Nice surprises during Bend visit

The nicest thing happened to my wife and I while we were in Bend a couple of weeks ago.

We live near Roseburg and our daughter asked us to come help her paint her new office in the O’Kane Building on Oregon Avenue.

One evening, my wife and I took a break for some refreshments and stopped in the alehouse around the corner. The place was really packed and I spotted one stool at the bar and asked the gentleman sitting in the next stool if it was taken. He was on his cellphone to his wife or friend and said, “I don’t know if she’s coming, so take the vacant one and mine, too.”

That was our first good fortune.

Shortly after sitting down, the gentleman next to me received his order and I mentioned how good it looked. We then struck up a conversation, learning that he was in town on a construction project and that, too, was my business before retiring.

The gentleman finished up before us, and a few minutes later we asked the bartender for our check and he said the gentleman I had been talking with paid our bill. What a nice and unexpected thing for a stranger to do for a couple of retired seniors.

William Smith

Winston

Vote for Buehler

As someone serving in the Legislature, and having known Knute Buehler for many years, I’m in a unique position to endorse his candidacy for state representative. Buehler understands Bend because of his years of involvement in our community — in our business and health care community, with our schools and through nonprofit activities. On the issues, Buehler will be a strong advocate for helping small businesses create jobs and keeping government affordable for taxpayers by holding the line on taxes and scrutinizing spending. And with the Cover Oregon fiasco getting worse each day, the Legislature will benefit from Buehler’s experience as a doctor and building a successful health care business. We all know Oregon faces some real challenges. Buehler has the background, the intellect and the credibility to get the job done. It has been a great honor to serve you in the Legislature. I want to encourage you to vote for Buehler — so that he can serve all of us.

Jason Conger

Bend

Support Wilhelm

Bend voters are in a unique situation when it comes to selecting their new state representative. Both candidates for the office are well qualified. That noted, I urge voters to elect Craig Wilhelm. Wilhelm has a keen grasp of the important issues facing our community, is an excellent listener, and his past military service in both Iraq and Afghanistan shows not only his commitment but also his leadership skills.

Bob Woodward

Bend

Alcohol-free movie theaters preferred

While I know that railing against Regal Cinemas’ recent decision to serve wine and beer at their local theaters would be a waste of breath and ink, I will miss this alcohol-free entertainment option here in beer-soaked Bend.

Pete Stoefen

Bend

Troubles with TV ads

One cannot turn on a TV program — even the news — without being surfeited with a barrage of advertising! In many cases, in order to squeeze even more ads in limited time, the announcer has to speak so fast that we sit and laugh at his efforts rather than listen to the ad. Add that to the death-defying speeding, high-speed spins and screeching halts displayed by many of the auto manufacturers, and is it any wonder that young drivers have the highest death rates and insurance claims in the nation?

How about some laws to restrict such ads? I think that most of the people who are buying those cars are more impressed by warranties and gas mileage! Then, listen to any medical product ads — once you have figured out how to pronounce their manufactured chemical names, you are so frightened by all the dangers inherent in using them, that one is glad to go back to aspirin and bed rest! I recognize all the liability involved, but in my mind, TV advertising has outsmarted itself with jamming the airways with ill-prepared and senseless advertising. I am equally sure that many — like ourselves — turn off the volume until the ads are over, read the newspaper ads or buy online. How about a time limit on ads per program?

Russell Williams

Sisters