Letters to the Editor 05/09/2018

Last updated May 08, 2018 12:0pm0

To the Editor:

In several articles in The Nugget they have stated the current owner as the founder of Village Interiors. She is actually the third owner.

My husband, Bill, and I opened Maggie's Interiors in August of 1981. I changed the name to Village Interiors in 1983. Because of ill health, we sold in 1990 to Teddy Heck. Approximately a year later she sold to Pat.

This may not seem important to anyone else, but it is very important to me. I was very proud of that little store and still am. Pat has made it into much more than just a service store.

Maggie Bull

•••

To the Editor:

National Day of Prayer is a great thing that I love to do. You get to sing songs and pray to God. When I think of National Day of Prayer, I think of a day with God. Just with Him.

I love National Day of Prayer. It's the day that makes me feel so happy during the day.

I feel like the spirit of God is in me today more than ever!

One day I will remember this day and pray that all the people that went and prayed to God will remember it, too.

Pia Grummer

Third Grade, Sisters Christian Academy

•••

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA), I would like to register our strong support of the proposed Local Option Levy for SPRD. For years, our organization has partnered with SPRD to improve and use recreational trail facilities in Sisters Country - from guiding hikes and mountain bike rides, to helping with the Crest the Cascades ride on the McKenzie Scenic Bikeway, and contributing to Bike Park 242.

This levy will help strengthen SPRD, with improved and expanded adult and youth recreational programs, more stable staffing to ensure program continuity, and better capacity for long-term planning. A stronger SPRD will mean a stronger partner for community organizations like STA, and these deeper partnerships will multiply the effectiveness of everyone involved.

For STA, a closer partnership with a stronger SPRD will mean increased volunteer support for trails work and, most importantly, better recreational programs for all ages that utilize our trail network. Working in partnership with a stronger SPRD will help STA be an even more effective volunteer organization to improve the trails network in Sisters Country.

Because a stronger SPRD makes sense for our community, this levy makes sense. It is a small contribution that will have large payoffs for us all - young, old, volunteers, and community organizations. Please vote to support it.

Catherine Hayden, Chair

Board of Directors, Sisters Trails Alliance

•••

To the Editor:

Sisters Park & Recreation District is a unique agency unlike any other. I know this because I was privileged to serve as its executive director from 2013 until earlier this year. In that time I was able to learn about the agency's rich history of service to the Sisters community, and its constant financial challenges.

SPRD's tax funding covers just over one quarter of the funds the agency needs to operate for the year. That means that the staff go into each fiscal year knowing they need to raise 75 percent of the funds they need to serve the community that year. Also, each year the staff knows there are many other things the community would like to see them do, that they simply cannot because there is no funding available. The passage of the proposed local option would give SPRD staff the ability to focus less on keeping the lights on, and more on serving the community.

If you have any questions please reach out to any of the SPRD board members.

Liam Hughes

Pendleton, Oregon

•••

To the Editor:

In 2017 I participated in the Deschutes County College, an eight-week course offering citizens of the County an opportunity to learn more about how our County tax dollars are spent, the services the various departments provide, and meet our three elected County Commissioners. During the first class each County Commissioner presented and discussed their roles on various committees, their specific interests, background and expertise.

I met and spoke with Tammy Baney on more than one occasion about my recent move to Central Oregon and my concerns related to my area. Ms. Baney not only listened, she followed up with me personally. Her presence throughout the classes as well as running a public County meeting were nothing but professional, her demeanor kind and her knowledge of our County very thorough.

In contrast, my personal experience with Patti Adair (who is running against incumbent Tammy Baney) was negative. As a fellow participant of our County College group, I found Ms. Adair lacking in listening skills, she did not follow through on a task she assured me she would, and repeatedly carried on distracting personal conversations during presentations by various Country departments. I was unclear then of her agenda as a participant in our group, but now can see her political motivations - and I certainly won't vote for her in this Oregon Primary.