In this episode, we meet the founder and head mead-maker, John Herman, from Lazy Z Ranch Wines in Sisters. Lazy Z’s meads, aka honey wine and “ranch wine,” aren’t just unique among Oregon meaderies for using exclusively Oregon honey, but the Lazy Z Ranch is a boon for local pollinators. What’s more, there’s no a […]
LISTEN: Grand Craft Bend: John Herman 🎧
Posted inFood & Drink
Sunriver Brewing is Leaving Its Galveston Location
Sunriver Brewing Company is closing its NW Galveston Pub in Bend on Saturday, Nov. 1 after nearly a decade. Chief Executive Officer Ken Cameron says the company doesn’t like the changes that are being made to the building. “We were interested in retaining the current footprint, a relatively small indoor space and current outdoor patio […]
Posted inColumns
Finding Balance in Sacred Relationship
Q: Is it possible to develop too much of a relationship with psychedelics? How do I know if I’m using them as spiritual bypassing? A: This question touches something I feel deeply, both as someone who has walked this path for years and as a witness to countless others navigating these journeys. Your awareness in asking […]
Posted inCentral Oregon Pets
Central Oregon Pets Fall 2025
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” —Anatole France, French poet. A study released in September found that 51% of Oregon pet owners say their dog will come when called. That means just about half, which includes my dogs, basically run the show. The percent drops to 13% for […]
Posted inLocal News
Northwest Native Nations Could Lose Hundreds of Millions in Federal Funding
A new report from Portland State University found that budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s new spending bill threaten nearly half of federal funding allocated to federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native nations last year. Roughly $530 million of the $1.19 billion allocated to Northwest tribal nations in fiscal year 2024 — used to […]
Posted inCulture
Free Will Astrology for Week of Oct. 23
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Many cultures regard obsidian as having protective powers against negative energy. This makes it popular for healing talismans. Obsidian mirrors have often been used to scry for visions and prophecies. Because obsidian is so sharp, ancient peoples incorporated it into tools used to hunt for food, like knives and arrowheads. In […]
Posted inCentral Oregon Pets
Unleashing Happiness with Off-Leash Dog Hikes
Travis Fuller didn’t set out to build a booming dog-walking business in Bend. But thanks to a stoic old sled dog named Mutt — and a little trial and error — he ended up creating something special. Since 2016, Ponderosa Paws has grown into a go-to for off-leash dog hikes, thanks to Fuller’s deep connection […]
Posted inCentral Oregon Pets
A Place to Call Home
Donna Costley says that back when she decided to start a bird rescue operation in 2012, she didn’t even like birds. “I hated birds. My mom had parakeets,” Costley recalls. However, one of her sons, Jon, got into birds first and brought his mother along, under his wing, so to speak. And since then, Second […]
Posted inCentral Oregon Pets
Building Community, One Gecko at a Time
After more than a decade of hands-on reptile breeding and care, owner of High Desert Geckos, Samantha Weist, has turned a childhood passion into a thriving small business. What began as a hobby breeding crested geckos has evolved into a downtown Redmond storefront teeming with snakes, arachnids, lizards and more. In a field largely dominated […]
Posted inCentral Oregon Pets
Cruisin’ with Canine Combustion
Mark Schuette spent a recent Sunday morning rolling through Drake Park. A roving landmark in Bend, Schuette delights passersby with his novel mode of transportation — a dog-powered scooter. “When I roll past people, I get lots of ‘Look at that!’” Schuette said. “I like passing by the crowds at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. People […]