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🌮🌯🏄‍♂️Longboard Louie's closing after 25 years | 🏘📊Central Oregon Market Report

Issue #341

 

Good morning, Central Oregon!

From lightning-sparked wildfires and a new Bend bus route to major housing developments and a bittersweet farewell to Longboard Louie’s 🌯💔, there’s plenty going on around the High Desert. We’ve got updates on youth programs, local heroes, crime, fire activity, and your go-to calendar for events and roadwork.

📸 Got a great sunrise or sunset pic? We’d love to feature local views in an upcoming issue — send to this email [email protected] with your best shots from around Central Oregon!

Scroll on for the latest headlines, today’s meme, real estate updates, and a shoutout to our awesome sponsors.

Let’s dive in! 🗞️👇

In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

 🧵 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (50th Anniversary)

🌼 30th Annual High Desert Garden Tour - July 19th

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🔎Internal investigation into Deschutes County Sheriff’s Captain William Bailey underway over radio interview

🌩Lightning storms spark fires across Central Oregon

🚍Cascades East Transit to launch new NE Bend weekday Route 8 on a free pilot basis next week

👧Camp Fire of Central Oregon launches largest hiring campaign in its history amid youth program growth

🌮🌯🏄‍♂️Longboard Louie's closing after 25 years

🚒⛑️Fire & Rescue…

🚨Crime News…

🗺📰Regional News…

🔥2000-acre Elk Fire in Klamath County forces evacuations; state fire marshal sends five task forces

🤝📰Community News…

🏆Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Corps honored with state fire marshal’s Silver Sparky Award

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🏘 Real Estate News

🏘📊Central Oregon Market Report by Reed Melton

📰💲Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver secures $2.1 million grant, kicks off final fundraising phase for Park View infrastructure

📰Astral and Roost launch master-lease housing pilot with 134-unit “Joule” workforce development in NE Bend

😍Sponsors

😁 MEME of the Day

 

 🧠 Trivia Time: Hike Central Oregon Edition

Which of the following hiking trails in Central Oregon features a lava field, an alpine lake, and a historic wagon road from the 1800s?

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 Answer: C) Hand Lake Loop

Expanded Answer:
The Hand Lake Loop is a 2.9-mile trail near Highway 242 that weaves through lava fields created by the South Belknap Volcano, passes by the scenic Hand Lake and its rustic three-sided shelter, and follows a segment of the old McKenzie Wagon Road from 1871. It's a mild hike with stunning views of the Three Sisters and Belknap Crater, making it a favorite for families and history lovers alike.

Good Morning!

Thank you Darlene for this Fantastic Photo! 🤌

Sunrise at Ochoco Reservoir

 BEND

SISTERS

REDMOND

PRINEVILLE

 

 

 

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

Featured Events 

🧵 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (50th Anniversary)

🎟️ Friday, July 11 – Opening Night Reception

  • 🕕 6:30–8:30 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM)

  • 📍 Sisters High School Auditorium (1700 W McKinney Butte Rd)

  • 🎉 “A Town Covered in Quilts” – 50th Anniversary Reception
    Celebrate five decades of quilting in Sisters with Jean and Valori Wells.
    🎟️ More Info & Tickets (available for pickup July 7–11, 10 AM–2 PM or at the door July 11, 4–6 PM)

🧶 Saturday, July 12 – Outdoor Quilt Show (Main Event)

  • 🕘 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

  • 📍 Throughout Downtown Sisters
    The streets of Sisters become a colorful open-air gallery with over 1,300 quilts from quilters ages 10 to 92!
    Free and open to the public.
    🔗 Show Details

🎙️ Sunday, July 13 – “Save It for Sunday!” with Karen Stone

  • 🕘 9:00 AM & 1:00 PM – Walking Tours

  • 🕙 10:00 AM – Lecture with Karen Stone

  • 📍 FivePine Lodge Conference Center (1021 E Desperado Trail)
    Enjoy a more intimate wrap-up day with a lecture and guided tours of featured quilts.
    🎟️ Tickets: $35 for lecture, $25 for tours

✂️ Week-Long Lead-up: Quilter’s Affair Workshops (July 7–11)

  • 📍 The Stitchin’ Post
    Weeklong classes and workshops in quilting, fiber arts, and design.
    🔗 Workshop Info

🧭 Planning Tips:

  • 🚗 Arrive early Saturday—parking and seating fill quickly.

  • 📸 Bring your camera—Main & Pine Streets will be lined with vibrant quilt displays, including “Golden Memories” installations.

  • 💰 Support the show by attending ticketed events or making a donation at soqs.org.

  • 🍽️ Local restaurants fill fast—consider making reservations in advance.

  • 🧵 Pop-up booths & vendors offer fabric, gifts, and handmade goods all weekend long.

🌼 30th Annual High Desert Garden Tour


Get ready to explore six beautiful private gardens across Bend during this self-guided tour celebrating 30 years of high desert gardening inspiration! 🌿

🗓 Saturday, July 19
 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Various locations around Bend
🎟 $15/person (18 & under free)
🔗 Full Details & Tickets
📞 Info: 541-548-6088

Presented by OSU Extension & Master Gardeners, this is a must-attend for garden lovers, designers, and anyone who enjoys a summer day among blooms and beauty!

📅 Events: July 7–13, 2025 - Bend

🎤 Monday, July 7

🍺 Bridge 99 Brewery (63063 Layton Ave, Bend)
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
Monday Night Trivia (Useless Knowledge Bowl)
🎟️ Free
🔗 Bridge 99 Events

🍔 Northside Bar & Grill (62860 Boyd Acres Rd, Bend)
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
🎶 Tom Sawyer (singer-songwriter)
🎟️ Free Event Info

🎨 Tuesday, July 8

🍺 Bridge 99 Brewery (63063 Layton Ave, Bend)
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
📚 Ladies Book Swap & Meetup
🎟️ Free
🔗 AllEvents Info

🎨 Wednesday, July 9

🍻 Bevel Craft Brewing (911 SE Armour Rd, Bend)
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
🎶 Live Music on the Patio
🎟️ Free
🔗 Bevel Events

🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
🎨 Paint & Sip with Chalked Creative
🎟️ Tickets & Info

🍺 Ponch’s Place (62889 NE Oxford Ct, Bend)
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
🎨 Bingo Night
🎟️ Free
🔗 Event Info

🍔 Northside Bar & Grill (62860 Boyd Acres Rd, Bend)
🕖 7:00–9:00 PM
🎤 Karaoke Night (plus Acoustic Open Mic w/ Derek Michael Marc)
🎟️ Free Event Info

🗓️ Thursday, July 10

🍺 Bridge 99 Brewery (63063 Layton Ave, Bend)
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
Trivia Thursdays (Useless Knowledge Bowl)
🎟️ Free
🔗 Bridge 99 Events

🍻 River’s Place (787 NE Purcell Blvd, Bend)
🎤 The Critical Blues Band
🕕 6:00 - 8:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🔗 River’s Place Live Music

🎭 Friday, July 11

🎬 Cascade Theatre (148 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend)
🎭 The Orphan Train (continues through July 20)
🕘 Times vary
🎟️ Tickets

🍺 Saturday, July 12

🍺 Ponch’s Tap House (62889 NE Oxford Ct)
🕒 3:00 PM
🍺 Ponch’s Place Pilsner Release
🎟️ Free
🔗 Event Info

🍻 River’s Place (787 NE Purcell Blvd, Bend)
🎶 Blues Benders
🕓 6:00 - 8:00 PM
🎟️ Free Event Info

🎪 Sunday, July 13

🍺 Worthy Brewing (495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend)
🕙 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
🛒 Weekly Farmers Market (with live music)
🎟️ Free
🔗 Event Info

🎻 River’s Place (787 NE Purcell Blvd, Bend)
🎶 Broken Top Bluegrass
🕓 6:00 - 8:00 PM
🎟️ Free Event Info

🎭 Tower Theatre (835 NW Wall St, Bend)
🕢 7:30 PM
🎵 Leo Kottke (acoustic guitar legend)
🎟️ Tickets

📅 Events: July 7–13, 2025 – Redmond & Nearby

🧠 Tuesday, July 8

🍻 Blacksmith Public House (308 SW Evergreen Ave, Redmond)
🕖 7:00 PM – 💃 Fire Line Dance Lessons
🎟️ Free
🔗 More Info

🎯 Wednesday, July 9

🍺 Otto’s Landing (652 NW 7th St, Redmond)
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM – 🎯 Bingo for Veterans
🎟️ Free ($2/card or 6 for $10)
🔗 More Info

🎤 Thursday, July 10

🍻 Blacksmith Public House
🕕 6:00 PM – 🎤 Karaoke with DJ Chris
🎟️ Free
🔗 More Info

🎶 Friday, July 11

🍇 Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards (70450 NW Lower Valley Dr, Terrebonne)
🕕 6:00–9:00 PM – 🎶 Live at the Vineyard: The Junebugs
🎟️ Tickets – $30

🎸 Saturday, July 12

🍻 Blacksmith Public House
🕖 7:00 PM – 🎵 FANFest: “Taken By the Sky” (Fleetwood Mac tribute)
🎟️ Free
🔗 More Info

🌲 Events: July 7–13, 2025 – Sunriver & La Pine

🏞️ Monday–Friday, July 7–11 – Sunriver Nature Center Camps

🕘 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory
🌱 “Extreme Earth” & “Space Camp” – immersive science camps for ages 6–12
🎟️ Registration required
🔗 View SNCO Camp Schedule

🌟 Tuesday, July 8 – Starry Nights Summer Concert (Sunriver)

🕕 Approx. 6:00–7:00 PM
📍 The Village at Sunriver
🎶 The Song Collectors perform as part of the Starry Nights concert series
🎟️ Free
🔗 More Info

🎶 Saturday, July 12 – Music in the Pines (La Pine)

🕔 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Heritage Park, 16405 1st St, La Pine
🎵 Mid‑Oregon/Les Schwab “Music in the Pines” free summer concert series, with food vendors, kid zone, and slackline fun!
🎟️ Free, family-friendly (bounce houses may have a small fee)
🔗 Event Details

🛍️ Sunday, July 13 – Sunriver Saturday Market

🕘 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
📍 SHARC, 57250 River Rd, Sunriver
🛒 Local market with crafts, produce, food, and possibly live music
🎟️ Free
🔗 Event Details

🧭 Planning Tips

  • 🚲 Consider biking or using the resort shuttle in Sunriver—parking fills fast

  • 🌙 Bring layers for evening concerts under the trees

  • 🛍️ Some vendors at markets may be cash-only—come prepared

  • 🧒 Camps and kid zones often require pre-registration

  • 🔭 Observatory events are weather-dependent—check for updates before you go

🐴 Events: July 7–13, 2025 – Prineville, OR

🏇 Wednesday–Saturday, July 9–12 – Crooked River Roundup Horse Races

🕡 Gates open 5:30 PM • First race at 7:15 PM
📍 Crook County Fairgrounds – 1280 S Main St
🐎 Four nights of heart-pounding thoroughbred racing under the lights!
🎟️ $10 General Admission (ages 4+), Free for kids 3 & under
🔗 Tickets & Full Schedule

🎉 Theme Nights:

  • Wed, July 9Ladies Night

  • Thu, July 10Republic Services Night

  • Fri, July 11SMAF Construction Night

  • Sat, July 12Les Schwab Tires Night

 

HAVE an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Other Event Sources:

Local News…

Internal investigation into Deschutes County Sheriff’s Captain William Bailey underway over radio interview


Just weeks before Sheriff Kent van der Kamp’s retirement, Capt. William Bailey is the subject of an internal probe after remarks he made during a recent radio interview drew scrutiny from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. (KTVZ)

Lightning storms spark fires across Central Oregon


A lightning storm on July 8 ignited roughly two dozen new wildfires across the region. The largest, the 307-acre Sunrise Fire near Paulina, is now 80 percent contained, though crews remain vigilant amid persistent dry conditions. (The Bulletin)

Cascades East Transit to launch new NE Bend weekday Route 8 on a free pilot basis next week


Beginning July 14, Cascades East Transit will debut Route 8, a pilot bus line serving Northeast Bend. The free, weekday-only service aims to enhance connectivity for commuters and reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips. (KTVZ)

Camp Fire of Central Oregon launches largest hiring campaign in its history amid youth program growth


Camp Fire of Central Oregon has kicked off its most extensive hiring drive ever to support expanding youth programs. The organization is also creating a new Operations Director role to bolster its leadership team. (KTVZ)

Fire & Rescue News…

Crime News…

Regional News…

2000-acre Elk Fire in Klamath County forces evacuations; state fire marshal sends five task forces


The Oregon State Fire Marshal has mobilized multiple structural task forces and its Red Incident Management Team to battle the 2,000-acre Elk Fire in Klamath County. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for several rural communities as crews work to contain the blaze. (KTVZ)

Community News…

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Corps honored with state fire marshal’s Silver Sparky Award


The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Fire Corps—a volunteer team of nearly 50—has been awarded the 2025 Silver Sparky Award by the Oregon State Fire Marshal for its outstanding fire prevention and community risk reduction efforts. Over the past year, Corps members trained 171 people in lifesaving skills, completed 82 smoke alarm calls, conducted 170 wildland home assessments, and provided crucial support during emergencies to bolster local safety. (Central Oregon Daily News)

Bend

Redmond

Deschutes County

Friday’s

Real Estate News…

Sponsored By

Photo by Reed Melton

by Reed Melton

 Mortgage interest rates might still be relatively high, but the trend since the end of 2024 has been slightly down, with rates this morning for a 30-year fixed-rate conventional loan at 6.81%. On July 8, 2024, the 30-year rate was 6.94%. While a thirteen-basis-point change may seem small, the trend is undeniably downward. Inventory levels this year are up considerably, while sales volume has increased only slightly. The changes in the housing market may be small, but have unquestionably moved in favor of buyers.

This morning, inventory in Deschutes County is up thirty-two from last week to 1,575 single-family homes. On this day last year, there were 1,257 listings. YTD sales in 2024 were 1,658 compared to 1,665 so far this year. Last week, there were 67 pending sales at an average list price of $810,837, with 47 closed transactions averaging $835,468. The weekly numbers are very close to this week in 2024.

Crook County inventory is up eight to 244 single-family listings. On this week last year there were 160 single-family homes listed. While inventory is up significantly, there have been 194 sales in Crook County YTD compared to 209 on this day in 2024. Four pending sales this week, at an average list price of $612,475, and eight closed transactions, averaging $618,787, are slightly better than this week last year.

Smaller Jefferson County has seen less inventory growth than the rest of Central Oregon, with 120 single-family listings this morning, up one from last week. On this week last year there were 111 listings. Sales in Jefferson County are strong year-to-date, at 135, compared to 118 as of the same period in 2024. There were three pending sales, averaging $506,650, and three closed transactions, averaging $320,616, last week.

With slightly softer mortgage rates and more inventory than we have had in years, now is an excellent time for buyers to engage in the market. The opportunity to negotiate a lower price hasn't been this favorable in some time. In many cases, prices are down enough to help offset the increased borrowing costs associated with higher mortgage rates. However, the median sale price comparisons have not decreased, and they still show overall growth, albeit slight. The potential bargains in our market are on a case-by-case basis, and not a sweeping trend. Home sellers need to be cautious about over-pricing for the market, especially as we head into the later months of the selling season. 

Active Listings

Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver secures $2.1 million grant, kicks off final fundraising phase for Park View infrastructure


Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver announced it has been awarded a $2.1 million grant from Oregon Housing and Community Services through the LIFT Housing Program to launch Park View, a 34-home affordable housing development in north La Pine. This funding will cover the construction of the first ten high-efficiency, fire-resistant townhomes and a portion of the necessary site infrastructure—nearly 50 percent of phase one costs. Park View will offer permanently affordable homes to families earning 60–80 percent of area median income; applications are now open, and the first homes are expected by fall 2026. (Cascade Business News)

Astral and Roost launch master-lease housing pilot with 134-unit “Joule” workforce development in NE Bend


Astral Development and Roost Development have introduced a master-lease agreement model to tackle Bend’s workforce housing shortage, letting a nonprofit tenant lease an entire property and sublease units at rents pegged to specific area median income tiers. Their pilot project, “Joule,” will rise on NE Olney with five floors of residential space atop a parking level, offering 134 units (100 studios, 29 one-bedrooms and 5 two-bedrooms), plus co-working and community areas and a second-story garden deck. A nonprofit partner will hold a 35–40-year rent-regulatory agreement so rents increase only with inflation, keeping housing affordable for employees of local businesses. Construction is underway, with completion slated for December 1, 2027. (cascadebusnews.com)

 

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 ♻️ Can Monkey – Hassle-Free Trash Day!
Tired of hauling your bins to the curb? Can Monkey makes trash day easy by rolling your garbage and recycling cans out—and back—so you don’t have to. Perfect for vacation homes, busy schedules, or just saving yourself the hassle.

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 😎 Just sayin

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