The Bend Oregon Report

Seems like we just can’t get a break with the weather. It was cold and nasty for longer than most people can remember. Then we had a nice few days. Then lightning. Now fires. Hopefully we will still be in for a nice Fall season.

Click here to see fires currently burning in the NW

It seems like we get a pricey new restaurant downtown every month. I haven’t tried them all - it’s impossible to when funds and time are limited - so choosing which to go to can be a difficult decision. Last week we decided to skip some of our favorites (Marz, Cork, Jackelope) and give Volo a try. Volo is in the new 919 Bond Building - on the same block as Soba Noodle. The restaurant is well designed and decorated with a large bar are that includes a few comfy couches to lounge on while enjoying a cocktail. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. The food was fantastic. As good as any I’ve had in Bend. My only complaint would be that their wine by the glass is the most conservative pour I have ever seen. Think of them as 2/3 of a glass an plan on ordering frequently. We plan on ordering a bottle when we visit Volo from now on - clearly this is one place where the bottle price becomes a relative “good deal” compared to the glass price. Overall - a solid “A”.

Volo Bend

Oh and one other complaint - Volo - for cripes sake, remove the music from your website. Music sucks on websites.

Spring is the worst season in Bend for weather. That is unless you like wind, freezing cold temps, and a relentless mixture of snow, hail, and rain. A Spring trip to a warmer locale can really raise the spirits of the winter-weary Central Oregonian. I recently spent some time in San Francisco and Marin county and had a great time. Weather was great, food was great, and there were endless things to explore from the neighborhoods of eclectic San Francisco to the quaint towns, farmland, beaches, and trails of Marin. I also took a drive through Sonoma and Napa for some wine tasting. Cheap? No. Worth it? You bet.

Local press release:

April 16, 2008
Contact:
Bridget Burns
Campaign Manager
Jodie Barram for City Council
www.jodiebarram.com

Jodie Barram announces candidacy for Bend City Council Position 2

Bend, OR, April 16, 2008- Planning Commission vice chair Jodie Barram declared her candidacy for Bend City Council today. Barram announced her intention to seek the city council seat currently occupied by Mayor Bruce Abernethy, citing her history of community service and leadership within Bend as qualifications. With more than 9 years of experience as a volunteer, advocate, and leader in the Bend community, Barram intends to utilize her keen understanding of the important issues facing Bend to improve communication and understanding surrounding city hall.

“I am passionate about serving the people of Bend. As a planning commissioner in touch with our community, I have a keen understanding of the diverse values and interests within Bend. The success of our community will require effective collaboration and improved communication from city council. Wise choices for our future require dialogue across a spectrum of viewpoints, and I’m prepared to do everything it takes to see our community succeed.” said Barram.

Fellow planning commissioner, school board chair, and COCC instructor Nathan Hovekamp stated that “”Jodie is dedicated to preserving and improving what’s best about our community. She does her homework, listens to the public, and makes decisions with the conviction that grows from integrity and courage. Jodie is a proven civic leader with experience in urban planning, community visioning, and public education. She will be an excellent city councilor that Bend can rely on to work hard and to provide sound, sensible, and smart direction.”

With her wealth of leadership experience in Bend, Jodie Barram is clearly in touch with our community. This announcement comes with the unveiling of www.jodiebarram.com as a resource for the community to voice concerns on local issues, as well as find out more about her candidacy. A campaign kickoff event will be held April 23rd at Desert Orthopedics (1303 NE Cushing Dr # 100) from 7-9pm.

Biography:
A native Central Oregonian, Jodie (35) returned home to Bend over 9 years ago. With deep roots in Deschutes County she observed the tremendous changes throughout the region (some good, some bad). Jodie is focused on achieving the important balance between planning for the inevitable growth of Bend and protecting our unique heritage. Jodie’s history in banking, managing employees, and demonstrated commitment to leadership transparency make her an ideal fit for the current needs of Bend in a climate of renewed fiscal responsibility.

The impending development of Juniper Ridge was the catalyst that drove Jodie to city service. She was appointed to the Planning Commission by the Bend City Council in 2004. She was elected and has held her current vice chair position since 2006. Heavily involved with Bend 2030 as a member of the Project Management Team, she solicited input from every corner of Bend and helped oversee the process of this endeavor for the future of Bend.

Jodie was formerly the President of Oruza Oil Company, and currently works for High Desert ESD. With a bachelor’s degree from George Fox University and two children, 9, and 7, attending Bend public schools, Jodie recognizes the importance of investing in the future of our community. Jodie’s husband, Dr. Andy Barram, operates a private psychology practice in Bend.

Not so much. I don’t know my neighbors. Nobody talks. My girlfriend doesn’t know her neighbors either. Another friend of mine knows one of his neighbors - the one that has called the police on him several times because his dog was barking in the middle of the day.

When I ride my bike outside of city limits I expect to be flipped off by a redneck in a big truck. What I don’t expect is the same thing from the guy in the Audi. I also didn’t expect the guy in the seemingly friendly Honda Element to be doing some extreme tailgating with a look on his face like he wanted to kill me because I had a load in the back of my truck that could topple, and I actually had to drive the speed limit in the roundabout. Even people in Honda Elements are angry in Bend it seems.

During a recent trip to Boise, my girlfriend commented on how everyone was out on their front porches, congregating on street corners, and acting like an actual community on a nice Sunday morning. She wondered why that doesn’t happen much in Bend. And that was Boise for crying out loud.

You know how many people in Bend are worried about Darfur? The guy who owns Devore’s - that’s who. In Boulder every other yard has a “Save Darfur” or other socially conscious sign in the yard or stuck on the back of the car. People there get involved in a variety local and national political movements. Here we can’t even pass ballot measures to fund public services because not enough people turn out to vote.

Monster trucks everywhere. Gas at four dollars. Expensive houses. Cheap jobs. Builders with monster trucks, monster gas bills, and nothing to build. Are half the citizens of Bend heading towards financial ruin? Is that the problem?

Or have so many non-community oriented people moved here on housing speculation over the last few years that the overall sense of community has been replaced with rabid individualism and pursuit of personal wealth?

Of course there are going to be exceptions and I’m sure that I am going to hear about them. But just because we have some great summer festivals, and Sally is doing her part to make Bend a great community, doesn’t mean that Bend overall is a friendly place. It’s certainly not the worst place I have been or lived, but I don’t think it’s wrong to expect better. And I do.

I spend a few extra bucks a month on the Pacific Power Blue Sky Energy Program. The program facilitates the purchase of power from renewable energy sources like wind power. Today I got a statement from Pacific Power describing the results of my contribution last year:

Your total 2007 Blue Sky purchase of 7,593 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy avoided the release of 7.59 tons of carbon dioxide into our air. This represents environmental benefits equal to not driving 16,268 miles.

More info: Pacific Power Blue Sky Program

As if shoveling isn’t a big enough job already, this guy made his snow pile into a dragon! Photo take in Yardley Estates - Northeast bend.

The Badlands, East of Bend, don’t usually get much snow - an inch at the most in a good storm and it is usually gone soon. In this recent set of storms however, 4-5 inches has accumulated out there. The hiking is still good, just bring your boots. There were even XC ski tracks at the Badlands yesterday - first time I have seen that!

Same Photo in the Spring:

For readers out of town that are wondering about the snow pack in Bend - there’s plenty! We had 7 straight days of snowstorms last week and it really piled up! Unlike the last storm we had, the city seems to be on the ball with getting the roads plowed. This is the most snow I can remember since the big Winter of 92/93. Anyone else remember some big snow years since then?

I’m sure most people have heard of the Shire in Bend. The Shire is a housing development based on design and themes from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Pretty interesting. Here’s a short video I found that shows some of the building design.