February 14th is always a special day in Downtown Bend. A day where families, lovers, and community come together and share love throughout Downtown. For the past eight years on Valentine's Day, students, teachers, and families from The Waldorf School of Bend have come down early in the morning to Downtown and hang up knitted hearts. Each heart can be found on businesses, telephone poles, and trees. They are meant to be taken from the spot they are found and given to someone as a way to share love to family and friends. 

"Hearts have been lovingly made by our school community, residents at Fox Hollow, employees of WoolTown, and volunteers from Healing Reins," teacher, Rebecca McGuire, said. This year over 2,000 hearts were made and delivered throughout the town. 

​Love was also shared by the Boys and Girls Club of Bend. The children wrote 40 Valentine's Day cards that were delivered by the Downtown Bend Business Association (DBBA) staff to businesses in Downtown Bend. 

"We are so happy that Boys & Girls Club of Bend could help spread the love across our community," Baylee Maloney, Development and Outcomes Associate, said. "We're so grateful to partner with the businesses Downtown and spread kindness this Valentine's Day!" 

Bronwen Jewelry has been a treasure in Downtown Bend for many years. Recently, the business is getting Olympic-level attention. Bronwen Jewelry has teamed up with U.S. Olympian Nordic Skier, Novie McCabe.
 
McCabe is from Winthrop, Washington. She is a rising star on the Nordic racing circuit. “Nordic skiing is a lifelong sport,” McCabe said. “I’m excited and passionate about it, not just the results, but for the lifestyle.”
 
McCabe and her mom have been customers at Bronwen Jewelry for many years and a friendship was formed. Now, McCabe is their newest ambassador. “Our ambassador team is very small and we are like family,” Bronwen Jewelry owner, Bronwen Lodato, said. “We have grown our team of awesome women through organic, authentic connections just like this one.”

​As an ambassador, McCabe will be wearing Bronwen Jewelry in photoshoots and at the Beijing Olympics! When asked how she feels about her jewelry being worn at the Olympic games, Lodato was giddy. “Our customer community literally does amazing things all the time and I’m equally thrilled for them,” she said. “I’m no less thrilled that Novie feels RAD wearing our jewelry in Beijing and every other day for that matter.”
 
McCabe says she loves wearing jewelry and has worn Bronwen Jewelry’s line of active, water-friendly necklaces, earrings, and bracelets for years. “I’m almost always in athletic clothes,” she said. “I’m sweaty and gross. Wearing jewelry makes me feel better.”
 
Novie’s favorite pieces include; Stretch Halo Bracelet, Double Beleza Bracelet, Goldweave Necklace, and the stacking Sun Disc rings. You can find all these items on Bronwen Jewelry’s website.
 
Be sure to watch Novie McCabe and all the U.S. Olympians on NBC from now until February 20th.