A6 The BulleTin • Friday, april 9, 2021
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I have some-
thing to say about “Still Fun
in the South” (Jan. 4) and
her complaint that single
middle-aged men only look
for younger women, instead
of women their age. I am a
53-year-old widower. I have a
six-figure income. I’m smart,
healthy, easygoing and have a
good life with many hobbies
and interests.
On multiple dating apps, I
have swiped right on dozens
of women my age. My main
criteria were that they weren’t
fanatically religious or rabidly
political. Would you like to
know how many swipe rights
I received in return? Not one!
I feel middle-aged women
are far more picky than their
younger counterparts, which
is why I’m currently in a re-
lationship with a woman in
her mid-30s. I don’t pursue
younger women — they pur-
sue me while the women
around my age couldn’t be
bothered.
I realize my dating experi-
ence is anecdotal, and there
are extenuating circum-
stances (COVID-19), but I
don’t like being lumped into
a category and complained
about as if middle-aged
women share none of the re-
sponsibility.
I want to tell “Still Fun”
that if she wants a relation-
ship with someone her age,
she needs to be a little less
judgmental and picky and
give those middle-aged men
who actually show an inter-
est a chance. She might find
there’s more to them than ap-
pears in a dating profile.
— Seasoned in Salt Lake City
Dear Seasoned: The re-
sponders to “Still Fun’s” letter
pointed out the advantages
AND disadvantages of dating
people younger, older and
the same age. But the com-
mon denominator for suc-
cessful dating, according to
those readers, is to emphasize
what you are happy about in
your life and describe your
passions and interests. Some-
one who exudes confidence,
a love of life and who doesn’t
come across as desperate for
a permanent move-in part-
ner can do very well.
Dear Abby: Our daughter
is engaged to the most won-
derful young man. We all
got along very well, includ-
ing his parents with us. After
one discussion about politics,
they realized we’re on oppo-
site sides of the spectrum and
everything changed. They no
longer call, or they hesitate to
answer our calls.
We want to make things
better because our daughter
is deeply in love with their
son, and she loves his par-
ents. Could you please pro-
vide some suggestions?
— Oops! in Virginia
Dear Oops!: I can try, but
there are no guarantees.
While you and the other
set of parents may disagree
about solutions to the prob-
lems in this country, on
one subject you should all
be unified. That subject is
wanting the happiness of
your children and grandchil-
dren when you are blessed
with them. For this reason,
make an agreement to put
aside political differences,
never again discuss them
and work cooperatively to-
gether toward your mutual
goal. However, if they cannot
agree, you and your husband
must accept that there may
be a strain in your relation-
ship until time can heal the
breach.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021: Inventive,
ardent and outrageous, broaden your horizons by thinking outside the box.
This year, you strengthen how you communicate through the spoken and
written word. Present your ideas clearly and convincingly, and there is no tell-
ing where it will lead. Superficial friendships fall by the wayside, while those
who stood by you will be invaluable allies. If single, a whirlwind romance
grabs you. If attached, renew your vows. GEMINI is unpredictable.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Revisit past missteps. Learn from your experience and make positive
changes. In your spare time, go all out for a cause you believe in. It will take
you away from yourself and into the hearts of others. Tonight: Weekend
countdown.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Curiosity about obscure subjects prevents you from being bored.
Drum up the nerve and contact someone you admire but do not know per-
sonally. Be patient if you do not get an immediate response. Tonight: Ask a
friend for an objective opinion.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Learn about a new technique you can pass on to your work or vol-
unteer team. Get to know each other better on a personal level. That will
improve your ability to compromise and negotiate. Tonight: Playtime with
children and grandchildren.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
You might be asked to mentor someone in a skill you’ve perfected.
Rise to the occasion, even if you are unsure of yourself. You may have an apti-
tude for teaching that you can apply in the future. Tonight: Work up a sweat.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
A joint financial arrangement may start to bear fruit, or a new oppor-
tunity may appear from out of the blue. The signs are there, so trust in its
growth potential. Turn a pipe dream into a surefire business. Tonight: Dinner
for two.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Give someone you love the upper hand, or you may lock horns with
no end in sight. Play your cards right, and you will get what you need. Take
charge of weekend plans. Tonight: Shop online for a birthday present.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Assist someone with work that you can do in the blink of an eye. Your
actions will stand out when you ask for a favor in return. Roll out a mat and
practice yoga poses. Tonight: Reserve tickets to an event.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Ryan Brennecke/Bulletin file photos
During the time that Ted Schoenborn served as one of the five elected board members the Bend Park & Recreation District developed (clockwise
from upper left) The Pavilion is at 1001 SW Bradbury Way; Bend Whitewater Park; the ice rink at The Pavilion; Riley Ranch Nature Reserve.
Schoenborn
Continued from A1
Schoenborn’s passions run
deeper than parks and rec-
reation. He is also an accom-
plished musician and played the
bass fiddle in a local bluegrass
band. His love of music en-
couraged him to get involved in
local radio — he helped set up
KPOV community radio sta-
tion and still hosts a bluegrass
program.
He also on the board of Bend
2030, a nonprofit group that
aims to create a vision for the
city of Bend by engaging with
dozens of groups and civic or-
ganizations.
In between these commit-
ments, he still manages to walk
50 miles a week.
“Streets and parks have been
my focus. They are good health
kinds of things. You see the in-
terconnections and the need
for trails and walking paths,”
said Schoenborn, who grew
up in Montana, but spent most
of his career in the Cincinnati
area working in public health.
He and his wife, Carol, retired
to Bend in the early 2000s after
considering a number of places
in the West. Bend “made the
most sense,” and was close to
his kids in Portland, he said.
Upon arrival, he started vol-
COCC
Continued from A1
This means the public can
run on COCC’s track again.
Students can visit their finan-
cial aid advisers in-person,
instead of over Zoom. And
COCC administrators and
staffers will work in-person
again.
“I am so proud of the way
our staff has managed remote
work, but there are also advan-
tages that we miss when we
can’t be together: the ability to
collaborate efficiently, the abil-
ity to communicate more effec-
tively,” Chesley said.
However, this announce-
ment doesn’t change COCC’s
mostly-remote academic
course offerings for summer
term, which starts June 21. The
unteering at several nonprofits,
including Habitat for Human-
ity, and soon got involved with
the park district.
“I looked around until I
found the things that really fit
me at the time,” he said.
Fellow board member Ariel
Mendez said he recently joined
Schoenborn on one of his
walks, as a way to soak in some
of his knowledge.
“I wanted to learn about his
routes but also hear more of his
perspective on (parks and rec)
board service,” said Mendez.
By keeping his pulse on the
community, Schoenborn has
been integral to the success of
the park district. Since he joined
the board, the district has built
over 40 city parks and more
than 30 miles of trails.
During his tenure, the district
has also added the Bend White-
water Park, The Pavilion, Lark-
spur Community Center and
Riley Ranch Nature Reserve to
its existing facilities.
The hard work put in by
Schoenborn and other park
staff has not gone unnoticed.
In 2006 the district received
a National Gold Medal Award
for excellence in park and rec-
reation management. Schoen-
born was also there when the
public supported a $29 million
bond to help finance much of
the district’s work through the
2010s.
“The agency continues to be
an outstanding organization,”
said Schoenborn. “It was easy to
stay because the staff is so good.
My only real job is to wave my
arms around and take credit for
all the great work that the staff
does.”
The board today looks much
different now compared to the
early 2000s, Schoenborn recalls.
Back then, board members and
staff were focused on singular
issues.
“People were really commit-
ted to the swimming pools at
Juniper, and to the water and
the swim teams. Those were the
only things they cared about.
They did not look so broadly as
they do now,” said Schoenborn.
Horton said part of Schoen-
born’s success on the board has
been his knowledge of Bend
and involvement in other areas
of the community.
“His work elsewhere made
him a really qualified member
of the board,” said Horton. “The
most tangible thing that Ted
brought us was the need to plan
for the future. We now have a
comprehensive plan that helps
guide development for the dis-
trict.”
His presence has had a lasting
impact on other board mem-
college still plans to wait un-
til the fall to dramatically ex-
pand its in-person classes, and
the Wickiup Residence Hall
dorms will also not open until
fall term, Chesley wrote in a
Thursday email to staff.
It was too late to change the
college’s summer course sched-
ule, which will be about 75%
online, Chesley told The Bul-
letin.
“It would be pretty hard at
this point to make a big stop
and make big changes from
online to face-to-face,” she said.
It is also undecided whether
the dining hall, or the Mazama
Gym & Fitness Center, will
be open, due to stricter state
COVID-19 regulations for
those operations, Chesley said.
COCC staff and students
will be heavily encouraged,
but not required, to receive
the COVID-19 vaccine before
returning to campus, Chesley
said.
“All the science tells us (the
vaccine) is safe, but there are
many legal authorities who be-
lieve it would be problematic
for us to require vaccination,”
she said.
Chesley, who’s mostly
worked online since March
2020, said she’s thrilled to be
permanently back on campus
with her colleagues.
“I am so excited to be back
and see everyone,” she said.
Andrew Davis, COCC’s di-
rector of student life, is also
ready to be back in-person
with his staff. He said collabo-
rating over Zoom was a chal-
lenge.
“Being able to see colleagues
Don’t be shy about your talent. Show off a creative accomplishment.
The feedback will inspire you to continue in that direction. Children or grand-
children may introduce you to a new musical genre. Show your enthusiasm
whether real or not. Tonight: Online games.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Things may not go according to plan, starting with a delayed early
appointment. A family gathering may go south as well. Approach the day
with humor, and you will be above the fray. Tonight: Continue to look up
ancestral roots.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Your love of learning will bring you a new sense of purpose. Borrow
or purchase books, reference materials and webinars that enhance your
knowledge. Dream about immersion into another culture, either abroad or in
your own country. Tonight: Bake cookies.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Demand the most for yourself, and everything you want will come
your way. Wear brighter colors, soften the tone of your voice, and think be-
fore you speak. Transform your attitude and the way others see you. Tonight:
Talk to siblings or cousins.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
A presentation you prepared could put you on edge. Give yourself
enough time to make last-minute changes. Practice relaxation techniques
and recite positive affirmations. Make this part of your daily routine. Passion
for your material will come through. Tonight: Reward yourself.
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“He is a highly engaged per-
son across the board. He brings
a level of institutional knowl-
edge to the board that has been
invaluable. I have really enjoyed
working with him,” said Jason
Kropf, another park board
member.
Nathan Hovekamp, the
board chair, called his work
with Schoenborn an “unqual-
ified pleasure and learning ex-
perience.”
“Ted’s departure from the
park board will leave a huge
hole. He is both a towering
presence and a good friend,”
said Hovekamp. “Even in the
relatively rare occasion on the
board when I have not agreed
with Ted, I have always re-
spected, valued, and appreci-
ated his view.”
Schoenborn’s imminent de-
parture from the park board
doesn’t mean he intends to
slow down from civic activities.
He intends to stay active with
Bend 2030 and KPOV radio.
He wants to help steer Bend in
a positive direction, bringing in
more voices to help guide devel-
opment.
“I won’t run out of things to
do,” he said. “I will continue to
volunteer.”
e
Reporter: 541-617-7818,
mkohn@bendbulletin.com
face-to-face, have the side con-
versations organically, will be
amazing,” Davis said. “We can
hear laughter and have fun
banter in the office again.”
Oliver Tatom — a member
of the COCC board and an
urgent care nurse — said that
it made sense for Chesley to
bring back staff, now that the
vaccine is widely available.
“As long as we continue
moving in the direction we’re
moving in, which is increasing
vaccination rates and low hos-
pitalization and death rates, I
think (this decision) is totally
reasonable and prudent,” Ta-
tom said. “I trust President
Chesley.She has demonstrated
a willingness to adjust as the
situation changes.”
e
Reporter: 541-617-7854,
jhogan@bendbulletin.com