LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break with Melissa Burr 🎧
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer chats with Melissa Burr, Founding Winemaker of Stoller Family Estate, about her fascinating journey from studying naturopathic medicine to becoming a trailblazer in the Oregon wine industry. An Oregon native, Melissa discovered her passion for winemaking while pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree at Portland State…
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break with Sally Compton 🎧
In this week’s episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Sally, Executive Director of Think Wild, a Bend-based wildlife conservation center. Sally shares her inspiring journey from working at the Newport Aquarium to leading a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to wildlife rescue, education, conservation, and habitat restoration across Central and Eastern Oregon.…
Interview with Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler
The Source Weekly sat down with Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler to talk about plans for the new year, along with noteworthy accomplishments from 2024. We covered significant topics such as housing, transportation and, of course, googly eyes. Housing On housing, Kebler was proud of the UGB expansion the City just approved, along with its investments…
Sheriff-elect Kent Vander Kamp Loses Lawsuit Against County for Attorney Fees
Friday brought a close to a drawn-out legal challenge sheriff-elect Kent Vander Kamp initiated against Deschutes County, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon Public Broadcasting, as well its local reporter, Emily Cureton Cook, with a judge ruling in the county and OPB’s favor. The legal battle began on October 9 when Vander Kamp’s lawyer…
All Aboard! The Train Man Returns to the Downtown Bend Library
Michael “The Train Man” Lavrich started sharing his model trains with delighted children—and adults—roughly 25 years ago at the Downtown Bend Library. In the decades since, his annual display of model trains has become a highly anticipated holiday tradition for countless families in Central Oregon. This year Lavrich is back to share the trains with…
Home for the Holidays Adoption Special 50% Off Adoption Fees December 20-24
The Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO) is reducing the adoption fee by 50% for all animals through Tuesday, December 24th. Many lovable dogs and cats, with various personalities, colors, and ages are patiently waiting for a new home. Adopting an animal provides a lifelong companion who will bring years of love and devotion. All…
Holiday Cheer for Animals and Families: HSCO Hosts Open House and Free Pet Food & Bed Giveaway
The Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO) invites the community to celebrate the season of giving while making a difference for local animals and families. HSCO is hosting two special events: Holiday Open House – Saturday, December 21 Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Location: HSCO Shelter, 61170 SE 27th Street, Bend, OR Join us…
A Sweeter Holiday—Mid Oregon’s Holiday Dough Raises $4,300 for Local Food Banks
Through the generosity of its members and community, Mid Oregon Credit Union’s 2024 Holiday Dough fundraising effort collected almost $4,300 from over 153 individuals in support of local food banks this holiday season. During the month of December, Mid Oregon’s Holiday Dough invited its members and the community to make financial contributions to assist local…
Winter break opportunities to skate and swim
As schools wind down for the upcoming winter break and visitors arrive, Bend Park and Recreation District has activities to delight all ages. Winter Solstice Celebration The Pavilion will celebrate the shortest day of the year with its annual Winter Solstice Celebration on Friday, Dec. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. With festivities to…
Call for Artists: Site Structures – City of Bend Public Works Campus
The City of Bend in partnership with Art in Public Places (AiPP) seeks to commission designs for three structures: a bike shelter, a trash enclosure and a central utility plant enclosure on the Public Works Campus in Bend. The artist(s) will design inspired 2D graphic art to be laser cut onto rusted Corten metal panels…
Pacific Power Set to Increase Rate Nearly 10% in 2025
Pacific Power, which serves over 620,000 customers in Oregon, will issue a nearly 10% rate increase starting Jan. 1. The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced Dec. 19 that it approved an overall increase of 8.5% for all customer types, including residential, commercial and industrial customers. The 2025 rate changes will also include an annual…
The Damned Deschutes
MAUPIN, Oregon — Alysia Littleleaf and her husband, Elke, make their living as fishing guides on the lower Deschutes River, near the Warm Springs Reservation. A major tributary of the Columbia River, the Deschutes irrigates farmland, generates electricity and is the lifeblood of Central Oregon’s biggest industry, tourism. The river and its high desert landscape…
Warm Up This Winter: Bend’s Coziest Coffee Creations
As frost coats the windows and the scent of pine fills the air, nothing feels more comforting than wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of coffee. Bend’s coffee shops have fully embraced the holiday spirit, trading their pumpkin spice staples for festive flavors like peppermint, eggnog and sugar cookie sweetness. From classic indulgences to…
A Truly Adaptable Fish
Cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii ssp., is the most widespread species of the Salmonidae family in western North America. Populations occur from southern Alaska to northern California, on both sides of the Continental Divide and throughout the Great Basin — an area close to 210,000 square miles and one of the driest, yet most diverse, landscapes…
Keep Homeless Law in Place, and Focus on Housing
Over the last several years, much has been said about homelessness in Oregon — and everyone has an opinion. Lock them up, some say. Allow them the small dignity of sleeping on the street when they find themselves down on their luck, others say. In the midst of public dismay over visible camping on the…
There Goes My Antihero
Sometimes, a movie gets released that’s so bad you know someone at the studio lost their job, and the filmmaker will probably end up in director’s jail for a few years. When that same studio releases three movies in the same universe that are so insanely, preposterously stupid (while also hemorrhaging money) that they become…
Gather ‘Round the Fire
It’s December and the cold weather is officially here. While ski bums and shredders are rejoicing, others may be seeking a little respite to warm their frozen bones. Winters at The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse in the Deschutes National Forest are the time to cozy up by the warmth of a fire and take in…
Bend Chamber Receives $20,000 Grant from Wells Fargo to Support Workforce Housing Initiative
The Bend Chamber is proud to announce a recent grant from Wells Fargo to support planning efforts for the Workforce Housing Initiative. The funding, totaling $20,000, will be used to support the Bend Chamber’s work to develop and launch a revolving loan program offering low interest, short term loans to developers and builders for the…
Source Warmup
City of Bend Hosts Open House for Bend Bikeway Project The City of Bend is hosting an informational, online open house from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2 on the final design for the Bend Bikeway Project. According to a press release, the open house will be the last public review opportunity before the designs are…
Housing for All, Always
As we jump into the new year and prepare for a new/returning presidential administration, there may be many changes ahead in our world. But one thing I know won’t change: People need safe and affordable housing. Young and old, white, brown or Black, he/she/they and everyone in-between, the need for housing is inclusive. As we…
The Medicine Cabinet Within: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
One of our most fundamental connections to life is the assimilation of oxygen from the air we breathe into every tissue in our bodies. Without oxygen, and its ability to spark our body’s life-giving process of creating cellular energy, we could not survive. For centuries, physicians have used oxygen in a healing capacity, and at…
Elevate These Classic Comfort Dishes
Both of these recipies previously appeared in our Cascades Eats E-Newsletter. If you want to get more exclusive foodie content, subscribe at bendsource.com/bend/Newsletters/Page Tri-Tip Fried Rice Some might raise an eyebrow at using tri-tip in fried rice, which is traditionally made with cheaper cuts or leftover meats. Being from Maui, it’s a go-to for using…
Dirksen Derby Rally Race Returns to Mt. Bachelor For Year 17
Lovers of snow and speed get ready: The Dirksen Derby rally race is carving its way back to Mt. Bachelor this winter for its 17th year, promising thrills, camaraderie and high-speed action. The celebrated event unites snowboarders and sit-ski enthusiasts of all ages and abilities for a weekend of exciting races and community spirit. Participants…
Rafe Pearlman Brings Light on the Darkest Day
Originally from the wilds of Alaska, singer/songwriter Rafe Pearlman now resides on Washington’s Orcas Island. With these locales as his backdrop, it’s not hard to understand why Mother Nature is so instrumental in Pearlman’s work. As he’s traveled the globe playing shows in India, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong and Mexico, he’s also traversed these United…
Horoscope Week of December 19, 2024
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What is the perfect gift I could offer you this holiday season? I have decided on a large square black box with nothing inside. There would be a gold ribbon around it bearing the words, “The Fruitful Treasure of Pregnant Emptiness.” With this mysterious blessing, I would be fondly urging you…
Letters to the Editor 12/19/2024
In the 12/12 Opinion, “The Machinations Continue with Sheriff-Elect’s Effort to Recoup Legal Fees,” we stated the records were released on Vander Kamp’s website, and that Vander Kamp’s attorney was based in California. Those statements were incorrect. We have also removed a section in the fifth paragraph that speculated on Vander Kamp’s hiring of a…
City of Redmond Addresses Confusion Over Partnership with Visit Redmond
In October, the Redmond Chamber of Commerce, which operates Visit Redmond, suggested a new partnership with the City of Redmond, requesting financial support in order to continue providing destination services and community events. On Dec. 10, Redmond City Council members addressed the proposal and provided the Council’s stance on funding the operations of private nonprofits.…
