the Source August 28, 2025

Aug 28-Sept 4 / Vol. 29 / No. 35

Cover Story

Veo: a (Near) Crash Course in Responsible E-Bike Ridesharing

For a period in July, my relationship with two wheels turned upside down.  There, parked in the grass outside the Source office, I spied a new Cosmo-e, one of 227 e-bikes distributed by Veo throughout Bendโ€™s streets since July 10. I was aware that Veo, a micromobility rideshare company, had contracted with the City ofโ€ฆ

Free Infant and Toddler Child Care Available

NeighborImpactโ€™s Child Care Resources is currently accepting applications for Baby Promise, a no-cost child care program for families with children ages six weeks to three years old. Baby Promise offers full-year, full-time child care through a network of licensed providers across Central Oregon. Baby Promise is more than free child care, it’s a comprehensive support programโ€ฆ

Pavilion-Palooza Event

Pavilion Palooza is back and even better โ€“ itโ€™s FREE! Pavilion Palooza is a fun-filled afternoon with roller skating, skatepark features, music by DJ Teafly, drums and hula performance by Hokuleโ€™a of Central Oregon, art and sports activities and more. Hosted by the Bend Park & Recreation Foundation, the event is free thanks to Oldโ€ฆ

Free upcoming NAMI Central Oregon Family program trainings

Family ย Support Group Facilitator training – Sept. 11 & 12: Learn how to lead NAMI Family Support Groups for loved ones of mental health challenges. Sept 11 & 12, 2025. Zoom option available.ย ย Family members provide a large part of the support that people with mental health challenges need. Often, they do it in isolation withโ€ฆ

Survey Could Determine Future Of Direct E-Filing Option

The Oregon Department of Revenue is encouraging Oregon taxpayers to participate in an anonymous IRS feedback survey on tax preparation and filing options, which will run through September 2, 2025. Oregon is one of 25 states that partnered with the IRS to provide a free option for taxpayers to file tax year 2024 returns electronicallyโ€ฆ

Roundabout Books Kicks Off 4th Annual Author FREE Event Series

Roundabout Books is pleased to host seven authors in a series of free online and in-person events, whose books have been selected for the Oregon Battle of the Books 2025-2026 annual reading motivational program for kids in 3rd – 12th grade across Oregon.  These events provide children with an opportunity to meet and connect with the authorsโ€ฆ

Everclear

When Everclear released its 1995 sophomore bow and major label debut, โ€œSparkle and Fade,โ€ the then-trio of guitarist/vocalist Art Alexakis, drummer/vocalist Greg Eklund and bassist/vocalist Alex Montoya had no idea how drastically the albumโ€™s success would alter the trajectory of the band.  Riding the success of the wildly popular single โ€œSanta Monica,โ€ the album wentโ€ฆ

Horoscope Week of Aug. 28

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Centuries ago, builders in Venice, Italy, drove countless wooden pilings deep into the waterlogged mud of the lagoon to create a stable base for future structures. These timber foundations were essential because the soil was too weak to support stone buildings directly. Eventually, the wood absorbed minerals from the surrounding muddyโ€ฆ

Japanese Language and Food Class

A series of cooking-language classes is being offered at the Bend Language Institute. The unique pairing will combine Japanese food with instruction in basic Japanese language. Itโ€™s being led by the Instituteโ€™s instructor, Chieko Saito. The first language-in-action-workshop on Sunday, Oct. 5 will feature California Rolls and Miso Soup. A class description states while Californiaโ€ฆ

The Psychedelic Frontier

Q: The Healing Advocacy Fund has been leading the way in access to psychedelic services in Oregon, and recently released a study with findings from their work. It would be great if you would mention it in your column. A: Certainly! The Healing Advocacy Fund (HAF) has been at the forefront of expanding access to psilocybinโ€ฆ

Calling Out Vote by Mail is Another Distraction. Moving On.

Attacks on immigrants. Recriminations of the press. Accusations of corrupt elections. While we are getting tired of all the same baseless, harmful tropes that the President of the United States keeps trotting out on social media, we recognize that it is important to reiterate the importance of good governance.  The latest threat โ€” to abolishโ€ฆ

Letters to the Editor

Re: New Leadership Steps Into the Towerโ€™s Spotlight (Aug. 6) Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about the Tower Theatre. We value community input and want to clarify a few points while also extending an invitation to experience whatโ€™s happening on our stage. The Tower is proud to serve as a nonprofitโ€ฆ

Emergency Vote Aims to Prevent Massive Cuts and Layoffsย 

Oregon lawmakers will hold a special session on Aug. 29 to consider funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation. The governorโ€™s proposal includes raising payroll and gas taxes as well as vehicle registration fees. It also seeks to stronger accountability. Recent investigations into ODOT have revealed a lack of financial transparency.    Thousands of Oregoniansโ€ฆ

Whistleblowers, Nervous Breakdowns and TPS Reports

I have no idea how you feel about your job. Some people live the dream every day by being doctors, lawyers, marine biologists, or celebrity chefs, while others wake up with a pit of dread in the morning as the alarm clock wrenches them from the sweet release of dreams of a different life. Theโ€ฆ

Flat Fire Forces Evacuationsย 

As of Monday, Aug. 25, the fast-moving Flat Fire in Central Oregon was 5% contained.  Eric Perkins, operations section chief for the Oregon Department of Forestry, reported on Monday morning that the fire stopped advancing forward. โ€œLots of structures in along this southern end of the fire as it moves into town … that fireโ€ฆ

Rewilding Words

I recently came across the word โ€œlandholder,โ€ an indigenous term for tree. How magical! An expression that speaks in the tongue of the thing itself. How can we reshape our daily language to reflect that notion, to get us out of our word silos? It strikes me that maintaining the diversity of language guards theโ€ฆ

Smells Like a Sale

When it comes to selling your home, youโ€™ve probably thought about fresh paint, staging, and curb appeal. But hereโ€™s a secret weapon most sellers overlook- scent. The moment a buyer steps inside a home, their brain begins processing not just what they see, but what they smell. A welcoming scent can create an instant emotional connection.โ€ฆ

Balancing Act

  Learning to balance on one ski and shift to the other has taught Neve Gerard more than just how to race โ€” it’s become a metaphor for managing her demanding life. A Bend High School graduate, she is an award-winning skier whose accolades include representing the United States at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympicsโ€ฆ

State Invests $10M in Disaster-Ready CORE3 Facilityย 

The state has approved nearly $10 million in funding for a major emergency response and training facility near the Redmond airport. “The CORE3 facilities are designated for first responder training and for providing a multi-agency emergency operations center in support of large-scale emergencies,” said Deschutes County Commissioner Chair Tony DeBone in a news release. “Weโ€ฆ

An Old Bend Rebirth

Iโ€™ve lived in Bend for a long time and seen some amazing restaurants come and go, some of which whose absence I still miss on the daily. One of those places I still miss is the Taco Stand in Old Bend off Hill Street. In college, that was one of the few places I couldโ€ฆ

Chicago

James Pankow may be known as a founding member and resident trombone player/arranger/songwriter in Chicago, but for a gaggle of grandkids living on the West Coast, heโ€™s Papa. Itโ€™s a respite he recently enjoyed before bouncing back into his aforementioned musical role as Chicago returns for its 58th year as a unit. Averaging between 80โ€ฆ

Ballers & Brews Opens Sept. 21

Ballers & Brews is opening next month in northeast Bend. Itโ€™s a mash-up of pickleball courts, cocktails and cravings. Owner Leslie Koegler is offering more than another food truck lot. There will be two covered pickleball courts that can be used year-round. In the winter, a vinyl wrap will enclose the heated courts. Court rentalsโ€ฆ


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