OREGON CONTINUES to face a housing shortage, and politicians are increasingly focused on policies that can help communities create more housing opportunities. One of the most recent efforts is HB 4035, passed during the 2026 legislative session. The measure modifies earlier housing legislation and expands tools available to […]
PERHAPS YOU SHOULD think of these columns as loosely-connected chapters of a slowly-emerging magnum opus.
In our previous installment, you may recall, we recommended that you stream the latest season of the Netflix series Bridgerton, a great high-society show that we’ve noted previously. We also nudged you toward […]
THE JACKSONVILLE CHAMBER of Commerce is proud to reflect on its recent accomplishments, community collaborations, and local event support, which have elevated Jacksonville as a premier destination in Southern Oregon. Record-breaking attendance at Holiday events, Lunar New Year Celebration and the Citywide Chili Cook-off showcased the community’s spirit and charm. The […]
GET READY for exciting adventures in our main and gift galleries, as well as our classroom this month. The main gallery returns with an exceptional Guest Artist and one of our outstanding Member Artists. We’re also offering some fun hands-on workshops designed to spark your […]
IN NEXT MONTH’S column we’ll have news of our Spring Clean-up (March 21), which began the process of readying the cemetery for recurring FOJHC programs starting in May: History Saturday in the Cemetery (May 9), and Marker Cleaning Workshops (May 16).
And before those programs begin, our Pre-Memorial Day […]
AS THIS ISSUE of the Review goes to print, we’re only days away from our final Britt announcement of the 2026 season! I’m so excited about this year’s lineup. We’re bringing in tons of new bands in addition to some of our most beloved returning acts, representing a broad […]
SUCH AN INTERESTING winter season. In general, temperatures stayed above average, though a few frigid nights were experienced. Rainfall was sorely missed after such a promising start, and little snow materialized. After the past couple of years with heavy, lingering snow making travel at higher elevations a bit more challenging, it […]
AS THE SPRING SEASON rolls around in our local woodland areas, we find ourselves eager to get out to enjoy the trails. How lucky we are to live where trails abound in all directions, and where the climate is mild enough to enjoy them year-round. As the daylight hours extend further […]
SPRINGTIME IN THE CEMETERY—What an unusual winter we’ve had so far. After some initial rain, it turned cold and dry and, as we write this column in early February, there appears to be little wet weather yet to come. Still, when the occasional fog lifts and the sun […]
FLOODING IS one of the most common and expensive natural hazards in Oregon. Rivers, coastal areas, and even seasonal drainages can place properties at risk. For property owners, understanding floodplain insurance requirements is essential; especially when a property is located within a mapped floodplain.
A floodplain is an area […]
THE Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Historic Jacksonville, Inc. once again proudly celebrate Women’s History Month in our historic landmark town.
As I continue to learn, Jacksonville has an amazing group of women entrepreneurs, City Leaders and dedicated Volunteers that continue to bring their unique businesses, personalities, and desires to serve and […]
BY THE TIME the sun crept over the fir-dark hills around Jacksonville, the town was already awake in its own quiet way. A rooster argued with the morning. The creak of a pump handle carried from a yard on California Street. At the livery stable, the blacksmith struck iron and set […]
IN MY non-working hours, I make a lot of mediocre art. I live alone and catch myself singing ridiculous songs aloud several times a day. I recently discovered oil pastels (which are essentially fancy crayons), and have been making joyful, ridiculous drawings of birds, flowers, and blocks of color […]
THERE’S A LOT OF NEW ART at the gallery this month, including our Guest Artist exhibition as we welcome talented young artists from North Medford High and feature one of our Member Artist’s photography…and some fun classes. Come check out all the fresh goings-on at […]
ONE OF OUR cable boxes recently stopped functioning. So the cable company promised to dispatch “Someone” to perform an “analysis.”
We thought the Someone simply would replace the box. A no-brainer, right? But after inspecting the numerous cables that over the decades had been dangled from the poles, dragged across the […]
TAKING LONG DRIVES through the Rogue Valley and beyond is a favorite pastime for my family. Mention the words “road trip” and we are literally on the road soon. Recently, while we have been out and about, the fields and valleys have been alive […]
AS TRAIL PEOPLE, we are wont to point out that trails are as organic as the hillsides and canyons they traverse, climb, descend, and generally meander through. No more permanent in the great scheme of things, ephemeral as mayflies, it may seem, but a lifeline for critters traveling to and fro […]
WHEN SELLING a home, first impressions are everything. Buyers often form an opinion within seconds of stepping through the front door, or even before, based on online photos. Home staging is the process of preparing and presenting a property to appeal to the widest possible pool of buyers. […]
THIS PAST YEAR was one of transformation. Perhaps the biggest change occurred in the political realm, with President Trump pursuing a policy agenda unlike any in the past century. Tariffs dominated headlines, until they didn’t. The government shutdown dominated headlines, until it did not. Investors able to be comfortable […]
ONCE AGAIN, we had an amazing Holiday Season here in our Historic Landmark Town of Jacksonville. The December events including the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Father Christmas, Holiday Parade and Holiday Trolley Light Tours all had record attendance. Thanks to the many individuals and groups that make these events such a success. […]
HAPPY 2026, friends! Britt announcements are well underway, and the excitement around this year’s summer season is palpable. Our programs team, led by Chief Program Officer Mike Sturgill, always works hard to ensure that Britt has something for every palate, and I think they’re really outdoing themselves this year. […]
WE MIGHT HAVE suspected from the movie’s title.
It could’ve been named “Sweet Caroline,” or “Play Me,” or “Beautiful Noise,” or, for crying out loud, “The Story of My Life.” But it wasn’t. It’s titled Song Sung Blue. See the gentle yet obvious foreshadowing?
Those of you who follow this column likely […]
FOLLOWING a successful Studio Sale in January, February at Art Presence promises a schedule full of exciting activities. We are delighted to announce that San Francisco Bay Area artist Kevin Yeh will be our first guest artist, in collaboration with SOCCA’s Lunar New Year celebration. In addition to […]
WELCOME TO 2026… we hope you enjoyed the holiday season!
We begin by highlighting some key accomplishments of the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery from the year just passed, with thanks to all those whose efforts made them possible:
History Programs:
HELLO TO A NEW YEAR! For such a small city, we have a lot going on. Each fall, Jeff Alvis, our City Administrator, and I, sit down to discuss the accomplishments of the prior year, along with our priorities, biggest challenges, and plans for the upcoming year. […]
FOR ALL OF US who enjoy taking part in the Friends of the Cemetery’s spring and fall clean up events, October’s Fall Cemetery Clean Up brought both good news and bad news. The bad news was the arrival of an “atmospheric river” overhead that brought heavy wind and […]
EUROPE IS FAMOUS for its rich history, its architecture, as well as its beautiful squares, inviting cafes, cathedrals and statues. I recently returned from an extended trip to Spain, where their central plazas and public squares play a vital role as they are typically the […]
“The only goal for man is beauty, and beauty is found only in harmony, and this harmony of nature is a dazzling complexity” ~ Tony Hillerman, Dance Hall of the Dead
HERE, THEN, is that which draws us back to the wild places again and again. Here, then, is […]
ON MOST THURSDAYS for the past decade, Scout Troop 17 has met on the Bigham Knoll Campus. Cutler has a long history with this troop—both Matt and Erich Patten achieved their ranks of Eagle from Troop 17 in the 1990’s; Matt’s two sons earned Eagles from […]
RECENTLY, we needed an empty box. We spotted one that looked to be the perfect size underneath a stack of other boxes in the far back corner of our garage, and thought perhaps we could cannibalize it. That necessitated moving several other stacks so we could work […]
THE END of every year, for me, is a time of taking stock and focusing on lessons and joys from the year behind. For Britt, 2025 was an incredible—and challenging—year.
We continued our planning for the US Hotel, launched a new website, created a new logo inspired […]
GET READY for a creative month at our gallery and art center. We’ll continue to feature the “Gathering of Angels” show and offer exciting hands-on activities. Our Gift Gallery is also stocked with unique, one-of-a-kind gift ideas.
A Season of Giving—Be sure to stop by our […]
AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON settles over Jacksonville and the familiar sights and sounds of Christmas fill our streets, I’m reminded how fortunate we are to live in a community that values both tradition and fresh ideas. The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Don Litchfield as […]
WORLDWIDE, in every culture and religion, holidays are a time to enjoy with the people we love. It’s a time to observe honored traditions and customs. A time to reflect on what is most meaningful for ourselves. For those of us […]
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 […]