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Small Dwellings Offer Big Benefits

Create More Living Space in Your Own Backyard Article by Sue Baldani | Photography by Natalie Stephenson and Ross Chandler Photography Ever since Bend changed its zoning laws in 2019 to allow the building of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on personal properties, the demand for them has skyrocketed. These self-contained living spaces are usually found in backyards as separate edifices, but ADUs can also be constructed in garages, on top of garages or as additions to homes. They are often...

Arts + Culture

Beyond Personality Types

Humor, honesty and the Enneagram help Elizabeth Orr unlock deeper self-awareness and connection Article by Lynette Confer Style isn’t always about what someone chooses to wear or how they decorate their home. Sometimes it’s the way they move through the world. It’s the way one person dives headfirst into conflict while another avoids it at all costs. It’s the instinct to protect oneself or the impulse to care for everyone else first. It’s the frustration that bubbles up when someone loads the...

Life + Culture

Styled to Gather

From a Welcoming Grazing Table to Comfort Food Recipes, Here’s Everything You Need for a Beautifully Styled Fall Dinner Party Article by Julie E. Furnas As September brings vibrant colors and cooling air over Central Oregon, it’s time once again to plan fall gatherings with friends and family to celebrate the beauty of Autumn. Early fall dinner parties are a great way to bring people together during a season when warm and comforting flavors are welcomed. Whether it’s gathering indoors around...

Arts + Culture

The Art of Belonging

Hearts Unknown Education Creates Space for Young People to Feel Safe, Find Hope and Thrive Article by Lynette Confer | Photography by Hillary Christen and Matt Vega When you first enter Hearts Unknown Education’s space, the first thing you notice isn’t the art. It’s the kids. They’re painting, singing, laughing, building, talking, eating, creating and connecting. A teenager experiments with a guitar riff on stage while another carefully adds color to a canvas. Across the room, a small group...

Life + Culture

Companion Animal Medical Project (CAMP)

Caring for Companion Animals and Their People Article and Photography by Donna Burklo Josh held each of the four kittens with tears in his eyes as he surrendered them on to a better life. “This isn’t a place for kittens to live,” he murmured into one’s fur. The place he refers to is commonly known as Dirt World, or Juniper Ridge, a location bordered to the west by Highway 97 between Bend and Redmond that is temporarily sanctioned for community members without homes to live and have access to...

Life + Culture

Healthy Bites for Happy Dogs

Locally Crafted Organic Dog Treats Bring Quality Ingredients and Tail-Wagging Flavor Together Article by Julie E. Furnas | Photography by Sierra Confer Central Oregon is renowned for its dog-friendly environment. From Madras to Prineville to Sunriver, Redmond, Bend and La Pine – our region offers parks, trails, lakes and dog-friendly restaurants and bars for our furry friends to enjoy year-round. Additionally, Central Oregon boasts a wide array of custom, locally made products and treats for...

Arts + Culture

A Little Slice of Sunshine

Bring Sunshine Indoors with Tips for Growing Lemon Trees and Simple Recipes to Enjoy Together Article by Julie E. Furnas Summer is peak lemon season and with lemons comes lemonade, popsicles, baked goods and more! Summer is also a great time to teach kids the value of gardening, and caring for a small lemon tree can be a great starter project. Because citrus trees thrive in warmer climates, growing any type of citrus in Central Oregon can be challenging. But with the right tools, specialized...

Life + Culture

Rooted in Community

Around the Bend Farms Helps Central Oregon Explore Food, Connection, and Community Through Regenerative Agriculture Article by Lynette Confer | Photography by Shadow Bear Media When it comes to food, it can be easy to focus only on what’s on your plate – and miss the deeper connections it creates. But exploring where our food comes from has the power to reconnect us not only to nourishment, but also to community, to the rhythms of the seasons, and to the land itself. In a fast-moving world...

Life + Culture

Summer Nights Trailside Cocktails

Simple Camping Cocktails Designed for Relaxing Evenings Beneath the Open Summer Sky Article by Julie E. Furnas Summer campouts offer the perfect opportunity to slow down, reconnect and embrace the beauty of the great outdoors. Whether exploring the lakes, trails and forests of Central Oregon or simply gathering around a campfire beneath the stars, camping creates lasting memories rooted in adventure and relaxation. At the end of a full day of summer campout activities, a signature cocktail...

Arts + Culture

In a Rut?

Time to Explore the Oregon Trail! Article by Donna Burklo In 1993, 57-year old Muriel Carbiener stepped out of her vehicle and into the Eastern Oregon sagebrush. “You want me to hike in THIS?” she asked her husband Gail Carbiener, then 59. The trust earned over their 36 years of marriage won Gail the privilege of introducing his wife to the “ruts”. The ruts are, in this case, the indentations in the earth made by the wheels of the covered wagons passing through on their way from Missouri to...