TO SEE John and Jean Mazzei play music is to experience pure joy—wrapped in a whirlwind of jazzy numbers, torch songs, pop tunes, witty banter, boas, faux fur, soul patches, and blazing red sport coats. It’s the embodiment of a good time, Jean out front commanding […]
AFTER SITTING DOWN with Andrea Breault last month, I realized I learned a lot more than I expected. So much so that it felt like too much for one article. So, we are making this a two-part series.
If you missed Part 1, Andrea is my now go-to “wine […]
Soul Matters – July 2026
FOUR YEARS AGO, all the major pieces of my life shifted: marriage ended, nest emptied, house sold. It’s been Transition Central for a while now. A long while. I’ve used this time well, sorting head and heart and finding a lot of healing and growth. But now, four plus years later, […]
AS WE REACH the midpoint of 2026, Southern Oregon’s real estate market has continued its transition toward a more balanced environment. Following several years of rapid appreciation, limited inventory, and strong competition, the first half of 2026 has brought a slower market yet greater stability […]
JACKSONVILLE is gearing up for one of the most joyful, heritage-rich celebrations we’ve hosted in years—the Jacksonville Jubilee, happening Saturday, July 11, 2026, in the heart of our historic downtown. This one day summer festival brings together everything people love about Jacksonville: history, music, community, and a little bit of magic. […]
EVERY BRITT SEASON is different, and this year our calendar is heavily stacked in late July and August—and that means lots of opportunity for you to catch some amazing shows in the coming weeks! I always love pitching a few of my personal must-sees to you, […]
WE OFTEN USE THIS COLUMN to tell you what’s coming up, so that we can manipulate you into considering it.
But not this time. This time we’re going to tell you that you’ve already missed it. And, also that you haven’t. (This will become less paradoxical in a few paragraphs. We […]
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 […]
SUMMER IN SOUTHERN OREGON is all about long, warm days, cool rivers and lakes, outdoor music, mountain scenery, wine country, and small towns that come alive in the evenings. Get your shorts, sandals, sunscreen and sunglasses on, uncover your boats and boards, and enjoy our favorite Summer […]
JEFF KLOETZEL’S CROSSROADS came in 2009. After two decades in Hawaii, where he’d worked in real estate and established himself as a go-to guitar player in the tight-knit island’s music scene, he’d chucked it all—“I packed everything up, gave notice at my job, gave notice to […]
SOUTHERN OREGON’S RENTAL MARKET has been undergoing a transition. After several years of rapid rent growth and historically low vacancy rates following the COVID housing surge, landlords across Jackson County are now facing a much different environment. Rents are leveling out, vacancies are lasting longer, […]
JUNE AT BRITT is all about the Britt Festival Orchestra, and this year is a banner season: we’re welcoming the BFO’s fifth-ever Music Director, Norman Huynh! Norman rose to the top of an extraordinary list of candidates and finalists, and we feel so lucky to be welcoming him to […]
JACKSONVILLE IS stepping into June with the full charm, color, and character that only a true three-trolley town can offer. Our trolleys have become more than transportation—they are part of the Jacksonville experience, weaving together our history, our wine country, and our year round celebrations in a way that feels uniquely […]
IN 1985, when Sally Field received her “Best Actress” Academy Award statuette for the film Places in the Heart, she turned her tear-filled eyes to the Hollywood audience and said, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me!”
How could we not?
Field […]
Jacksonville, OR – Monday, April 27, 2026: This summer, Britt will host a special community event, Honoring Britt’s Founder: A Dedication and Picnic Celebration, recognizing the life and legacy of founder and longtime music director John Trudeau, whose vision helped establish Britt as a cultural cornerstone of Southern Oregon.
The celebratory evening will take place on […]
ODDS ARE GOOD that you saw Bryan Oliver play music in 2025. After all, if you add up solo performances, gigs with his “Bryan Oliver Trio” and the weekly open mic he hosts, Oliver played 127 times last year—none of which would’ve been possible, he says, […]
IT’S SPRING AGAIN … Mother’s Day, my birthday, baseball: the best time of year in my book. I will be celebrating all of those things with my son, who will be meeting me in San Francisco after completing his junior year in North Carolina. Mother’s Day at the ballpark with my […]
IN 2025, the Oregon Legislature passed Oregon House Bill 3940, a major funding measure designed to stabilize wildfire prevention, response, and recovery efforts statewide. For rural property owners in Southern Oregon, the bill has real implications.
While HB 3940 does not directly raise property tax rates, it changes how […]
RECENTLY we found ourselves intrigued by the title of a novel: Murder Your Employer. We’ve notably been employer-less for well over a decade, so we figured we could expose ourselves to this intriguing tale without developing the temptation to emulate it. Thus, we ordered a hard-copy from […]
JACKSONVILLE IS CELEBRATING May with a lineup of activities highlighting its charm, culture, and natural beauty. The month features events for Mother’s Day, local music & arts, romantic getaways, Oregon Wine Month, and expanded Wine Trolley and Historic Tours.
Jacksonville’s historic district comes alive with floral displays, outdoor dining, and family-friendly experiences. […]
I’LL BE HONEST. Most days I’m just trying to get dinner on the table, keep the kids somewhat on schedule, and maybe enjoy a glass of wine at the end of it.
I know what I like. I just don’t spend a lot of time thinking about “why.”
So, I […]
SPRING IN SOUTHERN OREGON is a magical season when longer, warmer days awaken the landscape. It is the perfect time to experience the region’s natural beauty and welcoming communities.
Drive Through Miles of Pear Blossoms—As orchards emerge from their winter dormancy, pear and peach trees transform the landscape into waves of […]
Jacksonville, OR – Friday, April 10, 2026: Britt is unveiling its last multi-show lineup announcement for the 2026 summer season, adding a fresh mix of rock legends, hip-hop favorites, and genre-blending artists. This latest wave of performances builds on an already dynamic season, while also inviting the community to kick things off with a beloved […]
LIVE MUSIC fills the air in Jacksonville six nights a week. For a small historic town with only a few thousand residents, the amount of music flowing through our streets is remarkable. From a hillside amphitheater that hosts internationally known artists to cozy wine bars, saloons, inns, […]
IN JACKSONVILLE, I’m always on the lookout for two things: a spot with bubbles at brunch and a place where I can grab a really good deli sandwich. So, I was pretty excited to discover Black Barn Kitchen & Deli at the Bigham Knoll campus. It checks both […]
“IT’S ALWAYS BEEN in my personality that I’m super entrepreneurial and motivated,” says Sharaya Summers. This is apparent to anyone who’s watched her bring life into the old wine shop at the Jacksonville Inn, but also to anyone who’s followed her path in music.
A sixth-generation native of the Rogue […]
THE STORY is familiar: an up-and-coming singer and songwriter wins a regional songwriting award, earns some studio time and is poised on the brink of success. But then life gets in the way—school, marriage and eventually kids. You blink and the opportunity passes and becomes a story from your […]
OREGON CONTINUES to face a housing shortage, and politicians are increasingly focused on policies that can help communities create more housing opportunities. One of the most recent efforts is HB 4035, passed during the 2026 legislative session. The measure modifies earlier housing legislation and expands tools available to […]
PERHAPS YOU SHOULD think of these columns as loosely-connected chapters of a slowly-emerging magnum opus.
In our previous installment, you may recall, we recommended that you stream the latest season of the Netflix series Bridgerton, a great high-society show that we’ve noted previously. We also nudged you toward […]
THE JACKSONVILLE CHAMBER of Commerce is proud to reflect on its recent accomplishments, community collaborations, and local event support, which have elevated Jacksonville as a premier destination in Southern Oregon. Record-breaking attendance at Holiday events, Lunar New Year Celebration and the Citywide Chili Cook-off showcased the community’s spirit and charm. The […]
AS THIS ISSUE of the Review goes to print, we’re only days away from our final Britt announcement of the 2026 season! I’m so excited about this year’s lineup. We’re bringing in tons of new bands in addition to some of our most beloved returning acts, representing a broad […]
Jacksonville, OR – Friday, March 13, 2026: Britt has announced another group of performances for the 2026 summer season, adding nine more nights of music and comedy to the hill, as well as announcing the date for its second annual Britt Under The Stars Fundraising Gala. This round brings together alt-rock icons, chart-topping country, […]
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 […]
A FEW YEARS AGO, singer-songwriter Adam Gabriel made a decision. Already well-known on the Rogue Valley circuit as a soulful singer whose vast catalogue of cover songs made him one of the most popular local options for live music, Gabriel decided that he’d come to a point in his […]
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. […]