© 2002
The Nugget Newspaper
Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Letters, letters, letters
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To The Editor:

As a frequent volunteer at the Sisters schools, I am saddened by the amount of E.T.S. (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) I smell when I enter classrooms. We love our children and hate the thought of them smoking, ever. That's what's happening to them when they're exposed to E.T.S. in the home.

I grew up in a home where both parents smoked. I had constant ear infections, my lungs burned when I ran and I smelled bad.

E.T.S. is responsible for 15,000 hospitalizations a year due to lower respiratory tract infections. E.T.S. causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 12,000 other cancer deaths a year. E.T.S. causes reduced lung function, increased coughing, phlegm production, ear infections, colds and sore throats. It increases the symptoms of asthma in 200,000 to 1,000,000 children a year.

Yes, smokers have a right to smoke. I'm married to someone who smokes. He does so outside no matter how cold, wet or windy. Let's all do our children a favor and take your cigarettes outside, for our children's sake.

Better yet, quit so you can be there for your children.

Kindly,
Denice Cristiano

* * *

To the Editor:

Recent decisions by the COCC Board of Directors will affect the following programs and classes:

Geographical Information System (GIS); drafting/computer aided drafting (cadd); automotive and diesel; all geography classes.

Music classes: Jazz Combo, COCC Big Band Jazz, Jazz Choir, voice class, Piano class, Guitar Class, Opera, Woodwind Ensemble, String Ensemble, History of Jazz.

The College Choir will be reduced to three hours a week. Theatre and dance program, counseling, forestry classes (are) affected international student coordination (will be) affected.

These are not decisions made due to low enrollment, but are based on Oregon's continued economic/political climate.

The board of directors and our state representatives desire to hear from you, as citizens of Central Oregon, if these programs and classes have importance to you.

Legislators: Senator Bev Clarno -- clarno.sen@state.or.us; Rep. Ben Westlund --westlund.rep@state.or.us, fax: 503-986-1564; Rep. Tim Knopp -- knopp.rep@state.or.us, fax: 541-312-9875.

For any public forum inputs, please attend the COCC Board of Directors meeting on February 12 at 6:30 p.m at the COCC Board Room. If anyone would like to send a letter to the full COCC Board, just e-mail it to jsmith@cocc.edu or send a hard copy to: Julie Smith Office of the President, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR 97701.

Ken Mays
COCC Faculty Forum President

* * *

To the Editor:

A sense of community service is very present in the Sisters Elementary School due to the Sisters boys' and girls' Camp Fire Club.

During the 2002 school year six Sisters High School Camp Fire members (Rikki Glick, Casey Glick, Josh Simone, Crystal Metcalf, Jackie Grittman and Amber Craigg) spoke out to the youth of their community.

With the leadership of these students, several elementary classes learned exactly what "community" means and how they could provide service to the Sisters area.

Three elementary classes had the opportunity to step outside the classroom and take action.

Through Camp Fire's Gift of Giving program the elementary students were very successful in having a positive effect on their community through their own personal community service efforts.

The community services the students chose to provide consisted of tree planting and birdhouse making for local parks and a free car wash that resulted in donations that were sent to schools in Uganda.

The turnout was outstanding. I have to agree with my co-member Rikki Glick when she commented, "Watching the students work together to serve their community gave me goose bumps inside!"

Inspired by last year's success, the Sisters High School Camp Fire members plan on returning to the Elementary School this school year and continuing the Gift of Giving.

Thank you to the Sisters Elementary School for allowing Camp Fire to work with the students.

Amber Craigg

* * *

To the Editor:

The tragedy that occurred with NASA recently is not just a blow-up with another rocket that has just seven lives taken away with the snap of a finger.

"So what..." you may say "The remains landed in Texas and those people were no relation to me. Why go around mourning when there's soccer practices, baseball sign-ups and numerous bills to be paid. Who cares?"

If that's the case, you probably haven't noticed all the flags flying at half-mast -- a national death.

I am proud of those who died, they who reminded us that God is in charge of life and death. I ask the Master to care for them and help us care for those who are left behind.

Meanwhile, let's give those who are left behind a round of applause for being courageous and then bow our heads for respect for those who died.

Mycki Webb

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