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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 am writing to add to the McDonald's article in The Nugget (Sept. 22, page 1).

I attended and testified at the hearing before the Sisters Planning Commission on September 16. While reading the article one would think that I opposed the project mainly due to aesthetic concerns. Of course I'm concerned how the entrance to our town looks and I am particularly concerned about pedestrian safety. But there are development codes that are not being met.

Yes, the code does dictate that all development in Highway Commercial Sub-Districts must be a ".....visually appealing entrance to the city..." (purpose statement 2.2190), and automobile- oriented uses and facilities must "...provide vibrant storefront character, slow traffic down and encourage walking," (section 2.2.180).

The development site plan shows the convenience store/McDonald's situated away from the road and a walkway through the pump area of the gas station. This does not constitute a safe pedestrian plan nor a visually appealing storefront character.

The particular code that seems to be ignored is Special Standards for Certain Uses 2.2.180 which list codes specifically for Automobile-Oriented Uses and Facilities in Highway Commercial Sub-Districts.

A provision that all drive-up/in and through facilities must conform to is, "No more than one drive-up/in/through facility shall be permitted on one block, or for a distance of 400 linear feet along the same street frontage, whichever is less."

Well, there is a gas station (drive up and receive service) and a drive through McDonald's window less than 60 feet away from each other. This is a direct violation of the code. I would think the developer would need to choose between the McDonald's drive through and the gas station.

I urge all concerned citizens, whether you live within the city or not, to go to city hall, look at the site plan and get copies of Table 2.2.110A, Land Uses and Building Types Permitted in the Commercial District and Section 2.2.180 Special Standards for Certain Uses.

If, after you peruse this information you have concerns please attend the next hearing on October 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Sisters City Hall.

Marie Clasen

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To the Editor:

What is going on with the couplet? How can any solution work unless it addresses pedestrian crosswalks where pedestrians can cross Hood Avenue in 14 places between Pine and Locust streets?

It is not about traffic flow, it is about pedestrians' ability to stop tractor trailer trucks at will in too many places. Just moving the traffic to Main and Cascade Avenues will only move the problem until they become too developed with the resulting same pedestrian problem then on Cascade, Hood and Main Avenues.

Is this being fully considered in the possible solutions?

Martin Cannon

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To the Editor:

Is there one vote that can assure a safer world? Who has the answer to protecting our environment while assuring economic growth and development?

Our country has many challenges ahead. We currently face a polarized election process with people fearing the outcome if their candidate of choice doesn't win the coveted title of president. This polarization stems from a strong belief that "my" candidate can best serve our country. The most common thread between us is the shared desire to make our world a better and safer place. No matter who finds victory the reality is that there will be no quick fixes. Real change takes time.

How can our small town in the heart of Oregon assist with better long-term solutions? As we look at our current world situation it becomes evident that lack of information, lack of understanding, and lack of acceptance are some of the real enemies. It follows that the single most important thing we can do as citizens is to support the process of learning.

The young minds we see bobbing along on the big yellow buses represent the future of our community and will help shape the future of our world. This most treasured resource deserves our highest level of commitment. Supportive families, skilled and caring teachers, excellent facilities and innovative programs are our benchmarks for success.

Over the course of the coming months you will hear from citizens who will have heartfelt complaints about the cost of education and facilities expense. It is our belief that these citizens don't understand the concept of return on investment. Our community can make no better investment than supporting our children through the continuation of local option. Your yes vote will not raise taxes; it will simply continue the existing local option. Most importantly your yes vote will help assure the continued excellence of our school district.

It's about our children and how they will better shape the future of this world that we share. Please join us in support of measure 9-30, the maintenance of our four-year local option.

Bill & Zoe Willitts

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To the Editor:

I taught for over 30 years in one of the highest-financed schools in Connecticut. How surprised and delighted I was when I retired here two years ago to find Sisters schools just as effective and strong as the one I left behind.

It's not just the teachers and students, though these are important ingredients, it's the community and it's concern about the future and our children.

I am a substitute and a volunteer in Sisters Elementary School. I have first-hand knowledge of the dedication of teachers and the concern of parents.

We need to maintain these high standards by supporting our schools and voting "YES" on the local option ballot measure on November 2.

Sisters schools have the newest, up-to-date and proven approach to math. I taught a similar program in Connecticut and can attest to its enormous success, but it is expensive and involves teacher training.

Sisters schools provide students with a computer lab that is available on a weekly basis. This also takes money. The library is substantially filled with books of every genre. This, too, takes money. Imagine how our children would benefit if we could lower the class size to twenty!

I am part of Sisters and proud of its energy, dedication, and communal spirit. So, please, vote "YES" on the local option ballet measure. It's worth it to you, to other residents and most especially to the children!

Virginia Rhett

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To the Editor:

Last week's guest column was a response to my column a week earlier and had two factual errors that I would like to clear up.

First, the author states that the War on Terror about which I wrote was only being fought in Iraq. I never mentioned Iraq in the column and, contrary to her statements, we do have troops on the ground in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Philippines.

We also have managed to convince Libya to give up state sponsored terrorism (without firing a shot) and its weapons program. Indonesia has elected a new anti-terrorist president in a country that is predominantly Muslim.

Even John Kerry has called the war on terror the "monumental conflict of our time." So it clearly is a worldwide war on terror, and we are leading the effort in many ways and in many countries, not just Iraq.

Secondly, she states that we are forcing democracy on the people of Iraq, and they deserve a choice. Exactly what choice were they given under Saddam? An entire generation of Iraqis grew up with no choice, only fear. Helping them set up a democracy gives them the right to elect who they want, and even change their constitution to make some religious leader King if they so choose. For the first time in their lives they will actually have a choice in how they are governed.

To suggest that our helping them set up a democratic government means that they will have to bow down to us flies in the face of history. Remember that we installed governments in Germany and Japan after World War II and no one accuses them of being American puppets.

And her statement that a democracy means there will be a Wal-Mart showing up in Baghdad is without basis. There are no Wal-Marts in Germany or Japan. The largest democracy in the world (India) is predominantly Hindu and has no Wal-Marts. The third largest democracy in the world (Indonesia) is predominantly Muslim and also has zero Wal-Marts.

Iraq, like other democracies, will have the opportunity to choose to allow American businesses or not. As a free people the choice is entirely theirs.

Carey Tosello

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To the Editor:

Thank you for your very good coverage of the Sisters Jazz Festival (SJF) in last week's paper. Unfortunately, I need to call attention to one dark spot in what otherwise was a very successful event. That was the shortage of food service at the Village Green. Our community and our patrons deserve an apology and an explanation.

Here is what happened: SJF had a contract with a company that had provided food at previous shows. Because of a misunderstanding of their contract, they decided to pull out at the last minute. Fortunately, Linda and Rick Krupicka, owners of Hot Diggity Grill, took up the challenge at the Village Green and tried very hard to help all who came to their booth.

Sisters Jazz Festival regrets any inconvenience this departure may have caused with our guests, and we assure all that we will have a change in food offerings next year. However, that change will not include the company that disappointed us this year. SJF wants to thank Hot Diggity Grill for their cooperative community spirit, and we urge folks to support this new Sisters business.

Tom Worcester, Chairman

Sisters Jazz Festival Board