The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLV No. 44 // 2022-11-02

Commercial real estate boom in Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

There’s a real estate boom in Sisters — but it’s not residential. That’s cooled a bit. Commercial real estate, on the other hand, is on fire. Drive all over town and excavators are leveling dirt, concrete is being poured, walls are going up.

What’s driving it?

Speculation mostly, and with

the economy in flux and many economists predicting a recession soon (some saying that we are already in it), such investments may not pay off quickly. You can’t say that developers in Sisters lack pluck.

Not all commercial projects are spec in nature. Sisters Coffee just recently moved into its new roastery

By Ron Thorkildson Correspondent

After

Outdoor School becomes focus of controversy

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Outdoor School is a beloved tradition for Oregon sixth-graders. This year, however, it’s become a focus of controversy over how gender identity is handled at Camp Tamarack, and how parents were — or were not — informed about it.

The issue gained broad attention last month when the Culver School District, on October 17, pulled students from a three-day/two-night

Sisters breaks ground for new school

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

While there has already been tree clearing over the last few months, on a frosty, sunny morning last Thursday, October 27, Sisters School Board members, architects, builders, and Superintendent Curt Scholl made Sisters Elementary School construction official with a groundbreaking ceremony, using gold shovels to commemorate

work that will create a full K-12 campus.

Steve Buettner and Julie Hyer from SunWest Builders were in attendance along with architects Heidi Slaybaugh, Eric Nielsen, and Ellie Escobar from BLRB Builders. Kristin Turnquist from the bond oversight committee was also in attendance. Project Manager Brett Hudson of Sisters School District (SSD) and Ryan Stock, director of operations,

were also in attendance along with school board member Jeff Smith among other board members. Scholl and Sisters Elementary School Principal Joan Warburg were on hand.

“This was our official groundbreaking to celebrate the new elementary school and consolidate the K-12 campus,” said Scholl.

The school construction is funded through a $33,800,000

School officials, builders, and architects put their golden shovels in the dirt for the formal groundbreaking on Sisters’ new elementary school last week.

PHOTO BY CEILI GATLEY

The Outlaws pushed into the second round of playoff action with a dramatic win over Blanchet Catholic last week.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA KENNEDY

Letters to the Editor…

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writerʼs 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

Editorʼs note:

The issues raised in the recent controversy over Outdoor School at Camp Tamarack near Sisters are fraught (see related story, page 1). They touch on profound matters of identity and personal values, and passions tend to run high. The Nugget welcomes letters to the editor on this matter. We ask that writers remember that everybody involved here is your neighbor. Strive to cast light rather than simply generating heat. Refrain from innuendo and name-calling, and engage in a community discourse that generates something positive.

Stand by Camp Tamarack

To the Editor:

I’m writing today to bring awareness to a recent situation at Camp Tamarack. A group of sixth-graders from the Culver School District were supposed to spend three days and two nights at their outdoor school. However, they left after only seven hours. Even though many were crying, chanting, “Let us stay,” and asked to do a vote, they were all removed anyway because parents were uncomfortable with their

Amending the City Charter

By Mayor Michael Preedin Guest Columnist

Sisters residents may have noted The Nugget article a few weeks ago titled “Voters may amend City Charter” by Sue Stafford that appeared in the Wednesday, October 12 edition.

As your serving Mayor and a member of the City Council, I would like to explain why we made these proposed amendments to the City Charter and ask you to review the amendments to the Charter carefully before casting your vote.

It is easy to say “no” to governmentally suggested changes to important documents. Although we describe these proposed amendments as “clean-up” items, they are still important revisions to our foundational document as a city and need thoughtful consideration by the voters.

by State law, any annexation, delayed or otherwise, to the City of Sisters may only be approved by a prior majority vote among the electorate. (Ballot Measure 9-40, 1996).” This section will remain in the 2023 City Charter and could also be called good governance.

Section 13. Your yes vote will allow council rules, which govern its meetings, to be amended by resolution. This revision makes it easier for Council to make minor rule changes and is also considered good governance.

Sections 14 through 23 remain unchanged other than pronoun revisions.

Section 24. You will be voting to approve eliminating three (3) outdated requirements of the City Manager position.

Website: www.nuggetnews.com

E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759

Tel: 541-549-9941 | Email: editor@nuggetnews.com

Postmaster:

P.O.

Editor in Chief: Jim Cornelius

Production Manager: Leith Easterling

Creative Director: Jess Draper

Marketing

Vicki Curlett

Classifieds & Circulation: Janice Hoffman

Kit Tosello

Owner: J. Louis Mullen

Please allow me to expand on specific sections of the 2003 Sisters City Charter and the proposed amendments. Many of these clean-up items are reflective of the times, such as the removal of gender-specific pronouns. If you want to look at an electronic version with the redlined amendments you will be voting to approve, you can find the document on the City website: https://www.ci.sisters. or.us/sites/default/files/ fileattachments/administration/page/22690/ redlined_2003_city_ charter_06.17.22.pdf.

Section 1. You will be voting to approve the title of the document. If approved, it would be called the 2023 Sisters Charter.

Section 30. You will be voting to approve elimination of this section, which contains outdated requirements regarding the Canvass of Returns. All voting certification is prescribed by state law, and no longer needs to exist in the City Charter.

Section 38. You will be voting to approve eliminating the entire section containing outdated requirements regarding Improvements. Public improvements are prescribed by state law to be passed through ordinance, and it is no longer appropriate to exist in the City Charter.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Section 3(3). You will be voting to approve the elimination of a vote of the electorate for any expansion of city services beyond the city limits. This amendment eliminates the impediments to efficient and costeffective municipal operations – especially in our Public Works department. Many areas of our water and wastewater management have historically been located outside of the city. This amendment falls under the area of good governance.

Note that this in no way affects Section 3(2), which states, “The City shall include all territory encompassed by its boundaries as they now exist or hereafter are modified by a majority of voters. Unless mandated

Section 40. You will vote to approve eliminating the whole section containing outdated bid requirements. Bids are prescribed by state law to be passed through ordinance, and it is no longer appropriate to exist in the City Charter.

Section 42. You will be voting to approve eliminating the entire section containing outdated requirements regarding System Development Charges. System Development Charges are passed through ordinance, and it is no longer appropriate to exist in the City Charter. SDCs will remain as they are, just being taken out of the Charter.

Thank you for considering these City Charter amendments and I hope you will support them! A vote yes will make all of the changes in effect on January 1, 2023 and will make the Sisters Charter a much more clean document.

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

letters

Monday.

Motorcyclists hit the trail in Sisters

More than 30 offroad motorcycle riders from around Sisters took part in an inaugural group trail ride last month.

Off-pavement motorcycle

exploration is my passion, and Central Oregon has some of the best. Sisters Moto helps bring together like-minded riders of all ages to enjoy the wilderness from a perspective like no other.

As the annual Sisters Folk Festival drew celebrating crowds into town, a widely diverse gathering of street-legal, off-highway-capable motorcycles ranging from 250cc trail bikes to 540-pound Harley Davidson adventure machines, took part in the fun of exploring local trails, taking in stunning views of Broken Top, and developed and tested their riding skills. Though only 10 to 12 riders were anticipated for the first event of its type in Sisters, word of the new ride opportunity quickly grew as postings to local Facebook groups Central Oregon Adventure Riders and Central Oregon Dual Sport Riders got the word

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al-Anon Mon., noon., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-610-7383.

— Rick Leiberson

out, then friends began telling friends.

Meeting at Sisters Moto at 9:30 a.m., participants were served coffee, pastries, water, and snacks before the five-hour excursion. Participants were even treated to a Sisters Moto T-shirt and discount coupons for the motorsports retail store.

Rick Leiberson is a Sisters resident and has many years of riding experience with several bikes in his “stable.” He led the 33 riders through terrain he has learned from hours spent with fellow riders discovering the beauty of the countryside, and curated a route that offered inspiring vistas, sections of “rock gardens,” water crossings and other challenging obstacles and conditions.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Sisters woman earns philanthropy fellowship

Erin Borla, executive director and trustee for The Roundhouse Foundation, has been selected for the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) Fellows Program. The program is designed to accelerate the learning and development of family philanthropy leaders, while also defining and elevating effective practices in the sector.

Borla was selected due to her leadership skills and

meaningful contributions to the field, as well as a commitment to advancing ongoing learning and advocating for effective philanthropic practices.

Asked by The Nugget to describe what sets The Roundhouse Foundation’s approach to philanthropy apart, Borla said, I would say that we’re very relational. Traditional philanthropy had

Ride program salutes its volunteers

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” is the common, heartfelt sentiment voiced by Sisters residents who receive free rides to nonemergency medical appointments in Sisters, Redmond, and Bend courtesy of Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS).

Volunteers drivers, dispatchers, and action team members for STARS were honored last Thursday at the first-ever STARS Volunteer Appreciation gathering.

The organization is an “action team” under the umbrella of Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC). Volunteer drivers began providing rides in March 2020 and in those 2.5 years (during

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All ages welcome. 541-771-2211.

Heartwarmers (fleece blanketmakers)

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

Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration / Mon., 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-548-0440.

Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild

For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelefly@msn.com.

Council on Aging of Central Oregon Senior Lunch In-person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab-and-go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs. 12:30 to 1 p.m. Sisters Community Church. 541-480-1843.

East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061.

2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sisters Community Church. Materials provided. 541-408-8505.

Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 541-668-1755.

Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk 3rd Monday, 6 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP at citizens4community.com

Military Parents of Sisters Meetings are held quarterly; please call for details. 541-388-9013.

Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469.

SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation District. 541-549-2091.

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom. 503-930-6158.

Sisters Area Photography Club

2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters Community Church. 541-549-6157.

Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-231-1897.

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church. Email sistersbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregiver Support Group 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., Sisters Episcopal Church. 541-771-3258.

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

Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location information: 541-549-1193.

Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870.

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

Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group 2nd Thurs.,1 p.m. Sisters Library 541-668-6599

Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday.

Location information: 541-848-1970.

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

Sisters Trails Alliance Board every other month, 5 p.m. varies from in-person to zoom. Info: info@sisterstrails.org

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

Three Sisters Irrigation District Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Office. 541-549-8815.

Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Restaurant. 541-419-1279.

VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., The Hanger, Sisters Community Church. 847-344-0498.

Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654.

SCHOOLS

Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wednesday monthly Sisters School District Administration Building. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002.

COVID), 800 rides have been provided covering 40,000 miles. Volunteer dispatchers, answering phones and scheduling rides on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., have worked 256 scheduled days, and many more monitoring the schedule to be sure rides have been assigned.

Age Friendly Sisters Country evolved from its forerunner, the Senior Alliance, an advocacy and action group focused on making an age-friendly community here in Sisters. The Alliance grew out of efforts by Sisters resident Joan Power, who had faced challenges familiar to seniors when unexpected health issues arise. Power was

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., 5:30 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 nugget@nuggetnews.com

A 500-mile round trip and a new classification with rela tively unknown competition didn’t thwart the Outlaw boys cross-country team on its way to the district title. They claimed the crown in convinc ing fashion, earning a berth to the state championships.

Travel fatigue did not appear to be a factor at the October 28 meet at Pendleton Community Park, where the Outlaw boys faced off with the other Special District 3 teams in the 3A classification.

The race came down to the Outlaws versus the Outlaws, as reigning state champion Enterprise provided the clos est threat. But with five Sisters runners finishing in the top 12 the win ended up being clearcut.

Seniors Hayden Roth (16:39) and Cole Jervis (16:59) paced the Outlaws up front, finishing third and fourth respectively. Spencer Tisdel (17:34), John Berg (17:34) and Ace Chew (17:36) came through in 10th, 11th, and 12th to seal the win with 40 points. Eli Palanuk ran his best time to finish in 19:38 for 29th place.

Enterprise placed second with 50 and Burns scored 66 for third.

The top two teams auto matically qualify and Burns earned an at-large berth, so all three teams will face off again at the OSAA State

Championships set for Saturday, November 5 at Lane Community College in Eugene.

“By the mile mark it was clear that Sisters was control ling the race,” said volun teer coach Dennis Dempsey. “They really raced as a group.”

Wyatt Montgomery of La Pine led from start to fin ish on the flat, fast course and clocked a career best of 15:48.

The girls team had a more indirect path to return ing to the state meet in the 3A/2A/1A race. Brooke Duey finished fourth and Ella Bartlett fifth to pace the Outlaws, while the next three scorers, Nevaeh McAfee (22:19), Freja Pederson (22:56), and Delaney McAfee (23:17) all ran personal records on their way to plac ing in the upper middle of the pack.

When scores were tallied, Sisters found itself in fourth place behind Enterprise, Union, and Burns — one place out of automatic quali fying for State. The team had to wait until Saturday after noon to receive word that they had been picked as the first of two at-large berths to the state championships.

In fact, Heppner, fifth place in the meet, earned the other berth giving Special District 3 five teams at the state meet.

Mae Roth (23:45) and

Naomi Bennette (23:55) com pleted the Outlaws’ varsity team.

“Although I expected we would be the first team picked due to the size and competi tiveness of our district, I have to admit it was a happy email to get from the OSAA,” said Head Coach Charlie Kanzig.

“We asked the girls to pull together despite some recent injuries and absences, and they did everything they needed to do to make it,” he added.

Burns freshman Sydney White won the individual title in 19:16. Seven of the top 10 finishers in the meet were

freshmen.

“Ella had beaten the top two finishers in the past and, though she was disappointed, she gets another crack at them at State,” said Kanzig.

The boys’ performance has put the team back into consid eration for a top-four finish at State and another trophy, but the competition is very good among the top six 3A teams, according to Kanzig.

“We got second at State last year, behind Siuslaw and ahead of fourth-place Valley Catholic, and both of those teams also moved to the 3A classification this year, so it looks like a

similar battle ahead,” he said. “Oregon Episcopal, Santiam Christian, and Enterprise will also be in the mix. It should be a very good team race.”

The girls team doesn’t appear to have the depth to break into the top six teams, but Kanzig says the goal is to simply go in with the attitude of placing as high as possible.

“The 3A/2A/1A teams are just as good as the 4A teams this year, if not better,” said Kanzig. “Ella rates among the top 10 individuals, and Brooke is coming on,” he said. “And we know that we can count on all the girls to give it their best.”

The Outlaws boys cross-country team grouped exceptionally well, providing the points to earn the District Championship Title.

PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN

Outlaws headed to State

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Lady Outlaws punched their ticket to the big dance with their 3-0 win over Westside Christian in the second round of playoffs on Saturday, October 29. They will head to the state tournament held on Friday and Saturday, November 4-5 at Springfield High School. Their first match of the tour ney will be against St. Mary’s on Friday at 1:15 p.m.

Sisters got the win against Westside Christian, but it wasn’t a pretty match. The Outlaws struggled with their serve-receive, hitters had a hard time getting the ball in the court, and they were called numerous times for being in the net. The Lady Eagles were a scrappy bunch, and put up a good fight with great defense and good serves, and made the Outlaws work for their points with long rallies.

In the first set, Holly Davis served up five straight points early in the game to put

Sisters on top 7-1. Midway through the set, the Outlaws struggled on serve-receive, hit the ball out of bounds on both the serve and attempted kills, and Westside Christian took advantage. The Eagles scored several points and pulled to within eight points. From there, they commit ted several errors, and on the last point hit the ball out of bounds to give Sisters the 25-17 win.

Sisters struggled at the start of the second set, and teams traded points back-andforth. The Outlaws started to pull away midway through the set, but the Eagles battled back. Sisters committed sev eral unforced errors and the Eagles pulled to within three at 24-21. The Outlaws gamewinning point came off an Eagle error. The set ended 25-21.

The final set was very sim ilar. Sisters went up 12-6 and the Eagles fought back. The Outlaws again committed mental errors, and were called for being in the net numer ous times. The Eagles nar rowed the gap to one point at 24-23, but a hard kill from Gracie Vohs notched the win and Sisters recorded the sweep.

Several Outlaws made big contribu tions in the win.

Every time Holly Davis went back to the service line she tallied sev eral nice runs, which kept the Outlaws out front. Sisters got some great kills from Gracie Vohs, Bailey Robertson, and Kathryn

Scholl, and several nice blocks from Molly Meyer, Robertson, Vohs, and Kathryn Scholl. Senior set ter Hannah Fendall brought great energy to spark the Outlaws offense.

Sophomore Scholl, right side hitter, especially did a great job for the Outlaws with numerous hard kills that went straight down to the floor, and a few that were strategi cally placed to the back of the court.

Coach Rory Rush said, “Kathryn really stepped up tonight. When most teams are focused on Gracie being our go-to, Kathryn took advan tage of the block not being there and was able to put the ball down and spread out our offense.”

The Lady Outlaws plan to work hard in preparation for the state tournament next week.

Rush said, “We’re going to work on our passing and serve-receive, and also work on tightening up our offense. We’re also going to work on our mental positivity and remembering to enjoy the journey. We’re obviously excited to be back at the state tournament, and we want to stay focused, enjoy our game, and not get caught up on who’s on the other side of the net.”

The Outlaws’ enthusiasm and passion helps them on the court.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA KENNEDY

Mia Monaghan makes a dig versus Westside Christian in playoff action.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

By T. Lee Brown

“It depends on the candi date,” he said. “I vote based on who I think is going to do the public the best service. My voter registration card says NAV.”

Mine, too. It stands for non-affiliated voter.

“I don’t vote party lines,” explained Maines. “I will go home with my ballot and sit with my computer and do my research when I vote. My per sonal opinion is that’s what a responsible voter should do.”

the budget with my wife. Politicians have to balance the government’s budget, and not waste money. If you’re going to spend money, have it mean something to people.”

McLeod-Skinner and Maines got to talking. He paused a moment, emotional. “I had a friend of mine, just recently, got medical cover age for the burn pits that he flew over in Vietnam. Why did that take 40 years to happen?”

On Saturday, I met the adorable Gizmo, a yellow lab puppy. He’d brought his humans Jennifer and Doug down to Eurosports for a lastminute gathering of political candidates.

I hoped to meet Jamie McLeod-Skinner, running for U.S. Congress for the new Congressional District 5 — that’s us, folks! Some friends and family have been work ing hard, as volunteers or pro fessionally, to elect her and candidates like Susan Cobb and Morgan Schmidt.

Holding Gizmo’s leash was Sisters resident Douglas Maines. He served 27 years in the Coast Guard, including a tour in the Middle East during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I served with some good people,” he said, calling the rollout “an interesting experi ment in human behavior.”

Does Maines lean toward any particular party?

We talked about issues veterans face: waiting for benefits, military family dif ficulties, problems in the VA (Veterans Administration), health care, and housing.

“If veterans didn’t have to go to the VA, if we had good public healthcare that they could just drop into? That would be awesome,” said Maines.

Nearby stood candi dates for city, county, and state levels, all the way up to Washington D.C. Cobb for Sisters City Council, Oliver Tatom and Schmidt for County Commission, Emerson Levy for state rep resentative, McLeod-Skinner for Congress. I asked, What’s one concrete thing you’d like to see them do?

Maines thought a moment. “I would like to see them effi ciently run the government,” he declared.

We laughed.

“I chuckle when I say that,” he said. “I’m sort of a conservative that sits in the middle and votes either side. But I have to balance

McLeod-Skinner, a mem ber of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, laid out her vision: “So this is the deal. When you serve your coun try, your country will serve you back. Men and women who serve in uniform, you’re taken care of,” she elaborated. “You take that oath, you’re on assignment on behalf of your country. You’re protected while you’re there, you get what you need. You should be protected and respected when you come home.”

McLeod-Skinner said she believes in “first, diplo macy when we can, and then, fighting when we must. We don’t want to put our people in harm’s way.” Absolutely, Maines agreed.

Supporting the VA is “really important to me,” said McLeod-Skinner. Maines brought up expanding access to health care for veterans.

“I also believe we need to be investing in affordable physical and mental health care for everyone,” McLeodSkinner said. “These invest ments are pennies on the

dollar. We know preventive health keeps things from get ting really bad, with much higher expenses.”

Mental health included. “I talk to police officers, and their number one issue? Mental health. If more resources are available, it helps everyone.”

Housing and homelessness affect Sisters Country across the board.

“Our veterans are strug gling with that incessantly,” noted McLeod-Skinner.

I brought up the issues with Morgan Schmidt, can didate for Deschutes County Commissioner. Her partner, Ben, is a Navy veteran, like my dad and my uncle Phil (may he rest in peace). She plans to increase support for the county’s Veterans’ Services Office.

A former pastor, Schmidt showed deep concern about houseless issues, but also about development in unin corporated Deschutes County (outside city limits). She opposed some decisions by

current county commission ers that favored developers’ interests.

“I will do my best to pro tect our rural and agricultural communities from sprawl — while working with our cities to make sure we get the hous ing we need,” Schmidt said.

Back to McLeod-Skinner. “People say, ‘Government can’t pay for everything.’ I agree!” she said. “I think gov ernment needs to know when to help and when to get out of the way.”

Maines replied, “I believe in responsible government... Spending money on meaning ful things that will benefit the most people.”

McLeod-Skinner agreed. And, she insisted, “Accountability, so people aren’t milking the system.”

Maines nodded. “That’s why I’m voting for you,” he said.

As they parted, McLeodSkinner said, “And again, thank you for your service.”

Conversations lightly edited for space and clarity.

Sisters resident and veteran Douglas Maines with candidate for U.S. Congress Jamie McLeod-Skinner, last weekend at Eurosports.

PHOTO BY TL BROWN

to advance to second playoff round

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Sisters boys soccer squad defeated Blanchet Catholic (BC) 3-2 in a nail-biter in the first round of the state playoffs held in Sisters on Saturday, October 29. The Outlaws advance to the second round and will play on the road against Oregon Episcopal on Tuesday, November 1.

The Outlaws took the field on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in their game against BC, and came with energy and determination. Coach Jeff Husmann told The Nugget that he told his boys, “Every moment matters, soak in each moment and be present throughout the game.”

Sisters settled in and established their presence early, but despite being in control, a broken play led to a quick goal from BC.

Husmann said, “We’ve found ourselves in similar situations this year, where we are winning the battle but have to fight back to get goals. The guys didn’t panic, but knew our plan was working, and that we had certain advantages in a variety of areas on the field.”

It was an even battle until the whistle sounded to end the first half. Both teams had chances and good looks at the

goal, but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.

The Outlaws came out of the half calm and focused, got some good looks, but were still unable to score. In the 60th minute BC scored again and the Outlaws found themselves down 0-2.

It was such a commendable performance from Jesse. He is the only player on our team this year who has played every minute of every game, and as a freshman center back. Remarkable!

— Coach Jeff Husmann

Sisters refused to fold, and continued to battle. In the 70th minute freshman Jesse Polachek made a smart run out of the defense. Aidan Eckert gave a lovely assist and Polachek put the Outlaws on the scoreboard with just 10 minutes left on the clock.

The clock clicked down to five minutes and the Outlaws won a set-piece after a heavy foul just outside of the box. Tate Kaczmarek took the set piece from 25 yards out and crushed it just inches below the cross bar to make it even 2-2 with just a couple minutes left.

Sisters continued to press forward and created four to five corner kicks late in the game, but couldn’t break the deadlock. Regulation play ended in a 2-2 tie, and the game went into two 10-minute periods. Neither team scored and the contest came down to penalty kicks.

Corbin Fredland, the Outlaws’ keeper, was solid in the penalty kicks, and came up with two huge saves. Eckert missed his penalty kick, but Kaczmarek, Fredland, Carson Bell, and Polachek all scored for the Outlaws, which put them on top 4-2 in the penalty kicks and gave them the 3-2 win.

“It was such a commendable performance from Jesse,” said Husmann. “He is the only player on our team this year who has played every minute of every game, and as a freshman center back. Remarkable! He is so humble and yet so very effective and has such an understanding of the game. It was so very fitting that he scored the last penalty kick. Sure, there was pressure, but he sealed the deal. I couldn’t watch, but heard the ball sliding into the back of the net for the win.”

The Outlaws are headed into the second round of the playoffs after a dramatic win over Blanchet Catholic.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Stars

By Dax Martinez and Kaleb Woods Columnists

As the fall season advances into the eleventh month of the year, the con stellation of Pisces becomes well placed for patient observers of the night sky to find. By mid-month at about 9 p.m. local time, the two fishes will be bisected by the meridian. While Pisces is a big constellation (fourteenth largest by area), it is quite inconspicuous.

Choose a clear, moonless evening away from interfer ing bright lights and look to the south. The western fish is depicted by a circlet of stars located beneath the Great Square of Pegasus, while the northern fish lies just south of Mirach in Andromeda. It is said the two aquatic ani mals each has a ribbon tied to its tail (depicted by strings of dim stars), the ends of which are joined in a knot (denoted by the constellation’s bright est star, Alrescha).

Astronomers have discov ered several planets revolv ing around 13 stars in Pisces. There is an impressive col lection of deep-sky objects in this area of the sky, and all are galaxies. The most nota ble of these is M74, a face-on grand-design spiral galaxy. A grand-design galaxy is a type

of spiral galaxy with promi nent, well-defined symmetri cal arms that can be observed to extend from its center to its outer edge. M74 contains an estimated 100 billion stars and is approximately 32 million light-years away. Three supernovae have been recorded in this galaxy, the latest occurring in 2013.

There is no shortage of sky lore associated with Pisces. One Greek legend involves Aphrodite and her son Eros who called on the water nymphs to help them escape an attack from the monster Typhon. Two fish were sent to rescue them and, after tying themselves together with a rope so they wouldn’t become separated, they were carried to safety. To reward the deed, the fish were placed among the stars.

A total eclipse of the Full Beaver Moon is on tap for the morning of Tuesday, November 8. We here in the Pacific time zone will be able to see the entire eclipse from start to finish. The earth’s umbral shadow contacts the moon at 1:09 a.m. to begin the partial phase. Totality begins at 2:17 and ends at 3:42. Mid-eclipse will occur at 2:59.

The Leonid meteor shower will peak in the early morning hours of November

17 and 18, when approxi mately 15 meteors per hour are expected. Light from a waning crescent moon only one day past last quarter will likely wash out the dimmer shooting stars.

This month all four of the solar system’s gas giants are strung out across the evening sky. From west to east, they are Saturn in Capricornus, Neptune in Aquarius, Jupiter in Pisces, and Uranus in Aries. However, only Jupiter and Saturn are naked-eye objects.

Mars isn’t officially an evening object just yet (that will happen early in December), but it can’t be missed rising in the northeast

at about 8:30 p.m. The Red Planet is rapidly brighten ing and will reach a magni tude of -1.8 when the earth makes its closest approach on November 30. At that time, the two planets will come within 50.6 million miles of each other. Since Mars is cur rently in Taurus, take time to compare its reddish hue with that of the nearby star Aldebaran.

The two inferior planets Mercury and Venus are too close to the sun to be seen this month.

This month’s dark-sky tip is to use warmer colored lights at night. Light color is measured in Kelvin, 10,000K being as blue as the sky while

1,000K produces a stark red light. Normal daylight is around 3,000K, and a camp fire flame comes in at about 2,700K. Warm light is safer because it causes far less glare than does white or blue light.

Having cool-colored lights on your house or other buildings greatly impacts our circadian rhythm and makes sleep difficult. It also affects our natural night vision, hence why back lights on cars are red. Warm light also improves our mood, mak ing us more relaxed and less anxious. It’s important for human health, as well as improving safety by reducing glare, to keep outdoor lights at or below 2,700K.

Spectacular face-on galaxy M74 is located 32 million light-years away in the constellation of Pisces.

PHOTO COURTESY NASA, ESA AND THE HUBBLE HERITAGE

Volunteers needed

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

The City of Sisters has the reputation of having a highly skilled, motivated paid staff that keeps things humming at City Hall and around town. Another asset in running the City is provided by volun teer boards, commissions, and committees who provide advice and review for, and collaboration with, the staff.

Those entities include the five-member City Council made up of city residents who are elected by the citizens for either four- or two-year terms. The mayor is elected by the Council for a two-year term. Workshops and regular sessions are held on the sec ond and fourth Wednesdays of each month in City Hall Council Chambers.

The Planning Commission (PC) consists of seven mem bers appointed by the mayor with the consent of the City Council. They review sub divisions, conditional use permits, and master plans. The PC also advises the City Council on develop ment code text amendments, zone changes, and compre hensive plan amendments. They generally meet the third Thursday of each month at 4 or 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. There are three openings on the Commission.

Jeff Seymour has been a member of the PC since 2014, with his current term expiring in 2024. He served as the vice-chair in 2016 and since then has been the chair of the Commission.

He explained that he

volunteered to serve on the PC because, “I felt like I had lived here long enough that I needed to give something back. I saw Sisters under going massive change… I thought maybe I could bring something to the table.”

He went on to elaborate, “We have had a lot on our plate the last couple of years, requiring me, as chair, to spend 10-20 hours a month on Commission business, chairing meetings, working with staff on agendas and schedules, with extra meet ings required.”

Other Commissioners’ time commitment would be less than that.

“As the Planning Commission, the decisions we make have a decidedly long-term impact and some times we don’t know what that might be,” Seymour said.

The City Parks Advisory Board (CPAB) serves in an advisory role on mat ters relating to public parks. The Board consists of seven

boards

members, of which two can live outside the city limits, but within the Sisters School District boundary. They meet the first Wednesday of every other month at 4 p.m. Three positions will be open.

The newest City board, the Public Works Advisory Board (PWAB), serves in an advisory role on general Public Works-related matters within the city. They review proposed sewer, water, storm water, street, sidewalk, bike way, and pedestrian projects. They also assist with pri oritizing street construction, public works projects, and/or recommend capital improve ment projects. The Board consists of five members, of which two can live outside the city limits, but within the Sisters School District boundary. They meet quar terly, unless more meetings are necessary. There are no openings at this time.

John Herman, owner of the Lazy Z ranch, and his family moved to Sisters

during COVID and didn’t feel connected to the commu nity. He contacted then-City Manager Cory Misley for advice on how to get plugged in. Misley knew there was a new City board being formed and suggested Herman vol unteer. He is a member of the PWAB and said it is not a large time commitment.

“I like being involved and seeing what other people are doing,” said Herman. “I am endlessly impressed by the City staff.”

The Urban Forestry Board (UFB) serves as an advisory board to the Council regard ing matters affecting the management of the urban for est. The UFB consists of five members who are appointed by the mayor with consent of the Council. The board meets the second Monday of every other month at 3 p.m. at City Hall. There is one opening.

The Budget Committee fulfills an important need for citizen involvement in the City’s budget process.

The Committee consists of five city councilors and five citizens who live within the city limits. The citizens are appointed by Council and serve three-year terms.

They meet each spring to review the budget pro posed by the city manager. Committee meetings are pub lic meetings and opportunity for public input is available. City staff present financial overviews and highlight changes in programs and costs. The Budget Committee may make changes to the proposed budget. The pro posed budget amended by the committee is approved and referred to the City Council for adoption. There are three openings.

Applications to apply for consideration for any of the committees are available at www.ci.sisters.or.us/bc. The deadline for turning in appli cations is November 13. For more information contact City Recorder Kerry Prosser at 541-323-5213.

Football team is playoff bound

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Sisters’ football squad defeated Harrisburg on the road in a final score of 42-14 on Friday, October 28, in their final league game of the sea son. With the win the Outlaws (No. 13) are playoff bound; they will compete in the first round against Banks (No. 4) on Friday, November 4 at Banks High School. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Outlaws took control of the game from the start. After an opening defensive stand, Adam Maddox-Castle sprinted down the left side line for a 29-yard touchdown that was set up by some great blocks by the Outlaws’ offen sive line. Sisters took a 7-0 lead after a successful PAT by Brody Duey.

Sisters forced another three-and-out and the Outlaws’ offense went back to work. Maddox-Castle busted through the Eagles’ defense and ran 31 yards down to the nine-yard line. On the ensuing play Maddox-Castle took the ball nine yards into the end zone for the score. The PAT failed, but the Outlaws went up 13-0 with two minutes left in the first period.

On the first play of the Eagles’ next possession Hudson Beckwith intercepted the ball and once again the Outlaws’ offense was back in business. Sisters got the ball on the 34-yard line and Maddox-Castle took the hand off and ran through a giant hole off the left side of the offensive line and galloped

into the end zone. After a successful two-point conver sion by Maddox-Castle, the Outlaws were on top 21-0.

The Eagles tried to throw a fade down the sideline on their first possession, but Beckwith was there again and intercepted the pass. The quarter came to an end with the Outlaws out front 21-0.

The Eagles put together an 11-play drive early in the second quarter, but it ended with an interception by Duey. Four plays later, quarterback Easton Moore found Patrick Silva running a corner route and dropped the ball in on what Coach Clayton Hall stated was one of the most beautiful passes of the year. Moore hit Silva in stride for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Duey kicked it through the uprights for the PAT and the Outlaws went up 28-0 midway through the second period.

The Eagles came back on their next possession with an eight-play drive and scored on a 29-yard TD pass. They hit the PAT and closed the Outlaws’ lead to 28-7.

After an unsuccessful Harrisburg kick the Outlaws got the ball back on their own 38-yard line. Moore found Mason Sellers down the side line for a 62-yard TD pass and the Outlaws extended their lead to 35-7 after Duey kicked the PAT. The score held until the buzzer ended the half.

Sisters came out of the half and quickly scored on a 12-yard TD pass from Moore to Sellers, which pushed the Outlaws to a 42-7 advantage. The Eagles scored their last

TD in the final quarter and the Outlaws recorded the win.

Moore went four-for-10, with 158 yards passing, and three passing TDs. Sellers led the team with three receptions for 122 yards and two TDs. Maddox-Castle led the team in rushing with nine carries for 117 yards, and three rushing TDs. Sisters finished the night with 344 yards of offense.

Sellers and Ethan Eby led the defense with seven tackles each. Henry Rard tal lied six tackles, and Hudson Symonds, Gabe Bailey, Ben Cooper, and Patrick Silva added four tackles each.

Coach Hall said, “I was very pleased with how our kids played. From start to fin ish our boys kept the pedal to the metal. I felt that our offensive line did a great job opening holes for our running backs and protecting our quar terback in the passing game.”

Hall noted Maddox-Castle for “one heck of a game,” and said that Sellers made some great catches and used “shifty speed” to get some big yards after the catch. Moore did a good job at quarterback and found his receivers in the passing game.

Hall also had praise for his defense, who he said “flew to the ball all night and didn’t give Harrisburg much room to breathe.” Beckwith played a great game at corner and came up with two great picks early in the game, which helped spark the Outlaws’ offense.

The Outlaws finished their regular season 4-2 in league and 6-3 overall, and are excited to head into playoffs.

Sisters set to honor veterans

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Sisters-area military vet erans and their friends and families are invited to Sisters High School on Wednesday, November 9, for the annual Veterans Appreciation Assembly organized by the student leadership and the local VFW Post to mark Veterans Day, which is cel ebrated November 11.

Sisters High School has held Veterans Day celebra tions for two decades. This year’s event will include a social time hosted by the student leadership students, with coffee and donuts from 8 to 9:15 before the assembly begins at 9:40 a.m.

The Sisters High School band and choir groups will be featured in the assembly, which is designed to take pause once a year to honor the men and women who

have served and who are currently serving in the U.S. military. The choirs will sing the National Anthem, the Armed Forces Salute, and a piece entitled “Welcome Back.”

“We think this is an important opportunity for the young people in our community to consider what it means to serve our coun try,” said Earl Schroeder, a member of the local chap ter of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). “And it is very meaningful to those of us who have served to be recognized.”

Bill Antilla, another VFW member, said, “This event gives time for reflection for veterans and may provide students insight into consid ering serving their country.”

In addition to veterans and their friends and family, the event is open to the gen eral public.

have been a Sisters resident since 2017. For the past two years, I have been privileged to serve as a City Councilor Sisters is growing and changing. Decisions made by elected and appointed o cials will determine where Sisters as a community is 10 to 20 years from now

public/private

and

by Gary Ross

Art will benefit Saving Grace

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Every year, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For sev eral years, Sisters artists orga nized by Kit Stafford have created artwork that is sold to raise money for Saving Grace of Central Oregon, which helps survivors of domestic and sexual violence to find safety and healing in their women’s shelter and support center in Bend.

This year’s art, called the SHE Project, will be exhib ited at Sisters Art Works in the Cindy and Duncan Campbell Gallery, 204 W. Adams Ave., beginning November 10 and running through December 12. There will be an opening for artists on November 10 beginning at 5 p.m. The gallery will be open business days and will be part of the November Fourth Friday Art Walk.

The artists were invited to create an art piece to express an image that speaks to women. They were to choose a phrase or sentence that includes or begins with “she” or “her” that would serve as the title for their piece and send a message of hope to women who need it. Each piece will sell for $40, with all proceeds going to Saving Grace.

According to Stephanie Miller, marketing and devel opment coordinator for Saving Grace, between July 2021 and June 2022, the agency served 1,267 survi vors across Central Oregon. They answered 2,400 calls to their 24/7 helpline and 271 children and teen survivors were supported. They distrib uted $183,536 to pay critical expenses like rent. They are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that relies

on donations to help meet their expenses.

Miller shared a quote from a former client: “When the abuse was happening, I felt so alone. My abuser con vinced me that I deserved what they did, and I was ashamed to look for help.

Central Oregon is mostly a happy, peaceful place and I felt like I was the only one

living a nightmare. That all changed when I came to Saving Grace. Hearing the stories of other survivors helped me realize that I was not alone and that the abuse I endured was not my fault. I am slowly moving past my experience, and that is all thanks to Saving Grace and the amazing advocates who supported me in my journey.”

Firefighters

Beginning as soon as this week, firefighters on the Deschutes National Forest will start pile burn ing operations. Fire special ists will select pile-burning units based on favorable conditions.

On the Sisters Ranger District, firefighters are planning potential pile burn ing ignitions on Green Ridge along Forest Service Road 1130.

No road or trail closures are anticipated. Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal. Once ignited, piles are monitored by firefighters until declared out.

Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after igni tion. While smoke may lin ger in the area, removing these large accumulations of woody debris during the winter months minimizes fire danger. The piles are concentrations of leftover materials associated with

vegetation management activities being done to help maintain and restore forest and ecosystem health while reducing hazardous fuels loading.

The possibility exists for smoke to settle in low-lying areas due to cool nighttime temperatures. When driv ing in smoky areas, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights. If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, ask your doctor about how to protect yourself from smoke. Visit www.centraloregon fire.org to learn more about smoke safety and pile burn ing in Central Oregon.

For more information on hazardous fuels reduc tion projects in Central Oregon, visit centralore gonfire.org/ or fs.usda.gov/ deschutes and follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE to 888-777 to receive wildfire and pre scribed fire text alerts.

Sisters artist Kathy Deggendorfer’s piece declares, “Girls should never be afraid to be smart” by Emma Watson.

PHOTO PROVIDED

SPRD takes on holiday events

The holiday season is upon us and we all know what that means: holiday events! Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) continues the Sisters community tradition of host ing the holiday tree lighting and parade on Thanksgiving weekend. Gather up your fam ily and friends and head down to Fir Street Park on Friday, November 25, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. for the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Don’t go far because the very next day, November 26, the Holiday Parade will go down Hood Avenue from 2 to 3 p.m.

Jennifer Holland, executive director of SPRD states, “We are thrilled to be able to host these holiday events for the community. Part of our role in parks and recreation is to bring people together and what bet ter way to do that than through family-friendly events.”

Hayden Homes has signed on as a title sponsor for these events and will be provid ing hot chocolate and cook ies at the tree lighting and immediately following the parade at McKenzie Meadows Village Park. SPRD is cur rently accepting parade entry applications.

For more information or to sign up to participate in the parade, visit www. sistersrecreation.com or call 541-549-2091.

Spiritual battle and false prophets

By Bruce Campbell Guest Columnist

I agree with Mr. Mackey’s opinion that our country is going through spiritual tribulations. This truly is a time in our coun try’s history when we have to decide where we are going from here and whether we are doing the right thing or even the righteous thing.

I worry, however, about Mr. Mackey’s soul given that he seems to prefer to cherry-pick the Bible and find vague quotes that suit his own desires. That’s the thing about the Bible; you can find just about anything to suit your personal desires and thereby justifying any actions you may want to take. You know, like burn ing somebody alive that you don’t like or understand and justifying it with a Bible quote: “Do not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18 KJV). I also worry that Mr. Mackey implying about our country’s problems are due to removing the connec tion to God and our found ing principles (I assume he means those in the Bill of Rights, Constitution, etc.).

“Rendering on to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17) is what Jesus had to say about separation of church and state.

I do agree, however, that who we listen to matters.

We seem to have a bibli cal plague of false prophets these days, who are prophe sying for profit, selling cureall remedies, survival gear, and Stop the Steal T-shirts, while at the same time tell ing us what to think, who to hate, which 80-year-old man with last name of Pelosi to beat up when you can’t get at their wives. “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).

The right is being ripped off by their own people in epic proportions. Trump alone stole more than $250 million that was sent by his followers to be used to “Stop the Steal.” Alex Jones’ podcast and supple ment sales made his worth in the billions only to have these fruits harvested by a jury of his peers.

“As you sow, so shall you reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Marjorie Taylor Greene is keeping her PPP loan, when the previous own ers of our own Depot Cafe went out of business after 12 years because they couldn’t get one. Did MTG really need that money that came out of your taxes, along with the salary that she already gets out of your taxes? Isn’t that kind of corruption a swamp thing that’s supposed to be drained?

I’ve always wondered what Make America Great Again actually meant. Our

Portraits OF SISTERS

most prosperous time in his tory was during the post-war era between the 1950s and ’60s. We had just come off a war and our industries were at peak production, switch ing over from the tools of war to cars and appliances.

“Leave It to Beaver”’s par ents slept in separate beds. The returning soldiers were going to college on the GI bill (a very socialistic type program, by the way) and were able to get cheap loans for houses. We actually had a program then that brought Mexican workers (braceros) into the country to work in the fields and construction sites.

Yes, that was when America was great…unless you weren’t white and didn’t live in a country whose dic tator we were propping up. I think that America has a way

to go to be truly great the first time. I plan on doing whatever I can to make even a little difference. The greater ideals of this country are well worth fighting for. I pay attention to the science, I watch what’s going on in the world, I try and under stand what other people think, I vote. In my opinion, if you don’t vote you can’t bitch.

One more cherry that I’ve picked: “For a time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Who knew Timothy was such a prophet?

NOW HIRING!

Always fascinated with the life of fish and water habitats, M ike Riehle knew what he wanted to do back in sixth grade. As a kid he scrutinized the biology of local pond scum under the eye of his microscope while his friends teased him over the obsession. But that childhood passion turned into a profession — the only one he’s ever known. He studied in Wisconsin, completing his bachelor’s degree in biology management and forest ecol ogy A yearning for the mountains and the trees of the West led him to Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, where he completed his mas ter’s degree, specializing in fish habitat and the study of rainbow trout in mountain streams.

Riehle landed in Sisters in 1988, continuing his career with the U.S. Forest Service Sisters Ranger District as a fisheries biologist, and he continues his work today building fish habitats in local rivers and streams. His work focuses on local ecology, the environment, and restorative habitat work. And he pioneered the “Wild and Scenic” status of the section of Whychus Creek running through town. But R iehle finds special pleasur e in the work he first fell in love with — helping the fish.

“The most rewarding part of the job is to see how fish utilize the habitat we build for them,” he says

He credits a supportive district, c ommunity, and a robust team that sees the work through.

PHOTO AND STORY BY Cody Rheault

children being around nonbinary counselors, who are still children themselves.

As a member of the queer community myself, I am appalled by the behavior of this school district, and the hate now being thrown at Camp Tamarack. My own children have been spending a week there every summer the last few years, and will continue to do so in the future, and I’ve been so grateful for such an inclusive outdoor space in this community.

Let’s be real, Sisters is not always a welcoming place, and now it’s making headlines.

There are now Sisters parents asking the school district to cut ties with Camp Tamarack. To those parents I say, Look, if you don’t want your kids there, don’t send them. But don’t ruin it for those kids who might literally have no other inclusive space to be in their lives, including their own homes. I think you’re doing a disservice to your children by not exposing them to people who are different from them, but that is your right as a parent.

Those counselors are there because they love what they do, and they are comfortable and free to be who they are in that space, not to sexualize your children. Queer kids are not the enemy here, hate and discrimination are. Enough is enough.

I stand by Camp Tamarack and their counselors (who don’t have to share their gender identity with anyone thanks to protections under Oregon law), and I encourage other parents to join in. They are get ting flooded with hate, so let’s flood them with love.

Mandee Seeley

s s s

January 6 hearings

To the Editor:

Did you watch the recent January 6 hearing of October 13? Hope you did. If not, please, read on.

In a few hours, we are given a summary of what transpired months before the election, dur ing and after the election, and up through the day of January 6, 2021. The committee and their staff have reviewed hundreds of thousands of documents, videos, call transcripts, and conducted hundreds of

witness interviews. Most witnesses are those who worked closely with past-President Trump, his inter nal and external advisers, his staff, his administra tion, his family, and are thus mostly Republicans. You will hear their words, see their frustration and disappointment in the man they trusted, and through it all, learn the truth of a six-point plan to reject the election results if not a win of a second term for 45.

1. Advise the public that, if 45 loses, the election was rigged and align with the Proud Boys (PBs) and Oath Keepers (OKs), “Stand back and Stand by,” said 45.

2. Election night, take advantage of the redwave* and immediately declare victory and request no more votes be counted.

3. After election night, contact elections officials to find more votes for 45.

4. Declare voter and election fraud and file suits (62 suits, some rejected for being “crazy,” many rejected for lack of material evidence; only one was credible and won but was of no impact on the elec tion results in that state).

5. Ask VP to reject the Electoral College results and assure there are alternative results from key states by alternative electoral college vote counters and vying that, ask the U.S. legislators to reject the results and offer the alternative Electoral College counts from a couple of states.

6. From election night through January 6, repeat the lie to the people that the election was stolen and encourage them, including the OKs and PBs, to orga nize and come to Washington, D.C. on January 6 to save America. “Be there, will be wild!” tweeted 45.

All of this was done and is proven to have been done per this hearing, which includes details from previous hearings.

This is not about party politics. It is about a man elected to the highest office in this nation, the most powerful seat in the world, who was unwilling to accept the will of the people. Former President Trump was unwilling to honor his oath of office to protect the U.S. Constitution and to follow the law. Mr. Trump knowingly and repeatedly lied to tens of millions of people, in order to promulgate an insur rection. Mr. Trump was so intent on remaining in office, he cared not one iota about the possible cost

in lives protecting the Capitol nor for the life of Vice President Pence. The past commander-in-chief sat and watched the insurrection on live TV in complete dereliction of duty.

Brave men and women are witnesses facing the facts and share the truth with you – the People. Our democratic republic is being restored by people who have come forward, and is being preserved by the nonpartisan House Investigative Committee’s com mitment to seek the truth so that this will never hap pen again. Watch the October 13 hearing: https:// youtu.be/IQvuBoLBuC0.

*Republicans tend to vote at polls, Democrats tend to vote by mail — this generally causes an ini tial influx of Republican votes on election night (a red-wave), while mailed-in ballots are collected and counted over time frames that vary in each state.

Susan Cobb

s s s Metolius

To the Editor: Your recent article, “Keeping an eye on the Metolius,” was an important update on the health of the river.

The Metolius River is one of Oregon’s natu ral treasures, loved by everyone from democrats to republicans, independents, and everyone else! One good news piece left out of the article was that Senator Wyden’s River Democracy Act would help protect a number of key tributaries to the Metolius River. The River Democracy Act would designate 4,700 miles of Wild & Scenic Rivers across the state, including in the Metolius watershed.

While that sounds like a lot of miles, it represents only four percent of Oregon waterways. Currently only two percent of Oregon’s waterways are des ignated. The four percent increase represents some of the most important, and some of the coolest (pun intended) waterways.

The Metolius River mainstem is already desig nated as a Wild & Scenic River. However, the key tributaries that greatly affect the overall health of the river and watershed are not equally protected. This

Chocolate bar fundraiser

Sisters High School Band is selling World’s Finest Chocolate bars for $1 each. e band is raising money to support the program’s expenses (including purchasing music, paying comp etition and festival fees, and purchasing music stands (they do not have enough for the growing program). Buy chocolate bars directly f rom any band student or stop by e Nug get lobby. Payment can be by cash or check (made out to Sisters High School Band) Questions? 541-977-8494.

Parkinson’s Suppor t Group

Are you a person experiencing Parkinson’s disease (PD) or a care partner/f amily member desiring to better support your loved one with PD?

We invite you to join our support group to experience friendship, shared experiences, and a better underst anding of PD. Please join us the second ursday of the month 1-2:30 p.m . at the Sisters Library, 110 N . Cedar St. Sisters . For more information contact C arol Pfeil, program coordinator of Parkinson’s Resource s of Oregon, 541-6 68-6599 or carol@parkinsonsresources.or

Holidays in the Pine s November 11-12, 10 a .m. to 6 p.m. Tollgate Clubhouse, 150 04 Saddle, Sisters. is boutique features a variet y of homemade and vintage items , f rom f all through Valentine’s Day. Portion of sales benefits Sisters Habit at and Furr y Friends . For more information find us on Facebook or holidayinthepines@outlook com.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Caregiver Suppor t Group

elma’s Place Adult Day Respite Program in Redmond host s a monthly support group for those caring for someone with Alzheimer ’ s or another dementia-related disease. e support group is held every third Wednesday of the month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. is is a f ree family-caregiver support group featuring local organiz ations For more information call 541-548-30 49

Sisters Seeking Applicants for Advisory Boards e Cit y is accepting applications for its boards and commissions . ere are positions open on the Planning Commis sion, Budget Committee, Urban Forestry, Parks , and Public Works Advisor y Boards . More information can be found at ci.sisters .or.us/bc. Applications are due by November 13 . Call 541-549- 6022 for more info.

Free Pet Food

Budget tight this month, but you still need pet food for your dog or cat? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4 023 to schedule your pickup. Pickups available ursdays , beginning at 12:30 p.m. Located at 412 E Main Ave., Ste. 4, behind e Nug get

Internet Safety for Parents & Caregivers KIDS Center, Central Oregon’s child abuse inter vention center, will be coming and giving presentations to our middle schooler parents about how to empower students to be s afe and ethical while online, on Monday, November 14 at the Sisters Middle School, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. e topics covered will be: Hacks & Scams , Social Media Online Gaming , Cyberbullying Inappropriate Posts , and Online Predators . Register at https:// bit.ly/3gVs1dd . Contact Rachel Visser at r visser@kid scenter.org for more information

Sisters High Desert Chor ale Concer ts

e Sisters High Deser t Chorale will usher in the Sisters holiday season with t wo f ree Christmas concerts . “ e Glory of Christmas” introduces the season in a beautif ul way with both newer and traditional songs . Concerts will be performed D ecember 2 at 7 p.m . and December 4 at 2:30 at the Sisters Community Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. Come, enjoy, and celebrate the glory of the season with us . Call 541-588 0362 for more information

Veterans Day Assembly Sisters-area militar y veterans (and their f riends, f amilies , and the general public) are invited to Sisters High School on Wednesday, November 9, for the annual veterans appreciation assembly organized by the student leadership and the local VF W Post to mark Veterans Day e event includes a social time with co ee and donuts f rom 8 to 9:15 before the assembly begins at 9:4 0 a .m. SHS band and choir groups will be featured.

Americ an Legion and VF W Meeting will be held Wednesday, November 2, 6:30 p.m. at e Hangar, 15211 W. McKinney Butte Rd . Members invited to attend . For more info call L ance at 541-233-8399.

East Portal Open House e Cit y will be hosting an open house at Sisters Cit y Council Chambers on Wednesday, November 16 , 4 7 p.m. for the communit y to give feedback on concept plans for the East Portal site. Participants will see three concepts , connect with Cit y sta and the project team, and share input. Call 541-323-5220 for more information

Sisters Holiday Showcase Auditions

On ursday, December 8 , the SHS Jaz z Choir will host the eighth annual Sisters Holiday Showcase. is showcase will be a f un, f amily-friendly holiday variet y show. We are looking for all t ypes of talents (adults and students) — the more unique the better. Live auditions will occur in the high school choir room on Tuesday, November 29, f rom 6 to 8 p.m. Please email rick .johnson@ssd 6.org for an audition time or to send video auditions (submit by November 29). For more info call 541-549 4045 ext. 5826.

Weekly Food Pant ry e Wellhouse Church will have a weekly food pantr y on ursdays at 4:30 p.m. (222 N Trinit y Way) Both drive-through pick-up and shopping-st yle distribution are available. Call 541-549-4184 for information

Announce Your Celebr ations! Birth, engagement, wedding and milestone anniversary notices f rom the Sisters communit y may run for free on this Announcements page. Email nug get@nug getnews .com Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays Save the Rubb erbands Business owners: Are you the

of

is gorg eous , goof y, sweet-natured Great Dane pup came in to HSCO to find the most perfect home. We suspect Duchess has not had an abundance of positive exp eriences before she came to the shelter, which could account for her initial shyness around unfamiliar people and new canine friends, but recently she has become a ectionate with HSCO sta and has really come out of her shell! With the right gentle, consistent tr aining and love to reinforce her confidence, Duchess is going to be an amazing companion for her new owners

bundle

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Brooks Camp Rd . • 541-549-7087 8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship 10 :15 a.m. Episcopal Sund ay Worship www.episcopalsisters.com

Sisters Church of the Nazarene 67130 Harrington Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960 www.sistersna z.org • info @sistersna z.org

a.m.

Worship

Sisters Communit y Church (Nondenominational) 1300 W. McKenzie Hw y. • 541-549-1201 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com

One-act plays on tap in Sisters

By Angela Dean Correspondent

The show must go on. That famous saying can be heard backstage at many theaters when an actor gets injured or sick, stage props break, or the sound equipment fails. Of course, in 2020 that wasn’t the case when Silent Echo Theater Company’s (SETC) evening of one-acts had to be shut down after two performances.

Now, after a two-anda-half-year hiatus, the pro ducers, cast, and crew are excited to present “Now You’re Talking” Holiday Edition One-Acts beginning Thursday night at Katie and Doug Cavanaugh’s Harmony House, located at 17505 Kent Rd. in Sisters.

Three 7:30 p.m. perfor mances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and one 2 p.m. performance on Sunday will be presented with a suggested donation of $25. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.

“Though COVID was a blessing in the beginning because it allowed time to decompress, and regroup after several months of plan ning and rehearsing for the one-acts, ultimately we all started to miss our theater community and performing,” “Now You’re Talking” pro ducer Marla Manning said.

“It has been such a plea sure to finally come back as a theater community and work together to put on this show. The cast and crew have put in numerous hours to share their love of live theater with oth ers,” she added.

The evening will feature seven plays written by six playwrights, two of whom are from Central Oregon. The actors are from Sisters, Bend, and Redmond.

Katie Cavanaugh is one of the Sisters actors and shared that, when she was little, she told people she wanted to be a movie star when she grew up.

“This is my second oppor tunity to be on the stage of Silent Echo Theater perfor mances and I have so enjoyed the process. Feeling into the personality of my character has really been a remark able experience. As a singersongwriter and performer for almost 50 years, I’m no stranger to the stage. Acting is just another wonderful layer of expression. The one-act play that I am in is a comedy and it is wonderful to bring a bit of lightheartedness to the world,” Cavanaugh said.

Since performing with SETC in 2020, Cavanaugh has joined the SETC board, and has brought many ideas to the group. When board members were brain storming for venue ideas to perform this year’s oneacts, Cavanaugh offered

the use of her barn.

“One struggle we’ve had since we formed Silent Echo is finding a location in Sisters for performances. Many places in town have other events and we have to be mindful of those schedules. Katie didn’t have anything scheduled for this time, so it’s worked out well,” Manning said.

Those wishing to attend the plays can sign up through Eventbrite.com and search for Sisters, or “Now You’re Talking.” Donations can be made at the door with cash or through Venmo.

For more information visit www.silentechotheater company.org.

WEDNESDAY

•

Sisters Librar y Sisters Latino Family Council invites you to an afternoon full of culture 4-6:30 p.m.

more about the Day of the Dead. Enjoy hot cocoa, sweet bread, and more.

El Consejo

Katie Cavanaugh’s Harmony House is hosting one-act performances by Silent Echo Theater Company. Marla Manning is the producer.

PHOTO BY ANGELA DEAN

The one-act play that

am in is a comedy and it is wonderful to bring a bit of lightheartedness to the world.

— Katie Cavanaugh

gotten to be very transactional — sitting behind a desk and writing a check.”

Roundhouse’s work is focused on partnering with community organizations to develop, implement, and sustain creative, place-based approaches and programs that strengthen and celebrate rural Oregon.

According to Borla, the work is not just about provid ing funding for worthy pro grams — it’s about helping people in rural Oregon estab lish connections and leverage influence in regions where distance and a paucity of resources can make that chal lenging. And a lot of the work involves “trying to really sit and listen and learn what the actual need is, beyond what is written in an application,” Borla said. “The need isn’t just financial. Yeah, money always helps, but there is an opportu nity to create community.”

Borla’s passion and direct approach appear to have got ten the attention of NCFP.

Nicholas Tedesco, president and CEO of the National Center for Family Philanthropy, said, “Our Fellows Program is instru mental in furthering and ele vating family philanthropy

work across the country, and we are pleased to welcome our newest fellows to the program, including Erin. Her commitment to the philan thropic community and estab lished skills and expertise in the space will make her a great asset to the work we are doing. We are looking forward to her unique contributions!”

All fellows will be work ing to advance the field; fos ter learning to strengthen the practice of family philan thropy; elevate effective and best practices; and encourage an open exchange of ideas and information. In particu lar, Borla will be focused on elevating rural voices and sharing creative solutions to the unique challenges asso ciated with rural culture

and landscape.

“I look forward to working with foundations and philan thropists across the country to elevate the programs and projects happening through out rural Oregon and with our Native partners and am honored and humbled to be included in the group of fel lows selected for this work,” Borla said.

The need is acute. Borla notes that only about seven percent of philanthropic dol lars go into rural communi ties — much less to native communities.

And rural communities often lack time and capacity to apply for grants and dem onstrate the impact of funds. That’s why The Roundhouse Foundation has simplified

their application and reporting process — the kind of practice that will be promoted through the fellowship.

Borla said that she values the ability to take immediate action and affect long-term change. The work honors Columbia Sportswear entre preneur Gert Boyle — Borla’s grandmother.

“My grandmother was an immigrant to this country — and came from pretty signifi cant persecution,” Borla said. “Oregon was very good to her, but she also gave back. “It’s a gift, right? To be able to share with the community something that the community built. Because that’s where the wealth came from.”

In addition to this fel lowship, Borla also recently received a Certificate in Tribal Relations from the Institute for Tribal Government and Center for Public Service in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University. This cap stone course will not only help The Roundhouse Foundation better collaborate and part ner with tribal governments and other native communi ties, but also inform Borla’s upcoming work with the NCFP. For more information on NCFP visit https://www. ncfp.org. For more infor mation on The Roundhouse Foundation, visit www. RoundhouseFoundation.org.

BORLA: Sisters woman leads Roundhouse Foundation

Erin Borla of Sisters has been selected for the National Center for Family Philanthropy Fellows Program.

PHOTO PROVIDED

legislation would change that by protecting tribu taries like Candle Creek, Jack Creek, and Canyon Creek. Wild & Scenic River designations mean no new dams, no new mining, and no clear-cutting of mature and old-growth forests in the river corridors. Light-touch thinning where appropriate is allowed.

The bill doesn’t affect private lands, but does encourage conservation and restoration on included public lands. Firefighting would also continue. Unfortunately time is running out for this Congress to pass the River Democracy Act. I encourage Senator Wyden to pull out all the stops to pass the bill this year. Future generations will treasure the clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, and amazing recre ational opportunities protected by this historic bill.

Erik Fernandez, Oregon Wild s s s

Council election

To the Editor:

I am writing to urge Sisters residents to vote for Sarah McDougall for Sisters City Council.

I met Sarah while volunteering for the Sisters Cold Weather Shelter. Sarah started coming to shel ter meetings in the summer of 2021 after showing up at a work party to clean out a supply closet we keep at the Habitat Restore. She was quiet, but asked questions and continued to show up for meetings. We worked together monitoring the shelter a couple of evenings over the winter. We served hot meals, cleaned up, and played games with the guests after dinner. Sarah also jumped in, sharing her technology skills to run our volunteer scheduling tool toward the end of the season.

This past summer, our shelter board was working on communicating with the City. Sarah did a great job putting together a letter for us that showed she had been listening and understood the nuances of what we were trying to accomplish. She is a good communicator and intuitively gets to the root of complex issues.

I ran into Sarah at last week’s Houseless in Sisters Forum at the firehouse. I didn’t see any other City

Council candidates there. This is a critical topic for the City and Sarah has been showing up. I am grateful that she is willing to serve on City Council, offering her talents and positive perspective to help our town.

Vote Sarah Mcdougall for Sisters City Council.

Sharlene Weed

To the Editor:

s s s

I am writing in response to the Sisters City Council race. I rarely write letters regarding candidates. This year’s general election is important. Especially local races, for example the Sisters City Council.

I’m asking you to please consider not supporting and voting for Susan Cobb. A leader should listen to their constituents without interruption, take counsel when advised they are going down the wrong road, not dismiss citizens’ concerns, and not try to incorpo rate California policies in Oregon. I did not experi ence any of the above qualities while she was in lead ership as president of our homeowners association.

This type of leadership delays and makes it diffi cult to get pertinent work done. We do not need this type of leadership in the Sisters City Council.

Laurie Kimmell

MSgt, USAF (Ret.)

s s s

Spiritual battle

To the Editor:

Thank you for printing the letter “Spiritual bat tle” from Jeff Mackey (The Nugget, October 26). In his Christian Nationalist rant, Mr. Mackey, perhaps inadvertently, laid out with stark clarity the extreme right-wing Trump Republican strategies.

To quote Mr. Mackey, “The list of who, what, and when is almost infinite in describing what I believe is an insatiable lust for power of the darkest kind. Maybe Lenin, acknowledged as pure evil, can summarize what is going on: “We must be ready to employ trickery, deceit, law-breaking, withholding and concealing truth…We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revul sion, and scorn toward those who disagree with us.”

There you have it, right-wing Republican strat egy in a nutshell.

Based on Mr. Mackey’s descriptors, it is clear that I am on the opposite side of his “current spiritual bat tle.” I have never thought of myself as being on the dark side and “unknowingly possessed by Satan’s power over my mind.” Perhaps one day a light will shine on Mr. Mackey and he will view those of us so afflicted with more charity and humility.

Dennis Tower

s s s

Oregon’s COVID success

To the Editor:

I read with interest Carey Tosello’s endorsement of Christine Drazan (“Real change for Oregon,” The Nugget, October 26, page 2) and feel compelled to point out a serious misstatement regarding COVID, where he states that Oregon’s strict COVID restric tions did not work, when in fact they did.

Oregon’s death rate of 205 per 100,000 is one of the lowest. States that were more open paid for it dearly. Here are the death rates per 100,000 for some of these states: Arkansas 433; Oklahoma 431; Florida 383; Georgia 382; Texas 314; and Idaho 291. None of us liked the restrictions but they did save thousands of lives.

Jeff Spere s s s

Thank you to the community

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Class of 2023 Senior Grad Night planning committee, I wanted to express our heart felt gratitude to the community for all of your sup port with our Octoberfest fundraising event. Special thank-you to the countless hours our committee chair, Kellie Schaad, put into making this event happen and to all of the committee members who donated untold hours, energy, and resources. Thank you.

We also want to thank the generous Sisters com munity for all of your beautiful donations that made this even happen, and to our attendees for joining us and making our event a success.

Thank you, Sisters community, for helping us celebrate the class of 2023!

Kelly Davis Martin

excursion to the camp west of Sisters after some of them reported feeling uncomfort able with the gender identity of some of the high-schoolage counselors. Sisters’ sixth-graders attended camp prior to the Culver incident, October 12-14.

Sisters Middle School Principal Tim Roth told The Nugget that no concerns were raised during or after camp by students or staff.

However, one parent who spoke to The Nugget said that his child and several of her friends did express dis comfort at home, over coun selors who they believed to be female in a male cabin.

“This is hearsay from 11-year-olds that said there were definitely females in male cabins,” Andrew Davis told The Nugget

Davis said that the issue for him and other parents isn’t so much about gen der identity as it is about the right of parents to a full understanding of what the camp experience will be.

“If I’m going to send my child, I need to know what my child is going to experi ence, what they’re going to be doing, and what they’re

going to be exposed to,” he said.

Davis said that he partici pated in a pre-camp Zoom meeting on September 20, where he asked directly whether the cabins where students stay would be segre gated on a male/male-female/ female basis. He said that the school district responded in the affirmative — but representatives of Camp Tamarack did not respond to the question.

Roth told The Nugget , “When I was told male/malefemale/female, that’s what I heard. I made a follow-up call with Camp Tamarack, and they said yes.”

It was not necessarily clear, however, that that was based on gender identity, not biological sex.

Roth said, “SSD staff and Sisters’ sixth-grade parents (and) our teaching staff stated that boys would be placed in boys cabins, and girls would be placed in girls cabins. After this meeting Sisters School District employees, on two separate occasions, had phone conversions with Camp Tamarack requesting cabins separated by gender, and this was confirmed.

“With that said, please understand that as a public school employee, I am under no disillusion that we have students and families in our schools and community that are navigating gender iden tity and gender questions.

These individuals are part of our school and our commu nity. It is our role, actually it is our moral imperative, in public school education to make sure that all students know they are cared for, they feel safe, they are loved, and in return they truly feel they belong. We understand that the views of our community don’t always align with the fundamental principles of public education. As public school employees, we do the best we can to sensitively navigate issues that are not in alignment with community values. Yet, we always try to make decisions through the lens that every single student has a place in our school.”

Camp Tamarack’s Director Charlie Anderson told The Nugget , “At Camp Tamarack we support a stu dent’s right to self-identify as outlined by the Oregon Department of Education; this includes HS (high school) student leaders... Students that identify as male will be placed in male cabins, students that identify as female will be placed in female cabins.”

Anderson also stated that, “I would like to make two other things very clear because there is misinfor mation being spread about changing and showering while at Outdoor School: Camp Tamarack has private changing areas available for every student who wants to

use them regardless of iden tity, expression, or back ground. Showering is not a part of the Outdoor School experience. Students do not shower while they are at Camp Tamarack for Outdoor School.”

Davis told The Nugget that had Camp Tamarack rep resentatives stated their posi tion clearly in the meeting, “I would not have felt comfort able with that and would not have sent my child.”

He expressed frustra tion over what he considers deceitful communication based on omission of key information.

“As a parent, I have a right to ask that question — and it’s very clear,” he said. “We’re playing word games.”

Roth does not believe that Camp Tamarack was trying

to mislead parents. He noted that federal law and Oregon Department of Education guidelines put strict param eters around what schools and nonprofits can ask or say about students in regard to gender identity and sexual orientation.

“I think that Camp Tamarack presented the information the best they could without violating fed eral law and they did their best to honor our request to have males with males, and females with females,” he said.

Camp Tamarack’s website has an extensive values state ment that lays out their posi tion on inclusiveness: https:// www.camptamarack.com/ copy-of-home.

Roth said that, in retro spect, “I would probably intentionally push out the website,” so that parents could draw their own conclu sions about how gender iden tity, and such things as cabin assignments are handled.

Mandee Seeley, a parent who has sent her children to Camp Tamarack because of its stated efforts at inclu siveness, defended the institution.

“I don’t think Camp Tamarack intentionally deceived anyone,” she said. “I think they were protecting their counselors.”

From her perspective,

I think that Camp Tamarack presented the information the best they could without violating federal law, and they did their best to honor our request to have males with males, and females with females.

— Principal Tim Roth

parents should have proac tively looked at the Camp website, where it would have been clear to them how the Camp approaches issues of gender.

“We knew this,” she said. “This is part of the reason we were comfortable send ing our kids over there — because it is an inclusive space.”

Seeley said she is con cerned that the Culver inci dent, and calls for Sisters to

cut ties with Camp Tamarack, will have a chilling effect on prospective counselors. That worries her, because suicide and mental health problems are higher among transgendered and other nonconforming children, “when they can’t be who they are or be safe being who they are in their daily lives.”

Davis sees a gap between the way Culver approached the issue and how Sisters handled it.

“They should have alerted the parents,” he said. “What Culver did, they saw the issue and they said, ‘some parents will be upset about it, and we should reevaluate.’ Sisters School District did

What is Outdoor School?

Outdoor School is a decades-old rite of passage for Oregon sixth-graders, including Sisters students. For many, it is a highlight of their school years.

The principles behind Outdoor School revolve around getting kids out into nature and fostering a sense of place. Camps feature direct educational opportuni ties, like science experiment stations, but also hiking, canoeing, archery, and other activities that are considered by many to be a core part of the Oregon experience.

Outdoor School also pro vides opportunities for teambuilding and developing a school culture.

Sisters Middle School Principal Tim Roth noted that Outdoor School often occurs in the spring, but he and his staff saw major advantages to starting the year off with the experience.

“They thought, ‘Let’s set the tone and the culture right off the bat and do it in October,’” he said.

Outdoor School also offers growth opportuni ties for high school-aged students, who are given the opportunity to act as camp counselors and student

leaders with the younger students.

Charlie Anderson, exec utive director at Camp Tamarack, told The Nugget that “high school students get permission from teach ers, parents, and school counselors in order to vol unteer at Outdoor School. There is training each high school student participates in before working with 5th/6th-grade students. Our high school leaders spend the week supervising a cabin of 5th-/6th-grade students, helping lead communitybuilding and science activi ties, and fostering lifelong connections with other vol unteers all under the men torship of a Camp Tamarack staff member.”

Roth recognizes that Outdoor School is a big deal to parents and families.

“Some of the families, it might be the first time their kids left home without them,” he said.

Outdoor School is usually a three-day/two night event. Roth noted that students are not required to stay over night if they or their parents are not comfortable.

“We can make it a day camp if they don’t want to

not do that.”

Davis believes the dis trict should cut ties with the Camp.

“I think we need to find a new camp to do Outdoor School with,” he told The Nugget. “I think we’re past the point of well, next year, we know.”

Roth told The Nugget that the school evaluates Outdoor School every year, and “we haven’t done it the same way twice since I’ve been here.”

He urged any parent who has any concern about Outdoor School — or any other matter — to come and talk directly to him.

“ Please come in and talk to me face-to-face,” he said.

MOTORCYCLISTS:

Rides are to become a regular event

“It was a well-organized ride,” he said. “Lots of fun. I would definitely do it again. Great way to bring local rid ers together.”

stay overnight,” Roth said.

Roth, who has been principal at Sisters Middle School for the past four years, noted that the program has been handled differently in each of those four years, partly due to constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is evaluated each year.

Roth said the experience is one of fun and bonding for the students. He recounted his visit to last month’s event.

“I saw 100 percent of the kids standing in line with smiles on their faces, hoot ing and hollering,” he said. “I didn’t see any kids stand ing off to the side. They just looked like a bunch of kids having a blast at Outdoor School — and a bunch of counselors having a blast having them there.”

“There are many cur rents that move through Sisters Country that bring residents together. Music, art, rodeo, and a multitude of outdoor activities. Offpavement motorcycle explo ration is my passion, and Central Oregon has some of the best. Sisters Moto helps bring together like-minded riders of all ages to enjoy the wilderness from a per spective like no other. Our local community of riders is impressive and not only in numbers! We come from all walks of life. We take care of each other on the trail, and we act as good land stew ards and ambassadors to the visiting outdoor enthusiasts we encounter. Sisters Moto is a growing hub of connec tion and community. It was an honor to help lead an 85-mile backcountry adven ture ride from their shop after their wonderful preride reception.”

Riders of a wide range of ages and levels of experi ence mingled and exchanged stories and ideas throughout the day.

Seth Adelson has only owned his Kawasaki KLW 250 S for three months and is brand-new to this world of off-road motorcycle riding. The ride could be daunting at times, but with patience and focus — and encourage ment from his new riding friends — he successfully negotiated the rough road to keep his new toy upright the whole route.

Seasoned veterans to adventure or dual sport rid ing know the joy of head ing off on a trail you know nothing about or where it will lead, have explored the spider web of acces sible vehicle legal trails reachable from town, and are familiar with the joys a day of riding in the woods brings.

“Any time I can jump on something that is this much fun and get outside is a good time,” said Ron Lindsey, a participant in the ride and known by some as the “trail guru.” “And it’s always great to be with fellow riders and talk bikes.”

“Some of these motor cycles are basically a tradi tional dirt bike with a license plate,” said Michael Fry, who rode “sweep” for the group and is somewhat new to dual sport riding. “The beauty of this type of bike and segment of the sport is that it allows access to, and the ability to connect with, trails that cannot be found in street-only or trail-only models of bikes. It offers so much of what is fun about off-road riding with the abil ity to reach out-of-the-way locations.”

Coordinators of the ride anticipate making it a regular event, perhaps every other Saturday, until weather and conditions no longer permit.

Sisters Moto hosted an expansion party on October 29, celebrating the growth of the motorcycle shop into new space in ThreeWind Shopping Center.

Camp emphasizes policy of inclusion

out this time around is how much common ground there is among the prognosticators, and how closely the resulting forecasts mirror last year’s outlook. And yet, maybe that shouldn’t be too surprising since we appear to be head ing into a rare third La Niña winter in a row (La Niña is Spanish for “little girl”). It has happened only twice since 1950.

The classic La Niña sce nario tends to favor cooler and wetter winters here in the Pacific Northwest. On October 20, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center issued its three-month (December, January, and February) out look that calls for cooler and wetter than normal conditions to prevail. More specifically, Washington, the panhandle of Idaho, and northern Oregon should experience cooler tem peratures, while the southern half of Oregon extending east ward through Idaho should see temperatures closer to average. It will be wetter than normal nearly everywhere in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Persistent trade winds con tinue to blow across the east ern tropical Pacific Ocean, producing strong upwelling that results in cooler than nor mal sea surface temperatures. Atmospheric scientists have dubbed this cold phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) La Niña. While ENSO isn’t the only climate phenomenon (there are many others), it is still considered the primary driver of global weather patterns. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists believe La Niña will stick around through most of the winter, then fade to a neutral ENSO signal by late winter or early spring.

On Saturday, October 22, the Oregon Museum of

Science and Industry in Portland played host to the Oregon chap ter of the American Meteorological Society’s 30th Annual Winter Weather Forecast Conference. Seven weather profes sionals shared their opinions about the important aspects of last winter’s events and what to expect this time around.

Mark Nelsen of Fox TV Channel 12 in Portland pointed out that last winter started out with sev eral storms sweeping through Oregon in November and early December 2021, build ing an early snowpack in the mountains. But from the sec ond week in January through March, conditions turned dry and mild. Only a cool, moist April and May helped add to a meager mountain snowpack.

Rebecca Muessle of the National Weather Service office in Portland produced a map showing that Sisters is still in a moderate drought. However, a second map indicated that although the drought will remain, condi tions are expected to improve during the period October through December of this year.

In his forecast highlights, Pete Parsons of the Oregon Department of Forestry claims that “December and January have heightened chances for arctic intrusions, which could be severe.” The Pacific Northwest hasn’t had a widespread arctic air out break for the past eight years.

Is this the year that winds cir culating around the polar vor tex weaken enough to allow a batch of frigid air to sag into our region?

So here we are on the eve of a third consecutive La Niña winter. Applying the general rule of thumb that says cooler and wetter weather in the Northwest, we should expect to see lower average tempera tures and more rain/snow than normal in the coming months. Yet, Central Oregon remains in a prolonged drought. Why has the “little girl” forsaken us? Or has she?

While central and south ern Oregon have experienced a precipitation deficit for a number of years now, it’s not nearly as dry farther north. Portland’s rain/snowfall was close to normal last winter. In Olympia, rainfall was well above average during the heart of the winter season. In fact, several communities even farther north in Western Washington endured wide spread flooding as an active jet stream brought one storm after another into the region.

So maybe La Niña has been with us after all. Perhaps the “tried and true” methods used previously to predict

seasonal weather can no longer be applied to the Pacific Northwest as a whole.

Oregon Clima tologist Larry O’Neill thinks that climate change has made annual weather fore casts less predictable in general.

“It is important to remember that these historical ana logs occurred before climate change became more appar ent. Winters during recent La Niña events in the last 10 to 15 years have not been quite as cold or wet,” said O’Neill.

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT

By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service

Outlaws shine spotlight on athletes

The Outlaws are shin ing the spotlight on two student-athletes, football player Justin DeSmet and volleyball player Gracelyn Myhre.

Football Coach Clayton Hall said:

“Since Justin has joined our football team, I have been very impressed with his work ethic and leadership in the weight room, on the football field, and in the classroom. In the month of September, Justin has played great at running back on offense and corner on defense, leading our team to two great wins over Burns and Elmira and has continued to perform well in October. Justin is the type of kid who is early to practice and will stay late to put in extra work to improve his craft. We are grateful to

have Justin in our program and we look forward to see ing his future success this year on the football field. Go Outlaws!

Volleyball Coach Rory Rush said:

Gracelyn is a team cap tain this year. She may not always be the leader in kills or blocks, but she is the glue for our team. She is a floor leader, an example of doing the little things, and a go-to when we need a side out. She celebrates and encourages her teammates and strives to make those around her bet ter by leading by example. Gracelyn was an integral part of our success this weekend in our Silver bracket win at the Clearwater Classic. Gracelyn Myhre is an excel lent choice for athlete of the month.

Justin DeSmet breaks loose.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Gracelyn Myhre goes up for the

shot.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

C L A S S I

ALL advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not know- ingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

CLASSIFIED RATES

COST: $2 per line for first insertion, $1.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1 per line 10th week and beyond (identical ad/consecutive weeks). Also included in The Nugget online classifieds at no additional charge. There is a minimum $5 charge for any classified. First line = approx. 20-25 characters, each additional line = approx. 25-30 characters. Letters, spaces, numbers and punctuation = 1 character. Any ad copy changes will be charged at the first-time insertion rate of $2 per line. Standard abbreviations allowed with the approval of The Nugget classified department. NOTE: Legal notices placed in the Public Notice section are charged at the display advertising rate.

DEADLINE: MONDAY, noon preceding WED. publication.

PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due upon placement. VISA & MasterCard accepted. Billing available for continuously run classified ads, after prepayment of first four (4) weeks and upon approval of account application.

12th from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Incl. Country Store, Grandma Martha’s Attic, Handmade

Quilts, and Keep Christ in

is back

St. Thomas Parish Center 1720 NW 19th St., Redmond

301 Vehicles

Ford F250 Super Duty 2001 LARIAT P/U 4WD 10 cylinders S 6.8L extended cab, rebuilt engine and tranny, electric trailer brakes, 60% tread, new stereo/CD player, everything works well. $8,200. Call 503-409-3836

We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

302 Recreational Vehicles

2018 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40SP Motor-coach- Original owners, excellent condition, ready to roll wherever your spirit leads. For complete details and photos, see our Private Seller ad on-line at RVtrader.com asking $ 298,000 OBO. Serious inquiries only please. 541-797-9759

403 Pets

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

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

500 Services

I

D S

BOOKKEEPING SERVICE ~ Olivia Spencer ~ Expert Local Bookkeeping! Phone: 541-241-4907 www.spencerbookkeeping.com

~ WEDDINGS BY KARLY ~ Happy to perform virtual or in-person weddings. Custom Wedding Ceremonies 20+ years • 541-410-4412 revkarly@gmail.com

MOVING TRUCK FOR HIRE –COMPLETE MOVING, LLC–Sisters' Only Local Moving Co.! Two exp. men with 25+ years comm. moving. Refs! ODOT Lic. Class 1-B • Call 541-678-3332

LOLO TREE WORKS

Tree Services: Tree Removal, Tree Pruning, Stump Grinding, Emergency Tree Services.

ISA Certified Arborist

Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com Call / Text: 503-367-5638 Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com CCB #240912

4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree

TREE REMOVAL

CLEANUP

Native / Non-Native Tree

Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

– FOREST MANAGEMENT

-

Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale

Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area

2003

Owner James Hatley &

541-815-2342

Junk removal, new home, garage & storage clean-out, construction, yard debris. You Call – We Haul! 541-719-8475

SMALL Engine REPAIR Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Authorized service center for Stihl, Honda, Ariens/Gravely, Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki Engines

–

pruning, roofs, gutters,

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

J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling

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

All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling and SNOW REMOVAL Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

Dog Kennel Help Needed

Looking for reliable help at professional dog breeder/kennel. Duties include cleaning, sanitizing kennels, poopy pickup, cleaning grounds, feeding, grooming and exercising dogs. Hours flexible. Reliable, detail minded, organized. Professional and helpful customer service attitude. Reliable transportation a must! $16/hour to start.

Call/Text 541-771-2330

Full-Time Resource Sales Associate

information, please contact Scott Woodford, Community Development Director at (541) 323-5211 or swoodford@ci.sisters.or.us.

From design to installation we can do it all! Pavers, water features, irrigation systems, sod, plants, trees etc. 541-771-9441 LCB #8906 bendorganiclandscaping.com

We are looking for a person who is friendly, outgoing, and reliable; someone who enjoys working with the public in a team environment. Full-time position Monday-Friday. Applications available at the Stitchin’ Post, 311 West Cascade Ave. in Sisters or by email: diane.j@stitchinpost.com Questions? Contact: julie@stitchinpost.com

803 Work Wanted

The staff report and recommendation to the hearings body will be available for review at least seven (7) days before the hearing. All submitted evidence and materials related to the application are available for inspection at City Hall. Copies of all materials will be available on request at a reasonable cost. The Planning Commission meeting is accessible to the public either in person or via Zoom online meeting. Meeting information, including the Zoom link, can be found on https://www.ci.sisters. or.us/meetings.

PUBLIC HEARING: November 17, 2022 at 5:30 pm FILE #: TA 22-04

Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345

701 Domestic Services

WANT a FURRY FRIEND?

Check out the "Pet of the Week" highlighted on The Nugget's Announcements page!

BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897 I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051

802 Help Wanted

City of Sisters Utility Technician I Full-time, benefits, 40 hours per week (shifts may vary and/or include weekend work) compensation depending on experience. Duties will include all aspects of the Public Works Department. This includes working with water, sewer, streets, parks, vehicle/building maintenance. Knowledge and ability to operate back hoe, dump truck, snow plow, street sweeper and various other public works related equipment is preferred. Special requirements/licenses: Minimum of Oregon CDL Class B, current State of Oregon Water Distribution Level I, Wastewater Collection System Level I certifications and Flagger/Work Zone Traffic control card. Possession of or required to obtain within 1 year of appointment. City of Sisters is a drug and alcohol free work place and an equal opportunity employer. Salary Scale is grade 17 and the compensation ranges from $18.63-$27.75 per hour. The proposed starting salary is based upon qualifications, skills, and experience. Application and detailed job description are available at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave., or at www.ci.sisters.or.us

Position wanted in Sisters COMPANION CAREGIVER

Available after October 12. Please call or text 503-274-0214 for more information.

999 Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the City of Sisters Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters, on November 17, 2022 at 5:30 PM regarding the application listed below. The hearing will be held according to SDC Chapter 4.1 and the rules of procedure adopted by the City Council and available at City Hall. Prior to the public hearing, written comments may be provided to Sisters City Hall at 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters (mailing address PO Box 39, Sisters, OR 97759) or emailed to swoodford@ci.sisters.or.us. Comments should be directed toward the criteria that apply to this request and must reference the file number. For additional

APPLICANT: City of Sisters REQUEST: Text amendment to Sisters Development Code (SDC) to support the recommendations of the Sisters Housing Plan and Efficiency Measures Report, including to Chapter 2.3, MultiFamily Residential District to increase allowed residential density and building heights and remove the floor area ratio requirement, to add Zoning Incentives for affordable housing, to Section 2.4 to allow Residential Only development in the parts of the Downtown Commercial Zone, and to Section 1.3.100, Table 2.2.2, and Table 2.3.2 to Facilitate Middle Housing Types and to Chapter 3.6 to add Middle Housing design standards.

APPLICABLE CRITERIA: SDC Chapter 2.15 – Special Provisions; Chapter 4.1 – Types of Applications and Review Procedures; Chapter 4.7 – Land Use District Map and Text Amendments; Oregon Statewide Land Use Goals; and City of Sisters Urban Area Comprehensive Plan. The new SPIRIT OF CENTRAL OREGON is here! Read it online at www.nuggetnews.com

Variety of projects are underway

Sisters

in Sun Ranch Business Park, an 11,308-square-foot, twostory facility that was permit ted for $1.38 million in con struction costs.

Philadelphia Steak & Hoagies, who currently rent at 352 E. Hood Ave., are building their own restaurant from the ground up catty-cor ner on the southwest corner of Hood Avenue and South Spruce Street, hoping to take occupancy in early spring.

The Cottage Inn of Sisters Boutique Hotel is putting the finishing touches on its seven cottages on East Main and North Locust and will open any day. Construction costs of $600-$700,000 don’t include furnishings, and none of the projects covered in this story include land cost or other fees such as design, surveying, or system devel opment charges imposed by the City or Deschutes County.

Otherwise, developers are banking on Sisters’ con tinuing growth and appeal. It is most noticeable at Three Peaks Industrial Park, a 15.5acre parcel previously owned by the Forest Service and bound by Barclay Drive and North Pine Street. The devel opment consists of 14 lots of varying sizes.

Sisters Storage has just finished its Annex that took two of the lots. In total the Annex has 41,000 square feet under roof, with a construc tion value of $3.9 million.

Across the street, Compass Commercial has poured concrete for the floor, and walls will soon go up on a light industrial building comprised of two 7,000-plussquare-foot spaces that can be combined for a total of 14,924 square feet. Both spaces include 14-foot rollup doors, a shared load ing dock, and two private restrooms.

The building will fea ture steel construction with masonry wainscoting and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2023. Its construction cost is valued at $2.2 million according to its building permit. Tenants are being sought.

Down the street at Lot 5, concrete has also just been poured for a 40,880-squarefoot spec building that is divided into six units of 6,800 square feet each. Its indicated construction cost is $4.1 mil lion. Ponderosa Plumbing has taken two of the units and will build out 3,798 square feet of warehouse space and 3,056 square feet of show room and office on the first floor, and 2,972 square feet of office on the second floor. Back at Sun Ranch, next

to Bird Gard, footings are finished for 2,666 square feet being built as a two-story, live-work structure with construction projected at $500,000.

This isn’t the first livework building in Sisters, and developers predict we will see more as remote work ing and work-from-home entrepreneurs are growing exponentially. In 2010 only 10,000 such live-work-play rental units were built in the U.S. In the last five years 225,000 such units were con structed bringing the total to 580,000 nationwide accord ing to YardiMatrix.

And down the street a few hundred feet on the cor ner of Lundgren Mill Road and North Bluebird Street, 3 Sisters Partners is putting up what it describes as a first for Sisters. The 7,700-squarefoot, two-story project has Class A office space down stairs and three “luxury” apartments upstairs.

Both the offices and the apartments are of a quality not seen in Sisters, both in term of design and amenities,

the developers are promising. While the 4,000 square feet reserved for offices could be divided, and probably will be, the owners are hop ing and actively recruiting for a single tenant, one with 30-40 employees in the tech field or professional services. Completion is scheduled for April 1.

The multipurpose build ing is likely another first for Sisters — panelized construction. Much of the

Home sales cool

The numbers are in for the first 30 days of October, and sales of single-family homes in zip code 97759 show a marked decline in activity. Last year in the time period there were 31 sales transacted with a total value of $24.94 million. This October the number of sales, 20, dropped a third to $19.33 million.

On the other hand, both the average and median price gained substantially. In 2021 the average price fetched was $804,522 with a median price of $685,000. This year’s average price is $966,402 and the median jumped to $855,000.

The median price is the more accurate gauge of market conditions as the average price could be

influenced by one of more outsized sales.

The number of homes garnering more than $1 million was seven in 2021 and five in 2022, the larg est $2.88 million for a five-bedroon, six-bath on Curly Dock in Black Butte Ranch. The lowest price recorded for October was a newly finished home near the high school that sold for $520,000, a 1,408 square foot unit at $369/SF.

The average price this October is $416 per square foot, showing no let up in what buyers are paying. Notable for this October are the number of homes in what realtors call the sweet spot: $500,000 to $700,000. Nine of the 20 sales posted in this range.

structure, particularly the walls, are built with laser precision off-site at a shop

in Redmond, transported to the site, hoisted into position, and locked together.

Commercial construction is moving at a furious pace in Sisters.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

recognized last Thursday for her foundational work in providing the spark for what has become an organization dedicated to making Sisters a good place for all ages.

The ride-share program has received generous grant support from The Round house Foundation, City of Sisters, Citizens4Community, St. Charles Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foun dation, and Gloria and Doug las Rumberger Foundation.

Age Friendly Sisters Country provided the admin istrative assistance necessary to get STARS up and run ning and continues to provide assistance as needed. Three of the AFSC members were recognized for their invalu able assistance with Thank You A-Lattes. Judy Smith, AFSC liaison, Dixie Eckford, AFSC grants, and Peggy Tehan, AFSC treasurer, all received coffee mugs and gift cards for local coffee shops.

STARS Program Director Rennie Morrell has a heart for the mission, and sees to it that it all runs seamlessly. Despite COVID-19 regula tions requiring drivers fol low certain procedures, and her own recuperating from multiple surgeries, she never missed a beat.

Two drivers were recog nized by Driver Coordinator Toni Landis, who, along with Suzy Ramsey, manages the drivers. Debbie Hewett was named Superstar Driver for her 15,427 miles, the most of any driver. Chris West was given the title Donut Driver for taking the most short-lead rides and taking his passen gers donuts.

Karen Thrower was crowned Dispatcher Diva for the most dispatch hours, by Dispatch Supervisor Tom Gonsiewski.

Sisters businesses showed their appreciation for what STARS offers the commu nity by providing gift cards and merchandise valued at over $2,500 for awards, door prizes, and 50 gift bags, one for each driver.

“You do such wonderful things for the community,” said one business owner.

Sisters Liquor Store donated wine for the event and Three Creeks Brewing the beer and cider. Award gifts came from Bedouin, Oliver Lemon’s, Canyon Creek Pottery, Sisters Bakery, Sisters Coffee Company, Fika Sisters Coffee, Hike-NPeaks, Bi-Mart, and Sisters Mainline Station.

Five door prize bas kets, each valued at over $100, contained items from Takodas, Culver House, Sisters Cascade, Lynne Myers

– artist, Open Door, Pony Express, Sage Salon – Marla Brinkman, The Hen’s Tooth, Your Store, and Blessed Beauty – Jessica Fischer.

Gift bags were full of goodies from Sisters Apothecary, Sisters Cascade, Sisters Ace Hardware,

High Desert Chocolates, Candy Corral, Common Threads, Sisters Meat and Smokehouse, Bi-Mart Corporate, Sundance Shoes, Ray’s Food Place, and Cascade Spirits.

(See related story in Partners in Giving, page 12.)

NEW SCHOOL:

Elementary school to be completed in

general obligation bond passed by Sisters voters in 2021. According to SSD officials, there are many benefits to the new location, with Sisters Elementary School being closer to the other schools, including easier and more effi cient allocation of resources.

“It allows for a walkable space and support for other programs, and having the K-5 curriculum we purchase be in one building,” said Scholl.

The fifth-grade classes have been held at Sisters Middle School for many years. They will be moved back to the elementary school once it’s completed, allow ing for additional space in the middle school.

“As we grow, that space allows the school to grow in the middle school, with fifthgraders being back in the ele mentary school,” said Scholl.

At the site of the official groundbreaking, board mem bers, architects, builders, prin cipals, and the superintendent

all gathered to ceremonially dig into the dirt on their new building location.

“We are so excited to see this moving forward,” said Scholl. “We are so apprecia tive of our voters in Sisters Country and allowing these plans to move forward. We are so grateful to be work ing with SunWest Builders on the project. The entire team is excited to see the asset the space will provide and about the next steps in building moving forward.”

The new elementary school is expected to be com pleted in April 2024.

Learn more about the proj ect and the bond measure that supported it at: http://ssd6. org/schoolboard/2021bond/.

STARS: Program is essential for many Sisters seniors

Toni Landis presented Chris West with the Donut Driver Award for his willingness to pick up short-lead rides and providing donuts for his passengers.

PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD