The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLII No. 50 // 2019-12-11 by Nugget Newspaper

The Nugget Vol. XLII No. 50

Citizens weigh in on future of SPRD

POSTAL CUSTOMER PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15

News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

www.NuggetNews.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Honoring Sisters veterans passed...

Assessing public safety in Sisters By Sue Stafford

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Correspondent

Last week’s public meeting on the next two years for Sisters Park & Recreation District was modest in size (12 people), but rich with insightful, thoughtful input from those in attendance. “It is exciting to see community members taking the time to share with us their thoughts and opinions on how Sisters Park & Recreation

The Deschutes County S h e r i ff ’s O ff i c e m o t t o is “Proudly Serving Our Community,” and the SistersCamp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District puts the residents of the district at the top of their organization chart. Both agencies are charged with providing for the public safety of the communities they serve with police and fire

See SPRD on page 32

PHOTO PROVIDED

Local veterans have placed a large wreath to left of the flag pole at the Village Green veterans memorial, adorned with bright red tags. Each tag has a name of the 42 local veterans who are buried at Camp Polk cemetery. The wreath was to be placed at the cemetery, but snow forced another plan. The wreath was donated by a local resident, and will stay at the park through the end of the year. Veterans who worked on this project were Lance Trowbridge, Earl Schroeder, Jeff Mackey and Bill Anttila.

Slash pile burning created smoky skies By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

Slash burning in Deschutes National Forest west of Sisters caused unhealthy air and confusion about burning regulations last Friday and Saturday. Large landing piles were lit Friday morning by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). By afternoon, they looked like early solstice bonfires. Smoke billowed in columns of slush-gray and pine-yellow. Walking among the fires, the forest looked like a scene from “The Lord of the Rings” movies, with signal fires blooming across snowcapped peaks. USFS chose Friday to burn landing piles despite indications of stagnant air in the area. In town, measurements of PM2.5, fine particulate matter, pushed up to 183 on Friday, according to the World Air Quality Project’s realtime air quality map. The map uses monitoring data from sources including the State of Oregon’s Department

Inside...

of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The 183 level is in the “red zone,” considered unhealthy for breathing — slightly worse than Beijing’s air quality, which stood at 181 that day. The red zone covers fine particulate matter measurements of 151 through 200. According to AQICN, “Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effect.” By Saturday morning, a shroud of smog wrapped around the homes of Crossroads, several miles west of town near Highway 242. USFS Fire Management Officer James Osbourne told The Nugget, “We took a number of calls because of the air stagnation reports.” On Thursday, Crossroads residents had received notices stating: “Please be advised that Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department has closed outdoor burning due to a See BURNING on page 15

See SAFETY on page 16

Project will plant thousands of trees By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

It will take a generation for the landscape to recover from the devastating Milli Fire that scorched over 24,000 acres in Sisters Country in the late summer of 2017. Some local youth are giving the forest a jumpstart with a plan to plant 10,000 trees in the Trout Creek area this spring. Representatives from the Waldorf School of Bend will have a table at Sisters Coffee Co. on Saturday, December 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where they will share information on the project and accept donations for a fundraiser for the school. The project grew out of a sixth-grade fundraiser at the school, where students auctioned off a community effort to reduce carbon footprint by creating a “micro-forest.” Waldorf School parent Erin Hansen told The Nugget, “we ended up getting some surplus trees from the Forest Service.” There were 500, in fact, and Hansen wasn’t sure the young students would be able to knock the work out

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pete Stoddard of the Sisters Ranger District found a good place for students to plant and explained reforestation in a burned forest. in the time they had. But Pete Stoddard of the Sisters Ranger District found a safe and viable spot for them to work — and work they did,

getting all 500 trees planted in about 2-1/2 hours. Stoddard provided a real See TREES on page 38

Letters/Weather ................ 2 Obituary ............................ 7 Entertainment ..................13 Sisters Naturalist..............31 Classifieds..................35-36 Meetings ........................... 3 Announcements................12 Holidays in Sisters .......17-29 Crossword .......................34 Real Estate ................. 37-40

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

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Happy Holidays from The Nugget! During the holiday season, please be mindful of our deadlines and special closings that allow our staff time with family (while still delivering The Nugget to each of you every week).

Thursday, December 12 ... Closing at 3 p.m. Tuesday, December 24 ... Closing Early Thursday, December 26 ... Closed Tuesday, December 31 ... Closing Early Due to adjusted press times in December, we are unable to accept advertising or content past deadline. Display Advertising, Announcements, Events, Meeting Calendar ... 5 p.m. on Friday Classifieds, Letters to the Editor ... 12 noon on Monday

Letters to the Editor…

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: One of the reasons I purchased property in Sisters in the fall of 2005 was because of the fresh, crisp air. It was great to be able to walk outside and breath. My wife and I used to like to get up on the weekend with a blanket and nice cup of “Joe” and sit outside on the porch on winter mornings. Pine-needle burning appeared to be an accepted practice in spring and fall, and for the most part, folks burned small controllable piles that didn’t give rise to much smoke. I have noticed a huge change in the way people burn, and in the air quality in the last five years. Not only have we been subject to massive forest fires, but we have been inundated with large pine-needle burns (sometimes very wet needles), for extended periods of time after the big fires were out. Unfortunately, some folks who just don’t care appear to burn pine needles all year long. Some of these pine needle fires are not monitored by those who start them. Some cities, such as Sisters, have outlawed burning within

city limits, but that doesn’t prevent those outside those limits from burning not only needles, but trash from their businesses, continuously. Some of these burn piles just plain stink. There are solutions to all the smoke, but it would take action by Deschutes County: • Burning could be eliminated altogether, and folks would have to use free dump days. • Burning could be limited to a two- to three-week window in the spring and fall. This would give asthmatics a chance to saddle up and get out of town during these periods. • Burning could be eliminated in the summer months so all our Sisters events can be smoke-free. Whatever the solutions, the current situation is toxic. Smoke is permeating inside sensitive people’s homes all year long. Sisters kind of smells like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when the steel mills were running full blast when I was growing up! See LETTERS on page 34

Sisters Weather Forecast

Courtesy of the National Weather Service, Pendleton, Oregon

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Light rain

Rain

Rain/snow

Snow showers

Partly cloudy

45/40

46/35

43/27

39/24

41/25

43/27

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC Website: www.nuggetnews.com 442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, Oregon 97759 Tel: 541-549-9941 | Fax: 541-549-9940 | editor@nuggetnews.com Postmaster: Send address changes to The Nugget Newspaper, P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759. Third Class Postage Paid at Sisters, Oregon.

Editor in Chief: Jim Cornelius Production Manager: Leith Easterling Graphic Design: Jess Draper & Lisa May Community Marketing Partners: Vicki Curlett & Patti Jo Beal Classifieds & Circulation: Kema Clark Proofreader: Pete Rathbun Owner: J. Louis Mullen

The Nugget is mailed to residents within the Sisters School District; subscriptions are available outside delivery area. Third-class postage: one year, $45; six months (or less), $25. First-class postage: one year, $85; six months, $55. Published Weekly. ©2019 The Nugget Newspaper, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All advertising which appears in The Nugget is the property of The Nugget and may not be used without explicit permission. The Nugget Newspaper, Inc. assumes no liability or responsibility for information contained in advertisements, articles, stories, lists, calendar etc. within this publication. All submissions to The Nugget Newspaper will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyrighting purposes and subject to The Nugget Newspaper’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially, that all rights are currently available, and that the material in no way infringes upon the rights of any person. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of artwork, photos, or manuscripts.

Get behind the mule By Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

You got to get behind the mule In the morning and plow… — Tom Waits A friend told me the other day that her daughter was complaining that none of her teachers or classes inspired her. My friend and I were both a little bemused; we couldn’t recall that we ever thought we were supposed to be inspired in high school. Inspiration is overrated, anyway. Any creative person will tell you that if you wait around to be inspired, you’re not going to get a whole lot of work done. Oh, inspiration can strike — and when it does it’s a glorious feeling. Trouble is, it tends to last long enough to get you started, but not long enough to help you finish. At some point, you just have to get behind the mule and plow. Inspiration is to creativity a lot like what infatuation is to love. Feels great; doesn’t last — and you can’t rely on it in the long run. Trouble is, we’re bombarded with social and cultural messages crafted to make us think we’re supposed to be living in a state of constant inspiration. Buy this product, take this class, use this app and you’ll be inspired to do great things. You’ll be “living your best life.” When, in spite of it all, we don’t feel inspired, we feel like there’s something wrong with us. Why is everybody else so inspired and “living their best life” and I’m stuck here behind this damn mule? It’s not hard to see how the gap between our “best life” expectations and aspirations and our often-uninspiring reality can be downright harmful. Despite living amid the greatest plentitude and material ease, comfort, and convenience in human history, rates of depression and suicide are alarming, especially among young people who one might expect to be in the prime of life. Could the “inspiration gap” be a factor? Maybe we should stop chasing inspiration and instead seek something else: Satisfaction, perhaps? There can be a lot of

satisfaction in looking back at that field you plowed today. A friend of mine hits the gym three times a week. It’s safe to say she’s never once felt inspired by the prospect. In fact, she often spends the morning almost sick with dread of what she’s going to put herself through. But she does it — she works hard and she comes back from her ordeal feeling a great deal of satisfaction. It’s a triumph of discipline, not of inspiration — a quality we tend to underrate these days. Steve Earle, one of America’s great songwriters, described the difference between his two mentors, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, comparing them to the Beat writers Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg: “One [was] not particularly disciplined, didn’t live very long, didn’t work that much, the last few years of his life, and then Allen and Guy were incredibly disciplined and left huge bodies of work,” Earle says. “Guy had cancer the last 10 years of his life, and he still worked till the very end. ... And I learned from him that these things that artists do, they call them disciplines for a reason.” And there’s a strange — and somewhat ironic — phenomenon that occurs when we discipline ourselves to just get down to the work: Inspiration grows out of the process. It’s a slow burn, not the lightning flash of “pure” inspiration — the song that comes complete to us in our dreams. That lightning flash comes rarely, if ever, and is a gift beyond our control. That slow burn is a fire we can build and tend for ourselves. It’s got staying power. Perhaps that’s a better message to be sending to our kids. It’s not glamorous, and it probably won’t impress anyone on Instagram, but there’s satisfaction to be found out there in the field. And maybe that’s better for us than inspiration. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go hitch up the mule.

Opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and are not necessarily shared by the Editor or The Nugget Newspaper.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

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Sisters to host holiday variety show The Sisters High School Jazz Choir presents the fifth annual Holiday Showcase on Friday, December 13. The choir invites the Sisters community to celebrate the holidays at a variety show featuring favorite performers from across Central Oregon. Performers this year include many school groups, featuring the SHS Jazz Choir and SHS Jazz Band. A combined middle and high school concert band will perform carols during intermission in the school commons. Guest artists from throughout Central Oregon include Irish rock band Five Pint Mary with Sisters’ own Tyler Cranor on bass; the

Johnson Girls; and dancers from Sisters Dance Academy. Outlaw Cheer will make a special appearance, as will a “jolly friend” from the North Pole. The event is set for 7 p.m. in the Sisters High School Auditorium. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person benefiting the SHS Jazz Choir’s performing trip to Disneyland. Also for sale will be quilt raffle tickets for a beautiful quilt donated by local quilter Susan Cobb, and Holiday Singing Grams delivered by the Jazz Choir Concessions will be available during intermission.

Winter solstice gathering set in Sisters By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

The darkest day of the year sounds like a gloomy proposition. No wonder people around the world brighten it with traditional fires and candles. In Sisters, all are invited to a winter solstice gathering, silent meditation, and labyrinth walk at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, at Sisters Community Labyrinth.

The “Labyrinth Ladies” will bring a new element to this year’s gathering: fire. Bonfires have been a traditional element in solstice celebrations the world over since antiquity. Pat Leiser is preparing a fire column in addition to a portable metal fire pit in the labyrinth’s center. Leiser brings a festive spirit to labyrinth events, See LABYRINTH on page 27

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show launched fundrasing for their 45th anniversary show next year.

Fundraising underway for 45th SOQS The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show welcomed guests on Thursday, December 5, for their first holiday luncheon at the Sisters Community Church Fireside Room to kick off fundraising efforts for the 45th Anniversary Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show to be held July 5-10, 2020. Jeff Omodt, board president, made opening remarks and introduced Dawn Boyd, executive director, who outlined some of the new special activities and events planned for the 2020 show. The guest speaker for the luncheon was Kimberly Bennefield, president of the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, who showed some

of her early quilts. A quilt panel made by members of the Tentmakers of Cairo was hung for the luncheon as well. Here is a brief look at next year’s show: On Sunday, July 5, there will be a Quilt Walk. The Wednesday night, July 8, fundraiser will introduce the Tentmakers of Cairo. Handapplique artistry that has been part of the Egyptian culture for centuries is continued today. SOQS is excited to welcome two of these tentmakers, along with internationally known quilter Jenny Bowker, as they tell the stories of their culture and their artwork. These beautifully

hand-made quilting panels will be available for purchase at the Quilt Show, and the artisans will be on hand to meet visitors. Forty-fifth Anniversary Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show celebrations will take place at different locations throughout town on Thursday, July 9. Show day is Saturday, July 11. Additional activities and information on how to register quilts will be forthcoming. To make a donation toward Quilt Show fundraising efforts, contact the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show office at 541-549-0989, or mail your donation to 220 S. Ash St., Ste. 4, Sisters, OR 97759, attention: Fundraising.

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061. Al-Anon Mon., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-549-8737 or Friends of the Sisters Library Board 541-549-1527. of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 9 to 11 a.m., Sisters Library.www.sistersfol.com. Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs. & Sun., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, Transfiguration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All Church of the Transfiguration / Mon., ages welcome. 541-771-2211. 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Heartwarmers (fleece blanketmakers) Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Sisters City Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Hall. Materials provided. 541-408-8505. Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., 4 p.m. 541-549-1028 or 541-719-1230. noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., 3rd Monday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. RSVP at noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran citizens4community.com Church. 541-548-0440. Military Parents of Sisters Meetings Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver are held quarterly; please call for details. Support Group 1st Tuesday, noon, 541-388-9013. Sisters City Hall. 800-272-3900. Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Black Butte Ranch Bridge Club Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., BBR community Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469. room. Partner required. 541-595-6236. SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. For Saturday meeting dates and to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation location, email: steelefly@msn.com. District. 541-549-2091. Central OR Spinners and Weavers Sisters Aglow Lighthouse Guild One Saturday per month, Jan. 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., Ponderosa Lodge thru Oct. For schedule: 541-639-3217. Meeting Room. 503-930-6158. Council on Aging of Central Oregon Sisters Area Photography Club Senior Lunch Tuesdays, noon, Sisters 2nd Wednesday, 4 p.m., Sisters Library Community Church. 541-480-1843. community room. 541-549-6157.

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-639-6216. Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846. Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m., The Pines Clubhouse. Novices welcomed. 541-549-9419. Sisters Caregiver Support Group 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., The Lodge in Sisters. 541-771-3258. Sisters Cribbage Club Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ray’s Food Place community room. 541-923-1632. Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location information: 541-549-1193. Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870.

Sisters Trails Alliance Board 1st Wednesday, 5 p.m. Sisters Library. Public welcome. 541-719-8822. Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123. Three Sisters Irrigation District Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Office. 541-549-8815. Three Sisters Lions Club 1st Thursday, noon, Ray’s Food Place community room. 541-419-1279. VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-903-1123. Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654.

SCHOOLS

Sisters Parent Teacher Community 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Saloon. 541-480-5994.

Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203.

Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group 2nd Tuesday, 2 p.m., The Lodge. 541-668-6599.

Sisters Christian Academy Board of Directors Monthly on a Friday. Call 541-549-4133 for date & time.

Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday. Location information: 541-279-1977. Sisters Rotary Tuesdays, noon, Aspen Lakes Lodge. 541-760-5645.

Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wed. monthly, SSD Admin Bldg. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002.

Sisters Speak Life Cancer Support Group 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 1 p.m. Suttle Tea. 503-819-1723.

Sisters Middle School Parent Collaboration Team 1st Tuesday, 2 p.m., SMS. 541-610-9513.

CITY & PARKS Sisters City Council 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022. Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., SPRD bldg. 541-549-2091. Sisters Planning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022.

FIRE & POLICE Black Butte Ranch Police Dept. Board of Directors Meets monthly. 541-595-2191 for time & date. Black Butte Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thursday, 9 a.m., Black Butte Ranch Fire Station. 541-595-2288. Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Wed., 7 p.m., 67433 Cloverdale Rd. 541-548-4815. cloverdalefire.com. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541-549-0771. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771. This listing is for regular Sisters Country meetings; email information to lisa@nuggetnews.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Boys and girls hoops drop openers By Rongi Yost Correspondent

PHOTO PROVIDED

Jill Neal’s Western art will be represented at the Black Butte Ranch show.

Jill Neal featured at Black Butte Ranch a universal spirit, and loved regardless of size, shape, ethnicity, or background,” she said. “I want to celebrate, embrace, and capture this spirit.” A large selection of Neal’s work will be featured at The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch.

found their offensive rhythm. They made some very good passing decisions, and players finished their shots. Sisters outscored VC in the final quarter 12-10. “I thought the girls did a lot of very good things,” said Neibergall. “It gave us a chance to really see areas that we need to continue to focus on as we move forward. As a team effort, the girls played hard and continuously competed throughout the game. As they continue to do that, they are going to give themselves an opportunity to be competitive in many games.” Payden Petterson scored nine points for the Outlaws, and freshman Josie Patton, in her first varsity game, also scored nine points. Senior point guard Hallie Schwartz recorded eight points. Coach Niebergall noted she was pleased with the minutes that freshman Ellie Mayes contributed.

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PHOTO BY ALEX JORDAN

Jill Neal will be featured artist at Black Butte Ranch for the months of December and January. Although best known for her iconic “wild (but tasteful!) women,” she will also be exhibiting her awardwinning impressionistic and design Western artwork. With a degree in fine art/sculpture from Oregon State University, Neal’s art, while diverse, has a distinctive style of its own. Weaving bold strokes, strong colors and composition, an energy is created with a freedom that results in unique, spirited images. Loving metaphors, Neal reflects her life as a woman by exaggerating the feminine form for attitude, creating an empowering, positive portrait of women, both joyful and strong. “I believe all women were created in God’s image, with

The boys and girls basketball squads both dropped their games in the pre-season opener. The boys fell in a tight game on the road at Dallas that ended in a 44-40 loss, and the girls were defeated with a score of 50-32 on the road against Valley Catholic (VC). At Dallas, the boys team started off well and led for most of the first half against the physical 5A Dragons. Dallas went hard to the rim and the Outlaws did a great job defending. As the clock ticked down in the final quarter, mental mistakes and some unforced turnovers were the difference in the game. Coach Rob Jensen said, “Overall, the boys showed some grit in the first real varsity competition many of them had faced. The mistakes we made are ones that are easily fixed and are expected from an inexperienced squad. They had great work rate and kept at it. With a few games’ experience and calmed nerves the outcome would likely have been different. I’m proud of how they played.” Nate Weber led the team with 14 points, including four three-pointers. Sam Nicklous scored seven points

and Connor Linn added six. Connor also grabbed 13 rebounds from the wing, and Joe Scholl added eight boards. Hudson Jones pitched in with five points, and Brogan Petterson and Scholl finished with four points each. On the girls side, the Lady Outlaws played hard against a very skilled Valiant squad. The Outlaws struggled against Valley Catholic’s quickness and athleticism, and at the close of the first quarter were down 2-14, and at the half trailed 11-26. Sisters made some adjustments and were able to execute more of their game plan in the second half. The Outlaws did force VC to turn the ball over 18 times, but Coach Brittaney Neibergall told The Nugget that their goal is to improve turning the turnovers into points on the offensive end. The Lady Outlaws stepped it up in the fourth quarter and

541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com

The perfect gift for the quilter, knitter or sewist in your life!

Double your cash donation in December! Melvin’s by Newport Ave. Market will match every dollar for Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank that is donated at their store (corner GIVE IN of Fir St. & Hood Ave.) through PERSO N Dec. 31, 2019 (up to $5,000). Donations to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank are dramatically down this holiday season. Tax-deductible cash donations are greatly appreciated.

THREE CONVENIENT FOOD E DROP-OFF LOCATIONS: DONAT FOOD

Coldwell Banker Reed Bros. Realty Washington Federal Bank Cloverdale Fire Department

541.549.6061 311 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters, Oregon

Donations accepted during regular business hours. DONAT E ONLIN E

DONATE ONLINE

SEND A CHECK

SistersKiwanis.org/food-bank

Mail checks to PO Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759

Sisters business boosts Kiwanis Food Bank Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank is facing continually increased demand as Sisters enters the winter season. A Sisters market is stepping in to help. Melvin’s by Newport Ave. Market has launched its Food for February campaign. Melvin’s will match community food donations dollar for dollar up to $5,000 through December, with the food to be available in the depths of winter in February. “We’re red hot and rolling all month long,” Newport M a r k e t / M e l v i n ’s C E O Lauren Johnson told The Nugget. One hundred percent of proceeds go to wholesale pricing and purchasing as much food as possible for the lean months of winter in Sisters Country. Johnson said that last year the program raised $8,000. “We know that Oregon is one of the hungriest states in the union, which is kind of disturbing, to be honest,” Johnson said. Johnson is gratified by the responsiveness of the Sisters community to help those in need. “It’s pretty cool to see the level of giving that people have chosen to participate in,” she said.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

The future of the library...

Major grant supports trainers in schools The Center Foundation, a Central Oregon nonprofit dedicated to providing sports medicine services to high school students, has been awarded a $100,000 grant to support its high school sports medicine program in Central Oregon’s rural communities. The grant is funded by The Ford Family Foundation, a nonprofit foundation serving the people and communities of Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. “This support from The Ford Family Foundation will enable us to continue to provide highly trained medical professionals to manage sports injuries and concussions in some of the most underserved areas of Central Oregon,” said Sonja Donohue, executive director of The Center Foundation. “We are honored to receive this award, and proud of the work we do to keep youth in these communities safe and healthy.” Funding from the grant

will help The Center Foundation support its sports medicine program in Oregon’s rural high schools in Sisters, La Pine, Madras, Culver and Prineville. The Center Foundation provides certified athletic trainers to these high schools to deliver medical services to young athletes at no cost to students or their families. The sports medicine program ensures that students receive immediate and ongoing injury care, concussion baseline testing, on-site concussion evaluation and post-concussion care, referrals to appropriate medical professionals as needed, and injury prevention education. Funding from The Ford Family Foundation will directly benefit more than 2,500 children in these communities annually. To learn more about the Center Foundation and their support of local schools, visit www.centerfoundation. org

PHOTO BY CONRAD WEILER

The library system is developing plans for expansion in Sisters and across the county, plans that were shared last week.

Talk to focus on hospice care and medications A free informational talk at The Lodge in Sisters will focus on hospice care and medications. Friends, family and business professionals who are affected by a loved one in hospice care or

approaching hospice care are invited to attend the talk, set for Thursday, December 12 at 2 p.m. The Lodge in Sisters is located at 411 E. Carpenter Ln. south of the Post Office.

Let HBC Be Part Of Your Christmas Celebration Sundays in December Each one a celebration. Sunday Worship at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Walk to Bethlehem Living nativity Friday, December 13, 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, December 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Christmas Eve Worship Family-friendly, candlelight & song. Tuesday, December 24, 4 p.m. & 6 p.m.

Highland Baptist Church • hbcredmond.org H 3100 SW Highland Ave., Redmond • 541-548-4161 3

Santa Claus

is Coming to The Lodge!

HOSPICE CARE & MEDICATIONS

Saturday, December 21 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Join us for this free informational talk presented by Dr. Reinhardt

Hospice care is dedicated to achieving the highest quality of life through the alleviation of pain and symptoms, at all times allowing the person to maintain control and dignity throughout their illness. We hope to help take the anxiety out of the word hospice, and simplify one of the greatest Medicare benefits available. Friends, Family, and Business Professionals Welcome!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 at 2 PM Refreshments and snacks will be available!

Luxury Senior Assisted & Independent Living

541-549-5634

Come for free lunch and a tour!

411 E. Carpenter Ln., Sisters www.TheLodgeInSisters.com

Join Santa for cookies & milk!

Kids, come sit with Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas!

FREE event for the public!

KIDS!

Enter our colo contest to winring Holiday Bask a et!

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Parker wins Patriot’s Pen contest Blake Parker, an eighthgrade student at Sisters Middle School, won the Patriot’s Pen essay contest hosted by VFW Post 8138. The essay, on the topic “What makes America

great,” was selected among a number of entries. The award to this student included a formal letter, a patriot medal, and a check for $400 for her efforts. Her essay now qualifies for regional

competition. Parker told The Nugget that it felt good winning the competition, which she entered as a way of building scholarship funding for her future college education.

–––––– What Makes America Great –––––– Blake Parker, 8th grade

America is one of the best countries in the world. It has an abundance of freedoms that allow its inhabitants to live a life of privilege, compared to other countries. We have many things that make the United States of America an outstanding country to live in. Citizens have rights, housing, food, and healthcare. The justice system allows people to stick up for themselves. Our government is designed to never be a tyranny. These things, among many others, are part of why this country is so great. In America, the Bill of Rights allows citizens to have power in the government, and it gives them protection. There are many freedoms on the Bill of Rights, the freedom of speech, for example, allows people to protest against things they do not agree with. In some countries, peaceful protests can get you killed or thrown in jail. Other things the citizens of America have are homeless shelters, food banks, and the Affordable Care Act. Homeless shelters give people without homes places to stay and warm food to eat. Food banks allow people to get free or marked down food. The Affordable Care Act allows citizens to

have access to free healthcare if needed. All of these things allow people to survive, thrive and prosper in America. The court system in America is set up with the people in mind. In court, you are judged either by a judge, or a group of randomly selected citizens called the jury. This ensures, as well as taking an oath, that the whole affair will be settled justly and fairly. The government has a system that also has the people in mind, and makes sure that any of the three branches of government can’t be more powerful than the others. The branches have to decide together on bills, laws, and other things. This helps ensure that no unfair or unjust laws or bills get passed. In some countries, any law can be passed, regardless of the fairness of it. America’s justice system and government system is designed to be fair. The United States of America has many freedoms and liberties that some other countries do not. While there is always room to improve, America, arguably, doesn’t need much improvement compared to some countries. Aren’t you glad you get to live here?

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Blake Parker won the Patriot’s Pen essay contest hosted by local veterans organizations. She was presented on Friday with a $400 prize. Her essay now qualifies for regional competition.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Obituary

Sisters salutes...

Sisters had a mostly ‘normal’ November

Geoff Harding Geoff Harding passed away on November 26, at the age of 89 at his home in Sisters, with family by his side. Geoff was a loving husband and father and he will be greatly missed by his wife, Fay, and his son, Keith. Geoff was born in Margate, England, and moved to the United States in 1966. He worked as a design engineer for Rohr, an aerospace company, until retirement at the age of 62. Geoff and Fay enjoyed 27 years of retired life in Sisters, moving from San Diego after his retirement. Geoff had many hobbies. He loved scuba diving and boating in California. In Sisters, Geoff was an avid hiker with the local hiking group and had climbed many of the peaks, including the South Sister. Geoff spent long hours helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Geoff and Fay also enjoyed exercising at the local gym in Sisters. Geoff is survived by his wife, Fay; son, Keith; grandsons, Jack and Sam; and many step-children and grandchildren who loved him and will miss him dearly.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Becky Aylor, who has been a sparkplug in leadership in Sisters School District, has resigned to take a temporary position at Mountain View High School as their Dean of Students. Local veterans honored her with their Arts Award for her support of patriotic programs in the schools during a Patriot’s Pen presentation last Friday. VFW Post 8138 proclaimed: “Her dedication to Sisters Country veterans during her tenure at Sisters School District has been unwavering. Her organizational skills are exceptional, not only for Veterans Day and Memorial Day events at the school, but also in the classroom where she has continually perpetuated citizenship and patriotism in each school position she has been assigned since becoming part of the District. Her direct approach to teaching creates an instructional atmosphere that promotes the maximum academic potential

from her students. “Her unabashed enthusiasm in teaching demonstrates her love of her students, her country, and awareness of the sacrifices others have made for this nation’s freedom. “The veterans of Sisters wish to thank Becky Aylor for fostering patriotism in her teaching concepts, which permeates throughout the middle school. We wish to thank you also for remembering us.”

According to preliminary data received by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Pendleton, temperatures at Sisters averaged near normal during the month of November. The average temperature was 37.2 degrees, which was 0.3 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged 52.3 degrees, which was 4.9 degrees above normal. The highest was 69 degrees on the ninth. Low temperatures averaged 22.1 degrees, which was 4.4 degrees below normal. The lowest was 8 degrees, on November 29. There were 27 days with the low temperature below 32 degrees. There were three days when the high temperature stayed below 32 degrees. Precipitation totaled 1.11 inches during November, which was 0.75 inches below normal. Measurable precipitation — at least .01 inch — was received on 7 days with the heaviest, 0.51 inches reported on the 28th.

Precipitation this year has reached 12.45 inches, which is 0.89 inches above normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at Sisters has been 1.12 inches, which is 1.79 inches below normal. Snowfall totaled 15.9 inches, with at least 1 inch of snow reported on two days. The heaviest snowfall was 8.0 inches, reported on November 27. The outlook for December from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation. Normal highs for Sisters fall from 41.0 degrees at the start of December to 39.0 degrees at the end of December. Normal lows fall from 23.0 degrees to 22.0 degrees. The 30-year normal precipitation is 1.97 inches. The National Weather Service is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

‘Salty’ artwork suggests beauty and connection By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

Gallery. Museum. Public park. Those are the places we expect to find art. Malia Jensen’s “Nearer Nature: Worth Your Salt” defies expectation and brings art down to earth, among the people — and animals, too. Through the end of December, the project is on display at a feed store in Redmond and a bar in Maupin, among other locations. The video installations form one component of an unusual, clever, and downright funny piece. The first step involved sculpting parts of the human body, and objects representing body parts. Jensen is a gifted sculptor who roams from medium to medium: bronze, wood, clay, polyurethane resin. For “Nearer Nature,” she carved sculptures out of white, highdensity salt licks, the kind left in pastures for cattle to nuzzle. The resulting sculptures were placed in wild or rural locations dotted throughout the state, including land near Redmond. Motion-sensitive field cameras filmed animals drawn to the salt licks: deer, coyotes, birds, elk. Jensen and volunteer editors selected footage to create a six-hour video. “Watching the video — it’s meditative, contemplative,” she said. “It’s just basic animals. It’s not charismatic mega-fauna doing battle, its not National Geographic spectacular. It’s just animals,

daily life, walking through the woods. In a way, it’s not that special.” Viewing nature and animals on the screen, however, feels special in the right context. From the hypnotic charm of television to the addictive lure of smartphones, screens are often used to manipulate people for financial or political gain. Instead, Jensen harnessed their power to suggest beauty and connection. “I see this project as a kindness, an open-hearted pursuit of something beautiful,” she said. “If there is an evolutionary function to beauty, it’s to remind us to take care of that which is not yet broken.” (See related story page 9.) Jensen’s family moved to the Willamette Valley from the Midwest when she was four years old. Her parents were “working-class Minnesota, very stalwart,” and her grandfather had a big farm. In Willemina, a small town on the southern edge of Yamhill County whose tagline reads “Timber Town USA,” the family bought 15 acres. “My dad was a potter, Mom taught grade school.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Malia Jensen carved sculptures out of salt and installed them in wild and rural locations, including Central Oregon. that movie,” Jensen remembered. “I drove a crummy old Datsun. I remember waking up in the cold, my paint would be frozen in the morning. Painting a lot of fake rocks and outhouses and signage. Bonding with the Smith

Rock area.” She sees the project as illuminating the pathways that animals make through the landscape, partly to “underscore the parallel map See ARTWORK on page 39

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We had a classic ’70s backto-the-land craftsperson life,” she said. “We had a big garden.” After her parents divorced, Jensen and her brother moved to Portland with their mother. Jensen was 12 years old. “I think of the country, my childhood in Willemina, as the Eden that I lost,” she said. She has lived in Portland much of her adult life, with ample time in New York City as a working artist. “There’s an urge in me to get back to that wild land,” she explained, “and a longing for the landscape that drives me.” The project reconnected Jensen to country life, if only temporarily. Driving to the Redmond area, she was reminded of her days as a scenic painter on the set of the Gus Van Sant film “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” years ago. It was hard work, but driving through the landscape bookended each difficult day with beauty. “I stayed in a friend’s cabin in Tumalo for a month and a half while I was working on

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Urban and rural Oregonians share basic needs By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

“I wanted to get to know the state.” That was one of Malia Jensen’s motivations when she first proposed her art project “Nearer Nature,” now on view in Central Oregon (see story, page 8). The Portland-based artist was inspired by “driving around the state, meeting people, having conversations,” as she explored Oregon in search of locations to record and install her new video work. It gave her “an excuse to go into some place and have a conversation. I could say, ‘Hey I’m working on this project, can I share it with you? Would you be interested in hosting this in your grocery shop or your bar?’ And from there I could meet their friends, too. “I haven’t been able to be as responsible to those relationships as I would like,” she added. “I would like to sit in each one of these towns for weeks and just hang out. I want to live in all of these places. I’m in love with this state.” Jensen’s work is often playful and unexpected, with a warm, humorous feel. These days, she is concerned that “we’ve so polluted our relationships, of all kinds, that we’re losing the ability to be cooperative, to work together

to sustain ourselves, our lives, our environment.” Connection to land, nature, animals, and each other appears to be dissolving. People’s attention spans are stretched so thin they don’t take time to understand the nuances of a conversation; instead, they tend toward extremes. Yet, Jensen believes that separations such as the urbanrural divide aren’t necessarily as wide as people assume. “I think that we actually have a lot more in common than we’re allowed to recognize,” Jensen said. “When everything is stripped away, we share basic needs.” Jenson laughed, saying, “The Internet is ruining everything.” Jensen noted that there are “strangely few opportunities to have random conversations nowadays.” In the past, if someone was lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood, they had to ask for help. “Now we don’t do that,” she said. “Now we look at our phones.” Though some letters to the editor in small-town newspapers might suggest otherwise, Jensen believes “rural communities are ahead of the game, never losing touch with the fact that they need each other.” City people find it harder to meet and converse with

each other. “Even the word ‘stranger’ seems so heavy these days, dark,” Jensen said. “It almost sounds like ‘intruder’ now.” Her artwork — installed in everyday locations including a health clinic in the Wallowas, a bar in Maupin, and a feed store in Redmond — offers a conversation starter for artist and viewer alike. The art functions as “something to randomize daily life. It’s like if a hot-air balloon landed in your front yard — it’s something different.” Jensen believes there are strong reasons for people not getting along with each other. In the past, “there was a societal need for civility and cooperation because we needed each other. If my house catches on fire, my car breaks down, my cows get out — someone’s gonna have to help me.” Things work out, she said, “if I know my neighbors, I know the people around me, and I’ve been conditioned to help people.” Today, people are not “strengthening that muscle of cooperation

because we don’t think we need it anymore. We just stick our face in our phones. And our phones won’t save us.” Jensen also believes that many urbanites, whose experience of animals is typically limited to a cat or dog, don’t understand what it means to live, hunt, or raise animals on the land. “The complexities of living with animals, raising animals, hunting animals — however you feel about that use of animals, farmers and ranchers and hunters are in touch with a certain reality that most city people are ignorant of,” she said. Teaching at a Portland-area college recently, she encountered a student who was horrified by the idea of hunting but knew little about it. Jensen said, “If you’re hunting, you’re on the land, you’re interested with and engaged with the stewardship of that land. Most hunters I know have a very strong code of ethics, and identify themselves as environmentalists.” Animals and land are the most obvious subjects of

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“Nearer Nature.” More subtle is Jensen’s effort to engage people with each other, whether serious discussion or casual chitchat while picking up a few bales of alfalfa. “We have to make space for conversation about the different ways we use the land, why we want to preserve vast swaths of public lands. Those relationships are essential,” she said. How can people best try to reach across the gaps that have widened between Americans? “I think that we all need to stop assuming that we know who each other is,” said Jensen. “And allow for not knowing.”

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Tuba player selected to play Down Under to be part of the summer program in Australia. Ogan is the principal tubist of the two selected. To be considered for PHEB, Ogan had to submit recorded auditions a couple of months in advance of the WIBC and then was also judged during the clinic itself. “I feel really lucky to be picked from among a load of really amazing tubists,” he said. “It’s an amazing opportunity, not only to be recognized for the amount of work you have put into your instrument, but to then get to travel and meet all these other young musicians,” he said. Sisters HS/MS Band Director Tyler Cranor said, “I just think it’s cool and amazing for Jack to be selected,” he said. “It’s a testament to his dedication for sure, and we want to support him in any way we can.” PHEB is based in Brisbane, Australia, at Griffith University. The program is in its 14th year and will include nearly 300 young musicians in total among four ensembles. As a sort of “exchange” program, Australian students come to the WIBC each year in Seattle as well, so Ogan has

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Sisters High School junior Jack Ogan has dedicated hours to his musical craft as a tuba player, resulting in many opportunities, including honor band selection. Recently his stock rose further when he was invited to travel to Australia in the summer of 2020 for the Pacific Honours Ensemble Program (PHEB). Ogan, who has been involved in the Sisters School District music program since middle school, is the band president. Ogan attended the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC), along with four other Sisters High School band students, November 22-25 in Seattle, where he got to work under world-class conductors and composers, including Robert W. Smith. “I got to play a piece written by Robert W. Smith that he himself conducted,” said Ogan. “Dr. Suzanne Collins, the former conductor for the U.S. Air Force Band, which is incredibly prestigious, also worked with us.” PHEB selects two musicians per instrument from among the WIBC attendees

already gotten acquainted with some of the Aussie musicians. As far as his travel itinerary is concerned, Ogan will depart from Portland on September 25, spend four days on an educational/sightseeing component in Sydney and Brisbane and conclude October 1-4 with the Ensemble program itself before returning home October 5. The overall cost for Ogan to attend comes to around $4,000, so he has begun brainstorming fundraising ideas, including perhaps helping produce some sort of musical showcase that will help the entire band program as well as his own endeavors. In the meantime, contributions can be made to the Sisters High School Band program and tagged for “Jack Ogan PHEB”.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG

Jack Ogan and his trusty tuba plan to travel to Australia next fall.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Sisters Outlaws wrestling team competes in invitational Outlaws wrestlers competed at the Perry Burlison Invitational at Cascade High School last weekend, in a oneday tournament that also featured JV and girls divisions. “I really enjoy starting the season off with tough competition,” said Head Coach John Downs. “This type of tournament helps the team realize at what level they need to train at to compete. Come Monday’s practice, I am sure the whole team will be wanting to try harder and be better partners for each other. I am always impressed how they come back and don’t have a disappointed attitude about their performance, but instead want to work even harder and accept the harder drills and training.” Cascade High had invited 29 teams to join in the three tournaments. The Outlaws took 11 wrestlers to the tournament; six wrestled varsity, five wrestled JV and one girl competed in the girls tournament. Crescent Valley ran away with the varsity tournament with 298.5 points, and Crook County was not even a close second with 191.0 points. Rounding out the top five was Sweet Home with 155.5, Scappoose with 100.00 and Central High with 92.0. Five of the six Outlaws varsity wrestlers were in a higher weight classes than they wanted to compete in. Downs explained: “At the beginning of every wrestling season, most

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wrestlers start in a higher weight class than they plan to compete in because they need to follow their monitored weight loss plan (monitored by Oregon School Activities Association, OSAA). If a wrestler loses more weight than allowed in a week, then the coach must send a message to OSAA explaining why this happened.” Sophomore varsity wrestler Wyatt Maffey had it the toughest. He was in a higher weight of 138 and competed in two difficult matches. “I was very impressed on how hard he fought throughout his matches,” Downs said. “Wyatt went almost all three rounds in both matches but eventually lost, first versus a junior from Elmira and then against a Senior from North Marion. Junior Chaz Patterson, at 145 pounds, did quite well in his two matches. “He is the one on the team that does not quit,” Downs said. “He lost both tough matches, but went all three rounds with each opponent without getting pinned, fighting off his back multiple times.” Senior Anthony Randoph wrestled at 152, weighing only 146. “I am always impressed with Anthony,” Downs said. “He competed in three matches, winning his second match and fighting through his other two but eventually losing to his larger opponents.”

Senior Dillon King was at the 170-pound weight class and should have been at 160, but he weighed in at 160.6 at the beginning of the season. “The 10-pound difference is tough to adjust to and Dillon had to work very hard in his two matches,” Downs reported. “Losing both matches only helped Dillon conclude that he needs to concentrate and stay down at 160 pounds. Senior Ethan Martin was able to participate in his weight class of 195 as he did last year, and he had three exciting matches. He went two rounds in both of his losses and was able to pin his other opponent in the third round. In the 285 weight class Senior Damien King, who weighs 260, competed well. “Damien does look much better than last year already and it definitely showed against his larger opponents,” Downs said. “Damien’s

second match was versus a very large wrestler who had to be six-feet-plus and pushing the 285-pound limit. Damien was able to go two rounds and even had his opponent on his back. Damien eventually lost this match but showed me and hopefully himself that no matter the size of his opponents, he should not be intimidated and just do his best.” There were four Outlaws that wrestled in the JV tournament. At 145 pounds, junior Landon Nothiger wrestled in three matches earning a fifthplace with a pin in the placing rounds. At 170, sophomore Jared Miller tied with a seventh-place finish. At 285, sophomore Jacob Washington earned a fifth-place finish with a pin and at 220, freshman Henry Rard had a great JV tournament winning all three of his matches with pins and earning a first-place medal. It was also a great day for the only girl on the team, Tyler

“Daisy” Patterson. She is a second-year wrestling sophomore for the Outlaws and wrestles at 125 pounds, but her weight-loss plan placed her in the 130-pound weight class in the girls tournament. Patterson was able to fight her way to the championship finals among 13 wrestlers. Her first match she won by fall in just under two minutes, and then her second match was a fight. She wrestled against a girl that had just beat the No. 2-seeded girl, and in the end Patterson won 9 -7. With this win she entered the championship match versus Jessy Hart of Sweet Home. Hart was seeded first and was a tough opponent. Hart was able to get the upper hand on her and pinned her in the first round. With Patterson’s efforts this weekend she was able, as a team of one, to earn the Sisters girls team a 19th-place finish out of 29 girls teams that attended.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

A N N O U N C E M E N T S SPRD Board Meeting Changes

Sisters Park & Recreation District Board Meetings for the month of December will not be held on their normal schedule on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Instead, the meetings will be held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. The next board meeting will occur on Tuesday, December 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call 541-549-2091 for info.

Dear Santa

Letters to Santa can be dropped off at the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, 291 E. Main Ave. across the street from First Interstate Bank. Please make sure you have a return address on them so Santa will know where to answer. Deadline is December 19 in order to receive a letter back. Call 541-549-0251 for more information.

Presidential Debate Watch Party

Join Indivisible Sisters & Indivisible Redmond to watch the sixth Democratic presidential debate. Popcorn & politics! Thursday, December 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sisters Public Library, 110 North Cedar St. Info: 541-400-8312.

SHS Jazz Choir Holiday Showcase

The Sisters High School Jazz choir hosts the 5th Annual Holiday Showcase on Friday, December 13 at 7 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium. This variety show will feature school groups and performers from across Central Oregon. There is a $5 Suggested donation to benefit the Jazz Choir. For more info call 541-549-4045 ext. 5556.

Let’s Talk, Sisters!

Citizens4Community invites all area residents to the monthly Let’s Talk, Sisters! discussion series — a forum where people learn about local topics of interest and exchange diverse viewpoints in a lively but respectful setting. A moderator keeps talks focused; and attendees nominate future discussion topics. Talks start at 5:30 p.m. every third Monday at Paulina Springs Books. Free, but seats are limited and RSVPs requested. Read more and RSVP at Citizens4Community.com/ events or call 541-815-2088.

Support for Caregivers

A free support group for those who provide care in any capacity meets at The Lodge in Sisters at 10:30 a.m. the third Tuesday of each month. Info: 541-771-3258.

THIS WEEK’S

Highlights

Friday, December 13 Live from Bethlehem 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church Friday, December 13 SHS Jazz Choir Showcase 7 p.m. at Sisters High School Saturday, December 14 One Winter’s Night 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at SHS Sunday, December 15 Young Life Dessert 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church Monday, December 16 Go Fish Meeting 7 p.m. at Sisters Community Church Tuesday, December 17 Bell Choir & Renaissance Concert 6 p.m. at the Lodge in Sisters Thursday, December 19 Presidential Debate Watch Party 5 to 8 p.m. at Sisters Library

Young Life Dessert Fundraiser

Sisters Young Life invites you to come to Sisters Community Church on Sunday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. to hear about and celebrate the events of the past year. Enjoy desserts, coffee, and tea donated by local businesses and hear how you might be able to get involved. If you would like to attend please contact Brooke Frutos by email brooke@sisters. younglife.org or call 541-904-0588.

“One Winter’s Night” Dance Performance

The Sisters Dance Academy is proud to present their dance performance, “One Winter’s Night” featuring 200 dancers ages 3 to 18 showcasing numerous styles from ballet to hip hop. There will be two performances on Saturday, December 14, a 1 p.m. matinee and a 6:30 p.m. evening performance at the Sisters High School. Tickets are reserved seats only and are $12 for adults and $7 for children ages 3-12. Two years and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.danceinsisters.com.

Live From Bethlehem

Sisters Christian Academy students will present their annual Christmas musical on Friday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sisters Community Church auditorium. For more information, call 541-549-4133.

Call to Artists for Library Annual Art Exhibit

The Sisters Library Annual Art Exhibit is happening January 8 through February 28, 2020. All Sisters Country artists who want to participate are invited to submit work on Saturday, January 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. Invitations may be downloaded from the website sistersfol.com, or are available at the library’s information desk. People’s Choice Awards will be announced at the Reception on Friday, January 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, please call Zeta at 541-549-6157.

Bell Choir & Renaissance Sisters Concerts

Sisters High Desert Bell Choir, Renaissance Sisters recorder ensemble and vocalist Marilyn Anthony will present a series of free concerts on Tuesday, December 17 at 6 p.m. at the Lodge in Sisters; Saturday, December 21 at 1 p.m. at Sisters Library; and Saturday, December 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Black Butte Ranch. Call Lola at 541-390-4615 for more information.

Christmas Concert

Renaissance Sisters recorder ensemble, joined by vocalist Marilyn Anthony, will present a Christmas concert on Monday, December 23 at 6 p.m. at the Lodge in Sisters. Come enjoy this opportunity to hear beautiful Renaissance, contemporary and even some jazzy seasonal songs as well as many sing-along carols! For info call Lola at 541-390-4615.

See’s Candy Sales

The Kiwanis Club of Sisters will be holding their annual See’s Candy Sales fundraiser in a trailer in the Ray’s Food Place parking lot ending on Tuesday, December 24 (or sooner if all the candy is sold). Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Stop in and purchase some of the best chocolate and support Kiwanis in their efforts to provide scholarships and career-change assistance as well as a number of other service projects. Every penny of profit goes back to the community. Info: 541-588-6255.

SISTERS-AREA CHURCHES Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA) 386 N. Fir Street • 541-549-5831 10 a.m. Sunday Worship shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com Sisters Community Church (Nondenominational) 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201 10 a.m. Sunday Worship (with signing) sisterschurch.com | info@sisterschurch.com St. Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church 123 Trinity Way • 541-549-9391 5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass 9 a.m. Sunday Mass 8 a.m. Monday-Friday Mass Calvary Chapel (Nondenominational) 484 W. Washington St., Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288 10 a.m. Sunday Worship The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration 68825 Brooks Camp Road • 541-549-7087 8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship (Sunday school, childcare) 10:15 a.m. Episcopal Sunday Worship (Sunday school, childcare)

Chapel in the Pines Camp Sherman • 541-549-9971 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Sisters Church of the Nazarene 67130 Harrington Loop Road • 541-389-8960 | sistersnaz.org 10:45 a.m. Sunday Worship | 2sistersnaz@gmail.com Westside Sisters 442 Trinity Way • 541-549-4184 | westsidesisters.org 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday Worship 6 p.m. Worship the 3rd Tuesday of each month Vast Church (Nondenominational) 1700 W. McKinney Butte (Sisters High School) • 541-719-0587 9:37 a.m. Sunday Worship | vastchurch.com Seventh-Day Adventist Church 386 N. Fir Street • 541-595-6770, 541-306-8303 11 a.m. Saturday Worship The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 452 Trinity Way • Branch President, 541-420-5670; 10 a.m. Sunday Sacrament Meeting Baha’i Faith Meetings Devotional Gatherings, Study Classes and Discussion Groups. Call for location and times • 541-549-6586

Go Fish Meeting

The Go Fish group will meet Monday, December 16 at 7 p.m. at Sisters Community Church. The speaker will be Gary Lewis and the subject will be “Fishing Central Oregon’s Little Known Waters.” He is an award-winning author, TV host, speaker and photographer. He is also a weekly contributor to the Bend Bulletin. For information contact Gary Kutz at 541-771-2211.

Winter Solstice at the Labyrinth

All are invited to celebrate Winter Solstice with silent meditation and labyrinth walk at 4:30 pm on Saturday, December 21. Bring a flashlight. Optional: battery candle, a warm drink to sip around the fire pit afterward. Families with young kids: email in advance to arrange a special, non-silent walk. Sisters Community Labyrinth is located in East Portal at the corner of Hwy 242 and W. Hood Ave. Restrooms will be closed; parking lot will be open. Info: neworegonarts@gmail. com, neworegon.org/events, 503997-0301.

Christmas Giving Tree

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance is sponsoring a Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree to provide gifts to families in need. Tags with items requested by the families are hung on trees at Ray’s, Sisters Fire Hall, Black Butte Ranch Post Office and Black Butte Ranch Police Department. New, unwrapped gifts should be delivered to Sisters Fire Hall by Wednesday, December 18 at noon. For information contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District at 541-549-0771.

Tai Chi/Balance Sessions

Free Tai Chi/Balance Classes based on the CDC “Steadi” Program to reduce injuries and falls in our community are being sponsored by Sisters Drug. Taught by Shannon Rackowski every a ac Thursday from 11-11:30 a.m. (except holidays) at the SPRD Fitness Room next to Sisters High School. Open to all ages. For info: 541-549-6221.

Bill McDonald Memorial Service A memorial service for Bill will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 12 at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church

Christmas Dinner

On Christmas Day, the SistersCamp Sherman RFPD and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Association invites the public to the Annual Sisters Community Christmas Dinner to be held Christmas day at 1 p.m. in the Sisters Fire Station Community Hall located at 301 S. Elm St. Everyone in the community is welcome and no reservation is required. For more info contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD at 541-549-0771.

Career Funds Available

Applications are available for the Sisters Kiwanis Career Opportunity Fund to help adult residents of Sisters establish an occupational path. Pick up forms at the Kiwanis House, corner of Oak and Main, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, and during regular hours from the Sisters Habitat for Humanity office. For more info, please call 541-410-2870.

Healthy Living Information for Seniors Seniors and caregivers are invited to drop by the SAGE room at SPRD on the second Monday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. to meet local service providers and gather free information about aging in place from foot care to end-of-life planning. Call 541-5880081 for information.

PET OF THE WEEK Humane Society of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

Sisters Library coming events

Family Fun Story Time

Family Fun Story Time for kids ages birth through 5 takes place at the Sisters Library on Thursday, December 12 from 10:30 to 11 a.m., with songs, rhymes and crafts, all designed to grow young readers. Caregivers must attend. Info: 541-617-7078.

Gingerbread Construction

Build with graham crackers and win prizes for height and creativity! Thursday, December 12 at 4 p.m. at Sisters Library. For ages 12 to 17, no registration required. Info: 541-617-7078.

Winter Wonderland

Snowy stories, songs, crafts, and experiments for ages 0-11 at Sisters Library on Saturday, December 14 at 10 a.m. No registration is required. Call 541617-7078 for information.

Meet PENNY, an adorable one-and-a-half-year-old tabby cat who is ready to find her forever family! Penny is a very sweet and affectionate kitty who loves a good snuggle and head scratch! This confident and friendly feline prefers the company of humans and would do best if she is the only cat in the home. If you are looking for a sweet and friendly cat then Penny is the kitty for you!

SPONSORED BY

Francois’ Workshop 541-549-0605

541-815-0624

POLICY: Business items do not run on this page. Nonprofits, schools, churches, birth, engagement, wedding and anniversary notices may run at no charge. All submissions are subject to editing and run only as space allows. Email lisa@nuggetnews.com or drop off at 442 E. Main Ave. Your text must include a “for more information” phone number. Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays.

In the

PINES By T. Lee Brown

Assuming the worst The year was 2001. I had been immersed in an online community — a predecessor to social media — for nearly 10 years. One of the wittiest women there came into my real-life orbit. Let’s call her Rose. People argued about politics and media online, of course, but many delved into our personal stories. We shared expertise and resources. When someone got sick or their house burned down, we put on virtual barnraisings to help out. The conversations bubbled with buoyant verbal hijinks, sometimes with a snarky, sarcastic bent — especially in our Generation X crowd. Rose was a master of smart zingers and tart rejoinders. Having grown up in a sharptongued Irish-American family, I thought it was a hoot. As Rose and I became closer friends, she revealed how much these online conversations hurt her. I was astonished. When someone got in an amusing dig at me, I usually laughed and moved right along. It hadn’t occurred to me that behind their banter might lurk genuine ill-will. My own remarks were meant to be lighthearted, not cutting. My friend, though, had come to feel insulted by many posts. Others she viewed as people crowing about how

great their lives were, to impress and depress everyone else. For example, some in our crowd were getting married, having kids, buying homes. People like me and Rose still lived in rentals, posting about boyfriends instead of husbands, or about our lives as single women going out to shows. When a married woman posted every day about the inconveniences of her extensive home remodel, I viewed it as sharing about her life. Rose felt the home remodeler was showing off, well aware that others would envy her money, house, and family. Seen through Rose’s negative lens, these online conversations cast long shadows. Posts I would normally read as chit-chatty check-ins now reeked of one-upmanship. Witty or silly posts of high snarkitude — including my own — could be read as heartless or deliberately mean. I realized that my joy in the patter and arguments arose not just from my love of words, but from my assumption that folks were bringing a big heart to the proceedings. Some were not, turns out, but you could never be sure based solely on a few disembodied words. Online communication brought out people’s negativity and paranoia.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon The current climate of sociopolitical discussion brought this story to mind. There’s a disturbing trend to assume the worst of anyone who speaks their mind or puts up a sign in their front yard. Commentators make much of alleged “virtue signaling.” Oxford’s Lexico Internet dictionary defines this as “the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one’s good character or the moral correctness of one’s position on a particular issue.” An editorial in The Nugget recently scolded citizens for exercising “performative wokeness.” It called into question the sincerity of Bend activists who objected to a culturally insensitive billboard. The problem with both terms? Rarely does the commentator flinging them around know what’s genuinely going on in the minds and hearts of those they’re insulting. How could they? Did they invite them out for a cup of coffee? Sit down and

Entertainment & Events DEC

11 WED

DEC

13 FRI

See IN THE PINES on page 39 DEC

14 SAT

Never Come Down

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DEC

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Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.

Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting DEC 5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. 12 THUR Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.

Sat., Dec. 21 • 8 p.m.

HAPPY HOUR MON-FRI 4-7pm

Paulina Springs Books Author Presentation with Joshua Savage 6:30 p.m. The author will present from his book, “100 Things To Do in Bend, Oregon Before You Die.” For more info call 541-549-0866 or go to paulinasprings.com. Fika Sisters Coffeehouse St. Lucia’s Day 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Celebrate all day with Swedish Prinsesstårta Cake. Kindergartner concert at 12:15 p.m. More info: 541-588-0311. 142 E. Main Ave. Three Sisters Lions Club Holiday Faire 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handmade items from local vendors in this 9th annual fundraising event! Free admission, every day through Dec. 21. For info email dttowing6811@yahoo.com. Jill Neal Gallery Christmas Blowout Sale! 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Amazing discount sale prices, new products, unique gifts, refreshments served all day. Fika Sisters Coffeehouse Game Night until 8 p.m. Bring your own games & friends or find them there! Call 541-5880311 for more information. Hardtails Bar & Grill KJ Annie Rawkstar Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every Friday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. Cork Cellars Live Music with Dry Canyon Trio 6:30-8:30 p.m. No cover! For information call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. Alpaca Country Estates Jolly Good Fun Holiday Open House 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alpaca parade, story time, baby alpacas, gift shopping and more For info call 541-504-4226. 142 E. Main Ave. Three Sisters Lions Club Holiday Faire 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Handmade items from local vendors in this 9th annual fundraising event! Free admission. Every day through Dec. 21. For info email dttowing6811@yahoo.com. Hardtails Bar & Grill KJ Annie Rawkstar Karaoke Night! 9 p.m. Every Saturday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. FivePine Conference Center Breakfast with Santa 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Breakfast buffet, pictures with Santa. $17 adults, $12 ages 3-12. Call 541-549-5900 or go to fivepinelodge.com for reservations. 142 E. Main Ave. Three Sisters Lions Club Holiday Faire 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Handmade items from local vendors in this 9th annual fundraising event! Free admission. Every day through Dec. 21. For info email dttowing6811@yahoo.com.

DEC

16 MON

Fika Sisters Coffeehouse Christmas Wrap & Santa Claus 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Learn the art of wrapping and get a visit from Santa Claus. More info: 541-588-0311.

DEC

Sisters Saloon Trivia Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at 6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.

17 TUES DEC

18 WED

Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.

Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting DEC 5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. 19 THUR Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.

Everybody’s making time to see Jeff this holiday! Jeff, Theresa, Ann, Jamie, Shiela, Terri, Shanntyl

152 E. Main • 541-549-8771

DEC

20 FRI

142 E. Main Ave. Three Sisters Lions Club Holiday Faire 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handmade items from local vendors in this 9th annual fundraising event! Free admission, every day through Dec. 21. For info email dttowing6811@yahoo.com. Fika Sisters Coffeehouse Game Night until 8 p.m. Bring your own games & friends or find them there! Call 541-5880311 for more information. Events Calendar listings are free to advertisers. Submit items by 5 p.m. Fridays to lisa@nuggetnews.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Slash burning considered “most economical” for removal By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

With the rise of global temperatures and concern about climate change, the common forestry practice of slash burning is questioned by some citizens and organizations. Slash consists of branches and other debris left behind after a logging or clearing operation. “The r eality is, we live in the woods,” U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Fire Management Officer James Osbourne told The Nugget. “We’re in a fire-adapted ecosystem.” For millennia, fire burned through what is now Deschutes National Forest in a natural cycle of 3–10 years. Caused by lightning or set by Native Americans, cyclical fires cleared out dead wood and brush. Plant material that might otherwise fuel bigger, hotter fires was not allowed to accumulate. While a hotter fire often sterilizes soil, a less intense fire can restore soil with nutrients and minerals, boosting microbial life in the forest floor. Fire often clears out invasive weeds, insects, and disease plaguing native trees. Since European settlement, fire has often been suppressed by people intent on keeping their buildings, trees, and landholdings intact. Prescribed burns today help mimic the old cycle. “We have different treatment methods,” Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid said of the Forest Service’s contemporary efforts to reduce vegetation. Selective logging is one method. Private timber companies contract with USFS to harvest trees, creating landing piles of leftover slash. Burning the piles is “most economical,” according to Reid. “It’s a good value to taxpayers.” “It’s a great tool when it’s

Everybody’s making time to see Jeff this holiday! Jeff, Theresa, Ann, Jamie, Shiela, Terri, Shanntyl

152 E. Main • 541-549-8771

implemented properly,” said David Vitelle, owner/operator of Eagle Creek Fire (formerly Bear Mountain Fire). “In my opinion, in areas that are heavily populated and rely on tourists, known for good air quality and aesthetic location, a person has to be extra-vigilant when they’re burning large amounts of slash material and slash residue,” Vitelle said. Osbourne noted that burning debris is “not an exact science. We have the underburns in the spring and fall, the broadcast burns… those emit a lot more smoke” than slash piles. In a timber salvage area, “we provide a drying period of time so that we limit the smoldering phase of combustion.” “I’m not going to say there’s no smoke,” he said, but the active burning of a dry slash pile emits less smoke than the same material would emit if it were green (freshly cut). Slash-burning pollutants measured by Oregon Department of Forestry in a recent study include carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, particulate matter of various sizes including under 2.5 mm (PM2.5), black carbon, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs), filter-based metals, and volatile organic compounds. In Canada, the conservation group Wildsight has come out against the practice. “Creating a future where logging waste is not burned in piles will reduce health impacts to individuals, reduce carbon emissions and create new opportunities for our communities,” the organization wrote in a statement. With effort, slash can be used for other purposes. Reid

said contracts can be negotiated for that, “if there’s a market.” Slash can be chipped or ground for hog fuel, which is used in landscaping for mulch, mud control, and to create soft pathways. Some equine facilities prefer it for arenas, so long as black walnut and yew are kept out of the mixture (they can be harmful to horses). Hog fuel is also used to create biomass fuel, often in the form of pellets. Biomass has been used to power equipment such as boilers and dryers at industrial forestry facilities; pellet stoves are common in Sisters Country homes. Some power plants also run on biomass, creating electricity. Biomass energy is the subject of controversy. Some consider it an environmentally sustainable, renewable energy source. Others, including Greenpeace, have argued against using biomass on an industrial scale for heating and generating electricity, concluding that the dangers outweigh the potential benefits. The state of the biomass market determines whether a particular harvesting effort will produce a profit compared

PHOTO BY TL BROWN

A landing pile near Crossroads photographed shortly after logging in May of 2018. It was burned last weekend along with many other slash piles. to simply burning the debris in place. Government incentives such as tax credits have increased market demand in the past. Extracting slash from the forest can be costly. “The reality of making that happen isn’t necessarily supercost-effective over time,” said Osbourne. Beyond the immediate economic outcome, converting slash to biomass has environmental impacts. Material must be handled, hauled, and processed, often using equipment and vehicles that use diesel. Greenpeace prefers that the biomass be used locally. Otherwise, it must be shipped

to its customer, rarely a carbon-neutral endeavor. Slash could also be used directly as firewood. However, Osbourne said that if people pick pieces of wood out of slash piles, the piles “don’t burn so well. Where it’s not in a proper pile, it makes more smoke emissions, and makes it harder for the pile to consume.” All burn piles on USFS land must meet specifications determined by government agencies. “That spec is all for combustion — to eliminate smoke emissions and have the pile burn completely,” according to Osbourne.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

BURNING: Piles are remnants from logging projects in forest Continued from page 1

DEQ Air Quality Advisory for stagnant air in your area. It is expected to remain closed until 12/07/19.” The Forest Service’s “front liner” answering the phone heard from Crossroads residents, according to Osbourne. “Everybody was like, ‘You guys can burn, why can’t we burn?’” Osbourne explained that “Federal government and forest service do not fall under the SCSFD [Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department] guidance. We coordinate with the Oregon DEQ, and we coordinate with Oregon’s Department of Forestry Smoke Management.” The Forest Service’s prescribed underburns go through June, he added; the general public at that point can’t burn. In the wake of the Milli Fire, private timber companies conducted cutting and whole-tree yarding under contract with USFS in the spring of 2018. The slash piles west of town, including those in the IO stewardship near Crossroads, were created by branches and other debris left over from logging operations. “ We ’ v e b e e n w o r k ing the Milli slash piles and

stewardship slash piles…” said Osbourne. “We’ve been trying to tackle those larger piles due to the snow, while we still have access.” Homeowners were concerned about the effects of the burning “on the air quality in the community and the proximity of the fire to Crossroads,” said Audra Bemis, association manager for Mile High Community Management, which is under contract with Crossroads Property Owners Association. By Saturday at 11 a.m., dense smog had begun to lift, but smoke still hung in the air. Air quality levels in that area of the forest are unknown. Levels in town dropped to the moderate “yellow zone,” with a PM2.5 count of 76. “We follow guidelines from ODF smoke management, the Oregon Department of Forestry, in debris burning,” confirmed Sisters District

Ranger Ian Reid. The Forest Service provides ODF with information on where, when, and how much they intend to burn, “how many tons per acre,” said Osbourne. ODF issues guidance “on what we can burn on a particular day, and they give us a smoke forecast, based on NOAA, telling us when we can have the fire,” Osbourne continued. NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Said Osbourne of slash burning, “It’s not always glamorous and the public doesn’t always appreciate it. The reality is that if we don’t remove it, it’s going to allow Crossroads to be evacuated again.” (See related story, page 14.) Crossroads was evacuated during Milli. There was an apparent incident of Christmas tree poaching during the burning.

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PHOTO BY TL BROWN

Slash piles burned throughout the forest west of Sisters last Friday. This one was close to Sage Court in the Crossroads subdivision. Near one burn pile, two voices could be heard hooting and hollering, followed by the distinctive whine of a chainsaw. Then new voices could be heard, arguing, and a pair of pedestrians left the area. A vehicle could be heard starting up. The celebrants left behind

two perfect Christmas trees lying in the snow: a newly cut spruce and a tall fir. The fir lay abandoned next to its own stump, fresh with sawdust; several of its lower limbs were hacked off. Reid said that he would notify a Forest Service law enforcement officer about the felled trees.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

SAFETY: Agencies have evolved along with Sisters Continued from page 1

protection as well as medical response and transport. In earlier times, Sisters had its own police department with a chief and patrol officers with cars and a motorcycle. Due to labor issues and financial concerns, the department was disbanded and the City began the practice of contracting with the DCSO for law enforcement services. The current three-year contract with DCSO is up for renewal next July, and City Manager Cory Misley has been involved with renegotiating the contract, which has been basically the same for the past 20 years. There is a certain percentage of the population that has expressed concern about perceived increasing levels of crime in the community and response times for officers. Some of those people have

Zam!

suggested that perhaps it is time for the City to consider re-establishing its own police force, no small chore. With the DCSO contract, Sisters has at its disposal not only patrol officers, but also the services of the Corrections and Detective divisions as well as Search and Rescue services, SWAT team response, patrol vehicles, and automotive maintenance and insurance, as well as personnel benefit packages. The current contract has increased in cost by 4 percent a year over the past two years and cost over $600,000 this year. To establish a City police force would require front-end expenditures, requiring the accumulation of funds prior to start-up for such things as vehicle purchases and equipment. Each month, the City Council receives a report of officer activity for the preceding month. At that time, councilors can ask questions of the reporting officer and See SAFETY on page 32

POW

Crafting for the holidays...

PHOTO BY ANNE FISCHER – WWW.ANNEFISCHERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM/

Local women gathered in the community hall of Sisters Fire Station on Saturday to make wreaths and centerpieces — some 175 festive pieces were made. Many repeat visitors from last year said the event has become an annual favorite for them. People of all skill levels enjoyed creating together and helping one another. Vast Church hosts the free event as a way of giving back to the Sisters community. Vast also extends an invitation to all for Christmas Eve in the Park (4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve at Fir Street Park).

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Beautifully branded gift boxes that are ready to ship to your loved ones! Includes a new custom beanie with leather patch, a Sisters Coffee branded Hydroflask, and our classic Black Butte Gold blend. The perfect gift for wintery and cozy days. Order online or email for large-quantity orders. Offering free shipping until 12/20!

sisterscoffee.com | customercare@sisterscoffee.com Just in time for the holidays, Chops Bistro has added a new specialty food and drink shop in its lounge. Come shop for wine, chocolates, nuts, gourmet cookies, charcuterie, cheeses, olive oils, balsamic more. Choose your favorites and create a gift mic vinegars and more basket extraordinaire anyone would love to receive!

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Holidays ’19 IN SISTERS

Santa Claus came to town... Santa and Mrs. Claus visited with children during a potluck and shopping excursion hosted by Sisters Habitat for Humanity. The annual event offers youngsters an opportunity to purchase gifts for their loved ones and family at the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Be Of Good Cheer, Sisters! A COMMUNITY-BUILDING ADVENT CALENDAR

24 ways to s

hare happiness, fo od, and services

with friends, famil y, or total stran gers

Take your children shopping to pick out a toy or book to donate for a child in need.

Visit your favorite Sisters business and tell them what it means to you to have them in town.

Write a thankyou note to a service provider (cashier, teacher bank teller, fuel attendant).

Offer a ride to the doctor’s office or grocery store for someone who needs help.

Visit FAN (Family Access Network) to see if there is a family in need that you can help.

Visit a Sisters business that you have had trouble with in the past and give them another chance.

Write a thank-you note to a family member.

Donate to our local food bank.

Hold a door open for someone today.

Adopt a pet to be part of your family.

Take one of your neighbors to dinner.

Take a treat to the fire hall or sheriff’s office.

Deliver a meal to an elderly neighbor or invite them to your holiday table.

Purchase a local restaurant gift card to give to a friend or acquaintance.

Make arrangements to be a youth mentor volunteer in the New Year.

Leave a thank-you note for the person who cleans your office.

While driving on Cascade stop to allow someone to turn left in front of you.

Schedule a regular time to read a book to someone who is sight-impaired.

Paint a rock with an encouraging word and leave it in a public place for someone to find.

Pay for the purchase of the meal or coffee for the person behind you in the drive-through.

Bake homemade cookies with your children and share them with a neighbor.

Purchase lastminute gifts at a local shop and wish the owner a Happy Holiday!

Smile and say “hi” to the people you see in town.

Call someone and tell them you appreciate them.

Holidays in Sisters

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

An A n iinvitation n to shop and enjoy e njoy beautiful pottery by llong-time ong Sisters potters

Mitch & Michelle Deaderick Hope to see you there!

High Desert Chorale sings for Christmas — By Jim Anderson, Correspondent —

Call C l ffor a private ll i t appointment or always showing at Hood Ave. Art

541.548.1704 1 17 17192 Jordan Rd., Sisters N Northwest corner of Cloverdale & Jordan Roads

The Holiday Book Catalog is Here!

Discounts On Everything In The Catalog! Books for all ages, games, toys, stuffed animals, cards and so much more.

252 W. HOOD AVE., SISTERS, OREGON | 541-549-0866

Holiday Happenings! — All New Specialty Gifts — Wine, chocolates, nuts and more

Gift baskets and gift certificates! Amazing food & specialty cocktails

Live Music Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays Book office & holiday parties now

CHOPS Bistro

541-549-6015 370 E. Cascade Ave. Lounge open daily 4:30 to close Dining room open daily 5 to close

I would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season! Come see se me in my new offi ffice in Sisters at Black Butte Realty Group.

PHOTO BY SUE ANDERSON

Connie Gunterman and her chorale of 50 voices, with the support of accompanist Donna Moyer, brought the Spirit of Christmas to life in Sisters Country in two performances last weekend. Leading the performance was Peggy Tehan and her ukulele group. Her 11 players sang old Christmas favorites and finished with “Mele Kalikimaka Hau’oli Makahiki Hou,” Hawaiian for Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. After that lively and melodic beginning, Gunterman and her chorale took center stage and started their part of the festivities with “Follow That Star,” where she invited everyone in the audience to sing along as their

hearts desired. “After all,” she said, “…we’re all here to sing in Christmas.” The chorale followed that opening number with what Gunterman called, “A raise the rafters spiritual,” “Christmas Glory Hallelujah,” a longtime favorite Christmas song with African American heritage with a bit of Caribbean flare to it, thanks in part to the chorale percussionist (and Sisters school teacher), Sara Miller. Those numbers were followed by other favorites, during which Gunterman invited all the children in the audience to come on up and join in. See CHORALE on page 38

Corrie Lake, Realtor

Whether you are buying, selling or simply exploring the possibilities of home ownership, you will want to work with a professional who can provide the most reliable market information and expert advice. Corrie Lake of Black Butte Realty Group focuses on Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman, Sisters, Eagle Crest and surrounding areas. Born and raised in Eugene, she is living her lifelong dream in Sisters. With experience and professionalism, she helps clients every step of the way with real estate needs and goals. “Growing up, vacations in Central Oregon were always a family favorite,” Corrie says. “I would often say, ‘As soon as I can, I’m moving here!’ Life brought me to Minnesota in 2013 where I established my career in real estate, and when the opportunity came to move back to Central Oregon, I couldn’t get here fast enough!” As part of her commitment to serving her community, she was a member of the Central Oregon Association of Realtors Executive Committee 2017-19.

Focusing on Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman, Sisters, Eagle Crest and surrounding areas.

Co Corrie Lake | 541-521-2392 corrielake.realtor@gmail.com cor

414 W. Washington Ave., Sisters, Oregon

HOLIDAY PROJECTS? Ladders Carpet Cleaners Storage Boxes Tables & Chairs 506 N. Pine St.

541-549-9631

Sales • Service • Rentals • Accessories • www.sistersrental.com

Sisters Rental When winter clamps down on Sisters Country, we know we can weather it with help from Sisters Rental. Need to get that vital snowblower repaired? They’ve got you covered. In fact, they’ve got ALL your outdoor power equipment needs covered, whether it’s new equipment or keeping your equipment running when you need it. Generators and timber heaters and stoves will get you through the trials of winter in comfort. Sisters Rental is also the perfect place to shop for gifts for the hardworking folks on your list who are always hard to buy for. From big gifts like tools and equipment to clothing from Prison Blues, you’ll find meaningful gifts here that will get good use for years after the holiday. And speaking of after the holiday — when you need storage space to get sorted out for the new year, Sisters Rental is the place to turn.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

— By Paige Bentley-Flannery, Community Librarian, Deschutes Public Library — memory. A selection of new favorite authors: “Such a Fun Age,” by Kiley Reid; “Searching for Sylvie Lee,” by Jean Kwok; “Learning to See,” by Elise Hooper; “Black Light: Stories,” by Kimberly King Parsons; and “The Night Swimmers,” by Peter Rock. When recommending books, I tend to list my favorite novels first, then share new books in genres for the avid thriller or mystery reader like “The Perfect Wife,” by JP Delaney; “Run Away,” by Harlan Coben; or “The Better Sister,” by Alafair Burke. Biographies are the perfect gift. Memoirs that I couldn’t put down included “Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA,” by Amaryllis Fox; and “Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love,” by Dani Shapiro. My quick-pick gifts and cozy winter reads include “We Met in December,” by Rosie Curtis — “Two people. One house. A year that changes everything”; and “Christmas Shopaholic,” by Sophie Kinsella — “A shopaholic adventure filled with holiday cheer and unexpected gifts.” Discover a new genre and treat yourself or a friend to a new adventure this holiday season. Ask your local librarian or explore the DPL catalog book lists online for more 2019 favorites.

Give an everlasting Gi l i gift that will become an heirloom piece.

Clocks • Watches • Repair Featuring renowned master clock maker Ed Beacham.

541-549-9971 300 W. Hood Ave., Sisters

Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Closed Sun. & Wed.

5th

Gypsy Wind Clothing

Whether you’re looking for a fabulous gift for someone special or just the right clothing accent for your holiday activities — something that is fun, unique and affordable — you owe yourself a visit to Gypsy Wind Clothing. There you’ll find lots of winter and holiday tops, jackets and shawls — many for $49 or less. Proprietor Janet Kronemeyer designs and creates her own line of clothing — with a specialty in creating “shawls that don’t fall off.” They’re the perfect accent for your holiday outfit — from jeans all the way up to your night-on-the-town duds. You’ll find many one-size-fits-all items, and sizes up to 3XL. Shopping at Gypsy Wind Clothing is about more than just finding wonderful clothes: it’s an experience. “I plan on having LOTS of fun in this store for the holidays,” Janet says.

Three Creeks Brewing Co.

Celebrating the season is easy at Three Creeks Brewing Co. From outstanding locally-brewed craft beers and ales to a fun night out with the family, Three Creeks Brewing Co. has the “festive” aspect of the holiday season nailed down. This year’s Rudolph’s Imperial Red Ale is available on tap, and they still have barrel-aged Rudolph available in bottles — the 2017 version barrel aged for one year in rye whiskey barrels, adding notes of plum, oak, vanilla and spice. Enjoy the annual Vertical Tasting event on Saturday, December 7, starting at 3 p.m. Call for reservations. Three Creeks Brewing Co. merchandise makes a delightful gift, and there are lots of options for men and women, from trucker hats to shirts to a great new hoodie. A gift card makes a perfect stocking stuffer. And when you need a break from holiday entertaining, take friends and family to the brew pub where festive is easy.

Deck the Halls, Mantle & Walls!

Page by Paige: Favorite 2019 books Are you thinking about moving to London, performing in a famous rock band or visiting family in Maine? If your answer is “Yes!” to any of the above, you’ve traveled into one of my favorite 2019 books. Every December, I review all of the books I’ve read; remembering my favorite characters, settings and sentences. These reads make great presents or are great for your own bookshelf. This year was an exceptional year for new books by my favorite authors, including “All This Could Be Yours,” by Jami Attenberg; “The Nickel Boys,” by Colson Whitehead; “City of Girls,” by Elizabeth Gilbert; “Nothing to See Here,” by Kevin Wilson; “The Testaments,” by Margaret Atwood; “The Giver of Stars,” by JoJo Moyes; “Daisy Jones & The Six,” by Taylor Jenkins Reid; and “The Dutch House,” by Ann Patchett. I love when favorite characters return! In “Olive, Again,” by Elizabeth Strout, readers return to familiar and “ordinary people” in Maine, including Olive Kitteridge! (Did you ever think she would be back?) I’ve read over 100 books this year and I’m still talking about “The Dutch House.” Patchett’s new book is filled with beautiful sentences, characters you’ll both love and hate, and a house and family that will stay in your

Holidays in Sisters

STOREWIDE

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Hours: Open Wed.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed Sun.-Tues.

Holidays in Sisters

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Essentials Skincare Holiday Specials! Buy 1 Facial, Get 2nd 1/2 off For you or a friend - with Rickie 541-363-5339

Complimentary Brow Grooming & Lip Treatment With All December Facials

Annual Open House

Sunday, December 8, 2 to 4 p.m. 492 E Main. Ave.| 541-480-1412 Open 7 days a week (Sun., by appt)

A holiday gift of relaxation & wellness for everyone year-round!

$500 OFF Any New Hot Tub Or Sauna!

American Whirlpool Hot Tubs or Oregon-made Finlandia Saunas. Expires 12/31/19. 541-410-1023 • 413 W. Hood Ave., Sisters

Monday-Friday., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday & Evenings by Appt.

Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor person in your life? We carry a large selection of clothing, footwear, hiking, back-packing and climbing supplies, snowshoes and more! Gift cards available for the hard-to-shop-for person!

103 E. Hood Ave. • 541-904-0778 | Open 10-5 every day

Stay healthy during the stress of the holiday season! We offer chiropractic, acupuncture and massage.

We can help keep you happy & feeling good!

Formerly Bigfoot Wellness

541-389-9183 | WWW.BLACKBUTTECHIROPRACTIC.COM 392 E. Main Ave., Sisters | In the Red Brick Building Mon.-Sat., Some Evening Appts. Available

Santa brings joy to Sisters Canines — By Jodi Schneider, Correspondent —

Even though Santa has been busy in Sisters this holiday season, he still had time to pull up his sleigh at Sisters Art Works last Saturday to put in a special appearance for Pet Photos with Santa that benefits Furry Friends Foundation. Loads of folks brought their beloved dogs inside Sisters Art Works building to get a special portrait with St. Nick. Local artist Kathy Deggendorfer hosted the annual Holiday Open House Celebration with fundraisers benefitting Furry Friends Foundation, The Three Sisters Historical Society, and Black Butte School (BBS). Pet photos with Santa was an overwhelming success this year. “It was a big success, we beat our record by one family,” said Furry Friends Foundation founder and director, Kiki Dolson. “I love helping the proud owners and their dogs as they line up for the photos. Some dogs are wearing reindeer ears, maybe a bright red scarf but almost all are excited to be there. A brave rabbit was there, too. Christine Cole from Sisters Feed and Supply brought one of her beautiful bunnies.” Dolson was extremely thankful to Sam Hernandez, from Central Bark, who plays

Santa for the nonprofit organization every year. “Sam has a special calmness in handling the dogs. Also, a thank you to Heather Jordan, our new photographer this year. Heather was a professional photographer for 15 years, now a Realtor for Cascade Sothebys, and she believes in giving back to her community “And of course I am thankful to all the volunteers, Paul, Gregg, Jeannie, Teresa, Marcy, Valerie, Sally and Kelly.” “Thanks to everyone who participated and helped raise the much-needed funds for our Holiday Pet Food Drive.” The drive is held in conjunction with Sisters Kiwanis and Sisters RFPD’s Spirit of Giving Food Share & Gifts program. Dolson added, “Our cash donations were down this year. We’ve lost our major pet-food donor, so are scrambling a bit to make up the difference by purchasing food.” Kathy Cooper, treasurer for The Three Sisters Historical Society, and Ronni Duff, volunteer coordinator, manned their table which showcased a variety of books, art prints and videos in the lobby of the Art Works building. Cooper told The Nugget, “This is Christmas

Hike-N-Peaks

Winter has arrived in Sisters Country. Make the most of it with a visit to Sisters’ own outdoor emporium, Hike-N-Peaks. It’s all about layers, and Hike-N-Peaks has you covered — literally — from base to shell. They also carry great soft-shell pants for snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing. Get your snowshoes here, and your trekking poles. There are gloves for every kind of winter outdoor activity. And the outdoorsy person on your list will be mighty happy if you shop for them at Hike-N-Peaks. Stop in for help from outdoor experts in finding excellent gifts such as packs, tents, and sleeping bags from top brands like Osprey, Big Agnes, and Marmot. Sharri Bertagna has stocked up on stocking-stuffers, too — jewelry, socks, calendars, stickers, flashlights, backpacking gear, Ruffwear, Yeti — something for every budget and for every person who looks longingly to the Sisters backcountry for the spirit of adventure!

Black Butte Chiropractic,

Acupuncture, Massage

The holiday season can be hard on the body — lots of stresses, lots of running around, hanging lights and decorations and slipping and sliding (and maybe falling) on the snow-slick surfaces of Sisters. Fortunately, Black Butte Chiropractic is here in downtown Sisters, standing ready to serve all of your needs with chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture and more. A new esthetician can provide facials. With a newly remodeled office space and whole new vibe, Black Butte Chiropractic is a great place to slow it down for a minute and take care of yourself during this hectic season. The holidays are so much better when we’re feeling good. The gift of health and well-being is perhaps the most precious gift you can give your loved ones. A gift card from Black Butte Chiropractic might just be the best thing someone special can find in his or her stocking this Christmas.

Holidays in Sisters

21 694-B SE Third St., Bend |Open Every Day 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

PHOTO BY HEATHER JORDAN

Santa traded his reindeer for other critters last Saturday, in the Furry Friends Foundation Pet Photos with Santa fundraising event. The Foundation helps families in need by funding a pet food bank and other services. shopping for people. We were delighted that Kathy and Kiki said that they wanted to include us this year. We are trying to get more exposure and we thought it was a nice way to fundraise for us.” The most popular book on the table – “That was Yesterday” by Tillie Wilson and Alice

Scott. The BBS wreath sale was going strong outside the building with Rachel Gonzales heading up the fundraiser again this year with Jane and Daniel Petke, board chair for BBS, also volunteering. See SANTA PAWS on page 28

Suzanne Carvlin, Realtor

The Holidays are the ideal time to reflect and gather together to be thankful for who we are, for the family we love, the friends we cherish, and the future that we will create together. I couldn’t be more thankful this year because I have amazing clients and friends like you. This is the ideal time to reflect and gather together to be thankful for who we are, for the family we love, the friends we cherish, and the future that we will create together. I am so grateful for all of you and I am so proud to be a part of the Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty Team. Our brokers are passionate about donating their time and money to many organizations that are making a difference in people’s lives every day. I donate a percentage of my earnings to Heart of Oregon Youth Build. Learn more about their work at https://heartoforegon.org/programs/youthbuild.html. Love and hugs to you all! Happy Holidays!

Mackenzie Creek Mercantile

Fall and winter are the seasons when Mackenzie Creek Mercantile really shines. This is your hometown headquarters for winter gear — from your base layer to your warm winter coat. It’s a great place to give the man in your life the gift of adventure, with clothing and gear for men that is both rugged and stylish. From snow boots to fleece, you’ll find what you need here to enjoy this beautiful but bone-chilling season in Sisters Country. And when your excursion out into our winter wonderland is done, build a fire and slip into Minnetonka slippers and moccasins, courtesy of Mackenzie Creek Mercantile. To outfit the young ones, there’s a new line of Lazy One kids wear — from snow suits and gloves to cozy and colorful PJs. And for the strong, independent lady in your life — Mackenzie Creek Mercantile features a beautiful line of concealed-carry purses.

We are filled to the brim with holiday gifts! Before you head to Bend and fight the crowds, come see what we have to offer! Denali blankets, candles, puzzles, toys and much more! And don’t forget to grab your libations here!

The Gallimaufry — 541-549-9841 —

Corner of Hwy. 20 & Elm St. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sisters’ local liquor store for 41 years, offering the largest selection in town.

Thank you to my clients past, present and future… …I am very grateful and I wish you all a wonderful holiday season! Suzanne Carvlin, Realtor S

818.216.8542 | Suzanne@HomeinSisters.com 8

cascadesothebysrealty.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

MACKENZIE CREEK MERCANTILE

Coats, jackets, snow boots, gloves, hats & more for all! 541-549-8424 | 290 W. Cascade Ave.

www.mackenziecreekmercantile.com

Holidays in Sisters

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

So who is Santa Claus, anyway? — By Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief —

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! Ali Mayea 541-588-6007 | 401 E. Main Ave. sistershomelandrealty.com Jenalee Piercey Sisters HomeLand Realty 541-591-5405 Northwest Mortgage Advisors

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This Christmas… Make the best memories with a gift certificate for a lesson or guided trip with the experts at the Fly Fisher’s Place.

151 W. Main Ave., Sisters | 541-549-FISH

He comes to Sisters each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to ride in the annual Christmas Parade. Then he heads over to the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce office for a sit-down with hordes of youngsters who have all their Christmas wishes lined out. Who is that guy? Well, it’s Santa Claus, of course. Y’ know, the guy who is featured in countless songs, timeless poems and about four thousand TV commercials? He’s a major celebrity. And he’s got a surveillance program that must turn the NSA holly-green with envy: “He sees you when you’re sleeping/ He knows when you’re awake/He knows if you’ve been bad or good/So you’d better be good for goodness sake…” That beats sweeping up metadata by a North Pole mile. He had humbler roots, of course. The folkloric figure we know as Santa Claus started out as a third-century Roman bishop in Anatolia (modern Turkey). The St. Nicholas Center reports that, “Obeying Jesus’ words to ʻsell what you own and give the money to the poor,’ Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving

God and was made bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. “Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6 (December 19 on the Julian Calendar).” The historical St. Nicholas became a figure of folklore as Christianity spread across Western Europe, picking up characteristics of pagan figures like Odin (long white beard, travel across the night sky, etc.). A few hundred years ago, somebody in Holland ran the name St. Nicholas through

Your Care

Your Care owners Eric Wattenburg, MD and his wife, Deb, are committed to providing accessible, quality medical care every day and after hours and weekends. At Your Care, you will be taken care of by compassionate and highly qualified people who are there for you. Bottom line is — you matter. Their team makes every effort to assure you receive the unique, thorough, and individualized care you need and deserve, facilitate referrals, and closely follow up with you and your primary care provider. A large majority of their patients are referred or are returning patients. Now that’s trust! Your Care offers a full scope of occupational medicine services for Central Oregon employers, with a goal of minimizing down time and keeping employees at work. A member of our community says: “In my opinion, it’s what people need and want — the way I think it should be.” Your Care is always expanding its service to care for the Sisters community.

The Fly Fisher’s Place

The Fly Fisher’s Place serves up gadgets, flies and equipment that will please any angler on your Christmas list — from kids to adults, men and women, at all levels of skill and experience. It’s not all about the gear, though. If you have a fisher-person in your family, they will find joy in a gift certificate for one of The Fly Fisher’s Place’s extraordinary fishing expeditions. Many families coordinate with each other to send their fisherman on the trip of a lifetime — a gift that will never be forgotten. International trips to Chile, Belize and Tasmania make for extraordinary gifts of experience. And while you’re at it, get out there on the water. Owner Jeff Perin says that McKenzie River fishing is as good as it’s ever been; East Lake makes for a very special experience; and never forget the local favorites, the Deschutes and the Metolius rivers.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Google Translator into Dutch and ended up with Sinterklass. Predictably, when anybody used Siri on their iPhone, “she” heard Sinterklass as “Santa Claus” and there you go. That’s the story, anyway. Santa Claus has a close cousin in England called Father Christmas. Flamboyant dresser, that guy. Drinks a bit. Santa Claus as we know him in America dates from 1822, when Clement Clarke Moore, a professor at an Episcopal seminary in New York, wrote “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” which we know better as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The poem gave Santa his sleigh and reindeer and that elfish twinkle in the eye. He was, however, a little fellow, with a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. But, hey, this is America — bigger is better. Now he’s, well, let’s just say, “generously proportioned.” Must be all the cookies… Civil War-era cartoonist Thomas Nast put Santa at the North Pole in a workshop, building toys for nice children who were listed in a big book. Santa’s red and white uniform wasn’t a fixed feature till the turn of the 20th century — before that he wore all kinds of different colors. Today, we know a great deal about Santa

Holidays in Sisters

Oregon Hazelnut Goodies • Toffee & Turtles • Butter • Roasted (Whole or Chopped) • Brittle & Artisan Chocolates • 2 lb. Oregon Scenic Chocolate Bar • Pancake/Waffle Mix

Growers • Roasters • Candy Makers

Order online at hazelnuthill.com or call 541-510-4464 Make it a

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT

Santa Claus visited Sisters over Thanksgiving weekend. Claus, yet there are still many unexplained aspects to the phenomenon. The exact location of his workshop has not been determined, nor are the physics of how he manages to deliver all those gifts internationally in one night (even using time zones and the International Date Line to stretch his hours) well understood by scientists. Not to mention how he is able to appear in different places in Sisters Country at the same time. Some things are best left mysterious.

Memorable Holiday…

with treasured ornaments for gift giving & collecting!

Visit us online at christmas-treasures.com o! or drop by the store for gift certificates, too! 52959 MCKENZIE HWY., BLUE RIVER, OREGON ON N

BREWER SAYS...

Ray’s Food Place

This is the season for great meals with family and for parties and get-togethers to celebrate with friends. Ray’s Food Place is your one-stop resource for everything you need to make those holiday parties and dinners really special. From company parties to holiday entertaining, Ray’s can make your life so much easier — and fill your guests with holiday cheer! Ray’s has a magnificent selection of wines, including the sparkling and dessert wines that are so important to the convivial spirit of the season. The deli can put together all your party foods for you, including spectacular desserts (give the elves 24 hours notice; they’ll appreciate it). The floral department can create exquisite centerpieces or provide the perfect floral hostess gift. Turn to Ray’s Food Place this holiday season and make your celebrations special.

Shuttle Oregon

Shuttle Oregon offers a great way to get from Sisters to Portland and Salem and back, safely, comfortably and affordably. With extensive customer service and retail backgrounds, the folks at Shuttle Oregon bring a fresh perspective and a higher level of customer service to the transportation industry. They are personable, friendly, and they know the Sisters area. Because they are a small, nimble family-operated company, they are able to be more flexible and accommodating than other services. They offer free wi-fi and snacks and drinks on their shuttles, so you can relax, be comfortable and get some work done while you let Shuttle Oregon do the driving. Shuttle Oregon also offers customizable private transportation services for groups, families, and businesses, while continuing Central Oregon’s favorite daily shuttle service. Competitive pricing includes senior, student, and military discounts. Ask about frequentrider discounts and gift certificates!

LAST DAY TO SHIP UPS... Ground: Friday 12/13 3-day: Thursday 12/19 2-day: Friday 12/20 Overnight: Monday 12/23 LAST DAY TO SHIP FEDEX... Ground: Monday 12/16 3-day: Thursday 12/19 2-day: Friday 12/20 Overnight: Monday 12/23

Mon.-Fri., 9-5, Sat., 9-1 • 160 S. Oak St., Sisters • 541-549-1538

Holiday Wines to fit every palate and every budget.

Order your party platters now for holiday entertaining!

541-549-2222 635 N. Arrowleaf Trail, Sisters • www.gorays.com

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Holidays in Sisters

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Fit For Sisters Andrew Loscutoff, Columnist

— 9th Annual —

Holiday Faire Located at 142 E. Main Ave. , Sisters

November 29 - December 21 Great selection of handmade items from local vendors. High quality! Unique gifts! Free admission! Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SPONSORED BY THREE SISTERS LIONS CLUB

FREE T-SHIRT! With any $ 25 purchase

Here goes the 2019 holiday season. For many folks this means family visitation, traveling — and inconsistency of exercise and healthy eating. What does this mean for the fitness you’ve been working so hard for? Will the body turn into the mashed potatoes and cinnamon rolls it’s been indulging on? Thankfully, exercise science has some answers, and the situation is not nearly as dire as one might believe. Someone who’s taken up part-time residence in the gym will likely boast some fitness to prove their dedication. When lifting heavy weights, the body adapts by strengthening the neuromuscular controls to the muscles

Wildﬂower Studio

(Offer valid through 12-24-19)

541-549-2059 216 W. Cascade Ave.

Your P lace For

Artisan Holiday Gifts! Paintings O Ornaments • Jewelry Candles • Prints Fused Glass • Cards Leather Bags & More! L Custom framing too!

Wildflower Studio A r t B o u t i qu e & F r a m i n g

541-904-0673 • 103-B E. Hood Ave., Sisters a unique blend of local artwork and custom framing

Holiday Shopping Made Easy! Your local shoe store for 22 years!

Keep your fitness through the holidays

for a stronger connection and coordination to the movement. Lifting a moderate weight for a lot of reps builds muscle fiber size. A long endurance session builds the muscle’s engine of mitochondria. The lungs breathe efficiently. The heart pumps harder into more robust vascularity surrounding the muscles used. Insulin sensitivity (the mechanism which stores carbs as fat or uses them for fuel) is optimized to keep the body energized and lean. Now it’s the holiday season. Friends, family, and people looking for free room and board show up, demanding our attention. Gym time is sacrificed to listening to Uncle John’s opinion on politics. Days go by, and they’ve become a prisoner to the entertaining and holiday banter, missing the gym. What happens next? Over the course of a week, you’ll lose little to nothing. Holidays, however, cover four weeks or more. After four weeks of no training, cycling subjects saw a max decrease of 20 percent. Endurance time to exhaustion was reduced by 25 percent. In weight-training subjects, six percent of muscle mass was lost in three weeks. In seven weeks, the entire gains of a strength training program which was seven weeks in duration was diminished. Insulin sensitivity begins to reduce around 72 hours after the last exercise session. This may sound extreme, but the body will resiliently hold onto the base levels of fitness for a long time — up to 12 weeks depending on the circumstance.

Not only do we h have ave the most popular shoe brands, we carry Brighton jewelry; huckleberry jams and candies; slippers; socks and more! All perfect for gift-giving.

SUNDANCE SHOES

541-549-4240 | IN TOWN SQUARE, SISTERS

Art Boutiqe & Framing

The gift of beautifully crafted art is one of the most profound gestures you can make to those you care about. At Wildflower Studio Art Boutique & Framing you’ll find many unique ways to put check-marks on your list, from stocking-stuffers to hostess gifts to ornaments created by artist-owner Chris Nelson. There is a set of unique, locally crafted leather bags that would make a special gift indeed, and there are jewelry and prints by Sisters artist Kathy Deggendorfer. Chris Nelson is known for her paintings of landscapes, songbirds and flowers. She is also a master in the art of framing. Bring in your art gift and Chris will frame it forever in its perfect setting. Depending on the nature of the work, there’s still time to get that work done before Christmas, but don’t wait till the last minute! Unique gifts speak volumes — and Wildflower Studio Art Boutique & Framing is the place to find them.

Sundance Shoes

“Best selection of shoes I’ve ever seen,” said one customer at Sundance Shoes. With the winds of winter blowing through Sisters, there’s been a rush on winter boots — Uggs, Sorrell, Bogs. You’re sure to find boots that suit your lifestyle, your fashion sense and your budget. And a pair of Hoffinger slippers are just the ticket for winter evenings before the fire. Sundance Shoes carries the best brands in the world — Birkenstock, Teva, Blundstone, Dansko. Keen, Merrell. Dress boots from Pikolinos are a hit. Shoes for the whole family can be found here, along with Smartwool socks to keep feet cozy. Pick up stockingstuffers like Brighton jewelry or huckleberry jams and candies. Special need? No problem. Sundance Shoes is proud of its customer service, and eager to help you find the right shoe or boot with the right fit.

Holidays in Sisters

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Canyon Creek Pottery

an older person. In the upper echelon of fitness, the top level of human performance is first to go. Base aerobic fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility takes a long time to go away. It’s the top percentage points which are what many competitive athletes are struggling for. This holiday season, don’t give up if conditions aren’t ideal for workouts. Don’t stress the small stuff; enjoy time with family. A single weight-training session performed once per week can be done to maintain fitness. A few shorter runs per week will get the job done for endurance. Don’t worry once January comes, join everyone who didn’t exercise at all in the last year and set a good example in returning to the gym.

541-390-2449 541 1-390 390 0-24 244 2449 449 Visit our website at CanyonCreekPotteryLLC.com 310 N. Cedar St.

Jolly Good Fun!

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/DEAGREEZ

In subjects who were regular exercisers, one study did one set of a muscle group at 50 percent intensity. The subjects held onto their strength and muscle size. For endurance trainees, a reduction in 60 percent of training volume (total amount) and 30 percent of training frequency led to much slower decay. So, a few short runs and a single weight-lifting session — or even body-weight exercises —will suffice per week to maintain. Once you return to normal exercise, you’ll rebound much faster than the timeframe required to get the initial fitness. If you are more fit, or have been training longer, you’ll lose fitness more slowly. A young person will have a slower decline than

Holiday Open House

Sat., Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. S

Alpaca parade • Take a selfie with an alpaca Alpp Alpaca story time • See baby alpacas in the nursery Gift shopping in our boutique • And more!

Holiday H lid B Boutique ti Hours

Nov. 15-Jan. 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — DAILY —

70397 Buckhorn Rd. Terrebonne | 541-504-4226 6

Info on holiday ranch activities at alpacacountryestates.com acacountr t yesttates t com

Eurosports

Winter adventure awaits in Sisters Country — and Eurosports is ready to outfit the whole family. From grandparents to the little ones they have everything you need to hit the slopes and trails this winter. Renting downhill, cross-country and back-country skis, snowshoes and snowboards? Pick up your gear the night before or the morning-of! Eurosports offers one-stop shopping. Get your gear once and spend your time on the snow instead of in the rental line. Eurosports offers demo skis from Rossignol, and they can order any new Rossignol product for you — with 15 percent off suggested retail for special orders. The staff has years of experience and can help you find the right gear, get it tuned just right, and direct you to just the kind of winter adventure you are looking for. And you can enjoy a draft beer or a cider while you shop. Now that’s the holiday spirit!

SAVOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Sisters Special... One Complimentary Dessert

To Share with Purchase of Two Dinners

By mentioning you saw this ad in The Nugget. Offer expires 12.31.19.

646 SW 6th St., Redmond Tues.-Sun. 4 to 9 p.m. | 541-527-4336

Put a whole lot of check-marks on your Christmas shopping list — and have a blast doing it — at the Jill Neal Gallery Christmas Blowout Sale Friday-Sunday, December 13-15, at the gallery at 183 E. Hood Ave. in Sisters. Jill Neal Gallery is going entirely online in 2020, so Jill is hosting a huge sale to offer wholesale prices on ceramic tapas plates; martini dessert plates; and martini coasters — this weekend only. There will be lots of markdowns: 20 percent off originals; 50 to 75 percent off select framed artwork. And all of this just in time for your Christmas shopping! Refreshments will be served, and a good time will be had by all. Jill Neal is also December’s featured artist in an exhibit at The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch. Find Jill Neal’s work at https://jillnealgallery.com.

Jill’s Wild Tasteful Women

Jill Neal Gallery

Christmas Blowout Sale! December 13-15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We are transitioning to online sales and are closing the gallery. Just in time for Christmas shopping!

20-80% OFF!

Select art and gifts. Refreshments will be served all weekend

183 E. Hood Ave., Sisters 541-617-6078 jillnealgallery.com

Holidays in Sisters

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Winter Solstice:

Holiday

For More Join Christmas Wrapping Monday, December 16, 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Guests will learn the art of gift wrapping and get a visit from Santa Claus!

Free Live Radio Show with S.C.O.R.E

(Sisters Classic Old-Time Radio Experience) Friday, December 27, 6 p.m.

Fun!

COFFEEHOUSE

541-588-0311

201 E. Sun Ranch Dr., Mon-Sat 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Holiday Special…

Kristi Moomey Jewelry!

20% OFF!

Natural gemstones, turquoise, leather, d driftwood, Heishi beads, composite materials. (Good through 12/24/19)

EST. 1995

VISIT OUR STORE S 7 DAYS A WEEK

311 E. CASCADE AVE., SISTERS | 541-549-4251

Affordable gifts of art, jewelry, pottery & more!

541-749-1800

ON THE CORNER OF S. PINE ST. & W. HOOD AVE INF0@HOODAVENUEART.COM

Sept. 11, 12 & 13

2020 Festival Passes on Sale December 9

(Sales start at 10am PST; Early Bird Pricing for first 500 tickets. Limit 2 per customer)

Perfect Holiday Gift! 541-549-4979

https://sff2020.eventbrite.com

Join us this winter and create some everlasting memories… Saturdays: Woodfired Pizzas Sundays: Winter Brunch Series 11 a.m.

Long-table Solstice Dinner: December 21

Traditional 3-course meal shared with friends! Hurry, this sells out quickly! All of our food highlights our seasonal meats, greens and vegetables!

71290 Holmes Rd., Sisters | Winter hours Sat. & Sun., 11-3 Visit www.rainshadoworganics.com to make reservations

More than a short, dark day — By T. Lee Brown, Correspondent — People commonly refer to winter solstice as “the shortest day of the year,” but is that factual? Pat Leiser told The Nugget it’s just one of several “shortest days.” “For us in the Northern Hemisphere, (solstice) marks the fourth of eight days when the sun appears at its lowest point in the sky,” she said. These eight days are the shortest days of the year. Leiser said each day tops out at “8 hours and 53 minutes of sunlight, with nights lasting 15 hours and 7 minutes.” Leiser is part of Friends of the Labyrinth, a group that welcomes people to gather for the summer and winter solstices every year at Sisters Community Labyrinth. Most of the year, the sun appears to move more noticeably as the days change length and shadows grow shorter or longer. During the days of solstice, the sun seems to be stationary. Leiser noted that the word solstice derives from the Greek for “sun stopped.” “Today, modern scientific measurement (in seconds) indicates that the sun’s lowest point is at about 8 p.m. on December 21,” said Leiser. “The official first day of winter begins December 22 as the sun very slowly begins to rise again.” If the day is measured in minutes instead of seconds, however, the “sun-stopped” days last through December 25. Known in contemporary times as Christmas, on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it has older origins. According to Leiser, on December 25 the Romans celebrated the birthday of Apollo. In the Greek and Roman pantheons of gods and goddesses, Apollo was a god of light, sun, music, and poetry. The sun’s official charioteer, Apollo harnessed four horses to his golden chariot every day, then pulled the sun across the sky. “As various ancient peoples began to note the sun’s position through the year, marking the winter and summer solstices, spring and fall equinoxes, they created corresponding celebrations,” Leiser said. “In the cold seasons in the north, it is understandable that these celebrations are often associated with fires, for warmth and light,” she

PHOTO BY TL BROWN

Pat Leiser will bring fire and lore to the labyrinth on winter solstice. said. “Thus, the traditional Yule log at this time of year — although it is sometimes only replicated by a cake!” Friends of the Labyrinth and New Oregon Arts & Letters will host a winter solstice gathering Saturday, December 21 at 4:30 p.m. (see story, page 3). The tradition of the labyrinth is also apparently related to the solar system, said Leiser. A labyrinth’s path winds back and forth, which seems to reference “the apparent forward (eastern) progression, and intermittent backward (western) regression, of the five visible planets’ movements in the night sky in relation to the stars.” In Northern Europe, Leiser observed, the four intervening “cross-quarter days” also marked a change of seasons and deserved honor. These traditions are kept alive by modern peoples who celebrate Lammastide in August (or Lughnasadh, as it is known in Gaelic), Mayday (Beltane or Beáltaine), and the various seasonal happenings of late October and early November (All Saint’s Day, Halloween, Samhain, and El Día de los Muertos). Leiser said she became fascinated by “humans’ ingenuity in recording patterns in the earth’s annual orbit in the solar system” while teaching science to elementary school students.

Rainshadow Organics

Sarahlee and Ashanti have farmed in the Sisters community for 10 seasons. They have built a beautiful farm store and restaurant and added a full-time award-winning chef to their team. Rainshadow Organics provides the abundance and Chef Travis Taylor brings it to the table. Smitten with the land and the food, they are passionate about connecting people to their food and believe this is foundational to changing all that’s wrong in the world. As a team, their dream is to create a culinary destination. Check out their flagship wood-fired pizzas, made entirely from the farm. Relax in their “Arizona Room” for a family-style brunch that everyone says is the best brunch they’ve ever experienced. One guest wrote, “It felt like we were in a foreign country.”

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

LABYRINTH: Event marks Winter Solstice Continued from page 3

along with cultural and scientific knowledge (see related story, page 26). “I enjoy celebrating the labyrinth walks through the year on days that have a significance for people all over the world,” she said. Community labyrinth walks “allow us to appreciate together our relationships to the rhythms of the solar system and nature,” said Leiser, “and honor our capacity to understand them.” During a walk, participants “contemplate the flow of each of our own personal experiences of doubt and hope through the seasons of darkness and light.” The solstice gathering offers “a great way to take a break and get centered, no matter how busy you are during the holiday season,” said Jan McGowan, a Sisters Community Labyrinth cofounder and current committee member. “There is magic in walking silently among a crowd of people doing the same,” she said. “You have the opportunity for personal

reflection, while being part of something larger.” McGowan noted, “As you walk, you begin to notice the same people passing you on another place on the path. Your experience is individual, yet interwoven. Beautiful! And cool!” People from all spiritual traditions and walks of life are invited to join in. The group asks that participants dress warmly and bring a flashlight. A warm beverage in a well-insulated vessel is a good idea, too. After an opening circle at 4:30 p.m., participants will enact a silent walking meditation through the labyrinth’s curves, beginning at 4:45 p.m. Afterward, folks are welcome to sip their drinks around the fire. Sisters Community Labyrinth gatherings are typically 45 to 60 minutes long. Silent meditations are difficult to manage with young children in tow. Any families wishing to take part may contact New Oregon Arts & Letters by December 20 via email to neworegonarts@ gmail.com. A separate, special walk will be scheduled earlier in the day for families if there is a need. The labyrinth is located

Holidays in Sisters

PHOTO PROVIDED

Last year’s winter solstice at Sisters Community Labyrinth featured evergreens and red bows. in East Portal on West Hood Avenue. East Portal is the U.S. Forest Service site where Highway 20 and Highway 242 meet, roughly between Bi-Mart and Les Schwab. This park-like area is generally closed and gated off in winter. Gates will be open for this Solstice event, but restrooms will be closed. The event is co-presented by New Oregon Arts & Letters and the Friends of the Labyrinth Committee at Sisters Park & Recreation District. For updates and details, see www.neworegon. org/events.

SISTERS DANCE ACADEMY RECITAL 2019

One Winter’s Night Saturday, December 14 1 & 6:30 p.m.

at Sisters High School Auditorium

Purchase tickets online at www.danceinsisters.com

Holidays in Sisters

A season of gratitude in Sisters Jennifer Knowles-Seher and Deri Frazee offered reflections of Thanksgiving... Looking back to the 6th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, it continues to amaze me how awesome the day ends up to be every single year. So many people get together to give to their friends, neighbors, and family. So many people gathering to share a meal together and enjoy the company. It truly humbles and inspires me to be the best version of me I can be. This year was no exception to the amazing contributions by individuals and businesses to create a delicious, traditional meal. Iʼd like to thank the following, who without them, we couldnʼt do this: The Nugget Newspaper, Rayʼs Food Place, Sno Cap Drive-In, Sisters Meat and Smokehouse, Reserʼs Fine Foods, and Sisters Bakery. A giant hug and thank-you for XPress Printing and Mission Linen as well. Finally, and most definitely, never enough thank-yous to Kimber Finney for coordinating the volunteers! All together, we served over 450 plates of food to the hungry masses and the Sisters RPFD. Eighteen turkeys in total were carved (and they were delicious!), along with ham, potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, corn, and handmade gravy. Plenty of salads, rolls, and desserts rounded out the amazing food. Thank you, Sisters, for being the community that cares for its people. Until next year!

Have a story idea for

The Nugget?

We’d love to hear it!

Send an email to editor@nuggetnews.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

SANTA PAWS: Event supports families and pets in Sisters Continued from page 21

“The kids are more enthusiastic about selling more wreaths this year since the funds go to the new playground thatʼs being built this summer,” said Gonzales. “Itʼs not your typical swing set and monkey bars, itʼs an all-natural wood environment with obstacle courses, itʼs going to be unique. There will also be an outdoor classroom area for the students.” Daniel added, “We need our design proposal approved by the Forest Service. The Forest Service historian has to dig and do test plots to make sure there is nothing underground of archaeological significance.”

It ʼs b een a t o u g h y e a r f o r Deggendorfer, with the recent passing of her mother, Gert Boyle. She noted, “I came back to Sisters from Portland after the memorial service last Thursday for the open house to support Furry Friends Foundation, Three Sisters Historical Society, and the Black Butte School fundraiser. “Iʼm just hanging in there, and my friends Laura Fouts and Debbie Barns have been so helpful setting this up for me. Since the Art Works building was sold last summer to the Sisters Folk Festival, I wanted this to be a last hurrah for the nonprofits.” To donate to Furry Friends Foundation, stop by the Furry Friends office at 204 W. Adams Ave., Ste. 109, donate online at www.

Do you know your agent? Do you understand your policy? Are you overpaying? Call or come in today for a free Farmers Friendly Review 541-588-6245 • 257 S. Pine St., #101

www.farmersagent.com/jrybka AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS

PHOTO BY HEATHER JORDAN

He’s ready to fly if the reindeer let him. furryfriendsfoundation.org, or by mail to P.O. Box 1175, Sisters, OR 97759. There is also a giving tree set up at Sisters Feed & Supply and at Black Butte Ranch this year. For more information about Furry Friends Foundation, call 541-797-4023.

Personal approach to every property year-round!

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Snow Blowing Shoveling • De-Icing Wood Stacking Clean-Ups • Hauling

Santa knows where to find great gift ideas...

EST. 1995

...the pages of The Nugget are filled with inspiration to wrap up your holiday shopping. ((And then you can wrap the gifts in the pages of The Nugget!)

Need a gift for a loved one far away? A gift subscription to The Nugget is a thoughtful gift they will open over and over. Subscriptions start at just $25 and are looked forward to every week!

To order a gift subscription, call 541-549-9941.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Dear Santa, I want to be less lonely:

Unwrapping the gift of intimacy

Your Story MATTERS

Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP Columnist

This is always a very busy time of year to be a mental health provider. Amid the twinkling lights, snowflakes, and seasonal cheer, feelings of loss and loneliness often can permeate and subdue holiday merriment. Loneliness is pervasive anyway, and its grasp can tighten on too many hearts this time of year. And despite ever-growing, media-driven platforms offering fleeting hits of validation and connection, it seems the feelings of loneliness are only on the rise. Depression, anxiety, and trauma can all be both perpetuated by and exacerbated by loneliness. Loneliness is not always married to social isolation. A person can be desperately lonely when also surrounded by people. It is not uncommon that some of the most likeable and giving among us are also very lonely. Loneliness is a feeling of being alone despite not actually being alone. It is often reinforced by the walls we put up with the belief that we are somehow keeping ourselves safer behind our fortress, when in actuality we repeatedly diminish our

authenticity and self-trust. It is a feeling of not being truly “known.” Yet, we have become experts at crafting filtered personas of success and wellness, and we have also been duped to believe the filtered portrayals of others. Our social media profiles may allow for more “connections,” but don’t be fooled to believe that the currency of “likes,” comments, and follows can take the place of true connection — let alone intimacy. We have become masters of small talk, of keeping things surface level. We can fear exploring our own depths and often assume it would be burdensome or too time consuming to explore the depths of others. Many of us crave moments where we can let down our walls and loosen the reins, but we can convince ourselves that the risks of vulnerability outweigh the benefits. This can all be a bit heavy, and we may find ourselves seeking moments of perceived relief through distraction and numbing. Intimacy is the antidote to loneliness. Intimacy is the merging of true vulnerability and connection, and it demands we have true interactions soul-to-soul, faceto-face, flesh-to-flesh. It is not simply broadcasting our feelings on a virtual interface. It requires reciprocity. It requires time, energy, and intention. It is the art of allowing our hearts to be both loved and broken, to give

and receive, to have dreams realized and interrupted, to expose our whole self and to seek the wholeness of another. It is the acceptance of the pain that will inevitably come with full disclosure, but the knowledge that it is only within the fundamental disclosure of intimacy that we truly find acceptance. Intimacy demands that we question the pride we take in rugged individualism and solo venturing and that we allow for the sharing of our suffering, talents, joy, sadness, and success. Humans are meant to have a tribe as part of our emotional and physical survival. Nonconformity has its merits, and sometimes it is worth being lonely for while if it means standing against harm or hate, but to stay lonely is only so sustainable. So this holiday season let’s try to have meaningful moments of true connection, of intimacy. Let’s take a moment to verbalize our love for each other, to say thank you, to say sorry, to forgive, to ask for, and to receive. Let’s help others let their walls down by letting our walls down bit by bit. Let’s acknowledge and share the sadness rather than run from it. Let’s acknowledge the joy rather than convincing ourselves that the other shoe will drop. Let’s move closer despite the fear. Wishing you an intimate holiday season full of meaningful connection.

Holidays in Sisters

GIFT Cards

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ANTLER ARTS

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ALPACA COUNTRY ESTATES

Wrap up your holiday shopping with gift certificates to our boutique filled with warm, fuzzy alpaca clothing and home accessories. Alpaca kisses complimentary!

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SISTERS MEAT AND SMOKEHOUSE

Happiness is a gift certificate for meat, Alaskan seafood, game, cheeses, sandwiches, beer, wine & cider. Pick up in store or order online.

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METOLIUS RIVER LODGES

Nothing is more appreciated than a place to reflect and rejuvenate. A gift certificate to relax in our vintage cabins along the Metolius River is the ideal gift!

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BECERRA’S ON 6TH BISTRO TRO

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THE SHOE INN

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THE COTTONWOOD CAFÉ

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CHOPS BISTRO

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CHRISTMAS TREASURES

brings you the most treasured ornaments and items for gift-giving and collecting. Come experience the Old-World charm all through the year. christmas-treasures.com | 52959 McKenzie Hwy., Blue River, OR

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

CONNOR CROWE Sisters High School November 2019 Student of the Month Connor Crowe always gives his best. That was the course he set himself on when he came to Sisters from Tillamook in his freshman year: He would work hard and try to get as much as possible out of his classes. “I decided I was going to get better at that and excel,” he said. Itʼs worked for him. The friendly, optimistic student has an abiding love for a school that he feels delivers for its students. “For being that small a school, we have so many opportunities,” he said. “Itʼs a great, quality school.” Connor is captain of the swim team and will play golf in spring. Heʼs taking aviation classes and may continue to pursue that in the program at COCC. He loves the outdoors and mountain-biking and snowshoeing with his dad. He also volunteers for tech and media work at Westside Church in Sisters. The future is uncertain at the moment, but whatever his path, Connor will continue to strive to excel. “Iʼm trying to diversify my interests right now, so it depends on where those go,” he said. “But Iʼm definitely going to college.”

“Connor embodies what it means to be an Outlaw. He is kind, caring, conscientious, hard-working, and always eager to help others. It has been a pleasure having Connor in my classes, I look forward to seeing what amazing things he accomplishes in the future.” – Sheryl Yeager “It is truly amazing to see how Connor has become such a confident and loving young man. Connor was nervous when he came to Sisters, but he overcame any anxieties and evolved into a man who knows what he wants and what he can do. He truly is a gift to Sisters and an illustration of perseverance. Iʼm proud of him, and itʼs obvious the staff recognized the same when they nominated him for this award.” – Joe Hosang “It has been so wonderful to see Connorʼs growth as an Outlaw these last four years. He has been hard-working and persevering and thoughtful, both academically and personally. He chooses to take on challenges and to stay positive. Connor is also great about taking the initiative when he sees something that needs done or someone that needs help. I cannot wait to see how he makes a difference in the world.” – Jami Lyn Weber “I am pleased that we are honoring Connor. What a wonderful role model he is! He is a person who has great perseverance. He is

diligent about his assignments and is always engaged in class. I can count on Connor to participate in class discussions, ask thoughtful questions, and to take constructive criticism when necessary. He takes his learning seriously and strives to perform at a high level, making sure that his work reflects his best effort. Honestly, he is just a good person who makes others better. He really is a gift to all who know him.” – Samra Spear “Connor is a hard-working, respectful, and appreciative student. He is an absolute joy to work with. He is the kind of kid we hope to raise our boys to be like. Good job, Connor! I am so very proud of you.” – Daniel OʼNeill “Connor Crowe has played golf for me for the last 3 years and he is just a beautiful kid to be around. I donʼt know him outside of the links, but because he is so conscientious Iʼm sure he is a great student. The game of golf beats us all up but Connor continues to look for the secret!” – Bill Mitchell “Connorʼs positive, can-do attitude inspires his peers and adults alike. Connor is quick with a smile and a kind word, making those around him feel welcome. He takes his education seriously, often leading discussions with high-level questions that heightens the learning of the entire group. I have really

appreciated getting to know Connor. We are fortunate he is an Outlaw!” – Rima Givot “Connor is the type of person who makes coaching a wonderful experience. Over his four years on the swim team, he has gone from a non-swimmer to one of the most confident and competent swimmers on the team, as well as a captain of the team. He works hard at every practice and always goes above and beyond to help in any way he can. It has been a joy to watch his confidence grow over the years. His work ethic will serve him well in everything he does but, most importantly, he is kind to everyone, all the time. I will definitely miss him when he graduates!” – Bryn Singleton

These businesses have joined The Nugget in supporting our youth and their accomplishments by co-sponsoring the Student of the Month program.

Continue Striving For Excellence!

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Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Tales from a

Sisters Naturalist by Jim Anderson

Shy spotted stinkers When I rolled into Bend on a late afternoon in September of 1951 on my trusty 1947 Harley 74, Bend looked like a little backwater town about to die. The two big sawmills that made Bend a Big Town in Central Oregon were about to throw in the towel. Shevlin-Hixon, one of the two sawmills that came rolling into Central Oregon from Minnesota on the railroad, had cut all their timber the homesteaders put aside for them at the turn of the century, and Brooks-Scanlon was about to do the same. However, today we can see that Bend had a lot more than sawmills going for it in 1951; it’s not only survived, but has grown to enormous proportions and is known everywhere for its beauty, sparkling winter recreation areas and healthy beer businesses. But the one thing that hasn’t grown proportionally throughout Central Oregon is the overall population of western spotted skunks. When I first arrived here they were underfoot everywhere, almost literally. Once the homeowners of Bend found out I wasn’t afraid of skunks and could remove them from unwanted locations without the usual rewards skunks leave behind when disturbed, I began getting calls about once a week. The only skunks in Bend today are those big,

nasty-smelling, non-native striped skunks… People who had chickens were among the most bothered by those charming little stinkers; not only did the skunks have fresh eggs on their menu, but delicious, disease-carrying white-footed and house mice for dessert, the mice taking advantage of all the lay mash and scratch scattered about. My landlord of those Good Old Days was Dean Hollinshead and his dear teacher/wife Lily. They’ve both gone out among the stars and their home’s foundation caved in, so the dwelling Lily had built with the houses she purchased from the World War II Conscientious Objector’s Camp at Wickiup Reservoir are also gone. Lily and Dean started the Rim Rock Riders horse club, and every summer they’d take their beautiful Tennessee walkers and go on a trail ride. When they did so they’d ask me to watch the ranch, which meant feeding horses, milking the cow and taking care of the chickens. One night I was late getting to the eggs and found a visitor helping herself to them when I arrived: a cute, little northern spotted skunk. “Ahhh, excuse me…” I said to her as she was in the process of lapping up egg yolk from an egg she broke, “but Dean and Lily didn’t say anything about sharing eggs with you…” She answered by stamping her front feet at me, which meant she was very annoyed and if I didn’t get out of her hair she was going to give me the works. So, I quickly apologized and retreated. To break the skunk of her coming to eat eggs and making a habit of it I arrived at the chicken house an hour earlier, fed and watered the hens and collected the eggs. But guess who I met coming in as I was going out?

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Then an idea hit me. I got it into my mind that in the year 2019 (if I was still taking in nourishment and knew it) I’d brag about the time I petted a wild spotted skunk on my 25th birthday. So, I got a small dish and the lawn chair, a good book, my strap-on caving light, and started skunk training. Each night I’d come into the hen house, call the skunk, place a fresh egg sunny-side up in the dish and wait for her majesty to lap it up. It almost took a week, then, one night after my, “Here skunk, here skunk…” routine, she came into the hen house very cautiously and smelled the egg in the dish. That did it, from then on she was waiting for her handout. Yes, she was a “her,” and as cute as a bug’s ear. Each night I sat reading my book aloud, headlight shining on each page and seated in my lawn chair next to the egg dish, and soon I was allowing my hand to slowly descend just over her back. Then, on March 27, 1953 I touched the fur on her back. Up she came! Right on her tippy toed front feet. I

PHOTO BY JIM ANDERSON

The western spotted skunk, our native shy and polite member of the skunk tribe, in search of disease-carrying rodents. closed my eyes and held my breath, afraid to move in the chair, except to gently lift my hand. After what seemed an eternity I took a short breath and opened my eyes. Nothing in the air but chicken odors. Wonderful! So I touched her fur again, and up she came again! But this time she dropped down on all fours in a couple of seconds and went back to, “lap, lap, lap…” So we

played that game for about another 10 minutes until she got bored and walked off, as it turned out, for the night. Next night we went through it all again, but this time she was very patient with me; no leaping to her front legs, just a slight shudder, and within five minutes I was actually petting her! I’d done it, I had petted a wild spotted skunk and got away with it!

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

SPRD: District is planning out its strategic direction

SAFETY: Majority of fire district calls are for medical response

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 16

District can continue to positively impact Sisters Country. There were so many insightful comments made at the public input session that will help us as we take the next steps in drafting the 2020-22 Strategic Plan,” Executive Director Jennifer Holland said. There appeared to be a general consensus for more and better education of the community as to SPRD’s role and offerings. It is becoming much more of a community center offering a wide variety of activities for a broad range of ages and stages. The board and staff of SPRD is undertaking an indepth review of “all things SPRD” in preparation for their 2020-22 Strategic Plan. To that end, the public was invited to attend two open sessions to express their opinions on a variety of topics. Twelve citizens attended the daytime meeting held last Wednesday, but no one made it to the evening meeting, possibly due to slick road conditions. In preliminary work done by the staff and board of directors, three main priorities were identified for the next two years. Each was addressed by a different staff or board member as they opened the discussion for public input. Holland provided an overview, accompanied by a fact sheet, of SPRD’s history, mission, and partnerships with other community organizations (see related story on page 33). Recreation Programs Manager Chad Rush facilitated the discussion on Priority One – Programs and Services. The goal is to provide an array of offerings that meets the interests and needs of the community for all ages and demographics. C u r r e n t l y, a b o u t 7 5

ask for enforcement adjustments if needed. Last summer, the DCSO initiated summer bike patrols in downtown Sisters to increase the visibility of police presence during the busy tourist season. The growth in the local population, as well as increasing tourism, merits a thorough review of current and future police services, something that is currently underway at City Hall. They are exploring and planning for the future of law enforcement in Sisters. The local fire department has a long and proud history in Sisters covering the past eight decades. George Wakefield, who operated the local garage, was elected the first fire chief in 1937. Over the years the department has expanded with the

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

A small but engaged group of citizens provided thoughtful input on the future course of Sisters Park & Recreation District. percent of SPRD participants are youth and 25 percent adults. There was a suggestion that program offerings should include enrichment, education, and activities for a wide range of participants. Someone suggested offering some programs by interest rather than age, to hopefully attract a broader age range. As evidenced by the latest catalog, SPRD offerings have increased markedly in number and variety. Everyone seemed to agree that the SPRD special community events, like the luau and the car show, are very popular and a great way to engage the community with SPRD. Board member Bob Keefer led the discussion on Priority Two — Marketing and Communications. It is the goal of SPRD to be known by all in the community for all that they do, and the positive difference they make in people’s lives and the livability of the community. “This has been an enlightening process for the board,” said Keefer. “We can do a better job of letting the community know who we are and what we do. We can improve our image. We’d like to get more people involved in what we do in all age groups.” The group discussion around marketing and communications was extensive and lively, with a number of good ideas put forward for improving how SPRD keeps the community informed about what is being offered.

Support seemed to coalesce around the idea of using trained volunteers to get the word out through a variety of avenues. Business Manager Courtney Snead pointed out that if priorities one and two are going well, then Priority Three — Sustainability, should easily follow. In 1998, when local voters approved the formation of Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation, a special park and recreation district, partial funding was allowed by taxes. The original permanent tax rate of 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation was not nearly enough to fund all that SPRD is and does, but once established, it can’t be changed. Therefore, special fiveyear local option levies are necessary to provide for the operation and growth of the district. The other sources of revenue are program fees, donations, and grants. The board is always looking at ways to create a stable revenue base. Suggestions from those gathered included asking for what is really needed in the next local option levy election. More aggressive grantwriting and the possibility of annual memberships also surfaced. Again, educating the community about what SPRD does and why they are asking for money was stressed. It is now the board’s job to take all the research and input gathered and craft a new strategic plan.

gradual addition of equipment and personnel as well as the merger with the Camp Sherman Fire District in 1991 and the opening of Station 703 in Squaw Creek Canyon Estates. Beginning in the 1990s, the department has experienced a number of large wildland fires in the area. The largest number of their calls for service now are for medical response and transport, which far surpass fire calls. (In the December 18 edition of The Nugget, there will be an in-depth report on services of SistersCamp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, its services, personnel, programs, and equipment. On January 8, there will be a report on the DCSO in Sisters, including statistics on actual crime, and information about Internet sites where the general public can check on local crime. The results of a recently completed public survey will also be presented).

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

SPRD has served Sisters for two decades By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Many newer residents, and even some old-timers, may not know much about what the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) does, how it is funded, and where it came from. SPRD is a special taxing district funded primarily by property taxes and program fees. Their service area spans the city of Sisters and surrounding Sisters Country. Their mission is to provide Sisters Country with exceptional, highly valued, community-focused park, recreational, and cultural enrichment experiences. It is governed by an elected board of directors consisting of Jeff Tryens, president; Heath Foott, vice president; Peggy Tehan, treasurer; Rosemary Vasquez, secretary; and Bob Keefer, member. The board meetings are open to the public and typically held at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Coffield Center. Public input is welcome and encouraged. Executive Director Jennifer Holland leads a

staff of 25 full- and parttime employees who lead the programs and manage the facilities. Besides the 10,000-square-foot Coffield Center, there is a bike park, disc golf course, playground, and skate park located on the adjoining 15 acres. Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR) was founded by volunteers in 1995 as a nonprofit organization to provide recreation, sports, and enrichments for Sisters-area youth and families. In its earliest days, it was housed in a Quonset hut on Sisters School District property at the east end of town, and basically offered after-school programs for children. In 1998, voters approved the formation of the SOAR District, a special park and recreation district, which is partially funded through taxes. The special taxing district boundaries are similar to the Sisters School District boundary. In 2009, the name of the organization was changed from SOAR to Sisters Park & Recreation District. The current tax rate for the district is 37 cents per $1,000

of assessed property value. Twenty-two cents is the permanent tax rate and 15 cents is from the local option tax rate approved last year and good for five years. The district currently has an annual operating budget of approximately $1.25 million. Twenty-eight percent of the revenue comes from permanent taxes, 19 percent from local option levy taxes, 37 percent from program registration fees, six percent from donations, grants, and miscellaneous sources, and 10 percent represents the beginning fund balance in January . SPRD owns its building, the Coffield Center, named in honor of Tom Coffield, first director of then-SOAR. The building is located at 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd., at the far end of the Sisters High School parking lot. They lease 15 acres surrounding the building from the Sisters School District and a new intergovernmental agreement is in the process of being created between the two parties. For the three SPRD preschool classes, two classrooms at the elementary

school are utilized free of charge. They are also given a highly discounted rate by the district for use of school facilities for programs, leagues, and tournaments. Other programs include an after-school class, youth recreation programs, youth sports leagues, summer camps, adult athletics and enrichment, adult fitness programming, senior programming, drop-in community room space, and a variety of special events for the community. All of these programs can be viewed in the quarterly catalog as well as online on the SPRD website at www.sistersrecreation. com. Additionally, there are a number of committees that have been formed by volunteers to offer other

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opportunities for engagement, that come under the umbrella of SPRD for insurance and other purposes. Those include the Astronomy Club, Outlaw Lacrosse, Outlaw Volleyball Club, Sisters Community Labyrinth, Sisters Pickleball Club, Sisters Farmers Market, Sisters Skate Park and Hyzer Pines Disc Golf Course. Initially, the Sisters Community Garden and Sisters Trails Alliance started out under the SPRD umbrella before forming their own nonprofit organizations. Despite their name, SPRD is not connected in any way to the city parks (Village Green, Clemens, Fir Street, Creekside) which are the responsibility of and are maintained by the City Public Works department.

304 W. Adams Ave.

Sisters

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

The Nugget Newspaper Crossword

LETTERS

Continued from page 2

By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service

The inversion layer over Sisters won’t let the smoke out, but instead pushes it to the ground. As the population increases in Sisters, and we add more industry, vent tubes from homes, more chimney pipes, more furnace vents, more car and truck and “toy” exhaust, more burn piles and deforest the area, the quality of our environment will be what suffers. I am not against planned progress and burning as a whole. I just think we can do a better job scheduling it. Bill Anttila

To the Editor: I work at the Kiwanis Food Bank every week and have been chairman for the Spirit of Christmas Foodshare and Gifts for a number of years now. This is a letter of appreciation to the citizens of Sisters who have been so generous in supporting both endeavors. For everyone who has brought in a bag or two of food or dropped by the Food Bank with a cash donation, you are our guardian angels. When you pick up and pay for the bag of groceries at Ray’s you might think it’s not much, but it is epic. It saves the Food Bank from having to buy a lot of food during the year. For everyone who gives their time stocking and then working to distribute food on Thursday, you need to polish your halos. I think we have the best Food Bank anywhere, and it’s all because of this city and the people who live here. The applications are still available for the Spirit of Christmas and can be picked up at the Fire Department, the Food Bank and the Sisters FAN office in the school district administration building and returned to the Fire Department. If you have children, applications must be turned in by Friday, December 13, so the elves at the Fire Department can get the presents in order. We are distributing the Spirit Of Christmas on Saturday, December 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fire Hall. The Sisters Kiwanis, the Fire Department and Furry Friends would love to share the Joy of this Christmas Season with you. Merry Christmas! Shirley Miller

To the Editor, I have sent a preliminary email to the Sisters City Council that they consider a parking garage in the downtown core with charging stations, while large parcels of land are still available. I am awaiting a return call from our state regarding the clean vehicle rebate program to determine if it would apply to such a venture. I have spoken to the Ford company headquarters and found out that the chargers for their all-electric vehicles will be available for sale through Amazon next spring. They will have to be installed by an electrician. I am also trying to connect with the Bend Community Development Department to find out what they would have done differently in 1994 considering how the population of Bend has exploded. It seems to me that at the rate Sisters is growing, there will not be enough on-street parking for the local residents, let alone visitors, within a few short years. Why not plan ahead? From a business point of view it seems to me that advertising a Sisters parking garage with charging stations for both plug-in and all-electric cars as “recharge while you shop and dine with us” would make sense. Of course, there would be spaces for fuel-driven cars as well. Phyllis Lewis

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To the Editor: Thanks to Haley Hancock for reviving the Camp Sherman Bazaar. What a fun event! Cocoa, homemade soup, art, holiday crafts and treats, photography, kid-made pies, handcrafted wears, music, and most importantly, community. It provided an outlet for talented local artists to share their creativity, and inspired young kids to make their own crafts and art to sell. The event raised money for the upkeep of our treasured Camp Sherman Community Hall and Black Butte School. A local economy directly benefiting our town. In some ways revolutionary. In some ways just like it always has been; neighbors, clans, tribes supporting each other in the darkest days of winter. In all, traditions worth preserving. Jennie Sharp Camp Sherman

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

C L A S S I F I E D S ALL advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275. CLASSIFIED RATES COST: $2 per line for first insertion, $1.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1 per line 10th week and beyond (identical ad/consecutive weeks). Also included in The Nugget online classifieds at no additional charge. There is a minimum $5 charge for any classified. First line = approx. 20-25 characters, each additional line = approx. 25-30 characters. Letters, spaces, numbers and punctuation = 1 character. Any ad copy changes will be charged at the first-time insertion rate of $2 per line. Standard abbreviations allowed with the approval of The Nugget classified department. NOTE: Legal notices placed in the Public Notice section are charged at the display advertising rate. DEADLINE: MONDAY, noon preceding WED. publication. PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due upon placement. VISA & MasterCard accepted. Billing available for continuously run classified ads, after prepayment of first four (4) weeks and upon approval of account application. CATEGORIES: 101 Real Estate 102 Commercial Rentals 103 Residential Rentals 104 Vacation Rentals 106 Real Estate Wanted 107 Rentals Wanted 200 Business Opportunities 201 For Sale 202 Firewood 203 Recreation Equipment 204 Arts & Antiques 205 Garage & Estate Sales 206 Lost & Found 207 The Holidays 301 Vehicles 302 Recreational Vehicles 401 Horses 402 Livestock 403 Pets 500 Services 501 Computer Services 502 Carpet Upholstery Cleaning 503 Appliance Repair & Refinish 504 Handyman 505 Auto Repair 600 Tree Service & Forestry 601 Construction 602 Plumbing & Electric 603 Excavations & Trucking 604 Heating & Cooling 605 Painting 606 Landscaping & Yard Maint. 701 Domestic Services 702 Sewing 703 Child Care 704 Events & Event Services 801 Classes & Training 802 Help Wanted 803 Work Wanted 901 Wanted 902 Personals 999 Public Notice

101 Real Estate

104 Vacation Rentals

401 Horses

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CASCADE HOME & VACATION RENTALS Monthly and Vacation Rentals throughout Sisters Country. (541) 549-0792 Property management for second homes. CascadeVacationRentals.net In the Heart of Sisters 3 Vac. Rentals – Quiet 1-2 Bdrm Sleep 2-6, start at $145 per nt. vrbo.com/442970 or /180950 or /337593 • 503-730-0150 ~ Sisters Vacation Rentals ~ Private Central OR vac. rentals, Property Management Services 541-977-9898 www.SistersVacation.com

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102 Commercial Rentals

403 Pets PET SITTING Providing professional, reliable care for your dog, cat, horse and home in the city of Sisters and the Camp Polk Rd area. Call to schedule a complimentary consultation! 805-404-0748 Bend Spay & Neuter Project Providing Low-Cost Options for Spay, Neuter and more! Go to BendSnip.org or call 541-617-1010 Three Rivers Humane Society Where love finds a home! See the doggies at 1694 SE McTaggart in Madras • A No-kill Shelter Go to ThreeRiversHS.org or call 541-475-6889

STORAGE STEEL CONTAINERS FOR RENT OR SALE 201 For Sale Delivered to your business or “Support Sisters” property site SHOP LOCAL! Call 541-678-3332 1993 Arctic Cat Cougar STORAGE WITH BENEFITS Snowmobile. Needs work. • 8x20 dry box FREE. • Fenced yard RV Call 541-420-0171 • In-town, gated, 24-7 FOR YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE Kris@earthwoodhomes.com Mikasa "Black Tie" china set Prime Downtown Retail Space Service for six (30 pieces) Call Lori at 541-549-7132 $100 Firm Cold Springs Commercial 541-350-2272 500 Services CASCADE STORAGE Habitat THRIFT STORE (541) 549-1086 • (877) 540-1086 SNOW REMOVAL 211 E. Cascade • 541-549-1740 581 N. Larch – 7-Day Access Residential driveways & Mon.-Sun. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 5x5 to 12x30 Units Available sidewalks Donations: Mon.-Sat. 10 to 4 5x5 - 8x15 Climate Control Units Commercial snow blower & Habitat RESTORE On-site Management front loader 254 W. Adams • 541-549-1621 Guaranteed lowest prices SNO CAP MINI STORAGE Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 541-678-3332 www.SistersStorage.com Sun. Noon to 4 p.m. Closed Mon. LONG-TERM DISCOUNTS! BOOKKEEPING SERVICE Donations: Tues.-Sat. 10 to 4 Secure, Automated Facility ~ Olivia Spencer ~ with On-site Manager 202 Firewood Expert Local Bookkeeping! • • • Phone: (541) 241-4907 FIREWOOD, dry or green 541-549-3575 www.spencerbookkeeping.com Lodgepole, juniper, pine. MINI STORAGE Cut & split. Delivery included. FIFI'S HAULING SERVICE Sisters Storage & Rental eaglecreekfire@yahoo.com Dump Trailers available! 506 North Pine Street Call 541-419-2204 SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS 541-549-9631 DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD GEORGE’S SEPTIC Sizes 5x5 to 15x30. 7-day access. TANK SERVICE • SINCE 1976 • Computerized security gate. Doug Fir – Lodgepole – Juniper “A Well Maintained On-site management. DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES Septic System Protects U-Haul trucks, trailers, moving – 18155 Hwy. 126 East – the Environment” boxes & supplies. SistersForestProducts.com 541-549-2871 HEATED CAR STORAGE Order Online! 541-410-4509 MOVING TRUCK FOR HIRE Gated, w/clubroom & car wash. –COMPLETE MOVING, LLC– Monthly Rent or Lease Option. 204 Arts & Antiques Sisters' Only Local Moving Co.! 541-419-2502 Two exp. men with 25+ years THE NUGGET Bring a friend and shop at comm. moving. Refs! ODOT Lic. SISTERS OREGON Cha's on-line store... Class 1-B • Call 541-678-3332 chaforthefinest.com SMALL Engine REPAIR 103 Residential Rentals 541-549-1140 Lawn Mowers, House in Sisters THE JEWEL – 27 YEARS! Chainsaws & Trimmers 257 E. Black Butte Ave. next to Jewelry Repair • Custom Design Sisters Rental Clemens Park. 3BD, 2.5 BA, gems | 541-549-9388 | gold 506 North Pine Street 1,508 sq. ft., gas fireplace, www.thejewelonline.com 541-549-9631 laundry room, garage, fenced Authorized service center for backyard. Small pet OK. See 205 Garage & Estate Sales Stihl, Briggs & Stratton, pictures on Zillow.com Honda, Tecumseh Happy Trails Estate Sales! $1,799, available now Selling or Downsizing? Black Butte Call 541-549-8425 Locally owned & operated by... WINDOW CLEANING 3-BR, 2-BA apt. w/mountain Daiya 541-480-2806 Commercial & Residential. view, $1,450/mo. Sharie 541-771-1150 18 years experience, references 2 BR apt. $1,150/mo. available. Safe, reliable, friendly. Call Jeff at 503-510-4468. 301 Vehicles Free estimates. 541-241-0426 PONDEROSA PROPERTIES We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality SCC PROFESSIONAL –Monthly Rentals Available– Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ AUTO DETAILING Call Debbie at 541-549-2002 Call Robb at 541-647-8794 or Premium services by appt. Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection PonderosaProperties.com Sisters Car Connection da#3919 102 W. Barclay Drive Printed list at 221 S. Ash, Sisters SistersCarConnection.com 541-647-8794 • Ask for Robb Ponderosa Properties LLC

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501 Computers & Communications SISTERS SATELLITE TV • PHONE • INTERNET Your authorized local dealer for DirecTV, ViaSat HS Internet and more! CCB # 191099 541-318-7000 • 541-306-0729 Technology Problems? I can fix them for you. Solving for business, home & A/V needs. All tech supported. Jason Williams Sisters local • 25 yrs. experience 541-719-8329 THE NUGGET SISTERS OREGON online at NuggetNews.com

502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning BULLSEYE CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Cutting Edge Technology Over 30 years experience, specialize in rugs & pet stains. Licensed & Insured – Sisters owned & operated – bullseyecarpetcleaning.net • 541-238-7700 • Circuit Rider Carpet Cleaning “A Labor of Love” with 35 years exp.! 541-549-6471 M & J CARPET CLEANING Carpet, area rug, upholstery & tile cleaning. Senior & Veterans Discounts. Family & locally owned since 1986. 541-549-9090 GORDON’S LAST TOUCH Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY Member Better Business Bureau • Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon Since 1980 Call 541-549-3008 AIR-DUCT CLEANING Improve indoor air quality! M & J CARPET CLEANING Family & locally owned since 1986. 541-549-9090

504 Handyman JONES UPGRADES LLC Home Repairs & Remodeling Drywall, Decks, Pole Barns, Fences, Sheds & more. Mike Jones, 503-428-1281 Local resident • CCB #201650 LAREDO CONSTRUCTION 541-549-1575 Maintenance / Repairs Insurance Work CCB #194489 FRANCOIS' WORKSHOP Int./Ext. Carpentry & Repairs – Custom Woodworking – Painting, Decks, Fences & Outbuildings • CCB #154477 541-815-0624 or 541-549-0605 Home Customizations, LLC Res. & Commercial Remodeling, Bldg. Maintenance & Painting Chris Patrick, Owner homecustomizations@gmail.com CCB #191760 • 541-588-0083

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

C L A S S I F I E D S

BWPierce General Contracting Residential Construction Projects Becke William Pierce CCB#190689 • 541-647-0384 Sisters Tree Care, LLC beckewpcontracting@gmail.com Preservation, Pruning, Removals & Storm Damage McCARTHY & SONS Serving All of Central Oregon CONSTRUCTION Brad Bartholomew New Construction, Remodels, ISA Cert. Arborist UT-4454A Fine Finish Carpentry 503-914-8436 • CCB #218444 541-420-0487 • CCB #130561 4 Brothers Tree Service Carl Perry Construction LLC Sisters' Premier Tree Experts! Residential & Commercial – TREE REMOVAL & Restoration • Repair CLEANUP – – DECKS & FENCES – Native / Non-Native Tree CCB #201709 • 541-419-3991 Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk EARTHWOOD Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency TIMBER FRAME HOMES Storm Damage Cleanup, • Design & construction Craning & Stump Grinding, • Recycled fir and pine Debris Removal. • Mantles and beams – FOREST MANAGEMENT – • Sawmill services Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush • Dry box and yard storage Mowing, Mastication, Tree Kris@earthwoodhomes.com Thinning, Large & Small Scale CCB #174977 Projects! JOHN NITCHER Serving Black Butte Ranch, CONSTRUCTION Camp Sherman & Sisters Area General Contractor since 2003 Home repair, remodeling and ** Free Estimates ** additions. CCB #101744 Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-549-2206 541-815-2342 4brostrees.com Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057 TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT LLC Construction & Renovation All-phase Tree Care Specialist Custom Residential Projects Technical Removals, Pruning, All Phases • CCB #148365 Stump Grinding, Planting & 541-420-8448 Consultations, Brush Mowing, JOHN PIERCE Lot Clearing, Wildfire Fuel General Contracting LLC Reduction • Nate Goodwin Residential Building Projects ISA-Cert. Arborist PN-7987A Serving Sisters Since 1976 CCB #190496 • 541-771-4825 Strictly Quality online at www.tsi.services CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 Eagle Creek 541-549-9764 Forestry tree thinning, juniper CENIGA'S MASONRY, INC. clearing, fire consulting, Brick • Block • Stone • Pavers prescribed fire, specialized tree CCB #181448 – 541-350-6068 felling, ladder fuel reduction, www.CenigasMasonry.com brush & field mowing, tree health assessments, hazard tree removal, LAREDO CONSTRUCTION light excavation, snow removal, 541-549-1575 dry firewood sales For ALL Your Residential licensed, bonded, insured. Construction Needs Serving Central OR since 1997. CCB #194489 CCB #227275 www.laredoconstruction.com EagleCreek3@yahoo.com 541-420-3254 Top Knot Tree Service can handle all of your tree needs from trimming to removals. Free consultations and great cleanups! Call Bello at 541-419-9655 CCB #227009 SIMON CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Buried in Pine Needles? Residential Remodel Check out The Nugget's Building Projects Yard Care advertisers! Bruce Simon, Quality craftsman 601 Construction for 35 years 541-948-2620 • CCB #184335 CASCADE GARAGE DOORS bsimon@bendbroadband.com Factory Trained Technicians JERRY WILLIS DRYWALL Since 1983 • CCB #44054 & VENETIAN PLASTER 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553 All Residential, Commercial Jobs 541-480-7179 • CCB #69557 –CLASSIFIEDS– It pays to advertise in The Nugget, your local "Yellow Pages" for Sisters! Pat Burke Deadline to place your ad is LOCALLY OWNED Monday before noon... CRAFTSMAN BUILT Call 541-549-9941 CCB: 215066 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com

600 Tree Service & Forestry

602 Plumbing & Electric CURTS ELECTRIC LLC – SISTERS, OREGON – Quality Electrical Installations Agricultural • Commercial Industrial • Well & Irrigation Pumps, Motor Control, Barns & Shops, Plan Reviews CCB #178543 541-480-1404 MONTE'S ELECTRIC • service • residential • commercial • industrial Serving all of Central Oregon 541-719-1316 lic. bond. insured, CCB #200030 R&R Plumbing, LLC > Repair & Service > Hot Water Heaters > Remodels & New Const. Servicing Central Oregon Lic. Bond. Ins. • CCB #184660 541-771-7000 SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC. “Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling • New Construction • Water Heaters 541-549-4349 Residential and Commercial Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #87587

603 Excavation & Trucking BANR Enterprises, LLC Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls Residential & Commercial CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net ROBINSON & OWEN Heavy Construction, Inc. All your excavation needs *General excavation *Site Preparation *Sub-Divisions *Road Building *Sewer and Water Systems *Underground Utilities *Grading *Snow Removal *Sand-Gravel-Rock Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #124327 (541) 549-1848

TEWALT & SONS INC. 606 Landscaping & Yard Excavation Contractors Maintenance Sisters’ Oldest Excavation Co. Our experience will make your All Landscaping Services $ go further – Take advantage Mowing, Thatching, Hauling... of our FREE on-site visit! Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740. Hard Rock Removal • Rock Hammering • Hauling Trucking • Top Soil • Fill Dirt Ground-to-finish Site Prep Building Demolition • Ponds & Fencing, irrigation installation & Liners • Creative & Decorative trouble-shooting, defensible Rock Placement • Clearing, space strategies, general Leveling & Grading Driveways cleanups, turf care maintenance Utilities: Sewer Mains, Laterals and agronomic recommendations, Water, Power, TV & Phone fertility & water conservation Septic System EXPERTS: management, light excavation. Complete Design & Permit CCB 188594 • LCB 9264 Approval, Feasibility, Test Holes. 541-515-8462 Sand, Pressurized & Standard – All You Need Maintenance – Systems. Repairs, Tank Pine needle removal, hauling, Replacement. CCB #76888 mowing, moss removal, edging, Cellular: 419-2672 or 419-5172 raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, • 541-549-1472 • gutters, pressure washing... TewaltAndSonsExcavation.com Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122

701 Domestic Services "CLEANING QUEEN" Serving the Sisters area! Call Maria at 541-213-0775 BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897

Cascade Bobcat Service is now SCHERRER EXCAVATION Lic. & Bonded – CCB #225286 scherrerexcavation.com Mike • 541-420-4072 Logan • 541-420-0330

704 Events & Event Services

604 Heating & Cooling ACTION AIR Heating & Cooling, LLC Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com CCB #195556 541-549-6464

Central Oregon's BIGGEST GUN & KNIFE SHOW! December 14 & 15 Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3 Deschutes County Expo Center – Admission, just $7 – For info call 503-363-9564 WesKnodelGunShows.com

605 Painting ~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 www.frontier-painting.com Riverfront Painting LLC Interior/Exterior • Deck Staining SHORT LEAD TIMES Travis Starr, 541-647-0146 License #216081

802 Help Wanted Short-term/part-time secretarial help needed. Retiring attorney needs assistance in preparing closing of office. Hours flexible. Must be familiar with Microsoft Outlook. Call Bart 503-351-5930. Home health aide needed for private care. Great shifts, salary and more. 541-420-0501.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Commentary...

Battle for survival in the Arctic

Correspondent

Extinction.... a powerful word when it comes to wildlife. Impact travel has become the new buzzword in the travel industry, referring to travel that makes a difference to either people or wildlife. In this case we are looking at threatened animals on the brink of extinction. Many species worldwide are battling both man and nature while attempting to survive. There are many trips now that focus on these wildlife efforts, and I was fortunate to travel with Natural Habitat Adventures, who specializes in these trips as they have local naturalists that are educated on each species throughout the world. Recently, I traveled to Churchill, Manitoba. Why? Churchill is home of the polar bears right on Hudson Bay just south of the Arctic Circle at the 58th parallel. These magnificent bears call the tundra their home when the ice melts during their summer. We came face to face with these white giants for three days. While traveling, we were accompanied by our own bear expert, learning about the polar bears in their Arctic habitat. Lumbering along in our giant polar rover (a fire truck chassis on massive tires), we were given full lectures on the bears and their habits as well as the impact of climate change in the Arctic. Prime time for viewing the polar bears is for 6-8 weeks from early October to midNovember. Having traveled to wildlife-dense areas of the Amazon and Africa, my expectations were low that watching bears alone would be exciting. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Polar bears are considered marine mammals, as they depend on oceanic life. They are the master hunters of all bears. Churchill and the outlying areas around this small town of 950 is the resting place for the bears after the ice melts. As we learned, the bears travel great distances gorging themselves on ring seal while on the ice. After it melts, they return to the tundra and fast — perhaps some nibbles of kelp, but no protein. So, after returning to dry land, the bear conserves energy patiently waiting for the ice to return in November or December. Even while fasting polar bears are animated, and we saw all kinds of excitement. We witnessed forms of curiosity, intelligence, cleansing, sparring and of course, just “conserving energy” in the form of a

nap. Polar bears are experts at conserving energy as they fast for months. It was bears being authentic — no ice pools behind bars, no balls or other stimulation... just polar bears being themselves in their own habitat. The bears looked very healthy, as they had fed on the ice through last July. With this extended season, their coats were full, mothers healthy and cubs fed. We asked about the impact of climate change and global warming. At this time (each year varies), 2019 was a great year: no skinny bears. These massive hunters are top of the food chain in the Arctic. With ice melting at various rates, their primary source of food, the ring seal, remains dependent on the fish under the ice. No fish, no seals, no bears. Should the ice not remain for a long enough period of time over the year, the bears starve as the seals are fewer, and this becomes their battle for survival. Hudson Bay is relatively shallow (800 feet at its deepest) so the ice usually remains through June or July; in some recent years it has been only May. A couple of months of less feeding makes a big difference to a polar bear. A mother polar bear will not reproduce if she is not adequately fed. It used to be two cubs per birth; now, it’s down to 1.2 in statistics. With the ice being in flux, a mother’s ability to reproduce

is diminishing. That’s impact. Polar bears need to adapt to being around humans in Churchill. Should a bear stray through town, that bear will be transferred to polar bear jail. The bear remains there for 30 days. At that point, the World Wildlife Fund will transport it via helicopter 40 miles away — far enough away from being a human threat. It requires a $3,500 donation to transport a bear out of jail and WWF actually lets you designate your donation to get a polar bear out of jail. Churchill has a 10 p.m. curfew, and walking alone at night is not allowed. I viewed Churchill as an Arctic version of Sisters: many selfemployed people — artists, writers, and shop owners — all making a living in a small town when tourists arrive. Everyone has respect for the bears as they rely on them for their livelihood. The authenticity of this place and the people touched me. Surprisingly, they have yearround tourism: the northern lights from December-March, the beluga whales during the summer, and then the polar bears from October through mid-November — so fairly steady business for these people living on the edge of the Arctic Circle. While on this trip, we received a bonus: an early season display of the northern lights. From January through March, Churchill is home of

PHOTO BY SUSAN WAYMIRE

this spectacular light show and one of the best viewing places in the world. We were driven to our closest InukShuk (Inuit cairn) to witness this extraordinary natural phenomenon… in late October! This light show, with the help of my new iPhone Promax 11, made for no less than a spiritual experience. The only words I have to describe this are amazingly breathtaking! I was thankful for having purchased two great cameras for this trip,

a Nikon with a traditional 300 mm lens for close-ups of the bears, and the new iPhone 11 for more up-close shots, scenery, and nightmode. This year I celebrated a milestone birthday, and my goal was to travel and have some unique adventures — cultural, active, and wildlife. Having done some incredible travels to Egypt and the Dolomites this year, I have to say this trip topped them all — short, sweet, but with impact.

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Open daily, 9 to 5, by the Lodge Pool Complex 541-595-3838 Black Butte Ranch 541-549-5555 in Sisters, 414 W. Washington Ave. see all our listings at blackbutterealtygroup.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

TREES: Representatives will be in Sisters December 21 Continued from page 1

PHOTO BY SUE ANDERSON

The High Desert Chorale and the Sisters High Desert Bell Choir served up a stirring performance.

CHORALE: Event rings in the Christmas season in Sisters Continued from page 18

Sisters High Desert Bell Choir, under the direction of Lola Knox, turned in an outstanding performance. Then the chorale jumped back in with “Tidings of Joy,” and “Amen, Go Tell It!” which comes from the film, “Lilies of the Field.” The bell-ringers added accompaniment. “A Celtic Night,” accompanied by Adrienne Brown on the viola was dedicated to the memory of Pam Nord, a longtime member of the chorale, who passed on earlier this year. Director Gunterman said, “Pam was a bright spark in the front row of the chorale for years. She had a terrific high soprano voice that was clear as a bell; we all miss her sweet disposition and voice. A beautiful song like Celtic Silent Night was perfect to honor her memory.” The concert ended with the audience giving the ukulele players, bell ringers,

percussionist, viola soloist, chorale and piano accompanist Donna Moyer a standing ovation as the strains of “Christmas In About 3 Minutes” rang into the night, and the chorale giving a big shout, “Merry Christmas!”

educational experience, Hansen said, helping the students understand why replanting is needed, how to do the planting and how to map out a grid for the project. And an idea was planted along with the trees. “That kind of sparked the idea of doing something larger,” Hansen said. “We decided to take it on as our annual fundraiser for the year.” This time around, the whole school will be involved, and the scale is much larger. The target is to plant 10,000 trees on May 1-2, 2020, in the hard-hit Trout Creek drainage. The Forest For Good project also supports the Bend school. Every $10 sponsors one tree – and a student’s labor to plant it. Donations

Coldwell Banker Reed Bros. Realty 291 W. Cascade Ave. 541-549-6000

will be accepted during the visit to Sisters Coffee this month, and through the website at https://forestforgood. com. The Waldorf School of Bend is an independent

nonprofit school that operates without federal or state funding. Fundraising augments operating expenses, which are only 85 percent covered by tuition and fees.

Buying or Selling your Castle? I have the expertise & experience you need.

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Sixth graders from The Waldorf School of Bend planted trees on the Milli Fire site last spring — planting the seed for a much larger project in 2020.

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IN THE PINES: Assuming motive can be divisive and unfair Continued from page 13

listen to their story? Look them in the eye and consider their concerns from a nonjudgmental point of view? Of those I’ve confronted about it so far, nobody has done their human, heartlevel homework before casting those words about. Some accusers of virtue signaling and performative wokeness may have done their homework; I do hope so. (I recognize that I, too, may be painting with an awfully large brush.) But, like my friend back in 2001, some seem content to assume the worst of others, based on zero personal experience with the individuals in question. Taking action is hard work. In my experience, a great deal of it consists of annoying slogs through bureaucracy and meetings. I sure as heck wouldn’t take the time unless I felt genuine dedication to the issue at hand. There are far easier ways to preen for positive attention. Writing a column, for example. It’s possible that whoever requested the insensitive billboard’s removal cares deeply about how symbols of

white pioneer courage feel to folks whose people have been killed, displaced, stolen from, raped, and stripped of their culture and language by colonists and their descendants. (Personally, I’m just a confused hypocrite in the middle, celebrating the pioneers and my heritage as a white Westerner one minute, despairing the plight of Native American Indians the next.) The communication tactics of these folks may indeed consist of “cancel culture” methods that don’t promote greater understanding of history. I’m not here to talk communications strategy; corporations pay me good money for that. I’m here to talk about the motivations of these folks. I can’t tell you what their true motivations are, but common decency suggests I consider them innocent until proven guilty. To impugn their motivations out-of-hand, to project some sense of ego-preening on an everyday citizen you haven’t met, strikes me as dangerous. Like the insidious idea that anyone who doesn’t agree with your ideology is peddling “fake news,” kneejerk accusations of virtue signaling promote a divided, nasty, mistrustful society. Are people sometimes hypocritical? Do we wear

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon crosses around our necks while complaining about people in poverty rather than offering a helping hand? Praise the idea of veterans who have served our country, all the while voting against candidates and programs that would help them and their families? Do we parade around with signs promoting environmental causes, then jump into our gas-guzzling SUVs and enjoy a food-cart meal served on disposable plates? Yep, sure do. We are humans, after all, which is to say we are flawed and inconsistent. This does not mean that our every move, bumpersticker, and political action is a mere performance, enacted for applause and attention. Sometimes, performativity is in the eye of the beholder. Rather than casting aspersions upon those who seek positive change, perhaps each of us should turn that critical lens upon ourselves. Better yet, throw the darned thing in the recycling bin and find a better, clearer, more positive lens through which to view our fellow humans and ourselves, too. As for Rose: she fell in love, got married, and bought a sweet old house that started falling apart shortly after they moved in. Her posts about the remodel were hilarious.

ARTWORK: Exploring connections between people and land Continued from page 8

of human movement and travels — where you build your life.” Her travels for this project were supported by a grant from the Oregon Community F o u n d a t i o n ’s C r e a t i v e Heights Initiative. “I think of the animals as emissaries from the other world, the world of nature,” she said. Human consciousness can be seen as one world, “the land of language and fossil fuels. Then there’s the animals: spiritual connectors to our primal roots.” Yet Jensen is also inspired by overhead maps of Manhattan. “You see Broadway cutting at a diagonal across the island,” she said. “It’s that

way because it’s the original pathway, the migration pathway of the animals up and down the island. Then it became the path that the Indians used, and then became the path that the white man used.” Such paths “connect us as humans to the very literal, essential, fundamental need and use of the land, the landscape, and the environment,” according to Jensen. “I feel such urgency now — many of us feel urgency — to connect back to the earth, to what is essential, fundamental, undeniable.” “Nearer Nature: Worth Your Salt” is on view at Oregon Feed and Irrigation at the north end of Redmond through the end of this month. The work may also be viewed at Tygh Valley General Store and the Riverside Restaurant in Maupin. Details are available at maliajensenstudio. com.

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Suzanne Carvlin Broker 818.216.8542

Patty Cordoni Principal Broker Farm, Ranch, Vineyard Division 541.771.0931

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Sotheby’s International Realty© is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated. All associates are licensed in the State of Oregon.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Serving the Sisters, Camp Sherman and Black Butte Ranch Areas

Ponderosa Properties R E A L T O R S

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BE A PART OF IT... Sisters’ Only Custom Mixed-Use Community INNOVATIVE NEW CONCEPT • Light Industrial/Commercial • Live/Work Loft Apartments • Opportunity for Economic Diversity • Small Condo-type Spaces • Perfect for Start-ups and Entrepreneurs Lot 17 MLS#201803204 ............$200,000 Lot 5 MLS#201803205 ............$235,000 Lot 4 MLS#201803206 ........... $245,000 Lot 7 MLS#201803202 ........... $250,000

CLASSIC HIGH MEADOW HOME Mountain views from this single-level, 4-bedroom, 3-bath home on 1 acre in Sisters premier neighborhood. Hardwood floors, a wall of windows and a wood-burning fireplace grace the greatroom. New GE Profile appliances & lighting upgrade the kitchen. Newly tiled walk-in master shower. Fresh paint and new carpeting throughout. Home office, family room and large pantry included in the 2,840 sq. ft. Oversized double garage with abundant storage. $669,000. MLS#201902939

YOU BELONG HERE 2.5-acre parcels with community water, power and phone available. All lots offer you treed privacy and easy paved-road access. Be one of the first buyers in to claim a mountain view. Just minutes to Sisters. Priced $196,000 to $247,500. Call listing office for MLS#. BEAUTIFUL LOT IN METOLIUS MEADOWS Metolius Meadows is the location for this beautiful .38± acre lot with mature ponderosa pines bordering open space/common area and overlooking Lake Creek Basin to the north and Black Butte to the south. Paved road and underground utilities. The lot has been approved for a standard septic system and is already hooked up to the community water system. Ownership includes common-area privileges, tennis courts, pool and more. There is direct access to nearby National Forest and an expansive trail system for hiking, mtn. biking and cross-country skiing. Close to the Metolius River, Black Butte Ranch golf, Hoodoo Ski area and the city of Sisters. $239,500. MLS#201910110

Kevin R. Dyer 541-480-7552 CRS, GRI, Principal Broker

Rad Dyer 541-480-8853

ABR, CCIM, CRB, CRS, GRI, Principal Broker

A N D

www. P onderosa P roperties.com

GOLF HOME 245 Located on the 14th fairway of Big Meadow Golf Course, this home enjoys a serene golf course setting & view. Open floor plan w/vaulted open beamed ceilings, wood-burning fireplace, hardwood floors & ample kitchen w/updated appliances, eating bar & dining area. Main-floor guest bedroom/bath. Upstairs offers large loft common space, master bedroom suite, plus 2 additional bedrooms & bath. Separate laundry room & attached single garage. Entertain/relax outdoors on large deck overlooking golf course. Close to Paulina Springs park, swimming pool & tennis courts. Nearby bike paths easily access all points of the Ranch. Home has been in a vacation rental program; can be rented to help offset costs. $539,500. MLS#201811380

14892 BLUEGRASS LOOP Quiet Crossroads is tucked away in a forested setting, yet minutes to the Western town of Sisters and to its most coveted school district. Ride your horse or hike/bike the USFS trails. Build a new home while living in the manufactured home that provides new furnace (also a woodstove), new laminate floors, new metal roof and ceilings, new tub and shower surrounds. Storage building/shop. Spread out on the land; build a barn or garage with guest quarters. Easy ingress for RV or trailer/ boat, etc. Hold this property until you are ready to build with affordable living until then. Benefit by being onsite during construction. $249,900. MLS#201910492

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Located in the Coyote Springs neighborhood, end of a quiet cul-de-sac bordering the forest buffer, this homesite offers the best of both worlds. Access over 100 miles of Peterson Ridge and other forest trails right out your back door. Enjoy the nearby amenities of FivePine Lodge, Three Creeks Brewing, Sisters Athletic Club, Shibui Spa and Sisters Movie House or stroll into downtown to enjoy Creekside Park, The Village Green, art galleries, fine restaurants and gourmet markets. Ready for your new home with underground utilities, paved streets, city sewer and city water. CCRS and design guidelines have helped create a beautiful neighborhood of quality homes. Low HOA fees. Get your hiking shoes on or pull out your mountain bike and enjoy all that Sisters Country has to offer! $260,000. MLS#201910116

The Locals’ Choice! Carol Davis 541-410-1556 ABR, GRI, Broker

P R O P E R T Y

Catherine Black 541-480-1929

CRS, Broker, Realtor Emeritus 40+ years

The Locals’ Choice! M A N A G E M E N T

221 S. Ash St. | PO Box 1779, Sisters

14540 MOUNTAIN VIEW LOOP Large ponderosa pines and corridors of sunshine provide a naturally appealing setting for constructing your new residence in Sisters. CCRs and HOA provide guidance and control of properties. The Crossroads community is just west of Sisters with paved streets, underground utilities and great access to National Forest trail systems and forest road access for a multitude of uses. $169,000. MLS#201908156

OVERLOOKS THE DESCHUTES RIVER This premier building site is perched like an eagle’s nest on the west rim of the Deschutes River Canyon. Beautiful river views and views of Smith Rock, the Ochocos and the southern horizon. Paved access, existing well, utilities and septic available. Property directly fronts the Deschutes River, and BLM lands are nearby offering hiking and/or fishing opportunities. $295,000. MLS#201506294

LAKE CREEK LODGE, #18 Turnkey in every sense of the word! Three bedroom/3 bath cabin at Historic Lake Creek Lodge in Camp Sherman. Set on a small rise overlooking the creek basin, this vacation ready cabin offers quality throughout. Knotty pine paneling, plank fir floors, stone/gas fireplace, butcher block countertops, stainless appliances, farm kitchen sink, tile bathroom & showers, cedar decks, stone exterior accents & locked owner storage. Enjoy the common area tennis, pool, creek & open spaces. The adjacent lodge serves great meals! Options: 1/4 share $219,000, MLS#201811624 (or) 1/2 share, $429,000, MLS#201811627

343 W. ADAMS AVE. Development opportunity for new construction. 120’ x 114’. Good location in NW portion of Sisters. Located in area with mix of professional, service, and medical. $289,000. MLS#201903440

Shane Lundgren 541-588-9226 Broker

Debbie Dyer 541-480-1650 GRI, Broker

7515 SE GENTIAN WAY, PRINEVILLE Views of the water from every nook and cranny on this 76-acre hillside property. The graveled driveway leads you up to a cozy campsite with a trailer, outdoor shower, deck and fire pit. There is a cased well (no pump or power at this time). Power is in the road. Standard septic approval in 2004. Terrain varies with some beautiful sandy, level areas to a small canyon with animal trails. Gated driveway. Zoning allows for 5-acre homesites. One-quarter mile to the boat dock for year-round recreation. Borders public lands to the east. Owners will carry a contract. Broker owned. MLS#201907560. $229,000.

GLAZE MEADOW #45 Wonderful cabin at Black Butte Ranch. Recently updated throughout the kitchen, living and bathrooms. It features a natural wood-paneled interior with tall vaulted open-beam ceilings and natural lava-rock fireplace. Two bedrooms down plus loft with bathroom. Enjoy the great location at the end of a long, peaceful cul-de-sac close to the Glaze Meadow Sports and Recreation Center. Adjacent to bike/pedestrian pathway with easy access to beautiful National Forest lands.$375,000. MLS#201904587

LAKE CREEK LODGE, #27-U3 One-quarter shared interest in this beautiful 3-bedroom, 3-bath cabin at historic Lake Creek Lodge in Camp Sherman. Features modern amenities with the feel of yesteryear. Built in 2011, and furnished with a combination of antiques and quality reproduction pieces. The cabin features fir plank floors, knotty pine paneling, stone/gas fireplace, butcher block countertops, gas cooktop, farm kitchen sink, tile bathroom floors and showers, washer/dryer, cedar decks, stone exterior accents and locked owner storage. $215,000. MLS#201908128 40 ACRES – 17672 WILT ROAD Private, yet close in, less than 10± miles from downtown Sisters. Forty acres with elevated building site and modest mountain views. Mix of pine and juniper. This property would be a great candidate for off-grid power, but power access is available. Call Listing Agent regarding power. Needs septic feasibility. Conditional-use permit to build a home was recently renewed for two years. Borders government land, State of Oregon, BLM and Deschutes County on three sides Owner will consider short terms. $299,500. MLS#201908158

Greg Davidge 808-281-2676 Broker

Jackie Herring 541-480-3157 Broker