10/22/2008

To the Editor:

To the Sisters community - the Stark Family would like to express to all of you our heartfelt thanks for the help and support we have received after the tragic death of our son and brother, Ian.

Without you we could not have completed the many tasks, not made the many decisions necessary. It is still a blur to us. So many have stepped forward to sit with us, feed us, bear witness to Ian's life, and kept us going in the details of life that stop for no one.

Please know that we appreciate deeply and sincerely everything you have done and continue to do for us.

Paul, Jean, Justin, Jonathan, Jim and Jaxon

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To the Editor:

Vote yes on the Sisters Schools Local Option.

We are new teachers in the school district. Since the Sisters schools have a great reputation, we chose to leave our former teaching positions to come here to teach. We have settled into this community are involved, committed teachers.

The longer we are here the more we appreciate the teaching environment of the Sisters School District. No matter what others say, let us assure you that class size does make a difference. Services that support our students that need extra help or extra challenge really do make a difference. The difference is in customized learning opportunities, better and more frequent communication between teacher and student, and teaching staff working closely with parents to make sure students are being taught at the "just right" level and pace.

We urge members of this community to continue to invest in the district. Please vote yes on the local option and keep our schools strong. Good financial funding allows us to be the best teachers we can be for each and every student.

Sincerely,

Rob & Stephanie Jensen

Fifth grade science teacher, Elementary School Reading and TAG Specialist

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To the Editor,

Through my community work, from the Vision Faire to the Leadership Sisters Team to being chairperson of the CCI (Committee for Citizen Involvement), I have shown dedication and commitment to our city.

By attending virtually all city council meetings for the past year, as the liaison to the city council for the CCI, I have acquired a breadth of knowledge and understanding of issues before the city. It takes time and energy to be an effective city councilor and I have demonstrated that I have both.

But more importantly I am prepared and ready to go to work.

Secondly, I am an independent and neutral voice for our community residents. I have no special interest ties, no business or commercial interests that could cause a conflict of interest, and therefore I am in the position to represent you with fairness and equality.

I will continue my work as an advocate for the citizens of Sisters and always seek citizen input on important policy decisions before the city.

Finally, I will promote the Sisters Vision and work to ensure the vitality of the downtown core: a village atmosphere that is pedestrian and cycling friendly, a recognition of our unique relationship to the natural environment and beauty that surrounds us, housing options for all citizens, and strong support of our youth by keeping our schools strong and routes to school safe.

Playing to our strengths of small-town livability, strong schools, and a vibrant downtown is the best way to serve our economic interests. Ultimately it is the quality of our community that will attract small businesses to Sisters, and bring the jobs we need to bolster a year-round economy and provide living-wage jobs.

If you want an experienced, diverse and impartial council, please vote for me.

Wendy Holzman

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To the Editor:

Our economy is struggling...in Sisters, in Deschutes County, in Oregon, in America. Many families are experiencing hardships. Sisters needs innovative, experienced leadership that will identify solutions and work with you, the citizens of Sisters, to map out a plan to succeed in these difficult times.

This important election is all about leadership and the opportunity for the citizens of Sisters to take a challenge, our economy, and develop a plan that benefits all of Sisters. What do you need? Sustainable jobs, decent affordable housing, support for our schools, facilities for our senior citizens, a workable transportation plan, a city hall that works for you and is fiscally responsible?

Who can work for and with you to make all this happen? Lon Kellstrom, Jerry Bogart and Pat Thompson.

All three candidates are native Oregonians, all three candidates are problem solvers and implementers and all three candidates are citizens of Sisters who love our community and have a deep sense of civic responsibility.

Yes they are business owners. Yes they have a vision for Sisters. One that includes and benefits all the citizens of Sisters. Anyone who claims they don't obviously don't know these three candidates - yet. Please take some time to get to know them. They want to hear from you. They want to listen and talk with you. If you didn't attend the forum on October 13, please talk to the candidates as they make themselves available between now and the election.

We need leaders, we need Lon, Jerry and Pat. All of whom understand Sisters' economy and have committed themselves to you to make a difference in your city. Please vote, you will make a difference.

Mac Hay

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To the Editor:

From what I have read and heard about Mayor Brad Boyd, I am convinced that he has the values and vision that would make Sisters even more special than it already is.

He and Wendy Holzman are backing the most sensible and attractive plan for Sisters' major problem: traffic congestion. Block-long trucks passing along Cascade Avenue are not only an incongruous eyesore, but a major contribution to long waits at intersections.

Creating an alternate route along Locust Street to Barclay Drive and through Sisters Industrial Park makes good sense.

What a joy it would be to see Cascade Avenue as it was meant to be - an open vista of busy shops and shoppers!

Mayor Boyd's emphasis on maintaining the "atmosphere and quality of life" in Sisters is in keeping with what many of us wish to see.

Virginia Rhett

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To the Editor:

Of course I support my son, Brad Boyd, for City Council, but I also strongly support Wendy Holzman as well - for she is someone of many talents.

Wendy is someone we can all relate to - just an ordinary citizen prepared to do extraordinary things to represent us at City Hall. She is someone we can all trust to listen faithfully to our various concerns and to empathize with our different viewpoints - a truly neutral voice in a crowd of special interests.

She is someone who really cares about the quality of life in our community, someone dedicated to making sure that Sisters remains a most special place where parents would want to raise their children and where businesses would like to relocate and a place that looks after its residents and protects its environment.

Wendy is undeniably smart, with the right experience, an infectious, upbeat enthusiasm, lots of energy and sufficient time and commitment to make a real contribution to city government. Not only is she all these things, but she also makes the best pumpkin pie you have ever tasted. Please join me in supporting her for City Council.

Heather Boyd

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To the Editor:

The bypass idea that has surfaced of late for passing by downtown Sisters via Locust and Barclay Drive sounds good to those who are on their way to the Valley from Bend or Redmond or eastbound from Santiam.

But to those of us who live east of Locust and need to get out from Locust or any other street that now may bisect Locust (such as the new Pahlisch Homes Development) in order to make a left turn onto Highway 20 find it nearly impossible to do that especially during the busy summer months.

So, if we are going to be fighting even more traffic who are using Locust as a bypass what chance do the school buses have of getting in and out of the school barn or taxpayers who live on East Cascade and beyond have of getting out onto Highway 20.

Can somebody in authority explain why the "Bridge to Nowhere" in the Timber Creek development is still sitting there unused. I will actively campaign against the proposed Locust/Barclay Drive bypass as long as the "Bridge to Nowhere" is still not activated.

Its activation would at least give us another option of getting out of the gridlock at Highway 20 and Locust to go east to Redmond or Bend.

Those who are in favor of this new idea should at least drive around the area of Timber Creek, the elementary school and Pahlisch Homes and see what I'm talking about. Especially on a Friday afternoon.

Diana Raske Lovgren

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To the Editor:

Connect the dots.

Obama stands for: Universal taxpayer- funded rationed health care which includes abortion. Recognition of same-sex marriage, which would force teaching public school students that homosexuality is normal and natural. A socialistic government. Unlimited abortion for any reason (has called unwed childbirth a "punishment").

Allowing babies who survive abortion to die without medical or even comfort care. Enactment of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would invalidate all current laws that help to reduce abortions. Human embryo destructive stem cell research (but does NOT support already successful adult stem cell research).

Repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Appointing judges who make law according to their own personal and other nation's opinions rather than the original intent of our Constitution.

Allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, effectively raising taxes on us all. Sponsoring the Global Poverty Act that would add huge taxes on top of what Americans already provide to support third-world countries.

He was hosted by known terrorist Bill Ayers for his first Illinois Senate campaign fund-raiser. He is associated with ACORN, a taxpayer-supported low-income housing group that is committing wide-spread voter registration fraud to help elect him, to whom he has paid over $800,000 for campaign-related services.

He joined other liberals in blocking attempts by Bush and McCain to regulate Fanny May and Freddie Mac. He has less governing experience than VP candidate Governor Sarah Palin (he actually has NO governing experience - only legislating).

Now that you've connected the dots, is the completed picture what you think will be good for our country? If so, then vote for Obama.

Otherwise, vote for the less-than-perfect John McCain, who has never in his 20-year Senate career asked for an earmark and has for those years consistently sought to reduce government spending.

Lorene Richardson