








At Sunriver Resort, spring is the season of possibilities. Only here can you ski Mt. Bachelor in the morning, golf in the afternoon, soak in the pool at sunset, unwind at The Spa before dinner, and indulge at one of our four signature restaurants—all in one day. It’s all possible, just around the Bend.
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Investment by definition is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or finances to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. We can invest in a lot of things such as our community, our relationships, our finances, and our health with the hope that the effort will have a positive impact.
We can invest in our community by supporting our local businesses, schools and local organizations. We can serve the community through volunteerism and investment in future generations. On a larger scale, we can participate in public surveys and stay educated and involved with future city planning. Investing in our finances helps create wealth, meets long-term financial goals and secures our retirement. On a personal level, we can invest in our families and enrich relationships by giving time and effort to the people in our lives that mean the most to us. This type of investment has the most meaningful impact not only to ourselves but to the people closest to us.
While investing in ourselves, relationships, community and finances can look very different from person to person, we wanted to share stories about opportunities for that in our community.
Our cover story spotlights a local start-up, Hush Hush Coffee and Nomadic Café, that is investing not only in people, planet and sustainable quality, but is investing in our community by creating outdoor opportunities for connection over a comforting cup of coffee.
This issue also brings you meaningful discussions about financial planning and investments with Equilus Group Inc.; investing in an effective marketing strategy for your business with Cascade Creative Agency; and investing in our local at-risk children with MountainStar Family Relief Nursery. And, in celebration of Earth Day this month, read about ways to invest in our planet with native landscaping.
Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy this issue! JANE
RIAL, PUBLISHER
PUBLISHER
Jane Rial | jane.rial@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Lynette Confer | lynette.confer@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sue Baldani, Lynette Confer, Julie E. Furnas
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Amanda Photographic, Lindsey Baumsteiger, Sierra Confer, Miguel Edwards, Maile Mason, Lisa Sanco, Jacquelyn Tierney
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Brent Post, DVM and the High Desert Veterinary team welcome two new veterinarians to their practice. Dr. Jon Enyart, a UC Davis graduate, brings extensive experience in emergency veterinary medicine and wildlife rehab, along with a focus on holistic medicine with a certification in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Dr. Holly Lemaire, a former MRI technologist, combined her love of animals and medicine by earning her DVM from Washington State University. With 23 years of experience, Dr. Lemaire is also passionate about holistic pet care. HighDesertVet.com
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and a time to bring awareness to organizations that support children and families. Healthy Families of the High Desert, KIDS Center, and MountainStar Family Relief Nursery work to prevent abuse and neglect and protect children. Whether through Healthy Families’ home visits and monthly groups, KIDS Center’s prevention education program, or MountainStar’s home visits and therapeutic classrooms, they work to STRENGTHEN FAMILIES TOGETHER. Visit this website to learn more: ProtectKidsCO.org
The City Nature Challenge is an annual global, collaborative citizen science effort to find and document wildlife observations in and around urban areas. Think Wild is bringing this event to Bend for the second year in a row to connect community members with the natural world and empower them to contribute valuable data to local biodiversity research. The observation period takes place from April 25-28, with time to identify and upload species through May 4. ThinkWildCO.org.
Founded in 2006 by
You deserve the best medical care from the most qualified doctor. That’s why Dr. Richard Mac Donell at MyMD focuses on providing personal, intentional, and comprehensive care for a small group of patients. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Mac Donell also works as your advocate, coordinating care among specialists and providing a unique and thorough approach to all your health care issues. Call to learn more today.
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ARTICLE BY JULIE E. FURNAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIGUEL EDWARDS
Hush Hush Coffee and Nomadic Café – “Celebrating Nature, Adventure and Coffee!”
As early as the 1400’s, people have been meeting up to drink coffee together. Historically, coffee shops were important places to play games, socialize and discuss politics and news. Fast forward to today and everyone around the world is still gathering in coffee shops, working and reconnecting face to face – something often more challenging in this age of technology, social media and our virtual world.
A new concept in meeting up for coffee, created by local Hush Hush Coffee, is the ‘outdoor coffee shop' experience or the “Nomadic Café” –where friends and family venture out to sip coffee together in the great outdoors, no matter the season or weather and no matter how remote the meet up location. Bend Lifestyle magazine spoke with Hush Hush Coffee and Nomadic Café owners and operators, Adam Foster and Ron Sparks, about cultivating this new phenomenon in Central Oregon.
Adam: I am originally from Michigan; my wife and I came out here ten years ago when we were traveling and living full-time in our 1982 Volkswagen Westfalia to house-sit a relative’s 80-acre ranch out in Terrebonne. We fell in love with the area and found a place to rent in town and jobs to allow us to stay longer term.
Ron: I grew up mostly in the Willamette Valley but have had family in the Bend area for thirty years. Nine years ago, my wife Julia and I moved to Bend from Corvallis – we wanted to be in Oregon with the sun, and we decided to come here for the outdoor spaces.
HOW DID YOU TWO GET INTO THE COFFEE BUSINESS? WHERE DOES THE COFFEE COME FROM?
Adam: Being coffee nerds together for the last eight years, it kind of sprouted organically. We met here in Bend at a food event at a co-working space and started talking about our love for coffee. After that it was a TON of brewing, roasting, meeting up at other cafes in town, and dreaming about doing something in the coffee space someday. We began running the Hush Hush events, then added the coffee subscription. The idea for the cafe cart and the addition of the new roaster are more recent. The coffee is sourced from several amazing importers around the country that spend a ton of time and energy getting to know the farmers over many years and making sure they are paid above market rate.
“ALL OF THESE EFFORTS—OUR ROASTING, OUR PACKAGING, OUR EVENTS, OUR SLOW COFFEE—ARE INVESTMENTS IN A DEEPER KIND OF WEALTH: COMMUNITY. THE HUSH HUSH COMMUNITY ISN’T JUST ABOUT DRINKING COFFEE; IT’S ABOUT GATHERING BEFORE SUNRISE, BREWING COFFEE TOGETHER IN THE WILD, AND FOSTERING REAL CONNECTIONS.”
— ADAM FOSTER AND RON SPARKS, FOUNDERS OF HUSH HUSH COFFEE
Ron: We met the first year we were both in Bend. I met Adam at a fun 'amuse-bouche' food event. Becoming friends at some point with our common love of coffee was clear. We each had worked in coffee in the past and both worked in some kind of creative space. In a world where everything is digital and fast, there was something organic about the processes of being intentional for a moment in the morning and connecting with people that we loved.
TELL US ABOUT HOW THE IDEA FOR OUTDOOR COFFEE EXPERIENCES STARTED.
Hush Hush Coffee started nine years ago as a fun hobby— roasting beans in Ron’s garage and sharing them with friends and family. It was never meant to be a business, just a love for good coffee and good company.
That love turned into something more when we started building outdoor coffee kits in Stanley lunch boxes that we’d use when travéling or camping or sneaking away on lunch breaks to brew pour-overs in the park. One day, we thought, “Why not invite some friends?” That first official Nomadic Café happened about 2.5 years ago with just eight people. Then we put it on our social media and it grew fast— 8 became 20, then 50, and now nearly 100 people gather with us every month to chase the sunrise and share a slow cup together. We’ve just kept pulling on the thread of our community and coffee and slow moments… and people keep coming and friends have been made.
The Hush Hush Coffee Club subscription launched just over a year ago as a way to share our love of coffee and slow mornings with others. What started as a garage hobby has become a growing community, fueled by adventure, connection, and really good coffee.
At Hush Hush Coffee, every investment we make is rooted in our love for community, sustainability, and the wild spaces that inspire us. As a small, locally
owned business, we believe that investing in the right things—people, planet, and quality—creates ripples that go far beyond just a good cup of coffee. The thing we invest the most is our time. We also think that if whatever we are doing doesn't turn out huge, we know that at least we brought people together and hopefully made them feel part of a community.
One of our biggest investments this year is in our roasting process. We’re moving to an on-site, fully electric, ventless roaster at Chariot Bike, Ron’s wife Julia’s bike shop. This cutting-edge technology recycles and re-burns its own air, eliminating VOC emissions and making our roasting process one of the most sustainable in the industry. By investing in this cleaner roasting method, we’re reducing our footprint and keeping the air in Bend as fresh as the mountain mornings we love.
We also invest in packaging that aligns with our values—100% recyclable coffee bags and stickers made from plants—so that every cup of Hush Hush Coffee leaves no trace. And with every order placed, we plant a tree through 1 Tree Planted, investing in the very landscapes that fuel our adventures.
But beyond sustainability, we’re investing in slowing down. Our coffee space at Chariot Bike will serve only pour-over coffee, intentionally inviting people to pause, connect, and savor the moment. We want it to be known as Bend’s Slowest Coffee—a reminder that great things take time, and that slowing down is an investment in itself.
All of these efforts—our roasting, our packaging, our events, our slow coffee—are investments in a deeper kind of wealth: community. The Hush Hush community isn’t just about drinking coffee; it’s about gathering before sunrise, brewing coffee together in the wild, and fostering real connections. And that’s the kind of return on investment we care about most.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS FOR HUSH HUSH COFFEE AND NOMADIC CAFÉ?
We are busy bringing Bend’s Slowest Coffee to life….slowly. As mentioned, we are building out our coffee cart/space inside Chariot Bike Shop, creating a cozy little space where people can slow down
and savor a proper pour-over. We hope to be open at least one or two days a week in this new space by late spring.
Our goal is to continue to host a Nomadic Café once a month, but life has a way of keeping things interesting—especially since Adam just adopted a toddler! So while that’s still the goal, we’re giving ourselves a little grace and flexibility. Whether it’s monthly or slightly less frequent, we’ll always make space for slow mornings.
DO YOU HAVE A MISSION STATEMENT?
Our mission is simple: to build community through coffee and adventure. To build the world we want to live in for the people around us. To take such care that people are drawn to return. To be a little antidote to the digital world and make space to connect slowly.
HushHushCoffee.com
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In 2013, Equilus Group Inc. (EGI) was founded by Joel Frank, in Wenatchee, WA. EGI is a Registered Investment Advisory firm. Mike Musco, a Financial Advisor for the firm, resides in Bend. He meets with clients at the Equilus Capital Partners office in Bend’s Northwest Crossing.
Musco brings extensive experience to the EGI team, having spent eight years at Microsoft in business and finance management roles, and another eight years in mortgage finance. He has also been actively involved in real estate and business transactions, including owning and selling businesses.
Bend Lifestyle had a chance to sit down with Musco to discuss his role at EGI and what his firm has to offer clients locally.
WHAT SERVICES DOES EGI OFFER CLIENTS?
Our financial advisory services include the following areas: financial, retirement, estate, tax, risk management and investment and wealth management, including traditional and alternative investments where appropriate.
WHAT SETS EGI APART FROM OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES?
We have a holistic approach to planning and cover far more than “just” investments. And, most importantly, we treat clients like family.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING INVESTORS TODAY?
Inflation. Tax. Noise and misinformation. Another concern is that some clients have concentrated positions, meaning that they do not have a truly diversified portfolio. This is often because planning is not prioritized, falling into “important” but “non-urgent” category. And, planning is essential to the success of a client’s portfolio.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS YOUR ROLE AS A FINANCIAL ADVISOR?
It’s my job and top priority to learn all I can about my clients and their goals. That helps me analyze their financials thoroughly so that I can provide them with insight into ways that we can optimize their finances and investments. It’s important to me that I can advise clients in ways that align with their goals and implement a financial plan that meets their needs on all levels.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE ABOUT FINANCIAL PLANNING AND INVESTMENT?
Many people believe that they need to have a minimum amount of assets. That is just not true. Currently EGI is moving toward a fee-based model that makes our services more accessible to a wider range of clients. Also, some people are under the impression that they will be told what to do. Instead, at EGI, we are more like a coach and on your side, like members of the same team. It’s also often assumed that working with a financial advisor is expensive and cost-prohibitive for many people. That is not necessarily true. The flip side of that is the fact that we deliver quite a lot of value in multiple areas to our clients. In fact, making mistakes on your own is often far more costly than working with an advisor.
CONTINUED >
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING AN INVESTMENT?
The client’s risk profile and the tolerance of the client for dealing with this risk. Also, it’s essential to consider the purpose and timeline of the investment.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE RIGHT INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR A CLIENT?
After we get to know our client and understand their goals and the purpose and size of their investment, we educate them on the different types of investment opportunities. The options available to a client are often based on minimum account requirements, tax implications where applicable, among other factors. Then we can begin to settle on a sensible allocation and go from there. It’s important for us to look at both a macro-view, while also looking at the details of each individual account.
"WE HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PLANNING AND COVER FAR MORE THAN 'JUST' INVESTMENTS. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE TREAT CLIENTS LIKE FAMILY."
ARE YOU ABLE TO TAILOR FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR DIFFERENT AGES AND INCOME LEVELS, INCLUDING HIGH-NET-WORTH INDIVIDUALS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS?
Absolutely. We often help our younger professionals maximize their employer plans and help business owners maximize their tax deferral where possible. High Net Worth (HNW) cases also benefit from our tax planning, business planning, and both personalized and efficient portfolio management. Our HNW customers have the support of multiple CFAs/CPWAs/Fiduciaries within EGI while working closely with their individual advisor.
IS THERE ANYTHING ONE NEEDS TO DO BEFORE SEEKING OUT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND WHY IS WORKING WITH AN ADVISOR IMPORTANT?
Being honest about your own finances and financial situation with all its good/bad/ugly is important. We believe working with an advisor is essential since it will provide you with the accountability, knowledge, expertise, camaraderie and support for the long term journey.
WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE LOOK FOR IN A FINANCIAL ADVISOR?
There are some firms that do not hold fiduciary responsibility. Even if they do, they may have access to only their firm’s products. Ask about their duty to you as the client, and what products and services they have access to. It’s also important to find an advisor you like and feel that you can build a relationship with. Trust is essential. Ideally, this will be a life-long relationship that will help you achieve financial success – whatever that looks like for you.
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MountainStar’s KKS Campaign runs throughout the month of April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, rallying our community to support our therapeutic classrooms, home visits, and critical family support services that reduce the risk of abuse and neglect.
P4K is a program for local businesses to make a one-time annual investment in support of MountainStar’s mission, receiving year-round marketing benefits.
B4B is MountainStar’s annual two-day fundraising event, featuring a gala followed by a golf tournament. This event brings together supporters to raise critical funds for MountainStar’s child abuse prevention program.
of children do of children do not require not require foster care or foster care or out-of-home out-of-home placement placement of children meet of meet or exceeded or exceeded benchmarks for benchmarks for social and social and emotional emotional development development of children children receive receive developmental developmental screenings to screenings to support their support their growth growth
MountainStar keeps 98% of children in our programs safe from abuse and neglect. An investment in our Relief Nursery services has a 13% ROI and gives children a chance to thrive.
“Natalie is a wonderful photographer who produces excellent results and made our brand photoshoot a fantastic experience. She truly captured the spirit of our team (with all of the animals!) and the essence of our brand. We recently won a prestigious Vetty Award for our brand expansion and named Natalie as a contributor for her photography work featured on our website and marketing materials. Thank you, Natalie, from all of us at the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon!”
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When it comes to increasing the value and beauty of your home, landscaping is one of the best, and often-overlooked investments. A well-designed landscape enhances curb appeal, improves property value and creates a welcoming outdoor space. But not all landscaping is created equal – choosing native plants is a strategic and sustainable way to maximize your investment. Native plants are naturally adapted to the local climate and soil, making them easier to maintain, more resilient to pests, and better for the surrounding environment.
According to local WinterCreek Nursery manager Ben Snyder, “When we talk about native plants, we are referring to the plant communities that naturally evolved in some certain specific area and were not introduced by any kind of human activity. This means these native plants have coexisted with the animals, fungi, soils and weather patterns in their native region for thousands or even millions of years and thrive in balanced ecological harmony with those forces.”
“Generally, native species are those that were here pre-European settlement, so around the 1600’s,” explains Lisa Sanco, Worthy Garden Club Executive Director. “But people can have varying definitions of what is native to a particular region. Everything is changing so rapidly in our ecosystems; our climate and growing zones are shifting. Some non-native species thrive here and are beneficial to our ecosystems but have not been here since the 1600’s… California poppies are a great example.”
Worthy Garden Club is a 501(c)3 organization founded by the owner of Worthy Brewing in 2015 to help provide environmental education in Central Oregon. With a mission of “connecting people to the natural world and cultivating a community of environmental stewards working together to build a greener and healthier planet through advocacy, action and education,” Worthy Garden Club operates the Hopservatory, along with a small-scale
regenerative farm and native plant gardens at Worthy Brewing’s eastside location.
“Our Worthy Garden Club Campus is a classroom of sorts, where we offer hands-on learning, classes, weekly weeding events, pollinator walks and host school visits,” explains Sanco. “Some of our seasonal classes include food growing, native plant care and seed saving. There is a huge demand for native plant landscaping classes, and we are excited to teach people, mostly homeowners and renters, how to live a little more sustainably on the High Desert.”
With approximately 3,000 square feet of growing space complete with a propagation greenhouse and small chicken coop, the Worthy Garden Club “farm” is visible from the parking lot at the eastside Worthy Brewing Pub. “It’s an interesting venue and people are drawn to the gardens when they come here. We welcome visitors at our campus and invite them in to take a walk and ask questions,” Sanco states. Food grown at Worthy Campus is used in the pub or donated to organizations like High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA). And, there are plans to host a farmers’ market at Worthy Brewing this summer.
the beauty and water-wise benefits of our native plants in our own backyards?”
If you are interested in getting started with your own native plant garden, it’s important to thoroughly evaluate your property, front, back and sides. Even narrow corridors can serve as the perfect location for native plants, replacing ornamentals that have high-water requirements with appropriate native plants that might only require drip irrigation.
“Growing native plants helps improve the soil health and provides natural habitat for insects, birds and other animals.”
—Lisa Sanco, Worthy Garden Club
In many places, including Bend, interest is growing in sustainable gardening practices and native vegetation. Driven with a desire to use less water and attract beneficial insects, homeowners are seeking educational opportunities and resources in their community. According to Snyder, “So much of the High Desert has been greatly impacted by human development and grazing activity – to keep this special and ecologically sensitive region healthy, it’s important that we all start giving just a little bit back to nature in the little ways that we can. Why not help the birds, bees, butterflies and other special creatures of Central Oregon while also enjoying
Executive Director
“What to plant and where depends on so many factors,” Sanco says. “And gardening here can be challenging. Some skills just have to be learned by doing, so I always tell people to start small and learn as you go. It can take time to hone in on what works for your space.”
When it comes to finding native plants locally, there are several nurseries that specialize in these plant options. One such nursery, WinterCreek Nursery, sells hundreds of native plant species – from penstemons to pine trees – that they grow right on their property from local seeds sources. “We have a very knowledgeable and caring staff that are always happy to answer any native plant questions and help customers plan out their projects,” states Snyder. Many other local nurseries also offer native plant options.
“Growing native plants helps improve the soil health and provides natural habitat for insects, birds and other animals,” explains Sanco. Part of native landscaping is to consider our pollinators. Without them, we cannot produce food or survive. “If you do the native plant garden, you also have to honor the maintenance practices that keep our beneficial insects and critters intact. Save the stems, leave the leaves, plant in big blocks of color.” Sanco explains that many insects do not have good eyesight or see
color in different ways, so larger swaths of color make the plants more visible to increase their foraging efficiency.
According to the Worthy Garden Club resource, Attracting Beneficial Bugs, “lean heavily on native plants, but don’t be afraid to sprinkle in some choice annuals like sunflowers and sweet alyssum for extra foraging potential.” This will fill in the bloom gap that occurs with some native plant species. And, don’t forget to provide a consistent, shallow, clean water source for beneficial insects in your garden.
In addition to the classes at their onsite garden, Worthy Garden Club also manages Franklin’s Corner Community Garden and often partners with Pollinator Pathway Bend to help install pollinator gardens at schools, city properties and parks around town. WinterCreek Nursery also offers classes and events, including the upcoming June 21 first annual High Desert Horticultural Center Native Plant Garden Tour. WinterCreek is also a constituent element to the new High Desert Horticultural Center – “a new nonprofit created to increase appreciation and understanding of native plants, to facilitate research on resource conservation and the values of biodiversity in urban environments, and to provide opportunities for the public, industry professionals and future restoration practitioners to become leaders in the rapidly growing fields of regenerative landscaping in the High Desert.”
“When it comes to incorporating native plants into your landscape, it can be a switch in aesthetics, but once someone understands the ecological aspect and benefits of native plants, it makes them so much more interesting and exciting than conventional plants,” emphasizes Sanco. “And it really does give you a genuine sense of place.”
WorthyGardenClub.org HighDesertHorticulturalCenter.org
Branding, marketing, and user-friendly websites are essential for businesses of all sizes to thrive. Creative services agencies that specialize in creating marketing collateral, modern website designs and fresh social media content, are crucial for businesses to stay competitive in today’s market and a wise investment for business owners. Lindsey Baumsteiger, owner and operator of Cascade Creative Agency, talked to Bend Lifestyle magazine about the specific strategies for successful business marketing.
My first visit to Bend was in 2017 when I came to work with a fellow photographer who was teaching me a unique darkroom printing process. I fell in love with the process, became great friends with my mentor, and moved to Bend a year later to continue working in the darkroom and pursue my art. I’ve been here ever since.
I earned my degree in photography from the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. Photography was my first love. After school, I began teaching workshops for a studio in Santa Monica and quickly fell in love with the relationships I was able to build through the platform of education. Soon after, I launched my own business in Santa Barbara, offering beginner to intermediate photography workshops and private lessons. During that time, I also focused on
ARTICLE BY JULIE E. FURNAS
portraiture and collaborated with local startups to create visual content for their business launches.
Throughout the pandemic, I began seeking more remote work and started studying and practicing marketing, branding, website, and graphic design. With a natural affinity for organization, writing, and design, the transition felt seamless. It also provided me the opportunity to work with people near and far, which I love. Expanding my creative skill set in this way helped shape my professional services and laid the foundation for Cascade Creative Agency.
I love collaborating with people to create the branding for their businesses and build a visual identity that speaks to the heart of their venture. Once the branding is set, everything else follows suit—the website, photography, newsletters, social media graphics, and more. It’s crucial that it’s done well; it’s a recipe for success.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see all the pieces of the puzzle come together.
IS THE BEST PART ABOUT LIVING AND WORKING IN CENTRAL OREGON?
It’s the nature and the people for me. Anyone who chooses to live in a place like this, knowing they have access to beautiful nature and fun activities in every direction—that’s my kind of people. I love walking downtown and running into someone I know.
DO YOU WANT READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS?
I want businesses to start thinking of marketing with authenticity as the most important faculty they have within their power. With advertisements becoming such a systemic part of our lives through all the different forms of media we consume daily, it’s crucial that businesses hold on to their unique voice, solidify their mission statements, and let their core values guide the way.
CASCADE CREATIVE AGENCY’S KEYS TO MARKETING SUCCESS:
• Marketing should go beyond social media: consider ways to incorporate community involvement like workshops or public events.
• Shift the focus from promotion to education: position your brand as a resource, as well as a vendor.
• Understand the power of strong brand identity: a cohesive, authentic visual presence should seamlessly translate across all marketing channels.
• Websites: up-to-date, easy to navigate and engaging - creating a seamless experience that reflects the brand and serves an audience effectively.
Cascade Creative Agency offers free introductory calls to discuss your business, explore services and discover the best ways to support your goals.
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI
When it comes to investing, people always want to know what the returns will be. But, these returns don’t always have to be monetary. At MountainStar Family Relief Nursery, it’s the children who reap the rewards.
A local nonprofit organization, MountainStar got its start in Bend in 2001 when community members came together and decided that more quality services were needed for families with young children facing extreme challenges. Today, it serves over 300 children per year at a cost of $10,000 per child and family.
“Having any sort of investment in early childhood yields returns upon returns upon returns,” says executive director Kara Tachikawa. “That means that the child is more likely to be successful in school and have better graduation rates, get higher paying jobs and invest back into their local, as well as national, economy. They are also more likely to have healthier relationships in the future.”
There are a myriad of ways that people can invest in MountainStar and help them achieve their goals. Of course, first and foremost is by donating funds. The nonprofit hosts multiple fundraisers each year, including its Keep Kids Safe Campaign that runs through April and May.
“We want to raise awareness so everyone can understand MountainStar’s trauma-informed prevention work that breaks multi-generational cycles of abuse and neglect,” says development director Staley Micken. “We want to connect and inspire the larger community around child abuse prevention and the importance of investing in early development. Giving our community’s children the best start possible should always be our top priority.”
Another way that people can support MountainStar is by volunteering, whether that’s in the classrooms interacting directly with children, organizing its food banks, clothing closets, painting classrooms, joining fundraising efforts, and being advocates for children. Speaking with legislators and supporting policies that benefit children and families can have long-term outcomes for generations to come.
Since April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s a great time to get involved. “Our youngest children
are the most at risk for population for child abuse in Central Oregon and across the state. These are our babies and toddlers and our most vulnerable population,” she says. “Science tells us that the brain is developing faster during the first five years, and specifically for the first three years, than it ever will again.”
Micken explains that this period is the most important time for development in a child’s life and if a child is experiencing severe upheaval and abuse in the home, it changes the neurological and physiological makeup of a child’s body.
“For kids who have experienced a lot of early trauma and chaos, the ability to make healthy decisions and to maintain healthy relationships throughout the rest of their lives is really challenging. But, we know if we can get in early enough and focus on supporting kids in that 0 to 5 age range, we can get them on track for healthy development. We also help parents be the best that they can be so their kids stay safe and their family has an opportunity to thrive.” To find out more about these statistics, Tachikawa suggests checking out Nobel Prize winning University of Chicago Economics Professor James Heckman’s work – “to understand the great gains to be had by investing in the early and equal development of human potential.” ( HeckmanEquation.org )
And how about this for a return on investment? An incredible 97 percent of children served by MountainStar remain safe from abuse and neglect.
Of course, people can also support children by looking out for and assisting families in their own neighborhoods who are struggling. “A resilient community is leaning in, they’re checking on their neighbors, especially those with young children, and they’re making sure that they are okay,” explains Tachikawa. “We’re so proud and so invested in the work that we do every day and we want the community to be stepping up alongside us in every way possible. Like they always say, ‘Share the joy and it is doubled and share the burden and it is halved.’”
LEARN MORE: To find out more about MountainStar Family Relief Nursery and support the work they do, find them online at MtStar.org
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A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
APRIL 1ST
Indigenous Speaker Series – Frank S. Matsura: His Life and Portraits
High Desert Museum | 6:30 PM
Join Professor Michael Holloman (Colville Confederated Tribes), film and media scholar Glen Mimura and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Beth Harrington for an exploration of Frank Matsura’s life and portraits. This panel discussion will consider Matsura’s experiences as a Japanese-born photographer and the nuanced perspective that his photographs provide of Native communities in the early 1900s. RSVP required. HighDesertMuseum.org
APRIL 5TH
Dancing Through the Decades: Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend Throwback Prom
Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend, 500 NW Wall St. | 7:00 PM
Central Oregon’s most nostalgic and entertaining fundraiser brings the community together for a night of music, dancing, and fun—all in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend. Dance it up, celebrate, and take it back to your high school days. Enjoy a live DJ, themed decor, and nostalgic prom vibes from the 70s, 80s, and 90s in a night you won’t forget! BGCBend.org
APRIL 13TH
Living Spring Centerpiece Workshop at Schilling's Garden Market
Schilling's Garden Market | 11:00 AM
This spring-inspired centerpiece workshop blends vibrant pansies, violas, fragrant herbs like rosemary and thyme, soft grasses, and delicate dried
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flowers. It evokes renewal and growth, perfect for Easter. The colorful blooms, refreshing scents, and gentle textures create a timeless, nature-filled addition to any gathering or seasonal decor. Registration required; register online. SchillingsGardenMarket.com
APRIL 13TH
10th Annual Bend Marathon
Old Mill District, West Parking Area
7:00 AM
Come run the Bend Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k. Enjoy beautiful mountain town races with spectacularly scenic courses through West Bend. You’ll cruise around neighborhood parks, through ponderosa pine forests, along the mighty Deschutes River, and finish in a beautiful iconic Bend location with a chill afterparty, food and Cascade Lakes craft beer. Free kids race and youth 5k. Bend-Marathon.com
APRIL 17TH-20TH
RendezVan at Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor | 8:00 AM
RendezVan is the celebration of our amazing community of RVers, campers, and van-lifers who make the annual pilgrimage to Mt. Bachelor in the springtime to enjoy soft spring laps and sunshine. Families, skiers, riders, and all travelers are welcome — even the dogs are invited! Camping not required. Fun daily activities include music, vendors, fun competitions, and much more. RendezVan.com
APRIL 26TH
The Environmental Center, Bend 9:00 AM
This family-friendly event will feature a lively and inclusive celebration of earth and community where people of all ages are encouraged to wear costumes that showcase their favorite thing about planet Earth. The fair will feature food vendors, booths, performers and artists. Note: there will not be a parade, only the fair, for this year's Earth Day celebration. EnviroCenter.org