Author Archive

Sara Jane Wiltermood

Sara Jane Wiltermood

Sara has been involved with the Rogue Valley Messenger from its inception, innocently responding to a craigslist ad asking for writers back in 2012, because she figured, why not? She had received her B.A. in Journalism/Mass Communications from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, in 2007 and was itching to put it to good use back where she was born and raised, in Grants Pass. Little did she know that the then online paper would end up in print, or that she would find herself in the esteemed position of Associate Editor two short years later. She and her husband and daughter, Seth and Lavender, have a small farm outside Grants Pass, where they primarily raise goats and rabbits and sell their products at their farm stand, L-Mae Essentials. They aspire to add produce to their repertoire in coming years. In her spare time, she also works as a Surgery Assistant/Implant Coordinator at Associates for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Grants Pass and Medford.

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Seeing artists in their natural habitats is a bit like watching exotic wildlife in BBC’s Planet Earth series, or seeing a beautifully choreographed dance for the first time. The Ashland Gallery Association and local artists are offering a unique view into the creative worlds of art in their homes and

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With the oppressive smoke choking the Rogue Valley this summer, it seemed that many of us did not make it out to the coveted hiking trails and wineries that make everyone outside Southern Oregon jealous. Though the smoke is officially scheduled through October, the haze is starting to clear, and

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Tipping their hats to a new school year and a fresh start, many local theatres start their new seasons in the fall. And while some offer summer productions, others took a break, but it is clear that everyone is ready to hit the stage running. Shows range from romantic classics

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Sometimes just sitting and watching theatre isn’t enough for the truly involved spectator. Instead of throwing popcorn, Barnstormers Theatre in Grants Pass wants the viewers to join in the fun on stage for their final weekend of their annual summer melodrama Dogsbreath Devereaux, the Dastardly Doctor on August 10, 11

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We can’t all be the Marvel comic superhero Hawkeye, but Moonbow Archery in Ashland comes pretty close. Moonbow founder and owner Lloyd Canty grew up enjoying archery, and decided to create a business that blended the discipline of traditional archery with the team building aspect of group archery games. We

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Crooning into the mic about the injustices of the labels placed on females while rocking out a bluesy riff on the cello is not something you see every day. Dirty Cello strives to be that unique group that turns heads and shatters stereotypes, all centered around that stalwart instrument of

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Images come to mind of a bunch of souped-up Mini Coopers racing along in the 2003 heist film The Italian Job, where the size of the cars made the difference in the scheme. While not quite the image of European cuteness, Dwarf Cars really hold their own on the racetrack.

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If traditional rock music and alternative rock music had a baby, it would be independent rock—indie rock, for short. First coined in the 1970s, the term “indie rock” has evolved from its initial description of the bands’ independent labels (and was also synonymous with alternative rock through the 80s) to

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While everyone has the band they love and would go see them perform in a back alley with garbage trucks rumbling by, venue can be almost as important as the music being played. The growing house concert movement is a sure sign that audiences want to be closer to the

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The springtime hiking season is upon us, and Grants Pass has numerous beatific trails designed expressly for the purpose. Whether a local or just passing through, there are plenty of gorgeous hiking options to shake a stick at. Here are a just a few, moving from easy to more challenging: