A Shoulder to Lean On
When you scratch the surface of NeighborImpact, you’ll find the myriad ways in which they help Central Oregonians. From immediate assistance with food procurement and a mobile food bank, to more long-term resources such as financial counseling, NeighborImpact improves the lives of those in need in so many different ways. “We are the largest nonprofit…
Pandemic School Year
This fall, only the youngest students in the Bend-La Pine Schools district will go back to their brick-and-mortar classrooms, but COVID prevention protocols will begin the minute they step on the school bus. Most local students will not come to campus at all. At least, that’s the latest word as of this writing; most who…
Farmer’s Market Finds
During the summer and fall months, the local farmers markets serve as my meal planner. I show up on Wednesdays and Saturdays sans grocery list and let the local, in-season produce tell me what’s for dinner. This week, several colorful items piqued my interest: cherry tomatoes, bi-color corn, an array of organic berries and stone fruit, an…
Zoom, Feral Kids and Pizza
Starting in March of this year, Central Oregon families got to know their family members a little better than they imagined (or perhaps ever wanted). With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a nationwide quarantine, parents had the opportunity (were forced) to spend every moment with their children while providing round-the-clock care, including schooling and entertainment. While…
Back-to-School: The New Normal
The question of how school will look this fall looms large this summer. Will classes be in-person or via remote learning? If an in-person option is available, will it be safe? How does a family weigh the risks of social and academic setback against a virus we know so little about? How will kids thrive…
Handwashing: A Family Activity
Handwashing is an easy, cheap, and effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep kids and adults healthy. When your family is healthy, you don’t have to worry about missing school, work or other activities. Help your child develop handwashing skills Teach kids the five easy steps—wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry—and the…
Get Up, Stand Up
Between organizing (six!) Black Lives Matter protests, starting a BLM Instagram page and meeting with fellow activists, Bend High senior Jade Jager slows down just long enough for us to ask her a few questions. Bend Nest: What prompted you to organize a BLM protest? Jade Jager: The first one I decided to organize was…
Feel the Freedom
The beginning of a new school year represents a fresh start – new classes, new people and opportunities. Like the beginning of a new year, back-to-school can be the perfect time to set goals and resolutions. Why not make one of them becoming a bike commuter—however the school year looks? Health Benefits Riding a bike…
One Step Ahead
Even before 2020 took the U.S. by storm with COVID-19, anxiety and depression were prevalent among our youth. Now more than ever, with the new school year quickly approaching, parents are faced with the challenge of figuring out how to not only calm their children’s fears of becoming and getting others sick, they have to…
Editor’s Note
At times, we may feel completely inadequate when it comes to being the change we’d like to see in this world. Maybe that’s because racism is so deep-seated in our culture that realistically, it may take generations before the world sees any recognizable shift in equality. In our homogenous region of Central Oregon, where exposure…
Health Expert Q&A
Q At what age should my child see an orthodontist? AThe American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children first visit an orthodontist around the age of seven. This is an age at which the first phase of dental eruption is occurring and an opportune time to evaluate crowding, bite configuration, airway, speech issues, etc. Q…
Calendar
TuesdaysOnline Art Activities for Kids ARTS AND CRAFTS – Join Camp Fire for virtual art activities every Tuesday at 4pm. Designed for K-5th graders but open to all! No registration required. 4-4:30pm. Camp Fire Central Oregon | Free campfireco.org/virtual Wednesdays through October 14 Bend Farmers Market FAMILY FUN – Take a stroll through Brooks Alley…
