Columns

Going back 250 years ago, our forefathers declared that all men are created equal by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This phrase embodied, in theory, the concepts of freedom and liberty as they existed in 18th century America but how those concepts evolved in our Constitution and our laws is the […]

Oregon continues to have a cannabis industry with great news for cannabis consumers, but brings financial misery to those growing, processing and selling it. Last year saw a trend continue that has plagued the Oregon industry — namely, growers produce far more cannabis than we consume. In 2025, licensed growers produced 13.5 million pounds, up from 12.3 million pounds in […]

Because I often get questions about the “oldest” things in Central Oregon, I thought I’d tackle one to kick off the Savage in Bend column for this year. Catherine H. asks, “What is the oldest business in Bend?” There are several factors to consider, but if we mean the currently operating longest business under the […]

Q: I keep reading about psychedelics in terms of brain chemistry, serotonin receptors, neuroplasticity, default mode networks. While I appreciate the science, something feels missing when I try to understand my own experiences purely through this lens. During my journeys, I feel like I’m traveling somewhere real, encountering genuine intelligence, receiving teachings that seem to […]

What could be more fun than a book you can’t put down. Thanks to a friend’s recommendation, right now for me that book is “The Correspondent” by Virgina Evans. So not to spoil it, I will only say it is an epistolary novel. The plot thickens through the exchange of letters between the characters. The […]

A recent shoulder injury has your author in a position of experiencing firsthand what many patients have presented within our clinic over the years. An acute injury to the rotator cuff complex also illuminated (via diagnostic imaging) areas of chronic and degenerative damage to the complex of muscles, tendons and ligaments that support this joint. Living […]

Dear Dr. Jane, My partner and I have a great relationship in almost every aspect. Me (m 32) her (f 30) no kids, 2 rescue pups. Together 5 years. Not married but we live together with a chill guy roommate. Unfortunately, intimacy (the physical kind) has been a challenge for years. We try to talk […]

Yes, that IS a question mark after the headline above. Not a typographical error. So, what’s up with the question mark? Here we go… I like and can live merrily with, Merry Christmas.                                                                                    Likewise, I like and can live joyfully with, Happy Hannukah. Although originally celebrated for 12 days, Christmas currently is often a one […]

Q: After 20+ years in traditional indigenous ceremonies with mushrooms, peyote, and ayahuasca in South and Central America, I’m watching local options emerge with both curiosity and apprehension. Most seem facilitated by mental health professionals or those with limited connection to indigenous roots. What’s the difference between these approaches and traditional circles? Are there benefits or […]

A few years ago I headed to Oregon’s Summer Lake Wildlife Area to meet friends for our annual spring bird-a-thon. Armed with binoculars, the Merlin Bird ID app and bird books, we good humoredly tried to outdo each other’s species count. Come nightfall, I took in the staggering beauty of the Milky Way that claimed […]