Art by William Hamilton

Second Saturday Artist Reception

The Sunriver Artists Gallery, a cooperative endeavor of Sunriver-area artists, hosts a Second Saturday Artist Reception each month from 4-8 p.m.

“We have 30 local artists who represent various mediums, and not only do they have their work on display, but they also staff the gallery at least 2 days per month,” said owner Midge Thomas.

Selected on a rotating basis, several of the artists are highlighted each month. In addition to the featured artists, many of the other artists will be on hand during the reception.

“It’s a great chance to meet the artists and talk to them about their work,” said artist Dorothy Sweet. “Plus, we put on a good spread of refreshments down here.”

Upcoming receptions include:

Saturday, March 14 — Dorothy Moniz (painter) and Marily Badger (fused glass)

Saturday, April 11 — Mary Wonsor (weaving) and William Hamilton (painter)

Located in Building 19 in The Village at Sunriver, the gallery is wheelchair and stroller accessible and offers participants plenty of space to enjoy the unique and beautiful artwork. To preview the artists’ work or check for upcoming events, visit www.artistsgallerysunriver.com or call 541- 593-4382.

Meet Your Favorite Authors

What could be better than curling up with a great book? Meeting the author, of course! The author presentation series continues at Sunriver Books with a great spring lineup.

On Saturday, April 11, Kate Dyer-Seeley, who lives in Vancouver, Wash., will be the featured author. Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Books. Her recent release, “Slayed on the Slopes,” brings back sleuth Meg Reed, a 20-something writer who works for an outdoor adventure magazine but is a closet couch potato.

William Sullivan, noted hiking guide author, will present a slideshow on his latest book, “New Hikes in Eastern Oregon,” on Saturday, May 2.

“His slideshows are always entertaining. They make you want to go hiking!” said Deon Stonehouse, co-owner of Sunriver Books & Music.

Carrie La Seur, whose newest book is “The Home Place,” will visit Sunriver on Saturday, June 6. Her writing captures the stark nature of life in a ranching community centered on the vast plains of Montana.

And here’s some good news for fans of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire series: The author will be visiting Sunriver with his latest novel, “Dry Bones,” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 15 at the SHARC.

All other events start at 5 p.m. at the bookstore and are free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended; call 541-593-2525 or visit www.sunriverbooks.org. Happy reading!

Let the Kids Have Their Day!

Memorial Day weekend goes to the dogs and the kids in The Village Courtyard at Sunriver. Kids Day is Saturday, May 23, from 11 -4 p.m. There will be games and a bouncy house, face painting, a petting zoo, obstacle course, food and more.

“We outsource each individual attraction to a different Sunriver nonprofit,” said Ryan Smith, director of Alpine Entertainment, which hosts the event. “One group may run the cake walk while another one runs the snow cone section.”

A nominal portion of the proceeds goes into marketing the event while the rest of the profits go directly to one of the eight or 10 nonprofits present such as Boy Scouts or the Sunriver Nature Center. This event is a great way to have fun and to support Sunriver charities. There will also be a live DJ playing music to keep the kids hopping!

The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Ryan Smith at 541-593-5948 or visit www.villageatsunriver.com.

A Dog’s Day in May at The Village

For a howling good time Memorial Day Weekend, head down to The Village at Sunriver for the Dog’s Day in May, on Sunday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Highlighting the day is the Bark for Life 5K Poker walk/run, which will start and finish at The Village. The run is a tail-wagging fundraiser through the Bark for Life group, a canine subsidiary for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

“One hundred percent of the registration proceeds go to Bark for Life,” said Ryan Smith, director of Alpine Entertainment, which hosts the event. Last year, almost 75 people registered for the event that raised more than $2,000. The Humane Society of Central Oregon is also a beneficiary of the overall Dog Day event, and HSCO will be present for dog adoptions, selling raffle tickets and accepting donations.

A dozen or so dog-related vendors will be on hand selling treats and supplies, offering training tips, and a chance to get your dog’s portrait painted.

“Sunriver is very dog friendly, and people are now counting on this event which is in its sixth year,” said Smith. In addition to the vendors, there will be entertaining demonstrations, an amateur dog show and an agility course.

“There is a fastest eater contest where some puppy will crush the competition and then go to the next bowl,” said Smith.

The event is free and open to the public; dog food donations to HSCO are gladly accepted. For more information, contact Ryan Smith, 541-593-5948 or visit www.villageatsunriver.com

Swing Fore Strings at Sunriver Resort

Grab your clubs for a fun 18-hole golf tournament, Swings fore Strings, held June 7, on Sunriver Resort’s championship Woodlands Golf Course. Sponsored by Precision Body & Paint of Bend, the seventh annual tournament is not only a fun event with bragging rights, prizes and trophies at stake, but the event raises funds for the 38th annual Sunriver Music Festival and the Young Artists Scholarship Program.

“The scholarship program helps support young, serious musicians,” said Pam Beezely, executive director for the Sunriver Music Festival. “It also supports music education in the schools in South Deschutes County.”

The program awards more than $25,000 annually.

The scramble start format begins at 1 p.m. after a barbecue lunch. Organizers anticipate more than 100 golfers will attend, and some of the foursomes will have corporate sponsors such as The Bend Bulletin, Mid-State Electric and Cascade Disposal.

“We attract organizations that don’t typically sponsor concerts, but they do support the tournament which is great,” said Beezley.

In addition to the reception and awards ceremony, with complimentary refreshments and craft beers from Sunriver Brewing Company, there will also be par 3 challenges, games on different holes, and past recipients of the scholarship program performing at the reception.

Player entry is $125 and to register, golfers can call the festival’s office at 541-593-1084 or visit www.sunrivermusic.org. The Young Artists Scholarship winners concert is Sunday, June 14 at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church in Sunriver. The Sunriver Music Festival will take place in Sunriver and Bend, Aug. 7-19.