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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

As a frequent volunteer at the Sisters schools, I am saddened by the amount of E.T.S. (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) I smell when I enter classrooms. We love our children and hate the thought of them smoking, ever. That's what's happening to them when they're exposed to E.T.S. in the home.

I grew up in a home where both parents smoked. I had constant ear infections, my lungs burned when I ran and I smelled bad.

E.T.S. is responsible for 15,000 hospitalizations a year due to lower respiratory tract infections. E.T.S. causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 12,000 other cancer deaths a year. E.T.S. causes reduced lung function, increased coughing, phlegm production, ear infections, colds and sore throats. It increases the symptoms of asthma in 200,000 to 1,000,000 children a year.

Yes, smokers have a right to smoke. I'm married to someone who smokes. He does so outside no matter how cold, wet or windy. Let's all do our children a favor and take your cigarettes outside, for our children's sake.

Better yet, quit so you can be there for your children.

Kindly,

Denice Cristiano

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To the Editor:

Recent decisions by the COCC Board of Directors will affect the following programs and classes:

Geographical Information System (GIS); drafting/computer aided drafting (cadd); automotive and diesel; all geography classes.

Music classes: Jazz Combo, COCC Big Band Jazz, Jazz Choir, voice class, Piano class, Guitar Class, Opera, Woodwind Ensemble, String Ensemble, History of Jazz.

The College Choir will be reduced to three hours a week. Theatre and dance program, counseling, forestry classes (are) affected international student coordination (will be) affected.

These are not decisions made due to low enrollment, but are based on Oregon's continued economic/political climate.

The board of directors and our state representatives desire to hear from you, as citizens of Central Oregon, if these programs and classes have importance to you.

Legislators: Senator Bev Clarno -- [email protected]