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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

After the recent heated controversy over a new small commercial development that will include a McDonald's, I would like to suggest that we pause for a moment as a community and address this issue directly.

Visitors and returning residents alike often speak of Sisters' uniqueness, of coming home to a place that is happily different, after driving through town after town with the same feel, the same omnipresent branding and logos, the same lowest common denominator dining options, strip malls, and sprawl.

This difference may be Sisters' greatest asset, along with the natural beauty that surrounds us. Sisters remains a sort of oasis, largely unspoiled. Let's keep it that way. Many cities in Oregon and California (Carmel, Solvang, Pacific Grove, Cannon Beach) have written ordinances that successfully exclude those types of restaurants and businesses they feel threaten their character, and we can do the same here.

Sisters is a far more refreshing and attractive destination without those many franchises that are common as dirt and inescapable practically everywhere else, worldwide.

Let's keep Sisters the little oasis it is now, as best we can and enact an ordinance to block what we don't want.

A decision like this will not happen by itself. Get involved! The City of Sisters is organizing a "City Summit" later this month, a gathering of the many organizations that together provide most of the initiative and make most of the decisions that guide our collective future.

If this issue means something to you, make a point of making your thoughts and feelings clear to the leadership community, whether that be a city councilor, planning commission member, or the guiding members of SOAR, the Chamber of Commerce, or CATS.

Together we can preserve Sisters' unique character, and keep the junk that's everywhere else out there, where it belongs.

John Rahm

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To the Editor:

Once again I find myself writing to the officials of Sisters, pleading that you do not deface Sisters with a McDonald's.

I was raised in Sisters and am still proud to call it home-away-from-home.Your local businesses that have been there for over 35 years are the heritage of Sisters and one of the main reasons my family stops to dine in Sisters versus any other town around.

I may be just one person right now but I come from a family of over 100 that will be frequenting Sisters for a family reunion this summer, as well as several of us travel there for family vacations several times a year.

I will make sure to let them know to keep frequenting the local restaurants where customer service is guaranteed and not rushed through; where REAL milkshakes and delicious foods have been served for over 35 years.

Please do not consider having a McDonald's in your town.

Concerned Outsider,

Michelle (Davis) Webber

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To the Editor:

Thank you for your fine coverage of both the December 15 town hall meeting and the school board meeting item on TAG.I appreciate very much your attention to these vital school issues.

I'd like to request a printed correction on a small but important detail; in the December 22 issue of The Nugget, I was indentified as head of the Committee for Sisters School Children (CSSC)in my appearance before the school board on TAG issues ("Parents promote improved TAG program").

In fact, I made my comments on behalf of the TAG Team, a group of volunteer elementary school parents.The Committee for Sisters School Children is the volunteer body established to pass the local option and lobby for better school funding.

Mike Gould chaired that Committee, which has now been retired.

I want to make sure Nugget readers realize the distinction; one group is advocating for better services for a neglected (my view) segment of the student body; the CSSC worked to boost school funding.

Sincerely,

Merry Ann Moore