Letters to the Editor 10/21/2009

To the Editor:

I don't understand why the city would annex land into the city to build an assisted-living center but not require that the land be used for an assisted-living center (see related story, page 1).

Come on Messrs. Kahlberg and Willitts, commit to building the assisted living center or drop the annexation request. And what happened to the senior center? It looks like McKenzie Meadows is now just more single-family housing. We have plenty of unbuilt land right next to your property and on the Tehan property.

With 66 letters of interest for 80 units of assisted living why is there such a rush to annex this land with no restrictions? Do the right thing and commit to building the assisted-living center before building the single-family housing. Don't wait for the city to require it, be proactive.

Bruce Berryhill

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To the Editor:

Re: "Schools work around budget woes," (The Nugget, October 14, page 1).

Thank you for this article documenting some of the struggles that both the public and the schools are experiencing this year due to budget cuts. I think your article captures the spirit of this community and the willingness of our families to jump in and help out.

I did want to clarify one point about the reduction in parent/teacher conference time. At first reading, the article reads as if the middle school unilaterally elected to cut conference time this fall. In actuality, all three buildings have reduced their conference time by four hours due to an agreement that was reached between the Sisters Education Association and the School District last spring.

In an effort to preserve student contact days, and faced with the daunting reality that days had to be cut from the school calendar due to impending cuts, the SEA surrendered 3.5 contract days from its contract for this school year. 1.5 days of that time consists of cutting back conferences by 1/2 day each trimester.

Not only does this reduction in conference time mean that teachers will have less time available to meet with families, the lost days also result in less pay for teachers.

While the loss of conference time is in no way ideal, I would hope that the public understands that the SEA and the district worked cooperatively to preserve student contact days. I would also respectfully ask that the public help out one more time by being patient during conferences and understanding why conference time has been reduced.

Thank you.

Mike Cox, Sisters Middle School math teacher & SEA president

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To the Editior:

Re: "Funai receives governor's volunteer award," (The Nugget, October 7, page 1).

I am delighted to read of this award being given to Norma. We were neighbors in the Bay Area, and my family were some of the lucky recipients of her knowledge, her joy in teaching, and her love.

Deborah Lancaster

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To the Editor:

The Sisters Folk Festival (September 11-13) was wonderful in so many ways - great music, good venues, and good vendors.

However, I think I may have misunderstood something about the Sunday morning program in the park - I thought it was supposed to be gospel singing.

After last year's incredible performance, I looked forward to this one with anticipation. Instead, I heard God's name used in vain, inappropriate messages in some of the songs and a pervasive irreverence for the gospel.

My friends and I left after 45 minutes.

Did I miss the correct location for the gospel sing? If I didn't and that was the gospel program, perhaps next year the program listing could be modified to describe the definition change of the word gospel.

Tony Oliver

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To the Editor:

I was very pleased to see that COCC has been able to get their bond issue on this new ballot. It barely lost in last November's election.

What does this bond mean to us in Deschutes County? First, gobs and gobs of various construction jobs in Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville!

As stated in an OPB presentation on TV last Friday evening, "nursing shortages around the country will soon begin to affect us all. National shortages of nurses will be over 500,000 by 2020. Additionally, the lack of nurses to teach the next generation of professionals represents another serious problem."

The HRSA has estimated the shortage at more than 800,000 by 2020!

Every year at COCC, three times the number of students apply for their nursing school as can now be accepted. This bond alone will double the number of students who can enroll and graduate each year. In addition, other medical specialties will be taught.

In addition to the medical area improvements, other improvements will be accomplished include expanding overall capacity, modernizing some existing buildings, adding elevators to accommodate handicapped students, etc.

If you take classes at COCC, then you have noticed the huge increase in students the last several years, up more than 40 percent the last two years alone. This is wonderful! The greater their education, the better life will be for all of us.

Other great news regarding the bond comes from the State of Oregon. The state has increased their grant for this project from $5.8 million to $11.47 million, reducing our portion to $41.58 million. In addition, the COCC bond we had been paying on for the college library was paid off this year. Therefore, the estimated cost of less than $2 per month is only slightly more than we had been paying for the library bond (less than 3 cents more per $1,000, or about $5.50 more on a $200,000 home).

This all sure seems like such a great idea for our county to me. I hope you agree and will vote to approve the COCC bond.

Virginia Lindsey