Posts by Greg Henderson
Trying Times for a Relentless Optimist
9/17/2018 Article A Letter from Max Williams, OCF President and CEO We are, unfortunately, living in such cynical times that even good deeds are now met with suspicion. Recent articles and opinion pieces in the New Yorker and New York Times do a stunning disservice to philanthropy at this critical moment in our state and in…
Read MoreThe Ins and Outs of Southwestern Oregon’s Population
by Annette Shelton-Tiderman September 13, 2018 Westward, ho! Thus, waves and waves of immigrants have traveled across the country to Oregon – the “Golden West.” Oregon continues to be idealized in story and song as the “land of empire builders,” “fairest and the best,” and “land of the setting sun.” Since the sun sets over…
Read MoreIf You’re Going to Allow ADUs, Don’t Make It So Hard to Build One.
September 11, 2018 by Daniel Herriges Granny flats, garage apartments, mother-in-law suites: call them what you like. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are beloved in the planning profession and among affordable housing advocates, and for good reason. These modest homes, often the size of a studio apartment, can be found in the backyard of a larger house,…
Read MoreEntering the Danger Zone
As we wait for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to take the podium in Jackson Hole and impart some wisdom on the economy and hopefully provide policy guidance as well, it is worth considering that we may be soon be entering a dangerous period for monetary policy – the time when the lagged effects of…
Read MoreTARIFF AND TURKEY TALK
by Jason Norris, CFA Executive Vice President of Research A currency crisis in Turkey and continued trade uncertainty resulted in a volatile week for equities. International stocks, specifically emerging markets, started selling off. U.S. commodities were also weak. This was offset by positive news on the China trade front. Overall, our view of U.S. economic…
Read MoreTurkey: Hazelnut prices fall early in season
Hazelnuts prices in Turkey are headed lower at the start of the hazelnut season this year from last year. A kilo of hazelnuts (in shell) was worth nearly 22 Turkish lira ($10) last year per kilo as a devastating frost in March reduced the size of the harvest, according to a trade organization. Turkey is…
Read MoreRegion Exceeds Two-Year Benchmark for Energy Efficiency
By: JENNIFER LIGHT In 2016 and 2017, the Northwest region achieved 404 average megawatts of electric energy efficiency savings, enough power to equal the average annual energy use of 290,000 homes, according to a report by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. This achievement exceeds the first two-year efficiency target set in the Council’s Seventh…
Read MoreNorway, Oregon’s Bottle Bill and Plastic Recycling
CFM State Affairs Team China’s refusal to keep buying US-sourced recyclable materials and the mounting threat of plastic pollution in the ocean have redirected attention to schemes such as beverage container redemption, in which Oregon has been a leader. The HuffPost headline was breathless: “Norway has radical approach to plastic pollution and it’s working.” The radical approach:…
Read More“I Don’t Give a (Bleep) About Akron!”
by Charles Marohn Last year I moderated a panel of suburban mall developers as part of an economic forum at New York University. It was a spirited conversation among some heavy hitters, including a few well-capitalized investors whose opinions directly shape communities around the country. Needless to say, this was a high-testosterone affair. A couple…
Read MoreSTEAM Hub a natural fit for new director
New STEAM Hub director ready to cultivate learning in Douglas County With more than 20 years of experience as a STEM teacher and scientist, our new Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub director is ready to launch local efforts to expand students’ career-mindedness to new heights. Dr. Karl Topper is joining Douglas County Partners for Student Success…
Read MoreRIVER’S END CONSTRUCTION BUILDING A SUCCESS STORY
By Gary Milliman Attention to detail in both workmanship and customer relations is how general contractor Brent Hodges of Brookings has grown his business. A Brookings native who left town after high school to pursue an engineering degree, Hodges worked a variety of jobs in the building trades for several years before returning to Brookings…
Read MoreAssociation of O&C Counties Express Support for Changes to Endangered Species Act
July 19, 2018 Press Release The Association of O&C Counties (AOCC) expressed support for several regulatory changes proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that would improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by those agencies. The agencies released information about the proposed changes today in a press release as…
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