an artist/illustrator residing in Sisters. You can find her locally in boutique shops around Bend and Sisters. You can also find her full art product line on canyonandcoveart.com or connect with her on social media @canyonandcoveart to see market schedules and newsletter updates!
Call for Artists: If you're interested in being a SW featured artist, email: production@bendsource.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE:
During this last election cycle, we heard a lot about how certain legislation and issues should be left up to the states to decide. Yet with a new administration in power, the country is receiving a lot of top-down executive orders that are creating confusion and causing turmoil. How is Central Oregon reacting to these innumerable sweeping changes instituted by the Trump administration? The president’s early actions are changing life for many in the region, and Source reporters Julianna LaFollette and Jennifer Baires investigate what happens in our local community when DEI initiatives are canceled, protections for immigrants are rolled back and the official definition of gender narrows.
Our new issue of Bend Nest, Central Oregon’s parenting magazine, comes out this week, and with the arrival of the spring issue also comes our annual “Best of the Nest” readers’ poll, where you can show some love for your favorite businesses and organizations servicing children and families in our region. Voting starts this Thursday at bendsource.com/bestofnest
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
Thank you so much @jaydo_ventures for tagging us in this beautiful photo of Mt. Washington.
Don't forget to share your photos with us and tag @sourceweekly for a chance to be featured as our Instagram photo of the week.
What Harm Can a Little More Surveillance Do?
We’re feeling a bit skeptical, this week, about allowing private technology companies access to our private information. No, we’re not talking about Elon Musk and DOGE accessing our personal information, but another, more local concern.
Earlier this month, the Bend Police Department sent out a press release inviting the public to take part in “Connect Bend, a community camera registry designed to leverage existing privately owned camera systems throughout our community to help officers respond to incidents more quickly and effectively,” according to the release.
The basic premise sounds reasonable: Let the police have access to your surveillance cameras, either on demand, or by participating in a registry that allows them to understand where cameras are located, all in the name of helping them solve crimes faster. It might sound innocuous and helpful on its face, but we’re concerned about the potential for abuse.
When a crime happens, officers already go around to area homes or businesses that might have had surveillance cameras in use to try to gather evidence. The current procedure is more tedious. Each time, officers have to scan the area where the crime occurred to determine where they might get help through video evidence. Under the system proposed, locals can volunteer to give up at least some measure of privacy in order to make the process more streamlined. So far, Bend Police report that some 365 entities have already signed up.
Not only is there a concern about the fact that the system relies on the trust of a private company, which
supplies the technology, but also about the potential future interpretations of what could be considered a crime. Oregon’s sanctuary laws currently prevent law enforcement officials from cooperating with immigration proceedings — unless compelled by court order. Does it seem inconceivable, given the blitzkrieg of revisionary statues at the federal level which are challenging due process, that sanctuary laws in states like ours could also be corrupted?
If you’re less concerned about something like this being used for ill means in the immigration realm, surely you’re imaginative enough to consider video surveillance being used in other ways that violate people’s privacy, or worse. Many of us have read Orwell.
But if you’re all in on more surveillance, then maybe you’ll be thrilled to know that your voluntary participation requires the purchase of a device from a private company.
“Interested community members and private businesses can purchase a fususCORE device that plugs into your existing camera system and allows the Bend Police Department conditional access to your camera feed in case of an emergency at or near your location. Camera access and settings are controlled by the camera owner.”
Sure, if you say so.
It may very well be that Bend PD itself has no ill intentions whatsoever, and that it will indeed help make our community safer. But given the many ways that public data has been accessed and put under potential threat in recent weeks, count us among the skeptics who will continue to remain adherents to a more restrained system.
CORRECTION: “AFTER THE INFERNO,” 2/13
The Oregon Journalism Project story “After the Inferno,” published in the Source Weekly on 2/13, originally misstated the frequency with which the Public Utility Commission notified PacifiCorp of vegetation management shortcomings. OJP regrets the error. The story has also been updated to include context about a lawsuit filed last year by Nik Blosser’s family’s winery.
GUEST OPINION: SUSPENSION OF DEI TAKES US BACKWARDS, NOT FORWARD
Thanks to Commissioners Adair and DeBone, Deschutes County has taken a tragic step backwards. Outvoting Commissioner Phil Chang, they terminated the county’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program. They claim that they just want to make sure that federal funds to the county are not cut off as the result of angering Dear Leader Trump, who is blowing every right-wing dog whistle in pursuit of dictatorship.
The purpose of DEI programs in both the public and private sector is to continue the long-historic process of eliminating racism, sexism and other forms of bias from the workplace. Contrary to the rightwing rant, DEI does not lead to mediocrity; it ensures that talented and qualified people who might “seem a little different” are not overlooked in hiring and are welcomed in the workplace without having to fight a daily battle for acceptance and recognition. DEI is for the young man or woman in a wheelchair with a damaged body but a sharp mind ready to work. It is for the person of color raised in a multi-lingual home who speaks with accented English but is a whiz in math, science or English composition. It is for the Indigenous person who has a difference of opinion with a colleague and is told he or she should “go back to the reservation.” It is for the woman who learns she is being paid much less than a male colleague with similar qualifications,
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responsibility and time on the job. It is also for the Muslim woman who wears a hijab as a mark of her faith and has to wonder if the smirks and whispered comments have to be tolerated in order to keep a job she needs to support her two children. DEI is for all of us, because it fosters understanding, tolerance and collegiality from which we all benefit in numerous ways.
Those who oppose DEI express their disdain in a number of ways. Some think, naively, that we have eliminated workplace bias. Some are just lazy and can’t be bothered. Others suggest that DEI programs are too costly for the bottom line. The deeper, darker truth is that those who whine the loudest want to halt the march towards freedom for all for the simple reason that they feel white people (and preferably white Christian people) are intellectually superior and, therefore, should retain their social and economic advantages. It is this deeper, darker truth that is at the root of the war being waged on DEI programs by Trump and Musk, as well as the Republican Party that refuses to call them out. So, no matter how they spin it, Adair and DeBone have struck a blow for white supremacy. Their action is bad politics and terrible policy. Federal money that comes with strings like this is blood money and should be rejected. Keep DEI, and join litigation filed by other jurisdictions to stop the Trump-Musk attack on our democracy and our federal system of government.
—Jeffrey
Richardson
A MESSAGE FOR OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
“Of the people, by the people, for the people” are words from the preamble to the U.S. Constitution and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. They do not read, “Of the white people, for the white people, by the white people,” yet that is what they have become. Removing language such as climate change, Black and
diversity from federal agencies’ lexicons goes against everything that the United States has historically stood for. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty states: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Nowhere does it designate what color, race, gender or ethnicity these people should be.
What is happening now is a testament to the self-serving, narcissistic attitude that has become synonymous with “politicians.” No one wants to lose their golden goose while millions of people pay the price for their privilege. I am embarrassed to be an American, I am incensed at what is being allowed to take place in our country, and I will not stay silent as those with less of a voice are silenced. Shame on every single one of our elected congressional members who are allowing this to happen!
—Leila Thompson
MAYORS MUST ACT TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
In one of Donald Trump’s first acts in office, he stripped away protections for schools, hospitals and places of worship from immigration enforcement. These were once safe spaces where people could learn, receive health care and pray without fear. Now they have been turned into targets for ICE raids. This is unconscionable. As the world’s largest historical climate polluter, the United States has a responsibility to immigrants. Our pollution is causing the climate chaos — droughts, floods, hurricanes, rising waters — that is forcing people in Latin America, Asia, Africa and
elsewhere to leave their homes. Others are fleeing violence, poverty and hunger — all of which are caused or made worse by the climate crisis.
People have the right to be able to leave their homes and migrate with dignity to find safe haven. But right now, immigrant families are facing the unimaginable: The fear that seeking education or health care could mean deportation, or that a peaceful moment of prayer might be shattered by ICE agents barging in. As municipal leaders, mayors have the power to fight this. They can protect immigrant families by ordering police not to participate in ICE raids and even to block ICE agents’ entry into schools, hospitals and places of worship. The future of so many families in our communities is on the line. We must call on local leaders to do the right thing, even as the federal government does not. I’m writing to urge mayors to hear this call and take action to protect immigrants.
—Kate Bolinger
Letter of the Week:
Kate, we agree that our community must feel safe in our schools, hospitals and places of worship. Stop by for your gift card to Palate.
—Chris Young
Deschutes County Sheriffs Recover Two Bodies after Avalanche
On Feb. 18, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to an avalanche burial in the area between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top, commonly known as Happy Valley. DCSO responded overnight to the reported avalanche, near Snowmobile Trail 8 between the junction with Trail 88 and Trail 6 (Forest Service Road 370).
DCSO’s Search and Rescue Unit “successfully recovered two deceased subjects from the area of Trail 8,” according to a release. “The initial investigation indicates the two subjects were caught in an avalanche while recreating in the area.” No personal information is available about the individuals at this time, but Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said in a statement: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche while enjoying the Central Oregon backcountry. Their long history in our community and the lives they touched are a testament to the spirit and resilience that make Central Oregon such a special place to live.”
—Julianna LaFollette
5 years
—A family-owned Greek restaurant celebrates this milestone, from the Little Bites story, “Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean Celebrates Five Years in Bend”
"It’s critical for folks to understand that they have rights. They have a right to not answer questions, not give out their immigration status. They have a right to deny speaking to ICE agents."
—Mecca Bend’s Janet Llerandi Gonzalez, from the Feature story, “Targeted and Living in Fear”
1% for Wildlife Proposes New Lodging Tax
New state bill would create a 1% increase on transient lodging tax to save Oregon’s most imperiled species and habitats
By Sally Compton
Oregon is known for its picturesque landscapes, diverse habitats and unique wildlife — that’s what draws people to stay, move and visit here. Hunters, anglers, birders, hikers, campers and outdoor recreationists — both from in and out of state — support and enjoy healthy fish, wildlife and habitat, but the influx of people and development, combined with the challenges of drought, wildfires and invasive species, are taking a toll.
The new House Bill 2977 — 1% for Wildlife — addresses these challenges by increasing the state’s transient lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.5%, with the extra 1% going entirely to a dedicated fund directed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) for the conservation and recovery of Oregon’s threatened species and habitats. This increase would generate an estimated $30 million per year for the agency to carry out Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), a comprehensive strategy updated every decade (with a revision for 2026 in progress) to direct conservation actions for the next 10 years. In the current update, ODFW has identified at least 330 species of Greatest Conservation Need and 201 Species of Greatest Information Need that would be prioritized with this funding.
But why the need for a tax increase? Can’t ODFW do this conservation work with the funds it already has? According to the Oregon Wildlife Coalition, “current funds are only a small fraction of what is required to implement critical conservation actions identified in the SWAP. For instance, state general and lottery funds combined comprise only 10-13% of ODFW’s total budget, with direct investments in the State Wildlife Action Plan at only 2.75%. Without sufficient and consistent funding from the state, Oregon’s most vulnerable species and habitats will continue their downward spiral of decline and possible extinction.”
The statewide tax increase on lodging would predominantly put the additional tax burden on tourists, of which 63% are from out of state. Danielle Moser of Oregon Wild worked on the bill with ODFW, the Oregon Hunters Association and legislators on the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water, among other stakeholders.
“We want people to visit Oregon’s special places and enjoy our diverse array of wildlife, but we also need to make sure that we’re safeguarding them for future generations,” Moser said.
Oregon’s statewide transient lodging tax is one of the lowest in the country, and would continue to be with a rate of 2.5%. (Only Alaska and California would be lower.) That said, many cities and counties have their own local lodging taxes, with the average rate in Oregon at 7.6%. Travel Oregon’s monthly report on Lodging Performance Statistics lists the average room rate statewide at $115, so a 1% statewide tax increase would come out to an additional $1.15 per night. The goal, according to Moser, is for the tax to be itemized on the bill with a “Recovering Oregon’s Wildlife” label so that the customer would see that their tourism dollars supported conservation.
Oregon Business & Industry opposed a similar bill that proposed a 1.5% increase in 2023, testifying that it “would create an enormous financial challenge for lodging and hospitality operations in Oregon and would be especially onerous on small hospitality businesses. It would also create an additional burden on tourism in Oregon, which is an industry still trying to fully recover
from the COVID pandemic fallout.” Despite original concerns surrounding the long-term impact of COVID-19 on tourism in the state, 2023 ended up seeing a record level of travel spending at $14 billion, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Kait Kenobi, a lifelong Oregonian and owner of Left Coast Lodge in Sisters, shared her thoughts on the proposed bill. “We host a lot of travelers that are visiting Oregon for mountain biking, hiking, adventuring, rafting — all the stuff that makes Sisters a desirable place to be. So we know the value of conservation, and we know the value of uplifting these systems to help keep Central Oregon as awesome as it is. Of course, it will affect us — the tax will directly pass on to the traveler and may raise prices a bit — but we like that this is going straight to a designated fund that we are passionate about.”
The hearing for HB2977 is set for 8am on Monday, Feb. 24. Whatever your position, citizens are encouraged to share it via written or oral (virtual or in-person) testimony on or within 48 hours of the meeting’s start time.
When asked what she would share with her fellow lodging industry colleagues regarding the bill, Kenobi said: “It is our responsibility to support the environment that supports us and our business. This isn’t just about protecting nature — it’s about protecting jobs, businesses and the long-term future of our tourism industry.”
Oregon’s elk are one of the most sought-after species for hunters from both in and out of state.
The American porcupine is newly listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the current draft of the 2026 State Wildlife Action Plan.
Swallowtail butterflies rely on sagebrush habitat, which is declining due to invasive species spread, historical fire suppression and unsustainable land use practices.
Sue Dougherty
Cody Clark
Creative Commons
Redmond Homeless Initiatives Inspire Education in Bend
An upcoming event in Bend aims to educate people on homelessness and resources across the region
By Julianna LaFollette
Ginny McKee, the co-chair of a homeless outreach group at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon (UUFCO), is hosting an event to help educate the community on homelessness. After seeing some of the projects that areas like Redmond have expanded on, including its safe parking program, she wanted to inspire community members in Bend to learn about regional resources and initiatives.
Along with other community members and service providers, McKee formed the Central Oregon Homelessness Forum. In talking with local agencies, she saw education about homelessness as critical.
The event, Understanding Homelessness in Central Oregon, aims to inform people about the population, while sharing information about projects and resources in other areas of Central Oregon. There will be a panel of speakers from a variety of regional service organizations, a chance for attendees to ask questions and several local organizations present to offer information about their services.
“Once you get to hear more about why people are homeless, I think it helps build a lot of empathy, and hopefully we’ll have more support within the community, where there are suggestions on shelters or
managed camps,” she said.
McKee hopes the event will spark discussions on local homelessness solutions. According to McKee, the UUFCO, which now offers safe parking, worked for nearly two years, due to push back from neighbors, to offer those services.
Rick Russell, director of Mountain View Community Development and Redmond’s safe parking program, is the moderator for the event and will discuss his experience as a service provider, according to McKee. Russell also plans to grow safe parking operations into Bend in the next few months.
While Bend already has a safe parking program, McKee is hopeful the nonprofit will help generate more opportunities for the city, and that this event could create some interest.
“We are thrilled to have him as the moderator, and if it can provide visibility for him in Bend, all the better, because we really want his safe parking initiative to be successful.”
The event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Westside Church in Bend. Looking forward, McKee hopes to take this event to other communities, like La Pine and Prineville.
SOUP FROM SCRATCH
CREATE A SOULFUL AND HEARTY SOUP Dive into the satisfying world of scratch-made soups made with winter produce that showcase local ingredients and hearty flavors. Learn the art of creating a soulful broth through the School of Ranch and Central Oregon Locavore collaboration. Sat., Feb. 22, 10am-1pm at OSU Extension, Redmond Fairgrounds. 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond. $48.
SATURDAY 2/22
RETRO GAME TOURNAMENT
A CLASSIC GAME AFTERNOON
Pangaea Guild Hall is hosting a retro game tournament featuring classic games from N64, GameCube and Xbox 360. Pair up with a teammate for the tournament, check out the retro video game lounge and indulge in the special gamer food menu and cocktails for an afternoon full of fun and nostalgia. Sat., Feb. 22, Noon-4pm at Pangaea Guild Hall. 652 SW Sixth St., Redmond. $15.
Oasis Village
Oasis Village in Redmond offers supportive services and shelter for unhoused residents.
The new Redmond Library is open!
Come discover tens of thousands of books, public meeting and co-working spaces, a hands-on MakerSpace, a vibrant children’s discovery area, and ample seating. Enjoy the fast, free WiFi—or grab a book and check out the views!
Learn more about the Redmond Library and its energy-efficient design at dpl.pub/futureredmond
When it comes to finding ways to play, you can always look to Bend Park & Recreation District.
No matter which class or activity you choose, you’ll create great experiences by learning something, making new friends or just simply having an awesome time.
BPRD and play - it’s time for some this winter and spring.
Register online or at any BPRD facility. Learn more at bendparksandrec.org or call 541-389-7275.
JOIN US FOR A FREE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF THE NEW LIBRARY!
From canceling DEI initiatives to rolling back protections for immigrants and narrowing the official definition of gender, the president’s early actions are changing life for many in the region
Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the administration has moved quickly to overturn, dismantle and freeze national programs and government agencies. While many of those executive orders and proclamations are being challenged in the courts and by political opposition, the force of the changes over the last few weeks is already being felt at the local level.
In Central Oregon, there have been peaceful protests in support of LGBTQ+ people and immigrants. Last week in a special address, Bend City Council members each gave speeches in support of marginalized groups and strongly reiterated their commitment to Bend as a “welcoming city,” meaning one that is supportive of immigrants and refugees. Online response to the Council’s statements was mixed, with some thanking the councilors for their words and others decrying the support for immigrant communities.
We spoke with local people and organizations like Mecca Bend, Central Oregon Community College, OUT Central Oregon, Bend-La Pine Schools, St. Charles and more to understand how these early changes at the national level around immigration, DEI funding and narrowing of gender definitions are reverberating locally.
Federal Actions Roll Back Protections for Transgender Individuals
In response to Trump’s directives, community members consider how executive orders affect the lives of Central Oregonians
By Julianna LaFollette
The Trump administration has rolled back several federal protections and services for transgender individuals, with executive orders dismissing the validity of gender identity, restricting care and shutting down supportive programs and initiatives.
President Trump’s order includes a series of measures, including one requiring the federal government to recognize only two sexes — male and female — eliminating references to gender identity in policy documents and requiring that government-issued documents and forms, like passports, reflect one’s sex assigned at birth.
The administration ordered agencies to shut down programs, grants and other initiatives promoting or reflecting gender identity, restricted gender-affirming treatments for minors under the age of 19 and blocked transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports.
Megamo Nesbit with OUT Central Oregon, a nonprofit providing support for LGBTQ+ individuals, said finding community and connection is critical during these times.
“I think one of the things that scares me the most about what’s happening with these executive orders is a direct attack and erasure on the trans community. It has an immediate impact,” Nesbit told the Source Weekly.
Because these orders pose some of the most dangerous attacks that OCO has seen on the community in recent memory, Nesbit said, the organization is working to be part of the community more than ever.
Moving forward, OCO plans to connect with other organizations throughout the state, helping Central Oregonians stay connected, in the know and get the resources they need.
“I think it’s really important that folks definitely realize what is happening on the local level, and do voice concerns, and do stay active on what’s happening on the local level, so we aren’t just bowing down to executive orders that may very well be overturned in the courts,” Nesbit said.
Support for Students
In an effort to support students, Bend-La Pine Schools passed a resolution “affirming gender identity, expression and equity for transgender and gender-expansive students and staff” on Feb. 11.
“Bend-La Pine Schools is dedicated to building a school community where each and every individual is welcomed, appreciated, valued and empowered to thrive,” read a statement from the resolution.
Kina Chadwick, who uses they/them pronouns, is a member of the BLPS board. Chadwick saw the resolution as an important response to the federal government’s targeting of vulnerable people but ultimately feels like a resolution is not enough.
“That resolution needs to be backed by actions,” Chadwick told the Source Weekly. “For me personally, I kind of stick out in Bend as a nonbinary, brown person. It’s one thing to be an adult and to be nonbinary; it’s another thing to have children who are trans or gender expansive. I can’t imagine what that would be like if my kids were going through this right now.”
Last week, Chadwick visited Caldera High School to talk to students in the school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance club. Chadwick’s approach is to get out in the community and talk to youth to find out what they need.
Chadwick let the students know they aren’t alone, and asked what would make their lives better in school and what would give them a better experience. They hope students can be able to just exist and learn, without worry.
“People can’t operate in fight or flight mode…. There are a lot of folks in our community right now, especially trans and gender-diverse folks, who don’t really know, no one knows, what’s going to go on,” Chadwick said. “If folks cannot get the hormones that they need, that they’ve been prescribed, it’s a big concern for me in terms of harm being done to people.”
Trump’s executive order on gender-affirming care halts federal funding for institutions that provide that care. Challenges to the actions, such as lawsuits and temporary restraining orders as recent as Feb. 14, put the executive order on hold while the case proceeds. Despite continued legal proceedings, some hospitals across the U.S. have already stopped such treatments preemptively, according to The Guardian.
Due to fears and uncertainty around health care actions, Nesbit with OCO said members of the community are reaching out and requesting guidance. OCO has been connecting people to local health resources, including Gender Hive, a local nonprofit that works to “improve access to trans-inclusive and gender-affirming care in Central Oregon,” and Bend’s Planned Parenthood health center.
In response to the potential restrictions to gender-affirming care in the future, OSU-Cascades, which currently offers its students gender-affirming health services including hormonal therapy, claims it filed a declaration in the lawsuit challenging the executive order to support students who are pursuing their education while undergoing treatment.
At the state level, Gov. Tina Kotek plans to support the LGBTQ+ community and keep Oregon a safe place for everyone.
“To the LGBTQ+ community, I will fight to make sure that Oregon remains a place where you are free to be yourselves, and a state that respects and provides access to gender-affirming care no matter what’s happening in Washington, D.C.,” Kotek said in a statement. “To our trans Oregonians, the federal government can’t erase who you are or deny that you exist.”
Julianna LaFollette
Julianna LaFollette
OUT Central Oregon
Targeted and Living in Fear
Local immigrants and refugees worry about their safety under the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric and actions
By Jennifer Baires
Christian Manzanares moved with her mom and dad from Los Angeles to Bend when she was around four years old. Twenty years later, she doesn’t remember life outside of Central Oregon. Yet, despite being born in the U.S. and growing up in Central Oregon, she says she’s always lived with a sense that she and her family don’t belong — and a fear that at any time her family could be taken.
It’s a fear that eased some when her mom became a naturalized citizen roughly a decade ago, but one that she says she felt again in 2020 during Donald Trump’s first term in office. The fear returned when Trump was sworn in for a second time.
“I went shopping the other day, and I was talking to one of my uncles on the phone in Spanish,” Manzanares said, “and when I hung up, a man who’d been following me around the store came up to me and said, ‘Soon you and your people are going to get what you deserve.’” The aggression echoed what she remembers experiencing as a high schooler in 2020 when she was shoved into a locker and students handed out fake green cards to Latinos at her school as a joke.
Last month, just six days after Trump’s second inauguration and a flurry of executive orders, proclamations and directives — including those targeting immigrants by threatening prosecution for local officials who obstruct immigration enforcement, declaring an invasion at the southern border and suspending the country’s refugee resettlement program — Manzanares’ fear for her family was realized when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained her uncle in a grocery store parking lot in Bend.
Her uncle, Ariel Antoliani Sandigo Manzanarez, was arrested and taken to a deportation center in Tacoma, Washington. Manzanarez was the first confirmed detention in Central Oregon under the new administration. His arrest sent shockwaves through the Latino community.
“When my uncle got detained, like immediately after I found out, I started posting on social media,” Manzanares said. “Nobody wanted to believe me, and everybody was like, ‘Oh, how dare you make up lies or fearmonger.’” Since then, there have been two other reports of people picked up by ICE, according to immigration advocates in Bend.
After being arrested in Bend, Manzanarez was moved around to different facilities throughout the U.S. As of Feb. 17, he was expected to be deported within days to Nicaragua, where he emigrated from in 2018 seeking political asylum, according to Manzanares and confirmed by her uncle’s lawyer. Following his entry to the U.S., Manzanarez was held for two years in a detention center in Arizona before being released in 2020 and ordered to leave the country. However, Manzanares said her uncle’s mental state was unstable after two years in detention and having witnessed brutal killings in Nicaragua before he left. It took years to get him to a place of recovery where he could start pursuing an appeal for that 2020 deportation order, she said.
Manzanarez’s lawyer, Brian Wolf with Equity Corps of Oregon, said that like many similar cases they’re seeing throughout the U.S., Manzanarez was likely targeted because of his outstanding deportation order. Wolf is petitioning to reopen the case and asking for a stay of removal so Manzanarez can remain in the country pending a decision. Wolf said Manzanarez has a strong case because his attorney failed to show up to represent him at his first deportation hearing in 2020, and Manzanarez was not fit to represent himself because he was suffering from a “pretty severe mental health condition” at the time.
“There’s definitely a big population of people that have been detained and will be detained based on unenforced deportation orders like Ariel’s,” Wolf said. “Some of which might have legitimate claims, very legitimate claims to reopen their cases. Ariel definitely has a very legitimate claim.”
These cases, of people like Manzanarez being taken by ICE officials without warning, are, according to local advocates, keeping many immigrants at home and in fear. The concern that they are not safe in public spaces is compounded by Trump’s orders
that roll back protections in areas previously deemed “sensitive places” like schools, churches and hospitals.
The Source Weekly reached out to Bend-La Pine Schools, Central Oregon Community College and OSU-Cascades to ask how each school is responding to the changes. Representatives from each institution said Oregon’s sanctuary laws allow for school officials to deny entry to deportation agents without a warrant and staff has been reminded of that right.
“COCC is committed to creating a respectful and inclusive learning environment for all students, regardless of immigration status.” wrote Lucas Alberg, director of marketing and public relations at COCC, in a statement to the Source Weekly.
“Bend-La Pine Schools’ stance has not changed: Each and every member of our learning community is valuable and contributes to our mission of high-quality teaching and learning. We will continue working to ensure students and staff feel a sense of safety, dignity and belonging while at school or work, so that each student achieves academic success, experiences wellness and develops a passion, purpose and plan for their future,” BLPS wrote in a statement to its community following questions from families about immigration enforcement.
St. Charles Health System, Mosaic Community Health and Deschutes County Health Services, which provide services at sites throughout the county, similarly said that staff has been advised to consult with a supervisor or legal team for guidance if approached by ICE agents, and there is no legal obligation to permit ICE agents into facilities without a signed criminal warrant.
“We also want to assure Central Oregonians that St. Charles is committed to caring for everyone who enters our doors,” wrote Alandra Johnson, public information officer at St. Charles. “It’s vital for the health of our community that individuals feel comfortable seeking out care when they need it. We are here to serve, and our doors remain open to all those in need of care.”
While her uncle was being moved around the country to different detention centers and awaiting deportation, Manzanares led efforts in Bend to host a peaceful protest for immigrant rights. Draped in Mexican and American flags, protesters held handmade signs reading, “No One Is Illegal On Stolen Land,” “Without Immigrants There Would Be No U.S.A.” and “Solidarity Has No Borders.”
Janet Llerandi Gonzalez, who formed the immigration advocacy group Mecca Bend following the high-profile detention of two people in Bend in 2020, said that protests like the one on Feb. 8 help bring the Latino community together and amplify its voice among the broader Central Oregon community. But, in terms of helping protect immigrants now, Gonzalez says more education on rights is necessary.
“It’s critical for folks to understand that they have rights and that they have a right to ask for things such as a copy of that judicial warrant,” Gonzalez said. “They have a right to not answer questions, not give out their immigration status. They have a right to deny speaking to ICE agents.”
Manzanares is aware of those rights. In the weeks before her uncle’s arrest she was trying to get the word out to neighbors and friends — even going so far as to print Know Your Rights Red Cards, which have information on them about constitutional rights.
“I was already printing them out and posting about it and handing them to my neighbors and friends,” Manzanares said. “And part of me feels guilty because I didn’t think to give one to my uncle. I’m thinking, ‘Well, maybe that could have helped him.’”
—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.
Santos Ambriz, @trueunique on Instagram
Santos Ambriz, @trueunique on Instagram
Santos Ambriz, @trueunique on Instagram
Anti-DEI Orders Threaten Funding, Support
Amid fears of losing funding, some local entities make preemptive decisions while others stay the course
By Julianna LaFollette
Just days after President Donald Trump took office, he signed a series of executive orders, including a push to dismantle federal programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, causing a dismissal of federal DEI staff and a closure of DEI offices.
While questions still remain about how this might impact federal funding for local municipalities and entities, Central Oregon is grappling with how to react to the federal actions.
In a preemptive measure, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners made the first major decision locally around DEI on Feb. 5, voting 2-1 to discontinue its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Committee. Commissioner Phil Chang, who voted to keep the committee, saw the decision as premature.
“I think that this is an entirely unnecessary decision and I’m extremely disappointed that it was sprung on me,” Chang told the Source Weekly. “It’s really unfortunate we’ve gotten swept up in national politics, and it will result in less good provision of services to Deschutes County.”
The County’s DEIA committee worked to address pay disparities between male and female employees and to improve language access for non-English speakers, among other accessibility initiatives.
The committee also aimed to improve staff retention in its 2025 draft work plan, specifically addressing a lower retention of women of color, which was identified in a recent internal audit completed within the County.
One of the main reasons the County voted to do this, according to Commissioner Patti Adair, was to combat the potential loss of federal funds.
“The County did not have to end their internal committee. That was a choice they made, and we’re not going to make that same choice,” Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler told the Source Weekly.
While the City of Bend plans to maintain its commitment to DEI, there is uncertainty about the loss of federal funding for various projects. According to Kebler, the apparent threat to funding comes from the continuation of DEI efforts.
“What it appears the administration may be trying to do is saying, ‘If you do any work in this area [DEI], you can’t receive other grants.’ So that is the threat that sort of seems to be out there,” she said.
According to Kebler, local programs and services receiving federal dollars could be under threat, including infrastructure projects like the addition of an air traffic control tower at the Bend Municipal Airport, the Hawthorne Pedestrian Bridge slated to connect downtown to the Bend Central District and the Reed Market Railroad Crossing aimed at improving travel flow, along with other federally funded services like public transit, firefighting and wildfire mitigation, among others.
“People maybe don’t realize how much the federal government and federal dollars are intertwined in our community and support basic services, along with projects,” Kebler told the Source Weekly. “To see that just get cut or frozen, it’s a huge deal and it’s going to affect everybody, not just a certain group of people.”
Kebler said the City’s DEI work, through its Human Rights and Equity Commission, will continue.
Funding Threats in Motion
While City officials are waiting to understand the legality of these federal actions, the threat of losing federal funding is already reaching schools.
On Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education sent a notice giving schools and colleges until the end of the month to eliminate DEI programs or risk losing federal funding.
Locally, Central Oregon Community College stated last week that it remains committed to its work in DEI, asserting that diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are central to the college’s mission.
“As a higher education institution, we view DEI&B as essential to our work, ensuring all students have the opportunity to thrive. Our efforts align with our Principles of Community, emphasizing respectful engagement, inclusion and equitable opportunities while addressing barriers that have historically limited access to education,” Alicia Moore, COCC’s vice president of student affairs, told the Source Weekly.
Moore noted that the school’s DEI&B programs do not receive federal funding, and that the school will continue to regularly evaluate federal and state policies that may impact its operations.
OSU-Cascades also shared its commitment to continue supporting its students and staff.
“As the university works to understand and respond to these actions, it does so with its mission and values in mind. OSU remains committed to supporting the access and success of all students and employees. None of the recent executive actions have altered this commitment,” read a statement from Vice President of University Relations and Marketing Rob Odom.
While the results of DEI policies are pending, Allyship in Action, a local company that provides coaching and consultation to support belonging in Central Oregon, highlighted the importance of DEI work.
“At its root, this work — whatever people choose to call it — supports each person in our community to have their needs met with dignity and respect to support equitable outcomes,” LeeAnn O’Neill of Allyship in Action told the Source Weekly. “This work is so important because we have inherited the legacy of oppression of those who came before us, and to this day, it still permeates all aspects of our community.”
In response to federal actions, O’Neill is seeing organizations respond in different ways to continue supporting DEI work.
“For organizations that receive federal funding and are following the federal government’s lead, we are seeing the work go off the radar and being done more covertly and in resistance to federal mandates, often in silos,” said O’Neill. “We are seeing other organizations seeking to find ways to depoliticize the work and find bridges across difference. Others that do not rely on federal funding are leaning into their values and staying the course. And of course, there are those that are choosing to back away from the work.”
EARLY TRUMP INITIATIVES AND EFFECTS
NATIONAL HIRING FREEZE
Enacted: As one of his first actions on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating a freeze on the hiring of all federal civilian positions — no vacant position can be filled and no new position may be created.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS:
• Inability for the Forest Service to hire seasonal firefighters ahead of wildfire season, which could mean less prescribed burning and forest health work in the spring, and critically low staffing during fire season.
• Understaffed National Parks due to rescinded job offers to thousands of seasonal employees with the U.S. National Park Service who keep the parks clean and running during high visitor times.
TARIFFS
Enacted: 10% increase on goods from China; 25% increase on all steel and aluminum imports.
Proposed: Additional 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico. (Canada and Mexico tariff increases are on a 30-day pause following negotiations for the two countries to ramp up security at the border over drug smuggling and illegal immigration concerns.)
POTENTIAL IMPACTS:
• Increase in cost of producing goods for businesses that will likely be passed to consumers in the form of higher shelf prices.
• More expensive housing market due to increasing costs for materials (most notably steel) with 25% tariff increase and lumber from Canada (if increase goes through in March).
MASS LAYOFFS/BUY OUTS
Enacted: Through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) run by billionaire Elon Musk, the federal government has laid off thousands of employees from departments such as U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture and gutted the United States Agency for International Development.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS:
• National media report that this latest round of layoffs could impair the ability for a national response to infectious outbreaks like avian flu — a virus currently impacting the price and availability of eggs at U.S. stores.
DISMANTLING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Proposed: Trump has proposed he will dismantle the Department of Education.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS:
• Withholding funding from schools that use curriculum focused on race or ethnicity, or offer protections for transgender students, as well as those that require COVID vaccinations.
• Disruption to special education and Title I funding for low-income students.
• Overhauling Title IX prohibitions against gender discrimination.
• Allowing for vouchers to private or religious institutions. For additional support, visit bendsource.com/co-resources for a comprehensive list of resources.
S SOUND
WRockabilly Road Warrior
Perennial rocker and revivalist The Reverend Horton Heat returns to Bend on Feb. 26
By Dave Gil de Rubio
hen it comes to exploring the 1950s roots of rock ‘n’ roll, you can do a lot worse than to delve into the catalog of The Reverend Horton Heat. Singer and guitarist Jim “the Rev” Heath has been preaching the gospel of that era of music via a slew of albums of original material released by labels both indie and major.
He’s found his music labeled psychobilly, alt-rock and latter-wave rockabilly and is well versed in not only some of the same ground the Stray Cats have trod, but also old-school country and blues. 2023’s “Roots of the Rev. (Volume One),” his 12th studio outing fronting The Reverend Horton Heat (not counting his 2005 Christmas album “We Three Kings”), finds the Dallas native and longtime friend and upright bass player Jimbo Wallace doing a creative flex thanks to a dozen covers.
Recorded in a super lo-fi manner on an array of vintage studio equipment that constituted a mic for each player, with Heath occasionally dropping in drums for each song after the fact, this collection drew on the catalogs of everyone from Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent and Carl Perkins to Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. Aside from being a pandemic project when musicians everywhere had a ton of time on their hands, Heath looked at it as a nod to musicians he admired and knew personally or otherwise.
“Especially during the early days of our group, there weren’t many rockabilly bands out there,” Heath said in a late-October interview. “The older rockabilly artists were constantly looking for guys that could play that style because a lot of the older [sidemen] were gone or didn’t want to do it. I backed up a lot of pretty cool people, and then Jimbo backed up some cool people — on our own, separately and together. And then we have had some run-ins with some notable people, opening for them or getting to meet them and do shows or recordings. I thought we should do a cover song from each one of those people and it would be kind of fun to do. Plus, having worked with all those people, I really wanted the stories to get out there.”
The result with “Roots of the Rev” is a musical travelogue of roots music that finds Heath and Wallace serving as the listener’s tour guides. With the former’s twanging vocal phrasing and the latter providing a rock-solid bottom, listeners are treated to an irresistible reading of Eddie Cochran’s “Twenty Flight Rock” accentuated by some Jordanaires-flavored harmonies, a snappy version of the Nelson perennial “Three Days” and “Rockin’ Bones,” a stomping opener originally cut by rockabilly cult artist Ronnie Dawson. Elsewhere, Heath tips his cap to fellow Texan Gene Summers with the Jerry Lee Lewis-kissed “School of Rock and Roll” and kicks it into overdrive with some fleet-fingered riffing on Crescent City rocker Jerry Byrne’s “Lights Out.” Expect this frenetic energy to translate on stage when the good Rev and his bandmates plug in.
“While we never had a big hit song, we’ve had some that got a lot of airplay; but never one that was a big enough song that we had to play it,” Heath explained. “But at the same time, with our fans, there are certain
songs that we almost have to play because that’s what our fans want to hear. Among them are ‘400 Bucks,’ ‘Baddest of the Bad,’ ‘Big Little Baby,’ ‘In Your Wildest Dreams,’ ‘Galaxy 500’ and ‘Bales of Cocaine.’ People get upset when we don’t play one of the Rev’s ‘hits.’ We’re adding in quite a bit more covers songs right now because of the new album. We recorded [Motörhead’s] ‘Ace of Spades,’ and that’s not even on the new album.”
With plenty of touring on the books through this summer, Heath will also squeeze in separate studio dates with fellow revivalists Jason D. Williams and Jimmy Dale Richardson. Having been inspired by what he calls mid-20th century music that runs the gamut from Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone and movie musicals (“The Sound of Music” and “My Fair Lady” were favorites) to surf music and the aforementioned rockabilly, Heath’s passions still run deep and wide. And it’s a big part of the reason why the 65-year-old rocker is four decades into leading The Reverend Horton Heat.
“I found that if you can draw a big crowd playing your own original music in your hometown, then the only thing that’s keeping you from rock stardom is the will to get in a van and drive,” Heath said. “I tell young musicians to get themselves a really good running van, and if one guy can fix it, that’s even better. You’ve got to get out there. During my whole career, that’s the hardest thing about music of any genre. You’re in a hotel room by yourself. You’re alone and eating truck stop food. You’re getting sick and you don’t know where to go to the doctor. It’s a hard thing. You want to be a rock star? I guarantee you’ll be a rock star. You’ve just gotta be ready to wash your hair at Burger King and do stuff like that.”
The Reverend Horton Heat
With Black Joe Lewis and Piñata Protest Wed., Feb. 26
The Domino Room 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend Doors 6pm, show 7pm; all ages $32
ENROLL IN YOUR FUTURE
The Reverend Horton Heat
The Reverend Horton Heat are drummer Jonathan Jeter, Jim Heath and Jimbo Wallace, from left.
SOURCE PICKS
WEDNESDAY 2/19
FRACTAL’S 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
BRINGING LOCAL JAMS SINCE 2019
Bend-based jam band Fractal, comprised of five local musicians, is celebrating its five-year anniversary. The band’s goal is to bring a dance party to town with its music so head over to McMenamins to celebrate and get groovy. Wed., Feb. 19, 7-10pm at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. 700 NW Bond St., Bend. Free.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY 2/21-2/23
THE SUTTLE LODGE’S WINTER BEER FEST
SIP, SAVOR AND CELEBRATE
A three-day weekend of craft brews, live music and cozy winter fun can be found at the fifth annual Winter Beer Fest at The Suttle Lodge. Taste some frothy goodness from over 40 craft breweries, enjoy food specials and get toasty by the fire while enjoying live tunes in the middle of the forest. Fri., Feb. 21-Sun., Feb. 23, Noon-5pm at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse. 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. $15-$125.
FRIDAY 2/21
BLUE MOUNTAIN DESIGN GRAND OPENING
GET INSPIRATION FOR YOUR DREAM KITCHEN
Known for design, cabinets and inspiration, Blue Mountain Design is opening its store at a new location in Bend. Head over to the grand opening and enjoy some beverages, light snacks and take a tour of the new showroom. Fri., Feb. 21, 4-7pm at Blue Mountain Design. 63130 Lancaster St., Bend. Free.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY 2/21-2/22
MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR
TWO NIGHTS OF DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Each year, The Environmental Center brings Mountainfilm on Tour to Bend to showcase incredible documentary films. The film event features stories of adventure, climate change, culture and resilience from around the world. Fri., Feb. 21 and Sat., Feb. 22, 6-10pm at Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. $28.
SATURDAY 2/22
CRAB FEED
ALL YOU CAN EAT
Powell Butte Community Center is hosting its inaugural crab feed with all-you-can-eat food including Dungeness crab, Caesar salad, homemade mac and cheese, cheese biscuits and beverages. Sat., Feb. 22, Noon-5pm and 3-5pm at Powell Butte Community Center. 8404 S Reif Rd., Powell Butte. $60.
SATURDAY 2/22
SATURDAYS AT SKYLINER
EXPERIENCE A MAGICAL DAY AT SKYLINER LODGE
Head over to the historic Skyliner Lodge for fort building, snowshoeing, art activities or s’mores! Activities are presented by Wildheart Nature School, Discover Your Forest and NatureConnect Central Or egon as a benefit for the Save Skyliner initiative. Feb. 22, 1-4pm at Skyliners Lodge. 16125 Skyliners Rd., Bend. $15-$35. SATURDAY
WINTER ON THE POND MUSIC SERIES
DIVE BAR THEOLOGY PERFORMS
The Winter on the Pond music series is back with some local musical talent performing outdoors on Bend Brewing’s stage. Cozy up by the fire pits with a drink of choice in hand and listen to Dive Bar Theology play. Sat., Feb. 22, 5-7pm at Bend Brewing Company. 1019 NW Brooks St., Bend. Free.
SUNDAY 2/23
JUNIOR SKI PATROL DAY CAMP
LEARN MOUNTAIN SAFETY AND FIRST AID
Join SheJumps and the women of Hoodoo Ski Patrol for a junior ski patrol day camp at Hoodoo. Girls aged 8 to 15 will ski/board alongside patrollers and volunteers to learn more about the many facets of mountain safety and first aid during the camp. Sun., Feb. 23, 9am-3:30pm at Hoodoo Ski Area. 27400 Big Lake Rd., Sisters. $40.
MONDAY 2/24
NATURE NIGHT: GARDENING FOR A HOME WILDLIFE HAVEN
GET INSPIRED TO CREATE A YARD THAT WILL THRIVE
Have you ever wanted to help wildlife in your yard and learn what plants are most beneficial for them? Join Deschutes Land Trust and naturalist Yvonne Babb to learn more about creating a wildlife haven at your own home during a presentation at Tower Mon., Feb. 24, 7-8:30pm at Tower Theatre. 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Free.
ZanArtInk
Joel Cohen
Packy Deenihan
Deschutes Land Trust
By Fat Tony’s Chef Roberto Cardenas
CALENDAR
LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
Winter on the Pond is back at Bend Brewing’s outdoor stage showcasing local music talent including Dive Bar Theology, a cover band that brings the party with its funky, indie rock music. Sat., Feb. 22, 5-7pm at Bend Brewing Company.
19 Wednesday
The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company
Wednesday Jam Sessions Drink some fine cask or imported beers and try some amazing British pies while listening to local musicians jam out.
6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Long Gone Wilder Trio Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music from Long Gone Wilder Trio. 6-8pm. Free.
Deschutes Brewery & Public House
Head Games Trivia Night Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Head Games multi-media trivia is at Deschutes Bend Public House every Wednesday. Win prizes. Teams up to six. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
M&J Tavern Open Mic Night Downtown living room welcomes musicians to bring their acoustic set or turn it up to eleven with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. Goes to last call or last musician, whichever comes first. 21+. 6:30pm. Free.
McMenamins Old St. Francis School Fractal’s 5 year anniversary celebration Fractal turns 5! Join us in your favorite black and white attire, your dancing shoes and come tip a glass with us. We have some special guests joining us! 7-10pm. Free.
Northside Bar & Grill Mellow Wednesday Acoustic Open Mic and Jam hosted by Derek Michael Marc Sign-up sheet is available at 6:30pm. 7-9pm. Free.
Pinky G’s Pizzeria MUSIC BINGO Join music Bingo (think Bingo and Name that Tune). Great food, cold drinks and good times. Free to play and prizes for each round winner. 6-8pm. Free.
Ponch’s Place Bingo Wednesdays Enjoy bingo at Ponch’s Place on Wednesday’s. 5-7pm. Free.
Prost! Bend Trivia Prost! UKB Trivia is now at Prost! Genuine UKB Trivia is no average trivia night! Meet up with friends, win gift card prizes for top teams! Enjoy Prost’s authentic beer and food menu. Trivia is free to play, with no buy-ins! 7-9pm. Free.
River’s Place Cribbage Tournament No signup needed. Just show up! Buy-in is $20 cash per person. Half the pot goes to Harmony Farm Sanctuary, the rest is awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Please arrive early to go over the rules and set up the game. 5:30-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Dean Mueller Dean Mueller is an Americana singer/songwriter whose music blends heartfelt storytelling with the soulful melodies of folk, blues, and jazz. Based in Bend, Dean’s journey has taken him from his roots in Illinois to stages across the country. 7pm. Free.
20 Thursday
Austin Mercantile Live Music Every Thursday Join at Austin Mercantile for live music every Thursday. Offering a light happy hour menu — daily flatbread, chili, charcuterie, soft pretzels and more! 4:30-6:30pm. Free.
Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursday at Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursdays at 6:30pm at Bridge 99 Brewery with Useless Knowledge Bowl. It’s no ordinary trivia night, Team up to win house gift cards! Great brews, cocktails, and more. In-house menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Bunk+Brew Karaoke Thursdays Sing your heart out at Bunk + Brew’s Karaoke Night! Thursdays from 7-10pm. Whether you’re a pro or just love the spotlight, all voices are welcome. Food carts available all evening! Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 7-10pm. Free.
Crave Kitchen Bend COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT Comedy Open Mic Night on the SW side of Bend! Adults Only Encouraged. Intimate, smaller venue, healthier food and beverages, and an interactive night of comedy every Thursday! Hosted By Hopper. 7-9pm. Free.
Deschutes Brewery & Public House Bingo Night Join us at Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House for our new Bingo Night! 6-8pm. Free.
Elements Public House Trivia Night at Elements Public House with QuizHead Games Come be all you can be with Trivia Night every Thursday from 6-8pm! Featuring QuizHead.games. Located at the north end of Redmond. Full bar and great food! 6-8pm. Free.
Midtown Ballroom The Elovaters High Tide Low Ride Tour with Surfer Girl & Veni Sun Exploding into the American progressive roots scene in 2018 with their #1 Billboard Reggae album, "Defy Gravity," The Elovaters have quickly become a household name for lovers of Sublime, Jack Johnson, Slightly Stoopid, G. Love, Stick Figure, The Movement, and more. 7-11pm. $30.
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Dry Canyon Stampede Thursday night live music at Mountain Burger!
Trivia Thursdays with QuizTrivia Thursdays at Ponch’s Place with QuizHead Games. 5-7pm. Free.
River’s Place The Critical Blues Band Tribute to the giants of blues, from Muddy Waters and Junior Wells to Howling Wolf, B.B. King and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. 6-8pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing Trivia on the Moon Come down to Silver Moon Brewing for a night of trivia! Teams are welcome to show up in groups up to 8 people. Silver Moon also offers seating reservations for $20 donations that all go to F*Cancer! If you would like to reserve a table please contact the Trivia on the Moon Facebook page. 7pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub SHINE at The Commonwealth Pub SHINE is an acoustic trio from Bend. With three vocalists, two guitars and bass, Shine covers classics from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond. 8pm. Free.
The Dez Lounge Open Mic w/ Joyful Lane Join Joyful Lane as he hosts open mic night @The Dez Lounge! Enjoy NA cocktails, charcuterie and desserts while listening to local talent! 6-9pm. Free.
The Lot Skinny Dennis Skinny Dennis is an acoustic duo featuring Bill Sterling (guitar, vocals) and Rodney Toogood (bass, vocals). Classic rock, ‘80s indie pop, and original songs. Skinny Dennis’ sound will get you and your friends smiling and moving to tunes you know while discovering new favorites! 6-8pm. Free.
21 Friday
Immersion Brewing THE DUCC Comedy Showcase presented by BUCC Every 3rd Friday of the month THE DUCC will land in the Backroom of Immersion Brewing at the Box factory in Bend. Come experience a comedy showcase featuring mainly local talent, occaisional special guests, plenty of surprises and audience interaction! Hosted by Eric Oren. Third Friday of every month, 7-9pm. $20-25.
Silver Moon Brewing 40 Oz To Freedom (Sublime Tribute Band) ‘40oz to Freedom’ is an accomplished and highly energetic Sublime tribute band and winner of the 2010 San Diego Music Award for Best Tribute Artist. 40oz has toured the entire U.S., Canada, and Mexico for more than 16 years, amassing a loyal and enthusiastic following. 7pm. $15.
The Commonwealth Pub The Vibeshiftas at The Commonwealth Pub Drawing on some of Central Oregon’s finest musicians, lauded singer/ songwriter Sean Alan (formerly of The Bond Brothers) has assembled The VibeShiftas, a new four-piece band that unites, heals and imbues joy, love and deeply funky groove tunes. 8pm. Free.
22 Saturday
Austin Mercantile Saturday Afternoon Live Music Austin Mercantile is now adding live music on Saturdays! Serving wine, beer, lite happy hour menu, gifts and home decor. Hope to see you soon! 4:30-6:30pm. Free.
Bend Brewing Company Winter On The Pond Music Series! Winter On The Pond is back! Back-to-back weeks of some local music talentoutdoors on a big ol stage! Fire pits and warm drinks await! . Sat., Feb., 22, 5-7pm Dive Bar Theology. 5-7pm. Free.
Bend Cider Co. Katalysst Come join us for a late afternoon of music in our rustic, backyard tent featuring the progressive rock duo, Katalysst, from Northern California. Enjoy delicious ciders, beer, wine, and n/a beverages. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. Kid-friendly. 4-6pm. Free.
Caldera High School Central Oregon Symphony’s Winter Concert Series Each year, the Central Oregon Symphony’s Young Artist Competition showcases the dedication and extraordinary skill of young musicians from the region. This year’s winners will take the stage alongside the symphony in a program designed to highlight their remarkable achievements. 2-4 & 7:30-9:30pm. Free.
Craft Kitchen and Brewery Come -
dy @ Craft: Jasmine Rogers Boise’s 2025 Comic of the Year comes back to Bend! Jasmine “Jaz” Rogers is a comedian and artist originally from the Parking Lot of America (Phoenix, AZ). After finding success on her YouTube channel of 10 years, “Jazmataz,” Jasmine brought her comedy to the stage in 2021. She hopes you like her, even though she drives a Kia Soul.Doors Open: 7pm. Show Starts: 8pm$15-Online. $20-Door 8-9:30pm.
Niblick and Greenes at Eagle Crest MadSparkx Eli Madden( Call Down Thunder) and Ben Sparks ( Hasbens) jam crowd-pleasing covers and originals! Come see what the Madsparkx are all about! 6-8pm. Free.
Pangaea Guild Hall Retro Game Tournament Pangaea Guild Hall is hosting a retro game tournament featuring classic games from N64, Gamecube and Xbox360. Teams of 2 will compete in a tournament playing Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart Double Dash, and Halo 3. We will also debut our retro video game lounge as well as a special gamer food menu and Rainbow Road cocktail. Noon4pm.
River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions Open Jazz Jam with Carson Hackbart Productions 6-8pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing Innamind Recordings - Kursk B2B ATEK No Drums or Bass x Innamind Recordings - Kursk B2B ATEK (2hr set); Alt-1, Kalpa, Smurks, Teddles - Webfoot Garage @ Silver Moon Brewing - 21+ ID Required At Door. 8:30pm-2am. $10.
The Commonwealth Pub Rob Gregerson Rob Gregerson is the premier modern day acoustic-electric one-man-band performer in Central Oregon, covering music across several genres including funk, rock, folk, bluegrass, jazz, reggae, world and blues. 8-10pm. Free.
Volcanic Theatre Pub Music Flow Youth Rock Fest Student rock bands of Bend unite! We are bringing the youth for this high-energy showcase of young rockers from our music school. Proceeds from this event will support local youth theater programs and music equipment needs for the Cascades Theatrical Company. 6-10pm. $15 pre-sale, $20 door.
Wildwood Bar & Grill Two Bit Piece
Two Bit Piece is an acoustic trio comprised of two acoustic guitars, upright bass and vocal harmonies. Lifelong fans and players of the extensive musical catalog of the Grateful Dead, members Dave Pettibone (Call Down Thunder), Pat Mayer (Stealhead), and Mike Beaulieu (Shady GroOove) bring together decades of musical chops. 7-10pm. Free.
Dive Bar Theology FB
23 Sunday
Caldera High School Central Oregon Symphony’s Winter Concert Series Each year, the Central Oregon Symphony’s Young Artist Competition showcases the dedication and extraordinary skill of young musicians from the region. This year’s winners will take the stage alongside the symphony in a program designed to highlight their remarkable achievements. 2-4pm. Free.
The Commons Cafe & Taproom Trivia Night Sunday Funday Trivia with Sean. Gather your team, or roll solo and find a spot early in the cafe, knowledge tests begin at 6pm. Prizes for 1st and 2nd place. 6-8pm. Free.
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 Trivia! Free to play and prizes to win! UKB Trivia hosts this fun meeting of the minds. Check out our mimosa menu! Noon-2pm. Free.
River’s Place Oyster Lee Banjo cover solo project. 5-7pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing An Evening with Flamy Grant with supporting guest Story & Tune Ward-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing/songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Charts (the first drag performer to achieve this feat) 7pm. $20.
Unofficial Logging Co. Sunday Matinee Live Music Series Sunday Matinee Live Music Series. Featuring local Central Oregon musician favorites. Family friendly! Presented by: Unofficial Logging Co. & DMM Music LLC. 5-7pm. Free. Webfoot Garage at Silver Moon Brewing The Kronk Men and Facet Instrumental oriented noise and rock trio, self appointed defense mechanism. 5:30pm. $12.
24 Monday
Bend Cider Co. Irish Trad Session with the Ballybogs Come join us for another spirited Irish trad session with The Ballybogs, as they get us warmed up for the upcoming St Paddy’s season! Happy Hour Mondays, discounts on ciders & food! Enjoy delicious ciders, beer, wine, and n/a beverages. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. 6-8pm. Free.
Bevel Craft Brewing Classic Spielberg Trivia Join us for Classic Spielberg Movie Trivia at Bevel! Test your knowledge on Hook, E.T., Jurassic Park, and Jaws from 6-8pm. Free to play, teams up to six, and themed attire encouraged. Win Bevel gift cards! Questions by the legendary Bevel Beard. Don’t miss this blockbuster night! 6-8pm. Free.
Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Mondays at Bridge 99 Trivia Mondays at 6:30pm at Bridge 99 Brewery with Useless Knowledge Bowl. It’s no ordinary trivia night, Team up to win house gift cards! Great brews, cocktails, and more. In-house menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:308:30pm. Free.
Bunk+Brew Open Mic Mondays Show off your talent at Bunk + Brew! Open mic runs from 6-10pm, with sign-ups starting at 5:30. Stick around for open jam from 9-10pm. Enjoy food carts in our backyard while supporting local performers. Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 6-10pm. Free.
Crux Fermentation Project Trivia Night @ Crux Trivia Night at Crux! First place team wins a $25 gift card! 6-8pm. Free.
Elixir Wine Locals Music Night and Open Mic Bend’s friendliest open-mic! All genres welcome. Oregon and international wine, beer and tapas menu available all evening. 6-9pm. Free.
Immersion Brewing Open Mic at Immersion Brewing - Bend Comedy - Open Mic at 7pm - Sign-up at 6:30pm - All performance types are welcome! - All ages are welcome to attend and perform! - All acts are eligible to audition to perform in a future Bend Comedy show! - 5 minutes spoken or 2 songs of stage time! 7-9pm. Free.
JC’s Bar & Grill Free Pool + all day Happy Hour! Free pool Mondays! All-day Happy Hour, free pool with any purchase, and unbeatable deals on drinks and bites! Enjoy delicious eats, ice-cold brews, and game day vibes with football on and the sound up. Don’t miss out- Mondays just got way better! 2pm-Midnight. Free. On Tap Locals’ Day Plus Live Music Cheaper drinks all day and live music at night, get down to On Tap. 11am-9pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing Beertown Comedy Open Mic Voted #1 Open Mic and Locals Night, Beertown Comedy’s Open Mic happens every Monday at Silver Moon Brewing. Free to watch and perform! With 20 spots available, bring your best jokes and get noticed for paid gigs. Laughter guaranteed! 6:30-9pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Monday Acoustic Open Mic Night Whether you’re performing original songs or acoustic covers, the stage is yours Monday nights at The Commonwealth Pub! With full sound and lights provided, just bring your instrument and get ready to shine! Sign-ups 5pm and music 6-10pm. 5pm. Free.
25 Tuesday
Bunk+Brew Trivia Tuesdays Test your knowledge every Tuesday from 7-9pm at Bunk + Brew! New exciting themes every week. Bring your friends for a night of fun and prizes. Food carts will be open, so grab a bite or brew while you play. Located in the Historic Lucas House Dining Room. 7-9pm. Free.
The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company Open Mic Open mic at The Cellar hosted by Mari! 6-8pm and all are welcome! 6-8pm. Free.
The Commons Cafe & Taproom Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Mason James is the host. Poetry, comedy and spoken word are welcome, but this is mainly a musical open mic. Performance slots are a quick 10 minutes each, so being warmed up and ready is ideal. If you wish to perform sign-ups start at 5pm in the cafe. 6pm. Free.
Mountain Burger Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger Come to Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger! Fun and prizes await! 7:30-9pm. Free.
Northside Bar & Grill Karaoke with DJ Chris Ossig Karaoke with DJ Chris. 7-9pm. Free.
Pinky G’s Pizzeria TRIVIA NIGHT Test your knowledge in a casual/laid-back atmosphere. Pizza, beer and trivia. Free to play and prizes for 1st and 2nd place. 6-8pm. Free.
River’s Place Bingo! Have fun, win $$, and support a local nonprofit organization! Cards $1-$5. 6-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Karaoke Get ready for a night of music, singing, and nonstop fun at The Commonwealth Pub! DJ Chris is bringing the energy with top 40 hits and all your favorite karaoke tracks. Grab your friends, warm up those vocal cords, and join us for an unforgettable evening. Sign-ups 6pm Karaoke 7pm! Free.
MUSIC
Blues Harmonica Blowout An all-star live band accompanies the legendary Curtis Salgado (inspiration for “The Blues Brothers”), Harmonica Player of the Year Dennis Gruenling, Grammy nominee and two-time Blues Award winner Mark Hummel, and Spain’s scintillating new harpist and vocalist Sweet Marta. Feb. 23, 7:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. $34 - $54 (plus $6 Historic Preservation fee).
Opera Bend Presents “High Desert Melodies”-An Emerging Artist Showcase
Join an unforgettable afternoon, showcasing the extraordinary talents of five young, emerging singers, accompanied by the masterful performance of an accomplished pianist. This unique event celebrates the future of classical music, offering a rare opportunity to witness Feb. 23, 3-5pm. Pinckney Center, COCC, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-350-9805. operabend@bendbroadband. com. Donations accepted, please.
DANCE
Bachata Dance Classes - Level 1 / Beginner Get ready to have fun learning new bachata steps! This Bachata class is focused on learning basic steps, turns and introduction to partner-work. Perfect for someone looking to learn to dance one of the most popular latin dances. Dance partner not required but encouraged. Cost: $15 per class drop-in. $48mth. Mondays, 8:15-9pm. Through Feb. 24. The Space, 2570 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 541325-6676. LatinDanceBend@gmail.com. $15.
Daddy Daughter Dance At The Movies
The Rotary Club of Bend’s Daddy Daughter Dance with an “At The Movies” theme on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Summit High School is a special time for dads, grandfathers, uncles or other male role models to get dressed up and share in movie-themed fun for K to 5th grade girls. Feb. 22, 6-9pm. Summit High School Auditorium, 2855 NW Clearwater Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-6398055. cj@millerferrari.com. $50-$100.
FILM EVENTS
Mountainfilm on Tour: Bend-Night
One We are excited to announce Mountainfilm on Tour – Bend, an annual fundraiser for The Environmental Center. For the 22nd year, this highly anticipated program showcases incredible documentary films, thoughtfully curated for our Central Oregon audience. Feb. 21 and Feb. 22, 6-10pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-5085410. priscilla@envirocenter.org. $22-$25.
A musical duo like no other, Rob Ickes is a long-established dobro player while Trey Hensley showcases his songwriting and vocals. Their joint venture focuses on traditional music with a blend of bluegrass, country and blues. Mon., Feb. 24, 7pm at The Belfry.
Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley FB
By Chris Young
GUNG HO BendreTheGiant Wades into the Deep End Bringing fresh funk, soul and jazzy vibes
on new EP
Take a quick glance at a photo of BendreTheGiant and it’s easy to see why Ben Estrada goes by this moniker. He’s got a head full of tight brown curls framing his round face, reminiscent of the larger-than-life pro wrestler of yore. And the opening track, “Move,” on his new four-song EP, recounts how he’s gonna “punch your lights out” while giving zero f*cks about “what you think of me,” all set to a slinky jazz flow with clinking cymbals, delicate saxophone and a twinkling piano solo. His neo-soul and -funk vibes are full of these contrasts and are on display on “Wading In The Deep End,” out March 7.
Estrada spent some of his formative years in Central Oregon. “My mom moved to Redmond when I was young, and in my junior year of high school, I went to live with her and attended Ridgeview High. I first started performing when I lived in Redmond, playing in bands, gigging in Bend,” he says. “My creative journey will always stem from this area because this is where I met one of my closest collaborators, Delos Erickson. Later in life, he and I reconnected to create what is now known as BendreTheGiant.”
Estrada relocated to Portland from Seattle after reuniting with Erickson, a keyboardist and music grad from the University of Oregon. They became roommates and Estrada found a new community that he was so desperately seeking. At the midway point of BendreTheGiant’s 2024 single “Make It Stop,” Estrada shares a heartfelt message to his bandmates, saying they helped him “recontextualize this music to be more than I could’ve ever imagined.” He continues: “I am worth it. You are worth it. And if anyone tells you different, they are lying!”
When they were recording “Make
It Stop,” “we had the last-minute thought to change it to me sharing my journey and the pivotal role these people have played in it,” Estrada explains. “I felt so grateful and still have so much pride for the work all of us put into this song.
“Having these people become not only band members but close friends has also connected me to a huge community of creatives like myself,” Estrada says. “This band helped me realize my music in a way I wasn’t able to conceptualize at the time. Truthfully, I will always struggle with mental health — like many others — but I’m now in a place where I have a better support system and outlet to use my creativity.”
“I’ve gone from one person with a keyboard and an interface in a bedroom, to a team full of successful musicians, producers and creatives with access to multiple studios and instrumentations. This has allowed our sound to expand sonically from simple MIDI arrangements to fullblown large ensemble performances,” Estrada describes. “The more we have spent together as friends and musicians, our music has become more collaborative and expressive of our shared vision.”
In anticipation of the release of BendreTheGiant’s sophomore EP, the group will play Bend’s Silver Moon Brewing with Biscuit Brigade Organ Trio on Friday, Feb. 28. Until then, hear a premiere of the band’s new song “Homeless” and read more at bendsource.com/bendre
BendreTheGiant
With Biscuit Brigade Organ Trio Fri., Feb. 28 Silver Moon Brewing 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend Doors 7pm, show 7:30pm; all ages $12 advance, $15 day of show
Delos Erickson
ARTS + CRAFTS
Mosaic Garden Globes 3-dimensional mosaics present additional challenges in terms of design and application, but the end result is completely worth it. Embellished with a variety of colorful glass & ceramic time, these gazing balls will provide beauty, interest and sparkle for your yard or garden all year round. Fri, Feb. 21, 4-7pm, Sat, Feb. 22, 10am-4pm and Sun, Feb. 23, 10am-3pm. Carleton Manor Mosaics, 1776 NE 8th Street, Bend. Contact: 907-230-1785. jesica@carletonmanormosaics.com. $350.
Noticing Walk with Artists Agnese Cebere and Erin Langley In line with the concept of their exhibitoin at Scalehouse, which points to the overlooked in material everyday, Cebere and Langley will lead a Noticing Walk of the outdoor spaces surrounding the vicinity of the gallery during which participants will be asked to participate in a series of “looking excercises”. Feb. 22, 1-3pm. Scalehouse Gallery, 550 NW Franklin Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-362-1288. info@scalehouse.org. $15 suggested donation.
Paint and Sip at Austin Mercantile
Looking for a fun Saturday afternoon? Come join me, your friendly local artist, for some painting and sipping fun! No pressure, just good vibes and a relaxed atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a total beginner, everyone’s welcome! This event is two hours, and I’ll provide the 11”x14” canvas. Feb. 22, 2-4pm. Austin Mercantile, 19570 Amber Meadow Dr Suite 190, Bend. Contact: chalkedcreative@ gmail.com. $52.
Publish That Picture Book Ecourse Launch Week! Publish That Picture Book Ecourse drops Feb. 24 at 10am. (You’ll get $100 off for 5 days only and prizes for the first 10 people!) An easy to understand course to show you exactly how to self publish your children’s book ...and empower you, every step of the way. Feb. 24-28. Contact: info@thebusybirds. com. $197.
Soup From Scratch: Stay Warm, Buy Local Dive into the satisfying world of scratch-made soups from local winter produce that showcase local ingredients and hearty flavors. Learn the art of breaking down a chicken and turning it into a soulful broth, then sharpen your knife skills to transform fresh, seasonal veggies into a vibrant soup. Feb. 22, 10am-1pm. City of Redmond, Redmond, Or., Redmond. Contact: 650-224-6750. info@ schoolofranch.org. $48.
PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS
Nature Night: Gardening for a Home Wildlife Haven Registration is required. Join Deschutes Land Trust and naturalist Yvonne Babb to learn more about creating a wildlife haven at your own home, regardless of the size. Yvonne will share design principles, soil health, microclimates, key native plants, and more. Feb. 24, 7-8:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: event@deschuteslandtrust.org. Free.
Tiny Titans: Insects of the High Desert Dr. Tara Cornelisse will examine the current state of insect populations, share facts and stories about key species in the high desert, and highlight why conserving the high desert is vital for the future of insect populations and the entire ecosystem. Feb. 20, 7-8pm. Contact: 541-330-2638. onda@onda.org. Free.
THEATER
The Lifespan of a Fact Ellipse Theatre Community presents The Lifespan of a Fact, a hit play that humorously and thoughtfully explores the conflict between “facts” and “truth.” The story follows Jim Fingal, a young intern tasked with fact-checking an essay by a celebrated author, leading to a hilarious and timely clash of ideals. Thu, Feb. 20, 7-9pm, Fri, Feb. 21, 7-9pm, Sat, Feb. 22, 2-4 and 7-9pm, Thu, Feb. 27, 7-9pm, Fri, Feb. 28, 7-9pm and Sat, March 1, 2-4pm. Unity Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend. Contact: info@etcbend.org. $25. Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition) Ponderosa Players is bringing the cult hit musical ride the Cyclone (High School Edition) to Bend. Trapped in a sort of “purgatory” between life and death, six students meet a sentient fortune telling machine .Wed, Feb. 19, 7-9pm, Thu, Feb. 20, 7-9pm, Fri, Feb. 21, 7-9pm and Sat, Feb. 22, 2-4 and 7-9pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-410-1487. info@ponderosaplayers.com. $25.
ETC.
4 Nations Face-Off Hockey fans, it’s time to drop the puck and raise a glass! The 4 Nations Face-Off kicks off Feb. 12, featuring NHL stars from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the USA battling for bragging rights! Watch all the action on 13 TVs Thirst-quenching beverages Tasty eats! Thu, Feb. 20, 5pm. The Commonwealth Pub, 30 SW Century Drive, Suite 100, Bend. Contact: 541668-6200. thecommonwealthpubevents@gmail. com. Free.
BHM Dinner Celebration Come celebrate the richness of African American culture and honor the trailblazers who shaped our world. As we reflect on the past, appreciate the present, and work toward an equitable future. The Black History Month celebration will include food, educational components and other entertainment. Feb. 25, 5-7:30pm. Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus, Bend, Bend. Contact: 541-330-4376. mlegrand2@cocc.edu. Free.
VOLUNTEER
Understanding Homelessness in Central Oregon This event aims to address concerns and shed light on the underlying causes of homelessness, the range of ongoing efforts to address it, and potential solutions tailored to Central Oregon’s unique challenges. Formal presentation begins at 6 pm. Feb. 25, 6pm. Westside Church, 2051 NW Shevlin Park Road, Bend. Contact: 808385-6606. Ginnyf007@gmail.com. Free.
Winter Lecture Series - Working with Wildlife: A Journey Through Rehab, Sanctuaries, and Zoos Have you ever wondered how to build a career in wildlife rehab/ husbandry? Join us for an interesting lecture in which one of Think Wild’s wildlife technicians Karla Garcia shares her path building a career working directly with wildlife. Register here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/ Yw8HzjpLx2oG_OdiTiAB4Q Feb. 25, 5:30-6:30pm. Deschutes Downtown Bend Public Library - Meyer Room, 601 N.W. Wall Street, Bend. Free.
GROUPS + MEETUPS
#Hearts4Ukraine The City of Bend officially recognizes Feb. 24, as “Hearts for Ukraine: Small Nation – Global Cause Day.” This proclamation honors Ukrainian resilience, the contributions of refugees in Bend, and the power of unity. It reaffirms Bend’s commitment to cultural inclusivity, remembrance, and global solidarity. #HeartsForUkraine Wed, Feb. 19, 6:45-7:30pm and Mon, Feb. 24, 8am-8pm. Bend City Hall, 710 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 202-716-9602. milashelehoff@gmail.com. Free.
Grand Opening Join us for beverages, light snacks and a showroom tour of our new location. Prizes and giveaways! A great way to get some beautiful ideas for your dream kitchen and bath cabinets and kick off your weekend! Feb. 21, 4-7pm. Blue Mountain Design, 63130 Lancaster St, Bend. Contact: 541-408-3798. joel@bluemtndesign.com. Free.
Publish That Picture Book: Mastermind + Meetup Local children’s book author, Kristen Riggle is launching a new Ecourse, called Publish That Picture Book, which guides you through the self-publishing process step-by-step. In honor of the launch she will hold a free Mastermind + Meetup with local aspiring children’s book authors! To join, please RSVP to info@thebusybirds. com Feb. 22, 10:30am-Noon. Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe, 135 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Contact: info@thebusybirds.com. Free.
FUNDRAISING
California Dreamin’ - L.A. Fire Relief Fundraising Event The Portello community comes together to support the LA Fire Department Relief Fund and The Pasadena Community Foundation. Raffle prizes including wine, gift cards, and items donated by local businesses. Featured cocktail with 100% proceeds donated. Feb. 21, 4-10pm. Portello Wine and Spirits, 2754 NW Crossing Drive - Suite 104, Bend. Contact: 541385-1777. admin@portellowinecafe.com. Free.
CRAB FEED Crab Feed Feb. 22, Saturday- Powell Butte Community Center 2 Seating Times noon-2 and 3-5pm Tickets on sale now. Feb. 22, Noon-5pm. Powell Butte Community Center, 8404 S. Reif Road, Powell Butte. Contact: 541-408-0256. events@pb-center.com. $60.
Pirate Bingo fundraiser for Pinot All hands on deck! We are having a pirate party! Pinot, our logo and mascot, has been diagnosed with bone cancer. Bingo fundraiser for his medical care. Grab your best pirate garb and join us for a great cause. Let’s have a Ssashbuckling good time and celebrate this Ol’Sea Dog. Feb. 25, 6pm. The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room, 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, Bend. Contact: info@bendwinebar.com. Free.
FAMILY + KIDS
Free Bit(e) of Robotics With Camp Fire Central Oregon Curious about robotics? Join Camp Fire Central Oregon’s free Bit(e) of Robotics events at local libraries! Explore LEGO® robotics and other technologies with trained staff. Open to all ages. Parents/guardians must stay onsite. Learn about Camp Fire’s STEAM and robotics programs while having fun! Feb. 25, 3:30-5:30pm. Sunriver Public Library, 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver. Contact: 541-382-4682. info@campfireco.org. Free.
Saturdays at Skyliner Come experience a magical day at Skyliner Lodge with your family! Join us for fort building, snowshoeing, art activities, and s’mores! Activities presented by Wildheart Nature School, Discover Your Forest, and NatureConnect Central Oregon. This is a benefit for the Save Skyliner initiative. Sat, Feb. 22, 1-4pm and Sat, April 26, 1-4pm. Skyliners Lodge, 16125 Skyliners Rd., Bend. Contact: 541362-4324. katie@natureconnectco.org. $15-$35.
SheJumps Wild Skills Junior Ski Patrol Day Camp Join SheJumps and the women of Hoodoo Ski Patrol for a Junior Ski Patrol day camp at Hoodoo Ski Area on Sunday, Feb. 23! Girl aged 8-15 will ski/board alongside patrollers & volunteers to learn more about the many facets of mountain safety and first aid. Feb. 23, 9am-3:30pm. Hoodoo Ski Area, 27400 Big Lake Road, Sisters. Contact: cnashwebber@ shejumps.org. $40.
BEER + DRINK
Suttle Lodge’s 2025 Winter Beer Fest Join us for year five of the Suttle Lodge Winter Beer Festival! We’ve got three days of woodsy, beer-filled fun with 25+ craft breweries, food + snacks, live music and all the cozy winter lodge vibes. Come taste some frothy goodness from our favorite Oregon breweries, get toasty by the fire, tap your toes to the tunes and take in the fresh forest air with all your beer-loving friends.Bonus- it’s all for a great cause! Fri, Feb. 21, Noon-5pm. SKIP Bar at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. Contact: 541-323-0964.
Zwickelmania at Deschutes Brewery Enjoy a free, self-guided tour through our production facility, where you can learn about the history of our brewery, discover the brewing process, and taste our damn tasty beers straight from the barrel! Feb. 22, 11am-4pm. Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room, 901 SW Simpson Ave., Bend. Free.
HEALTH + WELLNESS
Breathwork with Gong Sound Healing Join world renown Breathwork Teacher Jon Paul Crimi! Breathwork could change your life! Feb. 25, 7-8:15pm. Riverhouse Convention Center, 2850 NW Rippling River Ct., Bend. Contact: 310625-6751. breathewithjp@gmail.com. $45. Custom Bliss Sound Bath Custom bliss experience for you! Address specific needs in private setting. Benefits: stress, anxiety, pain reduction; enhanced mental clarity; improved sleep quality; emotional balance; physical relaxation. Connect your mind, body and soul for a happier, healthier, more balanced you! Feb. 22, 2-2:30, 2:45-3:15 and 3:30-4pm. Still Water Yoga & Wellness, 1375 SE Wilson Ave. Suite 180, Bend. Contact: 312-2139834. steph@trebledsouls.com. $30.
The massively popular singer/songwriter Tyler Childers comes back to Bend for another summer night of country and folk music. Childers is one of the headliners, alongside Sturgill Simpson, Sierra Ferrell and Dwight Yoakam, at this year’s FairWell Festival in Redmond. Fri., July 18-Sat. July 19 at Deschutes County Fairgrounds.
Tyler Childers FB
Falling for Food Salute and the art of Italian cuisine
Story and Photos By Jared Rasic
Idon’t go on a lot of dates. I think I’m bad at them. But when I booked a reservation at Salute Restaurant & Bar in order to write this article, it seemed like going there alone the day after Valentine’s Day would be just this side of mildly depressing. The reservation was set for earlier in the day, 4:45pm, because we both had plans later that evening: I had writing to do, she had a play to see at 7:30pm. Spoilers: The food, vibe, discussion and company were so immaculate that the first time I looked at my clock it was 9pm… she had missed her play and I wouldn’t be getting very much writing done.
What I initially found quite wonderful about Salute is the complete lack of pretension. Yes, it’s upscale. Yes, there are candles on the tables, a dense and expertly curated wine selection and a gourmet menu featuring appetizers, salads, soups, first courses and entrees. But there isn’t a stuffy bone in Salute’s body. In fact, our server, Rachel, brought such warmth and grace to our evening that the experience wouldn’t have been remotely as special without her. With snow on the ground outside and the temperature dipping by the minute, Salute felt like an antidote to these last few long winter nights.
Executive chef and owner Jeremy Buck, along with his wife Lian Schmidt, have something very special here. As soon as I found out his bona fides, I realized why. “I went to Western Culinary Institute in Le Cordon Bleu in Portland,” Buck says. “After graduation, Lian and I moved to Florence, Italy, so I could apprentice at Ristorante Simon Boccanegra. It was in Tuscany that I learned the secret to good Italian food. In Tuscany, the chef is only a small part of the community of hard-working people who make culinary magic happen. Italian chefs know that they can’t make a great dish without the hard work of the farmer who grew the tomatoes and basil (or the cardoon and persimmons), which end up gracing the plates of Tuscan restaurants.”
We started with the calamari al pomodoro, which was tender, buttery and delicious in a light and incredibly non-acidic tomato sauce that tasted cut from a garden only moments earlier. The dish was so deceptively simple and yet remarkably complex in its profiles (the oregano and capers!) that we both knew we were in for a singular meal.
“When it comes to Italian cuisine, less is more a lot of the time,” Buck says. “I know it’s a cliché, but it is true. Use very high-quality produce, meats, seafood, fruits and all the rest. Treat your ingredients with respect and use a light hand in processing them. And don’t overdo your dishes by adding in unnecessary ingredients that will only muddy the waters and disappoint.”
Before the next course, I was able to savor the pear old-fashioned with Maker’s Mark, Ramazzotti Amaro, maple syrup, pear brandy and an orange twist. Stiff, sweet and decadent with a bite, the old-fashioned was flawless. My date had the
pomegranate martini with PAMA liqueur, Stoli vodka, pomegranate juice, Grand Marnier and a twist. The mad scientist behind the bar had somehow managed to crash the pom flavor and vodka into each other without overpowering either. You get the sweet bitter of the pom and, completely separately, the cool fire of the vodka. It’s pretty remarkable.
Next was the harvest salad with frisée lettuce, Bartlett pear, delicata squash, pecorino, smoked duck and a sherry vinaigrette. The combination of the pecorino, vinaigrette and lightly smoked duck made for a salad unlike any I’ve had before. Every single ingredient stood apart with individuality and insane freshness, but combined together, they made for an innovative surprise. And that duck… chef’s big, sloppy kiss!
For the entrée, I went with the special, the cannelloni verdi al ragù, a traditional Emiliana-style, baked cannelloni stuffed with veal ragu, spinach and stracciatella cheese, topped with béchamel and Parmesan. I don’t have enough words to talk about this: From the delicate and divine béchamel to the exquisite earthiness of the spinach and the tender subtlety of the veal, I was floored.
“My sensibility regarding cuisine is heavily influenced from growing up with the simplicity of my mother’s cooking,” Buck says. “She learned a lot from her grandmother, who immigrated from France. So, simple, fresh, country-style dishes using fresh meats and produce were always a staple of my childhood. Every day at Salute, we take the highest quality product we can find and treat it with respect. We try to… let the natural freshness of the ingredients shine through in the dishes we create.”
My date ordered the seafood pesto with prawns, scallops, mahi-mahi, linguine and Parmesan in a basil-pinenut pesto cream sauce. The pesto was rich and perfect, finding an amazing balance between the garlic and olive oil while adding an amazing texture to what was one of the freshest and most tender pieces of mahi-mahi I’ve had in a long time.
I could go on. From the wine, to the All the Way Up cocktail (cognac, amaro, passion fruit, lemon, fresh grenadine, orange bitters, Prosecco), to the unbelievable panna cotta and the chocolate torte with a basil gelato that must be savored to be believed, to the attentive and wonderful service, Salute gave us a night that I will remember. I still don’t know if I earned a second date, but as Salute proved to me that night, only time will tell.
Salute Restaurant & Bar 1045 NW Bond St., Bend Reservations highly recommend salutebend.com
Calamari al pomodoro.
Cannelloni verdi al ragù
By Savannah Mendoza
Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean Celebrates Five Years in Bend
Family-owned Greek restaurant
As its name says, Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean is known for its quick, fresh Mediterranean cuisine.
The family-owned restaurant in Bend is marking a major milestone this month — its five-year anniversary — and will celebrate with a weekend of deals, including bowls and wraps for just $11 (the same price as when it first opened) along with additional food specials.
Husband-and-wife team Menoula and George Stanitsas, along with their son Nickolas, opened Kefi in March 2020 — just two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the restaurant industry. What was supposed to be an exciting new venture for the family quickly turned into a fight for survival as many restaurants faced closures and uncertainty. Now, from Friday, Feb. 21, through Monday, Feb. 24, the family is rolling back prices to thank the Bend community for its unwavering support.
“We are incredibly grateful and proud to have made it to our five-year anniversary — it’s been an unbelievable journey,” Menoula says.
Through a pandemic, construction delays and harsh weather, the Stanitsas family remained determined to keep Kefi open. Their biggest motivation is their son Nickolas, who co-owns and manages the restaurant. Nickolas originally created the concept of the restaurant and came up with the menu.
“This is his business, his life — this is what he wanted and created. Kefi was his livelihood, so we had to make
it viable,” Menoula explains. During difficult times, the Bend community showed up, ordering meals and helping sustain the business when it needed it most. “It is the core Bend community that kept us going,” Menoula adds. “We are so very grateful and appreciative for them.”
“We want to thank our customers and give the deepest gratitude to the community who has supported us,” Nickolas says.
At Kefi, customers build their meals by choosing a base — pita wrap, a gluten-free wrap or a bowl — then add proteins, sauces and toppings. The menu highlights fresh, locally sourced ingredients and offers a variety of gluten-free options, bringing the simplicity and beauty of Greek cuisine to Central Oregon.
Over the past five years, Kefi has earned multiple accolades, including Best New Restaurant in 2020 and Best Mediterranean three years in a row (2022, 2023 and 2024) in the Source Weekly’s Best of Central Oregon readers’ poll.
“We survived these past five years and now we’re looking towards the next five — to thrive,” Menoula says.
Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean’s 5th Anniversary Fri., Feb. 21-Mon., Feb. 24, 11am-8pm Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean 20520 Robal Ln, Ste. 120, Bend kefifresh.com
Menoula Stanitsas
Menoula Stanitsas
C CULTURE
WHAT CASSIE'S READING
“The Favorites” by Layne Fargo —An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path, on and off the ice. Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Brontë’s classic “Wuthering Heights,” “The Favorites” is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition and what it truly means to win.
HRead to Kids They’ll reap the benefits
By Christine Bell, Bookseller at Roundabout Books & Cafe
ave you ever read a book to a 5-year-old? Their enthusiasm for choosing which book they want to read, their excitement at telling you that the stegosaurus has protective armor to save it from the meat eaters, or their giggle as they picture Pete the Cat stepping into a pile of blueberries in his new white shoes — it’s all infectious. Every Tuesday, I drive to a local Bend elementary school and spend an hour reading one-on-one to kindergartners.
Not only are these 5-year-olds learning about dinosaurs or whales or whatever topic they choose, they are also learning that reading is fun, and it can take them anywhere in the world.
I’m just as enthused as the kids — seeing their imaginations come to life. I leave that weekly hour with a bounce in my step and a warm memory of reading to my own kids when they were younger.
There’s never been a more important time to read to kids. In 2024, Oregon’s fourth grade reading level tested below the national average. A child is 90% likely to remain a poor reader at the end of the fourth grade if the child is a poor reader at the end of first grade, according to the American Library Association. The first step to rectifying these problems is showing children that reading is fun. By reading to young kids, we can do just that.
The publisher Scholastic recently produced a series of 100 essays, called “100 Reasons to Love Reading,” by Scholastic authors. Over and over again, the authors remind us that reading is an escape, it’s a comfort, it works on your mind, it builds understanding. What’s not to love about any of those benefits? There are multiple long-term benefits to reading to kids, including:
• Helping children learn language skills and new vocabulary.
• Teaching empathy and how to handle challenging feelings and situations.
• Giving kids a window into a world that isn’t native to their own experiences.
• Sharing a laugh or a thrill together in a book is a strong bonding experience.
There is nothing like heading to the local bookstore or library and coming home with a stack of books. There are so many options, from nonfiction books about space, nature, animals, maps — you name it — to picture books on any topic
you can imagine. Silly, touching or rhyming, with whimsical and beautiful illustrations, there is something for every child. What’s important is letting the child choose whatever is interesting to them, so you can capture and keep their attention.
Read in the morning at the breakfast table, or maybe with an after-school snack on the couch, or in the evening before bed. Put books in the car so your children can look at them while you drive. There is never a bad time to pick up a book. Have books sitting by the couch, in the bedroom, in the kitchen — everywhere — and you’ll find that they are picked up more often.
For babies and toddlers, you might try an Indestructible book — chew-proof, waterproof and nontoxic, these books have lots of fun topics to choose from: food, farm animals, “Jungle Rumble!” and countless more.
Board books are another option: New in 2025, Jon Klassen’s latest, “Your Island,” inspires imagination with its simple illustrations. For your car and truck lover, the new “Beep! Beep! Vehicles on the Go” by Byron Barton will be a hit. Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have a new board book, “The Rhyming Rabbit,” about a rabbit who drives his family crazy with all his rhyming.
Some of my favorite picture books of 2025 include: “The Smart Cookie,” by Jory John and Pete Oswald, about a cookie who always wants to know the right answer. “Molly, Olive and Dexter: You Can’t Catch Me,” by Catherine Rayner, has beautiful illustrations of the animal friends who each wonder what they are good at. “The Creature of Habit Tries His Best,” by Jennifer E. Smith and Leo Espinosa, is a hilarious story about a rabbit who is learning to ride a bike. Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell’s new “To See an Owl” uses beautiful pencil drawings to tell the story of a girl searching everywhere to find an owl in the wild.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which books you choose, just pick something up and start reading and you can transform any kid into a lover of books!
As Atticus tells Scout in the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird”: “Every time we open a book, every time we care about a character, we build empathy with others and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.” Why not help kids build these traits early in life?
to Read to Kids through
If you don’t have a child or grandchild or niece or nephew to read to, check out smartreading.org. Founded in 1992, SMART Reading is an Oregon nonprofit children’s literacy organization that serves kids in Oregon’s highest-need schools and marginalized communities with two ingredients critical for literacy and learning success: shared reading time and books to keep. They welcome volunteers to help with their reading programs.
SC Heavy Hangs the Shield “Captain America: Brave New World” loses focus
By Jared Rasic
Iknow it’s not cool to still like Marvel movies because they’re apparently the nadir of cinematic excellence, but I do… even when they keep letting me down. There are two specific reasons why I keep turning up at the theater on opening weekend for this forever franchise: 1) After 35 movies and 26 shows, I’m invested in these characters’ stories and, even at their worst, I find comfort in an old-fashioned superhero movie. And 2) I’m still chasing that feeling of watching “Avengers: Endgame” in a sold-out auditorium with hundreds of fans absolutely losing their minds over a wonderful moment involving Captain America and a very heavy hammer.
I get it — I don’t begrudge anyone’s disdain for movies they don’t connect with or enjoy. A lot of critics and moviegoers, in particular, feel fairly cynical toward Hollywood blockbusters, Disney and how comic book movies have taken over the box office for the last 15 years, causing an erosion of mid-budget “grownup” movies. And yeah, a lot of them are bad. Still, I can’t bring myself to be cynical about movies (especially ones I’ve never seen) because then what the hell am I doing with my life?
“Captain America: Brave New World” is the definition of mid. A movie so afraid to take a political stance that, while still being momentarily entertaining, is ultimately just a disposable sliver of popcorn entertainment.
The advanced reviews for “Captain America: Brave New World” were dismal, so maybe it was my lowered expectations, but I didn’t think it was that bad. It’s nowhere near the quality of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) pre-“Endgame,” but it’s certainly better than several of the ones since then. The biggest mistake it makes is treating the story as a way to wrap up loose ends from the past instead of moving Anthony Mackie’s Captain America into the future and giving him more personal stakes.
The Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” was mostly focused on Sam Wilson (Mackie)
reconciling his morality with taking the shield of Captain America for a country that has spent a vast majority of its history treating Black people like secondhand citizens (at best). America loves its heroes, but when its incredibly short attention span changes, it’s back to racism, hatred and ignorance. For example: See how most of the country treated Jesse Owens when he returned from the 1936 Olympic Games.
With “Captain America: Brave New World,” Wilson is officially the new Cap and working directly under Harrison Ford (taking over for the deceased William Hurt) as Thaddeus Ross, the former obsessive Incredible Hulk hunter and now president of the United States. It’s a blast watching Mackie and Ford verbally (and otherwise) spar with each other, but the plot works as a direct continuation of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” which was expected, but it also spends much of its runtime wrapping up loose ends from 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk” and 2021’s “Eternals,” two MCU films that are widely considered to be the low-point of the entire franchise.
This does Mackie and his new starring role as Captain America a little dirty. It seems like a counterintuitive choice to basically relaunch a beloved character in a movie that consistently reminds audiences of movies they didn’t like (or spend much money watching).
What works beautifully is the tragic story of Isaiah Bradley (played by the wonderful Carl Lumbly), a Korean War hero who was given the super soldier serum in the 1950s and then imprisoned for 30 years. Bradley and Wilson ruminating on sacrificing everything for a country that despised them gives the film a powerful thematic center that is sadly underutilized.
“Captain America: Brave New World” is the definition of mid. A movie so afraid to take a political stance that, while still being momentarily entertaining, is ultimately just a disposable sliver of popcorn entertainment. Only a day or two removed from having seen it, I find that the details of the film are already hazy in my mind. Still, I’m no less excited to see May’s MCU release of “Thunderbolts*” and July’s relaunch of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Every movie has a chance to be great, just as it has the chance to be terrible, regardless of what came before. The day that faith in the magic of movies leaves me is probably the day I cease to write about them.
“Captain America: Brave New World” Dir. Julius Onah
Now playing at Regal Old Mill Redmond Cinema, Madras Cinema 5
Anthony Mackie picks up the shield in “Captain America: Brave New World.”
What You’ll Find at Lake Abert Familiarize yourself with this abundant high desert ecosystem
By Liliya Giroux
Brisk air and dark shadows cast over the lake while the sun makes its daily journey up Abert Rim. Western meadowlarks sing and distant chukar calls echo through the air. Coyotes stride across dry lakebed and juvenile birds drink from fresh water streams while a northern harrier glides above. An entire ecosystem rises for another day.
This scene is an early morning routine on the north end of Lake Abert — Oregon’s only hypersaline lake, and one of just three hypersaline lakes in the U.S. Located in south-central Oregon, just east of the town of Paisley, an abundance and diversity of waterbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds utilize this saline wonderland before their journey south of the equator. Lake Abert provides a crucial pitstop for migratory birds that traverse the Pacific Flyway — a major north-south flyway for migratory birds, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance following food sources, heading to breeding grounds or seeking overwintering sites. They replenish their energy at Lake Abert by feasting on the alkali flies and brine shrimp that are adapted to live in this hypersaline environment.
Lake Abert was my introduction to Oregon’s high desert. Born and raised in Arizona, I’m familiar with the Sonoran Desert, sagebrush, juniper and ponderosa pine landscapes. I’m especially familiar with the surprising diversity and abundance a desert can cultivate. When
I moved to Oregon this past summer, the high desert, specifically Lake Abert, quickly became a point of familiarity in an otherwise unfamiliar region.
Driving out to Lake Abert for the first time, I camped overnight and basked in the beauty of Abert Rim before I would spend the following morning completely absorbed by the Pacific Flyway migrants that occupied the lake. The quiet and astounding first hours of the day revealed the autonomy of this community, how each species communes, takes and gives to this unique ecological system. Sights included shores scattered with American avocet, blacknecked stilt, gulls and smaller shorebirds, distant flocks of diving eared grebe, mesmerizing phalarope murmurations and other fantastic behavioral observations.
More than 80 species of waterbirds have been observed at Lake Abert during migration along the Pacific Flyway. When conditions are optimal and brine shrimp and alkali fly populations are thriving, Lake Abert can support hundreds of thousands of birds, whose arrival at the lake coincides with peak invertebrate populations. These abundant food sources, in addition to the shallow shoreline, unobstructed sight lines to avoid predation and freshwater springs around the lake for bathing and drinking, combine to create an ideal seasonal habitat for birds. Only the Great Salt Lake surpasses Lake Abert in importance to migratory species.
I’d come back to Lake Abert routinely throughout that spring and summer. Being a beginner birder, I never imagined seeing so many striking birds, in such high quantities, so soon. Other notable sights here included a waddling badger on the side of the road, a stoic great blue heron, my first western tanager sighting and a coyote in a barking spat with a Canada goose. This diversity of life beyond the birds that thrive here further instilled what a special ecosystem lay before me.
As I spent more time here, I came to find that while this is an indispensable ecosystem appreciated for its
wonders, its future is at risk. Lake Abert’s ecosystem depends on consistent and reliable fresh water to support the food web that feeds the abundant life at the lake. However, a myriad of factors have reduced water flow into the lake, upsetting the balance of its salinity or drying up the lake altogether. In 2014, the lake went dry for the first time since the 1930s, shrinking to 5% of its maximum size. Salt concentrations exceeded 15%, surpassing the threshold at which brine shrimp and alkali flies can survive, to the detriment of tens of thousands of migratory birds. Low lake levels persisted for several years, finally appearing to recover in 2017, only for the cycle to repeat itself again in the last decade.
Part of the problem is due to poor water management, which organizations like the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) have stepped in to mediate. In 2023, ONDA improved conservation and management of Lake Abert when its advocacy encouraged Oregon’s legislature to take action on the issue. In the year ahead, the organization will continue working with tribes, ranchers, conservation groups, elected officials, scientists and other community partners to restore Lake Abert and protect migratory bird habitat, and to ensure conservation is at the center of conversation. ONDA has a number of opportunities for the community to get involved in important conservation and stewardship actions throughout the high desert region.
As another day ends at Lake Abert and I feel the night bring on the cold, I’m met with gratitude and immense awe for this ecosystem that prevails despite its challenges. This is an ecosystem that’s special and unique to this region, that I associate the wonders and vitality of the sagebrush steppe. Lake Abert allowed me to find a refuge and familiarity in a foreign landscape, much like it does for the wildlife that pass through its saline shores.
—Liliya Giroux was a 2024 summer Hillis Intern at Oregon Natural Desert Association, where she supported the long-term monitoring efforts of migratory birds that depend on Lake Abert by conducting weekly bird counts, recording the abundance and diversity of Pacific Flyway migrants that utilize the lake before their journey south of the equator.
A summer morning spent searching for birds at Lake Abert.
Liliya Giroux
By Savannah Mendoza
Bendi Gras Brings Mardi Gras Magic to Central Oregon
A weekend of spectacle and celebration from live music and pool parties
brunch and more across Bend
Mardi Gras is coming to Bend: Get ready for a weekend of music, revelry and New Orleans-style fun with a local twist. From Friday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 2, Bendi Gras transforms the city into a hub of high-energy performances, vibrant parties and snow-filled festivities all inspired by one of the world’s most famous celebrations.
“I lived in New Orleans for 20 years and I really wanted to bring the spirit of Mardi Gras here,” says Ruth Vernotico, publisher of SUS magazine and the event’s organizer. “I knew Bend would be prime for something like Bendi Gras — Bend loves to party, loves to drink and loves performances.”
At the heart of the weekend’s festivities is New Orleans bounce music icon Big Freedia performing Saturday night at the Midtown Ballroom. Known for wild shows and an electrifying stage presence, Big
Freedia’s set will involve rapping alongside a wall of dancers twerking on stage.
“Big Freedia’s performances are a spectacle. Big Freedia is the reason twerking became a national phenomenon,” Vernotico says. “I’ve worked with Freedia in the past at a radio show in New Orleans and I just love them as a human being. I’m really looking forward to the show.”
Beyond the concert, Bendi Gras features a heated pool party at the Campfire Hotel, a snow parade and a celebration on the slopes at Mt. Bachelor, plus a Mardi Gras brunch at Deschutes Brewery, complete with beignets. Organizers will also be handing out limited-edition, exclusive glass beads to attendees.
“My advice for Bendi Gras? Try as many of the events as possible — even ones you wouldn’t normally go to,” Vernotico says. “I don’t think anyone
is really prepared for how great Bendi Gras is going to be.”
For those curious about the events, Vernotico encourages reaching out to Bendi Gras or SUS Magazine with any questions. Additionally, cultural ambassadors will be at each event to provide insights into Mardi Gras traditions for those who are curious about anything specific regarding the events.
For a full schedule of events and ticket details, visit bendigras.com.
Bendi Gras Fri., Feb. 28-Sun., March 2 Various locations in Bend Free besides select ticketed events bendigras.com
Reinhart
Photo Credit: Forrest Reinhart
Big Freedia FB
International Organization of Women Pilots
41. ___ health
Genesis victim 50. ___ Lobster
51. Hair color tint
52. Sports radio fodder
54. Slash’s band?
56. Reciprocal of sine: Abbr.
59. Give to the church
60. Flowering evergreen plant
62. Perfect picture
63. Pepper processor
64. Sticky substance
65. Breathmint brand
66. Where a Princess migh stop
67. Group that might say “skibidi” or “rizz”
By Brendan Emmett Quigley
Pearl’s Puzzle
Puzzle for the week of February 17, 2025
DOWN
1. Daughter of Cronus and Rhea
2. Course finale
3. Sinewy and lean
4. Office building rm.
5. Assign fault
6. Superstar’s vibe
7. Persian bakery?
8. “What was that?”
9. Magic charm
10. Baby’s covering 11. Proceeding thus 12. Head piece?
13. Fights
18. Brainiac
22. “Little House on the Prairie” setting
23. Its flag has a prominent beehive
25. Leafy green
27. Loverboy
28. Place that puts on avant-garde productions
30. “Coffee and Cigarettes” director Jim
31. Seek change
32. Proofreader’s finds
35. Table scraps
36. Mud room?
38. Word next to a harp on €1 coin
40. “Be quiet”
43. See 20-Across
46. Ancient history
48. Bedroom cover?
49. Woman in white
51. “Someone Like You” singer
53. Fish served in unaju
55. Box in sudoku
56. John of the Velvet Underground
57. Knock out
58. Word in many French restaurants
60. “Stop talking,” briefly
61. Scotch ___
Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters P A V E T O U C H exactly once.
The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll .” - Steven Wright
Answer for the week of February 10, 2025
ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES
“Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it.” —George Carlin
“Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it.” - George Carlin
ASTROLOGY
By Rob Brezsny
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Have you been struggling to summon the motivation to start anew in some area of your life? I predict that sometime in the coming weeks, you will find all the motivation you need. Have you been wishing you could shed the weight of the past and glide into a fresh project with unburdened mind and heart? I believe that destiny will soon conspire to assist you in this noble hope. Are you finally ready to exorcise a pesky ghost and dash jubilantly toward the horizon, eager to embrace your future? I think you are.
com/bend Schedule your free consultation!
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Hindu holiday of Maha Shivaratri is dedicated to overcoming ignorance and darkness in celebrants’ own lives and in the world. This year it falls on February 26. Even if you’re not Hindu, I recommend you observe your own personal version of it. To do so would be in accordance with astrological omens. They suggest that the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to be introspective, study your life and history, and initiate changes that will dispel any emotional or spiritual blindness you might be suffering from. PS: Remember that not all darkness is bad! But some is unhealthy and demoralizing, and that’s the kind you should banish and transmute.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The blue whale is the most massive animal that has ever lived. You could swim through its arteries. Its heart is five feet high and weighs 400 pounds. And yet, when diving, its pulse slows to four to eight times per minute. I propose we choose the blue whale to be your spirit creature in the coming weeks. May this magnificent beast inspire you to cultivate slow, potent rhythms that serve you better than hyperactivity. Let’s assume you will accomplish all you need by maintaining a steady, measured pace—by focusing on projects that require depth and diligence rather than speed. Your natural persistence will enable you to tackle tasks that might overwhelm those who lack your patience.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson was a 10th-century Danish king. He united the tribes of Denmark into a single kingdom. His nickname originated in the fact that he had a prominent dead tooth that turned bluish-gray. More than 10 centuries later, engineers who created a new short-range wireless technology decided to call their invention “bluetooth.” Why? Because they imagined it would serve a variety of electronic devices, just as the king once blended the many tribes. In the spirit of these bluetooth phenomena, I’m urging you Virgos to be a uniter in the coming weeks and months. You will have an enhanced capacity to bridge different worlds and link disparate groups. PS: An aspect that could be construed as an imperfection, like Harald’s tooth, could conceal or signify a strength.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Ursula K. Le Guin wrote, "Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake." I know from experience there’s truth in that idea. But I’m happy to tell you that in 2025, freedom will be less heavy and less burdensome than maybe ever before in your life. In fact, I suspect liberation will be relatively smooth and straightforward for you. It won’t be rife with complications and demands, but will be mostly fun and pleasurable. Having said that, I do foresee a brief phase when working on freedom will be a bit more arduous: the next few weeks. The good news is that your emancipatory efforts will set the stage for more ease during the rest of 2025.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Over 10,000 years ago, someone walked for a mile through what’s now White Sands National Park in New Mexico. We know they did because they left footprints that were fossilized. Scientists believe it was probably a woman who mostly carried a child and sometimes let the child walk under its own power. Like those ancient footprints, your actions in the coming weeks may carry lasting significance—more than may be immediately apparent. I encourage you to proceed as if you are making a more substantial impact and having a bigger influence than you imagine.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): What’s the oldest known recipe? What ancient food product did our ancestors write down instructions about how to make? It was beer! The 4,000-year-old Sumerian text included a hymn to Ninkasi, the goddess of beer. It tells how to use the right ingredients and employ careful fermentation to concoct a beverage that lowers inhibitions and brings people together in convivial celebration. In that spirit, Cancerian, I encourage you to meditate on the elements you can call on to create merrymaking and connection. Now is a good time to approach this holy task with extra focus and purposefulness.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In November 1963, the captain of a sardine boat sailing near Iceland noticed a column of dark smoke rising out of the water. Was it another boat on fire? No, it was the beginning of a volcanic eruption. A few days later, steady explosions had created a new island, Surtsey, which still exists today. I suspect you will have a metaphorically comparable power in the coming weeks, Leo: an ability to generate a new creation out of fervent energies rising out of the hot depths. Be alert! And be ready to harness and make constructive use of the primal force.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Always and forever, the world is a delicate balance of seemingly opposing forces that are in fact interwoven and complementary: light and shadow, determination and surrender, ascent and descent, fullness and emptiness, progress and integration, yes and no. The apparent polarities need and feed each other. In the coming weeks, I invite you to meditate on these themes. Are there areas of your life where you have been overly focused on one side of the scale while neglecting the other? If so, consider the possibility of recalibrating. Whether you are balancing emotion with logic, rest with work, or connection with independence, take time to adjust. If you honor both halves of each whole, you will generate fertile harmonies.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The ancient stands of cedar trees on Japan’s Yakushima Island have a special power. They create weather patterns for themselves, generating rain clouds from the water vapor they release through their leaves. This ingenious stroke of self-nurturing provides them with the exact rainfall they require. I propose that we make these cedar trees your power symbol in the coming weeks. It’s an excellent time for you to dream up and implement more of the conditions you need to flourish.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Tardigrades are tiny, eight-legged animals colloquially known as water bears or moss piglets. Their resilience is legendary. They can thrive anywhere, from mountaintops to the deep sea, from Antarctica to tropical rainforests. They can withstand extreme temperatures, live a long time without water, and even survive in outer space. I propose we make the tardigrade your power creature for the coming weeks, dear Capricorn. Your flexibility and fluidity will be at a peak. You will be hardy, supple, and durable. It will be a favorable time to leave your comfort zone and test your mettle in new environments. Seemingly improbable challenges may be well within your range of adaptability.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the coming days, playing games could be good practice for life. Breezy exchanges and fun activities could stimulate clues and insights that will be useful in making important decisions. What appears to be ordinary entertainment or social engagement may provide you with profound lessons about strategy and timing. How you manage cooperation and competition in those lighter moments could yield useful guidance about more serious matters.
Homework: If you like my writing here, you might like my other offerings: linktr.ee/robbrezsny
By Ellen Waterston
THE THIRD ACT A COLUMN ON AGEISM AND AGEING Heart Songs
Miles and miles of heart needed
Let’s hear it for conversation hearts, Valentine’s Day cards, bouquets or heart-shaped chocolates from unknown admirers! Sure, sure, but feeling and expressing heartfelt emotions is not a once-a-year thing. We don’t have to be “Damn Yankees” to know we gotta have heart every day, miles and miles of it, in order to get through life. Instead, we have to grow our heart’s capacity — more big, more of.
And doing so doesn’t mean we get all moony and mushy, don’t get things done, don’t stand up for what’s important. No matter our age, there’s plenty we can do. “However bad it gets, anybody willing to act with goodwill, in good faith, with some competence in acting, can make things a little better. I don’t care if it’s the last day of the world. That’s my faith,” says 91-yearold author, poet and environmental activist Wendell Berry in a 2020 Orion magazine interview. In combination, he’s the author of over 50 titles of poetry, fiction and essay collections, all of which underscore one message: Humans must live in harmony with the natural rhythms of the earth or perish. He extols small-scale farming as essential to healthy local economies, and healthy local economies as essential to the survival of the planet.
Because we’re not all in a position to have a farm, small or otherwise, I choose to see Berry’s invitation as a figurative one. The goodwill, good faith and competence Berry refers to, as well as an understanding of the accumulative effect of small acts for good, were evident at the recent dedication of NeighborImpact’s new 10,000-square-foot food bank in Redmond. Since 1985, the nonprofit has provided food, pre-school education, energy assistance and emergency housing for those living in poverty in Central Oregon. The organization served 900,000 meals in 2024, such is the need. With the potential of federal funding being curtailed or eliminated, we’ll have to open our hearts, schedules and pocketbooks to support these programs that keep our regional community clad, fed, educated and sheltered. In view of other policy changes coming down the pike, there will be any number of cultural, educational and social “gardens” or “small-scale farms” that will need communities to band together to help cultivate and sustain. No special equipment or training
is necessary other than to have a heart, to be of good heart. And no one puts matters of the heart into words better than Oregon author Brian Doyle. This excerpt from his essay “How We Wrestle Is Who We Are” is proof.
“My son Liam was born 10 years ago. He looked like a cucumber on steroids. He was fat and bald and round as a cucumber on steroids. He looked healthy as a horse. He wasn’t. He was missing a chamber in his heart. You need four rooms in your heart for smooth conduct through this vale of fears and tears, and he only had three, so pretty soon doctors cut him open and iced down his heart and shut it down for an hour while they made repairs, and then when he was about 18 months old he had another surgery, during which they did more tinkering, and all this slicing and dicing worked, and now he’s 10, and the other day as he and I were having a burping contest he suddenly said, ‘Explain to me my heart stuff,’ which I tried to do, in my usual Boring Dad way…
“Eventually my son will need a new heart, a transplant when he’s 30 or 40 or so, though Liam said airily the other day that he’s decided to grow a new one from the old one, which I wouldn’t bet against him doing eventually, him being a really remarkable kid. But that made me think: If we could grow new hearts out of old ones, what might we be then? What might we be if we rise and evolve, if we come further down from the brooding trees and out onto the smiling plain, if we unclench the fist and drop the dagger, if we emerge blinking from the fort and the stockade and the prison, if we smash away the steel from around our hearts, if we peel the scales from our eyes, if we do what we say we will do, if we act as if our words really matter, if our words become muscled mercy, if we grow a fifth chamber in our hearts and a seventh and a ninth, and become as if new creatures arisen from our shucked skins, the creatures we are so patently and brilliantly and utterly and wholly and holy capable of becoming…
“What then?”
—Poet and author Ellen Waterston is a woman of a certain age who resides in Bend. "The Third Act" is a series of columns on ageing and ageism.
TAKE ME HOME
Building a Custom Home
What to consider
Building a custom home in Bend is a journey that requires careful planning, a clear vision and strong partnerships with the right professionals. It’s a significant investment, both financially and emotionally, and the process can be complex, but the reward is a home perfectly tailored to your lifestyle and preferences.
The first step in this exciting endeavor is finding the ideal location. Bend offers a variety of settings, from the high desert with its stunning mountain views to the more forested areas closer to the Cascade mountains. Consider factors like proximity to amenities, schools and your workplace, as well as the specific characteristics of the lot itself, such as its size, topography and sun exposure.
Once you’ve secured the perfect piece of land, it’s time to assemble your team. This typically includes an architect, a builder and potentially an interior designer. The architect will translate your vision into detailed blueprints, considering your desired style, layout and functionality. The builder will then bring those plans to life, managing the construction process from start to finish. Choosing the right builder is crucial, as they will be responsible for coordinating subcontractors, adhering to building codes and ensuring the project stays on schedule and within budget.
With the team in place and the plans finalized, the construction phase begins. This involves a series of stages, starting with site preparation, which may include clearing the land, grading and installing utilities. These are critical factors that are often not considered, and site preparation is a major cost center. Next comes the foundation, followed by framing, roofing and the installation of
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exterior finishes. As the structure takes shape, the focus shifts to the interior where plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems are installed, followed by insulation, drywall and interior finishes like flooring, cabinetry and paint. Delays can (and will) arise due to weather, material availability or unforeseen issues. Another potential challenge is managing change orders. While some changes are inevitable, they can significantly impact your budget and timeline. Throughout the process, your builder will keep you informed of progress, address any questions or concerns and guide you through important decisions regarding materials, fixtures and finishes.
Building a custom home in Bend also means navigating the local regulations and permitting process. This can be a complex and time-consuming aspect of the project, so it’s essential to work with professionals who are familiar with the local building codes and requirements. They can help you obtain the necessary permits and ensure your home complies with all applicable regulations.
As the construction nears completion, the final stages involve inspections, walk-throughs and the finishing touches that will make your house a home. This is your opportunity to ensure everything meets your expectations and address any last-minute adjustments. Once you’re satisfied, you can move in and begin enjoying the custom home you’ve worked so hard to create. Building a custom home is a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. With careful planning, a dedicated team and a clear vision, you can create a home that reflects your unique style and provides the perfect backdrop for your life in Central Oregon.
