The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVI No. 4 // 2023-01-25

Speed on the slopes...

Development wins conditional approval

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

The controversial Sunset Meadows development can go forward — if developers meet conditions of approval.

Woodhill Homes’ application for their Master Plan development Sunset Meadows, on a 12.92-acre property in the multi-family residential district (MFR) at

15510 McKenzie Highway on the west side of town, won approval — with conditions — from the Planning Commission at their January 19 meeting.

The condition of approval requires the applicant to revise their phasing order on the project. The original plan called for five phases, with

Man arrested for bookstore break-in

A motorist driving down Cascade Avenue on Tuesday evening, January 17, spotted a person wearing a black ski mask trying to break into Lonesome Water Books. The citizen called 911 at about 6:15 p.m.

According to Sgt. Jason Wall of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, as

deputies responded to the area, Deschutes County 911 was advised that the person wearing the ski mask had gained entry to the store.

When law enforcement arrived, the subject wearing the ski mask left the store, armed with a

What’s behind a fence in Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Good fences make good neighbors — so the saying goes.

The Nugget’s story last week about the Forest Service mowing the underbrush in the Sisters woods, and thereby making homeless camps more visible, caused some readers to make contact in hopes of adding context to the story.

One was Ashley Okura, one of the family owners of Ponderosa Lodge, the landmark motel at the Barclay/ Highway 20 roundabout. Okura explained the long history of the new 1,700-lineal-foot fence being erected

Contract is vital to law enforcement

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Knowing the community you are working in on an intimate basis makes a big difference in law enforcement.

That was the message that came across loud and clear in a two-night Citizens Academy open house hosted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) at the Sisters Fire District Community Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, January 18-19.

Between 30 and 40 citizens turned out each night to get to know local deputies and to get a glimpse at how the DCSO operates. Everyone attending, from Sheriff Shane Nelson to the individual deputies assigned here, say that operations in Sisters have been materially enhanced by the $711,200 annual contract agreed between the City of Sisters and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2020. The contract allows for a DCSO lieutenant and three deputies to be stationed

in Sisters. City staff interacts directly with Lt. Chad Davis, who reports to the sheriff. The deputies are all assigned full-time to Sisters, rather than a variety of deputies rotating through the station.

The DCSO patrol vehicles all carry the City of Sisters logo to foster that community identity.

The contract has, in effect, provided Sisters with its own police force at a fraction of

the cost of actually forming a police department, with the requirement to hire and train staff, purchase vehicles and equipment, and manage human resources. More importantly, it has, as all the deputies acknowledge, given DCSO the scope to proved better service.

“That consistent piece (having a set cadre of

Deputy Mike Hudson chatted with members of the public who turned out for a two-night Citizens Academy open house.

PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS

Araiya Grummer looks to the next gate in Sisters Outlaws skiing action. The Outlaws are having an exceptional season on the slopes. See story, page 7.

PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN

Letters to the Editor…

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer’s name, address, and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond, or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday.

Contrasting classified scandals

To the Editor:

Before I sit down to write something I might seek to have published, I ask myself two questions: What point will I try to make, and who is my intended audience? In his opinion piece “Jammin’ in Joe’s garage” (The Nugget January 18, page 2), Mr. Cornelius fails to explain the first, and it is obvious what is the second.

He explicitly promotes the notion that “both sides do it” (mishandle classified documents), as means of eliding the significant differences between the actions of ex-president Trump and President Biden. His audience are his friends in the community of Trump supporters who will read him and say “Nyah, nyah, Biden has done the same as Trump.” No, Biden didn’t.

The most recent article that details the differences can be found in The Guardian

‘The scale of the scandals is hugely lopsided: thousands of documents in Trump’s possession, including many marked top secret, versus an estimated dozen in Biden’s….Trump declared his intent to take documents, refused to hand them back, had to be raided by the FBI to secure the records, then fought authorities in court for months.” Chris Michael, Andrew Witherspoon, and Richard Luscombe (The Guardian, January 20). In addition to this, ex-president Trump continues to assert that he owns presidential records (he doesn’t) and had his lackeys tell the National Archives that he had returned all of the presidential records and classified documents (he hadn’t).

Other than a passing reference to “… Biden at least looks like he’s cooperative,” Mr. Cornelius provides no detail about what President Biden did when he discovered these

Sisters Weather Forecast

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC

Website: www.nuggetnews.com 442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759 Tel: 541-549-9941 | Email: editor@nuggetnews.com

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Nugget Newspaper, P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759.

Editor in Chief: Jim Cornelius

Production Manager: Leith Easterling Creative Director: Jess Draper Community Marketing Partner: Vicki Curlett

Classifieds & Circulation: Janice Hoffman

Proofreader: Kit Tosello Owner: J. Louis Mullen

What’s in a name? A lot, it turns out

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Brian David Owens stopped by The Nugget last Thursday to clear a couple of things up.

Owens lives in the forest west of Ponderosa Lodge, and he was mentioned — by first name only — in Bill Bartlett’s story “Forest thinning reveals forest dwellings,” (The Nugget, January 18, page 1). He and his dog Dude came into the office, and we rang up Bill, and we all had a good conversation.

Owens prefers that his full name be used. He wanted it understood that his friend JD was making a joke when he referred to himself as “JD — as in Jack Daniels.” Owens says that both men are sober, and he insists that they don’t trespass across Ponderosa Lodge property, where a fence is being built ( see related story, page 1).

Most of all, he wanted to let us know that he doesn’t like being referred to as a “forest dweller.” He’s an Army veteran, and he says he prefers to be referred to as “an American citizen.”

It seems we can’t agree on the language used to address the issue of homelessness in Sisters Country — and across the nation — much less agree on how to grapple with it.

“Homeless” has fallen out of favor and “houseless” is preferred — but not by everyone. Some folks prefer “forest dwellers,” a term Brian David Owens finds offensive.

There are a wide range of viewpoints on this complex and persistent issue,

and a lot of people wrestle with contradictory feelings. It doesn’t help when we don’t know how to talk about it. Constant shifts in nomenclature can have sincere motives — a desire to be more precise and/or inclusive in how we define something. They can also be used as a way of manipulating and controlling the discourse.

Some folks here in Sisters have told us they are reluctant to express themselves because they don’t want to be judged by their neighbors for using the “wrong” words or having unpopular opinions. That’s not good.

Concern for those in difficult — and sometimes dire — circumstances is legitimate. The folks who live in the forest have a right to speak for themselves, too, and there’s more than one voice to be heard. Equally legitimate is the point of view of people who see their quality of life threatened or diminished by the impact of homeless camps in the woods. They ask where compassion, both individually and as a community, slides into enabling behavior — and it’s a valid question.

Folks with differing points of view may never see eye to eye on this subject. Sisters may never be able to come up with a community consensus and a clear path forward. After all, nobody else seems to have “solved” the issue. Recognizing that no single point of view has the answers, we’ve got to keep talking with each other. Because forest dwelling is here to stay.

Winning form...

Jack Turpen shot a photo sequence of Outlaws ace Bela Chladek running a slalom course in alpine skiing competition.

Serving the Sisters community

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

A big heart in a little package might be just the right way to describe a Sisters resident who has contributed to the Sisters community for the 23 years she has called this place home.

Annie Marland was one of the first to purchase a home in 2000 in The Pines, the 55-plus community located off McKinney Butte Road. Her neighbors refer to her as “The Historian,” because she’s been there since the beginning of the neighborhood. Her dad lived with her for the first four years, until he passed away in 2004.

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

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

SUE STAFFORD

Marland is a native Oregonian, having been born and raised in Burns. She admits some refer to her as the “chick from the sticks.” She left Burns to begin her college education at the University of Oregon, but left college to join the workforce in the insurance industry, which took her to Portland, then to Hartford, Connecticut, where she and her husband lived for five years.

San Francisco was the next stop, where she worked for Great Source Education, a division of HoughtonMifflin that provided a program of professional development for teachers of creative writing. She moved to Portland

Sisters Folk Festival presents new event

Sisters Folk Festival is launching a brand-new music festival bringing progressive bluegrass and Americana music to two stages in June.

Big Ponderoo will take place June 23-25, 2023 at Sisters Art Works and Three Creeks Brewing Co. production facility. The lineup includes The War and Treaty, The Travelin’ McCourys, Corb Lund, Margo Cilker, Jon Stickley Trio, Mile Twelve, Twisted Pine, Never Come Down, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, and FY5, with a full lineup announcement coming

later in the spring.

The Folk Festival’s new endeavor is designed to strengthen community by bringing three distinct elements to Sisters the week of June 18-25. To kick off the festivities, Camp Ponderoo, an immersive bluegrass jam camp, will be held at Sisters Art Works June 18-21. Mike Finders, band leader of FY5 and the camp’s director says, “At Camp Ponderoo, pickers get to work with FY5, a veteran bluegrass and roots music

Sisters’ prospects for affordable housing dim

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Sisters Woodlands has made its first three sales and construction is underway. The planned development in the rectangle of North Pine Street, West Barclay Drive, and Highway 20, features some 359 homes and 44,000 square feet of commercial and light industrial space. In its infancy, Sisters Woodlands was imagined and touted as a practical option for workforce housing.

At the time, one of the project’s owners, Paul Hodge, was CEO of Laird Superfoods when Laird projected as many as 500 employees for its nearby operation; the operation has since moved to Utah, leaving zero employees and some 45,000 square feet of empty office and production space.

In the same time as Sisters

Woodlands went from the drawing board to hard hats, the pandemic, massive supply-chain issues, inflation, and a doubling of home interest rates struck, destroying any notion that the Woodlands would be affordable by definition. Affordable housing is generally defined as housing in which the occupant is paying no more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing costs, including taxes, dues, utilities.

Sisters Woodlands has broken ground on Phase 1 and expects to deliver three homes in April. In the first phases, buyers will have the choice of cottages or townhomes ranging from 859 square feet to 1,250 square feet, priced in the high $500,000 to low $600,000 range. In round numbers a buyer can purchase 900 square feet for

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)

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

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 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.

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 Thurs., 9 a.m., BBR 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

PHOTO BY

Ann Marland has been a stalwart volunteer in the Sisters community for years.

records. I suggest he didn’t want to make clear that stark contrast.

As to Mr. Cornelius’ claim that there is an unjustifiable disparity in “accountability” for these violations, I ask, what accountability? Have the investigations concluded? Have Republicans disavowed Trump as their presidential candidate? Will Mr. Cornelius cheer when Trump is indicted for violations of federal laws regarding these records? Perhaps when he next writes on this subject, he can title his piece “Party’n at the golf club.”

Michael Wells

Editor’s reply:

Mr. Wells simultaneously misses and proves the point raised in last week’s column (“Jammin’ in Joe’s garage,” The Nugget, January 18, page 2).

The trust we put in our chief executive to preserve national security — including their handling of classified materials — should not be a partisan matter. Apparently, it’s hard for some folks to break the Red Team vs. Blue Team paradigm.

Mr. Wells asks: “…what accountability? Have the investigations concluded?” We citizens don’t need investigations to hold both Donald Trump and Joe Biden accountable. It’s established that classified materials were in places where they don’t belong. Willful or sloppy matters to a special counsel, but not to us. Mr. Wells seems to have missed this part, so it bears repeating: Both men appear to have handled classified materials inappropriately. Both men should be held accountable — to include being barred from running for the office again. That means each party should reject each man as their 2024 nominee. It’s high time we put principle and character over party and politics. We need to close up our checkbooks and vote the untrustworthy back into private life.

If we choose instead to deflect responsibility because we prefer someone’s politics, we get exactly what we deserve.

Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief s s s

Measure 114 is not common sense

To the Editor: Regarding S. Blauvelt’s letter in The Nugget , I submit that the supporters of Measure 114 were fooled.

Firearm sales applications have quadrupled before and after passage. M114 passed by a resounding majority of less than one percent. Simply put, a half-dozen western Oregon counties showed their ignorance regarding current gun laws. Deschutes County voted No, as well as the majority of other Oregon Counties.

Common sense, while sometimes accurate, is not always reliable as it uses commonly held beliefs and assumptions rather than a systematic analysis of facts. M114 was poorly written and will cause irreparable financial burdens to Oregon counties. Deputies need to be in the community, not sitting behind desks.

Currently, firearm purchasers must willingly submit to a background check and fingerprinting. The majority of Oregonians buy their firearms legally, and will never use it to commit a crime. M114 will do nothing to stop unlawful gun transfers and sales by those skirting the law, mostly criminals.

A lunatic doesn’t just need a firearm or a largecapacity magazine to cause harm to society. The Supreme Court recently struck down laws limiting magazine capacity, yet M114 still included a ban.

I don’t believe the Constitution is an 18th-century artifact. The Constitution does not grant any authority to vote away the rights of others. I am not an extremist; however, I adamantly support the Second Amendment. Responsible gun owners must understand how to safely operate, store, and transport firearms. Oregon law already requires citizens to keep their firearms locked and be licensed to conceal carry.

This flawed measure won’t fix a societal problem by making law-abiding firearm owners succumb to additional punitive measures and by adding additional costs to buy a firearm for hunting, recreation, and personal safety.

Lastly, if M114 supporters really choose to be led by common sense, start by using facts and then seek to understand both sides of an issue. M114 may prove to be the biggest firearm sales promotion Oregon has ever seen.

Rand Rietmann

s

s s

A letter to the underappreciated

To the Editor:

I’ve come to you for over 35 years, sometimes in grief, sometimes in joy, sometimes in dullness of heart and soul.

You never fail to be there for me, whether you’ve had a peaceful day or seen death in the night.

At times you have been my church, my savior, my salvation. You have stopped me dead in my tracks and you have given me room to go forward.

You have heard me sing and pray and cuss, sometimes all in the same day, never judging me, only pointing the way.

You have introduced me to many people over the years. You have given me best friends, and you have saved me from people who would do me harm.

You have a view of unparalleled beauty and a pathway that includes all manner of living things, flora and fauna alike.

You are straight as an arrow, yet your soft curves add to the delight of choosing to follow you.

You have offered me money, given me a kitty, and generously shared other people’s discards.

Your shoulders have caught me when I’ve fallen and your sturdy surface has allowed me to continue on, safely.

I have watched you age and change over the years and I have reported people who have treated you badly.

Even after all these years, I have a plan in place which will allow me to continue to enjoy our time together when I’m old and worn out.

Thank you, Cloverdale Road.

Judy Bull s s s

Lost terrier

To the Editor:

I’m sending a big hug and thank-you to all the wonderful people who helped us search for our missing Cairns terrier, AnnaBeth. She ran away from the sitters in the Ponderosa Cascades community on January 10.

To all the people who put up flyers, allowed scent stages and trail cams on your property: Thank you so much. Thank you C.W., and C.W. We love you guys. You did everything you could possibly do to bring our sweet girl home. Thank you C., and B.; M. and M., for searching. A great big hug to the PET, and CCREW people for all the information you gave us. Thank you Broken Top Veterinary for taking a flyer of our sweet girl. If you found our beautiful blonde little girl, please

March for Hope helps kids dream big

By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

The town’s third March for Hope took place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Students and their siblings, accompanied by a handful of adults and dogs, walked down the town’s main sidewalks. They carried handpainted signs with messages about their dreams: peace, smiles, equality, and homes for everyone.

Seven-year-old Ani Orange carried rainbow flags and a handmade sign reading “Equality 4 All.” A second grader at Sisters Elementary School, she learned about Dr. King at school and from her parents.

Ani said, “He changed the world with his kindness.”

Zinnia Crabtree is a student in the fourth-grade class of march organizer “Mr. W.” (Clay Warburton). She was inspired to join in because “Martin Luther King is just a really important part of our community, what he fought for... equality and rights for everyone.

“He made so many speeches,” she said. “His house was bombed twice, and he kept going. He went to jail 29 times, and he kept going. So it’s pretty amazing.”

Did his example make make Zinnia want to keep going too? “Yes,” she said firmly. “It makes me want to fight for everyone, to say that everyone has a place here.”

Her dad, Scott Crabtree, walked along Cascade Avenue carrying a sign that read “Black Lives Matter.” He heard a bunch of supportive honking from a truck driver. “I looked up and it was a Black man driving,” said Crabtree.“I felt pleased that he was able to see a bit of support in Sisters for Black lives.”

The truck driver wasn’t the only appreciative passerby. Pedestrians waved and smiled. Many drivers honked and waved enthusiastically.

After a photo session at the town’s horse statue,

the small crowd gathered around a wagon at Fir Street Park. From a loudspeaker inside the wagon boomed the unmistakable voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation,” he correctly predicted, launching into what later became known as the “I Have a Dream” speech.

“Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy,” thrummed Dr. King’s recorded voice. “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”

Most of the kids and dogs, parents, and other adults, listened respectfully. Some wiggling and sniffling went on too.

“I have a dream,” proclaimed Dr. King, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Much of the speech invoked patriotism, inspiring citizens to live up to the potential of the Founders and Abraham Lincoln.

King thundered to a close: “When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and

Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing” that we are free at last.

Afterward, organizer Clay Warburton thanked his students, their families, and others for joining in. Warburton grew up in Sisters and now teaches fourth grade at Sisters Elementary School. He organized the first March for Hope before Covid.

“It started from that idea that when we look at history, we see these civil rights heroes and the impact they made for our country,” he said. “And we think about our own personal hopes and dreams that we have for our future.

“I like that it’s a national holiday, and we can do something to connect with that holiday versus just taking a day off,” he added.

Though Dr. King’s work addressed racism in the United States, “this march is not explicitly about race in our culture,” said Warburton. “This march is about understanding that you can move towards a better future, and that you are the difference-maker.”

He believes Dr. King was “amazing at sharing his hopes and dreams, and inspiring people. One person inspiring millions.”

Agency is important to Warburton. He wants kids to feel, “I am in control of the voice in my life. I can share that with my community and reach for my dreams, and dream big.”

Warburton imagines that

someday the March could become a larger civic event, with speakers and more community engagement.

The March focuses on inspiration rather than politics. As he explained, “When we can all see each other as having hopes and dreams, and working for a better country, a better community, that can’t help but bridge divides.”

Marchers and their canines gathered at the bronze horse statue at the corner of Cascade and Larch. March organizer Clay Warburton holds a “Be the Change” sign in one hand and a golden retriever in the other.

PHOTO BY T.L. BROWN

construction of apartments being phase five. The commissioners added a condition of approval that requires the phasing to be changed, making the apartments phase three of the development for the city to get the type of housing needed sooner.

Public hearings on the application were held October 20, November 3, and December 8, 2022, with extensive testimony against the development or portions of it coming from Sisters residents, particularly those who live in The Pines, which backs up to the proposed development.

The applicant submitted a revised drawing, which included some of the changes requested by the neighbors. The changes were not significant enough to require a new master plan.

One of the commissioners asked if any of the development contained affordable housing units. There were no specific terms attached to the property requiring any affordable housing, and none were included in the master plan.

Because the land is zoned multi-family residential, the builder has to provide a particular housing density, and the MFR apartments are

necessary to meet the required level of density as required by the state. According to Matthew Martin, principal planner for the City, that piece of property has been zoned MFR as far back as 2003.

The Planning Commission can approve with conditions, or deny an application based on whether the project complies with the City of Sisters Development Code. There was considerable conversation among the commissioners about the role of the Comprehensive Plan in relation to the Development Code. The Comprehensive Plan states that new housing must be compatible with the existing neighborhood.

What became apparent is that work needs to be done on the Development Code to bring it more in line with the newly updated Comprehensive Plan. That is a time-consuming project, requiring staff time that currently isn’t available.

During their deliberations, the four commissioners who were voting each shared their thoughts.

Cris Converse, citing her longtime residency in Sisters, said back in the 1970s locals were concerned whenever a new project or new building was proposed. The project happened and life went on. She contended that Sisters isn’t Sisters because of its buildings, but rather because of its people, who connect with each

other to form community.

She said her job as a commissioner is to make decisions that come before the Planning Commission based on the Development Code. She pointed out that the applicant had listened to the public and made a number of changes.

Commission Chairman Jeff Seymour was candid in his comments. He noted that Woodhill Homes has a good reputation and builds a good product, although he isn’t sure it’s right for Sisters. He was glad the applicant had made some changes and the project meets the Development Code requirements.

Seymour said the course of this approval process served as an example of why communication with neighbors going into a project is so important. He said the lack of detail for the MFR apartments provides uncertainty that makes him nervous.

He sees the applicable criteria in the Comprehensive Plan regarding compatibility of proposed housing with existing neighbors as policy that needs to be followed.

Vikki Hickmann also raised the question of whether the Comprehensive Plan is the guiding document in decisions, and whether it has precedence over the Development Code. She also wondered if each project is evaluated on its own merits, and, if interpretations change over time, how that impacts the argument of equal protection raised by the applicant.

Woodhill Homes can appeal the decision to the City Council, or they could choose to accept the conditions to change the phasing, or they could walk away and not develop the project.

Only four commissioners participated in the Sunset Meadows deliberation. Tom Ries was not in attendance. Newly appointed commissioner Jeremy Dickman recused himself due to his not being part of any of the previous hearings. Scot Davidson recused himself and left the chamber.

“I was not directed to recuse,” Davidson told The Nugget. “This was a personal decision brought about by

the rise of my bias through the course of the extended hearing. I couldn’t honestly say that I could put this aside and contribute to the decision based on the provisions in code alone.”

Principal Planner Martin evaluated the total process of hearings and deliberations as a “robust, lengthy, complex process in which the Planning Commission weighed the evidence and public input and came to the conclusion they did with a great deal of consideration and deliberation.”

In other business before the Planning Commission, Jeff Seymour was again chosen to serve as chair, and Cris Converse will repeat as vice chair.

Seymour recognized former commissioner Jack Nagel, who stepped down after serving for eight years, saying he helped to shape the future of Sisters.

He acknowledged Nagel as a 40-year resident of Sisters who has been a constant supporter. Seymour thanked Nagel for his respectful service.

Skiers post first-place finishes in Alpine action

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws boys and girls ski teams took first-place honors in the giant slalom held at Hoodoo Ski Area on Wednesday, January 18, and three days later posted firstplace finishes at Willamette Pass Ski Area.

In Wednesday’s giant slalom at Hoodoo, skiers raced in stormy weather with lots of new snow, and both the boys and girls teams emerged as first-place winners.

The combined run one and run two overall first- place winner of the day on the boys’ side was Joe Barnes of Philomath High School with a combined time of 1:28.16. Sisters’ Styopa Myagkov made a big step up in the order and posted the fastest combined time for the Outlaws with a second place finish and a time of 1:29.32.

Bela Chladek had some technical errors on both runs, but still managed to pull off a third-place finish with a combined time of 1:29.32.

Corbin Fredland took fourth (1:31.99), Brody Duey came in seventh (1:36.40), Gus Patton took ninth (1:37.02), and Emerson Backus finished 10th (1:38.07).

On the girls’ side, Morgan Shaw of Ridgeview took first (1:32.92), and leading the Outlaws for a thirdplace finish was second-year racer Ella Eby (1:35.21).

Tallis Grummer took fourth (1:36.47), Charlotte Seymour placed seventh (1:39.01),

Presley Adelt finished ninth (1:41.68), Ava Riehle took 12th (1:42.14), and Tatum Cramer finished in 13th place (1:42.15).

Coach Gabe Chladek said, “Ella (Eby) and Styopa (Myagkov) are both natural athletes. They both have been working hard on clean lines and technique and the practice is paying off.”

Three days later the Outlaws skiers participated in a slalom race at Willamette Pass Ski Area, and again both the boys and girls swept the event with first-place team scores.

Bela Chladek was the firstplace winner of the day for the boys with a combined time of 2:20.51. Corbin Fredland took second (1:20.79), and Styopa Myagkov took third (2:20.81). Remaining scores were: Gus Patton, seventh (2:36.81); Brody Duey, ninth (2:39.57); and Spencer Tisdel 10th (2:43.36).

The overall girls winner was Morgan Shaw of Ridgeview (2.27.43). The Outlaws’ Tallis Grummer took second (2:30.86), Presley Adelt, was third (2:32.58); Ella Eby, fourth (2:40.90); Araiya Grummer, fifth (2:45.71); Ava Riehle, eighth (2:50.91); and Charlotte Seymour finished 11th (2:53.47).

Coach Gabe Chladek said, “The Sisters varsity teams had a very strong season last year and are returning this season with the same top

racers and appear to be setting up for an even stronger season this year. It’s really exciting to see younger, second-year racers like Ella Eby and Styopa Myagkov bring in top varsity finishes so early in the season!”

Chladek added, “Eighthgrader Pia Grummer raced as a provisional forerunner and logged what would have been an eighth-place finish in the high school finish order.”

The Outlaws JV squad also skied very well. According to Chladek, they all showed big improvements with some of them finishing in the top 20. JV racers who competed on the girls’ side were Payton Adelt, Mae Roth, Kiara Martin, Lauren Sitz, Teagen Welsh, Kate Singleton, Brooke Duey, Pidge Henderson, Freda Peterson, Rebecca Clausen, Molly Greaney, and Annie Cohen. John Berg, Joseph Kerksen, Kellen Petke, Jack Turpen, Hudson Hayes, and Carrick McGee competed for the boys.

The next Alpine ski race for the Outlaws will be on

SPRD seeks budget committee members

The Sisters Park & Recreation District is accepting applications from those who would like to fill one vacant budget committee position. Applications should be submitted online by February 10. The board will conduct interviews of applicants and make a formal appointment at the February 28 business meeting beginning at 4:30 p.m.

To be eligible for appointment, the candidate:

1. Must live within the Sisters Park & Recreation District boundaries.

2. Must not be an officer or employee of the Sisters Park & Recreation District.

3. Must be a qualified voter of the district.

Apply at www.sistersrec reation.com. For more information, contact Executive Director Jennifer Holland at

Charlotte Seymour raced for Outlaws at Willamette Pass.

PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN

Americ an Legion and VFW Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Februar y 1, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church. Members are invited to attend . For more information call Charles Wilson 847-34 4-0498

New Neighbors Meet-Up

at

e Barn

On January 31, C4C (Citizens4Communit y) will hold their first New Neighbors Meet-Up of 2023 at e Barn f rom 5 to 6:30 p.m . Please come, bring friends , and help kick o their 2023 meet-ups . All are welcome. To learn more, email information.director@ citizens4community.com

Sisters Careg iver Suppor t Group

A f acilitated support group for caregivers of those with chronic or life-shor tening diseases meets the third Tuesday of ever y month at Sisters Episcopal Church , 10 to 11:30 a .m. For information, call 541-719-0 031, ask for Kay

Free Weekly Meal Service

Family Kitchen is hosting a weekly to-go hot meal ser vice on Tuesdays , 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church For information visit www FamilyKitchen.org.

Parkinson’s Suppor t Group

Are you experiencing Parkinson’s disease (PD) or a care partner wishing to support for your loved one with PD? Join us the second ursday of the month, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Sisters Library, 110 N . Cedar St. For more information contact Carol Pfeil, program coordinator for Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon, 541-6 68-6599.

Housing Work s Reopens Voucher Waiting List

Housing Work s has reopened their voucher waiting list for Ponderosa Height s in Sisters . Apply 8 a .m. Monday, January 23 , until 5 p.m. ursday, Januar y 26 . Income limits and occupanc y standards apply Application time does not impact list position. Contact swestendor f@housing-work s. org for an application in English or Spanish

Free Lunches for Seniors

For those 60 and older, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon o ers a fun, no-cost social lunch ever y Tuesday, 11 a .m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church . No reservations needed . No-cost Grab-N-Go lunches take place weekly Wednesdays and ursdays at Sisters Communit y Church 12:30 to 1 p.m. For information, please call 541-797-9367.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Caregiver Suppor t Group

elma’s Place Adult Day Respite Program in Redmond hosts a monthly support group for those caring for someone with Alzheimer ’s or other dementia-related disease. e support group is held monthly ever y third Wednesday f rom 4:30-5:30 p.m . is is a f ree f amilycaregiver support group featuring local organizations Call 541-548-3049.

Weekly Food Pantry

e Wellhouse Church has a weekly food pantr y on ursdays at 4:30 p.m. Both drive-through pick-up and shopping-st yle distribution available. Call 541-549-4184.

Baha’i Faith

647-9826 • www.bahai.org or www.bahai.us

Wellhouse Churc

Trinit y

541-549-418

Hunter Education Class Star ts Februar y 7. Call Rick Cole at 541-420 -6934.

Furr y Friends

Volunteers Needed Furr y Friends is seeking two persons for pet food distribution ursdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., t wo to four weeks per month. Call 541-797-4023

BREAK-IN: Subject was arrested without incident

Continued from page 1

hatchet. A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputy, assisted by the Black Butte Ranch Police Department, contacted the subject, identified as Hendrix Reed Pursell, 21, of Bend, and ultimately

took him into custody without incident.

Purcell was arrested on charges of Burglary in the Second Degree; Criminal Mischief in the First Degree; and Possession of a Burglary Tool or Theft Device.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Oregon State Police, Black Butte Ranch Police Department, and the Redmond Police Department.

Housing Works wait list open this week

Housing Works reopened the project-based voucher waiting list for Ponderosa Heights on Monday, and it will remain open until 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 26. Income limits and occupancy standards apply for all Project Based Voucher Units. The time you apply during the week does not impact your position on the list. All applications taken

during this time frame will be randomized by a computer and placed on the waiting list to give all applicants an equal chance. Applications received after the close of the wait list will not be accepted.

Folks can reach out directly to Stephanie Westendorf at swestendorf@ housing-works.org for a copy of the applications in both English and Spanish.

FRISKY

I’m a ver y handsome cat who found myself in the shelter as an unclaimed stray kitty. Now I’m ready to find a new family who can pamper me. I am feeling very

POETRY IN FEBRUARY

The Nugget is going to print some poetry; Works of written word that are yours solely. Haiku, couplet, limerick ...to name a few; Send to jess@nuggetnews.com for

m review. ace and get; ng ,

Publication is subject to space and discretion of The Nugget; If your work is too long it’ll go in the bucket.

Sisters

a .m. Sunday Worship

Sisters Communit y Church (Nondenominational) 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201 9:30 a .m. Sunday Worship www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com

Chapel in the Pines Camp Sherman • 541-549-9971

10 a .m. Sunday Worship

Shepherd of the Hills Luther an Church (ELCA) 386 N . Fir Street • 5 41-549-5831

10 a .m. Sunday Worship www.shepherdof thehillslutheranchurch.com

St . Edward the Mar tyr Roman Catholic Churc h 123 Trinit y Way • 541-549-9391 5:3 0 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass 9 a .m. Sunday Mass • 8 a .m. Monday-Friday Mass

e Church of Jesus Christ of L at ter-Day Saint s 452 Trinit y Way • Branch President, 541-420 -5670; 10 a .m. Sunday Sac rament Meeting

Calvar y Church 484 W. Washing ton St , Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288 10 a .m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org

Seventh-Day Adventist Church 386 N . Fir St. • 541-595-6770, 541-306 -8303 11 a .m. S aturday Worship

POLICY: Nonprofits, schools, churches , birth, engagement, wedding , and anniversar y notices may run at no charge. Business items do not run on this page. All submissions are subject to editing and run only as space allows . Email nug get@nuggetnews .com or drop o at 4 42 E . Main Ave

$575,000, or $639 per square foot.

For all of Sisters Country in December 2022, the average price per square foot of all 20 homes sold was $355; the highest, $627 for a $1.38 million home on Edmundson Road and the lowest, $254 for a sale in McKenzie Village.

Kevin Eckert, the principal designer of Sisters Woodlands, is chagrined at how the project has not lived up to his and the owners’ aspirations.

“Nobody is more disappointed than I,” Eckert said. “We tried everything possible to keep the costs such that a younger worker or family would be able to afford a home here. Given cost dynamics, it just wasn’t possible.”

The shortage of housing affordable to first-time homebuyers is acute and affects hiring in Sisters.

Sisters School District Superintendent Curt Scholl said, “We had at least three teachers for this year who accepted offers, but after searching for housing they had to rescind their acceptance.”

Indeed, the District is considering, as one of many options for the existing elementary school property, converting it into teacher housing when the new

elementary school opens in 2024.

The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters is about to start the search for new rector (pastor). Not having church housing (rectory, parsonage, manse) to offer candidates, they worry that they will be unable to attract any new leader given the price of housing.

A starting teacher at the District with a bachelor’s degree is “just under $40,000,” Scholl said. Salary for an entry-level firefighter/ paramedic is $65,627, according to Sisters CampSherman Rural Fire District.

Neither would technically qualify for a Woodlands or Hayden Home. Using $550,000 as the home price, with 10 percent down, the teacher or firefighter would have monthly payments principal and interest rates alone of $1,800 per month. Add in utilities, HOA fees, insurance, and other necessary

occupancy costs, and our teacher or firefighter would be spending more than $2,100/month.

Thirty percent of the firefighter’s income is $19,688 or $1,641/month. Our teacher, $11,850/year or $988/month — less than half of what’s needed to qualify.

Granted, if either of these workers had a spouse or partner in the purchase, their combined income might allow them to qualify.

“It’s simple, no problem,” a mortgage broker quipped to The Nugget. “The teacher needs to marry the firefighter, case solved.”

Notwithstanding trying to make light of a worsening trend, if there were two new teachers sharing the household, they still wouldn’t qualify with interest rates close to 6 percent.

Eckert said the problem could possibly be assuaged with a change in the City of Sisters Development Code

allowing four-story multifamily units.

“Three-story condos don’t pencil out,” he said.

Such code revisions have been met in the past with strenuous objection within the citizenry.

Sisters Woodlands is planned for five phases. The last will not be completed for six to seven years, Eckert said, so he’s holding out some hope that a combination of events just might allow a few units to meet the threshold for

affordable housing.

Three homes in the Woodlands will be designated for Habit for Humanity housing.

When first envisioned, it was assumed that investors would buy units for rental property.

“In this high-interest environment, investors are staying on the sidelines,” Eckert said.

And buyers for second or vacation homes are being more cautious, realtors say.

The first six cottages in phase one take shape at The Woodlands project on Sisters’ west side.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

FOCUS on Health

Implants

Sisters Dental

Sisters Dental brings a variety of quality dental services to Sisters, so we don’t have to drive to Bend and Redmond. They’ve been providing orthodontic services on a regular basis at the Sisters Dental office, a service that has been welcomed by the community.

Now they’re adding implants to the range of services provided at Sisters Dental.

Implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth.

“It can really have a profound difference on patients who are missing a tooth, or multiple teeth — or even those who have dentures,” says Dr. Trevor Frideres.

While confidence and sense of self can be restored and enhanced with implants, there are significant benefits to function. A person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved.

Implants are superior to a bridge — and now they are accessible right here in Sisters, at Sisters Dental.

Roam Natural Skin Care

Roam Natural Skin Care is now providing sustainable recycling for beauty-careproduct packaging. Drop off small-use plastic packaging at the receptacle at the Roam studio on Main Avenue. Such items include pump mechanisms and droppers from bottles — items that are not recyclable in conventional bins.

Roam Natural Skin Care Proprietor Sarah Woods notes that this project is perfectly aligned with her company’s mission and values. Roam emphasizes the use of thoughtfully curated natural products, and proper handling of the packaging for such products is a natural followthrough on concern for our environment and our individual well-being.

Woods, a licensed esthetician with nearly two decades in the spa industry, believes that clean and green beauty is the future — providing healthful, plantbased treatments that produce better, more healthful results for everyone.

Natural textures and natural aromas leave the skin feeling nourished and revitalized longer than their synthetic counterparts — and by recycling the packaging such products come in, we can nourish and revitalize the environment as well.

Audrey Holocher Hypnotherapy

The times we live in have put many of us under an unusual amount of stress. So many problems distill down to stress — and hypnotherapy is a drug-free, healthy approach to reducing and managing that pernicious element in our lives.

“Once you reduce stress, there’s so much healing that can happen,” says Holocher. While we can’t eliminate stress, we can manage it, and that’s the purpose and function of Audrey Holocher Hypnotherapy’s recorded sessions.

“You learn to control your own mind,” Holocher says.

Often, we don’t even recognize our own level of stress. Hypnotherapy exercises teach what stress vs. relaxation feels like, to create active relaxation. Improved relaxation can help us boost our immunity, increase blood flow, improve sleep and digestion — and thus aid our health.

What Audrey Holocher Hypnotherapy offers has many beneficial effects, but it is not a substitute for medical treatment or psychotherapy. As an adjunct to other treatment, or as a means of reducing stress, hypnotherapy can enhance quality of life.

Dr. Trevor Frideres

Trevor Frideres, D M D Kellie Kawasaki, D

Ain’t no cure for theblueswintertime

By T. Lee Brown | Columnist

It’s that time of year again — when the caroling, Christmas trees, and hot cocoa give way to seemingly endless days of cold, slush, and ice. Sometimes those low gray skies get to a person. For a case of the midwinter blues, consider changing up a few things in your everyday routines and environment. It may not be a cure, but it might perk you up enough to make a difference.

Get Outside

Connecting with nature, even for a few minutes while bundled up against the snow, can be beneficial. Pay attention to the birds, squirrels, and deer. Notice the wind, light, and sounds of a forest or meadow. Nature helps people reconnect to the larger world and focus on something besides their own swirling emotions and thoughts.

Track Your Triggers

What makes you feel bad? What results in a poor night’s sleep? Write down what you’re doing and how you’re feeling. Tracking your days can help pinpoint problems. Doomscrolling social media, watching TV news, drinking alcohol, visiting a certain friend or relative, watching movies with violent themes—these are common culprits. You may decide to reduce or eliminate a trigger for a couple months.

Set Aside the Screen

Suicide, anxiety, and depression are on the rise, particularly among youth. Research suggests that screen time, video gaming, social media, and phone bingeing are partly to blame. Look in The Nugget in February for specific techniques to help with digital device overload.

Lighten Up

In winter, the sun is out fewer hours per day, and its rays arrive to us at a different angle, affecting our moods and circadian rhythms. Walking on bright winter mornings can help. So can spending time in front of windows that face early sunlight.

A full-spectrum light therapy lamp or light box may be useful: sit in front of it three times a day for 20 minutes.

Get a Move On

Even a little exercise can help balance hormone levels and release natural mood-boosters into your system. Try a brisk 20-minute walk or dancing to your favorite music. If moving gently for one song is all you can do at the moment, then do that. For those who can manage more exercise, longer walks and serious workouts may show rapid results.

Help Others

It can be hard when one feels awful to imagine that one might brighten up someone else’s day. But if you can round up the energy and confidence to try, you may discover that the positive results bounce right back. Volunteer, help a friend, or go to an online support group and post positive things that help other folks feel listened to and understood.

Slow the Sweets

Coming out of holiday season, you might be accustomed to “white carbs” (pasta, bread, cookies), booze, and tasty treats. Unfortunately, these can cause cravings, blood sugar spikes, and mood crashes.

Every nutritionist, doctor, and food writer has their own opinion about what to eat instead. Some believe in actively pursuing “good fats” such as avocado, olive oil, and coconut. Some focus on

How does a ponderosa pine tree’s bark smell in winter? Which birds are twittering around Whychus Creek? Exploring nature with our senses helps alleviate the blues.

whole grains and legumes. Generally, more veggies is a good start.

These steps can help many people. However, if you or a loved one experiences deep depression, a mood disorder, mental illness, or problems with addiction (including legal and medical substances such as alcohol, cannabis, and oxycontin), seek help from qualified professionals. Helpful phone numbers are listed below.

Also note that someone experiencing clinical depression or bipolar depression may literally be unable to take a step that seems like it should be easy. Even if they are functional enough to drag themselves out of bed, going for a run might feel to them like trying to climb Mt. Everest. This does not mean that are lazy or stubborn. It’s simply another insidious, painful symptom of depression.

Similarly, they may have trouble staying away from the things that make them feel worse, whether that’s street drugs or watching their favorite loud, angry news program. Expecting them to take on all their habits at once may lead to more misery and self-blame, so go slowly and recruit additional help as needed.

Reading your local newspaper is not a substitute for actionable medical advice from healthcare professionals. If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, pick up that phone and dial 911. If you’re having a mental health crisis, such as suicidal thoughts, you can call Deschutes County Behavioral Health directly at 541-322-7500 and press number 9.

PHOTO BY T.L. BROWN

The Seed to Table (S2T) produce share pickup day is one of Audrey Tehan’s favorite times on the farm. Founder and executive director, she’s looking forward to the 2023 growing season and the first day S2T produce is packed and ready to head home to local families.

Produce shares for the 2023 season may be ordered now at: www.seedtotableoregon.org/ why-choose-a-produce-share

The health benefits of eating local produce are well established. Nutrient content and antioxidants in produce decline the longer it is stored. By buying local, you are getting fresh produce that is at its best both in taste and in nutrient value.

Sign-ups for the S2T produce share program opened this week. Tehan started S2T, now in its 10th year, with the intention to grow food organically and make it accessible for families in Sisters Country. She also saw the farm as a means to teach farm-based lessons, so students understood where their food came from, how to grow it, and how to prepare it in delicious ways. Tehan’s efforts have grown both

and depth, just like the little farm her family has owned for decades in Sisters.

The S2T produce share program reflects Tehan’s original mission to ensure access to fresh veggies for people across all budgets. S2T uses a sliding-scale option that allows members to pay what works for them, as well as a donation option for those wanting to lend a hand to a neighbor in need. Members can pay with SNAP/EBT; those who do pay half price. SNAP users are eligible for Double Up Food Bucks, which cover the other half of the cost.

At the end of the 2022 season, participants gave feedback on some of their favorite parts of the produce share program and suggestions on changes for 2023. Comments described how families benefited from the program, like cooking seasonally and experimenting with new foods. Participants also gave examples of the benefits, like the quality of the veggies, and how it encouraged their kids to eat more veggies.

One person said, “It isn’t just about the vegetables, it’s also about community connections. I have never felt like I was eating healthier or was more connected to the people growing my food.”

Tehan and S2T Educator Hannah Joseph explained the reason for the survey. “We asked for feedback to improve and tailor the produce share program after the first year. With that input in mind, we’re making improvements that can

decrease barriers to receiving fresh produce. We added an additional four weeks for everybody and expanded the sliding scale with payment options as low as 65 percent of market value. There’s also a produce share at 150 percent of market value to facilitate the pay-it-forward share,” said Tehan. “Our team is excited about this year’s expansion with new varieties of vegetables as well as the extended time food will be available. Both were put into effect because of feedback received from participants,” said Tehan.

Seed to Table’s produce share is based on a model called Community Supported Agriculture or CSA. This concept was created in the 1960s by Booker T. Whatley, a Black horticulturist, agricultural professor, and advocate for farming practices that help sustain and rebuild the land. With an S2T produce share, individuals or families pay in advance or monthly for a season of fresh, local vegetables. Each week the bounty of fresh veggies is laid out market-style at the S2T farmstand. Produce share members browse and choose what they want to take home. A small produce share receives six to eight items and a large share receives nine to 11 items each, week.

Sign-ups are open through S2T’s website: www.seedtotableoregon.org/why-choose-a-produce-share. For more information contact Audrey Tehan at audrey@seedtotablesisters.org.

Seed to Table is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; EIN: 82-37956180.

“The produce share pickups are a bustling hub of activity where participants and farming staff share recipes and what we’re all learning together about how to cook farm-fresh food in exciting new ways,” said Tehan.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

FOCUS on Health

Age SistersFriendlyCountry

Access to care is critical to good health outcomes. With many specialty medical services a half hour’s drive away in Bend or Redmond, lack of transportation can be a serious barrier to good health care.

STARS, a program of Age Friendly Sisters Country, provides that transportation, with volunteer drivers and dispatchers arranging to get people to their medical appointments. And volunteers are needed for both positions. STARS is making volunteering more achievable by issuing drivers a mileage reimbursement, which is currently paid at 50 cents per mile.

“We have drivers who are on a fixed income who want to help,” noted Rennie Morrell, who coordinates the program.

It’s a flexible volunteering opportunity — you can do as much as you want to or are able to do. And the dispatching role is as valuable as the driving role.

Age Friendly Sisters Country is partnering with St. Charles hospital, Volunteers in Medicine, and Mosaic Medical, and they are reaching out to the local Latino community to make sure their services are available to everyone. Learn more at https://starsride.org/volunteer/drive-for-us.

Back In Action Fitness Equipment

To get and stay in shape, Back In Action Fitness Equipment can provide you with anything you may want or need. From a foam roller to a treadmill; from dumbbells to a rowing machine.

Whether you’re setting up a small gym at home or have a commercial facility, you can get your equipment delivered and set up with Back In Action Fitness Equipment’s full delivery and installation.

Since 2008, Back In Action Fitness Equipment Sales & Service has been supplying equipment for home users and commercial facilities alike. Owner Kevin Roll says that the most popular pieces of equipment are treadmills, with bikes and ellipticals coming in second, followed by free weights and functional items.

Quality cardio equipment has become increasingly affordable — and it is adapting to the needs of the population. Recumbent elliptical machines are popular among an aging population.

Staying fit is more important now than ever, and Back In Action Fitness Equipment Sales & Service makes it easy to get what you need to make it happen.

Green PhysicalRidgeTherapy

There’s nothing more disconcerting than being hit with vertigo, dizziness, and/or imbalance. These symptoms can come on when something isn’t working well in our vestibular system (part of the inner ear that tells you where you are in space and which direction you are moving), vision, and/or the receptors in our spine and legs, or how they’re working together. Getting an accurate diagnosis can be tough and leave a person feeling anxious or depressed.

Annie McDonnell of Green Ridge Physical Therapy has a real passion for helping people in these straits — which is likely to affect one in three of us, with incidences more frequent with age. She uses infrared video goggles to assist in making an accurate diagnosis and to guide effective treatment.

Treating vestibular disorders is a specialty field that requires a lot of training — which McDonnell has (Emory). A physical therapist since 2006, she is well versed in a variety of techniques and appreciates a holistic approach in getting people back to being as safe, confident, and independent as possible.

You can’t ‘fix’ struggle

By Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP | Columnist

Fresh off the tracks of academia in my early 20s, my early motivations seeking a career in mental health were fueled by a rookie desire to bring concrete solutions to those facing struggle. An even deeper desire was to better understand and maybe fix the struggle witnessed in my own family. I immersed myself in best practices, learned the pharmaceutical-based algorithms, and gathered the tools. I wanted to feel equipped, prepared — ready to have answers.

A bit more seasoned after nearly 15 years in the field of human emotion, and having encountered an early run-in with burnout, I have come to understand that I will not always have an answer, that concrete solutions can be far more elusive, to listen more and to talk less, and to appreciate beauty alongside struggle.

Sometimes the best solution is to kick away my preconceived pedestal, set aside expectations, and simply be with, acknowledge, and provide space for suffering. The time pressures, outcomebased reimbursement, and our stubborn quick-fix mentality in mainstream medicine can sometimes interfere, but when our practice revolves around the vastness of human emotion, we better learn to get cozy with discomfort, mystery, and uncertainty. From the humility of not knowing we are forced to simply be with and accept what is.

We honor a person’s dignity by allowing space for their discomfort. Our sense of predictability

and control can feel threatened when encountering difficult emotions that don’t come with a roadmap. We may have an intention to help, but in our quest to “fix” another’s emotional struggle, we can rush an important emotional experience. We may also tend to limit or suppress our own emotional spectrum. Sometimes people need to metaphorically cocoon before transformation takes place.

Sometimes we offer unsolicited advice. This can imply that our process of “coping” is somehow superior. For those intimately familiar with the caregiver role, we can even judge our own worth on the emotional outcome of another person. This can create unhealthy resentment and codependency. Repeated attempts to “fix” others can also be a convenient distraction from tending to our own needs and hardships.

Sometimes we can find ourselves hijacking another person’s emotional experience by too rapidly shifting the focus to a hardship we faced, perhaps trying to communicate a shared sense of understanding — and yet, this can also feel dismissive.

Sometimes when we have significant discomfort with emotional vulnerability, we can diminish and shame another’s emotions. We might tell them to “move on,” “get over it,” “suck it up.” This erodes emotional trust and reinforces emotional suppression.

It’s important to remember that powerlessness

and helplessness are not synonymous. We may be powerless to change the outcome of another’s struggle, but we can be intentional in our ability to stay present, open, and available. That is not helpless.

Whenever we respond to another, it allows us to look in the mirror at our own biases and insecurities. If we feel discomfort in witnessing the struggle of another, it may be a rich opportunity to embrace self-reflection rather than resort to judgment.

So what can we do?...

• Validate another person’s pain. “This must be so hard for you.”

• Provide physical presence. Hold a hand, offer a hug; sit quietly by.

• Ask questions. “How are you feeling today?” Stay curious about their emotional experience without placing judgment.

• Create space for pain. “It’s OK to cry.” “I am happy to just sit with you.” “I am happy to listen to anything you want to share.”

• Offer specific support. Offer to bring a meal, tidy up the house, go grocery shopping, watch the children.

• Practice boundaries and self-compassion with our time and energy.

• Explore our own discomfort with emotional vulnerability.

She Soars Psychiatry

Mental health and well-being have become more of a challenge to more people over the past few very stressful and challenging years.

Audry Van Howeling of She Soars Psychiatry has seen the need grow in her practice in Sisters. She recognizes that mainstream psychiatry may treat symptoms but seldom identifies the source or roots of a mental health condition.

While she acknowledges that medication may help in some circumstances, Audry is committed to a broader, functional approach to treatment.

She Soars Psychiatry was born out of the belief that mental health diagnoses are not always permanent conditions, and that non-invasive methods such as nutrition, fitness, supplementation, spirituality, social connections, and stress management may have as much — or more — impact than pharmaceuticals.

She Soars Psychiatry is also located across the mountains in Silverton. Alongside holistic mental health services, Audry frequently collaborates with certified nutrition therapist Megan Basl, who specializes in gut health, meal planning, and functional nutrition. Audry provides in-person and telemedicine services statewide.

Classic Yoga from India

Sweat PNW

Sweat PNW is a private gym that welcomes people of all ages, genders, and fitness levels looking to create the best version of themselves through strength and conditioning.

Small group fitness classes focus on strength, cardiovascular fitness, and proper movement patterns with an emphasis on proper breath work. The environment is always encouraging.

Sweat PNW trains people to move from their core muscles so that they can enhance stability and activity without injury. Sweat PNW focuses on mobility, recovery, and stretching, with proactive training to prevent stiffness, soreness, and injuries. The program incorporates sauna, Pilates, and fascial stretch therapy.

Coach Ashlee Francis delivers a daily workout for any individual to excel in, regardless of their experience or ability. The classes are always challenging, but always exceptionally rewarding.

Francis is currently launching a six-week clinic — one session per week — focused on mobility, running, stretching-for-performance, ski fitness, and pickleball fitness. The clinic starts with the basics and builds from that foundation, so she recommends attending the whole series.

Therapeutic Associates

Therapeutic Associates has been helping people in Sisters recover from injury and surgery and get back to their active lifestyle for almost 30 years.

In a unique partnership with Sisters Athletic Club (SAC), Therapeutic Associates offers a “step-down” program that eases patients from physical therapy into active, assisted recovery with trainers at SAC. Access to the SAC pool means they can offer aquatic therapy — an outstanding, effective, and low-impact way to recover and build resilience against injury.

Matt Kirchoff, clinic director and physical therapist (PT), emphasizes the need for early intervention to prevent a nagging injury or impingement from becoming a major problem: “The quicker we can see people after an injury, the quicker we can address it.”

Therapeutic Associates is excited to announce the addition of PT Cameron Allen to their staff. Cameron will begin seeing patients at the Sisters clinic in January. And with PT Taylor O’Dell at the clinic five days a week, Therapeutic Associates can usually get people in for an appointment within 48 hours, making it quicker and easier than ever to get on top of an injury so you can get back in the game.

take care of her, and love her. We have her license now, and she is chipped.

Bonnie and Harve Hall

s s s

Wildlife inventory story

To the Editor:

Bill Bartlett’s publication, “Wildlife census could impact Sisters Country” The Nugget, January 11, page 1) reflects an obvious bias, misleading The Nugget’s readers. Correction is also needed to his description of the January 12 meeting, where it was the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, not the Planning Commissioners, who met and voted to allow the Wildlife Inventory Update (WIU) to proceed.

Statements made linking the WIU as a threat to development were overstated. According to Commissioner Chang, homes on large development tracts could be clustered in one corner, allowing remaining acreage for deer habitat. (Similar adjustments were done at Caldera Resort to mitigate loss of deer migratory corridors.) Livestock fencing can also be readily modified to make it wildlife friendly. Many other Western states have online resources available under “wildlife friendly fencing.”

Bartlett’s blaming cougar predation as a primary cause of deer decline is incorrect, as are his quoted numbers of cougars in Oregon. Refer to Page 51 of the Cougar Management Plan, updated 2017, stating that there are 3,300 adult cougars, not the 6,000+ so often quoted. ODFW is one of the only state fish and wildlife agencies that counts kittens and juveniles. No other Western agency

counts them due to their high mortality rates.

The 1990 census showed Deschutes County human population at 74,958. By 2020, it was 198,253. Since 2002, the mule deer population has decreased by 51 percent. Habitat loss due to development expansion remains the leading cause of deer population declines. For coexistence to succeed, we need to take responsibility for this decline. Deschutes County residents within UGBs are already accepting denser living conditions. Those in rural areas should be willing to make some adjustments too. It’s past time for us to move over a little and allow the wildlife to have spaces to still be wild in.

Susan Prince Wolf Welcome Committee s s s

We count it all joy

To the Editor:

It is with full and grateful hearts that we (Greg and Vicki Everson) write this letter of thanks to the community of Sisters.

After 36 years in our dental practice in Sisters, I, Greg, am now fully retired (following Vicki’s retirement three years ago). We are now on to a new stage of life.

When we bought the practice, we were 28 years old with two young children: Matthew, 5, and Kirstyn, 2. It was a new chapter for us, and it’s amazing how quickly 36 years have passed. In that time, we had our third child, Scott, and have met a multitude of wonderful friends (those that worked alongside us, were our patients, our neighbors, taught our children, and attended church with us). We’ve either coached, participated in, or watched countless sporting events.

We’ve experienced so much joy, along with much heartache and sorrow — all of which were shared by our friends and family in this beautiful community. Thank you for your support — in the end, we count it all joy!

We thank our wonderful dental team members who helped build our practice and provided the personal dental care for which we strove. Thank you to the many patients who put their trust in us and that we came to know and love. It was a blessing working with and caring for you, crying and laughing with you, and becoming part of a very special community.

We feel so fortunate to turn our practice over to Dr. Trevor Frideres and Dr. Kellie Kawasaki. They are dedicated to their patients, providing quality dentistry, and to continuing education! A dream for Vicki and me.

It is now our time to travel and enjoy adventures with our children, grandchildren, and friends. We thank our God for all of you!

Greg and Vicki Everson s s s

‘That could be my son’

To the Editor:

Writing about the pain and angst of losing a child to addiction and homelessness is a far cry from covering City Council meetings.

Sue Stafford wrote a heartfelt article that brought tears to my eyes (“Of a certain age: That could be my son,” The Nugget, January 11, page 23). She asked the question we all might ask, “How did he morph into a…shell of a man?”

Thank you, Sue, for letting us walk through your pain with you.

Rosemary Vasquez

Portraits OF SISTERS

There are 300,000 words in the modern dictionary and only a few can describe the genuity Jerry Baldock’s character He’s kno being “the camera guy” in Sisters — a joy man working his way among crowds and ev always smiling, or sporting the sidelines at athletic events shedding light on the Outla dents and their a ccomplishments. Befo re settled into Sisters in 2008 and discove red camera, his lif e exemplified service to munity. Working fo r the state of Nevada engineer, he helped design Highway 80, runs from Reno to U tah. But the job was and he wanted some excitement in life, and found it as a firefighter/EMT fo r the Los Fire Department in 1969. He then transferr Coos Bay Fire and Rescue, where he spent years and retired. It wasn’t until 2005, when son Brian died, that he picked up a camera fill the void his son left at the local school trict. H is l ove fo r photography and c ommunity grew, and he brought that passion to Sisters 2008 with his wife, Marlene. For the last 15 years he’s taken inumerable images and dedicate d an equal amount of hours to the betterment of this community. Jerry has received a number of awards fo r his work, including the Chamber of Commerce President’s Award in 2018. He wa s inducted into the Outlaw Hall of Fame in 2020. Whether you find yourself on the front side of his camera or the joyful side of his laugh, finding an apt word to describe Jerry is tedious. But the simple truth is, his presence remains a blessing.

PHOTO AND STORY BY Cody Rheault

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

The class of 2023 at Sisters High School is sitting on a gold mine of local scholarship opportunities, with over $300,000 of aid available to help fund post-high school education and training through Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (Sisters GRO).

Applications opened Monday, January 23, and will close on February 28, according to Laura Kloss, program director for GRO. All seniors and their families received emails last week outlining the scholarship program and application process.

According to Kloss, students considering any form of continuing education after high school are eligible to apply. Kloss underlines the importance of seniors understanding there truly is something for everyone planning to further their education.

“The variety of awards provides plenty of opportunity for students to receive financial assistance no matter what type of institution or program they are considering,” she said.

“For example, 45 of the scholarships are available to students seeking any type of education, including trade, technical, or vocational programs, or two- or four-year colleges or universities,” she said. “In addition, eight scholarships are specific to students seeking four-year degrees, 10 to students seeking two- or four-year programs, one is specific to two-year college only, and seven of the scholarships are restricted to students

pursuing trade, technical, or vocational programs.”

For those worried about grade point average, the requirement range among the 71 scholarships is from 2.0 to 3.75.

Last year, every single student who completed the application process received some aid from GRO, according to high school counselor Rick Kroytz.

“We really want seniors to understand this because some immediately believe they have no chance of being awarded anything,” he said.

In-person help will be provided at the annual Scholarship Application Pizza Night on Tuesday, February 7, at 6 p.m. at Sisters High School.

In addition, the school counselors, ASPIRE volunteers, and Kloss are all ready to guide and support the seniors through the process.

“We are grateful for the time and commitment of scholarship sponsors, scholarship review committee chairs, and volunteers who make this work possible” said Kloss. “We are also incredibly thankful for donors to the Sisters GRO General Fund, who provide the opportunity for us to award at least one scholarship to each student who puts effort into completing an application. Our goal is to increase equitability for every Sisters High School student to pursue continuing education, and general donations to the organization help us to achieve that.”

Complete information for the program can be found a www.SistersGro.org.

COMMUNITY: Marland volunteers as STARS driver

for Great Source, where she worked with the Beaverton School District to implement the professional development program in the schools. Upon her return to Portland in 1992, she completed her undergraduate work begun at the U of O years before by enrolling at Marylhurst University.

While working for Great Source, she became friends with Vicki Spandow, who has lived at Black Butte Ranch for over 20 years. Marland and Spandow were both eager to come to the east side of the mountains and asked headquarters if they could work from Sisters. They were surprised to receive a quick affirmative response. Apparently, the higher-ups thought Sisters was a suburb of Portland. After they moved here, Houghton-Mifflin purchased Harcourt Brace and the Sisters office was closed. Spandow is now an author of children’s books, and she and Marland are still friends.

Marland has been an engaged member of the community for many years. She served on the board of the Sisters Trail Alliance for eight years and participated in work parties building and maintaining trails throughout Sisters Country.

For four years, she has served as the Sisters representative on Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), which promotes and encourages safe bicycling and walking as a significant

means of transportation in Deschutes County.

Marland also serves on the tri-county Regional Public Transportation Advisory Committee. Members are appointed by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) board to review, advise, and assist the COIC transportation programs in their efforts. Among their duties are helping to identify the transportation needs of Central Oregon residents and to serve as a forum where citizens provide comments about service expansions, reductions, or alterations.

For 24 years, she has volunteered to work at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournament in Portland. She also volunteers every year for the Sisters Folk Festival, checking wristbands at the different venues.

Despite her own mobility issues as the result of compromised balance, and needing reconstructive surgery on her foot, Marland is fully involved with the Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) program, which is part of Age Friendly Sisters. She is a member of the STARS leadership team and has participated as a volunteer driver since the incep-

“What I love about STARS is meeting the most interesting people when I provide rides,” Marland explained.

She believes the service provided by STARS is badly needed in Sisters and is delighted with the number of people who have volunteered to drive. She wanted to remind everyone they are always looking for more volunteers as the service becomes more well-known.

For the past 30 years, Marland’s favorite hobby has been participating in Scottish country dancing. She explained, “Scottish country dancing was the forerunner to the American square dance.” Here in Central Oregon, they meet at the Sons of Norway Hall because it has a wooden floor. Susie Allely of Sisters is their dance mistress. For the past year, Marland has been unable to dance and said she misses it and her dancing friends terribly.

Marland is a diehard lover of Sisters, citing its locale on the east side of the Cascades, its gorgeous natural environment, and the people who live here. She has enjoyed hiking the many trails and hopes to be able to return to them.

STARS is currently seeking volunteers. Visit https:// www.agefriendlysisters.com/

JENSEN HAS BEEN MAKING SCIENCE FUN FOR 16 YEARS ON

Rob Jensen has been teaching seventh-grade science at Sisters Middle School for 16 years, and he’s as enthusiastic abou t the work today as he was on the day he started... maybe more so.

“I still love my job,” he said.

He get s to engage with a new group of student s ever y year, and the f ield it self is constantly evolving, which gives him the oppor tunit y to continue growing. He’s always working on new and creative ways to deliver the content of his classes.

“The prac tices of teaching have improved — our engagement prac tices,” he said.

There have been profound changes in the accessibilit y of information over the past 16 years, with answers to questions just a few keystrokes and swipes away. That has changed how teachers approach teaching science.

“The data’s there for them,” Jensen said. “Now it’s abou t thinking critically and understanding that data.”

Seventh-grade science covers the periodic table, chemistr y, geology, how atoms work , the nature of invasive species, why natural disasters occur, and more. Jensen devises proje ct s that engage students and make learning fun. He’s also involved in the ECOS program, which is a competitiv e application class that get s student s ou t into the ou tdoors on expeditions, facing adversit y and working together to climb, sur f, ski, snowshoe — all while applying learning they get in the classroom

The bonding experience and the pure thrill of the adventure por tion of the program motivates them when they have to be at their desks.

“They ’re all-in on their lessons,” Jensen said.

Sisters schools are known for such innovative programming, and Jensen said that education in general has increasingly focused on “ the whole child,” par ticularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept student s ou t of school during important formative years.

“Post-pandemic, the kids need more development in their ‘soft skills,’” Jensen noted.

Soft skills are such things as social interac tion and charac ter skills. Teachers tr y to integrate work on such skills into their teaching on

subjec t matter.

“( We’re) more aware of the di erences in kids, more understanding of their needs,” Jensen said.

The science teacher has been a coach for many years. Right now, he’s coaching the middle school basketball team and a tournament team

After more than a decade and a half in the Sisters classroom, he’s seeing his former student s as adult s star ting families . Seeing them thrive is conf irmation that he’s been e ec tive in his calling

Registration open for

trail run

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Registration is open for the annual Peterson Ridge Rumble 20- and 40-mile trail runs, set for Sunday, April 2. The event is considered the “grandpappy” of local races, according to Race Director Sean Meissner.

“We are excited for another year of the Rumble and hope to make it the best one ever,” said Meissner. “Following the pandemic we expect to see our numbers get back to normal, but also want to make sure those runners who have never experienced the Rumble join in the fun.”

The 2023 edition of the race marks its third decade in existence, according to Meissner.

“It started as a super small event with one distance in 2003 from my house, with 31 people and 6 dogs, and quickly grew the next year to two distances and 200 runners,” he said.

In a time of exorbitant race entry fees and big sponsorships at many races, the Rumble remains a down-to-earth affair that takes good care of its racers. Registration for the Rumble is $70 for the 40-mile and $55 for the 20-mile. (Prices go up by $15 after February 1.) In comparison, other races that take place in the area charge upwards of twice that amount, even for shorter distances.

Meissner said, “The Rumble has grown over the

years to 500 runners and up to 75 dogs; it has always kept its low-key vibe through a low entry fee, dog-friendliness, excellent post-race burrito buffet by Longboard Louie’s, Sisters Bakery treats, and family-friendly location at the track.”

To add to the fun, Meissner offers prize money to the top three male and female finishers of each race, along with the master’s age group winners.

The Rumble was the first official race to take place on the Peterson Ridge trails, helping pave the way for all the events that have followed, according to Meissner. He continues to not only appreciate the trail system, which he describes as amazing, but continues to support the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) along with other local programs financially.

Meissner encourages people to not shy away from trying the 20-miler even if it’s further than they’ve raced before.

“If you have done a half-marathon before and approach the 20-miler conservatively, it is doable,” he said. “Part of the reason we are getting the word out now is so people have time to train to get ready.”

Registration can be found at www.utlrasignup.com. The Peterson Ridge Rumble website (www.runlikeardy. com) and Facebook page also include information, updates, and the link for registration.

FESTIVAL: New event is set for the end of June in Sisters

band from Colorado, on arranging, jamming, and performing acoustic music with other players from around the Western U.S. With programming for fiddle, mandolin, bass, guitar, banjo, singing, harmony, and songwriting, the camp offers a studentcentered style, where the pickers are jamming, working on arrangements, polishing vocal harmonies, workshopping lyrics, and eventually performing with their peers.”

Organizers are planning the Ponderoo Arts Experience to take place throughout the week, with workshops and artist sessions that explore self-expression through visual arts. These workshops are planned for June 22-23 in Sisters.

The celebration will

culminate with three days of live music June 23-25.

As part of the community outreach of Big Ponderoo, all are welcome to join in a free community event Friday, June 23, 5:30-8 p.m. at Sisters Art Works. Attendees can enjoy live music from festival bands Never Come Down and Twisted Pine; food vendors; beer, wine, and cider for

purchase; art displays; and interactive arts events.

Both music venues will be “festival style” with no tents or seating provided; attendees will be encouraged to bring tarps, blankets, and low festival chairs — along with their dancing shoes.

Two-day, all-events tickets will go on sale Wednesday, February 8 at 10 a.m. at https://aftontickets.com/ BigPonderoo. Tickets will be available through a tiered pricing mode. The initial 500 tickets will be offered at a $25 early-bird discount for $150 (limit two per person); the remaining tickets will be sold at the advance price of $175 per ticket. Tickets for youth ages 6-17 are $70 each; children 5 and under attend free.

Single-day tickets will be available for purchase later this spring.

Additional information can be found at www.big ponderoo.com. Follow @ BigPonderoo on Instagram for festival updates and lineup information.

The Travelin’ McCourys will bring their stellar bluegrass chops to the stage at Big Ponderoo.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The War and Treaty will come to Sisters in June for a new festival called Big Ponderoo.

PHOTO PROVIDED

deputies in town) has made us way more effective,” Lt. Davis said. “We know people by their first names. We know the names of their dogs.”

That allows them to identify and work through issues, often before they escalate into more serious law enforcement matters. That can range from traffic issues to disputes to trespassing — all the way up to more serious crimes like the burglary that occurred last week (see story, page 1).

Increased presence has allowed deputies to address the top concern of Sisters residents as identified in a couple of community surveys conducted by the City of Sisters: traffic safety. In some cases, increased presence has been a literal life-saver.

Deputy Brian Morris related how deputies were able to aid a driver who had had a heart attack at the wheel and crashed into the stallion statue on Cascade Avenue.

Deputies were near enough at hand that they were able to render CPR while medics responded to the scene. The driver survived.

Deputy Mike Hudson was just around the corner when a medical call came in from a business owner who had fallen and cut himself badly while working in his place of business. Hudson responded within moments and applied a tourniquet to a wound that could have easily been fatal.

More consistent engagement with the public has also reaped rewards. Deputy Josh Westfall related an incident in which a man having a mental health crisis approached him belligerently and threateningly. Such incidents can’t always be resolved gently, and they sometimes end badly.

Deputy Westfall was able to de-escalate the situation — which he credits to having had multiple opportunities to interact with the subject when he was in a better state.

“I could only do that because I knew who he was, because I had that relationship with him,” Deputy Westfall said.

Sheriff Shane Nelson emphasizes “customer service,” and says that he and the command staff promote a culture where deputies treat members of the public the way they would want their family members to be treated. The Sisters deputies endeavor to embody that ethic.

Sheriff Nelson praised what he described as “an

exceptional contract” that is beneficial to the residents and government of the City of Sisters, the citizens of the western part of Deschutes County, and DCSO itself.

Deputy Hudson said that he really loves working in Sisters. He patrols town in a distinctive black-and-white truck.

“I love this town,” he said. “It’s a fun place to patrol; it’s a fun place to work.”

He enjoys engaging with the public while on patrol.

“I always try to have my window down, rain or shine, unless it’s a torrential downpour,” he said.

Deputy Brent Crosswhite is the Sisters School Resource Deputy. Crosswhite’s position lies outside the contract, but he is a vital member of the DCSO’s Sisters team. He described his role in the schools, where he works with staff and students to promote a safe school environment, addressing issues of bullying, drug use, online safety and related matters. Crosswhite serves on a threat assessment team that can intervene in situations where a potential threat of violent action is present.

In addition to a close look at how the DCSO contract operates in Sisters, citizens were briefed on county-wide operations and got a look at some of the technology and equipment DCSO uses. That included Detective Slater’s presentation on a 360-degree laser scanner that produces 3D models of a crime scene, and a look at SWAT equipment and doctrine.

The current Sisters contract does not provide 24/ seven coverage, although there is a west county deputy on duty in the hours when the contracted deputies are off. Sheriff Nelson has told The Nugget that if Sisters wants to expand its law enforcement capacity as the community grows, he is open to that discussion.

He noted at the open house that law enforcement agencies continue to struggle with recruitment as interest in the field has diminished in the face of negative public perception.

However, all the personnel on hand over the six hours of the Citizens Academy made it clear that they love their work and appreciate the communities they serve.

essentially has its own police force

I love this town.

It’s a fun place to patrol; it’s a fun place to work.

— Deputy Mike Hudson

C L A S S I F I E D S

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

CLASSIFIED RATES

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

DEADLINE: MONDAY, noon preceding WED. publication.

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

220 SW PINE ST., SUITE 106 For lease 582 SF RETAIL space available February 1, 2023. Great location with on street parking. Email lorna@nolteproperties.com or phone 541-419-8380. Lorna Nolte, Principal Broker

Garage & Estate Sales

Selling,

Great Pyrenees Puppies

All white, ready now. Two boys, $250 each, two girls $300 each. Call or text for details. 530-905-2250 Three Rivers Humane Society Where love finds a home! See the doggies at 1694 SE McTaggart in Madras • A no-kill shelter. Go to ThreeRiversHS.org or call 541-475-6889

FURRY FRIENDS helping Sisters families w/pets. FREE Dog & Cat Food No contact pick-up by appt. 412 E. Main Ave., Ste. 4 541-797-4023

yrs. experience 541-719-8329

Oregontechpro.com

SISTERS SATELLITE TV

PHONE • INTERNET Your authorized local dealer for DirecTV, ViaSat HS Internet and more! CCB # 191099 541-318-7000 • 541-306-0729

502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning GORDON’S

Top Knot Tree Care can handle all of your tree needs, from trims to removals. Specializing in tree assessment, hazard tree removal, crown reduction, ladder fuel reduction, lot clearing, ornamental and fruit tree trimming and care. • Locally owned and operated • • Senior and military discounts •

• Free assessments •

• Great cleanups • • Licensed, Insured and Bonded • Contact Bello Winter @ 541-419-9655, Find us on Google CCB#238380

4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts! – TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

– FOREST MANAGEMENT –

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

Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003

** Free Estimates ** Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342 4brostrees.com Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057

601 Construction

CENIGA'S MASONRY, INC.

Brick • Block • Stone • Pavers CCB #181448 – 541-350-6068 www.CenigasMasonry.com

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS Factory Trained Technicians Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

SPURGE COCHRAN BUILDER, INC. General Contractor Building Distinctive, Handcrafted Custom Homes, Additions, Remodels, Cabin Renovations Since ’74

A “Hands-On” Builder Keeping Your Project on Time & On Budget • CCB #96016 To speak to Spurge personally, call 541-815-0523

Earthwood Timberframes

• Design & shop fabrication

• Recycled fir and pine beams

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Sawmill/woodshop services www.earthwoodhomes.com

Custom Homes

Residential Building Projects Concrete Foundations

Becke William Pierce

CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384 Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com

Pat Burke

LOCALLY OWNED

CRAFTSMAN BUILT

CCB: 288388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com

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

All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling and SNOW REMOVAL Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740 J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, gutters. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com

999 Public Notice

NOTICE OF ELECTION OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS

Sisters Park & Recreation District

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, an election will be held for the purpose of electing two board members to fill the following positions and terms, including any vacancy which may exist, on the board of the Sisters Park & Recreation District.

One Director, Position No. 4, 4-year term

One Director, Position No. 5, 4-year term

will be received until 2 p.m. local time at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, P.O. Box 39, Sisters, Oregon 97759, on February 9, 2023 and then publicly opened and read at 2 p.m. at Sisters City Hall. Bids shall be labeled: Best Western Waterline Extension Project.

Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation.

CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462

701 Domestic Services

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

Sisters School District is seeking an Accounting Specialist to join our small and growing team! We are looking for an experienced accounting professional with a friendly attitude and the ability to multitask. To see a complete job description and to apply, visit our website at: http://ssd6.org/departments/ humanresources/employment/ Reliable and Professional Housekeeper wanted to take care of general cleaning, and am willing to pay $535

Each candidate for an office listed above must file a declaration of candidacy or petition for nomination for office with the County Clerk of Deschutes County, Oregon, not later than the 61st day before the date of the regular district election. The filing deadline is 5 p.m. on March 16, 2023. Filing forms are available at the Deschutes County Clerk’s office, 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 202, Bend, Oregon 97703 and online at www.deschutescounty.gov/clerk.

Steve Dennison

Deschutes County Clerk

BEST WESTERN WATERLINE EXTENSION PROJECT

Bids due 2 p.m., February 9, 2023

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids for the construction of the City of Sisters, Best Western Waterline Extension Project, addressed to the City Recorder, City of Sisters, Oregon

Improvements generally include the construction of 12-inch water main, 8-inch water main and a hydrant at Best Western in Sisters, Oregon. This project is required to comply with FHWA Buy America guidelines which stipulate that steel, iron, and manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United States. Contractors will be required to submit Certificates of Materials Origin prior to delivery of such products.

The invitation to bid, plans, specifications, addenda, and notification of bid results for this project may be viewed on line from Premier Builders Exchange at http://www.plansonfile.com.

There will be no Pre-Bid Conference for the Best Western Waterline Extension Project. This project is subject to the provisions of ORS 279C.800 through 279C.870 regarding payment of prevailing wages. Bidders must be registered with the Construction Contractors Board (ORS 701.055).

T H E N U G G E T

N E W S P A P E R C L A S S I F I E D S!!

They're on the Web at www.nuggetnews.com Uploaded every Tuesday afternoon at no extra charge! Call 541-549-9941

The deadline for classifieds is Monday by noon.

around the perimeter at a cost of some $50,000.

She wanted to add context to reporting that the new fence was “partly” to shield the property from illegal camping at the edge of their property.

Okura says the fence will serve many purposes and has been in the works since 2016. She acknowledged that nearby homeless encampments were a source of concern and complaints from some of their guests, most notably those booking suites. The suites are on the end of the building closest to some of the more visible campsites, which are regularly occupied in violation of the 14-day rule.

Per Forest Service regulations, campers are required to vacate a site after 14 days of continuous use and move to a new campsite some distance away. The rule isn’t aimed at the homeless. It was put in place years ago to ensure that campers didn’t hog all the best spots.

Ponderosa Lodge has had difficulty with some — but by no means all — of its homeless neighbors. Law enforcement has on several occasions had to intervene for issues of trespassing or littering. Some thefts have occurred.

The fence is part of a larger process whereby each year Ponderosa Lodge gets a site inspection from Best Western, with whom the

motel operates under a branding license. Best Western asked that a new fence be installed, among other routine and periodic improvements.

Okura and her siblings have worked hard to have the fence meet all sorts of needs, not just the practical minimum. Apart from privacy and security for guests, it had to be attractive and blend into the look and style of the existing property and its structures and “feel like Sisters.”

They are spending far more than what would be required by the site review. It’s six feet high, not four like the current fence. It’s stained. And rather than the typical post-and-three-rail wood construction as is typical in Sisters, it will be powder coated, bronze- patinaglazed corrugated steel.

The frame shown here is finished and the steel will be

added starting this week. The color is a careful match to the building trim.

The fence was also an opportunity to put some space between the lodge’s east side and a new lightindustrial park, which is under construction. The family purchased 50 feet from the industrial park owners and spared a number of oldgrowth ponderosa pines in the process.

The original fourfoot post-and-rail fence is replaced by the new six-foot fence around the entire property except on the front, the Highway 20 side, where the iconic alpacas graze in full view of passersby. The current animal-safe fencing will remain.

The only wrinkle thus far is getting the City to give a variance for 200 feet of the fencing that connects the alpaca enclosure

with the west-edge fencing. Ponderosa Lodge wants that to be six feet like the rest of

the new fencing, but code says it must be four feet streetside.

Ponderosa Lodge is installing a 1,700-lineal-foot fence around its property. The owners explain that the fence has a variety of purposes.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT