Subscribe | Get featured

It’s Friday, Medford! Let’s finish this week strong.

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: BLM timber plan controversy, Mavis Staples’ soul-stirring performance, and Oregon Chocolate Festival + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Timber plan sparks controversy: BLM proposes logging 2.5 million acres across Western Oregon, including Jackson and Josephine counties. Supporters tout revenue, critics question wildfire safety. Public comment is open through March 23 — see what’s at stake.

Historic church becomes campus: Pacific Bible College has opened a new library in Medford with more than 13,000 books on Christian academics, philosophy, and theology, offering a fresh space for community discussion and study — get all the details.

Twenty-two years of sweetness: Oregon Chocolate Festival starts today in Ashland, celebrating women leading craft chocolate with a From Bean to Boss theme, new culinary stage, live demos, costume contest, and women-led brands — get dates, venues and highlights.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you (or someone you care about) to clean up all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Experience Mavis Staples’ soul-stirring performance
• Get $5 off Easter Bunny photos
• Trade children’s clothes, get what fits
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz

Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.

The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.

I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

Plant-powered comfort fix: Rooted: Eat More Plants keeps weekdays easy with burritos, bowls, and hearty salads that actually fill you up, from scrambled tofu and chipotle jackfruit to cashew queso. Craving sweet over savory? There are smoothie bowls, too… ideal for those “I should eat vegetables” moments that still taste like lunch.

Treasure hunt made easy: Whether you’re after quirky vintage glass, mid-century decor, or that elusive collectible, Collectors Market is an ever-changing maze of local booths where lingering pays off. Expect happy detours, surprising finds, and the kind of slow-browse thrill that makes getting a little lost with a friend feel just right.

Wake-up ready brows: Whether you’re after soft powder brows, a whisper of lip blush, or scalp micropigmentation, The Beauty Collective RN pairs medical skill with artistry for results that look like you, just a touch more polished. A time-saving refresh that makes school drop-offs and coffee runs feel easier.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Around town this weekend

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🍫 22nd Annual Oregon Chocolate Festival @ Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Two days of artisan chocolate, wine, and live demos, plus a chance to vote for your favorite makers. Celebrating 22 years by spotlighting the women running the cocoa world, from bean to boss. Bring the kids, they waltz in free, you call it research.

🦄 Unicorn Story Time @ Rockafairy | Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 PM – Think your kid’s imagination runs on pure sparkle? Let the fabulous unicorn Breanna lead story time, arts, and crafts, with magic for them, minimal glitter fallout for you, and the kind of calm, screen-free stretch that feels like a small miracle.

🌱 Terrarium Class @ Corrine’s Flowers & Gifts | Saturday (3/7) at 3:00 PM – If you’ve been meaning to add greenery without adopting another needy ficus, come build a low-drama terrarium. They teach layering, plant picks, and mini-ecosystem mojo, you get all materials, wine, nonalcoholic sips, charcuterie, and a take-home showpiece that forgives neglect.

🔨 Madrone Trail’s 19th Annual Benefit Auction @ Historic Ashland Armory | Saturday (3/7) at 5:30 PM – Let’s get fancy at the Golden Gala, a jazz-soaked benefit with live tunes, dancing, dinner, drinks, and live and silent auctions, all for Madrone Trail, the Rogue Valley’s only public Waldorf school. Open to all, tickets are limited, so stake yours, dust off good shoes.

🎬 Benefit Screening: The Last Picture Shows @ Varsity Theatre | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – Remember when the theater was the town’s living room? Honor John Schweiger with a benefit screening of The Last Picture Shows at Historic Varsity Theatre, then stick around as filmmaker Rustin Thompson talks cinemas, caretakers, and the ones still holding on. Tickets at ashlandfilm.org/events.

💄 Medford Beauty Expo @ Hilton Garden Inn | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – Rogue Valley locals, the Medford Beauty Expo is your excuse to trade bathroom experiments for pro tips, quality products, and pampering with your favorite people. Expect local pros, smart skincare, and shades you can actually wear, because overhead lighting lies. Link in bio.

🦋 Moths Matter: A Talk @ Belleview Grange | Sunday (3/8) at 2:30 PM – If your porch light doubles as a nightlife venue, come geek out with lepidopterists Glenn Fine and Dana Ross on why moths matter around the Siskiyou Crest. Learn to find, photograph, and ID them, support the Siskiyou Crest Moth Project, no registration, by donation.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 First Friday on First @ ART on FIRST – 5:00 PM
• 3/6 Malinka @ Skout Taphouse & Provisions – 6:00 PM
• 3/6 The Visit @ SOU Main Stage Theatre – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 Ambrose & Galfano @ Belle Fiore Estate & Winery – 5:30 PM
• 3/7 Madrone Trail’s 19th Annual Benefit Auction @ Historic Ashland Armory – 5:30 PM
• 3/8 Bekkah McAlvage @ Mt. Ashland Ski Area – 1:30 PM
• 3/8 Bryan Oliver @ Tap & Vine at 559 – 5:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Medford report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 49°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 6%

Areas of fog before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South southwest wind 1 to 6 mph.

—

Tomorrow – High: 64°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 0%

Patchy fog before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 1 to 5 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 39.

Something in your house is about to break 🏠

It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major system and appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’re staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast.

It never happens at a convenient time, and most homeowners just eat the cost because they don’t realize there’s a better option.

American Home Shield covers repairs and replacements on most of your home’s major systems and appliances — old or new, no inspection required.

The best part? Select plans are 50% off now through March 9th.

This house is wild

Brand new by Black Oak Homes, this single-level stunner pairs a thoughtful split floor plan with a 3-car garage and an entertainer’s kitchen featuring a large island and walk-in pantry. An airy open-concept living space flows to a covered patio for year-round enjoyment, while a fully fenced, landscaped yard adds privacy, function, and low-maintenance style.

Take a peek inside →