The Unfettered Critic – November 2019

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “Gratitude” as: “A warm sense of appreciation of kindness received, involving a feeling of goodwill towards the benefactor, and a desire to do something in return.”

Not bad, eh? We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, and in gratitude to the OED editors we’ll return the volume to its proper place, rather than toss it unceremoniously on the disheveled stack of books over in that corner. We’d be grateful to anyone who’d reshelve them for us. Any volunteers?

Actually, we shouldn’t ask that, because in this town we’ll probably have people lining up. It’s true that the “v” in Jacksonville stands for… yup, that’s it.

Volunteering looms large here. We learned this upon our arrival (in 2008). We were unpacking boxes when we heard music rolling up our hill, and we soon discovered that something called “The Britt Festival” runs world-class concerts (really, we didn’t know), and that local residents volunteer to help them run smoothly. By volunteering ourselves, we were welcomed by dozens of locals—more friends than we’d acquired during the years in our previous big city neighborhood. By the way, one of the pros that works with the volunteer staff, Bow Seltzer, is retiring this season. A great many people are sad to see him step down, and are immensely grateful that he stepped up. Relax in retirement, Bow.

Only weeks later (still 2008, still unpacking) we read in the Jacksonville Review (thanks, Whit!) that a gathering of civic leaders was scheduled at “Old City Hall.” We figured that attending would be a way to learn about this place where we’d rather blindly landed. By the end of the meeting we’d been befriended by those political types, and had joined a “volunteer group” called “The Jacksonville Boosters Club.” Since then we’ve participated in painting the police station interior, sponsoring Jacksonville Elementary’s music program, revitalizing the structures in Doc Griffin Park, and assisting in countless citywide events—including the semi-annual “Home and Garden Tour” (coming up soon). Through the Boosters we’ve met new residents as they move into town, and said goodbye to older residents as they move up the hill to the cemetery. We couldn’t be more grateful to the hundreds of Booster members who keep this amazing organization giving, year after year.

Speaking of the cemetery: “The Friends of the Jacksonville Cemetery” volunteers make dates to rake, polish, and prune that timeless jewel above the city. Have you been to the annual “Meet the Pioneers” historical event, where you can encounter the personalities behind (below?) the names on the gravestones? We recommend it—and are grateful to Dirk and Mary Siedlecki for maintaining the whole shindig.

As for history of the city itself, you’ll encounter it fresh and fulfilling because of “Historic Jacksonville, Inc.” You know those Beekman House visitations (yes, with the long-gone Beekman family)? And the “Haunted Jacksonville” walking tours? Our thanks to everyone involved, and especially to Carolyn Kingsnorth, for keeping the distant past front and center in our immediate future.

Then there’s the city council and the mayor. Volunteers all. They assemble on the first and third Tuesdays of every month, 6:00 PM, to discuss our needs, desires and, again, our future. The town rolls on, like that music rolling up the hill, thanks to this crew of ever-changing, yet always-informed, talented civic volunteers. Our gratitude? Oh, you betcha.

There’s more. “The Jacksonville Woodlands Association” members maintain the trails encircling the city. We want to praise them, but this column has a word count limit that we’ve just reached.

How grateful are we? We have no words.