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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, April 12 Public meetings: April 13-17 Gold Hill may get a full-time police officer Staffing shortages keep vets waiting at SORCC VA clinics statewide can't compete with private sector Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 12 Emergency services, April 11 Jury awards more than 200K in Rogue River dog-barking case, orders dogs debarked Alleged subscription scammers may be violating state restraining order Central Point police pull attempted theft suspect from prickly hiding spot Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Education Prepping before 9th grade Shumate says initiatives will require reserve spending Eagle Point school district violated union members' constitutional rights, federal judge says SOU celebrates Arbor Day early with awards and talks SOU student's play heads to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Environment Central Point's Arbor Day project will provide shade along Mingus Creek Evans Creek dams on track for removal this summer Nearly 400 steelhead die in Applegate fish-trap failure Forum looks at Crater Lake wilderness proposal A place to play State News Grants Pass state rep walks away from motorcycle crash unscathed Senators join in Oregon Caves dedication Forest Grove spelling bee celebrates bilingual students Oregon lawmakers, counties spar over public safety spending Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Paul Inserra James Raymond (“Jimy”) Angel Peggy Gene Ritchie-Potter Anthony (Tony) Ray Hansen Ian Witter Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Bats come alive for Ducks in win Heir Jordan Nieves' grand slam lifts Padres past Giants Expansion Orlando City defeats Portland Chaos, wins evenly distributed for Raiders Varsity 541 College Sports Bats come alive for Ducks in win Chaos, wins evenly distributed for Raiders UO’s Lockie sharp in spring practice Ducks top OSU on bases-loaded walk in 9th Strong pitching gives SOU pivotal sweep Pro Sports Heir Jordan Nieves' grand slam lifts Padres past Giants Expansion Orlando City defeats Portland Booker, Jazz upset Blazers Guthrie, Moustakas lift Royals to victory Community Sports Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories New bosses take charge at Harry & David Erickson shores up business with three contracts Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Blog: Erickson signs construction, firefighting and logging deals, but investors remain a tough sell Dancin Vineyards covers up Real Estate News Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Erickson shores up business with three contracts Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark Road to health: Bike and pedestrian paths play greater role in transportation project funding Agriculture New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Our View: Medford School District's new spending appears prudent Letters to the Editor, April 12 Dana Milbank: After another tragedy, signs of progress George Will: Containing Iran's nuclear intoxication Charles Krauthammer: The Iran deal: What we've given up Editorials Our View: Medford School District's new spending appears prudent Other Views: Keep Klamath water plan moving in Congress Our View: Emails contradict claims of Kitzhaber, Hayes Our View: All ethics reform bills should get a hearing Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 12 Letters to the Editor, April 10 Letters to the Editor, April 9 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Columns Dana Milbank: After another tragedy, signs of progress George Will: Containing Iran's nuclear intoxication Charles Krauthammer: The Iran deal: What we've given up Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Lifestyle Latest stories Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers strike a chord Adopt a Pet Anniversary: Pacey Charlesworth-Murphy Go get physical Food Community blog: U.S. dietary guidelines change little with the times Season Stepp: Try farmer’s market sunchoke in a creamy potato soup Page H. Onorato: Bringing spring to the dinner table Tammy Kelly: Asparagus is in season Power of 5 Home and Garden Cry babies, it’s time to plant onions Garden Cameos: Good soil foundation of fabulous garden Ceramic tile: How it’s made and what’s new Dear Monty: How real estate relocation companies work Paul Rogers: Yard damage may not be as bad as it looks Health Go get physical Community blog: Better Living By Design: A Symposium You Must Not Miss Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Dr. Jeff Hersh: Distracted driving Dr. Murray Feingold: Keep laundry detergent packets away from kids Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Milestones and Achievements Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Haga-Parks Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Five picks for entertainment this week The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Live Music in Local Clubs Britt Festivals line-up kicks off June 6 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Theater Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Music The Brothers Reed celebrate new CD 'Sick as Folk' Britt Festivals line-up kicks off June 6 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Gene Burnett tonight at Liquid Assets in Ashland The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course Community Events Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival MailTribune.com rolls out new calendar Dining Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Standing Stone owners to open Medford brewpub and restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Grants Pass state rep walks away from motorcycle crash unscathed ... Senators join in Oregon Caves dedication ... Gold Hill may get a full-time police officer ... Grants Pass state rep walks away from motorcycle crash unscathed ... Senators join in Oregon Caves dedication ... Gold Hill may get a full-time police officer ... PARADE Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit Actor Jim Belushi among those who turned out despite the weather By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 11, 2015 @ 7:47 pm Updated Apr 11, 2015 at 7:56 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 11, 2015 @ 7:47 pm Updated Apr 11, 2015 at 7:56 PM Parade contest winners --> Floats Youth 1. Rogue Valley Family YMCA 2. Fusion Dance Academy 3. Southern Oregon Head Start   Adult 1. Rogue Valley Veterans and Community O... » Read more X Parade contest winners Floats Youth 1. Rogue Valley Family YMCA 2. Fusion Dance Academy 3. Southern Oregon Head Start   Adult 1. Rogue Valley Veterans and Community Outreach 2. Wildlife Images 3. Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association   Equestrian 1. Rogue Mounted Archers 2. Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo 3. Jackson County Sheriff's Posse   Walking Youth 1. TNT Cheer 2. Spartan Boxing 3. ScienceWorks   Adult 1. Holly Theatre 2. SOU Athletics 3. Asante   Vehicle 1. La Clinica 2. Southern Oregon Corvette 3. Military Order of Purple Heart   Commercial 1. Sherm's Thunderbird Market 2. Bobbio's Pizza 3. Fountain Plaza » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Neither wind nor rain nor nonexistent parking could keep thousands of Rogue Valley residents from turning out Saturday to cheer on participants in the 2015 Pear Blossom Parade. Beneath a steady drizzle, families crowded sidewalks down the length of Medford's Central Avenue to watch the city's annual spring procession flow past, cheering for mainstays such as the Pear Blossom pageant princesses and baby blossoms, and looking to catch a glimpse of actor and comedian Jim Belushi, who rode aboard a white BMW convertible with a contingent from the Holly Theatre. "Hey, Belushi!" one teenager yelled from the sidewalk, "I'm the son you didn't know about. Give me money!" The parade has been held every year since 1954, when Medford community organizers decided to organize a children's parade. Event organizers said this year's parade, which stretched from Beatty Street south down Central Avenue to West Main Street and then west to Mistletoe Street, numbered more than 150 entrants and 4,000 participants. The total number of spectators had been expected to be over 30,000, but festival President Darcey Mann-Self said that number probably dropped to around 25,000 because of the rain and cold weather.  "When you counted the layers (of spectators) by block, I wouldn't say we were down much," she said. Police and volunteers from Central Point, Ashland, Eagle Point and Grants Pass joined Medford officers on motorcycles and bicycles, curtailing traffic on West Main and Central Avenue as children darted in and out of the roadway, eagerly snatching up candy thrown by marchers. A life-size replica of a U.S. military Hawk surface-to-air missile, built by Ron Bloom of Medford, drew wide-eyed stares from children gathered on the sidewalk. Bloom told the Mail Tribune he had to notify local aviation and law enforcement officials of the model, which isn't functional. The University of Oregon signed on as a festival sponsor for the first time this year, and organizers say the appearance of "Puddles," the school's licensed mascot likeness of Donald Duck, was especially well-received, at one point drawing laughs from a surly group of police officers on bicycles as he danced in the middle of the roadway, apparently directing traffic to the beat of nearby high school marching bands. Belushi's appearance in the parade came on the heels of a Tuesday announcement by the theater-restoration group that the actor had signed onto the fundraising effort as its honorary chairman. It's estimated that restoration of the theater, owned by the JPR Foundation and managed by Jefferson Live, will cost about $4 million, about half of which has already been raised. The theater, built during the Great Depression, shut down in 1986 and fell into disrepair until it was purchased by the foundation in 2011. Organizers say Belushi, who's known for appearing on Saturday Night Live and his starring role in ABC's "According to Jim," heard about the project through one of the subcontractors involved in the construction of his new home at the former Elks picnic area on the Rogue River and asked to tour the theater. Randy McKay, executive director of Jefferson Live, said the parade was an opportunity to highlight the project to community members who might not even know the theater is there.  "One of the things we wanted with this is showing the amount of support we have, with representatives of 45 different businesses and organizations carrying signs and somebody that notable like Jim Belushi," he said. McKay said offers to help with the theater group's procession in the parade were so numerous that volunteers had to turn down offers of help as they ran out of time and materials to make signs. McKay said the group's spot at the front of the parade, which organizers said had 150 entrants this year, was due solely to Belushi's schedule. "He was shooting another eight to 10 hours of TV this afternoon," McKay said, referring to the "Building Belushi" reality show the actor is filming to document his home's construction. "The only way we could do it was for him to get in and get out." Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471 or  [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 11, 2015 @ 7:47 pm Updated Apr 11, 2015 at 7:56 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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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