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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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.

To the Editor:

I want to express my appreciation to all of you who attended last Thursday's city council meeting to discuss Multnomah Publishers' effort to acquire land for our future campus through a land exchange with the United States Forest Service.

I look forward to an ongoing dialogue to clarify the issues that were raised.

I also want to clarify a statement I made in the open letter to the community that appeared in last week's Nugget (November 8, page 15).

I stated that the piece of property in question would someday be developed and that the real issue was how it would be developed. I made that statement based upon the rate at which our community is growing. Our rapid growth leads logically to the conclusion that the property, which has already been voted into the city limits, will eventually have to be developed.

I did not mean to infer that this decision has been made. I am sorry.

What should be very apparent to everyone by now is that Multnomah wants to work openly with the city council and the community throughout this process. Although the Forest Service is not required to involve the city in a proposed land exchange, Bill Anthony has told us that the Sisters Ranger District will not consider a proposal at this time unless the city decides that it is in the community's long-term interest.

The city's involvement is not "preferential treatment" -- it is an opportunity for the council to ensure that the land is used in a way that will bring the most benefit to the community over the long-term.

We have asked the city council to facilitate a process that would ensure that the public -- you, our neighbors--could voice your opinions. We have made our needs known to the council, and now its members must determine if our needs coincide with the best interests of Sisters.

Don Jacobson

President, Multnomah Publishers

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To the Editor:

I don't want to butt heads with Don Jacobson and Multnomah Publishing. Don is a fine fellow and Multnomah is a good company.

What the City of Sisters needs is a comprehensive plan for business development that is clear and reproducible.

A big reason Metabolic Maintenance bought the land it is on is that we "knew" that the neighboring land was Forest Service and couldn't be developed.

What was available to me when I moved here is also available to Multnomah. These include grants and favorable loans from the state to construct his campus. I didn't ask for preferential treatment from either the city or the state.

We chose to live and build in Sisters because we felt it offered us a better quality of life.

If you want to help Don and Multnomah stay in Sisters, consider other alternatives such as:

¥ Facilitating or interfacing with the state to help them get a grant and a low cost real estate loan to build their building.

¥ Give them a tax deferment just like Redmond does to new businesses in the enterprise zone.

¥ Spend some of the time and money that you have on this project on a more comprehensive package, with the input of the Chamber of Commerce, that can be offered to other companies and where precedents set are reproducible.

I would caution the city council to think long and hard about the precedent you are setting. I know that Weitech is already experiencing growing pains and renting space. As Metabolic continues to grow, we will also experience growing pains.

If you go forward with your recommendation to the Forest Service to swap this land, please be prepared to go back to them with similar requests from other companies with similar dilemmas.

When Don Jacobson decides to retire, or if Multnomah has the misfortune of going out of business or whenever Multnomah changes hands and the land and buildings are sold, there are no guarantees that this land won't be developed.

I would be more inclined to say that I guarantee that this land would be developed.

Respectfully,

Ed Fitzjarrell (owner, Metabolic Maintenance) and Laurene Fitzjarrell

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To the Editor:

In regards to Multnomah Publishers' proposed acquisition of Forest Service Land: I must protest the publishing company's plan to build a new "campus" on Federal land.

Our National Forests were set aside to conserve natural resources and be areas that the public can enjoy. Part of this concept means that the land should also be protected from urban development.

The idea of purchasing 20 acres of federal land to develop is fundamentally flawed for this reason, even if it is within the imaginary line a city planner drew as the "urban-growth boundary."

Multnomah Publishers has threatened to leave Sisters if they do not get this land. These scare tactics are unnecessary.

If what they want is 20 acres near Sisters, all they have to do is look at the numerous real estate ads in The Nugget to find property that suits their needs exactly -- forested, buildable, large sites with good access.

It would be much less of a legal hassle to buy one of these sites as well, for they wouldn't have to purchase other land to trade with the Forest Service, nor go through Congress to get the trade approved.

Lastly, I would like to point out that if Multnomah were to obtain this land, it would cut off access to the Sisters Tie Loop trail system, which a number of locals and visitors enjoy.

Is all this really worth it?

Kristy L. Boscheinen

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To the Editor:

The US Forest Service is being asked to sacrifice 20 acres for private interests. In reply, I quote from a Government Accounting Office report regarding the land exchange program: "The program is so riddled with problems and abuses that Congress should consider banning trades altogether" and "Too often, developers, timber companies and other business interests benefit at the public's expense, from the complex real estate deals."

I feel that the latest attempt by private interests to get this 20 acres falls under that quotation. What lands does the USFS need so desperately that it will make a deal? What appraisal value does the 20 acres have (not just USFS appraisal!).

Conservatively, based upon actual recorded sales, it is worth $800,000 per acre. Will USFS ask for $16 million in land?

The report doesn't address the matter of a city attempting to get into the real estate business, running interference for private business. I would think that the citizens of Sisters would ask some questions, as well as the State Attorney General.

Russell B. Williams

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To the Editor:

Wow!!! What an election! As I write this we still don't know who will be our next president, but what proof to us that our vote DOES count.

This is a thank-you letter to a large group of people. To the people of Sisters who supported us in our quest for a local option and a new high school -- Thank You! Your willingness to host klatches, wear buttons, post signs, stand out in the cold and wave at cars, make phone calls, go door-to-door, and engage people in good honest discussions and vote "yes" is very much appreciated.

To The Nugget and The Bulletin, thank you for your coverage and endorsement. To Jeri Fouts, Bob Grooney, Don Jacobson, Patti Little, Bonnie Malone, Todd Weitzman, Jean Wells-Keenan and Steve Wilson thank you for your endless support and dedication to our kids.

To Brian Witt, treasurer, Deb Sether, one fantastic secretary and the Committee for Sisters Children, thank you for your, well... everything. You were the backbone of this campaign. We cannot thank you enough.

To Bill Willitts, thank you for your vision, drive and endless optimism. And for Victory (the 1949 campaign truck). You have truly stepped up for the children of this community and we cannot even begin to express how much we appreciate you.

I'm sure there are others I have missed. So I'll just say to everyone once again thank you for your support during the campaign and election and for all the other things you all do to support the Sisters School District.

Sincerely,

Heather Wester

Vice-Chair, Sisters School Board

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To the Editor:

I had the privilege and honor of attending and speaking at the Sisters High School Veterans day celebration on November 9.

We often hear that today's youth are insensitive to past generations and do not appreciate and recognize the sacrifices veterans have made for America. This is simply not true here in Sisters.

As a former combat Marine veteran from the Vietnam conflict, I was moved and inspired by their celebration. In talking with other veterans in attendance, this view was shared by all present.

The community of Sisters, as well as America, can be proud of the faculty, staff and students at Sisters High School.

Semper Fidelis,

Ronnie Frigulti

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To the Editor:

WOW! Talk about honoring the military veterans! I'm here to tell you that the Sisters High School Leadership Class and their teachers, and many others really know how to do it. They put on two assemblies this past week, one on the morning of November 9 for the veterans and the students and the other in the evening for all of the adults that could not make it in the morning.

You have heard that grown men don't cry. Don't you believe it! After one of the assemblies I was talking to a Vietnam veteran who I was trying to get to join our local Sisters Veterans Group. He told me that he had been doing his level best to forget that "period" in his life. He said the only reason he attended this one was because he had children who were part of the program.

Then he said he sat there and cried all through the program because of the memories it brought back. I assured him that he was not alone, because so did I, and so did a lot of other veterans I saw there.

I do know that it took a lot of work and effort on the part of a large number of people. I want to thank those who put the program together collectively, because you were wonderful.

I want to also thank, from the bottom of my heart, the large audience that attended both assemblies, for whatever reason. I know the veterans appreciate your presence, and I also know that your presence was appreciated by every one of the students and teachers of the high school as well.

I also thank the veterans who had the nerve to speak to the audiences of their experiences. I know that it was a very difficult thing to do. I admit...I could not do it.

To each and everyone who participated in any way in the assemblies I thank you on behalf of the Sisters Veterans Group, and for all veterans who attended.

Phil Chlopek

American Legion Lee Morton Memorial Post 86

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To the Editor:

I am full of gratitude for the impressive and moving Second Annual Veterans Day Celebrations this past Thursday at Sisters High School.

I was fortunate in being able to attend both morning and evening ceremonies. The care that went into the planning and honoring was evident.

Thank you, Sisters school administrators and planners, school choir and band, Sisters Community Choir members, community band members, music directors, student poetry writers and readers, emcees, and honored veteran speakers.

The music, comments, writings, memorial candlelight ceremony, and the awesome unfolding of the huge flag were well integrated, moving and helpful.

In 34 years of military service, mostly in the Reserve Component, I have not seen a finer ceremony anywhere. As a local church pastor and a resident of the community for over five years, I am proud of the schools, the compassionate people who live and serve here, and the honorable service rendered by veterans of this area.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Larry Harrelson

Pastor, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters, and Chaplain (Colonel), Idaho Army National Guard

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To the Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our eighth grade girls volleyball team on their winning season.

The "A" red team was undefeated and the "A" white team only lost one game. They also placed first, second and second in the three tournaments they played.

These girls have a lot of talent and have the potential when they reach high school to continue the winning tradition set by their predecessors.

They were very fortunate to have superb coaches in Norma Pledger and Midge Rose.

I would also like to thank SOAR for taking on middle school sports and for allowing these girls the opportunity to play volleyball

Congratulations girls!

Trish Gillespie

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