ProPublica, an independent non-profit newsroom that works in the public interest reports that 278 billion dollars were allocated to 282 banks. Their report is at the following website http://www.propublica.org/feature/bailout-bucks-to-banks-1028 ). However, we still don’t know how these funds are being used or if they are being used appropriately to restore liquidity to the financial markets and stem the tide of home foreclosures The Treasury Dept is using the US supervisory CAMELS ratings to help it decide which of the nation’s 8.500 banks will receive bank equity investments from the TARP funds authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) and which banks will not. The acronym CAMELS represents the components of a bank’s condition that are assessed prior to categorizin... 01/04/2009

By the date of President Roosevelt's inauguration, 4 March 1933, we were in the depth of the Great Depression. The citizenry was panicked; there had been a run on the banks; and nearly all of the nation's banks had temporarily closed. To paraphrase our present Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson: There was a lack of liquidity. I have included links below to 2 one page speaches given by FDR. He was a skilled communicator who spoke frankly and chose his words carefully. You'll appreciate the irony when you realize that these same words could be used today. FDRs first inaugural speech  4 March 1933. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3280 FDRs speech on the Banking Crisis 12 March 1933. He urged his radio audience t... 01/03/2009

Imagine yourself on your horse galloping along the beach in a place that time forgot. The sun is shining. The waves are rolling in with a quiet roar. The sea breeze is blowing your hair. You feel free and enlivened as you breathe the ocean air and splash through the shallow surf waters as they recede back into the ocean. Discover the horse camps along the beach at two of Oregon's State Parks Cape Blanco State Park has a horse camp with eight primitive sites, four single-horse corrals and two shared corrals, each accommodating two horses. On horseback, follow a seven-mile trail or enjoy a 150-acre open riding area across the road from the horse camp. For more informatin go to the website at http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_62.php Bullard's Beach State Park has a horse camp with eight... 12/30/2008

The Oregon Coast Birding Trail was created by local birders, wildlife professionals, and tourism specialists for birding. Birding enthusiasts will tell you that bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities in the country.  The Trail is a self-guided driving adventure that highlights the best locations for observing birds along the entire Oregon Coast and into Northern CA.  The striking beauty of the Oregon coast landscape will compete for your attention at every turn of the road as you search for birds in their natural habitats. Three of the foremost locations along the southern portion of the Trail are in Port Orford where the coastal forest meets the sea. Birders can explore forests, river valleys, fresh water lakes, sandy beaches, coastal dunes, tidal e... 12/29/2008

Premise The value of a delinquent primary note is not zero. If a bank/lender wants to sell a delinquent note to convert a non-performing asset into a significant lump sum of cash then we need to establish a process for establishing the value of these assets.  Facts Real estate value have deteriorated in many parts of the country. The number of  foreclosures is at an historic high. Large banks have incurred loses on large portfolios on non-performing notes and/or real-estate secured instruments that is jeopardizing their solvency. There is too little cash in the private sector to purchase these notes. GSEs are the only institutions with the funds to purchase these notes Delinquent primary notes in markets where drops in property values have experienced significant declines are not worth ... 12/29/2008

This Week - Thurs, Dec 26, 2008- Wed, Jan 1, 2009 Marine Biologists explain that most Gray Whales spend the summer and early fall months in the arctic waters of the Chukchi and Bering Seas. Around mid to late fall the whales start their 6000 mile journey south to their mating and calving lagoons in Baja California, Mexico -- one of the longest migrations on the planet. The whales return north in the spring, when it is possible to see mothers with babies, as well as courting and mating adults.  According to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department approximately 18,000 Grey whales will pass by in the 4 weeks from mid-December through mid-January in their yearly journey to the Baja Lagoons of Mexico. The main body of whales is about 5 miles off shore because of stormy weather however; in... 12/27/2008

Built in 1898 by Patrick and Jane Hughes. In 1868, Patrick and Jane Hughes bought 80 acres of bottomland near the mouth of the Sixes river by Cape Blanco and started what became a land and dairy empire. They bought adjacent acreage, cleared land, and added buildings to the farm as needed: most notably a creamery and dairy barn. In 1898, after 30 years of living in the old farm house, Patrick and Jane built what is now known as the Historic Hughes House. The farm house is a two-story, eleven room structure built of 2x8 old-growth Port Orford cedar that covers more than 3,000 square feet and featured running water upstairs and down, gas lights, and a built in cast iron wood stove with an oven, a warming oven, and a water heater. The front parlor was the most significant room of a Victoria... 12/27/2008

I live in Port Orford, Oregon and I have adult children and grand children living in San Diego, Temecula, & San Jose CA as well as Reno, NV. All of you Grandparents will understand when I say that we don't see them nearly often enough. It was 24 December when what to my wondering eyes did appear was a Logitech webcam with microphone gear. It came with a Merry Christmas wish from my son and his wife. The kids were way ahead of me on this one and I realize as I write this that I seem to be saying that more and more frequently. I had participated in Skype video calls from the sidelines but never justified the need to own such equipment. It was clearly an oversight on my part. I hooked it up and tested it out on Christmas Eve thinking how great it would be to see the kids and grandkids on C... 12/27/2008

Typically, the agent who represents the Buyer gets credit for Selling the property Buyers Agents generally Ensure that Buyer's are financially qualified to buy a property, Suggest sources of financing, Assist Buyers in choosing properties that meet their criteria in communities where they want to live Explain contracts, supporting documentation, and forms used in the transaction, Complete a CMA Negotiate the best price and terms for the Buyer, Assist the Buyer in making reasonable compromises, Suggest licensed inspectors, surveyors, geologists, contractors, and insurance agents, Monitor contingencies to ensure that they are satisfied and released in a timely manner. Attend COE as required Listing Agents develop a marketing plan that includes entering the listing on the internet where >8... 12/26/2008

This is my new avatar. I created it on meez.com. It was an adventure to use their software tools to create this character and I had fun trying different themes, developing my look, and trying to find attributes that resembled me. I highly recommend it. Give it a try. The software is fairly intuitive, user friendly, and you can use a trial an error method to create your avatar. It uploads to facebook directly. 12/23/2008

Nature is busy sculpting and re-sculpting the sea stacks off the southern coast of Oregon into monolithic works of art, many of which are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Travelers puzzle over their history and frequently ask what kind of rocks are they. The story told by geologists is that the age, composition, and arrangement of the rocks are clues that tell them that these rocks were originally connected to the mainland at a time when it extended further west. They go on to explain that Oregon beaches are the objects of cyclical change that is dependent on longshore currents, and shifting wind blown beach sands. These cyclical changes were and still are punctuated by 100 year storms with heavy rains, powerful winds and wave actions, and high tides that caused land... 12/19/2008

The geologic history of Garrison Lake is somewhat unique among the Oregon coast sand dune lakes. It was a lagoon as recently as 1926. Then migrating sands formed the sand dune that currently blocks the mouth of the lagoon. Then freshwater from the watershed ponded up behind the dune to form the lake. Over time, natural filtering and freshwater dilution reduced the salinity levels and the lagoon became a freshwater lake. This photo is focused on the mouth of Garrison Lagoon and Agate Beach circa 1926    This is a view of the sand bar from Agate Beach just south of Garrison Lake.  Today Garrison Lake is a shallow freshwater coastal lake located in Port Orford. This photo shows the sandbar that changed the lagoon to a lake. It is looking south over the lake toward Humbug Mountain. Some day... 12/19/2008

Garrison Lake is a shallow coastal lake located in Port Orford. The lake is labeled Garrison Lagoon on some older maps, but it is a freshwater lake today. This view is looking south over the lake toward Humbug Mountain.  FACTS Max. Depth                  31 feet Mean Depth                 12 feet Surface Area               129 acres Perimeter                    4.4 miles Volume                       496 million gallons HISTORY It was named for John B. Garrison, a pioneer settler who was with Captain William Tichenor when he founded the town of Port Orford in 1851. RECREATIONAL USES The lake is currently used for kayaking, boating, and fishing. In the past the lake has produced good yields of stocked rainbow and native cutthroat trout. There is a cabana, dock and public boat launch on 12... 12/19/2008

This 1888 photo is the oldest photo I have found of our dock. 1930 photo of the dock before incorporation of the city of Port Orford. Notice the large cedar logs. Port Orford cedar is a very desirable wood 1935 Photo of dock during a period of economic crisis when men of vision expanded the economic base, incorporated the city of Port Orford, and built the community with schools, parks, homes, etc. 2008 photo of the dock which is primarily used for the commercial fishing fleet. 12/18/2008

I found a copy of this Portland Oregonian article on Port Orford printed June 8, 1935.  Here are a few excerpts from the article which reads like an investment prospectus from one of the earlier developers in this area, A. D. Bowen. He was a man of vision with the ability to excite people to the point of making a commitment and taking action. "Now just a settlement in a county nearly as large as the state of Delaware, but without a railroad, a telegraph line or a single incorporated town. Port Orford is dreaming dreams of empire, generated by the hum of private industry." "...a harbor which will, because of its far westerly position, cut a full day off the shipping time to the orient." "Five miles of logging road are being constructed, a passenger railroad has been projected. Nearly 20 ... 12/17/2008

We have never had a better inventory of homes, interest rates are low, and sellers are willing to make reasonable compromises. Check out my website to see residential properties in Gold Beach, Port Orford, or Bandon: http://www.bandoncoastproperty.com Background information about Port Orford There are 11 licensed agents in Port Orford in Curry County. Since 1/1/2008 these agents listed 51 residential properties. The total inventory of residential properties in our area is presently 67. Res property sales since 1/1/2008 = 13   8 were listed/sold by local agents  5 by out of town or REOs 6 of these sales were under $200,000 3 of these sales were under $300,000 2 of these sales were under $400,000 2 of these sales were for $500,000 Average Days on the Market = 261          Average List Pri... 12/17/2008

This isolated lighthouse holds at least four Oregon records: it is the oldest continuously operating light, the most westerly, it has the highest focal plane above the sea, (256 feet), and Oregon's first woman keeper, Mabel E. Bretherton signed on in March 1903. Cape Blanco's lens measures 4'8" in diameter and 6'8" in height. It is larger than a second order (4'7" by 6'1") lens, but smaller than a first order (6'1" by 7'10") lens. We do not know what happened to the original lens after it was shipped to the Tongue Point (Astoria) depot by way of the steamer "Manzanita." A 1,000-watt incandescent bulb replaces Cape Blanco's soot producing oil lamps of old. Gone are the keepers who spent hours polishing the magnificent lens and winding the clockworks. Today, it rotates with the help of a ... 12/16/2008

The port of Port Orford is the only natural, open, deep water port for 600 miles and only one of six "dolly" ports in the world. Working fishing boats are lifted into and out of the water every day. The boats are stored on the dock each on its own dolly. This is photo was taken from Harbor Dr. looking southwest These are some of the older 'wooden hull' commercial fishing boats in service today. This is one of the 2 hoists that lift the boats in an out of the water.   Looking West from the Dock When you are down on the dock don't miss the opportunity to dine on fresh fish at Griff's. If you are in town during crabbing season you can catch dungeness crab right off the dock. 12/16/2008

Arizona Beach State Recreation Site is the newest state park in our area. Arizona Beach is a two-third mile stretch of sand bookended by two rocky headlands. The headlands shelter the beach from prevailing winds, creating temperatures warm enough to make it feel like Arizona. Mussel and Myrtle creeks flow through the park east of U.S. 101. The wetlands attract elk and a variety of waterfowl.       12/12/2008

Agate Beach is a local secret. The beach is off the beaten path yet easy to access. It is remote away from development of any kind and a beautiful contrast of pine forests, sand, waves, and sea stacks. It is great for picnics, walks, and beachcombing for driftwood, or agates. Agates were formed thousands of years before the Ice Age. With names like moss, cloud, jasper, carnelian, moonstone, rainbow, and ribbon, they are more fun to hunt than Easter eggs. Here are some agates my wife and I found on agate beach. Here is a here is a heart shaped agate that we found.         12/11/2008