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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 23, 2005 KIDS museum reopens Saturday By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune The plan was to open the Kids Imagination Discovery Space as a sneak preview for the summer, then close down while organizers held a fund-raising campaign. But an enthusiastic response has persuaded organizers to keep the museum doors open — for good, they hope. KIDS, on North Ross Lane in west Medford, first opened in June with more than 1,000 eager souls who turned out to play on small-scale ocean waves, run a pint-size kitchen and hospital and explore a dozen learn-by-play exhibits such as a contractors’ loft and pizzeria. "Our intention was to open for the summer to show everyone what we were doing, then close back down and really focus on the fund-raising," said KIDS spokesperson Sunny Spicer. "We were so busy focusing on the day-to-day and how busy we were that we didn’t have time to focus on the fund-raising like we wanted to," she said. Advertisement Then came a barrage of calls: parents who couldn’t fathom the museum closing, community members wanting to pitch in and teachers interested in field trips. "We came to the conclusion that it would be unfair to the community to close and take that away from them," Spicer said. While the museum did officially close this month, it was just to allow volunteers to catch their breath and set up some newly acquired exhibits. KIDS will reopen Saturday with new exhibits, including a much-anticipated water table constructed and donated by Medford Fabrication, a science and medical area dubbed "BodyBasics," and expanded art activities. Having spent much of her summer at KIDS’ "Stone Soup of Summer Fun," Rogue River resident and mother of two Debi Dieterich was glad to hear the news. "We travel quite a bit and have been to a number of children’s museums around the country," she said. "It’s really an important center for kids and for parents — both working mothers and moms who stay at home. The community is not ready-made anymore. It’s not on the cul-de-sac, so here’s a way for us to be involved." The concept for KIDS was initiated by founder and board president Sharon Bolles, who rallied a small band of community members in the late 1990s. Seven years later, fundraising began and, in 2004, a mini-version of KIDS was displayed in the Rogue Valley Mall. Early this year, Moose Lodge members approved sale of their 16,000-square-foot lodge at North Ross Lane and West McAndrews to KIDS for the museum. KIDS put a hefty down payment on the building’s $2 million purchase price and was permitted to move in. Spicer said fall memberships would be the same or comparable to the $35 summer rate and admission would stay at $5 for kids and $2 for adults. All told, KIDS’ current fund-raising goal is some $3.5 million to purchase the building and land and cover startup costs. KIDS is at 226 N. Ross Lane. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call KIDS, 772-9922, or see www.discoveryspace.org . Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s