This is the 9th running of the “Best of Medford,” and it continues to grow in popularity, as we received over 600 responses this year. Yes, there were over 100 categories, but we only asked that people answer the ones they were most knowledgeable about.
The comments ranged from “Wow, this takes some thinking; thanks!” and “Always fun; I look forward to it”; to a suggestion for a new category: “Local newspaper with ‘Best Of’ survey that has far too many categories to the point of it being absurd.”
Counting the submissions was painstaking but fun (a bottle of Old Granddad helped), and I did my best to ferret out the ballot-stuffing.
Anyway, onward and upward … the 2015 “Best of Medford,” our 9th annual Readers Survey.
MEDIA
FAVORITE RADIO STATION
The first AM radio station began transmitting on August 31, 1920, out of Detroit. Despite challenges from television and the Internet, we all still have our favorite radio stations. Whether driving to and from work, relaxing at the beach, or background entertainment while preparing that 7-course French dinner for friends, we want to hear the latest top songs, old classics, and scintillating news coverage.
Winning this category again was Jefferson Public Radio.
Other favorites included:
• 96.9 The Rogue
• The Wolf 105.1
• 107.5 KISS FM
FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY
The genetics of being a great deejay is well researched in biological literature. First, you need a strong voice (chromosome 5), a sense of humor (chromosomes 6 and 7), the desire to be listened to (#13) and, at the same time, the ability to shake off mistakes and move onto the next part of the schtick (the X chromosome). The action is fast and furious, and you have to be ready.
Broadcasting his way to the top this year once again was Gemineye at KISS-FM.
The list also included:
• Eric Teel,JPR.
• Don Hurley, Kool 103.5
• Maria Kelly, JPR.
• Bill Meyer, KMED
BEST LOCAL TV NEWS STATION
Want to hear about the latest mayhem on I-5? Or that 5-alarm fire in the wee hours of the morning? How about the latest machinations at City Hall? Or a heart-warming story about an adopted woman who found her birth mother in a jail in Zimbabwe after a ten-year search. Our local news stations work overtime to keep us informed about late-breaking news, and we all appreciate their efforts.
NewsWatch 12 (KDRV) won in a landslide again this year.
At number two was KTVL (Channel 10), followed closely by KOBI/Channel 5. Public television, SOPT (Channel 8) also received a fair number of votes.
FAVORITE TV WEATHER PERSON
You gotta love a weather person who reports on the latest hurricane warning while standing next to a levee with 20-foot waves crashing behind him or her, with small cows and large Buicks flying through the air. That’s why most weather people you see reporting the news have huge scars—the result of too much debris hitting their faces … just kidding, by the way.
And when it comes to intrepid weather people ready to sacrifice life and limb to bring us the news, our readers most often turned to Alyssa Caroprese and Kate McKenna of KDRV Newswatch 12.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Jeff Heaton (KOBI).
• Kevin Lollis (KTVL).
BEST ADS IN THE SNEAK PREVIEW
While we’d like to take credit for all the cool ads in the paper, most of them are done by graphic artists or even the clients themselves.
Quite a few of the ads were mentioned in this survey, with the top spot going to John Paul’s Vineyard’s “If your hair is not becoming to you, you should be coming to me.”
PEOPLE/BUSINESS
BEST NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN (LAST YEAR)
The free enterprise system doesn’t revolve around Wall Street and the stock market. Its bread and butter are creative and innovative individuals who are willing to take a chance and open their own businesses. And the system is alive and well in Medford, as our readers named quite a few new businesses, and the top spot ended in a tie between Larks Restaurant, 200 North Riverside Avenue, and Rogue Air Trampoline Park, 519 Medford Center.
Also mentioned quite a bit was Pretty in Paint, 305 N. Bartlett.
FAVORITE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER
The last job I had before starting the Sneak Preview in 1986 was as a substitute teacher at Lincoln Savage Middle School outside Grants Pass. For the lesson plan, the teacher arranged for a movie to be shown, and I thought it would be something boring like a documentary on the “Mating Habits of Pine Martens” or something. Instead, it was my favorite movie of all time, Back to the Future, and I watched it five times that day.
Winning this category was Richard Meyer at Hoover Elementary.
FAVORITE SCHOOL SECRETARY
Yeah, the principal might sit at the Big Desk and make Important Decisions, but it’s the secretary who really runs the school. Our readers were able to name quite a few of them, including this year’s winner, Carrie Becker at Abraham Lincoln Elementary.
FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS COACH
By all rights, the Quiz Bowl team should get as much coverage as sports, but that ain’t the world we live in. When the Super Bowl is the most watched program in the entire year, you know that football reigns supreme.
Our readers’ favorite local sports coach was South Medford High School’s Athletic Director and boys basketball coach Dennis Murphy.
FAVORITE DENTIST
I used to go into a panic attack when visiting the dentist, but with all the innovations that have been developed over the last twenty years, it’s like a walk in the park these days. I even received a complimentary hand-paraffin dip at the last dentist I visited.
Seventy-two different dentists were mentioned by our readers in this category. We were amazed there were that many dentists in town! Medford’s favorite dentist according to our readers was Ian and Nicole Erickson at Summitt Family Dental, 906 Royal Court.
The vote was very close, however, and the Top Ten featured:
• John Linstrom
• Karl Schneck
• Todd Holton
• Kevin & Julie Wu
• James Catt
• Eric Rollem
• Greg Pearson
• Hal Borg
• Robert Stebbins
FAVORITE DOCTOR
About a month ago my daughter and I got hooked on House reruns. The show always has one or two weird diseases that have to be diagnosed, and I almost feel as if I could hang my shingle somewhere and tell people, “no, you don’t have a muscle disorder; it’s merely a hole in your left ventricle that was not diagnosed.” Or something like that.
And when it comes to diagnosing and curing illnesses, our readers most often mentionedAlan Binette of WomenSpecialty Group, 691 Murphy Road.
Other favorites included:
• Julie King
• Sherry Castillo
• Elizabeth Rowley
• Alan Bates
FAVORITE NATUROPATH and ACUPUNCTURIST
There will never be a House-type TV show centering around naturopathic doctors and acupuncturists because in most cases, afflictions can be explained by something very simple, like a lack of selenium in the diet.
And in that regard, our readers most often named naturopathic doctor Daniel Smith of Bear Creek Naturopathic Clinic, 1012 E. Jackson St., as their favorite.
On the acupuncture side of the ledger, the top spot went to Michael Pope, LAc, 2596 East Barnett Road.
FAVORITE CHIROPRACTOR
The average human has 206 bones in his or her body (more than half of these are in our hands and feet). With that many working parts to keep aligned and running smoothly, it’s no wonder that chiropractic care is so popular.
When it came to picking their favorite chiropractor, our readers had to make a tough choice. The top four were excruciatingly close, with Corey O’neill at Pro Spine and Sport, 943 Automation Way, ending at number one.
But like I said, it was close at the top:
• Eric Reed, Sothern Oregon Chiropractic
• Joshua Fine, Custom Chiropractic
• Mike Warren, Crater Chiropractic
FAVORITE PHYSICAL THERAPIST
The human body is chock full of hinges, pulleys and axles, each of which has to be in perfect harmony with the other. A lot of times, either because of accidents, injuries or general wear and tear, the system breaks down. And that’s where a physical therapist can set everything straight.
The top spot ended in a tie this year between the friendly folks at JacksonCounty Physical Therapy, 36 Hawthorne Street, (who, by the way, are celebrating 20 years of serving southern Oregon), and Scott Byrd and company at Sporthopedics, 1060 Crater Lake Avenue.
FAVORITE MASSAGE THERAPIST
The father of western medicine, Hippocrates is credited for saying, ““The physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing.” That was almost 2500 years ago, today massage is not just for reducing stress and sore muscles, but it’s used to treat and manage all sorts of medical conditions and injuries.
Taking down number one in this category was a tie between Blake Knight at Epic Wellness NW, (541) 770-1606, and Cara Wirt of Balanced Massage,(541) 773-9324.
The ballots were close for the rest of the top ten:
• Therese Holliday, Rogue Health
• Lanelle Piotrowski, Be Well Massage
• Sarah North, Sarah North Massage Therapy
• Melissa Candy, Get a Massage Medford
• Cass Rackley 5 elements Massage and Wellness
• Susannah Graven
• Katrina Hackett, Hands on Health
• Danie Cermony, Bodyworks
FAVORITE HAIR STYLIST
I always wondered who said, “It’s better to look good than to feel good,” so I looked it up. It was Fernando Lamas. Then I had to look him up. He was an Argentine actor who made it big in Hollywood playing “Latin lover” roles. And let me tell you … his hair looked good!
Where would Fernando go if he were in Medford wanting to look good? He would certainly have plenty to choose from, as our readers named 116 (that is not a typo…116!) different hair stylists. Landing at the top according to our readers was Sarah-Neff atSarahindipity Salon, 3528 Lone Pine Road.
Others high on the list were:
• Michelle Wallace, Scissor Head
• Whitney Hunter, Teal Rose SALON
• Tisheena Stead, The Nook
• Jessica Hawkins, Avae salon
• Jessica Whit, Lotus
FAVORITE PLACE TO GET MANICURES/PEDICURES
Like I said earlier, our hands and feet include over half the bones in our bodies, not to mention the millions of nerve endings, the skin that gets abused daily, and don’t forget about those thin layers of protective proteins called keratin located on the end of our fingers and toes that get smashed in doors, broken while gardening, and bitten when nervous.
When our readers need some tender lovin’ hand and foot care, they turn to the folks at Sarahndipity Salon, 3528 Lone Pine Road
The list also included:
• Gervais
• Urban Edge Salon
• 4 Oaks Salon
BEST LOCAL DAY SPA/SALON
Pamper, vt: To treat with extreme or excessive care and attention. Syn., see indulge.
That pretty much describes what happens at a day spa, and in that regard our readers named both Gervias, 111 North Central Avenue, and Sarahndipity Salon, 3528 Lone Pine Road as their favorites:
Rounding out the Top Seven were:
• The Nook Beauty Studio
• Scissorhead Salon and Spa
• Salon Static
• Organic Elements Spa
• Lotus Hair Body and Soul
FAVORITE AUTO REPAIR SHOP
When I look under the hood of my car all I see are tubes, wires and chunks of metal of various sizes and colors…and one of them is the engine, I’m pretty sure of that.
But when our readers want precise and knowledgeable auto work, they turn to the friendly folks at Kelly’s Automotive Service, 2990 Biddle Road.
Others high on the list were:
• Southern Oregon Auto Repair
• Crater Lake Ford
• Henry’s Foreign Auto
• Bob Thomas Automotive
BEST AUTO BODY SHOP
I bought my first-ever brand new car in 1985, and within three weeks some idiot at a grocery store left his or her shopping cart unattended, and it rolled down the hill, smashing into my car. It was a big bummer. I immediately called an auto body shop and had the dent removed and got a new coat of paint on the door … as good as new.
Where to go when something similar happens? Our readers most often picked Star Body Works, 1024 Summit Avenue,followed by:
• Lithia Body & Paint
• Aplands Auto Body
FAVORITE POLICEPERSON
Making sure everything in a city of over 75,000 people goes smooth as silk every day of the week is a little like herding cats. Something is always bound to go wrong, either through accidents, dumb decisions, or professional troublemakers. Our local police do their best to protect us from the unforeseen, and in that regard they have our undying gratitude.
Anyway, we appreciate everything they do, and this year our readers named Officer Dan Ashworth as their favorite.
The Top Four included:
• Detective Diane Sandler
• Officer Paul
Mellgren
• Detective
Mark Cromwell
FAVORITE HOUSE CLEANERS
We live in a fairly hectic time, and there never seems to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done. Housecleaners can greatly ease the stress by making sure our houses stay clean and organized.
Our readers’ top choice this year was Jennifer at Pro-Fection Cleaning Services, (541) 973-7885.
Coming in a close second and third was Cleaning Crew and Christo Clean.
FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
The earliest known surviving photograph was taken in 1825, printed from a metal plate, which was exposed under an ordinary engraving and copied by photographic means. Now, 188 years later, digital photography and Instagram have made this process available to everyone at a fraction of the cost.
Yes, everyone can point and click, but it takes a professional to do it right. Our readers were able to name a few local photographers, and landing at the top was Tim Tidball of Tim Tidball Photography, 220 Middleford Alley – 541-770-1610, followed by:
• Mary Wallis, Magination Images
• Bryan Mikota Photography
BEST PLACE TO BUY CHILDREN’S CLOTHES
They grow like weeds, so keeping them clothed is almost a full time job for most parents.
According to our readers, the best place to buy kid’s clothes is Kid to Kid, 2324 Poplar Drive.
BEST PLACE TO PRACTICE YOGA
Yoga has been around for over two millennia in India, and for the past 30 years or so, it’s grown to be a very popular form of exercise for us Westerners, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. It tests your physical body, challenges your mental toughness, and even has a spiritual element to some of its practitioners.
Posing at the top spot once again this year was Rasa Center for Yoga and Wellness, 3132 State Street.
Also receiving their share of votes was Soul Shine Yoga.
FAVORITE PERSONAL TRAINER
You just got a call from Hollywood and they want you for a part in the next Iron Man movie. It requires some killer abs, legs that won’t quit, and an upper body to die for. Then you wake up. It inspires you, though, to be as fit as possible. Who do you call? Our readers named several, starting with Andy Howell at Aspire Fitness, 1 West 6th Street.
Coming in second was Jake Porras, Rogue Valley Crossfit.
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNER
This is a labor of love, but if you’re willing to put in the time and energy, it can be very rewarding. You definitely have to be a people-person, and you have to love food.
Our readers were able to name 38 different people in this survey, with the top nod going to Michael Sidon at 4 Daughters Irish Pub, 126 West Main St.
Rounding out the Top Three:
• Chris Dennett, Elements
• Vincenzo DeCanstanzo, Vinny’s
FAVORITE WAITPERSON
You don’t want to get between a waitperson with a tray of food and his or her table. The odds of being trampled are high; kind of like facing down a rhino on the Serengetti. They’re extremely focused and goal-oriented at that point in time. As soon as they land and unveil the “Mission Accomplished” banner, though, they revert back to the fun-loving people they are.
A total of 44 different waitpersons were singled out by our readers, reserving their number one accolades for Jennifer at Larks Restaurant, 200 North Riverside Avenue.
The competition was fierce, though, and other favorites included:
• Marta, Punky’s Diner
• Jen, The Wharf
FAVORITE BARTENDER
An older man walks into a bar wearing a stovepipe hat, a waistcoat and a phony beard. The bartender asks, “Going to a party?” He says “Yeah, a costume party. I’m supposed to come dressed as my love life.” The bartender replies, “But you look like Abe Lincoln!” The man says, “That’s right. My last four scores were seven years ago.”
Sorry for the PG-13 joke. I think I’ve been at the computer too long. Maybe I need a drink!
Anyway, this category features a tie between Kalea Hammond at Jefferson Spirits, 404 East Main Street and Shelby Lane at Jackson Creek Pizza, 317 E. Main.
Also high on the list was Chris Dennett, Elements Tapas Bar.
FAVORITE CHEF
The kitchen at any restaurant is a great example of controlled chaos. Orders come in, refrigerators are opened, oven temperatures are adjusted, and condiments, slabs of meat and vegetables are flying in every direction. Above it all, like a maestro at a symphony, stands the chef, and every night he deserves a standing ovation.
A number of local chefs were mentioned in this survey, with Vinny’s Italian Kitchen’s Vinny DeCanstanzo cooking his way to the top.
FAVORITE LANDSCAPER
Our readers’ top choice for this category was Hilltop Landscaping, (541) 944-3075.
FAVORITE HEATING AND AIR CONTRACTOR
Here in the Rogue Valley the mercury can rise well over 100 degrees in the dead of summer, all the way down to the teens during our winter cold snaps. Luckily we have heating and air specialists that can ensure an indoor temperature of 70 degrees every day of the year.
Heating their way to the top spot was Advanced Air and Metal, (541) 772-6866, followed closely by Spring Air.
FAVORITE JEWELER
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but nothing can trick the eyes when it comes to fine jewelry. The $2 million 20-carat diamond ring that Kris Humphries bought for Kim Kardashian just looks a lot better than that knockoff from Wal-Mart. Where to go when you want some good advice from a jeweler? Our readers named quite a few, with the top spot ending in a tie between Father & Son Jewelry, 126 East Main Street, and Oregon Trail Coin and Jewelry, corner of Main and Central.
Also receiving their fair share of votes was Facets Jewelry Studio.
FAVORITE STORE DOWNTOWN
There are a lot of different stores in downtown Medford, and our readers were able to name 28 of them as their favorites. This year they chose Terra Firma Home, 309 E. Main Street.
Also mentioned were:
• Pretty in Paint
• My Daughter’s Closet
• Oregon Trail Coin and Jewelry
• Norris Shoes
BEST PLACE TO BUY FURNITURE & HOME DÉCOR
The first time early humans found a cave, they immediately built some lounge chairs to sit around the fire and drink grog. The home entertainment center was a few years down the road.
Where would our friendly cavemen go to find furniture today? This category ended in a tie between Terra Firma Home, 309 E. Main Street, and Garrison’s Home Furnishings, 6435 Crater Lake Highway.
Coming in a close second was La-Z-Boy Furniture. Also receiving a lot of votes was House to Home Gallery, followed by Real Deals on Home Décor.
FAVORITE VETERINARIAN
The top spot this year ended in a tie between, Dr. Poet, Best Friends Animal Hospital and All Creatures Animal Hospital. The Top Five included:
• Wicklund Veterianary Care
• Pear Blossom Veterinary Care
• Siskiyou Veterinary Hospital
BEST PLACE TO GET A WORKOUT
It’s one thing to make a New Year’s Resolution. It’s another to actually stick to them. And that’s where gyms come in particularly handy….they can help you stay motivated with friendly encouragement and state of the art facilities.
Our readers’ top pick this year was Aspire Fitness, 1 W. 6th St. in downtown Medford.
The Top Five included:
• Superior Athletic Club
• S.O. Pilates
• Crossfit The Den
• Rogue Valley CrossFit
FAVORITE CONSIGNMENT SHOP
They have steadily been growing in popularity over the past few years…and why wouldn’t they: quality clothing at a fraction of the cost of buying at a big retailer; and clean out your closet while you’re at it and make a few bucks on the side.
The winner once again in this category was My Daughters Closet, 237 E. Main Street in downtown Medford.
The Top Three included:
• Refashion Consignment
• Mint
BEST PLACE TO BUY OUTDOOR GEAR
When you’re in the backcountry, out of cell range, and not another human within at least 20 miles any direction, you better be sure to be we outfitted with the best gear available.
Where do our readers go? Camping at the top spot this year was Northwest Outdoor Store, 980 Biddle Rd.
The top four included:
• REI
• Sportsmans Warehouse
• Blackbird
FRIENDLIEST FLORISTS
Working around flowers will make anyone happy, and in that regard our readers most often appreciate the friendly service from Penny and Lulu Studio Florist,3100 South Pacific Highway, (541) 779-1112.
Also mentioned were:
• Corrine’s Flowers and Gifts
• Susie’s Medford Flower Shop
• Judy’s Florist
FRIENDLIEST BIKE SHOP
Here in Medford, biking is extremely popular.
With regard to bike shops, the favorite with our readers was Marty’s Cycle, 720 Crater Lake Avenue.
They were followed by Al’s Cycle.
BEST PLACE TO BUY PET FOOD AND/OR STUFF FOR YOUR PET
It’s almost 5:00pm, and both my dog (Brody) and cat (Mau Mau) are sitting here looking at me with woeful eyes. They know that the 5:00 bird from my Audubon bird-calling wall clock will soon chirp, which signals feeding time. That leaves me a few minutes to go out for a quick pet food run. Where to go? Our readers’ top pick was Rogue Valley Pet, 281 E. Barnett Rd.
Also receiving lots of votes were:
• Grange Coop Pet Country
• Mini Pet Mart
BEST PLACE TO BUY VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
I’m a big fan of everyone taking personal responsibility for his or her health. If we relied more on vitamins and supplements in this country instead of our insane addiction to prescription drugs, I’m convinced health care costs would drop dramatically, and we would all be a lot healthier.
Where to go to help you maintain optimal health? The runaway winner in this category was HealthWay Nutrition Center, 845 Medford Center.
Others receiving votes was Natural Grocers.
BEST DAY CARE CENTER
In this hustle-bustle world, which often requires incomes from both parents, finding the exact right day care center is fairly important. Our readers were able to pinpoint a few that they preferred, including this year’s winners, Kid Time! Discovery Experience and Noah’s Ark.
Rounding out the Top Five were:
• America’s Best Kids
• Roots and Wings
• Building Blocks
* * * * *
Part II of the “Best of Medford” will include Restaurants and Entertainment and will be featured in our February issue. Later! —N.H.