This month, the Review celebrates our local merchants and the local grape harvest with features and articles on both topics. The common denominator is something I celebrate and advocate every day here at the Review—the notion of keeping it “local.”

Inside, we dedicated three full pages to telling you more about some of our amazing, local retailers. Each of them is a Jacksonville Review advertising client and a part of THE support system behind this publication—it was a pleasure crafting this feature and bringing it to you at no cost to our merchant-clients!

I strongly encourage you to support this group of hard-working “mom and pops” when making your shopping decisions now, during the upcoming holidays and all year-round! Like me, I hope you discover and are impressed with their passion for providing unique products and providing great customer service.

One of the main reasons to support local merchants is that Jacksonville is not a cookie-cutter town with cookie-cutter, national retail chains. This “uniqueness” is one of the main reasons most of us flocked here in the first place, so it only makes sense to support something that bolsters that portion of our quality of life. Indeed, it is our local, one-of-a-kind shops (restaurants, too) that help create the energy and vibe that bland shopping malls and strip malls can’t offer…the “it” factor that defines the essence of small town life.

On page 36, be sure to read Graham Farran’s excellent analysis of today’s macro-economic business climate in the Rogue Valley. There’s a lot of good news on the improving economics in Southern Oregon, mostly due to commercial and retail real estate construction projects. Although I wish more of the positive news Graham brings us revolved around “local” companies instead of so many “big-box” chains and retailers, good news is good news and a rising economic tide raises all boats!

Covering news on the local wine scene, Erika Bishop, Marketing Director of Troon Vineyards in the Applegate Valley, penned a palate-pleasing piece about the 2013 grape harvest—expected to be one of the best vintages in years! Her piece on page 6 notes that Sunset Magazine just named our area, “the up and coming wine appellation to watch,” which will surely result in more and more wine enthusiasts from around the globe visiting our area. Tourism is critical to Jacksonville’s economic life, and positive national attention like this can only bolster our region.

Lastly, I hope you’ll take a moment to read a spur-of-the-moment piece I wrote just before press deadline on the continuing question of, “what to do with the Courthouse?” On page 16, it’s titled, “Courthouse or Firehouse?” and is intended to re-open the community dialogue about which project Jacksonville values the most and which project should be our priority.

As always, I welcome your polite comments about these and other issues and wish you well in Our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!

Posted September 27, 2013