Letters to the Editor 03/02/2016

To the Editor:

How long do we have to look at the eyesore that used to be the Ski Inn? That's prime real estate in our beautiful new downtown. There are laws against abandoning cars, is there a law about abandoned buildings?

Just tear it down. A half-day job for an excavator.

And why in the world is the City working on a way to give away money to attract business when we don't have housing for their employees? This is putting the cart before the horse. If the City has money to throw away, they should use that money to attract a builder for the apartments that have already been master-planned at Cold Springs.

Bruce Berryhill

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To the Editor:

I'm writing about a new policy at the Sisters Public Library that has me flummoxed. Walking or biking to the Sisters library accompanied by my well-behaved and friendly dog has always been fun for me. Unfortunately, there is a new pet policy that does not allow your pet to wait outside leashed next to a bench or a tree while you check out your book.

Sisters has always felt like a pet-friendly place to live. Last week it didn't feel like that when I was singled out in front of other patrons by a library employee walking around the library asking who's dog was outside. I thought, "Oh no, what is my dog up to?" Well, apparently, just quietly lying there curled up waiting 10 minutes for me at the bench. I guess this is now unacceptable to library staff.

When I said the dog was mine, I was told there is a new pet policy everyone knows about, forbidding unattended pets on the property and that I could go tie my dog up "over there somewhere." Never mind that there was no signage or other way for me to have known that my dog was unwelcome outside.

I looked outside for a close spot to re-tie my dog but found nothing within eyesight that was not on the library property. Disappointed by this new policy, I thought it was a bit ridiculous and sad. Are we now to drive to the library just so that we may leave our furred friends in the car? What about during the summer when pets need shade?

This policy seems counter-active to the recent walk-friendly changes made to the Sisters downtown area. To forbid pets from resting, leashed, on public property is sure to discourage folks who prefer walking instead of driving four blocks, taking up parking spaces and emitting carbon dioxide.

I'm not sure how many others have encountered this new rule, but I encourage them to help me reverse this pet policy to allow our furry friends to remain invited to accompany us to our public library!

Cheryl Miller

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To the Editor:

Re: "Where are you, Newberry? Where have you gone?," The Bunkhouse Chronicle, The Nugget, February 24, page 9).

What an awesome and well-written tribute to all my shenanigans. I am truly honored.

It goes without saying that I became PFC Newberry (for the third time), shortly after the Ninja attack. I would like to give a thank-you to my partner in crime, Michael Harris, and the beating he took just before boarding the Peleliu to keep within our schematics of the attack, and clarify my home state of Tennessee.

Thanks again for honoring me in this article.

Shaun Newberry

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To the Editor:

Recently I sat through three days of a trial for which the City of Sisters is prosecuting a fine in the amount of $27,000 levied for leaving my former Wild Mountain building on site for 54 days past the end of my 2013 TUP.

During most of three days of trial, City Manager Gorayeb was in attendance observing, testifying for one hour, and spending a great deal of time talking to former City Planning Director Pauline Hardie, either prior to or after her several times testifying.

Mr. Gorayeb, who at one point walked past me in front of the court house making a show of himself, whistling gleefully while entering the building after a lunch break, gave "taxpayers some value" by not only taking apparent pleasure in wasting his time away from office, but also in directing the city attorney at the yet-to-be-determined cost which will amount to many thousands of dollars, to prosecute me, a former business owner in our local struggling economy who did nothing more than try and make an honest living.

The current allegations about Mr. Gorayeb are and should be disturbing to every concerned citizen of Sisters Country. Mr. Gorayeb has a history of trouble as coach of the lacrosse team, bullying citizens in blogs who spoke out in opposition to his views, the aforementioned behavior at my recent trial and now this latest fiasco, which caused our mayor to take action to remove him from his position of "service" to our community.

I know how it feels to bear the weight of an investigation. I understand the stress that is endured when someone points a finger in your direction to say you've done something for which you should be punished. I am awaiting the ruling in my trial for $27,000 in fines, the likes of which has never before been imposed for any reason in the known history of Sisters, fines which I consider to be bullying on the part of the City while under the direction of Manager Gorayeb. He is now awaiting the result of this investigation.

I empathize with Mr. Gorayeb; hopefully he will use this opportunity to reflect upon his behavior and take responsibility for his actions. This is yet one more unnecessary drama during his tenure, for which Sisters has become well-known in the greater community of Central Oregon. Our community that deserves better.

Ky Karnecki