LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break with Cate O’Hagan 🎧
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with longtime arts advocate Cate O’Hagan to discuss the impact of public art in Central Oregon. Cate shares insights from her decades-long career in the cultural sector, from her work with the Portland Art Museum and Oregon Symphony to her leadership at Arts…
In Bend, Shepherd’s House Provides Home and Care for Man Battling Terminal Illness
Sam Adams begins each morning the same way. He rolls out of bed and walks over to the west-facing window in his Rainbow Motel studio. He parts the curtains and then raises the blinds to let the light in. Then, he tilts his head and eyes up toward the sky. “And I say, ‘Good morning,…
Rep. Christine Drazan Wants Investigation of FTX Contribution That Helped Defeat Her in 2022
An attorney representing House Minority Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) has asked state officials to revisit a large, controversial 2022 campaign contribution to the Democratic Party of Oregon. The issue is a $500,000 contribution that, as The Oregonian first reported, was initially improperly attributed. Oregon law requires that political contributions accurately identify the donor. The failure…
Lawmakers Review Benefits and Risks of Financial Tool for Cash-Strapped Workers
There’s plenty of evidence that many Oregonians live paycheck to paycheck — 45% of households do, according to a 2024 survey. And more than 145,000 Oregon workers, according to industry sources, have taken advantage of a relatively new — and currently, in Oregon, unregulated — tool called “earned wage access,” or in the parlance of…
Olney Ave Intersection Closure Causes Traffic Delays
On Feb. 3, the City of Bend closed the intersection of Olney Avenue and Wall Street for construction, causing lengthy traffic delays along nearby roadways. Since the closure, residents have reported long traffic delays along detour routes on Newport and Greenwood Avenues. The City planned the Olney Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvement project in order…
Kiefer Magical Legacy Fund Managed by Rimrock Trails Announces the 2025 Kiefer Leutschaft Memorial Scholarships Offering $1,000 Scholarship Opportunity to Seniors at Redmond and Crook County High Schools
A $1,000 scholarship opportunity is available to seniors from Redmond and Crook County High Schools who are interested in pursuing higher education in psychology, behavioral health, addiction studies, psychiatry, social work, and related fields. Students are encouraged to apply for this scholarship. The top student applicants from both Redmond and Crook County High School will be…
Deschutes River Conservancy and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Announce Move to New Office Space in the Old Mill District
The Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC) and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC) are excited to announce their move to a new office along the Deschutes River in Bend’s Old Mill District. After nearly 30 years of dedicated work to protect and restore the Deschutes Basin, this move marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for…
Warby Parker set to open in the Old Mill District this year
National eyewear retailer Warby Parker is headed to Bend’s Old Mill District later this year. A mission-driven retailer that specializes in affordable, accessible, and stylish eyewear, Warby Parker will move into 1,800 square feet of space in the heart of the Old Mill District, directly adjacent to J.Jill at 520 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 606.…
RendezVan Returns to Mt. Bachelor
The RendezVan festival returns to Mt. Bachelor for year five April 17–20, inviting locals and visitors alike to celebrate spring shredding, live music, and van-life culture in the heart of the resort’s West Village base area. 3-Day Camping Passes go on sale tomorrow (February 5) at noon and can be purchased online at www.rendezvan.com. There…
Central Oregon Locavore Non-Profit is Making Local Happen for All Central Oregonians
Central Oregon Locavore Non-Profit’s indoor farmers’ market serves a community that shares a common interest—to enjoy healthy, locally produced foods. Locavore believes that everyone, regardless of income, should have access to healthy, nutrient-dense foods. We offer three programs to ensure this access, reducing food insecurity and subsequent poor health outcomes in our region. Locavore offers…
Oregon Friendly Driver Looks at 2024 Crash Data and Aims to Reduce Crashes in Oregon
Every time a person steps into a crosswalk or a person riding navigates the road with a car, trust is at play. Trust that drivers will yield. Trust that everyone knows the rules. Trust that we all understand our road network is for moving people via many modes. But with 94 people walking and 12…
Bend Residents Protest Trump Policies
On Feb. 5, community members showed up in downtown Bend 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…
After the Inferno
Kathleen Becherer, 77, retired in 2014 to the Santiam River Canyon, where she hoped for a life filled with “bees, goats and grandkids.” That dream was incinerated in September 2020. The Santiam Fire, which burned 400,000 acres (almost half the size of Rhode Island), reduced her riverfront home to ash and nearly killed her. Becherer…
Lawmakers Consider Using Oregon Kicker as Funding Source for Wildfires
For the past six months, a group of 35 lawmakers and industry representatives called the Wildfire Funding Workgroup met to seek new sources of revenue for the Oregon Department of Forestry. After a record wildfire season in 2024, the Department of Forestry, which leads the state’s firefighting efforts, ran out of money. As Willamette Week…
Horoscope Week of February 6, 2025
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Born under the sign of Aquarius, Clyde Tombaugh discovered the heavenly body known as Pluto in 1930. This was years before he earned advanced degrees in astronomy. His early education was primarily self-directed. The telescopes he used to learn the sky were built from tractor parts and old car components from…
Letters to the Editor 02/06/2025
Romance in Sobriety Can Happen Successfully Romantic relationships are complex, transformative and often deeply rewarding. They bring joy, connection and growth but also come with challenges. For individuals in recovery from substance use, romance carries additional layers of complexity. Balancing sobriety with the emotional demands of intimacy requires careful attention, intentionality and self-awareness. Understanding how…
Every Central Oregon Brewery Will Be at Drake Park This Memorial Day Weekend
When Brian Yaeger published “Oregon Breweries” a decade ago, he documented 190 breweries and brewpubs from sea to high desert. Today, we’re closer to 300 in the Beaver State, he says. Yet, the massive brew fests of the aughts and twenty-tens have gone the way of the dodo, including Portland’s waterfront Oregon Brewers Festival and…
And You Thought Eggs Were Expensive
Regardless of your political affiliation, one thing holds true right now: President Trump’s blitzkrieg approach to the start of his administration is having the shocking effect it was meant to convey. The string of executive orders issued from the White House has been so fast and so far-reaching, that it can be hard to keep…
Love Is In The Air
Whether you’re already deeply devoted to someone (or something) or looking for romance in all the right places, it’s February and love is in the air in Central Oregon. In our Valentine’s issue, we spoke with local couples who are partners at home and in business, balancing life and love while working alongside each other.…
Bend Public Transit Set to Expand in 2025 and Beyond
As Bend continues to grow, Cascades East Transit (CET), the region’s public transportation service, plans to expand services in 2025 to increase usage and plan for necessary timing and location improvements. Following major service cuts during the pandemic, CET looks ahead to 2025 to increase service hours, buses and routes. As a result of COVID-19,…
Factoring in the Factors
Folks, let’s be honest: The real estate market is a living, breathing thing. It’s not static; it’s constantly in flux, ebbing and flowing like the tides. What was true yesterday might be completely different today, and that’s why it’s crucial to stay informed and work with a seasoned professional who understands these shifting sands. I’ve…
Source Warmup
ODOT Prepares for Icy Roads During Winter With a winter storm moving across the state, Oregon Department of Transportation crews are working to remove snow and ice to help keep Oregon highways safe. ODOT said on Tuesday that very cold temperatures overnight will create icy and dangerous conditions. While ODOT advises that the safest place…
Building Community from Behind the Mic
On any given Tuesday evening, you can find Mason James hosting Open Mic at The Commons Cafe and Taproom, a gig he’s proudly managed for about two years. “It’s one of the most humbling and fulfilling experiences I’ve had in my career,” he says. That’s a bold statement for a guy who’s always up to…
Do What You Love
Like any title for an article, book or movie, there are many layers — both higher and deeper — than its literal meaning. Another equally instructive title for today’s message could be: Don’t Always Do What You Love to Do. But we’ll leave that one for another time. Living a full life includes figuring out…
Reverence of Crows
I’m with photographer Nancy Floyd in Old Bend on Congress Street, lined with trees fronting stately homes dating to the early 1900s. As part of her long-term project “For the Love of Trees,” she’s focusing on a ponderosa pine lofting above all others. The upper trunk arcs slightly to the northwest. The long branches swirl…
Romantic and Delicious
Bend is a pretty romantic town most of the time. I don’t just mean our cute cafes, bars and private little nooks dotted throughout the city limits, but we’re also surrounded by some of the most beautiful lakes, mountains, trails and waterfalls on the planet. But, as a very dedicated food writer who eats out…
Elevate Your Cannabis Experience with These 3 Products
Arguably the worst part of using cannabis is when the effect, often from an edible, greatly exceeds your intentions, moving you into a temporary state doctors call “being high AF.” Although it doesn’t inflict any permanent damage, too much THC can result in effects ranging from uncomfortable to terrifying. Aside from an IV of Valium,…
Love to Love You
For some of us, Valentine’s Day can be less of a romantic holiday spent luxuriating in connection and more of a flashing neon sign pointing out the failure to find love. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a lovely V-Day or two, but more often than not, I find myself unpacking what’s missing from my…
My Specific Valentine
When writing a piece about movies to watch with your spouse, partner, significant other or all by your damn self for Valentine’s Day, I found myself focusing on the futility of such an endeavor. Every single relationship is different, obviously, but even more specific are the things that each one of us defines as romantic…
Partners in Business and Love
Central Oregon couples share their love stories, the challenges they’ve overcome and some secrets to their successes — both in professional and romantic partnership. How a husband-and-wife duo built a thriving fitness and play space while balancing business and family. The owners of Somewhere That’s Green share their love for the business, the community and…
Redmond Embraces Pod Structures as Shelter Option
Redmond will begin allowing micro-shelters at safe parking sites within the city, offering another shelter option for individuals taking part in the program. The City Council unanimously approved the amendment to its code on Jan. 28 following an overwhelmingly favorable public hearing. Mountain View Community Development (MVCD), the nonprofit that operates Redmond’s safe parking program,…
How to Treat Yourself on Valentine’s Day
V alentine’s Day offers an opportunity to celebrate love, friendship and yourself! Leading up to the holiday, the Source Weekly wanted to figure out the best ways for people to treat themselves and practice self-care. Question: If someone gave you $100, what would you spend it on for yourself? We posed This question to our…
Romance and Adventure Collide on Valentine’s Weekend Snowshoe Tour
What’s more romantic than stargazing under a snowy sky? How about a guided, moonlit snowshoe trek through the Cascade Mountains, complete with a crackling bonfire, champagne and sweet treats? Over Valentine’s Day weekend, Wanderlust Tours is offering couples, friends and adventure seekers a chance to celebrate love — and Oregon’s statehood, admitted to the union…
Swing Into Romance at Sunriver Resort’s Valentine’s Dinner and Dance
Love, music and fine dining come together for an unforgettable evening at Sunriver Resort’s Great Hall this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re planning a romantic night out, celebrating with friends or making it a double date, the Valentine’s Dinner and Dance Concert offers a mix of elegance and entertainment. Hosted by Sunriver Music Festival, the annual…
