The BulleTin • SaTurday, auguST 21, 2021 A7
Vaccines
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’m a 39-year-
old woman in a toxic rela-
tionship with my boyfriend
of almost seven years. We had
a child together but lost cus-
tody due to drug use during
my pregnancy. Even though
we don’t have our son, and he
treats me badly, I feel I have
to stay with him because we
have gone through so much
together.
A couple of years ago, I got
dentures because I ruined my
teeth when I was using, and
I’m afraid no one will want to
be with me because of them.
So I’m stuck in a relationship
that isn’t good for me. It’s em-
barrassing to have dentures at
such a young age, and I don’t
know how I will be able to
meet someone who can see
past them and my drug his-
tory so I can be in a healthy
relationship that I deserve. I
feel like my only choices are
to stay stuck in this toxic re-
lationship forever or end up
alone. How do I move past
my insecurities so I can be
happy for once?
— Embarrassed in Arizona
Dear Embarrassed: You
have successfully battled drug
addiction, so you are clearly
not unused to “challenges.”
I applaud you for what you
have accomplished, and others
should respect you for it, too.
Please do not allow your
fear of being alone to prevent
you from taking another im-
portant step in reclaiming
your life. You and I know
your abuser is not healthy for
you. You have invested too
much time in him. If you rely
on him for financial support,
find a job. Make arrange-
ments with friends or family
so you can eventually save
enough to live independently.
After you have left him,
being alone does not neces-
sarily have to be a bad thing.
In your case, it could be ther-
apeutic. And once you are
financially stable, consult a
dentist or a school of den-
tistry about what options you
might have besides dentures.
The only thing holding you
back at this point is yourself.
Dear Abby: I am a 37-year-
old mother of three, ages 13,
5 and 3. I’m married and own
my home. I am a new stay-
at-home mom after having
worked for 16 years at my last
job. My kids are happy and
healthy.
Any time I go to my par-
ents’ house or they drop in on
me for a quick visit, they have
to “point out” that it is a mess
or that my oldest is wear-
ing jeans with holes in them.
There’s always a negative
comment, never a positive
one. My oldest has started to
notice. I’m wondering if I can
say anything, and what to say.
A few years ago, there was
a blowout between my mom
and me over my son’s hair-
cut. I’m at the point where I
no longer want to go to their
house, but I don’t want to
keep my kids from them.
— Annoyed in Ohio
Dear Annoyed: Say some-
thing like this to your par-
ents: “I have noticed, and the
children have started notic-
ing, that when you visit you
usually have something neg-
ative to say about me, my
home and even them. It is
hurtful and I want it stopped,
because if it persists you
won’t be invited.”
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
Continued from A1
She thinks some people will
wait until the Oregon Health
Authority issues specific lan-
guage on the mandate rule.
Some might want to see if they
qualify for any religious or
medical exemptions, Barclay
said.
“If 5% of our members
weren’t vaccinated and re-
signed, that’s 50 teachers,” Bar-
clay said. “That’s a whole mid-
dle school of educators. Or if
we think about our classified
staff, if we lose a couple of bus
drivers or a couple of custodial
workers, we don’t have clean
buildings, we don’t have people
to drive the bus. It could really
make a disruption in our staff-
ing and our ability to serve stu-
dents in the community.”
The union acknowledged
that the vaccine and masks are
two measures that will help
slow the spread of the virus
and keep kids in school, but
did not take a position on the
mandate.
“We encourage our mem-
bers to do their research, assess
their personal situation, and
make a choice that aligns with
what they believe is best for
them, their families, and their
community,” the union said in
a statement.
Redmond, Sisters, Jefferson
County and Crook County
school districts are all waiting
to see the Oregon Health Au-
thority’s specific language on
the mandate.
Redmond School District
has urged staffers not to make
any rash decisions about their
employment.
Jason Carr, a spokesman for
Crook County School District
said, “We do have staff mem-
bers who have very strong feel-
ings about the vaccine man-
date.
“We don’t know for sure how
many employees that might
impact or how many we could
potentially lose,” he said. “But it
is certainly something that we
are concerned about.”
Redmond and Crook
County school districts esti-
mate that about 70% of their
staff is vaccinated.
Curt Scholl, the superinten-
Brian Hayes/Statesman-Journal via AP
Gov. Kate Brown visits with a school bus driver Feb. 24 at Kalapuya Elementary School in West Salem.
dent of Sisters School District,
said staffing is always an issue
regardless of the mandate. He
said the biggest challenge is
cost of living in Central Ore-
gon.
“We’re not going to overre-
act at this point until we see
what the actual rules state,”
Scholl said.
Meanwhile, Culver School
District, as Central Oregon’s
smallest school district serv-
ing more than 600 students,
responded by postponing the
first day of school until Sept.
20.
“This provides 9 additional
days to fully plan and prepare
for staffing challenges caused
by the new vaccine mandate,”
Culver School District Super-
intendent Stefanie Garber said
in a letter to parents.
“Our goal is to keep every
employee. We anticipate there
will be other State mandates in
the next 4 weeks, based on last
year’s pattern. This includes the
possibility of mandated imple-
mentation of Distance Learn-
ing (the State told Districts this
week that we should be ready
for it).”
Colt Gill, the director of the
Oregon Department of Edu-
cation, said this week during a
Facebook Live event that the
state is committed to keeping
students in classrooms, but
that individual schools may be
asked to temporarily close to
in-personinstruction if they ex-
perience a spike in virus cases.
He said he has asked schools to
be ready to react.
The Culver School Board
met Thursday following the
news of the mandate, and Gar-
ber said she had already heard
from several employees who
said they will quit over the
mandate.
Garber, who has been with
the district for 20 years and
also serves as the elementary
principal, said she believes in
personal choice, adding that
she will not get the vaccine.
“This one is hard to take,”
Garber said about the man-
date. “I have never hated my
job. Today, I hate my job.”
Gill said during a press con-
ference Thursday that the state
will take an educational over
punitive approach to school
districts or individuals who do
not follow the rule.
“Barring that, the Oregon
Health Authority has authority
in state statute to levy civil pen-
alties against the school dis-
trict or an employer who fails
to follow these requirements,”
Gill said.
Bob Bures, a special edu-
cation and English teacher at
Mountain View High School
in Bend, said Bend-La Pine
Schools might lose some teach-
ers and maybe more support
staff, but he said they always
get through those challenges.
“The mandate makes sense
in order for us to keep all kids
safe because that’s our job,” Bu-
res said.
“I’m vaccinated against po-
lio; I don’t give my kids polio.
That’s a normal thing, right?
Like measles or mumps, I will
treat this vaccine as I treat
those vaccines.”
Bures, a member of the
Bend Education Association,
said he supports the union,
“but we’re a divided staff.”
“It’s been a very trying year
getting back to the crux of
what we do in caring for kids
and not disagreeing on every-
thing out there,” he said.
e
Reporter; 541-617-7854,
nbales@bendbulletin.com
MOON ALERT: There are no restrictions to shopping or important deci-
sions today. The Moon is in Aquarius.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR SATURDAY, AUG. 21, 2021: You are
well-spoken, friendly and charming. You have high energy and are capable
of multitasking. You are optimistic and idealistic, but you are also restless be-
cause you like to be stimulated. This is an interesting year because it’s a year
of learning as well as teaching. Be open to new ideas, new concepts and new
belief systems. It’s time to grow!
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Today you see ways to introduce reforms and improvements to your
job or perhaps your health. You feel freer and less restricted by convention,
rules and regulations. You’re open to new, modern and perhaps high-tech
ways of doing something. Tonight: Exciting possibilities!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
This is a creative day for you because you feel courageous enough
to do things in a different way. You might see new angles or put a new spin
on something. You might impulsively go on vacation or socialize. Tonight:
Keep an eye on your kids, because this is a mildly accident-prone time for
them.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
You have lots of energy to introduce improvements at home. You
might rearrange furniture or tackle DIY projects. You also might break free in
a courageous way from certain family rules or regulations. Tonight: Enjoy!
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Today you feel high-energy and impulsive. You might suddenly take
a short trip. You might talk to neighbors, relatives or siblings. You will feel
restless in an upbeat way and eager for something new to happen. Tonight:
You feel the need for change!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today you might be an impulse shopper or spontaneously purchase
something. This same electric energy can apply to other financial transac-
tions, which means you might suddenly see new ways of earning money or
you might be attracted to a new job. Tonight: Exciting changes!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today new activities, new encounters and other unexpected situ-
ations might occur because you want to break free from your daily routine.
Suddenly, you have the courage to break down barriers and do exactly what
you want. You might even express some talents you didn’t realize you had.
Tonight: Someone is impressed!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This is a restless day for you, which is why you need to be light on
your feet and stay flexible, because anything could happen. Whatever
changes take place for you might be more subtle and perhaps behind the
scenes. Nevertheless, you’re up for anything and your eyes are wide open.
Tonight: Be ready.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Unexpected encounters with friends and groups will make this an in-
teresting day for you. You might find yourself in competition with someone.
You have a sense of breaking boundaries and trying new things because you
feel courageous and adventurous. Tonight: All things are possible!
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Your ambition is aroused today, which is why you might reach out
and demonstrate unusual behavior, including talents that surprise even you.
This will impress bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs. Tonight: A surprise en-
counter with someone in authority might trigger a new turn of events.
Hawthorne
Continued from A1
A proposal presented to the
Bend City Council Wednes-
day by Todd Taylor of Taylor
Northwest, Ashley & Vance
Engineering and the architect
firm Ten Over Studio suggests
using this money to help fund
a pedestrian bridge that would
act as a cross-town greenway at
Hawthorne Avenue.
The proposal is a volunteer
effort between the companies,
which have been a part of a
grassroots effort to reinvigorate
Bend Central District for years,
said John Fischer of Ashley &
Vance Engineering. Each has
donated time to help develop
a conceptual design to help
the community envision the
project.
The vision is to invest in a
bridge that would be a visual
icon for the city, and help spur
development in the Bend Cen-
tral District, James Teeter, with
Ashley & Vance Engineering,
said Wednesday.
The city has been trying to
redevelop the Bend Central
District — which sits east of
Highway 97 and stretches to
Fourth Street — into a more
walkable, denser area with
more housing and commercial
development for years.
The bridge would be good
environmentally, as it would
give people a convenient com-
mute option that didn’t require
a car, he said.
“To me this bridge is about
so much more. … It’s really
about taking care of the people
who live here,” Teeter said.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Make friends with your bank account today and be watchful about
issues related to shared property, inheritances, debt and the wealth of oth-
ers, because something unexpected could impact these areas. Be vigilant.
If an opportunity appears, act quickly, because this window will be brief.
Tonight: Be vigilant.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Friends and partners might do something that surprises you today.
In fact, it could be liberating! They might suggest a new arrangement to your
relationship. You also might meet a real character today because today is full
of twists, turns and surprises. Tonight: Be open and ready for anything.
Jim Duffy, of Ten Over Stu-
dio, offered a case study on
how a similar kind of bridge
helped spur development in a
similar way in Spokane, Wash-
ington.
“Public investment in a proj-
ect like this could be the cata-
lyst that spurs private develop-
ment,” Duffy said.
In the presentation to coun-
cil, the group estimated the
cost of the bridge to be roughly
$35 million. In addition to the
$12 million from the city, an
additional $6 million could
come from urban renewal
funds, which is a percentage
of tax dollars the city allocates
away from other taxing dis-
tricts to pay for improvements
in blighted areas. About $2
million has also been allocated
from the state Legislature to
Bend for midtown crossings.
That leaves a funding gap of
about $20 million. City Man-
ager Eric King said Wednesday
there could be opportunities
to close that gap with federal
funding if a federal transporta-
tion package is successful.
The group hopes to have
council support for the project
by this fall, and complete con-
struction in 2025.
“It’s a heavy lift,” said Taylor,
of Taylor Northwest. “Is it do-
able? Yes.”
e
Reporter: 541-633-2160,
bvisser@bendbulletin.com
TODAY’S
NUMBER
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
541.480.8130
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Sudden opportunities to travel or get further studies or training
might fall in your lap today. This is a high-energy day, and people are eager
to explore new ideas and ways of doing things. You might meet someone
unusual from a different background. Tonight: Stay on your toes!
Submitted
An artist’s rendering of a pedestrian bridge that would connect east and west Bend at Hawthorne Avenue.
louie@louiehoffman.com
“Catch My Drift”
Louie Hoffman, CCIM
Principal Broker, Licensed in Oregon
SRES, Senior Real Estate Specialist
Proudly Serving Central Oregon Real Estate
Communities for 29 Years
%(1'_5('021'
B8
8/21/2021
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