Things have been pretty quiet ’round this site lately. Chalk it up to a couple of the Hack Bend contributors (namely, myself and Jon) keeping busy getting lots of fun events planned for Central Oregon Beer Week, May 20-27. In the meantime… Fire Season is Right Around the Corner. I just got this timely reminder from our friends at Project Wildfire who want to help us keep our homes safe during what is sure to be a dry, hot summer.
With fires blazing in southern California and New Mexico and the potential for loss of hundreds of homes, Project Wildfire takes this opportunity to remind residents in central Oregon that YOU are our greatest resource when it comes to protecting homes and neighborhoods. “There are many similarities between central Oregon and the areas affected in California and New Mexico including an abundance of grasses and strong springtime winds that can quickly turn into a similar disaster here, particularly in combination with debris burning,” warns Ed Keith, Deschutes County Forester.
The greatest risk of homes catching fire during a wildland fire event is from the advancing embers or “fire brands” that reach your property long before an actual flame front. “High winds can whip embers beyond the flame front and land in gutters, on decks, in vents, and in flammable vegetation, soon igniting and burning down the homes,” says Katie Lighthall, Program Director Project Wildfire. “There simply are not enough fire personnel or resources to post a truck at each home, so it’s up to individual homeowners to take responsibility for the defensible space around their homes,” she adds.
With this in mind, Project Wildfire reminds you to take a look around your property in the “home ignition zone” where glowing embers can ignite spot fires and vulnerable areas like decks, patios and fences that can spread flames to your home. And take advantage of upcoming FireFree Recycling Events to dispose of the debris for FREE.
FireFree Recycling Events Start THIS Weekend:
Friday, May 3 THROUGH May 11 at Knott Landfill in Bend (closed Sunday).
Fridays & Saturdays, May 3 & 4 and May 10 & 11 at the Westside Collection Site in Bend, on Simpson Avenue between Century Drive and Mt. Washington.
Friday & Saturday, May 17 & 18 at Deschutes County Transfer Sites:
Negus Transfer Station in Redmond
Northwest Transfer Station in Cloverdale
Southwest Transfer Station in La Pine
Friday & Saturday May 3 & 4 at the Sunriver Compost Site in Sunriver.
Saturday & Sunday May 4 & 5 and 11 & 12 at Box Canyon Transfer Site in Madras.
Visit www.firefree.org or www.firewise.org for more information about how you can prepare your property for wildfire season. Or call the Project Wildfire office at 541-322-7129.
Getting ready for a season of hiking and backpacking? Maybe you need some quick snacks to Grab-and-Go to the park. You’ll need lightweight foods that don’t need refrigeration. Save some money and preparation time by making your own dried foods and herbs.
Learn the principles of drying food and how to enjoy some of your favorite foods year round by practicing safe preparation of foods at a “hands-on” workshop taught by OSU Extension Instructor Katie Ahern and Master Food Preservers Mary Lowe and Gayle Hoagland. Participants will make jerky that is safe from harmful bacteria and taste a variety of dried fruits and veggies in recipes prepared in the class. The class will be on Thursday, May 9, at the OSU Deschutes County Extension office at the Fairgrounds in Redmond, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Cost of the workshop is $15.00. The registration fee includes products made in the lab and “how-to” booklets. Class size is limited. The deadline for registration is May 7. Call to register at the OSU Deschutes County Extension office at 541-548-6088.
Hoppy beer lovers take note: Three Creeks Brewing is again holding their IPApril weekend-long event starting today—a showcase/throwdown of 10 Oregon IPAs (three of which are Three Creeks’ own).
All this weekend you can order up individual pints of IPA, or for $15 you can get a taster tray featuring all 10 at once, plus a voting card so you can weigh in on your favorite.
This Friday and Saturday, the 26th and 27th, the Tower Theatre is hosting a special lighthearted show as their annual fundraiser: the Bend Follies. It’s a skit-based, comedy and variety type show featuring Bend’s own business owners, personalities, and celebrities having fun on stage. It sounds like a lot of fun and if you’re a fan of the Tower or ever been to a show there you should check this out.
Here’s the description:
The Bend Follies is a light-hearted, fast-paced variety show starring prominent Bend business, civic, educational and entertainment personalities, showing off their singing, dancing and joke-telling skills.
Two nights only!
Friday, April 26
and Saturday, April 27
Silent Auction and Drinks: 6:30
Show and Live Auction: 7:30
VIP and Cast Party at Five Fusion: 9:30
Ticket Prices:
$50 General Admission
$75 VIP Seating
VIP includes reserved seating, two drinks, and admission to exclusive Five Fusion post-show party (complimentary appetizers and cash bar). “Restaurant of the Year”
Every year Summit High School chooses a “sparrow” from the Sparrow Club to sponsor and raise money for medical bills. This year’s sparrow is familiar to our family so it hits much closer to home.
Katie Hinton danced alongside my daughter at Central Oregon School of Ballet for several years before quietly quitting some time ago. Devon (my daughter) also left ballet in the last year so we didn’t hear much about Katie until she was chosen by Summit to be their sparrow for 2013.
You can read more about Katie and her illness here - http://www.sparrowclubs.org/sparrows/katie-hinton but what I can tell you about her personally is that she is a beautiful girl who always smiled through her performances. I watched from the sidelines as she grew, her younger siblings were born, and she blossomed into a young lady. She has always had the support of her family and now it’s time to ask for support from the sidelines.
Mr.Thunder is a pageant-type event put on by Summit High School and its students. Several of the male students volunteer their time to raise money for their sparrow and the fundraising effort culminates in an evening of laughs, talent, jokes, tears, and, ultimately, a gift.
The Mr. Thunder pageant takes place tomorrow night, April 23, at 6:30 in the Summit High School auditorium. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go to Katie’s care. Tickets can be purchased online through the school district’s website or at the door. However, this event is expected to sell out so you might not want to wait until then.
Polecat@ McMenamins Old St. Francis School - Father Luke's Room
May 22 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
7 p.m. | Free | All ages welcome Formed in Bellingham, Washington in March 2010, Polecat has quickly established itself in the Northwest, with two [...]
In 2006, Lyle, along with his friends Frank Patka of Printer Resources and Richard Smith of Habitat for Humanity, began hosting poker tourneys on Monday [...]
7 p.m. | Free | All ages welcome The Oregon Encyclopedia hosts a series of History Nights in collaboration with McMenamins pubs. Come join us for [...]
Visit www.bendbulletin.com/nearfar
to download The Bulletin's free two-disc compilation Near/Far,
containing the best of 2011 in free MP3s from Central Oregon and national acts!
Hoppy beer lovers take note: 
This Friday and Saturday, the 26th and 27th, the 
