Intern, Author at The Source - Bend, Oregon

Robin Hood RevisitedKit Kittredge shows how to do more with less

Even kids love old timey. Is stealing ever okay? How about if it’s from a rich banker in order to save the home of an

InternJuly 9, 2008August 16, 2023

Even kids love old timey. Is stealing ever okay? How about if it's from a rich banker in order to save the home of an out-of-work family, or committed by those suffering in hunger and despair, as in the Great Depression? In the new film, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, based on the American Girl book series, Kit and her pals delve into that and other tricky moral quandaries, as they exit the safety of their tree-fort to embark upon various feats beyond their years. It turns out that Kit learns the most about survival, ingenuity, honesty and grace just by looking around her hometown.

Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) is the perfect choice for the role of Kit. She is confident, poised and assertive, with an earnest innocence. As Kit, Breslin also illustrates that she knows well how to register a look of shock or surprise, keeping a young audience enthralled with the film's exploits and misadventure.
The 30's-era tale chronicles the adventures of an aspiring young journalist who helps solve a mystery that threatens her family's home, as well as her entire Cincinnati neighborhood. When all signs of guilt point to the "hobo jungle" on the city's fringe-where Kit's new friends Will and Countee live alongside other jobless, hungry victims of the Depression-Kit convinces her friends to ferret out the truth.

Culture

Super Bad: Turning the super hero genre on its ear in Hancock

nothing to see here. Just keep raking. It’s been quite the summer for super heroes-Iron Man, Hulk, and now Hancock, who comes in the form

InternJuly 9, 2008August 16, 2023

nothing to see here. Just keep raking. It's been quite the summer for super heroes-Iron Man, Hulk, and now Hancock, who comes in the form of a drunken lout of a super hero.

The premise is clever: a super hero with a drinking problem doesn't know who he is or where he comes from. Carrying a truckload of problems, he doesn't really enjoy saving people's lives. He just does it because either he can and/or he's the only one who can. He makes a sloppy exercise out of saving the day, chucking a beached whale out to sea only to hit a sailboat….skewering a car of bad guys on the Capitol Records building… you get the point. Hancock is pretty much despised for all the chaos he causes - the exception being Ray Embry (Jason Bateman), a PR exec that Hancock saves from getting pulverized by a train. In return, Ray befriends the hero and attempts a marketing strategy makeover. Ray brings Hancock home for counseling and to meet his wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), who is busy with her own life and doesn't approve.
Will Smith is a charismatic actor, bringing life to what would normally be a spoof-oriented role. He also plays a believable drunk with some genuine talent. With Theron, though, I wondered for the longest time why she was even in this movie, but she does manage to prove her worth. Bateman is an entertaining guy in a smarmy and witty kind of way, although fairly one-dimensional.

Food & Drink

Feeling the Heat: Blacksmith beer tasting rolls, Tour at Thump

The dog days are here and with the prevalence of new eateries in Central Oregon there are bound to be a few that succumb to

InternJuly 9, 2008June 18, 2024

The dog days are here and with the prevalence of new eateries in Central Oregon there are bound to be a few that succumb to the heat of competition. Ernesto's is calling it quits after a decade of serving big portions of traditional Americanized Italian fare. The building that once housed a church and then Le Bistro (the popular French restaurant owned by Chef Axel Hoch) will hopefully be put to good use as another restaurant. On its second go around, Makahna's is reportedly going under and has closed the doors on its recently opened location on Galveston. Makahna's originally opened on Greenwood in the space currently occupied by Super Burrito.

Over on Newport, Kebaba has launched a line of Middle-Eastern food that will be appearing in the deli sections of local grocery stores. A traditional hummous, harrissa-spiced red pepper hummous, babaganouj (eggplant spread), and green salsa/hot sauce will be available at Newport Market, Riley's Market (in NW Crossing), Produce Patch, Whole Foods, Jackson's Corner (formerly Delaware Market) and Nature's. Kebaba has also added a rotating tap at the restaurant location that will feature seasonal and rare beers - Saisson du Pont will debut on July 15th and is perfect sipping while enjoying the new air conditioning.

Food & Drink

Feeling the Heat: Blacksmith beer tasting rolls, Tour at Thump

The dog days are here and with the prevalence of new eateries in Central Oregon there are bound to be a few that succumb to

InternJuly 9, 2008February 1, 2024

The dog days are here and with the prevalence of new eateries in Central Oregon there are bound to be a few that succumb to the heat of competition. Ernesto’s is calling it quits after a decade of serving big portions of traditional Americanized Italian fare. The building that once housed a church and then Le Bistro (the popular French restaurant owned by Chef Axel Hoch) will hopefully be put to good use as another restaurant. On its second go around, Makahna’s is reportedly going under and has closed the doors on its recently opened location on Galveston. Makahna’s originally opened on Greenwood in the space currently occupied by Super Burrito.

Over on Newport, Kebaba has launched a line of Middle-Eastern food that will be appearing in the deli sections of local grocery stores. A traditional hummous, harrissa-spiced red pepper hummous, babaganouj (eggplant spread), and green salsa/hot sauce will be available at Newport Market, Riley’s Market (in NW Crossing), Produce Patch, Whole Foods, Jackson’s Corner (formerly Delaware Market) and Nature’s. Kebaba has also added a rotating tap at the restaurant location that will feature seasonal and rare beers – Saisson du Pont will debut on July 15th and is perfect sipping while enjoying the new air conditioning.

Food & Drink

The Little Bakery That Could: Le Cakery packs big desserts into a small shop

Wrap it up to go. Le Cakery has one of the best enticements a retail spot could ask for: The luscious, sugary aromas of baking

InternJuly 9, 2008August 16, 2023

Wrap it up to go. Le Cakery has one of the best enticements a retail spot could ask for: The luscious, sugary aromas of baking cakes. Upon entering the parking lot off of Galveston Avenue, you are struck by the warm, comforting smell that takes you by the nose and leads you to a little pink sliver of a shop staffed by two high-energy ladies cooking, decorating, selling and storing all their goods in about 400 square feet of space.

Ida Green Gurule and Karin Denman met in a Jazzercise class and started brainstorming about opening a specialty bakery. While living in Tacoma, Gurule owned a wholesale bakery specializing in cookies and challah. But this time she wanted to do something a bit different and, at the suggestion of Denman, decided on decorative Bundt cakes and cupcakes, as well as cookies, bars and challah.
Once they returned from a research trip to California, they started testing recipes using their fellow Jazzercise students as guinea pigs. "We would do blind tastings of cupcakes and samples of different cakes to find out what people liked," explains Gurule.

Food & Drink

The Little Bakery That Could: Le Cakery packs big desserts into a small shop

Wrap it up to go. Le Cakery has one of the best enticements a retail spot could ask for: The luscious, sugary aromas of baking

InternJuly 9, 2008January 4, 2023

Ida Green Gurule and Karin Denman met in a Jazzercise class and started brainstorming about opening a specialty bakery. While living in Tacoma, Gurule owned a wholesale bakery specializing in cookies and challah. But this time she wanted to do something a bit different and, at the suggestion of Denman, decided on decorative Bundt cakes and cupcakes, as well as cookies, bars and challah.
Once they returned from a research trip to California, they started testing recipes using their fellow Jazzercise students as guinea pigs. “We would do blind tastings of cupcakes and samples of different cakes to find out what people liked,” explains Gurule.

Music

True Life: I’m a Lynyrd Skynyrd Fan; this Yankee loves her some Skynyrd

Freebird!Let me preface this article by saying a few things straight from the hip. I’m from northern New York. My favorite store is JCrew, I

InternJuly 9, 2008March 31, 2024

Freebird!Let me preface this article by saying a few things straight from the hip. I'm from northern New York. My favorite store is JCrew, I love sushi and Greek food, classical piano and don't really think Larry the Cable Guy is funny. But my favorite band of all-time is Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I've been made fun of, openly gawked at, and called a liar when I tell people who've met me more than once that I am, in fact, a Skynyrd fan. Because Skynyrd is a "gateway" band, I also have a special place in my heart for Southern rockers like ZZ Top, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special and most of the bands of that era that include the word "Brothers" in their name.
Regardless of what you think about Skynyrd’s music, or its fans, you have to respect the band's "to-hell-with-change" philosophy. Bon Jovi cut his hair, Bono started wearing stunner shades, but Skynyrd is still playing largely the same set list as the band toured on in 1975. Onstage the band is proudly immune to fashion trends. Long scraggly hair, jeans and simple shirts are still the norm. In other words, Nuthin' Fancy. The dress code underscores that Skynyrd is purely about the music. This means over-the-top guitar solos and a hint of country twang. It's about how "Freebird" can literally give you chills sometimes and the opening chords of "Gimme Three Steps" means the party's officially started.

News

Waste Not, Want Lots: The tug of war over area restaurants’ waste cooking oil

The glamorous world of cooking oil recycling. “Sorry about the mess,” Libby Rodgers says as she hoists herself into her big dark blue Ford pick-up.

InternJuly 9, 2008May 7, 2024

The glamorous world of cooking oil recycling. "Sorry about the mess," Libby Rodgers says as she hoists herself into her big dark blue Ford pick-up. "I basically work out of my truck." Rodgers nods toward the back seat, which is piled high with paperwork, folders and business equipment, "Back there's my office." The truck rumbles into life as Rodgers turns the key in the ignition and we pull out of the airplane hangar-sized building that houses Rodger's fledgling business - Lookout Mountain Biofuels. Rodgers is on her way to collect waste vegetable oil from local Prineville restaurants that she will refine into biodiesel to run everything from the truck she's driving to area farming equipment.

Rodgers, a Crook County native, began the process of building her own
refinery about one and-a-half years ago. She began refining waste
vegetable oil for her own personal use about three years ago. Rodgers
will soon begin refining the waste oil she collects for commercial sale
to area ranchers and farmers along with a few individuals who will use
it to power their vehicles. Rodgers is young, petite and blonde and
works full-time as an outdoor guide.
She also coaches the local high school's girls' soccer team. During her
lunch hours and before and after work hours, Libby collects barrels of
waste oil which can weigh anywhere from 250 to 500 pounds, and brings
them back to her facility to later begin the refining process.
"I really have always had an interest in renewable energy, fuel
sustainability and being subsistent," says Rodgers. "I also want to
give back to my community because it's the community I grew up in and
they gave a lot to me," she adds later.

Opinion

Welfare for Builders

Just needs a little stimulus.As the housing slump widens and deepens, builders all over the country are in a world of hurt. Builders in Central

InternJuly 9, 2008May 27, 2023

Just needs a little stimulus.As the housing slump widens and deepens, builders all over the country are in a world of hurt. Builders in Central Oregon are hurting too. But the builders here have come up with an idea to ease their pain: Interest-free loans from the taxpayers.
The loans would take the form of a break on SDCs - Systems Development Charges. These are fees builders pay to help cover the cost of new roads, sewers, water mains and other stuff made necessary by new construction. In the City of Bend, SDCs can run upwards of $13,000 on a new house.
As things stand, builders have to pay the SDCs up front, before they can get their building permits. But under the bright idea the Central Oregon Builders Association has put forward - an idea that, incredibly, has the support of the city's Community Development Department - SDC payments would be deferred for nine months, interest-free.
At the end of nine months, supposedly, the builder will have sold the house and be able to pay off the city. Or if he isn't, the city will have a lien on the house as security.

Opinion

Gender Benders: A new baby in Bend, truth squads and taking the Helms

InternJuly 9, 2008April 29, 2024

Oh Baby!
This week's Upfront column must begin with congratulations to Thomas Beatie, the 34-year-old Bendite who gave birth to a girl last Sunday. Born a woman, Mrs./Mr. Beatie underwent "gender realignment" surgery (nip, tuck, pull, OWW!) and is legally recognized as a man. Reported to have delivered the child via traditional method (don't ask), Mrs./Mr. Beatie can be thanked for putting Bend on the map - And distracting the rest of the world from our fair, gender-neutral city's many problems, like hyper-inflated housing prices, pathetic governance and overall apathy. Anonymous sources close to City Hall say that in order to overshadow the remaining year's many issues - local transit based solely on imported oil, the continued housing slump and a general malaise among voters - the Mayor and City Council plan to impregnate a salmon with the sperm of a cougar, creating a monster fish that can't find its way home yet eats everything in its path, much like a Bend developer.
Defining Patriotism
Swift Boating without a paddle, the GOP and Democrats ignored our failing economy, the Taliban retaking Afghanistan and growing international cries for a climate treaty to engage in a useless debate over patriotism last week. While Obama (who was once criticized for not wearing a flag pin on his lapel) said that patriotism shouldn't be used as a "political sword" by any candidate, McCain's campaign announced the creation of the "Truth Squad" to defend his record of service. Meanwhile, retired General Wesley Clark said of McCain's time in Vietnam: "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president." Asked to grant a quote about service and patriotism, President George W. Bush, who served a few months in the Texas Air National Guard before disappearing into a fog of cocaine and floozies, offered, "Karl? Where's Karl? Rove! Turd Blossom? Who's got that fake letter we faxed to Dan Rather? Oh, wait! Is this thing on? Turn that off! You're either with us or against us! 9-11! Osama! Did I say that? I meant Iran…"

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