Meet candidates vying for three seats on the Sunriver Owners Association Board of Directors Page 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SROA News.................... 4 Nature Center................ 8 Calendar...................... 13
Public Safety................ 27 Classified..................... 38 Editorial...................... 39
SROA is slowly reopening some amenities as allowed under state & county requirements Page 22
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
JUNE • 2020
VOLUME XLVI • NUMBER 6
Sunriver slowly opening following weeks of closure
Coronavirus hasn’t stopped SROA’s Public Works crew By Susan Berger, Sunriver Scene SROA NEWS – While Oregon has been under coronavirus shutdown for weeks, Sunriver Owners Association’s “essential” and hard-working Public Works crews have been busier than ever putting maintenance and reserve dollars to use. The closures and unhindered access to areas that are normally filled with owners and guests has created a unique opportunity to do some heavy-duty Turn to Crews, page 3
SUSAN BERGER PHOTO
Arrows on the floor help direct patrons at Goody’s Ice Cream in The Village at Sunriver while chairs block off the indoor seating area.
While you can now dine out at a restaurant or get your hair done, large events and gatherings are still prohibited at this time. Events such as the Deschutes County Fair, 4th of July Pet Parade, Les Schwab concerts and Bend Brewfest have all been canceled this summer. Sunriver events that fell victim to the pandemic include Pacific Crest,
noxious weeds, but that should be left in place. Staff have also been tending a “Noxious Weed Garden,” located in front of the SROA Administration Building, where live examples of noxious weeds are identified by placards. “We encourage owners to visit the garden, take pictures, and ask staff questions,” said Gentiluomo. Noxious weeds are emerging now and will mature throughout the summer (when flowers become visible) before going to seed. The timing of a weed’s lifecycle is inexact and can depend on weather, soil conditions and other factors, but owners should start inspecting
SROA operations and facilities While aquatics remain closed under the state’s phase one plan, the Sunriver Owners Association is opening the Member Services office and membersonly fitness center at SHARC under strict protocols (read more on page 22), including: • Doors will remain locked and only those with an appointment will be allowed in. • Temperature taking, wearing a face mask and hand sanitation will be required for entry. • Members wishing to use the fitness center will need to make an online appointment. Use will be limited to six people at a time in one-hour timeframes. As required by the Oregon Health Authority, users must maintain social distancing and wear a mask or other face covering while working out. • Tennis and pickleball is open only at Fort Rock Park’s Tennis Hill at this time. Play is restricted to singles or foursomes
Turn to Weeds, page 3
Turn to Opening, page 11
New resources will help owners manage noxious weeds A delayed bloom last year and favorable growing conditions this spring suggest Sunriver will experience a robust noxious weed season in 2020. SROA’s Natural Resources Department is introducing some new tools to assist owners with controlling invasive plants on their properties. To protect our community’s native plant communities, wildlife habitat, and property values, Sunriver owners created a mandatory Noxious Weed Management Plan that makes owners responsible for removing and preventing the spread of noxious weeds on their properties. This year, in addition to visiting private lots and notifying an owner
if noxious weeds are present on their property, SROA’s Natural Resources staff are expanding online resources to assist owners with weed identification and management. “Spotted knapweed, Dalmatian toadflax and several varieties of thistle are the noxious weeds with the greatest presence in Sunriver,” notes Patti Gentiloumo, SROA director of Natural Resources. “The most common question we get about noxious weeds is, ‘What do they look like?’ We’re providing owners with new photos and descriptions on the SROA website so they can become familiar with these weeds.” Also included on the site are examples of native wildflowers that may be confused for
Sunriver Art Fair, Turf Tunes concert series, July 4 Festival and Uncorked wine event, among others.
SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XLVI • NUMBER 6 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
Public Works lead tech Scott Mudrick applies a seal coat to the stamped concrete at SHARC.
By Susan Berger, Sunriver Scene Much of Sunriver has been shut down since mid-March and following Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order to close non-essential businesses in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 within the state. Shutting down appears to have worked as Oregon’s numbers remain relatively low at just over 3,800 confirmed COVID-19 cases and a death toll of 140 (as the Scene went to press). On May 14, Gov. Kate Brown provided the framework and the green light to move into phase one of “Reopening Oregon” to more than two-dozen counties across the state. Several counties within the Portland/Salem metro areas were not allowed to reopen as their coronavirus cases continue to rise. While Sunriver businesses and offices open up, day-to-day operations for most won’t be business as usual as stringent sanitizing protocols and maintaining social distancing will continue to be required. “Owners, employees and patrons will have more freedom but greater responsibility,” said Brown during the May 14 press conference. “When people leave their house they’re expected to wear a mask and maintain six feet from other people outside of their household.”
PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213