The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVI No. 12 // 2023-03-22

The Nugget News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sign of spring...

Citizens group demanding answers

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

An ad hoc assembly of activists calling themselves CATS — Community Action Team of Sisters — is becoming more vocal in its efforts to call attention to what it perceives as misguided decisions by City officials.

At the March 8 regularly scheduled City Council meeting, CATS’ self-described “unofficial leader,” Mark Dickens, addressed the councilors, and began by telling them he had “unfortunate harsh words” for them.

Four candidates vie for city manager job

The City of Sisters has designated four finalists for the position of City Manager. The community will have an opportunity to participate in small roundtable group conversations with Lynne Casey, Nathan George, Dave Nelson, and Jordan Wheeler on the evening of Monday, March 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Sisters City Hall.

Outlaws No. 1 Jude Parzybok strikes a forehand in tennis action. For tennis coverage, visit www.nuggetnews.com.

“This board has lost the trust of this community,” Dickens said. “I personally

See ANSWERS on page 18

Firefighters climb for a cause

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Lynne Casey presently serves as business operations manager for the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services. She has 15 years of experience in local government management positions with both city and county agencies. Her previous positions include: communication lead,

See MANAGER on page 6

New lodge opening at Black Butte Ranch

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

The Black Butte Ranch (BBR) Lodge has always been the centerpiece for the resort. Built with Black Butte’s pyramid-shaped mountain overhead and Phalarope Lake reflecting the Cascade Range to

the west, the setting has always been awe-inspiring. Keeping the iconic location in mind, architects, designers, and builders worked to surpass the magnificence of the original Lodge by creating a building that is a culmination of design and

See LODGEon page 7

Each year in March, a team of firefighter-athletes from Sisters Country joins a couple thousand of their peers for a grueling climb up the stairway of a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington.

It’s a great way to build and test fitness for a physically demanding job — but more than that, it is an opportunity to serve a cause that is meaningful — sometimes very personally — to those first responders.

A cadre of Sisters and Cloverdale firefighters loaded with more than 60 pounds of gear, and operating breathing apparatus, climbed 69 flights of stairs in Seattle’s Columbia Tower, taking 1,356 steps to cover 788 vertical feet of climb in the 32nd Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stairclimb.

The event is the world’s largest “on-air” stairclimb competition for career, volunteer, or retired firefighters. Competitors commit to raising a minimum of $300 per

person for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Sisters-Camp Sherman

Fire District Deputy Chief Tim Craig told The Nugget, “So far our team has raised a little over $16,000. Our goal was $10,000, so we’ve blown way past that.”

In aggregate, the event has raised millions of dollars into research around blood cancers and to support those who have been

diagnosed and their families. That impact is a motivator for the participants, according to Cloverdale firefighter and Sisters volunteer Travis Bootes, who serves as team captain.

“Some of us have had close encounters with people with cancer, so it hits close to home,” he said.

The event poses a real

See CLIMBING on page 23

Sisters and Cloverdale firefighters trained hard to get in shape for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stairclimb challenge.

PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

OPINION

Keeping Sisters Sisters

City planners did the right thing in kicking the application for an expansion of the Space Age Fuel service station up to Type III status, which means it will be heard by the Sisters Planning Commission.

The planning commissioners should take full advantage of the opportunity to examine whether the application represents the actual intent of code changes enacted in 2019, and to explore what the City of Sisters’ options are in addressing the concerns of a substantial part of its citizenry over the scope of the proposed project.

This action represents a win for the community, and a win for the activists that pushed for answers regarding the process that led to the application. Those activists should be careful not to tarnish their own accomplishment by indulging in inflammatory rhetoric that can only be destructive.

Calling people you seek a dialogue with weak, greedy, and cowardly is unfair, unnecessary, and counterproductive (see story, page 1). Unsupported insinuations of bad faith on the part of volunteers who live in our community and who have stepped up to serve it create rancor that only impedes solutions to very

real problems — problems that communities across the American West are grappling with.

At the same time, elected officials need to make extra effort to be responsive to genuine concerns of their constituents. Sisters’ mayor — and the city manager when one is chosen — must not only return phone calls, they need to proactively engage with the public to make sure that concerned voices are heard, and that the public fully understands the complicated path a municipal government has to walk in working on behalf of diverse and sometimes competing interests and values.

If we are concerned about preserving the character of Sisters, we need to pay attention not only to what gets built, but also to what gets pulled apart if we don’t take care to talk to each other —vigorously but constructively.

Choosing Sisters’ path

By Mark Dickens Community Action Team of Sisters

The plan to super-size the Space Age gas station/convenience store on Cascade is plagued with problems vital issues that deserve public attention. If you care about Sisters’ future, listen up. There are many layers to this story.

Pliska Investment (of Portland) owns 29 Space Age stations, and has targeted Sisters for their new mega-station, consisting of 16 pumps, a huge, brightly lit awning, and a 3,500 squarefoot convenience store (more fast-food). All packed into a corner with existing traffic problems. Vehicles from this station will exit onto Pine Street — already congested with pedestrian, bike, and vehicle traffic. Not a pretty picture.

Sisters Development Code to update certain review procedures; allow for service stations in the downtown commercial district with special provisions; modify lot standards and uses in certain zones; increase the allowance for administrative variances; and make other changes.

It’s interesting to note the Sisters Development Code, a plan to protect and preserve livability in Sisters (created with much time and careful thought) was hot off the press in 2019. But already, the Planning Commission had cast it aside. Not only did they green-light Pliska Investments to proceed with a gas station rebuild, they opened the door to “modify lot standards” resulting in packed-in housing developments.

Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

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.

Education or indoctrination?

To the Editor:

Many of us are concerned by what we see and hear being promoted by the public school system in our country. Ideologies that are contrary to reality have been with us for many years, but they have increased until we’ve reached this crescendo of confusion that is present in our institutions today. Unfortunately, our governmental agencies

and the media supports what academia feeds them. Ideologies that cannot be supported by science are presented over and over again as fact. If you say something long enough and loud enough, even if it’s not true, people start to believe it.

In 1859 Charles Darwin published his book called “On the Origin of the Species.” It was his theory in explanation of creation. For

See LETTERS on page 12

Sisters Weather Forecast

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC

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

Is this mega-station how we want to welcome visitors into our charming Westernthemed town? Does it even make sense? Besides dollars and cents straight to Pliska. They do plan to sell a high volume of low-priced gas, and undercut all of Deschutes County. That’s a lot of gas fumes, and traffic for our small town. But that’s just one layer of the story.

Our research (KTVZ News21) reveals that Pliska made known to the City their interest in investing in $750,000 worth of “improvements” for a remodel and repaving in 2019. Their purpose: “to enhance the appearance.” A facelift seemed a good idea, but there was a problem.

According to the existing City code: “Gas stations in downtown Sisters were considered a non-conforming conditional use.” Interesting. The code in compliance with ODOT read: “No gas stations were allowed to be rebuilt, remodeled or expanded.” The only reason we already had stations was because they’d been in place before that code was written.

So, to accommodate Pliska’s request to give Space Age needed improvements, our Planning Commission would have to change the code. In a relatively short amount of time (three months) the code was quietly changed. We say “quietly” because there was little if any media coverage. Was the hush intentional?

We now know the Planning Commission (unelected officials with Sisters’ future in their hands) created a major city code change in the summer of 2019.

Ordinance No. 497: An ordinance amending the

Our newly amended ordinance also removed owner occupancy requirements for ADUs, which means vacation rentals, owned by outof-towners, would usurp affordable housing for our working class. Their ordinance verbiage also left the door wide open with: “and make other changes.” Fiftyfour pages worth of changes that helped launch Sisters into our biggest building boom ever (during COVID shutdown). Amazingly, our City Council voted to pass this bulky amendment. Did they read it? Did they understand the long-term ramifications?

Interestingly, some of our planning commissioners and our mayor (eagerly pushing the 497 amendment and over-development) were financially entangled in the real estate and building industry. Conflict of interest? But back to Pliska and Space Age. Despite the 2019 code change (the goahead to improve their station) Pliska changed plans. A bait and switch? Instead of the original facelift they’d requested, they prepared to exploit this amended ordinance for their benefit. Why not create the biggest gasstation/convenience store in Deschutes County? What a perfect location — right on the highway after 50 miles of no gas stations to the west. They knew ODOT wouldn’t approve, but thanks to the City’s revised ordinance, the welcome mat was rolled out. Not just for Space Age, either. Thanks to ordinance 497, the City has laid us open for more fast-food franchises, big-box stores, and other outside opportunists just waiting in the wings. Is this the direction our town should be heading?

COMMUNITY

USFS shares work and future plans

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

The Sisters Ranger District, led by District Ranger Ian Reid, was on full display at the Sisters Fire Community Room last Wednesday before a crowd of 70 people who came to hear what the district accomplished in 2022 and what the plans are for 2023.

Reid began the evening by quoting the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Gifford Pinchot who said, “A public servant is there to serve the public, not run them.” Reid and his staff take that philosophy to heart.

The district staff shared

Volunteers providing services

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

The Community Leadership team is working with the City of Sisters, Sisters Ranger District, houseless representatives, volunteers, NeighborImpact, and YouthBuild to provide two weekly services to those living in the forest.

In October, the team began a garbage collection service every Wednesday in the woods off North Pine Street. Jeremy Fields of the U.S. Forest Service, and the team makes the first contact with campers to notify them of the service.

Bonnie Rose of the team told The Nugget, “Jeremy Fields, Forest Service employee, is truly a hero in

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

Mon., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 541- 610-73 83

Alcoholics Anonymous

his concern for the forest, the city, and the houseless in the forest. We would not be able to do any of what we’re proposing without his and the Forest Service’s collaboration.”

Fields is hopeful that the Sisters program can serve as a model for other ranger districts.

The City of Sisters provides large heavy-duty garbage bags to be delivered when the weekly garbage pickup occurs. Volunteers from the team, in their own pickup trucks, pull a 3.5cubic-yard trailer provided by the Sisters USFS office through the woods to about 20 campsites dispersed throughout the forest. In about two hours, the trailer is full and returned to the

Ranger District office, where the bags of garbage are offloaded into their dumpster. And the campers have new bags for next week’s garbage.

About a month ago, water delivery to the campsites began on Fridays. Students from YouthBuild and one of their teachers in a Youth- Build truck go with a team driver to make water deliveries. The potable water containers were purchased by the team with funds provided by NeighborImpact. The water is provided by the City of Sisters.

David Fox of Deschutes County Behavioral Health, who is assigned to Sisters, works with the houseless

highlights of last year’s projects, including vegetation management completed on 250 acres at Suttle Lake as well as the CCC shelter restoration at Cinder Beach on Suttle Lake.

Working with Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Heart of Oregon Corps, they completed a swamp restoration project on lower Black Butte Ranch that will hopefully bring beavers back to that habitat.

Other activities included management of the Fly Creek and Big Canyon fires near Lake Billy Chinook, which

2000 graduate running for school board

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Hilary Saunders is running for the Sisters School Board in the upcoming May election.

Saunders has a longtime connection to Sisters and its schools. She went through all three schools as a student and graduated in the class of 2000 — a class of 78 students. Saunders swam competitively in high school. Her mother, Isolde Hedemark, taught at the schools, so Saunders has always been connected to the Sisters School District (SSD),

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wed. (September-June), Stitchin’

Post All are welc ome. 541- 549- 60 61

Go Fi sh Fishing Group 3rd Monday

7 p.m., Sisters Communit y Church

541-771-2211

Thursday, 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transf iguration / Saturday, 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transf iguration / Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Big Book study, Tuesday, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Gentlemen’s meeting, Wednesday, 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Sober Sisters Women’s meet ing, Thur sday, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fr iday, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 541- 54 8- 04 40

Central Oregon Fly Tyer s Guild

For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om

Ci tizens4Communit y Let’s Talk

3rd Monday, 6 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP at citizens 4c ommunity.c om

Council on Aging of Central Oregon

Senior Lunch In -person communit y dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab -

and- go lunch Tues Wed. Thurs. 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters Communit y Church 541- 48 0-18 43

Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s)

2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sisters

Communit y Church Materials provided 541- 40 8- 8505

Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1

to 4 p.m. 541- 668 -1755

Milita ry Parent s of Sister s Meetings are held quar terly; please call for details. 541- 38 8- 9013

Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys,

11:3 0 a.m., Takoda’s Rest aurant.

541- 549- 64 69

SAGE (S enior Ac tivities , Gatherings & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation District 541- 549-20 91

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4t h Saturday, 10 a.m., meet ing by Zoom.

503- 93 0- 6158

Sisters Area Photography Club

2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters

Communit y Church 541- 549- 6157

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

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:3 0 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Support Group 3rd Tues 10:3 0 a.m., Sisters Episcopal Church 541-719- 0031

Sisters Cribbage Club Meets 10 a.m. ever y Wed. at SPRD 50 9- 947- 5744

Sisters Garden Club For mont hly meetings visit: SistersGardenClu b.com.

Sisters Habitat for Humani ty Board of Director s 4t h Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location information: 541- 549-1193

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

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Saloon. 541- 48 0- 59 94

Sisters Red Ha ts 1st Fr iday. For location information, please call: 541- 84 8-1970

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-76 0- 5645

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 541- 419-1279

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

Sisters Trails Alliance Board Meetings take plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In -person or zoom. Cont act: info@sisterstrails.org

Three Sister s Irrigation District Board of Director s Meets 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Of fice 541- 549- 8815

VF W Post 8138 and American Legion Po st 86 1st Wednesday of the mont h, 6:30 p.m., Main Church

Building Sisters Communit y Church 847- 344- 0498

Sisters Area Woodworker s Held the first Tuesday of the mont h 7 to 9 p.m. Call 541-231-18 97

SCHOOLS

Black Bu tt e School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541- 59 5- 6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wednesday mont hly, Sisters School District Administration Building. See schedule online at www.ssd 6.org. 541- 549- 8521 x5 002.

which is why she wants to be on the school board.

“It all stems from my experience in the SSD; it’s almost like a relationship, the experience is like a good relationship or family member,” she said.

Saunders is still very close with several of the people she graduated with, highlighting the connections made in a small graduating class and how lasting friendships are made when going to school in the SSD.

“Providing all the

CITY & PARKS

Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters

City Hall. 541- 549- 6022

Sisters Park & Recreation District

Board of Director s 2nd & 4t h Tues., 4:30 p.m. SPRD bldg. 541- 549-20 91

Sisters Planning Commission

3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541- 549- 6022

FIRE & POLICE

Black Bu tt e Ranch Po lice Dept. Board of Director s Meets mont hly. 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date

Black Bu tt e Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 541- 59 5-2288

Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors

3rd Wed. 5:30 p.m., 6743 3 Cloverdale Rd. 541- 54 8- 4815 cloverdalefire.c om

Sister s- Camp Sherman RFPD Board of Director s 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541- 549- 0771

Sister s- Camp Sherman RFPD Drills

Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 541- 549- 0771

This listing is for regular Sisters Countr y meetings; email information to nugget @nuggetnews.com.

PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD

Community Leadership team volunteer Mike Deal loads sacks of garbage into a trailer provided by the U.S. Forest Service during weekly Wednesday pickup in the forest near Sisters.

Sisters’ new music festival Big Ponderoo has revealed the June event’s full lineup, along with the official 2023 poster image.

The brand-new music festival will take place June 24-25, with bluegrass and Americana music on two stages in Sisters — Sisters Art Works and the lawn at the Three Creeks Brewing production facility.

The Lone Bellow, The Lil’ Smokies, Dustbowl Revival, The Last Revel, and regional bands Honey Don’t and Skillethead join the previously announced lineup, which 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.

The Nashville-based trio The Lone Bellow is known for their transcendent harmonies, serious musicianship, and raucous live performance, creating what NPR calls “earnest and magnetic folk-pop built to shake the rafters.” With earthy harmonies and songwriting as provocative as it is honest, the trio — made up of Brian Elmquist, lead vocalist Zach Williams, and multi-instrumentalist Kanene Donehey Pipkin — creates sparks that bring our sense of childlike wonder roaring back.

Blending virtuosic instrumental acrobatics with riveting lyrical craftsmanship, The Lil’ Smokies have earned a reputation as one of the most electrifying acts in modern American roots music thanks to their exhilarating live show and critically acclaimed studio output. Since forming on the streets of Missoula, Montana, the band has performed everywhere — from Red Rocks to The Rialto — and captivated festival audiences at Telluride, High Sierra, LOCKN’, Freshgrass,

FloydFest, and countless more.

After celebrating over a decade of sonic adventuring and playing thousands of shows together in ten countries and counting, Dustbowl Revival has collected a devoted fanbase coast-tocoast. The group has always been about pushing the boundaries of what American roots music can be. The sixpiece band is known for their joyful, booty-shaking soul songs and cut-to-heart folk-rock ballads that lift up their transcendent live shows.

Following a five-year hiatus, The Last Revel has reunited to produce new music with a revitalized appreciation for camaraderie and creativity. The trio utilizes their multi-instrumental abilities to bring the full spectrum of modern Americana to life with lush arrangements of three-part vocal harmonies, acoustic and electric guitars, upright bass, fiddle, and five-string banjo to consistently support impassioned performances of their honest and heartfelt songwriting.

Bringing a measured blend of folk, bluegrass, and old-time swing, Bend-based band Honey Don’t perform country-influenced tunes that draw you in and make you want to dance and sing along

to their fantastic vocal and instrumental performances.

Setting roots in the high and dry Central Oregon desert, Skillethead calls forth the best of bluegrass, old and new. They ground themselves firmly in the bluegrass traditions of driving fiddle tunes, layered harmonies, and single mics, all the while weaving in inspiration and originality gleaned from genres far and wide.

The inaugural Big Ponderoo poster artwork was created by artist and musician Austin Quattlebaum and features a “party-pine” filled with funky forest creatures set in front of the idyllic Mt. Jefferson Wilderness and the Metolius river.

Two-day tickets are available at advanced pricing of $175/ticket for adults and $70/ticket for youth ages 17 and under. Single-day tickets will be available for purchase on Wednesday, March 22 at 10 a.m. after the performance schedule is released. Saturday-only tickets are $100/adults and $45/youth, and Sunday-only tickets are $90/adults and $40/youth. Children under 5 attend for free. Tickets are available at www.aftontickets.com/ BigPonderoo.

Those interested in volunteering for a ticket can signup for shifts starting March 22. Volunteers working a

more

information visit www. bigponderoo.com/volunteer.

Fourth Friday Artwalk a spring opening

By Helen Schmidling Correspondent

Sisters Arts Association welcomes you to the official start of the 2023 Fourth Friday Artwalks. The March 24 Artwalk will have a lot in store for you, including new and returning artists, group shows, and the return of Quick Draw.

Stitchin’ Post is presenting “Stitching – A Show of Hands,” featuring student work created in a 2022 workshop by beloved instructor Rosalie Dace. There will also be hand-stitched items made by Central Oregon artists as they explore depictions of hands through time.

Clearwater Gallery at The Open Door recently changed its name to The Rickards Gallery, and will be featuring work by impressionist painter Garth Williams. One of the gallery’s favorite artists, Williams loves the outdoors and fly-fishing, so he often translates his experiences to canvas. His personal concept weaves shapes and colors together until the image appears. His palette knife technique results in dramatic landscapes, especially those

with aspens. His new pieces will be revealed from 4 to 6 p.m. when wine and light appetizers will be served.

Sisters Gallery & Frame welcomes a new artist, Sloane Earl, and her father, Brad Earl, a gallery favorite, to this month’s Artwalk. Sloane Earl is a traditionally trained illustrator who recently started to create oil paintings. Most of her work centers on magic and whimsy, but this time she has created something special with a cowboy soul. Sloane lives in the woods north of Sisters with her partner and

her dog. Brad Earl is a prolific acrylic artist with a great love of depicting local landmarks. This month he is getting the jump on camping season, farm tractors, vintage vehicles, and dreams of what awaits when the weather warms up.

Wildflower Studio welcomes spring with artwork from Kelly Rae Roberts and Megan Marie Meyers. Both artists inspire a positive and adventuresome spirit through words and images. New products are also available from Aster Raine Skin Care, Roughcut Soap Co., and Triumph Outpost Leather. Stop by for wine, light appetizers, and conversation.

Raven Makes Gallery owners just returned from a gathering tour of indigenous artists throughout the North and Southwest, from Arizona and New Mexico to Alaska. They will be displaying new art by some of the most collected artists as well as some who are new to the gallery. They will be open during normal business hours but not for the evening portion of Artwalk.

Toriizaka Art is currently on a gathering tour as well and will rejoin the Artwalk in April.

Campbell Gallery features work by the artist Lois Pendleton. She never really felt entitled to call herself an artist until her high school principal welcomed her to a class reunion by saying “Oh! It’s Lois, the artist!” That recognition enabled her to embrace her love of making art as part of her life’s journey. That journey has led her to experiment with many forms of

art including encaustic, fiber, paper collage, acrylic paint, and glass mosaic.

She says, “I don’t have to be a master of one; I can be a lifelong student of all of them. I like to color outside the lines.”

This show is inspired by nature and the artist’s recent travels to Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Pyrenees in Spain, and magical Morocco.

Hood Avenue Art hosts the Central Oregon Watercolor

Society of Oregon (WSO) Show, through April 25. This juried show features a wide variety of watercolors that demonstrate a sensory trip of color and techniques. The WSO is one of the country’s premiere watercolor societies. There will be art, appetizers, and music from 4 to 7 p.m. Quick Draw encourages visits to more than one gallery during the Artwalk. Fill out a blank ticket at each gallery on Friday, for a chance to win one of two $50 gift certificates that can be used toward a purchase at any of the participating galleries.

The Quick Draw is supported by a generous donation from Coldwell Banker Bain Realty in Sisters, which will also be open during the Artwalk. Please take the time to fill out each ticket completely. This shows your support for Sisters Arts Association and its member galleries. (SAA does not sell your info, but uses the numbers of visitors as a measure of the importance of The Arts in the vitality of our community!)

“The Fillup” by Brad Earl is from a new collection of Americana paintings featured at Sisters Gallery & Frame.

PHOTO PROVIDED

“Rooted Traditions” by Lois Pendleton from a new collection of works at Campbell Gallery inside Sisters Art Works.

PHOTO PROVIDED

“Show of Hands,” a fiber art collection from a workshop by Rosalie Dace at Stitchin’ Post.

PHOTO PROVIDED

“The Jewel” by Steve Rothert from the WSO exhibit at Hood Avenue Art.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Building an Outlaws tennis program

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Last year the boys tennis team only had four players on their roster, and this year they are up to nine.

New Coach David Rowell has hopes for the future of boys tennis, and plans to add players to the roster and build the program into one that will be competitive in league play.

The Outlaws return only two to the varsity squad this year, seniors Matthew Riehle and Zenus Ortega.

Riehle is a team captain who is tall and aggressive at the net and has a killer overhead shot. He is a leader on the team and will start at the No. 1 doubles spot with Dylan Rundle (junior) who is new to the team this year.

Ortega will play at the No. 3 singles spot. He has a powerful serve and is quick on the court. Coach Rowell will mix up the lineup throughout the season, and at times Ortega will partner with Riehle at No. 1 doubles.

Along with Rundle, several other players join the Outlaws for the first time, including junior Timber Bionda, sophomore Jude Parzyboc, and freshmen Dominic Pulver, Chris Roach, Mason Dahl, and Toban Bionda.

Dahl and Roach are slated to start as No. 2 doubles partners. Both are new to the sport and will work on fundamentals and working as a team. Brothers Timber and Toban are also first-year players and will play No. 3 doubles.

Rowell said, “As a new coach in the league I will need to learn our opponents’ strengths and how we match up against them, and will be trying different lineups throughout the season. For more tennis coverage visit www.nuggetnews.com.

MANAGER: Public can meet candidates on March 27

Continued from page 1

City of Portland Office of Management of Finance; program development specialist with the Multnomah County Library; project coordinator for David Heil & Associates; performance improvement specialist for LouisianaPacific Corp; and director of communications for the March of Dimes.

Casey holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Lewis and Clark College.

“I’m honored to have been selected as a finalist for the city manager position,” she said. “Sisters is one of my favorite small Oregon cities, and I’m excited about the opportunity to join the community and be a part of shaping its future.”

Nathan George currently serves as the city manager for the city of Tillamook, and has 12 years of experience in local government management positions. He previously held the positions of budget analyst in the Arizona Department of Transportation, payroll manager for Multnomah County, and deputy controller and deputy town manager for the city of Fishers, Indiana. Earlier, he served as assistant and interim city manager for the city of Emporia,

Virginia.

George holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brigham Young University.

“I am pleased to be chosen as a candidate for the Sisters City Manager position,” he said. “I look forward to meeting the team of employees, city council, and community in person.”

Dave Nelson is presently the property/casualty trust director for Citycounty Insurance Services (OR) and has 23 years of local government management experience. He previously held the positions of the city administrator, chief of police, and police lieutenant for the city of Troutdale. In addition, he served as patrol sergeant and patrol deputy for the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, and earlier as a police officer for the city of Tillamook.

Nelson holds an MBA from Marylhurst University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Warner Pacific College.

“As a finalist for the position of city manager for the city of Sisters, I am excited about this opportunity to work with the community, Council, and staff to complete the work in process and help guide the City to meet the Council goals in the future,” he said.

Jordan Wheeler is city

WE’RE HIRING!

manager for the city of Sandy, and has eight years experience in local government management. Previous to his current position, Wheeler served as deputy city manager, assistant to the city manager, and management analyst for the city of Lake Oswego. Earlier, he held the position of small business assistant/advocate in the Portland Development Commission.

Wheeler holds a master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University, and bachelors’ degrees in political science

and history from the University of Washington.

“Sisters is a special and unique community, and I’m excited to be a finalist,” he said. “I’m looking forward to meeting with the Council, community, and staff to hear more about their vision for Sisters and how we could work together to achieve it.”

Sisters City Hall is located at 520 E. Cascade Ave. Contact Emily Rehder at Jensen Strategies (emily@ jensenstrategies.com) for language or accessibility accommodations.

s

Reservations: 541-610-6323

Nathan George.

Lynne Casey.

Dave Nelson.

Jordan Wheeler.

Continued from page 1

function.

Even with power tools humming and hammers pounding as The Nugget toured the building while under construction, it’s easy to see that BBR homeowners have achieved their goals for the multimillion-dollar project, building a welcoming, comfortable, innovative, and accessible place for guests and homeowners to enjoy.

The Lodge is receiving its certificate of occupancy this month, and will also host trainings and some events in March.

“We are looking to be open for business May 1, with a Grand Opening slated for Memorial Day Weekend,” said Director of BBR Marketing and Sales Kim Kohn.

The darkened exterior of the Lodge and some of the interior walls was achieved through an ancient Japanese technique called Shou Sugi Ban, in which the wood is heat-treated with an open flame. The result is both beautiful and practical. Maintenance costs are minimized via the waterproofing, and pest and fire resistance inherent in the technique.

Most of the lumber comes pretreated, but some elements had to be treated in place. Acting General Manager Shawn McCance laughed when he recalled the first time he saw workers with flames treating the wood.

“I was in my trailer when they were setting the building on fire, and I thought

you’ve got to be kidding me! I learned later they had to get to a certain depth to seal the walls properly. Eventually, I had a good laugh about it,” said McCance.

The demolition process on the old Lodge, which began last summer, took longer than expected due in part to BBR staff’s attempts to save as many old-growth ponderosa pines as possible. After consultations with an arborist, it was finally decided that one of the two 265-year-old trees closest to the building had to be taken down. The painful decision to remove the tree had a happy note when the lumber was integrated into the new building.

“We slowed down during the demolition process because we were trying to save the ponderosa pine tree. That took a while because it was complicated and emotional. We were able to transform the wood into handcrafted benches in the dining area, interior doors in the vestibule, and tabletops,” said McCance.

The whole building capitalizes on floor-to-ceiling views. There’s 5,000 square feet of glass throughout the lodge. Out on the deck, when the weather is nice, there will be tables and chairs and a fire pit with food service. Propane heaters and umbrellas will be ready to keep guests comfortable.

“You can pick your dining experience; one side won’t have the bar element, the other side will. So, you can choose a preference,” said McCance.

An iconic art piece that will remain in the lodge is the galloping herd of horses captured by worldrenowned woodworker Skip Armstrong. It wasn’t easy

getting the incredibly heavy piece back on the wall, but it’s now hanging upstairs in the Aspen Lounge.

One magnificent new feature in the building will wow guests on both levels of the Lodge. A fireplace with intricate rockwork is 52 feet tall. The craftmanship required to install the two-story fireplace and apply thousands of stones to the exterior is obvious.

“We had an entire concrete crew on this for over three months, just for the base,” said David Martin, who is the project superintendent for the building contractor, Kirby Nagelhout Construction. “The fireplace had six guys on it for over a month placing the stones. It’s 42 feet tall, not including seven feet to the basement and three feet below that.”

McCance said the striations of rock remind him of natural rock formations around Lake Billy Chinook.

Finding the right design and décor team for the project was important to homeowners as well as McCance and Kohn. Hacker Architects out of Portland brought a sense of modern design coupled with a celebration of the Lodge’s history on the site. Jenny Fowler, an interior designer with Hacker, said the geometry of the design as well as linear wood throughout was intentionally softened by adding design elements like radius corners in the Aspen Lounge.

The kitchen size was doubled to 5,400 feet. The expansion will benefit diners and food service staff alike, with amenities that make

their jobs easier.

“We’ve never been able to do dinner and bar service for the homeowners, and our a la carte guests without impacting each other. Now we have two different spaces that can function simultaneously,” said McCance “We’ve had conversations about having a chef’s table in there for special events and having culinary teaching. Our new executive chef, Don McCradic from Bandon Dunes, came on board late last year. He’s designing menus that have us

all intrigued.”

Diners will benefit from additional indoor/outdoor dining options.

“The new design really expands what you can do,” said Kohn. “Everyone can enjoy the Lodge, whether they’re homeowners, locals, or guests. It’s a space to relax after work with a mocktail, beer, or glass of wine. It’s a place for everyone to enjoy for weddings, events, meetings, reunions… you name it. We’re in the business of making memories.”

David Martin, Kim Kohn, and Shawn McCance proudly showed the expansive new BBR Lodge to a Nugget reporter.

PHOTO BY KATY YODER

Obituary

Harry Thomas “Tom” Davis, Jr.

Harry Thomas “Tom” Davis, Jr. passed away on March 2, 2023 due to complications from Parkinson’s.

Tom was born to Rubye Boswell and Harry Thomas Davis in Louisville, Kentucky on May 16, 1939. He graduated from DuPont Manual High School in Louisville in 1957 and went on to the University of Kentucky and received a BS in civil engineering in 1961. He married Gay Goodpastor in 1959.

Their son Michael was born in 1961.

After college the family moved to Denver, Colorado and then to Dillon, Montana, where Tom worked for the Bureau of Reclamation designing dams. He then entered the University of Idaho’s master’s program and received an MS in civil engineering with an emphasis on water resources. He often said he changed the focus of his career from building dams that impede water flow to a career that would help conserve water resources, including fish and wildlife habitat.

After obtaining his degree the family moved to Boise, Idaho where he took a position with the Idaho Water Resources Council and subsequently became the Wild and Scenic Rivers coordinator under Governor Cecil Andrus.

Daughter Linda was born in Boise in 1967.

Late in the 1960s Tom

CORRECTION

In the story “Photo safari inspires fundraiser, ( The Nugget March 14, page 8, the community-based organization Enduata Emaa was designated incorrectly. The website for the organization is Enduataemaacbo.com.

became involved with the preservation of wilderness in Idaho, especially what is now the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness, the largest preserved wilderness in the lower 48 states. He was a founding member of the Idaho Environmental Council and the Idaho Conservation League, and spearheaded the formation of the River of No Return Wilderness Council. He advocated for the establishment of other wilderness areas and for wild and scenic river designations.

In 1972 Tom joined the Ada Council of Governments in Boise to coordinate the development of sewer and water master plans for the county’s communities. He also worked on a number of county environmental issues such as erosion control in the Boise foothills and protecting the feeding grounds along the Snake River for birds of prey.

In 1974 he married Linda Tilson Lund, who brought with her daughter

Kristin from a previous marriage. About the same time he joined James M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers specializing in water quality and storm water management projects. In 1976 their son Nathaniel was born in Boise.

In late 1978 the family moved to Beaverton, Oregon and Tom remained with Montgomery Engineers until the early 1980s. Over the next decade he worked in a variety of engineering positions, including the City of Portland’s Environmental Services Bureau heading up their storm water management program. He retired from W&H Pacific Engineers in Beaverton in 1999. Upon retirement he and Linda moved to Sisters.

After retiring Tom became involved in water and environmental causes and organizations such as the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and the Steens Mountain Advisory Committee. He and Linda were strong advocates for establishing the Metolius River Basin as an Area of Statewide Concern under Oregon land-use law.

Tom loved the outdoors,

especially wilderness backpacking, hiking, river rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The family enjoyed countless trips to remote areas of the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and Alaska as well as the Southwest and areas close to home including the Oregon Coast.

All these adventures included photography, one of Tom’s great passions. He took thousands of photos of the places they visited. He entered many shows and exhibits earning numerous awards. Visits with family almost always involved photo and video sessions. He

was a founding member of the Sisters Area Photography Club and also taught classes in digital photography at Central Oregon Community College.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Rubye, and his wife, Linda.

Survivors include children Michael (Julie) Davis of Marysville, WA; Linda (Don) Bowman of Grand Junction, CO; Kristin (Tom) Koontz of Tacoma, WA; and Nathaniel Davis of Kooskia, ID. Grandchildren Timothy (Amber) Davis of Dracut, MA; Lisa (Rudy) Franco of Arlington, WA; Jennifer (Nate) Taylor of Boise, ID; Beth Bowman of Denver, CO; Ari Koontz of Providence, RI; Rosemary Koontz of Columbus, OH; Acacia Blyth of Papaaloa HI; and Oskar Koontz of Tacoma, WA. And greatgrandchildren Clara, Gordon, Maya, Gemma, and Ryan.

The family would like to thank all the loving support received during Tom’s transition. A celebration of life will be in Idaho, most likely in August. Inquiries can be made at 208-717-1199.

Boys basketball names four to All-League teams

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws had four players earn All-League honors, including Mehkye Froehlich, Kale Gardner, Adam Maddox-Castle, and Jessey Murillo.

Froehlich (senior) was a First Team All-League selection and had an outstanding season for the Outlaws. Mehkye led the Outlaws with 31 steals this season, which was almost double the next player. He also led the team in scoring (10.8 points per game) during league play, including a 22-point performance against La Pine at home on senior night. Froehlich also recorded 35 rebounds during league play.

Coach Chad Rush said, “Mehkye was a differencemaker for us in many games this season. His athleticism and uncanny feel for the game made him an invaluable member of our team and our success this year. Mehkye stepped up his commitment and work ethic this season and it paid off by being selected to the First Team.”

Sophomore Kale Gardner earned Second Team AllLeague honors. Gardner took over the role of point guard and floor general for the Outlaws as a first-time varsity player. Gardner led the team in free-throw attempts (42), twice as much as the next player. He averaged 7.9 points per game, and recorded 14 steals and 40 rebounds in league play. Gardner hit the game-tying three-point shot against Creswell, which sent the game into overtime, and then hit the game-winning layup in overtime to give the Outlaws the upset victory over champion Bulldogs.

“Kale is a fierce competitor that will do whatever it takes to win,” said Rush. “His nature is to get things going for his teammates, but if the time arises, he is ready and willing to make things happen.”

Maddox-Castle and Murillo (seniors) were both

Honorable Mention picks.

Maddox-Castle averaged 5.7 points per game, recorded 46 rebounds and 17 steals in league play.

“Adam was our team’s glue guy,” said Rush. “I often referred to him as being our team’s Draymond Green. He is our defensive stalwart, leads this team with his actions and effort, and scores when needed. Adam guarded every position for us (1-5) this season depending on who the opponent’s best player was. He gladly accepted the challenge each and every night. We definitely would not have had the season we had without him and his nightly contributions to the little things.”

Murillo averaged 4.6 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game, and was another one of the Outlaws’ senior warriors this year.

“Jessey was often outsized in the opponent he was guarding, but never backed down from the challenge,” said Rush. “Despite this, he led our team in rebounding for the season. Jessey has a great eye to see what is happening during the game and oftentimes will make suggestions to the coaching staff about what he is seeing. Jessey missed three games with an ankle sprain, but remained engaged and involved with the team and the players. His hustle, intensity, and effort will be sorely missed next season.”

Maddox-Castle was named to the Defensive AllLeague team, and Coach Rush marked the honor.

“As I noted earlier, Adam was our defensive stalwart, guarding any position that was needed for the team,” said Rush. “In recognition for that, Adam was placed on the League’s All-Defensive team this season. Adam received many high compliments from coaches about his defensive ability and how it changed games at key times. I am very proud of Adam for being selected for this team as it is well-deserving.”

VOLUNTEERS: Work aids houseless in Sisters

Continued from page 3

population to connect them to needed services.

An anonymous donor has provided a portable bathroom, but it may have to be discontinued because truckers and other drivers passing by are stopping to use it. It must be located close to Highway 20 so it can be serviced.

Those interested in helping the 15 or so current volunteers may contact Danna McNeese at danna1mc neese@gmail.com.

Heavy traffic...

Sisters Rodeo to unveil 2023 poster

The Sisters Rodeo will pop the champagne to celebrate the unveiling of the 2023 Sisters Rodeo poster on Friday, March 31, at 5 p.m. at Dixie’s in Sisters.

Each year, the poster focuses on a signature rodeo event. The subject of this year’s poster is the wild horse race.

Poster artist Dyrk Godby will be on hand for the event. Godby is renowned for his painting, leather work, and

music, all coming from his authentic background in the Western way of life.

The Sisters Rodeo kicks off on Wednesday, June 7 with the PRCA XTreme Bulls event.

Rodeo performances in what is known as The Biggest Little Show in the World run Friday-Sunday, June 9-11.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://sistersrodeo.com.

Vehicle traffic isn’t the only thing folks need to watch out for in downtown Sisters.

PHOTO BY SARAH HAAVIND

Sisters Cub Scout Troop

Welcomes New Members

Come join the troop! Cub Scouts supports both boys and girls from kindergarten through high school. Starting March 8, meeting s will be held at Sisters Middle School Commons every other Wednesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Contact Joshua Smith 541-549-74 41

Sisters High Deser t Chorale

Practices for Spring Season begin on March 27. e group meet s each Monday night f rom

6:30 to 8:30 p.m at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration on Brook s Camp Road. Spring concer ts 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 would love to have you as a member. For more information, please contact Connie Gunterman at 541-588-0362.

Sisters Careg iver Support Group

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

GriefShare Group

Beginning March 16 , join a friendly, caring group who will walk alongside you through the experience of losing a loved one. Meeting s will be ursdays f rom 6 to 8 p.m at Sisters Community Church. For registration and more information, visit http://www.grief share.org/ groups/16250 4.

Weekly Food Pantry

e Wellhouse Church will have a weekly food pantr y on ursdays at 3 p.m. at 222 N Trinit y Way. Both drive-through pick-up and shopping-st yle distribution are available. Call 541-549-4184 for information

e Sisters Museum Seeks Volunteers

e Sisters Museum, brought to you by the ree Sisters Historical Society, reopened 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 histor y. Please call 541-54914 03 or email volunteer@ threesistershistoricalsociet y.org to find out more.

Sisters Habitat Board

Openings

e Sisters Habit at Board has openings for people passionate about building desperately 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 Habitat o ce at 541-549-1193 to contact Board President , Joe Rambo.

A NNOUNCEMENT S

Sisters Rodeo Parade

Want to participate in the parade? ere are limited entries , so don t wait. Deadline is May 15 . Visit sistersrodeo.com and fill out the registration.

Sisters 4 -H Dog Group for Youth

Have f un and meet new f riends while learning to train dogs in care, obedience, showmanship, agilit y, and more. Sisters K9 Paws 4 -H encourages 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 , ext. 2. For more information, contact: Nanc y Hall 541-9 04-4433 , nancyhall4h@ gmail.com.

Free Lunches for Seniors

For those 60+, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon o ers a f un, no-cost social lunch every Tuesday, 11 a .m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Community Church. No reser vations needed. Nocost Grab-N- Go lunche s take place weekly Wednesdays and ursdays at Sisters Community Church 12:30 to 1 p.m. Call 541797-9367

Free Weekly Meal Service

Family Kitchen hosts weekly to-go hot meals on Tuesdays , 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sisters Communit y Church Visit www FamilyKitchen.org

Nurturing the Nex t Gen Summit

National author and speaker Lori Wildenberg t alk s about the power of kindness , the early years, f amily connections , anxiet y and depression among youth , and dealing with addictions , f aith, and prodigals

March 31, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and April 1, 10:30 a .m. to 3:30 p.m . Designed for parents , grandparents , and youth workers who care about our kids . Get details on the sessions & register at sisterschurch.com/ events-one

Photog raphy open house to benefit African tribes View a photographic journey of Kenya featuring the Amboseli Maasai and Turkana tribes at an open house Sunday, April 2, 3 to 6 p.m. at e Red Tail Ranch Barn, 17830 Mountain View Rd . Kenya stories begin at 4 p.m. Photographs of Kenya for sale, silent auction, and more. Sug gested donation $25 Proceeds benefit the tribes. RSVP by March 26 by email to kimschnell19@gmail.com., or text 541-633-9715.

Bees and Brews

Calling all Sisters Country beekeepers and those intrigued by the beekeeping hobby. Swap tales , share tips , troubleshoot woes , and celebrate successes

Friday, March 24, 5 p.m. at Funky Fauna . Call Clyde 541-549-0998 .

Kindergarten Roundup Begins

Sisters Elementar y School will hold their annual Kindergarten Roundup pre-registration on Friday, April 21 in the school gymnasium. Your student will be participating in a teacherled activit y while parents are involved in a parent orientation

Plea se sign up by contacting the elementar y school at 541549-8981. Children who will be 5 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 Elementar y School o ce bet ween 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. e school will be closed March 20 to 24 for spring break Forms need to be completed and returned to the school o ce on April 21 at the time of your scheduled appointment e following documents are required to register : Enrollment packet, copy of birth certificate, immunization records , proof of address . Students will not be registere d until all forms are returned

Volunteer Needed for STAR S Passenger Liaison

Can you spare 6 -8 hours a month to help STAR S with their passenger outreach? STAR S gives free non-emergenc y medical rides to Sisters Countr y residents who cannot drive themselves and we are looking for someone to stay connected to passenger needs . is is a flexible and rewarding oppor tunity to help the community. You can volunteer f rom home on your own schedule. Basic computer skills , a telephone, and a compute r are all that is needed. Email volunteer@starsride.org or call Rennie Morrell 541- 610-2098 Announce Celebrations! Add your Sisters community birth, engagement, wedding , or anniversar y notices here. Email nug get@nug getnews .com

Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays

Community Lec ture Series

Exploring Agricultural Practices , Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Modes of Living will be presented by Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture at the School District Administration Building, 525 E . Cascade Ave., ursday, April 13 , 6 p.m. Admission is free but registration is required. RoundhouseFoundation.org/ events

Fireside Story Evening on March 28

ree Sisters Historical Society will host “An Insider ’s View of Local Logging , Lumber & Milling” presente d by Jim Crowell. Jim will share his perspectives on the origin, growth, and impac t of this vital industr y on Central Oregon. FivePine Conference Center, 1021 E . Desperado Trail. Doors open 6 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m. $10 at the door, f ree to Historical Society members . Call 541- 610- 6323 for reser vations.

Sisters School Board Budget Committee

Openings e Board of Directors of Sisters School District will be appointing t wo community members to fill t wo vacant Budget Committee Member positions. e persons appointed will ser ve on the commit tee for three budget terms/cycles; 2022-23 , 2023-24 and 2024-25 . Term will expire June 30 , 2025 . To be eligible, a candidate must live in the school district, not be an o cer or employee of the district, and be a qualified voter in the district. C andidate should participate in school activities, be a positive problem solver, and commit time to review materials and attend budget committee meetings . Contact Jane A shley, school board secretary, via email jane.ashley@ssd6 .org

Free Pet Food

Budget tight? Call the Furry Friends pet food bank at 541797-4023 to schedule a pet food pickup. Pickups available ursdays , beginning at 12:30 p.m . 412 E . Main Ave., Ste. 4

PET OF THE WEEK

Humane Societ y of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

Dexter

Dexter is such a handsome Plot t hound! is breed is known to be a rug ged, intelligent hunting dog , yet a mellow gentleman at home. Dex think s other dogs are fun, but he would want to meet your other furr y f riends to make sure he will fit in well. Older children in his new f amily would be best, because he can get excited on occasion and would not want to accidentally knock a little one over. Dexter is ready for adventures galore. Come meet him!

STUMPMUNK

FARMS a seasonal flower farm

— SPONSORED BY — stumpmunkfarms.com

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

Sisters welcomes dental practice

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

Longtime Sisters residents Dr. Tom and Peggy Rheuben raised their family in Sisters and ran a busy, friendly dental business. When it was time to find someone to take over the business, they looked for a person with business priorities that matched their own. Strong relationships with patients and supporting the community were hallmarks of Dr. Rheuben’s practice.

When Dr. Zachary Sunitsch read about the practice, he felt like it was fate. He and his wife, Leah, love Sisters for its outdoor recreation and small-town, closeknit feel. Once the two men met, they knew Dr. Sunitsch was the person to carry on the Rheubens’ legacy.

Dr. Sunitsch grew up in Oregon, and says he’s thrilled to be back on the dry side of the mountains. Investing in a business in Sisters is truly a dream come true for the couple.

“One of the biggest things that got me into dentistry was the relationship I had with my dentist growing up in Klamath Falls,” Dr. Sunitsch recalled. “He was involved with everything. I’d go in and he’d ask me about my mom’s job, the swim meet I was in the week before… it was all family oriented. When I went to college and I’d come back on breaks, I’d get my teeth cleaned, have an exam, and get caught up with my dentist. That experience was a big part of what I was looking for in a practice. I wanted to be in a community where I could be there for a long time and develop strong relationships.”

Sunitsch understands people need to put a lot of trust in their dentist.

“Having people willing to come and see me and give me a chance is just fantastic in the first place. When I chose a practice, I related so well with Tom’s philosophy. I wanted to go somewhere I could grow with the community and be an integral part of Sisters. That was one of the biggest selling points of Tom’s practice. I looked at how he practiced dentistry, and it was in line with what I wanted to do,” he said.

“It was a perfect scenario for what I wanted, which was designing a practice to have strong relationships with my patients. I wasn’t looking for a practice with 25 patients a day and no time to talk to anybody. That’s why I didn’t become a physician. It’s more than working on people’s teeth and having a paycheck. It’s about being in a town where patients are used

to developing a relationship with their dentist, gaining that, trust and being a part of the community. That was the big selling point.”

After doing undergraduate studies in biochemistry and molecular biophysics, Dr. Sunitsch thought he wanted to be a research scientist. That was until he realized doing research often involved solitary work.

“That wasn’t my thing, I really need that interaction with people,” he said.

“By the time I graduated I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I explored all kinds of health care and was even a bartender in a high-end restaurant in Nashville. I met famous people like Ringo Starr, Elvis Costello, and Dolly Parton, who was the nicest person you’d ever meet. I met Cal Ripken, Jr. who was one of my biggest heroes growing up. I was starstruck. While that job was fun socially, I was ready for a more intellectually challenging environment.”

When Sunitsch decided to go to dental school it made

sense to return to Oregon and get in-state tuition.

“Leah and I lived in Portland, and I went to OHSU for school and Leah got a job in the hospital,” he said. “We were there for over six years, until I graduated in 2018.”

To learn more advanced techniques, Sunitsch did a residency after graduation in Meridian, Idaho.

“I got to learn implant dentistry, worked with kids doing pediatric dentistry and gum surgeries with specialists,” he said. “I had a scholarship that required one year in public health, which was perfect because I always knew I wanted to go back to a small town.”

During his residency, Sunitsch worked with the underserved population in The Dalles. Leah worked in nursing for the hospital in The Dalles, and then Providence in Hood River.

“By the time that was winding down, I began looking for my own private practice. When I began looking, Dr. Rheuben’s practice was

one of the first ones I came across. I looked into his practice and felt like it was perfect. We came here a lot anyway to mountain bike, ski, and camp. We even got engaged on the top of South Sister… I wore her out, so she couldn’t say no,” he said, laughing.

At the core, Sunitsch says he and Tom Rheuben are very similar. The staff agrees with him.

“Usually, when you buy a practice, you can lose up to

PHOTO PROVIDED

half of your staff; we were fortunate to keep everybody on so far. It’s been great that way,” Dr. Sunitsch said.

Dr. Sunitsch invites Sisters Country folks to check out Pine Desert Dental. His style will make people feel right at home, and he looks forward to helping them have a smile that lights up a room. Visit their website at: pinedesert dental.com or call 541-3133257. Pine Desert Dental is located at 304 W. Adams Ave., by Hoyt’s Hardware.

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.

FRIDAY • MARCH 24

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy

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

THURSDAY • MARCH 30

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

FRIDAY • MARCH 31

The Belfr y Live Music: The Trials of Cato from the UK, with The Erins opening 7 p.m. Presented by The Whippoorwill Presents. Tickets available at www.bendticket.com.

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk

Meg Adams presents “Why Are You Like This?”

6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information call 541-549-6114.

THURSDAY • APRIL 6

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk

Leanne Grable presents “Brontosaurus Illustrated” and “My Husband’s Eyebrows.” With poet Tiffany Lee Brown. 6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

FRIDAY • APRIL 7

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk

Phil Margolin presents “Murder at Black Oaks.” 6:30

Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com. Hardtails

Dr. Zachary Sunitsch and his wife, Leah, enjoy the outdoorsy Central Oregon way of life.

A Pr ayer from the One who Never Got to Hold You

ByAlissaCowan

Continued from page 2

Almighty God, the One w ho holds life and death in Your hand

those who don’t believe in God, or want to be accountable to the Creator, this is a way to explain man’s existence. It is a theory, however, that is based upon a presupposition not founded in truth, and yet it is promoted by mainstream educators as factual.

My hear t is ac hing for this little child You gave, and then took aw ay- I do not under stand

The waves ar e heavy and deep in the ocean of sorr ow and loss

T his bur den is too much to bar e alone, how do I take up this cr oss?

How do I talk about this, w her e ar e all the other s

fellow Sisters residents. However, this unexpected and sad display of rudeness my family was subjected to is uncalled for and does not represent Sisters as a welcoming destination. These incidents have left a less than welcoming impression on my family members, especially in light of the fact that this was their first visit to Sisters.

Who have felt this pain, w ho will under stand, w her e ar e my sister s and br other s?

Welcome to Sisters?

Xxx ByKitTosello

Life comes to me.

Writer talks point of view

Isolated and hur ting Lor d minister to me

Janet Swarts

When people ar e silent and don’t know how to talk about it, meet me in my time of need

s s s

I know You ar e f aithful Father, and all things wor k for good in Your hand

But why, oh Lord, did You allow this to ha ppen, how could this be part of Your plan?

Original STA logo

To the Editor:

Retr acing our steps to tell those who knew, of our little one inside “Sor ry for your loss”, “Try again soon”, “At least you have other c hildren”- Who can I really confide?

The wounds cut deep, inside of my empty womb

Fast-forward through time to the latest stream of propaganda. There are a number of things that are all connected in the presentday education agenda. I think the most damaging one, however, in this group of things is the gender identity nonsense being promoted. There is no scientific basis for this and yet it’s being taught to young minds as truth. DNA cannot be changed by “feelings.” We have biological bodies that have biological genders.

Give me hope through the sorr ow-I will bar e tomorr ow, that comes fr om the Lord’s empty tomb

With respect to Dennis McGregor’s letter to the editor in the March 15 Nugget, I would like to clarify Mr. McGregor’s statement about creating the original STA logo.

God, You ar e alive, You know me well, and see into my hear t

Begin again today, eac h snowflake w hisper sync to the cadence of falling snow, stic k out your tongue and r eceive the gift. Ther e it is now, my winter song rising fr om the secr et, salient place, a symphony, really—this moment in w hic h my beating hear t and blinking eye of w hic h my cr eator plays a part, of w hic h the snow drifting down at a gent le and the unmoving, bar ren aspens and the cr eaking bones of this old house and the sleeping gr ay kitty play a part

Pr esence is my ti cket to today’s once-in-a-

Even though I don’t know how this story will go, show me wher e to start

Help me to grieve, to feel, and not run

The ba by you gave me to carry has a pur pose and name-w as it a daughter or son?

When we meet again some day, I will hold my ba by in my ar ms

Close and comfor ted, with no fear of harm

The trend we are seeing, which to a large degree, originates with our educators, is disturbing. It causes confusion of mind, and for some can even result in serious damage to their bodies. I encourage all of you parents to be aware of what your kids are being taught and perhaps consider alternatives to your children’s education.

I am hur ting, YHVH. My body did all it could have done

Richard McDaniel

It w as beyond my cont rol, and now my ba by is in the ar ms of Yeshua, Jesus, God’s only so n

As a member of the STA committee, I personally drew the original Sisters Trails logo (I still have the original pencil sketch), which was then modified/enhanced from input by Jeff Sims and other STA committee members. The committee then gave the colored logo sketch to Mr. McGregor to get into a print-ready format (i.e., camera-ready art) for the STA to use as the logo for the trail signs.

Pr ecious life I cherish, held deep inside me for a shor t time-now we ar e apar t

I will alw ays carry my ba by within me, with the love inside my hear t

Welcome to Sisters?

To the Editor:

This past Friday, six family members visited me from Texas. I was happy to serve as their Sisters tour guide, and we spent the afternoon in downtown Sisters, involved in “retail therapy,” and financially supporting the small business merchants.

We stopped on Cascade Avenue to take family photos, and while we were taking photos, two men in a truck slowed down, rolled down their truck windows, and shouted at us “Go back to portland!” Shortly thereafter, a woman walking behind us went around us and turned back to face us, and said to one of my great nieces (age 15) “What happened to your jeans? You poor thing! The legs are ripped! You need new jeans!” She then said, “I’m just kidding,” and walked away.

My family was shocked and saddened over these rude comments, and I was embarrassed for them. I have always taken pride in the ambiance and friendliness of our Sisters community members, and have always enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere displayed by our neighbors, merchants, and

Peanut Butter Lover

ByAlissaCowan

Mr. McGregor has produced many wonderful works of art, but the original STA trail logo was more of a group effort and not the original work of a single individual.

Eugene Trahern

s s s

Dogs and THC overdose

To the Editor:

Last week my husband and I almost lost our dog from an overdose of THC. He had been for a walk in the woods with my husband and 1-1/2 hours later couldn’t stand, walk, or organize his back legs. Under evaluation and care from our veterinarian it was discovered it was not a stroke but instead from an ingested substance. We were shocked to hear that five dogs a week in that office are identified with pot overdose.

Please be responsible. Look around for edibles that may have dropped out of your pocket, and do not leave a stash for a later time. Animals, especially dogs, have great noses — they will find it. They are smaller beings and are unable to process large amounts of marijuana. Our pets are important to us and we hope everyone will be a responsible user.

Joyce Brown

The Nugget Poetry Corner

I am a peanut butter lover. Cr unc hy? Yes please

Jelly felt slighted for not being invited — give me honey fr om the bees

Almond is attr active, cashe w is my cr aving

Mixed nut butter is magnificent, sunflower seed and w alnut, ar e the ne w r aving

Squeezable or slather ed with a knife

Fine, I’ ll take cr eamy without any strife

Chunky or cr unc hy it’s all the same to me

A pple, br ead or cr ac ker make perfect company

I am a peanut butter lover it makes my tongue stick to the r oof of my mout h

All gooey, I talk funny, I’ ll take some milk to wash it down

Dear Peanut Butter how I love thee, the perfect match in all the wor ld

Do you love me too? Write bac k soon,

Love,

Fr om your favorite squir rel

Sisters Writes will present Meghan Robins, current Roundhouse Foundation resident, March 27 at 6:30 p.m., in the theater of The Lodge in Sisters, 411 E Carpenter Lane. Robins will present a program on point of view in narrative writing, followed by a question and discussion opportunity.

Robins grew up in Tahoe City, California. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Sierra Nevada University. She is a creative writer, and a freelance content creator.

Pre-registration is required and participation is limited to 25. Masks are required to enter the facility and may be removed during the presentation. To register contact Linda Weber via text at 541350-9947, with your name, or email at novelistlinda weber@gmail.com with your contact information.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m.; the program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m..

The Dog & the Cat

Apoeticcollaborationby Makenah Cowan(age6) and Alissa Cowan

Ther e was a dog and a cat who lived outside

Their water dish was fr ozen to the gr ound and they cried

The gr eat dog could not survive all on her own

She needed the help of humans, so she wouldn’t shrivel to the bone

The cat would hunt for c hipmunks and birds

While the lazy dog napped without a single wor d

Suddenly the cat snatc hed a fr olic king critter and the dog jer ked aw ake, feeling quite bitter

The chase had begun, between feline and beast

When the dog stood up to catc h the warm feast

All the har d wor k fr om the cat w as done for

In one gulp, the canine cr unc hed — w anting mor e

Have an original poem that you’ d like to shar e with our Sister s Community?

Email poetr y submissions to jess@nuggetnews.com. Publication is subject to space availability and discr etion of The Nugget Newspaper

Topping wildfire list

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid reported last week that the Sisters fire-shed has been identified as number one in the state which means, with provided funding, the district and their partners will develop long term goals and action plans for maximizing the effectiveness of treatments at the landscape scale to reduce the risk of wildfire.

Reid added that “a lot of the important work (maybe 40-50 percent) has already been completed in Sisters fire-shed but it will be important for the rest of the work to get done and for the long term maintenance of the treatments to occur.”

A fire-shed is land around a community where wildfire ignitions could cause fires to spread into the community. Given that fires have started in numerous locations around Sisters in the past, it’s not difficult to understand why the area received the number-one designation, which is likely one of the reasons Sisters Ranger District received funding for fuels treatment.

According to Reid, the strong partnerships forged by the district, and past success are also likely reasons.

Research has been conducted nationally that evaluates the extent to which landscape fuel treatments mitigate adverse effects of wildfire, provide opportunities to manage fire for beneficial effects of wildfire, provide opportunities for cost efficient fire

suppression strategies, maximize fire responder safety, provide results to inform future fuel treatment planning, and identify research gaps.

The Pacific Northwest Wildfire Crisis Strategy builds on the shared stewardship work of the state and the USFS to understand the nuances of wildfire risk and clearly communicate the places where most urgent action is needed. Central Oregon was identified as one of 10 areas in the nation where Congress has agreed to invest heavily in treatment of hazardous fuels.

According to the USFS Pacific Northwest Region website, they have “been working to manage the health of national forests across the region for decades, but the scale and methods of work on the ground have not matched the need. Overgrown forests, a warming climate, and a growing number of homes in the wildland-urban interface, following more than a century of rigorous fire suppression, have all contributed to what is now a full-blown wildfire and forest health crisis.”

Over five million acres of PNW Region Forest Service lands need to be treated for hazardous fuels but the capacity to treat is not keeping pace with the needs. The wildfire crisis requires the new investments be strategically focused at landscape-scale where the work will have the greatest impact protecting communities and infrastructure most at risk. Sisters has been identified as one of those critical areas.

experiences for all the kids is super important,” she said. “There are so many things that we had and that I want to make sure the uniqueness is still there that kids have an amazing opportunity to learn and change the world. There is a passion instilled in the Sisters schools, passion in yourself and in others and I want to make sure that my kids and all other kids can experience that.”

Saunders, her husband Stephen, and their twin threeyear-old daughters moved back to Sisters from San Francisco in 2020, during the pandemic. Saunders began her professional career in San Francisco in real estate litigation, and co-founded Side Inc, where she is still working as a chief broker officer. Side Inc. is a broker’s platform that allows a realtor/team to build their own brand as a Relator.

Since her move back to Sisters, Saunders works fully remotely for the company as does most of her team, operating from 10 different states across the country.

With her job being remote, Saunders came to a season in her life that she felt like she had the ability and the bandwidth to commit to something.

“I sit on our local HOA board because I want to help, and there is a lack of people that have the time and ability to do it. With my job and local family situation, I have the bandwidth to do it,” she said. “When my kids are in

the school system, they’ll be lots of opportunity to help in the classroom, but right now I can start the shaping of it and make sure those programs are there.”

One thing she wants to focus on is having the school board work with the educators themselves in the classrooms.

“I really want to make sure that the teachers are supported and heard, because at the end of the day they are the ones providing the education,” she said.

Saunders has a website for her election campaign at https://www.hilaryforsisters schools.com/.

As stated on that website, she says: “Sisters students deserve to experience the best education in the state. That includes having access to the same opportunities as their peers to broaden their horizons and expand into dreams

of their future. We need to include attention to mental health and belonging within the student body. Technology is a key factor in setting our kids up for success in addition to many other levels.” The school board election takes place on Tuesday, May 16. April 25 is the last day to register to vote, and ballots will be mailed to voters on April 26.

Trust Us With Your Doggie!

Hilary Saunders is a candidate for school board.

USFS:

tap

Continued from page 3

were started by lightning. Prescribed burning of underbrush (1,500 acres) and piles (863 acres), as well as mowing of 1,626 acres helped reduce the risk of wildfires. In past wildfires, prescribed burns have proven to be a key in anchoring both the Milli and Green Ridge fires. The plan is to conduct prescribed burns on over 2,000 acres this year, conditions permitting. Reid announced that the nationwide ban on prescribed burns, which was instituted last year, has been lifted. Prescribed burns reduce fire fuels while increasing tree vigor and health.

Special use permits were issued in Camp Sherman to Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) for fuels reduction under powerline rights-of-way and for the First Net tower on Black Butte.

Central Cascade Wilderness day-use permits will become available for reservations on a 10-day and two-day rolling window in advance of the hiking date, beginning June 5, 2023, at 7 a.m. The first day for the permit season is June 15, which runs through October 15. A digital PDF permit on a mobile device is acceptable for showing proof of permit.

There are two types of permits available for visiting the Central Cascades Wilderness areas of Oregon – dayuse and overnight permits. Because more than 40 percent of the day-use permits sold last

year were not used, the USFS changed the way the day-use system works, not allowing permit purchases before the beginning of the hiking season and no more than 10 days in advance.

For example, if 45 dayhikers are allowed to enter the wilderness at a trailhead every day of the permit season, on any given day, 27 permits would be available 10 days before the day-hikers would be entering the wilderness and the remaining permits would be released two days prior.

Overnight campers can still purchase permits ahead of time, beginning on Wednesday April 5, at 7 a.m. They will only need a permit for the day they enter the wilderness. Quotas will be based on the day they enter.

Day-use and overnight permits cost $1 and $6 respectively and can be purchased at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

This year, 2023, is seeing the construction of the new 4,000-squre-foot USFS warehouse, the first phase of the District administration site upgrades. Reid hopes to break ground on the new headquarters building no later than 2024. When complete, the building will be able to house all 90 full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff under one roof. The facility will include a large meeting room available for use by local groups.

This spring, Forest Road

16 (Three Creek Lake Road) will be closed for five weeks from the snow park to the lake to allow for some road work. Crews will return in the fall to do some patching. Also this spring, the 1230 road to Jack Lake will be receiving

pulverized asphalt. Other Forest Service roads will be bladed under a public works contract.

Numerous improvement projects are planned, including corral repairs, new trail planning, new vault toilets in three locations, Indian Ford watershed restoration, and Cougar Rock vegetation restoration. CEC will be conducting rightof-way maintenance between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch as part of wildfire resiliency planning. Trees that are taken down will be used for stream restoration work.

The three main programs used to improve wildfire resiliency include suppression when a fire starts, with summer lookouts posted on Black Butte and Green Ridge. Prevention of fire is encouraged by posting signage, and public education events. Fuels management includes prescribed burns, mowing of underbrush, and mastication of vegetation. Work is generally done from the wildland urban interface out into surrounding national forest.

According to District fire maps, half of Sisters Ranger District has burned, and Sisters is in the middle of an active area for fires.

The forecast for this spring is for seasonal temperatures and moisture through June, which should preclude early potential for large fires in May and June. There is minor improvement in the drought conditions with an above average snowpack this year, but more than one good snowpack year is needed to make a major difference.

A volunteer information night will be held April 4 by Discover Your Forest in Bend.

Forest resource permits

Citizens may go onto the national forest to collect certain materials but a permit to do so is required. The permit for personaluse firewood used to cost $5 but is now free. Free firewood permits are only valid during the current firewood season for the forest on which they are issued. Forest supervisors will designate free use firewood areas on all or parts of units that are compatible with land management plans and will establish the annual limit on the number of cords of free use an individual may collect.

A valid permit is required for both free-use and commercial/personal-use collection of general mushroom species. Everyone must have a valid permit and a harvest area map in their possession to gather, transport, or sell mushrooms gathered on participating national forests. Harvesters must be 18 or older and have valid identification to purchase a permit. Matsutake mushrooms may not be harvested on the Sisters Ranger District.

There are two dry cone permits available when the season opens May 1: a 10-day permit for $20 with no limit on the number of bushels picked within that time (a maximum of six 10-day permits are allowed per season) and a 60-day

permit for $100, which also has no limit on the number of bushels picked (only one permit can be issued per person during the season).

Permits are required to collect native plants. Freeuse permits authorize collection of 16 plants, four of which can be trees, for free. They cannot be resold or bartered. Permits are valid for three months. Personaluse permits authorize the collection of larger amounts of plants for a $20 minimum charge. Quantities are detailed on the permit. Commercial-use permits authorize businesses to collect plants for resale. Only the plants listed in the “Collecting Native Plants” brochure are allowed for collection. The brochure is required to be present while collecting plants.

Christmas tree permits are $5 each and are available at Recreation.gov or in Sisters at Bi-Mart, Mainline Station, Sisters Ace Hardware, Sisters Rental, and at the Camp Sherman Store.

Other special forest products are available by permit including boughs, bark, dead limbs, decorative wood, and pine needles. Contact Jeremy Fields, forest products specialist, at the Sisters District Ranger Station 541-549-7701 for more information.

Road work and wildfire treatment on

Waging the Battle of the Books

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Sisters Elementary School third graders put their reading skills to the test in the Oregon Battle of the Books regional competition March 11 in Madras. This is the first time ever that an elementary school team has represented Sisters School District in regional OBOB competition.

This year was the first year back to in-person OBOB competitions postpandemic. The third-grade team beat out the fourth- and fifth-grade reading teams in early March in school competitions leading up to the regionals.

The third-grade team competed in all seven matches and placed fourth in a field of 11, competing against teams from around Central and Eastern Oregon.

Their team’s name for the competition was Raiders of the Lost Books.

Oregon Battle of the Books instills in students a love for reading, and students who participated this year are already eagerly seeking the books for next year’s OBOB competition. Each team of four students reads a total of 16 books, with each team member becoming an expert on several of the books. They then compete in battles with other teams to recall details about those books. This requires teamwork, as one student can’t become the sole expert for their team.

The questions during

competition are broken into two types: “In Which Book” questions, and “Content” questions. Students memorized the names of the titles and authors’ names and specific, detailed information about the books.

The teams at the elementary school were coached by Catherine Griffin and Laura Roth. The middle school teams were coached by Sarah Crabtree. Crabtree recently came on as the library media manager at the Sisters Middle School.

“OBOB is great because it allows for kids to read different genres and types of books and pushes them to read outside of their comfort zone,” she said.

Students get the chance to read 16 books for the competition, but were encouraged to get into a few of the books, and really know and understand them, to answer questions in the competition. Crabtree said next year at the middle school they hope to bring in parent volunteers to coach the students.

Laura Roth, elementary school librarian and media manager, described how the competitions looked leading up to the regional competition: “In early February, Catherine Griffin, our OBOB leader, set up a bracket for teams to compete. The winning team from each battle went on to compete until there were two teams remaining. Those two teams battled for the coveted SES Battle of the Books trophy. Then the winning team from Sisters

Elementary School battled the winning team from Sisters Middle School to determine who will represent the Sisters School District at the regional tournament.”

OBOB is a unique opportunity for students to compete as a team while engaging in books and reading for comprehension. Answering questions about the text encourages a fun but productive learning environment.

Roth said: “This is a fantastic program, and I am so impressed with the amount of time and dedication that everyone involved puts into it, from the state level to the volunteers in our schools. Students are reading, discussing, memorizing facts, learning about different cultures, history, and reading genres that they may have not ever chosen on their own. The OBOB books include a variety of reading levels, graphic novels, historical fiction, biographies, humorous books, fantasy, and much more.”

The third-grade team of students and coaches worked hard in preparing for the competitions, beginning in October when students started looking at OBOB books. They read through January and formed teams of four. In early February, the teams practiced together as a team with one student acting as the speaker for the group.

“This is a valuable program to have in our distinct and we are thankful for all the support we have received from Paulina Springs Books,

the SES staff, and parent volunteers. And most of all, we are so proud of all the

students who worked so hard in OBOB this year,” said Roth.

Camden Davis, Porter Thomas, Jude Overstreet, and Jakob Eigner of Raiders of the Lost Books participated in the Oregon Battle of the Books.

NUGGET FLASHBACK – 34 YEARS AGO

Art event returns in new location

One of the most prestigious art shows in the nation is returning to Central Oregon — in a new location.

Art in the High Desert has a national reputation as one of the premier fine art expositions in the country — the 10th-ranked show in the nation for art sales in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

After a three-year pandemic-related hiatus, the event is returning this summer, August 25-27, in an outdoor venue at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. In the past, the show was held in the Old Mill District in Bend.

“This site at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center offers more space for artists and patrons, easy free

parking, indoor bathrooms, and beautiful views,” said Dave Fox, who has been involved with the show for many years. “It’s a short drive from most places in Central Oregon. Admission is still free.”

Fox said the more suitable site will enable Art in the High Desert to host approximately 150 artists from across the nation in a way that best represents the art and accommodates patrons.

A rigorous jurying process ensures that the show represents the highest quality of art. The Art in the High Desert website describes the process:

“The jury, which changes each year, is selected from Central Oregon and

throughout the Pacific Northwest region. This ‘blind’ jury sees only the images that the artists submit, identified by an artist number for each application. Each artist submits five digital images of their work and one of their booth presentation. In March jurors meet as a group in Bend to officially score the artists’ work. Cumulative scores of each artist are tallied, and those with the top scores in each of the 15 media categories are invited to the show.”

The jury criteria for a successful

entry are:

• Original thought and intent, going beyond the norm, the expected.

• Overall concept –extending further then just technique and materials.

• Demonstrated

excellence in craftsmanship.

• Consistency of style and presentation.

Fox notes that the organization’s board is made up of artists.

“I think that guarantees that the quality is really extraordinary,” he said. “We built this as an artist-driven, carefully juried show that would draw in highquality artists from across North America not usually seen in the Northwest.

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

David Mayhew Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center will host this year’s Art in the High Desert.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Allison Antelman Jewelry, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

ANSWERS: Activists have raised concerns about 2019 code

Continued from page 1

am not going to sit idly by and watch what has endured for over 150 years be sold off and squandered by weak, greedy, and cowardice (sic) individuals, who make decisions that are politically or financially expedient, who act out of self-interest instead of in the best interest of the community as a whole.”

Dickens directly addressed Mayor Michael Preedin, publicly chastising him for allegedly not returning six weeks’ worth of phone calls and emails. Preedin did not respond to any of Dickens’ comments, and moved on to the next speaker.

The rhetoric reflects the heat that has built up around a proposal to significantly renovate the Space Age Fuel gas station at the corner of Cascade Avenue and Pine Street (see “Space Age owner details expansion,” The Nugget, March 1, page 1 ). That proposal has been elevated from a Type II application to a Type III application, which means it will go before the Sisters Planning Commission in May ( see sidebar).

Dickens’ and CATS’ criticism revolves around City Ordinance 497, adopted on July 24, 2019. The ordinance essentially makes law of a staff report that detailed

comprehensive amendments to the City’s development code. The omnibus recommendation included sections on accessory dwelling units, public art, childcare centers, short-term rentals (STRs), electric vehicle charging stations, urban area reserves, subdivision phasing, service stations, and more.

Code changes allowed for service stations (previously considered a legal nonconforming use) in the downtown commercial district, with restrictions.

It is the contention of Dickens and CATS that these sweeping changes were rushed and not sufficiently debated, and that there are many unintended consequences.

One of Dickens’ hypotheses in the Space Age controversy is that the City may be influenced by sizable income from the locally imposed gas tax, 3 cents/gallon, which amounted to $203,221 in fiscal year 2021.

His contention that the process resulting in Ordinance 497 was rushed, and lacked public input, does not match the public record. The proposed amendments were reviewed in public workshops held by the Planning Commission on September 20, 2018, November 15, 2018, February 22, 2019, April 18, 2019, and May 16, 2019. Additionally, City Council held a workshop on April 24, 2019 to review the proposed text amendments.

C ONNE CT THE DO TS

Notices appeared in The Nugget at the time, along with periodic reporting.

Minutes of all such meetings were published by the City within days after. Dickens said he did not live in the city at the time, or he would have been at such gatherings.

There is some precedent in handling improvements to gas stations. The Sinclair Oil service station at Cascade and Fir was granted permission to install a canopy over its fuel pumps in 2004, while the City precluded the gas station from owning the nextdoor convenience store.

In an email to City planner Matt Martin in February, one-time planning commission member Sharlene Weed wrote:

“I was on the Planning Commission when we approved some improvements to the Sinclair gas station. It was a pretty big deal because of the nonconforming use situation. The store could not be associated with the gas station because that would be seen as an expansion. So the store is a separate business, while the gas station operates out of the small shed next to the park. We debated, but ultimately allowed them to build a canopy over the gas pumps. Our chair, Bill Merrill, quit the commission over the decision to allow the store. Even though the store business was separate, he saw it as an expansion of the gas station business and not allowed.”

The Nugget asked Dickens

what CATS seeks to accomplish in pressing the City over the Space Age Fuel proposal. He expressed frustration over what he characterizes as lack of engagement from elected officials.

“We’d quit making a ruckus if we’d simply get our calls returned,” he said.

“That’d be a good start.”

He said he’d like the City to overturn Ordinance 497 and start over with the benefit of now seeing the consequence of the 2019 action. From CATS’ standpoint, the concerns go beyond the Space Age service station.

In a written statement sent to The Nugget, CATS asserted that, “The City of Sisters made significant changes to the Developmental Codes in 2019 with a 53-page amendment (Ordinance #497). But what does this mean for Sisters? Much less controls over rampant growth and development. This could include denser housing, excessive vacation rentals, new gas stations, big-box stores, and a very different sort of town. Ordinance 497 was not due to state rules and regulations. So what was the purpose behind this amendment? Who instigated it? Who profits from it? Sisters citizens, who care about livability, deserve answers to these concerning questions.”

Mayor Preedin told The Nugget that he has received no emails and only one phone call from Dickens that he has

yet to answer due to a family member’s health issues. (Dickens provided The Nugget an email sent January 25 asking the mayor for a conversation).

“I met with Mr. Dickens about eight weeks ago for about an hour, and he’s been a regular at our Council meetings, so I think I’m pretty clear on his concerns,” Preedin said.

“Dickens and others from CATS have in been contact with our staff, whose jobs include having interface with citizens regarding specific concerns or questions,” Preedin added.

Dickens acknowledges prompt response from City staff.

Preedin says he expects as an elected official to hear all manner of debate about growth, and sees as part of his job “keeping it civilized, and moving discussions forward.”

He questions whether “the tactics employed by some speakers who come before Council (are) productive.”

Preedin says that he and Dickens have some things in common. For example, both hold unused STR licenses that are preemptive in keeping neighbors within 250 feet from renting their homes to vacationers.

Preedin is content to let things “run their course,” and sees no need to change the way he does his job.

“Within reason, I am open and available to listen to everybody’s voice,” he said.

HIDDEN ME SS A GE PUZZLE

Planners to revisit Space Age application

By Bill Bartlett Columnist

Under mounting public pressure, the Planning Department is moving the application for an expansion of Sisters’ Space Age Fuel service station from a Type II to Type III procedure.

Pliska Investments of Clackamas, Oregon is the owner of Space Age Fuel at 411 W. Cascade Ave., and it is their desire to dismantle the existing gas station and convenience store and rebuild it from the ground up.

Under a Type II review of the application, the City’s planning team has authority to grant or deny approval to such applications. By moving it to a Type III review the seven-member Planning Commission will have to rule on the application after a public hearing, which has been tentatively scheduled for May 18.

Type III procedures are considered quasi-judicial, with any appeals heard by the City Council. Type III decisions generally use discretionary approval criteria.

Type IV procedures are deemed legislative, with a minimum of two hearings, one before the Planning Commission and one before

The Nugget Newspaper Crossword

the City Council. The City issued a public notice last December indicating receipt of the application, and asking for public comment by January 27, 2023, as an aid to arriving at a decision.

The notice stated: “Failure to raise an issue in person, or by letter before or during the issuance of the decision, or failure to provide statements or evidence sufficient to afford the decision-maker an opportunity to respond to the issue, may preclude an appeal based on that issue with the State Land Use Board of Appeals.

“After the comment period closes, the Community Development Director or designee shall issue a Type II Administrative Decision. The decision shall be mailed to the applicant and to anyone else who submitted written comments or who is otherwise legally entitled to notice.”

Numerous citizens have gone before City Council to protest the granting of the application, and letters to the editor of The Nugget and social media have been filled with opposition to the application. The application has been “called up” for planning commission review.

Folk band to take stage

Deep in the wintry woods of Gog Magog Hill something stirred. New sounds tangled with woodsmoke as The Trials of Cato fused their usual flashing Celtic instrumental interplay with striking new compositions to bring out the follow-up to their awardwinning debut. “Gog Magog” is The Trials of Cato’s hugely anticipated second album, released in February 2023.

The band brings their music to The Belfry in Sisters on Friday, March 31, with Erin Cole-Baker opening a show hosted by Sisters promoter The Whippoorwill Presents.

The band built a stellar reputation with strenuous

touring across Europe and North America. Still flying the flag of folk music, the new album, “Gog Magog,” sees the band pull harder than ever on the genre’s familiar frame to create something utterly arresting and modern.

The album presents the broadest spectrum of their collective talents yet, a product of swallowing the folk tradition whole, and completely reimagining it in a contemporary context.

Doors open at 7 p.m.

The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave. in Sisters. For tickets visit https:// bendticket.com/events/thewhippoorwill-presents-thetrials-of-cato-3-31-2023.

BOOK READING/SIGNING

Sat., March 25 • 11 a.m.

“Roice and the Red Cape” by Sisters High School graduate Alexandra Aleece

171 S. ELM ST. • 541-549-7441

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

CLASSIFIED RATES

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

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

Moving Sale in Sisters

Near Aspen Lakes. Items include power tools, mower, snow blower, garden tools, grow equipment, household items, glassware, furniture, woodstove, wood splitter, sporting equip., clothes, books, drill press, lathe, Skilsaw. Sale runs March 24-27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 69319

Panoramic Dr. Sisters OR 97759

Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions!

Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths?

Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150

301 Vehicles

FOR SALE 1993 Ford F150

Mobile heavy equipment and truck mechanic services. Call 541-408-3238.

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

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

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

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

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

• Locally owned and operated •

• Senior and military discounts •

• Free assessments •

• Great cleanups •

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

4 Brothers Tree Service

Sisters' Premier Tree Experts! – TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –

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

XLT, 5.8 liter, 157,000 miles. Very good condition. $5,250. Call 541-588-0023.

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

FREE Dog & Cat Food

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.

107 Rentals Wanted

Seeking space in Sisters for woodworking shop, approx. 30x30 feet, and space for wood storage, approx. 15x20 feet. Can be separate or together. Contact Greg at 808-281-2676, or email gmdavidge@aol.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.

or

call 541-549-9941

We help Sisters families in need by providing pet supplies. Pick-up is by appt.

412 E. Main Ave., Suite. 4, behind the Nugget Office.

541-797-4023

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

500 Services

We’ve got your cats covered!

Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com

541-306-7551 • Julie

GEORGE’S SEPTIC TANK SERVICE

“A Well Maintained Septic System Protects the Environment”

541-549-2871

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

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 ~ WEDDINGS BY KARLY ~ Twenty+ years of officiating and writing wedding ceremonies.

541-410-4412 revkarly@gmail.com

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

Sisters Tree Care, LLC

Tree preservation, Pruning, Removals & Storm Damage

Brad Bartholomew

ISA Cert. Arborist UT-4454A 503-914-8436 • CCB #218444

TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT

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

— Certified Arborist — Nate Goodwin 541-771-4825

Online at: timberstandimprovement.net

CCB#190496 • ISA #PN7987A

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

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

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

** Free Estimates **

Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342 4brostrees.com

Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057

601 Construction 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

541-390-1206 beavercreeklog@yahoo.com

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

CCB #235303 Insurance & Bond

CENIGA'S MASONRY, INC.

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

Earthwood Timberframes

• Design & shop fabrication

• Recycled fir and pine beams

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Sawmill/woodshop services www.earthwoodhomes.com

CLASSIFIEDS C L A S S I F I E D S

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the SistersCamp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, March 21, 2023 – 5:00 p.m. Via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/98261409605?p

wd=RVh4M2NOUFM2L2NCLz

BENUZJbDRodz09

1. Open the Regular Meeting

2. Board Elections

3. Audit Review – Tracy Jones, Pauly Rogers & Co. PC

4. Consent agenda

a. Administrative Summary

b. Dashboard Report

c. February 2023 Minutes of Regular Meeting

d.

SSD has budget committee openings

The Board of Directors of Sisters School District will be appointing two community members to fill two vacant budget committee positions. Those appointed will serve on the committee for three budget terms/cycles; 202223, 2023-24, and 2024-25. Term will expire June 30, 2025.

To be eligible, a candidate must live in the school district, not be an officer or employee of the District, and be a qualified voter in the District. Candidate should

participate in school activities, be a positive problem solver, and commit time to review materials and attend budget committee meetings. Contact Jane Ashley, school board secretary, via email at jane.ashley@ssd6.org or pick up an application at the District Office located at 611 E. Cascade Ave. The application deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday, March 31. Applicants will be notified of interview times. Budget meeting dates are April 12, May 3, and June 7.

The O-Factor is an annual talent show at Sisters Middle School. It features many talents of middle school students. These talents include traditional acts like singing and instruments, as well as some not-so-traditional talents. This year, acts include Rubiks Cubes, Stop Motion Videos, baking videos, and more.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Corvettes and pets get together for foundation

John and Sande Burgess of High Desert Corvette Club (HDCC) made a visit to the Furry Friends pet food bank last week. They were pleased to deliver a $500 donation to Furry Friends Foundation (FFF).

“People often ask me how we are funded and now I am happy to add High Desert Corvette Club to that list of supporters,” said FFF founder Kiki Dolson.

The pet food bank is busier than ever and larger donations are vital to the operation.

The donation was made in the memory of HDCC member Ann Lankford, who was a great lover of all animals, especially dogs and cats. The club is donating a total of $1,500 to local animal rescues including Brightside Animal Center in Redmond and Three Rivers Humane Society in Madras.

High Desert Corvette Club is a social club dedicated to the love of Corvettes. They support the Central Oregon community in many

CLIMBING: Demanding challenge is a major cancer fundraiser

Continued from page 1

challenge. Climbing while on a breathing apparatus requires careful regulation of breathing while under the considerable strain of steady climbing with a heavy load. A few participants perform the full climb on one bottle of oxygen; most do at least one swap, which demands speed and skill to accomplish without burning too much time off the clock.

“Start slow and steady, finish slow and steady,” said Chief Craig. “That ultimately leads to a better time.”

Each team member is

ways. In 2022 they donated $500 to another Sisters charity, STARS, and in addition they have donated to numerous Central Oregon charities such as the Kids Center, Saving Grace, Central Oregon Veterans Ranch and others.

Currently aiding more than 125 families with pets monthly, Furry Friends distributes over two tons of pet food a month.

“The cost of pet food has really risen since COVID, and the need has increased. We really need cash donations right now. We’re also happy to take any bags of dog or cat food too,” Dolson said.

Families are able to get pet food and supplies once a month from the pet food bank. FFF also sponsors free spay/neuters and vaccinations through the Rawley Project’s FixBend program.

To support Furry Friends Foundation by donating, visit their website at www. furryfriendsfoundation.org to donate online.

responsible for their own training. The best way to train for the climb is to climb stairs — but Sisters doesn’t offer any skyscrapers to train in. So the athletes work out on a stair mill (a gym apparatus), using weighted vests to simulate the load of turnouts and gear. There are mask devices that can be used to simulate the breathing restrictions of apparatus.

Bootes is a big believer in training hard.

“The more we train in full gear, the better we are across the board,” he said.

Rob Harrison, 49, was the team standout, turning in a time of 19:10.

“The oldest member of our team raised the most money and had the best time,” Bootes said.

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

John and Sande Burgess have stepped up to help the Furry Friends Foundation.

PHOTO PROVIDED

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.