The Sunriver Music Festival is so much more than a gathering of local musicians for a few days of fun, sun, and strumming. Professional musicians are handpicked from around the country and brought to Central Oregon for 12 days of some of the finest classical music in the nation. From classical guitar concerts to full […]
Central Oregon
In It Together
Michael Franti has a discography that numbers nine studio albums with his current band, Spearhead, as well as one album with his first group, the Beatnigs, and a pair of titles with the influential group that preceded his solo career, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. But he’s never had a recording experience quite like the […]
Chris Cole’s Kinetic Sculptures
Chris Cole’s kinetic sculptures are fantastic mechanical creatures that capture the imagination with their beauty and movement. If you have had the pleasure of seeing one, chances are you were left wondering how they were made. There is a relatively simple answer to that question that involves bike and motorcycle parts, and welding and painting, […]
Sally Russell: Re-election Bid to Bend City Council
As expected, Bend City Council member Sally Russell has announced her re-election bid. She says she wants to protect the city’s “soul” while leading the way for rational decisions about future growth. She also says she would like to be elected mayor by her peers. City Council members choose a mayor from their ranks. Her […]
Fire Danger Now Extreme
The Bend Fire & Rescue along with other fire departments have increased the level of fire danger to extreme due to hot and dry weather. Fire danger signs throughout Central Oregon will reflect this change. Fire department reminders: 1. All backyard debris burning, commercial burning and agricultural burning is prohibited within city limits and […]
Bend’s Newest Roundabout Opens
Local SE Bend residents turnout out to welcome the opening of the city’s 32nd Roundabout at Murphy and Parrell road on Thursday. The opening came one month early and city officials say it will come in under it’s $2 million dollar budget. On hand were Mayor Clinton, council members, Fire Chief Larry Langston, City Manager […]
Part of Our World
Disney is good at a lot of things: fostering childhoods, making billions, building theme parks, handling lawsuits and turning an existing intellectual property into spun gold again and again. Whether they are turning one of their classic films into a new theme park attraction, making direct-to-video sequels to 50-year-old cartoons or molding beloved animated movies […]
Cannabis Bliss
Many Benditos are familiar with “runner’s high,” the feeling of euphoria that people experience after intense exercise. Runner’s high is caused by the brain releasing endocannabinoids into the blood stream. That six-syllable term is a portmanteau of “endogenous,” meaning “coming from within” and “cannabanoids,” meaning “chemical compounds of the cannabis plant.” Yes, the human brain […]
The Only Local Nature Guide You Need
Let’s say you’d like to know more about the Central Oregon outdoors. Before you head out on your next adventure, you might drop a field guide for birds into your backpack. Plus one or two for wildflowers. Then one more for mammals, and another for trees and shrubs. Or you could take just one book. […]
Funding for Affordable Housing: A Step in the Right Direction
One sunny summer morning not long ago, I marched across a dusty front yard in midtown Bend with a $45 rental application fee in hand. This wasn’t exactly the house I’d dreamed of living in when I knew I was moving to Bend, but it was adequate—and available, and I was going to lay down […]

