Good morning, Bend.

First responders, veterans, and volunteers will honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Friday, Sept.

11 in downtown Bend + the free ceremony begins at 7 a.m. with flag installations and a reading of the president’s Patriot Day proclamation before ending at 4 p.m.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon celebrates Big Brothers Big Sisters Month this September by offering one-to-one mentoring to over 220 youth in Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties (more than 80 local children await a mentor).

The organization invites community members to consider becoming mentors.

The Portland Trail Blazers will bring their annual Rip City Rally to Central Oregon starting Monday, Sept.

14, with a community fair from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Way) in Bend and additional fairs in Prineville and Madras featuring local nonprofit partners.

Three local groups — High Pine Construction, Parr Lumber, and the Family Access Network — joined forces to give a Redmond mom a new fence after her old one failed, with the project taking place during a slow summer to help a local family in need.

TEAL Tea & Art Lounge in downtown Bend will host its grand opening on Saturday, Sept.

12 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 1024 NW Bond St., featuring a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting, free art activities, donuts at 11 a.m., live music at 7 p.m. + fall menu samples.

Bend-based winery Lava Terrace Cellars won two gold medals for its 2023 Marquette Red Wine and 2022 ERUPTION La Crescent Sparkling Wine plus a silver for its 2023 Marechal Foch at the American Heritage Wine Competition, proving Bend's high desert climate can yield world-class wines.

The High Desert Art League will show local art at COCC’s Barber Library Rotunda Gallery from Sept.

16 to Dec. 6 & the gallery will host a reception on Sept. 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Ballet Bend will present San Francisco Ballet and Charlotte Ballet at Tower Theatre in Bend on Sept.

25-26 (featuring Open Space Dance) as part of Oregon’s fall dance season showcasing international styles. Other local centers host diverse productions bringing global flair to our region.

With Bend-La Pine School District starting classes today, drivers must follow Oregon law in school zones (which sets a default 20 mph limit when children are waiting at crosswalks and requires stopping for flashing school buses) to avoid fines.

Yesterday, toddlers enjoyed sandbox play, pedal cars and tiny bikes at NeighborImpact’s Head Start program, which opened at the former Little Kits building near OSU-Cascades to start fall school with staggered sessions.

Bend's Vince Genna Stadium will host the inaugural Northwest Elite Collegiate Classic on Saturday, Oct.

3 at 12:05 p.m., featuring the baseball rivalry between the University of Oregon Ducks + the University of Washington Huskies while tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. online or at the stadium office.