ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S recent debut of “Icon of the Seas” —the biggest ship in the world—inspired me to write about one of my favorite topics this month: cruising!
As many of you may know, a cruise can be an amazing vacation option, offering many benefits that cater to both seasoned travelers and […]
IF YOU’RE LOOKING to talk with someone about concerns in your life, it can be hard to know what to look for. The options are daunting. Should you find a counselor? Coach? Psychologist? All those letters after the names are like alphabet soup. What do they even mean?
Let’s break this down […]
SELLER FINANCING can be a useful tool when mortgage loans are difficult to qualify for or when interest rates are high. This alternative type of loan may help sellers move their home faster and get a considerable return. Buyers can benefit with typically less rigid qualifying requirements, sometimes […]
SPRING IS IN THE AIR, and this is a time when investors often say “Should I sell in May and go away?” There are always concerns bubbling to the surface for investors, but ultimately staying committed to your investment strategy has generally proven to be the most prudent strategy. […]
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 […]
IT’S A SPRING SYMPHONY in the woodlands surrounding Jacksonville. The string section—Douglas firs, Ponderosa Pines, flowering big leaf maples, and the majestic madrones—swells around us with a fresh wash of greenery. Oregon grapes, hazelnuts, wild roses, snowberry sword ferns, miner’s lettuce, and white flowering buck brush comprise the lush […]
April welcomes back the much-anticipated arrival of spring and delivers vibrancy of color and possibility. Artist and Gardener, on the corner of Main and 3rd Street similarly welcomes all seasons and visitors with a delightful display of colorful local art, a wide range of tastefully-curated gifts and an absolutely lovely hidden […]
Monday, April 8, 2024, JACKSONVILLE, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce the next slate of 12 Britt Presents shows for the 2024 summer season. With more announcements to come, this group of shows features a wide array […]
This handy make-ahead recipe works as a delicious brunch item or if you’re looking for an easy supper, you can simply add some shredded chicken to the party. This is even more scrumptious if you put it together the day before you bake it. For all of […]
JUST ABOUT ANYONE will tell you that there is not enough housing in Oregon, which drives up the price of everything. Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek has said addressing that problem is a big priority for her, and now, the Oregon Legislature is delivering.
In January 2023, Governor Kotek issued […]
I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT the era of last-minute travel deals as a cost-effective option is pretty much over. In today’s travel landscape, booking in advance is a smarter strategy to grab better deals and ensure you get the vacation you really want.
Whether planning a cruise, booking a hotel, […]
AS YOU THINK ABOUT planning your retirement expenses, Medicare plays an essential role. This US government healthcare plan, established in 1965, serves as the insurance plan for over 65 million Americans. Medicare can be very confusing, with significant penalties for missed deadlines. For those who have not yet signed […]
THE HISTORIC TOWN OF JACKSONVILLE has become the undisputed leader of the Music Scene in Southern Oregon. This tiny town established the birth of the Southern Oregon music scene with the Britt Festival, but today, live music can be heard in establishments all over town and at the wineries and […]
“APRIL IS THE CRUELEST MONTH,” T.S. Elliot wrote in The Waste Land. He was right, at least about the month’s first day, abused as “April Fool’s Day.” We’re not big fans of the all-too-common practice of jokers attempting to draw attention to themselves by playing foolish pranks upon any and […]
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 […]
BRITT IS ONLY DAYS AWAY from its final announcements and presale. I love this time of year—not least because I can finally stop keeping the amazing secrets of our lineup! The work that happens behind the scenes to book a Britt season starts around a year in advance, so […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce the next slate of six Britt Presents shows for the 2024 summer season. While there are more announcements to come, this group of shows features a wide array of musical artists, including first-time-to-Britt country artists Chris Young and Randy Houser, Jamaican reggae […]
Jacksonville has so much to celebrate and so many wonderful individuals to honor during Women’s History Month.
Historically, small towns are defined by the culture of their Main Street. Jacksonville’s California Street is so much more than the center of our historic landmark town. It is so much more than our visual […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR — The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2024 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 13 – 29, 2024. Under the leadership of Artistic Advisor Peter Bay and Guest Conductor Alexandra Arrieche, the Orchestra’s 62nd season highlights film music alongside beloved classical favorites. The season features […]
CARTOONIST DAVID SIPRESS NAILED IT with his recent illustration in the The New Yorker, titled “Two Baby Boomers Watch the Grammys.”
Two old geezers (Hey, that’s us!) sit on a sofa in front of their telly, watching the festivities. The individual thought bubbles above their heads read, “Who?” “Who?” “Who?” And […]
I was chatting with a friend in my shop recently about Easter dinner ideas and he mentioned lamb and how intimidating it is to prepare. Huh? It is? I’m here to tell you there is nothing easier or more elegant than a gorgeous rack of lamb. And […]
WHETHER YOU’RE THINKING OF SELLING in the next six months or a few years down the road, remodeling with return on your investment in mind is a smart financial move. Few investments recoup more than 100% of their cost, but collectively, there are several inexpensive home improvements that […]
2023 IS NOW BEHIND US and what a year it was. Jackson County saw the lowest number of homes sold since 2014. Will 2024 be different? Will home sales continue to drop, or will 2024 be the beginning of the Real Estate Recovery?
Jackson County saw a total of 2,650 […]
IF THERE IS ONE THING that keeps our clients up at night, it is the question, “What will my health care costs be in retirement?” Of course, the answer to this question depends on the health and longevity of each individual client, but we can use actuarial estimates to […]
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 […]
MARCH IS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH! This year, the Britt Festival Orchestra is proud to present several extraordinary women on our stage. I’m grateful to live in a time and place when orchestras are finally taking note of the many women who have performed and created extraordinary works for orchestra. […]
AS A RESTAURANT OWNER, I have the privilege of conversing with several individuals, including married couples. My other business, Elsewhere Travel, often comes up in these discussions, leading to a topic that I find quite interesting—the differing travel preferences between spouses.
In my conversations, I have noticed […]
ARE YOU FEELING THE WINTER BLUES and craving a warm getaway? Luckily, there are plenty of destinations you can visit that are just a flight or two from the Rogue Valley that offer sunshine, warmth, and a chance to relax. Here are some of my top […]
One thing that does not change with the seasons in our historic landmark town is access to truly great live music. The Rogue Valley is blessed with an abundant natural resource of exceptionally-talented musicians.
The charm of seeing these artists here in Jacksonville is the intimacy of the shows and the range […]
WINTER IS THE TIME TO ENJOY skiing on snow-covered mountains, ice fishing on frozen alpine lakes, fly fishing on rushing rivers, storm watching on the wild coastline or sipping wine by a warm fireplace. Southern Oregon provides winter activities for everyone and here are some of our favorites.
Skiing—With majestic views […]
UPDATED WITH SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 02/15/24—please see link below.
THE SOUTHERN OREGON CHINESE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (SOCCA), with openhanded support from sponsors, is once again blowing a refreshing breath of early spring our way. The Chinese New Year celebration in February has been conspicuously absent for the past few years. Now, the event […]
Egg Foo Young has been a popular item on Chinese menus in America since the mid-1800’s yet some have argued that it’s really not a Chinese creation at all. Well, that’s just crazy talk because history tells us otherwise and our little town of Jacksonville might have […]
WHEN WE HEARD that actor/writer/director Bradley Cooper was planning a bio-pic about Leonard Bernstein, we were stoked. Bernstein stands as perhaps America’s greatest conductor/composer, listed historically and globally among icons such as Mozart and Beethoven. As for Cooper, we praised his abilities in this column in 2018, for his work […]
FOR BEING SO COLD AND BLEAK, February is a pretty darned happy month. There’s the lunar new year with its celebration of new beginnings and opportunities for success, and Valentine’s Day, stirring thoughts of the heart (it also stirs groundhogs, but I’d like to focus on the heart; if you love […]
OREGON’S WORK TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CONCERNS has been in progress for over a decade, starting with the establishment of greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by the legislature in 2007. In the State of Oregon, the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions is from transportation. To help reduce greenhouse […]
AS WE BEGIN A NEW YEAR, we can’t help but ask if 2024 will be the year that everything finally feels “normal” for investors. Stocks and bonds have been trying to escape the shadow of the pandemic, but lingering inflation has been a reminder of the lasting impacts of […]
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 […]
IT’S FEBRUARY! The days are getting longer, and there’s plenty of news to share from the Britt hill.
You might have noticed that we’ve been announcing shows in a different way this year. After talking with plenty of you about the desire to organize […]
MEDFORD, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival announces that its 2024 Britt Festival Orchestra season will be led by a pair of guest conductors: Peter Bay and Alexandra Arrieche.
Following the departure of Teddy Abrams, and prior to launching its search for the Britt Festival Orchestra’s next conductor, the Britt Festival Orchestra will […]
When CrossFit became an aggravation for Jerry Greer, at age 83, he jumped back in the pool for his fitness routine. He’d been an active swimmer in high school and during his time in the Marine Corps. Today, he’s in the pool five days a week, and swims 1500 yards.
Around the pool deck at Superior […]
In 2015, Jacksonville resident Linda Otto founded a nonprofit to support new mothers who had no extended family members living nearby. Since then, the Grandmas2Go Family Coaches program has served hundreds of families in Southern Oregon with loving care from a volunteer grandma! By connecting the generations, this program has […]
It’s time to embrace the joy of the season and celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way as only historic Jacksonville can—with Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas Celebration!
This annual, highly-anticipated event is thanks to much hard work by dedicated individuals who make Victorian Christmas not only possible, but enjoyable for all! Volunteers and chamber members work like elves […]
Easy Recipes from the Pot Rack – Dec 2023/Jan 2024
If you’re the kind of host who likes to serve your guests something special but you don’t have the time required to spend hours in the kitchen, this fabulous, easy dessert is for you! It looks stunning but doesn’t require a pastry chefs degree. And the […]
News from Britt Hill – Dec 2023/Jan 2024
I can’t believe it’s the holiday season already! Wasn’t it just summer on the Britt hill? Yet here we are in the season of gratitude, giving, and—if your traditions are anything like mine—eating.
There’s so much on my list to be grateful for: this extraordinary community, our beautiful venue, […]
Jacksonville has seen many changes since the pandemic and we’re about to see more. While other cities have emerged from the pandemic weaker, with the loss of residents, retailers and restaurants, Jacksonville has emerged intact, stronger, and more desirable to both locals and tourists alike. Jacksonville is changing […]
Winter is arrived, wrapping us in deepest darkness. The sun sits suspended on an invisible threshold, its solstice marking both an end and a beginning, a tipping point. The power, the crisis of this moment, was keenly felt by our ancestors. The myths and ritual celebrations surrounding the return of […]
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 […]
We have good news and bad news. Or, more accurately, good news and sad news.
We’re wildly happy that Jacksonville is home to the Britt Music and Arts Festival, and felt thrilled throughout the recent season as Executive Director Abby McKee handily demonstrated her prowess at the helm. Yet there’s […]
By now, everyone knows that the demand for housing has been in a slump as homebuyers wait, hoping the market will become more affordable. Home prices are still near all-time highs, and recently the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit a 23-year high. Despite this, there are […]
Taxes are something that are always on investor’s minds. With record-high fiscal deficits and the “sunsetting” of the Trump tax cuts after 2025, a lot of people have raised concerns that their future tax rates will be going up. Last month we tackled the subject of gifting and […]
