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 […]
“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 […]