News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 90
No growth option To the Editor: I attended the UGB open house and I was disappointed that the city is not pursuing, or even considering, a no-growth option by challenging the state’s mandate that we destroy the nature of Sisters with continuous expansion and density. Why can’t the city “lawyer up” and fight the state’s requirement? Susanna DeFazio... Full story
Thankful for school system To the Editor: Something to be thankful for: The public school system. I could go into the history of my personal benefits, my children’s benefits, and my grandchildren’s benefits from this system, but I won’t. Instead, an overview of my direct experience of 63 years participating in this system. The teachers: Overall they are great! Like any aspect of the world, there will be some you love and some you don’t. But this I know: Teachers are dedicated, caring, intelligent people who do their very be... Full story
Tone it down To the Editor: Immigration & the law: Believing that one cannot be part of a solution unless he or she recognizes and identifies the problem, I offer this to my neighbors here in “Sisters Country.” There is no need for misleading or incendiary language in expressing one’s viewpoint. Many of us do it without thinking, almost reflexively. A letter appearing in last week’s Nugget provides an example typical of this: The author thanks “Sheriff (sic) Vander Kamp for his open and unwittingly timely response to law en... Full story
Law enforcement and immigration To the Editor: I want to thank Sheriff Vander Kamp for his open and unwittingly timely response to “law enforcement and immigrants ” in the November 13 edition, stating “We won’t participate just based on state law,” he said. “We can’t.” Now two weeks later I’ve noticed a shift in the new administration’s game plan as to how to coerce, bargain, threaten, (pick one that fits) local law enforcement agencies into doing the scud work for Tom Homan (border Czar) and I.C.E. agents, rounding up... Full story
Letter to Harris To the Editor: In “An open letter to Kamala Harris” published last week in The Nugget, its author states: “The election on November 5, 2024, has demonstrated that there is a large portion of America, measured both geographically and by headcount, who do not share the opinion that the right to abortion should be federally protected throughout a pregnancy for any and all reasons.” The election, of course, demonstrates no such thing. And the current Vice President needn’t rely on the election results as a refe... Full story
Appreciation To the Editor: Hats off to the Sisters School District for its Veterans Appreciation Celebration held at both the elementary and high schools on November 12. The assemblage of students from all three schools, including the intermediate school, and the program of patriotic/service songs, as well as recognition of both Sisters area veterans and Sisters HS graduates who have gone into military service after graduation, was absolutely heartwarming. Appreciation goes both ways. We veterans received appreciation for... Full story
Law enforcement and immigrants To the Editor: It’s been a tough week for some of us here in Sisters in regards to the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election. My sympathies and understanding of the disappointment we share together. There’s a long list of potential, less than satisfying winds of change headed our way and I’ll deal with them in my own way when they materialize, but one issue in particular caught my eye and I feel it needs to be addressed and brought into the communities awareness immediately: the propo... Full story
We the people To the Editor: I have read and heard much about Pat Farr’s letter, and lots of other letters about politics. And while I don’t agree with many of them, I do think we need to hear a variety of opinions. After all that is what Democracy is all about. I have been reading and working through a book called “Healing the Heart of Democracy,” by Parker Palmer with a book club at Paulina Springs Book Store. I’m learning what it means to live in a healthy democracy, a healthy community that can hold all our tensions and b... Full story
Resolute leadership To the Editor: The recent outpouring of letters to the editor on the topic of the leadership capabilities of women was very encouraging if not down-right gratifying. One can appreciate editorial concerns to make sure our local paper (that we all love and support) does not print letters which could be considered uninformed at best or downright demeaning at worst. But look at what that short contentious letter brought forth. The responses were a great read, were they not? Heartwarming to read from so many... Full story
Editor’s note: The Nugget received an exceptionally heavy volume of letters to the editor this week. We are running as many letters as space allows in the print edition this week, with first priority given to letters regarding local matters. All of the letters may be accessed at www.nuggetnews.com. Recognizing the keen interest in issues surrounding the November 5 election, we will endeavor to place as many of those letters as possible in the October 30 print edition as well, space permitting. Jim Cornelius, Editor in C... Full story
Vote! To the Editor: Citizens of Sisters — please vote. It is our right; our privilege; our duty! Thank you. All for America. Jenny Denzer God and freedom To the Editor: Our grandson Cruz M. Bryan went over to Ukraine in July to fight for their freedom and independence. On July 15 he was killed saving six other soldiers’ lives. Many foreign soldiers are fighting to save Ukraine’s freedom also. I don’t understand why in this country millions vote for socialism and collapse of the United States every four years. I challen... Full story
Lights out! (Do it for the birds.) To the Editor: Two reasons we are so lucky to live in Central Oregon are for our potentially dark night skies, and because we live along the Pacific Bird Flyway. With a few simple choices, we can preserve these attributes and lessen our unintended consequences. Eight out of 10 bird species in North America migrate at night, relying on the stars and moon to navigate. Our electric lights reduce visibility of starry night skies for birds (and us). Artificial light can attract night-migrating... Full story
Use that turn signal To the Editor: What do you do when driving down the road and wish to turn off to the right? You signal your intent for the car behind you as a courtesy so they are safely warned you are turning. It is also telling a person who may be waiting to turn into the traffic that they may turn out. Now, the roundabout is a good mover of traffic if that logic is the same as before. When you wish to enter the roundabout you look to see where the oncoming car is going, whether it is going to continue around or is... Full story
Mistaken identity To the Editor: Bruce Carpenter — I’m sorry you were bothered by people who thought they were addressing me. I’ve had packages I was waiting for delivered to other Bruce Campbells before which is very inconvenient, but being mistaken for someone writing a possibly controversial letter to the editor would be really annoying. I hope you weren’t hassled too bad. I used to live in Colorado ranch country and would get into friendly discussions with some of the old ranchers in the area about politics and such. M... Full story
Conversation on houselessness To the Editor: There are many reasons why Sisters is a unique and special place, but what repeatedly stands out to me is that our community members care deeply about their hometown and are willing to put their time, energy, and passion into making the city a better place for all. We see this everyday through the abundance of volunteerism, participation, and attendance at community events, the number of nonprofits and service organizations that support or provide important functions in Sisters,... Full story
Roundabout Tortoise To the Editor: Here’s my idea for the center artwork at the new roundabout: How about a gigantic replica of a Galapagos Tortoise? Jim Cline Art and owls To the Editor: After reading the article in The Nugget regarding the Roundabout art project I would hope the artists would consider a tribute to the following: Our military veterans. Sisters’ history of their logging industry. History of Sisters Quilt Show and Rodeo. Save a lot of money. Relocate the horse that is presently displayed on the corner of Casc... Full story
Developers having a heyday To the Editor: Just received a full page glossy magazine in the mail entitled Haven. It featured million-dollar-plus homes for sale all over Oregon. Including our very own Sisters Woodlands. These developers are having a heyday at our expense, sucking our water and resources dry and destroying small communities and pricing out ordinary Oregonians. Let alone bulldozing our trees and devastating the land. If this makes you angry, please contact Governor Kotek and/or your state representative. I did.... Full story
Beware of scams To the Editor: I fell for a scam being operated on FB Marketplace. I was trying to buy firewood and I ended up getting scammed. Luckily it was not for a ton of money. Never give the seller any money up front. Cash on delivery only! I am working with the Deschutes County Sheriff, Facebook, Venmo, and PayPal. Since Monday, August 19, I have located and disabled a dozen different scam pages selling firewood. Once you know what to look for they are easy to spot. The first thing that happens is you will... Full story
Expand county commission To the Editor: I am writing to express my appreciation to those making the effort to expand the size of the Deschutes County Commission. With a current membership of only three representing the rapidly expanding population of the county, adding to the viewpoints of those representing us is long overdue. Approving this expansion is particularly critical since only one of three current commissioners shows any interest or ability to properly manage the county. The rampant violations of the county code... Full story
Perspective on Clemens Park To the Editor: Here’s a perspective from a resident who has lived over the fence from Cliff Clemens Park for over 7 years. This park is used extensively. All of it. It has been a constant joy to witness just how delightfully and consistently it is used. I have often wished Mr. Clemens could watch with me to have the glow of knowing just how much his namesake park has meant to this community over the nearly 20 years since its dedication. He expressed a desire that trees would eventually line the b... Full story
Food sovereignty To the Editor: In response to commentary on the Sisters Community Garden: Last week Bailey Diemer made an excellent point, one that seems to be forgotten in our current worldview: Food Sovereignty. When considering the best use of a space, how can we seriously be comparing growing our own food with cherishing a lawn? I agree with Bailey’s observation that no one uses that exceptionally large lawn. I have two young children, we play at Cliff Clemens playground. Sometimes, people walk across the lawn to get t... Full story
Seed to Table To the Editor: As the new Executive Director at Seed to Table, I’d like to thank our community for welcoming me so warmly. Seed to Table truly is a community supported and community serving nonprofit. I look forward to continuing to meet and learn from all of our great partners, supporters, and community members. Recently, I had the honor of attending an awards ceremony with other nonprofit representatives to receive a grant from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation. This is the second year in a row we have we... Full story
Forest Service Shuttle Proposal To the Editor: Our Deschutes National Forest does some very good things, such as prescribed burning to clear out historically dangerous fuel loads, and the wrongly maligned Green Ridge forest management project, designed to preserve — not harm —the older growth forests. But two recent USFS proposals are a direct threat to those who enjoy hiking, horseback riding, and traditional natural activities in our taxpayer-funded forest. The Forest Service proposes to introduce to numerous trails in the... Full story
Community garden To the Editor: I was dismayed to learn that the city is considering Clemens Park as one of the sites for the Community Garden. The park is one of the few expansive green spaces in the city and is used by many of us on a regular basis. Perhaps they don’t realize how much the park is used for our children to run and play, for walking our dogs, the occasional neighborhood event, and just sitting and enjoying the outdoors. Removing a large portion of the beautiful lawn and surrounding the resulting dirt patch w... Full story
Common sense immigration To the Editor: Mass deportation as a solution for illegal or unauthorized immigration is wedging itself into our politics. That’s an impossibility and a distraction. We need a functional immigration plan. The Migration Policy Institute reports data for 11,047,000 unauthorized immigrants. Most were born in Mexico, Central or South America, or the Caribbean, some in Africa, Asia, Canada, or Europe. Of that total, 63 percent (6,933,000) have resided in the U.S. ten years or more; 33 percent (... Full story
