“I want a book that acknowledges that life goes on but death goes on, too, that a person who is dead is a long, long story.”
—Elizabeth McCracken, An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination
People often asked me, “What books do you personally recommend?” My response always begins the same way: “I don’t recommend what […]
Bill Branham died on Monday, November 21, 2022, after a short illness, two months short of his 100th birthday. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 9, at 2:00pm, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2000 Oakwood Drive in Medford and all are welcome.
The Lions Club was a great part of Bill Branham’s life for […]
City Council Work Session 10/18/22—Council heard two presentations during the session:
On Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the entrance to the Britt Festival, a fawn was mauled by a dog running off leash. While I was not there until after the actual attack, a woman called 911 and a courageous man apparently attempted to stop the mauling by using a […]
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce is pleased to again bring you the magic of Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas—an old-fashioned, small town holiday celebration you will want to share with you and yours, weekends November 26-27, December 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18, 2022.
We kick-off the holidays with Shop Small Saturday on Saturday, November 26, from 10am-5pm, with downtown […]
This sale kicks off the holiday season with beautiful arrangements that bring fragrance, color and light during the chilly days of December. Garden Club members apply their artistic skills […]
In November and December, please shop and support two businesses that have been temporarily displaced due to the September 27 fire at the Las Palmas Restaurant building.
Trotting Fox and Country Quilts will be setting-up shop at Old City Hall—thanks to the effort of Mayor […]
The 29th annual Holiday Home Tour features 3 wonderful properties that vary from a newly remodeled to updated manufactured stuffed with 25 Christmas trees to brand new contemporary homes. The owners have kindly agreed to open their homes to help […]
The Jacksonville Garden Club is preparing to bring some holiday cheer to our homes and businesses! Members use their skills and creativity to make beautiful wreaths, table arrangements, entry baskets, and swags, featuring fresh natural greens and cones, holly, bows, candles and festive decorations. Our lovely wreaths have become very popular, and both 28” and […]
We invite community members to join us on Saturday, November 26, for our After the Tree Lighting Holiday Party, which will begin around 5:45pm, directly after the Christmas tree is lit on the Jacksonville Courthouse grounds. We have had this event for several […]
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. Last year, the Salvation Army provided gifts for over 2400 local children. This year, participating businesses will be collecting toys for Jackson County kids age 17 and under!
Thanks […]
City Council Meeting 10/4/22—Prior to the official start of the meeting, City Recorder Angela Watson swore-in Andy Hellenthal, who was selected to fill the remaining term of Councilor Jim Lewis. Hellenthal, a current candidate for City Council, will fill Lewis’ seat until the 2023 council is sworn-in in early January.
Mayor Bowen introduced Jullie Flenner, the […]
Meet Summer Brendlinger, a clay artist who can teach you to perform feats of clay!
Summer recently became the resident ceramic artist at Talent Maker City, where her classes introduce beginners of all ages to the basic pottery skills of hand-building “pinch pots,” constructing forms from clay slabs, “throwing” vessels on the potter’s wheel, and decorating […]
One of Jacksonville’s time-honored traditions is the upcoming Victorian Christmas celebration, which runs November 26 – December 18.
During the festivities, locals and visitors in the historic downtown core are treated to strolling carolers in Victorian garb singing Christmas and holiday carols, presented by an all-volunteer group of local singers. After a two-year hiatus, the carolers […]
A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest, Granny Weatherwax had once told her, because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her.” —Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith
This past August, when my 15-year-old daughter […]
Every year in October, our quaint city is transformed into a haunted township. Bone-chilling apparitions and the spirits of frightening characters of yesteryear, return to play out their destiny again and again! The 30-minute trolley tour takes a light-hearted approach to local “hauntings” and features multiple sites throughout Jacksonville with special effects and period character […]
Greek mythology tells the tale of the phoenix, a magnificent bird that would build a nest in which to set itself on fire, whereupon a new phoenix would arise from the flames and ashes. It’s an apt metaphor for Clayfolk, a group of clay artists whose “nest” is in Southern Oregon and who have put […]
Over the past couple of years, your Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) tasked with reviewing and updating the City’s Development Code has been hard at work carefully reviewing and revising the draft document. The project is a city initiative to clarify and improve regulations for development within the […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR – The Victorians created elaborate rituals around the passing of a loved one. Death was considered part of life’s texture, giving it essential meaning. Join Historic Jacksonville at the 1873 Beekman House Museum between 12n and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23, to explore how Jacksonville’s most prominent pioneer family […]
MEDFORD, OR — In its first full season since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit Britt Music & Arts Festival declares its 60th Anniversary season a giant success. Britt thanks its patrons, members, business partners, media partners, artists, and fans for coming together to […]
Shooting Star Nursery’s Fall Celebration & Fundraiser for Outdoor Education is October 15, 11am-3pm. Come join your community for food trucks, kid’s crafts, silent auction, music, apple cider and other goodies to celebrate the arrival of fall weather and to show support for outdoor exploration after-school programs that get students back in nature!
For many of us, our introduction to Senate Bill 762 came in a letter from ODF outlining our risk assessment per tax lot. In Jacksonville, too often that risk was “High” or “Extreme”. People across the state had strong reactions to a […]
Name: Ryan Hess
How long resided in Jacksonville: 2 years
Why are you running for City Council and, if elected, what do you hope to achieve?
I am running for City Council for my love of Jacksonville and public service. I am a native southern Oregonian and proud of calling the Rogue Valley home. I have been […]
Name: Jerome E. “Jerry” Pendzick
How long resided in Jacksonville: 6 years
Why are you running for City Council and, if elected, what do you hope to achieve?
I believe that Jacksonville is a unique community that provides an excellent quality of life for all residents. I am committed to maintaining this quality of life and enhancing […]
Name: Talon J. Reed
How long resided in Jacksonville: 6 years
Why are you running for City Council and, if elected, what do you hope to achieve?
I was born here in the valley. I attended Ruch Elementary, McLoughlin Middle School, and graduated from South Medford High School. I continued my education at Southern Oregon University, graduating […]
Name: Megan Kimball
How long resided in Jacksonville: 6 years
Why are you running for City Council and, if elected, what do you hope to achieve?
Connection to community is important. If elected to council, I hope to continue the spirit of service modeled by many of our community members in the past (and present), who have […]
Name: Andrew “Andy” Hellenthal
How long resided in Jacksonville: 4 years
Why are you running for City Council and, if elected, what do you hope to achieve?
Jacksonville is a wonderful small town with historic charm and a spirit that provides a great sense of community. We have tremendous assets in our parks and trail systems, […]
Name: Kenneth Gregg
How long resided in Jacksonville: 9 years
Why are you running for City Council and, if elected, what do you hope to achieve?
I am running for a third term as a City Councilor because I wish to continue to help preserve the town’s past, support its present and shape its future. To achieve this, […]
City Council Meeting 9/6/2022-—Council welcomed its newest Police Officer, Scott Marical, at a swearing-in ceremony that kicked-off the meeting. Police Chief Dave Towe noted that hiring Officer Marical was very fortunate for the city, due in part to Scott’s many years of prior service and the shortage of officers available in the valley.
The City and […]
Anne Brooke, founder and director of Art Presence, announced the artists’ group has hired Paula Bandy as its Executive Director. “It’s not only comforting to know, it is imperative to know, that we have the hired the very best and that our Gallery will continue to grow and prosper,” says Anne.
Bandy, who is very well-known […]
On September 7, my parents, David C. Davis and Gannetta Ann Howell, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, and what a journey it’s been. My Mom is a pillar of strength, a two-time cancer survivor, with a strong faith in God. My Dad, has also had a few close calls, surviving a near death experience […]
James Windfield “Jim” Lewis died at his home in Jacksonville, Oregon on 8 August 2022. He was born to Frederick Windfield Lewis and Dixie Mae Brown in Wray, Colorado on May 8, 1945. Growing up in a mobile military Navy family he identified as being from Colorado but became […]
Join us for our Second Annual Jacksonville-Applegate Rotary Poker Run on Friday, September 9, 2022, 3-7pm, or Saturday, September 10, 2022, 1-7pm!
Participants (Players) will simply purchase poker card(s) at any seven of the nine Jacksonville wine tasting rooms on Friday, September 9 or Saturday, September 10. Players will progressively play their hands at each winery […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—No clothing style in history is as popular as Victorian Era fashion—although there was no single Victorian style, given that the Era is generally considered to have spanned over 50 years from 1837 to the late 1890s coinciding with the Industrial Revolution, a rising middle class, and the invention of the sewing machine. Join […]
Dolores Evers, better known as “Dee” to her many friends and acquaintances, passed away from natural causes on July 16, 2022 at the age of 92 at her home in Medford, Oregon. She was surrounded by loving friends and family and the caring staff of Northridge Senior Living. Dee was born in Brooklyn, New York. […]
In these modern times, many of us have found that our capacity to experience that which used to inspire has been lessened. The exaggerated “this and that” with the daily hyperbole of all that the internet can bring has taken a toll on our ability to be impressed. It is perhaps for that reason that […]
City Council Meeting, August 2, Staff Update—Police Chief Dave Towe introduced Crystal Lewis as the department’s new Clerk. She replaces Kathy Tiller who went to work in the Jackson County court system as an assistant for Judge Joe Charter. Lewis has 27 years of experience including positions as a records clerk, communications & dispatch officer. […]
If you ask residents what they enjoy most about living in our city, the answers are pleasantly varied. Some cite the small-town atmosphere or the presence of the Woodlands Trails system. Others cite Britt’s offering of world-class concerts or the proximity to area wineries. There are many reasons for Jacksonville’s broad […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—After a “false start” in 2021, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will again be opening the Beekman Bank, the oldest bank in the Pacific Northwest, to the public! We managed one 110-degree August weekend last year before the Bank’s HVAC died. Now with a new HVAC, we’re ready for business!
Scheduled 2022 “banking hours” are 11am to […]
Prepare with Pedro and the Red Cross, 5+ YRS
08/03/2022, 10:30-11:30am
Prepare with Pedro is a 45-minute emergency preparedness education program for grades K-2 that teaches students how to BE PREPARED and TAKE ACTION for either home fires or a local hazard. Kids will receive a storybook to be able to continue learning at home.
Lifting Up the […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Jacksonville’s “Walk through History” tours are back! At 10 a.m. every Saturday from May 28th through September 3rd, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will be offering 1-hour guided walks through Jacksonville’s National Historic Landmark District. Participants visit government and commercial buildings, fraternal lodges, and homes that capture the stories of the people who transformed a gold […]
Oregon Wine Experience® is the region’s top charitable wine event, benefiting Asante Foundation. Located near Jacksonville, people from around the country will return this summer to this signature event. Hundreds of wineries come together to present the full breadth and depth of Oregon’s unrivaled wines, and chefs curate their fine culinary offerings, for attendees to […]
Years ago, we reviewed the environmental impact of hemp farms. We all found it wanting. They were ugly. Plastic littered the fields and greenhouses. Many were unkempt and an obvious eyesore to neighbors. Few wanted to live next door.
We identified several areas in which we thought we could improve. The first […]
City Council Meeting, July 5
Slow it Down in Town!—During Public Comment, homeowners on East California Street were on-hand to tell Council that traffic volume and speed has increased significantly in their area. Accounts of wildlife being killed and injured by speeders was discussed. Residents noted that although the “Your Speed Is” signs have been effective, […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR – July 2022– Jacksonville resident Al Lightman turned 100-years-old! Pioneer Village held birthday party for Lightman on July 13, 2022, at its campus in Jacksonville. Lightman was joined by other residents of the senior living community for the celebration.
About Pioneer Village: Located in historic Jacksonville, Pioneer Village specializes in Independent and Assisted Living in a […]
Confluence Clinic is excited to announce the opening of its Jacksonville location! Owned and operated by Kjell Moline, L.Ac., Confluence Clinic is a resource in helping to find solutions to a wide variety of chronic and difficult-to-treat conditions. Moline, who is an acupuncturist and master herbalist, has recently moved to Jacksonville with his wife, Erin, […]
Earthly Treasures: Rocks & Minerals
with Bugs-R-Us, 5+ YRS
07/06/2022, 3-4pm
Learn about the basic types of rocks, minerals, and fossils and how we use minerals in everyday life, such as in oils, plastics, salt, and more. Oregon geology is highlighted and participants will receive free rock samples to add to their collections.
Why Natives? Seven Steps to Restoring […]
Take a seat and enjoy a pleasant ride through Jacksonville while learning fun facts and interesting highlights about our local history. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and are meant to be enjoyed by all ages. Private tours are also available by reservation. For more information, visit jacksonvilleoregon.org or call 541-899-8118.
Tour pick-up and drop-off is available […]
It’s that time of year to take in the scenes and scents of lovely lavender farms right here in Jacksonville’s backyard. Treat yourself by visiting any or all six local lavender farms on the Southern Oregon Lavender Trail, who are happy to welcome you and yours for Lavender Festival Weekend, July 15-17. Each […]
David “Herstle” Jones III died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on June 30, 2022. He lived heroically for seventeen joyful months after his diagnosis of glioblastoma brain cancer.
Herstle is survived by his wife Kelly, his daughter Kiana, and his son Holden. He is also survived by his father […]