Oregon
Here is Oregon is proud to welcome their newest partner, Literary Arts
The Here is Oregon team is thrilled to announce our newest partner, Literary Arts. The Portland-based literary nonprofit is responsible for the infamous Portland Book Festival, Oregon Book Awards, and countless other programs designed to connect, inspire and support readers and writers of all ages.
A History of Supporting the Literary Arts
What began in 1984 as Portland Arts & Lectures, the organization merged with the Oregon Institute of Literary Arts in 1993, becoming known as just Literary Arts, and bringing the Oregon Book Awards and Fellowships under its wing.
In 1996, Literary Arts began programming for youth with Writers in the Schools and now serves thousands of local public high school students every year through various programs. In 2014 Literary Arts officially acquired Wordstock, transforming it into the Portland Book Festival. With writing workshops and other events happening year-round, it has long served as a vibrant hub for the community.
A new chapter
Beyond their exceptional programming, Literary Arts is starting a new chapter with a brand-new headquarters, just in time for their 40th anniversary. The building, located in the heart of Portland in the Central Eastside Industrial District, will not only house their office but also a bookstore and café, and will have space for community gatherings, events and workshops.
“This building will be transformational for Literary Arts. Not only will it be one of the largest physical centers in the nation for literature and storytelling, but it will also stand as a love letter to this city that has been our home for four decades,” commented Andrew Proctor, executive director at Literary Arts. “It will be a place for our community to tell and hear stories, to write in community and in mentorship, to meet each other and talk about the ideas that matter most, and we are grateful every day to our supporters who have made this possible.”
Literary Art’s mission statement is to engage readers, support writers, and inspire the next generation with great literature.
As a good-news platform, Here is Oregon aims to celebrate the people, places, and experiences that are unique to Oregon through storytelling.
This community update is shared courtesy of the Here is Oregon Community Connections team. The team works with community partners and supporters through events and key initiatives throughout the state, amplifying and sharing good news that’s aligned with our mission. See our submission guidelines and learn more today.
Oregon
Wine Enthusiast names 2 Oregon sparkling wines among best
‘Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,’ a Wine Enthusiast contributor said of an Oregon wine
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Wine Enthusiast released a list of the top 40 sparkling wines around the world in 2026 – highlighting two bottles of bubbly from Oregon.
“While it can seem like you need a fortune to enjoy high quality sparkling wine, you honestly don’t. Excellent affordable bubbles are being produced around the world, often in places you might not expect. Each of the selections on our inaugural Top 40 Sparkling Wines list delivers personality, freshness, and celebration for under $75,” Wine Enthusiast wrote.
Wine Enthusiast divided its list into separate sparkling categories including, Champagne, Italian Bollicine, American sparkling and bottles $25 and under.
Snagging a spot on the American sparkling list: Corollary Wines in McMinnville.
Corollarly’s 2021 Momtazi Carbonic Rosé Pinot Noir scored 96 points from Wine Enthusiast.
“This is a Peter Max print of a wine, with vivid aromas and flavors to match the wine’s electric Kool-Aid color. It is filled to the brim with aromas and flavors of macerated strawberries, candied rose petals, apricots, and a bitter note similar to watermelon rind. Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,” wrote Wine Enthusiast contributor Michael Alberty.
The second Oregon winery to earn a spot on the list: Lytle-Barnett in Dundee.
Wine Enthusiast also gave Lytle-Barnett’s 2018 Brut Rosé Pinot Noir Chardonnay 96 points.
“Bubbles as persistent as an eight-year-old with a question deliver aromas of dried rose petals, macerated strawberries, and a touch of fresh hay and talc. This 70/30 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend is packed with flavors of lemon zest, Honeycrisp apple slices drizzled in caramel, and a dollop of raspberry,” Alberty wrote.
The nods to Corollary and Lytle-Barnett come as the wineries recently helped launch Method Oregon, a nonprofit made up of 50 Oregon wineries aiming to turn Oregon into a global sparkling wine destination.
Oregon
Man sentenced to 20 years for Oregon killing of girlfriend four decades ago
A 73-year-old man was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in prison for the 1983 killing of his then-girlfriend. It was a case that went unsolved for more than 40 years.
The sentence was announced by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield.
In July 1983, Teresa Peroni, 27, was reported missing after attending a party in the Selma area of Josephine County southwest of Grants Pass. She was last seen walking in the woods with her boyfriend Marcus Sanfratello.
Authorities deemed Peroni’s disappearance suspicious, but they lacked evidence to bring charges against anyone.
In 1997, a human skull was found on private property near where Peroni disappeared. In 2024, authorities in Josephine County reopened the case. In addition to re-interviewing witnesses, they collected new DNA evidence to build a case against Sanfratello.
With the DNA, experts at the University of North Texas confirmed the skull was Peroni’s.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man arraigned on murder charge in Oregon for death of then-girlfriend in 1980s cold case
A grand jury indicted Sanfratello of second-degree murder, on June 27, 2025.
Police arrested Sanfratello in Chico, California the next day. He was then extradited to Oregon to face the charge of murder.
Under a plea agreement, Sanfratello pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
He will serve at least 10 years in prison, Oregon’s attorney general’s office said.
“For Teresa Peroni’s family, this has been a 43-year wait for an answer they never should have had to wait for,” Rayfield said in a news release. “Cases like this remind us of why we don’t give up. It doesn’t matter how many years have passed — if someone took a life, we’re going to keep working until we can hold them accountable.”
Oregon
100+ Women Who Care of Central Oregon Donates Nearly $20,000 to M Perfectly – The Source – Bend, Oregon
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