River Talk Series 2026
These programs were made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Enjoy this special River Talk with award-winning Oregon author Molly Gloss, recorded at the O’Brien Memorial Library on August 15, 2026. Molly joined us to talk about her acclaimed novel The Jump-Off Creek, writing, and her connection to Oregon.
Jud Turner's River Talk on the "Viribus", the Phoenix sculpture in Blue River, Oregon that was installed in 2021 and is made from salvaged metal from the Holiday Farm Fires in 2020.
Lauren Kessler, award-winning author of eighteen best-selling books, shared her newest work, Everything Changes Everything. Known for her unflinching, deeply human storytelling, she transforms profound tragedy into a moving exploration of enduring love, grief, and resilience. When she accepted the invitation to speak, she noted that this community’s familiarity with loss would bring a deeper understanding to her work and its message.
Sacred among the rights protected by our constitution is freedom of the press. And yet today our national news seems captured by partisan agendas and shameless manipulation. The result is polarization, a decrease in voting, and the loss of government accountability. Local news is a powerful antidote.
Ken Engelman, publisher of the McKenzie River Reflections, and Duane Noriyuki, a seasoned reporter for the online news outlet Lookout, will share their insights and experience reporting the local news, it’s challenges and It’s future. And why we need it more today than ever before.
Author Debra Gwartney will shared from her newly published essay about the Holiday Farm Fire and the ongoing efforts to recover and rebuild in the McKenzie River community.