Cover Story
Oiling the Cogs of the Housing Industry
Amid an ongoing housing crisis, homebuilders, first-time homebuyers and the building appraisal industry are on their way to earning big wins not just in Oregon, but throughout the country. Two bills, either authored or co-authored by U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05), are aimed at building more houses, decreasing housing costs and speeding up the licensing…
Oregon Department of Forestry Scores Futuristic Wildfire Detection Airplane
The Oregon Department of Forestry will be stationing a new, multi-mission airplane, equipped with technology out of a sci-fi movie, in Prineville — just in time for fire season. The Twin Otter, which some appreciators refer to as a “Twotter,” will relieve ODF’s Partenavia P.68 Observer airplane, which will be retired after more than three…
New Mexican Restaurant
A new Mexican restaurant has opened in northeast Bend. Dani’s Taco Shop has a robust menu starting with breakfast plates and burritos with eggs, potatoes, cheese and vegetarian and meat options such as beef, ham and chorizo. Other menu items include a variety of tortas, tacos, soups and more. The menu is vast and there’s…
Embracing What’s Real & Important in Life
Cinematographer Greg Balkin made a short film in 2023 that so inspired him he’s organizing an event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The 24-minute film, “The Life We Have,” which was shown during last year’s BendFilm Festival, follows Rob Shaver of San Antonio, Texas, for more than a year. After being diagnosed…
Understanding MDMA’s Gifts and Challenges
Q: I’ve enjoyed MDMA recreationally several times with friends – the euphoria and deep connection to music, environment, and community feels profound. However, I consistently experience blues and low energy in the days following. Can you help me understand why this happens and how to minimize it? I’m also curious about MDMA’s therapeutic potential -…
Free Will Astrology, Week of March 26
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries poet Maya Angelou proclaimed, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” In that spirit, Aries, I urge you to tell everyone everything—all your secret thoughts, hidden feelings, and private opinions. Post your diary online! Confess your fantasies to strangers! Share your unfiltered inner monologue with…
You Name It
I’m not talking about the nonhuman animate things we name, such as pets, even plants, but rather the inanimate things, like houses, boats, cars or even vacuum cleaners. I grew up in houses named Up Yonder and Verte Feuille, learned to sail in the Me Too. Since moving to Oregon, houses have been christened Dorothy’s,…
Political Hopefuls, Sisters Mayor Face Off in Deschutes County Commission Position 5 Race
Four candidates are running for Deschutes County Commission Position 5, a brand-new seat added by a 2024 ballot measure expanding the county commission from three to five members. The late addition of Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz added another layer of complexity to the May 19 primary, likely shrinking the chances that any candidate will receive the 50% of the vote needed to…
Larry and His Flask — Happily, Half Full
“Don’t lose hope, because it’s not impossible that we might play again.” So said Larry and His Flask member Andrew Carew, addressing fans in the farewell-ish article “Is the Flask Empty?” the Source published in early 2020. Yet to the delight of fans, Larry and His Flask are back, for the time being, at least,…
RIP, ‘Pee Tunnel.’ Do You Really Want to Fight to Keep It?
Whether you’re walking, rolling or driving, there’s not much to love about Bend’s Franklin Avenue tunnel. It’s used as a public restroom, is unsafe and when it rains, it turns into a flooded disaster. A number of years ago, hopeful volunteers painted the walls inside the tunnel to make the area more cheerful. Attempting to…
Taste Testing a New Product
Su Embree was once a public policy research and data scientist for DHM Research, which conducts surveys and deep dive analysis for a variety of clients. Today, she’s hosting pop-up food events in the Bend area to gather her own research on her Asian marinade and sauce business, Saute, which she launched last May. “Saute began…
In Space, No One Can Hear You Hug
I had an epiphany while watching “Project Hail Mary.” Ryan Gosling could have played Marty in “Marty Supreme,” but Timothée Chalamet could never have played Ryland Grace in “Project Hail Mary.” There’s an effortless charisma to what Gosling does here that feels like a future Best Actor nomination, without question. It’s a movie star performance…
Break Up With Your House
You loved it once. The creaky floors were “charming.” The tiny kitchen was “efficient.” The weird nook under the stairs had “potential.” But lately? The vibes are off. Before you insist, “We’re fine,” let’s talk about the signs it might be time to break up with your house. Gently, respectfully, but firmly. 1. “Cozy” Has…
Weaving Heaven and Earth
Composer and musician Chris Thomas invites listeners into a conversation that spans centuries and continents with his new work, “Celestial Threads,” written for mezzo soprano and chamber orchestra. The piece draws its inspiration from 10 traditional Korean sijo poems, weaving them into a musical dialogue between heaven and earth. Though the poems are brief, they…
So You Think Poetry’s Not for You…
Whether you see yourself as a reader of poetry or not, in honor of National Poetry Month in April, I’d like to challenge you to lean into poetry. As a friend of mine described them, poems are “powerful, silly, introspective, invasive, descriptive, short, long, weird, punctuationally diverse” and so much more. You may discover something…
Deschutes County Asks Redmond to Pause Homeless Camp Sweep
Deschutes County asked the City of Redmond to pause the eviction of dozens of homeless campers from undeveloped land in a City-owned industrial park, saying the move would add chaos to an effort to remedy homelessness in the area and make way for development. The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners approved a letter detailing the request at a meeting March 18. That came one week after the Redmond City Council agreed to start notifying people living in tents and trailers on…
State Clears Hurdle for 450-Home Mixed-Income Community in Northeast Redmond
A state land use policy board agreed to tweak the rules of a 10-year-old affordable housing experiment that should help lift a 450-home development in northeast Redmond off the ground. Utilities are set and new streets will be paved this spring at a 40-acre site in northwest Redmond, slated to become a new community called Northpoint Vista. But much of the home building…
Letters to the Editor, Week of March 26
Privacy belongs in Bend’s public conversation I recently attended my first Deschutes Democrats meeting and came away with a simple conclusion: Bend needs to start talking a lot more seriously about privacy. At the meeting, I asked U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum what national privacy bills are worth tracking and who constituents should contact to better…
