It’s a given that we all love Bend, and most of us have our favorite season here. Autumn has always been mine, but sometimes I miss being surrounded by the glorious multicolored leaves that are reminiscent of where I grew up. Bend does offer some autumn beauty, though. The golden maple trees along Industrial Way […]
Joshua Savage
Seeds of Comfort
The creation of Comfort Seeds, a group that uses gardening for healing, is a tale full of heartwarming hope and inspiration. When asked about her experience with Comfort Seeds, founder Katie Diez replied, “I never imagined such a positive reaction.” This simple act and concept started with an unexpected discovery. When her father passed away […]
Happy Centennial!
In 2021, as Bend Park and Recreation District hosts the centennial celebration of two of our most cherished parksโDrake and Shevlin, take a moment to imagine life in Bend and specifically, in these parks 100 years ago. Drake Park Possibly unrecognizable back then except for the Deschutes River, no doubt the land where Drake Park […]
A Natural Remedy
Kids these days! They spend way too much time on screens with distance learning, and then after school, they usually want to play video games or watch a show. Even before the pandemic and online school, children were spending more time in front of computers and less time outdoors than previous generations, and rightfully, many […]
Feel the Freedom
The beginning of a new school year represents a fresh start โ new classes, new people and opportunities. Like the beginning of a new year, back-to-school can be the perfect time to set goals and resolutions. Why not make one of them becoming a bike commuterโhowever the school year looks? Health Benefits Riding a bike […]
Homeschool For Everyone
Social distanced learning has proven a challenge for some and a blessing for many
Life with a Nurse in Bend
Even before COVID-19 arrived in Deschutes County, St. Charles Medical Center attempted attempted to be preemptive, asking its nurses to pick up extra shifts if necessary. Niki, my wife and a nurse in the ICU, was torn. Like so many other families, we had already canceled our spring break trip. Since we now spend most […]
Book Chapel
Walking into Bend’s newest bookstore, Agia Sophia, the first sound I hear are those of relaxing, ancient Slavonic chants. An immediate feeling of calmness pervades me as a friendly, loquacious priest, fully garbed in a cassock, greets me. Within minutes Father Damian Kuolt, the cheerful owner, offers me a cup of coffee and a slice […]
2020 is the Year!
If you’re new to Bend or even if you’ve lived here a while, it’s time to head up to Mt. Bachelor to check out what’s new for 2020. This season, Central Oregon’s famed ski area, the sixth largest in North America, has ramped up activities to guarantee that everyone falls in love with the snow. […]
Surviving Winter
Many Central Oregon transplants come from warmer climates; sunny southern California, the dry heat of Arizona, or in my case, Memphis, Tennessee. Until last year I had never witnessed a white Christmas, much less the Snowmaggedon that hit in late February, or the lighter storm we got last week. The cold, long winters and short […]

