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The end of the year is nearing (yikes!), often a time for reflection over the past 12 months. Reporter Peter Madsen dug into our archives to reminisce over some of the top Source stories. We also have a profile about a nonprofit growing food to feed people year-round, plus a review of the new food cart Wandering Rancheros as well as big news in the local coffee scene with two longtime roasters merging. Ellen Waterston muses about something she saw in the sky, and if reading more frequently is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, Roundabout Books is sharing some suggestions. Plus a roundup of local events to ring in the New Year! —Managing Editor Nic Moye

OPINION

The Year’s

Winners and Losers

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WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

he end of a year is an ideal time to look back, reassess and think about what we could do better in the new year. With that, we present some of the winners and losers of the year 2025. Let’s start with the Losers. Losing locally

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-Oregon’s budget. Federal decisions and executive orders are bringing plenty of budget cuts and uncertainty locally. Those in charge of Oregon’s budget have difficult decisions ahead about what stays and what goes. -Hawthorne Bridge. City councilors earlier presented an elegant pedestrian bridge design to span the Parkway and the railroad tracks. Thanks to budget constraints, that design got swapped for a choppier look that will still make a “statement” about Bend for locals and visitors — just maybe not the statement we were hoping for. -Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. There’s certainly demand to expand the place — but rising staff and capital costs mean we may not get an expansion anytime soon. The way the budget is looking, we’ll be lucky to keep the status quo. -Freedom City?! Deregulation enthusiasts pegged Deschutes County as a possible site for a new city that bucks state and local regulations. We haven’t seen much movement on this idea since we wrote about it earlier this year. Do we lose more if it’s built, or if it’s not? -Road diets. We’re all for building a city that encourages more people to get out of their cars — but the way the City of Bend has rolled out its “road diet” designs on Greenwood Avenue, Olney Avenue and Franklin Avenue, with several key streets closed or under construction at the same time, has caused lots of backups, and perhaps upset some of the same people who might otherwise support improvements aimed at active commuting. -Local wildlife. With the current effort to remove the wolf from the Endangered Species list, and the efforts to extract lithium in a critical sage-grouse habitat, some of Oregon’s most vulnerable species — which act as indicators of the overall health of the greater ecosystem — could be in danger. Economies including Central Oregon’s were once extractive in nature, and have moved into the booming recreational economies that we see today. Why are we moving backward? The federal losers of 2025 Losing this year on a massive scale are DOGE’d federal workers, Medicaid and Oregon Health Plan recipients set to lose their benefits. Also, those

on the insurance marketplace whose premiums are skyrocketing, the immigrants without criminal records being targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. citizens being rounded up because they “look Mexican,” and the entirety of the American people, who are saddled with a yawning federal deficit thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill. Winners on the local scene -E-bikers on mountain trails. Fine, you win. See you on the singletrack — but donate to the trail organizations, all right?! -Deschutes County Sheriff’s office. After allegations of corruption from longtime sheriff Shane Nelson, and documented lying and chicanery from Kent van der Kamp, the guy elected to replace him, taxpayers may be pleased to know that Ty Rupert is aiming to rise above all of that. Consider us cautiously optimistic. -Courthouse workers and visitors. OK, so 2025 may have been the year of annoying construction noise, but when the Deschutes County Courthouse expansion is done, it’s going to greatly improve the experience in our local halls of justice. -People in Prineville, for resisting a biomass facility. With massive data centers looming over the town, generating more power is a big deal in Prineville. But residents showed up en masse to say “no” to an urban growth boundary expansion for a biomass facility. Score one for the environment. -Amazon’s inflatable costume division. For a time, blow-up frogs and other inflatable costumes were hard to come by, due to Portland’s penchant for bringing the weird and wonderful, even to protests at the ICE facility. By bringing the silliness to an otherwise serious scene, Oregon’s biggest city got back some of the mojo it lost when it was Tent City, USA. As much as locals might want to fight it, Portland’s economy is tied tight to Central Oregon’s, and a win for Portland is a win for the whole state. -Marijuana producers. Giving a thumbs-up to a Trump executive order feels akin to saying “yes” to a root canal, but this week the president signaled a desire to take marijuana off the list of the most dangerous drugs. With countless weed growers waiting for the day when Oregon’s green can be shared with the rest of the world, we say a move toward sane marijuana policy is a win for a state that’s long trafficked in the best bud around. We’ll hold our breaths while we puff-puff-pass.

Letters

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Chris Piper published a letter to the editor on Dec. 11 calling for a nonpartisan approach to local governance. We already have such a candidate in this race: Maddie McKinney. Maddie has been quietly working in this community for nearly 20 years, getting the job done without chasing clout or publicizing her accomplishments. She has long been dedicated to improving the lives of working families in our community. Maddie is a solid team player — she has been with Deschutes County’s WIC program for the past 13 years and consistently develops innovative, creative solutions to challenges. She adapts quickly when new information arises and always seeks expert opinions and the latest research. Maddie is a problem solver. She will not stop until there is a budget-friendly solution on the table that works for everyone. She is reasonable, thoughtful, and committed to advancing policies for the greater good rather than catering to special interests. She does not have prior experience as an elected official — she is a civil servant, not a politician. And we don’t need more politicians; we need good, smart, committed citizens. Maddie is running for the right reasons. She chose to enter this race as an unaffiliated candidate because she believes voters were clear when they made the Board of Commissioners nonpartisan in 2022. Partisan politics doesn’t serve us here. In Deschutes County, we have more voters who are not registered with a major party than those who are. It’s time we choose candidates committed to solutions, not party lines. You can visit votemaddie. com for more information about her platform.

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RE: BEYOND THE BANNER: WHY A NONPARTISAN APPROACH IS ESSENTIAL FOR DESCHUTES COUNTY (DEC. 11, 2025)

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Maddie’s candidacy is a refreshing shift in an age when we have become increasingly divided by party affiliation. Running without party support is a difficult feat, and I applaud her for choosing the hard road and striving to do things differently. —Jax Dolezal

RE: PETER MADSEN’S ARTICLE “’IMPLAUSIBLE,’ ‘INCONSISTENT’ AND UNSUBSTANTIATED BY EVIDENCE (DEC. 16, 2025)

In response to Peter Madsen’s December 16 article “’Implausible,’ ‘Inconsistent’ and Unsubstantiated by Evidence, I’m saddened by the story’s lack of depth surrounding the recent departure of the city of Bend’s equity and inclusion director. Honest reporting would attempt to take a step back with broader context, starting with why this position is needed: Bend’s population is almost 90% white, a demographic that speaks to the state of Oregon’s legacy of racist exclusion laws. The next step could have been to remind readers about the overt racist hostility that’s been on full display at Bend city council meetings since the pandemic — public comments all too easily accessible if you care to remember. In that context, it wouldn’t have been far-fetched for your reporting to display a little more critical thinking about the experiences of a black employee in an almost predominantly white city administration. Instead, you create the false illusion that equity is alive and well in Bend. Make no mistake: simply relaying facts isn’t good reporting; taking a step back to see broader dynamics at play is. This story failed to do that. My guess is, as an almost exclusively white media outlet, the Source Weekly is still learning how to take its own privileged blinders off. —Karim Bouris

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12/16

Sunriver Brewing

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Tallman Brewing

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Three Creeks

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12/23

WildRide Brewing

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12/23

The Barn

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NEWS

Affordable Townhomes for Teachers

WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

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Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity has officially closed on the $20,000 purchase of land next to Silver Rail Elementary from the Bend-La Pine School District. The nonprofit plans to build 18 townhomes on the 1.1 acre lot. The development, named Stone Creek Commons, will be a mixed-income neighborhood with school district employees getting priority to buy. The townhomes will be two to four-bedroom with garages and private backyards. Habitat is also setting a goal of net-zero energy design to lower utility costs. Ten of the homes will be for buyers earning up to 80% of the area median income. Eight homes are for buyers earning up to 120% of the area median income. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026 with home sales beginning in 2027. Interested buyers can fill out a pre-application form at bendredmondhabitat.org. Habitat for Humanity is expecting to close on a deal for land next to Summit High School next year for a similar housing project.

Mt. Bachelor Opened Tuesday, Dec. 23 Mt. Bachelor opened on Tuesday, Dec. 23, with a base of 18 inches and a big celebration offering free cake and the first chair banner breakthrough ceremony. The resort operated the Skyliner, Little Pine, Pine Marten and Red Chair lifts, had 10 groomed trails and a small Woodward Mountain Park. Early season conditions exist with marked and unmarked obstacles across the mountain. The weather report is forecasting a chance of snow in the mountains through Friday. Mt. Hood Meadows also opened Tuesday with limited terrain and lifts running. No word yet on when Hoodoo Ski Area plans to open.

Guided New Year’s Day Hikes Free guided hikes are being offered at 25 state parks on Jan. 1. Rangers and volunteers will lead the hikes which range in length. While the hikes are free, day-use parking permits are required at most state parks which cost $10 per day. In Central Oregon, News Year’s Day hikes are being offered at LaPine State Park (1.5 miles at 1pm), Tumalo State Park (2 miles at 1pm), Smith Rock (1 mile at 10am) and The Cove Palisades State Park (2 miles at 10am). America’s State Parks sponsors the First Day Hikes program nationwide to encourage everyone to start the year outside and connect with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.

75 —The number of permanent supportive housing units being built in east Redmond.

“I think I had no idea what it would become.” —Audrey Tehan from Seed to Table.

Mountain View Community Village Takes Off With a $3 Million Grant A needed boost to Central Oregon’s supportive housing stock By Kayvon Bumpus John Swenson

Drone footage shows the Community Village site in its earliest stages.

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n January 2025, the Homeless Leadership Coalition counted 1,611 people experiencing homelessness in Deschutes County. Of that number, at least 374 were homeless in Redmond, said the HLC, which is Central Oregon’s designated Continuum of Care — a federal program designed to oversee resources to address homelessness regionally. Getting even one person off the street, and making sure the roof over their head stays there, is a task that can require significant, committed effort from advocacy groups, doubly so when the unhoused person in question is physically or mentally disabled. Projects like the Mountain View Community Village, which promises 75 new long-term homes in east Redmond for disabled, unhoused individuals, are part of the never-ending fight to keep the annual street count from growing. On Dec. 12, Mountain View Community Development learned that its village proposal had won a $3 million grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank in Des Moines, Iowa. Oregon has been under that bank’s 11-state jurisdiction since 2015. The money comes through the Affordable Housing Program, a nationwide FHLB directive that has financially supported homeownership and subsidized rentals since 1990. “We’re building stronger, more resilient communities for the people who live and work in them,” said Kris Williams, president and CEO of FHLB Des Moines. “This is a shared commitment and a shared impact we’re proud to advance.” Rick Russell, executive director of Mountain View Community Development, said that the nonprofit is “grateful” for FHLB’s sponsorship. “We went through a lengthy application process, and submitted our application last May,” he told the Source. “Of 254 applications, 54 were selected.” The awarded amount of $3 million is no small sum, but the total project is expected to cost more than $20 million. Mountain View expects the rest of the funding to come from the state — specifically, Oregon Housing & Community Services. “We are in the midst of a lengthy process with them but have completed many of the steps, including their Permanent Supportive Housing Institute [training],” Russell stated. “We expect to secure private donations from individuals and foundations as well.” He added, “For ongoing funding, one of several sources will be rent. Residents will pay one-third of their income.”

Mountain View is known for operating a Safe Parking program in Deschutes County, but “the funding landscape for services like this is very precarious right now,” Russell said. A press release from the nonprofit reads that its “Safe Parking & Microshelters Program is still looking to make up $237,500 in losses,” and Russell informed the Source that Mountain View is “seeking to bridge $153,500 to operate [the program] at reduced capacity.” The Community Village is a “distinct project” from Safe Parking and Microshelters, and its grant money cannot be diverted to other programs. Across the board, nonprofits and advocacy groups dedicated to combating homelessness have their teeth gritted. “Cuts at the federal level impact state budgets, which has in turn impacted funding available for shelter. The funding landscape for services like this is very precarious right now,” said Russell. The push for progress continues locally, despite fiscal anxiety. According to Mountain View, the Community Village will “triple the number of permanent supportive housing units in Central Oregon.” Sited on leased county land north of the Redmond airport, the nearly 9.5-acre village will have “one- and two-bedroom cottage-style units with on-site case management,” as the Source reported in April. Mountain View also has plans for a garden, dog park, and classrooms. “Our case managers will work on site to help people maintain their access to medical care, behavioral health or mental health care, if they need help with addiction recovery,” Russell said. Who qualifies for these units? “Residents will have to be considered chronically unhoused and to have a disability, which can include behavioral health, mental health, and addiction, as well as physical disabilities,” Russell explained. “However, we recognize from operating Safe Parking that a significant portion of our participants are seniors who have been waiting on housing for years, and that’s part of the compelling reason for us to build this project as fast as we can.” Studies show that residential communities close to airports can develop health issues, but the site’s proximity to RDM doesn’t bother Mountain View, as the village “is not in the runway protection zone,” Russell told the Source. “The city of Redmond is also investing in developing housing on the east side of town, and we don’t have any concerns.” Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and finish in late 2027.

NEWS

In 2026, Central Oregon Occupational Therapists May Lose Their Occupations

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By Kayvon Bumpus

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n upcoming adjustment to how much behavioral health providers get paid through Oregon’s Medicaid infrastructure could put some, specifically occupational therapists, straight out of business. Occupational therapy, like physical therapy, is intended to help disabled or injured people work through their medical issues and return to normal life. Through OT services, everyday actions that feel out of reach can gradually become achievable. Blossom Therapeutics is an OT provider in Bend that specializes in child development. “The occupation of a child is play,” its website declares, describing a “family-centric approach” to OT. The clinic offers “individualized treatment of sensory processing dysfunction” to improve “sensory integration, motor skill development, and social-emotional growth” in developmentally challenged or otherwise neurodivergent children. This could mean confidence boosting activities and positive reinforcement, or it could mean addressing a severe pediatric feeding disorder. But Blossom Therapeutics might not be around much longer, according to founder and OT practitioner Jenny Johnson. This is due to a recent move by PacificSource Community Solutions, a health insurance subsidiary contracted by the Oregon Health Authority as the Coordinated Care Organization (what the state calls localized health plans under Medicaid) for Central Oregon. PacificSource is changing several of its reimbursement rates (the amount an insurer pays its associated clinics and health centers for providing specific health services). Affected include “therapeutic activities” and “therapeutic exercises,” self-care management training, and multiple OT-specific medical evaluations. “Therapeutic activities” is the primary category that Blossom Therapeutics bills its services under. It’s numbered with the treatment code (also known as CPT code) 97530. In an email to PacificSource, Johnson asked the company to confirm her understanding that the 97530 reimbursement rate will be reduced by roughly 33% — from $42 per unit (a time period such as 15 minutes) to $28.62 per unit. “The contact at Pacific Source eventually reached out and told

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me that, as of 2026, they will be reducing all reimbursement for therapy services,” Johnson said. A PacificSource document obtained by the Source shows that, on Jan. 1, “All Behavioral Health Services” will be adjusted to “100% of [Oregon Health Plan] allowable.” The OHP standard rate is $28.62, confirming Johnson’s figures. The document is signed by PacificSource Provider Network Vice President Peter McGarry. Johnson believes the reimbursement reduction will spell the end for her business. “Blossom Therapeutics for a fact will be closing its doors… It’s really devastating,” she said, suggesting that other providers, like Central Oregon Pediatric Associates, could be in for the same. COPA did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication. “I realize that a lot of these changes are coming from federal cuts,” Johnson said. “So I understand changes might have to happen, but [PacificSource] should do it in a gradual way. There’s no conversation right now.” For Johnson, the most painful part is that employees of affected providers will lose their jobs. “I wanna be up front and transparent with my team about these changes to keep their morale up, but I haven’t told them the devastating news,” she said. “Even if I cut my salary, even if I cut the office, there’s no way to make up those dollars.” In October, PacificSource laid off 265 of its own employees in Oregon, due to “significant pressures, including rising healthcare costs and Medicaid funding challenges,” per a statement from spokesperson Lauren Thompson. PacificSource did not respond to multiple requests for comment by time of publication.

Happy Holidays from

Tumalo Animal Hospital

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VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

Major insurer and regional CCO PacificSource is changing its reimbursement rates

WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE 8

Courtside for CASA Pickleball Classic returns to Redmond in 2026 By Kayvon Bumpus

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to foster children in Deschutes, Jefferson, or Crook County. According to CASA of Central Oregon Executive Director Heather Dion, these volunteers keep tabs on home situations, are sworn in as officers of the court when a judge reviews their child’s case and appear “wherever else the child needs advocacy” to provide a helping hand. “Volunteers make a commitment to be a consistent adult for as long as their [assigned child] is in foster care,” Dion said. “In Central Oregon, that’s an average of two years.” Dion stressed the program’s importance. “We know that when a child has a CASA, the CASA has an impact,” she told the Source. “National studies show that children with CASAs do better in school, and they’re more likely to be connected to services. When they leave foster care, it’s more likely their case stays closed.” The 2025 inaugural tournament was a “wonderful success,” Dion said, with around 200 contestants. A similar number is expected this year, but the competition will look a little different. Dion explained that a “social bracket” will be available

The Turquoise Table

9

12/24 – 12/27 WEDNESDAY

12/24

MARAGAS WINERY OPEN HOUSE CHRISTMAS EVE EVENT

A cozy and festive afternoon in a most beautiful setting at the family-run Maragas Winery. Samantha Maragas will sing Christmas favorites and with a $10 suggested donation to NeighborImpact Food Bank, guests receive a cup of mulled wine and spiced popcorn. Wed., Dec. 24, 11:30am-2:30pm at Maragas Winery. 15523 SW Hwy 97, Culver.

THURSDAY

12/25

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT JUNIPER PRESERVE on day one, for “folks that haven’t participated in a tourney before… more of a fun thing for casual, newer players.” But for those craving pickleball glory, the singles and doubles brackets will remain as competitive as ever. Plus, Dion said that bracket winners “will each get a medal, and the first-place winners get a free 15-minute head and neck massage by Spine and Body Co.” Half of the money raised from registration fees will go to CASA of Central Oregon, which stated that those funds will help with training and supporting new volunteers. Early bird tournament registration ends Dec. 31.

Enjoy a lavish holiday brunch buffet featuring seasonal favorites, chef-inspired creations, and decadent desserts — all served in the beautiful, sunlit setting of Juniper Preserve. From classic breakfast delights to carved roasts and sweet treats for every palate, it’s the perfect way to gather and savor the joy of the season together. Thu., Dec. 25, 9am-noon at Iris at Juniper Preserve. 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend. $34-$79.

SATURDAY

CHEYENNE WEST LIVE MUSIC AT BLACKSMITH

12/27

Country tunes from local musician Cheyenne West with the pub as a backdrop: kid and dog-friendly with both indoor and outdoor seating, a full bar, 12 taps and seven food truck options. Sat., Dec. 27, 6:30-10pm at Blacksmith Public House. 308 SW Evergreen Ave., Redmond. Free.

Whispering Winds wishes everyone a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season and a Peaceful New Year.

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20+ Years Of Distinctive Retirement Living

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

REDMOND NEWS he sport of pickleball has come a long way. Even some hardcore players may not be aware of its Pacific Northwestern past. The sport was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a ferry ride away from Seattle, and came to exist as something of an athletic hybrid: a mix of tennis and badminton, played with a wiffleball and short paddles. Humble backyard beginnings turned into the fastest-growing sport in America, per the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Although “humble” might be the wrong word, considering that the sport’s inventor went on to serve in Congress and become Washington’s Lieutenant Governor. Pickleball offers fast-paced, fun exercise that can get surprisingly intense. The upcoming Courtside for CASA Pickleball Classic is your chance to become a champ while supporting foster kids in the process. This March 2026 event, hosted by The Premier Pickleball Club in Redmond, will be the second annual tournament held to benefit the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Oregon. CASA assigns trained volunteers

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FEATURE

WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

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These topics were the talk of the town in 2025. From the wildfire mapping fiasco to ICE arrests, we reported them. By Peter Madsen We’re a quarter-way into the 21st Century and 2025 may have been the gnarliest year yet. Here in Central Oregon, our reporting reflected that whiplash, with reports on local houselessness, Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps and potential deregulation of the “American Dream.” Yet, along the way, we had some fun — gallows humor? — with investigations and first-person narratives about those dang fun Veo e-bikes and sketchy “magic mushroom” products at gas stations.

Read on for a roller-coaster account of life in Central Oregon in 2025.

Statewide wildfire hazard map controversy

Anyone who owns a home in Oregon — or pays attention to localized controversy — knows that the statewide wildfire hazard map got a lotta people cheesed. Reporter Julianna LaFollette tracked the mapping from the get-go, when the Oregon Department of Forestry released its final map version on Jan. 7. Property tax lots were designated as low-, moderate- or high-hazard zones. Homeowners disputed the categories — how would they affect home values? While insurance companies are legally barred from citing the map for raising premiums or coverage, statewide premiums have been trending upward. Folks spoke up. In June, Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill repealing the map.

Targeted and Living in Fear: Central Oregon in the second Trump era

Since its second-term inauguration in January, the Trump Administration has launched an aggressive and vastly unconstitutional campaign against immigrants, mostly of color and with no criminal record, throughout the country. Reporter Jennifer Baires localized the impact of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement roundups, chronicling the plight of Ariel Antoliani Sandigo Manzanarez, the first Bend immigrant arrested, and subsequently deported, to Nicaragua. Baires spent time with Manzanarez’s family and also checked in with area school districts and higher-education institutions about their policies regarding campus ICE arrests. Collectively, these school officials, empowered by Oregon’s sanctuary laws, will deny entry to warrantless ICE agents. With the help of advocacy groups, Baires lays out our rights if stopped by ICE agents (visit ilrc.org/redcards for a rights card in 56 languages). To date, ICE has arrested more than 640 people in Oregon.

Prineville residents defeat proposed UGB expansion for biomass facility

DOGE cuts to the U.S. Forest Service hit Central Oregon Localizing the impacts of the Trump Administration continued with the Source’s work in March. Reporter Jennifer Baires profiled two U.S. Forest Service employees who were among more than three dozen Central Oregon employees fired during the “Valentine’s Day Massacre” on Feb. 14, which illegally terminated, without cause, thousands of USFS employees throughout the country. Irked, Liz Crandall and Isabella Isaksen traveled with Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-5) and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), respectively, to Washington, D.C. There, they stood in for thousands of fired Forest Service employees while attending Trump’s State of the Union address. Baires reported on Merkley’s subsequent townhall and contextualized the Forest Service cuts within the broad playbook of Project 2025.

Power to the people. For Prineville residents, that power came from public input — not a new biomass facility. Reporter Julianna LaFollette began tracking grassroots opposition to the expansion of the Prineville Urban Growth Boundary to accommodate a new facility intent on making wood-based biomass, a renewable organic material that can be burned for electricity and heat. Energy sourcing is a hot-button topic in Crook County, where Apple and Meta have several data centers. LaFollette spoke with Prineville Mayor Jason Beebe, who explained that the UGB expansion was meant as an enticement for private industry, which would, in theory, have built the biomass facility. Ultimately, as LaFollette and the Source Editorial Board reported in subsequent stories, city councilors listened to vocal constituents, voting 4-2 against the UGB expansion.

Central Oregon’s growing homeless crisis Since the Covid-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic downturn, Oregon’s housing crisis has been acutely felt by a growing houseless population. Unlike in the state’s urban centers, this desperation has localized in Central Oregon’s public forests and deserts. On May 1, the U.S. Forest Service, citing a planned forest restoration project, swept a homeless camp along China Hat Road, which required about 150 to 200 people to go — somewhere else. Reporter Julianna LaFollette was at the scene, speaking with the recently bounced China Hat community and houseless advocates who say the Forest Service botched its coordination with resource providers. In subsequent stories, the Source reported on the newly erected Temporary Safe Stay Area at Juniper Ridge — another unhoused camp — toward which city and county officials ushered the houseless on shared public land north of Bend along Highway 97.

FEATURE Freedom Cities: Deregulating “the American Dream”

Hope & Complications for Bend’s Central District Build it and they will come. So follows not just the logic of “Field of Dreams” but also city officials and developers of Bend’s Central District, located along Second Street, east of the Bend Parkway. Long known for its Bottle Drop facility, the nearby low-barrier Franklin House shelter and petty crime, the BCD was first identified by the City as an opportunity area in 2016. Since then, city officials rezoned it for mixed-use developments and taller buildings. In recent years, businesses have moved in, including destination cocktail bar Dogwood, upstart brewery Funky Fauna and Campfire Hotel. And while those developments signal a new dawn for the BCD, the current sitch is a long way off from the bustling, live/work artist-neighborhood it’s promised to become, Julianna LaFollette reported.

A (Near) Crash Course in Responsible E-bike Ridesharing One of the joys of putting together an alternative news weekly is the fun we can have with first-person storytelling. That means voice. And DATA. As many people have complained about on Nextdoor.com, Veo, a new e-bike rideshare, has propelled Bendites across town on Class-2 e-bikes since July 10. A conventional cyclist, I was skeptical, if intrigued. After several rides, however, I was hooked, taking Veos around town to socialize and run errands. Wanting to write a data story, I hit up Veo’s HQ in Santa Monica for ridership data and go’ dang, they delivered. In our first 30 days with Veo, 3,700 folks in Bend logged 35,000 cumulative miles — more than enough to circle the world. Yet as I learn the hard way, the immediacy of a motorized two-wheeler comes with serious responsibility.

Trouble on the Road

Road rage violence is too common in Central Oregon, particularly between drivers and cyclists. But what happens when someone under 18 is the target of alleged road violence? This question, sadly, isn’t rhetorical — its answer will likely play out in court in the coming months, stemming from an incident between a driver and a cyclist on Bend’s west side last May.

Not-so Magical Mushrooms

Ever notice those “magic mushrooms” products — vapes, gummies, chocolates — that have proliferated across gas stations, head shops and vape stores? So did Dan Huson, the owner of Rose City Laboratories. Helming the only lab licensed by the state to test psilocybin products for Oregon’s approved growers and service centers, Huson and his team ran tests on these dubious “magic mushroom” wares. The result? They’re mostly bunk. With the help of Huson and others, I dug down to the molecular level on this shady cottage industry that’s piggybacking on Oregon’s legal, and heavily regulated, psilocybin industry.

The Deschutes County Fairgrounds’ financial rollercoaster Reporter Julianna LaFollette dove deep into the troubled financials of the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. With about 1 million annual visitors attending 400 annual events on its 320-acre campus, fairgrounds revenue has continued to march upward since Covid-19. Yet, mo’ money, mo’ problems: bigger events, along with inflation and rising operating and repair costs, mean ledgers will soon sink into the red. LaFollette sifts through the fairgrounds’ five-year fiscal forecast with the former and interim fairground directors to learn what it will take to keep one of Central Oregon’s cultural and agricultural gems afloat.

Falling through the Cracks at Cleveland Commons In what may be our most controversial enterprise story of the year, I chronicled the down-and-out journey of two residents of Cleveland Commons, a permanent supportive housing complex in southeast Bend. The first of its kind east of the Cascades, the new building is home to 33 apartments, reserved for the chronically ill and/or unhoused. While a U.S. Public Health Service complex like Cleveland Commons is by nature low-barrier, several residents showed evidence of intimation, a psychedelic-proffering counselor, restraining orders and an eviction. Police and medical records showed arrests and a murky onsite death. Operating a PSH is no doubt very difficult, but what’s going on? Shepherd’s House Ministries, the nonprofit responsible for operating Cleveland Commons, declined to speak about anything at all. This opacity begs questions of qualifications and accountability of a nonprofit that receives its operating dollars from the public. If the whistleblowing residents I profiled aren’t entirely reliable, as some readers pointed out, that’s even more reason for the entities in charge to weigh in on exactly what is happening among its vulnerable and otherwise voiceless residents.

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Affordable housing, manufacturing, energy, technology — all sans regulations, oh, my! Reporter Julianna LaFollette investigated the “Freedom Cities” some right-wing groups have proposed to be built on federal land. These advocates say their vision can be achieved by eschewing National Environmental Policy Act reviews, expediting permits and lobbying for pro-growth building codes. Not surprisingly, President Donald Trump signaled in a 2023 speech that he’s keen to carve up public lands in service of 10 such developments. One group, the American Enterprise Institute, has grease-penciled lands outside of Bend and Redmond as potential sites for these new metros, due to nearby infrastructure, employment and a chronic housing crisis. LaFollette walked us through the political, environmental and, ahem, practical implications of such a Brave New West.

SOURCE PICKS THURSDAY

12/25

FRIDAY

12/25 – 12/28

12/26

12/27

MATT MARTIN AND THE .45'S CENTRAL OREGON COUNTRY

12 WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

SATURDAY

The five-piece band, led by guitarist Matt Martin, plays country originals, contemporary hits and classic favorites from the likes of Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard and George Strait. You’ll be encouraged to be out of your seat and dancing—and it happens naturally once that pedal steel guitar kicks in. Sat., Dec. 27, 7pm at Wildwood Bar & Grill. 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free.

SUNDAY

12/28

Riverhouse Lodge FB

CHRISTMAS DAY BRUNCH BUFFET TASTY EATS AT CURRENTS

For a cozy, festive morning of feasting, consider a reservation at Currents. They’re offering a wide menu selection of more extravagant holiday dishes alongside classic breakfast favorites (think Dungeness crab fondue and herb-crusted prime rib, plus an omelet bar.) A great way to celebrate with friends and family without any clean-up duties. Thu., Dec. 25, 9am-2pm at Currents at the Riverhouse. 3075 N. Hwy 97, Bend. $33-$69.

FRIDAY

12/26

The Roundabouts

HOLIDAY IMPROV SHOW WITH THE ROUNDABOUTS

Bend’s own improv troupe, The Roundabouts, consistently hosts funny, well-attended shows. This holiday installment of spontaneous silliness will blend audience suggestion, festive chaos and holiday cheer into one entertaining evening. If you’ve ever been improv-curious, now’s your chance to make the experience happen. Fri., Dec. 26, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $20.

FRIDAY

2/26

ATUNES VERY MERRY TEBMAS AT WILDWOOD

In keeping with the holiday weekend theme, local musical collective TEB (formerly known as the Travis Ehrenstrom Band) keeps the party going Friday. It’s unclear if the group will be playing any Christmas tunes, but either way, TEB is sure to bring the groove. Its funky rock/soul/jam sounds are always a good time. Fri., Dec. 26, 7pm at Wildwood Bar & Grill. 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free.

SATURDAY Craft Kitchen & Brewery

JASMINE ROGERS COMEDY AT CRAFT KITCHEN

Crowned Boise’s Comic of the Year by Blue City Comedy, Jasmine Rogers is back in Bend to deliver her sharp wit and unforgettable stand-up. Rogers, now based in Portland, kicks things into high gear with her creative energy. Also performing are the ever-entertaining Amanda Lynn Deal and Steve Harber. Fri., Dec. 26, 8pm at Craft Kitchen and Brewery. 62988 NE Layton Ave., Bend. $15.

MAVIS & BRETZ A COZY AFTERNOON IN TUMALO

12/27

Enjoy tunes while sitting fireside at the dog and kid-friendly Bend Cider Co., with delicious beverages on tap and light bites available (outside food welcome.) Mavis and Bretz sing crowd favorites from a catalog of ‘50s-’70 Americana, folk, country, pop and bluegrass hits. With Craig Mavis on mandolin and George Bretz on guitar, each piece of the duo has decades of experience in the Central Oregon music scene. Sat., Dec. 27, 3-5pm at Bend Cider Co. 64649 Wharton Ave., Tumalo. Free.

Mt. Bachelor

SKI PATROL BINGO FUNDRAISER WITH DUSTY AND STACIA

Sponsored and hosted by Dusty and Stacia of Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo/the YOUNI Movement, this week’s event supports Mt. Bachelor National Ski Patrol. As the name implies, these bingo games aim to entertain. So, buckle up for some Sunday morning fun—enjoy food, drink, music, bingo, prizes—all while supporting local nonprofits. Sun., Dec. 28, 10am at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $12.

SUNDAY

LINDY HOP LESSONS AND SOCIAL DANCE

12/28

Bend Lindy Hop is a nonprofit swing club that hosts weekly classes and dance events with a mission to build a safe, fun and friendly swing dance community in Central Oregon. For those unfamiliar, Lindy Hop is a style of social dancing that developed in Harlem in the ‘30s and ‘40s. All experience levels are welcome and encouraged to join. The evening begins with an intro to Lindy and finishes with a Lindy Hop Social. Sun., Dec. 28, 6-8:30pm at The Space. 63830 Clausen Rd., Suite 201, Bend. $7-$12.

NEW YEAR'S

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR Parties in the snow, sizzling dance floors, energetic jam bands and quieter wine bar moments — our list of New Year’s Eve celebrations has a little something for everyone. Cheers to 2026! 13

If all of our mind-melded snow prayers work, the lifts will be running 9am-9pm on New Year’s Eve. Hoodoo will also have a special dinner menu, live music until midnight and a fireworks show. Family friendly, and non-skiing guests are welcome to join. 9am-9pm at Hoodoo Ski Area. 27400 Big Lake Rd., Sisters. Free; lift ticket prices vary.

NYE Luminaria | Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center Ski or snowshoe along candle-lit trails, enjoy food and beverages from the lodge and gather around a bonfire on the snow. 5-8pm at Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center. 13000 SW Century Dr. $16-$24.

Campy New Year | Canteen A great place to start the evening or stick around for the champagne toast. There will be a vinyl DJ set from generic., bringing the groovy vibes, and plenty of delicious libations to choose from at the bar. 6pm-Midnight at Canteen at Campfire Hotel. 721 NE 3rd St. Free. 21+.

Rhinestone Rodeo X Urban Cowboy Boots, bling and bubbly. The theme here is rodeo glamour and you’ll find drink specials and DJ Radio Rodd out of Nashville spinning, plus a mechanical bull-riding contest (with a custom belt buckle on the line as a prize.) 6pm-1am at Coyote. 910 NW Harriman St. $5. 21+.

NYE Bash | Silver Moon Brewing Live music sets from Mari & the Dream and Maria Jackson Band, followed by a set from DJ J Meast. 7pm-late at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave. $10. All ages welcome until 10pm, then 21+.

Grateful Phish | The Domino Room Call Down Thunder playing the music of Grateful Dead, The Hasbens playing the music of Phish, jamming and vibing ‘til late. Ticket includes a champagne toast and photobooth. 8pm-2am at The Domino Room. 51 NW Greenwood Ave. $36-$45. 21+.

Hollywood Glam: A New Year’s Eve Celebration | UPP Liquids Don your best glam and head to the Box Factory for a party that includes live music from the Jugulars, Jackrat, DJ Humblbeatz and DJ Lunallday, three bars serving specialty cocktails, a photobooth and a champagne toast. 8pm-1am at UPP Liquids. 550 SW Industrial Way. $18-$25. 21+.

Kota Dosa + Jeshua Marshall and the Flood | The Belfry Powerful vocals, fiery guitar solos, a horn section serving up brass-driven grooves—Kota Dosa brings the party to its live shows. 8pm-1am at The Belfry. 302 E Main Ave., Sisters. $45.

Eleganza: A Cliché New Year’s Extravaganza | Dogwood at the Pine Shed A glamorous event blending fashion, music and community—think queer joy and connection, a sparkling dance floor and plenty of statement looks. 8pm1am at Dogwood at The Pine Shed. 821 NE Second St. $50-$100. 21+.

NYE Bash with Soul’d Out | The Commonwealth Pub Head to the pub for live music, dancing and general merry-making. 8pm-Midnight at The Commonwealth Pub. 30 SW Century Dr. Free.

Ultima Noche: Latin Dance Party | Wildwood Bar & Grill Move and groove your way into 2026 with Latin beats from DJ Solo and an irresistible dance floor. 9pm-1am at Wildwood Bar & Grill. 550 SW Industrial Way. Free. 21+.

NYC Ball Drop Toast | Stoller Wine Bar Celebrate the new year on East Coast time with an elegant evening at the wine bar. An NYC Ball Drop toast, curated bubbly flights, oysters, caviar and other small bites. Toast takes place at 9pm at Stoller Wine Bar. 555 NW Arizona Ave. Reservations available; walk-ins welcome.

NYE Celebration | General Duffy’s All about the dance party—Sangre Azteca will make sure the beats stay hot with a mix of hip-hop and Latin music. 9pm-2am at General Duffy’s Annex. 413 Glacier Ave., Redmond. Free. 21+.

Watkins Glen: Soulshine Daydream + Eric Leadbetter Band | McMenamins Old St. Francis School With live music on two different stages and multiple bars on campus, you’ll be able to move from room to room to experience a variety of vibes. Watkins Glen will celebrate the music of Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers. One ticket purchase admits you to both shows. 9pm at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. 700 NW Bond St. $28-$35. 21+.

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

NYE Party on the Slopes | Hoodoo Ski Area

NEW YEAR'S

S WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

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SOUND A

A Variety of New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Bend From snowbound parties to a speakeasy to Latin dancing, there’s something for everyone By Sophie Elliott

s 2025 comes to a close, Bend has no shortage of events to help you ring in the New Year with style. From luxurious dinners and endless dancing to champagne toasts shared with friends, there’s truly an event for everyone looking to end the year on a high note. One of the many events taking place this year is the inaugural Elk Lake Resort New Year’s Eve dinner and champagne toast. This is the first time the newly renovated historic lodge will be open to community members. Over the past eight months, the Elk Lake Resort team and its partners have worked tirelessly to reimagine the lodge, creating a welcoming destination for both locals and visitors alike. The night consists of a lavish fullcourse meal near the roaring woodstove in the comfort of the rustic lodge and ends with a champagne toast to celebrate as the NYC ball drops at 9 p.m. The Elk Lake Resort provides transportation to and from the Dutchman’s flat by snowcat or sled, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the night. When asked what he hopes guests walk away with, Assistant General Manager Ken Natoli said, “We cater to both in and out-of-town guests. Elk Lake Resort is a truly unique and special place in the winter and just like our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, our guests walk away amazed and grateful for our hospitality.” He said, “People are energized and amazed by the lodge and cuisine and leave already asking about booking next year.”

This year, Natoli is especially excited to unveil the finished rustic lodge and encourages the community to come experience it firsthand. Set in such a scenic place, the lodge and all of its special finishes are sure to make you feel the magic of the new year as you enjoy the night. “We especially want locals here in Bend to come see it,” said Natoli. “Elk Lake Resort is a special place here in Bend’s backyard,” he continued. The combination of Elk Lake Resort’s first-class hospitality and beautiful scenery will leave guests with full stomachs and happy hearts. For those seeking a flashier way to ring in the New Year, the Riverhouse Lodge is hosting its “New Year’s Eve Speakeasy Social.” The night consists of two separate celebrations, catering to those who want to ring in the New Year early with the East Coast, and those who want to dance their way into 2026 at midnight. With an evening filled with stylish attire, champagne, elevated cuisine, and high-energy music, this event is perfect for those looking for a fun way to celebrate the year. When planning the event, Marketing Manager Erin Osaki’s goal was to create a New Year’s Eve celebration for everyone. “We wanted this event to feel like Bend’s ‘choose your own adventure’ for New Year’s Eve,” she said. “Whether someone wants to dress up and enjoy a sophisticated early evening before heading home—or they’re ready to stay out and dance straight into 2026—we designed this celebration to fit the way our community actually celebrates.”

At 6 p.m. the early bird special will start with live jazz music from the talented Boy and Bean trio. Their “smooth vocals and upbeat rhythms,” said Osaki, “create the perfect ambiance for sipping cocktails.” The festive and fun night will end with a countdown to the NYC ball drop and a sparkling champagne-tower pour with cold sparklers to end the night with a bang. When the clock strikes 10 p.m. the energy will shift and the electric DJ Flip Flop Sounds will take the stage, turning the ballroom into a full-on dance party. With festive bites, a full bar, and a selfie station, guests can capture the night “in all its sparkle,” said Osaki. Just like the first event, folks will ring in the New Year with a champagne-tower pour and cold sparklers as the clock strikes midnight on the West Coast. Osaki and her team have worked tirelessly to make sure every detail makes the night feel special with, “handcrafted cocktails, flowing bubbles, and festive flavors curated specifically for the occasion.” Both of the events will also take place in the Deschutes Ballroom right next to the Currents restaurant, giving it a more intimate and lively feel. Osaki hopes that at the end of the night, guests walk away feeling, “like they toasted a great year in a way that felt authentic to them —stylish, celebratory, and full of that signature Riverhouse warmth.”

Erin Osaki & Boy and Bean

The Boy and Bean trio will perform jazz at the Riverhouse Speakeasy Social on NYE.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS Elk Lake Resort

elklakeresort.com/holiday-dinners

Riverhouse Speakeasy Social riverhouse.com/events/new-yearseve-speakeasy-social/

Wildwood Bar & Grill Latin Dance Party eventbrite.com/e/ultima-nochenye-latin-dance-party-tickets-1977673006199

McMenamins 2026 Party mcmenamins.com/event.aspx?id=272941

Wanderlust Tours Bonfire on the Snow wanderlusttours.com/new-yearseve-bonfire-on-the-snow/

LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

CALENDAR

Ticket and promote your events with BendTicket!

Amanda Lynn Deal FB

Bunk+Brew Karaoke Thursdays Sing your

24 Wednesday to put your name on the list! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. Free.

The Capitol The Capitol Karaoke Music

Weekly Karaoke at its finest! Central Oregon’s premiere karaoke experience has just moved locations! Now at the Capitol! Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free.

The Cellar Live Music with Danger Gently

heart out at Bunk + Brew’s Karaoke Night! Whether you’re a pro or just love the spotlight, all voices are welcome. Food carts available all evening! Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 7-10pm. Free.

The Cellar Live Irish Trad Music with The Ballybogs! Join us for a night of live music featuring Bend’s Irish Trad band, The Ballybogs! Every Thursday at The Cellar. Seats fill up, so get there early if you can! 6-8pm. Free. Crave Bend COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT

Head down to The Cellar every Wednesday to enjoy live music from Danger Gently, a talented rotating cast of characters playing old-timey jams! 6-8pm. Free.

Comedy Open Mic Night on the SW side of Bend! Adults only encouraged. Intimate, smaller venue, healthier food and beverages, and an interactive night of comedy every Thursday! Hosted By Hopper. 7-9pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy Open Mic Night Open mic comedy on Bend’s NE side. Come down, eat some BBQ, drink some drinks, and be prepared to laugh. Great for first timers to experienced performers. FREE 7:30-9pm. Free.

Hosmer Bar Bingo Night Your week just found its highlight—bingo! Join us for drinks, good company and a little friendly competition. Pull up a chair, grab a board and let’s make some memories! 7-9pm. Free.

Dogwood At The Pine Shed Transmission:

Ponch’s Place Trivia Thursdays at Ponch’s Place Trivia Thursdays at Ponch’s Place with QuizHead Games. 6-8pm. Free.

‘80s Dark Wave Social Club Immerse yourself in the sounds of the ’80s underground. DJ Mark Brody spins Joy Division, Bauhaus, The Cure, Clan of Xymox, and more at Dogwood at The Pine Shed. A moody night of goth, post-punk, and darkwave. Every 2nd Wednesday. 7-10pm. Free.

Hosmer Bar Trivia Night Join us midweek for brainy banter and cold drinks! Whether you’re a seasoned quiz champ or just in it for the laughs, gather your crew and test your knowledge! See you there! 7-9pm. Free. Maragas Winery Maragas Winery Christmas Eve Open House Cozy and festive surroundings with Live Christmas favorites sung by Samantha Maragas, returning from the Pt. Park Conservatory for Performing Arts. With a suggested $10 donation to NeighborImpact Food Bank, you’ll also receive a cup of mulled wine and spiced popcorn. For every $10 donation, Maragas adds $5. 11:30am-2:30pm. Free. Market of Choice Bend Scrabble Club at

Market of Choice We meet upstairs. We use the 7th edition of the Scabble Players Dictionary. New Scrabble players are welcome. If you have a Scrabble set, please bring it as a backup. 6-8:30pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Mellow Wednesday Open Mic Night Come down for our Open Mic Night hosted by Derek Michael Marc!!! Sign up at 530pm to get a spot to play! 5:30-8pm. Free. Pinky G’s Pizzeria Music Bingo Join us for

Music Bingo (think name that tune meets tradition bingo). Every Wednesday! Free to play and prizes for the winners. 6pm. Free.

Ponch’s Place Bingo Wednesdays at Ponch’s Place Enjoy Bingo at Ponch’s Place on Wednesdays. 5:30-7pm. Free. Upp Liquids Bend Comedy Open Mic The

Bend Comedy Open Mic, every Wednesday at UPP Liquids. All peformance types and ages are welcome! 7-9pm. Free.

Wonderland Chicken X Worthy Brewing Karaoke Wednesdays Sing your heart out,

enjoy a cold beer and fried chicken! 7-11pm. Free.

25 Thursday The Astro Lounge Karaoke Get here early

to put your name on the list! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. Free.

15

The Commonweath Pub McKenna Deep sultry vocals combined with a variety of music styles including rock, jazz, country, blues, and swing, Maggie McKenna recently returned to Central Oregon after a lifelong performing career playing at casinos, Royal Cruise lines, Disneyland, ski resorts, 5 star hotels and resorts throughout Europe and west coast. 3-5pm.

26 Friday Ultimate Scavenger Bend: Citywide Welcome to Bend’s favorite scavenger hunt! Whether visitor or long time resident, this hunt is an amazing and entertaining way to learn about Bend! Get a taste of the best the city area has to offer. This scavenger hunt is self-paced (start any day of the week, at any time!) You can also begin and end whenever you like! There are versions for Redmond and Bend, sign up for either version at bendticket.com. Please email us if you have questions:ultimatescavenger@yahoo.com

Blacksmith Public House DJ Chris Dance Party DJ Chris will be here mixing up the best dancing hits. Our venue is kid and dog-friendly, and we have a full bar, 12 taps, 7 food truck options, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating! www.blacksmithpublichouse.com 6:30-10pm. Free.

The Commonwealth Pub Heller Highwa-

ter Where ever Heller is playing there is a party going on. Based out of Bend, Heller Highwater creates a vibe that audiences of all ages can move to. 8-10pm.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery

Jasmine Rogers Comedy Join us for an unforgettable comedy show headlined by the hilarious Jasmine Rogers, bringing her sharp wit and high-energy humor to the stage.She’s joined by the always entertaining Amanda Lynn Deal and crowd favorite Steve Harber, rounding out a powerhouse lineup guaranteed to keep you laughing all night long. 8-10pm.

Hardtails Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Hardtails for a fun Friday night and sing your heart out! 8pm-Midnight. Free.

The Bend Comedy Holiday Special at UPP Liquids will feature sets from Amanda Lynn Deal (pictured), Jon Brown, Katy Ipock, Liam Gibler and Ryan Traughber. Fri., Dec. 26, 8pm.

Portello Lounge Live Music: Maria Jackson

Bridge 99 Brewery Family-Friendly Karaoke Night Looking for family fun? You’ll find it every Saturday night at Bridge 99 Brewery. Family-friendly karaoke is hosted by DJ Jackie J and A Fine Note Karaoke Too from 6-9 PM. Adults, kids and good dogs welcome. 6-9pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Sweet Motor This Central Oregon five-piece offers up a captivating blend of Rock and Blues, with Southern Rock flavorings, with a hint of R&B vibes.7-8pm.

The Commonwealth Pub JuJu Eyeball “Bend’s Beatle Band” since 2015, Juju Eyeball’s energetic shows and top-notch musicianship hit the sweet spot with the audience from the first downbeat. Now a four-piece featuring Dan Larsson on bass/vocals, Kye Kennedy and Terence Neal on guitar/vocals. 8pm. Free.

Band We are excited to have Maria back at Portello this weekend! Her soulful vocals brings an electrifying sound inspired by Adele, Corinne Bailey Rae and Sade. Last Friday of every month, 7-9pm. Free.

Upp Liquids The Bend Comedy Holiday Special A festive one-night comedy showcase featuring Bend’s funniest locals sharing holiday chaos, questionable family moments, and seasonal nostalgia. Expect stories of ugly sweaters, eggnog-fueled decisions, and the kind of jokes you probably shouldn’t repeat at the dinner table. Get tickets at www.BendComedy.com 8-10pm. $20. Wildwood Bar & Grill A Very Merry

TEBmas The musical collective TEB—known formerly as the Travis Ehrenstrom Band— transcends boundaries while blending funky fusion-rock jams with the soulful essence of singer-songwriter Travis Ehrenstrom. 7-10pm. Free.

27 Saturday Abe Capanna’s East Side Comedy Night at Abe Cappanna’s! Anthony Poponi, the Italian headliner behind Humore.us Productions, is bringing his signature humor to Abe Capanna’s, Boise’s cozy Detroit-style pizza spot. A proud lover of all things pasta and pizza—but ironically allergic to gluten and garlic — Anthony’s comedy is a slice of life you won’t want to miss. 8-9:30pm. Bend Cider Co. Mavis & Bretz Come on out and hear the duo Mavis-Bretz perform classic folk, rock, & country in our backyard tent. Dress warm, cozy up by the fires, and enjoy delicious ciders, beer, wine, & n/a beverages with your friends on this holiday weekend. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. Kid & dog-friendly. 3-5pm. Free. Blacksmith Public House Live Music by

Cheyenne West Enjoy FREE live music by Cheyenne West from 6:30pm-10pm. Our venue is kid and dog-friendly, and we have a full bar, 12 taps, 7 food truck options, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating! www.blacksmithpublichouse. com 6:30-10pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen & Brewery Leftovers Comedy Show Featuring Bend comedians Katy Ipock & Steve Harber and Portland comedians Jasmine Rodgers & Amanda Lynn Deal. 7-10pm. Portello Lounge Long Gone Wilder Enjoy a

night of great music, cozy vibes, craft cocktails, wine, and delicious food in the heart of Northwest Crossing. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions Blue Soul Jazz ~ Inspired by the bluesy jazz of the mid 1960’s and guitarists like Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell and Grant Green, Blue Soul Jazz is a groovy new trio fronted by guitarist Dillon Schneider. Whether we’re swinging, shuffling, bopping or just plain grooving, the music is always cool! 6-8pm. Free. Silver Moon Brewing Bob Dylan Tribute Night with The Silvertone Devils Bob Dylan Tribute Night w/The Silvertone Devils. Your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter. Bob Dylan’s influence on music in impossible to put into words. Bend’s favorite country rockers The Silvertone Devil’s play through some of Bob’s prolific song book. 7-10pm. $10. The Commonweath Pub JuJu Eyeball JuJu is back to rock the CWP with Beatle music! 8-10pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub Bridge City Sinners

Bridge City Sinners with solo sets from King Strang, Clyde McGee & Lightnin’ Luke. 7-11pm. $33.

Wildwood Bar & Grill Matt Martin and The .45’s Matt Martin and the .45s are from Central Oregon. The band and Matt continue to grasp the audiences attention with all time Country music favorites. Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard, George Strait, and more. The .45’s also perform contemporary songs from Whitey Morgan, Cody Jinks & more. 7-10pm. Free.

Submitting an event is free and easy. Add your event to our calendar at bendsource.com/submitevent

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

The Astro Lounge Karaoke Get here early

→

CALENDAR

Silvertone Devils FB

The Commons Cafe & Taproom Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Mason James is the host. Poetry, comedy and spoken word are welcome, but this is mainly a musical open mic. Performance slots are a quick 10 minutes each, so being warmed up and ready is ideal. If you wish to perform sign-ups start at 5pm in the cafe. 6pm. Free.

16 WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

EVENTS

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT

Elements Public House Trivia (&Taco) Tuesdays Quiz fans of Redmond: bring your crew this week for UKB live trivia & more! Delicious menu favorites, brews, cocktails, plus Taco Tuesday menu! Play for gift card prizes or just for fun. Bring good vibes and a pen. 6:30pm. Free. The Lot Trivia Tuesdays Stop scrolling and streaming, get out of the house and flex your brain. Your friends will be excited for the invite, so put it out there and make memories on Tuesday nights. A local host challenges you with six questions in six categories. The heated benches are calling your name. 6-7:30pm. Free. Bend’s own country rockers, The Silvertone Devils, pay tribute to Bob Dylan this weekend, playing through the living-legend's prolific songbook. Sat., Dec. 27, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing.

The Commonwealth Pub Monday Night Musicians Open Showcase and Jam Join us for a weekly open showcase where you can share your talent, connect with other artists and perform in a welcoming atmosphere. Bring your instrument — backline is provided. 5-9pm. Free.

28 Sunday The Commonwealth Pub Head Games Trivia Night Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Live multi-media trivia every Sunday @ 6pm. The Commonwealth Pub - Bend Free to play. Win prizes. Teams up to 6. 6-8pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Vinyl Night Monday Night just got

Dogwood At The Pine Shed Okay Karaoke

Sing your favorite songs with friends, enjoy professional sound and lighting, and let the spotlight shine on you. Hosted by the dynamic Tammy Larsen, it’s the perfect night out for music lovers and party people alike. Noon-11pm. Free.

River’s Place The Brainy Brunch Trivia! Use-

less Knowledge Bowl Trivia presents “The Brainy Brunch!” Bring your crew of friends or family and a pen/pencil! Play for fun and gift cards, play for free! Experienced, independent, locally owned and operated! Noon. Free.

River’s Place Bobby Lindstrom Duo Soul-in-

spiring blues and rock. 5-7pm. Free.

better!!! 9pm to Midnight. SupaFly will be your Dj. Bring your own vinyl and sign up to add it to the Playlist or pick from hers. . Free.

Midtown Ballroom Fred Armisen: Comedy

for Musicians But Everyone is Welcome Fred Armisen is a comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He is the co-writer and co-star of IFC’s Emmy-nominated series Portlandia. He is in the hit Netflix series Wednesday as Uncle Fester. Armisen is an 11-season veteran of Saturday Night Live. 2014-2024, Armisen was band leader on Late Night with/Seth Meyers. 8-11pm. $54.

On Tap Locals’ Day Plus Live Music Cheaper

drinks all day and live music at night, get down to On Tap. 11am-9pm. Free.

Prost! - Bend Special Edition Monday Trivia

The Commonweath Pub Talamh Dubh &

Friends Talamh Dubh is a trio with collective ties to Ireland and a love for Irish music. Their name, “Dark Earth” in Gaelic, pays homage to the volcanic ground of the Cascade range upon which the group formed. Featured in their repertoire are jigs, reels, hornpipes, marches, waltzes, and songs. 4-6pm.

29 Monday

Night at Prost! Bend With Xmas and New Years Eve falling on Wednesdays this holiday season, Trivia Fun at Prost! Bend is temporarily moving to Mon., Dec. 22 and 29, 7pm. Come out with the gang! Play our unique brand of trivia for team prizes and have a blast! 7pm. Free.

30 Tuesday The Astro Lounge Karaoke Get here early

to put your name on the list! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. Free.

Bevel Craft Brewing Bingo with Bren

Supporting Sleep in Heavenly Peace Join us for Bingo with Bren, an evening of community and kindness supporting Sleep in Heavenly Peace! Half the proceeds go to cash prizes, while the other half helps build and deliver beds to children in need, ensuring no child sleeps on the floor. Cash Only, please! 6-8pm. $2.

Beach Hut Deli Tip of the Tongue Trivia Come

out and play Tip of the Tongue trivia for a chance to win some great prizes and show off your trivia skills! 6-8pm. Free.

The Capitol The Capitol Karaoke Music

Weekly Karaoke at its finest! Central Oregon’s premiere karaoke experience has just moved locations! Now at the Capitol! Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free.

FEATURED EVENTS

M&J Tavern Karaoke Every Tuesday at your

downtown living room! Sign-ups start at 8pm and the singing goes until last call OR last singer, whichever comes first! 8pm-1:15am. Free.

Pinky G’s Pizzeria TRIVIA NIGHT Test your

knowledge in a casual/laid-back atmosphere. Pizza, beer and trivia. Free to play and prizes for 1st and 2nd place. 6-8pm. Free.

Silvermoon Brewing Blues Revival Night

Come out for a night of blues music hosted by Chicago Bob and the Blues Benders! 6-8pm. Free.

The Commonweath Pub Michelle Van Handel with Groove Merchants Michelle is an award winning vocalist that has been singing for 25 years creating music through jazz and the great American song book. Her alto voice and ability to improvise gives her the natural resources to tell stories not only through lyric but also through instrumental like soul & tone. 7-9pm. Free.

MUSIC

Bella Acapella Choir Bella’s performance will include the singing of familiar holiday songs, some audience participation and other surprises, all with a Barbershop flair! Bella Acappella is a women’s group dedicated to music education and community outreach through the joy of a cappella singing. Dec. 27, 3-3:45pm. Sisters Library, 110 North Cedar Street, Sisters. Contact: 541-3121032. lizg@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

ARTS + CRAFTS

Textured Nature the Surface of Things

Redmond artist Rebecca Sentgeorge explores the meeting point between sight and touch in her solo exhibit of mixed media paintings incorporating acrylic and found objects. In the Oxford hotel lobby through December. Dec. 1-31, 9am-10pm. The Oxford Hotel, 10 Northwest Minnesota Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-382-8436. Free.

WORDS

Chrismas Eve Services Join us for our Christmas Eve Services! Family & Children service at Noon. Candlelight & Communion at 6pm and 8pm. Dec. 24, 12-1, 6-7 and 8-9pm. Bend United Methodist Church, 680 NW Bond St., Bend. Contact: 5413821672. communications@bendumc.org. Free.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer CASAs Needed CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. They are community volunteers who advocate solely for the best interest of children and youth in foster care. Our pre-service training classes are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively advocate for these children. Apply today at casaofcentraloregon. org/volunteer. Ongoing. Rosie Bareis community campus, 1010 NW 14th Street, Bend. Contact: 541-389-1618. enoyes@casaofcentraloregon. org. Free. Volunteering in Oregon’s High Desert with ONDA Oregon Natural Desert Association is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting, defending and restoring Oregon’s high desert. They engage the public in their work to improve the health of desert ecosystems by leading guided, small group, volunteer service trips in some of eastern Oregon’s most remote and beautiful landscapes. Visit www.onda.org/trips to find the full calendar and descriptions of current volunteer trip offerings. Ongoing.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

Rewoven: A Community Clothing Swap Refresh your wardrobe, connect with community and bring a little ritual into the art of choosing what stays and what moves on. At Pine & Prism’s Clothing Swap, you’re invited to gather in a cozy, intentional space where items are exchanged with care and gratitude. Dec. 28, 11am-1pm. Pine & Prism Wellness Collective, 856 NW Bond St., Suite 202, Bend. Contact: 9186715457. hello@ pineandprism.com. Free.

FOOD + DRINK

Christmas Day Brunch Buffet Experience a peaceful Christmas morning at Currents with our Christmas Brunch Buffet, where comfort and holiday warmth await. Delight in a curated selection of seasonal dishes, from traditional holiday favorites to fresh brunch classics, all crafted to bring a sense of joy and relaxation to your day. Dec. 25, 9am-2pm. Currents at the Riverhouse, 3075 N. Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: riverhouselodge@turnerpr.com. Christmas Dinner with HØST Supper Club Celebrate Christmas Dinner with us as

HØST Supper Club! Enjoy a thoughtfully crafted coursed out menu with your choice for each course. We’re offering two seating times for your convenience. Dec. 24, 2-5 and 5:30-8:30pm. HOST Supper Club, 13375 SW Forest Service Rd., Camp Sherman. Contact: 541-460-6550. chasen@hostsupperclub.com. $75.

Christmas Eve Dinner at Currents

This Christmas Eve, gather with loved ones at Currents Restaurant at Riverhouse Lodge for a festive plated holiday dinner. On December 24, 2025, from 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM, enjoy a seasonal menu designed to bring comfort, joy, and flavor to your celebration. Set along the scenic Deschutes River. Dec. 24, 3-9pm. Currents at the Riverhouse, 3075 N. Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: riverhouselodge@turnerpr.com.

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COMEDY @ CRAFT: JASMINE ROGERS

COMEDY NIGHT AT ABE CAPANNA'S!

SONIC BLISS: SOUNDBATH & BREATHWORK EXPERIENCE

NEW YEAR'S LIVE STEVEEVE COCKTAILBAND SOCIAL MILLER MUSIC & SOUND BATH

Craft Kitchen and Brewery

Abe Capanna's East Side

Unity Community Central Oregon

FRIDAY DEC 26 @ 8:00pm

SATURDAY DEC 27 @ 8:00pm

SUNDAY DEC 28 @ 6:00pm

High Desert Riverhouse Music Hall Lodge WEDNESDAY SUNDAY DEC 231@@11am 6:00pm FEB

EVENTS

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT

Christmas Pop-up Bar at Waypoint

Get ready to jingle all the way at Bend’s official Christmas Pop-up Bar! It’s a Waypoint Christmas! Enjoy festive cocktails, over the top decor and DJ Freely spinning Christmas tunes. Fridays. Through Dec. 26. The Grove, 921 NW Mt. Washington Dr., Bend. Free.

surrounded by family, friends, and festive cheer at Iris Restaurant. Enjoy a lavish holiday brunch buffet featuring seasonal favorites, chef-inspired creations, and decadent desserts — all served in the beautiful, sunlit setting of Juniper Preserve. From classic breakfast delights to carved roasts and sweet treats for every Dec. 25, 9am-4pm. Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend. Contact: info@juniperpreserve.com.

Christmas Eve Dinner at Juniper Preserve Celebrate the magic of Christmas Eve in

exquisite style at Iris Restaurant, where culinary artistry meets timeless holiday elegance. Indulge in a sumptuous prix fixe menu crafted by our chefs to showcase the season’s finest ingredients. Set against the stunning backdrop of Juniper Preserve, the evening promises a sophisticated dining Dec. 24, 5-8:30pm. Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend. Contact: info@juniperpreserve.com. $75.

BEER + DRINK

Commonwealth Pub Happy Hour It’s

5 for 5, with $5 draft beers, $5 house wines, $5 margaritas, $5 crushes and $5 well liquor. Play ping-pong, darts, cornhole, games and enjoy afternoon music on patio and indoors. Ongoing, Noon-6pm. The Commonwealth Pub, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Free.

Happier Hours + Power Hour $3 draft

Coors Light, $5 draft beer and food cart specials that will make your taste buds dance! Mondays-Thursdays, 2-4pm and Mondays-Thursdays, 8-9pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE Fourth St., Bend. Contact: 458-256-5454. midtownyachtclub@gmail.com. Free.

Monday Night Football Come down for

Northside’s Monday night football! Food, drinks and a raffle for your chance to win a jersey! Mondays. Northside Bar & Grill, 62860 Boyd Acres Rd., Bend. Free.

Open for Christmas Eve Come celebrate

the holidays with your loved ones, friends, and family! We will be open Christmas Eve for last minute bottle purchases, a glass or tasting to ease holiday stress, or have a cozy gathering. Also, enjoy free charcuterie with bottle purchase to enjoy in-house! Dec. 24, 2-7pm. Bledsoe Family Winery, 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Contact: (541) 7976502. info@bledsoefamilywinery.com. Free.

Stoked for Thursdays Stoked for Thursdays! Get $2 draft Stokes Lager by Boss Rambler all day long — some of the cheapest draft beer in Bend! Come get stoked with us! Thursdays. $2 Stokes Lager drafts. Yeah, you read that right. Crazy cheap beer, crazy fun vibes! Thursdays. JC’s Bar & Grill, 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Contact: 5413833000. jcsbend@gmail.com. Free. Taco & Margarita Tuesdays Enjoy 2/$10 chipotle chicken street tacos and $10 margaritas! Tuesdays, 4-9pm. Portello Lounge, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-385-1777. contact@portellobend.com. Free. Thirsty Thursday! $7 glasses of wine/bub-

bles, $4 Rainiers, $10 margaritas + mules, $7 Wild Roots vodka lemonades, $12 Aperol spritz. Thursdays, 4-9pm. Portello Lounge, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-385-1777. contact@portellobend.com. Free.

Tiki Tuesdays Every Tuesday we will feature

a new rum at a discounted price. Additionally all signature rum drinks will be just $11 all night. Tuesdays, 4-11pm. The Flamingo Room, 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 5413230472. info@ theflamingoroombend.com. Sweet Motor

Wine Mondays! Every Monday night all glasses of wine are $9! This is an opportunity to try wines from our vast wine list all night long and pair with either tasty small plates or delicious dishes by creative chef Nikki Munk. Mondays, 4-9pm. Portello Lounge, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-385-1777. admin@portellowinecafe.com. Free. Wings + TRIVIA + Whiskey Enjoy $0.75 wings, $4.50 well whiskey, $6 seven & sevens while testing your knowledge with Trivia, hosted by our amazing Cole! Take on our infamous “physical” challenge - think paper airplanes, musical chairs, limbo etc! Come eat, drink and bring your A-game! Wednesdays, 7pm. JC’s Bar & Grill, 642 NW Franklin Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-3833000. jcsbend@gmail.com. Free.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

Couples Massage Classes Explore a

nurturing way to connect with your sweetheart in a couples massage class with Taproot Bodywork. Learn to relax your partner without hurting your hands! 2 or 4-hour classes, one couple per session. Additional days/times are available. Visit www.taprootbodywork.com for details. Every other Saturday-Sunday. Taproot Bodywork studio, Tumalo, Tumalo. Contact: 503-481-0595. taprootbodywork@gmail.com. Price varies.

End of Year Reflection & Gratitude Meditation Before stepping into the new year,

take a moment to reflect on the strength, resilience, and care it took to navigate the past year. This practice combines journaling, restorative yoga, and Reiki to help you honor all you’ve overcome and create space for deep gratitude. Dec. 30, 7-8:30pm. Pine & Prism Wellness Collective, 856 NW Bond St., Suite 202, Bend. Contact: hello@pineandprism.com. $30.

Energetic Readings/Intuitive Readings

Energetic readings reveal the energies that boost, block, or impact you in specific areas of your life. Tuning into your unique energy system, we explore where you feel stuck, limited, or unsettled, and how you can shift to feel more joyful and empowered. In-person and Zoom. Learn more at bluelotusenergetics.com/energetic-readings. Tuesdays, 10am-7pm and Thursdays, 7-9pm. Blue Lotus Energetics, 145 NE Revere Ave, Studio C, Bend. Contact: 541-2412207. hello@bluelotusenergetics.com. $125.

Gather Sauna House Join Gather Sauna for

opening weekend of sauna season at the river in Riverbend Park! Our traditional sauna sessions include authentic wood-fired sauna and natural river cold plunges + ample time to connect with nature and reset you mind/body/spirit! Pre-book your session online. Wednesdays-Sundays. Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend. Contact: 503-830-6393. info@gathersaunahouse. com. $36 a seat for a communal session.

Men’s Connection Group Join us for an

evening of sharing, support and connection. Mondays, 6:30-8pm. Living Undone, 33 NW Louisiana Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-408-1174. teddyfowler@gmail.com. Free.

Sweet Motor, a five-piece group out of Central Oregon, serves up a mix of rock and blues with a hint of R&B. Fri., Dec. 26, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing.

NAMI Connection Peer Support Group

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for any adult who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and the groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. Mondays, 7-9pm. Zoom, Zoom Online, Bend. Contact: 503-230-8009. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.

NAMI Family Support Group NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. Last Thursday of every month, 5:15-6:45pm. Contact: 541-3160167. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free. NAMI In Person Family Support Group

NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Family members can talk frankly about their challenges and help one another through their learned wisdom. Meets the 2nd & 4th Wednesday every month at 5:30 p.m. Second and Fourth Wednesday of every month, 5:306:30pm. Embark, 2843 NW Lolo Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-316-0167. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.

New Year Oracle and Intentions Gathering Join me on December 28, 2025

for a magical, intentional evening where we’ll pull a year’s worth of oracle cards—one for each month—to guide and inspire your journey in the year ahead. This mindful practice will help you step into the new year with clarity, confidence, and connection to your Dec. 28, 6-8pm. Location TBA, Location TBA, Location TBA. Contact: 650 862 9336. willow@emergingheartscollective. com. Suggested donation $35.

Pain Free Posture - Celebrating More than 50 Years of The Vance Stance Tired of being in pain? Get to the root of why you are tight & suffering. Learn to stand in gravity, not behind it. Offering a series of 5 1.5 hour sessions in my private studio for $175. You pick the date and time. Wednesdays, 12-1:30pm. EastSide Home Studio, 21173, Bend. Contact: 541-3309070. vancebonner@juno.com. $175 for 5 class series.

Sonic Bliss ~ Soundbath & Breathwork Experience Breath gently and

deeply into this healing 432 Hz Crystal Bowl, Didgeridoo, Reiki, Soundbath and Breathwork Experience! This blended event combines Breath & Sound to create a potent, transformational healing journey - your body, mind, heart and Spirit will thank you. Namaste! Dec. 28, 6-7:15pm. Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend. Contact: 8088870830. lisacswisher@gmail.com. $25.

Yoga + Community Tea With Do Yoga Outside An hour of slow, intentional yoga and

30 minutes of Tea + Community Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm. Through Feb. 25. Yoga + Community Tea, 3091 NE Nathan Dr, Bend. Contact: 5416102779. hayley@doyogaoutside.com. $25.

17 VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

Christmas Day Brunch Buffet at Juniper Preserve Celebrate Christmas Day

Locals’ Day Come on down to Bevel Craft Brewing for $4 beers and cider and $1 off wine all day. There are also food specials from the food carts located out back at The Patio! Tuesdays. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.

CALENDAR

Open 7 Days a Week 11am – 10pm WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

18

Two for One: Spaghetti Bolognese is here! Grab a friend and join us for a limited-time 2-for-1 deal on our signature Bolognese. Don’t miss out!

541-550-3570 ◆ 215 NW Hill St, Bend For information and menus: FatTonysBend.com

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Perks of a Perfect Tortilla CHOW The Wandering Ranchero finds new dimensions in the breakfast taco By Jared Rasic Jared Rasic

By Nic Moye

Backporch and Thump Coffee Merge The two will operate under a parent company TBC Coffee

Backporch and Thump Instagram

The Wandering Ranchero truck is behind Palate coffee.

Next came the Green Chili Chorizo taco with ground pork blended with green peppers and tomatillos, eggs, also featuring crisped Cotija and Oaxaca cheeses on the Duck Fat Sonoran tortillas and topped with cilantro and onion. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ve had a more distinct and signature chorizo in Bend. Ranchero avoids the typical mistake a lot of local spots seem to fall into by not drowning the pork in paprika and cumin and here’s that word again, balancing the spice, smoke and sweetness with a chili sauce I wouldn’t mind filling a bathtub with. Zero grease, zero over-saturation of flavor… just a perfect meat lover’s breakfast taco. However, it might have been the no-carne breakfast taco that stole this man’s heart. Packed with smoked sweet potato, eggs, roasted poblanos, ranch beans, crispy potato layer with their (hopefully patented) crisped Cotija and Oaxaca cheeses on the Duck Fat Sonoran tortillas with a splash of Habanero-Caribe-Peach sauce, this beast is incredible. I’m not a veggie taco connoisseur by any means, but the way the cheese meets the crispy hash browns, smoked sweet potatoes and poblanos feels like alchemy. “The smoked sweet potatoes were actually an addition that happened like two weeks ago because we got a review on Reddit that said, ‘The two meat options are incredible, but the veggie option is just OK.’ Says Burks. “I honestly agreed and just didn’t want to be putting any food out that wasn’t up to par with the rest of the menu, so I did some brainstorming with a few of our other cooks and we came up with the idea for smoking some hand cut sweet potato fries and tossing them in Calabrian Chili powder and Smoked Salt to try to amp up the option for people who don’t eat meat, and it seems to be taking off pretty well!” Yeah, much, much better than OK. But these tortillas. Not to keep comparing, but when you see a place that genuinely cares about the quality of their tortillas,

then it makes all the mediocre, wet, disintegrating ones even more infuriating. As fresh and hearty as all of the ingredients are, Wandering Ranchero ensures these gently crispy tortilla masterworks are the centerpiece of their tacos by not only being the spine that holds the entire enterprise together, but also adding a completely new depth of flavor to the meal. “The tortillas were actually a very, very last-minute decision, says Burks. “We had a fantastic connection in Texas to order from, right up until the last month before opening, when they decided they couldn’t really supply the amounts we were requesting. So I went on YouTube and watched a bunch of tortilla-making videos and we decided that duck fat Sonoran-style tortillas were the best way to go! After countless hours in the kitchen at home, I finally came up with a recipe that seemed to work pretty well! After hand rolling the first 200-300 tortillas (and about destroying my back) we decided to order a sweet heated tortilla press from Germany that can make about 200 tortillas/hour and it has been an absolute lifesaver ever since!” As Wandering Ranchero focuses exclusively on the breakfast arts, they’re open from 7 am to 2 pm daily. I envision a future where, hopefully, one day Will and Laura show us what their lunches and, dare I say, even dinners, look like. Regardless of what the future holds, I know Wandering Ranchero and Will and Laura will be a part of the local culinary scene for a long time to come. Wandering Ranchero Daily 7am-2pm Behind Palate Coffee 643 NW Colorado Ave. wanderingranchero.com

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ackporch Coffee Roasters and Thump Coffee are merging under a new parent company called TBC Coffee starting Jan. 1. In a letter to clients, Backporch Founder Dave Beach wrote, “I’ve been roasting coffee in Bend for a long time, and Backporch has grown one relationship at a time... Nothing about this merger changes the heart behind what we do.” Backporch started in 2006 and has five locations in Bend and Redmond. Thump Coffee was founded in 2007 as 11 Roasters Coffee, opening its first cafe in 2009 as Thump. It has three Bend locations. A statement on Thump’s website states that over the past few years, both teams have been growing and often on the same trail, building toward the same thing. The two coffee companies will maintain their individual brands but will share resources behind the scenes to become more efficient. In his letter, Beach says, “What does change is the support behind the scenes. By joining forces we gain stronger buying power, a deeper roasting team, more stability, and a better foundation for the future.” In an email to the Source, he says he’s excited for the merger and will release more details about what it means for customers and employees in 2026.

19 VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

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isten, if you don’t listen to another food recommendation I give you for as long as I do this job, then please believe me when I say that the thing that has missing from your life up until now is the duck fat Sonoran tortillas from Wandering Ranchero. (Located behind Palate Coffee). There are certain things that once you have them, you can never go back and these tortillas (and Wandering Ranchero in general, honestly) add a dimension to breakfast tacos that I had no idea was missing. What owners, operators, Taco Scientists Will Burks and Laura Gabriel have done with Wandering Ranchero might seem simple at first glance, with three types of breakfast tacos, two different waffles and a few delicious add-ons, but each item has such specific and complex flavor profiles that it feels like we’re only scratching the surface of what Burks and Gabriel are capable of crafting. “The idea for the food truck definitely came from Laura’s love for breakfast tacos,” says Burks. “and she noticed a lack of options here in Bend and wanted to fill that gap! The entire concept came together extremely fast after speaking with some mutual friends of the owners of Palate and hearing they were possibly interested in selling their food truck. We set up a meeting about purchasing it, and we all hit it off pretty well and decided it would be an awesome place to set up shop and help support each other’s businesses, selling breakfast tacos with their fantastic coffee!” Sitting outside on what is likely one of the last warm(-ish) sunny days of the winter, with a perfectly pulled cortado from Palate and three fat, scratch-made breakfast tacos and a cinnamon toast waffle that tasted like Saturday mornings in front of cartoons… it all reminded me why I love Bend so much in the first place. It’s also nice that Will and Laura are just deeply warm and pleasant people whose immediate and unforced friendliness has secured me as a regular for as long as they will have me. I’ll get to the tortillas in a minute, but first, let’s talk about these three tacos on offer: two carne and one no carne. First was the Al Pastor taco featuring smoked pork, pineapple, eggs and crisped Cotija and Oaxaca cheeses on the Duck Fat Sonoran tortillas, topped with cilantro and onion. One of the things that’s so easy for breakfast burrito and taco spots to get wrong is the ratio between the egg and everything else. What Wandering Ranchero gets right from the jump is their balance. So many savory breakfast spots front-load their tortillas with so many eggs and potatoes that whatever else they’re playing with is buried under starch and egg protein. You taste every ingredient in these, from the tender smoked pork to the sweet & salty contrasting cheeses, the Al pastor is wonderful.

LITTLE BITES

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Make 2026 the Year of Reading

CULTURE

Recommendations to start your book list By Christine Bell, Bookseller at Roundabout Books & Cafe

WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE

20 Christine Bell

WHAT CASSIE'S READING

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“Persuasion” by Jane Austen —Dec. 16 was Jane Austen’s 250th birthday and to celebrate Cassie is reading “Persuasion.” Of all Jane Austen’s great and delightful novels, Persuasion is widely regarded as the most moving—the entrancing story of a second chance at love. Anne Elliot is a woman of quiet charm and deep feelings. At 19, she fell in love with— and was engaged to—a naval officer, the fearless and headstrong Capt. Wentworth. But he had no fortune, and Anne was persuaded to give him up. Now, at 27, Anne learns that he has returned to the area, rich and still unwed. Her never-diminished love is muffled by her pride. What happens as Anne and Wentworth are thrown together in the world of Bath—and as an eager new suitor appears for Anne—is touchingly and wittily told.

he frenzy of the holidays is almost behind us and 2026 is just around the corner. For many, using the new year to set goals and resolutions is a time-honored tradition. Some of you may join a gym or commit to Dry January. Perhaps you want to do more for our local community. Volunteer at one of the many nonprofits in town or lean into civic engagement. There are some incredible organizations in Central Oregon that would welcome your hands, your experience and your time. Connect Central Oregon can help you find the right place for your skills and passions. No matter what you choose as your area of focus, I propose that 2026 also be THE YEAR OF READING. Professional alpinist and author dedicated to protecting our planet’s climate, Graham Zimmerman, was recently at Roundabout Books for an event. As he discussed the situation in our world today, he suggested that we take a step back: “In this moment, it’s important to take the time to sit and be quiet. Choose a good book and immerse yourself in the art, reflect on the prose.” We couldn’t agree more. A beautiful book to start with is the newly released “Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books” by Hwang Bo-Reum, translated by Shanna Tan. Each essay is a quick read and invites you to reflect on your relationship to reading with suggestions for celebrating the joy of books. Another fantastic choice is “Eventually a Sequoia” by Jeremy Collins. This graphic memoir intertwines art (much drawn while hanging from rock faces), adventure and environmental activism, exploring the profound connections between nature and personal growth. If you just want to spend time reading great literature, Roundabout Books offers a monthly First Editions Subscription Club that will inspire your reading goals. Each month, a box will show up in your mailbox with a new novel that has been carefully selected because it’s a great read and of enduring quality. We give debut authors a platform as well as share the latest from some of your favorite, award-winning authors. If you would like to use your reading time to learn more about what makes people truly content, I recommend “The Good Life” by Robert Waldinger, MD, and Marc Schulz, PhD. In this fascinating book, the directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, show that the answer to these questions may be closer than you realize. There is plenty to reflect and act on in this book.

Speaking of the importance of quiet time, “Meditations for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman is a new take on how meditation can help you make time for what counts. Brene’ Brown’s new book, “Strong Ground,” provides an urgent call to practice what she calls “daring leadership” with practical and actionable insights focused on essential mind and skill sets for these uncertain times. If you want to focus on your health, two new books might be right for you: Perhaps the new “Live Naked AF: A Joyful Approach to Living Alcohol Free” by Annie Grace. This guide to navigating what’s next after you find freedom from alcohol uses a science-based approach. In “Age Like a Girl,” Dr. Mindy Pelz redefines menopause as a powerful biological upgrade, offering science-based strategies to help women thrive and reclaim their health. Civic engagement is a hot topic right now. I highly recommend a bestseller from last fall, “Democracy in Retrograde” by Sami Sage and Emily Amick. This whip-smart combo of self-help and political manifesto is perfect for anyone who wants to save our democracy but doesn’t know where to start. Alternately, “Giving Up is Unforgivable” by Joyce Vance, and the new-in-paperback “On Freedom” by Timothy Snyder will help you consider our democracy further. Money management is another classic topic for New Year’s resolutions. Check out “The Art of Spending Money” by bestselling author Morgan Housel. This doesn’t give you budget hacks; instead, he focuses on how your relationship with money shapes your decisions and how to reshape that relationship so that money works for you. Lastly, cookbooks aren’t just for cooking — they are fun to browse, pour over images of delicious food, read the anecdotes provided by the authors and get inspired for your next great meal! Check out “Everything’s Good” by Toni Chapman, full of cozy classics, or Milk Street’s latest “Shorts: Recipes that Pack a Punch.” If you want a vegetarian-inspired diet, “Veg Forward” by Susan Spungen offers plenty of inspiration. No matter your focus for 2026, reading can provide guidance, inspiration and an opportunity to stop and sit quietly to ponder the best direction for your life. As Zimmerman said, “Choose a good book and immerse yourself.”

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SCREEN

Our movie critic's favorite films of 2025

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By Jared Rasic

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

A Year of Excellence

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very year, when it’s time to make my end-of-the-year list, I realize there are still too many new releases that I’ve yet to see, which is somewhat ridiculous since I actually managed to catch around 150 releases from 2025. I once again failed to make any new friends or go on many hikes, but I still had a wonderful time. So, with that said, let’s take a look at the Best Movies I watched in 2025. Top 10 Movies of the year: 10: “Sinners:” Michael B. Jordan is revelatory as twin brothers Smoke and Stack in this horny vampire tale set in the Jim Crow South, but it’s the effortlessly cool direction of Ryan Coogler and the grimy, sweaty blues score from Ludwig Göransson that steals the show. A popcorn blockbuster the way Hollywood used to make them. 9: “Sentimental Value:” Cinema with a capital C, Joachim Trier channels Bergman in this powerful attempt to bridge the gap between fathers, daughters and the silences between them. This will win some serious Oscars and deserves every one…even if just for the final scene alone. 8: “Eddington:” 2025’s most misunderstood film isn’t just an uncomfortable and irritable look at the individual miseries of 2020, but a sunburned fit of anger structured around a hilarious revisionist western, then nervously imploded into an Ari Aster panic attack. Long after I’m dead, “Eddington” will be taught alongside “Network” and “Strangelove” as one of the pinnacles of cinematic satire. 7: “Blue Moon:” The most I’ve loved a Richard Linklater film in ages, “Blue Moon” feels like an unhinged and painfully romantic play that sprung to life in front of you while you’re trying not to drink your fifth gin & tonic at your favorite speakeasy. At turns life-affirming and mordantly sad, Ethan Hawke is so damn good in this that it feels like watching a genius piano player finally letting you see how he moves his hands across the keys. 6: “Weapons:” The most fun I had in a theater all year. Unpredictable and insane while walking a razortipped tightrope between popcorn entertainment and thought-provoking seriousness. Both breathtaking and awe-inspiring, “Weapons” reignited that feeling in me of being drunk on the freedom and limitlessness of cinema. 5: “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl:” Not enough people have seen this anguished wail for the generations of women who’ve lived entire lives

without a solitary moment of agency. What makes “Guinea Fowl” a masterpiece is that it isn’t just a lament for the women bent and broken by a thousand-years plus of the patriarchy, but that it also functions as a shout of alarm for young women to burn these customs to the ground before spending a life chained by them. Cinema as righteous protest and rage-fueled fury. 4: “No Other Choice:” Park Chanwook is one of the best to ever do it and “No Other Choice” sees him at his most deliciously cynical, dipping his toes into slapstick comedy, pitch-black satire and white-knuckle thriller with the ease he has shown as a technical master for decades. This is Park’s “Fargo” and I can’t recommend it enough. 3: “Cloud:” What happens when your online life shows up at your door, angry and armed? Kiyoshi Kurosawa is one of the world’s finest living filmmakers and “Cloud” is one of his best. Quiet, contemplative and then explosive, it’s a film of such deceptively simple power that I’m not sure that this shouldn’t have been my #1 movie of the year. This is now one of the standards I’ll use when I call a movie a “masterpiece.” 2: “Train Dreams:” Denis Johnson was one of the greatest writers to have ever lived and “Train Dreams” was his perfect ode to America. Clint Bentley turns that lovely story into a poem for the Pacific Northwest that radiates a gentle beauty into the soil of an America long past. Joel Edgerton is without equal as a quiet logger in the early 19th-century, but it’s William H. Macy who does so much with so little, crafting the soul of Arn Peeples, my favorite character of the year, with a limitless grace. 1: “One Battle After Another:” An action movie, a family drama, a can of pepper spray to the face of ICE and a fist fight at dawn, “One Battle” is a singular work of art from Paul Thomas Anderson, a great American provocateur. One of the very few films I’ve seen that can be labelled as perfect: from the never better DiCaprio, the infuriatingly hilarious Sean Penn and the immediately iconic Benicio del Toro. Thank you for letting me have a voice and spend my life sharing my love of this still relatively new art form. I can’t wait for next year. —A list of favorite television shows and special mention movie nods is included in a longer version of this story at bendsource.com.

WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE 22

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OUTSIDE Seed to Table Aims to Build Community Health and Wellness By Dallas Finn Calvert

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ittle did 10-year-old Audrey Tehan know, as she furiously shielded her fledgling beet plants from a pounding hail storm on her family’s farm in Sisters, that one day, she’d be helping to grow more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce in that same spot and helming a nonprofit that distributes the bounty to Central Oregon residents. “Growing up on this piece of property, we raised cattle for the restaurant, and then my mom and I always had a small garden here,” recalls Tehan, 36, as she gestures to the expanse of land, greenhouses, and buildings that are home to Seed to Table Oregon, a nonprofit of which she’s the founder and executive director. S2T, as it’s sometimes called, aims to build “community health and wellness through equitable access to fresh produce and through farm-based education. “I just loved the process and the challenge of seeing if I could get something to grow here. And then, just like the sheer joy of harvesting what I’d grown, like salad. One of our favorite meals growing up was canned chili, and I’d harvest my fresh lettuce and have it with our canned chili. I just loved that and being able to experience that joy of bringing people together at the table,” she said. Eating chili and homegrown salad with Tehan as a youngster were her parents, John, now 75, who owned and operated Bronco Billy’s in Sisters, and Peggy, now 67, a former CPA. She’s also got two siblings. Her sister Hattie, 34, is a Spanish teacher at Sisters High School, and her brother JC, 32, is a snowboard instructor at Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF). Today, Tehan’s parents still live on the farm, helping with Seed to Table, to which they lease part of the farm. They lease another portion to Mahonia Gardens, a small market-garden business. Tehan was introduced to “experiential education” while attending Sisters High School (she’s a 2007 graduate). She then furthered her passion for the environment and outdoors while studying at Southern Oregon University. In 2013, back home in Central Oregon after graduating from SOU with a degree in environmental sciences, the Sisters School District superintendent called Tehan and asked if she’d like to start a farm-toschool program, run out of a greenhouse refurbished by the high school’s Science Club and using a $16,000 grant the district had received. That program morphed into Seed to Table, and now 12 years later, the nonprofit has eight greenhouses on the Tehan family farm, provides educational offerings for more than 1,000 students in grades pre-K to 12, and distributes more than 50 tons of produce a year to Central Oregonians. “I think I had no idea what it would become,” Tehan said. “In the back of my head, I always had a vision of farming and growing vegetables and working with the local community. I always had a little bit of an idea of starting an experiential program around food, but I figured I’d have to go away and make a lot of money elsewhere and then do it.” Through its “Feeding Families” program, Seed to Table distributes its fresh produce to 2,200 Central Oregon residents weekly through collaboration with 16 different organizations, including High Desert Food & Farm Alliance;; the CORE food pantry and Kiwanis food bank, both in Sisters and the Council on Aging of Central Oregon.

Audrey Tehan

Seed to Table staff include, from the left, Audrey Tehan, founder and executive director; Kadie Vita, farmer; Rubye Fangmeier, farm manager; Hannah Joseph, program director; Vivian Toll, farm manager; and Jenn Gardner, harvest and distribution manager.

“It is the most amazing and wonderful partnership. Their organization is just incredible,” said Cathy Lang, director of nutrition services for the Council on Aging of Central Oregon. Lang runs the Meals on Wheels program, which delivers fresh meals to residents aged 60 and older who are homebound. “They have the education piece where they teach children about farming and vegetables, and where their food comes from. But then they also have a donation piece, and this is where we come in. In the summertime, they donate an amazing quantity of fresh, delicious vegetables to Council on Aging. “We use those fresh vegetables to make meals to send out to folks who can’t leave their homes or can’t cook their meals on their own, so it’s an incredible gift to our population,” Lang said. “We serve seniors, and it’s an incredible gift to them. Many of them can’t afford to buy these fresh, delicious vegetables. And it’s this very, very wonderful product that’s close to their home. We also give it out to our in-person diners, whatever we’re unable to use in making meals. We put out baskets of this fresh bounty that we get from Seed to Table, and then these folks get to take home free veggies. You should see the excitement on people’s faces.” Seed to Table also offers 200 community-supported agriculture shares, available on a sliding scale. People can sign up for a weekly “share” of the harvest, which is a large box overflowing with seasonal produce, typically featuring between 12 and 20 different items, during the growing season. For those who can’t pick up their share box at the farm, Seed to Table delivers them and has pick-up options at Central Oregon Locavore in Bend and at the Sisters Farmer’s Market, which Seed to Table runs. “Our whole mission is around building community health and wellness through equitable access to fresh produce and through farm-based education. Our produce distribution, like the Feeding Families program, is really designed to make sure that anyone who would like to have fresh, local food can have it, no matter their income. We’re really working with those who have barriers to access fresh food, and that can be a lot of different things. It can be the cost or transportation, not feeling safe coming to community spaces to get that food, (physical) abilities, houselessness,” said Tehan, adding that for the latter, they ensure they have “produce that can be eaten without a lot of cooking, so a lot of carrots, a lot of cucumbers, fresh salad mixes.” Seed to Table also engages with approximately 1,000

Central Oregon students each year, with students working hands-on at the farm, growing their own produce, and also having classroom sessions at their schools centered around cooking and learning about farming. “Our goal with the education programs is to really give kids opportunities to engage with fresh foods and to try new foods and become connected with where their food is from, while also getting to experience the hands-on education that farms can provide. I really believe that you can teach just about any subject on the farm,” Tehan said, explaining that students plant, grow and harvest their plants while incorporating other educational topics into their farming, including learning about a variety of aspects pertaining to the countries from which particular plants and spices originate and honing their math skills while cooking with those spices and produce. “We’ll start seeds with them in the classroom, and then the students come out onto the farm,” she said. “They do a big harvest field trip, where they’re harvesting potatoes, carrots, beets. They’re learning how to make salad dressing, and often in the fall, they’re doing seed-saving activities and learning about plant parts and plant life cycles. After they’ve started seeds in the classroom, they’ll come back out here and plant them. We have a student garden area, and they’ll transplant their seeds into the ground. Then they’ll come out again and harvest their items and make big salads. And they’re also learning to love new foods that they might not have tried before. “They’re learning about ‘don’t yuck, my yum’ and that just because somebody else likes something or doesn’t like it, we all have our own individual taste-bud experience,” she said. “It’s incredible. We’ve had students who say ‘I only used to like beige foods before I came to Seed to Table’ or ‘I didn’t know what kale was.’ We’re giving kids that opportunity to learn with their hands in the dirt and to really connect with fresh food and with the community and the possibility of what we can grow here. Seed to Table conducts a summer farm program for children ages 5 and under and then a summer farm camp for those ages 6 to 12 and offers high-school agriculture classes through partnerships with Cascades Academy and Sisters High School. Additionally, in 2020, the organization took over the management of the Sisters Farmer’s Market. Tehan said that this year, the market generated more than $500,000 for vendors. S2T has 10 full-time employees during the farming months (February through December) and currently a five-member board. There are also more than 60 regular volunteers. “The farm has doubled in size in the last four years, and that has really been to meet the community demand, which has been huge." Heaters in the greenhouses have upped productivity by 30 percent. “We’re growing all of our crops very close together, and we’re using a lot of hand tools, " Tehan said. “We’re really trying to be a community asset and trying to be a model here of how agriculture and food is woven into our everyday lives and how being physically connected to your food can be really beneficial for the farmers and for the community.”

23 VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

Nonprofit provides access to fresh produce and hands-on farming education for Central Oregonians

WWW.BENDSOURCE.COM / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / BEND’S INDEPENDENT VOICE 24

THE PSYCHEDELIC FRONTIER

EXPLORING INTENTIONAL PSYCHEDELIC USE IN THE MODERN WORLD By Mary Casanave Sheridan

Traditional Vs Modern Approaches Some with traditional teachers, others through therapy or allopathic training, or mystical traditions from various cultures. I’ve witnessed ceremonies held by non-indigenous facilitators that were profoundly sacred, expertly guided, and deeply expansive. These practitioners create containers that honor the medicines’ sacred nature while serving our contemporary needs. Conversely, there are instances in traditional settings where commercialization, ego, ill-intent, or lack of proper care created unsafe or exploitative experiences. A ceremonial robe and indigenous lineage don’t automatically guarantee wisdom, safety, or authentic service. The sad reality is that harmful actors exist across all contexts, and might hide equally behind traditional authority, clinical credentials, or spiritual performance. The recent influx of licensed therapists into this work represents just one thread in a much richer tapestry. What I find most meaningful is focusing on the qualities that make any facilitator, whether indigenous curandero, underground guide, or licensed therapist, truly capable of holding sacred space for transformation, and finding the one who feels aligned with you, your needs and worldview. When looking for a facilitator, find ones that have: Genuine humility and ongoing learning. They acknowledge what they don’t know, and regularly do their own work. They’re not performing expertise

but living in authentic relationship with the medicines. Clear boundaries and transparent practices. They’re honest about their limitations, don’t make grandiose claims, and maintain appropriate relationships with participants. Deep respect for the medicines and their origins. This includes giving credit where it is due, avoiding cultural appropriation and finding authentic, embodied expression. Trauma-informed awareness and safety protocols. They understand how to work with difficult experiences, have clear emergency procedures, and create emotionally safe containers. Pre- and post-ceremony support. They understand that this work is not for everyone in every situation and are decerning about who they serve and ensure they are ready to face what they may encounter and also provide resources for ongoing processing and integration for as long as it is needed. The ceremonialists I most trust often exist in the liminal spaces. They are humble, grounded, confident, and have a system of support and accountability. They don’t make grandiose claims and they know their limits. Your 20 years of experience with traditional ceremony gives you invaluable discernment. Trust that felt sense you’ve developed about genuine versus performative sacred space. The same qualities of presence, reverence, competence, and genuine care that make ceremony authentic in the Amazon, translate across contexts.

Rather than focusing primarily on credentials or cultural origins, I encourage cultivating the ability to sense when someone is truly in service versus serving their own needs. The medicines themselves seem to be calling forth multiple expressions of healing, some honoring traditional forms, others creating new containers for our contemporary wounds. Perhaps our task isn’t to judge which approaches are valid, but to become more skillful at recognizing authentic medicine wherever we find it. What matters most is that we never lose sight of why this work matters and understand that accessibility and context are important. There is no one correct answer, and there are not just two choices. The best facilitators, regardless of their background, never forget they’re servants of something much larger than themselves. Spiritual superiority is not a sign of true ascension. (This is a big question, and one that I felt deserved more than just my own opinion. While space limits this print response to my perspective alone, I encourage you to visit our online version where I’ve gathered additional voices from our community, each offering their own hard-won wisdom.) —Questions are encouraged to be sent to mary@myco.vision and free 30-minute consultations for further discussions can be made through her website https://myco. vision

Purchase discount gift certificates online at

perks.bendsource.com

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

Q: After 20+ years in traditional indigenous ceremonies with mushrooms, peyote, and ayahuasca in South and Central America, I’m watching local options emerge with both curiosity and apprehension. Most seem facilitated by mental health professionals or those with limited connection to indigenous roots. What’s the difference between these approaches and traditional circles? Are there benefits or drawbacks to this Western medicalization? While I appreciate local access without language barriers or extensive travel, I’m concerned about impacts on traditional communities and whether these ceremonies can achieve the same spiritual depth and results. (edited for length and clarity) A: Your question reveals the complexity many of us navigate as these medicines gain greater popularity, acceptance, and multiple forms of expression. After decades walking between traditional and modern spaces, witnessing diverse approaches, I’ve learned that the most important distinctions aren’t necessarily about geography or lineage. Rather, they’re about depth of reverence, experience, and genuine care. I strongly push back on any oversimplified narrative that all Western approaches are coldly clinical, and all indigenous ones are spiritually pure. The reality is far more nuanced and, honestly, more hopeful than these binary categories suggest. The contemporary landscape includes many practitioners who’ve spent years in deep spiritual training.

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s time passes, an inevitable assessment of the choices made in one’s younger years comes to pass. This review allows you to reflect and respond on the roads taken, both good and bad, with an eye toward doing a better job. For many, this involves partners, career choices, and things said or done while under the influence of alcohol. For me, the manner in which I have consumed cannabis over the decades is the primary source of my ruminations. I physically cringe when recounting the times I was reduced to MacGyvering smoking through soda cans, toilet paper tubes with aluminum bowls, plumbing pipes and fittings, hot butter knife hits off an electric stove, rolling papers improvised from tampon wrappers, and the brass bat-style one-hitters. Graduating to bongs was a game changer, although you were sternly reminded to refer to them as “water pipes” at your local smoke shop. The simple act of filtering smoke through the cleaning and cooling effects of water allowed for smoother, better tasting, and far larger hits than anything offered by joints, blunts or pipe hits. But “water pipes” came with their own drawbacks - the dreaded spilled bong water, leaky cheap glass that could break if you coughed on it, or absurdly large acrylic pieces geared to produce elephant hits while being impossible to fully clean. When vaporizers began hitting the market, I shifted to those for a more precise control of terpenes and cannabinoids. While I don’t wistfully long for a Pepsi can hit, I still enjoy joints, pipes, and bongs. Especially bongs. For years, my preferred method for smoking flower was a homemade bong utilizing a one gallon glass pickle jar, a 2 foot section of thick diameter glass tube, and a food grade plastic hose frankensteined into the monstrosity. It was effective AF while being too heavy, fragile, unwieldy, non transportable and overall absurd. So I am well versed in all manner of bongs, and over the years reviewed a couple that I still use. But I recently received a new piece that is a beautiful testament to what fine glassware can be. It’s a moderate investment worth the price. VITAE produces high-end glass smoking gear for flowers and concentrates, and doing a hell of a job. I opted to try the review model they sent while backstage budtending for a local concert venue’s annual Christmas party. Outside of the food service industry, you won’t find a higher percentage

VITAE Glass

of people who like to get high than the music industry. My guests were pro-level smokers and I wanted to gather their feedback. The bong is composed of a series of modular components that you select from a menu. I selected a base with three levels of honeycomb layers, which like all their components, is 5mm thick borosilicate glass, providing strength and heft, and pairs well with design features like angled, flame finished slits in the percolator. I added two interlocking components - a UFO percolator, and a mouthpiece that was next level with a three ring hand hold that also serves as a splashguard for water and ice. Each piece screws into a beautiful hardwood-wrapped connector ring. Swapping out pieces for replacement or cleaning is fast and easy. The cost of everything was $240. It’s a sizable but manageable 21” once assembled, making someone inherently bear pawed when high like myself grateful for a solid and wide base. So this isn’t a travel bong, but the hits. Lord, the hits. My bowl of flower passed through so many levels of filtration and cooling that provided a larger and more flavorful hit than I’ve had from most bongs. No coughing or hacking, with a near vaporizer like clarity of flavor notes. Oh, and I was high. Really, really gloriously high. I got the same feedback from the party guests, with universal compliments on the form and function of the piece, and the pleasure of cleaner hits and less respiratory irritation. Also, numerous variations on “Dude, I am so high right now. Wow.” Which is what the holidays are all about. If you’re looking to make an investment into new gear, check out VITAE. You deserve to get high with nice things.

THE REC ROOM Crossword

ACROSS 1 Soap dispenser part 6 Condo fees collectors: Abbr. 9 Full of flavor 14 Mashhad man 15 SASE, e.g. 16 She voiced Sleeping Beauty in “Shrek the Third” 17 Give to the church 18 Was completely unsuccessful 20 Herr’s cry 21 Gobble up 23 Christmas beverage 24 Deiced the driveway again 26 Ennui, with “the” 28 Crying shame 29 ___ notte (“Good night” to Giuseppe) 30 Place in a sack 33 Longest river of the state of Western Australia 36 POP Containers company 37 Like canon-vs.-non-canon debates 39 Millions of years 40 Smooth ballet step 43 Takes ten 45 Worthy of talk shows, say 46 Skater Nathan 48 Shrek and Fiona, e.g. 49 Legume grown in a rotational crop 53 Senator Klobuchar 54 Erode away 56 Attitude 57 One overseeing a ward 59 Printer hues 61 See eye to eye 62 Cashpoint : UK :: ___ : USA 63 Actress Sackhoff of “Battlestar Galactica” 64 “Hate to break it to you” 65 Behavior-changing spot 66 “12 Days of Christmas” gifts

We’re Local!

Questions, comments or M H R S T suggestions for our local puzzle guru? H T I G 27 Email Pearl Stark at ●○○○ Difficulty Level: Puzzle for the week of December 22, 2025 S A H M ©pearl@bendsource.com Pearl Stark M H R S T mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku CH T GI G T R Difficulty Level: ●○○○ SMA H M G C G T R G R C M GI G R I C A C R T A C R T MM R R C S C S G C S R A G C S R A Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters

once.H Fill every and 3x3 box with each of the lett Mexactly I Gin T row, S C column, A R

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MinI G H Trow,Scolumn, C A R and 3x3 box with each of the letters exactly once. Fill every

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

Difficulty Level

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

©2021 Brendan Emmett Quigley (www.brendanemmettquigley.com)

“Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of December 22, 2025

DOWN 1 Brian Jones played it on “Paint It Black” 2 Cost 3 Swear words 4 Sch. with campuses in Concord and Manchester 5 Cravat decoration 6 “Death of a Naturalist” poet Seamus 7 Tripping balls 8 Protesters’ rights org. 9 “Wild Thing” rapper 10 It can cover a lot of ground 11 He played Jack McFarland on “Will & Grace” 12 Run-DMC and De La Soul, e.g. 13 ___ Yang Twins (hip-hop group) 19 “That’ll have to wait” 22 Classical pianist Alice Sara ___ 25 Father of octuplets in Springfield 27 It concludes in Diciembre 29 Coal-worthy 30 Marshy tract 31 Slash’s bandmate 32 Hitting a home run 33 Test with verbal and quantitative reasoning sections 34 Negative word 35 Center of Cannes? 37 Resort on New Providence 38 Big name in ice cream 41 Sun. talk 42 Barber Todd 43 Bolts again 44 Wrap things up 46 Pretty picture? 47 Excited, with “up” 48 Last letter 49 Puncher’s weapons 50 Metal in Montana’s motto 51 Indefinite article in German 52 Cathedral nooks 53 Solver’s epiphanies 55 Sticking point, maybe? 58 St. with more businesses than there are residents 60 Swerve, on a ship

MIGHT SCAR exactly once.

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Answer for the week of December 15, 2025

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

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“A pool game mixes ritual with geometry.” - Mary Karr © Pearl Stark www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

WELLNESS

ASTROLOGY By Rob Brezsny CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A newly plant-

ed orchard spends its first year growing roots, not fruit. Underground and unseen, the real work happens. I surmise that’s like what you will be doing in the coming months, Capricorn: mostly invisible stabilization and preparation. If anyone asks you what you’re producing, smile inscrutably and say, “Depth.” Be committed to the quiet, hidden work rather than any showy song and dance. As my rough and rugged spirit guide Esther likes to say, “You don’t got to prove nothin’ to nobody!” The nourishment you will be storing up will sustain later abundance.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Engineers may engage in “stress testing.” They evaluate a system’s hardiness and reliability by subjecting it to pressure or force. I suspect that life will bring you a benevolent version of this trial in the coming months, Aquarius. That’s a good thing! It’s not meant to break you, but to prove how much resilience you have developed. Situations that might have formerly cracked your confidence will affirm and reveal your upgraded endurance. Take note of your composure and congratulate yourself for it. You will have every right to exult in the vivid evidence of how much you’ve grown.

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean author Anaïs Nin wrote, “Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source.” Apply her counsel dynamically during the coming months, dear Pisces. Be the great replenisher. Make yourself into a fountain of beauty as you share lavishly. Nurture tenderness and adoration with unexpected flowers, gorgeous music in the midst of the routine, and affection expressed through artful thoughtfulness. Be brilliant and persistent in ensuring that love thrives. Your elegant generosity and fond attention should enrich everything you touch. ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the Brazilian

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rainforest, Cecropia trees and Azteca ants have a special relationship. The trees’ hollow branches serve as nesting spaces for the ants and offer them sugar-rich food. In return, the ants aggressively defend the trees from herbivores and predators, protecting them from damage. This mutualism benefits both species. The trees get protection that enhances their growth, while the ants gain shelter and nutrition. In the coming months, Aries, I invite you to seek symbiosis that’s equally vigorous. Enjoy the fun challenge of reducing your solo struggles as you rouse collaborations that boost your power and everyone else’s. The goal is intelligent alliance, not compromise. Be resourceful as you trade a bit too much independence for just the right amount of interdependence.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When potters

center clay on a wheel, they typically use one hand inside the vessel to apply steady, controlled force. The other hand remains fluid, guiding and stabilizing the outer rim of the spinning clay. This balanced use of pressure—one hand firm and bracing, the other adapting minutely to the shifting clay— helps bring the lump into perfect symmetry. I propose you make this a prime metaphor in the coming months, Taurus: control meeting surrender. You will be crafting a new balance between security and surprise. Too much rigidity, and the form cracks; too much flow, and it collapses. Practice the middle art.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Poet Audre Lorde

spoke of how caring for herself was the exact opposite of being selfish. It was the foundation of her ability to serve and inspire other people. My Aunt Sophie used to say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” Educator Stephen Covey advised, “Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.” Poet Vironika Tugaleva writes, “Learning to love yourself is essential and life-changing.” Everything I just said should be your keynotes in the coming months, Gemini. Boost your self-care to sublime levels.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A remarkable species of jellyfish can circumvent the aging and death process that affects all other animals. Turritopsis dohrnii converts its mature, specialized cells back into stem cells, essentially recycling its own body into youth. The process may repeat indefinitely, making the animal theoretically immortal. In the coming months, Cancerian, your emotional wisdom will also show amazing regenerative power. Challenging and intriguing situations will be opportunities for you to initiate stunning acts of renewal. Like the jellyfish, you won’t merely manage change but will use it as a catalyst for vigorous growth. Have you ever before been blessed by such wildly rejuvenative powers of metamorphosis? I don’t think so. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): According to ancient

Egyptian myth, the sun god Ra rode a celestial boat across the sky by day. Each night, he plunged into the underworld to wrangle with chaos so he could rebirth light in time for the dawn. That’s your mythic assignment for the coming months, Leo: not to be nonstop luminous, but to renew and nurture your radiance in the dark. Your courage will lie in feeling and learning from your doubts without identifying with them. Your magnetism and wisdom will deepen as you descend. You won’t be less golden for passing through shadow.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In medieval monaster-

ies, scribes added whimsical drawings called drolleries into the margins of sacred manuscripts. These marginalia included scenes like frogs playing harps, nuns chasing rabbits, and fantastical creatures engaged in playful or absurd activities. How should we interpret these seemingly prankish additions? Scholars disagree. In any case, I recommend you experiment with drolleries of your own, Virgo. Inject improvisation into duty. Add ornament to order. The coming months will reward your serious play. You’ll accomplish more by enjoying the work than by obsessing on perfecting it. A touch of friskiness may even improve efficiency. So when you edit, doodle; when you analyze, wink.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Italy’s Orto Botanico di Padova is the world’s oldest botanical garden still in its original location. Since its inception 480 years ago, it has been a center for botanical research, education, and conservation. Its layout is striking, a square-inscribed in a circle, symbolizing harmonious order. In the coming months, Libra, you will be wise to associate yourself intimately with a similar wonder: an enduring source of beauty and revelation that you can both serve and benefit from. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Astronaut Chris Hadfield has spent 166 days orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station. In the microgravity of outer space, he says, motion is very smooth; objects and people float. He marvels at how everything is always moving, and yet the pace itself is tranquil and unhurried. I foresee you enjoying a lot of this kind of grace in the coming months, Scorpio: momentum without mania; constant fluidic movement that’s never hectic or rushed. What a great privilege! I expect you will rack up many flowing accomplishments. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Kyoto’s famous moss gardens, caretakers practice artful arrangement rather than total removal of shed foliage. They use delicate tools to gather trees’ cast-off leaves and arrange them on the moss to create visual harmony rather than bare tidiness. This approach reflects the Japanese aesthetic principles of embracing imperfection. Supposed “flaws” become part of the beauty of the garden. I propose that you regularly adopt a metaphorically comparable approach in the coming months, Sagittarius. Integrate rather than edit. Be creative with what’s changing form. Treat so-called messes and unexpected plot twists not as blemishes but as rich textures that feel meaningful and inspiring.

Homework: What’s the best thing you can do to stimulate more of the love you want in 2026? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

THE THIRD ACT

COLUMN

WELLNESS

A COLUMN ON AGEISM AND AGEING By Ellen Waterston

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A

few years ago I headed to Oregon’s Summer Lake Wildlife Area to meet friends for our annual spring bird-a-thon. Armed with binoculars, the Merlin Bird ID app and bird books, we good humoredly tried to outdo each other’s species count. Come nightfall, I took in the staggering beauty of the Milky Way that claimed the night sky. It was as though, like me, the birds and animals of the desert had been rendered speechless by the spectacle. The only sounds were the occasional hoot of owls, the haunting call of nighthawks, here and there the yip of the coyote. I located some of my favorite constellations and stars, Ursa Major and Minor, the North Star, Cassiopeia, Cygnus, Orion. Whenever I see them it’s like a reunion with lifelong friends. But I was startled out of my reverie by something that frightened me. It looked like the handle of the Big Dipper had broken off! The stars that made up the severed handle moved slowly and stealthily across the night sky. They didn’t blink like a satellite, didn’t gain speed or drop behind, rather an evenly choreographed procession through space. I imagined similar events that confounded early humans, the sky producing an inexplicable display of light and seen either as messages of good fortune or impending doom. I saw doomed doom. The faithful night sky I had grown up with, counted on, was breaking apart. You’ve probably guessed. It was not the handle of the Big Dipper. It was Elon Musk’s Starlink. Now, with many hundreds more twinkling cars attached to his star train, it is less likely that a novice star gazer like me would see them as the severed arm of the Big Dipper. The colonization of space is in overdrive. But the good, old-fashioned star persists. Stars get a lot of attention during the holiday season. As a rich emblem of Judaism, the Star of David is integrated into the celebration of Hanukkah. During Christmas, the Star of Bethlehem is credited for leading the wise men to the infant Jesus, is seen by some as the visitation by an angel, the heavenly recognition of a royal birth. But a major religious holiday isn’t a prerequisite for stars to be center stage. It seems that any time of year we’re happy to wish on stars (Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight …”) or sing to stars (Twinkle, twinkle little star…”).

What exactly are stars? If you’re interested in finding out, locate an observatory near where you live such as the Pine Mountain Observatory east of Bend. Established in 1967 by the University of Oregon, it offers programs for old and young during spring and summer outreach nights and is also the field school for the university’s astronomy and astrophysics students. In many ways the face of the observatory is Professor Scott Fisher, an astronomy lecturer at UO. He can translate gamma-ray burst modeling, gravitational waves, and the expansion of the universe into layman’s terms. His enthusiasm makes everyone wish they could run away with the star circus. His passion was evident one evening last spring at a small-group presentation to bring attention to the work of the Pine Mountain Observatory and to help advocate for some new stars — Woody’s Stars. The holiday season is a time of giving. Mail and email in-boxes overflow with solicitations for worthy causes. If you’re into stars of the human and celestial kind, Woody’s Stars (www. woodysstars.org) is one to consider. To learn more, first watch Space, Hope and Charity www.spacehopecharityfilm. com. The video is the creation of Bend’s award-winning director/producer/writer Sandy Cummings. You’ll meet the aspiring, young astrophysicist, Charity Woodrum, her professor, Scott Fisher, and her toddler son, Woody. The film recounts a tragedy beyond reckoning turned into a life-affirming opportunity for others, namely The Woody’s Star Fund, supporting college STEM students. The story is star bright. That same evening, Professor Fisher dazzled us with stories of starlight travel delay, of cosmic time machines. How we’re actually seeing stars as they were in the past. How, in some cases, the star we wish on has died during the millions of light years it took for its light to make the journey to earth. When he said this, I heard someone in the audience mutter to themselves, “Maybe we’re already dead.” That notion stopped me in my tracks. What if we’re each an earthbound reflection of a life that existed before? What if we are the reflection of a life already spent? What’s not to light? Happy Holidays!

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TAKE ME HOME

REAL ESTATE

By Nathan Powers Engel Volkers Bend

Kelly Johnson

Twelve Days of Housewarming Gifts

541-610-5144

beautiful homes require the occasional fix, upgrade or furniture-assembly adventure. A stylish, well-organized tool set becomes indispensable. On the eighth day, a smart thermostat. This gift combines comfort with efficiency and brings a sense of modern control to the home. It’s practical, eco-friendly, and one of the easiest upgrades a homeowner can make. The ninth day brings an indoor plant starter kit. 2025 continues to champion plant-forward design, and low-maintenance greenery instantly elevates any space. Even self-proclaimed “plant killers,” like myself, can succeed with the right starter set. The tenth day celebrates Local Art or Print. Support a local artist and give a piece that feels rooted in place. On the eleventh day, give a luxury candle set. Timeless and elegant, candles make a new home feel warm and inviting on a cold Central Oregon day. And finally, on the twelfth day, a robot vacuum. It’s one of the most universally loved home upgrades — and new homeowners especially appreciate anything that lightens the load. Whether you’re gifting as a friend, family member or real estate advisor, these 12 ideas offer meaningful ways to celebrate the joy of a new home.

“Love where you live!”

Licensed in the State of Oregon

HOME PRICE ROUNDUP << LOW

748 NE Vail Lane, Bend, OR 97701 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,669 square feet, .06 acres lot Built in 2014 $510,000 Listed by Aaron Lamb of Engel & Völkers Bend

MID >>

PRIVACY & MOUNTAIN VIEWS 64401 Deschutes Market Rd The existing manufactured home is strategically placed for its tranquil setting, views while retaining the option to construct a future home in an ideal area of the lot affording the next owner the ability to live/use the existing home while they build their dream. The gated, cinder driveway weaves between old lava flows to reveal a 1368sf heated workshop , dual bay doors, 864sf second floor storage & an adjacent RV parking pad. The property was professionally cleared to improve defensible space.

OFFERED AT $799,000

20670 Comet Court, Bend, OR 97701 4 bed, 2.5 bath, 2,552 square feet, .13 acres lot Built in 2015 $830,000 Listed by Natalie Nolte of Engel & Völkers Bend

STUNNING MOUNTAIN VIEWS Lot 273, Fazio Ln Build your dream home on this elevated, gently sloped Pronghorn lot and enjoy stunning views in all directions, including the Cascade Mountains to the west. The lot includes the transfer of the seller’s full Pronghorn Premier Club Membership deposit of $115,000 to the Buyer. Juniper Preserve, formerly Pronghorn, offers 36 holes of golf between the award-winning Nicklaus and Fazio championship golf courses, as well as a clubhouse, newly updated spa, fitness center, outdoor heated pools with water slide and hot tubs, and shuttles to the airport and Mt. Bachelor.

<< HIGH

3563 NW McCready Drive, Bend, OR 97703 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,561 square feet, .44 acres lot Built in 1998 $1,579,000 Listed by Matthew Montoya of Engel & Völkers Bend

Otis Craig Broker, CRS

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Greg Jason Millikan Boone

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Skjersaa Group | Duke Warner Realty 1033 NW Newport Ave. Bend, OR 97703

541.383.1426

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& 541.771.4824 ) otis@otiscraig.com

31 VOLUME 29 ISSUE 51 / DECEMBER 25, 2025 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY

T

here’s something extra magical about giving a housewarming gift during the holidays. Here’s our “Twelve Days of Housewarming Gifts.” On the first day of housewarming, give a smart video doorbell. It’s one of the most appreciated upgrades offering security, convenience, and peace of mind. On the second day, a luxury scent diffuser. A smart diffuser brings modern elegance to any room. The third day brings a high-quality portable speaker. For backyard barbecues, cooking sessions or relaxing evenings, great sound instantly elevates the space. The fourth day calls for a weighted throw blanket. Equal parts comfort and style, a high-quality throw brings warmth to movie nights and quiet mornings. On the fifth day, give a customized name or address stamp. It’s personal, classy, and surprisingly practical for invitations, holiday cards and everyday mail. The sixth day introduces a digital picture frame. These smart displays let homeowners showcase a rotating gallery of memories without cluttering the walls. The seventh day is perfect for a premium tool kit. Even the most

Broker

Bend Premier Real Estate Kelly@GoBendHomes.com

Oregon Real Estate Licensees