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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, June 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 12, 2004 Jacksonville goes wild as it reclaims Hwy. 238 By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Bring your appetites and your dancing shoes — this town is holding a blockbuster block party and you’re all invited. Why celebrate? A $3.5 million Highway 238 rebuilding project which brought both pain and pleasure to the city’s businesses is nearly finished. "We’re going to celebrate getting our street back," says Terri Gieg, Chamber of Commerce president. On the one hand, the repaving project shut down the city’s main drag for the past four months. On the other, backhoe operators added to Jacksonville’s already rich history when their machines ripped through asphalt and unearthed remnants of the state’s oldest Chinatown on March 10. The California Street party will take place between Oregon and Fifth streets on Sunday, from noon till 4 p.m. Advertisement Gieg says Mayor Jim Lewis put the friendly squeeze on her organization to pull a block-party celebration together only three weeks ago. "He said ‘We want to have a block party, Terri. And we think the Chamber should put it on,’ " Gieg says. "I said, ‘OK, that sounds good!’ " In a fat hurry, Gieg and her members organized a four-hour extravaganza featuring more than 60 local businesses. The closed California Street will host the celebratory ceremonials, and restaurants will take it to the streets with special menus, while the Jason Johnson Band provides live music and dancing, says Gieg. "We’re going to have games, cotton candy, popcorn and face-painting for the kids," she says. "And the Jacksonville Inn and the Bella Union restaurant are going to serve their champagne brunch — and they’re serving the champagne in real glasses." Gieg says the "getting our street back" party is for the businesses affected by the construction, and the customers who have braved detours and machinery to support their favorite restaurants and shops. "In a situation like this, you can either go ‘blech!’ or you can go ‘yeah!’ — we chose ‘yeah!’," says Gieg. "The businesses have been so good, they need to be supported. And the customers have been greatly supportive of all that’s been happening here." The party begins at noon, but Lewis will officially welcome the partygoers and "dignitaries" from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Johnny Cat and Miss Oregon Jennifer Murphy with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Gieg’s favorite part of the celebration will take place at 2:38 p.m., "and not a minute later," she says. "We are going to release 238 balloons!" she says. "I love that!" California Street will be closed to traffic until Friday for some more finishing touches, says City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen. "But to all intents and purposes, we are done with the major work," he says. "Everyone can anticipate things getting back to normal in Jacksonville." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times