We greet 2021 with optimism. The reason for optimism is that, as of January 20th:
The Jacksonville Boosters Club has a long history of doing hands-on projects and providing financial support for the historic Jacksonville Cemetery. Even with COVID-19 this tradition continues. A small group of Boosters, working independently under the direction of Project Director, Steve Casaleggio, is refinishing the 27 benches that are located throughout the cemetery. They will […]
Just about 15 years ago, on a crisp fall day in Jacksonville, Erika Bishop pushed her 2-year-old son downtown for a cup of coffee at the GoodBean and then over to her favorite kitchenware store, the Pot Rack. She poked around as usual and then went up to owner, Steve Abandonato, and said, “I want […]
The Britt Festival Orchestra joins the southern Oregon community in mourning the loss of one of our dearest friends, Hannelore Enfield, who passed away the morning of December 7,2020.
An orchestra is a family, and the strength of that family depends on people believing in the power and beauty of that institution. Hannelore was as much […]
As I write this update and look forward to the end of this crazy year, I’ve challenged myself to find the silver linings from 2020. This Thanksgiving, we are grateful to the Family Nurturing Center for inviting us to merge our Grandmas2Go program with their roster of incredible programs supporting families in Jackson and Josephine […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR – October 2020 – Pioneer Village held a very special party this week to celebrate Helen Hein turning 101-years-old. Hein, a resident of Pioneer Village was able to have a safe distance celebration with fellow residents and friends, family and Pioneer Village staff. Hein is also long-time Jacksonville native raising her family with […]
The “Review” recently caught up with a very busy Kate Ingram, author of our wildly-popular column, “Soul Matters,” to find out more about her newest book, “Grief Girls Guide.” The book represents a continuation of her life’s work of helping people navigate and grow through the tough stuff of life. Here, she boldly and expertly […]
With recent evacuation orders on everyone’s mind, here is a quick reminder of what the different levels of evacuation mean for you.
Be Ready—Level 1 Evacuation: Know the dangers in your area, this is the time to prepare in case of an emergency, have an evacuation plan for you and your family. Know different ways out […]
Fires, a pandemic, and more fires have created a tough situation for our local businesses. Without as many tourists as usual, it’s up to those of us who love the character of downtown Jacksonville to support our local merchants and restaurants.
Rotary is doing our part with our Rotary Loves Jacksonville campaign, and we’re inviting you […]
I’ve heard from every corner of Jacksonville and the greater Rogue Valley that 2020 has been one of the most difficult years ever. With that in mind, I thought the Thanksgiving season was the right time to reflect upon being grateful for what we do have. As such, I asked my dear friend, Gates McKibbin, […]
Every year, dozens of caring businesses participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Toy Drive program to brighten the lives of families here in the Rogue Valley. This year, more businesses will participate in the program, collecting toys for Jackson County kids age 12 and under!
Thanks to your generosity, children in our community who might […]
In this strange year, we all are working to keep an even keel while needing to do things somewhat differently. For many years, the Jacksonville Garden Club has offered beautiful holiday arrangements to grace homes and businesses in our area. Some have always been sold via pre-orders and others at the traditional sale venue in […]
Samantha Pauline Powers passed away on October 21, 2020 surrounded by her family and friends. Samantha was born on June 8, 1984 and lived in Vacaville, CA until moving to Jacksonville, OR in 2011 with her family.
Samantha was born with Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder that resulted in medical […]
Virginia “Ginny” Hicks passed away at home on Nov. 11, 2020, after a six-year battle with lung cancer.
Ginny was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to Christine Fowler and the Rev. Manuel Fowler. She and her older brother, Charlie Fowler, grew up in the Fairfax, Virginia, area and Ginny graduated […]
Jackie was born in Redding, California on November 27, 1932 to Jim and Maureen Rountree and she left this world on October 7, 2020 to be with her Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Donald, her three children, Chris Beames (Jim), […]
For Immediate Release: November 16, 2020—With the escalation of the coronavirus in Jackson County, we’ve had to make the decision to change the date of Hanley Farm’s Wreath Making event originally scheduled for November 28. In keeping with Oregon State guidelines for November 18 through December 2, we’ve rescheduled this event to December 5.
The time, […]
Richard A. Boucher, Jr., passed away Sunday, September 20, 2020 in his home surrounded by love and family. He was born January 11, 1956 to Richard A. Boucher, Sr. and Dolores Margaret Boucher (Lotze) in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He has left an abundant legacy of generosity, love, intelligence, wit, and […]
When I was in fourth grade, I performed in my first musical theater production on a real stage in front of real people. All fourth, fifth and sixth-grade students at Jacksonville Elementary participate in the school play each year. I was in the ensemble, a monkey, in The Lion […]
Jacksonville, OR: Over 3,800 registered Jackson County voters from all parts of the county signed a voter initiative this year to ban the use of elephants and other wild and exotic animals for commercial displays, like circuses, in Jackson County.
To make it onto the May 2021 ballot in Jackson County, the Committee to Protect Wild […]
Donna Bowen – Mayor
As I sat down to write an introductory article of myself as a candidate for Mayor of the City of Jacksonville, I struggled to find something new, exciting, and inspiring in the sea […]
City Council, October 6—Council held a public hearing on an Approval of the Findings of Fact and the Exemption to Competitive Bidding Process for the seismic upgrade and updating of the fire house. The positive outcome of the hearing now enables the to city to bypass certain competitive bidding procedures and allows it to act […]
Medford, Oregon – Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) is pleased to announce that additional COVID-19 Emergency Business Grants are available now throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties. Time is limited for the deployment of an additional $250,000 in the region and businesses are urged to apply today.
SOREDI will partner with its counterpart agency, CCD […]
Antonius (Tony) Laenen was the only child of Stephanus Matheus Laenen and Hildegard Hoche born Dec. 20, 1939 in Den Haag, Netherlands. He was raised in Buffalo, NY and Fort Pierce, FL. He enlisted in the Navy and became a member of the VX-1, Experimental Squadron and was assigned […]
Robert Bruce Geer, known as “Trapper” by friends, passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2020, at home in Jacksonville, Oregon. He was born October 18, l961, at Fort Rucker, Alabama, to Lee Wall Geer and the late Lt. Col. William A. Geer, Jr.
Trapper […]
September 18, 2020
Jacksonville Community,
Recent wildfires, combined with the Covid-19 crisis, have challenged our department in ways nobody could have foreseen.
On September 8 all available resources of Jacksonville Fire were rallied to respond to the Almeda fire. Jacksonville crews, along with other regional departments deployed to the streets of Ashland, Talent and Phoenix to fight fire […]
There’s plenty new to learn during a pandemic, but some basics remain the same: the essentials of reading, writing, and arithmetic along with exercising, laughing, and playing. All elementary schools in Jackson County, public and private, will remain closed to in-person instruction until at least early November. The recent closure creates a mad dash for […]
Most people these days are a bit worried about going back to life as “normal,” but even the most diligent folks are ready to get out of the house and enjoy the end of a beautiful Jacksonville summer. The city’s parks are the perfect place to be outdoors and distant while still appreciating what the […]
Residents in the Westmont/Mary Ann Drive neighborhood are advised that a road paving project will be underway on Tuesday, October 6-Friday, October 9,2020. Mary Ann Drive & Highway 238 up the hill to the Westmont intersection will be impacted and residents are encouraged to travel on Pair-a-Dice Ranch Road and Morton Way for access to […]
It’s September and although the world is different and the context is different, that still means back to school. In honor of the eternal pursuit of education—of toiling in order to conquer the mazes of reading, writing, and arithmetic—Rebel Heart Books is hosting a writing contest.
All ages are welcome to submit their 500 words (or less) […]
The long-awaited completion of an ADA-compliant elevator is now complete at New City Hall—also known as the Courthouse. The project, which cost approximately $300,000, was funded primarily through the city’s Urban Renewal program. The Review took a tour of the Courthouse with City Administrator Jeff Alvis who explained that the Ausland Group was the contractor […]
Dr. Ryan Colley, who recently joined Dr. Yaser Metwally at Advanced Join Replacement Center of Southern Oregon, is also a new resident of Jacksonville. He was born in Medford and raised in the Rogue Valley and after getting his bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University, he moved to Arizona to attend medical school at Midwestern […]
Last September marked the opening of Hummingbird Estate, the Rogue Valley’s most remarkable wine destination, unique by way of being among the newest and oldest. While the brand marks its first estate release with the 2019 vintage, the heritage site with its set piece estate house, dates from the 1920’s. Lovingly and meticulously restored, it […]
MEDFORD, OREGON – Join us this Sunday, September 20, 2020, on the Oaks Golf Course at RVCC from 10 am – 3:30 pm as we host 60 of the most exotic and premium automobiles on the West Coast.
This event will take place at the Rogue Valley Country Club, 2660 Hillcrest Road Medford, Oaks #1 Fairway.
The […]
Private pre-release screening of “Other Side of the Hill’
Many Oregonians on the other side of the hill are really far ahead when it comes to renewable energy. Urban Oregonians often think that our cities are the leaders in climate action. Climate concern experienced by, and climate action undertaken by, residents of rural Oregon on […]
This virtual event will be covering the following preparedness topics:
But you don’t have to […]
On August 10, a very hot day with temperatures reaching 99 degrees with low humidity, units from Jacksonville Fire and Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to a fire just south of the Beekman Woods. While Jacksonville Fire was responding to the fire, there was a visible column of smoke spewing from the hillside within […]
Robert “Bo” Atkinson passed away on August 2, 2020 at the age of 90 in Medford. Bo was born in Winnsboro, SC. After high school he attended Presbyterian College where he graduated with a degree in education. He joined the Army out of college and did two tours in […]
Elizabeth S. Pursell passed-away on July 9 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center; she was 95-years-old
Elizabeth May Shrout was born May 4, 1925 in Independence, Missouri to Thomas Jefferson Shrout and Bernice Idalee Shrout. She was the youngest of four children and the only girl. She was raised on […]
The City of Jacksonville is closely monitoring the COVID-19 developments in Jackson County.
Due to rising cases, and Jackson County recently being added to the State of Oregon watch list, the Planning Commission Hearing scheduled for August 26, 2020 is canceled pending further notice.
Britt Festival provided the City of Jacksonville with an extension to their application […]
The Britt Festival Orchestra is online for those wishing to revisit some of their favorite performances from past summers with Music Director Teddy Abrams. BFOnline features five recordings, preceded by a discussion about the recorded work with Teddy, members of the BFO, and select guest artists and composers. Each recording will be accompanied by a […]
The large sign outside Pioneer Village that reads, “Heroes Work Here,” should also read “Heroes Live Here,” as evidenced by recent community-spirited work of resident John Howell. Although he and his wife, Jane, have only lived at Pioneer Village for about a year, they are 42-year residents of the area. John (77) wore many hats […]
Thanks to a $1.34 million grant from the state of Oregon, the Jacksonville fire station will receive an overdue expansion and seismic reinforcement. The scope of the seismic work to the brick 1950’s-ear structure will be similar to what was done to reinforce the Old County Courthouse, now revitalized as New City Hall.
The Seismic Rehabilitation […]
August 28 the Southern Oregon Historical Society takes you back to an era when drive-in movies were a popular pastime, but with a modern twist – a live concert performance!
Friday, August 28, Nick Garrett-Powell, lead vocalist, guitarist, and mandolinist for the Fret Drifters, performs live at Hanley Farm. Nick will have your hands clapping and […]
Join the Jacksonville Rotary Club for a fun and coronavirus-friendly Poker Run on Friday & Saturday, August 28 & 29, from 1:00-7:00pm. Players will purchase a scorecard for $25 and draw a playing card at each of the seven Jacksonville wineries (no purchase required). At the […]
There is nothing more relaxing to me than floating on the calm water of a lake. In the Applegate Valley, we have one of those liquidly jewels that was finished just 40 years ago. I know the age of the lake because I have a picture of our 8-month-old son, Josh, sitting on a rock […]
City Council Elections Approaching—As a reminder, the City Council adopted a temporary ordinance aimed at maintaining social distancing and reducing the spread of the corona virus disease. Ordinance 2020-02 enables City Council and Mayoral candidates in the upcoming General Election to skip the process of obtaining 20 signatures from registered voters to be placed on […]
We
When my country ‘tis of thee
Becomes my country ‘tis of me
We all suffer
When sweet land of liberty
Fills with bitterness between you and me
We all lose
Where opinions give us pride
Understanding gives us wisdom
Where the me meets the we
Is where we need to be
Of this I sing
~Frank De Luca
Featured image by […]
Liz Pursell was respected by all who knew her for her honesty, willingness to help friends and neighbors, as well as her attention to detail with local projects. I first met Liz years ago when I became involved with Jacksonville Celebrates the Arts, an annual event to raise funds for the expansion of Jacksonville Community […]
The end of March welcomed a new business to the city of Jacksonville. Hier Holistic “Crop & Critter Shop” opened on March 28 at 660 N 5th Street, next door to Gary West Artisan Smoked Meats. The store provides everything from pet and garden supplies to equipment and feed for local farmers, with a focus […]
Here is my story about my financial planner making the extra effort to make sure I’m being taken care of: A planned trip to visit my son for a week turned into a two month stay when the virus hit. Upon returning to Pioneer Village, I was quarantined for 14 days in my room.
My financial […]