We are very excited about our entire 2016 Britt Orchestra season. On Opening night, Friday, August 5, Music Director Teddy Abrams opens the 2016 Britt Orchestra season with a new commission by celebrated Russian-American composer Lev Zhurbin, whom The New York Times has called, “strikingly original and soulful.” The Russian program continues with Shostakovich’s complex […]
Learn to Grow Food in Your Own Yard!—The Rogue Valley community is invited to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from 4:00-7:00pm to learn how to grow food in a way that is affordable, labor-saving, and requires no irrigation. The Agricultural Manager is excited to lead tours of the demonstration […]
As school year draws near, we turn our attention to the benefits of art in education. A fresh search immediately brought a New York Times article, prepared by Park West Gallery, before us. Here are a few highlights:
“Dr. Eugene Beresin, M.D., M.A., professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and executive director at The Clay […]
My first memories of lavender are associated with my English maternal grandmother—as her signature perfume, yes—but also as a tiny muslin bag full of this sweet-smelling plant which I used to sleep with, tucked into my pillow. I remember sitting on the garden wall as a child and making pretty little bags and weaving lavender […]
If you were to travel in the 18th century, you would most likely go by sea, for months at a time. You would pack your belongings in a very large trunk. Trunks were very heavy, made of wood, metal and leather, with a domed or flat top. The wood inside […]
“Heat, ma’am! It was so dreadful here that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones.”
~ Wit and Wisdom of the Rev. Sydney Smith, 1856
Reverend Sydney Smith (1771-1845) was an English humorist and writer who became a clergyman because […]
A question that comes up continuously in real estate transactions is—“What is title insurance for and why do I need it?”
Title insurance is important because it protects buyers of real estate and lenders against any property loss or damage they might experience because of liens, encumbrances or defects in the title […]
A couple thousand years ago, a contributing writer to the world’s best-selling book penned, “If any man thinks he knows anything, he knows not yet what he ought to know.” ¹ I think we’re learning that unfettered access to information is inversely proportional to knowing the truth about anything. […]
A BIG Thank You—Thank you with sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who was able to help with our pre-Memorial Day Community Clean-up of the cemetery grounds on Saturday, May 21. It was wonderful and refreshing to see a number of new faces helping out. We had a great turn-out and so much was accomplished: […]
Creating an exhibition is a thoughtful, creative, intensive—and fun process. One of the many challenges for the curator is combining academic research with strong visual components to tell the story so that it’s both engaging and educational.
While curating my most recent exhibition, Courage in the Golden Valley: Southern Oregon Chinese History […]
The story of Jane and John McCully appears to have been one of opposites attracting. Jane has been described as “courageous, valiant, dauntless, adventuresome, and plucky”—worthy virtues for a pioneer lady and perhaps a partial reflection of her Scottish heritage. She was born in 1824 in Alloway, Scotland, home to the […]
Under the hot mid-day sun at Hanley Farm, I find myself challenged to stay cool during the first 100 plus degree heatwave of the summer. As I walk through the garden, I am taken aback as I observe that the plants surrounding me appear to be unfazed by the […]
After the recent passing of our dear friend and artist member, photographer Ron Moore, Ron’s wife, Dee, generously donated a number of items to benefit Art Presence Art Center. Included are a collection of Ron’s photography in a variety of sizes, beautiful photography books, bins, a high director’s chair, and much more. We will begin […]
It’s official: Teddy Abrams loves a challenge. Now entering his third season as the Britt Orchestra’s music director, Abrams is challenging himself, the musicians from whom he will coax each precious note, and the audience that we’re sure will fall under his spell. If you anticipate a snoozy little symphony […]
Today, nonprofit performing arts organizations across the country find that to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must innovate. Some of the most promising solutions are generated by those of us who are willing to work differently by working together. Partnerships enable performing arts organizations to make the most of each other’s strengths […]
In April, 2016, Rogue Valley residents Ken Snelling, Terry Rasmussen and Bill Anderberg, teamed-up to participate in the Face of America Ride, one of the largest annual non-competitive bicycle rides in the nation. With more than 600 riders, including nearly 135 injured veterans, the event draws and inspires thousands more participants, spectators and supporters.
In 2017, […]
Once you make an offer on a home and your offer gets accepted, many people think there is not much more to it and that the home is virtually theirs. But hang on, there’s a lot more left before you own that home! Since we’re at the start of the home buying season, […]
My wife kept reminding me about how I talked of writing a column on aging, in other words, growing older. I kept putting it off but finally came to the conclusion that I’d better write this now before she forgets to remind me. (She’s getting older, too.)
This […]
History Saturday, June 11, 10:00-11:30am—Please join the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery for our second program of the year, “The Chinese: Their Role in Jacksonville’s History,” presented by Docents Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh. This program promises to be very interesting and informative. Following the talk, there will be a short walking tour to grave […]
Last month we looked at the early years of Benjamin Franklin Dowell, great, great nephew of Benjamin Franklin and a pioneer Jacksonville resident, in his role as attorney, packer, and claims collector. This month we’ll visit a more established Dowell as he becomes a Washington lobbyist and a newspaper publisher.
Dowell had […]
At Hanley Farm, we grow food in a way that requires no irrigation, no machinery, and low labor beyond planting and picking food. Our objective is to demonstrate a simple way to grow food that is approachable to the general public. Everyone has the right to grow their own […]
Our gut is our biggest immune system organ and contributes to our overall well-being. Some health professionals are now linking digestive issues like indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, and even weight gain, to “leaky gut.” “Leaky gut syndrome” causes symptoms like bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains. They […]
They lurk behind closed doors. Almost everyone has one—in their garage, in their closets, in their desk, or in a drawer. They are “Pockets of Chaos!” These pockets are where we just dump stuff off, sometimes with no rhyme or reason. We have busy lives, replete with memorabilia, paperwork, bills, and general paraphernalia. […]
Essential oils. We hear about them more and more these days and find them in many more stores than ever before. But what is an essential oil, how is it made and what are they used for?
Without getting too “sciency” or technical, an essential oil is the extracted volatile organic compounds of certain flowers, leaves, […]
Step right up, folks, for the most captivating show of the era. It’s everything a big-budget entertainment should be: edgy, unpredictable, alternately hilarious and horrific. Yes, it’s that character-driven competition known as The 2016 Presidential Election.
We’re fascinated by this big show. But as absorbed as we are, we can’t bring […]
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ~Aristotle
From Paleolithic cave paintings onward, making art has been universally important to human beings. We find evidence of art in every culture everywhere, at every point in time. If, as anthropologist Ellen Dissanayake suggests, we “step outside our […]
Did you know that the original Britt Gardens, designed by Jacksonville pioneer photographer and horticulturist Peter Britt, was once a destination attraction in the Northwest? Portlanders would make special train trips to come see the gardens.
Did you know there was once a brewery that stood next to the sidewalk going up to the Britt grounds, […]
May greets us with many planets in retrograde (Jupiter until 5/9; Mercury until 5/22; Mars until 6/29). This continues to be a time to not be in a rush to “get things done.” Alleviate frustration by practicing mindfulness, patience and making time to breathe consciously. This can also help with the […]
The greatest challenges humans face throughout their lives are two:
1) the challenge of where to start
2) the challenge of when to stop
~Sameh Elsayed
There is something special about the number seven. I can’t explain it, but it’s true. Seven is magical. Every seven years the body completely remakes itself on a cellular level. How […]
In the early 1970’s in the Black Hills of South Dakota, with baby in our backpack, we would tramp through the woods in search of old forgotten cabins and homesteads. Sometimes we would find iron wheels and forged hinges, but the most fun finds were intact whiskey bottles. I remember […]
“If you really want to draw close to your garden, you must remember that you are dealing with a being that lives and dies, like the human body with its poor flesh, its illnesses at times repugnant. One must not always see it dressed up for a ball, manicured and […]
Buying a home is an exciting event and often one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make. Most buyers do not have the cash funds available to purchase a home outright. This is especially true for properties within and around Jacksonville as prices continue to increase, which is intensified by a limited inventory […]
There are moments in our kids’ lives, pivotal moments defining who they are and what they’re destined to be. Some twenty years ago, summer in Oregon came early. Our youngest was just a year old and headed back east with her mother. Mary was going to visit an elderly […]
Over the last 5 years, the median price of real estate in Jackson County has increased 55.6%! What makes these numbers even better is that most of the price increases have come in the last three years. Homes are selling quickly, pending sales are up and the number of […]
Most of our Jacksonville citizens have never been to one of our City Council meetings. They don’t know what they are missing. It’s true each meeting has an agenda, but that doesn’t always foretell what might happen since human behavior is quite often unpredictable. This was certainly […]
The Southern Oregon Historical Society (SOHS) recently provided me with a unique opportunity to research, explore, and snoop around the scenic Hanley Farm in order to provide a synthesis of the past archaeology conducted at the site. Located on Jackson Creek just outside of Jacksonville, the farm was first homesteaded in […]
May kicks-off the event season at Hanley Farm with two annual favorites—the Heritage Plant & Garden Fair and the Children’s Heritage Fair.
Mark your calendar for Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8 from 10:00am-3:00pm, for the Hanley Heritage Plant & Garden Fair. There will be a […]
Cemetery Stroll, Tuesday, May 10, 6:30-8:00pm—Join us for an all-new event, an early-evening stroll in the cemetery grounds to visit different sections of the Jacksonville Cemetery and learn more about the history of various fraternal and religious organizations comprising these final resting places. This month, we will visit a number of gravesites located in the […]
With the 1861 B.F. Dowell house being a featured home on the Jacksonville Boosters Club’s Historic Home and Garden Tour this month, it seems appropriate to focus our Pioneer Profile series on Benjamin Franklin Dowell.
Dowell, a great, great nephew of Benjamin Franklin through his paternal lineage, was named for this noted […]
ART’clectic Artisans Market—ART’clectic Artisans Market will be holding their spring pop-up event at Art Presence Art Center this month. The garden-themed show opens Thursday, May 5 and closes Sunday, May 29. The artisan’s market exhibit will be open every Thursday through Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
Sixteen local artists and artisans will display framed art, photography, […]
Once upon a time, categorizing popular music was simple. Musicians stayed in their lane, playing either “Country/Western,” or “Rock ‘n’ Roll,” or “Folk,” or “Easy Listening.” Radio programmers would adopt a category and run with it. But then Willie Nelson let his hair grow long. Bob Dylan picked up an […]
The buzz around Britt’s 2016 line-up started with rumors that turned into reality. Yes, the “supreme” Diana Ross, along with her daughter, Rhonda Ross, is performing in Jacksonville this summer. Speaking of rumors, have you ever heard the gossip that Johnny Depp owns a house in […]
There is a natural burst of energy that we all seem to feel in the spring. We can get overly-enthusiastic in our outdoor activities, like gardening, golfing … and we pay the price, usually in our lower back and shoulders. (Wednesday JoyFull Yoga chair & floor class at 10:00am & Fridays […]
It is famously said that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. Sometimes, that teacher comes as a coyote in a pick-up truck.
In Native American mythology, the coyote is a trickster. Like the court jester of old, he brings insight and wisdom with humor. Coyote upsets your equilibrium when you start feeling all high […]
Ah, April…typically the most beautiful month of the year. With the sun having warmed- up the air, windows fly open and stay open all day and into the night. We emerge from our cabin fever and feel renewed and refreshed with the spring air. We open the windows and doors […]
Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the housefly
in my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questions
of the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling, dying
flake of […]
When we sat down to prepare our trust and will arrangements, the estate planner asked how we wanted to structure the end of life details. This means death and burial instructions. The attorney said no detail is too small. They clearly didn’t know who they were talking to.
Mary said […]
My background in investments in the past has mainly been my 401(k) and my personal stock portfolio. Thirty five years of my life was spent in the high-tech industry, so that became the majority of my stock portfolio. I have seen my high-tech stocks double, triple and then crash! […]
An odd thing happened a few days ago… I saw a penny on the sidewalk and kept on walking, never bothering to pick it up. That would be unthinkable at an earlier time… a time when a penny meant something.
When I was ten-years-old, five pennies could buy […]
Jacksonville Pioneer George Francis Schumpf was the most successful and longest established barber, operating his barber shop at 157 West California Street from the time he purchased the original building in 1873 until his death in 1897. The site itself appears to have housed a Jacksonville barber from the early 1850s […]