Now that the cold weather is here, it’s time for everyone’s daily ritual of checking the snow report at mtashland.com. It was the first thing I did this morning and learned that they’ve already received 34 inches of snow this season and plan to open on December 9. The web cam was beautiful, as it was clear skies at 7am and the sun was shining on the snow-filled mountain.

The people at Lithia Artisans Market of Ashland (LAMA) are busy beavers around the holidays. Not only are they hosting their Christmas Faire at the Ashland Historic Armory Nov. 24-26, but the annual Briscoe ArtWing Holiday Market, which first opened in 2012, will take place at the old Briscoe School (265 N. Main) over four weekends in December (2-3, 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24).

The Medford Food Coop opened on August 8, 2011—just over 6 years ago—and in early November they will be the opening of The Café, a locally sourced and community-minded eatery located onsite at their current location, 975 S. Riverside. We recently had the chance to ask MFC’s Marketing Manager Halle Riddlebarger a few questions.

Not long ago owner Greg Hayden and store manager Matt Endress, childhood friends from Indiana, were sitting around the backyard fire drinking a beer chatting about the future of their modest operation where the obvious became, well obvious. “There really isn’t anyone in Medford that does what we do,” Matt said. And what is it that they do?

Behind the doors of Paradise Tans, owned and operated by Deseray Brown, lies a far deeper portion of Medford’s history.

Three years ago, Deseray Brown purchased Paradise Tans from her step-mother, with whom she had worked with for 11 years to get the business on the right track. It was only recently that Deseray was presented with a new and interesting business opportunity. Arthur Alfinito, of Art’s Barbershop, has been welcomed with open arms to the tanning salon, creating an interesting beauty duo between haircuts and tans.