the Source November 20, 2025

As the Battles Over Public Funds Commence, We Need an Equitable Process

With the end of the federal government shutdown, the roughly 757,000 people in Oregon who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits could breathe a sigh of relief. Food would be on the table as winter sets in. There might even be enough to give thanks at Thanksgiving.

But that relief is temporary. The federal government is opening back up because the bill that caused so much disagreement has now passed both chambers of Congress — and with its passage, millions of Americans are going to permanently lose their food benefits. Refugees and documented immigrants are going to lose benefits completely. Others are going to be subject to tighter work requirements. And this week, the Secretary of Agriculture announced that she’s considering making everyone reapply for the program — even though people in most states already do that once, if not twice, a year.

Soon, we expect to see serious fighting commence — the battles over which of our local nonprofits should be funded with government dollars. Fights over whether we continue to fund facilities for the homeless while children go hungry. Arguments over which services are essential; which ones are life-saving. It’s not going to be pretty.

When those cuts begin, the least we should hope for is a process that makes the doling-out of public dollars as equitable as possible. Case in point: Last month, the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners voted to issue some $75,000 to two nonprofits that are instrumental in supplying food to the needy in Central Oregon. Commissioners issued some $37,500 to both NeighborImpact and The Giving Plate, with the idea that the funds would help to offset the looming loss of SNAP funds. That was a beneficial use of public dollars during a fraught time, but as Commissioner Phil Chang pointed out during the vote, it was ad hoc. Should they do something like that again, it should come with a process. The public deserves to know the criteria around which local governments are selecting who to support. Is it the number of people served, or the efficiency of their process? Perhaps lowest overhead costs compared to services rendered?

As those discussions unfold, the public should let commissioners know what they believe are the highest priorities. Food? Health care? Housing? This is going to be a time that truly tests the values of our community as the federal government serves up this Lord of the Flies process.

But that’s not the end of the headache that is headed Oregon’s way. That same bill is going to make health insurance prohibitively expensive for a vast number of people. And on top of that, one of the programs that distributes funds to help people heat their homes in winter has yet to dole out the money this season — even though that money has already been appropriated by Congress. Senators, including Oregon’s Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. this week, asking him to release the “highest amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available” under the current Continuing Resolution, which is keeping the government funded.

Nonprofits and other support services can only fill so much of the gap. State and local governments are currently grappling with what they can and can’t offer in terms of financial support.

It’s hard to fathom that all of those things could be in peril all at once. It’s even harder to fathom that this is what voters want — all while the U.S. continues to add to its national debt. But this is the harsh reality. While we’re in it, we all need to get clear on what we’re willing to fund, and how.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?

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

NATURAL GAS CAUSES HEALTH HAZARDS

Natural gas releases carbon emissions, causes health hazards within homes and wreaks intense environmental destruction through fracking.

Geoff Reynolds’ letter to the Source claimed that in 2023, households using electricity contributed 63% of residential carbon emissions while only 29% came from gas. The link he cited, at the U.S. Energy Information Administration website, returned a File Not Found. I was unable to find his statistics using Google and Ecosia.

A few issues here. Even if Reynolds’ stats are correct, they reflect emissions from the whole U.S., not Oregon; much of our electricity is generated using relatively clean, renewable sources such as wind, solar and hydropower. (Yes, these do have other effects on the environment and habitat.)

According to the EIA, renewables produce about 62% of the state’s total electricity net generation. Compare that to the U.S. in general: about 21% renewable. Big difference!

Researchers at Stanford note that natural gas stoves release environmental pollutants indoors and outdoors, through leaks and incomplete combustion. “Methane leaking from stoves inside U.S. homes has the same climate impact as about 500,000 gasoline-powered cars and the stoves can expose people to respiratory disease-triggering pollutants.”

Health effects in the home are further documented by the American Lung Association and other sources. From Harvard: “...gas appliances like stoves and ovens can be a source of hazardous chemicals in our homes even when we’re not using them.”

—T. Lee Brown

ASK MEANINGFUL QUESTIONS ABOUT GREEN ENERGY POLICIES

Local groups such as 350 Deschutes (nonprofit promoting climate action) have the ear of Bend’s City council and are actively promoting such actions as “electrification.” Basically, this represents the position that all fossil fuels (i.e. CO2) need to be eliminated. Most people would agree, but the world has seen the realities and moved on. Coal usage in the world has significantly increased. China is building new coal plants every week. Mexico is using more coal to gasify for power production. Even Germany is using more coal. All now agree that natural gas is a sustainable resource to back up power systems when the solar and wind power is not sufficient. States such as West Virginia are developing massive infrastructure for natural gas distribution.

The Bend City Council seems to be going the other way to “save the planet.” Bend, for example, has established a fee (tax) for an energy audit before you can sell your home, although the data is readily available. Now they want to impose a fee (tax) for any new natural gas connections. All these actions will do nothing to fight climate change, but come at a cost. They will affect the future by exasperating power shortages and driving up the costs. The less affluent of us will bear the burden of higher costs (see California) and may not have natural gas availability when the electricity is off. California and Texas have shown us what happens when blackouts and rationing occur.

I am asking that our young people get more involved and ask meaningful questions about Green Energy policies, especially Bend’s City Council. You must follow this skeptically and closely, as technology and experience are evolving quickly. To get started, GOOGLE “what’s the hottest Earth’s ever been?” by Michon Scott and Rebecca Lindsey of the Smithsonian (or use earth’s average temperatures for the last 500 million years). The last ice age was about the coldest period in the last 500 million years. It is only going to get warmer. Mantras like “carbon free” or “carbon neutral” are meaningless when it is known now that elimination of all CO2 generated with the USA will NOT have any meaningful effect on climate change (from John Kerry, CATO Institute, and many others). The best use of our resources is to enhance the health of the Earth by securing reliable water sources, fighting pollution, saving our oceans, reducing deforestation and, in general, adapting to a warmer climate.

—Quentin Jauquet Stanko

WHY AESTHETICS MATTER

Thank you for continuing this conversation. I don’t blame the city for having to adjust their budget for the Midtown Crossings because of tariffs, uncertain labor markets and ODOT’s requirements to not impact Highway 97’s traffic flow. These are unfortunate hurdles and the reality of construction projects. But to ask the City to go back to the drawing board is the opposite of fiscal responsibility or efficiency. It’s asking them to repeat work they’ve already done. In 2022, the City of Bend explored a plethora of different bridge designs. You can still see the results of their feasibility study on their project website. They hosted multiple public open houses where they presented early iterations, some of which included stairs (but that’s not ADA, bike, or stroller friendly), elevators (but those

have mechanical maintenance costs and enclosed spaces are generally hard to keep safe and clean). They shared concepts with spiral ramps and switchbacks. In the end, the City listened to the community members who attended these meetings and came back with a straight bridge design that City Council agrees prioritizes safety, accessibility, functionality and aesthetics. Why do aesthetics matter? Because designing a welcoming and attractive bridge does more than just transport bikers and pedestrians from east to west. It will attract visitors to Bend’s Central District and connect downtown shoppers to the BCD’s up-and-coming Art District. It will reduce traffic for commuters and visitors alike because suddenly walking and riding to downtown will be easier and more appealing than driving. Most of all, investing in the beautification of public spaces boosts the economy. Art and enjoyment should not be confined to galleries and ticketed events. Art and beauty should be built into our everyday environment. Every building, sidewalk, park, parklet, bench and crosswalk is an opportunity to instill joy. And isn’t that exactly what we need right now?

—Meghan Teeter

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Considering the way we seem to be at odds with each other in the country at the present time, it was a pleasant surprise to see the reactions of local Bend folks when my wife of many, many years

fainted at the “No Kings” rally. We had just crossed NW Riverside Boulevard when she fainted and fell backwards on the sidewalk. Before I could even react, a car stopped and the occupants came running over to help, pedestrians asked if they could help and a wonderful citizen called 911 all while I was trying to help my wife. It was amazing how quickly the EMTs arrived, immediately accessed the situation and took over with kindness and professional expertise. A quick trip to St. Charles ER where there were more good people to aid, diagnose and assist my wife back to a full recovery. I somehow missed getting the names of the kind people that stopped to help, missed the names of the EMTs and the ER staff, so I hope that you get a chance to read this in the Bend Source. Thank you, thank you and thank you again. The residents of Bend are truly wonderful and caring examples of how we can all get along regardless of our differences. With Gratitude,

—Tom Moses

Letter of the Week:

Tom, we’re happy to hear your wife is OK and agree, the people are the best part of Central Oregon. As letter of the week, you can stop by the Source on NW Georgia and Bond for a gift card to Palate coffee.

—Managing Editor, Nic Moye

Support Staff at COCC Fights for Higher Pay

COCC classified workers say they won’t wait any longer for a raise

By Kayvon Bumpus

Get up! Get down! Bend, Oregon, is a union town!”

A group of college employees gathered outside Central Oregon Community College’s Boyle Education Center on Nov. 12 cheering and hoisting signs that read, among other slogans, “No More Poverty Pay!” and “Pay a Living Wage Now!”

Their chants, slightly stilted at first, gained momentum and volume as dusk fell and the campus grounds darkened. “Union power! Fighting for justice and education!” came the crowd’s collective cry.

“We’ve been negotiating since February,” said Scott Dove, an academic technology specialist at COCC. “We are trying to get a living wage for all of our classified employees here.”

Until recently, the college’s 121 classified staff members (non-faculty employees like custodians, IT support, and administrative assistants) were represented by their own independent, in-house union, the Classified Association of COCC.

But, as COCC data specialist Liz Patterson told the Source, “The last couple contracts, we have not had the strength in numbers or finances to be able to really push the college to pay us a living wage.”

This spurred a unanimous vote by the union to join the Oregon Education Association, which advocates for more than 40,000 public educators statewide. “[CA-COCC] will still be our own little unit, but OEA will be there at the table to fight for us,” Patterson said.

“Our lowest paid workers make $18 and change an hour,” Dove explained. “We would like to increase that to the living wage, as proposed by M.I.T., which is $25 and change an hour, and we would like to increase everyone else’s salary proportionally to that.” This roughly translates to a 43% increase and about $16,000 in additional pay.

A pamphlet distributed by CA-COCC demands a “small increase in priority for classified staff” to prevent them from being “left behind.” The union statement goes on to say, “There’s $5 million missing from management’s latest proposal. And that’s just to maintain current [fiscal year 2025] spending levels. Staff deserve better. Settle a fair contract!”

CA-COCC claims that the college’s most recent offer costs, “just $1.3 million of the $43.3 million” in new revenue projected over the next four years. This revenue estimate is cited as coming from COCC Vice President of Finances and Operations Michael LaLonde, who was

unavailable for comment.

Back in June, the VP provided more figures at a COCC Investment Committee Meeting. Although “cash levels have remained over $25 million going back to 2018, reaching a high of $45 million in 2025,” LaLonde is predicting that the college wallet will start drying up next year, “due to construction projects in Madras and Redmond, as well as deferred maintenance needs. This spending will bring cash balances down to $35 million by 2031,” the Committee Meeting packet reads. Also mentioned as “factors that could impact the cash balance” were Trump’s tariffs, rising interest rates, and, to come full circle, “the current and future union negotiations.”

In data specialist Patterson’s opinion, money should be going to the workers who keep COCC operational on a daily basis, not ambitious expansions and renovations outside of Bend. “They’ve got a lot of money in their pockets,” she said. “They just need to spend it on us.”

Tech specialist Dove asked Deschutes County residents to pay attention and empathize with the union’s struggle. “What I want them to know is that many classified staff cannot afford to live in Central Oregon right now. We have people living out of cars… The college can afford to do better.”

Patterson echoed Dove’s comments. “1 in 4 of us are receiving food assistance… We’re the support staff — the students see us. We’re cleaning the bathrooms, helping [students] register for classes, advising them, we’re helping them get food assistance,” she said tensely. “We are the face of the college and if we’re hungry too, that’s not a good look.”

“Central Oregon Community College deeply values the contributions of all our classified staff,” COCC President Greg Pereira wrote in a statement provided to the Source. “These employees are essential to our students’ success and to the daily operations of the College... COCC remains committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement that balances our responsibility to employees with our obligation to maintain the College’s long-term financial stability and serve students across Central Oregon. We appreciate the dedication of our classified staff and the vital role they play in supporting our mission.”

The next negotiations will take place in a meeting on Nov. 19, from 3-6pm in COCC’s Boyle Education Center boardroom.

Flex Plaza Proposed for Small Events

New plan for the Mirror Pond parking lot includes permanent public restrooms for downtown Bend

By Nic Moye

The Bend City Council is working on a plan to revamp the North Mirror Pond parking lot downtown, between The Commons and Watershed Coffee, into a flex space that can double as an event venue.

“It’s got non-standard parking spaces in it right now. It needs to be redone. So this was actually an opportunity to use some of these tourism dollars to get a win-win, by upgrading the parking lot the way we need to but also creating a flexible space that we can use for things like the farmers market that we love,” Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler told the Source.

City staff met with downtown business and property owners who, they say, support the idea of a flex space to avoid closing Brooks Alley or downtown streets during smaller festivals. The plan would include a stage, permanent public restrooms, a covered trash receptacle with a compactor and a new surface that would deflect heat and provide better traction for pedestrians during icy winter weather.

It would be paid, in part, from transient room tax set aside in 2017 during a legal challenge, which was resolved in 2022. At that time, the account had $2.3 million. The flex plaza would cost about $4.2 million, with $2 million from the TRT fund and the rest from parking revenue.

Supporters say the space would fill a need for smaller events with up to 2,000 people that could be used year-round. City staff told councilors during a presentation on Oct. 22 that other small venues in Bend have grass and cannot be used yearround.

“I went down to Dia de los Muertos on Friday, and it had closed off the block on Minnesota, kind of near the Oxford, and it was not enough space,” Kebler says. “There were so many people. It was a great event, but people crowded all over on the sidewalks and everything. And, I was like, wow, this would be great to have in that flex space, because it would have a better stage and it would have a better ability to kind of hold the amount of people that wanted to attend that event. So it can be events that exist now and we might see more events if we have that space available for things like that.”

Kebler says no contracts have been awarded yet. Details still need to be worked out, such as the size of the restrooms and who will maintain them.

When the plaza is not being used for an event, it would continue to serve as a parking lot. The remodel would cause approximately eight parking spaces to be permanently lost, but Kebler says that would have happened anyway when bringing the current stalls up to code. The North Mirror Pond lot has about 80 spaces which would not be available when the space is used for an event. The City’s Parking Manager Tobias Marx says the average street festival held downtown blocks about 150 street parking spaces.

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RRN REDMOND NEWS

Habitat for Humanity is Reopening a ReStore in Redmond

The nonprofit’s second Central Oregon location returns after 5 years

By Kayvon Bumpus

edmond shoppers will soon be able to feel warm and fuzzy about saving money on “new and gently used furniture, appliances, home décor, building materials, and more.”

That’s because making a purchase at the new Redmond ReStore will “directly support Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity’s mission to build homes, communities, and hope across Central Oregon,” a press release issued by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit reads.

“When people shop, donate, or volunteer at the ReStore, they’re helping to build a better Central Oregon, one home at a time,” said Carly Cogan, CEO of Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity.

The nonprofit’s Bend and Redmond affiliates operated separately for years until merging in April of 2019. The following year, Redmond’s ReStore closed “due to an unsustainable lease and location.”

“Rent doubled about the same time that COVID was shutting down everything in 2020,” Bend-Redmond HfH VP of Resource Development Scott Nordquist told the Source.

That closure was such a “difficult decision,” he said, that the nonprofit “told the community we would bring it back, and did a capital campaign partly dedicated towards bringing ReStore back to the Redmond community.”

This time around, Bend-Redmond HfH will be itsown landlord. “We at Habitat believe in home ownership - owning as opposed to leasing was a much preferable option,” Nordquist said.

Nationwide, Habitat for Humanity has a history of promoting environmentalism and sustainability, which got the nonprofit in trouble (accused by the FBI of “possible criminal violations”) with the Trump administration earlier this year. “One ReStore in Bend keeps

over 2.6 million pounds of material out of the landfill. The Redmond ReStore will add to that number,” Nordquist stated with pride.

“Importantly, whether people are donating or shopping at the ReStore, they’re supporting affordable home ownership right here in Oregon,” he continued. “There’s great deals, donations are tax deductible and you can feel good about giving things a second life.”

The new location, an 8,036-square-foot warehouse located at 2744 NW 7th St. in northwest Redmond, will open on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 10 am. Nordquist expects that all kinds of customers, from “upcyclers to drifters, bargain hunters to antique hunters,” will be there for the store’s grand (Re)opening.

Habitat for Humanity Redmond ReStore

Store Hours: Tue — Sat 9am — 5pm

Donation Hours: Tue — Sat 9am — 5pm (hours can change due to weather conditions) 2744 NW 7th St., Redmond, OR https://bendredmondhabitat.org/

WEDNESDAY

11/19 – 11/25

COMMON COOKING PROBLEMS & HOW TO OVERCOME THEM

HOSTED BY THE LIBRARY AND AROME

Are you a beginner cook or frustrated by recurring problems in the kitchen? This class will go over basics of cooking meat and vegetables, how to avoid food sticking to your pan and lots more in between. Wed., Nov. 19, 6pm at Arome. 432 SW 6th St., Redmond. Free; registration required.

THURSDAY 11/20

REDMOND RESTORE GRAND OPENING

HABITAT IS HERE!

Celebrate the opening of Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore with a raffle and giveaways, plus special one-day deals. The store is full of one-of-a-kind furniture, appliances and home décor. Thu., Nov. 20, 10am-5pm. Free.

SATURDAY-TUESDAY 11/22-11/25

HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT SCHILLING’S FARM STAND

HOLIDAY CHEER AT THE GARDEN MARKET Shop festive gifts and décor and enjoy a kids’ crafting area, cozy fires, hot cocoa and $5 wine pours during Happy Hour. Sat., Nov. 22-Tue., Nov. 25 and Mon., Dec. 1-Fri., Dec. 5 at Schilling’s Garden Market. 640640 Old Bend- Redmond Hwy., Bend. Free.

Small Businesses Rely on Holiday Sales

Shop Small Saturday can make a big splash for local retailers

Oregon’s small businesses are the backbone of the state and local economy. According to a report from the City of Bend, in 2024 the retail sector generated approximately $928 million in gross domestic product, which was 8% of the total economy. The report also found that consumer spending at brickand-mortar stores in Bend has been slowly declining, down 8% in 2024 from July 2023 and down 66% from July 2022.

According to the Oregon Employment Department, Deschutes County has 6,605 small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. That’s compared to 559 medium and 78 large firms.

“While the vast majority of Deschutes County firms are small, firms with 1-19 employees account for a little above a third of jobs (37%) and wages (35%),” Economist Brannigan Vogt with the Oregon Employment Department told the Source.

"Small businesses are really important to our local economy and Shop Small Saturday is a great opportunity to really help out our local businesses."

—Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler

The rest of the state follows a similar trend. “When looking at employer firms, those with at least one W-2 employee, we find that most Oregon businesses have less than 10 employees,” says Vogt.

Economist Damon Runberg with Business Oregon says 78% of Oregon businesses have fewer than 10 employees. “Eighty-nine percent of Oregon’s employer firms have less than 20 employees. And, firms with fewer than 20 employees account for 25% of all jobs in Oregon.”

Nov. 29 is Shop Small Saturday, traditionally held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was created by American Express in 2010 to drive consumer spending at small businesses and has grown into an annual tradition backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Supporting locally owned businesses does more than boost the economy; small businesses help create unique communities and often provide more personal customer service.

“Small businesses are really important to our local economy and Shop Small Saturday is a great opportunity to really help out our local businesses,” says Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. “We are seeing pressures on small businesses,

By Nic Moye

"We find that most Oregon businesses have less than 10 employees."

— Economist Brannigan Vogt

everything from tariffs to the economy — trouble having workers be able to afford to be housed here, which we hear from employers a lot.”

Despite the challenges, the City provided statistics that said small businesses had only about a 4% closure rate in 2022 and 2023. That’s in line with the state average.

Jen Riker with Shop Brave, a boutique on SW Century Drive in Bend, says her experience is that shoppers on Black Friday tend to focus on big box stores, which is why Shop Small Saturday is more important. Shop Brave has three Oregon locations with 20 to 30 employees, depending on the season.

“We really appreciate our customers shopping at Brave on Shop Small Saturday. We have give-aways with purchase to make it fun,” Riker told the Source. “Brave’s mission has always been to be a Bend boutique for locals!”

Rob McDonald from Stand on Liquid, which has five employees, says, “We do tend to get a spike on Small Business Saturday. It’s not as big as Black Friday or even Cyber Monday, but it’s noticeable.”

The City is considering a program that would provide grants to small businesses.

“I went on a great tour of Metolius Tea the other week,” Kebler told the Source. “They are a locally owned, locally formed small business, women owned. And they were telling us about some grants they got from Business Oregon [for] a key piece of equipment that helps them be more efficient, a key piece that helps them expand their business. And it can be a thing that helps them make Chai, or it can be something that helps them label boxes, the things that are just important to their business… Even a small grant, for those things, allows them to employ more people, allows them to expand.”

"We do tend to get a spike on Small Business Saturday."

— Rob

McDonald from Stand on Liquid

Kebler says Bend’s new Economic Development Officer Katy Brooks is expected to present proposals for a grant program to the City Council in the coming months. Brooks talks about the idea during the latest “Bend Don’t Break” podcast found on bendsource.com.

While the state doesn’t track specific sales data, Vogt says employment in retail trade peaks in July/August and again in November/December, making Shop Small Saturday important to a small business’ bottom line.

Holiday Markets and Craft Fairs

A roundup of places to find unique, handcrafted items, locally-made art, specialty foods and festive cheer.

Metal Arts Guild Holiday Art Show

Fri., Nov. 21-Sat., Nov. 22, 10am-6pm

Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave. comag.us

Holiday Food & Gift Festival

Fri., Nov. 21-Sat., Nov. 22, 10am-6pm and Sun., Nov. 23, 10am-4pm Deschutes County Fair & Expo 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond Ticket purchase required.

Red Door Bake Sale & Bazaar

Sat., Nov. 22, 9am-1pm Brooks Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church 469 Wall St.

Kids’ Entrepreneur Market

Sat., Nov. 22, 1-4pm Downtown Bend Library 601 NW Wall St. www.kidsentrepreneurmarket.com

Masonic Lodge Crafts Show

Sat., Nov. 22 and Sun., Nov. 23, 10am-4pm Redmond Masonic Lodge 627 SW 7th St., Redmond

Sip and Shop Makers Market

Fri., Nov. 28, 10am-2pm Portello Wine and Spirits 2754 NW Crossing Dr. www.portellobend.com

Lions Club Holiday Faire

Fri., Nov. 28-Sat., Dec. 20

Mon.-Fri. 10am-5pm, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-4

Three Sisters Lions Club 282 S. Cedar St., Sisters

Bend Moonlight Market

Sat., Nov. 29, 4-11pm

Midtown Ballroom

51 NW Greenwood Ave.

Lighting the Season Artisan Market

Sat., Nov. 29, 2-7pm Brasada Ranch 16986 SW Brasada Ranch Rd. www.brasada.com

Holiday Marketplace at the Vineyard

Sat., Nov. 29, 9am-4pm and Sun., Nov. 30, 10am-4pm Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr., Terrebonne www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com

Magical Markets of Merriment

Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 29-Dec. 21, 10am-5pm

Somewhere That’s Green 1017 NE 2nd St. somewheregreen.com

Holiday Makers Market

Sun., Nov. 30 and Sun., Dec. 7, 11am-4pm The Barn in Sisters 171 E Main St., Sisters thebarninsisters.com

Tetherow Resort Holiday Bazaar

Wed., Dec. 3, 4-8pm

Tetherow Resort Event Pavilion 61240 Skyline Ranch Rd.

First Friday Artisan Market

Fri., Dec. 5, 5-8pm RE/MAX Key Properties 42 NW Greenwood Ave.

Bevel Holiday Market

Sat., Dec. 6-Sun., Dec. 7, noon-4pm Bevel Craft Brewing 911 SE Armour St. bevelbeer.com

Schilling’s Makers Market

Sat., Dec. 6-Sun., Dec. 7, 10am-4pm Schilling’s Garden Market 64640 Old Bend-Redmond Hwy www.schillingsgardenmarket.com Parking ticket purchase required.

Note: listed events are free unless otherwise noted.

Tumalo Lavender Holiday Market

Sat., Dec. 6, 10am-3pm Tumalo Lavender 19825 Connarn Rd., Tumalo www.tumalolavender.com

Merry Cheersmas Market at On Tap Sat., Dec. 6, 11am-4pm On Tap 1424 NE Cushing Dr.

Holiday Spirit Market

Sat., Dec. 6, 11:30am-4:30pm Groove Yoga 1740 NW Pence Ln. www.grooveyogabend.com

Christmas Makers Market

Sun., Dec. 7, 1-4pm West Side Tavern 930 NW Galveston Ave.

The Locavore Holiday Gift Faire

Sat., Dec. 13, 10am-3pm Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd. centraloregonlocavore.com VIP tickets available.

Craft-O! Holiday Bazaar

Sat., Dec. 13-Sun., Dec. 14, 9am-5pm The Workhouse 50 SE Scott St. theworkhousebend.com

Winter Circus Makers Market Sun., Dec. 14, 1:30-5:30pm Central Oregon Aerial Arts 20700 Carmen Loop www.centraloregonaerialarts.com

A Tale of Two Downtown Bends

Owners of businesses in downtown Bend say they’re thriving — or just eking by

For better or for worse, shoulder season offers respite from the influxes of summer and winter tourists. Fewer vacation dollars might wisp in the wind, but downtown parking is a relative breeze.

Still, though, the shuttering of legacy establishments of 900 Wall, and the sale listing of The Lemon Tree, indicate that merchants in downtown Bend might be hurting.

In anticipation of the gifting season, we set out across downtown Bend to chat with shop owners and managers to see how they’re weathering the downtime.

Wild Petals Provisions

At 930 NW Brooks St., standing next to a white neon sign that declares “EAT THE CHEESE,” Nancy Zadoff, the owner of Wild Petals Provisions, raised her hands in praise toward the ceiling.

“Thank goodness for this big order,” she said, detailing the private event across town that ordered a smattering of her imported cheeses, charcuterie and other provisions. Every order, large or small, matters to Zadoff, who opened the shop in 2022.

This summer, when Bend is typically thronged with foreign visitors, seemed absent of those from Canada and Europe.

“A lot of people from all over the world just didn’t come,” Zadoff said.

Tariffs on her many imported perishables — such as European cheeses and wines — have eaten into her bottom line. Foreign tourists, especially Canadians, are bypassing American vacation destinations, in way of boycotting the Trump administration’s tariffs, the New York Times reported this month.

“Trump is a pain in the ass,” she said. “It’s slow for everybody. These are tricky times.”

Zadoff is “forever hopeful” that business in downtown Bend will return to its typical bustle. Still, Central Oregonians are scared to spend their money, she added.

“It’s a bummer,” Zadoff said with a laugh.

Bummer indeed. Zadoff’s store feels like a little portal into Europe. Packages of handmade pasta imported from Italy stand at attention. Jars of jams and mustards from France are stacked in columns. Baggies of handmade Swedish gummies tempt customers where they sit on a tray by the checkout counter. Aside from purveying European delectables, Zadoff sells products from about 25 local vendors, including butter and meats from North 44 Farm, Blue River Ferments & Pickles and dips and spreads from Fixa Foods.

“Local, local, local,” Zadoff said.

A couple blocks away at the Brown Bag Popcorn Co., co-owner Lynne Szymanski greeted regulars as she moved between the large glass jars, home to more than 60 varieties of sweet and savory popcorn flavors. Szymanski says the shoulder season is inevitably slower. But last summer saw “heavy, heavy foot traffic” as tourists tucked in for very portable bags of popcorn at her shop at 920 NW Bond St.

“People ask me how the popcorn business is,” Szymanski said. “And I always say, ‘It’s poppin’!”

Summer tourists represent a slight majority of customers, she added. “A lot of locals, though, come back because they’re addicted.”

During the fall and spring shoulder seasons, local customers outweigh tourists as their return to downtown shopping is eased by more available parking spots, she said.

Szymanski and her husband, Bill Szymanski, moved to Bend from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They opened Brown Bag Popcorn Co. brick-and-mortar store in Bend in 2021. Previously, the couple operated a wholesale popcorn operation that provided bar-side snacks to about 160 craft brewery taprooms throughout the country, including Boss Rambler, the local brewery that closed its westside taproom at the end of summer. The Szymanskis continue pairing popcorn with beer and wine, however — to-go cans are available in a cooler. The holidays are a popular season for popcorn sales; local shoppers will order 10 to 20 bags to ship to loved ones as gifts, Szymanski said. December was the Brown Bag Popcorn Co.’s biggest month last year.

“You can’t make this popcorn at home,” Szymanski said with a grin. “This is gourmet. It’s my spice blends, the real cheeses. Our number one flavor is truffle, parmesan and black garlic. Everything is real, real, real.”

Underground Book Gallery

Down the stairs below the northern sidewalk at 206 NW Oregon Ave. lies the Underground Book Gallery. Justin Schlosberg, currently the sole owner, says business during the summer season was “mediocre.” But he’s not complaining — sales have steadily ticked upward since July 2021, when he co-founded the shop. Bookselling isn’t new to Schlosberg; he owned and operated Old Man Berkins Bookstore, a bookshop in Breckenridge, Colorado, for 19 years. He estimates that, between the titles he has on his ample shelves and in storage, his collection spans 20,000 titles. Schlosberg

By Peter Madsen

isn’t certain what slice of his customers are tourists or locals. In greeting, he asks whether they’ve visited the shop before, and then, accordingly, tailors his guidance through the various sections. A reality of having a literal underground bookstore is that passersby can’t peek in the window before deciding whether to step inside, Schlosberg said.

This holiday season, Schlosberg will bring back his “buy four books, get the fifth free” deal. He’s prioritized collectable — and therefore highly giftable — leather-bound and gold-inlaid Easton Press editions of classic titles.

“But that also keeps the rent down,” he added with a grin.

A couple blocks away at ccMcKenzie, a woman-led clothing boutique on 920 NW Bond St., manager Victoria Zollman says business has been steady, owing to a relatively smoke-free summer.

“We’ve had a tremendous shoulder season,” Zollman said. “There’s been increased foot traffic. I think a lot of people are visiting from out of town.”

A perennial frustration, however, is customer parking. Zollman wishes the City of Bend would grant more than two hours of free nearby parking.

“Three hours is what they always request,” she said. Looking toward the holiday season — and winter in general — Zollman says she sees a positive trend. Customers tell her they’re looking forward to the Christmas Tree lighting, which will happen Dec. 7.

“People like the tradition of being downtown, and they love the sparkling lights in the downtown area. It’s a beautiful ambience, being downtown shopping during the Christmas season.

“I just want to thank downtown customers for their loyalty, for always thinking to shop local,” Zollman said. “We really appreciate it.”

Best Seafood In Central Oregon 3 Time Winner

Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market, is a foodie’s dream retail shop! This holiday season, shop local for your dinner party seafood needs and gifts for everyone. They carry a variety of fresh seafood sure to please your guests. Pre-order seafood and sushi catering platters to make entertaining easier. Shop for gifts like specialty tinned fish, local seasonings, and artisan chocolates in the retail store. If you’re hungry, try the new PNW shrimp & crab melt from the cafe.

Homegrown Hustle

It doesn’t get more local than this

There’s “shop local,” and then there’s really shop local. Like, handmade jewelry glittering in the display case of a Redmond boutique that was crafted a few blocks away on someone’s kitchen table. Or a cinnamon roll from a home bakery that smells like someone’s Sunday morning, because it literally came from their home oven.

This season, as the holiday shopping spirit kicks in and the lights go up across Central Oregon, smallscale makers are quietly powering the local gift economy from garages, guest rooms and kitchen counters. These are the hyperlocal heroes who turn raw materials into something that feels personal, something that feels like here.

Erica Porch, founder + maker of Derive Jewelry, puts it this way, “What I love most about being a local brand is the community behind it. My business started grassroots at local farmers markets and boutiques and has grown tremendously because of that initial local support.”

For many of these homegrown businesses, the line between home and work is deliciously blurry. In Redmond, Willow Wild has become a go-to stop for locally made jewelry, carrying work by homegrown artisans such as Derive, as well as Ponderosa Moon and Monstera. The shop’s owner curates with a clear mission: to spotlight makers whose creativity might otherwise stay tucked away in spare bedrooms and backyard studios.

Walk into Willow Wild and you’ll find delicate, nature-inspired earrings alongside bold, geometric pendants, all shaped by hands that live right here in Central Oregon. These are pieces made by people you might run into at the farmers market or see walking dogs down the Dry Canyon Trail.

Cody Harrison from Ponderosa Moon jewelry says, “Shopping local and small is important because it directly invests in your community and supports local families.” She adds, “It’s also a unique experience to purchase something from the person who actually made it!”

By Donna Britt

In downtown Bend, The Bend Store keeps the hometown pride vibe strong. It’s part gift shop, part community hub and a whole lot of “only-inBend” charm. Alongside Bend-branded apparel and quirky souvenirs, you’ll find items crafted by local artisans, everything from candles and cards to jewelry and snacks, all made by people whose creativity is rooted in this region.

Other local spots where you can find hyper-local, handmade goodies and artisan pieces include Wild Petals Provisions in Brooks Alley, The Workhouse on SE Scott Street in Bend and Central Oregon Locavore on Third Street, as well as various coffee shops and retail outlets. You can also find other locally made goods and products online at Live Local Bend.

And while the retail shelves are humming, there’s a new breed of home-based bakers and creators feeding Central Oregon’s appetite for authenticity.

Messy Marvin’s Home Bakery is baking joy by the dozen. Abbey Benson’s breads, bagels, cookies and scones carry the unmistakable flavor of small-batch care. “My baked goods are made for people, not shelves,” explains Benson. You won’t find her pies or cookies in a big-box store; instead, Messy Marvin’s fills custom orders, pops up at local markets and partners with small retailers. Her social media feed is an ode to butter, sugar and community connection.

“With the holidays approaching, I’m so excited to bake for the community and their families. Messy Marvin’s will be taking orders until Dec. 20,” says Benson, who grew up baking with her Grammy and working in her family’s bakery in Eastern Oregon. Benson has always dreamed of having her own bakery and once she learned about Cottage Kitchen licensing, she realized now was the perfect time to start her business while finishing up her degree at OSU-Cascades. She launched only a few months ago. “The business has grown every day, thanks to all the community support, helping me move closer to my goal of one day having a brick-and-mortar shop,” Benson say

spirit. Makin’ It Local is the kind of place where you can buy a gift and meet the person who made it, or at least learn their story. Every item comes with a little local pride baked in.

One thing’s certain: the energy around homegrown creativity is undeniable. Across the region, more people are realizing that shopping local doesn’t just mean browsing downtown boutiques, it means supporting the person next door who decided to turn their craft into a livelihood.

Buying a pair of earrings at Willow Wild or a loaf of bread from Messy Marvin’s isn’t just a transaction. It’s a vote for your community. It’s an investment in your neighbors. It’s a recognition that the most meaningful gifts often start right at home. There’s something deeply grounding about this movement toward hyper-local shopping. It’s slow, intentional and real. In a world of online everything, these makers are offering something with a heartbeat.

The holidays are the perfect time to celebrate that. Whether you’re hunting for a pair of handcrafted earrings, grabbing a jar of local jam or ordering cookies from your friend’s home bakery, every dollar spent close to home keeps this creative ecosystem alive.

Head west to Sisters, and you’ll find Makin’ It Local, a bright, cheerful shop celebrating exactly what its name promises. It’s a treasure chest of locally made goods including jewelry, art, textiles, candles and baked treats, all sourced from folks who live in the neighborhood. The owners intentionally fill their shelves with items that tell the story of Central Oregon’s creative

Derive Founder Erica Porch says shopping local is so much more than supporting one artist. “It keeps an entire creative community thriving. When someone shops from Derive, they’re also supporting the local photographers who capture my work, the print shops and graphic designers who help bring my brand to life, my local assistant who helps me stay organized day to day and it also has enabled me to make various meaningful donations in our community. It’s a ripple effect and reminder that creativity really thrives when we support each other and how local shoppers strengthen our creative ecosystem.”

So this season, skip the shipping boxes and go where the handmade magic happens. Because here in Central Oregon, shopping local doesn’t just mean supporting small, it means celebrating the art of home itself.

Roundabout Books & Café

900 NW Mt Washington Dr. (541) 306 - 6564

@roundaboutbooks

Voted Bend’s #1 Bookstore for the past two years, Roundabout Books’ welcoming atmosphere is the perfect place to shop for books, puzzles, and gifts for all ages and interests. While you’re here, enjoy a warm beverage in our cozy café.

To make holiday shopping even easier, Roundabout is open “Late ‘til 8” every Tuesday and Friday between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Fancywork Yarn Shop

200 NE Greenwood Ave.

541-323-8686

www.fancywork.com

@fancyworkyarnshop

Discover exceptional yarn, swoon-worthy accessories and gifts, wooly inspiration, classes and community in our colorful shop. Fancywork specializes in hand-dyed, independent, local and American yarns as well as carefully curated selections from abroad. Check out the newest addition to the shop: ReCraft Supply – a craft thrift annex for budget-friendly, eco-conscious crafting supplies!

Join us Small Business Saturday, November 29 for a special Trunk Show: Sea Change Fibers, tonally-dyed yarn from sustainable sources.

Sisters Apothecary

183 E Hood St. Suite 300, Sisters @_sistersapothecary

Celebrating 5 years of providing Central Oregon with exceptional products which make you feel and look good. We carry a combination of local favorites and globally sourced items with a focus on skincare, organic apparel and health & wellness products.

We are excited to share the opening of our sister company, Cascade Bouquet right here in our shop. Contact us for your weddings/events or for custom floral arrangements.

Venture out for your special find in beautiful Sisters, OR. We are worth the short drive!

See you soon!

— Your Friends at Sisters Apothecary

The Cosmic Depot

342 NE Clay Ave., Bend 541-385-7478

thecosmicdepot.com

The Cosmic Depot is filled to the brim with Central Oregon’s largest selection of incense and fragrance candles along with tarot and oracle cards, natural stones, handpicked sterling silver men and women’s jewelry, clothing, tapestries, books, a wide selection of greeting cards, stickers, essential oils, hemp products, herbs, natural stone beads and more The wonder does not stop when it comes to uniting the sacred, the kind and thoughtful, the inspiring and the hilarious at The Cosmic Depot

Open daily 10–6pm. Open Christmas Eve 10-4!

Michelle Schultz

Michelle Schultz Art Studio Michelleschultzstudio.com info@michelleschultzstudio.com @michelleschultzart

Renowned international artist Michelle Schultz invites you to explore a world of emotion and the ethereal. Specializing in original paintings, prints, and intentional workshops, Michelle’s art captures the essence of cherished memories. This Christmas, commission a sentimental masterpiece, uniquely crafted to celebrate your loved ones. Limited availability for these exclusive, heartfelt gifts. Elevate your holiday with art that speaks to the soul. Visit michelleschultzstudio.com or email her directly to commission your custom piece today.

Cosa Cura

2735 NW Crossing Drive #101, Bend, OR 97702

541-312-2279

19570 Amber Meadow Drive #170, Bend, OR 97702 5417976702

cosacura.com

Founded in 2006, our highend clothing consignment boutique offers a carefully curated selection of designer fashion, timeless classics, and unique statement pieces. With a commitment to sustainability and style, we provide a refined shopping experience where luxury meets conscious living. Beyond fashion, we proudly support local artists by showcasing their work in our space, creating a vibrant blend of art and design. Deeply rooted in the community, we host events, collaborate with makers, and give back through partnerships that uplift and inspire. Cosa Cura is more than a shop—it’s a destination where style, creativity, and community thrive together.

TOP SHOPS

Somewhere That’s Green

1017 NE 2nd St., Bend

541-330-4086

somewheregreen.com

@somewhere_thats_green

Come celebrate the holidays with us at Somewhere That’s Green, your local indoor plant shoppe! We are filled to the brim with magical indoor plants, pottery, jewelry, gifts, gift cards, ornaments, clothing, and more for your holiday shopping needs.

Also, starting in November and running through the holiday season, Somewhere That’s Green will be hosting local makers and vendors at our fourth annual

“Magical Markets of Merriment”! Get a cookie from ‘Sandra’ Claus, grab a butterbeer, and check out the 18 rotating makers every weekend.

Please join us at the Magical Market of Merriment, 10am-5pm:

Nov 29 - Nov 30

Dec 6 - Dec 7

Dec 13 - Dec 14

Dec 20 - 21

Visit our website at somewheregreen.com or at our instagram @somewhere_thats_green for more information for each individual market.

Come get cozy and warm up at Somewhere That’s Green plant shop!

Pedego Bend

25 NW Minnesota Ave #6, Downtown Bend (541) 306-3177

pedegobend.com Info@pedegobend.com

Tired of Heavy, Outdated E-Bikes: Experience state-of-the-art Technology and the world's lightest E-Bikes. Pedego Bend Now the Proud exclusive Central Oregon Dealer for amazingly affordable Carbon Fiber E-Bikes Fingerprint Unlock, GPS Safety, Pure Intelligence. Carbon Smooth, Technology Sharp.

Pedego Bend - Let it Ride 25 Minnesota Suite # 6 Downtown's Best Just Got Better off of Tin Pan Alley Holiday Special = Urtopia Joy Carbon E-Bike, was $2,999.00, NOW ONLY $1,799.00

The Workhouse

50 SE Scott St #6, Bend 541-241-2754 theworkhousebend.com

The Workhouse - voted Bend’s Best Place to buy Art in 2025!

Join us for Craft-O, Dec. 13th and 14th!

In addition to our gallery & gift shop, The Workhouse offers the opportunity to meet 8 resident artisans at work in their studios.

Learn about their process or inquire after custom wares!

Find locally designed and handcrafted goods from soap, coffee and honey to fine art, prints, jewelry, herbal apothecary, fabric arts and pottery - plus Holiday cards, gift wrap and ornaments - from over 60 Oregon makers, artisans, and artists.

Open until 5pm on Christmas Eve!

S SOUND

HNot your typical 'Paper Doll' Red-hot guitar slinger returns to Central Oregon

By Richard Sitts

aving played in these parts before, rock/blues guitarist Samantha Fish is no stranger to Central Oregon. In the meantime, she and her band have just been tearing it up. Fish was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album in the 2024 Grammys for her 2023 collaboration with rocker Jesse Dayton, “Death Wish Blues.”

She returns Monday, Nov. 24, to the Tower Theatre stage in support of her new album, “Paper Doll.” It’s her first album recorded with touring band Ron Johnson on bass, Jamie Douglass on drums and Mickey Finn on keyboards. Also on the bill is Robert Jon & The Wreck. Get ready for a rowdy night downtown; the Tower’s website states that the first three rows of seats have been removed for dancing! Fish recently took time to answer some questions emailed to her from the Source.

tS: I read that at the age of 15, you switched to guitar from playing drums? What brought about that change?

Samantha Fish: Everyone in my family was playing guitar, so naturally, I wanted to be a drummer. I started on the drums because the physicality of it looked really fun, and I took to it fairly well. I think it was just a matter of time before I was gonna connect with the guitar. And that’s where I really found my voice. I was around 15 when I first picked one up.

tS: It looks like you came from a musical family. How important were those early influences on you?

SF: I’d say very important. Since it was always around, having people play around us, we just grew up feeling like that was normal. I think that kind of environment opens a lot of doors.

tS: I read that you featured rapper Tech N9ne, who is also from Kansas City, on the song, “Loud.” Of all the collaborations you’ve done, what was the wildest or most surprising?

SF: I really enjoyed the most recent collaboration on my new record, “Paper Doll.” Mick Collins guested on a song called “Rusty Razor.” I liked the song when we were cutting it, but after hearing his contribution, it became one of my favorites on the record. The Tech N9ne collaboration was obviously a highlight. He’s beloved around the world, but being that we’re both from KC, no one expected it.

tS: Who do you wish that you could have played with before they left us? And who do you still desire to play with on your bucket list?

SF: I always say that it’s a tie between RL Burnside and Tom Petty. Two of my musical heroes, completely different from one another. Both equally influential in my music, in my style. As far as bucket list… I always aim high, someday I’d love to trade licks with Keith Richards… We’ll see.

tS: Your latest album, “Paper Doll,” I believe is your 13th album. Do you view your albums as a continuation of your evolving career, building off one another? Or do you look at each album as something new and different from the ones before?

SF: I have gone into some records with a full concept. Other times, it takes a while to identify just what it is. It requires some introspection. I sort of let the songs identify the concept. I think that’s the most honest way of going about it. Every album rewards me with some experience, some growth. I take that forward into every following album, so the continuation… the evolution… It’s all really natural.

tS: I really enjoyed reading about you on your website. With “Paper Doll,” it sounds like you’ve put so much emotion into that record. What kind of relationship do you like to foster with your listeners?

SF: I want to write songs that connect and touch people’s hearts. I want to write the anthem that fires you up, tell a story that breaks your heart or helps you process something. I want my music to evoke emotion and connect. I want to move people.

tS: You’ve been honored with too many awards to list here. Are there any that stand out or any of which you are particularly proud?

SF: The Grammy nomination was and is a massive deal. This is my second one. So that’s something I’m really proud of. The Sherocks award was an honor. To be honored with all these incredible, strong women in the industry, it’s nice to be recognized with some of the greats.

tS: Can you describe your songwriting process? When, where and how do you get your inspiration? When it comes to singing and playing, you seem like a natural. Does songwriting come to you naturally or do you have to work at it?

SF: Songwriting is a skill set just like playing guitar and singing. It’s something you have to develop. I think my best songs start with a melodic hook and build from there. Anytime you can get a melodic, or lyrical hook, right off the bat the song can sort of write itself. You’re just there to connect the dots. I’ve done it a multitude of ways, I have pages and pages full of lyrics and ideas, but again, when the melody comes to you, you have to capture it.

tS: You’ve been called a blues artist, but with the many influences that you cite, how do you describe yourself and your music? Of all your influences, do you have a favorite genre of music that you like to play and/ or listen to?

SF: I like all sorts of music. I try not to avoid anything. I think my music is rooted in blues and rock ‘n’ roll, but there are different flavors to that. Sometimes it leans heavier rock, sometimes there’s soul blended

in. I love harmonies and different textures. Sometimes that can lean into country, Americana, etc. I like pop sensibilities, so even though I’m not a pop artist, I’ll channel all of that into my writing.

tS: From watching your videos, one gets the impression that you are delightfully plugged in. Do you enjoy playing solo and/or acoustic as well?

SF: I’ve done some solo acoustic shows. And that’s a nice change of pace. It’s an opportunity to really connect with the audience and tell stories. I love playing with a big band though. Nothing takes the place of an amp cranked up, a live drum set. You just feel the energy in the room. I guess my preferred method would be a big, loud, live rock band, but again, I’ll dabble with an acoustic. I still play with dynamics when we’re plugged in though.

tS: You are certainly no stranger to Central Oregon, having played here several times. I have not yet seen you perform live, but friends I’ve talked to loved your performance. Do you keep track of how many states and foreign countries in which you’ve played? Are there any states or countries in which you’d still like to perform?

SF: I’m pretty sure I’ve performed in most every state, but I’m missing Alaska. So I’d like to go there. I’ve been to Europe, India, Japan, Mexico, Canada, the UK, Australia etc… I’d really like to go to Brazil. Anywhere in South America. I’d like to go back to Japan to see more cities. I’d like to go back to New Zealand too.

tS: Are there any major ways in which foreign audiences are different than U.S. audiences, and if so, how are they different?

SF: Sure, certain audiences have different customs and cultures. Maybe some crowds are reserved while others are really rowdy. I think that music is the universal language that connects us all, and in that way, we’re all just trying to see live music that moves us.

tS: Last year you opened for the Rolling Stones at an outdoor venue outside of Branson, Missouri. How did that offer come about and what did you take away from that experience?

SF: That opportunity came through Quint Davis at the Jazz Fest in New Orleans. He had us perform on the same stage in 2024. After our set, he pulled me aside to say he was trying to encourage their people to bring us on for an additional date. They ended up adding another show in Missouri, we got the call. I really have him to thank and my great team for putting that together.

tS: I see that you have tour dates booked through April of next year, including Europe. After that, what’s on the horizon for you in 2026?

SF: More than likely, a lot of touring. I have a live record that I’m going to put out in the spring of next year. Then probably getting back into the studio to work on what’s next.

Thunderstorm Artis will give an intimate solo performance in Sisters

By Julie Hanney

S SOUND The Belfry to Host Singing Competition Star

Atop finisher on both “The Voice” and “American Idol,” Thunderstorm Artis grew up on the North Shore of Oahu in a family of 11 kids. His father, Ron Artis, was a Motown session player who performed on many iconic tracks, including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” His mother, no musical wallflower herself, toured as a backup singer for Lena Horne. With that kind of lineage, it makes sense that their kids would inherit a degree of musical gifting and love of the art form.

When Thunderstorm was a young boy, he was a member of the Ron Artis Family Band, playing percussion and whatever else was needed alongside his family. There are some amazing videos on YouTube of the kids rocking out with their dad, a phenomenal keyboard player who passed away at the age of 61 in 2010 when Thunderstorm was just a teenager. Check out “It’s All About the Groove” and “Don’t Misunderstand the Blues” for a taste of the funkiest family I’ve ever seen. Now all grown up and successful in his own right, Thunderstorm is bringing his soulful singing, guitar mastery and desire for connection to the Belfry in Sisters on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7pm.

the Source: You live in Nashville now, but I heard you actually lived in Oregon recently?

Thunderstorm Artis: Yeah, I lived in Oregon for about three years and it was such a fun season between 2020 and 2023.

tS: 2020 was when you were on “The Voice,” so you moved to Oregon after that?

TA: Yeah, so I moved my entire life around because of COVID. My live round [on “The Voice”] was shot from my living room and in my church in Oregon. So, any of the videos you watch from that [portion of the show] were all based in Oregon. My wife and I had our first kid in Oregon. Bend and Sisters have always been really close to my heart. I first got tuned into that place when I went there for the Sisters Folk Festival.

tS: What made you choose Oregon as a place to live during that time?

TA: I was on the road touring in between rounds of “The Voice,” and then I got a call from my agent and he was like, hey, there’s this crazy virus going around, so wherever you are, kind of hunker down… and that turned out to

be Oregon where my oldest brother was living at the time. My wife was living in Australia then, and she got the second to last flight out of Australia before they shut down the borders.

tS: Wow, that’s wild.

TA: Now I have six siblings who live in Oregon, mostly in Newberg and Portland, so I’m actually going to be spending Thanksgiving in Oregon and my

music related, but it [the family band] was a way to connect with my family. I was like five or six when I was first showing up to my mom and dad’s gigs saying, hey, can I jump onstage? Can I play with you? Can I do something? But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be a singer or a front man, so it’s crazy the things I’m doing these days. My older brother and my mom were the ones who

whole family is going to fly out there.

tS: That’s super cool. So, with your very musical mom and dad, you guys had a family band from the time you were just a little one?

TA: Well, I’m number seven of 11 kids, so pretty much my earliest memories of music are when my dad would wake up every morning and play his grand piano, and I would come down with my stuffed animal and just lay down underneath the piano and let the music wash over me. And I always wanted to do something

really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. They were like, no, you have something special to share and you need to stop hiding behind us. I had a belief, which was a bad belief, that anything I could say or do had been said or done before... so what was the point of saying or doing anything because everyone else does it so exceptionally well? So, I was like, I’m just going to kind of coast here. But I don’t think we are called to live a comfortable life, so I’m glad that I got pushed out of my comfort zone.

tS: I see that sometimes you perform with your brother Ron Artis II. Do you guys still get together sometimes?

TA: Yes, we do. Not too long ago we did a tour with Jack Johnson and that was a lot of fun. We do get together, but we’re usually both touring on opposite schedules, so like, I’ll be on the East Coast and he’ll be on the West Coast somewhere, but whenever we can get together and do something, we try to.

tS: Who will be joining you on stage for the concert in Sisters?

TA: For this one it’s actually going to be more intimate. It’s going to be more stripped down with just me on acoustic [guitar] with storytelling, sharing a lot of new songs… and that’s what I love about Sisters, Oregon. It’s been one of my favorite places to come back to and share my heart musically. There’s such a beautiful cultivation of listeners there, like they really care about your lyrics and they really care about your music. And that’s a really rare thing when you are out there touring the world, to go to a place where people really appreciate the hard work that you put into your craft. It’s something that I always look forward to. A lot of my music is really heartfelt, and it talks about a lot of deep things, sometimes cloaked behind a lot of poetry. So, it’s like if you really listen and you are intentional, then you can hear the heart behind what I’m trying to share.

tS: It’s so cool you have such a connection with Central Oregon.

TA: Sisters was a place that supported me before I was on “Idol,” before I was even on “The Voice.” The first time I played a set for the Sisters Folk Festival, we did it at the Sisters Coffee Company. It was before anyone even knew who I was and they still packed out that place wall to wall because they heard a little bit of me at a workshop. It just feels like home.

Thunderstorm Artis Sat, Nov. 22, 7pm The Belfry 302 E Main Ave, Sisters thunderstormartis.com $35

CALENDAR

19 Wednesday

The Astro Lounge Karaoke Get here early to put your name on the list! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. Free.

The Capitol The Capitol Karaoke Music Weekly Karaoke at its finest! Central Oregon’s premiere karaoke experience has just moved locations! Now at the Capitol! Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free.

The Cellar Live Music with Danger Gently Head down to The Cellar every Wednesday to enjoy live music from Danger Gently, a talented rotating cast of characters playing old-timey jams! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Richard Taelour Richard Taelour has toured and played nationally for decades. Bring your dancing shoes, you are in for a treat! 7:30-9:30pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy Open Mic Night Open mic comedy on Bend’s NE side. Come down, eat some BBQ, drink some drinks, and be prepared to laugh. Great for first timers to experienced performers. FREE 7:30-9pm. Free.

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

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

Dogwood At The Pine Shed Transmission: ‘80s Dark Wave Social Club Immerse yourself in the sounds of the ’80s underground. DJ Mark Brody spins Joy Division, Bauhaus, The Cure, Clan of Xymox, and more at Dogwood at The Pine Shed. A moody night of goth, post-punk, and darkwave. Every 2nd Wednesday. 7-10pm. Free. The Domino Room Kennebec & Brendan Eder Ensemble Kennebec – in support of their new LP The Water Wheel – and Brendan Eder Ensemble are heading up the misty West Coast. Both acts blur genre in favor of something more personal and elemental. Expect weightless textures, earthbound grooves, warm improvisations, and a transportive sonic experience. 7:30-10:30pm. $19.

Hosmer Bar Trivia Night Join us midweek for brainy banter and cold drinks! Whether you’re a seasoned quiz champ or just in it for the laughs, gather your crew and test your knowledge! See you there! 7-9pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Open Mic Night Downtown living room welcomes musicians to bring their acoustic set or turn it up to 11 with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. 6:30pm. Free.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School Blake and the Music With his guitar, Blake weaves together intricate melodic layers to create expansive worlds through sound. 6-9pm. Free.

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

Portello Wine and Spirits Music Bingo Join us for Music Bingo, hosted by the always entertaining Rachel Fishman, who keeps the crowd singing and laughing all night! It’s the perfect bonus to your night out enjoying great food, drinks and good company at Portello! 6:308:30pm. Free.

LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

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Prost! - Bend WTF! Wednesday Trivia Fun! Genuine UKB Trivia is truly unique and entertaining trivia for you! Independent, locally owned and operated. Please bring something to write with and some positive vibes, too :). 7pm. Free.

The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Jazz at the Suttle Lodge Join us for Dirty Jazz with Wolfe House Records, first and third Wednesdays of the month, all winter long! 6-7pm.

Upp Liquids Bend Comedy Open Mic The Bend Comedy Open Mic, every Wednesday at UPP Liquids. All peformance types and ages are welcome! 7-9pm. Free.

Wonderland Chicken X Worthy Brewing Karaoke Wednesdays Sing your heart out, enjoy a cold beer and fried chicken! 7-11pm. Free.

20 Thursday

The Ale Apothecary Tasting Room

Trivia Night by Heart of Oregon Corps Put on your thinking caps and grab a beer! Join us this Thursday at The Ale Apothecary for Trivia Night hosted by Heart of Oregon Corps. Come test your knowledge, enjoy great brews, and support a good cause — a percentage of all sales goes directly to the organization. 5-7pm. Free.

The Astro Lounge Karaoke Get here early to put your name on the list! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. Free.

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

Bar Rio Live Music at Bar Rio Grab your favorite bites and sips and relax into the music—ranging from jazz and blues to pop and flamenco. 6-8pm. Free.

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.

The Cellar Live Irish Trad Music with The Ballybogs! Join us for a night of live music featuring Bend’s Irish Trad band, The Ballybogs! Every Thursday at The Cellar. Seats fill up, so get there early if you can! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Oregon Fryer

Based in rhythm, lyrics & harmony, while drawing inspiration from the likes of old Country & Americana with a big twist of Honky-tonk & Rock ‘n Roll, Oregon Fryer’s tight arrangements and hot improvisations are instantly timeless and inviting. Come along for the ride! 7:30-9:30pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy at Craft with Phil Johnson Get ready to laugh your socks off with comedian Phil Johnson at Craft Kitchen & Brewery in Bend, OR! Join us for a night of gut-busting jokes and good vibes. Craft Kitchen & Brewery provides the perfect setting for a night of comedy and craft brews. Don’t miss out! 8-9:30pm. $10-$15.

Crave Bend COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT Comedy Open Mic Night on the SW side of Bend! Adults only encouraged. Intimate, smaller venue, healthier food and beverages, and an interactive night of comedy every Thursday! Hosted By Hopper. 7-9pm. Free.

The Dez Lounge Open Mic Join Joyful Lane at open mic night! Enjoy NA cocktails, charcuterie and dessert while listening to local talent! 6-9pm. Free.

Dogwood At The Pine Shed Tropical Thursday Tropical Latin Dance Party at Dogwood is the place to be every third Thursday of the month! Join us for a night of sizzling rhythms and spicy moves at Dogwood at The Pine Shed. Get ready to dance the night away to the hottest Latin beats in town. 7-10pm. Free.

The Domino Room Spencer Crandall 8pm. Free.

Elements Public House Trivia Night at Elements Public House with QuizHead Games Come be all you can be with Trivia Night every Thursday from 6-8pm! Featuring QuizHead. games. Located at the north end of Redmond. Full bar and great food! 6-8pm. Free.

Funky Fauna Artisan Ales Funky Fauna Open Mic Ready to perform in your favorite haunt? Bring your songs, poems, jokes, or whatever weird talent you’ve been hiding. Hang out, drink some Saison (or IPA), and maybe accidentally summon something <0x1F480> Reach out to @spicoli_mk1 directly to sign up! 6pm. Free.

HØST Supper Club Trivia! We’re teaming up with the rad folks of QuizHead Games to test your might! Bring your friends, your family, or play solo! 7-8:30pm. Free.

Hosmer Bar Bingo Night Your week just found its highlight—bingo! Join us for drinks, good company and a little friendly competition. Pull up a chair, grab a board and let’s make some memories! 7-9pm. Free.

The Lot Skinny Dennis Skinny Dennis is an acoustic duo featuring Bill Sterling (guitar, vocals) and Rodney Toogood (bass, vocals). Classic rock, ‘80s indie pop, and original songs. Skinny Dennis’ sound will get you and your friends smiling and moving to tunes you know while discovering new favorites! 6-8pm. Free.

Monkless Belgian Ales - The Abbey Trivia Night It’s time for Harry Potter Movies Trivia Night! 6-8pm.

Ponch’s Place Trivia Thursdays at Ponch’s Place Trivia Thursdays at Ponch’s Place with QuizHead Games. 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Twin Engines Duo acoustic & electric guitars, two vocals & harmonies Rock, blues, soul 6-8pm. Free.

Sisters Depot Jordan Wolfe Catch Jordan Wolfe live! As the lead conspirator of Wolfehouse Records, he brings a dynamic mix of original songs and captivating performances. Expect energy, emotion, and a sound that sticks with you long after the music ends. 6-8pm. $10.

Stoller Wine Bar Bend Haute Melange Jazz manouche, gypsy jazz, Django swing - 4 talented musicians playing the music of the Django/Grappelli era and more: Scott Johnson on lead guitar, Jon Harnum on rhythm and trumpet, Evan Brawn on standup bass and Bob Baker on Violin. 6-8pm. Free.

The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Suttle Lodge’s Fireside Concert Series: Rich Swanger Most Thursdays from November through May, we have some fireside live music. 6-8pm.

The Winery at Manzanita- Bend Vino & Vibes Join us at the tasting room every Thursday. Wine, friends, local grooves & community. Open Mic Night. Local grooves! It’s the vibe. 5-7pm. Free.

21 Friday

The Belfry Just Duet: A Showcase of Acoustic Duos Join us for an evening of dynamic duos! 7-9:30pm.

The Commonwealth Pub The Vibeshiftas Spiritual Soul Music. Sean Alan,(vocals & keys) has assembled The VibeShiftas, a band that unites, heals & imbues joy, love & deeply funky groove sensibilities into every song. 8-10pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Commonwealth DJ Dance Party with TRUNORTH Join TRUNORTH as he makes his way down from the 49th parallel, spinning the latest and greatest, raising the bar on this year’s playoff season. Join him Friday and Saturday nights at The Commonwealth Pub and cheer on the beats from soul, to funk, to today’s hits. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Dirty Minds Trivia; Thanksgiving edition Get ready for a feast of laughs, a dash of mischief, and a whole lot of “Did they really just say that?” energy. This isn’t your average trivia night — the questions might sound downright dirty, but the answers are as innocent as pumpkin pie. 7-9pm. $5-$25.

The Domino Room Green Jelly, Livid Kings, Spina, & Dr. Green Dreams Don’t miss it! 7:30pm-Midnight. $19.

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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.

McMenamins Father Luke’s Room

Linda Quon & Hello Trouble Get ready for a joyful evening of live music with Linda Quon & Hello Trouble! This band brings a blend of Americana, folk, country and blues, celebrating connection and good vibes! 7-10pm. Free.

Portello Wine and Spirits Jordan Wolfe Residency Join us for a monthly live music residency featuring Bend’s own Jordan Wolfe. Enjoy soulful vocals, acoustic grooves, and an intimate atmosphere paired with Portello’s signature cocktails, wine and bites. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing THE HASBENS, BENDRE THE GIANT & THE REVALATOR The Hasbens pull from diverse musical backgrounds, the group makes it a priority to blend styles in a manner that will keep any crowd dancing and the energy high. With a colorful catalog of distinctive originals and familiar covers, The Hasbens will keep your attention locked and your body groovin! 7-11pm.

Sisters Depot Cascade Bluegrass: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt Tom & Linda explore the world of bluegrass and country songs, and play a mix of originals and new discoveries that stay in your heart. When friends join them on their journey, they become The Expedition. 6-8pm. $10. The Commonweath Pub The Vibeshiftas . Free.

Wildwood Bar & Grill Jackrat

Formed on the high desert of Central Oregon in the summer of 2023, Jackrat’s hard-driving and lonesome sounds can be heard reverberating throughout the Pacific Northwest. 7-10pm. Free.

22 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.

The Belfry Thunderstorm Artis Thunderstorm Artis is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was in the top five on Season 23 of American Idol. Soaring vocals meet dextrous, layered guitar and intimate storytelling that can evoke the poetic lyricism of Passenger in one song before sliding into the wrenching neosoul of Leon Bridges in another. 7-10pm.

Bend Cider Co. Lickety Split Come out for our first backyard tent concert of the season! Enjoy a late afternoon of music with Lickety Split. Country blues, ragtime, old-time fiddle tunes, & jug band stomps at its best. Enjoy, delicious ciders, beer, wine, & n/a beverages. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. Kid & dog-friendly. 3-5pm. Free.

Bridge 99 Brewery Family-Friendly Kara-

The Commonwealth Pub Soul’d Out With over 40yrs professional music experience each, Soul’d Out was created by Dennis Morris (guitar/ vocals), Rutledge Waterhouse (bass /vocals), Steve Hartwell (keyboards/vocals), Bruce Klouda (drums/vocals) several years ago to bring their brand of what they refer to as “rhythm & soul” music. 8-10pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Commonwealth DJ Dance Party with TRUNORTH Join TRUNORTH as he makes his way down from the 49th parallel, spinning the latest and greatest, raising the bar on this year’s playoff season. Join him Friday and Saturday nights at The Commonwealth Pub and cheer on the beats from soul, to funk, to today’s hits. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Stand-Up

Comedy Competition 10 comedians get 5 minutes each to bring their best to the stage. The winner will earn a cash prize and a guest spot at the Ashland Sarcasm Festival, performing alongside regional comedy favorites in Ashland, Oregon. 7-9pm. Free.

Crave Bend Shameless: Bad Relationships Comedy Show They say love hurts, but laughter heals (and tequila helps). Get ready for the no-filter, story-driven comedy competition where Bend’s boldest comedians bare it all in the name of heartbreak and hilarity. This season’s theme? Bad relationships. Seating is limited, grab your tickets early. 7-9pm. $20.

M&J Tavern Almost Almost is at it again, bringing your favorite covers of tunes from the 70’s to the 90’s. Come dance the night away at M&J Tavern, a local favorite since 1946! 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Midtown Ballroom The Brothers Comatose River’s Place If & When Folk duo 5-7pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Sun Dive Release Party w/The Living Room Join Sun Dive for a night of dreamo indie sounds as we celebrate the release of their new singles “Possible” and “Earthquake.”The Living Room opens bringing stunning vocals from Sam Hart, Mason James & Landon Akins. 7-10pm.

Sisters Depot DoubleWide: Sue and Rick Moore DoubleWide is a fun and folksy Americana duo based in Sisters. Sue plays guitar, bass, and fiddle. Rick plays mandolin and guitar. Learn more about them: https://doublewideduo.com/ bio 7-9pm. $5.

Volcanic Theatre Pub WonkyWilla Welcome to WonkyWilla’s strange and colorful bass factory. A creative mecca where tasty wubs and wild party bangers come to life. His music is like candy for wooks, and fans can’t get enough. 21+. 8-11:50pm. $20-$30.

Wildwood Bar & Grill Tony Smiley Since 2000 Tony Smiley has captivated audiences around the world with his raw rhythms of all live looping. This musical savant loops his way through a unique genre of music that you wont find anywhere else. He is a passionate performer

23 Sunday

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

The Commonwealth Pub Talamh Dubh and Friends Talamh Dubh is a trio with collective ties to Ireland and a love for Irish music. Their name, “Dark Earth” in Gaelic, pays homage to the volcanic ground of the Cascade range upon which the group formed. Featured in their repertoire are jigs, reels, hornpipes, marches, waltzes, and songs. 4-6pm.

The Commonwealth Pub Head Games Trivia Night Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Live multi-media trivia every Sunday @ 6pm. The Commonwealth Pub - Bend Free to play. Win prizes. Teams up to 6. 6-8pm. Free.

Currents at the Riverhouse Paul Eddy Bedell Artist and local troubadour sings hits through the decades, plus originals from his new album “Oregonian.” 11am-1pm. Free.

Dogwood At The Pine Shed Okay Karaoke Sing your favorite songs with friends, enjoy professional sound and lighting, and let the spotlight shine on you. Hosted by the dynamic Tammy Larsen, it’s the perfect night out for music lovers and party people alike. Noon-11pm. Free.

Midtown Ballroom Stories Behind The Songs: Jimmie Allen Acoustic Show James Edward Allen is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2021, he won the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year, becoming only the second Black artist to win the category, following Darius Rucker’s win in 2009. 8-11pm. $30.

River’s Place The Brainy Brunch Trivia! Useless Knowledge Bowl Trivia presents “The Brainy

Silver Moon Brewing Open Mic at the Moon

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

24 Monday

Bend Cider Co. Irish Trad Session Come out and join us for some spirited Celtic music at our monthly Irish Trad session, hosted by members of the Ballybogs & friends. Bring your instrument, join in, or just sit back with a pint & enjoy this session in our cozy taproom. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. 6-8pm. Free.

Bevel Craft Brewing Harry Potter Books Trivia Join us for Harry Potter Books Trivia at Bevel! Test your knowledge on all seven books, from Hogwarts adventures to the Wizarding World’s biggest moments. Free to play, teams up to six, and themed attire encouraged. Win Bevel gift cards! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Monday Night Musicians Open Showcase and Jam Calling all musicians, singers and performers! Join us for a weekly open showcase where you can share your talent, connect with other artists and perform in a welcoming atmosphere. Bring your instrument — backline is provided. 5-9pm. Free.

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

Elixir Winery and Tasting Room 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.

M&J Tavern Vinyl Night Monday Night just got better!!! 9pm to Midnight. SupaFly will be your Dj. Bring your own vinyl and sign up to add it to the Playlist or pick from hers. . Free.

Locals’ Day Plus Live Music Cheaper drinks all day and live music at night, get down to

GUNG HO

By Ezra Oncken

Leadbetter Band Out With New Album: ‘Spell’

The new music comes with a long journey and animated video

More than two years since the release of “Cake,” the Leadbetter Band has announced the release of the highly anticipated fourth album, “Spell,” alongside an animated video made with other local artists to showcase the album. The Bend-based band’s new 12-track compilation will be the second album that includes bassist and vocalist Aaron Moore and drummer Kaleb Kelleher, alongside guitarist and vocalist Eric Leadbetter. “Musically, this is our most evolved and diverse collection of songs on a single album,” says Leadbetter.

Creation of this album began months ago in a workshop with Nick Harris, a friend and mentor of the Leadbetter Band, to establish goals for the album. “The vision of this album came together as a collection of original tunes, new and old, that had a common thread of growth and inspiration,” shares Leadbetter. Then, in February, with a clear vision in mind, they started recording at Bluejay Productions studio in Jacksonville, Oregon, with help from co-producer and engineer Mark Johnson.

“Mark has been a mentor and supporter of the original music of ours for over a decade,” Leadbetter said. The support and guidance of these two allowed the core tracks of the album to be successfully recorded early on. With horn ensembles also appearing on three tracks on the album, the Leadbetter band worked with Collin Braley, a music maker and educator in Southern Oregon, to arrange the horn parts before getting them recorded. The rest of the tracks were then finished in the band’s home studios in Central Oregon.

On top of this musical endeavor, the band decided to tackle a new style of animated video. This was a joint artistic creation of the Leadbetter Band, Ryan Harris, who designed the art on the album cover, and Micah Buzan, the director and animator of this video. “It took several months to make happen, due to the nature of oil painting, and

hand drawn animation techniques,” recalls Leadbetter.

Another interesting fact about the band’s video creation process is the incident that took place during its production. While on tour in Washington, the band got in a car-totaling wreck with a semi. Thankfully though, no one in the band was injured. Despite this shocking experience, they decided to power on with their next gig, as Leadbetter put it, “We made it to the gig just hours after the wreck, and put on a very emotive and powerful performance to a full house. It was healing.”

And as if by some serendipitous act of fate, it turned out that a similar event had taken place in the music video, which was being created simultaneously. “Micah had animated a scene in the video where our spaceship was being destroyed by an evil force. We were near destruction, when the beings on the planet we had saved, returned the favor and saved us! The synchronization of real life happening parallel to this artistic expression was powerful,” reflects Leadbetter. The video highlights the track, “Sky to the Ground,” and its lyrics, alongside the album cover, inspired the art and story of the video.

While the video has already been released and is now available on YouTube and the band’s website, the exciting new album is set to be released on all streaming platforms on Dec. 4. Hard copies of the album will only be available at the album release party, taking place on Nov. 29 at Silver Moon Brewing, the same venue where Eric Leadbetter first performed in Bend in 2008.

Leadbetter Band Album Release Party

Sat. Nov. 29, 7-10 pm Silver Moon Brewing 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend bendticket.com/events/leadbetter-band-11-29-2025 $12.24

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Exploring Central Oregon’s Ungroomed Ski Trails Join Eric Ness and Sue Sullivan from the Central Oregon Nordic Club (CONC) for a presentation on how to enjoy the freedom of cross-country skiing. They’ll cover the essential equipment, key preparations, and the best places to find solitude on Central Oregon’s abundant ungroomed trails. Nov. 19, 6:30-7:30pm. Downtown Bend Library - Brooks Room, 601 NW Wall St,, Bend. Contact: beccar@ deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

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

Roller Skate Jam! Come skate with us— quads and inlines welcome! We throw down at the courts off SE Wilson, next to the skatepark. Music, dancing, rolling and a friendly community of welcoming skaters. All levels and ages welcome. Tuesdays, 6-8pm. Ponderosa Park, 225 SE 15th St., Bend. Contact: 206-334-8488. joe@ joe-walker.com. Free.

VOLUNTEER

Bunny Rescue Needs Volunteers

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

Volunteer, Feed the Masses! At Family Kitchen, the mission is to serve anyone who needs nutritious meals in a safe and caring environment. They have tons of volunteer needs - servers, cooks, shoppers, and more. Groups and teams wanted! Monthly or quarterly opportunities! Visit familykitchen.org/volunteer to fill out a volunteer interest form. Mondays-Sundays. Family Kitchen, 231 NW Idaho, Bend. Contact: tori@familykitchen.org. Free.

FUNDRAISING

Bingo for Senior Dogs Come play bingo while supporting senior and disabled rescue dogs at RylieMay Rescue Ranch. Spider City will also donate $1 from all beverage purchases. It’s a fun, relaxed atmosphere and your friendly dogs are welcome to join. www.ryliemayrescueranch. com. Every other Thursday, 6-8pm. Spider City Brewing - Brewery Tap Room, 1177 SE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: ryliemayrescueranch@gmail. com. $1-$3 per game.

Revival Vintage Mutual Aid Fundraising Party Join Revival Vintage for a fundraiser party as they raffle off 13 pieces of custom local LED art by Dave Schwendiman, with 100% of the proceeds going to Bend Equity Project and HDFFA. DJ will be spinning vinyl and complimentary bevs will be available, courtesy of Boneyard and Silver Moon. Nov. 22, 4-8pm. Revival Vintage, 550 NW 12th st, Bend. Contact: 5037023552. shastabrook@gmail.com. Free.

EVENTS + MARKETS

Holiday Shopping at Schilling’s Farm Stand Pick up your wreath and celebrate the season at the Farm Stand! Enjoy $5 wine pours during Holiday Happy Hour (2–4pm), shop festive gifts and décor, and join our $5 Drop-In Bookmark Craft for kids (10am–12pm). Cozy fires, hot coco, and holiday cheer await—check our calendar for details! Nov. 22-25, 10am-4pm. Schilling’s Garden Market, 64640 Old Bend-Redmond HWY, Bend. Contact: 5412-323-0160. info@schillingsgardenmarket.com. Free.

Vintage Rendezvous Our clothing popup will feature a curated selection of unique vintage to modern pieces that will make your wardrobe stand out. DJ Timothy Bee will be spinning some groovy tunes to keep the vibes high as you browse through the racks.See you there! Nov. 21, 4-8pm. Upp Liquids, 550 Sw Industrial way, Bend. Contact: 5413256676. vintagehouse81@ gmail.com. Free.

BEER + DRINK

$10 Rebuy Hold’em Tournament Thursday Night $10 no limit Hold’em poker tournament at Bend Poker Room starting at 6pm. Unlimited rebuys for the first hour and an optional add-on after the first break. Friendly crowd, great vibes and action packed night! Thursdays, 6pm. Bend Poker Room, 917 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. Contact: bendpokerroom@gmail.com. $10.

$10 Wing Wednesdays A new weekly special: $10 Wing Wednesdays at Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market. Choose from one of the house-made sauces like Char Sui, This IPA BBQ and Spicy Staycay Pineapple or go naked! Wednesdays, 11am-9pm. Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market, 21175 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend. $16 Fish Taco and House Margarita

Fridays Join for 3 fish tacos and a house margarita for only $16 every Friday at Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market. Fridays, 11am-9pm. Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market, 21175 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend.

$20 Tuesdays Every Tuesday, all to-go wine bottles are $20 with the purchase of a glass. Enjoy wines you cannot find anywhere else in the world, besides our little cabin. Made exclusively for us from grapes sourced mainly in California and Oregon, many of which are biodynamic, these wines are exceptional. Tuesdays, 3-10pm. Hasta Que Olvidemos, 1142 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-241-2443.

Bourbon Tasting Event Sample Trails End Bourbon and Easy Rider Bourbon at the 3rd Street Beverage Tasting Event. Nov. 21, 3-6pm. 3rd Street Beverage, 740 NE 3rd St. Suite 5, Bend. Contact: (541) 797-0028. brianpofahl@ gmail.com. Free.

Commonwealth Pub Happy Hour It’s 5 for 5, with $5 draft beers, $5 house wines, $5 margaritas, $5 crushes and $5 well liquor. Play ping-pong, darts, cornhole, games and enjoy afternoon music on patio and indoors. Ongoing, Noon-6pm. The Commonwealth Pub, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Free.

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

Friday Happy Hour Tapas & Wine Kick off the weekend the right way! Every Friday from 4pm on, swing by for a relaxing and social evening at Elixir Wine. $10 wine specials by the glass and $2 off regular glass pours, including our own Oregon & Washington wines. Fridays, 4-7pm. Elixir Winery and Tasting Room, 11 NW Lava Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-388-5330. tastingroom@ elixirwinegroup.com. Free.

Friendsgiving Hobbit Feast Join us for a feast fit for a hobbit! Delight in a four course meal featuring Lord of the Rings inspired drinks, soup, salad, entree and dessert all worthy of a one-hundred-and-eleventieth birthday! Nov. 22, 4, 5 and 6:30pm. Pangaea Guild Hall, 652 SW Sixth St., Redmond. Contact: 541-323-0964.

Happier Hours + Power Hour $3 draft Coors Light, $5 draft beer and food cart specials that will make your taste buds dance! Mondays-Thursdays, 2-4pm and Mondays-Thursdays, 8-9pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE Fourth St., Bend. Contact: 458-256-5454. midtownyachtclub@gmail.com. Free.

Locals Day! Locals Day at the Ale! $2 off drafts and $1 off wine and cider! Wednesdays, 2pm. The Ale Apothecary Tasting Room, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: taryn@thealeapothecary.com. Free.

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

Locals’ Night at WaypointBBC Locals’ Night at WaypointBBC! $5 draft beer, $8 house red and white wine and $8 specialty cocktail. Tuesdays, Noon-10pm. Waypoint, 921 NW Mt Washington Dr., Bend. Contact: 458-206-0826. Waypointbbc@gmail.com. Free.

Meet Your Maker Wine Tasting Meet our winemaker, Tim Colla! Enjoy a casual evening of chatting with Tim while we pour tastes from our taps as well as from Tim’s newer bottle project, Bestie. Light bites and oysters aplenty. Exclusive access to purchasing bottles of this first ever release. Nov. 19, 6-8pm. Hasta Que Olvidemos, 1142 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 5412412443. $60.

Mezcal Mondays Every Monday get to know one new mezcal in cocktail form, and as a neat pour, at a discounted price. Plus all of our signature mezcal drinks are just $11 all night. Mondays, 4-11pm. The Flamingo Room, 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-323-0472.

Monday Night Football Come down for Northside’s Monday night football! Food, drinks and a raffle for your chance to win a jersey! Mondays. Northside Bar & Grill, 62860 Boyd Acres Rd., Bend. Free.

Ski Wax & a Beer Let’s get that Winter stoke fired up. $25 includes a ski/snowboard wax & a beer! Bring it on Winter! Nov. 22, Noon-4pm. River’s Place, 787 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend. $25. Stoked for Thursdays Stoked for Thursdays! Get $2 draft Stokes Lager by Boss Rambler all day long — some of the cheapest draft beer in Bend! Come get stoked with us! Thursdays. $2 Stokes Lager drafts. Yeah, you read that right. Crazy cheap beer, crazy fun vibes! Thursdays. JC’s Bar & Grill, 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Contact: 5413833000. jcsbend@gmail.com. Free. Taco & Margarita Tuesdays Enjoy 2/$10 chipotle chicken street tacos and $10 margaritas! Tuesdays, 4-9pm. Portello Wine and Spirits, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-385-1777. contact@portellobend.com. Free.

Thirsty Thursday! $7 glasses of wine/bubbles, $4 Rainiers, $10 margaritas + mules, $7 Wild Roots vodka lemonades, $12 Aperol spritz. Thursdays, 4-9pm. Portello Wine and Spirits, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-3851777. contact@portellobend.com. Free.

Tiki Tuesdays We want you to love rum as much as we do! Every Tuesday we will feature a new rum at a discounted price. Additionally all signature rum drinks will be just $11 all night. Tuesdays, 4-11pm. The Flamingo Room, 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 5413230472. info@ theflamingoroombend.com.

Wings + TRIVIA + Whiskey Enjoy $0.75 wings, $4.50 well whiskey, $6 seven & sevens while testing your knowledge with Trivia, hosted by our amazing Cole! Take on our infamous “physical” challenge - think paper airplanes, musical chairs, limbo etc! Come eat, drink and bring your A-game! Wednesdays, 7pm. JC’s Bar & Grill, 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-3833000. jcsbend@gmail.com. Free.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

All Levels Acroyoga Class Experience connection, community, and movement in this weekly acroyoga class. A stellar teaching team with a variety of skill sets will bring you unique class material each week. All levels class focusing on accessible progressions for both beginners and intermediate practitioners. Venmo @Buddy-Thomas-1 to reserve. Wednesdays, 7:45-8:45pm. Through Dec. 17. Lava City Cirque, 63075 Crusher Ave #105, Bend. $15.

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.

Men’s Connection Group Join us for an evening of sharing, support and connection. Mondays, 6:30-8pm. Living Undone, 33 NW Louisiana Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-408-1174. teddyfowler@gmail.com. Free.

NAMI Connection Peer Support Group

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for any adult who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and the groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. Mondays, 7-9pm. Contact: 503-230-8009. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.

Tarot & Tea Cozy up with a cup of warming tea while Tarot illuminates your path at The Peoples Apothecary. Kati is an Intuitive Tarot Reader offering 30-60 minute readings in this healing space. Whatever transitions you’re navigating this season, let’s explore them together. Reserve your reading ahead of time at threedeertarot.com Saturdays, 11am-2pm. Through Nov. 22. The Peoples Apothecary, 1841 NE Division Street, Bend. Contact: 5417282368. hello@threedeertarot.com. $60.

C CULTURE Dee Ford Potter is Weaving a Heartfelt Legacy

Her work is currently on display at COCC in a free exhibit

By Nic Moye

Bend artist Dee Ford Potter has poured her life story into woven arts. A 58-year retrospective collection of her work called “A Life Well Woven is on display at Central Oregon Community College’s Rotunda Gallery in the Barber Library through Dec. 7.

The art dates back to Potter’s early days. In 1967, she was studying architecture with a minor in interior design when she was required to take a weaving class. That experience changed the trajectory of her life. Since then, she estimates she’s made around 700 weavings. She has an intimate relationship with every piece she’s made.

“First of all, I’m expressing myself, but it’s like I’m birthing this piece. I don’t do a whole lot of functional pieces… I put my feelings and my emotions into my work,” she explains. Each of the 70 pieces on exhibit has a story which is written on white cards so viewers can go on the journey with her.

Among the work is a series of wall hangings representing different countries, each one the same sized square “face” with a fringe. Visitors can view the Faces of Norway, Russia and Hong Kong. Another wall hanging is made from recycled pieces of plastic that Potter would have thrown in the trash such as carpet tape, the opening strips off cat food bags, twine and spice bags, which took her a decade to save. Other artwork conveys the deep blue turbulence of the Colorado River, the dry walls of the Grand Canyon, rock formations in the Steens Mountains, the nature within National Parks and the flow over Bridal Veil Falls.

One of her larger pieces represents a tumultuous time in her life involving an illness and divorce. It begins as an organized, tightly woven piece when her life was calm and ends with a chaotic, ragged weave.

“But the nice thing is,” Potter says, “you know, this is the piece that I literally wove through the trauma and it began to heal me.”

During the interview, a group touring the COCC campus stopped by the library.

“I really did like this one. I don’t know what draws you to it,” says Lulu Segal who was on the tour. She was looking at “Going Up Please” which Potter says represents the copper button panels inside a New York elevator. “I’ve never been to New York,” Segal says, “but I feel that atmosphere a lot.”

Chelsea Jahn, also part of the group, was admiring a large wall hanging entitled “Nature’s Light.” “The light throughout the niches, they capture this place. It’s about the light throughout the day and how it changes through the seasons as well. I feel like the urban flow is such a cool depiction as well. You can totally see the seasons.”

Potter started the Central Oregon Weavers Guild in 1973 which is now called Central Oregon Spinners & Weavers Guild. She started the Weaving Guilds of Oregon, a statewide fiber arts group, in 1982. The COCC exhibit includes a notebook on a table near the library’s entrance which holds newspaper clippings and advertisements from her achievements, including two shows in Paris in the 1980s featuring her work. In 1986, she represented the U.S. in a cultural exchange with China. She’s also spent many years teaching weaving to what she estimates to be around 10,000 kids, mostly in rural parts of Oregon. She kept tiny scrap pieces of yarn from those years and wove them into a giant, colorful wall hanging, currently on the second floor of the Barber Library.

Her pieces represent every aspect of her life. “This is an old bucket to me,” Potter says, pointing to a brown and blue wall hanging with a wire handle and fringe bottom. “Growing up with summers at my grandmother’s house, we fed the ducks, the geese, the rabbits, the chickens, the pigs and, you know, they didn’t have brand new buckets. It was an old, rusty, leaky bucket,” she explains.

“I was gifted these strips of clothing from the 40s and 50s and these colors kind of remind me of a pioneer home and they did what they called rag rugs. That’s an example,” Potter says, pointing to “Big Blue, Wool Rag Pile.”

Potter has supported herself for decades by selling her woven works of art. So far, two of her pieces at COCC have sold and she received a request for a commissioned item.

The Art in the Library program at the college is so popular, artists are booked through 2028. A different artist is featured each quarter. “We try to vary the types of art that we show from photography to 3D to paintings to fabric,” explains Library Director Tina M. Hovekamp.

Potter considers the fibers hanging on the walls of the Barber Library her memoir.

“It’s an honor. I’m amazed to look at it like this,” she says, gazing with moist eyes at the two floors filled with her art. “I’ve done this. These are my pieces.”

Once this exhibit closes, she’s been invited to do a show at a gallery in Sunriver.

Dee Ford Potter: A Life Well Woven

Through Dec. 7, Mon-Thu 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-5pm

COCC Rotunda Gallery Inside Barber Library 2600 NW College Way, Bend cocc.edu/departments/library/spaces/art/ Free

SC SCREEN It’s Alive!

Guillermo del Toro and the art of the misunderstood monster

By Jared Rasic

Guillermo del Toro loves his monsters. He’s built an Oscar-winning and critically lauded career on telling stories about the darkness at the center of the world and the creatures born from it. Because there’s no one that del Toro empathizes with more than the underdog, the misunderstood beast at the end of the book that just wants to be held by their master or loved by the damsel in distress. Most of the time in del Toro’s immaculately constructed worlds, the monster is just a cracked and dirty mirror held up to our own inhumanities.

Whether it’s the selfless superhero that looks like a devil in “Hellboy,” the little girl surrounded by the nihilistic destruction of war seeking protection by the beautiful horror of fairy tales in “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the haunting of an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War by the ghost of a murdered child in “The Devil’s Backbone,” the forbidden romantic entanglement of a mute janitor and a sexy amphibian man/god in “The Shape of Water” or exploring the dance between grief and hope in “Pinocchio,” del Toro mines our collective fear of “the other” to generate empathy for what we don’t understand instead of fear.

Now taking on the most famous misunderstood monster of them all, del Toro crafts his take on Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” in a way only an auteur like himself could conjure. In fact, del Toro has been trying to get his adaptation off the ground since 2007, making this and his long-gestating realization of Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” to be his two white whales many of his fans never thought would get made. Now with “Frankenstein” released (as a Netflix original, no less), it’s easy to understand why del Toro considered the classic tale one of his passion projects. It almost feels like every project del Toro has worked on until now has been in preparation for him to pull off a Frankenstein of this scope and scale. Here’s the thing: I think long after we’re all dead, Guillermo del Toro will be remembered as a filmmaker in the same way as artists like James Whale, Boris Karloff,

In just seven days, I can make you a ma-a-a-a-annnnnn.

Alfred Hitchcock, or Rod Serling. More than a writer or director, del Toro is a showman, a carnival barker who invites you behind the curtain to see the monster, but instead of it jumping out and frightening you, it’s reading poetry and listening to classical music.

Just as with almost all of his other films, most of del Toro’s movies won’t find the audience or appreciation they deserve as new releases. His “Frankenstein” in a lot of ways feels too faithful to the novel and the 1931 original to leave one wondering why exactly del Toro was so passionate about putting his stamp on the tale. The film is packed with gorgeous and massive sets, intricately detailed production design and cinematography drenched in atmosphere and chiaroscuro. But it’s all in service of a story many of us have been familiar with most of our lives without adding many twists and turns to the tale…But I think that was exactly del Toro’s point in making this: This isn’t just “Frankenstein.” It’s “Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein” in the same way that in 2022, we had “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.” He’s adapting classic and already

iconically told tales in ways that might not be appreciated for another generation. We’re too close to it now. His “Frankenstein” isn’t perfect. Oscar Isaac’s Victor Frankenstein is so broadly played and lacking nuance in the writing that he should have a sign around his neck in neon lettering that flashes “The real monster” every time he speaks. Also, Jacob Elordi is a very conventionally attractive man whose monster is designed like a blend of The Engineers from Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” and Nebula from “The Guardians of the Galaxy.” When you look at Karloff’s Frankenstein, you can almost smell his rotting flesh coming off the screen, whereas the design of Elordi’s monster felt too antiseptic and clean to me. That’s probably just a personal preference, but I just found him far too pretty and well-mannered to instill the intensity he needed to, even though I found Elordi’s portrayal of the monster beautiful.

I wish I could have seen “Frankenstein” on the biggest screen possible instead of streaming it from Netflix on my laptop. It’s gorgeous, lush and perversely violent even as it follows story beats so familiar that they feel a part of our collective unconsciousness. But del Toro isn’t interested in how something is received now. He’s playing the long game and building a body of work meant to stand the test of time and be considered the quintessential versions of these stories. I think he definitely achieved that with “Pinocchio.” Does he do the same with “Frankenstein?” Only time will tell.

“Frankenstein”

Dir. Guillermo del Toro Grade: B+

Now Streaming on Netflix

Rats! Central Oregon Hosts an Autumn Uptick in Cohabitating Vermin

There’s a rat in my kitchen, wha’ am I gonna’ do! — UB40

By Tom Rodhouse PhD Oregon State University-Cascades

With UB40’s classic reggae hit echoing in my mind, I pondered this question for the first time since moving to Central Oregon three decades ago. Tipped off by my dogs’ unusual curiosity around the furnace vents from the cellar, sniffing the blowing air, I set a few small snap traps in anticipation of an errant deer mouse or house mouse. An increase in rodent activity with the onset of cold weather is typical in my leaky old home. I was curious, though, when the next morning I found the traps sprung and peanut butter licked clean. “Could be a bigger animal,” I thought to myself, although a true rat was not on my radar. The following morning I checked again and came upon two of the largest house mice I’d ever seen. Armed with my copy of B. J. Verts’ and Leslie Carraway’s 1996 “Land Mammals of Oregon,” a 668-page tome, the authority of which I had no reason to question, I reviewed the range maps for Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus and confirmed what I already knew — these animals are restricted to the west side of the Cascade Range.

As a professional mammalogist myself, and protégé of Verts and Carraway while studying at Oregon State University, my confirmation bias held sway until the following day. My next-door neighbor asked me to identify the roadkill out on the street, and sure enough, I was confronted with an unmistakable black rat, Rattus rattus. Its long gracile tail distinguished it from the much larger bodied but shorter tailed Norway rat. I struggled to maintain composure. The thrill of discovery and abhorrence and desire to scream at the thought of large vermin in my house competed for emotional supremacy. My neighbor tipped the scale in favor of abhorrence after producing a video taken the day prior by her husband of a black rat running along the fence in the alley behind our house in broad daylight. This was an infestation! Dazed and confused, I dashed to the hardware store to pick up some large ratsized snap traps and promptly caught one more black rat behind the wood pile that very night.

The “old world” rats, or what I consider to be “true” rats relative to the various indigenous woodrats, kangaroo rats, deer mice and ground squirrels native to Central Oregon, are thought to originate in tropical Asia. But their thorough spread around the globe as co-inhabitants of human settlements so many centuries ago obscures their origins somewhat. Rattus arrived in the Americas on the ships of conquistadores and pilgrims, stowaways amid livestock fodder and seafaring filth.

Old world rats in the Americas are represented by three species: The Norway rat, nicknamed the wharf rat; the black rat, known as the roof rat and the house mouse; and Mus musculus, a diminutive cousin of the Rattus. All three old world species are distinguished from native rodents such as the bushy-tailed woodrat, Neotoma cinereus, and deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, by their naked tails without fur covering. I add these scientific names in italics for clarity with confusing nicknames and temptation to lump all as “vermin.” In the sagebrush country east of Bend we can hear reference to “sage rats” which are in fact not rats at all but small ground squirrels.

Old world rats are smart and tame easily. It’s Rattus that is our common household pet and which served as Wormtail, Peter Pettigrew’s “animagus” in the Harry Potter books. Rattus is remarkably adaptable to new environments. A spectacular example from Germany demonstrates how a Norway rat even learned to catch bats in flight. And of course, the Norway rat, black rat and house mouse all have borne the burden of service as medical subjects that allowed for development of modern medical wonders. They are the unsung heroes and unacknowledged co-authors of thousands of New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet articles. We’d still be in the dark ages without the lab rats and mice!

Speaking of the dark ages, Rattus is also responsible for delivering the bubonic plague, the flea-borne disease known as the “black death” that killed millions during the Middle Ages. This may be one reason they freak us out so much more than our indigenous rodents. Cases of bubonic plague still pop up here and there, but rats these days represent not so much a health threat as they do a physical threat. They love to chew on things and they can cause substantial physical and economic damage to homes and businesses. There is cause for concern with increasing numbers in Central Oregon. Several longtime pest control experts that I spoke with for this article concurred that, much to my

surprise, the Norway rat has been in the area in low numbers for decades but that the black rat is relatively new, perhaps arriving sometime around 2015. They too have seen an uptick in reports and encounters this fall. I’ve now uncovered dozens of neighbors with similar stories to my own. One neighbor reported that her cat caught six black rats this summer! Whereas I interpreted the Verts and Carraway range maps as an indication that the cold and dry conditions east of the Cascade Range represented a geographic barrier to spread, the local experts suggested the arrival and successful establishment of the black rat probably has more to do with growing human population in the region. My neighbor with the ratting cat blames the trash accumulations from nearby establishments. There are anecdotal reports that rats are arriving in shipping containers and trucks bringing construction supplies. One builder recounted a specific event approximately 9-10 years ago, witnessed by multiple people, involving rats spilling out of a shipping container. It’s a plausible “founder event” scenario. But regardless of origin, one thing is clear now — black rats are here to stay in Central

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O OUTSIDE Western Rivers Conservancy buys in to preserve lands, protect wildlife

Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it

By Damian Fagan

If you haven’t heard of Western Rivers Conservancy, you’re not alone. The organization engages in purchasing private lands along Western rivers to conserve habitat, protect wildlife species at risk, and to provide public access. WRG’s motto is Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it, Way more than a slogan; it’s the core of their operation.

“We advocate by buying land and we’re usually not a policy organization,” said Nelson Matthews, Western Rivers Conservancy president. “There are a lot of other organizations around that are doing that, so we don’t.”

WRC was founded in 1988. “Our focus is on rivers and streams and protecting lands along those areas and we’ve had a real constituency for that,” said Matthews. This approach focuses on protecting habitat, clean water and to provide recreational access, through purchasing property and water rights along those rivers by working with numerous stakeholders including local communities and government agencies from county to federal.

“We started in Oregon but we’ve worked all over the West,” Matthews said. “We have a Conservation Director who helps us with where we should be working to have the most conservation impact with our time and efforts,” said Nelson. To date, WRC has protected habitat and secured access along 260 rivers and over 227,000 acres in nine states.

WRC has projects from Washington south to Arizona and Colorado. They partner with various land stewardship organizations and agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, tribes, state parks and other nonprofits with the strategy that eventually one of the partners will become the long-term protector of the acquisition. after WRC has secured it. Obtaining funding to purchase a piece of property through the Land and Water Conservation Fund takes time, but

WRC fills that gap by being able to move more quickly. “We sometimes take big risks for the environment,” said Mattews. Through various strategies, WRC generally purchases the property, then either brings in a partner they’ve been constantly in touch with or finds a new partner to convey the property to. Here are several of their projects in Oregon.

The Klamath River Blue Creek project was truly a unique project which WRC engaged in with the Yurok tribe in 2009 to protect one of the best salmon streams in the West. WRC formed a long-term partnership with the tribe to purchase 49,097 acres of land from the Green Diamond Resource Company, one of the five largest timberland owner-operators in the U.S, with holdings in nine states and with a commitment to sustainable forestry management. The acquisition included the entire watershed of lower Blue Creek, a tributary to the Klamath, and some frontage along the lower Klamath River.

The upper reaches of Blue Creek at that time were already in protected status within the Siskiyou Wilderness Area. Blue Creek is the first cold-water sanctuary for salmon and steelhead migrating up the Klamath to spawn. The cold waters of Blue Creek allow the fish to cool down in order to survive their migration to spawning beds higher up in the basin. WRC also helped the tribe establish the Yurok Tribe Community Forest that manages the forest lands in a sustainable manner. The final phase of the conveyance to the Yuroks was completed on May 30.

The John Day River is one of the longest, free-flowing rivers west of the Rocky Mountains. From its headwaters in the Blue Mountains, this river snakes its way through the high desert of central Oregon to its confluence with the Columbia River between Arlington and

The Dalles. In 2008, WRC purchased 16 miles of river frontage along the John Day which included the Murta Ranch and BLM grazing leases associated with the ranch. Hay Creek, a nearby tributary to the ranch, has one of the few spring-fed areas for spawning and rearing along the John Day River. Herds of bighorn sheep roam the once sagebrush-dotted slopes (the Ferry Fire this summer burned over 5,000 acres of sagebrush and grasslands along the river) and the riparian vegetation supports migratory songbirds that nest in the willows. Burrowing owls, grasshopper sparrows and other species nest in the drier uplands, and deer and elk may also be seen in the area. The property was conveyed to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in 2013 and then opened to the public as Cottonwood Canyon State Park.

One of the current local WRC projects is the purchase of a 647-acre parcel of private property at the confluence of Paulina Creek and the Little Deschutes River, which also borders nearly two miles of Paulina Creek and two miles of the Little D. Of primary concern for the property which is bordered on three sides by the BLM, is habitat for the Oregon spotted frog, a federally threatened species. From surveys done in 2023, this Paulina Meadows parcel had the highest density of Oregon spotted frogs along the entire 40-mile stretch of the lower Little D. In addition to this parcel, WRC also purchased another ranch in the area in December 2024 and is currently searching for a partner to permanently conserve this unique location.

“We like to say ‘we punch above our weight,’” said Nelson, referring to a small organization having a large impact in the world of conservation.

CRAFT CR For the Love of Craft Beer

Central Oregon craft breweries share why they are thankful for the elixir and what it has taught them about life

By Kimberly Bowker

It’s that time of year when we are perhaps a little more reflective about what we are thankful for in this wildly beautiful life. Here, in Central Oregon, I think that we are generally pretty grateful for such an exciting and generous craft beer scene. This year we asked folks from different breweries: Why are you thankful for craft beer and what has it taught you about life? Here are their answers. You may notice a few common threads weaving through us all.

Tony Lawrence, Founder/Brewmaster, Boneyard Beer

Craft beer has shaped my life. Thirty-six years ago, we found each other here in Bend at Deschutes Brewery. Every single year since then has been a joy. I’m thankful for the endless journeys around the world, the lifelong friendships forged along the way, and the shared love of beer that has always been the common denominator. It has taught me to stay curious and question what we think we understand. I’ve always approached beer and brewing as a blend of science and art, a balance of craftsmanship and creativity. Those same checks and balances now influence almost everything I do, but it all began in the brewery.

Valarie Doss, Co-owner Bevel Craft Brewing

It has taught me to stay curious and question what we think we understand. I’ve always approached beer and brewing as a blend of science and art, a balance of craftsmanship and creativity. Those same checks and balances now influence almost everything I do, but it all began in the brewery.

I’m thankful for craft beer because it’s been our vessel for creativity, resilience, and connection. Opening our brewery on a dime and pushing through a pandemic taught us that passion and persistence can turn challenges into growth. Most of all, craft beer has shown us the power of community. The support, love, and shared pints remind us daily why we started and why we keep going.

Brett Thomas, Director of Brewing Operations, Sunriver Brewing Company

Craft beer has this uncanny ability to bring people of varying backgrounds together. It’s not just some liquid in a glass or can — it’s history, culture, and community. That beer is a physical manifestation of someone’s work ethic, their passion, their creativity.

Speaking more to the production of craft beer than craft beer itself, I can safely say I’ve learned there is immense value in doing things the right way solely for the sake of doing things the right way. Don’t cut corners.

Brian Mitchell, General Manager, Wild Ride Brewing

Wild Ride Brewing has received so much support from our local communities in Redmond, Prineville, and Central Oregon as a whole, and it’s been a privilege to see our communities come

together through craft beer. It’s certainly taught us that there is nothing more important than building a team, as it’s their efforts, passion, and commitment that bring people together in support of our breweries and tap rooms. We couldn’t do it without an amazing team and supportive communities.

Ryan McVay, Pub Brewer, Three Creeks Brew Pub

Craft beer has always been an adventure, challenge, and reward all in one. By its nature Craft rewards those who dare to make things better than they were. I can’t stress how valuable I think that anti-apathetic mindset is. These days I appreciate the authenticity of craft beer and its human element in an increasingly digitized world. I’ve also grown to appreciate craft beers capacity as a bridge to connect with others, slow down, and enjoy simple moments.

Melanie Betti, Owner/Master Brewer, Spider City Brewing Co.

We are thankful for craft beer because it has allowed for us to share our travels around the world tasting beer and bringing those experiences related to beer back to our customers and local community!

You can find beer in every country and pretty much every continent showcasing unique flavors, styles, and types. If you love to travel as we do, and are open to tasting different kinds of beer and styles you will be thankful for this experience!

Chris Brumley, Brewmaster, Initiative Brewing

I’m thankful for craft beer because it brings people together. It’s more than what’s in the glass — it’s the community around it. I’m grateful for the local support that keeps our doors open, our taps flowing, and our team inspired. Every pint shared reminds me that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves — neighbors, friends, and regulars who make this all possible. Thank you for being the heart of our craft.

Dana Henion, Founder/Brewer,Van Henion Brewing

I am thankful for craft beer because it has given me community and a purpose. It has taught me to be strong, hardworking and to have a tolerance for the uncomfortable. I am thankful to have met my husband, and to have made lasting friendships. The brewing community is passionate about craftsmanship, comradery and enjoying life, everything I’m grateful to be a part of.

Avara Roberts, Owner, The Cellar - A Porter Brewing Company

I’ve learned a lot standing both behind the bar and behind the brand at The Cellar—how a pint can turn strangers into friends, how patience makes things better, and how pride lives in the small details. Craft beer has taught me that good things take time, that community is brewed slowly, and that life — like a proper cask ale — is best enjoyed in good company.

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of November 17, 2025 Difficulty Level:

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters F R U I T S W A N exactly once.

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “Most people never enough on their d to find out they've got a second.” - William James

Answer for the week of November 10, 2025

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

H B Y T I V A

V T A I E H R Y B

“The only reason I would take up jogging is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.” — Erma Bombeck

“The only reason I would take up jogging is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.” - Erma Bombeck

© Pearl Stark www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

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ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I recommend you explore the power and wisdom of strategic smallness: deliberately staying under the radar, choosing to remain local, and avoiding the temptation to be loud and proud. Not every good thing needs to be a big thing. Not every project needs to grow. Sometimes, like now, being intimate is better for your future than being expansive. Serving a limited goal with brilliant intensity is preferable to a mediocre effort on a major undertaking. I dare you to be in cheerful service to what comes next, not what’s on the distant horizon.

for years. Then they return, moving against river currents, up waterfalls, past bears and eagles. Eventually, they arrive at the exact stream where they were born. How do they do it? They navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field and their sense of smell, remembering chemical signatures from years ago. I think your own calling is as vivid as theirs, dear Taurus. And in the coming weeks, you will be extra attuned to that primal signal. Trust the ancient pull back toward your soul’s home.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Some seeds can remain dormant for centuries, waiting for the right conditions to germinate. The oldest successfully germinated seed was a 2,000-year-old date palm seed. I suspect you will experience psychospiritual and metaphorical versions of this marvel in the coming weeks. Certain aspects of you have long been dormant but are about to sprout. Some of your potentials have been waiting for conditions that you haven’t encountered until recently. Is there anything you can do to encourage these wondrous developments? Be alert for subtle magic that needs just a little nudge.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Orb weaver spiders make seven different types of silk, each engineered for different purposes: sticky silk for catching prey, strong silk for the web’s frame, stretchy silk for wrapping food, and soft silk for egg sacs. In other words, they don’t generate a stream of generic resources and decide later what to do with them. Each type of silk is produced by distinct silk glands and spinnerets, and each is carefully tailored for a particular use. I advise you to be like the orb weavers in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Specificity will be your superpower.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 18): Benevolent gossip is the practice of speaking about people not to diminish them but to fondly wonder about them and try to understand them. What if gossip could be generous? What if talking about someone in their absence could be an act of compassionate curiosity rather than judgment? What if you spoke about everyone as if they might overhear you—not from fear but from respect? Your words about others could be spells that shape how they exist in the collective imagination. Here’s another beautiful fact about benevolent gossip: It can win you appreciation and attention that will enhance your ability to attract the kind of help and support you need.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What if procrastination isn’t always a problem? On some occasions, maybe it’s a message from your deeper self. Delay could serve as a form of protection. Avoidance might be a sign of your deep wisdom at work. Consider these possibilities, Gemini. What if your resistance to the “should” is actually your soul’s immune system rejecting a foreign agenda? It might be trying to tell you secrets about what you truly want versus what you think you should want.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’m only slightly joking when I recommend that you practice the art of sacred bitching in the coming days. You are hereby authorized to complain and criticize with creative zeal. But the goal is not to push hard in a quest to solve problems perfectly. Instead, simply give yourself the luxury of processing and metabolizing the complications. Your venting and whining won’t be pathological, but a legitimate way to achieve emotional release. Sometimes, like now, you need acknowledgment more than solutions. Allowing feelings is more crucial than fixing things. The best course of action is saying “this is hard” until it’s slightly less hard.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Chinese concept of yuanfen means that some connections are fated. Certain people were always meant to cross your path. Not soulmates necessarily, but soul-evokers: those who bring transformations that were inscribed on your destiny before you knew they were coming. When you meet a new person and feel instant recognition, that’s yuanfen. When a relationship changes your life, that’s yuanfen. When timing aligns impossibly but wonderfully, that’s yuanfen. According to my analysis, you Leos are due for such phenomena in the coming weeks— at least two, maybe more. Some opportunities appear because you pursue them. Others were always going to arrive simply because you opened your mind and heart.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every 21,000 years, the Sahara Desert transforms into a lush green savanna. It’s due to precession, which is a wobble in the Earth’s axis. The African seasonal monsoon becomes much stronger, bringing increased rainfall to the entire area. The last time this occurred was from about 11,000 to 5,000 years ago. During this era, the Sahara supported lakes, rivers, grasslands, and diverse animal and human populations. I’m predicting a comparable shift for you in the coming months, Pisces. The onset of luxuriant growth is already underway. And right now is an excellent time to encourage and expedite the onset of flourishing abundance. Formulate the plans and leap into action.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Japanese word mushin means “no mind.” In Zen Buddhism, it refers to the state of flow where thinking stops and being takes over. When you are moving along in the groove of mushin, your body knows what to do before your brain catches up. You’re so present you disappear into the action itself. Athletes refer to it as “the zone.” It’s the place where effort becomes effortless, where you stop trying and simply love the doing. In the coming weeks, Aries, you can enjoy this state more than you have in a long time. Ride it with glee!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For the foreseeable future, salmon are your spirit creatures. I’ll remind you about their life cycle. They are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, and live there

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Let’s talk about a forest’s roots. Mostly hidden from sight, they are the source of all visible life. They are always communicating with each other, sharing nourishment and information. When extra help is needed, they call on fungi networks to support them, distributing their outreach even further. Your own lineage works similarly, Virgo. It’s nutrient-rich and endlessly intertwined with others, some of whom came long before you. You are the flowering tip of an unseen intelligence. Every act of grounding— breathing deeply, resting your feet, returning to gratitude—is your body’s way of remembering its subterranean ancestry. Please keep these meditations at the forefront of your awareness in the coming weeks. I believe you will thrive to the degree that you draw from your extensive roots.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are currently in a phase when it’s highly possible to become both smarter and wiser. You have a sixth sense for knowing exactly how to enhance both your intellectual and emotional intelligence. With this happy news in mind, I will remind you that your brain is constantly growing and changing. Every experience carves new neural pathways. Every repeated thought strengthens certain connections and weakens others. You’re not stuck with the brain you have, but are continuously building the brain that’s evolving. The architecture of your consciousness is always under construction. Take full advantage of this resilience and plasticity!

Homework: Give yourself a pep talk about how to thrive when other people aren’t at their best. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

THE MEDICINE CABINET WITHIN

HOLISTIC MEDICINE AND YOUR POWER TO BE WELL

By Joshua Phillips, ND

IV Nutritional Therapy: Optimizing Cellular Metabolism

The focus of nutrition in every form through diet and supplements has become a cornerstone of medicine, and important for anyone interested in treating disease states as well as improving health and vitality. While taking in nutrition and supplements

responses to bacteria and viruses. Much research has been done on this topic, particularly on vitamin C administration for everything from the common cold to Covid 19 and more serious respiratory infections. A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Immunology

or have complications from colds and flus or have other underlying conditions compromising optimal immune

Healing Arts Center in Bend, Oregon. He can be reached at docnaturecure@gmail. com with questions or comment.

TAKE ME HOME

By Will Hubbard, Broker, REMAX Key Properties

Bend’s True Property Value: Its People

With the chaos of the world accessible at our fingertips, it’s easy to get detached from what is right in front of us, something special. We don’t just enjoy the mountains, the Deschutes and the public lands that surround us, we also benefit from those who bind us together. Built by locals, newcomers and everyone in between, this article is about those who have had an outsized impact on life here in Bend. But first, let’s talk about human connection.

Since 1938, a Harvard study has followed 724 people’s lives. The study keeps landing on the same conclusion: close relationships are the strongest predictor of happiness and physical health, more than money, fame, or IQ (Harvard Health, 2023). Almost a century of happiness research shows that everyday interactions with family, friends and quick chats with strangers are the best ingredients to a good life (NYT, 2025). Psychologists also found that people who had the same piece of chocolate at the same time as someone else rated it as richer and more intense than people who tasted it alone (Psychological Science, 2014). If a single bite of chocolate becomes more meaningful when it’s shared, let me tell you about the people who are creating meaningful places in Bend.

I’ll start with John Kish of Greenhouse Cabaret. He’s built a beautiful place for the theater community. He grew up in Oregon, moved to New York City and left Broadway to bring that magic back to Bend. His most

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$725,000

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recent production of Once, the Musical sold out. One of his biggest fans, Laura Thompson, is behind something major for the growing arts community here with the Central Oregon Center for Performing Arts.

Big reader? Forget Amazon. Just call Dudley’s and order that book. It will be there in a couple of days and you can drop in to chat with Tom or Amy. That experience alone is worth more than the dollars you save when a package arrives at your door (in five days).

Like to chat sports? Go have lunch at Cuba Kitchen and talk with Chris about any team in the NFL. More of a music person? The Commonwealth Pub has music seven nights a week, thanks to Dan. Nearby you have the Volcanic Theatre Pub. It’s the best time of year to see a show there. Like a cheese plate? Drop by Wild Petals and chat with Nancy. You’ll walk away happy and ready to host.

I’m grateful to have wonderful neighbors. They organize a weekly happy hour and welcome everyone. Thank you Jane, Jim, Catherine, Andy, Carolyn. Your hospitality spans four decades and it’s contagious. This town is built on people like you who celebrate the shared experience.

Bend’s beauty doesn’t come from its scenery alone. It’s multiplied by the laughter, music and conversations we share, indoors and out. Each time we show up for one another, this town grows closer to what we all imagine it can be. Shared experiences don’t just amplify life, they’re the whole point.

LOW 50874 Doe Loop, La Pine 3 bed,  1.5 bath, 1,874 square feet; 1 acre Built in 1978

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The days are short and the air is cold. This can only mean one thing... Winter recreation season has arrived!

It’s now time to switch over our tires, apply a fresh coat of wax to the skis, and stock up on this season’s newest gear.

Don’t miss this perfect opportunity to reach

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