Roadrunner Resources - Get the Help You Need Right Now

Are you struggling with purchasing your textbooks, or maybe you’re feeling deterred because you don’t have a good computer, or internet? Maybe you just need some food to fuel you. Let Linn-Benton help.

Maybe you need help with utilities, a down payment for an apartment, back rent to keep you from getting evicted, or perhaps you are in need of housing overall. 

Perhaps it’s all of these issues. Linn-Benton Community College, as well as Benton and Linn counties have put systems in place to help combat student homelessness.

Times are tough in these uncharted pandemic territories, and it's easy to say that it has affected the world drastically. Service industry closures and limitations have swept through the nation, leaving many faced with unemployment in 2020, and it’s spilling over into 2021. On Dec. 26, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program ended (via Oregon Employment Department), and now many are left without unemployment compensation as well. While there is another program coming out to extend these benefits, in the meantime, people are left vulnerable. 

“Students have probably been hit the hardest, and that’s all the analysis of the Oregon Employment Department, showing that the people making under that $40,000 a year are the people being largely impacted at this time. That's our student demographic. They don’t have that extra income or jobs in the restaurant or service industry,” said Linn-Benton Foundation Coordinator Linnea Everts. 

“Our goal is to keep students in school. We want students to stay in school, we want them to stay focused and get the education they’re seeking, despite everything going on in their lives."

Everts is in charge of the scholarship programs as well as stewardship and donor relations, supporting fundraising events, and is responsible for supporting the Roadrunner Resources with emergency funds. 

“I haven’t seen a single application (among our emergency fund applicants) where somebody has not mentioned that Covid directly or indirectly affected their life,” said Everts.

Everts encourages all students with any resource barrier to contact resources@linnbenton.edu. From there, a coordinator will be able to help them get the resources they need, whether it’s through various programs within the community, or emergency funds via Linn-Benton. 

The emergency funds program at LBCC is there when it’s been determined that outside community resources can’t help. You can apply via the email above, or through Roadrunner Resources at www.linnbenton.edu/student-services/other-resources/roadrunner-resource-center.php.

“I really want students to know that they should apply for scholarships, especially because in this particular instance, there are a number of students who had scholarships to be paid out for winter term, and are no longer here. We need to re-assign that money, and we can’t do that if students don’t apply.” 

The next LBCC scholarship program applications open up Feb. 22.

Their online scholarship application allows you to be considered for close to 200 scholarships at once. To check it out and apply, see LBCC Scholarships | LBCC. 

LBCC has been working closely with the Community Services Consortium, which is a resource that has been around for more than 40 years now. They provide emergency resources to those in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties, as well as some select services in Polk county. CSC is available to the whole community, not just students! Visit them at https://communityservices.us.

In addition to Roadrunner Resources (which includes various community outreach programs), Jackson Street Youth Services of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties have reached out to Linn-Benton to let their support be known. In an email from Barbara Brooks, an Education Outreach Worker for Jackson Street Youth Services, stated they are providing support in the following areas: 

• Educational advocate

• Fees for books/testing/sports/clubs/applications/graduations

• School supplies

• Homeless verification letters for FAFSA

• Support with scholarships

• FAFSA/college or vocational applications

• Academic coaching 

• Support groups 

• Basic needs documents (birth certificates, ID, SSID). 

For those that are between the ages of 10-24, they will provide snacks and meals, food boxes, laundry and showers at limited sites, and mental health and case management referrals.  

“We’re also finding that work study has been affected a lot. A lot of our students depend on work study both at OSU and Linn-Benton, and with the closure that’s gone away," said Everts.

Since April 2020, Linn-Benton has been contacted by close to 200 students who have been experiencing an emergency or need assistance to cover basic needs. 

Roadrunner Resources works closely with various community organizations, which include Corvallis Services Consortium, Department of Human Services, utility assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits), and Oregon Health Plan. Forty percent of students who reach out to LBCC are helped via these outside resources. About 30% of students who reach out will receive help from the Roadrunner Resource Center, which leverages Foundation funds to help cover things not covered by community agencies, according to Everts. 

“When it comes to housing almost half of the requests that we have are on housing, or related to concerns on housing, and they’ll [students] contact us not knowing whether they can take a class or not. We’ll find out they’re couch surfing, but have an opportunity to get an apartment, but can’t come up with the deposit, and that’s where the Community Services Consortium has really been able to step in. As an institution, we’re trying to help with that immediate barrier that is hindering a student to get education,” said Everts. 

“We see so many students without access to the internet,” said Everts. “Students who don’t have access to proper internet have reported sitting outside Starbucks (for internet) only to be harassed for loitering. The impact of this pandemic is like a rolling snowball.” 

She “loves working with the students, but some of these stories are really heavy. … Not having half the resources many of us had in school, I think this really shows the resilience of our students," said Everts.

There is help out there, for the smallest of barriers to the largest, Everts said. With thoughts of “somebody else needs this more than me, so I’m not going to apply,” she fears those who could use the help won’t reach out.

At a Glance: 

What: Roadrunner Student Resources through LBCC and the community for immediate aid amid the pandemic.

When: Winter Term 2021

Where: Linn and Benton Counties.

Website: resources@linnbenton.edu., https://www.jacksonstreet.org/services/, https://communityservices.us

For More Information: LBCC Foundation Coordinator Linnea Everts, evertsl@linnbenton.edu.

Cold and Homeless Amid the Virus in Corvallis

Homeless Amid the Virus

“If you really want to help these people, go get them some firewood, they’re freezing,” say’s a Corvallis citizen as he uses sticks, twigs, and branches to build a small fire in front of a medium sized tent, in which sits a rosey checked blonde women, swaddled in blankets. She does not speak to strangers on this almost freezing Saturday afternoon, at the official Corvallis homeless camp sites, underneath the downtown hwy. 34 bridge. Many of residents of this area are resistant to talk, and decline to give their name.

Below the hwy. 34 ramp in downtown Corvallis, January 9th. 

The property is owned by the City of Corvallis, in which this land is provided to those who are homeless and wish to stay, as long as they keep it clean (more official information to come on this). There is a large blue dumpster that is provided at the edge of the northwest sidewalk along the property, near the skatepark; “as long as we keep it clean, we can stay here,” says local homeless tenant, Vern Jones. 

Jones is a Corvallis local, who has been homeless in the area for 10 years. When asked if he’s seen an increase in the homeless since the pandemic, Jones says, “There used to be maybe ten tents here, now there are forty.” Jones is “an alcoholic,” which “helps keep him warm.” He has no family, and the locals here only “tolerate him,” says the Corvallis citizen who doesn't disclose his name.

This portion of the campsite is quite large, containing at least 15 tents in the main area. There are piles of clothes, trash that’s been bagged up, bikes, tables, and everyone is bundled up and blatantly cold, trying to make a fire in front of their tent. 

Vern Jones and company attempt to build a fire underneath the hwy. 34 ramp in downtown Corvallis, Saturday, January 9th. 

To the south side of the camp there are other tents who’ve spread out individually, nestled in the base of trees and grassy fields. They seem to have means other than fire to keep warm, such heat lamps aglow in their tents. What they are doing to get electricity to power these lamps is still not clear. 

Tent to the south of the camp, build within the trees. Saturday, January 9th.  

Another young man who chooses not to reside among the camp, is 23-year-old “Piano Man” or “KeyBoard Kid” Damian Scott. “I don’t like the energy of it all [the downtown camp], so that’s why I sleep in the doorway [of a Corvallis store front].” 

Scott has been a street performer for 11 years, where he plays unknown, unheard, and unwritten music on his keyboard to the public. He’s been living in Portland and Corvallis for “a couple of months'' after coming here from Kansas. He plans to stay here “at least throughout the winter”. 

“What’s different [among the pandemic] is I’ve had to figure out where most of the people are, like the places that most people go to, to play music outside to earn my way. Like at maybe the post office or grocery stores. That’s something different. Downtown drags aren’t usually alive with people just walking around anymore,” says Scott. 

He taught himself how to play music, without ever learning to read it. Playing his keyboard is his only means of survival, and with the pandemic keeping musicians at bay, Scott has been facing basic survival needs. Traveling around the city and country with his almost four-foot keyboard, a blanket and sleeping bag equally as large, and a backpack; These are his only belongings, and he sleeps on cardboard to “keep the cement from sucking out the cold”. 

Damian Scott plays his own written music on the streets of downtown Corvallis, Saturday, January 9th. 

Editors Note: If you are a student at Linn-Benton Community College and are struggling with housing, food, utilities, education costs, and more, know there are resources out there easily accessible for you. You can access these resources through Roadrunner Resources, on the LB official website, where you will find a quick questionnaire to help LB determine the best way to help you and get resources to you quickly. Please visit https://www.linnbenton.edu/student-services/other-resources/roadrunner-resource-center.php to receive assistance with food, housing, bills, text books, electronics for school, and more.

Thomas Miller - Your Local Arborist

This arborist, Thomas (Tom) Miller, a 27 year old Corvallis native. Tom spends many of his work days up in trees, removing and pruning them, among lots of other major and minor landscaping.  I was lucky enough to spend a couple afternoons capturing Tom from way up high, to way down low. 

What do you love about being an arborist?

I love it [being up in a tree], it’s really satisfying. It feels good to overcome a difficult task, and I really like working outside, even in the rain or snow.

Miller graduated from Corvallis High School and studied psychology at Portland Community College.

How did you become an arborist?

I sort of fell into it...My mother had my now boss Sam over, to do on a bid on pruning a tree. I was a little inspired by Sam, and told him how much I love plants and gardening.

Miller has found a passion for gardening and plants since 2011.

Sam Carter is the owner of Carter Tree Care, which Miller has been working for, for 1.5 years. 

I really like native plants, trees, and shrubs. I like how good they are for native pollinators, wildlife, insects. I also really like being self sustainable, growing fruits and vegetables in my own space. I dream about having my own property with fruit trees and a vegetable garden, and maybe a greenhouse, Miller says.

Albany, Oregon, Tuesday, November 17th.

Thomas Miller and trusty right hand partner, Scout Beckwith.

   Tell me about tree climbing, is it scary?

   If it’s a dead tree it can be scary cause you don’t know how strong it is sometimes!

What about this tree - was kind is is, and is it dead?

This particular tree was a Red Maple, and it was alive. It had a big branch break out of it, and the home owners were worried about more falling their house and property.

Was this particular job scary for you, even though it was an alive tree?

Yes, they all are. It's hard to predict where the branches are going to go when you cut it, cause the wood is really fragile and not very ‘hingy’, meaning it’s strong until it’s not. It can be more unpredictable, cause you can’t control when that moment happens. - Miller

Thomas Miller, Albany, OR, private residence. November 17th. 

Have you ever had any close calls? 

            I’ve had big branches come at my face, and had to jump off a few latter's. I've had branches hit my leg, and cut myself with the handsaw.

            I also dislocated my rib once! I was climbing down a tree with just the flip line (which is the one small line), and I spurred out of the tree and then slid down it and hit my rib on a branch nub that we already cut.

What is the scariest part about being an arborist?

    Definitely when I’ve taken all the branches off of a tree and its just a stick left, it’s kind of nerve racking cause there’s nothing to hang on to -- it's just you the rope and the tree.

Do you, or anyone else, get panic attacks, while up so high?

I’ve heard of other people having them, and I’ve had minor attacks maybe, but nothing that stops me from continuing.

But there are people who have panic attacks and don’t know what to do, and then you need to rescue them out of the tree.

You need to be able to go up there and get them fast, because the paramedics can’t do it, especially if that person is unconscious.

Thomas Miller does a full removal of a Red Maple tree at a private residence, Albany, OR, on Tuesday, November 17th. 

How long does it take to remove a tree, specifically the one pictured?

This removal was about 3 hours in total. Sometimes they can be more or less time consuming than that.

Are you super tired at the end of your days?

Sometimes, yeah... always on Fridays. Typically we work 6-7 hours a day. It's nice, but very labor intensive.

How long do you see yourself doing this for?

It’s pretty taxing on my body, so probably under 5 years.

What about after that? What would you like to do?

Something with my mind. Maybe running a business or something, that would be the next step. Something to do with tree care or plants, like a nursery or something. I’d like working with native plants.

Maybe I’d start planting trees instead of removing them.

Thomas Miller and Scout Beckwith, Monday, November 23rd, at Trimble Navigation, Corvallis, OR. 

What's the hardest part about your job?

How physically demanding it is. It took me a few months to even get used to dragging brush and stuff like that.

Do you ever get 'snow days'?

For the most part, the only day's we don't work are days when it's exceptionally windy.

How many trees do you remove in a weeks time? How many are in your crew?

About two trees a week, and we have a crew totaling 3 or 4. Although, in the past, I've worked alone while climbing trees, and that was much more freaky.

Once we get to fruit tree season I’ll do 20 trees a week, but with the latter, you don’t have to climb them.

Tom, what's your favorite memory? And what do you do in your time away from trees?

My mom owned a farm when I was little, and we [siblings] would run around and play imaginary games.

Plants are really my biggest hoppy, but aside from that, I do enjoy video games. After work I usually go home to play video games and spend time with my girlfriend Elikameda, and my cats; Pocket and Samson.

There you have it, the day in the world of the guy you might drive by on any given day, up in the trees of Corvallis, Albany, and surrounding areas.

'It's What I Do' - Lynsey Addario Book Relection

A reflection on war photojournalist Lynsey Addario, and her book, 'It's What I Do' - A Photographers Life of Love and War.

My favorite photo of her work: 

"Kahindo, twenty, sits in her home with her two children born out of rape in the village of Kanyabayonga, North Kivu, in eastern Congo, April 12, 2008. Kahindo was kidnapped and held for almost three years in bush by six interhamwe who she claims were Rwandan soldiers. They each raped her repeatedly. She had one child in the forest and was pregnant with the second by the time she escaped" - Lynsey Addario.

    Many of Addarios pictures are enveloped with beautiful and bright colors, like the pashminas of the middle eastern women and vivid blue skies against sandy plains and mountains. One thing I found most compelling about this picture, however, was the level of creativity it must've took to get a good shot in this setting. The lighting is so dim, with only the small window of sunlight beaming through. The way she composed this shot; the sunlight highlights their faces and the sheet/netting, waving ever so gently in the breeze. I think the angle she chose was important because it shows the environment. She could have gotten much closer to capture more emotion out of their faces, but by stepping back a bit she's able to capture this little 'bubble' of life, light, and hope that's surrounded by a vast sea of darkness, which ultimately plays into one of her overall messages of exposing some of the darkest truths of the world around us. She seeks to show the rest of the world the acts of terror that many are facing in hostile countries today.

    Lynsey Addario proves herself to be a fierce warrior in the fight for the downtrodden across the world, and in her journey to capture some of the most dampening photographs that exist in modern day photojournalism. Finding her deepest passion in life, Addario brings awareness to what are the some of the most important issues in the world. 

    Amidst her photojournalism career, Addario goes through horrific events in her travels through Africa, including photographing the Taliban in the middle east. On top of general war zone happenings and fear, she endures two kid kidnappings; first in Iraq by Iraqui Insurgents, the second by pro-Gaddafi forces in Libya. She doesn’t give up, and refuses to let what she sees stop or haunt her, “the sadness and injustice I encountered as a journalist could either sink me into a depression or open the door to a new vision of my own life. I chose the latter”, Addario writes.

    Despite these happenings, however, the thing that lingers in my mind is the fact that in 2004, she provided images of wounded American soldiers to Life magazine, and they refused to publish them, because they were “too real”. In 2007, the New York Times Magazine also refused to publish her photo of an Afghan boy wounded by NATO bombs.

    Addario does what she does to expose what’s really happening in the world; the famish, war, disease, and mistreatment of women. When her work gets rejected by what are supposed to be some of the most reliable news sources, she’s absolutely livid! Of course who could blame her, I would be too. This really puts her work into a deep perspective - she is ‘screaming’ for someone to listen, to see what’s actually going on beyond our shore and even the people who sent her there aren’t listening! This shows us even more so the importance of what someone like her does. If it wasn’t for people like Addario stepping up in the world to show what is really happening, then we would all be living in a false reality, especially those here in the United States. It’s equally as imperative that she puts things like this in her book, to bring awareness to what she and other photojournalists are dealing with in the workplace, both [the possibilities of] kidnappings and denial of your work because it’s “too real”. 

    In her relentless search for truth, Addario doesn’t let her fear get in the way. Her passion, drive, and humility is what shapes her authenticity in photojournalism. She is always kind, courteous, and respectful to her subjects, and this is demonstrated multiple times throughout the book. Addario's resilience, willingness to learn and empathy are what ultimately keep her afloat and shape her style. “...I wasn’t scared. I believed that if my intentions were for a good cause, nothing bad would happen to me.”, (Ch.2 pg.41). She said this prior to her ever stepping foot in a hostile country, and never lost that mindset.

    The trauma that Addario withstands is enough to make many ‘sick’, but not Lynsey; "there is a somewhat accurate cliche of the ever-haunted war correspondent who can't escape the darkness of what he has seen... I didn't want to be that person." 

    She never gives up, and even after she has gone through so much, she doesn’t lose that driving part of her. On her way to Israel from Gaza at the airport, she is forced to go through three security x-ray scanners, and then is stripped searched whilst pregnant, even after she expresses her concern about radiation and her unborn child. The Isrealian soldiers up above who were watching, were laughing as she passes through the cold glass box through multiple times. Addario responds internally to this situation with only growth and knowledge; “....I could suddenly understand, in a new, profound, and enraging way, how most people in the world lived. I had been seeing that reality for years. But somehow, I had to admit, my pregnancy and the vulnerabilities of motherhood had offered me yet another window on humanity, yet another channel of understanding.”, (Ch.13 pg.264). It’s this continued adaptability to all things in her environment and resilience that launches Addario forward into her life changing career of war photojournalism.

When I think about Lynsey, I think of a fierce woman who has the utmost respect for and love of life. Her ability to connect with her subjects gets them to open up, thus securing a story that many other journalists would not be able to get. “Over the last several years I had learned how to observe people by establishing that initial rapport through eye contact” (Ch2. pg.49)”. This is something that continues to ring through my mind, and something that I will be taking with me in my photojournalism career.

    I believe in what she does, and the list of things I learned from her is vast. Her dedication and viewpoint are unique to the world, and her never give up attitude is inspiring.

    This story is something that everyone should read. With messages of determination, passion, courage, resilience, empathy, and humility, there is a lesson to be learned here for anyone. I highly recommend this book to any reader. Her courage is endless in her desire to spread knowledge and truth through her photographs. I highly commend and admire Addario’s work; this hero wears a camera instead of a cape.

Robert Frank, An Unconventional Street Photographer

Robert Frank: An Unconventional Photographer

https://eharrisonphotography.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/robert-frank/

    Robert Frank was born in Switzerland in 1924, and began studying photography in his 20’s. He died in 2019 at the age of 94. After working in commercial and graphic design photography for six years, he came to the U.S. in 1947, and began working as a fashion photographer. His love for the use of his “unconventional” 35-millimeter Leica and dislike of the fashion industry photography limitations, had him resigning from anything fashion related within a few months. He moved on for five years working as a freelance producing photojournalist and advertising photographer for LIFE, Vogue, Look, Charm, and others. His "unconventional" style of street photography included an odd like of composition, cropping, and shadows.

However, Robert soon began to grow frustrated that his work was not being in Europe:

“From 1949 to 1953 Frank wandered restlessly, traveling back and forth between New York and Europe. In each place, he focused on one or two subjects that expressed his understanding of the people and their culture—chairs and flowers in Paris, bankers in London, and miners in Wales.” 

“However, although he was hailed as “a poet with a camera” and won important champions, such as Edward Steichen, director of the department of photography at the Museum of Modern Art, his photographic sequences were rarely published.” 

        - National Gallery of Art.   

    Ultimately, this is what resulted in his motivation to apply to the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for a fellowship in 1954. He wrote on his application: “to photograph freely throughout the United States” and to “make a broad voluminous  picture record of things American”. It was this fellowship that allowed him to travel throughout the U.S. collecting photos that resulted in his claim to fame.

    After getting the Guggenheim Fellowship, he traveled around the country for a year (1955 - 1956) collecting about 27,000 photographs that would later result in his claim to fame, a book titled 'The Americans'. He would only use 83 photos for his book! This book was a big source of controversy after being published in the U.S. in 1959 (Europe was first - 1957). ‘The Americans’ was quite revolutionary at the time, a controversial look into the soul of the United States. His raw and bitterly honest view of American culture shocked many.

    “Mr. Frank, best known for his groundbreaking book, “The Americans,” had a visually raw and personally expressive style that made him one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.”

     - New York Times, 2019.

Some quotes from Robert Frank himself:

“I had to pretend I wasn’t taking photos”

- Perhaps this is what resulted in the unconventional cropping...or was it just his style? How about a bit of both!?

“I would walk day after day hunting for pictures….That’s how these [photos from ‘The Americans’] were made” 

“Sometimes you know when you’ve got a good picture, but not always….Sometimes it’s a surprise”. 

See an interview with Robert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kMwnmrL5FM

    The girl smoking, pictured above at the top of this blog, is my favorite as I think it really shows why 'The Americans' was a controversial book; who would want to show the world that a girl not more than 10 years old is holding a cigarette, and have it represent our country? The composition of this photo really nails the "street photography" aspect, really playing into the simplicity of the moment, where he was able to really capture the emotion going on. 

    Ultimately, Robert died a happily married man, who dreams of being a published photographer came true. 

Sarah Goode and Zip

Sarah Goode has has been a horse mom to her best friend, quarter horse Zip, for over 12 years now. 

Sarah keeps Zip boarded up at a lovely boarding pasture out by Knox Butte, where she drives out to every night from her home in south Albany to spend some time with him. Zip loves the holiday season, as peppermints are one of his most favorite treat. Albany, November 19th. 

Sarah and Zip both enjoy entering competitions. Currently, they are working on 'western style'. This is a familiar style for Zip, but not so much Sarah. "It's really cute -- Zip knows what to do more then I do. She gets really excited about barrel racing!", says Goode. Albany, Thursday, November 19th. 

Sarah smiles wide upon Zips back. Zip is a 23 year old female quarter horse, and is Sarah's baby. "I love her so much", expresses Goode many times. "Zip is really good with kids, she loves them and knows what to do to make sure they feel safe." Sarah works for a real estate company and restaurant part time, but she is always a full time 'mom' for this cutie, Zip. Albany, November 19th. 

The Iconic 'Dinosaur Bones' of Corvallis

 

Corvallis's Avery Parks 'Dinosaur Bones'. If you're a Corvallis local, you know this is the best park in the whole city, equipped with the 'bones' to play on, an old Georgia Pacific train, two different parks, and several swimming holes packed with people in the summer. If you've grown up here, you've probably played on these 'Dino Bones' that were created in the late 1970 as an art piece by OSU students. 

The day's have grown long and lonely for these old and stained 'bones', as the pandemic leaves it empty of children's heavy footstep's and laughter, on this sunny winter day. November 11th, 

 

Jade Rossi posses in her work environment. When asked where she spends the most time, she brings me to her a patient room, or "her office", where she spends much time talking with patients as they sit on the 'bed'. Jade is a Nursing student who is working through her clinical's with Nurse Practitioner Morgan Bahm, at Good Samaritan Internal Medicine. The first Good Samaritan was built in 1875 in Portland, and Corvallis location was built in 1922. When commenting on her shoes, Rossi says "crocks are the best when you're on your feet all day". Rossi says "she loves her job, especially because even among the pandemic she gets to work with and help people". Corvallis, Wednesday, November 190th. 

Tony and Lisa Anarre take a walk in Avery Park on this cold day, with their hot drinks and vibrant and color attire.  They're specifically checking out the 'dinosaur bones' that remind them of "back in they day" says Tony. "We have so many memories associated with these. We're glad you're taking our picture because when you've been together as long as we have, you don't have many." says Lisa. Corvallis, November 11th. 

 

Against The Raging Tide - The Show Must Go On

 

"The show must go on!" says Correy Ware (far right), when asked about his band and COVID-19 at their jam space in Newport. Mike Ewing, (far left) says "We've been practicing every week, even during COVID. We all really need it to stay sane! Plus, when things open back up, we will have a whole brand new album to put out there." Against The Raging Tide, their band, has been a local Newport favorite for over ten years now, and they're not letting Corona Virus stop them. When asked about precautions they take during practice, they said that normally no one but the four, sometimes five of them are allowed in, (they made a special exception for me), and that anytime any one of them has been sick, they go get tested, and practice is called off until they get the results back. "I have kids and a wife, I can't risk them getting sick." says Jace Bennett (drummer). Thursday, November 5th, at their "secret jam spot" in Newport, Oregon.

Mike Ewing (left), Aaron Burright (center), and Jace Bennette (right) practicing one their newest songs in their 'jam' space in Newport, Oregon. The group wrote this song in less than two hours, where Aaron soars as the lyric writer while the Mike, Corry and Jace write the electricity that fills the air. November 2nd. 

Mike Ewing switches it up from electric to base at this practice. November 7th, Newport, Oregon.