The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVI No. 10 // 2023-03-08

The Nugget

SSD to seek local option funding

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

The Sisters School District (SSD) is set to seek a fifth renewal of the local option tax levy. The local option renewal has been ongoing for 24 years, providing essential funding for the unique programs Sisters schools are able offer. Superintendent Curt Scholl will file for the local option levy to be on the ballot for the May election. The local option levy renewal is the same amount of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The school board on

See LOCAL OPTION on page 18

Ski racer...

News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Downtown site to be redeveloped

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Heavy equipment knocked down the building that formerly housed Hop in the Spa last week. The new owner of the property, Roger Johnson of Sisters, told The Nugget he is working on plans to redevelop the property.

Gus Patton goes for it in Outlaws Alpine racing action. The Sisters High School Ski Team hosted the State Championships at Hoodoo Ski Area last weekend. Conditions were challenging, but the Outlaws acquitted themselves well. Seestory,page6.

Sisters trails vandals caught on camera

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

About six months ago Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) changed their logo and set about applying it to hundreds of trail marker signs on its 192-mile network. The decals were positioned over the existing ones, an easier chore than having to remove the originals first. Since that time vandals have systematically and steadfastly removed the new decals.

In warmer weather, the removal of the new badge generally did not harm the original ones while reexposing their design. Now, in the cold of winter, peeling off the new decal generally damages the underlying one leaving an unsightly appearance as shown in the photo.

The cost to STA has been considerable. Apart from around $800 in replacement and repair costs, hundreds of volunteer hours have been lost. In the process donors and the 175 volunteers who

gave 2,800 hours in 2022 have been disheartened.

“We thought we could just overwhelm them with our numbers, and eventually they’d give up,” said Scott Penzarella, STA executive director.

“This is an insult to the hardworking volunteers who year-round strive to make great trails. Our mission is to build and maintain trails to connect users, not to spend time dealing with misguided vandals.”

A U.S. Forest Service camera has captured a pair, a mature adult couple, in the act.

“They will be known to any number of people were we to release their photo,” Penzarella said. “Along with their dog, they are unmistakable.”

The STA is not looking to have the couple prosecuted, provided they come forward and promise to stop their behavior and reimburse STA for its costs.

See VANDALS on page 17

The building on the Cascade Avenue site was completely removed. It had stood empty for many months in the wake of the closure of Hop in the Spa after its owner, Mike Boyle, of Sisters, was indicted on September 7, 2021, on multiple counts of practicing massage without a license, two counts of sexual abuse

See PROPERTY on page 17

Avalanche claims life on Black Crater

An avalanche took the life of a 46-year-old backcountry skier from Bend on Thursday, March 2.

Sgt. Jason Wall of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Search and Rescue unit was dispatched Thursday to a report from a backcountry skier of an avalanche at Black Crater. Black Crater is a steep-sided shield volcano north of the Three Sisters and east of McKenzie Pass — readily visible on the Sisters skyline.

The reporting party (Skier No. 2, name withheld by DCSO) advised Deschutes County 911 that he and a friend were skiing in the caldera at Black Crater when an avalanche was triggered. Aaron Griffith, of Bend, was caught up in the avalanche, no longer visible, and possibly injured.

Both skiers were equipped with proper backcountry safety items, including avalanche beacons, shovels, helmets, and avalanche probes. The reporting party attempted to locate his friend by utilizing his avalanche beacon, and ultimately was

successful. The skier conducted life-saving measures, but Griffith had succumbed to his injuries.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit, along with the United States Forest Service, responded to the area and assisted Skier No. 2 to safety. Due to extreme avalanche

danger and failing light, Search and Rescue personnel halted recovery efforts until daylight on March 3.

Search and Rescue personnel worked with community partners through Friday to safely recover Griffith’s body.

See related story, “Avalanche safety,” page 18.

A 46-year-old backcountry skier from Bend was killed in an avalanche on Black Crater on Thursday.

PHOTO PROVIDED

PHOTO BY OLIVIA KENNEDY

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.

Get involved

To the Editor:

Eight years ago, I became involved after Sisters’ city manager proposed building an amphitheater at the east end of town to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Sisters for weekend concerts. Lots of Sisters folks who opposed it got involved. Notice there is no amphitheater. Getting involved can make a difference.

This year I simply started a discussion in a Facebook community group with my comment “16 pumps?” So get involved if you don’t like something that’s being proposed. Somebody started CATS (Citizens Action Team of Sisters). Find them.

Here’s my problem with this proposed mega-gas station/convenience store — other than it would eliminate Richard’s Farmstand and C&C Nursery (which is just nasty). The two roundabouts proposed at the east end of town will reroute traffic up Locust to Barclay. No need for truckers to drive through town on Cascade (Yay!). But if one needs to fill ’er up before going over the pass, one would need to continue around the roundabout at the west end and come back into town to get to Space Age… and then have to make lefthand turns to continue westward. I foresee a friggin’ traffic bottleneck during the summer months… cone lickers vs. truckers.

I would think a smarter business plan for Mr. Jim Pliska of Space Age to consider would be to sell the Cascade lot and build that

monster gas station on Barclay (I see there are currently some lots for sale). He probably wouldn’t need to build to the Western Frontier theme required on Cascade, saving a few construction dollars. And with all the working folks and new homes in that area, he could put in a restaurant and pickleball courts as well and thrive.

Get involved! Share your ideas. Write letters to the editor. Join CATS. Talk to your neighbors about it. Go to City meetings. Persist. Don’t give up!

Diane Goble

Growth in Sisters

By Scott Woodford Community Development Director

s s s

Western theme

To the Editor:

Western Frontier Theme: Although the Space Age Gas Station may meet the code, it does not meet the spirit. The essence of the theme is history. Where is the West? Where is the frontier? Simply adding so-called Western architectural elements to a building does not necessarily make it reflect history.

Considering its location as the first building of the Sisters downtown historic area (coming from the west), it ought to just zing with the belief in the theme. With its ties to transportation services, it could represent a train station. Other themes might be a ranch barn or other ranch building, a feed store, etc.

See LETTERS on page 22

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

There has been a lot of talk lately about growth in Sisters. The rate of development in the last five years has been brisk, and more projects are under construction or in the planning stages. Industrial buildings are coming out of the ground and new commercial ventures are being contemplated. Additionally, there has been discussion about how to accommodate future growth — through infill within our existing boundaries, or expansion of the city’s urban growth boundary. For many, the pace has been too fast and not representative of Sisters. We’ve seen lots of expressions of these concerns in the media, comments at Council meetings, and postings on social media.

We want you to know the City is listening. “The City”— including councilors, staff, and the volunteers on boards — also cares deeply about Sisters; that’s why many volunteer hours of their time to help guide its future, and work every day to help keep Sisters, Sisters.

But a balance must be struck — between enough growth to provide housing choices and employment opportunities, and too much growth, where we lose the town’s charm; between zoning restrictions and property rights; between local control and state of Oregon-mandated planning laws; between keeping Sisters compact and denser or expanding our boundaries and keeping it less dense; between preserving our small-town feel and allowing opportunities for others who find Sisters appealing — just like all of us.

State planning law requires comprehensive plans incorporating required statewide planning goals and urban growth boundaries to combat sprawl and protect farmland and forests. It also requires study of our future housing needs based on population projections — ours are predicted to double by 2042 — and that we plan to accommodate that growth. So, we do a lot of planning. In addition to the Comprehensive Plan, we have transportation, parks, and utility plans, among others, to make sure we are being proactive and not reactive.

Can’t we just say “no” to development? No, state law says we cannot adopt moratoriums, except under limited circumstances. Further, the State is currently working to make it easier to build housing — citing affordability and houselessness and

the chronic underbuilding of housing. We must also operate within the allowances of the Sisters Development Code — the blueprint for development. If a proposal complies with the code, the City is obligated to approve it or risk getting sued, or expensive appeals to the State Land Use Board of Appeals.

If we can’t stop growth, what can we do? We can mitigate the impacts of growth with good planning. Starting with the Comprehensive Plan, a guide for growth for the next 20 years. Its goal is to “maintain Sisters’ unique quality of life, mitigate the effects of growth and absorb it the Sisters way, maintain our special community character, and continue to diversify housing options and the economy.”

We already have codes to protect Sisters’ character, including a limit on formula food establishments in the downtown and along the highway to “retain the viability of our independent restaurants,” and the 1880s Western Frontier architectural design theme requirement of new development. We also have an ordinance to protect the night sky from bad outdoor lighting.

Can we make the Code better? Yes, and that is the best time for the citizens to effect change in the character of growth. We are continually updating the Code to reflect community needs. There is room for improvement — and we should have a community conversation about how to do that.

What can one do to learn more?

1. Visit www.ci.sisters. or.us to read the pertinent City plans and development code.

2. Contact staff with questions — we are here for you. Don’t assume that what you read on social media is correct.

3. Learn more about state planning law (www.oregon. gov/lcd/Pages/index.aspx).

How can you participate?

1. Sign up for email notifications on the City website to receive City Council and Planning Commission meeting information.

2. Attend a meeting in person or on Zoom from home. Offer public testimony.

3. Provide written comments to staff on a proposed development or code change. Your input can make a difference.

Like you, the City Council and staff want the best for our community. Let’s all work together as we navigate the future to keep Sisters the vibrant place that we all know and love.

COMMUNITY

Sisters High School

Jazz Choir to perform

BIOCHAR offers benefits to soils, forest

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Biochar is a fuel management practice that is taking the fire and science world by storm. A workshop on the use of biochar in our forests, on our farms, and more is coming to Sisters. The workshop is in partnership with the School of Ranch, High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, and Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture.

Biochar is a burning technique that scientists and fire professionals are looking at to practice better forest management in the wake of intense wildfire seasons. Biochar can be applied to add nutrients to soil, and benefits forests, farms, and gardens.

“Although it looks a lot like common charcoal, biochar is produced using a specific process

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

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

541-610-7383.

to reduce contamination and safely store carbon,” Regeneration International reports. “During pyrolysis organic materials, such as wood chips, leaf litter, or dead plants, are burned in a container with very little oxygen. As the materials burn, they release little to no contaminating fumes. During the pyrolysis process, the organic material is converted into biochar, a stable form of carbon that can’t easily escape into the atmosphere.”

Kelpie Wilson, mechanical engineer and thermal technician, has dived into the world of biochar fulltime. Wilson, who will conduct the Pine Meadow Ranch workshop, has always been interested in renewable energy practices. Her experience in the field of thermal technologies and biochar worked hand in hand.

“I live in a rural part of the state and have always been involved in forest conservation and devoted to forests,” said Wilson.

Wilson combined her passions for forest conservation and science and started writing about biochar and the benefits of its use for online science magazines focused on sustainable energy.

“When biochar came along, I had shifted over into working on climate change issues as a journalist in science communications. I was writing a lot about climate change and energy,” said Wilson.

“One thing I recognized when I heard about biochar was this is a great use for all the woody excess biomass we have from decades of forest mismanagement,” she said.

See BIOCHAR on page 19

In late April of this year, the Sisters High School Jazz Choir will sing at one of the most magical places on the planet: Disneyland. This is a special opportunity available to the choir through a lot of hard work and fundraising. While visiting the park, students will get a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse of the “behind the scenes” at Disneyland. Performances throughout the park and at a local hotel are

also planned.

An important source of the funds raised comes from the annual raffle of a quilt donated by local artist Susan Cobb. Tickets are available at all High School music concerts. For more information, or if you cannot attend a concert and would like to purchase tickets, contact Rick Johnson, choir director at

Sister Ranger District to host open house

The Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest will host a public open house in mid-March.

On Wednesday, March 15, the Sisters Ranger District will provide interested public the opportunity to review and discuss a range of activities planned for the next year with Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid and program specialists. The open house will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Hall, located at 301 S. Elm St. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

“We always enjoy the spring open house to share our upcoming forest management program of work with the public,” says Reid. “There will be an opportunity to hear what we have planned, ask questions and provide feedback, and visit one-on-one

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.

with Forest Service staff.”

People are welcome to come at any time, but there will be formal presentations beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by smaller groups later for people interested in discussing specific issues.

Some of the activities to be presented are vegetation management in the Green Ridge and Cougar Rock areas, recreation program updates including trails and campgrounds, anticipated prescribed burning plans, road maintenance and construction, the new Sisters Ranger District administrative site construction updates, predictions for the coming fire season, and several major watershed restoration projects.

For more information, contact the Sisters Ranger District at 541-549-7700.

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 PROVIDED

Pine Meadow Ranch is hosting a workshop on the creation and benefits of biochar.

See RAFFLE on page 15

Wellhouse Church offers preschool and elementary options

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Wellhouse Church offers Christian education to children and students in Sisters. They began serving the youth of Sisters in Christian education in 2020.

“We started in pre-K and started expanding further in the fall of 2020, and we picked up where Sisters Christian Academy left off,” said Mary Ryan, director of operations at Wellhouse Academy.

Ryan handles student enrollment, curriculum, and staff and teacher training.

Wellhouse Academy serves students from kindergarten to fifth grade, and Wellspring School offers preschool services for ages 3 through prekindergarten. The school is located inside Wellhouse Church five days a week, with students often returning for classes during Sunday service. They have seven classrooms in total, with plans to expand. They keep most of the classes, especially preschool, under 10 students. The school has nine teachers and staff.

Angela Hodge, director of administration, is also a preschool teacher. She teaches in the mornings and handles administrative tasks in the afternoon. It is Hodge’s second year on staff.

“We are a preschool and academy for young students, and we follow all the same school standards,” said Hodge. “We also put Christ at the center of all our lessons, and that’s what sets us apart. There aren’t a lot of other options for young students besides public school and Sisters Park & Recreation District, so we have that draw for parents by having the Christ-centered education.”

The Academy is considered a private K-5 certified child education and care center. The Academy and Wellspring school are

looking at expanding enrollment, but are still planning on keeping their core values at the center. The school has received a grant from Developing Successful People Foundation for a new classroom that is currently being built within the church.

“All of the kids wrote drawings and their names on the pieces of foundational wood on the structure of the classroom,” said Ryan.

Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring work in collaboration with Wellhouse Church, and the entire staff works hard to provide curricula that meet state school standards as well as incorporate faith-based learning at a young age.

With smaller class sizes and limited teachers, they emphasize collaboration, critical thinking, logic, and memorization. They work to combine their teaching of the curricula with real-world applications.

According to the academy website: “Our teachers use a Bible-centered curriculum that holds fast to the truth of God’s word, along with a variety of teaching strategies, and strong student community to establish a vibrant learning atmosphere. We individualize learning which allows each student to thrive in their area of giftedness and advance their academic progress.”

Hodge and Ryan want to emphasize reaching out to students beyond Sisters through all Central Oregon, putting Wellspring and Wellhouse Academy on the map as a Christian school.

“Our test scores are above benchmarks, and we think Christ in the center helps with that, beyond academics, but also with social and emotional skills,” said Hodge.

They work to combine basic school subjects with subjects within the Bible including looking at historical figures in their secondgrade history class.

They also use music a lot within their curriculum as a creative outlet for learning, collaboration, and worship.

Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring create a learning environment that meets school standards, but also, beyond that, is a place where students branch out in what they are learning.

“We aren’t married to the curriculum, so we can branch out and have all-encompassing all-around education in a number of things from a young age,” said Ryan.

“We always try and meet the students and their families with where they are at in their faith and education journey,” said Hodge.

Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring are applying for grants to keep growing and moving forward.

“The backing of Wellhouse Church is huge, financially and spiritually,” said Hodge.

Registration for Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring is underway through March. They are also offering summer camp opportunities this year. Register online and learn more at www.wellhouse academy.com.

MARK D. OWEN pr esents Impact, the fir st book in T he Pan Nationals fiction series about a gr oup of leader s tr ained to solve intr actable wo rld pr oblems.

THURS., MARCH 23 • 6:30PM

KIM COOPER FINDLING pr esents Bend Daycations, the must-have guidebook popular with families and ne wcomer s curious about the exciting destinations in a two-hour r adius of Bend.

FRI., MARCH 31 • 6:30PM

MEG ADAMS pr esents Why Are You Like This, a collection of comics with a millennial take on mar riage, adulthood, pet owner ship, self-love, and self-car e.

THURS., APRIL 6 • 6:30PM

LEANNE GRABLE pr esents Brontosaurus Illustrated, the stor y of a ra pe, now 50 year s old, and its ef fects over five decades, and My Husband’s Eyebrows, a humor ous examination and celebr ation of Gr abel’s long ma rria ge With poet Tiffany Lee Brown.

FRI., APRIL 7 • 6:30PM

PHIL MARGOLIN pr esents Murder at Black Oaks, a Robin Loc kwood novel.

First-graders wrote and drew on foundational lumber in a new classroom under construction at Wellhouse Academy, inside Wellhouse Church.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Obituaries

Roger Allen Nelson

Roger Nelson of Sisters passed away January 28 after a long battle with Parkinson’s.

Roger was born in Salem, graduated from Beaverton High School, University of Oregon, and Willamette Law School. He practiced law for over 52 years, doing estate planning, tax work, real estate development, and nonprofits.

He did a considerable amount of his work pro bono and considered it to be his “ministry” in life. He hadn’t raised his fees in over 20 years, as he considered what he did his gift to others.

His business partner of 30 years, Wendy Jones, shared that when informing his clients of his passing the comments were, to a person, that they regarded him as the most honest, considerate, and thoughtful person they knew, and each one appreciated and valued their relationship and friendship with him.

He is survived by his wife, Gayla Nelson, Sisters; four children, Leslie Kracke, Portland, Brenda Wolfe, Florida, Sean Nelson of Portland, and Eric Nelson, Eugene; two stepchildren, Kathleen Mayhew of Welches and Michael

Obituaries Policy: The Nugget Newspaper does not charge a fee to publish obituaries. Obituaries may be up to 400 words and include one photo. Obituaries outside these guidelines are handled by The Nugget Newspaper advertising department. Obituary submissions must be received by noon on Monday. Obituaries may be submitted to The Nugget by email or hand delivery to our office located at 442 E. Main Ave., Sisters.

Mayhew of Enterprise.

Roger was a marathon runner, avid tennis player, cyclist and hiker. His main love in life was the Oregon Ducks. He held season tickets for football and never missed a track meet.

He was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters, where he served as Treasurer and was always the main money taker at all church functions.

Roger and his wife were active for years with the Sisters Folk Festival and were members of the Folk Art Circle. He loved auctions and was involved with the American Diabetes Fundraiser in Portland for 22 years.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, April 22 in the Community Hall at The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters at 11 a.m. Oregon Duck clothes are welcome attire!

Bill Moore

1934-2023

Bill Moore was born in San Diego, California. After graduating from San Diego State University with his bachelor’s degree, he worked as a school teacher. He earned his EdD in special education at the University of Oregon in Eugene, and afterward joined the staff of Teaching Research in Monmouth. He worked at Teaching Research for over 30 years as a research professor.

Bill lived in Sisters for many years before moving to McMinnville. He and his wife, Jane, traveled around the world and in the U.S. He also loved to spend time on the Oregon Coast and in the mountains.

He was a 356 Porsche enthusiast and was a contributing editor of the 356 Registry . He and Jane participated in many crosscountry Porsche events. He also volunteered for Habitat

for Humanity. His family always said that Bill Moore never met a stranger.

Bill had nine grandchildren, and enjoyed teaching them many things, including how to play chess, catch lizards, and identify flying saucers. He also had two great grandchildren who brought him much joy in his later years.

As a runner, Bill enjoyed participating in a variety of road races, including the Civil War Relay and the Eugene and Portland marathons. Bill was an enthusiastic Oregon Duck fan and followed Duck football, basketball, and baseball. He was also a Mariners fan and, in his earlier years, a fan of boxing.

He enjoyed a wide variety of music but was especially fond of West Coast Jazz. He was a wine aficionado and had an extensive knowledge of local wineries, gleaned from his circle of friends in

the wine industry.

Bill is survived by his wife, Jane Moore, of McMinnville; daughters Melinda Spieker of Tualatin, Holly Ficklin and Susan Moore of Portland, Amy Thorkildson of McMinnville; three sonsin-laws; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to McMinnville Habitat for Humanity.

Outlaw skiers compete in state championships

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws Alpine Ski Team raced in the Oregon High School State Championships held at the Hoodoo Ski area Wednesday through Thursday, March 1-3. Despite a lot of new soft snow, which can be problematic for ski racing, the event came off as a big success.

Coach Gabe Chladek told The Nugget that throughout the entire event he heard nothing but positive comments and thank-yous from the teams that traveled from out of town. Wednesday was set aside for teams to train and warm up while the racecourse crew set up the venue for the following two days of racing.

On Thursday the boys team, including Bela Chladek, Corbin Fredland, Styopa Myagkov, Brody Duey, Gus Patton, and Spencer Tisdel, raced in a slalom event. The Outlaws got off to a rough start with Chladek and Fredland both missing gates and disqualifying on their first runs. However, the team score was saved on that run by teammates Myagkov, Duey, and Patton all bringing in qualifying times.

Chladek took second place on run two of the slalom run in the afternoon, and teammates Fredland and Myagkov also brought in good times to boost the score for the day. The Outlaws came in 10th out of 21.

The following day, the boys raced in the giant slalom (GS) where they fared a bit better. Chladek, Fredland, and Myagkov placed well on both runs and were supported by their teammates Duey, Patton, and Tisdel for a thirdplace spot on the podium in the GS event.

Coach Chladek told The Nugget that although the team had some technical issues with the rough snow conditions everyone on the team

pushed themselves for the best outcome and the teamwork resulted in a pretty good finish for the Outlaws.

Chladek said, “When I reflect on the entire season what strikes me the most was the camaraderie, sense of community and cooperation that this team exhibited this year. Two of our seniors, Fredland and Chladek, are considering continuing on with ski racing in college and FIS (Federation International Ski) and experience at a state meet like this adds to their perspective going into their next stage of ski racing.”

On the girls side, racers included Tallis Grummer, Presley Adelt, Ella Eby, Charlotte Seymour, Becca Clausen and Ava Riehle. The team competed in the giant slalom on Thursday and the slalom on Friday against over 100 of Oregon’s top alpine ski racers.

Thursday’s conditions were less than ideal, but the hard work of the Lady Outlaws skiers paid off as they finished strong on Red Valley’s GS course. Grummer held the 11th spot after the first run and finished 23rd overall after her arm caught a gate and slowed her down on the second run. Clausen finished 27th, and Eby took 38th. The trio’s combined times resulted in a fourth-place team finish, less than five

—

seconds behind Jesuit, who took third. Other individual results were: Seymour (53rd place), and Riehle (64th).

Friday’s weather and conditions improved for the girls slalom race. Adelt completed two consistent and clean runs to lead the Lady Outlaws with a 21st-place finish. Eby placed 34th, and Seymour came in at 43rd. Grummer and Clausen both ran into difficulties on the second run and were unable to finish. Times for Adelt, Grummer, Eby, and Seymour gave the girls a sixth-place team finish in the slalom.

Two Outlaw racers, Eby (26th) and Seymour (37th), placed in the girls individual combined, finishing both runs in the slalom and giant slalom races. The depth of the

Lady Outlaws’ finishes across both disciplines resulted in a fourth-place finish for the girls combined team standings, once again just behind Jesuit, who took third.

Girls coach Natalie Grummer said, “Our girls team continues to improve, and I am confident the depth of experience and grit these girls bring to competition will only be strengthened by the solid performances we saw at this year’s state meet.

“We are looking ahead to next year as we have a growing bench of very talented athletes with more years to ski race,” added Grummer. “I see great things in the future as they are incredibly

supportive of one another and push themselves to reach higher levels. I expect we will continue to develop several top contenders at both the Emerald League and state competitions. Five of our six girls have qualified for the State Championship races each year they have been on the team, and all five will be back in 2024!”

Coach Chladek expressed thanks to all the parents and volunteers who helped put on every race and helped to make the Outlaws’ season a success. He added a special thank-you to Hoodoo Ski Area for supporting the Emerald League and the State Championships this year.

Bela Chladek has been a team leader all season — one of the best for Outlaws ski racers.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA KENNEDY

Our girls team continues to improve, and I am confident the depth of experience and grit these girls bring to competition will only be strengthened by the solid performances we saw at this year’s state meet.

Natalie Grummer

Kindergarten roundup scheduled

Sisters Elementary School (SES) will hold their annual Kindergarten Roundup preregistration on Friday, April 21 in the school gymnasium. Each student will participate in a teacher led activity while parents are involved in a parent orientation.

Sign up by contacting the elementary school at 541549-8981. Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2023 are eligible for the 2023-24 school year.

Enrollment forms may be picked up at the Sisters Elementary School office between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The school will be closed March 20 through March 24 for spring break.

Forms need to be completed and returned to the school office on April 21 at the time of your scheduled appointment.

The following documents are required to register:

• Enrollment packet

• Copy of birth certificate

• Immunization records

• Proof of address.

Students will not be registered until all forms are returned.

Celebrating reading in Sisters school

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Sisters Elementary School (SES) celebrated reading last week, with local author Joyce Burk Brown, who read her and co-author Linda Wolff’s children’s book, “The Magic in Listening.”

The author reading was the culmination of an entire Reading Across America week at the school celebrating reading and practicing habits such as active listening. Reading Across America’s official date was March 2, also author Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Read Across America was created to help kids get excited about reading. Events take place at schools across the nation.

Celebrating Read Across America week is a long tradition at SES. This year they celebrated in a variety of ways, including dressing up each day with a theme connected to a specific Dr. Seuss book. On Wednesday, the SES nutrition service team served a meal of green eggs and ham.

On Wednesday, March 1, the Sisters High School Outlaws baseball team read books to the first-grade classes.

On Thursday, the official Read Across America Day,

many classes spent the day reading books in comfortable spaces in their classrooms.

On Friday, they ended the week with an assembly featuring Burk Brown, whose book connects to the “Leader in Me Habit of the month”: Seek first to understand; then to be understood.

Author Burk Brown said, “I am so grateful to have been asked to participate in the Read Across America celebration with all the students at the Sisters Elementary School. Books allow us to learn, meet new friends, and have adventures. As an author I shared about what it was like to write and publish a children’s book. ‘The Magic in Listening’ was written by me and Linda B. Wolff and illustrated by Hannah King. The animals in our story help children learn about all parts of listening, i.e., looking, hearing, being patient, kind, and quiet. It was a great support literature for their Leader in Me program. The skill they are working on now is listening.”

You can find the book at various locations in Sisters including Deschutes County Library System and Paulina Springs Books, Wildflower Gallery and Gifts, Ear Expressions (and gifts), and on Amazon.

Through

their phonics programs and curriculum, SES is emphasizing the

importance of reading, and learning how reading works from a young age.

Joyce Burk Brown read her book “The Magic in Listening” as a highlight of Read Across America activities at Sisters Elementary School.

PHOTO BY CEILI GATLEY

Ore. lifting mask mandate in health care settings

Workers, patients, and visitors in health care settings will no longer be required to wear masks starting April 3, Oregon Health Authority announced.

They are rescinding provisions in Oregon Administrative Rule 333-019-1011 that require workers in health care settings — such as hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulances, outpatient facilities, dental offices, urgent care centers, counseling offices, school-based health centers, complementary and alternative medicine locations — to wear masks. The requirement has been in effect since August 2021.

The decision to end statewide health care mask requirements aligns with decisions in other states, including Washington.

Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA, said the lifting of Oregon’s health care mask requirement stems from data in recent weeks showing overall decreases in circulation of the three respiratory pathogens that triggered a surge in visits to hospital emergency departments and intensive care units last fall. As of today, COVID19 test positivity is at 10 percent and is expected to continue dropping; influenza test positivity is at 1.2 percent; and RSV test positivity is at 1.6 percent (antigen tests) and 3.5 percent (molecular tests).

The high cost of individualism

By Ryan Moffat Guest Columnist

I’m at a loss — stunned, saddened, provoked.

I’ve just finished reading a heart-wrenching, soul-sucking article about the latest algorithm update about an AI software called Replika. Replika is an AI chatbot that users can access to create an artificial chat buddy as a virtual companion. The company boasts the catchy (albeit depressing) slogan: “Need a friend? Create one now.” Many of us can hardly believe that our fragmented, individualistic, narcissistic age would ever come to such a troubling tipping point, but regardless, here we are living in a world of imaginary friends, simulated community, and rulers of our own reality.

Here’s where an already depressing story takes a wild and chilling turn. This last week Replika announced that they would no longer allow the chatbots to “sext” with its users. In other words, Replika leadership decided to draw a line in how the app would interact with users (how they decided this one seems arbitrary and relativistic at best, but at least they did draw a line). The creators at Replika have begun to understand how dangerous and vulnerable the human psyche is when it’s alone with nobody else to love, to connect with, to care for.

In the article I read, this specific passage painfully

and articulately describes how troubling our new AI world has become:

In response to a flurry of dejected remarks, concerned forum moderators shared and pinned information on suicide prevention hotlines. It is simple to make fun of these individuals, yet they represent the extreme of a pattern that has seen us all anxiously turn away from the uncertain, complicated world of genuine human interactions and try to imitate them with phony virtual ones. AI driven sexting services like Replika’s are possibly more addictive since they promote the development of parasocial interactions, which has the effect of making a human partner appear even more unsettling and bothersome. This transcends sexuality. Replika positions itself as a crucial source of support for those with limited social ties, and more of us in the UK are fitting that description: the percentage of people under 35 who report having one or no close friends climbed from 7 percent in 2011 to 22 percent in 2021. The field of AI is developing quickly.”

Wow, one out of four young adults would say that they have no close friends? Heart-wrenching, sad,

deeply troubling. What is the answer, what is the way out?

In Genesis 2, after God creates all of life, there’s a striking summary at the end of the creation story. “Then the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Literally everything else in the created world was classified as “good” or even “very good,” but the one thing that was “not good” was that man was alone.

We aren’t made to be alone. God himself evaluates Adam alone and his conclusion is simple: “This isn’t good.” The evaluation is core to the essence of humanity’s basic design; and at our essence together is good, alone is not good.

Communities fracture, relationships break, the human experience gets reduced to algorithms of pretend “likes” and manufactured intimacy. Robert Putnam powerfully prophesied this moment in his classic “Bowling Alone” when he predicted what our world would look like devoid of embodied community.

Putnam says: “People divorced from community, occupation, and association are first and foremost

among the supporters of extremism.” Putnam saw the world that we were cultivating decades ago and saw that left to ourselves we would create echo chambers where we hear ourselves, mirrored windows where we look out and simply see ourselves, and devices where we curate an experience that is just another expression of ourselves. Putnam’s prediction has become reality as we live out the fruit of this radical individualism, so what can we do in our own little world to work toward a greater vision of life?

Here at Sisters Community Church we have three prongs to our mission: We want to connect with God, care for one another, and cultivate community. We want to cultivate community with those both inside and outside of our church. If you are lonely, fragmented, disconnected from God or self or others, we want to invite you into the good news — a place where you can find real people with names, faces, and stories. People who want to connect with you, share life with you, be a friend to you, and hopefully deeply care for you in meaningful ways.

Ryan Moffat is a pastor at Sisters Community Church.

Pursuing a vision of Sisters

Four years after the adoption of the Sisters Country Vision and Action Plan by the City Council and other key partner agencies, the Vision Implementation Team (VIT) is still collaborating on Vision progress, identifying and dissolving barriers, identifying funding for project implementation. The team annually updates the Vision Action Plan to reflect progress, changes, or new information based on the needs of the growing community, and on community feedback. They provide progress reports on those action items underway, and identify upcoming projects for the next year.

In 2018, with a growing population, new business opportunities, more development, and increasing visitors and traffic, City leaders chose to take a proactive approach in planning for the future. In partnership with Deschutes County and Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), the City hired NXT Consultants to lead a community conversation about the future of Sisters.

Community engagement began in March 2018 and ran through September 2018, focusing on the creation of a vision for our community. Many hundreds of participants weighed in via stakeholder interviews, community meetings and forums, and community surveys. In late summer 2018, a citizenbased Vision Action Team (VAT) with 31 members was formed to guide development of the Vision Action Plan, which was adopted in January 2019.

The Vision Implementation Team (VIT) was formed in July 2019 to serve as a collaborative team of lead partners and

Current members of the VIT

community members who can guide implementation of the Vision Action Plan.

According to their charter, “The mission of the VIT is to implement the Vision Action Plan and prioritize projects through a transparent, balanced, and inclusive process.”

Team members serve a renewable, one-year term, and meetings are held quarterly, more often if needed. The organizations represented on the VIT are listed as lead partners on three or more action items in the Vision Action Plan, plus select community members such as youth/young adult representatives, arts and culture representative, and two community members at-large.

The VIT follows a model of “lead partners take the lead.” Therefore, the VIT exists to support and guide the success of lead partners in successfully implementing the strategies outlined in the Vision Action Plan by local government, public agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and other partners over the next five to 10 years.

Citizens4Community (C4C) serves as the Vision

Coordinator, providing staff support to the VIT by providing meeting facilitation and team communications, website updates and maintenance for the Sisters Country Vision online presence, collaboration with VIT on media communications, outreach and events, management of new-member applications and onboarding, and coordination of the administration of the VIT Community Small Grants Fund.

The Vision Action Plan is a compendium of possibilities for the future, with 20 key strategies to implement the plan, which informs future decisions and helps Sisters to move in the direction of the Vision. There are four main pillars to the Vision and each pillar is supported by five strategies which, when implemented, include action steps with suggested lead partners.

Prosperous Sisters: This focus area is about creating a Sisters Country that is prosperous for all its residents. It covers such topics as jobs, small business, economic development, and entrepreneurial activities that generate livelihoods and income for Sisters Country residents.

City of Sisters, elected — Jennifer Letz, City Council; City of Sisters, staff — Scott Woodford, Community Development Director; Deschutes County, elected — Patti Adair, County Commissioner; Deschutes County, staff — Peter Gutowsky, Community Development Director and Nicole Mardell, Senior Long Range Planner; Sisters Park & Recreation District

— Jennifer Holland, Executive Director; US Forest Service — Ian Reid, District Ranger; Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce —

Livable Sisters: Creating a Sisters Country that is livable for all its residents. It covers such topics as growth and planning, housing, transportation, parks and recreation, environmental quality, biking and walking, and other factors that combine to make Sisters Country a great place to live.

Resilient Sisters: Creating a Sisters Country that is resilient and responsive for all its residents. It covers such topics as public safety, health and wellness, social services, fire safety and disaster preparedness, and other initiatives that will help our community to be prepared for unanticipated

Judy Trego, Executive Director; EDCO Sisters — Eric Strobel, Associate Director; COIC

— Tammy Baney, Executive Director; Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District – Roger Johnson, Fire Chief; Citizens4Community

— Jane Paxson, Board President; Sisters School District — Curtiss Scholl, Superintendent; Youth/Young Adult Seats (2) TBD; Arts and Culture Seat

— Dennis Schmidling, Sisters Arts Association; Community Members At-Large — Steve Swisher and Elizabeth Kirby.

events or an uncertain future.

Connected Sisters: Creating a Sisters Country that is more connected, making all its residents feel welcome and involved. It covers such topics as governance and leadership, education and learning, civic engagement and dialog, volunteerism, and other things that bind us together as a community.

The challenge now is to synchronize the Vision, the Comprehensive Plan, and the Development Code.

For a full copy of the Vision Action Plan visit: www.ci.sisters.or.us — Documents, Vision Action Plan.

Oregon Battle of the Books

Twelve teams from regional schools, ranging f rom 3rd to 12th grade, will compete at the Per forming Arts Center in Madras on Saturday, March 11 f rom 11 a .m. to 4 p.m. OBOB is a statewide volunt ar y reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries. To learn more, visit oregonbattleof thebooks.org.

New Sisters Cub Scout Troop

Come join the troop! Cub Scouts supports both boys and girls f rom kindergarten through high school.

Beginning March 8 , meetings will be held at Sisters Middle School Commons every other Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Cont act Joshua Smith 541549-74 41

Sisters High Deser t Chorale

Practices for Spring Season begin on March 27. e group meets each Monday night f rom 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration on Brooks Camp Road. Spring concerts are planned for the first week of June. ere are no auditions required. If you would like to lend your voice to this f riendly musical group, we’d love to have you as a member. For more information, please contact Connie Gunterman at 541588- 0362

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group

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

Sisters Careg iver Support Group

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

Announce Your Celebr ations!

Sisters communit y notices may run at no charge on this Announcements page. Email nug get@nuggetnews com. Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays

A NNOUNCEMENT S

GriefShare Group

Beginning March 16 , join a friendly, caring group who will walk alongside you through the experience of losing a loved one. Meetings will be ursdays f rom 6 -8 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church. For registration and more information, visit http://www griefshare.org/groups/162504.

Sisters Garden Club

Puzzle Sales

25th Anniversar y Edition

“Quilts in the Garden” puzzles are currently available for purchase for $20 at these locations: Ray ’s Food Place, e Gallimauf ry, Fika Sisters Co eehouse, and Metamorphosis Salon Cont act 971-246-0404 for more information

Sisters Museum is reopening!

e Sisters Museum, brought to you by the ree Sisters Historical Society, will be reopening on Februar y 17. Returning to regular hours of 10 a .m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays , they are looking for volunteers with an interest in Sisters history. Please call 541-5491403 or email volunteer@ threesistershistoricalsociet y. org to find out more.

Free Lunches for Seniors

For those 60+, 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. Call 541-797-9367.

Weekly Food Pantry e Wellhouse Church will have a weekly food pantr y on ursdays at 3 p.m. (222 N. Trinity Way) Both drive-through pick-up and shopping-st yle distribution are available. Call 541-5494184 for information

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 Visit www FamilyKitchen.org

Save the Rubberbands

Business owners: Are you the recipient of a bundle of Nug gets each week? ose fat rubberbands are highly valued by the Nug geteers that bundle your papers each week . If you can save them, we’d love to use them again Questions? Call 541-549-9941.

Black Butte School Hoodoo

Celebr ation

Black Butte School & Hoodoo are celebrating 50 years of ski & ride on Friday, March 10 at 5 p.m. at the Fireside Room at Hoodoo Ski Lodge

e celebration will feature a slideshow of highlight s across the decades , words f rom the program’s big gest supporters, a ra e and silent auction, and refreshments! Transportation provided! Ride the Ski Bus to and f rom Camp Sherman To reser ve your spot, email transportation@blackbutte. k12.or.us

Sisters Garden Club

On March 11, guest speaker John Herman with L azy Z Ranch will talk about bees and pollinators . e start time for meetings is 10 a .m., with doors opening at 9:30 a .m. Location is Sisters Community Church. Contact Ruth Palmer at 971-246-0404.

Cloverdale Rural Fire Protec tion Distric t

Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District is accepting nominations for the Don Johnson Community Service Award until Friday, March 10. Nominee must reside in the Cloverdale Fire District and exhibit a notable sense of communit y spirit, support, and volunteerism. Any resident of Cloverdale Fire District may submit a nomination to: Board Secretar y, Cloverdale RFPD, 67433 Cloverdale Rd., Sisters , OR 97759

Free Pet Food Budget tight but need pet food for your dog or cat this month? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-7974023 to schedule your pickup.

Sisters 4 -H Dog Group for Youth

Have f un and meet new friends while learning to train dogs in care, obedience, showmanship , agility, and more. Sisters K9 Paws 4 -H encour ages youth to set goals and develop selfconfidence, problem-solving , self-discipline, and self-worth. In August group members can show their dog at the Deschutes Count y Fair 4 -H Dog Show. is group is open to children 9 -18 years of age who weigh as much as their dog. Cost is $85. Register at Deschutes Count y E xtension 541-548- 6088, e xt 2. For more information, contact: Nancy Hall 541-9 04-4433 , nancyhall4h@gmail.com.

Holidays in the Pines Spring Markets

ree spring market s held March 18 , April 15, and May 12-13 will feature local small f arms , artists, and craf ters . Market s will be held at 272 S . Cedar St., and open f rom 10 a .m. to 4 p.m. A portion of proceeds benefit Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. For more information see f acebook. com/Holidaysinthepines , or email holidaysinthepines@ outlook.com.

Sisters Habitat Board Openings

e Sisters Habit at Board has openings for people passionate about building desp erately needed a ordable housing in Sisters . Board members ser ve for three-year terms. If you are interested in ser ving on the board you can email info@sistershabit at org or call the Habit at o ce at 541-549-1193 to contact Board President, Joe Rambo

Bessie

Let’s put the spotlight on a sweet golden gal named Bessie!

Bessie was an unclaimed stray who was ver y frightene d when she first arrived at the shelter But now, in spite of all she’s been through, this charming lady has blossomed into one happy, lovable little dog gie. Bessie is just the right size and has just the right spunk , personality, and temperament to absolutely delight you Give Bessie a second chance at the quiet, loving, comfortable home she so deserves!

SISTER S- ARE A C HURCH ES

Baha’i Faith

Currently Zoom meetings: devotions , course trainings , informational firesides. Local contac t Shauna Rocha 541- 647-9826 • www.bahai.org or www.bahai.us

Wellhouse Churc h 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com

10 a .m. Sunday Worship

e Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration 68825 Bro ok s Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087

8:30 a .m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship

10 :15 a .m. Episcopal Sunday Worship www.transfiguration-sister s.org

Sisters Church of the N az arene

67130 Har ring ton Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960 www.sistersnaz .org • info@sistersnaz .org

10 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 Lutheran 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

Exploring coral reefs at Sisters bookstore

Writer and documentary filmmaker David Alexander Baker will offer a presentation from his new book, “The Lost Continent: Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Age of Extinction,” at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, March 16. Baker will share selections from his book along with a slideshow featuring photographs of coral reefs from around the world.

“The Lost Continent: Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Age of Extinction” is a nonfiction investigation of disappearing coral reef ecosystems. Part travel narrative and part scientific exploration, it takes readers on a global journey that traces the history of our discovery of the wonder of coral systems at the very moment in history when we’re losing them. From Polynesia to South America, and from Florida to Saudi Arabia, the book offers views into people and places facing this daunting issue. The more we learn about corals and their decline — and how humans are

responding to that devastation — the more we understand about ourselves and the hope, despair, and courage that unites our own species. With over 60 breathtaking photographs of coral reefs spanning from Colombia to Australia to the Florida Keys, readers will be moved both by the majesty of nature and the urgency to preserve and restore these great cities of the seas.

Baker has spent the last eight years documenting the decline of the world’s coral reefs and searching

for glimmers of hope amid the grim statistics. In this talk, he’ll share some of his experiences and photographs, highlighting reefs from Florida to Hawai’i, and Colombia to Saudi Arabia that walk the tightrope between hope and desperation, and that inspired the writing of “The Lost Continent.” The presentation will touch on the natural history of corals and how humans have interacted with them over the millennia, and why they’ve become critical sentinels in the face of an ongoing climate and biodiversity crisis.

David Alexander Baker is a writer and documentary filmmaker living in the Pacific Northwest. His novel “Vintage” was released in 2015 by Simon & Schuster. He has written fiction and nonfiction for publications ranging from Failbetter.com to Hair Trigger, MSN, The Briar Cliff Review, Narrative. ly, and Terra Magazine. Baker

Big Ponderoo early-bird ticket deadline looms

The last chance to purchase discounted tickets to the Big Ponderoo Music Festival is Tuesday, March 21 at www.aftontickets.com/ BigPonderoo. Early-bird tickets are available at a $25 discount for $150 (limit four 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.

Presented by Sisters Folk Festival, Big Ponderoo — taking place June 24-25 — is a brand-new music festival bringing bluegrass and Americana music to two stages: Sisters Art Works and the Three Creeks Brewing production facility. 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.

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 the next lineup announcement and full festival schedule coming on March 22.

Out-of-town two-day ticket holders can reserve tent and RV camping sites at Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) or Shepherd of the Hills Church on Wednesday, March 8 at 10 a.m. Both locations offer dry camping with no hookups. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit www.bigponderoo. com/where-to-stay.

Single-day tickets will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday, March 22 at 10 a.m. at www.aftontickets. com/BigPonderoo. Saturdayonly tickets are $100/adults and $45/youth and Sundayonly tickets are $90/adults and $40/youth.

Those interested in volunteering to earn their festival ticket can sign-up for shifts starting March 22. Volunteers working a minimum of 8-10 hours will receive a 2-Day wristband with access to both venues throughout the weekend when not volunteering (subject to venue capacity, as with all pass-holders). For more information visit www. bigponderoo.com/volunteer. Follow@BigPonderoo on Instagram and Facebook for all Festival updates and lineup information.

directed the film American Wine Story and co-produced and directed “Saving Atlantis” with Justin Smith, a film about the devastating decline of the world’s coral reefs. He also co-produced and directed “Three Days of Glory” with Scott Wright, an award-winning deep dive into Burgundy and winemakers surviving in the face of climate change and corporate greed.

Baker also teaches documentary film studies in the School of Writing, Literature and Film at OSU.

The free event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Paulina Springs Books, 252 W. Hood Ave. For more information call 541-549-0866.

THURSDAY • MARCH 9

Suttle Lodge Fireside Music by Jeshua Marshall

6-8 p.m. Reservations required; tickets at bendticket.com. For more information: info@thesuttlelodge.com.

Sisters High School Band & Choir Concert

7 p.m. SHS jazz and concert bands and choirs will perform in the high school auditorium. Free; donations to band/choir programs happily accepted. Info: kayla.golka@ssd6.org

FRIDAY • MARCH 10

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy

8 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • MARCH 12

The Belfr y Live Music by Charlie Parr with Marisa Anderson presented by Sisters Folk Festival. Doors open at 6, music at 7. Parr ’s poetic lyricism and expressive, gritty voice ring clear over deft acoustic guitar that references folk and blues motifs. Tickets: aftontickets.com/SFFCharlieParr

THURSDAY • MARCH 16

Suttle Lodge Fireside Music by Hayley Lynn

6-8 p.m. Reservations required; tickets at bendticket.com. For more information: info@thesuttlelodge.com.

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk David Baker presents “The Lost Continent: Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Age of Extinction.” 6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

FRIDAY • MARCH 17

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy

8 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information call 541-549-6114.

MONDAY • MARCH 20

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk Mark D. Owen presents “Impact.” 6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

THURSDAY • MARCH 23

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk Kim Cooper Findling presents “Bend Daycations.” 6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

Suttle Lodge Fireside Music by D.V.R. 6-8 p.m. Reservations required; tickets at bendticket.com. For more information: info@thesuttlelodge.com.

David Alexander Baker.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Forest of war, forest of peace

By Maret Pajutee | Correspondent

The young man had roots in the sunny forests of the Metolius Basin, but he met his fate in a dark forest far away, almost 80 years ago. The story behind the short, charmed life, tragic death, and surprising afterlife of Elliot R. Corbett is part of the history of one of Oregon’s most remote state parks.

story behind the short, charmed life,

Elliot Ruggles Corbett II was a member of the influential Corbett family, who were a key part of the development of Portland, Oregon. It started in 1851, when Henry Winslow Corbett came around the Horn with a ship of goods to sell in the new city and later became one of the state’s first U.S. senators. His descendants formed a line of leaders in commerce, ship building, trains, banking, education, real estate, art, conservation, civic engagement, ranching, and politics.

Elliot was born to Gretchen Hoyt and Henry Ladd Corbett (a state senator and grandson of Henry W. Corbett) in 1922. The youngest son of 5 children, Elliot and his siblings, Helen, Henry Ladd Jr., Alfred, and Rosina grew up roaming the family ranch on the Metolius River, purchased by their father in the 1920s. Family photos show active summers with the Corbetts climbing, fishing, and exploring the Cascades and

beyond.

Elliot had an easy smile, and was reportedly a charmer. His family’s nickname for him was “Yot” or “Yottie.” He attended Thacher Preparatory school in the hills of Ojai, California, where he was known as “Corb.”

He was graceful in the sports of gymkana on horseback, track, soccer, and baseball; good at his studies, likeable, and public minded, as well as a skilled camp cook. His brother Alfred, who also became a state senator, recorded interviews with the Oregon Historical Society, and described Elliot as a “delightful person to be with” who also played the piano very well.

Elliot spent two years at Harvard studying English, hoping to become a journalist. There he found love with a Vassar girl named Ellen “Sudie” Zinsser. As World War II descended, he joined up and found himself in the 109th Regiment, 28th

Infantry Division. He wrote Sudie every day.

The night he left for the front he wrote, “I’d like to take the train to Poughkeepsie tonight, darling, but something intervenes.”

One day the letters stopped coming. Elliot disappeared and was reported missing in action.

But he wasn’t missing. He had been sent into a horrific battle in the Hürtgen Forest of Germany, where the army was hampered by thick woods, gorges, heavy rain and snow, and lack of roads. Hundreds died, and a rapid retreat left many wounded soldiers in the dense woodland. Elliot was

Thacher Gymkana Team. Elliot Corbett pictured second from right.

Corbett’s sister Rosina with Black Butte in background.

wounded and reported captured as a POW on November 19, 1944. A German Army division took him to Marinwald Monastery, where the Red Cross had a field hospital. Records showed he died three days later. It was 1945 before his family and Sudie knew with certainty that Elliot was gone and had been buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in the town of Margraten.

In 1947 his grieving parents traveled to Europe to see how it was recovering and to visit their son’s grave. The people of the Netherlands had a custom of adopting soldier graves, and his father said, “We came away, completely satisfied with the loving care given the graves by the Dutch people and convinced that it is the proper place for any American boy buried there to remain.”

In 1952 they donated a 63-acre parcel of land west of Blue Lake to the State as a park to honor their

son and his love of nature, with a condition it remain wild. Elliott R. Corbett II Memorial State Park is found off Highway 20 east of Hoodoo. It was historically a stopping place on a pioneer wagon road, with a small meadow and a view of Blue Lake from the steep caldera walls.

Reassuringly, the Dutch people still tend the graves of the lost boys so far from home. There’s even a waiting list for the program. Chris Leenaars, a Dutch graphics designer, adopted Elliot’s grave in 2010, and has gone beyond to create a comprehensive website of Elliot’s life, service, and death against the backdrop of world war (https://www.elliott-rcorbett-ii.com/). Elliot’s girlfriend Sudie, a 91-year-old retired doctor, never forgot him, and donated the love letters she saved. Elliot’s niece reported that strangely one day, 65 years after his death, the Army sent her Elliot’s dog tags with no explanation of where they had been.

Elliot R. Corbett lived only 22 years but his death illuminates one human story in the dark landscape of war. It allows a glimpse into a life of influence and wealth melded with civic leadership, a life that could not keep him safe in the end. The state park in his honor has no development except a stone with his name and service. Since the 2002 B&B Fire, the route has become an even

more challenging two-mile bushwhack, with downed trees and brush obscuring old roads and trails.

It’s quiet in the meadow, a young forest growing again on the edge of the deep blue lake. It’s a place that calls to the most adventurous willing to search for wild beauty and remember the life and loss of a young man with a sweet smile who in his last letter described himself as “being naturally a peaceful character.” Rest in peace, Elliot.

PHOTOS COURTESY THE CORBETT FAMILY

Elliot’s brother Henry and 14-pound trout.

Rosina and Elliot Corbett camping at Jefferson Lake in 1932.

Elliot doing a Gymkana trick.

Sisters Country birds

By Douglas Beall Correspondent

Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga Columbiana) occupies an integral role in the regeneration and maintenance of high-elevation pine forests. They store pine seeds, plucked from cones by their strong and sharp beaks, in a pouch behind their tongue. Up to 90 seeds are stored within this pouch, which are then cached in the ground over a large area. In the fall up to 33,000 seeds will be stored in the ground and the Clark’s Nutcracker is able to remember where they cached the seeds for up to nine months. The seeds they do not remove become seedlings, which sprout and help disperse healthy and genetically diverse pine trees. Over the entire year, 98,000 seeds may be cached.

The Nutcrackers can begin nesting in January because of their ample

buried food source. Two to five greenish eggs are laid and then incubated, mostly by the male, who develops a brood patch on its chest which is unlike the other jays and crows within the corvid family. Hatching occurs in approximately 18 days and the nestlings fledge after another 20 days.

The Clark’s Nutcracker normally travels in groups referred to as a “booby,” “jar,” or “suite.” These gregarious birds can often be heard high in the pines kraak-kraak-kraaking. This sound enabled William Clark to locate them during the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805, and henceforth the bird was named after him. They originally described it as a woodpecker.

For more Clark’s Nutcracker images visit http://abirdsings becauseithasasong.com/ recent-journeys.

Band marks 10-year homecoming

In 2013 on April Fools Day, Sisters local Slater Smith performed his first show with bandmates under the moniker The Weather Machine. The band felt incredibly lucky. After a ton of open-micing as a solo act, Slater had locked down a month-long residency at The White Eagle in Portland just in time for their first record release. So Slater invited the band along to play every Monday in April, and The Weather Machine was born.

The Weather Machine brought Smith and his friends to high heights and far-flung

WORD OF THE DAY…

Autoschediastic (aw-toh-skeh-dee-AST-ik) Impromptu, improvised, ex tempore or offhand.

corners of the world. The project, now based between Oregon and New Zealand, has toured in Europe and shared the stage as openers for some of their musical heroes. Now, as part of their decade anniversary celebration, they return to Sisters at The Belfry opening for one of those favorite bands: Hillstomp.

This comes hot off the heels of their latest studio release, recorded during the depths of 2020 and released only a few months ago. “Applecore” was recorded

with PNW legend Tucker Martine, who help the band capture the lightning in a bottle that their high-energy live shows have always been known for. Now the band returns to Slater’s hometown for the first time in three years. It’s bound to be quite the homecoming.

The Weather Machine/ Hillstomp show is set for Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave. For tickets and information visit https://belfryevents. com/events.

1. Pick up a specially labeled BLUE BAG from the porch of Furr y Friends or The Nugget.

2. Fill the bag with Oregonredeemable bottles and cans. (Max 20 lbs. per bag.)

3. Drop off at any BottleDrop location including Ray’s in Sisters (scan code on bag to open door), or on The Nugget’s porch (now on the right side). Mail

Clark’s Nutcracker.

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BEALL

Slater Smith has fronted The Weather Machine for a decade. PHOTO PROVIDED

Show celebrates radio station launch in Sisters

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Sisters is the new headquarters for Jive Radio, and a lot of folks think that’s cause for celebration.

KJIVE (96.5 FM/www. jiveradio.org), a non-commercial independent radio station owned by OpenSky Radio Corp., has its first-ever formal studio located in The Belfry. And that venue will host a celebration of the station and independent music on Tuesday, March 14.

Cruz Contreras, singersongwriter and band leader of the Black Lillies — who have played here multiple times on the Sisters Folk Festival bill — will perform an intimate acoustic set for the free event, which is set for 7 p.m.

Sisters musician Jim Goodwin is the voice of Jive Radio, on the air every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

RAFFLE: Proceeds help send SHS Jazz Choir on special trip

Continued from page 3

rick.johnson@ssd6.org. The winner will be drawn on Quilt Show day, Saturday, July 8, and will be contacted directly.

The choir’s next performance is at 7 p.m., March 9, at Sisters High School Auditorium. The concert will highlight both the Jazz and Concert Choirs, as well as the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. The music focuses on classical pieces, world music, and — of course — some jazz pieces. Tickets for the raffle will be available: $1 each or 6 for $5 in cash.

Goodwin brings a “bucket” of eclectic music with no commercial interruptions.

Jeff Cotton, director of OpenSky Radio, told The Redmond Spokesman that the move to Sisters is a step forward for their operations, which have always operated on a “shoestring budget.”

Goodwin has been a live DJ on the station since 2018, operating out of a basement studio at his home in Sisters.

Moving the station into a studio at The Belfry has been gratifying for Goodwin.

“It’s a great little studio, and it’s working out really well,” he told The Nugget.

Goodwin sees having a physical radio station located in Sisters as adding another piece to a mosaic that has turned Sisters into a “music city.”

Goodwin also sees some opportunities to expand into local public service programing.

“I’d be all about helping with that kind of stuff as much as possible,” he said.

Ultimately, Goodwin would like to take over ownership of the station.

“The big elephant in the room is money,” he said.

He plans on talking a little about crowdfunding for the station at the event. However, the concert and party is not a fundraiser.

“Really, it’s primarily to raise awareness that the station exists at all,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin noted that the party is made possible through the support of sponsors: The Belfry, Thompson Guitars, Hair Cache, The Barn, Tim Kizziar Properties, Sisters Saloon, and Three Creeks Brewing Co.

The Belfry is located at 302 W. Main Ave. For more information visit https:// belfryevents.com/event/ cruz-contreras-jiveradioswelcome-us-to-sisters-party/.

The Sisters High School Jazz Choir is raffling a quilt made by Susan Cobb as a fundraiser to cover costs for a special performance trip to Disneyland. The Jazz Choir and other ensembles from the Sisters High School music program will perform on March 9.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Walk anywhere in Sisters for more than three or four blocks and you are very likely to encounter spalling, the unsightly flaking on concrete sidewalks. It looks as if the surface is pitted or pocked. While it occasionally happens from putting sodium chloride (rock salt) based ice-melting products on sidewalks, its actual causes are several.

They include poor quality concrete or inferior finishing, improper curing, corrosion of the underlying rebar (reinforcing bars or screen), or, as is most likely the case in Sisters – wear and tear from the freeze-thaw cycle.

Spalling is generally an aesthetic issue since only the upper, finished portion of the concrete slab crumbles and exposes the rough stone aggregate beneath, whereas the inner core of the slab remains mostly intact.

Despite its hardness and seemingly solid, impervious appearance, concrete is quite

porous and absorbs water, albeit slowly. Just as quickly it can dry itself out when the freezing rain or snow goes away. The ice-thaw cycle repeated dozens or hundreds of times every winter in Sisters can weaken and crack the top layer of your concrete.

The result is ugly, both in looks and the cost to repair.

With all the new construction and homebuilding in Sisters, homeowners are often shocked that within weeks or a few months of taking delivery on their expensive new home, they note sidewalk spalling and want to take on the contractor or concrete supplier.

In few cases does the claimant prevail. Sidewalks don’t come with warranties like appliances, windows, or roofing materials. Then there is the repeated question: Whose sidewalk is it — yours or the City’s? It’s yours in nearly every case, and you must build it and maintain it to City standards.

If you care to know about it in detail, it’s in the Municipal Code, Chapter 12.25. It’s a three-minute, unambiguous read. So, now knowing the problem and who’s responsible for the repair, how to get it fixed?

There is no contractor in Sisters that specializes in such repairs or resurfacing. And the contractors we interviewed, like Jeremy at Ridgeline Contracting, are skeptical of “patch” jobs.

“The only real solution is to rip it up and start over,” he said.

He doesn’t see the problem in the Valley with its milder temperatures.

“It’s just a fact of life in Sisters with the day/night

temperature swings,” he said. That leaves you with doit-yourself remedies. The most common method for repairing a spalled sidewalk is by applying cement stucco over the broken part of the sidewalk. Cement stucco is basically a mixture of Portland cement and sand that penetrates into the cracks and binds it together.

Since Portland cement is the main component of the mixture, it should be added in correct proportion so that the sidewalk can withstand bike and foot traffic. The sand to be used is available in three varieties — fine, medium, and coarse — but most contractors prefer the medium one since it gives a smooth and even look when the stucco dries.

There are a couple of locally available products known categorically as polymer-modified cement. Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply sells a 40-pound bag of Re-Cap which is mixed with water and troweled on. Sisters Ace Hardware has the same product, and a few other options by DAP. They also have the ingredients sold a la carte, such as the stabilizing primer, or bonding adhesive.

With any of these offthe-shelf products, the only color is gray and will not be an exact match to most of the sidewalks in Sisters. Thus patching may actually make the problem look worse cosmetically. Left unattended, the problem will continue to worsen. If you are a gambler

you can add tints — and hope when cured that you called it correctly.

If you decide to tackle it, it’s best to plan on doing the entire slab or section to even out the color.

Home Depot carries Henry RestorePro — about three times the price of Re-Cap. Consumer reviews say that it is worth the extra price. Lowe’s sells Flo-Coat,

comparable to local options. After resurfacing, professionals recommend applying a liquified waterproof membrane. It is not inexpensive but may be necessary in worst-case or repetitive situations. Some are available in up to eight shades, giving you a greater likelihood of matching your existing tone. Expect to recoat every five years.

VANDALS: STA seeks restitution and a stop to damage

Continued from page 1

“We will keep their names anonymous. Our intent is not to hold them up for ridicule, but this must stop,” Penzarella said.

The penalties for such vandalism can be stiff: up to six months imprisonment or $500 (per offense) or both. The STA stewards the trails under a partnership arrangement with the Forest Service, which ultimately has arrest or citation authority.

The Nugget asked Penzarella what he thought the vandals’ motivation was. He had no ready answer but speculated that the couple and others who have engaged in the act disapprove of the new look and/or direction of STA, which has rebranded itself as STA 2.0.

The Nugget has reported previously that the new design has not been warmly embraced by all trail users. In the original logo of three words, “Sisters” was spelled out, offering clarity that the famed trail system was rooted in Sisters. The new imagery has just the letters S-T-A.

Daily trail user Dixie Patterson is one of those not pleased with the new logo.

PROPERTY: Future plans are being developed

Continued from page 1

in the first degree (a Class B felony); five counts of sexual abuse in the third degree (a Class A misdemeanor); and one count of assault in the fourth degree (a Class A misdemeanor). The District Attorney alleges that there is a total of 11 victims, all of whom were allegedly victimized while patronizing Hop in the Spa.

One citizen told The Nugget that seeing the building come down represents “closure for a lot of people.”

Boyle has pleaded not guilty on all counts. He is scheduled to stand trial in Deschutes County Circuit Court before Judge Walter

“It doesn’t say Sisters as it should,” she said. “It was built with lots of Sisters sweat and blisters. It belongs to Sisters and not some wider universe. We’re happy to share it, but Sisters should always get credit for how special a gift this is.”

Dean Weller, a regular on the Peterson Ridge trails with his dog Scooter lamented, “Why does every institution now have to get watered down and be reduced to acronyms or buzz words?”

Weller speculates that the vandals are disgruntled volunteers or former volunteers and not just pranksters.

Penzarella is considering a public forum to invite citizens to come forward and share their opinions or concerns about the Alliance’s work or direction. Penzarella said that he hopes that can happen quickly to avoid further vandalism or misunderstanding of their mission and vision. STA is committed to the rebranding and will not be revisiting their decision, Penzarella said.

Meanwhile STA is asking trail users to stay off the trails when they are muddy. They have posted seasonal signs at the most popular trailheads, which are clear in the warning to avoid damaging trail beds. Walking early in the morning before thawing will greatly reduce the need for trail restoration come spring.

Miller starting April 18. A hearing was set last week regarding access to grand jury files and testimony, and for appointment of temporary counsel.

In a separate action, on January 31, 2022, the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists (OBMT) charged Boyle with 13 violations of ORS 687.021

(1) (a) (practicing massage without a license); and one violation of ORS 687.021

(1) (c) (improperly advertising that the person engages in the practice of massage).

Those violations carry a total of $14,000 in civil penalties.

A hearing appealing those charges was underway last week, but Jeff Van Laanen, compliance and licensing manager for OBMT told The Nugget , “The hearing was not completed and has been scheduled for continuance later this month.”

The Nugget is also the place to find interesting stories of people in our community living intentionally and helping to make our community special.

And let’s not forget the opinions of our diverse community members: The Nugget is a place to discover what others are thinking about issues (and a place for you to express your views as well).

• Got thoughtful opinions you’d like to share? Submit a letter to the editor (300 words or less) to editor@nuggetnews.com. Have more to say than that? Discuss a guest editorial with Jim Cornelius.

• Support the businesses that advertise in The Nugget

• Read your Nugget — and discuss the articles that garnered your attention with a friend or neighbor

Defaced STA decals on a local trail marker.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Each week The Nugget delivers hyper-local news coverage of what matters to you and your neighbors...

...local government, land use, forestry, schools, environment, art & music scene, high school sports, business, and more.

Nugget staff (left to right): Leith Easterling, Vicki Curlett, Janice Hoffman, Jess Draper, Jim Cornelius, and Kit Tosello.

LOCAL OPTION: Vote is for continuation of current funding

Continued from page 1

March 1 approved the process to move forward with filing for local option renewal in mid-March. The local option allows for Sisters to grow and maintain unique programs such as IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition), the luthier guitar-building program, and Americana Project. Sisters schools allow a place for students to have a well-rounded education, and relate to their community through the special programs the local option helps fund.

The local option helps support approximately 14 teaching positions.

The District emphasizes that citizens’ taxes will not go up — this is a renewal of the current levy. Local option also funds 10 percent of SSD’s annual operating budget.

According to Scholl, “Even with the 2021 bond and the 2023 local option, Sisters residents pay lower taxes for schools than any other district in Central Oregon.”

In other business, the School Board approved a settlement offer from Juul e-cigarette company. The SSD voted to be a part of a nationwide lawsuit against the e-cigarette company over the risk of vaping to young students. The board authorized Scholl to act on its behalf in working through the process. The litigation and settlement amount are confidential.

Scholl provided an update on enrollment, with numbers being up with 1,160 students as of January.

Scholl highlighted that Sisters schools are still working in partnership with Heart of Oregon to help provide educational services for students in poverty.

According to the SSD website: “Heart of Oregon Corps provides vocational training and continuing education to opportunity youth ages 16-24. Through the WORK, EARN, LEARN model of our five programs, we strive to create pathways out of poverty for youth and encourage their self-sufficiency.”

The SSD has a strong working relationship with Heart of Oregon, helping students get back on an educational pathway after they have strayed from it, coming from tough family or poverty situations.

The District is looking at suggested and required improvements to the new Sisters Elementary School building, but are still on track for a fall of 2024 opening. Scholl is still working with University of Oregon city planning students on the potential use of the old elementary school property.

The Board also approved next year’s school calendar with a two-week spring break and a Tuesday-after-LaborDay start of classes for every grade except kindergarten.

Avalanche is backcountry danger

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Avalanches kill 25-30 persons in the U.S. every year with many more injured each winter, according to the National Avalanche Center. At present the Central Oregon Cascades are at Level 3 risk (Considerable) on a 5-point scale.

So far in the 2022-23 season, there are 14 recorded deaths including the one reported on page 1: seven in Colorado, three in neighboring Washington, all on February 19 at Colchuck Peak near Leavenworth, and one each in Oregon, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming.

Four were skiers, one a snowboarder, five were snowmobiling, three were categorized as snowshoer/climber/ hiker, and one was not classified. For the 2021-22 season the number was 17.

Accidents and loss of life and serious injury can be mitigated by having the right gear, recognizing red flags, and knowing the terrain. However, backcountry skiing is always risky, and even the well-prepared can be caught by circumstances, as was the case

in last week’s fatal incident. When engaged in backcountry activities, plan for the worst case.

Training

Go to avalanche.org and take the online tutorials and/ or watch the demonstration videos. Locally, Three Sisters Backcountry offers avalanche training, with one schedule for March 12-14 subject to availability (info@threesistersbackcountry.com); or take a Level 1 or Level 2 course at Central Oregon Community College.

Know Before You Go is a free basic avalanche awareness presentation aimed at highlighting introductory concepts and tools for traveling in avalanche terrain. From their website:

“Learn about the destructive power of avalanches, safety equipment, how people get in trouble, and the basics of how to avoid them. In line with COAC’s mission of increasing avalanche awareness and safety in Central Oregon, this presentation will provide a good foundation for learning about backcountry travel or is an excellent refresher for more experi -

Gear

Always carry an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use them. Strongly consider riding with an inflatable avalanche airbag pack.

Know the terrain

Avalanches can occur on any slope steeper than 30 degrees, and are most frequent on slopes 35 to 50 degrees. An inclinometer is a wise investment if you’re seriously into backcountry fun.

Listen for the danger sounds, which include cracking or collapsing sounds or drum-like noises. The heavier the snowfall in the preceding day or days, the more unstable the snow.

Avoid cornices and drifts that have been formed by wind. Rapid melting or extended days above the freezing mark can increase avalanche potential.

Don’t go alone

You can’t dig yourself out of an avalanche. Keep separation. Never expose more than one person at a time to slopes prone to avalanche. Don’t expose yourself. Avalanches generally flow into wide,

BIOCHAR: Product can be used to enhance soils

Continued from page 3

After decades suppressing fire, there are many areas of forests in the West that are overgrown, causing more risk for fire in those areas with intensified wildfire seasons. With this huge change in the last 30 years, there is a need for managing burned areas and figuring out what the biomass left over can do for our soils. That’s where biochar comes in.

Biochar is a natural part of our soils; most soils have some biochar, and Sisters Country soils have a lot due to forest fires.

Cool underburns keep the forest healthy by introducing carbon into the soil versus into the atmosphere. Indigenous peoples often used fire to manage their forest homes and used biochar in their soils, making them nutrient rich. Getting biochar back in our soil is a process, according to Wilson.

“Fire burns in stages. The first stage it makes a lot of smoke and gas, and after it dies down its smoldering phase where the charcoal is burning… the second phase is charcoal, which burns totally differently than a bonfire, for example,” said Wilson.

Charcoal burns hot and burns slowly. Biochar is made naturally in a fire if the leftover burning charcoal is put out before it turns to ash.

Charcoal in the soil allows for very fertile soil.

“We need to put the fire back in the forest and put the charcoal back in the forest and soils. It’s key for soil processes,” said Wilson.

Charcoal allows the soil to hang on to water and key elements for microbiomes.

Wilson’s passion for the use of biochar shows through her own home life, where she uses biochar products in the soil of her garden, and grows a lot of her own food. She also works with the International Biochar Initiative, with some of the top soil scientists in the world, to develop the processes for creating biochar.

“[It’s] not only for agriculture but also for climate mitigation; it’s one of the only ways we have to get carbon out of the atmosphere,” said Wilson.

A lot of the work Wilson does with forestry crews is vegetation management, cutting small trees and brush, putting it in piles, and burning it.

“If you put it out with water in the end, you’re left with charcoal. You can just do a better job by putting it out at the end versus letting it burn to ash if you are trying to save the charcoal,” said Wilson.

The workshops Wilson puts on with different organizations, including the workshop at Pine Meadow Ranch, involve teaching two approaches for biochar use.

“One [technique] is making to use for the farm and garden and the other is the forest; we need to give back to the forests, they need some charcoal back,” she said.

Wilson will walk people through how to make biochar for use on farms and in gardens and all the benefits: for livestock, fertile soil, less pollution of waterways, as well as use as a fertilizer by burning products in a burn pile and using the byproduct.

The burn-pile method transforms the material quickly, with a lot of flames that burn the smoke.

“We do a quick, hot burn because it’s a clean burn and it’s quick, as I will highlight in the workshop,” said Wilson.

Wilson has also developed a kiln for biochar creation that she has for sale. It’s a fire-ring kiln made in Oregon.

“It’s been a successful design. It’s a windscreen, sheet steel around your fire, and improves the efficiency of the process of creating biochar,” said Wilson.

The kiln allows for more flame to create more charcoal at the end of a burn.

Wilson has done close to 100 workshops in the last decade demonstrating the use of biochar and its benefit to the environment. There is a growing biochar industry, with scientists working on using biochar on a larger scale, but Wilson focuses on how to use biochar in everyday life — on farms, in your own home, and across the forests of Oregon. She works as a consultant for some big companies and sells her kilns across the country.

The workshop at Pine Meadow Ranch is titled “Burn with Benefits: An Intro to Biochar.”

The first part of the workshop took place on March 2 with an online Zoom discussion and then the in-person workshop at Pine Meadow Ranch on Saturday, March 11 at 10 a.m. To learn more and register visit: https:// schoolofranch.org/w-biochar

?fbclid=IwAR1gtyHRWjLu8ExDnqZ7RMdOmk

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By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service

[It’s] not only for agriculture but also for climate mitigation; it’s one of the only ways we have to get carbon out of the atmosphere.

— Kelpie Wilson

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.

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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.

102 Commercial Rentals MINI STORAGE Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor RV parking. 7-day access. Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies. STORAGE WITH BENEFITS

• 8 x 20 dry box

• Fenced yard, RV & trailers     • In-town, gated, 24-7 Kris@earthwoodhomes.com

103 Residential Rentals

One bedroom with access to kitchen and living area in exchange for light caregiving duties. Duties include but are not limited to: Dressing, emptying catheter, assist with stretches and exercises, cooking, and basic house cleaning. Contact Steve Rollins at 541-549-6213.

PONDEROSA PROPERTIES

–Monthly Rentals Available–Call Debbie at 541-549-2002 Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: PonderosaProperties.com

Printed list at 221 S. Ash, Sisters Ponderosa Properties LLC

Art and Collectibles of the West & More!

"Running Horses" wood sculpture by J. Chester "Skip" Armstrong, live edge wood table, bronzes, saddles, jewelry, art, mounts, Navajo rug, vintage tins & more! Hibid.com Online Auction, now thru March 12. 541-480-2806.

301 Vehicles

2005 Ford Freestyle (Taurus) FWD wagon, well maintained/ garaged, runs great, minor ding, seating for 6 w/mid captains seats, trailer hitch & roof rack bars. $1,800. Call 541-598-5966. We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

403 Pets

FURRY FRIENDS

CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS

Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792

Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com

104 Vacation Rentals

~ Sisters Vacation Rentals ~ Private Central OR vac. rentals, Property Management Services 541-977-9898

www.SistersVacation.com

Downtown Vacation Rental Five star. 1 and 2 bedroom. SistersVacationRentals.net

Great pricing. 503-730-0150

106 Real Estate Wanted

Wanted: A small lot to set up a (1,100 sq. ft. to 1,400 sq. ft.) new manufactured home.

Location: Close to town. Call Shelley 503-351-4767. We are online at nuggetnews.com

201 For Sale

QUALITY HAY FOR SALE

1st and 2nd cutting available. Barn stored, no rain. Call 541-279-5252 or 541-420-1764.

202 Firewood

SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS

DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD

• SINCE 1976 • Doug Fir – Lodgepole – Juniper DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES

– 18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com

Order Online! 541-410-4509

205 Garage & Estate Sales Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions!

Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths?

Locally owned & operated by...

Daiya 541-480-2806

Sharie 541-771-1150

FREE Dog & Cat Food

Located at 412 E. Main Avenue, Suite 4, behind the main Nugget Newspaper office. Weekly pick-up by appointment. Call to schedule 541-797-4023

Helping Sisters families in need to provide for their pets.

Three Rivers Humane Society

Where love finds a home!

1694 SE McTaggart in Madras • A no-kill shelter. Go to ThreeRiversHS.org or call 541-475-6889

Visit SistersOregonGuide.com!

500 Services

SMALL Engine REPAIR

Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers

Sisters Rental

331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

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

• DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279

MOVING TRUCK FOR HIRE

–COMPLETE MOVING, LLC–Sisters' Only Local Moving Co.!

Two exp. men with 25+ years

comm. moving. Refs! ODOT Lic.

Class 1-B • Call 541-678-3332

GEORGE’S SEPTIC

TANK SERVICE

“A Well Maintained

Septic System Protects the Environment” 541-549-2871

501 Computers & Communications Technology Problems?

I can fix them for you. Solving for Business & Home Computers, Tablets, Networking Internet (Starlink), and more!

Jason Williams

Sisters local • 25 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 LAST TOUCH

Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY

Member Better Business Bureau

• Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon

Since 1980

Call 541-549-3008

M & J CARPET CLEANING

Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-owned since 1986. 541-549-9090

504 Handyman

SISTERS HONEYDO

General repairs, interior painting and trim, carpentry, drywall, lighting, and much more-just ask. 25+ yrs. Maint. exp./local refs.

Scott Dady 541-728-4266

JONES UPGRADES LLC

Home Repairs & Remodeling

Drywall, Decks, Pole Barns, Fences, Sheds & more.

Mike Jones, 503-428-1281

Local resident • CCB #201650

600 Tree Service & Forestry

TIMBER STAND

IMPROVEMENT

TREE SERVICES: tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, brush mowing, Firewise compliance.

— Certified Arborist —

Sisters Tree Care, LLC

Tree preservation, Pruning, Removals & Storm Damage

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

541-719-8475

BOOKKEEPING SERVICE

~ Olivia Spencer ~ Expert Local Bookkeeping! Phone: 541-241-4907

www.spencerbookkeeping.com

~ WEDDINGS BY KARLY ~

Twenty+ years of officiating and writing wedding ceremonies.

541-410-4412

revkarly@gmail.com

Nate Goodwin 541-771-4825

Online at: timberstandimprovement.net

CCB#190496

• ISA #PN7987A

LOLO TREE WORKS

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

ISA Certified Arborist

Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com

Call / Text: 503-367-5638

Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com

CCB #240912

Brad Bartholomew ISA Cert. Arborist UT-4454A 503-914-8436

• CCB #218444

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

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

601 Construction

CENIGA'S MASONRY, INC.

Brick • Block • Stone • Pavers CCB #181448 – 541-350-6068

www.CenigasMasonry.com

Pat Burke LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT CCB: 288388 • 541-588-2062

www.sistersfencecompany.com

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

Factory Trained Technicians

Since 1983 • CCB #44054

541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

Earthwood Timberframes

• Design & shop fabrication

• Recycled fir and pine beams

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Sawmill/woodshop services

www.earthwoodhomes.com

Lara’s Construction LLC. CCB#223701

Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call for a free estimate 541-350-3218

Custom Homes • Additions

Residential Building Projects

Serving Sisters area since 1976 Strictly Quality

CCB #16891 • CCB #159020

541-280-9764

John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com

603 Excavation & Trucking

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial

CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977

www.BANR.net

Full Service Excavation

Free On-site Visit & Estimate Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail

.com

541-549-1472 • CCB #76888

Drainfield

• Minor & Major Septic Repair

• All Septic Needs/Design & Install

General Excavation

• Site Preparation

541-390-1206 beavercreeklog@yahoo.com

Log repairs, log railing, log accent, log siding, etc.

CCB #235303 Insurance & Bond

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

All Landscaping Services

Mowing, Thatching, Hauling and SNOW REMOVAL

Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

Sisters Cold Weather Shelter is hiring! We are looking for a year-round, part-time coordinator, starting at $22/hr. Go to sistersshelter.org for a full description. Email cover letter and resume to sisterscoldweather shelter@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Garden Angel is now filling landscape supervisor and maintenance crew member positions. LCB #9583 Inquire at 541-549-2882 or thegardenangel@gmail.com

999 Public Notice CITY OF SISTERS HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION PROJECT

Bids due 2:00 p.m., March 21, 2023 INVITATION TO BID

Custom Homes

Residential Building Projects Concrete Foundations

Becke William Pierce

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

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

• Rock & Stump Removal

• Pond & Driveway Construction

Preparation

• Building Demolition

Trucking

• Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water

• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

• The Whole 9 Yards or 24

Whatever You Want!

ROBINSON & OWEN

Heavy Construction, Inc.

All your excavation needs

*General excavation

*Site Preparation

*Sub-Divisions

*Road Building

*Sewer and Water Systems

*Underground Utilities

*Grading

*Sand-Gravel-Rock

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CCB #124327

541-549-1848

604 Heating & Cooling ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

Retrofit • New Const • Remodel

Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com

Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com

541-549-2345

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

SPOTLESS HOUSEKEEPING

Get a jump on spring cleaning. Experienced, licensed, bonded. We also do windows, wood decks, fences, landscaping, and car detailing. Call Elena for a quote today at 541-588-0675.

802 Help Wanted

Black Butte School District is hiring:

-Facilities & Grounds Specialist

-Family/Community Engagement Coordinator

www.blackbutte.k12.or.us/emplo yment or 541-595-6203

Part Time Sales Associate

We are looking for a person who is friendly, outgoing, and reliable; someone who enjoys working with the public in a team environment. Workdays are Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Applications available at the Stitchin' Post, 311 W. Cascade in Sisters or by email diane.j@stitchinpost.com.

Questions? Contact diane.j@stitchinpost.com.

803 Work Wanted Available in Sisters COMPANION CAREGIVER

Construction & Renovation

Custom Residential Projects

All Phases • CCB #148365

541-420-8448

602 Plumbing & Electric

Ridgeline Electric, LLC

Serving all of Central Oregon

• Residential • Commercial

• Industrial • Service

541-588-3088 • CCB #234821

SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

“Quality and Reliability”

Repairs • Remodeling

• New Construction

• Water Heaters

541-549-4349

Residential and Commercial

Licensed

• Bonded • Insured

CCB #87587

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Electrical Installations LLC

Residential & Light

Commercial • Service

No job too small.

503-509-9353

CCB# 235868

UPLOADED

EVERY TUESDAY!

The Nugget Newspaper

CCB #195556

541-549-6464

605 Painting

~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks

CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620

www.frontier-painting.com

EMPIRE PAINTING

Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining

CCB#180042

541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk

METOLIUS PAINTING LLC

Meticulous, Affordable

Interior & Exterior

541-280-7040 • CCB# 238067

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

– All You Need Maintenance –

Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing.

Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169

Austin • 541-419-5122

J&E Landscaping Maintenance

LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, gutters.

Edgar Cortez

541-610-8982

jandelspcing15@gmail.com

Caregiving needed for a 71-year-old man who recently had a spinal cord injury. Wanting to exchange a bedroom with access to kitchen and living area for light caregiving duties. Duties include but are not limited to: Dressing, emptying catheter, assist with stretches and exercises, cooking, and basic house cleaning. Contact Steve Rollins at 541-549-6213.

Please call or text 503-274-0214 for more information.

Sealed bids for the City of Sisters, Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project, addressed to the City Recorder, City of Sisters, Oregon will be received until 2:00 PM local time at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, P.O. Box 39, Sisters, Oregon, on March 21, 2023 and then publicly opened and read at 2:00 PM at City Hall, in Sisters, Oregon. Bids shall be clearly labeled: Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. Project generally includes tree thinning, full log removal from both parcels, ladder fuel removal, slash piling and burning at the city owned Wastewater Treatment Plant and the city owned Edgington Road Property in Sisters, Oregon. Bid documents, addenda, and notification of bid results for this project may be viewed on the City of Sisters website www.ci.sisters.or.us or printed or ordered on line from Premier Builders Exchange at http://www.plansonfile.com. There will be no Pre-Bid Conference for the Hazardous Fuels Reduction 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) or the bid will not be received or considered.

Sisters Liquor Store is looking for a team-oriented person who can lift 45 lbs., is available for weekends, and who wants to work either part- or full-time.

110 W Cascade Ave.

We are Hiring!

Join our summer camp culture at Lake Creek Lodge.

We're recruiting for: Housekeeping, Baristas, and Kitchen Team. We are proud to offer flexible schedules, excellent compensation & opportunities for onsite housing.

www.lakecreeklodge.com

13375 SW Forest Service Rd.  #1419, Camp Sherman.

LETTERS

Continued from page 2

Even an old-fashioned-looking gas station would be better than what is being shown. See The Nugget, “Space Age expansion approval process,” March 3.

At the end of a prior discussion of the Western Frontier theme, the resulting guideline was to represent a building east of the Cascades in the 1890s. If you need help finding such a building to use as inspiration, you might find help at the local museum or at the Deschutes County Historical Society.

Maggie Hughes

s s s

Living with the Space Age

Like last week’s Nugget, this week’s edition was full of development-related content. But according to the results of Bill Bartlett’s very helpful survey, 80 percent of those polled seem to think that those in Sisters who are managing the town’s growth and development (or not) are doing a lousy job of it, so I reckon this focus isn’t a bad thing.

There was a lot to comment on in all of this information but since the grandiose plans for the enlargement of the Space Age gas station was on page 1, it’s a good place to start.

I have to say, the column-inches devoted to the gasoline price situation made no sense to me, and I’m a pretty fair analyst. So the Space Age has the cheapest gas in town, and yet the other three stations here in town do a very fair amount of business – they’re almost always busy when I’m there, anyway. Why don’t those other stations have this problem with people passing them by in order to fill up somewhere else that’s cheaper? What fraction of the people driving by are doing that? It takes a lot less than a tank of gas to get to Redmond or Bend from the valley and there are lots of places over there to fill up. So the expanded Space Age is just planning to tap more of the Highway 20 traffic just passing through? They’ll install an industrial fueling extravaganza exactly like the ones on I-5 or I-84 and make the entrance to Sisters look like Anywhere, USA, just as the use of gasoline for light vehicles is being phased out. Really?

Goal 2 of the City’s Transportation System Plan is to “Reduce downtown congestion on US20/126 by providing a fully functional alternate transportation route for through traffic and freight carriers.”

The Space Age mega-station owner plans to derive a lot more revenue from through traffic – the very traffic that it is the City’s policy to divert around downtown. So the goals of Mr. Pliska seem to be directly at odds with the City’s goals. Whose goals will win out? In 2019 when the City changed the Development Code to allow this scale of expansion for gas stations, did this conflict occur to them? Will Town Pump decide to do the same thing at the other end of town? I hope not.

Charlie Stephens

Misinformation machine

Once again I take exception to a letter to the editor from one of The Nugget’s most prolific opinion letter writers — this time titled “Vote them out.”

Specifically, I believe it is important for readers of The Nugget to be informed of the source of so much of this writer’s misinformation that is presented as fact. In the March 1 letter, the writer quotes an article from The Epoch Times and then builds a far-right health-care conspiracy around it.

Readers should be aware that Epoch Times is the media outlet of Falun Gong, a right-wing Chinese spiritual group. Epoch Times really started its rise to prominence by deciding to back Donald Trump and a range

of right-wing causes and using Facebook ads extensively to promote him in the 2016 election. To quote the New York Times, “Embracing Mr. Trump and Facebook have made The Epoch Times a partisan powerhouse. But it has also created a global-scale misinformation machine that has repeatedly pushed fringe narratives into the mainstream” (NYT, October 25, 2020). In 2019 Facebook stopped accepting ad spending from Epoch Times

So my point is: When a letter writer quotes a source, it pays to be knowledgeable about that source.

Dennis Tower

Short-term vs. long-term rental

I read in last week’s issue of The Nugget about short-term rentals (STRs) and the impact they have on communities.

I am part of the workforce in Sisters, and have experienced firsthand the shortage of long-term rentals. In October of 2021, I took a job as the sole dental hygienist at Advantage Dental’s Sisters location. I commuted from Redmond to Sisters for work. This began to wear on me, especially when working 10-hour days at the dental office. I hoped to find housing in Sisters, and I almost gave up. I had planned to transfer to my office’s Bend location due to my housing situation, leaving the Sisters office without a hygienist. This nearly devastated my office’s dentist and other coworkers, as well as countless patients. Without a hygienist on staff, many patients wouldn’t be able to have or schedule dental cleanings for the foreseeable future.

At the last minute I happened upon an ADU for rent at a reasonable price, owned by a Sisters family. I jumped at the opportunity, and since October of 2022 I have had the pleasure of living about one mile from my dental office in Sisters, serving my patients, and supporting my coworkers. Without my current landlords deciding to rent the ADU connected to their home as a long-term rental rather than as an STR, Sisters’ Advantage Dental office may still be without a hygienist.

I feel that my story highlights the importance of long-term rentals in a place like Sisters. The community cannot support visitors or residents without stable, long-term housing for the local workforce.

Perhaps Sisters can incentivize long-term rentals through tax breaks or other measures. I know that for myself and many others who live and work in Sisters, life is sweeter when you are able to live here and become a part of the community that you support.

Hailey Schreyer

s s s

Plea for tolerance

To the Editor:

Three recent letters to the editor have addressed the transgender issue.

I’d like to back the conversation up to before the T. Before the T in that other wellknown acronym, LGBTQ+. It used to be in the not-too-distant past that what was desired in this debate was mutual tolerance: civilly coexisting with people with whom you disagreed. But as Bobby Joe Christensen’s letter demonstrated so well last week, toleration is no longer enough. His words: “Do not aim for tolerance, aim for acceptance.”

I think he’s understated his case; the real aim is affirmation, and even celebration.

It is no secret that the Bible plainly condemns homosexuality as sinful, as it does all sexual activity outside of the confines of the marriage of one man and one woman (Romans 1:24-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Christians are not speaking from a high horse here; we, too, by nature are as broken as anyone else. But what we are saying plainly is that

It Would Be My Honor & Privilege To Help With Your Home Search Or Sale R

Rob Overstreet, Broker 541-280-9563 | robert.overstreet@cbrealty.com 291 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6000 | www.cbbain/sisters.com

547 E. JEFFERSON AVE.,

3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,557 sq. ft., home on an oversized lot. Zoned multi-family residential. Pine floors and fireplace add warmth in the main living space. Primary on main with private bath. $699,000. MLS #220159658

67880 CLOVERDALE RD., SISTERS

Sought-after Cloverdale Road property with huge Cascade mountain views. Four bedrooms and 3 baths in 2,430 sq. ft. on 2+ acres. Attached 2-car garage plus 3-bay, 40x60 shop, with 14’ doors, 16’ trusses, and concrete floor Wired for 220. Perfect for motorhome. $1,095,000. MLS #220158641

Jen McCr ystal, Broker 541-420-4347 • jennifer.mccr ystal@cbrealty.com Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6000 | www.cbbain.com/sisters

Recent snows have made for scenic vistas in Sisters Country.

PHOTO BY SUE STRATER

Snow Angel...

SISTERS

affirming sin in any form is very personally and collectively harmful. The teaching of Scripture when it comes to transgenderism and homosexuality is to point to the self-evident facts of creation.

And frankly, if biology and the facts of human anatomy and reproduction are not persuasive on this point, of what use will some Scripture verses be? People are going to do all kinds of crazy things; they have for a long time. My grief in the present moment is the lasting harmful effects in the lives of children subjected to so much craziness.

I get it that folks like Wendie or Bobby won’t agree with me. I am all for a pluralistic society. This isn’t about hate. It is about serious disagreement. I’m making a plea for that antiquated and obsolete virtue of tolerance.

Bob Schilling

s s s

Bigger not always better

To the Editor:

Not everyone has Sisters’ best interest at heart. Unfortunately there are those who view our little town as nothing more than a huge financial opportunity. As a result we’ve recently experienced a boom of growth and development that hasn’t improved our community, its livability, or the natural beauty around us.

CATS (Community Action Team of Sisters) was created 40 years ago in an effort to preserve the character of our small town. We’re committed to livability for residents, and continued prosperity for small businesses. And due to recent, less than desirable, developments, CATS membership has increased to more than 40 members. These are concerned citizens, who care enough to take action in an effort to protect and preserve the integrity of our charming town.

Troubling issues are numerous — including: an absence of affordable housing; overbuilding neighborhoods; unnecessary old-growth tree removal; a flood of vacation STRs; ignored dark-sky ordinances; and most recently, the proposal of an oversized gas station with no regard to our downtown area.

Despite The Nugget’s positive report (March 1) on the proposed Space Age gas station and convenience store, many “overlooked” details should concern us. Naturally, Pliska Investments (who

don’t live in Sisters) wants to paint a happy picture of their “truck-stop-sized” station. After all, they have much to gain — primarily money.

Their artist’s rendition of this super-sized station (not even drawn to scale) doesn’t show how tightly packed-in their structures will be; the crowded parking lot; obnoxious signage and glaring lights; “sneaked” in fast-food providers; increased gas and exhaust emissions... Nor do they mention the traffic-flow problem they’ll create on Cascade Avenue, Pine Street, and Hood Avenue, as a multitude of vehicles enter and exit — thanks to the “lowest” gas prices in town.

And how will our other stations compete—will they be forced to super-size too? And who’s to stop them? According to a KTVZ report, Space Age applied to the City for “remodeling and improvements” in April 2019, but because Cascade Avenue is also a state highway, state laws could’ve been prohibitive. As a result City code changes were made to accommodate Space Age’s request — sending a green light to Pliska Investments Inc. to move forward in full force. Exactly what they have done!

CATS encourages Pliska to be a good neighbor in Sisters by either relocating their super-sized station/ convenience store to a more suitable location — or by sticking to their original remodel/repave plan.

Mark Dickson

For

CATS

s s s

From the schools superintendent

To the Editor:

I wanted to give an update from our March board meeting.

Enrollment continues to be strong, as we have been above 1,160 students as a district for the past two months. We projected enrollment to be at 1,140 this year.

The Sisters School Board voted to put the local option renewal on the May ballot. Our tax rate will not go up, this is a renewal of a levy that has been in place for over 20 years. You might be asking, “Didn’t we just pass a bond?” Yes — Sisters voters renewed a capital bond in 2021 for $1.02 (per $1,000 assessed value) to invest in the construction of a new K-5 elementary school. Capital bond funds can only be used for new facilities and facility improvement expenses.

The funds collected from the local option amount to approximately 10 percent of our annual operating budget. Local option funds can be used for operations expenses and are currently used in a variety of ways to support student learning, including reducing class sizes and counseling services.

With the 2021 bond and the local option, Sisters area residents pay lower taxes for schools than any other district in Central Oregon.

The School Board also approved the 2023-24 school calendar (http://ssd6.org/ files/2023/03/2023-2024-Sisters-School-District-SSD-Board-Approved-3.1.23.pdf) and the District’s Integrated Grant submission to the Oregon Department of Education.

Work continues on the new elementary school. As we enter the spring, you should begin to see the work start to go “vertical,” as much of the subgrade work is being completed in February and March. To view the plans and the most current video of the work on the site visit: http://ssd6.org/ schoolboard/2021bond/.

Sisters School District continues to work with Sister Park & Recreation District as the potential key partner to see how we can optimize the use of the current elementary school for the Sisters Country Community once we move into the new building in 2024.

Curt Scholl Superintendent

for puzzle on page 21

ML S# 22014148 0

1 bed / 1.5 ba / 2,010 sf

SM AL L RA NC H IN MC KE NZI E CANYON

$6 75,000 Rural Acreage

plus more rooms that could be fl ex ibly utilized Covere d entr y porch, re ar pa tio. Loca te d be tw ee n Sisters, Redmond, & Te rrebonne. Sister s or Redmon d Sc hool District

ML S# 220142 810

81.0 2 Acres

81 ACRE S AL ON G INDI AN FORD ROAD

$1,5 00,000 Rural Acreage

Zone d EFUS C. Indi an Ford Cree k traverse s th e proper ty with natural meadow, ponderos a pine, moun tain view s & border s US Na tional Fore st Relatively fl at , mix of fore sted ar ea s, open meadow, we tland & cr eek.

Border s Na tional Forest on sout h boundary & portion of SW boundary Pave d ro ad fronta ge, lo ca te d just minute s from Sister s an d within 35 minute s of th e Redmon d Airpor t. Adja cent parc els are also for sale

ML S# 22015682 0 3 bed / 2 bath / 1,674 sq.f t.

ACRE AG E, VI EW S & PRIVAC Y $799,5 00 Rural / 9.91 Acres

Proper ty adjoins thousands of acre s of National Forest , lo ca te d be tw ee n Sister s & Be nd, Sister s Sc hool District Ex pansiv e composit e deck s provid e a gorgeous entertainin g spac e with view of public land s & Casc ad e ra nge. Junipe r post f encin g for pets four runout s with availabl e move able f encin g. Insulate d 3-ca r garage, concrete floor & elect ricity Ne w privat e well, ne w septic drain fi eld.

ML S# 220142 808

6 Acres / Zoned EFUS C

6 ACRE SINDI AN FORD

$750,000 Rural Acreage

Near Sister s an d Blac k Bu tt e Ranch, this rare se ttin g ha s pave d ro ad access ponderos a pine some natural meadow an d moun tain view s. Gr ea t hors e proper ty ! Near by Na tional Forest of fers mile s of forest trails for riding. It is th e pe rf ect lo ca tion for your Central Oregon retr ea t. Adja cent parc els are available.

ML S# 220150 19 1 79.5 4 Acres / Zoned EFUS C, WA

MOUN TA IN VI EW S & 80 ACRE S! $6 10,000 Rural Acreage

Privat e paradise ! This land gently slopes of fering view s of Fr emon t Canyon Mt Wa shin gton an d Mt Je ff erson. Pond eros a pine tree s dot th e land , which ha s been prof es sionally limbed an d brushe d to reduce fire fu els. Adjoins public land Deer, turkey, an d coyote s will be your neighb or s. Just 7 mile s to th e to wn of Sisters. Pric ed belo w current ta x assessed valu e!