BEND DON'T BREAK--A veteran of Bend’s political scene shares his words of wisdom on Bend’s leftward lurch, the City’s rapid growth and his work to help people without homes.

On this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with former Bend City Councilor Bruce Abernethy. He is well-known in the community for his service work: He’s served on the board of directors for more than a dozen organizations ranging from nonprofits to government entities to educational institutions. He sat on the City Council for a total of 12 years as was the Mayor from 2007 to 2008.

Abernethy first ran for City Council on a “slow growth” platform. In the early 2000s, Bend was growing between 6-7% and many old timers and those who had come in on the first wave of migration in the 1990s were not happy about the way Bend was changing. Abernethy describes why it was nearly impossible to stop the growth because of Oregon’s land use laws which are still in place today. He also provides an honest and refreshing perspective on affordable housing which acknowledges the realities of a free-market economy with the view that the City could be doing more.

Abernethy offers a bird’s eye view of local politics and discusses Bend’s leftward shift over the last decade. He shares his thoughts on the way that national politics has influenced the regional discourse, particularly in the last election.

Abernethy moved to Bend in 1992. He spent 12 years on the Bend City Council and he also served on the Board of the Bend-La Pine School District and the Bend Park and Recreation District. Currently, he serves on the board of a number of organizations including Central Oregon Community College, Bend international School, Camp Tamarack, Central Oregon FUSE and many others. He attended Swarthmore College with a dual major in Economics and Political Science and then earned his Masters of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is a grant writer for Bend-La Pine Schools.

Last Centrist Standing with former Bend Mayor Bruce Abernethy

BEND DON’T BREAK -- Gwenn Wysling has been the Executive Director of Bethlehem Inn, a non-profit providing shelter and aid to the homeless population in Central Oregon for over a decade. On April 27 it was announced that the organization would be given a grant through Project Turnkey to convert the Greenway Motel in Redmond into temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness.

Bethlehem Inn has experience converting hotels into shelters, as they did with their Bend location in 2007. Listen to learn more about the challenges facing homeless people in Central Oregon and how it is being addressed.

Changing the tide of homelessness in Central Oregon with Gwenn Wysling

In part three of a three-part series of interviews on approaches to homelessness in Bend, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz talks about how officers respond to calls involving people experiencing homelessness, how that work impacts levels of service elsewhere and much more.

Law Enforcement Approach to Homelessness with Bend PD Chief Mike Krantz

Bend is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States—yet people here often wonder why certain developments take so long to get off the ground, or why a project not favored by the public got off the ground anyway. In this podcast, Russ Grayson of the City of Bend discusses Oregon's land use policy, the barriers and limitations to developing housing and other properties, the City's challenges in keeping its Community Development Department fully staffed and much more.

Bend Don't Break: Russ Grayson, Assistant City Manager and Chief Operations Officer for City of Bend

The Source sits down with Steven Ames of the Bend Vision Project—Part of Envision Bend—to talk about this new process for envisioning Bend's future.  Ames is a consulting long-range planner and principal of NXT Consulting Group of Bend and Portland, Oregon.  Author of the American Planning Association’s award-winning Guide to Community Visioning, Steven has worked with more than 80 communities across the U.S. and overseas in planning for the future.  Steven is a recipient of the Oregon APA Award for Distinguished Leadership by a Professional Planner.  He holds degrees from Drew University and the University of Michigan’s School of Environment and Sustainability, and has studied with faculty of the London School of Economics.

Bend Don't Break: A new vision for Bend with Steven Ames

Bend will have a new mayor at the start of 2023, with the election of Melanie Kebler to the position. Kebler, elected in 2022, first served for two years as a Bend City Councilor. She is an attorney with a background as a prosecutor and victims’ rights advocate. A Bend High grad, she grew up on the east side of Bend and has always been interested in civic leadership, starting with being elected to the BSH Student Council. Melanie is excited to lead Bend into the future.

In this podcast we chat about her goals for the coming year, her thoughts on the outcome of the recent election, ideas around moving City Hall and creating a public town square and more.

A Chat with Bend's New Mayor Melanie Kebler

Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D., joined the staff of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon in 2008 and has served as its executive director since 2014. Raised in Oregon, she earned her doctorate from University of Colorado Boulder in biological anthropology, conducting research that took her to Madagascar, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and China.
During that time, Dana became inspired by the work museums do to energize and engage visitors with the learning and discovery of academia. She joined the CU Boulder Museum of Natural History’s Science Squad, teaching science programs in K-12 classrooms across the Denver metro area. Upon earning her doctorate, she brought her passion to the High Desert Museum, which provides visitors close-up experiences with art, cultures, wildlife and history to share critical stories about the High Desert region.
Under Dana’s leadership, the High Desert Museum has become a Smithsonian Affiliate, has experienced record attendance and earned the prestigious 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The Museum also received the 2019 Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence. Dana serves on the boards of the Western Museums Association, the state Cultural Advocacy Coalition, Visit Central Oregon and Art in Public Places. She lives in Bend with her husband and sons, and in their free time they ski, bike and run together. 
In this Bend Don't Break podcast, we chat about her research experience, her vision for the High Desert Museum and more.

Past, Present and Future of the High Desert Museum with Dana Whitelaw

Dr. Jane Guyn is a world-renowned sex and relationship coach who received a PhD in Human Sexuality. She works with couples and individuals locally and all over the world.  Although her work focuses on issues related to intimacy and sex, she also works with people who have fears and/or abuse issues related to sex, as well as a variety of other issues that impair their authentic connection. 

Jane wrote the simple book "Too Busy To Get Busy", and is the author of Understanding Intimacy, a column she writes for us here at the Source Weekly. When she's not working directly with couples, individuals or groups, she spends her time connecting through her blogs, video blogs and speaking engagements. She's trained as a 200 hour yoga teacher and also enjoys the embarrassing and wonderful experience of doing improv as a beginner. Jane lives here in Bend with her best friend Jim. They have been married for almost 40 years and have 6 grown kids, one grandchild and several unruly pets. 

We chat with Dr. Guyn about how she got into the work of "sexology," the processes she goes through with clients and her approach to the column she writes for the Source Weekly.

Bend Don't Break: Sexologist Dr. Jane Guyn

Matthew Davey, park manager for Smith Rock State Park, joined the Source Weekly for a chat about the recently released draft master plan for Smith Rock.

Davey is currently serving as the park manager at Smith Rock State Park. He originally came to the park as a lead ranger in 2012 and took the manager reins in 2019 after a 3 year stint as ranger supervisor at Silver Falls State Park and The Cove Palisades State Park. Davey has been with Oregon State Parks now for 17 years and said he feels very privileged to work for Oregon’s amazing park system.

Smith Rock New Master Plan with Matt Davey

Redmond, Oregon has a new political action committee aimed at helping quality candidates navigate and fund their efforts in the political process. In this podcast we chat with one of the founders of the Building Redmond's Future PAC, Adam DuQuette. 

Adam DuQuette lives in Redmond where he works from home full-time as a software engineer. He graduated from Oregon State University-Cascades in 2017, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science, after moving to Bend in 2014 with his wife Denae.

Adam and Denae have two children: Evelyn, a 7-year-old second grader at Hugh Hartman Elementary, and Arthur, an 8-month-old mastering how to crawl.

In addition to work and family, Adam serves as a board member on the Hugh Hartman PTC and Building Redmond's Future PAC.

Building Redmond's Future with Adam Duquette

Kenny Adams is a writer, designer, film maker, and a father. As Executive Director of The Father’s Group, Kenny has bolstered and strengthened The Ujima Youth Program, developed the Night Out With The Father’s Group series, developed and administered The Father’s Group Film Festival featuring his own documentary, Blend, in which he interviews many Black residents of Central Oregon. Kenny has an IT professional background but his life is devoted to the betterment of his family, friends and community, by any means.

In this edition of Bend Don't Break, we chat with Adams about the Juneteenth celebration happening June 17 and 18 in Drake Park in Bend, his work with The Father's Group and much more.

Celebrating Juneteenth with Kenny Adams

Nancy Zadoff and her husband Paul relocated to Bend several years ago after working and living in various locations around the globe including Australia, Europe and California. They vacationed in Central Oregon for years and always knew they would make Bend their final stop. Nancy, one of seven children, grew up in her parent’s gardens and always loved every aspect of gardening. In her former career Nancy was a creative global marketing leader of high-performance teams in driving product vision, creation, marketing and merchandising within the consumer goods/apparel & fashion arena. She’s now happy to be growing her flowers and curating cheeses, meats and other special foods and gifts from talented artisans and makers both locally and around the world at her shop, Wild Petals Provisions. The shop is located in Brooks Alley in downtown Bend.

Delicious provisions with Nancy Zadoff of Wild Petals Provisions

Amy Stahl is the Founder of Metolius Artisan Tea, an ethics-forward, woman-founded tea company crafting exceptional teas, chai, matcha and botanical syrups in Bend, Oregon. Stahl joins us on the Bend Don't Break podcast to talk about her recent tea trip to Nepal — an adventure that inspired her to share more of her tea-stories with the public.

The Story of Metolius Tea with Amy Stahl

In this episode of Bend Don't Break, hear seasoned tourism veteran Patric Douglas talk about his life’s adventures, how he landed in Central Oregon and why he founded The Bend Social Co., of which he is the CEO (Chief Excitement Officer). Douglas has 30+ years of experience traveling the globe and introducing others to amazing adventures including great white shark cage diving and backcountry helicopter tours. Listen to hear about his deep desire to foster a thriving community with newcomers and locals. The Bend Social Co. is a platform where individuals can come together, find their tribe, and forge meaningful connections.

Patric Douglas

Born in Oakland, California, Keith Witcosky and his parents moved to Oregon in 1977. After earning his degree from the University of Denver, Witcosky began his career in politics/government in 1993 working for then Mayor Vera Katz in Portland. Since July 2013, he has been serving as the City Manager for Redmond.  
As City Manager, he’s responsible for overseeing a 250+ person organization, advancing the goals and implementing the policy set by the City Council while establishing and caretaking the culture of the organization. In this edition of Bend Don't Break, Witcosky talks with Source Weekly Editor Nicole Vulcan about future plans for Redmond, what it means to "keep Redmond, Redmond" and more.

Bend Don't Break: Managing Redmond with Keith Witcosky

Source Weekly editor Nicole Vulcan converses with musician, sound healer and children's book author Kevin Kraft. The Soundshala founder & sounder talks about what got him into 'sound healing' and describes exactly what a 'sound bath' is. Listen to learn more about mindfulness and sound therapy.

Bend Don't Break: Soundshala Founder Kevin Kraft

Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer visits with Serena Bishop Gordon, Sustainability Director for Visit Bend who also has a background in conservation giving and the outdoor industry. In her current role, she manages the Bend Sustainability Fund, the Strategic Investments & Partnerships Program and strives to weave Visit Bend’s model of sustainability into every aspect of the organization, seeking to find balance between economy, people and place. When not working for Visit Bend, she spends her time on a bike, on skis, or walking her pup, Piper, with a good cup of coffee in hand.

Bend Don't Break: Serena Bishop Gordon, Sustainability Director, Visit Bend

On this episode Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer visits with Marci Wayman and Joe Benevento about the new life they’re breathing into the iconic Peterson Rock Gardens & Museum located between Bend and Redmond. They’re working to create a new community project at the garden, which is now operating under a nonprofit. Listen to learn more about this history of this special attraction.

Bend Don't Break: Peterson Rock Gardens & Museum

In this episode of Grand Craft Beer, host and cicerone Brian Yaeger welcomes James Owen, brewmaster at Immersion Brewing. They talk about Owen getting to completely overhaul the Box Factory brewpub's recipes when he came on board just two years ago so as to refresh and revive the lager program, the IPA program, the international beer style program and still finding time to both learn how to snowboard AND become an instructor since moving to Bend in 2021.

Grand Craft Beer: James Owen of Immersion Brewing

Emmy Andrews is the executive director of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance, whose mission is to develop, protect, and enhance the Central Oregon mountain bike experience through trail stewardship, advocacy, collaboration, and education.

Andrews, who began her tenure as ED at COTA in January 2021, has over 20 years of experience in project management, planning, and marketing, and a passion for implementing COTA’s mission and vision. 

Before becoming ED she was a board member of COTA and served as COTA’s treasurer for three years. She was instrumental in developing COTA’s first Strategic Plan and coordinating the Crew Leader program. Andrews has also been an active trail work volunteer and mountain bike advocate for many years. 

In this edition of Bend Don't Break, Source Weekly Editor Nicole Vulcan chats with Andrews about the work of trail building and maintenance, the newly updated skills parks at Phil's Trail, Wanoga Sno-Park and Bike Park 242 in Sisters and why mountain biking is so dang fun.

Bend Don't Break: Emmy Andrews, ED of Central Oregon Trail Alliance

This episode welcomes Mark and Dana Henion who make up two thirds of the owners--and one half of the name--of Van Henion Brewing. The Henions, along with John Van Duzer, launched Van Henion in early 2022 and have been making Bend's most celebrated lagers ever since. They brew on a large, 50-barrel system that could be called "Frankensteined" making it less nimble for small batches, but Van Henion's pedigree and affable owners makes them desirable collaboration partners.

Grand Craft Beer: Mark & Dana Henion, Van Henion Brewing

In this episode, Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer hangs out with Marieka Greene, the new Events and Financial Development Director at Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF). She has served in this role since September 1st, 2023, but has been involved in the organization, primarily as a volunteer and event participant, since moving to Bend in 2005. Prior to her work with MBSEF, Marieka was a Bend La Pine educator for 17 years. Marieka talks about the legacy of MBSEF and their tentpole events including Bend's iconic Pole, Pedal, Paddle race.

Bend Don't Break: Marieka Greene, MBSEF Events & Financial Development Director

Grand Craft Bend podcast returns with Silver Moon Brewing owner James Watts as we discuss the brewery/venue's upcoming BevFest and Bend Bands & Brewers Bash

Grand Craft Bend: Silver Moon Brewing's James Watts

In this episode, Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer sits down with Joe Franco, owner of The Americana food truck and recent recipient of the Best Food Cart of the Year award. They discuss Joe's journey with The Americana, from its humble beginnings to becoming a beloved local favorite. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of running a food truck. They also explore Joe's ambitious plans for the future, including his recent purchase of a brick-and-mortar location to expand operations. The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of the food and restaurant industry, the importance of affordability and quality, and the innovative approaches needed to succeed in today's market.

Bend Don't Break: Jo Franco, Owner of Americana Food Truck

In this episode of Bend Don't Break, Aaron Switzer talks with Bill Kowalik, PhD, founding board member and Chairperson of DarkSky Oregon.       
Bill shares the mission behind DarkSky Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Oregon’s dark skies and combating light pollution for the health and well-being of all life. They discuss the importance of raising awareness about environmentally friendly outdoor lighting, the impact of blue light, and the efforts that go into certifying dark sky places.

Bend Don't Break  Bill Kowalik, Chairperson And Founding Board Member Or DarkSky Oregon

n this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with award-winning author and poet Ellen Waterston, the 2024 Oregon Poet Laureate. With four poetry collections and four literary nonfiction titles to her name—including her most recent release, We Could Die Doing This (2024)—Waterston is a force in the literary world.

Bend Don't Break: Ellen Waterston, Author and Oregon Poet Laureate

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Peter Hoover, Executive Director of Sisters Habitat for Humanity. Peter shares his journey from a career in financial services and city management to leading a nonprofit dedicated to creating affordable housing in Sisters, Oregon.

Bend Don't Break: Peter Hoover, Executive Director, Sisters Habitat for Humanity

In this episode of Bend Don't Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Marney Smith, General Manager at Hayden Homes Amphitheater, to explore her remarkable journey in the live entertainment industry. Marney shares how she navigated her career path to eventually manage one of the most iconic outdoor venues in the Pacific Northwest.

Bend Don't Break: Marney Smith, General Manager at Hayden Homes Amphitheater

In this episode of Bend Don't Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with longtime arts advocate Cate O’Hagan to discuss the impact of public art in Central Oregon. Cate shares insights from her decades-long career in the cultural sector, from her work with the Portland Art Museum and Oregon Symphony to her leadership at Arts Central and beyond.

Bend Don't Break: Cate O’Hagan on Public Art and Cultural Advocacy

In this episode of Bend Don't Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Gregory Deffenbaugh, the new News Director at KTVZ-TV, to discuss his journey through the evolving world of news. From his early days in the newsroom to leading award-winning teams across multiple markets, Gregory shares insights into the changing landscape of journalism and how KTVZ’s rebrand reflects the reality that news is no longer just on TV—it’s everywhere. They also explore KTVZ’s rich history, its role as Central Oregon’s news leader for nearly 50 years, and what the future holds for the station. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the past, present, and future of local news in an era of rapid transformation.

Bend Don't Break: Gregory Deffenbaugh, KTVZ News Director

We sit down with Trever Hawman, owner/brewer of Bridge 99 Brewery in northeast Bend's "Brewers District" to discuss Bridge 99 Taproom's recent 10-year anniversary and how the taplist has evolved over the past decade including how and why nearly every beer is now gluten free. (But you can't taste the difference!) And why there's a non-alcoholic beer and an honest to goodness classic root beer made from scratch. We finish chatting about Shorty, Bridge 99's vintage Chevy snub nose tap truck that will be in operation at Bend Brews & Beyond over Memorial Day weekend. 

Grand Craft Bend: Trever Hawman, Owner + Brewer of Bridge 99 Brewery

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, we sit down with Kisky Holwerda, the driving force behind Bend, Oregon’s Ponderosa Players. A passionate theater director and educator, Kisky shares how this innovative troupe is fostering creativity, building community, and bringing bold, original performances to life. From the joys of working with young actors to the challenges of independent theater, this conversation dives deep into the power of storytelling and the resilience it takes to keep the arts thriving.

Bend Don't Break: Kisky Holwerda, Co-Founder of Ponderosa Players

On this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Gwenn Wysling, Executive Director of Bethlehem Inn. Since 2010, Gwenn has been at the helm of the Central Oregon-based shelter, leading its mission to provide emergency housing and support services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. With a background in hospitality and a 20-year career in human resources, Gwenn brings a unique perspective to the nonprofit world.

Bend Don't Break: Gwenn Wysling, Executive Director of Bethlehem Inn

We sit down with Silver Moon Brewing co-owner James Watts to discuss Bend’s third oldest brewery’s upcoming 25th anniversary and how the brewery, and the industry, have grown including how beer itself is no longer the sole thirst-slaker at such pubs. Of course, Silver Moon, being a central hub for events and entertainment, has plenty of both up its sleeve to commemorate the quarter-century-mark kicking off with sponsoring Bend Brews & Beyond this Memorial Day. Plus, Watts explains why Silver Moon’s new Cross Joint IPA smells like it would be served not at a brewpub but at a dispensary. 

Grand Craft Bend: James Watts

The Source Weekly newspaper in beautiful Bend, Oregon. Check back here for updates on our Bend Don't Break podcast and our Grand Craft Bend Podcast.

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