Taste of the Town, 6-10pm on Friday, March 1, will feature samplings from more than 20 Bend restaurants, live music by Pressure Point, dancing and a silent auction. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.  

The Meal of the Year event on Saturday, March 2, will feature a four-course gourmet dinner created and served by Cascade Culinary Institute students and chefs as well as live and silent auctions. Doors open at 5:30pm.

This year’s honorees, John Teller and Amy Tykeson, will be honored for their contributions to the Central Oregon community. John, a family practice physician, serves on the board of Volunteers in Medicine. Amy is the president and CEO of BendBroadband and serves as vice president of the Tykeson Family Charitable Trust and a board member for Economic Development for Central Oregon.

“In these challenging financial times, displaced or underemployed workers can enroll at COCC to receive the training and tools they need to change their careers or advance in their existing ones,” said Jim Weaver, executive director of the college’s Foundation. “Scholarships are an essential part of this process. An investment in the COCC Foundation is truly an investment in the local economy.”

Tickets for Taste of the Town are $25 per person in advance and $30 at the door. Meal of the Year tickets are $125 per person or sponsorship of a corporate table for 10 is $1,250. Tickets can be purchased at www.coccfoundation2013.eventbrite.com.

For information about the events, visit www.cocc.edu/Foundation-Events.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact Anne Walker: 541-383-7743.