Have you seen the ads for that special engagement or wedding ring? The point of the ads is straight-forward — it’ll cost me two to three months’ salary if I want to put the perfect diamond on my wife’s finger.

So, I stopped by Gold & Gems — one of the most popular jewelry stores on the Plaza — to find out what goes into creating that one-of-a-kind special ring.

According to Ron Hansen, the owner of Gold & Gems, gems are cut in two different ways — big or beautiful.

A gem cutter is commissioned to produce the largest gems or to make a smaller stone with correct angles and proportions to maximize light that will return sparkle and attractiveness. Hansen also said that big and expensive gems are available anywhere. It’s the fine gemstones and diamonds that are the real treasures. That old saying has some truth to it: “You get what you pay for.”

See you soon,
O

The moon above one of Ashland’s icons, the Ashland Springs Hotel, was breathtaking. This photo opportunity comes by once a year and I have learned to never to put off a shot until tomorrow.
See you next week,

— O

This weekend reminded me of how blessed I am living in Southern Oregon. The beauty that surrounds us everyday is just amazing. Where else can you watch the sunset and a full moon light up the evening sky at the same time?

See you soon,

— O

The year was 1989. Ashland’s football team was on its way to setting a school record, but first they had to beat Roseburg. Jason Williams and Kenny Cobb wanted to do something big and unusual to support their team along with showing school sprit.

At 1 a.m. on Sept. 15, 1989, the two started their three-hour project with their night watchman, Kevin Idner a ladder, a duffle bag filled with spray paint and masking tape. When I asked Williams and Cobb if the painting was random, they both confirmed it was a well-thought-out project. Cobb sketched the Grizzly on paper during his classes that week.
The two decided on the Physical Education Building over several other options, mainly because the administration would not be able to paint over the artwork that day, and the day of the football game the lines at the ticket both would be so long that people would have to take notice. They used paper bags to cover some of the lights and, with night watchman Idner in place, they started masking out the areas to paint.
Idner fell asleep while on watch duty, and the two were startled by a drunken passerby. The man yelled out to Cobb and Williams, “Nice work. I graduated from Ashland.” The noise woke up Idner and, because Cobb and Williams painted the face mask first from the ground up, it was difficult to tell what it was. Right then and there the three agreed to never reveal who did the painting.

After a few minutes they finished the painting. Talks of punishment and fines reinforced the agreement to never reveal who did the mural. Cobb and Williams hope a place is set aside for them on the new building.
See you soon,

— O

Ashland High senior Owen Baldrica leaps over Crater catcher Zach Boskovich at home plate Tuesday at North Mountain Park. Baldrica was called out, but that play set the tone for the doubleheader games that the Grizzlies won over the Comets 8-2 and 4-3. Everyone was stunned because it was obvious that Boskovich was going to tag out Baldrica at home plate, and then Baldrica took off like a rocket and hovered over the foul line — which was not allowed — but he beat the tag.

See you soon,
O