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Aaron Switzer

Aaron Switzer is the founder and publisher of the Source. He remains fascinated with the art of communication even after being marinated in it for the past 30 years. He has many favorites but they pale in comparison to mountain biking on the middle fork of the Willamette with any family member who will go. Believes ultimate frisbee is the worst sport and best game ever invented. Thinks everyone should ride a motorcycle.

aaron@bendsource.com
Posted inVideo

20/40/60 — Purposely Sweating, Shivering Outside our Comfort Zones

Three Source staffers, representing ages 23, 42, and (almost) 60, get after it doing stuff we normally don’t do
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Mastering adulthood isn’t about becoming really, really good at stuff. Instead, we argue that maturity centers on gracious newbie-dom — forever curious, new at something, always. With that in mind, three Source staffers, ages 23, 42 and (almost) 60 got after three athletic/therapeutic pursuits we usually don’t do. Read the full story by clicking here.

Posted inNews

A New Direction for the Source Weekly

A note from founder and publisher Aaron Switzer on nonprofit status, a new investigative reporter position
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If there is anything that is constant in the world of newspaper publishing, it is change. This week marks a big milestone in the Source Weekly’s history, so indulge me with a little ramble down memory lane. Over the course of the past 27 years of publishing the Source Weekly, there have been several key […]

Posted inOutside

Promoting Sustainability

Visit Bend’s sustainability director, Serena Bishop Gordon joins the Bend Don’t Break podcast to talk bikes, tourism dollars and more
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Aaron Switzer and Nicole Vulcan

This week’s guest on the Bend Don’t Break podcast moved to Bend in 2006, eventually finding her way to bike racing and work at Bend’s destination management organization, Visit Bend. In this excerpt from the conversation (lightly edited for clarity) Source Publisher Aaron Switzer chats with Serena Bishop Gordon, sustainability director for Visit Bend. Source […]

Posted inMusic

From Self-Taught to Playing Stages

Faisal Abu-Nawwas is a regular perfomer around Bend. This week he’s also among the musicians playing at Cascade Equinox Festival.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Aaron Switzer and Nicole Vulcan

Faisal Abu-Nawwas was born in Portland, Oregon, and has had music in his blood since he was a child. His grandmother was in a band for most of his childhood and played all over the Pacific Northwest. In high school, Abu-Nawwas discovered his voice while trying out for jazz choir. After high school, he taught […]

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Listen: Last Centrist Standing with former Bend Mayor Bruce Abernethy 🎧

A veteran of Bend’s political scene shares his words of wisdom on Bend’s leftward lurch, the City’s rapid growth and his work to help people without homes.
Avatar photo by Laurel Brauns and Aaron Switzer

On this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with former Bend City Councilor Bruce Abernethy. He is well-known in the community for his service work: He’s served on the board of directors for more than a dozen organizations ranging from nonprofits to government entities to educational institutions. He sat on the City Council […]

Posted inNews

Listen: A New Vision for Redmond with City Councilor Clifford Evelyn 🎧

Born and raised in New York City, Evelyn has lived and worked in predominantly white communities in the Pacific Northwest for most of his life. He’s not afraid to challenge small town paradigms.
Avatar photo by Laurel Brauns and Aaron Switzer

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we talk with Redmond City Councilor Clifford Evelyn. Evelyn won an insurgent victory in 2020 through a campaign of connecting with local business owners and others in the community, despite the constraints of COVID-19. Evelyn talked about how his message resonated with people who want to see more […]

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Listen: Buddhism in an Age of Societal Decline with Michael Scott Stevens 🎧

The founder of the Natural Mind Dharma Center in Bend discusses how spiritual practices increase coping mechanisms and brain health
Avatar photo by Laurel Brauns and Aaron Switzer

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Michael Scott Stevens, a Buddhism teacher and founder of the Natural Mind Dharma Center. When Stevens opened the center in 1996, Bend was a one-brewery ski town. Today, there’s a yoga studio on every corner and a growing community of spiritual seekers that regularly […]

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Listen: Kate Fitzpatrick of the Deschutes River Conservancy on Collaborative Stewardship 🎧

The DRC was created to bring a wide range of voices to the table to address the impacts irrigation on the Deschutes River
Avatar photo by Laurel Brauns and Aaron Switzer

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Kate Fitzpatrick, the executive director of the Deschutes River Conservancy. While there are quite a few environmental organizations in Central Oregon at least partially dedicated to restoring the Deschutes, the DRC is unique in both its mission and structure. Kate explains the history of […]

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