Letters, letters, letters

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To the Editor:

Although it surely is heartening to hear that local builders are willing to subsidize the Sisters School District by constructing four new middle school classrooms, this noble effort may produce an unintended false sense that the school district's fiscal problems have been solved. In truth, the schools need a new operating levy to ensure that Sisters schools are capable of preparing students for the demands of the 21st century.

A quality middle school experience, often the determinative years of a child's education, will require more than bricks and mortar. State-of-the-art laboratories, computers, and teachers are indispensable. These cost money.

The beneficiaries of well-educated students are all the taxpayers of the school district, not merely the parents of enrolled students or a few enlightened local builders.

It is time to begin to mount a campaign that will convince the voters to recognize that reality at the polls.

I realize that the schools have lost two heartbreakingly close elections in recent years. But in those elections hardly were characterized by sophisticated campaigns. As far as I could tell, there were no road signs prominently displayed, no information booths outside local shops, no letters, few phone calls. If the new Sisters School Foundation or a similar group organized a grassroots effort along these lines, the election results would no doubt be different.

Some people claim that this school district won't vote to adequate fund the schools because "too many retired people live here." I say that's hogwash. The generation that fought and won World War II and is now the beneficiary of large-scale inter-generation wealth transfers in the form of social security and Medicare surely understands the need to undertake collective enterprises that make us a civilized society. It simply must be convinced that the next generation requires its assistance.

Not long ago the voters approved a levy to build a new county fairgrounds. They did so after supporters ran a sophisticated campaign that included road signs, phone calls, and volunteers outside local establishments like Ray's Market. If we can afford a gold-plated fairgrounds that benefits relatively few, we surely can afford to adequately fund our schools, for that benefits us all.

Sincerely,

Michael Blumm

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To the Editor:

It is disheartening to learn that one of your correspondents would deny to many of us the pleasure of Molly Ivins' column.

Every reader enjoys the prerogative of either reading or not reading opinion material in the paper. What is "beneficial for the community" is itself a matter of opinion. The Nugget is to be commended for printing items that appeal to a diversity of readers.

Merle B. Turner

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To the Editor:

We would like to send out a huge thank you to all of the runners and volunteers who made the Kevin Johnson Memorial Run a success.

A special thank you goes out to Mr. Kanzig, Mr. Saraceno, Ms. Nordquist, Mr. DeKay, Mrs. Haynes, Mr. and Mrs. Slavkovsky, Mrs. Randal, Mrs. Klein, Barclay Construction, Hoyt's Hardware, Pepsi, The Shirt Stop, Medicine Woman, The Candy Bin, Sisters Cascade of Gifts, Sisters Bakery, Eurosports, The Fly Fishers Place, Sisters Glassworks, Rainbow Connection, Kibak Fine Design, The Paper Place, Hucklebeary's, Ear Expressions, Sisters Coffee Company and Ali's.

Thanks,

Kevin Johnson Committee

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To the Editor:

Central Oregon Council on Aging and the Sisters Senior Meal site folks wish to thank these merchants for placing their ad on our place mats, to benefit the Meals-On-Wheels program: Sisters Acupuncture Center; Hair Cache; Affordable Window Coverings; Desert Wings Travel Services; Your Place in Sisters; Sisters Baptist Church; Davis Towing; Sisters Body and Paint; U.S. Bank; Bank of the Cascades; Dr. Spear and Dr. Rheuben, DMD; Sisters Car Care; Dr. Bonnie Malone.

Seventy percent of the funding for the Meals-On-Wheels program comes from those in our community who recognize the value of a hot, nutritious meal and a visit to a homebound senior and over 800 seniors, in the tri-county area, benefit from your generosity.

Thank you,

Susie Rich, Sisters Meal site coordinator

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To the Editor:

The response to the Kevin Johnson Memorial Scholarship pledge walk has been overwhelmingYou all responded so wonderfully to my personal contact with the pledge form in hand.

I have turned over to Sisters High School in cash or checks, $222, and I am aware that around another $100 is to be called in on Tuesday through the pledges that have arrived at the school in the mail. If anyone still wants to give to the scholarship, feel free to call Connie Holly at the high school, 5494045, or send a check to the school made out to the Kevin Johnson Scholarship Fund.

The 20-mile walk I did on Saturday from Sisters High School to Redmond High School in memory of Kevin, was great. I did the 11 hills in an average 16-minute mile, had the wind at my back, a super sag driver (our daughter) who kept stuffing water and bananas down me, my faithful husband who ferried the motor home just far enough ahead to take care of the shortage of outhouses between here and Redmond, and the Divine Intervention of a window of blue sky constantly overhead while the thunder rumbled to the south, east and north. Believe me, we watched that carefully

Sincerely,

Peggy Lutz

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