My write-up in the October 2021 issue featured a photograph of the Chavner block in the Catholic section prior to the start of restoration work. This month, I would like to share this photo of that same block after the project was completed and I think you’ll agree it is quite the transformation.

Thank you—I would like to thank Pastor Michael and his students from the Rogue Valley Adventist Academy for helping clean-up the cemetery grounds on September 8 and 15. The senior class filled 75 bags with debris while, with a little coaching, the junior class filled 79 bags. We sincerely appreciated their “can-do” attitude and help.

In total, volunteers contributed 183 hours of labor during the month of September, despite our having to cancel the marker cleaning workshop on September 18 due to rain.

Our Adopt-A-Block volunteers continue to amaze me with the care and attention they provide in caring for their adopted blocks. Working on their own schedule it seems there is always a group here, a group there, tending to their blocks.

The Friends also contracted the services of Nolan Briggs, who recently rebuilt the brick surrounds at the grave sites of two children buried in the cemetery. One in the City section and the other in the Jewish section. Nolan, who has completed several projects for us, takes pride in his work with an eye on restoring sites as close to the original as possible.

A Successful and Enjoyable Fundraiser—Slightly over $3,200 was raised for the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery at the October 9, auction held at Belita Space during Jacksonville’s Art Walk.

Our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Chris Anderson for creating his beautiful and artistic bowls and for supporting our organization. Thank you to Chris’s wife Brenda for all her efforts in organizing the event and to Belita Palu-ay for hosting the auction and for her generous raffle with proceeds going to the Friends. Finally, thank you to all who attended and those who were successful in purchasing one of Chris’s special pieces. We hope you enjoy them for many years.

Giving Tuesday—As many other non-profits have had to do this past year and a half, we canceled many of our events due to Covid to keep our volunteers, visitors, and the community safe. This included our one and only major fundraiser, Meet the Pioneers, canceled for the second year in a row. This November 30 is Giving Tuesday and we hope that you will consider making a donation to the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery and support our ongoing work. Donations may be made payable to: Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery or FOJHC and sent to FOJHC P.O. Box 1541 Jacksonville, OR 97530. Our Board Members and volunteers thank you for your consideration.

Wishing all a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.