The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLIV No. 7 // 2021-02-17

The Nugget Vol. XLIV No. 7

POSTAL CUSTOMER

News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

www.NuggetNews.com

Checking in on emotional wellness of youth

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Sisters improves from ‘Extreme’ to ‘High Risk’

Opportunity strikes...

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Everyone has been impacted in some way over the past year as a result of COVID-19 and much has been written about the challenges in regard to emotional well-being among school aged-children, whose “normal” lives have been taken on a wild ride.

From school closures to the shutdown of activities, from the shortage of social opportunities to being cooped up at home, young people have been asked to adapt in unprecedented ways.

For some these difficulties have taken a significant toll leading to feelings

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

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Sisters cross-country skiers took advantage of a nice dump of snow to get out on the streets.

See YOUTH on page 15

As of Friday, February 12, indoor dining and other activities returned to Sisters, as Deschutes County moved from the “Extreme Risk” category for COVID-19 spread to the “High Risk” category.

Governor Kate Brown announced Tuesday, February 9, that 12 counties improved in risk level, with 10 improving from “Extreme Risk” for the first time since November, effective Friday, February 12.

County risk levels under the state’s public-health framework aim to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19.

The framework uses four different risk levels for counties See ‘HIGH RISK’ on page 21

SHS football gets green light to play Wilderness-permit program to move ahead

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Those venturing into the Sisters Country wilderness may need to secure a permit as a long-delayed program goes into effect this summer.

The Deschutes and Willamette National Forests announced last week that the two forests will move forward with implementing the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System this year. The initial implementation of the permit system was delayed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Friday, May 28 and ending on Friday, September 24, day-use permits will be required for 19 out of 79 trails in the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters wilderness areas. During the same period, overnight-use permits will be required for all trails in those same three

Inside...

wilderness areas. There are some exceptions for Pacific Crest Trail hikers, volunteers, and hunters.

According to the Forest Service, the permitting system is being implemented to manage the impact of increased wilderness traffic, which has exploded in recent years. According to the Forest Service — and many wilderness adventurers — human impacts are significantly degrading the environment and the experience of the wilderness.

More information about the permits can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ willamette/specialplaces/ ?cid=fseprd688355 Reservations for the permits will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at www.Recreation.gov.

See PERMITS on page 22

Sisters High School football players, coaches and fans got a welcome message last Friday, when Governor Kate Brown announced that outdoor contact sports for the upcoming “fall” season

will be allowed for many teams in Oregon, including Sisters.

Not surprisingly, there are strings attached, including the need to offer on-site responsive testing for symptomatic individuals and close contacts, protocols in place for contact-tracing

purposes, and written waivers identifying health and safety risks, as well as a commitment to isolation and quarantine if exposed to COVID-19.

Schools, like Sisters, that have returned to in-person See FOOTBALL on page 22

PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG

Members of the Sisters High School football team practice in the snow last week prior to the news that they will be able to play in the upcoming season that officially begins February 22.

Letters/Weather ............... 2 Roundabout Sisters .......... 5 Entertainment ................. 11 For the birds .................... 17 Classifieds................. 18-20 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............10 Fun & Games ....................16 Crossword ....................... 17 Real Estate ................ 20-24

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

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The media ‘conspiracy’

By Terry Coultas Guest Columnist

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 10 a.m. Monday.

To the Editor: Ask yourself, is it smart to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs because it was a pet of Donald Trump?

Decisions born out of anger and spite normally don’t turn out well for anyone. A lot of what his administration passed was designed to benefit everyone, not just a political party or small faction of our population.

Putting his personality aside, which I agree was hard to swallow at times, doesn’t mean that we have to eliminate all his policies. That is, unless you can replace it with a better plan that could benefit all of us.

Satan loves hate because it divides and blinds us. Differences are OK, but only if

addressed rationally and not through road rage.

I think we can all agree on priorities like safety, prosperity, strength, hope, and love. If not, we will fail each other as a nation and as a beacon of hope and unity for the rest of the world. There are only two paths available, and one is a dead end.

Byron Blake

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To the Editor: John Baldwin’s letter published last week complained about the number of executive See LETTERS on page 8

Sisters Weather Forecast

Courtesy of the National Weather Service, Pendleton, Oregon

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Partly Cloudy

Rain/Snow

Rain/Snow

Snow Showers

41/25

42/33

41/29

40/32

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Rain/Snow Showers

Showers

Rain/Snow Showers

46/36

47/31

42/27

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In 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.”

I don’t believe in conspiracies or their unsupported theories, but don’t get me wrong; they’re interesting to imagine and certainly not a small challenge to create. However, 95 percent of these fictitious revelations won’t or can’t work due to the lack of one essential ingredient: secrecy.

Theories such as “the landing on the moon was faked”; “the CIA killed JFK and put 9/11 together”; Oswald still being alive, and shooting laser beams to start fires in Southern California, are all ludicrous theories and completely impossible because of the frailty of humans and their inability to keep secrets.

Humans talk, or in today’s society, they leak information. Most of these fantasies, depending on their complexity, require many people with unlimited time to create.

There are certain theories that seem plausible because the foundation of the theory is real and existing. Take cancer research and the vastness of its organization.

Some believe there’s a cure for the disease, but that the pharmaceutical industry is holding back these cures for infinite financial gain. This may seem plausible, especially coming from such a greedy industry, but the theory is not at all feasible because of the element of secrecy. Another plausible conspiracy could be the origin of the COVID virus; did China plant this virus deliberately? Again, plausible, but way too many people are involved to keep this a secret.

Of all the various industries, one stands out that has the potential of fulfilling the definition of a plausible conspiracy: that would be the news industry. Could you believe a scenario where an industry having only one product was conceived from one simple business plan?

That plan is based solely on the principal of maintaining sides through division. If the news empire could have a universal business plan it would read “Maintain the Divide.”

No individual colluded with another to create this industry; an argument occurred and an opportunity for profit was exposed to entrepreneurs. Two sides to anything requires judging, judging requires opinion, and opinion creates division. The news industry feeds off division; their only goal, their only concern is to maintain the divide. Having two sides somehow coming together and compromising on issues is not in the best interest of this industry.

They must ensure that there’s always another side.

A conspiracy theory is defined as, “a belief that some covert, but influential organization is responsible for a circumstance or event.” Is the news industry an influential organization?

Does this industry disseminate truthful news and unbiased opinion? Are the resultant effects divisive?

This theory is absolutely plausible because secrecy is not required; they control what you know and the secrets you get to know.

There’s no fake news, but there’s fake opinion on both sides of the political aisle.

Do you think the media could actually manipulate politicians into maintaining this divide? As stated before, the pharmaceutical industry is greedy, but they are saints compared to the news industry. Why does anybody on either side of the political aisle buy any of this? They are dividing us for their own economic gain; without us watching and listening to their divisive rhetoric, their ratings would be in the toilet. Hannity, Lemon, Cuomo, “The Great One,” and other bloviators such as “The View,” Limbaugh, and Cooper would all be looking for work, or better yet, may be having to learn how to work like the rest of us.

The American people as a whole need to understand what partisanship is: It’s the one word used to describe why the Democrats were motivated to impeach Trump, and the same word used to describe why the Republicans voted to acquit him. Partisanship is not what the framers intended. It’s too narrow-minded and limits common sense. Your representatives and the media want you just where you are, and the further you move right or left, keeping you off center, maintaining the divide, the better it is for them. What happened to our republic?

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

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Learning history in real time

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

PHOTO BY NORM EDER

Beth Wood will introduce her new book of poetry in a virtual event on Friday.

Local poet

celebrates book

A six-week class during the presidential election, and the tumult and upheaval that followed, gave Sisters High School teacher Gail Greaney’s Advanced Placement Government Politics and Policy students a chance to study history in the making.

A January 21 article published by the state’s largest paper, The Oregonian, featured her class and focused on the challenge and strategies of teaching a course of this nature during an eventful political period.

The Nugget followed up with Greaney and two of her students to uncover more of what she and her classroom experienced during and after the presidential election.

Greaney was approached by a reporter from The Oregonian due to her involvement in the Classroom Law Project (CLP) which promotes the teaching of Constitutional law through programs such as We the People and Mock Trial. According to the group’s website, CLP’s mission is “working to equip students with the knowledge, essential skills, and motivation to participate in our democracy.”

Greaney, a long-time participant of CLP, takes that mission quite seriously and found it hard to stay abreast as an educator with the fastevolving events surrounding the elections and leading up to the January 6 uprising at the nation’s Capitol.

“I would literally check my phone when I got up in

the morning to catch the news and think about it on my way to work, then look again at 9 a.m. and change what I was going to talk about,” she told The Nugget.

“Kids would arrive at 9:35 for class and ask a question about something that had happened between 9 and 9:30. There were days I could not keep up.”

Often, a history or government class focuses on happenings of the past, but Greaney’s group had a frontrow seat as election results were challenged, a riot took place inside the nation’s Capitol building, and calls for presidential impeachment began to rumble.

Policies, laws and the Constitution became part of every news cycle, in a See HISTORY on page 20

with virtual event

Sisters poet and singersongwriter Beth Wood will celebrate the release of her latest poetry book, “Believe The Bird,” with a virtual reading hosted by Paulina Springs Books on Friday, February 19.

Wood will be joined by Kim Stafford, Oregon’s poet laureate from 2018 to 2020, and author of a dozen books of poetry and prose.

Wood and Stafford will share poems, conversation, and even a song or two. The event is free and open to all.

Wood follows up her award-winning poetry book, “Ladder To The

Light” (2019 Oregon Book Awards Readers’ Choice Award and 2019 finalist for the Stafford/Hall prize for poetry), with a collection of forthright, shimmering poems that examine the stories we tell ourselves. Some stories are true, some may no longer be true. Some are based on history, cultural messages, direct experience.

Wood asks, “What if we examine the stories we tell ourselves to see if they resonate with who we are now? What if we allow our inherent wisdom to override See WOOD on page 21

Retirement… Central Oregon style

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

Oscar and Gabrielle Pena decided to begin retirement in Sisters in 2017. But slowing down hasn’t been on their agenda. Their love of the outdoors, sports, and preparing great food has kept them busy and moving fast.

Choosing Sisters as their forever home is a true testament to Central Oregon’s allure.

They had the whole world to choose from and settled in Sisters Country.

The Penas have lived around the world, starting with their homeland of Mexico. Oscar’s work as an electrical engineer with several technology firms, like Hewlett Packard, took their family of four to a variety of places, including Brazil and Miami. After a successful career, he was ready to retire and travel. In 2016, the couple took eight months and traveled to 15 countries.

“By traveling around, we looked for the best place

to start our new life,” said Oscar.

The couple included a few rests at home before starting out again.

“With COVID, I’m so glad we did it,” said Gabrielle.

After completing their global travels, and while Oscar was still working, they intensified their search to find the best place to live.

The couple was invited to a wedding in Montana.

See PENA on page 23

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to affect gatherings, please contact individual organizations for current meeting status

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR Council on Aging of Central Oregon Senior Lunch Tuesdays, noon, Sisters Al-Anon Mon., noon, by Zoom. / Thurs., Community Church. 541-480-1843.

10 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Church. 541-610-7383.

Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061.

Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs. & Friends of the Sisters Library Board Sun., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 9 to 11 a.m., Transfiguration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal Sisters Library.www.sistersfol.com.

Church of the Transfiguration / Mon., Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, ages welcome. 541-771-2211.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Heartwarmers (fleece blanketmakers) Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Sisters City Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Hall. Materials provided. 541-408-8505.

Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 4 p.m. 541-549-1028 or 541-719-1230.

Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 3rd Monday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. RSVP at Church. 541-548-0440. citizens4community.com Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Military Parents of Sisters Meetings Support Group 1st Tuesday, noon, are held quarterly; please call for details.

SPRD bldg. 800-272-3900.

541-388-9013.

Black Butte Ranch Bridge Club Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., BBR community Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., room. Partner required. 541-595-6236. Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469.

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., meeting by thru Oct. For schedule: 541-639-3217.

Zoom. 503-930-6158.

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 4 p.m., meeting by Zoom. 541-549-6157.

Sisters Speak Life Cancer Support Group 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 1 p.m.

Suttle Tea. 503-819-1723.

Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-639-6216.

Sisters Trails Alliance Board 1st Monday, 5 p.m. Sisters Library.

Public welcome. 808-281-2681.

Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846.

Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123.

Sisters Bridge Club In-person gathering suspended until further notice. Three Sisters Irrigation District For free online bridge info, Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, call Barbara 541-914-6322.

4 p.m., TSID Office. 541-549-8815.

Sisters Caregiver Support Group 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., The Lodge in Sisters. 541-771-3258.

Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd Tuesday, noon, Ray’s Food Place community room. 541-419-1279.

Sisters Cribbage Club Please call for details. 541-923-1632.

VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-903-1123.

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.

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, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203.

Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting by Zoom.

541-668-6599.

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

Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday.

Location information: 541-279-1977.

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Thursdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-760-5645.

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, 4:30 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

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

City snapshot

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

• Construction has begun on the improvements to the foot bridge over Whychus Creek between Creekside Park and Creekside Campground. That path is closed to the public until construction is complete. When finished, the bridge will be completely ADA compliant and easier for people of all abilities to utilize. Cascade Civil Corp. of Redmond is doing the work and expects a 90-day build out. Ponderosa Forge and Ironworks of Sisters is fabricating the railing for the bridge approaches, to be installed by the City.

The railing will be textured to look like wood.

• Work will be done this year on the sewer line that crosses the creek on the Locust Street bridge. It will be buried under the creek bed to avoid damage to the line caused by debris floating down the creek. Project coordinator Troy Rayburn wrote and submitted a grant to FEMA, which was awarded, for a 75 percent grant to fund the project. The project will go to bid in June and the project will be completed this summer.

• The in-creek and bankrestoration work slated to be done this summer at Creekside Park has been pushed back a year because of closure of the areas around the creek by the U.S. Forest Service due to last year’s fires and the work necessitated elsewhere. The estimated cost of the project is also a factor. The original

Adams Avenue up for enhancements

estimate came in at $352,000 which has to be reduced using value engineering. In late summer-early fall 2021, the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, who is funding and doing the restoration work, will be working with an engineer to reduce the cost.

• Work is well under way on the City’s new comprehensive plan with both the Citizens Advisory Committee and the Strategic Advisory Committee meeting monthly.

They are reviewing draft policies to meet state goals. They plan to do another community survey in the spring. Work will begin in March on an Urban Growth Boundary sufficiency report. It is hoped the updated comp plan will go to the planning commission for review and to the city council for adoption in late summer.

It will then go the state for approval.

• Sisters City Council conducted their biannual goalsetting meeting last week, after reviewing their progress on this year’s goals at the Council meeting the night before. Councilors discussed each of the proposed goals of livability and growth, wildfire mitigation and community resiliency, economic development, essential infrastructure, good governance, and environmental sustainability.

Under each of the goals are objectives that support making tangible, identifiable progress. These goals are informed by the staff work plans and Council priorities and eventually culminate in the adoption of the City’s budget for FY 2021/22.

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Adams Avenue is slated for a makeover to make it more attractive and pedestrian-friendly.

City staff made recommendations to the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) Board for the two top priorities for use of URA funds in fiscal year 2021/22. Top priority was to complete the 100 percent design for the Adams Avenue streetscape project.

The second priority is to determine a program to make the downtown core more fire resistant — both to wildfires and in-town fires.

The Adams Avenue project was deemed the most targeted and achievable. In 2019, staff worked with the Adams Avenue community on a design.

The zoning on Adams Avenue between Pine and Cedar streets is unusual, being split between residential and downtown core.

There are apartments, singlefamily housing, a number of vacant lots, and businesses and professional offices, plus the entrance to Hoyt’s Hardware and Building Supply which sits back off of Adams Avenue.

Improvements suggested for the street include better pedestrian safety with continuous curbs and sidewalks, possible street lighting, and landscaping with street trees and plantings. The beautification of Adams Avenue is designed to incentivize development, which is a major URA goal. The $1.5 million

PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD

Adams Avenue is a mix of commercial and residential uses. An urban renewal project could provide for new landscaping and pedestrianfriendly amenities. in urban-renewal funds will be half of the funding needed for the entire project. The other half could come from the street fund, the street System Development Charge fund, and possible grants from a variety of sources.

The second priority of making the downtown core more fire resistant would include the City working with

the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District to determine the best way to go about reaching the goal of fire resistance.

Some of the funds could possibly be used for a grant or loan program for technical assistance. Discussion is in the beginning stages, but the staff and URA Board recognize the importance of timely fire-mitigation efforts.

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Roundabout

SISTERS Bill Bartlett Columnist

The art of snow shoveling

Four weeks ago, in this very paper, Ron Thorkildson was explaining — or lamenting — our dearth of snow.

Saturday, if you popped into Bi-Mart, Hoyt’s, or Sisters Ace Hardware, there were lines of shoppers for snow shovels.

The inevitable bragging could be heard about who got the most snow: Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman, or Sisters. All agreed that it was more than anybody cared to shovel. The number-one question on everybody’s mind: Is it time to trade the old scoop and handle for a manly, powered blower?

Shovels come in varying shapes and sizes, serving different purposes. Generally, there are three categories:

lifter, pusher, and sleigh.

Lifting shovels feature square-shaped blades, best for scooping and lifting snow to throw onto a snowbank.

Sleigh shovels are designed to move large amounts of snow down an incline.

They have square-shaped scoops that can reach two- to three-feet in width and length, with a handlebar for gripping with both hands. They cannot be lifted off the ground when loaded. They are also good for shoveling roofs.

Some shovels now come with ergonomically-shaped handles that are supposed to be better for your back. It is important to maintain good posture. Bend your spine under load and expect pain.

Lots of it. Listen to your body.

Metal vs. plastic? Plastic shovels are more common.

For starters, they are lighter.

Snow sticks to plastic less than metal, helping the snow release. But plastic breaks over time, and isn’t good for chipping ice or packed snow — unless it has a metal edge, well worth the extra few bucks.

Heavier, metal shovels help get deeper into snow for lifting. Spray non-stick cooking oil on the blade, both sides or use your car wax to keep snow from sticking.

With shovel in hand, get to work. If you are over 55 and/or have a history

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or heart problems, let someone else shovel the snow. If you smoke or are overweight, then it is really dangerous for you to be shoveling snow. While snow shoveling looks like a benign household chore, it is extremely taxing on the heart.

Back injuries and lower back muscle strain while shoveling snow are common.

Lift with your legs. And don’t throw snow over your shoulder. Use good form when shoveling snow. Avoid lifting large shovels of snow, bending at the waist or turning your torso, and then chucking large amounts of snow.

All you are doing is taxing your heart and straining your muscles.

As you lift each shovelful of snow, lifting with your legs all the time, walk over to dump the snow in a pile.

Work smarter, not harder.

Don’t shovel the same snow twice. Decide upfront where you will make your piles. That way, you can shovel and dump your snow progressively closer to your snow piles. Try the “rectangles” grid technique.

Working in rectangle formation, shovel snow from the center of the rectangle and dump it along a rectangle grid corner.

One cubic foot of snow, a shovel full, could weigh as much as 15 to 20 pounds.

Snow blower...

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

It’s never too early to learn to properly shovel snow.

Shoveling 10 inches of snow from a two-car drive and a 60-foot sidewalk is close to a ton of snow!

Think that sweating and working hard will keep you warm shoveling in cold weather? The exact opposite is true. Strenuous snow shoveling in cold weather will drain your body heat — dangerously so. Sweating while dressed in light layers in cold weather also wicks body heat.

Shovel snow in fluid, rhythmic motions. Don’t

shovel too much snow, and don’t overexert yourself. Be sure to breathe while you are shoveling. Holding your breath strains the body; it constricts blood vessels, reducing the supply of blood and oxygen your body has available to complete the task.

You may also increase the risk of feeling light-headed, dizzy, or fainting as you work. Breath in and out normally as you shovel. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Just do it.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Coffee-table book celebrates Oregon hiking Renowned trail guide William Sullivan has partnered with trail writer Craig Romano and photographer Bart Smith on a spectacular coffee-table book that celebrates the trails of the Pacific Northwest with stunning photography, maps, rarely-seen archival photos, and information-packed text that brings the history of the trails to life.

The authors will present the book in a virtual event through Paulina Springs Books in Sisters o n We d n e s d a y, February 24, at 6:30 p.m.

Register for the free event at https://www.crowdcast. io/e/hiking-trails-of-the-pnw/ register.

The backcountry of the Pacific Northwest covers

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The large format of the book takes armchair adventurers on a journey into Oregon’s outback. millions of acres of wild lands protected within vast national parks, provincial parks, and w i l d e r n e s s areas — and thousands

of miles of trails, including the Pacific Crest, Pacific Northwest, and Trans Canada Trails. The book is considered a must-have for anyone who dreams of summiting peaks in North America’s most beloved region.

Craig Romano is one of the most prolific trail writers in the Northwest, having authored more than 25 books covering the region. He has hiked more than 30,000 miles in Washington state alone and is also an avid ultra runner.

His “Columbia Highlands:

Exploring Washington’s Last Frontier,” was recognized in 2010 by Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed and State Librarian Jan Walsh as a Washington Reads book for its contribution to Washington’s cultural heritage.

Bart Smith is the first person to walk all 11 of America’s national scenic trails. His photography

has been published in Smithsonian and National Geographic magazines, as well as in five coffee-table books. Bart has now walked and photographed more than 24,000 miles of trails, including each trail represented in this book.

William L. Sullivan is the author of 22 books about Oregon hiking, history, mystery and numerous articles about Oregon, including an “Oregon Trails” feature column for the Eugene R e g i s t e r - G u a rd .

A fifth-generation Oregonian, Sullivan began hiking at the age of 5 and has been exploring new trails ever since. After studying at Deep Springs College in the California desert, receiving an English degree from Cornell University, and studying linguistics at Germany’s Heidelberg University, he earned a Master of Arts in German literature from the University of Oregon.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

LETTERS

Continued from page 2

PHOTO PROVIDED

A fire damaged a small house in Sisters on Saturday night.

Firefighters quickly quell structure blaze Quick action by a passerby prevented a structure fire from becoming a serious blaze on Saturday night, February 13.

Firefighters with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District responded to a report of a structure fire at 152 N. Larch St. at 9:03 p.m.

The home is owned by Ali Mayea of Sisters. The home was currently being remodeled, and nobody was living there at the time of the fire.

Firefighters arrived five minutes after being notified of the fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found light smoke in the structure and heavier smoke near the porch and crawl space in the front of the home. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire in the floor area in the front of the building.

Twenty-four firefighters and four fire engines responded to the fire, including firefighters from Cloverdale and Black Butte Ranch fire districts. Central Electric also responded

to the fire to disconnect the power to the building.

Firefighters remained on the scene for two-and-a-half hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District staff are being assisted by the Office of State Fire Marshal with fire cause determination.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Deputy Chief Tim Craig stated, “We were very fortunate someone saw smoke coming from the building and called 911. If the fire had gone undetected for any longer, there would have been significant damage to the building.”

Craig also credited Cloverdale and Black Butte Ranch fire districts for their response and assistance on the fire.

“The firefighters all did a great job,” he said.

Initial damage estimate to the building was $20,000.

There were no injuries reported. The home is not habitable after the fire.

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orders issued by President Biden, which is 29 as of this writing. I’m not sure where Mr. Baldwin saw the number 40 because the Federal Register says 29. (https://www. federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/ executive-orders/joe-biden/2021) Mr. Baldwin also says, “In all of U.S. history, such a degree of usurping our bodies of Congress is unprecedented, and rightly arouses concern in any reasonable American.”

This is not true. Anyone with a computer can run a simple search and figure this out very quickly.

Executive orders have been around since the first president was elected. Even George Washington issued one. The number grew over the years, reaching a high point during the Great Depression and World War II, and decreasing since then. The number issued per year after that was evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. (https:// www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/ executive-orders) Personally, I don’t like the idea of executive orders because they place too much power in the hands of one person. However, Congress and the Federal courts can strike down executive orders that they believe exceed the president’s authority.

My final issue with Mr. Baldwin’s letter is this: He failed to mention that President Trump issued 220 executive orders.

Paula Surmann

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To the Editor: The Oregon Department of Education is promoting a course for teachers that links math lessons to racism and a culture of “white supremacy.”

The department is promoting a pamphlet titled “A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction.” The pamphlet claims there is too much focus on asking students to get the “right” answer when solving math problems

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and that is connected to white supremacy, as is working independently. The course favors group math work for students.

The course asks teachers to identify and “challenge the ways that math is used to uphold capitalist, imperialist, and racist views,” and “the concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false, and teaching it is even much less so.” The pamphlet also states, “upholding the idea that there are always right and wrong answers perpetuate objectivity as well as fear of open conflict.”

Apparently, it’s Oregon’s position that mathematicians like Archimedes, Pythagoras, Descartes, Newton, Einstein and Nash, et al. were all white supremacists — hmmm.

So, math students can now sit around in groups waiting for someone to come up with the approximate answer and everyone gets an “A” grade. That should work out well for occupations that are math-critical, like engineers, accountants, research scientists and doctors. Who needs people competent and qualified to build our bridges and buildings, or cure disease, or being able to accurately compound, prescribe and dose our pharmaceuticals, or accurately compute our P/L statements and taxes?

It appears the most important thing in Oregon education today is nobody gets their feelings hurt and everybody goes home with a participation trophy.

I guess my college courses in advanced math with individually-tested understanding was all for naught.

Since Oregon has declared that math is racist and there are no right answers, then tax audits must be racist and Oregon is engaging in systemic racism by requiring tax returns to be accurate. Using Oregon’s math logic, instead of paying taxes this year, it appears, I have a refund in the millions of dollars. I’m sure the State will agree, because if they audit me, it will hurt my feelings, and it’s racist to expect accurate math — or something.

Don’t believe me; read it for yourself: https://equitablemath.org/wp-content/ uploads/sites/2/2020/11/1_STRIDE1.pdf JK Wells

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

9

Seven veteran players will lead Sisters volleyball squad

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Sisters High School volleyball squad is anxious to start their long-awaited season, which as of now will consist of 13 league games in a six-week period.

State-tournament play is still undetermined.

Coach Rory Rush would like to carry a roster of 10, but at this point, she’s definitely counting on her seven returning veteran players to be the core of the squad, and all are anxious and ready to hit the court.

Four seniors will play in their final season including Ellie Rush, Sophie Silva, Natalie Sitz, and Anessa Stotts.

Rush returns as a fouryear starter and will run the Lady Outlaws’ fast-paced offense from the setter position. Ellie has great court awareness and will bring precise, accurate serving, leadership on the floor, and a competitive spirit that is infectious. Rush was named first-team all-league last season and received all-state honorable mention.

Silva is also back as a four-year starter. She will bring athleticism and quickness to the team as a middle hitter. Sophie is a smart player who also has great awareness on the court. She has the ability to shut down the opponents’ offense with her timing on the block, and cause them to become very frustrated. Sophie is a great passer in the back row, and will bring added energy and leadership on the floor. She was a secondteam all-league selection last year.

Sitz returns as a threeyear starter and will play as

an outside hitter. Natalie is a versatile player and can handle any position on the floor.

She is a calm player and is aware of everything going on around her. Her nickname is “Steady Eddy,” because in intense situations she is never rattled, stays calm, and steps up and makes big plays. She has become stronger physically as a hitter due to her hard work in the off season.

Stotts, a three-year starter, rounds out the returning senior players and will also play as a middle hitter.

Anessa can step in and play at any position. This year she will primarily be a hitter and is working hard to be an offensive threat opposite Silva in the middle.

Three juniors complete the solid, veteran core: Greta Davis, Sydney Myhre, and Maddie Pollard.

Davis is a three-year starter and a force to be reckoned with. She’s grown even stronger over the off season and will bring a powerful, quick attack as an outside hitter. She plays with energy and excites her teammates on the court. Greta was a firstteam all-league pick last year and also earned second-team all-state recognition.

Myhre, a three-year starter, will play as a right side hitter and as a defensive specialist. She has good sense on the floor and is also able to play any position. This year the coaches hope for her to bring strong blocking and attacks from the right side. Her quickness and ability to read the ball will make her a threat from the back row as well. Sydney was honorable-mention allleague last year.

Pollard is a two-year starter and has worked hard

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Two Outlaws volleyball players signed on for college play last week. Ellie Rush will play at Valley State and Anessa Stotts will take the court for Bushnell University. to establish herself as a solid passer in the back row.

Maddie plays with a calm disposition and her competitive spirit helps her rise to the occasion in the fastpaced moments on the court.

“This group has been anxious for the season to start for seven months,” said Coach Rory Rush. “They have looked forward to another league title and another trip to the state tournament since

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The Outlaws first match of the season will be at home against Bend High School

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

‘Snow’ much fun...

A N N O U N C E M E N T S Weekly Grief Support

PHOTO BY JESS DRAPER

Saturday’s sunny skies made for a great day to play in the snow.

This Sisters 4-year-old enjoyed making snow angels.

Outlaws ready to hit the soccer pitch

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Sisters High School boys soccer team is getting fired up as they prepare for the upcoming season, which will be shortened to just nine games.

Despite the loss of games, coaches and players are excited simply for the opportunity to compete.

Their goals this year are to be competitive in all of their matches, improve with every practice, and establish a winning, positive culture within the program.

Numerous players return to the squad, including seniors Simon Rhett, Connor Martin, Connor Linn, and Nathaniel Alvarez.

Rhett understands the game extremely well, works hard, and will be a leader on the team. Martin is a very coachable player who leads by example and is incredibly fast. Linn is athletic and speedy, and a physical, versatile player. Alvarez will continue his role as the Outlaws’ outstanding goalkeeper. He’s a balanced player who always plays with a positive attitude.

“These four seniors lead by example and seem to know the fine balance of challenging and coaching the younger players,” said Coach Jeff Husmann. “Each brings a unique set of skills to the team and together have helped establish a supportive and proud culture on this team.”

Also back for another season are juniors AJ Scholl, Oscar Rhett, Noah Pittman, Ricky Huffman, Galvin Christian, and Sean Alvarez. Scholl is a tough defender who always gives 100 percent. Rhett has shown tremendous growth as a defender and is also a versatile player. Pittman worked extremely hard in the off season to improve his skills and is also very coachable.

Huffman plays with high

energy, is hard working, and will be an offensive threat for the Outlaws. Christian has a scrappy, aggressive style of play, and understands the game well. Alvarez is highly skilled, and is a toughminded defender who creates many plays for the team.

Husmann said, “The juniors include many who were starters last year.

Several of them worked to improve their skills in the off-season. We will lean heavily on them as the season unfolds.”

Sophomore players include Gus Patton, Zenas Ortega, Tate Kaczmarek, Aiden Eckert, and Brody Duey.

“This year the sophomores are going to get their chance to really make their mark as to the character of this team,” said Husmann. “With such a young team last year, many of them have a lot of varsity experience and will certainty contribute this year.”

Freshmen Austin Dean and Vincent Christian will also play on varsity, and several other freshmen will vie for the final spots on the squad.

“The coaches are quite excited about the incoming group of freshmen,” said Husmann. “They are athletic and physical and up for the challenge of stepping up to the varsity level.

“This team is characterized by cohesiveness, a desire to work together to improve, and to have fun along the way,” said Husmann. “The team really is a close-knit group of young men who enjoy the company of each other on and off the pitch.

The team only graduated one senior last year, so we are poised to grow as a more experienced, competitive, and unified team.”

The Outlaws first game of the season will be against Crook County on Thursday, March 4, with a 6 p.m. start time.

Grieving the loss of someone close to you? GriefShare is here to offer help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. This special weekly support group is designed to help you rebuild your life after losing a loved one. Our group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and want to help you through the difficult days ahead. We know it hurts, and we want to help. GriefShare meets at Sisters Church of the Nazarene on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. beginning on March 2. The group runs for 13 weeks, and you can join at any time! For more information, contact Jason Visser at 575-791-8356 or visit www.griefshare.org.

Free Rides for Vaccinations

Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) is offering free COVID-vaccine rides 7 days a week for those who need help getting to a scheduled vaccine appointment. To request a ride, call STARS dispatch at 541-9045545 Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. At least 24 hours advance notice is needed. If no answer, please leave a message. Rides are based on volunteer-driver availability, but special efforts are being made to accommodate people needing rides to vaccination sites. More info at www.starsride.com/covidvaccine-rides. Free nonemergency medical rides not related to COVID vaccines may be booked Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with rides available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. At least 48 hours advance notice is needed.

Sisters Library Children’s Activities

Deschutes Public Library is offering virtual events and takehome activities for children.

On Tuesdays at 10 a.m. join community librarians and other preschoolers for songs, rhymes, stories and fun. Online story time is live at 10 a.m. on Thursdays and at 10:30 a.m. children ages 3 to 5 can join in music and movement to develop literacy skills. Parents, don’t miss the opportunity to pick up a story time activity kit for your preschooler at Sisters Library on Thursdays starting at noon. Available while supplies last. Go to www.deschuteslibrary. org/kids/programs or call 541-312-1032 for more info.

Backcountry Film Festival

The 16th annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival will be available to watch in Central Oregon beginning Saturday, February 20 and running through Saturday, March 13 in its first-ever virtual screening experience. All proceeds will go to support the efforts of Discover Your Forest, the nonprofit partner of the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, and the Crooked River National Grassland, to provide free field trips and virtual outdoor education for thousands sands of local students. Tickets aree available for purchase now! Visit www.discoveryourforest.org/ g/ backcountry-film-festival to get more info and tickets for an incredible cinematic adventure. ure.

Furry Friends Has Moved!

The Furry Friends office is now located at 412. E. Main Ave., Ste. 4 behind The Nugget office.

Though the office is closed to the public, the pet food bank is still open for no contact porch pick ups. Call to order your pet food for pick up during our regular weekly pickup time on Thursdays from 12:30 to 4 p.m. or by appointment the rest of the week. For more information call or text 541-797-4023.

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

Free Weekly Grab-N-Go Go Lunches For Seniors

The Council on Aging of Central ntral Oregon is serving seniors (60+) 0+) free Grab-N-Go lunches on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays each week. The lunches are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis drive-through style from 12 to 12:30 p.m. at Sisters Community unity Church, 1300 W. Mckenzie Hwy. Seniors may drive through the he parking lot and pick up a meal eal each day of service. Come on n by, no need to make a reservation. on.

Info: 541-678-5483.

Weekly Food Pantry

Wellhouse Church has a weekly ekly food pantry on Thursdays. Food is currently being distributedd drive-through style from 12:30 until all food is distributed at the Wellhouse Market building, 222 N. Trinity Way. People in need of food may drive through the parking lot and pick up a bag of food for their household.

Other Sisters-area churches are joining with Wellhouse Church to contribute both financially and with volunteers to help sustain the program. For more information, call 541-549-4184.

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 Sisters Habitat for Humanity. Info: 541-719-1254.

Meet BOWMAN, a handsome pit mix who is eager to meet his forever family! This special boy had a rough start to life and needs an experienced dog owner with plenty of love and patience to help him with his social skills! He would do best in a home without children and he will need to meet with any other pups in the home before adoption. Call the shelter and schedule a time to visit with Bowman today!

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Please call the church before attending to verify current status of services as restrictions are adjusted.

SISTERS-AREA CHURCHES Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA) 386 N. Fir Street • 541-549-5831 10 a.m. Sunday Worship www.shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com Sisters Community Church (Nondenominational) 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201 10 a.m. Sunday Worship (with signing) www.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 Church (NW Baptist Convention) 484 W. Washington St., Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288 10 a.m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org 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 541-647-9826

Chapel in the Pines Camp Sherman • 541-549-9971 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Sisters Church of the Nazarene 67130 Harrington Loop Rd. • 541-389-8960 www.sistersnaz.org • info@sistersnaz.org 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Wellhouse Church 442 Trinity Way • 541-549-4184 https://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10 a.m. Sunday Worship (Indoor & Outdoor Venues) Vast Church (Nondenominational) 541-719-0587 • 5 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Worship at 442 Trinity Way (Wellhouse building).

See www.vastchurch.com for details.

Seventh-Day Adventist Church 386 N. Fir St. • 541-595-6770, 541-306-8303 11 a.m. Saturday Worship The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration 68825 Brooks Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087 8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship (Sunday school, childcare) 10:15 a.m. Episcopal Sunday Worship (Sunday school, childcare)

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Commentary...

Love lingers

By Edie Jones Columnist

Valentine’s Day has come and gone — yet, love lingers.

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is a time to send cards, give gifts of candy and flowers, and proclaim our love to those we care about. It’s a lovely day and too bad we have to wait a year for it to roll around again. Not that we have to be perpetually giving gifts — but wouldn’t it be nice to let those we love hear it proclaimed more often, especially by our kids?

To hear the words, “I love you,” as often as possible, can make a profound difference in the life of a child. In addition to the words being spoken, our actions need to back up their meaning.

During the seclusion of the pandemic, it’s sometimes hard to always have our words and actions proclaiming love. As hard as it is, it’s still the number one thing we can do to assure the success of our kids.

I’m taking a class that’s teaching how to use stories to share insights. Our first assignment was to record and post our earliest memory in two minutes or less. Even though some had difficulty coming up with a memory, each eventually had something to share. As I listened, I was impressed with how profound their answers were — profound in what was revealed.

Many of the stories were quite simple, with memories of seemingly unimportant events; like the woman who talked of being gently rocked by her grandmother, cuddled into her bosom as she quietly hummed. The speaker said that to this day, whenever life isn’t going well, she thinks of her grandmother and being rocked. She recognizes it as having been loved.

Others had stories of being shunned because they were different, or the torment that happened from

Sisters salutes... punishments given out. There were also family vacations and the joy that came from being allowed to be free and creative.

Some stories went back to World War II while others were much more recent.

The stories gave me a new impetus to why I do what I do: help parents recognize the importance of their role in the lives of a child. To help them recognize the best thing they can give their children is love, every day of the year.

I’m not talking about permissiveness or a lifestyle that is undisciplined. Or a love disguised by extreme harshness because “that’s what’s good for them.” I’m talking about a love that guides, protects, teaches, and nurtures.

If we can all remember that everything we do teaches, good and bad, our children (and grandchildren) will benefit. Hopefully, that knowledge will motivate and move us all towards finding the best way to teach what we want to pass on and avoid making mistakes that will imprint on long-lasting memories.

Whether that happens often depends on how much we know about how children develop, what impacts them and how we interact with each one. The stories I heard demonstrated that dramatically. Those who had happy memories appear happy as adults, those who had less than happy memories were recognizing how those early times affected them in later years.

I believe all who raise children want to do it in the very best way. Unfortunately, we may not always know how to do that. Initially, we learn to be parents from how we were parented, accepting it as positive or rejecting it and looking for a better way.

The best way to know what to do is to avail ourselves of

new skills and knowledge, practice and put to use those skills and knowledge, examine how it’s going, change what’s needed, and strive to do better.

We all will make mistakes, however, as I share in my book, “Raising Kids with Love, Honor and Respect,” if you keep those three principles in mind in everything you do, you won’t be far off from parenting well.

Since this is a class on becoming better storytellers, the instructor shared a quote that came from the Dalai Lama. It said, “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and love of all kinds.”

Take a few minutes to think back to your earliest memories and create your own story. What comes to mind? Were these happy remembrances or ones you’d like to forget? Are you repeating good practices or not so good? What do you want to continue or change? This is an exercise I think you will find valuable as you search for the best way to interact and guide your children or grandchildren; the best way to make sure they always feel loved. Hopefully, it will also be fun.

Pictured left to right: Sisters Schools Superintendent Curt Scholl, SFF Executive Director Crista Munro, FAN Advocates Dawn Cooper and Theresa Slavkovsky, and SFF Creative Director Brad Tisdel.

Sisters Folk Festival (SFF), through a partnership with the Tykeson Foundation, delivered a check for $5,000 to Family Access Network (FAN) to support art and music education for youth. The money is earmarked to provide

Seven Days a Week

HAPPY HOUR 3 to 6 p.m.

Monday-Friday

opportunities outside of the school day for underserved populations.

Since 2012, SFF has awarded more than $149,000 to FAN in support of need-based tuition assistance for dance, art, music, and creative activities.

Our agents are ready to meet your insurance needs As life changes, so should your policy

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

Calendar

OPEN 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Things to participate in online while staying safely at home.

FEB

17

WED

175 N. Larch St. 541-549-6114 4

hardtailsoregon.com

Deschutes Public Library: What it Takes to Take Down a Dam 6 p.m. Get an overview of how dams are removed with Desiree Tullos, professor at OSU. Registration is required at www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/.

Deschutes Land Trust Virtual Nature Night: The Importance of Insects 7 p.m. Dr. Tara Cornelisse will share details, challenges, and stories of insects, along with actions you can take to protect them. Free registration required at www.deschuteslandtrust.org.

Facebook darcymacey

CET’S FREE SISTERS-TO-BEND

SHOPPER SHUTTLE! OP OPERATES ON THURSDAYS YS Call to schedule a ride!

FACIAL

First-time riders will receive a collapsible shopper tote A AND will be entered to win a 32 oz. HydroFlask!

541-953-7112 392 E. Main Ave., Sisters roamnaturalskincare.com

PHOTO PROVIDED

WE’RE BACK!

RADIANT ROSE

A 60-minute hydrating and nutrient-dense, vitamin-C-packed treatment with guasha scalp massage and scalp treatment. $95

11

Try out the FREE shopper shuttle s service on Thursdays!

CET picks you up within the Sisters Dial-A-Ride service area directly at your home or business and makes stops at the Cascade Village Mall area, Walmart area, and Costco shopping areas in Bend.

Those living in Tollgate, Crossroads, Sage Meadow, and more can access this service.

Call 541-385-8680 or visit w www.CascadesEastTransit.com/Sisters for mo more information and to schedule your trip!

FEB

19 FRI FEB

23 TUES FEB

24 WED

Paulina Springs Books Virtual Event 6:30 p.m. Beth Wood presents “Believe the Bird,” in conversation with Kim Stafford. For info call 541-549-0866 or go to www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Deschutes Public Library: Immigrant Experiences in Central Oregon 6 p.m. A conversation on immigration issues with immigration rights advocate Lily Bernabe and author Kelsey Freeman. Registration is required at www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/.

Deschutes Public Library: Overcoming Pandemic Procrastination to Make 2021 Awesome 6:30 p.m. Learn the six steps to reaching your goals & dreams with author Marcia K. Morgan. Go to www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/.

Paulina Springs Books Virtual Event 6:30 p.m. Craig Romano, Bart Smith, & William Sullivan present “Hiking Trails of the Pacific Northwest.” For info call 541-549-0866 or go to www. paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Paulina Springs Books Virtual Event 6:30 p.m. Bruce A. Byers presents “The View from Cascade Head: Lessons for the FEB Biosphere from the Oregon Coast.” For info call 541-549-0866 or 25 go to www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

THURS Deschutes Public Library: The Art of Writing Letters 6:30 p.m. Explore the history of letter writing and get creative with handwritten letters and envelopes. Registration is required at www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/.

12

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Whychus Creek

By Maret Pajutee | Correspondent

The story goes that Sisters had a river once, then we lost it, but then we found it again. This is a tale distilled from science but fueled by community passion. It reminds us that we can overcome huge challenges with the work of a village of willing souls. water-powered log mill deep in the forest, we saw old wood wheels and broken teacups. He said the operation was so slow that people would put a log into place and then go home to Sisters for lunch.

He took me to a rock shelter on the creek with a sandy beach. It had been a favorite picnic spot for early settlers, but in later years had been defaced with graffiti and garbage from partying. He asked me if we could clean that up.

One day we bounced up a dusty road on the top of Peterson Ridge and he showed me his special spot. His family had run cattle there for years until it just didn’t make any economic sense. They called it Shell Rock Point because they imagined they saw the

13

Gary Guttormsen of Sisters Trails Alliance takes the lead heading down the trail from the Whychus Overlook.

still needs us

As the Sisters Ranger District ecologist for 25 years, I had a frontrow seat as the Forest Service began to look at landscapes in new and different ways. Beginning in the 1990s, this shift started moving our National Forests beyond producing goods and services and started considering their history, natural processes, and how the parts of a watershed work together to maintain ecosystem stability. The radical part was we started looking closely at human history and social trends. I loved the insights that can be illuminated by history. We reached out to those who had been here to witness the changes in a small logging and ranching town that became a popular mountain escape.

An older gentleman started coming to our community working group to talk about the creek. Jess was one of the Edgingtons. Besides taking care of the ranch, Jess had served in World War II and as a postmaster of Sisters. His father, Ellis, was an early settler who raised his children near the creek and wrestled with its wild ways. Mr. Edgington was hired to put the creek back into a main channel during floods with heavy equipment. The creek would spill over its banks and spread across its historic floodplain in a pattern like the veins on a leaf. The bridge to their place would wash out and Jess and his sister, Georgia, had to cross to school on horses, tethered by ropes.

Jess and I became friends and he began showing me the secrets of the creek. He would pick me up in his old truck and drive down sketchy dirt roads. At the forgotten site of the first

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

PHOTO PROVIDED

Participants in a Sisters High School/Sisters Trails Alliance work day clean up the area near the Whychus Overlook. shape of sea shells in the rock. The cliffs high above the creek had a huge view across the forest to the Three Sisters. You could hear Whychus roaring below.

PHOTO BY PROVIDED

Volunteers are critical to maintaining the health of Whychus Creek.

Jess had been going there for over 60 years and one day found an ad-hoc trail had been cleared, leading to a park bench on the edge of the cliff.

There were old car seats on the top of rock spires. The place was often littered with beer cans and he was worried someone would fall off the edge.

I later learned that Paul Dewey, who led the effort to protect Whychus as a Wild and Scenic River, had taken a governor’s representative to this exact spot in 1988. A dam had been proposed upstream of Jess’s picnic spot. The representative had warned Paul the whole way up that Wild and Scenic River status was reserved for only the most special of wild rivers and it was very unlikely to qualify.

Then they reached that cliff edge, and wide eyed, she said yes, of course.

With help from Central Oregon Community College, we held a history festival in 1998, and collected stories from other old-timers that Jess helped us find. We recorded tales of fishing trips, snowstorms, bears, lonely sheepherders, and a wedding

lunch next to roaring waterfalls. The thing that really stuck with me was something Jess said: “The town people never used to care much about what went on with extra things around here. Their interest was in logging and their jobs.

They liked to fish and hunt, I know that. But as far as taking care of the creek or anything like that, that was just somebody else’s concern. I think there is a vast amount of caring now.

People that are here and see the potential of a stream going through town, a steady stream, not an off-andon one.”

Our first analysis in 1998 showed that the most urgent problem was that the creek didn’t have enough water in its midsections, where 100 percent of the flow had been allocated for irrigation use since 1914. We assessed that this would be very difficult to address because it would require extensive cooperation and funding. We also found the interface between town and forest was a critical social nexus.

Some people who worked in town

couldn’t afford to live here and other homeless folks were living along the creek. It was also a favorite hotspot for dumping trash, old appliances, graffiti, driving in the creek, shooting trees, and had many human-caused wildfire starts. But others wanted to go there for calmer fun and were building their own secret trail systems for mountain bikes and hiking.

As the interest to restore salmon and steelhead in the Deschutes Basin increased, momentum grew to restore the important habitat on Whychus. New groups like the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, the Deschutes River Conservancy, and the Deschutes Land Trust banded together to bring millions of dollars to the Deschutes Basin. Diverse coalitions worked on fish passage at Pelton Round Butte Dam. People started asking, “What’s all this buzz about Whychus?” By the time we took another look at the watershed in 2009 we were amazed to report how much progress had been made. And it just kept on coming.

Soon we were working on a longdelayed Wild and Scenic River plan to finally address that we had a beautiful wild river in our backyard and people wanted to go there. More illegal trails and roads were appearing.

Our strategy for the creek involved creating recreational opportunities near town at some of the beautiful spots that Jess had shown me, while buttoning up some motorized access and removing unauthorized trails.

A huge part of our strategy was building community stewardship.

With Forest Service recreation budgets in decline and growth in Central Oregon skyrocketing, we knew we couldn’t do it alone.

In 2009, we hit the jackpot with a capital campaign with the National Forest Foundation, who loved the story of this lost river that was being rediscovered. While they could provide substantial funding, the catch was it could only go to nonprofit groups and private businesses.

They were particularly interested

PHOTO PROVIDED

in capacity building to help young groups that would help us take care of the creek for years to come. A committee of Sisters Parks & Recreation District was interested in trails. They were willing to take on some technical aspects of trail construction and manage grants. They soon got their nonprofit status and emerged as the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) that we know today.

It’s impossible to recount how much work STA put into helping build the Whychus Overlook and river trails. They helped the Forest Service conduct endless tests with combinations of clay and fine gravel to develop a good surface for one of the few accessible trails on the district. They managed contracts to build a path through treacherous rockfalls near the creek. They worked with Boy Scouts and Sisters High School to plant trees and clean up garbage.

Most thrilling for me was their creation of a cadre of river trail stewards, volunteers who agreed to periodically walk the trails, do minor trail maintenance, and trash pickup. These folks provided more eyes on the ground to report big issues back to the Forest Service. With STA’s help and commitment to funding a temporary toilet for four years, the District even secured funding to build an accessible toilet at the overlook, which had been needed for years.

In 2016, my husband and I held

our retirement party the day the Whychus Overlook was dedicated.

I continue to work with STA as a volunteer, helping restore native plants and keeping an eye out. This year, more than ever, the trails have provided a popular and welcome refuge to families and friends looking for the solace of nature and wild places. To help with monitoring, STA stepped up again and is providing data that helps the Forest Service understand how and when people use the area.

I wish Jess was still around so we could walk the smooth trail to his Shell Rock Point, stopping to rest at the log benches on the way. Then I could hear more stories of cattle drives in snowstorms and fishing trips with his girlfriend, Ali. I could report to him we cleaned up the picnic spot, scrubbed off graffiti, and hauled away the refrigerators. When we reached the overlook, I’d pull out a thermos of coffee and two cups and we could sit in the sun, letting the peace of the mountains flavor the day.

As we move into the challenges of the coming year, the creek still needs the community that has cared for it and helped fuel this remarkable comeback. The goal is to keep our wild river safe for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Maybe you can help? To volunteer and support STA visit their website at www.sisterstrails.org.

12

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Whychus Creek

By Maret Pajutee | Correspondent

The story goes that Sisters had a river once, then we lost it, but then we found it again. This is a tale distilled from science but fueled by community passion. It reminds us that we can overcome huge challenges with the work of a village of willing souls. water-powered log mill deep in the forest, we saw old wood wheels and broken teacups. He said the operation was so slow that people would put a log into place and then go home to Sisters for lunch.

He took me to a rock shelter on the creek with a sandy beach. It had been a favorite picnic spot for early settlers, but in later years had been defaced with graffiti and garbage from partying. He asked me if we could clean that up.

One day we bounced up a dusty road on the top of Peterson Ridge and he showed me his special spot. His family had run cattle there for years until it just didn’t make any economic sense. They called it Shell Rock Point because they imagined they saw the

13

Gary Guttormsen of Sisters Trails Alliance takes the lead heading down the trail from the Whychus Overlook.

still needs us

As the Sisters Ranger District ecologist for 25 years, I had a frontrow seat as the Forest Service began to look at landscapes in new and different ways. Beginning in the 1990s, this shift started moving our National Forests beyond producing goods and services and started considering their history, natural processes, and how the parts of a watershed work together to maintain ecosystem stability. The radical part was we started looking closely at human history and social trends. I loved the insights that can be illuminated by history. We reached out to those who had been here to witness the changes in a small logging and ranching town that became a popular mountain escape.

An older gentleman started coming to our community working group to talk about the creek. Jess was one of the Edgingtons. Besides taking care of the ranch, Jess had served in World War II and as a postmaster of Sisters. His father, Ellis, was an early settler who raised his children near the creek and wrestled with its wild ways. Mr. Edgington was hired to put the creek back into a main channel during floods with heavy equipment. The creek would spill over its banks and spread across its historic floodplain in a pattern like the veins on a leaf. The bridge to their place would wash out and Jess and his sister, Georgia, had to cross to school on horses, tethered by ropes.

Jess and I became friends and he began showing me the secrets of the creek. He would pick me up in his old truck and drive down sketchy dirt roads. At the forgotten site of the first

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

PHOTO PROVIDED

Participants in a Sisters High School/Sisters Trails Alliance work day clean up the area near the Whychus Overlook. shape of sea shells in the rock. The cliffs high above the creek had a huge view across the forest to the Three Sisters. You could hear Whychus roaring below.

PHOTO BY PROVIDED

Volunteers are critical to maintaining the health of Whychus Creek.

Jess had been going there for over 60 years and one day found an ad-hoc trail had been cleared, leading to a park bench on the edge of the cliff.

There were old car seats on the top of rock spires. The place was often littered with beer cans and he was worried someone would fall off the edge.

I later learned that Paul Dewey, who led the effort to protect Whychus as a Wild and Scenic River, had taken a governor’s representative to this exact spot in 1988. A dam had been proposed upstream of Jess’s picnic spot. The representative had warned Paul the whole way up that Wild and Scenic River status was reserved for only the most special of wild rivers and it was very unlikely to qualify.

Then they reached that cliff edge, and wide eyed, she said yes, of course.

With help from Central Oregon Community College, we held a history festival in 1998, and collected stories from other old-timers that Jess helped us find. We recorded tales of fishing trips, snowstorms, bears, lonely sheepherders, and a wedding

lunch next to roaring waterfalls. The thing that really stuck with me was something Jess said: “The town people never used to care much about what went on with extra things around here. Their interest was in logging and their jobs.

They liked to fish and hunt, I know that. But as far as taking care of the creek or anything like that, that was just somebody else’s concern. I think there is a vast amount of caring now.

People that are here and see the potential of a stream going through town, a steady stream, not an off-andon one.”

Our first analysis in 1998 showed that the most urgent problem was that the creek didn’t have enough water in its midsections, where 100 percent of the flow had been allocated for irrigation use since 1914. We assessed that this would be very difficult to address because it would require extensive cooperation and funding. We also found the interface between town and forest was a critical social nexus.

Some people who worked in town

couldn’t afford to live here and other homeless folks were living along the creek. It was also a favorite hotspot for dumping trash, old appliances, graffiti, driving in the creek, shooting trees, and had many human-caused wildfire starts. But others wanted to go there for calmer fun and were building their own secret trail systems for mountain bikes and hiking.

As the interest to restore salmon and steelhead in the Deschutes Basin increased, momentum grew to restore the important habitat on Whychus. New groups like the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, the Deschutes River Conservancy, and the Deschutes Land Trust banded together to bring millions of dollars to the Deschutes Basin. Diverse coalitions worked on fish passage at Pelton Round Butte Dam. People started asking, “What’s all this buzz about Whychus?” By the time we took another look at the watershed in 2009 we were amazed to report how much progress had been made. And it just kept on coming.

Soon we were working on a longdelayed Wild and Scenic River plan to finally address that we had a beautiful wild river in our backyard and people wanted to go there. More illegal trails and roads were appearing.

Our strategy for the creek involved creating recreational opportunities near town at some of the beautiful spots that Jess had shown me, while buttoning up some motorized access and removing unauthorized trails.

A huge part of our strategy was building community stewardship.

With Forest Service recreation budgets in decline and growth in Central Oregon skyrocketing, we knew we couldn’t do it alone.

In 2009, we hit the jackpot with a capital campaign with the National Forest Foundation, who loved the story of this lost river that was being rediscovered. While they could provide substantial funding, the catch was it could only go to nonprofit groups and private businesses.

They were particularly interested

PHOTO PROVIDED

in capacity building to help young groups that would help us take care of the creek for years to come. A committee of Sisters Parks & Recreation District was interested in trails. They were willing to take on some technical aspects of trail construction and manage grants. They soon got their nonprofit status and emerged as the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) that we know today.

It’s impossible to recount how much work STA put into helping build the Whychus Overlook and river trails. They helped the Forest Service conduct endless tests with combinations of clay and fine gravel to develop a good surface for one of the few accessible trails on the district. They managed contracts to build a path through treacherous rockfalls near the creek. They worked with Boy Scouts and Sisters High School to plant trees and clean up garbage.

Most thrilling for me was their creation of a cadre of river trail stewards, volunteers who agreed to periodically walk the trails, do minor trail maintenance, and trash pickup. These folks provided more eyes on the ground to report big issues back to the Forest Service. With STA’s help and commitment to funding a temporary toilet for four years, the District even secured funding to build an accessible toilet at the overlook, which had been needed for years.

In 2016, my husband and I held

our retirement party the day the Whychus Overlook was dedicated.

I continue to work with STA as a volunteer, helping restore native plants and keeping an eye out. This year, more than ever, the trails have provided a popular and welcome refuge to families and friends looking for the solace of nature and wild places. To help with monitoring, STA stepped up again and is providing data that helps the Forest Service understand how and when people use the area.

I wish Jess was still around so we could walk the smooth trail to his Shell Rock Point, stopping to rest at the log benches on the way. Then I could hear more stories of cattle drives in snowstorms and fishing trips with his girlfriend, Ali. I could report to him we cleaned up the picnic spot, scrubbed off graffiti, and hauled away the refrigerators. When we reached the overlook, I’d pull out a thermos of coffee and two cups and we could sit in the sun, letting the peace of the mountains flavor the day.

As we move into the challenges of the coming year, the creek still needs the community that has cared for it and helped fuel this remarkable comeback. The goal is to keep our wild river safe for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Maybe you can help? To volunteer and support STA visit their website at www.sisterstrails.org.

14

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

City of Sisters’ financial picture is good

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

The City of Sisters is in very solid financial shape.

The City is now over halfway through its fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2021.

According to the second quarter financial summary (through December 2020) prepared by Finance Director Joe O’Neill, the City is in good shape, with three revenue sources already exceeding the amount budgeted for the entire 2020/21 FY. On the expenditure side of the budget, three categories (capital outlay, 21 percent, materials and services, 43 percent, and personnel services 44 percent) are at less than 50 percent spent at the halfway mark for the fiscal year. Some revenue and expenditure amounts are impacted by the timing of income and outflow.

A majority of the property tax revenue comes to the City in November and December, and is already at 106 percent of budget, which puts the City on track for an overall collectability greater than expected. In 2011, the collection of property tax revenue amounted to $773,000, increasing each year to the proposed $1.45 million in the 2020/21 budget.

“We significantly rely on our property tax rate, which is low relative to Bend. That

is made up for with having a lot of valuable properties to tax,” said City Manager Cory Misley.

The City sat in the favorable position of beginning the fiscal year with a general fund balance almost $844,000 over the projected $12,472,537.

Misley stated in this y e a r ’s b u d g e t b o o k : “Fortunately, the City did an excellent job last decade, keeping up with demand on services and not falling behind on essential infrastructure. We have a diverse array of revenue sources and have been diligent in accumulating thoughtful reserves for the respective services.

As growth continues and the Sisters Country Vision encourages us to aim higher, we must continue to evaluate every tool in the toolbox.”

The budget book is available on the City website, www.ci.sisters.or.us, under government, documents and reports, budget information, Fiscal Year 2020/2021.

“We are in a very good financial position largely because we have a good variety of income sources,” Misley explained. “We are in a good position to make things work.”

System Development Charges (SDCs) income has continued to exceed expectations (128 percent) as development growth continues.

Builders of both residential and commercial properties are required to pay SDCs on new construction to cover the costs of new sewer, water, park, and street improvements necessary as a result of growth. That way, existing residents are not having to pay for the cost of expansion. With regular review, the City has been able to keep up with the cost of SDCs. Despite the pandemic, transient room tax (TRT) income has also exceeded the year’s budget amount at 102 percent, with tourist months of May and June still to come. Tourism has been a driving force in Sisters’ economy since the 1970s.

Tourists spend money in local businesses. Their local lodging cost includes a TRT that goes directly to the City with a percentage going to tourism-related activities.

Sisters also has the advantage of having a local gas tax, with tourists’ fuel purchases helping pay for street and paved trail creation and maintenance.

Another source of revenue is camper fees from t h e C i t y ’s C r e e k s i d e Campground, which is open from April through October, and basically full throughout the summer.

“We remain confident in the face of the economic uncertainty COVID-19 has presented. The City is

time increases the amount of expenditures — creating the demand for a budgetary balancing act. The health of the City’s coffers enables proactive planning for the wellbeing of the community.

City Hall is currently operating with 17.5 full-time equivalent positions (FTE), which is fewer than the 20 FTE in 2009. Staffing and labor costs include salaries, healthcare benefits, Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) contributions, workers’ compensation insurance, and property and liability insurance.

In last week’s Nugget, City Manager Cory Misley provided an overview of the City’s budget process (February 10, page 2) and what goes into determining budget projections for each fiscal year.

We are in a very good financial position largely because we have a good variety of income sources. We are in a good position to make things work.

— Cory Misley well-positioned to weather and rebound from these challenges. We should remain optimistic about our community and take a proactive yet measured approach to this fiscal year. One critical component is that our economy is more diverse and sustainable than ever. We are more well-positioned than ever to weather economic headwinds. It is vital that we continue to invest and prioritize furthering that resiliency,” Misley reported.

Misley explained that there are other cities in Oregon which are losing population or in a stagnant position. Sisters’ growth increases the amount of resources and at the same

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The Nugget Newspaper has been delivering the news, opinions, and interesting stories of Sisters for over 40 years.

It is mailed to all homes in the Sisters School District free of charge and available by subscription outside the area.

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YOUTH: Counselors can help students connect with resources Continued from page 1

of depression and isolation.

Others have battled a lack of motivation and inability to focus and thrive.

Sisters High School Counselor Lindy Gilbert says that the loss of normal structure and routines demanded a lot of flexibility from students, as well as coping with ambiguity, which at the least can be exhausting, and, for some, overwhelming.

“Structure tends to help people feel safer and more confident,” she said.

Sisters Elementary School Counselor Kate Kuitert agrees.

“I think schools are the hub and the heart of the community and for our families,” she said. “Beyond the education

that happens within these walls, it is a place of stability, routine, connection, and relationships for our students and families.”

According to Gilbert, now that middle and high school students are back in the building at least part-time, they have a bit more ready access to the school counselors who often serve as the first line of resource for students and families dealing with social and emotional challenges.

Counselors have reached out to students in many ways over the past year, but also encourage students and families to never hesitate to ask for help.

“It’s still not like normal to where students can just drop in, but we are able to connect with kids much more easily now we are back in the building,” said Gilbert. “We want students and families to know that they can email or call in to make appointments any time

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon during regular school hours.”

As part of the connection process, Gilbert and other staff members organized “cafes” for freshmen and sophomores as students returned to inperson learning. Each student met with an adult for 10 to 15 minutes as a “check-in” that included talking about social/emotional wellness.

“We felt it was important to see kids eye-to-eye and get a read on how they were doing,” she said. “The kids have proven to be very resilient through the pandemic and a number have indicated the need for a little extra support as well.”

Yet, the schools can’t provide everything students need and school counselors can only do so much, which is why they often serve as resource brokers for families that are looking for other professional help available to the public. Additionally, mentalhealth crises can spring up at

Resources for health and well-being General health • Sisters School-Based Health Clinic (next door to Sisters High School): 541526-6623. Serves newborn through age 20.

Crisis and call lines • Deschutes County 24-hour Crisis Line: 541322-7500 ext. #9.

• Deschutes County Stabilization Center: 541585-7210. Located at 63311 Jamison St., Bend. For current hours of operation, visit www.deschutes.org/health/ page/crisis-services.

• MCAT (Mobile Crisis Assessment Team) can be activated for someone in the midst of a mental health crisis. Call the Crisis Line at 541-322-7500 ext. #9 or 911.

• National Suicide Prevention LifeLine: 1-800273-TALK (8255), or text “273Talk” to 839863.

Veterans press #1, for Spanish language calls 1-888-6289454 or text “MIL1” 839863.

• Oregon YouthLine: 877968-8491 or text “teen2teen” to 83983.

• Trans LifeLine: 1-877-565-8860.

• The Trevor Project (LGBTQ Youth): 1-866-4881386 or text “START” to 678678.

Counseling resources (public, nonprofit) • Deschutes County Behavioral Health: 541-322-7500.

• St. Charles Behavioral Health Services: 541-706-2768.

• Lutheran Community Services Northwest — Bend: 541-323-5332.

• OSU–Cascades Free Counseling Clinic in Bend: call 541-322-2047 or email cascades.counseling@osucascades.edu.

• Mosaic Medical Behavioral Health Hotline : 541-408-9562.

Substance Abuse • Best Care Treatment Services: 541-504-9577 (substance abuse support).

Private practitioners • Central Oregon Mental Health Providers Directory: www.preventsuicideco.org/ provider-directory.

Note: There are a variety of practitioners based in Sisters.

Bereavement/Suicide Support • Bend Area Suicide Bereavement Group: meets the second Monday of the month, 7-8:30 p.m. Email Alison Sorenson, alison@ alisonsorensoncounseling. com.

• The Compassionate

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Friends: meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. (except December).

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• Individual Grief Support: Partners in Care offers short-term individual support counseling sessions to those who have experienced a death of a loved one. Call Partners in Care at: 541-382-5882.

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Health Conversations Program: https://afsp.org/ healing-conversations.

• Dougy Center (based in Portland), help@dougy.org and 503-775-5683.

any time, day or night, which requires specialized resources and ease of access.

Gilbert, Kuitert, and Sisters Middle School Counselor Brook Jackson have compiled a list of resources to help children and families find support for not only coping, but growing, during these trying times.

The list is not 100 percent comprehensive, but contains many of the most important resources in the area, according to Jackson.

“This is my ‘go-to’ list,” he said. (See “Resources for health and well-being” below.)

The resource list includes everything from general mental-health support, to care for grief, substance abuse, suicide prevention, and other crisis situations.

Two recent additions to

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the crisis services available in Central Oregon include the Stabilization Center in Bend, which is an alternative to the practice of going directly to the emergency room or having only a police response.

The second is the Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT), which can come to a location where a person is having a mental-health crisis.

“While most students may not be in crisis, there are many who would benefit from counseling support,” said Gilbert. “We are blessed to have a variety of private practitioners right in Sisters, as well as in Bend and Redmond.

“The school counselors in Sisters are highly motivated to assist students and families to find the care they need,” she said. “We are here to help.”

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

FUN & GAMES SPOT 10 DIFFERENCES AND COLOR R

MATH SQUARES Use the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations.

Each number is only used once.

Each row is a math equation.

Each column is a math equation.

Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

TEA TIME WORDFIND Find words forwards, backwards, horizontally, or diagonally.

CRUMPETS CREAM TEACUP SAUCER SCONES TEA KETTLE BISCUIT MUG TEA PARTY JAM CHAMOMILE HIGH TEA FRIENDS TRAY SANDWICH

T F R I

SUDOKU Easy Peasy!

E N D S M U G J S

Z

E E V M E D T A D Z A R Z

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A G L L Y E L O N M H Z M T C A H T P S E N O C S A I

E

U D E M T Z T H X S D U U A P R U T Q E Q R A Z C M M P Q R I

B H T K U A S F D I

C R E A M G C A I

A

Y Z F E

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B E X D V K

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N O K F R L H H B T L T F

Y

Y P K Z E L I

M O M A H C

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WD N A S WR R L A

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G M D P G E T V B A V A

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Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down, and each small nine-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

For the Birds:

The avian buffet

By Elise Wolf Correspondent

fed in the shell and in cool, dry times. Don’t store or leave in feeders for days.

Safflower: A more expensive seed with a hard shell; 16 percent protein, and 38 percent fat. Only birds that can crush a heavy seed — like the grosbeak and the parrot — eat this. For birds that swallow seed whole, safflower takes more energy to digest than the minimal nutrition it provides. Feed in hoppers to grosbeaks, or stick with sunflower.

Corn: A sugary treat for ground feeders, perhaps grosbeak. Jays and starlings also like it. Corn is high in sugar, low in fat (5 percent), and low in protein (9 percent). It is often tossed from hanging feeders, which is excellent for rodents and squirrels. Feed fine-cracked corn to the turkeys, doves, and quail. Corn is the number-one carrier of aflatoxin, after peanuts.

Fillers: Milo, wheat, buckwheat, rye, canary, sorghum, red millet, and flax. Jays, starlings, cowbirds, and house sparrows like fillers. Flax is pure oil.

The fillers are dehydrating and require more energy to digest because they are not cooked, are dry, and high in fiber.

Tip 1: It is more costeffective to get individual seeds or mixes of only the seeds that are entirely eaten, sunflower and millet, for example. Less waste means fewer trips to the store.

Tip 2: Old rancid seeds, dried-out thistle, and moldy millet, corn, and peanuts can all cause illness and/ or lower immunity in our birds. Poorly stored foods can breed molds and fungi, become rancid, and have lower nutritional value.

In the next article, I will share tips on other foods to offer at the bird buffet, as well as what to avoid. Bon appetite, for the birds!

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

So said Virginia Woolf.

These words could not be more valid than for birds.

Our flighted friends are essentially Olympic athletes. Their foods should be of a quality to allow them to thrive, not just survive. So, let’s explore bird food!

Sunflower seeds: At 50 percent fat and 24 percent protein, black oil sunflower seeds are greedily consumed. In fact, a sunflower seed beats a mealworm in protein content. They’re also high in vitamin E and magnesium, and pack an energy punch and add fat reserves.

Black oil has a lighter shell than striped, which is less work to open. The hearts are great during climatic stress but spoil quicker. Most of our buffet diners eat sunflower. In winter, robins, flickers, even the out-ofplace meadowlark can eat chipped sunflower hearts.

Nyjer seed: A high-value seed; 17 percent protein, 34 percent fat, with 1 percent calcium, higher than any other seed. It is not a thistle and is sterilized to prevent spread. Feed readily to goldfinch and pine siskin; juncos will eat it too. Feed alone as it is expensive.

Millet: A seed, not a grain, which is 74 percent carbohydrate, 11 percent protein, and 4 percent fat.

Birds often toss this out of mixed seed in favor of the sunflower. Discarded foods bring birds under the feeders, which we should avoid due to disease. Better to feed millet singly in the feeder or tossed on the ground away from the feeders. Ground feeding discourages starlings and house sparrows while supplying the doves, quail, juncos, and native sparrows.

Finches love millet.

Peanuts: A favorite for virtually every animal. On par with sunflower at 49 percent fat and 21 percent protein, this nut is fought over by jays, crows, woodpeckers, chickadee, and nuthatch. It can carry aflatoxin, a fungal toxin harmful to birds.

The more food is processed (chopped, hulled), the higher the PHOTO BY ELISE WOLF chance of molds and fungi. Best Nyjer is super healthy food — and not a thistle.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

17

The Nugget Newspaper Crossword

By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service

— Last Week’s Puzzle Solved —

This Week’s Crossword Sponsors

CCB#220624

D ESIGNERS & B UILDERS of D ISTINCTION

Residential Remodels New Construction Water & Fire Damage Repairs Commercial Tenant Improvements Handyman Services

www.laredoconstruction.com • 541-549-1575

Greg Wieland L.Ac. Practicing since 1989 352 E. Hood Ave., Ste. E

Sisters Acupuncture Center

541-549-1523

18

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

C L A S S I F I E D S

ALL advertising in this newspaper is 102 Commercial Rentals subject to the Fair Housing Act MINI STORAGE which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or Sisters Rental discrimination based on race, color, 331 W. Barclay Drive religion, sex, handicap, familial 541-549-9631 status or national origin, or an Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor intention to make any such RV parking. 7-day access. preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes Computerized security gate. children under the age of 18 living Moving boxes & supplies. with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing STORAGE WITH BENEFITS custody of children under 18.

• 8 x 20 dry box This newspaper will not knowingly • Fenced yard, RV & trailers accept any advertising for real estate • In-town, gated, 24-7 which is in violation of the law. Our Kris@earthwoodhomes.com readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this Prime Downtown Retail Space newspaper are available on an equal Call Lori at 541-549-7132 opportunity basis. To complain of Cold Springs Commercial discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777.

The toll-free Office space for lease. The Place telephone number for the hearing on Main. 101 Main Ave. in impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

Sisters. Three spaces available.

CLASSIFIED RATES $575/month and up. Call Ralph COST: $2 per line for first insertion, 541-390-5187 $1.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1 per line CASCADE STORAGE 10th week and beyond (identical (541) 549-1086 • (877) 540-1086 ad/consecutive weeks). Also included 581 N. Larch – 7-Day Access in The Nugget online classifieds at no 5x5 to 12x30 Units Available additional charge. There is a minimum $5 charge for any 5x5 - 8x15 Climate Control Units classified. First line = approx. 20-25 On-site Management characters, each additional line = VIEW OUR approx. 25-30 characters. Letters, Current Classifieds spaces, numbers and punctuation = 1 character. Any ad copy changes will every Tuesday afternoon! be charged at the first-time insertion Go to NuggetNews.com rate of $2 per line. Standard abbreviations allowed with the 103 Residential Rentals approval of The Nugget classified department. NOTE: Legal notices PONDEROSA PROPERTIES placed in the Public Notice section –Monthly Rentals Available– are charged at the display advertising Call Debbie at 541-549-2002 rate.

Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: DEADLINE: MONDAY, noon PonderosaProperties.com preceding WED. publication.

PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Printed list at 221 S. Ash, Sisters Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, Ponderosa Properties LLC 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due 104 Vacation Rentals upon placement.

VISA & CASCADE HOME & MasterCard accepted.

Billing available for continuously run VACATION RENTALS classified ads, after prepayment of Monthly and Vacation Rentals first four (4) weeks and upon throughout Sisters Country. 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

HORSE BOARDING. RV repairs, yard cleaning, Indoor/outdoor arena, round hauling, have references. Call SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS corral, trail course. Many options. Andersen’s Almost Anything at DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD Starts at $350 full care.

541-728-7253.

• SINCE 1976 • 541-419-7017.

Doug Fir – Lodgepole – Juniper DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES 403 Pets – 18155 Hwy. 126 East – SistersForestProducts.com Order Online! 541-410-4509 FIREWOOD, dry or green Lodgepole, juniper, pine.

Cut & split. Delivery included.

Snow removal, junk removal, eaglecreekfire@yahoo.com garage & storage clean-out,

202 Firewood

204 Arts & Antiques

JEWELRY REPAIR & CUSTOM DESIGN Graduate gemologist. Over 45 years experience. Cash for gold.

Metals • 220 S. Ash St. Suite 1 541-904-0410

205 Garage & Estate Sales

RANCH DRESSINGS VINTAGE MARKET Feb. 19, 20, 21. 10-4 daily.

337 SE Railroad Blvd., Redmond. Vintage, cottage, shabby-chic, Western, retro.

Furniture, artwork, lamps, home decor, clothing, cowgirl boots. Grab a friend & a mask & come shop!

Moving Sale!

70117 Appaloosa Dr. Fri.-Sat., 9-4 Troy-Bilt riding lawn mower & snow blower, gun safes, Stihl chainsaw & leaf blower, DeWalt & Porter Cable tools, Champion generator, yard trailer, pontoon boat, camping gear, home decor, furniture, electronics, washer & dryer, freezers and more!

View pics at estatesales.net Mask required!

– Hosted by Happy Trails – Happy Trails Estate Sales!

Selling or Downsizing?

Locally owned & operated by...

Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150

Great pyrenees puppies, 8 weeks, 5 females, 4 males, pure white. $500 each. 530-905-2250.

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 FURRY FRIENDS helping Sisters families w/pets.

FREE Dog & Cat Food No contact pick-up by appt.

412 E. Main Ave., Ste. 4 541-797-4023 THE NUGGET SISTERS OREGON

500 Services

SNOW REMOVAL Residential driveways & sidewalks. Commercial snow blower & front loader.

Guaranteed lowest prices.

Call 541-678-3332.

Black Butte (541) 549-0792 WINDOW CLEANING Property management Commercial & Residential. for second homes.

18 years experience, references CascadeVacationRentals.net available. Safe, reliable, friendly. ~ Sisters Vacation Rentals ~ Free estimates. 541-241-0426 Private Central OR vac. rentals, 301 Vehicles MOVING TRUCK FOR HIRE Property Management Services We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality –COMPLETE MOVING, LLC– 541-977-9898 Sisters' Only Local Moving Co.!

Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ www.SistersVacation.com Two exp. men with 25+ years Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 comm. moving. Refs! ODOT Lic. Sisters Car Connection da#3919 106 Real Estate Wanted Class 1-B • Call 541-678-3332 SistersCarConnection.com *** WANTED *** ~ WEDDINGS BY KARLY ~ CAR TO SELL? Disabled Veteran seeking Happy to perform virtual or Place your ad in The Nugget 1-2 acres near Sisters with water in-person weddings. and electric. Call Sgt. Tim Custom Wedding Ceremonies Wright at 903-932-7865.

20+ years • 541-410-4412 revkarly@gmail.com 201 For Sale • DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279 GEORGE’S SEPTIC TANK SERVICE “A Well Maintained Septic System Protects Wanna upgrade your ride? the Environment” Sell your old one with 541-549-2871 a Nugget Classified!

BOOKKEEPING SERVICE Deadline is noon on Monday ~ Olivia Spencer ~ Call Lisa, 541-549-9941 Expert Local Bookkeeping! lisa@nuggetnews.com Find Hope in God’s Character Phone: (541) 241-4907 Transformed by God’s Nature www.spencerbookkeeping.com 401 Horses Daily readings accompanied by SMALL Engine REPAIR MEADOW GRASS HAY beautiful illustrations explore the Lawn Mowers, ORCHARD GRASS HAY attributes of God as revealed in Chainsaws & Trimmers New crop. No rain. Barn stored.

Scripture. Readers are Sisters Rental 3-tie bales. $190-$250/ton. Hwy. encouraged to know God more 331 W. Barclay Drive 126 & Cline Falls. 541-280-1895 deeply and be spiritually 541-549-9631 transformed in the midst of trials Certified Weed-Free HAY. Authorized service center for and suffering. Available at Orchard Grass or Alfalfa Hay, Stihl, Honda, Ariens/Gravely, LogBridgeBooks.com, Amazon, Sisters. $275 per ton.

Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton, & Paulina Springs Books, Sisters.

Call 541-548-4163 Kohler, Kawasaki Engines

yard & construction debris.

You Call – We Haul!

541-598-4345.

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

502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

M & J CARPET CLEANING Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-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

504 Handyman

Home Customizations, LLC Res. & Commercial Remodeling, Bldg. Maintenance & Painting Chris Patrick, Owner homecustomizations@gmail.com CCB #191760 • 541-588-0083 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 SistersOregonGuide.com

600 Tree Service & Forestry

TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT Tree care and vegetation management Pruning, hazard tree removal, stump grinding, brush mowing, certified arborist consultation, tree risk assessment qualified, wildfire fuels assessment and treatment, grant acquisition, lot clearing, crane services.

Nate Goodwin ISA-Cert. Arborist PN-7987A CCB #190496 * 541.771.4825 Online at: www.tsi.services

4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts!

– TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP – Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

– FOREST MANAGEMENT – Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale Projects!

Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003 ** Free Estimates ** Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342 4brostrees.com Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057 Sisters Tree Care, LLC Preservation, Pruning, Removals & Storm Damage Serving All of Central Oregon Brad Bartholomew ISA Cert. Arborist UT-4454A 503-914-8436 • CCB #218444 Top Knot Tree Care can handle all of your tree needs, from trims to removals.

Specializing in tree assessment, hazard tree removal, crown reduction, ladder fuel reduction, lot clearing, ornamental and fruit tree trimming and care.

• Locally owned and operated • • Senior and military discounts • • Free assessments • • Great cleanups • • Licensed, Insured and Bonded • Contact Bello @ 541-419-9655, Find us on Facebook and Google CCB#227009 THE NUGGET NEWSPAPER 541 - 549 - 9941 www.NuggetNews.com

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

C L A S S I F I E D S

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

Custom Homes Residential Building Projects Concrete Foundations Becke William Pierce CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384 Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com Earthwood Timberframes • Design & construction • Recycled fir and pine beams • Mantles and accent timbers Kris@earthwoodhomes.com CCB #174977

Pat Burke LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT CCB: 288388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com

604 Heating & Cooling

Have a service to offer?

Place a classifed ad in The Nugget. $2/line (or less!)

Call Lisa, 541-549-9941

602 Plumbing & Electric

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

19

J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, raking, mowing, hauling debris, gutters.

Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com

Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345 – All You Need Maintenance – Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing...

Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122

701 Domestic Services

BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897

605 Painting R&R Plumbing, LLC ~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ > Repair & Service Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. > Hot Water Heaters Refurbishing Decks > Remodels & New Const.

704 Events & Event CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 Servicing Central Oregon Services www.frontier-painting.com Lic. Bond. Ins. • CCB #184660 Central Oregon's LARGEST 541-771-7000 Riverfront Painting LLC GUN & KNIFE SHOW! Interior/Exterior • Deck Staining CURTS ELECTRIC LLC March 20 & 21 SHORT LEAD TIMES – SISTERS, OREGON – Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3 Travis Starr, 541-647-0146 Quality Electrical Installations Deschutes County Expo Center Lara’s Construction LLC. License #216081 Agricultural • Commercial – Admission, just $8 – CCB#223701 Industrial • Well & Irrigation For info call 503-363-9564 Offering masonry work, 606 Landscaping & Yard Pumps, Motor Control, WesKnodelGunShows.com fireplaces, interior & exterior Maintenance Barns & Shops, Plan Reviews * Covid Compliant * stone/brick-work, build CCB #178543 All Landscaping Services barbecues & all types of 541-480-1404 Mowing, Thatching, Hauling...

802 Help Wanted masonry. Give us a call for a free Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740.

MONTE'S ELECTRIC I and I Crystal Cleaning estimate.

• service • residential Company is looking for 541-350-3218 • commercial • industrial hard-working, dedicated Serving all of Central Oregon employees to join our cleaning 541-719-1316 team. Early mornings from 5:30 lic. bond. insured, CCB #200030 Complete landscape construction, to 9 a.m. and flexible afternoon fencing, irrigation installation & schedules available. Must be able SWEENEY trouble-shooting, general to lift 50 lbs., clean background PLUMBING, INC. cleanups, turf care maintenance check, driver's license.

“Quality and Reliability” and agronomic recommendations, Detail-orientated, self-motivated, Repairs • Remodeling SIMON CONSTRUCTION fertility & water conservation experience preferred but will • New Construction SERVICES management, light excavation. train the right person.

Respectful • Water Heaters Residential Remodel CCB 188594 • LCB 9264 & positive work environment.

601 Construction 541-549-4349 Building Projects 541-515-8462 Pay DOE. Send resume to Residential and Commercial CENIGA'S MASONRY, INC. Bruce Simon, Quality craftsman iandicrystalclean@outlook.com.

Licensed • Bonded • Insured Brick • Block • Stone • Pavers for 35 years CCB #87587 CCB #181448 – 541-350-6068 HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED! 541-948-2620 • CCB #184335 www.CenigasMasonry.com Looking for an energetic, bsimon@bendbroadband.com 603 Excavation & Trucking From design to installation we independent and experienced Carl Perry Construction LLC BANR Enterprises, LLC can do it all! Pavers, water housekeeper for vacation homes Construction • Remodel Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, features, irrigation systems, sod, in and around Sisters. Good pay Repair Hardscape, Rock Walls plants, trees etc. for good work. Part/full time, CCB #201709 • 541-419-3991 Residential & Commercial 541-771-9441 LCB #8906 seasonal. Call Anna @ Sisters CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 bendorganiclandscaping.com Vacation Rentals, 541-420-5296. www.BANR.net Construction & Renovation TEWALT & SONS INC. Level: Moderate Answer: Page 22 Custom Residential Projects Excavation Contractors Custom Homes • Additions All Phases • CCB #148365 Sisters’ Oldest Excavation Co. Residential Building Projects 541-420-8448 Our experience will make your Serving Sisters area since 1976 LAREDO CONSTRUCTION $ go further – Take advantage Strictly Quality 541-549-1575 of our FREE on-site visit!

CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 For ALL Your Residential Hard Rock Removal • Rock 541-549-9764 Construction Needs Hammering • Hauling John Pierce CCB #194489 Trucking • Top Soil • Fill Dirt jpierce@bendbroadband.com www.laredoconstruction.com Ground-to-finish Site Prep JOHN NITCHER SPURGE COCHRAN Building Demolition • Ponds & CONSTRUCTION BUILDER, INC. Liners • Creative & Decorative General Contractor General Contractor Rock Placement • Clearing, Home repair, remodeling and Building Distinctive, Leveling & Grading Driveways additions. CCB #101744 Handcrafted Custom Homes, Utilities: Sewer Mains, Laterals 541-549-2206 Additions, Remodels Since ’74 Water, Power, TV & Phone CASCADE GARAGE DOORS A “Hands-On” Builder Septic System EXPERTS: Factory Trained Technicians Keeping Your Project on Time Complete Design & Permit Since 1983 • CCB #44054 & On Budget • CCB #96016 Approval, Feasibility, Test Holes.

541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553 To speak to Spurge personally, Sand, Pressurized & Standard call 541-815-0523 McCARTHY & SONS Systems. Repairs, Tank CONSTRUCTION JERRY WILLIS DRYWALL Replacement. CCB #76888 New Construction, Remodels, & VENETIAN PLASTER Cellular: 419-2672 or 419-5172 Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each Fine Finish Carpentry All Residential, Commercial Jobs • 541-549-1472 • row across, each column down, and each small nine-box 541-420-0487 • CCB #130561 541-480-7179 • CCB #69557 TewaltAndSonsExcavation.com square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

SUDOKU

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

CLASSIFIEDS

Davis Tire FT & PT Tire Tech.

Immediate openings Call 541-549-1026, ask for Kathleen, or apply in person at 188 W. Sisters Park Dr. The Garden Angel is now filling landscape supervisor and maintenance crew member positions. LCB #9583. Inquire at 541-549-2882 or thegardenangel@gmail.com

999 Public Notice

NOTICE OF SISTERS PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS BUSINESS MEETING TO CONSIDER A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET The Sisters Park & Recreation District Board will hold a business meeting on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. pursuant of ORS 294.741 to consider a supplemental budget for FY20/21.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the board of directors meeting will be conducted over Zoom (LINK: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/4594870728) Please contact Sarah Hyatt, Recording Secretary, at 541-549-2091 to make a request for accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Distributed to: • The Nugget • Posted at Coffield Community Center • Posted at www.sistersrecreation.com

Last call for classifieds is noon every Monday.

To place a classified ad in The Nugget, call Lisa, 541-549-9941 lisa@nuggetnews.com

C L A S S I F I E D S

HISTORY: Students learn to ‘triangulate’ and evaluate sources Continued from page 3

constant stream from every angle and media outlet.

“When you don’t understand the system you can be led to believe things that are patently false because you don’t really know, for example, how our voting process really works,” Greaney said.

On the day of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Greaney got a message during class with about 20 minutes to go, so she stopped what they were doing and had the students immediately start checking all the news sources to see what different outlets were covering.

By this time in the term, students had become accustomed to the task of “triangulating sources” as a means to make sense of events taking place in real time.

Junior Sydney Wilkins said, “This concept of triangulating sources relates to how we spent a lot of time reading articles on the same topic from differently-leaning news sources. The differences were often extreme, especially when concerning former President Trump.

Basically, we learned to avoid confirmation bias, as well as the danger of existing in an echo-chamber of political discourse with only those who agree with you. Through reading a variety of viewpoints on the same topic we learned to develop the most accurate and unbiased collection of data possible before applying our opinions.”

She added, “I think one of the most important skills one can develop is the ability to think critically.”

Jackson Parkins commented on the challenges of sifting through the volumes of media responses on a given news event. “ We l i v e i n t h e Information Age. Stories are everywhere, from every sort of source imaginable,” he said. “Everyone’s got some kind of bias, and learning to

compare these stories and find our own inherent assumptions is the only way to try to weed out the unsubstantiated stuff and find the truth. In today’s world, reading the news should be more like solving a mystery than watching TV.” Civility is an important factor in making a class like this operate, according to Greaney. She says establishing a safe community is vital.

“Everyone is welcome, everyone has a voice, and everyone has a responsibility,” said Greaney.

Senior Jackson Griffin said, “The topics were often difficult, but the classroom environment was pretty tightknit, and I think there was a prevailing sense of comfort as we picked apart important issues.”

Greaney remarked, “Having more information at our fingertips doesn’t translate into us actually being better informed. In fact, the opposite may be true.”

Parkins, who voted for the first time in November, said, “I definitely think that what I learned in this class will impact my life in the future.

Today there’s just so much misinformation and disinformation, and I feel that getting a chance to simply read our nation’s founding documents set me up to avoid falling into such traps.”

Wilkins added, “I definitely see this class impacting my future, both in the basic understanding I’ve gained of the foundations of American politics and government and through the skills and tools I’ve learned for being an active and engaged member of society.”

Greaney is pleased that her students took seriously the notion of not being bystanders as citizens in our country.

“Democracy is hard,” she said, “so much more so than other forms of government because you have to be a participant. A dictatorship doesn’t ask anything of you other to comply. Democracy asks you to act. It needs constant tending. Perhaps we have gotten too complacent in recent years. History doesn’t

happen to you. Every single person is an historical agent.”

The class ended before the Senate’s acquittal of Trump on impeachment charges, but they did have time for some discussion on the constitutionality of whether Trump could be found guilty.

Sisters High School teaches U.S. history to all students, and most students take a government class, according to Greaney, but civics, per se, is not part of the social studies requirement for students to graduate from high school

in Oregon — which concerns her.

“I’m not sure there has been a more important time for our citizenry to understand how our government works, what the Constitution says, and what role each of us has in maintaining our democracy.

She is grateful for what is offered and for the experiences she is having as a teacher.

“Seeing the students put into practice in real time what we have been learning is why we teach,” she said.

There’s something special about gathering around a

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‘HIGH RISK’: Reduced risk level allows some businesses to open Continued from page 1

based on COVID-19 spread — Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk — and assigns health and safety measures for each level.

“Thanks to Oregonians who have stepped up and made smart choices, we have made incredible progress in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives in Oregon,” said Governor Brown. “This is welcome news, as we’ll start to see more businesses open up and Oregonians being able to get out a bit more. ”It’s also incredibly important that we continue to remain vigilant and protect our neighbors and loved ones as we face virulent new strains of COVID-19.

This means continuing to wear masks, keep our physical distance, and avoid indoor gatherings. If we want to keep businesses open, reopen schools for inperson instruction, and stay safe, we must keep up our guard. Until vaccines are more widely available, case counts could go back up if we don’t keep following safety measures.”

In addition to the loosened restrictions on dining and gym activity, outdoor contact sports are cleared for action (see related story, page 1).

The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly.

County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week’s data will provide a “warning week” to prepare counties for potential risk-level changes.

The next assignment of risk levels will be announced Tuesday, February 23 and take effect Friday, February 26.

Updates to warning week data and county risk levels will be posted to www.coronavirus.oregon.gov.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

WOOD: Poet will partner with Kim Stafford in event Continued from page 3

messages that no longer serve us? When is a story good and when is it harmful? What if we get to decide what narratives work for us?”

Part reckoning, part lament, part celebration, “Believe The Bird” is a book full of questions in the form of poems, pointing to the wisdom of the bird in hand.

“Partnering with Paulina Springs Books and Kim Stafford on this book-release event is a dream come true,” said Wood. “Not only do I admire Kim’s work, but I have also watched him in his role as Oregon poet laureate advocating for poetry in our lives, not as some high esoteric ideal, but as a practical way we can connect through story. If we’re lucky, we can even lift each other up with a

21

poem or a song.”

After many years of hosting the Sisters Folk Festival Sunday Community Celebration and working on staff at the Americana Song Academy, Texas-born troubadour-poet Beth Wood has finally become a local.

“For years I have dreamed of living in Sisters, and this spring it finally became a reality,” she said.

“It is a strange time to move during a pandemic, but I’m so happy to have landed here in a place that treasures art and artists. I can’t wait for all the magic that will unfold.”

A celebration of “Believe The Bird” is set for Friday, February 19, at 6:30 p.m.

To register for the free event, visit www. crowdcast.io/e/bethwood-believe-the-bird/ register.

For more information call 541-549-0866 or visit www. paulinaspringsbooks.com.

For more information about Beth wood, visit www. bethwoodmusic.com.

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22

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Sisters High School Honor Roll 9th Grade 4.0 GPA: Alport, Cooper; Asson, Hailey; Bartlett, Ella; Call, Malena; Christian, Vincent; Dean, Austin; Draper, Daisy; Greaney, Molly; Harper, Brooke; Hepburn, Devan; Kizziar, Juhree; Leahey, Camille; Leaver, Bryant; Liddell, Charley; Lutz, Maggie; Myhre, Gracelyn; Reid, Ila; Robertson, Bailey; Schiller, Isabelle; Stolasz, Theodore; Taylor, Madison; Vohs, Gracie.

3.5 and above: Adelt, Presley; Bates, Elizabeth; Beutler, Jake; Blakelock, Brooke; Henderson, Scott; Martin, Evan; Monaghan, Mia; Parker, Blake; Riemer, B r y a n ; Ry a n , K a t i e ; Seymour, Charlotte; Siler, Lucy; Spencer, Miliani.

10th Grade 4.0 GPA: Cohen, Annie; Fendall, Hannah; French, Mackenzie; Jones, Daniel; Landon, Anna; Linn, Sydney; Lord, Hanaah; Lorusso, Zoey; Lugo, Brooklyn; Mansfield, Elana; McCrystal, Lizzie; Murillo, Jessey; Newton, Olivia; Ortega, Zenas; Parkins, Cooper; Steffen, Adriene; Thorsett, Ella; Wyland, Sage

PERMITS: Day-use permit system begins Friday, May 28 Continued from page 1

Permits will be available in the following way: Overnight use availability: • 40 percent full season available on Tuesday, April 6.

• 60 percent available on a seven-day rolling window.

Day use availability: • 20 to 50 percent of a trailhead’s full season will be available on Tuesday, April 6.

• 50 to 80 percent of a trailhead’s permits will be available on a 7-day rolling window to allow for people to take more spontaneous trips.

Reservations can also be made by calling 1-877-4446777. Individuals can also get permits at Deschutes and

SUDOKU SOLUTION for puzzle on page 19

3.5 and above: Chapman, Catalina; Cramer, Tatum; Duey, Brody; Freed, Sean; Hartford, Skyelar; Kissinger, William; Maddox-Castle, A d a m ; M a r t i n , Ta i n e ; Martinez, Dominic; Ma ye s, Ellie ; M o ffat , Ashlynn; Montecinos, Daisy; Riemer, Laura; Roth, Hayden; Schutte, Isabelle.

11th Grade 4.0 GPA: Adelt, Piper; Bartolotta, Nicholas; Davis, Greta; Eby, Evan; Frankl, Chase; Goheen, Ilya; Jeffrey, Marieke; Kizziar, Jenna; Leaver, Cambrian; Lewis, Hollie; Liddell, Brooklyn; Lilley, Rachel; Lutz, Emma; Maffey, Wyatt; Mannhalter, Kailey; Miller, Ravenna; Palmer, Colin; Petterson, Payden; Stolasz, Sasha; Thorson, Olivia; Wilkins, Sydney.

3.5 and above: Beaver, Brynn; Bell, Conner; Berg, Josie; Christian, Gavin; Foley, Taylor; King, Ashton; Knirk, Bailey; Manley, Nicholas; Mansfield, Kaitlin; Mendoza, Paola; Miller, Alexandra; Palanuk, Maxwell; Rullman, Sage; Sannes, Haley; Schwartz, Jamen; Scott, Lindsay; Sellers, Riley; Shockley,

Willamette National Forest offices, but it should be noted that, due to COVID19, National Forest offices may be closed to the public.

People should call the office ahead of time to make sure it is open.

Processing fees will

Anya; We n t w o r t h , Alessandra; Wessel, Chloe; Weston, Jack; Zoormajian, Michael.

12th Grade 4.0 GPA: Dale, Rachelle; Foley, Jordan ; Gregg, Pearl; Harper, Adam; Heuberger, Austen; Hosang, Ethan; Jones, Robert; King, Olivia; Kissinger, Sarah; Landon, Claire; Larson, Shelby; Leahey, Felix; Leonard, Sarah; Linn, Connor; Mandal, Maliah; Marion, Joshua; May, Sam; Mensing, Anna; Parkins, Jackson; Pilarski, Mia; Powell, Maddie; Rodriguez, Ceasar; Root, Mary; Rush, Ellie; Ryan, Samantha; Silva, Sophia; Sitz, Natalie; S p r i n g e r, K a t h e r i n e ; Springer, Maxwell; T h o r s e t t t , Wi l l i a m ; Turpen, Emilie; Vohs, Garrett; Weber, Nathan; Wilkins, Skylar; Young, Hayden.

3.5 and above: Andrews, Tristan; Bertagna, Olivia; Cash, Ian; Crosier, Arden; Godfrey-Hougham, Faith; Lucas, Sahara; Martin, Connor; Peckham, John; R h e t t , S i m o n ; Ry a n , McKenzie; Sitz, Tatum; Spor, Hunter; Tucker, Dillon; Wessel, Cameron.

be applied to the permits regardless of how they are reserved. Day-use permits will be charged $1 per permit per person. Overnight-use permits will be charged $6 per trip. Overnight permits can include up to 12 people for a trip of up to 14 days.

FOOTBALL: Sisters plans to play at high school, middle school levels Continued from page 1

instruction are eligible to begin, but because Deschutes County remains in the “High Risk” category, the requirements listed above are mandatory.

Gary Thorson, SHS athletic director and co-head football coach, ended the week with a smile upon hearing the news.

“We plan to play football here in Sisters at both the middle-school and highschool levels but are just waiting on a few things from the Oregon Health Authority and the OSAA,” he said.

Brown included in her press release a firm message about her desire to keep schools and sports open in Oregon, saying, “To all of Oregon’s high school athletes: I am asking you now to be leaders in your communities. We’ve given you the chance to play, but with that opportunity comes great responsibility. If COVID-19

numbers spike, we may have to shut down contact sports again. When you are off the field, set the example for your peers: wear a mask, maintain physical distance, and avoid social gatherings.”

The realities of causing a spike hit close to home last week as Summit High School, which had just returned to in-person instruction, had to shut down after more than a dozen COVID-19 cases were recorded among students who had attended a large “superspreader” get-together.

Until further protocols are in place to meet the new standards, the SHS football team will continue non-contact training along with other sports, including soccer and cross country, all of which begin an official “fall” season Monday, February 22.

The high school volleyball team is allowed to conduct indoor practices with masks and will begin competition against Oregon West Converence teams and some regional squads during the upcoming season. However, no fans will be allowed at games for the time being, according to Thorson.

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PENA: Couple thrives on art and the outdoors in Sisters Continued from page 3

Always looking for their next adventure, they added a visit to Boulder, Colorado, a place where Gabrielle always dreamed of retiring. After time in Boulder, they decided to head farther west and tour the Olympic Peninsula. Being on the west coast, Gabrielle remembered some friends from Miami who had a second home in Bend.

“Every summer for 13 years, they invited us to visit them in Bend, but we were never interested in actually coming. Finally, we went to their home and drove through Sisters,” said Gabrielle. It was at their friends’ home in Bend that Gabrielle became smitten with Central Oregon. “We saw the most beautiful sunset and then all the stars, and we knew we’d found our new home.”

Things went fast after that. They moved to Central Oregon and eventually purchased a home in Aspen Lakes, where they have a view of the golf course in a beautiful home just the right size for their next chapter.

“Our daughter decided to move here from Manhattan,” said Oscar.

The family enjoys all kinds of outdoor sports. Oscar golfs a few times a week. Gabrielle

is a whirl of activity, always finding time to bike, kayak, hike, and ski.

Retirement, and the generous and talented art community in Sisters, has reopened Oscar’s love of visual arts.

“When we weren’t golfing, playing pickleball, or hiking I started to draw,” he said.

It’s a love he first encountered when he was 15 in Mexico. For one summer, a beloved aunt taught him the basics of drawing and he filled a sketchbook with images.

“Then I put it away,” he said.

School, work, and family obligations didn’t leave much time for creative endeavors.

But he never forgot how much he enjoyed creating art.

Oscar carried the sketchbook wherever he and Gabrielle lived.

“We moved 14 times,” she said, laughing, “but we always brought that little sketchbook.”

In their Sisters home, when he unpacked the book from his youth, Gabrielle encouraged him to continue drawing.

“I told him, in Sisters you’ll have time for that.”

Except for his aunt’s advice years before, Oscar is mainly self-taught.

“As I was trying to learn different art forms, I got on YouTube and watched people paint and followed them.

That’s how I like to learn,” he said.

Oscar is grateful for the welcoming community of

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

23

PHOTO PROVIDED

Gabrielle and Oscar Pena display some of Oscar’s scratchboard art. artists in Sisters.

“I visited a lot of them during the open studio last year.

We visited Dan Rickards and Jennifer Hartwig-Klingbiel, who’s been so helpful,” he said. “When COVID’s over, she and I are going to get together so I can learn more about scratchboard art.”

Often producing two or three pieces a week, Oscar has shown his work in a few venues.

“My work was on display October of 2019 in the library,” he said. “I’ve been part of the library art show for several years, and I’ve donated to auctions like C4C

and Habitat for Humanity.”

The couple laughs about some wild adventures they’ve shared as they explored Central Oregon. Coming from warmer places like Brazil and Florida, the colder climate and mountains created a learning curve that sometimes involved getting themselves into predicaments that required a good sense of humor and tenacity.

“We were snowshoeing into Todd Lake,” she recalled.

“It was a beautiful, warm day.

We got to the lake, had our picnic, and when we were coming back, the creek in the meadow was melting and we

sank. The ice cracked and my daughter, then my husband with his big snowshoes, and then I, all sunk. It wasn’t that dangerous because it was a beautiful warm day. So we walked all the way back with wet clothes to a nice fire.

We learned a lesson and our friend from Bend, at my next birthday, gave me all kinds of tools to save ourselves in the snow. We didn’t even have a shovel. He said, ‘One day I’m going to see you on the front page of The Nugget with Oscar’s big adventures.’

“We love retirement,” said Gabrielle. “We don’t get bored.”

24

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

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LAKE CREEK LODGE, #18-U2 Turnkey in every sense of the word! 1/4 interest in this 3-bedroom, 3-bath cabin at historic Lake Creek Lodge in Camp Sherman. Set on a small rise overlooking the creek ek basin, this vacationvacat ready cabin offerss quality throughout. Knotty-pine KnottyKnotty paneling,, plank fir floors, stone/gas ston stone/g fireplace, butcher-block cher-block countertops countertops, stainless appliances, farm kitchen sink sink, titile bathroom & showers, cedar decks, stone exterior accents & locked owner s ston storage. Enjoy the common area, tennis, pool, creek & open spaces. Nearby trails lead to the Metolius River and U.S. National Forest. $224,500.

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ACREAGE & MOUNTAIN VIEWS! Enjoy the mountain views & beautiful setting on 9.3 acres near Sisters. Custom 4-bed./3.5-bath, 3,330 sq. ft. home with family room, separate office & double garage. Three separate outbuildings offer incredible possibilities to protect your RVs, indulge hobbies & house overflow guests. There is a 36x40 shop with 2nd level guest suite, 48x60 RV barn with 1,650 sq. ft. finished studio, 12x12 greenhouse & gardening area plus high-fenced landscaped grounds for the master gardener. So many amenities and possibilities. Only minutes to town in a secluded, quiet neighborhood off of Barclay Drive. $1,950,000. MLS#220113206

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