Month: September 2026

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Trinity Lutheran Church & School will host its annual Trinity Lutheran Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Bend, Ore. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Central Oregon Band of Brothers, a local nonprofit organization supporting area veterans and their families.

The Central Oregon Band of Brothers provides fellowship, resources and direct assistance to military veterans across the region. The annual car show previously raised more than $15,000 for Battle Buddies in 2024 and more than $20,000 for Warrior Impact in 2025.

Nearly 100 vehicles are already registered for the show, with additional registration spots remaining open. In addition to the displayed vehicles, the event will feature local vendors, food, a raffle and prizes. The Central Oregon Solar Car Team will also display their project to give visitors an opportunity to learn about their work.

Alita Ruggles, director of marketing and communications for Trinity Lutheran Church & School, detailed the organizational philosophy behind the annual event. “The philosophy behind the event is simple: start with nothing, end with nothing,” Ruggles said. “We don’t have a fundraising pot sitting there waiting for us. We bring the community together, people give generously and then at the end of the day, we give it all away. We start with nothing, we end with nothing. Our veterans are the ones who benefit.”

The Trinity Lutheran Car Show will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2550 NE Butler Market Rd. in Bend. Admission is free to the public and attendees may make donations throughout the day to support Central Oregon Band of Brothers.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sisters Habitat for Humanity will break ground Friday, Sept. 18, on Larch Commons, a 25-home neighborhood in Sisters. The project marks the largest housing development in the organization’s 35-year history.

The development consists of 19 affordable homes for households earning up to 80% of the area median income and six workforce homes for households earning up to 120% of the area median income. This initiative marks the first time Sisters Habitat for Humanity will offer homeownership opportunities specifically tailored to middle-income workforce households.

The workforce homes are designed for local workers, including teachers, health care workers, service employees and tradespeople. These individuals may earn too much to qualify for traditional Habitat programs but still face challenges affording housing in Sisters.

Peter Hoover serves as the executive director of Sisters Habitat for Humanity. “Larch Commons represents an important next step for Sisters Habitat,” Hoover said. “We’re expanding homeownership opportunities to include more of the people who live and work in our community and want to put down roots here.”

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at 494 E. Adams Ave. in Sisters. The event will feature remarks from elected officials, community leaders and project partners, alongside light refreshments and activities. Stephanie Miller, development director for Sisters Habitat for Humanity, is coordinating media contacts for the gathering.

The event also marks 35 years of service by Sisters Habitat for Humanity in the area. Following the groundbreaking, attendees will gather at the final Woodlands home to dedicate the structure to the organization’s 100th homeowner.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — A dozen California condor chicks are developing flight feathers and taking short flights at the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation this month. The young birds, which hatched earlier this year, are preparing for eventual release into the wild.

The Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation is located on Metro-owned land in rural Clackamas County, Ore. The facility’s remote location minimizes human exposure to help increase the birds’ chances of survival in the wild.

The California condor was among the original species protected under the 1973 Endangered Species Act and remains critically endangered. In 1982, only 22 California condors remained in the wild, prompting wildlife officials to bring the remaining population into human care by 1987. Breeding and recovery programs have since expanded the global population to more than 600 birds, most of which are flying free.

Nicole LaGreco oversees the Oregon Zoo’s condor recovery efforts. She reported that the first chick left its nest box last month, while the remaining 11 are flapping and hopping closely behind.

“They’re not full-fledged condors yet,” LaGreco said. “But they’ll be feathered and flying on their own soon enough, getting ready to soar off into the wild.”

Earlier in September 2026, nine condors from last year’s cohort departed the conservation center for release sites in California and Arizona, where they will join free-flying populations. Since 2003, more than 150 chicks have hatched at the Jonsson Center and more than 100 zoo-reared condors have been sent to field pens for release. Additionally, several eggs laid by zoo condors have been placed directly into wild nests to hatch.

Upgrades and equipment at the Jonsson Center receive support from U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the Avangrid Foundation and donations to the Oregon Zoo Foundation.

The 12 young condors will remain with their parents for at least eight months before moving to outdoor pre-release pens for about a year ahead of their return to the wild.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mt. Bachelor received early-season snowfall over the weekend of Sept. 13 as the resort transitions into the final weeks of its summer season and prepares for the upcoming 2026-27 ski season.

Summer operations at the resort have shifted to fall hours. The Bike Park, Scenic Chairlift Rides and on-mountain amenities are open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. through Oct. 4. Additionally, season passes, Kids Ski Free passes and Outplay 365 packages remain on sale through Sept. 30.

Mt. Bachelor will host a passholder party on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 5:00 p.m. at Trailhead Lodge, the resort’s new hotel property and community gathering space. The event includes complimentary quick waxes and free beer for the first 200 passholders, along with music by Oregon Fryer, food from the Swig & Stone food truck, drinks from the Trailhead Café & Bar and a toast by Mt. Bachelor’s president and general manager.

During the party, local nonprofit NatureConnect Central Oregon will conduct bird-themed activities for children on the lawn, including feather investigation and crafts. Mt. Bachelor has committed $1,000 to the Youth Nature Access Fund and is encouraging passholders to help the campaign reach its $50,000 goal by October.

The resort will also hold a winter hiring event, Job-A-Palooza, on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room. The event allows job seekers to meet with hiring managers, submit applications and interview on-site for seasonal and year-round positions. Attendees will also have access to snacks, beverages and raffle prizes including skis, a snowboard, goggles and YETI gear.

Summer operations will officially end on Oct. 4. Skiers and snowboarders must purchase season passes and discounted pass packages by Sept. 30 before sales close.