Ashland, Oregon: Oregon Shakespeare Festival has closed until early April

[leftieNanner]

The life blood of Ashland, OSF, has decided to cancel all performances until April 8. This will have a massive impact on our city. Local businesses will possibly close. Two years ago, we lost a lot of businesses because of terrible wildfire smoke. There's no telling what this may do. Our local school district has also closed for a while.

No panic in the stores - yet. Plenty of toilet paper available

[LisaM]

1. Crap.

This is going to to hit the arts community hard

[leftieNanner]

2. It is

I'm involved in a local animal rescue (equine) non-profit and we hold our annual fundraising event on the first Saturday in May. Likely going to cancel. That's a huge chunk of our annual budget (we need about $1,000 per day) and we're considering options.

[LisaM]

4. Same with public broadcasting.

I can donate here and there to various causes, but it would be a drop in the bucket.

[leftieNanner]

7. With the slumping economy

Everyone will have less money and charitable organizations will be hit hard.

[MerryBlooms]

6. I love your equine rescue and have been to your fundraiser many times!

Everything will work out, the community loves you!

South Medford.

[leftieNanner]

13. Thank you Merry!

If you are ever interested in a personal tour of the barn and an introduction to Frida, Arlo, Steele, Casper et al, let me know.

[FightingIrish]

3. I had planned to drive to southern Oregon to see my family next week.

I’m from Medford but now live in northwest Washington. We decided that it would be best to stay put but, hey, if you’ve got toilet paper...

[leftieNanner]

5. We have only had two cases in Jackson County so far

And they were travel related from overseas. This is largely proactive precaution.

Governor Brown has banned any gatherings over 250.

[MerryBlooms]

8. Brown has done a wonderful job and I am so grateful to have her in charge.

[FightingIrish]

12. I hope it stays that way.

One of the reasons we’re staying away is because we are from the hardest hit state so far. It looks like the virus was rampant in Washington for weeks before the public became aware of it. Ironically, we were on a cruise to New Zealand when it really started spreading here. That and our heightened awareness may have spared us. I hope so.

[MissB]

9. That's a rough one

for the local economy.

[pat_k]

10. I lived there in the early 70's

Was a "tart girl" at the festival (was around 13).

My sister visited last year. She said it has completely changed.

What measures is SOU taking? (SOC way back when)

I know all these closures are necessary, but will be so devastating.

My mom was saying the other day that she thinks the magnitude will be bigger than anything she has lived through (and she lived through WWII). A truly life changing crisis.

My only hope is that we come out of this with a more acute understanding of how much we must rely on each other. I hope enough people recognize that "we can't afford" universal health care and things like basic income is crap. We can't afford NOT TO.

[leftieNanner]

15. SOU is still open

Although I understand that Oregon and Oregon State are doing online classes only.

Concerts etc. have been cancelled.

We have lived here for only 11 years. Moved up from California in 2009. We love the valley, but miss the diversity of the Bay Area.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. That's pretty much their big event

I worked in Medford two years ago and decided to check out Ashland one weekend.

Even though the Shakespeare festival wasn't going on at the time a lot of their businesses were modeled on the Shakespearean theme.

[leftieNanner]

14. OSF runs from early March through October

So it will have a huge impact. We will see what happens as this crisis unfolds.