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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

When two columns of smoke began to rise into the sky above Central Oregon on August 19, 2003, suspicions from onlookers rose along with them. Immediately, rumors of arson and "wrong-doing" began to spread through the community of Sisters.

The source of such suspicions arose because there had not been a thunderstorm in 15 days in the area. Teamed up with President Bush being scheduled to land to rally support for the Healthy Forests Initiative (HFI), many Sisters locals had doubts of this being a "natural" fire. The HFI was designed to decrease the amount of forest fires by removing some of the available fuel by thinning. The fires eventually burned together to form the B&B Complex Fire.

Before the fires even reached full force, opinions were divided between those who felt the fires were lightning caused and those who felt the fires were man made. The cause of the fires may never be agreed on by both sides because the motives, feelings and opinions behind both groups plays a major role in the voice from their social groups.

Hidden behind the smoke of this controversy is an issue that is being overlooked: how can forests be managed to prevent similar cataclysmic fires in the future?

Historically forest fires played a major role in maintaining a balance. Today's forest have become thick and overgrown allowing cataclysmic fires like the B&B Complex. In order to counter forest overgrowth more attention needs to be paid by responsible thinning to help restore forests to their historically healthy status. Thinning will not only balance the forest but it will also reduce fuels that feed wild fires.

It seems that most of the public's attention has been focused on how the B&B fires started when it should be focused on why they grew so large in the first place. The most important question is what needs to be done to prevent fires of this caliber in the future?

Brandon Overstreet

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To the Editor:

I was delighted to see Bruce Berryhill's call for a community garden here in Sisters. I am a recent transplant from Seattle, an avid gardener, and a horticultural therapist who has seen first hand the vitality a community garden can provide an area.

With a Sisters community garden, which should include areas accessible for those with physical limitations, we can have a city focal point able to bring together all ages, abilities and income levels for the good of the citizens and the city.

Seniors will have a place to socialize, raise their own fresh food, and get necessary exercise in a safe, accessible location. Low income families will be able to raise fresh vegetables for their consumption, helping to stretch their limited food budgets. Youths-at-risk can learn marketable skills while experiencing the rewards of nurturing plants and meeting members of the community.

The school children involved in their garden clubs will have another larger space in which to learn about the joys of gardening and the importance of being good stewards of the earth.

People with physical and/or mental challenges will have a venue for meaningful inclusion in the community.

The city's yard waste recycling program can provide necessary compost to enrich the soil.

The Sisters Garden Club and Master Gardeners can lend their expertise and talents. Local businesses can contribute in many ways. The local adult and youth service clubs will have another way to be involved in the community.

I hope the members of the City Council will see and embrace the enthusiasm of people like Bruce Berryhill and give their approval for use of space in the new city park for a community garden which truly will grow new life in Sisters.

If you are interested in being involved in planning our garden, call me at 549-2107 or Bruce Berryhill at 420-3730. Let's get growing!

Sue Stafford

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To the Editor:

I am personally a little sick and tired of this McDonald's thing.

I like McDonald's; they have some great fishwiches and chicken sandwiches.

They also give a lot of kids jobs that need them.

You talk about healthy food, have you ever been to Ray's and seen these kids buy three donuts, two pies and a soda for lunch? I have.

Get real; this was a done deal before you started complaining to the planning commission.

Where were you when the athletic club and all the stuff behind it was going to the planning commission? Where were you and your lawyer then?

I don't know about the other folks who have lived here for years but I am tired of those who move here and want everything changed to their way of thinking after 2 or 3 years.

One more thing, if you don't like McDonald's, don't eat there. It's just that simple.

LaVerne Riegle

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To the Editor:

Sisters Elementary School was fortunate this holiday season to receive a generous cash donation to support a family in need.

It was requested that the money be spent to take two siblings Christmas shopping in town, for themselves and their mother.

I was lucky to be given this task, and along with Sisters resident Scott Shelton, we shopped until we dropped Monday afternoon and evening.

This was a special event for the children who have lived here for many years without ever having the opportunity to wander through their town and enjoy our merchants.

What made the evening special for me was to see how welcomed we were when we came into stores and how readily store owners gave us wonderful discounts to make our stipend go even further.

There aren't many communities left that would be so willing, with such short notice, to help out some of their own. Thank you for making one family's holiday much brighter.

Melinda Halpern-Collins

Sisters Elementary School Counselor