Source Weekly July 17, 2025

The

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

Sarah Isak-Goode - reporter@bendsource.com

REPORTER / CALENDAR EDITOR

Maddie Franz - calendar@bendsource.com

COPY EDITOR

Richard Sitts

FREELANCERS

Jared Rasic, Damian Fagan, Julie Hanney, Nic Tarter, Sophie Haney, Joshua Savage, Josh Davis, Dallas Finn Calvert, Joshua Phillips

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

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TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Megan Burton - megan@layitoutevents.com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Sean Switzer

CONTROLLER

Angela Switzer - angela@bendsource.com

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Aaron Switzer - aaron@bendsource.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

The word neighborhood can be synonymous with home which evokes feelings of comfort and security. In this issue we look at how art is part of Redmond neighborhoods; how a new waterfront park is changing a Bend neighborhood; what big changes are in store for a popular shopping center and the state of the local housing market. In addition, we talk with members of Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys and funky soul band from Penelope Road, both heading to Bend. Plus, we catch up with motocross star Justin Homan and rugby standout Jupiter Gillam. — Nic Moye, Managing Editor

The Source Wins First Place for Cover Design

The National AAN Awards celebrate excellence in alternative journalism

The Source has received national recognition for its cover art, earning First Place in Cover Design at the 2025 Association of Alternative Newsmedia (AAN) Awards. The winning entry, which included three individual covers, were created by art director Jennifer Galler and illustrator Adrian Galler. Judges praised the designs for their bold visual storytelling, clever wordplay and compelling design.

The winning covers included the "Back to the Ballotbox" election issue published Oct. 24, 2024, the "Restoring a River" issue published May 30, 2024 and the women's issue published Feb. 29, 2024.

The AAN Awards celebrate excellence in alternative journalism across the U.S. and Canada.

“AAN is a vital network of alt-weeklies committed to independent voices and original storytelling,” said Source publisher Aaron Switzer. “To be recognized at this level for our design work—something that’s core to the alt-weekly experience—is an incredible honor for our small team.”

This national award follows the Source’s recent regional recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists’ NW Excellence in Journalism Awards, where the publication took home three first-place honors in writing, illustration, and environmental reporting.

OPINION

Governor’s Cell Phone Ban is Worth Gamble to Improve Student Outcomes

For years, Oregon has struggled to do its best in the arena of K-12 education. Graduation rates have crept up over the past several years in districts including Bend-La Pine Schools, but overall, the state continues to lag behind nearly every other state for on-time graduation rates. Many educators and parents can offer reasons for this — some of them centering around budgets and class sizes — but when it comes to student success, let’s not forget the low-hanging fruit.

For example: Gov. Tina Kotek’s latest executive order, which puts a ban on cell phones into place during the school day at all Oregon public schools — including charter schools. Budget-wise, districts may have to incur some costs, in the way of pouches or other storage devices for all those phones, and to shift staff time around to manage the issue, but those seem like fairly negligible costs when considering the potential benefits.

lax. With a statewide ban, the hope is that it creates that feeling of uniformity across the state — while also allowing each district to design policies that work for their students. The governor’s order directs all districts to develop their own policies by October, and to put them in place by the start of 2026.

As you might imagine, student reaction has been mixed. Some say they welcome a distraction-free classroom environment. Others say their phones are their social lifeline, helping them manage the ups and downs of a teenage social life. Among families, the biggest worry cited in a Pew Research study about cell phone bans is that they won’t be able to reach students during the school day. Both of these reasons seem to us to be rooted in just how deeply society’s obsession and addiction for mobile devices has gone. Students can connect with fellow students in real time during the school day. Families can always reach students through the school’s communication channels. Those drawbacks don’t seem to outweigh the benefits.

This month’s executive order cites a need for a distraction-free environment for students, and the mental health impacts of social media and increased personal electronic device usage as reasons for the move. With students continuing to lag behind in our state, it seems fair to employ this strategy as part of an overall effort to help students focus in school, and get back up to par. District leaders around the state already see the value in trying this approach, given that a number of districts — including those in Central Oregon — already had some cell-phone restrictions in place before this executive order.

Educators we talked to say that while it has been nice for local districts to have policies in place, those were not necessarily enforced in a uniform fashion across various classrooms. One teacher might be strict, another

Executive orders are one way to see a state take action on a pressing issue, but they can come and go. Considering that a similar Senate bill got mired in endless debate and never made it out of committee this session, an executive order became a potent tool for making sure another school year didn’t pass by without trying something to tamp down on the use of cell phones and other devices during the school day, and boost retention. Yet perhaps, as the next school year unfolds, lawmakers who may have been on the fence during the last session will begin to see the benefits proving out and will once again take up this issue in a more-binding state law, rather than a governor’s order.

O Letters

TIME FOR TORT REFORM

In response to Peter Maden’s article about Oregon ski resorts and how Oregon is close to becoming uninsurable ("Oregon Ski Resort Operations Hang in the Balance" 7/1), I have a suggestion that is way overdue: widespread and dramatic tort reform. I flatly reject trial lawyer Joe Piucci’s assertion that SB 1196 will "extinguish" the legal rights of Oregon citizens’, which is another way of saying it will cut off a nice pipeline of lucrative cases for law firms. Our costs to recreate keep jumping dramatically to cover legal fees and insurance, until the point that we can’t recreate anymore. Anyone care to guess how much lawsuits have increased the cost of lift tickets?

How about medicine? Automobiles?

Construction? I’ve skied my entire life, and I can tell you there is no such thing as a "safe" ski jump. You can’t engineer a jump or a mountain bike trail to be inherently safe for all athletes. That is impossible. But what is possible is personal responsibility, and the ability of an adult or a guardian to understand that going skiing or mountain biking is not only optional for everyone, but also potentially dangerous, regardless of how well maintained the features are, and it is up to each of us individually to judge the environment and make sure we operate safely and within our abilities. Also, accidents do happen. In this country, however, it seems that there are no longer accidents, but rather assigned liability, and then someone pays someone else a lot of money. Is this really what we need? Billboards will glamorize "fighting for your rights" and the big bucks that can be won, but lawsuits are incredibly horrible to go through, expensive and time consuming, and after insurance companies and law firms take their cut, which they do, plaintiffs are

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!

left with significantly less money than they thought they were going to receive. Meanwhile, our privileges and freedoms will be lost. Paragliders, for example, can no longer fly off Mt. Bachelor as an immediate result of Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor. Other sports have been eliminated by lawsuits or will be soon. When will it be enough? How much do insurance companies and law firms need to make?

I will also submit that if a doctor commits malpractice, law firms are not the ones who should be solving the problem. Rather, licensing boards, which are there to protect the public, are much better equipped to evaluate malpractice and determine damages, as well as follow up with mandatory suspensions, training, etc…to ensure the practitioner is competent moving forward. I don’t see how law firms earning huge settlements and taking the lion’s share are a necessary part of the equation to protect the public. It's time we open our eyes to how expensive lawsuits are to us all, and how we are losing our freedoms, one lawsuit at a time.

— Mitch McDeer

RE: “JOURNALISTS AT ‘THE BULLETIN’ HAVE HAD ENOUGH,” NEWS 7/9

I've been here long enough to recall when the Bulletin was truly an exceptional newspaper.

Gene Barton... Bob Shotwell... the list goes on.

Sadly those days are long, long gone and over with.

Today the employees are scuttling their own ship advocating against an out of state owner who truly isn't interested nor inclined to respond favorably. EO got out while the getting was good and cut its losses.

Bottom Line Up Front - the Product produced by the Bulletin (news) is

Katie Chipko EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

below par with other and newer news/ entertainment providers here locally. In today's competitive marketplace this translates into dollars and cents. Can't afford to pay? Can't afford to play.

— George Walker via bendsource.com

RE: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

7/3, 7/10

Thank you Gordon Cumming ("Display Of Assault At La Pine Rodeo") and J Tinker ("The Pain Behind the Show") for your thoughtful letters regarding the La Pine Rodeo and rodeos in general. I attended my first and last rodeo several years ago at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming. A calf that was injured was supposedly going to be checked by the in-house vet. With what looked like a broken leg, treatment seemed unlikely.

But that rodeo, as disturbing as it was to me, was not as cruel as what Cumming documents in his letter: The forced milking of cows. I had trouble reading that letter. And I have to wonder at the men (or were women involved too?) who would participate in such bizarre cruelty to an animal.

Though I'm not a vegetarian, I do my best to avoid factory-farmed meats. I wish that folks who love their pets and pamper them like children would take note of how our domesticated animals are treated. But it is even worse that animals in a rodeo ring are treated so harshly for the sake of entertainment.

Who can get involved to change what's going on at the La Pine Rodeo?

Certainly local TV coverage should show

the whole story rather than promoting the local rodeos as wonderful family entertainment. I'm betting that those "cowboys" and reporters have dogs that they love and pamper. Someone needs to help participants and viewers alike realize at least one of their "sporting" events is nothing more than animal abuse.

— Linda Spaet

RE: “DELAYS ON REED MARKET/BOND ROUNDABOUT SPARK SAFETY AND TRAFFIC CONCERNS," NEWS, 6/24

Fix 3rd and Empire first. The 97 "upgrade" did no favors for the North side residents. Multiple engineering failures and wasted opportunities. There are some easy wins with little effort if they just take a closer look.

— Vincent Foley via bendsource.com

Letter of the Week:

Vincent, I think we can all relate to traffic frustrations. As letter or comment of the week, you can stop by our office at NW Georgia & Bond to pick up a gift card to Palate coffee. — Nic Moye, Managing Editor

Wildfire Roundup

The Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked for two wildfires burning in Central Oregon. The Act has been invoked six times so far this wildfire season.

The Cram Fire was reported at 5:30pm Sunday, July 13, north of Madras on Highway 97, south of the juncture with Highway 293. Gusty winds and hot temperatures caused it to blow up to 10,000 acres by the next day, July 14, prompting evacuation notices in Jefferson and Wasco counties. The Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized resources from other parts of the state to assist firefighters.

The Highland Fire, burning near SE Mark and Highland Roads two miles south of Prineville, was mapped at 719 acres with five-percent containment on July 14. The brush fire was first reported just before 4pm on Saturday, July 12, leading to an evacuation notice for approximately 1,500 people. More information about all the fires burning in Oregon can be found at centraloregonfire.org.

Small Plane Crash

A pilot and two passengers survived when the plane they were in crashed in the Indian Ford Meadows neighborhood in Sisters. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says the Cessna crashed shortly after takeoff from the Eagle Airport just after 11am on Sunday, July 13. The three people onboard managed to escape before the plane became fully engulfed in flames. They suffered minor injuries and were transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. The cause of the crash is unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

—Nic Moye

The New Reality of Power Outages in Fire Season How safety settings are changing the electrical grid in Central Oregon

By Sarah Isak-Goode

After several power outages hit thousands of residents over the past few weeks, many people are frustrated. Long outages during peak summer heat can put vulnerable residents at risk, disrupt daily routines, and spoil food as refrigerators and freezers sit without power. According to Simon Gutierrez, a spokesperson from Pacific Power, Bend and Redmond experienced 11 outages between May 1 and July 8. Eight of these outages were “Enhanced Safety Settings,” and one was an “Emergency De-energization.”

How shutoffs are decided

During wildfire season, power companies adjust their equipment to be extra responsive, which makes it more sensitive to disruptions. Companies like Pacific Power and Central Electric Cooperative say proactive shutoffs are key to preventing electrical systems from causing wildfires in areas that are at risk.

Enhanced Safety Settings and Public Safety Power Shutoffs both aim to protect communities by cutting off power to areas that might be at risk of sparking a wildfire, but they work a bit differently. Enhanced Safety Settings are activated right away by environmental conditions, such as high winds or fallen trees.

According to Gutierrez, “Enhanced safety settings greatly reduce the likelihood that a spark will be emitted when there is interference with a power line.” Public Safety Power Shutoffs, on the other hand, are planned interruptions meant to prevent electrical equipment from sparking a wildfire.

Understanding selective power outages

On July 10, Pacific Power informed nearly 3,000 residents on Bend’s west side that they would be losing power, citing “enhanced safety settings.” But many folks were confused about why that happened. Though the weather was hot, the lack of winds in the area didn’t seem to be a factor in the almost two-hour shutoff. Gutierrez explained, “While the circuit was on enhanced safety settings, the outage was actually due to an equipment issue.”

9

—The

number of furnished apartments being constructed at the Old Mill District next year.

“If you think the new 'Superman' movie is 'woke' then you’re in a cult and should probably get that looked at.”

— Jared Rasic in this week’s Screen.

This selective nature of outages helps explain why only certain parts of neighborhoods can lose power at times. Gutierrez says it comes down to the electrical grid, which is divided into different circuits serving various groups of customers. He notes, "We could have a situation where a tree branch hits a line on one circuit and causes an outage, but it's only affecting that specific circuit. Other homes won’t lose power unless they’re on that same circuit." For instance, he says, "I live in Portland, and there have been times when my neighbor right across the street loses power but I don’t — just because we’re on different circuits."

When a shutoff is necessary, power companies are supposed to notify customers directly, using real-time data for as much accuracy as possible.

“While increased outages and their length of time can be inconvenient, the trade-off helps ensure public safety in high-risk areas.”

— Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Gutierrez points out that the systems are also sensitive: “It’s hard to explain just how sensitive these settings are, but something like contact from a bird, a branch or other debris can cause a fault, which leads to an outage.” Pacific Gas and Electric explains that this high sensitivity means field crews must inspect the entire circuit and make any necessary repairs before turning the power back on.

How long does it take to restore power?

The amount of time it takes to restore power depends on the season and conditions. While crews can often get power back on before winter storms fully pass, summer outages are trickier. During extreme summer winds, utility crews have to wait for conditions to calm down before they can safely inspect lines for damage. Much of this is done during daylight hours. Pacific Power explains that after inspection and possible repairs, power lines are cleared to be restored. The time between turning the power off and back on can vary according to this process, which sometimes means long waits for customers. According to Central Electric Cooperative’s website, “While increased outages and their length of time can be inconvenient, the trade-off helps ensure public safety in high-risk areas.”

The average power outage in the United States lasts 5.5 hours, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Sarak Isak-Goode

Historic Run of the Klamath Inspires Global Commitment to Dam Removal

Native youth and guides complete the historic “first descent” on the undammed Klamath River, and sign an accord advocating for

By Nicole Vulcan

Hundreds of miles from its source in Oregon, the Klamath River takes a hard left before finally spilling into the Pacific Ocean near Requa, California. A sand spit serves as the last barrier for the sweet waters of the river to finally merge with the salty brine of the sea — the river waters pressing against the spit and exiting in a southern direction, above Flint Ridge.

For the youth and guides who on July 11 completed a month-long journey from the headwaters of the Klamath River to the ocean — executing a historic “first descent” of the Klamath following the hydroelectric dam-removal project that ended in 2024 — the sand spit was the final hurdle in their journey. They parked their boats on the spit, then walked across bearing the flags of their various tribal nations, greeting the sea in triumph.

That spit is now the last negligible barrier between the ocean and the spawning grounds for the salmon that began to return to areas above the former Iron Gate, Copco I, Copco II and JC Boyle dams almost immediately after removal. The last of the dams, JC Boyle, came down in August 2024. By Oct. 3, salmon had returned. The Yurok Tribe’s ecological restoration crews now report at least four different species of salmon in the Klamath and its tributaries above the former dams.

For countless activists, educators, tribal members and others, the July 11 event tied a nice bow around a decades-long effort to rid the Klamath of the toxic algae choking the river, and to remove the dams

more restored rivers

that turned salmon away from their historic spawning grounds.

But even as the big event unfolded this past weekend, activists had their eyes on the future.

A historic run

The group of several dozen indigenous kayakers, trained up by the nonprofit Rios to Rivers’ Paddle Tribal Waters program, began their journey June 12 at the Klamath River headwaters, on the Wood River at Jackson Kimball State Park. The program included young people from Klamath, Yurok, Karuk, Quartz Valley and Hoopa Valley tribes.

Many of the young people, ages 13 to 20, had trained for years with Paddle Tribal Waters, learning whitewater skills that would serve them over the dozens of Class III and IV rapids along the way. Among the indigenous youth, three teens completed the entire run of the river, making it through even the most challenging sections.

“Ike’s is a pretty notorious section in the lower part of the Klamath River. It’s pretty big whitewater,” Keeya Wiki, a Yurok and Mauri high school student told the Source July 12. “I was really excited to be allowed to run it, but it was big. The second rapid was carnage party!”

Still, for Wiki, the most challenging part was more personal. “I think the hardest part of this was the mental game — of knowing that we are carrying on the prayers and wishes of our people, and to paddle every single day.”

Indeed, every paddle-stroke was met with ceremony. At the launch, elders from the Klamath, Hoopa and Yurok tribes told stories and issued blessings. Last-minute additions to the flotilla on the first day — including this reporter — geared up and got a safety briefing.

mouth of the Klamath. Instead, it was another beginning.

Over the 30 days, paddlers were met for meals and community gatherings, including celebrations in Modoc and Shasta territory, with the Karuk at Happy Camp, and at the confluence of the Trinity and Klamath with the Hoopa Valley tribe.

For the final three days of the journey, the group was joined by a flotilla of supporters, tribal members and media from around the world. Some paddled in historically significant watercraft, including redwood canoes, for the final miles to the spit.

At the boat landing at Requa, supporters gathered the morning of July 11 to witness the floating parade. Two young boys stood at the water’s edge, searching for their brothers, who had been on the river for a month straight.

“Are you ready to see your brothers?” an elder asked, placing a bare toe into the Klamath.

“I keep thinking I’m going to cry, but I also want to celebrate!” one onlooker said.

“We’ve been preparing for this over three years now. Obviously, there’s some last-minute arrivals, but the kids have been training for this for years,” Weston Boyle, founder and executive director of Rios to Rivers, told the Source on launch day. “One thing that’s unique about this first descent — and I think a new way of doing a first descent — is all the community events along the way.”

“They are our heroes today, and we are honoring them today, because they are the first to traverse the free-flowing river,” said Susan Matsen, former Yurok Tribal chairperson and fishing-rights activist, who MC’d the event marking the end of the first descent. “Because of them telling our stories each day of this journey, we have brought international attention and national attention to our river and to our way of life. So, we need to honor them for taking this journey for all of us.”

An end, and beginnings

The July 12-13 weekend served as a ceremonial “wrap-up” of the events that started decades ago, when crews installed dams to bring electricity to the people of the Upper Klamath, and when indigenous activists began their battle to bring them down. But the effort for clean water and free rivers didn’t end at the

On July 12, tribal leaders and environmental activists held a Global Free Rivers Symposium at the mouth of the river, educating participants about the benefits of dam removals. On July 13, indigenous youth and leaders, and allied organizations from river basins around the world — which included representatives from Chile, Bolivia, New Zealand, China and the U.S. — signed the first-ever Klamath River Accord, calling for “dam removals and a halt to new construction of dams across the globe,” according to a press release.

“This agreement sets an inspiring precedent in our lives,” Fernanda Castro Purrán, who’s advocating to protect her home river in Chile, said in a press release. “It motivates us not to give up, to continue defending the Biobío River against the Rucalhue power plant, and to envision the removal of existing dams in the future.”

For the Klamath Tribes’ Tribal Chairman William Ray, Jr., that continuing effort could very well happen right here, on the Klamath itself, where two smaller dams, Keno and Link River, continue to impound Upper Klamath Lake, reportedly harming water quality and impeding fish migration. What’s more, Keno Dam, “didn’t come with any instructions when Pacific Power handed the keys over last summer,” according to a January release from the Klamath Tribes.

“Fresh water is such a small quantity of the Earth’s resources — it makes up less than 10%. And we don’t always treat it very well,” Ray told the Source. “The water has a lot of lessons in it. I asked the young people, from all the tribes, to observe it, when you’re floating down those waters, because some of them are untouched, and others have been really touched. The overall system in the Klamath River isn’t dependent on large municipalities, where it has to serve as a water source for cities. So, we could really do something special over here to restore it.”

Onlookers await the arrival of paddlers to the Requa boat ramp July 11.

Top, Paddlers arrive at Requa July 11. Above, Paddle Tribal Waters participants circle up at the Klamath River headwaters June 12 before embarking on their 310-mile journey to the Pacific Ocean.

Photos by Nicole Vulcan

Neighborhoods

An ever-changing landscape

Neighborhoods have different personalities. Some have been around a long time; some are only a few years old; others are still under construction. Some people know their neighbors, others don’t. Some people can walk to restaurants and businesses while others prefer a quiet distance. In this issue we highlight a few new developments, places and people influencing our local neighborhoods.

Old Mill Expansion

More shopping, more restaurants and nine apartment units are planned

By Nic Moye

The Old Mill District, known for shops, galleries and restaurants, is adding apartment rentals to its portfolio.

In September, construction will get underway to prepare the ground for three new buildings at the northern end of the shopping center. Building X will be 8,700 square feet along the riverfront trail, across from Pastini’s, where the bike rental shop used to be. It’s designed to house a single restaurant.

“This will be a restaurant with a spectacular view of the Deschutes and the amphitheater,” Beau Eastes, marketing director for the Old Mill District, told the Source. “We see this concept having not only a great patio along the river trail, but also a rooftop bar/dining area.”

Next to it will be Building Y with 8,695 square feet and room for up to three businesses with a mix of retail and food.

“A smaller food and beverage operation on the western part of the building… could really take advantage of the patio space adjacent to the hot ponds and proximity to the river,” Eastes says. The term “hot pond” is a tribute to the historic past when the area was a sawmill. Water that powered the mills sat in hot ponds to cool off before being returned to the Deschutes River.

Building Z will be built in the parking lot across from Athleta. At 8,742 square feet, it will have one to three shops on the bottom floor with nine furnished oneand two-bedroom apartments on top. Eastes says plans are still being discussed about whether those will be short-term vacation units or include long-term rentals. The apartments will be managed by William Smith Properties which manages the Old Mill District. Eastes says it’s possible that more living space could be added in the future.

Construction is expected to be done on all three buildings simultaneously with the goal of being ready for tenants at the end of 2026. Eastes says the Old Mill has been 100% leased for awhile and the volume of inquiries from potential businesses and their level of seriousness is what gave District managers the confidence to start construction now. It’s the first time new buildings have been added since 2010.

“We’re very intentional about who we lease to, to ensure we have a healthy mix of businesses that benefit the District as a whole,” Eastes says. The mall will lose some parking spots as a result of the new buildings, but Eastes says the parking ratio should still accommodate visitors with nearly 1,900 parking spots.

According to a report done by Placer Labs Inc. from May 2024 to May 2025, 706,000 people came to the Old Mill multiple times for a total of 3.2 million visits.

Customers spent an average of 71 minutes at the mall. The most popular business was the Regal Old Mill movie theater with nearly 521,000 visitors. Rounding out the top five are REI with 492,000 shoppers, Red Robin with nearly 310,000 guests, American Eagle Outfitters with 197,000 and Anthony’s restaurant with nearly 161,000 customers. Eastes says about 75% of visitors to the District last year were locals.

Portland-based TVA Architects designed the three new buildings. One of the project goals is to create pedestrian-focused plazas and walkways connecting the businesses. The concept calls for parking spots behind the buildings so it’s less auto-focused. Development is being overseen by River Bend Limited Partnership. During construction, the north loop around the hot ponds will be closed to traffic for a short time. That will be later in the year when the outdoor mall is less busy.

Building X will be along the riverfront trail. It’s being designed for a restaurant with a rooftop bar.

Building Z will house 9 furnished apartments on the second floor.

Construction will begin on three new buildings for the first time since 2010.

Dyan Roth

TVA Architects

TVA Architects

Miller’s Landing Park: A Recently Polished Jewel in the Old Bend Neighborhood

The $1.3 million renovation allows folks — and doggos — several access points to enjoy the Deschutes River

By Peter Madsen

If you find yourself overheating on a summer day, dog in tow, you arguably couldn't pick a better place to cool off than the newly renovated Miller's Landing Park, tucked along the Deschutes River in the Old Bend neighborhood.

After a six-month renovation that began late last year and involved removing the boardwalk that had previously ribboned the river's edge, Bend Park & Recreation District officials reopened the park on June 27. Strolling locals, struck by the absence of chain-link barriers, explored the new features with a sense of wonder.

“Wow, hun. This is so cool,” a dad wearing a tank top said to his toddler as they padded around in flipflops. Holding his hand, she cooed in reply.

Folks know there are a handful of places to access the river within city limits, yet many of them, such as First Street Rapids, require a certain chutzpah to wade — or leap — into the rushing current. At Miller's Landing Park, located at 55 NW Riverside Blvd., BPRD landscape architect Ian Isaacson implementing public input and wanted to create several access points geared to ability and river experience.

To make the project happen, BPRD received $1,325,000 in private donations and grants from the Bend Sustainability Fund, Oregon State Parks and the Oregon State Marine Board Waterway Access Grant.

The Miller's Landing Park renovation was part of the 2021 Deschutes River Access and Habitat Restoration Plan, which identified 28 projects to be finished over about a decade to improve and consolidate existing river access points and habitat restoration. The next river park slotted for renovation is McKay Park, which will be completed by Spring 2027.

The redesign allows several access points for river recreationists of varying abilities and interests. There's a roller launch for loading and unloading watercraft, particularly kayaks. A wet ramp allows a gentle entrance into the water, ideal for canoes or guiding a kiddo or pup toward a low-stake dip. A dry ramp lets folks with disabilities, some with mobility devices such as wheelchairs, reach

the river surface while remaining on dry concrete. And a hand railing and submerged steps offer assisted access into the cool water with an ease on par with a public pool. Larger, descending stadium steps ring the shoreline, allowing a variety of depths at which to wade and gab with friends and other park users.

For those intrepid enough to jump into the water, basalt boulders fixed to the river bottom — sourced from the Knife River Shevlin pit on Bend's westside — slows the current, creating an eddy ideal for swimming in place — against the current — or flowing with it to the park's third access point, about 100 feet downstream.

And Miller’s Landing Park is great for dog lovers. In the early afternoon on July 2, Jane Ryder visited the park with Fiddlesticks, her 12-week-old puppy.

“He loves it — he’s a big water dog,” Ryder said. “This is his second time at the park, so he’s still getting used to it.”

That Miller’s Landing Park was ever anything more than a great place to spend a summer day might be lost on the casual park user. But its 20th Century legacy is hinted by its name.

For millennia, Indigenous peoples, whose progeny make up the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and other tribes, frequented this bend in what's now called the Deschutes River. The tribes ceded the land in the Treaty of 1855, while retaining hunting, fishing and gathering rights.

The river stretch became industrialized by the late 19th Century. In 1877, a claim for the area was filed by homesteader Stephen Staats, who built a family home, a barn and other outbuildings, said Venessa Ivey, museum manager at the Deschutes County Historical Society.

“Statts advertised laundry and fresh vegetables to persons passing through, and it was a shallow part of the river that could be crossed by travelers,” Ivey wrote in an email. In the coming decades, the lot would be the site of one of Bend's first post offices, a hotel and a ranch, according to BPRD.

In 1924, Harry Miller purchased the landing. He built a lumber holding

area where workers loaded up horsedrawn delivery wagons that serviced his Miller Lumber Company, which, from its downstream location, received timber from the ShevlinHixon and Brooks-Scanlon Mills.

Ivey said she’s uncertain whether Miller’s Landing Park ever featured a literal mill on the property because photographic evidence isn’t complete.

Today, Miller’s Landing Park, which sits on 4.7 acres, accommodates Bend residents and visitors alike in its post-industrial, recreation-focused setting. And the tangential benefit of the renovated Miller’s Landing Park isn’t lost on owners of nearby homes or those selling them.

Nicolas Berrey, a real estate agent with a home listed for sale several blocks from Miller’s Landing Park in the Old Bend neighborhood, told the Source the park revamp — and others like it — will benefit Bend home values overall. How Miller’s Landing will affect the value of immediate properties isn’t easy to say. The home prices in Old Bend are already some of the highest in the city; it may take the next market cycle to discern its impact — if there’s any, Berrey added. And heightened car traffic of park users visiting the area may have a vexing effect on neighboring residents.

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

The recently renovated Miller's Landing Park, as depicted in an aerial rendering.

Workers standing in the Deschutes River organize logs that belong to the Bend Company Mill. On the far riverbank stands the Staats family home and sheds on what is now Miller's Landing Park (c. prior to 1915).

From this south-facing view, the Staats family home is visible on the Deschutes River's east bank. The ShevlinHixon and Brooks-Scanlon Mills weren't established until 1915 and didn't begin operating until Spring 1916.

Looking downstream toward the Bend Company Mill (located in what is now Columbia Park) which burned down in 1915 (c. 1910-1915).

Bend Park & Recreation District

Below photos courtesy of Deschutes County Historical Society

FEATURE

Local Housing Market Mellows

Reed Pub

Months ahead to show if trend lasts

By Nic Moye

The housing market in Bend has slowed dramatically compared to last summer. The latest Beacon report states the median price of a home in Bend is now $693,000, down from the peak of $832,000 in April. The number of homes sold in June was 166, which is higher than a year ago with 145 homes sold in June 2024, but below the peak in June of 2022. Homes in June remained on the market an average of 24 days compared to 15 last June. In 2022, homes sold within an average of six days. There’s a five-month inventory of homes in Bend which is the highest amount over the past three years.

Donald Montagner, with Bratton Appraisal Group, told the Source the spike in median home prices in April was due to a spike in million-dollar home sales which accounted for more than 30% of all single-family residence (SFR) sales in April. Last month, that price point accounted for 18% of all sales. “The SFR products in the $1.8 million category had an 11-month supply last month,” Montagner says.

In Redmond, it’s a different story. The median price of a home in June was $530,000, which is the same as it was three years ago. Home sales have slowed. The Beacon Report shows 58 homes selling last month compared to 66 a year ago. The biggest spike in Redmond home sales was last July with 88 homes sold. It took an average of 20 days for a home to sell in June, which is the same as a year ago. There’s currently a three-month inventory of homes in Redmond.

“Another interesting item was the low number of new SFR permits in Redmond last month,” Montagner says, “which is the lowest since September of 2022.”

He says the trend over the next two to three months will show if the Bend housing market is declining or stabilizing.

The Beacon Report June 2025 Sisters

Median Price: $679,000 Days on Market: 47

Inventory: 5 Months

Sunriver

Median Price: $869,000 Days on Market: 18

Inventory: 9 Months

La Pine

Median Price: $390,000 Days on Market: 76 Inventory: 7 Months

Jefferson County

Median Price: $360,000 Days on Market: 54

Inventory: 5 Months

Crook County

Median Price: $400,000 Days on Market: 27

Inventory: 5 Months

“I don’t believe sellers should be worried about the current market conditions but should be mindful of the change in demand and the fact of more competition/ inventory on the market than seen in 2020-2022,” Montagner says. “SFR properties in need of updating or repairs will be a tougher sale in this market.”

Bend, Redmond show differing home states from a year ago.

Nic Moye

Redmond's Neighborhood Art Walk Puts National Talent on Display

Some 63 sculptures are scattered across Redmond's streets and parks

By Sarah Isak-Goode

Taking a stroll through Redmond to discover sculptures tucked into parks, neighborhoods, and public spaces offers a unique way to experience art without any admission fees. This free outdoor gallery lets people explore at their own pace, whether out for a morning walk or planning a dedicated art tour around town.

"What I like about public art," sculpture artist Kirk Seese recently told the Source, “is that you don't have to enter a gallery. It's for everyone."

Art Around the Clock program

Redmond's Art Around the Clock program sits at the heart of Redmond's public art offerings, featuring a changing collection of sculptures that artists loan to the city for twoyear periods. Fresh installations have recently arrived for the city's eighth round, with many pieces found in the Kenyons Acreage/North Rim neighborhood. The well-maintained area, appreciated for its trails and parks, makes it simple to explore the artistic additions on foot.

Artists share their creative vision

Among the notable new additions this round is a geometric steel sculpture that draws the eye with its precise mathematical form. “Icosahedron,” Seese's work, can be found at 5th Street and Deschutes Avenue. Seese began as a muralist but has discovered a passion for creating sculptures with an art deco twist. "The work before had been representational," he says, "I wanted to do something different."

The artist Diego Harris also works with metals, though his inspiration comes from nature. He says,

"I particularly like spirals and have spent a lot of time trying to find ways to use them in my sculptures. I like the shapes of certain plants and tree branches, too. It could be most anything, though; I'm always trying to take in as much as I can from the natural world." His piece, "Fresh Sprig," is an example of his style, as it "represents a young spring shoot coming up through the soil." Harris's piece is on view in Hathaway Park.

Nature-inspired sculptures

Harris isn't the only artist in the area drawing inspiration from nature and transforming industrial materials into organic forms. At the Redmond Fire Department, Paul Reimer's "Transformations" uses a recycled railroad track, hand-forged into an impressionist-style tree that represents the shift from industrial to greener living. Jenny Ellsworth's "Blue," at Sam Johnson Park, combines semi-truck transmission gears with a soft sphere to explore strength and harmony on our blue planet.

Meanwhile, Ben Dye's "Dog Walker," at Weigland Dog Park, uses stainless steel plates to create a lightweight, abstract piece that plays with negative space to show the bond between humans and dogs.

How to get involved

There are several ways to get involved with Art Around the Clock. Artists can submit proposals when the next Call for Artists opens; round nine is expected to launch in two years. Submitted sculptures need to be portable and durable enough to withstand Central Oregon weather year-round.

When each new round begins, the Redmond Commission for Art in Public Places reaches out to artists with a call for new sculptures to borrow. The Commission reviews submitted proposals and places selected pieces around town for their two-year stay. As the exhibition period winds down, the Commission runs a People's Choice contest in which Redmond residents vote for their favorite piece. The winning artist receives a cash prize, and their sculpture joins the city's permanent collection. To date, 16 pieces have found permanent homes in Redmond's collection, while the remaining sculptures return to their creators and make way for the next round.

Community members can enjoy exploring the sculptures placed throughout town, and during People's Choice contests, locals can vote for their favorite piece. These contests help the Commission understand what resonates with residents, which shapes future selections. The next People's Choice contest is anticipated for 2027.

FAIRWELL FESTIVAL

STAR-STUDDED COUNTRY PARTY

Now in its third year, the two-day music festival has continued to draw big acts—this year’s headliners include Tyler Childers, Dwight Yoakam, Sturgill Simpson and Sierra Ferrell. Fri., July 18 and Sat., July 19 at Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond. $139-$169.

SATURDAY NIGHT MARKET

BLOCK PARTY AT GENERAL DUFFY’S A family-friendly gathering with live music from local artists, artisan makers, vintage finds, handmade goods, local food trucks, cold beer and community fun. Sat., July 19, 3-8pm at General Duffy’s Waterhole. 404 SW Forest Ave., Redmond. Free.

Kirke Seese

SOURCE PICKS

THURSDAY 7/17

LEFT ON TENTH + GUESTS

PORTLAND PALS TAKE SILVER MOON

Left on Tenth’s music manifests itself into a variety of genres, from funky grooves to hard driving rock. The band is celebrating a decade of rocking live shows— don’t miss them on tour in Bend. Thu., July 17, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $18.

FRIDAY 7/18

DARK SKY PRESENTATION

LEARN ABOUT LOCAL LIGHT POLLUTION

Join Dr. Bill Kowalik, chairperson of DarkSky Oregon, for a thought-provoking presentation, illustrating the increasing levels of light pollution across the state. Dr. Kowalik also highlights a hopeful trend: communities, parks and regions are beginning to recognize the ecological and economic value of preserving dark skies. Fri., July 18, 10-11:30am at the Downtown Bend Library. 601 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

FRIDAY 7/18

LATIN DANCE PARTY

WITH DJ SOLO

Beginners and seasoned dancers alike are invited to join the party. With music by DJ Solo, food and drink on site, head to Wildwood to learn some new moves and dance the night away. Fri., July 18, 8pm at Wildwood Bar & Grill. 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free.

SATURDAY 7/19

KARYN ANN

LIVE MUSIC AT MCKENZIE GENERAL STORE

Portland-based singer/songwriter Karyn Ann has been charming audiences across the U.S. for over a decade with her own brand of soulful Americana. With high temps in the forecast, head to the McKenzie River for sweet tunes and a cool river breeze. Sat., July 19, 6pm at McKenzie General Store. 91837 Taylor Rd., McKenzie Bridge. Free.

SUNGRATER & MOON RATTLES

MIDSUMMER PARTY AT M&J

Local favorites take the stage at M&J this weekend—a double bill, with sets from both Sungrater and Moon Rattles. Prepare thyself to rock. Sat., July 19, 9pm at M&J Tavern. 102 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Free.

MEPHISKAPHELES, LOS MAL HABLADOS + WEAPON WORLD

LEGENDS OF SKA FUSION

With powerhouse rhythm and horns sections and led by a magnetic front man, Mephiskapheles delivers a live show that's high-energy, theatrical and unforgettable. With new music on the way and a legacy of pushing boundaries, Mephiskapheles proves the ska underground is alive and well—and still delightfully wicked. Sun., July 20, 6:30pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $25.

MONDAY 7/21

OF MONTREAL

A SONIC ADVENTURE

Whether you’re a longtime fan or curious newcomer, expect a kaleidoscopic sound and electrifying stage show. For over two decades, of Montreal has provided joyful chaos, redefining indie-pop, glam-rock and psychedelic funk. Mon., July 21, 8pm at Volcanic Theatre Pub. 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. $25-$35.

WELLNESS GARDEN

GROWING HERBS FOR TRADITIONAL SELF-CARE

This workshop will teach you how to grow herbs that do more than spice up dinner. Think calming teas, soothing oils and simple salves—all from your own tiny garden. You'll learn how to grow and use herbs like mint, chamomile, lavender, calendula and basil. Tue., July 22, 10:30am-Noon at the Downtown Bend Library. 601 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

TUESDAY 7/22

SHINYRIBS

A FOOT-STOMPIN’ GOOD TIME

Known for its wildly entertaining live shows—complete with dance moves, costumes and a whole lot of heart— Shinyribs turns every performance into a celebration. Whether delivering heartfelt ballads or funky grooves, the band radiates joy and Southern charm, making them a favorite at festivals and venues across the country. Tue., July 22, 7:30pm at the Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. $29-$49.

Sungrater FB Left

of Montreal FB

S SOUND

WPenelope Road - On the Cusp of a Magnificent Story

The best band you may not have heard of... yet

By Julie Hanney

ith talent beyond their young 20-something years and immense passion for their craft, it feels as though this Atlanta-based five-piece band will soon reach a level of fame that few musicians attain. A listen to their most recent releases, "Out Tonight" and “Flowers (Carry Me Home)” shows their skill as songwriters, singers (the band features two lead vocalists, as well as tight harmonies from other band members), instrumentalists, and performers. They call their sound "stanky funky junk," but you can hear elements of soul, jazz, and smooth 70s vibes in their music.

Penelope Road was recently signed to Warner Records, a major coup at any age. I had a Zoom call with co-lead singer and acoustic guitarist Max Moore, and also with electric guitarist Koan Roy-Mieghoo, as they were traveling through Texas in a newly acquired Sprinter van, making their way across the country. You can catch this rising band at Silver Moon Brewing on Tuesday, July 22, their only stop in Oregon.

the Source: You guys are such great musicians, how did you find each other?

Max Moore: So, actually Koan and I and the bassist [James Kopp] went to high school together. There was a program at school that put us together in a band. Then I met Charles Eastman, the other lead singer [and keyboardist] through All-State Chorus. Then we met Anthony [Smith], our drummer, recording around. Koan Roy-Mieghoo: Yeah, there were, like, a bunch of different iterations of bands that only a few of us were a part of at a time... but about two years ago, the five of us got together as a band.

tS: I love that some of you met at All-State Chorus, because you really are such good singers.

MM: Thank you so much.

tS: Penelope Road is an interesting band name. How did you guys choose that name?

MM: James, our bassist and I, the first house we ever rented was on Penelope Road, in the West End of Atlanta.

tS: Is that an iconic road in Atlanta?

MM: [Laughing] No, I'd say quite the opposite, actually. But that's just where we started everything.

KRM: Hopefully we'll make it iconic.

tS: Is this tour you are on the biggest one your band has done so far?

KRM: Yeah, this will be our longest stretch to date. We were up along the Northeast coast last month doing a tour that was just a week or so shorter, but yes, this is our first real summer tour and it feels great to be driving across the whole country and playing shows all the time. It's really exciting.

tS: Have you been to Oregon before?

KRM: The band hasn't. I drove through it on the way to Washington before.

tS: I see on your tour dates that you will be in San Francisco and then you are coming here, so are you going to get to spend some time doing fun stuff in Oregon?

KRM: Yeah, the plan is on our drive days, to camp some days or just kind of hang out at some great National Parks. It's so gorgeous up in that part of the country.

tS: It really is. Your band recently signed with Warner Records, so I assumed you would be in a huge tour bus with a bunch of roadies, but it looks like you are currently riding in a car?

"Some of the first covers we learned when I joined the band were some Lake Street Dive songs, so it's pretty full-circle to be opening for them."

—Koan Roy-Mieghoo

KRM: We're in a Sprinter van. So, it's not so bad. We used to be in this, like fifteen-passenger GMC Savana from, like, 2005, and it was just a nightmare. But we have upgraded recently. And we have two crew people, soon to be three, to help with tour management, front of house and all that. So, we are slowly building our crew.

tS: What's it like to have a major record company give you that support after, I imagine, being kind of a starving musician for a few years?

MM: Yeah, it's just been huge. The possibilities for recording and the quality of our music went from zero to one hundred really, really quick. We've been super lucky and we got to record our last two tracks at Blackbird in Nashville, which is just like one of the most beautiful studios in the country. We are just so happy with the quality of everything, and that is due to them helping us out with getting into studios and stuff like that.

KRM: It feels like stepping into a dream world, because our EP that we released on our own, we recorded in a tiny studio in GSU [Georgia State University], where our bassist was doing his degree at the time. And now, we are in, like, the top studio in Nashville with an excellent producer. It's so cool.

tS: How old are you guys?

MM: We are between twenty and twenty-four.

tS: Oh my gosh...

KRM: No, we're all over twenty-one now!

MM: Oh yeah! Twenty-one to twenty-four. We're getting there. We're all adults now!

tS: I see that you guys are going to be opening for Lake Street Dive, which is my daughter's favorite band, later this summer. Are they the biggest band you will have opened for?

MM: I think numbers-wise, they might be the biggest band we are opening for, but we are also opening for Goose, which is going to be another huge event for us.

KRM: Some of the first covers we learned when I joined the band were some Lake Street Dive songs, so it's pretty full-circle to be opening for them.

tS: That's so cool. So, I'm a music teacher and I want to know if you kept in touch with your high school choir teacher, and if so, are they just so proud of you?

MM: We actually do. She invites us to their chorus concerts and stuff. She was like my favorite teacher in the whole school. She was the best. She was the reason I came to school every day.

tS: Wouldn't it be cool if you could open for your high school choir concert?

KRM: We've talked about it, because we also had a School of Rock program that we did in high school too, and how awesome it would be to just show up again and play that. Yeah, it would be very fun.

At this point there was sudden laughter as they explained that they just spilled a bunch of sausages all over the van. It's going to be a memorable summer for these sweet and extremely likable young guys on their first big summer tour.

Penelope Road July 22 at 8pm Silver Moon Brewing 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend peneloperoad.com $22

Penelope Road is a band rising on its first major U.S. tour.

Garrett Cardoso

S SOUND

DDropkick Murphys Won't Fight You, But Will Call Out Any Red Hats

A night of rowdy Celtic punk is blowing into Bend along with Bad Religion

By Nic Tarter

ropkick Murphys is bringing its bagpipe fracas to Hayden Homes Amphitheater. I spoke with lead guitarist and songwriter Tim Brennan about writing polemical music in a polarized climate, the responsible way to mosh in the pit, and when you should bet all your money on the Red Sox.

the Source: Dropkick Murphys released a new album, "For the People," on the Fourth of July. Did I sense a political lean to it?

Tim Brennan: Lyrically speaking, there’s a decent amount of politically driven songs. It’s tough not to address the current state of things.

tS: How do you feel when you play in a conservative city like Pocatello, Idaho?

TB: We’re not looking to offend anybody. At this point, it would be hard for a Dropkicks fan to not understand where we’re coming from as far as politically speaking. Personally, I’m not an incredibly political guy. I’m of the opinion that everyone should just f*cking cool it.

tS: At a recent show there was an incident where someone waved a reactionary red hat and Ken Casey, co-lead singer and bassist, called him out. After the show, do you guys talk about incidents like that, or are they forgettable blips?

TB: That particular night, we got offstage, and I told Ken that he handled that perfectly. Riffraff stuff like that is expected in certain places, but the reason I was so happy about the way Ken handled that was because he brought rationale into it. I think some of these people were expecting him to absolutely lose his mind. They were trying to bait us. I’m so pleased with the way we handled that so peacefully. Hopefully, that’s about all we have to deal with. It’s strange times where you walk onstage and see people that are just here because they hate us.

tS: In 2014 Ken said he was grooming you to choose the nightly setlist. Are you doing that now?

TB: Letting who choose the setlist?

tS: You.

TB: Me, personally?

tS: Yes.

TB: Oh, that’s funny.

tS: Did he forget?

TB: Ken’s one of those guys who, uh, if he…(laughs). He and I do them together, yeah. Typically, what happens is he’s got his way that he likes to do it, and as soon as you think you have a line on where his head is, you’re like, “All right, let me do one,” he’s like “No, no, no. This, this, this.” He’s not the type of guy who would just hand something like that off. (Laughs). He’s very specific when he’s thinking about the setlist and that’s tough to telegraph. I’ll sit with him and do it, but a lot of it’s me just reassuring him that, “Yep, that sounds great.” It’s collaborative, but he’s the mastermind behind the setlist. Unless I have some wacky idea.

tS: What would a wacky idea be?

TB: I suppose I’m good at looking back on our catalog and suggesting things that might be cool to do. We have so many songs that it’s easy for some of them to fall by the wayside and be like, “Holy shit, I forgot we even had that song.”

tS: Do you guys try to mix up the setlist for every show?

TB: Oh yeah. Every town we pull into, our tour manager prints out the last four times we were there,

"It’s strange times where you walk onstage and see people that are just here because they hate us."

—Tim Brennan

and we try to play completely different stuff.

tS: Every band says that they have the best fans, but it does seem like Dropkick fans are exceptionally great.

TB: We do indeed have the greatest fans in the world. They’re so generous. They’ve helped with charitable foundations we’ve started. They’re incredible.

tS: They’re respectful in the mosh pit?

TB: Everything stays pretty calm for the most part. It’s nice that we’ve come from the hardcore punk scene where if you see somebody down, pick them up. Everyone’s been wonderful.

tS: The name Dropkick Murphys comes from a dry-out house in the 1940’s run by a man named John Murphy.

TB: That’s right.

tS: It also sounds like a lot of the band doesn’t partake in drinking.

TB: Right. Yeah.

tS: After a St. Patrick’s Day show the venue looks like it was overrun by a mob of ten thousand, blitzed out of their minds. Is there a disconnect here?

TB: Not at all. It is interesting that we play music that people seem to really like to drink to when there’s a whole bunch of us that don’t drink anymore. But it wouldn’t be too different if we did drink because we wouldn’t go onstage shit-housed. Luckily, there’s not a

big difference from the days when people were drinking versus now. But you’re right. When a St. Patrick’s Day show lets out, it looks like a beer bomb went off in that place. Absolutely.

tS: A while back, Al Barr (co-lead singer) said, “We won’t break up because we feel we still have something to say.” What do you feel like you have to say?

TB: I do a lot of the music writing. Ken is always the wordsmith. Personally, I have a hundred thousand more tunes that I’m ready to put out. As long as Ken is feeling motivated to keep spitting out the words, especially in a time like now where there’s political unrest and two very different sides. Unfortunately, it seems we’re going to have something to say for quite a while.

tS: Are Dropkick Murphys responsible for the three Red Sox championships?

TB: I try not to think that I have anything to do with anything, ever, positive. But it’s hard to deny that the last three times they won, we’ve played on the field. Who’s to say? Maybe we’re a slight good luck charm for them.

tS: Why wouldn’t they invite you back every season?

TB: That’s a good question. They’re doing a Dropkick Murphys bobblehead night coming up, which is insane. We’ll be there for that. If the whole season turns around, you and I will get back on the phone and do the interview about how we are the people who win for the Red Sox.

Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion

July 23, 6 pm Hayden Homes Amphitheater 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr, Bend, OR 97702 bendconcerts.com/events/event/dropkick-murphys-and-bad-religion

$67.20

Dropkick Murphys on tour in their 30th year, bringing righteous rock to troubled times.

Riley Vecchione

CALENDAR

16 Wednesday

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

Bunk+Brew Open Jam with Monkey Mode

Bring your instrument, your voice or just your vibe. All are welcome to join the spontaneous magic and jam with Bend’s best. No pressure, no rules—just pure creative flow. Third Wednesday of every month, 6-9pm. 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! Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free. The Cellar Live Music with Danger Gently Head down to The Cellar every Wednesday to enjoy live music from Danger Gently, a talented rotating cast of characters playing old-timey jams! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Rick Monroe For those who aren’t familiar with Rick’s music, Rick advises them to come to the show for a good time and to be ready for “just about anything.” “I love to play,” the singer notes. And I want everyone to play along.” 7:30-9:30pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Anderson Knight Koenig Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music! 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 11 with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. 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.

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 Wednesdays. 5:30-7pm. Free.

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

Seven Feathers Event Center Dugger Band Dugger Band is a country music duo made up of brothers Jordan and Seth Dugger from East Tennessee. Blending modern country with their Appalachian roots and faith-driven message, they’ve captured national attention with charting singles like “East Tennessee Son” and memorable performances at the Grand Ole Opry House, CMA Music 7-8pm.

Silver Moon Brewing Tom Quell & Guests His warm style has been likened to classic singers like Sam Cooke and Paul McCartney. 7pm. $15.

LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Ticket and promote your events with BendTicket! →

13 Til Midnight FB

As part of the Munch and Music concert series at Drake Park, 13 Til Midnight takes the stage this Thu., July 17, performing Taylor Swift covers. Dad Bods will open at 5:30pm. The T-Swift tribute band will take the crowd on a journey through iconic hits, deep cuts and fan favorites.

17 Thursday

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

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

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

Blacksmith Public House Karaoke with DJ Chris Join us on our indoor stage for Karaoke night! Every Thursday from 6:30-8pm. We have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, great drink options, and lots of food trucks! Family and dog friendly. 6:30-8pm. Free.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursday Think and Drink! Genuine UKB Trivia is truly unique and entertaining trivia for you! Independent, locally owned and operated. Please bring something to write with and some positive vibes, too :). 6:30pm. 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! 7-10pm. Free.

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

The Commonwealth Pub The Critical Blues Band Serving up high-energy, low-down blues and paying tribute to the giants by delivering the power and passion of America’s greatest contribution to the world of music. 7:30-9:30pm. 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 Join Joyful Lane at open mic night! Enjoy NA cocktails, charcuterie and dessert while listening to local talent! 6-9pm. Free.

Dogwood At The Pine Shed Let’s Have a Kiki A weekly 2SLGBTQIA+ night hosted by Cliché, with a new featured resident DJ each month. Kicking off the series in May with DJ Lunallday. Let’s have a kiki! 7-10pm. Free.

Drake Park Munch & Music The Munch & Music free concert series in Drake Park, presented by The Source Weekly and Hayden Homes, celebrates its 34th season! Music starts at 5:30pm on the Boss Mortgage stage and ends around 9pm. Every Thursday, July 3-Aug. 7. 5-9pm. Free.

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

Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Kurt Silva Back at the vineyard for a solo performance is Central Oregon’s own Kurt Silva playing guitar and singing. 5-8pm. $15.

The Grove Summer Music Series Grab a drink + dinner and enjoy the local musicians. 6-8pm. Free.

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

McKenzie General Store & Obsidian Grill John Shipe at McKenzie General Store McKenzie General Store loves being able to provide free family friendly live music to our community of locals, adventures and travelers alike! With our outdoor beirgarden, restaurant and general store we’re sure to have all you need for an unforgettable evening! 6-9pm. Free.

Mountain Burger Teresa & John Rundle Thursday night live! 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. 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Sweet Motor Captivating blend of rock and blues, with a hint of R&B vibes. 6-8pm. Free.

SCP Redmond Hotel Third Thursday Spoken Word Night Step up to the mic for a spoken word night the third Thursday of the month. All writers and readers and word-lovers invited to attend and read. Readers are invited to arrive early to sign up. Readers have seven minutes at the mic. Food and drink are available for purchase 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Left on Tenth + Guests Left on Tenth is group of friends who started playing music together on 10th Ave. in Bozeman, MT in 2016. They share a passion for playing live music and creating a fun, enjoyable atmosphere. Their music manifests itself into a variety of genres from funky grooves to hard driving rock. 7pm. $18.

The Open Door Mortal Soulstice at The Open Door The best boomer duo you’ve never heard of! Perfect music to accompany delicious, wholesome food, exquisite wine and engaging service in the shadow of the pines at The Open Door. 3:30-5:30pm. No Cover.

18 Friday

Bend Cider Co. Blake and the Music Blake weaves together intricate melodic layers to create expansive worlds through sound, best experienced with closed eyes and an open mind. 6-8pm. Free.

Big E’s Sports Bar and Grill Karaoke Night at Big E’s Bar & Grill Friday night is Karaoke Night at Big E’s Sports Bar & Grill. Hosted by A Fine Note Karaoke Too! and DJ Jackie J. We have a huge library of songs from all eras and genres. Singers and audience welcome! 8pm. Free.

Blacksmith Public House Cheyenne West Country hits inside on our main stage! 6:3010pm. Free.

The Capitol Freaky Friday Briantology & Atom Bram are back at the Capitol with some freaky fun jams in open format sets spanning hip hop, house, funk & pop. 9pm-2am.

Cheba Hut Comedy & Open Mic Bring your friends and let’s have some laughs together! 7:45-9pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Shine With three vocalists, two guitars and bass, Shine covers classics from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond. 8pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub BeLoveski and Friends Beloveski and Friends is the heart-brain child of Andrew Belinsky. This curious collective consists of Central Oregon’s most revered sacred improvisers. Beloveski and Friends are musicians, facilitators and community builders whose life mission it is to unlock the transformative force of music within individuals and communities around the world. 8-10pm. Free.

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

BRAVO PARTNERS

Community collaboration with:

Eurosports Sisters Food Cart Garden

Mortal Soulstice at Eurosports The best boomer duo you’ve never heard of performing your favorites in the lovely Eurosports Sisters Food Cart Garden 5-7pm. Free.

Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Live at the Vineyard: The Sound of Sidney From the foggy streets of Philly to the high desert skies of Bend—Sidney Joseph brings a lifetime of rhythm, soul, and smoky-voiced storytelling to the stage. A multi-instrumentalist with roots in electric power trios, jam bands, and groove-driven collectives, Sidney has truly done it all—guitar, bass, drums and vocals. 6-9pm. $15.

The Grove Summer Friday Concert Series Join us on Fridays throughout the summer at the Grove Market Hall for some live music! 6-8pm. Free.

Hardtails Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Hardtails for a fun Friday night and sing your heart out! 8pm-Midnight. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater Jerry Seinfeld Known for his comedy sitcom, “Seinfeld,” the iconic stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer comes to Bend this summer. 8:30pm. $59-$279.

M&J Tavern The Tortilla Chips The return of crispy sounds dusted with a bit of salty flavor that goes well with any dip and any crowd! 9pm. Free. Ponch’s Place Ben Baker (DJ Set) Enjoy a Friday night DJ set at Ponch’s Place with Ben Baker! 6-8pm. Free.

Portello Wine and Spirits Retro Dance Party! Portello celebrates one year of new ownership with a Retro Dance Party with DJ Chris Ossig playing your favorite ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and more! Not only do you get the music, but the music video to go along with it! Come dance your butt off! 7:30-10:30pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing The Chicken Chase Each person gets their name tossed in a hat. One random name is drawn, and the lucky (or unlucky) winner gets to wear the chicken suit, take a big ol’ wad of cash from the entry pot, flap their wings and head off—in secret—to the bar or restaurant of their choice. Ten minutes later, the chicken sends “helpful” photo clues in the group chat. If someone finds them, they get to spend the rest of the cash on drinks—with the chicken— until it’s all gone. 6-8pm.

Silver Moon Brewing Mougli & The Blues, Black Tapestry and Lady Strange & the rites Mougli & The Blues, Black Tapestry and Lady Strange & the rites fill Silver Moon Brewing’s taproom with high energy off-kilter Punk Rock! 7pm. $15.

Sisters Depot Friday Nights with Tony Lompa Tony Lompa plays every Friday night! Sip on cocktails, mocktails, beer or wine while soaking in the awesome downtown Sisters view. 7-9pm. Free.

Unity Community of Central Oregon Unbroken Voices: Stories Beyond the Silence Step into an evening of raw, heartfelt storytelling with To Tell the Truth, hosted by veteran storyteller Dan Cohen. 7-8:30pm.

Wildwood Bar & Grill Summer Latin Dance Party with DJ Solo Come join us for a sizzling hot Latin Dance Party at Wildwood! Get ready to move your hips to the rhythm of the best Latin beats by DJ SOLO. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just looking to have some fun, this event is perfect for everyone. 8-11pm. Free.

19 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.

Boneyard Pub Rustmouth Old time blues and slide guitar. 6-8pm. Free.

Bridge 99 Brewery Family Karaoke Night Hosted by A Fine Note Karaoke Too and DJ Jackie J. Come join the show where you are the star! 6pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Sonic Benders Sonic Benders is a 5-piece dance-driven instrumental Roots Funk band made up of Central Oregon all-star musicians: “Brother Gabe” Johnson (Watkins Glen, MFG, Vibeshiftas) on guitars, Patrick Ondrozeck (Company Grand, The Mostest) on keys, David Watts (The Cutmen) on bass, Jarrod Donatelli (Fractal). 8-10pm. Free.

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

M&J Tavern Sungrater & Moon Rattles Summer fun continues and we have the cool local sounds to help take the edge off the heat! Stage is on fire, while the A/C is kickin’. 9pm. Free.

McKenzie General Store & Obsidian Grill Karyn Ann at McKenzie General Store McKenzie General Store loves being able to provide free family friendly live music to our community of locals, adventures and travelers alike! With our outdoor beirgarden, restaurant and general store we’re sure to have all you need for an unforgettable evening! 6-9pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Sweet Motor Come enjoy some soulful Rock and Blues! 8-11pm. Free.

Open Space Event Studios Improv Showcase 500 Get ready to laugh, cheer and witness comic chaos as Bend Institute of Comedy presents Improv Showcase 500! 7:30-9:15pm. $20.

Pangaea Guild Hall Summerween A summertime Halloween bash! There will be a costume contest for classic Halloween costumes, carnival games with prizes and a raffle with proceeds going to Out Central Oregon. 4-11pm.

Paulina Lake Lodge The JUGULARS Fourpiece band playing everyone’s favorite classic rock from the ‘70s to now. 1-4pm. Free.

Portello Wine and Spirits Tony Smiley Crowd favorite Tony Smiley is bringing the energy to Portello to help celebrate one year of the “reinvented Portello!” Come out for a fun night of music, drink specials, great food and vibes! 7-9pm. Free.

River’s Place Line Dancing! Brittany from Fire Line Dancing will be giving a free lesson at the beginning, so no experience needed! 6-8pm. Free.

Sisters Depot Wolfe House Dirty Jazz Get ready for a night of grit and groove with Wolfe House Dirty Jazz — a fresh act bringing their bold, high-energy sound to Sisters. 6-8pm. $15.

The Round Butte Inn Chasin’ Bandits feat. Christie Strode Chasin’ Bandits will rock the stage playing country and rock favorites featuring the powerful vocals of Christie Strode! 8-11pm. Free.

Wildwood Bar & Grill The Cutmen Instrumental funk and jazz group with a horn section from Bend. 7-10pm. Free.

20 Sunday

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

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 Richard Taelour - Sundays on the patio Richard is an amazing artist and musician; hang out, listen to music, look at art he makes. 3-6pm. 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.

The Grove Summer Music Series Grab a drink + dinner and enjoy the local musicians. 6-8pm. Free.

Midtown Ballroom Deltron3030: 25th Anniversary Full Album Performance Deltron 3030 is the visionary hip-hop collective comprised of lyricist Del the Funky Homosapien (a.k.a. Deltron Zero), producer Dan the Automator (The Cantankerous Captain Aptos) and turntablist Kid Koala (Skiznod the Boy Wonder). Formed in 1999, the trio debuted with a groundbreaking concept album set in the year 3030. 8pm-Midnight. $47.

River’s Place The Brainy Brunch Trivia! Useless Knowledge Bowl Trivia presents “The Brainy Brunch!” Bring your crew of friends or family and a pen/pencil! Play for fun and gift cards, play for free! Experienced, independent, locally owned and operated! Noon. Free.

River’s Place Double Jump Indie/pop fun, great vibe music. 6-8pm. 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.

Silver Moon Brewing Mephiskapheles, Los Mal Hablados & Weapon World Mephiskapheles, the band that helped define modern day ska, then defied critics by exploring even greater possibilities with its darkly original ska fusion, forges ahead with amazing shows and new music on the way. 6:30pm. $25.

Silver Moon Brewing Jesse Roper & Guests Based in Victoria, BC, Jesse Roper is a blues/ Americana artist with a penchant for writing modern indie-infused blues music and delivering bombastic live performances. 7pm. $22.

21 Monday

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 Backyard Open Mic Mondays Bring the energy and hit the stage! Sing, rap, tell jokes or vibe out with the crowd. Killer eats from food carts and beer truck flowing all night. 6-10pm. Free.

Cheba Hut Comedy Open Mic Free to watch. Free to perform. 7-9pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Monday Night Musicians Showcase: Hosted by FAFO Come showcase your sound, discover fresh talent and enjoy a night of incredible live music. Hosted by Funk Around & Find Out, we’re creating a space where musicians can stretch out, jam, tighten up or spark something new. Full backline provided. 6-9pm. Free.

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

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

Immersion Brewing Open Mic hosted by Bend Comedy 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! 7-9pm. Free.

JC’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Karaoke kicks off at 8pm with our awesome host Van! Come early to get a prime seat. Happy hour lasts all day and our pool tables are free Mondays. 8pm. 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.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Of Montreal

The Sunlandic Twins 20th Anniversary! Synth/ indie-pop. 8pm. $25-$35.

22 Tuesday

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

Bunk+Brew Backyard Trivia Tuesdays! Big brains, cold beers, bragging rights! Battle it out under the stars with rotating trivia themes and epic prizes. Grab food from the food carts and drinks from the beer truck. Think you’ve got what it takes? 7-9pm. Free.

Hailing from British Columbia, Jesse Roper brings his flavor of blues and Americana to the Silver Moon stage Sun., July 20, 7pm.

Jesse Roper FB

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

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

Cheba Hut Trivia Tuesdays Prizes, drink specials, good vibes! 6:30-8:30pm. 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 Elise Franklin Jazz Quartet The Elise Franklin Quartet, a group of experienced musicians playing jazz standards and Latin, led by Elise Franklin on vocals and Jack Krouscup on piano. Elise grew up in a musical family, and pursued acting first, which led to singing professionally in 2000. Enjoy! 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.

Downtown Bend Library - Brooks Room Accordionista Robin Werdal Hear songs from some of the many genres of music that accordions are loved for: polkas, waltzes, folk, Latin, pop and French songs. Learn the basics of how an accordion is organized, what the inside of an accordion looks like and how the music is made. 4-5pm. Free.

Elements Public House Trivia Tuesdays at Elements Public House UKB Trivia is experienced, independent, locally owned and operated! Team up to win house gift cards! 7pm. Free.

Jefferson County Event Complex

Hell’s Belles Kickoff Concert Hell’s Belles has played shows all over the world, and they are even endorsed by AC/DC’s co-founder lead guitarist Angus Young as well as the rest of AC/ DC! Find out more about Hells Bells at www.hellsbelles.info Please follow the Jefferson County Event Complex on Facebook & Instagram for all the latest concert updates. 5-10pm.

M&J Tavern Karaoke Every Tuesday at your downtown living room! Sign-ups start at 8pm and the singing goes until last call OR last singer, whichever comes first! 8pm-1:15am. 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.

Portello Wine and Spirits NAMI Live Music Fundraiser Join us for a fun night of community, live music and fundraising for NAMI Central Oregon’s free mental health programs at Portello Wine & Spirits. NAMI Central Oregon board president and acoustic musician Kenny Hadden will sing and play guitar for the evening. 6-8pm.

River’s Place Bingo! Have fun, win prizes and support a local nonprofit organization. 6-8pm. $1-$5.

Silver Moon Brewing Penelope Road

Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Atlanta, Penelope Road is a five-piece band that boldly embraces the self-awarded label of “stanky funky junk.” Their sound is a captivating fusion of ‘70s rock, funk, and soul, culminating in a distinctive and unforgettable musical experience. 8pm. $22.

MUSIC

The Fretliners The Fretliners are a genuine and powerful bluegrass quartet recognized for their songwriting and undeniable chemistry. Their newfound camaraderie produces an energy that is as infectious on stage as it is on record. July 20, 7:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $19-$39.

Shinyribs We may never know what Shinyribs is. Sometimes, it’s a sprawling multipiece ensemble slapping the air until it grooves, sometimes he’s a somber songwriter pouring poetry on the ground from a cup half full. Either way, it’s always the house-party-meets-library that is, Kevin Russell. July 22, 7:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: (541)317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $29-$49.

Tab Benoit: I Hear Thunder I Hear Thunder marks the long-awaited return of four-time Grammy-nominated artist Tab Benoit. Renowned for his distinctive guitar tone and Otis-Redding-esque voice, Benoit has been a captivating figure in the roots music world for over 30 years. July 17, 7:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $44 - $69.

DANCE

Fire Line Dancing Lessons Free dance lessons, alternating between swing and line dance sessions. Basic steps, fun for beginner and intermediate dancers. Great for all ages! Tuesdays, 7-8pm. Through Sept. 30. Blacksmith Public House, 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-604-8878. Free.

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

Dark Sky Preservation in Oregon

Join Dr. Bill Kowalik, chairperson of DarkSky Oregon, for a thought-provoking presentation, illustrating the increasing levels of light pollution across the state. Dr. Kowalik also highlights a hopeful trend: communities, parks and regions are beginning to recognize the ecological and economic value of preserving dark skies. July 18, 10-11:30am. Downtown Bend Library, 601 Northwest Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 541-3121032. lizg@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

WORDS

Mystery Book Club We will discuss “Midnight in Soap Lake” by Matthew Sullivan. July 16, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

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

RAB Middles Book Club We discuss “Olivetti” by Allie Millington. July 21, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Writers Gone Wild: Poetry + Backpacking Retreat Join us July 17-20th for a 4-day, 3-night poetry-infused backpacking adventure in Oregon’s iconic Three Sisters Wilderness. This adventure writing retreat will wake up your body, clear your mind, and reconnect you to your wild creative voice. Thu, July 17, Fri, July 18, Sat, July 19 and Sun, July 20. Contact: sara@writersgonewild.com. $650.

ETC.

Anniversary Celebration! We are celebrating one year since the reinvention and new ownership of Portello! We have live music Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday! Music Bingo following music on Tuesday, Retro Dance party Friday and food and drink specials throughout the week! July 14-19, 4-9pm. Portello Wine and Spirits, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-385-1777. Free.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

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

VOLUNTEER

Bunny Rescue Needs Volunteers

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

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

Wandering River Plant Community Monitoring Join us to monitor plant growth and survival in a beaver-focused restoration site. This half-day, twice-yearly volunteer opportunity supports ecological research, builds field skills, and offers wildlife viewing. Volunteers aid in species ID and restoration practices while exploring a beautiful stretch of the Little Deschutes River. Please RSVP! July 16, 8am-4pm. Think Wild Office, 150 NE Hawthorne Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-699-1606. maureen@thinkwildco.org.

Weed Pull Help with taking care of some of your favorite parks and trails! Volunteers will join the trails team and work with BPRD staff to hand pull noxious weeds. July 19, 8-11am. Big Sky Sports Complex, 21690 Neff Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-389-7275. info@bendparksandrec. org. Free.

EVENTS + MARKETS

30th Annual High Desert Garden Tour Self-guided tour presented by the OSU Extension Service and OSU Master Gardeners™. View six beautiful gardens in Bend and get inspiration from local gardeners. July 19, 8:30am-3:30pm. Contact: 541-548-6088. rachel.humpert@oregonstate.edu. $15.

U-Cut Lavender Opening Weekend & Sunset Picnic Join us at the farm for opening weekend of U-Cut and our next summer sunset picnic! Extended store hours until 7pm and cut your own beautiful lavender bouquets while soaking in the summer sun. Sip on a signature mocktail or bring your own picnic to enjoy in the fields! July 19, 10am-7pm. Tumalo Lavender, 19825 Connarn Road, Bend. Contact: 541-3832441. info@tumalolavender.com. Free.

Bend Farmers Market The Bend Farmers Market is a true farmers market dedicated to supporting the viability of local farmers, ranchers and food producers who offer fresh local produce, protein and farm products to the people of Central Oregon. Wednesdays, 11am-3pm. Through Oct. 9. Brooks Alley, downtown Bend, Bend. Contact: bendfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Free.

Farmers Market Farm-fresh produce straight from local growers! One-of-a-kind products: handmade, unique and full of character! Live music, food and beer—because Sundays should be fun! Free Community Booth supporting local nonprofits and initiatives! Sundays, 10am2pm. Through Sept. 28. Worthy Brewing - Main Pub and Brewery, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-241-6310. Free.

Redmond Farmers Market Discover the heart of our community at the Redmond Farmers Market! Fun for the whole family. Here, local farmers and artisans come together to share their passion for fresh produce, handmade goods and unique crafts. Fridays, 3-7pm. Through Aug. 29. Centennial Park, Evergreen, Between 7th and 8th St., Redmond. Contact: 541-570-8946. Harvesthouseevents.rdm@gmail.com. Free.

Sisters Farmers Market Join us on Sundays June-Oct for a vibrant community gathering featuring fresh produce, local goods, live music and community activities.The market hosts a diverse range of over 45 Central Oregon vendors weekly. Sundays, 10am-2pm. Through Oct. 26. Fir Street Park, Sisters, Sisters. Contact: sistersfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Free.

Visionary hip-hop collective Deltron 3030 (Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator and Kid Koala) are back on tour, performing the full album of the same name in honor of its 25th anniversary. Sun., July 20, 8pm at Midtown Ballroom.

Deltron 3030 IG

By Richard Sitts

GUNG HO Making Music & Engaging the Community Breedlove Guitar’s new owners want to stoke the acoustic magic

There’s some big news regarding one of the best-kept secrets in Bend. A legendary, low profile company that has been making acoustic guitars by hand since 1990 now has a Nashville connection.

Two Old Hippies Guitars, LLC, the parent company of Breedlove and Bedell Guitars, has announced the completed sale of the company to Nashville-based artists and music industry advocates Pete Mroz and Shannon Pollard. Mroz has been an artist with Breedlove for the past five years, releasing several albums and playing the guitars “all over the world.” He was also a former standout on NBC’s “The Voice.” Mroz says he was first approached by Tom Bedell last December with an offer to become a national sales manager, but he politely declined because the time just wasn’t right. Bedell then called back in February with a restructured offer for Mroz to purchase the company.

Asked if that number might change, Mroz said it depends on what the market does. The company’s entry level guitars are imported and cost between $400-$1,200. Its made-in-Bend guitars can range from $2,500 up to $25,000. “Every precise detail, everything has a purpose; we want to naturally and organically grow.”

“It’s a helluva story, man! I never thought I’d be at this stage of my life where I own a guitar company. I’m dreaming, so don’t reach through the phone and pinch me,” Mroz said during a recent phone conversation, during which he was sitting in a truck in the Nashville rain.

Mroz said he could not refuse the offer and immediately wanted to bring in a partner, Pollard, with whom he had worked before. Pollard is the grandson of country music icon Eddy Arnold and the founder of Plowboy Records. “We feel a deep sense of responsibility and are honored to help shape the future of these brands,” Pollard said in a press release. “This isn’t just a business venture—it’s a personal and passionate commitment to ensuring Breedlove and Bedell continue to inspire and serve players around the world.”

Breedlove had humble beginnings in Tumalo before moving its operations to Bend, where everything will remain; the only thing moving to Nashville is the ownership, which plans to spend considerable time in Bend. Breedlove currently has a payroll that covers 38 full-time jobs, from craftspeople to sales and publicity, to housekeeping.

The company has long flown under the radar, but Mroz and Pollard want to change that. “No secrets,” Mroz declares. “We’re making amazing instruments here.” After Covid, he says he noticed a lack of engagement with the community. To change that around, Mroz says they want to start factory tours up again, reopen the gift shop and do a little facelift. “Even though we don’t live there, we understand the power of community.”

Mroz also said the company strives for “sustainability,” starting with its guidelines on how the company buys wood for its guitars. “No clear cut,” he demands. “We want to be the best stewards of the resources we have.”

Mroz says the guitar makers work with probably 25 different types of wood, with about four going into each guitar and comprising the main components—the top, back and sides. He says Breedlove currently makes about 70 different guitar models and strives to produce something unique that hasn’t been done already, made right here in Oregon.

Breedlove

61573 American Loop, Bend 877-800-4848 breedlovemusic.com

Witnessing the deal go down are, from left, Shannon Pollard, Tom Bedell and Pete Mroz, signing the paperwork in Nashville.

Breedlove Guitars

Sunriver Farmers Market Discover a wide variety of fresh, farm-to-table products from dedicated local vendors. From freshly butchered meats to seasonal produce, there’s something for everyone. Thursdays, 10am-2pm. Through Aug. 28. Sunriver Resort, 17600 Center Dr., Sunriver. Free.

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.

Bonfire Wednesdays Fuel the night with fire, friends and ice-cold drinks! Meet travelers, jam out to tunes and chow down from the food carts.

Wednesdays, 6-9pm. Through Oct. 15. Bunk+Brew, 42 NW Hawthorne Avenue, Bend. Free. Central Oregon Homebrewers Organization Monthly Meeting Interested in homebrewing and other fun fermentations? Join us for the monthly meeting of the Central Oregon Homebrewers Organization. Check out www. cohomebrewers.org for all the pertinent details. Aspen Ridge Retirement, 1010 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend. Contact: officers@cohomebrewers.org. Free.

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

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

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. Tuesdays. Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market, 21175 SE Reed Market Rd., Bend. Contact: 458-836-7866. jesse@cascadelakes.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.

Friday Happy Hour Tapas & Wine

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

Grand Cru Wine, dine and make a difference at Cork & Barrel’s gala event, under the tent at COCC. Join us for a Winemakers’ Reception with 18 wineries, followed by a sumptuous multicourse dinner and exciting live auction. Proceeds benefit KIDS Center, the local nonprofit working to end child abuse. July 19, 4:30-9pm. Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-383-5958. info@cor kandbarrel.org. $200.

Happy Hour Please join us Wed-Sun 3-5pm for Happy Hour at Willamette Valley Vineyards Downtown Bend. We will be offering by the glass discounts, discounts on cocktails and beer, along with a wonderful small bites menu with items not featured on our regular menu, including oysters, gazpacho and carpaccio! Wednesdays-Sundays, 3-5pm.

Happy Hour at Mountain Burger Hour happens every day at Mountain Burger! Ongoing, 3-5pm. Mountain Burger, 2747 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-668-7177. info@mountainburgerbend.com.

Happy Hour at Viaggio Wine Merchant $7 and $8 glasses of wine, cold beer and deli cious discounted snacks. Cheers! Tuesdays-Sun days, 3-5pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-299-5060. info@ viaggiowine.com. Varies by Purchase.

Happy Hour Every Day Make every after noon 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 Margar itas $7 Wine Happy Hour bites from Whappos!

Power Hour Come check out our new Power Hour deals: $3 draft Coors Light, $5 draft beer, food cart specials that will make your taste buds dance! Mondays-Thursdays-Sundays, 8-9pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE Fourth St., Bend. Contact: 458-256-5454. midtownyachtclub@ gmail.com. Free.

Sangria Sundays Like Sundays in Spain, just add paella. Every Sunday, 2pm-close at Bar Rio in Downtown Bend. Sundays. Bar Rio, 915 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.

Sip Voted Best of CO! Outdoors under the tent, summer’s biggest wine tasting party features 18 wineries from the Willamette Valley and Columbia Gorge, plus local beer, cider and spirits, live jazz, savory bites and sweet treats. Proceeds benefit KIDS Center, the local nonprofit working to end child abuse. July 18, 4:30-7:30pm. Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-383-5958. info@corkandbarrel.org. $125.

Suttle Lodge’s Wine on the Deck Series: Brick House Wines Join us every Tuesday this summer for wine made in the Pacific Northwest, poured by some of our

Lodge &

With undeniable chemistry and powerful songwriting, The Fretliners produce an infectious and energetic bluegrass sound. Sun., July 20, 7:30pm at the Tower Theatre.

The Fretliners FB

Amaterra’s Menu Debuts with Some Heavy Hitters

Pork chop, grilled shrimp

By Nicole Vulcan

shine on the Portland-area winery’s Bend menu

To those less observant, nothing much appears to have changed at the posh bar and restaurant space on the northwest corner of Bond and Minnesota. There’s still a gleaming bar. A mix of historic charm and updated glam still pervades the space. Bottles of backlit wine stand sentry, the prime pieces of décor.

But in this new version of the space, the wine bottles are filled with the fermented grape juice of a different Portland-area winery. Last month, Amaterra, the winery located in Portland’s west hills, opened its Bend location, Amaterra Kitchen + Social Club, in the space vacated early this year by Domaine Serene of Dayton, Oregon.

The focus of the space is, of course, on the terroir-driven wines, sold under the Amaterra and 51Weeks brands. According to Amaterra’s website, the winery utilizes a patent-pending process involving bridge cranes that “allow one elevation drop to act as a multiple-level gravity-flow winemaking facility.” When the fruit is handled more gently, it can result in a better-quality product, the company says.

I got a broad sampling of the wines on a recent visit to the Bend space, which opened June 6. Alongside a selection of rosé, chardonnay and pinot noirs came a sampling of the restaurant’s dinner menu — heavy on appetizers, salads and dishes for the table, with a handful of Chef’s selections and signature dishes to round out the meals. A tasting menu featuring smaller plates is also available. The menus are the product of the Bend location’s Executive Chef, Jeff Kelly, who moved to Bend after serving for several years as executive chef at Stella’s Southern Brasserie in Greenville, South Carolina. Kelly was assisted by Amaterra Head Chef Jami Flatt.

My dining partner and I started out with a sampling of the Sparkling Rosé of Barbera from the company’s 51Weeks imprint, a lively pink with light, bright tones that went down easy as we also sampled the grilled shrimp appetizer, featuring roasted garlic aoili, harissa and a smoky fried tomato jus over a bed of polenta. For appetizers, a colleague in attendance that night also recommended the wagyu carpaccio, flavored with a South Carolina BBQ sauce and served with cucumber, snap peas, chive, tempura and a citrus aioli.

To attack the main courses, I went for the standard tasting flight (as opposed to the pinot noir terroir flight, which highlights wines from the various vineyards

in Amaterra’s profile around the Northwest). A Dundee Hills pinot gris from 51Weeks kicked off the selection, followed by a Willamette Valley chardonnay, a fruity but hearty white that served as a rich complement to our appetizer of beets served over a spread of smoked trout. The beets are billed on the Salads menu, but can definitely hold up as a smaller main course — especially for the type of appetite worked up on a hot summer day.

As we approached the pinot-noir section of the tasting, our server recommended a try of both of the chef’s “Signature” dishes: one, the scallops paired with hearty chunks of pork belly and pickled shimeji mushrooms. The scallops came perfectly seared with just the right amount of chew. Also on the Signature menu: the “Chicken-fried pork chop,” served alongside braised collards, polenta and spiced pepper jam. The Pork Chop was memorable, wrapped in a layer of chicken-fried goodness that seemed so close to actual chicken skin that I had to ask whether it really was. Nope — just a basic egg wash, the kitchen reported back. Medium-bodied reds like pinot noir are generally an excellent pairing with pork chops, IMHO. 51Weeks’ "Eclater" made for a great case in point: a slightly spicy pinot that stood well alongside the pork, not overpowering and yet also standing up on its own.

In perhaps a nod to the focus on the wine, Amaterra’s Bend (and Portland) locations utilize a membership model. Pay a $25 one-time fee to access the space — or buy two bottles and have the fee waived. It seems like a no-brainer to walk away with some wine.

“Central Oregon is a community that values connection — to place, to flavor and to each other,” Jesse Luersen, Amaterra Bend's general manager and regional sales director, told the Source. “The membership is about deepening relationships and creating a space where people can come together over a shared love of wine, food, and meaningful hospitality.”

Amaterra is open during lunch and dinner hours five days a week.

Amaterra Kitchen + Social Club

909 NW Bond St., Bend

Open Wed-Thu Noon-9pm, Fri-Sat Noon-10pm, Sun Noon-9pm 541-246-3266

amaterrawines.com/bend

From top to bottom: beets with smoked trout make for a cooling summer dish. Four wines make up the standard tasting menu, including a pinot gris and a chardonnay, along with classic WillametteValley pinot noirs. Perfectly cooked scallops come served with a salty dose of pork belly.

Photos by Nicole Vulcan

LITTLE BITES

By Sophie Haney

Phở Viet's Makeover

The Third Street location has been untouched since opening 15 years ago.

We’re always looking out for the locals," said Lisa Nguyen, co-owner of Phở Viet & Café, along with her husband, Son. Since buying the restaurant in December 2022, the Nguyens have not regretted the nearly half million-dollar investment. “It's been a very fortunate decision, no regrets. It's a nice community, the locals are so nice, we have so many regulars. Obviously, the regulars are the backbone of your business. And if you forget that, then you're losing sight of why you're doing business in the first place.”

Since opening in 2010, the restaurant has been “cosmetically untouched.” This summer, the restaurant will undergo a complete interior makeover. Nguyen says everything will be redone with new floors and new seating, giving it an updated and elevated vibe.

“I think it's very important to have your space, the way it looks, reflect the quality of the food,” Nguyen told the Source. “And I feel like the way it looks right now, there's a huge difference between the way it looks and what we serve.” Phở Viet will maintain its current menu with its classic extensive selection of pho, bahn mi, rice platters, authentic chili paste, boba and more.

Before owning Phở Viet, The Nguyens had prior restaurant experience from owning boba trucks all over Oregon. Son told the Source in a 2023 Chow article that he discovered Phở Viet not as a business opportunity, but as a fan. "I was a loyal customer," says Nguyen. "I moved to Central Oregon and was looking for a Vietnamese restaurant to eat at, so I googled it, and that was how I found Phở Viet.”

Nguyen says they always intended to renovate the Third Street location, it was just a matter of when, and right now is a financially good time for them to do it. They opened a second location last year at The Grove food hall in Northwest Crossing, “There is a huge disconnect between the east side and the west side of town, and it's nothing bad. It's just a geographic area, especially when it snows.” Nguyen says.

Since Phở Viet operates as a commissary kitchen, meaning that all food gets cooked at the Third Street location and transported to the Grove, both locations will close during the renovations from July 28 to Aug. 8.

Phở Viet & Cafe

Reopens Saturday, Aug. 9 Wed.-Mon. 11am-9pm 1326 Northeast 3rd Street, Bend https://phovietcafe.com/

Sophie Haney

Come early August, the longtime Vietnamese cafe will have a new look.

7-1

CULTURE

DD Ranch Working hard for a dream

By Joshua Savage

Perhaps you’ve seen their beef at the local farmersmarkets, honey at Newport Market or even visited the ranch during their October pumpkin patches, but the true story behind DD Ranch nestled in Terrebonne is one of relentless work and unwavering determination.

The Anspach family, owners of DD Ranch, not only manage to somehow maintain a full-scale working ranch, but also juggle family life, long distance running, and other activities. How in the world do they have the time?

“I’m a Jill of all trades,” laughs Linda Anspach.

I sat down with Linda on a cool, breezy morning at her family’s Terrebonne ranch, Smith Rock prominent in the distance. With four kids and a full schedule, it’s amazing how she finds time to run races, let alone manage a few hundred acres of land. Her husband Jeff, also a runner, coaches their children, who have inherited the family's athletic genes.

Originally from Florida, both Linda and Jeff worked in the financial sector before moving to Portland. A little more than a decade ago, they made the life changing decision to relocate to Central Oregon. As elite runners, health has always been important to the family, but it was a workshop on indigenous farming practices and sourcing healthful food that sparked Linda's agricultural awakening.

Though Jeff is a third generation farmer, the couple knew little about farming. Still, once the dream was sparked, their lives changed radically. When they bought the DD Ranch 12 years ago, it was already a working ranch, though it needed plenty of TLC. From cows wandering the road in those early days to learning to fix irrigation systems and fence lines, the couple dove in headfirst and partnered with the previous owner to learn the ropes. They studied through observation, trial, and error, and slowly, they began to make the land their own.

Today, DD Ranch is a diverse and busy operation. The pumpkin patch, their most popular and profitable event, draws hundreds of visitors each fall. But the ranch offers much more. Their largest focus is on the delicious grass-fed beef and lamb, and heritage pork from their livestock. In fact, the animals were visibly active and enjoying the beautiful day during my visit. Honey harvested from partnerships with local beekeepers, eggs, and dairy products that come from Windy Acres in Prineville all contribute to the DD’s income. The ranch also serves as a picture perfect wedding venue with Smith Rock as a backdrop.

Sounds idyllic right? Yet few of us realize the true reality of running a ranch, and Linda quickly dispels the myth.

“It’s not Yellowstone,” Linda says. Even though I’ve never seen the popular show I know exactly what she means. Riding horses with the picturesque, mountainous landscape and big blue skies come to my mind. The average person like me doesn’t even think about the hidden costs, and there are many.

“Irrigation is our biggest cost,” she says, and continues to explain that insurance and fuel prices are always rising. Fencing the property to keep the animals secured is a massive expense. Maintenance for machinery, ATVs to get around on the land, repairs, delays at the butcher (who are almost always booked out), and the list goes on.

“So many things to learn. It’s a great life. I love it, but it’s hard work.” She admits that most days are consumed with labor that never ends.

Finding consistent workers is also a constant struggle. “It’s long days, lots of lifting, hauling, bending, fixing, the need to weed by hand to avoid using pesticides or fertilizers. It’s really hard to find people who want to do this work long-term.”

Adding to the challenge, Oregon state labor laws do not allow for volunteers, although sometimes groups like WWOLF (Willing Workers on Local Farms) pitch in which is very helpful.

The unpredictability of income creates additional stress. "Government programs are supposed to help farmers, but they rarely work for small farms like ours," Linda notes. Despite programs like Natural Resources Conservation Service grants for irrigation improvements, navigating paperwork and requirements often becomes another full-time job.

Unlike many of the vegetable farmers I have interviewed who tend to take the winter off, the work doesn’t stop at DD. When the fields are frozen, they’re preparing for calving season, dealing with paperwork, keeping the livestock fed, and more.

Yet for all the difficulty, Linda remains focused on the mission, which is to create something lasting, healthy and connected to the land. She believes the DD Ranch is finding its rhythm. Their products are stocked in stores across Central Oregon, including Oliver Lemon’s, Central Oregon Locavore, Newport Market, and others. Their Community Supported Agriculture shares are very popular. Local restaurants like SCP Redmond and Terra Kitchen feature their products. Customers can buy products online or visit the ranch to purchase individual cuts of meat or larger parts of the animal.

With so much effort and hard work, I’m pressed to ask Linda her advice for those who are thinking about getting into the business. Her advice for aspiring farmers is simple but straightforward.

“Start small and find a good mentor. Most farms go out of business within five years.”When asked about the future, the one idea that really seems to excite her is a running track on the property where athletes could come to train and possibly compete in tournaments and such. After all, combining the family’s passions makes total sense, and the ranch certainly has the room for it.

The ranch may also add overnight cabins and expand their event offerings, perhaps becoming a space where families can see firsthand what sustainable agriculture looks like, and maybe even join in the work or at least gain an appreciation for the land and the labor.

From sunup to sundown, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the Anspach family is cultivating not just crops and livestock but a different way of life, one rooted in sustainability. Even though the ranch may never be wildly profitable, it is undeniably rich in purpose, resilience and in connection to our food system.

So next time you see DD Ranch’s products on the shelf or at the market, grab one of those delicious jalapeño beef pepperoni sticks or a fresh cut of meat. More importantly, remember the story and mission behind the ranch. Think about the cows that used to wander the road, the hours of irrigation and other intensive labor, and the family who took a leap of faith in the Oregon High Desert to create a place where we can obtain healthful food. DD Ranch is a testament to what passion, grit, and perseverance can build, and hopefully, it will continue to grow.

“So many things to learn. It’s a great life. I love it, but it’s hard work.”

—Linda Anspach

Linda and Jeff Anspach work on the ranch from sunup to sundown, 365 days a year.

Livestock are grassfed and have the freedom to move.

Photos by Linda Anspach

SC Human of Steel Superman leaps over trolls in a single bound

By Jared Rasic

I’m tired of having to point this out about movies, television shows and daily life, so I think this is the last time I’m ever going to broach this topic and I’m going to do so in a way I hope isn’t too terribly offensive: If you think the new “Superman” movie is “woke” then you’re in a cult and should probably get that looked at. And if the word “woke” is triggering for you, you probably don’t know what it means.

Let me be even more specific. Superman is undocumented. He has been since Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster invented him in the 1930s. He is, by very definition, an illegal alien. As someone who has been reading Superman comics for most of my life, I can look you in the eye and tell you that regardless of where this very fictional character was born, he has spent almost a hundred years doing nothing but fighting for truth, justice and the American way (although he became much more focused on saving the entire world post-WWII).

What James Gunn’s new “Superman” movie does, that I’m not sure I’ve seen in any Superman film, is focus way more on the Man than the Super. As Clark Kent, he was raised on a farm by Ma and Pa Kent in Smallville, Kansas. He wasn’t raised to use his invulnerability to be a tough guy or to lord his power over everyone else. All the Kents did was teach him two things: how to be kind and that every single life is worth saving. He doesn’t use his super speed and flight to impress people, he does it to protect people as quickly as possible.

David Corenswet is a wonderful Superman and Clark Kent because he radiates a warm decency that I’m not sure we’ve seen since Christopher Reeve. Yes, he’s charming and good-looking and all the Hollywood stuff, but he projects a heroism that made me immediately excited to see more movies set in James Gunn’s newly launched DC Universe. If he continues to take these beloved characters and treat them with the respect they deserve and tells stories unlike any we’ve seen before with Batman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Swamp Thing and so very many more, then Marvel should be nervous.

“Superman” isn’t perfect. It does a lot of franchise building by stuffing the film with characters and subplots that won’t completely make sense until some other DCU movies pay them off. The film also plays Jimmy Olsen like a mega-desired ladies' man, which, in theory, could work, but there is nothing in Skyler Gisondo’s performance that sold me on his desirability. There are lots of wonky little details that I’m not sure work until the DCU starts building out its universe more.

But that’s also the thing that might bother people the most about this new “Superman” movie: it’s goofy as hell. The film feels like a Saturday morning cartoon (do those exist anymore?) brought to life for kids to enjoy just as much as their parents. For people weaned on the much darker “Man of Steel” and “Batman v. Superman,” this might be too lightweight and cheeseball for them. This is Superman at his most optimistic

and idealistic, so if you’re after that Zack Snyder gritty nihilism, Gunn’s Superman won’t work for you at all.

Yet, at one point the city is crumbling and Superman is doing everything he can to save as many people as possible and, in maybe my favorite comic book movie moment in the last few years, he takes a moment to move a squirrel out of harm’s way. It’s played for a laugh, but I found myself suppressing a tear of joy so my friends didn’t laugh at me. I found the moment profound because this film took a single moment to show the audience that this character, who has always existed to strive to be the best of us, treated animal life as equally sacred as a human one. All life is important.

From Rachel Brosnahan’s acerbic Lois Lane, to Nicholas Holt’s sniveling psychopathic Lex Luthor, to Edi

Gathegi’s scene-stealing Mr. Terrific, I can’t wait to spend more time with these characters in this lovingly created universe from James Gunn. This is fun stuff with a beautiful layer of humanism designed to get people to look at one another with kinder eyes. If an alien facing off against a billionaire megalomaniac is too topical and triggering for you, I’m sorry. You’re missing out. On probably a lot more than just a superhero movie.

“Superman” Dir. James Gunn Grade: B+ Now Playing at Regal Old Mill, Sisters Movie House, Redmond Cinema, Madras Cinema 5

The Man of Steel has never felt so human.

FRIDAY, JULY 25 - SUNDAY, JULY 27

FRIDAY, JULY 25

Balloon launches at sunrise at Jewell Elementary Bend Night Glow Presented by Hixon Mortgage a Celebration at COCC Kids Rock the Races Balloon Blast presented by COPA

SATURDAY, JULY 26

Balloon launches at sunrise at Jewell Elementary Redmond Brewfest & Night Glow

SUNDAY, JULY 27

Balloon launches at sunrise at Jewell Elementary

O OUTSIDE

Still Flying at 52 Justin Homan’s Journey from FMX Legend to training the next generation

By Josh Davis

“

Itrain hard, but I’ve also had the consequences of it too. I’ve broken femurs. I have a paralyzed leg still… I have friends that are dead and I have friends that are paralyzed.”

Justin Homan is a true FMX (freestyle motocross) legend. In an extreme sport where riders launch 200+ pound dirt bikes dozens of feet into the air while pulling off impossible tricks, Homan helped define what is possible. He pioneered moves like the “Holy Man,” where he lets go of the bike mid-air and extend both arms forward, as if ascending. He competed in and won X Games events, became the eighth person in the world to land a backflip, was a key sponsored rider for Metal Mulisha and performed across the globe. But like every legend, Homan had to start somewhere.

You don’t need directions to know you’ve found his house in Redmond. Out front, a massive freestyle motocross playground stretches across the property, packed with dirt hills, tight turns, and homemade ramps that send riders soaring through the air. Inside, his office shows evidence of all his accomplishments. Trophies line the shelves. Magazine covers, posters, and worn photos show his rise through the sport. Hanging from the ceiling are dozens of helmets, each one tied to a different moment of a career defined by passion, pain, and adrenaline.

Growing up as a child in Seattle, Homan’s entire family rode dirt bikes.

“There were seven dirt bikes in the garage. My mom rode, my brother rode, my dad rode, and I hated dirt bikes.” He continues, “They gave me one when I was little and I'd sit on it, but if you started, I'd cry…I wanted nothing to do with it.”

It wasn’t until Homan moved to Nebraska around 11 years old and received a dirt bike for Christmas that he finally gave riding a real shot. Homan had already been riding BMX (Bicycle Motocross) with his friends in the woods.

“My parents bought a house that was next to the woods, and we built a track” Homan says. “I would go to the woods with a shovel and a bucket of water and make BMX jumps. My friends would too, even in college.”

By the time he was 27 years old, Homan was racing professionally in motocross. Tricks on dirt bikes were practically unheard of. Freestyle motocross didn’t really exist yet, at least not the way we know it today. Tricks were mostly confined to BMX, where the bikes were lighter and easier to manipulate in the air. That changed when Jeremy McGrath, who is widely regarded as the King of Supercross, began pulling BMX-inspired moves on his dirt bike.

“Jeremy McGrath, the winningest writer in Supercross, had a BMX background. He started doing knacknacks, and other BMX-type tricks, like a double can, that are common BMX tricks. So that's where most of us started,” Homan explains.

It was a moment that opened the door to a new kind of riding in the early ’90s… and riders like Justin, who had already been practicing BMX tricks, were ready to embrace this bold new style of motocross.

Freestyle motocross was born. Once riders had mastered the basics, they began pushing the boundaries, experimenting with bolder, more dangerous stunts. Homan’s now infamous, famous trick, the Holy Man, won Best Trick at the Nashville X Games Qualifier in 2002. By that point in his career, he had already begun building his own training grounds in Redmond. After enduring his share of injuries, he eventually added a foam pit, giving him a safer way to practice a new trick that was emerging in the sport: the backflip.

“I had finally built a foam pit, and I learned it in the foam pit. I learned it on a little 50cc bike. I couldn't learn it on BMX because my leg was paralyzed. I couldn't feel the peg, I couldn't feel the pedal. I would rather try it on a BMX bike, but I learned it on a pit bike, then I learned it on my big bike in the foam pit. When I did the first flip in X Games 2003, I was stoked. I was like, I'm quitting. I landed the back flip. I'd been agonizing over it for two years.”

Homan didn’t quit, he remained a respected and steady presence in the freestyle motocross world. While he never made it back to the X Games podium, he continued to compete at a high level, regularly finishing as a finalist in both the X Games and Gravity

Games throughout the 2000s and 2010s. His dedication and consistency earned him a strong reputation among fellow riders and fans alike.

In 2010 Homan founded his own freestyle motocross demo company, MX13. During the early stages, the company focused on organizing and performing in freestyle demos at fairs, festivals, and other public events, giving him a way to stay deeply involved in the FMX scene without the intense demands of full-time competition.

In 2018, Homan began hosting free annual jump shows in Redmond and Prineville through MX13. These high energy exhibitions feature professional tricks and showcase the excitement of freestyle motocross. Each year, all proceeds from the shows are donated directly to featured local charities.

Now, MX13 has evolved into a full-scale local motocross training facility. Homan coaches riders across multiple disciplines, including motocross, supercross, arenacross, and freestyle.

He officially retired on Jan. 1, 2024. However, when you love something as much as he does it’s hard to stay away. At 52 years old, he’s returning for this year’s fundraiser MX13 Jump Shows simply because he wants to put on the best show possible for the community that helped launch his career. This year’s proceeds will go to the Jake and Josh Eckstein Memorial Trade Scholarship Fund, which supports Central Oregon students pursuing careers in the trades.

The upcoming Prineville and Redmond events, hosted by Wild Ride Brewing, will take place on July 24 and Aug. 21, respectively. If you want to see some insane tricks, please be sure to show up and support this year’s cause.

For more information about MX13, please visit www.mx13mx.com

Justin Homan is coming out of retirement to perform at the MX13 Jump Shows.

Homan teaches the next generation of riders at his course in Redmond.

Photos courtesy of Justin Homan

O OUTSIDE

In August, Jupiter Gillam is heading to college in North Carolina. However, the air miles he’ll earn moving across the country, and coming home for holidays and visits, are a drop in the bucket compared to those he’s racked up since graduating from Mountain View High School in 2024.

“I just wanted to get out of Oregon and travel the world,” said Gillam, 19, who grew up on his family’s farm in Bend. He used the time to meet new people, see new lands, including Australia, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, and to hone his already considerable skills in the sport of rugby.

“It’s like a mixture of every sport I’ve ever played in my life,” said Gillam, who’s 6’5” and weighs in at 230 pounds. “I like the physicality of it, and I like the running. I’m a big guy, and it’s fun to be a big, physical guy in there. And you know how you get really good at something and then don’t ever do it differently? Rugby’s never going to be like that. There are so many different aspects of the game to learn.”

He'll continue his education, on the rugby pitch and in the classroom, as he heads to Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina. He was initially recruited to play rugby for Central Washington University. However, in April, CWU announced the discontinuation of its varsity rugby program due to funding issues. Gillam opted to switch his commitment to Queen’s University, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division-one (D1) program that’s consistently ranked in the top 15 nationally.

“Jupiter is a driven individual with aspirations of playing rugby at the highest level while also earning a quality education. At Queen’s, we value student-athletes like him who are committed both on and off the field,” said Tyree Reed, head coach of the men’s rugby program. “Our program is focused on personal growth and helping our athletes chase their dreams while receiving a world-class education. I see Jupiter stepping into our program and making an immediate impact. He brings a strong foundation of skills, a powerful physical presence, and adds a real threat in the lineouts. We’re excited about what he’ll bring to the team and the community.”

For Gillam, the move to North Carolina caps an exciting year of travel and rugby. In addition to the other countries he

Gillam Working His Way up the Rugby Ladder

Local rugby player, recently selected to represent the U.S. in a tournament in Mexico and fresh off playing for a New Zealand club, is making his presence known in the sport

By Dallas Finn Calvert

“I think the biggest misconception for me is that a lot of people think they’re not the right kind of athlete for rugby. They’re too skinny or they’re too slow, too fat, too short. Rugby is a sport anybody can play. You can be any size and shape and there’s a position for you as long as you play hard and with passion.”

—Jupiter Gillam

visited, he spent six months in New Zealand, where he played for the Sumner Rugby Football Club in Christchurch. He was a member of Sumner’s Tsunami team and got to train with Scott “Razor” Robertson, whose son, Cass, is the Tsunami captain. Razor Robertson is a legendary rugby player and the current head coach of the All Blacks, the New Zealand men’s national team.

“I just tried to learn as much rugby as I could, and I learned a lot,” Gillam said. “Rugby there is like American football here. Everyone plays it. There’s a lot of energy and a lot more people at games.

There’s a much bigger rugby community there.”

More recently, Gillam was a member of the U.S. team that won gold at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Men's U19 XVs Tournament in Querétaro, Mexico. It was Gillam’s first time being selected to represent the U.S. “out of thousands and thousands of” players. While he didn’t get any game time, given the depth of the U.S. squad (28 players) and strict substitution rules, his selection identifies him as a up-and-coming prospect. Todd Thornley, head coach of the U.S. squad, said Gillam impressed the coaching staff and team in Mexico, where the team had a short training camp leading into the tournament.

"In his first experience in a high-performance environment, Jupiter arrived at camp with a great attitude and has shown strong development,” said Thornley, who also is the current head coach at Central Washington. “He’s a young athlete with significant potential and has already earned the respect of his teammates."

Gillam said he began focusing on rugby in high school, while also playing football (guard and defensive end), water polo (a defender), and being a thrower (shot-put and discus) for the track team. While he did occasional rugby camps as a youngster, he said it was inevitable he’d end up playing the sport. Rugby is in his blood.

His dad, Jason Gillam, 52, is a 1991 MVHS graduate who played football and was named to the then-4A All-State team in 1990. He then played professional rugby, including for the Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club (RFC),

helping them to win five national championships, and for the U.S.A. Eagles, the men’s national team, in several matches around the globe.

“My dear old dad has been playing rugby for the past 290 years,” Gillam said with a chuckle. “I’ve had a rugby ball in my hands my whole life, but I didn’t really start playing it until around 16 or 17.”

When Jupiter entered high school, his dad revived the Bend Blues rugby squad, which consists of players from Mountain View, Bend, and Caldera high schools. Jupiter’s younger brother, Jettson, 16, a rising MVHS junior, plays football and is a member of the Blues, which narrowly missed winning this year’s state championship in a close 24-22 loss to Eastside Tsunami in May. Their mom Julie, 51, a mountain biker and longtime yogini, manages the team. Since picking up the sport fully a few years ago, Jupiter has played for the Blues and then the Oregon Red Hawks, an all-star squad of Oregon players that competes against other top state teams in summer tournament play. He also played for the Pacific Northwest Loggers, a regional all-star team. He was a member of the 2024 U18 squad that beat British Columbia for the first time in 40 years. It’s all part of “climbing up the ladder” to international play, he said.

“Next for me would be the U20s and U23s,” said Gillam, who hopes to play in front of “home” crowds when the U.S. hosts the Rugby World Cup for the first time. “I want to continue down the U.S. pathway and my goal would be to play for the U.S.A. in the 2031 World Cup.”

For now, though, he’s focusing on getting ready for the Queen’s fall rugby camp that leads into the collegiate rugby season and spreading the word about the game of rugby, a game he loves and which he hopes other people will try.

“I like to encourage other people to better themselves and rugby is a really good sport to help you do that,” he said. “It’s accessible, and the community just brings you in and helps teach you everything.

“I think the biggest misconception for me is that a lot of people think they’re not the right kind of athlete for rugby,” he added. “They’re too skinny or they’re too slow, too fat, too short. Rugby is a sport anybody can play. You can be any size and shape and there’s a position for you as long as you play hard and with passion.”

Jupiter Gillam with his mom, Julie, and dad Jason, at the recent Rugby Americas North (RAN) Men's U19 XVs Tournament in Querétaro, Mexico, where the U.S. won gold.

Courtesy of Julie Reber

GO HERE

By Damian Fagan

Celebrate National Moth Week

July 19-27

A

week-long celebration

to shine a little light on moths and biodiversity.

National Moth Week, #MothWeek2025, is a celebration and opportunity to contribute to a global citizen science project focused on primarily nocturnal creatures that flit and flitter through our backyards, local parks, woodlands, and wildlands under the cover of darkness. Fascinating yet often misunderstood, moths evolved over 200 million years ago from butterfly-like insects. With over 12,000 individual species in North America, moths are far more prevalent than their more colorful relatives, the butterflies.

Noah. Bug Guide and Moth Photographers Group are two additional excellent resources to learn about moths and to submit images for identification.

Because most moths are nocturnal, they are easy to overlook. They range in size (wingtip to wingtip) from about 1/6th of an inch wide (4mm) to about 12 inches wide (30 cm). Some are agricultural pests, while others are important pollinators; many are important food resources for birds.

If you’re new to mothing, you can learn a lot about “Porch Light Biology” by watching the Mothing School videos with Dr. Carl Barrentine on the National Moth Week website or YouTube. His very informative and fun videos guide participants through how to set up a mothing station in the backyard, or elsewhere, and how to go about photographing or collecting moths. Barrentine, who lives in Spokane, Washington, has found over 500 species of moths in his backyard!

“Once a person gets looking, there are a lot of moths in their backyard,” said Barrentine in a video he did for Moth Week 2022.

Night-flying moths are attracted to porch lights, black lights, or more intense mercury vapor lights. Hang an old white sheet near these lights (best to have the light pointed at the sheet) and patiently wait for the moths to land. Then, it’s lights, camera, action!

Barrentine recommends a digital camera or good phone camera for close-up photos of the moths that land on the sheet. Include a small flashlight to provide extra lighting which helps reduce some of the shadows and makes sure the moth is well lit and clear to view. You can then upload the images to one of several different apps such as iNaturalist, PNW Moths, or Project

If you don’t have a way to hang a sheet in the yard, but do have a tree or board, use some of Dave’s not-so-secret moth bait to attract these creatures. The recipe calls for mashed overripe bananas mixed with a little brown sugar or syrup and a bit of beer or wine (parental involvement recommended!) and let the mixture ferment for a couple of days before spreading it on a tree or board about an hour before dusk.

You could even create your own DIY Moth Trap which live-traps moths and allows for looking at moths the following day in the daylight before releasing them.

Even if you’re not watching moths for science, they are charismatic creatures. “There’s nothing better than a glass of wine on a cool summer evening waiting for the desert primrose, Oenothera caespitosa, to bloom, only to be rewarded by a visit from the sphinx moth,” said Yvonne Babb, owner of Your Garden Companion. “Life is richer when our yards are rich with native plants.” And pollinators.

The High Desert Museum has an exhibit to educate visitors about critters in the night. “Our Forest at Night experience, a long-term installation that’s inside The Changing Forest building, explores the adaptations of animals and plants that rely on darkness and includes a white-lined sphinx moth,” said Heidi Hagemeier, HDM’s director of communications and visitor experience.

National Moth Week participants can register their private or public events on the organization’s website. Maybe consider hosting some friends or neighbors to get to know these cool creatures that cruise our neighborhoods at night and let #National Moth Week shine a little light on them.

DamianFagan

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ancient beekeepers in Anatolia carved hives directly into rock faces, coaxing honey from the cliffs. This practice was designed to protect bees from harsh weather and predators while maximizing honey production. The bees adapted well to their unusual homes. I suspect, Cancerian, that in the coming weeks, your sweetness and bounty may also thrive in unlikely structures. It could take a minute or two for you to adjust, but that won’t be a problem. Your nectar-making instincts will guide you. So I advise you not to wait for the perfect container before beginning your work. Make honey in the best available setting.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I laughed until I sobbed as you earnestly played the game of love even after the rules had changed. I sighed till I panted as you dredged up a new problem to avoid fixing an overripe hassle. I rolled my eyes until I got dizzy as you tried to figure out the differences between stifling self-control and emancipating self-control. But all that's in the past, right, Leo? Now I'm preparing to cheer until my voice is raspy as you trade in a dried-up old obsession in favor of a sweet, fresh, productive passion—and outgrow all the fruitless nuisances.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The ancient scribes of Mesopotamia etched records onto clay tablets with styluses, pressing wedgeshaped marks into wet earth. Once baked, these tablets endured for thousands of years. Some are still readable today. In my astrological assessment, Virgo, you are undergoing a metaphorically comparable process. Messages and expressions that are forming within you are meant to last. They may not win you immediate attention and applause. But you already suspect how crucial they will be to both your own future and the destinies of those you care for. Be bold, decisive, and precise as you choose your words.

just one of your faculties. They must all be engaged and working together to get the full story. You are wise to survey the world with your whole being. Keep these meditations in mind during the coming weeks, Capricorn. Your natural inclination is to be practical, take action, and get things done. But for now, your main superpower will be listening to everything. So my advice is to listen with your skin. Listen with your breath. Listen with your gut. Let your attention be so complete that the world softens and speaks to you about what you really need to know.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you would like to glide into rapt alignment with astrological rhythms, give gifts to your two closest allies. These offerings should inspire their ambitions, not indulge their cravings to be comfortable. They shouldn't be practical necessities or consumer fetishes, but rather provocative tools or adult toys. Ideally, they will be imaginative boons that your beloved companions have been shy about asking for or intriguing prods that will help beautify their self-image. Show them you love both the person they are now and the person they are becoming.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Is there any aspect of your life or character that is still unripe even though it is critical to your life-long journey? Have you held on to your amateur status or remained a bit dilettantish beyond the time when you might have progressed to the next highest level? Are you still a casual dabbler in a field where you could ultimately become masterful? If you answered yes to these queries, now is a perfect moment to kick yourself in the butt and leap to the next level. Waiting around for fate to kick your butt would be a mistake.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Many astrologers rightfully say that Virgo is the most detail-oriented, meticulous sign. I think you Scorpios may be the most methodical and thorough of all the signs, which means that you, too, can be meticulous and detail-oriented. A prime example is the Scorpio sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840–1917). Eventually, his work became world-renowned, but his career developed gradually because of his painstaking patience and scrupulous devotion to excellence. I propose we make him your role model for now. Inspired by him, resist pressure for immediate results. Trust in the slow, steady refinement process.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Here are half of your words of power for the coming days: windfall, godsend, and boon. The other half are potion, remedy, and healing agent. If you’re lucky, and I think you will be, those terms will blend and overlap. The blessings that come your way will be in the form of cures and fixes. I’m being understated here so as to not sound too wildly excited about your immediate future. But I suspect you will wrangle at least one amazing victory over hardship. Your chances of a semi-miraculous visitation by a benevolent intervention are as high as they have ever been.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The ancient Chinese character for “listening” contains symbols for ears, eyes, and heart. I interpret this to signify that it’s not enough to seek the truth with

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean photographer Ansel Adams is so renowned that he’s in the International Photography Hall of Fame. We know the moment that his lifelong passion erupted. At age 14, his family gave him a simple camera and took him to Yosemite National Park in California. “The splendor of Yosemite burst upon us, and it was glorious,” he wrote later. “One wonder after another descended upon us. A new era began for me." In the coming months, I foresee you encountering a comparable turning point, Pisces—a magical interlude awakening you to a marvel that will become an enduring presence in your life. Be alert for it. Better yet, declare your intention to shape events to ensure it happens and you’re ready for it.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): For the Dagara people of Burkina Faso, the element of fire has profound cultural meanings. It’s a symbol of innovation and inspiration. It’s a mediator between the physical and spiritual worlds and a conduit for communication with the ancestors. Through rituals, fire is a purifying and renewing force that helps people reconnect with their purpose, heal relationships, and catalyze positive change in the community. In the coming weeks, Aries, I hope you will be deeply aligned with all these symbolic meanings. What are you ready to ignite for the sake of nurturing and care? What truths need light and heat? What future visions would benefit from surges of luminosity?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the Nahuatl language spoken by Indigenous Mexicans, the word nepantla describes an in-between space. It's a liminal threshold where a transition is in process. The old ways have fallen away, but the new ways are not yet fully formed. It's unsettling and perhaps confusing, yet seeded with the potential for creative change. I suspect you are now in a state resembling nepantla, Taurus. Please understand that this isn’t a crisis. It’s a chrysalis. Any discomfort you feel is not a sign of failure, but a harbinger of the wisdom and power that will come by molting the identity you have outgrown. I hope you will honor the rawness and speak tenderly to yourself. You are not lost; you are mid-ritual.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The sea slug Elysia chlorotica is a small, unassuming creature that performs a remarkable feat: It eats algae and steals its chloroplasts, then incorporates them into its own body. For weeks afterward, the slug photosynthesizes sunlight like a plant. I believe, Gemini, that you are doing a metaphorical version of this biological borrowing. Some useful influence or presence you have absorbed from another is integrating into your deeper systems. You’re making it your own now. This isn’t theft, but creative borrowing. You’re not copying; you’re synthesizing and synergizing.

Formerly Esta Bien!

45.  Jamaican dialect

48.  Benny's home

49.  Virginia area whose county seat is Leesburg

52.  Ancient Greek poet

53.  Neither rep. nor dem.

54.  Thing baked in a Dutch oven

55.  Lieut's inferior

58.  Smallest non-trivial cube

62.  One in a 43-Down

65.  "Whatever suits!" ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzles' theme

67.  Capture, via fishing

68.  Painter Bonheur

69.  Unwieldy group

70.  Express forcefully

71.  No great shakes

72.  Lines on a map: Abbr.

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of July 14, 2025 Difficulty

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

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: "Twenty years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Cash, no Hope and no Jobs. Please don't let die."

- Bill Murray

Answer for the week of July 7, 2025

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

DOWN

1.  "Boo'd Up" singer ___ Mai

2.  Satisfactory

3.  Moody

4.  Encode with metadata, as a digital photo

5.  Part of Bradley's address

6.  Time in some ads

7.  Spiciness

8.  Doo-wop syllable

9.  Fish in the River Thames

10.  Language spoken in India

11.  "They're onto us!"

12.  Nigerian capital

13.  Bleating females

18.  Childish denial

22.  Encloses

25.  TikTokker's prop

27.  Commotion

28.  Off the shelf?

29.  Leave at the altar

30.  "A Day Without Rain" singer

31.  Business branches

32.  2019 NBA champs

33.  Pear type

37.  Hit hard, as with water balloons

38.  Without siblings

40.  Tater

43.  Location of many busts?

46.  Toothpaste tube letters

47.  Poli ___

50.  Kept for reference

51.  At some point

52.  Minute openings

54.  Eric Trump's wife

56.  Sandwich with tzatziki

57.  Grabbed

59.  Places where some rooms are spinning

60.  Total riot

61.  Washing up spots

63.  Title given to Ridley Scott

64.  Detonating letters

66.  Nat. with the most Nobel laureates

C T S O P R U M

"I am summer, come to lure you away from your computer… come dance on my fresh grass, dig your toes into my beaches."

"I am summer, come to lure you away from your computer… come dance on my fresh grass, dig your toes into my beaches."

Oriana Green

Oriana Green

THE MEDICINE CABINET WITHIN

HOLISTIC MEDICINE AND YOUR POWER TO BE WELL

By Joshua Phillips

Cardiovascular Health: Mind and Body

For over a hundred years heart disease has consistently been the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2023, it accounted for approximately 22% of all American deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The reasons for this are complex, on one hand having to do with the fact that other endemic chronic health conditions like diabetes, obesity and hypertension all contribute to the development of heart disease. Smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet are also big contributors to heart attack and stroke. High rates of depression and anxiety, which lend to a smoldering state of physiologic stress contribute greatly to the biological conditions that create an unhealthy heart. For these reasons there are many inroads and opportunities beyond diet and drugs to keep our heart and cardiovascular systems healthy.

I talk regularly with patients about individualized approaches to addressing existing cardiovascular disease and how to take thorough holistic steps to prevent it. Cholesterol levels on lab reports are often one of the big initial concerns and the discussion of whether to take a prescription statin medication is a typical starting point. LDL cholesterol (often called bad cholesterol) has become the topic of some controversy in academic circles, but with little doubt does contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (one of the main drivers of heart disease). We also know that having proportionally higher levels of HDL (the good cholesterol) is protective and lowers the risk of plaquing in arteries. Focusing on cholesterol levels alone, however, neglects other important variables that can be addressed for improving cardiovascular health.

Inflammation levels also an important variable that can be a driver for heart disease and therefore should always be considered as part of the cardiovascular health conversation. Lab testing now allows us to look deeper at important markers that can help paint a fuller picture, beyond cholesterol alone, to understand cardiovascular disease risk and the status of active heart disease. Markers like hs-CRP, LP PLA2, Apo-B, and lipoprotein(a) can help us understand levels of cardiovascular inflammation more completely, as well as genetic influence on the cardiovascular system that may be contributing to a risk for heart disease.

In the realm of cholesterol, triglyceride levels and cardiovascular

inflammation, there are a plethora of holistic interventions that have huge impacts on treating and preventing heart disease. Health, or lack thereof, of the digestive system is a big deal when it comes to inflammation and therefore is also a priority when addressing heart health. Figuring out a dietary routine that does not inflame the gut is very important, and addressing any underlying disease state of the GI tract is crucial. Dietary choices are obviously very important for supporting a healthy balance of HDL and LDL cholesterol and it’s best to create an individualized plan that really works for your metabolic type, rather than following the latest trending diets. There are also a multitude of herbal and nutritional formulas that will help balance cholesterol levels, as well as address existing inflammation. As previously mentioned, addressing other contributing chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity must be considered priorities in keep ing our hearts healthy.

Because medicine has such diag nostic prowess with an endless array of tests that can be run, the realm of biochemistry and physiology often becomes the sole focus in address ing heart disease. Unfortunately, this approach alone neglects the fact that we are also deeply feeling, thinking and spiritual creatures, and these aspects of who and how we are greatly influ ence all the previously mentioned vari ables of physiology and cardiovascular health. It is not happenstance that phrases like “following our hearts," experiencing “heartache” or “having a broken heart” are so deeply rooted in our cultural lexicon. Stress, anxi ety and depression raise cortisol levels and contribute to other hormonal and metabolic imbalances that have been proven to contribute to heart disease. Conversely, creating routines and practices in our lives that help us lean into the genuine experience of joy and contentment will invariably support our cardiovascular health. Ensuring we create time for rest, reflection and gratitude for all that is good in our lives, along with taking good care of our bodies, is undoubtedly a recipe for keeping our hearts vital and healthy in every way.

SMALL PRACTICE. BIG ON CARE .

New Patients, ages 13 and up

Longer appointment times

Acute visits (illness and infections, UTI, minor injuries, rashes)

Women's health and hormone replacement

Same day appointments available (including new patient acute visits)

Ask about our alternative payment models - time of service payments and direct primary care

— Joshua Phillips, ND is a naturopathic physician and the director at Hawthorn Healing Arts Center in Bend. He can be reached at docnaturecure@gmail. com with questions or comment.

ALEXANDRIA GIENTKE, AGNP

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

TAKE ME HOME

By Jamie Sinclair, Broker REMAX Key Properties

Building an Off-Grid Home

Lessons from Central Oregon

The dream of building an off-grid home has captured the imaginations of many people, promising independence, sustainability, and a deeper connection to nature. But if there’s one truth we’ve learned firsthand from building our off-grid home in Central Oregon, it’s this: it’s a rewarding journey, but far from simple, and almost always more expensive and complex than you plan.

Water: Deep wells and cistern systems

Our first major hurdle was water. Unlike areas where shallow wells or abundant rainfall make water access simple, our little slice of Central Oregon required drilling a deep well. To ensure minimal use of our pump in the well, we installed cisterns to store roughly a three-month supply of water. Managing water became an ongoing priority, from protecting pipes against freezing, to carefully monitoring usage to be more mindful of our water consumption.

Power: Solar is great — until the sun disappears

Many off-grid guides highlight solar power as the backbone of energy independence, and that’s true in theory. We installed a portion of our robust solar array paired with a battery bank and inverter. While we were building, we had to ground mount our panels, and most days it works beautifully. However, Central Oregon’s winters bring long stretches of cloudy days & snow covering the panels. That’s where our generator became essential. Running it during extended bad weather kept the batteries topped off and ensured we had power for the absolute essentials. However, our generator runs on propane and the cost is more than we would ideally like for those days.

Budget: Always expect higher costs

If we could pass on one piece of advice, it would be this: plan for your costs to be 10–30% higher than any estimate. Whether it was unexpected cistern issues, trenching for water lines, excavation running into a rock shelf, or simply just flat out missing something like the cost of paint, we routinely found expenses climbing beyond what we budgeted. Building off-grid means building everything from scratch, there’s no utility company to hook into for water or power, so all those systems come out of your pocket.

Resilience and mindset shifts

Living off-grid has changed how we approach everyday life. We watch the weather forecast not just for weekend plans but to predict our energy outlook. Sunny week ahead? Great, we can do laundry and run tools. Cloudy stretch? Time to conserve. Our lifestyle is more mindful and tuned to natural rhythms, and while that requires trade-offs, it also brings deep satisfaction.

Would we do it again? Absolutely — with better prep

Despite the surprises and extra costs, building off-grid has been worth it. We love the independence, the quiet, and knowing we can sustain ourselves without being tied to the grid. For anyone considering this path, we’d say: do thorough research, build redundancy into your systems (solar plus generator), and always pad your budget. Most importantly, embrace the learning curve, it’s all part of creating a life truly your own.