Source Weekly August 15, 2024

The Source Weekly 704 NW Georgia Ave., Bend, OR 97703 t. 541-383-0800 bendsource.com info@bendsource.com

EDITOR’S NOTE:

On the Cover: Illustration by Connley Sewalls. When illustrating the cover, Sewalls put a playful, modern twist on classical Greek antiquity. Inspired by vintage action movie posters and Greek pottery, the cover is a culmination of characters that embody the archetypal Central Oregonian. Sewalls says, "Working with the funky line style and warm, rustic palette was so enjoyable. It was a wonderful experience creating this piece for the Source! If you want to see more of my illustration you can view my portfolio website and Instagram! Portfolio: connley.art and Instagram: @connley.art."

Call for Artists: If you're interested in being a SW featured artist, email: production@bendsource.com.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

EDITOR

Nicole Vulcan - editor@bendsource.com

REPORTER

Julianna LaFollette- reporter@bendsource.com

FEATURES AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

Jennifer Baires - features@layitoutfoundation.org

REPORTER / CALENDAR EDITOR

Savannah Mendoza - calendar@bendsource.com

MUSIC WRITER

Chris Young - music@bendsource.com

COPY EDITOR

Richard Sitts

FREELANCERS

Jared Rasic, Jessica Sanchez-Millar, Damian Fagan, Megan Baker, Chris Young, Brian Yaeger, Joshua Phillips, Alison Jean Cole, Debra Merskin, Alan Sculley

SYNDICATED CONTENT

Amy Alkon, Rob Brezsney, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Jen Sorensen, Pearl Stark, Tom Tomorrow, Matt Wuerker

PRODUCTION MANAGER / ART DIRECTOR

Jennifer Galler - production@bendsource.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ben Irish - design@bendsource.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Ashley Sarvis

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Ban Tat, Chad Barnes

advertise@bendsource.com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Sean Switzer

CONTROLLER

Angela Switzer - angela@bendsource.com

PUBLISHER

Aaron Switzer - aaron@bendsource.com

WILD CARD

Paul Butler

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Anything going on this week? Just kidding — it’s a big week here at the Source Weekly! If you’re holding this issue in your hands, it’s very likely you’re here for the Best of Central Oregon results… and we’re excited to bring them to you. This year boasts an expanded Redmond section, fun new food and drink categories and so much more. To all the winners, we salute your Olympic-level efforts. Before you buzz through the “Best Of,” be sure to check out this week’s Fea ture highlighting the progress of Oregon’s first public doctor of physical thera py program over at OSU-Cascades. Check out our newest food review in Chow, featuring sandwich cart Bread and Bunny. Learn about the play in production over at Greenhouse Cabaret in Culture, and in Sound, read how a local group of musicians is working to make the arts even more accessible in the region. And in News, learn what local officials are doing to help prevent more humancaused fires in our cities.

The Best of Central Oregon issue is our biggest of the year, and it’s taken a titanic effort on behalf of the Source Weekly team to get it done. A big thank you to them, and a hearty congrats to all the winners!

LIGHTMETER: PRESENTED

BY

HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS

Ending the @munchandmusicbend concert series with @preciousbyrdband. Thank you so much @nineteen92media for tagging us in this awesome shot of the performance in Drake Park.

Don't forget to share your photos with us and tag @sourceweekly for a chance to be featured as Instagram of the week and in print as our Lightmeter. Winners receive a free print from @highdesertframeworks.

@munchandmusicbend Instagram HARVESTMOONWOODWORKS.COM CUSTOM. CABINE TS.

Town Halls Offer a Chance at Humanity, Common Ground

Here we go again: Another round of “empty chair town halls” that highlight our lack of representation by the person who represents us in Congress. Just like they did last year — and also reminiscent of the complaints of her predecessor Greg Walden — activists from the Indivisible network are calling for Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who represents the 5th Congressional District that includes most of Bend, to host an unscripted and in-person town hall with constituents across the vast district.

The group isn’t exaggerating, either; Chavez-DeRemer and her staff have been unapologetic about holding telephone town halls rather than meeting with constituents in person. Contrast this to the efforts by both of Oregon’s senators, who have larger districts than she does, and who endeavor to hold town halls in every county in the state, every year.

This is not what democratic representation should look like. First, there’s the obvious need for constituents of a district to at least have some sense of who represents them. And then there are some considerations that have to do with Chavez DeRemer’s particular district, the 5th Congressional District. It’s a new one, only established the year Chavez-Deremer took office, and it is oddly shaped to include not just Clackamas and Deschutes counties, but parts of Linn and Benton counties, too. It leans Democratic but is decidedly mixed in political affiliation. It includes rural residents, urban dwellers and suburbanites It is an incredibly diverse district.

It was going to be a challenge for anyone who won the seat to find ways to connect with these disparate constituents. On this side of the mountains, where so many already decry

the pull of Portland in statewide politics, we were destined to feel disenfranchised by a district regardless of who won the seat. Suffice it to say that a lack of public presence by the first person to hold the position has exacerbated that feeling.

If Chavez-DeRemer were out here in Bend, making her presence known, things would be different. Perhaps we wouldn’t agree with her on every issue, but we’d at least know more about her, and how her priorities align with those of our region specifically. We would also know if we were being heard.

Chavez-DeRemer has some good ideas. A recent guest column by our representative highlighted the need for a “permanent solution to wildland firefighter pay,” and the need for a “stable, professional workforce” for our increasingly challenging fire seasons. Another press release advocated for more federal assistance for extreme heat events. These are not partisan issues — and shouldn’t be. They’re issues that all of us, as we sit in the midst of an extreme fire season, can get behind. But without even the occasional presence in the area of our representative in Congress, we’re left wondering whether those guest columns and press releases are the best this rep can do in trying to represent us. In the end, they just don’t ring as well as talking to people face to face, even if it’s in a gymnasium, as Greg Walden eventually did, after numerous constituent complaints.

Making a go of a place as divergent as Oregon’s 5th Congressional District was never going to be easy. But given that this is the second year of her term, and the second year that activists have pointed out her lack of presence in the area, we’d say the entire district deserves better.

GUEST OPINION: BUILDING FINANCIAL RESILIENCE IN BEND’S CHANGING ECONOMY

Over the past few decades, Bend has transformed from a hidden gem into a vibrant hub of culture, cuisine and concerts. With this growth, our community has also seen rising costs and real estate prices (3.6% in the last year alone) for those who call Bend home. As manager of OnPoint Community Credit Union’s Bend downtown branch, I see these challenges as opportunities to help our community become more financially resilient, confident and ready to navigate our changing economy.

Here are five strategies I recommend to help you not only weather these historically high prices, but emerge stronger:

• Conduct regular financial wellness checks. Regular financial wellness checks can help you stay on top of your financial situation, identify areas for improvement and adjust strategies to meet changing economic conditions or personal goals. Meet with your financial institutions and ask questions. Are there options for reducing any loan or credit interest rates? Are there alternatives for savings that might come with better interest rates?

• Assess your budget and financial habits. Bend’s growing appeal has led to increased living costs, particularly in housing and recreation. After you conduct a financial wellness check, assess your financial habits and adjust your budget to accommodate these changes. Prioritize items that are “needs” and look for creative ways to enjoy the “wants” so you can take advantage of what Bend has to offer while pursuing your savings goals.

• Build a financial cushion. Given Bend’s dynamic economy, having a financial safety net is more important than ever. If you haven’t already, start building an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses, such as home repairs or sudden changes in employment. Make this part of your budget each month and consider setting up automatic deposits from your paycheck into a separate bank account. This cushion can provide peace of mind and financial stability.

• Seek out personalized financial education resources. When economic conditions are constantly evolving, staying informed is key.

HAVE

SOMETHING TO SAY?

Send your thoughts to editor@bendsource.com.

Letters must be received by noon Friday for inclusion in the following week’s paper. Please limit letters to 250 words. Submission does not guarantee publication. Opinions printed here do not constitute an editorial endorsement of said opinions. Letter of the week receives $5 to Palate!

Bend’s diverse industries — from tourism to tech startups — mean that residents’ financial needs can vary greatly. Take advantage of the financial education resources local Bend institutions offer. Workshops, seminars and one-on-one counseling can provide valuable knowledge on budgeting, saving and investing, helping you to make informed decisions that align with your lifestyle and goals. Tailored advice and products may be available at your financial institution, designed to help freelancers, small business owners and anyone in between.

• Engage with community support. Bend’s community is one of its greatest strengths. Engage with local groups and networks that share financial tips, investment opportunities and support systems. Collaborating and sharing experiences with fellow Bend residents can uncover new strategies for financial success and foster a sense of solidarity in navigating economic challenges together.

The growth we are experiencing in Bend brings both benefits and challenges. But by being prepared, taking advantage of local resources and staying ready to adapt, you can best position yourselves to be successful no matter what change brings. My team and I would be happy to sit down with you and help make a plan to help you stay financially resilient (and still enjoy this wonderful community).

— Bonnie Pearce, branch manager, OnPoint Community Credit Union downtown Bend

RE: BPRD NEEDS TO MAKE PUBLIC DOG PARKS SAFER FOR ALL! LETTERS, 8/1

I returned from vacation on Monday to read the following statement in a Letter to the Editor appearing in the Source Weekly (8-1-24):

"I went to the BPRD district office to speak with staff as I feel much can be lost in written communication, however, no one was available. Later I incredulously received a threatening email to have me arrested for criminal trespass because I entered the district office!"

As an individual who received a 30-day exclusion for a valid reason in 2016, the logic and actions of all parties in this circumstance appear questionable. I find it to be unacceptable interpersonal communication, contrary to

BPRD's core values and constitutes a certain rudeness.

Additionally, I have similar concerns regarding closed government at the City of Bend. It is the same logic and actions that the locked Administrative Office door represents prior to entering the reception area at City Hall. It devalues individual opinions over “group think” and moneyed interests. Why are Bend's government organizations afraid of interpersonal communication with citizens and residents?

—Justin Gottlieb

NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT PROTECTING OLD GROWTH TREES

I recently watched a documentary called “Crown Jewels” by Alex Haraus about old growth forests all across the U.S., including here in Oregon, and how we can help protect them. This film was very informative and inspiring. My biggest takeaway is that we need lots of public support and pressure if we want to see change. The part of the film that most impacted me was when they showed the before and after of clear cuts and how it affects the people and communities that live around there. Old growth trees and forests are really important because they help provide clean air, clean drinking water, important habitats for wildlife that depend on them, and they also

help fight climate change because big trees can store lots and lots of carbon dioxide. I love hiking in our forests in Central Oregon and I hope to see them protected. My future and all of our futures depend on it. There will be a free screening of “Crown Jewels” in Bend on Monday, Aug. 26. You can visit oregonwild.org/get-involved/webcasts-events/ to learn more. I highly recommend that everyone watch this important film and learn about why our forests are worth protecting and how we can protect them! You can be the difference. Just one person can make a big impact.

—Sara Pipinich

Letter of the Week:

Thanks for the info, Sara. Letter of the Week!

—Nicole

Vulcan

Firefighters

Respond to Brush Fire

A small brush fire in Bend, adjacent to Empire Avenue and the northbound Parkway onramp, was reported around 3pm on Aug. 11. When responders arrived, the fire was about ¼ acre in the brush just east of the onramp. With assistance from the Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry crews, the fire was quickly contained.

Train traffic was stopped briefly as crews worked adjacent to the tracks. The fire, which is currently under investigation, did not jump the railroad tracks and no structures were threatened. Bend Fire and Rescue warns the community that the region is still in extreme fire danger and that any fire starts are very likely to spread quickly.

—Julianna LaFollette

1 for every 783 people

The ratio of physical therapists in Deschutes County 1 for every 1,413 people

The statewide average for PTs around the state.

- Deschutes County’s more favorable ratio made it an ideal community to set up the state’s first public doctor of physical therapy program. From the Feature, “Graduating Doctors,” on page 14.

Central Oregon Assesses the Future of Fire Reduction Local leaders address resident concerns following a fire on the north side of Bend

By Julianna LaFollette

We got lucky.

Following a fire that broke out on Aug. 2 in Juniper Ridge, which threatened homes and structures in north Bend, that was the sentiment echoed through recent meetings, as officials described the response to contain this potentially catastrophic fire.

The Mile Marker 132 Fire was first reported around 3pm and progressed quickly. The fire, which prompted immediate Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations for some neighborhoods, burned 78 acres before firefighters stopped the progression at about 8pm.

Five days after, Bend Fire and Rescue concluded its investigation of the fire and traced the cause to a cooking fire at an encampment on fenced pri vate property in Juniper Ridge.

Several agencies worked together to put it out, yet many locals expressed the fear and panic they felt that Friday afternoon, and are looking to local officials to ensure that fire risk reduction can help prevent this situation from happening again.

“Imagine living in fear day and night,” said Linda Cook, at an Aug. 7 City Council meeting, with tears in her eyes. Cook has lived on Deschutes Market Road for 29 years. “Please, please do something. Oregon is a beautiful state and it’s burning up.”

the possibility of creating a managed camp for people, but noted that it can’t do it alone. A planned intergovernmental meeting with the City of Bend and Deschutes County will address a coordinated effort to better manage the area.

“I think we’ll have a good conversation with the County Commission, cause I think we need to be taking some steps here and, especially by the time next fire season starts, I think it needs to be a lot different up there, and I think the community and council is going to agree on that,” said Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler.

County Commissioner Patti Adair, who is a part of the regional council on homelessness, the Coordinated Houseless Response Office, expressed the need for more managed camps in the County and has advocated for help from the state to get something in place quicker and more efficiently.

“I would hope that the City and us, when we do meet, that we’re all on the same side,” said Adair. “We desperately need to do something. Things are very dry and very fragile and we’ve got to ensure that the 208,000 people that live in Deschutes County are safe.”

“Food is a universal language. You come in, have a great meal and, just for a little bit, all the troubles of the world kind of fade away and you can focus on having a good time. It’s very communal.”

-Sara

Sawicki of Fire on the Mountain. From the Best of Central Oregon winner’s pages, starting on page 35.

In response to the fire, Deschutes County and City of Bend officials have begun planning conversations around what needs to be done ahead of next fire season, to prevent this from happening again.

A fortunate fire response

On Aug. 7, council members heard a previously scheduled fire update from Bend Fire Chief Todd Riley, who discussed the response around this recent fire. During the meeting, Riley recalled the event, pointing to additional responders that the City was lucky to have nearby at the time.

“I feel fortunate that we had, not only up-staffed in Bend with an extra engine due to the Red Flag conditions, but there was also two task forces at our disposal, that were positioned in Redmond. That was just fortunate,” he said.

With an increase in fire risk, hot temperatures, forecasted lightning and Red Flag Warnings at the time, the Oregon State Fire Marshal announced on Aug. 2 it would pre-position two structural task forces in Central Oregon, sending in 26 firefighters, eight engines and two water tenders.

The call to pre-position resources, which were scheduled to remain for about 72 hours, was to add capacity for the initial attack on any new fires.

“That was super fortunate, and we can’t count on that always in the future,” County Commissioner Phil Chang told the Source Weekly.

Planning for the future

Following the events of the fire, residents voiced their concerns with local officials at County and City meetings, calling for the need to prioritize safety for neighbors of Juniper Ridge. Many pointed to the need for a managed camp for the houseless individuals who occupy the area, to help prevent one of the causes of fires in our area.

“I was in a panic. Everything I have worked for my entire life is in my home, and once again it was threatened by fire due to the situation that nobody is addressing. Enough is enough,” said Sherry Van Dyke at the City Council meeting, who lives about a mile from Juniper Ridge.

At that recent council meeting, the City discussed

Chang said he also looks forward to working with the City to address issues many residents are most concerned about. While he noted that unauthorized homeless encampments account for only a portion of wildfire risk in the community, he believes the region needs to continue creating pathways for people to exit homelessness.

For the region to do this, there must be a safe place with case management and supportive services.

“That’s what I’m hoping will come out of this meeting — agreements on how we can create those pathways out of homelessness so that we can reduce the overall number of unauthorized encampments and unsheltered people,” said Chang.

Efforts in motion

Aside from calls for a managed camp, the County and the City have begun working to help slow or contain the spread of wildfire in high-risk areas. On July 29, the County submitted an application for a grant which would supply $75,000 toward risk reduction treatments, due to the high potential of fire starts in Juniper Ridge.

The City also made plans to consider more reduction efforts, such as fire breaks and defensible space options, to help diminish the risk to homes. Matt Stuart, the City real estate director, who works in property and facility management, highlighted City efforts over the last few years to try to harden the area, focusing mostly on the south side of the City’s Juniper Ridge parcel.

This year, the City will see what funding is available to come up with a plan to do more of this work ahead of the next fire season. Efforts to make homes and areas more resilient to fire, Chang said, are an extremely important part of planning ahead.

While the Mile Marker 132 Fire was a frightening event for many in the community, and continues to be, local leaders hope the plans to address more of these concerns, to help curtail fire starts and slow the spread, will help prevent a catastrophe in the future.

“It’s not lost on us. Even though we didn’t lose any structures, we are tremendously fortunate to end up where we did,” said Riley.

City Of Bend Chooses Hawthorne Bridge Design

Councilors choose "single cable tower stay" for pedestrian and bicycle bridge on Hawthorne Avenue

By Julianna LaFollette

An initiative to increase connectivity and create safer parkway crossings for bikers and pedestrians is coming along as the Bend City Council moves forward with a design concept for the overcrossing on Hawthorne Avenue.

On Aug. 9, the majority of Bend City councilors voiced their preference for a “single tower cable stay” bridge design. This design, which City Councilors chose out of four different options, was favored due to reasons including aesthetics, cost and land-use compatibility.

Constructing a pedestrian and bicycle overcrossing along Hawthorne Avenue is part of the City’s larger Midtown Crossings Project, which aims to make travel safer for all users on four key corridors in the City, including Greenwood, Franklin and Hawthorne Avenues and Second Street.

While certain design choices had slightly lower price ranges, many councilors felt the chosen design was a better fit. “I think there is some value in having it be a little more iconic,” said Kebler, noting that a more signature bridge would be more appealing to both residents and visitors.

The majority of the funding for this project, $32 million, came through state programmed funds. City Councilors hope the cost of construction will stay around $31 to $32 million. The projected cost for the single-tower design

Local Homebuilder Opposes Bend’s Tree Regulations

Pahlisch Homes aims to pause a code that clarifies how and when trees can be removed in developments

By Julianna LaFollette

Owas $29 to $36 million. The steel truss design, the cheapest option of the four, had an estimated cost of $27 to $33 million.

Councilors Barb Campbell and Mike Riley, the two councilors who favored a different design, preferred the “steel truss” design for the cost savings. Riley wanted the City to reserve as much money as possible in constructing the bridge to put toward improving connectivity in the corridor.

“I think that’s fundamental to the purpose of this whole project, which is to connect downtown to the central district,” he added.

Campbell agreed with Riley’s comments and felt the lower project cost could allow for more necessary connections down the line. “We have a lot of places where it’s not safe to get over the parkway and this is a design we can use into the future,” said Campbell at the Aug. 9 meeting.

As part of the project, the City will partner with the Oregon Department of Transportation to close the parkway exit at Hawthorne Avenue to increase safety once the bridge is complete.

At the next check-in, City staff members will provide concepts for the chosen bridge design, as well as more concrete cost estimates. The design work will continue through 2025. Construction on the bridge is expected to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2027.

n Aug. 6, Pahlisch Homes, a local homebuilding company, submitted an appeal of the City of Bend’s recently approved tree code regulations. In a letter, Pahlisch Homes requested that the City pause the implementation of the code and address concerns between the City and the development community.

On June 20, the Bend City Council approved updated tree regulations which aim to clarify how and when trees can be removed in new developments. The approved amendments state that if a certain percentage of trees are removed in a development project, developers will be required to plant new trees on-site or make a payment in lieu of tree preservation. The regulations go into effect on Aug. 16.

Pahlisch’s statement claims that the City moved too quickly through the process of amending its tree code and does not have a clear understanding of the severe impacts it could have on development in Bend.

“Under its current state, the code would have adverse effects and create barriers to providing needed housing and other uses within Bend,” read a statement.

The statement also alleged that the result did not address concerns brought up by building industry committee members that voted against it.

The Tree Regulation Update Advisory Committee was formed in June to help recommend amendments to the City’s tree code. The committee was made up of 14 community members with a range of viewpoints, including several in the development sector. Cory Bittner, with Pahlisch

Homebuilders, was one of the 14 members.

“The appeal is not based on a lack of appreciation for the work done by the committee or against the intentions of the amendments, as Pahlisch Homes supports the city’s efforts to responsibly maintain and enhance the city’s tree canopy,” Pahlisch stated. Because residents voiced concerns about a loss of trees in new housing developments, the code update aimed to address this by providing clear and objective standards for developers.

Over the course of several months, the committee met nine times before it made final recommendations to the City on Dec. 5, 2023.

“The updated code strikes a balance, recognizing we want to preserve trees while also continuing to build the homes our community needs within our urban growth boundary. This is just a first step, as the Council will continue to explore additional ways to promote and protect our urban canopy,” said Mayor Melanie Kebler in June.

In addition to its requirements, the City also added an arborist staff position and plans to track the tree preservation options being used and review the regulations annually, to better inform staff on the effectiveness of the code.

The City called Pahlisch’s assertions “unnecessarily inaccurate,” stating that the code was far from rushed. According to the City’s statement, the Bend City Council approached the process so that the regulations would not impede the development of housing.

A bridge to the future, rendering of the design that Bend City Councilors chose for the planned pedestrian and bicycle bridge on Hawthorne Avenue.

Courtesy City of Bend

Julianna LaFollette

Naming Wildfires Who comes up with these flaming monikers?

By Debra Merskin

WWe are incredibly Grateful foR all the love from the central oregon community, and we owe it all to the most outstanding supporters a place could ask for!

ildfires are serious business. This year in Oregon dozens are burning, consuming more than 1 million acres in the last month alone. Some are caused by lightning, others by human activities, some accidental and some not. With the many notifications every day I began wondering about how fires are named. Some seem obvious, based on geographic locations or markers. If you, like me, subscribe to the Watch Duty app (run by active and retired first responders and reporters), daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes more minute by minute, alerts arrive with a recognizable sound. As this season has progressed, I also noticed the information the app includes and, in particular, the names given to fires. Who names them? What are they named and why? For example, where and what are Crazy, Kitty or Monkey Creek? What do the numbers mean?

I live in Powell Butte. To find out more, I first reached out to Crook County Fire and Rescue to find out who makes the decision on how fires are named. Fire Chief Matt Smith said typically it’s the incident commander who names the fire. Smith referred me to Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center and from there, to Central Oregon Fire Info. From there I talked to Jammie Olle, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, who confirmed that it’s the incident commander who first arrives on the scene, assesses the situation, and names the blaze. According to a recent posting by Olle on X, “New fires are first assigned a number when they are called into the dispatch center. Once firefighters are on scene, they will name the fire based on a nearby geographical feature.” For example, in Central Oregon there is a two-letter identifier before the incident number. CS means Cascade Division, RV### is for the Rivers Division. The Darlene 3 (and previous Darlene fires) were so named for the road near Finley

The recent Northeast Bend blaze, Mile 132 Fire, was selected for its proximity to that mile marker off Highway 97.

While these are especially challenging times, for those interested in our Central Oregon (and wider) landscape, fires ironically provide a lens through which we can learn about communities and landforms that might otherwise not appear on our radar. Some of the names might appear unusual or spark (no pun intended) curiosity about interesting and unusual places with histories we can learn more about, once the smoke clears and the dust settles. Lost Bucket, Jack Saddle, No Man, Crazy Creek, Durgan. Whatever the causes of fires, the names given are human created, and indicate how we mark boundaries and how we describe places.

To name names, to think of them, even say them out loud is a way of bearing witness to events, personal and environmental. It can be a way of honoring and noticing. Paying attention to the names of fires is important. Lives and livelihoods depend on the dissemination of accurate and timely information. Naming fires makes them real, rather than simply assigning numbers. Paying attention to them not only alerts all of us to where they are happening, but also offer a look into Oregon’s past, some locations no doubt steeped in local history and lore.

For more information, check out a variety of local and state resources. centraloregonfire.org which includes maps, containment information, personnel numbers and other information relating details of an event. Oregon Wildfire Response & Recover (wildfire.oregon.gov) provides information on air quality, evacuation information, satellite images, smoke forecasts and state-wide overviews and maps. People can also sign up for emergency alerts at this site specific to zip codes.

Butte.

Dr. Cochran • Dr. Westbrook • Dr. Kinnear Dr. Cuthbert • Dr. Nicol

La ciudad de Bend elige el diseño del puente Hawthorne

Concejales

eligen “una suspensión elevada con cables” para el puente peatonal y ciclista en la avenida Hawthorne

Por Julianna LaFollette Traducido por Jéssica Sánchez-Millar

Una iniciativa para aumentar la conexión y crear cruces de avenidas más seguras para los ciclistas y peatones está en marcha a medida que el Ayuntamiento de Bend prosigue con un concepto de diseño para el cruce elevado en la avenida Hawthorne.

El 9 de agosto, la mayoría de los concejales de la ciudad de Bend expresaron su preferencia por un diseño de puente con suspensión elevada por cables. Este diseño, que los concejales eligieron, entre cuatro diferentes diseños, se vio favorecido debido a las siguientes razones: el atractivo, el costo y la compatibilidad del uso del suelo. La construcción de un cruce elevado para peatones y bicicletas a lo largo de la avenida Hawthorne es parte del proyecto más grande de la ciudad, Midtown Crossing Project, cuyo propósito es hacer que el paso sea más seguro para todos los usuarios en los cuatro corredores clave de la ciudad, incluidas

las avenidas de Greenwood, Franklin y Hawthorne y la calle de Second Street. Si bien ciertos diseños tenían un rango de precio ligeramente más bajo, varios concejales pensaron que el diseño elegido era el más apto. “Creo que hay algo de valor al tener uno más emblemático”, dijo Kebler, señalando que un puente más distintivo sería más atractivo tanto para los habitantes, como para los visitantes.

La mayor parte del financiamiento para este proyecto, $32 millones, provino de los fondos programados por el estado. Los concejales de la ciudad esperan que el costo de la construcción se mantenga entre los $31 a $32 millones. El costo proyectado para el diseño de un solo puente fue de $29 a $36 millones de dólares. Las vigas de acero, la opción más barata de las cuatro, tuvo un costo aproximado de $27 a $33 millones de dólares.

Barb Campbell y Mike Riley, los dos

concejales que favorecen un diseño diferente, prefirieron el diseño de “vigas de acero” para el ahorro en el costo. Riley quería que la ciudad reservara la mayor cantidad de dinero posible para la construcción del puente y así mejorar la conexión en el corredor.

“Creo que es fundamental para el propósito de todo este proyecto, el cual es conectar al centro de la ciudad con el distrito central del pueblo”, añadió.

Campbell estuvo de acuerdo con los comentarios de Riley y notó que un costo menor del proyecto podría permitir más conexiones necesarias a futuro. ”Tenemos muchos lugares donde no es seguro cruzar la avenida y este es un diseño que podemos utilizar a futuro”, dijo Campbel durante la reunión del 9 de agosto.

Courtesy City of Bend

Graduating Doctors

How OSU-Cascades became the first public university in Oregon with a Doctor of Physical Therapy program

By Jennifer Baires

It was a recent day in June. On an island of manicured grass surrounded by undeveloped land, Oregon State University-Cascades held its graduation ceremony.

“Think about it. Think about all the work you’ve put into arriving at this moment,” said Kimberly Howard Wade, executive director of Caldera Arts, to the field full of students in black robes. “You’ve learned how to go from concept to completion. From wonder to tenacity,” she continued in her commencement address.

A few seats down from the podium where Wade stood, Christine Pollard, OSU-Cascades' newly minted senior associate dean, nodded, a half-smile on her face. In front of her sat 44 doctoral students – the first doctorate of physical therapy class to ever graduate from a public university in Oregon. The first time the school has ever hooded doctors.

Their presence was a direct result of her work: her ability to go from conceiving of the state’s first doctor of physical therapy program at a public university to realization. A concept 20 years in the making.

From the Court to the Classroom

Growing up in Eugene, Pollard enjoyed sports and time spent outside. Basketball was a passion. Her ability on the court and love for sports led her to Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, where she played ball for the school while studying kinesiology. She was the first in her family to attend college.

“My parents didn’t go to college, so I was a first-gen student. That kind of relates to my passion for OSU-Cascades,” Pollard told the Source Weekly. “I had no idea how much I would learn from college about myself and my capabilities, both inside and outside of the classroom. In reflection, one of my biggest joys is creating this experience for the next generation of students.”

APU was also where she had her first experience with physical therapy when she saw teammates treated for anterior cruciate ligament tears. This type of injury can occur when the knee is stretched too far, and is among the most common of knee injuries. Knee injuries would end up being a phenomenon Pollard would research for years to come.

Having graduated with a degree in kinesiology, Pollard decided to study physical therapy at Pacific University in Oregon. From there, she earned a Ph.D in biomechanics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, eventually teaching at one of the top PT schools in the nation, the University of Southern California. During this time Pollard questioned the lack of a similar program at a public university in her home state. Going out of state or attending a private school were the only options for Oregon students at the time. And, only two private schools offered physical therapy degrees, making it an unattainable career path for many, since the cost of schooling could balloon to two to three times as much as an in-state, public university.

“When I was there, what I realized was that all of the students from Oregon were coming down to USC and these programs in California,” she said. “And, so I really got interested in why Oregon doesn’t have a public institution DPT program.”

Persistent Questioning

“When I got here in 2011, I asked the dean of the [OSU] College of Health in Corvallis, ‘Why don't we have a physical therapy program at OSU?’” Pollard said, finally posing the question that had nagged her for years. She learned many had tried, and failed, because the amount of time, work and financial support to create a program was too intensive. And, if she wanted to tackle launching a new degree program at

OSU, there was a tall hurdle ahead.

“She said, ‘Get tenure, and once you get tenure, then we can talk more about it. Focus on getting tenure,’” Pollard recalled.

The path to tenure at an academic university varies, but it is rarely easy, and not guaranteed. OSU’s faculty handbook describes it as “awarded only after an extensive probationary period, during which the highest standards of scholarship, teaching, and service must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of local peers as well as nationally/internationally recognized experts.”

Resolute in the interim, Pollard continued sowing seeds that would grow to root the DPT program to come. In 2011, upon joining the staff to launch OSU-Cascade’s first kinesiology program – with just seven students – Pollard went about creating a proper lab for studying kinesiology and conducting research. The school was only 10 years old and housed at Central Oregon Community College’s campus, so Pollard teamed up with specialists at Bendbased The Center Foundation and Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy, and the Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence, known as the FORCE Lab, was born. These early efforts and community connections would prove vital to Pollard’s later development and implementation of a “modernized” DPT program.

OSU-Cascades moved to a permanent campus five years later, with a long-term plan to grow to accommodate up to 5,000 students. Billed as

Above, inside OSU-Cascades FORCE Lab – a cutting edge research facility. Right, Christine Pollard helps apply sensors to a volunteer. Left, Kathryn Lent, a professor in the doctorate of physical therapy programs, uses a flat screen table to show close-up renderings of the musculoskeletal system.

Courtesy of OSU-Cascades

Courtesy of OSU-Cascades

Jennifer Baires

Oregon’s first new public university campus in more than half a century, the school sits on 128 acres, including a former pumice mine and a demolition landfill. Its opening was a significant development for the school and the state. It was also an opportune time for Pollard. She was tenured and ready to raise the idea of a DPT program again. This time the buy-in was there.

She got the green light to pursue the program, but there were still years of strategizing and planning ahead. A donation in the spring of 2019 allowed Pollard to step out of the classroom and focus on building the DPT program. Then COVID hit.

“A lot of the design happened in the pandemic,” Pollard said. “I'll forever remember me and my Bernese mountain dog sitting in my home office, spending all this time developing the program.” That downtime, when so many teachers were working from home, too, meant easier access for Pollard to colleagues at PT schools nationwide. They would talk about the best way to build a program from the ground up, how modern concepts and technology could be baked into the design and what would be best to emphasize within it.

“It was really fun, and I think that we're still enjoying that process because we still have a lot of flexibility in how we think,” Pollard said. It also meant that word of the program spread, and top-tier teachers were interested in taking part.

New Buildings and New Tech

At the OSU-Cascades campus today, the sounds and sights of construction permeate. So far, 13 of 128 acres have been developed and a 10-acre land remediation is underway on the former demolition landfill area. A new building going up will be a Student Success Center. Next door to it Edward J. Ray Hall rises — wood, metal and glass off the leveled landscape.

The hall was completed in 2021 to the tune of $49 million. It’s powered by geothermal energy, courtesy of an aquifer 500 feet below ground and built with timber from regional forests – all part of the campus’ long-term goals of being net-zero in energy, waste and water. Among the initiatives it houses are the DPT program, the new state-ofthe-art FORCE Lab and a cadaver lab. It was designed with input from Pollard and DPT faculty and includes a double-sized classroom with 24 treatment tables for students to practice on one another and a clinical skills classroom where students can train on commonly used physical therapy equipment. At the bottom level of the building is the FORCE Lab. It’s an extra-long rectangular room with the vibe of a hip, highend workout studio. On one end, two

walls are painted OSU orange with large black triangular silhouettes, reminiscent of mountains at sunset. Tracks for cameras run above, alongside the exposed piping, and a large television is mounted opposite a standing desk outfitted with multiple computer screens. Inset in the floor are three large plates to measure the force and movement of subjects.

To quote the Little Mermaid, they’ve got “gadgets and gizmos a-plenty,” along with “whozits and whatzits galore.” There’s a 10-camera 3D motion capture system. There are two high-speed video cameras that can sync with the 3D kinematic data, an eight-sensor wireless electromyography system to measure muscle activation, wireless insoles to slip into your shoes to map where your foot puts pressure during dynamic movement, a biodex dynamometer to determine muscle strength around any joint, sophisticated tracking and modeling software and much more.

On one visit to the lab, JJ Hannigan, an assistant professor in physical therapy and the lab’s co-director, walks me through some of its capabilities. In addition to running the lab and teaching, he conducts research there. A couple of recent studies, one looking at the impact of minimal-style running shoes on youth and the other researching how maximal running shoes affect runners’ form have garnered media attention at the local and national level. During our talk, Hannigan stresses the importance of exposing DPT students to research. Each student in the threeyear program must work on a capstone project — research led by a faculty member during their second year.

“One of the goals of our program is to train clinician scientists, those that aren't just well-versed in treating patients, but folks or clinicians that are able to engage a scientific process while they're treating folks,” Hannigan said. “They can look at a research study and better understand the steps the researchers went through. They have a better lens of looking at maybe limitations of that research and seeing what they could or couldn't apply to their clinical practice.”

The requirement of a capstone project is one of the unique aspects of the program. So is the opportunity to study human anatomy and the skeletal and muscle structures on cadavers. That lab is run by Kathryn Lent, an assistant professor in the DPT program.

“We're very, very grateful to have that opportunity to learn from human tissues and from the donors themselves. And grateful to the donors and their families for this opportunity,” she said.

Lent joined OSU-Cascades in 2021. Before that she was at the University of Washington. She said the chance to help mold the program was a key reason she joined the school.

“I think one thing that drew me to this particular program was the newness,” she said. “Being a part of creating something from scratch is pretty special, and the opportunity for that doesn't come up that often. We can literally create the curriculum and the mission and the culture around here. I jumped at that opportunity.”

Another reason, she said was Pollard. “I think seeing the work that she had done, and talking to her about the process of creating this program, knowing that she was from Oregon…I think was also a big draw.”

The other significant ways that the program stands out, according to Lent, and other faculty members and students, is in its robust clinical rotations that start in year one, its emphasis on rural care and its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Each cohort of roughly 45 students rotates between taking classes on campus and clinical rotations. Those rotations start in year one. This is where the importance of a strong physical therapy community around the school matters, and what Pollard was hoping to foster decades ago, when she first broached the idea of a program in Bend. Chalk it up to the active lifestyle of people in the region, but Deschutes County has more physical therapists per capita than anywhere else in the state, with 1 PT for every 783 people. The state average is 1 for every 1,413, according to the Oregon Health Authority’s most recent estimates.

“There are so many PT clinics here, and physical therapists in general,” said Collier Lawrence, a third-year student and former professional runner who’s lived in Bend for the last 10 years. “They also have to be behind this program, because it really takes the whole community to be like, ‘Yeah, you're going to have 40 students in a cohort, 45 students, and there's going to be a clinic for every single student’s rotations.’ That's a really big aspect.”

At this point, just a few years in, and having graduated the first cohort only a couple of months ago, the program is clearly popular. Applications far outnumber spots. According to the school, it receives as many as 10 times the number of applications as there are spots available. Of those applicants, 150 will go on to virtual interviews (all are virtual to ensure equity and fairness in the process) and roughly 45 will be offered a spot. The faculty includes experts who came from schools around the country and two dozen lecturers from the local PT community. The program achieved full accreditation this spring – just a month before graduation — and a few weeks ago the first cohort sat for their licensing tests — the final test before they can practice in a clinic. Pollard says half the class has job offers already, several of them in very rural areas in Oregon and many at multiple clinics.

“They made us so proud,” Pollard said. “I mean they really did. Knocked it out of the park.”

Meanwhile, Pollard has pivoted her focus to her new role as associate dean.

In the last eight months, she created a new leadership structure on campus and hired heads of each education program. Next on her list is continuing to grow the campus, adding more students to more programs and completing buildings like the student center going up outside her office window. However, on a recent trip to campus, Pollard was drawn away from her desk to check out the DPT classroom and the FORCE lab where she greeted DPT and undergraduate students by name and was quick to ask about their work and studies.

—This story is powered by the Lay It Out Foundation, the nonprofit with a mission of promoting deep reporting and investigative journalism in Central Oregon. Learn more and be part of this important work by visiting layitoutfoundation.org.

A computer rendering of OSU-Cascades' master plan for its Bend campus.

Courtesy of OSU-Cascades

SOURCE PICKS

THURSDAY 08/15

BIRDIES FOR BEND

GOLF TOURNAMENT

BSG Craft Brewing, a beer supply company, presents the third annual Birdies for Bend Gold Tournament. Attendees can sample craft beer and golf alongside the brewers that craft refreshing beers that you may be familiar with. This year, proceeds benefit Bend South Little League and Giving Plate. Thu., Aug. 15, 9:30am-7pm at Lost Tracks Golf Course. 60205 Sunset View Dr., Bend. $150-$600.

THURSDAY

NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS

SOUTH OF HERE TOUR

Nathaniel Rateliff, an American singer and songwriter based in Denver, is known for his influences in folk, Americana and rhythm and blues. Rateliff performs with The Night Sweats on the South of Here tour supporting their fourth-full-length album. Aug. 15, 7pm. Hayden Homes Amphitheater. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $49.50.

BRISCOE WEST OF IT ALL

FOLK-ROCK BAND FROM AUSTIN

Briscoe, an Americana folk-rock band from Austin, Texas, released its debut album, “West of It All,” fea turing adventurous songwriting that bridges classic American roots with folk, rock and pop influences. The band consists of Truett Heintzelman and Phillip Lupton. Fri., Aug. 16, 9pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub. 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. $20-$50.

GROM CON BY C.O.S.T.A

YOUTH RIVER SURFING CONTEST

Get ready for the excitement of Grom Con, a highly anticipated youth river surfing contest for participants 18 and under. The exnihilating event promises a day of thrilling waves, impressive skills and unforgettable fun. Participants will compete in various heats, showcasing their talents on the river’s dynamic waves. Sat., Aug. 17, 8am at McKay River Wave Park. 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $43.89.

NATIVE FISH SOCIETY –HOMEWATERS ROUNDUP

FELLOWSHIP, FESTIVITIES AND FUN!

Enjoy an evening of fellowship, festivities and exciting raffle prizes at the 6th Annual Homewaters Roundup hosted by Native Fish Society. The event benefits Oregon’s native fish and wild rivers. Admission is free and includes light eats, specialty cocktails and live music from local band, Trance Folk Trio. Sat., Aug. 17, 4-7pm at The Miracle Barn. 65599 Tweed Rd., Bend. Free.

CLAY WORKSHOP WITH LA LUCE STUDIO

CREATING WITH CLAY AT TUMALO LAVENDER FIELDS

MCTUFF LIVE AT WORTHY BREWING

FUNKY JAZZ TUNES FROM JOE DORIA Hammond organist Joe Doria brings together top talent from the Northwest music scene to create a powerful and jaw-dropping funk and jazz sound. Enjoy an evening of jazz music from McTuff, with seasoned songwriting and deep grooves. Sun., Aug. 18, 7:30-9pm at Worthy Brewing. 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Free.

SUNDAY 08/18

SLIGHTLY STOOPID AND DIRTY HEADS

A NIGHT OF REGGAE MUSIC

The Slightly Stoopid Dirty Summer Tour comes to Bend featuring Dirty Heads and special guests Common Kings and The Elovaters. Slightly Stoopid has expanded its fusion of rock, reggae, acoustic soul, hip-hop and punk rock. Enjoy a mix of reggae and rock music that embodies the band’s California roots. Sun., Aug. 18, 5pm at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $65.50

SUNDAY 08/18

THINK WILD BINGO!

Join Krista from La Luce Studio for a creative workSUNDAY 08/17

BINGO NIGHT SUPPORTING LOCAL WILDLIFE Win cash prizes and support local wildlife at Think Wild Bingo. $1 beer sold all day during the event with proceeds benefitting Think Wild – a Bend-based nonprofit that cares for injured and orphaned native wildlife. Sun., Aug. 18, 6-8pm at Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market. 21175 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

Courtesy Rachel Lundstedt

Courtesy Volcanic Theatre Pub

Courtesy Tumalor Lavender

Ticketmaster

CALENDAR

14 Wednesday

The Yard at Bunk + Brew Jongleur Gems

Join Bunk + Brew for an evening of Jongleur Gems in the round featuring Maria Jackson and Auzzie Mark McCord. Each artist (stage spot) plays a song and then passes to the other artist (stage spot). Artists can jam/collaborate together performing both originals and covers. Food and Beverage carts are on-site and minors are allowed. 7pm. Free.

The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company Wednesday Jam Sessions Drink some fine cask or imported beers and try some amazing British pies while listening to some local musicians jam out. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy

Open Mic Sign-up 7:30pm. If you’ve ever wanted to try stand-up comedy, this is where you start! 8-10pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Conner Bennett Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music every Wednesday from 6-8pm. 6-8pm. Free.

Deschutes Brewery & Public House Head Games Trivia Night Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Head Games multi-media trivia is at Deschutes Bend Public House every Wednesday. Win prizes. Teams up to six. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

General Duffy’s Waterhole Wednesday Night Open Mic Join Central Oregon School of Modern Music and General Duffy’s for the Wednesday night Open Mic! Play 3 songs. Groups of up to 3. Sign-up begins at 5:30. Food trucks, 25+ taps, drink specials! 6-9pm. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater Michael Franti and Spearhead with Special Guests Citizen Cope Alternative reggae singer/songwriter Michael Franti is set to perform on Aug., 14! Catch his songs steeped in political and social emphasis. 5:15pm. $45.

JC’s Bar & Grill TRIVIA + Wing Wednesday! $.75 cent wing special all day and trivia kicking off at 7:30pm. Don’t forget the infamous “physical” challenge as one of the categories (think musical chairs, limbo, paper airplane throwing etc)! Get a free appetizer by winning that round and happy hour pricing all week for the winning team. 7:30-9:30pm. Free.

Juniper Preserve Music on the Patio at Juniper Preserve Join Juniper Reserve for “Music on the Patio,” a summer series of live music performances happening every Wednesday evening at the Trailhead Grill at Juniper Preserve. 6-8pm. Free.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School

The Rhythm Collective A rare concert by a dynamic group of Latin and African percussionists and Jazz musicians. 6-9pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Mellow Wednesday Acoustic Open Mic and Jam hosted by Derek Michael Marc Sign-up sheet is available at 6:30pm. 7-9pm. Free.

Oblivion Pour House Last Call Trivia Wednesday Last Call Trivia Wednesdays, bring your smartest friends and win free food and drink. 6:30-8:30pm.

Prost! Bend Trivia Prost! UKB Trivia is now at Prost! Bend on Wednesdays at 7pm! Genuine UKB Trivia is no average trivia night! Meet up with friends, win gift card prizes for top teams! Enjoy Prost’s authentic beer and food menu. Trivia is free to play, with no buy-ins! 7-9pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Killer Larry, The Bangers & Lurk and Loiter Killer Larry performs at Silver Moon Brewing alongside special guests The Bangers and Lurk and Loiter. 7-10pm. $14. The Vault Taphouse at Kobold Brewing Trivia Night Trivia Night at The Vault! Come test your knowledge and drink top notch local beer! 6:30-8pm. Free.

15 Thursday

Austin Mercantile Live Music Every Thursday Join at Austin Mercantile for live music every Thursday. Offering a light happy hour menu — daily flatbread, chili, charcuterie, soft pretzels and more! 4:30-6:30pm. Free.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursday at Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursdays at 6:30pm at Bridge 99 Brewery with Useless Knowledge Bowl. It’s no ordinary trivia night, Team up to win house gift cards! Great brews, cocktails, and more. In-house menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Dump City Dumplings Local Live music night Local live music showcase at dump city every Thursday. $1 off beverages and dumplings. 7/18 Connor Bennett 7/25 Kerry Sheehan 5:30pm. Free. Elements Public House Trivia Night at Elements Public House with QuizHead Games Come be all you can be with Trivia Night every Thursday from 6-8pm! Featuring QuizHead. games. Located at the north end of Redmond. Full bar and great food! 6-8pm. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats: South of Here Tour The upcoming tour for Nathaniel Rateliff, and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Enjoy the live experience: buy your tickets today! Nathaniel David Rateliff is an American singer and songwriter based in Denver, Colorado, whose influences are described as folk, Americana and vintage rhythm & blues. Rateliff has performed with a backing band called the Night Sweats for an R&B side project he formed in 2013. 7pm. $49.50.

High Desert Music Hall Third Thursday

Spoken Word Night Spoken word open mic night for all poets, writers, storytellers, and songwriters. Step up to the mic for a spoken word night the third Thursday of the month. All writers and readers and word-lovers invited to attend and read. Food and drink are available for purchase. 6-8pm. Free.

Immersion Brewing Localized Your favorite local hootenanny is back! Join Immersion Brewing for live music, local vendors, and great beer on our Arizona patio! 5-8pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Huck Finn Yacht Club Front and Center stage will be jam-packed with this fun time 7-piece Americana party. Get ready to get down with a little bit country and a little bit rockn-roll amidst the dog days of Summer! 9pm. Free. Northside Bar & Grill Gene Rogers Solo show with the frontman for The HWY 97 Band, Gene Rogers. 8-10pm. Free.

Ponch’s Place Trivia Night and Doctors Rounds at Ponch’s Place Join us for Trivia with QuizHead Games and Meet the Vet with Doctor Rounds. Every Thursday, a VRCCO vet will pour beer and connect with the community. Proceeds from each beer benefit the VRCCO Care Fund, helping Central Oregon pets in need. 6-8pm. Free.

released

River’s Place Superball Traveling to the late ‘60s, ‘70s, to mid-’80s, in search of all those fun and exciting hits that made us want to go out and buy all that vinyl! 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Trivia on the Moon Come down to Silver Moon Brewing for a night of trivia! Teams are welcome to show up in groups up to 8 people. Silver Moon also offers seating reservations for $20 donations that all go to F*Cancer! If you would like to reserve a table please contact the Trivia on the Moon Facebook page. 7pm. Free.

The Lot Live Music with Skinny Dennis @ The Lot Skinny Dennis is an acoustic duo comprised of Bill Sterling on guitar and vocals and Rodney Toogood on bass and vocals. Classic rock tunes, ‘80s indie pop, singer-songwriter stylings and original songs propel Skinny Dennis’ sound and will get you and your friends smiling and moving to songs you know. 6-8pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Batwave EP Release Show Batwave is a doom/grunge power trio hailing from Bend, OR. This show celebrates the release of their new EP ‘Reptilianz.’ 8pm. $10.

16 Friday

Bend Cider Co. Blake and The Music at Bend Cider Inventive solo guitar music inspired by an eclectic mix of musical genres. Blake weaves together intricate layers of sound to create songs that tell a story and take you on a journey. 6-8pm. Fre

Bend Poker Room Friday Night Poker Tournament Come on in for the Friday night poker tournament! $80 entry with unlimited rebuys for the first hour and an optional add-on for $40 at the first break. Patrons pay a $10 entrance fee. No money bet in any game is collected by the Bend Poker Room. 6-11pm. $80.

Bridge 99 Brewery Karaoke Friday’s at Bridge 99 All your favorite songs with hostess, Miss Mindy! 7-9pm. Free.

Cheba Hut Sun Sets Comedy Open Mic Sun Sets is a free comedy open mic every Friday. Sign-up 7:30. Starts 8pm. Enjoy the nice summer weather and the fresh heat from these local legends. It’s a toasty good time. Hosted by Katy Ipock. 7:30-10pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Tarekith - Downtempo & Organic House DJ Set Once again we’ll be watching the sunset on the outdoor patio with some chill beats from local musician Tarekith, playing a mix of vocal driven downtempo and deep organic house music. 6:30-9pm. Free.

Desert Inn Sports Bar & Grill Chasin’ Bandits live at the Desert Inn Chasin’ Bandits play country, rock and southern rock tunes. This talented band’s song selection will surprise you with many genres ranging from the ‘60s to current tunes! Grab a beverage and bite from the outdoor or indoor menu. Discount Jello shots when the train goes by! 7-10pm. Free.

Immersion Brewing THE DUCC Comedy Showcase presented by BUCC Every 3rd Friday of the month THE DUCC will land in the Backroom of Immersion Brewing at the Box factory in Bend, OR. Come experience a comedy showcase featuring mainly local talent, occaisional special guests, plenty of surprises and audience interaction! Hosted by Eric Oren. Third Friday of every month, 7-9pm. $20-25.

Big E’s Sports Bar Karaoke Night Central Oregon’s most fun karaoke venue! Karaoke is hosted by A Fine Note Karaoke Too and DJ Jackie J. Delicious food and drink and a friendly staff. Come join the show where you are the star! 8pm. Free.

Ponch’s Place Music with Erin Cole Baker Enjoy Friday night music at Ponch’s Place with Erin Cole Baker. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing TEB and Father, Son, Whitney & Wolfe Some of Bend’s favorite musicians creating a funky rocking night of incredible live music. 7pm. $12.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Briscoe West Of It All West of It All, the debut album from Americana folk-rock band Briscoe, is a comingof-age soundtrack set against the backdrop of the Texas Hill Country. Written in the Lone Star State and recorded in North Carolina, it’s an album that charts its own musical geography, with production from Grammy nominee Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats) and adventurous songwriting that bridges the gap between classic American roots music and its modern-day incarnation. 9pm. $20-$50.

Briscoe is the Austin-based band of Truett Heintzelman and Phillip Lupton. The Americana folk-rock band has

its debut album, “West of It All.” Brisco plays Fri., Aug. 16, 9pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub.

Courtesy Briscoe Band Facebook

17 Saturday

Austin Mercantile Saturday Afternoon Live Music Austin Mercantile is now adding live music on Saturdays! Serving wine, beer, lite happy hour menu, gifts and home decor. Hope to see you soon! 4:30-6:30pm. Free.

Bend White Water Park Grom Con by C.O.S.T.A. Get ready to catch the excitement! The highly anticipated 18 and under, youth river surfing contest at the Bend Whitewater Park in Bend. This exhilarating event promises a day of thrilling waves, impressive skills, and unforgettable fun for young surfers from all age groups. Grom Con is not just about the competition; its about fostering a vibrant and supportive surfing community. Participants will compete in various heats, showcasing their talents on the rivers dynamic waves. Special recognition will be given to those young surfers who take the extra step of shaping their own boards, celebrating their creativity and craftsmanship 8am. $43.89.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Rev and Random Variety Show The Rev and Random Variety Show For Laughs will be back at it at Craft Kitchen and Brewery. Craft’s signature variety show is filled with music, talent, positivity and of course jokes. Every show is designed to be unique and this line up is no exception. 8-9:30pm. $15.

Elk Lake Resort Lodge Bar & Restaurant Elk Lake Music on the Water - JT & The Mudbugs 11th Annual Playing at Elk Lake! Join the 11th Annual Music on the Water Summer Series presented by Boneyard Beer and Crater Lake Spirits and enjoy free live music by our talented local and regional bands. Music starts at 5pm between the lodge and the lake. 5pm. Free.

Hardtails Bar & Grill “PETTY

FEVER” THE MULTI- AWARD WINNING TOM PETTY TRIBUTE! Petty Fever is a multi-award winning full production tribute to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers featuring the captivating guitarist/vocalist and 2016 Hollywood FAME Award Winner, Frank Murray. Petty Fever is the recipient of multiple awards which include; a 2017 and 2018 Las Vegas FAME Award for “Outstanding Tribute Band” 8-10pm. $20.

Northside Bar & Grill Them N J Classic and alternative rock from Them NJ at Northside Bar and Grill. 8-11pm. Free.

On Tap The Colin Trio at On Tap Live music on the lawn with The Colin Trio. On Tap offers 35 tap handles, including a wide variety of craft beer, cider, wine and kombucha. Our 6 food trucks satisfy every palette. 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Sweet Red & The Hot Rod Billies Rock-a-billy band plays music from Elvis to Janis Martin and lots of boogie woogie in between. 6-8pm. Free.

Silvermoon Brewing 3ofWe brings it to Silvermoon! 3ofWe connects the audience with engaging music that takes each listener on a journey. They bring an original sound and infectious energy with their kaleidoscopic songs. Come on out to join in the fun and be part of the experience! 8-10pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Elevate the Industry Model Citizens presents an electrifying night of dance performance in an urban landscape, blending raw athleticism with sultry elegance. We’re elevating the industry with a stage set with scaffolding, poles, ladders, enticing lighting, and of cours.the dancers. This show will be a feast for your senses with styles including pole, chair, hip-hop, floor, sexy contemporary, and more. 18+ suggested 7:30pm. $25-$200.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 AT 7PM

BENDTICKET

18 Sunday

The Astro Lounge Local Artist Spotlight Sundays This is a chance to listen to Central Oregon’s newest and upcoming local artists. They have earned their spot to perform a two-hour show, changing weekly, every Sunday. Support local top notch talent! 7-9pm. Free.

Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market Think Wild Bingo! Join Think Wild and Cascade Lakes Brewing Co on Reed Market for bingo night from 6-8pm! Come support wildlife and win cash and raffle prizes. $1 per beer sold all day will be donated to Think Wild! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commons Cafe & Taproom Trivia Night Sunday Funday Trivia with Sean. Gather your team, or roll solo and find a spot early in the cafe, knowledge tests begin at 6pm. Prizes for 1st and 2nd place. 6-8pm. Free.

The Domino Room Creed Fisher Country music’s rising Outlaw Country star, Creed Fisher reminds fans to never lose sight of who you are, where you’re from, and never be afraid of working hard to earn an honest living on his latest musical manifesto This Ain’t the Hamptons. See him perform at The Domino Room! 8pm. $23.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Slightly Stoopid and Dirty Heads with Common Kings, The Elovaters The Slightly Dirty Summer Tour comes through Bend! 5pm. $65.50.

Juniper Preserve Free Your Voice. Cave Choir & Sound Bath In a special cave choir, lead by Deena Kamm, we will practice movement and vocalizations to find our voice and release any insecurities to the void of the cave. Open your hearts bringing awareness to the energy in your voice and body and then relax deeply for a sound bath. 10am. $55.

River’s Place Trivia Sundays at Noon Trivia Sundays at Noon, with UKB Trivia, at River’s Place. This is no ordinary contest, this is a live trivia game show. Bring your bunch and win gift card prizes for top teams! Indoor and outdoor seating available. Great food and drink options available. Noon-2pm. Free.

River’s Place Magical Mystery Four Beatles cover band. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Open Mic at the Moon Get a taste of the big time! Sign-up is at 4pm! Come check out the biggest and baddest open mic night in Bend! 5-8pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Shawn JamesMeurte Mi Amor Tour Shawn James comes to perform on the Meurte Mi Amor Tour at Volcanic Theatre Pub. 9pm. $25-$150.

Worthy Brewing McTuff Live at Worthy Brewing Hammond organist Joe Doria brings together some of the best of the NW music scene to create a powerful and jaw-dropping funk and jazz sound like you’ve never heard, seasoned songwriting and deep groove where no musical stone gets unturned. McTuff is best experienced live! 7-9pm. Free.

AUGUST 16 AND 17 AT 6PM

19 Monday

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Mondays at Bridge 99 Trivia Mondays at 6:30pm at Bridge 99 Brewery with Useless Knowledge Bowl. It’s no ordinary trivia night, Team up to win house gift cards! Great brews, cocktails, and more. In-house menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:30-8:30pm.

The Yard at Bunk + Brew Open Mic Monday Sign-up at 5:30pm. 3 song maximum/ or 15-minute spots. Singles/duos/trios (no bands) (Cajun OK). Food and beverage carts on-site. Originals or covers. Minors welcome. 6-8pm. Free.

Crux Fermentation Project Trivia Night @ Crux Trivia Night at Crux! First place team wins a $25 gift card! 6-8pm. Free.

Elixir Wine Locals Music Night and Open Mic Bend’s friendliest open-mic! All genres welcome. Oregon and international wine, beer and tapas menu available all evening. 6-9pm. Free.

On Tap Bill Powers at On Tap Live music on the lawn with Bill Powers. On Tap offers 35 tap handles, including a wide variety of craft beer, cider, wine and kombucha. Our 6 food trucks satisfy every palette. 6-8pm. Free.

SKIP Bar at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Monday Big Lawn Series The Suttle Lodge is a perfect stop for touring bands and musicians. Allowing The Suttle Lodge to showcase some incredible artists from near and far. Catch a variety of tunes on the big lawn every Monday from 6-8pm. 6-8pm. Free.

The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room Bottles and Boards - Game Night Grab your favorite board game or borrow one! Every Monday is Game Night! Pair a bottle of wine with a selection of charcuterie boards and get $5 off Whites or $10 off Reds. Fun times and great wines! Cheers! 2-9pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Mary Lambert Mary Lambert is not your typical multi-platinum artist. While studying Music Composition at Cornish College of the Arts, she found a home in the spoken word community of Seattle and began experimenting with infusing poetry into her music, performing frequently as a cellist, singer-songwriter, and poet. 9pm. $20-$35.

20 Tuesday

Bangers & Brews Redmond UKB Trivia Tuesdays UKB Trivia Tuesdays 6:30pm start time at Bangers and Brews in Redmond! Join this week for this unique “Live Trivia Game Show.” Meet up to compete for prizes! UKB Trivia is free to play, with no buy-ins. Great menu and beers! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 AT 3PM

Courtesy Creed Fisher Facebook

From West Texas, the American musician Creed Fisher is a rising country star whose professional music career began in 2012 after playing football in the minor leagues for nine years. He performs Sun., Aug. 18, 8pm at The Domino Room.

CALENDAR EVENTS

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend Bend Ecstatic Dance An all-out, full-on, spectacular music and free-form movement journey happens every Tuesday on one of the biggest dance floors in Bend. A no-booze and no-shoes venue. No experience required, no dance instructions given. Just really excellent music curation and a big, clean floor to explore your unique movement across. 7:45-10pm. $15-$25 sliding scale. The Commons Cafe & Taproom Storytellers Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Mason James is the host. Poetry, comedy and spoken word are welcome, but this is mainly a musical open mic. Performance slots are a quick 10 minutes each, so being warmed up and ready is ideal. If you wish to perform sign-ups start at 5pm in the cafe. 6pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Head Games Trivia Night Live multi-media trivia every other Tuesday at Crosscut Warming Hut No. 5, Bend. Free to play, win prizes, teams up to 6. Please arrive early for best seats. Every other Tuesday, 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Karaoke with DJ Chris Karaoke Night with DJ Chris 6-8pm. Free. River’s Place Bingo! Have fun, win money and support a local non profit organization. In August we will play with CAMP (Companion Animal Medical Project) who provides free veterinary care - both preventative and urgent - to the unhoused population of Central Oregon. Cards $1-$5. 6-8pm. Free.

Worthy Beers & Burgers Head Games Trivia Night Join for live multi-media trivia every Tuesday night. Win prizes. Teams up to 6 players. 7-9pm. Free.

MUSIC

Sunriver Music Festival Classical Concert II: WATER This special matinee opens with the most famous waltz of all time— The Blue Danube by Strauss. After intermission, Schumann’s “Rhenish” Symphony is a musical depiction of the Schumanns’ travels along the Rhine. Aug. 18, 3-5pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-593-9310. tickets@sunrivermusic.org. $45-$88; age 25 & under - $25.

Sunriver Music Festival’s Discover the Symphony Concert This entertaining matinee presents orchestral music in a fun and informal setting. Bring the whole family and enjoy a one-hour concert with virtuosic recipients of the Young Artists Scholarship with the full Festival Orchestra. An instrument petting zoo is offered prior to the concert. Aug. 15, 3-4pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-593-9310. tickets@sunrivermusic.org. Free for ages 17 and under; $15 G/A adults.

DANCE

Argentine Tango Classes and Dance

Join every Wednesday for Tango classes and dancing! Your first class is free. Tango 101 Class from 6:30-7pm, no partner needed! All levels class from 7-8pm. Open dancing from 8-9:30pm. Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30pm. Sons of Norway Hall, 549 NW Harmon Blvd., Bend. Contact: 541-728-3234. tangocentraloregon@ gmail.com. $5-$10.

LA RUMBA Latin Dance Party @ Hola! Downtown A night of Latin music, dancing, delicious food and drinks at HOLA! Downtown. DJ SOLO spinning the best in tropical beats including salsa, bachata, cumbia, merengue and more. 7:30pm - Dance lesson. 8-11pm - Music and dancing. Aug. 15, 7:3011pm. Hola! Downtown, 920 NW Bond St., Bend. Contact: 5413256676. LatinDanceBend@ gmail.com. Free.

FILM EVENTS

“Encanto” (Kulture City Sensory Inclusive) “Encanto” tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. Aug. 20, 6-8pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $8 (plus $6 Historic Preservation fee).

ARTS + CRAFTS

Blacksmith Open Forge Come and practice your skills with our guidance. Blacksmith Open Forge at DIYcave provide the perfect opportunity to spend a fun afternoon honing your skills at the time-honored DIY craft of shaping, tapering, splitting, twisting, and punching steel to create art, jewelry, and functional items. Aug. 20, 5:30-7:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $99.

CityFest 2024 CityFest is a family-friendly opportunity for City Councilors and staff to meet community! City of Bend will host CityFest at 9th Street Village, home of Bevel, food trucks, DIY Cave, and SOLSK8S – come check out City vehicles (including the favorite: fire trucks!), the Mayor’s speech, and a community art, Aug. 15, 4-7pm. 9th Street Village, 911 SE Armour Road, Bend. Contact: kbarguil@ bendoregon.gov. Free.

Clay Workshop with La Luce Studio at Tumalo Lavender Join Krista from La Luce Studio for a wonderful exploration of imprinting clay with lavender out in front of the Tumalo Lavender fields! You’ll craft various home pieces like platters, plates, cheese trays, and bowls adorned with lavender impressions. Let’s craft exquisite and distinctive pieces for your home. Thu, July 18, 5:30-8pm, Sat, Aug. 17, 5-7:30pm and Fri, Sept. 20, 5:30-8pm. Tumalo Lavender, 19825 Connarn Road, Bend. Contact: ‭541-383-2441 . info@tumalolavender. com. $100-120.

An Evening with Let’s Paint and Sage + Honey Spa - Bee Radiant! Join Let’s Paint! at Kevista Coffee, as we sip and create our very own masterpiece of a queen bee holding her crown. In between each artfully led layer of our painting, you will be treating yourself to a rejuvenating facial led by Nichola Mente of Sage + Honey Spa. Aug. 17, 6-8pm. Kevista Coffee, 130 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-480-7491. sarahanneswoffer@ gmail.com. $75.

Intro to MIG Welding - Women Only

Our Women’s only Intro to Welding class introduces students to MIG (GMAW / Wire Feed) welding, a widely used and versatile process that is perfect for beginners wanting to start on their own metal fabrication projects. Designed for beginners who want to gain confidence in our metal shop. Aug. 20, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-3882283. classes@diycave.com. $129.

Natural Dyes Workshop Series: Bundle Dyeing, Ecoprinting, & Plant Printing This is the fourth event in a series of Natural Dye Workshops with artist Madelaine Corbin. This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of bundle dyeing, ecoprinting, and plant printing. Attendees will experiment with each method, creating two samples along with a finished and functional textile to take home.

Aug. 17, 10am-3pm. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, 68467 Three Creek Rd., Sisters. Contact: 541-904-0700. inquiries@ roundhousefoundation.org. $150.

Paint a Korok | Arts & Crafts Night

Paint a Korok with an ISoMiMo twist! Paint and decorate your very own forest spirit with a unique Skullie mask. As a bonus activity, paint on the included canvas to bring your creation to life! RSVP at www.isomimo.com or in our studio at 925 NW Wall St. Aug. 16, 6-8pm. ISoMiMo Studio, 925 NW Wall St Suite 201A, Bend. Contact: 541-330-6711. info@isomimo.com. $30.

Stranger Drawings: Lines of Connection We often go through life looking at but not seeing each other. This simple process is an antidote. NO drawing ability required! A collaboration hosted by ISoMiMo, led by Krayna Castelbaum and co-organized by Invisible Thread. Come solo or with a friend. Materials supplied. RSVP: krayna@clearlenscoaching.com. 925 NW Wall St Suite 201A, Bend. Aug. 18, 11am-12:30pm. ISoMiMo, 925 NW Wall St Suite 201A, Bend. Contact: 541-318-0045. krayna@clearlenscoaching.com. $5.00 to support ISoMiMo Galley.

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

Honey Bee Field Day & Picnic The Central Oregon Beekeepers are hosting an all-ages Honey Bee Field Day and Picnic to celebrate World Honey Bee Day! Join us for hands-on learning, honey bee colony inspections, scavenger hunts, free melon sampling, a U-pick patch (wallet required), and more! Aug. 17, 9:45am12:30pm. Well Rooted Produce & U-Pick, 20377 Swalley Road, Bend. Contact: 541-420-0423. contact@cobeekeepers.org. Free.

Mary Lambert is known for infusing poetry into her music, performing frequently as a cellist, singer, songwriter and poet. Lambert worked with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on tracks such as, “Same Love.”

She appears Mon., Aug. 19, 9pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub.

Courtesy Mary Lambert Facebook

Glacial Shifts: Art and Science in the Migration of Ice Join us for an enlightening event featuring two distinguished speakers, Dr. Anders Carlson and Daniela Naomi Molnar, each offering unique perspectives on the intersection of art and science in the context of transitions and migration in the face of climate change. Event is free, but registration is required. Aug. 15, 6-7:30pm. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, 68467 Three Creek Rd., Sisters. Contact: 541-904-0700. inquiries@roundhousefoundation.org. Free.

Natural History of Lake Abert Hear about Oregon’s culturally and ecologically extraordinary hypersaline lake with reseracher and author Ron Larson. Ron will share his striking photos, videos, and his concerns about how the future of Lake Abert urgently needs our ongoing attention so that it remains an essential part of the Great Basin. Aug. 20, 6-7pm. Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-312-1029. laurelw@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

WORDS

AUTHOR EVENT: THE EXPLORERS BY AMANDA BELLOWS Join historian Amanda Bellows and Bend author Glenn Voelz to discuss The Explorers: A New History of America in Ten Expeditions, “A fascinating new history of America, told through the stories of a diverse cast of ten extraordinary—and often overlooked—adventurers, from Sacagawea to Sally Ride. Aug. 15, 6:30-7:30pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. $5.

Local Author Saturday Join us for this free event as four Bend-based authors will be at Roundabout Books to talk about their books. Authors will be seated around the store to talk about their books at your convenience. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Aug. 17, 1-3pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-3066564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free. RAB Middles Book Club Please join Roundabout Books for RAB Middles Book Club. We will be discussing The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln. Aug. 19, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

OUTDOORS EVENTS

ACCO Autocross Events 5 & 6 Autocrossing is very simple – use traffic cones to make a mini-roadcourse in a large parking lot or unused airport tarmac and see who can drive it the quickest without hitting any cones or going off course. Aug. 17, 7am-5pm and Aug. 18, 7am-5pm. Redmond High School, 675 SW Rimrock Way,, Redmond. Contact: 541-593-7383. layers@crestviewcable.com. $35.

Yoga on the Lawn @ Deschutes Brewery Warehouse Yoga Flow for all levels and all ages. Bring a mat, towel, or blanket and water! This is a donation-based class with 50% of donations going to Shepard’s House Women’s and Children’s center and Discover Your Forest. Sat, Aug. 17, 9-10am and Sat, Aug. 24, 9-10am. Deschutes Brewery Warehouse, 399 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr, Bend. Contact: 541316-9213. missie@romingyogabend.com. Free.

VOLUNTEER

Bunny Rescue Needs Volunteers Looking for more volunteers to help with tidying bunny enclosures, feeding, watering, giving treats, head scratches, play time and fostering. All ages welcome and time commitments are flexible — weekly, monthly or fill-in. Located at the south end of Redmond. Email Lindsey with your interests and availability: wildflowerbunnylove@gmail.com.

Think Wild Volunteer Orientation Get involved with local wildlife conservation! Learn about the many different volunteer roles Think Wild has to offer. Please complete our volunteer application and download the free Slack app on your phone before this meeting. Meeting will be held in person at 150 NE Hawthorne Ave. in Bend. Aug. 20, 5-6pm. Bend CoWorking, 150 NE Hawthorne Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-3160067. becca@thinkwildco.org. Free.

Volunteers Needed! Calling all horse lovers! Happy Trails Horse Rescue needs volunteers! Can you help us help horses? New Volunteer Orientation the first and third Sundays at 10 am or call to schedule! Every other Sunday, 10-11am. Happy Trails Horse Rescue, 18929 Couch Market Rd, Bend. Contact: 541-2410783. hthrvolunteer@yahoo.com. Free.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

Biz & Bevs @ LRS Architects—August 15 Join the Bend business community for our “Biz & Bevs” event at LRS Architects. This will be a time for people to gather, network, and hear from our rotating venue hosts and non-profit features. We will have Bevs in the form of beer, wine, cider and plenty of N/A options. Aug. 15, 4:30-6pm. LRS Architects, 1777 SW Chandler Ave. Ste 270, Bend. Free to Chamber Members | $10.00 for Non-Members.

Shiny Happy People—The Paradoxes of Living in Central Oregon In our high desert community of Central Oregon, the allure of natural beauty and a desirable lifestyle often comes with hidden challenges. Residents are frequently faced with the high cost of living, employment hurdles, and soaring housing prices, making it difficult to find the happiness and well-being people sought. Aug. 15, 11:30am1pm. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend, OR 97703, Bend. Contact: 541-668-7642. info@ cityclubco.org. $29-$300.

FUNDRAISING

Birdies for Bend Please join us for Birdies for Bend 2024. Sample craft beer and golf amongst the brewers that make some of your favorite beer. Last year, our efforts raised over $6000 for community charities. This year, proceeds benefit Bend South Little League and The Giving Plate. Aug. 15, 9:30am-7pm. Lost Tracks Golf Course, 60205 Sunset View Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-588-4477. jowen@ bsgcraft.com. $150 - $600.

Native Fish Society - Homewaters Roundup Enjoy a lovely evening of fellowship, festivities, and even a few exciting raffle prizes benefitting Oregon’s native fish and wild rivers. Free admission includes light eats, specialty cocktails and other local libations, live music from local band “Trance Folk Trio”, and guaranteed wild fish fun! RSVP for free today! Aug. 17, 4-7pm. The Miracle Barn, 65599 Tweed Road, Bend. Contact: 503-344-4218. info@ nativefishsociety.org. Free.

EVENTS

+ MARKETS

Good Bad Rad Block Party Good Bad Rad Vintage is having a Community Block Party! Vinyl Tunes, Good Food and Great Deals. Shop with our 20+ local makers, creators and vintage lovers. Score new digs at our $10 booth. There is something for everyone. See you there. Third Sunday of every month, Noon-4pm. Through Aug. 18. Good Bad Rad Vintage, 61419 S. Hwy 97 Suite B, Bend. Contact: 6199575340. vintagesonsbend@gmail.com. Free.

Northwest Crossing Farmers Market

Discover a bounty of seasonal produce, locally-raised meats, fresh eggs and cheese, handmade items, beautiful flowers, tasty morsels, and so much more! Support our local farmers and artisans. Open every Saturday during summer season from 10am to 2pm. Northwest Crossing Drive. Saturdays, 10am-2pm. Through Sept. 28. NorthWest Crossing, NorthWest Crossing, Bend. Free.

Quilt Show Mt Bachelor quilters guild invites you for a display of a variety of quilts including traditional piecing, modern quilts and group challenge quilts. We can’t wait to see you and share this age old, but ever changing, art form. Vote for your top three favorites. Some quilts will be for sale. Come pick out your favorite. Aug. 17, 10am-2pm. Pioneer Park - Bend, 1565 NW Wall St, Bend. Contact: 541-419-1946. Free.

Third Thursday in Northwest Crossing! Third Thursdays in Northwest Crossing anchored at The Grove Market Hall! Art, music and community! Every month, Third Thursday. Third Thursday of every month, 5-8pm. The Grove, 921 NW Mt. Washington Drive, Bend. Free.

FAMILY + KIDS

Early Childhood Open House - Free We will make bread, go on a movement journey, and engage in free play with the children. Meanwhile, parents will have the opportunity to talk to our preschool and kindergarten teachers and learn more about the Waldorf. Aug. 17, 1011am. Waldorf School of Bend, 2150 NE Studio Rd. Suite 2, Bend. Contact: 541-330-8841. info@bendwaldorf.com. Free.

Family Night Trivia Join Craft Kitchen and Brewery for Family Trivia Night. Form teams as a family and put your knowledge to the test. There will be multiple rounds with questions ranging among the different age groups. A little something for everyone! This event is free to attend. It starts at 6pm, but feel free to show up early to grab dinner and drinks before the fun begins! Third Friday of every month, 6-8pm. Craft Kitchen & Brewery, 62988 Layton Ave #103, Bend. Contact: 541-668-1766. Free.

BEER + DRINK

Campbell Lane Wine Tasting Join David Patte, the owner and winemaker of Sun Break, to taste four Willamette Valley wines from this family run winery. $20 Tasting Fee refunded with purchase of 2+ showcased bottles | Free for Wine Club Members Aug. 16, 3:30-5:30pm. Good Drop Wine Shoppe, 141 NW Minnesota Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-410-1470. support@gooddropwineshop.com. $20.

Tuesday Wine on the Deck Come sit, relax and learn from the different local wineries featured on our year-round wine list. Each glass will be paired with a unique array of small-plates from our chef, using season ingredients to complement each wine. Reservations required. Purchase tickets via the Bend Ticket link. Tuesdays, 3-6pm. Through Aug. 27. SKIP Bar at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. $60.

HEALTH

+ WELLNESS

Friday Creekside Yoga Wind down your summer weekends with playful grounding outdoor yoga classes steps away from the Lodge. Yoga classes are taught by Ulla Lundgren who has more than 26 years experience as a yoga teacher, yoga teacher training facilitator and studio owner. Yoga classes are accessible and fun for all ages and abilities. RSVP to guarantee a spot in class. Fridays, 5-6pm. SKIP Bar at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. $20.

Mushroom Monday! Medicinal Mushrooms 101 Spend an hour with local herbalist, Sarah Olson for a quick, educational dive into the world of medicinal mushrooms. Learn about the stimulating benefits of various mushrooms, their uses in traditional medicine, and how to incorporate them into your daily routine. Bring a notebook and your curiosity!! Aug. 19, 4-5pm. The Peoples Apothecary, 1841 NE Division Street, Bend. Contact: 541-7282368. classes@thepeoplesapothecary.net. $25.

Local singer/songwriter Travis Ehrenstrom of TEB performs at Silver Moon Brewing for a night of funkrock live music featuring Father, Son, Whitney and Wolfe. Fri., Aug. 16, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing.

Courtesy TEB Facebook

By Savannah Mendoza

The Jauntee Brings Funky Rock Music and Jam Band Magic to Bend

Lead Vocalist Caton Sollenberger discusses the band’s evolution, new projects and fresh tunes with a lot of improv

The Jauntee, a Colorado-based jam band known for its funky rock grooves and psychedelic tunes, was formed in Boston around 2010. As the band prepares for its upcoming performance at Volcanic Theatre Pub in Bend on Aug. 22, alongside The Spencer Marlyn Band, lead vocalist and guitarist Caton Sollenberger spoke with the Source Weekly about the band’s journey, exciting new projects and what fans can expect from its latest shows. Answers have been edited for concision and clarity.

Source Weekly: I saw The Jauntee were originally from Boston. What prompted the move?

Caton Sollenberger: We moved to Colorado near Boulder in 2017. Our drummer Scott (Ferber), and keyboardist Tyler (Adams), and I met in Boston and I met our bass player, John (Loland) in Pennsylvania. We formed the band in Boston and relocated to Boulder after finding success touring here. It also gives us better access to places like Bend.

SW: How would you describe the band’s sound?

CS: I’d say we’re a funky rock band with a lot of improv, so “jam band” is probably the best overall term.

SW: What can people expect from your shows?

CS: Definitely expect to be dancing. We love to groove, but we’re also big fans of the occasional emotional ballad. We like to have a good time and I’d say expect the unexpected.

SW: What do you enjoy most about performing and touring?

CS: Music is spiritual for me. It’s a deep emotional connection with the music and the other members. Touring, especially when we were younger, felt like a new adventure every day.

SW: Any exciting projects in the works?

CS: We just released our newest live album, “Jaunts of Our Lives.” It’s our first time releasing on vinyl. Last year we put out a self-produced studio album, “Anything,” and we’ll be playing tracks from that on this tour. We’ve got some new songs, including our latest single called “Circles,” and we’re excited to keep pushing forward with new music.

The Jauntee w/ The Spencer Marlyn Band Thu., Aug. 22, 9pm Volcanic Theatre Pub

70 SW Century Dr., Bend

tixr.com/groups/volcanictheatre/events/the-jauntee-w-the-spencer-marlyn-band-105465 $10

The Jauntee performs funk rock and psychedelic music at Volcanic Theatre Pub on Aug. 22.

Courtesy Mountain Trout Photography

S SOUND

Beach Boys, Back on Tour

A new documentary and the 50th anniversary of “Endless Summer” prompt a new tour

By Alan Sculley

This summer, Mike Love is back on tour, leading the Beach Boys around the United States on a tour that will visit more than 70 cities.

At 83, Love is the last member of the classic 1960s Beach Boys lineup still touring with the group. He owns the Beach Boys name and oversees the band’s business. The only other touring member with ties to the early edition of the Beach Boys is Bruce Johnston, who in 1964 joined the group to replace Brian Wilson, who had decided to retire from touring to focus on his role as the main songwriter and producer of the Beach Boys music and work exclusively in the studio.

Ostensibly, the Beach Boys are touring to celebrate a pair of projects. One is the 50th anniversary of “Endless Summer,” the greatest hits album that revived the band’s career in the mid 1970s after the Beach Boys’ popularity had waned in the years following the groundbreaking 1966 album “Pet Sounds” and the innovative follow-up single, “Good Vibrations.”

“We probably do 18 of the 20 songs on that album in our concert,” Love said in a late-June phone interview, noting that the tour is titled Endless Summer Gold as a nod to that anniversary.

The group is also touring behind a new documentary entitled simply as “The Beach Boys” that’s now streaming on Disney+.

Directed by Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny and written by Mark Monroe, the documentary traces the Beach Boys career from its inception in 1961 in the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne, where Love co-founded the band with his cousins, Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson and friend Al Jardine mainly through the mid-1970s resurgence of the band.

The documentary has been dinged in some reviews for glossing over or omitting altogether some of less-positive elements of the Beach Boys history, including tensions that existed in the group, the drug

use of several members of the band, Brian Wilson’s struggles with drugs and mental health that initially culminated in a breakdown following the completion of the classic 1966 album, “Pet Sounds,” and the controversial role psychiatrist Eugene Landy took in the years that followed in managing Wilson’s life. In addition, the deaths of Dennis Wilson from a drowning accident in 1983 and Carl Wilson from cancer in 1998 are only referenced with a note at the end of the documentary.

But Love likes how the film came out and feels it touches on aspects of the group’s history that some of the many other documentaries on the Beach Boys didn’t highlight.

“I think it showed a bit more of my involvement than has been in other projects, and there have been some fallacies said about me, like I didn't like the ‘Pet Sounds’ album, which was stupid because I named the ‘Pet Sounds’ album and I went with Brian to present it to Capitol Records,” Love said.

“I think this documentary really (depicts) how it was, how it really was, with the harmonies and the family connection and it more accurately told the story of the making of the music.”

What is also memorable for Love is footage from a get-together last summer with all of the surviving band members, including Brian Wilson.

“The surviving members, and David Marks and Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston, we all got together at Paradise Cove, which is where we did our original album cover photo shoot,” Love said, referring to the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ Safari” album, which depicted the five band members on a beach in a vintage truck, carrying a surfboard. “So over 60 years later we got together at the same place and we actually sang some songs together and it was really nice to have that as the final shot of the documentary.”

For now, it’s back to touring for Love and his band,

who come to Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend on Aug. 24. And the Beach Boys Endless Summer Gold tour will celebrate the 1960s hits that had them vying with The Beatles to be the pop music’s most popular band, while displaying the sun-kissed, harmony-laden sound (not to mention lyrics about surfing, cars and beautiful girls) that helped create America’s fascination with the idyllic California lifestyle.

The band lineup this year has a new musical director in guitarist Brian Eichenberger, a new lead guitarist (John Wedemeyer) and a new drummer (Jon Bolton). Love, Johnston, keyboardist Tim Bonhomme, sax/flute player Randy Leago, bassist Keith Hubacher and guitarist Christian Love (son of Mike Love) remain from previous lineups.

Love is pleased with this unit (“Actually, we sound better than we ever have,” he said. He noted that Eichenberger, in addition to leading the band, handles the high harmony parts initially sung by Brian Wilson, while Wedemeyer is a “diversified and brilliant” lead guitarist and Bolton is “a show within a show” on drums. What’s more, Bolton’s vocals allow the band to perform a couple of songs Carl Wilson sang that couldn’t be performed with some previous lineups.

“We’re really doing more songs from more years of our band’s existence these days than we ever have,” Love said.

The Beach Boys Sat,. Aug. 24. Doors 6pm, show 7:30pm Hayden Homes Amphitheater 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend bendconcerts.com $67.20+

The Beach Boys Endless Summer Gold celebrates the 1960s hits that had them vying with The Beatles for pop music’s most popular band.

Jim Trocchio

S SOUND

OGrowing the High Desert Music Community

From pandemic times to today, the High Desert Music Collective continues to look for

opportunities to create relaunched website

By Chris Young

n March 9, 2020, I boarded a bus to Seattle with some very mixed feelings. There was a lot of uncertainty in the world at that moment, but what we did know was that a nursing home in Kirkland, a suburban outpost just east of Seattle along the shore of Lake Washington, was possibly the American epicenter of an emerging pandemic.

But on the other hand, The Strokes were playing and I had tickets. It was a month before the release of their long-awaited sixth record, a rare opportunity to see the legendary NYC rockers in the PacNW and experience some of their new music live.

I really wanted to go, but I felt a strange uneasiness attending a massive concert with thousands of strangers when an unexplained contagious disease — that we knew very little about — was killing people in this very community. The concert was still scheduled, which meant there was no getting my money back from Ticketmaster, so I got on that bus, saw a career-spanning set and left energized but still anxious about the unknown. Two days later, all events and gatherings of 250 people or more were banned in Seattle’s King County. The rest of the Northwest and nation followed.

On March 17, 2020, Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard sat down in front of a webcam in his home studio in Seattle and started live streaming performances every afternoon. Dubbed “Live From Home,” he continued for several weeks while hundreds of thousands tuned in from their respective isolation. Like many of us, he felt at a loss about what to do.

After decades of fans “choosing to congregate en masse around our music,” Gibbard genuinely wanted to create a sense of solidarity by reassuring people that, “because we’re all going through this nightmare together we are quite literally not alone. Our lives and stories are all linked, maybe more now than they have ever been.”

As time went on, I watched local musicians — and even entire festivals — live stream sets from more professional settings like club stages or recording studios where the sound was dialed and the video feeds were crisp.

In Central Oregon, the summer of 2020 saw the rise of the High Desert Music Collective, spearheaded by local musician Charlie Utter and founded upon a commitment to “a real community idea of music,” he says. Originally

formed just pre-pandemic, the team rallied to support the Central Oregon music community during unprecedented times.

Utter and longtime Bend musician Jeshua Marshall put out a call for original songs, resulting in HDMC’s first project: the “High Desert Calling” compilation, which brought together 59 individual artists from the area in July 2020. Spanning genres from rock to folk to blues to hip-hop and more, the release was a snapshot of Central Oregon’s thriving music scene during a time when these musicians were largely invisible.

“At that moment during the pandemic, it felt like we were just putting out a beacon to the world: This is the kind of music we got going on here,” Utter recalls.

That August, Utter was feeling energized by the burgeoning idea of a musician-led organization — a collective run by artists for artists — and formalized High Desert Music Collective as a business by starting an LLC and creating a paid membership platform that included discounts at local businesses and other freebies. But the bigger idea was “that by becoming a member, you’re putting your money where your mouth is on some level and saying you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself for the benefit of the scene as a whole,” Utter says.

Next, the collective started putting on gigs at Silver Moon Brewing, Bunk+Brew and other small venues. “Every show we put on, we live streamed,” Utter says. This continued for a year or so and, “we were able to pay over 200 artists for performances in that first year,” Utter says, as HDMC quickly grew to more than 100 members.

In 2024, HDMC’s latest pivot is led by Scottie McClelland, known as the eponymous Box Kid from rising Bend rockers Billy and the Box Kid (who are playing at the Source Weekly’s Best of Central Oregon party Aug. 14). HDMC’s mission has always been “to give people this opportunity to grow personally and professionally,” Utter explains, and when he moved back east, McClelland took on the role of creative director, a boots-on-theground operative who’s been booking concerts, organizing charity events and leading the charge to rebrand and relaunch HDMC’s website.

McClelland defines today’s HDMC model as “a mission-based business. All the money that comes in from events

that we do, or membership from our website, goes to putting on events and paying people to put on those events and run the organization.” This includes all sorts of roles in the local music ecosystem, from artists to sound and light engineers to graphic designers.

HDMC has been known for its 4/20 events, which McClelland has expanded upon with this year’s two-day, multi-venue HomeGrown Music Festival that featured more than 30 local acts. He’s received grants from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund to support these endeavors, all in an effort to funnel money to musicians and event production staff. The collective also sponsors a stage at Bend Roots Revival and has raised money and supplies for charitable causes like wildfire relief, the homeless shelter Bethlehem Inn with last month’s Rock For Socks, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention with Keep Your Head Up — the second annual fundraising concert happens on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Bunk+Brew.

“After Covid, things have kind of boomed here, especially for the music scene,” McClelland says, but, “it’s really hard for local bands to get noticed or play shows where there are people there to see them. I wanted to help change that, and not only for my band, but for other bands involved in the local music scene.” He began to explore how “to create a new way for HDMC to help the community” and settled on redesigning the website. “The general idea of this new website is a booking platform that connects venues to artists.”

“The basic idea is creating a database of local artists,” McClelland says.

“Everyone that’s involved in HDMC could be viewed by local venues when they're booking shows.” Artists will have self-managed profiles with photos, a calendar and basic information talent buyers may need. Venues will also be able to share what dates are available. It’s all an attempt to advocate for local musicians and streamline the gig-getting process. “And it will save people time and energy to use this system in order to book their shows. I hope this platform can also educate people,” how the music business works, he adds.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, McClelland, along with web developer Chad Crowell (bassist in Astronot and Dad Bods) and Jeff Bethke (guitars and vocals in the husband-and-wife duo So Much Closer) hosted HDMC members at the Volcanic Theatre Pub to show off the functionality of HDMC’s new site, answer questions and solicit input.

“We’re looking for feedback on how it can serve you better,” Crowell told the members in attendance, emphasizing that HDMC is seeking to build an engaging platform that truly creates value for local musicians by advocating for them. It’s a sensible evolution for a group borne of the pandemic and Utter’s vision to “facilitate connections between local businesses, local artists and local venues.” High Desert Music Collective believes that if you invest in your community, it’ll come back to you.

—Learn more about the High Desert Music Collective and see its redesigned website at highdesertmusiccollective.com or contact the group at highdesertmusiccollective@gmail.com.

Chiggi Momo, Ether and Monkey Mode, from their performances at this year’s HomeGrown Music Festival.

Photos courtesy High Desert Music Collective

“

S SOUND

Local Love: A Q/A with Bend Singer Songwriter Pete Kartsounes

Releasing a new album of love songs earlier this year, guitarist Pete Kartsounes chats about his musical background and Central Oregon’s musical community

By Chris Young

Had some bands that were on the verge of some big success and a lot of bands break up,” recounts local musician Pete Kartsounes. “Longevity is the key to success.”

A mainstay in Central Oregon’s acoustic music scene since 2017, Kartsounes cut his teeth in Colorado’s jamgrass scene where he “played with all kinds of people”—like Drew Emmitt from Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass, Head for the Hills, Sam Bush and Cornmeal with fiddle player Allie Kral (best known for her time in Yonder Mountain String Band). “I was smack dab in the middle of that bluegrass, jamgrass scene in Colorado,” he tells. “I was kind of swimming in that for almost a couple decades.”

He left Colorado in 2013 to travel the world, landed in Portland a few years later, and finally headed to Bend for a lifestyle that was more his pace. He’s played festivals like WinterWonderGrass, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Northwest String Summit and Redmond’s Cascade Equinox Festival, where he’ll appear again this year—on Saturday, Sept. 21—making improvisational dance music under his DJPK moniker.

While in the Northwest, Kartsounes has developed a reputation as a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, piano, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, cedar flute, percussion and more. He appeared at Northwest String Summit for almost 15 consecutive years and helped curate the Troubadour Lounge stage at Horning's Hideout. This side of the mountains, he’s often found sharing the stage with the Alicia Viani Trio, alongside bassist Mark Karwan, and always loves an opportunity to play with rocker Eric Leadbetter.

A guitar teacher, world traveler and lifelong musician, Kartsounes released his first concept record, “Songs In The Key Of Love,” in March. An album of 11 acoustic folk songs with graceful arrangements and a tender lyrical theme, he wrote the numbers over the years, ultimately compiling the collection to record, produce and play all the instruments himself. Read on to learn more about Pete Kartsounes and his music. Answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

always inspired me — somebody who was a singer songwriter, singing about the love for nature in the mountains, living in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. And that's the life I wanted to live. I've always been a full-time musician since I was 19, so that's 30 years — never had a day job, all just music. And it's been a great ride.

SW: You’ve now been in Bend for seven years.

to put on an album.

I was on the road with Alicia, and it was late night and we're at the campground. Alicia was still awake, and I'm like, “Hey, can I share some songs?” I was playing all these really pretty songs for her, and she's just like, “Wait, you wrote that?” “Yeah.” I played another one. She's like, “Oh my gosh.” And played another one, she's crying. She's like, “It's so beautiful.” I've got so many songs that are pretty songs, you know, love songs that I've written over the years. I want to do something with these songs, they're just sitting there.

What makes this music scene feel like home?

Source Weekly: Tell me a little bit about yourself: Where are you from and how did you learn to play music?

Pete Kartsounes: I've always been fascinated with music, always stealing my older brothers’ guitars when they were gone because they didn't want me to play them. I'd be learning songs just by ear and always had a natural sense of music. I was in a traveling boys’ choir when I was eight called the Appleton Boychoir [Wisconsin]. It's a pretty prestigious, wellknown choir of 100 boys. That's kind of where I got my ear training and my musical training.

I grew up in the Midwest: Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan. When I was 20, I moved out to Colorado, kind of following the footsteps of John Denver, who

PK: There's no ego in this town. Everybody's really supportive of one another. You feel that, you see that, and it comes across when we all collaborate on music. Being a guitarist and being someone that loves to sit in with people, I get a lot of opportunities to play with a lot of artists, which is really cool. I've really gotten a chance to mold a nice musical family here. There's so many different venues that support live music and have live music.

SW: “Songs In The Key Of Love” is your first record in about three years and your 14th full-length album. What would you like to share about this new record?

PK: I haven't been as active in my singer songwriting as I have been in just making, creating content, creating music, creating music for dance and yoga. I was like, “I'm sitting on 150 songs that haven't been recorded yet,” and a lot of them, I really like enough

So that night, I'm like, “I know what I'm going to do now: I'm going to make a concept album of love songs,” and I'm going to try to make the prettiest album I can possibly make — by myself, playing all the instruments and all the production and all the engineering. I'm just going to do it in my home studio by myself. I'm going to tackle this one on my own and layer it and make it sound as pretty as possible. I had about 40 songs. I made a list. I went through them all, constructing a set that looks right and has the right flow and the right keys, the right topic. It's a concept album. And I've never made a concept album before. I spent the whole winter on it, about 74 consecutive days, every day, just putting this beautiful album together. I play all the instruments.

SW: You’re clearly a multi-instrumentalist. What’s your favorite instrument?

PK: I usually say singing. And then people are like, “Huh?” and I try to inform people that the voice is an instrument. You have to take care of it, and you have to practice, and you have to tune it — just like any other instrument.

SW: What’s it like working with local guitar maker Preston Thompson Guitars?

PK: It’s been a blessing. I'm endorsed by Thompson out of Sisters. You know, Billy Strings plays Thompson Guitars and Molly Tuttle. I have two Thompson Guitars. They built me [my first] one, and I just love it. It sounds so good and became my dominant guitar. They're just a wonderful small company out of Sisters that are just crushing the luthier, acoustic guitar scene right now.

SW: Tell me about your alter ego, DJPK.

PK: Out of Covid came my looping stuff with DJPK, which I like to say is “the groove looper” so people know I'm not a DJ. It's like painting music, essentially — super groovy, super fun, super funky and all improv. I play a lot of instruments with the DJPK act. I'm playing keys, I'm also using plug-ins so I'm using keys to control sounds [or samples of] instruments from India and Japan and China and culturally diverse music.

— Find out where Pete Kartsounes is playing at petekmusic.com and get his new record, “Songs In The Key Of Love,” at petek.bandcamp.com.

Pete Kartsounes self-produced and played every instrument on his 14th fulllength album, “Songs In The Key Of Love.” Find him playing solo acoustic sets or with the Alicia Viani Trio at venues and breweries all over Central Oregon

Courtesy Pete Kartsounes

Going for Gold with the titans of Central Oregon

It’s August, and as we write this, eyeballs are glued to TV screens around the world, watching the titans of sport show off their athletic prowess. But once the Summer Olympic Games end on Aug. 11, it will be time, once again, for the titans of Central Oregon to emerge victorious — sharing their Herculean wins with the wider world.

From our team at the Source Weekly, that's worked like gladiators to bring you this colossus of an issue, we present this Best of Central Oregon edition!

Helpful things to know:

The issue you hold in your hands represents the original, biggest and best readers’ poll in all of Olympus — er, Central Oregon — and is led by the people who live and work in the region. First, readers nominate their favorite businesses, places or people, and then thousands of locals vote in each of our 220+ categories. (No pay-to-play nomination process here!)

In other words, it’s the gods and goddesses of Central Oregon who choose and name who wins. This year, find a host of additional categories in Redmond – the up-and-comer where more food, drink and fun is happening all the time.

So if you’re out in the wild and you see a business with a sticker or plaque naming them in the Best of Central Oregon, you know they’re a true titan in readers’ eyes.

We’re having a party! Join the gladiator pit… also known as our Best of Central Oregon party, where we raise a goblet or two to the winners. Come on down at 6:30pm on Wednesday Aug. 14 at the Deschutes Historical Museum lawn for a party even the gods wouldn’t miss. Live music, food and drink… it’ll be a fest worthy of Dionysus himself.

Apollo’s Kiss!

Read the story behind the creation of the Greek-inspired illustrations inside this edition, custom drawn by Source intern Connley Sewalls. Look out, world — this artist is a goliath.

Courtesy Kanpai Instagram

Galler

Galler

Julianna LaFollette

Savannah Mendoza

BEST OF BEND

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

—Aristotle

BEST BAGEL

1st Place - Big O' Bagels

2nd Place - Bo's Falafel Bar

BEST BAKERY

1st Place - Sparrow Bakery 2nd Place - Nancy P's

BEST BBQ

1st Place - Baldy's Barbeque 2nd Place - CURBBQ

BEST BOWL

1st Place - Active Culture

2nd Place - Café Yumm!

BEST BREAKFAST

1st Place - The McKay Cottage 2nd Place - The Victorian Café

BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO

1st Place - Burrito Sunrise

2nd Place - Bend Breakfast Burrito

BEST BREAKFAST SANDWICH

1st Place - Sparrow Bakery 2nd Place - The Good Egg

BEST BURGER

1st Place - Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries

2nd Place - Bend Burger Company

CBEST JAPANESE Kanpai

By Chris Young Kanpai

990 NW Newport Ave., Bend

541-388-4636

kanpaibend.com

Open Tue-Sat 5pm-9pm, reservations recommended

hef Justin Cook started in the restaurant business in 1986 and has focused on sushi since 1993. Opening River West’s Kanpai almost two decades ago in February 2005, Cook describes the vibe of his bamboo-adorned sushi joint as, “busy, but chill. We’re all about the locals and creating a positive culture for our team and the community.”

He’s built his reputation and clientele by, as he succinctly puts it, “just focus[ing] on the fish.” With fresh catches delivered four to five times per week, his longevity in the industry means he’s “developed world-class relationships with our fishmongers. We get fish from all over the globe,” Cook says. Sourcing fish from locations around the country and world, including Hawaii, Washington, California, Japan and more. Cook’s main goal is to get “the freshest fish possible” so he’ll buy from wherever anglers are catching them.

The menu’s not just fish, though, with ramen, beef, appetizers, cocktails and some 30 sakés on hand. And going off menu is highly encouraged by choosing the omakase option. Available only at the sushi bar, the multi-course tasting menu puts you at the chef’s whim, allowing the sushi chef to be creative and eaters to try things outside of their normal comfort zone.

Commonly translated as “cheers,” kanpai (pronounced kan-PIE) literally means to “drink one’s cup dry” in Japanese, making “bottoms up” a better translation. Now armed with 12 Best of Central Oregon awards from the Source Weekly, it’s time to say “Kanpai” to Bend’s preeminent sushi and sake house!

Second place: Five Fusion

Adventurous customers can go "omakase" and have the Kanpai staff, including Chef Justin Cook, bottom left, surprise them with special items.

Chris Young

Chris Young

Courtesy Kanpai Instagram

ABest Wings Fire on the Mountain

By Jared Rasic

Fire on the Mountain 637 NE 3rd St., Bend 541-241-2652 fotmbend.com

t this point, Bend has so many pubs, breweries and restaurants in general, that it’s almost harder to find a place that doesn’t serve wings than one that does. Upscale bistros, dive bars, Asian fusion kitchens…they all have their own take on the wing, and some do it much, much better than others. When choosing the Best Wings in Central Oregon, there are a lot to choose from, so it means something that Fire on the Mountain, a Northwest staple that specializes in wings, spice and flavor, took home the award.

Only open in Bend since October, Fire on the Mountain has quickly become a destination spot for tourists and locals alike. It’s hard to imagine a wing joint better suited to Bend: it has its own exclusive beers, sauces and a deep bench of salads, sandwiches, vegan drumsticks and soy nuggets to choose from. And, seriously, those sauces. From the sinfully sweet heat of the Raspberry Habanero to the smoky spice of the Jamaican Jerk to the complex mouthfire of the legendary El Jefe, this Portland transplant has its flavor profiles dialed in and expertly crafted.

Owners Sara Sawicki and Jordan Busch know that as great as the wings and beer

are, the true reason people keep coming back to FotM are the mellow vibes, customer service and the pride they take in serving sustainably sourced chicken. “We only use cage-free chickens,” says Sawicki.

“We think that tastes better and is representative of us. We make all of our sauces in-house every day.”

Coming to Bend has been a hugely positive experience for the team, as well.

“There’s a real sense of community,” says Sawicki. “Food is a universal language. You come in have a great meal and, just for a little bit, all the troubles of the world kind of fade away and you can focus on having a good time. It’s very communal.”

Fire on the Mountain has been the perfect addition to the Bend food scene since it opened, and Sawicki and company take pride in their newly crowned champions of having Bend’s Best Wings.

“It really is such an honor,” says Sawicki. “We look forward to being here a long time. It’ll actually be our 20th anniversary of our first store opening in Portland this January. We’ve been doing that in Portland for a long time, and this is new and fresh and we’re just excited to be here.”

Photos by Jennifer Galler

Second place: Chicken Bonz

Fire on the Mountain features a variety of local artwork.

Owners Sara Sawicki and Jordan Busch proudly show off their award-winning wings!

BEST OF FOOD cont.

BEST ITALIAN

1st Place - Bosa Food & Drink

2nd Place - Trattoria Sbandati

BEST PATIO DINING

1st Place - Pine Tavern Restaurant 2nd Place - Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie

BEST PIZZA

1st Place - Pizza Mondo

2nd Place - Pinky G's Pizzeria

BEST SANDWICH/DELI

1st Place - Valentine's Deli 2nd Place - Beach Hut Deli

BEST SEAFOOD

1st Place - Sebastians Seafood and Specialty Market 2nd Place - Anthony's at The Old Mill

BEST SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR

1st Place - Mother's Juice Cafe 2nd Place - Emerald City Smoothie

BEST STEAK

1st Place - Rancher Butcher Chef 2nd Place - Bos Taurus

BEST SUSHI

1st Place - Kanpai

2nd Place - CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

BEST TACOS

1st Place - El Sancho 2nd Place - Tacos Pihuamo

BEST THAI 1st Place - Wild Rose 2nd Place - Noi Thai Cuisine

Monday - Saturday 4:30pm - 10pm Thank you Central Oregon for your votes. We are honored by your overwhelming support.

BEST VEGAN 1st Place - Toasty 2nd Place - A Broken Angel

BEST VEGETARIAN 1st Place - Active Culture 2nd Place - Toasty

BEST CHINESE

1st Place - CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar 2nd Place - Chan's Chinese Restaurant

BEST FRIES

1st Place - Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries 2nd Place - A La Carte

BEST INDIAN

1st Place - Taj Palace Indian Cuisine

Place - Real Taste of India

BEST JAPANESE

Place - Kanpai

Place - Five Fusion

BEST VIETNAMESE 1st Place - Pho Viet & Cafe 2nd Place - Dang's Vietnamese Restaurant

BEST WINGS

1st Place - Fire on the Mountain 2nd Place - Chicken Bonz

Best Italian

Best Chefs

BBest Sandwich/Deli Valentine’s Deli

By Jared Rasic

Valentine’s Deli 555 NW Arizona Ave., Suite 25 541-322-2154 Mon-Sat 11am-2pm

end has a lot of sandwiches. Several are downright mediocre, some are pretty damn good, but only one or two are genuinely great. For the last several years in a row, Valentine’s Deli has won the award for Best Sandwich and, for anyone who has ever enjoyed a lunch there, it’s easy to understand why: They don’t make good sandwiches at Valentine’s, they make great ones.

What makes a sandwich at Valentine’s great is a combination of several things. From the sourcing of high-quality ingredients to the fresh and flawless bread, to the gorgeous plating and presentation and a deep roster of varied flavors, every sandwich at Valentine’s feels patiently handcrafted with care. Owner/master sandwich builder Wade Gleasman breaks the formula down in a better way than I ever could: “Fresh, simple ingredients layered appropriately on delicious bread. I always joke that I approach building a sandwich the same way I would approach a simple math problem. In math, there is a set order of operations, and if you don't follow those simple rules, you aren't going to get the correct answer. 2+(3*4)=14; (2+3)*4=20. Same numbers (ingredients), different answers (flavors/textures). And vegetables. We believe vegetables are very important.”

The secret is definitely out about Valentine’s. Most of the time you’ll find a line out the door and dozens of smiling customers in the tables out front. There’s nothing like Valentine’s Deli in the Box Factory, so it makes sense, but once you try its perfect Pastrami & Swiss or The Sierra (with sundried tomatoes, provolone cheese, black olives, pepperoncinis, arugula & shredded lettuce, red onions, & fresh tomatoes on a Sparrow hoagie, topped with herb mayo & red wine vinaigrette), you’ll know why people keep coming back.

Gleasman knows what’s important about life, sandwiches and everything in between. What does he hope people take away from a sando at Valentine’s Deli? “I hope people remember that they just ate one of the best sandwiches of their lives,” says Gleasman. “We all enjoy working with each other, and I hope it shows in peoples' experiences at Valentine’s. I also hope that people always remember that Valentine's Deli is a small, family-run shop that ultimately prioritizes a healthy work/life balance over stressing too much about the minutiae. There is a reason we are only open three hours a day!”

No stress, just perfect sandwiches.

Second place: Beach Hut Deli

As the late Warren Zevon, before he died, told David Letterman, "Enjoy Every Sandwich." At Valentine's Deli, there's a lot to enjoy.

Wade Gleaseman

Jennifer Galler

Wade Gleaseman

MARY

Best Margarita Hola!

By Julianna LaFollette

Hola!

Various locations: Downtown Bend, east Bend, Old Mill Bend, Redmond and Camp Sherman holabend.com

As soon as I arrived at Hola’s downtown Bend location, I was met with two gigantic margaritas, the Mexican Martini and the Desert Cactus, one of which the staff promptly put into our giant Best of Central Oregon goblet for sampling. The lively staff was there to tell me all about the many margaritas that give the restaurant its reputation of having the “best margaritas” in town.

Hola, which serves up Mexican and Peruvian cuisine, has been in business for 17 years and has several locations in Central Oregon. According to owner Marcos Rodriguez, Hola’s margaritas have always been a big hit.

One thing Hola specializes in, Rodriguez said, is freshness and quality. The margaritas, which come with a shaker of extra liquid for people to top off their drinks, are made with fresh ingredients and come in a variety of flavors. While the most popular is the Red Cactus Margarita, other flavors include jalapeño, pineapple, vanilla and tamarind.

“We have a flavor for everybody,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez believes Hola’s quality and creativity set the restaurant apart from the rest. His favorite part of his job, however, is the community.

“My forte is to talk to customers. We live in such a great community that it’s just really nice to shake hands and see everyone with a smile on their face and enjoying life, so I really enjoy that.”

Second place: El Sancho

Hola staffers Daisy Almanza, left, and Abigail Juárez celebrate Hola's win in the most obvious manner.

Photos by Julianna LaFollette

Best Non-Alcoholic Beer Crux Fermentation Project - NØMØ

By Savannah Mendoza

Set on a small hill facing the Cascade mountain range, Crux Fermentation Project is a brewpub for both locals and visitors, offering refreshing beers and a variety of food trucks outside.

Non-Alcoholic beers are on the rise, and Crux Fermentation Project has created a completely rebranded lineup of non-alcoholic brews with striking outdoor-themed labeling and new names that perfectly fit Bend’s outdoor scene. In a thrilling achievement, Crux Fermentation Project’s NØMØ has secured the top spot as Best Non-Alcoholic Beer in Central Oregon.

“It feels great to know we got first place in this category that is becoming increasingly popular. NØMØ is brewed here at Crux. We have our own process to brew it that we're really proud of. To know this took internal skill and years of knowledge to make a non-alcoholic beer with traditional brewing ingredients that taste closest to real beer, we’re really proud of that,” explains Ashley Picerno, marketing and branding manager at Crux Fermentation Project.

The new NØMØ 12-ounce cans feature designs by the local artist known as “Spring Break Jake,” a huge fan of NØMØ beers. The lineup includes River Refresher IPA, a non-alcoholic brew with tropical and citrus flavors inspired by Tumalo Falls; Sunset Summit Hazy IPA, a tropical non-alcoholic hazy IPA inspired by rock climbing at Smith Rock; and Galaxy Gaze, a non-alcoholic IPA with tropical fruits and piney notes inspired by star-filled summer nights under the Cascade Mountains.

“NØMØ gives you permission to take beer anywhere you want to go,” says Picerno. “It allows you to celebrate and enjoy a brew that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, perfect for adventure-seekers living an active lifestyle. This lineup captures the essence of Central Oregon’s adventures without the impairment of alcohol, making these brews the ideal companions for any outdoor activity.”

“Everything about that beer is from Central Oregon, so we’re stoked to be the best N/A beer in Bend. We’re all over the moon excited about it,” adds Picerno.

Crux Fermentation Project

50 SW Division St., Bend Open daily 11am-10pm cruxfermentation.com

Crux Marketing and Branding Manager Ashley Picerno, middle, is surrounded by the Crux Team. Clockwise, from top left, are Justin Poncelet, Jakob Larsen, Melissa DePierro and Pat Sullivan.

Photos by Savannah Mendoza

Best TV Personality Emily Kirk

By Julianna LaFollette

Emily Kirk, known to many for her great attitude and upbeat personality, has been on Central Oregonians’ TVs for nearly nine years. Kirk grew up in Portland and started her journalism career in college at the University of Oregon. While her dream was always to go into sports reporting, she eventually tried her hand at weather reporting during an internship in Eugene and was surprised at how much she enjoyed it.

She started her Central Oregon career at News Channel 21 in 2014 then came to Central Oregon Daily News in 2020. Kirk had tried other avenues but felt that weather reporting, along with her food and outdoor segments, let her really be herself, allowing her personality to shine through.

“I’ve never been a very serious person,” she said, adding that she was voted “class clown” her senior year of high school.

The experiences, and the chance to get to know the community, are her favorite things about her job. Kirk has jumped out of a plane, gone whitewater rafting and ridden an ATV – all of which she was able to do through her work.

“Mostly, I value how easily it's been to connect with the community, I don't take any of that for granted. For me, that's been the most important takeaway from this career, just being submerged into a community.”

Second place: Scott Elnes

Central Oregon Daily News' Emily Kirk loves her job and the community she gets to cover.

Photos by Julianna LaFollette

Flowers by Eryn is a boutique flower studio, specializing in unique, seasonal flower arrangements that add delight to your every day.

The Bungalow :: 635 NW Colorado Ave :: Bend, OR

Best Bartender Buck Bales - D&D Bar & Grill

By Savannah Mendoza

D&D Bar & Grill, one of Bend’s oldest and most notorious bars, is celebrated for its homey neighborhood tavern atmosphere, stiff drinks and as a popular destination for the Friday and Saturday night bar-hopping crowd.

A familiar face to regulars is Buck Bales, one of Bend’s beloved bartenders who continues to pour memories and drinks. Known for his warm demeanor and expert mixology, Bales has won the hearts of many, being voted in our poll for Best Bartender for several years.

“I feel honored that people voted for me for Best Bartender again,” says Bale. “I appreciate everybody liking what I do for them behind the bar. I feel fortunate that people think of me when they make this decision to vote.”

Bale has been bartending at D&D since 2010. He took a brief break during COVID to pursue other ventures, but he returned to

D&D a year or two later, to a place that feels like home to him.

His favorite aspect of bartending at D&D is the people: the customers, the regulars and the amazing owners. Bartending has provided a community that Bale is extremely grateful for.

“I’ve been bartending around town for 27 years, and it’s introduced me to so many amazing people,” Bale explains. “I play music with great friends I’ve met along the way from bartending. I met my wife through bartending, we worked together and bartended together and now we’ve been married for 19 years. It’s been a pretty amazing job that I was going to take part-time originally, but it’s turned into an amazing part of my life.”

Bales isn’t just a bartender; he’s a friend to everyone who walks through the bar. His presence and experience have continued to make D&D a staple in the downtown community.

Second Place: Johnny Semar - Timbers

Best Bartender Buck Bales feels right at home pouring drinks at the D+D.

Photos by Savannah Mendoza

D&D Bar and Grill

927 NW Bond St., Bend

Buck Bales could be known as "Mr. D+D," serving the downtown Bend community.

BEST OF HEALTH & FITNESS

BEST ADULT DENTAL GROUP

1st Place - Bend Family Dentistry

2nd Place - Skyline Dental

BEST ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CLINIC

1st Place - Hawthorn Healing Arts Center 2nd Place - Inspired Health

BEST DERMATOLOGIST/GROUP

1st Place - Bend Dermatology Clinic

2nd Place - Dermatology Health Specialists

BEST FITNESS STUDIO

1st Place - Barre3

2nd Place - Altius Pole Studio

BEST GOLF COURSE

1st Place - Widgi Creek Golf Club 2nd Place - Juniper Golf Course

BEST GYM

1st Place - Athletic Club of Bend

2nd Place - Xcel Fitness & Crossfit

BEST HEALTH & RECREATION FACILITY

1st Place - Juniper Swim & Fitness Center

2nd Place - Larkspur Community Center

BEST MASSAGE/DAY SPA

1st Place - Spa W

2nd Place - Evoke Healing Space & Spa

BEST PLACE FOR MEDICAL/COSMETIC ENHANCEMENT

1st Place - EsthetixMD 2nd Place - Elite Medi Spa

BEST MEDICAL GROUP 1st Place - Praxis Health

Best Gym Athletic Club of Bend

By Nicole Vulcan

Athletic Club of Bend

61615 Athletic Club Dr., Bend 541-385-3062

athleticclubofbend.com

Outdoor and indoor pools, numerous daily classes, sauna and steam rooms, two weight rooms and a host of ball courts… While some gyms offer one or two of those things, the Athletic Club of Bend has it all. Situated on a large campus close to Century Drive, since 1991 the Athletic Club has held a reputation as the go-to for all things fitness and fun on the west side of Bend. Summertime means lots of fun for families who come to take advantage of the seasonal outdoor pool and the special events, like Kids Movie Night. Additionally, parents can take advantage of the Kids Club program, offering arts and crafts and other activities for kids for up to three hours per day.

All year round, athletes can take part in fitness classes that include everything from Breathwork to Bliss Dance, Deep Water Fit to Thai Chi. The club also has personal trainers available for private and group sessions, and a host of courts for people who enjoy basketball, racquetball and squash. With so many things to offer, it’s no surprise that one of the “titans” of this year’s Best of Central Oregon is the Athletic Club of Bend.

Second Place: Excel Fitness & Crossfit

Athletic Club of Bend has had something for everyone since opening in 1991.

Sizzling SummerSale

Best Bookstore Roundabout Books

By Jared Rasic

Roundabout Books

900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110

541-306-6564

roundaboutbookshop.com

To be a truly remarkable bookstore is to find an alchemical balance that can’t really be explained to someone with only a passing interest in the literary arts. Bookstores have outlasted most CD shops, video stores and video game stops and remained near-sacrosanct spaces for people to search for knowledge, enlightenment and some good old-fashioned stories.

That mercurial combination of a staff who loves and understands books, a carefully curated selection that covers a wide variety of subjects, a space that is not only comfortable and homey, but inspires long hours of exploration and discovery and also, as a bonus, supplies delectable treats and caffeinated beverages, is hard to find. Roundabout Books in Northwest Crossing not only has that exact combination, but also feels so peaceful and welcoming that it can be hard to leave sometimes.

Owner Cassie Clemens instinctively knew that finding that balance in crafting a bookstore was just as important

as the legacy and tactile connection we have as humans to physical media, and books in particular.

“Our lives are really busy,” says Clemens, “and we spend a lot of time on screens and listening with headphones and things. I think the reason people love physical books so much when other things have gone by the wayside is that they still crave taking a moment to embrace something beautiful. Each book is a piece of art. They stimulate ideas and conversation, and community and people really value that. People still create space for quietness and contemplation and taking time for themselves while also connecting with people.”

Clemens doesn’t take the honor of Roundabout Books being voted Best Bookstore lightly. “I’m really grateful,” says Clemens. “Our staff works really hard. They’re the most caring, loving and compassionate staff in the country. In Bend, for sure! They’re passionate about getting books in the right hands and genuinely care about matching books to people.” Balance achieved.

Photos by Jennifer Galler

Roundabout Books is your onestop, full-service bookstore, with a knowledgable staff that is eager to help.

Roundabout staff members: from left are Christine Bell, Joey Roddy, Cassie Clemans, Jenna Brady, Sara Rishforth, Julie Swearingen and Kathy Johnson. Not pictured are Jenny Cornutt and Shay Carey.

BEST OF SHOPPING CONT.

Best Law Firm

High Desert Law

By Chris Young

High Desert Law

716 NW Harriman St., Bend 541-209–2598

high-desert-law.com

David Rosen founded High Desert Law, a personal injury law firm, after experiencing an accident himself.

“When I was 25, I was hit by a car while riding my bike resulting in a fractured knee among other injuries,” Rosen tells. “When I started High Desert Law, my goal was to provide for clients what I was provided by my attorney: Someone to take care of the legal issues and create space for me so I could focus on my healing and getting my life back.”

High Desert Law specializes in “helping individuals who have been seriously injured or lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence (fault),” Rosen explains. To work through the physical and emotional trauma of a potentially life-changing event, High Desert focuses on “holding the responsible parties and their insurance company accountable for the damage they caused. A settlement or verdict is recognition of everything our clients go through. But in the end, what is also important is closure and moving beyond the incident

that brought them to us,” Rosen says.

The types of cases High Desert generally handles includes motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian and bicyclist injuries, DUI accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, product liability, animal attacks and slip and falls, among others.

With a local team of four practicing attorneys, High Desert’s small size means it can focus on creating a personal approach with its clients — building positive change after trauma and working toward justice for all — while taking an active role in the community on both local and state levels. (Rosen is currently serving as president of the Oregon State Bar while Jason Kropf is the state representative for Bend’s House District 54.)

For the fourth consecutive year, High Desert Law has been selected as Central Oregon’s Best Law Firm, an honor that’s humbling yet an “affirmation that we are doing things right,” Rosen says. “As a lawyer, I’ve always been of the mindset that we can change the public perception of lawyers one client at a time.”

Chris Young

Back row, from left, are David Rosen, Jason Kropf and Jed Thompson. Front row, from left, are Kristina Yoder, Chloe Thompson, Philip Kirk, Kelly Barber and Dee-Anna Ramirez.

Courtesy High Desert Law

Best Roofing Company Deschutes Roofing & Insulation

By Chris Young

Deschutes Roofing & Insulation

1289 NE Second St., #3, Bend 541-241-5720 deschutesroofing.com

Winter of 2017 was harsh. Carlos Simpson remembers heavy snowfall and saw an opportunity… for his daughter, “to earn some extra cash for her Pokémon hobby,” he tells. “So I took her through our neighborhood on Awbrey Butte to offer to shovel some driveways and walkways. She certainly earned plenty shoveling snow, but what struck me most were the neighbors’ panicked pleas to remove the ice dams that were steadily growing on their roofs.”

At the time, Simpson didn’t even know what an ice dam was. (It’s a mass of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow or water from draining off the roof; the backedup water can leak into a home.) He went home, “researched ice dam removal and hired 25 people to remove snow from roofs and driveways,” Simpson says.

Less than 30 days later, Simpson “had a business license, all the necessary insurance and bond policies and a general contractor’s license,” he says. “A few weeks later, we hired our

first crew of experienced roofers and replaced our first roof.”

Born out of necessity and in the spirit of helping his neighbors, this was the beginning of Deschutes Roofing & Insulation, a veteran-owned and family-owned and operated roofing contractor. Seven years in and “thousands of roof replacements and repairs later, we’re still going strong and have opened a second branch in Eugene,” Simpson says.

Simpson understands that “getting a new roof isn’t usually the most exciting home project compared to other home renovations, and it can be stressful at times,” which is why his team focuses on quality customer service, including simply being responsive.

“I was determined to fill that void by just showing up to appointments on time and giving my customers what they needed,” he said, and, “solving the root causes of ice damming: poor ventilation and insulation,” all while minimizing the impact of a large construction on homeowners’ properties.

Second place: 541 Roofing & Heat Coil

Removing ice dams off Bend homes led to the creation of Deschutes Roofing + Insulation.

Photos courtesy DeschutesRoofing & Insulation

Photo by Chris Young

From left, Hannah O’Hara, Britney Trowbridge and Monica Dorsow-Crenshaw.

Bend Park & Recreation District is proud to own and operate your two favorite places to get fit, swim and have fun!

Thank you for voting Juniper Swim & Fitness Center and Larkspur Community Center as the “Best Health & Recreation Facilities” in Bend.

JUNIPER SWIM & FITNESS CENTER 800 NE 6th St., Bend • (541) 389-7665

LARKSPUR COMMUNITY CENTER 1600 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend • (541) 388-1133

For schedules and more, visit bendparksandrec.org/fitness-swim/ or call 541-389-7665 (POOL)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Please note: times and events are always subject to change.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024

• Kick Off Party – Snacks & No Host Drinks 5:30 PM

- Erickson Aircraft Collection

-Live Music - Vince Bigos

• Kick Off After Party (New Basin Distilling) 8:00 PM

-Live Music - 454 Band (Non Airshow Event)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024

• Gates Open to the Public 1:00 PM

• Static Displays & Erickson Aircraft Collection 1:00 PM

• Les Schwab Car Show 1:00 PM

• Food / Beverage Vendors 1:00 PM

• Hot Box Open to the Public (Show Planes) 1:00 PM

• Live Music (South Stage) 3:00 PM

-Chasing Bandits Band & Vince Bigos

• Golden Knights Performance 4:00 PM

• Subaru Live Music (North Stage) Hit Machine 5:15 PM

• Fish & Chips Dinner (First 1,000 People) 5:30 PM

• Aerobatic Performances 7:00 PM INTERMISSION 8:30 PM

• Special Night Performances 9:00 PM

- Golden Knights Performance

- Pacific Power Fireworks Show

- Live Music Hit Machine (until 11 pm) 10:00 PM

• Airshow Closes 11:00 PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2024

• Gates Open to the Public 9:00 AM

• Elks Breakfast 9:00 AM

• Static Displays & Erickson Aircraft Collection 9:00 AM

• Les Schwab Car Show 9:00 AM

• Food / Beverage Vendors 9:00 PM

• Hot Box Open to the Public (Show Planes) 9:00 AM

• Live Music (Main Stage) 10:00 AM

-Sweet Red & the Hot Rod Billies

• Live Music (South Stage) Stu Kinzel Trio 10:00 AM

• Aerobatic Performances 1:15 PM

• Golden Knights 1:15 PM

• Airshow Closes 4:30 PM

CAR, AIRCRAFT & AEROBATIC SHOWS

The Shows Vendors Fireworks

FOOD & BEER Over 20 vendors!

FRIDAY NIGHT 9:00PM

High energy display up close to the crowd.

Tickets

AVAILABLE ONLINE

Friday Night 5:15 PM - 7:00 PM 10:00 pm (After Fireworks)

Aerobatics Museum Aircraft

Photo by Damon J Duran

Best Dog training Dancin’ Woofs

By Julianna LaFollette

Dancin’ Woofs

63027 Lower Meadow Dr., Bend 541-312-3766

dancinwoofs.com

Since 1999, Dancin’ Woofs has offered a friendly place for doggy day care and training. The business has ongoing doggy day care and a mixture of different training classes, from group puppy classes and basic skills classes to one-onone training.

Kristin Kerner, the current owner, went from a client to an employee in 2004 and bought the business in 2013. Although Kerner has a background in criminal justice, she fell in love with the dog training business.

“Learning about how dogs communicate with each other, watching them attempt to communicate with us, and then learning how to bridge that gap of communication that we have with dogs… I was like, ‘this is amazing, and I want to do this,’” she said.

Clients over the years have continued to come back throughout the various stages of life -something that Kerner really appreciates about the business.

She’s gone through multiple dogs with clients, has been there when people have lost their dogs and has watched children grow up who are now bringing their dogs to the day care.

“It means a lot to me that it really is this legacy in some ways, it’s so neat to watch,” Kerner said, tearing up.

Runner up: Flash Dog Training

Photos by Julianna LaFollette

Dancin' Woofs owner Kristin Kerner, middle, is flanked by staff members, from left, Leanna, Linda, Cass and Hill.

Doggy day car is just one of the services offered by Dancin' Woofs.

BEST OF PLACES

BEST INDOOR MUSIC VENUE 1st Place - Volcanic Theatre Pub 2nd Place - Tower Theatre

BEST LOCALS' HANGOUT

-

BEST

NIGHT

BEST LODGING

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING ANIMAL WELFARE

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING BASIC NEEDS

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING EDUCATION, FAMILIES & CHILDREN

1st Place - Boys & Girls Club of Bend 2nd Place - Family Access Network

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

BEST OPEN MIC

BEST PLACE TO PICK UP A COPY OF THE SOURCE

Place - Deschutes Pubic Library 2nd Place - Newport

Best Social Media Account

WLoot the Deschutes

By Julianna LaFollette

Loot the Deschutes On Instagram @lootthedeschutes

hat is essentially a time capsule of Bend, Instagram account Loot the Deschutes offers a look into what people have dropped in the Deschutes River. The people behind the account help people reconnect with those lost valuables.

I sat down by the river with the three friends, Miranda Eubank, Kea Eubank and Lled Smith, who started the account. The three founders started out surfing together, and after a few times of swimming around and finding items on the river floor, an idea came to mind.

“I found a gold ring with diamonds in it, and that was the trigger,” said Smith. They began posting the things they found on Craigslist. While the initial thought of returning a lost item to its rightful owner seemed far-fetched, finding the owner of a lost meaningful ring made the idea seem possible.

The group, which now has about 12 divers who look for lost items, searches the river multiple times a week, posting everything they found on Instagram. In their searches, the group has found all kinds of treasure, from WWI dog tags and guns to dentures and 30-year-old purses.

With nearly 12,000 followers, the account draws in both locals and visitors who are either looking for a dropped item, or who are simply curious about what is found. Other followers will join in on the hunt – helping locate the owner of a lost item or doing their own search of the river floor.

“I think it’s the detective in people,” said Miranda Eubank. “It’s really cool and very interactive.”

Lled Smith, Miranda Eubank and Kea Eubank with the "Best Of" goblet — which was not found in the Deschutes River.

A sampling of the booty found by the team at Loot the Deschutes.

Courtesy Loot the Deschutes Courtesy Loot the Deschutes

Photo by Julianna LaFollette

BEST OF PLACES CONT.

by

Best Open Mic Silver Moon Brewing

By Chris Young

Silver Moon Brewing

24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend 541-388-8331

silvermoonbrewing.com

Music Open Mic: Sundays, 4:30 to 8pm

Comedy Open Mic: Mondays, 7 to 9pm

With not one but two open mic nights every week, Silver Moon Brewing offers a platform for performers to try new material or just get some experience in front of a live audience. Every Sunday, longtime Bend musician Jeshua Marshall hosts a music-focused open mic from 4:30 to 8pm, while Mondays are reserved for comedy, with Cody Parr of Beertown Comedy hosting from 7 to 9pm. On Sundays, “every art form is welcome with an emphasis on music but no one is turned away. Comedy is just stand-up comedy,” Marshall explains.

“The vibe is very inclusive and welcoming to all performers no matter their skill levels and experience,” Marshall tells. “Everyone is invited to share and be a part of the community. The audience is always very encouraging and supportive of the performers.” It doesn’t hurt that every open mic is also free and all ages. Featuring hosts that carry some gravitas in the local scene lends credibility to Silver Moon’s open mic nights.

“Cody Parr is a professional comedian and show producer with a real dedication to the comic scene,” Marshall says. Meanwhile, Marshall himself has decades of experience in the music industry. Currently serving as the brewery’s music booker and performing as Jeshua Marshall & The Flood, he’s possibly best known as a founding member of the now-defunct, high-energy Central Oregon troubadours, Larry and His Flask, a bluegrass/punk band that toured the world and played Warped Tour several times.

Marshall believes their success lies in the fact that “both hosts are not only performers of their craft but are also well-versed in the local entertainment community, helping determined musicians and comedians to get to the next place in their artistic journeys.”

The proof is in the pudding: Rising Bend acts like “The Rumpeppers and Billy and the Box Kid both got their starts performing in public at Sunday’s open mic,” Marshall says.

Second place: The Commons Cafe & Taproom

Photo

Chris Young

There's no shortage of live music at Silver Moon Brewing.

Steve Augustyn of Silver Moon Brewing is all about Best Open Mic.

Photos courtesy of Silver Moon Brewing

Best Place to Remote Work

AThe Haven

By Savannah Mendoza

s remote work becomes more of the norm, coworking spaces are emerging as vital hubs for productivity and community. This year, we introduced “Best Place to Remote Work” as a new category in the Source Weekly’s Best of Central Oregon readers’ poll. Coworking spaces often provide Wi-Fi, printers, conference rooms and quiet spaces for phone calls or meetings.

As busy business owners and parents, Carrie and Scott Douglass were motivated to create a welcoming, inspiring and comfortable place for remote work. They envisioned a space that felt like a modern cafe or a cabin overlooking the river, and The Haven Coworking Space encompasses just that.

The Haven is a collaborative coworking space for teams and individuals that opened in September of 2019 in the heart of Bend, overlooking the Deschutes River. Its co-founders are excited to celebrate The Haven’s upcoming five-year anniversary.

“Our biggest focus at The Haven is community and giving back; creating a space we want Bend to be,” says Scott Douglass.

“People have told us that they come for the space and stay for the community,” adds Carrie Douglass.

The Douglass’ were thrilled to hear the news about winning Best Place to Remote Work in Central Oregon.

“Our primary goal at The Haven is to build community and when the community recognizes our efforts, we feel proud,” says Scott Douglass.

Another goal of The Haven is accessibility, providing over $5,000 a month in scholarships and fellowships, for nonprofits and individuals who cannot afford a coworking space.

“We want to have a space that’s accessible to everyone and provides more opportunities to create equity for all people in our community; that's a key part of our mission,” says Scott Douglass.

Photos by Savannah Mendoza

The Haven Coworking 1001 SW Disk Dr., Ste 250, Bend

Top, owners Carrie Douglass and Scott Douglass, and Hosanna Wilder relish their win. Below, Baleria Reyes and Hanna Wilder enjoy the spacious digs.

Besides offering a peaceful place to work, The Haven fosters community.

BEST OF REDMOND

There is nothing permanent except change. – Heraclitus

BEST ADULT DENTAL GROUP

1st Place - Rimrock Dental of Redmond 2nd Place - Gilmore Dental

BEST AUTO REPAIR

1st Place - Redmond Auto Service Tire Pros 2nd Place - Oscar's Expert Auto Repair

BEST BARBER SHOP

1st Place - Highland Barber Shop 2nd Place - Aziz Crew

BEST BOUTIQUE

1st Place - Willow Wild 2nd Place - Desert Prairie

BEST COFFEE SHOP

1st Place - Tite Knot Craft Coffee 2nd Place - Junction Roastery & Social Club

BEST BREAKFAST

1st Place - One Street Down Cafe 2nd Place - Brand 44°N

BEST LUNCH

1st Place - Feast Food Company 2nd Place - Bangers and Brews

BEST RESTAURANT

1st Place - Feast Food Company 2nd Place - Brand 44°N

Mon – Sat: 11AM – 7PM

BEST OF REDMOND CONT.

HAPPY HOUR

Best Food Cart Lot & Best Bar

DBlacksmith Public House

By Richard Sitts

Blacksmith Public House 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond 541-604-8878

blacksmithpublichouse.com

espite the numerous Best of Central Oregon awards their Redmond hangout has earned, the owners of Blacksmith Public House insist it is not about them, but the business itself and the community it serves. To drive home that point, Michael and Molly Kosakowski were adamant about refusing to be photographed for this story.

“It’s not about us, it’s about the business,” Michael Kosakowski declares. “We’re about everybody else.” Late on a recent hot weekday afternoon, nearly every table is taken in the welcoming open-air space. Popular tunes play on the stereo system while Redmond locals gather to hydrate and converse.

Michael and Molly are not ones to bask in the limelight of winning Best Bar in Redmond for the second year in a row, as well as first place for the new Redmond category of Best Food Cart Lot, and runner-up for Best Place for Live Music in Redmond.

The couple opened the Blacksmith Public House on April 23, 2023, with the

mission to serve the community. Besides a healthy dose of free live music, the spot serves up drinks made with fresh, handsqueezed fruit juices, a selection of local beers, six food carts and a full-service coffee bar that opens at 7 every morning. “Everything here is handmade,” Michael Kosakowski says.

Everyone is welcome — especially kids and dogs, he adds, extolling the space’s family friendly vibe. “We’re all about God, country and family.” On Friday and Saturday nights, the National Anthem is played before the bands kick off. The place is also all about supporting local charities, like bingo nights for Thrive Central Oregon and Brightside Animal Center, and donations to local schools, veterans, 4-H and FFA. “We offer a safe, friendly environment and really high-quality live music for free,” Michael says.

Tickets for the Fan Fest Concert Series do cost, but all the profits, after expenses, go toward the Family Access Network.

Second place Best Food Cart Lot: Wild Ride Brewing Second place Best Bar: Wayfarer Club

Locals and visitors alike can stretch out and enjoy six food carts at Blacksmith Public House. Here, a shot from Blacksmith's opening in 2023.

Live music and a family friendly atmosphere make Blacksmith a draw in Redmond.

Richard Sitts

Nicole Vulcan Nicole Vulcan

Best Lodging

SCP Redmond Hotel

By Julianna LaFollette

SCP Redmond Hotel

521 SW 6th St. Ste. 100, Redmond 541-508-7600 scphotel.com

The hotel on Redmond’s downtown Sixth Street, originally built in 1906, offers guests a piece of history. The building guests see standing today was built in 1928, after the original two-story wood structure burned down a year prior.

While the establishment has served as a hotel for about 90% of its lifetime, it’s certainly gone through some changes over the years. It fell into disrepair in the late ‘90s. Since the previous owners didn’t have enough cash to fix it up, it changed hands several times throughout the years.

In 2017, the SCP ownership group partnered with the City of Redmond to share the nearly $7.2 million in renovations, doing fire suppression and getting the old building back up to code.

Although the hotel reopened in 2019, right before the pandemic, Manager Tobias Colvin credits the community for supporting the business and keeping the hotel afloat. The hotel, which focuses on sustainability and locally sourced goods, offers 49 guest rooms and several unique amenities. It has a rooftop bar and a restaurant, Terra Kitchen, which serves farm-to-fork, plant-forward cuisine, and a bar, Wayfarer Club, which was also voted runner-up as Best Bar in Redmond.

“It’s a very unique hotel in a town where its more box hotels. “We’re definitely unique in this market,” said Colvin.

Second place: Eagle Crest Resort

Photos by Julianna LaFollette

SCP Redmond Hotel is a historic landmark in downtown Redmond..

From left, Kristen Budz, Tobias Colvin and Sadie Taylor celebrate their win for Best Lodging.

BEST OF REDMOND CONT.

IBest Hair Salon

Ka Nui Salon

By Richard Sitts

Ka Nui Salon

249 NW Sixth St., Unit 2, Redmond 541-504-4544 kanuisalon.com

n Hawaiian, “Ka Nui” means “The Greatest,” and that rings especially true for this 10-yearold hair salon that has earned First Place in the new category of Best Hair Salon in Redmond. This translation is gleaned from Ka Nui promotional material that goes on to state, “We pride ourselves in being the greatest self that we can be. Taking the time to learn and grow as a team. We also believe that our clients are ‘The Greatest.’”

In response to the first-place finish, Ka Nui Salon owner Cheriee Perrine says, “We are grateful.” Asked what she finds most fulfilling about styling hair, Perrine says, “Making people feel good. It’s a rewarding job. I couldn’t do it without all the girls who work here.”

There are now about eight independent styling artists who work in the salon. Perrine says when she opened shop about 10 years ago, she had one other stylist.

“Most of us have been doing hair for 20 years or more,” she says. “It’s very much an art. Every client is different. You have to learn how to adapt and how their hair works. There’s a huge customer service element to that. We’re a really family friendly hair salon and we work hard to make people feel better and look their best. Those moments are what make our job worth it.”

On a recent sweltering afternoon, there is one other stylist at work while we visit in the quiet shop. The salon is spacious and welcoming — relaxing, even, and a cool haven from the blistering temps outside.

It’s clearly evident that Perrine enjoys her work and her customers, since she’s been doing it for about 20 years. She jokes that she’s an “unlicensed therapist.”

The co-worker several chairs away chimes in, “We’re hair-apists!”

Richard Sitts

Cherriee Perinne and her co-stylists enjoy providing topnotch services in Redmond.

Courtesy Ka Nui Facebook

Courtesy Ka Nui Facebook

Making people feel good is what drives the owner of Ka Nui Salon.

HBest New Food Cart

El Imperio Mexican Food

By Richard Sitts

El Imperio Mexican Food

Open Tue-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm

245 SW Sixth St., Redmond 541-325-6415

usband and wife, Basilio Serrano and Claudia Mora, make it no secret how blessed and grateful they feel to be able to serve the hungry Redmond community from their downtown side alley food cart, located outside of Kobold Brewing’s The Vault. Their 14-month-old business, El Imperio Mexican Food, earned the most votes for Best New Food Cart in Redmond.

They are no strangers to the local restaurant scene, having lived in Central Oregon for the past 20 years. Before that they worked at restaurants in California and Texas. They helped out family members who had another Mexican restaurant downtown, Cinco Hermanos, which has since closed after those relatives left Redmond to set up restaurants in Texas, Kentucky and New York. Serrano also worked about a dozen years at The Pumphouse in Terrebonne.

Serrano says there’s a lot of difference in having their own business. “It’s more exciting being your own boss,” he adds. Mora nods in agreement. “There’s a lot more pressure, too. Now, you get to call this your own place. It took us years to get where we are now.”

Both say they find that Central Oregonians are “kinder and friendlier” than people in other places

they’ve lived. They also like the weather and that there are so many things to do here. However, their free time is limited, running the food truck 11am to 9pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and 11am to 8pm, Sunday. To get established, they were open seven days a week for the first seven months. On busy event days they get help from Mora’s mother and sister, but otherwise, it’s a two-person operation.

Besides the tacos, a customer favorite is the Queso Birria. Also, the made-fresh-daily agua fresca, orange-pineapple or cucumber-lime.

Serrano and Mora invite everyone to come check out their expansive menu and express their gratitude to the Central Oregon community.

Reporter’s note: Following our interview, I was offered tacos, but had to politely decline as I had to get to another interview. With more interviews the next day, I swung by the food cart to give them a try. OMG! These tacos are the real deal! THICK, freshly made corn tortillas folded around an amazing amount of meat, onions and cilantro with lime and delicious salsa. Two make a full meal, but I was talked into trying a third and left very full and happy. It’s no wonder they received the most votes.

Second place: Jonny's Joint

Richard Sitts

After working in restaurants for 20+ years, Claudia Mora and Basilio Serrano say running their own cart has been rewarding. .

Ashley Sarvis

Courtesy El Imperio Facebook

Courtesy El Imperio Facebook

Besides the tacos, there's a lot more to like on the El Imperio menu.

Best Dessert

Ida’s Cupcake Café

By Richard Sitts

Ida’s Cupcake Cafe 445 SW Sixth St., Redmond 541-923-6077 idascupcakecafe.com

Who would think that a master’s degree in art history could lead to a career in making scrumptious cupcakes? Ida’s Cupcake Cafe garnered the most votes for the new category, Best Desert in Redmond, and owner Autumn Persinger says her art background has contributed greatly to her success. Coming up with so many different flavors can be an art. She was a professor in art history at three different universities in Ohio before moving to Central Oregon in 2005. Original owner Ida retired in 2018 and Persinger bought the business. Previously, she worked for about 13 years at the family’s restaurant, Marcello’s Cucina Italiana, in Sunriver.

“My grandma taught me how to bake and it was a special thing we always did together,” Persinger says, regarding her culinary roots. Now heading up three Ida’s outlets, she says one of her favorite things is the staff

she works with. Years ago, she volunteered at her kids’ elementary school in Bend, got to know a lot of the kids, and as the kids have grown up, she has since hired many of them to work at Ida’s. “We’re kind of like a family. It’s a great first job for kids, it’s a way to work with the public,” she says.

Persinger has known Morgan Matthews, who manages all three stores, since Matthews was nine years old.

“It’s a fun job,” Matthews says, “playing with cake and frosting all day.”

Persinger adds, “It’s like painting in a different format. It’s fun to create new flavors.”

Coming up with new flavors of cake and frosting is a group effort, she says, and sometimes customers contribute their suggestions. As many folks are already aware, customers get to choose the flavor of cake they want, paired with the flavor of frosting they want. “The customer is part of the creation,” Persinger says.

Second place: Pangea Guild Hall

Richard Sitts

The Redmond Ida's Cupcake crew are, from left, Cora Arrieta, Lu Doty, owner Autumn Persinger, Redmond Manager Adrian Serrano, Henri Boyd and Manager Morgan Matthews, who oversees all three Ida's locations.

Courtesy Ida's Cupcake Cafe Facebook

Seasonal cupcakes, like the peach cobbler and s'mores, are always fun to try.

BEST OF SISTERS

BEST COFFEE SHOP

1st Place - Sisters Coffee Company

2nd Place - Fika Sisters Coffeehouse

BEST BREAKFAST

1st Place - Angeline's Bakery & Cafe

2nd Place - Cottonwood Café

BEST LUNCH

1st Place - Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

2nd Place - Angelines Bakery & Cafe

BEST RESTAURANT

1st Place - The Open Door

2nd Place - High Camp Taphouse

BEST BAR/BREWPUB

1st Place - The Barn in Sisters

2nd Place - Three Creeks Brewing

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

1st Place - The Belfry

2nd Place - The Barn in Sisters

BEST BOUTIQUE

1st Place - Bedouin

2nd Place - Faveur

BEST FOOD CART

1st Place - Boone Dog Pizza

2nd Place - Root Bound

BEST LODGING

1st Place - FivePine Lodge and Spa

2nd Place - The Suttle Lodge

BEST HAPPY HOUR

1st Place - Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill

2nd Place - Three Creeks Brewing

BEST GIFT SHOP

1st Place - Bedouin

2nd Place - Garden of Eden

WBest Bar/Brewpub

The Barn

By Savannah Mendoza

hether you’re a local, a visitor passing through or en route to the wilderness, chances are you’ve stopped by The Barn in Sisters for a delicious bite to eat or drink.

The Barn is a rustic, charming taphouse located in the heart of Sisters featuring a food truck lot, live music and refreshing beverages. Daniel St. Lawrence, the owner of The Barn and Boone Dog Pizza Food Cart, opened the local establishment in November 2021.

Visitors can enjoy an inviting open space downstairs in the taphouse and a small, cozy loft upstairs. The tap list alternates with offerings from craft breweries, wineries and specialty spirits, craft cider and kombucha.

“We’re a community hub with a seasonally curated menu that focuses on handmade local ingredients,” says St. Lawrence. The Barn aims to empower the local food economy by partnering with local farms to offer

high-integrity food. From locally sourced burgers and fries to salads and more, they utilize fresh ingredients whenever possible.

“We’re super grateful for the community and our hard-working, dedicated servers. The support we get from the community and visitors reflects our efforts. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve this small, loyal community,” St. Lawrence adds.

St. Lawrence emphasizes their commitment to local food as The Barn continues to prosper: “We want to continue to strengthen and create avenues for the food that’s produced in Central Oregon to feed the people with the food that’s grown here.”

As The Barn celebrates its recognition as the Best Bar/Brewpub in Sisters, it remains committed to fostering community and connection and supporting local food initiatives. With its inviting atmosphere and dedication to quality, the Barn continues to be a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.

Second Place: Three Creeks Brewing

The Barn in Sisters 171 E Main Ave., Sisters

Photos by Savannah Mendoza

The Barn owner, Daniel St. Lawrence, and the crew are all about local.

The rustic Barn has become a community favorite in the heart of Sisters.

Best Happy Hour

Owl’s Nest

By McKenzie Klecker

17600 Center Dr., Sunriver

541-593-3730 sunriverresort.com Open Daily 11:30am-close

From classic cocktails to curated infusions and delicious food in an amiable environment, the Owl’s Nest in Sunriver has its patrons covered, particularly when it comes to happy hour. Sunday through Thursday 2- 6pm, in the months from September to May, restaurant-goers can enjoy $1 off drafts, wine by the glass or well cocktails and $2 off select locally sourced appetizers like jalapeño cheese dip, the Owl-sized pretzel and more.

Having opened shortly after the resort itself in 1969, the Owls’s Nest is a deeply embedded part of the lodge’s history. Known beyond its cuisine and cocktails for its stunning views of a distant Mt. Bachelor framed by the greenery of an expansive golf course, Sunriver Resort Marketing Director Lyndsay Borkoski says guests may even be graced with the sight of elk as they wander across the driving range.

Kelsey Doyle, Owl’s Nest manager, says it’s an honor to win this first-time category addition to the Best of Central Oregon. While undoubtably a well-traversed tourist stop, Doyle says the win is really significant because it is, “testament to our locals and the clients that are loyal to us.” Unique offerings including trivia games, Saturday night live music and oneof-a-kind curated infusions make for a lively atmosphere. Doyle is excited at the recognition this “local hideout” has received, adding how incredible it is to see those who have loved this spot pass that love on to the next generation.

Whether one is looking for a relaxing couch to lay back on, a high-top chair to accommodate their little ones, or family-style seating for a large group, the Owl’s Nest has got a spot for everyone to sit and enjoy some quality time in Sunriver.

Second Place: Sunriver Brewing Company

Photos by McKenzie Klecker

Above photo from left, Deanne Devore, Myline Wing, Ronda Shuster, Jade Gregg and Sharona Benton.

STAFF

Best Smoke Spot

Bend is a stoner’s delight

By Julianna LaFollette

With a dispensary in close proximity to nearly every neighborhood of Bend, I would consider the city to be quite the stoner’s dream. While, technically, it’s illegal to smoke in public places, there are a number of great spots to chill and take in the views, once baked. An obvious option, Drake Park, provides great people watching, a view of the river and a short voyage to Pizza Mondo to fulfill those munchies. A more secluded spot is Juniper Park in east Bend, where you can find

a shaded spot in the grass, along the trail, to relax and read.

If you want the best of both worlds, head over near Miller’s Landing. A great place to hang out, you can pop a squat in the grass or walk along the Deschutes River Trail toward Bend’s Whitewater Park for some entertainment. Watch as surfers ride the man-made waves year-round or enjoy some gnarly wipeouts from the tubers in the summer. Happy smoking, and remember, don’t drive high.

PICKS

BEST folks, beer & food

Relaxing Deschutes Tasting Room is off the beaten path

By Richard Sitts

For a special treat, I like to venture up to the Deschutes Tasting Room, up on the hill overlooking the Old Mill. It’s a little out of the way, but plenty of visitors still find their way here. Stop in for lunch and a pint, or two. There’s always several pub exclusive beers on tap that you won’t find anywhere else. Stout aged in tequila barrels, anyone? Parked outside are three real-deal food carts. ‘Wich Doctor Sandwich Co. takes it to another level. WillieBurger’s smash burger, with its crispy edges, overflows its cardboard tray, which barely contains this flavor bomb. Who

needs fries?! Former Best Of winner Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery has a cold noodle dish that I can’t get enough of. I’m a carnivore, but rather than the chicken or steak, the tofu is my favorite. This place is a mellow hang where you’re bound to meet some interesting folks, locals and visitors alike.

Deschutes Tasting Room 901 SW Simpson Ave. 541-385-8606 Mon. - Sun., Noon - 7pm deschutesbrewery.com

Best Place to Pretend You’re Ernie Hemingway or Shirley Jackson

By Jared Rasic

Listen, I would never say that drinking helps with writing. There’s an old quote that was falsely attributed to Hemingway that one should “write drunk and edit sober,” but, in Hemingway’s case, it was more like he wrote and edited hungover and in need of hydration. I’m not good at either, but whenever I’m in the mood to write some poetry or some fiction and would like a flagon of ale to help unstick those hard-to-reach feelings, I usually want to do so in a room that feels unattached to the ills of the modern world. A room that, if it existed 100 years ago, probably wouldn’t feel much different than it is today.

So, I go to The Cellar in downtown Bend. Whether it’s to read a novel, write a poem or reflect on my place in the world, the combination of timeless ambience, a deeply kind and intelligent staff, a wonderful

rotating selection of fine English ales from the always-great Porter Brewing and a constantly shifting sampling of fascinating customers, it’s impossible to go to The Cellar and not find inspiration.

My personal sweet spot when I’m just looking to relax and not work? A pint of the sweetly dry Irish Red Ale and a few chapters of Márquez’s “A Hundred Years of Solitude.” This, right here, is the best combo since cheese and tortillas.

The Cellar

Jared Rasic

Staff Picks are chosen by our staff! Even though this issue plays up the Greek theme, this is not Athens (the birthplace of democracy) and no one voted in these categories. Our team of titans just chose them, to be cheeky. That is all.

(Hephaestus, if you're Greek)

Best Instagrammable Spot

Smith Rock State Park

By Savannah Mendoza

Living in Bend is a photographer’s dream, brimming with Instagram-worthy scenes. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Central Oregon is a goldmine for perfect shots to add to your feed. One of the top outdoor photo spots is Smith Rock State Park. The moment you arrive, you can’t help but capture its breathtaking views. With towering cliffs, jagged peaks and a winding river, the

potential to create the best Instagrammable photos are endless. Hike farther into the park for more stunning angles or catch sunset for a magical glow during golden hour. So, grab your camera, strike a pose, let the natural beauty do the rest and watch the likes roll in. Your followers will thank you!

Best Driver Impediment

Big Obvious Boulder, aka BOB, aka the rock outside the 7-Eleven

By Nicole Vulcan

Set in the heart of volcano country, Central Oregon sees its fair share of rocks. Maybe it’s because locals are inundated with all the obsidian, basalt and other igneous rocks we can stand, but apparently, drivers in Central Oregon are starting to gloss over even the most glaring of rocky obstacles — like Big Obvious Boulder, the rock near the corner of Franklin and Greenwood avenues that at last count had taken out at least six cars.

We know what you’re thinking: How does ONE car manage to drive up and nearly over a rock of this size, let alone six or more?! We don’t know, but among our staff picks for this year’s Best of Central Oregon issue, BOB had to get some accolades. In fact, this one has gotten so much attention that it actually has its own Facebook group. (Now, that’s becoming a heavy hitter.)

Congrats, BOB. You rock.

Courtesy Bend Rock Facebook

Savannah Mendoza

BEST OF BEND

BEST BAGEL

1st Place - Big O' Bagels

2nd Place - Bo's Falafel Bar

BEST BAKERY

1st Place - Sparrow Bakery

2nd Place - Nancy P's

BEST BBQ

1st Place - Baldy's Barbeque 2nd Place - CURBBQ

BEST BOWL

1st Place - Active Culture

2nd Place - Café Yumm!

BEST BREAKFAST

1st Place - The McKay Cottage

2nd Place - The Victorian Café

BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO

1st Place - Burrito Sunrise

2nd Place - Bend Breakfast Burrito

BEST BREAKFAST

SANDWICH

1st Place - Sparrow Bakery

2nd Place - The Good Egg

BEST BURGER

1st Place - Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries

2nd Place - Bend Burger Company

BEST BURRITO

1st Place - Super Burrito

2nd Place - Los Jalapeños

BEST CATERER

1st Place - Bleu Bite Catering

2nd Place - Cody's Country Catering

BEST DESSERT

1st Place - Bonta Gelato

2nd Place - Elly's Ice Cream

BEST DINNER

1st Place - Rancher Butcher Chef

2nd Place - Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails

BEST DOUGHNUT

1st Place - Richard's Donuts & Pastries

2nd Place - The Dough Nut

BEST EGGS BENEDICT

1st Place - The Victorian Café

2nd Place - The McKay Cottage

BEST FALAFEL

1st Place - Bo's Falafel Bar

2nd Place - Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean

BEST FAMILY DINING

1st Place - Jackson's Corner

2nd Place - Washington Dining & Cocktails

BEST FINE DINING

1st Place - Ariana Restaurant

2nd Place - Rancher Butcher Chef

BEST FOOD CART

1st Place - Americana

2nd Place - Toasty

BEST FOOD CART LOT

1st Place - On Tap

2nd Place - The Podski

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

1st Place - The Tin Pig

2nd Place - Fricken Faco

BEST LUNCH

1st Place - Valentine's Deli

2nd Place - Beach Hut Deli

BEST MAC 'N CHEESE

1st Place - Junior's Grill

2nd Place - Brother Jon's Alehouse

BEST MEDITERRANEAN

1st Place - Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean

2nd Place - The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

BEST MEXICAN

1st Place - El Sancho

2nd Place - El Rodeo

BEST MILKSHAKE

1st Place - Dandys Drive-In

2nd Place - Mountain Burger

BEST NEW FOOD CART (OPEN

1 YEAR OR LESS)

1st Place - Cotto

2nd Place - Bread and Bunny

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

(OPEN 1 YEAR OR LESS)

1st Place - Neighbor Rotisserie

2nd Place - Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge

BEST ITALIAN

1st Place - Bosa Food & Drink

2nd Place - Trattoria Sbandati

BEST PATIO DINING

1st Place - Pine Tavern Restaurant

2nd Place - Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie

BEST PIZZA

1st Place - Pizza Mondo

2nd Place - Pinky G's Pizzeria

BEST SANDWICH/DELI

1st Place - Valentine's Deli

2nd Place - Beach Hut Deli

BEST SEAFOOD

1st Place - Sebastians Seafood and Specialty Market

2nd Place - Anthony's at The Old Mill

BEST SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR

1st Place - Mother's Juice Cafe

2nd Place - Emerald City Smoothie

BEST STEAK

1st Place - Rancher Butcher Chef

2nd Place - Bos Taurus

BEST SUSHI

1st Place - Kanpai

2nd Place - CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

BEST TACOS

1st Place - El Sancho

2nd Place - Tacos Pihuamo

BEST THAI

1st Place - Wild Rose

2nd Place - Noi Thai Cuisine

BEST VEGAN

1st Place - Toasty

2nd Place - A Broken Angel

BEST VEGETARIAN

1st Place - Active Culture

2nd Place - Toasty

BEST CHINESE

1st Place - CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

2nd Place - Chan's Chinese Restaurant

BEST FRIES

1st Place - Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries 2nd Place - A La Carte

BEST INDIAN

1st Place - Taj Palace Indian Cuisine 2nd Place - Real Taste of India

BEST JAPANESE

1st Place - Kanpai

2nd Place - Five Fusion

BEST VIETNAMESE

1st Place - Pho Viet & Cafe

2nd Place - Dang's Vietnamese Restaurant

BEST WINGS

1st Place - Fire on the Mountain 2nd Place - Chicken Bonz

BEST BAR

1st Place - San Simón

2nd Place - The Flamingo Room

BEST BLOODY MARY

1st Place - The Victorian Café

2nd Place - Washington Dining & Cocktails

BEST CBD BEVERAGE

1st Place - Ablis CBD

2nd Place - Boneyard Elixir

BEST CIDER

1st Place - AVID Cider Company

2nd Place - Bend Cider Co.

BEST BREWERY

1st Place - Deschutes Brewery

2nd Place - Crux Fermentation Project

BEST SPORTS BAR

1st Place - The Hideaway Tavern

2nd Place - Sidelines Sportsbar & Grill

BEST HAPPY HOUR

1st Place - 900 Wall

2nd Place - Bar Rio

BEST WINE BAR

1st Place - Flights Wine Bar

2nd Place - Portello Wine Cafe

BEST DRIVE THRU COFFEE

1st Place - Backporch Coffee Roasters

2nd Place - Porchlight Coffee Co.

BEST KOMBUCHA

1st Place - Humm Kombucha

2nd Place - Compassion Kombucha

BEST SOUR

1st Place - 10 Barrel Brewing - Cucumber Crush

2nd Place - Ale Apothecary - Sahalie

BEST DARK BEER

1st Place - Deschutes Brewery - Black Butte Porter

2nd Place - Bevel Craft Brewing - Black Ace

BEST HAZY

1st Place - Deschutes Brewery - Fresh Haze

2nd Place - 10 Barrel Brewing - Cloud Mentality

BEST IPA

1st Place - Boneyard - RPM

2nd Place - Van Henion - IPA

BEST LIGHT BEER

1st Place - Goodlife - Sweet As

2nd Place - Deschutes Brewery - King Krispy

BEST SEASONAL BEER

1st Place - Deschutes Brewery - Red Chair

2nd Place - Deschutes Brewery - Jubelale

BEST LOCAL COFFEE

1st Place - Backporch Coffee Roasters 2nd Place - Thump Coffee

BEST LOCAL COLD BREW

1st Place - Thump Coffee

2nd Place - Backporch Coffee Roasters

BEST COFFEE SHOP

1st Place - Thump Coffee

2nd Place - Backporch Coffee Roasters

BEST SPECIALTY COCKTAIL

1st Place - Clarified Paper Plane - Five Fusion

2nd Place - Pain Killer - San Simón

BEST HOTEL BAR

1st Place - ROAM - Oxford Hotel Bend 2nd Place - Canteen - Campfire Hotel

BEST MARGARITA

1st Place - Hola!

2nd Place - El Sancho

BEST N/A BEER

1st Place - Crux Fermentation Project - NØ MØ 2nd Place - Deschutes Brewery - Fresh Squeezed NA IPA

BEST BARTENDER

1st Place - Buck Bales - D&D Bar & Grill

2nd Place - Johnny Semar - Timbers

BEST BREWER

1st Place - Nate Doss - Bevel Craft Brewing 2nd Place - Tonya Cornett - 10 Barrel Brewing

BEST BUDTENDER

1st Place - Carson Robbins - Oregon Euphorics 2nd Place - Bret - Tokyo Starfish

BEST CHEF

1st Place - Nate King & Bill Dockter - BOSA 2nd Place - Andre & Ariana Fernandez - Ariana

BEST FLORIST

1st Place - Donner Flower Shop 2nd Place - Flowers By Eryn

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

1st Place - Fabian Clark - COUNTRY Financial 2nd Place - Ryan Walker - State Farm

BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

1st Place - Kris - 92/9 FM Local Independent 2nd Place - Dave Clemens - 105.7 KQAK

BEST REALTOR

1st Place - Tiffany Clark 2nd Place - Stormy Clark

BEST TV PERSONALITY

1st Place - Emily Kirk

2nd Place - Scott Elnes

BEST ADULT DENTAL GROUP

1st Place - Bend Family Dentistry 2nd Place - Skyline Dental

BEST ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CLINIC

1st Place - Hawthorn Healing Arts Center 2nd Place - Inspired Health

BEST DERMATOLOGIST/ GROUP

1st Place - Bend Dermatology Clinic

2nd Place - Dermatology Health Specialists

BEST FITNESS STUDIO

1st Place - Barre3 2nd Place - Altius Pole Studio

BEST GOLF COURSE

1st Place - Widgi Creek Golf Club

2nd Place - Juniper Golf Course

BEST GYM

1st Place - Athletic Club of Bend 2nd Place - Xcel Fitness & Crossfit

BEST HEALTH & RECREATION FACILITY

1st Place - Juniper Swim & Fitness Center 2nd Place - Larkspur Community Center

BEST MASSAGE/DAY SPA

1st Place - Spa W 2nd Place - Evoke Healing Space & Spa

BEST PLACE FOR MEDICAL/COSMETIC ENHANCEMENT

1st Place - EsthetixMD 2nd Place - Elite Medi Spa

BEST MEDICAL GROUP

1st Place - Praxis Health 2nd Place - Summit Health

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTAL GROUP

1st Place - Deschutes Pediatric Dentistry 2nd Place - Pediatric Dental Associates

BEST SKI/SNOWBOARD SHOP

1st Place - Powder House Ski & Patio 2nd Place - Skjersaa's

BEST YOGA STUDIO

1st Place - Namaspa

2nd Place - Groove Yoga

SHOPPING

BEST ANTIQUE STORE

1st Place - Iron Horse Antiques

2nd Place - Gathered Wares

BEST BEAUTY BOUTIQUE

1st Place - Wren & Wild

2nd Place - Elite Medi Spa

BEST BIKE SHOP

1st Place - Pine Mountain Sports 2nd Place - Sunnyside Sports

BEST BOOKSTORE

1st Place - Roundabout Books

2nd Place - Dudley's Bookshop Cafe

BEST CAR DEALERSHIP

1st Place - Subaru of Bend

2nd Place - Kendall Toyota

BEST CBD COMPANY

1st Place - Ablis CBD

2nd Place - Mission Farms CBD

BEST CHILDREN'S CLOTHING

1st Place - Hopscotch Kids

2nd Place - Wild Child

BEST CLOTHING CONSIGNMENT

1st Place - Truffle Pig Trading Co.

2nd Place - Cosa Cura

BEST DISPENSARY

1st Place - Tokyo Starfish 2nd Place - Oregrown

BEST GIFT STORE

1st Place - ju-bee-lee

2nd Place - Clementines Urban Mercantile

BEST GROCERY STORE

1st Place - Newport Avenue Market

2nd Place - Market of Choice

BEST HOME DéCOR

1st Place - Lark Mountain Modern 2nd Place - City Home

BEST INDOOR PLANT STORE

1st Place - Somewhere That's Green

2nd Place - Desert Rose Cactus Lounge

BEST JEWELRY STORE

1st Place - Silverado Jewelry Gallery

2nd Place - Saxon's Fine Jewelers

BEST LIQUOR STORE

1st Place - 3rd Street Beverage

2nd Place - Trailhead Liquor

BEST MEN'S CLOTHING

1st Place - Revolvr Menswear

2nd Place - Jack +Millie

BEST NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER

1st Place - Moonfire & Sun Garden Center

2nd Place - Schilling's Garden Market

BEST OUTDOOR CLOTHING STORE

1st Place - Mountain Supply 2nd Place - The Gear Fix

BEST OUTDOOR GEAR SHOP

1st Place - The Gear Fix

2nd Place - Latitude 44 Sports

BEST PET STORE

1st Place - Bend Pet Express

2nd Place - Mud Bay Pet Store

BEST PLACE TO BUY ART

1st Place - The Workhouse

2nd Place - Red Chair Gallery

BEST PLACE TO BUY PRODUCE

1st Place - Paradise Produce Stand 2nd Place - The Vegetable Man Produce

BEST PLACE TO BUY SWIMWEAR

1st Place - Vanilla Urban Threads

2nd Place - Soul Bella Boutique

BEST RECREATIONAL VEHICLE DEALER

1st Place - Beaver Coach Sales

2nd Place - Blue Compass RV

BEST SMOKING ACCESSORIES

1st Place - Hempies

2nd Place - News & Smokes

BEST THRIFT STORE

1st Place - Humane Society Thrift Store 2nd Place - REgroup

BEST TOY STORE

1st Place - Leapin' Lizards Toy Co. 2nd Place - Learning Express Toys

BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING

1st Place - Old Boy Vintage

2nd Place - Revival Vintage

BEST WOMEN'S CLOTHING

1st Place - Vanilla Urban Threads 2nd Place - Hempies

GOODS & SERVICES

BEST AUTO BODY REPAIR

1st Place - Auto Body Concepts 2nd Place - Crash Champions

BEST AUTO REPAIR

1st Place - Import Performance Auto Repair

2nd Place - Happy Danes Auto Repair

BEST BANK BRANCH

1st Place - SELCO Community Credit Union

2nd Place - OnPoint Commnity Credit Union

BEST BEAUTY STUDIO

1st Place - Technique Salon & Spa

2nd Place - Adored Tattoo Boutique

BEST BARBERSHOP

1st Place - Electric Light Barbershop

2nd Place - L & K Barbershop

BEST DOG TRAINING

1st Place - Dancin' Woofs

2nd Place - Flash Dog Training

BEST HAIR SALON 1st Place - Lemon Drop Salon 2nd Place - Badlands Hair Studio

BEST GREEN BUSINESS

1st Place - The Gear Fix 2nd Place - Sunlight Solar Energy

BEST HOUSE CLEANER

1st Place - A+ Cleaning & Sanitation

2nd Place - Cleaner Living NW

BEST LANDSCAPE SERVICE

1st Place - Blue Stone Gardens and Landscape 2nd Place - Aspen Landscape Development

BEST LAW FIRM

1st Place - High Desert Law

2nd Place - Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis

BEST LOCAL FUNDRASIER

1st Place - Tuxes & Tails - HSCO

2nd Place - Street Dog Hero’s Founder’s Gala

BEST LOCAL HOME BUILDER

1st Place - Hayden Homes 2nd Place - PacWest Builders

BEST MANI/PEDI

1st Place - Three Sisters Nails

2nd Place - Crescent Nails & Spa

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

1st Place - A2Z Home Loans

2nd Place - Hilltop Home Loans

BEST PAINTING COMPANY

1st Place - Webfoot Home Improvements

2nd Place - Smile-A-Mile Painting

BEST PET GROOMING

1st Place - Muddy Paws Bathhouse 2nd Place - Bend Pet Resort

BEST PET RESORT

1st Place - Bend Unleashed 2nd Place - Deschutes Pet Lodge

BEST PLACE FOR ESTHETICIAN SERVICES

1st Place - Elite Medi Spa

2nd Place - EsthetixMD

BEST PLACE TO GET A TATTOO

1st Place - Monolith Tattoo Studio

2nd Place - Farewell Tattoo Parlor

BEST THERAPY/ COUNSELING PRACTICE

1st Place - Drishti Mental Health

2nd Place - Rimrock Trails Treatment Services

BEST PLUMBER

1st Place - Severson Plumbing & Heating

2nd Place - Sunset Plumbing

BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

1st Place - A Superior Property Management Company

2nd Place - Lava Ridge Property Management

BEST SOLAR COMPANY

1st Place - Sunlight Solar Energy

2nd Place - Purelight Power

BEST ROOFING COMPANY

1st Place - Deschutes Roofing

2nd Place - 541 Roofing & Heat Coil

BEST RESTORATION/ REMODEL

1st Place - Sierra James Construction 2nd Place - Iron Roots Design

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

1st Place - Cascade Hasson Sothebys

2nd Place - Compass Commercial Real Estate

PLACES

BEST INDOOR MUSIC VENUE

1st Place - Volcanic Theatre Pub 2nd Place - Tower Theatre

BEST LOCALS' HANGOUT

1st Place - On Tap

2nd Place - Bevel Craft Brewing

BEST LOCALS' NIGHT

1st Place - Silver Moon Brewing 2nd Place - Bevel Craft Brewing

BEST LODGING

1st Place - The Oxford Hotel Bend 2nd Place - Campfire Hotel

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING ANIMAL WELFARE

1st Place - Humane Society of Central Oregon 2nd Place - Street Dog Hero

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING BASIC NEEDS

1st Place - Bethlehem Inn 2nd Place - NeighborImpact

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING EDUCATION, FAMILIES & CHILDREN

1st Place - Boys & Girls Club of Bend 2nd Place - Family Access Network

BEST NONPROFIT SERVING HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT 1st Place - The Environmental Center 2nd Place - Central Oregon LandWatch

BEST OPEN MIC

BEST PLACE TO PICK UP A COPY OF THE SOURCE

1st Place - Deschutes Pubic Library

2nd Place - Newport Avenue Market

BEST PLACE TO REMOTE WORK

1st Place - The Haven Coworking

2nd Place - The Commons Cafe & Taproom

BEST PLACE TO WORK (OVER 50 EMPLOYEES)

1st Place - Central Oregon Community College 2nd Place - Hayden Homes

BEST PLACE TO WORK (UNDER 50 EMPLOYEES)

1st Place - Bend Veterinary Clinic 2nd Place - Ryan Walker State Farm

BEST RADIO STATION 1st Place - KPOV 2nd Place - 92/9 FM Local Independent

BEST SENIOR LIVING FACILITY

1st Place - Whispering Winds Retirement 2nd Place - Touchmark Senior Living

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT

1st Place - Loot The Deschutes 2nd Place - Mom What's Next

BEST STAYCATION DESTINATION

1st Place - Sunriver Resort 2nd Place - Brasada Ranch

BEST SPOT FOR A NIGHT OUT WITH THE CREW

1st Place - Hayden Homes Amphitheater 2nd Place - McMenamins Old St. Francis

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

1st Place - Silver Moon Brewing 2nd Place - Bridge 99

BEST WEDDING VENUE 1st Place - Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards 2nd Place - Aspen Hall

Building hope and homes throughout Central Oregon

Virginia Watson, co-founder of Hayden Homes, taught us the importance of loving what we do, and valuing our customers, co-workers and community. It keeps us grateful, and always looking for ways to make our company better and our community stronger. We call it Give As You Go™, and it’s our way of staying true to what she taught us. Receiving this award—for building in the Central Oregon community we love—is an honor, and proof that she was right. Thank you, Virginia.

REDMOND CONT.

BEST LUNCH

1st Place - Feast Food Company

2nd Place - Bangers and Brews

BEST RESTAURANT

1st Place - Feast Food Company

2nd Place - Brand 44°N

BEST BREWERY/BREWPUB

1st Place - Wild Ride Brewing

2nd Place - Intiative Brewing

BEST BAR

1st Place - Blacksmith Public House

2nd Place - Wayfarer Club

BEST BURGER

1st Place - Redmond Burger Company

2nd Place - Bogey's Burgers

BEST DESSERT

1st Place - Ida's Cupcake Cafe

2nd Place - Pangea Guild Hall

BEST PIZZA

1st Place - Grace and Hammer

2nd Place - Jersey Boys Pizzeria

BEST HAIR SALON

1st Place - Ka Nui Salon

2nd Place - Axis Salon

BEST GIFT SHOP

1st Place - Welcome Home

2nd Place - Two Gifty Girls

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

1st Place - General Duffy's Waterhole

2nd Place - Blacksmith Public House

BEST FITNESS STUDIO

1st Place - Love Bird Yoga

2nd Place - Redmond Athletic Club

BEST FOOD CART

1st Place - Wild Catch English Style Fish and Chips

2nd Place - Cascade Alchemy Bowls

BEST FOOD CART LOT

1st Place - Blacksmith Public House 2nd Place - Wild Ride Brewing

BEST NEW RESTAURANT/ BAR

1st Place - Pangea Guild Hall

2nd Place - Elements Public House

BEST LODGING

1st Place - SCP Redmond Hotel

2nd Place - Eagle Crest Resort

BEST HAPPY HOUR

1st Place - Feast Food Company 2nd Place - Bangers and Brews

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

1st Place - Jake Waardenburg - State Farm Insurance Agent

2nd Place - Travis Bennett - AIC Insurance Agency

BEST MARGARITA

1st Place - Carnaval Mexican Grill

2nd Place - Diego's Spirited Kitchen

BEST MEXICAN

1st Place - Carnaval Mexican Grill

2nd Place - Xalisco Latin Cuisine

BEST NEW FOOD CART

1st Place - El Imperio Mexican Food 2nd Place - Jonny's Joint

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

1st Place - Guild Mortgage Company 2nd Place - Mann Mortgage

BEST NONPROFIT

1st Place - Hospice of Redmond

2nd Place - Brightside Animal Center

BEST NONPROFIT EVENT

1st Place - Festival of Trees - Hospice of Redmond

2nd Place - Crush Cancer Crab Boil - Faith Hope & Charity

BEST PAINTING COMPANY

1st Place - Smile-A-Mile Painting

2nd Place - Copperdog Painting

BEST PLACE TO GET A MANI/PEDI

1st Place - Redmond Nails & Spa

2nd Place - Lotus Nails & Spa

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

1st Place - Jeff Larkin Realty

2nd Place - Windermere Real Estate

BEST ROOFING

1st Place - Deschutes Roofing & Insulation 2nd Place - 541 Roofing & Heat Coil

BEST TACO

1st Place - Westside Taco Co 2nd Place - El Imperio Mexican Food

BEST VETERINARY PRACTICE

1st Place - Redmond Veterinary Clinic 2nd Place - Cinder Rock Veterinary Clinic

SISTERS

BEST COFFEE SHOP

1st Place - Sisters Coffee Company 2nd Place - Fika Sisters Coffeehouse

BEST BREAKFAST

1st Place - Angeline's Bakery & Cafe 2nd Place - Cottonwood Café

BEST LUNCH

1st Place - Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

2nd Place - Angelines Bakery & Cafe

BEST RESTAURANT

1st Place - The Open Door

2nd Place - High Camp Taphouse

BEST BAR/BREWPUB

1st Place - The Barn in Sisters

2nd Place - Three Creeks Brewing

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

1st Place - The Belfry

2nd Place - The Barn in Sisters

BEST BOUTIQUE

1st Place - Bedouin

2nd Place - Faveur

BEST FOOD CART

1st Place - Boone Dog Pizza

2nd Place - Root Bound

BEST LODGING

1st Place - FivePine Lodge and Spa 2nd Place - The Suttle Lodge

BEST HAPPY HOUR

1st Place - Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill

2nd Place - Three Creeks Brewing

BEST GIFT SHOP

1st Place - Bedouin

2nd Place - Garden of Eden

SUNRIVER

BEST BREAKFAST

1st Cafe - Café Sintra Sunriver 2nd Place - Lodge Kitchen

BEST LUNCH

1st Cafe - Café Sintra Sunriver

2nd Place - Josie K's Deli and Kitchen

BEST RESTAURANT

1st - Marcello's Cucina Italiana 2nd Place - Sunriver Resort Lake House

BEST BAR/BREWPUB

1st - Sunriver Brewing Company 2nd Place - Owl's Nest

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

1st - Sunriver Resort

2nd Place - The Backyard Cafe & Bar

BEST FOOD CART

1st - God of Pizza

2nd Place - The Peak Food Truck

BEST LODGING

1st - Sunriver Resort

2nd Place - Bennington Properties

BEST HAPPY HOUR

1st - Owl's Nest

2nd Place - Sunriver Brewing Company

Of Bread and Sandwiches

Q&A with Keeley Parsons, Owner of Bread and Bunny

By Megan Baker

In a town where food trucks are as common as pine trees, one whimsical truck is bounding its way to the top. Meet Bread and Bunny, the brainchild of Keeley Parsons, where sando meets salad, creatively accompanied by quality and a touch of magic.

With a name that came to her in a dream and a menu that changes with the seasons, Bread and Bunny is not just a food truck — it’s an experience. You’ll find Bread and Bunny at Midtown Yacht Club on the east side of Bend. Y’all can’t miss the truck; it’s wrapped with a giant black-and-white photo of a bunny wearing heart glasses (swoon), making it stand out amongst just about any food truck I’ve ever seen. Parsons is also the entrepreneur behind TOTS!, also located at the Yacht Club. Join me as I hare-plunge into a li’l Q&A with the talent behind Bread and Bunny to discover why it’s capturing the hearts (and stomachs) of locals.

Source Weekly: What inspired you to start this food truck?

Keely Parsons: The name of Bread and Bunny came to me in my sleep. I sat up in bed and said, “THIS is Bread and Bunny,” in my best Guy Fieri voice, and then put that name in the notes section in my phone quite a while ago. I thought there was a need for a great sandwich and salad joint in this town, and bread and lettuce provide unlimited topping and ingredient freedoms.

SW: What is your signature menu item, and what makes it special?

KP: There really isn’t a signature menu item. We laugh because ordering bread properly is impossible. The people choose something different to love the most each day.

SW: How has the local community contributed to your success?

KP: The local community has tried us out and cheered us on. We have enjoyed the flow of familiar faces. Without that community support, we wouldn’t be here, so we place a

tremendous amount of value on that support.

SW: Do you source your ingredients locally? If so, which local farms or suppliers do you work with?

KP: We source what we can locally and use the best ingredients possible. David and Megan [Kellner-Rode] from Boundless Farmstead deliver twice a week, and we order anything and everything we can from them in regard to fresh veggies and all of our salad mix. We use Sisters Bakery and Sparrow Bakery for our breads. Our jam from Alchemist’s Jam is a splurge, but we’re worth it. We have the best sauerkraut around from Blue Bus out of White Salmon, Washington, and their kombucha we offer as well is smooth and amazing. Our pastrami is special in that it is Wagyu and ridiculous — provided by Tempesta. We source various meats from Olympia Provisions that we slice daily. Our smoked provolone is from Ferndale Farmstead out of Washington. Our thick cut bacon is from Hill’s Premium Meats out of Pendleton. We offer award-winning Maia cheese from Briar Rose Creamery out of Dundee. Just so you know: we also serve Cheez Whiz as an option for our Philly and are proud of it.

SW: Can you share a personal favorite from your menu and why it’s special to you?

KP: My personal favorite would be the Great Steak Sando. It’s both sweet and savory. The Farmhouse Tuna is another go-to. It’s just a great tuna mixture with fresh farm veggies, cold crisp red leaf from Boundless, the tang of Duke’s Mayo, the crispy texture of Granny Smith apples, and creamy hints of cheese with soft Sisters Bakery multigrain.

If you’ve ever eaten out with me you’ll know that menus are always tough. I have a hard time with decisions. It helped that I looked them up ahead of time. I ordered a BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado) on

thick slices of Sisters Bakery sourdough bread (huge fan), and this bread did not disappoint. The variety of lettuce coupled with thick cuts of tomato was a delightful combo… I’m already thinking about which sam I’m gonna try next. Hop on over and give them a try! One more thing: just so you know, the portions are huge! I had to bring it home and finish it with a knife and fork because it was too big to try and eat graciously in public.

Want your local event featured in our newsletter to get the word out to our foodie community? Submit your events for free at www.bendsource.com/calendar Stay up on the newest places to eat in Central Oregon. And get subscriber-only food stories every week!

If you're not already subscribed to our foodie newsletter, Cascades Eats, you're seriously missing out! Our weekly update on all things food and drink in Central Oregon is your go-to source for the latest openings, events and reviews from the vibrant culinary scene of Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver and beyond. But wait, there's more! Each week, our newsletter editor Megan Baker dives into a local hotspot or shares a recipe, offering exclusive, subscriber-only content. Sign up: https://www.bendsource.com/bend/Newsletters/Page

Bread and Bunny food truck At Midtown Yacht Club 1661 NE 4th St., Bend Instagram @bread.and.bunny

Above, the BLTA on Sisters Bakery sourdough.

Photos by MB Photography

By Nicole Vulcan

Fundraiser Dinner Pairs Diners with Food Makers

Upcoming Meet Your Farmer dinner for Central Oregon Locavore features two Sisters area farms and Five Pine chefs

For over 10 years, Central Oregon Locavore has hosted an event that allows local diners to eat from the bounty of the local food system and get to meet the people who make and grow the food. The Meet Your Farmer series matches local chefs with local farmers. On Aug. 21, that pairing includes the culinary team at Five Pine Resort in Sisters with two farms: Mahonia Gardens, a veggie farm in Sisters, and Cascade Mountain Pastures, also of Sisters, which offers pasture-raised lamb. The event is a fundraiser for Central Oregon Locavore, which supports the local food system through its local foods marketplace, along with events, education and outreach.

This month’s dinner is Mediterranean-themed and offers three courses. The first course is a community mezze board, featuring a selection of FivePine hummus, zucchini baba ganoush, Muhammara — a roasted red pepper and walnut spread — and spiced olives and pickled veggies. A second course, served family style, includes marinated lamb steak, Garam Masala chicken kebabs, curry roasted potatoes, tabbouleh and more. And for dessert: pistachio baklava.

Meet Your Farmer, “started in 2011 at Common Table and we have had dozens of events, with great results, connecting farmers and chefs,” explained Nicolle Timm-Branch, Central Oregon Locavore’s founder and executive director. For the dinner at Bos Taurus in February, TimmBranch described, she persuaded the chefs there to take a chance on working with a local ranch that sells its meat at Locavore. Now the restaurant includes that ranch, Pioneer Ranch in Tumalo, on its menu.

The Meet Your Farmer dinner takes place Thursday, Aug. 21 at 5:30pm. The fundraiser is $139 per person and includes gratuity. Tickets are available on the Central Oregon Locavore website.

Central Oregon Locavore

Meet Your Farmer dinner

At Five Pine Resort featuring Mahonia Gardens and Cascade Mountain Pastures Thu., Aug. 21, 5:30-8pm Five Pine Resort 1021 Desperado Trail, Sisters centraloregonlocavore.org/events/list/ $139

Scenes from the 2023 Meet Your Farmer dinner at BOSA, featuring Casad Family Farms.

Leo Fremonti

CULTURE

Of Math and Madness

The Greenhouse Cabaret stages another winner with “Proof”

By Jared Rasic

Can a piece of theater still be considered underrated if it has won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award for Best Play? I mean, that’s a pretty serious amount of acclaim, but if it’s not a part of the culture lexicon like “Cats” or “Hamilton,” then what are we even doing here?

I’ve been a fan of David Auburn’s play “Proof” since college and have always thought it deserved to be one of the biggest pieces of theater of this generation, which, I suppose in some ways it is. For people unfamiliar with the show, it’s one of the most elegant portrayals of the complexity of the human mind as it filters its way through mental illness, grief and genius. “Proof” has been an American theatrical masterpiece for decades, and now with The Greenhouse Cabaret’s new production, the Pacific Northwest has the chance to see what the fuss is all about.

Built around only four characters, Auburn’s gorgeous writing builds a ephemeral bridge between the concrete answers of mathematics with the known unknowns we find ourselves existing besides every day as human beings. Our central character is Catherine, played by the wonderful Ramya Hipp, an outwardly difficult woman who has spent the last few years taking care of her father, Robert (the always entertaining Richard Choate), a genius mathematician slowly succumbing to mental illness. After his death, Catherine is pulled out of her solitary days by her older sister, Claire, (a perfectly calibrated Natalie Curtis) who wants Catherine to sell their father’s house and move to New York to be closer to her sister and by Hal (Daniel Witty, supplying much needed levity), one of her father’s proteges who is searching through Robert’s notes for a possible mathematical proof that would cement the late genius’ legacy forever.

Watching these four characters dance between each other as they struggle with their own limitations as people, their new and bottomless reserves of self-loathing and doubt, their fear of their own minds and the crippling anxiety born from unrealized futures and unmet expectations is a masterclass in tension and release. Catherine’s fear that she might have not only inherited her father’s genius, but his sickness

as well, is a complicated and nuanced subtext to play with. Hipp layers in such heartbreaking vulnerability to her somewhat cold exterior that it’s near impossible not to hope desperately that she finds a happy ending.

Director Joshua Curtis, in his directorial debut, has done an amaz-

This puts a large amount of pressure on the actors to stay locked in throughout the entire production, as the audience never lets them out of their grasp.”

Even just watching a rehearsal with no costumes and a bare minimum of lighting, I was reminded not only of how brilliant “Proof” is as a piece of

ing job staging this production. David Auburn’s script doesn’t have a wasted moment. Every scene, every line exists to further character and create dramatic stakes that hold the audience in rapt silence. Curtis’ instinct for how to translate that to The Greenhouse Cabaret are spot on. “

‘Proof”' is a stripped-down drama that doesn't rely on gimmicks or set changes to keep your attention,” says Curtis. “Rather, it's all about the pacing and the award-winning writing that is used to keep the audience's attention.

Greenhouse Cabaret’s founder John Kish has considerably upped the quality of local theater since the Cabaret’s opening in the winter of 2021, and “Proof,” the seventh production from Kish and his many Greenhouse collaborators, is evidence that the theatrical art scene is thriving again after almost being extinguished during the darkest days of COVID.

art, but how daringly staged and fearlessly performed theater in a beautiful and intimate environment (like The Greenhouse Cabaret) can transport you right outside yourself, into the skin and bones of people we’ve never met. If film is a machine for empathy, then live theater is a repository of human emotion.

If you’re new to the Bend theater scene, “Proof” is a perfect place to start. And if you’re already a fan of the local arts, then I’m assuming you already have your tickets. The

Live theater is such a treat that so many of us take for granted and, if it’s something you’ve avoided for one reason or another, “Proof” is one of those shows that (I apologize for this) proves the inherent power that shared experiences still carry in the modern world. Our screens have made us more solitary than we really take responsibility for, and having art created for us in a two-hour burst of singular moments that will never be repeated exactly the same way is a bona fide miracle. Go to theater. Grow as a person. Let’s do this.

“Proof” Fr., Aug. 16-Sat. Aug. 31

The Greenhouse Cabaret 1017 NE 2nd St., Bend 541-699-2840 thegreenhousecabaret.com/ for tickets

The cast of Greenhouse Cabaret’s "Proof."

Photos courtesy John Kish

SCREEN

The Bad, the Worse and the Horrendous ‘Borderlands,’ ‘Cuckoo’ and ‘Trap’ ruin my day

By Jared Rasic

As someone who has spent a majority of their life writing, acting, rehearsing and basically doing anything and everything they can to make it into the motion picture industry, I can’t bring myself to be cynical about movies, even while knowing there’s lots of cynicism to spread around. While it’s easier now to make a movie than ever before (I can name at least two great movies made on iPhones), it’s still not necessarily a walk in the park to finish one. Every movie that gets made, from the worst of Neal Breen to the best of Francis Ford Coppola, every single finished film is a miracle…some larger than others.

But, this weekend almost broke me. I went to a triple feature that was stacked with such terrible movies that I felt the twinge of cynicism building behind my exhausted eyes. In fact, I was unable to completely sit through the third movie of my makeshift trilogy. In no way do I think we’re living in the nadir of the motion picture industry (that was probably the 1950s…and during COVID), but I do sometimes think of how amazing it would have been to live through the New Hollywood/American New Wave era of the late ‘60s through the early ‘80s, and how that would have informed my obsession with cinema.

Even though I don’t think this is the worst period of filmmaking in history, this weekend made me think about maybe, just maybe, not watching all the movies.

“Trap”

I started with “Trap,” the new film by M. Night Shyamalan and starring a recently returned-from-hiatus Josh Hartnett. Shyamalan is hit and miss (I wasn’t in love with his most recent “Knock at the Cabin,” but think he probably gets a lifetime pass for “The Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable), but “Trap” is the worst of his since at least “The Last Airbender.” The concept of a serial killer and his tween daughter at a massive arena concert surrounded by cops is a solid one and should have been an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride.

Somehow, not only does Shyamalan not manage to summon a single second of tension in the entire film, but the characters all have ridiculous dialogue, the story becomes more and more ridiculous and the structure falls apart into a messy collage of tropes and cliche. Actually, the only thing that really works in “Trap” is Hartnett, who seems to be having

a great time playing against type and using his deep well of charisma to make a creepy serial killer compelling. This movie is so bad it’s exhausting and a little depressing.

“Cuckoo”

I followed that up with a screening of “Cuckoo,” a new science fiction/thriller/mystery/absurdest comedy starring Hunter Schafer, who effortlessly carries every frame of the film even as the plot becomes sillier and, eventually, nonsensical. I was hyped for this one because of its great trailer and my love for Schafer and her co-star Dan Stevens. I found the first half of the film very compelling. Director Tilman Singer uses some visually hypnotizing formal tricks that pull you through the absurdest horror of the plot and imagery, but once you actually find out what’s going on and why everyone is acting strangely, it’s so ridiculous that the horror and terror inherent in the film up to that point then becomes campy and loses all sense of fear and tension. I found myself laughing at the film instead of with it, and that’s a shame. “Cuckoo” is absolute nonsense. It could have been so much more.

“Borderlands”

Then. Then I went to see “Borderlands.” It’s a movie that was plagued with so many behind-the-scenes issues that when reshoots started, director Eli Roth wasn’t invited back to actually direct them, instead replaced by “Deadpool” director Tim Miller. I’m not a huge fan of Rotten Tomatoes as a source for deciding on the quality of a movie, but the current score for “Borderlands” is 7%

with an audience score of 50%, both of which seem a little high to me. This might actually be the worst video game movie of all time.

Cate Blanchett looks like she’s having fun, but Kevin Hart, Ariana Greenblatt and Jamie Lee Curtis all seem pretty embarrassed. The special effect don’t look finished or even fully rendered, the script is dire, the dialogue grating, the story without excitement. I made it 41 minutes into this and then had to bounce and drink away my sorrows. I know, I know, it’s incredibly unprofessional for me not to have finished a movie I’m reviewing. All I can say is that “Borderlands” took 41 minutes from me I could have spent doing something better — like crying myself to sleep or drinking various types of bleach and rating their differing levels of viscosity.

I don’t know what person these three movies are for, but that person isn’t me or anyone else I’ve ever met. I love movies, I’m still not cynical about the oversaturation of content in the modern era, but, my god, walking out of a movie before it’s over in search of a stiff drink hurt my heart a little. Let’s do better next week.

“Trap”

Dir. M. Night Shyamalan Grade: D-

Now Playing at Regal Old Mill

“Cuckoo”

Dir. Tilman Singer Grade: D+

Now Playing at Regal Old Mill

“Borderlands”

Dir. Eli Roth Grade: DNF

Now Playing in waiting rooms across hell

"Borderlands" might be the worst video game movie of all time. It even inspired a new grade, DNF, Did Not Finish.

"Cuckoo" looks great and means nothing.

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Courtesy of Neon

O OUTSIDE

How to Get Started Rockhounding In an ocean of sagebrush, a bounty of treasure awaits

By Alison Jean Cole

In the bountiful ocean of sagebrush that blankets Oregon’s high desert, rock and mineral treasures await us. But how can we make ourselves worthy of them? And are they really ours for the taking?

Rockhounding, the hobby of searching for rocks, is a deeply rooted Oregonian pastime. For decades, boisterous families and feverish old-timers have taken to the proverbial hills in search of agate, jasper, opal, petrified wood, sunstones and obsidian. Humans have covered almost every inch of desert, mapping pockets of minerals, occurrences of fossils and outcroppings of rock. Rockhounds have written guidebooks, formed clubs, opened mines and plowed new roads just to get to a rock. For many, a simple hobby becomes a lifelong pursuit.

Oregonians are gifted with an incredible abundance of public land, and rockhounding is permitted on almost all of it. But just because such resources exist, does it mean we should giddy-up out to the desert and lasso ourselves buckets upon buckets of rocks? What will be the fate of such lovely material? Will it languish in a forgotten box in the garage? Grow moss in a pile in the backyard? A single tear runs down my face as I think of such things—a “cowboy cry” as my friend Walker calls it. Rather than round up all the treasures that are out there, what if we take a different tack?

Plainly put: rockhounding is rock-taking. In the human history of our region, the public lands we get to enjoy today were forcibly taken from the original peoples who cared for them. By collecting rocks, we are perpetuating the act of taking from the land. So,

when you head out to the desert in search of rocks, ask yourself: what will I do with this rock? Will I display or gift it in a meaningful way? Will I make something special with it? If the answer is yes, keep it. If the answer is no, leave it. If the answer is maybe, definitely leave it. It’s the maybes that tip the scale toward heavy-handed collecting.

Besides, these rocks are vessels of extraordinary stories! When we remove them from the landscape, we are ending their infinite nights spent under the stars. No longer will they see the passing of a hundred seasons, or continue onward in their epic geological journey. When we take them, we remove them from the context of their extraordinary volcanic origins. Glassy obsidian, like that found on Glass Buttes, erupted on the margins of extremely viscous lava, and pumice exploded around it. Over time, whole forests have been flattened and buried in volcanic explosions; the minerals in the ash invading their trunks, petrifying them like Medusa. Today, fossil wood scatters in high desert locales like Hampton Butte, Congleton Hollow and the Owyhee gulches. Agates that formed in voids in lavas became the famed thundereggs of the Ochocos. And some ancient lava flows yield unusually large crystals, like the famed sunstones of the Rabbit Basin.

Oregon’s volcanic rodeo has left us with a desert landscape blanketed in treasures. Even though I have tried to convince you that they deserve to stay (mostly) in place, I very much believe that everyone should try their hand at rockhounding. It’s a sweet, leisurely way to be in the landscape, traversing slopes and

ravines that you wouldn’t otherwise think to visit. It can lead you to amazing discoveries that established trails never could. One time, after searching a remote gulch in the Owyhee Canyonlands, some friends and I found entire cliffs of crystalline calcite, translucent and honey yellow. Some of the crystals were the size of turkeys. Yee haw! Without rockhounding, we would have never found such an extraordinary formation. Am I going to tell you where this place is? Actually, yes. It will be published in my forthcoming rockhounding guide for Oregon and Washington that will hit shelves in May of 2025. However, if you just can’t wait, may I suggest picking up a copy of my introductory book, “Beautiful Rocks & How to Find Them.” This book covers all the ins and outs of rockhounding: where to find material, what the rules are, how to consider ethics and things you can do with rocks once you collect them. It’s the perfect guide for any young mutton buster looking to try their hand in the wild world of rockhounding.

—Alison Jean Cole is a volunteer with Oregon Natural Desert Association, a nonprofit organization that protects and restores Oregon’s high desert public lands and waters. She is a lapidary artist, author and outfitter guide based in Portland, Oregon. Her new book, “Beautiful Rocks and How to Find Them,” published by Princeton Architectural Press, is available at a bookstore near you. Keep an eye out in 2025 for her new rockhounding guide to Oregon and Washington, to be published by Mountaineers Books.

Photos by Alison Jean Cole

On this remote hillside in the Ochocos, a rockhound searches for agates.

A rockhound inspects picture jasper for quality in the Owyhee canyonlands.

Rockhounds search for fossils in cliffs of diatomite outside of Fields, Oregon.

OListening for Bats in the High Desert The Audible Bat Project tunes into Northwest bat frequencies

By Damian Fagan

On a quiet night in June, about 20 of us volunteers with the OSU-Cascades Audible Bat Project sat on the rim of the Crooked River as it wound its way beneath the towering cliffs of Smith Rock, listening intently for the audible echolocation calls of spotted bats as they hunted for insects. The amazing part was, the bat “calls” could be heard over the din of the cascading river below us.

Spotted and pallid bats are the two species that are the focus of listening surveys for the Audible Bat Project, which volunteers may participate in after undergoing some training either in-person or online.

“Most bats echolocate at a frequency unheard by the human ear, however, some desert species emit echolocation calls within the range of human hearing,” said Sara Rose, volunteer coordinator for the Audible Bat Project. “This project helps get a better understanding of how some of our rarest bats are using different habitats in the Pacific Northwest.”

Spotted bats and pallid bats echolocate within that range. Think of the sound a clock makes as it ticks away the seconds. The cadence of the single clicks changes as the bats hunt for moths or other nocturnal insects. “When they are hunting, they sound just a little bit different and the clicks sound the same, but the pattern of clicking changes,” said Rose. “They will speed up or slow down their clicking depending upon what they are trying to locate.”

Pallid bats, which feed on ground-dwelling invertebrates, have echolocation calls which are close to inaudible. “But when females gather at maternity roosts, they lower the frequency on their calls to within the range of human hearing,” added Rose. Their unique echolocations sound like rapid double or triple clicks “At these colonies, these bats talk to one another. These social calls are the sounds we are listening for pallid bats.”

After that first night at Smith Rock, several of us joined Rose for a group survey at Lake Billy Chinook. We were dropped off at different points along the canyon rim and spent the evening listening to spotted bat calls as they passed by us. After an hour, we returned to our campsite and discussed the night’s activity.

Even though the bat listening season is partially over, volunteers are still invited to participate.

“Since we will only have a few events in August and September, I would encourage

“Most bats echolocate at a frequency unheard by the human ear, however, some desert species emit echolocation calls within the range of human hearing.”

—SARA ROSE

folks to check out the online training,” said Rose. “There are some very low-commitment options for getting involved. But I always welcome people who are interested to sign up for one of our overnight events.” Rose will host two group surveys in August, one in central Washington and the other in the Ochocos, then one in September along the John Day River.

“Group surveys have been incredibly successful this year,” said Rose. “We set a record in June for the most attendees for an overnight survey event, which was really exciting for me.” Independent surveys have been a bit on the decline since last year, and Rose would love to see some more folks taking their bat adventures into their own hands and doing surveys while they're out and about. “That can mean anything from spending an evening sitting next to the Deschutes to keeping your ears open while on a rafting trip down on the Owyhee,” said Rose. “Actually, there are a lot of people who live in great spotted and pallid bat habitat who could be doing surveys right from their porches.”

Rose related that they’ve heard pallid bats in two new locations this year. “Of the two species we study, these are the more elusive, at least via listening surveys. So that's a really big deal for me,” said Rose. “This study was originally designed with just spotted bats in mind, so it's very encouraging that it is turning out to be useful for finding pallids as well.”

To join one of the group surveys or to conduct some independent surveys, visit the OSU-Cascades Audible Bat Project website.

Audible Bat Project osucascades.edu/HERS/northwest-bat-hub/audible-bat-project

Conducting a listening survey on a canyon rim.

Photos courtesy OSU-Cascades Audible Bat Project

By McKenzie Klecker

Mamma Mia Comes to Theater in the Park

“The audience can enjoy the greenery of Drake Park and the Deschutes River flowing as they imagine the sights and sounds to be that of a Greek isle.”

— RACHEL ROBINSON

Bend’s annual production for Theater in the Park features the magical tale of “Mamma Mia,” a story brimming with love, laughter and friendship.

Rachel Robinson, musical theater jack of all trades and director of the play, alongside the cast and crew, have put in six weeks of incredible effort to bring to fruition a local adaptation of the classic tale sure to delight everyone from the seasoned theater veteran to a first-time show-goer.

“Doing Mamma Mia in the park is kind of like a perfect fit because it’s a show that mostly takes place outside on this Greek island,” Robinson said — so the audience can enjoy the greenery of Drake Park and the Deschutes River flowing as they imagine the sights and sounds to be that of a Greek isle.

Having moved to Bend in 2022, Robinson jumped right in to work on multiple productions throughout the city, including the 2023 Theater in the Park performance of “RENT,” and is overjoyed to be directing this summer’s spectacle. “What they’re going to see on stage certainly is professional and through that [the audience] can expect to be transported into the world of the show,” said Robinson.

As the story unfolds, cast renditions of classic ABBA songs will echo through the open air during the dance numbers. Robinson hopes that every viewer, “can connect with the people on stage and see aspects of themselves and their lives reflected back to them.”

The show runs two days, Aug. 16 and 17, with general admission cost starting at $35 and doors opening at 6 pm. VIP ticket holders can enjoy early entry at 5 pm alongside appetizers and a drink of their choice.

Mamma Mia!

Fri., Aug. 16 & Sat., Aug. 17, Doors 6pm, VIP 5pm entry

Drake Park

777 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend theaterbend.com

“Mamma Mia!” tells the tale of a woman striving to determine who her real father is — with plenty of fun mixed in.

Courtesy Theater in the Park

CRAFT Love Letter to a Unique Ingredient: TallowWashed Whiskey

Hawkeye & Huckleberry’s beef program extends to the bar

By Brian Yaeger

The new Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, self-nicknamed Hawk & Huck, boasts an authentic “ranch to plate” program with beef coming straight from co-owner and native Central Oregonian Brian Malarkey’s family ranch in Tumalo. Malarkey, part of the Food Network’s corral of celebrity chefs, has entrust ed the “modern cowboy” themed spot’s bar manager, Hailey Cook — in modern parlance —“to cook.” That starts with one of the new bar’s signature drinks — a new twist on an old-fashioned — the Doc Holliday, made with fat-washed whiskey.

Cook is a recent transplant to Bend, in large part because her life/ work situation was imperiled during the wildfires in Lāhainā. By the ripe age of 21, Cook was bartending at Mandalay Bay in Vegas.

Two concepts that drive Cook’s cocktails: being true to the region, and as little waste as possible. That meant leaving her signature clarified piña colada back in Maui (although she did conjure up the “Paniolo,” which is Hawaiian for cowboy, that features pineapple juice, dark rum, Jamaican spiced liqueur Falernum, apricot liqueur, orgeat and lime).

Among her creations is the Doc Holliday. Whereas a classic old-fashioned consists of whiskey (typically bourbon), sugar for sweetness, Angostura bitters (for bitterness) and something to make it pop such as a cocktail cherry and an oily twist of orange peel, Cook’s Oregonized riff adds hazelnut liqueur, swaps simple syrup for maple syrup and spruces things up with a touch of Amantillado sherry*. But the real kicker is the bourbon.

“My approach,” says Cook, is to “know your audience. I want to make drinks that are delicious and familiar. These drinks are different but not so different.” She envisions them as “a riff of a riff of a riff.”

Cook selected Four Roses, already an approachable bourbon. The Kentucky elixir is fat washed, which is a technique of intermingling a spirit of choice with virtually any fat of choice, from bacon to butter. When

fat washing first started showing up in bars over a dozen years ago, it typically meant introducing rendered bacon fat, then freezing the vessel overnight to fully congeal, then straining out the fat solids. The process both introduces a unique flavor (Gordon Ramsey is fond of saying, “Where there’s fat, there’s flavor) but just as critically, it imbues an unctuous texture that softly coats the mouth. From pillowy hazy IPAs to buttery Chardonnays to effervescent Coca Cola, a great drink works best when it feels as good as it tastes.

*That sherry? Cook’s culinary approach employs Amantillado to cut through the fat.

And what better way to make a cocktail from a restaurant’s bar — one that boasts about its ranchraised beef program — taste great and feel just right than to prepare tallow-washed whiskey. Tallow is simply fat derived from beef. (And yes, Cook has used duck fat in the past to fat wash spirits.)

I wish Hawk & Huck would offer shots of tallow-washed Four Roses, but for now, it’s reserved solely for the Doc Holliday, which has proven so popular it’s prepared in large batches. As are other Cook concoctions such as her Rhinestone Cowgirl, a fruit-forward vodka drink clarified with milk — another trending process. And with everyone rejoicing in Hermiston watermelon season, the Watermelon Moonshine incorporates this Northeast Oregon delicacy in this blanco tequila tipple.

There’s a greenhouse on the Malarkey ranch growing all manner of herbs and wildflowers that Cook says will be appearing on her drink menu soon. But don’t worry: the Doc Holliday ain’t going nowhere. And Cook’s even already scheming up warm drinks to make Hawk & Huck an aprés ski destination. Hawkeye & Huckleberry

BrianYaeger

Rasputin popping and locking? 62. Big Bird has a big one

"___ Girl" (2014 thriller)

Cuts (down)

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Rights org.

"___: The Professional"

"Let It Go" singer

Check for accuracy

They receive welfare payments 6. Wished back 7. Early hrs. 8. Jon of "Game of Thrones"

9. Kellogg's toaster treat 10. "So THAT'S the answer"

11. 2021 Denis Villeneuve epic

12. Medicinal plant

13. See 41-Across 18. Do damage to 19. Indian princess

24. "Meet The ___" (2000 comedy)

26. Break loose

27. Pablo Casals instrument

28. Complete chaos

29. Wealthy alums do it

30. "Our Flag Means ___"

31. Gandolfini's costar for six seasons

32. Written down

33. "___ You Up" (Madonna hit)

34. "___ Of Anarchy"

35. Pay attention

40. Started, as a business

42. "Oppenheimer" and "Everything Everywhere All At Once" both had one

45. "I heard you the first time!"

46. L.A. Sparks league: Abbr.

49. "Fernando" group

50. Brown songbird

51. With 56-Down, 1972 Bill Withers chart topper

53. Maker of the Smart Sleeper bassinet

54. Competent

55. Reach the heights

56. See 51-Across

57. Tackles some moguls

59. Letters before a stage name

60. Grievous's rank in "Star Wars"

61. Connor McGregor's sport, for short

Puzzle for the week of August 12, 2024

Pearl’s Puzzle

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters

Conroy

Answer for the week of August 5, 2024

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will “Walking the streets of Charleston in the late afternoons of August __________ inhaling damaged silk.”

Pat Conroy

Answer for the week of August 5, 2024

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The coming weeks will be a wonderful time to waste time on the internet. If you are properly aligned with cosmic rhythms, you will spend long hours watching silly videos, interacting with friends and strangers on social media, and shopping for products you don’t really need. JUST KIDDING!! Everything I just said was a dirty lie. It was designed to test your power to resist distracting influences and mediocre advice. Here’s my authentic counsel, Leo. The coming weeks will be a fantastic phase to waste as little time as possible as you intensify your focus on the few things that matter to you most.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Scientific research suggests that brushing and flossing your teeth not only boosts the health of your gums, but also protects your heart’s health. Other studies show that if you maintain robust microbiota in your gut, you're more likely to avoid anxiety and depression as you nurture your mental health. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to focus on big-picture thoughts like these, Virgo. You will be wise to meditate on how each part of your life affects every other part. You will generate good fortune as you become more vividly aware and appreciative of the intimate interconnectedness that underlies all you do.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The official term for the shape of a single piece of M&M candy is “oblate spheroid.” It’s rounded but not perfectly round. It looks like a partially squashed sphere. An Iraqi man named Ibrahim Sadeq decided to try the difficult task of arranging as many M&M’s as possible in a vertical stack. He is now the world’s record holder in that art, with seven M&M’s. I am imagining that sometime soon, Libra, you could achieve a comparable feat in your own domain. What’s challenging but not impossible?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I’ve heard many people brag about their hangovers. The stories they tell are often entertaining and humorous. One of my best laughs emerged in response to two friends describing the time they jumped on the roof a parked Mercedes Benz at 3 am and sang songs from Verdi’s opera Falstaff until the cops came and threw them in a jail cell with nothing to eat or drink for ten hours. In accordance with astrological omens, Scorpio, I ask you to not get a hangover in the coming weeks, even an amusing one. Instead, I encourage you to studiously pursue extreme amounts of pleasurable experiences that have only good side effects.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Most famous musicians demand that their dressing rooms be furnished with specific amenities. Beyoncé needs rose-scented candles. Rihanna expects her preparatory sanctuary to have dark blue or black drapes topped with icy blue chiffon. Eminem insists on a set of 25-pound dumbbells, and the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd wants Super Soaker water guns. Since the coming weeks may be as close to a rock star phase of your cycle as you’ve ever had, I recommend you create a list of your required luxuries. This imaginative exercise will hopefully get you in the mood to ask for exactly what you need everywhere you go.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sleep deprivation is widespread. I see it as a pandemic. According to some studies, over half the people in the world suffer from insomnia, don’t get enough sleep, or have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Most research on this subject doesn’t mention an equally important problem: that many people aren’t dreaming enough. And the fact is that dreaming is key to our psychological well-being. I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because the coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with sleep and dreams. I encourage you to learn all you can and do all you can to make your time in bed deeply rejuvenating.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Only 47 people live on the volcanic Pitcairn Islands, which

are located in the middle of nowhere in the South Pacific Ocean. Pollution is virtually non-existent, which is why the honey made by local bees is the purest on the planet. In accordance with astrological omens, I’d love for you to get honey like that in the coming weeks. I hope you will also seek the best and purest of everything. More than ever, you need to associate with influences that are potent, clear, genuine, raw, vibrant, natural, and full-strength.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Many Indigenous people in North America picked and ate wild cranberries. But farm-grown cranberries available for commercial use didn't appear until 1816. Here's how it happened. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a farmer discovered a secret about the wild cranberry bog on his land. Whenever big storms dumped sand on the bog, the fruit grew with more lush vigor. He tinkered with this revelation from nature and figured out how to cultivate cranberries. I recommend this as a teaching story, Pisces. Your assignment is to harness the power and wisdom provided by a metaphorical storm or disturbance. Use it to generate a practical innovation in your life.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Years ago, when I worked as a postal delivery person in Santa Cruz, California, I mastered my route quickly. The time allotted to complete it was six hours, but I could easily finish in four. Soon I began to goof off two hours a day, six days a week. Many great works of literature and music entertained me during that time. I joined a softball team and was able to play an entire game each Saturday while officially on the job. Was what I did unethical? I don't think so, since I always did my work thoroughly and precisely. Is there any comparable possibility in your life, Aries? An ethical loophole? A workaround that has full integrity? An escape clause that causes no harm?

WELLNESS

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): From an astronomer’s perspective, Uranus is huge. Sixty-three Earths could fit inside of it. It’s also weirdly unique because it rotates sideways compared to the other planets. From an astrologer’s point of view, Uranus symbolizes the talents and gifts we possess that can be beneficial to others. If we fully develop these potentials, they will express our unique genius and be useful to our fellow humans. It so happens that Uranus has been cruising through Taurus since 2018 and will mostly continue there until 2026. I regard these years as your best chance in this lifetime to fulfill the opportunities I described. The coming weeks will be especially pregnant with possibilities.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Mountaineer Edmund Hillary is renowned as the first person to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest. It happened in 1953. Less famous was his companion in the ascent, Gemini mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. Why did Hillary get more acclaim than Norgay, even though they were equal partners in the monumental accomplishment? Was it because one was a white New Zealander and the other a brown Nepalese? In any case, I'm happy to speculate that if there’s a situation in your life that resembles Norgay's, you will get remediation in the coming months. You will receive more of the credit you deserve. You will garner the acknowledgment and recognition that had previously been unavailable. And it all starts soon.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): As an American, I’m embarrassed by the fact that my fellow citizens and I comprise just four percent of the world’s population but generate 20 percent of its garbage. How is that possible? In any case, I vow that during the next five weeks, I will decrease the volume of trash I produce and increase the amount of dross I recycle. I encourage you, my fellow Cancerians, to make a similar promise. In ways that may not be immediately imaginable, attending to these matters will improve your mental health and maybe even inspire you to generate an array of fresh insights about how to live your life with flair and joy.

THE MEDICINE CABINET WITHIN HOLISTIC

MEDICINE AND YOUR POWER TO BE WELL

By Joshua Phillips

Self-care during the season of fire and smoke

This summer has brought heat to Bend and much of Oregon like never before, with forest fires and persistent smoke beginning very early in the season. It’s part of a changing climate landscape that affects many things, including how we recreate and enjoy the outdoors — not to mention our health. The “air quality index” is part of daily conversations, and changing or canceling plans and events based on smoke density has become the norm.

I see greatly differing reactions and sentiments to the fire smoke — ranging from a laissez-faire attitude of acceptance to others who become outright ill and simply cannot tolerate the smoke exposure.

The bottom line though, is that those with preexisting cardiovascular or chronic respiratory conditions, or those with other serious chronic health issues, are at an increased risk. These individuals should take extra precautions, making sure their home and office is equipped with a reputable air filter (or two) with HEPA filtration, and for some wearing a well-fitting N95 mask or respirator while outdoors. The Oregon Health Authority has some useful guidelines to reference.

For the rest of us, it’s not uncommon to experience headaches, fatigue, irritability, irritated eyes, sinuses and throat and even coughing. Those with asthma might be particularly prone to respiratory distress from prolonged smoke exposure. Also very common is an increased sense of stress and anxiety — a sense of feeling trapped affects many people, and for this reason taking care of our minds and nervous systems is as important as taking care of our lungs.

First and foremost, drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is crucial (see last month’s wellness column article on water) as it supports and nourishes all of the body’s mucous membranes including the throat and lungs. Further, water and adequate hydration is crucial for your body’s ability to properly detoxify. Keep in mind the body’s tremendous ability to heal itself and adapt to harsh environments, particularly when we take good care of ourselves.

Simple dietary steps, including increasing antioxidant-rich foods like berries and citrus, can support the body’s ability to deal with smoke exposure. Those red and purple foods that contain the flavonoid anthocyanin, including cherries, blueberries, beets and red cabbage, are useful.

“Cooling” foods are also very soothing during the heat and smoke, such as cucumber water, or watermelon and salads. Generally, an anti-inflammatory diet like the Mediterranean diet is very useful this time of year.

Along the lines of antioxidants, supplements like vitamin C and other bioflavonoids are considerations, as is the supplement NAC (N-acetylcysteine), a potent antioxidant, as well as being protective for the lungs. It’s a precursor to the body’s production of glutathione, important for detoxification. Check in with your holistic health care provider for ideas on which of these might be appropriate for you.

Herbal medicine also has a lot to offer in support of our lungs and nervous systems. The herb Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) is a demulcent that is very soothing to mucous membranes and the lungs. Slippery elm (Ulmus) is another herbal demulcent option, while Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza) is very helpful as is the respiratory tonic herb, Mullein (Verbascum).

These can be prepared as teas or tinctures and are also available in “prefab” encapsulated formulas.

With the stress and anxiousness that can accompany unhealthy air, the herbs Skullcap (Scutellaria), Oat (Avena), Lavendar (Lavendula) and Passionflower (Passiflora) are some wonderful considerations. For many, getting into the acupuncturist is also a great way to support a balanced nervous system and lung health.

Despite the poor air quality, it is important for our mental health to stay active and connected with friends and family. Don’t forget that the smoke will pass and that these suggestions can help support health and well-being in the meantime.

—Joshua Phillips, ND is a naturopathic physician and the director at Hawthorn Healing Arts Center in Bend, Oregon. He can be reached at docnaturecure@gmail. com with questions or comments.

PERFORMANCES IN DRAKE PARK AUGUST 16 - 17

“Life is short. The world is wide. And I want to make some

memories.”

DOORS OPEN AT 6PM · PERFORMANCES AT 7PM GET TICKETS TODAY!

COM

THEATERBEND

Mortgage Rates Down a Full Percent from Recent High

Mortgage rates have been one of the hottest topics in the housing market lately because of their impact on affordability. And if you’re someone who’s looking to make a move, you’ve probably been waiting eagerly for rates to come down for that very reason. Well, if the past few weeks are any indication, you may be getting your wish.

Mortgage Rates Trend Down in Recent Weeks

There’s big news for mortgage rates. After the latest reports on the economy, inflation, the unemployment rate and the Federal Reserve’s recent comments, mortgage rates started dropping a bit. And according to Freddie Mac, they’re now at a level we haven’t seen since February, a downward trend.

Maybe you’re seeing this and wondering if you should ride the wave and see how low they’ll go. If that’s the case, here’s some important perspective. Remember, the record-low rates from the pandemic are a thing of the past. If you’re holding out hope to see a 3% mortgage rate again, you’re waiting for something experts agree won’t happen. As Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, says:

“The hopes for lower interest rates need the reality check that 'lower' doesn't mean we're going back to 3% mortgage rates. . . the best we may be able to hope for over the next year is 5.5 to 6%.”

And with the decrease in recent weeks, you’ve got a big opportunity in front of you right now. It may be enough for you to want to jump back in.

The Relationship Between Rates and Demand

If you wait for mortgage rates to drop further, you might find yourself dealing with more competition as oth er buyers re-ignite their home search es, too. In the housing market, there’s generally a relationship between mort gage rates and buyer demand. Typi cally, the higher rates are, the lower buyer demand is. But when rates start to come down, things change. Buy ers who were on the fence over high er rates will resume their searches. Here’s what that means for you. As a recent article from Bankrate says: “If you’re ready to buy, now might be the time to strike. Home prices have been rising primarily because of a long standing shortage of homes for sale. That’s unlikely to change, and if mort gage rates do fall below 6%, it’s possi ble buyers would enter the market en masse, further pushing up prices and resurrecting bidding wars.”

Bottom Line

If you’ve been waiting to make your move, the recent downward trend in mortgage rates may be enough to get you off the sidelines. Rates have hit their lowest point in months, and that gives you the opportunity to jump back in before all the other buyers do, too.

THE LITTLE WOODY LABOR DAY FESTIVAL AUGUST 30-31

Live music Friday & Saturday night over 15 regional breweries & cider, wine and non-alcoholic options! prizes for best dressed gnomes! Join the Gnome Open Mic! Whiskey and Tequila tent! New for 2024 GET TICKETS