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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 the owners of the Relco subdivision, we want to address some misinformation included in the arguments against Cache Mountain Development's plan (McDonald's).

First, opponents are quoting parts of the code to suit their needs. What are their needs? To protect and uphold the city code? I think not. Their needs include dictating to people what businesses are welcome and what businesses are not.

As for the code, it should be read in its entirety. Had Ms. Edwards read parts 1, 2, and 3 with 4 of the code section she quoted in last week's letter, she may have had a better understanding of the code. Understanding does not come from piecing the parts together to get the interpretation you want.

Second, Ms. Edwards stated that the city planners were trying to "adjust the code to the developers' needs." This application has been one of the most scrutinized in recent memory. Several planners have meticulously reviewed this project to make sure it complies with the current code. It is unfair and insulting to the planning department to think that there have been any "favors" granted to Cache Mountain Development.

The Sisters City Council should not be influenced by the objections of a few dissenters. America is based on the right of individuals to earn a living and to use their property to earn that living, regardless of perceived competition to existing businesses or wrong interpretations of some of the provisions of the development code.

Cache Mountain isn't a large corporation with armies of attorneys. These are long-time, local residents having to defend their property rights.

It is wrong to attack a project which complies with all current regulations, as evidenced by the city planners' findings and the planning commission's decision.

Lois Lloyd, Richard Lloyd

* * *

To the Editor:

I'm writing in regards to the McDonald's issue.

I moved to Sisters in 1959, and was only three weeks old. As I grew up and raised my own two sons here, I've seen a lot of changes. Some I liked; some I didn't. But you have to learn to accept change and Sisters is going to continue to change. It's not a quaint little town anymore, anyway.

I guess my opinion is there's a lot more important things in life to worry about, such as families worrying about whether their loved ones are going to make it back alive from the war in Iraq or people dealing with cancer, etc.

I do believe in freedom of choice and if you don't want to eat there, then don't. But I have four grandchildren and one on the way and I would love to be able to take them to McDonald's for a Happy Meal and not have to drive 20 miles to do it.

I'm not attacking the people against it, but if you don't want change then maybe you should move to Brothers instead of Sisters.

Thank you,

Connie Hartford

* * *

To the Editor:

In response to the November 3rd letter from Marilyn Cornelius -- An integral part of McDonald's positive public image strategy is the Ronald McDonald House, and its services to needy families.

However we must not lose sight of their bottom line. They cleverly woo customers into paying way high prices for food that has multi-decade shelf-life and nutritional properties akin to those found in embalming fluid!

With their slick packaging and colorful "Happy Meal" toys, they entice children to consume low-grade food.

If you still believe the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," then you can see the contradiction. Good, responsible parents are indeed wise to feed their children healthy food. This lessens the chances of developing the kinds of health problems the Ronald McDonald House is set up to help overcome.

Mark Kershner

* * *

To the Editor:

In last week's Nugget, Becky Aylor posed a series of rhetorical questions regarding the Sisters Soccer Club. I was actively involved as a volunteer with the program this year and was therefore disappointed to read of Ms. Aylor's frustrations with aspects of the program.

However, my own perspective on SSC and overall view of this year's fall season could not be more different.

This is what I saw:

• Six consecutive weekends with almost 225 kids out enjoying beautiful weather, learning team sportsmanship, getting exercise, and having fun playing soccer.

• Kids with excellent soccer skills being encouraged to become better team players.

  Kids that began the season too timid to approach the ball ending the season more confident of their abilities.

• Twenty-four teams' worth of coaches, assistant coaches and team parents that not only came out each weekend to encourage their players during games, but took time off work and other responsibilities to organize and conduct practices and set up end-of-season team celebrations.
• Older players from the high school and middle school acting as referees and role models for the younger kids.

• Our school administration and maintenance staff doing a fantastic job to improve the quality and safety of the fields at the elementary school over the summer, then giving us access at odd times to set up goals and stripe fields and even making special trips to cut grass ahead of Saturday game day.
• Twenty-four different Sisters-area businesses contributing funds to help underwrite all these activities.
• Behind-the-scenes volunteers handling the truly thankless tasks of organizing enrollment, recruiting coaches, sponsors and referees, setting up fields, ordering equipment, cleaning up after games, arranging team photos.

Are there aspects of the program that can be improved? Certainly. We have a list of 16 discrete job descriptions related to the organization of this growing program. This year, these 16 jobs were filled by seven volunteers. Some fresh ideas and extra hands would really help!

Rob Corrigan

* * *

To the Editor:

During a high-mileage career as a salesman based out of Portland, I spent a week a month in Eastern Oregon, driving the Columbia Gorge in all weather, or over the Cascades passes and all around the northeastern corner of Oregon.

When I started that run in 1960, snow tires included embedded walnut shells to help with traction and control. They weren't much help with either. Chaining up to get through packed snow or ice was frequent. When studs appeared in the late '60s, they were a true breakthrough in safe long-distance travel over winter highways. They still are, but now they're even more effective because most drivers use them on all four corners.

After I retired in 1983, we moved to Central Oregon and I bought the ODOT story that studs were hard on the roads and weren't necessary in sunny Central Oregon. Not so. On brand-new Goodyear all-season top-of-the line tires, at 15 mph, I did a full doughnut spin on a thin layer of packed snow right in Crossroads. At that slow speed, serious injury or damage to property was unlikely, but it was just dumb luck I didn't hit something. New studded tires were on all four corners of that car the following week.

Yes, there are ruts in pavement all over Central Oregon, and they do affect steering control. But it's hard to lay all the blame on studs where new pavement has ruts but has never been touched by studs until last week. There is a stretch of new pavement on N.E. 27th Street in Bend, between Neff and Highway 20 (Greenwood) that was paved last spring after studs were off all cars. It developed ruts within weeks. Same thing happened one summer several years ago on Third Street (then Hwy. 97) near Bend River Mall. No studs, but ruts.

Whether or not studded tires tear up roads at a faster rate than do plain vanilla tires, it's hard to buy the idea that money for road repair is more important than safe driving and protection of life and limb of people who have to drive in the weather conditions we experience out here east of the Cascades.

Be sure and write or e-mail your State Representative and Senator in time to head off ODOT's biennial assault on the use of studded tires.

Barney Howard

* * *

To the Editor:

Regarding Mr. Yee's commentary (The Nugget, Letters to the Editor, November 10): It is possible to gloat while one's head is buried in the sand. Unfortunately, this is the situation that the U.S. finds itself in today. This go-it-alone policy, "we are moral and right" attitude has divided our nation and alienated us from the world.

As Iraq spirals toward civil war, I want to ask this "moral majority" that touts "pro-life," what about the lives of thousands of Iraqis that have died in this unprovoked war? Many of these deaths are children and even pregnant women. Where is the indignation?

It's easy and hypocritical to say, "oh, it's just war." Well, then, what about the women and children in Darfur, Sudan?

Maybe if we don't hear about these casualties and don't see our troops returning home draped in the American flag, we can keep our heads buried and paint ourselves a rosy picture of progress, freedom and self-righteousness. Then maybe even we can gloat.

But the facts are a reality and while we can sit and watch "Fox News" and nod our heads, the deficit keeps growing, our cost of living soaring, our educational system failing and our environment suffering while the world becomes a more dangerous place.

Whether you think we won or lost, the future will speak for itself. We owe it to our children to get the facts.

Martina McCurdy

* * *

To the Editor:

I read Carton S. Yee's November 10, letter to the editor. It is a sad thing that he believes that the 51 percent of the people who voted for George Bush empowered him to tell 49 percent who did not vote for him to "...take a long walk off a short pier."

Unfortunately, this is the philosophy of the rabid right: death to those who disagree! I do thank Mr. Yee for making that very clear to everyone.

I hope that his letter has inspired a few more people to work hard to change the political discourse in this country.

Peter Bearzi

* * *

To the Editor:

I was so impressed by Mr. Carlton Yee's humble and gracious victory letter that I have decided that I would like to be on the winning side in the next election.

I am assuming that Mr. Yee would claim that he is a Christian, but I can't quite tell from the tone of his letter. If he is a Christian, could he please tell me which gun Jesus Christ would be toting today? I want to be sure I have the approved model before the next election.

And could Mr. Yee tell me where in the New Testament that Jesus Christ tells me to hate my gay brothers and sisters. I am stuck in that section which deals with forgiveness of my enemies and not judging others lest I be judged, you know the "...speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own...."

I guess I shouldn't worry about the religious fanaticism and bigotry sweeping the country. I'm sure that my fellow Americans realize that Hitler was a Christian and the characteristic of fascism is the melding of the corporate, religious and political state into a single indistinguishable ruling entity. That could never happen here, could it?

Of course, now that so many Christian churches have degraded themselves to the level of political lobbies, maybe their tax exempt status should be reviewed. It would certainly help our "cut taxes and spend" administration.

Dean Billing

* * *

To the Editor:

This letter is to address concerned passers-by about our Belgian mare, Gracie, in our field on Highway 126 about 1.5 miles out of Sisters.

Gracie is 22 years old and is suffering from a disease known as Chronic Progressive Lyphedema. While it is not common, it is more common in draft horses than other breeds. The clinical signs closely resemble a condition in humans known as elephantiasis nostras vernucosa.

Researchers at the Center for Equine Health at UC Davis are studying the disease; unfortunately there is not yet a cure.

We know her leg looks unsightly and grotesque, but she is comfortable and content. Thank you for your concern; we would wonder too if we saw a horse with this condition.

For more information on this disease visit http://www.vetmeducdavis.edulceh/.

Jack and Julie Kelleher

* * *

To the Editor:

To our school and community on Veterans Day: The two programs held at the high school radiated their message of thanks and gratitude to the veterans in a very special way.

Veterans can be thankful and grateful for knowing that the heart, soul, and spirit of America is alive in the students, the teachers and community.

Wally Rietz