In reply to "Mt. Bachelor Bustin," (Opinion, 2/13)
Your Responsibility Code governs behavior at all ski areas in the USA. As such, guests must: "Observe all posted signs and warnings," and "Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas." Mr. Elliott entered closed terrain and arrived 45 minutes prior to Outback opening.
Like all ski areas, we close terrain for reasons that may not be obvious. Entering a closed area increases the risk of harming yourself and your potential rescuers. Avalanches and severe conditions occurring in closed areas have killed resort staff and guests at ski resorts across North America in recent years.
We are committed to providing accurate communication about our lift status through electronic boards at Pine Marten and Sunrise lifts, our smartphone app, and the conditions page on mtbachelor.com. Ski Patrol also maintains dozens of open/closed signs on the mountain. With so many options available, ignorance is not a justification and closed area violations are inexcusable.
Those caught in a closed area at Mt. Bachelor will have their ticket or pass suspended. After a waiting period, pass holders can resume skiing or riding after attending a safety class – offered on any Saturday they choose. Subsequent infractions result in longer waiting periods or season-long suspensions.
Unfortunately, there is a growing trend of closed area violations. Our strategy is not designed to alienate, but rather to educate and change unsafe behavior. Safety of our guests and staff is our number one priority. All we ask is visitors respect and obey Your Responsibility Code and resort policies.
—Andy Goggins
In reply to "Editor's Note," (Boot/Slipper 2/13)
As painful as the suicide at Bend High last Friday is for the family of the victim and our entire community, I disagree with the Editors of the Source that "this is not the time to debate gun control...the alert system...counseling...prevented this tragedy." We heard that very statement after Newtown, Virginia Tech, and countless other shootings. If this is not the time, when is?
With all due respect to the awful nature of this incident, it did take place in a public school, and no one, not the Source, KTVZ or the Bulletin, has come forward with the critical information that families can use to gauge their risk of a similar tragedy. Specifically, we deserve to know who owned the gun used. If it was not the victim's, then whose was it? And why was it not fitted with a trigger lock, or locked in a gun safe?
Even the most strident supporters of gun rights agree that guns should not be allowed to fall into irresponsible hands. And it is well documented that a gun in one's home is far more likely to be used in suicide or domestic violence than as protection.
While no fan of the Second Amendment, I accept that it is not going away. And guns in America are not going away. But to protect our own children, the rest of us need to know, YOU must tell us, how did this child obtain the instrument of his own destruction? This IS the time.
—J.W. Mahoney
In reply to "Skiing Loves Me; Skiing Loves Me Not," (Feature, 2/6)
There is research showing that gold medalists and bronze medalists are "happier" than silver medalists. It is an interesting phenomenon. It confirms the idea of going out on your own terms and being grateful. Gold medalists are the best at that given moment, silver medalists are "second best," and bronze medalists are grateful to walk away with something and/or finish the competition with a "win," having worked their way through the losers bracket. Pretty fascinating stuff!
—Bradley Cardinal, Ph.D
In reply to "Bus a Move," (News, 1/29)
When Aaron Switzer (Publisher at the Source) in December at our last ED board meeting said that he thought the Source could "capture the hearts and minds of the community around transit," he was right. You've started a great conversation about keeping our focus on innovative solutions. Thank you, and thanks to James Williams for his well-written "Bus a Move" story. If we can help more, let us know.
—Christine Coffin, Director of Communications & Outreach Oregon State University, Cascades
Snow Storm
I wrote to your paper a few years ago complaining about the city's treatment, or lack, of the streets following a large snowstorm. Well, I am back again and with a bigger complaint. My wife and I went for a walk from Congress St. to Federal St. It seems we took our life in our hands. We walked along the sidewalks and then came to various intersections, Congress and Tumalo, State and Tumalo, Riverside and Galveston and worst of all, Galveston and Harmon that were extremely difficult to get across. To cross the Galveston and Harmon intersection, we were forced to walk in the middle of Galveston until we could find a safe way to get back on the sidewalk on the other side of Harmon. Yeah, make your citizens shovel their sidewalks, but hey let's forget about the street intersection. And it didn't just affect us. I went back out to take pictures of the troubled spots. When I was on Congress approaching Tumalo, I witnessed a young lady walking on the sidewalk up Tumalo. When she got to the intersection, she opted to walk onto the street of Tumalo, rather than walk across the Congress street mess to the other sidewalk. She continued walking up Tumalo in the street. I also witnessed an individual walking up Galveston towards Harmon. When he got close, I watched him stop for about 5 seconds trying to decide how best to get across; he chose walking in the street of Galveston, exactly as we had just minutes earlier. On this past Sunday, the second day of the storm, while traveling on Third Street, I saw 4 cars stuck trying to get onto Third street from side streets. Time to step up city of Bend and take care of your citizens.
By the way, we live in NH, (just visiting in Bend), and there they know how to plow to the pavement, including the side streets that empty onto main streets. By the way, I took pictures of the offending intersections and will be trying to send them to the city fathers. Stay safe, drive only.
—Gary Philippy
Let the spending begin!
The movers and shakers behind keeping the duck pond, some call Mirror Pond, have pressured Pacific Power to fork over $250,000 for a patch job on the relic Newport dam, but of course this is only the beginning. MP could be the most expensive warm water duck pond in Oregon by the time it's all over, if it ever will be over.
In addition to the cost, these folks don't seem to give a thought to the health of that portion of the Deschutes River flowing through Bend. This would seem to be a golden opportunity to add a free flow section but it's all about the tourist dollars and the marketing value of the Mirror Pond name.
Except for a couple of short, free flowing stretches, the river is an impoundment from Healy Bridge to almost Mt. Washington Dr. bridge. There is a pond fronting Pioneer Park and a short walk downstream there is a larger pond that comes equipped with swans, how many ponds does Bend need?
The silted area by Drake Park could certainly be added to the park grounds and planted with vegetation native to Oregon to add to the park's existing landscaping.
It's said MP is iconic to Bend, the Deschutes River isn't? The river has existed here long before Bend, the state of Oregon or the United States. I'd say that beats the pond on the iconic scale.
Let Bend show the state that it isn't entirely a slave to tourism and does consider protecting its natural features now and then by getting rid of the dam. Keeping the dam is illogical, as Spock would say.
—Don M.
Letter of the Week!
Don! We agree. Set the river free, and your mind will follow.
How about flowing by our office to pick up a $5 gift certificate for Crow's Feet Commons, where you can sit and watch the river go, go, go!
