I’ve lived in Bend for over 20 years, but it wasn’t until eight months ago that I found out how amazing Juniper Swim and Fitness Center is. Juniper is a public facility with very affordable rates that is clean, family friendly and run by people who care about what they do. Juniper feels like a community space for exercise and good energy.

On June 16, I went to the congregate meal site to have lunch and listen to music with an older adult client. The meal was interrupted before it began by a panel from

BPRD [Bend Park and Recreation District] and community partners representing the “social serves” aspect of the current Senior Center. Not only was I appalled at the lack of etiquette making this group wait over 45 minutes for their meal, but to hear the Park and Recreation spokesperson tell these Seniors that they were going to move the meal site to the Bend Community Center; repeatedly stating that these seniors were not being “kicked out” of the Center; and that [Bend] Park and Rec was not a “social services” agency, but a “recreation” agency.

What a great scam BRPD played on the older adults in this community! Ten years ago, they asked, “Give us money” and we will build you a new Senior Center where you can come for congregate meals and enjoy activities! The Center was built with funds from the community so that seniors had a place to go to meet, enjoy a meal together, and engage in other activities that are geared toward older adults. Obviously, the Bend Parks and Recreation Board does not understand recreation from this culture’s point of view, nor does it understand how difficult it is for many of these seniors to get around.

Shame on you for not understanding that the meal site is an activity for many seniors—possibly the only one that many of them enjoy in a day or week or month.

I am writing this letter on behalf of some of the senior citizens that go to the Senior Center to eat lunch. On Thursday June 16 I attended the Bend Park and Recreation panel discussion about moving the noon meal to the Bend Community Center. I think this is a terrible idea. I don’t see anything wrong with how things have been and neither did any of the seniors we sat with during the panel discussion. It feels like Bend Park and Rec wants to cater to the more active younger senior population and displace the older seniors who attend the Senior Center for their noon meal.

WHY?

They said by moving the noon meal to the Bend Community Center they could feed 300 people yet there are not enough parking places for all those cars. The location also does not have access to our city bus system. The current location on Reed Market has plenty of parking, trees and is easily wheelchair accessible. It is my understanding seniors donated money to build the current Senior Center. Now money is going to be needed to make sure the Bend Community Center meets the needs of seniors? Where is the money going to come from? SENIORS?

– Sharon Smith

What is with all the complaining about the sound quality at the free shows around town?

I am an astute concertgoer who has noticed some of the uneven sound. I attribute it to the diverse styles of music these guys must mix every day. To them I say, “Thanks.” It’s a very difficult job to make every band sound great. The folks who don’t like the sound quality should ask for a refund. Oh yeah the music is free—so stop whining!

Speaking of free music, I’d like to give a shout out to Scott Foxx and Bobby Lindstrom, whose band nailed it at Munch and Music [Thursday]. Eric Tollefson’s set at Sagebrush Tuesday was a thing of beauty. Thanks, Guys.

Congratulations to Necktie Killer for their well earned win at Last Band [Standing]. They butched up their set and went toe-to-toe with our heaviest bands. Their sound was more articulate than the others and was bolstered by the best rhythm section in the competition.

So when you go to the free shows, I urge you to listen to the music and artists, not the sound system. We have a lively music scene here with diverse acts and great settings. If you don’t like the sound quality, leave. Or if you can do it better, then shut up and get to it.

– Listener Mike, Bend