Good morning, Bend.

Seventeen local artists have donated works to an online auction to raise money for BEAM and help secure a permanent home; the auction will end on Nov.

6 at midnight (all proceeds support BEAM and families).

Mountain Star Family Relief Nursery will host the 6th Annual Bend Witches Paddle this weekend from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.; gather at Riverbend Park and near the bridge in the Old Mill District to paddle in costume and drop off diaper and supply donations at booths.

Local veterans and contributing authors of Necessary Turbulence will discuss the new book of 108 female Air Force Academy cadet stories at a panel on Tuesday, Nov.

11 at Roundabout Books & Cafe, 900 NW Mt. Washington Dr.; tickets are $5 or included with a book purchase.

Cascade Natural Gas customers will pay about $7.38 more per month starting today, a 10.7% increase approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission; the rise combines base-rate hikes to fund system upgrades and an annual gas-cost adjustment that could be reviewed for refunds.

Voting for SELCO's Regional Classroom Makeover will open Nov.

1 and run through Nov. 7 to award one teacher $15,000; Central Oregon finalists are Jefferson County Middle School in Madras to rebuild an irrigated garden, Warm Springs K-8 Academy for an inclusive climbing wall and projection system, and Cascades Academy in Bend for upgraded sound and lighting.

Deschutes County will host free pumpkin composting drop-offs on Nov.

7 and Nov. 8 at Knott Landfill (7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 7), Caldera High's Pumpkin SMASH (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 7), and Bend Senior High's Pumpkin SMASH (1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 8). Remove candles, wax, and decorations; painted or non-removable pumpkins must go in the trash.

Oregon will launch a state-run insurance marketplace, ExploreHealthOR.gov, tomorrow for open enrollment, replacing the federal site and serving about 120,000 people who buy coverage outside employer plans.

An Oregon State University study found that from 2006 to 2023 the average annual smoke days at public schools rose from 6.8 to 54.4 and at childcare centers from 9.4 to 112.2, exposing children to far more unhealthy air.

Researchers said schools should invest in HVAC upgrades, portable HEPA filters, and indoor monitoring to reduce exposure.

Bend High's Lava Bears went 22-3 and finished undefeated in league play despite playing no home games this season because campus construction forced them to practice and host matches offsite.

The second-seeded team will host Centennial in the first playoff round at Caldera, with later rounds at neutral sites.