As high-quality metal roofing continues to grow in popularity in Central Oregon, you’re likely to see a new company cutting and preparing the materials at job sites around the region.
Caliber Metal Manufacturing and Supply is the newest venture from husband and wife team Scott and Stacy Rightmire, who have owned and operated Scott’s Roofing in the area for the past seenteen years. Caliber Metal began operation in early September, using a portable metal machine to make roof-ready metal cuts on the job site, something unique in the world of metal roofing.
Scott and Stacy Rightmire
“We just decided it was needed here in Central Oregon,” said Stacy Rightmire. The couple has noticed the rising popularity of metal fabricated roofs, which are higher quality and last longer than more common composite roofing. Metal roofs used to look less sophisticated and weren’t as popular, Rightmire said, but materials and design have improved over the years. While demand has gone up, in most cases the metal roofing is cut off-site and delivered to projects, creating a transportation challenge and the possibility of issues with the roofing panels, both problems that Caliber Metal won’t have to worry about. “It’s a clean cut right on site,” Stacy said. “You don’t damage the metal because you’re not delivering it, and if the roof is long or steep, it’s a great benefit as that can be hard to transport when it’s pre-cut.”
Scott demonstrates how to use the metal forming machine
Caliber Metal will not install the metal roofs themselves, but will work with existing roofing companies, including Scott’s Roofing, general contractors and homeowners who are installing roofing themselves. In addition to the portable metal cutting machine, the company also has the necessary equipment for all the trim pieces, essentially being able to hand off a ready-to-go roofing kit to the installer.
Both Central Oregonians since they were young children, the Rightmires have watched as the local construction industry has ebbed and flowed, getting busy in recent years as the population booms. Their children have pitched in at Scott’s Roofing over the years, and today the company employs twenty-eight people in the region. They’ve hired a couple new employees to help run Caliber Metal, and they are eager to see what the future has in store.
Caliber Metal Manufacturing and Supply | 1020 SE Paiute Way, suite 110, Bend | calibermetalmanufacturingandsupply.com | 541-668-0062
A year ago, most families spent their days away from home: in classrooms, gyms and offices. Designing spaces for kids meant choosing fun bedroom colors and décor, and homes were more of a refuge to enjoy after the school and workday finished. The COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home guidelines have brought a new normal to how families live in their homes. These days, busy families need to incorporate work, school, play and fitness into their home life, and seek spaces that flex to accommodate more activities—especially for kids.
photo Virginia Harold
Design for the younger generation now involves much more than choosing paint and bedding. From toddlers to teens, kids need quiet spaces to study and read, loud spaces to move and blow off steam, creativity stations for messy art projects, and ways to connect virtually with friends. Their parents need room, too, for home offices and exercise. How can one household do it all while keeping kids organized, happy and productive?
photo courtesy of nestingwithgrace.com
CREATING FLEXIBLE KID SPACES
Designers suggest the first step is a fresh look at underutilized spaces. Attics, basements, even that nook under the stairs can be reimagined into kid zones. Cluttered closets can transform into study spaces (AKA a cloffice, or closet-office) with a countertop desk backed with corkboards or whiteboards. An empty wall can become a climbing gym, studded with rock wall hand and footholds. And that nook under the stairs? Perfect for a cozy reading hideaway.
Sometimes the best way to find extra space is to look up. Lofted platforms double the usable space. Small lofts create play areas with storage below, or loft the whole bed. Keep it low for little ones with easy access steps and a slide, or raise it up college dorm-style for teens, with an inviting study area or a hammock hung below. Even the ceiling can come into play, with monkey bars or hanging rings.
Make the most of your home’s nooks and crannies, like this play room tucked under a stairwell.
Creative use of partition walls makes dividing shared spaces easier. Whether used to split a bedroom for two kids, or separate a playroom into quiet and active sides, partitions offer extra wall space for hanging dress-up costumes, displaying artwork, or creating a felt or magnet board. Free-standing bookshelves make effective partitions, with catch-all baskets to scoop up everything from Legos to laundry. Extending desktops from the middle shelves on both sides of the bookshelf makes matching work areas for kids who share the space.
DESIGNED FOR LEARNING
When kids learn at home full-time, their study area matters more than when they just did homework. Blending academics with home décor means even the walls can inspire curiosity and learning: try a chalkpaint wall for everything from spelling lists to Venn diagrams, or a world map mural for future globe-trotters.
Choosing furniture to fit each child starts with considering individual needs. Is one child extra fidgety? Choose a wobble stool or a balance ball for their desk. Got a budding artist in the house? Set up an art table with easy-to-clean hard surfaces, and a pegboard to corral art supplies. How about the child who needs some alone time? An indoor teepee works well as a designated quiet spot, equipped with a weighted blanket and comfortable cushions.
photo pencilleddaydream.com
Size matters when it comes to chairs and desks: feet should reach the floor easily, and the table edge should meet their lower ribs. Look for chairs with adjustable height that can grow with the child—and consider adding a second one for mom or dad to pop in and help with lessons. Lighting matters too—desk time is easier on the eyes with proper task lighting from a 40- to 60-watt bulb aimed at the work surface, plus softer ambient lighting.
Managing kids’ digital lives should be part of the design plan too—for both learning and socializing. As social distancing keeps kids apart from friends, multi-player video games let them stay connected. Kids appreciate a gaming space with low comfy recliners, and dimmable lighting. Mounting old skateboards as shelving in the game area serves two purposes: they’re just the right width for controllers, headphones, and game boxes, and they’re a subtle reminder to head outside for some fresh air and exercise.
As days grow shorter, autumn ushers us indoors and causes us to rethink our concept of space, including form, function—and furniture. When it comes to crafting the perfect home, the right furnishings simultaneously reveal the purpose of each room as well as your personal style.
If you’re searching for a theme in current furniture trends, simply look out a window, where elements from the outdoors are inspiring the way we live and work. An increased interest in sustainability, for example, has led to the renewed popularity of vintage and antique pieces. Other trends, like furnishings with natural fibers and organic lines seem to point toward a collective desire to make more meaningful connections with the natural world. From cane furniture and curvy couches, to tracking down your own Antiques Roadshow-worthy find, here are some top furniture looks to hone in on this fall.
Rise of Rattan
While the word “wicker” may evoke memories from the 1970s, rattan is enjoying a renaissance that looks very different from your grandparents’ back porch. Originally crafted from palm stems (rattan refers to the material, wicker is a type of weave), rattan has the warm color and casual look of wood, without the weight. Durable and pliable, it can be woven into playful shapes and patterns that fit with any style and space.
When buying rattan, limit the look—less cane can be more. Choose an accent table or armchair to make a room pop, then balance textures by mixing with other natural materials such as stone, wood and iron. Also, consider where each piece will be used; natural rattan lasts better indoors while synthetic versions made from resin or intercepted ocean plastics are more weather-friendly and best suited for outdoor use.
Embrace the Bend
When it comes to furniture design, certain styles circle back around. Unconventional yet inviting, curved shapes in sofas, side tables, chairs and rugs introduce a retro, relaxed feel that fits perfectly in a laid back town like Bend. Organic lines can soften the sharp, right angles of modular styles, while contoured edges and rounded backs make any seating situation a little more comfy.
Ready to round out a room? Start small with a practical pouf or spherical lighting for a more subtle look. To make a statement, try a curved sofa (also called a conversational or crescent sofa) paired with a round or oval coffee table to complement the curvature. With no corners, round tables work great in tight spaces, and pedestal tables offer even more leg room. Finally, create a more intimate setting—and fit in more guests—by floating sectionals and tables in the center of the room, away from the walls.
Secondhand Sustainability
Want to save the planet? Go antique shopping. As environmental concerns change public attitudes toward consumption, one of the simplest ways to stop furniture from going to the landfill is to shop vintage for your home. The rising popularity of antiques indicates a return to traditional décor that is well-crafted, unique and sometimes even a steal of a deal. From your family’s attic to local stores and online marketplaces, options for sourcing pre-owned pieces are everywhere.
When styling secondhand, feel free to experiment with different styles and periods. Seasoned brown furniture doesn’t have to date your home; grandma’s mahogany chest may liven up the most modern room. Also, look for opportunities to upcycle slightly worn items; a fresh coat of paint or reupholstery can revive many a thrift store find. Most importantly, choose pieces that tell a story or fit your personality, regardless of brand or historical significance. If you love it, it’s a home run.
As summer fades to autumn, Central Oregon becomes a golfer’s paradise perfect for a restful fall staycation. With stunning landscapes and top-notch courses, these resorts offer more than just golf – think amazing dining, relaxing spas and access to outdoor adventures. Close to Bend, these five unique destinations promise a luxurious and tranquil escape in the heart of nature.
A golf development set on 700 acres in west Bend, Tetherow’s sprawling new homes can be spotted on the right as you drive south on Century Drive toward Mount Bachelor. The highlight of Tetherow is the 18-hole links-inspired course by award-winning course architect David McLay Kidd, who seamlessly fit 18 holes into a landscape previously ravaged by wildfire. For lodging, Tetherow offers a 50-room luxury hotel and vacation rentals.
In recent years, Black Butte Ranch homeowners invested in the resort’s transformation, supporting a nearly $4 million remodel of the Glaze Meadow course. That, paired with a new brand-new main lodge, which opened in May 2023, positioned Black Butte Ranch to thrive as a golfing community and getaway destination for years to come.
Since golfing at Brasada Ranch is open only to residents, their visitors and lodging guests, a staycation of sorts would be in order to experience Brasada Canyons, an 18-hole oasis of greenery among the high desert landscape in Powell Butte, northeast of Bend. The 1,800-acre resort offers both hotel suites and vacation rentals. Settle in for a stay and enjoy a private round on the course, where no two holes run parallel.
For lively, family-friendly resort vibes, head to Sunriver Resort. The community south of Bend is known for its many activities, in addition to the resort’s four courses—Crosswater, Meadows, Woodlands and Caldera Links, together offering a wide variety of holes for a mix of challenge and playability.
Ample vacation rentals in Sunriver mean you can finish a day of golf (or fishing or floating) with a beer around the firepit among family or a group of friends.
Nestled into an area of undeveloped high desert sand north of Bend is a 640-acre area that’s been transformed into Juniper Preserve. Juniper Preserve boasts two 18-hole courses, opened in 2004 and 2006 among lava rock ridges and outcroppings. The resort recently opened the 104-room Huntington Lodge, and there are a variety of stay-and-play packages offered for visitors this fall. Looking for a lesson? The resort’s Director of Instruction Jeff Ritter is also a regular on the Golf Channel, where he’s lead coach for the Golf Academy program. Golf Digest has also ranked him the No. 1 coach in Oregon.
The devastation Oregon is facing each year from wildfires around our state is unimaginable, scary and heartbreaking. It’s hard to just sit back and watch as communities and wild lands are destroyed. If you’re like us, you want to do something to help. Let’s continue to stick together and support one another through all these unpredictable challenges.
Thanks to our friend, Garrett Hampton, for starting this helpful compilation of information and sharing with us.
Whether it’s sipping wine while glimpsing life at a sprawling vineyard, feeding an alpaca and feeling its fleece, or hunting for the perfect pumpkin at a scenic ranch,agritourism introduces visitors to ranching and farming, while also serving as an integral part of many farms’ business plans. When done right, inviting tourists onto your land can be educational, entertaining and profitable.
photo justin bailie
It’s a model that’s thriving in Oregon. In 2017, farms participating in agritourism brought in an average of $33,470 in revenue from it, up from $18,557 in 2012, according to the most recent data from Travel Oregon’s Oregon Agritourism Network.
Here in Central Oregon, the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance works with local farmers and ranchers year-round to support local food. Of its sixty-two partner farmers and ranchers, thirty-three offer agritourism. The organization said it’s working with Visit Bend to secure a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to help local agritourism grow.
“Agritourism offers a terrific opportunity for growers to engage directly with their consumers,” said Hilary Sager, product development coordinator for Oregon Agritourism Network. “When a guest comes to a farm, the host has an opportunity to tell their story and share their products in a way that is dynamic and meaningful. By combining aspects of tourism and agriculture, there are larger financial, educational and social benefit to tourists, producers, and communities.”
Here’s a look at how three local farms count on this mix to make it all pencil out.
Faith Hope & Charity Vineyard
When Cindy and Roger Grossmann bought a 312-acre ranch in Terrebonne in 2001, their vision for Faith Hope & Charity Vineyard was to create robust guest experiences in addition to pursuing their dreams of winemaking. After years of nurturing high desert-hardy grapes and securing land-use approvals, that plan is on track.
By late fall the Grossmanns expect to have completed a new event center for 200 visitors, with business and educational meeting spaces, a tasting room, kitchen, two-and-a-half-acre trout pond, and by spring, an outdoor amphitheater. In the meantime, music, wood-fired pizza, bocce and visits from neighboring alpacas keep it family friendly and widen the draw.
The business reopened in May after the coronavirus shutdown in March. The extensive grounds allow socially distanced dining by reservation and six-foot-long tables are ten feet apart, so the area can accommodate 250 guests, Cindy Grossman said. It all supports the main revenue stream. “The core of our business is the grapes—they run the world for us,” she said. “We have events not because they’re easy, but because they sell wine. At my music events, for three hours long we’re exposing those people to our wine and they always come back.”
The same is true for weddings. She estimates that 75 percent of each wedding’s 150 guests return, and that’s how the business built its customer base and wine club, which offers chef dinners and wine tasting trips. “We want to get people out of the city and to come and enjoy the wide-open spaces and agricultural land and learn about it,” Grossman said. Her long-range plan includes a five-suite guest lodge, five cottages and guest programs around culinary and beauty products made from the ranch’s lavender. “It all feeds on true agritourism—continually teaching conservation of water and soil, while being good stewards of land and very conscious of the environment,” she said.
crescent moon ranch
For more than a decade, Scott and Debbie Miller traveled the country promoting the breeding qualities of their alpacas, but by 2014, they wanted to spend more time at their 42-acre Crescent Moon Ranch in Terrebonne. They’re not alone. All year, visitors stop to see the long-necked, pony-sized, camel-like creatures with endearing eyes and luxurious fleece.
In peak season, they see hundreds of visitors per day, Scott Miller said. The Millers count on their positive experiences with the alpacas to prompt guests to browse their boutique, where they sell sweaters, hats, gloves, coats, blankets, socks, mittens and yarn from the fine, lustrous fiber. These sales generate about 60 percent of the ranch’s annual revenue. The Millers also yearly sell twenty to forty-five alpacas, at a cost of $5,000 to $40,000 each, depending on the quality of their lineage, he said.
One recent morning, visitors watched as Scott’s wife, Debbie, delivered a baby alpaca, that will join the herd of nearly 200. “We invite people to experience what we do, and learn about the alpacas. When they have questions, we stop what we’re doing to answer them,” he said.
In this line of work, Scott said, more’s at stake than the bottom line. “What’s most satisfying is that we get to work for ourselves, live and die by our own decisions, not someone else’s, and we get to be outside, at home.”
dd ranch
More people are buying locally raised meat since the coronavirus pandemic began, which is good news for the owners of DD Ranch in Terrebonne. But social distancing restrictions and school closures could affect revenue at the ranch, where field trips and the annual Pumpkin Patch celebration help sustain sales of grass-fed beef and lamb, heritage pork, eggs from free-range hens and raw honey from bees raised on 200 acres in Terrebonne. Linda Anspach, who runs the ranch with her husband, Jeff, said agritourism accounts for 15 to 25 percent of annual revenue.
Every October nearly 2,000 children visit to learn about the importance of honey pollinators, planting, harvesting and raising sheep, hogs and cows. Anspach is unsure whether those trips will happen or how Pumpkin Patch activities—petting zoo, hay rides, pony rides, BB gun range and archery—might be affected. Though the Pumpkin Patch is free (activities cost $2.50 to $7.50), the ranch reaps about a third of its annual revenue in October with visitors accounting for a spike in the sale of farm products. “The whole goal of agritourism is to endear people to agricultural products through entertainment. Harvest time is a celebration that also encourages people to look at farm life and consider it as a potential job.”
Raise your beer steins and dust off your lederhosen because it’s time to celebrate Oktoberfest in Central Oregon! Even if rowdy singalongs in crowded pubs aren’t up your alley, there are plenty of other (more chill) ways to celebrate German culture. In this DIY guide, find recommendations on where to indulge in traditional German cuisine and of course, plenty of frothy brews. Prost!
Drinks to Imbibe During Oktoberfest in Central Oregon
With a quick pub-hop—or should we say biergarten crawl—around Bend, it’s easy to find a handful of beers paying homage to traditional German brews. Whether you stay for a pint, pick up a growler to go or grab a six-pack from the store, there are plenty of options to kick off an Oktoberfest evening.
Bavarian lager at GoodLife
This German Telles-style lager is a crisp and refreshing beer combining clean American bittering hops and some German Czech Saaz hops—it’s light and drinkable and tastes great in the GoodLife bierhall tasting room or biergarden, off 14th Avenue in west Bend. It’s also available in a growler to-go.
Crux Pilz
Try this unfiltered German pilsner from Crux, featuring noble German hop bitterness. Crux Pilz is available from Crux Fermentation Project tucked away in an industrial area near Highway 97 in the center of Bend, and the Pilz is canned and available for purchase from retailers throughout Central Oregon.
Worthy Tenmile Dry Hopped Lager
Described by brewmaster Dustin Kellner as a “German lager that IPA lovers will adore,” the Tenmile Lager by Worthy is a dry-hopped German lager with Strata hops and fruity flavors. Some proceeds from sales of this beer support the brewery’s Worthy Garden Club campaign, Operation Appleseed. The goal of the campaign is to plant one million trees in Oregon, beginning with an old clear-cut parcel on Tenmile Creek, an area in the Siuslaw National Forest near the Pacific Ocean, just south of Yachats, Oregon.
Main Dishes to Enjoy During Oktoberfest in Central Oregon
Bangers and Brews
Banger’s and Brews’ German bratwurst with chimichurri | Photo mighty creature co
This unassuming counter-service joint in west Bend has ranked among Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for the past three years, actually topping the list (yes, #1) last year. To keep it strictly German you’d have to pass on the fan-favorite bangers and mash, but no need to be disappointed—the traditional German bratwurst (with the twist of chimichurri) is sure to satisfy, as is the pretzel and cheese.
We’re the Wurst
We’re the Wurst bratwurst served at Monkless Belgian Ales | photo Mighty Creature Co
Grill up an Oktoberfest feast right in your backyard using a variety of sausages from Bend’s We’re the Wurst, including the signature German bratwurst. There’s no way to go wrong cooking up these meaty treats, often served with mustard and sauerkraut. Find We’re the Wurst at grocery stores around Central Oregon and toss it on the grill at home, or hire We’re the Wurst chef Matthew Fidler to cater a private Oktoberfest meal. For a meal with a view, try the bratwurst with house-made aioli off the menu at Monkless Belgian Ales, near the Box Factory and overlooking the Deschutes River.
FortyEighter Carolina Rib Blüm Böx | photo mighty creature co
Desert
Photo courtesy market of choice
Let’s not forget the icing on the cake of an Oktoberfest meal—the dessert. While traditional German desserts like Bienenstich (also known as bee sting cake) are hard to come by in the high desert, finding mouth-watering German chocolate is still on the table. Place a custom order from Market of Choice for a German chocolate cream pie with dark chocolate custard and coconut flakes inside a buttery crust coated with chocolate ganache. It’s the perfect ending to a build-your-own Oktoberfest feast.
