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Oregon Weekly Swine Flu Update for November 25
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009Spencer Dahl
Since Sept. 1, 2009, 1,183 people have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness; 49 people have died.
“We have fewer new cases compared to a few weeks ago, but the number is still high, about what we would see at the peak of a bad regular flu season,” says Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Oregon Public Health Division.
Private drug manufacturers continue to ship the H1N1 influenza vaccine into Oregon, with more arriving each week. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has allocated another 136,749 doses to Oregon expected by Friday, Nov. 27, bringing the cumulative total to 664,904.
“With the vaccine still in limited supply, we’re asking health care providers to reach out to people in high-risk groups, especially those with chronic medical conditions, so they can get vaccinated as soon as possible,” says Kohn.
The people at higher risk, and those who take care of them, include:
• Individuals aged 5-64 years with chronic medical conditions that put them at risk for complications from influenza infection (cardio-pulmonary disease, diabetes, asthma), including those with neuro-developmental and other conditions that decrease their ability to handle respiratory secretions;
• pregnant women;
• children up to age 5;
• household contacts and caretakers of infants under 6 months;
• health care workers and emergency services personnel.
The Oregon Public Health Division regularly surveys the counties and posts current public clinic information at www.flu.oregon.gov.
Oregon Public Health flu hotline at 1-800-978-3040 has added a team of specially trained nurses to answer medical questions related to flu, including how to care for someone who has the flu and when to see a doctor.
Posted in Community News, Health News, Top Stories | No Comments »
Updated ‘Food for Oregon’ Web Site Provides Database of Resources
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
CORVALLIS, OREGON — A newly refurbished “Food for Oregon” Web site provides an updated database of local and regional food resources for families and communities to improve food security.
Food for Oregon is a partnership between the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State University Extension Service. “Goals of the partnership are to increase Oregonians’ access to local, sustainable food resources and to build connections between community food, education and advocacy resources,” according to Sharon Thornberry, community resource developer for the Oregon Food Bank.
Users can search the database by county, program area, organization or locale for information on Oregon and Southwest Washington farmers markets, community gardens and kitchens, gleaning groups and nutrition education, among others.
“Events calendars were added by request,” Thornberry said, “as were discussion forums on topics such as community gardens, youth gardens and therapeutic gardens.”
A recent report by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture showed that Oregon ranks second nationally in hunger/food insecurity issues. Experts say high unemployment coupled with costly housing prices are two influential dynamics in the state’s hunger problem.
The Food for Oregon Web site can be found at http://foodfororegon.oregonstate.edu/.
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Mt. Bachelor sets Friday for Opening Day
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
BEND, OREGON – Mt. Bachelor is currently on schedule to open for the winter season on Friday.
Occasional snow is forecasted to continue in the Oregon Cascades through the weekend adding to Mt. Bachelor’s current base depth of 25 inches at the West Village snow stake. Opening day operating lifts are anticipated to be the Pine Marten Express and Sunshine Express. All services including food and beverage, rentals, Snowsports School, and retail, will be based out of the West Village Base Area. Expansion of open terrain and lifts is likely on Saturday, Nov 21 as well as heading into the Thanksgiving weekend. Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic Lodge and trails will also open for the season on Friday. The latest details can be found at www.mtbachelor.com.
“The forecast looks wintry and mountain crews are at work preparing their departments for what’s sure to be a busy opening weekend,” said Dave Rathbun, President and General Manager. “A good Thanksgiving is key to getting off to a good start, and as it stands now, we’re well positioned. Our large percentage of returning staff will be an asset as we ramp up our operation to full speed.”
Early season conditions exist and most open terrain is recommended for intermediate and advanced abilities. Unmarked obstacles will exist and skiing and riding groomed terrain is recommended. Limited beginner terrain will be available via the Sunshine Express. An early season terrain park will be available. Opening day lift ticket rates will be $49 for adults, $39 for teens and seniors, and $28 for kids and 70+. Sliding scale ticket pricing will go into effect once skier levels, open terrain or weather conditions dictate. More information is available at www.mtbachelor.com/lifttickets.
Mt. Bachelor’s season pass office will be open in Bend’s Old Mill District through Wednesday, Nov. 18. It will re-open in West Village on Friday, Nov. 20. Guests who have elected to wait until opening day to get their passes printed should expect lines at the season pass office. The Mt. Bachelor Super Shuttle will also begin service on opening day. The full shuttle schedule will be posted available at www.mtbachelor.com.
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Family Access Network receives funds from the Roundhouse Foundation
Thursday, November 12th, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
SISTERS, OREGON – The Family Access Network (FAN) is the recipient of a $10,000 donation to be used to help address basic-needs for children and their families in Sisters.
The funds from the Roundhouse Foundation will help provide essential services such as food, clothing, shelter, medical and dental care (includes health insurance) and more through the FAN advocates in the Sisters community. “Roundhouse Foundation is incredibly generous in their continued support of FAN in the Sisters community. We appreciate their dedication to our most needy families, especially during our current economic climate,” Kristi Miller, FAN Foundation Chair.
FAN began in January 1993 and currently employs 22 advocates in 43 public schools (K-12) and two early childhood sites. FAN strives to improve lives by ensuring all children in Deschutes County have access to basic-need services. FAN is unique to Deschutes County, utilizing advocates to efficiently reach and connect disadvantaged children and families with basic needs, such as food, shelter, and health care. During the 2008-2009 school year FAN connected over 7,800 children and their family members with food, shelter, health care and other critical services.
The Roundhouse Foundation was established in Sisters, Oregon in October 2002 to encourage community enrichment and economic development with the intent of focusing on supporting ideas and projects that create positive change.
To learn more about Family Access Network, visit www.familyaccessnetwork.org.
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Bend Christmas Parade Grand Marshal Announced
Thursday, November 12th, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
BEND, OREGON – Sparrow Club is named Grand Marshal for Saturday, Dec 5th Bend Christmas Parade. This year’s parade theme is “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”. On behalf of Sparrow Club, Jeff Leeland the founder and Executive Director will be riding in the parade with his son Michael – the very first Sparrow kid.
Sparrow Clubs USA, like so many charitable organizations, was born from the personal struggles of an ordinary family. Little did Jeff Leeland know that his personal family crisis would someday lead him to found a national organization where the community impact and value was all about kids helping kids. Since it’s inception in 1995 Sparrow Club has grown from a local organization, spreading into 26 states, hundreds of schools and touching tens of thousands of students. The Sparrow kids in medical need that are helped through the program are important, but the real work being done is with the healthy students, bringing out the love and compassion they feel through the selfless hours of volunteering they do to help their Sparrow. “Sparrow Club exists to set the stage for heroic acts of kindness in schools and youth culture for kids in medical need” says Jeff Leeland.
In Central Oregon more than 40 schools and over 15, 000 students are participating in the Sparrow Club program this school year. To date over 600 Sparrow kids have been helped through the Sparrow Clubs USA program with over $5 million dollars distributed to Sparrow kids and their families. “The reason we started Sparrow Club is the belief that kids will do heroic things when they have heroic things to do. It unleashes a sense of compassion and service that can last a life time” stated Jeff.
Along with Mr. Leeland, Shirley Gribskov Ray the 2009 Pioneer Queen will be riding in the parade. Shirley, 82, was crowned Pioneer Queen in February of this year. She has lived in Central Oregon since she was 7 months old.
The Parade will begin at 12 noon, Saturday December 5th downtown Bend. For more information about the parade, entries and the route please visit www.bendchristmasparade.org.
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Mt. Bachelor Announces Dates and Recipients for Annual Charity Ski Weeks
Thursday, November 12th, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
BEND, OREGON – After donating over $70,000 in the first year of the Charity Ski Weeks program, Mt. Bachelor is proud to announce the return of the program for another season. During two weeks in January and two weeks in April guests will be able to ski for $25 using vouchers distributed by Central Oregon Non-Profits. Every redeemed voucher will result in $25 being donated.
The first period is slated for January 4-15 midweek. The Non-Profits that will be distributing vouchers prior to the January period are United Way, NeighborImpact, The Environmental Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Volunteers in Medicine. Contact the organizations for their individual methods of distribution.
The second period is slated for April 5-16 midweek. The Non-Profits that will be distributing vouchers prior to the April period are MBSEF, Sparrow Clubs, Saving Grace, Boys and Girls Club, and Oregon Adaptive Sports.
“There is genuine excitement about the potential of this program in its second year,” said Alex Kaufman, Marketing Director at Mt. Bachelor. “We’ve proven that it can work to get lots of folks on the slopes, while also raising significant funds for the betterment of the community. Now we can work on growing the total amount of funds raised year over year. While charitable giving has taken a hit nationally and locally in the last couple of years, we are proud to be growing ours as the need increases.”
In addition to the Charity Ski Weeks campaign, Mt. Bachelor is proud to support hundreds of local and regional causes as well as local schools via the Ski for Schools Program. Donation requests for fundraising auctions and raffles can be made via the “donations” form at http://www.mtbachelor.com/community.
Posted in Community News, Outdoor News, Press Releases, Sports, Top Stories | 2 Comments »
Cascade Bancorp Announces Special Meeting of Shareholders
Thursday, November 12th, 2009Spencer Dahl
BEND, OREGON – Cascade Bancorp announced today that it has called a Special Meeting of Shareholders. The meeting date is December 7, 2009 at 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time.
The meeting will be held at 1100 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon. Proxy statements are being mailed to all shareholders on or about November 12, 2009.
The purpose of the proxy statement is to solicit shareholders’ votes with respect to proposals to:
- Increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock from 45,000,000 to 300,000,000;
- Approve the issuance of up to $65 million of the Company’s common stock to investors in private offerings;
- Approve an amendment to effect a one for ten reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock and payment of cash for fractional shares;
- and Transact any other business which may come before the special meeting.
Shareholders of records as of October 26, 2009 are entitled to vote at the special shareholders meeting.
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City of Bend gears up for winter road conditions
Monday, November 9th, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
With winter weather in the forecast, Bend’s Public Works Department has an organized, reasonable and cost effective maintenance plan in place for periods of snow or ice. It involves a small army of more than 40 pieces of equipment and three shifts of personnel and contractors. The average annual snow removal cost is $300,000 in a light snow year and $600,000 or more in a heavy snow year.
As part of that plan, City streets are divided into major collectors and arterials, plus streets that serve schools, medical facilities and major employment centers. These areas are scheduled to receive de-icing first prior to a storm and sanding and plowing when snow accumulation reaches two inches. The goal is to complete the work within 24 hours. Public Works crews and contractors will clear residential streets only after at least six inches of snow has accumulated.
Keep in mind that, in order to clear streets, snow may be plowed onto sidewalks or into driveways in certain areas. Citizens are asked, when necessary, to move snow from the sidewalk to the property side of the walkway, not out into the street. City code requires property owners, or the person in charge of property, to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
For special requests, call the snow removal hotline at 541-317-3002, ext. 7. In an emergency, call 911. For more information, visit the Snow removal link on the City’s home page at http://www.ci.bend.or.us.
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