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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

Last year Sisters area voted on a new high school through a thoroughly democratic process. That democratic process, over 200 years old, passed the bond measure, and now a high school will in fact be built.

If the land is annexed to Sisters, it will be built on city land and both the school and the City of Sisters will benefit financially. If the annexation is not passed, the school will be built on county land, and Sisters will miss out tremendously financially. Additionally, the school on county land would be required to build an expensive sewer system, and not be allowed to hook up to the new sewer recently acquired.

The time is past for debating whether the school should be built. The time is present to add constructively to the process of configuration finalization and to demonstrate the advantages to the city of having the land annexed to reap the benefits.

The Nugget does this community a disservice by featuring on its page two letters that disseminate false and misleading information.

Jack Addison

Editor's note:

"The Letters to the Editor" section provides a forum for opinion and debate on issues that affect the community.

What appears to be "false and misleading information" to a partisan may simply be a different interpretation of the issue.

We encourage those interested to weigh in -- as Mr. Addison has done here.

Jim Cornelius, Editor

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To the Editor:

I am writing in response to last week's letter concerning the Sisters Starry Night Concert series.

I was one of over 150 people who stood in line for tickets to the Vince Gill/Amy Grant concert. Although I was unsuccessful at obtaining tickets to that concert, I did purchase some to see Karla Bonoff.

I have stood in line many times for tickets to see concerts in other venues and never did they serve hot coffee, muffins and doughnuts or have an outdoor heater as was offered by the Starry Nights Committee.

I would like to commend the SNC for being so thoughtful and encourage them to offer quality entertainment in Sisters.

I think I speak for the majority in Sisters that we are truly grateful for the opportunity this concert series brings to our community in both entertainment and exposure and the fiscal benefits for our local schools.

My own children have been able to perform with the artists and that was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that many other children have enjoyed.

Such a unique event for both the artists and our town should be encouraged and not criticized. I appreciate very much this opportunity, have enjoyed the concerts and look forward to them this year and hopefully many years to come.

A big thank you from our family,

Jackie Kolb

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To the Editor:

On behalf of the children participating in the SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program, I would like to thank the community members who participated in the Paulina Springs Book Company Christmas Angel Tree.

The employees at the bookstore worked hard at organizing this event. Angel tags were made, representing each SMART child at Sisters Elementary School, and hung on the tree.

In December, 60 children received a gift-wrapped book. Since there were more books received than SMART children, the remaining books were placed in the SMART permanent library.

Thank you all for your generosity. The children were truly delighted.

Sincerely,

Clara Hughes

Sisters School SMART Coordinator

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To the Editor:

From the Sisters residential zoning ordinance purpose section:

"Reduce reliance on the automobile for neighborhood travel and provide options for walking and bicycling. Provide direct and convenient access to schools, parks and neighborhood services."

Three questions:

Why isn't the snow removal ordinance enforced?

Why do I have to volunteer to remove low hanging branches over sidewalks?

Why is there no pedestrian path to the Three Winds shopping center?

Sisters is dependent on tourism. I don't understand why it is so hard to walk around this town.

Bruce Berryhill

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To the Editor:

In 1999-2000, I went to work for a local company as a maintenance supervisor worker.

I agreed to work for 90 days and if performance was excellent then ask for my hourly pay. They avoided talking to me about this for over six months and then did virtually nothing different as far as any substantial job pay.

I passed up a good job with the school district one month after I came to work figuring they would be fair with me (which they never were)! I was told by the CEO that they would raise my pay very fast and give me a helper, all which was a blatant lie!

I left after a year and the company has fired or forced out over 200 employees, including most all the "old-timers" and several employees with disabilities.

My point is, check out a company thoroughly and if you are hiring into a supervisor-manager position get everything in writing and notarized!

The day of a handshake and verbal promises are long gone! Because of not doing this I lost over $6,000 in wages plus the wage of the job with the school district.

This company is reaping what they sowed by treating employees as trash as the company is in financial trouble. What goes around comes around!

Chet Davis

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To the Editor:

I'm hurt by the escalating Middle East violence, by our continued military action in Afghanistan, and by the current fashion of blaming religious fundamentalists for the problem.

Most religions' fundamental beliefs support peace and brotherhood. So let's not blame religion; blame a few men's twisting of religion to justify their war goals.

I believe God has been trying for centuries to teach us how to live in peace. The Jewish prophets and the A.D. prophet Mohammed taught justice among men, caring for your brother. But only Jesus extended the concept to include caring for your enemies. I think it was because he recognized the oneness of God's spirit in every man.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, "Earth is crammed with heaven, and every bush aflame with God, but only those who see take off their shoes."

This is a beautiful thought -- how mankind should care for the earth, but people are more important. The church has tried to emphasize how man's relationship to God should overflow in aid to his fellow man, but we have always had trouble extending that caring, helping lifestyle toward our enemies.

Catholic Fr. John Donne (1572-1631) said, "No man is an island, entire of itself; (but)... a piece of the continent... If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less... Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

So I'd like to paraphrase Browning this way: "Earth exists in God, and every soul shares His spirit, but only those who see can love their enemies."

June Forsyth