In November, voters turned down Measure 97, an admittedly-vague measure that would have added billions to state coffers, and ostensibly more money to Oregon schools. Voters approved Measure 98 to fund career and technical education and college prep in all Oregon high schools. The passage of Measure 99, meanwhile, created an Outdoor Education Fund to […]
Pacific Northwest
Field Medicine
With so many opportunities to explore the outdoors in Bend come just as many opportunities to get hurt. From a simple sprain to a traumatic injury, getting hurt in the wilderness can elevate the intensity of any medical emergency. That’s where wilderness first aid is key. Specially-trained nurses, paramedics and therapists are prepared to deliver […]
Losing Yourself
Something terrible happened to Lee Chandler. When we first meet Lee he’s working as a handyman/janitor in Quincy, Mass. His interactions with customers are cordial and sometimes confrontational. When he gets the news that his older brother has suffered a heart attack, he rushes to the hospital 90 minutes away. The first thing he asks […]
I Am With the Force, the Force is With Me
Trying to review a Star Wars movie is like breaking down the comfort level of your childhood teddy bear. Even though “Rogue One” tells a story with mostly new characters and exists outside of the typical Episode I-VII structure, it’s so deeply rooted in the Star Wars universe that nostalgia holds tightly to every frame. […]
Giving to Those Who Need It Most
Feeling the pressure to buy stuff this season, even when your loved ones don’t need anything? This year consider giving to the nonprofits working to make Central Oregon a better place. There is no shortage of great organizations in the area, but check out our Give Guide for a more complete list. To get you […]
Letters 12/14-12/21
Pedestrian “Traffic” The recent uptick in car vs. pedestrian accidents is inevitable. Bend has fostered or at least ignored the basic rules and laws involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicle traffic. The basic applicable laws state that pedestrians have the right of way, in a crosswalk, whether it is a “regulated” crosswalk or not. That’s […]
Little Bites: Ariana, Bethlyn’s Global Fusion & Root Cellar
Ariana selected for OpenTable “Best Restaurant” category With a fine attention to detail, a rotating seasonal menu and the use of high-quality, locally-grown ingredients, Ariana Restaurant is no stranger to big praise by critics and writers who’ve dined there. This year, Ariana has been awarded, for the second year in a row, the OpenTable 100 […]
The Other Beer City USA
Many, many towns and municipalities across the US call themselves “Beer City” these days. During my travels around beer country, I still say Bend, of course, is the best one. (That statement’s in print, so it must be true.) The western Michigan city of Grand Rapids is the only one actively promoting “Beer City” as […]
Natural World: Why Coyotes like it in Town
A recent television report about coyotes living in Bend surprised some people. It shouldn’t, since there are coyotes living all over North America today, eating mule deer fawns, chickens and cats—thanks to the actions of the government trappers that started killing coyotes over 100 years ago. They thought they could kill coyotes as easily as […]
Lessons from the Ghost Ship Fire
Earlier this month, 36 people died in the fire inside the Ghost Ship, a multipurpose artist’s space and sometimes-venue in Oakland, Calif. According to reports from survivors, escaping the second-floor gathering space required navigating through a confusing maze of smoke and turning staircases. Officials in Oakland have ruled out arson, according to Oakland’s “East Bay […]

