The Commuter - March 2025

T H E

L I N N - B E N T O N

C O M M U N I T Y

C O L L E G E

MARCH

VOL. 56 EDITION 7

2025

beyond the

classroom: with Shannon Harbert

executive entanglement How Trump Administration Changes Might Affect LBCC

pg. 08

pg. 20

southern coast sun

Discovering the Hidden Gems of the Southern Oregon Coast

letter editor

It’s also when the burnout starts, in my experience. With so much to do, there’s the urge to put school on the back burner to focus on everything else that’s going on. The weather makes it so the last thing I want to do is be on my computer – but sometimes it can help with school. Some crocuses sprouting in the yard helped me breeze through a photography project, and walks in the still-crisp air have helped clear my head when I’m stuck on a writing assignment.

It’s our hope at The Commuter that this month’s edition helps you make it through the last push to spring break to enjoy some time off in the sunny outdoors. I know I can’t wait to shut my laptop once my last final is completed and enjoy some stress-free time in the fresh air. That is, of course, assuming Oregon doesn’t throw its usual curveball of cold rain storms right when you think winter is finally over.

Forecast concerns aside, have a great spring break, Roadrunners.

from the

M

arch is here, and spring is just around the corner.

Each installment of this column ends up as a variation on the theme of time flying by, and this one is no exception. It feels like winter term just started and yet it’s already time to prepare for finals week and spring break.

Summer is looming, too. It’s great to have some more daylight when I drive home from my late classes. Although the start of winter term lines up with the new year, spring term always feels the most “new” as the weather starts to dramatically change and post-school year plans start to finalize.

about us

The Commuter is the student-run magazine for LBCC, financed by student fees and advertising. Opinions expressed in The Commuter do not necessarily reflect those of the LBCC administration, faculty and students of LBCC. Editorials, columns, letters, and cartoons reflect the opinions of the authors.

LBCC is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

letters welcome

The Commuter encourages readers to use its “Opinion” section to express their views on campus, community, regional and national issues. The Commuter attempts to print all submissions received, but reserves the right to edit for grammar, length, libel, privacy concerns and taste. Opinions expressed by letter submitters do not represent the views of The Commuter staff or the college.

Ryland Bickley Editor-in-Chief

join the team

Wanna get together? We’re really nice and fairly cool and we’d love to hear what you have to say. Not big on journalism but love to journal? Perfect. Are you a STEM major with major opinions?

Let’s hear ’em. Like writing about ’80s film? Local animals?

Snack hacks? Maybe you have a hefty folder of flash fiction on your laptop, just dying to be published and printed. Drop us a line. We’d love to meet you, read you, and support you. Think your ideas might be too weird or too niche for submission? Even better. The Commuter is an award-winning publication because of our wide range of contributions and our unique contributors.

So reach out. We’ll be staring at our email inbox in the meantime, not an ounce of chill to be had. cover photo by BRENDA AUTRY

editor-in-chief RYLAND BICKLEY

design editor

KAILYN MCQUISTEN

photo editor

SARAH ROSE LARSON

feature editor EMILY JIMERSON

sports editor

ETHAN BIRMINGHAM

marketing director CHRIS PATTERSON

reviews

STEVEN PRYOR MASON WILLS

advisor

ROB PRIEWE

contributors

ANTHONY DREWS AYDEN HORTT BRENDA AUTRY BRITTANY KING MICAH TEAGUE MIKA WINDER MIKE MCREYNOLDS SCOTT SUTHERLIN SID MYDLAND

in this issue:

staff

04

beyond the classroom

with Shannon Harbert

08

executive entanglement

How Trump Administration Changes Might Affect LBCC

12

center celebration

Benton Center Celebrates Remodels with Ribbon Cutting

14

student spotlights

with Ethan Haury and Anna Bell

16

18

at Corvallis’ Winter Market

Carsyn Meyer's LBCC Journey

keeping it fresh

a call to coach

20

southern coast sun

Discovering the Hidden Gems of the Southern Oregon Coast

24

atomic beachfront property

Band Spotlight with Sit Pretty

28

29

Made with Love

Movie Review

K Teriyaki

WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME HERE? JOIN THE TEAM!

Paddington in Peru

beyond the

classroom: with Shannon Harbert

interview by RYLAND BICKLEY photo by BRENDA AUTRY

N

oon on a Saturday is about the last time you’d expect an instructor to be accessible for something that isn’t urgent.

However, LBCC math faculty Shannon Harbert, self-described as “hyper-available,” was able to make that time slot work for her interview. Her passion for teaching math and making sure STEM students get the support they need was easy to see.

Over the 30-minute interview, she described her unorthodox path to teaching, book recommendations, and even obliged an impromptu explanation of differential equations to a curious interviewer (inquiring minds can check The Commuter website).

What's your role at LBCC, and what classes do you teach?

I'm a math faculty. I'm just now, this term, finishing my 19th year. I did 10 years as a part-time math faculty, and this is now me finishing my ninth year as a full-time faculty. I never wanted to work anywhere else, so I just waited and waited. … I'm also the liaison between the math department and the Learning Center. Back during my 10 years of part-time, for two years of it, I was full-time, classified contract, where I worked at the help desk. (Math faculty) Mike Storrs and I were partners in crime, and that was before I had my first kid. So that was 13 years ago.

The Learning Center is very special to me. My role is – besides teaching math – to really highlight, accentuate, and make sure students are aware of all of our support services. It's a real passion of mine, making sure they understand the differences between the one-on-one tutoring, the math help desk, the drop-in help, the Zoom help, and just all the possible options that they have out there.

What do I teach? Well, anything. We offer [23 math classes], and there are only a couple I haven't done. Now, this term, I'm teaching vector calc 2 besides the other classes I'm teaching. … I like to live in the upper 200-levels. Part of it is just out of selfishness – the material is really fun, and it's just really fun being around students

who are particularly passionate, either out of desire or need, about the material, because they know they're going to use it in their junior-level classes.

Most of my students are STEM students, mostly engineers. But I get lucky and have some math majors and some physicists and some computer science and some other kinds – and some students who just come off the street and just want to take math classes, which is always random and fun. But yeah, I can teach anything. Last year, I taught 111 and 95, but my passion is taking the classes that not as many other people choose to take.

It's two-parted. I like it – that's the selfish product – but I'm good at it, and I'm there for them is what I mean. Like a guide. I'm doing it for them. … The point is, why do I mostly teach the upper-level stuff? It’s because the material is really fun, but mostly it's the student body, the student population. I get to just be with people who are nerds like me.

How did you get into teaching? Was this something that you always knew you wanted to do, or something you found later on?

No, and this is the funny part. In high school, I was in AP everything. And this was a million years ago, and I just got burned out.

I was really into chemistry and AP chemistry, but I was in AP calc, AP bio, all that stuff.

It sounds braggy, but trust me, it's coming to a point here. And I moved out my senior year. … I moved out of my house and got a job and still went to school, and was like, “This isn't working and I’m burned out.” So I joined the Army.

I took a five-year break and was in the Army for four years. I was in Germany for three – I wanted to get out the whole time, but they don't let you do that, by the way. So I stuck with it for the four years I signed up for.

All I knew was I wanted to go back to Portland. I wanted to work at a pub, get a cat, live by myself, and go to school at PSU. And I didn't know what to go to school for, because I'd been gone for five years. So I was

like, “Well, I was an AP chem tutor.” And I was a huge nerd about that stuff, so I decided to major in chemistry. One year into it, I was like, “I just like the math.” I don't really enjoy lab reports, not knocking chemistry. But that's not really what I liked about it, I guess.

So my sophomore year, I was 24 and I switched to math. … And I was like, “I'm gonna get a Ph.D. in math.” And then I thought I was gonna go do this thing called CO2 sequestration – I thought I was gonna go into industry. All I knew was I wasn't gonna teach. That's for sure. … And then I started teaching in grad school, because that's how you get the full ride. And then I was like, “Well, this is fun.” But lots of things are fun. This is still not what I want to do.

And then I started working at LBCC, because somebody approached me about it back in 2006 and I was still in grad school.

I have two master’s, so the first master’s is in pure math, and I was going for the Ph.D., and I did all the coursework for the Ph.D. before I realized I was in it for the wrong reasons. It was ego, not enjoyment. … So, I started teaching at LB, and I was like, “I love these people here. This is fun.” … I did that for a couple years. I graduated, quit the Ph.D. program, got the master’s, but did a whole other year of the Ph.D. program.

I quit that, and then I had a year where I didn't know what I was doing.

So then I got a job teaching at Sweet Home High School. … I went back and got another master's degree in math education, and in that degree, realized I didn’t want to teach K-12. … I'd rather deal with grownup students. So my passion is dealing with students who are wanting to be there, at least somehow, somebody's paying for them to want to be there. And that's when I went on the journey of waiting and waiting to get full-time employment.

You have to wait for somebody to retire or move away. Luckily, I didn't get it when I applied the first time. I applied twice in total; the first time I didn't get it. And I won't name who did, but I'm so glad she did. She's

COMMUTER

5

amazing. She had 10 years experience full-time on me. Then I had kids, and so that was perfect.

So I just did part-time for many more years.

And now I couldn't imagine… I make jokes with my students. I'm like, “So guys, my trajectory was to sit in front of a computer and a cubicle and not talk to people all day.

Does that sound like me?” They're like, “No,” and I'm like, “Yeah, I didn't know.” So I try to be a good advisor, because I did not get good advising. I double-majored in German.

Why not physics or electrical engineering or computer science or anything else that could have helped me? Oh well.

Are you fluent in German?

No, I lived there for three years. I did it in high school. It was just for fun. I can get around, but I can't talk about your dreams and thoughts, for example. But I could ask where the bathroom is and order dinner.

You have one of the best Rate My Professor profiles I think I've ever seen from an instructor at LB. What's your teaching philosophy and what makes it so well-liked by your students?

Only because I've been doing this so long, I don't mind talking about it. I think it's because I can relate to them and I treat them like people, like friends. I mean, I have boundaries, and I have deadlines and I grade stuff still, but I make sure to be really clear and organized. I try to make sure that they understand what I'm expecting of them, and I haven't forgotten when things are hard, why they're hard, and how they're hard. I haven't forgotten that and I give them lots of feedback, and I'm hyper-available.

I make jokes about how I don't have any boundaries because I'm currently on Discord

– students are texting me on there right now; 8 at night; Sunday morning. I regularly go in on days off, and sometimes meet with students, too. But I just think it's my availability and that I try to keep it fun.

I always put on nice music in the morning to warm the classroom up, and I just think I've been told that I explain things clearly. … I think it's just that I'm clear, and what's expected is clear and it's an easy, relaxed environment – and hyper-availability. … A lot of people have the curriculum knowledge, or whatever. I mean, that's not the problem. For some, it's just they don't feel like they could ever find their teacher. That also drives me crazy. A lot of my colleagues, it's hard to find them. Some you can find just like you can find me. There are a lot of faculty you can't just find randomly in the hallway.

What are your music picks to warm up class in the morning?

Oh, I like teasing. I like weirding my students out. So it'll be anything – Lofi Girl, or sometimes I'll just put a fireplace on, crackling. But I also like to put on hardcore rap or something. Just so they're like, “What?

You listen to who?”

I'm a product of the ’80s and ’90s, so I've seen lots of people in concert. It's just funny, most of the students could be my kids.

That's how old I am now, which is fine. But I'm like, “I saw Nirvana in concert. Did you?

Do you know who they are?” It's just funny.

So no, I don't have a norm. Usually it's either something super silly or just something chill. I like to play songs when they're taking too long on a quiz or something. I'll play something like, “If You Don't Know Me by Now.” I just make that start playing.

What would you like to tell students

who are interested in taking STEM at LBCC? Oh, man – do it. We have the most loving faculty. We have lots of options. We have people in charge of when our classes are offered who are trying to work with OSU schedules too. So I highly recommend being DPP. I mean, we're a third the class size, a third the cost, we are not “publish or perish.”

If we do any research, it's to research how to be better teachers, or research for fun, like I'm researching vector calc to be a better teacher, and that's all.

I'm not saying that our sister school is only like that, but for the cost, for the reachability, for the class size – and I have a lot of my OSU students say that one of the biggest draws, besides price and class size, is how their teacher actually knows their name.

And our passion, again. If we're at LB, it's a competitive process to get a job at LB. A full-time faculty position – I think 60 people applied when I applied, but it was luckily a position for three and two other people got hired. And the time before that when I applied, it was 40 people who applied for one position. So we really do pick the kind of people that we want to work with, people that students hopefully will relate to.

And then you can always take a STEM class and see what it's like. You don't have to marry into it. I do recommend that people try to be as well-rounded as possible and take as many other classes, like anthropology and women's studies, for example. I talk to my engineers about that a lot. I want them to not just take STEM classes. They need to be well-rounded members of society.

Continued on page 12.

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Community Education

COMMUTER

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words by SID MYDLAND AND RYLAND BICKLEY

W

hen Donald Trump was inaugurated as the United States’ 47th president on Jan. 20, it marked the beginning of a period of upheaval in the federal government. Trump signed 26 executive orders on his first day in office, with the total rising to 37 in the first week – not counting various pardons, memorandums, and proclamations, as well as the actions of other members of his administration.

One such memo that many college students noticed was released on Jan. 27, with Matthew J. Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, instructing agencies to pause all federal financial assistance.

The memo excluded Social Security and Medicare from its scope, but the status of federal student aid was not made clear. While the Department of Education later clarified

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that the pause (which was later rescinded) did not apply to student aid, there was confusion at first regarding what it did and didn’t affect.

“It was very concerning when that memo hit,” said Karen Smith, senior policy advisor and general counsel for the Oregon Community College Association. “We had several colleges that experienced an inability to access some of their federal grant funds. Thankfully, it was overturned pretty quickly … That was certainly a day of a lot of anxiety.”

However, the initial reach of the memo sparked questions about just how much federal changes from the Trump administration could affect students at LBCC. On the topic of federal student aid, Smith remained confident in its security despite the January scare: “There will be some changes that come from the federal government around federally-funded grants and contracts in particular, and we have to be prepared for that. But my belief is that student financial aid will not be part of those programs that are under review at this point.”

Federal aid wasn’t the only entity addressed by the Trump administration, with the president releasing executive orders relating to gender and sex, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs, and illegal immigration, among others.

In Executive Order 14168, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” section 2f, the Trump administration argues that “gender ideology” erases the “biological category of sex,” replacing it with the idea that “males can identify as and thus become women and vice versa, and require all institutions of society to regard this false claim as true.”

LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD says these terms change an immutable characteristic of a person into politics.

“We have protections in Oregon law that are different,” said Smith regarding the order.

“I think that's one area where we're certainly watching closely and looking at it for reporting purposes – what are we required to report to the

federal government versus the state government, and where there might be conflicts.”

Order 14201, “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” aims to ban transgender women and girls from competing in sports at any institution that receives federal funding.

LBCC’s athletic conference, the NWAC, allows the participation of transgender studentathletes in its 2024-25 rulebook, which states: “A transgender male (female to male) studentathlete who has received a medical exception for treatment with testosterone for gender transition may compete on a men’s team but is no longer eligible to compete on a women’s team. … A transgender female (male to female) student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication for gender transition may continue to compete on a men’s team but may not compete on a women’s team until completing one calendar year of documented testosterone-suppression treatment.”

Previously, the NCAA, which governs athletics at four-year colleges and universities, had followed a sport-by-sport approach to

ECUTIVE TANGLEMENT How Trump administration changes are, aren’t, and could be affecting LBCC

transgender participation, first instituted in 2022. The ruling lined up with the Olympics’ policy at the time, requiring athletes to document “sport-specific testosterone levels” at different points in the season for eligibility.

Trump's new executive order applies to school children and teens all the way to college sports, citing his interpretation of Title IX. The NCAA no longer allows trans women to compete on women’s teams.

However; NWAC Executive Director Marco Azurdia told The Commuter that the conference is not currently expected to change its policy, although it will continue to monitor the executive order and its effects.

In Order 14151, “Ending Radical and Wasteful DEI Programs and Preferencing,” the Trump administration states that any federal program or position deemed to be related to DEI, DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility), or environmental justice can and will be dissolved.

However, a U.S. district judge largely blocked this order on Feb. 21, deeming it unconstitutional.

“U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson said that the government could not freeze or cancel ‘equity-related’ contracts, nor could it require recipients of grants to certify that their programs do not promote DEI," reported CNN. Trump also issued Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” Section 4 of the order, titled “Encouraging the Private Sector to End Illegal DEI Discrimination and Preferences,” mentions “potential civil compliance investigations” for corporations with over $500 million in assets and non-profits, medical associations, and colleges/universities

“There's no clear definition of what diversity, equity, and inclusion includes, or how it's defined,” said OCCA's Smith.

“Certainly, colleges are looking at those programs and making sure that we will certainly always comply.”

Order 14173 specifically should not apply to LBCC, but it could affect Oregon

“...many orders are directed at the secretary of state or the attorney general...making community colleges harder to immediately affect.”

State University. The Albany DemocratHerald reported in February that although temporary court injunctions had “halted” most potential effects on funding, the status of the university’s many research projects remains uncertain.

There’s been a lot of new information, and many of the orders have been challenged in court.

“I think with a lot of these we try to take a wait-and-see approach and just make sure we're understanding everything,” said Matt Scotton, LBCC’s public information officer. “Our main goal with the uncertainty is to make sure that we're keeping our students informed of how they're being affected by this.”

“To my knowledge, nothing has concretely changed,” said Scotton when asked if any of the executive orders have directly altered something at LBCC.

“Our main goal with the uncertainty is to make sure that we're keeping our students informed of how they're being affected by this.” with endowments of $1 billion or more. The order aims to develop strategies to “encourage” the private sector to comply with the federal government’s stance on DEI. Following the order, the Department of Education’s Craig Trainor sent out a letter on Feb. 14 stating that college practices considering race in processes such as admissions and financial aid were “pervasive and repugnant” forms of “racial discrimination.”

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blue politics could limit the Trump administration’s reach.

“I think we're fortunate to live in a state that has very strong laws around discrimination and equity and the protection of undocumented individuals, some of whom are attending our institutions,” said Smith.

“We have a very strong sanctuary promise

“LBCC is, and remains, in full compliance with state and federal laws,” wrote LBCC President Lisa Avery in a Feb. 27 email. “Our open access foundation, coupled with our theme of providing Education for All, leaves LBCC in good standing legally and politically.”

Oregon hasn’t voted for the Republican candidate in a presidential election since Ronald Reagan, and the state’s staunchly

law in Oregon that's been on the books since 1987 so I think we're probably in a better position because of that.”

Smith said that executive orders that contain vague definitions, such as the word “woke,” make them susceptible to lawsuits due to interpretation. She added that many orders are directed at the secretary of state or the attorney general rather than specific institutions, making community colleges harder to immediately affect. “[The executive orders] can direct the secretary to make recommendations, but a lot of the funding and other programs, especially those in the Department of Education, are created by Congress through law or regulation,” said Smith. “We have processes that have to be gone through in order to change those, either by Congress passing another law or the department engaging in regulatory rule-making.”

“When you look at those executive orders, you have to read beyond the headline.”

Still, both Smith and Scotton said that the OCCA and LBCC are closely monitoring the rapidly-changing legal landscape.

Scotton said he continues to work closely with school officials, state agencies, and community partners to properly communicate to students any important information. “I don't know that there's necessarily fear, but just wait and see what happens,” he said. “At the end of the day, our mission is to continue providing education for all – that means everybody in our community, and we want to keep that affordable and accessible to everyone.”

CENTER CELEBRATION

Benton Center Celebrates Remodels with Ribbon Cutting words and photo by MIKE MCREYNOLDS

▲ (Left to right) Corvallis Campus Director Jeff Flesch, former LBCC Foundation Board of Trustees President Penny York, and LBCC President Lisa Avery welcome in the new Learning Center with a ribbon cutting.

S

tudents and staff gathered at the 100-year-old Washington Elementary School building that is now LBCC’s Benton Center in Corvallis to celebrate the completed remodel and expansion of the learning and testing areas.

Remodeling started last year and was completed by spring term. The ribbon cutting was delayed until winter term to coincide with the building’s 100th birthday.

LBCC President Lisa Avery did the honors of cutting the ribbon after thanking all the people who made the remodel possible. Most of all, Avery thanked the voters of Benton County for passing the levy, with 71% of them voting yes, that paid for upgrades to LBCC’s Benton Center, Child Care Center, and the courtyard on the main campus, as well as the construction of the Agriculture Center.

The new and improved Benton Learning Center and testing area will help more students for years to come.

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The Benton Center building started as a grade school in 1925, named after the United States’ first president, George Washington. It has never looked better; the Learning Center and the testing area have a bigger and better layout with improvements for the students as well as the staff.

The crowd of 30-40 people enjoyed wine, cheese, crackers, fruit, and birthday cupcakes. Past instructors plus past and current members of the LBCC Foundation board mingled together admiring how well the century-old building looked after the upgrades. Jeff Davis, board chairman, spoke, thanking the voters for participating in getting the projects funded. He also wanted to recognize the staff, past and present, for all their hard work.

There were a few more speakers reminding everyone what special places the Benton Center and Chinook Hall are to the surrounding community – from young children all the way up to the 102-year-old who takes a wellness class on balancing.

beyond the

classroom: with Shannon Harbert Continued from page 6.

What’s your life like outside of LB? I'm married to my husband, Ryan, and he's an electrical engineer. He's been where he works now for over 20 years. He comes in almost every term to Brian Reed's engineering class – his intro class – and the students don't know it's my husband because they don't know me yet, because they're not in 200-level stuff yet. But Brian Reed is one of my best friends, and so my husband will go in and give them talks, just what it’s like to be an engineer.

Then I've got my daughter, Penelope.

She's in seventh grade, and my son, Dustin, is in fifth grade. He's taking after me with the math and that sort of thing. And my daughter's really into arts and humanities and drawing and reading.

But besides family, I cook a lot. I cook every day. I like to cook from scratch. I like to make pies. Pi Day is coming up, and I'm gonna make a bunch of pies for that.

We're buying a bunch of pies for that. …

I like things that start with “C” – children, cooking, cats, camping. We camp a lot.

We've already got four trips planned this summer, and we like to raft. So we're rafting the Grande Ronde. So yeah, rafting and animals and cats and chickens and hamsters and mice. … I'm reading, lots of reading.

Thousands of books.

What books are you reading right now?

Science fiction and fantasy right now.

I'm re-reading “Dune.” There are a bunch of books, but I don't remember “Dune” well enough to watch the third movie when it comes out, so I need to re-read them.

Another really good one is “The ThreeBody Problem.” It's a trilogy, but it's one of those ones where the first book is so good that my kids know the storyline because I can’t stop talking about it. This was a couple years ago. But it's a Chinese translation, and it's just too many people to keep track of, and names that I'm not good at keeping and picturing, so I have to start over.

Honestly, we mostly just hang out a lot. My family's all playing video games right now, and mostly my hobby is work.

I like feeling good, and I feel good when things are graded and emails are met and my students are happy and I know what I'm teaching. And then anytime after that is cooking and camping.

Read the full interview on lbcommuter.com.

COMEDIAN BEN PALMER

-Friday, March 28 -6pm to 9pm -Tripp Theatre -FREE Admission, Donations Accepted COMMUTER

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Student Spotlight: Music Production

Ethan Haury interview by EMILY JIMERSON photo by AYDEN HORTT

What is your major and year in school?

I'm a second-year music production and audio engineering major.

What made you choose music production and audio engineering?

I think my senior year of high school, I kind of thought I knew what I wanted to do, but then that kind of changed, so I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. And one of my friends who I sang in choir with at my high school, he was going to be doing the music production program at LB. So I looked into it and what music production was and all that. So I decided that I wanted to do it after I did my research. It seemed really interesting. So that's kind of what got me into music production.

Plus I love music and I’ve been singing in choir for I think nine years at this point. So I wanted to do something music-related. [Audio engineering is] another aspect of music production. It's like engineering audio, manipulating the audio to make it sound different.

What brought you to LBCC? I'm dual-enrolled at LB and OSU, and I wanted to take as many of my classes at LB as I could before transferring over to OSU since the classes are cheaper and smaller. Also, my sister went here for her first two years. So I figured it would be a good place to go for my first two years of college.

Was choir what sparked your love for music or was there anything else?

Oh yeah, that was definitely what sparked my love for music. I started in the second semester of my sixth grade year because I didn't want to do it my first semester. I was like, oh, choir is dumb, or whatever. But then I joined and I absolutely fell in love with singing and music. I went to Calapooia Middle School and it was just a beginner sixth-grade choir called “treble chorus.”

And then my seventh and eighth grade year I did the men's choir, as well as the acapella choir in middle school. And then I did a couple more choirs in high school.

What is your favorite genre of music to create versus your favorite genre to listen to?

I like listening to basically any genre except for country music. Whatever sounds good. As for 14

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creating, probably lo-fi music, which is a chiller, somewhat upbeat kind of music that you can relax to and do homework to. So that's a lot of fun.

What does your process of producing music look like?

I think when starting out, you have to come up with a song form for the song that you want to make. So you have to decide if you want an intro and outro, and how long you want your verses and your choruses to be. And then you want to decide what instruments you want to use.

When it comes to making music, at least when I've worked on projects in class, it's usually been with a partner, but we've kind of just started. We come up with a little melody for a bass instrument or whatever, and then we just go from there and build off of it. It turns into a song that grows as we work on it. But I think definitely deciding what instruments you want in the song and coming up with a strong song structure is important when creating music.

Could you tell me about some of your classes that you're taking?

Yeah, so obviously I have my music production class. That's where we spend a lot of time learning how to use Pro Tools, which is the industry standard

DAW (digital audio workstation). We also learn how to use the [mixing] console that we have in our production classroom.

We learn how to mix music, which is essentially steadying levels and then applying an audio effects processor to the different tracks, that way it all sounds pretty clean and clear.

I'm also taking a music theory class, learning how to create different chords and whatnot. And then I have an aural skills class, which is learning to listen to different intervals and learning to use your ear, essentially. Then I have my choir class, which is an absolute blast. I'm also taking voice lessons.

Are there any music artists or professors who you look up to?

I don't think that there are any music artists I look up to, but I definitely admire all my professors. My music theory and aural skills instructor, Bill Whitley, he's the same instructor for both those classes. He's really smart and he composes music and he's really good at it, so I think that's really cool. My music production instructor, Buddy Anderson, is also really good at teaching the production classes that he does. So I like him a lot as well. I like all my instructors.

Continued on page 16.

Student Spotlight: Civil Engineering

Anna Bell interview by EMILY JIMERSON photo by AYDEN HORTT

Luckily though, in my math class, and it's about the same ratio, I created good acquaintances and friendships with the girls in that class. We get along really well, and we work together to build each other up. I think having a strong unity within the girls in the class helps so much, so you don't feel alone, so you don't feel like you're pushed out of the way. There can be times where you might feel overshadowed by a guy and having a girl by your side or having her say, “You've got this, you know what you're doing,” helps a lot.

What is your major and year in school?

My major is civil engineering, and this is my second term here at LB. Could you tell me a bit about yourself and where you're from?

I'm from Lebanon in Oregon. I was originally born in Denver, Colorado, but once the 2008 recession hit, my parents unfortunately had to file for bankruptcy and we moved out here to Oregon in Baker City, where the majority of my family is.

So my grandparents, my cousins, my aunts and uncles all reside there. But then we saw that Baker City had little to no opportunity academically, same with money and stuff. My parents weren't making much and they just wanted to make more money. My dad got a job offer here in Tangent, and we just had to pick everything up and move over here. It was a little hard considering that I was going to be entering third grade at the time, but we just adjusted and I've been here since.

Are there any professors or people in your life who you look up to as a role model?

Yeah, this is going to sound really cheesy, but my mom – she’s had a really crazy life. She unfortunately had to move out of the house at a very young age and start earning money for the family. Her father

unfortunately passed away, so she's always been a very hardworking woman: always persevered, never let anything get her down type of person. So she would definitely be the number one person that I think of.

Another person would probably be my ex-manager at Hobby Lobby. I thought she hated me initially, but I realized she was a very stern and strong woman, and I wasn't really accustomed to it at the time because I never got introduced to a woman like that. And it was nice. I loved it because she taught me that you can speak your mind and you can speak your truth. Unfortunately in the engineering program, in every single one of my classes, whether it's math or chemistry, I'm one of five or six women. It's a very male-dominated atmosphere. So my ex-manager, she really taught me to be stern and to be strong and not be afraid of who hears it or not.

What has your experience been like in such a male-dominated field?

So as of recently, predominantly my chemistry class, most of the guys have either a higher-level understanding of chemistry, or they think they have a higher understanding of chemistry than what they're in, which doesn't build a great atmosphere for people trying to learn. … Just feeling really overshadowed by how many more guys there are in the class.

What do you do for work?

I'm a math tutor through LBCC’s tutoring program. I really do enjoy tutoring. I enjoy helping people. I always have. If somebody has a problem, I enjoy being able to be the first one that they can go to for help or that they can go to ask any questions that they need that their professors might not be able to.

Right now I'm tutoring Math 251 and below.

Hopefully next year I'll be able to tutor Math 252 and below. But as well as math, I'm also tutoring Spanish since I can do it bilingually. I'm also tutoring [math] bilingually.

But I really do enjoy being able to help somebody because I've gone through stress as well with math.

I haven't always been good at math. … I think the first time that I ever felt lost was probably my very first algebra class in about middle school-ish. I was just really struggling to grasp the concepts. It wasn't until I actually reached out to my own teacher at the time and said, “Hey, can I get some help?” and that really helped me. So if I can give that to somebody that is struggling with math, that they might feel a little bit more comfortable with math, not necessarily best buddies with math, but just a little bit more at ease with it, I'm very happy that I'm able to do that for somebody.

How would you say being bilingual benefits you in math tutoring?

It's helped me a lot, because unfortunately in the Latino community, there's a lot of cultural stigma about asking for help. In the Latino community, especially the Mexican community, we are very independent and we very much want to solve things ourselves. It can be seen as a sign of weakness to ask for help. So helping other Latinos who have that stigma or who have that mentality.

Continued on page 19.

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Student Spotlight: Music Production

Ethan Haury Continued from page 14.

What would you say has been the most challenging part of the music production program?

For the music production class specifically, especially when we work on a lot of projects, just keeping up on those projects. We generally have a schedule that we follow when it comes to recording different things for different songs or projects. So just keeping up on that recording schedule and making sure everything is turned in, I suppose.

What would you say has been the most rewarding part?

I think definitely when you finish a project or you finish a song, just hearing it all come together at the very end is definitely the most rewarding.

It's a lot of fun to hear all the work that you put together all fit together, like a big puzzle.

What would you say are some of your passions and interests outside of school and music?

Outside of school, I really enjoy playing sports. My church is part of a church softball league that we do every spring/summer, so that's a lot of fun. I enjoy going on walks, listening to music, and playing video games. I also enjoy building Legos when I get the time and space to do so.

What are your plans for after you graduate from LBCC?

After LBCC, I plan on transferring to OSU to get my bachelor's in music, and they have a music production program there, so it'll be my bachelor's in music production. Then possibly moving to Corvallis to live in a co-ed Christian House that my sister's living in (Courtyard).

Is there anything else you'd want people to know about the music production program?

I think, not necessarily specific to the music production program, but just the LB music program as a whole – all the instructors are super supportive. If you need help with any of your classes, even if it's not musicrelated, they'll find you help. If you need financial help in any way, then they'll also help you. Overall, the instructors and the people are super kind and really supportive. So if you're struggling, they'll walk alongside you and help you out.

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Keeping It Fresh at Corvallis’ Winter Market words and photos by MICAH TEAGUE

C

orvallis' farmers' market atmosphere doesn't disappear in the winter – it just moves indoors.

The Corvallis Indoor Winter Market features local artisans, freshly made foods, local produce, and so much more. This market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting in January and running until the beginning of April. It is located at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Guerber Hall.

Most of the parking is on gravel, but there is paved parking available for anyone who has physical limitations.

The indoor market draws over a thousand people every Saturday. Providing a place for the community to come together and support each other since 2002, the market currently hosts around 60 vendors any given week. Organized and run by volunteers, the market has created a positive community.

“The community here is really irreplaceable. It’s such a fun mix of demographics and dynamics between the sellers and the customers,” said Ciera Hilkey, a customer and previous vendor at the market.

Walking into the market, you’ll be met with a variety of smells like fresh-baked bread and homegrown flowers that will captivate your senses. With crowds of people milling about, the market can get a little loud.

At the indoor market you can find a variety of different vendors, all committed to their craft.

There are woodworkers selling hand-carved bowls, beekeepers selling fresh honey, bakers and many more vendors with almost anything

you might be looking for in a market. Many of the vendors will attend the Saturday market in Corvallis in the summertime as well as the indoor market.

“The more people you find at the summer market, the more regulars show up to the winter market,” said Liam Shin, a vendor representing Cameron Ridge Farmstead.

Some of the vendors at the market will accept both debit cards and cash, so it is good to bring both. But if you forget to bring cash, a system is in place so you can still purchase from the cash-only vendors. Market patrons can use their debit card to get tokens that can then be used like cash with any of the market vendors.

Patrons with EBT can also use their Oregon Trail cards at the market; the indoor market participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program, which matches up to $20 a day for fresh produce purchases.

The Corvallis Indoor Winter Market has been a staple in the community for many years and continues to thrive because of the hard work of the people who make it possible. Many of the vendors said their favorite part of the market is the connections they make with both customers and the other vendors.

The patrons of the market said they enjoy how friendly everyone is and the variety of things available to them.

First-time market goer Sarah MacClary and her daughter enjoyed their visit to the market: “There’s a lot of people out here.

Good energy, good time, and lots of offerings.

I was surprised!”

Corvallis Indoor Winter Market Every Saturday from January to early April 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Benton County Fairgrounds in Corvallis https://corvalliswintermarket.wordpress.com/

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COACH A CALL TO

A

words by ETHAN BIRMINGHAM

t only 23 years old, assistant men's basketball coach Carsyn Meyers has already played an integral role in the operation of the LinnBenton athletic department.

Since 2020, Meyers has helped out all of Linn-Benton's athletic programs by stepping in as a play-by-play announcer, media manager, and now director of basketball operations for the men's team.

With a personal goal of earning a master's degree and hopes of eventually coaching basketball professionally, Meyers' tale is a story of sacrifices and dedication for a sport he has always loved.

Raised in Sandy, Oregon and surrounded by basketball from an early age, Meyers' first involvements with the sport included playing, refereeing, and even coaching middle school basketball during his senior year of high school.

Inspired by his father, a former basketball coach at Milton Freewater High School, Meyers became enveloped in the world of athletics.

During high school, Meyers became one of his school's best tennis players while also enjoying activities such as photography, videography, and digital design. However, things took a turn in the spring of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic ended his hopes of playing tennis collegiately.

"I felt like I could have had an opportunity to walk on at a college to play tennis," said Meyers. "Obviously, Covid happens – that kind of ruined that idea for me, so I kind of just said, 'Let's go to school!'"

Motivated by the sports culture of the college and combined with his interest in digital arts, Meyers enrolled at the University of Oregon in the fall of 2020, hoping to earn a bachelor's degree in journalism. However, with the pandemic in full effect, Meyers soon realized that his first-year college experience wasn't quite what he had expected. After spending much of his first term at UO isolated in his dorm and a

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taking online classes, Meyers knew he wanted to do more and told his father he wanted to get back into basketball.

From his years as a coach, Carsyn's father had developed a long-time friendship with Jerod Gibson, the former head coach of the Linn-Benton women's basketball team. Meyers reached out to Gibson, and not long after, he joined the program as a student manager for Gibson's team at Linn-Benton. Still enrolled at UO, he would drive from Eugene to Albany twice a week to watch the team practice.

With a full-time class schedule to go with his obligations as a student manager, some at Linn-Benton questioned whether or not Meyers could manage the job.

"They told me, 'We've never had a student manager stay more than 90 days' and I'm like, 'I feel like I'll break that, I feel like I'll be here longer than that,'" said Meyers.

After a busy first year, Meyers stuck around, and in May of 2021, he earned an official spot on the Linn-Benton coaching staff as assistant coach of the women's basketball team.

Meyers transferred to Linn-Benton from the University of Oregon in the fall of 2021 and began rapidly finding ways to engage himself even more with the athletics community.

One day, while Meyers was chatting with athletic director Mark Majeski, he learned that the athletic department needed a new playby-play announcer. He showed interest in the position, and after Majeski offered him the spot, Meyers soon started calling games for the volleyball, baseball, and men's basketball programs at Linn-Benton.

Taking journalism-focused classes under advisor Rob Priewe, Meyers sharpened his digital design skills while following the 2021 Linn-Benton volleyball team and the 2022 Linn-Benton baseball team during their championship runs. His understanding of graphic design and LBCC's sports programs

▲ Photo via LB Athletics earned Meyers the job of media manager for the athletics department. To top things off, Meyers also accepted an offer to become the sports editor of The Commuter for the 202223 school year.

"I think that was kind of my attitude coming to Linn-Benton," he said. "I thought, I'm gonna do everything I can and get as much experience as I can."

Entering the 2022-23 school year with a boatload of roles and responsibilities, Meyers gained valuable coaching experience as an assistant coach on the women's basketball team. After going 15-11 during his first full year, the Linn-Benton women's basketball team improved to 21-7 in the 2022-23 season.

The program ended a playoff drought of over 10 years and gave Meyers important insight into how rewarding coaching can be when a team achieves its goals.

During the season, Meyers learned from Gibson about the importance of focusing on the little things and sticking to a plan – advice that has stuck with him.

Despite moving on academically from Linn-Benton to Oregon State University in 2023, Meyers continued to fulfill his duty as an assistant coach, media manager, and playby-play announcer whilst pursuing a bachelor's degree in digital communications arts. Meyers continued in these roles until the summer of 2024, only calling it quits to take the job of director of basketball operations for the men's basketball team.

"Essentially, the director of operations job is anything that needs to be done, gets done," Meyers said.

"I'm more than happy to be a part of that success and to try and make the best experience for our student athletes as possible."

Under his current job, Meyers is responsible for key parts of the functionality of the men's basketball team. Meyers helps plan and organize travel and dining, assists with recruiting and welcoming new players, and monitors players' academic progress by meeting with team members. In addition, Meyers gets to use his digital design and media management skills to create graphics and run the team's social media pages.

However, to make the busy workload manageable alongside a full-time class schedule at OSU, Meyers has had to work through a fair share of difficulties. Balancing social life and coaching responsibilities as

"I'm more than happy to be a part of that success and to try and make the best experience for our student athletes as possible."

▲ Photo by Sarah Rose Larson

a young college basketball coach is nearly impossible, according to Meyers. Throughout his college tenure, Meyers has had to forgo hanging out with his friends to spend time recruiting, watching film, or even studying.

While going to a high school basketball game instead of a friend's place might be considered odd to those oblivious, Meyers knows that it is a necessary step to becoming the elite-level coach he wants to be.

Meyers has also had to deal with living away from his girlfriend of three years. The pair had met at the University of Oregon before he had transferred to Linn-Benton.

With Meyers working in Albany and his girlfriend in Portland, the couple has remained strong together despite not seeing each other often. Despite the setbacks and complications, Meyers knows that if he puts the work in now, his goal of coaching at the highest level will become even easier to achieve later in life.

"You have to be firm in your beliefs, you have to really want to be successful. The most important person that has to advocate for you is yourself," he said.

With a season now in the books as director of operations, Meyers looks forward to graduating from Oregon State University in the coming months. However, the journey doesn't stop there for him, as he plans on earning a master's degree in a sports-related field in the following years.

While a specific degree and a specific university aren't set for Meyers yet, there's only one requirement he's looking for at whatever institute he chooses to go to next: "I will get any degree; I will do any schoolwork I need to do," said Meyers, "as long as I can either coach there or I can be a grad assistant. I'm 100% set on the grind and becoming a basketball coach."

Student Spotlight: Civil Engineering

Anna Bell Continued from page 15.

Because my mom, again, she's had to be on her own her entire life basically. So asking for help for her, it's hard to do.

And I know a lot of Latinos can relate to that because they're always told, or at least I've always been told, you figure it out, figure it out, figure it out. Well, sometimes you need an extra person there to help you figure it out. Unfortunately, in a lot of the Latino community, I've seen people whenever it gets too hard just kind of push it to the side and try to focus on something that's easier, that's more comfortable, instead of going out of their comfort zone, because they might not have a good support system, or they just might not have an outlet to ask for help.

So I think being that person – oh, she's also Latino, she's asking for help, she's the person that I can go to.

What are your career plans for after you graduate from LBCC? So after I graduate, hopefully I can get into a geotechnical engineering firm.

There's one in Corvallis that I've been eyeing. … Towards the end of my college experience, I hope to obtain some sort of internship at some sort of firm. If unfortunately geotechnical engineering doesn't work out, I just hope that my civil engineering degree will take me places that I never thought. … Right now, my options are very open. I'm taking classes that are very general instead of specific.

I mean, hopefully I get a good job at a geotechnical engineering firm. If it's here in Corvallis or if it's somewhere across the country, even across the world, I would be totally open. But just trying to stick with that and trying to find an engineering field that is more investigative and more handson than technology stuff.

Read the full interview on lbcommuter.com

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Coast

SOUTHERN

SUN

Discover the hidden gems of the Southern Oregon coast, where winter sunshine reveals breathtaking coastal views and serene landscapes

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TRAVEL

words and photos by BRENDA AUTRY

T

he brilliant January sun shimmered across the Pacific Ocean, which gleamed in an uncharacteristically turquoise hue for the Oregon coast. The cheerful weather was a welcome departure from the usual moody gray that blankets the area most of the winter, and I felt lucky to have caught this rare break from the norm.

I stood alone, watching the gentle waves wash against the rock stacks from my cliffside perch at Arch Rock Viewpoint, the northernmost waypoint along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. It’s typically teeming with tourists when I visit in the summer, but now, the only sound was the rhythmic crash of the waves.

This 12-mile stretch of Highway 101 in Southern Oregon between Brookings and Gold Beach is actually a linear state park. Named in honor of Oregon’s first state park superintendent, the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor winds along some of the most breathtaking and Instagram-famous coastal views in the world.

The craggy basalt coastline was formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions. Over time, the relentless waves of the Pacific Ocean sculpted the once-solid volcanic rock into rugged cliffs, towering sea stacks, and secluded coves, all contributing to the coast’s majestic and uniquely dramatic landscape.

Iconic locations like Secret Beach, Natural Bridges, and Lone Ranch Beach attract photographers, hikers, and casual visitors from across the globe, all eager to soak in the rugged natural beauty. Being both a hiker and a photographer myself, I’ve visited the area multiple times and still never tire of its surreal views.

A forecast of sunshine and mild temperatures enticed me to make the five-hour drive and escape the gray skies of the valley in favor of some sunny beaches and hiking.

After my stop at Arch Rock, where I meandered along the clifftop path beneath towering, shady trees and paused to take in sweeping coastal views to both the north and south, I continued south to Natural Bridges.

Just a few steps from the parking lot, the viewpoint offers a perfect view of this natural wonder. A narrow trail along the cliff's edge and through the forest leads to a better vantage point and even allows you to climb onto the arch.

However, signage warning of the trail's dangers — several people have fallen to their deaths here — reminded me to proceed with caution, so I only ventured far enough to get a better view.

As the day waned, I made my way to Secret Beach for sunset. Though not exactly a secret, Secret Beach is one of the few unmarked stops along the corridor. Just a minute’s drive north of the well-signed Natural Bridges, a somewhat hidden parking area can easily be found with Google Maps, the half-mile trail, deeply rutted and steep in places, winds downhill through a tranquil forest. About three-quarters of the way down, a waterfall breaks through the trees, cascading into a stream that separates the beach from the trail before spilling into the ocean.

The path ends at an overlook, revealing a secluded sandy cove framed by sea stacks rising from both the beach and the water. A short but steep descent is required to reach the sand. However, at high tide, the waves consume the

▲ Secret Beach

▲ Sunset on Harris Beach

beach, making it a dangerous place to linger. With the tide rolling in, I found a seat on the cliff edge, facing west, and watched the sky transform with each passing moment — the sun sinking into the sea. Even after the sun had set, the twilight provided enough light for an easy hike out.

On my way to Harris Beach State Park, where I was camping, I was surprised to see the fiery hues still lingering as I passed Whaleshead Beach. I quickly turned around, making my way down the steep drive to catch the last brilliant moments of red and orange glowing behind the silhouetted rocks.

Harris Beach State Park is located just a few minutes north of Brookings, and it’s a perfect place to base yourself for exploring the area. The beachfront campground hosts RV and tent sites, as well as yurts (a cozy, round shelter with a sturdy frame and canvas walls, offering a unique, weather-resistant alternative to a tent).

I booked a tent spot and was eager to try out my winter car camping setup that consisted of an air mattress in the back of my SUV, insulated window coverings, heavy blankets, and a heated blanket run off my portable power station. I’m happy to report that I stayed warm and comfortable all through the night.

In the morning, I headed over to Harris Beach to explore it at low tide. This wide sandy beach stretches for miles in both directions from the day use area. Dotted by sea stacks, which become the perfect framework for dozens of tidepools brimming with sea life, there are endless opportunities for explorations. Just offshore is Bird Island, the largest island off the Oregon coast. This national wildlife sanctuary is a breeding site for rare birds like the tufted puffin, making Harris Beach an excellent place for wildlife viewing.

I spent about an hour exploring the beach's coves

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TRAVEL

and trekking hidden trails over the rocks before the tide started rolling in and I headed inland to explore somewhere a little less sunny: the Oregon Redwoods.

The northernmost redwoods in the United States are located about eight miles north of the OregonCalifornia border in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Known as the Oregon Redwoods, this range may not match the towering height of California’s old-growth redwoods, but standing beneath these magnificent giants — stretching hundreds of feet into the sky — will make you feel just as small.

Winter is the perfect time to explore the redwoods and coastal forests of Oregon and Northern California.

The temperate climate makes snow a rarity and leaves the trails open and easily accessible year-round. You’ll also be able to explore without the crowds in the winter months.

The best trail for exploring the area is the Redwood Nature Trail, located just 20 minutes from Brookings.

This one-mile loop trail gently ascends a steep hillside, meandering through a grove of towering redwoods and Douglas firs. Picturesque wooden bridges arch gracefully over a tranquil creek that flows alongside the path, lending an enchanted ambiance to the woods.

Lush ferns and evergreen rhododendrons carpet the forest floor, enhancing the magical atmosphere. About halfway along the trail, keep an eye out for the Chetco Giant, a colossal tree with a diameter of 10 feet that stretches hundreds of feet into the sky.

On my way back north, I stopped at Lone Ranch Beach and House Rock Viewpoint to soak in the last rays of sun before heading home. Reflecting on my coastal adventure, I felt grateful for the opportunity to experience the Oregon coast's beauty in a different light – a reminder that nature's wonders are always waiting to be discovered, regardless of the season.

▲ Redwood nature trail

▲ Natural Bridges as seen from the wayside viewpoint

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Band Spotlight: Sit Pretty

words by RYLAND BICKLEY photos via MARSHALL SNYDER

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“This future sucks.”

▲

In an interview that began with a Zoom technical issue, the initial topics discussed by Portland-based band Sit Pretty weren’t related to their music, but rather software problems, annoying Discord updates, and the rising number of ads in subscription services.

In a way, it was an apt introduction to the fourpiece’s latest crop of songs, which discuss the frustrations of the modern world (“Millennial Love Song”) as well as introducing a post-apocalyptic future inspired by the Fallout games (the band’s latest single, “Atomic Beachfront Property”).

With a new EP on the way, Sit Pretty noted that there wasn’t an intentional conceptual project in the works despite the similarities between their latest singles. “It's a recurring theme,” admitted drummer Brett Smith.

“I mean, look around at the outside, like everything!” added lead singer and guitarist Delaney Smith.

“I Dissociate with You/Fallout” – two singles released by the group in 2024, also contain a similar end-of-the-world feel with mourning, shoegaze-y guitars and cover art featuring a gloomy pink haze.

“I think there's always been a post-apocalyptic vibe,” said guitarist Bennett Mohler of the band’s music. “I think Brett once called it dysto-pop – you know, the world is ending vibe is just kind of there.”

The band first released music in 2019, but the “world is ending vibe” felt more real in the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, with the band releasing its second album, titled “Self/ Care,” complete with Delaney Smith on the cover wearing a mask and a track named “New Normal.”

“The second record was Covid-influenced,” said Mohler.

“I think the only reason that second record exists so soon after the first is we couldn't play shows, we couldn't do anything, but we still liked each other. So, you know, let's make music.

That was our pod, and it was fun. It kept me sane for how long that took to record.”

“I like keeping that kind of modern (reference) that anchors the band, because a lot of bands, they will try to do a post-punk or a new wave or a throwback rock ’n’ roll thing, and it's kind of like they're trying to pretend they're in this other era,” said Brett Smith. “But I like having songs that are still kind of directly referencing the current mood. It kind of places us in this modern era.”

Sit Pretty has weathered the changes in time well. The band first released music in 2019, with a lineup of Brett Smith, Delaney Smith, Mohler, and then-instrumentalist Chris Faulconer. “It was a different sound – we were playing, like, old songs that I had,” said Brett Smith.

The first album, titled “On Wednesdays and Sundays,” has a distinctly more electronic sound to it, with Mohler citing Portishead as an influence.

The current version of Sit Pretty, with bassist David Alvarado, began in 2022. “This iteration [has been] strong and super active since then,” said Mohler.

The band’s latest work is some of their best yet, with tracks like “Millennial Love Song” and “Atomic Beachfront Property” sounding like a cross between Blondie and Interpol.

The songs are also a showcase of the group's collaborative approach to their creative process.

(Left to right) Delaney Smith, David, Alvarado, Bennett Mohler, Brett Smith

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25

“Love Song” was years in the making, starting out as a synth-pop idea that Delaney Smith labelled as “cringe anime.” Eventually, She and Mohler reworked the song, keeping the original lyrics but tossing out the chords and melody.

“We brought it to the band, and that was also a pretty quick turnaround because I think the melody informed a gothy mood,” said Mohler.

“David and Brett brought together kind of a Clash bass-line, and very boomy, Joy Division drums. … And it came together pretty quick.”

“Beachfront Property” had a similar evolution, starting off as “cringey reggae” before Alvarado mentioned the word “radioactive.”

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Then, the song took off. Now, it’s a melodic indie-rocker that would fit right into the end credits of 2020’s Love and Monsters, warning of when “giant crabs come out for feeding time.”

“It'd be rare when it's more than a couple sessions before we have a song fleshed out,” said Alvarado. “If something really sticks, it's like one practice, and then the structures develop.”

All four members of the group had previous band experience before Sit Pretty.

Veterans of the Oregon music scene, they shared their insights for up-and-coming bands, as well as lessons they’ve learned over the years.

Some were simple: “Bring lots of socks on tour.

Bring so many pairs of socks. You can't bring

too many pairs of socks if you're gonna go on tour,” said Mohler. He also emphasized that, although obvious, practicing is a necessity for bands that play live.

Sit Pretty mentioned many “cringe, horrible moments” in the early stages of finetuning their sound: off-beat drum machines and in-ear monitor fiascos, including a time when Smith said she “was in my own key” for part of a live performance.

“It's good to try and work out all those kinks,” said Mohler. “So again, practice a lot.

Make sure everyone can hear themselves. Make sure you have this so that no matter what venue you play at, if it's like, really good sound, or it's

a s—y bar … it's protected. We know all the ins and outs. … I think we have a really good product that's just pretty bulletproof.”

Other tips included splitting royalties equally among members (“We haven't seen a lot of it, but if we did make money, then we'd all not be fighting,” said Delaney Smith), as well as evenly distributing tasks.

“Being in a band is like being married to three other people,” added Smith. “So communication is very important.” The band often votes to make decisions, although they noted they’ve never needed a tiebreaker despite an even four members.

Smith explained the different roles in Sit Pretty: She takes care of the social media, Mohler and Alvarado take care of booking, and Brett Smith handles the posters and artwork.

Brett Smith offered some more advice: “For younger bands, don’t fret so much about the money. Have humility when it comes to getting paid.”

“Because you’re not going to get paid!” interjected Mohler and Delaney Smith, laughing.

Sit Pretty has lasted for over half a decade, but all four members still hold jobs outside of the group. For most bands in the scene, it’s a labor of love.

“If you need to get paid a thousand dollars to enjoy it, maybe it’s not your thing,” joked Brett Smith. Mohler added another piece of advice: don’t have kids.

“I don't see where there would be time!” said Delaney Smith. “I feel like the band is our child.”

Despite the financial and time-related struggles of the music industry, Sit Pretty’s touring radius stretches across much of the West Coast, with the band often playing shows between Seattle and the Bay Area, although they’re planning on reaching Los Angeles in August.

Sit Pretty still has plenty of connections in Oregon, having played at Corvallis’ Old World Deli on Jan. 31. Brett Smith grew up in Lebanon, Oregon and went to college at Oregon State. He remembered taking one day of a voice-acting class at LBCC, saying it was “really cool.” However, he dropped it after being told he’d need to spend two to three thousand dollars to record a demo at a professional studio to make it in the industry.

“OK, I’m not doing this,” he recalled. “I can’t be a voice actor.”

Mohler started his music career in Eugene as a student at Lane Community College.

His memory of LBCC? Competing against The Commuter in collegiate journalism competitions as a member of LCC’s The Torch. “I saw Linn-Benton, the group, across the auditorium, and it was like, ‘f— you guys!’

The Torch!” he laughed.

Sit Pretty’s next show in the state will be on March 19 at the High Water Mark in Portland.

And at an unspecified date in May the band will have a release show for their upcoming EP, which will include five tracks: three new recordings as well as “Atomic Beachfront Property” and “Millenial Love Song.”

“We're trying to plan a show to have a little bit of a celebration,” said Alvarado.

Per Mohler, the show will be worth checking out because the band follows his advice and practices.

He mentioned a compliment the band received: “I remember she came up to us saying, ‘Wow, I love the records, but I didn't think you guys would be able to pull off that sound live. And you totally do,’” he recalled.

“It's not just studio trickery – we can do this live. That was one of the best compliments I got – appreciating the work that went into the recordings, because it's very atmospheric, and it's done live, and it's done well.”

Anthem of the Month Monthly music recommendations to keep you inspired.

Open Hearts The Weeknd

“Blinding Lights” was the song that got most of us through 2020, and The Weeknd managed to scratch that same musical itch on his latest album with “Open Hearts.” It’s a slightly different formula this time around, but the bittersweet synth hits after the chorus remain as incredible as ever.

The Commuter Recommends: LBCommuter

Open Hearts The Weeknd

Crypto Blood ‘96 Club Mix Sit Pretty

Atomic Beachfront Property Sit Pretty

Let Me Go Deep Sea Diver, Madison Cunningham

Time Traveler (live band sesh) KNOWER

HaHaHome Twen

Paper Bag Fiona Apple

Miracle Mile Houndmouth

Not Big Thief

It’s Alright Mother Mother

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K TERIYAKI

Restaurant Review: Made With Love words and photos by MIKA WINDER

N

estled in the heart of downtown Albany, it can be easy to miss K Teriyaki between the storefronts that line the Two Rivers Market and the other shops along 2nd Avenue. Still, this hidden gem is one that you shouldn't overlook.

Rebranding with new ownership in 2024 from Toki Teriyaki, K Teriyaki has a clean and simple interior with large windows surrounding the seating area. The menu consists of primarily Japanese food with a focus on grilled dishes and the eponymous teriyaki.

There are a few Korean options both for meals and in the small deli case where you can purchase drinks and packaged food.

The multicultural menu is thanks in part to the owners, a Japanese-Korean couple who previously owned Ginza Sushi up until its closure two years ago and took over from the owners of Toki Teriyaki.

For those familiar with Toki Teriyaki's menu, many of the dishes are similar at K, but there are several additions. I ordered the takoyaki (octopus balls), which came with bonito flakes and a savory sauce with mayo on the side. Takoyaki is a difficult dish to perfect, but it was deliciously crispy on the outside and gooey in the center with large chunks of octopus. I also got the side of gyoza, golden fried dumplings with a savory meat and vegetable filling. While I chose to get two of the side orders, there are also entrees with more generous portions, most of which come with rice and coleslaw.

More t h a n the food, K Teriyaki's shining trait is its service. I have gone several times, and the staff are often seen giving out extra food to regulars and even spending time talking to the customers when they are less busy. Especially early on, past customers from Ginza returned to check out the new business and were welcomed with kindness and delicious meals. If you are looking for a personal experience that goes beyond dining and into community, K Teriyaki may be a good choice for dinner this week.

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971-865-3001 | dessertsaullaw.com Serving Marion, Polk, Linn, & Benton Counties 28

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a Heartwarming Family Adventure MOVIE: Paddington in Peru

DIRECTOR: Dougal Wilson

STARRING: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Samuel Joslin, Madeleine Harris, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Coleman, Julie Walters, Carla Tous, Imelda Staunton RATED: PG

RUNTIME: 106 mins

Open M-F 8am-3pm

Scan to order!

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★

words by MASON WILLS

addington in Peru is the third installment of the Paddington movie franchise and maintains all the charm of the first two despite a recasting and new director.

The film follows the titular Paddington Brown (Ben Whishaw) as he travels to his home country of Peru with his family, the Browns (Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Samuel Joslin, Madeleine Harris) to visit his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) at the Home for Retired Bears. Once arriving, they find out that Aunt Lucy has gone missing in the Amazon and must go on a journey with the help of Reverend Mother (Olivia Coleman) and Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) to find her.

Paul King did not return to direct this movie, although he still wrote it, and in his place is Dougal Wilson. This creates a somewhat different feel for the first bit of Paddington in Peru, but even with this change it maintains the incredibly heartwarming nature of the first two movies. There are also many more adventure movie elements than the previous ones and this makes the beginning feel different outside of the new director. However, Paddington Brown is the same charming little bear that we all know and love.

The performances were as good as they’ve been in the previous movies. Ben Whishaw is incredibly

endearing as Paddington and leads the movie dutifully. By far the biggest change is Emily Mortimer replacing Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown. Obviously the character doesn’t feel exactly the same, but she grows into the role throughout the runtime and seems like a worthy successor. Olivia Coleman is great as Reverend Mother and honestly, there wasn’t enough of her in the movie.

Antonio Banderas was great as the villain and was just campy enough to fit perfectly into the world of Paddington.

The graphics are fantastic all the way through. Paddington Brown looks the best he ever has along with the environments. Much of the Amazon Rainforest that they explore was done in CGI and it looks incredible throughout the entire movie. There weren’t really any moments where the special effects faltered for even a second, and if there were, they weren’t noticeable enough to matter.

Filled with funny, heartwarmingly tear-jerking, and beautiful family moments, “Paddington in Peru” is a fantastic continuation of the franchise and a great movie for the whole family.

Scan the QR code to download LB’s new dining app!

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FILM & FORK: SELENA Celebrate Women's History Month with a special screening of Selena, honoring the Queen of Tejano music!

�� Date: March 13th �� Time: 4-6pm �� Location: Fireside Room - CC211 Free Admission Food Provided All Are Welcome!

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TUESDAYS AT THE CO-OP

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31

Drive Your Career Toward Success

CDL TRAINING ENTRY-LEVEL DRIVER | OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Linn-Benton Community College has partnered with the Knife River Training Center to provide a comprehensive learning experience, to get you on the road with your CDL!

Invest in your future today

Program highlights

• FMCSA-compliant CDL training • Tuition cost: $6,499 • Comprehensive training materials • Daily catered lunches included • Third-party DOT skills test • Unrestricted licenses

• Just over 3 weeks, Monday-Friday, 7:30 am 4 pm • Manual transmission trucks • 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio, resulting in a high first-time pass rate • Students train on 1.5 miles of closed circuit training roads before driving on public roads

Why choose LBCC?

Simple application process

• Real-world experience delivered at the Knife River Training Center in Albany, OR • Professionally trained and highly experienced instructors • Start driving and backing the first day of class • We don’t rely on simulators

• Complete the Application at: www.linnbenton.edu/CDL • Email it to CDL@linnbenton.edu • LBCC Coordinator will contact you within 2 days

WWW.LINNBENTON.EDU/CDL

Contact the CDL Coordinator

541-917-4961

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Extended Learning