Letters to the Editor 8/28/2024

Beware of scams

To the Editor:

I fell for a scam being operated on FB Marketplace. I was trying to buy firewood and I ended up getting scammed. Luckily it was not for a ton of money.

Never give the seller any money up front. Cash on delivery only!

I am working with the Deschutes County Sheriff, Facebook, Venmo, and PayPal. Since Monday, August 19, I have located and disabled a dozen different scam pages selling firewood. Once you know what to look for they are easy to spot. The first thing that happens is you will immediately get a questionnaire popup. Most firewood guys don’t know how to do this. Second, I asked for oak. We have no oak in Central Oregon, so if they say ‘no problem’ it is a sign.

These scammers also do the same scheme with mulch and I am sure other things. I just want to get the word out so you don’t make the same dumb mistake that I did.

Rob Bell

Community garden

To the Editor:

Sisters Community Garden at Cliff Clemens Park, fact-checking response to letters sent to The Nugget:

• “The Community Garden (SCG) will require unsightly, eight-foot chain link fencing.” Please visit the existing SCG, where the fencing is two-inch-by-four-inch metal grid supported by lodge poles. There are many attractive and functional fence styles being considered.

• “Offensive chit-chatting eight feet from our bedroom windows”. Three possible locations for SCG at Clemens Park (CCP) were presented at the public community outreach meeting on June 29. One of the sketches shows the garden along the west park boundary, where the garden would be located 45 feet from the Tamarack Village fence. The second concept proposed SCG at the SW corner of the park, and a third sited the garden at the SE corner, both were over 100 feet from the residences of Tamarack Village.

• “The SCG will take over our entire park.” All three of the proposed SCG concept plans show a garden of 12,500 square feet. The Park is over 100,000 SF. The SCG proposes using less than 13 percent of the park. The intent is to maximize open space in the park.

• The entire park is highly used by both adults and children; the addition of SCG would encroach on that use. A survey documenting park usage shows that park use is minimal and sporadic. The random survey was conducted on 16 days from July 2nd to August 17, at various times, between 6 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.. Results are: 1 person +1 dog on July 10, 1 person +1 child on July 24, 2 people on July 25, and 2 people on August 17. On the other twelve days, no one was present at the time of the survey. This survey is available on SCG website.

• Parking. There is a stated fear that “gardeners using the SCG will take over all 66 parking spaces at the park.” At the existing SCG, there are 12 parking spaces, which is 18 percent of the available CCP parking. Only during popular work-parties is the parking area full. Typically, there are less than 4 cars parked. Most garden visits are less than an hour. Many gardeners walk or bicycle to SCG.

• Parking abuse. During the 46-day survey, parking use was recorded for both the CCP parking lot and adjacent street parking. Certain vehicles remained unmoved, notably a blue Toyota Corolla and a red Honda van, both with flat tires.

In conclusion, it is a sad commentary when people attempt to buttress a pre-conceived position using unsubstantiated claims as “facts.” I understand that some of the neighbors of Cliff Clemens Park are emotionally opposed to accepting the addition of a community garden. But be honest; call it what it really is: NIMBY. It is my hope that Sisters City Council considers this information, when they make their decision regarding partnering with Sisters Community Garden to provide garden space as an amenity in a public, city park.

Bob Boyl

The kids are pretty great

To the Editor:

On the evening of Sunday, August 18, while walking into Ray’s Food Place, I crossed paths with a large group of teen boys (many of whom were donning Outlaws gear so I assume they are local). The boys were clearly on a mission, armed with a bag of hot food and multiple drink carriers of ice water from Dairy Queen.

Upon my exit from Ray’s I noticed two men, who appeared to be houseless, and their dogs, and realized the teens had brought the food and water to these men and their thirsty dogs. Although the teens were nowhere in sight by this point, the men, their dogs, and I agreed that the kids in this town are pretty great!

Lindsey Overstreet

Voting for Kamala Harris

To the Editor:

Why am I voting for Kamala Harris? Because she is a woman. (She is worthy of my trust.) Because she is beautiful. (In both character and vision). Because she believes in the Promise of America (that anyone who works hard can achieve their hopes and dreams).

If you agree, copy this message and forward it to your friends.

Daniel Ramberg

Fly the flag

To the Editor:

Now that both the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention have taken place my husband and I were discussing the prominent display of the American Flag and the colors, red, white, and blue at both events. The American Flag and these colors belong to all Americans irrespective of political preferences. We would like to suggest we all fly the American Flag during this remaining campaign season as a symbol of respect and accepting our differences with our friends, our family, and our neighbors.

Liz and Jack Weeks