Letters to the Editor 08/08/2012

To the Editor:

I drove by this lot and saw what Jerry Hanford's letter to the editor addressed in the August 1 Nugget (Neighbors troubled by tree cutting," page 1).

The trees that were removed were described as "beautiful old ponderosas" but were of somewhat moderate size, and certainly not what most would consider true old-growth timber.

What wasn't mentioned in Jerry's letter is that the property owner left about 9 or 10 ponderosa trees still standing; they didn't cut them all down.

Most people don't realize it but most all the trees we have here in Sisters date to the 1920s when most of the town was clear-cut; even the big tall ones around where I live on the south side of town date to that era. Many of the trees around town are much younger than that.

I can understand some of Mr. Hanford's concerns about city permits and such and I saw the mobile home that's been transported to the lot and the contractor's preparatory work to hook it up. My only thoughts are, this isn't your city lot Jerry, you don't pay taxes on it, and really, its not there to please your window view or personal aesthetics. Furthermore, the owner was perfectly within their rights to do what they've done to date including thinning out trees they see fit to remove in light of a construction project.

One thing that might be considered as well is maybe bringing an older mobile home to the property is all the owner can afford in this tough and difficult economy, and for all you know it might just be a young couple's first home ever. That part of town is zoned for those kind of homes. Give your neighbors a chance to complete their project, spruce it up, and finish what they've started. Maybe you could even find a neighborly way to help them out instead getting started on the wrong foot before the project is even completed.

Steve Allely

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To the Editor:

Everything is a treat for our eyes in the midst of this magnificent Sisters summer: the Three Sisters Mountains against blue skies, ponderosa pines and Douglas firs in vast forests, Three Creek and Suttle Lakes, the Metolius. There is so much to see. But, if you listen, you will hear what I believe is the heartbeat of this very special small town - its music. Of course, there is also so much that is unique about Sisters, Oregon: the Rodeo, the Quilt Show, our visual artists, the local merchant community that is, for the most part, homegrown, the schools, and our people. It's all really quite special.

However, I believe it's our music that gives this town the quality of a "one and only." This past Friday evening, the extraordinary "Joy Kills Sorrow" string group played to an appreciative gathering on the back lawn at the Sisters Art Works. The fantastic musicianship that characterized the performance of these five talented artists was captivating. For all who participated in that end-of-day gathering, it was "quintessential Sisters."

But, what I find remarkable is this: As special as the "Joy Kills Sorrow" performance was, this was not a one-time gift. Thanks to the efforts of countless talented, creative and industrious individuals who call Sisters home, musicians from all across the nation are eager to come to this community and share their tuneful sounds with all of us.

I believe that the heartbeat of this community is its music. And, in a spirit of eager anticipation, I await the beginning of the Sisters Folk Festival, on September 7. May the music that will soon be on its way to us continue to identify our sense of place, help us express our joyfulness, and bring us closer together as a community.

David Hagstrom

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To the Editor:

I went with a friend and two dogs to take a little walk up Whychus Creek from the parking area three miles south of Sisters on USFS Road 16. It's a beautiful area to stroll with the dogs. Even though the trail is not maintained there is a trail along the creek which can be followed easily - if you don't mind a little bush-whacking.

I've done this hike many times over the past decade and have enjoyed it. Now, at the trailhead, someone had constructed a large camp with an enclosed shower in the middle of the trail. More disturbing was the abundance of human waste and toilet paper, lots of it, all along the creek.

There is also evidence of digging - I assume for pit toilets. This is along the creek that flows through our town, that flows right past the many campers just downstream. Are these the people who are making the toilets?

Didn't the plagues of our ancestors teach people not to shit in the water they drink or play in? Every summer there are quite a number of campers in this area but I've never seen so much toilet paper.

This is public land under jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service which has done an admirable job over the past few years putting in rocks to protect the creek and installing interpretive signs about the area. Is it time to do more to protect this creekside gem so close to town? 

Michele Morseth