Bend’s growing psychic community By Erin Rook, Source Weekly Until 1986, the practice of “occult arts” in Bend — including fortune telling, astrology, phrenology, palmistry, clairvoyance, mesmerism, spiritualism, and other spiritual readings — was subjected to a $250 per day licensing fee. The ordinance originated in 1913, a time of unprecedented growth in Bend. In…
Category: Feature
The Other Side of the Fence: As Bend grows, neighborhood tensions rise
By Erin Rook, Source Weekly At the Nov. 19 City Council meeting, local residents once again lined up to offer testimony on vacation rentals. It has been a heated debate, but this time, rather than sharing concerns about how the rentals should be regulated, many spoke out in opposition to the makeup of the citizen…
Future Fears
When Halloween and elections collide, frightening predictions arise By Erin Rook, Source Weekly Masks of elected officials are a Halloween staple. Why? Because politicians can be scary. But like super powered-mutants, they have the ability to either wreak havoc on, or help to save, the future. We talked to city staff and councilors to find…
What’s in a Name?
Transgender students start the year with more support By Erin Rook, Source Weekly Starting a new school year brings more changes than just the transition from summer into fall. Whether it is the stress of a new teacher, or returning after an awkward summertime growth spurt, or with eyeglasses or braces, the first day can…
Hotel, Motel, Neighborhood Inn?
Westside residents push back against vacation rentals By Erin Rook, Source Weekly “That’s a vacation rental,” Stephen Junkins says, pointing to a modest but well-maintained mill house as he rides his bike slowly through the River West neighborhood where he lives. “And that’s a vacation rental,” he adds, gesturing toward another house across the street….
OZ IS REAL!
Dorothy’s house discovered in Central Oregon By Erin Rook, Source Weekly About five miles north of Bend, tucked between the trees on the east side of Highway 97 on a piece of property owned by Gene Carsey, Jr., is the top half of an old farmhouse. Its roof is covered in weather vanes, its windows…
I’ve Never…Shot a Gun
Playing cowboy with the Pine Mountain Posse By Erin Rook, Source Weekly As the first child born to overprotective parents, I am naturally predisposed to approach life with caution. As such, I’ve always had a healthy respect (read: mild fear) for anything that can cause loss of life or limb. Chief among those agents of…
Trouble on the Rez
Warm Springs searches for path to economic security By Erin Rook, Source Weekly Warm Springs is in trouble. The signs are easy enough to miss. From the curving canyon road hugging the twists and turns of the Deschutes to the desolately dramatic outcroppings flanking either side, the barren beauty provides a welcome distraction from creeping…
Not Just for Burgers Anymore: Grilling fruits and veggies with Chef Bethlyn Rider
By Erin Rook, Source Weekly Vegetarians are the black sheep of the summer barbecue. At a meal where the centerpiece is typically not one, but many varieties of meat, grill masters may be stumped by those who shun the holy trinity of burgers, hot dogs, and chicken. Aside from corn on the cob and salad,…
Underage and Underground
Central Oregon’s hidden child sex trafficking problem By Erin Rook, Source Weekly As tourists flock to Central Oregon for summer adventure, a more sinister migration is happening under the radar. While Portland has received national attention as an alleged hotbed for child sex trafficking, local advocates and law enforcement say that Bend has a growing problem…
Closer to Finally Grown Up: Indigo Girls bring iconic folk-rock to Hullabaloo
By Erin Rook, Source Weekly It’s been a long road, but Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have traveled it together since they were kids. The now-iconic Georgia-raised folk-rock musicians first met in elementary school, began performing music together in middle school and finally became the Indigo Girls while attending Emory University. Their 30-year friendship has…
Out of the Closet, Into the Park: Bend celebrates 10th annual LGBT Pride
By Erin Rook, Source Weekly In 2005, about a dozen people gathered at McKay Park for the first ever LGBT Pride celebration in Bend. It was a modest affair—more family picnic than public spectacle. But a first step, none the less. Members of the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community were just starting to…
