Letters to the Editor 05/27/2015

To the Editor:

I would like to post a message regarding the ongoing discussion about the proposed paved trail from Sisters to Black Butte Ranch.

I live in the rural Deschutes County area; for me to ride my electric scooter in Sisters or any city is a real treat. I have ridden my scooter several times in the past on paved trails at other locations.

I am a disabled veteran; I'm always looking forward to an opportunity that would allow me some freedom to ride on paved trails as well as city streets.

Not saying I would ride on that particular trail, but makes me wonder how many persons that live with disabilities in those areas that would certainly love to ride their scooter, wheel chair or tricycle between Sisters and Black Butte [Ranch] on a paved trail! However, it would be a fun and interesting jaunt - just need to be sure to charge the batteries before. It's generally good for about 18 miles.

It's my understanding that the funds are available and the Forest Service has granted easement, so what's the big fuss. Get 'er done!

Tom and Lorraine Barrier

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To the Editor:

Residents in the Sisters community are generally concerned that carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels is leading to global warming. However, we need to be more than concerned.

Take a look at one gallon of gasoline, weighing 6.25 pounds and containing 84 percent pure carbon. As that gasoline burns, each carbon atom combines with two oxygen atoms, now creating 19.25 pounds of carbon dioxide, still from the same gallon of gasoline. An average automobile traveling 12,000 miles each year, averaging 25.5 miles per gallon, produces 4.5 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Various publications list the ability of a tree to absorb carbon dioxide at between 15 to 50 pounds per year. That is such a small amount. No wonder global warming is taking place.

We need to do better. Large portions of the population in the Sisters area have no practical transportation alternative to the automobile. That seems so strange for a community that prides itself for its natural beauty. Our community is a wonderful place to live for the physically active individuals who enjoy being out in this natural environment. We need to be able to park the automobile and develop alternative modes of transportation.

An obvious solution is to build the Black Butte Trail, so residents can commute from Black Butte Ranch to Sisters and back. Take the family for a fun outing into Sisters and back by bicycle. That is a total distance of 15 miles. If the car is left at Black Butte Ranch, there would be 12 pounds less carbon dioxide expelled into the atmosphere (that is almost a pound of carbon dioxide for every mile driven).

Bjarne Holm

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To the Editor:

I would like to extend my thanks to the folks who took the time to vote in the school board election, and for their faith in me. Thank you. I will do the best I can in the next four years to make Sisters schools the very best they can be, and given the high level of community support, I really think we can go far and not only help mold great humans but also continue to enhance a real community asset that we all benefit from.

I would also like to thank the people who ran who were not elected. I really think they would all have made great board members. I think the electorate would have been better served, quite frankly by a first-past-the-post-election like the city council, rather than four separate zones (seats) that were in part pre-determined by the zone each participant selected.

Specifically, two people were elected prior to the election by virtue of the seat they selected, leaving five candidates for two positions. Who is to say if the electorate would have picked the four board members going forward.

We are currently in executive session to select a new superintendent and I cannot speak highly enough of the community members who turned out and gave many, many hours of their time to contribute to the selection process. Just reinforces my belief that our engaged community and teacher commitment will continue to differentiate us from the education pack!

I am in the Tech Space at corner of Hood and Elm if anyone wants to stop by and offer ideas or to discuss our local challenges...

Again, thank you.

Stephen King