Letters to the Editor 1/15/25

Correcting the record

To the Editor:

Dear Bill Bartlett — I enjoyed our discussions regarding the UGB and I appreciated how accurately you quoted my comments (“Sisters growth plans spark pushback,” See related story.). However, you missed the boat on my information.

Bjarne and I moved to Sisters 2013 (not 1978) and we live on Bradley Road (my horse lives on Cloverdale). After 43 years in Alaska we just wanted to escape the very long winters. I did work at Camp Tamarack 1969–1970 and Sisters was a quiet village at that time. Of course, I do not expect those times to return but I also don’t want Sisters to look and feel like Bend. I understand progress and growth but there comes a time when the best thing to do is nothing.

Robin Holm

The Sisters Way

To the Editor:

As some of you already know, a new mayor was appointed at last week’s Sisters City Council meeting (See related story.).

My last four years as mayor was an absolute blast; even as it was often difficult, insanely time consuming, and went by way too fast. I am proud of the work that was accomplished on your behalf, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Thank you, Sisters, for making this part of my life’s journey something that I will never forget and always look back on fondly. I’m especially grateful to all the new people I met during my tenure. Some of you are now people that I call friends. A special thank you to my wife who was so encouraging and the early morning coffee klatch I needed to kickstart my days. Also, I’d like to offer high praise to city staff and city management who have had to put up with me and will continue to do so as I still have two more years on City Council.

Hopefully, with the help of the rest of Council, we will continue to create policy to keep Sisters vibrant with the small-town feel, even as we grow. As always, I will be out and about visiting businesses and meeting with people to talk about their concerns — that’s just what I do and how I do it. I love Sisters as so many of you do and I look forward to keeping it as charming as possible, safe for our kids, and always looking for ways to improve livability while keeping business thriving. Let’s work together, everyone!

This is the Sisters Way — and if I’ve done things properly, it should continue long after I’m gone.

Michael Preedin, former mayor of Sisters

U.S. expansionism

To the Editor:

Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal… President-elect Trump is suggesting We the People acquire these sovereign nations or portions of their lands by using any means — including force.

I’m wondering who among you Trump voters feels that expanding U.S. territory by any means is a paramount issue? I am also wondering how Trump’s expansionist agenda will address the high cost of housing or the high prices in grocery stores, or will lower your taxes, or will minimize U.S. involvement in military conflicts far from our shores?

Nancy Bright