WHEN I MOVED HERE over 20 years ago, what attracted me was the beauty of the mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes. The plentiful outdoor activities allowed me to focus on my passion for hiking, kayaking, biking, rafting and living outdoors.
As I’ve aged, I find myself with the added focus of […]
JULY IN THE JACKSONVILLE HISTORIC CEMETERY saw warmer weather, and, with it, an onslaught of Madrone leaves often obscuring the markers our visitors seek when touring or paying respects to departed family and friends. While city staff does their best to keep up, all of us as Adopt-A-Block “parents” need to […]
THE RECENT NAR SETTLEMENT has been a hot topic in the media, triggering discussions about potential changes in the real estate market. Considerable misinformation has been reported, which has created confusion over what will happen in the real estate industry.
In this article, I will go over the two […]
“TO INFINITY, AND BEYOND!” In the Toy Story movies, Buzz Lightyear believes he can set a course to infinity. Buzz, of course, is a “space explorer” misplaced here on Earth with a cast of misfit toys. Perhaps Buzz is also an investor in NVIDIA. After all, the stock price […]
THE FRIENDS OF JACKSONVILLE’S HISTORIC CEMETERY’S “2nd Saturday” activities for June began with a wonderful turnout for the plaque dedication in honor of Dirk Siedlecki. Located on the north side of the Sexton’s Tool House in an area beautifully landscaped by the Jacksonville Garden Club, the boulder-mounted plaque provides a brief […]
WE KICKED OFF JULY with our annual Mayor’s 4th of July Hot Dog Picnic! This event was started in 2017 by former Mayor Paul Becker, as a way to thank the folks in Jacksonville for their continued support of the city. I have continued the tradition for […]
IT’S HOT OUT THERE! Come visit our gallery to cool off and enjoy the amazing artwork of our members and guest artist. Even better, come join one of our Messy Hands classes or sit in on an Author Talk. Also, in the Main Gallery, our […]
Other than my dog Ina, I have three favorite dogs that I absolutely love – to eat. Hot Dogs! Each of these dogs has a unique origin story as well as tried and true toppings. Lets dig in!
The Chicago Dog
Origin: The World’s Fair in 1883 kicked-off a […]
IT’S HIGH SUMMER on the hill, and we’re having such fun already. We’ve enjoyed the fabulous Britt Festival Orchestra; welcomed legends like Willie Nelson and Ziggy Marley; enjoyed belly laughs with cast members from Whose Line Is It Anyway; and so much more. Despite extraordinarily hot weather, we’ve danced […]
IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, it’s important to get along and feel comfortable with your surroundings. While we often focus on human interactions, having well-trained dogs as neighbors can make a huge difference.
Aside from their adorable furry faces, their disciplined behavior sets a standard for canine conduct in the area. A well-trained dog is less likely to […]
TRAVELING is one of life’s greatest pleasures, offering us the chance to explore new cultures, savor exotic cuisines, and create important memories that really do last a lifetime. But while you and/or your travel agent are busy planning your dream vacation, there’s one crucial aspect you shouldn’t overlook: travel insurance. […]
OKAY, A QUICK QUIZ to start off this monthly installment: When driving on a mountain road, such as the approach to the Upper Britt parking area, or on either Reservoir or Norling Road in Forest Park, should uphill or downhill traffic yield the right-of-way on steep, narrow sections? For folks unfamiliar […]
BACK IN THOSE HEADY DAYS when groups like The Doobie Brothers and Three Dog Night were but burgeoning hopefuls, one of us Unfettered types harbored similar rock ‘n’ roll proclivities, and wrote a lyric that went: Everybody talks about the weather/But nobody does nothin’ about it (cha, cha, cha). The […]
SUMMER IS UPON US and the best way to enjoy it is to head outdoors to soak up the long, warm days and nights. Get your shorts, sandals, sunscreen and sunglasses on, uncover your boats and boards, and enjoy our favorite 10 Summer Outdoor Activities.
Outdoor Music—At the heart of Jacksonville […]
THIS IS MY LAST article for the Jacksonville Review. I was given the honor of writing the student column four years ago, yet it feels like yesterday. Now, having just graduated from St. Mary’s High School, a new chapter of my life will begin at the University of Southern California. I […]
Britt Season!
Just entered the start of Britt Season!
It suddenly occurs
We’ve written not one word…
About it!
Britt Season!
Say it loud and there’s music playing.
Say it soft and…and…well, there’s music playing then, too.
OKAY, MOVING ON. It’s late—July already. That beautiful stage on the hill has been sweetly resonant for weeks, with the Britt […]
THAT WE’D NOT ONLY BUILT THAT TRAIL, that we’d walked and run it innumerable times recreationally, and in our role as a parks volunteer, had completed routine annual maintenance there, would never have prepared us to find a new (to us) isolated member of the broomrape family. There they pushed forth […]
IMAGINE JETTING OFF to your dream destination without paying a dime for flights or hotel stays. Sounds too good to be true? Think again! With the right airline and hotel credit cards, you can turn those daydreams into reality. These cards offer a variety of rewards, from free flights and […]
Straight up I’m going to be honest and admit I borrowed this recipe from King Arthur Baking Company because it’s perfectly great and perfectly easy. I’ve used this recipe for years and it never fails. Plus, you can doll it up like I’ve done by adding edible […]
AS A PARENT of a 15-year-old, learning to drive has been an adventure. Recently, when we were sitting in traffic I said to my daughter, “If traffic makes you upset, just remember that you are part of the problem!” It is often helpful to think of our individual impact […]
OUR BUSY MAY schedule got off to a rainy start with the cancellation of the Pre-Memorial Day Cemetery Clean-Up due to unusually cold weather and nearly an inch of unexpected rainfall! Fortunately, members of the cemetery team from Jacksonville Public Works had been mowing the paths and open spaces in anticipation […]
THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING at Art Presence in July with a fresh Guest Artist and Member Artist of the Month, plus a talk about Ginger Rogers’ Crazy Quilt, Messy Hands, a block printing class, and a special exhibition of envelope art. Phew! Come visit […]
THE BRITT SEASON is well underway, and I hope you’ve joined us for an event or two (or more)! Highlights for me already have included our neighborhood kickoff party, The Hill is Where the Heart Is; witnessing two amazing conductors leading the orchestra; and of course, the magical experience […]
MY FAMILY AND I just came back from a fantastic European trip where we explored Germany, Switzerland, and France. Although we adored the City of Light, the highlight of our journey was the 8 days leading up to Paris. During this time, we ventured out of our comfort zone, rented […]
JUST THE OTHER DAY, one of us was saying that he’d like to see a good caper movie, like The Sting, or Ocean’s Eleven. Something with a lot of action that raises adrenalin levels and makes you think. Coincidentally, Netflix sent us an ad boasting about a bunch of “action-packed […]
PERHAPS IT’S NOT SO COMMON, or at times it appears to be absent altogether. And yet, we’d expect adults to be mindful of others. So how is it that in the quiet halls of our surrounding forests, we are wise to watch for those without integrity to follow a few guidelines […]
Summer dining is a wonderful time of year with fresh ingredients easily available. For me, it’s a time to combine ingredients that just work when they’re together. I often give more thought to my side dishes than I do the main course. Here are three favs that […]
I RECENTLY HAD A BIRTHDAY. A big one. An “oof” one. Birthdays are a mini, private New Year’s event; you tend to review the past and think about your dreams for the future. In my contemplations leading up to the day, I discovered, to my chagrin and unhappiness, that my future […]
THERE ARE FEW HOMEOWNERS that would be willing to purchase a home without homeowner’s insurance. However, there is a growing number of homeowners in Oregon who are facing higher annual premiums or have had their policies canceled when they came up for renewal, with some insurers no longer […]
CUTLER ADVISES OVER 2000 INDIVIDUALS. As you can imagine, we have clients across the political spectrum. And they are all worried about the election. Democrats are worried about Trump, Republicans are worried about Biden, and Independents are worried about both of them! As we get asked on a daily […]
LIVING IN SOUTHERN OREGON means we get to enjoy all four seasons. However, our summer season can be a cause for worry, with the danger of wildfires. Summer thunderstorms, wind, warmer temperatures, and carelessness, are the main causes of fire in our area. We aim to help […]
ON A RAINY MORNING IN APRIL, Cemetery Sexton Rick Shields, together with members of the Friends board and the Jacksonville Public Works Department staff, placed a monument in the cemetery commemorating the life and work of Dirk Siedlecki, late founder of the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery and long-time President of […]
WITH THE PENDING SALE OF JACKSONVILLE’S U.S. HOTEL, a cornerstone of the town’s National Historic Landmark District and the first building to undergo major restoration in the 1960s, it seems appropriate to revisit the 19th Century larger-than-life character most associated with this 1880 landmark—Madame Jeanne DeRoboam Laugier Guilfoyle Holt.
Born in Bordeaux, […]
FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS, Britt’s board and staff have been working behind the scenes on our new strategic plan, outlining all our big dreams for the next five years. After 8 months of drafts and revisions, the plan was unanimously approved last month, and we’re thrilled to start […]
TEMPERATURES RISE in June, and Art Presence is heating up right along with the weather! We have lots of creative activities happening throughout June: a special exhibition of envelope art, book readings, hands-on classes, as well as new Guest and Member artists…
June Guest Artist: Catie […]
Lemon anything is a personal favorite of mine. Now, mix a little lemon with mascarpone and whipping cream and I am swooning. If you are looking for a decadent and delicious spring recipe that you can make in advance… look no further. Please note, this is a […]
I REALLY ENJOY talking to people who are new to Jacksonville or just in town for a weekend vacation. Frequently, they ask me about a good place to eat. Here are a few suggestions for Jacksonville restaurants that are owned and operated by locals who pour their heart and soul […]
IT’S NOT AS THOUGH our TV is always on.
Granted, it’s active most evenings, as we watch a movie, or a favored weekly program.
But during the daytime…
Okay, okay—it’s on then too—providing comforting background noise to our daily activities, like waves slapping a pristine shore, or soft breezes rustling leaves of forest […]
WARM SUNNY DAYS followed by cool cloudy ones. Dusty trails one day and sloppy mud the next. Springtime is fully embracing our local woodlands. Just a blink of an eye from the impassable tangles of the late winter snowstorm, through the brilliant hillside displays of floral brilliance, and now into the […]
ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S recent debut of “Icon of the Seas” —the biggest ship in the world—inspired me to write about one of my favorite topics this month: cruising!
As many of you may know, a cruise can be an amazing vacation option, offering many benefits that cater to both seasoned travelers and […]
IF YOU’RE LOOKING to talk with someone about concerns in your life, it can be hard to know what to look for. The options are daunting. Should you find a counselor? Coach? Psychologist? All those letters after the names are like alphabet soup. What do they even mean?
Let’s break this down […]
SELLER FINANCING can be a useful tool when mortgage loans are difficult to qualify for or when interest rates are high. This alternative type of loan may help sellers move their home faster and get a considerable return. Buyers can benefit with typically less rigid qualifying requirements, sometimes […]
SPRING IS IN THE AIR, and this is a time when investors often say “Should I sell in May and go away?” There are always concerns bubbling to the surface for investors, but ultimately staying committed to your investment strategy has generally proven to be the most prudent strategy. […]
WITH “APRIL SHOWERS” behind us, it’s time for “May flowers” and the beginning of 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 make […]
SOME THOUGHT-PROVOKING agenda items were on a lengthy City Council Meeting, held on April 2, 2024. I felt this Council meeting showed the City Council, and the audience members who spoke that night, at their best. Reasoned, measured, and respectful comments were offered by all.
The first item […]
ART PRESENCE IS DELIGHTED to present a special collection that captures the historic soul of Jacksonville. Our latest exhibition is a selective showcase, featuring pieces chosen from a wide array of local artists, each bringing their unique perspective.
During the open call held in March, any artist within the […]
IT’S A SPRING SYMPHONY in the woodlands surrounding Jacksonville. The string section—Douglas firs, Ponderosa Pines, flowering big leaf maples, and the majestic madrones—swells around us with a fresh wash of greenery. Oregon grapes, hazelnuts, wild roses, snowberry sword ferns, miner’s lettuce, and white flowering buck brush comprise the lush […]
April welcomes back the much-anticipated arrival of spring and delivers vibrancy of color and possibility. Artist and Gardener, on the corner of Main and 3rd Street similarly welcomes all seasons and visitors with a delightful display of colorful local art, a wide range of tastefully-curated gifts and an absolutely lovely hidden […]
“THE ONE WHO PLANTS TREES, knowing he will never sit in their shade, has begun to understand the meaning of life.” (author unknown) We take this to heart because of recent feedback about fuels reduction on city-owned land. Some concerns that were raised include the spread of invasive weeds, potential erosion, […]
This handy make-ahead recipe works as a delicious brunch item or if you’re looking for an easy supper, you can simply add some shredded chicken to the party. This is even more scrumptious if you put it together the day before you bake it. For all of […]