LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break with Paula Dreyer 🎧
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Paula Dreyer, a classically-trained pianist and composer based in Bend, Oregon, whose distinctive music draws from Romantic, Impressionistic, and Spanish influences. Paula shares her inspiring journey from early piano lessons to becoming an internationally recognized musician, educator, and author of the popular…
Local Officials Agree on Plans for Juniper Ridge
Deschutes County will continue working with the City of Bend on establishing a semi-managed camp in Juniper Ridge. After voting to reject a resolution last week, and receiving pressure from Mayor Melanie Kebler to come to a agreement on this project, County Commissioners voted unanimously on Oct. 23 to approve a resolution establishing the proposed…
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break with Emily Kirk 🎧
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Emily Kirk, a familiar face on Central Oregon Daily News, to talk about her journey into local television and her deep connection to the Central Oregon community. Emily shares what drew her to journalism, her favorite parts of the job—like trying new foods…
DMV Errors Prompt Questions of Election Integrity
Last month, the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division announced an error that resulted in 1,561 people being improperly registered to vote without proving citizenship. Following this discovery, the Oregon Secretary of State conducted a deeper investigation into the error and took steps to ensure it won’t affect the election. Out of the people…
Empowering Farms, Nourishing Communities: HDFFA’s Grants in Action
Throughout Central Oregon, where water scarcity and harsh conditions challenge even the most determined farmers, small grants are making a big difference. High Desert Food & Farm Alliance’s On-Farm Efficiency Grants are sowing seeds of resilience into local agriculture by helping farmers invest in seemingly simple solutions that deliver huge results, from upgrading irrigation ponds…
Bethlehem Inn Ranked Sixth Best Medium Organization
Bethlehem Inn announces that it ranked number six (out of 100) of the best Medium Organization to work for in the 2024 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon list. This list showcases nonprofit organizations with best-in-class workplace practices, based on surveys sent to employees of the participating nonprofits. The title of 100 Best…
Housing Works Announces New Leadership in Executive Director Role
Housing Works today announced the hiring of Lynne McConnell, currently Housing Director for the City of Bend, as the next executive director for the organization. Housing Works is the largest provider of affordable housing in the Central Oregon region with more than 2,000 units under ownership and management in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. McConnell…
Pacific Power’s Blue Sky Participants Receive National Recognition for Green Power Sales
Thanks to Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program participants, the popular renewable energy program ranked first in overall green pricing sales in a national study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL recently released its ranking of leading utility green power programs based on 2023 data and recognized the top 10 outstanding…
Bend ET Expert Lab—Harnessing the Power of Emotional Agility—October 22
Does stress seem to follow you home from work and back again? Many of us struggle to turn off our racing mind and truly relax. There is a way to break the pattern and set yourself up for success! In this Expert Lab, join Savanna DeLuca, Executive Director and Therapist at Wild Heart Therapy and…
Free Medication Take-Back Event Set Oct. 26 at Bend Police Department
Community members with unwanted medications on hand can dispose of them safely during a free event hosted by St. Charles Health System and the Bend Police Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Bend Police Department, 555 NE 15th St., Bend. The take-back event is intended to help Central…
Deschutes County Stalls on Sanctioned Camp at Juniper Ridge
A joint decision between the City of Bend and Deschutes County in September, planning to establish a semi-managed camp in Juniper Ridge, promised to address ongoing safety concerns on land north of Bend, populated by hundreds of encampments. The outlined plan to create a “temporary safe stay area” on 170 acres of County and City land…
Lawsuit Against Black Butte Ranch Alleging Repeat Workplace Harassment Adds Four Plaintiffs, Expands to $19.5 Million
An amended lawsuit filed in Deschutes County this week alleges that for years a long-time employee at Black Butte Ranch abused and harassed over a dozen employees, and the management at the time did nothing to help. The lawsuit was first brought against Black Butte Ranch, former management and Glenn Michael Woosley – the man…
Summer on the Edge of a Fire
Summertime at Crescent Lake usually involves day trips to Simax Beach, languid afternoons boating on clear, blue-green water, and week after week of visitors to the dozens of cabins that line its western shores. Just down the road from its more popular big sister, Crater Lake, Crescent Lake likewise offers stunning views and a cool…
Running Through Nature: The Happy Girls Run in Sisters
Looking for a way to combine nature and exercise? The Happy Girls Run offers women an opportunity to lace up their running shoes and experience the autumn beauty of Central Oregon with a supportive community. On Saturday, Oct. 26, participants can choose from three race options: a 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon, all set against…
Los candidatos a la alcaldía de Redmond esbozan sus planes para una ciudad en crecimiento
Durante nuestra entrevista con el actual alcalde de Redmond Ed Fitch y el concejal de Redmond Cat Zwicker, los dos lucharon por encontrar algo en lo que no estuvieran de acuerdo al discutir una variedad de temas que son importantes para la ciudad de Redmond. Los candidatos comenzaron la entrevista coincidiendo en que el mayor…
Negotiation Tactics
The home buying process is often a complex and intricate journey, marked by a series of strategic maneuvers known as negotiations. These negotiations can significantly influence the final purchase price and terms of a sale. As a realtor, I’ve witnessed a myriad of tactics employed by buyers and sellers alike, each with its own unique…
Source Warmup
Deschutes County to Appoint New La Pine Park and Recreation District Board Members On Oct 9, all five members of the La Pine Parks and Recreation District Board resigned. The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners outlines the process it will use to fill vacancies on the board following the resignation. According to a press release,…
Grace Cooper: A Soulful Journey Through Songwriting and Self-Discovery
Oregon-based Americana and soul singer/songwriter Grace Cooper captivates audiences with her heartfelt lyrics and raw, emotive sound. Growing up in a musical family, Cooper’s journey began early, and she has continued to evolve as an artist. Now 24 and based in Bend, she released her debut EP, “Three Years Wiser,” at 18. In this Q&A,…
Horoscope Week of October 17, 2024
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your bulboid corpuscles are specialized nerve cells in your skin that can experience intense tactile pleasure—more so than any other nerve cells. They are located in your lips, tongue, and genitals. According to my analysis of your astrological potentials, these ultra-sensitive receptors will be turned on extra high in the coming…
Letters to the Editor
Jennifer Baires and the Vander Kamp story Yet another bullseye piece by Jen Baires on the whole Vander Kamp investigation documents story. A big hat tip, as well, to OPB’s Emily Cureton Cook on this will he?/won’t he?/what the hell is going on here? roller coaster of a tale. —Bruce Cummings Election Deniers Have No…
Rank Salsa Flavors to Learn About Ranked Choice Voting
With the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet now in most voters’ hands, you may have heard about Measure 117, the measure that would establish ranked-choice voting for certain elections in Oregon. While advocates for Measure 117 believe it will create a more equitable voting system, and one that encourages more diversity among elected officials, it can be…
Winged Creatures of the Night
By day, southern Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands stuns visitors with its colorful rock formations, vibrant wildflowers and bountiful wildlife species. But at night, when darkness falls over the rock spires and canyon walls illuminated only by the glow of starlight, the shadows of bats silently flittering through the air is a truly delightful sight. Although fabled…
After a Housing Program Failed, Its Manager Became Homeless, Too
It was a Thursday in late March when Kyle Videtich found out he’d be losing his job and his housing in Deschutes County. He’d moved to Bend from Washington nearly three months prior, eager to start his new gig as the housing manager for a home meant to provide stability for men on probation for…
![Vote Megan Norris for Bend City Council Pos. 1 ▶ [With Video]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opinion1-1-908994fd88ad1dab.webp?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Vote Megan Norris for Bend City Council Pos. 1 ▶ [With Video]
This race is an interesting contrast. On the one hand you have a sitting councilor, Megan Norris, who’s been embedded in politics in California and now works for local housing developer, Hayden Homes. On the other hand you have Jonathan Curtis, who was raised in Bend and experienced homelessness before working as a wildland firefighter…
![Vote Megan Perkins for Bend City Council Pos. 3 ▶ [With Video]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opinion2-1-4498d3e03a96592a.webp?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Vote Megan Perkins for Bend City Council Pos. 3 ▶ [With Video]
Megan Perkins has been out front on the issue of tackling homelessness in Bend, and for that, she should get another go-round on the Council. Her opponent, Nick Cerveny, shared during our interview how he wanted to see a 100% reduction in homelessness in Bend. It’s great to have lofty goals —no one on the…
The Medicine Cabinet Within
There may be no better proof of the connection between mind and body than the effects that joy, and conversely, stress or anxiety, have on our bodies. Based on my current informal survey, it’s safe to say that at this pre-election moment, many seem to be in a state of stress and worry more than…
![Vote Steve Platt for Bend City Council Pos. 4 ▶ [With Video]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/opinion3-1-70c42fc2e657d13b.webp?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Vote Steve Platt for Bend City Council Pos. 4 ▶ [With Video]
This was a tough one for our editorial board. All three candidates have strong backgrounds and a solid grasp of the issues. All came with fairly detailed plans for addressing issues such as permit times, which developers say are stymying Bend’s growth. These are the type of prepared candidates one hopes will come forward in…
Bend’s Best Autumnal Doughnuts
Fall calls for doughnuts that taste like, well, fall-scented candles. They often offer the allure of sweet baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and alternate from vanilla icing to buttermilk glaze. But while Central Oregon isn’t Vermont or even Central Washington, it’d be nice if more of our doughnut purveyors would sling sugar-crusted cake doughnuts…
The Joke’s On Us
Look, from the jump I’m going to say that “Joker: Folie à Deux” is both a little better than most people say, while somehow being worse in a lot of ways I wasn’t prepared for. But, and this might be a hot take, so I guess you can take my opinion with a bucket of…
Savoring the Season
As the air turns crisp and the leaves shift into warm hues of orange and gold, it’s time to celebrate the season by indulging in autumn’s rich flavors. Fall is known for its bounty of ingredients that evokes comfort and nostalgia, perfect for elevating cocktails with depth and warmth. This season, why not experiment with…
Frankie and the Witch Fingers Bring Their Psych Feast to Bend
Frankie and the Witch Fingers’ brand of psychedelic punk pulses with frenetic rock-and-roll energy. Driving bass, screaming guitars and pummeling drums have made the four-piece of Dylan Sizemore (guitar and vocals), Josh Menashe (guitar and synthesizers), Nikki Pickle (bass and vocals) and Nick Aguilar (drums) regulars at psych fests around the globe, including Austin’s legendary…
