The Applegater

Applegater Winter 2023 1 WINTER 2023 Volume 16, No. 4 Serving Jackson and Josephine Counties — Circulation: 13,000 Applegate Valley Community Newsmagazine Celebrating Years Photo by Linda Kappen | applegater.org ~29~ Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Permit #125 Medford OR ECRWSSEDDM Local Postal Customer ISSUE HOLIDAY - ARTS Make that a double! NewsMatch doubles your gift when received by December 31! At the Applegater, we always count on you—articles you see here are written by Applegaters about the Applegate, for Applegater readers. It's only possible to collect, print, and distribute the Applegater thanks to your support. From now until the end of the year, we get to count your donations twice over! anks to the annual NewsMatch campaign, through our membership in the Institute for Nonprofit News, all donations received by December 31 are doubled as part of a national matching-gift campaign benefiting nonprofit news groups across the nation. Make a donation by New Year's Eve so your donation will be doubled. You can do so online at applegater.org, or mail a check (dated no later than December 31, 2023) to PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Two times not enough times? How about multiplying your gift 12 times over? When you start a monthly pledge in December, NewsMatch matches the full-year value of your monthly donation. If you sign up to give, say, $10 per month, NewsMatch will send the Applegater $120. To make such a pledge, just find the "Donate" button on our home page at applegater.org and choose the "Make this a monthly donation" option. However you choose to give, the Applegater is grateful for your support. We do what we do for you, and only continue to appear in your mailbox because of you. Thank you! Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce events calendar: business.grantspasschamber.org/events/calendar. Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center, 830 NE 9 th Street, Grants Pass: —Holiday concert: 7 pm December 18 and 19. $10 general admission. —Nutcracker, performed by Stillpoint Ballet Studio. Tickets start at $10. 7 pm, Saturday December 9; 2 pm, Sunday December 10; 2 and 7 pm Saturday, December 16; 2 pm Sunday December 17. Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce events calendar: jacksonvilleoregon.org/ discover/events-festivals. River Valley Church, 405 NE 6 th Street, Grant Pass. Messiah sing-along from 3-5 pm Sunday, December 3. Free to the public. rivervalleycc.org. Rogue Community Chorus, Rogue Community College, 3345 Redwood Highway, Grants Pass. Christmas concert at 7 pm Monday, December 4. Admission by donation only. Voices of the Applegate. Holiday concerts at 7 pm Friday, December 8, at the historic Presbyterian Church at the corner of 6th and California Streets in Jacksonville, and 3 pm Sunday, December 10, at e Lindsay Lodge, 15100 Highway 238 in Applegate. (See article on page 2.) Holiday Events Margaret Patterson • margaret@applegater.org Here are only a few events you might want to enjoy over the holiday season. See more on page 2. McKee Bridge Historical Society (MBHS) is ready for a festive holiday season. We will decorate McKee Bridge, the rustic community kitchen in the adjoining picnic grounds, and Star Ranger Station in the first week of December. ese sites will be illuminated 24/7 into the New Year. We have spent all of 2023 planning the fifth annual Christmas on a Covered Bridge from noon-5 pm Saturday, December 16. Turnout for this fun event has increased by 50 percent year over year, and we've worked hard to be prepared to welcome all visitors with free hot cocoa, cider, and coffee, a mega bake sale with a bigger selection of fancy decorated cookies and holiday delicacies, and handcrafted gifts to satisfy your shopping list. And Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course! Pro c e e d s h e l p f u n d t h e M B H S Scholarship. We are offering a $5,000 s c h o l a r s h i p p o o l f o r t h e 2 0 2 4 - 2 5 school year. Awards may range from $1,000 to $2,500 each, depending on the number of qualifying applicants among graduating seniors from Jackson and Josephine county high schools and equivalent homeschoolers. February 1, 2024, is the deadline to apply. For more BY LAURA AHEARN Happy 2024 — McKee Bridge Historical Society's 25 th year! information contact mckeebridge1917@ gmail.com. In 1985 Jackson County decided it would no longer budget to maintain McKee Bridge. e community rallied and formed the Save McKee Bridge Committee, but the committee operated under the auspices of the county, with its funds under county control. In January 1999, committee members decided to incorporate as an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, and McKee Bridge Historical Society was born! Become a member Please consider becoming a member of MBHS, helping to maintain the bridge, preserving and sharing Applegate h eritage, an d p ar ticip atin g in our educational and entertaining events. Membership is still only $20 per year for your entire household. You can sign up at mckeebridge.org or mail a check with your contact information to 8595 Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Follow MBHS on Facebook or our website at mckeebridge.org to keep informed of many special programs in 2024, our 25 th anniversary year. Laura Ahearn mckeebridge1917@gmail.com Let it snow! There is nothing so beautiful as McKee Bridge flocked in white. Photo: Barb Mumblo.

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