Cover Story
Putting Back the River
A little Central Oregon irrigation humor. Reporter: “How do you measure how much water you’re getting?” Farmer: “Go to the tree, grab that stick, stick it in and if it hits the notch then that’s the right amount.” That’s no joke. Such measuring tools are still in use while irrigation water flows are still calculated…
Enjoy the Sunshine and Live Music in Bend Tonight and Tomorrow
With the sun shining, this Friday evening offers the ideal conditions for enjoying live music and roaming the streets of downtown Bend for First Friday. Here are our suggestions for a weekend filled with music, brews and sunshine. Meekoh Head down to Crux Fermentation Project and enjoy the soul/pop vibes of local favorite Meekoh. I…
Oregon Delegation Reacts to U.S. Pulling out of Paris Agreement
The president announced today that the United States will be withdrawing from participation in the Paris Agreement, aimed at combating global climate change. According to the United Nations, 195 countries, including the United States, signed onto the Paris Agreement, which”requires all Parties to put forward their best efforts through “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to…
Overcast or sunny? Weekend weather report: 6/2-6/4
Trying to decide what to do for your late spring weekend? Are you hitting the trails? Floating the river? Check the weather before making your decision! Friday is set to be sunny with a high around 75 degrees. Saturday will be partly cloudy with highs in the upper 70’s. Sunday will also be partly cloudy,…
Song a Day
In case you have been frozen in time for the past few months since #45 took the nation’s highest office, it’s clear the political climate in the United States has changed. With this change comes dismay from individuals on both sides of the poll booth as well as passionate responses, often taking musical form. “Everybody…
Thunder in the Mountains
Before you stroll the streets on First Fridays in downtown Bend, check out this monthly review featuring reading recommendations courtesy of the Source and Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe. Then head down to the shop for a discount! With Father’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to look at some non-fiction—specifically, one of the best pieces…
Source Spotlight: Lacey Champagne
“There is a lot of talent in Bend. People who have never gotten to be in a gallery can get more connected and more involved now.” — Lacey Champagne You’ve probably heard the saying, “An artist is only as good as his tools.” While talent does play a big part, having the right supplies doesn’t…
Fannie Mae Initiative for Affordable Multifamily Housing
Fannie Mae has recently announced its Healthy Housing Rewards Initiative. The program is meant to provide incentives to builders of multifamily rental housing that incorporate healthy design features. This will apply to new construction as well as rehabilitated affordable multifamily rental properties. The target market is properties where at least 60 percent of the tenants…
Civilized Brawling
I was eight drinks deep and hoarding them all. After another week spent embroiled in the daily onslaughts of political controversy after political embarrassment, these were the moments I could claim 100 percent editor privilege: To be one of the chosen few allowed to judge the esteemed competition that is the Bartender’s Brawl. So what…
The Hefe-Weight
Oregon beer, astounding as it is to believe, continues to grow. Crux has just announced plans to expand distribution to a few hot craft-beer markets in the East, including New York City, Washington ,D.C.,—and Vermont, where it’ll be joining Boneyard on the taps alongside Lawson and Hill Farmstead. Oblivion Brewing, which just won Central Oregon…
First Friday’s First Host
Call it First Friday: The Next Generation. Sure, you can still find plenty of art on Bend’s most festive night of the month. That’s not likely to change anytime soon. It’s an “artwalk” after all, with galleries at their brightest and shiniest. There’s plenty of live music, too. Now, Bishops Barbershop, in a push to…
The Effects of Feeding Deer in Town
Mule deer have enough trouble getting through winter while coping with the cold and wet—so why people add on the extra burdens of disease and food they can’t digest is baffling to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) biologists. Come on, people. Stop feeding the mule deer, those constant moochers in our backyards. In…
Round and Round
Of course you can ask a server for descriptions. But what fun is that, when you can pick purely based on looks? At the new sushi restaurant in Bend, the food is delivered by conveyor belt. Sora Sushi is located downtown near Franklin and Bond. Bar, as well as booth seats, put you in front…
Talking the Tough Talks
When students are at school, they are surrounded by adults trained to identify signs of depression and suicide, says Julianne Repman, facilitator for Bend-La Pine Schools’ Safe Schools Alliance. In the summers, however, students don’t have the same access to resources they have during the school year, she says. “With summer vacation just weeks away,…
A Choir for The Rest of Us
There’s a reason the Lukas Graham song, “7 Years,” has rung up a half billion hits on YouTube. It’s one of those incredibly accessible ballads even the most cynical among us can’t help but latch onto: simple, sad, emotional and uplifting all at the same time. But there’s another reason: It’s awfully fun to sing!…
The World Needs Its Helpers Even More Than Ever
As the city of Portland reels from the horrific stabbings on a Trimet MAX train last Friday, the rest of the state is reeling too. As the Memorial Day weekend kicked into high gear, three men stood up in defense of two teen girls, one who was wearing a headscarf, when a man, later identified…
Guest Op-Ed: Utility CEOs say King Coal is kaput
If you want to understand the demise of coal despite what some politicians insist, consider this quote from CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn, whose utility is invested in New Mexico’s Four Corners Power Plant: “The current data clearly supports the replacement of the coal … with an energy mix that includes more renewables and natural gas as…
Science Advice Goddess: Sight For Thor Eyes
Sight For Thor Eyes I’m a 35-year-old masculine gay man. I’ve had relationships with (masculine) gay men, but I’m often attracted to masculine straight men. I’m not looking to “turn” them, and I’m ready for a relationship, so I’m concerned that I’m so frequently attracted to men who won’t be interested in me. What is…
A Home for Science
Question: What happens when you pour green-tinted water into a vat of liquid nitrogen? Answer: A group of kindergarteners finds it pretty awesome! Welcome to the Bend Science Station, where that sort of magic takes place all the time. Today’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) workforce demands a solid science education for today’s kids. Now…
Go Here: Ready to rock your weekend?
Day Trip: Camp Sherman and the Metolius River Who’s this trip for? Great for families with young kids or as a day trip for visiting friends & family. What’s it all about? It’s not every day that you can see a river spring literally from underground.Many destinations in the high Cascades are still inaccessible due…
Picks of the Week
Friday 2 Community Town Halls on Homelessness ACTIVISM — With a 31 percent rise in homelessness in Central Oregon within the past two years, now is the time to find permanent solutions to this growing epidemic. Learn about the Point in Time Count results and engage with community members about the local implications and possible…
Letters to the Editor: May 22-29
In Response to, Don Horton’s Op-Ed Regarding Upper Deschutes Footbridge (5/4) Americans recognize the importance of critically evaluating what they hear from public officials. Here is additional information regarding Don Horton’s op-ed about Bend Park and Rec’s (BPRD’s) proposed bridge across the Upper Deschutes. The Upper Deschutes has special protections via its designation as a…
Illegal Aliens
I’ve always believed the real thematic purpose of the “Alien” franchise was to highlight the ineffable terror of the unknowable. That somewhere, whether it’s deep under the ocean or hundreds of thousands of miles out in the blackness of space, there’s something truly alien that will swallow you up so profoundly that no one would…
Little Bites: Range Restaurant and Bar Opens for the Season
The Range Restaurant at Brasada Ranch is open for the season, offering a romantic dinner with killer views and a menu showcasing the seasonal bounty of Oregon. The Range is a short drive from town but you’ll feel like you’re tucked away in the country. Executive Chef Doug MacFarland shines in the dishes featuring locally…
Blockbusters for Adults
Once again we’re heading into the summer blockbuster season, but it means a lot less than it used to. Superhero movies, Vin Diesel franchises and giant monster flicks are released year round now instead of during the small summer window. Over the last decade, Hollywood has been in the franchise business more than ever before,…
Living with a Cannabis Columnist
She’s baaaack! We like our cannabis columnist’s girlfriend’s writing so much that we had to bring you another one this week. Enjoy, canna-lovelies! As my boyfriend recovers from his newest self-designed cannabis challenge, AKA “How Many Marijuana Gummies Can I Fit in My Mouth at One Time?” (Answer: 28, and also, why babe? Why?), I’ve…
That Moment
When Sarah Clarke graduated from Portland’s Grant High School, she never imagined 10 years later she’d reconnect with old friends and form a popular soul-funk band that continues to gain respect and notoriety throughout the music industry. Clarke sang in choirs from elementary school onward, but upon graduating from high school, she didn’t think pursuing…
