As I get older, the more I realize that great, unconventional romances might be the most rewarding genre for me in my growth as a human being. A remarkable romance not only makes you swoon over the possibilities of love in this crazy world, but also allows you to see into the lives of people […]
Unzipped Hearts
Posted inOutside
Create a Fire-Resistant Yard to Protect Your Home
The City of Bend is considering updating codes to require defensible space buffer zones around homes. The idea is to remove fuel sources near structures which can stop flames from advancing. There are three different zones around a home to consider when creating a defensible space: immediate, intermediate and extended. The National Fire Protection Association […]
Posted inLocal News
Two Key DIY Projects You Can Do to Spruce Up Your Living Space
Painting interiors, deep-cleaning carpets, scrubbing windows a power washing outer surfaces are just a few steps you can take to make your home sparkle. But if you’re looking to freshen up your living space and improve your home’s curb appeal, while also potentially raising its value, there are two easily tackled do-it-yourself projects to consider. […]
Posted inCulture
Free Will Astrology, Week April 2
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Now is an excellent time to decide your favorite color is amaranth (a vivid red-violet), or sinopia (earthy red-orange), or viridian (cool blue-green, darker than jade). You might also conclude that your favorite aroma is agarwood (deep, smoky, resin-soaked wood), or heliotrope (cherry-almond vanilla), or petrichor (wet soil after a rain). […]
Posted inLocal News
Longtime Incumbent, Credentialed Challenger Clash in Deschutes County Commissioner Position 1 Race
Tony DeBone was first elected to the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners in 2010. He won again in 2014, and again in 2018 and 2022. Now, as he seeks a fifth term, he faces an aggressive and well-funded challenge. Jamie Collins, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and founder of a climate consulting firm, has more than doubled DeBone’s campaign donations, […]
Posted inOpinion
In This Game of Us vs. Them, ‘Them’ is Now Married Women
This past weekend, people gathered in Bend, Redmond and other cities around Central Oregon for yet another No Kings demonstration against the Trump administration. By the way we figure it, if the protests keep happening, the numbers only stand to grow. So much of the proposed legislation being proposed by the federal government is about […]
Posted inOutside Features
Petersen Rock Garden Receives Some TLC
The passion Rasmus Petersen felt as he began creating the Petersen Rock Garden in 1935 remains alive to this day in both the caretakers of the property and the visitors who flood the grounds daily. Petersen lovingly built the ornate rock sculptures over four acres on his rural property between Bend and Redmond, first sourcing […]
Posted inSmoke Signals
Cannabis Discrimination
Oregon’s Adult Use Cannabis program is 10 years old, and those of us who work within it thought by now we would have – more – than we do. Things like social cannabis consumption spaces, cannabis tourism packages, and events on par with the many beer, wine, cider, and spirits festivals Oregon hosts. Such options […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor, Week of April 2
Amy Sabbadini for County Commissioner I am asking readers to vote for Amy Sabbadini in the upcoming County Commissioner election. Now more than ever, it is imperative to have logical, science-minded leaders who will embrace evidence-based practices. We need leaders to support the behavioral and public health programs that are critical resources for our community. […]
Posted inBusiness News
Kaleidoscope 2026 – An Evening of Concert Dance
Bend Dance Project celebrates its 20th anniversary with “Kaleidoscope 2026” showcasing new works of concert dance by local and guest choreographers and performers. Bend Dance Project’s sponsored company, Jazz Dance Collective, will be joined by local groups Bend Contemporary, Footnotes of Bend, Central Oregon Ballet, Further Movement Collective, Academie Ballet de Classique, and Sakura. The […]