources by the year 2020. Our readers, apparently, agree with us.
   Yes, get that solar farm going immediately: 73%
   No, it can wait: 27%
3. Should there be rent control in the city of Ashland? Okay, we can talk about the law of supply and demand till the cows come home, but when that “law” starts pricing young people out of town and making life miserable for working people, it’s time to start tweaking the law. What I object to is speculators from California coming here and buying up all the property, then telling us we have to accept it because “that’s how it’s done in Carmel.” No we don’t. When they enter town, we can hand them a little brochure that spells out exactly how much rent they can charge. It’s a bold statement, but our readers agree with it.
   Yes, we need rent control: 71%
   No, leave speculators alone: 29%
4. Should the City spend $20 million to retrofit City Hall? When the New Yorker ran a story in June 2015 predicting a 9.0 earthquake in the Pacific Northwest that would rain down tsunamis, mudslides, demolished cities, and general mayhem, it made a whole lot of people head for the hills. Hidden in the fine print was the little known fact that “The Big One” might not happen for another 500 to 1,000 years, but just the fact that it could also happen tomorrow made everyone nervous. The City of Ashland was no exception. The City Hall building across from the Plaza was built in 1891 and remodeled in 1913, way before anyone even worried about earthquakes. If the Big One hit tomorrow, it would probably sustain considerable damage. The City did a study and found that a complete earthquake-proof retrofit would cost $20 million. Should we spend the money? Our readers resoundingly said no, and I bet if you asked them, they could find all kinds of other things to spend $20 million on … like a solar farm.
   Yes, go for it: 14%
   No, forget it: 86%

* * * * *
At the half-point of this survey marathon, I can safely say that my sanity is semi-intact. I can’t promise you what next month will bring, though. See you in February for Part II.—C.H.