The Monster UGB Expansion

Posted inOpinion

The Monster UGB Expansion

Eric Flowers

Bend’s Manifest DestinyThe Bend real estate market is in the crapper. What would you do about it? Well, how about putting 9,000 more acres of developable land into the local inventory by bringing it inside the city's Urban Growth Boundary?
Sound a little nuts to you? Yeah, us too. But that's what the Bend Planning Commission has recommended, and what the city council will be debating later this month.

As late as last summer the commission was contemplating bringing a far more modest expanse - about 4,900 acres - inside the UGB. But then the real estate / development / builder lobby spoke up - including some real heavy hitters like Brooks Resources, the Day family (Hooker Creek) and the Miller family (Miller Tree Farm).

Posted inOpinion

Farewell Mr. Friedman: City council loses a veteran voice, the future of transit, more

The Source Staff

While most eyes were on the presidential race, Upfront watched as the Bend City Council quietly shifted in favor of the builders and developers lobby which again poured money into several races and came away the big winner with three of its four candidates winning seats.

However, the election was quickly overshadowed by news that longtime city councilor and two-time former mayor Bill Friedman was hospitalized in critical condition following complications from back surgery.
On Sunday, news broke that Friedman, 72, had died.
So long, BillDetails about the exact circumstances around Friedman's death were slow to emerge, but the city announced on Monday that it will hold a memorial service 1 p.m. Saturday at Farewell Bend Park, which in true city council fashion will include a "citizen comments" open mic session per Bill's wishes.

Posted inOpinion

Where’s The Music?

Eric Flowers

I was very disappointed in the Veteran's Day Parade this past Saturday in Bend. It may be one of the biggest in Oregon, but it was lacking in the music department! Just three bands for the entire parade? Where are the local high school bands? Where are the Armed Forces bands? Where are some local bands (drum and bugle corps, for instance)? It was nice to see how many people participated in the parade, but musically it was too quiet.

Posted inCulture

The Didjeridude: Tyler Spencer puts a new spin on an Aboriginal Australian instrument

Mike Bookey

Tyler Spencer and a prized didjTyler Spencer was only 15 when he stumbled across a metal tube in his
parents' basement and happened to blow into it, creating a unique
resonating sound. While the tube was actually a piece of exercise
equipment, Spencer's father told him about an Australian Aboriginal
instrument called the didjeridu. Spencer began scouring reference books
and other materials, eventually creating his own out of a pine log for
a school project. Fast forward 15 years and Spencer now makes and plays
this ancient instrument for a living, having even gone to Australia's
Northern Territory and studied under the highly respected Aboriginal
elder Djalu Gurruwiwi. Based out of his home on Bend's east side with a
recording studio just off of the workshop where he creates his
instruments, Spencer is bringing ancient Australian traditions to
Central Oregon and he's doing it with style.

"I make very high-quality didjs for people very serious about playing …
it's kind of my duty to pass on my experience and what I've learned,"
he says.

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