Bend 101 seminar: Reminding residents and showing newcomers what being a Bendite is all about

(Update: Adding video and comments from attendees)

Amid continued growth, event connects people to history, nonprofits and more

BEND, Ore (KTVZ)-- The community of Bend has a lot to offer visitors and new arrivals, from hiking and skiing to breweries and shopping.

Tom Carlsen, who has lived in Bend for over 40 years, says he understands what it means to be a Bendite and wants newcomers to get an understanding on how special it is to be a Bend resident.

So Carlsen and others partnered with the Bend Chamber of Commerce to create Bend 101.

"I feel like Bend is for families, especially outdoors. Being able to go in the mountains during the winter. Then go golfing in the spring. Paddle boarding in the summer," said attendee Haley Jensen. "Just everything that you can imagine for families, and there are a lot of small families here, and with young children. And we loved that about it."

I asked Brooks Resources Chairman Mike Hollern if he planned on ever leaving Bend.

"Not really," he said. "We came here and said we would stay for two years. But we liked it so much, we never brought it up again."

So what makes Bend so special? And sets it apart from other cities?

"I'd have to say the small-town feel, and yet the opportunities for art and music," said Linda Redecker. "Just the culture and education."

The inaugural event included a history lesson on how Bend was founded, an introduction to some local nonprofits and tips on how to explore the area.

The event had 230 attendees who paid $15 to register, organizers said, and Bend 101 met its 250-person goal with staff included.

It took place Tuesday evening at the Tetherow Event Pavilion. They plan to hold it quarterly throughout the year.