We’ve spent much of 2022 working off the fiscal and monetary excesses of the pandemic economy; excessive amounts of cash creation coupled with excessive lengths of time with suppressed interest rates. These mistakes led to excessive purchases of speculative asset classes such as cryptocurrencies (even dogecoin had its […]
With the winter solstice and our many beautiful midwinter holidays approaching, it’s a quiet time on the Britt hill. We take this time to think about the park. These winter months are essential for reviving our lovely lawn, taking on facilities projects, and dreaming of the future.
I believe […]
The Holiday Celebrations are now in full swing in Jacksonville. I would like to extend Seasons Greetings to you and your families. I hope you will have a chance to enjoy some of the many holiday activities Jacksonville is known for. The Chamber of Commerce has […]
The other morning, I sat in the pre-dawn darkness on my porch, wrapped up against the cold, staring at the stars. I listened to invisible raccoons running through the trees, saw the inky outline of the branches bending under their weight. I heard the soft clopping of deer hooves, and […]
Being that we’re comfortably relaxed into the gentle flow of Jacksonville living, the most pressing responsibility we encounter each month is the content of this column. “What the heck should we write about this time,” one of us will start. “We could take in a movie,” comes an oft-repeated […]
On Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the entrance to the Britt Festival, a fawn was mauled by a dog running off leash. While I was not there until after the actual attack, a woman called 911 and a courageous man apparently attempted to stop the mauling by using a […]
DURING VICTORIAN TIMES, Christmas meant quality time and traditions shared with friends and family. Heavily influenced by England’s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, we trimmed the Christmas tree together, prepared and feasted on goose or turkey and other goodies, sang carols around the piano, played parlor games, and exchanged gifts—no one was to be left […]
It is early October as I write, and the weather is sublime. The light is low and the leaves just beginning to change. I love autumn, yet this beautiful season always elicits a soft sort of sadness in me, a feeling I can only call melancholy.
I am, by nature, a melancholy […]
I’m not gonna lie, French Onion Soup remains my absolute favorite meal. Often when I go to a fancy restaurant I order this lovely concoction as my main course. This recipe is a bit boozy. Just be sure to cook off the alcohol or the flavors won’t […]
Whether you’ve found the perfect home or are still in the early stages of the home buying process, it’s important for you to know that the down payment will not be your only out-of-pocket cost. Knowing what expenses to expect can help you plan accordingly.
Closing costs are fees […]
The Britt summer concert season has ended. From the outside, it might seem that we’ve gone into hibernation. But these winter months are far from fallow—Britt Education & Engagement continues at full speed, focusing on school residencies.
Residencies serve our school kids all year. In October, Britt presented an education […]
As Realtors in Southern Oregon for over 20 years, we have met hundreds of families moving into our area from out of state. We quickly become their “go-to” for advice on where to go, what to do, and how to enjoy our great outdoors. We quickly realized that our […]
After a devastating fire on September 26, a long-time restaurant, Las Palmas, was rendered unusable. It was by chance that the fire occurred when no one was in the building. Two neighboring businesses were also impacted with smoke damage, causing the inventory of Country Quilts and Trotting […]
MEDFORD, OR — In its first full season since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit Britt Music & Arts Festival declares its 60th Anniversary season a giant success. Britt thanks its patrons, members, business partners, media partners, artists, and fans for coming together to […]
City elections for the Office of Councilor or Mayor can be confusing to understand. This legal process can be puzzling, especially if you have moved to Jacksonville from a different city or state. As a resident, what should you expect to see during an election? What is […]
Three years ago, a select group of pioneers, lying in peaceful estate at the Jacksonville Cemetery, roused to enjoy the limelight and tell about their lives. Others have waited patiently for their chance to be heard. Now, a handful of residents from the Silent City on the Hill are free to speak, and believe me, […]
Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’
Into the future…” ~Steve Miller, 1976
Slippin,’ in fact, happens all the time.
Let’s say you come up with the most amazing, ground-breaking technology ever seen. Your awesome innovation changes everything it touches and is applauded as true magic.
Then, in the blink of a decade or two […]
It’s October and my palette is shifting into hearty dishes that scream comfort. Let’s tuck into a tasty and tender Schnitzel pounded thin and topped with a luscious gravy. So many options with this little recipe. Make it as is or improvise and make it your own. […]
I’ve been sharing a lot recently about some personal transitions I’m experiencing, but I’m keenly aware that we are all going through major cultural, political, economic and social transitions, writ large. There’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on these days.
Given this, it’s amazing to me how the impact of these […]
Although sales of existing homes in Jackson County only fell 1.8% overall for the year (per the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors), inventory of all homes on the market increased about 60% from this time last year and pending sales for the year have decreased by 5%—so it […]
To help combat persistently high inflation rates coming out of the pandemic economy, the Federal Reserve has increased the short-term lending rate from essentially 0% to 2.25% this year. Even more rises are anticipated, with the majority of future bets currently predicting that we will end the year with […]
It’s official: Britt has wrapped its 2022 season! What a season it was. We hosted 34 main stage concerts and 10 BrittKids Koncerts. Over 60,000 people were served through our live events. 16 Britt Presents performances were sold out—an all-time record!
It takes hundreds of people to make this happen […]
JACKSONVILLE’S EARLIEST FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS A HOOK AND LADDER, dating from about 1860, making it among the oldest in Oregon. Engine Company #1 is still running strong. Jacksonville citizens have much to be proud of in their historic town, and members of the community have a way of […]
As Realtors in Southern Oregon for over 20 years, we have met hundreds of families moving into our area from out of state. We quickly become their “go-to” for advice on where to go, what to do, and how to enjoy our great outdoors. We quickly realized that our […]
Risotto used to scare me. The ingredients are simple enough but the love needed to create a proper risotto means you have to give it your full attention. So I make my risotto the star of the show, not a side dish. When you take your time […]
Last month we introduced you to William T’Vault, or Tevault, or Teevault—depending on the when and where—inasmuch as this pioneer regularly reinvented himself. We traced him through an early legal career; a marriage to the “granddaughter” of Daniel Boone; a jail break following charges of murder and rape; an arduous trek […]
This summer has been a particularly fecund one for birds in my world. We’ve been surrounded by nests of blue jays, robins, and spotted towhees (which I call grackles—I can’t tell you why, but I like the name quite a lot). The bird babies are fledging now, which is a perfect, […]
There’s no feeling quite like the hot summer air cooling as the sun sets behind the madrones and ponderosa pines. Friends, both longtime and new, laugh and chatter until the applause swells to welcome an artist to the stage. We experience the music together, accompanied by crickets and birds […]
Cole Porter had it right. It’s too darn hot… to sup, fill the cup, or engage in any of the usual (ahem) shenanigans with your honey during this hot, hot, hot summer.
Our suggestion: boost the air conditioning, and stream, baby, stream—on the web, that is. Whether it’s a movie you […]
In last month’s Jacksonville Review, I wrote about Senate Bill 762, which makes extensive changes to Oregon wildfire policy, affecting how the state responds to wildfires and potentially requiring property owners make modifications to their property in order to lower their wildfire risk. The draft Wildfire Risk Maps […]
Say goodbye to the days of a “sellers’ market” and hello to a new, more balanced real estate market. 2022 has been quite the year; the US gross domestic product contracted in the first and second quarters, the stock market has been tumbling, inflation is stubbornly high, the Federal […]
Let’s take a break from all the debate about inflation and recession to provide some real hard hitting investment advice relating to one of history’s greatest storytellers—Aesop. Aesop was born in 620 BC, and storytelling in Ancient Greece was likely not the most lucrative career. But Aesop had a […]
One of the most talked about topics over the past month has been Senate Bill (SB) 762. What is it? What does it mean? How does it affect my property? What should I do? Many Jacksonville property owners were shocked to receive form notices from the Oregon […]
August 15, 2022— Jacksonville Mayor Donna Bowen sent the following statement out today regarding funding cuts to the Chamber of Commerce. It reads as follows:
What Went Into The Jacksonville City Council’s Decision To Change The Amount Of Funding We Give For The Visitors Information Center?
After looking at the amount of money paid to the Visitors Information […]
Coctel De Camerones! Mexico’s delicious invention where you can eat chilled shrimp with a spoon! Seriously one of my favorite Mexican dishes and I especially love it in the heat of summer. It’s like eating a chilled Gazpacho but better. There are many recipes out there that […]
One of the most important bills passed by the 2021 Oregon legislature was Senate Bill 762, which makes extensive changes to Oregon wildfire policy, affecting how the state responds to wildfires and potentially requiring property owners make modifications to their property to lower their wildfire risk.
Unlike before, where […]
A recession is not “officially” determined by two straight quarters of negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) readings, but that definition has been used for so long that is has become accepted as fact. And after one of the worst starts to the year in history for stocks, the debate […]
We are not currently experiencing a water shortage, but it is a situation we hear a lot about and discuss amongst ourselves. The hot, dry conditions of fire season bring thoughts of drought too close to home. Why is it important to know about drought and how […]
Prior to 1859, individuals seeking the opportunity, riches, and promise of the Oregon Territory were literally leaving the United States. They were also leaving behind their former lives, providing them with a chance to reinvent themselves.
This “reinventing process” might even include a name change; it appears to have occurred often enough […]
We thought it would be easy. We’d drive to the theater, watch Elvis, and write a review. We already knew so much about the legendary singer, we figured we could write a worthy column even without seeing the movie. The title, after all, is “Elvis,” so it’s about Elvis—right?
Well, as […]
I love the performing arts. This isn’t a secret—I chose it for my career! I think the arts have so much to teach us: how to feel, how to express ourselves, how to engage our creativity in joyful ways.
The arts can also teach us how to exist alongside other […]
The taste of summer for me always includes juicy tomatoes and fresh cut herbs from the garden, especially basil. This savory pie is light and delicious and perfect for a summer luncheon or supper and you can serve this fella both warm and cold. Make it ahead […]
Recent data shows home sales have slowed as higher mortgage rates and still-rising home prices have made purchasing a home no longer attainable for some buyers. All eyes are now on indicators of supply and demand to see whether those conditions will last. Several data points can help […]
After first quarter US Gross Domestic Product shrank 1.5%, and with second quarter GDP trending toward 0%, recession concerns are appropriately on investors’ minds. A recession is typically defined as “two quarters of negative growth,” and whether or not the US officially meets these numbers—unofficially, things sure feel that […]
In this long period of uncertainty over the last few years, I often hear about the worry and anxiety people feel about the future. In today’s world, it can be hard to find hope. It is difficult to know how to find the resolve to make positive […]
When we left the “George and Gracie show” last month, George Merritt had his divorce; Grace Wick Merritt had $30 a month in alimony and custody of three cats.
To bring readers up to speed, George was the only grandson of Jacksonville pioneer icon Jane McCully. He had been raised by his […]
It’s easy to forget that the Britt Music & Arts Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. On concert nights, the thriving energy looks like any other major concert venue, and we’re proud of our professionalism. At the same time, our mission is to create a sense of discovery and […]
As Realtors in Southern Oregon for over 20 years, we have met hundreds of families moving into our area from out of state. We quickly become their “go-to” for advice on where to go, what to do, and how to enjoy our great outdoors. We realized that our job […]
If you’re in need of a fresh idea for salmon tonight, give this tasty dish a chance. It’s a gorgeous little bowl of goodness that is so simple AND flavorful, you’ll be revisiting it all season long. Makes 4 bowls.
Ingredients:
16 oz piece of skinless salmon […]
As I write this, Mother’s Day is here, and as you are reading this, my son, Aidan, will be a newly-minted, high school graduate, tentatively stepping into the beginning practicum of becoming an adult. It’s a passage I’ve anticipated and wished to forestall since his arrival on a meltingly hot summer […]