Source Weekly February 9, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The Source Weekly 704 NW Georgia Ave., Bend, OR 97703 t. 541-383-0800 f. 541-383-0088 bendsource.com info@bendsource.com

On the Cover: Artwork by DeNathan Pickering. Pickering is a mostly self-taught, African American artist who's been drawing since he was 9 years old. His future interests are in animation as a character designer, background artist, or visual development artist. His art style is inspired heavily by cartoons comic books and Eastern animation. In his studies he practices gesture drawings and figure sketches keeping his art loose and flowy. Visit his Portfolio/ website at https://dpickering98.tumblr.com/.

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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

We have some great stuff for you inside this edition of your friendly local newspaper! Jack Harvel pens a feature on the potential expansion of a gas pipeline – one that some might not realize runs right under two new proposed areas of development in east Bend. In Sound, Doone Lupine Williams chats with the outgoing owner of the Volcanic Theatre Pub and shares info on who’s taking over. In Culture, Jared Rasic gives an overview of a local play – and gets a psychic reading at the same time. And in Little Bites, we’re bringing you all the latest in openings and re-namings of restaurants in Central Oregon. Plus, catch this weeks’ Go Here, where Allie Noland shares the story of the artist who painted this week’s cover, and where you can see more local art during Black History Month. As always, thanks for reading!

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EDITOR

Nicole Vulcan - editor@bendsource.com

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Jack Harvel- reporter@bendsource.com

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Richard Sitts

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CUSTOM. CABINE TS

Oregon is truly showing off in this photo. Thanks to @wes_stokes_ for tagging us in this stunning mountain pic. The colors of the changing light bring out spectacular colors that highlight the scenic landscape. Adventures make for incredible views.

You and Your Pets

OPINION

Governor’s Budget: Prioritize Fewer Band-Aids, more Brick-and-Mortar

When gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek was on the campaign trail, she made it clear that housing and homelessness would be among her top priorities should she win the race in November. Now that she’s in the governor’s office, we’re seeing that promise play out. Kotek declared a Homelessness State of Emergency just after taking office. And this past week, she made that priority even more clear when she rolled out her proposed budget for the coming biennium. In it, housing and homelessness represented some $1 billion of the $116.5-billion biennial budget. And while it comes as no surprise to see Oregon’s new governor make good on her campaign promises, it was likely a surprise to some to see what got left out in order to make those priorities pencil.

On the losing end of a strategy to prioritize housing: Oregon State University-Cascades, which didn’t see the funding it requested for a new student health and recreation center added to Kotek’s budget. OSU-Cascades was looking to secure some $45 million in state bonds to put toward a center that would include faculty offices, classrooms and sports facilities including courts, yoga/dance facilities, climbing walls and outdoor sports fields.

While funding for K-12 schools represented the largest portion of the governor’s proposed budget, that budget didn’t include any new funding for construction projects at any of the state’s universities. Kotek told reporters that it was an intentional decision to focus instead on housing. Officials from OSU-Cascades in Bend said they plan to make an appeal to the governor and the lawmakers who will ultimately approve that budget to get its recreation center added back in.

While housing and homelessness remain Kotek’s top priorities, other big ones included funds for education and behavioral health. Knowing that, it’s rather ironic that a facility aimed at

fostering student and staff health got the axe – but this, then, is the cost of prioritizing housing in a state where some 11,000 people live without shelter. These are the sacrifices Oregonians are being asked to make. Fix a humanitarian crisis; then we may be able to get back to thinking about recreation services for college students.

Still, if this is to be the case, Oregonians need to see the payoff in the way of real, actual housing being built – not Band-aid solutions like tents or camps. To be sure, offering safe, temporary places to set up a tent or park an RV can and should be part of a strategy to get more people off the streets – but Oregonians who want to see an end to this crisis should continue to push for the longest-term solutions the state can muster.

Thus far, a good portion of the governor’s proposed budget is dedicated to building housing – but it remains to be seen whether that will be enough. The budget includes $130 million to build new supportive housing and $770 million in bonds to get new affordable homes built for both renters and homeowners. But in addition to that, the proposed budget includes $172.2 million for connecting people to long-term rental assistance, and $73 million to create “long-lasting homelessness prevention programs” in the state. The first two items mentioned appear to be more of the long-lasting stuff. With items like the former two, it will behoove the governor to offer clear communication and transparent spending plans to help Oregonians understand how and why those price tags are where they are.

Thus far, Gov. Kotek has followed through on her promises to prioritize some of the biggest pain points facing the state – even at the expense of some other local projects.

To make the biggest dent in the problem, Oregonians should continue to demand fewer Band-Aids and more brick-and-mortar.

360 NE QUIMBY AVE 541-382-0741 • bendveterinaryclinic.com

BYRON MAAS, TABITHA JOHNSTON, LAUREN HOFFMAN, LAURA ACEVEDO, COURTNEY MCLAUGHLAN, BRIAN LOUDIS, & KELLI SMITH

GUEST OPINION: LAWMAKERS CAN DO RIGHT BY OREGON’S CHILDREN

By Tyler Mac Innis

Ending poverty is doable. That’s what our nation learned after Congress temporarily strengthened the Child Tax Credit.

It’s a lesson Oregon lawmakers should heed right now, as they have before them an opportunity to establish a state child tax credit — the Oregon Kids’ Credit. It’s a policy that would do a great deal to improve the economic security of Oregon’s most vulnerable children.

In 2021, with the nation still reeling from the pandemic, Congress passed a final emergency package containing an upgrade to the Child Tax Credit. It increased the size of the credit; made it payable on a monthly basis, rather than in a lump sum paid at tax time; and made it available to the lowest-paid families, who previously had been denied all or part of the tax credit.

The impact was immediate. Thanks mainly to the enhanced Child Tax Credit, the nation’s child poverty rate plunged, falling by nearly half compared to the prior year. Child poverty dropped to the lowest level on record.

For cash-strapped families, the enhanced Child Tax Credit was just what they needed. Families used it to pay for essentials like food and rent. They spent it on things like school supplies and after-school programs. As making ends meet became a little easier, levels of depression and anxiety among low-income parents declined.

The enhanced Child Tax Credit also proved capable of reducing racial inequities. Because of our nation’s long and shameful history of racial exclusion, Black, Indigenous and other people of color are more likely to endure poverty. While most children who benefited from the enhanced federal credit were white, it narrowed the gap in poverty

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rates experienced by white children and children of color. The enhanced Child Tax Credit lifted up children of all races, while moving the nation in a more equitable direction.

But tragically, these gains were not to last. The improvements to the federal credit were temporary. And so far, Congress has failed to reinstate them, even as millions of children across the country fall back into poverty.

In the absence of federal action, it’s up to Oregon lawmakers to show leadership. They can do so by enacting the Oregon Kids’ Credit.

The Oregon Kids’ Credit would provide a $1,200 per child tax credit to lowand moderate-income families, those struggling the most to pay for essentials — a challenge made worse by rising prices. The legislation would lift up more than 200,000 children in Oregon. That’s more than all the children living in Central and Eastern Oregon, combined.

Research going back decades shows that growing up in poverty undermines the life prospects of children, from their chances of graduating from school, to their earnings as adults, to their overall health. Poverty stacks the deck against kids.

We know what works in the fight against poverty. We know that putting cash in the pockets of struggling families goes a long way in reducing economic hardship. The Oregon legislature must heed that lesson and enact the Oregon Kids’ Credit.

— Tyler Mac Innis is a Policy Analyst with the Oregon Center for Public Policy (ocpp.org). The Center’s mission is to achieve economic justice for all Oregonians through research, analysis, and advocacy.

GROWTH CHALLENGES

Friday’s Bulletin led with a feature on the growth challenges of the Old Farm

District as residents see more ponderosa pine and juniper removed by developers to make room for more houses. With required hookups to new sewer lines, the area is being urbanized and many residents feel helpless to do anything about it.

A survey of Bend residents in the same paper shows that residents rate the quality of life down 20 points from 2014. Only 41% of residents believed the city was headed in the right direction. Satisfaction with police and fire services also dropped. Probably few are surprised by these results. City and county councils have concentrated their efforts on building more homes with little attention to the side effects of rapid growth. (For one, clearcutting of native trees.) As cities grow, it is predictable that traffic congestion will increase as well as crime, crowding of recreation areas and a loss of a sense of community. It has been shown that growth does not pay its way causing taxes for services to increase. In spite of this, our city and county councils focus on more houses because it is what the business community demands and it increases the tax base. Promises to retain a high quality of livability ring hollow.

I predict the next survey will show a continued drop in quality of life. We need to elect councilors unencumbered by the tunnel vision of building more houses and having sensibility to the negative side effects of growth.

— Larry Nelson

RE: FOR THE GOP AND OREGON’S TWO MOST-JUNIOR CONGRESSPEOPLE, PISTOL PACKIN’ IRS AGENTS ARE TOP PRIORITY OPINION 1/26

Republicans in Congress are embracing their chaotic and Quixotic assault on windmills. Much of what they try to do will die a well-deserved death in the Senate. They will continue to take on "issues" and vendettas that the overwhelming majority of voters don't care about. I do hope they go after Medicare and Social Security because they won't succeed, except to expose their callousness. Remember Gingrich's "Contract On America"? Sometimes the opposition can be your best organizer.

— Michael Funke via bendsource.com

Letter of the Week:

Thanks for the commentary, Michael! You get Letter of the Week. Come on by for your gift card to Palate!

—Nicole Vulcan

Kotek proposes $13.5 billion for education, but critics say more is needed

Experts say the state needs to spend even more to keep schools running as they are, let alone improve them

By Natalie Pate, Oregon Capital Chronicle

Over the next two years, Oregon Gov.

Tina Kotek wants to invest more money in education for the state’s youngest learners, ensure ninth graders are on-track to graduate and address racial inequities for students and educators. She also wants to improve literacy rates and lower child care costs.

She’s proposing a budget that represents a historic high in school funding during a time of historic need. But some K-12 and higher education experts argue it isn’t enough.

“Every child deserves a safe place to learn. And every family needs access to affordable child care,” Kotek said in a press conference after releasing her 2023-25 budget. “After years of pandemic disruptions, we have a lot of work to do to build toward that vision.”

Education accounts for $13.5 billion, more than 40% of her proposed $32.1 billion in spending of the state’s general and lottery funds.

Highlights include $100 million for preschools, elementary schools, community-based organizations and tribes to teach children to read and $20 million for summer school programs focused on literacy. Her budget also calls for more than $200 million for early childhood education and care.

But most of the money – a historic $9.9 billion – is devoted to the State School Fund, which pays for educating Oregon’s 550,000 K-12 students and for district operating expenses, transportation costs and other needs.

The $9.9 billion marks an overall $600 million increase in K-12 spending for the biennium and would average out to about $9,682 per student in 2023-24 and roughly $10,000 per student in 2024-25, according to preliminary estimates from the Oregon Department of Education.

The state is paying $9,468 per student in the current 2022-23 school year.

“Today, our state invests more to provide for the needs of children than at any other time in our state’s history,” the budget reads. “The value we place on early childhood services and K-12 education continues to be a marker of who we are as Oregonians.”

Kotek said last week that her budget is “realistic” and focuses on core services that Republican and Democratic leaders agree should be prioritized. She also said her proposal for the State School Fund is a starting point.

Kotek expects to reach a higher number in working with legislators, who are

responsible for approving state spending. Lawmakers have to agree on a budget over the next five months.

‘Education is too important’

Leaders with the Oregon Education Association, Oregon School Boards Association and other groups say the budget marks a move “in the right direction” but is still not enough to correct a history of underfunding.

Oregon historically has not matched the recommendations of its Quality Education Model.

The model was created by the Legislature in 1999 and is produced by the 11-member Quality Education Commission, which is staffed by the Oregon Department of Education. The commission researches best practices and determines how much money is needed for a successful public education system. The commission’s findings, presented as the Quality Education Model, are given to the Legislature and governor every two years to guide budget decisions.

For the 2021-23 biennium, the model called for $11.2 billion, but the Legislature appropriated $9.3 billion, according to the commission’s 2022 report.

Now, the model calls for a State School Fund investment of nearly $11.9 billion.

Accounting for all education funding, Oregon spends about $12,855 per K-12 student, according to 2020 census data. The national average that year was $13,187, with some states spending more than $20,000.

“Education is too important to shortchange our students even one more year,” Jim Green, executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association, said in a statement Tuesday.

He gave an example: “Our current fourth graders have only one year to be in fourth grade, and we need to provide the educational opportunities that those children – and every student in Oregon – deserve.”

College and university students

Oregon’s public university presidents

said last week that the proposed public university funding and financial aid levels in Kotek’s budget would result in lost opportunities for Oregon’s students and workforce.

Oregon ranks 45th in the nation in per-student state funding of public universities, spending $5,580 per student in 2021 compared to the U.S. average of $8,859. Oregon also invests $475 per student per year in financial aid – less than half the national average of $1,138, according to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

University leaders say more money needs to be invested by the state for financial aid, academic support and career development. Underfunding, and relying on rising tuition costs, especially

Top, Bend-La Pine School District, Bottom, Summit High School.

Darris Hurst Ella Taft

hurts historically underserved students, they said.

Kotek’s budget would allocate $933.2 million to the Public University Support Fund. This money goes to seven state universities – including Eastern Oregon, Portland State, Oregon State, University of Oregon and Western Oregon – for instruction, research, public services and operations. Altogether, these schools serve about 96,590 graduate and undergraduate students.

That allocation represents a 1.4% increase from about $920.2 million in 2021-2023, but university leaders with the Oregon Council of Presidents are pushing for $1.05 billion, a 14% increase.

Dana Richardson, executive director of the council, said that with rising costs and inflation, the universities will need $972 million just to retain the status quo – nearly $40 million more than Kotek’s proposal.

“We are asking that the state stop forcing students and their families to pay more tuition to make up for the shortfall in state funding,” Richardson told the Capital Chronicle.

According to the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission, fulltime, undergraduate students at Oregon colleges and universities currently spend between $6,169 and $32,095 every year on tuition and fees. The amount depends on whether they are paying in- or out-ofstate tuition at a community college or

university, with nonresident students at universities spending the most.

That’s nearly doubled in the last decade, with the range between $3,720 and $19,194 in 2010-11.

What’s more, the percentage that students cover has increased dramatically. In 1990, the state paid for more than 61% of public universities’ educational and general operations; students

paid for 28.7%. By 2021, the roles were reversed, with students paying 65.3% and the state covering 26.1%.

Under Kotek’s proposed budget, students’ portion would climb to 68.5%, and the state’s would decrease to 23.4%.

Oregon education leaders also want more funding for the state’s 17 community colleges, major renovation projects and the Oregon Opportunity Grant.

The opportunity grant, established in 1971, is the largest and oldest state-funded, need-based grant program. According to budget documents, the program each year helps about 40,000 Oregon students pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board and other school needs. The money is meant for undergraduate students from low-income households who attend an Oregon community college or university.

Kotek’s budget proposes a $100 million investment in the grant and would ensure the Oregon Tribal Student Grant program continues with a $40.2 million investment, funding the cost of attendance for all eligible members of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes. Leaders like Richardson want to see at least this amount allocated.

Nagi Naganathan, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology and chairman of the Oregon Council of Presidents, said institutions require more support today as they serve an increasingly diverse student body.

“It is important that our legislative leaders deliver investments that will make higher education attainable for every aspiring student,” he said.

-This story is reprinted under a Creative Commons license. It first appeared in the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Thornburgh and its Opponents Appeal County Decision

County Commissioners heard from representatives from Thornburgh, its legal nemesis and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in a public hearing over water mitigation

By Jack Harvel

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners heard two appeals to Thornburgh Resort’s denied fish and wildlife management plan at a public hearing on Feb. 1. The resort already started construction near Cline Buttes, but its decades-long legal struggle continues to shake up plans for the nearly 2,000-acre property.

In December a hearing officer with the county rejected a modification to the resort’s fish and wildlife plan that the developers claim would use 35% less water than the former mitigation plan that the county approved in 2008. The hearings officer’s denial cited a lack of oversite and enforcement mechanisms in the plan and a lack of input from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The resort must prove that its use of water will result in “no net loss” of fish habitat.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs requested to become involved in the process as co-managers in the basin with its own water rights.

“One of the things that would be really helpful for us to understand from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

is, is this mitigation plan better than the 2008 mitigation plan, because that is on some level that is the choice that we’re trying to make right now,” said Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang.

Warm Springs Natural Resources Manager Austin Smith Jr. requested a 30 to 60 day stay of the hearing so that it could review the plan and consult with both Thornburgh and ODFW. The county gave the tribes two weeks to review the process, citing it’s obligated to make a decision by March 12 under state law. A recent Secretary of State advisory report on Oregon’s water stated, “ongoing industrial and agricultural practices ecologically inappropriate for Oregon’s water basins has undermined [tribe’s] ability to ensure water security in their homelands.”

Nunzie Gould, who’s pursued litigation against the resort for over a decade, also appealed the hearing officer’s decision, claiming the changes made to Thornburgh’s plans should require a new final master plan. Gould told commissioners that the issue, for her, is a lack of protection for fish

and wildlife. Attorneys representing the resort responded that Gould’s arguments have been denied in court before. ODFW Water Policy Coordinator Danette Faucera told commissioners that her agency hasn’t gotten enough evidence to confirm the no-net-loss standard would be met.

County commissioners closed the oral argument portion of the hearing, and all further action will be based on written testimony. The resort is controversial for many central Oregonians,

garnering hundreds of written comments and over an hour of public comments at the hearing on Feb. 1. All new evidence must be submitted by Feb. 15, followed by rebuttals of arguments over the next two weeks and final legal arguments must be submitted by March 1.

The resort has seen plenty of controversy since its introduction. In August, Thornburgh’s owner attempted to purchase adjacent parcels of property from the Department of State Lands but backed away amid public backlash.

Jack Harvel

Ella Taft

The proposed state budget allocates $9.9 billion to fund education for K-12 students, such as those attending Mountain View High School, above.

The proposed Thornburgh Resort, amid appeals, remains a road to nowhere.

Exposición de Talento y Galería de Arte Black Excellence

Celebrando el talento y creatividad de los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros con una exposición

multifacética

Por/ By Allie Noland Traducido por / Translated by Jéssica Sánchez-Millar

Afrocéntrico en COCC, mientras que se implantaba una lluvia de ideas y colaboraba con programas para celebrar el mes de la Historia y la Cultura Negra, los estudiantes se dieron cuenta que querían enfocarse en enaltecer a los jóvenes y a los adultos jóvenes en la comunidad Negra.

DeNathan Pickering, un estudiante de arte y miembro del Club de Estudiantes Afrocéntricos en COCC.

Ubicada en Pickney Gallery at Pence Hall, la exhibición de arte de Black Excellence está abierta al público hasta el 24 de febrero.

correo electrónico a mlegrand2@cocc. edu para solicitar la inscripción.

La presentación de Black Excellence, que consta de dos partes, provino de una de las reuniones del Club de Estudios Afrocéntricos en Central Oregon Community College (COCC por sus siglas en inglés). De acuerdo con Marcus LeGrand, coordinador del programa

El club colaboró con June Parl, profesora de arte de COCC y con el departamento de arte para organizar una galería de arte, acercándose a la comunidad Negra en el Centro de Oregon, concretando solicitudes y preparando la exposición. Desde la primaria hasta el colegio/la universidad, la exhibición cuenta con más de 25 artistas. La galería multimedia presenta reproducciones digitales, esculturas, pinturas al óleo, un mural dedicado a la travesía de las mujeres Negras, una pieza de arte vivo y unas narrativas. La exhibición también presenta la obra de arte que se muestra en la portada de esta semana de el Source Weekly, creada por el artista

“Es solo el comienzo para tratar de encontrar maneras para que los estudiantes exploren su creatividad y también para expresar quienes son", comentó LeGrand.

El exposición de talent es la segunda parte de la celebración y será presentada en el Centro Pickney de Artes Escénicas el 11 de febrero a las 6pm. Con 15 obras, el show provee una oportunidad para que esas personas creativas compartan sus talentos, ya sea el baile de tap, la percusión, la palabra hablada, el canto, la comedia o cualquier otra representación. LeGrand dijo que todavía hay tiempo para registrarse y participar, y que le dará una oportunidad a las personas del público para subir al escenario. Envíele a el un

“Se trata de la comunidad,” dijo LeGrand. Cuando estamos en comunidad y compañerismo el uno con el otro y celebramos juntos, creo que atrae una mentalidad y energía diferente a lo que está pasando. Quedamos atrapados en el odio. Nos quedamos atrapados en todas esas otras cosas. Creo que perdemos el enfoque del porqué estamos aquí y eso alegra. Creo que por eso necesitamos hacer esto. Necesitamos salir y sacar algo de energía, carcajearnos, llorar un poco, bailar un poco. Solo disfrutar y ver a los estudiantes expresarse. Es fenomenal.”

Black Excellence Exposición de Talento Sábado.,11 de Febrero, 6-8pm Pickney Center for the Performing Arts 2600 NW College Way, Bend cocc.edu. Evento Gratuito

TC Energy, a company that transports 25% of North American natural gas, is seeking to pump 150 million additional cubic feet per day through a pipeline that zig zags through Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. The pipeline, called the Gas Transmission Northwest, is a 61-year-old, 1,377mile system that currently delivers as much as 2.7 billion cubic feet of Canadian methane per day. In terms of emissions, the expansion is expected to add 3.24 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, which is like adding 750,000 cars to the roadways.

The pipeline divides Stevens Ranch and the Stevens Road Tract in east Bend, just north of Knott Landfill. Together the properties are over 600 acres, and if built according to the plans submitted to the City, would include 4,100 new housing units, an elementary school, neighborhood parks and commercial areas. Bend Park and Recreation District plans to build a trail in the general path of the pipeline. The City of Bend annexed Stevens Ranch in 2016 and may do the same for the Stevens Road Tract this year, after holding public hearings.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a president-appointed body that regulates power transmission and sale of

COMING...

TO A PIPELINE NEAR YOU?

electricity and natural gas, is deliberating on the expansion of the pipeline. FERC staff submitted an environmental impact statement on Nov. 18, 2022, and the commission will now review the project’s design, cost, financing and rates before commissioners decide to authorize or end the project.

“By TC Energy's own admission, they say that the influx of the fracked gas into this old pipeline, the social cost of carbon on that is going to be $12 billion,” said Diane Hodiak, executive director of 350Deschutes, a climate advocacy nonprofit that seeks to stop new fossil fuel infrastructure.

The social cost of carbon is the estimated financial impacts resulting from climate change, including weather events exacerbated by a warming climate and pollution. In Central Oregon extreme weather events manifest as drought, heatwaves and wildfires. Pollution is a risk across the pipeline’s 1,377 miles.

“The pollution from the pipeline is going to result in deaths as well, because we have research documenting that all pipelines leak, and this one will be no different,” Hodiak said. “Natural gas is methane. And it’s known to cause health risks of asthma, heart and respiratory disease.”

TC Energy’s pipelines have leaked

before. It owns and operates the Keystone Pipeline, the controversial infrastructure that led to one of the largest climate protests in the nation’s history. Keystone’s most recent pipeline leak is its largest, spilling 600,000 gallons of crude oil into a creek in Washington County, Kansas, in December.

“That was the worst spill that’s happened in over a decade. And that happened right after they increased the pressure to that pipeline, just like they're pushing to do here,” said Maig Tinnin, the Rogue Valley Coordinator for Rogue Climate, an environmental advocacy nonprofit in Medford, west of TC Energy’s pipeline.

Tinnin said TC Energy has a bad track record as a pipeline operator, and that the aging pipeline is concerning. The increased capacity is supported by three proposed upgrades at compressor stations in Kootenai County, Idaho, Walla Walla County, Washington, and Sherman County, Oregon — but overall infrastructure investments to the aging pipeline aren’t included.

“In terms of significant infrastructure investments, that hasn't been something that they've included in their proposals,” Tinnin said. “This is something that fossil fuel companies do, they

know that things are going to leak. And they also know that they're not going to have to pay anywhere near the actual cost of the cleanup. It’s just the cost of doing business for them.”

Political back and forth

Support for the project is split along political lines, with Republican elected officials in Idaho supporting the expansion and Democratic officials in Oregon, Washington and California opposed. In August the attorney generals for Oregon, Washington and California asked FERC to halt the pipeline’s expansion. They argued the environmental impact statement is deficient and in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. A joint statement from the attorneys general said the EIS failed to accurately characterize and analyze the climate change impacts of the expansion, consider alternative options, account for Western states’ climate goals or prove there’s a demand for the product.

“Expanding the capacity of this pipeline would have significant environmental and public health impacts and is out of step with state and federal climate goals – and FERC can’t honestly say otherwise. The reality is, when we expand

TC Energy accounts for about a quarter of all natural gas pripelines in North America.

A Canadian energy company is attempting to send billions more natural gas through a pipeline that cuts through proposed new developments in Bend

gas infrastructure, it’s all too often minority, low-income, and Indigenous communities that pay the price. I urge FERC to comply with the law and not allow this expansion to move forward,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a press release.

Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden weighed in to FERC in December, writing to Chairman Richard Glick that the proposal is out of step with federal and state goals and claiming the environmental impact statement uses methodology that minimizes climate impacts. It also emphasized the renewable energy sources the state is investing in.

“Oregon has enacted policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move away from fossil gas, including making investments in renewable energy. Renewable alternatives can meet energy demands without the climate and safety risks caused by fossil fuels,” Merkley and Wyden wrote.

The senators questioned what the gas would be used for, and FERC’s EIS couldn’t determine the end use of the additional natural gas. The senators also criticized FERC’s process in evaluating climate impacts, saying it fails to consider “upstream emissions” — which occur during the production of goods and services — and “fugitive emissions” which are unintentional leaks or discharge of gases.

“FERC discarded the established and growing body of peer reviewed, academic literature indicating that supply side policies have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions by not even considering emissions from upstream production. FERC also assumes that fossil gas will be completely combusted without fugitive emissions despite academic literature showing that leaks exist throughout the entire fossil gas supply and distribution chain,” Merkley and Wyden wrote. “FERCs methodology biases its analysis by minimizing the impacts that projects have on the climate.”

Idaho’s two senators, congressmen and governor sent a letter of approval

to FERC, and criticized other Western states’ attempts to use statewide goals to block an interstate project. But Huffington Post revealed that the TC Energy authored that letter and handed it off to the lawmakers.

“Attempts to use the [National Gas Act] to impose individual state policy preferences on other states would be misguided and clearly conflict with observable, real-life need for additional pipeline capacity,” the letter read. “Given these legal considerations, the demonstration of clear market signals, and the need for low-cost, reliable energy, FERC must move quickly in the approval process for the GTN Xpress Project.”

CUB

The Citizens Utility Board, a nonprofit advocate for residential utility customers, has also raised concerns about the project. CUB said the analysis of the project’s impacts should be vetted by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and cast doubt on Cascade Natural Gas Corporation’s ability to adhere to emission goals with its share of TC Energy’s expanded natural gas pipeline. Under the state’s climate goals, utilities will have to cut emissions in half by 2035, meaning all current customers must reduce emissions by 50% and all new customers can’t emit greenhouse gasses at all. CUB Executive Director Job Jenks said this project may have made sense several years ago, but not now.

“We're not going to [reduce emissions by 50%] and keep doing business-as-usual low growth on the system. For gas utilities, there's going to need to be electrification, there's going to be deep energy efficiency, there's going to be needing to pick actions to reduce demand for fossil gas. And since fossil gas is what's going to be in this pipeline, you really aren't going to be able to sort of expand your need for more fossil gas to be delivered and cut your emissions by 50% in less than 15 years,” Jenks said.

Senators Merkley and Wyden noted that there’s no end use for some of the gas, specifically that purchased by Tourmaline Marketing Group. Rogue Climate’s Maig Tinnin questions whether it’ll even be used in the state.

“The need for it is decreasing, because folks all around the Northwest and around the country are trying to transition to cleaner forms of energy. So, I think they're trying to get out ahead of this type of change that's happening, and make sure that they've got space to still push it through,” Tinnin said. “Even if we don't need it, it's totally possible that they could use this for export. And our communities could be used as a pass-through community where we're bearing the risk of them pushing this increased pressure through.”

Gas utilities must prove to the Oregon Public Utility Commission that they’re reducing carbon emissions at a pace that meet state goals every three years. If a utility fails to meet these standards, the

state can enforce penalties on them.

“The penalties could potentially be quite severe,” CUB’s Jenks said. “At this point, the draft plan that Cascade put forward, we don't think is adequate.”

Jenks said the plan’s assumptions about the volumes of renewable natural gas and hydrogen are unsustainable. Renewable natural gas is captured from decomposing organic matter, typically at landfills, wastewater treatment plants and livestock operations. It’s then processed and purified into pipeline-quality gas.

“If they're doing wastewater treatment plants and landfills and really trying to establish the renewable gas capacity, is it a local source? Then it's not going to go in an interstate pipeline. The interstate pipeline will be fossil gas. Renewable gas that's replacing it, if they can get enough volumes would potentially be coming from somewhere else. We just don't see where the volumes are there,” Jenks said.

Renewable natural gas costs several times more than traditional natural gas. CUB argued that if the power grid electrifies, the remaining natural gas customers will bear a high amount of costs to maintain the system of pipelines and the higher share of more-expensive renewable gases. Jenks said that will disproportionately impact people who can’t afford to electrify their homes' heating system and renters who don’t control their utilities.

“About half the cost of the gas system is the pipeline network that serves

the customers. If that pipeline network is being recovered from a smaller and smaller set of customers, then that cost goes up, too,” Jenks said. “It's going to be a cycle that we just are really concerned is going to hit people really hard.”

New pipelines are rarely approved, but fossil fuel companies have quietly been able to pass through expansion projects over the past couple of years. Tinnin said they’ve discovered 15 expansion projects that’ve been approved since 2017.

FERC set a Feb. 16 deadline for other commissions, agencies and individuals to submit final comments before they decide the outcome of the expansion. The Environmental Protection Agency Policy already voiced concerns with the analysis in the environmental impact statement, and offered recommendations to address them. FERC hasn’t set a date to make a decision, and Tinnin said it’ll only be known once FERC puts it on a docket.

“It could be as soon as this month, but it could also go for several more months before they make a decision,” Tinnin said.

Tinnin is part of a group hosting a “People’s Hearing” via Zoom on Feb. 13 from 5-7pm to raise awareness of the pipeline to gather public comments on the project. FERC didn’t host any public hearings on the project, and all of the “People’s Hearing” will be delivered to FERC as public comments.

TC Energy’s Gas Transmission Northwest Pipeline starts in Canada and crosses into Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. Oregon, Washington and California have all established emission reduction goals over the past couple of years.

Courtesy City of Bend

SOURCE PICKS

THURSDAY-SUNDAY 2/9-12

"THE SOUND OF MUSIC"

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE

Thoroughly Modern Productions presents the beloved musical, “The Sound of Music.” Filling the Tower with classic favorites, this musical has many showtimes for Central Oregonians to catch. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Thu.-Sat., Feb. 9-11, 7:30pm. Sat.-Sun., Feb. 11-12, 2pm. $35.50-$55.50 (plus $3 historic preservation fee).

FRIDAY 2/10

JOEL CHADD WITH SHAENE MARIE PASCAL

A FULL BAND SHOW

Joel Chadd is a local singer known for his brutally honest and open-hearted spirit in his songs. Joining him on stage will be a full band. Shaene Marie Pascal, a talented young songwriter, is opening for Chadd. Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Fri., Feb. 10, 7:30-11pm. $15.

FRIDAY 2/10

SMOKUS POCUS: A 420 MAGIC SHOW

TOKES, JOKES AND TRICKS

A magic show like you’ve never seen. With trippy tricks and things disappearing into smoke, cannabis connoisseur Ben Zabin has spent over 15 years performing magic with a stoner spin. Into magic and into weed? If so, you absolutely cannot miss this one. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave., Bend. Fri., Feb. 10, 8pm. $30-$40.

FRIDAY 2/10

TUESDAY 2/14

VALENTINE'S DINNER & DANCE CONCERT

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE

Head to Sunriver for a happy hour, multi-course dinner and a full concert with the 17-piece big band. This Valentine’s night will be full of dancing, stellar food and romantic energy. Get your dancing shoes on (or don’t) and feel the music. Great Hall, Sunriver Resort, 17600 Center Dr., Sunriver. Tue., Feb. 14, 5pm. $125.

REB & THE GOOD NEWS

FUNK, WORLD AND SOUL

Vocalist and guitarist Reb Conner leads the band with a love of rhythm and dance. If you’re looking for a funky dance night, this is the show you’ve been waiting for. Get your groove on with Reb and her band, The Good News. The performances are full of surprises and rhythms that will make for a fun night. The Belfry, 302 E Main Ave., Sisters. Fri., Feb. 10, 7-10pm. $20.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY 2/10-11

HALEY REINHART

QUEEN OF TIMELESSNESS

Haley Reinhart’s performances are full of soul and jazz. After gaining fame from being a finalist on American Idol, she explored the world of lo-fi soul and found her groove. Putting a modern twist on traditional music, Reinhart performs with an energy that can’t be found anywhere else. The Oxford Hotel. Fri., Feb. 10, 7-9pm. and Sat., Feb. 11, 5-7pm & 8-10pm. $60.

SATURDAY 2/11

BLACK EXCELLENCE TALENT SHOW

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This showcase allows Black students and community members to publicly display art, paintings, photography and their freedom of expression at the Pinckney Center at COCC. Stop by the art show to view the work and celebrate Black history and art liberation. Pinckney Center, COCC, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Sat., Feb. 11, 6-8pm. Free.

SUNDAY 2/12

VERTFEST 2023

RAISING MONEY FOR AVALANCHE SAFETY

VertFest is one of Central Oregon Avalanche Center’s biggest fundraisers of the year. It’s an uphill ski race with racers from a wide range of experience levels. Along with the race, attendees can explore the vendor village, grab food and drink and connect with backcountry enthusiasts. Bonfires will be blazing, so the cold shouldn’t be a worry! Mt. Bachelor, 13000 Century Dr., Bend. Sun., Feb. 12. 8am-2pm. Free.

TUESDAY 2/14

KITCHEN DWELLERS W/ LINDSAY LOU: THE HEARTSTRINGS HOOTENANNY

GALAXY GRASS

The Kitchen Dwellers are bluegrass masters with an energetic performance style. This band plucks strings and harmonizes with a twist. With folk, rock and Americana influence, its music comes from group experimentation and collaboration. Joining on stage is the folk star Lindsay Lou. The Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Tue., Feb. 14, 7:30-11:30pm. $20/adv, $25/door.

TUESDAY 2/14

SNOWLAB BALLERS BINGO

If you attend Snowlab Ballers Bingo, you can sign up for a chance to win a pass to the Snowlab—where you can design and build a pair of skis or a board. This bingo night raises money for Snowdays Foundation, a nonprofit helping connect young athletes with mentors to pursue physical and mental success. The Brown Owl, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 120, Bend. Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Reb and the Good News Facebook

Smokus Pocus Press

Joel Chadd Facebook

Dumpstaphunk w/ Jon Cleary

S SOUND

1988 Entertainment Buys Volcanic Theatre Pub

Volcanic’s outgoing owner Derek Sitter trusts his “well-oiled machine” is in good hands

By Doone Lupine Williams

First off, I hope everyone reading this had a chance to go to the Volcanic Theatre Pub pre-this date in history. And by that, I mean under Derek Sitter’s ownership.

Founded by actors after connecting in the theatre department at Central Oregon Community College, Sitter and his student Don Tompos transformed a vacant garage next to Goodlife Brewing into a Bend entertainment hotspot. The Century Center’s little hole-in-agarage wall became my secret door to an industrial oasis that quite honestly, didn’t make me feel like I was in Bend. My short and sweet time there included a drag Halloween Cult of Tuck show hosted by the severely missed and legendary Deb Auchery, the GOAT So-Cal surf punk band, Agent Orange (which Derek let me bring my hi8 camcorder into to shoot video), plus, a ‘70s themed game show/fundraiser for BendFilm, which had all of the organization’s closest friends and family — including my own. The cast of colorful characters, talent and creative collaboration I saw in that space gave me a lot of hope for Bend’s art and music scene.

The LOL moment in all of this is that Sitter had never envisioned it becoming such a hot spot for live music. But shortly after opening in 2012, the calendar filled quickly with high demands from promoters, agencies and concerts. He welcomed all with open arms.

“Every community needs a room that is open to bringing diverse artists and events

to a community. It's important to have a place where people feel safe. It's crucial to have a room that supports the human experience...of EVERYONE!” stated Sitter. This February marks VTP’s 10-year anniversary in Bend, and even though Sitter’s ready for a new chapter, things aren’t over at 70 SW Century Drive. They’re just going to be a lit tle different.

“I sold the business to John Davis of 1988 Entertainment.

John is local and understands the Bend market for live music. He also under stands the value of keeping it Volcanic.

He has been an event promoter in the area for a while, so it was important that it was sold to someone who understood the Bend community, music industry and was independent. Running an independent venue is vital to the music industry. I had no interest in selling to a corporate entity,” Sitter said.

Volcanic will also remain all ages, but now with a full bar.

“I was never interested in having hard alcohol in VTP. But I do understand people do enjoy a cocktail at a show. It's a

significant change, but not necessarily a bad one.” Sitter continued, “Operating Volcanic was a well-oiled machine. I ran Volcanic as my own child. It was part of me. It was an extension of my personality. It was a creation. I did things my way with my standards, integrity, respect, generosity and passion. Trying to figure out what people want is impossible. It's a failed business model for the arts. I believe you MUST have an identity that's organic and not pretentious. Trust your vision and follow your passion. I do know people respond to integrity and identity...and remember...everyone is not for you and you are not for everyone.”

"We are very grateful that after 18 years of bringing concerts independently to Bend we finally have our home base,” Davis of 19888 Entertainment told the Source Weekly. "We get to continue the great legacy and vision that Derek [Sitter] built; everything about the venue culture is staying the same including the staff and artists we bring."

I then asked:

Source Weekly: What's your relationship with Bend now?

Derek Sitter: Casual sex.

SW: What were some highlights for you? Cherished memories of having VTP?

DS: Aw...I think producing, directing and acting in the theatre performances will always be my most cherished moments. The time you spend rehearsing, designing and performing some of the greatest playwrights inside your own theatre is pretty damn special. Experiencing so many enthusiastic students that eventually became close friends is a very special environment. I'll remember those weekly classes and moments forever as well. They were all very special people and I'm damn lucky to have had that opportunity to share that time with them. I do have to mention that watching your own film screen at your hometown film festival inside your own sold-out theatre will always be a top-10 life experience. It was also very exciting to host smaller local, regional, and national artists inside VTP and later watch them perform on Jimmy Kimmel, The Ellen Show or Les Schwab Amphitheater. Noticing talent and giving them a space to showcase their talent and watching their success outgrow your room was very satisfying.

*Read the rest of this story at our website on what’s next for Derek Sitter, his most cherished moments at VTP and what his advice is for musicians trying to get good solid gigs in Bend.

CALENDAR

8 Wednesday

AVID Cider Co. Taproom Bingo with a Brit Join with the favorite bloke Michael as MC, and win prizes, swag, gift cards, weekly cash prize and an end-of-the-month cumulative cash jackpot. $10 per booklet (5 games/booklet).

6:30-8:30pm.

Cabin 22 Trivia Wednesdays Useless Knowledge Bowl Live Trivia Game Show! It’s not your average quiz night. Team up to win gift cards. It’s fun and free to play, with Locals’ Day featuring Crater Lake and local craft beer specials. Get here this week!

6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. 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 The Sun Threaders Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music! 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.

Hub City Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke

Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Hub City every Wednesday and Thursday night and sing your heart out! 8pm-Midnight. Free.

JC’s Bar & Grill Trivia Nite with Trivia Girl Compete with your peers and test your knowledge of current events, music and other random categories while enjoying 75 cent wings! Also, JC’s trivia separates themselves from the rest with a physical challenge! 7-9:30pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Open Mic Night Downtown living room welcomes musicians to bring their acoustic set or turn it up to eleven with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. Goes to last call or last musician, which ever comes first. 21+. 6:30pm. Free.

Midtown Ballroom The Wood Brothers & Taylor Ashton Midtown Events is proud to bring The Wood Brothers back to the Midtown with special guest Taylor Ashton! This is an all age event with doors opening at 7pm and music starting at 8pm. Tickets available at midtownballroom.com. $30.

Northside Bar & Grill Accoustic Open Mic with Derek Michael Marc Head down to the Northside Bar and Grill Wednesdays to catch local artists perform live. 7-9pm. Free.

Seven Nightclub & Restaurant The CO Show The CO Show is a free comedy showcase! Doors open at 7pm show starts at 8pm! Central Oregon Comedy Scene and Karaokaine productions have teamed up to bring this show to you! It’s co-hosted with multiple hosts, co-produced for Central Oregon! 8pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Black Joe Lewis

Joe’s still here. Still going. Still cashing checks and snapping necks. The dues of hard work; the delirious heights of the industry as well as the disappointments and low hanging fruit. Through this all, Joe’s only honed his mastery over gut bucket blues guitar and his true voice. 8-11:59pm. $18.

> Tickets Available on Bendticket.com

Walt Reilly’s Erin Cole-Baker Erin Cole-Baker was born in the U.S. and raised in the beach filled rural Northland of New Zealand. Her songwriting and live delivery comes from a place of great honesty and beauty, lead by her gorgeous silvery voice. 5-7pm. Free.

9 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.

Bend Elks Lodge #1371 Bingo Bingo at the Elk’s Lodge. Win cash prizes. 6-9pm. $23.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursdays UKB’s live trivia game show is like no other. Team up to compete for gift card prizes! Brews, ciders, mixed drinks, pizzas and food truck options. Indoor and outdoor seating. 6-8pm. Free.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

High Desert Music Hall Comedy Open Mic Night Come tell your jokes, every 2nd Thursday of the month. All are welcome to perform. Sketch, improv and musical comedy encouraged also. Second Thursday of every month, 7-9pm. Free.

Hub City Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Hub City every Wednesday and Thursday night and sing your heart out! 8pm-Midnight. Free.

Big E’s Sports Bar Big E’s Open Mic Open mic from 6-9pm. Sign-ups at 5:30pm. Three song/15-minute limit. Minors allowed. Singles/ duos/trios. No drum sets. Great food and beverage from Big E’s Sportsbar menu. Original music or covers. A warm and friendly environment to share those precious creative moments. 6-9pm. Free.

Midtown Ballroom Beats Antique Midtown Events brings you Beats Antique Thursday! Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. This is an all ages show. Tickets on sale now at midtownballroom.com. 8pm. $30.

Porter Brewing Co. The Ballybogs Grab a pint, sit back, relax and enjoy live music by an amazing group of artists that brings the best Irish Trad Music in Central Oregon! Every Thursday at Porter! 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Eric Leadbetter This man needs no introduction. If you don’t know, then you definitely need to come and check it out. 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.

Spoken Moto Head Games Trivia Night Live multi-media trivia every Thursday at Spoken Moto. Win prizes. Teams up to 6 players. 6:308:30pm. Free.

The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse

Karyn Ann Fireside Show Most Thursdays from November through March, Suttle Lodge has some fireside live music. This week, Karyn Ann will share her music. 6-8pm.

10 Friday

The Belfry Reb & The Good News

Reb & the Good News is a Portland based funk, world and soul group that brings optimism and cathartic release to the dance floor. Catchy horn lines and sultry vocals soar over grooves that you can’t help but move to. Led by vocalist and guitarist Reb Conner, Reb’s love of rhythms from around the world bring the dance floor on a journey that’s full of surprises. 7-10pm.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Philanthropic Funnies A monthly showcase of Central Oregon comedians that donated 100% of all tickets and tips to a local nonprofit charity. Laugh with these local comedians. 8-10pm.

Hardtails Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke

Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Hardtails for a fun Friday night and sing your heart out! 8pm-Midnight. Free.

Hoodoo Ski Area Friday Night Lights Enjoy bonfires, live music and more every Friday night at Hoodoo, thanks to Ablis CBD. 5pm. Free.

Midtown Ballroom/Domino Room/Annex

Heart and Soul: A Valentine

Celebration Valentine’s Day returns early at the Domino Room. Mobile Dance Party brings back the local 10-piece funk soul all-star band, The Cutmen, to get everyone all grooving into the evening. Bring your sweetie along after dinner or come as a single looking to connect with other locals. With after show support by DJ Tyto Alba and plenty of engaging activities for couples and singles such as a photo booth and valentine crafts, “Heart & Soul” will be a night to remember! 8-11:59pm.

Open Space Event Studios Smokus

Pocus: A 420 Magic Show Tokes, jokes and tricks are magically appearing in Bend by way of a show called Smokus Pocus. . . a cannabis-themed magic show. This unique show, at the crossroads of Bend’s cannabis culture, community and entertainment is packed with jokes that will have audiences laughing like they’re on edibles. 8pm. $30-40.

Silver Moon Brewing Joel

Chadd with Shaene Marie Pascal Joel Chadd writes and plays songs that are brutally honest and open hearted. His themes are universal, but the songs feel as if they were written just for you. His melodies dance between soulful vocals and passionate guitar playing, drawing the listener ever-so-close. 7:30-11pm.

The Oxford Hotel Haley Reinhart

A timeless voice outlasts eras. The expansive scope of Reinhart’s range comes into full focus on her 4th album, “Lo-Fi Soul.” The Gold-Certified Chicago-born/Los Angeles-based singer songwriter exudes an empowering level of charisma and confidence, which makes her an international recording and touring artist, vintage songstress and viral sensation. 7-9pm. $60.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Freedy Johnston

Freedy Johnston is one of those rare singer-songwriters who counts critics among his biggest fans—and whose heroes consider him a peer. Not bad for a self-proclaimed “geek in glasses who never left his room.” 8-11:59pm. $12.

SugarBeats is all about adding blasting bass to classic funk. Meshing genres, SugarBeats and Cromulon will perform at The Domino Room at 8pm on Sat., Feb. 11.

Courtesy Egan Entertainment

5.25%

The Commons Cafe & Taproom

The Whippoorwill Presents: Karyn Ann & Sisu

Karyn Ann is a “combination of Patty Griffin grit and Amy Winehouse grace.” Local act Sisu opens. 6:30-10pm. $15.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy

at Craft: Ball Pit Comedy Throw ball-pit balls at comedians as they perform. Buckets of balls will be on the table, ready for you to lob (gently) whenever you like. Enjoy a joke? Chuck it! Didn’t like a joke? Chuck it! Just feel like it? Chuck it! 8-10pm.

Crux Fermentation Project Hannah Siglin

Hannah Siglin is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from the Pacific Northwest. She was raised with a deep appreciation for folk music and the natural world. 6-8pm. Free.

The Domino Room SugarBeats & Cromulon Midtown Events brings you SugarBeats with special guests Cromulon! Doors open at 7:30pm, show starts at 8pm. This is a 21+ show. Tickets on sale now at midtownballroom.com. 8pm. $20.

Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards

The Substitutes Come enjoy the classic rock sounds of the Substitutes! Central Oregon’s self-appointed rock ‘n’ roll border patrol. The Substitutes have been defending the right to rock since 1996. For over two decades. Rock ‘n’ roll is what they do! 5-8pm. $15/adults, Free/children 12 and under.

Flights Wine Bar Live Music at Flights Come grab a great glass of wine, have an incredible dinner and enjoy live music every Saturday at Flights Wine Bar. 6-8pm. Free.

Big E’s Sports Bar Stage 28 Karaoke Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Big E’s for a fun Saturday night and sing your heart out! 9pm-Midnight. Free.

M&J Tavern Profit Drama, General Mojo’s & HELGA Yep, you guessed it. Here is one wild night of pure musical magic and high energy sure to leave your coat on your chair and some sweat on your brow! Wear your party shoes and bring a friend. This night is going to light the sky! 9pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Call Down Thunder Grateful Dead cover band at its finest! 8-11pm. Free.

The Outfitter Bar at Seventh Mountain Resort Jefferson Hope Trio Join in the Speakeasy for free live music with Jefferson Hope Trio!

Elise Franklin, Scott Harris and Mark Karwan are The Jefferson Hope Trio. Self-professed “suckers for a ballad,” the trio tint their selections from the jazz songbook with R&B, pop and Americana. 4-7pm. Free.

Pinckney

Center, COCC Black

Excellence Talent Show COCC, high school and middle school students will showcase their many talents through monologues, spoken word, poetry, performance art, comedy, singing, etc... in celebration of Black History Month. There will be a performance by Mosley Wotta and others. Registration for the event and direct all questions to mlegrand2@cocc.edu. 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions Dave Finch & Eric Troup will perform vocal jazz. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Tylor and the Train Robbers Boise, ID-based band Tylor & the Train Robbers, comprised of Tylor Ketchum, his brothers Jason and Tommy Bushman and his father-in-law Johnny “Shoes” Pisano deliver a perfect, lyric-driven blend of roots country and modern Americana music. Paired with their unrelenting dedication to the road, they have earned the reputation of hardworking professionals whose live shows highlight the connectedness that they’ve acquired not only from years of playing together, but also from the family bond that they all share. 7-11pm.

Pine Forest Grange Hall Bend Community

Contra Dance Live traditional music and couple dancing similar to square dance. You do not need to bring a partner to come and join. Band: The High Country Dance Band, local callers. The Pine Forest Grange is an alcohol, drug and smoke free zone. 7-9pm. $10.

The Oxford Hotel Haley Reinhart A timeless voice outlasts eras. The expansive scope of Reinhart’s range comes into full focus on her 4th album, “Lo-Fi Soul.” The Gold-Certified Chicago-born/Los Angeles-based singer songwriter exudes an empowering level of charisma and confidence, which makes her an international recording and touring artist, vintage songstress and viral sensation. 5-7 & 8-10pm. $60.

12 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.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Flights Wine Bar Trivia at Flights Wine Bar

Join Sundays for trivia with King Trivia! Free to play! Get a group together, and come get nerdy! Awesome prizes and as always, delicious food and drinks! 4-6pm. Free.

River’s Place Trivia Sundays at Noon 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.

Silver Moon Brewing Not Cho Grandma’s Bingo Not Cho’ Grandma’s Bingo is back at Silver Moon Brewing! The brewery hosts the famous bingo event for good times and a chance to win some cold hard cash! 10am-1pm. Free.

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

13 Monday

Bevel Craft Brewing Bingo with Bren! Join in February as Bevel supports the Central Oregon Trail Alliance who are working hard to upkeep the amazing mountain biking trails Central Oregon has throughout our area. Cash prizes! 6-8pm. $2.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Mondays UKB’s live trivia game show is like no other. Team up to compete for gift card prizes! Brews, ciders, mixed drinks, pizzas and food truck options. Indoor and outdoor seating. 6-8pm. Free.

Elixir Wine Group Locals Music Night Enjoy live musicians, great wine and small bites. 6-9pm. Free.

On Tap Locals’ Day Plus Live Music Cheaper drinks all day and live music at night, get down to On Tap. 11am-9pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Comedy Open Mic Comedy open mic every Monday at Silver Moon Brewing in the Green Room. Sign-ups at 6:30pm. Presented by Tease Bang Boom Productions. 7-8:30pm. Free.

Worthy Brewing Head Games Trivia Night

Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Head Games multi-media trivia is at Worthy Brewing Co. in Bend every Monday. Win prizes. Teams up to six. 7-9pm. Free.

14 Tuesday

The Commons Cafe & Taproom Storytellers Open-Mic StoryTellers open-mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. In the old house Bill Powers of Honey Don’t and several other projects in town, hosts one of the best open mics in town. Sign-ups start at 5pm sharp in the cafe, and spots go quick. 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. 6pm. Free.

The Domino Room Kitchen Dwellers

w/ Lindsay Lou - The Heartstrings Hootenanny Parallel 44 is overjoyed to bring back the wizards of galaxy grass, this time with one of the sweetest most sultry singers/artists in the bluegrass world. 7:30-11:30pm. $20/adv, $25/door.

Great Hall, Sunriver Resort Valentine’s Dinner & Dance Concert Ticket includes hosted happy hour, multi-course dinner and a full concert with the 17-piece big band in the iconic beauty of the Sunriver Resort Great Hall. Kick up your heels on the dance floor or tap your toe from the comfort of your table. 5pm. $125.

Mood Indigo Club - Speakeasy A Special Valentine’s Evening with Steve Treseler An evening of jazz standards about love and heartbreak. Bring your special Valentine for this fabulous after-dinner show! Steve Treseler is a Seattle-based saxophonist, composer, teaching artist and author who performs and leads creative music workshops across the U.S. DownBeat calls his music “beautifully crafted ensemble pieces.” 7:30-9:30pm. $29.

River’s Place Bingo! Have fun, win cash prizes and support a local nonprofit organization. February nonprofit is Silver Linings Rescue Ranch. It focues on rescuing senior dogs in need of new guardianship, allowing them to spend their retirement years at the ranch or in new homes. 6-8pm. Cards are $1-$5.

The Cellar—A Porter Brewing Company Music Night at The Cellar, Featuring Central Oregon Music & Musicians Grab a pint, sit back, relax and enjoy live music by Central Oregon musicians! Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, from 6-8pm at The Cellar! Free.

The Lot Winter Trivia Series Calling all trivia loving, beer drinking, food cart craving smartypants. . . Trivia Tuesdays are back. What a fun way to spend Tuesday nights inside the heated seating area with your favorite trivia buff friends. Check the social media for category clues. Winning teams earn table reservations and prizes! 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.

15 Wednesday

AVID Cider Co. Taproom Bingo with a Brit Join with the favorite bloke Michael as MC, and win prizes, swag, gift cards, weekly cash prize and an end-of-the-month cumulative cash jackpot. $10 per booklet (5 games/booklet). 6:30-8:30pm.

Cabin 22 Trivia Wednesdays Useless Knowledge Bowl Live Trivia Game Show! It’s not your average quiz night. Team up to win gift cards. It’s fun and free to play, with Locals’ Day featuring Crater Lake and local craft beer specials. Get here this week! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. 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 Ghost of Brian Craig An evening with acoustic multi-instrumentalist Brian Craig blending folk, rock and country with originals and select covers. 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.

Hub City Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Hub City every Wednesday and Thursday night and sing your heart out! 8pm-Midnight. Free.

JC’s Bar & Grill Trivia Nite with Trivia Girl Compete with your peers and test your knowledge of current events, music and other random categories while enjoying 75 cent wings! Also, JC’s trivia separates themselves from the rest with a physical challenge! 7-9:30pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Open Mic Night Downtown living room welcomes musicians to bring their acoustic set or turn it up to eleven with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. Goes to last call or last musician, which ever comes first. 21+. 6:30pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Accoustic Open Mic with Derek Michael Marc Head down to the Northside Bar and Grill Wednesdays to catch local artists perform live. 7-9pm. Free.

Seven Nightclub & Restaurant The CO Show The CO Show is a free comedy showcase! Doors open at 7pm show starts at 8pm! Central Oregon Comedy Scene and Karaokaine productions have teamed up to bring this show to you! It’s co-hosted with multiple hosts, co-produced for Central Oregon! 8pm. Free.

Haley Reinhart is a jazzy, powerful vocalist and musician. Putting her own twist on classic jazz, Reinhart will fill the Oxford Hotel with soulful vocals on Fri., Feb. 10 at 7-9pm and Sat., Feb. 11 at 5-7pm and 8-10 p.m.

Courtesy Hailey Reinhart Press

GUNG HO

By Allie Noland

Q&A With Mike Odd, Manager and Secret Keeper of The Mighty Mac Sabbath

Mac Sabbath performs music from Black Sabbath with a twist to warn the world about the “dangers of fast food"

Iwas going to write a 300-word article about the band Mac Sabbath, until I met its manager, Mike Odd. After my interview with Odd, he said too many things I wanted to quote, so I had to include more of the interview in the story.

Odd is one of the coolest, funniest… and oddest people I’ve ever interviewed. Learn the story of the legendary fast food metal band, Mac Sabbath, along the way. Catch all the metal, Monsanto madness and “mutated mascots” at the Midtown Ballroom on Sunday, Feb. 19.

Source Weekly: Can you introduce yourself?

Mike Odd: My name is Mike Odd. I am the manager of the mighty Mac Sabbath. And I am sent to be the conduit between a present and past, or fantasy and reality, however you want to look at it.

SW: How did you get involved with the band?

MO: I was running an oddities shop, kind of a freak museum, in East Hollywood in the 2000s. People would be calling me up and saying, “Hey! Come out to my shed in the back, and I'll show you my two-headed otter skeleton” and stuff like that. So, I got all these weird calls. Even after the shop closed, the calls kept coming, because the weirdness follows you around.

I got this call, “Come out to Chatsworth to this burger place, and it's gonna change your life.” I figured, it’ll probably be like the Virgin Mary toasted on a hamburger bun or something. Maybe to make a deal to put it on eBay or sell

or split it, or whatever. Cause I was just an oddities guy, you know. I’ve also been in the music scene, as well and have my own band, a metal theatrical/horror/costume kind of thing. But I didn't think it had anything to do with that. So, I go out there, and it turns out to be this weird kind of fight club meeting in the basement of this place, this very secret thing that I'm sure the general manager knew nothing about. All of a sudden, I'm in the basement, crammed up against freeze dried condiments and hamburger buns, watching these mutated mascots do these Black Sabbath riffs and scream about GMOs and Monsanto. I thought I was on a hidden camera show or something.

And then this Ronald Osborne guy informs me that he's teleported, somehow moved through the time-space continuum in a wormhole, to warn the society about the current state of music and food. And to follow him back in spirit to change things so the future doesn't go bad.

And he's like, “You're gonna be the manager. You're gonna be the one to take us above ground and carefully plan this out, so we don't get a tear in the dimension.” I was like “Yeah, yeah, right. You want me to book you a couple of shows cause you know I am in this other band or whatever.” And no, that's not what happened. I ended up having a full-time career off of this gig.

SW: What do you think sets Mac Sabbath apart from other bands?

MO: It’s a whole experience. It’s almost like watching a Vegas show with

a Broadway play mixed into a standup comedy act. And then these creatures look like something walking around at Disneyland or something. It’s too many things that aren’t regular rock ‘n’ roll, put into one thing.

Every single time this happens with promoters, venues and fans. They're like, “We had no idea it was going to be like this; we didn't understand it until we saw it live.” It gets real cult-y because it’s very different. It’s very specific.

SW: How can people listen to Mac Sabbath’s music?

MO: That goes back to the technology thing, with the time travel and all that. Ronald insists on all 1970s technology. He's very fearful that if any new technology is used, that it’s going to cause some sort of chaos in society, because it's going to mix things up.

I can't bring up mp3 or even CDs, much less streaming, to him without getting a pie in my face. He gets angry and confused and starts spouting about the end of the world as we know it. I poo-pooed all that in the beginning. If you want [the music] you got to buy the pop-up book vinyl or come to a show.

Find the rest of this interview in the online edition at Sourceweekly.com

Jeremy Saffer

Mac Sabbath is a drive-thru metal band featuring four crazy, spirited, talented musicians (left to right)—the Catburglar (drums), Grimalice (bass), Ronald Osbourne (vocals) and Slayer MacCheeze (guitar). It's a good time for the great taste of Mac Sabbath!

The Bite Stage 28 Karaoke Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to The Bite or a fun Wednesday night and sing your heart out! 5:30-7:30pm. Free.

MUSIC

HDCM Concert Series: Robert Thies

High Desert Chamber Music’s 15th season, presented by Mission Building, continues with the annual Valentine’s Day concert. Enjoy a special evening featuring Steinway artist Robert Thies. This best-selling event includes a complimentary rose for concert-goers and a custom treat from Goody’s Chocolates! Feb. 14, 8-9:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541306-3988. Info@HighDesertChamberMusic.com.

$15-$55.

Music in Public Places: Dove String Quartet with Singer Enjoy an hour of music courtesy of Central Oregon Symphony. This is an in-person program. Enjoy music from the Dove String Quartet with live singer. Music in Public Places is a program of the Central Oregon Symphony Association. The Central Oregon Symphony is a community-based orchestra. Feb. 11, 2-3pm. Sunriver Public Library, 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver. Contact: 541-312-1063. paigef@ deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Open Hub Singing Club Sing in community... for the simple joy of creating meaning and beauty together! All voices and experience levels welcome. The group believes singing is a birthright and are reclaiming this ancient technology for belonging and well-being. The group sings easy-to-learn delicious songs in the paperless aural tradition. First timers are free! Lalalalala! Sundays, 1-2:30pm. First Presbyterian Heritage Hall, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: 541-2416182. openhubsinging@gmail.com. $10-$20.

Piano Album Release Concert: Everyday Miracles by Julie Hanney Pianist and composer Julie Hanney celebrates the release of her fourth album titled Everyday Miracles. Come hear songs from this album as well as iconic songs from other genres. Local musicians will join in for part of the concert. Genre: George Winston meets Erik Satie. Relax, enjoy, breathe, be. Feb. 11, 3-4pm. COCC Wille Hall Campus Center, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-390-2441. juliehanneypiano@gmail.com. Free, donations accepted.

Sunday Crystal Bowl Sound Bath with Reiki Sound bath is a passive healing journey with crystal bowls. Bring comfy clothing, pillow and blanket or mat. Sundays, 5:30-6:30pm. Through Aug. 27. Unity Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend. Contact: 541350-8448. clare@kevinkubota.com. $10-$20.

DANCE

Argentine Tango Classes and Dance

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

Flamenco Lessons Flamenco lessons instructed by professional Flamenco dancer from Madrid. She has taught Flamenco at schools and is starting a new cycle of Spanish dances, teaching footwork, marking, arm and hand work. For ages 18+. Wear wide skirt and wide heel shoes for better understanding the structure of Flamenco. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-7:30pm. Through Feb. 9. Pleasant Ridge Community Hall, 7067 SW Canal Blvd., Redmond, Redmond. Contact: 206-445-3538. $240/res, $312/non-res.

Line and Swing Dancing Lessons Line and swing dance lessons every Thursday night at The Cross-Eyed Cricket! Thursdays, 7-9pm. CrossEyed Cricket, 20565 NE Brinson Blvd., Bend. Free. Scottish Country Dance A chance to socialize and get a bit of exercise, too. Beginners are welcome. All footwork, figures and social graces will be taught and reviewed. Mondays, 7-9pm. Sons of Norway Hall, 549 NW Harmon Blvd., Bend. Contact: 541-508-9110. allely@ bendbroadband.com. $5.

Tribal TranscenDANCE A movement journey into the Dreaming through Dancing in the Dark, trance dance dates back thousands of years as a way to travel into the original states of consciousness to receive guidance and healing. Come, dance your dance! Feb. 9, 6-8pm. Hanai Foundation, 62430 Eagle Rd., Bend. Contact: 541815-3131. choicetribeoregon@gmail.com. $45.

ARTS + CRAFTS

Art Viewing Visit Sagebrushers Art Society in beautiful Bend to see lovely work, paintings and greeting cards by local artists. New exhibit every 8 weeks. Visit Sagebrushersartofbend.com for information on current shows. Wednesdays, 1-4pm, Fridays, 1-4pm and Saturdays, 1-4pm. Sagebrushers Art Society, 117 SW Roosevelt Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-617-0900. Free.

Black Excellence Art Showcase

The showcase allows black students and community members to display art, paintings, photography and their freedom of expression while celebrating Black history and their art liberation. Jan. 19-Feb. 28, 9am-5pm. Pinckney Center, COCC, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: jpark@cocc.edu. Free.

Kreitzer Open Gallery and Studio Give the gift of a contemporary realist David Kreitzer original. Stunning Central Oregon splendor, water, koi, fantasy, figure and floral. SF Chronicle: “Kreitzer demonstrates the poetic intensity of the old tradition.” Mondays-Sundays, 11am-5pm.

Kreitzer Art Gallery and Studio, 20214 Archie Briggs Rd., Bend. Contact: 805-234-2048. jkreitze@icloud.com. Free.

Mosaic House Numbers Come create a stunning statement piece to adorn the outside of your home and help guests find you! You will learn how to cut and prep the base material, affix the hanging hardware, then design your house numbers and outer design using colorful glass and ceramic tile and stained glass. Fri, Feb. 10, 4-7pm, Sat, Feb. 11, 10am-4pm and Sun, Feb. 12, 10am-4pm. Carleton Manor Mosaics, 1776 NE 8th Street, Bend. Contact: 907-230-1785. jesica@carletonmanormosaics. com. $250.

Second Saturday at the Gallery Enjoy free food and libations at the Artists Gallery Sunriver Village the 2nd Saturday of each month. Work of 30 local artists is on display and here’s your chance to meet some of those artists. Second Saturday of every month, 4-6pm. The Village at Sunriver, 57100 Beaver Dr., Sunriver. Contact: 541-593-8704. Free.

Unfixed, Featuring Akihiko Miyoshi In Unfixed, Akihiko Miyoshi reimagines photographs as magical objects whose potential is not yet concrete, colonized or mined for data and information. Miyoshi’s work results from his unique process of printing digitized 35mm negatives on silk which are then layered in between coats of resin. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-6pm. Through Feb. 26. Scalehouse Collaborative for the Arts, 550 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-6402186. marley@scalehouse.org. Free.

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

Know Justice: The Future of Water in Oregon How can we balance competing needs to achieve an equitable water future for all? Join hydrologist Zach Freed to learn about water availability under current and future climate conditions, impacts to vulnerable communities and what we can do to modernize water management in Oregon. Feb. 13, Noon-1pm. Sisters Firehouse Community Hall, 301 S Elm St, Sisters. Feb. 15, 6-7pm. Downtown Bend Public Library - Brooks Room, 601 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-312-1029. laurelw@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Know Justice: Supreme Justice Learn more about the impact of the Supreme Court. This is a live webinar. Receive the Zoom link by registering at deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/ event/69011. Feb. 9, 6-7pm. Contact: 541-3121032. lizg@dpls.lib.or.us. Free. Learn more about the impact of the Supreme Court. Feb. 12, 3-4pm. Downtown Bend Library, 601 Northwest Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1032. lizg@ dpls.lib.or.us. Free.

SCF Gallery Opening Sunriver Christian Fellowship will open its very own art gallery located in the hallways outside of the beautiful new sanctuary. A grand opening reception will be held in the new SCF building. Refreshments will be provided. Feb. 10, 4-6pm. Sunriver Christian Fellowship Art Gallery, 18139 Cottonwood Rd., Sunriver. Contact: 541-593-1183. sunrivercf@ gmail.com. Free.

What Does It Mean To Be Male or Female... Or Someone In Between?

What does it mean to be male or female, or someone in between? Learn about the current understanding of biological contributions to gender identity and other ways of being. COCC Cascades Hall Rm 115. Hosted by the COCC LGBTQ+ Friends Club. Feb. 13, 4-5:30pm. COCC Bend Campus, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-383-7559. cfinney@cocc. edu. Free.

THEATER

Readers Theater Is there a play that you’ve always wanted to read but you don’t have enough friends (or voices in your head) for all the characters? Join us one Saturday morning a month as we explore new, original and classical plays, drink coffee and get to know others in the local theatre community. Second Saturday of every month, 10amNoon. Cascade Theatrical Theatre, 148 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-389-0803. Free.

“The Sound of Music” One of the most beloved musicals of all time and a holiday favorite, “The Sound of Music” has enchanted audiences for more than 50 years. Nominated for nine Tony Awards, and winner of Best Musical! When carefree nun-in-training Maria is sent by her convent to be the governess of seven children, she finds herself unexpectedly questioning her choices in life and falling in love with the children’s stern father, all the while the events of World War II play out in the background. One of the most beloved musicals of all time and a holiday favorite, “The Sound of Music” has enchanted audiences for more than 50 years. Thu, Feb. 9, 7:30pm, Fri, Feb. 10, 7:30pm, Sat, Feb. 11, 2 and 7:30pm and Sun, Feb. 12, 2pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. $35.50$55.50 (plus $3 historic preservation fee).

WORDS

Author Event: Local Authors Frank Zafiro & Jamie Lee Fry Frank Zafiro writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. Jamie Lee Fry is an adventure blogger turned psychological-thriller writer. This is a ticketed event requiring a $5 fee or purchase of the book. Feb. 9, 6:30-7:30pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-3066564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. $5-$35.

Classics Book Club Please join for Classics Book Club. The group will discuss “The Old Capital” by Yasunari Kawabata. Feb. 8, Noon. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Hello! Storytime Roundabout Books is looking forward to sharing stories, movement and a touch of music with 0-5 year olds, geared toward those younger ages. There will be a heavy emphasis on fun, so bring your listening ears and a smile for a fun half hour with Kathy! Feb. 8, 10:30-11am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-3066564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Nonfiction Book Club Please join for Nonfiction Book Club. The group will discuss “Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels” by John Meacham. Feb. 10, 9:30-10:30am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541306-6564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Raging Writers Writing Workshop & Open Mic Raging Writers is a free, inclusive and respectful creative writing opportunity and open mic. No food or beverage available, but plenty of inspiration and energy on tap. Located every 2nd Sunday at Spork. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5:30pm. Spork, 937 NW Newport Ave., Bend. Contact: icooper435@gmail.com. Free.

Researching the Oregon Territory with Dawn Carlile, President of the Oregon Genealogical Society Oregon in the 1800s was a rapidly changing place and covered a broad portion of the Pacific Northwest. Discover the records available for the Oregon Country and just where was “Oregon” in the 1800s. Feb. 14, 10-11:30am. Contact: 541-317-9553. Info@ bendgenealogy.org. $5 for non-members.

Writers Writing: Quiet Writing Time

Enjoy the focus of a quiet space with the benefit of others’ company. This is an in-person program. Masks are recommended at all in-person library events. Bring personal work, read a book or answer emails. Come when you can, leave when you want. Free, open network WiFi available. Tuesdays, 1:30-4:30pm. Deschutes Public Library-Downtown, 601 NW Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 541-3121063. paigef@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

The Kitchen Dwellers are bringing some bluegrass bangers to Bend. Performing with the sultry singer-songwriter Lindsay Lou, this performance will be a folk fan’s dream. Catch the The Heartstrings Hootenanny show at The Domino Room at 7:30pm on Valentine’s Day.

Courtesy Kitchen Dwellers Facebook

CALENDAR EVENTS

ETC.

Axe-Throwing at Unofficial Logging Co. Try your hand at axe throwing! Registration required. Ages 16+ Unofficial Logging Co. is the best spot for having a great time. The idea of opening an axe-throwing venue started as a joke with an insurance estimate for a different project. Participants must sign a waiver prior. Feb. 8, 5-6:30pm. Unofficial Logging Co., 910 NW Harriman St. Suite #100, Bend. Contact: 541312-1029. laurelw@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Bingo and Dog Adoption Event Come play some bingo at Midtown Yacht Club benefiting Street Dog Hero! A night of high energy bingo that promises to entertain from start to finish! There will be food trucks, cold drinks and some pups looking for their forever homes. Wed, Feb. 15, 6-8pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 Northeast 4th Street, Bend. Free. Free Day Everyone gets in free! Feb. 11, 10am4pm. High Desert Museum, 59800 S. Highway 97, Bend. Free.

Museum and Me A quieter time for children and adults who experience physical, intellectual and/or social disabilities to enjoy the High Desert Museum after hours. Explore the Museum’s newest exhibitions and revisit your favorites. Sensory packs are available to borrow with headphones, fidgets and more. Feb. 9, 4-7pm. High Desert Museum, 59800 S. Highway 97, Bend. Free.

Photo Hunt Photo hunt around Redmond with a chance to win $50 cash. Through Feb. 25. Contact: goteamshenanigans@gmail.com. $15.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Adult Dodgeball (Open Gym) Check out Bend’s favorite social adult co-ed sports league! Drop in for a single game every Wednesday through March 15 and see what the buzz is all about. Sign up solo, with a friend or with a group of friends! Registration available at the door. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm. Through March 15. Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend, 500 NE Wall Street, Bend. Contact: hi@benddodgeball.com. $10.

Badminton Night! Beginners and experienced players welcome. Extra racquets and shuttles provided. The $10 fee helps pay for the facility. Players must sign up on MeetUp before the event. No drop-ins are allowed by Bend Hoops. Saturdays, 5-7:30pm. Through Feb. 25. Bend Hoops, 1307 NE 1st St, Bend. Contact: jimwinkle@gmail.com. $10.

Bend Adult Volleyball Bend Hoops adult open gym volleyball sessions offer players a chance to get together and enjoy some competition. To sign up, go to meetup.com and RSVP. Bring exact change. Sundays, 7-9pm. Bend Hoops, 1307 NE 1st St, Bend. $10.

Bend Rock Gym BIPOC Climb Night

Join Vamonos Outside and the BRG for its monthly BIPOC climbing night. Second Tuesday of every month. Bend Rock Gym, 1182 SE Centennial Ct., Bend. $15.

Bevel Putting Mayhem It’s a fun way to get to know our local disc golf club and meet some new people! Plus, all competitors get $1 off beverages all night (cannot be combined with any other discounts). Details: Head-to-head matches will play in a bracket-style putting competition, with double elimination! Sign-ups at 5:30pm with first putts at 6pm. $5 to enter, optional $1 for the “Perfect Putt Pot.” Bring 2 putters of your own or borrow Bevel’s!10 putts per round from 5 stations, 2 putts from each station. Wednesdays, 5:30-9pm. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. $5.

Central Oregon Polar Plunge and 5K

Run Benefitting Special Olympics Polar Plunge is your chance to step out of your comfort zone and into an unforgettable experience that directly impacts the lives of Special Olympics Oregon Athletes. Your $50 donation can be used to plunge, run the 5k, sponsor another plunger or have your dog plunge for you! Feb. 11, 10am1pm. Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend. Contact: 541-313-6838. plungebend@soor. org. $50 donation.

Enchanted Nordic Trek 2.0 Presented by Five Pine Cabins and Shibui Spa

FivePine Cabins and Shibui Spa is proud to invite you and a partner to a magical evening trek at Hoodoo’s Nordic Trail System! The first 50 romantic trekkers will receive complimentary goodies. Enjoy a rose, chocolate covered strawberries and a deluxe hot chocolate station! Plus a chance to win Snowshoes, Feb. 11, 5:30-7pm. Hoodoo Ski Area, 27400 Big Lake Rd., Sisters. Contact: (541) 822-3799. eventsbreakingfree@ gmail.com. Free.

Redmond Running Group Run

All levels welcome. Find the Redmond Oregon Running Klub on Facebook for weekly run details. Thursdays, 6:15pm. Redmond. Contact: rundanorun1985@gmail.com.

Saturday Morning Coffee Run

Come join CORK for a Saturday long run at 9am. The group will meet outside Thump Coffee on York Dr. for a long run. Feel free to run or walk, whatever “long” means to you! Whatever your pace and distance, Thump hopes you’ll join for the run and stay afterward for food and drinks! Saturdays, 9-10am. Thump CoffeeNW Crossing, 549 NW York Dr., Bend. Free. Scones on the Cone! Stop by for hot coffee and homemade scones at the top of the cinder cone. Sunrise ski/snowboard! Woooooo!

Saturdays, 7:15-8am. Through March 31. Mount Bachelor Ski Resort - West Village, 13000 SW Century Dr., Bend. Suggested $2 donation.

Thursday Night Run Run through the Old Mill for around 3-5 miles, stay for food and drinks! Thursdays, 6-7pm. Spoken Moto, 310 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free.

VertFest 2023 VertFest returns for winter 2022/23 at Mt. Bachelor! This Backcountry Festival is dedicated to raising the level of snow safety education and stoke for backcountry enthusiasts, and supporting the efforts of the Central Oregon Avalanche Center. Join for a full day of uphill skinning and downhill shredding, demos, clinics, vendor village, friends, bonfire, s’mores and other festivities! Feb. 12. Mt. Bachelor, 13000 Century Drive, Bend. Free.

Wildstar Basketball Co-Lab Camps

Wildstar Basketball Camp 7-week Sessions start February and continue through March. For 1st8th graders. Fridays, 1-3 and 2-4pm. Through March 31. Bend Hoops, 1307 NE 1st Street, Bend. Contact: 541-205-9097. connect@wildstarcamps. com. $155.

Wildstar Basketball Open Gym Wildstar Basketball Open Gym is drop in style of play. From 1-2pm, the court is for 1st-3rd graders. From 1-3pm, 4th-6th graders. From 3-4pm, 7th-8th graders. Fridays, 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4pm. Through March 31. Bend Hoops, 1307 NE 1st Street, Bend. Contact: 541-205-9097. connect@ wildstarcamps.com. $10.

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. Ongoing. Ember’s Wildflower Animal Sanctuary and Bunny Rescue, 2584 SW 58th St, Redmond.

Volunteer: Help Businesses Prosper! Share your professional and business expertise. Become a volunteer mentor with SCORE in Central Oregon. The chapter is growing. Your experience and knowledge will be valued by both new and existing businesses in the community. To apply, call 541-316-0662 or visit centraloregon.score.org/ volunteer. Ongoing. Contact: 541-316-0662. Thrive Moving Volunteers Support your neighbors by helping them move to their new home. If interested, fill out the volunteer form or reach out! Ongoing. Contact: 541-728-1022. TCOmoving22@gmail.com.

Volunteer with Mustangs To The Rescue Volunteers wanted to help with daily horse care at Mustangs To The Rescue. No experience necessary. Call and leave a message or email. Ongoing. Mustangs To The Rescue, 21670 SE McGilvray Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-330-8943. volunteer@mustangstotherescue.org.

Volunteer with Salvation Army The Salvation Army has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for almost every age. Salvation Army has an emergency food pantry, the groups visit residents of assisted living centers and make up gifts for veterans and the homeless. Ongoing. Contact: 541-389-8888.

Volunteers Needed for Humane Society Thrift Store Do you love animals and discovering “new” treasures? Then volunteering at the HSCO Thrift Store is a great way to combine your passions while helping raise funds to provide animal welfare services for the local community. For more information visit the website at www.hsco.org/volunteer. Ongoing. Humane Society Thrift Shop, 61220 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3840. abigail@hsco.org.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

BCDC: Bend Central District Celebration Join Central Oregon LandWatch for the BCDC —that’s the Bend Central District Celebration! Learn about what’s up and coming for the vibrant heart of the city— from safer bike paths to bustling new businesses and more housing options—and how you can be a part of it. Feb. 9, 5-8pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave., Bend. Free.

Bend Parkinson’s Support Group

Monthly Meeting Parkinson’s Support Group Meetings third Wednesday of every month at the Best Western Premier Bend. Patients and caregivers are welcome to join us. These meetings serve as a resource for educational and emotional support. Focusing on providing local services, bridging the gap between medical care and wellness. Fun and engaging! Third Wednesday of every month, 2-3:30pm. Best Western Premier, 1082 SW Yates Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-668-6599. Carol@parkinsonsresources.com. Free.

Bend Toastmasters Weekly Meeting At Bend Toastmasters Club, the group is practicing the vital skills of public speaking and interpersonal communication that Toastmasters has always offered, combined with the need for technology-enabled remote meetings. The group also has a lot of fun doing it! All are welcome to join at noon for the weekly meeting. Wednesdays, Noon-1pm. Through July 26. Deschutes Downtown Bend Public Library - Meyer Room, 601 N.W. Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 206-390-8507. bend.toastmasters.club@gmail.com. Free.

Bend Ukelele Group (BUGs) Do you play Uke?

Like to learn to play? Beginners and experienced players all welcome to join the fun every Tuesday at 6:30-8pm at Big E’s just off 3rd street near Reed Market. Go play with the group! Tue, Dec. 6, 6:30pm and Tuesdays, 6:30pm. Big E’s Sports Bar, 1012 SE Cleveland Ave., Bend. Contact: 206-707-6337. Free.

Competitive Cribbage Play nine games of cribbage versus nine different opponents. Cash prizes awarded based on number of wins. Mondays, 5-8pm. Deschutes Junction, 2940 N Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-530-1112. rickyticky1954@gmail.com. $2-$18.

Experience OLLI-UO Join Central Oregon’s OLLI-UO for a free open house event in person at the Bend. Elks Lodge or online via Zoom. Learn about our study and discussion groups and experience thought-provoking lectures: “Putin’s War on the Future and Earth’s” and “Most Essential Species—Pollinators We Cannot Live Without.” Registration is required. Feb. 15, 1-4pm. Bend Elks Lodge #1371, 63120 Boyd Acres Rd., Bend. Contact: 800-824-2714. osher@uoregon.edu. Free.

Guided Meditation: New Beginnings and Getting Rooted in Love Amy will guide participants into the present moment through centering breath work and attention to the body for grounding and relaxation. As the meditation deepens, she will provide a focused presence to release the tensions of the day followed by a gentle guided visualization to help you get rooted in love. Wednesdays, 5:30-7pm. Through March 1. Hawthorn Healing Arts Center, 39 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-330-0334. info@ hawthorncenter.com. $15 per class.

Hysteria Comedy Collective: Comedy Writing Workshop Welcome to Hysteria, a comedy collective open to all female-identifying, trans and non-binary folks. Whether you are a seasoned performer or completely new to the scene, Hysteria invites you to join the community of professional, novice and aspiring stand-up comedians. Its mission is to create a space where there is support for each other’s growth as writers/performers, give and receive feedback on materials and foster a more inclusive, progressive and artistic comedy community. Third Wednesday of every month, 5:30-7pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave., Bend. $10.

NAMI Central Oregon Family to Family

Class NAMI Central Oregon is happy to announce that it will offer an in-person family-to-family class starting Jan. 12 and ending in mid-March. Thursdays, 5:30-7:30pm. Through March 2. First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE 9th., Bend. Contact: 541-316-0167. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.

Open Hub Singing Club An unforgettable evening of singing... together! All voices are welcome and wanted. No previous singing experience required. All songs are taught in a call-and-echo, aural tradition process. Group singing is one of the most ancient technologies of belonging. Led by community song leaders, Ian Carrick & Kira Seto. Wed, Feb. 15, 6-7:30pm and Wed, March 15, 6-7:30pm. Becky Johnson Center, 412 SW 8th St., Redmond. Contact: 541312-1029. laurelw@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Toastmasters of Redmond Become a confident public speaker. Do you want to become a member of an organization that provides a safe and supportive environment to improve your public speaking skills? A place that fosters community, socialization and builds your self confidence. A place to have fun. Newcomers are supportively welcomed. Tuesdays, Noon-1pm. Church of Christ, 925 NW 7th St., Redmond. Contact: 541-292-6177. garyae@gmail.com. $60 for 6 months.

Valentines Poetry Reading Opportunity Foundation’s Possibility Thrift Store of Redmond, across from Coastal. Bring a poem about something you love (pet, nature, music, family) and come to listen to poems by T.S. Eliot, Nikki Giovanni, Mary Oliver and William Stafford. Saturdays, 10am-Noon Through Feb. 11. The Opportunity Foundation of Redmond Thrift Store, 3294 S Hwy 97, Redmond. Contact: 541-5482611. stores@opportunityfound.org. Free.

Whole Life Transformation with Optimal Nutrition Learn how to protect yourself from the toxin Glyphosate (round-up) that is present in 75-90% of foods on grocery store shelves. The group will share sample tastes, mocktails, have a free giveaway and answer your questions. Presenters are Miriam Ramsey, Willow Lindberg and Andrew Scott—all former health practitioners. Thu, Feb. 9, 6-7pm and Thu, Feb. 23, 6-7pm. Hawthorn Healing Arts Center, 39 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-3300334. Free.

FUNDRAISING

Bingo Join for Tuesday night bingo to benefit Furnish Hope. A fun-filled evening for the whole family that will support two great missions: providing furnishings and food for Central Oregon neighbors in need. Feb. 14, 6-8pm. Walt Reilly’s, 225 SW Century Dr, Bend, OR 97702, Bend. Contact: 541-546-0511. karley@waltreilly.com. $2 per card.

Snowlab Ballers Bingo Join at The Brown Owl and Lucky’s Woodsman and help raise scholarship funds for SNOWDAYS! Plus sign up for your chance to win your very own pass to the Snowlab where you can design, build and shred your own skis/board. Cash, prizes and fun for all ages! Tuesdays, 6-8pm. Through March 28. The Brown Owl, 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: 541-822-3799. eventsbreakingfree@gmail.com. Free.

The Cascades Theatrical Theatre is putting on “Something Rotten,” a musical full of intricate dance numbers, wacky characters and beautiful songs. The musical has multiple showtimes from Feb. 10-26.

Courtesy Michelle Mejaski

Valentine’s Day Gifts and Delivery This Valentine’s Day, give a unique gift to a loved one while supporting Think Wild. All orders include a local dried flower bouquet from Stumpmunk Farms, jar of honey from Broadus Bees and a personalized card. Additional gifts available. Order online by Feb. 10 for pickup or delivery!

Feb. 14. Contact: 541-241-8680. info@thinkwildco.org. $60+.

FAMILY + KIDS

Couples Massage Classes Learn to connect and relax with your partner through nurturing touch. Taproot Bodywork offers 2- or 4- hour couples massage classes in Tumalo. One couple per session. Additional days/times are available, prices vary. Visit www.taprootbodywork.com for more info. Ongoing. Taproot Bodywork studio, Tumalo. Contact: 503-481-0595. taprootbodywork@gmail.com. Varies.

Family Process Art Play Connect with your little through creativity as you engage in the process of making together in our beautiful studio space. Each class includes themed process art invitations with different materials for children to explore, experiment and create with. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10am-Noon Through March 23.

Wondery Art + Adventure School, 19550 Amber Meadow Dr. Suite 190, Bend. Contact: 541-2365990. sarah@wonderyschool.com. $15.

Family Yoga Celebrate Valentine’s Day with connection, play, breathing and relaxing with your family. Sign up once per family and bring a closed water bottle. The group will share one big yoga mat, so you can leave yours at home. Feb. 12, 1-1:45pm. Namaspa Yoga Studio, 1135 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-550-8550. namaspayoga@gmail.com. $8-$25.

Moms + Groms Meetup Moms + Groms is officially back @ Boss Rambler 3-6pm every Wednesday! Moms, it’s simple: show up with your grom(s) to socialize and drink beer (or whatever you want) with other moms while the kiddos make new friends! All moms get $1 off drinks! Wednesdays, 3-6pm. Boss Rambler Beer Club, 1009 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Free.

Process Art Explorers This class nurtures children’s need to engage in self-driven creativity. The studio features zones for drawing, cutting, gluing, building, painting and story making for artists to bring their ideas to life and expand their creative thinking and problem-solving. Each class includes themed process art invitations with different materials to explore. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 2:30-4:30pm. Through March 23. Wondery Art + Adventure School, 19550 Amber Meadow Dr. Suite 190, Bend. Contact: 541-236-5990. sarah@ wonderyschool.com. $130/month.

Rad Camps Presents Friday Night

Skiing and Riding at Hoodoo Rad Camps’ guided night skiing trips leave from Bend in the Rad Vans at 4:30pm after school and head up to Hoodoo Ski Area. Participants can ski with our guides or explore on their own. Ages 7-17. Visit radcamps.com. Fridays, 4:30-10:30pm. Through March 17. Highland Elementary School, 701 NW Newport Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-204-0440. info@radcamps.com. $99.

Valentine’s Day Market and Dog

Adoption Event Come and check out Street Dog Hero’s Valentine’s Day pop-up market with local vendors, and meet the dogs available for adoption! Feb. 11, 11am-3pm. Street Dog Hero, 910 SE Wilson Ave. Suite A-1, Bend. Free.

Wild Wednesday Art Adventure The group will begin class at the studio with themed process art invitations with different materials for children to explore, experiment and create with. The group will then go on an art adventure exploring a nearby natural area. Each week will include a new topic/concept to explore outdoors, journaling and projects inspired by nature. Wednesdays, 1-4:30pm. Through March 22. Wondery Art + Adventure School, 19550 Amber Meadow Dr. Suite 190, Bend. Contact: 541-2365990. sarah@wonderyschool.com. $180/month.

FOOD

A “Beauty and the Beast” Valentine's Dinner for two and two glasses of bubbly featuring French cuisine to share. Feb. 11, 4-8pm. Flights Wine Bar, 1444 NW College Way Suite 1, Bend. Contact: 541-728-0753. flightswinebend@ gmail.com. $175 per couple.

Adult Class: Romantic Valentine’s Dinner Celebrate romance with food! Couples join in celebrating your love with a hands-on class. Together, you will make a romantic 3-course dinner for two. Each course will be paired with wine. Price includes 2 people. When registering, enter both names on the line and click on one person. Feb. 15, 5:30-9:30pm. Kindred Creative Kitchen, 2525 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-640-0350. kindredcreativekitchen@ gmail.com. $165.

Fried Chicken Thursdays Fried Chicken

Thursdays at Flights Wine Bar! Dine in with a 2-piece plate with sides and a biscuit for $18 or take an 8-piece bucket and a bottle to-go! Upgrade to the “Balla Bucket” to get a selected bottle of champagne. Thursdays, 3-9pm. Flights Wine Bar, 1444 NW College Way Suite 1, Bend. Contact: 541-728-0753. flightswinebend@gmail. com. $38.

Sunriver Resort Food & Wine Festival

Open to all, from hotel guests to visitors and locals, the festival will offer a wide array of tasting events, cooking classes, live music, shopping, and more, plus feature regional vintners, artisans, farmers, local craft spirits and beers from around Central Oregon and across the Pacific Northwest. Feb. 1-28. Sunriver Resort, 17600 Center Dr., Sunriver. Contact: 310-480-9100. Varies.

Valentine’s Day Candlelight Dinner Join

Chili Fest at BBC Johnny Pepper is back for Chili Fest! BBC will have five different chilis to try and a ton of great beer to go with them! Available by the bowl, cup or a taster tray of them all. See you at BBC! Feb. 10, 11am-10pm and Feb. 11, 11am-10pm. Bend Brewing Company, 1019 NW Brooks St., Bend. Free.

Cross Cut Warming Hut: Locals’ Day!

Tuesdays are Locals’ Day. Every Tuesday enjoy $1 off regular size draft beverages. Come by the Warming Hut and hang out by the fire. See you soon, Bend! Tuesdays. Crosscut Warming Hut No 5, 566 SW Mill View Way, Bend.

Growler Discount Night! Enjoy $2 off growler fills every Wednesday at Bevel! Wednesdays. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 831-245-1922. holla@bevelbeer. com. Free.

Locals’ Night with The Bluegrass Collective Monday is the day to be at Silver Moon Brewing! Come on down and join the local family all day every Monday! Silver Moon offers $3 pints of the core lineup beers and $4 pours of the barrel-aged beers all day. Come down and sample what’s new while also enjoying the brand new food menu! It’s a steal of a deal that they won’t be chasing you out the door for! Mondays. Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend.

Locals’ Day Come on down to Bevel Craft Brewing for $4 beers and cider and $1 off wine all day. There are also food specials from the food carts located out back at The Patio! Tuesdays. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.

Lover’s Night Out: Wine, Dine and Chocolate

Skip the generic box of chocolate and finger-crossing for a table at a packed restaurant, make this Valentine's Day memorable at the “Lover’s Night Out” event. Discover how to make the best high quality raw chocolate and enjoy at top-notch steak dinner prepared by local chef, Vanna Arbuckle. With your purchase you will enjoy an appetizer, salad, dinner, a glass of wine and a dozen lovely chocolates all made with high quality ingredients. Dietary restrictions honored upon request. Feb. 14, 6-8pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-383-0800.

Paint Night A perfect Galentine’s Day event. Sip on a glass of wine, chat with your friends and channel your inner artist. You get to choose between two adorable Valentine’s Day gnomes. Get your tickets because space is limited and spots are filling up. Feb. 13, 5:30-7:30pm. River’s Place, 787 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend. Contact: 541525-5792. riversplacebend@gmail.com. $35.

Chocolate Food and Wine This is a Kindred Creative’s specialty. Adults, please join in this hands-on class where the group will explore the science and flavors of chocolate in both savory and sweet applications. The group will cover tempering chocolate and make 3 courses. Each course will be paired with wine. Feb. 10, 5:30-9pm. Kindred Creative Kitchen, 2525 NE Twin Knolls Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-640-0350. kindredcreativekitchen@gmail.com. $95.

El Kussho The winter pop-up is back! Come enjoy Latin American-Japanese inspired delicious dishes and cocktails in a cozy and at-home room! Thursdays-Saturdays, 4-9pm. Through March 4. El Sancho Super Secret Side Street Saloon, 133 SW Century Dr. Suite 204, Bend. Free.

Sunday Brunch Sunday Brunch featuring fresh local, seasonal ingredients and beverage specials. Sundays, 10am-1pm. Eqwine Wine Bar, 218 SW 4th St, Redmond. Contact: 541-527-4419. Free. Please join on Sunday mornings for the new brunch in the cozy tasting room. Faith, Hope and Charity will have a special rotating menu that will be different every week. Sam and Jerry, the chefs will be creating the amazing buffet! Sundays, 11am-2pm. Through Feb. 12. Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards, 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr., Terrebonne. Contact: 541-526-5075. events@fhcvineyards.com. $32/adults, Free/children 12 and under.

on Tuesday, Feb. 14 for Monkless’ Valentine’s Day Candlelight Dinner. Its amazing team is putting together delicious food and drink specials! Give them a call at 541-797-6760 to make reservations. It’s going to be a great night! Feb. 14, 4:30-9pm. Monkless Belgian Ales, 803 SW Industrial Way #202, Bend. Contact: 541-797-6760.

Youth Class: Valentine’s Treats Valentine's day is near. Let’s celebrate by making some tasty treats. Youth (age 7-17) please join in this hands-on class where the group will make a variety of Valentine’s treats. Please have your child eat before or bring food because the group will only be making sweets. Feb. 11, 5:30-9pm. Kindred Creative Kitchen, 2525 NE Twin Knolls Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-640-0350. kindredcreativekitchen@gmail.com. $50.

BEER + DRINK

Bottle & Board Mondays Join on Mondays at Bend Wine Bar for local, small batch Oregon and Washington wines at the Box Factory. Take $5 off any white wine and cheese, salami or charcuterie board or $10 off a red wine and board. Tasting room for The Winery at Manzanita. Mondays, 2-9pm. The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, Bend. Contact: info@bendwinebar.com. Free.

Whiskey Tuesdays The Cross-eyed Cricket Watering Hole is offering exclusive access to a library of top shelf whiskeys every Tue. One-ounce pours for reasonable prices. Come by and try something new, or sip on your favorites! Tuesdays, 11am-11pm. Cross-Eyed Cricket, 20565 NE Brinson Blvd., Bend. Free.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

Angel Meditation and Angel Messages on Zoom Experience a high frequency of love with an angel meditation. Get an angel message on one question per specialty. Please see website. Each class max six people. Angelica has been able to see, feel, hear angels since birth. She is a certified hypnotist and author. Fri, Jan. 27, 6-7pm, Mon, Jan. 30, Noon and Wed, Feb. 8, 6-7pm. Contact: 971-217-6576. $25.

Bend Zen Meditation Group Bend Zen sits every Mon, evening at 7. Arrive at 6:45pm to orient yourself and meet others. The group has two 25-minute sits followed by a member-led Dharma discussion from 8:05-8:30pm. All are welcome! Learn more and sign up for emails at www.bendzen.net. Mondays, 6:45-8:30pm. Brooks Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church, 469 Wall St., Bend. Contact: bendzensitting@gmail.com. Donations accepted.

Looking for a special Valentine’s evening? Steve Treseler is performing an evening of jazz at the Mood Indigo Club at 7:30pm on Tue., Feb. 14. Seattle-based saxophonist, composer, teaching artist and author is bringing the sultry sound of saxophone to the space.

Courtesy Steve Treseler Facebook

Cacao Ceremony Experience a heart-opening, intimate cacao ceremony. For thousands of years, Mayans have cultivated a deep and healing relationship with this master plant. Savor the history, science and magic of cacao. Each month offers a unique theme/experience, including sound, guided meditation and traditional wisdom practices. Guided by medicine woman Michelle Ericksen. Sun, Feb. 12, 6-7:30pm and Sun, March 12, 6-7:30pm. Michelle Ericksen, 1410 SW Juniper Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-603-8485. drmichelle.ericksen@gmail.com. $40.

Clear, Cleanse and Activate Your Heart

Chakra Crystal Sound Bath Harness the amped up energy of February from all the love as a collective along with sound waves to heal, open and fully love you. Feb. 11, 5-6:30pm. EzraAlya, 1733 NE Woodridge Lane, Bend. Contact: 541668-1716. sirahkreitzer@gmail.com. $33.

Community Therapy Are you tired of being alone in your healing work? Come check out community therapy. This pilot program offers an affordable, innovative and connected way to heal. Create community, build trust and help each other heal from the past. Free first session! Second Thursday of every month, 6-8pm. Through May 11. TBD, Private, Bend. Contact: 206-999-0490. info@cassredstone.com. Free.

Drop In Monday Meditation Open to all! Come join in the beautiful gardens for meditation and healing! Mondays, 6:30-7:30pm. Blissful Heart Wellness Center, 45 NW Greeley Ave, Bend. Contact: 510-220-2441. cathleen@blissful-heart.com. Donation based.

Grief Reframed for Teens Teens need each other now more than ever. This safe space allows teens to hold and be held as they navigate the struggles of growing up and dealing with loneliness, loss, divorce, death and anxiety, in these challenging times. Both a grief counselor and licensed mental health therapist are present. Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm. Good Grief Guidance, 33 NW Louisiana Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-223-9955. info@livingundone.com. $50.

Group Biofield Tuning: Ancestral

Healing

The energy of ancestors is stored in the biofield and can cause unwanted patterns in life that there is no explanation for. Using specialized tuning forks, the leader will transmute this energy, allowing you to live more authentically. Your experience will be uniquely yours. Please join this healing event. Feb. 10, 6:30-8pm. The Peoples Apothecary, 19570 Amber Meadow Dr, Bend. Contact: 458-256-8464. phnxmn11@gmail.com. $30.

Guided Forest Bath Forest Bathing is the practice of immersing yourself in the forest through sensory connection. This practice will slow you down and deepen your relationship with nature and others. It is a great practice for friend groups and families. This guided experience is hosted by Missie Wikler, a certified forest therapy expert. Saturdays, 10am-Noon Through March 25. Shevlin Park, 18920 Shevlin Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-316-9213. missie@romingyogabend.com. $35.

HBOT Plus IV Therapy: Four-Week Intensive To Wellness Dr. Joshua Phillips offers a new program that provides a comprehensive restorative and regenerative opportunity for patients seeking to maximize health while lightening the load of existing conditions. This 4-week treatment has the potential to improve energy, support needed weight loss, address mental and emotional stress, relieve anxiety and depression. Mondays, 9am-6pm. Through March 31. Hawthorn Healing Arts Center, 39 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-330-0334. info@hawthorncenter.com. $2,100.

How to Be a Beginner (Again!) Info

Night Body changes, empty nesting, a new decade, career or relationship shift... Just when women think they’ve figured it out, midlife makes everyone beginners, again! Collective wisdom can transform the beginner-ness into new favorite selves. See if this in-person inquiry group is right for you at info night! Learn more at www.ceilingunlimitedhealthcoaching.com/howtobeabeginner. Feb. 15, 7am. Contact: 503-481-0595. michelle@ ceilingunlimitedhealthcoaching.com. Free.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Community Presentation with Josh Phillips, ND

From traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome to brain recovery after a stroke or symptoms related to COVID-19, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an important treatment consideration for these and other neurological health issues. Learn how this therapy can support the body’s ability to heal itself. Call/email to register. Feb. 15, 5:30-6:30pm. Hawthorn Healing Arts Center, 39 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-330-0334. info@hawthorncenter.com. Free.

Notice Your Nudge: Invite Growth Life is too short for stagnation—the universe keeps asking you to become your inspired self. It’s time to live to your potential! This group will meet once a week for eight weeks to awaken intuition, clarify vision, and chart steps in the direction that has been nudging you all along. Thursdays, 9-11am and 7-9pm. Through March 9. River West Neighborhood, NW Columbia, Bend. Contact: molly@invitinggrowth.org. $600 (includes eight, two-hour sessions).

Valentine’s Day Partner Yoga Bring your best friend, partner or favorite family member to celebrate connection through touch, breath and mindful community with supportive partner stretching and chocolate after savasana. Deven and Susan will lead a gentle, accessible, relaxing sequence with no experience in yoga or partner yoga required. Feb. 12, 2:30-4pm. Namaspa Yoga Studio, 1135 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541.550.8550. namaspayoga@gmail.com. $40 preregistration.

Mini-Yogi Classes

Each class is specifically designed around a theme and includes age-appropriate yoga sequences and games, partner poses, songs with movements, active story time and bubbles to help with kids’ social, mental and physical development! Ages 3-5yrs with parents/grandparents/guardians. Wednesdays, 4:30-5:15pm. Through June 21. Free Spirit Yoga + Fitness + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Dr., Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@ freespiritbend.com. $120.

Introductory Aikido Course Join an 8-week aikido course starting Feb. 15, covering the basic principles, movements and arts of aikido. Learn to calm your mind, handle conflict peacefully, defend yourself proactively and grow in confidence. Includes instruction in dojo etiquette, history, ukemi (rolling) and basic aikido techniques. Gi and belt included. Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45pm. Through April 5. Oregon Ki Society, 20685 Carmen Loop, Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 541-350-7887. cfhc@hotmail.com. $100.

Kirtan: Celebrate With the Bend Bhakti Collective Kirtan, sacred song, dance and community. Celebrate with the Bend Bhakti Collective. Thursdays, 7pm. First Presbyterian Heritage Hall, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4401. Free-$20.

World Peace Reiki Share Inviting Reiki practitioners to both give and receive energy while the Reiki curious can learn and receive healing energy as well! Led by Shanti Heart, a Reiki Master Teacher, the group will connect to the world Reiki crystal grid with an intentional guided meditation to promote peace on Earth. Feb. 15, 7-9pm. Hanai Foundation, 62430 Eagle Rd., Bend. Contact: 847340-4717. shantiwalking@gmail.com. $20.

Parent Grief Group The parent group is open to any caregiver who would benefit from the support of others along the journey of loving our kids into being, no matter life’s challenges. whether it be through divorce, death, illness, conflict, addiction, anxiety or depression. Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm. Good Grief Guidance, 33 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-223-9955. info@livingundone.com. $50.

Sunrise Yoga Practice Start your day grounded and invigorated with this guided sunrise practice. The Shadow Yoga lineage uses dynamic, linear activity (such as sun salutation) to bring energy into the bones for the day ahead, along with breathing and meditation to help stabilize the mind. All levels welcome. Thursdays, 6-7:15am. Through March 23. Continuum, A School of Shadow Yoga, 155 SW Century Dr., Suite 112, Bend. Contact: 541-588-2480. info@ continuum-yoga.com. $20.

Kids Yoga Classes Kids will enhance flexibility, gain strength and improve balance and coordination through kids yoga classes. Mindful yoga techniques are important for calming the nervous system, managing frustrations and improving focus. The group will also be exploring mindful drawing and art projects. Ages 5-8yrs. Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15pm, Wednesdays, 3:154:15pm and Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15pm. Through June 21. Free Spirit Yoga + Fitness + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $145.

Growing Connection and Understanding in Relationships Navigating interpersonal relationship dynamics is key to well-being. In this class the group deepens into neuroscience and awareness, practicing the essential tools to attune and communicate with ourselves and others authentically through resonant language, which fosters understanding and connection. Sponsored by COCC. Questions: bethweltonmiller@gmail.com. Wednesdays, 6-8pm. Through March 1. Contact: 503-680-5810. bethwm519@gmail.com. $99.

Tylor & the Train Robbers is composed of Tylor Ketchum, his two brothers and his father in-law. This band is musically tight and lyrically creative and honest. Tylor & the Train Robbers will perform at 7pm on Sat., Feb. 11 at Silver Moon Brewing.

Courtesy Tylor and The Train Robbers Facebook

CHOW

Heavenly Hash Cake and Marshmallow Brownies

Two chocolate desserts perfect for the Big Game, or Valentine’s

By Donna Britt @donnabrittcooks

This week I couldn’t decide whether to share a football party recipe or a Valentine’s Day recipe, but after reading that brownies were a Top 10 Super Bowl party snack on several lists, I landed on a compromise: Heavenly Hash Cake and Marshmallow Brownies. Whether you’re making snacks for the Big Game this coming weekend or planning a date night meal for Valentine’s, these two chocolate desserts work for either scenario.

Before we get in to the actual recipes, here are some fun facts you might find interesting enough to insert into an upcoming social conversation:

• Guacamole is the most popular dip Americans eat on Super Bowl Sunday, consuming 8 million pounds of it.

• Football fans will drink just over 325 million gallons of beer as they watch the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Sunday.

• Valentine’s Day was first declared a holiday by Pope Gelasius in 496 A.D., although the first official celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day that we know of took place in Paris in 1400.

• Both men and women prefer to receive chocolate over flowers (really!), according to the National Confectioners Association, with caramels being the most popular flavor in chocolate boxes.

• Chocolate turns up on many Top 10 lists of the most romantic foods. It’s also the most popular sweet treat around the world with 4.5 million tons of cocoa consumed each year.

I grew up eating the Heavenly Hash Cake, as it was one of my grandma’s go-to desserts. It’s a simple cake to mix up, it’s rich and chocolate-y and it feeds a crowd. If you’re making it for a party you could even cut it into small squares ahead of time, just like you would brownies.

Please note, the original recipe passed down in my family always called for evaporated milk. You can use whole milk with good results. Also note that you absolutely

Heavenly Hash Cake

Serves 10-12

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 sticks unsalted butter

• 4 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 4 Tablespoons cocoa

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Cream sugar and butter in stand mixer or with hand-held mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Stir in flour and cocoa and then beat on medium-high until smooth. Pour batter into pan.

Bake 25-30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake.

Icing

• 1 package miniature marshmallows

Spread entire package of marshmallows over top of cake immediately upon removal from oven.

• 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter

• 4 tablespoons cocoa

• 6-8 tablespoons Pet (evaporated) milk or 1/2 cup whole milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 3-3 ½ cups powdered sugar

Melt butter and mix with cocoa. Stir in milk and vanilla. Slowly mix in powdered sugar, starting with just 2 cups, and beat until smooth and creamy. Add more powdered sugar until you get the consistency you want. You can also add more milk. Pour/spread this over the melted marshmallows on top of cake.

must spread the entire bag of marshmallows over the hot cake as soon as you bring it out of the oven. Another nice thing about this cake is that you serve it from the pan you baked it in. While that may sound too every day for a special occasion, the swirly chocolate-marshmallow topping makes the cake pretty.

The Marshmallow Brownies are very similar to the cake. Both have the marshmallow/chocolate combo on top. If you don’t like nuts, skip them. Happy Valentine’s and go Chiefs (or Eagles!).

Marshmallow Brownies

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup butter

• 2 squares baking chocolate

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ cup nuts, pecan or walnuts are good, optional

• ½ teaspoon vanilla

• 1 jar marshmallow fluff

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9-inch baking pan.

Beat eggs. Gradually add sugar and keep beating until well combined. Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Add chocolate mixture to eggs. Sift dry ingredients into chocolate/egg mixture. Stir in nuts and vanilla.

Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle of brownies comes out clean. While brownies are warm, spread with marshmallow fluff.

Brownie Frosting

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 heaping teaspoon cocoa

• 1-1 ½ teaspoon milk

• ½ teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until bubbles form around edge of pan. Pour over brownies and spread out with a knife while frosting is still hot.

Marshmallow Brownies are a great game day treat or a perfect Valentine’s dessert.

LITTLE BITES

By Nicole Vulcan

Sunriver Food & Wine Festival Offers a Month of Foodie Love

Foodies: If you haven’t already planned an outing to Sunriver for the month of February, there are still plenty of reasons to do so. The Sunriver Resort Food & Wine Festival kicked off Feb. 1, fea turing tasting events and cooking classes that incorporate the flavors of winemakers, farmers and food and drink purveyors from around the region.

Every Saturday in February is the Saturday Sup per Club, centered around a four-course themed meal and wine list. Also happening every Saturday and Sunday is the Marketplace Sip, Shop & Dine event, where local makers and food producers set up shop

in The Lodge. Sunriver’s Executive Chef Josh Hedrick is also doing cooking classes with chocolate as the main ingredient; the next class is Feb. 25.

And on Valentine’s Day, the resort offers a five-course prix fixe dinner set to live music, and beginning with a champagne toast, with the option of adding a one-night stay to the deal. Add in a Super Bowl watch party, beer tastings and more, and there’s plenty to entice locals to come for a staycation in February. Check out the festival’s website at sunriverresort.com/ food-and-wine-festival-central-oregon for all the happenings.

Handels’ Ice Cream Chain Opens Store in Bend

Ice cream chain Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is opening a store in Bend. The grand opening for the Bend store, located at 61165 S. Highway 97, just north of the Murphy roundabout, is scheduled for this weekend, happening from Friday, Feb. 10 through Saturday, Feb. 11. The grand opening will include raffles for free ice cream, face painting, spe cial character appearances and more. Among the raffle prizes: free ice cream for a year for the first 100 guests to arrive on Feb. 11.

CourtesyHandels

Founded in 1945 in Ohio, the company now has over 90 franchise and corporate-owned stores around the country. The Bend store’s ice cream flavors include Black Cherry, Buckeye, Coffee Chocolate Chip, Graham Central Station, OreeDough, Salty Caramel Truffle and others. Dine-in, pickup, delivery and catering are all available, and the store hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Justy’s Becomes Lifty’s

Atrademark dispute is causing a west side bar and grill to change its name. The spot formerly known as Justy’s Bar Grill and Sandbox – where Bendites can go to play sand volleyball and more – is now known as Lifty’s, in a nod to the local ski culture. Chris Justema, a “local veteran in the restaurant, bar and beer scene in Central Oregon,” originally opened the spot in March 2022, using his nickname, Justy, as the original bar name, stated a press release. Now, nothing changes except the name.

“We are excited to continue to provide elevated pub food in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Our fire pits will keep roaring, our sand court is available as soon as the weather heats up, and our rooftop will continue to have the best views in town,” Justema stated in a press release.

Lifty’s is open from 11:30 am to close Monday through Friday and from 10 am to close Saturday and Sunday. It’s located at 1787 SW Chandler Avenue in Bend.

Franklin Ave. Greenwood Newport 15th St.

Courtesy SunriverResort

Sean Mercer

Shakes-Spirited Away

Choreographer, dancer and director Michelle Mejaski explores a new medium

By Jared Rasic

In the quiet of a brunch-hour coffee shop, I looked across the table at the medium, whose body looked like it was gently being pulled from side to side. She started clearing her throat, over and over, like there was something caught halfway down the wrong pipe. “Is there something you’re not saying?” She rasped at me. “I feel these hands on my throat, squeezing, like there’s something you really need to say but never have.” Then she started coughing as the squeezing got tighter.

The previous evening, I was still in the presence of the medium, but both of us were doing something completely different. I was sit ting in Cascades Theatrical Company watching said medium, Michelle Mejaski, direct a rehearsal of “Something Rotten,” an epic musical comedy with ornate period costumes, multiple dance numbers and multiple Shakespearean monologues. It’s almost exhaust ing watching Mejaski bounce from sitting in the audience, taking notes on performances, wearing her hat as producer when some of the costumes go missing, to putting on her tap shoes and leading a dance number onstage and singing with the chorus when they were unsure of a moment.

Majeski and co-director Angelina Anello-Dennee have a very fun show on their hands. Set in 1590, the show follows a pair of brothers, Nick and Nigel Bottom (the last name should be familiar to anyone who's seen or read “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”), who desperately want and need to write a successful play, but the only bard anyone cares about is The Bard, William Shakespeare. So Nick goes to Nostradamus to get some advice and hijinks ensue, including a giant musical number about breakfast foods (featuring a good old-fashioned cancan), multiple tap numbers and all kinds of romance.

So many of the performances were hugely enjoyable, such as Nathan Kristjanson’s exasperated Nick Bottom, Victoria Lusk as his long-suffering wife, Bea, and Jessica Hayes as Portia, a Puritan discovering her groove. But the performance I couldn’t look away from was Kisky Holwerda as Shakespeare. This isn’t a Shakespeare you’ve ever seen. This is Shakespeare by way of David Bowie in “Labyrinth.” Holwerda can take a completely throwaway line and, seemingly effortlessly, extract belly laughs aplenty. It’s performances like hers that remind me why I dedicated a huge part of my life to theater.

Once “Something Rotten” ends, Mejaski Choreography & Productions will put up “Rent” as this year’s Theater in the Park musical, but instead of constantly teaching dance, producing and directing between now and then, Mejaski has discovered a new calling. During the shelter-in-place period of COVID, she found herself meditating quite a bit and, after a while, started hearing voices. At first, she thought she was having a breakdown, until she spoke to some of her closest friends and explained what she was experiencing. They told her she was becoming a medium.

Now she has launched Redbird Readings.

“I believe that spirit energy is like a frequency,” says Mejaski. “It’s a vibration, just like there are frequencies all around us. Radio waves, television signals; once you turn on the radio or the TV, you tune into those frequencies and you hear them. I believe there is a spiritual…a universal energy around us. A vibration. We are all able to tune into it. When I open up, that is what I am listening to, seeing and feeling. It is not a gift, it is an ability. It is, by far, the most peaceful and loving place I have ever been. I love everything about it.”

So, the morning after the rehearsal, I met with Mejaski at Palate for a reading. She instantly tapped into something. I watched the way she carried herself change completely. Eyes closed, flickering behind her eyelids, she reached out and connected with parts of my past and avenues of my future. She wouldn’t ask me to explain anything I didn’t want to; instead she would tell me what she saw, heard and felt, while letting me apply it how I saw fit.

But then came the throat clearing, the rasping, the coughing. The coughing got louder. Mejaski needed me to say something. Needed me to face some kind of truth and speak it aloud. I did. Within moments, her coughing subsided. We parted ways and I went home and cried. Days later, I texted her to clarify a few quotes and told her my experience of the reading. I can still feel the chills I got after she said, “I don’t remember that at all.”

One of us does.

Something Rotten

Feb 10-12, 16-19, 23-26.

Cascades Theatrical Company, 148 NW Greenwood Ave cascadestheatrical.org for tickets

Redbird Readings

Evidential Mediumship, Psychic Readings, Akashic Records redbirdreadings@gmail.com for more information.

Top left, Grey Conant as the minstrel sings a tune in "Something Rotten." Top right, Richard Choate, left, stars as Nostradamus, and Nathan Krisian as Nick Bottom. In the bottom photo, several of the leads join together to sing a song about an omelet.

Photos courtesy Michelle Mejaski

SC Leave, Stay, Fight

SCREEN

Women talking, history listening

By Jared Rasic

Iwent to the theater this weekend to watch "Knock at the Cabin” with the full intention of reviewing it. After the film ended, the timing worked out perfectly for me to pop into another auditorium and check out a film nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, “Women Talking.” It’s a movie I’ve heard absolutely zero buzz about since the Oscar nominations were announced.

After watching “Women Talking,” I decided to review “Knock at the Cabin” in this opening paragraph (it was OK, the book was better) and spend the rest of this space writing about a movie much more deserving of the attention.

The story of “Women Talking” is deceptively simple. In an isolated Mennonite community, the women have discovered that the men have been drugging them and raping them at night and then blaming it on the devil. When one of the guilty men gets sent to jail, all of the men go to bail him out. While the men are gone, a select group of the women meet in the barn to discuss the three options before them: Forgive the men, stay and fight them or leave the community and face that God’s not allowing them into the kingdom of heaven. Most of the film’s runtime is spent watching these women have this meeting (known as a plebiscite) and decide what to do.

Writer/Director Sarah Polley is a genius. That isn’t news to anyone familiar with her performances in “The Sweet Hereafter” and “Slings and Arrows” or her directorial work on “Take This Waltz” and “Stories We Tell.” But with “Women Talking,” she has created protest art disguised as awards bait. Even the title, “Women Talking,” is designed to confront people

and insist on being heard. This isn’t a slow-moving series of vignettes designed to make viewers feel like good feminists for watching, nor is it made to feel like homework. These are modern, ripped- from-the-headlines ideas spoken by some of the finest actors working today.

I mean, this is a murderer’s row of talent. Frances McDormand as the broken soul who wants to forgive, Jessie Buckley as the volatile mother lashing out

nature of masculinity (toxic and otherwise) and abuse in a silent look between two characters than most movies are capable of in several hours.

at anyone that shows her kindness, Claire Foy as the protective mother who is afraid if she stays any longer in the colony that she will kill a man, Sheila McCarthy as the matron who knows she has spent too many years giving permission to the behavior of violent men, Kate Hallett (in her film debut) as the teenager who doesn’t necessarily know how serious all of this is and, of course, Rooney Mara, giving what might be the performance of her career, as a very pregnant woman who just wants to raise her child with safety and love.

All of these warring ideals clash in scene after scene of explosive writing and performances. Polley’s script is subtle and her directorial style could have been trapped by the wordiness of the story, but instead it dances between the characters and locations of the colony with poetry and subtext. The script and performances are so strong that more is said about the

I felt euphoria watching “Women Talking” because it’s so rare that marginalized voices are given such an empathetic stage from which to rage. I also know this won’t win the Best Picture Oscar, either. It isn’t as flashy as the other Best Picture nominees. But the nuances of its script should hopefully not be buried by the flashier nominees like “Glass Onion” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”

I know not many people will see this movie. Just explaining the plot to a friend made them question why I was even going to see it. But this isn’t misery porn. This isn’t exploiting trauma the way Hollywood has been doing for the Black and queer communities for the last decade plus. This is a scream of rage. This is a gut punch designed to shake loose the abuse our society normalizes in the United States and Canada. This movie documents what the opening rattle of the death of the Patriarchy sounds like. It sounds beautiful.

“Women Talking”

Dir. Sarah Polley Grade: ANow Playing at Regal Old Mill

This movie documents what the opening rattle of the death of the Patriarchy sounds like. It sounds beautiful.

Look at how astonishing this cast is from “Women Talking.”

Say Hello to Big Sagebrush This quiet ecosystem engineer builds communities from the ground up

By Rachel R. Renne

In May 2021, I hiked the entire 750-mile-long Oregon Desert Trail, touring the high desert plant communities of central and eastern Oregon on foot. Throughout this otherwise lonely trek, one plant was my constant companion: big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.).

All three of the major subspecies of this aromatic shrub are found in Oregon.

Lower-elevation sites with deeper soils support basin big sagebrush — easily recognizable by its long, thin leaves and tall, leggy growth form.

Found at moderate elevations and where soils are shallower, Wyoming big sagebrush is round and short-statured. This subspecies can extract water from soils too dry for many other plants — including the other big sagebrush subspecies.

Mountain big sagebrush lives at higher elevations where soils are deeper. This subspecies is often flat-topped but can resemble Wyoming big sagebrush. Connoisseurs can tell the two apart by smell, but even a novice can distinguish them by placing a few leaves in water under blacklight. Mountain big sagebrush leaves glow bright blue, thanks in part to the same chemicals that provide their characteristic sweeter smell.

“Sweeter” is perhaps a relative term. Although big sagebrush is an important food source for animals like the greater

sage-grouse, pronghorn and mule deer, it is bitter and unpleasant to humans. Note that we often refer to these shrubs as “sage,” but this is not the sage used in savory dishes. Big sagebrush belongs to the family Asteraceae, along with sunflowers and daisies. Culinary sage is in the Lamiaceae family, with mint, rosemary and thyme as relatives.

Humans are not the only animals in Oregon to find this plant unpleasant to eat. Nearly all big sagebrush ecosystems support livestock grazing, and cattle prefer a diet that excludes this ubiquitous plant. As a consequence, many extraordinary and imaginative methods have been developed to remove sagebrush in an effort to promote grasses and cater to the bovine palate.

Today, big sagebrush is often considered a valuable part of the landscape rather than a nuisance — and for good reason. These shrubs engineer their habitat in surprising ways that improve conditions for both animals and plants.

Big sagebrush promotes water infiltration and helps maintain snowpack. Its robust root system reaches deep into the soil, allowing it to use water that is inaccessible to most other plants — and then share that water. At night, big sagebrush’s roots transport water from wetter to drier parts of the soil. This phenomenon, common to many plants, was first discovered in big sagebrush.

It’s called “hydraulic lift” because the primary direction of this redistribution is up in these ecosystems where sun and wind rapidly dry shallow soils. In addition to enhancing water resources, big sagebrush also concentrates nutrients in the soils directly beneath its canopy, and these “islands of fertility” can promote recovery after fire.

At first glance, landscapes defined by big sagebrush can appear as monotonous grey-green expanses of shrubs surging toward the horizon. But, as

you’ve just learned, several subspecies are growing here, and when you look closer, you’ll see a variety of grasses and wildflowers nestled under and among the shrubs.

The way big sagebrush marks the passing of each season is similarly subtle, with slight but important changes that allow it to thrive in its harsh environment. In winter, its evergreen leaves usually remain partially uncovered by snow, allowing it to photosynthesize on warmer days. When water is abundant in the spring, this shrub grows both small, perennial leaves and big, ephemeral leaves to gather and store energy. When temperatures increase and water becomes scarce, big sagebrush sheds the larger leaves and assumes a more frugal affect to wait out the hot, dry summer. At the same time, it shifts its efforts to growing stems that will support hundreds of tiny yellow flowers in the fall. Although this happens when water is scarce, these stems efficiently photosynthesize and can contribute energy to their own growth.

Whenever you find yourself in the company of this stalwart western shrub, keep an eye out for wildflowers (and wildlife) and take note of its seasonal adaptation. As you hike stretches of the Oregon Desert Trail, try to imagine how big sagebrush is quietly engineering the water and nutrients beneath your feet.

—Rachel R. Renne is a PhD student studying big sagebrush ecosystems at the Yale School of the Environment and is a volunteer with Oregon Natural Desert Association, a nonprofit organization that protects and restores Oregon’s high desert public lands and waters.

Wildflowers, like these paintbrush and phlox, in the Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, thrive alongside big sagebrush.

Wyoming big sagebrush is adept at drawing water from dry soils, as seen on Diablo Rim.

Rachel Renne

Rachel Renne

GO HERE

By Allie Noland

Black Excellence Talent Show and Art Gallery

Celebrating creative and talented Black youth and young adults with a multi-faceted showcase

The two-part Black Excellence Showcase came from one of the Central Oregon Community College Afrocentric Studies Club meetings. While brainstorming ideas and collaborating with programs to celebrate Black History Month and Black culture, the students discovered they wanted to focus on uplifting creative youth and young adults in the Black community, according to Marcus LeGrand, Afrocentric program coordinator at COCC.

The club worked with June Park, COCC art instructor, and the art department to organize an art gallery—reaching out to the Black community in Central Oregon, finalizing submissions and setting up the showcase. From elementary school to college, the showcase fea tures just over 25 artists. The multi-media gallery features digital prints, sculptures, oil paintings, a mural dedicated to Black women’s journey, a living art piece and storytelling pieces. The show also features the artwork shown on this week’s Source Weekly cover, created by artist DeNathan Pickering, an art student and a member of the COCC Afrocentric Student Club. Pickering’s artistic style focuses on character animation and detailed cartoon subjects.

“I am a mostly self-taught, African American artist who's been drawing since I was about 9 or 10,” Pickering told the Source in an email. “I'm interested in working in the field of animation as possibly a character designer, background artist or visual development artist. This animation angle definitely reflects in my art style, which is inspired heavily by the cartoons I used to watch as a kid, as well as some comic book and Eastern animation inspiration.”

Located in the Pickney Gallery at Pence Hall, the Black Excellence Art Showcase is open to the public until Feb. 24.

“It’s just the beginning of trying to find ways for students to explore their

creativity and also express who they are,” LeGrand said.

The talent show is the second part of the celebration and will be in the Pickney Center for the Perform ing Arts on Feb. 11 at 6pm. With 15 separate acts, the show pro vides an opportunity for these creatives to share their talents—wheth er it be tap dancing, drumming, spoken word, singing, comedy or any other performance. LeGrand said there is still time

piece. We get caught up in all the oth er things. I think we lose focus on why we're here, and that's the joy. I think that's why we need to do this. We need to come out and release some energy, laugh, cry a little bit, dance a little bit. Just enjoy and watch students express themselves. It’s phenomenal.”

T H E C E N T E R

F O U N D A T I O N

C a r i n g f o r t h e p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l h e a l t h o f C e n t r a l O r e g o n y o u t h s i n c e 2 0 0 0 W e o f f e r s p o r t s m e d i c i n e s e r v i c e s , c o n c u s s i o n d i a g n o s i s a n d t r e a t m e n t , i n j u r y p r e v e n t i o n e d u c a t i o n , a n d m e n t a l h e a l t h s u p p o r t a t n o c o s t t o s t u d e n t s o r f a m i l i e s .

P R O U D L Y S E R V I N G :

CRAFT

Sand Lily Sparkling Wines Are for Beer Lovers

After more than 30 years making wine and beer for other companies, it’s Phil Brey’s time to sparkle

By Brian Yaeger

Acouple weeks (issues) ago, Source writer Donna Britt introduced us to the players leading the winification of Bend, transforming an idyllic beer town into a wine hamlet. Phil Brey has straddled that fence his entire career, spanning more than 30 years. His occupational trajectory has taken him from Fresno State University where he studied winemaking to a few Northern California wineries before landing a job at Deschutes Brewery in 1994. It’s not uncommon for home fermentation hobbyists to dabble in making grape wine and barley wine.

the German-lager-centric Van Henion orders your glassware.

The beauty of these draft wines is that they’re made an awful lot like beer, except with grapes instead of malts and hops. Brey discovered that draft sparkling wine works best when served at the same temperature and carbon dioxide pressure as beer, making it easy to put on tap at beer bars looking to reserve a handle for non-beerdrinking patrons (or, of course, beer-drinking patrons who like to shake things up).

R G

Truth be told, it’s not that he moved to Bend to pursue brewing; he was pursuing his now-wife, Debra Worthen-Brey. Today, the three of them including their daughter, Kindra Harms, are the winemakers, distributors and salespeople behind Sand Lily Sparkling Wines. This summer will mark the first anniversary of having bubbly in the market.

At present Brey makes two wines: one made from Willamette Valley Chardonnay grapes called Willamette Valley Brut and the other, which is the same base but incorporates Pinot Noir grapes, is the Willamette Valley Brut Rosé. Both are 12% alcohol, as refreshing as they are tasty (thanks to being carbonated), and make a great base for mimosas, as a few accounts between Bend and Redmond are discovering. While the sparkling wines are made over in the Valley near Philomath, thus far the wines are exclusively available in Central Oregon. And perhaps the key feature is that they’re exclusively available on tap.

One of the places Sand Lily wine can be found is Van Henion Brewing. It’s actually Brey’s day job. Brey was far from the only brewer at Deschutes back in those early days. It’s where he met Mark Henion, whose footsteps Brey followed in from Deschutes to Cascade Lakes Brewing to Boneyard. Of course, Boneyard’s former production facility is now Van Henion’s. Oh yes, Sand Lily is also on tap at the Boneyard pub.

When Brey poured me a sample of the Brut and Brut Rosé, I noticed that Sand Lily’s branded “stemless flutes” resemble one of the darlings of the beer glass world, the 8-ounce cylindrical stange specifically used for Kölsches from Cologne. Indeed it is the same objet d’art. That’s what happens when

For Brey’s part, he’s targeting both audiences. “If you’re a new brewery you get attention. Bend is a growing wine town, but there’s very different attitudes.” There’s decent reason for those attitudes on behalf of buyers for multi-tap bars. Adds Brey, “People blow through a half-barrel keg of beer in days but for a sixth (barrel keg) of wine, a ‘fast pull’ is two weeks.”

Sand Lily’s long-term success hinges on either expediting those sales or, more simply, finding more bars and restaurants who find the lower price-point appealing considering the savings from kegging rather than bottling get passed on to both retailer and consumer.

Once the sparkling winery catches on, Brey aspires to open his own production facility and tasting room on this side of the Cascades. “I’d love to be more hands-on during secondary fermentation,” says Brey. In the beer world, a “session beer” is a beer deemed worthy of drinking multiple glasses, and therefore typically lower in alcohol. While Sand Lily’s wines are 12%, they feel a lot lighter than, say, a 12% ABV imperial IPA or stout. And compared to those 15% jammy bruisers, they are more like session wines.

“I love fancy wines,” cops Brey, noting that the perception of sparkling wine is that it’s Champagne not from the Champagne region in France. But, he notes, he makes it “more approachable” in a way that gibes with his “working class roots,” synonymous with the beer industry. It doesn’t hurt that “brewers love the concept.”

De facto tasting room: Van Henion Brewing 63067 Plateau Dr., Bend sandlilysparklingwine.com

Courtesy SandLily

Crossword

“Hidden Cameras”

THE REC ROOM

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

ACROSS

1. "___ Came In Through the Bathroom Window"

4. Athletic shoe brand with an arrow in its logo

8. Buys entirely, like hype

14. Threw down more money than the "Paradise City" singer?

17. "Like, take my bongos, man ... please"?

18. X Games skiing star Hudak

19. ___ for the course

20. Bedtime story villain

21. Where "hello" is "talofa"

24. Summer coolers

26. Sideline coolers

27. "A Chorus Line" character who sings "The Music and the Mirror"

30. Late Beastie Boy

33. Actress Skye

34. Alley-___

35. Like some modern-day pirates

37. Pediatrician's book about a mythical flier?

40. Club music

41. Retain the rights to

42. Stir things up

43. ___-Kosh B'Gosh

44. Utterly confused

46. No longer with us

47. Poker variety

48. Chills with your bros

49. Royal pain

52. Big name in sci-fi books

54. Corp. board member

55. Twist ending author after turning to symbolism?

61. Skin art that's kinda quaint 'n all?

62. Turn ___ (car setting)

63. Event on a syllabus

64. Cooped up figure?

DOWN

1. Cry

2. Cry's partner

3. Landing fig.

4. Sleep lab study

5. Marking in marble

6. Sharpie stuff

7. On

8. Hitting the gym

9. Whole schmear

10. "Power" pop units

11. Karaoke selection

12. ___-friendly

13. Old man of Montreal

15. Nativity scene figure

16. First name in erotic journals

21. Told

22. Worships and then some

23. One with noble character

25. Anti-workplace discrimination org.

27. Popular skin moisturizer

28. "I'm all for it"

29. "Blazing Saddles," for one

30. Strand on the sea

31. Cryptic crossword setter's expertise

32. Target areas

36. Oscar winning role for Meryl

38. "Got this job covered"

39. Totalitarian government in some conspiracy theories, initially

45. Put up some decorations

47. Deadly serious

48. Part of a drum kit with a pedal

49. Lobbying grps.

50. Portmanteau word used in textbook publishing

51. Smeltery residue

53. "Blazing Saddles," e.g.

54. They're connected on some Happy Meals

56. ABC a.m. show

57. Cavs, on ESPN's BottomLine

58. Degree in mathematics?

59. Lobster eggs

60. Hither and ___

Puzzle for the week of February 6, 2023

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of February 6, 2023 Difficulty

Difficulty Level

We’re Local!

Questions, comments or suggestions for our local puzzle guru?

Email Pearl Stark at pearl@bendsource.com

Difficulty Level: ●○○○

© Pearl Stark mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters exactly once. FLAT HOWDY

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

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

exactly once.

F L A T H O W D Y exactly once.

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “When you’re in love, it’s the most glorious _____and______s of your life.”

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “When you’re in love, it’s the most glorious and s of your life.”

— Richard Lewis

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will

Answer for the week of January 30, 2023

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

“When you’re in love, it’s the most glorious and - Richard Lewis

Answer for the week of January 30, 2023

“But I'm here to let you know; That I'll love you like you deserve; I'll treat you right; And on a cold, cold night; I'll shower you in hugs and kisses; And soup”

“But I'm here to let you know; That I'll love you like you deserve; I'll treat you right; And on a cold, cold night; I'll shower you in hugs and kisses; And soup” — Talia Basma

© Pearl Stark

“But I'm here to let you know; That I'll love you like you deserve; I'll treat you right; And on a cold, cold night; I'll shower you in hugs and kisses; And soup” - Talia Basma

© Pearl Stark

www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): To get the most out of upcoming opportunities for intimacy, intensify your attunement to and reverence for your emotions. Why? As quick and clever as your mind can be, sometimes it neglects to thoroughly check in with your heart. And I want your heart to be wildly available when you get ripe chances to open up and deepen your alliances. Study these words from psychologist Carl Jung: "We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect; we apprehend it just as much by feeling. Therefore, the judgment of the intellect is, at best, only the half of truth, and must, if it be honest, also come to an understanding of its inadequacy."

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): "In love there are no vacations. Love has to be lived fully with its boredom and all that." Author and filmmaker Marguerite Duras made that observation, and now I convey it to you—just in time for a phase of your astrological cycle when boredom and apathy could and should evolve into renewed interest and revitalized passion. But there is a caveat: If you want the interest and passion to rise and surge, you will have to face the boredom and apathy; you must accept them as genuine aspects of your relationship; you will have to cultivate an amused tolerance of them. Only then will they burst in full glory into renewed interest and revitalized passion.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): During my quest for advice that might be helpful to your love life, I plucked these words of wisdom from author Sam Kean: "Books about relationship talk about how to 'get' the love you need, how to 'keep' love, and so on. But the right question to ask is, 'How do I become a more loving human being?'" In other words, Aries, here's a prime way to enhance your love life: Be less focused on what others can give you and more focused on what you can give to others. Amazingly, that’s likely to bring you all the love you want.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have the potential to become even more skilled at the arts of kissing and cuddling and boinking than you already are. How? Here are some possibilities. 1. Explore fun experiments that will transcend your reliable old approaches to kissing and cuddling and boinking. 2. Read books to open your mind. I like Margot Anand’s The New Art of Sexual Ecstasy. 3. Ask your partner(s) to teach you everything about what turns them on. 4. Invite your subconscious mind to give you dreams at night that involve kissing and cuddling and boinking. 5. Ask your lover(s) to laugh and play and joke as you kiss and cuddle and boink.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are an Italian wolf searching for food in the Apennine Mountains. You’re a red-crowned crane nesting in a wetland in the Eastern Hokkaido region of Japan. You're an olive tree thriving in a salt marsh in southern France, and you're a painted turtle basking in a pool of sunlight on a beach adjoining Lake Michigan. And much, much more. What I'm trying to tell you, Gemini, is that your capacity to empathize is extra strong right now. Your smart heart should be so curious and open that you will naturally feel an instinctual bond with many life forms, including a wide array of interesting humans. If you're brave, you will allow your mind to expand to experience telepathic powers. You will have an unprecedented knack for connecting with simpatico souls.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): My Cancerian friend Juma says, "We have two choices at all times: creation or destruction. Love creates and everything else destroys." Do you agree? She’s not just talking about romantic love, but rather love in all forms, from the urge to help a friend, to the longing to seek justice for the dispossessed, to the compassion we feel for our descendants. During the next three weeks, your assignment is to explore every nuance of love as you experiment with the following hypothesis: To create the most interesting and creative life for yourself, put love at the heart of everything you do.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I hope you get ample chances to enjoy deep soul kisses in the coming weeks. Not just perfunctory lip-to-lip smooches and pecks on the cheeks, but full-on intimate sensual exchanges. Why do I recommend this? How could the planetary positions be interpreted to encourage a specific expression of romantic feeling? I'll tell you, Leo: The heavenly omens suggest you will benefit from exploring the frontiers of wild affection. You need the extra sweet, intensely personal communion that comes best from the uninhibited mouth-to-mouth form of tender sharing. Here's what Leo poet Diane di Prima said: "There are as many kinds of kisses as there are people on earth, as there are permutations and combinations of those people. No two people kiss alike—no two people fuck alike—but somehow the kiss is more personal, more individualized than the fuck."

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Borrowing the words of poet Oriah from her book The Dance: Moving to the Deep Rhythms of Your Life, I've prepared a love note for you to use as your own this Valentine season. Feel free to give these words to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. Oriah writes, "Don't tell me how wonderful things will be someday. Show me you can risk being at peace with the way things are right now. Show me how you follow your deepest desires, spiraling down into the ache within the ache. Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance, the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart."

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Walter Lippman wrote, "The emotion of love is not self-sustaining; it endures only when lovers love many things together, and not merely each other." That's great advice for you during the coming months. I suggest that you and your allies—not just your romantic partners, but also your close companions—come up with collaborative projects that inspire you to love many things together. Have fun exploring and researching subjects that excite and awaken and enrich both of you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio writer Paul Valéry wrote, "It would be impossible to love anyone or anything one knew completely. Love is directed towards what lies hidden in its object." My challenge to you, Scorpio, is to test this hypothesis. Do what you can to gain more in-depth knowledge of the people and animals and things you love. Uncover at least some of what's hidden. All the while, monitor yourself to determine how your research affects your affection and care. Contrary to what Valéry said, I'm guessing this will enhance and exalt your love.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In his book Unapologetically You, motivational speaker Steve Maraboli writes, "I find the best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead, help them reveal the greatest version of themselves." That's always good advice, but I believe it should be your inspirational axiom in the coming weeks. More than ever, you now have the potential to forever transform your approach to relationships. You can shift away from wanting your allies to be different from what they are and make a strong push to love them just as they are.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I analyzed the astrological omens. Then I scoured the internet, browsed through 22 books of love poetry, and summoned memories of my best experiences of intimacy. These exhaustive efforts inspired me to find the words of wisdom that are most important for you to hear right now. They are from poet Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Stephen Mitchell): "For one human being to love another human being: that is perhaps the most difficult task that has been entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation."

Homework: Name one thing you could do to express your love more practically. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

UNDERSTANDING INTIMACY:

Waiting for the Invitation

By Dr. Jane Guyn

Dear Dr. Jane,

I’m married to a wonderful person who uses the pronouns they/them. Our sex life is pretty good. Even though we only do it every few weeks, we both experience pleasure. When we’re done, we wonder why we don’t do it more. My problem is that they never initiate. A few days later, I’m interested but I’m the only one who ever suggests it. I wait around but nothing happens. It feels awkward. I wish my partner would show me that they want me. How can we fix it?

—Waiting for the invitation

Dear Waiting,

Lots of my clients talk to me about the problem of initiation. When one partner feels like they’re the only person who suggests sex, they feel like the other person is participating out of obligation.

This is understandable but not necessarily correct.

If you want to know why your partner isn't initiating, you need to investigate the fundamental nature of sexual desire. Many people have “responsive desire” as described by Emily Nagoski in her great book “Come As You Are” (2015).

What is Responsive Desire?

Nagoski defines “responsive desire” as desire in response to sexual pleasure, such as physical stimulation like kissing or touching. This type of desire is especially common in people who need higher amounts of pleasure to get turned on. It’s very different from “spontaneous desire.”

What’s Spontaneous Desire?

Nagoski defines “spontaneous desire” as when a person wants sex immediately after getting turned on by a specific stimulus — a sexual thought, image, sound or scent. Another way of thinking about this type of desire is that it’s desire in anticipation of pleasure. People with spontaneous desire typically require less stimulation to get turned on.

As the spontaneous desire person in your relationship, you might have decided to “wait out” your responsive desire partner. That might seem like a good idea, because you think that your partner will eventually hit you up for physical intimacy. I get it. This is how you would feel. But, waiting for your responsive desire partner to initiate sex while you get frustrated doesn’t work. Your partner isn't likely to get turned on without you providing sexual stimulation.

Don’t worry, even if you’re the spontaneous desire partner, you don’t always have to be the one to initiate connection.

Even though your partner has reactive desire, you don’t have to always do the heavy lifting of initiating physical intimacy. Do these three things to make the situation better:

1. Talk about it

If you’ve been following my advice here in Understanding Intimacy, you won't be surprised to hear my first suggestion — talking! Talking about your sex life — including who makes the invitation for connection — is often challenging. I know this is true, but it’s important to get your feelings out into the open. Tell your partner how you feel when they don’t offer physical intimacy or affection. They may not understand that the situation makes you feel unattractive or even unloved.

2. Don’t take it personally

It’s tough not to take it personally when physical intimacy is maybe the most personal part of your life. But the truth is that your partner’s desire is more about them than it is about you. The issue of responsive vs. spontaneous desire is important, but there are many things that might keep your partner from getting turned on. They include hormone levels, fatigue, distraction, a lack of privacy, body image issues, power dynamics, erotic fantasies and more. Your relationship is only one of the things that impact their desire.

3. Make a plan to alternate initiation — but make it easy for your partner

You can make a plan to alternate initiation even when the way you get turned on is very different from the way they get turned on. Understand that being overt can be challenging for your responsive desire partner. Allow them to signal you their willingness without words. One idea would be for them to light a specific candle when they’re open to connection. Your job will be to notice the invitation and then to take time kissing and touching so that they can get warmed up slowly after opening the door to you.

You got this. Xoxo,

—Dr. Jane

Send

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TAKE ME HOME

By James Keane

February Real Estate Mailbag

Iwant to thank all our readers and especially those who have taken the time to reach out and ask your Real Estate-related questions. So here we go with our February Mailbag!

Q: I have been thinking about getting into Real Estate. What skills do I need to develop?

A: That is a great question, that I will do my best to answer. Staying general, the most important skill you can develop is communication. There is no way around the fact that you have to be communicating with various people all day every day — from clients, lenders and contractors to escrow officers, the list goes on and on. Being able to communicate effectively with your clients when explaining property features or elements of a sales contract or specific addendum are crucial. Beyond that, there are so many different ways to approach the business that we would be really getting specific about your business model. Speaking of, make sure you have a business model or plan to follow, because most new agents get lost trying to figure out how to gain practical knowledge and also develop and build a client base. If you were hoping for more details, please feel free to reach out again; thanks!

Q: I have been on the fence about buying my first house for what seems like years. When is the best time to buy?

A: There is never a perfect time to buy. There, I said it. The issue people seem to be hung up on a lot recently is trying to “time the market.” The best way to determine when to buy a home is to somewhat ignore the external factors and really focus on internal factors.

How much can you really afford to spend a month on your mortgage? What do your savings look like? How secure is your employment? How flexible is your budget? How long do you plan on living in the home/area? Once you feel good about your answers to these types of questions you can begin to assess the external factors. Think about this, for example: If rates shot down to 2% tomorrow, it would be a great time to buy, except that demand would rise, bidding wars would take place and prices would rise. If rates go way up, prices will come down (although not as much as you may like) as demand decreases. The point I am making is that the best time to buy is when you feel comfortable about your personal financial situation as opposed to “market conditions.”

Q: What are the biggest obstacles to affordable housing in Bend?

A: That is a tough question to answer, as there are many nuances to housing and specifically “affordable housing.” I’m assuming you’re talking about “workforce housing,” which is defined as housing affordable to households earning between 60-120% of area median income. The biggest obstacle to the development of affordable housing is that it requires government subsidy. The cost of the acquisition of land, predevelopment, civil engineering and vertical construction all make it financially impossible for the private development of this type of housing. I would strongly suggest checking out the City of Bend’s website that has all kinds of information on Affordable Housing and the various programs in place for both developers and those seeking housing.