Growth is at the heart of a lot of issues in Redmond. Residents, city officials, economic development professionals, prospective investors — they are all keeping an eye on what’s going up in town. Some are also watching how the city’s culture and lifestyle change along with the new buildings and businesses, to see if the bustle brings with it too much traffic and too many new folks that the sense of small town neighborliness is lost.

Mark Gross is one of those new residents, bringing change and cash to the area. And he came via a route that carries its share of side eye. He grew up in New York, got paid well in the Bay Area, and bought a beautiful piece of Central Oregon property with those Silicon Valley earnings. But Gross had never had to care for property before, and never dealt with all the things you have to do to make a home hospitable in the High Desert.

Thankfully, he wants to learn from Central Oregon folks about how to do that well — and how to do it in a shared sense of responsibility with his surroundings. To that end, he is starting the School of Ranch to learn tips for caring for his new property. He sees it as a place to share about ideas on what equipment is necessary and what’s not, how to use it, what to plant and what to avoid, what you’ve got do each summer before the snow starts to fly.

Give the story and read and let me know what you think.

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Ever want to walk around an art gallery, fancy glasses on your nose, point at something wild on the walls and say “I’ll take that!”?

Well, now’s your chance. Redmond residents who have enjoyed a number of public art projects that have been erected around town over the last two years are not invited to vote on which one to make a piece of the city’s permanent collection. Read about it here and cast your vote here.

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A big ruling came down, affecting both local farmers and landowners in the Tumalo Irrigation District. This ruling may also trickle down (pun intended) to nearby districts as well. Irrigators (for now) can go forward with burying irrigation pipe, which will help them conserve water and keep it from evaporating while moving across the wide expanse. We’re thankful to have shared ownership with the Capital Press, which has so much knowledge about agriculture and water issues across the region.

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Thanks, as always, for subscribing to the paper. We’re getting our new office set up at the intersection of 6th and Deschutes, next door to the Odem Theatre. In my last column, I mentioned that we were close and now, officially, the computers and desks are moving in and we’ll be able to welcome in the public very soon. Any other questions, concerns and compliments about the paper, send them to me at ttrainor@redmondspokesman.com.

-Tim Trainor is editor of the Redmond Spokesman.