As we are all acutely aware, 2020 has hit our home in the Rogue Valley, and our collective society, with more than a few blows. We have rallied around those hardest hit and are dealing with our own immediate hardships and sacrifices. This year has also brought to light a lack of essential critical thinking skills, trust in, and understanding of science.

Well, 2020 turned out to be one of those years we’d all soon like to forget. It’s hard to stay positive when 350,000 of your fellow countrymen have died at the hands of a foreign invader. COVID-19 makes Pearl Harbor and 9-11 look like a walk in the park. Then, of course, there was the Almeda Fire on September 8, which turned southern Oregon into a refugee camp.

No one can accuse local chef and restaurant owner Billy Harto of letting moss grow under his feet. The owner of Thai Pepper, Ostra’s, and former owner (and founder) of Kobe, his latest creation is Billy’s Fried Chicken—Cold Beer & Cocktails, located at 82 N. Main in the spot formerly occupied by the Thai Pepper Bar.

Renée Miereanu, a Master Neuro-Linguistics Practitioner and a Master Clinical Hypnotherapist, will be celebrating her 12th year in Ashland in 2020. Her history in the field is long and varied.
“I was born on the East Coast, grew up in Texas, then moved to Los Angeles and mothered three children,” Renée said.

“As giant corporations take over all of the internet service and everything that runs on it, it surprises many people who move to Ashland to learn that Ashland Home Net is a locally owned and operated ‘mom and pop’ shop that is innovative, caring and not afraid to take on the giants to make sure that Ashland has a choice,” Jim said.