A shout-out to all of the artists who shared their poetry, and thereby a piece of themselves, in our annual contest in celebration of Poetry Month. Our theme, “Community,” can be broadly interpreted and it was, making it all the more enjoyable to read such a wide range of poems. We want to give a […]
2026 Poetry Contest Winners
Posted inCulture
Free Will Astrology, Week of April 9
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Unexpected deliverance? Lucky rides? Beginner’s grace? Dreamy, gleaming replacements? To the untrained eye, it may look like you are bending cosmic law in your favor. In truth, you’re simply redeeming the backlog of blessings you earned in the past—acts of quiet generosity and unselfish hardship that never got their proper reward. […]
Posted inElections
Vote Jason Kropf for House District 54
Oregon House District 54’s Democratic primary got interesting this election season when Andrew Caruana elected to run against incumbent Jason Kropf. Caruana is a newcomer to being a candidate in the public sector, but his knowledge of the Oregon State Legislative Assembly is surprisingly deep. Andrew serves on the Disability Health and Employment Equity Coalition […]
Posted inElections
Vote Jamie Collins for Deschutes County Commission, Pos. 1
In a May primary that might have otherwise been ho-hum, voters are selecting candidates in a raft of positions for the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners, after voting previously to expand the commission from three members to five. Each race has a fairly large slate of candidates — except for Position 1, in which […]
Posted inLocal News
State’s Housing Watchdog Office Flags Redmond for ‘Livability’ Code Changes
A state office focused on spurring housing production is intervening in a set of code changes proposed by the City of Redmond that developers say would make development of townhomes more difficult and costly. Redmond is the first city in the state to face this kind of enforcement from the Housing Accountability and Production Office, or HAPO, the body created by Gov. Tina Kotek and the Oregon Legislature in 2024 to help knock down regulatory barriers […]
Posted inMusic
Trickster, Satsang & Harkum, Crenshaw & Mastro
Trickster Trickster is about to shake up Silver Moon. The new community band aims to get the crowd singing and dancing on April 11. Trickster is a mix of local talent who share an interest in furthering the American Roots Music Tradition. They play music honoring and inspired by musical greats like Janis Joplin, Jerry […]
Posted inColumns
After 25 Years Together, Is a Tantra Workshop Right for You?
Dear Dr. Jane, My wife and I have been married for almost 25 years. Our youngest is graduating high school in June and heading to the dorms. We love each other very much and have a nice connection, but we’re hoping to spice things up a little. We aren’t into anything like swinging or threesomes. […]
Posted inNews
Local School Bus Driver Arrested for DUII After Completing Bus Route
On April 3, police arrested a Bend-La Pine Schools bus driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless endangering, after completing a bus route. According to Sheila Miller, Bend Police communications manager, BPD received a call from a BLPS transportation employee at around 6:45pm. The employee reported that the bus driver, 67-year-old Martha Ann Gerlicher, was under the influence and had […]
Posted inBusiness News
Apply for the City of Bend Community Advisory Bodies
Community committees, boards and commissions are a great way to get involved with local government. The City has several Council-appointed advisory groups that make recommendations to City Council or City administrative staff. Applications are being accepted for the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Bend Economic Development Advisory Board, City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Human Rights & Equity Commission. Advisory body members are eligible for a stipend ($40/meeting, not to exceed […]
Posted inBusiness News
USA BMX Great Northwest Nationals Bring High-Speed National Series Action to Redmond for Weekend Showdown
The adrenaline-fueled 2026 USA BMX National Series rolls into Redmond April 10-12 as the Great Northwest Nationals take over the First Interstate Bank Center. Across three action-packed days, elite amateur riders from around the globe will be giving fans a front-row seat to BMX racing at its most competitive. The Great Northwest Nationals mark the 9th stop […]