It’s up to owners now to vote for a property exchange of SROA’s South Pool for 33 acres owned by Sunriver Resort
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Nature Center.............. 10 Calendar...................... 13 SR Gardener................ 15 Women’s Club.............. 18
SROA News.................. 22 Public Safety................ 30 Classified..................... 37 Commentary................ 39
SROA crews mark and clear trees and brush along roads and pathways in preparation of spring paving Page 17
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
MARCH • 2012
volume xxxVIII • Number 3
SSD Board fires police chief Mike Kennedy By Brooke Snavely The Sunriver Service District Managing Board voted unanimously on Feb. 16 to terminate the employment of Sunriver Police Chief Mike Kennedy. The motion was raised during discussion of performance goals and measures, the subject of a Feb. 15 meeting. “I move we make a total change,” said director Jim Wilson. “We thank Mike Kennedy Mike Kennedy for 22 years of service and extend him a severance package including his regular pay, accrued vacation and medical insurance through Aug. 31.” Director Bob Wrightson seconded the motion. Director Bob Nelson said he thought the action was “an issue of vision. For me it’s looking forward. I certainly appreciate his service.” Given Kennedy’s length of service, Wrightson said he favored extending the severance package through the end of 2012. “We have funds to do that.” Wilson and the rest of the board agreed to the amended motion. “I thank him for his length of service. It’s not an easy position to be in for as long as he has,” said director Debra Baker. Kennedy asked if he could comment and was granted the floor. “I’ve never had anything but favorable evaluations. I’ve done everything this board has ever asked of me. Immediately after yesterday’s performance goals and measures meeting, I held a meeting with supervisors to discuss how to implement suggestions that were raised. I had called a meeting with my entire staff Turn to Kennedy, page 3 SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XXXVIII • NUMBER 3 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
Sunriver Brewing Company plans to open this summer in village building 4.
Sunriver Brewing to debut in the village
Susan berger photo
Here’s a sneak peek of the completed lobby looking toward the front entrance of the SHARC. Staff is starting to move into the facility and are undergoing training in preparation of a mid-April soft opening of the indoor amenities.
The microbrew beer craze that pretty much started in the Pacific Northwest and has since swept the nation is coming to Sunriver. Sunriver Brewing Company LLC plans to open a brewpub and restaurant in building 4 in The Village at Sunriver early this summer. “Our brewpub and micro brewery will offer microbrews in the great northwest tradition and highlights an exciting menu for the entire family,” said Brian Cameron. “Chef Geoff Gil is already working on a menu that offers American contemporary and brewpub Turn to Brewing, page 3
Proposed pathway between Sunriver and Lava Lands delayed
By Brooke Snavely The Sunriver to Lava Lands Visitor Center pathway project, originally scheduled for construction and completion this year, is delayed until 2013 to allow for design changes. “A number of changes, specifications and additions were described that have impacted project construction timelines,” said Scott McBride, acting Recreation, Lands and Minerals Team Leader for the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District. Among the changes are: • Installation of railroad warning lights and barrier arms where the new pathway and the Benham Falls Road cross the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train tracks north of Sunriver. This Stakes mark the proposed trail from requires burying several thousand feet Sunriver to Lava Lands Visitor Center. of power line to energize the railroad Benham Falls Road between the railroad warning system. • A shift from mixed use travel on the crossing and the Benham East Day Use
Area to a dedicated trail segment, and; • Trail surfacing from the bridge to Benham East Day Use Area. McBride said the Deschutes National Forest would examine the current project design over the next several months “to ensure a successful project construction begins during the 2013 field season to be completed in the fall of 2013.” “We, SROA, were going to move a crosswalk and pave 30 feet north from Sunriver along the Canoe Takeout Road this year to connect with the Lava Lands pathway, and we certainly don’t have to do that now,” said Scott Hall, SROA vice president and pathway task force member. “Personally, it’s not a bad deal. It gives the Forest Service time to think about how they can help us with signage. They have already cut trees down Turn to Pathway, page 3 PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213