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LIFESTYLE LETTER
The Taste of Fall
Welcome, fall! As the leaves begin to change and the temperatures cool, our cravings shift toward comforting flavors that warm both body and soul. October is one of our most delectable issues of the year, and this month we’re celebrating the food and drink that makes Bend such a delight for the senses.
In this issue, we have the privilege of sharing the story of two local nonprofits who are making a dif ference to help with food shortages in the high desert, NeighborImpact and Cascades Cannery. We hope their stories inspire you to get involved and support them and the many other organizations making a difference in our community.
For me, the smells of fall bring back memories of sitting in my mom’s kitchen. The aroma of cinnamon rolls, apple pie, kapusta (Polish!), and hearty meals fills me with nostalgia. My mother’s intentional, homemade meals were the kind that warmed you from the inside out.
There’s an art to creating a dish that not only satisfies your taste buds but also stirs memories of home. Food has a unique way of connecting us to our past while bringing us together in the present. Whether you’re enjoying a meal out with friends or hosting a cozy dinner at home, these shared moments are what make life flavorful.
Here’s to savoring the season,
JANE RIAL, PUBLISHER
October 2025
PUBLISHER
Jane Rial | jane.rial@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Lynette Confer | lynette.confer@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Donna Burklo, Lynette Confer, Julie E. Furnas, Maegen Hindson
1: MountainStar Family Relief Nursery’s Birdies for Babies (B4B) Gala took place on Aug. 9 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. 2: “Ladies in White” looking fabulous at the B4B Gala which raises funds to support MountainStar’s mission. 3: Guests at the B4B Gala competing in a game of Heads or Tails for a chance to win the Wagon of Wine. 4: MountainStar’s B4B Gala and Golf Tournament two-day event has raised $2.5 million over the past 10 years to support child abuse prevention and early childhood services in Central Oregon. 5: Guests at the B4B Gala enjoyed capturing memories at the Heyday Memory Machines photobooth. 6: Cutting into a delicious cake from Ida’s Cupcake Cafe after the dessert auction. 7: B4B Gala included dinner and drinks, live and silent auctions, live music and much more. Photography by Tanya Koski Photography
- Karen B.
Mt. Bachelor Partners with St. Charles to Open Medical Clinic
Starting this winter, health care providers from St. Charles will offer services to guests and employees of Mt. Bachelor at the St. Charles Mountain Clinic located in the ski patrol building near the West Village area. Providers from St. Charles Urgent Care clinics will staff this clinic Fridays through Sundays and during holidays. The St. Charles and Mt. Bachelor teams will be working together to determine the level of services to be provided before ski season begins this winter. MtBachelor.com
October 16-17. BVC is the longest standing and largest angel investment conference in the Pacific Northwest and has served as a catalyst for startup investment in Central Oregon, showcasing innovative startups and connecting entrepreneurs with investors and mentors. Since its inception, the BVC LLC Funds have awarded over $14 million in investment, and companies participating in BVC have leveraged connections from the conference to receive tens of millions in additional funding. BendVC.com
SMART Reading Central Oregon Now Accepting Children’s Book Donations
The SMART Reading Central Oregon team is accepting donations of new and gently used children’s books by appointment at their Bend office. Donated books will be sorted, cleaned and refurbished with the help of volunteers before being distributed to local kids through free, schoolwide book fairs and other programs. This initiative is an early step in starting a Book Bank in Central Oregon. The SMART Reading Central Area team implements SMART Reading programs in Central Oregon. To volunteer or donate, call 541-7977726. SmartReading.org
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GET IN TOUCH AT CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/BEND
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Bok Choy? Sure!
NeighborImpact (NI) operates a mobile food pantry serving upwards of 18 locations and 4,000 people per month.
OUR REGION’S OREGON FOOD BANK PROVIDER GETS CREATIVE
ARTICLE BY DONNA BURKLO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CYR BECKLEY
NI Volunteer Darin Lyons (l) and Lennon Lott (r) load the NI Mobile Pantry for food deliveries.
Lennon Lott, Mobile Pantry Specialist, with produce from the NeighborImpact Mobile Pantry.
Running a food assistance program these days is at times a lesson in making “Stone Soup.” Start with what you have and encourage community participation in order to make it something actually palatable and filling.
“I find out when I open my email,” says a frustrated Carly Auten, NeighborImpact Food Program Director, “about the decrease in available food. The usual order form is just suddenly missing items -- important, nutritionally-rich, items. The fresh vegetables and fruit and meat, the items that are so expensive to purchase, especially in our rural towns.”
Auten runs the Central Oregon region’s arm of the Oregon Food Bank through the nonprofit, NeighborImpact. NeighborImpact (NI), in operation since 1985, exists to represent and serve economically disadvantaged residents of Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Their mission is to support people and strengthen communities. Among their services are those that foster housing stabilization, offer Head Start/Early Head Start care and education, and provide food.
Partner organizations team up with the NI Food Program for access to Oregon Food Bank’s free or reduced cost food as well as for assistance in providing a safe, inclusive meal or pantry program. For the latter, NI Food Program representatives conduct an initial survey of the applicant nonprofit, offering guidance for food safety, staff and volunteer training, respectful operational guidelines, and more. Then, yearly, each organization is re-certified. Program staff stay current with best practices for efficient and effective distribution of food resources as well as the very human side of the work, things like meal preparation education and cultural food choice awareness.
Auten’s frustration is the result of Federal cuts to food aid programs. “It affects our entire region, yet, as with so many assistance programs, it affects our rural communities in an outsized way. Ranch and farm towns are getting double hit. Less assistance and less business through Federal contracts,” she adds.
Bryan Senner, the Food Pantry Coordinator at Nativity Lutheran Church, reports that “the quantity of food we receive from NI has drastically changed. We used to get up to 3,000 pounds of food
(l to r): Tyler, Emma, Jordan Reeher, Darin Lyons, Sam Nielsen, Natalia Romero and Lennon Lott.
on a regular basis, now we are getting between 900 and 1,000 pounds. That means that we have less food to distribute, meaning less food for each household, and a greater cost for our congregation.”
At Family Kitchen, Operations Manager Tori Wild notes that upcoming cuts to fresh fruit will affect the nutritional value of the sack lunches they provide to Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) and the Taylor Center outreach program. “Without the free apples, pears, peaches, and grapes, we’ll be unable to provide fruit in the 195 lunch bags distributed each week. While we’ve tried to fit purchasing fruit into our budget for these lunch bags, the expense is unfortunately outside of what we can manage.”
Yet, through challenges, area food programs persist. At NeighborImpact, in addition to equitable distribution of resources to partner agencies, the program also operates a mobile food pantry to upwards
“I wish that everyone could see the real people and their real need,”
—Jordan Reeher, NI Food Program Manager
of 18 locations per month and 4,000 people served. Auten started the mobile pantry program to provide food to areas that don’t currently have a pantry or meal program. It’s a nimble solution, allowing test runs and data collection while helping a community often overlooked. An added benefit has been the ability to introduce people to fresh foods they may not usually encounter or be able to afford.
“Bok choy was a new concept for many,” says Jordan Reeher, Food Bank Manager “We’ll get something like that in pallets and it can take a bit to convince people to try it. Yet we know it has high nutritional value. Staff will test recipes and then we’ll hand those out with the food distribution. People let us know that they’ve tried the recipes and it gets easier over time to introduce lesser-known produce.”
Trevor Williams, NI Warehouse Support Specialist, loads a pallet of watermelons into St. Vincent de Paul Redmond's truck.
(l to r): Natalia Romero (volunteer), Sam Nielsen (Food Bank Partner Specialist), Vern Bjerk (volunteer), Emma and Tyler (volunteers) pack Fresh Express boxes.
Darin Lyons, NI volunteer, helps load the Mobile Pantry.
Volunteer
The mobile pantry program has had to scale back a bit with the recent cuts — no longer offering pop-ups on the 5th Wednesdays and Fridays of the month and eliminating one of the regular stops in Redmond. Auten and Reeher plan to work to make sure the rest of the program can stay steady.
When asked what he hopes readers can know about food assistance programs, Reeher responds, “I wish that everyone could see the real people and their real need. The growing perspective that food pantries are serving lazy people is out there and being “fed” by our current system of misinformation.”
It’s hard enough to seek assistance, yet it’s increasingly necessary. As a community, we can do better by getting involved and knowing more about food insecurity. In fact, 12.1% of the people living in Deschutes County* are food insecure. That is a constant, exhausting burden to bear.
NeighborImpact.org
*Feeding America statistic from 2023 www.feedingamerica.org
Want to Help?
• Host a ‘Free the Food’ yellow bag site at your business! Visitors/ customers can take a yellow bag, fill it, and bring it back to you. The Food Bank team will pick up donations. It drives repeat foot traffic while helping the community! Contact Jordan Reeher, jordanr@neighborimpact.org
• Pick up a ‘Free the Food’ yellow bag at a participating business and provide high nutritional value foods (unexpired non-perishable food items, with emphasis on canned soups, peanut butter, and canned fruits and vegetables.)
• Schedule a monthly financial donation specifically for food. Go to neighborimpact.org and follow the ‘donate’ prompts, specifying the food program. A monetary donation serves more people than a food donation.
• Volunteer for the mobile pantry or other partner food agencies! Here you will learn more about the real need across our region.
• Consider the full breadth of the effect of your powerful vote. Engage with your local elected representatives and work with them to raise the issues important to our area.
NeighborImpact
Vern Bjerk packs Fresh Express home deliveries.
Celebrating 100+ Issues!
You’re reading this ad. So is the Bend community. We enable savvy business owners to reach a targeted, engaged audience that supports local. Our Marketing Partners will be featured in an upcoming issue and on our digital platforms, and can participate in our new social media advertising opportunities as well. Discover how Bend Lifestyle is an unbeatable way to build your brand. + TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES EMAIL + jane.rial@citylifestyle.com CityLifestyle.com/Bend @bend.lifestyle
A few tools of the trade and supplies for purchase are offered for members at Mud Lake Studios.
Mud Lake Studios and Supplies is located in the Old Iron Works building, 50 SE Scott St. in Bend.
Drake Bialecki is a potter at Mud Lake and runs his business, Pacific Stone Pottery, from his corner studio.
Serving BEAUTY: HOW Handcrafted Ceramics ELEVATE EVERYDAY Meals
Our lives are busy, but mealtimes are often the perfect opportunity to slow down and savor. Handcrafted dishware—whether made by your own hands or found in a local artist’s studio—brings art and beauty to the table. There is magic in a handmade mug or wheelthrown plate, each piece unique and perfectly imperfect. Because pottery is both functional and beautiful, it transforms something as essential as eating into a meaningful ritual and artful connection.
In Bend, one place where that connection thrives is Mud Lake Studios and Supplies, a community ceramics space owned by Alicia Renner. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Renner moved to Central Oregon in 2008 to snowboard at Mt. Bachelor. “I didn’t even know where Oregon was,” she laughs. But the high desert lifestyle—hiking, swimming alpine lakes, horseback riding—won her over. Add in connection and community, and she decided to stay.
Renner is also a textile artist and creator of Howl Goods, a sustainable apparel and soft goods line made with natural materials. Her first studio was in The Poethouse in downtown Bend. In 2012 she moved over to the Old Ironworks district and had a studio in the back of Cinder Cone Clay Center founded by a close friend. “I had been running the shop side of Cinder Cone since 2017,” she reflects. “Then, in 2019, my friend decided he wanted a change.” Renner took over as the new owner, renaming it Mud Lake Studios and Supplies.
Handmade Pottery Connects Us to the Land, the Maker and the Simple Joy of Sharing Food
ARTICLE BY LYNETTE CONFER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHADOW BEAR MEDIA
Matthew Nearman, a member at Mud Lake Studios, takes advantage of the space available to create.
A retail shop space in the front of Mud Lake Studios offers a beautiful spot for members to show and sell their work.
Though not a potter herself, Renner had a vision. She refreshed the space—building shelves, improving systems, and growing membership. Today, the 2,800-square-foot studio includes 15 private studios, shared shelf space, three kilns, a glazing room, and a shop featuring supplies and members’ work.
“I inherited around 15 members when I bought the studio, but today we have 85,” says Renner. “That’s where I cap it, to keep the space welcoming and accessible. There’s a great balance and flow.” Many of those members have been with her from the start, watching the studio grow into a hub of creativity and clay.
“Not being a potter allows me to see things differently,” she explains. “I’m not jaded by thinking things must be a certain way. I can be creative with solutions, listen to members, and let the artists be artists.”
Mud Lake provides structure—tools, materials, and space— while also serving as a marketplace for artists to display and sell their work.
Studio manager Alex Gnefkow, a potter of seven years, helps keep everything running. “I handle daily tasks—loading kilns, mixing glazes, whatever keeps the makers making,” he says. “Hands down, my favorite part is the people. Community is the most important thing an artist can have. It gives an external aspect to an otherwise internal experience.”
For Renner, pottery is more than craft—it’s a grounding, tactile counterbalance to a digital world. “People learn to let go of perfection here,” she says. “They share ideas, build friendships, and stay curious.” That sense of community is perhaps the studio’s most valuable offering for those wanting to explore the art of pottery, or those experienced with clay who just crave a space that offers a human connection and space for creative expression.
From Dirt to Timeless Beauty
The process of making pottery may seem simple, but it’s nothing short of transformative. It begins with clay—earth itself—rich in minerals and fine particles. Shaped by hand and then fired in a kiln at over 1,800 degrees, something magical happens. In fact, Gnefkow explains that there are actually two firings of the clay. “The first kiln firing drives the moisture out of the clay, turning it into ceramics while the second firing gives the ceramic its final finish, making it strong and suitable for food and drink.”
What began as mud becomes something strong, beautiful, and lasting—durable enough to last thousands of years. Archaeologists still unearth pottery from civilizations long gone, each piece a small story of daily life. So, when you sip from a handmade mug or serve from a wheel-thrown plate, you’re not just using a dish—you’re carrying forward one of humanity’s oldest art forms.
Feeding Body and Soul
At its core, pottery holds, serves and presents food—a necessity of life. But while food nourishes the body, the vessel it’s served in can nourish the spirit. Serving a lovingly prepared meal in handcrafted dishware elevates the experience, reminding us that beauty and meaning live in the everyday. “Feeding people is one of the most basic ways to care for each other,” says Renner. “When you pair that with something handmade, it becomes an act of connection and art.”
"Feeding people is one of the most basic ways to care for each other. When you pair that with something handmade, it becomes an act of connection and art.”
–Alicia Renner, owner of Mud Lake Studios and Supplies
That spirit is at the heart of an upcoming Mud Lake event: a ticketed chef-and-artist collaboration dinner, the first of which will be held on September 25. Each plate, bowl, and cup will be designed and made by a studio artist, and guests will enjoy a multi-course meal before taking their handcrafted place setting home.
“We’re really excited about this new event in the works, a candlelit community dinner,” says Olivia Neumann, Mud Lake’s Community Outreach Coordinator. “Ceramics and food are so closely tied—we wanted to create an event that celebrates both.”
Chef Eva Berg, also a Mud Lake potter, will design the menu and prepare the food. Guests will gather around a long communal table set with one-of-a-kind place settings. Picture candlelight, soft music, drink pairings, and conversation. Whether hosted indoors or out, the event is meant to feel intimate, immersive, and unforgettable—something Renner hopes becomes a studio tradition.
“It’s a celebration of both culinary and ceramic artistry,” she says. “And it ensures everyone involved is compensated, connected, and recognized.”
For Renner, the event is about more than just food and pottery— it’s about honoring the creativity and effort that goes into making something from scratch, whether that’s a meal or a mug. In a culture of disposable goods and instant gratification, the slow, deliberate work of crafting something with your hands is a radical act of care.
A Community of Artists
One thing each potter agreed on—their art means the world to them, and they’re grateful for the creative space and community they’ve found at Mud Lake Studios.
For longtime potter Drake Bialecki, who runs Pacific Stone Pottery from a corner studio, the energy of the space is inspiring. “Every member has a unique style and approach,” he says. “Our gallery showcases that talent right here in Bend. Mud Lake really is a pottery hub.”
That connection resonates with Neumann, who describes the studio as “creativity, mutual respect, and embodied presence—all layered over the history of the Old Ironworks. You can feel it as soon as you walk in.”
Fellow potter Gnefkow adds that the openness of the space sets it apart: “The public is encouraged to walk through, peek into our process, and see each artist at work. That’s rare, and I think it makes Mud Lake special.”
Renner is continually inspired by the resilience of the potters around her. “They pour hours into one piece, knowing it could still break or melt in the kiln. It’s such a practice of letting go,” she reflects. “There’s a beautiful life lesson in creating pottery that might last forever.”
And when those creations—earth shaped by hand, hardened by fire—find their way to our tables, they carry food, laughter, conversation, and quiet moments. They outlast the meal and can endure beyond generations. Handcrafted ceramics are more than art or utility—they are vessels of memory and meaning, reminders of the beauty found in nourishing ourselves and one another.
seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lake Studios & Supplies
• Open seven days a week, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at 50 SE Scott Street in the Old Ironworks building.
• For details on events, classes, and workshops, sign up for their newsletter and follow them online.
MudLakeStudios.com | @mudlakestudios
Mud
Three kilns offer ample space and opportunities for Mud Lake members like Lexy Sinnott to fire pieces of pottery.
Alicia Renner, owner of Mud Lake Studios and Supplies is also the owner and creator behind Howl Goods, a line of apparel and goods made using natural materials.
Mud Lake Studios and Supplies is open
Handcrafted dishware of varying shapes, sizes and colors add beauty to your table and home.
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2 OUT OF 3 of our readers regularly purchase from our ads.
A Quick Check Can Save Your Life
40 years recommended age for first baseline mammogram
Did you receive a cancer-free ▶ mammogram reading?
Something seen on your screening mammogram? ▶
Ultrasound / MRI / Biopsy
Breast cancer takes many forms and each of these imaging modalities see different expressions of breast cancer.
◀ Did you learn that you have dense breasts?
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ABMRI (Abbreviated Breast MRI), CEM (Contrast Enhanced Mammogram) or Ultrasound as an additional screening is beneficial for individuals with dense breast tissue.
Take control of your health.
Scan the QR code to self-schedule your annual mammogram today or call (541) 382-9383
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a touch of sweet
ARTICLE BY BY MAEGEN HINDSON
Cascades Cannery Aims to Keep the Taste of Central Oregon Alive Long After the Harvest
Preserving
the Bounty
There’s a certain magic in the high desert. You can taste it in a sun-warmed cherry tomato, bursting with sweetness that only our long days, cool nights, and volcanic soils can create. You can smell it in a fresh-cut bunch of basil, its aroma sharpened by the dry mountain air. You can see it in peppers that shine from lemon yellow to plum purple, their skins glossy under our endless sky, and in garlic and onions twisting together in long braids, their papery skins rustling as if holding each other close for the cooler nights ahead.
But this abundance is fleeting, a brief, brilliant window before the cold sweeps in. Every day becomes about gathering, savoring, and preserving the flavors that define this place before they slip away.
Adding
to the savory... cherry jam over burgers. Photo credit: Maegen Hindson
From Soil to Plate
This flavor, this magic, doesn’t happen by accident. It’s born from volcanic soil rich with minerals, snowmelt-fed irrigation, and the skill of local farmers who have learned how to coax life from a place both rugged and generous. Their hard work turns seeds into something extraordinary, season after season.
Even the most careful planning can’t always keep pace with the forces of nature. A bumper crop of tomatoes might ripen all at once, a Saturday market might be quiet despite perfect weather—too often that means perfectly good food is left in the field, tilled under, or hauled away.
In Steps Cascades Cannery
Cascades Cannery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, aims to rescue surplus and imperfect produce from local farms and transform it into jams, sauces, pickles, soups, and other shelf-stable goods. These products keep the harvest alive long after the season ends, creating both nourishment and connection.
Berries abound in areas around our state and canning is the perfect way to preserve the summer's bounty. Photo credit: Brooke Olson
Preservation is both an art and a science — the use of an acid, like vinegar, to lower the pH of food, combined with heat and the right techniques, allows us to create shelf-stable foods that can be safely stored for years without refrigeration. This means we can capture peak flavor and nutrition, making it available long after the growing season has ended.
Some jars will find their way onto local store shelves and market tables, generating a sustainable income stream to keep the Cannery running. Others will be shared through foodaccess networks like The Giving Plate and the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance’s Fresh Harvest Kits program, where our marinara sauce will soon be featured in upcoming boxes, connecting families in a new way with the farms that grew the flavors in the jar.
Modeled after successful preservation initiatives in other regions, Cascades Cannery is the first of its kind here — built for the unique realities of the high desert. Our short growing season, unpredictable weather, and rural distances make food access a constant challenge. This work is designed to meet those challenges head-on, ensuring that the best of our local harvest stays right here, feeding our neighbors.
Who We Are
We’re Maegen and James, farmers who’ve worked Central Oregon soil for years, first on our own plot at Cultivate Farms, and now alongside many other growers. We’re also raising our three children here, teaching them the value of hard work, good food, and community. We’ve felt the heartbreak of watching beautiful food go unsold, and we’ve seen firsthand how much is lost simply because there wasn’t the infrastructure to save it.
This is personal to us. We believe the people of Central Oregon deserve access to the same high-quality food we grow for our family — and that farmers deserve a system that values and supports their work. Cascades Cannery is that bridge, connecting the fields to the tables in our community.
Why Now
Oregon’s climate is as unpredictable as it is beautiful. Frost can arrive as early as August, like it did this year. Abundance here is fleeting, and preserving it means working quickly, shoulder to shoulder with farmers, before the cold claims it. By acting in that narrow window, we can keep thousands of pounds of local produce
in our community, supporting farms, feeding neighbors, and celebrating the flavors that make this place special.
We’ve seen similar models transform food security in other communities. Now it’s Central Oregon’s turn — with our own farms, our own flavors, and our own challenges.
This fall, you’ll be able to taste the high desert in every jar — the sweetness of our short summer, the richness of volcanic soil, the care of the hands that grew it. And thanks to Cascades Cannery, you’ll taste it not just now, but all year long.
BendFarms.com/cascadescannery @cascadescannery
HOW TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT
This is just the beginning, and we want you to be part of it.
• Shop Local: Look for our first products this fall, debuting at the Fill Your Pantry event on November 8th at Deschutes County Fairgrounds.
• Sponsor a Batch: Your contribution can cover jars, ingredients, and processing, turning raw produce into hundreds of meals.
• Volunteer: Whether you’re a seasoned canner or simply have skills to share, there’s a place for you in the Cannery.
Maegen Hindson and James Radnich, founders of Cultivate Farms and Cascades Cannery. Photo credit: Maegen Hindson
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Discs, Delis and Fall Fun
Disc golf is quickly becoming one of the most popular recreational and competitive sports in the world, with new courses opening up every year and live broadcast tournaments. Disc golf is a fun and inexpensive sport with easily accessible courses—and free to play!
In Central Oregon, sunshine graces the crispy autumn months, creating stunning backdrops for family and dog-friendly courses in all parts of our region. Whether you’re tossing your first disc or a seasoned pro, disc golf courses offer a variety of terrain and skill level. And on the way to the course, pick up some picnic food at one of our local restaurants, food trucks or specialty grocery stores and turn a round of disc golf into full day of fun in the great outdoors.
History of Disc Golf
The evolution of casual Frisbee tossing to competitive disc golf has an interesting yet somewhat blurry history. The invention of the modern Frisbee was patented in 1966 by ‘Steady’ Ed Headrick when he was an employee at WHAM-O, the toy company that invented the Hula Hoop and Slip and Slide. Initially, Frisbee was a lighthearted game that involved tossing a cylindrical disc back and forth at the park, beach or as something for dogs to chase.
In the late sixties, the idea of turning Frisbee into a golf-like game took shape when two enthusiasts in Thousand Oaks, California shared their ideas about what they called ‘frisbee golf’ – a game with similar rules and layouts
ARTICLE BY JULIE E. FURNAS
as regular golf. Their casual games evolved into more structured competitions and the catching basket or Disc Golf Pole, patented by Headrick in 1975, became part of the standard equipment. Backed by WHAM-O, early frisbee golf events began to garner public attention. Similar to traditional golf, frisbee golf players must navigate nine or eighteen ‘holes’ aiming to complete the course with as few throws as possible. While there was very little written on the significance of frisbee golf, it played an important role in the development of disc golf as a recognized sport. Even before official disc golf equipment was being designed, disc golf was being played informally in places like upstate New York and was finally recognized as an organized sport in 1974.
How to Turn a Round of Disc Golf into a Full-Fledged Autumn Outing
Interest in the game grew rapidly amongst competitive frisbee players and in the summer of 1975, Headrick—who was now an executive at WHAM-O— began to reassess the value that disc golf could hold as a sport and for business. That same year, Headrick installed the first official disc golf course at Oak Grove Park in Pasadena, California, complete with the now iconic Disc Golf Pole Holes.
In April of 1976, Headrick founded the Disc Golf Association, earning his place as the official ‘Father of Disc Golf’. Headrick’s vision introduced a sport that was virtually unknown in America and Canada. WHAM-O then incorporated disc golf as an event in the national tour of qualifying tournaments for the World Frisbee Championships, further boosting the sport’s profile. This move introduced disc golf to thousands of frisbee players in North America and courses were installed all over both countries. The sport’s popularity surged again during the COVID 19 pandemic as people sought new ways to gather outdoors and stay active. With its minimal, inexpensive equipment, natural social distancing and welcoming community, disc golf quickly became a go-to activity for all ages.
Central Oregon Disc Golf Courses
Disc Golf courses in Central Oregon are uniquely shaped by the beauty and diverse terrain of the high desert. Players in the region can experience everything from wide-open desert fairways lined with lava rock and sage brush to towering ponderosa pine trees on forested courses. Each course offers its own distinct challenges and stunning views, making it an ideal location for casual playing or competitive tournaments. Most courses are family and dog friendly, which offers a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the Central Oregon lifestyle. Want a beer while you play? Try the mini course at Bevel Brewing on the east side of town – it’s a fun atmosphere to practice that throw!
Disc Golf Etiquette
• Wait your turn: The player farthest from the basket throws first; honor the order based on previous hole scores.
• Don’t distract other players: Stay still and quiet while other players are throwing their discs.
• Keep the pace: If a team behind you is playing faster, let them pass and try to catch up.
• Respect the course: Pick up trash and dog poop on the course and don’t muddy up the tee pads.
• Be safe: Always make sure your throwing line is clear of people and animals before your turn.
• Be honest: Keep accurate scoring and use the honor system.
• Control your kids and dogs: Kids and dogs need to be well-behaved on any course. Never let them run free and bother other teams.
• Help find discs: Show good sportsmanship by helping teammates find lost discs.
• Be kind to new players: Encouragement is part of the game! For more info on local courses, go to: VisitCentralOregon.com
Local Favorites for Great Picnic Food
• Market of Choice: With a huge deli, salad bar, bakery and awesome beer and wine selection, there’s plenty of variety for the whole family to enjoy.
• Wild Petal Provisions – For delicious charcuterie, customize a board loaded with meats, cheeses and provisions like olives, nuts and spreads.
• Wich Doctor – for yummy sandwiches and seasonal salads, Wich Doctor at the Pineshed has delicious fall picnic food.
• Redmond Smokehouse – operating since 1940, Redmond Smokehouse has a variety of family meals and snacks to choose from.
• Active Culture – With its healthy acai bowls, kids meals, smoothies and mini grocery store, Active Culture is the perfect spot for a food and drink pick up.
• Sisters Meat and Smokehouse –With locations in Redmond and Sisters, you will find some of the best sandwiches around, along with amazing charcuterie.
excited to offer the first AI-driven, non-invasive hair consultation at Deschutes Dermatology! With this cuttingedge technology, our providers can take a personalized, comprehensive approach to hair restoration. From advanced scalp imaging to customized topical treatments informed by your unique genetic profile, we’re here to support your hair restoration journey.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon invites you to the 28th Annual Comedy for Kids’ Sake, an evening of laughter, community and making a BIG difference for kids. Presented by Hayden Homes, this ticketed event includes a live and silent auction, raffle, cocktail hour, three-course meal and comedy show featuring Tyler Boeh. Proceeds from the event support mentoring for local youth. BBBSCO.org
OCTOBER 3RD-5TH Bend Fall Festival
Downtown Bend | 5:00 PM
First Interstate Bank presents the Bend Fall Festival where “Fall comes to life!” Celebrate fall fun for all ages including browsing over 80 artisan booths, crafts for kids, music, food and beverages and family fun activities. This annual tradition brings the best of the PNW culture right to the heart of downtown Bend. BendFallFestival.com
OCTOBER 8TH-12TH Bend Film Festival
Downtown Bend | 2:00 PM
On the second weekend of October, Bend is transformed from a recreational haven into a small town possessed by the film industry’s soul. The 22nd Annual Bend Film Festival brings the work of the most talented independent filmmakers to Central Oregon. Downtown theaters, lecture sites, music rooms and party venues spark with the energy excited by the overwhelming presence of cinema. BendFilm.org
Dr. Richard Mac Donell, MD
Founded in 2006 by Dr. Mac Donell, MyMD is now the most established, premier concierge practice in Bend.
Your health matters to us.
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.
Membership includes:
• 24-hour phone access
• Same or next-day appointments
• Minimal to no wait times
• House calls available
• More!
“As a physician,I know the difference in quality of medical care and the doctors and staff at MyMD Personal Medicine exceed my expectations.”
- Dr. Sachs, MD, retired Pulmonologist and Stanford University Medical School Professor, Bend MYMD MEMBER SINCE 2023
CONTINUED
OCTOBER 17TH-19TH
The 20-Dollar Art Show
Extravaganza
High Desert Museum | 5:30 PM
Bend’s biggest little art show is back! Featuring over 10,000 pieces of original art by established and emerging local artists, this year’s show is presented by Bright Place Gallery. Each mini masterpiece can be yours for $20. Kickoff celebration begins Oct. 17 with music, entertainment, food and drink. Over the next two days, more than 1,000 new works will be displayed daily. HighDesertMuseum.org
OCTOBER 25TH
Happy Girls Sisters Run
FivePine Lodge Event Center, 1021 Desperado Trail, Sisters | 9:00 AM
Enjoy some bonding time with women of all ages. Choose between the all-women’s trail half marathon featuring single-track in the Deschutes National Forest (on the Peterson Ridge Trail system) or take part in the 5K and 10K road race that winds through scenic downtown Sisters. All races cross the same finish line, welcoming all to enjoy the beautiful FivePine campus. HappyGirlsRun.com
OCTOBER 31ST
Bend Witches Paddle
Riverbend Park | 4:00 PM
Calling all witches and warlocks! Grab your costume, paddle board and broom and meet at Riverbend Park for a fun filled night on the river. Donations are not required, but encouraged. Diapers, wipes, books, toys and non-perishable foods, along with cash donations, will be accepted at the event table. All donations benefit MountainStar Family Relief Nursery’s work in our community to prevent child abuse and neglect. MtStar.org
