Source Weekly April 24, 2025

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

On

From the artist, "When asked to create an image for 'rebellion,' I began to look up symbology for the word and found the black iris. I felt that many other symbols have been overused and feel too wrathful. Using a flower brings the gentleness of poetry... using words to fight the power. Words are more gentle than fists... flowers are gentle. I found this quote about the flower that resonates, 'The flower that symbolizes rebellion— not revolution, not war, not hate, but simple rebellion against authority...' —Caytherynne M. Valente."

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

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Nicole Vulcan - nicole@bendsource.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Nic Moye - editor@bendsource.com

FEATURES AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

Peter Madsen - peter@layitoutfoundation.org

REPORTER

Julianna LaFollette - reporter@bendsource.com

REPORTER / CALENDAR EDITOR

Maddie Franz - calendar@bendsource.com

COPY EDITOR

Richard Sitts

FREELANCERS

Jared Rasic, Damian Fagan, Cassie Clemans, Mary Casanave, Jim Schell, LeeAnn Kriegh

SYNDICATED CONTENT

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

PRODUCTION MANAGER / ART DIRECTOR

Jennifer Galler - production@bendsource.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Adrian Galler - design@bendsource.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Ashley Sarvis

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Ban Tat, Chad Barnes

advertise@bendsource.com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Sean Switzer

CONTROLLER

Angela Switzer - angela@bendsource.com

PUBLISHER

Aaron Switzer - aaron@bendsource.com

WILD CARD

Paul Butler

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Alternative Weekly Network 916-551-1770

Subscribe today: info@bendsource.com

EDITOR’S NOTE:

This week we’re serving up something delicious with our comprehensive restaurant guide. There’s a flavor to satisfy every craving! Plus, find out who our picks are for our Rookie Cart, Rookie Restaurant, Food Cart and the Restaurant of the Year awards.

We have a packed issue this week with the winners from our rebellion poetry contest and a comprehensive guide for this year’s Deschutes County fair! We also look at how painful federal budget cuts will be for the High Desert Museum; how you can help the survival of sage-grouse and why independently owned bookstores are hoping to see you on Saturday, April 26.

—Nic Moye, Managing Editor

LIGHTMETER:

After the Latest Sheriff Revelations, More Questions Than Answers

As the public learns new damning revelations about the newly elected Sheriff, Kent van der Kamp, lots of questions remain. But one thing is certain: The residents of this county deserve far more from their top law enforcement official than they’ve been getting thus far.

The string of lawsuits stemming from the actions of former Sheriff Shane Nelson were enough to cause our editorial board to endorse the guy not hand-picked by Nelson during the last election. The county needed a cleaner slate, we opined. But this week, it’s clear that the slate was not wiped clean enough.

the University of Phoenix — deemed by the DA to be accurate — as where he got his bachelor’s. So not only did he allegedly lie about his degrees, but he changed up the story along the way.

Now, the DA’s office has identified several drug cases in which van der Kamp served as an expert witness that will need to be thrown out, due to van der Kamp’s lying under oath. And there may be many more, the DA’s office has said.

So many questions emerge from this. Here are some of them you may be wondering.

Why didn’t this come out before the election? While it does seem like fishy timing, according to the DA’s office, an employee only noticed this discrepancy in mid-November, upon looking at the Voter’s Pamphlet, and the office began investigating after that. Obtaining records from the various schools obviously took time.

Will van der Kamp be charged with perjury? Not likely, unless any of the cases where he lied were within three years — the statute of limitations for perjury, Gunnels told OPB.

As OPB first reported, Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels this month placed van der Kamp on a Brady list — the list of law enforcement officers identified as not credible enough to testify in court, after a DA’s office investigation found that van der Kamp had lied not once, but multiple times, in different ways, about his educational background. The discovery was made by a Deschutes County staff member who noticed discrepancies between past Curricula Vitae and the information van der Kamp provided in the 2024 Voter’s Pamphlet, OPB reported.

Documents released by the DA’s office show that as far back as 2013, van der Kamp stated in his Curriculum Vitae that he had earned degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of Arizona — schools that reported to the DA that he had never attended, let alone graduated. Over the course of several years, the information on van der Kamp’s CV changed – stating in 2013 he had a bachelor’s from USC and a master’s degree from UA; then, in 2015, it was a bachelor’s from UA and a master’s from Trident International University — where the DA’s office confirmed he actually did attend. In 2018, he lists

Is van der Kamp going to step down? Let’s hope so, and soon. Deschutes County has been sold short for years now with its top law enforcement official, and it’s time, finally, to right the ship. Should the Sheriff step down, the undersheriff — a new position ironically created by Nelson last year — will stand in as sheriff until the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners appoints someone, according to information provided to the Source by County Clerk Steve Dennison. That appointee would serve until the next election cycle, ostensibly in 2026, when voters could once again select their choice for sheriff.

That’s a lot of upheaval for one of the most important positions in our county. The public would do well to demand a rigorous vetting process.

Letters

WE NEED THIS

Music. Now, more than ever, we need it. Want to connect with your fellow citizens? Music. Want to escape the dreadful news happening in our country and the world? Music. The element of “fun” is something we all need in our daily lives. Music is just that… FUN! And here in Bend we are blessed with some of the most talented and friendly musicians you could imagine. It’s impossible for me to list them all, so go see and experience them for yourself. Get out and have some effing fun. Life is hard. Life is short. What are we waiting for? Grab your friends and go have some fun. I’m 66 and having a friggin blast every week checking out local bands that impress me with their talent and the pure joy they bring to their craft. They are having more fun than me! I’m heading out as soon as I hit “send”. Hope to see you out there!

— Mike Covey

SUPPORT FOR ROSS TOMLIN FOR BEND-LA PINE SCHOOL BOARD

I'm writing today to recommend Ross Tomlin in the upcoming May 20th election for Bend/LaPine School Board (Zone 6).

Ross and I both started at COCC in 2004: he as a dean, me as a faculty member. I remember him, to this day, being the first administrator to ever visit my class and be interested in not only the subject matter, but also the pedagogy I used. I never forgot those visits - especially because I haven't had in-depth teaching conversations like that with any administrator since.

I got to hang with him again last year when he was substitute teaching a forestry class; his class visited our home in Bend (that class – FOR 260 – is the Sustainable Building Materials class, and they’ve visited our home for about two decades now, as our little piece of Oregon has a number of ecological/low-environmental-impact features that we built in). Seeing him, after all those years, sitting cross-legged with his class on our front lawn was pretty magical.

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!

And watching him interact with students, one-to-one, was a gift.

Ross has my vote, because his heart, like mine, is with students first. He'll carry that compass to the School Board.

I encourage you to vote for him, as well. Thanks for reading.

— Sean Rule

TWO PROTESTS, ONE RECKONING

Saturday I stood in the crosscurrent of two protests. Both held in the heart of Bend, Oregon. Each flowing from a different wellspring of civic soul.

At noon, the Peace Corner was anything but quiet. Voices rang with conviction. So did horns. Hands gripped personal cardboard signs. Citizens stood at the corner not to shout into the void but to declare they were no longer asleep. This was militant free speech. Demands in its rawest form. Unfiltered, unpolished, and deeply American. These were citizens who carry the First Amendment like a shield, not just a slogan.

By 2:00 PM, a different assembly had gathered at Drake Park organized by a coalition of churches and others. Wrapped in the joy of brotherhood and unity to face our shared challenges. It was orderly, hopeful, and sincere. The sign bearers from the earlier protest arrived. Carrying cardboard signs expressing deep unrest. Yet the tone had shifted. Combined, the tent had grown larger. More inclusive and inviting unity of purpose.

But here’s what struck me:

The response must be proportional to the threat. Our streets are our ballot box of last resort. Each of all of us together voting their own self-evident truth. Expressing it in Freedom of Speech and Assembly. One but many united. Escalating and overcoming within the scope of our rights, rule of law and common shared value beliefs until we prevail. Or until we are outvoted. Not by fellow citizens but the concentrated power of Authoritarianism.

We are Citizens United. Not to be Outvoted by the power of a few but Voting Out what we don’t want. Voting in

the restoration of Democracy in the true American way of our heritage.

For me there was no Joy in Mudville Saturday. Our team chosen by our Constitutional rule of law has sold us out in a fixed game. It is laying an imposed claim to winning self-serving rewards for themselves and a leader that chose them as the Art of the Raw Deal at our expense.

— Tim Lester

PERCOLATION

When we raze Bend’s forests and build on that land, we are also damaging our water resources.

Rain falls then percolates deep through the layers of soil all around us. The soil, rich with minerals, fungi, bacteria—a living ecosystem invisible to our eyes—filters this water before it enters underground streams and reservoirs known as aquifers. These aquifers, in turn, feed into our Deschutes and other waterways. Aquifers provide our drinking water.

Forest soil spongey with layers of decomposing organic matter and with a rich ecosystem of microorganisms, absorbs large volumes of rainwater and is the best at percolating and filtering rainwater.

When we clear-cut forests to build, we lose percolation—Nature’s water filtering and purifying system. We gain runoff: fast-flowing rainwater on streets, sidewalks, driveways, roofs, parking lots,

etc. that collects dirt, garbage, gasoline, and other pollutants along the way and dumps into our Deschutes and other waterways. Aquifers are not replenished.

While hiking at Shevlin recently, I admired the crystal-clear waters of Tumalo Creek. I recalled that when I first arrived in Bend in 2014, the Deschutes downtown was similarly clear. Today, it’s brown, cloudy, and full of algae downtown—signs of run-off, not enough percolation.

What to do? Replanting trees is not the same. It’s forest soil, developed over decades and centuries, that filters. Ideally, we save forests. Use pavers, gravel, and other permeable materials for sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, etc. to allow rainwater to sink and percolate, to stop runoff. Limit building along the river or stop it all together.

— Tomoko Harada

Ferguson

Letter of the Week:

Many of us fondly remember how the area once looked. Thanks for your letter. You can stop by our offices on NW Georgia and Bond for a gift card to Palate coffee.

—Nic Moye, Managing Editor

Driver Crashes into Sheriff’s Office Gate

A Bend man drove through the entrance gate at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on April 19, crashing into a block wall. A sergeant discovered the crash around 10:45pm, after noticing damage to the vehicle entrance gate. The sergeant found a black truck in the parking lot, with music blaring, and concluded that the vehicle drove through the gate.

According to a press release, Oregon State Police arrived to assist in contacting the driver and took him into custody. Thomas Lee Downs, 38, was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, parole violation and criminal mischief in the first degree.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office estimates the crash caused more than $80,000 in damages.

St. Charles Awards Community Grants

The St. Charles Health System announced April 21 that it’s awarding more than $100,000 to 31 local organizations in Central Oregon. Grants were offered to provide basic needs, sponsor local events and increase a sense of belonging while reducing loneliness and isolation.

One recipient included Hearts Unknown Education, a local nonprofit that supports art and music for at-risk youth. It received $7,500 to expand its programming.

“Many kids need a place to feel like they can be themselves and feel free to express themselves through art and music in an environment where they are appreciated for being themselves,” Nicola Carpinelli, director of HUE, wrote in a press release.

—Julianna LaFollette

—The sage-grouse can inflate its air sacs to 50 times their normal size, from this week’s Natural World “Icon of the Sage: The Greater Sage-Grouse".

First-ever Event Helps Local Families Understand Autism in Early Childhood Expert presentation and parent panel offer information, resources and hope

By LeeAnn Kriegh

Hundreds of families in Central Oregon have children under the age of 5 with autism. Parents, grandparents, and other caregivers from more than 30 of those families attended a free event on April 17 at the Alyce Hatch Center in Bend to learn more about autism in early childhood and related resources and services.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the 90-minute event, as one parent said afterward, was “I’m not alone.”

Especially with increasing national attention on autism, Jennie Willis, assistant director of the Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education program at the High Desert Educational Service District, said she felt it was important to bring local families together for the first-ever event.

“We always want to make sure that we’re giving the latest, most accurate, fact-based information to the families we serve,” Willis said.

The event began with an online presentation by Lark Huang-Storms, a clinical psychologist who works at Seattle Children’s Autism Center and Oregon Health & Science University.

Huang-Storms emphasized that “autism is a natural part of the human condition,” which often comes with significant strengths in areas such as memory, attention to detail and creativity. She quoted a 15-year-old boy with autism who said, “A lot more gets done by people who aren’t distracted by social blah-blah-woof-woof all the time.”

Huang-Storms also discussed the combined genetic and environmental factors that cause autism. Extensive research shows that the increasing prevalence of autism, which is now identified in 1 in 31 children, is due to three factors: greater awareness and advocacy, increased screening and training, and a much broader definition of autism that came into use by practitioners in 1994.

Following Huang-Storms’s presentation, Mimi Johnson, parent partner for HDESD, led a panel discussion in which she and two other parents discussed their neurodivergent children’s strengths, common misconceptions they’ve faced, and the types of services and supports they’ve found most helpful.

Kap Seidel, who was on the panel, drew murmurs of understanding from fellow parents when he described his son as a “bright star” and a “creative, wonderful kid who gets you to fall in love with him.”

Seidel, whose son is now 10, said, “The world’s expectations matter less and less to me. I only wish I could have learned to put society’s judgments down earlier so I could support my kiddo in the ways he needs.”

Learning about Seidel’s experience and that of other parents was helpful to attendees like Jenn Smith, whose 3-yearold son was assessed for autism and received an educational eligibility for special education services last October.

such as behavioral therapy.

“We know that the earlier children with autism are identified and receive the support and services they need, the better their long-term outcomes, in terms of everything from daily activities to academics,” Willis said.

Smith’s son now attends preschool at the Alyce Hatch Center, where he also receives speech and occupational therapy. “He’s improved a lot already,” she said, noting the differences she’s seen in his motor skills and ability to communicate effectively.

When Smith realized her son was neurodivergent, she admits, “At first, I was upset, and it was so scary.” Now, about 18 months later, she said, “I understand that my son sees the world in a different way, and we need to try to see the world through his eyes.”

Willis, of HDESD, said it is important for parents of young children to know about the many local resources available to them. “Parents can always contact us for free screening or evaluation,” she said. “If their child qualifies for services, great, and if not, the family will still come away with helpful information and reassurance.”

“I’m not alone.”

—What a parent said while attending a new event to help families understand autism in early childhood, from “First-ever Event Helps Local Families” by LeeAnn Kriegh

“This is so new for us,” Smith said. “We’re just trying to take everything in and learn all we can.”

According to Willis, Smith’s son is one of more than 50 local children under the age of 5 who have received educational eligibilities under autism since the school year began last September.

As one example of the complex journeys facing families, in addition to an educational eligibility, many children also receive a separate medical diagnosis of autism, which can qualify them for insurance benefits and services

If you have questions about your child’s development, contact the High Desert Educational Service District’s Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education program for information about available services, including free developmental screening or evaluation.

eiecsecentraloregon.org 541-312-1195

During the event, children played outside on the newly updated playground at the Alyce Hatch Center.

Jennie Willis

High Desert Museum Sees Funding Cuts to Several Projects

Local museum, offering exhibits on animals, art and history, awaits direction after lost funding

By Julianna LaFollette

Leaders at the High Desert Museum learned that federal budget cuts could impact a number of projects offered to museum guests. The funding cuts, realized primarily through the termination of federal grants, are set to impact a series of improvement projects at the museum.

Museum Director Dana Whitelaw says they’ve learned about the losses over the past several weeks and were given very few details. With grant terminations streaming in, and an uncertainty about certain allocated funds, many projects are in limbo as the museum awaits direction on the usage of its funds.

The first indication that funding for museum projects was at risk came from the federal agency, the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In late March, the Trump administration, along with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, made major cuts to the agency, laying off almost all of its staff.

“We have received over $1.4 million from IMLS over the last 10 years for various projects,” Whitelaw said. “This is a significant agency for funding innovative, bold projects that advance the work of museums.”

Through the IMLS, the museum recently received $238,000 in funding for a capital expansion project, aimed at growing its gallery space and learning center and adding more gathering areas.

While the High Desert Museum already received all of the allocated federal funds for this project, it received a letter that the funding was terminated on April 2. Since the money is essentially under contract to be spent, the museum is waiting to see if it needs to return those dollars.

“It’s certainly a hit for our project. We will find another way to raise that money, again. But, in terms of the logistics of returning money, we haven't had to do that before,” Whitelaw told the Source Weekly.

Another major funding source for the museum includes the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agency that also faced severe cuts. The museum currently has five projects with NEH that were all terminated on April 8, according to Whitelaw.

The five projects, she said, are in various stages of progress and total about $1.29 million in funds. According to Whitelaw, the museum has already used all but about $700,000 of those funds.

One of the projects included $500,000 for the renovation of “By Hand Through Memory,” the museum’s permanent exhibition dedicated to the indigenous people of the plateau.

“For the largest grant, the $500,000, we have spent very little of it, so that's the most significant hit in terms of cash,” said Whitelaw. “We’ll have to look for other funding opportunities to replace that money that’s at risk.”

In addition to this project, Whitelaw noted a $100,000 loss, which was intended to go toward a two-year salary for an emerging humanities scholar –an opportunity for someone finishing their master’s degree or PhD.

At the High Desert Museum, the scholar was slated to help with the renovation of the indigenous exhibit, currently being renovated. The museum was forced to rescind its two-year job offer.

“We had offered the job, and it had been accepted. She was supposed to start last week,” Whitelaw said. “That is perhaps the most painful, because it has ripple

effects. When we're talking about the humanities and museum projects, they are sometimes decades in the making, and the impact that those dollars have goes on for decades… so the loss is more than just the dollar figure.”

While Whitelaw said certain projects will continue, including the planned expansions and the development of its new learning center, others are being terminated.

One project on pause includes a $150,000 project, funding the creation of 30 long-form videos exploring climate impacts in rural communities. Another paused project includes a digital program, which would have created a website for an online experience of the museum. Finally, a $50,000 project that would develop a plan to help the museum better sustain its collection of almost 30,000 objects is paused.

Other local museums, including the Deschutes Historical Museum, are seeing these impacts. While the historical museum didn’t have any existing grants that lost funding, museum director Kelly Cannon-Miller said they were in the middle of writing an IMLS grant for new exhibits. That opportunity is now gone, she said.

“The number of grant opportunities that we can apply to has been cut, which just means we have to look for other funding sources to replace that,” Cannon-Miller told the Source Weekly.

Based on her interactions with the community, she said, most individuals do not want to see their institutions go away.

“It’s beyond disappointing. This is what we invest our careers in, providing educational opportunities to our communities and designing programs and exhibits to help them learn and understand this place that we live in,” she said. “To have your leaders say it's not valuable to them is really painful.”

Moving forward, the High Desert Museum is unsure about how these terminations and funding cuts will impact its various projects.

“It’s beyond disappointing. This is what we invest our careers in, providing educational opportunities to our communities and designing programs and exhibits to help them learn and understand this place that we live in,” she said.

“To have your leaders say it's not valuable to them is really painful.”

—Kelly Cannon-Miller

“Understanding exactly what it means and what we're responsible for has been part of the process. What do we need to pause? What do we need to completely terminate on our end? We’re trying to figure out all the legal and logistical questions,” Whitelaw said.

While the museum waits for more information, it will continue to raise funds for its main improvement project and continue to investigate how it can retain the funding it already received. According to Whitelaw, the museum learned last week that it can have some of the termination decisions reviewed, which it plans to do.

“The 1.43 million that we received from IMLS over the past 10 years has put the museum on a different scale of work. It expands our mission, it allows us to work with indigenous advisors and expands the impact of our mission across the region,” she said. “It's heartbreaking to have the funding go away and know that that work is at a minimum paused, if not completely ended.”

Julianna LaFollette

Rundown for the May Election

Check out a list of levies, along with school and park board candidates, on next month's voting ballots

By Julianna LaFollette

The special district election will take place on May 20. Here’s a complete list of upcoming levies, school and park board candidates in Deschutes County.

School Boards

For the Bend-La Pine Schools district, candidates for Zone 1, 2 and 4 are running unopposed – Jennifer Lynch for Zone 1, Marcus LeGrand for Zone 2 and Shirley Olson for Zone 4.

For Zone 6, candidates include Theo Wilhelm and incumbent Ross Tomlin. Wilhelm, currently an author, was previously a classroom teacher at Cascades Middle School. While Tomlin currently serves on the school board, he also teaches part-time at Central Oregon Community College as a forestry instructor.

Candidates running for Zone 7 include incumbent Kina Chadwick and Justin Van Patten. Chadwick, a program director supporting rural health care access, has served on the Board from 2022 through today. Van Patten is a small business owner, father and longtime community volunteer.

For the Redmond School District, incumbent Michael Summers, who ran for the Senate Seat in the 27th District during the general election, is running unopposed for Position 2 on the board. Candidates for Position 1 include incumbent Eric Lea and Ashley Proctor. Lea serves as the current School Board director, while Proctor is a Deschutes County social worker and a developmental disability specialist.

For Position 3, Joelle Beget and Amanda Page are running. Page previously served as the Redmond School Board director. Beget worked as an elementary school teacher and operates a small family farm.

In the election for the Sisters School District board, residents Megan Jamieson and Sarah Keeton are running for Position 1. Jamieson has worked for universities, independent schools and small start-ups. Keeton

is an orthopedic surgical nurse and a longtime Sisters resident.

For position 5, Emily Horton and Edie Jones are facing off. Horton is a parent of three children and a Deschutes County program manager in environmental health. Jones is a retired educator who previously served as school board director. Erik Benton is running unopposed for Position 2.

Parks and Recreation

For the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District, incumbent Nathan Hovekamp is running unopposed for Position 3. Incumbent Debra Schoen is also running unopposed for Position 5. Current board member, Cary Schneider, is running for re-election against Austin Mazzolini for Position 4. Mazzolini is a software engineer who served on a parks and recreation board in Texas.

For the La Pine Park and Recreation District, all candidates are running unopposed, including Janilee Carpenter, Joel Brader, Brandon Tirrill, Carlos Soto and Shara Bauman.

In the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District, Dave Cosper and Katie Jalo are running for Position 1. Cosper is an engineer and was a director of public works for 15 years. Jalo is a third generation Central Oregonian and currently works for a nonprofit.

The unopposed candidates for the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District include Mercedes Cook-Bostick for Position 2 and Kevin Scoggin for Position 3.

For the Sisters Park and Recreation District, candidates running unopposed include Bob Keefer for Position 1, Katie Bunce for Position 2 and Julie Sarver for Position 3.

Measures

One levy up before voters includes the Black Butte Ranch Service District Five-Year Option Levy, Measure 9-180. The levy is asking for a five-year local option tax at $0.78 per $1000 for operations.

The language of the Black Butte Service District measure says it will use the revenue to maintain current service levels. Approving the proposed rate will generate approximately $651,872 from 2025 through 2026. The measure may cause property taxes to increase more than 3% for property owners within the district. On a $500,000 home, the assessment will be $32.50 per month, or $390 per year.

Another levy on the ballot include a local option levy for road improvements and maintenance. This measure would levy $1.39 per $1,000 assessed value for five years for repaving projects, beginning in 20252026. The measure would direct levy taxes to finance the repair and resurfacing of the paved roads within the Cascade View Estates Tract 2 Special Road District. The total estimated cost of the project is $330,503.

Deschutes County Leases Land for Supportive Housing

Local nonprofit, Mountain View Community Development, is set to build a 75-unit housing community on County land

By Julianna LaFollette

Deschutes County voted to lease land in east Redmond for a 75-unit permanent supportive housing project, known as Mt. View Community Village. Redmond nonprofit, Mountain View Community Development, which runs a safe parking program in Redmond and Bend, will lease the land to provide housing for those experiencing homelessness and individuals on fixed incomes.

The project will sit on nearly 9.5 acres and include one- and two-bedroom cottage-style units with on-site case management.

“This is an innovative project, the first of its kind for Redmond, and a much-needed resource,” said Rick Russell, executive director of Mountain View Community Development, at the April 21 meeting.

In Mountain View’s safe parking program, Russell said, many people have a desire to move from their vehicles to housing but often end up getting stuck.

“There’s a bottleneck because there just aren’t enough available. So, they end up taking up the same parking spaces that we could make available to others if we could move them on to the right type of

housing,” Russell said. “This is the right type of housing for, in particular, our older unhoused folks who are living largely on disability.”

The County-owned land borders Hwy 126 to the south and is situated near the Negus Transfer Center. The leased property is north of Oasis Village, a transitional housing village, and south of a pending managed camp.

The tiny homes, ranging from 400 to 600 square feet, will include a kitchen, bathroom and laundry. The land will offer a community space for gathering and for case management offices, a central courtyard, community garden and a walking path.

Mountain View Community Development first requested the

long-term ground lease with the County in July 2024. The nonprofit hopes the project will allow more individuals to find permanent housing.

While most individuals living in the area must qualify as chronically unhoused with a disability, Russell said 10% of the homes will be reserved for individuals who haven’t been unhoused, to live in the community as an informal support system.

Residents in the village will be expected to contribute 30% of their income toward their rent, with the remainder subsidized by the state.

The development will be funded by Oregon Housing and Community Services, which will provide rental subsidy and operations support. Other funding sources are set to include a combination of federal and private grants and funding.

Construction is set to take place in spring and summer of 2026.

“What the County has done today is open the doors to more people gaining housing, and that is good for our unhoused neighbors and community at large,” Russell said in a press release.

CLASSIC MOVIE NIGHT

THE GOLDEN AGE OF CINEMA

Join us for a night of silent films! Featuring discounts on our classic Pre-Prohibition style cocktails and mocktails. Admission includes free popcorn all night. 1920s era attire strongly encouraged! Sat., April 26, 6pm at Pangaea Guild Hall. 652 SW Sixth St., Redmond. $5.

SATURDAY 4/26

FIBER MARKET DAY

HOSTED BY HIGH DESERT WOOL GROWERS In its 27th year, this community event gathers fiber enthusiasts from across the Pacific Northwest. Features include education, exhibition and a fiber market filled with farmers and artists sharing their incredible handmade natural fibers with the people who appreciate them. Sat., April 26, 9am-4pm at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. 3800 SE Airport Way, Redmond. Free.

Hayden Homes

Rebellion

Once a year we invite the community to share original poetry. Our theme this year is rebellion. We are impressed by all the submissions, but our judges whittled them down to their top five favs. The Deschutes County Library and the Masters of Fine Arts low-residency program at Oregon State University-Cascades partnered with us to celebrate poets. Enjoy!

Apex

Science class was only good for proving the same hypotheses. We learned about X and Y chromosomes, the Earth in relation to the solar system. How girls were girls and boys were boys and all the planets revolved around the same sun.

We sliced open slimy dead animals, marveled at their insides like grotesque gag gifts. I thought I’d grow up to be an open casket. Each form water takes - ocean, pond, brook, stream, lake - is also a body. Why are there so many different names for the same thing?

I thought I’d grow up to be a life boat before I realized I was an open sea. Or was I both the boat attempting rescue and the sea swallowing me whole?

Yesterday I witnessed a green mantis praying, perched on a leaf’s margin, aimed at the apex, shadows of plant veins painted on its face like a veil. I read somewhere that the French once thought the praying mantis would point a lost child home.

Author: Melissa Mella

The judge writes: "This poem does some fun things about weaving memory and modern contemplations of society, and I especially loved the final image of the mantis as a French mythos for a guiding star."

Unenforceable

In the carpark of the McPhillips Beach State Park a ranger opens up a black hole and approaches the galaxy of indulgence.

Despite all the warnings signs in the park, the beach, in town, fireworks are still bought and blown up to rattle the air in celebration of a war won hundreds of years ago, most facts forgotten by those who cheer, beers in hands, no thought to what comes down to worsen our wildfire washed air.

“We tried enforcing but they fired them at us. Even at the Sheriff. So what can you do?” Shrugs and begins snapping at the spew of trash, hoping his bag’s gravity is enough.

Author: Matthew Friday

The judge writes: "This poem captures-- through lyric-- a sentiment and experience I think we have in common, that is, the resentment of fireworks, or maybe even worse, the resignation that comes from a lack of ability to do anything about it."

Change of View

This is the way it is / A time to question beliefs so we say / Do we sit in the middle accept things the way they are / or do we roam the edges We have our ideas / Let the old beliefs unravel the earth as we know it / This movement we feel, is at the center, / a revolution, all bodies must circle / around this ancient ball of light around this divine creation /Observe the laws of nature. Not to be questioned / A force among masses, know / the gravity. of our proclamation. / Pulling us along.

Author: Eirinn Ames

The judge writes: "This poem was by far one of the most interesting submissions with its use of form. The weaving of three poems into a single text is a complicated process, and though the imagery of this set of three is quite simple, the construction is unique."

Letting Courage Build, invoking Rosa P.

(To be read first down and then up)

How else does change begin? You are forced to stand up. What will they say?

But you want the future to look different. You know how this will feel Very hard.

You look straight ahead

When someone speaks up, You know people don’t like it Is this what it takes?

You see how they look at you. You’ve made up your mind. You can’t do it anymore. You sit down.

Author: Eirinn Ames

The judge writes: "I like the alternating questions and statements in this poem, and that the lines coming after the questions are not so much answers to those questions but new questions themselves. The poet's use of punctuation for line endings could be hum-drum or obvious, but the different lengths of the lines and the overall attention to justice in the poem resists any easy connection to be made."

Looking in the mirror I see the man I once was.

Proud eyes and a yellowed smile

Whitty and full of bad jokes

Constantly at distress but instead decided he’d glow

When I see him I almost cry

When I see him I ask how he died He changed is all

He decided that he was exhausted and wanted to fall I look in the mirror and see his reflection.

Somber eyes and a whitened scowl

Everything’s changed

In just a little while

Author: Luke Johnston

The judges write: "I can see clearly what the poet is intending to do in this piece. It's a challenging thing to create enough distance between the self and the subject of the poem, and the writer is able to do this and with some very memorable images and descriptions."

SOURCE PICKS

WEDNESDAY 4/23

30TH ANNIVERSARY HIKE

EXPLORE WHYCHUS CANYON PRESERVE

Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Executive Director Rika Ayotte on a hike through juniper forests and native grasslands while enjoying early spring wildflowers and learning about long-term restoration efforts. Wed., April 23, 5:30-7:30pm at Whychus Canyon Preserve. 69899 Goodrich Rd, Sisters. Free.

WEDNESDAY 4/23

FLAMY GRANT WITH STORY & TUNE

SHAME-SLAYING, HIP-SWAYING TUNES

Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant brings her singer/songwriter drag queen magic to Bend from western North Carolina. Wed., April 23, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $20.

THURSDAY 4/24

CARE & STEWARDSHIP: ART & ECOLOGY STEWARDING OREGON’S COASTLINE

ART AND CONSERVATION

COYOTE RIDER

ACOUSTIC SET AT RIVER’S PLACE

Exciting new singer/songwriter project based in Bend, featuring Kim Kelley on guitar and vocals and Kat Hilst on cello, mandolin and vocals. Thu., April 24, 6pm at River’s Place. 787 NE Purcell BLVD., Bend. Free.

EARTH DAY FAIR AND CELEBRATION

AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

This outdoor event celebrates our community through music and dance performances, local food vendors, businesses and nonprofits from across the region. Featuring electric car demonstrations, an activity zone for all ages and more! Sat., April 26, 11am-3pm at The Environmental Center. 16 NW Kansas Ave., Bend. Free.

Jane Bacchieri and Chanel Hason of the Elakha Alliance in conversation with Josie Iselin, co-director of Above/Below. Expect lively dialogue between the speakers, captivating visuals and an opportunity for robust Q&A. Thu., April 24, 6-7:30pm at Pine Meadow Ranch. 68476 Three Creek Rd., Sisters. Free. THURSDAY 4/24

SATURDAY 4/26

BEND BIKE FESTIVAL + BIKE SWAP

BENEFITING BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY

Consign your new and used gear and bikes, browse a selection of local businesses and nonprofit vendors, enjoy live music, food and drinks. Stay for the games and raffle prizes! Sat., April 26 and Sun., April 27, 9am-5pm at The Pavilion. 1001 SW Bradbury Way, Bend. Free.

SUNDAY 4/27

TEEN POETRY WORKSHOP AND OPEN MIC

IN HONOR OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

Calling all teen poets! This poetry-writing workshop will be followed by an open mic. We will play with sonics and wordplay to create original, surprising poetry meant for performing out loud. Registration required. Sun., April 27, 2-4pm at Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe. 135 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Free.

SUNDAY 4/27

ORCHARD CARE CLASS AT SCHILLING'S GARDEN MARKET

ENSURE A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

Whether you care for one fruit tree or an entire orchard, this class will help you understand why pruning your fruit trees strikes a balance between the tree’s health, productivity and aesthetics. Sun., April 27, 11am at Schilling’s Garden Market. 64640 Old Bend-Redmond Highway, Bend. $5.

TUESDAY 4/29

FISH, FLOWS, AND THE FUTURE

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN THE DESCHUTES BASIN

Redband trout, steelhead and salmon are crucial to the Deschutes Basin but face habitat loss and water challenges. Experts Megan Hill and Jason Wilcox discuss balancing hydropower with fish restoration. Tue., April 29, 6pm at Worthy Brewing. 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Free.

TUESDAY,

The Environmental Center

Coyote Rider

Taryn Ferro

Deschutes River Conservancy

Youth Orchestra to play at the Tower

S SOUND Young Musicians Strike Up a Spring Concert The Central Oregon

By Nic Moye

The Central Oregon Youth Orchestra is presenting its spring concert at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend in May. The music will feature the full orchestra, wind ensemble and concert orchestra directed by Dr. Travis Allen, Debbie Harrington, Jonathan Moore and Ryan Zwahlen.

Allen is COYO’s executive director and an accomplished cellist performing with the Central Oregon Symphany, Bend Cello Collective and Dove String Quartet.

Source Weekly: Who comprises the Central Oregon Youth Orchestra?

Dr. Travis Allen: Our members are primarily middle school and high school students, although we also have a few elementary school students in both strings and winds. We currently have 75 students, primarily from Bend and Redmond, with our student population also coming from Prineville and Madras. Our students come from all kinds of backgrounds, with some having musical families, and others being the first generation to pursue music strongly. We support all our students, and everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of their economic situation.

SW: How long has the orchestra been performing?

TA: The orchestra has been in existence since 2014, but the COYO has been performing all of its concerts at the Tower since 2022.

SW: Describe the type of music the audience will hear and how the pieces were selected.

TA: The audience will hear a variety of classical music, both from traditional composers in the classical music canon and more modern composers whose musical inspiration is similar to that of movie and film music.

Primarily, our goal in choosing music is to find pieces that are challenging for the students, exciting, engaging, and fun for our audience. This spring concert will have music that does all three of these things very well. I think the audience will really enjoy the music selections our conductors have made.

SW: How long have you been with the youth orchestra and what is your background?

TA: I was brought on as the executive director of the organization in January 2020. I have a background in music performance and education, with a master's in cello performance and a ph.d in musicology. I am the principal cellist of the Central Oregon Symphony and an instructor at COCC, teaching classes in music theory and music history.

SW: Can you share any success stories about youth performers who went onto big things after the orchestra?

TA: Since COYO's inception, our students have gone on to study at prestigious music institutions, such as the Eastman School of Music and the Colburn School in Los Angeles. Our current students are some of the highest-achieving young musicians in Central Oregon. Many of them audition and win places in AllState ensembles, and some also earn a place and compete in the state solo and ensemble contest. Every one of our students is dedicated to their instrument and works hard to make each performance their best.They are amazing kids.

SW: How many concerts does the orchestra perform each year?

TA: We have two main orchestras: the Concert Orchestra and the Youth Philharmonic, as well as a Wind Ensemble, which is composed entirely of wind and brass instruments. The Concert Orchestra is a strings-only ensemble, comprising mostly of middle school students, and the Youth Philharmonic is a full symphonic orchestra, which is predominantly high school students. These three larger ensembles perform twice a year at the Tower Theatre, with one winter concert in December and one spring concert in May.

We also have some chamber ensembles that perform more frequently. Our string quartet, for example, performs throughout the community, including first Fridays and as prelude performances for other arts organizations, such as the Central Oregon School of Ballet's Nutcracker Concerts.

SW: Can you share any upcoming events or plans?

TA: We are always looking to enrich the musical experience of our students. Currently, we partner with the Central Oregon Symphony, having our students work with their professional principal musicians in workshop settings, and we also perform side by side in an annual collaborative concert. However, we are working to have more partnerships with other regional youth orchestras, with the hope that our students can connect with and be inspired by a variety of talented and motivated young musicians in the greater Pacific Northwest region.

We are also always looking to expand our offerings in our own communities so that we can better serve the youth of Central Oregon. This year debuted COYO's Wind Ensemble to help foster and develop the skills of young wind and brass musicians in our community. The goal is to be a counterpart to our Concert Orchestra, which works with and develops the musical skills of young string players.

SW: Is there anything new you can share about the orchestra or its future?

TA: The orchestra is always looking for ways to best serve the youth in Central Oregon. Our goal is always to be as inclusive as possible and to bring in students from the wider Central Oregon community. We would love for our programs to reach a wider student audience and have dedicated musicians join our organizations from all over the area. Our organization is a great place for musicians to meet each other and be inspired by one another. It would be lovely to bring this camaraderie and experience to as many young musicians as possible.

SW: Can other youth join?

TA: We are always accepting new students and would love for more to audition. We currently hold auditions twice a year, once before our fall program starts in September and again before our spring program begins in February. I recommend that interested students check our website for updates or email us at coyoed@gmail.com for more information.

Central Oregon Youth Orchestra

Wed., May 7, 7pm Tower Theatre 835 NW Wall St. towertheatre.org/event/central-oregon-youth-orchestra-spring2025-concert Starting at $16

COYO strives to include more student musicians in its activities.

Courtesy COVO

CALENDAR

23 Wednesday

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! Come get immersed with a stage and sound system Plenty of space! Drink specials! Air Guitars! Come see for yourself! It’s a habit! 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 Anthony Frijia Fusing folk, blues, and country influences, Frijia’s lyrically-driven songwriting has captivated audiences in the Mid-Atlantic, and across the country as a touring artist, drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan, Tyler Childers, and John Mayer. 7:30pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Sidney Joseph Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music from Sidney Joseph. 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.

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

6:30pm. Free.

Market of Choice Bend Scrabble Club at Market of Choice We meet upstairs. We use the 7th edition of the Scabble Players Dictionary. New Scrabble players are welcome. If you have a Scrabble set, please bring it as a backup. 6-8:30pm. Free.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School That 90’s Band Unplugged That 90’s Band plays the best of the softer side of alternative and grunge hits from the nineties. 7-10pm. 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.

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

Ponch’s Place Bingo Wednesdays at Ponch’s Place Enjoy Bingo at Ponch’s Place on Wednesday from 5:30pm -7pm. 5:30-7pm. Free.

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

Silver Moon Brewing Flamy Grant with Story & Tune Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant brings her shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing/songwriting drag queen magic to Bend from western North Carolina, backed by the trauma-informed harmony of Oregon’s own Story & Tune. 7-10pm. $20.

LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Ticket and promote your events with BendTicket! →

Volcanic Theatre Pub Upon a Burning Body w/ Bury My Demons, Half Me, King 810, and Left to Suffer San Antonio’s Upon a Burning Body delivers mosh-ready deathcore with Texas-sized riffs. Atlanta’s Left to Suffer brings brutal nu-deathcore, while Flint’s King 810 blends nu-metal with dark jazz. Hamburg’s Half Me offers heavy, modern metal. Denver’s Bury My Demons unites international talent for intense, hard-hitting metalcore. 6pm. $25 presale.

24 Thursday

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

The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room Trivia Night Tease your brain and win cool prizes. Happy Hour menu will be offered during game time. Grab your friends and enjoy an evening of fabulous wines, snacks and fun! Every last Thursday of the month. Arrive early, game starts at 6pm. Last Thursday of every month, 6-8pm. Free.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursday at Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursdays at 6:30pm at Bridge 99 Brewery with Useless Knowledge Bowl. It’s no ordinary trivia night, Team up to win house gift cards! Great brews, cocktails, and more. In-house menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:308:30pm. 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 from 6-8pm. Seats fill up early, so get there early if you can! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Bill Powers Bill is a professional musician and instructor based in Bend for the last 10 years. He’s an award-winning singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and engaging performer. He’s associated with several bands in Central Oregon with the main one being Honey Don’t along with his wife, bassist and musical partner Shelley Gray. 7:30pm. Free.

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 w/ Joyful Lane Join Joyful Lane as he hosts open mic night @The Dez Lounge! Enjoy NA cocktails, charcuterie and desserts while listening to local talent! 6-9pm. Free.

The Domino Room Creed Fisher, Lane Smith All-American musician Creed Fisher is a storyteller, hard worker, and a rising Outlaw Country star. With around 100 million streams on Spotify and nearly 60 million views on YouTube, Fisher’s raw, unfiltered, and unique sound blends traditional country with some modern elements. 8pm.

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.

The Lot Ben Johnson Based out of Central Oregon ghost town Shaniko. Ben Johnson tours the northwest spreading musical tales based on a life spent in the mountains and deserts. Ben Johnson strives to keep folk and country western music alive and well in our beloved Pacific Northwest. 6-8pm. Free.

Mountain Burger The Bunkhouse Two at Mountain Burger Live Music at Mountain Burger with The Bunkhouse Two! 6-8pm. Free.

Pangaea Guild Hall Intro to D&D Workshop Calling all adventurers! Have you wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons but have no idea where to start? Pangaea Guild Hall presents an “Intro to D&D” workshop series hosted by yours truly, Guildmaster Chris! Learn to build and play your own D&D character. Call or email to reserve your spot! 6-9pm. $10.

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

River’s Place Coyote Rider Coyote Rider is a singer/songwriter project based in Bend, with Kim Kelley on guitar and vocals and Kat Hilst on cello, mandolin and vocals. The dynamic synergy created in their music will evoke a deep connection with the full range of human experience. Tim Coffey joins as a special guest. 6-8pm. Free.

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

Sisters Depot Singer Songwriter Series: Aiden Moye & Russell Johnson Aidan songs may be on the sad side, his goal is to leave you with a sense of hope after hearing him play. Russell music blends country folk with a touch of indie quirk, creating a sound that’s both heartfelt and distinctive. 7-9pm. $10.

Velvet Open Mic Monthly Open Mic at Velvet! Hosted by Mari every 4th Thu., of every month! Sign-up starts at 6pm, and music goes until 9pm. All are welcome! Fourth Thursday of every month, 7-9pm. Free.

25 Friday

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

Barrel Room @ Immersion Brewing Bend Comedy April Showcase - Immersion Brewing Join a hilarious lineup at Immersion Brewing, with headliners Ben Harkins and Mike Walter! Featuring Chris Kemper and James Hartenfeld! And Ryan Traughber hosting! This is going to be an unforgettable night of comedy, so don’t miss out! Tickets are available now! 8-10pm. $30.

Bend Cider Co. Grits-n-Gravy Come on out to Tumalo and listen to Grits-n-Gravy’s folksy take on traditional country, featuring Kurt Silva, Lilli Warona, & Mike Biggers (Dry Canyon Stampede, yee-ha!) Enjoy awesome ciders, beer, wine, & n/a beverages around the fire with friends. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. Kid and dog-friendly. Free. 6-8pm. Free.

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. 8pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Laughs & Launches: Ball Pit Comedy Show Get ready for a night of side-splitting laughter with a twist! Join us for a comedy show where you become part of the action. Armed with colorful ball pit balls, the audience gets to toss (gently!) at comedians as they deliver their best punchlines. What to Expect: A lineup of hilarious comedians ready to dodge your throws. Non-stop laughs and unpredictable moments. Perfect for a night out with friends or a quirky date night. Good vibes, great fun, and memories you won’t forget! Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind comedy experience!Grab your friends, bring your best aim, and let’s make it a night to remember.Doors Open: 7pm. Show Starts: 8pm. $5- Online. $10- Door 8-9:30pm.

Ashleigh Flynn and the Riveters are taking new songs on the road after releasing their latest album, “Good Morning Sunshine,” earlier this month. Sat., April 26, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing.

Courtesy Ashleigh Flynn

Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Live at the Vineyard: Cover City Get ready to dance, sing and groove all night long with Cover City–a powerhouse band delivering high-energy, feelgood music that keeps the crowd moving! Known for its smooth style, tight harmonies and killer grooves, Cover City transforms every show into a non-stop celebration. 5-8pm. $20.

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.

Ponch’s Place Music with Bill Powers Enjoy Friday night music at Ponch’s Place with Bill Powers. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Comedian Jordan Cerminara - Live at Silver Moon High-energy comic Jordan Cerminara hits the stage at Silver Moon Brewing on Friday, April 25! Known for clever wordplay, wild voices, and chart-topping comedy, he delivers a night of unforgettable laughs. 8-9:30pm. $15.

Silver Moon Brewing Cheyenne West Band Cheyenne West Band brings an incredible mix of country covers and originals. 7pm. $10.

Sisters Depot Tony Lompa Tony Lompa will play for a couple hours during the evening. Come on up and enjoy some great cocktails, mocktails, beer wine and a pretty awesome view of downtown Sisters. Frankie’s is located on the 2nd floor of Sisters Depot, around back next to the outdoor bar. 7-9pm. Free.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Random Rab w/ Tarekith Random Rab The multi-instrumentalist/ singer offers a powerful and unique contribution to the West Coast electronic music scene, having diverse influences ranging from trip-hop, classical, Arabic, jazz & more. Tarekith’s early love of the house and techno scene led to led to a career and lifelong passion creating his own unique blend. 7pm. $25 presale $35 Door.

Wildwood Bar & Grill Tony Smiley Tony Smiley: guitar, bass, keys, drums, beat boxing, & vocals. 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. 7-10pm. Free.

26 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.

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

The Commonwealth Pub MECH MECH is a Portland-based band that plays original alternative rock music. MECH’s music is influenced by the best in classic and alternative rock, yet bringing their own unique blend of innovation, style and energy. 8pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy at Craft with Nic Lanier Welcome to Live Comedy at Craft! Join us at Craft Kitchen & Brewery for a night filled with laughter and good vibes. Our talented comedians will have you rolling in your seats with their hilarious jokes and witty humor. Grab your friends, order some delicious food and drinks. 8-9:30pm. $10 online, $15 at the door. Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Live at the Vineyard: John Hoover & The Mighty Quinns If you love John Denver, this is your night! Playing guitars, mandolin, percussion and bass, the Quinns present a fully energized performance evocative of Denver’s live concerts. The kindred musical talents and influences of the band members allow a performance true to the messages of peace. 5-8pm. $22.

Open Space Event Studios Improv Showcase 500 by Bend Institute of Comedy Get ready to laugh, cheer, and witness comic chaos as Bend Institute of Comedy presents *Improv Showcase 500*! Featuring the fast-rising house teams “Mixtape” and “Indoor Adventure Club,” this night of fearless, unscripted hilarity will blow the doors off your weekend! 7:30-9pm. $20.

Portello Wine and Spirits Live Music: The Acoustic Minds Join us for a night of soulful harmonies and electrifying energy with Acoustic Minds! Twin sisters and Jenni and Amanda Price blend electric soul, R&B, and pop, delivering powerful vocals and deep grooves. A great night of music, heart, and high energy vibes paired with cocktail, wine and delicious food! 7-9pm. Free.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions The Bunkhouse Two plays old-time, country blues, ragtime, jug band classics. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Semuta, Tacos! & Vacancy Floor Semuta, Tacos! & Vacancy Floor bring the doom! Come get sludgy with us! 7pm. $10.

Silver Moon Brewing ASHLEIGH FLYNN & THE RIVETERS w/TRUE NORTH DUO With what PopMatters describes as “tenacious swagger,” locally acclaimed solo artist Ashleigh Flynn, from Portland, OR, recently dialed up the volume and debuted an all-female rock band as a nod to the “Rosie the Riveter” archetype from WWII. 7pm. $12/$15.

Wetlands Taphouse Almost Almost covers your favorite tunes from the ‘60s to the ‘90s! Come enjoy a great evening of food, drinks and music at this amazing venue. 6-9pm. Free.

Wildwood Bar & Grill Eric Leadbetter & Aaron Moore Eric Leadbetter & Aaron Moore. Brothers from another mother Leadbetter & Moore rock WildWood! 7-10pm. Free.

27 Sunday

Cafe des Chutes Ukrainian Vyshyvanka: An Interactive Folklore Evening with Inna Kovtun Celebrate the beauty and meaning of Ukrainian embroidery at our Vyshyvanka Day gathering! Learn about traditional symbols, regional styles and the cultural significance of the vyshyvanka. Wear your embroidered shirt with pride and join us for music, stories and community honoring Ukrainian identity, resilience and heritage through stitch and song. 4-6pm. $25.

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 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.

River’s Place Trivia! Free to play and prizes to win! UKB Trivia hosts this fun meeting of the minds. Check out our mimosa menu! Noon-2pm. Free.

River’s Place Bobby Lindstrom Release party for Bobby Lindstrom’s new album, End of the Road. Rhythm & Blues 5-7pm. Free.

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

28 Monday

Bevel Craft Brewing The Office Trivia Join us for The Office Trivia at Bevel! Test your knowledge on Dunder Mifflin’s best moments, from Jim’s pranks to Michael’s antics. Free to play, teams up to six, and themed attire encouraged. Win Bevel gift cards! Trivia runs 6-8pm, with questions by the one and only Bevel Beard. 6-8pm. Free.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Mondays at Bridge 99 Trivia Mondays at 6:30pm at Bridge 99 Brewery with Useless Knowledge Bowl. It’s no ordinary trivia night, Team up to win house gift cards! Great brews, cocktails, and more. Inhouse menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Bunk+Brew Open Mic Mondays Show off your talent at Bunk + Brew! Open mic runs from 6-10pm, with sign-ups starting at 5:30. Stick around for open jam from 9-10pm. Enjoy food carts in our backyard while supporting local performers. Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 6-10pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Monday Acoustic Open Mic Night Monday Acoustic Open Mic Night at The Commonwealth Pub Whether you’re performing original songs or acoustic covers, the stage is yours Monday nights at The Commonwealth Pub! With full sound and lights provided, just bring your instrument and get ready to shine! Sign-ups 5pm and music 6-10pm. 5pm. 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.

Immersion Brewing Open Mic at Immersion Brewing - Bend Comedy - Open Mic at 7pmSign up at 6:30pm - All performance types are welcome! - All ages are welcome to attend and perform! - All acts are eligible to audition to perform in a future Bend Comedy show! - 5 minutes spoken or 2 songs of stage time! 7-9pm. Free.

JC’s Bar & Grill Free Pool + all day Happy Hour! Free pool Mondays! All-day Happy Hour, free pool with any purchase, and unbeatable deals on drinks and bites! Enjoy delicious eats, ice-cold brews, and game day vibes with football on and the sound up. Don’t miss out- Mondays just got way better! 2pm-Midnight. Free. On Tap Locals’ Day Plus Live Music Cheaper drinks all day and live music at night, get down to On Tap. 11am-9pm. Free.

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

29 Tuesday

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

The Capitol The Capitol Karaoke Music Weekly Karaoke at its finest! Central Oregon’s Premiere karaoke experience has just moved locations! Now at the Capitol! Come get immersed with a stage and sound system Plenty of space! Drink specials! Air Guitars! Come see for yourself! It’s a habit! 8pm-1am. Free.

The Cellar Open Mic Open mic at The Cellar hosted by Mari! 6-8pm and all are welcome! 6-8pm. Free.

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

The Commonwealth Pub Karaoke Get ready for a night of music, singing, and nonstop fun at The Commonwealth Pub! DJ Chris is bringing the energy with top 40 hits and all your favorite karaoke tracks. Grab your friends, warm up those vocal cords, and join us for an unforgettable evening. Sign-ups 6pm Karaoke 7pm! Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Andy Armer’s Groove School—Tuesday Jazz Nights Come join us for a night of jazz, blues and grooves as part of our Tuesday night jazz series. Groove School is led by Andy Armer (who co-write “Rise” by Herb Alpert), with drummer Casey Smiley, Ben Woessner on bass and Mark Ransom on guitar. 7-9pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Head Games

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

The Lot TRIVIA TUESDAY @ The Lot Join your trivia loving peeps on the heated benches for a fun Tuesday evening out! Six categories with six questions each. Eat. Drink. Think. Prizes from food carts and local breweries. Every Tuesday from November to end of April. 6-8pm. Free.

Gabrielle Monia and Jordan Lewis Lee of the Bunkhouse Two write and perform original tunes influenced by American roots music — old-time, country blues, ragtime and jug band classics. Thu., April 24, 6pm at Mountain Burger.

Courtesy Bunkhouse Two

M&J Tavern Karaoke Find your vibe to sing your heart out in the downtown living room. 8pm-Midnight. Free.

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

Northside Bar & Grill Karaoke with DJ Chris Ossig Karaoke with DJ Chris. 7-9pm. Free. Pinky G’s Pizzeria TRIVIA NIGHT Test your knowledge in a casual/laid-back atmosphere. Pizza, beer and trivia. Free to play and prizes for 1st and 2nd place. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Blues Revival Come on out and enjoy the Blues jam happening the last Tuesday of the month at Silver Moon. If you are a soloist (harmonica, horns, keys, guitar) come join the jam! We love the dancers that frequently show up! 6-9pm. Free.

MUSIC

Music Down in My Soul! Join us for “Music Down in My Soul,” a concert celebrating music’s power to connect us. Enjoy works spanning centuries, from Gibbons to Dylan, and featuring Uusberg’s Muusika and the new piece Let Me Believe. Experience the soul-stirring magic of music in this free, inspiring event! April 27, 7-8:30pm. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend, OR 97703, Bend. Contact: 541-224-8004. stephanie@ centraloregonmastersingers.org. This event is free. Suggested donation: $20.

Portland Cello Project: Sunshine & Stars Nancy Ives joins the Portland Cello Project as a double threat star cellist and composer in an Unplugged Cellos-only show of songs inspired by light and hope, with just a touch of melancholy. April 23, 7:30-10pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $34 - $59.

The Robert Cray Band Across five decades, Robert Cray has created a richly inclusive American music, revitalizing both blues and soul while rocking hard with the very best. To achieve 50 years in the music industry and still be as fresh and committed as when starting out. April 29, 7:30-10pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $60 - $150.

DANCE

Adult Ballet Class Come learn or rediscover the art of ballet on Tuesday nights! Adult Ballet is an open-level class for adult learners and dancers. Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30 and 6:45-7:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-382-4055. dance@ abcbend.com. Varies: Drop-ins $25, 4-Pack or Register receives a discount!.

Bend Dance Project Adult Community Drop-in Class Join nonprofit Bend Dance Project for an adult intermediate level drop-in dance class. Styles include classic jazz, street jazz, modern and lyrical. Teachers and styles rotate monthly. Supportive and welcoming atmosphere! Suggested donation $10. Fridays, 12:15-1:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-7281063. dancevelocity@live.com. $10.

Introduction to Double Staffs Come find your flow with an introductory class in double staff spinning. Class is taught by the High Desert Fire Artists at Lava City Cirque. No sign-up required and equipment is provided! Sun, April 6, 1-2pm and Sun, April 27, 1-2pm. Lava City Cirque, 63075 Crusher Ave #105, Bend. Contact: 458666-3626. highdesertfireartists@gmail.com. $10.

Shrek Rave The Domino Room in Bend hosts Shrek Raves, which are themed parties where attendees dress up as their favorite Shrek characters. Tickets are available at Ticketweb, Smith Rock Records, and Higher Elevation Smokers Gallery. April 25, 9pm. The Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $15.

FILM EVENTS

Classic Movie Night Join us at Pangaea Guild Hall for a night of silent films from the golden age of cinema! Featuring discounts on our classic Pre-Prohibition style cocktails and mocktails. $5 admission, comes with free popcorn all night. 1920’s era attire strongly encouraged! April 26, 6-11pm. Pangaea Guild Hall, 652 SW Sixth St., Redmond. $5.

Dan Savage’s HUMP! Fest Part 1 The 2025 HUMP! spring lineup features 23 brand new shorts that are wilder, funnier, and hotter than ever. See why the sexiest thing you can be is unapologetically yourself! Showing 1 @ 6:30 PM Showing 2 @ 9pm, 21+, April 26, 5:30pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub, 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. $20. Ski Film Night Wednesdays Catch epic ski films at Bunk + Brew. Celebrate the slopes with fellow ski enthusiasts. Warm up with great food from our backyard food carts. Wednesdays, 6-9pm. Bunk+Brew, 42 NW Hawthorne Avenue, Bend. Free.

ARTS + CRAFTS

Barbara Cella Art at Touchmark at Pilot Butte This show focuses on Barbara Cella’s plein air paintings, completed outdoors, on-site. Using acrylics, Barbara seeks to capture the energy and atmosphere surrounding her as she paints the scene. Her paintings can be viewed through May in the mezzanine gallery. April 2-May 31. Touchmark at Pilot Butte, 1125 NE Watt Way, Bend. Contact: 541-238-6101. barbara@barbaracella.com. Free.

David Kreitzer Open Gallery and Studio The son of a Lutheran minister, Nebraska born Contemporary Realist David Kreitzer paints stunning small and large meditative images of floral, landscape, figure, and midwest beauty. Kreitzer began his professional career at the prestigious Maxwell Galleries in 1960s San Francisco, on the vanguard of a revival of New Realism. Fridays-Sundays, 1-5pm. David Kreitzer Fine Art Gallery and Studio, 20214 Archie Briggs Rd, Bend. Contact: 805-234-2048. jkreitze@ icloud.com. Free.

Go Wild Sisters Artist Showcase Artist Showcase: Go Wild Sisters! Featuring Central Oregon honey from The Royal Bee and pollinator-related artwork by Kathy Deggendorfer, Lindsay Gilmore, Rachel Dantona, James Parsons, Green Bird Press, Cheryl Chapman, Charlotte Wallace, and Sheila Dunn. March 28-April 24. Makin’ It Local, 281 W Cascade Avenue, Sisters. Contact: 541-904-4722. Free.

Moth Pinning Workshop! Come join local etymology nerd Alicia from local company Bolt of Blue, in pinning your very own Sunset Moth into a frame! Recommended for ages 12 and up. Ticket costs includes everything, purchase through Somewhere That’s Green’s website. April 26, Noon-2pm. Somewhere That’s Green, 1017 NE 2nd St., Bend. Contact: 541-330-4086. help@ somewheregreen.com. $95.

Premiere Property Group hosts “Wildlife Large and Small “ Art Exhibit

Premiere Property Group is hosting “Wildlife Large and Small,” an exhibit of acrylic and watercolor paintings by Joren Traveller and Vivian Olsen. Meet the artists during the First Friday Art Walk on April 4 between 5-7pm. Through April the exhibit can be be seen M-F 8:30am-5pm. Mondays-Fridays. Through April 30. Premiere Property Group, 25 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-241-6860. Free.

Rest and Relief Exhibition at Scalehouse Through a series of print works, Melanie Stevens embarks on an exploration and visual meditation of moments of solitude, peace, and stillness as acts of resilience and protection. This exhibition is supported by: funds from Charlotte Dixon and David Dolphin, Ford Family Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment Wednesdays-Saturdays. Through May 31. Scalehouse Collaborative for the Arts, 550 NW Franklin Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-3621288. info@scalehouse.org. Free.

SAA 4th Friday Artwalk in Sisters,, All-Day 10am-7pm Visit the Art Galleries of Sisters featuring: A great time, beautiful art, good company, demonstrations, plus additional sponsoring restaurants and food venues for during and following the walk. Visit with actual artists and their work including: Fine art and contemporary paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass artistry, jewelry, and more. Fourth Friday of every month, 10am-7pm. Through Nov. 28. Downtown Sisters, Hood Avenue., Sisters. Contact: 541-719-8581,. events@sistersartsassociation.org. Free.

Vivian Olsen Art at The Oxford The Oxford Hotel is featuring the paintings of artist, author, and illustrator Vivian Olsen. Her charming watercolor and oil paintings of wildlife will be on display through the month of April. April 2-30. The Oxford Hotel, 10 Northwest Minnesota Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-382-8436. viviart70@ gmail.com. Free.

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

April 2025 Central Oregon PubTalk

EDCO’s Central Oregon PubTalk is a happy hour aimed at bringing together different facets of the business community in one place to network, share ideas and further local businesses. Tickets include one drink ticket and snacks provided by Worthy Brewing. April 24, 4:30-7pm. Worthy Brewing - Main Pub and Brewery, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Contact: info@edcoinfo.com. $32-$48.

Beautiful Wild Birds of Central Oregon

Join East Cascades Bird Alliance member and local birder to learn about Central Oregon’s birds! April 29, 5:30-7pm. Crook County Library, 175 NW Meadow Lakes Drive, Prineville. Contact: 541447-7978. aheiberger@crooklibraryor.gov. Free. Bend Ghost Tours Join for Ghosts and Legends of Downtown Bend Tour and hear all about Bend’s permanent residents! Your spirit guide will lead you through the haunted streets and alleyways of Historic Downtown Bend where you’ll learn about the city’s many macabre tales, long-buried secrets and famous ghosts. Wednesdays-Sundays, 7:30-9pm. Downtown Bend, Downtown Bend, Bend. Contact: 541-3500732. bendghosttours@gmail.com. $25.

Care & Stewardship: Art & Ecology Stewarding Oregon’s Coastline We are excited to host Jane Bacchieri and Chanel Hason of the Elakha Alliance in conversation with Josie Iselin, co-director of Above/Below.Expect a lively dialogue among the speakers, captivating visuals, and an opportunity for robust Q&A. This event is free and open to the public. Register at Roundhousefoundation.org/events April 24, 6-7:30pm. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, 68467 Three Creek Rd., Sisters. Contact: 541-9040700. inquiries@roundhousefoundation.org. Free.

Healing Waters: New Show by Contemporary Realist Painter David Kreitzer Contemporary realist painter David Kreitzer presents “Healing Waters”-an exhibition of oil images of translucent, sparkling, emerald and turquoise lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Kreitzer paints meditative and healing images of peace and beauty in the style of the old masters. 20% of proceeds will be donated to the St. Charles Foundation. Ongoing, 8am-7pm. St. Charles Medical Center, 2500 NE Neff Rd., Bend. Contact: 805-234-2048. jkreitze@icloud.com. Free.

Indigenous Speaker Series: Pathfinders Film Discussion Pathfinders is a short film that explores how Thyreicia Simtustus, Kahmussa Green and Kiahna Allen are finding their own paths in balancing Native and non-Native worlds. Join a discussion with the director LaRonn Katchia and the young leaders from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs featured in the film. April 25, 6:30-7:30pm. High Desert Museum, 59800 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: 541-382-4754. info@highdesertmuseum.org. $5, Members 20% off. Tribal members free!

The People Called ‘Quakers’ The Quakers, or Friends, defied societal norms from the start and continue to shape world history, despite their global population of fewer than half a million today. Paul N. Anderson, PhD, Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox University, will outline their beginnings in 1652 to the present. April 29, 6-7pm. Downtown Bend Library - Brooks Room, 601 NW Wall St,, Bend. Contact: 541-3121029. laurelh@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

THEATER

Shakespeare in Love Summit High School Theatre Department presents Lee Hall’s stage adaptation of the highly acclaimed Academy Award-winning screenplay, Shakespeare in Love. This enchanting, hilarious, romantic stage play reimagines William Shakespeare’s creative process – and explores his inspiration – as he writes Romeo and Juliet. Thu, April 24, 7-9:30pm, Fri, April 25, 7-9:30pm, Sat, April 26, 7-9:30pm and Sun, April 27, 2-4:30pm. Summit High School Auditorium, 2855 NW Clearwater Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-355-4190. summittheatrespotlight@ gmail.com. Adult $8; Student/Senior $5.

WORDS

From Agatha Christie to Ruth Ware: A Mysterious Book Talk Covering the Golden Age of crime fiction to psychological thrillers, bookseller and writer Joey Roddy will highlight the Mystery genre’s history, tropes, unspoken rules, and give lots of great recommendations! Registration required. April 24, 6:30-7:30pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541312-1029. laurelh@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart make up Chicago rock group Finom. Thur., April 24, 6pm at Suttle Lodge & Boathouse.

Courtesy Finom FB

CALENDAR

Independent Bookstore Day! Let’s Celebrate! Join us for Spirit Week Shenanigans! First 65 customers to spend $65 can purchase an exclusive IBD tote for $20 filled with fabulous free books and gifts! 20% off RAB Merch. Exclusive IBD merchandise. Free giveaways, free popcorn all day long! April 26, 10am-5pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

The Journey of a Book with Sarvenaz Tash In this presentation, author Sarvenaz Tash will unravel the mystery of how a book gets made, using her 2024 novel, "The Queen of Ocean Parkway," as a case study. Enjoy a Q&A session with the author after the presentation. Book purchase and singing will be available. April 26, 3-4pm. Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-312-1062. Elsah@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Spring StorySLAM Laugh, gasp and maybe even tear up as we explore what it means to begin again, see the world differently or take a chance on something unknown. The night’s theme is “Fresh”...fresh starts, fresh perspectives, fresh disasters, fresh food or whatever creative spin our storytellers can put on “fresh.” April 25, 6:30pm. Paulina Springs Books-Sisters, 252 W Hood Ave., Sisters. Contact: info@sistersfob.org. $10.

ETC.

Community Bonfire Fridays Gather around the fire every Friday from 7-10pm at Bunk + Brew. Meet new friends, share stories, and enjoy the cozy vibes. Don’t miss our delicious food carts in the backyard! Fridays, 7-10pm. Bunk+Brew, 42 NW Hawthorne Avenue, Bend. Free.

Trivia with Quiz Head Games Grab your smartest friends, some craft brews, and choose one of our delicious cocktails or a selection of over 50 whiskeys while playing trivia with prize giveaways! Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm. Through April 30. Kobold Brewing - The Vault, 245 SW Sixth St., Redmond. Free.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

30th Anniversary Hike Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Executive Director Rika Ayotte for a 30th Anniversary hike at one of the Land Trust’s flagship Preserves: Whychus Canyon Preserve. We’ll hike through juniper forest and native grasslands while enjoying early spring wildflowers. Learn more about the Land Trust’s long-term restoration efforts. April 23, 5:30-7:30pm. Whychus Canyon Preserve, outside Sisters, Sisters. Free.

Bevel Putting Mayhem: Disc Golf! Join us for Bevel Putting Mayhem! This disc golf putting competition is open to all every Wednesday night from Oct-April in our hop garden. Bring 2 putters, enjoy $1 off beers, and compete in a double elimination format. Sign-up at 5:30pm; first putts at 6pm. $5 to enter. Wednesdays, 5:309pm. Through April 30. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 541-972-3835. holla@bevelbeer.com. $5.

City Nature Challenge - Plant BioBlitz at Shevlin Park Beaver Meadow Join Beaver Works Oregon in exploring wetland plant natural history and identification. Participants will become familiar with the characteristics, terminology, and keys used in plant identification and leave with an understanding of how the composition of plant species can tell a story about ecosystem health. April 26, 9-11am. Aspen Hall, 18920 Northwest Shevlin Park Rd., Bend. Contact: maureen@thinkwildco.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.

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.

Dog Adoption Event Hosted by Amazing Dogs Rescue Dog adoption event at PetSmart hosted by amazing dogs rescue. Check out adoptable dogs online at amazingdogs.org every 2 weeks at PetSmart 11-1pm. Every other Sunday, 11am-1pm. PetSmart, 63455 N. Highway 97, Bend. Earth Day Fair and Celebration

The Environmental Center is thrilled to host its family-friendly Earth Day Fair and Celebration. This outdoor event features and celebrates our community through music and dance performances, local food vendors, businesses and nonprofits from across the region, electric car demonstrations, an activity zone for all ages, and more! April 26, 11am-3pm. The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Ave., Bend. Contact: 541508-5410. priscilla@envirocenter.org. Free. NeighborImpact Volunteer Opportunities Support NeighborImpact and its programs! Click the link below to register as a volunteer, then browse open opportunities. Roles needed: Food Bank (repack, drivers, check-In), HomeSource (co-teachers), facilities (weeding, woodchips, painting), Special Events (Empty Bowls, Foodie Crawl, Toys for Tots), and more! Mondays-Fridays. NeighborImpact Office - Redmond, 2303 SW First St., Redmond. Contact: 541419-2595. grantj@neighborimpact.org. Free.

Redmond Family Kitchen Dinner Family Kitchen is continuing to provide nutritious meals to anyone in need now in Redmond! They need volunteers to prepare dinners and clean up afterward on Mondays - Fridays, from 2-4:30pm. Email Tori (see below) with any questions, or sign up here: https://www.signupgenius. com/go/RedmondDinner Mondays-Fridays, 2-4:30pm. Mountain View Fellowship, 1475 SW 35th St, Redmond. Contact: 631-942-3528. tori@ familykitchen.org. Free.

Volunteering in Oregon’s High Desert with ONDA Oregon Natural Desert Association is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting, defending and restoring Oregon’s high desert. They engage the public in their work to improve the health of desert ecosystems by leading guided, small group, volunteer service trips in some of eastern Oregon’s most remote and beautiful landscapes. Visit www.onda. org/trips to find the full calendar and descriptions of current volunteer trip offerings. Ongoing.

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

Weed Warriors Join the Weed Warriors to battle invasive weeds at our protected lands! Weed Warriors is a volunteer group that helps remove invasive weeds like mullein, spotted knapweed, teasel, and Canada thistle from Land Trust protected lands. Non-native vegetation is a major threat to functioning natural areas. Wed, April 16, 9am-Noon-Wed, April 23, 9am-Noon and Wed, July 16, 9am-Noon. Camp Polk Meadow Preserve, outside Sisters, Sisters. Contact: 541330-0017. event@deschuteslandtrust.org. Free.

GROUPS

+ MEETUPS

Authentic Relating Games Night

Authentic relating games are designed to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. These activities often involve open-ended questions, prompts, and playful exercises that encourage participants to share their truths and listen deeply to one another. April 24, 6-7:30pm. Hanai Center, 62430 Eagle Road, Bend. Contact: 415378-5722. suzettehibble@mac.com. $20.

Bend Ukelele Group (BUGs) Do you play Uke? Like to learn to play? Beginners and experienced players all welcome to join the fun every Tuesday at 6:30-8pm at Big E’s just off 3rd street near Reed Market. Go play with the group! Tue, Dec. 6, 6:30pm and Tuesdays, 6:30pm. Contact: 206-707-6337. Free.

Celebrate & Elevate Women’s Networking Coffee Date This networking opportunity is from 9am-10:30 am and includes a coffee and light breakfast from The Row. All women, from seasoned businesswomen to aspiring entrepreneurs, are welcome. By sharing our diverse experiences, we can create a powerful support network. Join us as we connect, collaborate, and celebrate our journeys. April 23, 9-10:30am. Tetherow Golf Club, 61240 Skyline Ranch Rd., Bend. Contact: 4153785722. suzettehibble@mac.com. $35.

Dirt, Friends and Brews: Wednesday Trail Rides Join local mountain bikers this Wednesday at Phil’s Trailhead for inclusive group rides departing at 5:30pm. All intermediate riders welcome—bring bike, helmet and friendly attitude! Routes change weekly, covering ~12 miles with moderate climbing. Post-ride socializing encouraged. April 23, 5:307:45pm. Phil’s Trailhead, Skyliner Rd, Bend. Contact: brianyounginoregon@gmail.com. Free.

With five Grammy Awards and a career spanning five decades, Robert Cray and his band rock the house with blues and soul. Tue., April 29, 7:30pm at the Tower Theater.

Courtesy Robert Cray

Dog adoption event Herding Dog Rescue of Central Oregon has several great dogs for you to meet. Herding dogs are great companions for your walks, hikes, running, mountain biking, skiing and just hugging! Adopt and foster! April 26, 11am-2pm. Mud Bay Colorado Crossing, 110 NW Sisemore St., Suite 130, Bend. Contact: 458-2928362. Herdingdogrescue@gmail.com. Free.

Engage Deschutes - Politics Social Club Join us for Politics Night at Unofficial Logging every 4th Thursday! This month’s theme is Elections—chat with those who have run or are running for office. No tickets, no stuffy presentations—just casual conversation over beers about making local change. It’s easier than you think! Fourth Thursday of every month, 6-8pm. Unofficial Logging Co., 910 NW Harriman St., Bend. Contact: 510-761-5230. jheylin@gmail. com. Free.

Fish, Flows, and the Future: Conservation and Management in the Deschutes Basin Redband trout, steelhead and salmon are crucial to the Deschutes Basin but face habitat loss and water challenges. Experts Megan Hill and Jason Wilcox discuss balancing hydropower with fish restoration. Moderated by Lisa Seales, DRC Program Manager, highlighting recovery efforts and partnerships protecting these vital species. April 29, 6-8pm. Worthy Brewing - Main Pub and Brewery, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4077. marisa@deschutesriver.org. Free.

Group Bike Rides SPRD has partnered with Blazin Saddles to host a series of group bike rides along Sisters trails! All group rides are free, please pre-register online at www.sistersrecreation.com. Sat, April 26, 10am-4pm, Sat, May 10, 10am-4pm, Sat, May 17, 10am-4pm, Sat, June 7, 10am-4pm, Sat, June 14, 10am-4pm and Sat, June 21, 10am-4pm. Blazin Saddles, 413 W Hood Ave, Sisters. Contact: 541-549-2091. sprd@ sistersrecreation.com. Free.

LWV Deschutes County Candidate Forums 2025 - Bend-LaPine School Board In keeping with our mission of encouraging informed and active participation in government, LWV of Deschutes County is hosting a candidates forum for the upcoming Bend-LaPine School Board election. Submit questions for the candidates up to 48 hours prior to the event at https://lwvdeschutes.org. Press “Candidate Forums 2025” button. April 23, 5:30-6:30pm. Deschutes County Building, 1300 NW Wall St, Sawyer Room, Bend. Contact: 541-931-9096. lwvdeschutes@gmail.com. Free.

Pollinator Trivia Night Do you love trivia? Do you love native plants and pollinators? Join us for Pollinator Trivia Night! Invite your friends and family for dinner and trivia! There will be raffle prizes and proceeds will go to Pollinators Pathways and Native Plant Society of Oregon! April 29, 6-8pm. Pinky G’s Pizzeria, 719 SE Third St., Bend. Free.

Roller Derby Meet and Greet If you’re curious about roller derby come and ask us all the questions. We have the answers. Looking forward to seeing you there whether you’re interested in skating with us, volunteering, or becoming a fan. April 23, 6:30-8pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE Fourth St., Bend. Contact: None. lavacityinfo@gmail.com. Free.

Stand-in Restorative Justice-Senior Community Circle Are you interested in building community? Are you an older adult (60+)? Come learn about Restorative Justice & participate in a facilitated circle! April 23, 1:302:30pm. Crook County Library, 175 NW Meadow Lakes Drive, Prineville. Contact: 541-728-3783. info@standinrj.org. Free.

Swordfighting competitions Learn, practice and compete in historical swordfighting. First practice is free and we have all the gear you need to try it out. Make new friends, and hit them with swords! Wednesdays, 5:15-7pm. Through April 30. Masonic Hall of Bend, 1036 NE 8th St., Bend. Contact: 541-241-6742. contact@ bend1595.com. Free.

FUNDRAISING

Bingo for Veterans A fun family-friendly Bingo Night with proceeds benefiting Central Oregon Veterans Ranch! Win prizes, cash and support our these local Heroes. Bingo cards are $2 each or 6 for $10, with daubers supplied. Second Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8:30pm and Fourth Wednesday of every month. Otto’s Landing, 652 NW Seventh St., Redmond. Contact: 541-699-1307. ottosredmond@gmail.com. Free.

Children’s Book Drive Got children’s books? Please donate your gently-used kids books to children in need. We especially need baby board books and hardcover picture books. We pass them on to our partners at local food pantries and social service organizations. Sponsored by Bend Chapter DAR. April 26, 11am-3pm. The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Ave., Bend. Contact: mmegentry@gmail.com. Free.

Community Pint Night with Mountain Star! Join us every Thursday 4-7pm during the month of April and raise a pint to Mountain Star for Child Abuse Prevention Month! Rotating game nights each week and family friendly movies up on the projector. Hope to see you down at the Apothecary to fundraise for this great organization. Thursdays, 4-7pm. Through April 25. The Ale Apothecary Tasting Room, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: taryn@thealeapothecary.com. Free.

US Bank’s Foodie Crawl benefiting NeighborImpact Join us for a restaurant crawl around downtown Bend! Support NeighborImpact’s Food Bank while enjoying small plate and beverage pairings from select restaurants, followed by an afterparty at McMenamin’s with music, drinks, desserts, and great raffles! The Food Bank distributes 6 million pounds of food every year in Central Oregon. April 27, 2-6pm. US Bank - Downtown Branch, 1025 NW Bond St., Bend. Contact: 541-408-1760. development@ neighborimpact.org. $75.

EVENTS + MARKETS

Fiber Market Day For 27 years, we have hosted Fiber Market Day - a community event to gather fiber enthusiasts from across the Pacific Northwest. This one-day event held each spring features education, exhibition, and a fiber market. Filled with farmers and artists sharing their incredible handmade natural fibers with the people who appreciate them. April 26, 9am-4pm. Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 3800 SE Airport Way, Redmond. Contact: highdesertwoolgrowers@gmail.com. Free.

Plant Native Class: Which Plant Where? Learn how to evaluate your landscape site - according to exposure, light, moisture, and soil - and select native plants that will thrive there. Save resources! Special thanks to our class series sponsor: Szabo Landscape Architecture April 26, 10am-Noon. Wintercreek Nursery, 63405 Deschutes Market Road, Bend. Contact: 541-4200083. wintercreek@highdeserthort.org. $40.

FAMILY + KIDS

Bend Bike Festival + Bike Swap

Join us April 25-27 at The Pavilion for the first ever Bend Bike Fest, an annual fundraiser benefiting Bend Endurance Academy. Consign your new/used gear and bikes, browse a selection of local businesses and non profit vendors, enjoy live music, food, and drinks. Stay for the games and raffle prizes! April 26, 9am-5pm and April 27, 9am-5pm. The Pavilion, 1001 SW Bradbury Way, Bend. Contact: events@bendenduranceacademy.org. Free. Bestselling author, Joanie Lindenmeyer, book signing and presentation Enjoy Joanie performing readings from Nun Better, Joyously Free and Healing Religious Hurts. 2SLGBTQIA+ books that share lessons, empower, bring tears, spark joy and remind us all that whatever our religious or spiritual beliefs may be, we belong and are loved! Snacks, drinks, laughter and hugs will be provided! April 26, 12:30-3pm. Brooks Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church, 469 Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-8610757. markayesimpson@gmail.com. Free.

Día del Niño- Kids Blessing Sunday Celebrate Día del Niño at Bend Naz! Join us Sunday, April 27 for a Kids Blessing Service at 11am and a free Community Fiesta from Noon–2pm. Enjoy food, games, bounce houses, piñatas, raffles, and fun for the whole family. All are welcome—come celebrate kids with us! April 27, 11am-2pm. Bend Church of the Nazarene, 1270 NE 27th St., Bend. Contact: 575-791-8356. pastorjason@bendnaz.org. Free.

Discover Ballet A ballet class for new dancers ages 8 - 13. Starting at the beginning of the ballet journey, you will learn the positions, musicality and all things ballet. Fridays, 5:50-6:50pm. Through June 14. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-3824055. dance@abcbend.com.

Fencing Learn the Olympic sport of fencing! We offer a one-time free trial lesson on Tuesdays with a reservation. Fencing gear provided. Please email us at HDFencing@gmail.com to arrange a date for your free trial lesson. Mondays-Thursdays, 5:30-7:30pm. High Desert Fencing Club, 61445 S. Hwy 97 Suite D, Bend. Contact: 541419-7087. hdfencing@gmail.com. Free.

Hello! Storytime We are looking forward to sharing stories, movement and a touch of music with 0-5 year olds, geared toward those younger ages. There will be a heavy emphasis on fun, so bring your listening ears and a smile for a fun half hour with Kathy! April 23, 10:30-11am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Orchard Care Class at Schilling’s Garden Market Whether you care for one fruit tree or an entire orchard, this class will help you understand why pruning your fruit trees strikes a balance between the tree’s health, productivity, and aesthetics, ensuring that they thrive and provide a bountiful harvest for years to come. Registration required on our website! April 27, 11am-Noon. Schilling’s Garden Market, 64640 Old Bend-Redmond HWY, Bend. Contact: 541323-0160. info@schillingsgardenmarket.com. $5.

SOU High School Girls Basketball Camp

Southern Oregon University is offering two camps this weekend at Redmond High School Gym. In the morning for youth 3rd-8th grade and in the afternoons girls 9th-12th grade. Two days, 6 hours total of instruction. April 26, 1-4pm. Redmond High School, 675 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond. Contact: 541-408-0968. jennifer@pir-s.org. $75.

Teen Poetry Workshop and Open Mic Calling all teen poets! In honor of National Poetry Month, the Open Arts Center is hosting a poetry writing workshop followed by a poetry open mic. In the workshop we will play with sonics and wordplay to create original, surprising poetry meant for performing out loud. Registration required. April 27, 2-4pm. Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe, 135 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Contact: 978-7714635. hello@theopenartscenter.org. Free.

FOOD + DRINK

Chef’s Pairing Experieince Please join us at the Bend Tasting Room & Restaurant for a Chef’s Pairings Experience hosted by our Winery Ambassador and Chef. Invite friends to join you and experience this one-of-a-kind wine and culinary offering, featuring a five-wine flight and four chef pairings (including a chocolate course). Sundays, 4:30-6pm. Through April 27. Willamette Valley Vineyards, 916 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 503-339-3967. ashley.stilwell@wvv.com. $60.

BEER + DRINK

$10 Coffee + Breakfast Burrito Fridays Your Fridays just got an upgrade! Introducing our breakfast burrito and coffee special with our besties, Bend Breakfast Burrito. Every Friday you can get a breakfast burrito + 16oz drip coffee (or 12oz cold brew) for just $10. Fridays, 7:30-11:30am. Boss Rambler Coffee, 1009 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. $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.

Apres Ski Happy Hour Swing by Sunriver Brewing Co, Galveston Pub for $5 pints of award winning craft beer and enjoy our Apres Ski, happy hour food and drink specials weekly 3-5pm. Cheers, Galveston Pub. Mondays-Fridays, 3-5pm. Through June 30. Sunriver Brewing Co. - Galveston Pub, 1005 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Free.

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

Local multi-instrumentalist Sidney Joseph performs originals and covers of Dave Matthews, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Neil Young and others. Wed., April 23, 6pm at Crosscut Warming Hut No 5.

Courtesy Sidney Joseph

GUNG HO

By Nic Moye

Earth Day Celebration Festivities for the family in downtown Bend

• Start your day with a Champagne

• DIY Your

• Write to Your Future Self

• Compliment Wall

• Stoller Wine Tastings

• Plant Swap

• Plant Potting Bar presented by Desert Rose Cactus Lounge

There will be plenty of music to enjoy including Mayan drumming accompanied by Aztec dancers. A group from the Redmond area called Hokule’a will perform the hula to rhythmic beats of Tahiti. Saturday afternoon will feature a community singalong with Kira Seto.

Earth Day celebrations kick off Saturday April 26 at 11am at Troy Field in downtown Bend. It starts an hour earlier this year because there won’t be a parade. Priscilla Calleros, the event manager at The Environmental Center which sponsors the celebration, says several factors led to the decision to cut the parade. A letter posted on the center’s website blames drastic increases in the City of Bend’s permit fees; difficulty securing enough volunteers and drivers angry about road closures. There is an opportunity to show off costumes though. The event will have an interactive puppet show led by Teafly and the Earth Guardians which will include a runway for people in nature costumes to help illustrate the story. Calleros says the puppet show will be in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. There will be plenty of music to enjoy including Mayan drumming accompanied by Aztec dancers. A group from the Redmond area called Hokule’a will perform the hula to rhythmic beats of Tahiti. Saturday afternoon will feature a community singalong with Kira Seto.

The fair will also have an activity zone for kids, garden activities, free face painting, food and other vendors. Part of NW Kansas Avenue will be closed from NW Bond Street to NW Lava Road.

Calleros says staff at The Environmental Center feel it’s a privilege to put on the Earth Day celebration in the wake of the cancellation of three other community events celebrating culture and identities. She says, in the past, The Center has supported The Father’s Group’s Juneteenth celebration; Central Oregon Community College’s Latinx Fiesta Celebration and the Central Oregon Latino Fest in Madras, all of which were canceled citing safety concerns. Calleros says The Environmental Center has a safety plan in place and hopes the public will come to the Earth Day celebration to show solidarity.

Earth Day Celebration Sat. April 26 11am-3pm Troy Field 16 NW Kansas Ave., Bend https://envirocenter.org/tec-events/earthday-fair/ Free

Earth Day activities will take place this Saturday at Troy Field in Bend.

Nic Moye

Educators & Nurses Apprecation Day

We’re raising a glass to those who give so much! Join us for Nurses & Educators Day, where we show appreciation for the heroes in scrubs and classrooms. 50% off all beers and ciders for nurses and educators all day, every Tuesday, at Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market. 21175 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend. Contact: 458-836-7866. jesse@cascadelakes.com. Free.

First Friday Bubble Bar Our monthly weekend-long celebration of the finer things in life! Enjoy a curated flight of 3 gorgeous champagnes, along with additional by-the-glass bubbles and small bites to accompany. (Caviar, anyone?) Bring a friend and make the most of our bright & sunny wine bar and inviting patio seating. Fri, April 25, Noon-9pm, Sat, April 26, Noon-9pm and Sun, April 27, 2-8pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. Free.

Flannel Friday Happy Hour Come on down in your Northwest best for Happy Hour! 4-6pm every Friday. $2 off drafts, $1 off everything else. Fridays, 4-6pm. Contact: taryn@ thealeapothecary.com. Free.

Happier Hour at MTYC Join us for the happiest hours in Bend! Relax, unwind, and enjoy great deals: $3 Draft Coors Light $5 Draft Beer Food Cart Specials that will make your taste buds dance! Mondays-Fridays, 2-5pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE Fourth St., Bend. Contact: 458256-5454. midtownyachtclub@gmail.com. Free.

Happy Hour At the Bend Wine Bar, come in to take advantage of special pricing during weekly happy hour. Featuring $5 off artisanal cheese and charcuterie boards, $2 off of wines by the glass and $1 off pint draft beers. Mondays-Thursdays, 2-4pm. The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: info@bendwinebar.com. Free.

Happy Hour Every Day Make every afternoon a little brighter with a hint of British charm at The Commonwealth Pub! From 3-5pm, enjoy drink specials and a cozy pub vibe that’s perfect for winding down. $3 PBRs $5 RPMs $6 Margaritas $7 Wine Happy Hour bites from Whappos! Mondays-Sundays, 3-5pm. Through Dec. 18. The Commonwealth Pub, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-668-6200. thecommonwealthpubevents@gmail.com. Free.

Industry Night Every Sunday is Industry Night! If you’re a bartender, server, chef, cook - anyone in the biz - come unwind with: $5 Hornitos or Monopolowa, $7.50 draft domestic beer + well whiskey, and $3.50 tallboys & $10 man-mosas (on special for all!). You work hard-cheers to you! Sundays-Noon-2am. JC’s Bar & Grill, 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-383-3000. jcsbend@gmail.com. Free.

Introduction to Wine Tasting Experience Educational wine seminar of how to professionally taste wine based on its components and a guided wine tasting of 4 different wines that have been curated to emphasize a different component of tasting wine. Saturdays, 4-5:30pm. Through April 26. Willamette Valley Vineyards, 916 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 503-339-3967. ashley.stilwell@wvv.com. $40.

Ladies Night Hey ladies! Come out for $8 limoncello-spiked bubbles and $2 off all menu cocktails every Thursday, Noon - 10pm. Follow us on Instagram for our specials, live music, and events. Share the love by tagging @barriobend in your photos. Thursdays, Noon-10pm. Through April 24. Bar Rio, 915 NW Wall St., Bend. 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.

Premier League & Football Weekends at The Commonwealth Pub! Sports fans, kick off your weekend mornings (at 7am) at The Commonwealth Pub with Premier League action, then dive into college and pro football fun! Grab your squad, your lucky scarf, your favorite jersey, enjoy a pint (or two), and fuel up with tasty bites from Whappos! Saturdays-Sundays, 7am. Through May 25. The Commonwealth Pub, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-668-6200. thecommonwealthpubevents@gmail.com. Free.

Riedel Glassware Exploration Join us for a guided tasting experience where you will sample a selection of 4 wines in 4 different glasses. During your flight you will learn and experience how different glassware affects the way wine presents and why. Ticket costs include your flight, tasting matts and a $20 wine credit. Fridays, 2-3:30pm. Through April 25. Willamette Valley Vineyards, 916 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 503339-3967. ashley.stilwell@wvv.com. $40.

Sangria Sundays Like Sundays in Spain, just add paella. Every Sunday, Noon - close at Bar Rio in Downtown Bend. Sundays, Noon-10pm. Through April 27. Bar Rio, 915 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

Tequila & Taco Tuesdays Join us from 12pm-10pm for a margarita & three tacos for $20! Follow us on Instagram for our specials, live music, and events. Share the love by tagging @ barriobend in your photos. Tuesdays, Noon10pm. Through April 29. Bar Rio, 915 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

Wine Wednesdays Wine up and wind down, all glasses $10. Every Wednesday, Noon to close at Bar Rio in downtown Bend. Wednesdays, Noon-10pm. Through April 30. Bar Rio, 915 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

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

Aikido Free Introductory Adult Class! Please call to reserve your spot. Sat, April 19, 10:1511:30am, Mon, April 21, 5:30-6:45pm and Wed, April 23, 5:30-6:45pm. Free Introductory Adult Class! Please call to reserve your spot. Sat, April 26, 10:15-11:30am, Mon, April 28, 5:30-6:45pm and Wed, April 30, 5:30-6:45pm. Oregon Ki Society Bend Dojo, 20685 Carmen Loop, Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 541-350-7887. cfhc@hotmail. com. Free.

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

Gather Sauna House Join Gather Sauna for opening weekend of sauna season at the river in Riverbend Park! Our traditional sauna sessions include authentic wood-fired sauna and natural river cold plunges + ample time to connect with nature and reset you mind/body/spirit! Pre-book your session online. Wednesdays-Sundays. Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend. Contact: 503-830-6393. info@gathersaunahouse. com. $36 a seat for a communal session.

NAMI Connection Peer Support Group 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.

NAMI Family Support Group NAMI Family Peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. Last Thursday of every month, 5:15-6:45pm. Contact: 541-316-0167. info@ namicentraloregon.org. Free.

Founded in 2006, The Portland Cello Project is a nationally recognized performing, recording and educational group. Join them for an unplugged, cello-only show at the Tower Theatre. Wed., April 23, 7:30pm.

Courtesy Portland Cello Project

CHOW C Burgerville, USA

Who has your favorite burger?

By Jared Rasic

While Bend is slowly morphing into a foodie town with more diverse regions of cuisine to sample, it’s hard to shake off its Beer Town USA roots completely. As we finally get options like Dominican, Oaxacan, Dutch/Indonesian fusion, Korean and maybe even some quality Ethiopian one day, we’re still shrugging off decades of being a burger, sandwich, fries and wings kinda town. So much pub food, so little time.

Don’t get me wrong, there can be a lot of depth to burgers, and I think Bend chefs should take pride in how varied most of them are from each other. From the thin and crispy smash craze to the fat, juicy behemoths, you can find just about any type of burger you want here and, as the success of the recent Burger Week proved, most people want to try them all.

For me, the cheeseburger from Manzanita Grill is hard to top. With grilled onions, fresh tomatoes and patties so fat they make me blush, it’s a burger that delights in decadent excess, flawlessly prepared by Chef Joaquin Ortiz. It reminds me of being a kid and ordering a burger so big that it dwarfs your entire head.

But then the Burger Week burger (the Big Jac) from Jackson’s Corner was also a special beauty. From the incredible quality of the Pitchfork-T beef to the house-made pickles and brioche bun from Jackson’s Bakery, it was the only Burger Week burger that I went back for twice. Chef/owner/operator Anna Hall crafts dishes with such grace that something as simple as a burger is elevated under her care.

While I’m not as in love with a smash burger as I am with a fat and wobbling, girthsome dump truck of a chunky boy, I do still enjoy the flavor profile of the OG from Americana, the subtle spice of Chili Crisp from Blue Eyes or the nostalgic throwback of the Smashy Boi from MidCity SmashBurger.

But there are just so many burgers in town to love. I still miss the Fire Marshal Burger from BroJo’s and dream about it regularly. The High Desert Chicken Sandwich from Bend Burger Company is easily the best chicken sandwich I’ve had in Bend, starring a massive and tender chicken breast, thickcut bacon and dripping cheddar cheese. Dandy’s is still a nostalgic banger, as is the criminally underrated Baja Burger from the D&D.

But look, I’m a simple man and most of you Source readers are complex folk that contain multitudes when it comes to burger opinions. With that said, let me get out of the way and toss it to the community to get a wider breadth of burger thoughts.

“I’ve gotta go with Blue Eyes’ veggie single! I love a smash burger concept and I’m obsessed with this chickpea/mushroom veggie version. The sauces, toppings and bun pull it all together, making it my favorite veggie burger in town.”

—Christina Rosetti

“The Aloha Burger from Tradesman Coffee. It’s a salty, sweet and perfectly cooked take on Hawaiian Style. I like the price, the size and how ono it is.

—Just Adam

“The Dominican! It’s a BURGER! The patty itself is the star. Huge and full of flavor…something lacking in Bend. Everybody should try it.”

—Kook’i

“I shamelessly have to plug our own. We just brought back Burger Night every Tuesdayan old favorite from the early days at The Corner. It features grass-fed and finished beef from Pitchfork T Ranch, a local egg blended into the patty, house-made pickles and it’s all served on an organic brioche bun made inhouse. It’s not about flashy ingredients - just highquality, scratch-made food done right. Outside of our own kitchen, we have to give props to Americana and Blue Eyes, of course.

—Anna Hall: Jackson’s Corner

“I honestly think my favorite burger that I was able to try during Burger Week was the Prostrami Burger from Prost! I felt it was the perfect balance between a Reuben and a burger. With the cheese and the Festbier sauce and the poached pastrami, it just melted in your mouth. It was like a burst of flavors.”

—Tara Pinto: Mundrelli’s Italian Kitchen

“I haven’t tried all the joints in town yet, but I love a good Bogey’s.”

—John Kish

“The Chili Crisp at Blue Eyes is a must try!”

—Carousel House at Sunriver

“In a sea of 4oz smash burgers one outlier stood out to us: Nosh over at Bevel Brewing. Kevin does a single, 6oz smash patty, which purists will claim isn’t a smash burger, but if you’re still getting all the crispy, caramelized goodness, does it really matter? Favorite special recently had house smoked pork belly, arugula, cremini mushrooms, Swiss cheese and a garlic rosemary aioli. Don’t forget the man’s fries either, doing the Lord’s work with house cut and double fried…perfection.”

—Jonathan Gooden: Wonderland Chicken Co.

“Our fave is Dandy’s or off the grill in our backyard. Sorry, we don’t get out much.”

—Salute Restaurant and Bar

“Yo: my favorite burger in Bend is Brother Jon’s mostly because nostalgia. I like the vibes, And they’ll grill the onions if you ask.”

—Sierra Phillips: Bo’s

“Well, I’d say our own burger up at Shimshon and the Yacht Club, but do we really need another article about burgers?!”

—Steven Draheim: Barrio

Heard.

Even more answers came from Bend Foodies: the RBC Bistro Burger, the hamburger from Burgz N Dogz at the Lot, WillieBurger, the Double Bacon Burger from That Guy’s Bistro, the Smoked Burger from Cross-Eyed Cricket, the Elk Burger from Deschutes, the Elk Burger from River Pig, the burger from Nik’Snacks and several more.

What’s your favorite burger? Let us know!

Blue Eyes

Americana

Jackson's Corner

Tambi Lane

Jennifer Galler

Courtesy Jackson's Corner

By Nic Moye

Farmers Market Season is here, join us this summer at:

LITTLE BITES Foodie Crawl Raises Money for the Food Bank

Enjoy an afternoon of food and drink while helping those in need

Saturday

NW Crossing & Sunriver

Sundays

Worthy Brewing & Sisters

Look for our new espresso stand this year at the Worthy Brewing Farmers Market!

Ten restaurants in Bend are participating in this year’s foodie crawl. The event on Sunday, April 27 raises money for NeighborImpact. It’s described as a pub crawl meets a progressive dinner event. Starting at 2pm, guests can sample bite-sized hors d’oeuvres at each location along with a drink, then head to the next location at their own pace. Menus are pre-set. “After sampling the creations of one culinary partner, it’s on to the next, no guesswork needed,” Garth Brown, NeighborImpact’s development specialist, wrote in an email to the Source. All of the restaurants are either located in downtown Bend or on Galveston and Newport avenues.

Participating restaurants include J-Dub, Roam, Wonderland Chicken, El Sancho, Dump City Dumplings, Blissful Spoon, Zydeco, The Commons and Drake. The event ends with an after-party at McMenamins from 4-6pm. That includes a complimentary drink, a selection of desserts, live music and a raffle.

Tickets for the foodie crawl are $75. The money goes to the local food bank. In previous years, it’s raised around $30,000, Brown told the Source. NeighborImpact recently announced a historic demand, serving 83,000 individuals per month, which shattered its last record. Federal funding cuts have reduced the food bank’s supply by 17%, according to a news release. NeighborImpact stores and distributes more than four million pounds of food each year in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Foodie Crawl Sun. April 27, 2-6pm Bend neighborimpact.org/foodie-crawl/ $75

Nic Moye

Nic Moye

CCULTURE

Why We Celebrate Indie Bookstores Shop locally, but read globally

By Cassie Clemans, Owner of Roundabout Books and Cafe

More than any other time in Roundabout Books’ eightyear history, our customers are asking us to match the prices of books they see on Amazon. It may surprise you that I am heartened by these requests, as I think it is a sign of greater general awareness of the damage monopolistic companies like Amazon have on our communities and economy. More people are taking the time to research their products, reach out to local sources, and are making the effort to change their shopping habits. I’m thrilled to see it.

April is the month the nation celebrates independent bookstores across the country, and so I'd like to take this issue to explain why we can't price-match books with Amazon. Amazon is a loss-leader, which means they sell a few products below cost (like books) so that consumers will buy everything else from them. In fact, most of the book prices you see on Amazon are lower than the wholesale cost for indie bookstores to bring them into our stores. There is no way for us to price-match those items, as we would be "paying you" to shop with us.

This business strategy employed by Amazon is harmful in many ways. It diminishes the conceived value of books so that consumers have a false idea of what a book is worth. It drives down the competition on a product, until there is no competition, at which time it raises prices again. It drives stores, employment, and revenue away from our local communities.

The wholesale price of a book is set by publishers for all retailers, out of which they pay authors, editors, publicists, a sales team, book designers, printers, and more. This cost acknowledges the value of the book, both as an artform and as a product.

The retail price of a book recognizes the cost it takes to sell that book in a brick-and-mortar store, which includes occupancy, insurance, compensation, merchant services, marketing, shelf space, shipping, supplies, repairs, and more.

I think both of those costs are valid, but the value of a bookstore, just like the value of a book, can far exceed the price printed on the cover. Independent bookstores are gathering spaces for our community. They host author events, book clubs, story times, community workshops, and more. They partner with our libraries and public schools and nonprofit programs on events and book fairs and book drives throughout the year. They try to donate to every student, school, nonprofit, and other community member that asks. They support local authors and other creators in the community. They keep tables and chairs open for your comfort while you browse the stacks and interact with the books, preserving forever the physical experience of interacting with books. They hire educated readers who love to talk books with you. They support and nurture the literary community and help build a sense of place by contributing to the unique vibrancy of our towns.

If keeping your favorite bookstore in the community is of value to you, then consider making the choice to shop with us whenever you can. Ask us questions about pricing, and what we can do for you or your group or business, ask us about shipping gifts, ask us about gift wrapping and gift cards and special requests. Ask us anything, because we are your neighbors who live and work where you do, and we want to meet your needs.

And why not start on Independent Bookstore Day? Independent Bookstore Day (Indie Bookstore Day) was established in 2013 to promote, celebrate and highlight the value of the independent bookstore community. The day has been observed on the last Saturday of April every year since 2013.

If keeping your favorite bookstore in the community is of value to you, then consider making the choice to shop with us whenever you can… Ask us anything, because we are your neighbors who live and work where you do, and we want to meet your needs.

This year, Indie Bookstore Day is Saturday, April 26, and there are over 1,200 stores participating across the country. Independent Bookstore Day is organized by the American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization that works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

We are fortunate to have multiple indie bookstores in our Central Oregon Community – Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe in Bend, Herringbone Books in Redmond, Paulina Springs Books in Sisters, Sunriver Books & Music in Sunriver, and of course my own shop, Roundabout Books & Cafe in Bend.

Each of our stores is unique and we all celebrate Indie Bookstore Day in different ways. Roundabout Books is celebrating with our annual tote bag giveaway! The first 65 customers who spend $65 can purchase our limited edition IBD Tote, which we FILL with FREE books and fabulous goodies! Also, new this year, we are offering 20% off all Roundabout Books branded merchandise on Indie Bookstore Day.

We invite you to spend some time in the local indie bookstore of your choice on April 26 and discover why bookstores are important to this community.

“Endling” by

Maria Reva

—Set in Ukraine, an eccentric scientist breeding rare snails crosses paths with sisters posing as members of the marriage industry to find their activist mother. As Russia invades, they embark on a wild journey with kidnapped bachelors and a last-of-its-kind snail. This darkly comic novel explores survival, love, and the impact of war.

Icon of the Sage: The Greater Sage-Grouse The Adopt-a-Lek program celebrates its 20th season of sage-grouse counts

By Damian Fagan

It’s an early spring morning, pre-dawn. The air is still, not a breath of wind stirs the sagebrush. The waning moon is a bright sliver in the eastern sky, but soon to be obscured by the dawn’s early light. The thermometer reads 25 degrees Fahrenheit but it feels colder in the morning darkness. I’ve been up since 4:45 a.m. when my alarm rudely woke me up. An hour later, I’m standing along a muddy two-track road below the rim of the Oregan Canyon Mountains listening for the classic “swish, whistle, swish, ka kuw” sounds of a male greater sage-grouse as he struts on a nearby lek (better known as the grouse’s breeding ground).

As the morning light grows, I see other males rehearsing this ancient ritual, sort of a dance, that proclaims their fitness to a small group of female grouse, or hens, waiting to select the dominant suitor.

The males rapidly inflate and deflate air sacs located on their necks, the resulting noise sounds like a symphony of champagne bottles popping open. The golden-looking air sacs inflate with about a gallon of air to about 50 times their normal size before being expelled. These “pops” or “plops” are combined with choreographed moves and tail feathers fanned, all part of an elaborate display.

I’m out here at this lek as part of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Adopt-a-Lek program, a volunteer-based program that started in 2005. The idea was to use volunteers to survey leks in Malheur County to assist federal and state agencies with data collection

and to contribute to the overall effort to count sage-grouse during a 45-day period in spring. That is, when road access is good enough.

“In the fall, the rain falls on the road and evaporates but during the spring, the water comes up from the bottom,” said Dan Herrig, the first coordinator for the AAL program.

”The goal was to get counts beyond what the department staff could do.“

—Dan Herrig

“I didn’t instigate the idea for the volunteers, but I did all the legwork and put together all the guidelines,” said Herrig. “The idea came from the Adopt-aLek program in Montana started by Ben Deeble, sage-grouse coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation in 1998.”

Oregon followed suit in 2005 when Herrig retired from his ODFW fisheries management position. “The goal was to get counts beyond what the department staff could do,” he added. Herrig collated lek data from the 1950s to then present day, and added additional sites as he conducted field work in the spring of 2005.

Now in its 20th year, the Adopt-a-Lek program has over 40 volunteers who

brave weather and road conditions to record the number of male and female grouse observed at a particular lek. With over 120 sites scattered across several PACs (Priority Areas of Conservation), the program runs from March 15 to April 30 and still has a sole volunteer coordinator – me.

Volunteers hail mainly from Oregon and Idaho; Boise, Portland, Bend, Eugene, and Burns, while several volunteers come from Salem, Caldwell, Scio and Vancouver, Washington. Many are sportsmen, hunters and anglers who value contributing time and experience to the conservation of this iconic sagebrush species. Some come from a birdwatcher background, one is a bike-packer. No matter where anyone comes from, it’s a long haul out to southeastern Oregon.

The Adopt-a-Lek program attempts to survey each of its 120 sites three times a season, during count periods that last roughly 15 days, a huge goal that often is cut short by weather and road access. Muddy roads are the norm in the beginning of the season, though an April shower may turn a dry, dirt road into a tire-sucking quagmire. Intermittent snow squalls, howling winds, flooding creeks, locked gates, or double flat-tire days are not out of the question.

Many volunteers haul trailers or camp in their pickups. A few pitch a tent which either ends up fine or as a UFO.

The little towns of Jordan Valley, Juntura, Fields, and McDermitt offer some amenities and sometimes a surprising

beer selection.

Most working volunteers go out for a weekend, while those of us on the “retired side” prefer the weekdays and spend longer than a couple of days.

Though the conditions challenge anyone’s version of a good time, dedicated volunteers repeat this annual ritual year after year. Time has a way of warming up memories of cold days, and sliding along a remote, muddy road makes for the best stories.

“That first year I went out and spent the whole summer driving to leks in some of the most neat and remote spots,” said Herrig. “And, I just loved it.”

For the grouse, all is not rosy. Population numbers have declined steadily over the past 50 years. Occasionally, as in 2024 small increases give hope for their longevity. Habitat loss is their biggest hurdle, whether it’s from wildland fire enhanced by noxious weeds, mining exploration in McDermitt, or bankruptcy of the grass and forb seed bank. Sage-grouse have been denied status as a protected species under the Endangered Species Act in an effort to give more local control to their survival. Yet, as the years pass and the numbers continue to tumble, this iconic species of the sagebrush wildlands deserves more support.

Adopt-a-Lek

www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/sagegrouse/ adopt.a.lek@gmail.com

Left, a volunteer with the Adopt-a-Lek program scans for grouse. Right, a male grouse struts across a lek.

Photos by Damian Fagan

By Nic Moye

GO HERE Community Bike Rides for youth and adults Blazin Saddles is leading free rides on Saturdays

It’s time to pull that bicycle from your garage and hop in the saddle. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure which direction to ride. Blazin Saddles bike shop is partnering with Sisters Park & Recreation District for a series of community rides. Anyone can join. The idea is to meet new people with similar interests and learn new trails. Six rides are being offered on Saturdays starting April 26. Each one caters to different interests.

The first one is mountain biking. Riders will explore the Peterson Ridge Trail system. Casey Meudt, co-owner of Blazin Saddles, says all skill levels are welcome. Riders will split into two groups. More experienced riders will do a 20-mile loop with more than a thousand feet of elevation gain. Less experienced riders will do a 13-mile loop with a less challenging climb.

In May, the ride will be a combo road/gravel experience. It’ll start at Blazin Saddles on Hood Avenue in Sisters and head out to Green Ridge Road. Another ride will loop around Black Butte. In June, riders will travel from Sisters through Camp Polk Meadow Preserve toward Cloverdale road, looping back toward town.

The rides are free, but you do need to register through Sisters Park & Recreation District. The site says it’s for riders 12 and up. All rides start at 10am on Saturdays. Meudt says in past years group rides were generally on weeknights and less formal. This is the first time they’ve offered a regular Saturday schedule with a planned route.

Free Community Bike Rides

Apr. 26, May 10, 17, June 7, 14, 21 10am-2pm

Blazin Saddles

413 W Hood Ave., Sisters Register through Sisters Park & Recreation District

https://sistersrecreation.com/activity/groupbikerides/ Free

Photos by Casey Meudt

All skill levels are welcome to ride.

Meeting new people is one of the perks.

Peterson Ridge is one of the community bike rides.

SC SCREEN High Stakes "Sinners" is a sweaty, bluesy, bloody classic

By Jared Rasic

When people who write about movies for a living come across a piece of cinema that feels monumental, there is always a list of specific words that get used to describe it. Words like “visionary,” “electrifying,” “exhilarating,” “transcendent,” and “breathtaking” get thrown around with abandon (by myself included) to describe much lesser films than Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” so I will try not to be overly precious in relating to you how special this movie is.

Michael B. Jordan gives the performance of his (still early) career as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, newly returned to Mississippi in 1932 after seven years of fighting in the Great War and bootlegging in Chicago with the Irish and Italian mobs. They’ve returned to their hometown with a truckload of beer and wine and a case full of cash, ready to immediately open up a juke joint with blues music, corn whiskey and sweaty, dancing folk in desperate need of release.

Teaming up with the great Delroy Lindo as piano player Delta Slim, Miles Eaton as their young cousin (and guitar prodigy) Sammie, their lost loves played by Wunmi Mosaku and Hailee Steinfeld, Li Jun Li as the cook, Grace, and several others, Smoke and Stack launch their juke joint in a town where most people can only pay with wooden nickels made from picking cotton on the local plantations. When three creepy white people (whom the audience knows are vampires) show up at the door asking to be invited in, Smoke, Stack and friends are in for the worst night of their lives.

On its surface, “Sinners” is a vampire movie set in the Jim Crow South, but Coogler is nothing if not a fiercely audacious and ambitious filmmaker. So, what he ended up creating is a staggering mash-up of the blood-soaked and boozy “From Dusk ‘Till Dawn” and the Devil at the Crossroads legend of Robert Johnson with a fat helping of Delta Blues musical, Southern Gothic drama and a fable about humanity’s cultural memory.

Coogler doesn’t deconstruct genre films, instead, he makes films reverent to the genre they play around in. “Creed” follows the structure of the typical sports movie like it’s gospel but does it expertly and with so much empathy that the film still feels new. “Black Panther” doesn’t reinvent the superhero movie; it just tells one with such profound thematic depth as to transcend its own limitations. “Sinners” doesn’t try to elevate the vampire movie into pretentious new heights (looking at you, “Nosferatu”). Instead, it’s simply a great horror movie that deeply respects the history and lore of the creature while also recognizing that the real monsters (specifically the ones from the Jim Crow South) also come out during the day and garlic doesn’t slow them down.

You can watch “Sinners” and enjoy it just as a horror movie, but there’s so much going on beneath the surface that it’s a disservice to the film not to engage with it on its own terms. Coogler has grounded the film so deeply in the Jim Crow South that we feel the danger inherent in every frame for the primarily black characters. Stack’s fear of talking to a white woman in public is palpable, leaving the spirit of Emmett Till offscreen to remind the audience about our disgraceful past without invoking his name.

While the cast is uniformly great, the show is stolen by the timeless, grimy blues score by Ludwig Göransson and Autumn Durald Arkapaw's lush, yet understated cinematography. So much of the power of the film comes from the quiet beauty of the Mississippi Delta and the timeless importance of blues music that, under Coogler’s steady hand (as well as the film being shot in deeply immersive IMAX 70MM and Ultra Panavision 70mm), “Sinners” is a thrill-ride that is going to age beautifully and eventually be considered one of the finest horror movies of the 21st Century.

As a rage-fueled scream at institutional racism and America’s ugly, despicable past, or a period romance

with Molotov cocktails and arterial spray, or even a love letter to the life-affirming power of the Delta Blues, “Sinners” defies any attempts to put its genre-fluid insanity into a neat description. Sure, I can use a thousand different adjectives (and a hundred thousand more words) to describe Ryan Coogler’s future classic, but none of them can effectively convey how drunk on the power of cinema you’ll feel after luxuriating in its sweaty, sexy, messy and terrifying world. Being lost in the story of our collective past as we’re spellbound by a team of contemporary filmmakers and artists at the top of their game is one of the myriad of reasons that movies exist in the first place.

“Sinners” Dir. Ryan Coogler Grade: ANow Playing at Regal Old Mill, Redmond Cinema, Madras Cinema 5

Michael B. Jordan and co. had better let the right one in.

Warner Bros.

THE PSYCHEDELIC FRONTIER EXPLORING

INTENTIONAL PSYCHEDELIC

USE IN THE MODERN WORLD

By Mary Casanave Sheridan

In an age where reality often feels closer to science fiction, Dr. Sabrina Hadeed's "How to Survive a Cultpocalypse: A Psychonaut's Guide to the Spiritual Galaxy" emerges as a beacon of awareness. With humor as her vessel and wisdom as her compass, Dr. Hadeed navigates the reader through the tumultuous waters of spiritual communities and self-proclaimed saviors. During our poignant conversation, it became clear that Hadeed's work is a call to vigilance for those on a path of spiritual exploration and a lifeline for anyone at risk of being swept away by the undercurrent of cult-like manipulation. Which, she stresses, is all of us. As she states "in a world where we are experiencing increased rates of existential dread, isolation, and hyper-individualism it's no wonder we are all more susceptible to accidentally becoming a victim of the cultpocalypse."

The Cultpocalypse is described as the unsettling convergence of spiritual movements, psychedelic healing spaces, and wellness industries with the manipulative dynamics often seen in authoritarian regimes and exploitative marketing schemes. This term is not just a clever play on words but a critical lens through which to view the modern spiritual and wellness landscapes. It encourages us to remain vigilant and discerning, ensuring that our spiritual paths genuinely foster empowerment and liberation rather than subtly replicating oppressive structures under the guise of enlightenment. It’s a cautionary label for when spiritual devotion is measured not by personal growth, but by adherence to costly programs and retreats, where questioning the leader is viewed as a failure to align with the group's higher vibration.

Hadeed shares openly, not shying away from the relevance her book has in our current societal undercurrents. "I was mindful of how I did that," she states, regarding her decision to keep political undertones universal, "Because I do want to maintain this way of holding these concepts as accessible to as many as possible." Her approach is one of empathy but fortified with an unwavering commitment to introspection.

The genius of Hadeed's writing lies in the interweaving of distinct facets of her multifaceted identity — a psychotherapist, educator, feminist theorist, and psychedelic practitioner, and advocate — creating a deeply personal yet universal message. The book,

full of heart and humorous audacity, implores its readers to think critically, especially when the promise of spiritual enlightenment comes with a price tag... or a whisper of conspiracy.

A key to her swift seven-to-eightmonth writing process, as Hadeed reveals in our interview, was a blueprint she found in Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide." "I needed the framework to get me there," she says, noting the surprising yet fitting parallel between avoiding zombies and steering clear of cults. Clever mimicry of Brooks' opening structure provides a familiar yet fresh canvas for her message, allowing grave topics to be addressed with a lighter touch that never loses its grasp on their importance.

The levity found in "How to Survive a Cultpocalypse" doesn't detract from the gravity of the subject matter. Instead, it acts as a way of reclaiming power from absurdity. "To laugh at these wild, scary, and almost too bizarre-to-believe shenanigans...is not to dismiss their impact — it's to reclaim power from the absurdity," Hadeed asserts.

The endorsements lining the book's jacket range from humorous to heartfelt, with one supposedly penned by "Anonymous but Definitely Not a Cult Leader" suggesting the book's impact: "This book changed my life. I no longer trust anyone — including the author." Such tongue-in-cheek humor intersperse the pages, adding to the book's charm while underscoring the importance of its message.

This book is ultimately a guide, aimed at those who have dipped their toes into the waters of transformative retreats or anyone who’s ever hesitated, rightfully, at the precipice of joining a new group promising answers. "It is no exaggeration to say that, should alien anthropologists one day sift through the remains of our civilization, this book will be among the sacred texts they analyze to understand where it all went wrong," Hadeed writes. By threading her own narrative with shared human concerns, Dr. Sabrina Hadeed hands us a map to traverse the spectacular, sometimes baffling landscape of the spiritual galaxy without losing sight of the ground beneath our feet. She leaves us not only turning her pages with eagerness, but also wanting to join her in the continuous, ever-sorequired task of grounding our quests for understanding in both self-awareness and community safety.

A Conversation with Sabrina Hadeed PhD

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of April 21, 2025

Difficulty Level: ●●○○

Make a wake

Typesetter's unit

Stymie

Landed

Letter run

6. "Catch-22" character who got concussed by a prostitute

7. Like many house pets

8. "Editorially," in brief

9. "The 2000 Year Old Man" comedian Brooks

10. Bring home from the shelter

11. Lamp figure

12. Excited

15. "Don't go there," initially

19. Hautboy's more-common name

21. NFL star Ndamukong

25. Cannabis resin

26. Like the best of the best

27. Skip past

28. Sport whose champion is called yokozuna

29. Pulls hard

30. "Tell it like it is!"

34. Kings org.

35. Manfred's predecessor as Commissioner

37. Run Time?

38. "___ in Calico" (Manhattan Transfer number)

39. Backwoods assent

41. ___ English 800 (malt liquor)

42. Drum fill

43. Quickly burn

48. Inflict upon

50. Hanging implements

51. Warm embrace

52. Religion whose prophets include Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Krishna, and Buddha

53. French city on the Rhone River

54. Not turned on

55. "Well, then"

56. Rather lean

60. Event when new demos are shown

61. Grab with tines

63. Letters on a handbag 64. Teensy

65. Guess made while cruising: Abbr. 66. Tear up

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

A G E D C O I N S exactly once.

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “I’m sure wherever my Dad is, he’s looking down on us. He’s not , just very

Jack Whitehall

Answer for the week of April 14, 2025

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

Jack Whitehall

D E Y A P C N H

A C N H D R P E H N P C E R A Y D

“My mom used to say that Greek Easter was later because then you get candy cheaper.” —Amy Sedaris

“My mom used to say that Greek Easter was later because then you get candy cheaper.” - Amy Sedaris © Pearl Stark

WELLNESS

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You can’t see or hold the wind, though you can feel its force and observe its effects. It scatters some seeds far and wide, dispersing them to grow in unexpected places. When harnessed by turbines, the wind is a renewable energy source. It can be utilized to pump water and fuel telecommunications equipment. Winds influence daily weather by transporting water and heat. I have summarized wind’s qualities because I see this upcoming phase of your cycle as being wind-like, Taurus. You won’t necessarily have to be obvious to spread your influence. You will be able to work behind the scenes in potent ways. Who knows where your seeds will land and germinate? There will be surprises.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Earth’s first big ecological crisis happened 2.5 billion years ago. Ancient bacteria became a successful life form. They proliferated. The only problem was, they produced an abundance of oxygen, which was toxic to all the other existing life forms at that time. And yet that bump in evolution was ultimately essential in the rise of complex organisms that thrive on oxygen, like us. We wouldn’t be here today without bacteria’s initially problematic intervention. Nothing as monumentally major or epic will occur for you in the coming weeks, Gemini. But I do suspect that what may initially seem disruptive could ultimately generate positive outcomes. I hope you prime yourself to transform challenging situations into opportunities for growth. For best results, set aside your fixed beliefs about what’s necessary for maximum progress.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): From the 17th through the 19th centuries, Paris was famous for its salons. There, artists, writers, and big thinkers assembled to exchange ideas and inspire each other. The salons were often orchestrated by illustrious, educated women in their private homes. They were hotbeds of networking and cultural innovation. Listening and learning were key elements. Now would be an excellent time for you to organize, host, or encourage similar gatherings, Cancerian. You have extra power to facilitate the stellar socializing that generates zesty connections and spreads invigorating influences.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I love to gaze out my office window at Gallinas Creek during high tide. At certain interludes, the water is perfectly still. It almost perfectly reflects the sky in every detail, with all its clouds, birds, and hues of blue. My conscious mind knows the difference between the real sky and reflected sky, but my eyes can’t discern. That’s a helpful metaphor for all of us all the time, and especially for you in the coming weeks. It will be crucial for you to maintain an acute awareness of what’s genuine and what’s illusory.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901-1978) revolutionized her field. She didn't study other cultures from a distance with a detached perspective. Instead, she learned their languages and immersed herself in their daily lives. So she earned the intimate understanding to conclude, "What people say, what people do, and what they say they do are entirely different things." This is a crucial principle for you right now. You must directly observe people's actions rather than simply believing what they say about themselves—or what others say about them. You must look beyond surface declarations to understand the deeper rhythms and patterns. For best results, be a devoted participant, not an uninvolved judge.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19): Capricorn mystic Alan Watts wrote The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are. He proposed that each of us is far more glorious than our separate, isolated egos. It’s difficult to come to this understanding, however, since our culture conspires to hide it from us. That’s the bad news. The good news, Capricorn, is that you will have an unprecedented chance to partly shatter this taboo in the coming weeks. I have high hopes that you will discover deep truths about yourself that have previously been unavailable.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Harriet Tubman (1822–1913) was one of the bravest Americans who ever lived. After escaping enslavement, she heroically returned to other southern plantations many times to help free enslaved people. To accomplish her miraculous rescues, she relied in part on her dreams and visions—what she called divine guidance—to navigate through challenging situations. I suspect you will soon have access to similar assets: extraordinary courage and help from unusual or even supernatural sources. Use these gifts wisely, Leo!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The nations of planet Earth launched 263 space flights in 2024 and are on track for over 300 in 2025. Most of the satellites and spacecraft are devoted to scientific research. A relatively small proportion is dedicated to communication, navigation, and military uses. I would love for you to have an equally high level of exploratory and experimental energy in the coming weeks, Virgo. You will align yourself with cosmic rhythms if you spend more time than usual investigating the frontiers. It’s time to expand and extend yourself!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): What’s the oldest living organism on Earth? It’s a bristlecone pine tree nicknamed "Methuselah.” Almost 4,800 years old, it resides somewhere in California’s White Mountains, though its precise location is kept secret to protect it. In the spirit of shielding and nurturing valuable things, I urge you to consider maintaining similar safeguards in the coming weeks. Like Methuselah, your precious processes and creations might thrive best when allowed to grow free from undue attention. You may benefit from maintaining privacy and silence about certain matters as they develop.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Beginning in 1946, Bedouins exploring caves near the Dead Sea discovered an immense trove of ancient documents written on parchment. These manuscripts provided many new revelations into early Christianity, Biblical texts, and the history and culture of Judaism. I suspect that in the coming weeks, you may experience a metaphorical equivalent of this breakthrough and unveiling. To prepare, meditate on these questions: 1. What mysterious parts of your life story would you like to have illuminated? 2. About which aspects of your past would you like to receive new truths? 3. Is there anything missing in your understanding of who you really are?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): White light enters a glass prism and is translated on the other side into a rainbow of colors. That's because each color rides its own wavelength, even while seamlessly blended in the white light, and then gets bent differently by the prism. The magic of the prism is that it reveals the hidden spectrum within, the latent diversity contained within the apparently monolithic beam of white light. In the coming weeks, Pisces, I predict that you will be like a prism, bringing out vibrancy in situations or relationships that may seem nondescript or mundane at first glance. Your ability to discern and appreciate multiple perspectives will enable you to create an intriguing kind of harmony. You will have the power to notice and reveal beauty that has been veiled or unnoticed.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries filmmaker Akira Kurosawa devoted meticulous attention to weather conditions. He would postpone shooting a particular scene for days, waiting for the influx of the exact right blend of wind, clouds, or precipitation to create the ideal ambiance. I recommend you adopt his patient sense of timing in the coming weeks, Aries. While you typically prefer direct action, now is a favorable phase to coordinate your desire to get what you need with life's changing conditions. What advantages might you gain by waiting for the ripest moments to arrive?

A Lesson I’ll Never Forget

Stepping out of your comfort zone

By Jim Schell

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

—John F. Kennedy

Have you heard of the Central Oregon Partnership?” my friend Jim

Lussier began, as soon as we sat down, he sipping a latte, me a hot chocolate. It was late January in Bend; you did what you could to stay warm.

“Sure,” I replied, “they’re the poverty-reduction nonprofit in the region. They’ve been in the news recently. And not in a good way.”

“So true,” Jim said with a frown. He’d been a business consultant for the past few years, after retiring as the iconic CEO of our local hospital. “Well, as a result of their troubles, the Minnesota-based foundation that funds them has hired me either to shut the organization down or find someone to clean it up and start all over again.”

“And the reason you’re telling me this?”

“Of the two options, I’d prefer the start-all-over-again one, our region can use the million dollars the foundation invests in us every year. I’d hate to see it go away. As a result, I’ve terminated the old executive director, and I’d like you to become the new one. I know you can fix the damn thing.”

“But…but…I’m seventy-one years old, for crying out loud,” I replied. “No nonprofit hires a seventy-one-year-old Executive Director. Especially one who doesn’t know diddly squat about what the nonprofit does. I know as much about nuclear fusion as I know about poverty.”

“Knowledge is not the problem here,” Jim shrugged, “Execution is the problem. Between Googling the research being done on poverty and interviewing the people who are veterans in it, you’ll learn all you need to know. It’s not about knowing, it’s about doing. We could be changing a lot of lives with a million bucks a year.”

“Hmmm,” I mumbled, he got me with that last one. Besides, it sounded interesting. “Well,” I said, throwing up my hands, “sign me up.” We bumped fists. It was 2007, and so began a threeyear project that would change my life.

What happened over those three years turned out to be hugely insightful and rewarding. While the organization I led – we changed its name to The Partnership to End Poverty - didn’t exactly end poverty, we did make a healthy dent in it. I learned about why those people who are buried in poverty can’t dig themselves out. I’d known little about the root causes of poverty, but I quickly learned what it was that had pushed 40 million Americans into it and wouldn’t

let go. I also learned what our region was doing to help them. Or wasn’t doing.

Most of those people who are in poverty aren’t there because they’re unmotivated or lazy; rather, they’re there because they were either born into it and can’t extract themselves or their family, or they fell into it through no fault of their own. Excessive health care costs are often the culprit.

Today, when I see a man on a street corner begging for money, I’ve learned to scuttle the anger I used to feel and pull up empathy instead. I feel for that person, I’m sure he’d rather be at home, watching TV, petting the dog, mowing the lawn. For most folks, poverty isn’t a choice, it’s an inheritance. They play the cards they were dealt.

Before I did that three-year stint, I’d had no exposure to parents who hadn’t graduated from high school, who were addicted to alcohol or drugs, or who didn’t love their kids. There’s a long list of reasons why the children of those parents are going to follow them into poverty. It’s a cycle, a rut; once you get in it, it’s nearly impossible to get out.

It’s been 18 years since I shared that hot chocolate with Jim (sadly, he passed away earlier this year). Looking back, I know now that on the surface his invitation was a challenge to fix a struggling nonprofit, but to me it turned out to be an opportunity to fix something in myself that I didn’t know was broken. For me, those three years were an opportunity to revise an uneducated opinion of those people who are less fortunate than I.

I used to view poverty as a statistic, a problem that could be solved by a formula. Now, I see it as a collection of stories, faces, and struggles by a subpopulation of unlucky folks who need understanding and empathy, not anger and disgust. That lesson has remained with me throughout the years, reshaping the way I view my community – and the world - and how I respond to it.

Accepting Jim’s offer not only transformed my understanding of poverty but also taught me that stepping out of one’s comfort zone is the scariest, and most rewarding, way to learn.

About the Author: Jim Schell is a longtime Bend resident; in 2019 he left in search of warmer, smokeless weather. He’s written 18 published books, six of which are from his Old Guy series. This excerpt is extracted from ”An Old Guy’s Perspective on Just About Everything,” his sixth Old Guy book, to be published in June. For info, you can reach him at jim.schell5@gmail.com.

M A Y 1 0

Half Marathon – 9am 10K – 9:15am 5K – 9:30am M A Y 1 0 Kid s 3 - 10 c an j oin f o r t h e H ap p y Litt le Kids R un !

M A Y 1 0

Riverbend Park

Riverbend Park

Half Marathon – 9am 10K – 9:15am 5K – 9:30am

Riverbend Park

Half Marathon – 9am 10K – 9:15am 5K – 9:30am

TAKE ME HOME

By Jennelle Brewer, Broker RE/MAX Key Properties

Go Small and Go Home…

Consider adding family, friends to the mix

It’s not new that home prices, especially in Bend and surrounding areas, are becoming more and more difficult for the “average” income earner to afford. Nurses, teachers and many other working professionals are finding it harder to become homeowners. In fact, the new average age for first time homeownership in the U.S. is now 38. Many factors contribute to this — inflation rising faster than wages, high interest rates, and even lower ambition to move out of parents’ homes.

Previous generations buying homes often stayed in the home for the rest of, or most of, their lives. Houses themselves also tended to be much smaller than today - the average square footage of a new home in 1950 was 983 square feet. According to Census data, that number jumped to 2,303 square feet in 2023. I often hear arguments that young people can’t buy homes due to pricing and wages, and while I definitely agree…I also want to open the case that perhaps we are overconsuming in the housing market, much like we are in fast fashion, food and other industries.

As a Realtor, when I am gathering information from a first-time homebuyer, the wants are usually very similar: 1500-plus square feet, newer finishes, 3 bed, 2 bath, a garage, and enough yard for kids and/or chickens. I’m not saying this is bad or wrong…but what if we stopped yearning for MORE and started embracing LESS?

There are many ways where we could combat this consumerism mentality, and not just in terms of square footage - though also an easy consideration. For

instance, first homes don’t have to be “single family.” Apartments and townhouses can often be great ways to save $100k or more (compared to single family). Or what if we combined forces; go in on a duplex with best friends living one on each side?!

Multigenerational households are another great option and are becoming more common, combining generational wealth as well as burden. In 1980, 12% of households were considered multigenerational in the U.S., while today that number is closer to 21%. Not only does this allow elderly relatives to age more economically (assisted living options can run $12k+/month), it can provide help to younger generations in the form of down payment assistance, builtin child care (average of $400-$1,500/ month per infant), shared monthly utilities and more. And who says multigenerational has to mean you plus your parents? Just like we choose the community that we surround ourselves with, we can also choose the family that we want to co-own a home with!

I feel very strongly that it is time to stop encouraging/shaming younger and first-time homebuyers to think of “home” only as the cookie-cutter, 1,500 square feet, single family home with a backyard. Continued work on diverse housing options in Bend, such as multi-family homes and community land trusts, is a great first step toward having housing that fits everyone’s needs. Let’s embrace less consumerism in the home marketplace and more community, sustainability, and life.