Best of the Nest 2021
We heard your voice! Thank you sincerely for showing up in record numbers to cast your votes. The results are in and NOW (drumroll, please)…we present to you the 2021 Best of the Nest winners. Best Dining Best Parents’ Date Night 1st – Ariana Restaurant 2nd – Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails Best Grocery Store 1st -…
Best of the Nest 2021
Best Children’s Consignment Store – Stone Soup Kids, Juli Parlan, Owner What kinds of things will customers find at Stone Soup? We’re all about what kids need most. We also cater to what parents are looking for, which is quality merchandise: wooden educational toys, upper brands, good books, all those things kids need growing up.…
Best of the Nest 2021
Best Place for a Child’s Birthday Party – Mountain Air Trampoline Park, Eliot Collins, Manager There are some crazy-fun activities listed on the mountainairbend.com, for example, what can you tell us about Extreme Dodgeball? In the Extreme game, each team has six added targets, so points are scored when you either hit someone with the…
Best of the Nest 2021
Best Learning Specialist – Sylvan Learning Center, Audra Bohn, Director Can you describe in a nutshell how Sylvan helps students to succeed? Our guiding philosophy is that every student can learn, and that each student learns differently. We have only expert teachers, trained to be successful with students. Many other tutoring centers utilize grad students…
Best of the Nest 2021
Best Children’s Orthodontist Practice – Struble Orthodontics, Blair Struble, Owner How did you come to establish your practice here in Central Oregon? I actually grew up in Bend. I went to school and did my orthodontic training all in the PNW. I worked for another provider for a few years, then started my own practice…
Best of the Nest 2021
Best Family Takeout – Wild Rose Northern Thai Eats, Rosie Westlund, Owner What led to your decision to open Wild Rose in downtown Bend? We came here from Port Townsend, Washington, where our restaurant has been open 32 years now. We enjoyed Bend whenever we visited, and we saw that it could use a Northern…
Expert Q&A
Ciara Thomson-Barnett – Certified Nurse Midwife, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner East Cascades Women’s Group Q I am an avid weight trainer and love to work out. Now that I’m pregnant, can you give me some guidelines surrounding what is suitable and safe? A One of my favorite things is busting myths about pregnancy. Exercise during most pregnancies…
Seeds of Comfort
The creation of Comfort Seeds, a group that uses gardening for healing, is a tale full of heartwarming hope and inspiration. When asked about her experience with Comfort Seeds, founder Katie Diez replied, “I never imagined such a positive reaction.” This simple act and concept started with an unexpected discovery. When her father passed away…
Make Your Kitchen a Creative Hub
As spring slowly emerges over the high desert, getting outside is certainly something to look forward to. Yet, there are still days and times when we’re stuck indoors. As much isolation as we’ve all experienced this past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, being homebound can make the whole family a bit stir crazy. Turn…
It Truly Takes a Village
Imagine growing up as a child with a parent behind bars. You receive no goodbye morning hugs, no nightly bedtime stories and no special birthdays with them by your side. Your only interaction is through phone calls, letters, and occasional in-person visits (many of which have been curtailed by the pandemic). If your parent was…
The High Desert Calls
From memoirs to poetry, the rugged natural beauty and stark landscapes of the Oregon High Desert have been inspiring writers for centuries. Now, our unique environment is inspiring young writers to explore their creativity as part of the 2021 Waterston Student Essay Competition, hosted by the High Desert Museum. The competition gets its name from…
Back to Basics
Organic, all-natural, eco-friendly children’s products and toys are all the rage these days, with many parents seeking healthier options for their youngsters that are also better for the environment. In a place like Central Oregon, where the wild beauty of nature meets a spirit of local artisanship, this trend is particularly on point. Natural toys…
Pint-Sized Powerhouse
Olivia Rooker’s voice is calm and possesses the confidence of a seasoned professional woman. It’s hard to believe that she is only 16. Even more shocking is the tiny frame dwarfed by, and commanding, the giant beast that is the steer she raised to show and sell at the fair. This year, Olivia is one…
Happy Centennial!
In 2021, as Bend Park and Recreation District hosts the centennial celebration of two of our most cherished parks—Drake and Shevlin, take a moment to imagine life in Bend and specifically, in these parks 100 years ago. Drake Park Possibly unrecognizable back then except for the Deschutes River, no doubt the land where Drake Park…
Student Artists Earn Top Scholastic Honors
Student artists in Bend-La Pine Schools were recently recognized by the Central Oregon Scholastic Art Awards program for their artwork, taking home numerous awards, including 12 Gold Keys—the organization’s highest honor. This year, 14 middle and high schools throughout Central Oregon participated in the awards competition with 82 students in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties earning…
Dental Care for all Central Oregon Children
Mosaic Medical, a community health center with 15 clinics across Central Oregon, is proud and grateful to continue the vision of the late Dr. H.M. Kemple with the creation of the Kemple Children’s Dental Fund. The fund has been established with a generous gift of $81,000 from the Kemple Memorial Children’s Dental Clinic, which closed…
Editor’s Note
Although Central Oregon is notorious for mixed wintery weather this time of year, the longer days and warmer temps, mixed with some glorious bird song, is reason enough to celebrate. This issue, we are celebrating the Best of the Nest! Flip to the middle of the magazine to find our readers’ choice winners! These are…
The Next Best Thing
Although local high school athletes are back at it, doing what they do best, fans and supporters will have to resort to the next best thing to being there: virtual cheering and online streaming of sporting events. The Bend-La Pine Schools District is launching a new free subscription service to allow families and community members…
Spring Calendar
Tuesdays Online Story Time READ — Help develop your child’s vocabulary with fun! Join community librarians for songs, rhymes and stories that prepare your young one for learning and loving to read. 10am Online | Free deschuteslibrary.org/kids/programs Tuesdays & Thursdays Mommy & Me: Breastfeeding Support Group MOM FRIENDLY — This weekly support group invites all…
