Good morning, Bend.

Columbia Park and Gilchrist Bridge will close Oct.

19 for a construction project replacing the pedestrian bridge and improving riverbank access, with work continuing through early summer 2027. Detours are available via Bend Whitewater Park or Galveston Avenue.

Bend's new Larkspur Art Station is open and offers classes in painting, ceramics, music and cameo glass engraving that fill a local gap in art education.

The center will host an open house Sunday, Oct. 11 (1 to 3 p.m.) so families can explore its offerings.

On Thursday, Oct. 8, Deschutes County's large companies paid millions in property taxes, with PacifiCorp paying $3.3M and CrowdStrike $2.72M.

Economic development officials say these payments help create jobs and strengthen the tax base + support local growth.

Operation School Bell, run by the Assistance League, begins offering new clothes, shoes and coats for local K-12 students at Walmart Supercenters in Bend and Redmond using vouchers from Family Access Network.

Upcoming shopping sessions start Saturday, Oct. 10 in Bend and Oct. 13 in Redmond with additional dates scheduled.

OSU-Cascades enrolled 1,258 students for the fall term based on preliminary data released Thursday; the campus added 296 new undergraduates and 108 transfer students — official figures will be finalized in late October as it celebrates its 25th anniversary in Bend.

Redmond High School is one of 40 finalists in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest and has received $25,000 for athletic facility upgrades; the Panthers will host a Home Game Celebration on Friday, Oct.

23 as they compete with nine West Division schools.

The Children’s Museum of Central Oregon opened its first long-term pop-up at Discovery Corner in Discovery West on Oct.

3 and will run through this month. Located at 1123 NW Ochoa Drive, Suite 100, it offers hands-on STEAM activities for kids and families + programs like toddler time.

Bend-La Pine School District said there is no evidence of an online threat at Sky View Middle School after a rumor raised parent concerns on Thursday, Oct.

8. Officials quickly investigated and reassured families while emphasizing digital safety protocols.

The Bend-La Pine Education Foundation will award $99,400 in grants to K-12 schools this fall for hands-on projects in STEM, art, music, and wellness.

It will also offer a new $10,000 award with winners announced between Oct. 14 and Oct. 23 in Bend, La Pine (and Sunriver).

Senators Wyden and Merkley announced a $1.05 million federal grant today to expand addiction and recovery services in Eastern Oregon.

The HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program will support treatment expansion by the Pendleton-based Oregon Washington Health Network in four counties — Umatilla, Union, Morrow, and Walla Walla.

Eight local public service and health agencies issued a joint statement today urging parents, riders and drivers to take careful safety measures as e-bikes and electric rideables grow in popularity.

Officials advise riders to verify equipment and follow traffic laws to prevent serious injuries.

Medicare open enrollment will run from Oct.

15 to Dec. 7, giving seniors and eligible Americans in Bend a chance to review and switch plans including Medicare Advantage, prescription drug coverage, and Medigap (with rising premiums and deductibles noted).

Bend brothers Aiden and Connor Johnson are set to face off tomorrow when George Fox hosts Whitworth at 1 p.m. in Newberg; the siblings on opposing teams gear up for a rare chance to share the field one last time.