RE: “Historic Skyliners Lodge to Close in June,” 1/1
This is a great opportunity for a building/roofing company with deep pockets in our community to do the right thing. Perhaps they could donate the labor for this roof repair as a tax write-off for the nonprofit and the funds already secured by the Forest Service might cover the materials. What a community treasure this is and I hope the Clarks can stay on as caretakers.
RE: “The Immorality of Bend’s Traffic Engineers and Political Leaders” Letter, 1/2
I entirely agree with James Teeter’s observations on the inherent risk of the flashing yellow lights at multi-lane pedestrian crossings. The dangerous 12th and Greenwood crossing (cited by James) is heavily used by students on their way to Juniper Elementary School. It was there on a recent night that my dog and I came within millimeters of being smacked by a driver speeding past a vehicle that had already stopped for us. I would suggest installing speed bumps on both sides of the RRFB crossings (as well as school zones). The historic animosity of the City of Bend to neighborhood traffic calming devices is beginning to taper off, but we still need them extensively — not just on greenways.
—Foster Fell via bendsource.com on 1/6
RE: “Homeowners Insurance Continues to Rise in Vulnerable Areas,” 1/15
Thanks for the article on homeowners insurance. Taking a large step back from what’s taking place on the ground, we might wonder what the future will look like. Following the devastating fires in L.A., insurance rates for everybody are only going up. This reminds us that we are indeed all in this together. The thing is, as flooding increases, as storm intensity (hurricanes, tornadoes) increases, as fires increase, our insurance companies will reach the place where insuring homes is just not possible. The biggest red herring around is this blaming the fire department, the hydrants, the lack of water infrastructure, the governor of California and on and on and on…. These full-on attacks do absolutely nothing to address the main source of the problem: our behavior, both individual and collective, which is causing climate change. The lemmings are running merrily along, straight toward the cliff of no return.
—Robert Currie
RE: “Growing Pains,” 1/8
Smart growth apparently went out the window when the Caldera Ranch project was approved. Why build 700 new dwellings in an area where the adjacent community (in the same fire risk classification) is having insurance issues? Many residents of the abutting neighborhood of Woodside Ranch are seeing their rates double, triple, quadruple and/or are finding their policies are not being renewed by insurers who tell homeowners they’re “uninsurable.” This newly approved project is supposed to have more affordable housing, how will the increased insurance rates affect these new homebuyers? Higher rates might cancel out any cost savings and render homes unaffordable. This is NOT SMART. Additionally dumping 700-1,400 additional vehicles on two lane Knott Road is a Paradise event in the making. This is also NOT SMART.
Bend talks a good talk, and an economy driven by building and expansion will not survive in the next recession that will come sooner rather than later. The need for more housing is a self-perpetuating argument to continue to build. The real issue is: Are more new structures needed for current residents, or do we need to rethink the status of second homes, seasonal rentals, investment property owners and, of course, livable wages? I feel that Bend is overbuilding hurriedly to take advantage of the quick UGB expansion process. City Council was quoted acknowledging that in OPB yesterday (1/13). Irresponsible governance.
—Marilyn Hofmann-Jones via bendsource.com on 1/14
RE: Response to “Recycle Runners” Letter, 1/9
I lived for a time in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. There was a feature at the town dumps that I think would be great to put into practice in our area. At each one there was a “Gift Shop” where things that were still in good condition could be saved from the landfill and given another life. It was a great resource for items of all kinds and staffed by volunteers. For a deeper look check out Orleans, Massachusetts, town dump.
Letter of the Week: Virlene, I love this idea! Stop by and get your gift card to Palate.
This article appears in The Source Weekly January 23, 2025.
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By far, San Mateo, California, harbors the very safest pedestrian crossings. There on the ultra busy 4 lane El Camino a touch of a button grants a person a steady red light, which then, after adequate time to cross, changes to flashing red. I think our intrepid walkers and rollers deserve a solid red as well–especially on multi-lane roads.