Local Food Bank Reports Growing Demand
Local organization, NeighborImpact, which operates the regional food bank for Central Oregon, revealed a record-breaking rise in demand for food across the region, leading to concerns around heightened food insecurity. After collecting data, the organization revealed on April 16 that it served an average of 83,000 individuals per month in its most recent quarter –…
Earth Heroes
Preserving the earth is something that benefits us all and ensures future generations a certain quality of life. Some Central Oregonians are more dedicated and passionate on that subject, making it their career or serving as volunteers. In this week’s Earth Heroes issue, we reached out to local nonprofits for “hero” nominations. Our “earth”…
Prineville Residents Challenge Proposed UGB Expansion for Biomass Facility
Prineville community members are calling to halt a proposed urban growth boundary expansion intended to make room for a new energy source. The UGB expansion is set to pave the way for a biomass facility, accommodating space for the prospective project, among other expansion opportunities. While the City Council is set to vote on the…
A New Food Truck with a Texan Twist
A new food truck opened April 15 at Crosscut-Warming Hut on SW Mill View Way in Bend. The Lost Texan’s menu includes steak, chicken and shrimp fajitas, tacos, nachos, chips and salsa among other items. It’s a revamp of Queso in your Face-O which had been located at Silver Moon Brewing. Owner Cliff Abrahams says The…
Cascade East Transit Workers Rally for Better Pay During Contract Bargaining Session
This story was updated April 15. Unionized public transit workers rallied for livable wages in Bend on April 11. Picketing on NE Third Street near the Hawthorne Station, about a dozen workers and supportive residents hoisted signs that read “Support Your Transit Workers!” Passing cars honked in support. “Transit workers deserve a living wage,” they…
Sunriver Music Festival Selects Artwork by David Young-Wolff for 2025 Season
Sunriver Music Festival has selected David Young-Wolff’s “River Dreaming” as its featured artwork for 2025. Each year, the Festival features an artist local to Central Oregon for the season’s poster. Artists were invited to submit their artwork for consideration and a jury of professional artists from the Artist’s Gallery Sunriver assists in making the final…
Kitten Shower at the Humane Society of Central Oregon
With warmer weather just around the corner, Kitten Season will soon be in full swing. To prepare for the nearly 300 newborn and orphaned kittens that will be coming through our doors this year, the Humane Society of Central Oregon is hosting a Kitten Shower! Attend the Kitten Shower on Saturday, April 12, from 10…
Mid Oregon Credit Union Fundraiser to Benefit SMART Reading
Mid Oregon Credit Union Spring 2025 fundraiser begins on Monday, April 7 to benefit SMART Reading™. Mid Oregon members and the community are invited to donate online or at any one of Mid Oregon’s branches. One hundred percent of the funds will stay in the community where they are collected and be used to support…
Five Central Oregon schools earn prestigious RAMP certification for excellence in school counseling
Five Central Oregon schools have achieved a distinguished milestone in school counseling, earning the coveted Recognized ASCA Model Program certification from the American School Counselor Association. This national recognition underscores their commitment to comprehensive, data-driven counseling programs that support student success. The honored schools include Redmond School Districts’ Sage Elementary (counselors: Faith Seals and Angie…
Shepherd’s House Ministries Seeks Community Support for Good Friday Easter Dinner
Shepherd’s House Ministries invites the Central Oregon community to support our annual Good Friday Easter Dinner at the Redmond Center (1350 S Hwy 97, Redmond) on Friday, April 18th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This special meal offers warmth, nourishment, and community to our neighbors experiencing hardship. To ensure a meaningful and joyful dinner,…
Mt. Bachelor 2025/26 Season Passes Now On Sale With New Kids Ski Free Initiative
Skiers and snowboarders can now purchase 2025/26 Mt. Bachelor Season Pass products. The early sales period, running now through May 31, offers the lowest rates of the season with renewal discounts for returning passholders. New this year, Mt. Bachelor is launching Kids Ski Free Passes, where any adult Outplay 365 or Full Season Pass comes…
Redmond Welcomes Marijuana
The Redmond City Council voted in favor of allowing marijuana dispensaries within city limits on April 10. The vote implemented a 3% tax on the sale of marijuana items, and applied time, place and manner restrictions to how dispensaries can be operated within the City. The vote comes after a November advisory ballot measure, gauging…
Freedom Isn’t Free, But Speech Is Supposed to Be
This weekend’s “Hands Off!” demonstrations, which reportedly took place in over 1,400 locations, were an encouraging sight. Not only did they highlight the varied responses to the current president and his administration, but they reminded us once again of the importance of the First Amendment to the Constitution — which says that the government may…
Funding Freeze Hits Local Food Banks
Local food assistance organization, NeighborImpact, is sounding the alarms about a federal funding freeze that’s affecting its ability to provide food to Central Oregonians. The payment freeze, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is aimed at a set of food assistance programs that redistribute food commodities to food banks, leading to a significant decrease…
John, Yoko, Oakland, Punks and So Much More
There are a ton of low-budget, international and just plain off-the-radar films coming out over the next few weeks — most of which deserve at least a chance to find an audience. With advertising budgets that are unable to compete with what the larger studios are able to throw at their movies, I dove into…
Beyond the Dated Details
In Bend’s competitive market, finding the perfect home often means looking beyond the most polished listings. Sometimes, the best opportunity may be in an overlooked property that seems dated. It may be that the underrated property can help you build equity, create a truly personalized space and buy in a neighborhood that is beyond your…
Source Warmup
Bill Eliminating Wildfire Hazard Map Moves Forward The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire voted unanimously on April 8 to eliminate the state wildfire hazard map, introduced in SB 762. The policy also repeals the property maintenance rules that applied to high-hazard areas on the map, according to a press release. “Today is a…
Frustrated Wife in Bend
I’m married to a great guy. We’re both late 40s, no kids, both working good jobs, both in shape and financially secure. We get along well in almost every area except the bedroom. I love any kind of affection, touch or intimacy. My husband says that he loves me but he never wants to have…
The Adventures of Bend Breakfast Burrito
In the words of author Jasmine Guillory: “Wouldn’t it be great if you could order a breakfast burrito and it just showed up at your door every morning?” This question inspired Bend Breakfast Burrito owners Valerie and Trent Hilton to launch a breakfast burrito delivery service in 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Bend’s HomeGrown Music Festival: No Longer Just for Locals
The HomeGrown Music Festival has rolled a super-fatty for Central Oregon music fans this 4/20 weekend. Now in its third year, the local music showcase spans four days, bringing together three dozen bands across five stages, beginning Thursday, April 17 at the Volcanic Theatre Pub. Central Oregon staples — bluegrass and jam bands — are…
Music as a Memento
W https://www.instagram.com/chiggimomo/ hen significant moments in life happen, we rarely have the luxury of recalling them exactly as they were. We might be able to remember sights, smells or sounds, but it’s always a little fuzzy around the edges. But the nature of recording music, capturing time and sound on tape, adds a bit of…
Run Into Spring: The Salmon Run Returns for its 37th Year
Spring has officially arrived in Central Oregon — and with it, race season. One of Bend’s longest-running traditions, the 37th annual Salmon Run, kicks off the season with scenic routes, community spirit and a good cause. Whether you’re chasing a PR or simply soaking up the spring sunshine, the Salmon Run is a chance to…
Local Cowpunkers Jackrat Explore Greener (Indie Rock) Pastures
Folks who attended last year’s HomeGrown will remember then-nascent cowpunk band Jackrat. The local trio, who trade in bluegrass-heavy indie rock landscapes, had just released its self-titled debut EP. The crowd was sparse — but enthusiastic. “Trent from Palo Sopraño came up. He was stoked,” says drummer Eric Niziol. In the time since, Niziol, Kevin…
Horoscope Week of April 10, 2025
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life is asking you to be a source of generosity and strength for the people and animals in your sphere. I hope you will exude maximum amounts of your natural charisma as you bestow maximum blessings. Soak up the admiration and affection you deserve, too, as you convey admiration and affection…
From Porch to Stage
Larkspur Stand was born on a front porch in the east Bend neighborhood known as Larkspur, the band’s namesake. What started as a few friends casually jamming out together eventually grew as more neighbors joined and merged talents to create the band’s current crew. The five-person band includes instruments like guitar, banjo, drums, an upright…
Letters to the Editor 04/10/2025
Guest Opinion: A Path Forward My origin family has been Democrat since my grandmother worked with the FDR administration as one of the country’s first cohorts of social workers. We’re educated, progressive and global. I should be freaking out like the rest of the people in my choir. Trump’s integrity, temperament and many of his…
Cptn Over Brings High-Energy Garage Rock
With a garage rock-flavored style, tight rhythms and alt rock flair, Cptn Over is the kind of band that thrives on energy and good vibes all around. The Bend-based rock band blends psychedelic tones with raw garage rock grit, creating an electrifying sound that’s loud, loose and undeniably fun. The group is made up of…
Fresco & Fryed’s Flavorful New Chapter in Bend
Fresco & Fryed, a food truck serving bold and soulful Latin-inspired dishes, has found a new home at Open Space Event Studios in Bend. Founded by James Delarosa and his fiancee and business partner, Kathryn Lippert, the truck balances fresh ingredients with indulgent comfort. Inspired by his Mexican heritage, Delarosa says, “We strive to create…
A New Chapter for The Pantry
In November 2024, The Pantry — a cozy coffee and mercantile shop tucked along NW Newport Avenue — announced it was for sale. Known for its house-made syrups, sustainable goods and delicious pastries, the neighborhood favorite has officially found new owners. Joel Morgan and his family took over the space in mid-March. The listing immediately…
Photographing Desert Wildlife
Eastern Oregon’s high desert is a land of striking contrasts — sunbaked plateaus meet rugged rimrock, deep canyons surround rushing rivers and green meadows and marshes thrive next to miles of sagebrush. It’s a place of untamed beauty, where wildlife moves with the seasonal rhythms of the land. Capturing compelling images here requires more than…
Bynum Comes to Deschutes
On Saturday, Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR5) dashed from the stage of her spirited town hall in Sisters to continue her jam-packed day across Deschutes County. During the event, people rose to their feet in applause, responding to Bynum’s vows to fight for the district. She hopped in the car and immediately reflected on the…
