A6 The BulleTin • Friday, June 18, 2021
Library
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 am a
40-something single mother
of two teens. A 24-year-
old neighbor with a young
daughter moved in next door
a couple years ago after her
divorce.
She recently joined the
workforce, and being a sin-
gle working mother for the
last year and a half has been
a difficult adjustment for her.
When she sees me outside,
she comes over to vent. She
seems incapable of just giv-
ing a friendly wave and going
about her day.
I like to garden in peace.
She has actually come into
my yard, sat on my lawn and
complained while I contin-
ued weeding. She prefaces it
by telling me she doesn’t want
advice; she just wants to vent.
Abby, I have lived her life —
with a lot less support — and
at this point, I value my alone
time. I don’t want to listen to
her woes.
I find myself sneaking
around my yard trying to
avoid her. Today, I saw her
setting up a trampoline in her
backyard. It’s close to my yard
and right outside my dining
room window.
How do I communicate to
her that I don’t want a visi-
tor when I’m working in my
yard? I know her feelings will
be hurt.
I’ve already tried to set
boundaries by not initiating
conversation and not inviting
her over. Help!
— Private in the Midwest
Dear Private: Tell your
neighbor she needs to find
another person to vent to
because your gardening ac-
tivities are the way you cope
with your own problems, and
you prefer to do that without
company. Then suggest she
find a comparable activity
for herself that may serve the
same purpose. She may not
like hearing it, but you will
be free.
Dear Abby: My husband
has withdrawn himself from
my family. I sense my niece
resents it. She’s 53 and has
a teenage son. I believe she
thinks we don’t see each other
because we don’t love them.
I can’t explain what’s going
on with my husband to her. I
want to explain to my family
and maybe make excuses for
his behavior, but honestly, I
don’t think it would change
much.
I realize COVID-19 has
kept families apart, and this
may not be a good time to
try to become closer. I have
expressed my feelings to my
husband, but it never turns
out well. He lost his mom
two years ago, and his de-
pression has gotten worse. He
wants nothing to do with my
family. They don’t deserve it,
but things are good between
the two of us apart from this
issue. Must I choose sides?
What can I do?
— Choosing Sides in Canada
Dear Choosing: Unless
there is something important
that you omitted from your
letter, your husband’s behav-
ior may be connected to the
loss of his mother. Do not
“choose sides,” but also do
not allow him to separate you
from your family.
Stay in touch as much as
you can, and once the quar-
antines are finished, visit with
them. Explain your husband’s
absence by letting your rela-
tives know WHY your hus-
band is acting this way and
that he needs compassion
and understanding, not judg-
ment.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
MOON ALERT: After 5 a.m. EDT today (2 a.m. PDT), there are no restric-
tions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Libra.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021: You have a
wonderful zest for life and you need to be stimulated! You are charming and
articulate. Because you have enormous tenacity, you are also persevering in
your goals. This is a more easygoing, relaxed year for you. You will notice that
your focus on partnerships and close friendships will be more important.
Enjoy networking.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Today you might attract someone who is powerful and direct to you.
Because you are naturally powerful and direct, this conversation will be dy-
namic! Nevertheless, if push comes to shove, you will have to give way to the
other person. Just for today. Tonight: Be patient with others.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
You have a lot of energy to work hard today. However, you will feel
independent, which means you also might take on a leadership role when
working with others. If you feel you have to defend your way of doing things
or your point of view, you will! Tonight: Be cooperative.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Today you will express your feelings and share your ideas with others
without fear or apology. You’re in a playful mood and you want to have a
good time. Enjoy sports events, social outings and fun activities with kids.
(It’s a great date day.) Tonight: Sympathy with children.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
You want to get something done at home today that might involve
some physical exertion. You might do this by yourself or, perhaps, someone
will help you. A family conversation will be lively, but you certainly won’t
agree with others just to be polite. Tonight: Relax at home.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
You will express your ideas, wants and needs quite freely to family
members today. In other words, you will leave them no doubt as to where
you stand. However, you won’t offend anyone; you are simply stating your
case, which is your right. Tonight: Stay mellow.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Your way of handling money or your ideas about earnings and cash
flow might surprise others today. You might be first to suggest doing some-
thing. You might impulsively buy something just because you want to. Very
likely, no one will object. Tonight: Be sensible with money.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today you feel invigorated and energetic. You’re willing to state
your feelings about things. If you have to make a first move in some kind of
exchange with others, you will. That’s because today you have the courage
to take the initiative. Tonight: Don’t go overboard.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Although you might feel a bit reserved today and inclined to play your
cards close to your chest, nevertheless, you have your eyes open because
you’re in a defensive mode. Nothing will slip by you today. You’re watching.
You’re watching and you’re seeing. Tonight: Enjoy your privacy.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
In working with others today, you will successfully establish a situation
where their aims are your aims and vice versa, which means people will co-
operate with you. Quite possibly, you will take on a leadership role. Tonight:
Avoid disputes with others.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Bosses, parents, teachers and people in authority will be impressed
with your energy today because you are confident and assertive. Be careful
that this does not mushroom into something that is too aggressive and
off-putting. Easy does it. Tonight: Guard your good reputation.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You really want to do something different today so you feel chal-
lenged. Basically, you want a sense of adventure and an opportunity to learn
something new. You don’t want to feel that life is stifling you or that you’re
stuck in a rut. Never! Tonight: Tolerance of others.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
You will handle yourself well if you have to defend your own best in-
terests or the interests of someone else today. If there are money disputes or
disputes about shared property, you will not hesitate to state your case. You
feel confident and ready to meet any situation. Tonight: Wait and see.
Area residents
are question-
ing the De-
schutes Public
Library board’s
decision to
build the new
Central Library
at the pro-
posed location
for an area
more accessi-
ble.
Continued from A1
The public comments sug-
gested the board consider
bringing a new library to the
east side of Bend, which is eas-
ier to access than the proposed
location on Highway 20. The
commenters wanted the board
to consider disabled library vis-
itors and children who enjoy
walking to the library.
“It seems to me, and a lot
of other people, that there is a
much better place to put the
Central Library,” said Capozzi,
who is an investor in The Bul-
letin.
Capozzi, who advocates for
the elderly as the president
of the council on aging, also
pointed out the library board
will need approval from the
city of Bend before construct-
ing the new library. The board
needs to coordinate with the
City Council and other com-
munity stakeholders, Capozzi
said.
“I think the most positive
scenario would be for that
board to act responsibly, listen
to the public and then reach
out to the key constituents and
say how can we work together
on a plan that really works for
everybody,” Capozzi said.
Library Director Todd Dun-
kelberg, who works at the di-
rection of the board, said as
of now the board is moving
forward with its plans for the
Legislature
Continued from A1
It was either yes, no or send
it back to committee, which
at this point is the equivalent
of no.
It also helped that on some
of the contentious issues during
what has been one of the most
hotly partisan legislative sessions
in recent memory, a middle
path was cleared when a mem-
ber of each party worked to-
gether to cobble a compromise
that was palatable to a majority.
The 30-member Senate, the
smaller and usually more se-
date of the two legislative bod-
ies, moved through its agenda
in the time of a good baseball
game in the days before tele-
vision: Two hours and four
minutes.
On Thursday, legislators
ping-ponged between taxes, af-
fordable housing, racial equity,
and mental health.
For most of the past decade,
lawmakers have debated a 2013
tax cut meant to spur small
businesses to hire employees
but instead ended up as a pop-
ular tax-slicing tool of what
critics called “suits and scrubs,”
or incorporated small opera-
tions that often include doctor
and lawyer offices.
The political rewind worked
on Thursday because it was
drawn up by two longtime sen-
ators who on most issues are
at polar opposites. Sen. Ginny
Burdick, D-Portland, the for-
mer Senate majority leader
who has announced she is re-
tiring, joined with firebrand
conservative Sen. Brian Bo-
quist of Dallas. A longtime Re-
publican, Boquist had chafed
under attempts by the GOP
caucus to control his words
and action and officially de-
clared himself an independent.
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Every plant is
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Ryan Brennecke/
The Bulletin
new Central Library and other
upgrades to regional libraries.
Those were the plans approved
by the voters, he said.
“At this point, my direction
from the library board is to
continue,” Dunkelberg said.
“Our library board did go
through a very extensive pro-
cess reviewing land that met
all the qualities they were look-
ing for.”
Although the proposed lo-
cation of the Central Library
was not mentioned in the bond
measure, the Deschutes Public
Library system purchased the
12.75-acre property for $1.35
million prior to the election. In
addition, the library system ad-
vertised the property at 63405
U.S. Highway 20 during pub-
lic presentations and in con-
ceptual designs on its website,
Dunkelberg said.
“For all of our promotional
material throughout the bond
process, we were very specific
about where it would be,” Dun-
kelberg said.
Dunkelberg said other parts
of Bend were considered for the
new library, but land is limited
in the city, and the space off the
highway is large enough to ac-
commodate the large library.
The 100,000-square-foot li-
brary will offer space for larger
meeting rooms, a children’s
discovery hub and areas for
new programming, Dunkel-
berg said.
“We found a location we are
very happy with,” he said. “It
meets a lot of the concerns we
had making sure we are put-
ting it somewhere that is cen-
tral to all people in Deschutes
County.”
When she joins the board
next month, Ness said she
wants to push for clarification
as to why the current location
was chosen for the new library.
She wants the board to con-
sider other locations and re-
consider how it plans to spend
the bond money. She believes
more funds should be allocated
for other libraries in La Pine,
Sisters and Sunriver.
“I feel the library board can
relook at that budget and re-
look at the proposed plans for
the libraries to see if we can’t
meet the needs of this growing
county,” Ness said.
“The requirements we had
in 2013 were pretty loose,” Bur-
dick said. “Most of the bene-
fit went to the highest income
earners.”
Senate Bill 139 eliminates
the tax break for businesses
taking in over $5 million in
profits and puts a floor under
the minimum number of em-
ployees that had to work for
the company in order for em-
ployers to qualify. There’s an
offsetting slightly lower tax rate
for businesses bringing in as
much as $1 million.
The 16-13 vote broke mostly
along party — or what used to
be party — lines. Boquist, the
former Republican, voted yes.
Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scap-
poose, and Sen. Deb Patterson,
D-Salem, voted no.
While there weren’t many
surprises in the tally, the brev-
ity of comment was unusual.
Besides Burdick and Boquist,
only Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend,
spoke at all.
Knopp, who like the bill’s
sponsors had been in the Leg-
islature when the original bill
passed, said he opposed it be-
cause Thursday’s remedy didn’t
cure the original sin in 2013
of financing the tax break by
changes to a senior citizen tax
credit.
“I’m not happy about it now.
I wasn’t happy about it then,”
Knopp said.
Not all the action in the Cap-
itol was in the two chambers.
Up on the second floor, Gov.
Kate Brown was taking heat
for a line-item veto of the $200
million the Legislature had
taken out of the Education Sta-
bility Fund as part of a sprawl-
ing $9.3 billion schools budget.
The move drew a harsh re-
buke from Rep. Suzanne We-
ber, R-Tillamook, who used a
time for personal comments
on the House floor to lash
Brown for agreeing to ques-
tionable deals on public cam-
paign financing and assistance
targeted at other sectors, but
saying she was holding the line
with the education funds.
She challenged the 60 House
members to decide if they were
with students, teachers and
parents, or with the governor.
“We cannot stand with
both,” Weber said.
In the east wing, the Secre-
tary of State’s Office announced
the latest volley in the ongoing
gun wars. The Legislature had
already passed Senate Bill 554,
which would have the effect of
barring firearms from the Cap-
itol and Portland International
Airport, along with requiring
locks on guns kept at home.
A group of conservative cur-
rent and former Republican
lawmakers had filed a refer-
endum with the secretary of
state that if it gains enough
signatures over the next three
months to put it on the ballot,
would freeze the implementa-
tion of the law now scheduled
for September. Only after the
November 2022 vote would
any action be taken.
The Secretary of State’s Of-
fice also said Thursday that
notices of the intent to file two
gun control initiatives had
been received —”The Reduc-
tion of Gun Violence Act” and
the “Reduction of Harm from
Weapons Act.”
Also received by the sec-
retary of state was a notice
from a Grant County resident
of an attempt to recall Sen.
Lynn Findley, R-Vale, who was
among Republican lawmakers
who were criticized for stay-
ing in the Senate to oppose
and vote against the gun bill,
instead of walking out to deny
the 18 Democrats the two ad-
ditional lawmakers needed for
a quorum.
While the relatively bare
agenda for the Senate and
House on Monday and Tues-
day gave an appearance of a
light schedule, not everyone
is going home for the week-
end. The main budget writing
committee — Joint Ways &
Means — is reading and revis-
ing several large items, includ-
ing the funding for university
construction and other public
works projects.
The House Rules Commit-
tee and House Revenue Com-
mittee will also get together in
the Capitol on Friday to shuffle
through the dozens of bills that
are still on its calendar. Both
panels are among a select few
that are exempted from the
multiple deadlines that cull
bills from most of the more
than 35 legislative committees
this year.
The chambers’ two rules
committees could still pluck
several dormant items to be
brought up for a vote and sent
to the chambers at the last
minute. A development project
at Stevens Road in Bend is one
that is scheduled for the first
hard look since it was intro-
duced near the start of the ses-
sion in January.
Most of the measures are
expected to expire when the
Legislature gavels out for the
final time in the 2021 regular
session — the exact date is still
open to speculation ranging
from as early as Tuesday to as
late as the constitutional dead-
line on Sunday, June 27.
Whatever the expiration
date, the slate of more than
2,500 bills — dead and living
— will be wiped clean in time
for the short session scheduled
for early 2022.
e
e
Reporter: 541-617-7820,
kspurr@bendbulletin.com
gwarner@eomediagroup.com