About Curry County, OR

The Port Orford Arts Council (POAC) had its annual fund raising event at the Port Orford Community Hall. The decorating committee did an excellent job painting panels that made our community center feel like a street in New Orleans with balconies, doorways, wrought iron railings, and shuttered windows. There were hand made masks for guests who didn't come in costume and there were beads, streamers, and table art that included alligators, snakes, and percussion instruments.

Julie Hawthorne and her "Kitchen Angels," Laurie Prouty, Joyce Kinney, and Deanna Kreuter pepared a tastey jambalaya with red beans and rice, a spicey slaw, and corn bread. Talk about luck, they dished out the last spoonful of beans to the last dinner guest. And to their credit there was no shortage of sinfully rich home made desserts in which a few "baby Jesus's" were stashed which qualified the finder to one of the great door prizes.

The wine was very drinkable and as Justin Wilson would say the cool and refreshing pop came with 'foam on top.'

Kelly Thibodeaux & Etouffee played their own renditions of some "hot Lousianna music" or as Kelly calls it "Swamp Rock." Kelly played his electric fiddle and his harmonica with instrumental support from a slide guitar, piano, bass, and drums. Their high energy performance ignited spontaneous joy that manifested itself in happy foot stomping, dancing, and conga lines.

The evening was a great success. The food was delicious, the music was outrageously good, and everyone had an evening of fun with family, friends, and neighbors. The Arts Council exceeded their fund raising goals. Thanks to all of the POAC Officers, Members of the Board, and members of POAC. For photos of the event and more information on POAC events please go their website - http://www.portorfordart.org/

In our town approximately 75% of the properties are listed by local agents and approximately 88% of the clients who buy in our town worked with a local agent. We have both Sellers Agents and Buyers Agents yet there are some sellers and some buyers who choose to work with out of town agents.

If you are a Seller and you list with a local agent your agent or one of their office colleagues is almost always available to service your listing by:

1. Being available when required at showings to answer questions about property boundaries, the well, the septic system, Seller's disclosures, permits, zoning, CC&Rs, schools, medical services, shopping, local issues, etc.
2. Marketing in their local sphere of influence, regional sphere of influence, affiliated brokerages, MLS systems, National websites, brokerage websites, personal websites, syndicated websites, social networks, & blogs.
3. Sharing their knowledge and experience of developments, builders, infrastructure issues, pending changes in rates including new assessments, flood zones, high wind zones, and areas with a history of geologic instability.
4. Making first contact with buyers who come to town before selecting an agent
5. Making first contact with tourists who want to know more about the local market.

If you are a Buyer and you work with a local agent your agent will know more about:

1. Property boundaries, Seller's disclosures, permits, zoning, CC&Rs, schools, medical services, shopping, local issues, etc.
2. The listed property including the history of the property, previous owners and what upgrades or modifications were made
3. Water issues including well water, ground water, storm water, flood water.
4. Any history of geologic instability, or erosion problems, or high wind zones.
5. Developments, builders, infrastructure issues, pending changes in rates including new assessments
6. The Sellers needs and how to negotiate with the seller and/or the sellers agent.

I have heard some Sellers say that they wanted a greater degree of privacy and that they were going with an out of town broker to address their personal needs for privacy. But beyond the need for extra privacy and perhaps some personality conflicts what are the benefits of listing with an out of town brokerage?

I have heard some Buyers say that they were personal friends with the out of town broker or the out of town broker was a family friend but other than that what are the benefits of making your home purchase with an out of town realtor>

Oregon entered the Union on February 14, 1859, as state number 33.

I have read three different explanations for how Oregon got its name and three different definitions of what the name means. The explanation and the definition I like are written below.

In, French, Oregon means hurricane a name formally applied to the Columbia River.

The following trivia facts came from statesymbolsusa.org

The State Motto is: She Flies With Her Own Wings.

The State Bird is the Western Meadowlark.

The State Animal is the Beaver.

The State Flower is the Oregon Grape Flower.

The State Tree is a Douglas Fir.

The State Rock is a Thunder Egg (geode)

The State Gemstone is a Heliolite or Sunstone.

McVay Beach Colors ~ Brookings, Oregon

McVay Rock State Recreation Site is situated on a bluff overlooking a great stretch of beach and is one of the last Oregon beaches heading south into California. Trails lead down to a gravel and sand beach that is a popular spot for clam digging, beachcombing and surf fishing. The bluff above provides a great spot for whale watching, picnicking and is the perfect spot to take in amazing sunsets.

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Click here to view full gallery: Brookings Oregon Photo Gallery

Photo of the Week I

Photo of the Week II

Photo of the Week III

Photo of the Week IV

Photo of the Week V

Photo of the Week VI

Come and see the gallery in person! The photos are now on display at Beckley & Company Real Estate at 600 Chetco Ave., Brookings, Oregon.

If you or someone that you know is thinking about buying or selling on the Southern Oregon Coast, contact Amy Myrah at (541) 661-0231 or stop by Beckley & Company Real Estate, located in the heart of downtown Brookings at 600 Chetco Ave. www.AmyMyrah.com.

Photo Copyright 2008, Amy Myrah

Millard Fuller died Tuesday February 3rd 2009 near Americus, GA. He was 74 years old. At age 29 he left a successful career in business and started Habitat for Humanity International which built more than 300,000 homes worldwide.

Using his Christian principles and propelled by evangelical like energy he used Habitat for Humanity to develop a system of using donated money and material along with voluntary labor to build homes for low-income families. Habitat for Humanity homes were sold without profit to buyers who were required to help build their houses and were not required to pay any interest.

Today more than a million people live in Habitat for Humanity Homes which are in more than 100 countries. He was an inspirational leader who worked side by side with volunteers from all walks of life including President's Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

His life will serve as an example to all of us who labor to place families in homes.