In Response to, "From Homeless to Housed: Transitional housing project offers shelter, transformation and most importantly: Hope." (11/15)
Gene Gammond is an amazing person.
I was coming back to Central Oregon from my fourth prison stay and he fed me my first real meal in several years, helped get me into clean and sober housing and I have never been back to prison—going on eight years now!
I have a job, a family, and a new way to live. Gene Gammond is a huge part of my success, if you know who I am and see that I'm a completely different person now. All it takes sometimes is someone who cares about you to make all the difference in the world.
Gene is now one of my best friends, my children call him uncle, and I call him a savior. This is a good idea for Central Oregon, all it takes is for someone to care! Congratulations Gene on helping others and giving back to others that could not have done this for themselves. You as well Sally!
— Chuck Millsap
Thank you so much Sally Pfeiffer and crew for everything you do! I am so grateful.
— Shaela England
In Response to, "Bend's New High School Location Announced" (11/15)
No issue with the location only that there are already three other schools on that road and the traffic situation/highway safety is already awful. Hope they figure out how all that extra traffic is going to be managed.
— Allison Dickerson
So there is going to be a fourth school on O.B. Riley Road? That is a little ridiculous.
— Tyler Mathers
In Response to, "Bend Weather Emergency Declaration Allows for More Temporary Shelter Space" (11/15)
Talk is cheap. Meantime back at the ranch, let's get it going. My church walks the walk talks the talk. WE need cold weather for the homeless in Bend!!!!!!!
— Michele Caputo Knowles
During the Season of Giving, Thank You
On behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, I would like to sincerely thank The Source Weekly for their generous donation to Comedy For Kids' Sake! We are very grateful for their support of our program. Please support this local business who cares for the youth of Central Oregon! Thank you!
—Bridget Albert, BBBSCO Community Outreach Coordinator
A Call to 'Love Our Local'
Change is inevitable, they say, such as with the movement of people.
Yet, I think, "Why do they have to move to here, where I grew up, where I graduated from high school more than 15 years ago, where I want to buy a house now — and can't?" That has increasingly become my story, and often our story.
We need to realign our perspectives, and deepen our community heart. We are at a crossroads where we have the option to grow our home responsibly and respectfully. We need to do this together — not divided into newcomers and natives – but rather unified, within humanity.
So, how do we do that? We:
1) Are kind to each other. We say our please and thank yous, we open doors for one another, we smile and wave in traffic. We slow down and do the small things.
2) Stop comparing. Newcomers, please stop comparing Bend to where you came from, especially in terms of cost and traffic. Locals, please stop comparing Bend to what it used to be, especially in terms of cost and traffic.
3) Express gratitude. We are grateful to one another and to the beautiful home that we have built and will continue to build.
4) Meet others with respect. We ask questions, we listen, and we don't judge so quickly. We help each other and we love each other, celebrating our commonalities rather than ingraining our differences. We respect our culture and one another, and we are aware of our impact here.
In reality, in day-to-day life, I know some of these things are hard to do. But they add up. Please keep thinking of ideas, and sharing them, and putting them into action.
Bend will continue to grow, but let's grow it mindfully and make it an even more amazing place to call home. We all must sacrifice some of our thoughts and stories for this to work. It is going to take each one of us—families and friends and strangers—to raise our village, together, and to love our local.
— Kimberly Bowker
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Kimberly: Kudos on #2. "Be here now." Come on in for your gift card to Palate!
— Nicole Vulcan, Editor
