Letters to the Editor 03/23/2011

To the Editor

This month, a cowardly, selfish act was performed by person or persons unknown upon an undeserving institution. The Sisters Community Church was broken into and robbed of valuable computer equipment. I am not a member of this church, but I have firsthand knowledge of the kind and generous people that work at and with the Sisters Community Church.

For several years they have provided the space and a kitchen with which to hold the weekly Senior Lunch and Meals on Wheels program. They do this as a public service for the entire senior community.

The Sisters Community Church also has a community outreach program that provides groups of volunteers to go out and do yard work, painting, clean gutters, and do minor repair work for seniors and other qualified individuals. The senior citizens of Sisters are greatly appreciative of these crews.

I hope the person(s) involved in this crime realize that they have violated the faith of not just a local church, but an entire community.

Lisa Fetrow

•••

To the Editor:

Last week's story titled "Tensions continue to run high at Sisters City Hall" is true, and frankly, it's embarrassing. Our community deserves better.

The cause of these tensions is not concerned citizens and council members asking unnecessary, burdensome questions but rather poor process and a culture of secrecy.

Ed Protas and Mike Morgan are to be commended for their hard work and diligence in researching the proposed water rate increase. Despite being disregarded by council leadership and city staff, they continue to provide well-researched information and suggestions for cutting costs that could save our ratepayers thousands of dollars.

In this economy with business hurting and with over half of our town's residents low-income, city council must look at all options for cutting costs while also maintaining a well-run system.

In the past few months, more time has been spent putting up road blocks than has been spent vetting the reasonable alternatives that have been put forward. Admittedly, the situation has resulted in frustration that has at times spilled out as the "condescending and rude" comments noted by Mayor Kellstrom.

We need to create a culture where questions, concerns and suggestions by citizens and councilors (even and perhaps especially those in the minority) are heard and treated with respect. We need to learn to listen to one another and to put all the facts on the table (not just the ones that suit the position of the leadership). Only then will we be able to make good, well-thought-out, fair decisions. This type of reasoned process and transparency would likely result in only a small water rate increase, if any.

To this end, all parties are in the beginning of delicate discussions about how to better work together. I have asked council to consider a mediated session and will forward more information and a formal request early next month.

Sharlene Weed

•••

To the Editor:

Why get involved? It almost always tends to put you afoul of the power structure. When that happens, they tend to use their power to shut you down. Sometimes they exceed their moral authority. That is exactly what the mayor and council president did when proposing a motion to ignore all questions and input from Mike Morgan and me.

With respect to the raising of water rates, we have not asked frivolous questions, nor have our requests for information and data been without foundation. Nearly all claims put forth by the city to support the spending of millions of dollars have proven to be without foundation. These statements were a justification for raising rates by more than 100 percent in five years during the worst economic period in modern times. This was unacceptable; we could have gotten involved or turned our backs. Now council leadership wants to shut us up.

Their position is that we have been wasting staff time with our questions and concerns. Since getting involved in December, I have asked for information on nine occasions. Of those requests, two were withdrawn before any work was done, two of the requests were denied outright by Eileen Stein, one requested document was posted to the city website where I obtained it myself, and three were ignored by the city or answered incompletely. On only two occasions were my questions answered or copies of existing documents provided. The facts we find dispute their claims.

The attitude at city hall is "us and them." Reasonable requests are blocked and thwarted, and the city manager spends countless hours doing so. Now they want to officially ignore any concerned citizen who does not share their agenda. They may have the law on their side, but it is not the kind of government we deserve.

Ed Protas

•••

To the Editor:

When I ran for city council, I promised that I would listen to all sides of an issue and make what I thought was the best decision for all of Sisters.

It is clear that all five city councilors will not always agree on all issues. When that happens there will be a minority voice. How do we want to respond to that voice?

I believe that all councilors should be treated fairly and respectfully. All councilors should have their questions answered and be given access to the same information; any and all the information they feel they need to make the best decision for the citizens of Sisters. And decisions should be made in an open and transparent manner.

Our councilors deserve this. Our community deserves this.

Wendy Holzman

•••

To the Editor:

Re: "Running Commentary - Running for fitness," (The Nugget, March 9, page 16): What a great article! It is amazing that people don't think they can run because they never have; I personally have learned that it can be done.

I started with the "Learn to Run" program through FootZone and then trained for the Portland Marathon with USA Bend Fit. My one-year anniversary of running comes up in April, and within that time I have participated in several 1/2 marathons, a couple 5ks and also the Portland Marathon last October.

My race calendar is already getting full this year, which I love! I experienced a new PR in Lincoln City, taking 9:30 off my previous half-marathon time; that alone is enough to keep me going strong!

I have gleaned so much information from other runners over the last year and am grateful that they love the sport so much they want to see everyone experience success.

Being a runner has taught me a great deal about myself - given me self-confidence - and as a grandmother of five, the energy I needed to keep up with the grandchildren!

Thank you again, Charlie, for your articles on fitness and health.

Terri Brown

•••

To the Editor:

Well, ain't this a fine kettle of fish...

It seems a whole bunch of Nugget readers are all twisted out of shape because I didn't say where the bear story in last week's issue took place. Sorry about that; it was by design.

The person who reported the incident did not want any publicity, nor home address scattered far and wide. In as much as The Nugget goes far and wide, I honored that wish. All I can say is that the event took place north of the Sisters Airport, which was irrelevant anyway. By the time last week's paper hit the street that bear could have passed through Brent McGregor's back yard, leaving nothing behind but chewed up juniper logs - and he wouldn't have said anything either. After all, look how that bear from last year moved around - and its eventual fate - which is another reason I did not pin down the location.

The most important subject in the bear story was not where it was, but what the landowner did to ensure it didn't stick around. Had that been the reaction of a few people in Sisters when the last bear was wandering around, it's eventual demise (see "Bear shot near Sisters," September 22, 2010) might have been avoided.

Jim Anderson

•••

To the Editor.

Did you know over 300 films were shot in Oregon? The Oregon Film Museum in Astoria wants your help with their new installations. Did you play any part in the shooting of "Into The Wild," or maybe you have Emile Hirsch's backpack? Any stories, photos and artifacts are welcomed. And if you have something you'd like to share from another film we'd love to hear from you too! Contact Makaela at [email protected]

Becca Weiss