The Jacksonville Review Online

My View, May 2013 – by Publisher Whitman Parker

My View – May 2013

Peter Britt Home

It’s hard to imagine pioneer-vintner Peter Britt dreamed that Jacksonville would be considered the “heart of Southern Oregon wine country” 150 after he planted the first grapes here. In the early 1850’s, Britt did just that and test-planted five acres around his hillside home to 200 grape varietals, some sold as table grapes, others to produce wine. Forty years later, more than 100 acres in Jacksonville had been planted by more than a dozen growers. Had it not been for Prohibition destroying the wine industry in 1916, it is likely the region would have become world-famous for its wines rather than its pears!

Today, modern-day Jacksonville rests in the middle of 150 vineyards and tasting rooms that stretch from Roxy Ann peak in the East Medford hills to the Applegate Valley Wine Trail to the west. There are dozens more dotting the hillsides and slopes from Gold Hill to Ashland with more to come.

To help celebrate what Britt started, a host of wine-related headliner events await, including the Applegate UnCorked Barrel Tour on May 19 and Roam the Rogue on May 25. This month kicks-off high-season for our wine industry, now an economic driver for Southern Oregon that is changing the local landscape, both socially and economically. On that note, please read about a new winery consortium on page ____ – JOWA – the Jacksonville Oregon Winery Association, formed to promote six in-town tasting rooms.

Speaking of tasting rooms…the Review has moved its office to 220 E. California Street – the former home of the Umpqua Tasting Room, next door to the McCully House. Shortly after the owners of the UTR purchased the Gelateria building up the street and relocated the tasting room, we moved in and got to work bringing you all the news and happenings in Our Small Town with Big Atmoshere!

My View, April 2013 – By Publisher, Whitman Parker

MyView – April 2013

Within an hour or so, I will have completed this column which is always my final task before the newest issue of the Review is sent to Valley Web, our printer. Although I’m stuck behind my desk for the time being, I know it’s worth it because my next “tasks” will be taking my dog Annie on a nice long walk through the woods and then attending to some garden chores. After that, Jo and I have dinner planned at home to catch-up with friends we haven’t seen in a while. I know you are thinking it’s a rough life here in Jacksonville and that it’s a good thing there are people willing to bear theses burdens!

Seriously, when you stop for a moment and take a good look around, you must admit we have much to be thankful for here in this micro-village of a town! This spring, I hope you will take advantage of some of the fun and interesting activities going on and hit the Rising Stars music competition on Saturday afternoons at South Stage Cellars, join the Jacksonville Woodlands Association Annual Hike-a-Thon, take in an art exhibit at the Art Presence Center, get to the Rogue Valley Food and Wine Festival, attend a History Saturday Workshop in the Cemetery, take-in Movie Night at Old City Hall, visit one of the 20+ wineries in the Applegate Valley and surrounding area, have a great meal at one of Jacksonville’s restaurants…so get moving and get out and enjoy life in Our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!

My View, March 2013 – By Publisher Whitman Parker

Here’s hoping March comes in like a lamb and leaves like one, too! If you’re like me, your weather patience has worn thin and you’re wishing for warmer days, brighter skies and that the groundhog was right and spring will come early.

I want to take a moment and thank the bosses at the Boosters Club for inviting Jo and me to speak at a recent club meeting. As members of the club, there was no way to say “no,” so I gladly accepted the invitation to speak on “what it’s like running a small town newspaper” and what Jo and I have learned over the years – our 5-year publishing anniversary is this July.

Anyone who’s given a speech or presentation understands how much work goes into preparing one’s remarks, graphics, overheads, and materials. For us, the drill provided an opportunity to look back over five years of hard work…work that’s been worthwhile and work we hope has benefited our town! Although we’ve learned much and have implemented major changes here since purchasing the pub, we still have more plans up our sleeves.

When we began this venture, we were experienced in the world of “marketing,” but knew little about journalism and running a paper. (Some say I still don’t know jack about journalism, but that’s fodder for another column!) Suffice it to say, our learning curve was incredibly steep and fraught with danger. Without the incredible support from our volunteer contributors and loyal advertising clients who make this publication possible, there would be no Jacksonville Review…not one published by us anyway.

Today, the Review is a 4-color, 36-page hybrid magazine/newspaper with an ever-increasing readership, in-print and online. Our website audience (jacksonvillereview.com) and Facebook friends are receiving daily and weekly updates on news and events between covers – we encourage you to stay up-to-speed between print issues and find us and follow us online.

I’d also like to take a moment to thank City Administrator Alvis and staff for helping the Review hammer-out a new 5-year license agreement for our digital information kiosk in the Beekman Bank lobby. Like a giant iPad, the kiosk offers an interactive experience, providing users high-speed access to information on everything Jacksonville, including outdoor recreation options, dining and restaurant guides, town history, town-wide events, wine tasting room and winery information, shopping choices and much, much more. Please stop by the kiosk and push our buttons!

Most of all, I’d like to thank YOU, our readers for supporting us on this journey and supporting local businesses like the Review in our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!