In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Local Trivia!

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

⛪St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Reopens Its Doors After Major Renovation

🌸Fifth Annual Friends of the Luau Event Benefiting Partners In Care & Hospice of Redmond Services is Coming to Central Oregon

🏛️Deschutes County Managed Homeless Camp Far From Reality

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🚧 Road Closures

🚨 Crime News

💊Bend Woman Arrested for Trafficking Fentanyl into Deschutes County

🚨Bend Man Arrested for Cocaine Trafficking in Deschutes County

🫴 Local Cause of the Month

🧒 "Building Brighter Futures: The Inspiring Work of Kids Inspired Non-Profit"

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

 🎈Rhubarb Festival - La Pine, OR

🎈Sister’s Folk Festival

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

Smith Rock State Park offers stunning views and a variety of trails for hikers. One of the most popular trails is a challenging loop that provides panoramic views of the park.

What is the name of this trail?

A) River Trail

B) Summit Trail

C) Misery Ridge Trail

D) Canyon Trail

👉Find the Answer in Tomorrow’s Newsletter👉

BEND

MADRAS, OR

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Reopens Its Doors After Major Renovation

Bend, OR – June 13, 2024 – The St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, a historic landmark in Bend, has reopened its doors to the public following a comprehensive renovation. The church, originally built in 1936, has undergone significant updates to preserve its architectural integrity while enhancing its functionality for the community.

The renovation, which began in early 2023, focused on restoring the church's beautiful stained-glass windows, refurbishing the original wooden pews, and updating the sanctuary to accommodate modern needs. Special attention was given to maintaining the church's historical features, ensuring that the charm and character of the original structure were preserved.

Father Michael Donovan, the church's pastor, expressed his gratitude to the congregation and the broader community for their support and patience throughout the renovation process. "This renovation has been a labor of love for everyone involved. We are thrilled to welcome back our parishioners and the community to a space that honors our past while looking forward to the future," he said during the reopening ceremony.

The church's reopening was marked by a special Mass and a blessing of the newly renovated space. The event was attended by numerous parishioners, local dignitaries, and members of the renovation team, all celebrating the successful completion of the project.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church has been a cornerstone of the Bend community for nearly a century, providing a place of worship, community gatherings, and charitable activities. The renovation ensures that it will continue to serve as a spiritual and cultural hub for many years to come.

Fifth Annual Friends of the Luau Event Benefiting Partners In Care & Hospice of Redmond Services is Coming to Central Oregon

The fifth annual Friends of the Luau fundraising event is coming back to Central Oregon to support nonprofit hospice services throughout the region. The event will be held on June 22 from 12-5pm at Rockridge Park in Bend.

Friends of the Luau, an event open to the Central Oregon community, honors Laurel Richter, who passed over 20 years ago. Hosted by the Richter family and friends, the event’s goal is to support Central Oregonians facing a life-limiting illness while continuing to honor the memory of Laurel.

“This event holds special meaning in the hearts of those that knew Laurel. In her memory, we honor those that are in the battle with life-threatening illnesses and are trying to lessen the ill effects that they create,” said Gary Richter, co-founder of Friends of the Luau and Laurel’s Legacy. “Our efforts to bring Laurel’s story from Boise, Idaho to Central Oregon and help our wonderful partner organizations along the way have been truly gratifying.”

Each year the Richter family and friends generously donate the proceeds of their Central Oregon event to Partners In Care and Hospice of Redmond.

Both Partners In Care and Hospice of Redmond are nonprofit organizations supporting individuals across Central Oregon needing care for a serious or terminal illness.

“We are so thankful that the Richter family supports local, community-based nonprofits in Central Oregon,” said Jane McGuire, executive director at Hospice of Redmond.

“They help Hospice of Redmond offer special programs to Central Oregonians at no cost, such as our grief camp for children, Camp Sunrise, or our Transitions program for people struggling with their life-limiting illness. The dollars raised at Friends of the Luau go right back to our local patients, clients, and their family members, which is amazing.”

“We appreciate the Richter family and friends for hosting this event now for the fifth year in Central Oregon,” said Lisa Hurley, Partners In Care business development director. “Everyone comes together to support organizations with roots here, and both Partners In Care and Hospice of Redmond have been serving Central Oregon with end-of-life care for over 40 years. This event makes a real difference to two nonprofits who support our neighbors across the community.”

The event held at Rockridge Park in Bend is full of fun, festivities, live entertainment, and a tri-tip dinner. The event is free to attend, but a suggested donation of $35 goes to the overall fundraiser, which includes a tri-tip dinner, hosted beer and wine, raffle, live auction, and live music. Join us for an afternoon of community togetherness, carrying on the spirit of Laurel’s first backyard luau in 2001.

“We hope the community joins us in the fun and support of such a wonderful event for two impactful organizations!” said Richter.

To learn more or donate, visit friendsoftheluau.org

Event details:

• June 22, 2024, 12-5pm

• Rockridge Park: 20885 Egypt Dr., Bend, OR 97701

• Includes Tri-tip Dinner, Hosted Beer & Wine, Raffle, Live Auction, Live Music

• Suggested donations: $35 per adult

Partners In Care is a local, independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving a 10,000 square-mile region of Central Oregon. It is now the largest and leading provider of hospice, home health, and palliative care in the region, with over 200 staff members and over 150 volunteers. Six integrated service lines include Hospice care provided in the patient’s home or care facility; Hospice House inpatient facility; Home Health provided in the patient’s home or care facility; Palliative Care support; a non-medical case management program called Transitions; and Grief Support for adults and children experiencing a loss.

Hospice of Redmond is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, independent and Medicare-certified organization founded in 1981. Hospice of Redmond has touched the lives of thousands of individuals throughout Central Oregon by providing compassionate and quality end-of-life care, bereavement support, a robust Transitions program, and community support. Hospice of Redmond serves Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook Counties including Redmond, Bend, Tumalo, Sisters, Powell Butte, Prineville, Terrebonne, Crooked River Ranch, Madras and the surrounding areas.

partnersbend.org • hospiceofredmond.org

Deschutes County Managed Homeless Camp Far From Reality

Posted by Heather Roberts KBND

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County has limited federal funds left to use for development of temporary shelter sites. Deputy County Administrator Eric Kropp told Commissioners this week there was a glaring omission in a batch of recent applications, "The 45 acres of county-owned land southeast of Redmond that would be part of the DSL land swap, there were no proposals directly related to the 45 acres."

Commissioners still want to work with the city of Redmond to develop that location into a homeless services site, so campers moved from the parcel involved in the state land swap have a place to go.

What form that site takes is still up in the air - RV parking, a managed camp or a village of tiny homes.

Commissioner Phil Chang says tiny home projects have benefits, but they’re expensive on a per-unit basis, "If we’re going to come up with some options for large numbers of people, we need to do the thing that’s more cost-effective per space, essentially. And that is to develop a managed camp."

They also discussed funding other projects with the remaining ARPA funds, including addressing camping on county-owned land on the north end of Juniper Ridge, north of Bend. Service providers may have a plan, "Like, maybe something small on - originally they said 10 acres; now they’ve determined five acres. They went out there the other day and they just thought they could do something small in order to start helping those people and actually moving in a positive way," says Commissioner Patti Adair, "They found a spot that they thought could be a positive location, in order to seriously make a difference and help those people."

Another proposal requesting funding would put a tiny home village on South Highway 97 in Bend, next to a Les Schwab store. That idea drew opposition from Commissioners Tony DeBone and Adair. "I mean, it’s the gateway to Bend," said Adair, "I feel like a tiny home village when you drive into Bend, is that really what you want to see?"

Commissioner Chang wants the county to focus efforts on the two county-owned parcels he sees as top priorities, "If these $1.8 million of ARPA are all that we have left at the county to do something significant or strategic, then those two needs - clearing out the 137 acres in Redmond, taking our 50 acres at North Juniper Ridge out of this in-between state - those, to me, seem like the things we absolutely need to be addressing."

No decisions were made Monday and Commissioners agreed to continue talking with providers about options.

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Bend

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of June 8th - 16th

Deschutes County

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of June 9th - 15th

Redmond

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of June 8th - 14th

ODOT - Region 4 Weekly Construction Update June 7th - 14th

Bend Woman Arrested for Trafficking Fentanyl into Deschutes County

Bend, OR - Jade Batts, a 34-year-old resident of Bend, was arrested on charges of trafficking fentanyl in Deschutes County after a month-long drug investigation led by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. On June 7th, 2024, Batts was stopped at Peter Skene Ogden State Park, where a K9 unit detected drugs in her vehicle. A search revealed fentanyl pills and powder in her possession, leading to her transport to Deschutes County Adult Jail. Additional charges may be pending as the investigation continues.

Bend Man Arrested for Cocaine Trafficking in Deschutes County

Bend, OR - Kyle Benhower, a 36-year-old Bend resident, was arrested on charges of cocaine trafficking in Deschutes County following a long-term drug investigation by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team and the Bend Police Department. On June 6th, 2024, Benhower was apprehended at a local hotel on 3rd St./Greenwood Ave. after a surveillance operation. A subsequent search of his hotel room and vehicle uncovered cocaine, ecstasy, Xanax, psilocybin mushrooms, a handgun, scales, packaging material, and cash. Benhower was taken into custody without incident and transported to Deschutes County Adult Jail. The investigation is ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges being filed."

"Building Brighter Futures: The Inspiring Work of Kids Inspired Non-Profit"

Our History

Our program began in the summer of 2008 when we sent 12 at-risk children to week-long camps. In 2020 camps were not offered due to the pandemic. So we began providing local enrichment activities to children served by our partner agencies.

In 2022 we served 350 kids–306 children with local enrichment activities and 44 with summer camp. Our goal for 2023 is to provide over 400 children with enrichment activities and to send 60 to summer camp.

There are many more kids. There are many more young lives to enrich.  We firmly believe that kids inspired DO succeed. 

Help us make the inspiration possible!

Learn More

Do you have a Local Cause you’d like us to Spotlight? Click the link to submit your information ⬇️

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon

The 14th Annual La Pine Rhubarb Festival promises to be a fun event! This is a community event for all ages. Over 120 vendors and food trucks. Our amazing Vendors will have a variety of items for sale. There will be a variety of food/goodies to tempt any appetite. Plus, a No Host Bar with many adult beverages to choose from. We will have ongoing, fantastic entertainment!

We will once again have a Rhubarb Dessert Contest with awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes! We will have fun activities for the kids too as well as the adults. Please join us for this family event that will be our best Rhubarb Festival yet!

Hello, folk music enthusiasts! We’re ecstatic to unveil the latest lineup additions for the 27th annual Sisters Folk Festival!

With the inclusion of these 14 sensational artists, the roster now boasts an impressive 33 acts set to take the stage(s) in Sisters on September 27 – 29!

From stirring ballads to foot-stomping tunes, this year’s festival promises another unforgettable musical experience featuring diverse talent from all over the world, redefining what we think of as “folk” music. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual listener, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy.

Chris Smither • Väsen

Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band •Las Guaracheras • Carsie Blanton • Viv & Riley •The Pairs • Gabe Lee • Paul Mcdonald • Michaela Anne •Tropa Magica • The Lowest Pair • Beth Wood • Lizzie No

Explore the Full Lineup

Tickets for the full three-day extravaganza are on sale now, so grab yours before they’re gone!

And don’t worry if you can’t commit to the entire weekend just yet — a limited number of single-day tickets will be available starting July 17.

Adult: $225/Ticket
Youth (17 & Under): $85/Ticket

sffpresents.org

Deschutes Public Library Events

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