Show Us Yer Cans: Multi-Venue Benefit Concert & Food Drive for Shepherd’s House
SHOW US YER CANS, a multi-venue benefit concert and food drive in support of Shepherd’s House, will take place on Saturday, September 6, 2025, across several Bend venues and distribution locations. The day kicks off at Boneyard Pub at 12:00 PM with a classic car show hosted by Alley Scrapers CC and live performances by Vanderwalls and Hobbyist.…
Sunriver Music Festival’s Opening Night Features Acclaimed Pianist Steward Goodyear
Sunriver Music Festival raises the baton on the 2025 season Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend. Renowned pianist Stewart Goodyear performs with the Festival Orchestra, conducted by Brett Mitchell. Tickets at sunrivermusic.org The Festival season opens with the Fanfare from Dukas’ La Péri for the mighty brass section. Goodyear’s performance…
Join Us for Stream Sampling on Whychus Creek
We still have a few spots left for Stream Sampling on Whychus Creek on August 7th and 8th! Join other community volunteers, UDWC staff, and our restoration partners to collect aquatic insect samples from key reaches along Whychus where we’ve restored stream habitat and stream flow to benefit reintroduced salmon and steelhead, and redband trout. We’ll meet…
City of Bend Joins Youth Career Connect Program to Offer Internships
The City of Bend is joining the Youth Career Connect program to engage with local youth, offer valuable interview and on-the-job experience and foster a deeper understanding of the essential services that keep our City thriving. Youth Career Connect is a program that brings together Central Oregon high schools, local businesses, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council…
Partners In Care Community Education: “Active Aging in Central Oregon”
Local nonprofit Partners In Care invites community members in Central Oregon to its engaging, in-person education series. For the past 17 years, Partners In Care has been providing no-cost community education on a myriad of topics such as preparing for end of life, facing a serious illness, and caregiver tips and resources. The fourth community…
Registration Now Open for Oregon Women Veterans Conference
Registration is now open for the 2025 Oregon Women Veterans Conference, the state’s largest gathering dedicated to honoring and supporting women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The biennial event, hosted by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will bring together women veterans from across Oregon for a weekend of connection, resources and…
City of Bend Opens Application Period for Climate Action Partner Grant Program
Starting July 21 and through September 21, nonprofit organizations and government entities (including colleges and universities) are invited to apply for funding through the City of Bend’s new Climate Action Partner Grant Program. This is the first year that the program is being offered, and the program goal is to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions…
Mother of Missing Floater Issues Statement
The mother of the man still missing after being swept over Dillon Falls Saturday is responding to a firestorm of negative comments aimed at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The controversy is over whether a well-known diver should be allowed to participate in the search. Six people were tubing on the Deschutes River with inner…
Governor Kotek Calls for Special Session to Address Transportation System Emergency
Salem, OR — Governor Tina Kotek announced today that she is using her constitutional authority to call a special session of the Oregon Legislature to begin on Friday, August 29, 2025, for lawmakers to take up legislation to pay for basic road maintenance and operations at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), as well as…
Governor Kotek Signs Landmark Microgrid Legislation into State Law
Salem, OR — Last Thursday, Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bills 2065 and 2066 into law, two pieces of landmark legislation which aim to increase and expedite access to microgrids across urban, suburban, and rural Oregon communities. “Microgrid technology is an indispensable way to make power outages less risky, shorter lived, and could even save…
Commissioners announce nominees for District Mapping Advisory Committee
On Monday, July 21, members of the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) announced their nominees for the County’s District Mapping Advisory Committee (DMAC). The committee will be tasked with drafting a commissioner district map, which will be considered by the Board and then by Deschutes County voters in 2026. If passed by voters, the…
Search Continues for Missing Male Swept Over Dillon Falls
This article has been updated. The search continued Tuesday, July 22, for a missing male after an incident at Deschutes River’s Dillon Falls on July 19 that killed two women. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says six people were floating the river with their inner tubes tied together. A news release stated that the three survivors jumped from their…
Redmond Brewfest & Night Glow is Back for Year Eight
Locals of all ages are getting ready to see the skies light up for the Redmond Brewfest & Night Glow. The free event has become a summer tradition where families, friends and visitors gather for an evening of craft beer, community spirit and hot air balloon displays. Dogs are welcome at the event, and participants…
Red Flag Warning May Challenge Cram Firefighters
Fire crews made some progress in the Cram Fire 15 miles north of Madras, but 25 mph winds are forecast for Thursday afternoon. As of July 17, the fire is 77,163 acres. The northern part of the fire, along Highway 293, showed decreased fire activity Wednesday, allowing firefighters to continue securing the line, mopping up…
Kevin Mannix Files Ballot Initiative to End Estate Tax
After another session in which some lawmakers tried again—and failed again—to raise the $1 million threshold at which Oregon’s estate tax kicks in, state Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem) and co-petitioner Michelle Mhoon have filed a ballot initiative to do away with the tax completely. Initiative Petition 51, the “End the Death Tax Act,” would do…
Lighthouse Navigation Center Celebrates 3 Years of Impact in Bend
Bend, OR — July 21st — Shepherd’s House Ministries invites the Central Oregon community to celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of the Lighthouse Navigation Center, a transformative low-barrier shelter and day-use facility in Bend that has become a critical resource for hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness and crisis. Since its opening in 2021, the Lighthouse has…
Three Fires in Three Days
For the third time in three days, fire officials and Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to fires involving a motorhome or camper van which then spread. The Sheriff’s Office says two of the incidents were arson. On Friday morning just after 8am, deputies responded to a fire along Highway 97 south of Deschutes Junction. The…
Extreme Heat Safety; Cooling/Power Supplies for Eligible OHP Members
Heat waves can seriously harm older people, infants and children, those who live or work outdoors, are pregnant, or who have low incomes or a chronic medical condition. It’s particularly important to know the difference between heat exhaustion, which is treatable by finding a cooler location and drinking water, and heat stroke, which is an emergency…
Wahlburgers to Make its Oregon Debut at the 105th Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo
Wahlburgers, is coming to the 105th Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo this summer, July 30 through Aug. 3. This marks Whaleburgers’ debut in Oregon, offering Oregonians their first taste of the chain’s award-winning burgers, house-made sauces, crispy tots, and creamy shakes via a mobile Wahlburgers stand. “This is more than just a food stand—it’s a…
OSU-Cascades Launches Degree in Accountancy to Address Statewide Shortage of Accountants
Oregon State University – Cascades will offer a new bachelor’s degree in accountancy in the fall of 2025 to address the growing need for financial experts in Central Oregon and across the state. About 1,300 jobs are projected to open annually for accountants and auditors through 2032 in Oregon, according to the U.S. Bureau of…
Homes Now for Sale in Parkside Place at Prices Affordable to Middle Income Earners
Sales of missing middle home types in Hayden Homes’ new 37-acre Parkside Place community on Bend’s eastside are now live at www.hayden-homes.com with move-ins beginning this fall. Home prices in the Parkside Place community will start at $474,990 for the Darrington plan, a 1,395 square foot family-friendly 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 2-car garage home. That’s more than 35%…
High Desert Food and Farm Alliance Receives Funding From Travel Oregon, Republic Services, and The Environmental Center
High Desert Food and Farm Alliance was selected from a competitive grant process to receive funding from Travel Oregon. Travel Oregon awarded nearly 6.2 million dollars in grants to 65 organizations across the state, including $120,385 to the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance. HDFFA will use this funding for a broad “Taste Central Oregon”…
NAMI Volunteer Info Session
Join NAMI on August 20th for our first monthly online volunteer information session! Learn more about volunteering opportunities with NAMI Central Oregon, including training requirements for our free mental health related programs, support groups, classes and workshops, and how you can be of service to your community! Starting, Wednesday, August 20th, we will offer this…
“Know Ink/Inc” with Deschutes Public Library
Dive into the diverse worlds of printmaking and inclusion as we investigate “Know Ink/Inc” in August. Explore traditional American maritime tattoos and learn to decode meaning in Western paintings. Design and carve your own rubber stamp and satisfy your tastebuds with fresh squid ink pasta. Get an inside look at what it takes to become…
Multiple RV Fires Ignite at Juniper Ridge and Nearby Green Acres RV Park Within Days
While The Cram Fire, which has now consumed about 77,000 acres, continued burning about 55 miles northeast of Bend, another fire, much smaller, engulfed an RV and a nearby vehicle at the Temporary Safe Stay Area at Juniper Ridge, a sanctioned refuge for the homeless. At the camp about 4 miles north of Bend, the…
The U.S. Government Sold Off Aging Ships — Leaving States in the Pacific NW To Pay
Three years ago on a sunny day in August, a nearly 80-year-old steel, navy blue ship with patched holes and streaks of rust drifted down an inlet connecting downtown Tacoma to Commencement Bay. The 169-foot vessel was an unusual sight for local boaters who use the narrow channel to dock their small recreational watercraft. As…
Public Safety Reminder for Fairwell Festival: Plan Ahead, Travel Safe, and Don’t Drink and Drive
As thousands of people head to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds this weekend for the Fairwell Festival, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), Oregon State Police (OSP), and Redmond Police Department are reminding drivers and festivalgoers to plan ahead, travel safely, and celebrate responsibly. With large crowds expected for the popular music event, local and state…
Breeze Airways Announces New Service to Burbank-Hollywood, Calif. and Las Vegas from Redmond-Bend
Breeze Airways, the premium leisure carrier connecting underserved cities across the U.S., today announced that it will be bringing its affordable, accessible air service to Redmond-Bend on March 13 with new nonstop service from Redmond-Bend to Burbank-Hollywood and Las Vegas, and one stop/no change of plane BreezeThru service to Provo-Salt Lake City. “Breeze is known for its convenient, affordable flights,…
Dropkick Murphys Won't Fight You, But Will Call Out Any Red Hats
Dropkick Murphys is bringing its bagpipe fracas to Hayden Homes Amphitheater. I spoke with lead guitarist and songwriter Tim Brennan about writing polemical music in a polarized climate, the responsible way to mosh in the pit, and when you should bet all your money on the Red Sox. the Source: Dropkick Murphys released a new…
Letters to the Editor 07/17/2025
Time for tort reform In response to Peter Maden’s article about Oregon ski resorts and how Oregon is close to becoming uninsurable (“Oregon Ski Resort Operations Hang in the Balance” 7/1), I have a suggestion that is way overdue: widespread and dramatic tort reform. I flatly reject trial lawyer Joe Piucci’s assertion that SB 1196…
Building an Off-Grid Home
The dream of building an off-grid home has captured the imaginations of many people, promising independence, sustainability, and a deeper connection to nature. But if there’s one truth we’ve learned firsthand from building our off-grid home in Central Oregon, it’s this: it’s a rewarding journey, but far from simple, and almost always more expensive and…
The Medicine Cabinet Within
For over a hundred years heart disease has consistently been the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2023, it accounted for approximately 22% of all American deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The reasons for this are complex, on one hand having to do with the fact that other endemic…
Source Warmup
Wildfire Roundup The Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked for two wildfires burning in Central Oregon. The Act has been invoked six times so far this wildfire season. The Cram Fire was reported at 5:30pm Sunday, July 13, north of Madras on Highway 97, south of the juncture with Highway 293. Gusty winds and hot…
Pho Viet's Makeover
We’re always looking out for the locals,” said Lisa Nguyen, co-owner of Pho Viet & Café, along with her husband, Son. Since buying the restaurant in December 2022, the Nguyens have not regretted the nearly half million-dollar investment. “It’s been a very fortunate decision, no regrets. It’s a nice community, the locals are so nice,…
Old Mill Expansion
The Old Mill District, known for shops, galleries and restaurants, is adding apartment rentals to its portfolio. In September, construction will get underway to prepare the ground for three new buildings at the northern end of the shopping center. Building X will be 8,700 square feet along the riverfront trail, across from Pastini’s, where the…
Support Local Veterans at the Cascades of Bend Food Drive
Cascades of Bend invites the community to take part in a special event that gives back to those who’ve served our country. On Wednesday, Aug. 13, residents of Bend and the surrounding areas can show their support for local Veterans by participating in a Drive-Through Food Drive benefiting Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO). This convenient,…
Miller’s Landing Park: A Recently Polished Jewel in the Old Bend Neighborhood
If you find yourself overheating on a summer day, dog in tow, you arguably couldn’t pick a better place to cool off than the newly renovated Miller’s Landing Park, tucked along the Deschutes River in the Old Bend neighborhood. After a six-month renovation that began late last year and involved removing the boardwalk that had…
Historic Run of the Klamath Inspires Global Commitment to Dam Removal
Hundreds of miles from its source in Oregon, the Klamath River takes a hard left before finally spilling into the Pacific Ocean near Requa, California. A sand spit serves as the last barrier for the sweet waters of the river to finally merge with the salty brine of the sea — the river waters pressing…
Local Housing Market Mellows
The housing market in Bend has slowed dramatically compared to last summer. The latest Beacon report states the median price of a home in Bend is now $693,000, down from the peak of $832,000 in April. The number of homes sold in June was 166, which is higher than a year ago with 145 homes…
Amaterra’s Menu Debuts with Some Heavy Hitters
To those less observant, nothing much appears to have changed at the posh bar and restaurant space on the northwest corner of Bond and Minnesota. There’s still a gleaming bar. A mix of historic charm and updated glam still pervades the space. Bottles of backlit wine stand sentry, the prime pieces of décor. But in…
Governor’s Cell Phone Ban is Worth Gamble to Improve Student Outcomes
For years, Oregon has struggled to do its best in the arena of K-12 education. Graduation rates have crept up over the past several years in districts including Bend-La Pine Schools, but overall, the state continues to lag behind nearly every other state for on-time graduation rates. Many educators and parents can offer reasons for…
Still Flying at 52
I train hard, but I’ve also had the consequences of it too. I’ve broken femurs. I have a paralyzed leg still… I have friends that are dead and I have friends that are paralyzed.” Justin Homan is a true FMX (freestyle motocross) legend. In an extreme sport where riders launch 200+ pound dirt bikes dozens…
DD Ranch
Perhaps you’ve seen their beef at the local farmersmarkets, honey at Newport Market or even visited the ranch during their October pumpkin patches, but the true story behind DD Ranch nestled in Terrebonne is one of relentless work and unwavering determination. The Anspach family, owners of DD Ranch, not only manage to somehow maintain a…
Gillam Working His Way up the Rugby Ladder
In August, Jupiter Gillam is heading to college in North Carolina. However, the air miles he’ll earn moving across the country, and coming home for holidays and visits, are a drop in the bucket compared to those he’s racked up since graduating from Mountain View High School in 2024. “I just wanted to get out…
Celebrate National Moth Week July 19-27
National Moth Week, #MothWeek2025, is a celebration and opportunity to contribute to a global citizen science project focused on primarily nocturnal creatures that flit and flitter through our backyards, local parks, woodlands, and wildlands under the cover of darkness. Fascinating yet often misunderstood, moths evolved over 200 million years ago from butterfly-like insects. With over…
Human of Steel
I’m tired of having to point this out about movies, television shows and daily life, so I think this is the last time I’m ever going to broach this topic and I’m going to do so in a way I hope isn’t too terribly offensive: If you think the new “Superman” movie is “woke” then…
Making Music & Engaging the Community
There’s some big news regarding one of the best-kept secrets in Bend. A legendary, low profile company that has been making acoustic guitars by hand since 1990 now has a Nashville connection. Two Old Hippies Guitars, LLC, the parent company of Breedlove and Bedell Guitars, has announced the completed sale of the company to Nashville-based…
Penelope Road – On the Cusp of a Magnificent Story
With talent beyond their young 20-something years and immense passion for their craft, it feels as though this Atlanta-based five-piece band will soon reach a level of fame that few musicians attain. A listen to their most recent releases, “Out Tonight” and “Flowers (Carry Me Home)” shows their skill as songwriters, singers (the band features…
Horoscope Week of July 17, 2025
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ancient beekeepers in Anatolia carved hives directly into rock faces, coaxing honey from the cliffs. This practice was designed to protect bees from harsh weather and predators while maximizing honey production. The bees adapted well to their unusual homes. I suspect, Cancerian, that in the coming weeks, your sweetness and bounty…
