Pickleball, celebrated as one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, shares similarities with tennis: it employs a smaller court, composite paddles, and a perforated plastic ball. The underhanded strokes add an element of fun and accessibility for players across all age groups and skill levels, from professionals vying for tournament victories to enthusiasts looking for a spirited game.

It’s been 25 years since Women’s Health Center of Southern Oregon was established “to provide the best in comprehensive specialty health care for women in Southern Oregon.” WHCOSO opened its doors in Grants Pass in the fall of 1998 as a small private practice with two physicians and an administrator. It continues to be a privately owned practice and has grown with the community.

It’s unfortunate that Part II of our annual readers’ survey, “The Best of the Rogue Valley,” is being published right when an important election is being held in Grants Pass. This survey will take up practically the entire paper (we don’t even have room for our Profile column), and if it weren’t for that, we’d be concentrating on the attempted recall of Mayor Sara Bristol.

Another year, another Best of the Rogue Valley. If life is merely “enjoying the passage of time,” a philosophy that was explained to me during a late night bull session at the frat house in college, then I’ve been a very happy person for the last 37 years, when I first introduced this readers’ survey to Southern Oregon.

Anyone who has spent time in a hospital or rehabilitation unit always looks forward to the day when they can return to home sweet home. Sometimes, though, the therapy needs to continue and that’s where physical therapist Lori Nissen comes in handy. Her service, At Home Health & Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Vibrant Living, provides in-home physical therapy for those who need to follow up on their rehabilitation.