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With the New Year comes the tradition of resolutions. We all resolve to continue good practices, change undesired traits or behaviors, accomplish personal goals or otherwise improve our lives. Some will set resolutions to improve physical, emotional, spiritual or financial wellbeing. Although I can’t help with the first […]
From all of us at Cutler Investment Group, Merry Christmas! In past December Jacksonville Review articles, we have taken this space to highlight some year-end housekeeping items that investors should be aware of. Tax-loss selling is at the top of that list, which is selling your stocks that […]
As I thought about writing this for the end of 2021, my mind wandered back to all that has happened during the last two years and what the future might bring. I have never been one to make New Year’s resolutions, but I have always […]
Have you ever felt as though you’re in a Twilight Zone episode?
Of course you have. Everybody feels that way these days—ever since early 2020, when we all woke to discover that our entire planet had fallen prey to a deadly viral pandemic. Suddenly everything we knew about our existence […]
On November 23, 1863, the newly ordained Father Francis Xavier Blanchet arrived in Jacksonville to take charge of the Catholic Church’s southernmost mission in Oregon. Fresh out of his Quebec seminary, he had been sent to the parish by his uncle, Francis Norbert Blanchet, Archbishop of “the Oregon Country.”
Following the […]
For many, the wreath is a symbol of eternity, an unending circle of life, growth, and everlasting life. Traditionally, we post wreaths on our front doors as an invitation to family and friends to join in our holiday festivities. This year, as in years past, SOHS Hanley Farm invites […]
It’s November and flu season is upon us! We’re fortunate that our annual flu shots help protect us against such virulent strains as the “Spanish Influenza” that beset the local populace during the winter of 1918-19. Jacksonville was not as hard hit as the rest of the Valley […]
Getting preapproved for a mortgage is an important first step in the process of buying a home, especially in a competitive real estate market like we are currently experiencing. It gives you an idea of how much you can borrow, which helps narrow down your search to houses […]
Back when TVs still wore rabbit ears, rumors spread about “pay television.” Folks chuckled, “Will we have to drop quarters into a box? Who’s gonna come around to pick up the coins?”
“Streaming” was something only salmon in the Pacific Northwest cared about.
Fast forward to the twenty-first century. The streaming bill […]
Call it an appetizer for a holiday gathering. Call it a side dish on your Thanksgiving table. Call it a game day lunch bite… I call it delicious! So easy and yet decadent with our local cheese celebrity stealing the show. How lucky are […]
Many were surprised to see the median price of a home in Jacksonville hit an all-time high of $630,000 for the third quarter, ending September 30. Not only is this a record, it exceeds the median home price of Ashland which have held the record for highest home prices […]
This month, I would like to share my column space with City Councilor, Ken Gregg, who has served on Council since 2015. Ken is known and respected as an active City Councilor. Ken has his finger on the pulse of what is happening in Jacksonville and always […]
Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is based on a simple musical theme, yet it has magic beyond words! It not only grabs the heart, but its message represents everything humanity should stand and fight for!
Did you feel the joy? There was so much to […]
MEDFORD, OR — The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) is excited to announce two new changes as it prepares for the 60th anniversary of the Britt Music & Arts Festival in 2022. Britt announces that a new General Manager of the BFO has been hired. And, the BFO is moving its storied and popular orchestral music […]
“We planned for the baby and the business, but we really did not plan for the pandemic.” Trevor and Jessie Driskell’s long held dream was to take over the Mustard Seed Café—to run their own business. On March 1, 2020, that dream came true. Soon after, the world changed. Jessie shares their story.
“It was bad […]
Musical America announced today that Teddy Abrams—the galvanizing conductor now in his eighth season as Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra—has been named Conductor of the Year for 2022. Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher congratulated […]
The holidays often evoke more stress than gratitude, and this year promises to be a bit “extra” with Covid fears and vaccine wars added to the usual familial fracas. I hope this classic—read with cocktail in hand—will help you brave the onslaught.
It’s November, time for Thanksgiving gatherings and the annual viewing […]
Despite pandemic and wildfires, the 2021 Britt Season comes to a successful close.
MEDFORD, OR — Overcoming multiple challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and several weeks of wildfire smoke in the region, the Britt Music & Arts Festival has completed an outstanding season filled with amazing music and artists. Britt thanks its patrons, members, business […]
We did it! Against all odds—COVID-19, smoke, fires, lower revenue, and staff shortages; Britt’s community came together and prevailed. From my perspective, the biggest payoff was seeing the joy of the performers getting back on stage and the audiences being there to experience it. To […]
Eighteen months ago, I began this column by saying, “Are you as tired of hearing and reading about this horrid virus as I am?”
Little did I imagine.
Here it is, another fall in masks; another season of uncertainty on multiple levels. I am beyond sick and tired of this horrid virus. But […]
Purchasing a home and going through the mortgage loan process can seem daunting, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. A home purchase is one of the biggest investments you will make, so it helps to know what is happening at each stage of the process, so you […]
With October and November upon us, I’m feeling hope and a sense of moving forward to a season of renewal.
Hopefully, we will see the last of wildfires and smoke. Hopefully too, children are back in school and happily occupied in academics, social development, sports and other extracurricular […]
Born August 1, 1830, in Netsall, Canton Glaurus, Switzerland, Kaspar Kubli, was the first of his Swiss family to immigrate to America. He laid a foundation upon which later generations built successes in politics, business, and ranching in Oregon.
Kubli, initially deemed by his family as a “prodigal son,” arrived in the […]
In cooperation with the Oregon Health Authority, the City of Jacksonville will facilitate a series of COVID-19 vaccine clinics at Jacksonville New City Hall, 206 N 5th Street, Second Floor Assembly Room (ADA Accessible). ANYONE MAY PARTICIPATE for a first or second vaccine. Your name and birth date are all that is required. […]
If this easy one pot dish could have a region to call it’s own, it would be the Rogue Valley. The flavors scream Autumn in Oregon and the presentation is just gorgeous… (and a tad quirky). I prefer this dish be made with dark meat (thighs and […]
Trade magazine Publisher’s Weekly reports that book sales are climbing for the second year. This news can be traced directly to the pandammit. Statistics show that people have remembered that nothing’s more comforting than a good book.
But with thousands of new books being published, how does one choose? We want […]
A few articles ago, we identified inflation as something to keep an eye on. And sure enough, inflation has been putting on a show! Housing prices in Jackson County were up almost 25% in the 12-months ending in last May. The median house price in Jacksonville is now over […]
For years, we have helped retirees find their perfect home in Jacksonville and surrounding areas. It’s very enjoyable seeing their excitement as we share with them all about our beautiful town and Southern Oregon. Most of them have come from out of state so there is lots of education […]
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 […]