Whitman Parker is Owner and Publisher of Jacksonville Review and Southern Oregon Wine Scene magazines. 
This fall has been an exciting time in Jacksonville. In the midst of it all, it’s also election season and the Review sponsored the City Council Candidate Forum, which drew a full house of interested voters! Thanks to Carolyn Kingsnorth for doing an outstanding job of moderating the forum. After 8:00pm on Election Day, you’ll […]
This is City Council election season in Jacksonville—ballots for the November, 2014 General Election will be mailed-out by Jackson County Elections Division on October 17.
Mark your calendars for October 16, from 6:00–7:30pm, when the Jacksonville Review will host a “Meet the Candidates Forum” at the Naversen Room at the Library—Jacksonville voters […]
Wow, What a Summer!—Several people/groups deserve our thanks for helping make this a fun and interesting summer: Donna Briggs and her team at Britt Festivals for an outstanding season, Maestro Teddy Abrams whose non-stop energy and enthusiasm reignited the Britt Classical Festival and helped set attendance records, Angela Warren, Britt’s Director of Performing Arts, the […]
On a bright Friday morning in early May, I was standing in-line alongside Joelle Graves surrounded by others waiting to get inside a local estate sale. This time, it was the estate of Marjorie Edens, one of Jacksonville’s most beloved residents who had recently passed away, years before her time.
Bumping […]
Although I could fill this page with commentary related to Jacksonville politics, I thought I’d give it a rest for a month and talk about something far more interesting and fun—the Britt Classical Season, now in full-swing.
I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to a few friends for their vision, leadership and contributions to our community—Mel & Brooke Ashland, Rob Buerk, Steve Casaleggio and Donna Briggs.
Rob Buerk & Steve Casaleggio
In the […]
If you’re considering running for one of 3 open seats in the November, 2014 election, NOW is the time to get started ...
On June 23, Jacksonville Mayor Paul Becker issued a proclamation regarding the use of “sandwich board” signs...
On June 23, Mayor Paul Becker issued a “proclamation,” effectively permitting downtown business owners...
A 10-ton piece of Jacksonville history came rolling home on Saturday, June 14, when the Rogue River Valley Railroad...
Jacksonville was THE place to be on June 7, 2014, as hundreds packed the streets for a day of fun at the annual Taste of Summer festival.
Each summer Rogue Valley families open their homes and their hearts to music. Begun in 1963, the Britt Classical Festival host family...
Watch this video from FiveOn5 dated, June 5, 2014 - with Carolyn Kingsnorth of Historic...
An army of 70+ volunteers from the Britt Society descended on Britt Hill on June 8 for a day-long project...
Now in its fourth year, the Jacksonville Farmers Market has become a hit with locals who appreciate the freshest farm...
It’s now “summer in the city” as the pace of our small town life picks-up and town bustles with events and activities galore! From the Taste of Summer Celebration, incredible Britt concerts on the Hill, the Historic Home and Garden Tour, to our charming Farmers Market and so much more, this is high season and our time in the sun.
On Friday, May 30, members of the Jackson County Search and Rescue Team will be...
Can you feel the buzz in the air…the energy as our micro-town emerges from its winter slumber? This month and all summer long, there are so many events and positive things happening—thanks to great people who are making a difference.
Starting in May, anyone interested in history is in for a treat as multiple seasonal events […]
On March 18, the City Council formally voted to move Jacksonville’s city offices to the Historic Courthouse. Although I still believe that city offices are not the highest and best use of the building, I’m now on-board and look forward to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
I’ve lost count how many times I’ve talked about the incredible volunteers making Jacksonville a wonderful place to live. At the Review, I’m fond of saying, “the ‘V’ in Jacksonville is for “volunteer!” On February 18, I was thrilled when Mayor Paul Becker presented Dirk Siedlecki with the 2013 “Person of the Year” award.
Welcome to the Year of the Horse! As we’ve been doing for nearly six years now, this issue of the Review is packed with news and information on what’s happening in our little corner of the world...
I’d like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and express my sincere thanks for making 2013 another wonderful year here at the Review!
Not long ago, I wrote a column decrying the use of social media, going so far as to say...
On September 20, I attended a seminar at Medford City Hall on earthquake preparedness...
This month, the Review celebrates our local merchants and the local grape harvest with features and articles on both topics.
As Summer gives way to Fall, I’m looking forward to cooler days and hoping for blue skies overhead. This summer was unusual with extreme bursts of heat coupled with smoke-filled skies from nearby forest fires—both put a damper on all sorts of outdoor activities and commerce. For many local businesses, the economic consequence of reduced […]
The Question of the Courthouse…My Opinion by Jacksonville Review Publisher Whitman Parker.
This month, I thought I’d give-up my column space to focus on one of my favorite Jacksonville volunteers, Dirk Siedlecki.
Thank you Jacksonville! It’s hard to believe this July 2013 issue marks my 5-year anniversary as Publisher of the Review...
It’s finally here…summer, that is!
It’s hard to imagine pioneer-vintner Peter Britt dreamed that Jacksonville would be considered the “heart of Southern Oregon wine country”
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 […]
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 […]
The other day, a reader and I were discussing the Review’s increasing focus on the arts in Jacksonville...
As I mentioned last month, as a town resident, I’m dedicated to advocating for causes that improve Jacksonville’s quality of life...
“My View” is written with great consideration and not as flippant remarks...
On City Council, EXPERIENCE Counts