The Source Weekly March 13, 2025

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asked to create the cover for the Spring Arts Issue, I immediately began thinking about my dog Harold as different artists - Harold as Van Gogh, or Harold as Frida Kahlo - some of my favorites. It made me laugh and laughing is always good."

For more on the creation of this cover, see page 10.

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

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

Longer days are here with daylight saving time. That must mean spring is around the corner, right? Some days sure feel like it, while others still notify me of winter weather advisories for Deschutes County. Either way, we here at the Source are leaning into the season with our Spring Arts Issue. What’s blossoming in the Central Oregon arts scene? We’ve curated a feature full of arts performances — from theater, dance and opera to classical and jazz concerts — as well as gatherings for authors, artists and fans of film. Find out what’s happening on stages, screens and gallery walls across the region, plus learn about a few local visual artists and what inspires their work. We also have an interview with the Tower Theatre’s Ray Solley as he looks toward retirement, and how you can make every day Pi Day with Farmhouse Pies. There’s news on the potential repeal of controversial wildfire hazard maps and how former local Forest Service employees are fighting back against firings. Read on and dance your way toward sunnier, warmer days.

“These Juniper trees and the sky today…"

Thank you so much @vitalityinfocus for tagging us in this beautiful photo of blooming juniper trees on these recent, warm springlike days!

a aWeekly member and directly contribute to the sustainability of

Bridge Crossings Could Ease Traffic Woes, But Wildfire Concerns Should Factor In, Too

About a decade ago, an effort got underway to essentially privilege a few wealthy landowners at the expense of the general public. Limited access to recreation on the west side of Bend has been one of the results.

Bend Park and Recreation District, in 2012, proposed in its bond package to build a pedestrian bridge over the Deschutes River to connect the southern end of town with the area around Rimrock Trailhead, also known as Good Dog. But when a small group of property owners near the river got wind of it, they mounted a multi-pronged campaign to stop the bridge. They cited environmental concerns, but it was obvious then that their real concern was that, suddenly, a lot more people would be using “their” part of the river. In 2017, they enlisted the help of then-Rep. Gene Whisnant, who added language to a bill in the state legislature that would have blocked the bridge. That legislation never passed, but with that and some other efforts, the wind went out of the sails for the project.

Over the past year or so, however, talks about the bridge have been reignited. A group calling itself Connect Bend formed to advocate for the project, providing a raft of information about the funding mechanisms, the parameters for building on a portion of Wild and Scenic River and more.

Bend Park and Recreation District has also been doing its own fact-finding. At a January board meeting, BPRD discussed its recent Community Needs Assessment, which found that 71% of the 900 households that participated supported the project. That’s an even bigger public show of support than the 2012 bond measure, where voters supported funding BPRD’s projects — explicitly listing the bridge among them — with 51.7% of the vote.

A bridge over this section of the Deschutes has a number of benefits, which have only come into more acute

focus as Bend’s population grows. Among them: traffic impacts.

As Connect Bend points out via maps on its website, someone traveling from the south side of Bend to Good Dog — a popular place to access the river and let Bend’s canines romp off leash — requires a car trip of over 17 miles. That trip adds to traffic in the busy Deschutes River corridor around Reed Market Road, and also adds more cars to the steady stream of traffic on Century Drive. Cyclists, walkers, runners and other recreationalists who currently use other parts of the Century corridor would also benefit from a shorter, more direct commute to Bend’s westside playground.

It is also unsettling to anyone living on the west side of the river just how few options they have for fleeing a wildfire, beyond going all the way into Bend via Century Drive. In 2019, the City of Bend’s Transportation Plan 2040 Project List included language proposing a study of a southern bridge crossing connecting southern Bend to Century Drive. The City does not have a southern bridge crossing in its current fiveyear plan. That, more than a pedestrian bridge, would do a lot for wildfire evacuation efforts, and both options would add some peace of mind.

At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Bend Park and Recreation District board voted unanimously to move forward on the bridge project. The move is only an effort to explore the feasibility of getting the project done and will take some time to move through the bureaucracy. Given that the last time this issue of a pedestrian bridge heated up, a very small group of NIMBYs succeeded in stymying the effort for over a decade, and, given the overwhelming amount of support indicated in the Community Needs Assessment, the public should continue to support BPRD’s efforts to see this bridge move forward.

O Letters

GUEST OPINION: ONE COMMON SENSE BILL TO PROTECT BEND’S RECREATION INDUSTRY

In Central Oregon, outdoor recreation is more than a weekend pastime — it’s a critical driver of our local economy. From guided mountain bike rides in the Deschutes National Forest to fly fishing on the Crooked River, outdoor businesses fuel jobs, support small enterprises and connect people to our cherished public lands. Yet, this vital industry is at risk due to misguided liability law, making it harder for guides and outfitters to stay in business.

House Bill 3140 offers a much-needed solution. This bipartisan legislation would align Oregon’s liability standards with other Western states by allowing recreation providers to use waivers for ordinary negligence. It maintains strong consumer protections by holding businesses fully accountable for gross negligence or reckless conduct while giving recreation providers the legal clarity they need to operate responsibly and sustainably. This common sense bill is in a committee chaired by our representative, Jason Kropf. That’s why we joined 25 Bend-area businesses, nonprofits and user-groups to urge Rep. Kropf to schedule the bill for a hearing and a work session.

The need for change is urgent. In 2014, the Oregon Supreme Court’s decision in Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor ruled that liability waivers for recreational activities were unconscionable and unenforceable. This ruling diverges from every other Western state and decades of established Oregon law by denying parties the freedom to allocate risk by contract. The impact goes beyond business operations — it also affects public safety. Professionally guided recreation plays a crucial role in risk management. Guides provide expert supervision, emergency preparedness and education on responsible practices, from avalanche safety to river navigation. Without viable guiding services, there is an increased risk of accidents and reduced oversight for those venturing into Oregon’s wilderness. Waivers also provide critical education about risk and encourage personal responsibility. Why aren’t we incentivizing these businesses to grow while also mitigating risk?

Critics of HB 3140 claim it would strip away consumer protections, but this is wrong. The bill only applies to adults who willingly accept the inherent risks of outdoor activities, and it does not extend to cases involving gross negligence or misconduct. Parents still have the right to bring claims for negligence involving children. This balanced approach ensures that businesses remain vigilant

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in maintaining safety standards while allowing adult participants to take personal responsibility.

Without action, Oregon’s legal environment will continue to place local recreation providers at a competitive disadvantage. Neighboring states like Washington, Idaho and California have fairer liability standards, making it easier for recreation providers to thrive while protecting public safety. If we don’t follow suit, more Oregonians could face reduced access to the great outdoors for residents and visitors alike.

Lawmakers have a clear choice: Support the outdoor economy or allow the unintended consequences of a court decision to choke a vital industry. HB 3140 is about restoring fairness and ensuring that Oregon remains a leader in responsible and accessible outdoor recreation. The future of Oregon’s outdoor economy depends on it. It’s time to pass HB 3140.

—Lev Stryker operates Cog Wild, which has been offering guided mountain bike rides and skilled instruction in Bend since 2006; Brian Sykes operates Ouzel Outfitters in Bend and has provided guided whitewater rafting trips since 1993; Dan McGarigle operates Pine Mountain Sports in Bend and provides equipment rentals and servicing for recreation enthusiasts in Central Oregon

CALDERA RANCH DEVELOPMENT

The Bend City Council’s approval of the Caldera Ranch site for UGB expansion is an accident waiting to happen. 700 new homes along Woodside Road will block the fire escape route of the Woodside Ranch residents. Woodside Ranch only has three exits. If one or two are blocked by fire and another has excessive traffic, we could see a situation like Paradise or Los Angeles, California. Bend’s Building and Safety Division has always placed public safety first. For example, the public is never allowed to occupy a building until all life safety and egress requirements are met. The public deserves a safe way to exit a building in case of a fire. The same applies to Woodside Ranch. These citizens deserve a safe way to evacuate when a fire happens. By approving this new development, the Bend City Council is creating an unsafe condition by overloading and blocking a safe path of egress. Furthermore, a new roundabout on Knott Road is not the answer as it will only slow down an evacuation. Please stop Caldera Ranch!

—Klint O’Neal

OPEN YOUR EYES, CITY COUNCIL

RE: News Release March 3, 2025. Bend City Council Continues with Goal Setting Process

When, in January, an area in L.A. three times the size of Bend was reduced to ashes by wildfire in 36 hours, I offer that there is one clear priority for City Council and Mayor: The need to safeguard the city from catastrophic wildfire. When your house is threatened by an approaching wildfire, the dripping tap, the clogged toilet, the squeaky door no longer matter. Even problems high on the list of urgent needs fade to insignificance — the broken fridge, the unresponsive furnace, the lukewarm water heater, even the leaking roof. Who cares when you could lose everything? Including your life. There is no mention of actions to address wildfire resilience in this news release. Wildfire preparedness is relegated to two sentences and buried way down in Council’s statement of goals.

There are really only two goals for Council in this biennial:

1. Wildfire protection

2. Everything else

City leadership needs to get real or it won’t have a city to lead. Ask the people in Pacific Palisades.

—Gavin Leslie

MORE DEVELOPMENT

This isn’t so much about the Ponderosa development in Southwest Bend, but all the developments that are happening in Bend. Notably in the southeast and southwest areas. The Bill Healy Bridge

was constructed approximately 2003, the City of Bend had a population of approximately 50,000 people at that time. We are nearly three times that with no plans for another bridge. Reed Market is maxed out, Brookswood is a main thoroughfare. I don’t need to tell anybody that. We all know it. It’s visible every morning, every day and every afternoon. That issue is the high lakes and the Cascades are calling every day, as are the schools and the construction sites. And the way that people get up there is by way of Brookswood/ Reed Market. The Stevens track is just starting. How about another bridge? For cars, I haven’t seen any bicycles or pedestrians backed up in the morning trying to get across Third Street, but maybe I’m just not there at the right time? Let’s get this conversation going.

—Kit Blackwelder

Letter of the Week:

Kit, sounds like the Opinion on the adjacent page may resonate with you. Stop by for your gift card to Palate.

—Chris Young

Mt. Bachelor Offers Weekend Programming for Women

Mt. Bachelor announced it will offer multi-day programming this weekend, March 15 and 16, specifically for women and girls, including individuals who identify as cisgender, transgender and nonbinary. The Women’s Progression Sessions offer a chance for women to connect, progress and have fun on the slopes, according to a press release.

The program includes morning yoga and skills clinics for all ability levels, for those aged 13 and up. Additionally, there will be demos and swag giveaways. Registration for the program costs $25 and participants must have a valid lift ticket. If cost is a barrier, Mt. Bachelor advises people to reach out to pquon@mtbachelor.com for scholarship information.

—Julianna LaFollette

83,000

— The number of Veterans Affairs employees slated to be terminated, from the Redmond News story, “Central Oregon Veterans Ranch Announces Leadership Changes”

Former Central Oregon Forest Service Employees Are Fighting Back Against Firings

Two former employees from Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests are among those speaking out at home, and in Washington, D.C., against last month’s firing wave

By Jennifer Baires

Liz Crandall and Isabella Isaksen, former U.S. Forest Service employees from Bend, traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this week to attend President Trump’s address at a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.

Crandall went as a guest of Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-5) and Isaksen was there at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon). Each woman said they attended the speech in the hopes that Trump would explain how their firings from Deschutes National Forest and Ochoco National Forest, respectively, benefit Americans. They served as standins for the thousands of Forest Service employees who were fired in the “Valentine’s Day Massacre” on Feb. 14.

In February, over a dozen employees from the Deschutes National Forest were terminated, according to Rep. Bynum’s office, and over two dozen at Ochoco National Forest, according to Isaksen’s estimates. The cuts for the Ochoco National Forest amount to a roughly 30% reduction in staff, Isaksen said.

Sitting just a short way down from Elon Musk, the billionaire and special government employee credited with leading the ongoing federal cuts at the Department of Government Efficiency, Crandall said the night felt surreal.

“The whole experience was extremely overwhelming, especially for someone like me and many others who were there and who were just unlawfully terminated,” she said.

Crandall, Isaksen and other fired employees assert that their terminations were an illegal overreach by the administration and done without cause. A federal judge in San Francisco ruled last week in agreement with plaintiffs in a case brought by civic organizations on behalf of employees fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Park Service, the Small Business Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Defense and the Fish and Wildlife Service, according to reporting from NPR.

invited other recently fired employees an opportunity to tell their stories.

Bailey Langley, who worked in the Blue Mountains in Oregon for USFS, said that she worries about how the firings will hurt rural communities like her own in eastern Oregon.

“There is a belief that when you fall asleep you astrally project into another dimension.”

— Lead guitar player Eric Nizol from the Sound story, “Sleepwalking and Making ADM Music with Billy and the Box Kid”

“The head of DOGE, Elon Musk, is sitting, like, spitting distance away from me, and then they're cheering these people on for the really socially unacceptable things that they've been doing,” Crandall said. “And I'm just sitting there, like, is this real? Is this real life?”

Isaksen, a former U.S. Olympian, Army veteran and wildland firefighter, said she was also disappointed at what she saw as a lack of care and empathy for herself and other public servants who were suddenly fired last month — and for the work they undertook.

“The effect [of the mass firings] is beyond my personal experience, my personal life or my former colleagues,” Isaksen said. “The effects will be felt throughout our communities. They're going to be felt across our nation. Because these individuals are not waste. They had integral roles in their communities.”

Following Trump’s address, Merkley held a live-stream town hall where he responded to the President’s remarks.

“I must say we are in an extraordinary moment in American history,” Merkley said. “This is probably the first State of the Union that has been delivered by an authoritarian president who is gleefully breaking the laws of the United States and violating the Constitution that he took an oath to just weeks ago.”

In public statements leading up to the night, Merkley has called the terminations illegal and dangerous. And, on Wednesday evening, he hosted a joint roundtable with U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) and Angus S. King Jr. (I-Maine) where they spoke about the concerns and

“In rural towns where Forest Service offices are one of the largest employers who provide solid benefits and pay. It will, and it has had, detrimental consequences,” Langley said. “I can think of Ukiah, Oregon, where the population is 200, if even. And John Day, where the timber mills have, and are, continuing to shut down and then all of a sudden, another employer is gone. How will these rural communities survive?”

Heinrich, who serves as ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, called the cuts “step two” of the administration’s larger plans to offload public lands.

“This isn't careless, it's intentional,” Heinrich said. “The architects of the public land transfer effort rebranded under Project 2025 want to be able to say that our public lands are going unmanaged so that they can justify step three: transferring our birthright to the states. And ask yourself this: Does Wyoming have the budget to fight large wildfires? Does Alaska? Does Utah? No, they don't. If they're successful in transferring public lands to the states, most of those lands will be sold off to private interests, just like the states did with millions of acres of their state trust lands.”

Meanwhile, Isaksen and Crandall said they hope that support from state officials and the public, along with adjudication in the courts, will lead to them being reinstated.

“I truly loved my job, and a part of me is hopeful that this will make its way through our court systems, and justice will be done,” Isaksen said. “I truly want to believe that.”

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

Liz Crandall on an assignment in the Umpqua National Forest.

Liz Crandall

Local Officials Remain Engaged on Repeal of Wildfire Maps

Discussions around repealing the state wildfire hazard maps continue to move forward in Deschutes County and the state

By Julianna LaFollette

Nearly a month ago, discussions around repealing the state’s finalized wildfire hazard map started to gain momentum, with legislators calling for a repeal of the map, citing community frustrations.

Today, the state legislature is working to find solutions that balance the need for fire mitigation strategies, while attempting to alleviate concerns from those in “high-hazard” zones.

The map, which came out of Senate Bill 762, classifies lots as low-, moderate- or high-hazard zones to educate residents about their risk and assist in prioritizing mitigation resources. The map also aims to identify where defensible space and home hardening codes may apply in the future.

In late February, Sen. Anthony Broadman, who represents Central Oregon, called for a full repeal of the map, declaring it a distraction from the work the community is already doing on fuels reduction, community hardening and preparation for the fire season ahead.

“I’m a strong believer in the majority of SB 762. [It] has a recipe for mitigation, community hardening and it’s going to work, but the maps were clearly a distraction from 90% of SB 762 that is making our community safer,” Broadman told the Source Weekly.

In Deschutes County alone, there are 21,258 lots classified as high hazard.

Broadman’s goal, he said on March 7, is for legislation to help “surgically” remove the maps from the bill, while maintaining the work on mitigation and community hardening.

“That’s what I’m hoping we can accomplish this session. There are specific discussions, they’re happening now,” he said.

When the map was first published in 2022, homeowners across the state worried about its role in increasing insurance premiums. In 2023, the state legislature passed a bill that made it illegal for insurance companies to use the maps for decisions about premiums and coverage.

However, when the Oregon Department of

Forestry released the final version of the maps on Jan. 7, those concerns remained. While the state maintains that insurers create their own risk models and maps based on property risk, Central Oregonians continue to report significant premium increases and even coverage retractions in certain areas.

Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair has opposed the map since 2022. In recent weeks, she’s raised discussions around the map and supported a mass appeal of the map.

On Feb. 24, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to submit an appeal form on behalf of all County properties classified as “high hazard.” The purpose of the vote, according to Adair, was to send a message to the governor and legislators.

While Adair said there still needs to be a focus on defensible space procedures, she hopes legislators address problems with the map in the near future.

“We definitely need to get rid of the map. I would really love for them to come through with this before June,” Adair told the Source Weekly.

In response to community frustrations, the Oregon Property Owners Association (OPOA), alongside Harney and Grant counties, on March 7, filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Forestry and the State Forester on behalf of hundreds of rural families and property owners.

The lawsuit calls for a judicial order to set aside the wildfire hazard map and invalidate orders sent to property owners.

“This is our way of demanding that your voices are heard and your rights are protected,” OPOA stated in a press release.

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang, who voted no on the mass appeal, has defended the purpose of the maps, seeing them as a tool to incentivize defensible space.

“My interest is actually doing something for the people of Deschutes County, so their house doesn’t burn to the ground. This appeal and all of this focus on the maps is not helping them,” Chang said on Feb. 24.

The maps, he said, give people clear direction on who the requirements apply to. According to Chang, previous bills have brought forward defensible space requirements, but the main problem was that they were unenforceable.

“The more time we waste on things like this, and the less time we put into things that really matter, like getting a wildfire funding package for the state this year, the more we are responsible for the people who will lose their homes in the coming years in the community,” he added.

While Sen. Broadman sees the need to prepare for the fire season, he believes eliminating the maps from the equation will help the state better focus on the budget for fire mitigation work.

“My hope is that we can move quickly to excise the maps from this discussion, again, surgically, so that we can focus on the good work that we’ve already accomplished, and a lot of the work we need to do moving forward to harden communities and make sure we’re fire resilient.”

Former Bend Mayor, Bob Woodward, Dies at 85

Bob Woodward was known as a “staple in the community” for many who knew him

By Julianna LaFollette

Bob Woodward, former Bend mayor, journalist and pioneering mountain biker, has passed away at age 85. According to reports, Woodward was battling Parkinson’s disease before his death. Woodward was known widely in Bend and Central Oregon as a pillar in the outdoor community. Since Woodward’s passing, positive messages have flooded social media, with locals sharing fond memories of his life and impact on the culture of Bend. Many referred to Woodward as a “staple in the community” and an “outdoor industry giant.”

Woodward was one of the co-founders of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance, was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and has a Nordic trail at Mt. Bachelor named after him — Woody’s Way.

Friends also recalled how Woodward always refused to wear a tie. Thus the City Council at the time was nicknamed the “Men without Ties.”

“Bob Woodward was a pioneer in all things outdoors in Bend, his legacy goes far beyond his impacts on Nordic skiing,” read a message from a Facebook group. “Bend owes a lot to him, who we are now as a[n] outdoor mecca is very related to the work of Bob Woodward.”

One of Bend’s longest running bars, M&J Tavern, remembered Woodward and shared a message on Facebook.

“The M&J Tavern sends our condolences to Woodward’s friends and family. Here is to molding the world around him.”

In addition to his influence in outdoor recreation, he was a talented writer. Woodward wrote for the Source Weekly for a number of years, starting in the early days of the paper. His contributions to the paper were significant and covered topics still relevant today, like his take on people driving dangerously fast on the way to Mt. Bachelor. Stories ranged from advice about mountain biking and less crowded Nordic ski areas, to a list of people and things that “make life bearable” in Bend.

Source publisher Aaron Switzer remembers: “As a young publisher in the early days of the Source, I was so honored when Bob began writing for our publication. To me it meant at the time that our paper had arrived. I don’t believe that Bend would have been on the same trajectory it enjoyed as a recreation and beer mecca without Bob’s lifelong commitment to creating community. He will be sorely missed.”

Crews work to protect nearby communities in La Pine during the Darlene 3 fire in June 2024.

Julianna LaFollette

Bob Woodward rides in a shopping cart on the cover of a 2011 issue of the Source Weekly.

Central Oregon Veterans Ranch Announces Leadership Changes

Administration adjustments at the nonprofit prompt a

focused approach to its mission

By Julianna Lafollette

Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, a local nonprofit serving veterans by creating connections and helping them find purpose, announced this month that it has finalized a leadership transition that it hopes will cultivate stability and maintain the organization’s mission.

COVR is a 19-acre working ranch that allows veterans a safe space to heal and build camaraderie by combining agriculture, peer support and mental health resources. Veterans can show up, without having to make an appointment, to talk, relax or work on the farm alongside other veterans.

Over the summer, COVR underwent several transitions with its administrative team. Heather Martin, the organization’s previous interim executive director, was appointed as the new full-time executive director.

After COVR worked to secure funding to fill certain roles in a full-time capacity, Martin joined as a full-time employee in February. During this transition, changes on the nonprofit’s board were occurring simultaneously.

Zachary Bass, current Redmond Airport director, is now serving as the new board president and Angela Jones, a veteran with a background in peer support, is the new vice president.

“We were interested in getting some new folks… just new perspectives,” Martin told the Source Weekly.

With these changes, the organization is hoping to be better stewards of its resources, and more committed than ever to its mission and the things that matter the most within the organization — agricultural therapy and peer support.

This year, the ranch has doubled its growing spaces, allowing it to sell more of the produce that veterans help grow. The ranch is also working to build relationships with other veteran organizations so its produce gets back into the hands of veterans.

“We’ll be putting together produce boxes for veterans. We’ll be providing those to Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, who will be utilizing those to take out to some of the homeless encampments, where we see a lot of veterans,” Martin said.

The nonprofit also has a full-time peer-support worker and has expanded services to help veterans

manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-related stressors.

While the nonprofit doesn’t get federal funding, it wants to support veterans as much as possible with the resources it has. Especially, Martin said, with cuts to federal veteran services, like Veterans Affairs.

“With 70,000 people being cut from the VA and resources being pulled back… now more than ever, veterans are going to need a safe place, a place to go to talk about getting services, connecting and just looking for that camaraderie,” Martin said.

According to a March 11 release from more than 20 U.S. senators, including Oregon’s Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the VA stands to lose “up to 83,000 employees, including 20,000 veterans.”

With the transition behind them, COVR hopes to best serve veterans by continuing to offer consistency and community to those who participate.

“Isolation kills. American veterans make up about 6% of our adult population, but account for 20% of all suicides in America. That’s about 18 veterans a day,” Martin told the Source Weekly. “Sometimes that’s because they don’t have anyone to talk to, anywhere to be, and we give them a space that doesn’t feel formal.”

A BATTLE OF THE COMICS

Check out a comedy competition at General Duffy’s Annex where four comedians will battle for the winning title. Enjoy stand-up, improv, competition and green beer. Fri., March 14, 8pm at General Duffy’s Annex. 413 Glacier Ave., Redmond. Free.

WEAR GREEN AND PARTY

Get festive in Redmond at Pangaea Guild Hall with St. Patty’s Day specials. Show up in green attire and get $1 off drinks. Sat., March 15, noon11pm at Pangaea Guild Hall. 652 SW Sixth St., Redmond. Free.

Pangaea Guild Hall

Central Oregon Veterans Ranch

Spring Arts & Culture

hat’s blossoming in the Central Oregon arts scene? On stages and screens and gallery walls, the Source staff has gathered the season’s arts performances — from theater, dance and opera to classical and jazz concerts — as well as gatherings for authors, artists and cinema buffs.

COCC BIG BAND JAZZ GROUP’S SALUTE TO DUKE ELLINGTON

With 17 musicians currently enrolled in Central Oregon Community College’s performance class, this jazz winter concert will showcase their talents in tribute to Duke, plus the concert will also include the premiere performance of a new big band arrangement by local composer and band member Brian Owen. Fri., March 14, 7pm at Wille Hall, COCC Campus. 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Free (donations appreciated).

Performing Arts

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

From your childhood bookshelf to Central Oregon stage, Redmond’s Meadow Sky Productions proudly presents the C. S. Lewis’ classic this spring — the play will run for six shows from Fri., March 14Sun., March 23 at High Desert Music Hall. 818 SW Forest Ave., Redmond. $25.

CELEBRATING THE CLASSICS: MOZART, VIVALDI, BEETHOVEN, AND SCHUBERT

The Cascade Chorale will be joined by the Dove String Quartet to perform some of history’s most celebrated composers. Sat., March 15, 7pm and Sun., March 16, 4pm at Bend Church of the Nazarene. 1270 NE 27th St., Bend. Free (donations appreciated).

The Hall of Harold

By Teafly Peterson

henever I get asked to create a special cover for the Source, usually the same thing happens: I get an absurd idea that I then spend the next two to three months trying to talk myself out of. It never works; this cover is a prime example.

When asked to create the cover for the Spring Arts Issue, I immediately began thinking about my dog Harold as different artists – Harold as Van Gogh, or Harold as Frida Kahlo – some of my favorites. It made me laugh and laughing is always good. So, I started asking other people what they thought of the idea. They laughed. And I felt like if there was anything worth doing these days, it's making people laugh.

POPS GOES TO THE MOVIES

The Bend Pops Orchestra’s winter concert will feature selections from cinematic epics like “Star Wars” and “The Lord of the Rings” alongside classics like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Jurassic Park” and “Hamilton,” plus a selection of Disney favorites and much more. Sun., March 16, 2pm at Mountain View High School Auditorium. 2755 NE 27th St., Bend. Free.

JAZZ

CENTRAL SWINGS

With special guest appearances from jazz musicians Mollie and Jim Tennant, Central Oregon vocal jazz ensemble Jazz Central is ready to tackle the swing era: “We’re excited to offer an elegant club atmosphere where we can bring together our local community and jazz enthusiasts for a night that celebrates the rich tradition and vibrant future of vocal jazz,” says James Knox, the group’s director. Fri., March 21, 7pm at Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon. 63645 Scenic Dr., Bend. $25.

I began sketching Harold as various artists or their creations – or both. After some feedback, I landed on Jean-Michel Basquiat, René Magritte, Edgar Degas, Frida Kahlo, Artemisia Gentileschi, Kehinde Wiley and, of course, a classic portrait of Shakespeare, based on many portraits of Shakespeare. Together, they make up the Hall of Harold, an homage to great art, great artists and a great dog.

A little about Harold: He is the greatest dog currently living on planet Earth. He brings joy wherever he goes, so much so, I feel like I am doing a disservice to humanity to not share him with a larger audience any chance I get. He is – most days – just happy to be here, wherever here is – the dog park, the coffee shop, your lap. Harold’s entire life is a work of art.

Enjoy. I hope it makes you laugh.

Round 1

YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

Ovation Performing Arts introduces a new youth cast with the production of the Charles Schultz’ classic “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Fri., March 28, 6:30pm, Sat., March 29, 6:30pm and Sun., March 30, 3pm at Mountain View High School Auditorium. 2755 NE 27th St., Bend. Free.

PIANO SHOWCASE AT THE TOWER

Sunriver Music Festival’s seventh annual Piano Showcase features pianist Arthur Migliazza, an acclaimed blues and boogie-woogie player. Sat., March 29, 7:30pm at Tower Theatre. 835 Wall St., Bend. $40-$75.

Round 2

Round 3 Self portraits > to adding performance art > to adding color and finalizing

Cascade Chorale Sunriver Music Festival

REVERIE

A collaboration between Ping & Woof Opera, Pathways Dance Company and OperaBend, “Reverie” combines the magic of live music and dance, promising to be a feast for the senses by melding together several mesmerizing art forms. Sat., April 5, 7pm and Sun., April 6, 3pm at Wille Hall, COCC Campus. 2600 NW College Way, Bend. $10-$25.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine presents its North American tour of “The Sleeping Beauty,” featuring a ballet troupe of 50 dancers with more than 200 exclusive costumes, which were created specifically for this production. Sun., April 27, 2pm and 7pm at Tower Theatre. 835 Wall St., Bend. $46-$167.

NEXT TO NORMAL

A Pulitzer winner for drama and three-time Tony winner, “Next to Normal” is a rock musical that tears at your heart strings as it explores family and illness, loss and grief. Don’t miss local tattoo artist Jessie Zenor’s art gallery during the show, plus look for the return of Liza’s Lounge during Fourth of July week and then “The Wolves” in August and “Once” in the fall. Fri., April 4-Sat., May 3, 7:30pm at The Greenhouse Cabaret. 1017 NE Second St., Bend. $20-$75.

MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL

Based on the book by Tina Fey, lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Jeff Richmond, this rock musical of “Mean Girls” will feature youth ages 13-18 from in and around Central Oregon. Thu., May 15-Sun., May 18 at Tower Theatre. 835 Wall St., Bend. $40.

OREGON BALLET

THEATRE

2

Oregon Ballet Theatre’s second company is OBT2, and the troupe will stop by Bend performing work by George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, artistic director Dani Rowe and OBT2 director Dominic Walsh. Meet the dancers after the show! Sat., May 24, 2pm at Tower Theatre. 835 Wall St., Bend. $14-$24.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

BendOpera’s season concludes with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville.” Sung in Italian and accompanied by a full orchestra and chorus, this masterpiece is for opera lovers. June 20-22 at Wille Hall, COCC Campus. 2600 NW College Way, Bend

UPCOMING FROM CASCADES THEATRICAL COMPANY

Entertaining Central Oregon since 1978, Cascades Theatrical Company’s current season features Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” (directed by Richard Choate, Fri., March 28-Sun., April 13, $32-$36); the classic musical “Grease” (book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, May 9-25, $51$55); Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (directed by Juliah Rae, June 13-29, $32$36); and the teen program’s “The Orphan Train” by Aurand Harris (July 11-20, $25-$28). Cascades Theatrical Company. 148 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend.

Painting as Performance

Enjoy live painting and music from local artist Eli

Be and friends at Lone Pine Coffee Roasters

By Julianna LaFollette

n exhibition at Lone Pine Coffee Roasters will feature live painting accompanied by live music, an innovative way to experience art and community. Local artist Eli Be will showcase her craft at the coffee shop alongside performances from a variety of musicians on Friday, March 14, from 5 to 8pm.

According to Be, music and dance have always influenced how she creates. She’s excited to see how the music and atmosphere inspire her art at the event.

“The idea is to let music, movement and painting overlap — seeing how sound influences the way I work and how the energy of the space shapes the piece. It’s more of an experiment than a performance, and that’s what makes it exciting,” Be told the Source Weekly.

Be started painting in 2021 as a way to navigate grief and emotions. Over time, it became more than just an outlet. Now, she said, art is a space for self-discovery, challenge and healing.

Drawn to artists like van Gogh, Salvador Dalí and Picasso, Be’s style is abstract impressionism with a surreal edge.

“At its core, my work is about the freedom to express openly, without needing to explain or justify. There should be more space for that — for art that isn’t polished or perfect but honest and evolving.”

In addition to the live painting event, Be’s work is currently on display at Lone Pine Coffee Roasters and will remain up until the end of March.

The live music lineup includes Breanna Marie Gonzalez, Piper Sonnet, spoken word from William Gregory, Ian Lafky, Andrew Belinsky, and DJ and emcee Devan Fischer. The event is connected to the Farm to Warm Springs Fundraiser, an effort to support local farms and food access in the Warm Springs area.

Eli Be: Live Painting and Music at Lone Pine

OBT2

The Greenhouse Cabaret

Bruno Pozo

Elizabeth Mitchell

Michelle Schultz Studio

Ethereal art that heals the soul. @michelleschultzart

I create soulful, story-driven paintings with themes of nostalgia and transformation. michelleschultzstudio.com

Get first dibs on original art — plus exclusive stories and VIP perks — when you join the Collector’s Circle. Don’t miss out — sign up now at michelleschultzstudio.com/pages/collector

passion is to use the chemistry at work around us to inspire students’ understanding of the world around them.”

Chemistry

“My

Silas Towne Senior Instructor,

“IRELANDISH”: A READING BY JANA

ZVIBLEMAN

Jana Zvibleman’s new travel memoir “IrelandISH” documents two Americans “zigzag[ging] through the land of redheads.”

If you’ve been, “you’ll laugh, sigh and nod. If you’ve yet to visit, you’ll be inspired to turn over even the quirky stones,” she writes. It’s “light, fun, short and heartwarming” — hear a reading along with live traditional Irish music from The Ballybogs on Fri., March 14, 2pm at Downtown Bend Public Library (Brooks Room). 601 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

“WHEN DUTY CALLED”: A READING WITH ALISHA HAMEL

Join a reading of “When Duty Called” by Alisha Hamel to hear an oral history of Oregon’s World War II veterans. After interviewing numerous WWII veterans, Hamel wrote a series of engaging personal stories from veterans who participated in some of the most well-known engagements of the war. Fri., March 14, 11am at Downtown Bend Public Library (Brooks Room). 601 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

Film

TANGLED

Disney’s “Tangled,” an animated story about the long-haired Rapunzel who spent her entire life in a tower, will be playing at the Tower. Get ready for Rapunzel to discover the world for the first time. Fri., March 14, 6pm at Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

Literary Events

“NONE OF THE ANSWERS” MEET AND GREET

Bend’s Jeff Swaney looks back on a life of adventure and found wisdoms in his memoir, “None of the Answers: Racing Through Life in Reverse.” “We don’t know pleasure without experiencing pain,” writes Swaney, “and at the level of my planned subsistence, there was going to be plenty of discomfort. The bonus is we find the greatest joy in life is achieved when there are no expectations, and kablam! There you have a taste of nirvana.” Sat., March 15, 2-3:30pm at Barnes & Noble. 2690 NE Hwy 20, Bend. Free.

399: QUEEN OF THE TETONS

Attend a screening of the documentary “399: Queen of the Tetons,” which follows the most famous and photographed grizzly bear in the world. The film tracks the bear, known by her research number 399, as she struggles to raise her cubs in a rapidly changing climate with increasing human encroachment. Sat., April 5, 6:30pm at Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. $18.

SACRED ALASKA

A Redmond event will offer a screening of the film “Sacred Alaska,” an awardwinning documentary about Native Alaskan culture and spirituality. A live Q&A with director Simon Scionka will follow the screening. Sat., April 5, 3pm at High Desert Music Hall. 818 SW Forest Ave., Redmond. $5.

AUTHOR! AUTHOR! PRESENTS ELLEN WATERSTON

While you can read Ellen Waterston’s musing on the pages of this paper each month in her column on ageing and ageism, The Third Act, it’s a real treat to hear her in person. Named Oregon Poet Laureate in August 2024, the Central Oregon poet and author recently published “We Could Die Doing This: Dispatches on Ageing from Oregon’s Outback,” which collects her years of essays from the Source Weekly in one compendium. Representing our neck of the woods in the state’s literary landscape, catch her speaking at the library’s Author! Author! series at Caldera High School. Thu., April 3, 7pm at Caldera High School. 60925 SE 15th St., Bend. $35.

WE ARE HOME FILM FESTIVAL

Thrive Central Oregon will show a collection of short films, host a raffle and offer information about local resources. The films reflect the value of home, belonging and community while raising funds supporting Central Oregonians in securing housing. Sat., April 12, 7pm at Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. $22.

POETRY MONTH CELEBRATION

Take part in a series of Central Oregon Community College events in April celebrating Poetry Month. Events are taking place in Bend, Redmond, Prineville and Madras, and will include performances and workshops from Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston. Local poets will also be invited to share their work in poetry slams. Wed., April 16, 17, 13 and 24 at Central Oregon Community College. 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Free.

AUTHOR! AUTHOR! PRESENTS WILLY VLAUTIN

Author and musician Willy Vlautin has written seven novels and received three Oregon Book Awards. Vlautin, who was also inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame (for his work with both Richmond Fontaine and The Delines), is coming to Bend’s Tower Theatre to discuss his work at this local literary event. Wed., May 28, 7pm at Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. $35.

BANFF MONTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

Catch two nights outdoor recreation films to support programs at Realms Middle and High Schools. Friday’s films are themed “Basalt” and Saturday’s theme is “Sandstone.” Fri. and Sat., April 25-26, 7pm at Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. $25-$30.

Jeff Swaney

Ellen Waterston Sacred Alaska Disney

Tower Theatre

MELANIE STEVENS: REST AND RELIEF

This spring, look through a series of print works by Melanie Stevens on display at Scalehouse. The work is an exploration of moments of solitude, peace and stillness as acts of resilience and protection. The exhibit will continue through May 31. Catch an artist talk on Sat., April 5 at Noon. Open through May 31 at Scalehouse Gallery. 550 NW Franklin Ave., Ste. 138, Bend. Free.

PAINTING AND DRAWING WORKSHOPS

All smart and loving individuals often publicly say, "I love you all equally." But we know there’s one true answer to who you really love most: Is it your dog, your cat or your significant other? It can be a tough call, but Sisters’ Flying Horse Gallery will give you the opportunity to work through all these feels and show them each the love they deserve. Try the Paint Your Pet (Sat., March 15 at 4pm) or Paint Your Partner (Fri., April 18 at 4pm) workshops, or maybe you adore an inanimate object most? Good, there’s a Still Life drawing workshop on Sun., March 30 at 2pm. Plus, don’t miss gallery openings for the group shows, “Tales From the Tattoo” on March 28 and “Into the Woods” on April 25. Flying Horse Gallery. 161 S Elm St., Sisters.

IMPULSES EXHIBITION AT COCC

California artist Gwen Lowery will share an exhibition of abstract oil canvases titled “Impulses.” Inspired by the natural world as well as her feelings about the state of the world, she works spontaneously in the abstract. “I am influenced by the news of the day and by the colors and forms in the rural slice of the Northern California coast where I live,” she says. On display at COCC’s Bend campus on the Health Careers Center’s first floor gallery, the building is open Mon.-Fri., 9am-5pm. March 24-May 28 at Health Careers Center on COCC Campus. 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Free.

GO WILD SISTERS

Back for a second round, Makin’ It Local’s annual celebration of everything wildflowers returns on the Fourth Friday Art Walk in Sisters this March. The shop will hand out packets of an Oregon wildflower seed mix to guests because “they are the backbone of ecosystems for pollinators.” It’ll also kick off a group showcase featuring pollinator-related artwork by Kathy Deggendorfer, Lindsay Gilmore, Rachel Dantona, James Parsons, Green Bird Press, Cheryl Chapman, Charlotte Wallace and Sheila Dunn — showing until April 22. Fri., March 28, 4-7pm at Makin’ It Local. 281 W Cascade Ave., Sisters. Free.

KIDS CURATE

Fourth graders from La Pine Elementary made works of art, with help from artist Jake Kenobi, focused on the diverse perspectives of fire. The students’ work, based on what they learned over months of inclass visits and field trips, will be displayed at a new High Desert Museum exhibition. May 3-June 1 at High Desert Museum. 59800 S Hwy 97, Bend. $17.

Lindsay Gilmore

Scalehouse Gallery

Flying Horse Gallery

The Childhood Dream of Becoming an Artist

Two creatives living in the forest town of Sisters share how they make it work as full-time artists

By Sloane Earl

Working under the moniker Canyon & Cove, Megan Neilson uses gouache paints to manifest her admiration for the animal world. You’ve probably seen her pieces around coffee shops and galleries across Central Oregon — camping bear cubs, snowshoeing moose and road-tripping fox families. She is living out her childhood dream of being an artist for a living, with the help of her business partner (aka her husband) to tackle the thousands of tasks per day to keep this dream alive.

As she tells it, there was a fire inside of her as a tiny human that only grew stronger as she grew taller. That fire led her to build a life full of imaginative creation. She uses physical movement and lots of coffee to stay inspired, and her studio is a colorful explosion of organized chaos.

Katie Daisy describes her work as being led by her inner child — a child who was raised in a 100-year-old farmhouse being lulled to sleep by the sight of fireflies and the sound of coyotes. This nostalgic feeling is at the heart of all her pieces. She is an illustrator, author, muralist, shopkeeper and fabric designer who infuses her work with reminders of “home.” What originally started as a quirky, dark style in her youth slowly morphed into a vintage, colorful, country aesthetic.

While pregnant with her son, she wrote the New York Times bestselling book “How to Be a Wildflower,” and you’ve probably walked past her mural for the city of Bend in the Old Mill District. She and her mural partner, Karen Eland, have painted large, outdoor pieces in all of the major towns around Central Oregon.

She was once asked to paint a custom piece of a cricket, a wolverine and a hippo sitting around a campfire — and no that isn’t the beginning of a bad joke! All of her pieces are centered around animals spending time together adventuring in the outdoors, invoking a sense of nostalgia and familiarity.

When asked what she would create if she had the freedom to paint any thing in the world, it would still be these animals, but in all types of paint mediums. Her end goal is simply to never stop growing as an artist.

Canyon & Cove canyonandcoveart.com

The Source Weekly caught up with these two Sisters’ artists — answers have been edited for brevity and clarity. Read more online.

Source Weekly: How did you discover your style?

Katie Daisy: In high school, I started with a quirky, Tim Burton-esque style. I was drawn to creepy and dark imagery and primarily worked with black ink. But during college, my style transformed to something lighter, and I found a vintage aesthetic that resonated with my love for all things country.

Megan Neilson: I discovered my style very slowly and through lots of observation and curiosity about forms, technics [and] colors that I am attracted to. Kind of like adding to an ongoing collage of interests to inspire and to incorporate into my own artistic expression.

SW: Do you have rituals around your art?

KD: Before diving into a new project, I ground myself by venturing into nature. Whether it’s to a secret spot by the creek or plucking flowers from my garden, I always try to connect with what inspires me most. I also adore my trips to antique shops, where I hunt for vintage treasures that spark my imagination. I have big collections of 1800s Victorian ephemera, vintage sewing supplies, flower and butterfly-themed postage stamps and antique books.

The Wheatfield, her charming shop in her hometown of Sisters, started as a showroom for her online sales but has expanded into a whimsical weekend shop full of vintage memories and brightly colored flora and fauna.

The secret to her success as a full-time artist is avoiding burnout by only taking on projects that excite her. She is wildly protective of her time and has, somehow, figured out a healthy work-life balance for her and her son. Her goal is to hold onto this balance and sustain her life of creative expression.

Fun facts about Katie: She’s a competitive Scrabble player and once gave a goldfish the Heimlich maneuver while working a job installing fish tanks in upscale homes. The next time you’re in Sisters on a weekend, pop by her shop and say hello.

The Wheatfield 484 W Washington Ave., Sisters Open Fri.-Sun. from 11am-4pm katiedaisy.com

MN: I love to get outside or get moving every day… probably helps clear my mind for creativity. My love for coffee is really real, and I really like to create in a pretty messy “organized chaos kind of way,” like a bomb went off at my art desk. It’s a sign there is lots of good stuff happening.

SW: When you are feeling stuck what do you do to clear your mind?

MN: I go for a long walk or head to a local coffee shop with my favorite playlist and just sketch it out!

SW: What is your favorite thing about your art?

KD: My art is a heartfelt tribute to my roots, a way to honor my childhood and the land that nurtured me. It’s brimming with nostalgia, an ongoing love letter to the magic of my rural upbringing. I’m always infusing my work with things that remind me of home: jam jars, dandelions, cumulus clouds, garden toads and quilt squares to name a few.

MN: That I get to play and explore and expand on it, one painting at a time. Sometimes it’s a successful drawing outcome, sometimes the colors and textures are right on and sometimes it’s all the things coming together.

Megan Neilson

Megan Neilson

Katie Daisy

Katie Daisy

Rest and Relief

Jackson’s Corner

Designer: Allison Murphy

Photo by: Joe Kline

S

SOUND

ISleepwalking and Making ADM Music with Billy and the Box Kid The purveyors of “acoustic dance music” celebrate three years at the Volcanic on March 22

By Chris Young

t was 15 degrees outside and the night before Valentine’s Day. I was running late and pretty sure I’d already missed band practice. When I opened the door, the members of Billy and the Box Kid were lounging around the living room. Whiskey-filled colored glasses and quarters were stacked in neat towers before them, ready for a game of poker. Guess I’d be interrupting this now, but the guys were more than happy to oblige.

Songwriter and guitar player Billy (aka Anderson Koenig) met the Box Kid (Scottie McClelland on the cajón) three years ago at an open mic at Silver Moon Brewing. As a trio including mandolin player Tommy Lutz, they played their first official gig on May 1, 2022.

Today’s quintet features Eric Nizol on lead guitar and Ben Woessner on bass, and the group celebrates its three-year anniversary at the Volcanic Theatre Pub on Saturday, March 22. Sacramento funk-soul octet The Gold Souls will open, and Billy and the Box Kid’s set will feature some special guests from the community who have been a part of the band’s evolution.

SW: Are you the only one who’s classically trained?

BW: Tommy’s had some training. But yeah, I've got a lot of music school — a degree in music education. Taught school for a couple years.

SW: Billy and the Box Kid are the stage names for two of you. Do the rest of you have nicknames?

had to do was walk up some stairs and they couldn’t get you.

TL: They didn’t get off the Segway?!

EN: No, ’cos then someone would steal it.

SW: How’s the world gonna end?

SM: I like Ben’s idea, the manageable zombies.

SW: But it doesn’t sound like that’s gonna end the world.

EN: I think we’re gonna commune with AI, and technology’s gonna become infused that we’re gonna become the singularity, and we’ll just exist completely enlightened. Biology will no longer matter, and we’re gonna exist on a higher dimensional plane, and that's where we will be.

SW: We’re gonna be floating voices or brains? Just energy?

EN: We’re not gonna be able to understand the concept of it. That’s my belief. I think technology’s gonna win out. We’re not gonna die…

SM: Astroid.

TL: Catastrophic destruction but in many different ways. The ocean, pandemic, storms, yeah, everything.

While Koenig’s rough song ideas provide the foundation for Billy and the Box Kid’s musical output, the band is “five unique personalities coming together to make [each] song a whole,” he explains.

“We’re kind of a everything band in some ways,” McClelland adds, describing the band’s sound. “We have coined the term ‘acoustic dance music’” — or ADM, instead of EDM. There’s Americana, bluegrass, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, jam and country in there. “It’s kind of a mishmash,” depending on the song.

On that cold winter night, Billy and the Box Kid spoke with the Source Weekly about dreams and zombies, the goal to record and release more new singles in the near future and so much more — answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Source Weekly: I know who Billy is. I know who the Box Kid is. Are the rest of y’all offended that your names aren’t up on the marquee?

Anderson Koenig (aka Billy): We talked about it. Scottie and I started it. Then we brought Tommy in, and we're like, “First things first: Should we change the name?” Tommy was the first to say, “No.”

Tommy Lutz: Yeah, doesn’t bother me.

SW: How long were you two playing together before Tommy came?

Scottie McClelland (aka The Box Kid): A couple of months.

AK: Tommy started with us a week or two before [our first gig].

TL: It was one week before. I was so nervous. [Laughs] I barely knew the songs. I blew it. I remember going home being so bummed, and I was talking to my wife. I was like, “I think they’re gonna kick me out of the band.” Didn’t get kicked out of the band. So that was good. Learned the songs a little better.

SW: A few more members came in and out of the band and now you’re a five piece.

SM: There’s been a couple rotating [members]. Happily, can say that we finally found our core five, and Ben was the glue once he came in. Keeps us together. Keeps us grounded.

AK: Helps to have at least one person who knows some musical terms.

Ben Woessner: Yeah, then you can keep the music in check. [Laughs]

AK: Daddy! [Pointing at Ben]

SM: Mr. T for Tommy. One has not found Eric yet…

BW: Mr. Nizol.

SW: What have y’all bonded over as a band?

Eric Nizol: We have a common sense of humor. That’s huge for me. We don’t really take ourselves too seriously, but then we take the music pretty seriously, which I think is important.

BW: We’re all just in the scene, all the time. We’re all going to shows and seeing other bands.

TL: Yeah, I’ll just run into these guys at shows. Didn’t really plan it, just see each other.

SW: Where’s a place where you’ve been too drunk or too high when you shouldn’t have been?

TL: Very first show. [Laughs]

SM: Probably the first show. I would agree with Tommy.

TL: So nervous.

EN: There’s definitely a balance, too. It’s like a tool, you know. If you’re using substances, they can definitely improve your performance. But they can also impede it. So it’s a double-edged sword.

BW: Plan accordingly.

SW: When we fall asleep, where do we go?

EN: Oh yeah, dude. I’ve been on the sleep and dream train lately. There is a belief that when you fall asleep you kind of like astrally project into another dimension. Or some people think you go back to some of your spirit guides, like the in betweens, and you reconvene with them and check in on where you are. Then you come back and you’re refreshed for the next day to pursue whatever you’re supposed to pursue.

SM: [Dreams are] kind of like the shadow realm before and after life. Every time you go to sleep, it’s where it takes you. I don’t know where that is, or how to explain it. [Laughs]

BW: Every once in a while, [I have] a stress dream of the world is ending. This time it was zombies, but they were, like, manageable zombies — not “Walking Dead” zombies or anything. They were just, like, you could easily just push them over and walk away. So it’s just like a nuisance. You just had to live on the second story. They’re just annoying. So, like, society didn’t collapse. Just go up a ladder, you’re fine. That kind of zombie.

EN: We had Segway cops in college, and so all you

SM: Probably the most logical.

AK: I got my money on the movie “Idiocracy” becoming reality and we starve because we’re watering our plants with Brawndo.

EN: You guys know about Crocs and “Idiocracy”?

AK: Oh yeah. Pick a shoe that’s absolutely ridiculous.

EN: It was dumb and cheap and so they had everybody wear Crocs.

AK: And they’re like, “What if they become popular someday?” [Laughs] “They’ll never become popular. No one will ever wear them.”

SW: Let the record show: Two people here are wearing Crocs.

AK: We were playing with the name Croc Rock for the band.

TL: Really?! We could’ve been Croc Rock?

EN: Tommy was wearing Crocs with crampons the other day — super-sport mode.

TL: Oh yeah, put some spikes on my Crocs.

SW: That doesn’t sound like “Idiocracy;” it sounds like evolution.

AK: We’re on our way.

SW: Does anyone sleepwalk or talk?

EN: I do sleepwalk, but generally it’s when I’m at home. If I’m in a new place, it doesn’t really happen. If you guys ever see me walking around… [laughs] Normally, I’ll just get up and kind of stand there, look at stuff.

SW: Looking at stuff? Are your eyes open?

EN: Yeah. I’ve had sleeping partners in the past be like, “Why did you get up at three in the morning and just stand there?”

SW: You were astral projecting.

EN: Yeah, I was projecting.

Follow us on Instagram @sourceweekly and @billyandtheboxkid to see some behind-the-scenes videos from our conversation, captured by Hylwa Media, to hear the band talking more about finding inspiration and community in Bend.

Billy and the Box Kid: Third Anniversary Party With The Gold Souls Sat., March 22

Volcanic Theatre Pub

70 SW Century Dr., Bend Doors 7pm; show 8pm; all ages $12 advance, $17 day of show

Billy and the Box Kid

MONDAY, MARCH 24 - FRIDAY, MARCH 28 9 AM - 3 PM

Spring Break Camp: Exploratorium For Kids K - 5th

MONDAY, JUNE 23 - THURSDAY, JUNE 26 8:30 - 11:30 AM

Track & Field Skills Camp For Kids 4th - 8th

MONDAY - FRIDAY , JULY 7 - AUGUST 15 9 AM - 3 PM

Themed Weeklong Summer Camps For Kids K - 5th

Nature Detectives

Beyond the Frame: The Art & Science of Photography

Style Engineers

Game Design Lab

Drama Camp

Dragon Quest

LEARN MORE & REGISTER cascadesacademy.org/create

SOURCE PICKS

THURSDAY - SUNDAY 3/13 - 3/16

SHEJUMPS & GLIDE NORDIC WOMEN’S SKI, YOGA & WINE RETREAT

GIRLS’ TRIP

Join SheJumps and Glide Nordic School, based at The Suttle Lodge near Sisters, for a weekend of skiing, yoga classes and wine tasting. Experience lakeside accommodation with professional ski and yoga instruction plus two Willamette Valley wine tastings. Thu., March 13-Sun., March 16 at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse. 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. $550.

THURSDAY 3/13

CULTIVATE BEND’S ASK THE EXPERTS: FROM BOOTH TO BRAND

GROW YOUR FOOD CART

Cultivate Bend and the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance are teaming up for a panel discussion focused on launching and growing a successful farmers market business. Gain valuable knowledge and network with local vendors, market managers and food industry leaders. Thu., March 13, 5:30-7:30pm at The Haven Coworking. 1001 SW Disk Dr., Ste. 250, Bend. $10.

THURSDAY 3/13

“SCREENAGERS: ELEMENTARY EDITION” FILM SCREENING

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Learn about issues that elementary school-aged kids, parents and educators face with modern technology through a film and expert panel discussion following the screening. Thu., March 13, 6-7:30pm at Elk Meadow Elementary School. 60880 Brookswood Blvd., Bend. Free.

PETE KARTSOUNES ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT

CATCH A LOCAL TROUBADOUR

Join award-winning singer/songwriter Pete Kartsounes to celebrate his new album. “Out Here on My Own, Vol. 2” is his 14th studio album and covers topics of life, death and resilience with smooth guitars and bluesy sounds. Fri., March 14, 7pm at Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon. 63645 Scenic Dr., Bend. $25-$30.

ST. PADDY’S PARTY AT BEND CIDER CO.

GET JIGGY WITH IT

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Bend Cider Company with several live music performances, including Irish folk and rock band Five Pint Mary. In addition to light appetizers, enjoy cider, beer, wine, Guinness and nonalcoholic beverages. Sat., March 15, 3:30pm at Bend Cider Co. 64649 Wharton Ave., Tumalo. Free.

SATURDAY

SKILLETHEAD WITH DARIN GENTRY’S OLD TIME MACHINE

ROSIN UP YOUR BOW

Check out The Belfry in Sisters for live music from popular local bluegrass group Skillethead. Joining the band is Darin Gentry’s Old Time Machine, playing groovy bluegrass rooted in traditional Appalachian music. Sat., March 15, 6:30-10:30pm at The Belfry. 302 E Main Ave., Sisters. $20.

SATURDAY 3/15

HYDRO FLASK ST. PATRICK’S DAY

DASH WALK/RUN

RUN FOR GREEN BEER

Walk or run the distance of your choice at this family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day Dash. After the dash, attend the finish line party at Deschutes Tasting Room with beer, live music, food and a costume contest! Sat., March 15, Noon-5pm at Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room. 901 SW Simpson Ave., Bend. $15+.

SATURDAY 3/15

SKI FOR ALL

HIT THE SLOPES FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Oregon Adaptive Sports is hosting its annual Ski For All fundraiser at Mt. Bachelor, inviting guests to ski and support its mission of creating access to outdoor recreation for all. Sat., March 15 at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. 13000 SW Century Dr., Bend. $40-$80.

SATURDAY 3/15

jay@wanderlusttours

WANDERLUST TOURS: WARMING HUT YOGA & FULL MOON SNOWSHOE TOUR

A ONE-OF-A-KIND

NIGHT

Enjoy a unique experience that combines yoga and snowshoeing. Guests will embark on a moonlit snowshoe adventure through the forest and stop by a quaint warming hut for a guided yoga practice by firelight. The evening will continue with tea, toddies and stargazing. Sat., March 15, 7-11pm at Wanderlust Tours. 61535 S Hwy 97, Bend. $150.

RICHIE FURAY WITH SPECIAL GUEST JOHN BATDORF

Christa Nash-Webber

Brooke Mues

Pete Kartsounes FB

Evvnt

Cascade Relays

TRIPDREAM

March 20

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of CO 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Register

3 nights stay at the Hotel Andra in Seattle for 2 adults, 2 children Day passes for Whale Watching Travel allowance of $1500

4 nights for 4 guests in Cap Estate villa overlooking the ocean Private pool

Whale Watching in San Juans St Lucia Ocean Villa La Dolce Villa, Tuscany

7 nights for 6 guests 3-bed, 3-bath villa with pool Authentic Tuscan cooking class Historical walking tour of Cortona

Disneyland & Universal Studios for Family

One Day pass to Disneyland

One Day pass to Universal Studios 4 nights for 2 adults, 2 children AssistanceLeagueBend.org

Purchase Tickets Here!

CALENDAR

12 Wednesday

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.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Ghost of Brian Craig Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music Brain Craig. 6-8pm. Free.

Pangaea Guild Hall D&D Battle Royale! • Teams of 2 Players • Lvl-6 Characters, Standard Array Stats | 2024 5e PHB Rules | No Homebrew Rules • 1 Magic Item & Potion per Player, Uncommon Rarity or Lower • Prizes Awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams • Seasonal Wins/ Losses tracked, prizes for top teams 6-10pm. $5.

Pinky G’s Pizzeria MUSIC BINGO Join music Bingo (think Bingo and Name that Tune). Great food, cold drinks and good times. Free to play and prizes for each round winner. 6-8pm. Free.

Ponch’s Place Bingo Wednesdays Enjoy bingo at Ponch’s Place on Wednesdays. 5-7pm. Free.

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

13 Thursday

Bunk+Brew Karaoke Thursdays Sing your heart out at Bunk + Brew’s Karaoke Night! Whether you’re a pro or just love the spotlight, all voices are welcome. Food carts available all evening! Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 7-10pm. Free.

River’s Place Potter & Quon Mike Potter on lap steel and guitar, and Mark Quon on guitar. Potter & Quon play original songs in the classic singer/songwriter genre as well as a handful of their favorite covers. 6-8pm. Free.

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

Stihl Whiskey Bar Live Music: Rachel Fishman Rachel Fishman is a singer/songwriter with a soulful rasp and a fun, genre-blending sound. Recently moved from Portland, she reimagines classics and delivers originals with raw emotion. 7-9pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Haute Melange Haute Mélange is an elegant and sophisticated gypsy jazz ensemble whose name reflects its essence: “Haute,” meaning high-class or refined, and “Mélange,” a harmonious mix. With an intricate blend of masterful technique and rich artistry, the group seamlessly weaves classic gypsy jazz traditions with modern flair. 7:30pm. Free.

The Dez Lounge Open Mic w/ Joyful Lane Join Joyful Lane as he hosts open mic night @The Dez Lounge! Enjoy NA cocktails, charcuterie and desserts while listening to local talent! 6-9pm. Free. The Lot Draven Schmidt Lush solo saxophone ballads, and smooth R&B style from Draven Schmidt. 6-8pm. Free.

14 Friday

General Duffy’s Annex So You

Think You Got Jokes - Comedy Competition

Kick off St. Patty’s Day weekend with standup, improv, and green beer at General Duffy’s on March 14! You decide the winner in this shamrockin’ comedy battle. 8-9pm. $15.

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.

M&J Tavern Five Pint Mary Five Pint Mary brings the high energy toe tappin’ sounds to the Friday festivities and tunes it up in the downtown living room off Greenwood Ave. 9pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing LADIES NIGHT BY MARI Come see Ladies Night by Mari at Silver Moon Brewing for a fun performance. 7pm. $10.

The Commonwealth Pub Four Days of St. Patrick’s Day Fun Celebrate 4 days of St. Patrick’s Day at The Commonwealth Pub, March 14-17! Enjoy live Irish music, Irish dancers, bagpipes, Irish food and Irish drink specials, plus games and prizes! 5:30pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations with The Ballybogs! Join us for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration packed with Irish fun and flair featuring the traditional sounds of The Ballybogs! 8pm. Free.

Unity Community of Central Oregon Unity Event Pete Kartsounces Album Release March 2025 Join award-winning singer/songwriter Pete Kartsounes. His live performances are filled with exceptional guitar playing, a smokey bluesy voice, and inspiring stories, weaved through a melodic and introspective landscapes. Clare@UnityCentralOregon.org 541-350-8448. 6:30-8:30pm. $25 and $30 at the door.

15 Saturday

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

Bend Cider Co. St Paddy’s Party at Bend Cider Co Come celebrate the St Patrick’s holiday with us at Bend Cider! Live music starts at 3:30pm with Parker & Lilli Duo, followed by Hella Shy, & Irish folk-rockers Five Pint Mary. Enjoy ciders, beer, wine, Guinness, & N/A beverages. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. Kid and dog-friendly. Sláinte! 3:30pm. Free.

Bunk+Brew Apres-Ski Saturdays End your ski day in style at Bunk + Brew! From 7-10pm, enjoy music, sauna passes, brews and après-ski vibes. Discounts for Mt. Bachelor pass holders and employees. Food carts open all night! 7-10pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Ticket and promote your events with BendTicket! >

and award-winning

Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards and Events St. Patrick’s Day Party with Motel Kalifornia Check out an unforgettable night of Irish cheer, incredible wine and live music by the one and only Motel Kalifornia! Expect Irish-inspired food & wine specials, rockin’ live music and award-winning wines. 6-9pm. $30.

M&J Tavern Big Treble The crew is back! Playin’ tunes and bringing the treble while everyone stays hydrated! 9pm. Free.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Session Jason’s Light Heavyweights performs funk and soul at River’s Place. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Pert’ Near Sandstone & Cascade Crescendo Formed by old friends in 2003 within the vibrant Minneapolis music scene, they have been tireless stewards of the midwestern roots music community. Performing with infectious energy and an undeniable joy, Pert Near’s strong songcraft melds with old-time sensibilities in a unique brand of modern string band music they deliver. 7pm. $15/$20.

The Commonwealth Pub Four Days of St. Patrick’s Day Fun Celebrate 4 days of St. Patrick’s Day at The Commonwealth Pub, March 14-17! Enjoy live Irish music, Irish dancers, bagpipes, Irish food and Irish drink specials, plus games and prizes! Noon. Free.

The Round Butte Inn Chasin’ Bandits featuring Christie Strode Check out Chasin’ Bandits featuring talented young vocalist, Christie Strode, for a honky tonk night of country and rock favorites. RBI features pub style menu, full bar, pool and video lottery. 8-11pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Peter AntoniouPsychic Comedian From amazing the judges on America’s Got Talent, to headlining in Las Vegas, to selling out shows in London’s West End, Peter Antoniou’s mind reading skills have astounded audiences around the globe. Combining razor-sharp British wit with a stunning ability to know exactly what you are thinking, 7pm. $20 presale/$25 door.

Waypoint Use’ta Do Roots-country & bluegrass straight outta Central Oregon, connecting audiences to music performances like they “Use’ta Do.” 2-4pm. Free.

Wildwood Bar & Grill Them-n-J Live! Them-n-J brings your favorite covers and good times rock 'n' roll, plus tasty originals sure to get you singing along with the band! 7-10pm. Free.

16 Sunday

his

Bend Brewing Company St. Patrick’s Day

Two days of St. Patrick’s fun, with Irish music, dancers and food specials both days! 11am9pm. free.

Bend Brewing Company Use’ta Do Roots-country & bluegrass straight outta Central Oregon, connecting audiences to music performances like they “Use’ta Do.” 2-4pm. Free.

The Domino Room Hieroglyphics & DJ Wicked The Oregon return of the West Coast’s legacy hip-hop collective, Hieroglyphics, featuring Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love and Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Phesto, Opio, Tajai) with DJ Toure. The Oakland-based crew is a long running, influential underground collective. 8-11pm. $28.

Mountain View High School Auditorium Pops Goes to the Movies Bend Pops Orchestra presents its winter concert, themed Pops Goes to the Movies! There’s a fantastic lineup featuring some of the most popular movie and theme music in the known universe. Bring the entire family and enjoy an afternoon of delightful music. 2-4pm. Free.

River’s Place Til the Wheels Fall Off We always get the party started early. Join us for this amazing Celtic jam band playing traditional Irish folk songs with an American accent. 5-7pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Scott Foxx Scott Foxx’s interest in the fiddle led to him becoming interested in Celtic music also. He has played fiddle in a rock band, in a reggae band and with country, swing, jazz, and bluegrass groups. When you watch him play, it is obvious how much he loves to make music! Free.

17 Monday

The Astro Lounge St Patty’s Day Live Music by the Harris Blake Band Check out the Harris Blake Dance Band, playing songs people know. 8-11pm. Free.

Local artist

singer/songwriter Pete Kartsounes will celebrate

new album — his 14th studio album — on March 14 at Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon.

Pete Kartsounes

After Hours at the Cove

Backyard Igloos

Cove Glow Party

Mystery on the Pickleball Court

Family Paint Party

Featured Spring Break events and experiences

CALENDAR EVENTS

Bend Brewing Company St. Patrick’s Day

Two days of St. Patrick’s fun, with Irish music, dancers and food specials both days! 11am-9pm. free.

Bend Brewing Company Use’ta Do Roots-country & bluegrass straight outta Central Oregon, connecting audiences to music performances like they “Use’ta Do.” 2-4pm. Free.

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

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

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

River’s Place St. Paddy’s Day w/Use’ta

Do This amazing old school country roots and bluegrass band is adding a little somethin’ Irish this go round. Irish style beers and specialty cocktails! 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Beertown Comedy

Open Mic Voted #1 Open Mic and Locals Night, Beertown Comedy’s Open Mic happens every Monday at Silver Moon Brewing. Free to watch and perform! Sign-ups at 6:30pm, show at 7pm. With 20 spots available, bring your best jokes and get noticed for paid gigs. Laughter guaranteed! 6:30-9pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations with The Ballybogs and Talamh Dubh! Join us for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration packed with Irish fun and flair featuring the traditional sounds of The Ballybogs and Talamh Dubh! Get ready for foot-stomping jigs, soulful ballads, and all the good times you can handle! 6:30pm. Free.

18 Tuesday

Bunk+Brew Trivia Tuesdays Test your knowledge every Tuesday from 7-9pm at Bunk + Brew! New exciting themes every week. Bring your friends for a night of fun and prizes. Food carts will be open, so grab a bite or brew while you play. Located in the Historic Lucas House Dining Room. 7-9pm. Free.

The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company Open Mic Open mic at The Cellar hosted by Mari! 6-8pm and all are welcome! 6-8pm. Free. The Commons Cafe & Taproom Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Mason James is the host. Poetry, comedy and spoken word are welcome, but this is mainly a musical open mic. Performance slots are a quick 10 minutes each, so being warmed up and ready is ideal. If you wish to perform sign-ups start at 5pm in the cafe. 6pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Head Games

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

Mountain Burger Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger Come to Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger! Fun and prizes await! 7:30-9pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Karaoke with DJ Chris Ossig Karaoke with DJ Chris. 7-9pm. Free. Silver Moon Brewing Blues Revival Night High Desert Blues Revival. With Shades of Blue. Welcoming soloists to join us. Horns, harp, singers, shredders. 6pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub The Grogans w/ Sungrater The Grogans are one of Australia’s hardest working young bands. The Grogans have supported an array of Australian & international acts including Ocean Alley,WAVVES (US), Hockey Dad and The Chats as well as sharing festival lineups with FranzFerdinand &The Teskey Brothers. 7pm. $20 presale/$30 Door.

MUSIC

COCC Big Band Jazz Winter Con-

cert The Central Oregon Community College Big Band Jazz winter concert will feature the music of Duke Ellington and a premiere performance of a new big band arrangement by band member and local composer Brian Owen. Admission is free (donations are appreciated). March 14, 7-9pm. Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-383-7700. info@centraloregonjazz.org. Free.

Jazz At The Oxford Saturday Morning Concerts & Educational Workshops. With Jazz Artists Benny Benack 3 & Khailah Johnson. They performed Friday night on the very same stage. Community members are invited to come and interact directly with Benny & Khailah. Musicians bring your instruments, “sit-in” and be coached by the artist(s). Hosted by Georges Bouhey www.desertjazz.net March 15, 11am-1pm. The Oxford Hotel, 10 Northwest Minnesota Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-7718916. lessons@desertjazz.net. Free.

Live music Thursdays: Critical Blues Band Grab your favorite bites & sips, and listen to the music, curated by Migz Music. This week’s artist is the Critical Blues Band, a 4-piece, blues / world fusion group. March 13, 6-8pm. Bar Rio, 915 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

We’re Celebrating the Classics! The Cascade Chorale proudly invites you to a spellbinding classic journey designed to delight and inspire as we bring together the legacy of some of history’s most celebrated composers, performed with passion and precision! March 15, 7pm and March 16, 4pm. Bend Church of the Nazarene, 1270 NE 27th St., Bend. Contact: cascadechorale@gmail. com. Free.

DANCE

Adult Jazz Dance Community Class Join nonprofit Bend Dance Project for intermediate level adult jazz drop-in dance classes, Fridays 12:151:45pm. Styles include Broadway, street, lyrical with teachers rotating monthly. Friendly supportive atmosphere. Get your dance on! Fridays, 12:151:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 408-857-6773. jcliff@ gmail.com. $10 donation.

Line Dance Mania! It’s a blast and it moves fast. Come dance some oldies, learn some new ones, and just have fun. Kim and Noelle are your instructors. Knowledge of dance basics is required. Pre-registration for $15 by March 13 encouraged: danceforhealth.dance@gmail.com $20 at the door. March 15, 2-4:30pm. The Space, 2570 NE Twin Knolls Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-241-4709. danceforhealth.dance@gmail.com. $15.

Salsa Dance Classes - Level 1 / Beginner Get ready to have fun learning new Salsa steps! This class is focused on learning basic steps, turns and introduction to partner-work. Dance partner not required but encouraged. Mondays, 8:15-9pm. Through March 31. The Space, 2570 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 541325-6676. LatinDanceBend@gmail.com. $15.

FILM EVENTS

Fly Fishing Film Tour 2025 The highly anticipated 19th Annual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) is back with a curated selection of the best fly fishing films from around the world. Anglers, outdoor enthusiasts adventure seekers are invited to join the tour showcasing stunning cinematography and unforgettable stories and the heart-pounding excitement of fly fishing. March 12, 6:45-8:45pm. Sisters Movie House, 720 Desperado Court, Sisters. Contact: 541-549-8833. inquiries@sistersmoviehouse.com. $17.

Ski Film Night Wednesdays Catch epic ski films at Bunk + Brew. Celebrate the slopes with fellow ski enthusiasts. Warm up with great food from our backyard food carts. Wednesdays, 6-9pm. Bunk+Brew, 42 NW Hawthorne Avenue, Bend. Free.

ARTS + CRAFTS

AD Glass & Design’s Glass Shamrock Scavenger Hunt Giveaway for St. Patrick’s Day 2025 AD Glass & Design Glassblowing Studio’s Glass Shamrock Scavenger Hunt Giveaway starts Saturday March 1 - St. Patrick’s Day. Lola, Glassblowing Boxer will be hiding tags all over Bend. Follow us or drop by our studio for hints + pics of where to find a tag. March 1-17, 9am-5pm. AD Glass & Design, 30 SW Century Dr Suite 120, Bend. Contact: 541-241-8622. aaron@ad-glass.com. Free.

Pots with Purpose: Supporting The Trevor Project Stop by Somewhere That’s Green this March to support a great cause! Browse beautiful handmade pottery donated by local potters, and 100% of your purchase will go to the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project’s mission is to help stop suicide among young people in the queer community. March 1-31, 10am-6pm. Somewhere That’s Green, 1017 NE 2nd St., Bend. Contact: shop@somewheregreen.com. Free.

Sip and Paint Night Come enjoy a guided paint class while enjoying a pint or two of your favorite Deschutes beer. Tue, Feb. 18, 6-8pm and Tue, March 18, 6-8pm. Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room, 901 SW Simpson Ave., Bend. Contact: Tours@deschutesbrewery.com. $45.

THEATER

Meadow Sky Presents “THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE” MARCH 14-23 Meadow Sky Productions is proud to present a childhood classic for its spring production, C.S. Lewis’ beloved, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” The play will run for six shows, March 14-23. Fri, March 14, 6:30-8:30pm, Sat, March 15, 6:30-8:30pm, Fri, March 21, 6:308:30pm, Sat, March 22, 2-4 and 6:30-8:30pm and Sun, March 23, 3-5pm. High Desert Music Hall, 818 SW Forest Ave, Redmond. $25.

Counting Crows, the popular American rock band formed in the ’90s, is bringing its new tour to Bend’s Hayden Homes Amphitheater on Aug. 19 with The Gaslight Anthem.

Counting Crows

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 15 with a Bunk+Brew bar crawl. “Crawl with Us” features music from The Electric Street Sign, green beer, a mechanical bull and more. It starts at 4pm, with an after party at 9:30pm.

WORDS

“Irelandish” - A Reading with Jana

Zvibleman Discover Ireland’s charm through a local author’s captivating travel memoir. Her reading will be accompanied by lively Irish music. March 14, 2-3:30pm. Downtown Bend Public Library - Brooks Room, 601 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-312-1063. beccar@dpls.lib.or.us. Free.

Classics Book Club Please join us for Classics Book Club. We will discuss “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” by Frederick Douglass. March 12, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Poetry Night at Lone Pine Join for a poetry night at Lone Pine during Apèro Hours. Spoken word with an open mic option. All ages. Wine, beer, bites and of course coffee. Third Saturday of every month, 5:30-8pm. Lone Pine Coffee Roasters, 910 NW Harriman, Bend. Contact: lonepinecoffee@gmail.com. Free.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Lucky Leprechaun 5k/10k Join us for the Lucky Leprechaun Run or Walk through the charming town of Sisters! Grab your Green Gear and run, walk, skip or trot this chip timed race! All new start and finish! Finisher party at Luckey’s Woodsman with live music. Register by 3/1 for Race T. March 15, 9:45am-12:30pm. Luckey’s Woodsman Trailside Kitchen, 352 E Hood Ave Suite B, Sisters. Contact: 971-409-8461. runsistersrun1@gmail.com. $40-$55.

SheJumps & Glide Nordic Women’s Ski, Yoga, & Wine Retreat A weekend of skiing, yoga classes and wine tasting with SheJumps & Glide Nordic School, based at the

Suttle Lodge near Oregon. Enjoy lakeside accommodation, professional ski and yoga instruction, plus two wine tastings with lady winemakers from the Willamette Valley. Thu, March 13, 4pm and Sun, March 16-Noon. SKIP Bar at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. Contact: ingrid@glidenordic.com. $550.

Ski for All Ski For All Is Back: Join the Disco-Fun! Mark your calendars for the 8th annual Ski For All on Saturday, March 15! Get ready for a day of costumes, silly challenges, celebrating inclusion, and earning raffle tickets - all while raising funds for OAS! Let’s hit the slopes together! March 15. Mount Bachelor Ski Resort - Sunrise Lodge, 13000 SW Century Dr, Bend. Contact: info@oregonadaptivesports. org. $40-$80.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

BEND 101: Water & Waste—Where Does it Come From and Where Does It Go?—March 13 Bend 101 is all about learning and connection for new residents and those who’ve been here a while but are wanting to become more involved. Spend the evening getting to know the history of Bend, how it developed into what we experience today, and how we can all contribute. March 13, 5:30-8pm. COCC Campus Center - Wille Hall, 2600 College Way, Bend. $15.

Speed Dating & Single Mingle at Bridge 99 (Ages 21-50) Calling all Central Oregon Singles! Ready to mingle? Join in the fun for a night of mingling and speed dating with other singles in the area! Female to Male Speed Dating for ages 21-50. March 14, 6-8pm. Bridge 99 Brewery, 63063 Layton Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-323-0964.

FUNDRAISING

United Through Music - Benefit for NeighborImpact An evening filled with music and community spirit, all in support of NeighborImpact! Bands to be featured include Appaloosa, Double Jump and The Color Study. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8pm. March 12, 7pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub, 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: (541) 323-1881. John@ volcanictheatrepub.com. $15.

FAMILY + KIDS

Page to Screen Family Movie Night Enjoy a screening of Tangled! Free tickets at http:// www.towertheatre.org/ Tickets are free but required. Tickets will be available to the public at the Tower Theatre website around 3 weeks before the program. Food and drinks will be available for purchase on site. March 14, 6-8pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-312-1062. Elsah@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

St. Patrick’s Day Party Join for food cart specials, Guinness and green beer, prizes for best dressed, free swag, face painting and more! Bend Fire Pipes and Drums at 1pm. Yeates Academy of Irish Dance at 3:30pm. March 17, 1pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE 4th Street, Bend. Contact: 458256-5454. midtownyachtclub@gmail.com. Free.

Street Dog Hero Spring Break Camp 2025 Street Dog Hero’s Spring Break Camp offers a fun, engaging and exciting introduction to humane education and shelter operations. Each day we will learn, craft, play and celebrate all things dog! We will work together on a community service project. Rising first-fourth graders are encouraged to attend! March 17-20, 10am-2pm. Street Dog Hero, 910 SE Wilson Ave. Suite A-1, Bend. Contact: 503-329-7612. becky@streetdoghero.org. $250.

FOOD + DRINK

Cultivate Bend’s Ask The Experts: From Booth to Brand Ready to launch your brand at the farmers market! The farmers market isn’t just a place to sell—it’s where brands are born. Join us for a discussion with experts who know what it takes to grow your business. Hosted by Cultivate Bend and HDFFA. March 13, 5:30-7:30pm. The Haven, 1001 SW Disk Drive, Bend. Contact: 503-314-9902. barb@fixafoods.com. $10.

Redmond Cookbook Club Join local home chefs for a potluck cooked from a different cookbook each month. Meet great people, enjoy delicious wine, and share fabulous food! Choose your recipe at our monthly happy hour on the 2nd Tuesday, then bring your dish to the dinner party every 3rd Tuesday. Bon apetit! Third Tuesday of every month, 6-8pm. Arome, 432 SW 6th St., Redmond. Contact: 503-409-7944. kelsey.seymour@ jillscookbookclub.com. $15.

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Dance St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Dance! This festive spring celebration features a traditional St. Patty’s Day buffet including corned beef, cabbage & all the fixings prepared by the executive chef at Whispering Winds Retirement. Live music & dancing with Notables Swing Band. $15 advance. $20 at the door if available. March 14, 6-9pm. Larkspur Community Center, 1600 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-389-7275. leighl@bendparksandrec.org. $15.

BEER + DRINK

Free Walk-Around Wine Tasting Free Tasting Event! Have some fun stocking up on warmer weather wines and discover new favorites from more than 30 tastes poured by 3 of our best local distributors. No reservations required - just drop in and sip! March 12, 4:30-7:30pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Drive, Suite 160, Bend. Contact: 541-299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. Free. Shamrock Party At Wild Rye Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Wild Rye! Enjoy brat plates, craft beers from Silver Moon Brewery, and live music in the beer garden. Guests 21+ will receive a complimentary beer with their brat. Enjoy lawn games, a raffle, and contests —don’t forget to wear your green! March 16, Noon-3pm. Brasada Ranch, 16986 SW Brasada Ranch Rd, Powell Butte. Contact: 541-526-6865. experience@brasada.com. $25/Adult, $20/Child (Ages 5 - 20).

St. Patrick’s Celebration The Guild Hall is going green! Attend an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration, featuring the sort of festive specials you’ll only find at the Pangaea Guild Hall. Wear green for $1 off drinks! March 15, Noon-11pm. Pangaea Guild Hall, 652 SW 6th St., Redmond. Free.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

”Screenagers: Elementary Edition” Film Screening + Expert Panel Q&A The “Screenagers: Elementary Edition” film addresses issues that elementary school aged kids, parents, and educators are facing with today’s modern tech. Expert panel Q&A with audience discussion will follow film. This is free and we welcome parents, caregivers, educators, & kids 6 and up to participate! March 13, 6-7:30pm. Elk Meadow Elementary School, 60880 Brookswood Blvd., Bend. Contact: wearewellwired@gmail.com. Free.

Central Oregon LGBTQ+ Peer Connection Online Support Group A peer-led support group for adults (ages 18 and older) who identify as LGBTQ2SIA+ and are living with mental health challenges. A diagnosis is not required to participate. This group is facilitated by Central Oregon peers. Schedule: Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Every other Tuesday, 6-7:30pm. Contact: 541-316-0167. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.

Hydro Flask St. Patrick’s Day Dash 1.3-5k-10K Walk/ Run Family fun, fitness and celebrating St. Patty’s Day weekend in true Central Oregonian style –Choose to walk or run: 1.3 mile or 5 or 10K. Enjoy the finish line party at Deschutes Tasting Room with beer, live music, and great food. Enter the fun Costume Contest! Yes-it’s a timed run! March 15, Noon-5pm. Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room, 901 SW Simpson Ave., Bend. Contact: 541350-4635. info@cascaderelays.com. $15+.

Wanderlust Tours: Warming Hut Yoga & Full Moon Snowshoe Tour Join us for a soul-stirring evening as we embark on a moonlit snowshoe adventure! Weaving our way through the forest, we will happen upon a quaint warming hut and ground ourselves with a guided yoga practice by firelight! We will cap off our evening with tea, toddy’s, and stargazing! March 15, 7-11pm. Wanderlust Tours, 61535 S Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-389-8359. info@wanderlusttours.com. $150.

Bunk + Brew

CHOW C Make Every Day Pi Day with Farmhouse Pies

Local

fruit and a rich, buttery crust make this small business a cult favorite

in Central Oregon

Story and Photos by Skylor Young

If you’ve ever been to the Northwest Crossing Saturday Farm ers Market, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a blue, vintage canned ham trailer with the word PIE carved in wooden letters. In the spring and summer months, you can get a slice or a full pie here, made with fruit grown by other farmer vendors at the market.

Annie Skelton, founder of Farmhouse Pies, says this is where the magic of her business all began back in 2016. “I knew that I didn’t want to go the restaurant route or jump into something big, so I started exploring what it would be like to bake and sell pies at the farmers market,” she tells. She found a commercial kitchen to work out of, and on that first day at the market, Skelton brought 20 pies to sell, not knowing what her customer base was going to look like. She sold out in half an hour, and that’s when she knew it was time to bring her pies to the people.

Farmhouse Pies is the epitome of local. It operates out of a commercial kitchen on Skelton’s hobby farm in Bend, which creates an incredible work environment. “I think my employees love coming out here; to walk outside on their break and see the horses, it’s just a sweet environment out here.”

In the summertime, the pie fillings are made from fruits sourced from fellow vendors at the market like Marquam Hill Berries out of Silverton and The Farmer in Odell, a woman-owned farm on the eastern slopes of Mt. Hood where Skelton sources apples, pears, peaches and more.

In the winter when the markets are inactive, Skelton works with Aloha Produce to source fruits from the Willamette Valley and Hood River areas. This is also when Skelton makes “Key lime and lemon and chocolate, some of those diner-style pies that I don’t offer as much in the summertime when I want to feature our most local fruits.”

What’s inside the pie is very important, of course, but for Farmhouse Pies, it should not overshadow the skillfully made crusts. Before making her way to Central Oregon, Skelton spent her childhood in Indiana where her aunt taught her how to make pie crusts. To this day, her crusts are rooted in family recipes… and butter. You won’t find Crisco or any other oils in these crusts: “I use the most unprocessed ingredients I can; butter offers a good way of making crust that also appeals to my customers.”

So, there’s the backstory to the business. Now, let’s talk about the most important

part: What it’s like to eat the pie! Because of the hyperlocal focus, the flavors vary weekly based on available produce. In preparation for Pi Day (Friday, March 14), I tried several.

The triple berry pie has a jam-like filling — thick and seedy — with its blueberry flavor taking the spotlight. This pie boasts a classic crust with a flakey top layer, its buttery shell glistening.

The apple streusel’s crumbly topping is a thick layer of finely ground dough that offers a kiss of classic cinnamon atop to complement the pure apple flavor. The filling is smooth and creamy, unlike many apple pies that have large fruit slices that create an inconsistent textural experience with each bite.

The winter fruit crumble is a favorite in our house, with raspberries at the forefront of flavor, followed by plum and apple, creating a sweet backdrop to the bitter berry. The crumble on top is a chunkier consistency than the streusel, with full pieces of oat that give a grainy chewiness to each bite.

The crusts on these three pies are impressively dense and substantial, like a flakey pastry bread, which create a delightful sense of closure and fulfillment for the last few bites of each pie.

Finally, let’s talk about the Key lime pie. The custard introduces sour and sweet flavors with a smooth, soft texture. The meringue on top, in contrast, is dense and rich in texture but gentle in flavor, establishing a calming balance to the Key lime. The snap of the crust was, dare I say, classy? Certainly not your ordinary graham cracker crust; it’s a thick wall of crumbly, salty graham that holds its crunch through to the last bite, finalizing this flavorful and textural trifecta.

You can find Farmhouse Pies at Central Oregon Locavore, Jackson’s Corner, Sebastian’s Seafood, Wild Petals Provisions and Schoolhouse Produce in Redmond. Online orders are not available in the winter, but special orders can be made via email and picked up directly from the commercial kitchen.

Farmhouse Pies

22960 Lariat Ln., Bend farmhousepies.com

Half of the triple berry pie.

Farmhouse Pies sitting on the shelves at Central Oregon Locavore.

Asliceofwinterfruitcrumble with raspberry, plumandapplefilling .

By Savannah Mendoza

Burrito Hooch Heats Up Bend’s Food Scene

The new eatery offers enchilada-style burritos, street tacos and bold Baja flavors in the former Breakfast Club space

Bend’s food scene just got a new addition: Burrito Hooch, a Mexican grill that’s bringing Baja flavors, fresh ingredients and a laid-back, welcoming vibe to town.

Located in the former Breakfast Club space on Greenwood Avenue, Burrito Hooch serves up a fun, casual dining experience with a Baja-inspired menu. The restaurant is owned by Chris Wilhite, who also runs SDiegos food truck. Wilhite recently relocated the food truck from The Old Iron Works to The Commonwealth Pub, further expanding his reach in the community.

“We are overwhelmed by the support and the number of people coming in already, even during our soft launch,” Wilhite says.

Burrito Hooch quietly opened around Valentine’s Day, and in just a few weeks, Wilhite noticed the restaurant had already attracted a steady stream of repeat customers.

Those who visited The Breakfast Club will notice a familiar layout but with a modernized twist. Wilhite kept the space’s original charm while giving it a Baja makeover with fresh renovations, creating a welcoming and comfortable spot to enjoy a meal.

As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy some great food and company. Burrito Hooch prides itself on using fresh, in-house ingredients with a customizable menu. Burritos are served “enchilada-style,” allowing guests to choose their protein — whether it’s savory meat or grilled veggies — and top it off with a flavorful sauce, like enchilada red sauce, tangy verde or spicy habanero. The current burrito specials include the grilled veggie burrito, shrimp burrito and fish burrito, with all burritos served with crispy tortilla chips, sour cream and pickled onions on the side. Add on Hooch street tacos, shareable appetizers and drink specials and you’ve got a satisfying meal.

Wilhite shares that there’s plenty more on the horizon for Burrito Hooch. Starting March 17, the restaurant will roll out a breakfast menu, offering a twist on classics like omelets, eggs Benedict and more. Looking ahead to the warmer months, Wilhite plans to add a sidewalk patio where guests can enjoy their flavorful meals in the sun.

Burrito Hooch is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11am to 10pm and Thursday through Saturday until 11pm.

Savannah Mendoza

Savannah Mendoza

By Julianna LaFollette

LITTLE BITES Portland Winery Moves into Downtown Space Recently Vacated by Domaine Serene Amaterra Winery

expands into Bend with new tasting room and restaurant

APortland-based winery announced on March 3 that it will open a full-service restaurant and tasting room in downtown Bend. Amaterra winery will take over the building on NW Bond Street, previously occupied by Domaine Serene, which closed its doors in January.

The winery, set to open in late spring, will offer wine tastings and a curated menu with recommended pairings during the day. In the evenings, the winery will transition to a full-service restaurant, with a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients and farm-to-table cuisine, as well as some favorites from its Portland menu. The Bend site will also have private event spaces, according to a press release.

“Opening our second location in Bend is a natural extension of our commitment to sharing our love for exceptional food and wine,” said Marcus Breuer, Amaterra’s co-founder and CEO, in a press release.

“We’ve built strong connections with the Bend community over the years, with many of our wine club members calling Bend home. This new space enables us to better serve our members in Central Oregon, while also introducing our wines and dining offerings to new audiences in a region known for its outstanding culinary and beverage scene.”

Amaterra’s Portland location is situated in the West Hills area, with a 12-acre vineyard. The restaurant was voted the #2 “Best Restaurant in Portland” in 2024 by Portland Business Journal readers.

The location is currently hiring for positions including an executive chef, general manager, assistant general manager and more.

Domaine Serene, which transformed the space from an antique store into a sumptuous bar with private meeting rooms and a basement wine cellar, operated in downtown Bend for just three years before closing its doors Jan. 3.

Amaterra Winery

C CULTURE A Tower-ing Figure

Ray Solley announces his retirement as executive director of the Tower Theatre

By Jared Rasic

You know the health of a town by the state of its theaters.

Opened in 1940, the Tower Theatre was the jewel of downtown Bend from the date of its opening until its closure in 1996. When I moved here in 1999, downtown felt lessened by its boarded-up windows and darkened marquee. After a herculean effort of renovating and reopening the Tower on Jan. 30, 2004, the beauty and historical import of downtown was once again alive, not just as a movie theater but a performing arts center and cultural hub for the entire community.

As the executive director for the last 16 years, Ray Solley has been an invaluable steward of this gorgeous piece of history and an invaluable reason for the Tower’s continued success. Solley recently announced his retirement for later this year, and the Source Weekly was able to catch up with him, looking back at his history with the theater and towards the future of the legendary space.

Source Weekly: Tell me how you initially became involved with the Tower. Was it closed at the time?

Ray Solley: No, the Tower was open when I applied for the job in late 2008. It was just four years into its newly renovated life as a performing arts stage. I found out about the job at a theater programming conference in Seattle. It was posted on a job board… literally… a piece of Tower stationery thumbtacked onto a bulletin board near the conference exhibit hall. I wrote down some of the details and thought, “This might be worth pursuing.” I had heard of Bend, a small real estate “boom town” in Oregon making a lot of top 10 lists.

to Bend from Southern California pretty much every other week during the winter of 2009. Then, I had to learn the events to program around if you wanted any chance of getting people to attend, like Ducks and Beaver football games and their annual Civil War clash, Summer Fest, WinterFest, Fall Fest, Munch & Music and whoever was playing at the amphitheater.

I’ve often said I must have been absent the day the professor of the “Executive Director Duties 101” class explained how to handle recessions and pandemics.

The Tower ED job seemed like a good opportunity to run my own shop and staff. Plus, our kids were going to be in transition — one from high school to college, the other from elementary to middle school. After two decades of successfully surviving L.A., my wife Michelle and I were up for a new adventure. It seemed like the time was right.

SW: Did you have a specific vision for what you wanted the Tower to be when you first started? Did that change over the years?

RS: I just wanted the theatre to be full, busy and not perceived as some holy retreat for rich retirees. It needed consistent programming and marketing to establish itself as a community gathering place, featuring popular, high-quality acts with proven track records of attracting lots of folks for one-night-only shows.

Once that started to happen, in about 2011, we started adding more local events, like The Bend Follies, and annual productions of major Broadway musicals starring local actors, dancers and musicians.

The other business piece that changed over the years was the number of outside promoters renting the Tower as a midweek stop for tours of artists we couldn’t otherwise afford. It started with a local promoter booking several shows for Brandi Carlile. Now we’ve become a regular playdate for a dozen national tour promoters, including the Knitting Factory and Emporium Presents, a Live Nation subsidiary.

SW: What have been some of the unique challenges in running the Tower? I assume there were many you couldn’t see coming.

RS: Well, first I had to get warm clothes! I was commuting

One challenge unique to performing arts theaters is getting people to attend more than one or two shows a year. The Tower Theatre Foundation, the nonprofit that has been responsible for the venue since 1997, has a mission to provide a wide variety of performing arts experiences at generally affordable prices. But that means people tend to pick and choose shows they already know or like. There’s not a huge crossover between fans of fly fishing films and Oregon Ballet Theatre. Yet both are legitimate mainstays of the lifestyle here. The challenge is you can’t survive just having the same 460 people coming to the Tower every time the doors are open. Our solution was to attract a total of 60,000 diverse and loyal patrons spread out over a year’s worth of events.

SW: What do you think makes the Tower such a unique venue to Bend?

RS: It’s a rare piece of living history. Folks seem to know, and spark to, that it’s run by a local group for the entire community. And visitors. Our goal is to make everyone feel welcome and treated with a friendly attitude. Making a memory at the Tower is a pretty personal and local experience. We know you don’t have to attend the Tower. We’re thankful you chose to be there!

SW: Was there something specific that made you think now was the perfect time to retire? Are you happy with where you’re leaving the Tower?

RS: I’m not the “retiring” type. I like projects and seeing signs of success. The Tower was at the height of its powers, I thought, beginning in 2020. Everything was clicking — donations, memberships, attendance, marketing. Then the pandemic hit, and I just couldn’t see leaving when everything was down and the future of public gatherings so uncertain. Fast forward to 2024. We now are in solid financial shape, with a reserve for emergencies. We’re starting a long-delayed planned giving program. The number of Tower members has quadrupled. The staff has tripled since 2009, essentially handling many of the duties I had to manage at the beginning. The organization is better positioned now than ever to grow its mission, programming and revenue. The opportunity for a new ED to take the Tower to new heights is pretty exciting.

SW: Where do you hope to see the Tower go in the future? What do you hope is the legacy of the space?

RS: I really want to drive by the theater or see a post about an upcoming event or new project the Tower is launching that I would never have imagined possible. I honestly look forward to being happily surprised and excited by the Tower’s next steps.

SUMMER OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES

ADVENTURE

Hike scenic trails, ascend rock faces, navigate rivers, explore hidden caves, and tackle mountain bike rides.

LEADERSHIP

Develop teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving skills with guidance from local experts and credentialed teachers.

IMPACT

Learn about real-world environmental and community challenges, and discover how you can be a force for positive change.

JUNE 23-27

Explorers: 6th Graders

JULY 7-11

Navigators: 7th/8th Graders

JULY 14-18

Changemakers: 9/10th Graders

Ray Solley when he first started at the Tower in 2009.

Ray Solley

SC SCREEN

Late-Stage Existentialism Bong Joon Ho takes slapstick to space in “Mickey 17”

By Jared Rasic

I’ve been saying this for a long time and feel no need to refute myself now or at any time in the near future:

South Koreans make the best movies in the world. Bear with me while I show my work. In the 1950s and ’60s, we had filmmaking innovators like Han Hyungmo and his melodramatic throwback “Madame Freedom,” followed by Yu Hyun-mok’s post-war neorealist downer “Aimless Bullet” and Kim Ki-young’s masterpiece “The Housemaid,” which brought South Korean cinema to the eyes of the world.

But it was in the early 2000s when American audiences (myself included) began to take notice of the truly remarkable filmmaking that was coming out of South Korea. Three absolute masters led the pack of those recent South Korean auteurs: Park Chan-wook took a hammer to genre cinema with 2003’s “Oldboy,” Kim Jee-woon perfected the ghost story with 2003’s “A Tale of Two Sisters,” and Bong Joon Ho crafted one of the finest serial killer films of all time with 2003’s “Memories of Murder.”

While all three have had varying levels of success in the States (Park’s 2016 flawless “The Handmaiden” and Kim’s 2010 neo-noir classic “I Saw the Devil,” just to name a couple), it’s Bong Joon Ho who seems to have really broken away from the pack with his pitchblack, modern classic “Parasite.”

Most of Bong’s films are madcap and scathing indictments of classicism, capitalism and human stupidity, but told through differing genres and wildly inventive technical approaches to storytelling. While “The Host” looks at a financially struggling but loving family as they must survive the attack of a giant monster, “Snowpiercer” divides the haves from the have-nots aboard a speeding train barreling through the remnants of a destroyed world. His newest English-language film, “Mickey 17,” takes his disgust of late-stage capitalism and combines it with a bone-weary look at how humanity treats itself, its planet and the animals that live on it, stirring it all together in a slapstick, scifi comedy that revels in its own ridiculousness.

“Mickey 17” tells the story of Mickey Barnes (played by the bottomlessly brilliant Robert Pattinson), a destitute young man drowning in debt and self-loathing on an Earth that is very quickly getting ready to give up the ghost. After getting in trouble with a cartoonishly dangerous loan shark, he applies to become an Expendable on a spaceship (led by a failed politician and his wife) headed four years out into the unknown to colonize a cold and remote planet known as Niflheim. As the only Expendable onboard, his job is simple: Do all the dangerous things that no one else can do because they equal certain death. He dies horribly, is cloned with all his memories intact, then does it all over again.

Just like Bong’s two other English-language features, “Okja” and “Snowpiercer,” there’s no room for subtlety in “Mickey 17.” Mark Ruffalo (as the politician leading the colonizers to Niflheim) is doing a fearlessly broad Trump impersonation, while Toni Collette (as Ruffalo’s casually cruel wife obsessed with sauces) channels the spirit of Marjorie Taylor Greene. All of the film’s big opinions on climate change, greed, class warfare and capitalism are lampshaded, underlined and as obvious as possible… and, at this stage in our social and political climate, that’s a feature and not a bug.

Don’t get me wrong, I love subtlety and subtext in movies, but there’s a reason why Bong’s English movies

jettison any and all moments of understatement: He thinks a majority of Western audiences won’t get what he’s trying to say and I can’t really fault him for that. The time for subtlety in art is paused. These days, if you leave any room for interpretation in what you’re saying, someone else will tell you what you meant and sell it as fact. So, instead of letting us decide what he’s trying to say, Bong is instead grabbing his audience by their faces and screaming, “Late-stage capitalism and the loss of basic human empathy will lead you to this!!”

As a follow-up to a modern classic like “Parasite,” there’s no way something as goofy and overstuffed as “Mickey 17” could be anything other than disappointing. Still, the film so enjoyably conjures silly existentialist dread while moonlighting as a sci-fi comedy that, even when losing focus in its second half (focusing on a thinly sketched romance featuring the luminously badass Naomi Ackie and having a solid 15 minutes that could be excised without losing any of its power), it’s a subversively intelligent and absurdist work from one of South Korea’s finest. It’s imperfect, but it might be what we need at this exact moment in time.

“Mickey 17”

Dir. Bong Joon Ho

Regal Old Mill, Sisters Movie House, McMenamins Old St. Francis School, Redmond Cinema, Madras Cinema 5

BONUS SOUTH KOREAN PRIMER:

If you want to dip your toes into the brilliance that is the cinema of South Korea, here are five great places to start:

“Mother” (2009) by Bong Joon Ho

“Burning” (2018) by Lee Chang-dong

“The Handmaiden” (2016) by Park Chan-wook

“The Wailing” (2016) by Na Hong-jin

“I Saw the Devil” (2010) by Kim Jee-woon

Naomi Ackie and Robert Pattinson charm in “Mickey 17.”

Warner Bros.

Photo Credit:

Reinhart

A Diversity of Desert Reptiles They’re

where you find them

By Scott Bowler

Oregon is home to more than two dozen species of lizards and snakes — many found in our high desert. These reptiles range from legless to four-legged with five toes. Most lay eggs, yet some give birth to live young. Some eat insects and small animals, but others love plants. Many can swim in water, and some can “swim” through sand. There’s an extraordinary variety among these species’ habitats, behaviors and characteristics.

While vastly different, one thing these creatures all have in common is that they are plentiful — and fun to spot when you are out experiencing desert wildlands. Desert reptiles may not always appear abundant to visitors, as they frequent specific habitats under limited conditions. But, if you head out east between spring and fall, and you know where to look, chances are you’ll see at least a few of these compelling species.

Reptile Habitats

Reptiles in Oregon’s high desert are quite widespread, though few are especially common. You may see lots at some times and places or none if conditions are not right. It takes commitment, and an understanding of their needs and behaviors, to find more than a few different species.

Most of Oregon’s native snake species, such as the rubber boa, western rattlesnake, garter snakes and racer, can be found in a variety of habitats.

However, many desert reptiles have quite specific habitat needs, which make the conditions in which you may find them far more specific. The pygmy short-horned lizard, western fence Lizard and gopher snake are desert reptiles found specifically in shrubsteppe habitats such as sagebrush deserts, juniper woodlands and open coniferous forests. The more particular needs of the long-nosed snake and the night snake, which are both nocturnal and feed on cold-blooded prey on cool nights, make them partial to arid desert habitats found in eastern Oregon.

It might be helpful to note that habitat specificity should not be mistaken for scarcity. The most common lizard in Oregon’s high desert is the western skink, found in moist places such as under rocks, desert scrub, juniper or in grasslands. Other species frequently found in eastern Oregon’s desert and semi-arid shrublands are the western whiptail, desert horned lizards and long-nosed leopard lizards, which all prefer flat, sandy areas. Additionally, the Mojave black-collard lizard is quite common, and specifically prefers to perch atop rock outcrops.

Reptile Behaviors

One reason reptiles are not always present has to do with temperature, as they are famously “cold-blooded” or exothermic. This does not necessarily mean that their blood is always cold, but it does mean that they are dependent on external factors to warm or cool themselves. Thus, they’re not likely to be active on very cold days, nor by the same token on really hot days. They need that just right “Goldilocks” temperature zone.

Most species will come out of hiding in the morning to find a place to bask in the sun and warm up. When it becomes too warm, most will then retreat to a shady, cooler spot to wait out the hottest part of the day. In practice, I’ve found most reptiles active from mid-morning hours into early afternoon. On hot summer days, many species retreat to shelter and come back out as temperatures moderate.

Several species practice communal denning over the winter, which allows them to share body heat, increasing survival odds. From our standpoint, this can provide for some trail excitement if you happen to be out walking on the day when, say, dozens of hungry rattlesnakes exit their nearby den and disperse across your route.

Side-blotched lizards are among the first to come out in the spring, even on quite cool days — perhaps because their smaller bodies need more frequent food than bigger reptiles capable of catching larger prey, such as collared lizards or gopher (bull) snakes. As for prey, smaller lizards mostly consume arthropods, although larger, faster and more aggressive ones like collared, alligator and leopard lizards consume anything they can catch, including other reptiles, small mammals or even birds. Snakes are excellent hunters, deploying a variety of strategies to capture their meal: waiting in ambush, climbing into shrubs, slithering down burrows, heat-tracking (like rattlesnakes), chasing down their prey (like whipsnakes) and even swimming. While garter snakes are our most aquatic species, I’ve even seen a rattlesnake swimming holding a small fish!

Habitat Protection

With such specific, limited habitats being critical to the lives of desert reptiles, it’s particularly important that the landscapes they prefer be supported and protected. Organizations like Oregon Natural Desert Association work to protect essential habitat, wildlife corridors and ecosystems that provide native species, including reptiles, the best chance of survival. With a robust community of advocates pursuing conservation, there are many ways to get involved in efforts that promote a healthy desert ecosystem. While illusive, desert reptiles are in fact widespread enough to be one of our most often encountered high desert denizens. Keep a look out this spring, as they’re particularly abundant and fun to watch while they conduct their seasonal antics.

—Scott Bowler is

a retired science educator and volunteer with Oregon Natural Desert Association

Striped whipsnake during summertime at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

Ground snakes (crossbanded and striped morphs) in spring in the Owyhee Canyonlands.

Spring lizard on the Oregon Desert Trail near Lake Abert.

Alan St. John

Alan St. John

Kari Ferber

18.  Fully locked

19.  Frosh’s home

20.  Come up with what to call the final Beatles record?

23.  “___ on?” (“Is that my cue?”)

24.  Irish dramatist who co-founded the Abbey Theatre

25.  Weak guy who delivers cold blocks

31.  Namely

32.  The guys

33.  In the past

36.  Pizzeria installation

37.  Belong

38.  Made sure the levels were right

39.  Detract from

40.  Beignet’s cousin

41.  Jeddah resident

42.  Angel’s motto?

44.  Wiliness

46.  “Color me impressed!”

47.  Hardliners about stamps?

53.  ___ 51

54.  Co-star of the “Morning Latte” skits

55.  Place where people get stacks

57.  Lab assistant, stereotypically

58.  Hudson of the original “Ghostbusters”

59.  Bring to the ground

60.  Lorgnette part

61.  Checks out chicks?

62.  Ragout or ratatouille, e.g.

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of March 10, 2025

Difficulty Level:

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters S P R E A D H O W exactly once.

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece ” - Robert Benchley

Answer for the week of March 3, 2025

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

DOWN

1.  Goose Island selection

2.  An arm or a leg

3.  French bean

4.  “Gimme two secs”

5.  Having no motion

6.  London’s ___ Mall

7.  Competent

8.  Nursery supply

9.  Angel investors

10.  Take out choice

11.  Adam of “Severance”

12.  Stinging comments

13.  Reputation

21.  Tag line?

22.  Afternoon beverages

25.  Bit of physics

26.  Fish with a bagel

27.  Fancy jug

28.  She played Elphaba alongside Kristin’s Glinda

29.  Hysterical comedian

30.  Teddy Roosevelt’s wife

33.  Alternative to robin’s egg blue

34.  Diplomas for dropouts

35.  Comic strip character who’s only sentence ever said was “I’m hungry”

37.  Precedes

38.  They grow out of a canal

40.  ___ Soul

41.  Photographed

42.  Stringed instruments played sitting down

43.  Bouquet flowers

44.  Canyon

45.  Apply to

47.  Condiment/napkin/menu holder at some seaside eateries

48.  French 101 word

49.  They grew up with cable TV

50.  HOMES lake

51.  First-rate to aging b-boys

52.  Seep

56.  Spot for the devout

P E Y H D O M A N

“Just a reminder for your weekend: Monday will be happening an hour earlier.” —Unknown

“Just a reminder for your weekend: Monday will be happening an hour earlier.” - Unknown

© Pearl Stark www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

BURT GERSHATER- COUNSELOR

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’m not exactly sure where you are going, Pisces, but I’m certain you are headed in the right direction. Your instincts for self-love are at a peak. Your ability to see your best possible future is lucid and strong. Your commitment to gracefully serving all that gracefully serves you is passionate and rigorous. I will congratulate you in advance for locating the exact, robust resources you need, not mediocre resources that are only half-interesting.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): What can you do to show how much you care about everyone and everything that deserves your love? Now is a fantastic time to unleash a flood of gratitude and appreciation that takes very practical forms. Don’t just beam warm and fuzzy feelings toward your favorite people and animals, in other words. Offer tangible blessings that will actually enhance their lives. Find your own personally meaningful ways to nourish all that nourishes you.

our touchstone, I remind you that maintaining high standards is always crucial for your long-term success. Others may be tempted to cut corners, but your natural integrity is one of your superpowers. Please redouble your commitment to providing highest value, Virgo. And ask for it from others, too.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Blogger Yukiko Kisaki writes about the Japanese concept of ma. She says it’s “the emptiness full of possibilities, like a promise yet to be fulfilled. It’s the purposeful pauses in a speech that make words stand out; the quiet time we all need to make our busy lives meaningful; the silence between the notes that make the music.” According to my analysis, Libra, you will be wise to make ma a central theme in the coming weeks. I invite you to research the power of pauses. Rather than filling up every gap, allow space for pregnant blankness. Trust that in being open to vacancy, you will make room for unexpected riches.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ancient Egyptians loved the color blue. The mineral azurite and the semiprecious stones turquoise and lapis lazuli satisfied their fascination to some degree, but were rare and difficult to work with. So the Egyptians decided to fabricate their own pigment. After extensive experimentation, using copper, silica, and lime, they succeeded. The hue they made is known as Egyptian blue. I heartily endorse a comparable process for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Identify the experience, substance, or feeling you really, really want more of, and then resolve to get as much of it as you really, really want.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dandelions germinate quickly and grow fast. Because of their deep taproots, they are hardy. Once they establish their presence in a place, they persist. Dandelions are adaptable, too, able to grow anywhere their seeds land, even from cracks in concrete. Their efficient dispersal is legendary. They produce large quantities of lightweight seeds that are easily carried by the wind. Bees love dandelions in the spring when there are few other flowers yet to provide them with nectar. I propose we make the dandelion your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Gemini. Be like them! (PS: They are also beautiful in an unostentatious way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The literal meaning of the Japanese word yohen is “kiln mutation.” It refers to a type of glaze that undergoes unpredictable variations in color when baked in a kiln. The finished pottery that emerges displays patterns and hues that are blends of the artist’s intention and accidental effects created by the heat. I would love to see you carry out metaphorical versions of yohen in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Suggested meditations: 1. Collaborate to create beauty with energies that aren’t entirely manageable. 2. Undertake projects that require both careful preparation and a willingness to adapt to shifting conditions. 3. Engage with opportunities that will have the best outcomes if you relinquish some control.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A big party is underway in your astrological House of Self-Understanding and Self-Definition. The near future will be a favorable time to discover yourself in greater depth and bring your identity into clearer focus. I see this mostly as a task for you to carry out in intimate conversation with yourself. It’s also fine to solicit the feedback of allies who have insight into your nature, but I urge you to rely heavily on your private investigations. How can you deepen your knowledge of the reasons you are here on earth? Can you learn more about your dormant potentials? Who are you, exactly?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): About 36,000 years ago, humans created remarkable drawings and paintings in the Cave of Altamira, located in what we now call Spain. When an early discoverer of the art published his findings in 1880, he was met with derision. Experts accused him of forgery, saying such beautiful and technically proficient works could not have been made by ancient people, who just weren’t that smart. Eventually, though, the art was proved to be genuine. I propose we meditate on this as a metaphor for your life. It’s possible that your abilities may be underestimated, even by you. Hidden potentials and unexpressed capacities may be close to ripening, but they will need your full confidence and boldness. Don't let skepticism, either from your inner critic or others, hold you back.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager probes to study our solar system’s outer planets. Their original mission was designed to last a few years. But in 2025, they still continue to send back useful information from the great beyond, far past Uranus and Neptune, and into interstellar space. I suspect that now is also a good time for you Leos to seek valuable information from adventures you began years ago. Even if those past experiences have not yielded relevant revelations recently, they may soon do so. Be alert for ways to harvest new riches from old memories.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): About 3,775 years ago, a Babylonian man named Nanni wrote a crabby letter to Ea-nasir, a merchant who had sold him substandard copper ingots. Nanni was also upset that his servant was treated rudely. It is the oldest customer complaint in history. With this as

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.19): Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila was selected by his country to compete in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But the honor was offered shortly before the games began, and he had to scramble to get there in time. When he arrived for the main event, he couldn't find any running shoes in local stores that fit comfortably. So he decided to go barefoot for the 26.2-mile race. Success! He won, setting a new world-record time. I propose we make him your role model, Capricorn. May he inspire you to respond to an apparent scarcity or deficiency by calling on earthy alternatives. May you adjust to a problem by deepening your reliance on your natural self.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): After being part of two journeys to Antarctica, Aquarian explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) assembled a team to try what no one had ever done: crossing the entire continent on foot with pack dogs and motorized sledges. But the proposed 1,800mile expedition failed soon after it began. That’s when Shackleton did what he is most famous for. His leadership during the harrowing struggle to survive became legendary. I don’t think you will face anything remotely resembling his challenges in the coming weeks. But I suspect that your response to tests and trials will define your success. As you encounter obstacles, you will treat them as opportunities to showcase your resourcefulness and adaptability. You will inspire others to summon resiliency, and you will bring out their best as together you engage in creative problem-solving. Trials will become triumphs.

Homework: Can you treat yourself even better than you already do? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

UNDERSTANDING INTIMACY

A COLUMN THAT FOSTERS DEEPER LOVE BETWEEN COUPLES

By Dr. Jane Guyn

DON’T TOUCH ME!

Is she “withholding sex” or just taking good care of herself?

Dear Dr. Jane,

I love my boyfriend but we have problems in the bedroom. We met in college and have lived together since graduation in 2020. We love each other and get along great. The problem is that when we fight, I don’t feel like having sex. Every time this happens, he accuses me of “withholding sex” to manipulate him. He says I’m only doing it to get my way and control him.

During our fights, he says stuff that hurts my feelings. He says he needs sex to feel loved because his love language is physical touch. I know that mine is words of affirmation so we’re kind of off on that. Sometimes, I give in and just have sex with him because I don’t want him to have an attitude even though it feels terrible and I’m not into it at all. When this happens, he accuses me of shutting down to make the sex bad. I usually end up crying in the bathroom, which I hate. I don’t want to be manipulative but I really don’t like sex when I’m not into it. What should I do?

From,

Don’t Touch Me When We’re Fighting

Dear Don’t Touch Me,

First of all, let me say that I completely understand how you’re feeling. And, I completely support you in not having sex when you’re not into it. But, the problem you’re describing is also important to discuss. This type of conversation comes up in many relationships. One person desires sex when there’s conflict because it helps them feel closer during the repair period. The other partner wants to allow the conflict to settle and resolve it using other tools and hates the idea of sex when they don’t feel connected. You’re not alone. Here’s what I suggest:

Tip #1: Don’t have sex when you’re not into it. If you’re not feeling open to having sex, don’t do it. I say that with the caveat that if this is happening all the time or even very frequently, it’s indicative of a potential problem in your relationship. Many people don’t prioritize intimacy in their lives and relationships. You may be someone who’s not very sexual (or even asexual) and that’s OK. But, if your sexual openness to your partner is mismatched, address it. During times of conflict, it makes sense that you’re not turned on. But how about the rest of the time? Are you often feeling turned off sexually? Challenging question: Could you be creating conflict to get out of having sex with your partner?

Tip #2: Try to get into it sooner rather than later.

Letting a conflict fester isn’t good for either of you. It’s definitely not good

for your connection as partners. If you ask your grandparents, they would tell you that you shouldn’t go to bed mad. I’m not sure that’s essential but I get their reasoning. I think it’s OK to “go to bed mad” as long as you return to the conflict fairly soon when you wake up, or during the next day. It’s understandable that you’re going to be angry and upset some of the time — you’re human! But do what you can to start having sex as soon as you feel open to it. It’s OK to start out slow. Do some easy kissing, spoon together, maybe exchange massages. There’s no rush, but make it a priority to reconnect.

Tip #3: Get help if you can’t resolve the conflict at hand. Having conflict with your partner is a part of life. What do you argue about? Are you fighting about who spends money and why? Who does the chores or other house things? Drinking? Smoking? Hanging out with friends? Sex? It’s common to have communication problems about these types of things. Maybe it’s time to get help from a skilled relationship therapist or coach. It’s more than worth it to invest the time, energy and money on your relationship. The less conflict you have, the more open you’re going to feel in the bedroom. It’s a win-win for both of you.

You got this! Xoxo

—Dr. Jane Guyn (she/her) is a well-known relationship coach who received her Ph.D. in Human Sexuality and is trained as a Professional Sex Coach and Core Energy Coach. She works to help women and their partners release shame and increase confidence in themselves. Her work is in the area of intimacy and sex, as well as fears and/or abuse issues related to sex, plus a variety of other issues that may arise from any relationship. She’s the author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller, “Too Busy to Get Busy,” and has been passionately married to her best friend for over 30 years. You can find her at howtofixmysexlife.com.

Send her your questions at thesource@drjaneguyn.com.

Dr. Jane

By Lisa McCarthy, Broker RE/MAX Key Properties

Why Now May Be a Great Time to Negotiate Your Next Home Purchase And get a deal!

If you’re looking to buy a new home in the coming months or later this year, you may be “waiting it out” due to unattractive interest rates and other economic factors that have made life more expensive. However, you may want to rethink the waiting game. Here’s why: Many buyers are playing the waiting game, leaving sellers with fewer offers and more days on market. This means that sellers are more open to negotiations, giving buyers more leverage than they had one year ago. This could mean great news for your home search and purchase.

Here are some ways buyers are leveraging today’s market:

Price Adjustments: When the market slows and sellers don’t receive the offers they were expecting — whether that’s because of an incorrectly priced home or other market conditions — often sellers need to align with the market and reduce their price. Sometimes this happens a few (or several) times during the life of a listing. As a buyer, noticing price adjustments can be a great way to recognize an opportunity for negotiation.

Days on Market: As a home sits on the market, the “days on market” increase and buyers begin to wonder why. Is something wrong with the property? Why haven’t they received an offer? This in turn makes sellers anxious, and more open to price reductions and concessions.

Seller Concessions: Sometimes, a home seller agrees to cover certain

costs for the buyer to help secure the sale. Concessions can make it easier to afford the home by reducing the buyer’s out-of-pocket expenses. The most common concession is closing costs. During the height of the market when competition was so high, concessions all but disappeared. They are back, and a great way to negotiate a good deal you can afford. Prepaid expenses are a great way to take advantage of seller concessions. Depending on the property and interest, you may think about requesting concessions like property taxes, homeowners insurance or HOA fees for a set period.

Mortgage Rate Reality: Rates are higher than they have been in many years. This is a reality of borrowing today. With more of a buyer’s market in play, buyers can use the rate as a negotiation tool for price reductions or seller-paid rate buydowns.

New Construction Incentives: There are some new construction developments in the works in Bend. In today’s market, it’s wise to see what kind of discounts, upgrades and rate incentives builders may be offering in order to move their inventory as they build.

Bottom Line: The message that “now is not a good time to buy because of high interest rates” may not be the best advice to follow. During times of low demand, deals can be found. And with some creativity and strategy, it’s possible to negotiate for a home that you can afford.