Letters, letters, letters

To the Editor:

Last week I attended my first Sisters planning commission hearing. I came away disillusioned and disappointed. Is this really how planning in this town is done? Or am I just naive?

I went to the meeting to speak against the site plan for the building at the corner of Cascade Avenue and Larch because it is clearly Victorian and violates the ordinance requiring a western frontier architectural style. This ordinance has been ignored in recent years. I feel strongly that we must maintain our western character that sets us apart and draws visitors here.

This site plan was controversial for a number of reasons, so I expected to hear much discussion and some disagreement between the commissioners. I was flabbergasted by how few questions were asked and that they did not go into any depth about the issues. My own concern was barely addressed. One commissioner said about the Victorian style, "the public probably wouldn't know the difference anyway." And when the builder said he had researched the building style, no one asked to see his information or have it put into the public record.

I came away from this meeting with the uncomfortable feeling that this site plan was approved to avoid a lawsuit against the city. I think it is time for the city planner to stop trying to be "mister nice guy" and just say "no" to some of these builders. Is it his job to facilitate the builders or is it to enforce city building ordinances (the law)?

Over the last few years our western frontier theme has been eroding. It would appear that builders and their attorneys in Gucci loafers (I saw them!) are the ones planning this town.

Nikki L. Heiden

To the Editor:

Thanks to all the citizens who voted, and to those people who worked so hard on various campaigns in the recent election.

I'm especially glad that the library district will become a reality and that the SDC measure passed to help provide essential services as growth and development occurs.

As Gordon Petrie leaves the Sisters City Council, I'd like to thank him for all his years of devoted public service to the community.

Libby Bottero

To the Editor:

I took my family trick-or-treating in Sisters this year and was awestruck at the Kolb house and their Halloween decorations.

My kids haven't stopped talking about that house. Bravo! Do they do this every year?

Jenny Hendrickson, Tumalo

To the Editor:

My family looks forward every year to the fantastic Halloween display the Kolb family puts on at their house each year. We thought a public thank-you was in order for sharing such fun Halloween spirit.

We can't wait to see what's in store for Christmas!

The Bennet Family

To the Editor:

I just wanted to say thank you to the Kolb family in Sisters for giving us a wonderfully fun place to take our kids trick-or-treating.

It's nice to see a family having such fun and sharing it with their community.

Sheri Dixon and family

To the Editor:

It is my understanding that when a volleyball coach picks his or her varsity players that he or she picks them to play them.

I have been going to a lot of the volleyball games and there is a player on the varsity team that will play 2-5 mininutes per game. I am just wondering why someone would pick a varsity player and then bench them.

Chris Brown