Ashland schools open, in spite of snow

In spite of snow that accumulated overnight, all Ashland, Oregon schools are running as scheduled and on time today (Feb. 23, 2017). That's according to a 5:37 a.m. update to the district’s “School Closure & Delayed Start Info” page. “Our Director of Transportation spent the early morning hours driving the bus routes to verify that buses can safely transport students to school. We encourage all staff, parents and students to drive slowly and use caution when traveling to school campuses this morning.” Shown: the view from our apartment’s back window from the perspective of our cat Starfire.

Friday, Jan. 6: Buses to run, schools remain closed

School-crossing in snowfall, New Year’s Day, 2017

Latest snow update is that Ashland schools will be closed Friday, Jan. 6, with all school-related athletic and extracurricular activities canceled for tomorrow as well. RVTD plans to resume transit service during normal hours tomorrow, but the routes may be delayed due to winter road conditions.

Winter Reads program at Jackson County libraries

Near-record snowfall isn’t the only thing that arrived with the New Year, 2017. Jackson County Library Services is offering its Winter Reads program for adults, Jan. 3 to Feb. 14, and it all begins when you pick up a Reading Log from your local branch library.

For third day, Ashland school closures

Via an evening update: Ashland School District campuses will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 5, and all school-related athletic and extracurricular events will be cancelled as well.

Rogue Valley Transit cancels Thursday bus service

Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) has cancelled bus services for Thursday, Jan. 5. In a weather-warning bulletin, RVTD cited a forecast of icy roads and below-freezing temperatures continuing throughout the day.

Service aboard RVTD buses shut down early Wednesday afternoon.

RVTD apologized for the inconvenience, stating it hopes to resume regular service on Friday, Jan. 6. RVTD recommends riders check its website, Facebook and Twitter accounts or call 541-779-2877 for up-to-date service information.

Snowfall delays Rogue Valley Transit routes

Photo from personal collection (December 2013). Animation by Google Auto-Awesome

Bus riders, be aware that heavy snowfall has caused delays in services. As of 7:36 a.m. today (Jan. 4, 2017), all Rogue Valley Transportation District routes were operating but many were running late. RVTD recommends that riders with smartphones download the One Bus Away app for real-time bus arrival information.

Ashland, Oregon: School closures continue tomorrow

Ashland Public Schools has declared that all Ashland Schools will be closed tomorrow, Jan. 4, on account of inclement weather and hazardous-road conditions. The snowfall became heavier today by afternoon-early evening, just as the U.S. National Weather Service Forecast Office in Medford, Oregon predicted. Here’s what things looked like under the watchful gaze of our Starfire, peering out from the safety of our apartment. You can watch for snow-closure and delayed-start updates on the school district website.

Winter weather closes Ashland schools

Siskiyou Boulevard draped with snow, New Year’s Day near Ashland High School

Due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions, Ashland School District has determined that all schools will be closed today, Jan. 3, 2017. All school-related athletic and extracurricular activities are also canceled.

‘Winter Reads’ encourages reading by adults

Jackson County Library Services (JCLS) is encouraging adults to read this winter. Reading logs are available at local branch libraries and can be downloaded from the JCLS website.

School library: closed for winter break

The stack of books I checked out Friday has to last the two weeks I won’t have access to the Bellview Elementary School library. (Fortunately, I can still check out books through Jackson County Library Services.) I hope that everyone has a safe and joyous winter break.

Here’s what came home with me on Friday: True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know), a graphic novel in Jimmy Gownley’s Amelia Rules! series, Magyk, first book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Visser, a stand-alone novel in the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate, Animorphs #6: The Capture by K.A. Applegate and The Underneath by Kathi Appelt.

Ashland School District closures: The ‘how’ and ‘why’

Jay W. Hummel

In keeping with my mandate as an information worker, to educate and inform, here’s a message from Ashland Public Schools superintendent Jay W. Hummel concerning the recent school closures and the deliberation that goes into canceling a school day.

These last several days have been quite difficult for all involved. I am sorry for the obvious inconvenience our school closures have caused for you. Providing safe and quality educational services to our community is my top priority, and I take this responsibility very seriously. So, the loss of learning time for our children, even a small amount, is a concern. When we do decide to cancel a school day, our supervisors have carefully assessed the safety and readiness of critical services for all students:

Rogue Valley Transit: Snow affects Routes 10 and 60

Image credit: Rogue Valley Transportation District

Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) was not in service on Saturday because of inclement weather and dangerous conditions related to Friday’s snow. On Monday, RVTD made temporary changes to Route 10 between Medford and Ashland.

Ashland School District: Schools remain closed

Schools in the Ashland School District will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 10. In a post on Facebook, Ashland Public Schools stated that Friday’s snow storm was the largest to hit the Rogue Valley floor since 1980.

For the Medford Mail Tribune, Ryan Pfeil and Sam Wheeler related that 6 inches of snow was reported in Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass as of 7 p.m. Friday.

Ashland schools to be closed on Monday

All schools in the Ashland School District will be closed on Monday because of hazardous road conditions. The Emergency Information page on the district website was updated at 4:53 p.m. today.

Warnings were also distributed via the School Reach alert system.

To learn about closures or delayed starts, the school district recommends watching its website, listening to the radio or listening to television stations KDRV Newswatch 12, KOBI–TV 5 or KTVL News 10.

Snow closures today, snowman crafting tomorrow

Image credit: Ashland Teen Library Fans on Facebook

Teen Crafternoon on Saturday with the Ashland library teen program is all the more thematically appropriate with snow closures declared today for Ashland public schools. From noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, participants will make snowmen in the teen department at the Ashland Public Library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd. in Ashland, Oregon. For information, call 541-774-6994.

Winter is a great time to knit

The rain that fell on Saturday accelerated my interest in knitting hats — and in reviewing my favorite books on the subjects of knitting and crochet.