Retaining walls offer stunning aesthetics and down-to-earth benefits by beautifying your home, helping with erosion control and water drainage, and providing privacy to outdoor living areas. Retaining walls also increase the value of your home, which is a great return on your investment.
If you are planning to construct a retaining […]
Most people don’t know what a Reverse Mortgage (RM) is, and because they are a relatively-new financial mechanism for seniors in the United States, there is a lack of understanding. The reality is that RM’s may be an answer to one of the biggest economic problems facing the United […]
The idea crossed my mind the other day that many who read this column haven’t met many of the dedicated people responsible for making our City work as well as it does. And dedicated is the word. I realize this sentiment runs counter to much of what […]
Cornelius C. Beekman was arguably the wealthiest and most prominent of the pioneers who settled Jacksonville. Although most closely associated today with banking and the bank that bears his name, banking was only one of his many enterprises.
Early in his career, after saving $3,000, Beekman looked for other investment opportunities. On […]
What better way is there to spend a lovely August evening than a concert on the lawn at Hanley Farm?! This affordable, family-friendly event has all the components of a perfect summer evening: farm-fresh food from the Farm Kitchen, local craft brews on-tap, live music, horseshoes, badminton, and plenty […]
Reluctant to step outside without a straw hat, sunscreen and a handheld, battery-powered portable fan? Yeah, us too.
We’re not the first to despair over the hot sun in the summertime. In 1933, Songwriter Irving Berlin composed “We’re having a heat wave.” Ethyl Merman sang the song in the film Alexander’s […]
By the time you read this News from the Hill the Britt Orchestra will have already arrived here in beautiful southern Oregon. As you can imagine, our Music Director Teddy Abrams has been working tirelessly over the past several months to make his vision a reality. The first rehearsal […]
“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” ~Chinese Proverb
Our busy lives are full of tension and stressful events. Some are fun, while others are more challenging. Though the situations and emotions can cause us to feel stressed, they are not necessarily the cause of stress in and of themselves. […]
I know a guy—I bet you know him too—whom I’ll call Billy Bob. Billy’s story, repeated ad naseum, goes something like this: “My parents were awful. They didn’t love me the way I needed them to. My troubles are a direct result of their lousy parenting. I’m hurt and angry and […]
It is interesting how we memorialize the end of things. What is it about the last day or last goodbye or last play of the game that gets our attention? Could it be because we innately understand everything in life has an expiration date so the passing of even […]
In 2015, PYREX turned 100 years-old.
Like many innovations and excellent ideas, it’s invention was a fluke.
Chemists at Corning Glass Works, in Corning New York, were working to develop heat-resistant glass that could stand-up to extreme temperature changes for […]
Last month, I wrote about various ways colors can be lightened and darkened and how they relate to each other on the color wheel, invented by Isaac Newton. This month, let’s talk about how colors affect the way we feel in various rooms.
From wall fountains to basin fountains, water features can be stylish and low maintenance, allowing you to create a serene oasis outside your door. Water fountains improve aesthetics, add home value and curb appeal, and establish a sense of balance and harmony in your landscape.
Home prices are rising as our economy continues to improve; retirees are retiring in droves and millennials are moving-out of their parents’ basements and into the housing market. Housing demand is strong and the inventory of homes is low—so home prices are being driven-up. So how do you figure-out […]
A while ago I wrote a column in which I rhapsodized over the construction of the historic Courthouse soon to become Jacksonville’s City Hall. Built in 1883, it is an example of superb hand-craftsmanship. Using only natural materials of the day, it was built […]
Cornelius C. Beekman was arguably the wealthiest and most prominent of the pioneers who settled Jacksonville in the mid-1800s. From humble beginnings as a carpenter and express rider, he built a business empire of banking, mining, and real estate interests.
Like many young men, Beekman was lured west by the promise of […]
Beginning a new partnership between the Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Cascade Civil War Society, we are excited to offer Living History Days on July 11 & 12 from 11am-4pm. This family-friendly event features costumed interpreters across the farm with hands-on activities for all ages and a civil […]
The Britt Classical Festival is about to begin. And we’re ecstatic!
Once again, one hundred-plus of the world’s finest musicians will take time from their tuneful day jobs to join us here in Jacksonville. We’ll welcome them into our homes and they’ll join us at our bistros and bars. But that’s […]
We are happy and excited to welcome concert goers to the 53rd season of Britt’s Classical Festival. As Jacksonville Review readers know, this year’s Classical Festival reflects a shift to bolder and more diverse programming. Teddy Abrams has put together an unparalleled roster of guest musicians and an outstanding […]
“I judge that the flowers of Lavender quilted in a cap and worn are good for all diseases of the head…and that they comfort the brain very well.” ~ William Turner, New Herball, 1551
Many of the students I teach at Rogue Community College tell me they hope to use their […]
With two successful events under our belt that kicked-off the season, summer is now in full-swing at Hanley Farm. The annual Heritage Plant & Garden Fair and Children’s Heritage Fair seem to improve each year, with more community support than ever. We hope you had the opportunity to enjoy […]
I love this expression. I have to admit I have a penchant for those expressions in my mother tongue, French. This one touches on a subject close to my heart: Joy. Reconnecting people with their inner joy is my passion and my life’s work.
Besides making your life more enjoyable, Joy is […]
Mary recently suggested I update the profile photo on this column. I asked her why and she said the image didn’t really look like me anymore. I’m trying not to read too much into that but image and perception are primarily manipulated by what we see and therefore believe. […]
In the time of your life, live — so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. ~William Saroyan
“Time sure does fly, doesn’t it?”
That’s what the vet said as he was preparing to help end the suffering of […]
I hate to tell you, but your ’80s clothes are now considered “vintage.”
I have not yet heard a word to describe the ’80s clothes as a genre. The ’70s boasted retro hippies left-over from the ’60s, stylish Hip-looking funky bellbottomed professionals letting their hair get longer; […]
Spring and summer seasons bring many warm, bright and vivid colors to the clothes we wear and the landscape we enjoy seeing. So why not bring it into our homes, as well?
“Pantone” publishes a “color of the year” and this year it is […]
“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.” ~ May Sarton, Plant Dreaming Deep, 1968
I agree that patience is becoming a lost art in our hectic, fast-food, fast-everything lives where […]
DIY landscaping projects can be a great way to work outside, gain new skills and increase your home’s value. However, there may be some outdoor projects that are too overwhelming or challenging for the average homeowner.
When considering an extensive landscape project, budget is always a primary concern. The thought of […]
Zillow is currently the most popular online real estate site, with 75 million unique visitors a month. Along with active listings of properties for sale, it also provides information on houses that are not on the market. You can enter the address or general location […]
Well… it seems as if your Mayor has finally done it. I broke a rule every Boy Scout was taught since the first one earned that title in 1910. Even my grade school teachers did their best to make me understand… in any endeavor, in any undertaking, […]
Cornelius C. Beekman was arguably the wealthiest and most prominent of the pioneers who settled Jacksonville in the mid-1800s. From relatively humble beginnings as a carpenter and express rider, he built a business empire of banking, mining, and real estate interests.
He was also a public servant. Beekman was repeatedly elected to […]
08/08/08.
That’s the date we arrived in Jacksonville. Not being numerologists, we had no idea of how auspicious a day it would prove to be. Our new house, located near the top of a (steep) hill, offered a great view. Our dogs approved of the yard. The neighbors, even after learning […]
This is always an exciting month at Britt, as the anticipation for the summer concert season gives way to great music on the Hill. It’s also a time of several other celebrations and special events.
First off, as you can see on the cover of the June Jacksonville Review, we […]
The Britt ACE (Arts Career Exploration) program is presenting a concert by the Portland Cello Project in the Britt Performance Garden on June 4th, 2015 from 8 to 10 p.m. The concert is a culmination of knowledge through a year of study by the ACE participants, who consist of Medford students from both North and […]
Recently, I helped a client identify and clear old emotional issues that kept sabotaging his opportunities for success. “I thought I let that go!” he told me in frustration.
Painful emotions can make us want to shut down and engage in behaviors such as eating, drinking, shopping or overwork. These are just […]
When I was a new mother, utterly and blissfully over the moon for my baby, I thought I would never feel anything less than that all-consuming, perfect love. It simply wasn’t possible.
Fast-forward twelve years to the Japanese Gardens in Portland, where a little family foray, meticulously planned by moi, precipitated a […]
Our house had just burned down. A few weeks later my wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, not the best of times. I mention this only because it was during this season Mikie walked into my life. It’s always when we’re the most distracted by our own issues that […]
With the coming of Spring, so comes the fun of hosting a Tea Party.
The English in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I made a fine art of tea time. Fine tea from China and India was a staple of English life, as The East India Company had trade routes through […]
Outdoor kitchens are a great way to expand your overall living space. Outdoor cooking and entertaining can provide you with a summer “vacation” feel in your own backyard, and as a bonus, well-planned outdoor kitchens enable you to cook outside year-round!
Creating your outdoor […]
In the first quarter of 2015, the median price of a home in the city of Jacksonville increased 41.1% over the same period in 2014, with the median price of a home selling for $398,500. Jacksonville has now passed Ashland with the honor of having […]
At the risk of sounding like a disgruntled stage actor upset with his Wednesday afternoon matinee audience, I feel the need to share my thoughts about citizen attendance at our City Council meetings. Where, oh where are most of you? My one desire is to see more […]
May kicks-off the event season at Hanley Farm with two annual favorites, the Heritage Plant & Garden Fair and the Children’s Heritage Fair.
Mark your calendar for Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, from 10:00am-3:00pm, for the Hanley Heritage Plant & Garden Fair. There will be a wide […]
Jacksonville’s lovely 1892 Queen Anne-style home on North Oregon Street is best known as the “Nunan House,” named after its original occupants, Jeremiah and Delia Nunan (profiled in the March 2015 issue of the Jacksonville Review). But to Herbert Howland Sargent and Alice Applegate Sargent, its second owners, the house was […]
You probably heard a while back that Weird Al Yankovic will be coming to J’Ville’s Britt hill. Yup, on September 2 that freaky accordion player who turned “Beat It” into “Eat It” will perform live right here in town. That early announcement was a rare “sneak peak” into the Britt […]
In thinking about this month’s article, I tried to define for myself what makes Britt so special. Over the past 5 years, I have observed that each concert has its own vibe and culture that brings people of different backgrounds, experiences, and appearances together in a safe and happy environment. Gratefully, music really is blind. […]
“If the English language made any sense, ‘lackadaisical’ would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.” ~Doug Larson, columnist
My English Composition students are often overwhelmed by the word choices they face when they write an essay. It’s the same with me, as a gardener. When I pour over […]
The Northwest’s premier outdoor summer music festival presents performances by artists in pop, bluegrass, rock, country and classical music and more.
JACKSONVILLE, OR — The roots and jam band John Butler Trio, country artist Easton Corbin, pop flamenco act The Gipsy Kings, pop/rockers NEEDTOBREATHE and Switchfoot, the alt-rock band The Decemberists, prolific songwriter Randy Newman, progressive […]
“And the Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.”
~Percy Shelley (1792-1822)
For thousands of local gardeners, spring does not merely arise but leaps forth the minute they step into the Spring […]
At times, we all feel the need to fix some aspect of our life to be truly happy, often spending a lot of time and money on products and regimes that promise the quick results we yearn for. The most common pursuits for happiness revolve around love, money and health. Have […]
I sat down in a good mood on a sunny Sunday morning to look at my email and there it was, lying in wait. The email was from a colleague who is, in every respect, my doppelgänger: same age, same work, same writing style, graduate school, hair color, sense of humor—same […]