Cover Story
Called To Act
The coronavirus shutdown has had a lot of people living different lives than they did before. Throughout the closures, we’ve been collecting the stories of people who have stepped in and stepped up, doing new things in the name of the greater good during this crisis. Here are some of these locals’ stories. About the…
Emergency Loans for Local Businesses
The federal emergency coronavirus relief funds reached Oregon businesses in waves. As many local businesses struggled to make rent and payroll, they raced to their local banks and credit unions, competing with businesses all over the U.S. for funds that could run out any day. What was it like to help these business owners and…
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The Urban/Rural Divide, Internet Edition 🎧 [with podcast]
For politicians east of the Cascades, the urban/rural divide is a popular talking point. But the extreme disparities that can exist between urban and rural students is more than a talking point—and in the age of COVID-19, it’s playing out as students try to do school, from home, in the midst of a pandemic. By…
Party Like A Democrat in a Pandemic
Over 100 viewers gathered online Tuesday to celebrate the results of the May 19 Democratic Primary Election. John Hummel, Deschutes County district attorney and Carrie McPherson Douglass, co-chair of the Bend-La Pine Schools Board, cohosted the online event from the coworking space, The Haven. The event featured an appearance by Thomas Lauderdale, a musician with…
Outside Opens Up
As businesses begin to open—with restrictions—across various Oregon counties, the outdoor offerings are moving in that direction, too. State, National Forest, Bureau of Land Management and city properties parks are starting to allow more visitors in areas that can adhere to Phase One reopening policies. We’ve rounded up the latest in what’s open, as of…
May Primary Election Results
The May primary election has come and gone! The polls in Oregon closed at 8pm Tuesday night—and the results are in, with all precincts reporting their vote counts. A few highlights: Cliff Bentz wins the Republican primary for Greg Walden’s seat; making for a disappointing finish for both Knute Buehler and Jimmy Crumpacker, who battled…
Too Soon?
As of May 15, much of Oregon was officially able to begin Phase One reopening under Gov. Kate Brown’s guidelines. Over the past two months, some local restaurants shut their doors entirely, others shifted to takeout and delivery. Now, many restaurants and bars are reopened for dine-in—under strict guidelines. As we start to crawl from…
Last Time Out
Boy oh boy do we miss live music around here. The last concert I went to was on Sunday, March 8. Joseph was playing at the Tower Theatre on International Women’s Day (how perfect) and they tore up the stage. It was an incredibly powerful show, and Natalie Closner even hit a cartwheel up on…
Sweet, Sweet Victory… Gardens
South County Gardening works alongside volunteers to bring fresh produce to those in need
Homeschool For Everyone
Social distanced learning has proven a challenge for some and a blessing for many
Source Weekly Update Podcast 5/15/20
In this week’s podcast, hear from local business owners navigating the reopening… or choosing to stay closed for a little bit longer.
Recycle Music Says Goodbye… For Now
One of Bend’s suppliers of tunes both new and old, Recycle Music, has announced the closure of its current location on NW Bond Street. The popular music store was home to a vast selection of vinyl, CDs, tapes, and more. The business announced the closure through Instagram on May 16. “Due to the pandemic, Recycle…
Where To Vote!
The Oregon Primary Election is here! If you haven’t mailed in your ballot or even forgot, don’t sweat it. Get it in by 8 pm Tuesday and you’ll be among the many locals who have cast their ballots–even during a pandemic. Voter turnout is on par with the past presidential election year, 2016, said the…
Memories of the Volcano
While Yakima residents sat in church on May 18, 1980, the world outside went black. Lightning slashed the sky and the air shuddered and filled with fine volcanic particles. Mount St. Helens, 85 miles to the west, had erupted with a violent explosion at 8:32 a.m. I was riding my bicycle in the countryside southwest…
![A Summer of No Live Music? ▶ [With Video]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/volcanic-theatre-pub_20-by-daniel-robbins.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
A Summer of No Live Music? ▶ [With Video]
Usually around this time of year the Source would be putting out its Summer Music Guide, sharing the many live music events coming to Central Oregon for the season. But 2020 is different. This summer, we won’t be going to shows every weekend or setting up chairs early at Les Schwab Amphitheater, just to make…
Advice Goddess: The Son-In-Law Also Rises
I’m meeting my girlfriend’s parents for the first time (for dinner at their house), and I’m absolutely terrified. Is there a way to win them over? Should I just compliment the hell out of their daughter? She’s the first woman I’ve seriously thought about marrying, so I really want her parents to like me. —The…
Are Drive-In Theaters Making a Comeback?
With the rise of “Netflix and chill” came the fall of “date night at the cinema” – and even before that came the fall of the original movie-going experience, the drive-in theater. For many Central Oregonians, drive-in movies are naught but a nostalgic relic of the past. For kids today, the phrase “drive-in theater” will…
Paycheck Protection Program Expansion?
On Wednesday, U.S. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden introduced a bipartisan bill to give small businesses more time to rehire their former employees. He said in a statement he has heard from many business owners in Oregon that they have had difficulty accessing these loans. Wyden wants to push back the deadline to apply, and provide…
Cans-To-Go: Box Car Rapids Red Ale
Having lived in Bend for almost two years now, I discovered that I still hadn’t tried Riverbend Brewing’s Box Car Rapids, a year-round, award-winning fixture from the local brewery. I’m happy to announce that today, that all changed. Looking for something with a lighter percentage but still packed with flavor, this red ale jumped right…
Gyms Are Open, Will People Go?
With Governor Kate Brown and the State of Oregon’s Phase One reopening plans in effect in Deschutes county, some fitness centers and gyms will start welcoming people back as early as this weekend. How will they make it possible for people to workout safely in the age of COVID-19? Over the course of a few…
Pearl’s Puzzle – Week of May 11
Download the PDF here
Podcast: Dave Clemens, Our Readers’ Favorite Local DJ
Dave Clemens is a local Central Oregon DJ. He came on the Source Weekly’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast this week—hosted by our our publisher Aaron Switzer—to talk about his experiences working as a radio host during the pandemic. Listen now by clicking any image, or subscribe where ever you get your podcasts. Clemens hosts his…
“River Looters” Heads to MountainFilm
You might remember this crew of river divers from a profile we did here at the Source in the September 2019—when our story prompted a lucky guy to get his wedding ring back. Turns out, more people are catching onto these divers’ unique story—including a local filmmaker. The “Loot The Deschutes” crew hangs on to…
We’re Open! But This is Not Business as Usual
Editor’s note: This story will continue to be updated with information on re-openings in Central Oregon. D eschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair heard the news from the State Wednesday night at 9:23 p.m.: The county’s application to move into Phase One of reopening was accepted. That means starting Friday—after nearly seven weeks of forced or…
Will Deschutes County Reopen? We Still Don’t Know (Update: Now we do.)
Editor’s note: Deschutes County Commissioners told the Source early Wednesday that the state had approved the County’s application to begin Phase One of reopening, starting Friday. We’re working on an update; check our home page for a longer story soon. The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, along with the rest of Central Oregon, is still…
Vote 2020
Endorsing candidates looks a little different in the midst of a global pandemic. With most interviews and candidate appearances happening via Zoom, YouTube or any number of other online platforms, we’ve been challenged to adapt in how we connect with and learn about candidates—as have voters, voters’ groups and anyone engaged in the political process.…
Call for Virtual Event Submissions!
It’s official! As of May 15, Phase 1 reopening will be underway in Deschutes County – with social distancing guidelines and other restrictions still in place. While this does mean we can once again dine-in at our favorite restaurants and finally get those long-anticipated haircuts, Phase 1 still prohibits gatherings of 25 or more people.…
Guest Opinion: Clergy Response to Commissioners’ Plea to Governor
We appreciate the Deschutes County Commissioners’ acknowledgment of the essential function of churches and passionate plea to the Governor to open church doors. However, we want to affirm that we have never closed our churches. We have simply adapted how we are expressing our spiritual missions. We are thriving, connecting with our communities through live…
Finding the Silver Lining
Bend locals find the silver lining in the midst of strange and scary times
Free Will Astrology – Week of May 12
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Of all the signs, Tauruses are among the least likely to be egomaniacs. Most of you aren’t inclined to indulge in fits of braggadocio or outbreaks of narcissism. (I just heard one of my favorite virtuoso Taurus singers say she wasn’t a very good singer!) That’s why one of my secret…
A Summer of Play?
Next month, Bend Park and Recreation District will resume its summer camp programs. The Districts plans to continue its popular offerings on June 15. And if Deschutes County is approved for Phase One reopening, some popular BPRD facilities may open in early June as well. BPRD is currently finalizing its plans to decide which programs…
Mother’s Day Coloring Contest Winners!
They’re all winners in our minds, but among the artists who submitted their colored versions of Teafly’s Mother’s Day coloring sheet for our 2020 Mother’s Day Coloring Contest, we’ve chosen some winners. In the Youth category, we’re awarding Hannah Miller, age 10, a Central Oregon prize pack that includes a Hydroflask and a gift card…
Their Own Drum Beat
As of Monday, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reported a total of 15 COVID-19 positive cases within the boundaries of the Warm Springs tribal lands near Madras. Last week, as cases kept climbing, the CTWS’ Tribal Council approved a number of safety measures, including social distancing and wearing masks, and extended the closure of…
OSU Headed Back to Classrooms in the Fall
Oregon State University is announcing plans to resume in-person instruction during late summer and fall term at its campuses in Corvallis and Bend, with changes and respect for social distancing. OSU officials said Tuesday the best-case-scenario is to have facilities open and most employees back by September 1. Fall classes begin September 23. OSU’s provost…
Nothing like Honey Brunches on a Saturday Morning
Music brings people together. We haven’t had it in the traditional sense over the last few months, but it’s been great to see how the scene in Central Oregon has banded together to keep music alive. One local band, Honey Don’t, is taking its live streamed shows and using them as a way to give…
Source Weekly Update Podcast 5/9/20
In this week’s podcast: A look ahead to Oregon’s fire season and the connection between pollution and COVID-19.
First Friday: Phase One Reopening in Central Oregon
This Friday, some of the small businesses that bring personality, culture and soul to towns and cities across Oregon may get the chance to reopen. Stores including art galleries, jewelry shops and boutiques, along with local restaurants, barber shops, gyms and many “non-essential” businesses may be able to begin to welcome customers, after surviving nearly…
Eat, Drink, Play… But Stay 6 Feet Away
The new guidelines proposed in Gov. Kate Brown’s phased plan for reopening will undeniably have a major impact on small restaurants statewide. Oregon restaurants, breweries, bars and distilleries will now have to close shop by 10pm, adequately space their customers and provide employees with cloth face masks which are to be worn during business hours.…
What to Watch: “Clementine”
Portland-based filmmaker Lara Jean Gallagher has reason to celebrate. After premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019, her first feature length film, “Clementine,” is now available to watch digitally thanks to Oscilloscope Pictures. Some of you movie buffs may have already had the treat to see the drama-filled thriller, as it won Best Narrative…
Testing the Crap Out of Bend
For the past five weeks, Bend’s Utility Department has been handing in a sample of untreated sewage to Biobot Analytics, a new startup created in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital—all in the name of finding out just how widespread the COVID-19 outbreak is in the…
Pros & Cons: Swalley Irrigation District Canal Piping
Swalley Irrigation District and the Deschutes River Conservancy recently announced the completion of piping a 3-mile stretch of canal which will restore about 1.8 cubic feet per second (CFS) of flow to the Middle Deschutes during peak irrigation season. 1.8 CFS is about 13.5 gallons. Picture 5-gallon buckets, two full and one 2/3rds-full. Put them…
Letters to the Editor 5/10/20
Respect 5/4 I had to take my son to the emergency room twice in April. I am so thankful that our hospitals are not overrun with COVID cases that we were turned away. My son could have died without intervention. I am grateful to all our local healthcare workers for their dedication. We are thankful…
No Morels? Mushroom Hunt.
Eight morels found last year. It was lackluster; I worried my hunting spots were drying up. As an amateur mushroom hunter, morels are the one mushroom I’m confident finding. With their distinct black, brown or white honeycombed cap it’s difficult to screw up identification. A dangerously poisonous false morel is possible to pick—but they’re so…
Animal Crossing is the Ultimate Connector
When the push to stay home began, Nintendo swept in to save us with the release of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” I’ve spent countless hours playing the game, as have many around the globe. Not only has it been an escape, but it’s also a connection to friends and family. The beauty of “Animal Crossing”…
Along Came Pawly
I’ve been married for two years to a woman whose sister is extremely manipulative. She finds reasons to touch me inappropriately — for example, “Your hair is so pretty. I have to pet it.” She puts an arm around my shoulders or comes toward me and puts both hands around my neck. This past weekend,…
A New Farewell
Last year we covered Elisha David’s album “Made in Oregon,” which was one of the coolest projects I listened to in 2019. Now David is back with another new project, “Un Nouvel Adieu,” and the Bend-based artist is stepping into new territory once again. The album title translates over to “A New Farewell” and is…
Running Through COVID-19
Central Oregon is often known as a runner’s paradise. But with our lifestyles altered the last couple of months, things as simple as going to the grocery store and how we walk down the street were changed. Getting outside and having exercise in our lives was still something we needed for our collective sanity as…
Murder Hornets! Panic! Freak Out!
While “murder hornets” – otherwise known as Asian giant hornets – consistently make headlines, it turns out that while vigilance is important we truly have nothing to worry about.
Get Your Mind Outside with these Books
With the Phase One reopening plan likely happening May 15 in Oregon counties, we know you’re rarin’ to go when it comes to the outdoors department. Mind you—not all locations, trailheads, and so on are likely to open right back up so always check with the land manager of the site where you plan to…
Pearl’s Puzzle – Week of May 7
Download the PDF here:
Cans-To-Go: Norwegian Cowboy Hazy IPA
Raise your hand if you miss going to breweries. Right now we have prime-time weather to kick back at a favorite watering hole—but with lockdown, that’s still out of the question. Still, many of the places you go to get your thirst quenched are making things easier by either delivering to your doorstep or letting…
Brunch, Brews and Baskets for the Mama in Your Life
Mother’s Day brunch, beverage and gift options from an assortment of local eateries and businesses!
Are We Ready to Reopen?
Some Oregon counties will reopen as early as May 15, Gov. Kate Brown confirmed today—so long as they can verify they’re complying with certain guidelines. Within the regions able to open, bars, restaurants, hair salons and gyms would be able to open their doors. Statewide, childcare services can operate by May 15, as well as…
A Little Normalcy Would Be Chill
The year 2020 has already been one for the books, and we’re just now getting our feet wet. Central Oregon has seen its fair share of strange crimes and hard times since the year began, waaaaaayy back in January. From a-holes spitting on law enforcement officers and taco shop arsonists to mystery explosions and—oh yeah—a…
May the Source be With You: May Edition
Hello, delightful Source readers and welcome to your monthly installment of May the Source Be With You. I’m still only heading into town once every two weeks or so for groceries, but since I’ve been intermittent fasting, I don’t go through them as quickly as I once did. I’m down 30 pounds and looking to…
Source Weekly Awarded Grant Funds Through the Facebook Journalism Project
The Source Weekly is getting support from a national grant program to continue providing vital news and information in Central Oregon. The Facebook Journalism Project announced Thursday that the Source Weekly was among the newsrooms awarded funds to support local journalism at a time when it is needed most. Over 2,000 newsrooms applied for the…
Central Cascades Wilderness Limited Entry System Delayed
On May 22, the Central Cascades Wilderness limited entry system was supposed to go into effect. But due to setbacks from COVID-19, local officials from the U.S. Forest Service announced that the new permit system will be pushed back until May next year. The new system was set to bring day-use limitations to 19 trails…
Podcast: Crisis Leadership with Keith Witcosky, Redmond City Manager
Bend Don’t Break is a new podcast series from the Source Weekly, hosted by our publisher Aaron Switzer, who started Bend’s first and only alternative weekly two decades ago. Aaron dives into range of topics relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic like the economy, the local anti-lockdown movement, leadership in the time of COVID and much…
COVID-19 and Climate Change
In some of the world’s largest cities, the urban skyline is rarely visible behind a haze of puke-colored smog. But since the coronavirus hit, people around the globe have been posting photos of clear blue skies. From Los Angeles to Beijing, coronavirus lockdowns halted city traffic. Day by day, the winds carried city air pollution…
COVID-19 Impacts on Central Oregon’s Real Estate Market
As we are all acutely aware, the United States and global economies as a whole have been dealt a significant blow by an invisible, undiscriminating “enemy” to the human race. News cycles, government briefings, social media outlets and community conversations all invariably involve the current and projected economic situations of the market sectors and industries…
Slowing the Spread
A moderate winter will inevitably lead to a dry, fuel-filled fire season. However, social distancing orders will result in additional hurdles and hardships when it comes to controlling wildfires in Central Oregon.
Get Your Basketball Fix with Tremendous Upside Potential
When the NBA, WNBA and NCAA had to shut down the remainder of their seasons, the world cried out for hoops and competition. If you’re like me, you’ve probably been getting your fix in by watching “The Last Dance” (the new Michael Jordan documentary) every Sunday night, watching re-runs of classic games online or even…
Free Will Astrology – Week of May 7
Here’s this week’s Free Will Astrology! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious,” says businessperson and entrepreneur John Sculley. You Tauruses aren’t renowned for such foresight. It’s more likely to belong to Aries and Sagittarius people. Your tribe is more likely to specialize in doing the…
COVID-19 – Myth vs. Fact
With so much misinformation in circulation, it can be difficult to know which sources to trust. Two West Coast epidemiologists weigh in on coronavirus myths VS. facts.
Some State Parks Open Back Up
It’s been tough not being able to get out to all of Oregon’s great state parks during the pandemic. We’ve had some incredible weather and nature is calling. But now we’ve got some good news: the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Tuesday that a small number of inland state parks will be open to…
Bend’s Stay Healthy Streets Could use a Pick-Me-Up
A big part of living in Central Oregon is the great outdoors. When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, organizations in the state and city worked to make sure that we still had some access to these great amenities. With access to National Forests and State Parks closed, leaders looked at alternatives to provide people safe escapes…
Hometown Rockers Make Good After New EP
Some musicians have been taking this time at home to work on new music or stream shows out to the public. Others have been working on other facets of the industry they otherwise might not have time to accomplish. For local band Scary Busey, it’s been the latter. We wrote about the release of the…
Vote Phil Chang for Deschutes County Commissioner Position 2, Democratic Primary
The May primary election is right around the corner—and three people are vying to unseat sitting Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Henderson. We believe the best choice to move forward in the Democratic primary is another Phil—Phil Chang. Yes, it’s odd that our county commission races are partisan at all—but that’s how it is currently set…
Cinco de Mayo, Social Distancing Style
Local Cinco de Mayo food and drink specials to enjoy at home!
Pandemic Drives Demand for Locally Grown Produce
Panic buying and empty grocery store shelves have inspired some people in Central Oregon to rethink the importance of a sustainable, local food economy. At Central Oregon Locavore—a nonprofit indoor farmers market on NE Third—sales have more than doubled since the pandemic began, according to Nicolle Timm-Branch, president and founder of the organization. “People are…
Source Weekly Update Podcast – May 2
In this week’s Source Weekly Update: a new pass system for Mt. Bachelor, a change of heart on clearing Bend homeless camps and more. Source Weekly – Bend, Oregon · Source Weekly Update Podcast – 5/2/20 Related Stories
Advice Goddess: When Harem Met Sally, Comparison Chopping
Q: My ex just started dating a female friend of his. When we were together, I always worried about the chemistry I felt they had, and it hurts that they got together right after our breakup. Does this mean he’s always had feelings for her? Does it cheapen our entire relationship?—Bummed -“I only have eyes for…
Letters to the Editor 5/3/20
Revitalize downtown – 5/1 While there has been an ongoing effort to improve bike and pedestrian experiences throughout Bend, COVID-19 presents an even stronger case for devoting more space to bikes and people, and less to cars. Bond and Wall should have walkways expanded and streets shrunk to angle parking on one side only. Replace…
2020 Mother’s Day Coloring Contest
Kids: Need a way to share the love with mom this Mother’s Day? Spouses: Need something to replace that school-made artwork that usually comes home this time of year? Don’t worry, we got you. Download a copy of this custom Mother’s Day artwork from local artist Teafly, and then send us a pic to compete…
A Rally at the Capitol
Central Oregon-based photographer Caitlin Eddolls attended Saturday’s rally at the Oregon State Capitol, where hundreds demonstrated in favor of re-opening Oregon businesses currently closed due to COVID-19 social distancing measures imposed by Gov. Kate Brown. Counter-protestors were also at Salem’s rally, wearing medical gear. Brown said this week that she would consider relaxing closures as…
Restaurant Workers Encouraged to Wear Cloth Masks
Central Oregon Public Health Departments announced Friday that they strongly encourage workers in restaurants and other local food establishments to use cloth face masks while they’re working. While this is not required by the state or local health departments, Friday’s press release referenced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, which state that wearing…
Guest Opinion: Strokes and COVID-19
Recent newscasts and information from various medical facilities are saying there is an indication that strokes may occur in people with COVID-19. Certainly this is a concern as we move through the pandemic. What should you know about stroke and COVID-19? According to Dr. Steve Goins, Neurohospitalist at St. Charles Health Care and Co-founder of…
Tourism Tensions
The Central Oregon economy is highly dependent on tourism. As a result of the COVID-19 statewide lockdown, it’s been decimated—making the local unemployment rate the third highest in the state. Going forward, the loss of room tax revenues will have a huge impact on the budgets of local city and county governments. Two months into the…
New Billboards Honor Class of 2020
Since the class of 2020 won’t get a typical graduation ceremony because of closures due to COVID-19, Bend-La Pine Schools is honoring graduating high school seniors on five billboards around Central Oregon. Starting Monday, the billboards honoring the graduating classes of five of the district’s high schools will feature photos of each senior. “We wanted to…
For Emergency Mask Makers Group, It’s Mission Accomplished
In late March, a Facebook group centered around addressing the shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers in Central Oregon emerged from the ether. After starting the Central Oregon Emergency Mask Makers Facebook group in mid-March, organizers said the group quickly exploded in size, garnering 1,000 members in the first few days. Today,…
Pearl’s Puzzle – Week of April 30
Download the puzzle:
Vote Jason Atkinson for U.S. Representative, 2nd District Republican Primary
The race for the Republican nomination for Greg Walden’s U.S. House seat is filled with a host of contenders—many of whom have served in the Oregon legislature. While some of those candidates have provided some colorful—and amusing—political theatre during this time of quarantine, it is in one of the less-flashy candidates that we find ourselves…
The Boulder That Broke the Camel’s Back
Anxiety around the spread of COVID-19, coupled with the loneliness of lockdown and economic insecurity is enough to test the sanity of those who are mentally stable. But add in a predisposition to depression, anxiety, addiction, psychosis or other concerns, and the current environment could lead to an increased likelihood of a mental breakdown. Researchers…
Bend Don’t Break: New Podcast, Hosted by Publisher Aaron Switzer
Bend Don’t Break is the newest podcast series from the Source Weekly, hosted by our publisher Aaron Switzer, who started Bend’s first and only alternative weekly two decades ago. Aaron dives into range of topics relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic like the economy, the local anti-lockdown movement, mental health effects of social isolation and much…
Free Will Astrology – Week of April 28
Here’s this week’s Horoscope! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Is there an area of your life where you would like a do-over? A chance to cancel the past and erase lingering messiness and clear a path for who-knows-what new possibility? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to prepare—not to actually take the leap, but…
Personal Protection, Social Distancing and Real Estate
Six weeks ago, life and the modes of human interaction took a massive turn in direction no one was prepared for or could have imagined. Not only has COVID-19 completely changed how people interact with each other for the short term, but also will have a lasting impact and quite possibly irreversible change in society’s…
Psilocybin Therapy Initiative May Appear on the State Ballot
The people behind Initiative Petition 34—working to bring psilocybin therapy to Oregon—are close to collecting the 145,000 signatures they need to get the measure on the November state ballot, even in the midst of a pandemic. The group announced Monday it had already gathered 130,000 signatures, and has pivoted to mail-in and online petitions to…
Mt. Bachelor Added to Multi-Mountain Pass Deal
Snow riders who are able to travel to feed their snow habit already know what a steal it is to have an Ikon Pass—allowing you to ride dozens of mountains for multiple days for a price that rivals that of a single-mountain season pass. The Ikon pass includes Crystal Mountain in Washington, Copper Mountain and…
City Pauses Homeless Camp Evictions
The City of Bend is backing off plans to post 30-day eviction notices at Juniper Ridge, an encampment for people without homes in northeast Bend. The camp has become a semi-permanent refuge for dozens of unhoused people over the last decade. The City wants to build a sewer pipeline directly through an established tent village…
Stevens Road Sale Means Housing and Jobs for Bend
Oregon’s schools will get a $22 million boost due to a 382-acre land deal in SE Bend. The sale, set to close by the end of the year, is slated to bring hundreds of new jobs and more places to live in the city. Elected officials from Central Oregon encouraged the State of Oregon to…
Are We There Yet?
Some areas in Oregon, including Deschutes County, may begin to reopen earlier than others. Rural counties—particularly those with declining COVID-19-positive case numbers and a strong contingency plan—could start to open some retail businesses and restaurants in the coming weeks. Gov. Kate Brown’s office is still finalizing the detailed requirements for phase one, but her office…
Vote Nick (Nik) L. Huertz for U.S. Representative, 2nd District Democratic primary
Greg Walden’s long-held seat in Congress is up for grabs this November, and a crowded field populates the primaries on both the Democratic and Republican sides. On the Democratic side, we have a field of five candidates, including John Holm, who lists “currently disabled” as his occupation, with past experience as a broker; Nick Heuertz,…
So Many Test Sites
People still have to fall under some fairly strict guidelines in order to get tested for COVID-19 in Central Oregon, but when it comes to drive-up sites to get a test, plenty of places are now open. Here’s where you can go to get tested for COVID-19 in Central Oregon—provided you are showing symptoms such…
Advice Goddess: Clone Shark, Gloom with a View
Clone Shark Q: I’m a gay man. I was in a relationship with my ex for about three years. We’re on good terms and hang out as friends. He recently started dating a guy who looks like my long-lost twin (except he’s got about 40 pounds on me). Our mutual friends find this creepy and…
Letters to the Editor 4/26
RE: City Council Votes Against Enforcing Vacation Rental Ban 4/16 Dear Barb and Gena, Thank you for taking the obvious and appropriate stance of being in favor of prohibiting short term rentals for the time being. You both demonstrated respect for the community and importantly respect for frontline workers as well as a better understanding…
A Life Lived In Vinyl
A recent post from a friend on Facebook is one of those Top 10 lists that people are challenged to make. You know, like, what are the Top 10 activities you enjoy doing during the COVID-19 quarantine. Usually, I have little desire to participate, but this challenge really piqued my interest. A friend posted that he…
John Prine’s Weed Pesto
If he didn’t already know what a Spring Tonic is, John Prine was the kind of person who would have been disappointed to learn it isn’t an alcoholic drink. But I bet he knew. With roots in Western Kentucky, he was country to the bone. A Spring Tonic is a mix of wild plant parts…
Hardest Hit
Two experts on the Central Oregon economy presented Friday on the topic of economic shock and projections for the future of the Oregon economy. The webinar was the fifth in the Bend Chamber of Commerce’s “COVID-19 IMPACT Series” and featured Damon Runberg, a regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department and Josh Lehner, an economist…
Where to Donate Your Stimulus Check to Help Central Oregonians
By now, at least some of the people who have been promised an “economic impact” payment through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, have received the money through direct deposit to their bank accounts. Still others are awaiting the funds via check. For those who filed a tax return in…
Strange Times, Strange Crimes
From a sick person allegedly spitting on a local cop to give him COVID-19, to a drunken California CEO allegedly attacking a female Uber driver in Bend, in these unprecedented times, bizarre crimes are unfolding in our own back yard. Early Thursday morning, the Bend Police Department found evidence that an arsonist set fire to El Sancho…
Now Playing: Source Weekly Home Concerts
Concerts are, as many of you know, something we talk about a lot here at the Source Weekly. Usually, our calendar is filled with them. Live shows are so much fun—and, in the era of coronavirus-induced isolation we find ourselves in—also a privilege we might not quite have understood so deeply even just a month…
Brian Craig
Brian played as part of the Storytellers Open Mic Tuesday 4/21. happy Tuesday! Posted by Brian Hinderberger on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Evan Mullins
Even performed as part of the Storytellers Open Mic Tuesday 4/21. Posted by Evan Mullins on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
B.J. Soper: Hero or Outlaw? 🎧 (with podcast)
More than 200 people gathered outside Redmond City Hall April 17, demonstrating against Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order. They’ll be back again this Friday. This week, we talked with the organizer of that Redmond demonstration. (We also recorded our interview with Soper as a podcast, which you can access below.) Redmond…
Supporting Non-Native English Speakers During the COVID-19 Crisis
Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority are working to do more to get critical health and safety information to Oregonians most at risk of experiencing health disparities—including immigrants, farm workers, people of color, older people and those whose preferred language is not English. That’s the latest in a growing movement to support those…
Oregon Health Care Centers Can Head Back to Work
This morning, Gov. Kate Brown lifted some restrictions on hospitals, surgical centers, medical offices and dental offices—making it possible for most people in those places to head back to work soon. Brown’s Executive Order on March 18 prohibited non-emergency medical procedures in order to conserve personal protective equipment for health care workers treating COVID-19 patients.…
Door-to-Door COVID-19 Testing Study Starts at OSU
Researchers from Oregon State University in Corvallis are starting a voluntary COVID-19 testing program in their community to identify how the disease has spread—especially among people who are asymptomatic. The program may expand to other communities throughout Oregon—including Deschutes County—in the coming months, according to Christine Coffin, director of communications and outreach for the university.…
The Source Weekly Update Podcast is Back!
In this week’s podcast, a Bend nurse tells what it’s like working with COVID-19 patients, and a 38-year-old Redmond man who recovered from the virus offers caution for others.
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…
Free Will Astrology—Week of April 21
Here’s this week’s Horoscope! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Renowned Taurus composer Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) completed his first symphony when he was 43 years old—even though he’d started work on it at age 22. Why did it take him so long? One factor was his reverence for Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer who had such a…
Garrett Miller
Garrett was a hit at Tuesday’s Storytellers Open Mic, 4/21. Posted by Garrett Miller on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Melodi Linette and twin daughters Shiloh and Abby
Even the kids are getting in on the fun in this family performance that was part of the Storytellers Open Mic on Tuesday 4/21! Posted by Melodi Linette on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Quibi with Your Best Shot
What do you miss the most during this crisis? Something stupid and embarrassing that you don’t want to share with anyone? I know right now haircuts are the thing the media believes we miss most, but I guarantee there’s something even smaller that you wish you hadn’t taken for granted while it was a commonplace…
A Redmond Man’s COVID-19 Story, and a Plea to Take Quarantine Seriously
While angry Oregonians protest “stay at home” orders in lieu of re-opening the economy, those who have actually been diagnosed and hospitalized beg everyone to follow orders.
Neighborhood Greenways Go Car-Free
The City of Bend is closing off NW 15th Street and NE Sixth Street to through traffic as of Tuesday, with a goal of providing neighborhood streets close to home where locals get some fresh air and still maintain social distancing. In the coming days and weeks, the City plans to expand the program to…
Endorsement: Vote Jamie McLeod-Skinner for Secretary of State in the Democratic Primary
Making our decision on who to endorse for the Democratic nomination in the primary for Oregon Secretary of State was a tough call. Among the contenders are three highly qualified individuals: Shemia Fagan is a state senator serving the southeast Portland area; Mark Hass is also a state senator serving the western suburbs of the…
The Bangers
Amy and Austin sent us this video of them rocking out at home. Here’s what they said about their home concert: “We are The Bangers, a local two-piece band that live together. We are appreciative that we can be playing together right now, appreciative to our neighbors who are ok with it, and to you…
Bagging Grades: How Local Teens Feel About It
The closure of Oregon public school campuses for the remainder of the school year, announced earlier this month, was a blow for students statewide. For those who monitor their grade point averages like a religion, another decision last week meant the blows kept coming. The Oregon Department of Education released guidance last week around how…
Bats and COVID-19
The COVID-19 virus has come home to roost with concern for our native bats. As an Oregon wildlife researcher with duties that include banding birds and bats, I’m required to purchase an expensive permit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to do my work. As such, I received a letter from the ODFW…
At Least We Still Have 4:20
Lots of people are laid off. The kids are stuck at home all day, taking laps around the walls. And nobody—I mean nobody—knows when all this is going to end. If there was ever a time when we needed a holiday that encourages you to chillax and melt into the couch, it’s now. Happy 4/20,…
Vote Kim Thatcher for Secretary of State in the Republican Primary
Two candidates are running in the Republican primary for Oregon’s Secretary of State position, including Kim Thatcher, a state senator and Dave Stauffer, an environmental inventor—but it is in Kim Thatcher that voters will find the most viable candidate. Voters may remember Stauffer’s bid to run for governor of Oregon, as a Democrat, in 2016—a…
Letters to the Editor 4/19
We need systems that prioritize and deliver multilingual communications now and everyday. 4/16 I easily take for granted the fact that information which impacts me is always available in near real time. When news and recommendations were issued about COVID-19 I never doubted I would be able to follow the changing information day to day…
Advice Goddess: Opener Sesame
Q: I’m a single woman. I’d love to get into a relationship. Often, when I’m at a bar, I see a guy I’d like to chat up, but I won’t even approach because I don’t know what to say. Are there some pickup lines men love to hear?—Looking A: There are a number of lines…
Getting Crafty
With on-site consumption restricted, happy hour has moved to our respective homes and pre-dinner cocktails have gone DIY. It’s still possible, however, to drink locally with a few of these curated cocktail recipes that use ingredients from local distillers, along with Central Oregon-based beverages. Bend Booch Sangria What better way to enjoy a 3 pm…
Covid-19 Comes to Oregon Prisons and Jails
Inmates at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Adult Jail share everything: small dormitories, cramped dining spaces, showers and bathrooms. They use the same phone to connect with loved ones and touch the same door knobs as they move through the facility. This makes inmates and prison staff especially vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. It’s…
St. Charles Nurse Shares an Insider’s Perspective on Caring for COVID-19 Patients
David Hilderbrand is a registered nurse who usually works in the operating room at St. Charles Bend. He serves on the board of the Oregon Nurses Association as a negotiating chair for nurses who work for St. Charles Bend. When the hospital shut down elective surgeries in the beginning of March, Hilderbrand moved to the…
Mt. Bachelor Passholders Get Credit for Next Season
People who paid for tickets or season passes to Mt. Bachelor can look forward to getting a discount on passes for next season, following the closure of the ski resort last month due to COVID-19. Mt. Bachelor announced Thursday that it is giving out vouchers that people can use for the 2020-21 season—though the vouchers…
Pearl’s Puzzle – Week of 4/16
Here’s your weekly Sudoku, Central Oregon! Download and print the puzzle at home right here:
City Council Decides Against Enforcing Vacation Rental Ban
Right now, the City of Bend is an island surrounded by Deschutes County, in the eyes of vacation-rental rules anyway. Deschutes County Commissioners passed an order April 6 to fine renters and owners $1,000 per day if they book a short-term rental reservation for recreational purposes. The County still permits essential STR stays for health,…
Despite CDC Pandemic Guidance, City Moves Forward With Homeless Camp Evictions
Staff from the City of Bend will kick people off city-owned land at Juniper Ridge next month to make way for a new section of sewer pipe. But meanwhile, new regulations passed by the City Council Wednesday night might make it possible to site a camp for the unhoused on land owned by the City.…
Scary Busey Drops the “Tower Peeler” EP
Metalheads, gather ’round: Scary Busey is offering its latest project for free on Bandcamp (and available on other platforms too) while we’re all on lockdown. Titled “Tower Peeler,” the three-track EP is a pleasant surprise from the Bend-based hard rockers. The first two songs, “Profondo Rosso” and the title track are both under three minutes.…
New Restaurants, New Hurdles
Alejandro Cantu dreamt for several years of opening up his own food truck. But with no seed money, it remained a dream—that is, until last summer when he found an investor. Cantu began planning for the launch of his food cart, Tacos la Catrina, which would eventually become a resident of The Podski, while he…
Jake Soto
Jake Soto plays a lively mix of American and bluegrass. He performed at this week’s Storytellers Open Mic—a partnership between us and Bill Powers to create these Home Concerts. Posted by Jake Soto on Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Alicia Viani
Alicia Viani is a familiar face in the music scene of Central Oregon. She released her debut album in February, covering what Source music writer Isaac Biehl described as one, “telling tales of racism, suicide, women’s sexual empowerment and more. Being a mental health therapist, Viani is exposed often to those areas of life, and…
Complaints About Employee Safety Flood OSHA
Thousands of coronavirus safety complaints flooded the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health department this month, so the agency ramped up its operations. Still, no companies in Oregon have been fined or closed as a result of these reports. Since March 2, Oregon OSHA received nearly 3,000 complaints related to COVID-19 safety compliance, including reports on…
Dreaming of Travel: Manzanita
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…
From Drinks to Disinfectant
Liquor sales are up at stores in the state, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission—but even with the liquor side of the business booming, local distilleries and breweries are all working to produce hand sanitizer to donate and make it available to the public. GoodLife Brewing and BackDrop Distilling are cooperating to make hand sanitizer, using…
Opening the State: When’s the Date?
Gov. Kate Brown called a press conference Tuesday to introduce a framework for re-opening the economy—one based on “science and facts,” she said. But, those looking for a solid end date or an exact metric that would signal that the coast is clear left disappointed. Instead Brown outlined a number of “prerequisites” that must be achieved…
Drive-Thru Specimen Collection, Coming to a Hospital Near You
If your medical provider thinks you need a test for COVID-19, you can get it done via drive-thru starting this week in Bend. St. Charles Health System announced Tuesday that it will begin offering a drive-up specimen collection service starting Thursday. The service isn’t just for anyone who wants to drive up, however; the health…
What’s Open in the Outdoors: A Recap for Those Who’ve Lost Track
Everything is closed: movie theaters, shops, events… and while we have to socially distance ourselves for the health of us and others, it’s also necessary to get fresh air and exercise. Outdoor recreation is still available at hiking trails and open park space, where it is possible to follow through with the required social distancing…
Outdoor Trend: The Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
With trailheads, state parks and other frequently used outdoor spaces closed or restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, getting that valuable fresh air and exercise begins with the question: Where the heck can I go? Should I even bother? While dispersed public lands remain one of the resources we can still access to get some outdoor…
Free Will Astrology
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Week of April 16 – © Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries artist Vincent van Gogh got started on his life’s work relatively late. At ages 25 and 26 he made failed attempts to train as a pastor and serve as a missionary. He didn’t launch his art career…
Tenants and Landlords “In It Together” For Now
Some tenants in Central Oregon were unable to pay rent this month—but confusion around Gov. Kate Brown’s orders and lack of direction from local governments had many property managers and landlords creating new policies on the fly. Once official “stay home” orders were issued by Brown mid-March. Lawnae Hunter, who has owned and operated Plus…
Coastal States Create Path Forward Together
When the states of Oregon, Washington and California finally re-open businesses and other facilities currently shut due to COVID-19, they’ll do it together. Or, at least, they’ll be taking a “shared approach” to the issue. On Monday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and the governors of Washington and California announced the Western States Pact—a pact that…
Advice Goddess: 2B or Not to Be, Love in the Paycheck Republic
2B Or Not To Be Q: This guy recently moved into my apartment building, and we seem to have a spark. I’d like to go out with him. However, because we live in the same building, this might be a bad idea. If it goes badly, things could get really awkward or even horrible. Should…
Property Managers and COVID-19
In recent weeks, life as we know it has changed. In fact, the word change is rather an understatement. For the first time in nearly 100 years in the United States, businesses have shuttered, schools are closed, the streets of cities are barren and our country is coping with one of the worst biological outbreaks…
Letters to the Editor 4/12/20
Bend, Oregon Next Steps? – Has Anyone Gamed This Out? 4/4 I am not sure our town leadership have had the time to dive into the future of Bend, but from where I am standing I have grave concerns. And it’s not limited to Bend, so let’s explore this. Elsewhere in the world with COVID19…
Pandemic Gardening
With empty shelves at the grocery store and general anxiety around COVID-19, some Bendites are determined to grow their own vegetables this spring. “The number of people coming in and what they are buying is different than before the pandemic,” said Jennifer Curtis, the store manager at Moonfire and Sun Garden Center in Bend. “People…
Buying A House in a Pandemic
The real estate market has slowed to a snail’s pace during a season usually characterized by frenzy and impulse. Sunny skies bring optimism and the feeling that more is possible—driving both buyers and sellers to make moves. But just three weeks after the COVID-19 lockdowns began on the west coast, life has changed irrevocably for…
Pearl’s Puzzle – week of April 9
Here’s your Pearl’s Puzzle for the week of April 9! (download it below) Download Pearl’s Puzzle and print it at home!
When Will Central Oregon Reach Its COVID-19 Peak?
Social distancing is working in Bend. But because rural areas in Oregon lag behind larger cities on the timeline for peak COVID-19 surges, lock down may continue through the summer. Scientists who use data from Central Oregon to make future COVID-19 projections predict an increasing but manageable caseload by the end of the month. “While…
Bite of Bend Postponed til 2021
The next in a lineup of classic Bend events to cancel due to novel coronavirus: The Bite of Bend—a free, three-day food festival held each June in downtown Bend. Organizers from Lay It Out Events, the company that puts on the Bite of Bend, announced the decision Thursday on the Bite’s website and social media…
Marble Racing Takes the Checkered Flag
Hey, sports fans. Tired of watching reruns of the Miracle on Ice to see if the U.S. really does beat the Soviets in the 1980s Olympic semi-final? How many times can you watch Ed-Gar’s double that saved baseball in Seattle? Flutie’s Hail Mary Pass? The Catch? Thought so, me too. Just when the days seems…
Jefferson County Reports First Coronavirus Case—Though the Person Isn’t Actually In Jefferson County
A person who lives in Jefferson County is the county’s first positive case of novel coronavirus in that rural county. The thing is, the person doesn’t even live Jefferson County. The person lives out of the state right now, but because each case is counted by the person’s county of residence, according to public health guidelines,…
Pandemic Cancels Cascade Cycling Classic
It was back in 2019—but now, it’s off for another year. Organizers for the Cascade Cycling Classic announced today that the event is on hold until 2021 due to the coronavirus. With last year’s event happening in late May and early June—and with no one really yet knowing when society will return to normal—organizers had…
It’s in the Name
The Color Study’s debut album has long been in the works. What started as Scott Oliphant’s personal project has now grown into a six piece-band featuring Melissa Atillo (keys), Matt Jackson (bass), Stephen Reinhardt (guitar), Andy Jacobs (drums) and Miguel Mendoza (trumpet). And on April 10, the release for the self-titled album will be official.…
Master Working From Home, From Three Bendites Who Do It All the Time
Many white-collar workers in Bend have made the transition in the last month from a bustling office atmosphere to the chaos and comfort of working from home. A recent presentation from members of Bend Young Professionals offers some tips and tricks for maintaining productivity and a healthy attitude during the coronavirus crisis. Quick poll: In…
Dreaming of Travel
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…
School Campuses Closed for the Year
Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that public school campuses will remain closed through the end of the school year, in a continued effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Brown’s earlier order had schools closed only through the end of April. At Bend-La Pine Schools—along with many other districts—learning has largely moved online—though school leaders…
Are We Flattening the Curve?
The health services director for Deschutes County, Dr. George Conway, spent some time with me this afternoon. Conway has been the head of the local public health response to COVID-19. We discussed progress on testing, the effectiveness of social distancing and the big question everyone wants to know: the timeline for returning to “normal.” The…
A Descent Into Movies and Madness
I don’t go stir crazy, get cabin fever or enjoy the company of most people, so this self-quarantine is mostly business as usual for me. Being alone is my normal. I’m newly dumped, so I was already looking at this time as an excuse to love myself a little better and maybe stop being such a…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Moses did forty years’ worth of hard work in behalf of his people, delivering them out of slavery in Egypt. Yet God didn’t allow him to enter into the Promised Land. Why? At the end of his travails, he made a minor mistake that angered God beyond reason. Petty? Harsh? Very…
We Asked Local Groceries About Their Mask Policies. Here’s Each Store’s Response.
How is your local grocery store helping protect its workers? We wanted to find out. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending that all Americans wear cloth masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. And on Monday, the health departments in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties affirmed that, recommending that…
For Seniors, Isolation and Health Risks Can Hit Hard
For older people living alone in Central Oregon, social distancing is both necessary and dangerous. People over 65 are considered at the highest risk of hospitalization and are more likely to die from COVID-19. Following strict social-distancing guidelines could be a life-saver. But if they do become infected, live by themselves and experience respiratory failure, calling…
Guest Commentary: This Too
“How are you through all this?” “Fine,” I’d say. From the first media mention of Coronavirus, the early reports about China and other far-away places, I had figured this was another big-deal news item that was no deal for me, for us. As comedians such as Trevor Noah kept updating me. I appreciated how they…
Fundraiser Targets Those Left Out of Stimulus
A group of Central Oregonians is working to provide support to those who won’t be seeing that $1,200 check promised to Americans as part of the CARES Act. According to information published on the web page of Embrace Bend—a group aimed at dismantling white supremacy, it, and another group, Mecca Bend—described, in Spanish, as a “Directorio Digital…
It’s Official: Central Oregon Health Departments Recommend Wearing Masks
Many Central Oregonians have been hard at work in recent weeks, sewing masks to bolster the supplies for local health care workers. With today’s announcement from the health departments in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, recommending that everyone wear masks in public, that public mask-making is going to see an uptick. County health officials from…
Beer Pickup and Delivery: Where to Get It
Attention craft beer drinkers: you are being given a mission! In times like these, we need to support each other and our community. So why not do this while drinking great beer? You don’t have to drink beer from the local grocery store. There are other options available to you. Below is a list of…
Rapid Testing Could Ease Social Distancing. But Getting the Kits to Do So? Another Story.
New test kits arrive to the U.S. every day from China that can confirm the presence of coronavirus antibodies in just 15 minutes. Here in Bend, a business owner who sells other types of test kits is getting into the business of coronavirus testing. Bendite Jeremy Parker runs ToxTests, a company that sells test kits that…
Letters to the Editor 4/5/20
Our print issue won’t be back til May 20, but ’til then, Source readers continue to weigh in on issues that are important to them. Here are the recent Letters to the Editor. Ignorance is Deadly, 4/5 First of all, thanks to the Source for continuing to provide quality news and information for our community…
Guest Commentary: Mental Health & COVID-19
“I’m losing my f*ing mind,” said a stranger to me as we shared a few words along a walking trail recently. We were discussing what a relief it was to be outdoors after so many hours spent isolated at home. I passed many other walkers and runners that day, and I am not exaggerating when…
Why Can’t I Get Tested?
Nicole Moore has been sick with symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus for two and a half weeks. She’s requested COVID-19 tests from three separate physicians, and has been told three times that she can’t be tested because she isn’t over 65 years old and doesn’t have a compromised immune system. Moore reached out to…
Pole Pedal Paddle Canceled
Event organizers for the Pole Pedal Paddle announced Friday that the 2020 event is canceled. With PPP scheduled to happen on May 16 and no clear picture of when the COVID-19 pandemic will be behind us—nor when Gov. Kate Brown’s “Stay Home Save Lives” order will be lifted—organizers made the tough call that many event…
Punk Rock for the Soul
When I got the email with The Roof Rabbits’ new EP in my inbox, I was incredibly pumped. “Arizona,” as the project is called, features four tracks that will do very good things to your body. This is the Bend-based band’s first project since 2018, when The Roof Rabbits dropped its debut album, “Creature Comforts.”…
Pearl’s Puzzle – 3/30/20
Hey everybody! Need something to do? If you’re like the rest of the world, you’re either incredibly busy right now, or you’re finding yourself with more time on your hands than ever before. Whatever the case, we’re putting the Sudoku puzzle made by Bend local, Pearl Stark, online and available for download! Find it here…
Out of Work? You’re Not Alone
People who work in restaurants, tourism and retail were the first to lose their jobs in both in Central Oregon and across the country, due to the coronavirus pandemic. As the Oregon Employment Department struggles to keep up with thousands of new daily claims, the layoffs continue. Navis CRM, a Bend-based technology company that serves…
Adultery Swim & Best of Reflux
ADULTERY SWIM Q: I started seeing a guy whose previous relationship ended because he cheated. He insists he really learned his lesson and would never do it again. Should I trust him, or should I go by that line, “once a cheater, always a cheater”? —Worried -People in relationships do develop little traditions — like…
Bill Powers
Bill Powers, host of the Storytellers Open Mic, played these tunes Tuesday 4/21. Posted by Bill Powers on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Interning in a Pandemic
In the midst of this global pandemic, millions of workers are laid off—living in fear of the future, without a paycheck coming through the door, their careers largely on hold. Meanwhile, those who have yet to start their careers are seeing the internships that will help get them there canceled. So, what is it like…
Terence Barham
Terence played Tuesday 4/21 as part of the Storytellers Open Mic Posted by Terence Neal Barham on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Bend Cultural Tourism Grants On Hold
Visit Bend formally announced Thursday that it’s placing a hold on future Bend Cultural Tourism Fund grants—a significant funding source for some of the most-visible events and artistic endeavors in Central Oregon. The fund is supported through a transient room tax on hotels and vacation rentals, and due to social distancing measures—and restrictions from the…
Bingeworthy: ‘Tiger King’ is the Other Thing Everyone is Talking About
It’s the other thing that everyone is talking about lately. Out of nowhere, I kept seeing memes about a gaudily dressed man who made some interesting choices with his hair. I was getting introduced to Joe Exotic. Exotic is the titular subject of the new limited, wonderfully addictive Netflix docu-series, “Tiger King.” The series is…
April 1 is Census Day. Did You Make It Count?
Every 10 years, the federal government embarks on a nationwide people-counting project. It started in 1790 and is required by the U.S. Constitution. The year 2020 marks a breakthrough in technology and efficiency for the bureau: for the first time in history, people can respond to the Census anytime and anywhere: online, through the mail…
Crook County Sees Its First COVID-19 Case
Crook County is seeing its first reported case of COVID-19. The county health department announced Wednesday afternoon that one person had tested positive for the virus, and stated that the case appears to be related to travel. The person is not hospitalized, and officials said the person is cooperating with public health officials. According to…
St. Charles Puts Out New Call: 10,000 Community Made Masks
Since the advent of COVID-19 in Oregon, local people with sewing skills have been mobilizing to create homemade masks that help address the shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers. Groups such as the Central Oregon Emergency Mask Makers have formed from the ether in the past couple weeks. Local nurses, dentists, orthodontists…
Free Will Astrology—Week of April 2
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “If all the world’s a stage, where the hell is the teleprompter,” asks aphorist Sami Feiring. In my astrological opinion, you Aries are the least likely of all the signs to identify with that perspective. While everyone else might wish they could be better prepared for the nonstop improvisational tests of…
Make Masks Cool
Editor’s note: There’s so much going on in the world of hand-made mask making and community efforts to protect health care workers (and others), that we simply can’t put it all in one single story. As a result, we’re launching the “Masking Together” series, telling the stories of people working grassroots-style to support their community…
How I Spent My Day: In the era of coronavirus, a lens on lives changing quickly in Central Oregon
Editor’s note: I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of people are seeing their lives transformed right now. Whether it’s having kids underfoot while working from home, applying for unemployment, waiting out the COVID-19 storm from the comfort of home with loved ones around or even engaging in a daily struggle to…
Checking In With Sen. Ron Wyden
I talked to Sen. Ron Wyden this morning, ranking member of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Finance, who is still in Washington, D.C. preparing for future legislation to respond to the coronavirus crisis. We chatted about unemployment reform, vote by mail and more. Questions for Wyden are in italics and the conversation has been lightly edited…
The Deschutes Library is Your New Netflix
The Deschutes Public Library system went digital long before novel coronavirus hit Central Oregon. Now, it’s ramping up digital collections and live streaming its programs. Todd Dunkelberg, library director, said after they made the decision to close library locations, his staff stopped ordering physical books and materials and immediately shifted spending into more downloadable books,…
Many Central Oregon School Meal Sites Re-Open Starting Monday
Many more school meal sites will be available in Central Oregon starting Monday, March 30. Sites were more limited over spring break, which technically took place last week—though with kids out of school in Oregon since mid-March and Gov. Kate Brown’s “Stay Home Save Lives” order in place, the break wasn’t quite as eventful as…
Bend is Awesome. Don’t Come Here.
Eric King, Bend City manager released an order Friday, “discouraging tourist travel” through the end of April. It doesn’t outright outlaw it, however, nor does it pose any fines for violations, nor demand cancellations for current bookings. But for some locals, it’s just the type of direction around outside visitors that they’ve been looking for…
Counseling From The Comfort of Home
Mental health counseling and psychological services are now more accessible than ever, partially thanks to the federal government lifting restrictions on telehealth during the coronavirus pandemic. It seems like years ago that the first COVID-19 case came to Central Oregon. Over the last two weeks social isolation, fear of illness and job losses are just…
The (Other) Unsung Heroes
While the vast majority of us are exercising our privilege to hunker down in the safety of our own homes while bingeing Netflix and eating excessive amounts of Top Ramen, grocery store employees continue going to work every day, essentially putting their lives at risk in order to keep up safe and stocked up. Some…
And the A-Hole Award Goes To…
First it was the price gougers. Now, in the era of coronavirus, the Deschutes County District Attorney has some more strong words—this time, for people who attempt to infect law enforcement officers with COVID-19. On Friday, a Deschutes County grand jury indicted Redmond man, Daniel Stubblefield, 35, with charges related to his alleged attempt to…
SNAP Participants Can Now Buy Food Online
Oregonians who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can now buy their groceries online, using their SNAP cards. The change makes it possible for people to order goods through both Amazon and Walmart—though in Central Oregon, the service, at this point, is fairly limited. Just this month, the Oregon Department of Human Services began a …
Ripple Effect
Social distancing has devastated the restaurant and tourism industry, but other sectors are feeling the heat, too. In a virtual meeting with 800 attendees this afternoon, Damon Runberg, a state economist with the Oregon Employment Department, described the potential impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on the local economy. “This is a human health crisis,” Runberg said.…
Letters to the Editor
Editor’s note: The pace at which life is changing for each and every one of us is astounding. For me, this entire experience feels like a tsunami. My imaginative brain can even hear its roar. The message I’d like to share this week echoes the ones found on our Letters page, where we’ve made space…
A Climate Advocate Considers COVID-19
I walked through the quiet airport and my footsteps rang through the nearly empty terminal. The usual hustle of travelers was absent. The emptiness was eerie. For the three weeks prior to my arrival at the Houston airport, I had been on assignment with my business partner deep in the Brazilian Amazon. We were working on…
May the Source Be With You
Man, those of you spending this time watching “Contagion” and “Outbreak” on Netflix are so much more intense than I am. I don’t know, movies about global pandemics are just hitting a little too close to home right now, and my need for “fun” entertainment has been turned up several notches. Don’t get me wrong,…
Hygiene and Cannabis
I have always been fascinated with the transition we’ve seen in cannabis, from a clandestine substance to a thriving legal adult-use product. In particular, this switch in legality has opened the door for conversations around proper cannabis consumption hygiene. That has never been more important than with the recent impacts on our community from COVID-19. Back…
The Joys of Home Ownership
The financial reasoning for homeownership is bountiful: increased equity and wealth building, great tax benefits and predictable monthly payments—especially evident in today’s current rental situation with rents being raised frequently and excellent long-term investment potential. However, some of the lesser discussed advantages are more sentimental. A home is more than four walls and a roof;…
How Much Exercise is Too Much?
Those who spend any time on Central Oregon’s many trails might have seen them: A human and dog combo, tearing through the woods—human on mountain bike, wearing a big smile; dog on four paws, tongue lolling out of its mouth. With the ability to be off a leash and rushing through the forest, it’s natural…
Central Oregon Pets – Spring 2020
Welcome to the spring edition of Central Oregon Pets! With so much uncertainty in the world, pets remain one constant source of comfort—that friendly face to welcome you, no matter what, when you get home from a long day, or when you need a pick-me-up during times of trial. Thank goodness for them! Inside this…
Acupuncture For Dogs?
Yogi the toy poodle is one of Dr. Steve Blauvelt’s smallest—and hardest working—patients. Yogi regularly volunteers for Partners in Care, a hospice organization in Bend. At only 4 pounds, 6 ounces and a “teddy bear” haircut, Yogi is “great with frail patients,” according to Yogi’s human, Bonnie Smith. But Yogi’s sympathetic qualities—which provide a source…
Training Truffle Hunting Dogs
Throughout the world, truffles have long been a delicacy favored by royalty and commoners alike. Recipes featuring the Italian Piedmont white truffle or the French Périgord black truffle date back to the first century during the reign of the Roman Empire. Fast forward to today and the Pacific Northwest, where the highly sought-after Oregon white…
Meet Joe Beige & Dawn Of The Dad
Meet Joe Beige I’ve been dating this guy for a month. Things with him are really average. However, we met through a mutual guy friend, and I’m actually really into that guy. Could my staying with the guy I’m seeing spark jealousy in the friend and lead him to make a play for me? —Wrong…
It’s a Dog’s World in Bend. Cats Are Just Living in it
Here at Central Oregon Pets, we love and appreciate all kinds of furry (or scaly) friends. We believe it’s important to raise awareness for what’s happening within all pet communities or animals that have stories to tell in the area. In an email, we got word that Smokey, the chair of Cats of Bend and…
COVID-19 Will Forever Change the Food Industry
Earlier this month I was wondering why we don’t have any cheese makers in Central Oregon and bummed that our young local baker, Reggie Strom, didn’t win “Kids Baking Championship” on the Food Network. I thought for sure he was going to get the title; he won three episodes, plus his skills were on point.…
Planning for Pets
When most people think of their pets, they think of a valued member of the family, almost like a child. In the eyes of the law, however, pets are considered tangible personal property—the same as your cell phone, your furniture and your laptop. Many would consider this classification to be an insult to our best…
The Key to Virtual Happy Hour: Simplicity
It’s a strange world we’re living in. We have a real-life pandemic calling for social distancing, and now all the bars are closed and our nation has called upon distilleries to make hand sanitizer. Locally, Oregon Spirit Distillers is producing a sanitizing hand rub it’s donating to the Oregon Department of Human Services, fire and…
Creepy Crawly Critters
In a self-proclaimed dog town, it can be easy to overlook the importance of other creatures, especially when it comes to the proper functioning of our ecosystem. Kelsey Yates, the associate curator of wildlife at The High Desert Museum, has spent the majority of her adult life advocating for the slimy, scaled and shelled creatures…
Stay Calm and Look to the Arts
It is not strange that in trying times we turn to the arts. That’s what they were made for. Local artists and arts organizations are getting together to offer content for people to enjoy while sheltering at home inside—including some opportunities to be creative. Remember, you don’t have to just be a viewer in these…
Meet The Pets
Ding, ding, ding! Welcome to Meeeeet The Pets! Hosted by yours truly, the Central Oregon Pets magazine! Our staff is filled with pet owners and lovers of all kinds. Each animal has their own interests and desires but are all perfectly amazing in their own way. Let’s get to know a few of these furry…
Pets’ Free Pass By
Some pet owners have taken advantage of laws meant to protect people with disabilities and mental illness. More and more pets are permitted on airplanes, in apartments and inside grocery stores and restaurants because they are considered Emotional Support Animals. Legitimate ESAs help their owners with mental health issues, ranging from anxiety and depression to…
Free Will Astrology—Week Of March 26
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your oracle comes from Aries poet Octavio Paz: “The path the ancestors cleared is overgrown, unused. The other path, smooth and broad, is crowded with travelers. It goes nowhere. There’s a third path: mine. Before me, no one. Behind me, no one. Alone, I find my way.” APRIL FOOL! Although the…
