2021 has been a special year for the Southern Oregon Historical Society! In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we’ve held several public events, including last month’s dinner at EdenVale Winery. Thank you for celebrating with us, and special thanks to EdenVale Winery, Travel Medford, First Interstate Bank, Rogue Valley […]
A pair of treasured, historic Jacksonville inns are now welcoming guests with new owners. The McCully House and the (Judge) Touvelle House are open for business, and everyone’s working behind the scenes to pamper and impress weary travelers. I dropped in recently to discover how they arrived at this momentous juncture and hear their plans.
The […]
MEDFORD, OR — The Britt Music and Arts Festival’s Board of Directors is announcing the planned retirement of Donna Briggs, President and CEO of Britt Music and Arts Festival, effective December 31, 2021. Briggs informed the Board leadership of her intentions to retire earlier this year.
Former Board Chair, Mike Burrill Jr., stated that “Briggs started […]
Local columnist and features writer, Peggy Dover, is pleased to announce the release of her novel titled Stone Revival, set in post-WWII England.
All aboard for a visit to the rail village of Rakefoot Crossing, a most unlikely location for espionage, kidnapping, and deception.
Glory Stone is content with her life as a country vet’s wife and […]
This is a story about surrender.
In the spring of 2002, I was a newly re-married, very happy doctoral student halfway through the Depth Psychology program at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Once a month I would travel from San Francisco for a long weekend of in-person classes. A Ph.D. was a long-time dream […]
On June 23, the Governor signed Senate Bill 391 into law. SB 391 allows an owner of a parcel at least two acres in size in an area zoned rural residential to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on that parcel, provided there is already a single-family dwelling […]
For over 50 years the name Helms was synonymous with the Table Rock Billiard Saloon, first that of Herman Helms, then that of his son Ed. However, when a 24-year-old Johann Herman von Helms arrived in Jacksonville in 1856, three years after immigrating from Holstein, Germany, it was not the Table […]
Summer has passed so quickly, especially at Hanley Farm where we held several “firsts” at the farm, including “Summer Thursdays.” Other programs included Shakespeare Garden tours, a mini-Heritage Plant Sale, a Hanley Fashion Show, Family Heritage Fairs, a Siskiyou Violins concert, Ice Cream Socials, a Crafts Fair, and more.
UPDATE […]
I recently took a continuing education class all about Going Green, something I didn’t know much about, so I was surprised by what I learned and how much each of us can impact our environment. It was a great class with information worth sharing.
It’s surprising that focus on our […]
This month, I would like to give you some information on a program available for historic structures in Jacksonville that is currently in process. Many of you may be unaware of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), which is under the aegis of the Historic Architectural Review Commission […]
A friendly black Lab named Jo, short for Jolene, greeted me as the office ambassador. I’d come to chat with Dr. Tami Rogers of Jacksonville Veterinary Hospital, and learn something about the woman behind the practice. Jo is her fur baby.
I wondered if Dr. Rogers had been one of those kids who rescued birds or […]
This past month, I completed a “bucket list” item—climbing Mt. Rainier. It took months of training, and all 14,411 feet were challenging, but it was also immensely rewarding. And at times terrifying. There were also a few lessons for a financial advisor along the way!
The final day began with […]
It began at the beginning. Literally.
You’re aware that John Wayne was born Marion Morrison, right? And that Marilyn Monroe’s birth name was Norma Jeane Mortenson until she changed it to Baker until she changed it again. Changing names has been movie star practice for so long that we’re not surprised […]
It’s been an incredible summer so far with two amazing Britt Festival Orchestra experiences—the world premiere of Brush: Music in the Woodlands and Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK. We’ve also “Come Together” for seven concerts in our Britt Presents series so far. It’s hard to believe kids are already back in […]
“It’s been a great experience.” Lorraine Akin welcomed me inside and began sharing about her great little fashion boutique, Jacksonville Company, located at 155 California Street. As the third woman owner, Lorraine assumed ownership of Jacksonville Company in 1998. Long-time residents may recall it as Jacksonville Shoes. “It’s evolved over the years,” Lorraine said. “Originally […]
Raising chickens in urban areas has become a popular pastime for many families. Some people want to produce eggs or meat to save money, live more sustainably, or simply know where their food comes from; others like to keep “fancy” or special breeds of chickens. Some people have […]
One of the more impressive monuments in Jacksonville’s Pioneer Cemetery—a towering obelisk engraved with Masonic ruler and compass, Odd Fellows linked circles, and a hand pointing upwards to indicate a heavenly reward—is that of John (Johannes) Bilger. Carved from imported Italian marble, the monument and surrounding masonry work shouts “success!” Indeed, […]
We’re excited to announce that acoustic guitarist and solo vocalist Nick Garrett-Powell will perform at Hanley Farm’s August “Picnic at the Porch” concert, delighting us with a collection of acoustic music and extraordinary vocals. Bring a picnic, find a nice spot under the trees or on the lawns, and […]
A Few Minutes with the Mayor – August 2021
I hope you’re having a wonderful summer and enjoying the freedom of Oregon being open after the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s an update on what’s happening in Jacksonville and what your City Council has been up to.
Budget—At the June 1, City Council meeting, your Council approved resolution R2021-002—Adopting […]
Last year, U.S. home sales and prices soared at their fastest pace in 14 years. On a local level, we’ve seen unprecedented demand and low inventory and soaring prices. Over the last 12 months, Jackson County existing home prices increased by almost 27% and Josephine County saw prices jump […]
We watched a movie at a theater for the first time in eighteen months.
Really.
And yes, it felt like a big deal, because post-vaccinations, with the pandammit looking a little less fearsome, we felt an itch to go where we didn’t have to pop our own corn. Hollywood, finally, was releasing […]
Nothing beats the adrenaline and the exhilaration of sitting on our beautiful hill, enjoying an amazing live performance. Or the rush of discovery that comes with witnessing the birth of a newcomer who you know will become a massive star—like Brandi Carlile before she made it big. Spanning eras […]
Pop Quiz: Do you have a tendency to any of the following?
If you answered none of the above, you are either A) not being very honest with yourself, or B) you are a highly evolved being who has come to this planet […]
JULY, 14, 2021, MEDFORD, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival invites everyone to “Come Together” for more concerts during the 2021 Britt Presents season, offering more musical variety and a comedy act. This is the final announcement for the 2021 Britt Presents season, bringing the total number of concerts to 17. The announcement introduces […]
There is a mantra I saw written on a whiteboard in a yoga class one day which changed my life. It really did. It’s so simple and so important that I adopted it as one of my Core Principles for Living; it’s that big. Are you ready?
AWARENESS + NON-JUDGMENT = TRANSFORMATION
I […]
Walking through our sweet town of Jacksonville, there was a cute little cottage that caught my eye. After many months of discussion with the owner, my husband and I decided to take the plunge and start our own business. We purchased that cottage property, and as of writing […]
Southern Oregon, as well as most of the nation, is experiencing record high home sales which is causing record-low inventory and record-high prices. One would think that all properties on the market are faring well, but it always goes back to supply and demand—and not all properties are in […]
Inflation is on everyone’s mind these days. Looking at Google Trends data, May searches for “Inflation” reached the highest level since Google began tracking, nearly double the number of searches as recently as last fall. Should investors be scared of inflation? What should we be doing to position portfolios […]
After a non-existent 2020 season, due to COVID-19, Britt Music and Arts Festival has worked hard to provide programs for 2021. Recently your Mayor, City Administrator and staff, City Planner, and City Fire Chief, along with Britt President and CEO, Donna Briggs, met for a pre-season conference […]
Hanley Farm welcomes Nick Garrett-Powell’s return at the summer’s first “Cars Under the Stars Drive-In Concert,”on July 1, 6:30-8:30pm (gates open at 5:45pm). A celebrated local acoustic guitarist and soloist, Nick’s music ranges from classics to contemporary. Tickets are $55/per car and includes two glasses of wine and unlimited […]
Did you know that Jacksonville was the first West Coast group of buildings added to the National Historic Register? In 1967 it was one of eight initial towns designated as a National Historic Landmark City by the U.S. National Park Service. Over 100 historic structures were identified as comprising Jacksonville’s National […]
Something’s in the air. Something soothing, as opposed to the scary silence that’s surrounded us for far too long.
Voices can be heard on the street, unmuffled by masks. We hear hellos. Hellos from friends we haven’t seen in a while. Hellos from friends we’re meeting for the first time.
We may […]
By the time this issue of the Jacksonville Review hits the stands, the state of Oregon will have reached the 70% vaccine benchmark. This is great news for our state’s economy and cultural wellbeing. It’s time to celebrate!
This year, our philosophy has been to focus on ways the BFO […]
June 25, 2021 – The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO), under the leadership of the festival’s Music Director, Teddy Abrams, is announcing three unique musical experiences for its 2021 season.
It begins with a virtual installation art piece titled Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK that will be accessible through a smartphone app from July 1 through October 15. Then, […]
The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) will present the world premiere of an experiential new work by the multi-faceted, Pulitzer Prize-winning musician and composer, Caroline Shaw. Under the leadership of the festival’s Music Director, Teddy Abrams, the BFO will perform this special project on the Jacksonville Woodlands Trail system in six free performances from July 30 […]
MEDFORD, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce its first set of concerts for the 2021 Britt Presents season. In the first of two announcements, Britt invites music lovers to “Come Together” and enjoy a wide variety of musical […]
MEDFORD, OR — ATTENTION: Do not purchase your Britt Music & Arts Festival tickets anywhere except at brittfest.org. Britt is seeing more ticket scams than ever this year. Don’t get scammed.
Only go to: https://brittfest.org/performances
Many ticket resellers such as StubHub, Seat Geeks, and Tickets-Center offer Britt tickets at inflated prices. Purchase your […]
Almost any time of day you will see people hanging out on the deck or waiting in the drive through lane at Pony Espresso Café. Located on N. Fifth Street, the Pony is a mainstay of Jacksonville. Founded in 1995 and bought by Chris and Kadie Boivin in 1998, Pony […]
As real estate inventory has declined and buyer demand increased, multiple offers have become common—we are in a seller’s market. This means there are more buyers than homes available for sale. As a buyer, it can be harder to get your offer accepted, even if you write a […]
According to the National Association of Realtors, the average homeowner stays in their home for about 10 years before selling. Do you think this sounds short? Or maybe too long? Well, there are lots of reason homeowners sell, but here are the top 10 reasons:
Dogecoin (pronounced dowzh·koyn) traded at $.0054 on January 1st. By May, the price has reached over $.70- or over 12,000% higher! “Crypto-currency” has become the cocktail party (remember those!) conversation of the day. But, caveat emptor, this month’s article is a brief history of financial bubbles.
Bubbles have typically been […]
Recently, fully vaccinated, my husband and I flew to our southern states and then drove home to Oregon from Jacksonville, Florida. We took care of some family obligations and visited old, familiar haunts and some new places along the way. I found myself comparing every place we […]
Our March Pioneer Profile focused on “Hired Girls,” described by Helen Colvig Cook as an institution of the “by-gone era” when she was growing up in Jacksonville’s Colvig household in the late 1800s. In a letter written in 1959 she noted that hired girls “could not possibly be put in the […]
This summer, SOHS Hanley Farm is a place to gather in the evenings to enjoy new and novel events. The fun begins June 3 with the first “Summer Thursday” picnic, where friends and families can share a meal with their loved ones on the grounds while enjoying the peace […]
Sixty-three years ago, a vocal group called Danny and the Juniors wailed the lyrics, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Here To Stay” into a vinyl creed. Preachers and teachers and parents alike pooh-poohed the beat and the lyrics, but to the kids they were pure gospel.
Then Elvis was drafted, Jerry Lee […]
Authenticity is one of my deepest values. I strive to live authentically and I encourage and support my clients to do the same. For me, living authentically means being your true self: not some idea of who you are, or who other people think you are or “should” be. It means […]
If you are currently in the real estate market, you already know it’s a seller’s market with little inventory and a lot of competition for homes. Therefore, when I came across this blog post on the National Association of Realtor (NAR) website by research economist Scholastica Cororaton about […]
When I started in real estate in 2004, my office was on the corner of 5th and California streets. One day I stepped outside to take a call and noticed something I had never seen before. Over the white picket fence was a house nestled amongst the trees and […]
This month, I would like to provide a short recap of my first three months serving as Mayor. I thought I was as prepared as possible to serve as Mayor, after six plus years on the HARC, three years on Budget Committee and 2 years as a […]
As you can imagine, everywhere Britt’s staff and Board leadership go, our friends and neighbors want to know what our plans are for 2021. The most urgent question is always the same: “Are we going to have a season?” We wish the answer was a simple “yes” or “no.” […]