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, […]
WE SUPPOSE AT TIMES that it’s the unexpected that catches our attention. On a recent Spring day, as folks in camouflage spread across the grassy hillside, the juxtaposition of urban grays, navy blues, and desert beiges against the backdrop of Spring’s new growth was startling. We’d come to view the wildflowers, […]
Editor’s Note: At press time Oregon Legislature has passed SB 83.
AS OF THE WRITING OF THIS ARTICLE, a bill intended to repeal Oregon’s controversial Wildfire Hazard Map and related property regulations was unanimously voted by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire to eliminate the Map and […]
MAY BRINGS MANY EVENTS—After an unusually cold and wet winter, it’s time at last for a busy season of outdoor events at Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery! Our recurring History Saturday in the Cemetery and Marker Cleaning Workshop programs, plus the annual Pre-Memorial Day Community Cemetery Clean-up and Flags for our Veterans events […]
AS I SIT DOWN TO WRITE my May Column for the Review, I am reminded how grateful I am to live in Jacksonville. My husband, Clark, and I recently returned from a trip to the Southwest…places we have been to before, many times, and enjoyed. We had […]
MAY AT ART PRESENCE ART CENTER is buzzing! Opening Receptions are packed, Messy Hands classes are expanding with new activities, and the After School Art Club is filling up. This month, a Jacksonville-themed open call showcases diverse artists. Join us for the Opening Reception on May 3rd.
Guest Artists […]
WHO DOESN’T LOVE a “cozy?”
Cozies, as mystery lovers know, involve crime-solving in a charming setting (like a historic mansion), with minimal graphic violence (so the initial crime likely happens “off-stage”). Agatha Christie, among many others, deservedly became famous for her cozies. They make great reads on […]
WHEN WE FIRST MOVED to Jacksonville, it took 40 days for our moving van to arrive from Florida. Yep—forty. That meant we were living super minimalistic for about a month and a half. With two young kids at the time and not much to do in an empty […]
THE ROTARY CLUB OF JACKSONVILLE-APPLEGATE was chartered on March 4, 1989, with twenty-seven male members. A core number of the members of the new club transferred from Central Point. It was initially formed to establish a male-only club as Central Point had begun adding female members, creating a division within that […]
WITH BRITT SEASON right around the corner, the Hill is coming to life this month. Load in has begun, and our grounds and production crews are hard at work painting, sanding, improving electrical, installing equipment, and so much more. Preparing for the summer ahead is no small task. There’s […]
May brings us a month brimming with celebrations. We honor mothers on Mother’s Day, raise our glasses for Oregon Wine Month, showcase our history of hospitality during the festive Parade of Inns, and toast to our local wineries via the Jacksonville Wine Trolley throughout this celebratory time of year.
The Third Annual […]
WITH ANOTHER merry spring upon us, we’re wise to consider the simple message from Melanie Safka. She writes, “sometimes when we feel as big as the land and we lie back with the velvet hill in the small of our back and our hands are playing in the sand, and our […]
SPRINGTIME in Southern Oregon is a season of rebirth and renewal. The orchards, which lie dormant under the winter snow, burst into bloom as the days grow longer and warmer. The sight of pear and peach trees in full bloom is nothing short of magical. These trees, laden with delicate […]
FOR MOST OF US in Jacksonville, stocks and real estate are our biggest investments. Real estate is typically held as the value of your home. Traditionally thought of as the road map to the American dream, homeownership is largely made possible through bank financing. Stocks are a different story, […]
SPRINGTIME in the Jacksonville Historic Cemetery will be especially beautiful this year thanks to the hundreds of daffodil and crocus bulbs planted in the cemetery as a joint effort by Judy and Jim Finses and the Jacksonville Garden Club!
The “planting party” took place in early November and, funded by the Jacksonville […]
OREGON’S HOUSING production is not keeping pace with demand. This lack of housing is impacting affordability. As affordability becomes more problematic, people drive longer distances between a home that is affordable and where they work, or double up to share space, both of which reduces quality of life […]
DOCUMENTARY/ is the first line of a poem/ known as a haiku.
Really.
It has the required five syllables. Also, it allows us to put a five-syllable word into this Lifestyle Magazine (upping the I.Q. factor). Plus, we know that by watching documentaries, we’ll be distracted from the incessant drone of “news” […]
THE MARCH 4TH Jacksonville City Council meeting was high-spirited. After our regular agenda items, the fun began. I was very pleased to announce the 2024 award recipients for Jacksonville. Mike McClain received the 2024 “Lifetime Achievement Award,” and Belita Palu-ay received the 2024 Jacksonville “Citizen of the […]
THE FOUNDER of the Jacksonville Boosters Club, Robbie Collins, had a simple adage: “It does not matter who gets credit as long as the work gets done,” and indeed the work of the Boosters Club continues to be impressive. Collins was the main force in what some refer to as “the […]
Sipping & Playing in Jacksonville – April 2025
HAVE YOU checked out Jacksonville Wine Country? Our town is home to nine unique and delicious wineries, each offering something special. But as a mom with two young kids (8 and 6 years old), I know that not every winery is equally kid-friendly. Since […]
APRIL SHOWERS bring more than just rain—they bring a vibrant celebration of art to Jacksonville’s beloved non-profit gallery! This month, prepare to be inspired by a captivating guest artist, a spotlight on a talented member artist, and an exciting call to artists for a special […]
WITHIN A FEW DAYS, the entire Britt LIVE 2025 season will be in your hands. I’m thrilled with this season, which features legends galore (Earth Wind & Fire! Wynonna!!!) alongside some of the coolest newer bands around (Waxahatchee!!! Hermanos Gutierrez!!!)—it’s going to be an incredible […]
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 18, when our little slice of heaven opens its doors for the third annual Parade of Inns. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome ticket holders to eight of Jacksonville’s most charming accommodations—five beloved favorites plus three wonderful new additions.
Our self-guided tour provides access to spaces […]
WHEN WE HEARD that Jesse Eisenberg had written, directed, and starred in an upcoming motion picture, we were intrigued. We’d first taken note of the New York-based actor in 2010, when he wowed us as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. By that time, he’d already appeared in over a […]
THAT NOTION that we might one day travel to that blank spot on the map, to explore where others have not gone ahead of us, is a fantasy that draws so many of us into the wild places. We search out those places to explore, to have new and different adventures […]
SENATE BILL 762 made extensive changes to the Oregon wildfire policy, affecting how the state responds to wildfires and potentially requiring property owners make modifications to their property in order to lower their wildfire risk.
In 2022, in response to Senate Bill 762, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) […]
IT’S BEEN A CHILLY and wet winter so far, but spring is on the way and will be here before we know it!
Meanwhile, the first scheduled event of the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery’s 2025 season, our customary Spring Community Cemetery Clean-Up Day, March 22nd, […]
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 […]