This month, in light of the current state of this crazy country and world we find ourselves in, I thought I’d share a little excerpt from my new book, “Grief Girl’s Guide.” I have abbreviated and altered it ever-so-slightly from it’s focus on grief to speak to the turmoil many of […]
Samuel Hill began making utilitarian earthenware in 1814 and was famous for producing much-needed drainpipe in his Flemington, NJ factory. Later, he created household utilitarian crockery until 1860 when Abram Fulper acquired the company. They were famous for beautiful art pottery. In 1909, grandson William was running the company and […]
Recently, I received three postcards from Jacksonville citizens, all denouncing me as a racist for my July column. The column deplored racism, but the readers read it to mean quite the opposite. How very sad! I may have far more reason to condemn racism as well as […]
As schools are struggling to find ways to accommodate students during the current COVID-19 pandemic, September seems an opportune time to look at the schooling available to the children of Jacksonville’s early settlers.
While older children arriving in the Oregon Territory in the mid-19th Century might have attended school in the towns […]
We interrupt your regular life to bring you these reminders: Wear the mask. Maintain social distance. Stick close to home.
Don’t go to movies. Or the theatre. Just turn on the Boob Tube.
Is there anything there you haven’t seen? Maybe on the Food Network…?
After you’ve burned through “Chopped,” “Diners, Drive-Ins and […]
When the coronavirus first brought the country to a standstill, many people believed real estate would come to a halt and prices would drop. However, data released in May from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that home prices increased in the first quarter of 2020 despite […]
Having recently spent some time running on trails farther afield, I am happy to report that our local trails are in tip-top shape. It is disappointing to see that so much of our once robust forest trail system on BLM and Forest Service land has been neglected for so long, and […]
As my faithful readers undoubtedly know, I am a porch-sitter. It’s where I sit and watch the sunrise, express my gratitudes, speak my prayers, and think my thoughts. And the thought that came to me this particular morning, watching the backlit beauty of sprinkler droplets and marveling at the tiny, perfect […]
We are dealing with a highly contagious virus that travels person-to-person, propelled by a person singing, by speech, a cough, or a sneeze. How do we help curb the spread of the virus? CDC guidelines stress limited contact with others, observing safe distancing requirements, frequent handwashing and/or sanitizing, and […]
Art Presence Art Center’s Summer Daze show of member artwork continues on display through September 13. It’s a fantastic show, so please make sure to come in to view this collection. Remember that the gallery is open an extra day through the end of September, so you can stop by any Thursday, Friday, Saturday or […]
“It’s a whale of a tale I’ll tell you, lads, a whale of a tale or two.”
In late September 2019, Paula and I were walking through Manhattan’s Upper West Side, admiring the ironwork that enhances the stoops on the brownstones. At one point I glanced up and saw that Paula was thirty feet ahead of […]
The number one question we get asked by homeowners who are looking to sell is, “How do we market to buyers moving up from California?” It’s a great question, as buyers from California, and from other states, represent a good portion of our real estate sales, especially on properties […]
Sadly, and despite all the planning and work that goes into our History Saturday in the Cemetery programs and other events and tours, we certainly miss sharing our cemetery and its history with visitors. I, as well as our docents and research committee, look forward to a brighter and happier 2021.
In […]
Lorin Severson has experienced Jacksonville, off and on, for over 70 years, so like the Farmers Insurance ad goes, “He has seen a thing or two.” That he’s here in Jacksonville and able to sit for an interview is a bit of a miracle given his rocky start in life. Lorin […]
A “bundle of energy” was one of the ways friends and co-workers described Viola “Vi” Mary Busse Davis, longtime Jacksonville resident, businesswoman, and volunteer who passed away June 9, 2020. For years, Vi was known as a Jacksonville “go-to person.”
Born in Seguin, Texas on March 8, 1925, to Erwin […]
Liz Pursell was respected by all who knew her for her honesty, willingness to help friends and neighbors, as well as her attention to detail with local projects. I first met Liz years ago when I became involved with Jacksonville Celebrates the Arts, an annual event to raise funds for the expansion of Jacksonville Community […]
Our valley is yearning for art and culture in this moment of great uncertainty. For Britt to make music this summer for our audiences—in whatever configuration is safe and feasible—will be a joy for our staff and wonderful musicians. We hope our virtual programming will inspire you through the […]
A Cup of Conversation – July 2020
George Orwell knew. Everyone else was highly entertained or at least amused but not George. He tried to tell us. Some were listening. Most were not. Now they are. George was a lone voice in the wilderness. His words now haunt us…at least half of us, hopefully more. The […]
Summer is upon us. We can only hope for occasional rain to dampen our extreme fire season and keep the smoke from our skies. Dry, dusty conditions under a blazing sun do little to entice our walkabout mojo into action. But to be out and about during a rare summer shower, […]
You cannot ask the darkness to leave; you must turn on the light.” ~Sogyal-Rinpoche
I’ve been thinking a lot about what to say this month. My mind and heart are troubled by what I see and hear: Division, anger, violence, finger-pointing, hypocrisy, grandstanding, virtue-signaling, and a whole lot of agitated herd behavior. […]
Almost 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay-at-home orders ground much of the economy to a halt, prompting trillions in stimulus spending by the federal government in an effort to keep industries afloat.
But anyone hoping a silver lining to the […]
As we slowly return to normal, and we can find toilet paper in the stores and restaurants with open doors, we do have to wonder if we’ll ever be the same.
I look back on my life and how all the economic events shaped it and changed its course. I […]
One of the most familiar quotations in literature came to mind as I saw our nation’s cities explode in violence once again. It was by Charles Dickens who wrote the following words to introduce “A Tale of Two Cities,” a story of nobles and not-so-nobles during the […]
Art Presence Art Center reopens in July! With the Four “C’s”—Close Contact, Confined Spaces, Crowds and Choices—in mind, we will use CDC guidelines to welcome patrons for an art experience extraordinaire. We’re eager to return to the gallery and share the creative delights our members offer!
The Artists Workshop began over 35 years ago by a […]
During the 1850s, California and the Oregon Territory seemed like the “promised land” to individuals in the eastern half of the United States dreaming of riches, adventure, or better lives. But first they had to get here. There were basically two routes—by land and by sea. Those who set out from […]
So Much to be Grateful For!
Cemetery Clean-Up—While the coronavirus certainly changed how we go about our daily lives, it hasn’t changed our spirit and attitude toward volunteering and helping our community. On Friday, May 22 we held our first-ever “Social Distancing Community Clean-up Day” of the cemetery grounds. We had a group of 24 hard-working […]
Living in a dynamic world, we’ve often been surprised by just how quickly our comfortable metaphoric rugs can be swept from underfoot. We are creatures of habit, and when our circumstances are changed, it’s a frustrating chore to adjust normal practices. Our current status with COVID-19 is in daily flux, and […]
One of the more obvious and trying aspects of this pandemic we’re floundering in are all the things we can’t do. This horrid little virus has spurred limitations the likes of which most of us have never seen. Constrained on multiple levels— movement, activities, work, income, socializing— we are experiencing a […]
The business of real estate is still being conducted in Oregon, with some adjustments for everyone’s safety. Most work is being conducted from home offices as much as possible—within the provisions of the Governor’s orders and at the discretion of the Realtor and client.
Marketing & Showing Homes—Marketing properties […]
Meet the Pioneers 2020—The Board of Directors has chosen to cancel this year’s Meet the Pioneers program that was scheduled for October 2 and 3, 2020. Given the current virus situation, we believe this is the proper and responsible action to take. This was a difficult decision to reach, but going forward and taking unnecessary […]
Art Presence Art Center’s Board and Director have made the decision to remain closed through the month of June. Watching and reading about the devastation in countries and states that are either noncompliant or simply unable to distance themselves from one another shows how well we in Oregon and Jackson County have done.
What we need […]
The economy is shrinking, businesses are closing and jobs are disappearing due to the coronavirus pandemic. But in the housing market, prices keep climbing higher.
Home prices plunged during the last recession after the 2007 housing crash caused millions of families to lose their homes, but that hasn’t been the […]
There are many facets in this time of uncertainty. Some moments have been spent in solitude and in uneasy experiences. Other moments have welcomed the opportunity to being OK whilst stuck in a small space looking for entertainment in odd and giggly ways. While some moments have wrapped-up lives that […]
“Sensational Seniors” subject, Donna Schatz, let me know at the beginning of my interview that she finds little value in biographical dates but, other than that, was full of interesting biographical information. Donna was born in Burns, Oregon and progressed through the Burns school system before going to the University of […]
There has been much to reflect on over the last couple of months. In addition to the sobering questions about the health of our community and the rest of the world, everything we’ve built over the last generation is at risk. We’re not alone. Few if any are not […]
One could say, I’ve been working on this message for nearly thirteen years. So, thank you Donna Briggs for allowing me to take over your column this month. Makes me happy!
Many of you don’t know me, but certainly many of you do. I’m Britt’s Director of House Operations, Bow Seltzer, and I’m retiring in a […]
One positive aspect to the current situation is seeing the passion and creativity of our entire community as we rise to meet unimaginable challenges, and watching all of us come together even as we maintain our social distance. Over the past months, you have reinforced something that this community […]
On Real Estate & More – Submitted for the May 2020 issue
It was supposed to be the typical spring boom for real estate. But thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic downturn, what was expected to be a thriving sales season has hit a wall. On the real estate listing site Zillow, there’s already […]
Have you ever felt as though you’re in a Twilight Zone episode?
Of course you have. Everybody feels that way these days—waking up to discover that our entire planet has fallen prey to a deadly viral pandemic, the likes of which has never ever been experienced on […]
The current state of global affairs has left me pondering opposing forces. Here we spend our days in our bubbles, isolating our physical selves for the sake of everyone’s well-being, while yearning for normal intercourse with others. The human need to be social is counteracted by a need for ‘alone time’, […]
Our Past Meets the Present – Perhaps a Future Story to be Shared?—Little did our Research Committee even begin to think that when we were selecting stories for our Meet the Pioneers programs back in 2011, and 2017, would the subject […]
I know you are probably sick of hearing and reading about this horrid virus; I know I am. It’s like hearing about the hurricane that’s brewing off-shore: we hear report after report, we prepare, we hoard, we hunker down … and we wait … and […]
Caring for the Caregiver – Submitted for the May 2020 issue
Caregiving, in general, can be very isolating, and online support groups can be a wonderful tool for those of you who are homebound and just need to communicate your thoughts and feelings with another caregiver. They are completely free, allow you to get help anytime […]
Coronavirus. I am sick of the word, and not in the coughing and contraction of pneumonia way. It has claimed, through its villainous reign of terror, a spring break vacation, a scholarship competition, my last few months of high school (ever), my senior prom, my graduation, and all of the […]
“One lives in the hope of becoming a memory.” ― Antonio Porchia
There has been a great deal of death as of late. Every day and night we’re reminded how many people have drawn a last breath. It’s now impossible to ignore the reality of mortality when once so used to […]
Hopefully, by the time this article is printed, the COVID-19 pandemic is in its waning moments. Also, by the time this article is read, most of us will probably be a little tired about reading about it. It is likely that some of the information and […]
The other day someone asked me to compare the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on citizen‘s lives with the aftermath of Pearl Harbor during World War 2. I can start by saying that nothing else in my ninety years on this planet has […]
It has been reported that Abe Lincoln once summed up his thoughts on trade by declaring, “I don’t know much about the tariff but I do know that if my wife buys her cloak in America, we get the money and the cloak, and that American labor is paid […]
It’s Spring, so let’s talk about viruses and anxiety, shall we?
I’m not a fan of viruses. I’ve had one plaguing my body for over six years now. Mine is called Epstein-Barr. So, I know about the anxiety related to illness. I know what it’s like to lie in bed at night, […]