Volume 5, Issue 11 // June 7 - June 27, 2018 YOUR LOCAL, NON-PROFIT, INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER ord Beer M edf Week Rises To th e Top Sassier And Sudsier Than Ever Public Pg 5 FE ATU RE Sound Pg 7 Pg 16 Profile A Great Pairing: Grants Pass Porchfest Who Won 85% of Beer & Yoga Returns: Year Duex the Vote? 2 / WWW.ROGUEVALLEYMESSENGER.COM Walkabout Brewing Company Walkabout’s Bestie Bash June 8 | 7 - 9 pm Walkabout is teaming up with other local Best of Southern Oregon winners to bring you our Bestie Bash! Brothers Reed (Voted Best Band) will be playing while Will Snyder from Curbside King (Voted Best Chef and Best Food Truck) will be busting out tasty grub in our Outback area (Voted Best Outside Seating). Curbside King will have a new dish to pair with Walkabout’s IPA (Voted Best IPA)! Don’t miss out! June 8 | 7:00pm-9:00pm 921 Mason Way, Medford, OR | (541) 734-4677 | walkaboutbrewing.com JUNE 7 - JUNE 27, 2018 / THE ROGUE VALLEY MESSENGER / 3 The Rogue Valley Messenger CONTENTS PO Box 8069 | Medford, OR 97501 541-708-5688 roguevalleymessenger.com FEATURE page FOOD page [email protected] Actually Medford Beer In case you didn’t drink THE BUSINESS END OF THINGS Week is 10 days long, up enough calories during June 7-16, but perhaps Medford Beer Week, our 18 WEB MASTER 7 Tammy Wilder they are seeing staff heads out to round OUR FINANANCIAL WIZARD Sara Louton, Advanced Books double on some of up four choice donut those days—and they spots. Just what you need DISTRIBUTION Coleman Antonucci certainly need those to get into summertime, OUR WORDSMITHS extra days for all the swimsuit shape! tastings and screwball PUBLISHER & EDITOR Phil Busse antics. Yes, Medford MANAGING EDITOR Sara Jane Wiltermood Beer Week is big! PRODUCTION MANAGER Katie Ball CALENDAR EDITOR Jordon Lindsey ART CRITIC Jordan Marie McCaw COLUMNISTS Rob Brezsny, Dan Smith and Tanya Reasor FREELANCERS SOUND Josh Davis, Catherine Kelley, Nolan page CULTURE page Kenmonth, Caitlin Fowlkes, Stephanie Raffelock, William A new summer tradition: If storytelling conjures page MacBride and Nick Blakeslee Part outdoor concert, images of a few people part neighborhood GET IN TOUCH 16 sitting around the 19 block party, Grants Pass’ campfire, have we got a x EMAIL [email protected] second annual Porchfest story for you: Storytelling on June 16 features has gone 21st century and MUSIC [email protected] local bands playing big-scale, with The Hearth EVENTS [email protected] on the front porches Storytellers Group gaining ADVERTISE [email protected] of houses on historic popularity throughout Washington Boulevard southern Oregon. SALES DEADLINE: 5 pm Thurs and surrounding streets. EDITORIAL DEADLINE: 5 pm Thurs CALENDAR DEADLINE: 12 pm Thurs CLASSIFIED DEADLINE: 4 pm Thurs Deadlines may shift for special/holiday issues. Public Profile 5 Food & Drink 18 Feature 7 Culture 19 ON THE COVER: Our Picks 9 Sports & Outdoor 20 Live Music and Nightlife 10 Wellness 21 photo by dale robinette Events 14 Talent Health Club Budtender 22 Sound 16 Yuki & Free Will Astrology 22 Screen 17 Rec Room 23 4 / WWW.ROGUEVALLEYMESSENGER.COM SIMPLE Martial Arts MACHINE for Everybody WINERY & TASTING ROOM ROGUE VALLEY NATIVE YEAST FOOT STOMPED PO Box 1086 Grants Pass, OR 97528 OLD SCHOOL Open Wed-Sun 12-6pm jococulturalcoalition.org 717 S Pacific Hwy (99) [email protected] Between Ashland & Talent Our aim is to make martial arts accessible for everybody SimpleMachineWine.com Come fulfill your potential at Blade & Fist Martial Arts A number of programs available: • Taekwondo • Kungfu • Wing Chun • Weapons programs Interested in eating local but want to get out of town? Morrison’s Rogue Wilderness Lodge wants to invite you to come and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Rogue River while you enjoy a 4 course gourmetdinner All Ages Welcome from our executive Chef. BRING IN THIS AD AND RECEIVE 10% OFF Open M - F 9am - 7pm 11am - 4pm Saturday RESERVATION REQUIRED 541-476-3825 YOUR MEAL. walk-ins welcome SEE OUR 8 DAY ROTATING MENU AT 255 Helman Street, Ashland www.morrisonslodge.com 541.625.4014 8500 Galice Road – Merlin, OR AUGUST KIDS Registration $175 for Co-op Owners SUMMER CAMP: $ Food Preservation 195 General Public Experimentation Ages 7-10 August 13-17, 2018 Register online at www.ashlandfood.coop From pickles to jam, fruit roll ups to kale chips kids will experiment with all kinds of ways to preserve the bounty of the summer harvest. JUNE 7 - JUNE 27, 2018 / THE ROGUE VALLEY MESSENGER / 5 PUBLIC PROFILE Michelle Blum Atkinson, Candidate for Oregon State Representative, District 6 INTERVIEW BY CAITLIN FOWLKES Rogue Val- the libraries were in danger of being shut down, again. I ment with high expectations. They have helped rebuild ley Messen- organized and co-founded a Political Action Committee a neglected area of West Medford by turning a rundown ger: You won called “Libraries for All” and was a core member of the bowling alley into a community center with many extra- 85 percent campaign team. Additionally, I have experience run- curricular activities, a sports gym and an outdoor turf of the vote. ning for City Council in 2016. It was a great opportunity soccer field. What was and I met so many people who are making the Rogue RVM: What are you most excited for in this new that experi- Valley a better place to live, work and play. I find cam- position? ence like? paigns build community. We work with our neighbors, MBA: I am very much looking forward to rolling up Michelle discuss our values and collaborate to create the type of my sleeves as a State Legislator and representing our Blum Atkin- community we want for our children. community in a positive and collaborative way. son: I was RVM: You wear a lot of hats. What are some of the I want to help unify the people of southern Oregon honored to committees/ foundations you serve, and which is and encourage more young people to get involved. With win 85 per- your favorite? Why? the combined effort and skills in this Valley, there is no cent of the MBA: I work with many organizations in southern end to the good we can accomplish. I am a Democrat, COURTESY OF MICHELLE BLUM ATKINSON vote in the Oregon and don’t want to pick a favorite, because they but I care about and work with all people no matter their contested pri- all fill such a unique and important role to the people politics. I love to meet new people and I am motivated mary; the support of my community means a lot to me. I they serve. My leadership style has evolved from my by challenges. think the people of Medford are ready for a change and deeply held belief that we are all in this together and we RVM: What are some things you will advocate for? they know that I’m deeply committed to serving our are all connected. For us to truly thrive as individuals community. I grew up here in Medford, graduating from and a community, we must take care of each other. MBA: I will advocate for the issues that affect us here South Medford High School, managed multiple tech- One organization that I’m proud to be on the Board in southern Oregon the most: housing, health care, men- nology businesses in Medford, and am raising my own of Directors of is Kids Unlimited, which is a unique tal health, education, and our environment. We need children here. I share dreams and concerns of people school specifically designed to address the education state policy that focuses on helping families that are around here, and I will work hard for everyone. gap in rural populations. And it is working, the kids being overburdened with the high cost of housing and RVM: Have you ever run in a political race before? have a very high attendance rate and amazing success health care. Our local community needs well-paying If not, what was this experience like? stories. We address many of the basic needs of children jobs with career training that keeps up with technology. MBA: I have run for office before, but most of my -ex that sometimes are not met at home—because a hungry, I want to make sure that southern Oregonians are tak- perience is as a businesswoman and helping nonprofits. tired, fearful child cannot thrive in the classroom. So, en care of and feel safe so I will advocate for all people I got my political start by kicking off the successful cam- Kids Unlimited helps make sure that the students are including kids, families, seniors, women, veterans, and paign for the Jackson County Library District. When ready to learn and then offers a rich learning environ- people of all color. CRATERIAN PERFORMANCES presents Coming This indigo Summer From girls and the AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Fri.-Sat., Aug. 3-4, 7:30pm, with opening act Lucy Wainwright Roche Thu.-Fri., Aug. 9-10, 7:30pm Sat., July 7 & 14, 1 & 4:30pm Tuesday, June 26, 7:30pm & Sat., Aug. 11, 2pm With expanded characters, new songs and “Along with Simon & Garfunkel and The first of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s more thrills, this new adaptation of the musicals, Joseph is easily the most The Everly Brothers, Amy Ray and Emily beloved story will open up “a whole new Saliers rank at the very top of all-time delightful and crowd-pleasing—a world” for audiences of all ages! tuneful, joyful, wacky feel-good romp! great duos.” –The Boston Herald Aladdin Jr.