Kim Cooper Findling, Author at The Source

Expanding the Story

The High Desert Museum takes a fresh look at the stories of the plateau region with a new facility

by Kim Cooper Findling July 1, 2026June 26, 2026

When the High Desert Museum opened in 1982, founder Don Kerr had a lofty vision for the destination he’d long dreamed of. The campus nestled in the forest south of Bend would create experiences to inspire awe, curiosity and wonder in visitors, which would in turn stimulate learning and stewardship about the unique high desert […]

Local News

Dancing Mortgage Rates

The mortgage industry does one thing reliably — and that’s to fluctuate

by Kim Cooper Findling June 3, 2026May 27, 2026

Ask most people to weigh in on the current mortgage market, and the response will likely be that the market is challenging. Rates are high, making it more difficult to break into the already traditionally tough Bend real estate market. “We’re stuck in a high interest environment,” states Sam Boyer, senior mortgage advisor and branch […]

Local News

Building Support

Central Oregon women in construction mentor women in a male-dominated industry

by Kim Cooper Findling February 25, 2026February 24, 2026

Bend architect Heidi Slaybaugh was often met with a request. Male colleagues in leadership positions would reach out to ask if she would mentor their female staff. “The male leaders couldn’t address the questions they were hearing from female colleagues,” recalled Slaybaugh, principal at Cole Architects. “Most architecture firms are run by men, and they […]

Outside

Shooting for the Snow Zone

Photographer Pete Alport goes to extremes to capture a special moment

by Kim Cooper Findling December 10, 2025December 4, 2025

Pete Alport arrived at the young snowboarder’s home at 11pm on a winter’s night in late 2022. The pair bid a cheerful goodbye to Kai Huggin’s parents and drove south from Bend into the night. Where Highway 138 intersects the north access for Crater Lake, they ditched the truck and fired up the snowmobiles. During […]

Culture

Art on the Rise

Bend’s thriving art gallery scene brings beauty and culture to the community

by Kim Cooper Findling September 24, 2025September 18, 2025

Wander around Bend on a sunny fall afternoon and it’s clear that the Central Oregon art scene is thriving. Nearly a dozen art galleries do business in Central Oregon, with lively art events popping up on the calendar on constant rotation. Plenty of other shops sell art by local artists or those from far away […]

Music

It’s Not Too Late to Whip It

The Dad Bods Band brings the 80s, bubbles and joy to Bend

by Kim Cooper Findling July 9, 2025July 24, 2025

It all started around a campfire at the beach during the pandemic. Brian pulled out a guitar, and Beau started singing. Jerry had a guitar, too. Back home in Bend after the trip, they added drums, pulled in a couple more guys, and fired up a bonafide jam session in someone’s garage. But this wasn’t […]

Food & Drink

UPP to the Future

In a career filled with wins and challenges, Tonya Cornett’s latest move leads a team, and a new drinking establishment, in a diversifying industry

by Kim Cooper Findling June 11, 2025July 11, 2025

When Tonya Cornett came to Bend in 2002 to become brewmaster at Bend Brewing Company, she drew attention right away. Back then, the notice was mainly that she was a woman operating in a male-dominated industry. Twenty-plus years later, her gender is merely a footnote to the fact that Cornett has become one of the […]

Outside

Dreaming of Travel: Manzanita

A new Oregon coast book inspires us to look ahead to better, beachier days

Kim Cooper FindlingApril 15, 2020June 20, 2025

We can’t travel yet, but we can dream. In this second excerpt from the new book “Day Trips to the Oregon Coast: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler,” by Bend author Kim Cooper Findling, take a mental trip to Manzanita, one of the most-loved cities on the northern Oregon Coast. Manzanita is a beloved destination […]

Outside

Dreaming of Travel

A new Oregon Coast book inspires us to look ahead to better, beachier days

Kim Cooper FindlingApril 8, 2020June 20, 2025

We can’t travel yet, but we can dream. In this excerpt from the new book “Day Trips to the Oregon Coast: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler,” by Bend author Kim Cooper Findling, take a mental trip to Astoria, the northernmost city on the Oregon Coast. Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the […]

Outside

Go Here: Pine Mountain: An escape from smoky skies

Kim Cooper FindlingSeptember 13, 2017February 24, 2024

Who’s this trip for? This trip is great for families who love the outdoors and science. T he eclipse may be over, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still majestic wonders in the sky waiting to be discovered. And while much of Oregon may be presently smoky or recently torched by wildfire, the desert east […]

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