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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Pole-vaulting and bobsledding aren’t for everyone. That’s why there is the equalizing “Toilet-seat Horseshoes” event at The Redneck Games at the Jackson County Expo and the Hoover Ponds on October 3 and 4. And if toilet-seats don’t strike your fancy, perhaps showing off your truck’s horsepower in a tug-o-war will

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When Rogue Coffee Roasters was informed by their landlords of seven years that they would have to leave their beloved location on G Street in Grants Pass, many were heartbroken. The cozy and inviting space had been quite an improvement from the storage unit/garage that they had previously been roasting

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Ten years ago, we all cleared our schedules in our Daily Planners, and gathered in front of the tube to catch the new episode of Lost. (Though we were all even more confused the more we watched, am I right?) On another channel, not too far from the addictive draw

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Local Snack-makers pack a school lunch you won’t want to trade Southern Oregon is known for agriculture. Our farmers markets put the “pro” in produce (seriously, I just said that), and with our newly-christened GMO-free status, we can be even more comfortable with shopping locally. While local, organic carrots are

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New to the Valley? Syllabi making your head swim? Time to hit the trails and forget about student loans for a couple of hours. These Rogue Valley beauties are classics for locals too, presenting the perfect opportunity to observe Southern Oregonians in their natural habitat. Mt. McLoughlin, near Medford Before

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For the Pulitzer Prize winner for drama in 1937, You Can’t Take it With You is surprisingly suited for our day and age. And Barnstormers Theatre in Grants Pass delivers an award-worthy performance of it. It will play at Barnstormers through September 20. The entire play takes place in the

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Make ‘Em Laugh to Make it Big (That’s What She Said?) In 2007, Amy Schumer took fourth place in the Last Comic Standing TV show. After performing on multiple shows and on Comedy Central, her own sketch show Inside Amy Schumer launched in 2013. Now she has taken the comedy

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We dropped by a couple great wine bars to ask their opinions about how to best pair wine with local food, and a few suggestions for great inexpensive wine and mind-blowing expensive wines. Denise Daehler and Jim Piotter, Liquid Assets Liquid Assets 96 N Main St #201, Ashland How long

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Our culture is one of multitasking: food to go, hands-free devices and still for some, walking and chewing gum. Even our relaxing and entertainment typically includes two or more points of interest. Here in the Rogue Valley, wine and adventure go together as well as wine and cheese. With affectionate

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For our Wine Issue, we’re trying a bit of sophistication and culture. How about after wine tasting checking out local, public art? While the weather is still agreeable, why not see what our talented Rogue Valley has to offer in the great outdoors? If you are feeling refined after that