Source Weekly October 31, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE:

It’s the Beer Issue, it’s Halloween… those two things go together, right? While we’re not saying that you should literally combine them and pass out cans of barrel-aged goodness to trick-or-treaters, you can at least peruse both topics inside this issue. Check out this week’s calendar for all the Halloween and post-Halloween fun, and then browse the various beer-related stories inside this issue. Jared Rasic visits a riverside favorite in his review of the food (and beer) at the Monkless Brasserie, and in Craft, Brian Yaeger outlines the many Central Oregon winners in the Great American Brew Fest (we beat Portland… cheers!). Savannah Mendoza outlines where to go to catch beer and trivia throughout the week, and also previews an upcoming beer dinner.

On the News side, we’re bringing you an impactful investigation from our partners at InvestigateWest, which explores the failures of the system that some say led to a local woman’s suicide.

And if you’re looking for our endorsements for the upcoming election, we got you! Use our QR code to go straight to last week’s “Back to the Ballot Box” elections coverage. Thanks for reading your friendly local newspaper.

LIGHTMETER:

PRESENTED BY HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

EDITOR

Nicole Vulcan - editor@bendsource.com

REPORTER

Julianna LaFollette- reporter@bendsource.com

REPORTER / CALENDAR EDITOR

Savannah Mendoza - calendar@bendsource.com

FEATURES AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

Jennifer Baires - features@layitoutfoundation.org

MUSIC WRITER

Chris Young - music@bendsource.com

COPY EDITOR

Richard Sitts

FREELANCERS

Jared Rasic, Damian Fagan, Cassie Clemans, Brian Yaeger, Josh Savage

SYNDICATED CONTENT

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

PRODUCTION MANAGER / ART DIRECTOR

Jennifer Galler - production@bendsource.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ben Irish - design@bendsource.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Ashley Sarvis

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Ban Tat, Chad Barnes

advertise@bendsource.com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Sean Switzer

CONTROLLER

Angela Switzer - angela@bendsource.com

PUBLISHER

Aaron Switzer - aaron@bendsource.com

WILD CARD

Paul Butler

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Alternative Weekly Network 916-551-1770

“There’s

Don't

OPINION

It was only five short years ago that an Oregon media company rolled into town, trumpeting its efforts to “save local journalism” in Central Oregon by purchasing the then-daily newspaper, The Bulletin. The company was convincing enough that it got a group of local investors with the best intentions to aid in the acquisition. Unfortunately, here we are, a mere handful of years later, our worst fears founded. What local readers received was a decline in published days, fewer journalists and most importantly, a steady decline of actual opinions on its opinion page. Its total abdication of duty in endorsements (look how that worked out for The Washington Post this week) and its layoffs should have alerted the community that it all pointed to a pending sale to a faceless out-of-state media conglomerate.

We don’t relish talking about the sale of EO Media and the decline of the area’s (formerly) daily newspaper. We’d love to see a robust daily that delivers thoughtful analysis of our community, and even a bright editorial from time to time to help keep our local news ecosystem strong. Surprisingly, though we differed greatly in our opinion, we have grown a little nostalgic for the editorials Erik Lukens used to pen under the former ownership. We waited for the trumpeted change to materialize under the ownership of regional owner EO Media. However, it is time to abandon that narrative surrounding the recent chapter in Central Oregon’s journalistic history, now that Prineville’s Central Oregonian, the Madras Pioneer, the Redmond Spokesman, and The Bulletin have now been offloaded to one controlling entity — the same one that bought up the Pamplin group of newspapers in Oregon this year.

We understand that it’s self-serving to tout the benefits of local ownership among the institutions that shape our lives, since we enjoy such a distinction. But local ownership does matter. In our case, we add to that the value of our product being free. Delivering news and information to the community and refusing to charge people for the privilege is the most egalitarian move we can make, and we do it week in and week out. People deserve to have access to the news that impacts their lives. To quote one of our favorite newsletter journalists, Dave Pell, Real News Saves Lives.

As a reader, you should be horrified by EO Media’s sale to Carpenter Media, a Mississippi company that claims 250 titles under its ownership. Companies like this buy publications in order to

grind them into the ground. This isn’t “save local journalism” ¬— it’s an abdication of local control and local values. One could argue that the local papers will continue to employ local people — but so does Walmart. Look how that worked out for the local stores it decimated in the retail space.

Carpenter Media’s press release about the purchase of EO Media placed a big focus on how it will help local businesses market themselves, and less on how it will continue to uphold the local values and the local focus on quality journalism we have hoped for all along. There will, of course, be a significant effort to put competitors like us out of business. Because we truly care about this community and what happens to it, we’ll fight that. We’ll continue to grow, as we have done over this past year through our commitment to the community and being a nimble media company. Our nonprofit, the Lay It Out Foundation, which this year hired two people in the service of producing and promoting local journalism, is one such example. Through that effort, we have been able to produce more in-depth investigations on the issues that matter, like the sheriff’s race. We’ll continue to follow that news coverage up with well-researched and locally focused opinion columns, like the ones that weighed in on that local sheriff’s race — ones that our readers tell us have helped them see the issue more clearly during this passionate election season. All this has been powered by local people who are invested in the local community, and who we see as so much more than the employee spreadsheets that corporate media employs.

In a few short weeks, the holiday-season talk about how shopping local benefits the local economy will begin in earnest. People will remind you to visit the mom-and-pops, to shop the local maker’s wares, to secure that deal with the local contractor so she’s able to pay for ballet lessons. And while all that goes on, we’ll sing a dirge for one piece of the local journalism ecosystem, and what could have been.

O Letters

Correction:

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?

Send your thoughts to editor@bendsource.com.

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

In last week’s “Back to the Ballot Box: Election 2024” feature, we gave cumulative totals of the cash contributions for each city council candidate, which included the cash candidates had contributed to their own campaigns. We have corrected the numbers in the online version of the story to reflect the total amount of cash contributions for each candidate in the 2024 election. The updated numbers do not include the candidates’ contributions to their own campaigns. We regret the errors.

CHARACTER MATTERS

Polls show white males favoring Trump. As a white male for 65 years, 42 as a white dad, and another 11 as a white grandfather, I feel compelled to address you guys.

Can any of you dudes hold up Donald Trump as a role model for your kids? Do we teach our children to behave like him? Of course not! He lies constantly. He’s cheated on all of his wives. He makes fun of the handicapped. He has been accused by at least 26 women of rape, kissing, and groping without consent. I could go on, and on, and on. Would you guys want somebody like Trump dating your daughter? Of course not!

We raise our kids to be good people and we hope they make us proud. As a nation, we should carry that same expectation. Our President, at the very least, should be a good person who instills pride in all of us. Sadly, and obviously, Trump falls short.

Imagine Inauguration Day: Kamala Harris sworn in as the next President of the United States of America. Millions of little girls and their parents rejoicing. The inspiration and joy her election would provide to the world is simply immeasurable. We can all take pride in that!

—Mike Covey

TOTAL DIPSHITS

Your embrace of Kamala is disgusting and way off base. She is so pathetic and unable to run anything, including a fry station....which she probably didn't that it's completely evident that your leftist ridiculousness has rotted your brains! Please get it together as your living in a dipshit bubble! Choosing dems is wrong, get over it!!!

Get it together losers!!!

—Scott Bilyeu

MEASURE 118: A COSTLY MISTAKE FOR OREGON’S ECONOMY

As a former city councilor and board member of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, I oppose Measure 118, which I believe will impose a massive tax burden on Oregon's economy and jeopardize local livelihoods. This measure proposes a gross

receipts tax on businesses with over $25 million in annual sales, taxing them on sales rather than profits. With a staggering $6.8 billion tax looming, businesses will face increased costs on goods and services, regardless of profitability. This could force many to raise prices, cut jobs, or close their doors.

Moreover, Measure 118 introduces a costly 3% tax on sales at every stage of the supply chain, resulting in a "tax on a tax" that makes everyday products significantly more expensive.

Oregon's businesses are already burdened by a 33% increase in state taxes over the past five years, leaving us with the second-worst corporate tax ranking in the nation. Measure 118 will further weaken our competitive edge, driving jobs and revenue out of state and harming our economy.

With rising living costs—averaging an additional $11,000 annually for households—implementing the largest tax increase in Oregon's history is especially troubling. This measure will exacerbate financial strains, particularly on vulnerable populations like seniors and those on fixed incomes.

In conclusion, Measure 118 threatens local businesses, drives up consumer prices, and undermines our communities. I urge Oregonians to reject this measure and support policies that promote economic stability.

—Chris Piper

ELECTION DENIERS HAVE NO PLACE IN OREGON GOVERNMENT

This November voters will cast their votes for Oregon’s next Secretary of State. Second in line to the Governorship, the Secretary of State is also the chief auditor of executive branch departments and is responsible for the administration of elections throughout all 36 Oregon counties. The republican candidate, Dennis Linthicum, should be familiar to Oregon voters for his protest walkouts denying a quorum in the Oregon legislature stymying legislation proposed by the Democrat majority in Salem to protect access to reproductive care including abortion.

What voters may not know about Dennis are his views on the outcome of the 2020 election and efforts in some

states to disqualify the former president from the ballot based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. In a recent interview with OPB, Dennis stated “I would not keep Trump off the ballot given the facts as I currently understand them. Some state secretaries identified Trump as the “leader of an insurrection.” Since the claim of “insurrection” is not supported by any formal, adjudicated response from the courts, the respective secretaries crossed the line for unbiased decision making and their decisions represent unacceptable behavior.” In the same interview, Dennis refused to answer the question “Did Joe Biden win the 2020 election.” By refusing to accept the 2020 election outcome, Dennis reveals he is unfit to serve as Oregon’s next Secretary of State. Please cast your vote for Tobias Read.

—Joel Komarek

WHO TOOK THE GNOMES ON ELV?

Yes, once again someone has taken all but a couple of the elves/gnomes from the ELV trail. This is the second time this year. After the last theft occurred, many of us helped replace them and we all once again enjoyed the whimsical

vibe of this trail. I really hate to think we are sharing the trail with such a person. So, whoever you are, you will not defeat us and we will once again repopulate the gnomes on ELV!

—Chris Evensen

Letter of the Week:

Chris: O, goody — a letter that is not about the election! Keep on with your bad selves, out there enjoying the trails like imminent doom isn’t a thing. Gnome gnome left behind! Letter of the Week. Come on by for your gift card to Palate.

—Nicole Vulcan

A fresh take on American fare, serving farm-to-table ingredients and dry aged steaks overlooking the Great Meadow and Backyard.

The family-friendly, indoor and outdoor culinary destination at Caldera Springs serving locally inspired cuisine. Open to the public.

The neighborhood eatery and place to catch the game, serving pub fare, cocktails, Pacific Northwest wines, and local craft beer.

SunriverResort.com/dining for hours and reservations

Classic clubhouse dining, serving contemporary favorites in the lodgelike setting at Crosswater golf course. Open to resort guests and members only.

The Bulletin Bought by MississippiBased Media Group

Carpenter Media Group

purchased over two dozen EO Media Group publications, including The Bulletin

and Redmond Spokesman

By Julianna LaFollette

Colossal media company, Carpenter Media Group, announced an agreement to acquire EO Media Group and its portfolio of over two dozen newspaper across Oregon and Washington, including local papers “The Bulletin” and “Redmond Spokesman.” Since 2019, The Bulletin has been owned and operated by EO Media Group – an Oregon-based publisher that operated numerous newspapers across Oregon and Washington.

“Over decades, our family has worked to build lasting connections with the communities we serve, especially in plac es like Pendleton and Astoria,” President and CEO of EO Media Group Stephen A. Forrester wrote in a press release.

According to a statement from Bulletin Projects Editor Jody Lawrence-Turner, the change may result in some differences, including a slightly different look online and in print and more bylines from Carpenter’s other publications.

newspapers, including The Bulletin.

On June 3, 28 EO company employees were notified that they would be laid off and their jobs eliminated. The company also reduced hours for 19 employees in July and decreased the frequency of publication for The Bulletin – combining its Saturday and Sunday print edition and dropping its e-editions from seven to five per week.

Declining advertising revenues and rising operating expenses forced the company to make these changes to help stabilize its operations, according to EO Media Group in June.

The union representing reporters shared its thoughts with the Source Weekly on Friday.

“Central Oregon News Guild is disappointed The Bulletin is no longer locally owned, but we are looking forward to meeting Carpenter Media at the bargaining table next month. Our parent union, Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, has experience negotiating with Carpenter Media,” Bulletin reporter Clayton Franke wrote in an email, on behalf of the union.

During a virtual meeting, Carpenter said it plans to retain all staff through the sale, other than several mailroom employees who were laid off last week, according to Franke.

“Carpenter categorized operations as ‘business as usual.’ We don't know much more beyond that,” he said.

Reports of an impending evolution within EO Media Group and its publications began circulating in June, when the company announced changes in operations, resulting in layoffs and reductions in print frequency at several

City Program Produces First Streamlined ADU

A new City of Bend program offers a free, pre-approved design plan to incentivize ADUs

By Julianna LaFollette

AAfter announcing the changes, EO Media retained a firm to evaluate its options and announced it was considering a nonprofit model.

“We did not do this lightly,” Heidi Wright, publisher of The Bulletin, told the Source Weekly in June. “We did it in a way that we intend to protect as much of the effort that goes into producing the paper.” Wright declined to comment on The Bulletin’s recent sale.

Carpenter Media, the Mississippi-based company which owns over 200 publications in the U.S. and Canada, expressed a commitment to continuing EO Media's legacy.

“We plan to build on the foundations put down by the Forrester family as we continue to innovate and work to support true professional journalism for each community served,” read a statement from Carpenter Media Group Chairman Todd Carpenter.

Pamplin Media Group, the owner of about two dozen Oregon publications, sold its portfolio, including the Portland Tribune, to Carpenter Media in June. Soon after its purchase, Carpenter Media Group allegedly laid off an unknown number of employees, including some in its newsrooms, according to The Oregonian.

A Washington publication, the Daily Herald, announced a dozen layoffs in late June, including two editors, after being acquired by Carpenter Media group in late March.

n Accessory Dwelling Unit using pre-approved plans from the City of Bend, the first of its kind, was completed last week, demonstrating the benefits of a program aimed at simplifying the building process for homeowners.

A City of Bend pilot effort, created in April 2023, offers homeowners interested in building an ADU on their lot a pre-approved design plan, saving them both time and money. As of today, the plan includes one option with two different roofing styles, standing at 567 square feet.

The newly completed ADU on the east side of Bend, which used the free, pre-approved design plans, cost the homeowner about $200,000. This is the first and only application thus far for the pre-approved ADU, according to city officials.

Paying for a design plan can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, according to Michael Brydges, Project Manager with Sierra James, the construction team that worked on this ADU. With ADUs, homeowners are oftentimes forced to wait weeks to get design plans reviewed and approved. This program helps fast-track that.

According to Kerry Bell, middle-income housing coordinator, the City of Bend has identified ADUs as a crucial element of the housing picture.

Research from a similar program in Eugene, and an effort to remove barriers to building different housing types, prompted the idea for these free design plans.

“It’s a really good way to maximize use of space of the land in the city, because what we don’t have is more land,” said Brydges.

The process of encouraging more ADUs also aligns with one of the Bend City Council’s goals – for people who work in Bend to afford housing in Bend.

“I think that ADUs are an example of the type of housing that we want to incentivize,” Bend City Councilor

Megan Perkins told the Source Weekly. “They provide that middle housing that we're all really trying to focus on right now in the city.”

While the City of Bend currently has one design plan for people to use, it plans to add more. The current design plan can’t be mirrored and would not fit every lot type, explained Bell. Additionally, revisions cannot be made to the plans. In hearing from the community, there’s an interest in design plans for an above-garage ADU, as well as a narrower plan to fit smaller lots.

“I think the next step is really to look at different free, pre-approved plan options. We’re hearing from the community that we need to have more of these different types of plans on the ready, and particularly ADUs that have a universal design, which is a design that removes barriers for people that have disabilities,” said Perkins. “Those are something that we're looking at into the future.”

Within the last few years, to continue incentivizing housing, the City eliminated some of the permit requirements that it had on ADUs in its code, said Bell. These efforts include reducing the requirements for on-site parking, removing land use permits and decreasing System Development Charges.

These changes were brought forward to chip away at costs and fees associated with building an ADU, which Bell noted were expensive and burdensome. The City felt that plans for an ADU were just one more thing that was costly for homeowners.

With the City’s measures to reduce costs, the homeowner likely saved an estimated $15,346 that would have been associated with additional City permit costs, according to Bell.

“We’re always looking at how we can have faster permit turnaround timelines, and that's something that we are just reevaluating regularly,” said Perkins.

JuliannaLaFollette

Julianna LaFollette

Redmond Chamber, City of Redmond Spar Over Tourism Tax Dollars

This summer, the City terminated its contract with the Chamber following an investigation of misappropriation of tourism funds. Now

By Julianna LaFollette

The Redmond Chamber of Commerce, which operates Visit Redmond, is pushing for a new collaborative partnership with the City of Redmond to continue offering destination services to both visitors and residents.

In June, City of Redmond officials decided to redirect tourism tax dollars to a Portland-based agency to develop a more robust marketing effort. This was carried out through a City of Redmond Request for Proposals, looking for additional marketing services.

According to the Chamber, which received about $350,000 in tourism tax dollars in the 23/24 fiscal year when under a contract with the City, this change in allocation has created a gap in the services Redmond can provide to visitors.

Among a number of specific holiday events, the Chamber asks that the City help support services like Redmond’s Free Summer Concert Series, Music On The Green, the Official Redmond Visitor Guide, Welcome Center services and more.

"These events and services are the heartbeat of our community, from our signature summer concerts to our beloved holiday traditions," said Executive Director Eric Sande in a press release. "Partnering with the City of Redmond will ensure that we can continue to serve both our visitors and residents.”

On Oct. 24, the Chamber sent the Council a proposal, requesting the City award the Chamber $150,000 per year from the general fund, or any available Transient Room Tax reserves, to ensure the continuation of services. According to the proposal, continued funding from the City would prevent the Chamber from having to cut services and events.

On Oct. 28, the City of Redmond sent a response to the Chamber, recommending

a joint meeting in early 2025. The Council noted that because of limitations and lack of availability of lodging tax dollars, the resources the Chamber is requesting would come from the General Fund, the same dollars used to fund public safety, parks and other essential services.

The response also stated that it met with the Chamber many times over the years to discuss goals.

“Since we just learned of this most recent request, we look forward to understanding what their actual need is, since the City already provides, and will continue to provide support for many community traditions,” read the response.

The Council’s letter said the City will continue allocating $5,000 of in-kind street closures and traffic management for parades, $20,000 in flower baskets and banners and $7,000 for in-kind storage, setup and support for the holiday tree and market.

The Council’s response to the Chamber also detailed the events leading up to the new contract with the Portland-based marketing firm, stating that the Chamber did not submit a proposal.

In a letter to the Redmond City Council on April 22, the Chamber said that after careful consideration, they decided not to submit an application for the Destination Marketing and Management Services RFP.

“The Current RFP does not align with our beliefs in our industry standards. We have decades of experience in destination management and our goal is to continue to expand and grow,” read a statement in the letter from Jake Waardenburg, president of the Redmond Chamber Board of Directors.

In the same letter, the Chamber requested the Council’s support through financial contributions – $100,000 – from any dedicated TRT funds toward the continued operation of its local Visitors Center.

“With continued financial support, we can ensure the Visitor Center remains a cornerstone of our community’s prosperity and appeal,” read a statement from Waardenburg from April 22.

The Chamber’s most recent press release, and requests to the City on Oct. 28, suggested that funds could also help support several seasonal events.

“It's a fine line. You can’t fund all events with the tourism dollars, but you can have events that definitely increase the visitor experience, or might be a draw for them to come here,” Sande told the Source Weekly.

A financial audit from 2023, conducted by the City of Redmond, concluded that the Chamber misallocated City room tax resources into ineligible activities.

“Among the reasons for opening a TRT contract, was the results of a 2023 financial audit of the Chamber. The audit raised concerns about the Chamber’s misappropriation of City lodging tax dollars,” read a statement from the City of Redmond.

The City sent a notice to terminate its contract with the Chamber on June 14.

According to Sande, the City has approved the Chamber’s budget every year, and said he’d never heard about the misappropriation of funds.

“The previous councils, the previous mayors have always agreed that what we’re doing was appropriate. So, it’s just a new city council and a new legal team that has a different perspective of what tourism dollars are meant to be spent on,” said Sande, adding that they have approval from Travel Oregon. “We follow the Oregon Revised Statutes Guidelines, and we follow industry standards, so we’ve always spent appropriately.”

Disclosure: Source Weekly Publisher Aaron Switzer sits on the Redmond Tourism and Lodging Advisory Committee.

SNOWFLAKE BOUTIQUE

ARTS, CRAFTS AND FOOD FAIR

The 48th annual Snowflake Boutique will be held at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in the South Sister Building. Browse through arts and craft vendors and check out the food fair over the span of two days. Fri., Nov. 1, 1-8pm and Sat., Nov. 2, 9am-5pm at Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. 3800 SE Airport Way, Redmond. Free.

SUNDAY 11/03

HOME SWEET

THRIVE CENTRAL OREGON FUNDRAISER

Thrive Central Oregon is excited to announce a Fundraiser Bingo event during the second Sunday of every month. All proceeds go back into the community through Thrive’s Housing Fund, which provides rental and deposit assistance. Sun., Nov. 3, 11am-1pm at Blacksmith Public House. 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Free.

Woman’s suicide after repeated 911 calls reveals gaps in Bend’s lauded crisis response system

She called 911 nine times in six months seeking help before neighbors found her dead

By Kaylee Tornay / InvestigateWest

Editor’s note: This story contains descriptions of suicide.

At first, the police officer stepping into Pamela Antoni’s empty one-bedroom apartment observed nothing out of the ordinary. The air was cool and smelled fresh. Clothes hung in the shower and a packed bag sat on the floor by the bed.

But Officer Jonathon Fetherolf, an officer in training in Bend, Oregon, also noted the shattered toilet tank lid in the bathroom and the shards of broken beer bottles littering the floor around the couch and coffee table. Walking out the back door, his eyes followed a trickle of white-brown liquid that ran from an empty pint glass across the balcony to the opposite corner.

Antoni’s body was still there, hanging from the railing. She was 49 years old.

Two stories below, a group of residents who had found their neighbor dead 15 minutes earlier was gathered on the street. Paramedics had blocked traffic with cones and vehicles. Just an hour of daylight filled the sky: It was 6:30 a.m. on June 4.

This was far from the first time Bend police had responded to Antoni’s apartment in the Eddy, a complex billed on its website as “The perfect home in the perfect neighborhood.” But the packed bag, spilled drink and smashed glass didn’t shed much light on how the tragedy unfolded — because the most glaring clues that Antoni had been teetering on the precipice of suicide were not inside her apartment.

They were in the nine 911 calls she had made over the last six months asking for help with paranoid fears and, once, threatening explicitly to kill herself. They were in the reports from friends and neighbors who received alarming text messages and menacing letters, and who had heard screaming and glass breaking late at night. They were in the door knocks, voicemails and texts from police and the county’s crisis response team, staffed with trained mental health clinicians, who combined had contacted her at least four times before.

But when Antoni turned them away, they left her alone. Her neighbors, who witnessed her decline in real time, had gone from apprehensive to outraged.

“Every day, I was like, ‘What’s going to happen?’” said Ellen Yater, who said she still struggles with the memory of seeing Antoni. “No one did anything to help her.”

Bend, a growing, increasingly progressive city known for beer, bike trails and some of the best weather in Oregon, is also seen as a leader in crisis resources for mental illness. Behavioral health authorities and advocates applaud Deschutes County for investing in innovative strategies to serve people experiencing mental health crises. Oregon’s triad goal at the heart of its crisis behavioral health strategy — “Someone to

call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go” — is considered fully realized in that part of the state.

Yet Antoni’s death shines a light on the weak points that persist even within a cutting-edge crisis response system. Her story highlights the ways that isolated people and those who are reluctant to engage with services remain vulnerable. Because increased funding and more sophisticated training have not eliminated a profound quandary that first responders face: At what point is it right to force someone who might harm themselves to receive help?

In Antoni’s case, the failure to prevent her death is partially bound up in how Oregon’s laws limit crisis workers and police officers’ ability to do that. But it is also the consequence of what some called missed opportunities by first responders to dig deeper into her struggles in order to stabilize her. Antoni’s battles with paranoia and suicidal ideation were evident as she called, then hung up on 911 dispatchers, told crisis workers she didn’t trust them and kept her door closed when police officers knocked. But when she called for help on the last night of her life, no one followed up with her.

“It’s so frustrating,” said Xavier Amador, a clinical psychologist and faculty researcher at Columbia University for nearly two decades. “I hear these stories and I gotta tell you, more than frustrating, it’s tragic. She didn’t need to die.”

The neighbors

Many of the residents talking with police on the street that morning or waking to frantic texts had their own miniature histories to offer about Antoni.

One woman said she heard cabinets slamming and Antoni yelling from her own apartment. A man down the hall from Antoni had called police just a few nights earlier to report screaming and glass being thrown into the street from her apartment. Another woman had received an unsettling letter in which Antoni wrote that the apartment complex, called the Eddy, was “a lawsuit ready to blow up.”

“Everyone had seen her mental decline,” one couple told police.

Several neighbors questioned: Why wasn’t more done to protect Antoni — and them?

Brandon Arsenault, who would chat with Antoni from his adjacent balcony, was one of a few who tried to check on her directly. When he asked if she was doing all right, he said, she flashed a big smile and told him she was fine. He told her to text if she needed anything. She never did.

But Arsenault could hear the screaming in her apartment from his bedroom and eventually reported it to the property manager. By mid-April, the company was working to evict Antoni over another neighbor’s complaint, though Arsenault didn’t know that.

For most of the two years, Arsenault said, Antoni was “the ideal neighbor.”

“I’ve lived all over the country, and Pam was quiet, very sweet and outgoing,” he said.

Some who knew Antoni in Bend described her as “a light.” Others said she frightened them. A few said she was “quirky.” She worked a variety of part-time jobs and side hustles, including at a local organic grocery and an athletic apparel store. She mixed wild patterns in her clothing and always wore bold lipstick.

Kori Iverson, a friend and former coworker at the apparel store, said Antoni would sometimes call her at work, asking Iverson to pick up a takeout meal and walk it to the Deschutes River nearby. There, Antoni would be perched on her stand-up paddleboard, listening to a concert at the amphitheater on the opposite bank.

“She had no problem just kind of being different than the societal norm,” Iverson said. “And I admired that about her.”

She and Antoni had briefly discussed mental health, she said, including trading information on different types of medication. Antoni never disclosed a diagnosis. Antoni didn’t always mesh within her own family

Residents at the Eddy apartment complex in Bend said they tried to alert property managers and first responders about concerning behaviors by their neighbor Pamela Antoni consistently over the last six months of her life. Several were exposed to her death by suicide outside her apartment on June 4.

Megan Baker/InvestigateWest

— she was the eighth of nine children, the baby until her youngest brother was born a decade after her. Raised Pamela Lisa Kuschnick, her childhood in Gervais, a farm town of fewer than 3,000 people just outside Salem, included helping out on the family farm. Her family remembers her riding the summer parade circuit around bucolic Willamette Valley towns with Shorty, a Shetland pony she had seen advertised in the newspaper at 5 years old and convinced her father to buy.

Antoni was athletic, playing volleyball in college at Clackamas Community College, Missouri Valley College and Western Oregon University. In her 30s, she completed two Ironman competitions. She was married in 1997 at 22, then divorced seven years later. She had no children. While her siblings stayed close to Gervais as they grew up and started their own families, Antoni lived in and around Portland for several years and later moved to Bend, where she embraced its wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities.

Family members trace the start of Antoni’s mental health struggles back about a decade. Greg Kuschnick, Pam’s oldest brother, recited the fears that his sister began to fixate on: The military was spying on her. An old boyfriend was controlling her mind. A cartel was threatening her family.

From a document he found while cleaning out his sister’s apartment after her death, Kuschnick learned that she had been diagnosed as recently as February with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and paranoid ideation. For many years, though, he said he and the rest of the family tried mostly to look past Antoni’s claims. They didn’t know how to respond to them or her accusations that they were colluding with the powers conspiring against her. When they pushed back, she shut down, he said.

She grew apart from the family, though Kuschnick and a few of the siblings stayed in touch.

Sometimes, he and his sister talked about everyday things. Kuschnick is a creature of habit, and Antoni would text on Sundays asking if he was washing his car like usual. He tried to nudge her toward a healthy routine, too. Some mornings, he sent his sister a picture of his neatly arranged bed, along with a playful question:

“Did you make your bed this morning?”

And sometimes, he found himself just trying to help the best he knew how.

“Even the last conversations I had with her, at the end of May, we were texting, I said, ‘Pack up all your stuff, move back here so you’re closer to family and reconnect with everybody and try to put your head on straight,’” Kuschnick said. “She would never follow up on it.”

Meanwhile, Arsenault and others began to notice a shift in Antoni’s behavior around the beginning of 2024. She lost her job at the apparel store and was keeping odd hours. Neighbors told the landlord about the letters and said that Antoni was following them in the hallways.

In February, unbeknownst to her neighbors, Antoni went to the emergency room at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. A police report from a few months later noted that she was there “for having suicidal ideations.”

She had also begun telling her brother Greg that she wanted to die. He didn’t know how to help. Antoni was resistant to his suggestions, he said, and he didn’t think her threats to harm herself were enough to force her to receive treatment involuntarily. He felt stuck, struggling to respond.

“I would tell her, ‘There’s so much to live for, life is too short,’” he said. “But she said, ‘I’m being tormented by these people controlling my mind.’”

The remedy

In 2005, about a decade before Antoni moved to Bend, Terry Schroeder arrived to help grow Deschutes County’s 24/7 mobile crisis response team. Schroeder had close to 20 years of experience

working in crisis mental health treatment already. He spent 13 years in Flathead County, Montana, setting up the state’s first mobile crisis team, was the clinical supervisor in Spokane for a couple of years before that and worked as a crisis clinician in Seattle.

Schroeder helped secure county and state funding for Bend’s crisis response team, plus buy-in from local law enforcement. Eventually, the team was staffed with a consistent roster of trained therapists who could respond to mental health-related calls around the clock. It was one of only a handful in Oregon for 11 years before the state Legislature embraced the model fully.

“The primary purpose of any of these mobile crisis teams is protecting individuals that they come into contact with and the community,” he said. “That’s their primary purpose: to provide whatever tools they're given to protect that individual in the least restrictive manner possible.”

A 2021 state law now requires all communities to have mental health crisis responders available around the clock. They are expected to handle mental health calls without law enforcement anytime that it’s safe for them to do so. The law provided initial funding to help counties set up the teams, along with call centers in Oregon for 988, the number for the suicide prevention hotline Lines for Life. In 2023, lawmakers dedicated another $118 million over two years to further expand mobile crisis response.

Oregon is one of at least 38 states that are shifting mental health crisis response away from law enforcement for a few reasons. High-profile police responses that ended in arrests, injuries and deaths are one driver. So are lawsuits, including a complaint that Disability Rights Oregon filed in April against Washington County, which argues that failure to provide therapeutic mental health services violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The federal Department of Justice has made a similar argument in several other cities, including in Louisville, Kentucky, where investigators found that police were responding to nonviolent mental health calls and frequently using excessive force.

“Police are neither trained nor appropriate responders for someone who has broken their leg and calls 911 — and the same holds for someone having a mental health emergency,” said Jake Cornett, executive director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon in a news release about its lawsuit.

Today, nearly two decades after he came to Bend, Schroeder is a compliance specialist with the Oregon Health Authority. Part of his job includes training the mobile crisis units across the state on applicable regulations and protocols to ensure they do their job consistently and in line with the law.

Each mobile crisis team must track and report certain outcomes to the state, such as how long it takes them to respond to calls and the number of people

they come in contact with each year.

Deschutes County was one of the first to implement the requirements of the 2021 law. County authorities also created a walk-in crisis stabilization center in 2020. There, people can find a safe place to de-escalate and if needed, connect with a case manager who can help them with resources for housing, food and other necessities.

“They are an excellent model,” said Christa Jones, behavioral health strategic projects director for the Oregon Health Authority.

Tracking the impact of these crisis resources — how many deaths were avoided because people received help — can be difficult, Schroeder said. However, in Deschutes County, the behavioral health division has reported the number of people who told stabilization center staff that their time there had helped dissuade them from attempting suicide: 108 people, as of June 2023.

But advocates said crisis workers could help more people if Oregon had enough mental and behavioral health resources available in the community.

A 2022 report by the state’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, which works to improve prevention and treatment services for substance use disorders, showed Oregon had 35,000 fewer behavioral health care workers than it needs. Six counties have no psychologists; of those, two also have no counselors or therapists. The state has one of the highest prevalences of adults who have seriously considered suicide, and one of the lowest rates of adults with substance use disorders who have been able to access treatment, according to a 2024 report by Mental Health America, a mental health advocacy nonprofit.

Crisis mental health work can only be so effective without that broader support, said Meghan Moyer, public policy director for Disability Rights Oregon. People’s inability to access mental health care increases their likelihood of reaching a crisis point, putting greater stress on those resources. A community-based behavioral health system through which people can voluntarily access intensive care is “very limited or not at all existent, depending on what part of the state you’re in,” Moyer said.

Crisis clinicians must also navigate their limited authority to force interventions on people who don’t want them. In most cases, if a closed door, a hung-up phone or ignored text ends the interaction, clinicians have to weigh whether they have a reason under the law to push further.

So stories like Antoni’s are not rare, said Chris Bouneff, executive director of Oregon’s National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“I wish I could tell you you’re telling me a story I haven’t been told a million times before,” he said. “This is going on all over the state of Oregon, and in fact, it's going on in many other states as well.”

Pamela Antoni exhibited signs of paranoia for about a decade before her death by suicide in June 2024, according to her family. She repeatedly called 911 in the months leading up to her death, but when crisis workers and police contacted her, she declined to speak with them.

Friends and family described Antoni as fashionable, exuberant and quirky. She was 49 when she died.

ccourtesy of Greg Kuschnik

The calls

After her emergency room visit in February, Antoni called 911 on April 11. She was suicidal again.

She told dispatchers “that she did not have a gun but ‘could figure it out,’” according to a police report written two months later, after her death.

A single sentence in the report summarizes the response to her call: “Attempts to contact her from (the Deschutes County Crisis Response Team) and officers were unsuccessful, and no action was taken.”

Bend police, Deschutes County Behavioral Health and 911 dispatch all declined to answer questions about their contacts with Antoni, saying her interactions with behavioral health workers are confidential under privacy laws and she was never accused of a crime. Logs from the 11 calls made by and about Antoni and the police report provide basic details on the responses from police and crisis workers.

The next month, Antoni called 911 four times and hung up without saying anything. When an officer knocked on her door on May 19, she yelled from inside for them to go away, according to a police report.

By that time, Antoni had stayed about a month beyond her eviction date. The property management

what's going on,” Amador said.

In Antoni’s case, it’s unclear if crisis workers followed up with her at any point after the 911 calls were closed. Patient privacy laws would shield that information if it exists.

But records do show that May 29 was the last time that 911 dispatchers looped in the crisis team. The calls continued, but Antoni would only deal with police from that point on.

The decisions

Of the 25,000 calls per month to Deschutes County 911, about 200 to 300 are typically mental health related, said Chris Perry, operations manager for the agency.

Dispatchers have been trained to sort out whether a call should go to police or the crisis team. Protocol says they should alert the crisis team when a caller is having a mental health crisis, but if there’s any threat of violence or damage to property, they should route the call to police. The lines are not always that clear, however.

“None of these calls fits into a perfect box,” Perry said. “It is challenging to sort out what’s actually happening versus the guidelines.”

Some 911 call centers embed a mental health clini-

“It's so frustrating, I hear these stories and I gotta tell you, more than frustrating, it's tragic. She didn't need to die.” Xavier Amador

company received a court order stating that a sheriff’s deputy would escort Antoni off the premises if she wasn’t out by June 6. She was running out of time.

When Antoni called again on May 29, she asked the dispatcher to send someone to check on her brother, saying the cartel and “Mongols” — referring to the California-based motorcycle club, according to her brother — were threatening her family and coming into her apartment when she wasn’t there.

“They take my phone. I can't get ahold of people,” she said. “It's ugly. They are stalking the shit out of me and killing me pretty much.”

The dispatcher who took Antoni’s call again notified the county crisis response team. Clinicians attempted to contact Antoni via text message, according to the police report, but she declined to speak with them because she suspected they, too, were Mongols.

Inconsistent as Antoni’s behaviors might seem, they’re not uncommon for someone with psychotic illness, said Amador, the Columbia University researcher who is an expert in psychotic disorders. Amador said he has encountered many people who are willing to ask for help addressing the threats they believe they are facing, but shut down when those threats are dismissed as delusions.

“They're saying what any of us would say if we didn't understand we needed help: ‘Everything is fine. Please go away,’” Amador said.

Amador’s research focuses on anosognosia, a symptom that occurs in half of cases of psychotic disorders, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. It is often defined as “lack of insight” by a person that they have mental illness or are experiencing delusions. To try to treat people with this symptom more effectively, Amador pioneered the LEAP method, which stands for Listen Empathize Agree and Partner. Deschutes County crisis workers are trained in similar techniques, according to the division director.

“If you can start to engage the person again — asking questions, being curious, having the person feel they can reveal what's happening to them and what they're thinking without there being negative consequences — you're more likely to hear the truth of

cian to help them determine the correct response to mental health calls. Perry said the county has decided against that for now.

Once they’re in contact with someone in crisis, health care workers and police have their own complex choices to navigate, depending on what type of services the person needs and wants to receive. If someone is suicidal, however, both are granted the ability under Oregon law to intervene even if the person doesn’t want it.

But the person must be at imminent risk of harming themselves to qualify for either involuntary holds or civil commitments, meaning they have the intent and the means to do so. Critics of Oregon’s civil commitment laws say its vagueness on “harm to self or others” has contributed to people not getting the help they need. As recently as 2021, a bill that would have allowed civil commitment criteria to include a person’s history of suicidal ideation and attempts and expanded the timeline in which they may harm themselves or others, garnered passionate testimony from both supporters and opponents. It died in the state appropriations committee.

Multiple people have to agree that involuntary hospitalization is needed to protect someone’s life in order for it to happen. Crisis clinicians have the legal authority to initiate a hold, but often need a law enforcement officer to transport the person to a hospital for evaluation. Once a person is at the emergency room, two practitioners need to sign off to admit the person on a hold. Unless the patient presents a clear risk of harm to others, the law requires their consent for medication to be administered.

In Oregon, a civil commitment investigator must see the person staying on a hold within five business days and recommend either that they be released or seen in a hearing for a civil commitment. Civil commitments can last up to a year in extreme circumstances, but most are much shorter. They can take place in a facility or involve required participation in treatments in the community.

The decision of whether to compel an unwilling person to receive treatment is almost always fraught,

multiple clinicians said. Patients can be traumatized by being held against their will, and aren’t necessarily stabilized in the longer term.

Because of frequent shortages of available hospital beds, people sometimes spend the entirety of their hold in the emergency room, hardly a therapeutic environment. While the hold is ongoing, anything the person says or does can be scrutinized in the civil commitment investigation, which can discourage people from being open about their suicidal thoughts.

“Once you’re on a hold, everything changes,” said Moyer, Disability Rights Oregon’s legislative director. “It becomes potentially not in your best interest to be open, to be engaged or to talk about your prior mental health experiences.”

But it’s worthwhile to prevent someone who is imminently suicidal from harming themselves, even temporarily, Amador said. That matters because, although tied to underlying mental health issues and other factors, many suicides are impulsive. That’s why red flag laws to delay gun purchases and locks for firearms are suicide prevention strategies. While involuntary care presents risks, he said, it can at least keep the person alive.

“Disability rights advocates and I both agree that the way involuntary treatment is currently utilized is typically ineffective, but you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater,” Amador said. “Let's make involuntary treatment more effective, and that means attention to continuity of care, attention to what happens when the person leaves the hospital and to have it be informed by the science.”

Outside of Antoni’s visit to the emergency room, her family is not aware of any time she received treatment, voluntarily or not. But her diagnosis with a psychotic disorder was a risk factor for suicide, research shows. So too was her lack of employment and looming loss of housing. Beyond that, she was isolated.

After learning how many times Antoni had called first responders leading up to her death, her neighbors were stunned that it wasn’t enough to trigger interventions against her will.

“How many times does a person have to call saying they’re suicidal to say, ‘OK, we need to get your ass’?” asked Francesca Lunardi, another of Antoni’s neighbors. “‘We’re coming to pick you up, whether you like it or not, and you’re going to get assessed.’”

The unraveling

Early May 31, residents at the Eddy apartment complex awoke to the sound of glass smashing against the pavement of Southwest Bradbury Avenue in Bend. It was just past 12:30 a.m.

A neighbor told a 911 dispatcher he heard screaming from Antoni’s apartment, where it appeared someone was throwing glass bottles off the balcony. The dispatcher who took the call notified police because of the property damage.

An officer who arrived within five minutes knocked on Antoni’s door and wrote in the call log that she did not answer.

The call was closed.

Just 10 hours later, another 911 dispatcher took a report from Iverson, Antoni’s former coworker, about a text she had received at 12:45 a.m. The message was one word: “die.”

Iverson called after learning that another former coworker also received alarming texts, saying things like “bloodbath” and “blood on your hands.” Iverson also tried to check on Antoni herself.

“The next morning, I messaged her: ‘Pam, are you okay? Talk to me,’” Iverson said. “I just never received anything.”

The 911 dispatcher also routed this call to Bend police, though it’s not immediately clear why, given Antoni’s history of suicidal ideation and that her texts

didn’t threaten violence toward anyone. The responding officer called Antoni’s cell and got her voicemail before reaching out to Deschutes County’s Stabilization Center to ask if Antoni had ever received care there. After a worker there said no, police closed the call, according to the notes.

The rest of the weekend was quiet. But Monday, June 3, Antoni decided she wanted to buy a gun. She went to two gun counters and paid for a firearm at each; she didn’t receive either, however, while her background check was pending. She went to a pizzeria and wrote about dying on a paper napkin. She was home by 7:35 p.m.

At 10:30 and 11:30 p.m. Antoni made her final two 911 calls. Both times, she repeated her requests for a welfare check on her brother and even told the dispatcher she had called a week earlier for the same reason. She hung up both calls within five minutes.

Amador, who was briefed on the responses to Antoni’s calls, said these interactions should have raised more red flags for dispatchers.

“What a missed opportunity,” he said. “Rather than say, ‘We can't do anything,’ there's an opportunity there to pivot and say, ‘We'd like to learn more. We want to help you. We're going to send someone out to talk to you.’”

Call notes show that on the final night of Antoni’s life, dispatchers, police and the county crisis team were all available to step in.

But the dispatcher who took the first call made no note about the county crisis team. The second dispatcher offered to put her in touch but wrote that Antoni declined to speak with them. Neither of the call’s notes mention Antoni’s history of suicidal ideation or her contacts with police and the county. Both calls were set to a low, non-emergent priority.

A Bend police officer who was assigned Antoni's 10:30 p.m. call cleared it without returning her call or knocking on her door.

The reckoning

On the morning of June 4, Yater, Antoni’s neighbor, sent a warning to a group message with her neighbors: Don’t go outside.

Yater didn’t want anyone else to see what she saw. Antoni’s death was horrific, she said.

“I’ve had traumatic events in my life but haven't seen something so traumatic that it will pop up into my head randomly,” she said. “The home I love is now tainted with this sad, horrific underlying tone.”

But it was not entirely surprising. Everything Yater had learned about Antoni throughout the last few months had put her on edge.

“It was so clear she was not well,” she said. She and three other residents said they thought police and the county had not done enough to investigate how dangerous their neighbor’s condition was. To them,

Antoni’s paranoid and suicidal calls had sent clear signs that she needed help, even if she was reluctant to accept it.

Ginna Roth, a neighbor, said she was particularly haunted by how Antoni’s final phone calls were handled.

“That’s concerning to me that someone would call and clearly be saying things that are not in touch with reality and it would be marked as low priority, given her history,” Roth said. “We need some more training around mental health if that's how we’re handling things.”

Roth is a licensed clinical social worker and has helped support family members dealing with psychosis. Antoni shouldn’t have been left alone as she was with her paranoia, she said.

“I just think that requires a more thorough assessment of someone’s risk, because you might be able to check those boxes like ‘They don’t have intent,’ or ‘I can’t really tell if they have clear intent,’ but well, they're not thinking super clearly, either, and there's probably impulsivity and paranoia,” she said.

Despite the investments Deschutes County and other communities have made to improve crisis response, not much is known about how much those changes reduce suicides. County health authorities say more than 100 people who have visited the stabilization center in the last four years were dissuaded from ending their life. But out in the community, it’s harder to track the difference that the crisis system is making in saving lives, Schroeder said.

The morning Antoni died, firefighters breached her closed apartment door — the barrier that had prevented police from reaching her multiple times before. Three officers assisted in the death investigation, along with the county medical examiner, district attorney’s office and behavioral health division. Officers combed through Antoni’s photos, notes to herself and call records. They called her family members to learn more about her history and frame of mind.

In the end, her death was marked “not suspicious.” A week later, Greg Kuschnick and his family came to collect her things, and, a month later, a new tenant moved in.

Inside his sister's apartment, Kuschnick puzzled over the broken glass and toilet lid. But other details he recognized from his only other visit to the apartment last November. There was the familiar artwork on the walls, including a picture of a running white horse that his sister loved. There was her pink Christmas tree, which he remembered Antoni putting up when she hosted the family for Christmas years ago.

And in the bedroom, his sister's bed was neatly made.

- InvestigateWest (invw.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reporter Kaylee Tornay covers labor, youth and health care issues. Reach her at 503-877-4108 or kaylee@invw.org. On Twitter @ka_tornay.

Know the warning signs of suicide

The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide but may not be what causes a suicide.

• Talking about wanting to die

• Looking for a way to kill oneself

• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose

• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

• Talking about being a burden to others

• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs

• Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly

• Sleeping too little or too much

• Withdrawing or feeling isolated

• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

• Displaying extreme mood swings

What to do

• Do not leave the person alone

• Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt

• Call or text a crisis line to get help:

• Reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

• Text a trained crisis helper at the Crisis Text Line. Text SAVE to 741741.

• Dial 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255.

• For the YouthLine, call 1-877-9688491.

• For LGBTQ young people, call the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386. Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a mental or medical health professional.

Mementos at Antoni’s funeral commemorated the IronMan races she participated in, her time riding the summer parade circuit with her Shetland pony, Shorty, as a child, and the Cabbage Patch dolls she once played with.

Antoni grew up in Gervais, a farm town of fewer than 3,000 people close to Salem. While most of her eight siblings stayed close to that area, Antoni spent several years living in Portland and Bend.

The Spiritual Intervention That Ended Blind Pilot’s Eight-Year Drought

After facing an extended writer’s block, songwriter Israel Nebeker found inspiration beyond his control

By Chris Young

Talk to enough songwriters and you’ll hear a common refrain: They’re not quite sure where their songs come from. Call it divine inspiration, putting in your 10,000 hours or just being in the right place at the right time. The point is: These songs come from someplace beyond them.

Blind Pilot’s Israel Nebeker counts himself among this class of songwriter. After three acclaimed albums and a network of fans around the world, songwriting doesn't always come easy. It's outside of him.

The Astoria-based, folk/pop four-piece’s last record came out in 2016, and the band toured heavily through 2017. In the subsequent years, the live gigs slowed to a trickle. Sure, there was a global pandemic thrown in there, but the band also didn’t have any new material to tour behind. Nebeker, the group’s sole songwriter, was facing a serious writer’s block.

“I wanted to be writing the next album. I knew everybody was waiting on me,” both the band and fans, “but they [songs] just didn't want to come,” he tells. “I tried a lot of different things — reading books on writer's block and creative process and going to therapy — and all of that was helpful, but it didn't shift until I just said, ‘OK, the one thing that I'm scared to admit is that the reason that the songs don't want to come through is because their destination isn't the best place for them anymore.’”

During these eight years, couple and songwriting duo Luke Ydstie and Kati Claborn released a slew of recordings as The Hackles. Drummer Ryan Dobrowski joined them and a few other pals for a one-off album as Hook & Anchor, plus he also spent considerable time

painting and focusing on his fine art career. (He’s created the band’s artwork, T-shirts and posters over the years.) This left Nebeker on an island, a heavy obligation hanging over his head.

“It just felt like my duty was to create the commodity, like more merchandise for our band to sell. It has become this successful thing, and we need the product. And that felt pretty bad," Nebeker said.

“Also, I had some work to do on myself as a person. The breakthrough was when I said, ‘OK, I'm just going to write a solo album and see how that goes.’ And immediately the songs started coming.” He wrote a solo album, traveled to New York and recorded it with producer Josh Kaufman (The National, Bonny Light Horseman, Josh Ritter).

But before he did that, “I made a deal with myself: ‘OK, I’m gonna go record this album as a solo album,’ which I've never done professionally before, and then ‘I'll come back and I'll write the next Blind Pilot album in a month. Whatever comes through, that'll be the album.” It worked.

"Surprisingly, it was one of my favorite songwriting processes, and it came through really, really fast after, like, five years of waiting,” he laughs.

Released almost eight years to the day after, “And Then Like Lions,” Blind Pilot’s fourth record, “In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain” (also recorded by Kaufman in New York) is equal parts jubilation and relief — an exhalation that sees the longtime band back in full, buoyant form over 11 well-crafted tracks inspired by Nebeker’s memories and ancestral lines, subconscious connections with the objects and spirits that tie him to his past.

As Nebeker wrote online the day the album dropped:

“The way we recorded this album was with the utter joy of exploration, the yes of appreciation for one another, and more love than I’ve ever felt in a studio before. It’s our favorite album that we’ve made, and we are so excited to share it with you today.”

Nebeker jokes about the album now. “It means a lot to me that my band waited all those years, and they didn't say, ‘Hey, man, I don't think you're ever gonna write the next album.’”

To be fair, those “five years of waiting” were not just idle time. Nebeker’s great grandmother was Sámi, a semi-nomadic “reindeer people” indigenous to northern Scandinavia, and he visited Norway to retrace her steps. Seeking to reconnect with his roots while there, a Sámi shaman took him on a drum journey, inviting Nebeker to listen for his ancestors.

A vision came and “involved my most immediate ancestors beckoning me along a path that went straight into a mountain,” he says, “and I knew right then that the mountain represented the origins of all of us,” thus christening this long-awaited effort, “In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain.”

-There's more to this story on bendsource.com.

Blind Pilot With Molly Sarlé Fri., Nov. 8 Midtown Ballroom

51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend Doors 7pm; show 8pm; all ages $32.50 advance ticketweb.com/event/blind-pilot-molly-sarl-midtown-tickets/13689023

Together, we help 3,000 animals every year at the Humane Society of Central Oregon with safe sheltering, reunions, medical care & adoption

Blind Pilot shares new music from the long-awaited “In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain” at Midtown Ballroom on Fri., Nov. 8.

Fawn DeViney

SOURCE PICKS

THURSDAY 10/31

WITCH PADDLE WATCH PARTY

A BEWITCHING RIVERFRONT VIEW

The Monkless Brasserie is hosting a viewing of the Witches Paddle on the Deschutes River. Check out the annual event on the riverfront patio for a great view of the Halloween festivities. Thu., Oct. 31, 4-6pm at Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie. 803 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free.

THURSDAY

BEETLEJUICE HALLOWEEN WITH ONE MAD MAN

SPOOK AND GROOVY TUNES AT VELVET

Celebrate Halloween evening at Velvet with a Beetlejuice-themed party. With music from One Mad Man, dress in black and white for a spooky, fun night. Thu., Oct. 31, 9-11:59pm at Velvet. 805 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

FRIDAY

ALEXA OXENRIDER FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

WESTERN ART EXHIBIT

Stop by Layor Art + Supply on First Friday for art featuring local western artist Alexa Oxenrider. The display explores wild cowboys from the mountain ranges of Wyoming to the canyons in the Southwest. Fri., Nov. 1, 5-9 pm at Layor Art + Supply. 1000 NW Wall St. #110, Bend. Free.

JOHN REISCHMAN & THE JAYBIRDS

AN EVENING OF ACOUSTIC MUSIC

Living legend of the mandolin, John Reischman brings an intimate evening of acoustic music to The Belfry with his band, The JayBirds. Local old-time group Danger Gently opens for a great night of music. Fri., Nov. 1, 6:30-10pm at The Belfry. 302 E. Main Ave., Sisters. $29.

BEND SNOW & AVALANCHE WORKSHOP

GET SNOW-SEASON READY

The Bend Snow and Avalanche Workshop is back in action this fall with in-person and virtual options. Get snow-season ready with speakers from around the country touching on topics from risk and decision making, to traveling safely through the backcountry, to snow science and human factors. Sat., Nov. 2, 7:30am-3:40pm at COCC Campus Center – Willie Hall. 2600 College Way., Bend. $50.

EXHIBITION OPENING – BLOOD, SWEAT & FLANNEL

HISTORY AND CULTURE OF FLANNEL

A new exhibition opens at the High Desert Museum exploring history through the lens of a beloved fabric: SATURDAY

DAY OF DREAD

DAY OF THE DEAD GOTH CELEBRATION

A spooky and fun celebration at Open Space Event Studios, the Day of Dread is a Day of Dead Goth Celebration. Embrace your dark side and immerse yourself in a day that honors the dead. Live music and a lineup of DJs perform hard techno music for a darkwave dance night. Sat., Nov. 2, 9pm-2am at Open Space Event Studios. 220 NE Lafayette Ave., Bend. $15. SUNDAY

INDIGENOUS INGENUITY WITH DR. DANIEL WILDCAT

A PRESENTATION EXPLORING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

In this presentation, Dr. Wildcat highlights how American Indian nations are dynamic, evolving communities with living cultures, traditions and knowledge. He explores the concept of Indigenuity – how ancient wisdom informs modern problem-solving, and argues for the critical need for this in today’s world. Sun., Nov. 3, 2-3:30pm at Madras Performing Arts Center. 412 SE Buff St., Madras. $0-$15.

GARETH REYNOLDS

STAND-UP COMEDIAN

American-British comedian, producer and podcaster Gareth Reynolds comes to Bend for a night of comedy. Reynolds is best known for co-hosting The Dollop, a comedy/history podcast with fellow comedian Dave Tue., Nov. 5, 7pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub. 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. $15-$30.

Courtesy Velvet IG

Brandy Peterson

Oxenrider

Charlotte Gilbride

Damon Runberg Katy Brooks Sen. Ron Wyden

Mike Kingsella

Sheree Anne Kelly

Tim Mahedy

Learn, volunteer, donate, and join us as we spread awareness of the risks these young people in our community face, and to educate the public about solutions and the role they can play in reducing runaway incidents, preventing youth homelessness, and supporting youth experiencing crisis.

Cascade Youth & Family Center and Grandma’s House provide services and shelter to youth experiencing homelessness, including those who have run away, and to those who are at risk of running away.

Helping youth out of homelessness greatly reduces the risk of them experiencing homelessness as adults.

We offer compassionate crisis intervention services, including family mediation, to build understanding and healing within families.

Con nuum of Care

Crisis Services: Interven on Family Media on Emergency Shelter

Street Outreach: Supplies - Camping, Clothing, Hygiene Help with Personal Documents

Cascade Youth & Family Center Expands Housing Options for Young Adults on the Path to Independence.

Cascade Youth & Family Center continues to step up to meet needs of young people in our region by addressing one of our most urgent issues: housing. Central Oregon’s housing crisis has made finding affordable housing difficult under the best circumstances. For young people striving to transition to independence while navigating additional barriers, the struggle is even greater.

In response, Cascade Youth and Family Center (CYFC), a program of J Bar J Youth Services, is expanding to offer more support for older youth as they bridge the gap into adulthood. CYFC’s new Housing Program will serve young adults ages 16 to 24, offering a stable option for those who need more independence but still benefit from daily case management. This program is open to youth from various backgrounds, including those aging out of foster care or facing homelessness, whether or not they have previously lived in one CYFC's three youth shelters.

While The LOFT, Grandmas House, and Canal House provide housing with 24-hour staff support and mentorship for minors and young adults, the new housing program offers a different level of support, supporting young adults to live independently. Whether it’s a next step for those coming from the LOFT or a first entry point for others, the program helps them continue working toward self-sufficiency by furthering their education and gaining work experience, while still having access to critical housing resources.

This approach extends across all of J Bar J’s programs, from Cascade Youth and Family Center’s shelters for runaway and homeless youth to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon,

We Are

Grandma’s House, and Kindred Connections. It’s also central to J Bar J’s leadership in regional efforts to combat homelessness, including its role within the Homeless Leadership Coalition (HLC).

In fact, J Bar J Youth Services plays a key role in the regions response to youth homelessness. J Bar J Youth Services works collectively with partners like The Homeless Leadership Coalition, Central Oregon’s Youth Action Board, COIC, Neighbor Impact and others to prevent and end youth homelessness. These efforts have had notable successes, including the region being awarded a $953,950 HUD grant to provide housing for homeless youth in Central Oregon, the finalization of the region’s Coordinated Community Plan to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness, and a new housing project for youth on Wilson Ave.

Eliza Wilson, Director of Services for Runaway and Homeless Youth and Chair of the HLC, has been instrumental in these efforts, bringing together partners from Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The grant will help support youth housing efforts in the community.

Cascade Youth & Family Center’s parent company, J Bar J Youth Services, has a long history of stepping up for Central Oregon’s youth. From the early days when founder Lyle Jarvis opened his home to a couple of boys in need of stability, the organization has consistently provided options for young people facing significant challenges. Whether it's family conflict, homelessness, pregnancy, or simply needing a supportive mentor, J Bar J has been there for those who need it most.

Stephanie Alvstad, CEO of J Bar J Youth Services, states “These housing initiatives by J Bar J Youth Services are not only a response to the region’s housing crisis but also an extension of the organization's long-standing mission: to provide young people with the tools, support, and encouragement they need to step confidently into adulthood.”

J Bar J Youth Services programs also include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, at: project (anti-trafficking), Grandma's House, Kindred Connections, J Bar J Boys Ranch including the Vocational School, and The Academy at Sisters.

CALENDAR

30 Wednesday

Bunk+Brew Hasbens Halloween Bash Rock the 4th Annual Hasbens Halloween Bash! Catch The Hasbens and Spencer Marlyn Band in an ‘80s hair metal extravaganza. Free entry, costume contest, prizes, food trucks, and beer. Sponsored by Oblivion Brewing. Don’t miss Bend’s best Halloween party! 6-11pm. Free.

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

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

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

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

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, whichever comes first. 21+. 6:30pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Mellow Wednesday

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

The Dez Lounge Saucy Spooky Beats with Tenley Local DJ Tenley will spin the saucy Spooky Beats! Come enjoy NA cocktails, medicinal elixirs, charcuterie and desserts. Costumes encouraged! 7-9pm. Free.

31 Thursday

The Ballybogs and Friends Grab a pint, relax and enjoy live music by an amazing group of artists that brings the best Irish trad music in Central Oregon. Every Thursday at The Cellar. 6-8pm. Free.

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.

Barrel Room @ Immersion Brewing

Murder On The Dance Floor Step into a thrilling evening of ghastly grooves, there’s no escaping the rhythm! @brian_tology, @atombram, @statik.myke and @mere.c will spin a horrorgasbord of Halloween classics, hits, nu disco, funk, house, and hip hop. Libations, decor, and what’s more? A costume contest! $250 in prizes! 8pm-1am. $15.

Bunk+Brew Karaoke Thursdays Come out to Karaoke Thursdays from 7-10pm at Bunk + Brew! Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just want to have fun, everyone is welcome to grab the mic. Enjoy great tunes, food from our carts, and a laidback atmosphere for all to enjoy! 7-10pm. Free.

The Domino Room Steely Dead: A Sonic Fusion of Steely Dan and Grateful Dead Steely Dead is a national touring band that has satisfied the curiosity of music lovers with their unique blend of Grateful Dead and Steely Dan. Comprised of four exceptionally talented musicians – Dave Abear on guitar, Matt Abear on bass, Chris Sheldon on drums, and Dylan Teifer on keys. 9pm-12:30am. $20.

M&J Tavern Halloweeen Scream w/ Problem Stick and Sweet Demon Free Halloween rock show with Problem Stick and Sweet Demon. Let’s get loud and let’s get weird! 9pm. Free.

Open Space Event Studios Don’t Dream It Be It | A Tim Curry Halloween Adventure Time Entertainment presents | Don’t Dream It Be It | A Tim Curry Halloween and double feature. Immerse yourself in the many wild sides of Tim Curry. This Halloween, catch a double feature of Dracula and the official Tim Curry Halloween performance which includes a drag show and all the classics. 5:30-11:59pm..

Portello Wine and Spirits Costumes & Cocktails - Portello Wine & Spirits Join a spooktacular Halloween night! Wear your best costume, sip on special Halloween cocktails or try something from our signature cocktail menu. Earn raffle entries for a $50 gift card by coming in costume, ordering a drink, or tagging us on social media! 8-10PM: $5 off ALL cocktails 4-10pm. Free.

River’s Place Larkspur Stand Trio An energized, grassy feel of new Americana, folk and country blues. 6-8pm. Free.

Silvermoon Brewing Halloween at Silvermoon Brewing Expect to have fun and dance all night at this Halloween party! With performers, a chance to win $100 in our Halloween contest and a great bar with amazing service! Don’t miss out! 7pm-Midnight. $12.

The Lot Faisal’s Halloween BIRTHDAY live music show Come enjoy the energy of Halloween with live music by Faisal! It is sure to be an extra special show with it being Faisal’s birthday, too! 6-8pm. Free.

Velvet Beetlejuice Halloween with One Mad Man Dress in black and white and join us for a fun night with One Mad Man Music. 21+ 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Dopapod - Best Friends Tour w/ special guest Spunj Dopapod stands out in the live music scene with its eclectic blend of jam band energy, funk grooves, jazz fusion, and progressive rock. The band's dynamic performances and improvisational prowess have garnered a dedicated following. 7pm. $25 presale.

1 Friday

Bunk+Brew Wave State with Black Flowers Black Sun Wave State summons mythic rock, hip-hop, and ambient-folk, through a portal of universal love, and delivers its listeners upon a shore of serene beauty. They are joined by Black Flowers Black Sun, intrepid purveyors of a kind of deep, blues rock that will synchronize your heartbeat with elemental fervor. 6-9pm. Free.

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. Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge StealHead Live Music Fridays at Hawk & Huck: On stage for the first time with Hawk & Huck, we are excited to welcome StealHead, the longest-performing jam band in Bend to our stage! Either make a reservation for dinner, or hang out at our bar. 8:30-10pm. Free.

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

Open Space Event Studios Don’t

Dream It Be It | A Tim Curry Halloween Adventure Time Entertainment presents | Don’t Dream It Be It | A Tim Curry Halloween and Double Feature. Immerse yourself in the many wild sides of Tim Curry. This Halloween, catch a double feature of Dracula and the official Tim Curry Halloween performance which includes a drag show and all the classics. 5:30-11:59pm.

Ponch’s Place Paul Eddy Local music artist sings hits through the decades, plus originals. 5:30-7:30pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing So Much House: Fluffy Stuff & Luxo SoMuchHouse: Bend debut DJ set by Fluffy Stuff with support by Luxo. B2B set by Its Fine & MStarkDJ. Dance, community, house music. Join for this special night! First Friday of every month, 8pm-2am. $15.

Silvermoon Brewing Night Of The Living DREAD Friday, Nov. 1st is a spooky night full of irie vibes at “Night of the Living Dread.” Join us for a wicked reggae experience with live music by The Rusty Frets and Souljers Rising, plus DJ Jah Yogi. Enjoy reggae music and good vibes all night long! 7-11pm. $10.

Stihl Whiskey Bar The Brandon Campbell Trio - Live Gypsy Swing! Live Gypsy Swing with the Brandon Campbell Trio! 7-9pm. Free.

The Ale Apothecary Tasting Room

First Friday with Mari & the Dream and Wicked Darlings Join The Ale Apothecary for First Friday to kick off November! It’s All Saints Day with an All-Female lineup. Face painting w/ GypsyRose kickin’ it off at 5pm. Local modern rock being busted out by Mari & The Dream and Wicked Darlings from 6-8pm. 5-8pm. Free.

The Dez Lounge Diwali Party w/ DJ Preet Preet2d2 (aka DJ Preet) returns with a spicy curation selected from asian underground artists - featuring downtempo, drum and bass, dub and more subcontinental sounds - to host our local Diwali celebration. Dress festive and come ready to dance to some lively beats. 6-9pm. Free.

Tumalo Men’s Work and Music Weekend Retreat The weekend is for men to connect more deeply with themselves and write a personal power poem/ song to encapsulate the healing experience in brotherhood. No experience necessary, just an interest in becoming more musical. 5-11:45pm. $750.

2 Saturday

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

Bridge 99 Brewery Live Music Saturday at Bridge 99 Come enjoy live music at Bridge 99 Brewery in NE Bend. Rotating musicians, check our FB for who’s playing! Grab a beer and a pizza and enjoy our amazing local and traveling musicians! Looking for a location to play solo or with a band? Email events@bridge99brewery.com for more information. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Immersion Brewing Barrel Room

PHASES 2: ENCHANTED ft. MiMOSA, ROMZ, ECSTASY OF EDEN Join a night of bass music, fashion, fire dancing, costumes, and fun! 2 dance floors! A fashion show featuring amazing Ravewear, Urbanwear, Costumes, Jewelry, Gothic Apparel, and Fantasy Fashion! 8pm. $20.

Midtown Ballroom/Domino Room/Annex Cory Michaelis Cory has a Dry Bar Comedy Special - “Bad Teacher” - that snagged over 60 million views. Cory was a finalist in the Seattle Comedy Competition which means he didn’t win and was in Season 2 of Netflix’s “Huge in France” with Gad Almelah. His act is sharp and irreverent and not suitable for the high school students he used to teach. 7-9pm. $10. Northside Bar & Grill Sagebrush Rock Classic Rock 8-11pm. Free.

Open Space Event Studios Day Of DREAD (Day of the Dead Goth Celebration) Come join us for a spooky and fun celebration at Open Space Event Studios! Embrace your dark side and immerse yourself in a day dedicated to keeping Halloween going. 9pm-2am. $15.

Dopapod stands out in the live music scene with its eclectic blend of jam band energy, funk grooves, jazz fusion and progressive rock. The band, composed of Eli Winderman on keyboards, Rob Compa on guitar, Chuck Jones on bass and Neal “Fro” Evans on drums, thrives on improvisation. Thu., Oct. 31, 7pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub.

Courtesty Dopapod FB

CALENDAR EVENTS

Portello Wine and Spirits Live Music: Mason James Mason James is a versatile musician with 15+ years of experience, known for his skillful acoustic and electric guitar playing. Blending folk, indie, and pop, he offers fresh takes on cover songs and captivating original music. Don’t miss his unique, soulful sound live at Portello! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions The Uncharted Project. Soul, R&B and Jazz tunes. 6-8pm. Free.

Velvet One Mad Man Music Spencer Snyder, One Mad Man, loops together multiple instruments to create moody, driven backdrops accompanied by smooth vocals. Hip-hop-style drums drive funk-inspired bass followed by electrifying sounds from his keyboard and guitar. First Saturday of every month, 8-11pm. Free.

Velvet Day of the Dead with musician One Mad Man Join us for a weeklong Halloween celebration ending with our Day of the Dead party with One Mad Man band. 9pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Company Grand 10 Year Anniversary Come celebrate TEN years of Central Oregons wildest, craziest and most electric band - at your favorite local venue! We are excited to be joined by Billy And The Box Kid. The party starts at 7:30pm! 7:30-11:30pm. $10.

3 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.

River’s Place Gregg Hill Gregg Hill’s songs are an echo of James Taylor‘s style of folksong: humble, mellow and true. 5-7pm. Free.

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

Unofficial Logging Co. Live Music Sunday

Matinee Thomas T & The ABluestics kick off the Sunday Matinee Live Music Series presented by Unofficial Logging Co and DMM Music LLC. Come listen to some of Central Oregon’s finest! 5-7pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Noah Gundersen w/ Abby Gundersen: Ledges 10 Year Anniversary Noah Gundersen, providing vocal harmonies and playing various instruments, including violin, piano, and guitar. Abby Gundersen is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and singer, known for her contributions to the indie folk and ambient music. 7pm. GA $20 VIP $105.

4 Monday

Bunk+Brew Open Mic Show off your talent at Bunk + Brew’s Open Mic Night, happening every Monday! Sign-ups start at 5:30pm, with performances from 6-9pm. Whether you’re a musician, poet, or comedian, the stage is yours. Grab a drink, share your skills, and enjoy a night of local talent! 6-9pm. Free.

Elements Public House Open Mic with DMM Music Come jam with some great local musicians and enjoy an evening of music, great food and full bar. Musician sign-up at 6pm. Sound and PA provided by DMM Music LLC Located at the North end of Redmond. An award-winning full bar and great food! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

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

On Tap 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 Beertown Comedy Open Mic Join the #1 Open Mic at Silver Moon Brewing every Monday! Sign-ups at 6:30pm sharp. Perform or watch—maybe even witness a Roast Battle! Plus, opportunities for paid gigs. 6:30-9pm. Free.

The Barrel Room at Immersion Brewing Public Rock Choir Come sing your face off in a fun, no-stress group where all skill levels can get loud with a live band and group singing. Rock and pop songs only. If you love to sing, but don’t want to sing alone, we are your people! No experience or skill required. First Monday of every month, 6-8am. $20.

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

5 Tuesday

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend Bend Ecstatic Dance An all-out, full-on, spectacular music and free-form movement journey happens every Tuesday on one of the biggest dance floors in Bend. A no-booze and no-shoes venue. No experience required, no dance instructions given. Just really excellent music curation and a big, clean floor to explore your unique movement across. 7:45-10pm. $15-$25 sliding scale.

The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company Open MICC Presented by Bend Underground Comedy Club Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month you can enjoy or participate in THE MICC, a Comedy Open Mic presented by Bend Underground Comedy Club at The Cellar in Downtown Bend. Come and see local comics trying out their sharpest 3-5 minute sets. It’s free to attend and perform! Every other Tuesday, 6:30-8:30pm. Free (donations welcome).

The Commons Cafe & Taproom Storytellers Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Mason James is the host. Poetry, comedy and spoken word are welcome, but this is mainly a musical open mic. Performance slots are a quick 10 minutes each, so being warmed up and ready is ideal. If you wish to perform sign-ups start at 5pm in the cafe. 6pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Think Wild BINGO at Crosscut Warming Hut Join Think Wild and Crosscut Warming Hut for bingo nights.Come support wildlife and win cash and raffle prizes. First Tuesday of every month, 6-8pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Karaoke with DJ Chris Karaoke Night with DJ Chris 6-8pm. Free.. Volcanic Theatre Pub Gareth Reynolds Gareth Reynolds is an internationally touring stand-up Comedian whose brilliantly clever quips perfectly offset Dave Anthony’s hilarious snark on their smash-hit podcast The Dollop which garners over 5 Million downloads every month. Gareth has written on “Arrested Development”, “Flaked” and “Hoops” for Netflix as well as “You’re The Worst.” 7pm. $15 - $30.

MUSIC

Art Walk with musician Greg Botsford & Art by Jennifer Cahoon First Friday with artist Jennifer Cahoon & musician Greg Botsford, with some lovely loops & sweet sounds. Nov. 1, 5pm. Velvet, 805 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

Central Oregon Symphony Announces the 2024-2025 Fall Concert Series

Our Fall concert series is scheduled for the first weekend of November. Nov. 2, 2-4 and 7:30-9:30pm and Nov. 3, 2-4pm. Caldera High School, 60925 SE 15th St, Bend, OR 97702, Bend. Contact: info@cosymphony.com. Free.

DANCE

Lá Bon Presents: Burlesquerade Join La Bon at The Capitol on Halloween night for a masquerade party unlike any other! We’ll be stripping off our masks (and a bit more) during a night of mystery and glamour. Get ready to be dazzled by captivating performances, sultry dancing, and breathtaking costumes. Oct. 31, 6-9pm. The Capitol, 190 NW Oregon Ave., Bend. Contact: Na. labonburlesque@gmail.com. $25-$35.

Social Ballroom Dance Practice your partner ballroom and/or country-western dance patterns at this social gathering. Includes a 30-minute dance lesson and mixer dance. Music rhythms include: Smooth, Latin, swing, country 2-step and more. Partner not required although encouraged. All levels of dance welcome. Contact Valerie for more information. Nov. 2, 6:309pm. The Space, 2570 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 541-602-6168. valdances@ hotmail.com. $10.

Strut Cabaret Presents: Tempt Me, Tease Me Strut Cabaret is back and ready to peel n’ reveal! Join us for an evening of sultry burlesque performances sure to make you giggle, cheer and blush. Glitz, glamour, feathers and rhinestones are what we’re about, baby. Nov. 2, 6:30-9pm. The Capitol, 190 NW Oregon Ave., Bend. Contact: strutcabaret@gmail.com. $30-$200.

ARTS + CRAFTS

Alexa Oxenrider First Friday Art

Walk Join Layor Art’s first Friday featuring local western artist Alexa Oxenrider. This exciting show explores wild cowboys from the mountain ranges of Wyoming to the canyons in the southwest. Nov. 1, 5-9pm. Layor Art, 1000 NW Wall St. #110, Bend. Free.

Ceramic Holiday Ornament Workshop

Make your own ornaments with Krista from La Luce Studio in this two-day workshop! Explore imprinting, stamping, and adding texture in clay on day one (11/2) and come back on day two (11/17) to learn all about glazing your creations. Festive drinks and treats included. Nov. 2, 1-3pm. Pomegranate Home and Garden, 120 NE River Mall Ave., Bend. Contact: 415-308-4538. krista@lalucestudio.com. $90.

Intro to Fused Glass

Learn the basics of creating fused glass art using colorful glass and a variety of glass tools. Suitable for hanging indoors or outdoors, your will have the choise to make a mobile, windchime or set of coasters that will bring fun and color to any space. Nov. 5, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave. com. $139.

Slightly Nerdy Paint Parties at Modern Games Join a special paint night event at Modern Games, featuring an exciting Dungeons and Dragons theme. Let your creativity flow while enjoying a fun and relaxed atmosphere. No experience necessary – just bring yourself and get ready to have a blast! Nov. 4, 6-8pm. Modern Games, 550 SW Industrial way #150, bend. Contact: 541480-7491. sarahanneswoffer@gmail.com. $45.

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

A Bicycle Built for Two Billion After bankruptcy and heartbreak, Jamie Bianchini sought solace on his bicycle. He embarked on a solo tandem ride around the world, inviting strangers to join him. His journey through 81 countries became a quest for connection, featuring a diverse cast of co-pedalers and unforgettable experiences. Nov. 4, 5-6pm. East Bend Public Library, 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1063. beccar@dpls.lib.or.us. Free. Exhibition Opening – Blood, Sweat & Flannel Flannel shirts, jackets, undergarments have played an important role in the High Desert. Workers have donned flannel as they logged trees and roped cattle. Later, grunge counterculture adopted flannel as a nod to nonfashion. Blood, Sweat & Flannel explores the region’s labor history through the lens of a beloved fabric. Nov. 2, 10am4pm. High Desert Museum, 59800 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: 541-382-4754. info@highdesertmuseum.org. Free with paid museum admission. Why we need Indigenous ingenuity - Indigenuity - Now with Dr. Daniel Wildcat Dr. Wildcat will highlight how American Indian Nations are dynamic, evolving communities with living cultures, traditions, and knowledge. He will explore the concept of Indigenuity (Indigenous ingenuity)—how ancient wisdom informs modern problem-solving—and argue for the critical need for this unique knowledge in today’s world. Nov. 3, 2-3:30pm. Madras Performing Arts Center, 412 SE Buff St., Madras. Contact: 541-383-7257. cgilbride@cocc.edu. $0-15..

THEATER

Adventure Time Entertainment presents | Don’t Dream It Be It | A Tim Curry Halloween Double Feature Immerse yourself in the many wild sides of Tim Curry. This Halloween, Oct. 31 and November 1st, catch a double feature of Dracula and the official Tim Curry Halloween performance which includes a drag show and all the classics. Oct. 31, 5:30-11:59pm and Nov. 1, 5:30-11:59pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: 541410-5866. info@openspace.studio. $10-$50.

Living legend of the mandolin, John Reischman, brings an intimate evening of acoustic music to The Belfry with his band, The Jaybirds. Reischman continues to explore the frontiers of mandolin in fresh ways with his unique musical taste and style. Fri., Nov. 1, 6:30-10pm at The Belfry.

Courtesy John Reischman and The Jaybirds

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street The musical follows Sweeney Todd, who returns to Victorian London after 15 years in forced-exile, seeking to reclaim his life and plainly seek vengeance. With the help of his steel razors and his brilliant partner, Mrs. Lovett, a pie-shop owner, Sweeney proves that revenge is best served piping hot. Thursdays-Sundays, 7-10pm. Through Nov. 23. The Greenhouse Cabaret, 1017 NE 2nd St., Bend. Contact: 541-6992840. info@thegreenhousecabaret.com. $50-$75.

WORDS

Book Launch and Signing with Award-Winning Poet Dudley’s is hosting an event with award-winning local poet and author, Broderick Eaton, to launch her new collection. Finalist in the New Women’s Voices competition, Broderick will do a reading and discussion, as well as meeting attendees and signing copies of her books. Copies available onsite. Nov. 3, 3-4:30pm. Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe, 135 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-749-2010. broderickeatonauthor@gmail.com. Free.

Fall into OBOB Series Event: The Mystwick School of Musicraft The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury. Humor and heart shine in this middle-grade fantasy about a girl who attends a boarding school to learn how to use music to create magic, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and the School for Good and Evil series. Nov. 5, 6-7pm. Contact: 541-3066564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Bend Snow & Avalanche Workshop The Bend Snow & Avalanche Workshop is back in action this fall with in-person and virtual options! Get snow-season ready with speakers from around the country touching on topics from risk and decision making, to traveling safely through the backcountry, to snow science and human factors. Nov. 2, 7:30am-3:40pm. COCC Campus Center - Wille Hall, 2600 College Way, Bend. Contact: 503-896-9818. info@coavalanche.org. $50.1 NE Corporate Pl, Bend. 50% off day pass.

Firecraft + Wild Foods Workshop

Come learn about and practice using traditional firecraft methods like bow drill, flint and steel, and more. After we make our fires, we’ll cook some wild foods on them and feast! For adults and ages 16+. All outdoors. Nov. 2, 10am-3pm. Bend, RSVP for address, Bend. Contact: info@ nighthawknaturalistschool.com. $65.

Fort Rock Sunset Hike & Stargazing

Join us for a stunning sunset hike at Fort Rock followed by a night of immersive stargazing! Fort Rock is an absolutely incredible stargazing destination, lying just north of the newly designated Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary, the largest contiguous dark sky shed in the US! Nov. 2, 4:15-9:15pm. Wanderlust Tours, 61535 S Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-389-8359. info@wanderlusttours.com. $130.

Pelvic Floor Power & Principles of Pleasure: Women’s Empowerment

Workshop Discover the secrets of pelvic floor strength & principles of pleasure for greater self-confidence, fulfillment and embracing your inner power. Taught by Jen Miles (PT) & Kristin Warnaca, Erotic Blueprints Coach, this is a LGBTQIA+ friendly & safe space to connect, learn, and grow together. Nov. 5, 6:30-7:45pm. Title Nine, 812 NW Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 541-749-0251. kmwarnaca@ gmail.com. Free.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

Dog adoption event Herding Dog Rescue of Central Oregon! Come see some more great adoptable dogs at Bend Pet Express Eastside on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 11am-1pm. Help the dog population that are in shelters and others that need homes. Adopt and help foster! HDRescueoregon.com Bend Pet Express Eastside, 420 NE Windy Knolls Drive, Bend. Contact: 458-292-8362. Herdingdogrescue@gmail.com. Free.

Single Mingle & Speed Dating

Geared toward singles looking to make new connections, this event offers a blend of casual mingling and structured speed dating rounds. Exclusively for those 21 and over, your participation not only promises a fantastic time but also contributes to a charitable cause—proceeds go to the Charity of the Quarter. Fri, Nov. 1, 6-8pm The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, Bend. Contact: 541-241-6145. events@oregonsingleites.com. $5.

FRIDAY, NOV 1 AT 5:30PM

FUNDRAISING

Home Sweet Bingo Thrive Central Oregon is excited to announce our fundraiser BINGO event the second Sunday of every month at the Blacksmith Public House in Redmond from 11am- 1pm! First Sunday of every month, 11am1pm. Through Jan. 1. Blacksmith Public House, 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Contact: events@thrivecentraloregon.org. Free.

Howl-o-ween Yappy Hour & Pet Adoption Party Hey Party Animals! We are partnering with HSCO for an evening of games, prizes, wine and fun! Costumes encouraged with prizes for best dressed! Event is benefiting Humane Society of Central Oregon. The last Yappy Hour of the year is going to be a HOWLING good time! Oct. 30, 4-8pm. The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, Bend. Contact: info@bendwinebar.com. Free. Trunk or Treat for all ages Trunk or Treat for all ages! Visit the Bend Moose Lodge #384 ffor Treats – No Tricks! Located at 61357 S Hwy 97, Bend. Entrance is through the Goodwill parking lot. Stop in for a Spell. Oct. 31, 5-7pm. Bend Moose Lodge, 61357 S Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-382-7511. bendloom384@gmail.com. Free.

EVENTS + MARKETS

Snowflake Boutique The 48th Snowflake Boutique will be Fri., Nov. 1, 1-8m and Sat., Nov. 2, 9am-5pm at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in the South Sisters Building. Admission is $4 per person, children under 12 are free. Nov. 1, 1-8pm and Nov. 2, 9am-5pm. Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 3800 SE Airport Way, Redmond. Contact: 541233-3163. tmlittlefield@aol.com. $4.

Storyteller Par Excellence - Will Hornyak presents “Tales from the Magic Cauldron” In honor of Samhain and Day of the Dead master storyteller Will Hornyak serves up a heady brew of myths, tales and poems for mature audiences replete with Welch sorceresses, Irish gods and Mexican specters. Spellbinding storytelling, not to be missed! Musician Peter Lepanto opens the evening. Nov. 3, 6-7:30pm. Immersion Brewing Barrel Room, 550 SW Industrial Way #185, Bend. Contact: 503-697-5808. hornyak. will@gmail.com. $15 cash at the door.

Witches Paddle Prepare to cast some spells and enjoy the annual Witches’ Paddle this Halloween. Dust off your broomsticks (or paddleboards) and don your most enchanting witchy attire for an afternoon of magical fun on the river. The event kicks off from Riverbend Park between 4-6pm, so feel free to swoop in whenever you can. Oct. 31, 4-6pm. Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend. Free.

FAMILY + KIDS

Deschutes Title’s Trunk-or-Treat

Deschutes Title is hosting a Trunk-or-Treat in the parking lot of our Bend office, just a short walk from the Old Mill shops! Come trick-or-treat free of charge, and help us raise money for Deschutes Children’s Foundation. Everyone is welcome! Oct. 31, 4-6pm. Deschutes Title, 397 SW Upper Terrace Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-389-2120. sarahl@deschutestitle.com. Free.

SATURDAY, NOV 2 AT 7PM

Kids Halloween Adventure All ages An appropriate immersive experience where kids get to come to play with some classic Halloween characters! Come celebrate this spooky season with us as we mix potions, paint a pumpkin, solve a puzzle or two, a couple of vendors, face painting & glitter tattoos, maybe stay for a Oct. 31, 3-5pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-410-5866. info@openspace.studio. $5.

BEER + DRINK

The Austrian Wine & Cheese Workshop Join Wine and Cheese Steward Teri Tith as we taste through 4 cheeses paired with Austrian wines. You’re welcome to make a reservation before or after for dinner at Flights! Oct. 30, 5:30-6:30pm. Flights Wine Bar, 1444 NW College Way Suite 1, Bend. Contact: 541-728-0753. flightswinebend@gmail.com. $35.

Halloween Pre-Party at Viaggio Wine Bar Pre-game before your Halloween Party! 20% off our regular food and wine bar menu for everyone dressed in costume. Start your night out right! Oct. 31, Noon-9pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Drive, Suite 160, Bend. Contact: 541-299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. Free.

Witch Paddle Watch Party @ The Monkless Brasserie Join us on Halloween at The Brasserie for a viewing of the Witch Paddle on the Deschutes River. Our riverfront patio has the perfect view of the Halloween festivities! Stop in for dinner & a viewing from 4-6pm or if you are participating, join us for a pre/post paddle dinner! Oct. 31, 4-6pm. Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie, 803 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

Aligned for Peace: Cacao & Meditation for Well-being Join a transformative evening as we gather in the spirit of community and align our intentions to create a ripple of positive change. They offer a sanctuary devoted to nurturing self and community through conscious connection, creativity, and shared experience. Nov. 4, 6-7:30pm. Hanai, 62430 Eagle Rd, Bend. Contact: 541-668-3170. ashlee@hanaifoundation.org. $15 - $30.

Sound Healing At Smith Rock: Honoring Our Ancestors | Halloween Chapter Join me for a sound bath to connect with your ancestors and honor them on the evening of Halloween. A great way to tap into the energy of the evening and connect with our lineage. Gathered around the fire to appreciate the circle of life and our place in it. Oct. 31, 5-6:30pm. Sound Healing At Smith Rock, 10070 NE Smith Rock Loop, Terrebonne. Contact: 503-621-8339. hello@amandinelrh.com. $28.

SUNDAY, NOV 3 AT 7PM

American indie-folk singer/songwriter from Seattle, Noah Gundersen is known for providing his vocal harmonies and playing various instruments including piano, violin and guitar. Gundersen and his sister Abby perform together for the Ledges 10-year anniversary show. Sun., Nov. 3, 7pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub.

Courtesy Noah Gundersen FB

O Operation Lava Island Falls Fish Rescue

Deschutes River Conservancy organizes ninth annual fish rescue event, saving over 6,000 fish

By Damian Fagan

Volunteers conducted a fish rescue operation over several days in mid-October, after reduced flows stranded fish in a mile-long side channel at Lava Island Falls along the Upper Deschutes River.

Come Check Out Our POWDER

P LAT TER !

The event was organized by the Deschutes River Conservancy, with help from volunteers and staff from fisheries and environmental consulting firm Mount Hood Environmental.

Several years back, hikers along the Deschutes River Trail complained about dying fish along the side channel at Lava Island. The fish became stranded as irrigation management reduced flows in the river to the point where the channel became isolated from the main flow. One year, the stench was significant. That set the wheels in motion for a recovery operation, which has led to the efforts coordinated by DRC.

For the rescue operation, time was of the essence, as the ephemeral pools would only last so long before they disappeared, draining into the lava substrate below or becoming too small to sustain the fish. Once cut off from the main channel, some of the pools might only last for about 12 hours.

“Today has been great, we’ve had excellent volunteers help out, be exactly where they need to be, and willing to jump in and get wet or carry buckets and do all the hard work,” said Gina Maag-Klobas, a biological technician with Mount Hood Environmental.

Some smaller pools were electrofished by using a backpack shocker to stun the fish, which would then float up to the surface. Volunteers with nets would then scoop up the fish and place them in buckets with battery-powered aerators for transport up to a processing location at the Lava Island boat ramp. There the fish were counted by species and placed into new buckets before being released back into the main channel of the river. Volunteers collected a total of 6,281 fish during the rescue operation.

“We had about 90 volunteers sign up, and as soon as the shifts opened

up, the community met the need,” said Marisa Hossick, Deschutes River Conservancy communications director.

Volunteer Tom Hill spent the day helping on the project and even signed up his daughter, Sara Hill, who was visiting for several months before starting a job with the Montana Watershed Council.

“I’m a fly fisherman and I support the Deschutes River Alliance and saw the email for the volunteers to sign up,” said Hill, who lives in Bend. “The volunteers were divided into several groups, and those of us with chest waders, we got to do the netting.” Hill scooped up numerous fry and fingerlings but did see several fish in the 10to 12-inch range.

“When they were zapping the fish and we were out with the nets, it was a kick in the pants, it was fun!”

Most of the fish collected were rainbow trout, but the group also found German brown trout, sculpin and three-spined stickleback.

“We control the flows out of Wickiup and so when irrigation season shuts down, we shut down the water,” said Josh Bailey, irrigation manager for the North Unit Irrigation District, the second largest irrigation district in the state. NUID works with numerous other irrigation companies that rely upon the Deschutes River for irrigation water, as well as many other stakeholders and public agencies to facilitate the fish rescue operation.

With the finalization of the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan in 2020, flows coming out of Wickiup in the winter will increase to 300 cfs from the current 105 cfs level. “We anticipate that with those flows, and natural flows after 2029, we won’t have to do this rescue anymore because flow rates will be high enough to sustain this channel,” added Bailey.

Seining an isolated pool for fish in the Lava Island channel.

Damian Fagan

CULTURE

“How To” Ideas for Authentic, Sustainable, Civic Engagement

Topical books encourage readers to stay involved

By Cassie Clemans, Owner of Roundabout Books and Cafe

One of the questions I always get asked as a bookstore owner is some version of, “What surprises you about running a bookstore?” I’m continually surprised by the connections we form as a third place – a place to spend time beyond home and work. Sharing a bookstore space with our community means we talk about books, and as you know, book conversations lead to more intimate topics. Personal life changes, national disasters, and yes, elections are all part of the conversation inside these walls. The beauty of the bookshop is that it’s a safe place for all points of view to converge and to discuss without feeling alienated. At the end of the day, we’re all neighbors; and beyond politics, we have so much else in common, including books!

This is what’s special about a third place – it’s somewhere to connect with our community on topics that affect all our lives. Nine days after the bookshop opened eight years ago, the 2016 election brought the conversation about the divisive nature of politics to the forefront. In 2020, we weathered a global pandemic, the escalation of racial tensions, further breakdown of civil discourse and the insurrection of early 2021. In 2022, we faced harrowing concerns about school safety, gun violence and the Dobbs decision. In 2023, we navigated questions of poverty in Bend and all over the nation.

Today, once again, we come together on the eve of a national election.

There is a real sense in the bookshop that everyone is tired — exhausted actually, of the political rhetoric and negativity. Everyone is reaching for hope. Cozy, uplifting and inspiring books have been flying off the shelves and are our most frequent recommendation request. That begs the question: What should we read as the next election is just around the corner? Regardless of your political leanings, there are some great ways to get involved in the upcoming election and beyond.

First and foremost, please read your free and informative Voter’s Pamphlet. Mine arrived in the mail last week. After that, there are several inspiring books available on the political process, most notably, those that remind us that civic engagement is not just our privilege, but the mere act of participating, regardless of outcome, can improve our lives.

In their new book, “Democracy in Retrograde,” Sami Sage and Emily Amick address the question of civic

“We believe that civic engagement is a form of self-care.”

- Sami Sage and Emily Amick, “Democracy in Retrograde”

engagement, and the apathy that results from giving up and tapping out in frustration and hopelessness. More than 30% of Americans did not vote in 2020, and only 37% of Americans voted in all three major elections of 2018, 2020 and 2022.

As the authors write, “We believe that civic engagement is a form of selfcare. Our hope is that this book will inspire a lifelong internal paradigm shift, because civic engagement is a reclamation of your place in a community, a statement of your values, and an act of self-respect.”

The authors explore ways civic engagement can feel authentic and sustainable, even for the busiest of schedules. They give concrete action plans, such as auditing your news diet and making intentional choices about where you get your news, creating a civic calendar and noting the meeting times of local political bodies or nonprofit organizations that align to your interests. The book encourages people to strengthen friendships by attending events together and to develop new friendships by getting involved with a local interest group. Find an issue you care about, explore solutions, research your representatives, and then reach out with an email or phone call. It doesn’t cost a thing.

Another book full of practical advice on civic engagement is

“Democracy or Else” from the hosts of Pod Save America. They focus on how to get positively involved in politics, by donating time and volunteering, organizing and protesting and staying engaged without losing hope – or your mind. It’s a fun resource for everyone, no matter where you fall on the political engagement spectrum.

One particularly popular book in our shop these days is Sharon McMahon’s “The Small and the Mighty.” McMahon highlights moments in history when the most ordinary Americans, not famous, rich, or connected, took actions that changed the path of American history – moving us toward a more just and peaceful nation. The people in her book were telephone operators, poets and schoolteachers, great Americans who illuminate the best of our character and spirit.

Time marches on and as our world changes, the way we connect changes. Sometimes, it can start to feel like a small but loud minority has seized control of the process. But there are many books, professors and leaders explaining why that’s not true. Sage and Amick remind us that even though the world is changing quickly, everyone who wants to do their part in making our community better, can do so.

“By reclaiming the power of the majority – your power – we can forge a future where the voice of the people truly reigns supreme.”

Let’s kickstart a year of positive civic engagement by educating ourselves and voting on or before Nov. 5.

“We are all Americans together, and we must not forget that the common good is our common interest and our individual responsibility.”

—Jimmy Carter, Farewell Address

It’s fun to pick up a classic and “Angle of Repose,” the winner of the 1972 Pulitzer Prize, is well worth your time. This book transports us to a different time, the late 1880s and the American West, while giving us the inside view of a marriage between Oliver Ward, a mining engineer, and his wife, the artist Susan Ward. Deeply moving and beautifully written.

Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner

WHAT CASSIE'S READING

Courtesy Roundabout Books

CRAFT CR Bend Earns Reputation as Beer Mecca

More Great American Beer Fest medals return to Central Oregon than Portland

By Brian Yaeger

Each year, confident American craft brewers send their beers to Denver, Colorado, to be judged at the most prestigious competition in the country, if not the world: the Great American Beer Festival, produced by the Brewers Association. For this year’s 38th annual competition, 8,836 beers were submitted covering all 50 states. As always, California came out ahead with a haul of 71 medals. (It’s home to thrice as many breweries as Oregon.) Colorado’s impressive 40 medals also outnumbered Oregon’s, but didn’t beat the Beaver State (third place with 38 medals) as a metric of medals-per-brewery.

To boot, more of that gold, silver and bronze rainbow returned home to Central Oregon than to Portland.

The 12 precious metals now adorning taprooms, offices, or brewhouses were awarded to seven local breweries: 10 Barrel Brewing (6), Sunriver Brewing (3), Deschutes Brewery (3), Worthy Brewing (1), Monkless Belgian Ales (1), Bend Brewing Co. (1), and brand-new Terranaut Beer (1). The reason those collective honors amount to 16 and not 12 medals is because both 10 Barrel and Deschutes won a pair each from their Portland brewpubs. (Breweries are limited to entering five beers, but companies operating multiple brewhouses can submit five per facility.)

While 10 Barrel earned six medals overall (two golds, one silver, three bronzes), I don’t imagine this feat will be replicated in the future. That’s because the award-winning beers were created by 10 Barrel’s innovation team, all of whom were terminated by new owner Tilray Brands in September. The company has earned a total of 26 GABF medals.

Sunriver Brewing earned three medals en route to being crowned Brewery of the Year (within the midsized category, specified for breweries that produce 5 to 15 thousand barrels annually). Again! This year marked Fuzztail Hefeweizen’s third medal in eight years and returned to gold status. Sunriver’s other two

medals came from Che Figata (silver, Italian-style Pilsner) and Something Dank This Way Comes (gold, American-style strong pale ale, which is basically one of the IPA categories).

Brett Thomas, director of brewing operations, said, “It’s a tremendous honor to be named GABF Brewery of the Year for a second time. Head Brewer Patrick Raasch, along with our incredible brewery team, continues to produce some of the best beer in the world.”

Deschutes’ three medals were awarded to Hachimitsu Mai (gold, honey beer), Patagonia Provisions Non-Alcoholic Kernza Golden Brew (gold, specialty non-alcoholic beer), and Fresh Hop King Crispy (bronze, fresh-hop beer). This brings Bend’s oldest and largest brewery’s GABF total to 53 medals in its 36 years of entering — the second most of any craft brewery after Firestone-Walker Brewing Company headquartered in Paso Robles, California.

Finally, one medal was awarded to Worthy (silver for Farm Out in the saison category), Monkless Belgian Ales (silver, Capitulation in American-Belgo-style ale), Bend Brewing (bronze, Oregon Summer Ale in the English Ale category) and Bend’s brand-new Terranaut (bronze in the coffee beer category for Bucky, a brown ale collaboration with Backporch Coffee Roasters).

Bryon Pyka, Terranaut’s founder who previously worked on 10 Barrel’s research and development team, said, “I think winning right out of the gates demonstrates that Terranaut will be extremely committed to quality and pushing the envelope. It comes at a time when our team has been grinding super hard to get our taproom open, and we really needed a lift. I think it also shows the strength in our community because it was just our third batch of beer, and we never could've done it if the Monkless crew didn't do everything they possibly could to put us in a position to hit the ground running to make great beer and succeed in their former space.”

New at this year’s competition was a slate of cider categories. Five of Oregon’s 38 medals were bestowed upon two cideries: 2 Towns Ciderhouse of Corvallis (which translated into being named GABF’s inaugural Cidermaker of the Year) and Portland-based McMenamins. The gold medal winning Blackberry Cider is currently on tap at Old St. Francis.

Around Oregon, Eugene’s Alesong Brewing and Blending won a gold and a bronze medal, along with being named small brewery of the year (at the 251-500 barrel level), Portland newcomer Grand Fir Brewing (from former 10 Barrel brewmaster Whitney Burnside) garnered three silver medals (and brewery of the year at the 5011,000 barrel level) and Portland’s beloved Breakside Brewery took home three more to add to its prior 26, making it one of Oregon’s most decorated breweries.

This year’s competition brings Bend-based breweries to a grand total of 104 GABF medals with 125, when including Sunriver, Redmond, and Sisters.

Courtesy Great American Brew Festival

Bend, By Way of Belgium Monkless Brasserie is a singular experience

By Jared Rasic

Ifeel like I’m always sleeping on Monkless. From the panoramic view to the consistently fantastic beer and the deep bench of flavors on a food menu filled with dishes that are rare to find in Bend, Monkless has always followed its own muse, still innovating at a time when a lot of breweries are content with maintaining the status quo. In fact, with Monkless launching several new menu items in the next week, they’re continuing to take interesting chances while quietly and confidently producing some of the most expertly crafted and curated beers in Oregon.

First of all, that view. Just the best. It makes you remember how beautiful the Old Mill District is when looking down on it from a beautiful brasserie nestled on the edge of a hill looking across the majestic-ass Deschutes. Monkless is such a beautiful space that even if their food and beer weren’t great, people would still flock to it. But instead, owners Robin and Todd Clement genuinely care about every aspect of what they do, from the kind and attentive staff, to the perfectly plated and prepared dishes to the deep bench of amazing Belgian ales.

of too ostentatious, making it easily the best poutine plate I’ve had in Oregon. I balanced this out with a 4oz piece of grilled salmon, which managed to not only be texturally without flaw, but had a playful balance between citrus and sweet that I found intoxicating.

Finally, I went for the Pork Schnitzel Sando, a thinly pounded, crisply breaded MASSIVE pork cutlet with apple cabbage slaw, honey mustard and garlic aioli. The lightly peppered cutlet was so tender and delicious that, paired with the richly complex honey mustard and subtle apple slaw, it made for my favorite dish of the night. Other than the linguica. And the salmon. And the poutine.

“Monkless Belgian Ales began as a passion to bring authentic Belgian-style ales to the craft beer lovers of Central Oregon,” says Robin Clement. “Founded in 2014 by my husband, Todd Clement, an organic chemist with a dedication to quality and flavor complexity, Monkless is rooted in both traditional brewing techniques and a relentless drive for excellence. What makes Monkless truly unique is that from the start, we dedicated ourselves to Belgian styles, and we’ve been fortunate enough to stay true to those roots, continuing to brew the beers that first sparked our love.”

Monkless opened its brasserie in the fall of 2019. This year brought a new addition, The Abbey taproom at the corner of 9th and Wilson in Bend.

“It’s been a journey, but every step has brought us closer to sharing our passion for Belgian ales with this community,” Clement told the Source Weekly.

Because I’m a dedicated and lovable food writer, I tried eight beers and many plates of food for your reading pleasure. One thing that the Monkless brasserie was doing that I immediately fell in love with was pairing a flight of their beers with a flight of Halloween candy. The Shepplekofeggan is an amazing Belgian wit with a citrusy zest that paired wonderfully with a chocolatey Twix, blending into a really fun and delicious

flavor profile. Next was the Restitution, a Belgian golden ale with malty notes that paired perfectly with the nougaty goodness of a Milky Way. Unorthodox had a dark, malty orange profile, and paired with a Starburst made for an actual explosion of flavor. My personal favorite was the toffee spice of the FNG Belgian Abbey Ale paired with a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. The peanut butter mixed with the pepper-spiced toffee is legit divine.

“We love seeing more folks get exposed to Belgian-style beers! Central Oregonians love exploring bold flavors, and Belgian-style beers offer a complexity and smoothness that aren't always present with your typical hoppy brews,” says Clement. “They’re packed with character, from fruity notes to rich spice, and there’s a Belgian beer for every season and mood — whether you’re hiking in the summer with a refreshing pils or saison or warming up by the fire with a deep, malty quad in the winter.”

Balancing out the candy/beer combination I started with the sausage board, which was packed with some of the best meats I’ve had in a long time. Their linguica (my personal favorite meat) was perfectly balanced, light on the pork and onion and instead really allowing the smokey savoriness to be the signature.

Next came the Poutine, with crunchy, perfectly done fries, braised beef & pork gravy, cheddar cheese curds, topped with a fried egg and chives. The curds somehow managed not to overpower the gravy, instead creating a complex and delicious flavor profile that made the poutine feel delectable and sinful without sitting like a gut bomb. The heartiness felt warming instead

“The inspiration for our menu was to blend the rich, comforting essence of Belgian and European flavors with the vibrant, seasonal ingredients of the Pacific Northwest, creating dishes that feel both familiar and refreshingly new. Belgian cuisine is undeniably comfort food — it’s warm, hearty, and satisfying.”

Monkless launches its new fall and winter menu on Nov. 7, featuring some new Belgian-inspired dishes that bring even more depth to the menu, including a Flemish Beef Dip, Dutch Meatballs and Vegan Ratatouille. Classics from the old menu will remain.

Food done, I dove into another flight, starting with the crisp, dry and refreshing Reverie Pilsner, then into the clean and fresh wheat-forward Peppercorn Imperial Wit, followed by the devilish Pour Pour Pitiful Me dessert beer aged in cherries and a decadent chocolate finish and ending with the Friar’s Festivus, a quad style winter seasonal that combines a spicy clove front with a dark fruity finish that I absolutely fell in love with. Of the eight beers I tried, the FNG might have been my favorite, but it could have been the Reese’s that pushed me over the edge. Still, there wasn’t a single one I wouldn’t try again and again.

Don’t be like me and take Monkless for granted. From the lovely service to the complex beer to the warm ambience and the fearless food, the Brasserie sure feels like the place to be.

The Monkless Brasserie 803 SW Industrial Way 541-797-6760 Mon-Sun 11:30am-10pm monkless.com

Jared Rasic

Belgian ales paired with Halloween candy is my love language.

LITTLE BITES

By Nicole Vulcan

Homebrewers Team Up with Breweries for People’s Choice Event

Boneyard hosts tasting event for homebrewers to show off their goods

Breweries get a lot of attention around these parts — but out of a basic Bend love for beer also comes a bevy of home brewers, eager to see whether their goods are as good as the pros. That’s where the Central Oregon Pro-Am Brewing Challenge — a relatively new event — comes in. The Challenge invites homebrewers to compete for bragging rights by brewing up a beer, along with a local brewery, and letting the people decide whose is best.

The People’s Choice tasting event is the final event in the Challenge, which started with a round that had homebrewers submitting their best homebrews for review. From there, 11 of the top homebrewers got matched up with various Central Oregon breweries to brew a new batch of that same beer for the people’s choice round.

During the Nov. 9 event, locals can sip on the 11 brews, which include a Rye IPA made by homebrewer Chris Campbell along with Wild Ride Brewing; an Irish Red made by Troy Whiteid with the help of GoodLife and a Roggenbier from Marc Hayden, made with Spider City. Vote on the best ones, and let one hardworking homebrewer walk away with the top distinction.

The Central Oregon Homebrewers Association was founded in 2005 as a way for homebrewers to get together and learn more about brewing beer, wine and other fermented beverages. More info on the organization is available at cohomebrewers.org.

Central Oregon Pro-Am Brewing Challenge People’s Choice event Sat., Nov. 9, 11am-5pm Boneyard Pub 1955 NE Division St., Bend cohomebrewers.org

The fine folks

been making

for years! Come on down to our tasting room or pick up some cans at your favorite store!

at Van Henion Brewing have

tasty beer

By Savannah Mendoza

‘Cheers to the Land’ Beer Dinner Celebrates Oregon’s Bounty

Oregon Agricultural Trust and Deschutes Brewery serve up a farm-to-table feast highlighting local foods paired with craft beer

Cheers to the Land, a program by the statewide nonprofit Oregon Agricultural Trust, has teamed up with Deschutes Brewery to host an evening celebrating sustainable dining. The Cheers to the Land Beer Dinner, held at Deschutes Brewery & Public House in downtown Bend, features a fourcourse, farm-to-table menu paired with Deschutes craft beers – all created to showcase Oregon’s local bounty.

“We help farmers and ranchers protect their land and pass it on to the next generation,” said Nellie McAdams, executive director at OAT. “Deschutes Brewery worked with some of our featured farmers, ranchers and vendors to create an incredible tasting menu highlighting the diverse agriculture products grown here. It’s all part of the Cheers to the Land event series.”

Cheers to the Land events raise awareness of Oregon’s agricultural lands and products, with a mission to protect farmland and foster a stronger connection between local communities and the state’s agricultural offerings.

“I hope attendees feel a connection to the land and gain a deeper appreciation for the role of healthy soil in everything we eat, and Oregon’s incredible agricultural landscape,” McAdams said.

The Cheers to the Land Beer Dinner takes place on Friday Nov. 8 from 7 to 9pm. The evening’s seasonally inspired courses paired with a Deschutes craft beer showcase flavors of the season – from the creamy tang of goat cheese to the rich warmth of sticky toffee pudding. Here’s a look at the tasting menu:

Food Courses:

• Amuse Bouche – Goat cheese croquette with a pickled cranberry coulis

• Starter – Homemade Old Bay, fried basil and Cheddar biscuit with apple butter and a garnish

• Main – Pave sweet potato with a sage brown butter and spiced walnuts, lightly smoked trout with spicy crispy chilies and a celery root puree

• Dessert – Sticky Toffee Pudding

Beers:

• Patagonia Kernza Lager or Patagonia N/A Kernza Golden Ale

• Farmhouse Cider

• Cheers to the Land Fresh Hop West Coast IPA

• Black Mirror

“We’re all familiar with wine pairings, but beer and cider also offer an incredible diversity of flavors that pair beautifully with different types of food,” says McAdams.

Cheers To The Land Beer Dinner Fri., Nov. 8, 7-9pm

Deschutes Brewery & Public House 1044 NW Bond St., Bend

eventbrite.com/e/cheers-to-the-land-beer-dinner-tickets $60

Courtesy Oregon Agricultural Trust FB

GUNG HO

By Savannah Mendoza

Trivia Nights Wait for Craft Beers Lovers and Quiz Masters

Cozy up, sip a pint and test your wits at weekly trivia nights across Bend and Redmond

With fall in full swing, cozy indoor activities are calling – and there’s no better way to spend an evening than teaming up with friends over craft brews and trivia. Across Bend and Redmond, breweries are bringing people together to test their wits, share a laugh and vie for prizes (or just bragging rights). From pop culture to history and quirky themes in between, these local hotspots offer a night of trivial fun. Whether you’re in it for the questions, the company, or the craft beer, these weekly trivia nights are packed with fun and open to everyone. So, rally your crew and get ready to flex those brain cells with this roundup of trivia nights.

Sunday

• Trivia Sunday Fun at Rivers Place. Sundays, Noon-2pm. 787 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend.

• Trivia Night at The Commons Cafe & Taproom. Sundays, 6-8pm. 875 NW Brooks St., Bend.

Monday

• Head Games Trivia Night at Worthy Beers & Burgers – Eastside. Mondays, 7pm. 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend.

• Trivia Mondays at Bridge 99 Brewery. Mondays, 6:30pm. 63063 Layton Ave., Bend.

Tuesday

• Head Games Trivia at Crosscut Warming Hut. Every other Tuesday, 6-8pm. 566 SW Mill View Way, Bend

• Trivia: The Four Elements at Bunk + Brew. Tuesdays, 7-9pm. 42 NW Hawthorne Ave., Bend.

Wednesday

• Head Games Trivia Night at Deschutes Brewery & Public House. Wednesdays, 6:308:30pm. 1044 NW Bond St., Bend.

• Trivia + Wing Wednesday at JC’s Bar and Grill. Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30pm. 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend.

• Trivia Prost! at Prost Bend. Wednesdays, 7-9pm. 40 SW Century Dr., #140, Bend.

Thursday

• Trivia on the Moon at Silver Moon Brewing. Thursdays, 7pm. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend.

• Trivia Night at Bangers & Brews Bend. Thursdays, 6-8pm. 1288 SW Simpson Ave., Bend.

• Trivia Thursday at Bridge 99 Brewery. Thursdays, 6:308:30pm. 63063 Layton Ave., Bend.

• Trivia Night at The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room. Every second and last Thursday of the month, 6-8pm. 550 SW Industrial Way, #194, Bend.

Redmond Trivia Nights

• Tuesday Trivia Night at Bangers & Brews. Tuesday, 6:30pm. 827 SW 7th St., Redmond.

• Trivia Night at The Vault Taphouse at Kobold Brewing. Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm. 245 SW Sixth St., Redmond.

• Trivia Night with Quiz Games at Elements Public House. Thursdays, 6-8pm. 1857 NW 6th St., Redmond.

Stop in for a pint

Stop in for a pint

Whether you’re stopping by for a casual pint or looking for a night filled with revelry, we have everything you need, including award-winning beer.

Courtesy @thecommonsbend IG

SC SCREEN Creepshows

Ten underrated horror flicks for the spooky season

By Jared Rasic

Amajority of the movies that get made are horror movies for two main reasons: 1) With some imagination and a solid team you can make one on a very limited budget and 2) There’s such a large built-in fanbase starving for new horror that even hot garbage usually makes a little money. They’re the safest bet, in or out of Hollywood, for producers to turn a nickel into two dimes. But so many come out every week that it becomes nearly impossible to keep up with the bad ones, let alone the insanely rarer great ones.

This list only has nine new-ish horror movies and one pre-code classic that I don’t think enough people have seen. It’s mostly new because horror fans are so obsessive that older films normally, eventually get discovered — so don’t take the lack of ‘70s and ‘80s spookies to mean anything other than most of you sickos have discovered all of the lost greats already. In fact, I doubt there’s a single one on this list the real die-hard horror nerds haven’t already watched, so I guess this one goes out to the normies. Enjoy!

“Session 9” (2001) I’ve watched this psychological thriller at least once a year since it came out in 2001 and I’m still discovering creepy little burrows to unpack. “Session 9” follows a group of asbestos removal workers who are hired to clean up an abandoned mental hospital and slowly succumb to paranoia, jealousy, maybe a ghost or two and the slow, creeping dread of their deepest fears manifesting in person. Filming in the actually abandoned Danvers State Insane Asylum added a texture and vibe to the film that no amount of filmmaking magic could replicate. Simple, quiet and chilling.

THE WAILING

THE

“The Strings” (2020) Nothing much happens in “The Strings” that immediately makes you think it’s a horror movie, but then after around an hour you realize that something is now crawling under your skin. What at first feels like a straightforward, low-budget indie movie about a musician staying at her aunt’s remote cottage on the ocean while searching for inspiration to record new music instead becomes a subtle riff on cosmic horror and a treatise on the loneliness inherent in making art. While “The Strings” isn’t necessarily “scary” in the broadest sense of the word, like the best horror, it manages to upend the safety you feel when surrounded by the mundane, everyday act of existing.

“The Empty Man” (2020) Bonkers. A 137-minute supernatural horror flick about disappearances in a small town that was taken away from its director and released in what he considered his “rough cut” form. Big, epic, flawed and unforgettable, “The Empty Man” feels like the pilot to an HBO horror series, the first film in a massive horror trilogy and a big-budget exercise in fearless studio filmmaking, while also not being any of those things at all. I hope we get director David Pryor’s finished cut of the film one day, but this is truly what we talk about when we talk about a cult classic. Two or three genuinely terrifying moments I still think about constantly.

SESSION 9

“The Wailing” (2016) A series of murders and mysterious illnesses overtake a remote South Korean village and turn this bone-chilling creeper into a blend of body-horror, serial-killer mystery and zombies into a truly original work of art. This isn’t just a great horror movie, but one of the gold standards of South Korean cinema and another bit of proof that South Korean cinema is innovating motion pictures more than any other country on Earth. I’m not sure any other film on this list induces dread so wholly and soul-swallowingly as “The Wailing.”

“Lake Mungo” (2008) A pseudo-documentary about an Australian family suffering from the accidental drowning of their daughter and the very real possibility that she’s now haunting them. Directed and acted with such nuanced skill that it genuinely feels like a real documentary, “Lake Mungo” frightens gently, making you question mortality and the afterlife in ways most horror films won’t touch. Another unforgettable gem.

“I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House” (2016) A gothic ghost story from the director of “Longlegs” that feels conjured out of one of Shirley Jackson’s most haunting dreams. Quiet, tender and deceptively minimalist, most people will find this to be too much of a slow burn, but director Oz Perkins nails the atmosphere so flawlessly that you’ll find yourself wandering the halls along with the ghosts before you know it. Singular in execution and in how it subtly trains the viewer to be creeped out by simple changes of tone and texture.

“Resurrection” (2022) True psychological horror starring the criminally underrated Rebecca Hall (also amazing in the little-seen creeper, “The Night House”) as a composed businesswoman who starts losing control after running into an abusive ex, played by the always astonishing Tim Roth. While a lot of horror films have used trauma as their thematic touchstones over the last decade, “Resurrection” does so in ways that actually honor those affected by abuse and inherited scars. The last 10 minutes are so insane I could write a thousand words about the single scene and still not unpack all the nuance and meaning.

“Cure” (1997) Definitely my favorite horror movie on this list and in my top 25 of all time, “Cure” is Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s greatest work (which is saying a lot) and one of the most intelligent and deeply unsettling movies of the last century. On its surface it follows a detective hunting a serial killer who makes other people do his killings seemingly at random, but it also manages to put words to feelings of existential dread I’m not sure any film has managed before or since. Very deliberately paced, it might be too slow for some viewers, but for those with patience, the rewards are bottomless.

“The Old Dark House” (1932) From James Whale (he made this between “Frankenstein” and “Bride of Frankenstein”) and starring the great Boris Karloff, “The Old Dark House” is the perfect Halloween movie to throw on for people not really into getting too scared. Extremely funny, random and strange while also having a great spooky mansion to explore with interesting characters, “The Old Dark House” remains one of the most underrated horror classics in history.

“Strange Darling” (2024) Brand new, this one, and a genuinely original take on the serial killer/ cat and mouse genre that takes the non-linear structure of “Pulp Fiction” and does something exciting with it. Willa Fitzgerald is so insanely great that it feels like watching someone become a movie star in front of you, and the direction is so bold and assured (with stellar cinematography by Giovanni Ribisi), that, for only being a few months old, it already feels like a modern classic.

OLD DARK HOUSE

Courtesy of Criterion

Courtesy of Artisan

Courtesy of Fox

with

and

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of October 28, 2024 Difficulty

Bull's weapon 2. Berry in some poke bowls 3. End with a ___ 4. Saddled with debt

5. Time when busy people take things slow 6. "Summer of '69" singer

7. Word said with a bow 8. Litters? 9. Rummages (through) 10. Neutral color 11. Has for supper 12. Big name in breadsticks 13. Kayak rental

14. Hollow center?

20. "Hairspray" star

24. "Democracy in America" author de Tocqueville

25. Operating system with a command line 26. Is unable to 27. Dating word

28. Duff Beer server

29. Find out information about

30. Box set components

31. Smelling of mothballs

32. Last deg.

35. Wrigley's field?

38. Film where people are looking for a Chevrolet Malibu

40. Big name in camping gear

42. Hate, hate, hate

45. Perfume compound

46. Movie class?

48. West Coast wine valley

49. Plymouth ___

50. Mechanical learning method

51. Sandpaper feature

52. "I hear ya"

53. They bring the heat down: Abbr.

54. Quick shuteye

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “It’s National “How Do I the on my Microwave” Day!”

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters G O N E C H A L K exactly once.

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

Answer for the week of October 21, 2024

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will “It’s National “How Do I the on my Microwave” - author unknown

“When you turn an election into a three-ring circus, there’s always a chance that the dancing bear will win.” — Nancy Isenberg

“When

Answer for the week of October 21, 2024 “When you turn an election into a three-ring circus,

Alcoholics

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio painter Pablo Picasso has been described as a "masterfully erratic pioneer." He influenced every art movement of the 20th century. His painting *Guernica* is a renowned anti-war statement. Though he was a Communist, he amassed great wealth and owned five homes. Today, his collected work is valued at over $800 million. By the way, he was the most prolific artist who ever lived, producing almost 150,000 pieces. I nominate him to be your role model in the coming weeks. You are due for a Season of Successful Excess. Halloween costume suggestion: an eccentric, charismatic genius.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian Keith Richards, guitar player for the Rolling Stones since 1962, is a gritty, rugged man notorious for his rowdy carousing. Lots of observers predicted he would die at a young age because of his boisterous lifestyle, yet today he is 81 years old and still partying. But here's his confession: "I never sleep alone. If there is no one to sleep next to, I'll sleep next to a stuffed animal. It makes me feel secure and safe. It's a little embarrassing to admit it. It's important to me, though." I bring this up, Sagittarius, because I feel that no matter how wild and free you are, you will be wise to ensure that you feel extra secure and supported for a while. Halloween costume suggestion: a stuffed animal or a lover of stuffed animals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19): Halloween offers us a valuable psychological opportunity. We can pretend to perform our shadowy, wounded, and unripe qualities without suffering the consequences of literally acting them out. We can acknowledge them as part of our make-up, helping to ensure they won’t develop the explosive, unpredictable power that repressed qualities can acquire. We may even gently mock our immature qualities with sly humor, diminishing the possibility they will sabotage us. All that’s a preamble for my Halloween costume suggestion for you: a dictator or tyrant. If you have fun playing with your control-freak fantasies, you will be less likely to over-express them in real life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When you attended kindergarten, did you ever share your delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich with friends who didn't like the broccoli and carrots in their lunch boxes? If so, you may be well-primed to capitalize on the opportunities now in your vicinity. Your generous actions will be potent catalysts for good luck. Your eagerness to bestow blessings and share your resources will bring you rewards. Your skill at enhancing other people's fortunes may attract unexpected favors. Halloween costume suggestion: philanthropist, charity worker, or an angel who gives away peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): For you, dear Gemini, the coming weeks could be the least superstitious time ever. There will be no such thing as bad luck, good luck, or weird luck. Fears rooted in old misunderstandings will be irrelevant. Irrational worries about unlikely outcomes will be disproven. You will discover reasons to shed paranoid thoughts and nervous fantasies. Speaking on behalf of your higher self, I authorize you to put your supple trust in logical thinking, objective research, and rational analysis. Halloween costume suggestion: a famous scientist you respect.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Which sign of the zodiac is sexiest? Smoldering Scorpios, who are so inherently seductive they don't even have to try to be? Radiant Leos, whose charisma and commanding presence may feel irresistible? Electrifying Aries, who grab our attention with their power to excite and inspire us? In accordance with current astrological omens, I name you Cancerians as the sexiest sign for the next three weeks. Your emotional potency and nurturing intelligence will tempt us to dive into the depths with you and explore the lyrical mysteries of intimate linkage. Halloween costume suggestion: sex god, sex goddess, or the nonbinary Hindu deity Ardhanarishvara.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Paganism and astrology have key affinities. For instance, they both understand that our personal rhythms are connected with the Earth's cycles. I bring this to your attention because we are in the season that pagans call Samhain, halfway between the equinox and solstice. For Aquarians, this festival marks a time when you are wise to honor and nurture your highest ambitions. You can generate fun and good fortune by focusing on lofty goals that express your finest talents and offer your most unique gifts. How might you boost your passion and capacity to make your mark on the world? Halloween costume suggestion: your dream career.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I like how you are opening, widening, and heightening! Keep up the good work, Pisces! I am cheering you on as you amplify, stretch, augment, and burgeon. Here’s a small alert, though: You may be expanding so fast and so far that it’s a challenge for less expansive people to keep up—even your allies. To allay their worries, be generous in sharing the fruits of your thriving spaciousness. Let them know you don’t require them to match your rate of growth. You could also show them this horoscope. Halloween costume suggestion: a broader, brighter, bolder version of yourself.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many people believe in the existence of ghosts. If you’re not yet one of them, you may be soon. The spirit world is more open than usual to your curiosity and explorations. Keep in mind, though, that the contacts you make might not be with ghosts in the usual sense of that term. They might be deceased ancestors coming to deliver clues and blessings. They could be angels, guardian spirits, or shapeshifting messengers. Don’t be afraid. Some may be weird, but they’re not dangerous. Learn what you can from them, but don’t assume they’re omniscient and infallible. Halloween costume suggestion: one of your ancestors.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In ancient Egypt, onions were precious because they symbolized the many-layered nature of life. Just as some modern people swear oaths while placing a hand on a Bible, an Egyptian might have pledged a crucial vow while holding an onion. Would you consider adopting your own personal version of their practice in the coming weeks, Leo? It is the oath-taking season for you—a time when you will be wise to consider deep commitments and sacred resolutions. Halloween costume suggestion: a spiritual initiate or devotee.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Two of the world's most famous paintings are the *Mona Lisa* and *The Last Supper*. Both were made by Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), one of the world's most famous painters. Yet the brilliant artist left us with only 24 paintings in total, many of which were unfinished. Why? Here are two of several reasons: He worked slowly and procrastinated constantly. In the coming months, Virgo, I feel you will have resemblances to the version of da Vinci who created *The Last Supper* and the *Mona Lisa*. Some of your best, most enduring work will bloom. You will be at the peak of your unique powers. Halloween costume suggestion: Leonardo da Vinci or some great maestro.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “When you are faced with a choice between two paths, it’s always better to take the most difficult one.” What!? No! That’s not true! A shamanic psychotherapist gave me that bad advice when I was young, and I am glad I did not heed it. My life has been so much better because I learn from joy and pleasure as much as from hardship. Yes, sometimes it’s right to choose the most challenging option, but on many occasions, we are wise to opt for what brings fun adventures and free-flowing opportunities for creative expression. That’s what I wish for you right now. Halloween costume suggestion: a hedonist, a liberator, a bliss specialist.

Homework: To read my thoughts on the US presidential election, go here: https://tinyurl.com/ElectionExtra

SAVAGE IN BEND

EXPOSING THE QUIRKS THAT MAKE CENTRAL OREGON UNIQUE

By Josh Savage

The Dirty Deschutes

Hello readers!

Let’s dive right into our question.

Sherri, a longtime local resident, asks,

“When I was a kid, it was illegal to swim in the Deschutes River in Bend. Yet now, thousands of people float the river and swim all summer long. What makes it safer today?”

What good is such a beautiful river if you can’t play in it? Kidding. Hopefully, we all know the Deschutes River is more than a place to recreate. This important waterway is the lifeblood of our region.

Long before paddleboards, giant yellow duck floats and fearless surfers were ubiquitous on the Deschutes, indigenous tribes, including the Warm Springs, Wasco, Klamath and Paiute, used the river for generations. French fur traders first named it Des chutes meaning "of the falls." Pioneers also used it as a route to and from the Columbia River. Today, much of the upper Deschutes is diverted to irrigate local farmland. In fact, with the rapidly growing population of our area, the water is overallocated, but let’s save that issue for another article.

All clues point to one major reason why swimming was illegal – the lumber mills. Most everyone knows at least a bit of history about the Brooks-Scanlon and Shevlin-Hixon empires. In those days the mills were the main economy of the region, but their presence came with a heavy cost: a dirty Deschutes.

The mills operated on both sides of the Deschutes. They used tugs and often dredged the river, which had many harmful environmental consequences. A friend of mine who grew up here shared stories about how you best be careful not to step on the rebar sticking out of the ground. Parents used scare tactics to warn their kids about the dangers, often referring to the “River of No Return,” a popular movie of the era starring Marilyn Monroe. “The Bulletin” told of “leg sucking silt deposits,” and the city warned of up to a $500 fine and even imprisonment.

Basically, it was an industrial site. Who would want to swim in that stuff?!

Times were different, but it must have been pretty awesome to watch a Pond Monkey in action with his peavy (a heavy wooden lever with a metal tip and hook). These were the guys who jumped from log to log to keep logs from jamming the river and guide them into the intake. Quite the talent and a dangerous job, for sure.

The last log in the mills was cut in 1994. Afterward, an effort to clean up the river began when Bill Smith purchased a good portion of the land. His vision was to transform it into a mixed-used development area that would be the heart of Bend, what we now know as the Old Mill District. The process also included riparian restoration and other projects along the river to reverse the environmental damage after many years of industry. Bend Park and Recreation District contributed to the revitalization as well. Through grants and bonds, BPRD restored many areas and created popular spots like the small beach at Farewell Bend, Riverbend Park and the Whitewater Park.

The Old Mill opened to the public in 2000, but from all the accounts I’ve been researching, people didn’t waste time to get in the river as soon as it was somewhat cleaner. Humans will be humans, and nothing beats the river on a hot day.

Though not as dirty as the days when the mills operated, the Deschutes River can still be dangerous. According to one source, 11 people have died in the river since 2011. Life jackets and other floatation devices are encouraged. Diving or jumping off a bridge into a river or canal is still prohibited and can result in a Class B civil infraction.

To learn more about the river and its diverse benefits for the region, consider joining groups like the Deschutes River Conservancy or the Deschutes River Alliance, stewards of Central Oregon’s most important waterway. For a fun perspective of the river, follow Loot the Deschutes on Instagram.

Most importantly, remember the Deschutes River is the lifeblood of Central Oregon. Respect and protect it.

- Questions for Savage? Email savageglobetrotters@gmail.com.

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SERVICING BEND & REDMOND AREAS

Lovingly maintained, unassuming 4-bedroom Westside cottage with beautiful, bright ADU sits above 1100 sf 2 car garage. Designed for privacy, this property has a whimsical, fenced-in backyard with a patio, Spa, old-growth Ponderosa pines, easy to maintain turf & colorful landscaping on a drip-system. The 1-bedroom ADU boasts a sunny deck with views of Lava Butte & the Old Mill Smokestacks & an open oor-plan with cathedral ceilings. Situated on a dead-end street with driveways in the front & through Dog Alley, there is plenty of parking, little tra c & easy access. Walkable to downtown & the River Trail, this is an old Bend gem with upgrades. The 1458 sf main home was remodeled in 2018 with 2 full bathrooms, slab quartz countertops, new appliances, on-demand hot water heater, gas heat stove and an open oor plan. The roof was replaced in 2023 when the 97% peak e ciency solar system was installed. Turnkey & ready for someone to enjoy, this home on 1.5 lots is sure to please.

4-bedroom Westside cottage with beautiful, bright ADU sits above 1100 sf 2 car garage.

backyard

TAKE ME HOME

Halloween Mailbag

By James Keane Broker RE/MAX Key Properties

Answering our readers’ questions

Igot a couple of questions that I could loosely relate to Halloween, and it’s been a while since I responded to your real estate questions.

Q: Has anything scary or even supernatural ever happened to you being a real estate broker?

A: I got a few questions that were in this vein, asking about scary houses, ghosts, the supernatural and the like. Nothing has ever happened to me regarding ghosts. I’ve spent plenty of time in various properties that could be considered scary due to age, condition or noises made by old flooring or stairs. On a serious note, there are some dangers or inherent dangers with being a real estate broker and agents follow various protocols to keep themselves and their clients safe. Happy Halloween, everybody.

Q: I’m confused; I thought the increased rates we’ve seen over the last two years would have driven home prices down, but things have gotten even more expensive. How?

A: I've witnessed firsthand the intricate dance between interest rates and home prices. While it's easy to assume that rising interest rates directly cause falling home prices, the reality is much more nuanced.

While it's true that higher interest rates can reduce purchasing power and slow down market activity, they don't inherently dictate home values. The fundamental drivers of real estate prices remain supply and demand, economic conditions, job market strength and local market dynamics.

When interest rates rise, it can indeed make mortgages more expensive, potentially cooling buyer demand. However, if there's a shortage of housing supply, or if economic conditions remain strong, prices can still appreciate, even in a higher-interest-rate environment. Conversely, if there's an oversupply of homes or a weakening economy, prices may decline,

even with lower interest rates.

It's important to remember that real estate is a long-term investment. While short-term fluctuations can be influenced by interest rates, the overall trajectory of property values is tied to broader economic factors and local market conditions. As a buyer or seller, it's crucial to consult with a knowledgeable real estate agent to gain a comprehensive understanding of the market and make informed decisions

Q: I know some people who invest in REITs. Can you explain what they are?

A: Great question. While I’m not an expert in Real Estate Investment Trusts, I can certainly cover the basics. A REIT is a company that owns, operates or finances income-generating real estate. Think of it as a mutual fund for real estate. By investing in a REIT, you become a part-owner of a portfolio of properties, such as office buildings, shopping centers, apartments or even data centers.

One of the primary advantages of REITs is their ability to generate consistent income. Many REITs distribute a significant portion of their income to shareholders in the form of dividends. This can provide a steady stream of income, especially during periods of market volatility.

Another benefit of REITs is their potential for long-term capital appreciation, just like owning any real estate asset. As the value of the underlying real estate assets increases, so too can the value of the REIT shares.

While REITs offer a relatively easy way to invest in real estate, it's important to note that they come with their own set of risks. Like any investment, REITs are subject to market fluctuations, economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. It's crucial to conduct thorough research or consult with a financial advisor before investing in REITs.