Letters to the Editor 08/03/2010

To the Editor:

I would like to respond to Bill Kemp's letter to the editor published on July 14, which comments on past decisions made by the board of directors of the Sisters Park & Recreation District.

Mr. Kemp is correct that the board of directors of the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) made a decision to downsize the district's operations in August 2009 in response to its negative cash flow situation and accumulated debt from the prior year's operating loss.

The board's suspension of a program in the downsizing was based on careful consideration of the financial data of each program, current participant numbers, comparable services offered elsewhere in the community, and public comment.

The board commends Mr. Kemp for attending our August 24, 2009, meeting where he gave personal comment regarding the downsizing and an offer to volunteer his services for a fundraising drive.

Following that meeting the SPRD board of directors has continued its work by conducting meetings on a weekly basis. We have held over forty meetings consisting of work sessions, regular meetings and one full-day retreat, all duly noticed public meetings in which the board encourages Mr. Kemp, or any other individual, to attend and make comment.

The board would also encourage any qualified district voter to place their name on the upcoming May, 2011 ballot for a SPRD board position, volunteer as a member of the SPRD budget committee or participate in an advisory committee role.

Thank you,

Peggy Tehan, board chair, Sisters Park & Recreation District

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To the Editor:

In the July 28 issue of The Nugget ("Arts festival fills Creekside Park," page 3), Oenta Gentry wrote erroneously that ledger drawing was a new art form.

The actual art form of ledger writing came from the plains Indians, particularly the Kiowa tribes, in the mid-1800s. Picture writing was an important custom of the Kiowa, documenting battles, victories, sickness, weather and other everyday history.

They first used pictographs on rocks, then painted on buffalo hides. When the Indians were sent to reservations and had less access to hides and when paper and pencils were available to them in the reservations....they started using the new media. As paper was not always available they turned to using old ledgers of the day to document their lives.

Thanks to artists like Molly Kubista, these wonderful paintings are being discovered again.

Suzi Sheward

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To the Editor:

My name is Richard Esterman.

My Web site is http://www.richardesterman.com/governor.

I have put my personal life on hold this year, putting myself in jeopardy financially and otherwise. I have done this because I am doing something that I believe in. We all complain and often do nothing. It is not that we don't want to do anything. It is because we have become prisoners to our obligations to survive.

Now is the time for us as Oregon citizens to STAND UP and make a difference.

I am only asking you to take a few hours out of your schedules to come to the Assembly of Electors Convention on Tuesday, August 10, 5 to 8 p.m., Tony's Hay Depot, 21235 Tumalo Rd. For information call 541-549-8905.

This is not a protest. It is a gathering of hard working citizens that believe in our State Constitution and want to make a difference.

The State has strict rules and I cannot supply anything as a giveaway, including food, beverage and entertainment. There will be nomination petitions and I need 1,000 registered voters to sign. This is not an election. It is only a nomination to exercise a right to be on the general election ballot. Per state guidelines, no one can leave the convention until the signature process is completed or it will be void. I will be there to talk about the issues and answer any concerns.

Richard Esterman

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To the Editor:

Three summers ago I called Sisters Middle School hoping to get a quick look at something that simply couldn't be as good as it looked on the Web site. Soon after, we were walking the halls of one of the most incredible learning environments we had ever seen. To top that off, we were thrilled with the overall "can do" attitude that prevailed wherever we went.

A year later we returned to the schools and Charlie Kanzig invited us over to talk about our kid's choices. (Choices... really!) We already knew the facility was amazing, but after all, it really is just four walls. I'm happy to say that those four walls are expertly filled with amazing people that are there for the kids, first and last.

Now, a school-year later, our hopes and expectations have been surpassed. Our eighth grader had the choice to walk to the high school for 10th grade German, the sports program is amazing and the teachers/curriculum are challenging. We couldn't have asked for a better fourth grade experience for our daughter with Norma Pledger and the fifth grade team. We are grateful to be part of such an incredible environment.

I'm honored to now be part of the Sisters Schools Foundation Committee, learning what it takes to support our schools and community, and continue to nurture the win-win relationship that we now all enjoy here in Sisters.

Events like the upcoming "A Starry Summer Night," happening on August 13, are a great example of how our schools, a major focal point of our community, thrive. Thank you to everyone for creating, maintaining and supporting growth of our schools. I can assure you that we plan to be part of that mission as well!

Debora Wattenburg