Opinion

Where I live, I look outside and see what I would describe as a fairy-tale castle scene. From the lush, plentiful trees, to the abundance of nature that buzzes around, it is a fantasy land - one that I would choose to live in if I could choose nearly any place in the world.
But there, on the outskirts of my beautiful view, I see the beginnings of what looks like more apartments. Yes, they are going to chop out yet more of the beautiful scenery on the Westside that we enjoy every day and replace it with apartments, concrete, and a treeless view.

I am a third-generation Oregonian. I cannot even begin to express the joy I felt with the passing of Measure 49. I felt as if humanity, in a sense, had redeemed themselves. Oregon has been able to hold on to her beauty for so long. It has been so distressing to watch this great land disappear to massive developments. The wildlife has suffered the most. Just observe all of the dead animals on the road.

We can't do it alone; we really need your help. We need you to be at school board meetings and tell the members why you think military recruiters need to go back to their military recruiting offices, or at the very least those of us who actually served in the military should be able to tell our story. Young students are making a life-and-death choice, and this decision should be made from an informed, balanced viewpoint and not a one-sided, biased view, which is now the case. I thought this was what education was all about.

My wife and I live in New Hampshire but spend about five months in Bend every year, usually through the winter months. This winter I can't tell you how disappointed I am at the conditions of the roads, sidewalks, parking lots of stores, parks, etc. in the city and surrounding area.

Q: What's the difference between Crappy Roundabout Art and Snow Plowing?
A: The City of Bend only pays for one of them.
We have crappy roundabout art that the City of Bend has spent money on all over town – yet we don't pay to maintain our roads after a storm???
Driving around Bend after it snows is like taking your car down the Air Chamber at Bachelor.

Two recent divisive headlines ring sour. 1) "Spousal rights for same-sex partners on hold" and 2) "Judge thwarts gay partnerships law."
Doesn't "There's something rotten in" apply only to Denmark? Nope, it's right un-der our noses here in Oregon!
An injunction was requested and honored by Bush appointee Judge Michael Mosman to put a hold on domestic partnerships. The law was to take effect Jan. l. On Feb. l Mosman will consider the issue. The foes argue that if the law went into effect it would violate the rights of those who signed the petition!? If you think that's gobbledygook, Judge Mosman said a "fundamental right" is at stake when voters sign petitions. The "fundamental right" is the "right" to petition the government. The peti-tioners failed to obtain the required number of signatures for a referen-dum. Now the foes are "passing the buck" by stating that it wasn't their fault, it's the fault of state officials who rejected the petitions! Hello? Signing a petition is not a vote; it's merely a request to place an issue before the voters for approval or rejection. A failed petition(er) has no rights except to re-petition! (Source: Secretary of State.)