My View – July 2020

In last month’s column, “Cautiously Optimistic,” I was admittedly nervous about the “reopening” of our local economy and wasn’t sure if the good news on the Covid-19 front would last very long. Fast-forward to another column and I find myself adrift in the same boat—call it “Cautiously Optimistic 2.0.” At this writing, on a very sunny and warm Sunday afternoon just before our press deadline, town is bustling with shoppers and diners, half of whom are masked-up, but all of whom are happy to be out and about!

This week, in my travels through town, I had a chance to speak with many of our local business leaders, all of whom are taking life one day at a time, hoping for a speedy return to normal. Each reported that locals continue to support them and understand the essence of the “shop local” concept more than ever…music to this publisher’s ears. Like me, they are confident we’ll make it to the other side but are fearful that a spike in C-19 cases could be on the horizon.

I’ve also had the chance to speak with many locals (and a few visitors) who tell me they’ve been doing far more gardening and home projects than ever before. For me, I now find myself on a first-name basis with the staff at our new ACE Hardware store… after almost daily shopping trips!

On the subject of “home,” my sources in the real estate field are telling me that home sales are hotter than ever. We shouldn’t be surprised if home prices rise faster here than the national average as more and more “escapees” flee the cities in search of…Jacksonville!

One silver lining of the pandemic has been the increased foot traffic on our local trails—while out on my daily walks with my dog, Annie, there’s a noticeable uptick in trail usage…further reason to be grateful for the miles and miles of hiking and biking options right here in our backyards.

At this most unusual time, please join me in being grateful for some of the “little things” in Our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!