My View – Dec 2024 / Jan 2025

I RARELY USE THESE PAGES to share my thoughts on national politics, opting instead to focus on very local issues that impact us as a town. However, I’m diverging a bit here due to a text message I received on election night from a close Jacksonville friend. Dating back almost two decades, we never, ever agreed on our choices for a presidential candidate and laughed that our votes always canceled each other’s out! “I’d take that Reagan, Bush, or Romney or anyone else right now,” he wrote. Considering he remains one of the most liberal people on planet Earth, I wasn’t sure how to respond and waited a bit before texting back. “Don’t worry about it… We live in Jacksonville…you should be more interested in the City Council election results!” I replied.

During this historic election cycle, the national race was certainly enough to make our local race seem trivial I suppose, but if you’re built like me, you understand that your life is probably impacted more at the local level. This is because a small town is a place where you can make a BIG difference—a case in point is what Cindy Rasmussen and her group, Citizens for a Safer Jacksonville, accomplished this year (read more on page 12.)

I’ll share my final text on election night in hopes that it lifts you up: “The sun will come up in the morning…we live in Jacksonville and our love of community will win…as long as we work together.” With the election a few weeks in the rearview mirror, I’m confident our micro-town will continue its upward trajectory in 2025, thanks in part to those serving on the City Council and on the committees, commissions and non-profits!

In the next few weeks, the best of Jacksonville will be on display as we celebrate the holidays during the Victorian Christmas celebration. This issue includes all the event schedules to guide you through town, featuring the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Holiday Trolley Lights Tour, Beekman House tours, and much more. As we head toward our month off, I’d like to offer my special thanks to Managing Editor, Andrea Yancey, Associate Editor, Belita Palu-ay and Deliveryman Extraordinaire, Dan Cascino for making this a wonderful year at the Review!

Finally, while enjoying the lights and sights, be sure and do some of your holiday shopping and dining at our local stores and restaurants, and soak up the spirit of our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!