Two new Central Oregon Community College buildings will be opened to the public this afternoon.

The Health Careers Center and the Science Center are both products of a $41.5 million COCC bond measure passed in 2009 and will help the school expand offerings in the health and science fields, said campus officials.

The buildings are sleek and modern, fitting in with a new campus center added to the school’s stable of facilities in 2009.

The George Winston show that was to happen Sept. 25 at Bend's Tower Theater as been canceled citing "medical reasons".

We will update with info regarding ticket refunds when we receive it. 

UPDATE: You can receive refunds at the Tower Theater box office.

Need a little push to get over the workweek hump? The Tumalo Creek Pickin’ and Paddlin’ Music Series continues tonight with food, libations, product demos and music by Polecat. Polecat has a little something for everyone blending bluegrass, country, Celtic and world music into a sound that has filled two albums and been fine-tuned at over 200 shows in the last two years. Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe, 6pm.

 Accomplished Americana, folk musician Craig Carothers has traveled all the way from Nashville to play a free show at McMenamins tonight. Successful in his own right Carothers has performed with a long list of musical luminaries including Roseanne Cash, Boz Scaggs and Robert Cray. He delivers soothing songs that are soft and full and his prolific songwriting career has led to his songs being recorded by artists like Trisha Yearwood and Kathy Mattea. McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 7pm.

 The Good Hurt is like when your stomach is sore from a laughing jag or how your belly feels after a Thanksgiving feast. More to the point its how your ears feel after listening to tracks like Only in Your Mind and how your body feels after dancing to Blowing Up Tryin’ 2b Somebody. The Good Hurt is an unsigned self managed band from Manchester, England that  generates infectious beats and writes intelligent lyrics delivered in a sexy English accent by frontman James Lanman. Their sound draws from California pop, alternative rock and Motown funk. Listen to a few tracks off their debut album You Are Here and you’ll understand why they’ve played impressive venues like Slim’s in San Francisco and the Bitter End in Manhattan and at music festivals like SXSW. This is one of those rare opportunities Bendite’s sometimes get to see a band on the rise in an intimate venue for only $5. See you there. Silver Moon Brewing,  9:30pm.

The storm surrounding a leaked McDonald's internal memo indicating the 2012 launch of the popular McRib pork sandwich (which normally comes out in October) will be postponed until December, is strengthening. 

Speculation as to the real reason the release has been pushed back to the fourth quarter is causing controversy and heartache. Tens, possibly hundreds of McRib fans are rumored to be planning protests that will occur as soon as they lose enough weight to get off of their couches. It may be the largest pre-planned protest America has ever seen not happen. 

The leaked document refers to an effort by McDonald's to bolster sales during the 2012 fourth quarter as a result of 2011 being so strong. But some in the media (me) think that is just smoke screens and mirrors. Could McDonald's be scrambling to build inventory of the sandwich due to reports of potential increased demand? Are they going to join the Fox News imagined "War on Christmas" with an ad campaign desecrating Santa Claus by placing a sauce drenched McRib in his mitten'd paw? 

Whatever the motive for the delayed McRib release, one thing is clear-- if the Mayans are correct... none of us will get to taste the tangy, pre-formed meat goodness of a McRib ever again. 

A controversial proposal to build a new Sno-Park at Kapka to Butte along the Cascade Highway has been given the green light from Forest Service.

The Bend Fort Rock Ranger District announced that it intends to go forward to with a plan to build 70 new parking spaces at the intersection of the Sunriver cutoff (Hwy. 45) and the Cascade Lakes Highway as part of the new sno-park. In addition the Sno Park will offer additional off-leash opportunities for dog owners and a trail system for Nordic skiers. The sno park is designed to create create more high-elevation winter recreation opportunities and to alleviate crowding at other sno-parks, including Dutchman Flat. However, the proposal had drawn criticism from some user groups including a large contingent of snowmobilers who advocated for an expansion at Dutchman, an option that the Forest Service took off the table early because of environmental and aesthetic concerns. Kapka has also been a hot button issue for backcountry advocates who argued that an expansion of motorized recreation should be offset by more non-motorized management, including an expansion of the Tumalo backcountry zone. Forest Service officials resisted that pitch.

Bend Park and Recreation District will hold a meeting tonight to allow the public to testify about issues related to the Bend Senior Center and the United Senior Citizens of Bend.

One issue: the meeting wasn’t noticed to the public until today.

Critics of the parks board say the district is playing a “shell game” by not making it clear to the public when testimony could be given on the issue.

But, it may just be a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” kind of deal for the district.

Here’s the story: the district is managed by a board of directors who have been debating what to do about a recent claim by USCB that the district owes the group nearly $1 million dollars. USCB says the district owes it the money after a dispute over the Bend Senior Center.

Leadman!

Another endurance race will descend on Bend this weekend, but this one, a triathlon, is totally insane.

The Leadman Tri is a 250-kilometer race (155 miles) that starts with a chilly 5-kilometer swim in Cultus Lake. The water temperature is expected to be low 60s at the 7 a.m. start. After a lengthy swim, competitors will ride around Mt. Bachelor. Twice. Yep, the 223-kilometer bike segment (138 miles) takes racers over the pass at Bachelor two times as they slog around the Cascades Lakes loop. And to cap off the day, they’ll then run 22 kilometers (13 miles) along the Deschutes River and Tetherow Golf Club before finishing at the Old Mill.

Life Time Fitness, the promoters and event coordinators behind the famous Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race, are presenting the epic triathlon which boasts a $50,000 prize purse for the pros. Bend’s Matt Lieto hopes to finish on the pro podium and bring home a chunk of the cash. First place takes $10,000.

Flagline 50k Run 

No, that's not a typo.

Hood River's newest (best?) brewery has a funny handle because it's named after one of the owners—Josh Pfriem.

The 15-barrel brewery, which opened less than two months ago, makes kick ass beer and has clearly separated themselves from all of the pretenders by picking an angle—Belgian-style beers—and making them well.

We were there on Sunday and found seven of their beers on tap inside the building that was accented by the new now Northwest norm—concrete, wood and steel. The brewery is part of the new development by the Hood River waterfront park, near the Columbia River and the kiteboard launch.

That right, our own Deschutes Brewery is stepping out into the music scene with locally produced videos of nationally recognized artists performing river inspired covers songs, live on the banks of the Deschutes River. 

The videos are an attempt to raise money and awareness for the Deschutes River Conservancy, an organization that focuses on sustaining the quality of the river for both human use as well as a habitat for wildlife. 

First up to record a video was Eric D. Johnson of The Fruit Bats. Coming soon will be videos from Laura Gibson and Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper (who recently opened for Brandi Carlile in Bend). 

The videos are promoted through a partnership with the oft scrutinized but nevertheless popular music site Pitchfork. 

I've written about Bellingham Washington's ultra-talented bluegrass band Polecat before, and I don't intend this to be the last time. Their music is just too damn good and the vibe of their shows is just too damn sexy-- in a boot-stompin' sweaty kind of way. 

After showing up in Bend at the 2011 Summer Fest for the first time, it seems Polecat has found a home away from home and have been here several times over the last year plus. This will be their first show at Bend's popular weekday hang out GoodLife Brewing, and the five piece takes the stage tonight at 6pm. 

If you love this band but for some reason can't make it out this Tuesday, don't fret my pet... Polecat is scheduled to be back October 27 at McMenamin's as well as Nov. 2 at The Domino room when they will open for The Infamous Stringdusters. 

In the meantime, check out this video from last year's Summer Fest.