Letters to the Editors 01/25/2012

To the Editor:

Much has been made about our dysfunctional city council. Sisters Country people finally seem to be waking up. Reality: five councilors are elected to represent approximately 2,055 people who live within the city's urban growth boundary.

But there are approximately 10,000 people living in Sisters Country (outside the city's boundaries.) Isn't it time for the 10,000, who care as much about Sisters Country as the "city residents" do, to have a voice about who represents the community?

It's time for the 10,000 to insist that the city's charter be changed. All Sisters Country residents should be able to vote on who their councilors (and their mayor) are going to be. And if that means working out a system of equitably distributing the city's tax burden among 12,055 people instead of 2,055, I would be willing to pay my fair share.

Our probability of electing five councilors, who can actually work together, is greatly increased with a larger pool of candidates.

Bill Mintiens

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To the Editor:

Imagine my surprise as I was driving through Sisters, which I do every couple of weeks. I picked up a copy of The Nugget and noticed the front page story about the city council's consideration of a move to terminate Eileen Stein from her position as city manager. I was quite surprised and more than a little disheartened by that article.

From the very first consideration of having Gutenberg College move up to Sisters, Ms. Stein has been an incredibly helpful and encouraging resource for us at the city. She reached out to us consistently and made herself and her staff available and helpful in the process that we went through this last year. In every respect, she served as a great advocate and ambassador for the city of Sisters. Her helpfulness played a very large role in our pursuing a move to Sisters initially, and she was invaluable as we sought approval to put the college in the old Weitech building. Indeed the entire staff at the city was helpful, and we attributed that to the leadership of Ms. Stein.

Obviously finances have slowed the process of moving Gutenberg College to Sisters. - something we still hope to be able to do in the future. But when I read the article I must admit that it caused me to wonder if we would find Sisters to be as welcoming and helpful in the future. If the city was quite so ready to terminate a resource like Ms. Stein who has been so important to us, we would have to consider whether we would still find a favorable reception in the City of Sisters with someone new in the city manager's office.

I don't have the most recent news but, on behalf of Gutenberg College, I hope that the city council will consider this move very carefully and will do all that they can to retain the services of Ms. Stein rather than move to find someone to take her place.

Peter A. Wierenga

Provost, Gutenberg College

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To the Editor:

A quote from Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" refers to progress of life forms. "I do not doubt that the process of improvement has affected in a marked and sensible manner the organization of more recent and more victorious forms of life in comparison with ancient and beaten forms, but I see no way of testing this sort of progress."

I have tried, but neither can I find a way to apply this formula to the recent ridiculous bandying of the city manager's position in Sisters. Is this supposed to represent progress? Similarly, the traded insults and low-level sniping of the Republicans vying for nomination for President of the United States left them all on a level too low to fit that office, in my humble opinion.

Nothing of substance was covered in either case. These are supposed to be "more recent and victorious forms of life"? I hate to think of the lower types! I think that on the local scene as well as the national scene, that we are entitled to a more mature "form of life," as Darwin names it. I, too, would like to find a way to test for it!

Russell B. Williams

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To the Editor:

I've had the interesting experience of being a volunteer at the Habitat ReStore for the past several months and I tell you that must be one of the busiest places in Sisters. Pick-up trucks pull up with full loads several times a day. Big trucks deliver estate-sized loads. Our delivery truck often picks up a load or two while out making deliveries. People come and go with single items all day long.

It's up to us volunteers and, of course, the amazing Robin, to sort through what these generous people donate to Habitat to help low-income families become homeowners. Every item that comes in has to be sorted, tested, cleaned, priced and put somewhere by the volunteers.

Some of the items that come in are absolute treasures. Many items are practically new or in mint condition. Some come in packages never opened. Often people see new items coming off the truck and buy them before we can get them in the store.

But then there's these other kind of items, such as:

Dirty appliances, like refrigerators, microwaves, toaster ovens, washing machines, dishwashers - don't bring them in unless they are cleaned first (you would not believe some of the disgusting things people dump on our door step... what are you people thinking?)

Broken furniture or electronics and appliances with missing parts or that don't work; sofas, chairs or other furniture with large stains, fabric tears - what makes you think anyone would buy them?

Thingamajigs and whatchamacallits - please label unusual objects because we don't know what they are.

We don't throw out sellable items - and even keep some weird stuff artists may want to use - but please consider the above and take your junk to the dump.

Diane Goble

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To the Editor,

I want to champion a free adult class being offered at SPRD in conjunction with the Bank of the Cascades. It is a six-week class called Money Smarts. I took the class last term and it was phenomenal! 

Even though I have owned a business in town for 10 years, there has been so much change within the banking industry that there was so much new information to learn. 

Davina Luz, who taught the class, had great insights from her position as bank manager. She offered her interpretation on the culture of banking, the changes due to the economic shifts, and practical applications of the information she presented. The class became a great place to explore financial issues with fellow residents while at the same time having dinner together (provided!) and childcare in the next room. 

I hope everyone will consider signing up for the six classes, each one is a stand-alone on a different topic. It was truly rewarding.

Evelyn Parker Brush

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To the Editor:

Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary, in part because he was forgiven his sins of adultery and violation of the marriage vows. That he made such betrayals of his wives twice indicates, with some force, that these betrayals were more than simply errors in judgment, but actually aspects of his character.

In that case, is he someone we might want to act as the leader of our nation? Imagine him betraying the nation, the Constitution. Would a proclamation of forgiveness be enough to free us from the suffering that might result?

His wives suffer his betrayal - even though he is forgiven. What might our suffering amount to should he betray us? And given the quality of his character, might he not do so should doing so be somehow expedient for him? And would we be comforted then by the forgiveness he might claim to have received?

Richard Lyons