Letters to the Editor 07/12/06

To the Editor:

Thanks once again to the entire Sisters community for your support and involvement in Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

Special thanks to the hundreds of behind-the-scenes volunteers who process and sort quilts, pick up trash, tote tables, set up tents, put up signs, hang and take down quilts, hand out water, and the thousand other little details that make the show a success.

Hats off to our volunteer of the year, Linda Brunanchon for organizing our Quilting Activity Area for the second year in a row and doing a fantastic job.

Its impossible to name everyone who helps out — this event belongs to the community and wouldn’t happen without everyone’s participation. I thank each and every one of you for everything you do to make the show a unique and wonderful event for visitors from around the world.

Ann Richardson

Executive Director, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

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To the Editor:

A recent TV article about a young couple with two small children at the Bethlehem Inn Homeless Shelter in Bend, unable to pay rent, prompts this study in “relativity” today — relative to my own past.

As a child, one of 11, during the Great Depression, I wore hand-me-down clothes, started work at age 10, but never missed a meal or was homeless.

I served in combat in World War II, earned my college degree courtesy of the GI bill, worked to age 66, but never until now felt fear for my country’s future!

We had our share of small political scandals and the “bank holidays,” but the U.S. was still self-sufficient. We had resources, character and friends abroad and I wound up in what was recently polled as the “happiest group” in today’s population!

Since then we have had Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, government corruption on a vast scale. Japan owns some of our grain fields and China is financing our terrifying deficit! Bank foreclosures of the future will be a la China, because our banks have sold all their mortgage business to China. Our wealthiest “citizens” bank offshore or in Switzerland to avoid paying U.S. taxes. We have lost our resources — oil, gas AND our morals.

Stephen Hawking, world-renowned physicist, recently stated that he sees colonies on the Moon or Mars (for those who can afford it!) as Man’s eventual end, as we destroy our Earth.

Every little country wants its own nuclear bomb and missiles “capable of hitting America.” This is the legacy we are leaving to our descendants-relative to our “happiest group.”

Russell B. Williams

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To the Editor:

To our valued customers, friends and extended family: It’s been two months since Sandee and I have sold the Harvest Basket.

I’m sorry this letter is long overdue. I wrote this letter seven weeks ago but I forgot to put it on a back-up disc. Seeing how I hand-wrote it I guess my save button (memory) isn’t working as well as it used to.

Anyhow, Sandee and I want to say thank you to all that made the Harvest Basket a success and thank you for enriching our lives by letting us become a part of yours. It was a pleasure getting to know you and your families and watching your children grow.

Sandee is enjoying her time getting our home fixed up after eight years of “we’ll do that later.” She’s going to take the summer off and maybe you’ll see her volunteering at the school or church.

As for me, I’m running/working between our four coffee shops, whittling away at that honey-do list and fishing. (Don’t tell Sandee.) We really miss seeing all of you and hearing what’s happening in your lives. We will always remember the times at the Harvest Basket. Thank you. We love you and we miss you.

Thankfully yours,

Melvin and Sandee Herburger

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To the Editor:

Please stop feeding deer!

I am a daily witness to people feeding cracked corn to our new crop of fawns while hand-feeding their mother does.

To all of you who continue this harmful practice, have you no conscience? No shame? Listen to the wildlife experts and stop feeding, petting and trying to domesticate the deer. They are wild, beautiful creatures, not your personal pets. Help protect that status and allow all of us to enjoy them in their natural state.

Opting to continue these harmful practices can only lead the rest of us to believe you do not really care about the deer or preserving the wildlife, but must have some other self-serving motives.

Jackie Lachapelle