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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

For many years, the citizens in and around Sisters have become accustomed to the holiday light display at the Sisters fire station. We are also aware that this display has become a regular stop for many children and families during the holiday season.

You may have noticed that the light display is not in place this year as it has been in the past. This year the fire district received word the first of November of a pending OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) safety inspection which required considerable work and repairs by all our staff in order to meet the requirements of the inspection.

I am happy to say that we have completed this important project and are prepared for the inspection. Unfortunately, the window of time we had to place the lights on the fire station roof passed, and ice and bad weather have kept us from putting together the display to date (another important safety issue).

As a result of this delay, only a limited light display will be in place. We appreciate your understanding. We will continue with a full holiday light display next year. Your local firefighters wish you all a very safe and happy holiday season.

Tay Robertson,

Fire Chief, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District

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To the Editor:

With all the hoopla over the Wright Brothers and 100th anniversary of flight, the man who really did more for aviation in the world seems to have been overlooked: Glenn Curtiss.

Curtiss was not only a pioneer in aviation, he set the world's speed record on land in 1907 riding a motorcycle he built, powered by his V-8 airplane engine and became known as "The fastest man in the world."

Curtiss' accomplishments in aeronautical engineering are too numerous to state here, but I think aviation writer Charles Grey (1875-1953) summed it up best when, in 1953, he wrote:

"Strange thing isn't it that the USA has never recognized Glenn Curtiss as by far the greatest man America (both North and South) has ever produced in aviation?

"I think of the early Hammondsport products. Then the Jenny... Then the first flight onto and off a ship. Then the first flying boats. The NC flying boats, first across the Atlantic, and a string of Curtiss record-breakers and Schneider Cup winners. And the D-12 engine, from which the Rolls Falcon and Merlin descended.

"So far as I know, there is nobody in the world who has claim to have influenced aircraft design and production as he did, or had done.

"But the capitalists who brought the bogus Wright patents ganged up on Curtiss and slapped him down -- as they say in the States -- and he was too proud to fight back on propaganda. He left his products to fight for him.

"In the United States, to design, manufacture and sell airplanes: before Wright, there was Curtiss... before Boeing...before Martin... before Consolidated...before Douglas... before Lockheed... before Sikorsky... before Grumman...before Northrop... before North American...before Con Air... before McDonnell...before Republic... before Vought...before Curtiss-Wright... there was Curtiss."

Jim Anderson

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To the Editor:

On Saturday, December 13 the Sisters Athletic Club hosted a concert by the Ward Stroud Band featuring guest artist Robbie Laws.

The talent represented that night in Ward Stroud, Steve Kulin, Joe Leonardi, Rod Norman and guest artist Robbie Laws was obviously appreciated by the crowd.

With a portion of the proceeds going to SOAR, it held double interest for local residents.

The wonderful music festivals of the summer prove Sisters can hold its own in bringing in talent from far and wide. The Stroud Band concert was a reminder though that we can continue to attract local and regional artists throughout the year.

I would love to see local business owners back Ward in creating an environment that routinely offers great music and brings in featured artists from around the area.

It certainly wouldn't hurt local business to create more draw to our community by supporting and increasing access to music venues in existing locations.

It was great to see the audience enjoy a diversified version of blues with a variety of influences. With a range of instruments from electric guitars, acoustic guitar, Native American flute and even a little didgeridoo, the crowd was on their feet, moving chairs out of the way to create a dance floor.

The tremendous talent of Robbie Laws and the chemistry with the band was infectious.

What a fun way to support SOAR, local talent and stir up some heat on these cold winter nights.

Kay Kersey

Mother of SOAR participant and music lover