the Source February 19, 2026

FINES UNPAID

THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, BUT LOCALLY, THE STATE IS STILL WORKING TO COLLECT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN SAFETY VIOLATIONS

EDITOR’S NOTE:

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On the Cover: "Heads in the Sky" by Daria Tessler. Through screen printing, illustration and graphic novels, Daria Tessler creates scenes where the familiar and the mysterious combine to suggest stories rooted in folklore and mythology that invite the viewer in to engage with all of the many narrative possibilities. Tessler's hand pulled silkscreen prints include up to 15 transparent layers of archival ink to create detail and a rich palette and sometimes include mixed media elements such as airbrush or cyanotype.

Visit her instagram @animalsleepstories, or website at animalsleepstories.com

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Hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines that OSHA levied years ago during the pandemic at local businesses refusing to follow state mandated rules, remain unpaid as they wind their way through an appeal process. Peter Madsen investigates. Plus, several local breweries and a cider company are joining forces. Brian Yaeger explains which brewmasters are involved and why. Also, a few new restaurants are opening as well as a new tea lounge. And it’s my favorite time of year, Pizza Week! Unique pies by more than a dozen participating restaurants are on sale from Feb. 19-25. So, get ready to melt into cheesy, gooey, goodness. —Managing Editor Nic Moye

LIGHTMETER:

PRESENTED BY HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS

"Our generation feels helpless right now, we wanted to participate in something bigger than ourselves," said Laney M., pictured with a "Make America Respected Again" sign at the Feb. 13 student protest at Bend’s Peace Corner. She said the current administration could learn a thing or two from grade schoolers about the Golden Rule: "These things we were taught in kindergarten shouldn't stop when you're an adult."

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Kayvon Bumpus

TOWN HALL

OPINION

Teachers As the Arbiters of a Massive New Technological Advance? If This Sounds Familiar, It’s Because It Is.

Right now, an active group of BendLa Pine Schools parents, educators and educational experts are pressing the district to slow its roll on using artificial intelligence tools with students in the classroom. BLPS adopted a policy around AI last year, which outlines a few points on how teachers may use AI with students, but it’s lacking in detail and puts the onus on the teacher to develop rules and communicate expectations to students.

If this notion of having educators be the standard-bearers for a technology that has massive potential for disruption in the classroom seems eerily familiar, it’s because we’ve been here before.

It was not so very long ago that a movement arose to ban cell phone use during the school day in local schools. Many teachers advocated for a statewide policy that would help them enforce the rules and alleviate the issue of rules being enforced in one classroom and not another. Resolution came in the form of a governor’s executive order, banning widespread phone access during the school day.

Chat GPT was released just three years ago, and things moved fast. During the 2024-25 school year, 85% of teachers and 86% of students reported using AI, according to an October report released by the Center for Democracy and Technology.

That report outlines the heightened risks for students, including tech-enabled sexual harassment and bullying, AI systems that don’t work as intended, data breaches and ransomware attacks and “troubling interactions between students and technology.”

Another study published by The Brookings Institution in January found that at this point, “the risks of utilizing generative AI in children’s education overshadow its benefits.” That global study involved review of 400+ studies and consultations with over 500 students, parents, educators and technologists in 50 countries, finding that “AI-enriched learning” can offer benefits when part of an “overall pedagogically sound approach” — but also pointing out that “overreliance on AI tools and platforms can put children and youth’s fundamental learning capacity at risk.” Other studies have shown a potential for cognitive decline in humans due to the use of AI.

Educators meanwhile are finding benefit by using AI for admin tasks, such as grading, student records and lesson planning. In the best-case scenario, this frees them up to spend more time building relationships with students.

But when it comes to the youngest developing brains, a cautious approach should lead.

In the case of BLPS, it seems more cross-communication is also needed. As OPB recently reported, BLPS defended its use of an AI chatbot called Raina on student iPads during a recent school board meeting, even after that chatbot was retired from student use last month by the company that makes the chatbot. At the Feb. 10 meeting, the district’s technology director called its technology approach “intentional,” all while being seemingly unaware of Raina’s removal.

If that’s the “intentional” approach the district is taking, it’s no wonder people are concerned.

As was the case for the cell phone policy, perhaps this is an issue that is best moved up the chain — to the state level, where concentrated effort could be made to assess and recommend tools and processes that help keep kids safe and best equipped to make strides in learning. If that sounds a bit too much like an abandonment of local control, well, in this case, so be it. As much as some districts may be ready and willing to embrace AI and invest in richer tools for the educational space, other districts simply won’t be able to.

“As schools continue to embrace AI, it’s important that underfunded districts in marginalized communities are not left behind, allowing AI to further drive inequity,” the Brookings Institution study stated.

Uneven rollout of technologies has the potential to exacerbate the urban-rural divide we already see in Oregon schools. That divide, as has been suggested in recent reporting by the Oregon Journalism Project, may be one of the reasons for Oregon’s abysmally low graduation rates and reading scores.

“Oregon’s devotion to local control, instead of mandated statewide educational policies, has hindered reading recovery efforts that have worked elsewhere, according to some school leaders, experts, and advocates, and a review of education research,” OJP reported.

The state currently has some guidelines around the use of AI, but they have no real teeth.

As Oregonians begin to understand what’s gone wrong in the past to leave our kids so far behind their peers around the country, it’s clear we need to try something different. As that conversation gets going, it would be wise to incorporate targeted, measurable and meaningful technology policies to go along with it. A statewide consensus would help.

Letters

THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING

Please be sure you vote as it is the Voice of Democracy. It is a privilege and a Right. In Oregon we have mail-in ballots. Please use a ballot drop box. One is at Sisters City Hall. To find all ballot drop box sites go to the Deschutes County site and there is a list of ballot box sites.

To make sure you are registered to vote currently, you can go to Oregon Secretary of State site for voter registration and look under “my vote.” If you do not have internet, you can get help at any library and/or Deschutes County offices in Bend.

The U.S. Constitution begins with a 52-word introduction known as the Preamble. It starts with the words, “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

There was a reason our founders started it with those words. “We the People” signifies that the power of the government comes from its citizens, establishing the principle of self-government.

VOTE : IT IS THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

—Vikki Hickmann

GERRYMANDERING: THE OLD GUARD’S LAST STAND

Let’s get this straight. The Republican party in Deschutes County runs third in voter registration behind unaffiliated and

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Democrat voters. It lost the 2024 presidential election in the county by more than 10% — a landslide in political terms. Yet, with two party members controlling the Board of County Commissioners, it has engineered a districting map that would turn the new 5-member board into one controlled by Republicans starting in the 2028 election cycle.

How did this happen? Simple. Tony DeBone and Patti Adair strong-armed a process that put Bend, with more than half of the county’s population, into two of the five districts, leaving the other three to be manipulated into Republican-voting strongholds. They directed their hand-picked mapping committee, featuring party stalwarts Phil Henderson and Matt Cyrus, to base districts on voter registrations. From there it was easy to maneuver precincts to counterbalance blue voting areas.

Illegal? Presumably, since well-established legal precedent requires that population, not voter registration, be the basis for creating districts. Sleazy, corrupt, and undemocratic? Certainly. What we are seeing is the last attempt of a fading party to retain iron-clad control over important decisions on land use, public services, human rights — and $658 million of your tax dollars every year.

DeBone and Adair changed course and pushed the district map off until the November general election to sideline it as an election issue for them. We should not forget, though, when we see them on our May ballots.

—Mark Kelley

KIDS NEED QUALITY EDUCATION

As a longtime classroom teacher and former union leader for educators, I want to unpack the Source’s Feb. 5 piece, “Oregon’s Education Workforce Climbed While Student Enrollment Slid.”

Unfortunately, the headline is misleading, implying that schools are overstaffed. They are not. The numbers presented don’t account for the decades of prior cuts schools faced as a result of property tax reforms. Recent school investments were funneled to fill a desperate need for behavioral and mental health support at the school level, which is also critical and allows teachers to teach. But the heavy load of teachers wasn’t fixed. Now schools are facing layoffs mid-year! Our kids need both health support and quality education.

I’m running for County Commission to improve public health and safety in our region. Deschutes County has higher rates of teen suicide than Oregon or the U.S. overall. Our kids need more support, but schools can’t do it all on their own, especially with staffing cuts. As your Commissioner, I will make sure we’re investing locally in our kids, and our teachers, by providing and truly investing in our public health division so we can bring down those unacceptable rates of teen suicide. The next generation only gets one childhood. Let’s make sure we adults do right by them.

—Amy Sabbadini

THE NIGHTSHIFT... BEND HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL ON THE AIRWAVES

There’s something special going on over the airwaves in Bend lately. 88.9 KPOV— Bend’s High Desert Community Radio has a special pair of DJs bringing the latest underground music right here to our community. The Sandman and DJ Nimbex host The Nightshift every Monday night from 10pm to Midnight, and the tunes they’re playing have an immediacy and relevancy that really speaks to me. If music ever had the power to enact change, well... this is definitely that music. I highly suggest giving them a listen. I stream their shows on the KPOV app on the regular.

—Adam Gillespie

Letter of the Week:

Thanks for the tip Adam! As letter of the week, you can stop by our office at NW Georgia & Bond in Bend for a gift card to Palate coffee.

—Managing Editor Nic Moye

Record low snowpack levels

Oregon, Colorado and Utah have reported record low statewide snowpack levels according to the latest data on Feb. 2 which is tracked by the National Integrated Drought Information System. As of early February, Oregon’s statewide average snow water equivalent was at its lowest on record at 2.9 inches based on snow telemetry records going back to the early 1980s. That’s nearly 30% lower than the previous record in 2015. Across the western U.S., on Feb. 2, snow cover was 139,322 square miles which was the lowest on record since 2001. Time is running short but abundant snowfall over the next couple months could reduce impacts.

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Deschutes County Commissioners will consider declaring a countywide state of emergency and request a state declaration of a drought emergency within all of Deschutes County. The resolution states that all water sources in the county are 30% of average. As of Feb. 13, Wickiup Reservoir was 83% full. Crescent Lake is at 28% capacity. The low water levels could impact livestock, agriculture, natural resources, recreation, tourism and the economy. The US Bureau of Reclamation shows Prineville Reservoir is 58% full, Ochoco Reservoir is at 59%, Crane Prairie is 79% full and Haystack Reservoir is at 81%.

Law Enforcement Training Closes Trails

The Central Oregon Emergency Response Team and Bend Fire will conduct a training exercise on Thursday, Feb. 19 9am-6pm. SW Shevlin Hixon Road and walking trails around the amphitheater will be closed to the public. There will be about 50 law enforcement and fire officials, armored vehicles, ambulances, fire vehicles and drones. People in the area may also hear sirens and simulated gunfire. — Nic Moye

Driven to Civil Disobedience: Motorcyclist Arrested at Bend Protest Tells His Side

Kurt Greenwood acknowledges committing traffic violations during anti-ICE event, but says police overreacted

By Kayvon Bumpus

When I saw what happened to Alex Pretti… I knew that could’ve been me,” said Kurt Greenwood, a motorcyclist and independent mechanic in Bend. “If what went down in Minnesota was happening in my town, I would’ve been out there doing the exact same thing.”

Greenwood, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, feels a strong sense of solidarity with Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs hospital who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.

“Pretti worked every day to help veterans, and that’s how the U.S. government repays him?” Greenwood asked, rhetorically and scornfully, in an interview with the Source.

Initially, he wanted to attend a protest while carrying a firearm, visibly displaying his 2nd Amendment rights as a tribute to Pretti, who was lawfully carrying a handgun when he was killed. Though Pretti’s actions were protected under Minnesota law, Trump administration officials like Stephen Miller and Kash Patel have attempted to use the fact that Pretti was armed to justify his extrajudicial killing.

But Greenwood decided that an open-carry protest might send the wrong message to his fellow community members. Instead, he would express himself the way he knew best: through the roar of an engine.

An avid biker, he doesn’t need much motivation to take two wheels around town. But this time, he strapped a “F*ck Trump” flag to one of his motorcycles and decided to make a statement via his vehicle.

not pursue the motorcycle through the busy area per Department policy,” reads a Bend PD statement. Greenwood said he heard “a single chirp” from the police siren, but did not realize he was being pulled over, as the noise was not sustained. Admitting to driving without rearview mirrors, he said he could not see the police car’s flashing lights: “They say I eluded arrest, but I wasn’t aware they wanted me to pull over.”

Video footage corroborates Greenwood’s claim that the siren only chirped once.

—The number of Central Oregon businesses that still owe money for Covid-era fines.

“If the craft beer industry is a ship, we can comfortably say we’re no longer in the safety of a harbor.”

—Matt Gacioch, Brewers Association

Pretti’s death at the hands of the federal government served as a blood-red cherry on top of what Greenwood called the existing “hellscape political climate,” driving him to drive his motorbike to downtown Bend to attend a Jan. 31 Peace Corner protest. The notion that police might disapprove of his actions didn’t bother him at the time; after all, he was showing up as a motorized form of “civil disobedience,” he said.

One day earlier, Greenwood had attended a protest at the same intersection, NW Wall Street and NW Newport Avenue, blasting “Streets of Minneapolis,” a contemporary protest anthem by Bruce Springsteen, for throngs of appreciative protestors. Returning on Jan. 31, his goal was to “keep hyping the crowd up,” he said.

Cell phone footage from the event, verified by the Source, shows Greenwood slowly circling and coasting around the intersection on his bike, honking his horn, before peeling away through downtown. While his slow loops partially obstructed the roadway, cars still passed through, albeit at a more staggered rate.

The Bend Police Department has claimed, with local news reports reporting similarly, that Greenwood was “endangering protesters” by doing laps in the intersection. Video footage shows Greenwood driving slowly, with the crowd aware and jubilantly reacting to his presence. Greenwood said he repeated this “loop” process “three to five times” before Bend PD intervened.

“Officers attempted to stop the motorcycle away from the crowd, but the driver drove away at high speeds eastbound on Franklin Avenue. Officers did

“After Mr. Greenwood eluded our officers, he returned to the area,” Bend PD spokesperson Sheila Miller told the Source. “Two officers approached him on foot while he was in traffic on Wall Street, took hold of his arms and directed him to get off his motorcycle… He did not initially comply, and had previously eluded our officers. Multiple officers removed him from his bike using force in order to place him under arrest.” A police statement also says Greenwood resisted arrest while being detained on the ground. Greenwood tells it differently, saying that he was sitting in motionless downtown traffic when officers “tackled” him, damaging his bike and hurting his arm, though not severely enough to require immediate medical attention. Bend PD stated that Greenwood “sustained no injuries during the arrest.”

The mechanic spent the weekend in Deschutes County Jail before being released on his own recognizance. He currently faces three criminal charges: Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Reckless Driving and Disorderly Conduct. As of publication, the Deschutes County District Attorney has not elected to file the Resisting Arrest charge set forth by police. Greenwood also faces several traffic citations, amounting to $795 in fines.

“Would I have done anything differently?” Stopping to think for a moment, Greenwood answered his own rhetorical question. “After what happened to [Alex Pretti], just standing on a street corner wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to make myself heard, as a veteran and as a community member… I want to feel like the Bend community would stand up and do something real like Pretti did, and I’m not sure if we would.”

The Source made a public records request for bodycam footage of the incident. Bend PD denied this request, stating that the open case is “not releasable at this time.”

This motorcycle, sporting an anti-Trump flag, was driven around downtown Bend during a Jan. 31 protest.

Kayvon Bumpus

A Natural Gas Installation Fee Could Be Coming to Bend Next Year

The City Council is considering a one-time payment, subject to reductions and exemptions

By Kayvon Bumpus

The City of Bend is reviewing a policy proposal that would add a scaled fee to the installation of natural gas equipment in residential homes, with the intent being to encourage electrification and reduce negative impacts of fossil fuel emissions.

The fee proposal has drawn some attention; on Feb. 11, a City Council work session discussing “Electrification Policy Process Fee Options” attracted a sizable audience. While work sessions do not allow for public comment, a prior Council meeting saw close to an hour of remarks about the policy.

In 2025, Bend city officials got the idea of electrification policy from Southern Oregon, where the City of Ashland became the first in the state “to impose a fee on new natural gas hookups,” Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Ashland’s ordinance officially took effect this year.

Carbon calculations

In work sessions since last summer, the city manager’s office has hammered out a vision of what similar policy in Bend would look like, working with energy consulting firm BrightLine Group. The result, while still subject to change, can best be interpreted through a math equation applied to any natural gas appliance: “Social Cost x Carbon Produced x Life of Equipment x Tier Factor = Fee Amount.”

Per the City Council, a discount would then be applied to that result. With a discount of 50 to 80%, installing a gas furnace as part of an HVAC system in an average-sized Bend home would result in a final fee from $1,800 to $4,500.

Understanding the fee means defining the equation’s variables. The “Social Cost of Carbon” is a dollar value based on the social and environmental damages estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency — under the Obama and Biden administrations — to be caused by one metric ton of CO2.

The EPA lists a range of “potential values” based on discounts and future valuation; BrightLine and the City of Bend landed on the “central value” of $215, a middle-ground option also used in Ashland.

“Carbon Produced” is a measurement of an appliance’s annual carbon emissions. As Central Oregon’s power grid is not fully renewable, even fully electric devices can be responsible for carbon emissions. The proposal subtracts “electric carbon produced” from “gas carbon produced” to find a gas-specific value of emissions, multiplied by

“Life of Equipment” (an appliance’s estimated service life) to get “Net Lifetime Carbon Produced.”

Finally, “Tier Factor” relates to the size of a home, with BrightLine proposing multiple scaled tiers based on square footage.

In December, BrightLine provided an early example of what the proposal could translate to. If a developer of a house with a square footage of 2,300 — an approximate citywide average that would land in “Tier 2” of three currently proposed tiers — wanted to install a gas furnace with a 15-year lifespan that annually emits 2.95 metric tons of carbon, that equation would result in a one-time fee around $9,000, excluding any discounts that the City Council agreed would apply.

A less emissions-heavy appliance, like a water heater, would generate a much lighter tentative fee, estimated by BrightLine to be around $2,000 without discounts.

Lighting the way

After deliberation on Feb. 11, the City Council decided to cut things down.

“That formula coughs out to a fairly big and scary number,” Councilor Steve Platt told the Source. “The Council landed on a much smaller amount.”

A proposed “Low Fee” would be just 20% of the result of fee calculations, while a “Reduced Fee” would halve it.

Platt mentioned the Clean Energy Targets bill, a 2021 piece of state legislation that requires Oregon’s major electricity providers to reduce greenhouse emissions significantly by 2030 and entirely by 2040. “Even if those goals aren’t met, we’ll get to that clean future eventually,” he said. “So right now, let’s work on electrification locally to benefit our community in the long-term. Things will get cleaner and cleaner over time by implementing this kind of fee.”

“The longer it takes us to reduce emissions, and especially to reduce our use of fossil fuel, the more likely we’re going to have worst-case scenarios in the future.”

—Councilor Mike Riley

A study from the Energy Trust of Oregon shows that, from 2021 to 2023, 86% of newly constructed homes in Bend were installed with natural gas heating; gas furnaces made up 63% of that figure.

“We need to be really thinking about the impacts of climate change,” Councilor Mike Riley said at last week’s work session. “The longer it takes us to reduce emissions, and especially to reduce our use of fossil fuel, the more likely we’re going to have worst-case scenarios in the future.”

Other council members weren’t fully on board.

“It kind of seems like we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul,” said Councilor Gina Franzosa, questioning the fee’s “practicality” and pointing out that local energy providers still burn fossil fuels to produce electricity. Councilor Megan Norris, a planning manager for Hayden Homes, has recused herself from future voting on the issue.

Platt would like to see this policy in place by the spring or summer of 2027, but steps still need to be taken to finalize its details. Part of that process means seeking input from Bend residents, he said.

“Public engagement is something I’m committed to and I think the rest of the Council is as well,” Platt said. “We want a committee that decides where this revenue goes. Is it to help electrify homes, is it a broader community fund for making homes less power-hungry?”

Some controversy regarding the fee proposal has been stirred by a petition from NW Coalition for Energy Choice, an organization that advocates primarily in Oregon against restrictions and

fees on gas usage. The lobbying group is a tax-exempt 501(c)4, which means, unlike charitable 501(c)3 nonprofits, it’s legally allowed to promote political causes as long as “social welfare” remains its primary mission.

Tax filings reviewed by the Source show that board members of NW Coalition for Energy Choice have close ties with the fossil fuel industry in the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Northwest Gas Association, a business collective that calls itself “the regional voice of the PNW gas industry.” NW Coalition for Energy Choice does not outwardly disclose these direct industry ties on its website or in its messaging.

“The Bend City Council is advancing discussions on restricting natural gas and adding taxes in new residential construction — a decision that could drive up housing costs and threaten energy reliability for local families,” the lobbying group stated in campaign messaging. “Every fee, tax, restriction, mandate or regulatory barrier makes our housing affordability crisis worse. Electrification demonstrably increases the cost of home construction, and this tax won’t achieve carbon reductions in Bend.”

On Feb. 18, the Council will vote on a motion to approve the policy’s basic framework — a first step in advancing the fee. Platt said that a work session on April 22 will serve as a “check-in” on the plan, ironing out details like, “Who gets exemptions?” and “What kind of exemptions are there?”

Gas stoves produce a small amount of emissions relative to a gas-powered HVAC system, but would still be subject to a proposed fee.

Kwon Junho

Over $5.3 Million in Federal Funds Secured for Deschutes County, Senators Announce

IBy Kayvon Bumpus

n a joint press release, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden stated that they have secured “more than $92 million” for Oregon as part of funding legislation recently passed by congressional appropriations committees.

Over $7.1 million will go to projects in Deschutes and Jefferson counties, with the former receiving a majority of that sum.

The money comes as a part of Fiscal Year 2026 funding bills drawn up by House and Senate Appropriations Committees and approved by Congress at large.

Appropriations bills passed by Congress fund “Financial Services and General Government,” “Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies,” “Transportation, Housing and Urban Development,” and more. Those three bills combined allow for more than $300 billion in federal “discretionary funding,” per the Senate Appropriations Committee.

A bill that hasn’t passed is the FY26 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which, as the name suggests, would fund the Department of Homeland Security. Violent conduct by DHS agencies nationwide has led to all Senate Democrats, except for Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, opposing the bill, which requires 60 votes to pass.

Republicans, who control 53 Senate seats, argue that Democrats blocking the bill will cause a partial government shutdown without achieving their goal of hampering Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Last year’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed through a slim Republican congressional majority, showered billions on ICE in a major departure from the standard federal funding process.

Federal dollars, local projects

Of the roughly $7.1 million in appropriations funding that will go to Central Oregon, approximately $5.3 has been allotted to projects in Deschutes County.

This includes a $2 million allocation to the City of Redmond to help fund Cinder Hollow, a 30-unit

affordable housing project designed by Bend nonprofit RootedHomes. Cinder Hollow will sit on 5 acres of land west of the Redmond Memorial Cemetery. According to the senators’ press release, federal funds will be used for “pre-development infrastructure, including sewer collection, water service, fire hydrants, and sidewalks.”

“The Cinder Hollow project will be significant as it will provide affordable housing opportunities for those who cannot currently access the housing market,” said Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch.

Deschutes County will receive $1.3 million to help fund the establishment of a child psychiatric treatment center — the first such facility east of the I-5 corridor. Other funding from the state government and Central Oregon Health Council totals nearly $7 million. Construction is projected to begin in 2027; the facility is planned to be located in Redmond.

One million in funding will go to Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity’s Westcliff Homes affordable housing project in Redmond. Planned as a mix of small homes and townhouses, Westcliff Homes will give 60 families a chance to “put down roots, build equity, and thrive in the community they love,” said Carly Colgan, CEO of Bend-Redmond HH.

Central Oregon Community College will make use of $800,000 to equip and expand its Fire Science program, which trains urban and wildland firefighters.

Finally, the City of Redmond will receive $250,000 to fund its Signal and Pedestrian Safety Improvements project. That money will go toward a new traffic signal, pedestrian and bicycle crossings and improved disabled access at the west Redmond intersection of McKenzie Highway and SW 35th Street.

On Feb. 9, Merkley, Wyden and Rep. Janelle Bynum touted a separate $3.8 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding for the Redmond Municipal Airport’s planned expansion. “I will continue pushing for more vital resources that promote growth and quality of life in rural communities across Oregon,” Wyden stated.

DOGS RESCUE ADOPTION EVENT

TELL YOUR DOG I SAID HI

Herding Dog Rescue of Central Oregon will bring several dogs looking for homes. Maybe one of them will make your heart happy! Foster and adopt! 11am-2pm at Local Paws, 435 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Contact: 458-292-8362. Herdingdogrescue@gmail.com.

PREP YOUR PANTRY

Learn to turn fresh produce into shelf-stable pantry staples. This beginner-friendly demo covers water bath and pressure canning with step-bystep guidance for fruits, sauces and more. Perfect for refreshers, too, and you’ll get access to a custom AI tool, The Canning Companion. 5:30-8:30pm at OSU Extension Redmond, 3800 SE Airport Way Bldg. 4, Redmond. Contact: 650-224-6750. info@ schoolofranch.org. $90.

Most people agree that the restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic were a drag. Wearing facial coverings, social distancing and not hanging indoors with others were disruptive necessities in curbing the spread of the virus, which ultimately killed about 1.2 million Americans. Like elsewhere in the state, some Central Oregon businesses were slow in adopting then-Gov. Kate Brown’s mandated Covid restrictions, resulting in nearly 30 establishments, mostly restaurants, being cited and fined for non-compliance by Oregon Occupational Safety and Health, the agency tasked with enforcing the state’s workplace safety and health rules.

In half of those instances in Central Oregon, OSHA handed down fines averaging around $300 for certain protocols not being followed. OSHA worked with operators to comply, and virtually all those minor citations were paid. Statewide, 73% of employers cited for Covid restriction violations never appealed, according to OSHA.

OSHA levied larger fines, however, at Central Oregon establishments that demonstrated “willful” disregard of these restrictions. These fines total more than $197,000 and have not been collected from eight Central Oregon businesses, according to OSHA records the Source requested and reviewed. In the instance of most outstanding debts, appeals are moving slowly through a backlogged system, while others have funneled through and into collections.

Nearly five years in, OSHA still hasn’t received debts from establishments in Crook and Deschutes counties whose violations the agency found intentional. In Redmond, those places are Full-Body Fitness a.k.a. Redmond Athletic Club ($17,800), Mehan & Sons ($9,440), Mo’s Egg House ($26,700), We’re the Wurst ($135) and Sno Cap Drive In #2 ($347 remain unpaid on $8,900); in Sisters, Cork Cellars Wine & Bistro ($17,800); and in Bend, Kevista Coffee, which operated in the city until summer 2025. The coffee shop Fox & Fern has taken over Kevista’s space, retaining some of the same management, according to a Fox & Fern social media post featuring Kevista owners Kevin and Krista Lauinger.

Throughout the Covid pandemic, willful restriction violations such as those were rare, says Aaron Corvin, an Oregon OSHA spokesman.

“Given the nature of a willful violation — which occurs when an employer shows plain indifference to the Oregon Safe Employment Act’s requirements to protect workers — it is not surprising that some

Five Years On, Oregon Still Struggles to Collect Some Pandemic-Era Fines

Eight Central Oregon businesses collectively still owe nearly $200,000 for Covid restriction violations

By Peter Madsen

employers have chosen to continue to contest their citations,” Corvin wrote in an email.

The Safe Employment Act, enacted in 1973, ensures a lot of things, yet the crucial component here is its mandate that employers maintain a safe place of employment and comply with safety and health orders, decisions and rules.

In the instance of each appeal, of which 15 were filed by Central Oregon establishments, the case was transferred before an administrative law judge of the Workers’ Compensation Board, and, in the instance of Mehan & Sons and Mo’s Egg House, a subsequent appeal was then transferred to the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Kevista Coffee, whose holding company is Laui Life Coffee, Inc., also appealed each of its three fines, which total $116,470 for violations that include willfully letting customers sit inside and not enforcing facial coverings for employees and customers. Kevista’s fines are the second-highest levied at any Oregon business, according to OSHA records. Salem’s Courthouse Club Fitness was fined $126,749 in January 2021. As with Courthouse Club, the fines’ severity owes to the Lauingers’ repeated refusal to comply with Covid restrictions, as demonstrated by OSHA documents and the statements against Covid restrictions the Lauingers made on a political podcast and during interviews with OSHA inspectors.

Those appeals are now before the Workers’ Compensation Board. OSHA wasn’t able to ballpark a timeframe for the resolution of Kevista’s contested cases, nor those of other establishments.

When an employer requests an appeal, they may choose to have an informal conference, which is the chance to discuss the OSHA inspection that led to the citation, share their thoughts and potentially offer new information, Corvin said. Appealed citations are often settled at this stage. If a settlement isn’t reached, then the case may go before an administrative law judge at the WCB.

“It’s important to note that, regardless of whether an appeal is filed, Oregon OSHA requires employers to correct serious violations of workplace safety and health requirement,” Corvin said. “Our civil penalties serve both as a tool of deterrence and to move employers into compliance — but they are not our only tool. Our work is rooted in prevention; we don’t give advance notice of inspections, and we require employers to address hazards.”

The cost of Covid appeals

Oregon OSHA can’t quantify the hours and money spent as these cases have wound their way through the appellate process, Corvin said. Yet he reinforced the point: these appeals aren’t costing taxpayers money directly, because OSHA isn’t funded by the Oregon’s general fund. The agency’s resources come from the Premium Assessment Operating Account, along with other parts of the workers’ compensation system. The PAOA is the worker’s compensation premium assessment, which employers pay to their insurer for workers’ compensation coverage, according to OSHA.

“Penalty collections make up a small part of PAOA revenues,” Mark Peterson, the public information and communications director for the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services wrote in an email. He added that litigation costs, however, are budgeted. “As cases resolve themselves, the same amount of resources are applied to the next cases. Covid cases don’t change Oregon OSHA’s budget.”

And OSHA says the resources spent to enforce these fines won’t make employers’ premiums go up. According to a report by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, on average, state employers will pay less for workers’ compensation coverage in 2026. The downtick in costs marks 13 years of average decreases in the pure premium rate — the base rate insurers use to determine the amount employers have to pay for medical costs and lost wages, according to the agency.

Peter Madsen

Oregon OSHA is a part of the state’s workers’ compensation system that also includes the Workers’ Compensation Division and the Workers’ Compensation Board, which handles disputes over Oregon’s workers’ compensation and workplace safety laws — particularly the violations related to Covid restrictions.

OSHA’s backlog of appeals is unique to the Covid pandemic. Prior, appeals were resolved within several months, often before the formal litigation process. The pandemic put a wrench in that process, Corvin says.

A

“

peaceful protest ”

In March 2021, in the middle of the Covid-19 lockdown, word had spread about the “peaceful protest” that two owners of a westside Bend coffee shop had enacted in the face of the “overreach” of Brown’s mandated Covid restrictions.

By that time, Kevin and Krista Lauinger, the married owners of Kevista Coffee — a portmanteau of their first names — had racked up not just notoriety and a business advantage in letting patrons sit indoors without wearing facial coverings, but $36,370 in fines stemming from two Covid restriction violations from the state.

But while the Lauingers publicized their protest, they had already been approved for a $32,185 loan by the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, on April 29, 2020. In his application, Kevin Lauinger specified that the loan would go toward payroll expenses, according to ProPublica’s database of all PPP loan recipients. The PPP was created by the federal government to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in financial support to banks to make low-interest loans to companies and nonprofit organizations in response to the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a sign taped to the front door of Kevista in March 2021, the owners wrote that they “must stay open to support our employees and their families, our business and community.”

On June 20, 2021, the business’ loan was forgiven to the amount of $32,560, allowing for accrued interest. It’s not immediately clear if PPP recipients who remained open during lockdown would incur any legal or financial penalties, yet a U.S. Small Business hotline exists to report fraud.

Of the nearly 116,000 PPP recipients in Oregon, Kevista Coffee was one of 101,415 that received amounts less than $150,000, according to the ProPublica database. Some loans ranged between $5 and $10 million, of which there were 48 in Oregon. All told, these PPP loans in Oregon totaled more than $10 billion. More than 87% of the funds (about $1.2 billion), remained unforgiven as of early 2022, according to reporting by The Oregonian.

“During the inspection, the owners of Kevista said they chose to re-open the coffee shop even though they were aware that it went against workplace health requirements.” —OSHA Inspector

Bend’s Black Bear Diner (whose holding company is Bucc N Dulge) received two PPP loans, totaling $792,285. Those loans were forgiven in February and November of 2021. Yet in April 2021, OSHA fined Black Bear Diner in Bend for willfully failing to follow prohibition of on-site consumption of food and drink and for failure to implement a safety committee. Black Bear Diner appealed the first citation, which resulted in a settlement of $8,900; the safety committee violation wasn’t appealed. Black Bear Diner made good on its fine.

Other Central Oregon establishments that still have outstanding OSHA fines received forgiveness on their PPP loans, including Full Body Fitness ($35,000, forgiven May 2021), and Richi’s Place ($12,407, forgiven June 2021).

Bad timing — for anyone

The Lauingers opened Kevista on Jan. 17, 2020, just as Covid-19 was becoming a global pandemic. In Oregon, Brown mandated facial coverings in July of that year.

That same month, after an unannounced inspection, OSHA fined Kevista Coffee $8,900 for “willfully failing to implement face coverings per sector-specific guidance for bars and restaurants,” according to a report provided by OSHA.

Later, in December, Kevista Coffee began allowing indoor dining — about eight months into lockdown, according to OSHA. That happened during the same time that the state’s risk protection framework placed Deschutes County in the “Extreme Risk” category, which prohibited indoor dining in order to help slow the spread of Covid-19, the Source reported.

Yet Kevista remained open, unfettered by state mandates requiring facial coverings, health hazard controls and reduced occupancies.

By March 2021, the Lauingers were publicizing their opposition with a handwritten sign on Kevista’s front door: “…by owners, staff and patrons against [then-Governor Kate] Brown’s ordering of unequal application under the law by ordering some businesses to close or reduce service without just compensation.”

During that same month, Kevista incurred a more-severe fine of $27,400 for “willfully failing to follow prohibition of on-premises consumption of food or drink.” That was three times the minimum penalty allowed for such violations, OSHA representatives stated in a press release at the time. OSHA also cited Kevista for a serious violation for failing to implement an infection control plan and a serious violation for failing to conduct an exposure risk assessment. According to OSHA records, that fine remains the heaviest the agency has handed a restaurant in Oregon.

“The decision reflects the need to ensure a more appropriate deterrent effect where employers insist on disregarding health and safety standards,” OSHA stated.

On June 20, 2021 — the same month that Kevista’s $32,560 PPP loan was forgiven by the federal government, the coffee shop received a third fine of $80,100 for “two willful violations, one for failing to ensure all employees and customers wore facial coverings. The other was for not following the prohibition of on-premises consumption of food and drink, despite capacity limitations established for ‘extreme risk’ counties,” according to OSHA.

“During the inspection, the owners of Kevista said they chose to re-open the coffee shop even though they were aware that it went against workplace health requirements,” the OSHA inspector wrote in the report.

As it did the first two, Kevista appealed the third citation, which, like the others, was then transferred to the Workers’ Compensation Board. With $116,470 in fines hanging in the balance, the resolution may take many more months before being resolved, OHSA’s Corvin estimated.

In December 2024, Kevin Lauinger registered Kevista Coffee with the Idaho Secretary of State, opening in Eagle in January 2025.

In a May 1, 2025, Instagram video, Kevin and Krista Lauinger sit with Fox & Fern owner David Cox in Bend. Cox owns the retail space once occupied by Kevista, along with four spaces onsite through the Moran Holding Company. The three explain the handoff of the space to their landlord.

Krista Lauinger renewed Kevista Coffee’s Oregon business registration two months later, on July 14, 2025, according to the Oregon Secretary of State business registry.

Moving to a different state doesn’t protect a business owner from these fines. A search through Oregon’s Bankruptcy Court filings show no evidence of Kevista filing for protection.

In response to email requests for comment, on Feb. 16, Kevin Lauinger said Kevista’s “attorney has advised us against answering any questions at this time since it is ongoing litigation.”

—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. If you're interested in syndicating Lay It Out Foundation content or purchasing an article for use, you can do so through the website.

Peter Madsen

SOURCE PICKS

LONG BEACH DUB ALL STARS / BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH

ISLAND BEATS

A night of dub, ska and reggae with Long Beach Allstars and Bedouin Soundclash. Just what we need to warm up a cold February night! 8pm at The Domino Room. 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $32.36

BABES AGAINST THE MACHINE

FEMALE RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE BAND Anyone feel like getting some feelings out? Babes Against the Machine delivers the instantly recognizable tunes, driving rhythms and authentic hard rockfunk style of Rage Against the Machine wrapped up in a mesmerizing stage show. 7-10pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $17.59. FRIDAY

BIGFOOT COUNTY

SOUL AND SWAGGER

Good times on a Friday night! Bigfoot County is a blues-rock and country band from Bend, known for its soulful takes on classic tunes. Mixing the grit of the Allman Brothers with the swagger of Waylon Jennings, they bring high-energy covers and good-time vibes to every stage. 7-10pm. At Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $12.24.

FRIDAY 2/20

UBUNTU:

“I AM BECAUSE WE ARE” RITUAL DINNER

CELEBRATION

A NIGHT OF REMEMBERING

This Black History Month, learn about the spirit of the African middle passage from the past and present and how it continues to impact our lives daily. Take a journey with Ubuntu to reconnect to the roots of African culture! Experience the joy and pride that we have lost but have regained and shared daily. 6-8pm. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-330-4376. mlegrand2@cocc.edu. Free.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY 2/20-2/21

GLOBAL EATS POP-UP: SAUTÉ

KOREAN EATS

Bringing the flavors of Korean home cooking to Discovery Corner, Sauté is rooted in family tradition and inspired by generations of Korean recipes. Grab lunch or dinner from the Korean food cart + a matcha tea from Matcha.Bar! Fri. 5–7pm,Sat. 11am–2pm & 5–7pm. Discovery Corner Plaza, 1125 NW Ochoa Drive, Bend.

SATURDAY 2/21

AN EVENING OF ALOHA FEAT. BILL KEALE

ALOHA MEANS HELLO AND GOODBYE

He’s brought Hawaiian tunes to Central Oregon for years, and now he’s retiring! Bill Keale’s going away party features performances by Bill Keale, the MOB featuring members of BUGS, Kurt Silva and the Hokulea Ohana Dancers. 6:30-10:30pm at The Belfry. 302 E. Main Ave., Sisters. $20 advance/$25 day of show.

SATURDAY 2/21

MR VALE’S MATH CLASS

DANCE PARTY

Get your legs shaking this Saturday with this Portland-based band! This six-piece funk band has horns that knock down the door and percussion-laden grooves that are the perfect accompaniment to any dance party. 7-10pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $14.38.

SUNDAY 2/22

CAT BREED BINGO

KITTY CUDDLES

A fun-filled evening of bingo, cat cuddles and prizes. Perfect for all cat lovers (ages 8+)! $25 includes multiple bingo rounds and cat room time. Space is limited! 4-6pm at Playful Paws Cat Café. 1465 SW Knoll Ave., Bend. $25.

SUNDAY 2/22

TALAMH DUBH

IRISH MUSIC

Talamh Dubh is a trio with collective ties to Ireland and a love for Irish music. Its name, “Dark Earth,” in Gaelic, pays homage to the volcanic ground of the Cascade range upon which the group formed. Featured in their repertoire are jigs, reels, hornpipes, marches, waltzes and songs. 4-6pm at The Commonwealth Pub. 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Free.

TUESDAY 2/24

EVERYDAY REVOLUTION: BUILDING A BETTER WORLD OF RESPECT, DIGNITY AND LIBERATION WITH IJEOMA OLUO

ACTIVISM IN ACTION

Acclaimed author and speaker Ijeoma Oluo delivers a powerful keynote conversation on transforming the world through everyday action. Drawing from her latest book, “Be a Revolution,” Oluo will challenge us to reimagine activism—not as a distant ideal, but as a daily commitment to respect, dignity and liberation. 6:30-8pm at Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus, Bend. Contact: 541-383-7257. cgilbride@cocc.edu. Free.

Babes Against the Machine

Unsplash

Bill Keale

Long Beach Dub All Stars

S SOUND Meet Central Oregon Symphony’s New Executive Director

Dr. Travis Allen is a cellist, musicologist and Bend native

By Julie Hanney

Wearing many musical hats already, Dr. Travis Allen has recently also taken on the role of executive director of the Central Oregon Symphony Association. He is a cellist extraordinaire, professor of music history and theory at COCC, member of the Dove String Quartet and frequent performer with the Sunriver Music Festival. He is also the first chair cellist of COSA, and if you’ve been to a concert in the last several years, he’s the one who makes playing the cello look so incredibly effortless that you think that just maybe a person could pick it up in a month or two. Unfortunately, I’ve been there and done that... and can attest that Travis makes it look far, far too easy.

There are some big changes ahead for the symphony as Michael Gesme, the conductor for the past 30 years, is retiring at the end of the season. I chatted with Allen about the future of the symphony and his path to this new position, which includes receiving a Master’s degree in Cello Performance from Portland State University and Master’s and Doctorate in Musicology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

the Source: With Michael Gesme’s upcoming retirement, obviously the selection of a new conductor is on everyone’s minds. Can you share with us how that process is going?

Travis Allen: It’s going well. People might not know that the position is tied to the college [COCC]. So, the job description has gone out to all the proper posting locations, and the search has started to find someone to fill that position.

tS: I recently read that you played in the Central Oregon Symphony when you were in high school before going off and obtaining your many music degrees. How did you end up back in Bend after all of your schooling?

TA: Primarily, I reconnected with someone that I knew in high school, and she was living up here. So, I came up here to finish my dissertation and be with her. Then, we [Travis and his now wife] just sort of stayed.

tS: It was love that brought you back.

TA: Yes.

tS: Wonderful. You have a Doctorate in Musicology, which is an interesting sounding degree. Can you tell us what it entails?

TA: The degree was created in the late 1800s or early 1900s as a way to make the field of music more scientific or academic, so that’s why they added the “ology” part. So, it’s like the science of music. The way it’s primarily focused now is mostly on music history and culture. There’s also a lot of advanced music theory involved, and like all music degrees it also includes all of the background things like piano proficiency, doing aural skills, which is learning how to dictate a melody, and that kind of stuff.

tS: Will you continue to play in the symphony even as you move into the role of executive director?

TA: Yes, indeed.

tS: Oh good. I must say, when you play the cello, you make it look so effortless! And because I have tried to play the cello, I tend to get so tense, and I manhandle my bow like it weighs 10 pounds. You, however, make it look so easy.

TA: I’m glad it looks effortless (laughing) because it does not feel like it. The wife of a member of the cello section in the orchestra said, “Does he even do anything

up there? It doesn’t look like he’s doing anything.”

tS: So funny! I’m clearly not the only one who notices your effortless-appearing technique. Can you tell us about where the symphony is performing this year?

TA: In the past we were almost exclusively at Bend High. Actually, when I was playing in the symphony in high school, we had started to perform at Mountain View, which was the relatively brand-new auditorium at the time in town.

tS: Wow.

TA: Yeah, it was sort of shiny, fancy, new and exciting, but the problem they [the symphony] encountered after I went to college is that the venue is not super large, and they would have to turn away a lot of people who would show up for concerts. So, they moved to Bend High because it had that larger capacity, and they just stayed there until it was torn down a couple of seasons ago. Last year we spent time trying to figure out where we were going to be. We initially started at Caldera [High School] but we weren’t able to get the dates we needed for our spring concert last season, and we ended up doing our concert at Mountain View. And in that process, we discovered a couple of things… we were having an easier time getting concerts scheduled [at Mountain View High School] because it wasn’t a newer auditorium, and we also really enjoyed the sound there. It felt really warm and homey... so we decided to stick with it for this year.

tS: With Bend High’s big remodeling project, are they going to build another giant auditorium, or will it be smaller?

TA: From what I understand, they are planning to rebuild the auditorium at least to capacity. The information I read said they are re-building it at 1,400 seats, which is really large, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s supposed to be finished by 2028.

tS: That’s exciting, and I’m glad to hear that they are making the auditorium really big again, because there is such great energy to see the symphony in a huge, packed house.

TA: Yes, and one of the things that’s been super frustrating for us now is that we haven’t been able to let everybody in who wants to come, depending on what day it is. For us, that’s pretty heartbreaking because we love all of our donating members and really appreciate the support, but we also want to be here for the wider community, and it’s hard to do that with the limited seating we have at the moment.

tS: Is there anything else about the symphony that you’d like to share?

TA: I want to reassure everybody that the search for “Michael” is happening, the process has begun, and we’ll be working through the applications and finding someone who fits the role. I’m pretty confident that we will find someone who is a nice complement for our community, but we will certainly forever be indebted to Michael and miss his guidance. He’s just been such a strong part of our community and orchestra for so long. Also, we are excited about the work being done by the Central Oregon Center for the Arts, support their efforts, and are hopeful about the opportunities it could bring to our area.

Central Oregon Symphony Association

Spring Concert Series May 16 and 17

Mountain View High School

2755 NE 27th St, Bend

www.cosymphony.com

$75 for two tickets to all concerts in the season

Dr. Travis Allen leads the cello section

Zachary C. Person

CALENDAR

Wednesday

The Capitol Karaoke Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free. Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy Open Mic Night Open mic comedy on Bend’s NE side. Come down, eat some BBQ, drink some drinks, and be prepared to laugh. 7:30-9pm. Free.

Dogwood At The Pine Shed Tropical Latin Dance Party ¡Ven a disfrutar de una fiesta de baile tropical latino en Dogwood cada tercer Miércoles del mes! Tropical Latin Dance Party at Dogwood is the place to be every third Wednesday of the month! 7-10pm. 0.

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

JC’s Bar & Grill Wing-SKEY Wednesday + Trivia Enjoy $0.75 wings, cheap whiskey and drink deals. Trivia with the infamous “physical” challenge (think musical chairs, limbo, paper airplanes, etc.) kicks off at 7pm. 7pm. Free.

McMenamins Father Luke’s Room Epic 90’s Rock at McMenamins Featuring Chained to Stone Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and more! 7-10pm. FREE.

Northside Bar & Grill Mellow Wednesday Open Mic Night Come down for our Open Mic Night hosted by Derek Michael Marc!!! Sign up at 530pm to get a spot to play! 5:30-8pm. Free.

Ponch’s Place Bingo Wednesday Come out for bingo! 5:30-7pm. Free.

Portello Lounge Music Bingo Join us for Music Bingo, hosted by the always entertaining Rachel Fishman, who keeps the crowd singing and laughing all night! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

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

Silver Moon Brewing J. Carmichael + Guests J. Carmichael (songwriter/mandolinist) writes ballads about love, God and a world spinning out of control. Defiance, perhaps to a fault, echoes in his music. 7pm. $13.

Silver Moon Brewing Cascadia Comedy - Mx. Dahlia Belle and Carlos Kareem Windham The Cascadia Comedy Series is bringing headliners and big talent from all over the West Coast to Silver Moon Brewing on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Feb 18th: Featuring Mx. Dahlia Belle and Carlos Kareem Windham. 7:30-9pm.

The Commonweath Pub Mys Jae Julianne was born and brewed in a musical family of opera singers, Broadway performers, and professional touring musicians. Her classical training in voice, piano, guitar, oboe and ukulele were complemented by the soul and funk of the Bay Area where she grew up performing. You are in for a treat. 7:30-9:30pm.

The Commonweath Pub SHINE Come and sing and dance to Shine, spanning the musical spectrum with beautiful harmonies and stellar musicianship. You will have as much fun as the band! 7:30-9:30pm.

The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Jazz at the Suttle Lodge Dirty Jazz with Wolfe House Records, first and third Wednesdays of the month, all winter long! RSVP required for overnight lodging guests. 6pm.

Brewing Karaoke Wednesday! Drink and food specials! Sing your favorite songs or do the trademark karaoke roulette and let your fate be at the will of the KJ! 8pm. Free.

Thursday

Bunk+Brew Karaoke Thursdays All voices are welcome. Food carts available all evening! Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 7-10pm. Free.

The Cellar Live Irish Trad Music with The Ballybogs! Live music featuring Bend’s Irish Trad band, The Ballybogs! Every Thursday at The Cellar. Seats fill up, so get there early! 6-8pm. Free.

The Domino Room Long Beach Dub All Stars w/ Bedouin Soundclash A night of dub, ska and reggae with Long Beach Allstars and Bedouin Soundclash. Just what we need to warm up a cold February night! 8pm.

Funky Fauna Artisan Ales Spectral Sounds Open Mic Drop in for Open Mic every Third Thursday starting at 6pm, come hang out, drink Saison and maybe accidentally summon something. Third Thursday of every month, 6-8pm. Free.

Hosmer Bar Bingo Night Your week just found its highlight—bingo! Drinks, good company and a little friendly competition. 7-9pm. Free.

The Lot Skinny Dennis 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.

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

River’s Place Potter & Quon Original songs and a handful of their favorite covers. 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 BABES AGAINST THE MACHINE - The World’s Only All Female Tribute to Rage Against The Machine Babes Against TheMachine delivers the instantly-recognizable tunes, driving rhythms and authentic hard rock-funk style of Rage Against The Machine wrapped up in a mesmerizing stage show. 7-10pm. $17.59.

Stoller Wine Bar Bend Live Music at Stoller Join us for our Live Music Series, featuring local artist we know and love. Reservations are available and walk-ins are always welcome! 6-8pm. Free. The Commonweath Pub Thoughtbox with Night Channels Thoughtbox is an alternative rock trio that fuses colorful harmonic textures with raw punk energy. Known for blazing fast riffs, driving bass tone, and over-the-top stage presence,. Night Channels is 4-piece progressive rock band who keep listeners on their toes with dynamic and powerful compositions. 7:30-9:30pm.

LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

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The Winery at Manzanita- Bend Vino & Vibes Enjoy an evening of wine and Local community grooves every Thursday. Local singers and song writers welcome. 5-7pm. Free.

Worthy Brewing - Main Pub and Brewery Winter Mics: Comedy Open Mic Jane Doe Comedy presents a (mostly) monthly open mic at Worthy Brewing’s Eastside location. 6:308:45pm. Free.

Friday

Bunk+Brew Apres Ski Nights Après Ski Nights are heating up at Bunk + Brew! Join us every 1st & 3rd Friday when the mountain closes for DJ Briantology, bonfires, and cozy vibes. Show your mountain pass for free sauna sessions and exclusive drink discounts. 5-8pm. 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. Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge Cover Story Cover Story is a country rock cover band based in Bend, Oregon. We play songs you forgot you love! 8-9:30pm.

Silver Moon Brewing Bigfoot County Bigfoot County is a blues-rock and country band from Bend, Oregon, known for their soulful takes on classic tunes. Mixing the grit of the Allman Brothers with the swagger of Waylon Jennings, they bring high-energy covers and good-time vibes to every stage. 7-10pm.

Silver Moon Brewing Open Jam! A night where local musicians come together and cycle on and off the stage, keeping the jam going! Bring your own instrument, respect the process/other musicians, and be ready to create some magic! Hosted by Mari of the band, Mari & The Dream! 7-10pm. Free.

The Commonweath Pub Maxwell Friedman Group Maxwell (Malik) Friedman is living proof that some musicians are indeed “born with it.” At an incredibly young age, in less than a decade since they started playing, Malik’s ferocious and inspired keyboard playing, and their tasteful and clever compositions are already becoming legendary. 8-10:30pm.

Saturday

The Belfry An evening of aloha featuring Bill Keale Bill Keale’s going away party! Featuring Performances By: ◦ Bill Keale Headlines and closes the evening ◦ the MOB featuring members of BUGS • Kurt Silva ◦ Hokulea Ohana Dancers (Traditional Hula & Polynesian Dance) 6:30-10:30pm. $20 advance, $25 day of show.

Bridge 99 Brewery Family-Friendly Karaoke Night Looking for family fun? You’ll find it every Saturday night at Bridge 99 Brewery. Family-friendly karaoke is hosted by DJ Jackie J and A Fine Note Karaoke Too from 6-9 PM. Adults, kids and good dogs welcome. 6-9pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy night at Craft with Lexis Sharde’ Get ready for an unforgettable night of laughter, storytelling, and musical comedy with Lexis Shardé — a sharp-witted performer whose humor is equal parts clever, real, and refreshingly relatable. 8-10pm. $20. Maragas Winery Afternoon Live Blues at Maragas Winery The Bobby Linstrom BluesClassic Soulful Blues voice with his original guitar licks accompanied by Ed the Whistler. Winery open for tasting, drinks, and apps from 11:30 to 5pm. 1-3:30pm. 0.

Midtown Ballroom Moontricks w/ Balkan Bump Genre - Dance/electronic 7pm.

River Pig Saloon Bend Second Annual River Pig Prom Red carpet entrance, professional prom photos, DJ Timothy Bee, the crowning of our ‘26 prom King & Queen. Theme is a lil classy a lil trashy, so dress your best or worst, we don’t discriminate. 8pm.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions Groove Merchants ~ swinging jazz from the classic ‘50’s era- tunes made famous by Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Duke Ellington, Horace Silver and other greats. Bop till you drop 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Mr. Vale’s Math Class This six piece funk band has horns that knock down the door and percussion-laden grooves that are the perfect accompaniment to any dance party. 7-10pm. $14.38.

Leave it to Portland to bring us something as zany as a horn-heavy band that leans into the nerd vibe. Mr. Vale’s Math Class plays Silver Moon this Saturday night.

Mr. Vale's Math Class

CALENDAR EVENTS

The Commonweath Pub Heller Highwater With the cool sounds of Motown, rock, soulful blues and a touch of Country it’s a style of musical groove that makes people want to get up and shake it. 8-10pm.

Sunday

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.

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

Playful Paws Cat Cafe Cat Breed Bingo Join us for Cat Breed Bingo at Playful Paws! Enjoy a fun-filled evening of bingo, cat cuddles, and prizes. Perfect for all cat lovers (ages 8+)! $25 includes multiple bingo rounds and cat room time. Space is limited—reserve your spot today for a meow-tastic night of fun! 4-6pm. 25. River’s Place KC Flynn Heartfelt storytelling with nostalgic singalongs. His sets move from Willie Nelson and Billy Joel to Brandi Carlile and Ed Sheeran, creating a warm and engaging evening of live acoustic music. It’s comfort food for your ears 5-7pm. Free.

The Commonweath Pub Talamh Dubh A trio with collective ties to Ireland and a love for Irish music. Featured in their repertoire are jigs, reels, hornpipes, marches, waltzes, and songs. 4-6pm.

The Commonweath Pub Double Trouble Trivia at The Commonwealth Pub 5 rounds per night- sometimes themed, sometimes a variety of themes… always fun. Features the “Double Trouble” final round that allows teams who are behind a chance to catch up. 6:30-9pm.

Monday

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

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 Bluegrass Collective Mondays Local intermediate to advanced players come out to perform their favorite bluegrass songs for locals’ night; experienced BG players encouraged to join and share the stage. 6-8pm. Free.

The Barrel Room at Upp Liquids Cuban Dance Party! Timba, Salsa, Bachata & Cumbia to get all of your Latin-groove wiggles out. 23rd of every month, 8-10pm. Free.

The Commonweath Pub Musician’s Open Showcase Hosted by The Session A special opportunity to share your talent, connect with other artists, and perform in a welcoming and collaborative, music-loving atmosphere. Backline provided, just bring instruments and chords! 5-9pm. Free.

Tuesday

Beach Hut Deli Tip of the Tongue Trivia Come out and play Tip of the Tongue trivia for a chance to win some great prizes and show off your trivia skills! 6-8pm. Free.

The Capitol Karaoke Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free.

The Cellar Open Mic Open Mic hosted by Mari of the band, Mari & The Dream! Enjoy an intimate night of sharing music in a welcoming environment and supportive community. 6-8pm. Free.

The Commons Cafe & Taproom Open Mic 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. Sign-ups start at 5pm in the cafe. 6pm. Free.

Crux Fermentation Project Snowballers Bingo Join us for Snowballers Bingo! Support Central Oregon Avalanche Center, have a beer and win some cash! Hosted by Hoodoo & Crux. 6-8pm. $10.

Elements Public House Trivia (&Taco) Tuesdays Quiz fans of Redmond: bring your crew this week for UKB live trivia & more! Delicious menu favorites, brews, cocktails, plus Taco Tuesday menu! Play for gift card prizes or just for fun. Bring good vibes and a pen. 6:30pm. Free.

The Lot Trivia Tuesdays Stop scrolling and streaming, get out of the house and flex your brain. A local host challenges you with six questions in six categories. The heated benches are calling your name. 6-7:30pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Karaoke Sign-ups start at 8pm! 8pm-1:15am. Free.

Mountain Burger Trivia Tuesdays Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger! Free to play! Prizes & fun every Tuesday! 7:30-9pm. 0.

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.

River’s Place Bingo! Have fun, win cash and help out a local nonprofit organization. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing BLUES REVIVAL Chicago Bob and Blues Benders host their monthly Blues Revival. Come out and dance to original tunes and refreshed standards in this beloved tradition! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commonweath Pub M&Ms TrioTuesday Jazz Based in Bend, OR, *m&ms trio* primarily explores the music of Thelonious Monk, Pat Metheny, and John Scofield in a conversational tone. Led by bassist Andrew Lion and joined by guitarist Seth Burrows and drummer Matthew Williams. 7-9pm.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Karaoke Karaoke in the pub of VTP! Every Tuesday, 7pm - late 7pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage Supported by Amargoso. 7pm. $27.

Wednesday

The Capitol Karaoke Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free.

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

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

JC’s Bar & Grill Wing-SKEY Wednesday + Trivia Enjoy $0.75 wings, cheap whiskey and drink deals. Trivia with the infamous “physical” challenge (think musical chairs, limbo, paper airplanes, etc.) kicks off at 7pm. 7pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Mellow Wednesday Open Mic Night Come down for our Open Mic Night hosted by Derek Michael Marc!!! Sign up at 530pm to get a spot to play! 5:30-8pm. Free.

Pinky G’s Pizzeria Music Bingo Join Music Bingo (think name that tune meets tradition bingo). Every other Wednesday! Free to play and prizes for the winners. Every other Wednesday.. Ponch’s Place Bingo Wednesday Come out for bingo! 5:30-7pm. Free.

Portello Lounge Music Bingo Hsted by the always entertaining Rachel Fishman, who keeps the crowd singing and laughing all night! 6:308:30pm. Free.

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

Silver Moon Brewing Rogue City Renegades Rogue City Renegades combine soaring virtuosic guitar solos, a rhythm section dripping with emotion and soul, and lyrical themes of freedom, healing, gratitude, and vulnerability, creating an infectious vibe for dancing & singing along. 7-10pm. The Commonweath Pub Kevin Dorin Kevin Dorin’s music crosses genres while always dipping a toe in the blues. 7:30-9:30pm.

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

Wonderland Chicken X Worthy Brewing Karaoke Wednesday! Drink and food specials! Sing your favorite songs or do the trademark karaoke roulette and let your fate be at the will of the KJ! 8pm. Free.

DANCE

Adult Ballet Class Come learn or rediscover the art of ballet on Tuesday nights! Adult Ballet is an open-level class for adult learners and dancers. Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30 and 6:45-7:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-3824055. dance@ abcbend.com. Price varies.

Adult Jazz Dance Community Class Intermediate-level adult jazz drop-in dance classes. Friendly, supportive atmosphere. Get your dance on! Fridays, 12:15-1:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 408-857-6773. jcliff@gmail.com. $10. Cuban Dance Class Series! Rueda de Casino is an energetic, community-oriented dance from Cuba. Price is for a 4-week progressive series, per person. Class series re-starts every month. Singles or partners welcome! Mondays, 6-7:30pm. Through March 23. Upp Liquids, 550 SW Industrial way, Bend. Contact: 5416108865. bendrueda@gmail.com. $40.

Lost and Found Bellydance Classes Lost and Found Bellydance offers 6-week progressive sessions in improvisational bellydance, which covers foundational movements, formations and finger cymbals. This class is suitable for beginners. Mondays, 7-8pm. Through June 29. Terpsichorean Dance Studio, 1601 NW Newport Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-420-5416. lostandfoundbellydance@gmail.com. $75.

If you need a lift to make it to Hump Day, apparently Tuesday is the official Trivia Night of Bend — and Redmond, too! To be fair, karaoke is hot Tuesdays, too.

Unsplash

Salsa Dance Classes - Beginner Level

Exciting Salsa dance classes for beginners! Whether you have two left feet or are looking to brush up on your moves, this class is perfect for you. Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30pm. Through Feb. 24. Foundation Health And Fitness, 1105 SE Centennial St, Bend. Contact: 5413256676. latindancebend@gmail.com. 15.

Salsa Dance Classes - Intermediate Level Whether you’re looking to improve your footwork or spice up your moves, our classes are perfect for dancers looking to enhance their salsa abilities. Tuesdays, 8:45-9:45pm. Through Feb. 24. Foundation Health And Fitness, 1105 SE Centennial St, Bend. Contact: 5413256676. latindancebend@gmail.com. $15.

Tango in Bend Learn and dance Argentine Tango. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, the community welcomes you. First class is free! 6:30 - Intermediate Class (for those with previous experience). 7:15 - Beginners Class. 8:30 - Practice for all. Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30pm. Sons of Norway Hall, 549 NW Harmon Blvd., Bend. Contact: 818-207-1363. info@tangoinbend.com. $10 class & practice, $5 practice only.

ARTS + CRAFTS

The Art and Science of Canning Learn to turn fresh produce into shelf-stable pantry staples. This beginner-friendly demo covers water bath and pressure canning with step-bystep guidance for fruits, sauces, and more. Feb. 21, 5:30-8:30pm. OSU Extension Redmond, 3800 SW, SE Airport Way Bldg. 4, Redmond. Contact: 650-224-6750. info@schoolofranch.org. $90.

Art Play Toddlers and preschoolers dive into process-based art through sensory stations, open-ended exploration, and hands-on creative play. Ages 2-5 Thursdays-Saturdays, 10-11am. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-892-6471. taylor@ twosunsartstudio.com. $25.

Blacksmithing 201 - Forge a Knife

Blade *2 Day Class Focuses on the forging techniques needed to produce sharp-edged tools of high-carbon steel. Feb. 17, 5:30-7:30pm and Feb. 18, 5:30-7:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@ diycave.com. 299.

Cabinet Making 101 Introduces the foundational techniques of cabinet making and gives you the skills you need to confidently design and build cabinets of all kinds—from simple workshop storage to fine furniture like armoires and builtins. Feb. 23, 6-8:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@ diycave.com. 189.

Chinese New Year Paint & Sip Celebrate the Lunar New Year with an evening of art, culture, and good fortune! Sip, paint, and create a festive masterpiece inspired by Chinese New Year. Feb. 18, 6-8pm. Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: sarahanneswoffer@gmail.com. $55.

Couples Floral Arranging Workshop

Connect and create together—-we’ll supply the luscious blooms, supplies and instruction (plus drinks & snacks). (One ticket includes one arrangement that you can make together). All are welcome! Feb. 20, 5-7pm. Flowers by Eryn, 635 NW Colorado Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-977-1650. hello@flowersbyeryn.com. $175.

Craft & Connect: The Joy of Photo Books

A morning dedicated to the joy of photo books. All are welcome to bring one, or many, of your favorite photographers to share or simply come to browse and enjoy. Feb. 21, 10am-Noon. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, 68467 Three Creek Rd., Sisters. Contact: 5419040700. moriah@ roundhousefoundation.org. Free.

Crochet Café This 2-hour hook session is designed specifically to foster community among the crochet crew. All skill levels are welcome. Thursdays, 1-3pm. Fancywork Yarn Shop, 200 NE Greenwood Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-3238686. hello@fancywork.com. Free.

DIY Hours Drop in to create an on-site project, no experience or supplies needed. Please reserve for each guest. Sundays, 11:30am-5:30pm and Tuesdays, Noon-6pm. Through March 31. FREAK’N ART, 1265 NW Wall st., Bend. Contact: 5415087438. HelloFreakNArt@gmail.com. $25.

East of the Cascades: The Oregon I Love Artist Pamela Beaverson is presenting an exhibit titled “East of the Cascades: The Oregon I Love” in The Oxford Hotel lobby during the month of February. Feb. 2-28, 9am-10pm. The Oxford Hotel, 10 Northwest Minnesota Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-382-8436.

Electric Energy - Early Release Weds! We will be painting beautiful unicorns. In science, we will be mixing up some fluffy sparkle slime. This is an interactive, hands-on, super fun art class. Feb. 18, 1-4pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: sarahanneswoffer@gmail.com. $45.

High Desert Art League Member

Show Members of the High Desert Art League present a new exhibit of paintings through the month of March. The collection includes works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, encaustic, mixed media, and photography. Jan. 7-March 31, 9am-5pm. Premiere Property Group, 25 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-241-6860. Free.

Intro to 3D Printing for Adults 3D printing is a skill that anyone can learn! Feb. 24, 6-8:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $139.

Intro to Leather Tooling: Make Earrings or a Cuff Learn how to prep, design, paint and seal their works. Feb. 23, 6-9pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $129.

Intro to Stained Glass - Honeycomb Suncatcher In just two hours, you’ll get hands-on experience with the basics of the copper foil technique — no prior skills needed. Two dates available. You’ll learn the essential steps to create a stunning, multicolored suncatcher. Wed, Feb. 18, 6-8pm and Wed, Feb. 25, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $139.

Kids Intro to Welding (10-17) Kids will learn how metal can be cut, joined, and transformed into something strong and creative. Students will cut steel using a torch, then weld those pieces back together while learning proper techniques. Feb. 25, 5-7pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $89.

Kids Only 3D Printing (Ages 8-17)

Young makers will dive into the exciting world of 3D printing—learning how a 3D printer works, exploring beginner-friendly design software, and creating their own custom project to print and take home. It’s a fun, hands-on way for kids to experiment with technology. Feb. 23, 5:30-8:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $99.

Kids Studio! Celebrating Black American Artists Students will learn about a variety of influential Black artists, and create works inspired by their different styles and processes! Artists we’ll study: Alma Thomas, Reggie Laurent, Betye Saar, Bisa Butler. Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30pm. Through Feb. 25. FREAK’N ART, 1265 NW Wall st., Bend. Contact: 541-508-7438. hellofreaknart@gmail.com. $200

Kids Woodworking - Build a Birdhouse (Ages 11-17) Kids will receive all the materials and step-by-step guidance they need to introduce them to the joy of woodworking and the pride of creating something with their own hands. Feb. 25, 5:30-8:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $99.

Learn how to use the Router, Planer, and Jointer In this class you will learn how to use the Router, Planer and Jointer. You will also get 1 free hour in the Wood Shop. Feb. 24, 6-9pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $89..

Open Art Nights Bring your art supplies and make art with your new creative community! No registration required, just show up with an open mind and willingness to create and connect. 18+. Questions? Email brian@theopenartscenter. org Tuesdays, 6-9pm. The Open Arts Center, 999 NE 2nd Street, Bend. Contact: 978-771-4635. brian@theopenartscenter.org. Free.

Paint Night! Sip and snack on Bridge 99 Brewery’s delicious offerings as you are led through this painting step-by-step from start to finish! Feb. 24, 5:30-7:30pm. Bridge 99 Brewery, 63063 Layton Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-728-4253. jennie.thom@gmail.com. $49.

Scrap Fabric Weaving Workshop Turn scrap fabric into functional textile art in this hands-on weaving workshop with master seamstress Sabrina of Bend Alterations. Recommended ages 8+. Feb. 19, 5:15-6:45pm. FREAK’N ART, 1265 NW Wall st., Bend. Contact: 5415087438. HelloFreakNArt@gmail.com. $50.

Sip and Paint Party Laughs, music, Official Painter names, Fireball and slingin paint will keep the party rollin! Signup: thebestpaintparty. com Feb. 24, 6-8pm. Wild Ride Brewing, 332 SW Fifth St., Redmond. Contact: 541-280-5339, and Feb. 25, 6-8pm. Ponch’s Place, 62889 NE Oxford Ct., Bend. Contact: 541-280-5339. itsjustpaint@ yahoo.com. $45.

Soul of the Land: Quilts by June Jaeger The Belknap Exhibit Center at the Bowman Museum presents Soul of the Land, quilts and textile art by renowned Oregon artist June Jaeger. Born in Prineville, Jaeger’s hand-crafted work reflects Central Oregon landscapes, tradition, and a lifelong connection to the land. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10am-5pm. Through March 21. Belknap Exhibit Center, 136 NE 3rd St, Prineville. Contact: 541447-3715. sean.briscoe@crookcountyor.gov. Free. Stained Glass 101: Potted Cactus Plants Create a vibrant, medium-sized stained glass cactus—perfect for first-timers or anyone curious about the craft. Mon, Feb. 16, 6-8pm and Mon, Feb. 23, 6-8pm. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. $219.

Teen CNC Design and Production Course (Ages 10-17) This multiweek course begins with an introduction to CNC machines, lasers, and 3D printers. Wednesdays, 3-5:30pm. Through April 8. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@ diycave.com. $57.

Unicorns and Fluffy Sparkle Slime Early Release Weds! Painting unicorns and making sparkly slime! Feb. 25, 1-4pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: sarahanneswoffer@gmail.com. 45.

Mark Chinese New Year with this week’s Paint & Sip at Bend Wine Bar & Winery.

Bend Wine Bar & Winery

CALENDAR

Welding 102 - Make Your Own Project *4Week Course Have an idea for a welding project but want guidance and help along the way? This course is designed for students to increase their knowledge of MIG welding and joint construction over 4 weeks. Tuesdays, 6-8pm. Through March 10. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 5413882283. classes@diycave.com. 499.

PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS

50501 Central Oregon Roundtable Series: General Strikes Join 50501 Central Oregon, union leaders and local activists to connect, listen, learn and ask questions about preparing for and executing a successful general strike. This is part of a 4 month round table series. Mutual aid will also be discussed. RSVP required: 50501centraloregon@gmail.com Feb. 18, 5:30-7pm. UUFCO, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend. Contact: 50501centraloregon@ gmail.com. Free.

Day of Remembrance Commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066, resulting in the incarceration of Japanese Americans. This event is in collaboration with the Japanese American Society of Central Oregon. Feb. 21, 2-3:30pm. Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-312-1032. lizg@ deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Everyday Revolution: Building a World of Respect, Dignity and Liberation with Ijeoma Oluo A powerful keynote conversation on transforming the world through everyday action. Drawing from her latest book, “Be a Revolution”, Oluo will challenge us to reimagine activism—not as a distant ideal, but as a daily commitment to respect, dignity and liberation. Feb. 24, 6:30-8pm. Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus, Bend, Bend. Contact: 5413837257. cgilbride@cocc. edu. Free.

Fly Fishing 101 Learn about all necessary equipment to get started fly fishing, including items needed to safely wade rivers in Central Oregon, and those extras that are nice to have, all without breaking the bank. Feb. 21, 11am12:30pm. Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond. Contact: 541-312-1032. lizg@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Joe Dispenza Group Meditation In The Energy Room Every Thursday and Sunday Epic Energy Centers open’s the Energy Room early for a group meditation based off of Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work and guidance. Guided and supported by local Bend Practitioners. Thursdays-Sundays, 9-11am. Through Feb. 27. Epic Energy Centers, 205 NW Franklin Ave, Bend. Contact: 541..449.9829. support@theepicenergycenters.com. $40.

JOY RIDE : Openness, Curiosity & Kindness World travelers Kristen (OSU-C grad) and Ville Jokinen share about, Joy Ride: A Bike Odyssey from Alaska to Argentina. Feb. 20, 5:30-7pm. OSU Cascades Ray Hall Atrium, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend. Contact: 541.322.3100. cynthia.engel@osucascades.edu. Free. Mapping and Analyzing Fault Scarps with Lidar Across Oregon An update on Oregon lidar status and the ORQ-Faults project. Improved active fault mapping and analysis will contribute to better understanding of seismic hazards and faulting across Oregon. Feb. 24, 5:30-7:30pm. Worthy Brewing - Main Pub and Brewery, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Contact: (903) 477-2168. cogeosoc@gmail.com. Free.

Nature Night: Caring for Our Rivers and Streams Join Restoration Specialist, Jason Grant, as he discusses the importance of streams and floodplains, the efforts the Land Trust and partners are undertaking to promote long-term strength of those habitats, and how the results inform future projects. Registration required. Feb. 18, 7-8:30pm. Contact: 541-3300017. event@deschuteslandtrust.org. Free.

Saturdays at Skyliner A presentation from 12-1pm by Laurie Danzuka, member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Coffee, hot cocoa, warm fire, kids activities and kids snowshoes. Feb. 21, 9am-Noon. Skyliners Lodge, 16125 Skyliners Rd., Bend. Contact: 541362-4324. katie@natureconnectco.org. Free.

THEATER

Spring Awakening Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, SPRING AWAKENING explores the pressures and desires of adolescence. Recommended for audiences 15+, parental discretion advised. Thu, Feb. 19, 7-10pm, Fri, Feb. 20, 7-10pm, Sat, Feb. 21, 2-5 and 7-10pm, Sun, Feb. 22, 2-5pm. Ponderosa Playhouse, 211 NE Revere Ave. Ste. 4, Bend. Contact: 541-410-1487. info@ponderosaplayers.com. $25.

WORDS

The Craft of Writing Wednesdays Learn the technical nuts and bolts of creative writing one craft element at a time. Bring a notebook, pen/pencil, and an eagerness to learn. Third Wednesday of every month, 7-8:30pm. The Open Arts Center, 999 NE 2nd St, Bend. Free.

February Local Author Showcase

Featuring two Bend authors who will be in the store to promote their books. As a special treat, Kristi Turner will have her corgi, Stella, too. Feb. 21, Noon-2pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 5413066564. events@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

A Kitchen Table Conversation: Women in the Cattle Industry An informal roundtable with six women sharing decades of ranching experience. Through real stories of daily life, family, and land stewardship, this program offers a welcoming look at women’s roles in a vital local industry Feb. 19, 6-7:30pm. A.R. Bowman Museum - Community Room, 246 N. Main St., Prineville. Contact: 541-447-3715. sean.briscoe@crookcountyor.gov. Free.

Mystery Book Club Discuss The Briars by Sarah Crouch. Feb. 18, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. 0.

Out of This World Book Club Discuss Bradbury Stories by Ray Bradbury. Feb. 23, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. 0.

Rediscovered Reads Book Club Discuss The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson. Feb. 25, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. 0. Writing Wednesdays at the OAC An evening of writing, connection, and creativity. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays: Poetry Workshop; 2nd & 4th Wednesdays: Writing Workshop. Open to adults 18+, all levels welcome. Email: claire@ theopenartscenter.org Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm. The Open Arts Center, 999 NE 2nd Street, Bend. Contact: 978-771-4635. claire@theopenartscenter.org. Free.

ETC.

Boeing, Boeing A French farce about an American bachelor named Bernard in Paris who juggles relationships with three flight attendants, each unaware of the others. Thu, Feb. 19, 7:30pm, Fri, Feb. 20, 7:30pm, Sat, Feb. 21, 7:30pm and Sun, Feb. 22, 2pm. Cascades Theatrical Co, 148 NW Greenwood Ave,, Bend.

Ubuntu: “I am Because We Are”: Ritual Dinner Celebration Learn about the spirit of the middle passage from the past, current, and how it continues to impact our lives daily. Take a journey with us to reconnect to the roots of our culture! Experience the joy and pride that we have lost but have regained and shared daily. Feb. 20, 6-8pm. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend, OR 97703, Bend. Contact: 541-3304376. mlegrand2@cocc.edu. Free.

Wave Goodbye to Clutter! Wave Goodbye to Clutter in your home with these Five Essential Steps to a Decluttered and Organized Home. Feb. 25, 1-2pm. Sunriver Public Library, 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver. Contact: 541-312-1063. beccar@deschuteslibrary.org. Free. Wednesday Night Rebuy Tournament 20-minute blind levels with a 10-minute break every hour. Register early to get an early bird bonus for an extra 1/3 starting stack! Wednesdays 6-11pm. Bend Poker Room, 917 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-508-9123. bendpokerrroom@gmail.com. $20.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Bend Adult Volleyball Bend Hoops adult open gym volleyball sessions offer players a chance to get together and enjoy some competition. To sign up, go to meetup.com and RSVP. Bring exact change. Sundays, 7-9pm and Saturdays, 7:30pm. Bend Hoops, 1307 NE 1st St, Bend. $10.

Bevel Putting Mayhem Disc players! $5 entry, with an optional $1 perfect putt pot, and $1 off beers for players. Sign-ups start at 5:30, first putts at 6pm. Wednesdays, 5:30-8pm. Through April 29. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 5419723835. holla@bevelbeer.com. $5.

Empowering Women Through Adventure Speaker Series Bend local Jeska Clark, the Expedition Leader of the Full Circle Arctic Team, will share about her team’s 2026 Greenland ski traverse honoring the legacy of Matthew Henson. Feb. 24, 6-8pm. Embark, 2843 NW Lolo Drive, Bend. Contact: info@theadventurus.com. Free.

Fort Rock Stargazing Tours Fort Rock is an absolutely incredible stargazing destination, lying just north of the newly designated Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary, the largest contiguous dark sky shed in the US! Fri, Feb. 20, 4-9pm. Wanderlust Tours, 61535 S Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-389-8359. info@wanderlusttours. com. $140.

VOLUNTEER

Become a Business Mentor Help businesses prosper! Share your professional and business expertise. Become a volunteer mentor with SCORE in Central Oregon. To apply, call 541 316 0662 or visit centraloregon.score.org/ volunteer. Mondays. SCORE Central Oregon, NE Thurston Ave PO Box 6416, Bend. Contact: 541316-0662. Free.

Bend ReStore If you want to help make affordable homeownership a reality for individuals and families in Central Oregon, consider volunteering at the Bend ReStore! Ongoing, 9am-5pm. Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 224 NE Thurston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-312-6709. Volunteer@ brhabitat.org. Free.

Bunny Rescue Needs Volunteers

Looking for more volunteers to help with tidying bunny enclosures, feeding, watering, giving treats, head scratches, play time and fostering. Email Lindsey with your interests and availability: wildflowerbunnylove@gmail.com. Ongoing. Join the Pet Evacuation Team Board Serving residents and their animals with emergency evacuations and sheltering during disasters. PET is actively seeking compassionate, committed leaders to serve on the board. Every 7 days, 8am-6pm. Contact: 5416106628. deb.k@ petevacuationteam.com. Free.

Mustangs to the Rescue Seeking help with all aspects of horse care. No experience necessary. Mondays-Sundays, 9am-4:30pm. Mustangs to the Rescue, 21670 McGilvray Road, Bend. Contact: 541-330-8943. volunteer@mustangstotherescue.org. Free.

NeighborImpact Roles needed: Food Bank, HomeSource, facilities, special events and more! Mondays-Fridays. NeighborImpact Office - Redmond, 2303 SW First St., Redmond. Contact: 541419-2595. grantj@neighborimpact.org. Free.

Ochoco Preserve Work Party Join the Land Trust for a winter work party to help remove invasive Russian olive at Ochoco Preserve. Feb. 23, 10am-Noon. Ochoco Preserve, Details + Directions shared on registration!, Prineville. Contact: 5413300017. event@deschuteslandtrust. org. Free.

Redmond Family Kitchen Dinner Volunteers prepare dinners and clean up afterward. Email Tori with any questions or sign up here: signupgenius.com/go/RedmondDinner Mondays-Fridays, 2-4:30pm. Mountain View Fellowship, 1475 SW 35th St, Redmond. Contact: 631-942-3528. tori@familykitchen.org. Free.

Think Wild Virtual Volunteer Orientation Come to a Think Wild virtual volunteer orientation to learn about Think Wild’s programs and the various ways that you can get involved, whether you have 30 minutes a year or 30 hours a week. RSVP to a specific date to receive the join link: https://www.thinkwildco.org/education/ volunteer-calendar/ Thu, Feb. 19, 11:30am12:30pm, Contact: 541-316-8294. hailee@ thinkwildco.org.

Volunteer CASAs Needed CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. They are community volunteers who advocate solely for the best interest of children and youth in foster care. Our pre-service training classes are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively advocate for these children. Ongoing. Rosie Bareis community campus, 1010 NW 14th Street, Bend. Contact: 541-389-1618. enoyes@casaofcentraloregon.org.

Volunteer for Foster Dogs Volunteer to be a dog foster parent! There is a huge need and it is very rewarding, giving you a sense of purpose. Each dog is special. Thursdays. Contact: 458292-8362. HDRescueoregon.com.

Volunteer with St. Vinny’s Food Pantry! Help with: client reception, food pickups, deliveries, truck loading & unloading, client pantry help and pantry stocking. Apply on our website. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9:45am-2pm and Mondays, 1:45-6pm. St. Vincent de Paul, 950 SE 3rd, Bend.

Volunteer, Feed the Masses! Serving anyone who needs nutritious meals in a safe and caring environment. Tons of volunteer needs - servers, cooks, shoppers, and more. Visit familykitchen.org/volunteer to fill out a volunteer interest form. Mondays-Sundays. Family Kitchen, 231 NW Idaho, Bend. Contact: tori@familykitchen.org. Free.

Volunteering in Oregon’s High Desert with ONDA Guided, small group, volunteer service trips in some of eastern Oregon’s most remote and beautiful landscapes. Visit onda.org/ trips to find the full calendar and descriptions of current volunteer trip offerings. Ongoing.

Volunteers Needed for Humane Society Thrift Store Do you love animals and discovering “new” treasures? Then volunteering at the HSCO Thrift Store is a great way to combine your passions while helping raise funds to provide animal welfare services for the local community. Visit the website at www.hsco.org/ volunteer. Ongoing. Humane Society Thrift Shop, 61220 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: 541-2413840. abigail@hsco.org.

Wildfire Recovery Work Party Roll up your sleeves and help the Deschutes Land Trust spread native grass seed into areas burned during th e Cram Fire at Priday Ranch. Feb. 18, 10am-2pm, Feb. 19, 10am-2pm. Priday Ranch, near Madras. / Join the Land Trust for a winter work party to clean up fire debris left from the Flat Fire at Rimrock Ranch. Feb. 20, 10am-2pm. Rimrock Ranch, outside Sisters. Contact: 541-330-0017. event@deschuteslandtrust.org. Free.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

AI + EQ = Business Intelligence

Summit This is not another AI webinar; this is a full-day immersive summit with world-class teachers and speakers. It’s highly recommended to register with your team or bring your organization’s leader to influence organization-wide change and learn together. Feb. 20, 8:30am-4pm. Springhill Suites, 551 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: 541-280-3254. centraloregonshrm@ gmail.com. $200.00.

Begin Within Workshop: A Vision For The New Year Begin Within Workshop: A Vision For The New Year is a cozy, intentional gathering designed to help you slow down and welcome this year with clarity and purpose. Together, we’ll create space to reflect on the year behind us and gently explore what we hope to carry forward. Feb. 22, 1:30-4pm. Sunnyside Up Farm, 63265 Silvis Rd, Bend. Contact: 5414200794. info@sunnysideupbend.com. 100.

Bend Chess and Go Club Casual gathering for players of Chess and Go/Baduk/Weiqi. Informal and welcoming to players of all skill levels. Thursdays, 6-9pm. Crux Fermentation Project, 50 SW Division St., Bend. Contact: 425-354-8867. leifawiebe@gmail.com. Free.

Bend Photo Society Meet Up Are you a photographer looking to collaborate, commiserate, network, elevate our industry, then this is the place for you. We are looking to create a community where we don’t have to feel so alone in our field. Join us for our first meet up of the year! Feb. 25, 5-7pm. Funky Fauna Artisan Ales, 1125 NE Second St., Bend. Contact: 541.640.1089. bendphototours@gmail.com. Free.

BUGS (Bend Ukulele Group) Weekly ukulele jam, open to all levels. Jam and sing along. Free for first timers. Tuesdays, 6-8pm. Pickleball Zone, 63040 NE 18th St., Bend. Contact: (206)707-6337. sherilfoster@yahoo.com. $5

City Club Forum: Aviation’s Role in Central Oregon’s Past and Future A lively conversation about aviation’s impact on our past and its role in shaping the future. Feb. 19, 11am-1pm. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend, OR 97703, Bend. Contact: 5416687642. info@ cityclubco.org. $15-$49.

Connect W’s Monthly Meeting An evening of adding depth and breadth to our professional networking relationships as we unpack how to have hard talks in small group settings! Registration required. Feb. 18, 5:30-8pm. Bledsoe Family Winery, 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: 541-410-1894. info@connectw.org. $35 Members / $40 Non-Members.

Herding Dog Rescue Adoption event Herding Dog Rescue of Central Oregon will be bringing several dogs looking for homes. Come see who is there and maybe one of them will make your heart happy! Feb. 21, 11am-2pm. Local Paws, 435 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Contact: 458-292-8362. Herdingdogrescue@ gmail.com.

Locals Night Show your Bend or Redmond ID to enjoy exclusive specials all day long! Last Wednesday of every month, Noon-9pm. Amaterra Kitchen + Social Club, 909 NW Bond Street, Bend. Contact: 541-246-3266. info@amaterrawines.com. Free.

Marijuana Anonymous A fellowship of people who share the experience, strength and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem and help others to recover from marijuana addiction. Entrance on Staats St. Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm. Bend Church, 680 NW Bond Street, Bend. Contact: 541-633-6025. curbdaherb@gmail.com. Free.

CALENDAR

Rally League Night We are starting pingpong and foosball leagues! At the first few meetings, we will have round robin play, gauge interest and determine league formats. Wednesdays, 5-8pm. Rally Recreation, 549 NW York Dr, Bend. Contact: 541-241-8581. info@rallyrecreation.com. $8-$10.

Scrabble Club Meet upstairs. Club uses the 7th edition of the Scrabble Players Dictionary. All levels welcome. Wednesdays, 6-8:30pm. Market of Choice, 115 NW Sisemore St, Bend. Contact: 828-707-4390. testudine2002@yahoo.com. Free. Seasons of Change Winter 2026 Book Club This *virtual* restorative justice book club hosted by Stand-in Restorative Justice; copy of “The Little Book of RJ” provided. The intention behind this book club is to learn about Restorative Justice through reading and facilitated dialogue with fellow Central Oregonians. The dialogue will be centered around re-entry, reintegration, & repair. Thu, Feb. 19, 6-7:30pm. Contact: 541-728-3783. info@standinrj.org. Free.

Speed Dating (ages 50ish and up) Meet other single men and women 50+ at this Speed Dating event, hosted by professional matchmakers. Feb. 23, 6-8pm. Stoller Wine Bar Bend, 555 NW Arizona Ave., Bend. Contact: info@epiphanymatch.com. $10.

Speed Dating @ Ponch’s Place - Bend (ages 40ish +) **First Drink is Free!** Get ready to meet potential matches at a Speed Dating event (ages 40ish and up) - who knows, you might just find your perfect match! Exclusively for singles ages 40ish +, put on by professional matchmakers. Participants get their first drink FREE! Feb. 18, 6-8pm. Ponch’s Place, 62889 NE Oxford Ct., Bend. Contact: info@epiphanymatch. com. $15.

Teen Listening Session With Camp Fire Central Oregon (All Teens Get a $25 Gift Card to Participate!) Join Camp Fire for a listening session to shape the future of teen programs. Share your ideas, connect with others, and earn a $25 gift card. Help create a low-pressure club focused on friendship, community service, and career exploration. Sign up at campfireco.org/teenconnects! Feb. 20, 5-6:30pm. The Open Arts Center, 999 NE 2nd Street, Bend. Contact: 5413824682. info@ campfireco.org. 0.

Wildfire Home Protection Strategies

A free, expert-led training designed to support professionals and community members in making fire-smart decisions for homes and properties. Registration req. Feb. 20, 9am-Noon. The Breakroom, 1055 “B Northwest Newport Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-548-6088. rachel.humpert@ oregonstate.edu. Free.

Women’s Cancer Support Group A group of women cancer survivors providing support and information to those newly diagnosed with cancer and/or undergoing treatment. Thursdays, 1-3pm. First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: judyerickso@gmail.com. Free.

Yoga Mama 6-Week Series Develop a yoga and mindful practice that will build strength and flexibility and help balance out your emotions. Reduce common “mom” tensions. Tuesdays, 6:30-7:45pm. Through May 12. Contact: 5412413919. info@freespiritbend.com. $144.

Yoga Wall 6-Week Series Experience the magic of the Yoga Wall with gentle support that helps you feel open, balanced, and strong. Thursdays, 6:30-7:45pm. Through May 14. Contact: 5412413919. info@freespiritbend.com. $144.

FUNDRAISING

Bingo for Senior Dogs Join RylieMay Rescue Ranch and Spider City Brewing for bingo, raffle, drinks and fun. All proceeds from bingo and raffles go to RMRR and $1 from beverage sales from Spider City will benefit the ranch. It’s sure to be a blast. Feb. 19, 6-8pm. Spider City Brewing - Brewery Tap Room, 1177 SE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: ryliemayrescueranch@gmail.com.

Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo supporting the Anti-Trafficking Project Cash prizes, laughs and community connection. All proceeds support the anti-trafficking project and the survivors we serve locally. Feb. 22, 9:30am-Noon. Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Contact: 5412338191. amyg@jbarj.org. $13-$200.

Snowballer Bingo Presented by CRUX

Win some bling and help raise the roof for Central Oregon Avalanche Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 50% goes to non-profit, 50% goes to winners! Tuesdays, 6-8pm. Through March 10. Crux Fermentation Project, 50 SW Division St., Bend. Contact: (541) 385-3333. eventsbreakingfree@gmail.com.

EVENTS + MARKETS

Sacred Women’s Retreat Allow our inner goddesses to shine and activate our hearts in sisterhood together. This is for the woman that is ready to liberate herself, connect to her own medicine and embody deeper layers of her feminine expression. Join us! Feb. 19, 5pm. Contact: 505385-6943. hello@kellyniewellness.com. $777.

Vintage Rendezvous Clothing Popup

Discover unique vintage to modern pieces while soaking in an incredible live atmosphere featuring beats from DJ Mr. Danimals. Feb. 20, 4-8pm. Crux Fermentation Project, 50 SW Division St., Bend. Contact: 5413256676. vintagehouse81@ gmail.com. 0.

FAMILY + KIDS

Art for Pre-school Class A class designed just for preschoolers ages 3–5! Each month features new themes and includes hands-on art projects, games, poems, story time, sensory-based pretend play and fun! Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10am-Noon. Wondery Art + Adventure School, 19570 Amber Meadow Dr Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 434-603-0301. julie@wonderyschool.com. Starting at $45.

Hello! Storytime Sharing stories, movement and a touch of music with 0-5 year olds, geared toward those younger ages. Feb. 25, 10:30-11am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. 0.

Kids Ninja Warrior Classes Challenging Ninja Warrior circuits will keep your kids developing new skills. They will feel empowered as they improve speed, increase strength, become more coordinated, and enhance athletic abilities. Mutiple class times and series available for various ages. Contact: 5412413919. info@ freespiritbend.com. $144.

Jr Snow Ranger Discover Your Northwest and Mt. Bachelor invite families to explore the wonders of the forest and learn about the importance of winter, all while earning a Junior Snow Ranger badge. This free family event will be hosted at the Early Riser Yurt in the Sunrise Base Area. Sat, Feb. 21, 10am-2pm. Mt. Bachelor, 13000 Century Drive, Bend. 0. Kid’s Yoga at Namaspa! Kids classes (open to kids ages 3 and up) run in tandem with adult classes and in a separate and dedicated kid-friendly space, so parents can practice while their kids spend time with other kids and certified kids yoga instructors Mondays, 4-5pm. Namaspa Yoga Studio, 1135 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-550-8550. soundbathstillness@gmail.com. $10.

Mom + Baby Yoga 6-Week Series (Winter/Spring Flow from pose to pose, toning, stretching and strengthening your body while releasing tension. Work to properly strengthen abdominal and back muscles to reduce postpartum back pain, while including movements and songs with babies. 6-week series, moms and babies age 6 weeks - pre-crawlers. No class 3/26. Thursdays, 10:30-11:45am, Through May 14. Contact: 5412413919. info@ freespiritbend.com. $144.

Prenatal Yoga 6-Week Series Rejuvenate, relax, and recharge as we move, breathe, and build community with other expectant moms! You’ll reduce common pregnancy discomforts and tensions, prepare your body for birth, improve your postpartum recovery, and bring mindfulness to your daily life. All levels/stages of pregnancy are welcome. No class the week of 3/23. Saturdays, 10:30-11:45am. Through May 16. Contact: 5412413919. info@freespiritbend. com. $144.

Tiny Artist Series Special art classes designed for ages 0-6! Dive into process-based art through sensory stations, open-ended exploration, and hands-on creative play. With rotating themes and art stations each week, children develop independence, enhance fine motor skills, build expressive language abilities, and gain confidence through art! Tuesdays, 9:15-10:15am and Thursdays-Fridays, 10-11am. Through Feb. 13. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-892-6471. Briony@twosunsartstudio.com. $18.

Wild Art Wednesdays! Come create with us each Wednesday on early release days from 3-6pm! Each week we explore new themes, art mediums and nature! Sibling discounts available! Wednesdays. Wondery Art + Adventure School, 19570 Amber Meadow Dr Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 4346030301. julie@wonderyschool.com.

FOOD + DRINK

Global Eats Pop-Up: Saute at Discovery Corner Bringing the flavors of Korean home cooking to Discovery Corner, Sauté is rooted in family tradition and inspired by generations of Korean recipes. Grab lunch or dinner from the Korean food cart + a matcha tea from Matcha.Bar Friday: 5–7 PM Saturday: 11 AM–2 PM & 5–7 PM Feb. 20, 5-7pm and Feb. 21, 11am-7pm. Discovery Corner Plaza, 1125 NW Ochoa Drive, Bend.

BEER + DRINK

$10 Rebuy Hold’em Tournament Thursday Night $10 no limit Hold’em poker tournament at Bend Poker Room starting at 6pm. Bend Poker Room, 917 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. Contact: bendpokerroom@gmail.com. $10.

$20 Tuesdays Every Tuesday, all to-go wine bottles are $20 with the purchase of a glass. Enjoy wines you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Tuesdays, 3-10pm. Hasta Que Olvidemos, 1142 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541241-2443.

Brewery Bingo with Wild Ride Bingo is back at Ponch’s Place — this time with Wild Ride Brewing. Feb. 20, 6-8pm. Ponch’s Place, 62889 NE Oxford Ct., Bend. Contact: 541-236-5426. info@ponchsplace.com. Free.

Bubble Bar Weekend at Viaggio Wine Merchant Our monthly weekend-long celebration of the finer things in life! Enjoy a curated flight of 3 gorgeous Champagnes along with additional by-the-glass bubbles and a European-style food menu. Fri, Feb. 20, Noon-9pm, Sat, Feb. 21, Noon-9pm and Sun, Feb. 22, 2-8pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. Varies by Purchase.

Casino Royale Casino Night Feb. 21, 6-9:30pm. RE/MAX Key Properties, 42 NW Greenwood Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-3230964.

Coffee Bar & Brunch Now open for delicious weekend brunch, weekday craft coffee and breakfast everyday! Sunriver Brewing Company’s Eastside Pub is an East Bend meeting spot for friends and family. A place for community gathering, featuring large locally crafted wood tables, open kitchen, kids play area, and relaxed outdoor seating. Saturdays-Sundays. Sunriver Brewing Co. - Eastside Pub, 1500 NE Cushing Dr., Bend. $10-$30.

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.

Friday Night $80 Poker Tournament

Bend Poker Room is hosting the most popular no limit hold’em poker tournament starting at 6pm. Bend Poker Room, 917 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. Contact: (541) 508-9123. bendpokerroom@ gmail.com. $80.

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

Industry Appreciation Day! 20% off for all Industry friends! Wednesdays, 2-8pm. Contact: taryn@thealeapothecary.com. Free.

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

The Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary is nature’s wonder to behold. Check out the upcoming Fort Rock Stargazing Tours for an unforgettable visit.

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

Monday WINE Down @ Portello Lounge Survived Monday? Reward yourself! All wines by the glass are $9 all night at Portello Lounge EVERY Monday. Mondays, 4-9pm. Portello Lounge, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: contact@portellobend.com.

Stoked for Thursdays $2 Stokes Lager on draft all day! Come play some giant Jenga, foosball or shuffleboard and enjoy some of the cheapest draft beer around! Thu, Feb. 19. JC’s Bar & Grill, 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Contact: 5413833000. jcsbend@gmail.com. Free.

Suttle Lodge’s 2026 Winter Beer Fest Join us for the Suttle Lodge Winter Beer Festival! We’ve got three days of beer-filled fun with your favorite Oregon craft breweries, live music, cozy fires and lots of woodsy winter magic. Fri, Feb. 20, Noon-4pm. The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. Contact: 541-323-0964.

Taco & Margarita Tuesdays Enjoy 2/$10 chipotle chicken street tacos and $10 margaritas! Tuesdays, 4-9pm. Portello Lounge, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-385-1777. contact@portellobend.com. Free.

Thirsty Thursday! $7 glasses of wine/bubbles, $4 Rainiers, $10 margaritas + mules, $7 Wild Roots vodka lemonades, $12 Aperol spritz. Thursdays, 4-9pm. Portello Lounge, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-385-1777. contact@portellobend.com. Free.

Tiki Tuesdays Every Tuesday we features a new rum at a discounted price. Tuesdays, 4-11pm. The Flamingo Room, 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 5413230472. info@theflamingoroombend.com.

Trappist Tuesdays @ The Monkless Brasserie A fun, Belgian-inspired twist on happy hour. Explore the rich world of Belgian beer with $1 off all Belgian Bottle Flights. Tuesdays, 3-6pm. Through May 26. Monkless Belgian Ales - Brasserie, 803 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: 5417976760.

Winter Bottle Share Series Winter calls for good company and great beer. Each month features a different theme and a chance to open something special with fellow beer lovers! Fri, Feb. 20, 6-8pm. The Ale Apothecary Tasting Room, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541797-6265. Free.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

Anchor with Amanita A restorative evening weaving Amanita Muscaria education, Reiki, and sound. Rest into the medicine’s grounding energy as vibration and stillness guide you inward. Feb. 19, 6-7:30pm. Pine & Prism Wellness Collective, 856 NW Bond St., Suite 202, Bend. Contact: 9186715457. hello@pineandprism.com. $55-$70. Be & Belong: Suicide Prevention and Loss Support Meet with others who struggle with suicide ideation, have lost someone to suicide or know someone struggling with suicide ideation. This is a SAFE space to share with others who understand how you feel. Wed, Feb. 25, 6-7:30pm. Cottage 33, 33 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 5416336117. onewellbend@ gmail.com. Free.

Belly Dance Classes, all levels welcome Expand your movement language by learning a variety of Belly Dance styles + build strength, grace, confidence, & community. Performance opportunities for those who desire Mondays, 5-6:15pm. Private Studio, ., Bend. Contact: templetribalfusion.com/contact/. $20.

Coffee Walk with Coach Michelle Let Coach Michelle of Ceiling: Unlimited buy you a coffee and then learn all about Learn to Run Bend while strolling with new registrants and past participants! LTRB starts 3/14/26. Feb. 21, 10-11am. Downtown Bend, Corner of Wall Street and Newport Avenue, Bend. Contact: 503-4810595. michelle@ceilingunlimitedhealthcoaching. com. FREE.

Cutlass tournament training The Bend 1595 Club is holding another cutlass fencing campaign starting in March. Monthly competitions through August. During February, we are holding practice sessions to prepare participants with needed skills and knowledge of the tournament rules. Wednesdays, 5:15-7pm. Through Feb. 25. Bend Masonic Center, 1036 NE Eighth St., Bend. Contact: 541-241-6742. contact@ bend1595.com. Free.

EcoNidra: Where Yoga Nidra Meets

Nature Connection A blend of yoga nidra and forest bathing that helps us sleep better, restore profound peace and rejuvenation to the body, and cultivate a deeper level of nature connectedness. Feb. 23, 6:30-7:30pm. Hanai, 62430 Eagle Rd, Bend. Contact: indy@rootedpresence. com. $22.

Energetic Readings/Intuitive Readings

Tuning into your unique energy system, we explore where you feel stuck, limited, or unsettled, and how you can shift to feel more joyful and empowered. In-person and Zoom. Learn more at bluelotusenergetics.com/energetic-readings.

Tuesdays, 10am-7pm and Thursdays, 7-9pm. Blue Lotus Energetics, 145 NE Revere Ave, Studio C, Bend. Contact: 541-241-2207. hello@bluelotusenergetics.com. $125.

Experience Divine Healing! The Divine Healers are a wonderfully talented community of healers doing Angelic channeling, Reiki, Quantum Healing, Angel Card & Tarot readings, Mediumship, and Healing Touch every 3rd Saturday 2 - 4 PM at Unity Spiritual Community. Through Dec. 31. Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend. Contact: Info@ DivineHealers.org. Donation-based.

Exploring Your Past Lives Workshop

Learn how to: Travel to + access the Akashic Records Library Journey to your past lives to harvest the goodness + gifts they offer Cut cords + ties to your past lives to allow freedom in this lifetime Gain skills + tools to work with past lives on your own. Feb. 18, 6-7:30pm. Hanai Foundation, 62430 Eagle Road, Bend. Contact: (541) 668-6494. hello@sarahnoble.com. $111.

Healing Circle Tired of being stuck in your story? Stuck in judgement and lack of freedom internally? Learn to practice the 6 steps of undoing stuck emotions and apply the Choose again Method. Third Saturday of every month, 1:30pm. Through Dec. 19. Location TBA. Contact: 760208-9097. lmhauge4@gmail.com. Free.

Healing Flow Yoga + Guided Sound Meditation Blends fluid movement and mindfulness to create a heart-centered holistic yoga practice. Close out the class with a sound meditation using crystal singing bowls to guide you. Sliding scale pricing, drop-ins welcome. Fridays, 9:30-10:30am. Through Feb. 27. Hanai Center, 62430 Eagle Road, Bend. Contact: 5419052949. soundbathstillness@gmail.com. $10-$15.

Heart, Breath, Spine, Arms — A Movement and Embodiment Workshop Explore movement and embodiment practices in the region of your body where you feel emotions, express yourself, and engage with the world. Feb. 21, 11:30am-1:30pm. Private Residence, To be shared after registration, Bend. Contact: 5416335977. info@bodyandbeinghealing.com. 30..

Introduction to Meditation: All Skill Levels Welcome Our gathering consists of a short intro, group meditation practice (in chairs or bring a floor cushion), and then a few minutes for discussion, questions, and sharing. Led by Austin, a Redmond resident and experienced meditation guide. Wed, Feb. 25, 5:30pm. Redmond Library, 827 Southwest Deschutes Ave, Redmond. Contact: elainemarshall1111@gmail. com. Free.

Krav Maga Self Defense Classes Learn simple, effective techniques that actually work in a dynamic and fun class with realistic drills. Age 15 or older, no experience necessary. First class is always free, $30/class after that. Please arrive >15mins early. Mondays, 7:30-8:30pm. Through March 17. Tula Movement Arts, 2797 NW Clearwater Drive, Suite 100, Bend. Contact: 503-705-7838. bendselfdefense@gmail.com. First class is free.

Pain Free Posture - Celebrating More than 50 Years of The Vance Stance Tired of being in pain? Get to the root of why you are tight & suffering. Learn to stand in gravity, not behind it. Offering a series of 5 1.5 hour sessions in my private studio for $175. Wednesdays, 12-1:30pm. EastSide Home Studio, 21173, Bend. Contact: 541-330-9070. vancebonner@juno. com. $175 for 5 class series.

Purrrfect Harmony: A Cat Cafe Sound Bath Experience ultimate relaxation with a Sound Bath & Cats! Let soothing vibrations from bowls, gongs, and chimes blend with calming purrs to reduce stress and boost mood. Feb. 21, 9:30-10:30am. Playful Paws Cat Cafe, 1465 SW Knoll Ave, Bend. Contact: 8508325703. align45llc@gmail.com. $35.

ROD STRYKER on Tantra Yoga: Asana, Bandha, Mudra A joyful 2-day immersion with Rod Stryker, one of the world’s most inspiring yoga teachers. Feb. 21, 9:30am-5pm and Feb. 22, 9am-4pm. Yoga Shala Bend, 806 NW Brooks St. Suite 200, Bend. Contact: 541 668 6890. yogashalabend@gmail.com. $90.

Tarot & Tea Cozy up with a cup of tea and let Tarot support you in whatever may be on your mind. Secure your spot ahead of time at threedeertarot.com Feb. 21, 11am-2pm. The Peoples Apothecary, 1841 NE Division St, Bend. Contact: 541-728-2368. hello@threedeertarot.com. $66. The Alcohol-Free Path to Productivity Curious how alcohol may be affecting your stress, focus, or follow-through? This interactive workshop explores alcohol’s impact on the nervous system and productivity, plus simple desk-friendly tools for clearer thinking and steadier energy. Feb. 19, 12-12:50pm. The Haven CoWorking, 1001 Southwest Disk Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-241-8678. cricket@cricketfixes. com. $15.

The Slow Down Series: Breathwork and Meditation for Relaxation A relaxing session of guided breathwork and meditation that is centered all around slowing down and embracing the present moment. Wed, Feb. 25, 6-7pm. Hanai, 62430 Eagle Rd, Bend. Contact: 949-274-2731. jane@thewowphase.com. $20.

Two-Day Meditation Instruction Workshop An experiential meditation instruction workshop where you’ll learn to quiet the mind, perceive subtle energy, and awaken inner vision. Feb. 21, 9:30am-5pm and Feb. 22, 9:30am-5pm. Cottage 33, 33 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-285-4972. awakeningthethirdeyebend@ gmail.com. $250-$295.

Women’s Rewilding A nourishing pause to receive, restore, and radiate~leave feeling, uplifted, and ready to meet the season with ease and grace! Third Thursday of every month, 6:308:30pm. Through Feb. 19. Hanai, 62430 Eagle Rd, Bend. $28.

Yoga + Community Tea With Do Yoga Outside An hour of slow, intentional yoga and 30 minutes of Tea + Community Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm. Through Feb. 25. Yoga + Community Tea, 3091 NE Nathan Dr, Bend. Contact: 5416102779. hayley@doyogaoutside.com. $25.

Yoga + Sound Bath at Hanai Immerse yourself in an evening of deep relaxation and renewal with candle-lit gentle flow Yoga and Sound Bath. Every other Thursday, 6-7:15pm. Through March 26. Hanai Center, 62430 Eagle Road, Bend. Contact: soundbathstillness@gmail. com. $20.

Warm up with winter beers at Suttle Lodge’s 2026 Winter Beer Fest, happening Friday.

Unsplash

GUNG HO

By Nic Moye

Channeling Willie to Shut Out the Chaos

A free Willie Nelson tribute is aimed at uniting locals in harmony

I“t’s extremely hard to look out at the world today, at our communities, and come to grips with the kind of darkness that is increasingly seeping into every single last corner of dayto-day life,” says local musician Joe Estrada. “And while there’s plenty we can all be doing within our individual capacities, it’s still hard not to feel totally helpless at times.”

In his quest to shut out the darkness, if only for a few hours, Estrada is organizing a Willie Nelson tribute at The Cellar in downtown Bend on Friday, Feb. 27. “The idea for this show was the result of coming to grips with a lot of pain, fear and feelings of complete helplessness. Feelings I had myself, for sure, but feelings I also saw and heard from all of the people I care about the most in my life.”

Estrada has a lengthy and deep passion for Willie Nelson, studying his music as a child. “Willie Nelson, in my mind, is a true model of what it means to walk the walk. He has, throughout his long career, used his music and his platform to bring people of all backgrounds together, to help those in need, and to give an honest damn about the world we are creating and leaving behind for future generations.”

The free tribute concert will include a variety of local musicians including Jake Soto of Larkspur Stand

& the Bluegrass Collective, Maggie Jackson of the Dust Devils, Cecilia Voss, Jim Brown, Jason Burkey and Charlee Prayers, though Estrada says more could show up.

The Cellar features live musicians on Friday and Saturday evenings and has become a place Estrada spends a lot of time. “It’s cozy, extremely welcoming and the handmade pies are amazing.” He expects a good turnout for the Willie Nelson tribute. “In my mind, it’s hard to think of a bigger icon worthy of celebrating.”

Estrada says if the night is a success, he hopes to put on a larger, ticketed event to raise money for local nonprofits such as the Bend Latino Community Association and NeighborImpact. In the meantime, he hopes the evening is a small reprieve from disturbing current events.

“I just thought it was a perfect excuse to bring all of my friends and neighbors together to sing a few great songs, laugh, eat some amazing food, and to enjoy a moment of genuine togetherness.”

Willie Nelson Tribute Fri., Feb. 27 6-8pm The Cellar 206 NW Oregon Ave., Ste 2, Bend Free

Joe Estrada is putting on a Willie Nelson tribute at the Cellar on Feb. 27.

Joe Estrada

CHOW C Reubens, Rye and a Room with a View

Classic deli comfort with Pacific Northwest polish

By Donna Britt

Familiar, but fresh. Big flavors without the fuss. A New York City-style deli through a Pacific Northwest lens. That’s how I would sum up the new Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen in the Old Mill District.

The nostalgic, yet polished Stacks comes from longtime local restauranteurs Steve and Cheri Helt, the duo behind Zydeco Kitchen and Cocktails in downtown Bend. They know how to create atmosphere and build a space where people want to linger. At Stacks, they lean into classic deli traditions while showcasing farm-fresh Northwest ingredients, in-house, cured and smoked meats and fish and a menu that invites repeat visits.

The evening my family dined at Stacks, the initial opening week buzz had calmed just enough. No line out the door this time, which meant we could take in the airy space and snag a table toward the back, where floor length windows frame a glowing sunset over the mountains. You order at the counter, grab a number and before you know it, the food starts arriving. I was genuinely astonished by how quickly everything came out.

Our table went big of course. We ordered the Corned Beef with brown mustard on rye, the Reuben with pastrami, Swiss, thousand island and sauerkraut on rye, and the Italian sandwich stacked with capicola, mortadella, salami, provolone and lettuce with a pepper and olive relish on a soft club roll. On the side, we added the Little Gems Caesar Salad and the Napa Cabbage and Scallion Salad. Each sandwich arrived piled high with meat, the kind of generous portion that makes you pause and adjust your grip before lifting it. Pickled onion and a bright red crunchy pepper came alongside each plate. Normally there is also a wedge of pickle, but they had sold out that evening, which honestly felt like a good sign. These are sandwiches that demand commitment and possibly a nap afterward.

Everyone at the table was happy. The breads were soft and fresh, the condiments clearly homemade and flavorful, and the meats were rich, tender and plentiful. My corned beef was excellent, though I would have loved a heavier hand with the brown mustard. Next time I will order extra on the side. The Reuben was a crowd favorite, indulgent and balanced, with that perfect ratio of meat to sauerkraut to melty cheese. The Italian sandwich delivered on salt, fat and crunch in all the right ways.

The Little Gems Caesar deserves its own moment. It was crisp, cold and perfectly dressed. The Napa Cabbage and Scallion Salad was equally fresh and crunchy, offering a lighter, snappier counterpoint to the heft of the sandwiches.

Stacks is not just about the food, though that would be enough. The space itself is what I would call elevated deli. A high rounded ceiling with exposed lumber beams gives the room an open, welcoming feel, while windows wrap the space in light. There is a full bar with diner stools if you want to perch with a drink, along with booths and half booth tables lining the walls and plenty of seating both inside and out on the patio.

The attention to detail really shines in the soundproofing, which is thoughtfully placed throughout the space, sometimes hidden, sometimes masquerading as art. It makes conversation easy even with a full room, adding to a sense of coziness that can be hard to pull off in a tall-ceilinged space. It is casual and relaxed and a perfect fit in the Old Mill District.

I plan to go back soon because the menu is full of yumminess that caught my attention. Beet- cured salmon lox, classic NYC-style latkes with apple butter and caramelized onion crema, smoked turkey sandwich options, and a variety of platters loaded with meats, pickles and bread that seem perfect for sharing, charcuterie style. Dinner offerings include herb-glazed

rotisserie chicken, seared flat iron steak, and an Oregon mushroom lasagna, among others. Sides range from new potato salad and pickle plates to cucumber, onion and dill salad.

And then there is dessert, because no proper deli experience ends without something sweet. On the night we visited, the seasonal house baked pie was apple crumb, and yes, we ordered it. And yes, it was perfect. Flaky crust, tender apples, just sweet enough. There is also soft serve ice cream and soft serve sundaes, which makes my inner five-year-old very happy.

The beverage program covers all the bases with signature cocktails and mocktails, a small but thoughtful selection of white and red wines, a couple of local beers on draft, and a cooler up front stocked with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Cocktails run $12 to $15, right in line with what you see around town.

Prices overall feel fair for the quality and portion size. A bowl of rotisserie chicken soup with egg noodles or rice comes in at $10. Sandwiches begin at $17, with the towering Reuben clocking in at $24. That is not an inexpensive sandwich, but it is huge, easily shareable, and deeply satisfying. Dinner plates top out around $35 for the seared flat iron steak with schmaltz potatoes and roasted carrots.

Bottom line, I loved the vibe. Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen feels welcoming and comfortable, a place you can drop in for lunch, linger over dinner, or just swing by for dessert. So follow the unmistakable aroma of cured meat, toasted rye and freshly baked pie and check it out when you get the chance.

Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen Daily 11:30am—8pm

#910, Bend stacksdinneranddelicatessen.com

LITTLE BITES

By Nic Moye

Bacon Lovers Have a New Haven bacon Bar N Brunch opens in Redmond

Anew breakfast spot prominently featuring bacon has opened near downtown Redmond. bacon Bar N Brunch celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 5. The restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating, features standard breakfast items like eggs, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal and avocado toast but also has thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, candied bacon, bacon omelettes, BLT and avocado, a bacon, eggn-cheese ‘wich,’ bacon benedicts, a BLT salad and a bacon jam double smash burger. Many other menu items also have the option of adding bacon. bacon Bar N Brunch is owned by husband/wife team Cue and Wendy Chatley. “We could never have imagined how popular our “Smothered Tots” would be — crispy tots smothered in our house-made sausage gravy, cheese, green onions, an organic egg, and, of course, chopped bacon,” Wendy said in an email. New menu items will soon be added. She goes onto say, Beverages include Costa Rican blend coffee, latte, tea, juice, soda, Bloody Mary with a house-made mix, tangerine mimosa and an Aperol spritz. bacon Bar N Brunch is located on NW Cedar Avenue which used to be the location of Christie’s Kitchen.

bacon Bar N Brunch Tue-Sun 7am-2pm 614 NW Cedar Ave., Redmond

Whether you choose the Italian, the Reuben, the Corned Beef or any of the other Stacks sandos, be ready to pick it up with both hands. Salads, sides and sweets are also on the menu at Stacks Deli.

Ashley Sarvis

Wendy Chatley

By Nic Moye

The Hudson Opens to the Public Wed., Feb. 18 The live-fire chophouse is located at 900 NW Wall

The Hudson at 900 NW Wall Street in downtown Bend will begin taking reservations on Tuesday, Feb. 17 for its official opening on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The Hudson is a live-fire chophouse and social club. Steaks, chops, seafood and vegetables are prepared over flames fueled by wood and charcoal.

The Hudson is led by Dale Fuller, Rob Kelleher and Chef George Morris. A news release says Fuller is a technology executive from Apple and McAfee with long-standing ties to Bend. Kelleher is a Bendbased contractor and business owner with roots in the region’s construction and hospitality sectors. Morris is a classically trained chef and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who has led kitchens in New York, Chicago and San Diego. In Bend, Morris was executive chef for Sixtop Restaurant Group, which includes Bos Taurus, Miyagi Ramen, and Hablo Tacos.

Hours on the website indicate the restaurant will only be open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday, 5pm to close with future plans to add a happy hour.

Tea & Art Lounge Opens Soon in Downtown Bend Teal will offer beverages, pastries and the use of art supplies

Anew tea and art lounge is opening in downtown Bend in March. “The concept is to create a comfy, cozy, calm, safe place for people to come and create,” explains Sarah Swoffer who owns Teal with her husband on NW Bond Street next to Deschutes Brewery.

Swoffer expects to open the second week of March. At center stage will be 60+ varieties of tea which are all from local companies including Metolius Artisan Tea, Inspired Leaf and Tumalo Lavender. “The reason I chose tea, aside from loving it personally, is that tea invites us to slow down, whereas coffee, invites us to ‘let’s go!’ which is great. There’s nothing wrong with that, but we wanted that space that just kind of invites you to come down and sip and try the tea,” Swoffer says.

She’ll also have steamers, beer, wine, ciders and Humm Kombucha. The owners of Humm have a 5-year lease on the space and are Swoffer’s landlords. She says in addition to offering Humm’s full array of kombucha flavors, the company will create a flavor of the month which will be on tap at Teal. Swoffer will also sell pastries, toast and jam, cake by the slice as well as small snack and charcuterie plates.

The space used to house a tasting room for Crater Lake Spirits and still has the bar and tiled walls. Swoffer has added rugs, an eclectic collection of wooden tables and a giant floor to ceiling chalkboard. During February’s First Friday she invited the community to stop by and help paint large floral murals on the walls.

Once Teal opens, visitors can bring their own art supplies, order some tea and hang out in a creative space or, for a nominal fee of around $3 to $5, they

can buy, what Swoffer calls, artistic bites such as blank wooden bookmarks or ornaments to decorate with art supplies on a shelf at the back of the lounge.

Swoffer has an art background while her husband, Zach, has business and hospitality experience from working at Brasada Ranch and Rivers Edge Golf Course. Swoffer started offering art classes in her backyard during the pandemic and grew that into her business, Let’s Paint. Eight artists, including herself, will offer a variety of art classes at Teal such as painting, drawing and pottery. Some classes will be held in a private room in the back with smaller classes in the lounge next to the giant chalkboard. There will be classes for all levels and ages. The schedule and registration will be available on the Teal website.

Teal’s overall mission is to become the living room of Bend.

“Our hope is, it’s tea forward. We want the tea lounge. But then we also have that opportunity for things for them to just kind of dabble with on a very small, non-intimidating level. But if they want to come in and not create any art at all, that’s also OK.”

Teal Tea & Art Lounge

Anticipated opening second week of March Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 9am-Close 1024 NW Bond St., Bend Bendteal.com

The upstairs area will be a members-only section available in March. “We have a couple different membership types,” says General Manager Ken Macias. “ A Signature Membership is for the household, and Group Membership is for four single individuals, each with their own membership access. Each membership allows a member to reserve a table for a party of four upstairs in the members lounge each night as well as reserve spots in our monthly events. There is a one-time initiation fee, plus a monthly charge. These numbers are changing slightly as we grow, and we are getting very close to our waitlist numbers.” For more information about memberships, email Membership Manager Samantha Vinciguerra at sam@thehudsonbend.com.

The Hudson Opens Wed. Feb. 18 Wed-Sat 5pm-Close 900 NW Wall St., Bend thehudsonrestaurant.com

The community helped paint floral murals on the walls during February’s First Friday event. Teal is located in the former tasting room for Crater Lake Spirits, next to Deschutes Brewery.

Photos by Nic Moye

Nic Moye

Pizza Week Preview

An eager beaver taste tests pizzas ahead of the much anticipated Pizza Week deals

By Dave Clemens

Pizza. Almost everybody likes it. Not everybody, though. My wife doesn’t. I wish I would have known that before we got married. You hear about people finding out after the wedding some deep dark secret, but this must be the worst kind. I could handle discovering previous marriages, undisclosed children, or belonging to a cult, but you don’t like pizza? What kind of monster are you?

They say that pizza showed up in the United States with Italian immigrants in the late 1800s. Most agree that the first documented pizzeria was in New York, in 1905, and since then, not only has America put its own spin on the pie, but many towns have as well, with New York-style, Chicago deep-dish, Detroit-style, and California-style, just to name a few.

We have a lot of places that serve pizza in Central Oregon, well over 50, so when a friend of mine at the Source mentioned Pizza Week, I volunteered to try every one of the featured slices. That’s going to be a lot of pizza, but I believe I am up for the challenge. There are over a dozen restaurants and food trucks participating, so I started a few days early.

By Nic Moye

Rosemary & Fox to Open Mid-March

The new restaurant will replace The Jackalope Grill which is closing on Feb. 28

The Jackalope Grill in downtown Bend is closing. Its last night will be Feb. 28. A social media post announced the restaurant has been sold. After a remodel, a new restaurant called Rosemary & Fox will open with owners Chef Josh Podwils and his wife, Kate. The name comes from Chef Josh’s favorite herb, rosemary, and the Sierra Nevada red fox, native to Central Oregon, which the owners say represents them as Bend locals, born and raised, and true “unicorns” of a growing city.

My first pizza was the Dirty Italian from Little Pizza Paradise. My son and I ordered the 10-inch pizza online and picked it up at their store by Best Buy. I was looking forward to the marinara, mozzarella, pepperoni, salami, grape tomatoes, ricotta, fior de latte mozzarella and red pepper flakes finished with a honey drizzle & basil, and it was good, but the big bonus was their crust. Honestly, I could just eat that as a snack. There are a lot of flavors on this pizza, and that crust is good!

Next, I went to 10 Barrel (on the east side) for The Italian Bee Sting, featuring marinara, pepperoni, Soppressata, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and hot honey. I’ve had pizza there before and it’s always good, but this was something new, and quite good. This pizza is sure to please, after all, pepperoni is said to be the most popular pizza topping in America, with studies showing that about 65% of people prefer it.

Pizza. Almost everybody likes it. Not everybody, though. My wife doesn’t... You hear about people finding out after the wedding some deep dark secret, but this must be the worst kind. I could handle discovering previous marriages, undisclosed children, or belonging to a cult, but you don’t like pizza? What kind of monster are you?

As I write this, I’m waiting on a Soprano from 10 Barrel West. I believe I’ll have nine more pizzas to try during Pizza Week, and I’ll let you know how it goes.

—Dave Clemens is operations manager and on-air personality for Horizon Broadcasting Group.

The Podwils will take ownership on March 4, give the space a refresh with paint, flooring, art and a new layout of tables. They will launch a new menu when they reopen on March 17. In an email, Chef Podwils told the Source, “Our goal at Rosemary & Fox is to create an elevated menu that is similar to what we have been serving now, but focusing on proteins that come from farms and vendors that support never-never programs (no hormones-no antibiotics). We will also be supporting as many local farms during the summer as we can and sourcing other ingredients that are grown in the Northwest. As far as specialties go, there will always be scallops on the menu. That would be the one specialty that I have become known for.” Rosemary & Fox will also feature wines mainly fron Oregon, Washington, Idaho and northern California. Podwils says he and Kate, “want our guests to feel like they’re in a restaurant that cares about them and what they are doing in life.”

Rosemary & Fox will only be open for dinner with a happy hour launching in April from 4-6pm.

Rosemary & Fox Opening March 17 4-9pm 750 NW Lava Rd. #139, Bend rosemaryandfox.com/

Chef Josh Podwils and his wife Kate are opening Rosemary & Fox on March 17.

The Jackalope Grill Facebook

6

Dave Clemens feasts on The Italian Bee Sting at 10 Barrel east.

Dave Clemens

ATTENTION PIZZA AFFICIONADOUGHS

Pizza Week is here!

For one whole week, 14 local restaurants, pizza joints and carts will feature exceptional pizzas at a special price. Try a slice or bring home a whole pie!

PIZZA PIES

Scan for a chance to win a bundle of Source Perks to local businesses valued at over $125. Chonie's

Fat Tony’s Pizzeria

LA MIGLIORE

Get ready for a flavor explosion!

Our pizza starts with a rich base of fresh mozzarella and creamy ricotta. It's then piled high with savory ezzo pepperoni, fiery hot soppressata, and perfectly seasoned Italian sausage. Finished with vibrant fresh basil for a touch of rightness, this pie is a carnivore's delight with a luxurious, cheesy finish.

215 NW Hill St.

Jackson’s Corner

Sourdough Arrabbiata

Calabrian chili–spiced red sauce, smoked mozzarella, Asiago, Pecorino Romano, oregano, and ricotta rosettes on our sourdough crust.

845 NW Delaware Ave.

$3 slices available

$3 slices available

Little Pizza Paradise

Dirty Italian

A roasted garlic & fresh tomato base layered with salami and pepperoni, fire-roasted grape tomatoes, and a trio of cheeses: whole-milk mozzarella, fresh fior di latte, and rich dollops of ricotta. Finished with just a whisper of red pepper flakes, baked on our 100% stone deck, then crowned with a drizzle of local hive honey and organic basil.

63455 N Highway 97

Pizza Mondo

Flaming Lotus

This year’s global stop for your taste buds is Asia. Pizza Mondo has a pizza week selection that hits all the notes: sweet, spicy, tangy and umami. Caramelized sweet and spicy pulled pork, pickled onions, sesame/lime cabbage slaw, cilantro, scallions and a sesame seeded crust. Sub portabella mushrooms for our vegetarian version.

811 NW Wall St.

Spicy chorizo, crispy potatoes, tomatillo salsa, mozzarella, and Mexican cheese blend, finished with pickled jalapeño, cilantro, Cholula, and cilantro lime crema.

806 NW Brooks St. 495 NE Bellevue Dr.

I Love Ceviche Creamy Shrimp Pizza

12” thin crust shrimp pizza. White, creamy sauce, whole milk mozzarella, 12 ounces of whole shrimp and topped with the loroco flower from El Salvador. Served with marinara.

911 SE Armour Rd Suite B

Ken’s

Artisan Pizza

Chorizo Iberico

Romesco, manchego, mozzarella, castelvetrano, olives, and basil.

1033 NW Bond St.

P!ZZA "The Mighty Duck"

Scratch made savory blood orange sauce, fontina cheese, duck confit, pomegranate caramelized fennel, fresh chives, pomegranate seeds, and five spice dust.

354 NE Penn Ave. Bend 1865 NW Hemlock Ave. Redmond

Sunriver Brewing

The Pesto Party

This gourmet pizza features a vibrant pesto base topped with a savory blend of Italian sausage, Deschutes gourmet mushrooms, and crisp red onions, all finished with a salty, melty duo of shredded mozzarella and feta.

1500 NE Cushing Dr. Bend

3750 SW Badger Ave. Redmond

Experience Amaterra Kitchen & Social Club

Now Hosting Private Events!

From chef-driven, seasonal cuisine to beautifully designed gathering spaces, Amaterra is where memorable moments take shape. Host your next event in one of our newly refurbished private spaces:

• THE WINE LOUNGE – Warm, inviting, and rich with character, featuring original downtown Bend brick and stylish lounge seating.

• THE WINE CELLAR – An intimate, refined setting with a striking heirloom table, luxe seating, and a built-in screen for presentations. Now booking corporate events, celebrations, and special occasions. CALL TO RESERVE YOUR DATE: 541-246-3266

CULTURE

Anew exhibit at the Bowman Museum’s Belknap Exhibit Center is entitled “Soul of the Land: Quilts by June Jaeger.” Jaeger was born in Prineville and has lived there off and on at various points of her life. She feels a deep connection to the small town. “There is just a lot of good people here,” Jaeger says. “I am honored and thrilled to be able to be part of this community.”

Carter Bond, collections specialist for the Bowman Museum, organizes and facilitates temporary exhibits at the Belknap Exhibit Center. One of the museum volunteers knew June and reached out to her. “June sent us a lot of her artwork, and it is just beautiful….these are straight-up art pieces. It really worked out perfectly in our favor and really kicked off the year,” Bond says. “We are excited to have June Jaeger’s quilts in the Exhibit Center now.”

June Jaeger’s background Jaeger’s work was featured in regional, national and international exhibitions, earning numerous awards. She has also spent years teaching textile arts to other quilters and artists, inspiring others with her passion and focus on nature. She creates her work primarily by hand, continuing to draw and design without the use of computers, while valuing the authenticity and personal connection of traditional techniques.

More than 100 people attended a Feb. 13 reception for the exhibit which includes richly detailed quilts and textile pieces reflecting the rhythm, spirit and soul of the land.

“She has a heartfelt appreciation for nature and horses,” said local quilter and watercolor artist, Carol Achille. “She captures tones and colors amazingly with material and fabric. She has a lot of patience to do the needlework and skills of such detailed work. Her willingness to share her quilts with all of us is truly amazing. People would think it is an oil painting, it is so detailed.”

‘The Soul of the Land’

The new Belknap Exhibit Center at Bowman Museum in Prineville features the work of June Jaeger

By Ramona McCallister

Jaeger is a fifth generation Oregonian and attended schools in Redmond. She says horses, which are featured in some of her quilts, have been in her life since she was five years old. “They have been my go-to.” She pointed out her passion and love of equines. Jaeger also indicated that she was shy growing up, but “I could talk to horses and tell them anything.”

Jaeger studied veterinary medicine in college and later went into art education. “That is where a lot of my background was, but it wasn’t on the sewing end,” she emphasized. “Animals have always been strong in my heart and in my life.”

Jaeger also has a love for nature. “That includes plants, animals, weather — just Mother Nature. It’s hard to recreate what she has created, but I do my own version of what I see — of what fills my soul.”

Jaeger takes pictures for inspiration, and many are from horseback rides. “I am always stopping and taking pictures of trees — maybe a closeup of bark and burls.” She also takes photos of water, often wading into the middle of a river for the shot.

“Nature is just it for me,” she said with conviction. Jaeger married a farmer and rancher after college, and they always had horses. “I trained. I ran tractors. I pulled calves. I did it all,” said Jaeger of farm life.

At age 23, the year her son was born, her sister introduced her to quilting. “It was something I enjoyed,” said Jaeger. “I liked the texture of the fabric and the feel of what you could do with it. I started right in designing my own patterns.” Jaeger and her husband moved to Pendleton, and she opened a quilt store.

“It was a lot of work, and it took me away from farming,” she recalled. “It made my husband unhappy, and we ended up going different ways. I ended up having to sell the shop after five years.”

Around this time she started dabbling in patterns and special quilts that were horse-and rodeo-oriented. She made a quilt for every rodeo event. She moved back to Prineville and built a log cabin in the Ochocos. She taught classes in Sisters at the Stitching Post and eventually moved there.

June’s involvement in her community

Jaeger still teaches classes. She also does a lot for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show including making postcards and storybook quilts to auction off for them. “I volunteered there for 50 years.” She is also involved with The Studio Art Quilters Association and the East of the Cascades Quilt Guild.

As she approaches 80, Jaeger reflects that she still likes to push her abilities to new levels.

“I am just involved in a lot,” concluded Jaeger. “I have cut back quite a bit, but I am focusing on what I like to do, which is quilts that fill my heart.”

“Soul of the Land: Quilts by June Jaeger” Through March 21, Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 11am-4pm The Belknap Exhibit Center at Bowman Museum 136 NE Third St., Prineville crookcountyhistorycenter.org/event/soul-of-the-land-quilts-byjune-jaeger/ Free

Nancy Vernon, left, with June Jaeger in front of one of Jaeger’s quilts featuring a mule team.

Carter Bond, Bowman Museum collections specialist, stands in front of a June Jaeger quilt that features a juniper tree with a golden sky.

Photos by Ramona McCallister

SC SCREEN Off The Radar

Six new releases, one sleepy writer

By Jared Rasic

We’re still smack dab in the middle of that time of year when most of what’s getting released doesn’t have much cultural cachet (or a massive marketing budget) and so gets quietly released around the end of January or the top half of February… just somewhere in the first quarter of the year. I still spent entirely too much of my time watching movies, because I am nothing if not dedicated, so here are six random releases that are either worth your time or that I destroyed myself to witness, I’m not saying which.

“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die:” The first film from criminally underrated filmmaker Gore Verbinski since 2016’s “A Cure for Wellness,” and it was absolutely worth the wait. This sci-fi/comedy/adventure sees the always amazing Sam Rockwell as a time traveller from the future, sent back to modern times to recruit a handful of people from a diner to help him save the world from a rogue AI. Equal parts “12 Monkeys,” “Buckaroo Banzai,” “Donnie Darko” and “Black Mirror,” the film is a wildly entertaining and unpredictable rollercoaster from top to bottom. Filled with honest performances, limitless imagination, kinetic and jaw-dropping filmmaking and a timely warning about the dangers of AI, it also plays like an over-the-top satire aimed at anyone thinking “Dr. Strangelove” was too subtle. While the film is overstuffed and messy at times, it’s still an absolute blast that demands to be seen in a big room full of people.

“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.”

Dir. Gore Verbinski

Grade: B+

Now playing at Regal Old Mill

“Whistle:” A teen horror flick about a cursed Aztec whistle that summons your future death in ways so ironic, unsubtle and ridiculous that it plays like an unintentional comedy half the time. As dumb as that premise is, I was excited because it starred future greats Sophie Nélisse (“Yellowjackets”) and Dafne Keen (“Logan”), and was directed by Corin Hardy, who made the fun English/Irish folk horror flick, “The Hallow.” Instead of fun, with “Whistle,” we get an early-2000s-coded thriller complete with hilariously stupid teenagers, lazy jump scares, terrible CGI and endlessly inane dialogue, but it also has a couple of wonderfully gnarly and inventive deaths, a sweet lesbian romance and an Olivia Rodrigo needle-drop, so it’s hard to hate it completely. This is what you get if you order “Final Destination” from Temu.

“Whistle”

Dir. Corin Hardy

Grade: C-

Now Playing at Regal Old Mill

“The Strangers- Chapter 3:” Makes the same mistakes that Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” movies did by trying to humanize the true personification of evil, but being limited by imagination and writing ability. By giving us psychological motivation for this franchise’s trio of serial killers, director Renny Harlin and writers Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland have robbed these terrifying masked maniacs of what made them frightening in the first place. Having evil be an unstoppable, unknowable force is why Michael Myers is still an icon after 50 years, not because we relate to him as a person. This horrible third entry not only kills the vibe of the first two (and Bryan Bertino’s 2008 original), but makes the entire trilogy ultimately worthless, if fitfully entertaining.

“The Strangers

Chapter 3”

Dir. Renny Harlin

Grade: F

Now Playing at Regal Old Mill

“Send Help:” This feels like someone gave Sam Raimi a few million dollars to make an oversized episode of “Tales from the Crypt,” and he just went for it. Featuring an instantly iconic performance from Rachel McAdams as Linda Liddle, a beleaguered strategy and planning worker who gets stranded on a desert island with her douche-bro boss (played by a note-perfect Dylan O’Brien) and finally has the upper hand. See, she’s been training to get on "Survivor" for years, so while her boss is miserable and terrified, Linda is living her best life. Watching McAdams and O’Brien bounce off each other for 90 minutes is almost as much of a treat as seeing Raimi let loose with some goofy slapstick gore and pitch-black comedy. While the special effects are sometimes painfully bad and the writing confuses predictability for inevitability, the film is ultimately a much-needed throwback blast to the kind of mid-budget thriller that we stopped getting from studios years ago. Big, dumb and fun.

“Send Help”

Dir. Sam Raimi

Grade: B-

Now Playing at Regal Old Mill, Redmond Cinema, Madras Cinema 5

“Shelter:” Jason Statham IS John Shelter, an ex-assassin living in an abandoned lighthouse off the coast of Scotland. When a young girl crashes on his island and needs protection, he will step out of the shadows for the first time in a decade and be hunted by rogue MI6 agents who want him dead. Actually, Statham’s character is named Michael Mason, but John Shelter would have been so much cooler. “Shelter” has an almost identical plot to 2012’s “Safe” (I’m a Statham completist, sorry), but without the style. In fact, even with great supporting performances by Naomi Ackie and Bill Nighy, this is still too self-serious and plodding to be as fun as recent Statham joints like “The Beekeeper” and “Wrath of Man.” He (and we) can do better.

“Shelter”

Dir. Ric Roman Waugh

Grade: D

Now Playing at Regal Old Mill

“Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!:” This lovely three and a half hour documentary chronicles the life of one of the OG disruptors in cinema, Mel Brooks. From his childhood in Brooklyn to his current filming of “Spaceballs 2,” this reverently follows almost a hundred years in the life of a groundbreaking comedian who has dedicated those decades to making people laugh and not regretting it for a second. If you’re a fan of the man, this is crucial. Just make sure you have lots of time to kill, because you’ll immediately want to watch “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein” when it ends. This is good for the soul.

“Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!”

Dir. Judd Apatow & Michael Bonfiglio

Grade: B+

Streaming on HBO Max

20th Century Studios

Briarcliff

Rachel McAdams carries every frame of "Send Help" like a boss.

Sam Rockwell should just be in every movie, please.

"GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE"

"SEND HELP"

LITTLE WOMEN

Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott

FEB. 27th– MAR . 8th

February 27, 28 and March 6, 7 at 7pm March 1 and 8 at 2pm

The Broadway Musical Book by Allan Knee Music by Jason Howland Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein

O OUTSIDE

The Iconic Osprey

Share your passion through OspreyWatch

By Damian Fagan

If the Seattle Seahawks lived up to their namesake, they would be known as the Seattle Osprey.

Inspired by these magnificent birds of prey, the team unveiled their team sea hawk logo in 1976, which was a stylized inspiration paying homage to artwork of the Kwakwaka’wakw people who lived along the Pacific Northwest coast, primarily in southern British Columbia. The strength and power of these birds created an ideal icon for the franchise’s image.

“Osprey can nest in urban areas and are associated with water,” said Kylie Lanuza, Think Wild’s Wildlife Community Science Project Coordinator. Kylie will be the March guest speaker for the East Cascades Bird Alliance’s Birders’ Night at Worthy Brewing on March 12, starting at 6pm. Her program will focus on the natural history of osprey in Central Oregon, hazards the birds face, and a program called OspreyWatch.

According to the National Audubon Society, osprey populations crashed in the 1950s to 1970s due to unregulated pesticide use, such as DDT, that poisoned birds and impacted the thickness of their egg shells, resulting in premature deaths for the embryos. With the banning of DDT in 1972, osprey populations have rebounded, and the species has become a real conservation success story.

Historically, ospreys nested in tree snags often near lakes, rivers, or the coastline. They are primarily fishers, as about 99 percent of their diet is fish, leading to their nicknames of “fish hawk” or “sea hawk.” With the loss of snags or trees with large limbs which the osprey used for their nest sites, the birds have adapted to nesting on artificial platforms and bridges, and even cliff faces. However, nesting in urban or rural areas may have consequences, as the birds use artificial items such as bailing twine in their nest construction.

“There is risk of strangulation of the nestlings from bailing twine, or the twine can hang down and cause a fire, which is both a safety hazard and a potential hazard to the bird,” said Lanuza. The hay rope can also become entwined around the feet and legs of the nestlings, cutting off blood supply to their lower extremities. The Think Wild animal hospital has treated numerous osprey which have either fallen out of the nest or become entangled in twine.

Both Pacific Power and Central Electric Coop are involved locally with installing perch points or nest platforms where osprey nesting activity may be in conflict with the electrical wires; Pacific Power’s program is called the Avian Protection

Plan. Electrocutions sometimes happen where the wings touch two wires, creating an electrical circuit through the bird or where nesting material drops off the platform into the wires and creates a fire. Instead of just removing the nest, the companies work to ensure that the birds have a safe location to raise their young.

“People can also report these hazard nests to Pacific Power or CEC,” said Lanuza, “It’s really nice to know that we’ve got a great power company that’s concerned about birds.” Sometimes the power company is called to rescue a bird dangling below the nest, tethered by leg with bailing twine.

Another way for the public to become involved with osprey conservation is to join the community-science program OspreyWatch. The Center for Conservation Biology developed OspreyWatch in 2012 as a citizen science volunteer project to record nesting activity of these raptors. “OspreyWatch is a global community science platform where people can go out and adopt a nest,” said Lanuza. By uploading information through the free app, scientists can mine this huge data set about the birds nesting activity. “This information can tell us about the fidelity of the nest and the environment that they live in. They are called ‘sentinel species,’ and if you think of the concept of the canary in a coal mine, that’s very similar to what osprey are,” said Lanuza.

As part of the presentation, Lanuza will instruct participants how to use the app. From the Old Mill District to Crane Prairie to the Deschutes River, osprey are widespread in Central Oregon, and their nests easily viewed. They are an iconic Northwest species with a global distribution making them a perfect species for engagement with the public.

“These birds are interesting to watch because the nestlings grow so incredibly fast compared to a lot of other species because they are migratory and though they start off small, their growth spurt is crazy,” added Lanuza. “These birds are such a charismatic species, and they’re right in our backyard, which makes them a perfect local community-science species.”

ECBA

By Nic Moye

The Pride in Numbers Survey is Underway Organizers

are urging local LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit individuals to participate

The Pride Foundation is sponsoring a new survey called “Pride in Numbers.” It’s for all adults 18+ who are LGBTQIA and Two Spirit. Nimisha Jain, one of the team members hoping to get the word out in Central Oregon, describes the information being gathered by the survey. “All kinds of questions are being asked in regards to housing, well-being, people’s sense of community and belonging, access to health care, feelings of safety, things like that.” The survey takes about 20 minutes.

Organizers say it’s the largest, independent, community-driven research project in Oregon focused on people who identify as Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+. Information will be shared with nonprofits and advocates so they can design meaningful programs and services. In Central Oregon, that includes Central Oregon Cross SEEDS, Central Oregon Trans Health Coalition, Embrace Bend, PFLAG-Prineville and Warm Springs Community Action Team.

Survey participants remain anonymous. “There are some optional demographic questions, but every single question on the survey is optional besides their two screening questions, so you don’t have to, no one has to answer anything they don’t want to,” Jain says.

In conjunction with the survey, Pride in Numbers is gathering artwork, which can be submitted through its website and will be analyzed to identify themes. Pride in Numbers volunteers, who are all part of the Two-Spirit, LGBTQIA+ community, are also holding events around Oregon to gather personal stories.

“I think this is incredibly important, especially right now. Throughout history, you know, Two Spirit and LGBTQI-plus folks have been misrepresented or uncounted in institutional data. And right now, especially in times of misinformation, data that’s grounded in our lived experiences can be a really helpful counterweight to some of those harmful or inaccurate representations.”

Pride in Numbers Survey Ends March 31 prideinnumbers.org/

Damian Fagan

CRAFT CR Bend Beer (and Cider) Scene Gets a Collective Shakeup

Cascade Lakes, Silver Moon, Crux, GoodLife and Tumalo Cider merge into Oregon Beverage Collective

By Brian Yaeger

To paraphrase the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “The only thing constant in life is change.” Some 2,500 years later, his musings describe the state of beer here in Bend. It’s a city rich in craft brewing culture where Deschutes Brewery is one of the nation’s oldest and largest breweries, but beyond that monolith, everything is in flux. Namely Crux. Rather, make that the Oregon Beverage Collective — the newly formed amalgamation that consists of Crux Fermentation Project (opened in 2012), Cascade Lakes Brewing (1994), Silver Moon Brewing (2001), GoodLife Brewing (2011), and Tumalo Cider (2014).

National Headwinds Hit Local Industry

According to the Brewers Association (BA) representing America’s independent breweries, 434 craft breweries closed in 2025, following similar stats for 2024 and 2023. There remains nearly 10,000 across the country with roughly 250 in operation in Oregon. The BA also reported that overall volume among craft brewers fell 5% last year, a percentage higher than in 2024.

This isn’t to say that the business of making and selling beer becomes secondary. But moving forward, OBC members have less of that to worry about. “Almost all brewing will be transitioning to Crux Fermentation Project’s facility,” said Rhine. “Larry and the Crux team have built an exceptional, high-quality space capable of producing an incredibly wide range of beverages. What’s important to emphasize is that each brand will continue to create its own distinct beers — the recipes, styles, and personalities aren’t changing. We’re simply bringing production into a shared, state-of-the-art space that allows every brand in the collective to grow, innovate, and operate more efficiently.”

Listing those legacy brands is the easy part. Understanding exactly what this new OBC cooperative means is where we find ourselves in the weeds. But as Silver Moon co-owner and newly minted CEO of the OBC, Steve Augustyn, says, “Yes, a lot of questions still needing to be worked out, but that’s the best part: the flexibility of it all.”

The development mirrors the recent news that two of Bend’s coffee roasting juggernauts, Thump and Backporch, are collectively TB Coffee.

In a Feb. 12 press release about the brewing merger, several terms were used to describe it (except “merger”). It used the couplets, “production partnership,” “strategic partnership,” “joining forces,” “newly-formed coalition,” and “community of breweries.”

One critical shift is that Crux has been sold to the Rhine family that purchased Cascade Lakes in 2018. The Rhines turned the brewing company into a notfor-profit in 2022. Asked if Crux might also go the notfor-profit route, president of the newly-formed OBC Andy Rhine replied, “I think it’s a possibility. We’re community driven and we want to give back as much as possible.”

In late 2011, Larry Sidor left his post as Deschutes’s brewmaster to co-found Crux in 2012, the beginning of the third wave of American craft brewing that began to recede during COVID-19 pandemic. Although Crux continued to show signs of growth such as opening a satellite pub in Portland in 2023, it shuttered less than two years later. Also in 2025, Crux relocated its original pub system from its home in the Southern Crossing neighborhood (referred to as The Riverlands on the Bend Ale Trail map) to its modern, efficient production facility in Boyd Acres (aka the Brewers District on the Bend Ale Trail).

“If the craft beer industry is a ship, we can comfortably say we’re no longer in the safety of a harbor,” said Matt Gacioch, staff economist at the BA. Gacioch pointed to “changing consumer behaviors, retailer rationalization, cost increases due to inflation and tariffs, and more competition than ever” as the industry’s primary challenges. But when the national industry accounts for some 450,000 jobs and has a $72.5 billion impact on the economy, craft beer isn’t defeated, it’s simply limping.

The BA’s report went on to note that, “With acquisitions, mergers, and collaborations, the stainless tanks in the background may not be as important as the brand story” and that craft breweries are leaning into their role as community ‘third spaces.’”

For their individual parts, the lawn that is Crux’s biergarten remains a crowded family hub. Silver Moon welcomes guests for beer as well as a popular food truck pod and concert venue. GoodLife has already decommissioned its brewing system and will replace it with pickleball courts. (GoodLife co-owner Garett Oliphant is quoted in the OBC’s press release, “With rising costs from real estate and suppliers, collaboration...allows us to protect what matters most: keeping beer accessible for our customers, and ensuring GoodLife thrives long into the future.”) And Cascade Lakes’s newer Reed Market pub serves one of the last neighborhoods without a brewpub. They have already mastered the notion of “third spaces,” meaning the place you spend the third most amount of time after home and work.

As for additional methods of reaching consumers who have either reduced their alcohol intake or ditched it altogether, while this reporter crushes Crux’s 5% ABV Bochi Bochi rice lager and delights at the opportunity to enjoy a snifter of its 14% Tough Love barrel-aged imperial stout, their NØMØ non-alcoholic brews have become Crux’s best-selling brand. Rhine says Crux is “leading the way” for the OBC family of brands in terms of scale and broad distribution. Speaking of distribution, it was merely three weeks ago that Columbia Distributing announced it purchased Point Blank Distributing. How this techtonic shift in the distribution world affects the OBC, or vice versa, is still shaking out but Columbia distributes Crux and Silver Moon, Tumalo Cider was with Point Blank, and both Cascade Lakes and GoodLife are signed with Bigfoot Beverages.

Nearly

30 Breweries in Nearly 30 Years

Since Deschutes opened in 1988, Central Oregon has grown to include 27 brewing companies. For every one that has closed—Boss Rambler most recently but some folks may remember names such as Phat Matt’s, Smith Rock, and Rat Hole—we seem to gain in pairs, most recently including Funky Fauna, Van Henion, Terranaut, and the upgrading from Immersion to UPP Liquids. Rhine said that none of the five partners in the OBC were in danger of disappearing, but it certainly ensures their longevity.

“The collective has been almost a year in the making. It really began with early conversations between (Augustyn) and (myself), and from there it naturally grew as different breweries and organizations started connecting with one another. It’s less about any one person approaching another and more about a group of like-minded, beer-loving folks recognizing the value of working together to keep craft beer strong in our region.”

Cascades Lakes Brewing Co. Facebook

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

“When can we expect you?”: Abbr.

Orville Wright was born and

Public nudity or discussing one’s salary, e.g.

Puzzle for the week of February 16, 2026

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of February 16, 2026 Difficulty Level:

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

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: "In the end, I am just a guy wearing spandex that turns ."

Short-track skater Olivier Jean

Answer for the week of February 09, 2026

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

Answer for the week of February 09, 2026

M R I H S

G

H G E S I R M A T M S T E A G I H R R I A H M T G E S

“According to the Wall Street Journal, Melania pocketed $28 million of the licensing fee for the film. You know, between this and her marriage, she’s probably the highest-paid actress in the world.” — Jimmy Kimmel

“According to the Wall Street Journal, Melania pocketed $28 million of the licensing fee for the film. You know, between this and her marriage, she’s probably the highest-paid actress in the world.” - Jimmy Kimmel

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Big bright transitions are at hand: from thrashing around in the educational mire to celebrating your sweet escape; from wrangling with shadows and ghosts to greeting new allies; from messing around with interesting but confounding chaos to seizing fresh opportunities to shine and thrive. Hallelujah! What explains this exhilarating shift? The Season of Dazzling Self-Adoration is dawning for you Pisceans. In the weeks ahead, you will be inspired to embark on bold experiments in loving yourself with extra fervor and ingenuity.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Saturn has entered Aries. I see this landmark shift as being potentially very good news for you. Between now and April 2028, you will have enhanced powers to channel your restless heart in constructive directions. I predict you will narrow down your multiple interests and devote yourself to a few resonant paths rather than scattering your intense energy. More than ever before, you can summon the determination to follow through on what you initiate. My Saturn-in-Aries prayer: May you be bold, even brazen, in identifying where you truly belong, and never settle for a halfcertain fit.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I am issuing a Wow Advisory. Consider this your high-voltage wonder alert. Your future may offer you thrilling quests and epic exploits that could be unnerving to people who want you to remain the same as you have been. You will have a knack for stirring up liberating encounters with lavish pleasures and rich feelings that transform your brain chemistry. The rousing mysteries you attract into your sphere may send provocative ripples through your own imagination as well as your web of allies. Expect juicy plot twists. Be alert for portals opening in the middle of nowhere.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Buddhism teaches about “near enemies”: qualities that may appear to be virtues but aren’t. For example, pity masquerades as compassion. Clingy attachment pretends to be love. Apathy and indifference pose as equanimity. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I hope you won’t get distracted by near enemies. Your assignment: Investigate whether any of your supposed virtues are actually near enemies. After you’ve done that, find out if any of your so-called negative emotions might harbor interesting powers you could tap into.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Many intelligent people think astrology is dangerous nonsense perpetrated by quacks. For any horoscope writer with an ego, this affront tends to be deflating. Like everyone else, we want to be appreciated. On the other hand, I have found that practicing an art that gets so much disdain has been mostly liberating. It’s impossible for me to get bloated with excess pride. I practice astrology for the joy it affords me, not to garner recognition. So in a backhanded way, a seemingly disheartening drawback serves as an energizing boon. My prediction is that you, Libra, will soon harvest an analogous turnabout. You will draw strength, even inspiration, from what may ostensibly appear to be a liability.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks, you find anatomical drawings next to flying machine designs, mathematical calculations alongside water flow observations, and philosophical musings interrupted by grocery lists. He moved from painting to engineering to scientific observation as curiosity led him. Let’s make him your inspirational role model for now, Gemini. Disobey categories! Merge categories! Mix and match categories! Let’s assume that your eager mind will create expanded knowledge networks that prove valuable in unexpected ways. Let’s hypothesize that your cheerful rebellion against conventional ways of organizing reality will spawn energizing innovations in your beautiful, mysterious life.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In falconry, there’s a practice called “weathering.” It involves regularly exposing trained birds to the wild elements so they don’t become too domesticated and lose their wildness. The falconer needs a partner, not a pet. Does that theme resonate, Cancerian? Is it possible that you have been too sheltered lately? Either by your own caution or by well-meaning people who think they’re protecting you? Let’s make sure you stay in touch with the fervent, untamed sides of your nature. How? You could expose yourself to an experience that scares you a little. Take a fun risk you’ve been rationalizing away. Invite touches of rowdiness into your life.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The loudest noise in history? It was the 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia, heard thousands of miles away. The pressure wave circled the Earth multiple times. I am predicting a benevolent version of a Krakatoa event for you in the coming months. Not literal loudness, but a shiny bright expression of such magnitude that it redefines your world and what people thought was possible from you. Can you be prepared for it? A little. You’ll be wise to cultivate visionary equanimity: a calm willingness to stay focused on the big picture. I predict your big boom will be challenging but ultimately magnificent and empowering

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Mycologist Paul Stamets claims mushrooms taught him to think in networks rather than hierarchies. He sees how everything feeds everything else through vast webs of underground filaments. This is Scorpio wisdom at its most scintillating: homing in on the hidden circuitry working below the surface; gauging the way nourishment is distributed incrementally through many collaborative interconnections; seeing the synergy between seemingly separate sources. I hope you will accentuate this mode of understanding in the coming weeks. The key to your soulful success and happiness will be in how well you map the mycelial-like networks, both in the world around you and in your inner depths. PS: For extra credit, study the invisible threads that link your obsessions to each other, your wounds to your gifts, and your rage to your tenderness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The peregrine falcon dives at speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour, making it the fastest animal on Earth. But before the dive, there’s often a period of circling, scanning, and waiting. The spectacular descent is set up by the patient reconnaissance that precedes it. I believe you’re now in a phase similar to the falcon’s preparatory reconnaissance, Sagittarius. The quality of your eventual plunge will depend on how well you’re tracking your target now. Use this time to gather intelligence, not to second-guess your readiness. You’ll know when your aim is true.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There’s a certain miracle you could really use right now, Capricorn. But to attract it into your life would require a subtle and simple shift. In a related development, the revelation you need most is concealed in plain sight. To get these two goodies into your life, you shouldn’t make the error of seeking them in exotic locales. Ordinary events in the daily routine will bring you what you need: the miracle and the revelation that will change everything for the better.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Over the last 4,000 years, a host of things have been used as money in addition to precious metals and paper currency. Among them have been cows, seashells, cheese, tobacco, velvet, tulips, elephant tusks, and huge stone wheels. I hope this poetic fact will inspire your imagination about financial matters. In the coming weeks, I expect you’ll be extra creative in drumming up new approaches to getting the cash you need. Here are questions to guide you. Which of your underused talents might be ready to boost your income? What undervalued gifts could you be more aggressive about giving? What neglected treasures or underutilized assets could you use to generate money?

Homework: What imperfect but pretty good part of your life deserves more of your love? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

THE MEDICINE CABINET WITHIN

HOLISTIC MEDICINE AND YOUR POWER TO BE WELL

By Joshua Phillips, ND

Coffee: A Health Benefit or Detriment?

History has it that 15th century Sufis were among the first to brew coffee as a drink, discovering its wakening benefits for all-night devotional practices. Over the centuries, the practice spread to Europe and further west and is now by far the most popular drink worldwide. While it is loved for its caffeine content and ability to help with alertness, it has long been debated whether the beverage is healthful or may contribute to health concerns over time.

While most famous for its caffeine content and the wonderful benefits therein, the coffee bean and its brewed beverage are actually a very complex creation of nature, with over a thousand identifiable chemical compounds. The list of alkaloids (including caffeine), organic acids, terpenes, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and even fiber is responsible for both its characteristic smell and flavor, as well as its effects. Interestingly, the region in which the plant was grown, as well as how the bean is roasted, ground and brewed makes a big difference in how this chemical profile shows up in the beverage, and how it affects physiology.

A filtered preparation of coffee like a pour-over or drip is thought to reduce some of the lipid content in the coffee, which may have a beneficial effect on LDL cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health. Cold brewed coffee is thought to be the easiest on digestion, due to its low acid content. A hot brewed coffee and steam extraction like espresso, however, will extract much more of the beneficial antioxidants like polyphenols that have shown so many health benefits. Each of these methods affect the flavor profile greatly, and individuals tend to respond differently to each preparation, naturally finding their preferred cup.

Research largely supports that the antioxidants and other compounds in coffee are supportive for cardiovascular health, even to include improved lifespan. Studies on cognitive function are also favorable, suggesting a decreased incidence of dementia onset in those drinking moderate amounts of coffee. Other neurological diseases may also benefit from coffee consumption, and there are even studies indicating decreased incidence of certain cancers, likely also due to the high antioxidant levels.

What time of day coffee is consumed is an important consideration

in terms of whether it is supportive of health or not. Our bodies have a natural rhythm with cortisol levels and other hormones, supporting increased energy and metabolic activity in the morning and first half of the day. This is the time of day it makes the most sense to consume coffee, in line with our natural daily rhythm.

Additionally, having some food with or before coffee is a healthy practice that makes it less likely to contribute to a blood sugar roller coaster throughout the day. Particularly for those running a high-stress program who may have an adrenal hormone system that is already taxed, the addition of a natural stimulant may further stress the body and endocrine system. This can affect the relationship between insulin and cortisol levels, causing blood sugar peaks and valleys throughout the day, which typically only worsens stress, anxiety and fatigue.

Coffee drinkers also have to be mindful of the beverage’s diuretic properties, potentially causing dehydration if enough water is not consumed during the day. In this way, electrolyte levels can be depleted, and too much coffee has been shown to decrease vital mineral levels, which can lead to bone density and other mineral deficiency issues.

While cardiovascular benefits have been demonstrated in research, for some the stimulant properties of coffee can contribute to cardiac irritability, arrhythmia, and elevated blood pressure. For those prone to anxiety or difficulty with sleep, coffee consumption can certainly worsen those. Like so many things in medicine, individuality is key, and we are not all the same metabolically.

While research leans toward the health benefits of coffee, it does come with caveats. It is important to realize that for some the natural stimulant of caffeine may simply be overwhelming to the nervous and endocrine systems. For the rest of us, the ancient ritual of coffee drinking will continue, and appears to have measurable health benefits, particularly when consumed in moderation and in-sync with our natural rhythm for wakefulness and energy.

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

Spring Arts Culture &

A CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS IN CENTRAL OREGON

AD DEADLINE: FEB 27

ON STANDS: MAR 5

Join us as we highlight the talented individuals and organizations in our community and inform our readers of your upcoming shows, productions, events, etc.

TAKE ME HOME

By Nathan Powers Engel Volkers Bend

Bend’s January Market Snapshot

The year 2025 and its unpredictable market are now comfortably in the rearview. With interest rates briefly reaching three-year lows, the real estate market must be returning to some semblance of normalcy… right? Let’s take a look at what the January stats are telling us about the first month of 2026.

January is historically one of the slowest months of the year and does not necessarily represent what the market could look like in a few weeks— let alone a few months.

All information is sourced from the local Flex MLS and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Supply of inventory represents the number of months of inventory. A general rule of thumb: under four months of supply is considered a seller’s market, while over six months is a buyer’s market. “DOM” represents average days on market. We will compare residential home data to January 2025.

January 2025

Active Listings: 686 homes

Closed Sales: 169

$300,000 — $649,999: 240 Active |

54 Sold | 4.6 Months Supply | 54 DOM

$650,000 — $899,999: 162 Active |

55 Sold | 2.8 Months Supply | 67 DOM

$900,000 +: 261 Active | 57 Sold | 4.9 Months Supply | 70 DOM

Last year, lower-value properties (under $650,000) and higher-value properties (over $900,000) performed at relatively similar levels, with comparable numbers of active and sold listings. The hottest segment last January was the middle range ($650,000— $900,000), which matched the number of sales in the other segments despite having significantly lower inventory.

January 2026

Active Listings: 633 homes

Closed Sales: 140

$300,000 — $649,999: 200 Active |

55 Sold | 3.2 Months Supply | 55 DOM

$650,000 — $899,999: 141 Active | 44 Sold | 3.0 Months Supply | 66 DOM

$900,000+: 263 Active | 41 Sold | 5.9

Months Supply | 137 DOM

This January has seen lower-value properties become the most active segment of the market. Not only did this category record the highest number of sales, but it also outsold the same segment from last year with 20% less inventory.

The middle segment has remained active, though it has cooled slightly from last year, with inventory down 13% and sales down 20%. The most pronounced shift has occurred in the high-value segment.

Despite nearly identical inventory levels, sales dropped 28% from last January, creating a clear buyer’s market for luxury properties. These homes are now sitting on the market for more than four months on average.

Main Takeaways

• After peaking last summer with sustained inventory above 1,000 homes from May through September, Bend has seen inventory decline each month and is now at its lowest level since March 2024.

• With lower inventory often comes fewer sales, but an 8% drop in inventory compared to a 21% drop in sales suggests buyers are still proceeding cautiously. The 140 closed sales mark the lowest January total since 2023.

• Accurately priced homes under $900,000 are moving quickly.

• Pricing has never been more important for higher-end listings.

—Nathan Powers is director of Marketing/Business Development, Engel & Völkers Bend.