Local Happpenings

An Opportunity for Thought Or A Teachable Moment?

2011-09-19T16:08:00Z

Now that the spotlights are turned off and dismantled from the backside of Coker Butte, the McPhail's find a way to get comfortable in their new "digs", and the ABC crew is off to their next community "Takeover", I think there is time for pause for meaningful thought.

I think this was a wonderful community event! Bringing good people together to do a good thing for some good people. That is what we do here, have always done and hopefully always will. No less, the Leather's Playground, saving Mt. Ashland, the 4-H Youth Livestock auction each year, even the annual United Way drive are a few other community successes for which we can brag and have community pride. After working my shift on the build, I noticed people walking a little taller, a little prouder, and behaving a little kinder. These collaborative projects have a way of doing that to us and for us.

One of the things that struck me in this process was, considering Oregon's and Jackson County's penchant for land use strangulation, how in the devil does one go about accomplishing such a feat in 106 hours? How do you navigate the permitting process? How do you navigate the inspection process? And lastly, how do you hope to cope with the permit fees and system development charges? What I heard was that this was such an advertising boon for the region that the ends justified the means. And if a national broadcasting network camera is in the house, you can gather consensus in a hurry! If the figures promoted by the producers are true, the ends are quite significant. However, I would have preferred to hear from officials, "Yes, we are going to do this as it is significant AND we are going to investigate ways we can do this better, faster, cheaper, and less intrusive for all us who remain here in Happy Valley every day" That is the part I didn't hear any talk or thought given. Before the glow is gone, the pats on the back fade, and folks return to their routine of trying to make a living, I wish we can do community introspection on the subject. Not just when the lights, camera, action are in play, not just when Amy's Kitchen is planning an expansion, but even when Billy Bob wants better "digs" for Emmylou!! Yes, let's figure out how to "Move that bus" blocking our view of all of our little economic development projects across the region. Give it some thought. Ask some questions. I think we can do better or at least try.

Curt Johnson, SIOR

"MOVE THAT BUS"

2011-09-14T16:05:00Z

It is "Reveal Day" for the McPhail family's dream home! Extreme Makeover Home Edition Jackson County Edition organizers are saying that they are shooting for 3:00 to reveal the house to the family but are suggesting those wishing to be there to show up early. The public is invited to join in the ceremonial outcry of "Move That Bus" and volunteers are encouraged to wear their blue shirt and hardhat, they will try and get you to the front of the pack. County officials are saying that this has been a great boost to our community with very little negative effect on resources, for the most part all time and supplies have been donated by volunteers.

Fall Webworm

2011-09-13T22:39:00Z

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, is a moth in the family Arctiida known principally for its larval stage, which creates the characteristic webbed nests on the tree limbs of a wide variety of hardwoods in the late summer and fall. It is mainly an aesthetic pest and is not believed to harm otherwise healthy trees."

It looks like Halloween early in Southern Oregon, all due to the "Fall Web Worm"! This little pest is making its appearance all over our valley and is paying special attention to the Madrone trees. The webworm is so numerous right now because of the late summer we had, its natural predators normally wait until the warmer summer weather to come out and feed.

Although this little caterpillar creates an unsightly home is it relatively harmless. The only damage it creates is to the leaves that it eats, but to the tree owners they are not so pretty to look at. On rare occasions there are some infestations that are so bad that the trees are being damaged to the point of removal, the experts' advice is to remove the nests by cutting the infested limbs out although some people just use a broom or lawn rake to pull them out.

Many people are confusing this caterpillar with the "Tent Worm" which can cause considerable damage to trees. The web of the tent worm is much different than the webworm. The web of the Tent Worm are much neater and attached to the trunk of the tree or in the crooks of the branches while the web of the Webworm are usually at the ends of branches and incase the leaves.

Extreme Home Makeover Family Chosen

2011-09-07T21:01:00Z

Earlier today, September 7, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” traveled to Medford, Oregon, to surprise the McPhail family with the door knock that can change lives.

As a young newly married couple, C.J. and Lindsay McPhail decided they wanted to spend their lives helping others. They started the Southern Oregon Chapter of Sparrow Clubs, a non-profit organization, which helps children with medical issues by pairing them with a school which adopts them as their school’s "Sparrow." C.J. found himself speaking to students, businesses, and anyone who would listen about the incredible power Sparrow Clubs gives to both students and Sparrows. His amazing ability as a public speaker motivated thousands of students to raise funds, perform service work, and create programs all in the name of their Sparrow. Not only were C.J. and Linsday a part of raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for kids with medical needs, they were also able to help transform schools through challenging students to look beyond themselves and serve.

C.J. and Lindsay never imagined though they would one day need the help from the very same organization they devoted so much of their time to. Soon after moving to Portland and running a chapter there, their oldest son Sawyer was diagnosed with a form of Autism and their second oldest son Thatcher began to start showing signs of Autism as well. With their children regressing, the family moved back to Medford to live on a 50-acre family property next to Lindsay’s parents. The boys showed great progress, but Sawyer still faced several challenges due to his lack of social cues. Much to the family’s surprise, Sawyer became a Sparrow and through his endearing personality, he helped put a face on autism and brought awareness to over 900 students in his adopted school. While the property and the outdoors are great for the children’s progress, the house is not built for their needs.

The electrical system is from 1958 and recently an outlet actually sparked and shot small flames, Rewiring would be difficult since the home is made of cinderblocks. The windows are all original and are a safety hazard because they are huge and are not tempered glass, meaning if they break the glass won’t shatter. The plumbing is poor and leaks creating mold in the bathrooms. Lastly, there is no heat in the back of the house. Only the kitchen, living room, and front bedroom have ventilation so the family is forced to rely on space heaters in the winter, which is extremely costly and not eco-friendly. Moving away from the house is financially impossible and not desired since the property is crucial to the boy's progress.

The “EM:HE” design team has just seven days to build a brand new home for the McPhail family. The McPhails have been whisked away on a dream vacation to the new Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, while “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team leader Ty Pennington, designers Paul DiMeo, Paige Hemmis, Ed Sanders and new designer comedian Jeff Dye and local builders Ark Built Renovations as well as community volunteers, build the structure.

"Our community has been extremely gracious during the planning and preparation stages of the build. Companies across our Southern Oregon have stepped up and donated time, services, money and products to get this job done," said Rush Behnke of Ark Built. "We are very excited to actually start the build process, which is going to be a collaborative effort of the program and our own fleet of volunteers from throughout Southern Oregon."

Spectators will be able to be onsite in a special viewing area beginning Friday, Sept. 9, at 8 a.m. All spectators and volunteers must visit the site via a free shuttle service with pickup and drop-off locations to be announced.

Spectators are encouraged to bring cans of nonperishable food to the build to benefit the ACCESS Food Share Pantry Network of 25 pantries. Special food drive barrels will be set up on the site beginning Friday, September 9. Food drives in other communities in which Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has built homes have been highly successful in helping feed the hungry.

The series is produced by Endemol USA, of Endemol Holding, and executive-produced by Brady Connell & George Verschoor. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/extreme-makeover-home-edition-jackson-county/extreme-makeover-home-edition-design-crew-surprises-the-mcphail-family-in-medfor/270079646344080

Extreme Makeover Home Edition

2011-08-31T18:47:00Z

As many of you have probably heard a local family will be receiving a new home by the TV Show Extreme Makeover Home Edition! and they have a local Facebook Page and are looking for volunteers: "There are now only 2 shifts left open for volunteers! Day 5 shift 4 needs 18 people and Day 6 shift 4 needs 26 people. Both of these are 2am to 8am shifts. Thanks everyone!"
Visit their Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/emhejacksoncounty or the website http://www.joinextreme.com/supporters/oregonsponsors