My View – June 2018

This month, join me in celebrating life in Jacksonville with our main feature about our favorite local, family-owned and operated restaurants. For the past three months, our Unfettered Critics, Terry and Paula Erdmann, have been conducting interviews (and enjoying some fine fare) while compiling this delicious feature. In my view, the “heart” of our town is truly found in our restaurants—the places where we gather with friends and family and where we welcome guests to get a taste of life in a small town.

I fondly recall visiting Jacksonville nearly fifteen years ago and seriously discussing the idea of moving here with my wife—under the wisteria vines on the Bella Union patio. After moving here years later, it was over dinner with friends at the Jacksonville Inn Bistro where I first learned that the Jacksonville Review might be for sale. Shortly thereafter, over coffee and lunch at Pony Espresso, the deal was signed and my new career in publishing began! Indeed, restaurants are our comfort zones and our homes away from home.

As you will read in this issue, the food offerings found in town are as diverse as those creating and plating it—and thanks to that passion and desire to serve, Jacksonville is a more interesting and tasty place to live and work.

When I started mapping out this very special restaurant feature months back, it was with the intent of shining a bright light on our local restaurateurs—it was all good news! However, I’m deeply sorry to report that a group of local residents have decided to attack our beloved restaurant community by launching a citizen’s initiative to place a 5% meals tax on the November General Election ballot. Please read my in-depth opinion piece on page 16 of this issue to learn more about this threat to Jacksonville’s economic stability. Please join me in saying “NO” to this unfair and unwarranted sales tax.

Cheers to great friends, good times and our local restaurants in our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!