The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVI No. 16 // 2023-04-19

The Nugget

Scientists’ debate may impact local forest projects

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

In what appears as a classic case of scientific quarrel, a new study is cited by local environmentalists arguing that certain studies funded by the Forest Service contain a pattern of “falsification.” That was a word used several times by one of the study’s authors, Chad T. Hanson, PhD,

Earth Island Institute in Berkeley, California, who spoke with The Nugget at length.

The Nugget asked District

See PROJECTS on page 14

from

Candidates respond to voters’ questions

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

This year’s Sisters School District (SSD) School Board candidates were asked tough and hard-hitting questions during the League of Women Voters of Deschutes County’s Virtual Candidate Forum last Thursday.

The virtual forum gathered the candidates and a moderator together via Zoom and was live-streamed for the public to watch on the City Club of Central Oregon YouTube channel. Candidates were asked questions ranging from why they are running for the School Board to questions about safety in our schools.

All of the questions were submitted by the public and reiterated to the candidates by the moderator, Jim Cornelius, editor in chief of The Nugget Newspaper.

Position 4 candidates

Jeff Smith and Karissa Bilderback and Position 3 candidates Asa Sarver and

News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Wolverine spotted in mountains near Sisters

A sighting of a wolverine east of Santiam Pass on April 6 was confirmed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Video of the wolverine crossing the highway can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/ shorts/Q0kSPFqiiww.

ODFW Deschutes District staff confirmed tracks near the video location on the day of the sighting.

Over the past month, there have been several wolverine sighting reports submitted to ODFW and Cascadia Wild, a local nonprofit organization conducting community science wildlife surveys for

See WOLVERINE on page 13

Sisters pioneers honored by OSU

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Hilary Saunders participated in the forum. Position 4 candidate Jayne Simmons had a scheduling conflict and was unable to attend.

Parents’ rights in their children’s education, and school safety are matters that have garnered a lot of attention nationally, and the local questions reflected those concerns.

A question posed to the candidates had to do with whether or not they support the Parent’s Bill of Rights, a federal bill that also has state versions entering the state legislatures.

Sarver noted that he does not support it and believes that parents already have a right to a say in their children’s education.

“They have so by voting for the school board, and they have absolute access to the curriculum as well as three principles that have their door wide open,” he said.

See FORUM on page 11

Keith and Connie Cyrus of Cloverdale and Connie Hatfield of Sisters were made permanent members of the Diamond Pioneer Registry at Oregon State University. The College of Agricultural Sciences annually honors people whose lifetime contributions to agriculture, natural resources, and the people of Oregon and/or Oregon State University have been significant. The award publicly recognizes their accomplishments as individuals who have contributed to the wellbeing of their community, industry, or state.

The recognition for the Keith and Connie Cyrus took place at a noon luncheon April 12, at the Corvallis main campus.

The Registry was established in March, 1983 when the College Of Agricultural Sciences observed its 75th anniversary. Honorees must be at least 75 in age.

Keith Cyrus is a fifthgeneration Central Oregon farmer, and his wife, Connie,

who grew up on a dairy near Dodson, Oregon, continue to farm in Cloverdale. Keith bought his current farm in 1959 while attending OSU. The two have been farming continuously since their marriage in 1961. Throughout their farming career, Keith and Connie have been very active in their community and have had close ties with OSU. In addition, four children and four grandchildren attended/graduated from OSU.

The Cyrus family is still actively farming, raising hay, cattle, sheep, and since 2016, hemp. As one of the first hemp farmers in the state, they had to figure out how to raise this new crop that hadn’t been commercially produced in Oregon since the 1930s. It was a steep learning curve, and they were some of the first to adopt plastic and drip irrigation in Central Oregon, as well as the use

See CYRUS on page 10

Keith and Connie Cyrus (back row, left) were honored as Diamond Pioneers of Oregon agriculture by Oregon State University.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sisters Park & Recreation District’s inaugural Kids Carnival was a smashing success, drawing families

across Central Oregon to Sisters for a day of youth activities. Five-year-old Beau Hilgers was one of many who got his face painted by Remy Klein at the event. Seestory,page25.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

of

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.

Wolves in Sisters Country

To the Editor:

I would like to add some commentary to the Are more wolves roaming Sisters? article in the April 5 edition of The Nugget . I can say 100 percent without a doubt that there is a large pack of wolves roaming between Sisters and Redmond and they are following the migration path of the elk that roam the

Wednesday April 19 • AM Snow 44/26

same area. I am an avid dirt bike rider and ride the trails out at Cline Butte Recreation Area that stretches from Fryrear Road to Eagle Crest as well as across the 126 at Buckhorn, which stretches out in the direction of Lower Bridge and Holmes roads, mentioned in your article.

I have personally come upon large sections

See LETTERS on page 18

Sisters Weather Forecast

Thursday April 20 • Mostly Cloudy 50/32

Friday April 21 • Mostly Cloudy 58/36

Saturday April 22 • Mostly Cloudy 65/41

We are no longer alone

By Erik Dolson Guest Columnist

For weeks I’ve corresponded with ChatGPT, which might be loosely described as “software.”

My impression?

Alternative Intelligence has arrived. We are not alone This will change us, forever.

I’m not imagining “The Matrix,” or “Terminator.” Instead, we are at an “event horizon” with no idea about what will happen once our information slips inside an intelligence with nearly instant access to all the world’s thought.

From 1950 until about a couple of decades ago, the “Turing Test” held that a machine would be considered “intelligent” if a human evaluator “could not reliably tell (a) machine from the human…”

Sunday April 23 • AM Showers 58/38

Monday April 24 • Mostly Cloudy 54/35

Tuesday April 25 • Mostly Cloudy 53/33

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC

Website: www.nuggetnews.com

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

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Editor in Chief & Co-owner: Jim Cornelius

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Community Marketing Partner: Vicki Curlett

Classifieds & Circulation: Janice Hoffman

Proofreader: Kit Tosello

That test was passed. As a result, those designing and building these machines decided to… change the definition.

In fairness, it’s difficult to discuss machine intelligence without a clear definition of what intelligence even is, more so for concepts such as “consciousness.” Machines themselves descend into circular logic, saying in effect “I am not human, therefore I do not have human intelligence.” That was from ChatGPT, a machine now superseded by GPT-4.

CodeX) and co-author of the study on GPT-4’s… performance, said “I cannot stress enough how much better this new model is than anything we’ve seen before.” So much better, in fact, that GPT-4 is different in kind — it’s a step change. “We are now in a new age… where computers have, essentially, literacy.”

What does that mean for you and me? For years we’ve known Facebook uses powerful algorithms that “glue” us to their platform. Google is nearly clairvoyant in showing us ads for items we thought only once about buying. Twitter wants to manage what we believe. Amazon, Apple, etc. are not far behind.

The Economist notes these companies are putting up to 25 percent of their already immense cash flow toward designing machines that will guide what facts we see and make suggestions as to what they mean.

We once worried robots were taking our manual jobs — building cars, designing microchips, even laying foundations — but thought it might lead to a golden age. Now lawyers, writers, publishers, teachers, and many more may see their professions fade via the brilliance of machines that will do their jobs more effectively.

Co-owner: J. Louis Mullen

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That answer is likely dictated by those building these machines, who don’t want to declare them intelligent. The consequences are too profound of software / hardware designs more articulate than most of us, that write better essays, resumés, business plans, and computer code, which create moving poetry and fiction and solve equations they were never designed to tackle. And are programming themselves.

Scientific American recently published that “Annette Vee, an associate professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh … watched a demonstration in which (GTP-4) was told to identify what was funny about a humorous image.”

The software showed “understanding context in the image. It’s understanding how an image is composed and why and connecting it to social understandings of language,” Vee said.

Recently, GTP-4 passed a standard bar exam with a score in the 90 percentile (Casetext), higher than the average human score.

Pablo Arredondo of Casetext, a fellow at Stanford’s Center for Legal Informatics (Stanford

Bloomberg News reports a major Chinese public relations firm recently put out an internal memo stating “Starting today we’ve decided to halt all spending on third-party copywriters and designers” and will instead turn to AI-generated text and graphics. Their clients include Samsung and BMW.

Other countries have similar programs. How will we determine who or what creates information upon which we build our world: North Korea, China, and Russia? Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Musk?

Which also begs for the question: If humans are not required to communicate to humans, if AI generates the words and images which determine how we think, and then those AIs are trained by what we think, what scream of feedback is created?

We have given superhuman mental abilities to electronic organisms that are rapidly evolving to manipulate the motivations and abilities that created who we humans are today.

But, as humans usually do, we’ll put off dealing with this new technology until after that technology has been set loose upon the world, and humans are possibly “redundant.”

Lawrence Stoller crossed the path of one of Sisters’ avian residents — who just kept on cruising.

PHOTO BY LAWRENCE STOLLER

Lady Outlaws will compete in Germany

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Several players from the Sisters High School soccer team have banded together and formed the Oregon Outlaws Football (Soccer) Club and will compete at the Laila Cup in Hamburg, Germany, July 24-28.

Two hundred teams from 20 different nations, including Sweden, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, and the United States will be in attendance and will come together to celebrate one the biggest youth international

Project a good sign for creative team

By Helen Schmidling Correspondent

Last week, Sisters was home to the first-ever “Sign Camp,” the brainchild of Sisters resident John Mearns. The project was filled with collaborative synergy, fueled by enthusiasm and a commitment to give back to the community.

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

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

Alcoholics Anonymous

In just six days, four students from the Los Angeles Trade Technical College, a.k.a. “Trade Tech,” worked with sign maker John Mearns to build, handpaint, and install two huge new signs for Sisters Movie House & Café.

John Mearns and his wife, Cynthia Best, visited Sisters in 1993,

bought property in 2006, and moved here in 2015.

In 2019, Mearns sold his company, SignSource Inc., a large professional sign design and fabrication firm. He and Cynthia spent the pandemic years building on the property, by no means a small effort. They named

See SIGN CAMP on page 21

football (soccer) tournaments in Germany.

Teams ranging from U9 to U19 will play on the 11 different pitches at the Baufruende facility, and all are guaranteed at least six games. Teams will gather for the opening ceremonies on Monday evening, July 24, and Tuesday the competition begins.

The local Sisters squad is not affiliated with Sisters High School. They had to purchase their own uniforms and since all the players

Smith brings experience to school board race

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Jeff Smith is a veteran of serving on the Sisters School Board. He has served since 1999, with a 2-1/2 year hiatus.

Smith is running for Position No. 4 in the May 16 election.

Smith’s experience serving on the School Board is what he believes sets him apart from other candidates.

“I have been in education for most of my life; I was a teacher and professor, and I coached sports,” said Smith. Smith has lived in Sisters for 27 years. During

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. Graband- 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 11 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.

his first 10 years living here, Smith commuted to Southern California to teach at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Smith would fly on Monday, teach Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and fly back to Sisters for the weekend. When he started serving on the School Board in 1999, he still taught in Southern California before retiring as a professor in 2004 and living full-time in Sisters.

“I felt as if school board service would be a good fit for my background,” said Smith.

See JEFF SMITH on page 14

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 DENNIS SCHMIDLING

John Mearns instructing Sign Camp participants in the finer points of creating a hand-painted sign.

See SOCCER on page 29

Pageant raises funds for Sisters FAN

By Olivia Nieto Correspondent

Sisters High School students embrace any chance they have to bring the community together — and they did just that in their annual spring pageant last weekend.

“It originally started as a spoof pageant, so it’s not overly serious, but it still showcases who these students are,” said Jami Lyn Weber, lead teacher coordinator for the pageant.

The goal of the event is to fundraise money for the Sisters Family Access Network (FAN), which works to ensure that children have access to basic needs and services.

The pageant hosted a Pie in the Face, a Pasta Feed, and a Dessert Auction, and raised close to $10,000 for the organization.

“I especially loved the pasta feed, where we got to

serve the community, talk, and engage with people,” said contestant Anna Landon.

The show this year included 14 contestants and four student coordinators, helping perform a plethora of different entertainment forms — skits, music, videos, and talent-showcasing. The theme was “Outlaws at the Oscars,” with each pair of contestants representing a different Hollywood celebrity couple.

“At the end of the day, you have so many students you wouldn’t normally see together, but they all want to share things with the community,” said contestant Josie Patton.

Patton, a senior, was a student coordinator last year, and a stagehand before that.

“It’s such a special longstanding tradition because it brings the school and Sisters community together,” Patton said.

Bill Bartlett Columnist

What is the Sisters brand?

Old marketing guys like me have an enduring fascination with branding. For the untrained, a logo or slogan is not a brand. Nike is a brand. It’s logo is the “swoosh.” It’s slogan is “Just Do It.” Nike is also the name of the company. Not all business names are the brand of that business. Apple is a company and a brand. Apple’s iPhone is also a brand.

Google is a brand. Its owner — Alphabet, Inc. — is not. People can be a brand. Think Beyoncé or Tiger Woods. You may well have a brand and don’t even know it. You are known to stand for or represent something that is obvious to others if not yourself.

A brand is a concept or feeling. You can’t pick it up and hold it in your hand. You can’t even see it. Brands are intangible, albeit potentially very powerful. It’s a product, service, or concept that is publicly distinguished from other products, services or concepts. The Ray’s Food Place brand is at once distinguishable from Oliver Lemon’s.

Cities and towns have brands. Again, not their logos or slogans. The Big

Apple is not New York’s brand. The Rose City is a nickname for Portland, not it’s brand. Portland’s brand has taken a huge hit these last five years, from street crime and homelessness. Its convention and tourism business is but a trickle of its former glory. And the city is plagued with graffiti and boarded storefronts.

San Diego’s brand extends from its desirable weather. Los Angeles’ brand is coupled to entertainment. Bend’s brand is tied to its outdoor recreational appeal and is thought of as young and hip.

What about Sisters? Well, you tell me. If you ask 100 people, you’re apt to get 100 different answers. Most will have the word “Western” somewhere in their answer.

The Sisters brand is squishy, me thinketh — not for lack of trying to invent and promote one. The Rodeo, Quilt Show and Folk Festival are strong brands, and keep Sisters on the map. Sorry, our art galleries and cute shops do not make a brand for Sisters. They are lovely and embellish the Sisters image, but they are not that distinguishable from the galleries and shops in say Ashland or Florence or Bandon.

As our discourse gets increasingly coarse and sides are forming on the issue of growth and development, one way to look at it is as a brand struggle.

Whatever the Sisters brand — and I’d welcome your definition — that brand, or name at least, is being promoted with design and marketing flair by several local entrepreneurs.

Exporting Sisters beyond our borders include Three Creeks Brewing Co. Over 95 percent of their 6,000 barrels of annual brew are sold miles from Sisters, as many as 500 miles.

Over 2 million cans a year of the frothy suds make their way across state borders. With names like FivePine Chocolate Porter, Suttle Haze IPA, and Buckin’ Chute Pilsner, the idea of Sisters is creatively packaged and broadcast. The words “Sisters, Oregon,” are on every can.

Over at Sisters Coffee Co., now that the new German-made roaster is in gear, 500,000 pounds of coffee are packaged a year. Translated to 12-ounce bags, that’s about 660,000 packages on shelves in super markets, boutique groceries, and gift stores many, many miles from Hood Avenue. Every bag is a billboard for Sisters. And an aromatic one at that. Add in their three stores — Sisters, Bend, and Portland — and thousands more consumers are exposed to Sisters. Throw in their mugs, caps, and other merch and you have thousands of walking signboards shouting “Sisters!”

Speaking of stores, Sisters Meat and Smokehouse just opened a branch in Redmond, and apparently the lines are steady and long all day. The one thing most everybody would agree about the Sisters brand is that this is not a town high on a vegan’s bucket list.

Holy Kakow over at Sun Ranch Business Park ships 350,000 bottles a year of

See BRAND on page 19

Taine Martin and Chloe Frazee were crowned at last weekend’s Outlaws “At the Oscars” pageant.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Tracksters brave cold at Mt. View meet

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

A strong wind and cool temperatures made personal records a rarity at a threeteam meet held at Mountain View High School on Wednesday, April 12, but the Outlaws track-and-field team showed progress nonetheless, according to coaches.

The boys team managed a handful of top-three finishes against Mountain View and Caldera, including a win by Corbin Fredland, a senior in his first year of high school track, who lowered his personal best to 45.93 on his way to first place.

Taine Martin picked up a second-place in the high jump, clearing 5 feet 6 inches, and took third in the pole vault at 10 feet 6 inches, and the 110 hurdles (18.65).

Spencer Tisdel took second in the triple jump (35 feet 10 inches) and Logan Ryba established a big personal best in the discus (104 feet 4 inches) to also place second. Freshman Charlie Moen cracked the 100-foot mark for the consecutive week on his way to third place in the javelin at 104 feet 3 inches.

Despite losing a shoe during the 1,500-meter race, Hayden Roth went on to finish second (4:42.7).

The girls team chalked up a few wins, with Lilly Sundstrom leading the way with two victories and a second place. Sundstrom won both the 100 hurdles (18.01) and the 300 hurdles (53.07) and was the runner-up in the long jump (14 feet 14.5

Barclay Drive improvements on track

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

the bypass. That will provide additional right-of-way access.

inches).

Gracie Vohs won the high jump (4 feet 8 inches), took third in the pole vault (eight feet), and anchored the winning 4x400 relay with teammates Delaney McAfee, Nevaeh McAfee, and Ila Reid (4:26.70).

Ella Bartlett appeared unfazed by the windy, cold conditions as she ran within one second of her personal best to win the 1,500 meters by a landslide in 5:12.09 seconds.

Coach Jonathan Kelly summed up the meet and explained the challenge of being at mid-season with less than ideal weather.

“Track in mid-April can be really tough. It’s early season so you’re still training through meets and the weather is often challenging. It can be a bit of a grind, and it’s not always rewarded with immediate results,” he said. “Despite the cold wind and tired legs, though, the Outlaws did well, and I’m more proud of the team for the grit and resilience they showed.”

Kelly added, “We’re also looking closely at how we stack up in our special district, and asking some athletes to try different events or change their focus so that we can be more competitive, especially on the girls’ side.”

The Outlaws have entered some relay teams at the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field on Friday, April 21, and a number of athletes are slated to compete the following day at the Meet of Champions in Sweet Home.

The City of Sisters is continuing forward on several highway improvement projects as Sisters moves into the spring and summer months.

In last week’s Sisters City Council workshop, Public Works Director Paul Bertagna and Tony Roos from Kittelson and Associates presented to the Council the initial design mock-up for the Barclay Drive Improvement Project.

The Barclay Drive Improvement Project originated many months ago after Barclay Drive was identified as the alternate route around downtown Sisters to relieve congestion on Highway 20/126.

It is already considered the detour to reach the roundabout on Highway 20 going west out of town, and this project’s goal is to improve the route for larger volumes of traffic and semitrucks, as well as making it a path for pedestrians and bicyclists. The city’s portion of the alternate route and design renderings show a three-lane corridor with multi-use paths.

The team, along with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has done right-of-way (ROW) studies and traffic studies on the area and came up with the design, width of pavements, and intersection crosswalks, including lighted crosswalks at major areas of travel. They want the design to incorporate a 30-mph design speed and flatten the curves that are already existing on

According to the project summary: “This will require a handful of ROW acquisitions where the City will contract with a third-party ROW agent to work with the property owners to acquire the necessary property. Most of the acquisitions are slivers of ROW from 0-3 inches in width, so they do not have a significant impact on the properties.”

The project is intended to allow for more access to downtown Sisters while avoiding congestion throughout town. The 10-foot-wide multi-use paths and widening of the roadway between Barclay and North Pine Street were already put in place due to adjacent development.

“Between Pine Street and Locust, the improvements include the same three-lane cross-section, curb and gutter, 10-foot concrete sidewalks, stormwater, and lighting improvements,” the project summary states.

Kittelson and Associates will serve as the project managers and contractors for the highway improvement.

Kittelson is also working on the roundabout projects currently underway on Highway 20 toward Bend.

In other Council business, two ordinances were unanimously passed in Wednesday’s meeting, after two public hearings last month.

The first ordinance approved an amendment to the Sisters Comprehensive Plan to adopt the updated parks master plan to replace all current Parks Master Plans. The Council deliberated, and with no public comment, and votes from the council, the ordinance was approved.

The second approved ordinance was an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan map and zone map for the Heavenly Acres subdivision.

Mayor Michael Preedin declared an Arbor Day Proclamation, officially marking April 28 as Arbor Day, to be celebrated with the planting of trees.

Councilor Jennifer Letz was appointed to the Sisters Economic Development Advisory Board headed up by Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO).

Boys lacrosse lose to Ridgeview

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws played hard the first half against Ridgeview on Thursday, April 13, but couldn’t keep up in the second half and lost the contest 11-5.

Outlaws athlete spotlight

The Outlaws are shining a spotlight on wrestler and baseball player Ben Cooper, who just signed with Umpqua Community College as a wrestler, and on softball standout Anna Landon.

Coach Matt Hilgers said:

“Ben Cooper is one of the hardest workers in our program. He has consistently demonstrated the kind of player we want to build our program around. Ben has the ability to focus on baseball every day regardless of what’s happening outside our sport. Ben is what I like to call a ‘foxhole guy.” He is the type of person you want on your side. As a student, I have only heard positive things regarding

him. Conversations I have had with his teachers are always positive towards him His character on the field is also his character in the classroom.”

Coach Garry Barr said: “Senior softball player Anna Landon is starting at second base. In the first five games, she leads the team with a .643 batting average with seven singles a double, and one triple. On defense, she had five attempts and nine putouts. She has yet to make an error. Always positive, Anna is a great role model for younger players and the perfect teammate. Anna also is an important participant in the 15-member band playing at the April 7 band festival.”

Sisters started the game with 13 players — the most they’ve had all season — which gave them three subs to back up their first middle line. The Ravens scored in the first thirty seconds on a fast break after an Outlaw turnover, but a minute later Evan Martin evened the score on a nice catch and finish shot.

About midway through the quarter the Ravens scored again, but the Outlaws knotted it up when Eli Palanuk hit a great shot from close range with one minute left on the clock.

Ridgeview got the first score of the second quarter, and once again the Outlaws tied it up with a goal from Adam Maddox-Castle to make it a 3-3 game. Sisters got the go-ahead goal from Mason Sellers with just under four minutes to go in the half. The Outlaws couldn’t hold on to the lead as the Ravens scored twice in the last few minutes to take a 5-4 lead at the half. The Ravens’ leading scorer, Ryder Yozamp, scored their first four goals of the game.

Sisters was held scoreless in the third quarter while Ridgeview knocked in two more goals, the final one with just 30 seconds left in the quarter. At the close of the third the Outlaws trailed 4-7.

The Outlaws got a bit worn down in the final quarter, and the Ravens pulled away with four more goals, two in the last minute of the game. Maddox-Castle finished the Outlaws’ scoring with a behind-the-head shot off a feed from Gus Patton.

Coach Paul Patton said, “I was very pleased with the team’s effort and positive attitude throughout the contest. To be honest, with our low numbers we don’t get to practice any full game-like scrimmage, and that makes it hard to execute well in real games.

We need to get as many game-like reps in practice as we can so that we can take care of the ball a little better and convert more of our scoring opportunities.”

Four of the LAX players are dual-sport athletes (Sellers and Maddox-Castle also play baseball, and Kyle Pilarski and Corbin Fredland do track), which also affects the Outlaws’ game-day readiness. Patton told The Nugget he’s grateful to have them on the team as they’ve played enough lacrosse in the past to have the skills needed, and without them they wouldn’t have any subs. Former player Bodie Dachtler, who now attends Redmond Proficiency Academy, rejoined the Outlaws for the contest and helped out as a long stick

Freshman Ian Landon looked good on the attack end of the field, dished out an assist, and got seven ground balls.

— Coach Paul Patton

Pilarski stood out as a defender and matched up against the Ravens’ best scorer.

— Coach Paul Patton

defender.

Gus Patton played especially well for the Outlaws at middie and led the team in faceoff wins, ground balls, and assists, and in addition put forth a great defensive effort.

Coach Patton made note of several players he felt had a great game.

“Pilarski stood out as a defender and matched up against the Ravens’ best scorer. I was also pleased with the effort of Hunter Lea, who has recently taken up the long stick as a defender for us. Freshman Ian Landon looked good on the attack end of the field, dished out an assist, and got seven ground balls.”

The Outlaws were to travel to Hillsboro on Wednesday, April 19. They will play at Forest Grove on Friday, April 21.

Ben Cooper signed with Umpqua Community College last week.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Anna Landon connects for a hard drive.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Lady Outlaws suffer conference loss

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws started their week with a 3-5 loss at home against Summit on Monday, April 10, and three days later dropped their first conference match of the season; a 3-5 loss to Crook County.

In Sisters’ matchup against Summit on Monday, teams played in horrible conditions. It was windy and dirt was flying due to trucks moving soil near the tennis courts. The wind was a big factor in the match and made it very difficult for many of the players to figure out, and at times it was difficult to see and play.

The match consisted of four varsity singles matches and four JV doubles matches.

Juhree Kizziar (No. 1 singles) played the wind like a master, allowing it to move her ball. Her patience and movement around the court, and hitting the ball on the rise, helped her to win her match over Sara Feldman with scores of 6-2, 6-0.

Brooke Harper (No. 2 singles) was very patient and consistent and hit big looping high balls that the wind made very difficult for Audrey Miller to handle. The ball bounced so high that Miller couldn’t hit the ball. Harper took the match 6-3, 6-4.

Lanie Mansfield and Leah O’Hern (No. 3 doubles) squeaked out an 11-9 tiebreaking win over Jo Hull and Sara Foran. The duo won their first set 6-4, and then lost the second 4-6. They played good defense and hit timely winners at the net. Their experience of playing together as a pair helped them stay patient and focused throughout the match.

Josie Patton and Charlotte Seymour at No. 1 doubles lost their match, but took it

— Coach Bruce Fenn

to a tiebreaker that ended in an 8-10 loss.

“I was very proud of the girls for not complaining about the conditions,” said Coach Bruce Fenn. “This team has weathered many strange conditions this year. Many days we had to practice in the gym and didn’t get many chances to play on the outside courts. These adversities will prepare them for our district tournament coming up in May.”

On Thursday, the Outlaws posted their first conference loss of the season.

Kizziar cruised through her match against Macy Wiederholt (No. 1 singles) with little resistance and easily posted the 6-0, 6-0 win.

Katie Ryan (No. 3 singles), was sharp in her ground strokes and volleys and made minimal errors against Haven Housley to tally a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Fenn said that Ryan is learning what she needs to work on every match she plays.

Freshman Rylie Bick, in her second varsity match, went down fighting against Callie Winebarger. Bick took the first set 6-2, lost the second 3-6, and then fell 2-10 in the tiebreaker.

Fenn said, “This was a great experience for Rylie to discover what she needs to practice at to get better.”

Mansfield and O’Hern easily handled Ana Laura Jacuinde and Kim Cruz and tallied a 6-2, 6-1 win.

Fenn said, “Lani and Leah moved and positioned themselves like we practiced all week. Lani told me that they used what we worked

on just the day before and it worked beautifully. In doubles the team that wins moves better together, and they did that today.”

Sophie Rush and Ava Stotts (No.3 doubles) had a hard time finding their game and lost 5-7, 2-6. The first set was a dogfight with good play at the net and winning ground strokes from the baseline, but Crook County had more winners at the net.

“Sophie (sophomore) and Ava (freshman) are learning in every match to trust the coaching they receive,” said Fenn. “The journey is a roller-coaster of emotions, but to their credit they recover fast.”

The Wyland sisters, at No. 4 doubles, are a fun pair to watch. Fenn told The Nugget that, as new players who hadn’t picked up a tennis racquet before this year, they have excelled beyond his expectations.

The duo lost their first set 4-6, and fought from being down 3-5 in the second set to come back and win 6-4. They played to 9-9 in the tiebreaker before falling 9-11 to Abbi Pack and Tayah Hagensee. Fenn noted that the sisters are learning by leaps and bounds about themselves and how to play the game.

“This was a good learning experience for all, including coaches,” said Fenn.

Sisters was scheduled to play at home against North Marion on Tuesday, April 18. They will play at home against Redmond on Friday, April 21.

Boys tennis posts individual wins

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The boys tennis squad lost their matches against Summit and Crook County last week, but did record some individual wins.

Dominic Pulver was the lone Outlaw winner at Summit on Monday, April 10. Pulver was composed throughout his match and defeated Jackson Rylan in two straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

Coach David Rowell said, “Dom took advantage of Jackson’s weak second serve and positioning.”

Matthew Riehle (No. 3 singles) injured his shoulder and had to retire his match against Jude Jarrett. Riehle is recovering well and is expected to play again soon.

“Summit has a great tennis program and has 56 boys out this year,” said Rowell. “It was a fun match and their coach and I are great friends.”

Three days later the Outlaws played at home against the Crook County Cowboys. Jude Parzybok was the lone winner for the

Outlaws in this contest, and beat Cameron Carr 6-3, 6-4. Parzybok hit a lot of deep balls and forced Carr to play more defensively. Rowell told The Nugget that Parzybok looked the best he’s been all season.

Pulver matched up against Alex Garcia-Llourdes, the Cowboys’ No. 1 singles player. He played a great match, but lost the contest 3-6, 1-6.

Chris Roach, who usually plays doubles, played a great match in his first varsity singles (No. 3) match of the season. Rowell stated Roach held his own against Billy Schultz, who has a strong forehand, but in the end lost the match 3-6, 4-6.

“Chris’s forehand stroke is very smooth and he’s come a long way. He will continue to grow as he plays in more matches,” said Rowell.

“It was fun to play Crook County again. It allowed us to see measurable growth in the team.”

The Outlaws were scheduled to play at North Marion on Tuesday, April 18, their only match for the week.

This was a good learning experience for all, including coaches.

Sisters salutes...

Artist and pastor complete storytelling project

The Reflections of Jesus Project at Sisters Community Church (SCC) is near completion.

The art collection, which includes nearly 40 paintings and pastoral commentaries, is being produced by local Sisters artist Jim Horsley and Pastor Steve Stratos of SCC.

• Brody Duey pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Creswell Bulldogs last week.

• Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC) extends a heartfelt thank-you to founding board members Chris Laing and Toni Landis, who recently retired from active AFSC board service after more than four years. Chris and Toni have devoted an immeasurable amount of time and talent to enhancing livability in Sisters Country through their work with AFSC as well as myriad other local organizations.

Chris and Toni worked with others to create AFSC as a nonprofit fiscal sponsor in 2018 with the STARS volunteer transportation program as their first Action Team (Toni’s work with STARS continues to this day). The AFSC founders recognized the need in our community for a nonprofit incubator organization providing the resources — including support for grant funding, bookkeeping, risk management, and other start-up services — allowing resident-led action teams to get their projects off the ground without having to obtain independent nonprofit status. Through their vision, AFSC maintains this valuable service to this day, encouraging and promoting resident-led initiatives to improve livability in Sisters Country.

Both Chris and Toni continue to support local causes through their involvement in other groups, and remain committed to AFSC’s mission and vision with emeritus AFSC board member status.

To Chris and Toni, we are forever grateful and say thank you!

• Harvey and Bonnie Hall wrote:

We want to thank everyone at Sisters Glass & Mirror for the excellent job they did installing new windows in our home. Their work ethic is beyond excellence. They are good people, honest, and trustworthy. They go the extra mile to do their best work.

The initial 12 paintings were put on display last December, and additional paintings were added in February and March. The last eight paintings were completed just prior to the Easter celebration earlier this month. All of the paintings, and a related tabletop book, are on display and available for viewing at SCC during normal working hours, and on Sunday mornings. Additionally, all of the paintings with their related commentaries can be viewed on Horsley’s art website: https:// jimhorsley.net.

Horsley and Stratos are deeply committed to accurately reflecting the story of Jesus as stated in the Bible’s New Testament. They say it is really just a movement of their hearts for telling the story of who Jesus as the Son of God says he is in the four Gospel accounts.

They believe that “the Bible, as God’s word, speaks for itself, and the paintings depicted are an honest attempt to depict these actual stories in a way that hopefully brings to life the reality of who Jesus is and what he was about.”

The duo avoided embellishing the key moments and parables to make them more dramatic.

The artist and the

pastor hope to reach beyond the church community to the community at large, in an accessible way without “pomp and circumstance” — including those who do not have a particular faith. They encourage others to “look at this art collection with a thoughtful mind and open heart.”

Horsley said that while the paintings and commentary may not be perfect, their commitment to get them right is.

“Most accept that Jesus was truly a man who lived in Israel 2,000 years ago,” he said. “The debate begins with the discussion of his full identity. Almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet or a good teacher or a godly man. But the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man.”

“It was our hope that we could present the Jesus that we have known in our lives — that at one time we didn’t know at all,” Stratos said. “I hope others will be able to pursue their own answer to

the question, ‘Who do men say that I Am?’”

Horsley reflected, “Over the past few weeks I hadn’t really made the time to think through what it would be like to put the finishing touches on these paintings during Easter Week. The reality now is that visualizing and finalizing these key moments over the past few days has been a richly intimate spiritual experience. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to undertake this project.”

The paintings will not be available for sale individually; however, Horsley will be open to discussion with anyone who might like a commissioned version of any

of the paintings; a portion of the sale proceeds from any display-related art or future sales of the tabletop book will be donated to SCC and/ or related missions of the church. For information about purchase of related art prints or paintings, contact Jim Horsley at 206-890-3008 or jimhorsley4@gmail.com.

On Wednesday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m., the public is invited to a Fireside Chat hosted by Stratos and Horsley to discuss the paintings and commentaries, including the latest Easter paintings. The event will be held at Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Hwy. For information call 541-549-1201.

Artist Jim Horsely and Pastor Steve Stratos collaborated on an extensive project titled “Reflections of Jesus.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Middle school hosts STEAM Expo

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Sisters Middle School (SMS) was the place to be on Wednesday, April 12 for the annual STEAM Expo, which showcased some of the science, technology, engineering, art, and math learning that is happening at the school.

Visitors experienced exhibits and activities that ranged from stop-motion animation to squeegee art to fiddle musical chairs.

Brad Tisdel, the creative director for the Sisters Folk Festival, which has helped support the arts in Sisters for many years, said this type of event is important for a number of reasons.

“I think it represents and showcases the culture that has been cultivated in Sisters schools for many years that shows that art and music are valued and are supported by the community, including the Folk Festival,” he said.

“All these things happening tonight are evidence that we want kids to have a variety of ways to express themselves, which is part of our identity as Sisters Outlaws.”

Teresa Mills, finance manager for Sisters Folk Festival, echoed Tisdel’s remarks and commented, “I just think it’s so cool that so much positive energy has been put into this exposition, and it’s so interactive, including the sculpture being built by passersby.”

Wes Estvold, a teacher on special assignment as the instructional technology specialist for the Sisters School

District, described the equipment used by students for the stop-motion animation, which is taught by Roger Martin at Sisters Middle School:

“The kids use iPads to make miniature movies by taking just one shot at a time with objects placed on what is called a Copernicus stand. The program then stitches each individual picture together to create the illusion of motion.”

Estvold added that the blend of art and technology helps students really access all parts of the brain to create a final product.

Martin teaches moviemaking as an elective class at Sisters Middle School and leads the stop-motion movie class as part of the club program as well.

Judy Fuentes art teacher

Community Garden seeking new digs

Sisters Community Garden is beginning the 2023 gardening season by celebrating its final year as guests of Benny and Julie Benson, owners of the Sisters Eagle Air property on East Barclay Drive. The Benson family has hosted gardeners using a halfacre of property since 2012.

Garden leadership recently learned that this year is to be the last season as guests of the Bensons, who now need to use this property for other purposes.

frosts,” Bright said. “Our greenhouse also allows optimistic gardeners to grow lettuce, spinach, and cilantro in the cold of winter when the greenhouse is heated only by sun-warmed 55-gallon drums of water.”

at Sisters Middle School, said that in her seven years at SMS there have been different iterations of the expo night.

“In the beginning the evening featured mainly student art, but it has grown into a more interactive experience now,” she said. “Adults and students are creating art, writing poetry, playing drums, creating movies, and even playing musical chairs to fiddle music as they go along.”

Principal Tim Roth praised his staff for making the evening happen and gave special thanks to Sisters Folk Festival, The Roundhouse Foundation, and the many parents and volunteers who support students throughout the year.

“We are grateful to the Benson family for their generous use of their property,” said Nancy Bright, vice president of the nonprofit Sisters Community Garden. “Ten years is a significant amount of time for the Bensons to allow us to use their land at no charge.”

The volunteer-led organization is now actively searching for a new location for its 49 raised beds, which includes shared vegetable, herb, raspberry, blueberry, and currant beds. The group also tends apple trees, a butterfly garden, and a compost area, and maintains a shed and a 20-by-40-foot greenhouse.

“We’ve enjoyed the enormous benefits of having the greenhouse, which allows us to grow tomatoes to ripening free from Sisters’ intermittent but disastrous summer

The Garden’s board of directors is optimistic that a new site for the Community Garden will be found, and that gardeners can begin planning the move of the existing infrastructure. The organization needs an equivalent amount of space that has access to water and electricity, is in full sun, and is accessible to vehicles

The Sisters Community Garden strives to foster community connections. Each year, as many as 42 families use the Garden’s raised, irrigated beds and greenhouse to grow fruit, flowers, and vegetables. For the 2023 gardening season, Garden leadership has made a commitment to grow food for NeighborImpact to distribute to its clients. NeighborImpact represents and serves economically disadvantaged residents of Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

For more information on the Sisters Community Garden, visit at www.sisters communitygarden.org

WORD OF THE DAY…

Shambolic sham-BOL-ik

Chaotic, disorganized, or mismanaged

Students dug in to hands-on exhibits at a STEAM expo last week.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG

CYRUS: OSU recognizes contributions

Continued from page 1

of waterwheel planters and mechanical harvesting. At roughly 5,000 pounds per acre, the Cyrus hemp yields are some of the highest in the country.

In the 1970s Keith was the JayCees’ Outstanding Young Farmer for the state of Oregon and represented Oregon at the national competition. He was also active in the Farm Bureau and served as president of the Deschutes County Farm Bureau in the 1960s and ’70s and more recently was inducted into the Oregon Farm Bureau Hall of Fame.

He was active in the Central Oregon Potato Growers Association and served two terms on the Oregon Potato commission, starting in 1983. Keith also served as president of the local Deschutes Farmers Co-Op, the Three Sisters Irrigation District, the Deschutes County Planning Commission, and Sisters School Board budget committee, among others.

Keith was also active in the Cloverdale Fire District, having helped start it in 1963 and served as both a volunteer and board member until recently.

In addition to raising five children and working fulltime on the farm, Connie Cyrus was active in 4-H and served as a parent and a leader for roughly 20 years throughout the 1970s and ’80s.

Connie Hatfield, a 2022 Diamond Pioneer, and her late husband, Doc, are known to many in the ranching community as visionaries in the incubation of the natural beef market. They formed and operated Country Natural Beef in 1986 as a cooperative of 14 original Oregon ranch families, and growing to over 100-plus by 2010. The co-op thrives to this day.

She and Doc found a ranch in Brothers just east of Bend. The ranch is in a perpetual trust for use only as agriculture, and is now in the hands of her daughter and son-in-law.

The Hatfields founded Country Natural Beef in response to cattle often tearing up the land. They hoped to assuage conflict between

ranchers, bureaucrats, and environmentalists. They hoped to change the negative perception of urban dwellers toward public-land ranching.

They took a chance on something radical for the times, beginning conversations with people outside of the ranching world. The chats began in Sisters with 30 or so ranchers, environmentalists, and federal agency staff sitting in a circle and talking about ways to bring back native grasses, washed-out gullies, and how to revive springs.

Discussions included ways for cattle and wildlife to coexist. Doc and Connie struggled to make a living. They were selling breeding bulls to neighboring ranchers just as poor. Somewhat desperate, the 14 local ranchers formed their marketing co-op to sell their cattle directly to stores, and chose Connie to do the selling.

Grass-fed, natural beef is commonplace. When the Hatfield’s started in Brothers, cattle raised without hormones and additives and instead on grass were rare.

The co-op was hard work. Twice a year all the ranchers gathered together, and eventually arrived at consensus. Connie spent many a day in food stores that either shunned meat or were leery about this new method of raising cattle.

She is a recognized pioneer in regenerative farming that is becoming everyday practice to a growing list of Sisters Country agrarians.

Council to establish camping rules

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Sisters City Council is working on defining camping regulations on cityowned property. With an increased number of houseless people and more tourists coming into Sisters in the summer for events, camping regulations seemed like a natural next step to maintain public property including parks throughout Sisters.

City Attorney Jeremy Green walked the Council through the subject areas of the draft ordinance. The staff reached out to stakeholders and others who work with the houseless community, who viewed the proposed draft of camping regulations.

The ordinance comes from a state mandate requiring cities to have regulations in place for camping — defined as stated in the draft: “ORS 195.530 requires that any city law that regulates the acts of sitting, lying, sleeping, and/or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property that is open to the public must be objectively reasonable as to time, place, and manner; and WHEREAS, the Council and City staff solicited input concerning City camping regulations from members of the community, including interested stakeholders and organizations that assist low-income and/or homeless members of the community.”

It is important to remember this ordinance presented is a draft, and will continue to be put forward to stakeholders, and will be wordsmithed before the ordinance is officially adopted.

State statutes are put in place to give boundaries and regulations on public property. With an influx of houseless people and more people camping on public property, certain regulations must be put in place to establish what is allowed to prevent littering, danger to property and the public, etc. According to the draft, the ordinance is created to “maintain streets, parks, and other public areas within City in a clean, sanitary, and accessible condition, and adequately protect the health, safety, and public welfare of the community.”

The ordinance defines different areas that will be considered public property, which the City Council discussed. Councilors brought up the question as to whether the School District

should be looped into these regulations, but that would have to be separately discussed and/or added in, as the School District owns all their property throughout the city.

The draft defines health and safety fees as well as fines if any regulations are violated

Essentially, these regulations need to be put in place to define what’s allowed, but it is up to the discretion of the city manager and sheriff’s deputies as to what level of violation or fine may be applicable in certain situations.

According to City Recorder Kerry Prosser, “These are the big walls that are put up to define the regulations, and then we can work softer in between.” City staff will continue to draft the ordinance and bring it in front of stakeholders, and it will go to a public hearing. The ordinance, according to state regulation, has to go into effect by June 30, 2023.

FORUM:

Hilary Saunders questioned the verbiage of the bill.

“I understand where the intent was; I don’t think the intent was bad. Unfortunately, the idea was given to lawmakers, and they have their people to satisfy, and the way it was written... is extremely over-broad,” said Saunders.

She spoke to the uniqueness of the Sisters School District, where a parent can go to the school website and see the curriculum and talk to teachers directly about the curriculum.

“The way it is written, no, I don’t agree with it, but conceptually I do agree that parents should have a say in their kids’ education,” she said.

To Jeff Smith, the bill seems like “unnecessary federal interference.” He stated that all things iterated in the bill already exist at SSD.

“You can go to the teachers, you can go to the schools… and to create another layer of government that forces us to report to them that we are providing these things seems silly,” he said.

Parents have the right to a say in their kids’ education and can pull them out of a lesson if they believe their child shouldn’t be in it, he believes.

Karissa Bilderback spoke about the transparency in Sisters between the teachers, schools, and parents.

“We have access to what is being taught, and we have easy communication to the teachers who are teaching those lessons and availability of our administrators

to get questions answered parents may have,” she said.

She believes that parents and teachers are partners in the kids’ education.

“I don’t think that something like a parent’s bill of rights is needed in our community right now because it is already there,” she said.

She used an example of transparency, noting that she, as a parent of a sixth-grader, received an entire lesson plan for a health class weeks in advance with the option of opting out for one, many, or all lessons.

When asked what recommendations they have to keep people safe in schools, particularly regarding school shootings, each candidate echoed their experience with school safety and what they hope to improve.

Jeff Smith spoke about actions already taken in Sisters schools.

“We have over the last decade or so limited access points into the schools… and we can monitor folks that come into the building as much as we can,” he said.

Bilderback spoke about her background as a teacher, and how heartbreaking it is to teach lockdown drills to students.

“It’s a real problem that we are facing, and mental health is where we need to start to get to the root of that problem. I would love to see more training on ‘see something, say something’ taught to students with kids needing to know anything that they see should be spoken and any tiny potential threat, big or small, needs the attention to prevent these tragedies,” she said.

Sarver said he believes that school shootings are a huge problem, and until the state and federal governments can guarantee that those who shouldn’t have

Fire in a forest home…

guns in their hands don’t, we will have to deal with this at the local level.

“We have a program in place by experts [for these situations], and we have training for our staff to look for potential threats, but it has to go beyond just our schools. It has to be in the community to ‘see something, say something,’ across the board,” he said.

Saunders believes that mental health is a good place to start, and that everyone in the community needs to have an understanding of what to do if something is amiss.

“There’s instinct for a reason… we are small enough [in Sisters], and growing up in the schools, we didn’t have bully problems, and it feels like a large extended family because we are so small and we all support each other,” she said.

Maintaining community awareness and an environment that does not alienate students is important.

“At the end of the day,” she said, “it’s the person behind the instrument that does people harm.”

One of the final questions addressed to what extent the School Board should be involved in determining or altering the curriculum taught in classrooms.

Sarver noted that school board members approve policy, but the legislature hands down the curriculum.

“I don’t think as school board members we would be meddling in curriculum; experts set those, and we can approve it, and also not approve it — we probably wouldn’t get any state funds if we didn’t approve it, however,” he said.

Saunders spoke to the belief that school board members should not have the authority to let personal beliefs shape what’s best for the students.

“I trust in the educators we hire, that they are the experts in their subject matter and know how to alter their style to account for students and how they’re learning,” she said.

Jeff Smith believes in relying on professional expertise.

“I understood [the types of subjects I taught], I don’t know how to teach phonics; it is not in my wheelhouse; we ought to leave that to the professional people that are teaching those courses to determine what the curriculum should be,” said Smith.

Bilderback spoke to the curriculum as meeting the common core standard for each grade level.

Teachers use the common core standards to develop the curriculum.

“I believe it’s more at the hands of the principals to make sure that the appropriate curriculum is being chosen to teach the common core standards,” she said.

The candidates ended the forum with closing statements reiterating why they are running for school board, and the importance of maintaining the culture that lives within the Sisters schools.

All of them believe Sisters schools are exceptional and that the School Board must work to maintain funding and a strong culture.

As Bilderback stated: “We want to continue the caliber of excellence.”

The last day to register to vote in Deschutes County is April 25, and ballots will be sent out shortly after that. The election is May 16, for the school board positions as well as the SSD local option measure, 9-161. To learn more about local option, see related story online at https://www.nuggetnews. com/story/2023/03/08/news/ ssd-to-seek-local-optionfunding/34130.html.

— AD PA ID FOR BY FRIENDS OF SPRD VOTE YES!

An RV parked off Cold Springs Road in the forest west of Sisters burned last weekend. Firefighters responded quickly and doused the blaze. The owner of the RV is unknown at this time.

PHOTO COURTESY SISTERS-CAMP SHERMAN FIRE DISTRICT

NAMIWalk s Central Oregon Fundraiser

Saturday, May 20 , 9 to 11 a .m. at Dr y Canyon Trail American Legion Communit y Park , 850 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond Proceeds help provide f ree communit y mental health education, support, and advocac y for those impac ted by mental illness , as well as training and support presentations for schools workplaces , f aith communities , and neighborhood groups. Register at NAMIWalks .org/ CentralOregon . Call 541-3160167 for more information

Find Your Ancestors

Come join an evening of fun and learn how to find names , stories, militar y record s, marriage record s , and even old photos of your ancestors . ere are over 7.4 billion records available to search. is event takes place Sunday, April 30 , at 6 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of L atterday Saints , 452 Trinit y Way. For more information call Bruce Kemp 541-390 -5798 or Todd Sheldon 541-420 -3459.

Sisters Careg iver

Suppor t 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 of e Transfiguration, 121 Brook s Camp Rd . For more information, cont act Kay at 541-719-0 031.

GriefShare Group

Join a f riendly, caring group who will walk alongside you through the experience of losing a loved one. Meetings are ursdays , 6 to 8 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 130 0 McKenzie Hwy

For registration and more information, visit http://www grief share.org/groups/162504

Free Weekly Meal Service Family Kitchen hosts weekly togo hot meals on Tuesdays , 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sisters Community Church, 130 0 McKenzie Hwy Visit www.FamilyKitchen .org

A NNOUNCEMENT S

Bees and Brews

Calling all Sisters Country beekeepers and those intrigued by the beekeeping hobby! Let’s gather to swap tales , share tips, troubleshoot woes, and celebrate successes . ursday, April 27, 5 p.m. at e Barn. C all Clyde 541-549-0998.

Sisters Garden Club

Monthly Meeting April 22

e Sisters Garden Club would like to invite you to come & hear their guest speaker, Jan Hodgers of the ree Sisters Historical Societ y. e meeting will start at their NEW time of 10 a .m.; doors open at 9:30. a .m. e meeting will be held at Sisters Communit y Church , 130 0 W

McKenzie Hwy. All are welcome. Cont act Ruth at 971-246-0404.

Sisters Museum Seeks Volunteers

e Sisters Museum, brought to you by the ree Sisters Historical Society, has reopened and is back to regular hours of 10 a .m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays . ey are looking for volunteers with an interest in local history. If you might like to meet new people and get involved in the communit y while supporting a nonprofit, please call 541549-1403 or email volunteer@ threesistershistoricalsociet y.org to find out more.

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

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 , 130 0 McKenzie Hwy. No reser vations needed. No-cost Grab-N- Go lunches take place weekly Wednesdays and ursdays at Sisters Community Church , 130 0 McKenzie Hwy., 12:30 to 1 p.m. Call 541-797-9367.

SUDOKU Level: Easy Answer: Page 23

Cinco de Mayo Par ty

All are welcome to attend a f un community Mexican Independence part y celebration is f amily-friendly event takes place on Sunday, May 7 f rom 12 to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park and Recreation (SPRD), located at 1750 McKinney Butte Rd . ere will be festive music playing , and delicious food to purchase; cash only please.

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 form.

Seeking Volunteers to Mentor Children

Deschutes Count y Sheri ’s

O ce is o ering a preparation class for volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent. e program is Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY). Af ter initial training and compre hensive background checks , volunteers are matched with a child in Sisters that shares similar interests. Volunteers commit to spending a few hours a week with their matched child for a minimum of one year. is time is often spent on outside activities , exploring the communit y, doing art or craf t projects , or simply hanging out and talking. On Saturday, April 22, COPY will o er a volunteer training. is 3½-hour class covers program policies , Q&A from a current volunteer, how to establish a mentor relationship, the impact incarceration has on families , communication skills, and the stages of a mentoring relationship. ere is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required . Light snacks and ref reshments provided . Call 541-388-6 651 for more information or to register.

New and Old Neighbors Meetup at e Barn

Free Pet Food

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

On Tuesday, April 25, C4C (Citizens4Communit y) will hold their Meetup at e Barn, 171 E . Main Ave. f rom 5-6:30 p.m. Come meet your neighbors and find new f riends! Fun ice breakers in a casual environment. A chance to ask questions about Sisters and get to know a few people at the same time. Anyone and everyone is welcome! To learn more, email information director@citizens4 communit y. com.

Kindergarten Roundup

Sisters Elementar y School annual Kindergarten Roundup preregistration will be Friday, April 21 in the school gymnasium Student s join a teacher-led activity while parents attend orientation. Children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2023 are eligible for the 2023-24 school year. Sign up by calling the elementar y school at 541-549-8981.

Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring Preschool Town Hall Meeting

Apr 20, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., 4 42 N Trinit y Way. An informational meeting with a heav y Q&A section to learn what Wellhouse Academy has to o er for preschool through sixth grade students . Preschoolers headed into kindergarten in the fall will have the oppor tunity to get a taste of what kindergarten is like at Wellhouse Academy. For more information and to R SVP, visit: go.rspns.to/iuEVC

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

PET OF THE WEEK

Humane Societ y of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

Silas

Do you need pet food for your dog or cat this month? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4 023 to schedule your pickup in Sisters it t

is handsome Husky is looking for an active family who loves to explore. Silas is ver y clever so he will pick up on needed training f ast! Silas likes meeting new people and would be happy to share a home with the right canine pal. Adopters willing to commit to a consistent exercis e regime will help this sweet boy be his most contente d self.

— SPONSORED BY —

541-549-2275 • 541-549-8836

SISTER S- ARE A C HURCH

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

ES

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 subject to editing and run only as space allows . Email nug get@nug getnews .com or drop o at 4 42 E . Main Ave

Forum will help Sisters Country residents be prepared

Sisters is a beautiful — and vulnerable — place.

Our forested landscape leaves the community under the constant threat of wildfire — but there are other threats, too: severe weather; power outages; the potential fallout from a major earthquake along the coast.

To help raise awareness and the preparedness level of Sisters’ citizenry, Citizens4Community (C4C) will host a forum on May 11 at Sisters Fire Hall titled “Emergencies in Sisters Country: Be Prepared.” This will be the fourth forum hosted by C4C and sponsored by The Nugget Newspaper focusing on issues of vital interest to the Sisters community.

The forum will bring together several experts in emergency preparedness and response, and will offer actionable ideas to help local residents be ready when inevitable crises arise.

Sisters Fire Chief Roger Johnson will describe the All Hazard Response System in the community, coordination with partners, how it scales up to involve others, including the governor and federal agencies, depending upon the level of crisis. He will also discuss planning with the City for crisis response.

Sgt. Nathan Garibay, Deschutes County emergency services manager, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, will talk about hazards beyond

WOLVERINE:

Sightings are very rare in Oregon

Continued from page 1

wolverine on Mt. Hood. The first report was made on March 20 by two people fishing on the Columbia River who took photos of a wolverine on the bank of McGuire Island. Additional sightings were confirmed in Damascus, Oregon City, and Colton over the next several days.

Based on timing, locations of the verified sightings and the trajectory of travel, it is possible that these sightings are of the same individual wolverine, though ODFW says that this cannot be confirmed. Long-distance dispersal or “exploratory” movements are not irregular for a wolverine during this time of year and they can travel well over 30 miles in a day, ODFW reports. Based on the location, this wolverine is likely dispersing to a new area where it can survive and hopefully reproduce. Wolverines need

— Jim Barnett

wildfire. He will describe interagency coordination; a family emergency handbook; the local alert system; evacuation tools and routes; FireWise programs; and county grant programs.

Moderator Jim Barnett notes that evacuation planning is a key issue for local residents.

“A lot of subdivisions have evacuation issues,” he said. “I do.”

He said that advance planning is critical, because there may not be much time to figure out how to get out of trouble when a crisis hits.

A lot of these people have to understand that they need to be ready,” Barnett said.

Ian Reid, Sisters District Ranger, will discuss Forest Service response to wildfires, wildfire preparedness and mitigation, and federal jurisdiction including federal incident management.

Carrie Sammons of the Central and Eastern Oregon Chapter, Red Cross, will describe her experience in Paradise, California, which

was nearly completely destroyed by wildfire. She’ll also talk about recent California flooding and discuss emergencies locally, focusing on Red Cross response for evacuation and temporary shelter, with some insights into FEMA response to emergencies.

Devin Thompson, executive director of the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group, will describe his firsthand experience with the 2020 Holiday Farm fire — one of the state’s devastating 2020 wildfires that destroyed 500 homes and burned nearly 175,000 acres seemingly overnight. He is helping the community rebuild and will discuss the role of Ford Family Foundation and Sisters-based The Roundhouse Foundation in the recovery. He will relate lessons learned, and make recommendations for Sisters Country.

Concerns about insurance have moved to the forefront of many local residents’ minds in the past couple of years. Tammy Taylor, longtime local insurance agent, will talk about insurance as another aspect of “personal preparedness,” with a focus on creating defensible space, and the importance of reviewing insurance policies to prevent underinsurance. She will discuss what the controversial fire map and underlying SB 762 does to change the local insurance

industry.

Jack McGowan is a director of Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District and a longtime proponent of personal preparedness. His topics include personal preparedness, creating a wildfire crisis strategy, and building a family emergency preparedness kit.

Barnett notes that the forum is focused on individual and family readiness so

that the public can learn “not just what the government does for them, but what they can do for themselves.”

There will be opportunities for public questions and information on resources.

The event will run 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 11. The Sisters Fire District Community Hall is located at 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters.

FRIDAY • APRIL 21

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

SATURDAY • APRIL 22

Sisters Depot Live Music: Mark Barringer & Bob Baker 6 to 8:30 p.m.

A great evening of music with Sisters violinist Bob Baker and guitarist Mark Barringer $5 cover. Info: www.sistersdepot.com.

The Belfr y Live Music: Quattlebaum and The Miller Twins 7 p.m. Troubadour Austin Quattlebaum brings swampy blues and backwoods folk. Presented by The Whippoorwill Presents. Tickets, $20, at www.bendticket.com.

WEDNESDAY • APRIL 26

Sisters Community Church Fireside Chat with artist Jim Horsley about his now complete “Reflections of Jesus” art series with commentaries by Pastor Steve Stratos 6:30 p.m. at 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy Info: 541-549-1201.

FRIDAY • APRIL 28

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

SATURDAY • APRIL 29

Paulina Springs Books Screening: Hello, Bookstore Celebrating Indie Bookstore Day with limited-edition swag and free screening of “Hello, Bookstore” at 6:45 p.m. RSVP encouraged at PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

WEDNESDAY • MAY 3

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk Dwight Holing presents “The Demon Skin: A Nick Drake Novel” and Paty Yager presents “Bear Stalker: A Gabriel Hawke Novel.” 6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

THURSDAY • MAY 4

high-elevation habitat (alpine areas with dense snowpack), but young wolverines often disperse long distances to establish new territory.

Wolverines are rare in Oregon, and these sightings are significant to wildlife conservation, ODFW states.

The initial sighting along the Columbia River last month was the first confirmed report of a wolverine outside of the Wallowa Mountains in over 30 years. The last documented wolverine in the Central Cascades was

killed in 1969 by a trapper near Broken Top Mountain. Wolverine are listed as a state threatened species in Oregon, and no hunting or trapping of wolverine is allowed.

Although ODFW occasionally receives reports of wolverines, it can be difficult to confirm a sighting without documentation or tracks. If you see something, share it with ODFW on iNaturalist, an app/website that helps biologists track individual sightings of wildlife like wolverine.

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night Sign up at 5:30 Starts promptly

A wolverine crossed Highway 20 near Santiam Pass last week.

PHOTO COURTESY ODFW

[the public can learn] not just what the government does for them, but what they can do for themselves.

on school board

Continued from page 3

Smith received his bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oregon.

Smith has grown children, and his granddaughter went through Sisters schools K-12. He now has two more grandchildren in middle and high school.

He believes his background in education and the subjects he taught match the needs of a school board member in understanding how the meetings work, as well as the nature of the school board’s role. Smith coached his kids when they were little, volunteered with the YMCA, and has always dedicated himself to public service in some capacity.

Smith has dedicated much of his life to serving on the School Board.

When asked why he’s served for so long, he said, “I have a passion for education. I believe in good schools, and am lucky enough to end up in a community that has great schools. So, to help sustain and guide that, I believe in public service.”

Smith served for 12 years and then took some time off after he felt the Board had a good complexion of members. Two-and-a-half years later, Board Chair Don Hedrick came to Smith and asked him to come back and provide stability to the Board again

“I think our board needs a veteran board member,” said Smith. “There are things that I know from all my years of service and from all of the OSBA conventions I’ve gone to that our current board doesn’t know.”

The Oregon School Board Association puts on conventions every year, allowing members to learn what a school board does, how it should operate, its role within a community, and each individual member’s role. The OSBA offered a free weekend course when Smith was first on the board. They spent three days talking about school board service, and he jumped at the opportunity to continue educating himself.

“I worked hard to educate myself in the role of being a school board member. To know what school boards ought to be doing, and what kinds of things we shouldn’t be involved in,” he said.

School boards set budgets and policy. They supervise only one employee — the schools superintendent — and do not involve themselves in day-to-day operations of a district.

Smith wants to continue his service to the School Board because of his experience, and he notes that he has the time, passion, and skills to make a good board member.

Smith has volunteered numerous hours with the schools, going out with the middle school outdoor ECOs class and the high school IEE program on mountain trips, and coaching wrestling for many years.

“I hope I’ve provided stability and made a difference,” he said.

PROJECTS: Study challenges

Continued from page 1

Ranger Ian Reid to comment on the study titled “Countering Omitted Evidence of Variable Historical Forests and Fire Regime in Western USA Dry Forests: The Low-SeverityFire Model Rejected.” Reid assumes it’s the normal “tit for tat” among competing academics and part of the ongoing process of debate.

The new study’s finding could potentially impact a number of planned projects in the Deschutes National Forest, including the Green Ridge project. Reid doesn’t see that happening, however, given how far along the project is, leaving any further challenges to be decided in litigation. Work should begin in 2024 barring a lawsuit.

The Green Ridge Landscape Restoration project proposes a range of treatments that the Forest Service argues are needed to make the Central Oregon landscape more resilient to wildfires, insects, and disease.

“Recent investments made through the Forest Service 10-year Wildfire Crisis strategy will support this work,” said Holly Jewkes, forest supervisor for the Deschutes National Forest.

The alternative chosen in the draft decision includes up to 19,437 acres of thinning, mowing, and prescribed fire treatments. It also authorizes restoration of aspen and cottonwood stands and 268 acres of hand thinning of small trees around meadow edges in prime mule deer habitat.

Objectors had until June of 2022 to make their case opposing the draft. The final proposal later this year will give objectors another bite at the apple. Hanson hopes that the new study

Recent investments made through the Forest Service 10-year Wildfire Crisis strategy will support this work.

— Holly Jewkes

will provide evidence forcing a reevaluation of this and other projects like it. He believes the study is “transformational.”

According to the John Muir Project of which Hanson is a research ecologist, the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Fire , exposed a broad pattern of scientific misrepresentations and omissions by government forest and wildfire scientists. This “falsification of the scientific record” is, according to critics, driving bad policies and government mismanagement of public forests, including clearcutting and commercial logging of mature and oldgrowth trees under deceptive euphemisms like “thinning,” “restoration,” and “fuel reduction.”

In particular the Muir statement says studies funded by the U.S. Forest Service, an agency that financially benefits from commercial logging on public lands, has presented a falsified narrative that historical forests had low tree densities and were heavily dominated by low-severity fires, using this narrative to push for increased commercial logging.

Reid says that the

underlying science for projects like Green Ridge is “Evidence for widespread changes in the structure, composition, and fire regimes of western North American forests,” authored in 2021 by R.K. Hagmann et al., 30 accredited scientists and policy experts.

A look at their credentials does not suggest the hand of timber companies or forest product executives. Affiliations are more typically associated with groups such as The Nature Conservancy of Ashland, Rocky Mountain TreeRing Research, Ecological Restoration Institute, UC Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, among others.

Hanson contends that the vast majority of woodland fire research is either conducted by employees of the Forest Service or are grant recipients funded by the Forest Service.

“The Forest Service is heavily incentivized to log, and has a built-in bias to omit research that counters their narrative,” Hanson said.

The study of which Hanson is co-author is 48 pages long with 29,187 words. The Hagmann et al. study is 34 pages in length. Both are crammed with charts, tables, maps, and other highly technical reading.

Hanson alleges that the Forest Service intentionally omits bodies of work that contradict their practices. Reid believes the process is transparent, and those in opposition routinely have access and input.

JEFF SMITH: Incumbent has long experience

Jeff Smith.

PHOTO PROVIDED

AT YOUR LO C AL BUSINESSES ARE

Hear t ‘n Home Hospice

Hospice work is a c alling for the staff of Hear t ’n Home Hospice. It is a small, closeknit organization —a real team —that prides itself on the qualit y of communication amongst team members as they provide vital emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients, loved ones, and caregivers.

“Our team members h ave a hear t fo r hospice,” s ays Executive Direc to r Mandy Put zier. “It’s more than a job.”

Hospice focuses on qualit y of life and comfo rt , providing ca re f rom registered nurses, nurse practitioners, ph ysicians,

licensed social w orkers, cer tified nursing assistants, spiritual care providers, and volunteers.

The staff consider it a gift and an honor to be with families on their hospice journey, and they go to great lengths to ensure that family members know what to expect so that they are empowered to c are for their loved ones. They work to fulfill final wishes, and they provide 13 months of grief support to the loved ones of those who pass.

Heart ’n Home Hospice is a Level 5 — We Honor Veterans agency.

541-678-2166 Locally

We know people are far more than their medical conditions. Our palliative care is focused on quality of life and comfort for people.

Solid Pest Solutions

Sisters is full of critters we don’t want in our house — from rodents and bugs to bats. Solid Pest Solutions is committed to helping homeowners deal with such intrusions in a way that’s good for the homeowner and good for the environment.

Coty Weston, ser vice manager, says that the operating philosophy is to get at the root of the problem. Solid Pest Solutions will assess y our situation and figure out how to get the pests out —  and keep them out. (If you have bats, act now — from June to September, they cannot be disturbed).

Solid Pe st Solutions h as man y t echniques to “pest-proof ” your house, and they do it in an aesthetically pleasing manner In fact, a lot of their work resembles handyman tasks.

With deep education and experience in the field, the Solid Pest Solutions team finds solutions that minimize the use of rodenticides/pesticides — but they c an use them where appropriate

“ Ther e’s alwa ys an en vir onmentally friendly w ay to solve whateve r problems (homeowners) have,” Weston says.

The Law Office of John H. Myers

The hard work and decisions you made for your estate plan are very beneficial, but it is critical that you take time to review your estate plan on a regular basis.

One of the first things to review is ownership of y our pr oper ty and w hether your beneficiar y designations on various accounts and policies are curre nt. If yo u have a trust, it will not work to avoid probate unless your assets are owned by the trust or can pass with beneficiar y designations or otherwise upon your death.

If y ou are married, y ou may want to

make sure your assets are jointly owned. Life changes that may result in the need for an update include: change in marital status; death of a spouse or partner ; birth or adoption of child(ren); minor child(ren) become adults; change in net wor th; inheritance; moving to a different state; purchase of real estate; change in relationship with one of the designated fiduciaries: executor, guardian, healthcare representative.

If any of these changes apply to you, reach out to discuss reviewing your plan, 541-588-2414 or www.beaverstatelaw.com.

Roam Natural Skincare

Roam Natural Skincare is committed to offering the best in clean beaut y and facial techniques.

In May, Roam is launching a new facial that offers an instant lift and a taut, refreshed feeling. The IonixLight facial rebuilds skin by incorporating several noninvasive skincare techniques — LED light, Negative Ion Therap y, ox y gen infusion, microcurre nt, ultrasound, and radio frequency. The technique offers immediate results — and the effects ar e also cumulative. The treatment firms, tones, and brightens

T&M Hauling

Spring is the season of renewal — which means finally getting rid of all that… stuff

T& M H auling just made that easier

They ’ve got two new 25-yard containers — drop boxes they can drop off at your location so you can fill it up on your own. They ’ll come back to pick up the b oxe s when you’re done with the project/job —per fect for a weekend of spring cleaning.

Do -it-yourself t oo d aunting? Just t ell

Thys and McKibben what needs to go and they ’ll make it disappear. They’re a full-service hauling outfit that can handle any thing

fr om commer cial debris to household goods, from yard debris to items that have sat untouched for years in that spare room, storage unit, or garage

T&M Hauling also has a moving truc k, and they are fully qualified as movers, especially for short-distance relocations.

Thys and McKibben operate on an ethic of ser vice. They treat everyone with dignit y and respect and are here to ser ve. Don’t let that pile of stuff intimidate you, and don’t look at it for another year Call T&M Hauling and get it out of your life today.

i nstantly, and you’ll also notice i mprovement in your skin with every treatment.

The c ombined modalities of the treatment target signs of aging without creating discomfort or requiring recovery time. The treatment is safe, relaxing, and luxurious.

The IonixLight facial is considered the finest method of skin refinement available. It is a highly sophisticated treatment usually found only in high- end facial studios. It’s available right here in Sisters because Roam Natural Skincare is committed to offering the very best in ser vice

Alpine Land Management

The landscapes we f orm around our homes are a critical part of our quality of life. Vernon Stubbs of Alpine Land Management has a passion for the land that translates into his work That work demonstrates that planting with native dr yland grasses and managing timber for optimal health and fire resistance is not only good for the land, it’s beautiful and good for people too.

Stubbs’ focus on native grasses means your landscape will have low demand for water and keeps soil erosion down. The use of organic fer tilizers livens the soil and helps

build a nutrient-rich landscape.

Alpine Land Management also specializes in creating raised garden beds.

Strategic and selective removal of fuels makes your landscape more resilient and biodiverse — and it looks wonderful.

“It’s attractive aesthetically — absolutely!” Stubbs s aid. He will w ork with a landowner on a comprehensive plan to manage the landscape — from a basic yard to many acres. Now’s the time to get the work under way that will make your surroundings the best they can be

Family Dog Training

Nancy Hall is on a lifelong mission to help dog owners better communicate with their dogs. She has trained in a variet y of animal disciplines, including obedience, agilit y, therapy, and gun dogs.

She s aid that “ Giv en my br oad back gr ound, I’ ve been able to help many owners in teaching obedience and correcting behavior issues.”

She trains with positive reinforcement, which re info rc es g ood b ehavio r w ithou t treats. Once the dog behaves correctly, its owner offers praise

Par tners In Care

Partners In Care’s hospice and Transitions programs offer vital ser vices to families with loved ones facing long-term medical crisis or end of life. Those vital ser vices are supported by a diverse cadre of about 150 volunteers.

“A lot of volunteers have been touched by hospice ca re ser vices,” says Maureen Dooley of Partners In Care “They want to give back because they saw the impact it had on a loved one or a friend.”

Volun te er oppor tunities ar e n ume rous and varied, from administrative help in the office to interacting with patients

and families. Volunteers c an participate in direct patient care in Transitions (a no-cost, non-clinical case management program for medically fragile individuals) or in hospice; veteran-to-veteran interaction; medication deliver y; and yard work

Volunteers play music in Hospice House, and bring animals fo r visits in the all-volunteer HosPet Program. The work is vital and meaningful, and there are roles for virtually anyone with a heart for care

To learn more about v olunteering at Partners In Care, visit partnersbend.org.

Nancy’s Family Dog Training offers both private and group classes fo r both adult dogs and puppies, with basic commands plus additional commands such as “Don’t touch” and “Wait.” O wners learn proper leash control and proper equipment. Family Dog Training offers discounts for seniors 65+ years, militar y, and for dogs that are spayed or neutered.

Nancy is also leading the new Sisters K-9 Paws 4-H Club for kids. “I love seeing when it ‘clicks’ for both the dog and owner, once they learn how to communicate better,” she says

of wolf tracks, which cannot be mistaken for “large dog” tracks. By my count from the tracks there were 12-14 wolves traveling in a pack, and they do not follow paths like dogs do, which you can often see on the trails matched with their owners’ prints. These prints are very large, and they are in a pack, and they do not follow the trail system. They range across the land, and they are directly following the herd of elk prints that I have seen going in the same directions.

I have been telling people for about six months that there is wolf activity in Cline Butte, and it has been met with a lot of skepticism. I found an elk kill with wolf fur up on the Trail 20 plateau close to the Fryrear Transfer Station, as well as numerous wolf track sets over the last six months.

That being said, the majority of these sightings have been in the summer months, and I have not seen any signs in the last three months.

Patrick Tougas

s s s

No to growth

To the Editor, I’ve been meaning to voice my opinion regarding growth in Sisters for a few years. I haven’t, in part because I do not live within the town. I, nonetheless feel that I have a stake in its future. So do my neighbors in the surrounding area, who contribute to the community we refer to as “Sisters Country.” But recent letters and news articles indicate a real blind spot we seem to have all bought in to to varying degrees. We are subjected to the constant, consistent, and ubiquitous drumbeat of growth is good, inevitable, unavoidable, and that we must embrace, prepare for, accommodate, celebrate, resign ourselves to, or tolerate it. Perhaps, but in my view this is a very flawed approach, which both limits our thinking on the subject and rules out the goal many of us seek.

Typical were recent comments in The Nugget regarding the expansion of the Space Age gas station that when people “realize the additional jobs we’ll add, they’ll be persuaded” (to welcome it). Folks, this is what growth looks like. Those who need jobs may rightfully be persuaded, but those of us who have jobs or are retired won’t be. And we

are many. Harsh, I know, but you only go around once and we’ve all chosen to do it here.

The same issue contained this statement from a letter to the editor: “It is quite obvious that we cannot avoid growth.” Really? Obvious to whom? Why not? The later part of the writer’s comment may well be correct. The first part, however, represents only an opinion. My point is that we should not begin the discussion with, “Well, we can’t just ... (fill in the blank).” There are towns which do not grow, towns like ours which are not islands and are not surrounded by impenetrable cliffs, towns where people have chosen not to allow growth and are very satisfied living there.

It is not obvious to me that we cannot avoid growth. It is increasingly apparent that there are those among us who will not even attempt to limit growth. We can make Sisters better without making it bigger! Until we get the foxes out of the hen house regarding growth, Sisters will continue its inexorable march toward becoming suburban Bend. Now is the time. Sisters Country, you, too, have a stake in this. Engage!

Ross Flavel Fryrear Ranch, Sisters Country

Support Black Butte School bond

To the Editor:

On February 1, the Black Butte School District Board placed a school bond on the May 2023 ballot. The Jefferson County Education Service District’s Board of Directors would like to ask you to vote YES on the Black Butte School bond measure.

Black Butte School District is approved to receive a $2 million grant from the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program if the proposed bond measure passes in May. This is an important opportunity to support this bond to build brighter futures for our children with a safe, functional building to learn in.

This proposed bond would help to fund a roof replacement, upgrade the HVAC system, remove asbestos, replace flooring, create a secure entry to better control access, upgrade door locks/hardware, install energy-efficient windows, update restrooms, improve and expand instructional space, provide space for confidential meetings, site improvements, furnishings, and equipment.

You may be surprised to learn that voters have not had the opportunity to vote on capital construction bonds for Black Butte School since 1963. The age and condition of the Black Butte School facilities necessitate far more than general maintenance. We stand behind the Black Butte School, the School Board, community members, and dedicated staff in support for the kids, to provide them with an age-appropriate, safe, secure, and healthy learning environment – we ask that you please stand with us!

We know that a strong school system and infrastructure benefits the students, families, neighborhoods, and economic vitality of the entire community. We humbly ask you to vote YES for the Black Butte School bond in the May 16, 2023 elections.

Jefferson County ESD Board of Directors

Chair Joan Starkel; Vice-Chair, Daniel Petke, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, Dani Cowdrey, Barbara Ibrahim, Raylene Thomas

s s s

Smith and Sarver for school board

To the Editor:

As a former school board member, I know how important experience is to be a good board member. I urge you to vote for the two candidates with experience: Jeff Smith and Asa Sarver.

Don Hedrick

s s s

Vote for Bilderback

To the Editor:

Karissa Bilderback, a Sisters Outlaw alumni, wants to give back to her community by being elected to the [Sisters] School Board this May. As a retired teacher serving over thirty years with the Sisters School District, I strongly support her candidacy. She is highly qualified to make decisions that will affect the educational outcome of our children now and into the future.

Karissa, with a master’s degree in education, has been a classroom and substitute teacher for over twelve years. Currently, she is a parent volunteer in two of her children’s classrooms. She is also an active member of both SPTC and the local option committees. Her experiences have enabled

See LETTERS on page 20

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

Ever wonder who started the Camp Sherman Store? How the community got its

Reservations: 541-610-6323 Tickets are $10 at the Door

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

City reviewing East Portal concept

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Why is the former U.S. Forest Service East Portal called the East Portal when it is located on the west side of Sisters?

That location between Highway 20, Cascade Avenue, and Highway 242 is on the east end of Highway 242 and the starting/ending point for the scenic McKenzie Pass Highway, thus it is called the East Portal.

Planning for development of a multi-modal transportation hub at the portal, which began in July 2022, is moving ahead. At their April 12 workshop, Sisters City Council viewed a presentation by Kittleson & Associates that explained the reasoning behind the proposed concept plan, which consists of four phases.

Phase 1 deals with the shared mobility hub and trails plus a covered EV charging station on Cascade Avenue that will have solar panels on top. Estimated costs for all phases include a 30 percent contingency. The expected cost of Phase 1 is $1.5 million for site development.

The EV charging station has a $190,000 price tag.

Phase 2 would be the addition of a bus-only lane for $1 million. Phase 3 will create on-street parking on Cascade, RV parking in a separate lot on the hub property, and a Highway 20 bus pull-out for $1 million.

Phase 4 is yet to be determined. The northern site could be used for additional parking, EV charging, or other amenities.

The total for known costs comes to $3.7 million. Sources of funding have yet to be identified and secured, but would include both state and federal dollars.

Kittleson has conducted a thorough process involving three possible concepts for the hub, including developing design criteria with City staff, which were presented at a concept development workshop for key transportation and transit stakeholders. From their input, three concepts were developed and refined.

Public engagement included multiple meetings with the Public Works Advisory Board (PWAB) to solicit feedback. In November 2022, the public

Sheriff’s Office offers boat inspections

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will provide an opportunity for boaters to have their boats inspected free of charge at three different locations in Deschutes County.

The inspections will be offered on Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following Central Oregon locations:

• Big Country RV, Redmond, 2795 S. Hwy. 97.

• Sportsman’s Warehouse, Bend, 63492 Hunnel Rd.

• Deschutes County

Sheriff’s Office La Pine Substation, 51340 Hwy. 97.

For more information regarding boat safety inspection, contact the Special Services Division at 541-388-6501.

Kiwanis Club sale supports programs

The Kiwanis Club of Sisters will be holding their annual Antiques, Collectible & Jewelry Sale Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 27, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Although donations are still coming in, larger items like antique furniture and yard art all the way down to small collectibles will be there and priced to sell.

There is always a large selection of jewelry items, much of it vintage. The sale will be at the Sisters Fire Hall, at 310

was invited to provide feedback on the three concepts. Using the input from the public process, a preferred concept was developed, which was further vetted by the PWAB. The final preferred concept has been proposed as a phased development, which will allow City Council to prioritize development of the site.

The next steps in the process will see continued coordination with stakeholders — transit providers, policymakers, partner agencies, and members of the public. There will be ongoing refinement of the plan through focused design efforts. Work will be done on creating a vision for the remaining elements of the East Portal site, including unused spaces, branding, and elements of the Parks Master Plan. Funding for the project needs to be secured, partially by leveraging available funding sources.

With input from Council, staff will further refine the concept plan and final report and bring it back to Council for final approval. The approved master plan will then be delivered to ODOT for their sign-off to complete the project.

BRAND: A number of Sisters companies export products

Continued from page 4

their syrups, all with the name Sisters, Oregon on the label.

There are others of course.

Several shops in town offer a taste of Sisters, shipping homemade fudge and truffles long distances. Fine garments made from Alpaca wool are outbound daily from Sisters.

So… just what is the Sisters brand? The task of defining that will largely fall to our new DMO — destination marketing organization — who will run a website

and outreach campaign called Explore Sisters. The new group, funded mostly by the City’s lodging tax, has replaced the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, who had that job for many years.

The Chamber team promoted a slogan that comes close for me to being our brand: “There is never nothing to do in Sisters, unless nothing is what you want to do.” That may be the essence of what Sisters is for those of us who live here and those who visit. A place where your energy can run free or where you can just sit a spell and watch the world go by.

S. Elm St. (the corner of Washington Avenue and Elm Street).

The Club is still actively soliciting and accepting sale item donations. To donate items, contact Shirley Miller via email at gmalalli25@ gmail.com.

The Kiwanis Club of Sisters is an all-volunteer service club, so all proceeds fund community service projects like student scholarships, job skill training, and financial support for other nonprofits.

Sisters Meat and Smokehouse has expanded to Redmond.

PHOTO BY WILLIAM KELLY

Continued from page 18

her to see things from multiple perspectives and to understand the different learning needs of children.

Some topics of importance to Karissa that I agree with include: setting high expectations and holding students accountable for their behavior; ensuring school safety; supporting the well-rounded student by providing innovative career pathways; and teaching students how to think for themselves. She believes that the best decisions are made when a diverse set of ideas are heard and discussed and decisions are made keeping the well-being of our children in mind. Karissa hopes to work with other members of the Board to approach each issue with facts, an eye on best educational practices, and a commitment to seeking the best results for our children.

I’m convinced that Karissa is the strongest candidate for School Board Position No. 3. She’s young and energetic. She has children in our schools, is active in our schools, and has a strong desire to see the children of our community excel. Please vote for Karissa Bilderback for School Board Position No. 3.

Norma Pledger

Support SPRD levy

To the Editor:

The Sisters Country Pickleball Club strongly supports the Sisters Park & Recreation District’s (SPRD) local option tax levy, Measure 9-160. Please join us in voting yes on the measure. The local option levy is a renewal of a levy passed in 2018 in the amount of 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The permanent tax rate (22 cents per $1,000) combined with the local option levy rate is among the lowest in Central Oregon. This is a small price to pay for the outstanding services SPRD provides our community.

Sisters Country is a beautiful area for sports-oriented residents and visitors alike. And yet, every town in Deschutes County has permanent public pickleball facilities, except Sisters. In 2019, the Sisters Country Pickleball Club organized as a committee of SPRD to promote public pickleball courts. To date, the club boasts over 225 members and continues to grow and advocate for the sport.

The club led the effort to create two temporary pickleball courts at the Locust Street tennis courts. Those courts will be demolished in 2024 to make way for the much-needed traffic roundabout. To assure that public pickleball courts are available in Sisters, we plan to partner with SPRD and other public and private organizations to develop new courts soon.

Our club strongly supports SPRD’s

leadership role in providing recreation services to all age groups in the community. Please join us in voting yes on Measure 9-160.

Sisters Country Pickleball Club

Leadership Team

Bruce Carpenter, Karen Stuve, Lynn Kramer, Karen Freeman, Rod Stuve, Rose Blackburn s s s

To the Editor:

As a father of a 7-year-old, an involved community member, and a small business owner here in Sisters, I am writing to urge you to support Measure 9-160, the local option tax levy designed to maintain and enhance services provided by the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD).

Since the day we moved to Sisters, we have taken advantage of the wonderful programs and activities that SPRD has offered to the community. In fact, our son’s first friends were made at an SPRD summer camp, and we have made many more since, through their stellar community offerings. From that first day, now our entire family has taken advantage of many SPRD programs and activities; from adult softball to the kids soccer league, and from Lego camps, to riding the bike park, to the soccer camps.

The renewal option of this existing levy is much needed for this district to continue offering the children and adults of Sisters these quality programs like their preschool, senior programs, free summer playground programs, wellness classes, and the many other outdoor activities, classes, and sporting tournaments that they offer. SPRD already does so much with so little, and as a parent, coach, and member of the Sisters Country community, I do not want to see any cutbacks in services that we have grown to love and cherish.

Please join myself and my family in voting YES on Measure 9-160 to ensure quality recreation, community services, and events for all of Sisters Country into the future.

Eli Madrone

Obituaries

Roberta Jean Achterhof

December 23, 1942 — March 25, 2023

Roberta Jean Achterhof of Eugene, Oregon, formally of Woodhull, Illinois, passed away on March 25, 2023.

She was born December 23, 1942, in Moline, Illinois, to Anton and Caroline Calsyn and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1961. Roberta married Robert Litton of Woodhull, and had three children. She worked as a grocery clerk and bookkeeper in the Super Valu store in Galva, Illinois. Roberta later married Gil Achterhof in 1983 and moved to Eugene. They also lived in Sisters for 10 years before returning to Eugene in 2017.

Roberta enjoyed gardening, playing golf with her friends, and traveling. She was a member and past president of the Assistance League of Eugene, which is nationwide in assisting communities to become a better place to live through volunteering and donations. She was an active member of the Sisters Rotary Club and later the Eugene Delta Rotary Club.

She especially enjoyed her family, 13 grandchildren, and new great-grandson, Waylon Litton.

Roberta and Gil traveled to many parts of the country and world, including walking the Great Wall

s s s

Renew local option

To the Editor:

Our local schools are a focus of community pride and community involvement in Sisters. Through various organizations and countless examples of personal initiative, citizen volunteers step up every day in support our teachers and staff in countless ways: enriching classes from science to civics, assisting struggling math learners and beginning readers, mentoring students, helping coach and cheer on our sports teams,

See LETTERS on page 22

in China, riding a camel in Egypt, taking river cruises in Russia and Europe, hiking the Denali Park in Alaska, trips to Australia, New Zealand, the Far East, up the Amazon River, and sailing around the Horn of South America.

Roberta lived with Alzheimer’s for 12 years. Her family wishes to thank the great staff at Brightstar Care and Elder Health & Living for the loving care they provided for Roberta. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Research.

Survivors include her children, Rod (Michelle) Litton of Astoria: Jean (Kent) Achterhof of Eugene; Scott (Eileen) Litton of Riverside, California; stepson Kent (Jean) Achterhof; stepdaughter Leann (Tom) Lasters of Grand Rivers, Kentucky. She was proceeded in death by her parents and sister, Patricia De

Obituaries Policy: The Nugget Newspaper does not charge a fee to publish obituaries. Obituaries may be up to 400 words and include one photo. Obituary submissions must be received by 10 a.m. on Monday to editor@nuggetnews.com or hand delivered to 442 E. Main Ave., Sisters.

SIGN CAMP: Finished project graces Sisters Movie House

Continued from page 3

their place YKnot Ranch. Mearns is an artist, a thinker, and a builder with an outgoing personality.

“He is like a big kid,” says Cynthia.

He absolutely loves signs — all sizes, all shapes and colors. Signs decorate the inside walls and exterior surfaces of the modern shop buildings on the YKnot Ranch. Perhaps you’ve seen his Acme Van driving around town. With 40 years in the sign business, Mearns has returned to his roots: creating, fabricating, and making all sorts of stuff.

As it turns out, John Mearns also has the aptitude of a mentor.

Once a year, MuralFest brings together hundreds of volunteers, called “Walldogs” from all over the country in one location to paint murals and old-fashioned advertising signs on local buildings. Their work is donated to the communities where they hold these festivals.

Last summer, John volunteered as a painter when the MuralFest was held in The Dalles. That is where he met some students from Trade Tech who were fellow “Walldogs.” After all the paint dried and they returned to their respective homes, John and the students stayed in touch.

Over the fall and winter months, John conceptualized the Sign Camp idea as an event where he could mentor a few Trade Tech students who would build a sign project for the betterment of communities like Sisters. It would be a real-world job that would encompass all facets and phases of the sign trade – art, design, fabrication drawings, bidding, building, and painting the sign, installing it, and finally, accounting for the costs.

To expedite his idea, he would donate his time, price the total project as near to cost, and recruit the manand woman-power, all in hopes of doing something meaningful that would give back to the community.

All that was needed was a really big sign job. The right project practically fell into their laps one evening while John and Cynthia were having burgers at Three Creeks Brewing Co. John looked out the window and across the parking lot, then said, “What

about the Movie House? They look like they could use a new sign.”

Cynthia shook her head. She was concerned for Movie House owners Drew and Yee Kaza. They had made it through the pandemic even though the theater was closed for many months, and are now appearing to make a strong recovery. But she worried that perhaps finances might still be an issue.

Still, it was worth a try.

John walked over to the theater and shared his thoughts with Drew Kaza, who blossomed at the idea.

“As a matter of fact, we were just talking about rebranding! Your timing could not be more perfect!” he told him.

Built in 2006 on the FivePine Campus, the Sisters Movie House has matured under the care of the Kaza family. But the hand-painted blue, gold, and white signs were beginning to show their age, thanks to the combination of hot summer sunshine and cold winters. New signs now welcome visitors driving into Sisters on Highway 20. The addition of “& Café” reinforces the unique cinema-plus-dining experience of a night out at Sisters Movie House.

Here is how it happened:

With the Kazas on board, Mearns’ Sign Camp vision was actually proceeding. He could hardly believe his good fortune.

“Without Drew and Yee endorsing the project, this wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Prior to the Trade Tech team’s arrival, Mearns bought materials. He also negotiated the sign permits from the City of Sisters, in accordance with the local sign ordinance. Upon the arrival of the students, and before they began working, he educated them about choice and selection of materials, and the necessary approval processes.

Meanwhile, Sisters artist Dennis McGregor and designer Sally Sundsten of Bend revised the logo they created 17 years ago for the original theater owner, Lisa Clausen. Mearns used the revised design to demonstrate the importance of honoring the original branding intent.

With all the preparatory steps complete, the Trade Tech team had a short window of time in which to do a big job. The students learned new skills for using shop tools as they cut out and assembled eight big panels. They traced the shapes, cut and fabricated framing and

panels, and transferred the art using perforated paper patterns (pounce patterns).

They used special lowmoisture, cold-temperature paint for the primer and base coat that would dry quickly. In the shop, where the temperature was 40 degrees, they sometimes sat and watched paint dry. And then they painted some more.

Finally came the fun part, where their sign attained its own unique character, with hand-painted letters using special brushes and the artist’s touch. The skills that they learned will last them a lifetime.

With all of the sign parts complete, it was off to Sisters Rental for a boomlift.

At sunup on Easter Sunday morning, the team moved everything from YKnot Ranch to Sisters Movie House for installation. Tools and sign panels were unloaded and staged for efficiency. Sawhorses and caution tapes were placed to keep the area free of traffic.

As he had all week, Mearns carefully explained each step to the team. Each piece needed to be raised and secured to the building. One at a time, they strapped on a safety harness and rode up in the basket with Mearns to fasten the panels in place. When not taking their turn on the boom lift, they relaxed and reflected on the work they accomplished.

As with any installation, there were a few minor adjustments made on-site, but basically it went as planned. There was a scatter of raindrops throughout the day, but the real shower held off until the final panel had been anchored to the building.

As final steps, the team returned to Sisters Movie House on Monday morning to clean the surfaces of the signs and do final touch-up. Then it was time for a trail hike, last views of the mountains, and cups of Sisters Coffee. Before they wrapped up, the team calculated all of

the hard costs on the project. It was the final lesson in project management.

When contacted by The Nugget , Clausen expressed delight with the how the new signs came about.

McGregor shared that when he was originally working on the sign design, he asked Clausen about her prior business experience.

She told him that she managed stores for Nike. “Which ones?” he inquired. “All of them,” she replied. In a fitting conclusion to this saga, Drew and Yee Kaza treated the sign team to dinner and a movie of their choice on Sunday afternoon.

They picked “Air,” the story of Nike’s most successful shoe, the Air Jordan.

Tuesday, May 2 or Wednesday, May 3, 2023

The Sisters Movie House sign project turned out to be an educational opportunity.

PHOTO BY DENNIS SCHMIDLING

Without Drew and Yee endorsing the project, this wouldn’t have happened.

— John Mearns

Continued from page 20

sponsoring arts programs, guiding students on backcountry experiences, kickstarting innovative new programs of study, serving on committees and boards....

The list is endless, and the results are seen in consistently strong outcomes for our students.

For 24 continuous years, the most critical form of community support — one which involves all of us — is the local option. First approved by Sisters voters in 1999 and renewed by vote five times since, the local option today provides approximately 10 percent of our schools’ annual operating budget. That dollar amount is roughly equivalent to the expense required to support 14 of the teachers who work with our students daily.

The large majority of ours and any school district’s operating budget is personnel-related expenses, with the rest dominated by non discretionary expenses. Losing 10 percent of our budget through nonrenewal of the local option would necessitate reductions in teaching staff, resulting in larger classroom sizes, reductions in programs of learning and student support services.

The good news is that we can avoid the stark prospect of deep cuts in staff and services without raising anyone’s tax rates. Voting YES on Measure 9-161 on your May ballot simply renews the local option at its present rate, the same rate at which we have supported our schools for years, a rate that is lower than school-related taxes in either Bend or Redmond.

As a parent, volunteer, and former teacher, I have seen firsthand the impact of the local option in the Sisters schools. My own two children attended all three of our local schools through graduation, benefitting from the unique educational programs and strong mentor relationships which could only exist in our tight-knit, small-community setting. Today’s students deserve the same opportunities.

I continue to support the local option because it is an essential component of our schools’ success, and in turn an essential piece of who we are as a community. Please look for the arrival of your May ballot and join me in voting YES on Measure 9-161. See https://yesforsistersschools.com for more information.

Rob Corrigan

To the Editor:

s s s

My husband and I have had the good fortune to see our daughter and son educated in all phases of the Sisters School District, beginning with elementary school and graduating from high school in 2000 and 2005 respectively.

When my children were of school age, I initially worked with the Talented and Gifted program at the elementary school before teaching German, technology, and coaching swimming until my retirement about 10 years ago.

Prior to 1992, Sisters School District did not have its own high school. Then, after years of bussing high schoolers to Redmond, Sisters School District opened its own 8-12 building with dedicated administrators and staff, with the mission and vision of becoming the best small high school in the country. Driven by this audacious undertaking, the dedication of the community, and emphasis on technology, academics, art, music, and sports, as

well as small class sizes, created a model that was envied by many.

Not to be outdone, the elementary and middle schools developed their own path toward excellence with low student-to-teacher ratios, high academic standards, and support for each child. Our daughter and son were the direct beneficiaries of this education, but we, as a family and community, have also benefited greatly from the strong relationships that the Sisters School District helps build.

In 2000, after an incredible eight years of progress and improvement, it became apparent that continuing to grow and foster these successful models necessitated the District seeking a local option levy to support the excellent programs, dedicated staff, and driven students that were making such strident gains. That first measure passed. And so has every subsequent measure that was necessary to properly fund and care for our district. Because we, the voters, knew it was our job to protect this unique and special resource.

Much has changed since that first request to pass a local option levy: the community has grown to about four times its size; housing is a challenge for many; and the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional burdens. But the one constant is our personal and the community’s collective desire to offer the best educational opportunities to our children. Outlaws that graduated around the time of the first local option — our daughter included — are raising their children in this community and are working hard to maintain and enhance what the school district has developed.

Next month, residents will again be asked to renew the local option. This is not a new tax. Voting YES on measure 9-161 simply continues the hard work we have all put in over the past decades by providing about 10 percent of the District’s annual operating budget. This funding is vital to keep staffing at its present levels, maintain small class sizes, offer one-of-a-kind electives such as IEE, Americana, and flight science, and keep every student in the District emotionally connected.

Please vote YES on Local Option Levy 9-161.

Isolde Hedemark s s s

To the Editor:

We have been given the greatest ever — the continued support of our children and the teachers who inspire them, teach them, and give them the tools of a better life. A YES vote (on Measure 9-161) continues the quality educational programs that our kids and grandkids deserve. Please join me and vote yes on the renewal of the Sisters schools local option levy as the future of our children are in your hands,

Dennis Geltner

To the Editor:

s s s

Vote YES on Measure 9-161.

As a child growing up in Bend I never imagined that I would someday call Sisters home. Although I had family and friends who lived in Sisters, I did not visit that often. I always felt like the town was a faraway Western fairy tale that was a fun place to hang out for the day, but could not comprehend what it would be like to live in such a small community. Having now lived in Sisters for over seven

years, I cannot imagine living anywhere else.

Sisters is a place where citizens support each other and school programs that set our community apart from the rest. As a mother, I am grateful for the incredible education my two sons are receiving in our school district. In fact, the school system was a driving factor that led my husband and me to choose Sisters as our home. The incredible teachers, small class sizes, and variety of unique and valuable class electives and activities really set Sisters apart from any other education system in Central Oregon. My children have opportunities to learn and explore practical knowledge and skills to help them be successful in life, all because our community has prioritized the needs of our education system.

To continue supporting our teachers and the future of our students, I am asking members of our community to vote YES on Ballot Measure 9-161. Renewing the Sisters Local Option Levy for school operations ensures that our schools receive the funding they need to operate at the level of excellence our students and teachers deserve. A YES vote simply renews the existing Sisters Local Option Levy that has been in place since 2000, allowing our community to invest in the future of our education system without imposing any new taxes.

Join me in voting YES on Ballot Measure 9-161 to help maintain our outstanding schools and continue funding approximately 16 teaching positions and unique opportunities like IEE, woodworking, culinary, aviation, and so much more!

Sara Brang

s s s

The taxpayer’s burden

To the Editor:

We are confronted by fire zones, deer zones, and constantly rising property taxes. Maybe the landed class will be relegated to living in tents and under bridges while the unmanaged forests burn, the cougar eat the deer, and illegal aliens live on the taxpayers’ dime in hotels with room service.

Larry Benson

s s s

Things to be grateful for

To the Editor:

A big thank-you to Sue Stafford and The Nugget (April 12) for reporting the good things that are happening in Sisters. Sue has covered the growth of Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC) and STARS since the beginning and always shares their accomplishments and challenges in a thoughtful and balanced way. As an AFSC board member and STARS driver myself, I can vouch for the dedication and hard work of our volunteers. It’s rewarding service that has positively impacted the lives of our Sisters Country neighbors and (new) friends.

Although contentious news often makes the front page (and the Letters to the Editor), let’s all think carefully about how much we have to be grateful for. We have people in City Hall who work hard every day, doing the best they can. We have a fantastic local newspaper with dedicated staff.

We have people at SPRD that provide countless hours of fun, learning and supervised care for our

See LETTERS on page 25

Sisters Rodeo is the creation of dozens of hard-working volunteers. The first work party of the season turned out last weekend to get the grounds spruced up and ready to host The Biggest Little Show in the World.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

DESIGNED & BUILT BY MASTER WO ODWORKER DALE HOLUB, 541-719-0109

Hand-painted signs make a comeback

By Helen Schmidling Correspondent

Signs are everywhere, and they are mostly a visual necessity. They tell us where to go and how fast to get there, what to buy, and how much it will cost. They warn us of danger and direct us to safety. They inform us and they can even irritate us.

As a kid, maybe you hand-painted a sign for your first lemonade stand, or perhaps you’ve recently hand-lettered a sign for your garage sale.

Today, most professional signs are computer-designed and fabricated, both as a result of and due to the cost of modern technology. There is a huge difference between the visual noise of computergenerated signage and the careful design and execution of hand-painted signs.

Real hand-lettered signs are rare these days. But thanks to an interest in all things retro, hand-painted signs are making a comeback.

The Los Angeles Trade Technical College (or “Trade Tech”) is home to the only accredited instructional program in the country where students may earn a certificate or an associate’s degree in sign graphics.

Four promising Trade Tech students were part of the recent Sisters Sign Camp (see story, page 3). They are Noor Salim, Natalie “Nat” Uduwela, Heath Clark, and Nat Iosbaker (pronounced OSS-baker). All are in their early 30s, and all have worked in the creative arts industry in Southern California for a few years. They arrived in Sisters with a mix of experience and a ton of enthusiasm for the nearly vanishing art form – the hand-painted sign.

After graduating from University of California Santa Cruz, Salim taught preschool art and education. She heard about Trade Tech

from a screen-printing mentor, who said that’s the place to learn.

Uduwela studied architecture and worked in design for her school’s theater department. She got into computer coding, but missed the hands-on aspects of theater, including set building and painting. She studied typography, and then discovered that sign painting is a whole new ballgame that combines all these interests.

Clark has been an artist and illustrator who got into sign painting as an employee at Trader Joe’s. Completely self-taught, he did freelance lettering of restaurant menu walls and shop windows, transitioned into event production, and picked up a lot of contract work.

Iosbaker is currently a working sign painter in Long Beach, CA.

They met each other when they began their study at Trade Tech in 2020. The pandemic sent them all home for “two weeks,” which turned into a full year. They took some online classes and developed friendship by hanging out on Zoom for five hours a day, five days a week. Last year, they returned to in-person classes, but a fire on campus damaged the one building that housed the sign graphics program. So they improvised, even turning hallways into building and painting spaces.

They met John

Mearns

at the Northwest Mural Fest in The Dalles last summer, where they all were Walldogs. When presented with the opportunity, they jumped at the chance to spend their spring break working on the Sign Camp project.

Once they arrived at YKnot Ranch, they had the opportunity to spread their wings, and access to all of the tools, tables, and tricks of the trade that Mearns had to offer. When not in the shop, they relaxed while staying in comfortable quarters at the ranch. They loved the views, the mountains, and Sisters Coffee.

They worked hard and they had fun under the mentorship of Mearns.

“They had a deadline, and it was hard,” said Mearns. “They had some 12-hour workdays. That is business.”

Asked about lessons learned, they responded simply, perhaps because they really were exhausted.

Uduwela said, “Don’t run in the shop!” and “Sweep less enthusiastically!” Apparently, she raised some dust that settled on wet paint.

“John showed us tools and taught us countless little tricks that we can take with us forever,” said Salim. “Mentorship is important!

It’s rare and it’s special.”

Asked about the future

of Sign Camp, Mearns sees potential.

“This first project was such a success that we are now thinking of doing it again,” he said. “It will take a combination of the right type and size of project and a schedule that allows students to come here when school is not in session.

“I’ve told a few of my fellow sign-painter friends

about it and they are interested in helping out if the job needs more experts to instruct the students. At first, I would like to keep it local, and would also like to get local, up-and-coming sign painters to participate, but if the idea grows legs, I could see traveling to other locations that have an interest or a need for some hand-painted work.”

Sign Camp participants turned in long, hard work days.

PHOTO BY JOHN MEARNS

Young people have chance to work in the forest

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Local youth have an opportunity to give back to their community while working outdoors in local forests — and earning school credit and scholarship opportunities.

The deadline to apply to participate in the Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (COYCC) on the Sisters Ranger District is May 1. The application is located online at www. heartoforegon.org.

A variety of conservation work on public lands will be done, including fire fuel reduction, trail maintenance, invasive species control, habitat restoration, and fencing. The COYCC is a Heart of Oregon Corps seasonal summer program run in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service (USFS).

The eight-week session runs from June 26 to August 17, with participants working four days a week, Monday through Thursday, nine to 10 hours a day. Participants will be paid $15 an hour, receive a half to one full high school credit, and have the opportunity for scholarship funds.

Built into the program are opportunities to interact with Forest Service staff and the public. Career days provide guidance on building a resume and learning about a career in the USFS. There is a party at the end of the eight weeks.

In 2007, Sisters resident Chase Kleint was a sophomore at Sisters High School.

He participated in that summer’s COYCC.

“I figured I would get to work in the woods, get good exercise to get in shape for football, earn some money, and make my parents happy that I had a job,” Kleint recalled. “There were six of us, three boys and three girls.”

That eight-week experience led to where Kleint is today — working as a field ranger out of the Sisters Ranger District office. Following his eight weeks with COYCC, he participated in the IEE program at the high school both his junior and senior year.

He went on to COCC, where he focused on outdoor leadership and tourism. He graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in recreation resource management. Since graduating from college, Kleint has spent 10 years with the Forest Service, seven doing seasonal work and three as a permanent employee.

He has worked on the Stanislaus National Forest, Eldorado NF, CaribouTarghee NF, on a Bend trail crew in the Deschutes

National Forest, and two years on the Willamette NF Detroit Ranger Station. He and his wife, Danica, and 2-year old daughter are delighted to be back in Sisters. Fortunately, Danica works remotely so was able to accompany Chase to his different assignments as they lived in their trailer.

According to Kleint, early in a career with the USFS, moving around and taking off-season jobs between summers is common.

As a field ranger, Kleint contacts dispersed campers outside organized campgrounds.

“I’m a jack-of-all-trades,” he said, explaining he has worked with lots of different departments within the Forest Service.

The COYCC has been in existence in Central Oregon for 23 years, according to Skyler Ogden, the Sisters developed recreation manager who oversees the YCC in Sisters. He said he is engaged year-round in the planning for the summer program. He said the staff in the Sisters Ranger District office has an overall dedication and passion for the program. This time of year, they are meeting weekly to be sure all the parts are in place for this summer.

Ogden stressed the importance of the safety standards and protocols that are in place for the YCC. They check in with dispatch when they reach their assigned area each day and check out at the end of the day. They also take adequate breaks to

avoid heat exhaustion.

The physical labor the youth are doing helps them get stronger and boosts their confidence, according to Ogden. He recommends that a youth who plans to join the YCC should be doing some physical training between now and when the program starts.

Kleint said he has come full circle. He and Ogden are currently working on a project that the YCC will be doing this summer at Three Creek Meadow and Pole Creek. When Kleint was a YCC member, they built a log rail fence in those areas, having to split the logs. This summer, those fences need to be replaced and the YCC will be doing it. This time,

they will be using precut log poles.

“YCC is great life experience whether you go into this field or not,” said Kleint. “You get to work outside, getting lots of different experiences. The camaraderie you build from shared experiences creates a real bond of friendship. Plus, you get to learn about the area surrounding Sisters – the campsites and trail heads – and gain an appreciation for where we live.”

Representatives of the Heart of Oregon Corps and the USFS will be at Sisters High School this month during lunchtime and in the IEE classes to talk to students and answer questions about YCC. For more information call 541-633-7834.

Forest Service employees Chase Kleint and Skyler Ogen, in front, pause during work on fence replacement being done at Three Creek Meadow. Kleint is now a field ranger for Sisters Ranger District — after getting a taste of the work through Youth Conservation Corps.

PHOTO PROVIDED

I figured I would get to work in the woods, get good exercise to get in shape for football, earn some money...

— Chase Kleint

PHOTO BY LOMA SMITH

PHOTO

JERRY BALDOCK

Kids turn out in force for SPRD Carnival

By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

Good weather and a wide variety of activities brought hundreds of locals to Sisters Parks & Recreation District’s (SPRD) Kids Carnival last Saturday. Dancing, bicycle safety, face painting, exploring trucks, and planting starts were among the possibilities.

“It was such a great day,” enthused Nikki Olson, whose role at SPRD includes coordinating special events and the District’s care programs. She’s been with SPRD since August.

“The turnout was about 700 people. We were packed,” she said. “It was like, holy moly!”

SPRD sought to celebrate partnerships with many organizations in the area. “We partnered with Sisters –Camp Sherman Fire District for their bike safety event, so we had tons of families come and get their kids fitted for helmets and go on a bike course,” explained Olson. “They brought a fire truck, but had to run off on an emergency call.”

“We had tractors and trucks, and Bonneville Power came out with a couple of their big rigs. Kids could learn about their trade programs,” Olson said.

Crafts, selfies, games,

LETTERS

Continued from page 22

and puzzles were available as well. “Seed to Table did planting activities with the kids,” Olson said. “It was so sweet. They got to plant their own little seedling to take home.”

Olson appreciated the physical movement activities. BendBits Kids, which frequently leads classes at SPRD, offered gymnastic activities for little kids.

“We also had Sisters Dance Academy; they had a fun twirl-walk for the kids to do,” she said.

“Circle of Friends did a really great booth, a fishing booth,” Olson added. Better Together, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and others were also on hand.

“We want to make families aware of all the programs we do, but also make them aware of all the familyoriented organizations in our district,” said Olson.

Kids could take a passport, encouraging them to visit every booth and activity to get their passport stamped. They received prizes, activities, and other rewards, including a raffle for a $100 gift certificate to SPRD’s programs.

Said Olson, “We were excited about how it turned out. Luckily we had good weather. It was just a great, free event.”

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

kids, and activities and recreational opportunities for young folks and the young at heart.

Our library and local bookstore are the best — and getting better! The School District provides some of the finest education in the region and is preparing for future success with its building expansion. And our artists, musicians, restaurateurs, and small businesses create a cultural vibe that is beyond compare.

The list goes on and on: first responders, volunteers, health professionals, retirees, grocers, bakers, construction workers, faith-based communities...too many to list, but all important and contributing to the success of our town.

We live in a beautiful place and I’m grateful to be part of it.

Dixie Eckford

Families from across Central Oregon turned out to enjoy kids’ activities at an SPRD carnival held Saturday.

BY

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.

Film, discussion take on fire in the West

Discover Your Forest and the Deschutes National Forest are hosting a public screening of a Landmark Stories documentary “The West Is Burning,” followed by a facilitated panel discussion with local fire, land management, and forestry experts.

This free community event will be held at the Sisters Movie House on Thursday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m.

“The West Is Burning” examines the history of forest

management and social conflict that has contributed to current forest conditions, causing longer fire seasons and unprecedented impacts. The film emphasizes the need to act to generate positive change in forests, watersheds, and communities.

Six real-life perspectives drive the film’s narrative to help raise awareness about the conditions of forests in the western U.S. Their stories demonstrate the need to embrace a new era of forest

stewardship, and the unique partnerships that are being built across communitybased organizations, government entities, and private and non-governmental organizations. These thought leaders highlight the need for a unified response to climate change, land use, and forest restoration, and emphasize the importance of community-based solutions to these challenges.

The event will consist of a screening of the 56-minute

film followed by a 30- to 45-minute facilitated panel discussion with local experts and a special guest from the film. The panelists include Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire District Chief Roger Johnson, Deschutes County Forester Kevin Moriarty, Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid, a Sisters Ranger District fire and fuels management specialist, and Blue Mountain Forest Partners Executive Director Mark Webb.

Representatives from

NUGGET FLASHBACK – 31 YEARS AGO

local forestry and fire organizations will host tables and share information on wildfire preparedness and forest restoration collaboratives in the lobby before and after the event.

The screening is a free, ticketed event. For more information and to register for the event, visit bit.ly/3LS1Gu7 or contact Discover Your Forest’s Wildland Fire Education Coordinator Emily Curtis at emily.curtis@ discovernw.org.

Maintaining Sisters’ starry skies

We’re in the midst of International Dark Skies Week — April 15-22 — celebrating the star-spangled beauty of the night sky that is dear to the hearts of many folks in Sisters. It’s also something that is in danger of fading away, as increased growth and more aggressive use of lighting threatens to turn Sisters from a rural outpost of nightly wonder to just another semi-urban area.

We don’t have to lose our starry, starry nights.

According to the McDonald Observatory’s Dark Skies Initiative (DSI), “We can reclaim vast amounts of energy currently wasted inadvertently into the night sky ... by using light fixtures that are shielded to reflect light down where it is needed, as well as using the smallest number of lights and lowest wattage bulbs necessary to effectively light an area.”

DSI asserts that “leading by example through the installation of downwardpointing outdoor light fixtures is a great place for home and building owners to start. Once people see it in action, and understand its implications for cost savings and enhanced visibility, they are far more likely to adopt good lighting practices on their own.”

Downward-directed light, shielded by a fixture and using low-wattage bulbs, is the most fundamental form of dark-skies-friendly lighting. For security and to illuminate areas you might need to access in the dark (your trash can for example), a motion sensor light that comes on when you need it then goes off is better than a light that is always on.

Both the city of Sisters and Deschutes County have “Dark Skies” ordinances. The City’s reads that:

“All nonexempt outdoor lighting fixtures shall have directed shielding so as to prevent direct light from the fixture from shining beyond the property limits where the fixture is installed. This means that a person standing at the adjacent property line would not see the light emitting source.”

That ordinance is not easy to enforce; staff could spend every night out being the light police.

As local astronomer Ron Thorkildson noted, “While Sisters still has amazing stars at night, many individuals and businesses have installed light fixtures that contribute to light pollution. When such light fixtures are replaced by lamps with shields, glare into the sky is reduced, money and energy are saved, and the light is directed where it is needed. “While many

members of the Sisters community value being able to view the multitude of stars in our dark skies, our community is growing. With new developments occurring in the area, it is important to recognize the resource our community has in our dark skies, and that we need to be deliberate in the engineering of our lighting.”

Thorkildson made those observations back in 2015. With Sisters’ current rate of growth, the issue only becomes more acute.

Maintaining dark skies really requires voluntary compliance from people who want to be good neighbors and good stewards of Sisters’ natural environment. In many cases, that’s a matter of education. As the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) notes, many people may not even be aware that their lighting is creating a problem for their neighbors and community.

The IDA website (www. darksky.org) offers advice on lighting — and how to productively approach your neighbors about theirs.

“We suggest taking the following steps to educate your neighbor, and by extension your community, about the value of dark-sky-friendly lighting,” IDSA states.

• Make friends, not enemies. Your neighbors probably don’t even realize their lighting is bothersome.

• Stay positive and don’t argue. Be tactful and understanding about your neighbor’s right to light their property.

• Suggest alternatives to their current fixture. Ask them to move the light, shield it, or add a motion sensor so it’s activated only when needed. Offer to help get this done.

• Be informative. Talking to your neighbor is a great opportunity to be an advocate for good lighting. There are many reasons to use darksky-friendly lighting. Read up on the issues regarding light pollution. IDA also has a number of educational resources that can be useful.

• It’s useful to know the local costs of electricity (cents per kWh) and the local lighting control ordinances. This information is available on most city websites, from your regional utility company, and on your utility bill. IDA also has this useful guide to help you find out if there is a lighting ordinance in your town.

• You may also want to compile a list of local businesses or homes in the neighborhood with good-quality lighting as an example of effective security measures that are dark-sky friendly.

• Having a list of shielded

light fixtures to provide as alternatives to your neighbor’s current lighting is also recommended. Use IDA’s Fixture Seal of Approval database to find dark-skyfriendly fixtures and devices.

• Don’t dismiss their need to feel safe. Remember that home is a place where everyone wants to feel relaxed and safe.

• Explain that light trespass is a form of light pollution, but we strongly advise that you don’t threaten legal action. The idea of a lawsuit can create bad feelings among the whole neighborhood.

• Remember that everyone wants the same thing: a chance to relax in his or her own environment. Work together to create an atmosphere that benefits the community. It’s not difficult or expensive to each do our bit to make Sisters more darkskies-friendly. It just requires a little awareness and effort to help each other (not) see the light.

This week is INternational Dark Skies Week.

For more information on International Dark Skies Week, visit https://idsw.darksky.org.

Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in The Nugget’s Home & Garden section in 2021.

PHOTO BY JAROD GATLEY

SUDOKU Easy Peasy!

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

SOCCER: Outlaws players are raising funds for trip

Continued from page 3

liked the color red it was easy to decide on red-andwhite uniforms. Momentum Printing in Sisters has sponsored the team and donated the cost of all screen printing on their uniforms.

The possibility of going to an international tournament arose when the varsity team finished a very successful season and decided that they wanted to play more together. They thought it would be fun to go to Germany and play with Becca Clausen, a junior foreign exchange student from Hamburg, who played with the Lady Outlaws the entire season. Julie Holden (Coach Brian Holden’s wife) immediately started checking into tournaments in Germany, and after confirming players wanted to attend, it was a go.

At that point several parents stepped up to help organize and coordinate the trip. Kevin Schiller, who speaks fluent German, contacted the Laila Cup and started to gather information and make the initial plans and reservations. Julie (Holden) took over the job of communications and fundraising, Deb Riehle took over as treasurer, and Julie Patton stepped in wherever she was needed.

Sixteen players will be attending the international event, along with Coach Brian Holden and at least one parent of each player. The athletes are excited about the upcoming opportunity and shared their thoughts with The Nugget

“It’s a huge opportunity,” said Lilly Sundstrom. “We’re very lucky to be able to go. We really are a family and are so close, on and off the field. This trip wouldn’t have been possible without Coach Brain and his devotion to the team. We’re also superstoked to be able to play with Becca, our foreign exchange student from Germany, one more time. I’m excited to bond with our team even more, as well as connect with players on the other teams. It will be a great way to wrap up the season.”

Marley Holden said, “When my dad first started talking about going to Germany, I said, ‘Yeah right! — like sure we’re going to play soccer in Germany — that’s realistic, Dad!’

Through the whole process just talking it didn’t seem real. And now with school coming to an end, it’s finally getting real. I’m looking forward to the diversity we’ll see in the playing styles, the girls we’ll meet, and the other coaches. I think it will

be something that we’ll be able to bring back home and be a stronger team next fall.”

She added, “I really want to thank my dad for building this team up and getting us to where we are, and creating this family that’s completely irreplaceable. And being completely unbiased, he’s the best coach I’ve ever had — even if he wasn’t my dad.”

Senior Josie Patton told The Nugget that to have the chance to play with her team one last time is an amazing opportunity.

“I’m so grateful for the chance to go,” said Patton. “I’m really excited to get to experience playing at a whole new level against teams from all around the world. It’s something not many people get to do.”

Izzy Schiller said, “It is a super-cool opportunity to experience how the game is played in other countries while also having some preseason team bonding opportunities! This type of trip doesn’t happen every year, so being able to go is all-around super awesome!”

The cost per player is approximately $2,000 each, and to help offset the cost players will hold three different fundraisers.

On May 20, players plan to referee a three v. three soccer tournament through the Bend Timbers Football Club. The event will be held at Pine Nursery Park on the Timbers’ turf field.

The Oregon Outlaws will also host and coach a Sisters Park & Recreation District Youth Soccer Camp for grades 1-8, for both boys and girls, July 27-30 from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost is $60 per person entry, and a T-shirt will be included in the cost of the camp.

Their final fundraiser will be at the Outlaw Open held at Aspen Lakes on June 1. The golf tournament attracts many local golf enthusiasts.

If you’re interested in donating an item or service to be auctioned or raffled off, or even sponsor the event or team, contact Julie Holden. Any of those proceeds would also benefit girls soccer and the Oregon Outlaws FC.

For more information or to donate to help players with the cost, email julie.holden@ ssd6.org or deb.riehle@ssd6. org.

I’m so grateful for the chance to go. I’m really excited to get to experience playing at a whole new level against teams from all around the world.

— Josie Patton

JONES UPGRADES LLC

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

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

102

Rentals 484 W. Washington, 1137 sq. ft. available May 1st. $1.25 sq. ft. monthly. South side of the building. Do not bother current tenants. No showings until May 1st. Dave 503-522-6306

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

Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor

RV parking. 7-day access. Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies.

STORAGE WITH BENEFITS

• 8 x 20 dry box

• Fenced yard, RV & trailers

• In-town, gated, 24-7 Kris@earthwoodhomes.com

103 Residential Rentals

Looking for something to do while vacationing in the Sisters area? Visit SistersOregonGuide.com

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

403 Pets

Three Rivers Humane Society

Where love finds a home!

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

500 Services

We’ve got your cats covered!

Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com 541-306-7551 • Julie

Home Repairs & Remodeling

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

Mike Jones, 503-428-1281

Local resident • CCB #201650

600 Tree Service & Forestry

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

541-390-1206

beavercreeklog@yahoo.com

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

CCB #235303 Insurance & Bond

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

541-719-8475

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

GEORGE’S SEPTIC TANK SERVICE

“A Well Maintained Septic System Protects the Environment”

541-549-2871

SMALL Engine REPAIR

Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers

Sisters Rental

331 W. Barclay Drive

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

Sisters Tree Care, LLC

Tree preservation, Pruning, Removals & Storm Damage

Brad Bartholomew

ISA Cert. Arborist UT-4454A

503-914-8436 • CCB #218444

4 Brothers Tree Service

Sisters' Premier Tree Experts!

JT’s CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC. Local resident of Sisters, servicing all of Central Oregon. Services provided: Building planning & permits, project management/ project supervision, budgeting/ estimating, subcontractor management, bank subcontractor invoicing. Both commercial & residential construction with over 50 years experience in the construction industry. Contact: jtdconst1@gmail.com

541-310-3133

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

Factory Trained Technicians

Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

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

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 25 years of stuff

16715 Bitterbrush Ln. Sisters April 22 & 23. Sat & Sun 9-5

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

We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397

Sisters Car Connection da#3919

SistersCarConnection.com

541-549-9631

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

501 Computers & Communications Technology Problems?

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

Jason Williams

Sisters local • 25 yrs. experience

541-719-8329

Oregontechpro.com

SISTERS SATELLITE

TV • PHONE • INTERNET

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

502 Carpet & Upholstery

Cleaning

GORDON’S LAST TOUCH

Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY

Member Better Business Bureau

• Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon

Since 1980

Call 541-549-3008

M & J CARPET CLEANING

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

541-549-9090

504 Handyman

SISTERS HONEYDO

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

Scott Dady 541-728-4266

– TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –

Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk

Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency

Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

– FOREST MANAGEMENT –

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

Projects!

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

** Free Estimates **

Owner James Hatley & Sons

541-815-2342

4brostrees.com

Licensed, Bonded and Insured

CCB-215057

601 Construction

CENIGA'S MASONRY, INC.

Brick • Block • Stone • Pavers

CCB #181448 – 541-350-6068

www.CenigasMasonry.com

PERENNIAL BUILDING LLC

Local | Quality | Experienced

Currently taking remodel projects for the spring and summer months. Contact karen@perennialbuilding.com

www.perennialbuilding.com

541-728-3189 | CCB #226794

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

Construction & Renovation

Custom Residential Projects

All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448

Earthwood Timberframes

• Design & shop fabrication

• Recycled fir and pine beams

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Sawmill/woodshop services www.earthwoodhomes.com

Pat Burke

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

Lara’s Construction LLC. CCB#223701

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

Custom Homes Additions - Remodels

Residential Building Projects

Becke William Pierce CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384

Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com

EMERGENCIES IN SISTERS COUNTRY: BE PREPARED

Thursday, May 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Doors Open at 5:30 p.m., Program 6-7:30 p.m.

Sisters Fire Hall Community Room • 301 S. Elm St.

Citizens4Community (C4C) wants you to prepare for disasters and emergencies in Sisters Country...wildfires, earthquakes, snow and storm events. Get valuable information on how to prepare your family and property, get emergency alerts, follow evacuation routes, and utilize local, state, and federal response and recovery services.

Moderator: Jim Barnett C4C Forum Co-Chair

Speakers: Chief Roger Johnson Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District

Sgt. Nathan Garibay Deschutes County Emergency Services Manager

Ian Reid District Ranger, USFS Sisters

Carrie Sammons Central & Eastern Oregon Chapter, American Red Cross

Devin Thompson Executive Director, McKenzie Valley Long-Term Recovery Group

Tammy Taylor Insurance Agent, Bisnett Insurance

Jack McGowan Director, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District

Presented by:

The Nugget Newspaper

For more information:

Citizens4Community.com/events