When the white eagle of the North is flying overhead
The browns, reds and golds of autumn lie in the gutter, dead
Remember then, that summer birds with wings of fire flaying
Come to witness spring’s new hope, born of leaves decaying
As new life will come from death.
~ Janis Ian, Graeme Edge
THERE IS […]
THE JACKSONVILLE CHAMBER of Commerce extends its warmest holiday wishes to everyone.
We are actively progressing with our Victorian Christmas preparations. There’s a flurry of activity, from coordinating with neighbors to adorn their homes to ordering candy canes for Father Christmas’s visit with the children. Our trolleys are also being readied to […]
IT’S FALL, and the Britt pavilion stage has gone quiet. Our staff is in the thick of planning for 2026 (and beyond), and this is often a time when you don’t hear from us as much. But this year, we have some exciting fall and winter programs in store!
On […]
THE HOLIDAYS are in the air, and you know what that means at Art Presence: it’s time for our “Gathering of Angels” show! Step into an extra-special time at the gallery to immerse yourself in stunning art creations and discover unique gifts. Plus, there’s a […]
HISTORY SATURDAY in the Cemetery concluded in September with another excellent and enthusiastic talk by Pam and Teresa Smith entitled “Early Farmers and Ranchers in the Rogue Valley.” The “Smith Sisters” (no relation) looked the part in farm overalls and Fedora and straw hats (with pitchforks at the ready) as they […]
NOVEMBER has traditionally been a month for celebrating and giving thanks for the fall harvest and other blessings of the year. As Mayor, one thing I have been reflecting on is how thankful I am for the accomplishments that the city has achieved this year. None of […]
JACKSONVILLE’S DOWNTOWN is special because it feels alive. People stroll along California Street and see shops, cafés, and restaurants through big windows. The historic buildings are charming, but what makes them vibrant is what’s happening at street level.
The City already protects its historic architecture through zoning rules, design […]
DEAR PUBLISHER PARKER, Citizens of Jacksonville, and all the ships at sea,
As you know, we traditionally think of this column as a two-fisted (well, four-fisted, if you’re going to be picky about it) effort. For seventeen-odd (and some even odder) years, we’ve endeavored to enhance our little corner of this […]
TO PARAPHRASE PAPA, “It was a long summer, it was a hot summer, it was a dry summer. It was a long, hot, dry summer.” Weather prognosticators teased relentlessly about possible showers, about a fictitious cooling trend just “a week to ten days” away, all to keep a modicum of hope […]
PREPARE FOR A MONTH OF ENCHANTMENT and artistry at Art Presence! October brings back our beloved annual tradition, The Imaginarium, alongside a captivating lineup of hands-on workshops and more. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world where creativity knows no bounds.
The Imaginarium: A Journey into Fall and […]
AS I SAT AT MY DESK over Labor Day weekend, to write my column for the October issue, I thought about how difficult it was to generate any enthusiasm writing about Fall activities with temperatures close to 100°. By the time this issue of the Jacksonville Review […]
THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX marks the transition from summer to fall, a time of preparation and forward planning. For Jacksonville’s Chamber of Commerce, this seasonal shift mirrors our own focus as we look ahead to the holidays, Victorian Christmas, and the beginning of a new year.
Over the summer, the Chamber’s efforts were […]
FROM TIME TO TIME, the entertainment industry hits upon a brilliant notion and begins to churn out product along those brilliant lines. Lots of product. Until eventually it runs out of fresh twists and begins to eat itself.
Or so it seems.
Recently, the television arm of the biz has stumbled, face […]
OUR AUGUST History Saturday program, Jacksonville’s Jewish Community in the 1800s, featured two pioneer ladies describing the many contributions of early Jewish residents to our town’s civic and business life. In period costume and presenting in the conversational style of Meet the Pioneers, the talk by Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh […]
JACKSONVILLE HAS BEEN BUSY in 2025 updating its land use rules and city codes. These changes affect how people build, remodel, and plan for the future. Some updates deal with safety, like floodplains and wildfire risk. Others prepare the city for long-term growth through boundary planning and housing […]
OREGON’S SHORTAGE of available homes, especially affordable homes, results from decades of building too little housing, which has led to a multitude of problems: a growing homeless population, unaffordable rents and Oregon median home prices over $500,000.
According to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the state needs about […]
VISITORS to the cemetery on the morning of July 14 enjoyed a lively History Saturday talk by docents Roan Reed and Ellen Martin (Ellen is also an FOJHC Director) on “Victorian Etiquette from Birth to Death.” While the Victorian Era began in England prior to Jacksonville’s founding as a gold rush […]
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, Dr. Douglas Naversen has called Jacksonville home—a place where he’s built a thriving dermatology clinic, run countless miles, and built meaningful connections. You may have been fortunate enough to speak with Dr. Naversen, who has many stories to share about his life, or maybe […]
THROUGH OUR amazing powers of anticipatory perception, Dear Readers, we already detect you muttering, “Hey, Critics—haven’t you talked about television food shows before?”
Well, yes. But in our defense, please note that we’ve only mentioned food shows in passing while filling column inches about other stuff. We’ll be more specific this […]
THE PURCHASE AND RENOVATION of the historic U.S. Hotel by the BRITT Music & Arts Festival organization has seen great local interest and much conjecture. In the coming months, you will see the changes that accompany the renovation of a historic building. These will take form in […]
AS EARTH WIND & FIRE recently sang on the Britt stage, We’re dancin’ in September with new artists and a bunch of fun and educational events as the days cool. First, we’re holding a special “Y’art Sale” for a great cause.
Y’art Sale: September 20th—We’re holding our […]
AS BRITT PREPARES to wrap up for the season, community is on my mind. For the last several months, we’ve welcomed tens of thousands of patrons to over 40 concerts and events, representing a wide demographic of ages, backgrounds, and interests. On nights when the stars shine and the […]
AS THE SUMMER ROLLS ON, the Chamber of Commerce continues to focus on promoting our unique, historic town to the Rogue Valley and throughout the Pacific Northwest using social media and our new website. Our marketing and advertising focuses on Jacksonville as a destination with “must-do activities” when visiting Southern Oregon. […]
AUGUST IS HERE, and it’s time to crank up your creative vibes at Art Presence! We’ve got a whole garden of artistic awesomeness waiting for you, from dazzling textile art to hands-on classes and even a super cool “Y’art Sale” for a great cause.
Your Old […]
IN A PAST LIFE, I was very active in the Arts Council of a small Northern California city. When asked why I was so involved, it was easy to answer. Art is an expression of life! Art is all around us, sometimes we don’t even notice it, […]
AUGUST IS UPON US, and with it 15 Britt shows and our fundraising gala to support the US Hotel capital campaign. It’s a big month! As always, there’s truly something for everyone this month, but there are a few highlights I want to share.
The August 8 show, Waxahatchee, is […]
THE PROTECTION of historic buildings is important to save history for future generations. Experiencing a space where history happened is crucial for fostering the shared connection that builds a stronger community.
Jacksonville is one of the best-preserved historic towns on the West Coast, designated as a National Historic Landmark […]
Summer is in its crescendo here in Jacksonville. The harmony between the magic of Britt and the timeless charm of our landmark town swells with vibrant energy. There is a happy synergy bringing residents and visitors into shared celebration.
The impressive line up of 15 Britt shows this August provides countless opportunities […]
ON A BEAUTIFUL summer morning in June, the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery hosted the second installment of this season’s History Saturday series, “Scandalous Stories in the Cemetery.” Presented by local historians Carolyn Kingsnorth and Steve Carolis, the talk reminded us that the Victorian Era was a time dictated […]
AS THIS lonely monologue creeps forth from that quiet place that all trail denizens know so well, our summer doldrums are written largely across the land. We’ve had another spring season when the life-giving waters of the sky were again shut off at the spigot. Unseasonal warmth has decimated the plentiful […]
AS DEDICATED Entertainment Geeks, we’ve reviewed movies, music, plays, weather, books, dogs, and, of course, TV. It seems the only topic we haven’t appraised is TV commercials.
Until now.
The commercials that (unfortunately) stick with us the most come from Big Pharma, possibly because they shell out Big Bucks to create jingles […]
THAT FEELING we get that something or someone is watching us seems to be a residual reaction from our cell memory of living a much more tenuous existence. But it also gives rise to our inherent ability to take in clues from our environment that allow us to develop a strong […]
AS MORE BUYERS consider rural properties for privacy and a slower pace of life, some encounter a common but unfamiliar feature: the private well. Unlike municipal water systems, private wells are managed by the homeowner—and that means buyers need to be proactive when it comes to understanding water […]
NEARLY ALL the businesses operating in Jacksonville are small businesses. That’s not unique—in fact there are over 33 million small businesses in the U.S. that employ roughly 60 million people (and account for 99% of the firms in the country!). Many business owners pour everything into their business and […]
WE KICKED OFF our 2025 summer season on Saturday, May 10th, with an informative and entertaining History Saturday presentation on the Chinese in Jacksonville during the 1800’s thru the mid 1900’s. Our speakers were Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh, beautifully dressed in period costumes, who […]
ONE OF THE (possibly weird) things I adore about running arts organizations is flyby problem-solving. I often joke that we should gather arts administrators together, open a couple bottles of wine, and set out some of the world’s “unsolvable” problems. My bet is that at least one of them […]
SUMMER HAS ARRIVED and historic Jacksonville is buzzing with energy, offering everything from thrilling Britt concerts to charming wine trolley tours and unique downtown shopping experiences. But the real heart of the action? The Art Presence Art Center, where a non-stop celebration of creativity awaits!
Guest Artist: Diana Rasmussen, […]
THE JACKSONVILLE MASONIC LODGE, aka, Warren Lodge #10, is the oldest continuous fraternal organization in Jacksonville. As such, the lodge is intricately tied to the early history of Jacksonville. Many of the early settlers in Jacksonville had been members of a Masonic lodge before arriving and wished to continue this association. […]
THE PANDAMMIT OF 2020 changed the world of entertainment. It was a tedious period, during which we stopped visiting Places and Events that we’d long relished: Restaurants. Movie theaters. Music festivals. Backyard barbecues. Family gatherings. And, of course:
OSF: The renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival located a mere half-gallon of gasoline down […]
THE MONTH OF JULY in Jacksonville is always eventful. Our town is filled with visitors, annual activities, and school kids have been out and about for almost a month. The temperature keeps climbing, and fire season is upon us.
A favorite town activity is our Annual Mayor’s Hot […]
JUNE 20th marks the official transition from what has been a beautiful spring to what will likely be a warm (but hopefully not too hot or smoky) summer season.
To help prepare the cemetery for summer visitors, the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery held our second clean-up of the season on May […]
MAGGIE BARKED just the one time. This was unusual; if there were other hikers or dogs ahead of us, we’d expect a bit more of a serenade. An early morning walkabout on Steep Canyon Rangers’ Trail in Jacksonville’s Forest Park was always a great way to start the day. Seldom did […]
EVEN BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES last January, more homeowners were having difficulty finding insurance or facing extremely high costs. Homeowners across the country have been receiving non-renewal notices from their insurers, sending them scrambling to find new policies, usually at a much higher premium.
In Oregon, […]
WITH SUMMER’S ARRIVAL, things are ramping up here in Jacksonville! The Britt Festival is in full swing, and California Street will be lined with tourists. But even as life gets a little busy, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan ahead—especially when it comes to retirement. One tool we work […]
WE’RE GETTING TO THAT TIME of year when the Britt Festival is about to kick off—which means it’s prime time to discover the best spots in town for a drink or bite before the show. If you have kids (or not), The Miners’ Bazaar is a hidden gem […]
FEELING THE ENERGY? We sure are. June is bursting with creativity and exciting events at Art Presence Art Center. From incredible guest artists to hands-on workshops and a whimsical Gift Gallery theme, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy. Come by our wonderful art […]
ANOTHER SEASON BEGINS this month, and I couldn’t be more excited! There’s a lot to look forward to, starting with The Hill is Where the Heart Is annual kickoff party on June 6. As always, this admission-free event is not only our thanks to you, our neighbors, but is […]
“God help us, we’re in the hands of engineers.”
~Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
In Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age, journalist Rod Dreher argues that we are living through a profound ‘disenchantment’ of life. Whereas ancient cultures once gazed upward at the nightsky and beheld the […]
YOU, DEAR READER, have little reason to concern yourselves with the whims that flutter aimlessly through your Unfettered Critics’ brains at those rare moments when they’re not engrossed in pictures moving across a screen, big or small. Nevertheless, we’re audaciously going to pretend that you are interested, […]
COVID-19 WAS CHALLENGING, including the tragic deaths of so many people, the basic shutting down of our nation’s economy, and the two-year loss of education for our school kids. Also, hard hit by the pandemic were service clubs, and the Jacksonville Lions Club was no exception. Long-time member Jim Davidian relates, […]