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 […]
I would like to begin by thanking the Cubs and Scouts from JV Troop 17, JV Pack 3017, their parents and siblings for helping clean-up the cemetery grounds on October 23, 2021. After a fair amount of rain and wind, the ground was covered with downed branches and limbs and this group of volunteers wasted […]
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 […]
When archaeologist Chelsea Rose invited me to help the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology (SOULA) team of archaeologists survey the Eagle Brewery property on South Oregon Street, I jumped at the chance. I’ve been volunteering with SOULA for over a decade now, but this place is special to me. […]
Art Presence Art Center devotes another special call to artists for the Angels Show. Why, for the ninth year, are we showing such a lively interest in the invisible world? Some of the greatest among the saints and men of God have found a place for Angels. Many of the most difficult questions about their […]
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 […]
My write-up in the October 2021 issue featured a photograph of the Chavner block in the Catholic section prior to the start of restoration work. This month, I would like to share this photo of that same block after the project was completed and I think you’ll agree it is quite the transformation.
Thank you—I would […]
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 […]
So, our Hunters’ Moon has come and gone for another year. With the skies finally rid of the pesky smoke of summer, we can breathe more easily. The crisp morning air is accompanied by the crisp crunch of autumn’s leaves, and on the crispiest of mornings, the delightful crackle of hoar-frosted […]
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 […]
November’s art exhibition at Art Presence begins with a wonderful new member show, opening Friday, November 5, and continuing on-display through Sunday, November 28. The gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from 12-5pm and Sundays from 10am-5pm.
You don’t have to miss the show just because you can’t make it to the gallery. See a virtual […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
That’s the late summer/early fall mantra for so many of us as we venture out for time on the trails. The cool, moist air that heralds the onset of our damp, foggy winters is still but a dream—but a dream worth having. To consider that we once wished for those dark […]
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 […]
Despite the heat, including a week’s worth of triple-digit temperatures, along with smoke from the wildfires, our volunteers managed to contribute 153 hours of volunteer labor during the month of August 2021. These hours were dedicated to grounds maintenance, cleaning of headstones and monuments, and restoration work. Not included is the time that our Adopt-A-Block […]
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 […]
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 […]
The 8th Annual October Imaginarium is open! This year’s theme, Reality or Illusion? has resulted in a wonderful collection of artwork depicting Autumn, Halloween, and imaginative ideas building upon the theme. The exhibition opened on Friday, September 17, and continues through Halloween. The gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from 12-5pm and Sundays from 10-5pm. […]
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 […]
Returning to the familiar footpaths of one’s local environment after forays far and wide creates a certain deja’ vu. To return to a familiar stomping ground while the temperatures persist in the triple digits, just like the day you left, yields a feeling far more poignant than any “been there, done […]
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 […]
What a difference dedicated volunteers can make when they decide to focus on one area and give it 100%. Jim and Judy Finses have been volunteering in the cemetery since late last winter and early spring. They introduced themselves one day when I was picking-up downed branches and limbs in the Odd Fellow section and […]
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 […]
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 […]
UPDATE 08/13/21 – August 14 History Saturday in the Cemetery is CANCELED due to smoke and heat.
A total of 150:30 hours of volunteer labor was contributed in June, which included grounds clean-up, marker cleaning, restoration work and other general maintenance items.
This does not include all the hours that our Adopt-A-Block volunteers put in caring for […]
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 […]
Paul Cezanne, a Master during the Post-Impressionism era, said, “With an apple I will astonish Paris.” His beautiful still lifes did exactly that, and they continue to astonish around the world today. Not every artist has that lofty goal. The need to make art is what motivates them, but there is no question that […]
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 […]