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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia T&TH

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🥧🏃‍♂️‍➡️I Like Pie Thanksgiving Fun Run

🦃Who's Open for Dining on Thanksgiving? - By Eat Drink Bend

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📅Save The Date Section

🎅The 2024 Bend Christmas Parade - Dec. 7th

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰During peak Redmond Airport times, travelers look to avoid rideshare surge pricing 🎦

📰The City of Redmond is looking 20 years into the future as they unveil their Park Master Plan 🎦

🦦🦦Bend’s Think Wild, coast wildlife center team up to rescue, rehab, release two rescued river otters back into the wild

🍽️Step inside Lady Bird: Bend’s restaurant blending culinary mastery and vintage vibes 🎦

📰Regional / National News

📰US Customs seizes 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars; worth $18 million if they were real

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

📰 Community News

📰Diversified Heating and Cooling giving away heat pump for family in need this Thanksgiving

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

🐶Pet of the Week

🐶🐶Adoption Announcement for Hollinshead Park Box Puppies!

📲Sponsors & Partners

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events Fun N Games in Central Oregon has LAUNCHED 🚀

Which airline was the first to operate passenger flights at Redmond Municipal Airport (Roberts Field) in 1940?

A) Delta Air Lines
B) Alaska Airlines
C) United Airlines
D) American Airline

Answer: C) United Airlines

Expanded Answer: United Airlines was the first airline to operate passenger flights at Redmond Municipal Airport (Roberts Field) in 1940. This marked the beginning of commercial air service in Central Oregon, providing a key connection to larger hubs and opening the region to greater economic and social opportunities.

Good Morning!

 BEND

SANTIAM PASS WEATHER

GOVERNMENT CAMP WEATHER

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

November 28th

I Like Pie Thanksgiving Fun Run

Kick off the holiday festivities with a double dose of goodness: Giving back and eating pie for a cause!  On Thanksgiving morning, bring the entire family down to Old Mill District anytime between 7:30 am and 9:30 am to run or walk a festive 1.5-mile or 5K loop. 

Cross through the finish line arch to enjoy a celebration filled with music, community, photo ops, and of course—PIE.

Your participation supports our local community, with all proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bend.

Bend Food News

by Eat Drink Bend

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but not all of us are looking forward to a day full of cooking. We've got some of the best places you can eat out, get takeout, or grab a ready-to-heat meal kit this Thanksgiving Day!

Who's Open for Dining on Thanksgiving?

Newbie Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge is just one of many restaurants serving up a fantastic prix fixe menu on Thanksgiving.

Coming up - Save the Date

The 2024 Bend Christmas Parade

Saturday Dec. 7, 2024 – 12pm Start Time

Bend's most beloved event is coming soon! After 40 years, the Parade keeps on going and growing, and the 2023 Parade  was the largest ever!
2024 is going to surpass 2023!

Our Grand Marshals this year truly deserve the honor. For 39 years of the Parade history Terry Rahmsdorff served as our Santa Claus, bringing up the rear of the Parade and bringing cheer to countless kids of all ages with his booming, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" Sadly, Terry passed away last year and he was greatly missed at the 2023 Parade. His wife Terri and his family have agreed to serve as Grand Marshals this year so that we can acknowledge and express our gratitude for Terry's years of love and care for our community. 

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Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

During peak Redmond Airport times, travelers look to avoid rideshare surge pricing

Peyton Thomas, Reporter

Thanksgiving week is the busiest time of the year for Kalani Hirakawa and other drivers making trips to and from Redmond Municipal Airport.

"Last night, we had a lot of people come in. It was very crowded at the airport," he said. "It's like 24/7 with all this going on.”

Unlike rideshares, Hirakawa's prices stay the same regardless of demand.

“Their (Enviro Shuttle's) system it's not about just dollars, it's about people,” he said.

Hirakawa drives for Enviro Shuttle, one of the services travelers are using to avoid surge pricing.

“I always prefer the flat rate because you know you know what you're getting into,” traveler David Miccolis said.

Prices for rideshares like Uber or Lyft vary heavily. Between arrivals, I found a ride below $40 back to Bend from RDM. But at peak times, travelers have reported prices soaring near $200.

“I've heard of horror stories where all of a sudden Uber and Lyft rides were getting exorbitantly expensive, more so than just plain old taxis," Miccolis said. "I've never used Uber or Lyft.”

So Miccolis headed out with Hirakawa’s flat rate.

“I don't know how much they do, but I know we don't go up," Hirakawa said. "We go for the distance. That’s what it is.”

On Enviro Shuttle, a trip from RDM to central Bend will cost you $53.

There are ways to beat Uber or Lyft’s surge pricing by waiting for the high demand to die down or scheduling ahead. It’s all about playing the game if you want to find that best price home.

Bend’s Think Wild, coast wildlife center team up to rescue, rehab, release two rescued river otters back into the wild

Think Wild and Wildlife Center of the North Coast said Monday they are excited to announce the release in Central Oregon of two orphaned North American river otters who were in very bad shape when they were rescued this summer at Cove Palisades State Park.

The young otter pups were found on June 26 in a roadside ditch by a park ranger in the park, alone and in critical condition. Their third littermate had already passed away.

Think Wild, Central Oregon’s wildlife hospital, rescued and stabilized the two otters for a month and then transferred them to the WCNC for their continued care until ready for release. On November 11, both centers assessed the fitness and health of the pups and determined the time was right to transfer them back to Central Oregon for release this past weekend at a remote location along a tributary of the Deschutes River.

The two otter pups spent five months at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria. Their care progressed from otter-specific formula to hunting live prey, with a diet centered on fish and innovative feeding methods designed to prevent human habituation. The otters thrived in a specially designed enclosure featuring diverse terrain, pools, and enrichment activities.

After five months of care, the pair reached a healthy weight of approximately 6 kg and were deemed ready for release, having exhibited essential survival skills, including swimming proficiency, hunting behaviors, and social interactions. The otters were transferred from WCNC back to Think Wild in mid-November, and released in appropriate riparian habitat here in Central Oregon over the weekend.

"River otters are highly intelligent and can easily become habituated to humans if proper precautions are not taken," says Pauline Hice, Think Wild Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation. "Think Wild and the Wildlife Center of the North Coast took extreme measures to ensure the otter pups do not associate humans or their scent with food or safety."

The otters were released into a carefully selected riparian habitat on private land along a river, where they will receive ongoing support during their transition to independence. Think Wild installed an insulated temporary den and will provide supplemental feedings through a specialized feeding port designed to prevent human habituation.

This "soft release" approach, especially important during the winter months, ensures the otters have reliable access to food and shelter while they develop their hunting skills and gradually adapt to their new habitat.

"This transition period is crucial for their survival," says Hice. "By providing this additional support, we're giving these otters the best possible chance at a successful return to the wild."

Think Wild is fundraising to build a semi-aquatic mammal rehabilitation enclosure, designed specifically for the long-term rehabilitative care of river otters and beavers for release back to the wild.

“The rescue of these river otters and the following collaboration between Think Wild and WCNC highlighted the need for a large, multi-species aquatic mammal enclosure for rehabilitation east of the Cascades,” said Sally Compton, Think Wild Executive Director. “Transferring wild animals back and forth across the state is not an ideal situation for us or the animals, so this facility will provide a much-needed resource for orphaned and injured river otters and beavers in Central and Eastern Oregon and beyond.”

While the project has garnered significant community support, the estimated cost of the project will exceed $80,000, reflecting the specialized infrastructure required for these unique species. Think Wild continues to seek donations to help make this vital facility a reality for Central and Eastern Oregon wildlife.

If you would like to support Think Wild’s efforts to build this new rehabilitation enclosure, donations can be made at: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/think-wild/aquatic-mammal-enclosure

###

About Think Wild

Think Wild is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Bend, Oregon. Our mission is to inspire the High Desert community to care for and protect native wildlife through education, conservation, rescue, and rehabilitation. We provide veterinary treatment and care at the wildlife hospital, staffed by expert wildlife rehabilitation staff, animal husbandry volunteers, and our staff veterinarian. Wildlife conflicts or injuries can be reported to our Wildlife Hotline at (541) 241-8680, which is monitored seven days a week from 9 AM to 3 PM. Visit us online at thinkwildco.org, or on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @thinkwildco. 

About Wildlife Center of the North Coast

The Wildlife Center of the North Coast (WCNC) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education center based in Astoria, Oregon. We rescue and rehabilitate injured, sick, orphaned and displaced native wildlife with the goal of releasing healthy, strong creatures back into their appropriate habitat. In addition, we offer wildlife conservation education programs to the community in the form of summer camps, school field trips, our ambassador animal program, the operation of our wildlife emergency hotline, and more.

US Customs seizes 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars; worth $18 million if they were real

LOS ANGELES — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized more than 3,000 counterfeit Gibson electric guitars at the Port of Los Angeles, marking the largest confiscation of fake musical instruments in history. The guitars, if authentic, would have been worth an estimated $18 million.

With the holiday season approaching, authorities are warning consumers to be cautious when shopping, particularly online. Cheryl Davies, CBP’s Los Angeles Field Office Director of Field Operations, urged buyers to stick with authorized retailers. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.

Officials said counterfeit products often lack quality and can pose safety risks. They also noted that profits from fake goods are frequently used to fund illegal activities, including drug and human trafficking.

Authorities recommend consumers verify online sellers by checking reviews, ensuring a valid U.S. contact number or address, and avoiding deals that appear suspicious.

Diversified Heating and Cooling giving away heat pump for family in need this Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, Diversified Heating and Cooling is giving back to the community by providing a deserving family in need with a state-of-the-art heat pump. The giveaway reflects the company’s dedication to supporting local families and ensuring homes are warm, comfortable, and energy-efficient during the holiday season.

“As a family-owned business, we understand the importance of home comfort and efficiency, especially during the holidays,” said Ken Ledbetter, co-owner and spokesperson for Diversified Heating and Cooling. “This Thanksgiving, we want to share our gratitude by helping a family in need stay warm and reduce their energy costs with this reliable and efficient heating solution.”

The heat pump system, valued at $15,000, is designed to provide consistent heating and cooling year-round while significantly lowering energy usage. Diversified Heating and Cooling is asking local residents to nominate someone they know who is in need of a new heating system to identify a family that will benefit most from this donation.

The company encourages others in the community to join in spreading kindness and support this season. "Together, we can make this Thanksgiving brighter for everyone," added Ledbetter.

For more information about the giveaway or Diversified Heating and Cooling’s commitment to the community, please visit Diversifiedheating.com

Adoption Announcement for Hollinshead Park Box Puppies!

Saturday, November 30th 12-4pm at Bridge 99!!

Nine weeks ago, a litter of eight precious puppies was found at Hollinshead Park. Today, six of these little bundles of joy are ready to find their forever homes! 🐶 (The other two have already found their perfect families through their fosters. 💕)

Here’s what you need to know if you’d like to adopt:

1️⃣ Application Process
* Adoption paperwork must be filled out and submitted in advance.
* We highly recommend completing the application online or requesting a hard copy via email to ensure a smooth process.
* Applications will be taken in the order they are received and processed accordingly.
* Please note: There may be follow-up questions as part of the approval process.

2️⃣ Respectful Process
* We know these puppies will generate a lot of excitement, but we kindly ask everyone to be patient and respectful as we work through the adoption process.
* Meet-and-greets will be first come, first serve, but only after applications have been approved.

3️⃣ Adoption Day Logistics
* You may complete the adoption process on-site once approved.
* No holds will be permitted, so come prepared to take your new furry family member home the same day!

4️⃣ Unknown Breed/Size
* We do not know the breed or size of these puppies.
* Adopters must accept and understand that their breed and size cannot be confirmed and may vary as they grow.

5️⃣ Adoption Fee
* The adoption fee is $400, which includes spay/neuter and age-appropriate vaccinations.
* This fee supports our small but mighty team, allowing us to continue providing vital services like spay/neuter programs, pet food assistance, and more for our community.
* Adoption fee will be due at time of adoption and can be paid by Venmo, Cash or check

🐾 Don’t wait—get your application in now and prepare to meet your new best friend! 🐾

📧 Questions or applications? Email us at

Questions or applications? [email protected] 
Online application: www.campclinics.org/the-peaches-program

 😎Just Sayin

Fun N Games in Central Oregon

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