Recycling guide

Thanks for the recent article on recycling. It’s worth paying attention, as well, to items that you can’t recycle, such as aseptic packages (boxed soup, almond milk, etc.), lids for plastic tubs, clamshell packaging (fruit, bakery items, etc.) and single-use plastic bags (grocery, produce, newspaper, etc.). Many yogurt cups are now 5.3 ounces, which means they don’t meet the 6-ounce minimum requirement.

Cascade Disposal is updating the list of acceptable recycling items on its website in the near future. If you have a question about whether an item is recyclable, you can use their “Waste Wizard,” www.cascadedisposal.com.

Marie Bernardy

Bend

Build bridge over parkway

Before the Bend Park & Recreation District finalizes its comprehensive plan, I would like to suggest it give more thought to doing the most good for the most people most all of the time. Simply by redirecting its current financial efforts from the proposed pedestrian bridge over the river to a pedestrian bridge over the parkway between Bend’s Central District and downtown, it could be serving a much a greater good in our growing community. Very recently, the park district has used collaborative skills negotiating another bridge over a train right of way adjacent to the planned Alpenglow Park and future school. Now is the time to use those collaborative skills with the city of Bend to place a pedestrian bridge over the parkway/rail corridor near Hawthorne Avenue or Bend’s Central District. The district knows it can collaborate with both the city and the railroad to capitalize on meeting their goals and the goals of our community. It can and should work together to unite Bend with a safe pedestrian passage, precious to multitudes of park users on east-side pedestrian trails and west-side pedestrian trails. Let’s see the park district do the most good for the most people in Bend by safely connecting trails in the city where it matters most.

Robin Sullivan

Bend

Support Patti Adair for commissioner

The recent editorial “Don’t base pot policy on anecdotes” was more of a campaign ad for James Cook than it was a real evaluation of policy differences between Patti Adair and James Cook. Cook was presented as the voice of reason, deferring to state regulators to determine if we have a problem with the excessive use of water needed to grow pot. Yes, Cook, let’s have our local bureaucracy engage an even bigger bureaucracy in Salem to tell us if we have a problem here in Deschutes County. How inspirational. Instead, how about if we listen to the people who actually live here? We need local representation in our county to handle our local county issues.

Cook was presented as the candidate who knows about the people’s concerns and wants to fix regulations if they are not working. Really? Cook hears the complaints about growing marijuana, but he doesn’t think it’s a significant problem. How exactly is that a “more thoughtful policy direction”? So why is Cook running for office? So he can fight hard to keep things just as they are? We don’t need another complacent politician. We need someone who’s proactive in addressing the growing concerns over growing marijuana. That’s one of the reasons why Adair is running for county commissioner, and that’s exactly the kind of thoughtful policy that unseated Tammy Baney in the primary election. The people have spoken; maybe it’s time for Cook to listen better.

Steven Lee

Bend

Know the rules for dogs

A lot of businesses are allowing dogs into their place of business. This is becoming a problem because the definition of a service dog is a dog that is required because of a disability and what work or task has the animal been trained to perform.

According to the ADA, support animals or comfort animals are not considered service animals. Also, a letter from a doctor does not turn an animal into a service animal, according to the ADA.

Many businesses and owners of dogs are breaking ADA laws.

Some businesses say they are dog-friendly; this is also a violation of many rights of people. They should leave their dogs at home or in their auto. The dog-friendly businesses that sell any type of food products should not allow dogs into their place of business unless it is a service animal.

These violations should be reported as soon as you see any of them happening.

Anyone can check the internet for information on service animals.

Raymond W. Lewis

La Pine