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. Our office staff took very little time off and braved the roads, traveling to work from the cities where they live. I’m grateful for the hours and dedication the staff put into ensuring our safety. Thank you!

Leo Tolstoy said, “March is the time for Plans and Projects.” Winter in Jacksonville is filled with opportunities to pass the time and make plans. The Jacksonville Community Center always has a slate of programs, ranging from educational, health, exercise, and hobbies, to history. The Jacksonville Oregon Friends of Classical Music Concert Series premiered last January with sold-out ticket sales and repeated that again this year. The Aeolus Quartet will play for the season’s final performance, March 30, 3pm, at City Hall. This performance is sold out, so purchase your tickets early next year. Visit their website www.jorfcm.org. Under the able leadership of prime organizer Marshall Thompson, the Concert Series has received acclaim in the valley and across the state. Now that the series is on firm footing, Marshall is ready to step back and will be turning the reins over to the Britt Music and Arts Festival for future concerts, starting with the 2026 season. Last month’s Jacksonville Review featured an article with full information on this change.

The Britt is busy planning their 2025 season and renovations on their new home at the U.S. Hotel Building. They will hold an Open House event on March 2, from 1-5pm. Winter is also a great time to support our local restaurants and shops. Sometimes, we get tired of cooking at home, and it’s nice to enjoy a meal in a cozy restaurant or coffee shop. Our establishments offering adult beverages are terrific places to meet up with friends and enjoy music, or sports. I noticed our retail shops have a full inventory of wonderful items to buy for gifts and to treat yourself. Our trails and streets have been busy with the people who live here, enjoying the fresh winter air while hiking and walking their dogs. A great way to banish the winter doldrums is by joining a club, or organization. The Jacksonville Boosters, Rotary, Lions, Garden Club, Fraternal organizations, and local churches offer great company, programs, and educational opportunities. February is also the month that we celebrate Lunar New Year. This year’s festivities were at City Hall for the first time. The Lunar New Year honored the Year of the Snake and showcased multiple Asian cultures. Art Presence always has something exciting in the works. They hold an opening reception for each new show, sponsor an afterschool art club for kids, and hold ongoing classes. Our Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce has become an organization to be proud of. The Chamber was responsible for our outstanding Holiday Celebrations and always has something new and exciting brewing. Please see their website at www.jacksonvilleoregon.org. You can also visit them at the old train station at 185 North Oregon Street, next to the Post Office. Your best choices to plan to participate in all the above are the City website at www.jacksonvilleor.us, each entity’s Facebook page, website, and this publication. If all that is not enough, it’s time for seed catalogs to start arriving. They are always my favorite surprise for me to receive in the mailbox, and I could spend hours deciding what to grow in my small vegetable garden.

Behind the scenes, the city is busy with our planned itineraries: spring clean-up, fire prevention, code revision, capital improvement projects, grant writing, and budgeting. We will soon be gearing up for fire season. We strive each year to be as prepared as possible in the event of any fire. In future articles in the Review, you will hear more about what we, as citizens, can do to safeguard our homes and families. You probably have realized our Police Department is now fully staffed, and I can report that the Planning Department is also.

I’m proud to be a part of such a vibrant community, with hardworking volunteers, a dedicated staff, and a talented City Council. Until April, stay dry and warm!