Parks Board Re-Evaluates the Reality of a Southern Pedestrian Bridge
The Bend Park and Recreation Board on Feb. 18 unanimously voted in favor of further exploring the feasibility of a highly supported bike and pedestrian bridge crossing the Deschutes River, near Bend’s southern urban growth boundary. The decision puts a plan in motion to examine the viability of a trail connection that aims to close…
Early Trump Initiatives and Effects
National Hiring Freeze Enacted: As one of his first actions on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating a freeze on the hiring of all federal civilian positions — no vacant position can be filled and no new position may be created. Potential Impacts: • Inability for the Forest Service to hire seasonal firefighters…
Source Warmup
On Feb. 18, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to an avalanche burial in the area between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top, commonly known as Happy Valley. The reported avalanche occurred near Snowmobile Trail 8 between the junction with Trail 88 and Trail 6 (Forest Service Road 370). The avalanche resulted in the death…
Nome Italiano Unexpectedly Shutters
Over the weekend, would-be-patrons at Bend’s popular Nome Italiano were surprised to find the restaurant’s doors locked and a sign announcing the eatery’s closure. It was a sudden end to a once-promising restaurant that opened in 2022, coming in runner-up in this paper’s popular Best of Central Oregon competition for best new restaurant that year…
COCC Seeks Artist for $30K Madras Campus Commission
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is currently accepting proposals for a commissioned outdoor sculptural installation, with a compensation of up to $30,000, to become part of the Madras campus’s newly expanded site. Deadline for applications is March 7. Visit cocc.edu/departments/foundation/growing-together or contact madrasartcall@cocc.edu or 541-383-7225 to learn more. The art acquisition is being made possible…
Redmond Seeks Applications for Open City Committee and Commission Positions
City of Redmond is seeking applications to fill current vacancies on city committees and commissions. Applications for youth ex-officio positions are also being accepted. Youth ex-officio positions were created to encourage youth involvement in city business and to create an opportunity for them to voice their concerns and ideas on community issues. Applications are available…
Savor and Celebrate
Bethlehem Inn invites the community to its Savor and Celebrate Open House on Wednesday, February 26, from 10:00 AM to Noon. The event will take place in the Inn’s dining room at its Bend location, 20363 Mervin Sampels Road. Bethlyn Rider, the Inn’s new Kitchen Manager, will be on hand to welcome guests to this…
Habitat for Humanity Accepting Applications for Homeownership in Redmond
Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity is excited to announce that applications are now open for 18 new homes in Southwest Redmond. This latest development comes as Habitat continues to meet the need for hardworking families and individuals to achieve affordable, sustainable homeownership in Central Oregon. Located at 4300 SW Quartz Ave., Ward Commons features single-family detached…
COCC Announces Dr. Greg Pereira as New President
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Greg Pereira as the institution’s seventh president. Dr. Pereira, a seasoned higher education leader with extensive experience in academic and student affairs, will begin his term in July 2025. He succeeds Dr. Laurie Chesley, who has served as…
Nonprofit Office Space Available at Deschutes Children’s Foundation
Deschutes Children’s Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of office space for nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving children and families at the Rosie Bareis Campus, located in beautiful Northwest Bend at 1029 NW 14th St. The campus is home to several community-focused organizations, including CASA Central Oregon, Community Solutions, the Deschutes Children’s Foundation admin…
Love, Sheep and Other Disasters
February has been a mellow month for movies so far, with studios front-loading theaters with the midsize movies they don’t have a ton of faith in gaining box office momentum. This is normal as the studios usually wait until after the Oscars to start leaning into the films they’re excited for. February is historically when…
Sip, Savor and Celebrate at The Suttle Lodge’s Winter Beer Fest
A three-day weekend filled with craft beer, fresh mountain air and a cozy lodge in the winter — few things capture the essence of Central Oregon quite like that. Beer lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike can head to The Suttle Lodge for a weekend of brews, live music and community when the lodge’s fifth annual…
Cold Weather and City Goals
Cold Weather Preparation in Redmond With snow on the ground and the weather calling for extreme cold temperatures in the coming days, including single-digit and sub-zero temperatures in some areas, Deschutes County advises people to stay warm and take precautions. A cold weather advisory covers Central Oregon, with record cold temperatures possible in Madras, Redmond,…
Understanding Intimacy: Hopeful Husband on Valentine’s Day
Dear Dr. Jane, I love my wife. She’s amazing. Our love life is pretty good, but I’m really bad at showing her how much I love her on Valentine’s Day. The other day, I heard her talking to her best friend about it. She was putting me down a little bit. This Valentine’s Day, I…
One Way to Make People Hate Alternative Transportation
Ah, road construction. No matter when it comes, or how long it delays us, it’s going to be a perennial source of conversation. But this month, with the double whammy of lots of snow and the closure of key streets that allow Bendites to get around the center of town, the City of Bend has…
2025 Brings New Chef and Organic, Local Menu to The Jackalope Grill
If you’ve ever thought to yourself: “If only there was a secret garden here in Bend that serves organic, local dishes curated with the utmost attention to detail….” I’ve got great news. The Jackalope Grill is exactly what you’re looking for, and it’s right in the center of downtown Bend. When you arrive, you’ll walk…
Deschutes County Discontinues DEI Program
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 on Feb. 5 to discontinue its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Committee, which worked on issues including pay disparities between male and female county employees, improving access for hearing and visually impaired residents and other accessibility initiatives. The decision comes after orders from President Trump to shut…
Toasty Tipples
The best part of a winter day? Coming back inside, peeling off those frozen mittens and wrapping your hands around a steaming mug of something delicious. Whether you’ve been sledding, skiing or just braving the driveway like a shoveling champ, these winter warmers will thaw you out in no time. From spiked sippers to cozy,…
Latino Community Association’s New Executive Director Sees Challenging Times Ahead
Acceda a una versión de esta historia en español aquí. When Catalina Sánchez Frank applied for the executive director position at the Latino Community Association (LCA) in Bend, she had no idea how much the U.S. presidential election would impact the role. A longtime volunteer with the organization, Sánchez Frank joined LCA a decade ago…
World-Renowned Ken’s Artisan Pizza Opens in Bend This Month
One of the world’s best pizzerias is opening in Bend. Ken’s Artisan Pizza, a beloved Portland institution known for its Neapolitan-style pies, will open its doors on Thursday, Feb. 20 in downtown Bend’s historic Downing Building, which has been renovated from the former Seven nightclub space. The opening marks the end of a two-year journey…
Papillon Brings a Taste of Morocco to Downtown Bend
From Thursday to Saturday evening, Blissful Spoon, a gluten-free, European bistro in downtown Bend, transforms into Papillon — a cozy, Moroccan-inspired dining experience. By day, Blissful Spoon serves European-inspired brunch, but come evening, it shifts into Papillon, with an inviting ambiance and a menu celebrating the flavors of Morocco. With soft lighting, decorative panels and…
Horoscope Week of February 13, 2025
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Borrowing the words of Aquarian author Virginia Woolf, I’ve prepared a love note for you to use as your own. Feel free to give these words to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. “You are the tide that sweeps through the corridors of my…
Letters to the Editor 2/13/2025
Our Values Unite Us The actions coming out of Washington, and more recently out of our County Commission, are causing anxiety and fear among many of our neighbors, especially the members of our Latino community and other underrepresented groups. We’ll all need to work together here in Bend to find ways to deal with those…
Bend Residents Protest Trump Policies
Community members showed up in downtown Bend on Feb. 5 to join a nationwide protest against President Donald Trump. In snow and 20-degree weather, demonstrators carried signs and waved flags in solidarity against early actions and policies being carried out by the Trump administration. People across the nation participated in the “50 States” protest, which…
La Nueva Directora Ejecutiva de La Asociación de la Comunidad Latina ve Tiempos Difíciles por Delante
Cuando Catalina Sánchez Frank solicitó el puesto de directora ejecutiva de la Asociación Comunitaria Latina (LCA) en Bend, no tenía idea de cuánto afectaría el cargo la elección presidencial de Estados Unidos. Sánchez Frank, voluntaria de la organización desde hace mucho tiempo, se unió a LCA hace una década cuando se mudó por primera vez…
Source Warmup
Wyden Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Keep Ski Fees Local On Feb. 10, Sen. Ron Wyden — alongside numerous Republican colleagues from the House and Senate — announced he is co-sponsoring legislation that would keep ski fees local by allowing National Forests to keep a portion of annual fees paid by ski areas operating on U.S.…
The 3 Biggest Mistakes Sellers Are Making Right Now
If you want to sell your house, having the right strategies and expectations is key. But some sellers haven’t adjusted to where the market is today. They’re not factoring in that there are more homes for sale or that buyers are being more selective with their budgets. And those sellers are making some costly mistakes.…
Crossing a Line
The fires in Oregon in 2020 were not the first or only time PacifiCorp’s corporate behavior has been called into question. On June 26, 2012, James Martin was found dead at the wheel of his vehicle. A rapidly moving wildfire near Indianola, Utah, had overtaken him as he was attempting to flee the flames. The…
Rock for All Ages
No matter the decade you grew up in, we’ve all grabbed a broom and played it like a guitar, or sung at the top of our lungs into a comb in front of a steamy bathroom mirror, or shook our head violently while playing the air drums in the back of a car. The common…
Dodging Death
During more than five months of reporting, the Oregon Journalism Project spoke with many survivors of the Santiam Canyon fires of 2020, in addition to Kathleen Becherer. Here are two of their stories: On Sunday, Sept. 6, Diane Turnbull heard what sounded like an explosion. She rushed to the front door of her small home…
