Matt Donegan is working on a plan for Oregon’s forest problem. In 2024, the state saw 1.9 million acres burn, an area more than twice the size of Rhode Island. And last year, the agency that leads firefighting efforts, the Oregon Department of Forestry, was beset by scandal, management turmoil, and near-bankruptcy from the cost […]
Hotseat: Matt Donegan
Posted inNews
Downtown Bend Bike Shop Suffers Indoor Fire
A downtown Bend bike shop is temporarily closed following a structure fire on April 23, caused by a faulty fluorescent light fixture in the shop’s attic storage room. According to Bend Fire and Rescue, crews were able to extinguish the fire in about 30 minutes. WebCyclery, a full-service bike shop and Nordic ski shop, is located […]
Posted inNews
LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break with Sharon Maier Kennelly 🎧
In this episode, Aaron sits down with Sharon Smith, a passionate nonprofit leader who brings decades of experience in community programming and the arts to her current role as Executive Director of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA). After relocating from Long Island to Bend in 2019, Sharon quickly immersed herself in the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Restaurant Guide 2025
Looking for a new place to get out of your restaurant rut? Want a review of what’s on offer at that place you have yet to try? The Source’s annual Restaurant Guide is here for you. Inside our 2025 Restaurant Guide, peruse the listings of the restaurants and food trucks serving up tasty bites for […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Burgerville, USA
While Bend is slowly morphing into a foodie town with more diverse regions of cuisine to sample, it’s hard to shake off its Beer Town USA roots completely. As we finally get options like Dominican, Oaxacan, Dutch/Indonesian fusion, Korean and maybe even some quality Ethiopian one day, we’re still shrugging off decades of being a […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Restaurant Closures Reflect Broader Trends, But Local Dining Scene Holds Strong
The local closings of restaurants such as Cracker Barrel and Shari’s might lead one to think that Bend is a microcosm of what’s been happening with restaurants across the country, especially casual dining chains. But as those of us who live here know, Bend is its own macrocosm in so many ways, typically incomparable to […]
Posted inCulture
A Lesson I’ll Never Forget
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” —John F. Kennedy Have you heard of the Central Oregon Partnership?” my friend Jim Lussier began, as soon as we sat down, he sipping a latte, me a hot chocolate. It was late […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Restaurant of the Year: Rancher Butcher Chef
If there’s any sign that an establishment is earning the love of local crowds, among the most brightly lit might be the rapid opening of a second place, with a name that hints to the first. Over the past year, the Rancher Butcher Chef brand — known commonly by its initials, RBC, did just that […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Rookie Food Cart of the Year: Cotto
This is not a (fire) drill. But the team behind Cotto does, surprisingly, have the fire marshal to thank for the situation they currently find themselves in. It’s no secret that The Podski’s Mikel Lomsky likes to collect Bend’s finest at his centrally located, Old Bend gathering place for carts and locals, and Cotto has […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Food Cart of the Year: Tacos Pihuamo
Tacos Pihuamo is a Mexican food truck situated off of southeast Third Street, just north of Reed Market Road. While the location is somewhat obscure, the food and the service offered at the truck has earned it a reputation as the best food truck in Bend and, according to many, the best tacos in Bend. […]