Healthy Home Solutions at Ricco Patterson Electric

While Congress dithers over the immigration act, the success of Ricco Patterson Electric in Ashland is a classic American Dream immigration story.
Co-owner Ricco Patterson was born in a small village outside Bogota, Colombia, and after being orphaned, was fortunate to be adopted to the U.S., becoming a U.S. citizen at the age of seven. He grew up in Olympia, Washington, and on the Rogue River in Galice, where his adoptive family owned and operated a river expedition company.
"During summers, I worked as a raft guide and whitewater kayak instructor," Ricco said. "I met my wife Sarah in 1996 when she came to the kayak school."
In early 2000, a fellow kayaker and friend offered Ricco a job as an electrical apprentice at an electrical shop in Medford. He spent eleven years working for that company, completing his appren-ticeship through the Crater Lake Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust and becoming a General Journeyman Electrician.
In early 2010, Ricco and Sarah became contractors in preparation to start their own electrical company. They moved to Ashland to be closer to Ricco's adoptive mom, and started Ricco Patterson Electric in 2011. Ricco is the Supervising Electrician and Project Manager and Sarah runs the Administrative side of things.
"We enjoy working with architects and contractors who cater to clients with a desire to make a difference in the way they live and what they leave behind," said Sarah. "We are always looking to improve our methodology to benefit the health of our customers and help them reduce their energy usage without sacrificing style or comfort."
"Installing LED lighting is a great way to maximize energy efficiency," Ricco said. "LED recessed cans are dimmable and outperform fluorescents in both efficiency and lighting quality. Low profile LED under-cabinet lighting is not as hot as halogen and more efficient than any other option for that application. You can also match the color temperature to the other lighting in the room instead of the typical green or blue tones you get from fluorescents."
If you are sensitive to EMFs (Electromagnetic Fields), Ricco Patterson Electric has a range of strategies to reduce exposure. "To be proactive, we have made it standard practice to avoid running wires in the wall directly behind the sleeping area and we keep all meters and panels away from bedrooms whenever possible," said Ricco. "Another simple solution is to install kill switches to bedroom circuits so you can cut power to the bedrooms while you sleep. In most cases, it's possible to retrofit your existing house, but it is certainly something to consider when building new."
For more info, visit riccopattersonelectric.com or call 541-482-3775.

Quality Veterinary Care at The Cheerful Vet

It was a sad day when Lithia Springs Vets closed its door a few years ago due to a rash of family tragedies and illnesses, but owners John and Anette Heaslet bounced back by opening The Cheerful Vet right next door at 1746 Ashland Street (corner of Lit Way and Ashland).
The philosophy at the holistic veterinary practice is simple: "There is no alternative medicine; there is medicine that works and medicine that does not."
John and Anette keep the atmosphere at the Cheerful Vet warm and inviting. The staff takes pride in a genuine caring and fondness for all pets. Soft blankets are provided for every resting patient, while water or hot tea is always available for your enjoyment in the lobby.
John handles the business end, and Anette is the primary veterinarian at The Cheerful Vet. She grew up on a farm in Denmark and graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She is certified by IVAS (the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society) and has special training in veterinary integrative medicine. Anette has toured some of the most renowned veterinary practices in Europe and has had great success utilizing the best in natural and conventional medicine.
Options for treatment may include acupuncture and nutritional solutions, as well as pharmaceutical medications and even Chinese herbal remedies. Even though most pharmaceutical drugs are available at The Cheerful Vet, big drug companies do not drive their medical advice.
"When an effective alternative to prescription medications can be found in your local grocery store, we will tell you about it," Anette said. "If surgery is needed, patients can still count on being treated like royalty. Owners can stay with their dog while he gets sleepy, and be with him while he recovers. Patients always go home the same day."
John agreed. "People have a lot of choices when seeking veterinary care," he said. "Each time a client walks through our door and entrusts us with their pet's care, we are honored, and strive to provide the best service possible. We work for our clients, not our suppliers and not drug companies. Often we can negotiate lower prices from a supplier and we'll pass these savings along."
For more info, the phone number is 541-482-6636. Website: www.TheCheerfulVet.com.

One-of-a-Kind Clothing at Mystical Union Boutique

One of the newest stores to open in Ashland is Mystical Union Boutique in the Claycomb Plaza Mall at 40 N. Main. Owner Gina DeLuca was born and raised in Ashland and said the store was a natural extension of her lifestyle.
"I started getting into making my own clothes at a young age," Gina said. "I modified everything because nothing at the 'normal' stores really sung to me. Later I discovered there was a huge culture of artists who make clothes, and all kinds of treasures were out there. I started going to festivals, country fairs, and of course Esty.com. Once I started wearing hand-made clothing, I couldn't go back. I felt the difference right away."
About a year ago Gina decided to take her passion to the next level. She spent almost six months getting her business model together and gathering enough material to stock her store. She opened her doors in March 2013.
"My store is very unique and memorable, and a lot of people have told me that," Gina said. "There are many people in southern Oregon who appreciate organic, hand-made, one-of-a-kind creations. I have a lot of items you can't find anywhere else. There is a large variety of festival clothing from simple to extravagant, all made from raw and organic fabrics, hemp, bamboo, raw silk, and organic cotton."
The store carries a number of lines, including Fourth Dimension Designs, Kayo Anime Clothing, Onanya, Coralani Designs, MahaDevi Designs, Sundai Creations, Sacred Empire, Elf Mountain Leather, and many more, including Gina's favorite, Nomad Spirit, which is primitive clothing from Israel.
"It is a very peaceful and relaxing atmosphere here," Gina said. "When you try on clothes, I want you to feel as if you're in your own closet. I love helping people find the perfect outfit. I call my fitting room the 'transformation station' because I help customer create a whole new beautiful get-up. I love people, and I come alive meeting new people from all walks of life and cultures."
Gina emphasized that she doesn't make all the clothing. "Boy, wouldn't that be cool?" she said. "But no, it's a collection of many artists. I do make some of the jewelry, like earrings and leather and gemstone work. I've designed a lot of clothing, and making it is hopefully my next step."
For more information, the phone number is 541-326-5995. You can also like MysticalUnionBoutique on Facebook.

High-end Coffee at The Human Bean

In 1998, when Dan and Rhonda Hawkins teamed up with long-time friends Tom and Tami Casey to open the first Human Bean drive-thru espresso, they spent a lot of time going over the details.
"We banded together to share efforts and collaborate on all the millions of details that make the perfect customer experience," Rhonda said. "We were infatuated with the specialty coffee industry and completed months of research and attended every coffee trade show available. Dan's mom came up with the name and we had a grade school friend design the logo."
The positive customer response to the initial two stores inspired the two couples to open additional units. By 2003 they had eight stores and began franchising. There are now 51 stores, and that number is growing. They operate 12 drive-thrus in Oregon with another in the permit process in the Portland area. They also provide support to 39 franchise units spread throughout seven states.
The Ashland store is located at 1980 Hwy 99 North, just across from Butler Ford.
"We are passionate about specialty coffee and have made so many life-long friends doing what we love," Dan said. "We have the honor of working with our amazing baristas, who are the most important part of our business. They are the heart of our business and have made The Human Bean what it is today."
Dan and Rhonda grew up in the Rogue Valley and met each other in the third grade. After graduating from the U of O, Dan operated his father's retail convenience stores and introduced specialty coffee and espresso there.
Rhonda was a Physical Therapist working at Asante after completing her Physical Therapy degree at the University of Vermont. Before that, she received a double major in French and Spanish from Santa Clara University.
The couple love what they do. "We have always made all ingredient decisions based upon taste and quality," Rhonda said. "We have chosen our products based upon what we believe are the very best products for our customers. Our customers can expect consistently delicious beverages from highly trained baristas who truly care about their customers."
Their website address is thehumanbean.com.