Repair Cafe Summer Series
The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project coordinates with an amazing group of volunteer fixers to host Repair Cafés every few months. The goal of these events is to extend the life of our stuff through repair, and build community while we’re at it. You can bring things like jewelry, small appliances and electronics, outdoor gear,…
2nd Birthday & 300th Adoption Press Release
Playful Paws Cat Café, Bend’s favorite place to relax with rescue cats, is thrilled to celebrate two paws-itively exciting milestones: its 300th successful cat adoption and its 2nd birthday! Since opening its doors in August 2023, Playful Paws Cat Café has become a cherished Bend staple, offering guests a one-of-a-kind space to relax, recharge, and…
Volunteer with ONDA
To improve habitat resiliency and ecosystem health, ONDA offers volunteer opportunities across the high desert. Options include hosted group stewardship trips and independent stewardship projects in beautiful and iconic central and eastern Oregon locations. We encourage people of all abilities and backgrounds to participate. New trips and projects are announced twice per year, with opportunities…
Five Convictions Thrown out Due to Former Sheriff Kent van der Kamp’s Dishonesty
Kent van der Kamp’s past dishonesty and misconduct have cost the former Deschutes County Sheriff his career in Oregon law enforcement. Now, van der Kamp’s transgressions have resulted in five convictions being overturned by the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, the Source has learned. Each of these five cases were tried in Deschutes County Circuit…
From Campground to Common Ground
Following months of careful deliberation and community input, the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners voted on July 21 to move forward with Central Oregon’s new managed camp for people experiencing houselessness. The vote was 2-1, with Commissioners Patti Adair and Phil Chang voting yes and Commissioner Tony DeBone opposing. The board approved up…
Roundabout Books to Host Jonathan Bach to Explore the Bend Housing Crisis in His New Book “High Desert, Higher Costs”
Bend, ORE – Monday, August 4, 2025 – Roundabout Books will host Jonathan Bach, raised in Bend, to discuss his new book, “High Desert, Higher Costs: Bend and the Housing Crisis in the American West”, grown out of his 2021 “Portland Business Journal” article about Bend’s runaway housing market. The event takes place at Roundabout…
Off Target: How the managers of Oregon’s $100 billion pension fund ignored expert guidance and lost big
Earlier this year, Grant School District Superintendent Mark Witty faced a $900,000 hike in what his district needs to pay this coming year to the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund. It was a crippling announcement. The cause of the increase? Lousy investment returns by the state agency empowered to invest public employees’ money. And when investment…
Meteor Shower Lights Up Oregon Dark Skies
There’s something magical about shooting stars that brings out the kid in all of us. No matter your age, spotting a meteor streak across the night sky never gets old. This month, Oregon skywatchers have the chance to catch nature’s fireworks show. The Perseid meteor shower runs from July 17 through August 23, hitting its…
Governor Kotek Declares Drought Emergency in Douglas, Morrow, and Union Counties
Salem OR – Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought in Douglas, Morrow, and Union counties through Executive Order 25-18 and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. A link to Executive Order 25-18 can be found here. Union County According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Union County has been experiencing…
Judge in PacifiCorp Wildfire Trials Wants to Quadruple the Court’s Pace
A Multnomah County circuit judge has adopted an ambitious new schedule to speed up a class action lawsuit PacifiCorp faces over Oregon’s 2020 wildfires. Judge Steffan Alexander approved a new case management order July 28 that will quadruple the number of damages trials by February. The new schedule calls for four damages trials to run simultaneously.…
LISTEN: Grand Craft Bend with Abstrax
In this episode, we meet Barbara Stone and Nathan Smith from Abstrax, the cannabis and beer industry extract company, to discuss how terpenes are revolutionizing the cannabis, beer, and entire CPG (consumer packaged goods) industries and why Bend breweries get first crack at these innovations thanks to Smith, who’s a local. LISTEN NOW
Redmond Police Department to Host National Night Out Community Event in Centennial Park
On Tuesday, August 5, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. the City of Redmond Police Department (RPD) will host a National Night Out community event at Centennial Park. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. The event is…
Headline: Sunriver Art Fair Returns to Village at Sunriver Aug. 8-10
The Sunriver Art Fair returns to the scenic Village at Sunriver Aug. 8-10, with over 80 fine artists bringing unique, juried art to Central Oregon. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, this “Village within the Village” has been a popular destination for visitors and locals…
Action Night
Feeling exhausted by the state of the world? Frustrated with politics? Overwhelmed by the lack of urgency around the climate crisis and social justice? We are too—and that’s exactly why we’re launching a Summer Advocacy Series! In partnership with Oregon Wild, Sierra Clue Oregon, and City of Bend, we are putting our brains together to…
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Oregon Needs Male Volunteers
This August, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, a program of J Bar J Youth Services, is calling on men across Central Oregon to step up and make a difference in a child’s life. With over 70 boys currently waiting for a Big Brother, Big Brothers Big Sisters has launched a bold campaign to…
Some Parks to See Updates to Parking Fees and Seasonal Camping Rates
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is updating some visitor fees at select parks as part of a broader, proactive effort to build a more resilient financial future for Oregon State Parks. Starting Oct. 1, 2025, Oregon State Parks will no longer waive the parking fee at 21 additional day-use parks. The parking fee is…
Tickets Go On Sale Next Week!
Get ready! Next week, Friends of the Children Central Oregon is opening up ticket sales for the Abundance Dinner & Auction on September 18, 2025 at the beautiful Friends Ranch. This unforgettable evening will feature a farm-to-table feast by Bowtie Catering and SweetLuv Bakery, inspiring stories from youth, a live auction packed with incredible experiences, and a first look…
Mid Oregon Launches Annual Supplies 4 Schools Fundraiser
Mid Oregon Credit Union, in partnership with the Family Access Network (FAN), is excited to announce the kickoff of its annual Supplies 4 Schools fundraiser throughout the month of August. This initiative helps supply K-12 students across Central Oregon with the essential tools they need for a successful academic year. How to Donate: Beginning August 1, community members can…
Mt. Bachelor partners with St. Charles on medical services
Starting this winter, health care providers from St. Charles will begin offering services to guests and employees of Mt. Bachelor at the clinic located in the ski patrol building near the West Village area. Providers from St. Charles Urgent Care clinics will staff the St. Charles Mountain Clinic Fridays through Sundays and during holidays. “We…
Roundabout Books to Host Workshop on “The Teen’s Guide to Emotions”
Roundabout Books is pleased to host authors Jamie Lockwood and Liz Fletcher to run a workshop for adolescents on their new workbook “The Teen’s Guide to Emotions”. The workbook equips teens with the tools for navigating their emotions, making wise choices and maintaining healthy relationships. As teenagers ready themselves for the new school year, this…
Deschutes River Water Levels To Drop Temporarily
The water level in the Deschutes River will be lowered through Sunday to aid Search & Rescue teams looking for a missing man who went over Dillon Falls on an inner tube July 19. Press Release: The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to locating the third victim from the tragic water-related incident that occurred…
Oregon Raptor Center Receives Two New Owls
Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene announced the addition of two new fledgling raptors to its ambassador team: a baby Snowy Owl and a baby Northern Hawk Owl. Despite their small stature, the two owls have big personalities. To celebrate the new ambassadors, Cascades Raptor Center is launching a baby shower campaign. Community members who…
Governor Kotek Issues Notice of Potential Vetoes for 2025 Legislative Session
Pursuant to Article V, Section 15b(4), of the Oregon Constitution, Governor Tina Kotek provided notice to the Legislature that she is considering vetoes of the following bills and budget items from the 2025 legislative session. The Governor has until August 8, 2025, to take final action. Policy bills: House Bill 3824 – Allows physical therapists to…
Ballot Initiative Seeks to Repeal New Permit Fees on Paddleboards & Kayaks
A trio of petitioners aims to repeal a new law that would require paddle-boarders and flatwater kayakers to pay state permit fees starting in January. “I think it goes against our constitutional rights,” says Angela Epperson, a Hermiston resident who enjoys kayaking on the Columbia and Umatilla Rivers. “I just think they’ve gone too far.” In…
Fact-checking local claims about unhoused residents in the Bend Central District
Source readers may have read Julianna LaFollette’s story about plans to make the so-called underutilized Bend Central District a walkable community hub. While stakeholders on the project say it’s off to a slower-than-desirable start, they explain this renovation is still underway, while also paying attention to unhoused residents and crime in the BCD. Sheila Miller,…
Beyond the Trip
Since Oregon became the first state to legalize supported adult psilocybin use in 2020 under Measure 109, most media attention has focused on the so-called “heroic dose”—the 30-40 milligram, four-six hour guided psychedelic trip that promises a mystical, mind-expanding journey. But for the experts working in the field, the real story begins once the trip…
Abstrax’s Extracts Are on the Nose
I’d like to open by issuing Abstrax’s national sales manager, Barbara Stone, an apology. In discussing the brave new world of smell and taste wrought by Abstrax’s 100% plant-derived terpene extracts—a terpene being the aromatic compound found in all plant life and notoriously central to the world of cannabis—I provincially asked if dosing cannabis products…
The Commonwealth Pub: Live Music, Events & Game Day Energy
Since opening last November on Bend’s west side, The Commonwealth Pub has made good on its promise to be more than just a watering hole. Built with music in mind, it offers top-notch sound, room to dance and live bands nearly every night of the week. The Commonwealth also boasts big-screen sports, trivia, “Table Tennis…
Meaningful Homecoming
A musical son of Bend is returning for a homecoming gig at one of his favorite venues. Former Bend resident Tyler Parsons, now of Seattle, is playing Aug. 16 at Silver Moon Brewing. The Source reached out to Parsons with questions through email. Background “I’ve been playing music for the greater part of 15 years, most…
Horoscope Week of July 31, 2025
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In ancient China and ancient Greece, the lion was not the king of beasts, but the guardian of gates. The threshold keeper. The one who asked, “Are you ready?” Now is a good time to bring this aspect of Leonine symbolism to your attention. You may soon feel a surge of…
Letters to the Editor 07/31/2025
Prioritize Long-Term Recovery We continue to allocate funding toward temporary solutions that fail to address the root causes of homelessness. Rather than investing taxpayer dollars in managing individuals in low-barrier environments where long-term progress is often limited, we should redirect these resources toward high-barrier shelters that provide structured support and require participation in treatment programs.…
Farmers Market Finds
Farmers markets are no longer primarily produce stands. You can purchase individual items to make a feast by stopping by the Bend Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Dozens of booths spread the length of Brooks Alley, spilling into the plaza in front of The Commons Cafe and Taproom. Start with an appetizer of uniquely flavored hummus…
Chia Roadside Stand Offers Sourdough Baked Goods
Good sourdough only requires three things, says Liz McCarthy. Flour, water, and salt. Oh, and attention. “You have to take care of your starter. If you don’t, it will not make good bread,” says McCarthy, 55, a longtime resident of Deschutes River Woods, where she has her small home-based Rooted Bakery at 19126 Kiowa Road.…
Will “Criminalizing Homelessness” Come with Funds that the Big Beautiful Bill Just Took Away?
For years, Oregon’s leaders have sought to address the crisis of homelessness with a compassionate approach. At least since the pandemic, funds — largely contributed by the federal government — have helped cities, including Bend and Redmond, vastly build out shelter capacity and expand wraparound services and treatment, all in an effort to ultimately move…
Savage in Bend
“Recently, a local told me she was born on Hospital Hill. I had no idea what she meant. Do you know the story?” Absolutely! When I moved to Bend, I heard the same thing. People born on a hill? Bend was a smaller town not so long ago, sure, but the citizens weren’t that backwards,…
Source Warmup
Woman Arrested After Setting Two Small Fires Bend Police arrested a 45-year-old Bend woman in connection with two brush fires near Sawyer Park. Shortly after 11pm on Saturday, July 26, multiple callers reported a fire on the west side of the Deschutes River. Bend Fire & Rescue quickly contained the fire, then requested law enforcement…
Immaculate Vibes
Look, if there’s one thing that Bendites love, it’s a patio in the summer with a happy doggo, a microbrew and some delectable cuisine. In fact, patios have become so synonymous with the Central Oregon experience that you’d be hard pressed to find a spot without one that doesn’t offer some combination of good beer,…
Jack Ryan: From Paralyzed to Peaks
“I had a goal in mind, I’m gonna walk out of this hospital. That’s the only goal.” Jack Ryan is defined by grit, determination and unwavering will. His life has unfolded through bold adventures, intense sports and even guiding surfers in Nicaragua. That all took shape before a life-threatening injury radically transformed everything. He faced…
The Dry Canyon Club
A new tap house and food cart lot opened July 1 in the heart of a neighborhood off NW Hemlock Avenue in Redmond. The Dry Canyon Club has six food trucks, a coffee stand and just about any type of beverage a person could think up. The food cart lot is unique in that it’s literally…
Something Witchy This Way Comes
For Bend locals, certain names have been a part of the arts and culture scene for so long that it’s hard to imagine the evolution of the scene without them. Jesse Locke has been directing, shooting and editing features, documentaries and music videos as long as there has been a burgeoning film community here and…
Governor Kotek Signs Bills to Support Public Schools, Improve Student Outcomes
Today, Governor Tina Kotek commemorated the signing of Senate Bill 141,House Bill 2140, House Bill 3037, and House Bill 3040, all bipartisan legislation aimed at improving Oregon students’ academic outcomes. She signed the bills alongside advocates, legislators, and local leaders. “Getting public education right is one of the biggest promises we make to Oregonians. Students…
The Music We Need Right Now: Yächtley Crëw
I count myself as part of one of the fortunate generations that got to grow up listening to the music that is now known throughout the world as Yacht Rock. The term for this genre of music was coined by some comedians in 2005 and now Yacht Rock boasts multiple radio stations, as well as a…
Canning Salsa Safely with OSU Extension5
Do you want to learn how to can salsa that is safe to eat? Come join a hands-on workshop taught by Master Food Preservers on Wednesday, August 13, 9:00 am to noon at the OSU Extension office in Redmond. Participants will learn how to process canned foods with a boiling water canner or a steam…
OBRC Says Big Layoffs at Glass Plant Will Not Imperil Bottle Bill
Owens Brockway, the glass company that operates a recycling and manufacturing facility in Northeast Portland, announced this morning it will lay off 90 workers and close its bottle manufacturing line. That’s bad news for the state’s wobbly economy and tough for a company that is crucial to Oregon’s iconic Bottle Bill. (Owens Brockway is part…
Tenley’s Top Ten
Buying in Central Oregon is more than a transaction—it’s a lifestyle choice. With sun-drenched high desert views, snow-capped mountains and an ever-growing community spirit. But before you dive in, take a moment to reflect. Here are my Top Ten Questions to ask yourself before making a move. 1. Why Central Oregon and why now? Are…
Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, Purcell Boulevard Roundabout
Construction Ahead of Schedule
Progress on the Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, and Purcell Boulevard roundabout construction is ahead of schedule due to remarkable coordination among the project teams. Crews now anticipate completing the work within this year’s construction season, with no need for an additional intersection closure next spring. Please note the Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, and…
Last Call for Summer Brews!
Central Oregon and Bend in particular still rank as one of the top five regions with the most breweries per capita. Tourists coming to Bend are looking for adventure, food, beer and our year-round Après Culture. After a float on the river, a bike ride or hike along one of Bend’s many scenic trails –…
