Blog Posts

Growing up in Oregon, I took the beauty of my state for granted. As a child, I experienced the joys of feeding the ducks at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, of adventuring around Reed Canyon, and of pretending the trees in my yard were the Millennium Falcon. I never considered that these experiences were different than any other kid’s. This ignorance continued until I was in college.

Occasionally, I feel the need to hug a tree. It helps me center myself, it helps me feel connected to the Earth, and most importantly, it reminds me why I am the person I am.

I first came to Oregon nine years ago, rather unexpectedly. A close friend of mine had suddenly passed away the previous semester in college; I was feeling cold, angry, and lost. I knew I needed to experience something new, something different.

So I spent the summer of 2004 with my aunts, uncle, and cousin in Corvallis. It was a big deal for me, having grown up in Upstate New York and never having been further west than Ohio.

Note: At the time I wrote this entry, I was The New Guy at the office. By the time this piece is posted online I’ll have not been The New Guy by an order of a few days; our newest hire gets that title, making my dynasty one of the shortest in OLCV’s long history. However, for the sake of continuity and theme, let’s assume I’m still The New Guy. 

      This is my first “real” job, or at least one that feels real. This is the first job where I have an office, a phone extension, and a desk. My work in the past had me scrounging to claim table space or working out of a backpack, play-acting at being a professional in the Real World. 

Admittedly, politics are not my thing.  I was never involved in the dynamics of local, state or national politics before joining OLCV.  But, I have always voted.  I vote because I believe that if you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice. And because I believe you cannot complain about what is or is not being done unless you are an active participant.

Bend is a gorgeous, family-friendly city that feels like a small town where recreational opportunities are never-ending, and people believe in keeping the community clean and safe. We care about our water and air, forests, land and wildlife.