We’re baaack. Did you miss us?

Last month we forfeited this space to accommodate a two-page spread on J’Ville’s Art Amble. It’s okay if you didn’t miss us—but we sure hope you haven’t missed that ongoing event: music, food (samples!), wine (tastes!) and art (visual treats!) located in and around the center of town. The Art Amble will reappear on the 4th Friday eves of August and September. It’s a local event you’ll have a ball supporting—or (with a dash of self-control) enjoy for free.

Farmer's Market Organizer Ken Snoke with Farmers, Coz & Tina

Other fabulous local events have popped up, too—like J’Ville’s weekly Farmer’s Market on the Courthouse lawn. Each Saturday we leash up our four-legged, furry kids and head downhill to the fun, where locally-grown tomatoes, broccoli and lettuces, fresh baked goodies, a mini-art show and home-baked dog cookies await. We find fresh, hot tamales. Tie-dye tee shirts. Gluten-free cookies. Fattening iced cupcakes. Handcrafted jewelry. And lots more, including live music from “dirt road blues” singer Pete Herzog, or emerging rock band “The Apple Siders.” It’s a great place to be on a bright Saturday morning—right in the heart of Jacksonville.

Amazing cupcakes from Alexis Panicali 's Ambrosia

Again, you can hang out for free (but how are you gonna resist those still warm from the oven muffins, or the just-dug fingerling potatoes?).

Now, we hate to criticize (odd, given that we’re Unfettered Critics), but one thing confuses us. While we’re enjoying these great events downtown, where are our neighbors? And our friends’ neighbors? We’ve bumped into Jacksonville residents at the always-packed Medford and Ashland farmers’ markets, and at the Medford and Ashland art walks, too. So why don’t we see those same people getting their exercise while supporting our own local artists and farmers while having a great time right here? It’s a puzzlement.

Jacksonville thrives on community spirit. We’ve heard arguments for an all-volunteer fire department. Well, how about volunteers to check out the fun, enriching, exciting and often free events that make the town a community? These efforts deserve your support. All you have to do is leave the house—but not leave town.

Okay, enough with the “critiquing.” Here’s a segue: We do recommend one reason not to leave the house. And by doing so, you can still shop “locally,” so to speak.

"Leverage" Cast

There’s this TV show, you see. It’s called “Leverage.” It’s truly entertaining. And it’s filmed in Oregon. Now, that’s cool.
“Leverage” stars investigator Timothy Hutton as the brains of a band of reformed con-artists. These experts in world-class crime now employ their nefarious talents by finding and fooling bad guys who’ve destroyed the lives of hapless victims. And what a band he leads; a computer hacker, a (very beautiful) grifter, the toughest fighter on TV, and a ditzy cat burglar. At its heart, the show is a bit like “Mission Impossible,” with a touch of “Ocean’s Eleven.” Except that it has something extra:

First, it’s funny. The characters’ reactions to each other’s quirks are as entertaining as the caper they pull off each week; and the plights of the victims they’re avenging are just realistic enough for each of us to identify with.

And second, “Leverage’s” production team is bringing Hollywood money into Oregon, money that drifts into the state coffers and might, with luck, mingle with your own tax dollars. The behind-the-scenes hero here is producer Dean Devlin, who in the past brought us an oeuvre of feature films, like “Stargate,” “Independence Day” and “The Patriot.”

“Leverage” airs Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. on TNT. We strongly recommend that you tune in while munching a tasty late night treat you picked up at the J’Ville Farmer’s Market, along with a glass of wine from the bottle you took home from the Art Amble. And if there just happens to be a local artist’s work newly displayed near your couch, well, what could be better?

Paula and Terry each have long impressive-sounding resumes implying that they are battle-scarred veterans of life within the Hollywood studios. They’re now happily relaxed into Jacksonville.