Local Dungeons and Dragons Player Turns to TikTok to Grow Community
In 2020, Diana Fay decided to post her very first TikTok. She was growing bored at home and had come up with several ideas for short videos that people online could relate to. She’d wait until all of her roommates were out of the house to post her informative videos online. Now, with over 160,000…
Pan con Tomate, aka Spanish Tomato Bread
Seems like it’s been a good year for tomatoes in Central Oregon, and that’s not always the case as those of us who have lived here for many seasons can tell you. The tomatoes are weighing down the vines in the backyard garden box at my house and I’m seeing some stunning beauties at the…
LISTEN: Grand Craft Beer – Bridge 99 Brewer Trever Hawman 🎧
Episode 2 of Grand Craft Beer welcomes Trever Hawman, owner/brewer of Bridge 99 Brewery in NE Bend. We discuss his ascent from homebrewer to nanobrewer to the state of his 15-barrel brewery, as well as being situated in the shadow of 10 Barrel Brewing, newly released by AB-InBev. Speaking of his neighbors, we also announce…
Fire in Juniper Creek
The Juniper Creek Fire ignited on Sunday about 16 miles northeast of Sisters and quickly grew to over 100 acres. On Monday evening, the Oregon Department of Forestry said the fire was 75% contained and that firefighters are doing mop-up operations — which consist of cooling the fire’s perimeter by extinguishing hotspots and removing unburnt…
We’re Not Doing Enough to Change Our Emissions Habits. It’s All Our Faults.
As we write this, Central Oregon is once again experiencing what is shaping up to be a yearly event: smoke season. A new fire erupted over the weekend near Sisters, blanketing our already smoky region with more unhealthy air. Perhaps it’s a leap in thinking to relate this to a survey released late last week,…
Five Hikes in theOld Cascades
Looking for some hikes to spectacular vistas, through old-growth forests, and without the need for a trail permit? Check out these five day-trip hikes near Santiam Pass in the Old Cascades in the Willamette National Forest. Iron Mountain Named after the reddish, metallic appearance of the basaltic rock exposed on the mountain’s flank. Formerly known…
Extraterrestrial Ideas
This weekend I went to two movies that on the surface are both about aliens, but honestly could not have been more different. One is a blockbuster DC Comics movie, while the other is an absurdest arthouse genre bender, yet both are attempting to do different things with a genre that has been pretty stagnant…
Latinx Punk n’ Roll
You may have seen little yellow flyers around town that have graphics with polaroid pictures of two volcanoes and the word “MC3.” Well, one volcano is Mt. Bachelor and the other is the Izalco volcano — which is about an hour away from Armenia, El Salvador: the hometown of Lilo González, founder and lead singer/guitarist…
Desventaja de Medicare
El 14 de agosto, St. Charles anunció que podría dejar de aceptar el plan de cobertura de Medicare Advantage tan pronto como llegue este otoño, después que el sistema hospitalario lleve a cabo una revisión. En los municipios de Deschutes, Jefferson y Crook, alrededor de 26,000 personas tienen cobertura de Medicare Advantage, lo que representa…
The Third Act: A Column on Ageism and Ageing
Off on an early morning hike, a girlfriend and I encounter three younger friends of mine on the trail. Based on a lifetime of evidence I knew my nervous anticipation of a four-way introduction was the guarantee I’d forget a name. So, I defaulted to a brief if awkward hello to the threesome, and my…
Neighborhood Spotlight: Midtown
Nestled in the picturesque city of Bend, Oregon, the Midtown neighborhood has long been revered for its unique blend of urban convenience and natural beauty. With a rich history and a distinct character, Midtown has recently witnessed a wave of real estate developments that are shaping the area’s future while preserving its charm. Midtown is…
Duck, Duck, Grey Duck
Kate Bhatia loves ice cream. “I’ve eaten a lot of ice cream!” she exclaims when I ask her how she learned to make the delectable sweet treat. She tells me how she and her husband/business partner, Amit Bhatia, seek out small, craft ice cream makers when they travel and how she started making ice cream…
Drink Beer, Donateto Maui Fire Support
The deadly fires in Maui this month have prompted businesses all over to create fundraisers aimed at raising funds for fire relief and recovery efforts. Luau at Immersion Brewing Over at Immersion Brewing, the staff is planning a big luau-style party for Saturday, Aug. 26. Immersion will release three new beers, and offer a pig…
We Had to Go Back
It’s hard to imagine a more influential show than “Lost.” Maybe “The X-Files” was the first TV show people obsessed about on the internet, but “Lost” was the first that took the audience on such an unpredictable ride that the speculation between episodes and seasons became a huge part of the experience. The term “Mystery…
5K Fun Run for Street Dog Hero
If there’s anything that the people of Central Oregon love, it’s dogs. Locals are often happy to participate in an event that includes and benefits dogs, and this year is no different. Street Dog Hero, a foster-based rescue organization, can attest, with its successful ongoing fundraiser, Heroes on the Run 5k. Heroes on the Run…
The Return of Pickin’ and Paddlin’
After a four-year hiatus, Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe is bringing back its beloved, long-running event, Pickin’ and Paddlin’. The event started as a way to raise funds for Bend Paddle Trail Alliance, an organization that works to enhance river recreation and appreciation. People are invited to celebrate by the Deschutes River with live music,…
Horoscope Week of August 24, 2023
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “I don’t believe that in order to be interesting or meaningful, a relationship has to work out—in fiction or in real life.” So says Virgo novelist Elizabeth Curtis Sittenfeld, and I agree. Just because a romantic bond didn’t last forever doesn’t mean it was a waste of energy. An intimate connection…
Letters to the Editor 08/24/2023
Adair’s Reversal On July 26, it seemed Central Oregon had a big win on its hands as the County Commissioners voted to approve Central Oregon LandWatch’s proposal to limit the kind of luxury destination resort development that has so adversely impacted the region. But on August 9, Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair singlehandedly triggered a…
People’s Right to Property
English philosopher John Locke argued the three inalienable rights are life, liberty and property. People’s Rights Oregon 5, the local branch of the national right-wing activist group formed by Ammon Bundy, asserted the third of those rights this past week when it closed on a 2.75-acre property in Terrebonne. The property includes two rental homes,…
Medicare Disadvantage
On Aug. 14 St. Charles announced it may stop accepting Medicare Advantage Plans as early as this fall after the hospital system conducts a review. In Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties, about 26,000 people are on Medicare Advantage plans, which is over 40% of total Medicare enrollees. St. Charles said it’s considering the change due…
The Third Act: A Column on Ageism and Ageing
Off on an early morning hike, a girlfriend and I encounter three younger friends of mine on the trail. Based on a lifetime of evidence I knew my nervous anticipation of a four-way introduction was the guarantee I’d forget a name. So, I defaulted to a brief if awkward hello to the threesome, and my…
