May—definitely a busy month at Hanley Farm! Put Sunday, May 26, 1:00-3:00pm on your calendar for the first event in our Sundays at Hanley Farm summer series, “Growing and Propagating Heirloom Plants.” Learn from the experts—Chris Hardy, of Hardy Seeds, will speak about the importance of growing and saving heirloom, bioregionally-adapted seeds; Brad Smith of Feral Seeds discusses plant […]
The May “Sensational Seniors” article features Stan and Judie Lyon. Both native Californians, Stan was born in San Diego on April 15, 1939. Stan’s mother oversaw the home while his father had a long career as an electrician with Rohr Aircraft. Stan and his younger brother were especially […]
Whether you were a teenager in the 1960s, or born in 2001, Britt is the place to be this summer. Diverse, varied, and assorted, were all words used to describe the 2019 Britt Line-up at our April 11th Season Announcement Party, where our Britt family […]
Hi, my name is Tom Pickering – some call me ‘Tommy’ but I don’t like it. I live in Iowa City with my Mom and my Grandma and Grandpa Phend. My Mom says she’s going to get a divorce from my Dad, but she hasn’t […]
“When most people come in and start looking around they say, ‘“Oh, this reminds me of my grandmother’s house, or my mother used to have this,’” says Margaret Barnes, one of four partners of Pickety Place Antiques and Collectibles. I recently visited with her about this treasured Jacksonville fixture.
Pickety Place has been drawing treasure seekers […]
MEDFORD, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival has been notified that due to unforeseen circumstances the Alanis Morissette concert scheduled for Sunday, June 23, 2019 has been canceled.
Due to this change, Britt Members and Business Partners who have submitted ticket orders for this concert will be contacted to inform them of […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival has announced the remaining concert schedule for 2019 at its annual Music & Comedy Season Announcement Party on Thursday, April 11, unveiling 16 more concerts for the summer festival, with wide variety and big names. Highlights of the announcement include 90’s pop icon Alanis Morissette […]
We recently saw the movie Captain Marvel.
Hold that thought—we’ll get back to it in a minute. But first: a few words about “comic book superhero” history. It’s complicated. Convoluted. Confusing.
And you thought it was just kid stuff!
In the 1930s, “pulp magazines” (named for the cheap wood pulp paper they were […]
The Britt season goes on and on thanks to the 90 volunteers who show up on the Hill night after night. These volunteers are all members of the Britt Society, a separate non-profit organization with their own Board of Directors and 300 fantastic and active members. Recently two such […]
“Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” ~Joseph Campbell
Pop Quiz: A big rock drops in the middle of your life—illness, loss, divorce, financial trouble. Do you view it as:
or, B) An opportunity, a part of your path?
Your answer to this question is all […]
Attracting desirable birds to your landscape can be a simple and enjoyable job with spectacular results. There are several easy steps you can take to create an environment in your landscape plan where birds will frequent and gather.
The first consideration is planting specific trees, shrubs, ground covers and perennials that […]
An “antique” is an item of value that is at least 100 years old. A “collectible” is termed vintage to reflect the era or decade from which it comes.
With the insurgence of reproduced antique and vintage items flooding the area, it feels like the “real thing” is being ignored, pushed […]
Trees play an especially important role in enhancing our quality of life. They provide screening from structures, privacy, are an effective sound barrier and can limit noise pollution. Trees improve air quality by acting as natural air filters removing dust, smoke and fumes from the atmosphere by trapping […]
Oregon enacted the nation’s first statewide rent control measure on February 28th, 2019, handing a victory to those who say low-income people are squeezed by the housing crunch in many major US cities and believe rent control is the answer.
On the other hand, landlords and developers argued that rent […]
Why is it, the older one gets, the more difficult it is to remember recent events while the easier it is to remember something in the distant past? I guess this is true for almost everyone except maybe politicians who, when faced with questions about the present […]
This edition features longtime Jacksonville city official, Jim Lewis, whose dedication to service is a model for us all. Jim was born in Wray, Colorado on May 8, 1945; his father was a career Naval officer and a decorated World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran. Jim’s mother was […]
Southern Oregon Historical Society presents Hanley Farm’s annual Heritage Plant Sale on April 27 and 28, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Earlier this year, SOHS volunteers propagated starts from as many as 70 different varieties of plants from the farm—available for you to purchase and bring a bit of history […]
The Family Nurturing Center’s Farm and Food Program and the Southern Oregon Historical Society will co-host Sundays in Spring 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 7 and 14, and May 5 and 19 at historic Hanley Farm, 1053 Hanley Road, Central Point. Stroll the beautiful gardens, orchards, vineyards and producing fields at […]
Feeling safe and secure in and around your home is high on the priority list of most home owners. Fortunately, landscape lighting is effective in creating a safe and beautiful environment around your home.
A recent university study of incarcerated burglars confirmed that “a lack of hiding spots available on well-lit […]
The soil or ‘dirt’ in your landscape, lawn area and garden is the important fuel that supports a beautiful landscape. Plants thrive, grow and become healthy in soil that gives then the “food” they need. Great soil doesn’t just happen or appear in your yard, it’s created intentionally by either […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR — With its second season announcement for 2019, Britt Music & Arts Festival is adding a variety of popular music artists to the summer Music & Comedy line-up with several returning artists and a couple of new bands for the Britt audiences. The first concert from this set of concerts features Jim James, […]
Our Labrador Sunny is with pups. This was intentional but we’re not in the breeder business. We wanted another dog to keep Sunny company now that Mary is getting back on her feet and ready to spend more time in the retail shops. It’s been a long season and we’re all looking forward to seeing […]
Buttons have played a part in all of our lives since before we can even remember. One of the first dexterity tests we are given as small children is buttoning our own clothes, along with zipping our zippers and tying our shoes. Remember those cloth books we had […]
Instead of staying at a hotel, more and more travelers are staying in short-term vacation rentals they find through online rental services like Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, FlipKey, and many others. By far the main reason most people use short-term rental websites like Airbnb is to save money. It […]
A lot of outdoor enjoyment was lost last summer due to the smoke-filled skies in our valley, but what is noteworthy is how few homes have been destroyed by forest fires in Southern Oregon compared to the homes lost by fires in California. Every summer, we have many lightning-caused […]
This year, we are delighted to announce that The First Tuesday Pub Talks will continue and that Hanley Farm welcomes “Sundays in Spring,” hosted by the Family Nurturing Center’s Farm and Food Programs.
The Pub talks are free monthly historical talks sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society, and are held at 7:00pm on the first […]
“Aunty” Zany Ganung is a Jacksonville legend. According to that legend, Zany returned to Jacksonville in May of 1861 after an “all-nighter” nursing one of her physician husband Lewis’s patients. What did her weary eyes behold but the Confederate Palmetto flag hoisted on a California Street flagpole across the street from […]
There’s a popular book out by Gabrielle Bernstein titled, The Universe Has Your Back; I gotta say, it doesn’t always feel that way. There are times when things are definitely not going my way and the Universe just doesn’t seem to give a rip. But then, just when I’m about to […]
“Sometimes you just need different walls to look at,” Rosie Taylor reminded us. I had to agree. Rosie is the proud owner of The Miners’ Bazaar Project Café, Bar and Boutique in Jacksonville. I mean, a change of pace and scenery are why we take vacations, right? But what if you could indulge in a […]
Don and Lynn Reordan of Jacksonville Physical Therapy have helped people overcome a wide range of orthopedic issues in their office at 635 N. Fifth Street for over twenty years. Folks come to them suffering everything from headaches to back pain and leave feeling listened to, cared for and optimistic about their treatment options. I […]
The women seen dining here are members of the “Jacksonville Belles and Beaus Old West Society.” They celebrate history by donning costumes for almost any era dating back to the Civil War—but with an emphasis on the Victorian days. You’ve seen them in Jacksonville’s Christmas and Chinese New Year parades; at other times strolling sidewalks […]
“Jacksonville is such a delightful place to live. Good people come here to live and then do great things for our little town.” This was how my interview started with long-time Jacksonville resident, Lyn Boening, this month’s “Sensational Senior.” Like all Sensational Seniors, Lyn has an interesting life story to tell […]
Think classical music is old, stale or boring? Been there done that? Or never wanted to? Well come and see how exhilarating, relevant and FUN orchestral music can be for adults and children alike. The entire season beginning July 23 will highlight music inspired by our natural environment and […]
Our unfettered readers often ask, “How do the two of you write together?” Our stock answer is that one of us starts the piece, then gives it to the other, saying, “This is finished.” The other reads it, usually yelling, “This is terrible. It has to be rewritten from word […]
It’s that bleak and unremarkable time of year when February creeps in with little comfort from midwinter’s dreary hold. Just when we can’t stomach another washed-out month of winter, the Southern Oregon Chinese Cultural Association, or SOCCA, and the Chinese lunar calendar come to our rescue with the shake-up—the perfect anecdote for winter doldrums. It’s […]
Someone once told me no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Think about it. Successful politicians mastered the counterfeit of empathy by kissing babies and patiently listening to hard luck stories from potential voters but they can’t fake the real thing for […]
One of the joys of being your Mayor is introducing you to the wonderful people who make our city work—the fine, professional staff at City Hall. At City Hall, I’m glad to say, you’ll find people who actually care about helping you and I’m happy to introduce […]
Why did Britt change the announcement schedule and membership benefits? “For the times, they are a changin’.” ~Bob Dylan
As the year 2019 begins, it might help some people to be reminded about changes made in our announcement schedule last season—one that we plan to continue this year. In 2018, […]
For being so cold and bleak, February is a pretty darned happy month. There’s the lunar new year—with its joyful 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 groundhogs, then […]
February weather in Southern Oregon doesn’t always seem like spring but this is the time that many people start to think about the real estate market again; spring marks the beginning of the busiest home-selling and buying season. With warmer weather, more daylight, and the motivation to get […]
From the dawning of the locomotive age came the love of toy trains that followed. Children and adults alike fantasized about traveling down a narrow track to distant places and to experience unknown adventures. Generations of travelers with volumes of stories, and the longing that a train whistle evoked, were […]
As we look at the year-end housing numbers in Jackson County, they look very strong but they don’t necessarily tell the whole story. We ended 2018 by increasing the median price on existing home sales by approximately 6%, new home prices approximately 11%, rural home prices rose about 5% […]
2018 was a busy year for us with free guided tours of the SOHS Library Research Library archives which will continue in 2019. Every Saturday, enrich your Library visit with a tour of the archive, one of the largest archival repositories in the State of Oregon. Library hours are […]
Given the two-month time lapse since Part 1 of William Mason Colvig’s pioneer profile, let’s begin with a quick recap of the Judge Colvig story.
Born in Missouri in 1845, Colvig had crossed the plains to Oregon at age six. An ox-drawn covered wagon was his alma mater with his mother teaching […]
A year ago, we shared our feelings about streaming services: Didn’t have ‘em. Didn’t need ‘em. Get off our lawn, streamers!
Then we discovered that Discovery—the first new Star Trek series in a decade—could be accessed only on CBS All Access—via (horrors!) streaming. Thus, we yielded to the streamer that carries […]
MEDFORD, OR – Britt Music and Arts Festival is launching a new name and brand for its orchestra, the cornerstone of Britt’s summer seasons since 1963. The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) is now the official title of this unique ensemble, and with this new name comes an updated look and feel for the orchestra’s brand […]
I have recently acquired a small vintage collection of tiny glass boots, shoes and slippers in varying sizes and colors. While favor for collecting this tchotchke may be waning, it still intrigues. Many people collect them simply in honor of a relative who died, or they remember them from […]
Jacksonville got its start as a gold rush town; later settlers coming west on wagon trains found the Rogue Valley to be a desirable place to establish land claims and settle down as farmers and ranchers. Jacksonville was at one time the largest town in the Oregon […]
“A house divided cannot stand…” ~Abraham Lincoln
“How sad it is that we give up on people who are just like us.” ~Mr. Rogers, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” ~Martin Luther […]
‘Tis the season… a time for family and friends to gather around the Christmas table or the Christmas tree… a time for love and good will to all. Winston Churchill described Christmas “as a season not only of rejoicing, but of reflection.” In Jacksonville, we reflect […]