Donna Bowen is the current Mayor of Historic Jacksonville, Oregon. Please contact Mayor Bowen with any topics you would be interested in hearing more about in this column at mayor@jacksonvilleor.us. 
HELLO EVERYONE! As you might have noticed, I have been absent from my desk in City Hall since February 23rd. After postponing it for longer than I should have, I recently had a very successful spinal surgery. I’m happily back in my office again. I want to […]
TAKING LONG DRIVES through the Rogue Valley and beyond is a favorite pastime for my family. Mention the words “road trip” and we are literally on the road soon. Recently, while we have been out and about, the fields and valleys have been alive […]
HELLO TO A NEW YEAR! For such a small city, we have a lot going on. Each fall, Jeff Alvis, our City Administrator, and I, sit down to discuss the accomplishments of the prior year, along with our priorities, biggest challenges, and plans for the upcoming year. […]
WORLDWIDE, in every culture and religion, holidays are a time to enjoy with the people we love. It’s a time to observe honored traditions and customs. A time to reflect on what is most meaningful for ourselves. For those of us […]
NOVEMBER has traditionally been a month for celebrating and giving thanks for the fall harvest and other blessings of the year. As Mayor, one thing I have been reflecting on is how thankful I am for the accomplishments that the city has achieved this year. None of […]
AS I SAT AT MY DESK over Labor Day weekend, to write my column for the October issue, I thought about how difficult it was to generate any enthusiasm writing about Fall activities with temperatures close to 100°. By the time this issue of the Jacksonville Review […]
THE PURCHASE AND RENOVATION of the historic U.S. Hotel by the BRITT Music & Arts Festival organization has seen great local interest and much conjecture. In the coming months, you will see the changes that accompany the renovation of a historic building. These will take form in […]
IN A PAST LIFE, I was very active in the Arts Council of a small Northern California city. When asked why I was so involved, it was easy to answer. Art is an expression of life! Art is all around us, sometimes we don’t even notice it, […]
THE MONTH OF JULY in Jacksonville is always eventful. Our town is filled with visitors, annual activities, and school kids have been out and about for almost a month. The temperature keeps climbing, and fire season is upon us.
A favorite town activity is our Annual Mayor’s Hot […]
OUR WARM, SUNNY WEATHER has brought on our usual spring fever, enticing us to enjoy the pleasant outdoor activities available in Jacksonville. Folks are using our city parks, Jacksonville Woodlands, trails, dog park, skate park, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. It also seems to […]
AS I SIT DOWN TO WRITE my May Column for the Review, I am reminded how grateful I am to live in Jacksonville. My husband, Clark, and I recently returned from a trip to the Southwest…places we have been to before, many times, and enjoyed. We had […]
THE MARCH 4TH Jacksonville City Council meeting was high-spirited. After our regular agenda items, the fun began. I was very pleased to announce the 2024 award recipients for Jacksonville. Mike McClain received the 2024 “Lifetime Achievement Award,” and Belita Palu-ay received the 2024 Jacksonville “Citizen of the […]
WHAT A WET, COLD BEGINNING of February, with snow, ice, and rain! The city’s snowplow and our tractors were working overtime. Our Public Works Department did a wonderful job clearing our streets. We will work on clean-up for a while as they continue to clear debris and make repairs, in addition to their regular duties. […]
IT’S BEEN QUITE A RIDE since I was first sworn in as Mayor of Jacksonville in 2021. I came into office as COVID-19 had ramped up in the United States. Presidential elections had been volatile, with periods of unrest and fear nationwide. That whole period was unsettling […]
AFTER A BUSY YEAR here at City Hall and in Jacksonville, it’s time to say goodbye to 2024. Our fall season was spectacular, and we are feeling the relief of fire season being over for the year. As so often happens in the Rogue Valley, it […]
AS WE NEAR THE END OF 2024, we are starting to wind down the year and enjoy the fall. We are looking forward to the holiday season and all that entails for us individually. Our election year is finally over, thank goodness, and we have a head […]
AS I SIT DOWN TO WRITE MY COLUMN this month, I’m feeling very optimistic. There is a feeling of excitement in the air that I’m trying to put my finger on. I believe I’m feeling the changes in the weather. We are starting to feel the crisp […]
EARLY FALL IN JACKSONVILLE means school is back in session—making this a good time to be aware of our younger citizens, as they walk and bike to school. Remember, some of them are too short for you to see, especially if you drive a big SUV or […]
WE KICKED OFF JULY with our annual Mayor’s 4th of July Hot Dog Picnic! This event was started in 2017 by former Mayor Paul Becker, as a way to thank the folks in Jacksonville for their continued support of the city. I have continued the tradition for […]
LIVING IN SOUTHERN OREGON means we get to enjoy all four seasons. However, our summer season can be a cause for worry, with the danger of wildfires. Summer thunderstorms, wind, warmer temperatures, and carelessness, are the main causes of fire in our area. We aim to help […]
SOME THOUGHT-PROVOKING agenda items were on a lengthy City Council Meeting, held on April 2, 2024. I felt this Council meeting showed the City Council, and the audience members who spoke that night, at their best. Reasoned, measured, and respectful comments were offered by all.
The first item […]
ON A RECENT TRIP to the southwest, I realized that post-COVID, I had forgotten how much I missed traveling. I love exploring new places, visiting old favorites, enjoying the wonderful cuisine of different areas, and having adventures I don’t normally experience at home. I was amazed by […]
JANUARY 14, 2024, brought a well-received event to Jacksonville, in the form of Chamber Music when Jacksonville Oregon Friends of Classical Music presented the first of three world-class winter chamber music performances scheduled this year. It was former Mayor Paul Becker’s dream to bring musical performances to […]
WELCOME TO 2024 EVERYONE. It’s always a bittersweet moment saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new. We are another year older, but hopefully starting the next twelve months fresh and renewed. 2023 was a quiet, but a busy year. I would like to briefly […]
I love this time of the year in Jacksonville. We have enjoyed our beautiful show of fall leaf color from our deciduous trees, fire danger season is past, and I’m looking forward to enjoying the winter holiday season with family and friends.
The City of Jacksonville has […]
On October 3, 2023, City Council voted to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and directed staff to come up with a timeline to rebuild our police department staff. The purpose of the agreement is to provide police services to the City […]
At the end of the September 6 City Council meeting, I left the building with a heavy heart, after the Council had to vote on a difficult agenda item. At this meeting, your City Council had to make yet another decision regarding our current Tennis/Pickleball courts at […]
Reading is a big deal in my family’s life. Reading is a daily pleasure for us, and I don’t know if I could go to sleep at night without reading for a while. As a family without a television until 1958, my parents read to my siblings […]
I have been reflecting lately on how many interesting activities we, and our visitors, enjoy in Jacksonville. My most recent thoughts of appreciation are of our partners: the Britt Music Festival, the Jacksonville Boosters, and our many Jacksonville volunteers who make many of these activities possible.
Britt’s latest […]
The song, “Summertime” by George Gershwin, written for the opera Porgy and Bess, reminds me of long, lazy summer days and nights. The line “summer time and the living is easy” might be written as “summertime and the living is busy” here in Jacksonville. With an influx […]
It’s the beginning of summer and there’s a lot of activity in our little city. School will adjourn for the summer in a few days. Our children will be out and about, as will tourists and local folks, enjoying our beautiful weather. Please be aware that Jacksonville […]
As we cross seasons, I see a lot more folks out enjoying our spring weather. It is time to come out of hibernation and enjoy all Jacksonville has to offer. Where better to enjoy meals, shopping, scenery, education, entertainment, and community involvement than right here in Jacksonville? […]
People often ask me what I like and dislike about being Mayor. I find I love many aspects of being the Mayor of Jacksonville. I have the opportunity to meet and get to know many of the people who live here. The element that can be difficult […]
The middle of winter is always a good time to plan ahead and most of us love to think of travel or garden projects. Recently, I participated in a discussion of another area that requires some planning.
One of the most important areas to prepare for is something […]
As we closed out 2022 and look forward to 2023, I feel excitement for Jacksonville. 2022 saw so many varied projects in our city begin, reach completion, or require further research or work. 2023 brings new goals and fresh enthusiasm to our Council to start the New […]
The Holiday Celebrations are now in full swing in Jacksonville. I would like to extend Seasons Greetings to you and your families. I hope you will have a chance to enjoy some of the many holiday activities Jacksonville is known for. The Chamber of Commerce has […]
After a devastating fire on September 26, a long-time restaurant, Las Palmas, was rendered unusable. It was by chance that the fire occurred when no one was in the building. Two neighboring businesses were also impacted with smoke damage, causing the inventory of Country Quilts and Trotting […]
City elections for the Office of Councilor or Mayor can be confusing to understand. This legal process can be puzzling, especially if you have moved to Jacksonville from a different city or state. As a resident, what should you expect to see during an election? What is […]
One of the most talked about topics over the past month has been Senate Bill (SB) 762. What is it? What does it mean? How does it affect my property? What should I do? Many Jacksonville property owners were shocked to receive form notices from the Oregon […]
August 15, 2022— Jacksonville Mayor Donna Bowen sent the following statement out today regarding funding cuts to the Chamber of Commerce. It reads as follows:
What Went Into The Jacksonville City Council’s Decision To Change The Amount Of Funding We Give For The Visitors Information Center?
After looking at the amount of money paid to the Visitors Information […]
We are not currently experiencing a water shortage, but it is a situation we hear a lot about and discuss amongst ourselves. The hot, dry conditions of fire season bring thoughts of drought too close to home. Why is it important to know about drought and how […]
In this long period of uncertainty over the last few years, I often hear about the worry and anxiety people feel about the future. In today’s world, it can be hard to find hope. It is difficult to know how to find the resolve to make positive […]
As I sit at the Mayor’s desk in City Hall, some of the duties that I am responsible for honoring are routine and even boring. Tasks that have to be done over and over, as Mayor, are just part of the job. Thankfully, there are also plenty […]
It’s that time of year again. We are all gearing up for summer and of paramount importance, it’s time to consider what summer will bring in the way of fire and smoke. This is a good opportunity to review the City of Jacksonville Emergency Evacuation Checklist and […]
This month, I’d like to give you an overview of City Commissions and Committees. Jacksonville runs on a volunteer force, which is readily apparent in the folks who show up to serve.
There is a distinct difference between the two. To simplify, in Jacksonville, we have an elected […]
In last month’s column I gave a report on work that went on last year in City Hall and its departments. This month I’ll bring you up to date on City Council projects. Next month I will feature City Commissions and Committees. My aim is to give […]
As we start the New Year, I’m reflecting back on what we have all gone through the last two years. The months have been both agonizingly slow and surprisingly fast. Slow when I think of the things we cannot easily do, that we used to take for […]
As I thought about writing this for the end of 2021, my mind wandered back to all that has happened during the last two years and what the future might bring. I have never been one to make New Year’s resolutions, but I have always […]
This month, I would like to share my column space with City Councilor, Ken Gregg, who has served on Council since 2015. Ken is known and respected as an active City Councilor. Ken has his finger on the pulse of what is happening in Jacksonville and always […]
With October and November upon us, I’m feeling hope and a sense of moving forward to a season of renewal.
Hopefully, we will see the last of wildfires and smoke. Hopefully too, children are back in school and happily occupied in academics, social development, sports and other extracurricular […]