Cover Story
Framework for Success
The Bend-La Pine Schools district board voted unanimously last January to hire Dr. Steve Cook as its newest superintendent. The former Coeur d’Alene, Idaho school superintendent has since hit the ground running, even before the position’s official start date of July 1. Cook taught school for 13 years and then served as an administrator for…
Doing Our Part
ANew York woman named Lauren Singer once managed to fit four years’ worth of trash into one 16-ounce mason jar. Although that ecological feat may seem utterly daunting, there are numerous ways to get started on a path to zero waste. We all know how problematic non-biodegradable trash has become, between the Great Pacific Garbage…
Bookshelf
Rosie Rides The River By Niki Rainwater, Illustrated by Taylor Blacklock Last summer, during the height of the pandemic, Bend resident Niki Rainwater stepped away from her job as a kindergarten teacher and turned her focus to a lifelong dream of writing a children’s book. It is her hope that the children in our community…
Editor’s Note
As the frenzied days of summer wane, a welcomed hush settles over our bursting, bubbling town. With fewer visitors in the mountains and temperatures dropping a bit, fall is the perfect time to slip away and enjoy the outdoors with the family. If it’s fall color you’re craving, though, you may want to head south…
Power To The People
Abraham Lincoln once said, “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” Perhaps Oregon legislators were thinking of this quote when they signed a new bill last spring that will require high school students in Oregon to take one semester of dedicated civics education prior…
Ask a Health Expert Q&A
Blossom Collaborative Pam Saul, M. Ed. Child Development/Behavior Specialist Cindy Hatch-Rasmussen MA OTR/L Occupational Therapist Jenny Johnson OTR/L Occupational Therapist Q My 8-year-old son has a lot of quirks. He refuses to wear pants with a zipper, screams and runs out of the room when we run the vacuum cleaner, hates loud noises, and overall,…
What’s for Lunch?
After months and months of home-based schooling and fractured in-class learning time, many families across Central Oregon are looking forward to this back-to-school season with more anticipation and excitement than ever. Along with gathering supplies and making sure there are shoes and clothes, the next question is, “What’s for lunch?” If your family prefers packing…
Calendar
Tuesdays & Thursdays Mommy & Me: Breastfeeding Support Group MOM FRIENDLY – This weekly support group invites all new moms or moms-to-be to join in. There are lactation consultants and other moms to help answer questions and get some social support. All are welcome, including partners and siblings, no matter how you are feeding your…
Fall Family Events Are Back!
There is no better way to welcome fall with your crew than by attending Central Oregon’s family-friendly happenings. With COVID restrictions finally lifted, we are seeing some of our favorite annual (and new) events show up on the region’s calendar again. With the tourist crowds thinning a bit, this is the time for venturing out…
Meet Deb Schoen…
Believing in the transformative power of a strong park and rec system, Deb is a devoted advocate of parks for all. After enjoying a lengthy and rewarding career in park and recreation, she remains involved with the National Recreation and Park Association. Currently, Deb lives in Bend with her husband and German Wirehaired Pointer and…
Love Wins
For many parents, the term “non-binary” is relatively new. Over the last handful of years, more and more celebrities like Janelle Monáe, Miley Cyrus and Ruby Rose have come out as identifying as something other than the gender they were assigned at birth (female), helping to shine a light on the non-binary experience and giving…
In Search of Color
It’s a given that we all love Bend, and most of us have our favorite season here. Autumn has always been mine, but sometimes I miss being surrounded by the glorious multicolored leaves that are reminiscent of where I grew up. Bend does offer some autumn beauty, though. The golden maple trees along Industrial Way…
Caldera High School Opens Doors for the 2021-22 School Year
It’s been over two decades since the Bend-La Pine Schools district added a new high school to its ranks. This is the year and Caldera High School, located in southeast Bend, is slated to open this fall to incoming ninth and tenth graders. Starting next year, one grade level per year will be added which…
Dream Big
Natasha Visnack, local 17-year-old junior cyclocross competitor, has been accepted into the USA Cycling Olympic Development Academy (ODA) for cyclocross. The ODA is the best, most comprehensive cyclocross development program in North America for junior and U23 athletes. The program, run by world-championship-level coaches and program directors, comprises of individualized coaching and support, with opportunities…
Bad Mommy Bad Writer
The pandemic made working from home while caring for small children all too real for many parents. Growing a career alongside the kids is at times impossibly difficult, positively hilarious and just rewarding enough to keep anyone from walking out on the job. Are you a parent immersed in the double-duty of working alongside your…
Preschool Pursuit
Choosing the right preschool for your child is no small task. From navigating preschool philosophies to understanding curriculums to choosing the right class size, there is a lot to consider. The preschool years are crucial for your child’s development, and with the shortage of preschools and preschool slots available in Bend, local families need to…
