Letters to the Editor 01/22/14

To the Editor:

The Sisters Folk Festival encourages the community to come out to the public meeting on the proposed amphitheater project on January 29, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall to get first-hand information on the proposed project.

There are a lot of rumors swirling around the project, some of which may involve the folk festival. One of those rumors is that Sisters Folk Festival plans to "move the festival" to the amphitheater. That is simply not true. The festival will continue in a similar way, located in multiple venues throughout Sisters, just as it has been for many years. That is part of the unique aspect of the festival and we have no intention of changing that, whether or not an amphitheater is built.

The amphitheater, as a purpose-built performing-arts facility and community asset with the capacity to seat 1,500-3,500 people, would allow the festival to do things we can't do now due to capacity and facilities limitations, but it would never replace the downtown venues and "vibe."

Again, we encourage everyone with an interest to attend the public meeting. And if anyone has questions about the plans of the Sisters Folk Festival, they should feel welcome to contact me at 541-549-4979. We are committed to continuing to drive economic development through cultural arts and music events, invest in the community through our partnership with the Sisters School District, and celebrate the beauty and charm of the town of Sisters.

Brad Tisdel, Executive Director, Sisters Folk Festival

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To the Editor:

Residents of the City of Sisters may have noticed that the City is tearing out some newly installed sidewalk and pavement across from City Hall on Main Avenue between Locust and Cedar. One can only wonder why the City would go to the expense of installing these improvements only to tear them out. The reason for this action lies with a series of mistakes made by the City of Sisters.

At the time the City originally installed these improvements along Main Avenue, the City failed to perform a survey or to do anything to verify its ownership of this area of Main Avenue. When questions arose concerning the City's ownership, the City engaged a title company to prepare a chain of title. When that chain of title showed that the City of Sisters had no ownership of this property, the City failed to do anything to resolve the matter with the owner of the abutting property the City had just trespassed on. My wife and I are the owners of the property that the City trespassed on.

We attempted to resolve this matter with the City but found that the City was more willing to stonewall us than to talk to us.  Even though the City had no proof of any ownership, it refused to address the issue and insisted it had a right to trespass on our property. We finally had to file suit and have the Circuit Court rule that my wife and I own the property that the City had just paved and concreted and that the City was guilty of trespass.  We obtained a money judgment for our attorney fees and our damages.

We proposed to the City that the City pay the judge's judgment and we would sell the City the strip of property that it had paved over. Rather than meet this reasonable proposal, the City decided, like a spoiled child, to simply tear out the improvements that all of us taxpayers had paid to have installed in the first place.

Dave and Sandy Marlow

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To the Editor:

Instead of an amphitheater, what about a Community Retirement Center? This has been on the community "wish list" for years.

There would be permanent, "family-wage" jobs. We might be a little low on potential workers, but we have potential residents, including some people who might come just for the day. There would be opportunities for part-time and volunteer positions for high school students who plan to work in the health field. Students from the culinary class could find positions in the kitchen.

Residents would find a variety of services already available in Sisters, including haircare, spas, medical facilities, library, entertainment, shopping, etc. Other needed services could be provided by new businesses. These could take place of the ones that have been lost recently. Others may be able to expand because of year-round use, including motels and restaurants, which would serve the families and friends who come to visit residents.

Residents would find a variety of opportunities for volunteering in the community and there would be opportunities for volunteering within the retirement center including arts and crafts classes given by some of our local artists, etc. Local music and entertainment groups could provide entertainment. This could include groups from

schools.

A wing could be included for emergency medical care, which could be shared with the community. The cafeteria could provide space for a variety of entertainment uses. It could also be available for the community to use. A separate, smaller-scale entertainment hall could be built for use by the retirement center, as well as the community.

This is a very complex project; but there has already been some planning done. It may not "pencil out" as a high-profit project, but it might work with community support.

Maggie Hughes