3/5 Nashelle & Friends Spring Trunk Show

Join Nashelle Jewelry and local designers Maya Moon Handbags, Vanilla, Love Mert., Habit, Utopia Candles and She's Happy Designs for the Nashelle & Friends Spring Trunk Show. Sip, snack, socialize and shop - while also directly supporting local businesses - this Thursday, March 5, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Nashelle Jewelry, 61511 Amercian Lane, #5 in Bend. For details, call 541-382-2360, or visit the Nashelle blog at www.nashelle.com/Blog.

March 19-21 - 4 Peaks Spring Fling Tour 2009: Poor Man’s Whiskey, Blue Turtle Seduction Play Portland, Eugene, Bend

Keep the festival vibe alive! The success of the 4 Peaks Music Festival 2009 hinges on this tour - save the date and show your support. -hoc
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4 Peaks Spring Fling Tour 2009: Poor Man’s Whiskey, Blue Turtle Seduction Play Portland, Eugene, Bend

Help Keep the 4 Peaks Music Festival Alive!

(BEND, OR) 4 Peaks Presents takes the show on road with its 2009 Spring Fling Tour, a three-day Oregon run with stops in Portland, Eugene and Bend. 4 Peaks alums Poor Man’s Whiskey and Blue Turtle Seduction will play the following dates and venues:

March 19: The Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR. Doors 8:00 pm, showtime 9:00 pm, $12 advance, $12 day of show. For tickets and info, go to www.dougfirlounge.com.

March 20: WOW Hall, Eugene, OR. Showtime 9:00 pm, tickets $10 advance, $12 door. For tickets and info, go to www.wowhall.org.

March 21: The Old Stone Church, Bend, OR. Doors 8:00 pm, showtime 9:00 pm, tickets $12 at the door only. For details, go to www.oscbend.com.

The 4 Peaks Spring Fling Tour is a showcase taster representative of the artists featured at the 4 Peaks Festival, which for two years now has brought the community together for three days of outstanding music and camping in Central Oregon sunshine. Bend’s The Source Weekly named the 4 Peaks Music Festival one of the Top 10 Live Music Events of the 2008, and Source music critic Mike Bookey wrote that “Throughout the weekend, Poor Man’s Whiskey would take the stage three times (four, if you count a late-night campground appearance), dishing out some bluegrass tunes, but mostly unleashing their rock and roll funk machine on 4 Peakers and rightfully earning their role as the fest’s host band.”

“The idea behind the Spring Fling is to gain exposure for everyone and rally for cause,” explains Stacy Totland, 4 Peaks Music Festival manager. "Now more than ever, we absolutely need this community of music lovers and artists to come together and help make the 4 Peaks Festival happen. After two hugely successful years, we’re struggling in the current economy to raise the critical sponsorship and support needed to produce our third festival this year. But if we can generate enough interest and support during this Spring Fling Tour, we’re still hopeful that 4 Peaks will be back.”

:: ABOUT Poor Man's Whiskey
Poor Man's Whiskey plays what it describes as "High Octane Hootenanny" music. Emerging from the San Francisco Bay area music scene this quintet has developed an eclectic and engaging sound. PMW has been winning over national audiences with their upbeat performances, zany stage antics, and infectious songs. While seamlessly integrating acoustic and electric instruments, the band weaves tales of everyday life, inviting the audience to become a part of each show.

Here are some recent press mentions about PMW:

"They groan with the rundown weight of good Drive-By Truckers…They can still gather 'round the mic acoustic picker fashion, as they did on "Jesus Was A Hippy," but they appear increasingly disinterested in any limiting schtick, and it's always encouraging that every single time I see these guys play they're just a bit better in every regard."
— Dennis Cook, Jambase.com

"The second set showed off PMW's spacey funk rock abilities, which they've been cultivating over the past year, with an instrumental jam that touched on Phish's 'First Tube.'"
— Mike Bookey, The Source Weekly, Bend, OR

For more, visit the PMW website at www.poormanswhiskey.com

:: ABOUT Blue Turtle Seduction

In 2008, Blue Turtle Seduction spent a month-an-a-half creating its new full-length music release "13 Floors" — and the band played more than 160 shows from Hawaii to New York at venues ranging from San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore to the highly regarded High Sierra Music Festival.

“People will also remember that BTS was the band that got the festival crowd on their feet and moving as they rushed from a twangy Americana song to a funk-a-licious groove and back again during their Saturday set.”
— Mike Bookey, The Source Weekly, Bend, OR

“…The kind of music that opens doors to new music, rather than driving listeners to shut out the unfamiliar…BTS has been spreading its own particular brand of…music around the Sierra for years now. It's not unusual to spot a ‘Keep Tahoe Seductive’ sticker on a passing car.”
– Rob Aulwes, Tahoe Daily Tribune

For more, visit the Blue Turtle Seduction website at www.blueturtlemusic.com.

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2/28: 11th Annual Tumalo Langlauf Club Luminary Night

If you've ever experienced the wonders of being in the forest at night in the snow, then you'll definitely want to check this out. If you haven't, well here's the perfect chance. It's truly one of the most magical outdoor activities you'll ever do. Details from Tumal Langlauf Club below. -hoc
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Come Snow shoe, Classic or Skate ski to Luminary Night

The Tumalo Langlauf Club is proud to present the 11th annual luminary night at the Virginia Meissner Snow Park. It’s a Magical Moonlight event unlike any other. Come snow shoe, cross country ski (classic or skate ski) by candlelight in the Ponderosa Pines! If you haven’t tried this, you’re in for an experience of a lifetime! All levels and all ages are invited! It’s a unique family outing, solo event or a most romantic date. Bring food & cheer for the adventure!

Date: Saturday night February 28th, from 6pm to 10pm

Luminary Path: Starting at Virginia Meissner Sno Park, the groomed candle lit path will follow the main trail out to the Meissner Shelter (1.5miles each way) for everyone; Snow shoes, classic cross country skis, and skate skis. The Pine Drops trail will also be groomed to provide a scenic alternate route for those on snow shoes or classic skis. Don’t worry, you can’t get lost if you follow the candle light!

Directions: Take Century drive 12 miles up towards Mt. Bachelor. Turn into Virginia Meissner Sno Park (the closest Sno Park to Bend).

Weather: More protected and much milder conditions than at Mt. Bachelor. Bring warm clothes and headlamp. At the shelter, we’ll have the fire going for a warm rest stop. Even if it’s snowing or raining, it’s Always Beautiful at Virginia Meissner.

Suggested Donations: $10 adults $5 kids. All Proceeds go towards purchasing the much needed new trail groomer for Virgina Meissner.

Jackalope Grill Cooking Classes: February = Great Grains, March = Soups, Stews, Braising

There are still a couple of spots left in Chef Tim's cooking class this Monday! -hoc
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EVENT DATES:
Monday, February 2, 6:00 pm
Monday, March 2, 6:00 pm

Jackalope Grill Cooking Classes: February = Great Grains, March = Soups, Stews, Braising

(Bend, OR) Join The Jackalope Grill's Chef Timothy Garling for upcoming cooking classes, this Monday, February 2 and Monday, March 2. These evenings are filled with great food, wine and cooking tips and secrets. The February class covers “Great Grains,” including risotto, barley risotto, quinoa, farro and amaranth. In March, “Soups, Stews & Braising” is the topic. Cooking classes include wine and hors d’oeuvres, demonstration and hands-on preparation in the kitchen, handouts with recipes and techniques and sampling of menu dishes paired with wine and/or beer.

Class starts at 6:00 pm at The Jackalope Grill and space is limited (these classes sell out quickly). Cost is $50. For reservations, call The Jackalope Grill at 541-318-8435. For location and info, go to www.JackalopeGrill.com .

1/30: Tumalo Langlauf Club's Nordic Groomer Fundraiser

(Bend, OR) If you enjoy skiing the nicely groomed classic and skating cross-country trails at Virginia Meissner Sno-Park, then put this on your calendar for Friday. Bring the whole family and tell your friends . . . or we all may soon be breaking our own nordic trails, because the TLC grooming machine is on its last leg (see below). -hoc
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Meissner Trail Groomer Fundraiser

The Tumalo Langlauf Club (TLC) is hosting this fundraising party to purchase a new groomer to maintain these X-Country trails.**

Everyone is invited to this festive party complete with excellente Mexican food from the Taco Stand and live music by the Sweet Harlots. This is a family event for all who enjoy skiing and winter recreating at Virginia Meissner. Come socialize and bring the kids! It’ll be a fabulous gathering!

Where: Aspen Hall (Shevlin Park)
When: This Friday January 30th at 5:30pm
Food: The Taco Stand will be hosting a burrito bar extravaganza.
Entertainment: Live Music by the Sweet Harlots. For band info, go to: www.laurelbrauns.com
Cost: $10 adults $5 Kids under 12. Price includes food and entertainment.
Contact: Erin at 350-3790 for more info (or to help with the event).

** Without a new groomer, there will be no more groomed trails at Virginia Meissner…. Alas, our current groomer is on very expensive life support. For every dollar spent grooming, $2 is spent on maintenance. We need to end resuscitation on this antique and get a new groomer.

1/24 Local Designers Trunk Show at Habit

This just in from Heather Beeson-Straw, designer and owner of Nashelle Jewelry. -hoc
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Hi,
Nashelle will be featured at the Habit Trunk Show this weekend.
I have attached the postcard with the address and time. [click image to enlarge] We will have amazing amounts of jewelry all at prices that are too good to pass up — our 'Red Hot' sale bin at $10 and other amazing prices range from $15-$60! This trunk show of course is one sale you do not want to miss! I look forward to seeing you there!
xoxo!

Heather Beeson
Designer & Owner
nashelle.com
61511 American Lane
Unit # 5
Bend, OR 97702

Steens Mountain Wind Power Development: Comments Due 1/16 to Harney County Planning Commission

Now more than ever we need to develop clean, green, efficient sources of energy. And wind power is certainly one attractive alternative to fossil fuels. But this particular proposal is flawed on many levels (see message from ONDA below). Please comment to the Harney County Planning Commission by 5:00pm on January 16th, 2009. -hoc
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Steens Mountain is threatened by wind power development
Columbia Energy Partners (CEP) has submitted applications for two sites—East Ridge Wind and West Ridge Wind—that could install over 130 wind turbines on the north flank of Steens Mountain near the Kiger Gorge Overlook and the North Loop Road.

The developer already holds a county permit for up to 69 turbines on a third, adjacent site on Mann Lake. The development has been divided into multiple parts to try to avoid rigorous review by the State's Energy Facility Siting Council and the developer has done virtually no analysis to date of the development's potential impacts to wildlife.

Comments are due to Harney County Planning Commission by 5:00pm on January 16th, 2009. Visit the Harney County Planning Commission website for more information on the proposed wind project and to read comments.

Comment Now

Points to consider:

• The application does not consider the transmission infrastructure necessary to connect Harney Electric Cooperative and Bonneville Power Administration systems which would cross Steens Mountain and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge.
• CEP has avoided the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council and Oregon Department of Fish Wildlife guidelines by arbitrarily "splitting" their 300 MW project into three sites.
• The developer has only provided a few months of biological information. Far less that the two years of pre-construction data voluntarily agreed to by the wind development community and called for by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
• This area on Steens Mountain provides important habitat for Greater sage grouse which are currently a candidate being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
• 40-50% of the cost of these projects ($100-$125 of tax equity value for each project according to information supplied by Columbia Energy Partners) will come from tax credits covered by public funds and therefore the public should be fully engaged in this process.

Visit ONDA’s website for more information and to see the visual impact the wind farms would have on the Steens.