Oregon
‘It’s time that we link our arms together’: Juneteenth Central Oregon Jubilee returns to Bend
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/advancelocal/TDOUEDKOV5CAPFYQBDYMCNEBMQ.jpg?ssl=1 "‘It’s time that we link our arms together’: Juneteenth Central Oregon Jubilee returns to Bend")
When Kenny Adams joined The Father’s Group in 2021, he was a concerned father, hoping to create solutions for racism in central Oregon schools. Fast forward to 2024, and Adams is the organizer behind the largest cultural festival in central Oregon: the Juneteenth Central Oregon Jubilee.
“There’s not really any other cultural festival that’s geared at the Black community that happens in central Oregon right now,” Adams said. “So, if we’re gonna have a big festival, we want to blow it out and give people the chance to feel relaxed.”
The fourth annual Juneteenth Central Oregon Jubilee will take place 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. June 15 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 16 at Drake Park in Bend. The event will feature African, Caribbean and African American cuisine, art, music and education.
“Our theme is Jubilee and we want to make sure that we get a chance to just revel in freedom and legacy, but also it’s a reminder that it also took this country two years to actually let everyone know that they were free,” Adams said.
Juneteenth is a national holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people on June 19, 1865. This occurred more than two months after Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered and two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Union troops arrived in the coastal city of Galveston, Texas, to enforce the emancipation order.
Known as America’s second Independence Day, Juneteenth has been celebrated by the Black community since its inception and was declared a federal holiday in 2021. Officially recognized in Oregon in 2022, Juneteenth celebrations take place across the state from early to mid-June.
The Father’s Group, a Black-led nonprofit, was established in 2018 following the death of 14-year-old Deshaun Adderley, a Black student at Summit High School in Bend who had been bullied and racially harassed before he died by suicide.
“There were also several other Black community members that were dealing with several levels of racism in the school systems,” said Adams, who is now executive director and board president of The Father’s Group.
A group of Black fathers came together to discuss these issues and find solutions. It was originally a sort of support group, said Adams. But the organization has since grown to create its own programming, educational resources and the annual Juneteenth festival.
“We went from just doing backpack drives and things of that nature to having a full scale afterschool program that we meet multiple times during each semester,” Adams said.
Their most populous event is the Juneteenth festival, which has grown into a two-day event.
“It’s really nice to see everyone come together, of every color, of every race, just come together, eat food, participate in all of the dancing that they’re doing on the stage,” said Jermaine Ellis, a food vendor at the festival. “It really just feels like it’s a start to building the community together.”
One of the main attractions of the festival is its celebration of food. This year, the festival will feature a blend of African Caribbean and African American cuisine.
Ellis said he is excited to return as a vendor this year. He is in the process of transforming his business into a food truck: Jermaican Jerkculture, offering Jamaican Jerk food inspired by his cultural heritage.
“It’s one of the first events in central Oregon that I’ve ever been to [where] I’ve seen that many people of color in one location,” Ellis said.
Since relocating to central Oregon in 2017, Ellis has observed a positive shift in the area’s diversity. Although Deschutes County, which encompasses Bend and the surrounding area, is over 85% white, the population has steadily grown more diverse over the past decade. Between 2010 and 2022, the Black population doubled from 531 to 1,094 residents.
“We make up less than 1% of the population in this area,” Adams said. “So being able to find people within our community was kind of few and far between.”
Many vendors and performers come from out of state to participate in the festival, which serves as both a celebration and an educational event.
“We not only break down stereotypes that are usually pushed upon the Black community, but we also help people learn and understand what we’ve actually contributed to this country,” Adams said.
During this year’s festival, an expanded pop-up museum exhibit dives into multiple facets of Black history in partnership with the High Desert Museum and other local Black, Indigenous and People of Color organizations. Some of the exhibits focus on Black inventors and influences in arts and culture.
“We really take this absolutely seriously with a call to the reverence and respect of our heritage and the promotion of true history,” said Adams. “The people that come out, not only are they going to have a good time … but they’re also going to learn something.”
Adams hopes to eventually coordinate with other Juneteenth celebrations across the country to include live broadcasts of their events.
“It’s time that we link our together and really show that unification not just in Oregon, but across the country,” Adams said.
Learn more about Juneteenth celebrations across Oregon here.
— Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiara_profenna
The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
Oregon
Career criminal creep with 166 arrests, 55 convictions since 1999 sentenced to life in prison
An Oregon creep with a record-setting rap sheet cataloguing a staggering 166 arrests dating back to his teens was finally sentenced to life in prison on Friday.
Joshua Cory Nealy, 41, was slapped with the hefty life sentence without possibility for parole for a January 2023 arrest where he flashed a female clothing store employee and a security officer, according to a news release from the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.
The misdemeanor charge, which would usually land first-time offenders behind bars for just one year, did him in after a whopping 55 prior convictions, including seven felony charges.
Nealy was already on parole when he strolled into the Washington Square Mall in Portland and started schmoozing with a skeptical clothing store clerk.
The repeat offender sifted aimlessly through the store and collected a random assortment of clothes. He asked the female clerk for assistance while he was nude in the store’s changing room — then “opened the door fully and exposed himself to her,” the release said.
Nealy invited the woman to have sex and attempted to cajole her into the dressing room. The victim quickly flagged down a security officer, who Nealy also flashed before fleeing the store with a stolen pair of sunglasses.
Officers with the Tigard Police Department — located one town over from the mall — nabbed the registered sex offender that same day.
Before Washington County Circuit Judge Theodore Sims remanded Nealy to life in prison on Friday, his attorneys tried to argue that the repeat offender had a “compromised mental state.”
The lawyers cited a police report from Nealy’s 2007 attempted rape conviction that described how he “was using ‘crank’,” the street term for meth, “had been awake for two days and expressed his belief that his mother was the Queen of Southern England,” as reported by Oregon Live.
They also noted the defense’s sentencing memo for his first public indecency conviction, where he was apparently talking gibberish during the ordeal.
Then, the lawyers alleged that Nealy was “under the influence” during the incident at the Portland mall.
Despite their efforts, Nealy was handed the life sentence in accordance with a state statute that requires the imposition for defendants who have two prior felony sex crime convictions.
Court records obtained by Oregon Live show that Nealy still has two outstanding cases for assault and attempted assault in Washington County.
Nealy, whose criminal record dates back to when he was just 14 years old, was previously charged with attempted rape, robbery, various assaults, failure to report as a sex offender and more.
Oregon
Oregon’s 1,500-Acre Dog Park Paradise Just Outside Portland Offers Off-Leash Terrain, Trails, And River – Islands
For many dogs, a perfect day involves playing catch in a giant field, sniffing around a dense forest, and topping it all off with a swim. Just outside of Portland, Oregon, which Forbes calls one of the best cities in the U.S. for dogs, lies the Sandy River Delta, where dogs can have their perfect day. The park offers close to 1,500 acres of pure, off-leash dog bliss where the Sandy River meets the mighty Columbia. This land was once a part of the Watlala Nation and was visited by Lewis and Clark, whose team camped on the shores of the Columbia here.
Almost the entirety of the park is off-leash. The park has five trails where dogs can be off-leash, beaches, rivers, and fields that are all open to sniffing, running free, and playing catch. You’re able to hike the trails with your dog roaming along at their own pace. The trails allowing dogs off-leash range from 0.25 to 2 miles long and showcase different ecological zones in the delta. The forests are full of interesting smells for your pup, and the meadows are wide and open — perfect spots to play with other dogs that are also having their best day ever.
The Sandy River Delta is located in Troutdale, Oregon’s “Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge.” Standing in the middle of the park, looking at the views of the gorge, you’d never know that downtown Portland is 17 miles to the west.
There’s so much for you and your dog to do at the Sandy River Delta Park
The areas a dog must remain on-leash are: the parking lot, bathrooms, picnic areas, and within 100 feet of one of the park’s main treks, the Confluence Trail. If you take a route that crosses the Confluence Trail, your dog is allowed to be off-leash, as long as they don’t disturb hikers. A fenced section on the park’s eastern edge is closed to people and pets to give wildlife some peace and quiet. Other than those specified areas, your dog has plenty of acreage to explore. Just make sure your dog doesn’t dig, and please pack out their waste!
Humans have something to look forward to here, as well. The Confluence Trail runs 1.25 miles along ADA-compliant gravel leading to a bird blind designed by architect and sculptor Maya Lin. The elliptical bird blind is made of wooden slats inscribed with the name and current conservation status of the 134 different species Lewis and Clark encountered. Lin is a renowned artist whose work appears at places like Storm King Art Center, one of the largest outdoor sculpture parks in the U.S.
How to get to the Sandy River Delta Park and what’s nearby
One practical note: bring a towel for your pup. The park offers a lot of water for your dog to swim in, and the shore gets pretty muddy. The cool water is a refreshing treat for your dog in the middle of summer. You can hike to the Sandy River and a side channel of the Columbia easily. Don’t worry — the nearby forest provides free sticks to toss into the water for your dog to fetch. To get to the Sandy River Delta from wherever you are in Portland, take I-84 East. The parking lot will get full on the weekends, so get there early or go late. If the parking is full, you can park down the street at a free lot across from the river and enter through a trail.
After all this running around and sniffing, you deserve a treat, too. Portland is one of the top five foodie cities in the U.S., and that love of good food doesn’t stop at the city borders. A mile down the street from the park is the Sugarpine Drive-In, a restored gas station casually serving gourmet food and ice cream sundaes. The New York Times said the Cherries Jubilee Sundae was one of the best dishes in 2024. On the way home, stop at McMenamins’ Edgefield location — a former farm that is now home to a pet-friendly hotel, multiple bars and restaurants, a spa, a brewery, distillery, winery, golf course, and an outdoor concert venue that consistently brings in nationally touring acts.
James Denny named Sublimity in 1852 after one look at the scenery, and the view still earns it. Green farmland meets the foothills of the Cascades and the streets stay short enough that the local baker knows you by the second visit. Saint Boniface Catholic Church anchors the town with a Carpenter Gothic steeple from 1889. Silver Falls State Park sits 10 miles east and is Oregon’s largest state park, with ten waterfalls along a single loop trail and old-growth Douglas firs over 300 feet tall. Together those four things explain why Sublimity earns the friendliest-small-town title in Oregon.
Sublimity’s History In A Nutshell
Native American trails and mountain streams crisscrossed what would become Sublimity well before settler arrival. The area worked as a small trading post and then a pioneer gathering place by 1852, when a post office opened and James Denny named the town after the surrounding scenery. The first school went up in 1856, followed by Sublimity College in 1857. The town was larger then than it is now. The Civil War triggered a sharp population decline as settlers returned east to fight and many farms were abandoned. New residents brought the farms back to life by 1874. Four years later a grid was laid out across twenty blocks, and Sublimity officially incorporated in 1903.
Downtown Sublimity
Downtown holds plenty for an afternoon stroll. On South Center Street, K’s Coffee runs deep couches and good coffee for sitting and chatting. PanezaNellie Breadstick Shoppe on NE Starr Street covers baked goods including pizza slices. The Wooden Nickel on North Center Street sells homemade bread and fresh produce from local farms.
After meeting a few of the regulars in the shops, walk over to 375 SE Church Street for Saint Boniface Catholic Church. The church was built in 1889 in the Carpenter Gothic style with a 110-foot steeple, and the grounds include the historic St. Boniface cemetery on one side.
Outdoor Activities
Silver Falls State Park is the area’s outdoor answer. The park sits 10 miles east of Sublimity and is Oregon’s largest state park at around 9,200 acres. It sits in the state’s temperate rainforest zone with waterfalls and old-growth trees. A $10 day-use parking fee covers hiking trails, picnic sites, biking paths, and camping access. The Trail of Ten Falls is the headliner, a 7.2-mile loop that passes ten waterfalls. The trail stays open year-round, runs at its fullest in spring, and pulls fall foliage crowds in October.
Beyond the falls, the 6-mile Catamount Trail handles mountain biking through dense forest. Tree Climbing at Silver Falls offers guided climbs up the park’s Douglas firs, some of which top 300 feet. The campground along South Fork Silver Creek has 43 tent sites, 14 cabins, and 48 electrical sites, with ice and firewood for sale plus restrooms and showers on site. Smith Creek Village offers another stay option with cottages, cabins, and lodges plus amenities like TVs and kitchenettes.
Sublimity Events
Back in town, the calendar carries several events that double as introductions to Sublimity residents. National Night Out is one of the town’s signatures, held in partnership with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Vendors, food, and live music fill Church Park, with the event also raising awareness for community-police ties.
The other anchor event is the Night of Twinkling Lights and Tree Lighting on the first Saturday in December. The Light Parade is the headliner, with locals decorating their floats or vehicles and parading through town to City Hall, where Santa lights the town Christmas tree. The parade then moves to the fire department for photos with Santa. The next morning, people return to the fire department for the annual Candy Cane Breakfast with biscuits and gravy. The Sublimity Harvest Festival in September is the other big event, with monster trucks, pull events, an entertainment tent, and a row of vendors.
Where To Stay In Sublimity
Sublimity has a way of stretching a quick visit into a two-day stay. The Bridgeway Inn and Suites offers continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi for the overnight crowd. The Rodeway Inn and Suites is the other option, with free breakfast, Wi-Fi, a pool, and a fitness center.
Why Sublimity Earns The Name
Sublimity walks the walk on friendliness. The local baker treats you like family before pointing you to the next shop for whatever else you need. A sidewalk hello can turn into the best conversation of the week. Whether you are cheering at a monster truck event or watching Santa light the town tree, the unpretentious warmth this place runs on gets harder to find anywhere else.
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