My View – December 2015/January 2016

As the year comes to a close, I’d like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. Looking back on 2015, I must admit it’s been a very productive, interesting, mostly fun and very busy year. On a sadder note, it’s also been a year that saw the passing of too many of Jacksonville’s friends, both young and old—a theme that seems to be a new reality as I enter my mid-50’s.

Reflecting back, several key issues dominated town news including the watershed decision to restore the County Courthouse and move city offices into the historic building. You can certainly expect the Review’s pages to be filled with all sorts of news related to this and other issues next year.

In 2015, other news that piqued my interest that’ll surely influence our town included the legalization of recreational marijuana. How the issue plays-out remains to be seen, but my gut tells me it’s not going to be in our best interest. On the flip side, a very positive story in 2015 included the rebound of the economy and its impact on the local and national real estate markets as well as the local business community. If you think you’ve been seeing new faces and new places in town, you’re right—new residents, new homes and new businesses are a sign of the times.

In 2015, the Review kept to its mission of promoting the merits of the “Shop Local” movement, championing the notion that a strong locally-based economy is good for property values and community values.

Over the past 12 months, it’s been a pleasure bringing you stories reflective of life in our historic village…from the politics to the people! Please know that I consider it an honor to be the publisher of the Review and sincerely appreciate the massive amount of support I receive from the community.

Lastly, I’m extremely proud that Jacksonville Publishing expanded its reaches in 2015 to all of Southern Oregon with the launch of Southern Oregon Wine Scene. Our new magazine, published 3-times/year is yet another sign of the times and of the growing allure of living in the heart of wine country in Our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!