Polestar - Discovery West News Fall-Winter 2024

BEND, OREGON FALL-WINTER 2024

Welcoming Discovery Corner to the Neighborhood After years of planning, Discovery Corner is now open! Officially opened in October 2024, it is the heart of the neighborhood. With art installations, new businesses, and gathering spaces, there’s lots to love about the plaza!

Discovery Corner was welcomed to the neighborhood with a two-day celebratory event in October. On a Friday night, residents and visitors gathered in the plaza for food, drinks, and open house tours before the big event of the night: a spectacular drone show depicting cosmic scenes in anticipation of the next day’s guest of honor, former NASA astronaut and first Latina in space, Dr. Ellen Ochoa.

Dr. Ochoa made her arrival on Saturday after spending the night at Discovery Corner’s own luxury vacation rentals, Aerie by AvantStay, located on the second and third floors of the live-work townhomes that surround the plaza. The former Director of the Johnson Space Center gave a few brief remarks before signing books and bookmarks, taking photos, and chatting with attendees. As the namesake of Ochoa Drive, Dr. Ochoa is honored throughout the plaza with celestial-themed art installations and colorful illustrated lamppost banners.

In addition to Dr. Ochoa’s visit, the midday celebration featured several other fun activities, including live music, food vendors, open house tours, and plenty of kid-friendly programming. Event goers also got the chance to “meet” six other Women of Discovery who were stationed throughout the

plaza, eager to share stories of their adventures and accomplishments.

Even if you missed out on The Launch, there are many upcoming opportunities to enjoy Discovery Corner. Several retail shops and businesses are in various stages of opening in the ground floor suites of the live-work townhomes, including Bluebird Skin Therapy and Aesthetics, Put A Cork In It winebar, and a grab-and-go version of Sparrow Bakery called the Sparrow Mercado. Keep an eye out for these businesses and more as they make Discovery Corner their home!

In the meantime, Discovery Corner is the perfect place to gather with friends and family. The plaza features a circular design to facilitate community, and at the center, a sculptural fire pit features a nearly six-foot 3D interpretation of the Discovery West logo crafted by Oregon artist Jenny Ellsworth of Fairy Forge. The firepit will turn on at select times, bringing an atmosphere of warmth and coziness to the area.

“Mechanical Waves,” a series of mosaic murals by Bend’s Rochelle Rose-Schueler of Wild Rose Artworks, decorate the vertical concrete surfaces of the firepit, seating area, and planter walls. These mosaics depict sound waves and tectonic activity, allowing for reflection and wonder.

With stunning art installations, upcoming businesses, and 11,500 square feet of space, we anticipate that Discovery Corner will become the go-to spot for residents. Whether you’re interested in attending a seasonal neighborhood event or just swinging by for a snack after a bike ride at Phil’s trail, stop by Discovery Corner to explore what it means to live in Discovery West.

Visit Harcourts The Garner Group Real Estate at their new location in Discovery Corner Goodbye Pod, hello Discovery Corner! After years of working out of the Discovery Pod, a tiny but mighty sales headquarters for Discovery West, Harcourts The Garner Group Real Estate has made the move to a new office. Their new Discovery West headquarters is conveniently located in Discovery Corner, just two blocks west from their former location at the Pod. "Since 2008 in NorthWest Crossing and since the beginning of Discovery West, our agency has had the honor of representing both [the developer] and most of the builders in both neighborhoods," said Sara LaFaver, co-owner of Harcourts The Garner Group. "We are thrilled to move our office from The Pod on Skyline Ranch Road to now occupy a permanent space at The Corner, in the heart of Discovery West!"

While we’ll miss the Pod, we’re elated that Harcourts has made their home in Discovery Corner. Although the location has changed, Harcourts’ commitment to providing knowledgeable and friendly service to neighborhood explorers remains the same. Stop by at 1204 NW Skyline Ranch Road to connect with builders, review listings, preview floorplans, or just to say hi and welcome our brokers to Discovery Corner!

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Meet the Neighbors: The Kennedy-Smith Family In Discovery West, we love showcasing the talents of our local artists.

That’s why we’re so excited to feature artist Dustin Smith and his family in our neighborhood spotlight. Drawn to Bend for its outdoor recreation, Smith and his wife Kristi Kennedy, along with their two children, put their roots down in Discovery West.

How long have you lived in Bend & Discovery West?

Our family moved to Bend in June of 2021. We lived out of Air BNB’s and campsites for five months while our home was being completed. We officially closed and moved into our new home in Discovery West at the end of October 2021.

What brought you to the area?

A love of the outdoors, quick and easy access to hiking, mountain biking, and snow sports were the primary reasons we moved to Bend. We have family in Portland and Medford, so Bend was the perfect spot, right in the middle. It’s quick for us to go visit them, and Bend is a great place for family and friends to come visit. We were also looking to get more living space for our family and studio space for Dustin’s art and design business.

Why did you choose Discovery West?

When we started looking for homes in early 2020, there were quite a few homes available. But once we sold our home in San Francisco in May of 2021, the market had changed, there were very few homes on the market, especially in the modern style we love. The prices had also gone up dramatically. We were a bit frustrated, and concerned about finding a place to live as our time was running out in our current home before our buyers were set to take ownership and move in. Fortunately, our realtor floated the idea of buying a home-in-progress in Discovery West. It wasn’t even on the map at that point, and we hadn’t heard of it. We were shown renderings of a home on Blodgett, loved what we saw, read about the neighborhood and it hit almost everything we were looking for.

What do you like best about your new home?

We love the modern style and design of our home. Its open floor plan and three car garage give us ample living space. All the finishes we selected during the building process make it uniquely our own. We love the wellplanned community and its location with easy access to a wide variety of trails and outdoor amenities. The area gives you the feeling of being “in the

We live on the edge of awesomeness.” country” but within walking distance of NorthWest Crossing and all it has to offer. We are also in close proximity to great schools for our daughter, who currently attends Summit as a Junior.

What do you like best (so far) about living in Discovery West? Bend?

We live on the edge of awesomeness. Easy access to amazing outdoor experiences is important to us, and one of the best things about Discovery West, and Bend overall. But it helps that we’re also within walking or biking distance of great food and entertainment. We’ve also made some amazing friends often due to a shared interest in the outdoors, and the fact that most in this neighborhood are transplants from a range of urban areas on the West Coast. Some of our best friends live right down the block, and it’s easy to find someone nearby that we have a lot in common with.

Who are the members of your family?

Dustin, Kristi, Deegan (21), Ruby (16), and our Australian Shepherd, Shadow. Our oldest son, Khaner lives in Medford with his fiancee and their three children.

Any hobbies, activities your family is interested in?

Dustin is also an Instagram influencer in the offroad and adventure space via his account @calrunr. He raced and coached mountain bike downhill for a decade, and loves snowboarding, hiking and camping. Kristi loves the outdoors, but her favorite place is on the yoga mat. Deegan attends U of O, and works at Thump on York when he’s home in Bend, and has become quite the coffee aficionado. Ruby is living her best life as a Junior at Summit High School and is a member of the girl’s wrestling team.

Explore the Women of Discovery Walk!

Strolling through Discovery Corner, you may notice the bronze medallions lining the surrounding streets. Nestled in pairs under the shade of the trees bordering the plaza, these medallions were generously donated by the Discovery West Builders Guild. Each set of medallions features one of our nineteen Women of Discovery who have made significant discoveries throughout history. One medallion of each pair depicts an image of the trailblazing woman, while the other provides a brief overview of her incredible accomplishments.

From world travelers to pioneering physicists, these remarkable women have saved lives and illuminated the world around us, setting a shining example for girls everywhere. Ann Bancroft, a University of Oregon alum, braved brutal conditions to become the first woman to complete expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica. British socialite Lady Hester Stanhope defied expectations and led an archaeological expedition in Israel. Pioneering bacteriologist Pearl Kendrick saved countless lives with her contributions to the development of the whooping cough vaccine.

To learn more about Bancroft, Stanhope, Kendrick, and all of our remarkable Women of Discovery, start at the west end of Ochoa Drive or the east end of Skyline Ranch Road and follow the sidewalk. Be sure to explore both sides of the street to see them all! Or simply check them out when you’re in the plaza to discover the inspiring legacies behind the fascinating women whose names adorn our street signs. We hope their stories will inspire you to dream big, too!

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Discovery Corner Comes to Life With Stunning Art Installations If you’ve visited Discovery Corner recently, you may have noticed the impressive art pieces adorning the plaza. In line with the neighborhood’s theme of discovery and its championing of the Women of Discovery, two talented female artists were commissioned to create pieces to enhance the area. These incredible women dedicated countless hours to designing, creating, and installing their artwork. Now that the plaza is open, it’s the perfect time to visit and appreciate their hard work and artistry!

Pinecone Firepit Sculpture, by Oregon City artist Jenny Ellsworth The centerpiece of the plaza is a sculptural pinecone fabricated by Oregon City artist Jenny Ellsworth of Fairy Forge. “When I saw Discovery West’s 2D logo, I wanted to turn that into a 3D sculpture,” Ellsworth said.

And that’s just what she did, meticulously crafting the sculpture from steel plates. Now completed, the sculpture stands at nearly six feet tall and weighs over 600 pounds. Six “fins” protrude from the sculpture, giving guests different views from various angles. The sculpture is set within a concrete firepit, and fire burns within the negative space.

As the centerpiece of Discovery Corner, Ellsworth’s sculpture serves as a gathering place for residents and visitors to enjoy a pastry from the soon-to-open Sparrow Mercado or as respite from the cold weather.

Ellsworth hopes that the sculpture will lead to reflection on the natural world. “I hope visitors see it as kind of an educational moment,” she says. “And they can look into the vision that Discovery West has for this community.”

“Mechanical Waves,” a series of mosaic murals by Bend artist Rochelle Rose-Schueler Adorning the vertical surfaces throughout the plaza are a series of mosaic murals, crafted by Rochelle Rose-Schueler of Wild Rose Artworks. “When I was commissioned to do this, I wanted to continue with the theme of discovery,” Schueler said. “And with my background in science, I decided to do discovery through science.” Schueler holds degrees in forestry and hydrology; her academic background and artistic pursuits made it easy for her to synthesize science and wonder in her art.

“The seven murals that I’ve made are reference to mechanical waves,” Schueler

said. Weaving through the landscape, her mosaics feature subtle tones of brown, red, gold, and blue in spiraling patterns. These tile mosaics can be seen surrounding the firepit, on the concrete seating in the plaza, and on the planter walls.

As a resident of Discovery West, Rochelle found this project to be especially meaningful.

“I’m really happy to get to do this project in my neighborhood and happy to be able to share my art with all my neighbors,” she said.

If you haven’t already, be sure to stop

by Discovery Corner and check out the remarkable artwork. The intricate and bold pieces perfectly embody the theme of discovery and give the plaza its own unique sense of place, christening the area as one of the go-to spots for residents for community engagement and quiet reflection. We hope you love the artwork and are inspired by the artists’ creativity and dedication.

To discover more about the art in Discovery Corner, as well as the many other art installations throughout the neighborhood, be sure to check out our audio tour.

Audio Discoveries: Discovery West’s Audio Art Tour Have you ever wondered about the inspiration behind artworks? In Discovery West, we’re fortunate to have a wealth of talented artists who have enriched our community with their creativity. We’re excited to announce Audio Discoveries: Discovery West’s own audio art tour. Scan the QR codes on or near our art installations to hear from our artists in their own words. Discover the stories behind the incredible artworks in Discovery Corner and throughout the neighborhood!

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Skipper’s Favorite Winter Playgrounds Hi there, it’s Skipper! As Discovery West’s official spokesdog, I’m your go-to pup for all the pawsome adventures in Central Oregon.

Winter is one of my favorite seasons, and I can’t wait to share my favorite places to play in the snow. Whether you’re a fellow dog or a human looking for the perfect spot to bring your furry friend, I’ve got you covered! Here are my top picks for winter fun in and around Bend: Wanoga Sno-Park One of the most popular locations for locals and tourists alike, Wanoga Sno-Park is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors with your pup. Go for an adventure on a two-mile cross-country ski trail maintained by DogPac, and let your loyal friend enjoy the fresh air!

Good Dog (Rimrock Trailhead) Known as Good Dog Park, this place lives up to its name! As one of Bend’s best off-leash areas, it’s my go-to spot all year long.

A winter wonderland, this park is spacious with varied terrain, making it a fur-tastic place for my friends and I to frolic in the snow.

Mount Bachelor Dog Park Mount Bachelor is the premier destination for all things snow in Central Oregon, so why not bring your loyal pup along? Mount Bachelor’s dog park is the only off-leash area on the mountain and provides a fun, groomed place to play.

Bessie Butte For those who appreciate a good hike even in the winter, check out Bessie Butte! This short but steep hike rewards you with beautiful views of the winter landscape. One of the High Desert’s hidden gems, the Butte is perfect for dogs and their humans who enjoy a peaceful getaway.

Discovery Park Dog Park Of course, I can’t forget my favorite park! When the highways are too icy to drive, head to Discovery Park right here in west Bend.

It’s the perfect place to meet friends and neighbors on a walk with my human. The 1.6-acre dog park is fully fenced, providing a safe environment for me to run and play. The snowy landscape adds an extra layer of fun, turning the park into a giant playground.

A Few Tips for Winter Adventures Follow Leash Laws: While some areas are off-leash, some require dogs to be on leashes. Make sure to always bring a leash and follow all regulations.

Know Your Dog’s Limits: Winter can be tough on us dogs, so make sure your pup is comfortable and not overexerting themselves. And if your canine companion tends to get a little aggressive, make sure you’re aware of the signs of when it’s time to head home.

Bright Beginnings: Skylark Children’s Academy Opens Adding to the wealth of great schools in close proximity to Discovery West, Skylark Children’s Academy opened this fall.

Discovery West’s first preschool, Skylark is located a short distance from Miller Elementary, Pacific Crest Middle School, and Summit High.

In September, the preschool welcomed students aged 12 months through five years to the brand-new 10,000 sq ft building. The outdoor play yard spans 12,000 sq ft, featuring developmentallyappropriate play structures with huge shade canopies and flexible rubber flooring.

In line with the school’s premier childcare program, Skylark offers special enrichment programs incorporated in tuition, including a Music and Movement class and a Children’s Yoga class, both taught by specialists. The preschool also provides opportunities for educational onsite field trips, the first being a visit from Think Wild, Central Oregon’s wildlife rehabilitation center.

An exciting addition to the neighborhood, Skylark promises to live up to its motto: “Empowering little learners – inspiring big leaders.” Visit their website, skylarkchildrensacademy.com, to learn more about enrollment opportunities.

Join Our List Stay connected with all things Discovery West!

Join our list to receive neighborhood news, alerts about new home listings, community events, and more. Don’t miss out on the latest updates—sign up today!

Leave No Trace: Stay on trails when applicable, keep the parks clean by picking up after us dogs, and respect the wildlife.

Winter in Bend is a magical time, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than with your furry friends! So bundle up, grab your leash, and head out to these fantastic spots, and be sure to check out what our friends at VisitBend suggest for even more winter fun. See you out there!

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