In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

🍸🍹💃Round up of Cinco de Mayo celebrations!

❤️‍🩹🌿 A Smarter Approach to Wellness!

💖Treat Yo’ Mama

📅Save The Date Section

🎶Redmond Community Choir Presents "Celebrating the Great American Songbook"

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🚵‍♀️ Oregon State Parks Expand E-Bike Access Starting July 1

📰Jeld-Wen Closing Chiloquin Doors Plant, 128 Jobs Lost

🍺🥇Five Central Oregon Breweries Win Medals at 2025 World Beer Cup

📰Regional News

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

❄Deschutes County Crews Tackle 8 Feet of Snow on Cascade Lakes Highway

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News 

🚗🔥Vehicle Fire in Juniper Ridge Displaces Occupant, Sends One to Hospital

🚨Crime News

🚨Illegal Marijuana Operation Shut Down in Bend; Over 50 Pounds Seized

📰Community News

Have some news or know of news for our Community News Segment - share it with C.O. Local Buzz

😁 MEME of the Day

Good Morning!

BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon?

Cinco De Mayo 

Here’s a roundup of Cinco de Mayo 2025 celebrations in Central Oregon, featuring food, music, dance, and family-friendly fun:

🎉 Bend Celebrations

River’s Place – Live Music & Tamales

• When: Monday, May 5, 6:00–8:00 PM

• What: Live music by Estrellas, handmade tamales, elotes, and specialty cocktails.

• Where: 787 NE Purcell Blvd, Bend

• Details: A festive outdoor event with food trucks and drinks. (Bend Source)

Hola! Downtown – Salsa Night

• When: Saturday, May 3, 7:30–10:30 PM

• What: Salsa dance lesson followed by live music from BENDiciones Salsa Orchestra.

• Where: 920 NW Bond St, Bend

• Details: All-ages, no cover charge. (LATIN DANCE BEND)

Monkless Brasserie – Tacos & Beer Pairing

• When: Monday, May 5, 11:30 AM–9:00 PM

• What: Taco and beer flight pairings, margarita specials, and scenic river views.

• Where: 803 SW Industrial Way, Bend

• Details: A relaxed celebration with great food and drinks. (AllEvents)

Currents at Riverhouse – “Cinco de Monday”

• When: Monday, May 5, 4:00–10:00 PM

• What: Brisket tamales, elote bowls, and a new margarita menu.

• Where: 3075 N Hwy 97, Bend

• Details: Riverside dining with Tex-Mex flavors.

Silver Moon Brewing – DJ & Tacos

• When: Monday, May 5

• What: Latin food from Tablas Mobile Cuisine and music by DJ Cruz.

• Where: 24 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend

• Details: An evening of food, brews, and energetic music.

🌮 Redmond Celebrations

Redmond Downtown Park – Cultural Festival

• When: Sunday, May 4, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM

• What: Live music, traditional food, artisan market, and family activities.

• Where: 16101 NE Redmond Way, Redmond

• Details: Hosted by Centro Cultural Mexicano; a free, family-friendly event.

Wild Ride Brewing – Paint Party

• When: Monday, May 5, 6:00–8:00 PM

• What: Guided painting session with food and drinks available.

• Where: 332 SW 5th St, Redmond

• Details: All ages welcome; tickets required.

Bangers & Brews – Family Fiesta

• When: Monday, May 5, 11:00 AM–8:00 PM

• What: Piñatas, food specials, drinks, and free meals for veterans.

• Where: Redmond location

• Details: Family and dog-friendly celebration.

🌟 Additional Celebrations

• La Rosa Mexican Kitchen (Bend): 20th annual Cinco de Mayo party with giveaways and specials.

• Campfire Hotel (Bend): Dance party with DJ SOLO, pool access, and food/drink specials.

• Bar Rio (Bend): Festivities with DJ Giancarlo and a variety of margaritas.

• SCP Hotel Redmond: Cinco de Mayo Paint Party; pre-registration required.

🌿 A Smarter Approach to Wellness!

Mothers Day Event

River's Place in Bend, Oregon, is set to host its annual "Treat Yo' Mama" event on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025. This festive celebration offers a delightful mix of local artisan vendors, live music, and a curated rosé wine tasting experience, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for families to honor the special women in their lives.

Event Highlights:

• Local Artisan Market: Explore a diverse selection of handcrafted goods, including jewelry, home décor, and unique gifts from talented local makers.

• Live Music: Enjoy performances by local musicians, providing a lively soundtrack to the day's festivities.

• Rosé Wine Tasting: Savor a variety of rosé wines, perfect for toasting to moms everywhere.

• Family-Friendly Atmosphere: With a spacious outdoor area, food trucks, and a welcoming environment, it's an ideal spot for families to gather and celebrate.

For more details and to stay updated on the event schedule, visit River's Place Live Music.

Coming up

Redmond Community Choir Presents "Celebrating the Great American Songbook"

Mark your calendar for a musical afternoon as the Redmond Community Choir presents their spring concert on Sunday, May 18th at 4 PM. This special performance, "Celebrating the Great American Songbook," will feature the 75-member choir singing timeless classics from legends like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and more.

Adding to the program, the choir will perform Bob Chilcott’s "A Little Jazz Mass," accompanied by a stellar rhythm section of Central Oregon musicians and special guest artist Richard Tuttobene on piano.

The concert will be held at Redmond High School and is free to the public, with donations gladly accepted. The Redmond Community Choir is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the COCC Community Education program.

For more information, visit redmondcommunitychoir.org.

LOCAL EVENTS

HAVE an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Deschutes Public Library Events

Local News…

Oregon State Parks Expand E-Bike Access Starting July 1

Beginning July 1, 2025, electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) will be permitted on a broader range of trails and beaches within Oregon State Parks, following recent rule changes approved by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission.

Under the new regulations, e-bikes will be allowed on all multi-use trails where traditional bicycles are permitted, unless specifically restricted. This marks a significant shift from previous rules that limited e-bike use to trails at least eight feet wide. Additionally, e-bikes will be permitted on wet sand areas of the ocean shore, provided there are no specific prohibitions in place.

The updated rules align with Oregon's adoption of a three-class e-bike classification system, which categorizes e-bikes based on their speed capabilities and whether they have a throttle. This classification aims to provide clarity and consistency in e-bike regulations across the state.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) emphasized that these changes are intended to balance increased access for e-bike users with the safety and enjoyment of all park visitors. The new rules include clearer language regarding safe operation, particularly around other visitors, pets, children, and equestrians.

For more information on the updated e-bike regulations and to view specific trail and beach access guidelines, visitors are encouraged to consult the OPRD website.

Jeld-Wen Closing Chiloquin Doors Plant, 128 Jobs Lost

Jeld-Wen announced it is permanently closing its Chiloquin Doors plant, affecting 128 employees. Most workers will finish by June 30, with a small team staying through December 1. The company cited a shift in production to other facilities and said the closure is part of a long-term strategy. The plant was a key employer in the rural community.

Five Central Oregon Breweries Win Medals at 2025 World Beer Cup

Five Central Oregon breweries earned international recognition at the 2025 World Beer Cup, bringing home medals from the prestigious competition held in Indianapolis. The event featured 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries and cideries across 49 countries.

Local Winners

• Deschutes Brewery (Bend and Portland): Secured a gold medal for its honey beer “Hachimitsu Mai” and a bronze for the barrel-aged “Sensationator” .

• Sunriver Brewing Co. (Sunriver): Won gold in the American Wheat Beer category for its flagship “Fuzztail” .

• Bend Brewing Co. (Bend): Took bronze in the Contemporary American-Style Lager category for its “Built to Chill” .

• Monkless Belgian Ales (Bend): Earned silver in the Belgian-Style Dubbel category for “Dubbel or Nothing” .

• Wild Ride Brewing (Redmond): Received silver in the American-Style Lager category for “Cole’s Light Lager” .

Oregon breweries collectively secured 24 medals at the competition, underscoring the state's reputation for brewing excellence .

The World Beer Cup, often referred to as the "Olympics of Beer," is organized by the Brewers Association and is considered one of the most prestigious beer competitions globally. The 2025 edition featured 117 categories, including beer and, for the first time, cider.

For a complete list of winners and more information, visit the official World Beer Cup website.

Regional News…

 City of Bend Events

Deschutes County Crews Tackle 8 Feet of Snow on Cascade Lakes Highway

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- While Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road remain closed, snow removal efforts are well underway, Deschutes County Road Department officials said Friday.

Crews are reporting more than eight feet of snow on the Cascade Lakes Highway south of Devils Lake. 

The Road Department says the roads won’t be open to traffic until sometime prior to Memorial Day, but we wanted to share footage of our crews hard at work. The public is encouraged to check the Road Department website for updates.

Fire & Rescue News…

Crime News…

Illegal Marijuana Operation Shut Down in Bend; Over 50 Pounds Seized

A Bend man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities shut down an illegal marijuana grow operation and seized more than 50 pounds of processed marijuana from a property south of town.

Detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement (DCIMME) team, along with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team, executed a search warrant around 11 p.m. on April 30 at a residence in the 17000 block of Kasserman Drive. The investigation, which spanned a short period, focused on the unlawful manufacture, possession, and distribution of marijuana.

Carlos Manuel Torres, 37, was contacted outside the home and informed of the search warrant. Inside, detectives discovered more than 50 pounds of processed marijuana, over 400 grams of marijuana concentrates, roughly 50 growing marijuana plants, and materials commonly used for distribution—such as packaging supplies, scales, and mailing boxes. Investigators also found evidence indicating the drugs were being shipped through the mail.

Torres was issued a criminal citation and will face charges in Deschutes County Circuit Court, including unlawful manufacture and possession of marijuana, and attempted distribution—each a Class C felony under Oregon law.

The investigation was conducted with assistance from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The CODE team is a multi-jurisdictional task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and numerous Central Oregon law enforcement agencies.

Authorities say the coordinated effort is part of a broader strategy to disrupt illegal drug operations in the region.

Would you like a shortened version for newsletter formatting as well?

 😎 Just sayin

Follow us on facebook