The Applegater

4 Extra Edition November 2023 Applegater ~ IMPORTANT REMINDER ~ In order to assure that your donation is doubled, please be sure to date your check no earlier than November 1, 2023, and no later than December 31, 2023. Thank y f yr support! ◄ Extra Edition November 2023 ► Published by the Applegater Newsmagazine, PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530 gater@applegater.org MEASURE 15-220 has been endorsed by: Elected Officials Rob Underwood, AFD Board President Doug Stewart, AFD Board Vice President Jeff Hoxsey, AFD Board Member Julie Barry, AFD Board Member Mike Blaschka, AFD Board Member Dave Dotterer, Jackson County Commissioner Senator Jeff Golden Representative Christine Goodwin Representative Pam Marsh Businesses Mary Alionis, Whistling Duck Farm Josh Cohen, Barking Moon Farm Rosie Demmin, Rise Up! Artisan Bread Jason Fields, Fields Home Center Jeremy Hall, Blossom Barn Cidery Elise Higley, Oshala Farm Sebastian Kleinfelter, Excavation Oregon Ron Lehi, Lehi Pump Rachael Martin, Red Lily Vineyards Sue Owen, English Lavender Farm Cathy Pennington, Pennington Farms Debbie Stevens, Ramsay Realty Debbie Tollefson, Applegate Valley Realty Ted and Mary Warrick, Wooldridge Winery Denise and Bryan White, Troon Vineyard Ben Yohai, Kristina Porter, Wandering Fields Farm Applegate Valley Residents Laura Ahearn Gail Battaglia and Roarke Ball Theresa Auker Becker and Geoffrey Becker Robin and Nick Borrow June Byrne Michael Caldwell Tom and Kathy Carstens Carey Chaput Diana Coogle Tim and Liza Crosse Jad and Pam D'Allura Dan Defenbaugh David and Lauri Dobbs Mary and Clint Driver Rich Fairbanks Brett Fillis, Retired Fire Chief Larry and Mrs. Francis Rose Gerstner and Marty Paule Karen Giese Jeri Gleiter Laurie and James Grigsby Marion Hadden VOTE YES ON MEASURE 15-220! Ad paid by Friends of Applegate Fire Department friendsofapplegatefire.org Mark and Gayle Hamlin Crystie and Michael Hawkins Scott and Rebecca Jager Vaughn Jones Seth Kaplan and Lily Myers Kaplan Aaron Kersey Artem Koltsov and Sonjue Chung-Koltsov Grant Konecny James Kraemer Brian and Stacey Lehnan Jeanette LeTourneux and Steve Soderholm Dolores and Gary Lisman Marilyn Marsh Kathleen Martinez Sandy and Ryan Mays Bonnie and John McKelligott Ann and Richard Mikula Glen and Kim Moulton Joe and Carol Neil Louise Nicholson Barbara Niedermeyer Joan Peterson Tom Phelps Sandra and Tim Place Babette and Stephen Rapp Janeen Sathre Don and Lori Sayer Mike and Liv Schneider Robert Schumack Monica Schuster Andrew Schwartz Janet Scimeca Sandy and Don Shaffer Diana Slater Eileen Smith Kim Stanick and Brian Donohue Joel and Candy Stephenson Jeanette Stobie Patricia Strecker Paul Tipton and Janis Mohr-Tipton Betsy Trueman and Andrew Brown Thalia Truesdell Elaine Trump and Dennis Hinders Cris Usher Richard and Valerie Vilbig Helen and Dan Waid Priscilla and Steve Weaver Heidi Wolfe and Bryce Remington Larry Wright Les and Mary Ann Wright Norm Young Beatriz Zamudio APPLEGATE FIRE DISTRICT LEVY PREVENTION… PREPAREDNESS… PROMPTNESS… A gem of a story! At 408 pages and more than 400 photos, this multifaceted b o o k s h o u l d a p p e a l t o w i d e a n d diverse audiences. Jacksonville's Emerald Necklace tells the stories behind the formation of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association (JWA) in 1989 and the amazing 20-year efforts of individuals, students, private organizations, government agencies, legislators, landowners, and the City of Jacksonville to purchase 21 parcels to create the Jacksonville Woodlands, almost 300 acres and 16 miles of trails bordering 70 percent of the town. e Oregon State Parks Department calls the Jacksonville Woodlands "the most unique and successful preservation project of its kind in the whole state." e details of the project will warm your heart and inspire you to explore this beautiful "emerald necklace." Author Larry B. Smith weaves the pioneer history and stories of ownership of BY JEANETTE LETOURNEUX Jacksonville's Emerald Necklace From Goldmines to Woodlands Trails Larry B. Smith Jacksonville Woodlands Association 2022 BOOK REVIEW the 21 parcels to the eventual acquisition by JWA and the ensuing trail building. Tales abound about the discovery of gold at Rich Gulch in 1852, which started one of the largest gold rushes in the West; about the Britt, Beekman, Zigler, and other pioneer families and landowners; about the transformation of Jacksonville from a virtual ghost town and a "rural slum" in the 1920s and 1930s (due in part to poverty preventing property owners from demolishing the downtown buildings) to its designation as a National Historic Landmark; and about the many luminaries and eccentrics who have shaped Jacksonville's past and present. e most endearing stories are about the impact on the kids. Larry, who taught fifth grade at Jacksonville Elementary School for 33 years and has led thousands of students trekking, researching, and working on the woodland trails, says he is most proud of this enduring legacy. His students were a vital element of ever y aspect of the preser vation project—building trails, raising money, giving presentations, and convincing many landowners to sell or donate their parcels through intense letter- writing campaigns and personal appeals. A yearlong correspondence in 1993, b e t w e e n t h e f i f t h - g r a d e c l a s s a n d Zelia Zigler (granddaughter of early settler Sarah Zigler), led to Zelia donating a parcel of land running from Britt Gardens west along Jackson Creek. Zelia performed the ribbon-cutting on the resulting Sarah Zigler Trail, which was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2000. There are many other incredible successes and fun stories. Eleven-year- old Brian Mulhollen (now fire marshal of the Applegate Valley Fire District) negotiated the purchase of a ten-acre parcel from Medford. In 1993 Brian received the Jefferson Award, the highest community award in the United States. e "talking tree" campaign culminated in the designation of the Britt Sequoia as an Oregon Heritage Tree in 1998. Students received national awards from Sea World, the National Park Service, and Amway Corporation, among others. ey took trips to Washington, DC, and Florida. Many of the writings and pictures of fifth-grade students are juxtaposed with current remembrances and pictures of those students, now grown, hiking the trails with their own kids and families. Permeating these stories are certain ideals—the love for community and the natural world, the bonds and inspiration that develop between teacher and students, and the faith in people, young and old, to do the right thing, to pull together, and to accomplish big, important goals. ese principles, instilled in generations, are a true treasure that will hopefully endure as long as the shining green spaces that dedicated volunteers and others have so valiantly preserved. Jeanette LeTourneux jetlet10@gmail.com It is with deep regret that the Applegater Board of Directors announces the resignation of our over-the-top dedicated treasurer, David Dobbs. We already miss his meticulous attention to our financial affairs and the many other things he did for the Applegater. We'll need two or three more board members to fill his shoes! Good luck, Dave, in your future, and we look forward to seeing you at the next Gater function. (More information will appear in the winter Applegater.) David Dobbs departs

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