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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2015)
18 Wednesday, April 29, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon LETTERS Continued from page 2 intersection may or not be with a roundabout. While I understand the emotional involve- ment of writing to express an opinion, the reader should also read the letters with ana- lytical thinking. B. Graham s s s To the Editor: I read with interest the article and letters about the proposed roundabout at Highway 20 and Barclay. I don’t really understand the reasoning behind the letters in favor of a traffic light. It seems to me that safety and efficiency of traffic control and movement would be the highest priorities, with aesthetic appeal being a nice-to-have. If traffic circles are navigable by trucks — and they certainly are by cars — and they’re substantially safer than lights, I’m not sure what the appeal of a traffic light might be. They’re also “obeyed” 24 hours a day, where traffic lights have less observance overnight (would we want red-light cameras?). And a roundabout has substantially more aesthetic possibilities than a traffic light. There seems to be a bit of conspiracy para- noia, with questions of a “done deal,” but I think that misses the point of this discussion. The issue is about good public policy — which we want based on experience gained from scientific studies, and not someone’s personal opinion. As for business in Sisters and a truck bypass, I would be much happier walking downtown without breathing clouds of diesel smoke, and there are probably potential visi- tors who feel the same. If we get roundabouts at Barclay and Locust and trucks out of our core, the loss of some car drivers who would take a bypass would be balanced against the improved pedestrian experience and more positive attitude of visitors who choose to see what we have. And aren’t happy visitors more likely to be customers? Steve Bryan s s s To the Editor: I am very concerned with the safety of our high school drivers in regards to the proposed roundabout on a major interstate [sic]. I love roundabouts but not on a major interstate [sic]! This will surprise and confuse tourists entering our town along with intersecting with a road that young drivers use up to three times a day. I just don’t buy into the safety studies after hearing all of the safety studies of back- in parking and seeing the results of that poor choice. I don’t understand why officials don’t choose the easiest, safest and most cost-effec- tive system. That traffic light should have never been taken down. Please let the locals vote on this important matter! Shirley McBride s s s To the Editor: As the former owners of Camp Tamarack, we encourage everyone who has experienced outdoor school, or had a child attend one, contact our state legislators with support for House Bill 2648 and Senate Bill 439. Both of these support Outdoor school for all students. Passing them would provide every fifth- or sixth-grader in the state with the opportunity for a full week of Outdoor school or a compa- rable outdoor education experience that meets local needs and conditions. The Sisters School District has a long history of participating in Outdoor school. However, that is not the case for all districts. Today, approximately 50 percent of Oregon’s fifth- and sixth-graders are denied the oppor- tunity to experience Outdoor school. Only five of Oregon’s 36 counties report 100 per- cent Outdoor school program participation, four counties report no participation at all and eight counties report less than 20 percent stu- dent participation. It has long been recognized that hands- on experiences such as outdoor school teach collaboration and community-building skills, build self-sufficiency and leadership skills, and drive interest in science, technology, and natural resources. All of these help to allevi- ate the achievement gap in schools, one of the blights on our Oregon education system. Passing either of these bills will provide stu- dents with hands-on learning that helps them understand the world through their local com- munities, connect with their peers, and dis- cover valuable information about themselves. A solid-waste fee and unclaimed bottle- deposit fund have been targeted as possible funding avenues, both of which stay away from dollars already earmarked for education. Having seen first-hand the value of Outdoor school, we strongly urge you to contact our legislators ASAP, imploring them to support this valuable legislation. (Sen.TedFerrioli@ State.Or.US and Rep.JohnHuffman@State. Or.US). Edie and Ted Jones s s s See letters on page 20 Integrity • Service • Quality 541 • 771 • 5778 — SPECIALIZING IN — Interior/Exterior Remodeling Cedar & Custom Decks Staining & Painting Vacation-Home Caretaking Special Carpentry Projects Moulding & Trim-Work Mill-Work Home Maintenance SISTERS AREA 541-549-1577 Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB# 177412 Desirable Cree kside Community in Sisters Custom 2,793 sq. ft. home with 4 BDRMs, 2.5 BAs, ofd ce/study and bonus room on Whychus Creek. Huge fenced yard, hot-tub and 3-car garage. $599,000. MLS#201503685 Phil Arends Principal Broker Howells Realty Group 541-420-9997 phil@blackbutte.com SPRD offers free self-defense class No matter how safe a woman might feel in Sisters, it is an inescapable fact that women are especially vulner- able to attack. Sisters Park & Recreation District is offering a free class on Saturday, May 23, from noon to 2 p.m. to give women a basic rundown of self- defense that could get them out of a serious jam. The class will be led by martial arts instructor Charles Quandt, better known as Coach Q; Sherri Hermans; and Kim Manley. Coach Q explained that the class will provide use- ful information that can help women avoid being in the position where they have to deploy self-defense measures. Attendees will learn to “guard against placing them- selves in dangerous situa- tions,” Coach Q said. The first principle of self- defense is to avoid making yourself a target. “That’s what a lot of pred- ators are looking for,” Coach Q said. “An easy target.” The class will offer “street self-defense” based on Coach Q’s background in aikido, kickboxing, taekwondo and ju-jitsu. Participants will learn about vulnerable targets on an attacker and quick and effec- tive techniques that can extri- cate a person from a danger- ous position. While the class is free, space is limited and advance registration is requested. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in and bring water. Extended training is available. Coach Q teaches martial arts at SPRD on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:45 to 6 p.m. For more information, contact him at 541-549-4177.