Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

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To the Editor

I couldn't help but wonder what Grace Aitken would say if she were able to see the library dedicated to her on the front page of The Nugget announcing Sisters' government decision to charge the library for the space it uses.

The library is a public service organization, a not-for-profit, often subsidized by the city or the county where it is located, not charged for its service to the community.

Mrs. Aitken secured books from the county when she had the store in Sisters. As a service to the area she in turn lent books to people who otherwise might not have been able to visit the library. If someone failed to return a book, she bought it with her own money as a service to the Sisters population.

The City of Sisters may own the library building, but I seem to remember the Friends of the Library raised a good deal of money to build the facility the powers see as a source of revenue.

My parents helped fund and build the first city water system. They charged a modest fee for the uses of the water to defray the operating costs and repay the original cost. I don't know the details, but when the city grew large enough to manage the system was turned over to them, I would guess without charge. I believe it became a source of revenue for the city.

Sisters, how can you do this? What will be next?

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To the Editor:

An ad hoc committee has been organized in Tollgate. Such committees are by title organized to address a single issue and usually for a specific purpose, case, or situation.

From the tone of their questionnaire, it appears that their purpose is to eliminate horses from within the development.

My wife and I own a lot, home and corral in Tollgate. We have owned the property since 1991. Before we built the corral in 1992 we submitted an application to the review committee and received a permit and approval to build it. We have used this facility many times each year and to our knowledge, the neighbors and community hardly know when we arrive and when we leave.

We have received no complaints. Sometimes our neighbors come to visit our horses. We are not listed as one of the "nine properties in Tollgate that have horses," (from the ad hoc survey form). We are aware of several other such cases that were not included in the survey.

When we decided to buy in Tollgate we researched areas where horses were allowed. Tollgate CC&R (covenants codes and restrictions) seemed more appropriate and the overall cost was what we could afford. Clearly, horses were a major consideration in the overall development of the three developments and in our desire to buy there.

Horses were and are a part of Tollgate's history and character. Every street and cul-de-sac address in Tollgate is named after horse gear or related equipment.

We should applaud these specialties instead of wanting to turn our development into the same "everywhere suburb."

We love our Tollgate home and experiences there. The neighborhood has always been friendly. We want be a part of Tollgate's future and keep its history and integrity.

Duane and Marian Lee

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To the Editor:

Your readers should put Richard Esterman's letter of July 13 in perspective: I served on the Tollgate board during Esterman's short term as chairman.

He not only stirred up controversy, but was unable to handle Tollgate meetings effectively. And, when he left the board, Tollgate was without a business manager and maintenance manager.

He offered no solutions to the problems he spoke to or created. In my opinion Esterman appears to enjoy controversy but has no credibility.

Lois Worcester

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To the Editor:

Thanks to the community of Sisters for your caring and support of our dad and of our music.

You've been a blessing and encouragement to us and it is great being a part of this large family.

Thank you all so much.

Mike and Dolores Booher; Chris, Lisa & Ericka; Rudi, Carla& Emily; Ned, Trish, Lorelei & James; Justin in New Mexico; and

The Diamond B Wranglers -- Meriwyn, Ben, Brendan and Gabriel

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To the Editor:

The Sisters High School Cross Country team and parents would like to thank the community of Sisters for its support of our efforts to fund the sport this fall. It is gratifying to live in a place where people come together to contribute to our youth and their activities.

After the team was cut from the school budget, cross country runners and families have worked diligently to raise the necessary money by our August deadline.

We have sold flashlights, raffle tickets, and hung banners. We operated the concession area and espresso stand during the five days of quilting classes at the high school. Team members and parents moved and set up tables, served dinner, operated parking lots, put on a breakfast and barbecue lunch and helped remove traffic barriers.

During Quilt Week alone, we conservatively estimate that at least 45 runners and parents worked 450 hours. This was truly a team effort.

We are grateful to many individuals and businesses for help, donations and encouragement. This effort would not have been nearly as successful without you.

In closing, we would like to remind the community that five other high school sports have also been cut from the budget this year.

Please support those students as well as the middle school teams as they work to pursue their passions.

Then let's join together in an effort to attain adequate school funding for all of our children, both in the classroom and on the playing field.

Charles Kanzig, coach

Sisters High Cross Country Team and Parents

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To the Editor:

I am involved with an exceptional organization that works to teach high school students the skills they need to live more productively and peacefully in a global society.

By experiencing life in a different culture, they gain an insight into their own, and a greater capacity to understand differences.

In the long run, they grow to appreciate, even celebrate, the differences that enrich the global human family.

Council Exchanges, a Boston- based organization, is pleased to include Sisters and surrounding areas in an effort to recruit host families for these future leaders.

Host families are enriched by the experience; it brings them closer to other cultures and makes the world a smaller place.

This year, high school students from Poland, Germany, France, Spain, China, Brazil, Russia, Italy, Albania and Australia (to name only a few), will come to the United States for a semester or academic year.

They range in age from 15 to 18, have studied English for at least three years, and have their own spending money and medical insurance.

The process is simple, and families can take part in selecting a student with specific interests or a student from a specific country.

As the Local Coordinator for Council, I work closely with the host family in selecting their student, and provide support throughout the experience.

In many cases, the students invite their host families back to their home country where they have a place to stay and a familiar tour guide.

I'd like to invite area families to contact me and learn more about this opportunity.

Council is a well-established, non-profit organization, in operation since the 1940s, and has provided these unique experiences to hundreds of thousands of students and families throughout the world.

Families or individuals may contact me at 800-369-4791.

Very best regards,

Ryan Standley Local Coordinator Redmond

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