Letters to the Editor 05/30/2018

To the Editor:

In your May 9 edition you featured an article titled "Advocating for those with Parkinson's Disease," written by Jane Miller. Hers is a story I have often heard, although as Ms. Miller states, everyone's journey with Parkinson's is different.

I was diagnosed 10 years ago at age 57. I can identify with almost everything Ms. Miller mentions in her article. I finally decided to try a relatively new treatment for Parkinson's last year. DBS or Deep Brain Stimulation surgery was performed on my brain (after 3 years of considering the pros and cons). It has been a real positive change for me. It doesn't mean I am cured, it just means I am able to handle some tasks of daily living easier, thus improving my quality of life for the immediate future.

I would like to thank Jane Miller for her advocacy for those of us challenged with PD, their caregivers and families. I would also like any of your readers who have family or friends with Parkinson's in the Sisters area to join us on June 12 at 1 p.m. for a Parkinson's Support Group or PWP's (People with Parkinson's) titled "Parkinson's Conversations." We are meeting the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Suttle Tea at 450 W. Cascade Ave. (near the library). We are a peer-led support group ready to listen and learn about your journey through PD while sharing coping skills and friendship.

We are part of Parkinson's Resources of Oregon and there is no charge to attend. You can contact myself, Lenetta Colbert, at 907-687-8101 or our program coordinator for Central Oregon, Carol, at 541-668-6599 for more information.

Lenetta Colbert

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To the Editor:

What happened to Walden?

People say Greg Walden used to be a moderate Republican. What made him change into one of the most conservative representatives in Congress? Is he positioning himself for a high-paying industry job? Did he stop caring about regular people? What happened to change him so drastically?

Walden is one of the main writers of the new healthcare law that makes it impossible for many people to afford medical attention. In his own district, about 64,000 people could lose coverage. That's a LOT of people. He also voted in favor of not covering pre-existing conditions. Only an uncaring, career politician out of touch with his neighbors in Oregon could do something that cold.

In the financial world, Walden does not seem to care about protecting us from big banks and lenders. He voted to roll back banking and borrowing regulations put in place after the Great Recession. That sad and scary time was only a few years ago, but he's already forgotten how many of his voters suffered.

As for global warming, Walden must not believe it's really happening because he nearly always votes against protecting us from this catastrophe. Not even fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes can scare him into voting to save us and our world.

What does he care about?

Paula Surmann

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To the Editor:

Our mom was introduced to Sisters and the surrounding area when she and her husband married 16 years ago. This is their primary vacation spot and where they wish to retire, and they want to be able to share Sisters with their children and future family

generations.

We understand that the Sisters council has proposed changes to current rules that will disallow short-term vacation rentals permits to be transferred with the property. Future generations, such as us, need a time buffer between inheritance and retirement. The proposed changes will eliminate that time buffer and create an unaffordable inheritance for a vacation home.

By limiting Sisters' visitors to hotels and motels, you eliminate family and friends sharing time together in a group experience.

Please reconsider the limitations that this current proposal will impose on future generations' ability to enjoy such a beautiful area.

Angelina Haugstad

Jason Nerida