THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2022 A7
REDMOND SPOKESMAN
Write to us: news@redmondspokesman.com
OUR VIEW
Sound off in
the Spokesman
W
elcome to an expanded Redmond Spokesman. One of our added
features is a reinvigorated and reimagined opinion section for
the newspaper and its website.
The full-page, ad-free section will appear on Tuesdays in print and will be
updated throughout the week at redmondspokesman.com/opinion.
Mostly, we want to turn over this space to you. The goal is for this page to
be a place where you can speak your mind on issues and life in our city, as
well as publish your response to issues that you read about in the paper.
We’re also looking for consistent columnists. If you, or someone you know,
has a great turn of phrase and can write their way out of a paper bag, we’d be
interested in chatting with them to publish their work on a monthly or quar-
terly basis. We’d love to have folks from a wide variety of backgrounds — re-
tirees, farmers, teachers, students, rock climbers, rafters, painters, entrepre-
neurs and clergy members. The whole gambit of Central Oregon life.
We will publish our own opinion at times, when we’ve got an interesting
take on something. When that is the case, it will be written by and represent-
ing our local interests. Though we are part of a statewide media company, we
want the Spokesman’s editorial stance to be independent and unique.
If you have interest in joining a community editorial board, which meets
regularly to talk through local issues and opine on them, email me at
ttrainor@redmondspokesman.com. That’s something we plan to build out
and facilitate while we get our feet underneath us.
We want this to be a different experience than social media, however.
There the guardrail-less experience of debate and opining turns into a free for
all of invective and misinformation. We want this to be a place for respectful
disagreement that helps elucidate solutions — not an endless bashing back
and forth by warring factions.
So how can you contribute to this new section?
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
We always welcome your letters, but we do have some rules. We’re a local
newspaper and we want to be sure letters have a local focus. The Spokesman
has no impact on life in D.C. (and darn little in Salem), but your perspective
and opinion, published here, can make a difference in our community.
Those letters should be limited to one focus, contain no more than 300
words and include the writer’s signature, phone number and address for ver-
ification. Your address and phone number will not be published, but we will
call to make sure you are who you say you are.
We edit letters for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We reject po-
etry, personal attacks, form letters, letters submitted elsewhere and those ap-
propriate for other sections of the newspapers. We also limit writers to one
letter or guest column every 30 days. We will stop printing endorsement let-
ters two weeks prior to any election date.
GUEST COLUMNS POLICY
Maybe you’ve got more to say than can fit in 300 words. Great! Though, of
course, as an editor, I know the power of brevity.
But we do welcome guest columns, which allow authors with special
knowledge of a subject a little more space to communicate their ideas. Sub-
missions should be between 600 and 800 words and, again, must be signed
and include the writer’s phone number and address for verification. Submis-
sions will be edited for the same reasons as letters.
LOCAL, LOCAL
I love the opinion sections in most local papers. Whenever I’m traveling,
I always pick up the most recent edition and I often flip right to the letters
to the editor. It’s always fun and enlightening to see what readers care about
— and see what they think is missing from community discussion or local
coverage.
Hopefully we can create something on those lines in the Spokesman, and
we plan to set aside enough space for you to tell your own stories.
— Tim Trainor is editor of the Redmond Spokesman. Contact him at
ttrainor@redmondspokesman.com
Editorials reflect the views of the Spokesman’s editorial board, Publisher Heidi Wright and
Editor Tim Trainor.
GUEST COLUMN
Explore digital graphic
novels and comics
ing out spell books and investigating
supernatural mysteries in New En-
gland. A tale of families, werewolves,
demon horses, danger, and more.
This cute teen graphic novel will
sweep you away!
BY GRAHAM FOX
G
raphic novels are the long
form of a comic. Some
graphic novels are stand-
alone — you can read them and
form a complete story or novel.
Others are a collection of issues —
say comic #1-#10, all collected to-
gether, form an easy-to-read lon-
ger story. Either way, you can read
them to explore new topics, ideas,
and formats.
I love the addition of art and de-
sign to a novel. The line work, color
choices, layout, and the art style all
greatly influence how you feel as you
read a graphic novel. Can you pick
out which elements work and don’t
work for you? How do the image
choices change the story?
USING HOOPLA FOR GRAPHIC NOVELS
While the library does have a large
collection of physical graphic nov-
els you can browse at any location,
we also have a great app option. You
can find Hoopla in the app store or
access online at hoopladigital.com.
With the magic of your library card
you’ll be logged on in no time. Look
for “comics” under the browse menu.
You can read on your phone in a
pinch, but for a graphic novel, iPads
or tablet work great. You can also try
a nice big monitor so you can really
enjoy the text and graphics. If you are
on a computer try pressing F11 to
go full screen without any annoying
menu options hanging about – it’s
the perfect way to read.
PICKS FROM HOOPLA’S COLLECTION
Adult’s might like:
“The Walking Dead’” by Robert
Kirkman, illustrated by Tony Moore
Yes, the famous zombie TV series
started out as a comic and there are
a lot of issues to read. Start at the be-
ginning, “The Walking Dead – Days
Gone By,” which has episodes 1–6 in
one book. The pace is much quicker
than the later parts of the TV series.
Action and character development
happen fast!
“March Book One” by John Lewis,
Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate
Powell
March Book One tells the story
of former U.S. representative John
Lewis when he was a young man in
rural Alabama. Following a meeting
with Martin Luther King, Jr. we see
the student movement born and wit-
ness nonviolence, lunch sit-ins, and
more. “March Book One” is a great
example of how a graphic novel can
transform and bring to life a story.
“They Called Us Enemy” by
Graham Fox
George Takei, illustrated by Har-
mony Becker
This biography is another example
of how the graphic novel form can
transform a story. George Takei, of
internet and Star Trek fame, tells us
his life’s story in this moving graphic
novel. When Takei was young his fa-
ther, mother, and family was forced
into concentration camps at the start
of World War II along with all Jap-
anese living on the west coast. The
graphic novel format brings us along
with Takei as he tells his haunting
tale — and how he views it now as
an adult.
“Saga: Compendium One” by
Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by
Fiona Staples
One of the most popular adult
comics in the world, Saga is an epic
space opera mixed with soap opera.
Otherworldly, lush illustrations bring
us the story of a warring moon and
planet who have outsourced their
conflict to other worlds and systems.
The moon and planet enjoy peace
while the conflict continues, destroy-
ing hundreds of civilizations. When
two soldiers on opposite sides of the
conflict fall in love, have a baby and
run away together, they are hunted
throughout the galaxy. Moving, vi-
olent, and at times shocking, this is
an R-rated adult read that matches
up with the best novels or movies.
“Compendium One” includes epi-
sodes 1–54. After a three-year break,
new issues are now being published.
GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS
“Paper Girls: Deluxe Edition
Book One” by Brian K. Vaughan, il-
lustrated by Cliff Chiang and Matt
Wilson
Now out as a TV series on Ama-
zon Prime, this teen graphic novel
features 4 paper girls transported
into another world. Is it the past,
present, future or a completely dif-
ferent reality? Find out in this mind
bending story of friendship and
firsts.
“Mooncakes” by Suzanne Walker,
illustrated by Wendy Xu
Nova Huang works in her fami-
ly’s bookstore and coffee shop, “The
Black Cat”. Her duties include loan-
GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR KIDS
“Hazardous Tales” by Nathan
Hale, author and illustrator
Hugely popular with kids and
adults of all ages, Salt Lake City na-
tive Nathan Hale writes and illus-
trates amazing historical stories. Un-
derground railroads, airplane raids,
the Alamo, Ironclads, the Donner
Dinner Party, spies, and the gross
and amazing fill these pages. If you
have a reluctant reader in your house
this is a great way to get them back
into reading. I’ve recommended
these titles to many middle schoolers
and they always come back for more.
“Jonna and the Unpossible Mon-
sters Vol. 1”
Giant otherworldly monsters,
a girl who soars through the land
and sky with ease, a lost sister who
punches those monsters right in the
mouth, and growing up all come to-
gether in this great kids read. The
adventures are, yes you got it, un-
possible and the monsters giant yet
strangely cute!
HOOPLA HINTS
You get 15 checkouts per month,
so don’t borrow single issues unless
you have to. Look for compendiums
and collections When you find a ti-
tle, look for the publisher, author,
and series links. Clicking on them
will take you further into Hoopla for
in-depth exploration Look for the
collections. Hoopla groups like types
of comics together.
MORE HOOPLA RECOMMENDATIONS,
“The Sandman” by Neil Gaiman
et al. (adult, fantasy, Superhero) “The
Delicacy” by James Albon (adult,
drama, kitchen, yes chef) “Monstress”
by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
(adult, action, monsters) “ An Age
of License” by Lucy Knisley (teen,
non-fiction, travel biography)Um-
brella Academy” by Gerard Way and
Gabriel Ba (teen, action, superhero)
“Black Hammer” by Jeff Lemire and
Dean Ormston (teen, fantasy, action)
“Ms. Marvel” by G. Willow Wilson
and Adrian Alphona (teen, super-
hero) “Nimona” by N.D. Stevenson
(teen, fantasy, humor) “Backstagers”
by James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh
(children, fantasy, humor).
█
Graham Fox is a community librarian for the
Deschutes County Library.
CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Redmond
Mayor George Endicott: George.Endicott@
redmondoregon.gov, 541-948-3219
Deschutes County
County Commission Chair Patti Adair: Patti.
Adair@deschutes.org, 541-388-6567
County Commission Vice Chair Tony DeBone:
Tony.DeBone@deschutes.org, 541-388-6568
County Commissioner Phil Chang: Phil.
Chang@deschutes.org, 541-388-6569
Your Legislators
Rep. Jack Zika (District 53): 503-986-1453;
900 Court St. NE, H-387, Salem, OR 97301, Rep.
JackZika@oregonlegislature.gov
Sen. Tim Knopp (District 27): 503-986-1727;
900 Court St. NE, S-425, Salem, OR 97301, Sen.
TimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov
State
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol,
Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www.governor.
oregon.gov.
Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read: oregon.
treasurer@ost.state.or.us; 350 Winter St. NE, Suite
100, Salem OR 97301-3896; 503-378-4000.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum:
Justice Building, Salem, OR 97301-4096; 503-
378-4400.
Oregon Legislature: Legislative documents
and information are available online at www.leg.
state.or.us.
Federal
President Joe Biden: The White House, 1600
Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500;
202-456-1111; to send comments, go to www.
whitehouse.gov.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley: D.C. office: 313 Hart
Senate Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington,
D.C., 20510; 202-224-3753; fax 202-228-3997.
Portland office: One World Trade Center, 121 S.W.
Salmon St. Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; 503-
326-3386; fax 503-326-2900. Baker City office,
1705 Main St., Suite 504, 541-278-1129; merkley.
senate.gov.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: D.C. office: 221 Dirksen
Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510;
202-224-5244; fax 202-228-2717. La Grande
office: 105 Fir St., No. 210, La Grande, OR 97850;
541-962-7691; fax, 541-963-0885; wyden.senate.
gov.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (2nd District): D.C.
office: 1239 Longworth House Office Building,
Washington, D.C., 20515, 202-225-6730; fax 202-
225-5774. Medford office: 14 N. Central Avenue
Suite 112, Medford, OR 97850; Phone: 541-776-
4646; fax: 541-779-0204; Ontario office: 2430 S.W.
Fourth Ave., No. 2, Ontario, OR 97914; Phone:
541-709-2040. bentz.house.gov.