EUGENE, Ore. — Community members celebrated Oregon's 10 year anniversary of marriage equality at the Lane County Courthouse.

The "Love is Love" celebration honored the tenth anniversary of a ruling that Oregon’s exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage was unconstitutional. Judge Michael McShane, who passed the ruling, attended along with notable judicial members and community organizers.

The event offered free marriage ceremonies and vow renewals, with 13 couples sharing in the festivities. Over 100 attendees wound their way through the courthouse, ending in a reception and photo opportunity for the happy couples. 

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Community members celebrated Reggie's one year recovery date at a surprise event organized by his partner Trish.

Reggie has volunteered extensively in his community over the last year and hopes to see others embark on similar journeys of selflessness. Reggie has found "the answer to life is love", and shares love unabashedly with anyone he can.

Reggie hopes to become an addiction and recovery counselor so he can support people with similar struggles seeking to change their lives.

GLIDE, Ore. — The Glide Sasquatch Festival brought Bigfoot seekers out of the woodwork for a celebration of the elusive North American cryptid.

Experts provided insight from their studies and Sasquatch history at the 2023 event. The next festival is scheduled Saturday July 20, 2024 from 12pm-9pm in Glide, Oregon 

From the official event website: The Glide Sasquatch Festival is being hosted by Glide Revitalization which is a 501c3 non-profit, whose mission is to “Revitalizing Glide and Douglas County by promoting economic growth, beautification, recreation, and education, while building strength and resiliency in our residents through community outreach, program development, and enrichment activities”.

Please contribute to Glide Revitalization's effort however you can at gliderev.com

DESOLATION WILDERNESS, Ca. — Two hikers attempt trekking from Horsetail Falls to Echo Lake.

Enjoy this field documentary of an attempted through hike in the (still) snowy season of the California Sierra Nevada in June, 2023.

Our team interpreted David Lynch's "Eraserhead" through the art of parody. 

Parody is important, as it protects us under fair use laws, so hopefully this can stay up and everyone is happy. We are not monetarily gaining from this endeavor. 

This project was filmed in a single day from memory after watching the film once, so please understand any noticeable discrepancies through a lens of abstraction. 

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Exuberant festival-goers extend interviews and merriment while attending the 46th annual Spring Fair at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. 

It may be almost Thanksgiving, but spring has sprung here at Ear To The Beat. 

Tribes, artists, and organizations gather to celebrate the arrival of the new season, sharing their wisdom and their crafts.

FLAVORTOWN, Ore. — We cooked a delicious tofu scramble on a campfire and filmed it to show you how. 

This easy meal contains a pleasant mix of veggies, tofu, herbs, spices and seasonings that is easily adaptable for whatever you have on hand. We take some time in this report to explain how to cook vegan tofu scramble recipes, but it's not an exact science, so just have fun and be safe!

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Community members gathered peacefully for the "I Stand With Palestine" rally in front of Douglas County Courthouse. 

The event followed Douglas County members of Oregon’s House of Representatives announcing public support for Israel. Rally organizers and attendees met in front of the Douglas County Courthouse on Saturday. 

Speakers shared perspectives on the international conflict between Palestine and Israel, discussing decades of imperialism and colonial violence in the region. A local newspaper published Oregon House of Representatives members' opinions in an article announcing the upcoming rally, which are quoted in our video description on Youtube.

Rally speakers asked the public to seek information outside of corporate media and government narratives, claiming neither tell the full story of complex social issues.

SUTHERLIN, Ore. — Organizers of Sutherlin's 35th annual Blackberry Festival announced raffle prize winners today, including the grand prize 1968 Ford Mustang valued at $14,000. 

Reporter Johnny bought four raffle tickets months in advance at one of the several locations around town selling the $5 entry stubs, which each came with a coupon for $4 off a large pizza at Abbey's Legendary Pizza.

Vendors, creatives, motorcyclists, classic car collectors, and local businesses gathered in Central Park for the weekend-long festival. The festival takes place the third weekend of August.

Raffle winners were announced publicly at 5PM. Chairman of the event Duane Waller said the festival attracts between 7,000-10,000 people per day.

The community festival features a car show, cruise, bands, BMX, mud volleyball, mud racing, chili and blackberry cooking contests, craft and food vendors, and a swap meet.

ROSEBURG, Ore. — A Gun and Knife Show organized at Douglas County Fairgrounds took place on February 18 and 19, 2023.

Event attendees discussed Oregon's Measure 114, which bans selling high-capacity magazines greater than 10 rounds and creates a new permitting system for all gun purchases. 

Attendees also shared their thoughts on gun ownership and safety.

State and federal review, along with new appeals, will continue before Measure 114 can take effect. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut shared her 122 page review, ruling the measure constitutional in July.

ROSEBURG, Ore. — A watercolor workshop led by Leanna Weber Art and organized by Rumei Pure Beauty took place at Rustic River Farms July 15, 2023. Participants, including our reporting team, found the event inspiring and educational.

MOTHER'S DAY — "Where Have All the Average People Gone" by Roger Miller, dedicated to our moms. Thank you for teaching us, loving us, and breathing life into us. Happy Mother's Day!

ROSEBURG, Ore. — A pride parade organized and attended by local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and community members was met with protests in downtown Roseburg on Sunday June 4, 2023. Here is a short trailer of our forthcoming longer coverage. 

ASHLAND, Ore. — Several people experiencing homelessness in Ashland held a "peaceful protest" in the the center of town on January 28th, 2023. 

Protestors cited issues including targeted harassment, limited social services, inadequate shelter availability, and potentially unlawful camping ordinance enforcement. The protest had already spanned overnight, and updated news reports say protestors have continued demonstrating for the last month. 

Many cities in Oregon have created no-camping ordinances to cite and sweep unhoused populations. A new state law says cities are required to stop enforcing these camping ordinances later this year. 

Two days after this was filmed, Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’ Meara said at a town hall meeting “There is a law on the books, the Ashland Muni Code, that prohibits people from camping on any public property, including parks, streets, of sidewalks, ect. That law remains on the books. However, there is a new state law that is going to come into play in June or July that also impacts our ability to enforce the camping law.” 

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Vendors, musicians, organizers, and the public gathered for commerce and vibes at the Umpqua Valley Farmers Market on Feb. 11, 2023.

Our team investigated the Double Up Bucks Program which provides a matched amount for OregonTrail Card SNAP dollars at participating farmers markets.

"We enhance the community by promoting small local farmers and producers, strengthening the local economy, and facilitating healthier nutrition, while bringing people together in a festive atmosphere" says the Umpqua Valley Farmers Market website. 

In this video, we provide our viewers with a general survey of the market through interviews. Thank you to everyone who participated in this production!

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Take a look inside Bailey Veterinary Clinic with our field correspondent Scooter.