Blue Ribbon Campaign Art Contest

Calling all young artists!

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and to help launch the Blue Ribbon Campaign, KIDS Center is kicking off an exciting art contest! It's open for kids age 5-18, and the theme is 'What It Means To Be Safe.' All artwork or poetry must include a blue ribbon. Contest rules and entry forms are here:

Blue Ribbon Art Contest Guidelines



Up All Night, Up All Day. How Do You Cope When Your House is Hit With The Bug?

It might start slowly with a fever and runny nose, or it might land like a tornado of vomit and diarrhea. However the crud, the bug, or the funk enters your house you can be sure that it will sweep through everyone, taking you all down like bowling pins.

So how do you get through it in your home? Is it a group effort with everyone huddled in one bed or couch with a favorite movie playing? A free for all with games, books, and any distraction available? Is there a default nurse without whom none would survive?

Let us know your sickness routine, your go to remedies, and your "it's allowed 'cause I'm sick!" creature comforts.

Third Annual PUSH Auction Benefiting the Division Street Skatepark Project

Swimmers need water, skiers need snow, runners need a trail, and skaters need a skatepark. A covered park preferably, out of the way on an otherwise unused parcel. Maybe something that the City or Parks and Rec. wouldn't even need to worry about because the skaters themselves could design, build, and maintain the park.

Division Street Skatepark Project is forging ahead with just that concept in mind for a skatepark at the 97 overpass at Division Street in Bend.

You can join in the effort by attending the 3rd annual PUSH auction this Friday the 25th from 6 to 10pm at the old Boomtown Records (910 NW Harrimon). It's an all ages, family friendly event featuring free food and drinks, as well as some of the coolest looking boards on the planet to be auctioned off to benefit DSSP.

Early Registration for Bend Parks & Rec.

Bend Park & Recreation District is opening up summer registration for their recreation programs online on March 17th for district residents and April 1st for those who live outside the district. This is a big change. Normally, programs open in May. Now you’ll have an extra month to plan what your kids will be doing this summer! Go online and be green on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th. To register go to

https://register.bendparksandrec.org/

Family Resource Center's Parenting Classes

Family Resource Center of Central Oregon is a non-profit organization that provides parenting education to local families. Parenting classes (starting this evening and again in the coming weeks) offer essential knowledge, skills, and insights to make life easier for even the most seasoned veterans.

Here are a few of the upcoming classes:

Make Parenting a Pleasure


Thursdays 6 - 8 p.m.
February 17 - April 28
Terrebonne Community School
1199 B St. Terrebonne
Cost $10 (includes book, dinner and childcare)
Scholarships Available
To register call Kim Bohme 541.923-4856
Join other parents of children ages birth to 8 and learn about nurturing and effective parenting strategies, positive approaches to discipline, managing family stress and childhood development stages. Brought to you by Family Resource Center of Central Oregon and Central Oregon Parenting Education Network (COPEN).

Make Parenting a Pleasure

Thursdays 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
February 24 - May 5
Bear Creek Elementary
51 SE 13th St. Bend
Cost: Free (light dinner and childcare provided)
To register call Family Resource Center at 541.389.5468 (space limited)
Join other parents of children ages birth to 8 and learn about nurturing and effective parenting strategies, positive approaches to discipline, managing family stress and childhood development stages. Brought to you by Family Resource Center of Central Oregon and Deschutes County Children & Families Commission.

Father to Father

Tuesdays 6 - 8 p.m.
March 1 - May 17
Family Resource Center
1130 NW Harriman St. Suite B, Bend
Cost $25 per person (light dinner and childcare provided)
Scholarships Available
To register call Family Resource Center at 541.389.5468 (space limited)
Join other dads with children ages birth to 8 to talk about ways to balance work and home, tools for positive discipline and strategies for dealing with stress and power struggles. Brought to you by Family Resource Center of Central Oregon and Central Oregon Parenting Education Network (COPEN).

The Happy Girl Half

(From the KIDS Center newsletter)

Get on your running shoes! KIDS Center is the beneficiary for the Happy Girl Half on May 29th. Join us in beautiful Bend, Oregon for the inaugural HappyGirls Half Marathon & 5K run. And for the under 10 yr olds, there is the HappyGirls 1.5K run on May 28th, in which KIDS Center will received 100% of the proceeds from the entry fee.
The scenic route starting along the Deschutes River is perfect for beginners as well as seasoned runners. Terrain includes a mix of gentle trails, groomed paths and paved surfaces, the best of all worlds! Bring your daughters, sisters, aunts, mom or best friends and make it a fabulous holiday weekend in Bend. To find out more visit Happy Girls Run.

CYFC's Teen Aid Benefit Concert

Teen Aid Benefit Concert Tonight! From 7- 10pm at the Old Stone Church, downtown Bend.

Five Pint Mary and Brent Alan will perform at this great event to benefit the Loft, an indispensable resource supporting and sheltering central Oregon's homeless youth.

Guests will also be treated to improv comedy by Triage, libations from 10 Barrel Brewery, and complementary edibles from Bleu Bite Catering.

Tickets available at the door or at Cascade Youth & Family Center- 19 SW Century Dr.

See you there!

Mid Oregon Credit Union Free Family Saturday February 26th

The High Desert Museum will open its doors to the public for free, courtesy of Mid Oregon Credit Union, Saturday February 26th. This is a great opportunity to check out all of the wonderful exhibits and wildlife the museum has to offer. Make a day of it and plan to see the Bitterbrush Band play from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free shuttle van service is available courtesy of the Museum and Wanderlust Tours throughout Museum hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free day is expected to draw about 4,000 visitors so take advantage of the complementary shuttles to avoid parking lot traffic snarls! For parking, go to Morning Star Christian School at 19741 Baker Road- just off Highway 97 at the Baker Road exit.

REI Toddler Event

Join REI this Thursday the 10th at 10am for "Get Active Outdoors with Toddlers." This free class will feature tips and advise for making the most of your family adventures by preparing your kids with the proper clothing and gear. Comfortable kids are happy kids, and happy kids help the good times roll!

While parents are learning, REI will provide PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) activities for children who attend.

The class is free but space is limited, so sign up quick at: Get Active Outdoors Sign Up

Trouble with the family wagon?

Got an unsettling rattle in your ride? Squeaks and squeals from under the hood? An unreliable car is no fun, especially with the little ones inside. If getting from point A to point B has taken on an element of mechanical suspense then we want to hear about it!

The fine folks at Tuner Automotive are here to answer your car care questions, to help you decide if that strange noise should warrant a trip to the shop or if it's just that pen you dropped in the dash back in the 90's. Post your questions here and let the discussions begin!


Check out their Facebook page here: Tuner Automotive

Tuner Automotive Services repairs and customizes VW, Subaru, BMW, Jeep, Chevrolet, Isuzu and Honda's with 14 years of experience under its belt. Owner/Operator Jason Lilly, and his son Evan, run a small uncomplicated facility with customer service clarity that will leave you feeling like your part of the family. Tuner Automotive is also working hard to make sure you keep your hard earned money in your pocket with some of the lowest hourly rates in town, a guarantee of zero parts markup, and vendor accounts with almost every parts house around.