Bend Independent Contemporary Art (BICA): Salon Style Reception 12/4

Bend-based GearSlash.com Brings Snow Riders One Steezy Deal at a Time

Hardcore Snowboard Brands at Softcore Prices Provides Purchasing Power for the People

Just in time for riding season, Bend's own GearSlash.com hucks the summit of steez for people who want killer gear at down-to-earth prices - one steezy deal at a time.

According the Gear Junkie, "GearSlash.com, adds an interesting tweak to the mix: It’s an ODAT [one deal at a time] site with a peek at what else is coming up. Plus, viewers have a chance to
determine what goes on sale next."

By working closely with hand-selected core brands – many based in the Pacific Northwest – GearSlash.com makes snowboarding affordable to everyone who loves riding with family and friends. GearSlash.com is the social way to shop for top-quality snowboard gear – and save big on snowboards, bindings, watches, outerwear, apparel, gloves, goggles and sunglasses.

Here’s how GearSlash.com works: Only one product is for sale at any time. A clock indicates the amount of time left, and a counter shows the number of products available in stock for the featured item. When the featured product sells out or runs out of time, it’s replaced by the item at the top of the waiting list. Shoppers can vote for upcoming products, moving them to the top of the list – and into the featured spot. They can also get help from friends to vote an item up. By purchasing consecutive items, shoppers can save even more money by shipping multiple products in their single order. Plus, just like riders share secret powder stashes with their bros and sisters, at GearSlash.com they can easily share secret gear slashes.

According to UrbanDictionary.com, steez is defined as “a snowboarder term that combines the word ‘Style’ with ‘Ease’ to create the act of doing a trick with style and ease to make it done with super steez. A rider with steez, such as myself, would be referred to as “steezy” whether it be because of his/her sick tricks, gangster aparrel [sic], or watevs.”

GearSlash.com brands include Airblaster, Anon Sunglasses, Academy Snowboards, Artec Snowboards, Ashbury Eyewear, Atmosphere Outerwear, Automaton Snowboards, Bent Metal, Celtek Gloves, Elm Company, Flux Bindings, GNU, Grenade Gloves, Holden Outerwear, IS Goggles Lib Tech, Lifetime Collective, Nikita Clothing, Nixon Watches, Roxy Snowboards and Union Binding.

“Ride hard. But be kind to your wallet,” says the GearSlash.com team.

Downtown Bend: First Friday Art Walk, December 4 + Bicycle Art Walk, Friday, December 11

Two arts walks in downtown Bend in December! -hoc
-

Photos by Amy Castaño on display at
John Paul Designs fort Bicycle Art Walk.

The Downtown Bend Business Association invites bicycle fans to enjoy a special Bicycle Art Walk on Friday, December 11. Downtown business will display bicycle-themed art and other fun bike-related events will take place in conjunction with the 2009 National Cyclocross Championships in Bend, December 10-13. The Bicycle Art Walk event is in addition to the regular First Friday Art Walk downtown on December 4. For Bicycle Art Walk, everyone is encouraged to leave their cars at home and ride a bicycle.

For details about bicycle art exhibits and other activities, check the new Downtown Bend Business Association website.

Thump and Other Bend Coffeehouses Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness on World AIDS Day

From Anna Johnson at Deschutes County. -hoc
--
The 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day is Tuesday, December 1. This
year, Deschutes County Public Health has partnered with local coffee
shops including Strictly Organic, Thump, and Mocha Janes in an effort
to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS in the community.

Patrons of the coffee shops will receive labels on their coffee cups
and sleeves with educational local, national and international facts
regarding the HIV epidemic on December 1.

Public Health will display an educational table board explaining the
link between drug addiction and HIV acquisition and transmission at
the Life Interrupted event (http://www.bend.k12.or.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=96
) at Summit High School Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Deschutes County Public Health reminds citizens each year that HIV
does exist in Central Oregon and there are things the public can do to
help prevent the spread of the virus. People are encouraged to receive
testing for HIV/AIDS, to know their disease status, and take active
steps to control their health if living with the virus.

In Deschutes County, seven new HIV infections were reported within the
last nine months, which is unexpectedly high. Of these, three had
already progressed to full blown AIDS. This means that for almost half
of the newly diagnosed HIV cases, the infected persons were likely
already living with HIV - without knowing it - for as long as five
years or longer.

Deschutes County Public Health offers services for persons living with
HIV or AIDS including case management, sexually transmitted
infections, testing, treatment and follow up, and support classes for
managing this long-term chronic condition.

What You Should Know:

Ø The Center for Disease Control recommends that everyone seriously
consider taking the HIV test at least once. Over 200,000 U.S. citizens
with HIV aren't aware they have the virus.
Ø A new, rapid HIV test gives accurate results in just 20 minutes. The
test is available at several locations in Deschutes County.
Ø The severity of HIV has changed through antiviral medications in the
last 10 years. HIV used to be a terminal illness and now is a
treatable, long-term, chronic condition.
Ø Learning of your HIV status and getting treatment early in the
infection, is critical to living a relatively long and normal life
with the disease. Early detection also helps avoid spreading the virus
to sex or needle-using partners or from an HIV-positive mother to her
baby.

Deschutes County Health Services offers a Positive Self Management
class for persons with living HIV and their partners and/ or family
members. Call 541-322-7425 for more information.

For more HIV/AIDS information, please visit www.cdc.gov, www.worldaidscampaign.org
, or the Deschutes County Health Services websitewww.deschutes.org and
search "HIV Testing."

Deschutes River Manufacturing featured in Cascade Business News "Made In Central Oregon"

Simon Mather at CBN did a great job with this up-to-date profile of
Bend-based Deschutes River Manufacturing, maker of the Rookie Sidekick
line of power fire hose rollers. -hoc
--

http://www.cascadebusnews.com/index.php?m=2&s=22&id=840

Bright Future for Fire Crew Labor Saving Devices
Deschutes River Manufacturing's 'Rookie' Hose Reel System Looks to
Extend International Reach

Nov 18, 2009
SIMON MATHER CBN Feature Writer

Fire departments from as far afield as Asia and South America are
poised to benefit from trailblazing labor and time-saving devices
pioneered by Central Oregon technical innovators Deschutes River
Manufacturing.

For years, the 'grunt' work involved in hand rolling hoses and lugging
them back to the fire truck following an incident has fallen to newer
fire fighters, tasked with laboriously rolling, squeezing and re-
decking, or reloading, 100-foot-plus lengths.

But in recent times, hoses have grown ever wider and heavier,
especially when residual air and water needing to be expelled is
factored in, and the ante has been upped regarding back injury risk
for effective weights that can hover over150 pounds.

Pondering the situation led Deschutes River Manufacturing's founder
David Johnston to tap 27 years of mechanical experience as a
millwright to develop an ingenious portable, motorized fire hose
roller first launched onto the market in 2002.

Since then, the Bend-based company has been revolutionizing the way
industrial, municipal and wildland firefighters in the U.S. and Canada
work, while recently great strides have been made towards spreading
the word on a global scale.

Named after the crew members who traditionally handled hose heavy
lifting, the 'Rookie' line features portable fire hose rollers that
quickly roll fire hoses up to 7-1/4 inches in diameter at the scene,
enabling fire fighters to manage hoses rapidly, easily and safely,
while saving their energy and physical condition for the demanding
front line fire suppression work. Models are equipped with a gas
engine or electric motor, with larger variants featuring variable-
speed controls.

The Rookie, which rolls hoses up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter, is one
of the company's several products, which also include: The Rookie
Sidekick, which is smaller but more powerful and fits on the back of a
four-wheeler and rolls 3/4- to 3-inch hoses; The Rookie Sidekick LDH,
which rolls a 5-inch hose; The Rookie Reloader, which allows
firefighters to transfer the hose back to the vehicles; and The Rookie
All-In-One, which utilizes adjustable pins to roll from 1 1/2- to 7 ¼-
inch hoses and comes with a reloader and portable stand.

Firefighters have welcomed the breakthrough of a modern hose
management system, lauding it as saving a significant amount of time
compared to doing the job by hand and without risk of back injuries
from stooping over to roll and lift.

The Rookie Sidekick is currently being used by fire suppression
agencies and firefighters from Texas to Canada, including the U.S.
Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management,
power utilities and municipal fire departments. Industrial customers
include Hagemeyer, Union Carbide-Dow Chemical, Marathon Oil, Conoco-
Phillips, Exxon-Mobil and Suncor.

"After our department tried The Rookie Sidekick, we felt it was a
piece of equipment we had to have," commented Gary Spoor, assistant
chief, South Bend VFD, South Bend Washington. "We recently upgraded to
5-inch hose on our engines. The Rookie Sidekick has helped us out with
that for two main reasons: one is safety — the larger diameter hose is
heavier, harder to handle and more likely to cause back injuries. And
the other is time — The Rookie does a better job getting air out of
the hose for redecking it."

Johnston, formerly with Kor-Pine/Willamette Industries in Bend before
Weyerhaeuser acquired then shuttered the company and he parlayed a
knack for numbers and mechanical technology into his own business,
commented: "We are committed to continually researching, developing
and field testing the highest quality, best designed fire hose
handling equipment technology available today to make fire fighting
easier and safer for the men and women who put their lives on the line
every day."

Johnston continues to refine design elements including a recent change
to the Sidekick Stand for increased maneuverability, and improved foot
pedal cable connections.

For James Norman, chief of the East Bend Volunteer Fire Department in
North Carolina, The Rookie has saved him and his crew the two-hour job
of rolling mile-long hoses back on the truck. The hoses need to be
long enough to reach from a pond - or other water source - to the fire
scene. Done in 100-foot increments, rolling the hose back up takes
less than an hour with The Rookie, Norman said.

"I tell you what, that's a great machine that saves lots of time,"
Norman said. "It pushes all the water and air out of the hose, which
then lays flatter on the truck than when you do it by hand."

DRM has ratcheted up efforts to expose its product on a wider basis,
with the help of new sales manager Steve Grediagin, who said he is
enjoying hitting the road and showing customers first-hand "what a
quality, industrial grade machine it is."

He added that he was already talking to fire departments as diverse as
Hong Kong and Brazil about adopting the systems, adding: "With a
proven track record of customers that includes every major U.S. public
land management agency, some of the world's largest energy companies,
water utilities and fire departments on three continents, the
potential is enormous to help save these departments money, personnel
and time."

DRM is increasingly tapping into other vertical markets that use large-
diameter hoses, including municipal water systems. The City of Bend's
Water Reclamation Department purchased a Rookie Sidekick this year to
roll up the fire hose it uses to pump out sewer lines during
maintenance and repairs.

The industrial sector - oil refineries and chemical companies - is
also quickly becoming a hot market.

"(The Rookie products) really cut down on the manpower and cut down on
time," said Becky Gibson, vice president of sales and marketing for
TSI Inc., the company that distributes Johnston's products to the oil
and chemical companies up and down the Gulf Coast. "It also is a
safety issue for saving people's back, that sort of thing."

"They have an incredible product that the market needs," she said from
Baton Rouge, La. "It's just a matter of getting it out in the
marketplace."

And that effort is being boosted by contact with a business
development analyst at the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council to
begin to explore market opportunities in the oil fields of the Middle
East.

This is just one of the several new export markets the company has
been able to make in-roads into – with the support of Alexa Hamilton,
Global Trade Specialist at Business Oregon, the export assistance arm
of the State of Oregon Business Development Department, and Gail
Snyder with the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Service in
Portland.

Grediagin added that on the domestic front sales were also growing,
and involvement with the General Services Administration (GSA)
government procurement system had seen three Sidekick rollers recently
sold to Alaska Fire Service.

Just in the last few weeks sales have also been executed with Columbia
River Gorge Scenic Area, U.S. Forest Service Three Rivers Ranger
District in Washington – a repeat customer with five units - Fluor
Hanford (environmental clean-up contractor at Hanford Nuclear
Reservation in Washington) and repeat customer Conoco Phillips in Texas.

Deschutes River Manufacturing, .877-868-1951; www.the-rookie.com

Jackalope Grill: Open Sunday 11/22, Thanksgiving

Latest news from Chef Tim at Jackalope Grill. -hoc
--

We Are Open Sunday 11/22
This Sunday November 22, we will be open and serving dinner beginning
at 5:00. Hope to see you then!

Open for Thanksgiving!
Please join us for Thanksgiving Dinner, Thursday, November 26. Seating
is 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Traditional fare, as well as selected menu items,
will be offered. Relax and leave the cooking and cleaning to the
Jackalope Grill this year!

Unique Food Experience: 1st/3rd Tuesdays - Taste of Norway at Sons of Norway Lodge

First and third Tuesday, 11am to 1pm, Sons of Norway Lodge, 549 NW Harmon Blvd Bend, OR. Call 541-382-4333 to confirm schedule.

My grandfather, Olaf Skjersaa, immigrated directly from Norway, arriving in Bend, Oregon as a teenager unable to speak a word of English. Like many of our country's earlier immigrant generations, he was determined to learning English as quickly as possible to "fit in" here. As a consequence, my family lost the ability to speak Norwegian in a single generation. My mother, Greta, and her siblings know only a few words of their father's native tongue.

But also like many immigrant communities, food became a connection to the Old World, and I grew up surrounded by the tastes and smells of the Norwegian cooking my Grandmother Grace Skjersaa, Great Aunt Edna Skjersaa and my mother would serve at family gatherings.

Now, the holidays are the time of year that me and my children join my mother in re-creating baked treats like the delicious potato flat-bead lefsa and delicately crisp, ornate cone cookies, kramakake.

When my mother invited me to join her this week at the Sons of Norway Lodge for the Taste of Norway lunches member Barbara has been preparing on Tuesdays, I jumped at the chance.

If you've never experienced Norwegian cuisine, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover that it's far more diverse and tasty than the notorious lutefisk. I recommend getting the "Some of Everything" sampler. My "smorbrod" open-faced bay shrimp sandwich on rye bread, Swedish yellow-pea soup, lefsa and cucumber-dill salad were fresh and light, and the baked treats are some of the best from any any cooking tradition.

Get your Norsk on! -Harold Olaf (Skjersaa) Cecil