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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 also own a home at Black Butte Ranch, and I was ashamed by the pettiness of the letter from the Risleys (The Nugget, Letters to the Editor, September 5).

They are not representative of most homeowners, and their letter was inappropriate for several reasons:

1. If a homeowner has a gripe with the board of directors or Loy Helmly, the appropriate forum for that is a board of directors meeting, not The Nugget. However, since they brought it up, I feel compelled to respond.

2. This sort of petty bitching is the work of only a "handful of homeowners" (by Risley's own admission) who are very vocal and often override the will of the majority.

It is a violation of the democratic process when The Handful can, by sheer decibel level, pressure the Board of Directors to close down the popular wedding tent, and change the facade of the Big Meadow Clubhouse after the original facade had been approved by the all-too-silent majority.

I consider that a much more objectionable disregard of Ranch rules than is a little noise at a family celebration!

This sort of thing also costs the rest of us a lot more money than we originally approved. And our assessments/dues are not based on property value (and therefore, ability to pay), like property taxes are, but are an across-the-board increase.

3. Most Black Butte Ranch homeowners are ordinary folks -- kind, considerate, and polite. They volunteer at community charities and schools, and genuinely try to make a contribution to the well-being of the area.

Risley's letter gives these kind people a big black eye, and reinforces the "ugly homeowner" image many Ranch employees and Sisters residents have of us. The motto of The Handful would become: "There is a place -- the UNFRIENDLIEST place on earth."

4. Homeowners who put their interests above those of our most-welcome renters are increasing the operations deficit of the Ranch, thereby assuring us of further assessments and dues increases. If we continue to treat our renters like second-class citizens, we will shortly have NO renters. Perhaps this is the goal of the wealthy few -- private country club affordable only by the very rich, quiet, but not family-friendly. (After all, most families ARE noisy, and what can be a more typical and appropriate "family-oriented" event than a wedding?)

They should try some of that "human coupling" themselves. It's known to improve the disposition.

June Forsyth

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To the Editor:

I fail to understand why the Habitat for Humanity duplex behind the Pumphouse has to put in sidewalks, but the 400 West block of Hood Avenue doesn't.

It must be because the City of Sisters doesn't want anyone to walk to the Three Wind shopping center.

This also makes it much harder to put on the Jazz Festival. Double bonus.

I'm guessing that the city staff is trying to get all the tourists to leave. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce should talk to the city and ask them to stop alienating the tourists.

All of us poor people depend on tourists and retirees for our living. Please plan this city so people can walk here. Even people who drive thousands of miles in their RVs want to get out and walk around.

Bruce Berryhill