Bonfire Snowshoe Events this week.

Wanderlust Tours is holding its Bonfire on the Snow events on Wednesday & Thursday (New Year’s Eve), Dec 30th & 31st. New Year’s Eve event is $85 per person, 9 pm to 1 am, & geared to adults. Wednesday event is $75 per person & includes transportation, snowshoes, guide, drinks & catered desserts. Kids 8 & older are welcome. Begins at 7 pm & reservations are required. Info & reservations – 541-389-8359 or http://www.wanderlusttours.com/

Area code dialing required starting 1/10/2010

Starting Jan 10th, all Oregonians in the 541 area code must dial all ten digits of the phone number (including area code) to make a local call. This change is being made in conjunction with the use of the new 458 area code. Residents and businesses should verify that their phone equipment can complete calls to the new 458 area code. To test your equipment’s capability, call the Bend test number at 458-333-8373. Info – 800-522-2404.

Ad for Central Oregon on TripAdvisor

This year, when travelers visit the TripAdvisor website for advice and reviews on where they should vacation, Central Oregon will be showcased as a possibility.

The Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA) is promoting the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the region in a "Spotlight Destination Ad" to the over 25 million monthly unique visitors who visit the popular user generated travel advice website.

This free online destination marketing feature is a fantastic opportunity to interest travelers in learning more about Central Oregon. To view the ad, click here.

All Bennington Properties' homes have been featured on TripAdvisor since 2008. Combine that with COVA's new ad and our properties have great exposure going into 2010.

Christmas in Sunriver

CHRISTMAS EVE MENU AT THE TROUT HOUSE – The Trout House restaurant at the Marina will offer a special Christmas Eve menu that is sure to add to your holiday cheer! Entrees include Slow Roasted Prime Rib of Beef, Veal Ossobuco, and Oven Roasted Pacific Steelhead. The Trout House also has a new dinner menu available. Info & reservations – 541-593-8880.

CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES – The Community Bible Church of Sunriver invites area residents and visitors to join its congregation for two Christmas Eve services at 5 and 6:30 pm. Services will feature carol singing, special music & a meaningful message. Located at Beaver & Theatre Drives in Sunriver. Info – 541-593-8342 or http://www.cbchurchsr.org/

MUSIC FESTIVAL OFFERS GIFT IDEAS – Sunriver Music Festival is selling festival posters, note cards, travel mugs, wine glasses & selected wines from Duck Pond and Eola Hills Winery . . . all to benefit the Festival’s music program. Located in building #25 in The Village at Sunriver. Info – 541-593-1084.

Triplet Update

The triplets are all doing great. The babies took their first trip to Sunriver to stay at Grandma and Grandpa Bennington's for Thanksgiving! Unfortunately, the girls each had to get FIVE shots the day before, so they weren't feeling too good and were pretty fussy but they still managed to have fun playing with Grandma and Grandpa (thank goodness for Tylenol!). Audrey started standing up, first on people's laps and then whenever and wherever she could! She still needs some hand-holding to stay up, but once up, she locks her little legs in place and just smiles and smiles. All three babies got weighed this week, and are definitely growing at their own paces! Audrey (the happy medium) was just under 15lbs, little Gracie was just about 10lbs, and Oliver was a whopping 17.4lbs!!! Grandpa must have been slipping him some turkey during Thanksgiving dinner! For more frequent photos and updates about the triplets, please visit our personal blog at http://benningtonsinbend.blogspot.com

All dressed up for the Oregon State Football game.

Audrey, Grace, and Oliver Bennington.

Mr. Bennington Junior

Gene Bennington (grandpa) with Oliver.

Penny Bennington (grandma) feeding Audrey.

Daddy and Grace (our littlest)

The Benningtons (I still can't believe we have three children).

Kelly Riley-Jones joins the Bennington team

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Kelly Riley-Jones to the Bennington Team. Kelly and her husband Rick had their home, 6 Wallowa Lane, on our vacation rental program for many years before they decided to move to Sunriver permanently in early 2009. In May of this year, Kelly joined our team to assist our reservations department at the front desk. Kelly loves Sunriver and it is apparent in everything that she does. We were flattered to find out that the only place Kelly would consider working in Sunriver is at Bennington Properties. Kelly has quickly become a valuable member of the Bennington Team and we feel very fortunate to have her with us. Next time you are in Sunriver please stop by and meet a fellow property owner turned employee.

kelly@benningtonproperties.com

Ideas to Increase Revenue

1. Price reduction - often a simple price reduction can increase the yearly revenue on a property considerably (see details below).

2. Advertise to co-workers, friends, and relatives. For every referral you send us for your property, we will reduce the commission on that booking to 25% (28.5% discount).

3. Add amenities - ping pong tables, foosball, pool tables, TVs, DVD players

4. Update furnishings - It doesn’t have to be anything too expensive. Sometimes just new bed spreads and a fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference on how the photos of your property look online.

There are many ways to develop and maintain a successful vacation rental. Three key factors continue to be the most important elements to reach success. First, attractive, themed and contemporary rentals continue to rise and become top producers. They photograph well and those images are the primary factor that guests rely upon when booking their vacation. Second, pricing is very important, especially in this new economy. Some owners have opted to try a price reduction, some are offering a free 4th night (often through our “Hot Deals” program), and some are offering other goodies, such as pre-paid gift cards. Third, homes with additional special features, such as foosball, ping pong, pool, etc tend to do well because these options offer fun for a wide variety of ages.

Please take a close look at your property’s webpage and see how it compares with the competition. If you want to improve your bookings, consider how the furnishings, floor plan and pricing look against other homes in a similar bracket. We have helped improve bookings and revenue for many owners over the years and are here to help if you are interested. We can help you prioritize where you are likely to get the most “bang for the buck”.

Our goal has been to try and be responsive to the different reservation patterns that have been emerging. We continue to have a higher booking average over our competition, but, like with all things in life, there is room for continued improvement. As you see various options being offered, ask yourself if this is something you would like to try, in an effort to increase your bookings. We welcome your input and appreciate having your eyes on the webpage to make sure we are maximizing your potential for bookings. For web and photo requests, please contact Daniel Nikita at Daniel_nikita@msn.com.

Kerri Kurtz joins the Bennington team.

We are excited to announce the addition of Kerri Kurtz to our reservations team. Kerri is a 2008 graduate of the University of Oregon where she majored in General Social Science and minored in Business and Trampoline - yes that is the trampoline you jump on (you will have to ask her about that). Kerri and her family have lived in the Sunriver area for over 12 years. Kerri joined us in October after spending the last 4 summers running the golf course beverage cart for Sunriver Resort. Kerri is an outdoor enthusiast and she brings with her a deep knowledge of Central Oregon along with a strong desire to serve her customers. We feel very fortunate to have found such a well educated, conscientious, and bright young lady to join our team.
kerri@benningtonproperties.com

Village at Sunriver Holiday Events

SANTA & HIS ELF HELP PROMOTE VILLAGE – Village at Sunriver has scheduled a number of holiday festivities & events that will take place Dec 19th thru 24th in the Village. These include Shop With Santa visits & Holiday Craft Time with Santa’s Elf that can be held in Village stores & offices for their customers.

VILLAGE AT SUNRIVER HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES – Bldg #10 (previously Sun Country Tours) will be transformed into the North Pole beginning Saturday, Dec 19th, with Santa & his Elf on hand for photos with kids. Hours to follow. Bend High School’s Dynamics Elite Jazz Choir will bring caroling cheer to various locations in the Village Dec 19th thru 24th. Locations & schedule will be available by Dec 19th. Info – 541-633-9600.

Dates set for owner workshops

To facilitate direct access between owners and the design team selected for the development of the amphitheater site, SROA has scheduled four workshops in January and early February. Further details on the workshop locations will come to you by e-mail and postcard later this month. But be sure to mark your calendars now. This is the main opportunity within the design process for Sunriver owners to influence the character of the facilities that are included in the proposed amphitheater development.

January 13, 2010 - Wednesday, 6 to 9pm, Portland

January 14, 2010 - Thursday, 6 to 9pm, Eugene

January 16, 2010 - Saturday, 1 to 4pm, Sunriver
This workshop follows the January board meeting

February 6, 2010 - Saturday afternoon, Sunriver

SROA Board makes decision on Aquatics

The SROA Board recently decided to pursue conceptual designs and cost analysis for a new aquatics facility and site development at the 22-acre amphitheater site in Sunriver. Additionally, staff has been instructed to provide the board with anticipated operating cost projections for all amenity features. Operation of the north and south pools will continue throughout the development process. Addressing the community desire for multiple facility locations, the board has also decided to continue operating the North Pool beyond the amphitheater development phase for the remainder of its useful lifespan. "Considering the complexities of the issue (Sunriver's aquatics future) and the fact that any decision would have a significant impact on the overall future of the Sunriver community for years to come; the board poured over all of the data, owner input and professional recommendations available... these components were critical in our decision to move forward as we did," said Tom Ped, board president.

Features to be considered on this site include an aquatics facility with all support structures and locker rooms, a multi-use facility coordinated to link year round activities on the site, the amphitheater bowl itself and a wintertime sledding area.

Owner forums, both inside and outside of Sunriver, are being scheduled to afford the design team direct owner input regarding the proposed features. Forum dates, times and locations will be announced as soon as details are confirmed. Following board approval, the proposed project will be voted on by the SROA membership in the 2010 annual election next summer. To learn more on the board's decision, and to see a summary of the survey results, be sure to pick up the December Sunriver Scene or visit the association Web site at www.sunriverowners.org. The complete survey results will be posted on the Web site after the Thanksgiving holiday. A big thank you to all who participated in the owner forums and the recent survey, as this information was clearly instrumental in the board's decision-making process.

We've got SNOW!!!!

It has been snowing the last few days in Sunriver and we finally got our sun back today. We have received approximately 4 inches this last week, although only about 2 inches remain on the ground. It is another beautiful day in paradise.

Its a gorgeous Saturday on the mountain

Mt Bachelor is still projecting a November 20th opening. The terrain is good 2/3 of the way up Pine Martin, but not so great on the top 1/3 (got rocks?). Mt Bachelor is farming snow at mid-mountain to try and cover up the lava rock wind blown areas.

Current Conditions
West Village Depth (6300')	22"
West Village Temperature	21° F
Mid Mountain Depth (7300')	22"
Pine Marten Temperature	18° F
Summit Temperature	21° F
Snowfall
Last Updated Saturday, November 14, 2009 09:40 AM
12 Hour Snowfall	3"
24 Hour Snowfall	3"
72 Hour Snowfall	13"
3" of New Snow since Thursday
Season Total Snowfall	61"

Bend one of America's 25 Recovering Markets

Bend's job market got hammered during the recession because it depends heavily on highly cyclical industries—construction, the retail trade, and tourism. As the overall recovery sets in, Bend and its highly volatile economy should bounce back faster than the rest of the country.

Q1 2010 annualized job growth: 0.8%
Q3 2009 annualized job growth: -4.7%

Paved trail may link Sunriver, Lava Lands

New path would be 5-mile jaunt for bikers and pedestrians.

SUNRIVER, Ore. — A new plan proposed by the U.S. Forest Service would link Sunriver with the Lava Lands Visitor Center by paved path for bikes and pedestrians.

The Bend Bulletin reports the idea is part of an ongoing effort to link Bend and Sunriver with a paved route. The Forest Service hopes linking the path to the visitors center would make some of the volcanic attractions in the area available by foot or bicycle.

For more information on the proposal, contact Amy Tinderholt at 541-383-4708 or atinderholt@fs.fed.us.

Read Bulletin article at: http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091008/NEWS0107/910080403/-1/RSSNEWSMAP

MT BACHELOR MASTER PLAN PUBLIC COMMENT SESSIONS

Community members are invited to participate in the public dialogue component of Mt. Bachelor's Master Planning process by reviewing the plan online and attending one of the three remaining scheduled public comment sessions. Prior to submitting the updated Master Plan to the US Forest Service, Mt. Bachelor is seeking comments and input from the public. Four meetings with the public will conclude November 10 followed by a review of comments and final adjustments to the proposal before it is submitted in late December or early January. For Map Review The first public meeting was held Oct. 29 and the second session is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Sunriver. The third session is slated to take place at the Portland Ski Show on Friday, Nov. 6 adjoining the ski show hall at the Portland Expo Center. The fourth and final session returns to Bend on Tuesday, November 10 at the Riverhouse Conference Center. All sessions will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at approximately 8:30 p.m. All the documents are hosted at www.mtbachelor.com/media.

Mt Bachelor plans next growth phase

On Thursday, Mt. Bachelor released a list of proposed updates to its master development plan, which outlines where and how the resort will grow.

Items at the top of the list include new mountain biking trails that would be serviced by the Pine Marten Express lift, a freestanding climbing wall at the Pine Marten Lodge, a summer downhill hiking trail from the top of the Pine Marten Express to the West Village and a new east-side chairlift that would service a new trail network of eight to 10 runs.

Mt. Bachelor is considering several improvements aimed at the summer season because of high demand from visitors.

“Mountain biking is the biggest part of what we think would be an attraction,” Mt Bachelor's CEO says. “We have unbelievably good cross-country mountain biking in Central Oregon already, and what we hear from locals and folks outside the area is that it would be great to have a gravity-fed experience off Mt. Bachelor.”

The second phase of development would be focused primarily on the Sunrise area, which would be transformed into an area for young skiers. The Sunrise Lodge would become a children's center with a new entrance and expanded parking area, and new beginner ski lifts would be added.

In the third phase, the Red Chair lift area would be renovated, and a new parking lot would be added in the West Village area.

With new air service, a link to East Coast

United Airlines has announced daily nonstop flight service from Redmond to Denver will be offered year-round. This is great news for tourism in our region. "We really see Denver not as the destination but really as just the one-stop service that opens up the entire East Coast" said Alana Audette, the President and CEO of Central Oregon Visitors Association. "All of the major metro areas east of Denver have nonstop service to Denver."

Tourism is estimated to have a $571 million annual economic impact on the region, according to COVA research, and air service plays a vital role in funneling in much of that business.

Denver International, the nation’s sixth-busiest airport, is one of seven daily destinations from Redmond Airport, joining Eugene (Horizon Air, effective in November), Los Angeles (Horizon), Portland (Horizon and United), Seattle (Horizon), Salt Lake City (Delta Air Lines) and San Francisco (United).

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air flies twice weekly to Las Vegas and the Phoenix area.

Flying a 50-seat regional jet operated by SkyWest Airlines, travelers can fly from Redmond to Denver at 11 a.m. and return from Denver at 5 p.m. daily.

But, most importantly, Denver represents the eastern-most airport a traveler can reach nonstop from Redmond.

“It’s a big airport and it gets you lots of different places eastward-bound, southeast, northeast and even on to international destinations,” said Roger Lee, the executive director of Economic Development for Central Oregon. “It’s one of the things that we lacked in this area for a long time. About four years (when Delta Air Lines began offering service to Salt Lake City) is all we’ve had eastern service in this region. Before that, we had to fly west in order to fly east,” he added.

At a time when many airlines are cutting back, Redmond has actually grabbed more seats with the addition of the Denver flight and United’s decision earlier this year to fly a 50-seat regional jet into San Francisco rather than a smaller propeller plane.

“Being able to open up the Denver service at a time when everything else is being cut back, I think, speaks volumes about Central Oregon and our potential for coming out of this recession and the airlines being able to see the long-term viability of Central Oregon,” Audette said.

LOCAL LEGISLATORS TO HOLD TOWN HALL

State Representative Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver) & State Senator Chris Telfer (R-Bend) will hold a joint Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, Oct 28th, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon, at the Sunriver Area Public Library. Purpose of the meeting is to discuss what has been happening at the State Legislature and what these two legislators can do for Central Oregonians. Info – 503-986-1453.

Sunriver Real Estate Update

By John Watkins, Broker

jdw48@mac.com

We closed out third quarter of 2009 (Q3 09) with a transaction volume of $10.3 million and 27 closed deals. By comparison Q3 08 had 25 closed deals and $12. 5 million in volume. Q3 09 had a carryover of pending deals from Q2 of $3.3 million and 10 transactions. The good new is that the carry over from Q3 09 to Q4 09 is 23 transactions and $10 million in volume. Q4 08 had 27 transactions and 14.3 million in volume, with the big carry over from Q3 09 to Q4 09 we could finally see a quarter over quarter $ volume increase in Q4 numbers.

Sorry for all the numbers, but they do tell the story. We are selling as many or more home than we sold last year in Sunriver, they are just less expensive homes. The market is improving because sellers are pricing there homes to sell and interest rates are now finally back below 5%.

The combination of low prices and low interest rates makes this truly the best of times if you are a buyer.

Goodbye Fall - Hello Winter!!

What we woke up to Sunday morning (October 4th, 2009).

Smoke blankets Sunriver

The smoke is from the Tumblebug Complex Fire, about five miles southwest of Crescent Lake, and the Boze and Rainbow Creek Fire west of Diamond Lake.

With hot, dry weather and an unstable atmosphere keeping the fires burning, they could keep sending up smoke for at least several weeks.

“They're both in the early stages of being suppressed,” Gibbons said. “With increased winds predicted, it looks like they're going to be active for the near future.”

The winds are still predicted to be pushing smoke toward Bend today and Saturday, said Joe Solomon, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pendleton.

Smoke levels are getting up in the range we consider to be unhealthy for certain groups,” said Mark Fisher, acting air quality eastern region manager with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, listing groups like the elderly, children and people with asthma or heart or lung conditions. “They should stay inside, hopefully in places where there's a good ventilation system or air-conditioning system that has a filter on it.”

For information on these and other fires burning around Oregon visit: http://www.nwccweb.us/information/firemap.asp

Here comes the SNOW!!!!

Photo taken 9-30-09

Photo taken 9-30-09

October is here - welcoming us with a crystal clear day and a snow covered mountain. Not super deep, but always nice to see. The Cone is looking good, meaning its white, but you'd have to be nuts to slide down it. 1" is not enough. Forecasts call for a brief warm up then a return to cold and snow over the weekend. October is lining up to be a busy month for Mt Bachelor (Packed with video premieres, ski shows and sports swaps). Be sure to check out Mt Bachelor's Events Calendar for a list of upcoming events. Winter opening day is projected for Nov 20. Check out a rundown of summer projects that you can look forward to this winter by clicking here.

Season Pass Options
A new 12-Day Pass priced at $399 joins the regular pass line-up this year and the soon-to-be-available Club Card offers a reduced rate on single day tickets. The 12-Day Pass and all other passes are available at the lowest rates of the year through September 30. Season pass information and product purchase details are available at www.mtbachelor.com.

Snowsports School Introductory Programs
The Mt. Bachelor Snowsports School has developed a host of new programs and deals to increase participation in snowsports while improving the skills of current participants. The new “Ski or Ride in 5” program offers 5 beginner lessons to be used throughout the season with special “graduation presents” for guests who complete the program, including free skiing for the remainder of the season. The popular All Mountain Kids season-long camps, which offer a summer camp experience on the snow with the same coach, are now priced including a full season pass. A new online portal at www.mtbachelor.com has been built for the Mt. Bachelor
Snowsports School to describe the variety of offerings available.

Sliding Scale Daily Tickets
Recently covered in Fortune Magazine, Mt. Bachelor is preparing to offer sliding scale daily lift ticket pricing based upon the amount of terrain available and weather conditions. A single day adult lift ticket will be $69, $59, or $49 depending on the day’s terrain and weather. More information about the sliding scale pricing model is available on the lift ticket page of www.mtbachelor.com.

New Trail Map
For the first time in 14 years, Mt. Bachelor has redesigned the ski area trail map artwork from scratch to improve guest navigation. Using new technology that combines high resolution satellite imagery with elevation data, the new trail map is more accurate than previous renditions and is completely to scale. The new technology has also allowed for the Westside of the ski area to be pictured in the same manner as the front side, as opposed to a smaller inset.

For more information visit: www.MtBachelor.com

MAESTRO TO TEACH MUSIC CLASSES

Central Oregon Symphony’s Maestro Michael Gesme will teach music appreciation classes from 6 to 7:30 pm, Oct 7, 14, 21 & 28, at the Sunriver Library. The classes, which include outlined discussion, music samples and enlightening stories, are free & open to the public (although donations are requested to help cover Maestro Gesme’s costs). The program is being hosted jointly by the Sunriver Music Festival and Friends of the Sunriver Library. Info – 541-593-9310.


CENTRAL OREGON SYMPHONY
http://www.cosymphony.com/

Michael Gesme will be starting his tenth season as Conductor of the Central Oregon Symphony and Associate Professor of Music at Central Oregon Community College. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he founded the Luther College Chamber Orchestra, and a Masters of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In his first season in Central Oregon (1996-1997), Michael conducted thirteen performances: six with the Central Oregon Symphony, and seven with COCC’s Magic Circle Theatre. A great deal of growth and change has occurred in our region over the past six years and this season Michael will be conducting no fewer than twenty-five performances with four different organizations: COS, Obsidian Opera Company, Obsidian Opera Chamber Orchestra, and the Cascade Winds. In addition, he was recently appointed as Music Director and Conductor of the Linfield Chamber Orchestra in McMinnville, Oregon. Michael and his wife, Janet, (who is sitting in the cello section) are the proud parents of Alexander and Zeta.

Michael can be reached at mgesme@cocc.edu

SPOOKTACULAR FUN IN THE VILLAGE

The Village at Sunriver is planning an entire evening of Halloween festivities on Oct 31st including trick or treating at Village shops, costume contest, scavenger hunt, carnival games & haunted house. 5 to 9 pm. Special Haunted Mini Golf open all day. Info – 541-593-5948.

Unsafe boat launch site at Harpers Bridge

Discussion of a boat launch near Sunriver is on the agenda for the Deschutes County Commission’s meeting.

Located along Spring River Road where Harper Bridge crosses the Deschutes River, the boat launch has been brought to the attention of commissioners by area residents who say the site has become unsafe due to heavy usage, increased traffic and lack of parking. A launch suitable for larger boats carried on trailers is on the south side of the bridge, while a more primitive launch for kayaks and rafts is on the north side. There are no dedicated parking areas nearby.

County staff have been looking into whether the developers, Crosswater Limited Partnership, met their obligation to provide a public boat launch as outlined when the county approved the development of the golf resort in the early 1990s.

Initial research by the county’s Community Development Department suggests the developers are in compliance, and that abundant wetlands and the location of a nearby tee box could limit the expansion of the launch site.

The Sunriver Homeowners Association has looked into the possibility of expanding the primitive launch site on the north side of the bridge, but the idea was abandoned due to liability concerns and the objections of neighbors. County staff report that it is uncertain if the proposal could be resurrected.

Firefighters contain blaze near Sunriver

September 25. 2009

Fire destroyed a storage building near Sunriver early Thursday morning, but firefighters stopped the spreading blaze from burning much of the surrounding brush and trees.

The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, Sunriver Fire Department and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the fire in the 17300 block of Jacinto Road about 12:15 a.m., according to a news release from the La Pine fire district.

The fire is believed to have started in a small wood outbuilding used for storage and then spread to surrounding areas. When fire crews arrived, they found the outbuilding was a “total loss,” but they held the wildland fire to about one-quarter of an acre. No one was injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, with the assistance of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, according to the release.

No more false starts at the Sunriver mall

After years of uncertainty, renovations should continue through late next year

By Andrew Moore / The Bulletin

September 20. 2009

After years of neglect and fleeting promises, change is finally under way at the roughly 35-year-old Village at Sunriver, formerly known as the Sunriver Village Mall.

Two of the outdoor mall's buildings were recently demolished and replaced with grass. Portions of the large courtyard area — covered in pavers — have been ripped up to make room for benches and landscaping, and plans for further renovations and demolitions are in the works.

“It's about time,” said Kevin Slane, co-owner of Village Bike and Ski Shop. “This place was kind of run-down, (and) any improvements, we're all for.”

The mall's owner is Rediscover Sunriver Village LLC, a partnership between Curry Architecture LLC and Colson & Colson Construction Co., both based in Salem. The mall's fourth owner in the past five years, Rediscover Sunriver Village purchased the mall in December 2008 for an undisclosed sum.

At the time, the mall was subject to foreclosure proceedings after then-owner Silverstar Destinations LLC had defaulted on its loan agreement.

Silverstar had plans to demolish the mall and replace it with multistory buildings featuring condominiums along with retail and commercial units on the ground floors, similar to other “village” redevelopments found at ski resorts such as Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia and Squaw Valley USA in California.

The company's vision for the mall, which is posted online at www.villageatsunriver.com, includes a smaller footprint with more natural areas but with significant cosmetic improvements, such as arched entryways and pedestrian features designed to make the mall more inviting.

Shelli Petersen of Rediscover Sunriver Village said that while her company would like to eventually incorporate a residential aspect into the mall, right now it's concerned with rehabilitating what's currently in place. This includes new cosmetic features for existing buildings, such as natural wood siding, stone columns and new gray composite roofs.

In a nod to sustainability, the new siding will actually be the old siding stripped of its paint, Petersen said.

Two additional building demolitions also are planned, along with the construction of a new arched entryway to the outdoor mall's retail interior, a welcome center, a 4,000-square-foot addition to the Sunriver Country Store and new vehicle access points to the mall.

The ice-skating rink also will be remodeled, with the addition of a warming hut, public restrooms and a heightened roof.

The company hopes to have remodeling work on the mall finished by next spring, Petersen said. The addition to the Sunriver Country Store — which measures 14,000 square feet — will begin after Labor Day next year.

All told, the project is slated to continue through December 2010.

“We're focused right now on getting that retail core really healthy and revitalizing what's currently there before we take on any future building,” Petersen said. “There is going to be a residential component to the village, so we're trying to get away from it being just a mall and more of (a) lively, thriving mixed-use development for daily business.”

Petersen said it's too early to say what the residential component might look like, but she said she would be surprised if it's more than 300 units.

Lingering in the mall Thursday afternoon enjoying Goody's ice cream, Seattle residents Linda Combs and Lew Humphreys said they were longtime visitors to Sunriver who used to spend afternoons with their children at the mall, but the couple said they would be reluctant to bring their grown children back.

“There's not enough to do here,” Combs said, critical of the retail mix and number of real estate rental companies. “And stuff is closed; (there's) no place to rent a movie. The building where Subway used to be is just gone.”

The mall has a number of empty storefronts. Sunriver Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dennis Smeage said a revitalized mall will be key to attracting new tenants. While there are some slight headaches now that accompany the remodeling, the end result will be worth it, he said.

“This is a good thing,” he said. “After so many false starts and high hopes, it's nice to see a group of owners with the resources to substantially renovate the village.”

Another of the mall's tenants, Jim Stone of Sunriver Sports, said a “fresh look” will help the mall bring back the shoppers who might nowadays head into Bend to shop downtown or at The Old Mill District. Stone said his business is down this summer roughly 10 to 12 percent over last summer, although he blames the economy rather than the state of the mall.

Still, Stone said he could expect next summer's business to increase if the mall is more inviting.

“The mall could possibly be a destination,” Stone said. “One of the things about malls is they are somewhat fixed in time ... they get old and stop attracting customers, and so this renovation is really required. It has to happen, otherwise people stop coming.”

Andrew Moore can be reached at 541-617-7820 or at amoore@bendbulletin.com.

Logging operations begin near Sunriver

FAST FACTS:

WHO: Sonny Timber Sale
WHAT: 1,150 acres of fuels reduction
WHEN: 6 AM- 3 PM, Sept. 21-Dec. 31 (approximately)
WHERE: Deschutes National Forest land north and east of Sunriver
WHY: Reduce possibility of catastrophic wildfires

HOW: B&S Logging of Prineville will cut 3 million board feet of timber and haul to Interfor Pacific in Gilchrist.

IN MORE DETAIL:

Sunriver residents and guests may hear heavy equipment noise early in the morning in the forests north and east of Sunriver for the next few months.

The Forest Service recently awarded the Sonny timber sale to Interfor Pacific in Gilchrist. Interfor Pacific hired B & S Logging of Prineville to cut and haul approximately three million board feet of timber from 27 units spread over 1,150 acres of federal forestlands near Sunriver.

The Sonny timber sale was specifically designed to reduce fuels in the forest around Sunriver to protect homes and lives from catastrophic wildfire. It is the first timber sale under the Sunriver Healthy Forest Restoration Act Environmental Analysis. The project was reviewed in 2007 and 2008 under the National Environmental Policy Act.

"Operations will start at 6 a.m. on weekdays and, during fire season, will end at 1 p.m. After fire season is over, they will be operating until about 3 p.m.," said Linda Fitzer, Deschutes National Forest representative. "Operations will stop at noon on weekdays before a holiday (Friday at noon for Monday holidays, Wednesday at noon for Thanksgiving, etc.). Warning signs will be in place for logging and hauling operations on all roads leading into the areas."

Fitzer said the 6 a.m. start time allows the project to be completed in a period of months versus years. She added that logging companies prefer to start work even earlier, often 3 or 4 a.m., but agreed to wait until 6 a.m., because the project is close to a residential area.

"It will be close to several homes and will be heard by some residents," Fitzer said.

The logging operation was scheduled to begin Sept. 21 in an area north and west of Cottonwood Road. Sunriver roads will not be used by the logging crews and several miles of old forest roads will be closed after thinning is complete. Motorists should expect to encounter logging trucks and equipment on Hwy 97.

Areas to be thinned include just north of River Village condos near Circle 7, near the canoe take out, and near the Benham Falls Day Use Area. A number of harvest units border the railroad tracks due east of Sunriver, and wrap around the resort-owned Lake Penhollow property.

Much of the forest along both sides of Cottonwood Road between Sunriver and Highway 97 will be thinned during the approximately four-month operation. The thinning along Cottonwood Road should allow more sun to shine on and melt snow and ice from the roadway during winter months.

Information: (541) 383-5561

REP WHISNANT ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY

Rep. Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver) has announced that he has filed to run for re-election as State Representative in House District 53. He served as the vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee in the 2009 session and on the Ways and Means Education Subcommittee. Info – 541-784-8900.

From Rep. Whisnant's website:

It is truly an honor to serve as your State Representative. I want to introduce myself to you and let you know that I am working hard to represent the citizens of District 53 in Deschutes County. As your Representative, my goals are to improve our state's economy, to make our government more efficient, to improve and maintain quality education, to make our communities safer, and to assist and honor our seniors.

I look forward to representing you and need to hear from you to understand your interests and views. I have alreayd had the pleasure of helping some constituents who were having problems with ODOT, the Oregon Health Plan, an Oregon Education Association insurance claim, and with the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission.

Please contact me at my district office (541)598-7560 or E-mail me at rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us with your ideas, comments, and concerns.

If you'd like to keep up on my official work for you, click here to receive my update.

Gene Whisnant

SROA fall road projects Sept. 14-24

The Sunriver Owners Association will repair and repave approximately 2.5 miles of residential streets in Sunriver through October 15. Eleven residential lanes scattered throughout Sunriver will undergo road base repairs and be overlaid with asphalt as part of the $220,000 road maintenance project. All the streets slated for repair and repaving have defects ranging from wheel ruts to settled spots, potholes and tree root heave, which contribute to broken and uneven road surfaces.

The first phase of the project, taking place Sept. 14-18, is to dig down eight inches and remove tree roots and road base failures, then repack the dig outs with gravel, and cap and level them with asphalt. Roads will remain open during phase one repairs, but traffic will be routed around the dig out work zones.

In phase two, crews will level the roads with a 1.5-inch asphalt overlay. Overlay treatments are scheduled to occur Sept. 21-24 and roads may be closed for up to 11 hours the days they are to be paved. (See schedule below). The end result will be “much smoother and level roads,” said Mark Smith, SROA Public Works Director. “This will be the new standard for the road work we do in the future.”

Decisions about which streets to repair were based on an independent survey of Sunriver roads and pathways by the asphalt management consulting firm, Capitol Asset Management, Inc. The survey rated these roads in “poor” and “very poor” condition. All future road maintenance work will be based on the survey.

Homeowners and guests on the affected streets are permitted to park their vehicles along the edges of neighboring streets so that their vehicles aren’t stuck in their garages or driveways during the closures. Sunriver’s rule against roadside parking is waived during construction on the affected roads but otherwise remains in effect throughout the remainder of Sunriver. Alternate transportation is available via Sunriver’s extensive walking and biking pathway system.

Home owners and occupants on the affected residential streets will be notified one week in advance of closures by road signs and informational fliers hung on door knobs of every home. Crews will go door-to-door the day before the closures to remind homeowners of the all-day road paving closures and to advise of alternate parking arrangements.

This road maintenance project did go out to bid and was awarded to Hooker Creek construction company of Bend, which offered the lowest of three bids received.

SROA’s road maintenance budget will more than triple next year, thanks to member approval of this summer’s reserve ballot measure. In the future, upwards of five miles of Sunriver roads and four miles of pathways will be repaved annually, in addition to other maintenance treatments.

STREET CLOSURE SCHEDULE

Monday Sept. 21
-Big Leaf Lane closed. No access to Cascara and Alberelo condominiums. Alternate parking on Ribes, Cottonwood or Cherrywood lanes.
-Acer Lane closed. Alternate parking along Vine Maple Lane.

Tuesday Sept. 22
-Shagbark Lane closed. Alternate parking along Cottonwood Road or East Cascade Road
-Cinder Lane closed. Alternate parking along Maury Mountain or North Imnaha lanes.
-Mt. St. Helens closed. Alternate parking along Crescent Mountain or North Imnaha.

Wednesday, Sept. 23
-Thrush Lane closed. Alternate parking along Cardinal Landing.
-Gannet Lane closed. Alternate parking along Kinglet Road.

Thursday, Sept. 24
-Crag Lane closed. Park along Grouse and Ridge lanes or East Cascade Road.
-Blue Grouse Lane closed. Park along West Cascade Road or Plover Lane.
-Rhododrendron Lane closed. Park along Overlook Road.
-Central Lane closed. Park along East Meadow Road

Owltoberfest 2009 - Starlight Gathering

Photograph courtesy of Sunriver Nature Center.

This golden eagle will be introduced to the public at the

Fall Equinox Celebration on September 19.

http://www.sunrivernaturecenter.org/

Mark your calendars for Saturday night, October 3, 2009,7:00-11:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Sunriver Nature Center under the big white tents. For $50 a person, you will be entertained, enjoy wine or microbrews and tasty finger foods and desserts.

Michael Jones, Weaver of Native American Tales, accompanied by traditional Flute music will entertain at the Owltoberfest. Keeper of thousands of stories, he will tailor his performance to Sunriver, our wildlife and our natural surroundings. As an adjunct professor at Portland State University for 22 years, he specializes in teacher education at the Living History Museum at Mt. Hood. Michael is director of the Cascade Geographic Society, has been featured on Discovery Channel and conducts The Portland Underground tours.

Bob Grossfeld will host a private star gazing party in the Observatory later in the evening. Wear informal and warm clothing, and flat comfortable shoes. Harry Hamilton, SNCO Board President, will unveil plans for the future development of Sunriver Nature Center.

There will be a Silent Auction of many quality items such as a handmade Raven and Moons quilt by Carol Webb, a Spirit Catcher quilt by Carole Elsbree, Diane Reed's Drinking Elk wildlife photo, a handmade jewelry set by Teresa Bowerman, a Picasso reproduction and more.

At 9:15 we will draw the winning raffle ticket for a European adventure cruise from Paris to Amsterdam (3 nights Paris, 7 nights cruising the Rhine and the Mozel Rivers) for two from April15 - 26, 2010. You do not have to be present to win the raffle; tickets cost $10 each or 11 for $100. For reservations to Owltoberfest or purchase raffle tickets for the cruise contact (541) 593-4394.

For information on this event and others hosted at the Sunriver Nature Center, visit: http://www.sunrivernaturecenter.org/html/special_events.html

Sunriver Real Estate - A tale of two Summers

The Summer real estate season in Sunriver has ended. 2009 saw a 34% decline in the value of homes sold compared to 2008. Interestingly 2009 had 24 transactions ( $8.8 million) and 2008 had 27 ($13.4 million), so the actual number of buyers was not significantly different. Buyers in 2009 were clearly taking advantage of the availability of many more low priced homes on the market than we have seen in a number of years in Sunriver. Much of this activity took place late in the summer selling season as people began to feel that the market in Sunriver had bottomed out.

Another piece of good new is that we closed out the season with 21 pending transaction totaling $9.4 million. These transactions should close in the next few months.

We still have 70 homes for sale in Sunriver under $400K. This will continue to give the bargain hunters lots to choose from as we move into the fall.

High end properties and lot sales continue to be hardest hit part of the market. As the economy continues to improve we do expect this part of the market to start to show some signs of life.

John D. Watkins
Broker
541-390-3600
jdw48@mac.com

Don't miss John's monthly Central Oregon Real Estate updates.
Visit his blog at http://centraloregonresortrealestate.blogspot.com/

List of local contractors added to website

A new feature we just added to our website is a list of local contractors that we use here in Sunriver. Visit our website to view the list. Any suggestions for contractors that you have used and would recommend can be sent to Robert Bennington at robert@benningtonproperties.com

http://www.benningtonproperties.com/propertymanagement/recommendedcontractors.htm

Win a 2010 Honda Insight - Nature Center

CAR RAFFLE RAISES FUNDS FOR NATURE CENTER – Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is raffling off a new Honda Insight gas/electric hybrid automobile to raise funds for its ongoing programs. Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100 & can be purchased at the Nature Center or by calling the information phone numbers listed below. No more than 3,000 tickets will be sold. You need not be present to win. The winning ticket will be drawn at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct 17th, 2009.

Info – 541-593-4442 or 541-593-4394.

More on Village Remodel / Deconstruction

GONE! Former site of Bella Cucina, Building 3, looking north.

BUILDING REMODEL TO BEGIN IN VILLAGE AT SUNRIVER – Rediscover Sunriver Village LLC has announced that it will begin exterior remodeling of building #22 in the Village in early September. Currently housing Goody’s & the Toy Kingdom (and mini golf upstairs), the remodel will serve as an example of the architectural style that the Village owners will apply to other buildings in the Village in the future. During the remodel, the pathways between buildings 21 & 22 and 22 & 23 will be fenced off, as will the parking/loading area behind buildings 21, 22 & 23.

LAWSUIT AGAINST SROA

The lawsuit brought against SROA and SilverStar Destinations, (After Rediscover Sunriver Village LLC purchased the village in late 2008, they were also named co-defendents in the suit.) by Sunriver homeowners Herbert and Betty Adelman, had received a summary judgement on August 7 in SROA's favor by Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Alta J. Brady.

Two Great Events coming to the Village

TWO GREAT EVENTS COMING TO THE VILLAGE – Village at Sunriver has announced two special events for September. On Saturday & Sunday, Sep 5th & 6th, 10 am to 10 pm, a “So Long for Summer Festival & Concert” will feature a Village-wide sidewalk sale, concerts in the courtyard area, face painters, street magicians, cartoonists & other performers. A concert on Friday night Sep 5th, in the courtyard next to the Village Bar & Grill, will kick off the weekend event. On Friday, Sep 11th, dust off your ukulele, don your hula skirt & lei, and head to the Village for the “First Annual Sunriver Village Luau!” Buffet style dinner featuring the fine restaurants of Sunriver and entertainment by Bill Keale & the Hokulea Hula Troupe of Central Oregon, 5 to 9 pm in the Pavilion (ice rink). $40 adults ($30 before Sep 5th), $20 kids 12 & under, 5 & under free with paying adult.

Info & tickets – 541-593-8704.

PAULINA LAKE ADVISORY - Algae Bloom

PAULINA LAKE ADVISORY – Health officials have issued an advisory for Paulina Lake in Newberry Caldera warning that water contact by people or their pets could be hazardous. The health advisory is being issued for high levels of blue-green algae that can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets should be avoided, as well as skin contact with water. Paulina Lake is located about 25 miles south of Bend and is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Info – 541-383-4000.

For more information on Blue-Green Algae, click here:

http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/envtox/docs/bgahealthconcernsfaq.pdf

Have you seen the Central Oregon movie?

If you have been to the movies in the last year hopefully you have seen this "preview" of Central Oregon before the movie starts. These "previews" are being shown in movie theaters across the state of Oregon. A wonderful ad created by the Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA) to attract visitors to Central Oregon. 70% of the Transient Lodging Tax (7% Deschutes County) that we charge guests goes to fund the marketing efforts of COVA

Click on the link to watch the short "previews." They really are quite extraordinary.

http://visitcentraloregon.com/central-oregon-commercials.html