Internment camps and jazz. Seemingly unrelated, these two American institutions are former Oregon Poet Laureate Lawson Inada’s primary influences—and, when passed through the filter of the now Southern Oregon University professor’s poetry and prose, their seemingly disparate relationship becomes clear. Inada was only four years old when his family began living in the World War […]
Erin Rook
Erin was a writer and editor at the Source from 2013 to 2016.
Posted inCulture
Sequins and Stilettos
Cabaret brings drag royalty to the high desert
RuPaul is arguably the best-known drag queen in the United States, which is to say he is probably the only female impersonator the average American can name. That, however, is slowly changing: Starting in 2009, RuPaul has hosted his Logo reality TV show Drag Race, a sort of America’s Next Top Model for drag performers. […]
Posted inNews
Just Get on the Bus, Gus!
OSU-Cascades task force has much to discuss for transportation options
Jeff Monson, Executive Director for Commute Options, has a vision for Oregon State University’s soon to be expanded Cascades Campus: A student approaches campus from a winding trail, hops off her bicycle and locks it up at a covered rack. She is joined by classmates who have walked from their dorms or neighborhood apartments, and […]
Posted inNews
City Council Votes 4-3 to Move Forward with Membrane Filtration
This drawing, from a past City Council presentation on water treatment options, accurately portrays the flow of tonight’s meeting. After a lengthy debate on whether to use ultraviolet lights or membranes to filter Bend’s surface water, the City Council voted 4-3 in favor of moving forward with the stalled membrane option, effectively putting to rest […]
Posted inNews
We’re the Best!
The view from Pilot Butte at sunset. Photo by Corbin Gentzler. Seriously, though. According to this quirky little real estate blog MOVOTO, Bend is the best city in Oregon. (Portland comes in at No. 7). Now, this comes as no surprise to Bendites both native and recently transplanted. For all our kvetching about road construction, […]
Posted inNews
Bond, Park Bond
Slow but steady progress for last year’s park bond
A year ago, Bend voters narrowly approved a $29 million bond measure to fund parks projects across the city. While some of these projects—which include an $11 million ice rink and recreation center, a whitewater park and various improvements to the Deschutes River Trail System—are not due to be completed until 2016, excitement is already […]
Posted inCulture
Deep Into That Darkness Peering
Local actor explores Edgar Allen Poe
in one-man show
“I’m not some kind of goth, just so you know,” Alastair Morley Jaques asserts. “I’m an alarmingly happy and optimistic person.” But for the past five Halloweens, Jacques has taken on the personality of a man fascinated by death and darkness—poet and author Edgar Allen Poe. The 31-year-old father of two studied theater at Evergreen […]
Posted inNews
A Good, but Incomplete Idea
The Transient Room Tax increase leaves questions unanswered
Let’s be clear: We approve an increase in the Transient Room Tax for the City of Bend, as proposed by Measure 9-94 (not to be confused with Measure 9-96 for a similar room tax increase in Deschutes County). In fact, we think that the TRT for the City of Bend should be more ambitious. The […]
Posted inNews
Giant Inflatable Puppy Wants You to Pass on that Burger
Photo by Erin Rook. People driving past Drake Park for lunch were greeted by a large inflatable dog and a handful of animal rights activists urging them to fill up on plant-based foods. It’s generally considered poor table manners to talk about the unsavory origins of one’s food during a meal, but that’s precisely why […]
Posted inNews
No Place Like Home
Bend’s rental market forces working Oregonians into the cold
Liz, a 53-year-old grandmother with greying shoulder-length blonde hair and a matter-of-fact demeanor, recently took a job in Bend to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren in La Pine. But her coworkers don’t know that the new hire, who shows up to work on time and doesn’t believe in taking days off, is homeless […]
