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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 14, 2004 The Shady Ladies of Jacksonville showed up for a street party to celebrate the refurbished California Street. The celebration comes after four months of road work on a mile-ling stretch of Highway 238. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman J’ville says welcome back Residents, merchants take to the streetsto celebrate the end of months of road work By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — After merchants and residents weathered four months of downtown road work, the city welcomed back visitors Sunday. Glistening with a fresh coat of asphalt, California Street showcased sidewalk sales, outdoor cafes, food stalls and various promotional gimmicks. Characters of the Old West and Victorian eras once again strolled sidewalks to the strains of live music. While some businesses sought to reacquaint shoppers with their wares, others just wanted to celebrate. "I have never seen this many people in Jacksonville," said 80-year-old Medford resident Robert Davis. Sunday was Davis’ first outing in the historic town since Christmas. He and his 86-year-old wife, Sarah, normally come several times a year but avoided the trip because of all the road work, he said. Oregon Department of Transportation broke ground on the $3.5 million project in February to rebuild a mile-long stretch of Highway 238 — known as California Street in town. Crews also constructed sidewalks, drainage and made aesthetic improvements. In the course of construction, in March workers unearthed remnants of the state’s oldest Chinatown. Advertisement But the difficulties of navigating a construction site and hunting down parking spots on side streets kept away many visitors, particularly the elderly, said Sue Tucker of Pickety Place Antique Shop. Days sometimes went by without a sale, but Tucker and her partner stoically opened their North Fourth Street business seven days a week even when some of their counterparts posted "closed for construction" signs. "There’s still tourists in town, but they get upset when places are closed," Tucker said. "And the ones that found us thanked us for staying open." Extending gratitude to the town’s many merchants was one motivator for organizing Sunday’s block party, said Terri Gieg, Chamber of Commerce president. "I wanted to kind of say ‘thank you’ to our businesses ... for being such good sports," Gieg said. Gieg organized the celebration in just three weeks with the help of the Jacksonville Inn, Scheffel’s Toys, and the city’s Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. But the event was so successful that it may become an annual tradition, Gieg said. Sunday’s carefree atmosphere of outdoor dining and sidewalk shopping struck such a chord with Pico’s owner Michael Richardson that he suggested permanently closing the street, creating a pedestrian thoroughfare. The idea would likely suit some residents just fine. "(The construction) was good for a lot of people because it forced them to walk," said Jacksonville resident Julianna Forgione. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Main drag reopens on Friday California Street is scheduled to reopen to vehicle traffic on Friday. In the meantime, crews will finish the paving, paint and add street signs, city officials said. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s