Letters to the Editor 06/29/2016

To the Editor:

I live a short distance north of the north end of Runway 2 at Sisters Eagle Airport and am very aware of flight traffic generated by airport operations. I, like many, enjoy the solitude offered by our Sisters Country environment. Particularly sitting on my deck watching the occasional doe and fawn grazing in Indian Ford Meadow. I have read the many negative letters and opinion pieces about airport operations recently published in The Nugget. And, I have previously expressed my own concern for safe flight operations to Benny Benson.

A few years ago when airport improvements were being contemplated I watched with considerable interest. I was impressed with the ambitious plans the Bensons had. The much-needed rebuilding of the runway was a good beginning.

Sisters has long suffered from the lack of a robust economic base beyond tourism. We have witnessed the departure of a number of businesses. The Bensons have brought a world-class global engineering business to Sisters by the name of ENERGYneering. Today ENERGYneering employs about 50 engineers and technicians in well-paying jobs at the airport.

In addition to ENERGYneering, there are four other businesses located at the airport. Further development, inspired by the Bensons, will provide opportunities for more economic development in our community. This growth may result in the occasional disruption to our way of life. I am willing to accept this. I view the increased activity at the airport as a sign of new energy coming into our community. Something very much needed.

Mike Anglea

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To the Editor:

The complete lack of even a hint of traffic enforcement in Sisters is getting dangerous.

Friday, coming back from Black Butte Ranch, I watched a Schulz Transportation semi tailgate the car behind me for miles. That car turned at Barclay, so now he's tailgating me. Traffic was stopped. I let some cars in since I couldn't clear the intersection. The semi driver comes up about three feet from my bumper and lays on the horn.

This is crazy. Someone is going to get seriously hurt and the highway will be shut down for hours. Three feet is not a safe following distance at any speed, there are laws about this. They need to be enforced.

Bruce Berryhill

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To the Editor:

I live in Southern California and have been coming to Sisters with my family for years. We spend several weeks here and look forward to relaxing among the pines and hearing the wind through the trees and spending time barbecuing and enjoying the quiet.

However, this last trip was pretty much ruined with hearing a constant and steady drone almost all day for many days. I found out this was due to a new skydiving business. The take-off and landing of planes is not an issue; however the steady drone of the skydiver plane is terribly disruptive to the usual quietness that Sisters had to offer.

Unfortunately, we are saddened to say after all these years of enjoying Sisters, we will probably be looking elsewhere for our getaway.

Donna Lowe

Claremont, CA

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To the Editor:

The Sisters airport has been in existence since the Sun was a tiny little thing, there weren't no Moon, and the Big Dipper was a little tin drinkin' cup. Airplanes come with noisy contraptions; quite often the tip of the propeller(s) that move a private airplane through the sky break the sound barrier. It's been that way ever since the Wright Brothers conducted their magnificent art at Kitty Hawk.

The people who purchased their homes and property within the operating zone of the Sisters Airport must have known that. If they didn't, well...

Back in the 1970s there was a glider operation going full-bore at the Sisters airport; an airplane equipped with a VERY noisy seaplane propeller was towing gliders into the air all day long several days a week. If the folks complaining about today's airport noise had been living here then they'd have really gone berserk.

There is no getting around the fact that airports are noisy places, it's a fact of life. The noises they create are what it takes for their operation to stay afloat and (not often enough) make a profit. The City of Sisters and FAA have approved what the airport does, the parachute outfit operates under the strict rules of the FAA, everything they do is on the up-and-up.

It seems obvious to me that if those who don't like - or want - to tolerate the aircraft noise over and around their homes, they should just sell out, go live where it's quieter and leave the airport alone to do what airports do: make noise and provide other residents of Sisters Country a place to do business as they should be allowed to.

Or, if you're interested in a swap, call me. I live in a nice quiet place, several miles from the noisy old airport; and obviously airport sounds are, to me, another kind of music.

Jim Anderson

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To the Editor:

Re: "Increase in airport activity irks some neighbors," The Nugget, June 22, page 1:

It seems like people are just being whiny. It sounds as though there is a NIMBY attitude present among the complainers.

Sure, I understand that suddenly they have airplane noise that is annoying them. I understand that suddenly an unexpected event has changed their daily living significantly, in an unpleasant way. Even so, I think they need to get over themselves, in the same way we all have to get over ourselves. Life goes on. We have to roll with the changes.

Just because you retired here doesn't mean that we, as a town, have retired. Growth and change are always going to be here.

Michelle Ehr

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To the Editor:

What happened to the peace and quiet in Sisters?

I have a vacation home in Sisters that I take my family to several times a year to get away and enjoy the outdoors. When we were there last, I found our stay totally miserable as we were annoyed by the constant noise from the skydiving plane.

We couldn't get away from it! We have to literally go inside our house, close all the windows, and turn on the T.V. or radio to get a break from the constant airplane noise.

We have property in Sisters and go up there to get away from noise. It's actually louder in Sisters than it is where we live which is a big metropolitan city. This is the first time since we have had our vacation home in Sisters I've looked forward to going back home to get away from the constant noise.

My intentions were to retire in Sisters because it was one of the most peaceful and beautiful places I have ever been to in my life. I'm now in a "holding pattern" to see what happens with the skydiving operation. Is this a temporary trial thing or are they here to stay? If they are here to stay, I'm out!

Chris Moody

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To the Editor:

Ron Leis was one of the gifts that came to my life during the years I served as a pastor in Sisters. He was, I believe, the real deal. To his beloved family, the Lord's comfort to you. He's in the best of Good Hands!

Harold Gott

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To the Editor:

From dpreview.com:

"A studio in India, founded by British photographers Charles Shepherd, Samuel Bourne and William Howard in 1840 will close its doors after 176 years in operation. Considered the oldest continuously operating photographic studio, Kolkata-based Bourne & Shepherd's current owner cites the recent major changes in photographic technology as a reason for the closure.

The studio was known for its portraiture, producing images of religious figures and government officials, from the British Raj era onward. Speaking to Indian publication The Hindu, a former employee explains that the shift to digital made it difficult for the studio to survive, saying 'How can you expect that a studio can operate in this generation where everyone is clicking photos from their mobiles and digital cameras?'"

Though the studio will no longer be in operation, the current owner says that he'll continue to maintain the shop's collection of historic photos and equipment.

I remember "Fotos in a Flash" on Hood Avenue in Sisters years back. John ran a good photo shop. Thinking about it, there were photo shops in Bend. No more. Times do change.

Conrad Weiler

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To the Editor:

We are annoyed by the commercial promotion and resulting acceleration in annoying aircraft noise. Being further from the airport than the Indian Ford folks, we don't have it as bad as they do. Nevertheless, from previous experience with airport noise and safety issues we'd be happy to work with a community group opposed to further airport commercialization.

Unopposed, we will have (sooner or later) flight schools with touch-and-gos, heli-tours, heli-skiing in winter, etc. in addition to one little parachute plane.

We are fine with a community airport serving community activities. Commercial activities totally change the picture. Mr. Campbell (airport manager) has already implied intent to increase air operations without consideration of civic nuisance.

The city council will do nothing. Their constituency is not in the most impacted area; they like the revenue; and they are probably more concerned with everybody being nice to each other. It was a naive, shortsighted move to develop commercial aviation in the middle of a quiet community. What were you thinking!? Well, I guess you were thinking it was on the city limits, so somebody else's problem.

Organize now! Cast a wider net than the Indian Ford Homeowners, and develop a long-term opposition strategy, because the airport owners are probably planning on just wearing you down and waiting for those most bothered by the noise to move. Hog farmers sniff and say "Smells like money." Well, airport operators hear planes and say "Sounds like money."

Meanwhile, pray for bad weather - or smoke.

Bob Albrecht

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To the Editor:

Re: "Increase in airport activity irks some neighbors," The Nugget, June 22, page 1.

Really? Too much noise?

I have never found anything as peaceful as is skydiving. Safety? Chute open? All is well. Noise? Really, noise is three lawnmowers or motorcycles maybe, but skydivers and their planes?

The first jump I made, I came home and sat on the couch and stared at the wall for three hours and all was well with the world.

Dave Culver

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To the Editor:

There have been several excellent letters recently about the increased activities at the airport, which are filling our sky with the constant drone of planes and making a significant impact on the quality of life for many residents of Sisters Country.

The skydiving operation represents the most significant, and is undoubtedly a serious safety hazard. Automobile drivers are distracted as divers descend within a few yards of Camp Polk. It is highly likely that there will be an accident that might very well result in loss of life or limb.

The airport is planning much more expansion. They have applied for around $500,000 of more public funds to add more commercial operations, jet fuel, and a helicopter touring operation.

I understand the motives of the owners of the airport and skydiving operations. They are shrewd businessmen and their singular motive is profit. Quality of life for the community is not their agenda, nor their responsibility.

However, Sisters City Council and leaders should understand that their primary responsibility is to ensure quality of life for the folks they represent.

The City says that this represents significant income to the City and it is a result of normal growth. HOGWASH. The increased activity at the airport is not normal growth but the concentrated efforts of the owner to increase profits. Whatever limited income from a few skydivers that might stop in town for a hamburger before jumping is far offset by a much larger loss of income to the many business owners in the city.

Sisters' leaders have not only ignored issues that diminish the quality of life for the thousands of folks that compose Sisters Country but have often disrespected them in the process. Those outside city limits are welcomed when they want money for schools or other community projects but shunned when questioning something that has an adverse effect on our lives and are told we are not part of the city.

There is a cost for this. We moved to Sisters over six years ago. We felt very much a part of the community. Like so many others, we get many guests every year and we always made an effort to shop, eat and support as many local businesses as possible, even though it frequently meant higher prices and perhaps fewer choices. No longer. We don't feel a part of the community any longer and are just as likely to spend our dollars in Bend or Redmond. Many, many of our neighbors feel the same way.

The local business owners are the big losers. Residents are big losers as the quality of life that brought us here diminishes. The airport owner and skydiver owner are big winners. The City Council and leaders are clueless as to the net loss this represents to such a fine community - particularly local business owners.

Bob Norman