IN THE 1850s, Jacksonville was filled with miners hoping to strike it rich. Some did—but just as many lost everything. One man, profiled previously in the Jacksonville Review in a great series by Carolyn Kingsnorth, was Cornelius Beekman. Beekman built his fortune not on speculative gold dust, but instead […]
WHAT A WET, COLD BEGINNING of February, with snow, ice, and rain! The city’s snowplow and our tractors were working overtime. Our Public Works Department did a wonderful job clearing our streets. We will work on clean-up for a while as they continue to clear debris and make repairs, in addition to their regular duties. […]
SPRING IS IN THE AIR, and Jacksonville is bursting with new life and creativity! Come experience the artistic vibrancy of our city and immerse yourself in the beauty of local art at Art Presence, Jacksonville’s non-profit art gallery.
March Guest Artist: Susan Migliore—Our Guest Artist wall […]
BRITT HAS ANNOUNCED our BFO season and around half our popular music shows, and it’s going to be another fabulous summer on the Hill. We’re thrilled for the return of legacy acts including Earth Wind & Fire and Chicago, and incredibly excited to welcome newcomers like Waxahatchee and Rainbow […]
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Historic Jacksonville, Inc. proudly celebrate Women’s History Month in our historic landmark town by bringing our rich past into vibrant conversation with the present. This collaboration highlights the exceptional women who have shaped— and continue to shape—our unique community by weaving together stories of pioneering […]
WELCOME TO 2025… 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:
• Five History Saturday talks and tours, coordinated and emceed by Ellen Martin:
THE NEW YEAR IS HERE and we’re ringing it in with a burst of creativity. Come see all the exciting new artists and activities we have in store for Jacksonville and Southern Oregon this February at Art Presence!
Guest Artist Group Show: Secret Society of the Missing Fig Leaf—February […]
“One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” ~ Aldo Leopold
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, in the gradual reclamation of a damaged environment, to be out and about on our two legs, to experience some of this healing. Our trails lead […]
Are you looking for a delicious and quick savory supper that doesn’t contain meat? I’ve got just the ticket! This Dutch Baby serves as a great vehicle for so many delicious combinations. And while I love the traditional powdered sugar and lemon cake… this guy is just […]
HOME WARRANTIES and home insurance are two distinct types of coverage that protect homeowners from financial loss, but they serve different purposes. While both offer valuable protection, understanding their differences is important.
A home warranty covers the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances when they break […]
AMID GLOBAL STORIES of environmental decline, pollution, and ecosystem disruptions, the revival of the Klamath River offers a remarkable tale of resilience and renewal.
Once the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast, the Klamath River suffered a dramatic ecological collapse in 1918 when PacificCorp constructed the first of four hydroelectric […]
AT CUTLER, teaching financial literacy is a priority. Our advisors aim to help our clients develop healthy money habits for positive financial outcomes. Financial literacy, however, should start well before meeting with a financial advisor. Parents and grandparents can play a pivotal role in fostering these skills early on. […]
IT’S BEEN QUITE A RIDE since I was first sworn in as Mayor of Jacksonville in 2021. I came into office as COVID-19 had ramped up in the United States. Presidential elections had been volatile, with periods of unrest and fear nationwide. That whole period was unsettling […]
A PERSON’S LIFE runs from the birth canal to the burial ground. So when deciding to write a biopic about that life, at what point should a screenwriter jump in? Is everything notable? Or is one period of that character’s life most deserving of examination?
The creators of the biopic A […]
IT’S 2025! The moment the calendar page flips to a new year, Britt springs into action! Every year presents new opportunities and challenges, and 2025 has some huge things in store. We’re so excited to share them with you!
You might have already gotten the announcement of this summer’s Britt […]
Our historic landmark town was the shining heart of the Rogue Valley’s 2024 holiday season. With the inaugural Jacksonville Holiday Trolley Lights Tour drawing over 5500 enthusiastic passengers for 29 completely sold-out evenings, Father Christmas welcoming over 1000 visitors, countless carols sung and endless cups of hot cider poured for visitors […]
BUYING A HOME is a significant investment and the process of purchasing a home is filled with both stress and excitement. Once you enter into escrow on your dream home, it’s easy to focus on the more visible aspects such as the layout, location, and overall aesthetics. […]
ONCE UPON A TIME, in a land not so far away, snow fell from the December sky. As it piled higher and higher, the woodland critters became anxious that their winter food stores would become difficult to find. But as had happened many times before, no sooner had the snow […]
The cold weather has set in and it’s time to light the fire and enjoy simple meals that fill us with superb nutrition and love. This clean and pleasing recipe is so satisfying, you’ll make it many times before spring arrives. The origins of this dish […]
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. A good financial advisor helps you plant that tree.” ~Warren Buffett
FOR OVER 10 YEARS, we have used this space to discuss a variety of money issues. From market updates, tax changes, political events, […]
LAST MONTH we highlighted the September conclusion of our History Saturday in the Cemetery program (second Saturdays, May through September) and planned to write this month about the conclusion of the Marker Cleaning Workshop program (third Saturdays, same months). It was quite a finale! Just before the last workshop, Christmas […]
HISTORIC JACKSONVILLE, INC. is in the holiday spirit, which does tend to include some holiday spirits, so stories of beer, whiskey, and early Jacksonville saloons is the subject of this month’s Pioneer Profile. Gold rush Jacksonville became known as “saloon city,” reputedly having as many as 36 saloons. Keep in […]
INTRODUCING the force behind the Chamber is an absolute honor and the most important part of the first, official, written introduction in my role as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Brian Dunn, President and visionary of the Wine Trolley and Jacksonville Holiday Trolley Lights Tour is the owner of […]
“’TIS THE SEASON” at the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s Hanley Farm and we’re inviting you to join us in celebrating!
WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP—Once you’ve finished your post-Thanksgiving “Black Friday” shopping, head over to Hanley Farm on Saturday, November 30. From 11am to 3pm, we will be offering our annual wreath-making […]
AFTER A BUSY YEAR here at City Hall and in Jacksonville, it’s time to say goodbye to 2024. Our fall season was spectacular, and we are feeling the relief of fire season being over for the year. As so often happens in the Rogue Valley, it […]
RECENTLY we were drifting through Art Presence admiring an exhibit of locally-crafted artwork, when a woman looked up from a chair in a corner and calmly stated, “I’m waiting to see what you say about Wolfs.”
Really.
Let us step back for a moment. We always enjoy encountering you, Dear Readers, […]
CAN YOU BELIEVE it’s already the holiday season? We’re so grateful to all our patrons and supporters who’ve made this past year so special. Come on in and get cozy in our gallery while enjoying both new and familiar works of art by our […]
THE ART PRESENCE FAMILY—our dedicated board, talented members, and amazing volunteers—want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Jacksonville community and art lovers across the region. Your support has been instrumental in helping our nonprofit art gallery and gift gallery flourish, connecting people through the […]
THE FRIENDS’ final History Saturday in the Cemetery presentation of 2024 took place on another beautiful September morning with Fall in the air and an audience eager to hear the sequel to June’s talk on Courtship and Love Customs in Early Jacksonville.
Continuing the theme, this time with Love and Marriage in […]
IT’S MY FAVORITE MONTH OF THE YEAR, and a perfect time to take stock of the many fortunes and blessings of 2024. Another Britt season has come and gone, and I’m grateful for the fabulous time we had with all of you on the Hill! Our live summer shows […]
AN INCREASINGLY COMMON TV TROPE has ripened into our favorite TV trope.
We hope that provocative sentence has prompted you to ask two questions. #1: What the heck is a trope? and #2: What favorite TV trope is that?
To answer your first question, a trope is an overused device, or stereotype. […]
AS WE NEAR THE END OF 2024, we are starting to wind down the year and enjoy the fall. We are looking forward to the holiday season and all that entails for us individually. Our election year is finally over, thank goodness, and we have a head […]
SO FAR IN 2024, the S&P 500 has hit a new all-time high 44 times. And even though California Street is a long-way from Wall Street, at Cutler we have a great deal of gratitude for this extended bull market. After all, stock ownership in the US has never […]
LIVING IN THE COUNTRY is a dream for many. If you have not purchased or lived on rural property, there are many unique considerations to be aware of. When buying in a city or town, it is generally easier to determine allowed uses of the property, boundaries, and […]
Oh my goodness I can’t think of a yummier treat on a fall day then a tasty apple fritter! These little bites are easy and fun and make a great snack for the kiddo’s or a respectable dessert served with a side of vanilla ice cream. Easier […]
ONE CONSIDERS THE THANKSGIVING SEASON most often from the perspective of gustatory delights, time with kinfolk, and brilliant change of the seasons. Here in the Siskiyou region, we can be thankful that the long, hot, dry summer days have yielded to more temperate conditions, beckoning us into the woodlands that surround […]
“There are some good things to be said about walking. Not many, but some.” ~E. Abbey
AFTER RECENTLY FINISHING Kevin Fedarko’s, A Walk in the Park, we were reminded of the mindfulness that becomes imperative when venturing out on foot into wild places. Biting off large chunks of difficult terrain, as “long-distance […]
How many of you out there have a memory that revolves around homemade cabbage rolls? I sure do! My Grandma and I would roll them together every fall when I was just a wee kid. I love the slightly sweet (thanks to the brown sugar) and slightly […]
TREES IN JACKSONVILLE are protected after reaching a certain size; these trees are considered “Resource” trees, defined as any tree with a circumference equal to or greater than 12 inches diameter at breast height. There are also protection standards for multi-stem trees and the topping of any live […]
WHAT WANTS TO HAPPEN?
I frequently pose this question to clients who have come to the end of something but aren’t sure what’s next. “What wants to happen?” takes you out of your head and into your intuition, into an awareness of the subtle energies that are always flowing. When we align […]
CEMETERY HAPPENINGS!—Our August History Saturday presentation, “Let Us Entertain You – Entertainment and Leisure in 1800s Jacksonville…from bloomers to bicycles,” brought an enthusiastic group of visitors to the cemetery on a beautiful summer morning to hear another interesting chapter of local history!
In period costume and using historic photos to illustrate their […]
AS I SIT DOWN TO WRITE MY COLUMN this month, I’m feeling very optimistic. There is a feeling of excitement in the air that I’m trying to put my finger on. I believe I’m feeling the changes in the weather. We are starting to feel the crisp […]
WE ADMIT IT. We’ve spent the summer complaining too much about the weather. You’ve probably wondered when the heck your Unfettered Critters would get back to their primary gig: complaining about—no, no, critiquing! —Entertainment. Yeah. We wondered, too. We’ve missed it. So, what’s been stopping us?
Well, we’ve had an unwelcome […]
THIS OCTOBER, we’re conjuring up a gallery experience that’s anything but ordinary. Get ready for “The Imaginarium,” an open call show that promises an enchanting journey through the realms of creativity.
October Art Extravaganza: The Imaginarium—As the leaves transform into a fiery spectacle and the nights […]
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, you’ve heard or read a fair bit from me about the acquisition of the United States Hotel building. What I’ve yet to share, though, is how that building purchase fits within the greater context of our vision for Britt in its next chapter: the […]
NATURE BATHING. Mindfulness. Sense of Place. We venture into the out-of-doors to challenge our comfort zones, to enlarge our horizons, and to simply have new experiences. Though there are a wide array of commercial enterprises built around our need for therapeutic self-help, sometimes our wellness is simply dependent on a tried-and-true […]
WITH THIS MONTH’S ISSUE being all about Health and Wellness in Jacksonville, it seemed like a perfect time to talk about Wellness Travel, which is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after vacation styles—and it’s not hard to understand why.
Imagine trading in the usual hustle and bustle of popular tourist […]
Imagine taking all the bounty from your garden and putting it in one delicious and complete dish? I think that’s just summer in your tummy! This one pan dish can be a used as a luscious side or grab a nice locally sourced loaf of sourdough and […]
A LOVELY, PHILOSOPHICAL CONVERSATION with a friend today got me thinking about the idea of receiving and being received. I never felt very received when I was growing up, not by my family and not by my peers. I was and am extremely sensitive, a deep thinker, and an even deeper […]
BUYING A HOME is one of the largest financial transactions most people will undertake. As I explained in last month’s article, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reached a settlement agreement in March which took effect August 17, 2024, and will impact anyone buying or selling a home.
The […]