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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Calendar: Saturday, Oct. 25 Helman students illustrate kindness, love Newly renovated Ashland Hills hosts open house SOU's 'Count Me In' campaign raises $210,000 Aquatics backer announces write-in candidacy for Parks & Rec board Education Helman students illustrate kindness, love SOU's 'Count Me In' campaign raises $210,000 Fun, fundraising and art at Helman Elementary School Ashland mourns death of former coach Stan Gida Goal not reached, but don't count out 'Count Me In' yet Environment Rite Aid cub well, could come back to southern Oregon Report: Smaller streams need further protection Bear cub wanders into Rite Aid Kalmiopsis' future at stake if mining goes forward Fires and forests evolved together, but now people are in the mix Business Newly renovated Ashland Hills hosts open house Hot Stuff Espresso Blue Toba erupts onto dining scene Interim president leads in a different direction Silvio Calabi: Acura’s 2015 TLX is two cars in one Politics and elections Aquatics backer announces write-in candidacy for Parks & Rec board Richardson accuses Kitzhaber of 'corruption' in final debate Stricker steps down from Talent council Merkley-Wehby to debate in Medford Ashland land use rule review continues State News Nation - World Obituaries Ronald J. Hupp Death Notices Gary Wayne Campbell Brian Douglas Bellamy Death Notices Sports Latest Stories They're twins, and they're good Royals' Guthrie to face Giants' Hudson in Game 3 App Finder: Best basketball apps No. 11 SOU volleyball team returns home for two key matches Ashland mourns death of former coach Stan Gida High school They're twins, and they're good Ashland mourns death of former coach Stan Gida What slump? Grizzlies drop-kick Eagles Grizzlies row to raise money for regatta Grizzlies run out of magic in loss to No. 3 Springfield Southern Oregon University No. 11 SOU volleyball team returns home for two key matches Ashland mourns death of former coach Stan Gida SOU football team falls to No. 7 in NAIA rankings No. 4 SOU, No. 3 Carroll to square off in Frontier Conference showdown Third-ranked Concordia strikes quick, topples SOU Opinion Latest Stories Our View: Fix the 'free speech zone' Teaching the First Amendment Granlund cartoon: New York Ebola Jim Brock: Should government legalize gay marriage? Amy Gehrt: Your vote counts this Election Day Editorial Our View: Fix the 'free speech zone' Our View: Cheering Ashland's own Kitzhaber is the better choice Our View: Merkley, with a nudge Our view: Positive about Bates Letters Letters to the Editor, Oct. 24 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 23 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 21 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 21 Letters to the editor Guest opinions Teaching the First Amendment Guest Opinion: Media are part of the pot prohibition problem Wilderness successes could be lost if funding not restored Religion and politics in America City should revise its rules for murals Revels Latest Stories Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Repertory singers prepare 'powerful' opening concert Griffin heads to Historic Ashland Armory Best Bets Oct. 23-30 'Fury' shows the grim toll of war Theater New plays debut at ANPF Music Repertory singers prepare 'powerful' opening concert Q&A: Broken Down Guitars The Farr Side: Bryan Adams releases album of influential hits Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU Q&A: Becky Alter Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘Whiplash’ hits high notes Movie review: ‘Birdman,’ Keaton soar Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Fury' shows the grim toll of war Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Portal to freedom and expanded human potential Frank Talk: A little Halloween humor circa 1970 Barry Lewis: The idiot light Community Blog: Predicting Peace - Part 6 of 7 Dr. Jeff Hersh: Controversy over breast cancer screening Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Calendar: Saturday, Oct. 25 ... Our View: Fix the 'free speech zone' ... Teaching the First Amendment ... Calendar: Saturday, Oct. 25 ... Our View: Fix the 'free speech zone' ... Teaching the First Amendment ... QUILLS AND QUEUES Personal stories build community By Angela Decker For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Daily Tidings Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 7:48 pm By Angela Decker For the Daily Tidings Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 7:48 pm » RELATED CONTENT • Last installment in Ashland vampire trilogy released • Quills & Queues: Art, language and the brain • 'Mockingbird' turns 50 • Women playwrights » Social News One of my favorite events in a town loaded with excellent events is the Hearth storytelling series. Four times a year, founder Mark Yaconelli persuades members of the community to tell a 10-minute, true personal story around a given theme. The fall theme is “True Tales of Change,” and six local people will each share a personal story of transformation. One of those locals is Catherine Foster, a senior editor at the Shakespeare Festival. This will be Foster's first time in front of the Hearth microphone, but she has been in the audience twice before and found it to be an intimate and thought-provoking experience. “The people on stage are ordinary people, they're not actors or professionals, and there is a vulnerability, an unscripted quality to their stories that really makes you feel what they are going through,” Foster said. “I've been amazed at what great tellers this town has ... I've loved the funny stories and the heartfelt ones, but what I admire most is the courage people show in standing up and sharing.” The Hearth event begins at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30, at Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland. A $5 donation at the door goes to a regional nonprofit group. This time, proceeds will go to Rogue Climate, an organization that works toward increasing community awareness and political action in regard to climate change in this region. Foster will tell the story of how, at age 50, she decided to adopt a 7-year-old girl from Russia. “I thought how adopting a child so late in life was such an enormous but also delightful and rewarding change in my life,” said Foster. “When I heard that the next Hearth theme was change and transformation, I thought my story would fit well.” Foster says she is also hoping that her story of adopting an older child late in life will inspire others to do the same. “I'm a big proponent of adoption, particularly older people adopting older children. Because I was ambivalent at first, I want people to know that you don't have to be 100 percent certain of a big decision to move ahead, and you don't have to be a perfect person. I think my story will encourage others in similar situations,” she said. Sharing and listening to personal stories can break down cultural, social and economic barriers, and can connect people in surprising ways. Foster decided to share her adoption story after hearing another woman at an earlier Hearth event talk about her adoption experience. “Our experiences were very different, but also similar in some ways,” she said. For newcomers to the area, Hearth storytelling events are a lovely way to get to know the community. During the break, there's time to chat with someone you just met or catch up with people you haven't seen in a while, over lots of good snacks and wine. Foster says that the Hearth helps builds relationships. “I especially like listening to the stories with so many other people in a room,” she said. “It's a communal experience you don't get from anything else, not a concert or theater. It's so unique.” In addition to the rich storytelling, the audience will enjoy live music organized by local fiddler Duane Whitcomb and poetry. So come out Thursday to rub elbows with your neighbors and hear some of them speak of times or adventures that changed them. It may remind you of a time you were changed, maybe even inspire you to consider sharing that story, that little piece of yourself, with someone else. Temple Emek Shalom is at 1800 E. Main Street. For more information or if you have a story that fits an upcoming theme, contact Mark Yaconelli at [email protected]. Angela Decker is a freelance writer in Ashland and can be reached at [email protected].   By Angela Decker For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Daily Tidings Posted Oct. 23, 2014 @ 7:48 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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