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3 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 Climate activists back solar energy bills Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Ashland High School's robotics team's season ends at district meet Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls High school Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Southern Oregon University Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 11 Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services Inner Peace column: Worldwide Conflict and Resolution, Part II: Who Are You? Community Blog: Judgment and Misery Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' ... Aging Happens: There are many different kinds of home health services ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... JAPAN-USA EXCHANGE Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Pacific Rim Bowl XIV slated for July 31 in Ashland Comment By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:24 PM By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:24 PM » Social News When Paul Volz traveled to Japan in 2009 to watch the Ashland High football team face Japan in the Pacific Rim Bowl, he came back inspired. “I made friendships there with officials and they made such an impact and were so nice and it was so fun, I vowed that I would help make it happen here,” he said. Volz, a local insurance broker whose son, Jon, starred on Ashland’s 2011 and 2012 state playoff teams, kept that promise to himself when Japan played in Ashland in 2011 and now is preparing for what he says will be his final go-round this summer. Pacific Rim Bowl XIV is slated for July 31 at Walter A. Phillips Field, and though the game that pits Ashland High School’s varsity team against a collection of Japanese all stars every other year at alternating sites is still months away, Volz and a 10-member PRB committee is already deep into the planning stages. Japan this year will roll into Ashland on July 26 with 46 players and 14 coaches and officials in tow for a busy week of football and sightseeing, virtually every minute of which is meticulously mapped out and staffed months in advance. While here, the Japanese players will sleep in the homes of host families, who will also be providing transportation to and from practices and events and occasional meals, and the coaches will be staying at Bard’s Inn. This year’s itinerary is more ambitious in scope than previous Pacific Rim Bowls held in Ashland because it will include a special ceremony at Lithia Park and, tentatively, a field trip for the Japanese to Eugene to check out the University of Oregon’s football facilities. The Lithia Park event, for now dubbed the Peace Ceremony, will be held on the Tuesday after the Japanese arrive (July 28) and focus on the impact of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Hall is hoping that Hiroshima survivor and Medford resident Hideko Namura Snider will be available to share her insights along with other guest speakers. The event is designed to complement an element of the cultural exchange that has become a hallmark of Ashland’s PRB trips to Japan — a day trip to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. “When we go to the Peace Memorial Park our kids come away with a strong sense of what happened and why it happened,” Hall said. “So (Snider) is a symbolic connection to that commitment to peace and I think a very powerful educational opportunity for our players and the community. And we also want to have a few keynote speakers …who can speak about our youth setting the tone. Football is the game we play, but (the Pacific Rim Bowl) is about much more than the game. We’re trying to bring two countries together and move forward in a positive way.” Two Japanese representatives visited Ashland two weeks ago and were able to talk to Snider about what the ceremony should entail. “Both (representatives) exchanged ideas about their vision for that particular ceremony,” Hall said. “We want it to be simple and very genuine and not too long. It should show that there’s something more than a game that they’re coming here to share.” Regarding the Eugene field trip, Hall said he’s contacted Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich — the two coached together at Southern Oregon University — but has yet to receive the go-ahead from U of O. Since the Ducks will not be practicing that week their practice facilities and Autzen Stadium will be available. If Oregon approves the trip, the tour will replace Japan’s usual all-day excursion to Crater Lake, which Hall said would probably be a welcomed change for most of the teenage visitors. “Usually we put them on a bus Wednesday and they arrive at Crater Lake, say ‘Wow,’ take some pictures then fall asleep on the bus for another couple hours,” he said. “So I don’t know if that’s a great experience. So, we have some connections with (Oregon) and we felt it would be a really good trip for them to go up there and maybe get a workout or practice in at Autzen Stadium. It’s looking pretty good, but I can’t say 100 percent yet.” If it happens, that will only be one of several activities that have been lined up for the Japanese. The busy week will also include: • A barbecue at Emigrant Lake scheduled to begin an hour after the Japanese arrive at Ashland High School to meet their host families. The picnic is an ice-breaking event that will include introductions followed by boat rides, water slides and sand volleyball. • A walk to Southern Oregon University for lunch at The Hawk, SOU’s cafeteria, then on to Raider Stadium for a slew of friendly games: Frisbee throwing, an obstacle course and tug of war. • A jet boat ride down the Rogue River followed by a formal dinner for the coaches. • A shopping day in Medford, where the Japanese will visit Cascade Athletic Supply, followed by a pregame meal at Northwest Pizza & Pasta Company and finally on to Phillips Field for the game. The pregame ceremony, which includes introductions of players and coaches, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. The postgame party will also be held at Northwest. The players’ final full day in Ashland, Aug. 1 (a Saturday), as always has been left open as a free day for the players and their host families to do as they please. The Japanese will board a bus and depart at 6 a.m. the following morning. Volz said the committee is still looking for 12 host families after about 12 signed up at a meeting last week. Each host family will care for two Japanese players. “As a general rule, we look to football parents to host, not just good Samaritans,” Volz said. “That way the kids involved with the game go to practice together and have that common bond in football.” The Ashland Football Club and advertising revenue from the program will help pay for the activities, but Volz said donations will also help. To make a donation, visit ashlandfootballclub.com.     By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:24 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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