Community Corner

🌱 Which Bend streets are staying under construction thanks to mild winter?

Also check out Anchor with Amanita | Amanita Ceremony in Bend, OR — PINE & PRISM on the Bend Patch calendar

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Hey there, Bend! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Bend streets are staying under construction thanks to mild winter?
  • How prepared is Bend really for the next big wildfire season?
  • Can Bend High swimming keep rewriting Oregon’s record books this season?

Also on today's calendar: SHINE at The Commonwealth Pub and 3 more events.

Find out what's happening in Bendfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Find out what's happening in Bendfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Winds becoming strong; rain, with a high of 53 and low of 39 degrees.
  • Friday: Periods of rain, temps: high: 44, low: 30.
  • Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 43 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Mild winter keeps Bend, Redmond construction projects on schedule (centraloregondaily.com) — Mild winter weather is letting road crews in Bend keep construction on Olney Avenue, Franklin Avenue, and Butler Market Road moving without seasonal delays, which matters for anyone driving those corridors. The same conditions are helping Redmond Airport stay on schedule with its terminal expansion, including a new temporary walkway for passengers, with completion targeted before the end of 2027.
   

2. LISTEN: Bend Don't Break, Melissa Steele🎧 (bendsource.com) — Wildfire expert and Bend Fire & Rescue Deputy Fire Marshal Melissa Steele shares how Bend is working to reduce wildfire risk and protect neighborhoods, drawing on her experience in major California fires. She breaks down defensible space, home hardening, and practical steps Bend homeowners can take now to prepare for increasingly intense fire seasons.
   

3. 5 questions for the Central Oregon swimming season (bendbulletin.com) — Bend swim fans get a detailed look at whether Bend High’s powerhouse girls and defending-champion boys can extend their dominance in the pool this winter. The piece also spotlights record-setting senior Maddie Thornton and how Redmond and Summit stack up in the chase for state trophies.
   

4. Powerhouse Under Pressure - The Source - Bend, Oregon (bendsource.com) — Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in nearby Redmond is drawing nearly a million visitors a year and over $100 million in economic impact, but rising costs and aging facilities are straining its budget. County leaders are warning of possible deficits and underfunded maintenance even as they pursue land expansion and search for a new director, with implications for tourism and businesses across Bend and Central Oregon.
   

📸 Around Bend

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Lost cat
    Our kitty Nubs took off on Sunday and hasn’t come home yet. He has a short stubbed tail and he is very friendly. He has a green collar with skulls… (Nextdoor North Boonesborough)
  • We found a sweet corgi with no collar running down Plainview.
    Does anyone know whose dog this is? It is 9:30 AM on 12/16. (Nextdoor Tumalo West)
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Payroll Clerk in Bend. Apply here.
  • Kroger posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Bend. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bend here.

Ok Bend! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
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