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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia ANSWER

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🚴Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium - Downtown Bend

🎡Crook County Fair - Prineville

🪑💍The Third Annual Antique Fair

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

💥 Traffic Incident Causes Communication Lines to Fall on Baker Road in Deschutes River Woods

⚠️Health Advisory Issued for Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus Due to Harmful Algal Bloom

🆘Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon urgently seeks mentors, with 109 children on the waitlist

📰🏛️Bend chooses Hawthorne Avenue pedestrian bridge design

🎂Happy Birthday Smokey Bear (or is it Smokey the Bear 🤔)

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🏠🔥Five dogs perish in Madras mobile home fire, firefighters rescue 2 others; resident to hospital with smoke inhalation

🚨 Crime News

📰Convicted Deschutes Co. Sex Offender Dies In Prison

 📰 Community News

 Got some news or know of news for our Community News Segment - share it with C.O. Local Buzz!

🏘️Real Estate News

🏘️Central Oregon Market Report | August 7, 2024

🖌️Want To Feel Joy, Peace, or Love? Here Are the Mood-Enhancing Paint Colors for Every Room in Your House

🫴💖 Local Cause Spotlight

🏫🧑‍🌾Cultivating Growth and Connection: The School of Ranch

🛠️🐄🍳School of Ranch Tips & Tricks @Sisters Farmers Market

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

Which tribes historically resided in the area now known as Bend, Oregon?

A) Chinook, Nez Perce, and Shoshone

B) Wana Łama, Wasq’u, and Northern Paiute

C) Apache, Navajo, and Hopi

D) Umatilla, Yakama, and Modoc

Answer: B) Wana Łama, Wasq’u, and Northern Paiute

Expanded Answer: The Wana Łama, Wasq’u, and Northern Paiute tribes resided in the area now known as Bend, Oregon, for thousands of years before western colonialism. These tribes moved through the region and relied on the local natural resources for sustenance.

BEND

PRINEVILLE

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium

Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium is returning to Bend this summer after an absence of 7 long years.

August 10th

12 pm - 9:30 pm

Downtown Bend

Schedule

The Third Annual Antique Fair

Specially curated by the Deschutes Historical Museum, the Antique Fair features quality dealers from a wide variety of antiques and selected collectibles, as well as live music and baked goods for sale.

Bring an item to our Antique Appraisal Classroom from 12 to 3: pm, where local antiques expert Karen Stockton can help you identify and value your treasured family heirloom or yard sale find. Resources from the Bend Genealogy Society will be available for family research.

Admission is free for the fair and to visit the Deschutes Historical Museum.

August 10th 9 am - 4 pm

Traffic Incident Causes Communication Lines to Fall on Baker Road in Deschutes River Woods

On August 8, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, a motor vehicle crash occurred on Baker Road near Umatilla Circle in Deschutes River Woods. The incident resulted in a power pole falling into the roadway, though no live power lines were involved—only communication lines were downed, which are currently obstructing the road.

The driver involved in the crash has been identified as Michael E. Pollitz, a 61-year-old male from Bend, who was driving a 2002 Subaru Legacy. Pollitz, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, has been cited for Careless Driving. The cause and manner of the crash are still under investigation by authorities.

As a result of the incident, Baker Road has been temporarily closed, with Deschutes County Public Works managing the closure. Century Link, the owner of the downed communication lines, is expected to begin repairs as early as tomorrow, though they have indicated that work may extend into Monday. The utility pole and remaining lines are owned by TDS, and Century Link is coordinating with them to resolve the situation.

Drivers in the area are advised to seek alternative routes while repairs are underway and the investigation continues.

Health Advisory Issued for Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus Due to Harmful Algal Bloom

The Oregon Health Authority issued a preemptive recreational use health advisory Thursday for Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus in Jefferson County due to the presence and rapid growth of a cyanobacteria harmful algal bloom.

The decision to issue the preemptive advisory is based on multiple reports from partner agencies and members of the public, and is supported by satellite data showing the extent of the bloom, with day-to-day increases in bloom density (see figures below), the agency says.

Tests done at Lake Billy Chinook since 2015 show that blooms in the lakes consistently produce cyanotoxins over OHA’s recreational use values for human and animal exposure. Results of testing in the days to come will either confirm the advisory or allow OHA to lift it.

The agency says people should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the lakes where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA encourages people to visit Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird-watching, canoeing and kayaking. Boating is safe, as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lakes affected by a bloom is especially dangerous, OHA says. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place.

Dogs can become ill and die from water intoxication after drinking excessive amounts of water while swimming or fetching objects for long periods of time. Intoxication is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Water intoxication and heat stroke can cause similar symptoms as exposure to cyanotoxins.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon urgently seeks mentors, with 109 children on the waitlist

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon said Thursday it is urgently seeking caring and dedicated adults to become mentors for the 109 children currently on their waitlist.

"These children are eagerly awaiting the guidance, support, and friendship that a mentor can provide," said in a news release Thursday, which continues in full below:

For 30 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon has been committed to fostering positive, impactful relationships that have a lasting effect on the lives of young people in our community. Our mission is to ignite potential in every child by connecting them with a mentor who can inspire, support, and encourage their dreams.

However, the growing number of children on our waitlist reflects an increasing demand for mentors. Each of these 109 children has unique interests, dreams, and challenges, and they are all in need of someone to help guide them towards a brighter future.

“We believe that every child deserves someone who believes in them and stands by their side,” said Jenn Davis, Program Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon. “Our waitlist represents not just numbers, but individual children who are looking for that caring adult. We urge members of our community to step up and help change a life by becoming a mentor.”

bbbsco.org

Bend chooses Hawthorne Avenue pedestrian bridge design

Colby Enebrad, Reporter Central Oregon Daily

The Bend City Council on Wednesday chose a single-tower, cable stayed bridge for the new Hawthorne overpass that will span Highway 97.

"It's a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that's going to connect the west part of Hawthorne leading downtown to the east side of the rail on Highway 97" City of Bend Chief Operating Officer Russell Grayson said.

Funded by state and federal dollars, the bridge will land in what the city is calling the Core Area.

"In the Core Area, what you're going to start to see are 4-6-story buildings, ground floor commercial retail offices and then residential above. You're going to see a lot more of an urban form over there," Grayson said.

While construction on these projects doesn't start for a few more years, work on the Greenwood Avenue lane reduction plan -- dubbed a "road diet" -- is well underway. The project will shrink Greenwood from four lanes to three -- including a center turn lane.

Some locals, like, Jonathan Curtis are taking exception to the project.

"Once they put those concrete slabs, so the cars cant pull over in the bike lane, no one's gonna be able to pull over ambulances or firetrucks," Curtis said.

Curtis is not thrilled about the idea of a new bridge, either.

"It's obviously not needed. We got a pathway there. We have multiple pathways across town to get across on foot or on bike," Curtis said.

Others such as John Heylin, who co-owns a Unofficial Logging Company off of Greenwood, thinks all of the projects in the works around downtown are great.

"I think it will be a great way to connect both sides of the city because the Parkway really has cut our community in half. And the thing I'm most looking forward to about Greenwood is the expansion of bike and foot traffic, which, foot traffic is window traffic," Heylin said.

Greenwood Avenue will be shut down for night closures next Monday and Tuesday, but will open completely by the end of next week.

The city says it anticipates construction on the bridge and core area to begin in 2027 or 2028.

Updates of Oregon Fires

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Five dogs perish in Madras mobile home fire, firefighters rescue 2 others; resident to hospital with smoke inhalation

MADRAS, OR – A resident was taken to the hospital with possible smoke inhalation and five dogs perished in a Madras mobile home fire Thursday afternoon, but firefighters rescued two other dogs, Jefferson County Fire & EMS Chief Jeff Blake said.

Fire crews responded around 2:30 p.m. to the reported fire at the Green Spot Mobile Home Park on Highway 97, arriving to find heavy smoke coming from a bedroom in the home, Blake said.

Crews entered through the front door and were able to quickly extinguish the fire, but the structure was deemed uninhabitable.

Two women and a man lived in the home, and one resident was taken to the hospital with possible smoke inhalation, apparently from trying to rescue the dogs. The other two residents declined Red Cross assistance, the fire chief said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Convicted Deschutes Co. Sex Offender Dies In Prison

PENDLETON, OR -- A man convicted on Deschutes County child sex abuse charges died Wednesday, while in the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections. Louis Apo was incarcerated at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. The 77-year-old man was receiving hospice care at an eastern Oregon hospital when he passed away. 

He was convicted of molesting multiple girls when he lived in La Pine. At the time of his 2019 arrest, he was living in Metolius. 

Apo had been in DOC custody since November of 2020. He was serving a 25-year sentence with the earliest release date of October of 2044. 

Central Oregon Market Report | August 7, 2024

by Reed Melton

After the national average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a low this week of 6.34%, bond yields spiked yesterday, and mortgages closed out the day at 6.52%. Considering rates were 7.14% on July 1, 2024, and 6.91% on the 25th, the overall trend has helped buyers tremendously. The consensus is that the Fed will lower the overnight rate at the September meeting, but how much remains a question. I've read speculation that rates could come down 50 basis points, with further reductions in November and December. If rates drop a whole point by the end of the year, I expect the spring real estate market to look very different than the last couple of years. Rising inventory has created significantly more options for buyers, and if these trends continue, sales volume should increase. Lower rates help, but I do not see these trends softening prices. However, seasonal price reductions are in full effect, and inventory is up. Combined with lower mortgage rates, late summer is shaping up to be the best opportunity of the recent past for buyers in Central Oregon.

This morning, Deschutes County inventory reached 1322, an increase of twenty-seven from last week. The county's median list price is $799,900, with an average of $1,150,799. Seventy-one homes are pending sales at a median of $775k, with sixty-seven closed transactions at a median of $710k. The average pending and closed sales price was $930k and $935k, respectively. Active, pending, and sold properties show nearly half reflecting price decreases, with the average sold-to-original price ratio at 96.18%.

Crook County inventory decreased nine this week to 160. A robust fourteen pending sales at a median price of $485k and only 30 days listed reflect solid activity for the week. Five homes closed this week at a median price of $564,500, and only sixteen days on the market before securing a contract. Seventy-three active listings have reduced the asking price, seven of the fourteen pending sales, and only one of the closed transactions. 

In Jefferson County, inventory remains stable at 107, down one from last week. Activity was moderate for the week, with three pending sales at an average of $316k and three closed transactions at $470k. 44.8% of the active inventory has decreased the asking price, with two pending sales and one closed transaction reducing the asking price before securing a contract. 

With mortgage rates' recent decline, the second half of 2024 is the best buyer opportunity in the last few years. Inventory in Deschutes County is 52.8% higher than this week last year, and mortgage rates are down .58%. In addition, last year, mortgage rates climbed to a peak in late October of 7.91%, while this year, rates are trending downward and could be closer to 6% before long. If you are considering a purchase in Central Oregon but have been on the sideline, now is a great time to re-engage the market and look around. You might be surprised at the opportunities available.  

Active Listings

Want To Feel Joy, Peace, or Love? Here Are the Mood-Enhancing Paint Colors for Every Room in Your House

By Kathleen Willcox
Jul 31, 2024

We all get in a mood sometimes. And sometimes what causes us to feel “grrr” or “ahhh” can partly depend on what color of the rainbow we happen to be looking at.

The color on the walls in your home that you’re surrounded by for hours on end probably have more of an effect on how you feel than you might think. So you’re going to want to put some serious thought into the color you paint them and the emotions you want to evoke.

To help, here’s a deep dive into the science and psychology of color, with insights from design experts on the ideal colors for your entire home, room by room.

The science of color

Color theory is the science of what feelings your brain connects with various colors.

For instance, our brains associate warm colors—think red, orange, and yellow—with feelings like passion, comfort, anger, and power, according to Neurofied, a brain and behavior consultancy firm.

And on the other side of the spectrum, cool colors (blue, green, and purple) have the opposite effect, creating a calming atmosphere that counteracts feelings of anxiety.

So whether you’re thinking about remodeling for a potential home sale or looking for a way to make your kitchen feel warmer, your bedroom more serene, or your home office more productive, read on.

Here’s what color to paint each room in your home.

The primary bedroom

Photo by Casework

In a perfect world, your bedroom should be a place of calm and refuge. So why not help nudge it there with the right hue?

“Soft blues, gentle grays, and muted greens are great choices for primary bedrooms, and they’re popular now,” says Artem Kropovinsky, an interior design expert and founder of the New York–based design studio Arsight. “They evoke a sense of tranquility and restfulness, ideal for a space meant for relaxation and rejuvenation.”

What the science says: Blue has been shown to lower blood pressure and help you get a great night’s sleep.

The home office

Photo by Powell Brower Interiors

When you’re working in your office at home, efficiency—and not getting distracted by what’s happening in the rest of the house—is key.

“Choose focus-enhancing colors like soft greens or earthy browns,” Kropovinsky advises. “These can aid concentration and reduce eye strain. They also create an atmosphere of calm productivity.”

What the science says: Simply being around the color green can boost mental functioning and even your physical well-being, according to an analysis published by the American Psychological Association.

The kitchen

Photo by Ellen McKenna Design

The kitchen is the place where you want everyone to feel comfortable and taken care of—so go with a color that evokes an embrace.

“You want the kitchen to be inviting,” says Erin Banta, co-founder of Pepper, a home goods company. “Ideally, the kitchen should be painted warm colors, like a soft yellow.”

What the science says: Yellow is generally associated with energy and positive feelings, according to color theorists. But gentle blues or light greens can also be great if you want to infuse the space with calm and positivity.

The living and family room

Photo by GO LOGIC

Think neutral colors when it comes to your home’s most social spaces.

“In living and family rooms, I always advise people to go for warm neutrals,” says James Donald, founder of Aesthetic Paints, based in Mattie View, AZ. “Greens and light browns help establish a connection with nature and foster tranquility. They are also versatile and go with a variety of decors.”

What the science says: Color theorists link brown to strength and reliability, but only in lighter tones. Too much dark brown is associated with negative emotions, so keep your walls light.

The nursery

Photo by JLV Creative

Serenity. Now. Nurseries should be bastions of calm—so no loud voices or colors, please.

“Soft pastels work in the nursery because they create a soothing environment for you and the baby,” says Donald. “Light shades of pink and blue can be used to promote a sense of serenity. Avoid stimulating or even bold colors, which may subtly disrupt sleep patterns.”

What the science says: Pink is associated with love, kindness, and calm. In fact, it’s so effective, a prison in Switzerland has experimented with housing aggressive inmates in pink rooms to calm them down.

The bottom line on paint colors

While it is never a bad idea to keep your finger on the pulse of paint trends (warm green tones, neutrals, and inventive gray hues are red-hot interior paint colors this year), in the end, you have to be true to yourself.

“Picking paint colors for future buyers really takes the fun out of decorating,” says Melanie Thomas, an interior stylist based in Los Angeles. “As a former house flipper, I can attest that there is no telling what the future homebuyer will want and will most likely change everything once they move in.”

Thomas’ advice: “Paint to your heart’s content—especially if you plan on living in the current house for more than a year.”

Still stumped? Consider consulting a colorist. Yup, it’s a thing.

Cultivating Growth and Connection: The School of Ranch

In a world where technology often distances us from our roots, the School of Ranch stands as a pillar of connection—connecting individuals with nature, animals, and each other. This remarkable non-profit organization offers transformative experiences, fostering personal growth and community engagement through hands-on learning in ranching and agriculture.

If you're interested in learning more about how you can contribute or participate in the programs offered by the School of Ranch, visit their website today!

School of Ranch Tips & Tricks @Sisters Farmers Market

*Sunday - August 10th

10 am - 2 pm

*Every Sunday

Get a taste of many of our best workshops, and come away with practical tips and tricks. We're running a rotating schedule of four 30 minute sessions starting at 10am at the Sisters Farmers Market - Carpentry, Electric, Engine Repair and...yes...rockhounding! Sponsored by the Sisters Farmers Market. Contribute what you want to attend!

Deschutes Public Library Events

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