RIGHT IN THE HEART of downtown Jacksonville, South Stage Cellars feels like the kind of place you pop into for a quick glass and somehow end up staying all afternoon. Housed in a charming historic building dating back to 1865 and recognized as the oldest tasting room in […]
RECENTLY, on a cold, foggy 46-degree day in Jacksonville, I received a text from a friend in Brookings. The message included a photo of the thermometer on his deck reading a balmy 73 degrees. Winter weather along our Southern Oregon coastline is often far warmer than in the valleys, making […]
THE CLOCK said 3am, but I lay awake, my mind racing with unwanted thoughts: the murders in Minnesota, unlawful arrests, erosion of civil liberties, where it’s all headed, fearing for my children, for other people’s children, for the whole dang world. Not a good place to be at 3am. Or ever.
I […]
FLOODING IS one of the most common and expensive natural hazards in Oregon. Rivers, coastal areas, and even seasonal drainages can place properties at risk. For property owners, understanding floodplain insurance requirements is essential; especially when a property is located within a mapped floodplain.
A floodplain is an area […]
THE Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Historic Jacksonville, Inc. once again proudly celebrate Women’s History Month in our historic landmark town.
As I continue to learn, Jacksonville has an amazing group of women entrepreneurs, City Leaders and dedicated Volunteers that continue to bring their unique businesses, personalities, and desires to serve and […]
IN MY non-working hours, I make a lot of mediocre art. I live alone and catch myself singing ridiculous songs aloud several times a day. I recently discovered oil pastels (which are essentially fancy crayons), and have been making joyful, ridiculous drawings of birds, flowers, and blocks of color […]
ONE OF OUR cable boxes recently stopped functioning. So the cable company promised to dispatch “Someone” to perform an “analysis.”
We thought the Someone simply would replace the box. A no-brainer, right? But after inspecting the numerous cables that over the decades had been dangled from the poles, dragged across the […]
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 […]
THERE ARE some places in the Rogue Valley that feel like a deep exhale the moment you arrive, and for me, DANCIN Vineyards is always one of them. Tucked into a hillside that seems designed for golden-hour light, DANCIN is the kind of winery where beauty and atmosphere […]
AS HOLIDAY LIGHTS FADE and fresh snow blankets the surrounding mountains, winter invites you outdoors to experience the seasonal magic of Southern Oregon. It’s the perfect time to work off those holiday meals and embrace everything from snow-covered slopes and frozen alpine lakes to rushing rivers and quiet winter trails. […]
Jacksonville, OR – Friday, February 13, 2026: Britt has confirmed a slate of six more concerts for the 2026 summer season. This latest announcement brings together chart-topping country, indie-rock favorites, and jam-band icons; offering something unforgettable for every music lover.
Country star Jake Owen is bringing his feel-good anthems to the hill, while indie folk favorite […]
WHEN SELLING a home, first impressions are everything. Buyers often form an opinion within seconds of stepping through the front door, or even before, based on online photos. Home staging is the process of preparing and presenting a property to appeal to the widest possible pool of buyers. […]
THIS PAST YEAR was one of transformation. Perhaps the biggest change occurred in the political realm, with President Trump pursuing a policy agenda unlike any in the past century. Tariffs dominated headlines, until they didn’t. The government shutdown dominated headlines, until it did not. Investors able to be comfortable […]
ONCE AGAIN, we had an amazing Holiday Season here in our Historic Landmark Town of Jacksonville. The December events including the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Father Christmas, Holiday Parade and Holiday Trolley Light Tours all had record attendance. Thanks to the many individuals and groups that make these events such a success. […]
HAPPY 2026, friends! Britt announcements are well underway, and the excitement around this year’s summer season is palpable. Our programs team, led by Chief Program Officer Mike Sturgill, always works hard to ensure that Britt has something for every palate, and I think they’re really outdoing themselves this year. […]
WE MIGHT HAVE suspected from the movie’s title.
It could’ve been named “Sweet Caroline,” or “Play Me,” or “Beautiful Noise,” or, for crying out loud, “The Story of My Life.” But it wasn’t. It’s titled Song Sung Blue. See the gentle yet obvious foreshadowing?
Those of you who follow this column likely […]
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. […]
Jacksonville, OR – Friday, January 16, 2026: Britt Music & Arts Festival is pleased to unveil the first wave of concerts for the 2026 summer season. This initial announcement marks the first of multiple lineup releases and offers an exciting preview of the diverse artists and performances heading to the Britt hill this year.
This first […]
WHEN HISTORY and modern flavor come together, the result is something truly special. That is exactly what guests will find at McCully House Inn, Jacksonville’s oldest operating home-turned-inn. Inside its walls, the McCully House Pub & Lounge has quickly become one of the most talked-about destinations in town.
A […]
AS WHIT MENTIONED in last month’s Review, there is something truly special about our little town, and sometimes it takes seeing it through someone else’s eyes to be reminded of just how charming it really is. I recently had three friends fly in from different […]
FOR STUNNING FALL COLORS and a quintessential Southern Oregon adventure, take the short scenic hike to Mill Creek Falls, Barr Creek Falls and the Avenue of the Boulders—all nestled along a deep canyon, cut by the Rogue River.
These two waterfalls are among the tallest in Southern Oregon and the most […]
Jacksonville, OR – Thursday, November 20, 2025: The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2026 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 18–July 3, 2026. Under the leadership of Music Director Norman Huynh in his inaugural season at Britt, the Orchestra’s 64th season highlights orchestral favorites that showcase the […]
LOOKING FOR A SPOT in Jacksonville that’s full of charm, cozy vibes, and has really good wine? Head to Remotion, now located at 105 W. Main Street, corner of W. Main and S. 3rd Street. From the stained-glass entryway and grand staircase to the playful wallpaper and comfy […]
EUROPE IS FAMOUS for its rich history, its architecture, as well as its beautiful squares, inviting cafes, cathedrals and statues. I recently returned from an extended trip to Spain, where their central plazas and public squares play a vital role as they are typically the […]
Put light against light — you have nothing.
Put dark against dark — you have nothing.
It’s the contrast of light and dark
that each give the other one meaning.
~Bob Ross
EVERY YEAR, as I feel the turn of the […]
ON MOST THURSDAYS for the past decade, Scout Troop 17 has met on the Bigham Knoll Campus. Cutler has a long history with this troop—both Matt and Erich Patten achieved their ranks of Eagle from Troop 17 in the 1990’s; Matt’s two sons earned Eagles from […]
RECENTLY, we needed an empty box. We spotted one that looked to be the perfect size underneath a stack of other boxes in the far back corner of our garage, and thought perhaps we could cannibalize it. That necessitated moving several other stacks so we could work […]
THE END of every year, for me, is a time of taking stock and focusing on lessons and joys from the year behind. For Britt, 2025 was an incredible—and challenging—year.
We continued our planning for the US Hotel, launched a new website, created a new logo inspired […]
AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON settles over Jacksonville and the familiar sights and sounds of Christmas fill our streets, I’m reminded how fortunate we are to live in a community that values both tradition and fresh ideas. The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Don Litchfield as […]
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 […]
“The things you think about determine the quality of your mind.
Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”
~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
WE ARE LIVING in troubled times. “Strange days indeed,” in the words of the late John Lennon. The planet, the world, our nation, our communities are all affected by […]
THE FOLLOWING is an excerpt from Cutler’s most recent market commentary:
“The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.”
— Sarah Connor, The Terminator
Artificial Intelligence has become the most transformative force in today’s economy. The field was founded in the 1950s by John McCarthy, […]
THE JACKSONVILLE CHAMBER of Commerce extends its warmest holiday wishes to everyone.
We are actively progressing with our Victorian Christmas preparations. There’s a flurry of activity, from coordinating with neighbors to adorn their homes to ordering candy canes for Father Christmas’s visit with the children. Our trolleys are also being readied to […]
IT’S FALL, and the Britt pavilion stage has gone quiet. Our staff is in the thick of planning for 2026 (and beyond), and this is often a time when you don’t hear from us as much. But this year, we have some exciting fall and winter programs in store!
On […]
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 […]
JACKSONVILLE’S DOWNTOWN is special because it feels alive. People stroll along California Street and see shops, cafés, and restaurants through big windows. The historic buildings are charming, but what makes them vibrant is what’s happening at street level.
The City already protects its historic architecture through zoning rules, design […]
DEAR PUBLISHER PARKER, Citizens of Jacksonville, and all the ships at sea,
As you know, we traditionally think of this column as a two-fisted (well, four-fisted, if you’re going to be picky about it) effort. For seventeen-odd (and some even odder) years, we’ve endeavored to enhance our little corner of this […]
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE MOST about Southern Oregon is its four distinct seasons. While I can’t say I have a single favorite, I do have go-to activities for each. Fall is all about crisp air, colorful leaves, pumpkin harvests, cider brewing, and the comfort of a warm fire. […]
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 AUTUMNAL EQUINOX marks the transition from summer to fall, a time of preparation and forward planning. For Jacksonville’s Chamber of Commerce, this seasonal shift mirrors our own focus as we look ahead to the holidays, Victorian Christmas, and the beginning of a new year.
Over the summer, the Chamber’s efforts were […]
FROM TIME TO TIME, the entertainment industry hits upon a brilliant notion and begins to churn out product along those brilliant lines. Lots of product. Until eventually it runs out of fresh twists and begins to eat itself.
Or so it seems.
Recently, the television arm of the biz has stumbled, face […]
JACKSONVILLE HAS BEEN BUSY in 2025 updating its land use rules and city codes. These changes affect how people build, remodel, and plan for the future. Some updates deal with safety, like floodplains and wildfire risk. Others prepare the city for long-term growth through boundary planning and housing […]
ONE OF THE JOYS of living in Jacksonville is the sense of steadiness you feel walking down California Street. The historic buildings, the brick sidewalks, the same courthouse tower that’s stood for more than a century—time moves a little slower here. For many residents, that’s part of our town’s […]
LOOKING FOR A SPOT in Jacksonville that’s cozy, welcoming, and consistently open—even on a Monday? Look no further than The Wine Lounge at Jacksonville Inn, located at 175 E. California Street, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Whether you’re a longtime local, here for a weekend getaway, or enjoying a staycation […]
OUR FAVORITE RIVER to kayak is the Wood River, located about 90 minutes from Jacksonville in Klamath County. Nestled amid the pine-fringed slopes of the southern Cascades, the Wood River is an aquatic gem. Stretching just 18 miles from its headwaters to Agency Lake, this spring-fed waterway offers paddlers a […]
OREGON’S SHORTAGE of available homes, especially affordable homes, results from decades of building too little housing, which has led to a multitude of problems: a growing homeless population, unaffordable rents and Oregon median home prices over $500,000.
According to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the state needs about […]
From Mike and Laurie Thornton, Jacksonville Residents & Business Owners
We’ve heard the conversation around the proposed North 3rd Street pedestrian plaza, and we want to add our enthusiastic support for this vision. As longtime Jacksonville residents and active participants in downtown life, we believe a thoughtfully designed […]
THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT (“OBBBA”) was signed into law on July 4th. There’s a lot to digest in this bill, which means it will certainly have an impact on households, small businesses, and our retirement plans right here in the Rogue Valley. Let’s break down some of […]
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, Dr. Douglas Naversen has called Jacksonville home—a place where he’s built a thriving dermatology clinic, run countless miles, and built meaningful connections. You may have been fortunate enough to speak with Dr. Naversen, who has many stories to share about his life, or maybe […]
THROUGH OUR amazing powers of anticipatory perception, Dear Readers, we already detect you muttering, “Hey, Critics—haven’t you talked about television food shows before?”
Well, yes. But in our defense, please note that we’ve only mentioned food shows in passing while filling column inches about other stuff. We’ll be more specific this […]