The Sunriver Nature Center and Central Oregon Mushroom Club presents the second annual FungiFest and Mushroom Show Page 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SROA News ................... 4 Calendar ..................... 13 SHARC News ............... 22
Public Safety ............... 27 Classified .................... 38 Letters ........................ 39
Tickets are on sale for the Sunriver Music Festival’s Christmas Concert on December 7 featuring Arthur Migliazza Page 26
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
OCTOBER • 2018
VOLUME XLIV • NUMBER 10
Millions of tourism dollars lost due to 2017 wildfires Earlier this year, Travel Oregon hired Dean Runyan Associates and Destination Analysts to survey businesses across the state to look at the economic impacts that the 2017 wildfires had on the state’s travel and tourism industry. The reported losses are substantial. An estimated $51.1 million in visitor spending was lost statewide, with the Central Oregon region suffering the biggest hit at $19 million in losses. Wildfires occur throughout the state each year with the summer onset of warm, dry conditions – generally between July and November. Most fires can be attributed to thunderstorms and increases in human activities related to outdoor recreation. A total of 113 wildfires were listed in Oregon in 2017 by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, the second highest number since 2000, surpassed only by 2014 with 115 fires. According to the report, wildfires can have a disproportionate impact on the travel industry because travel – leisure travel in particular – results from a discretionary expenditure by households, one that can be redirected to alternative locations and/or rescheduled in response to undesirable conditions brought on by fire. The Sunriver Owners Association fielded numerous calls last summer from owners – many of who postponed their Sunriver visit due to excessive smoke. The association also periodically closed its outdoor aquatic facilities when smoky conditions were deemed “unhealthful” by the Department of Environmental Quality. Although smoke is part of life when living in a region prone to wildfires, long-term impacts can develop when visitors develop adverse perceptions regarding the desirability and safety of the state – which can affect future decisions to visit. The 64-page report can be read at www.industry.traveloregon.com/ wildfiresurveyreport T T, SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XLIV • NUMBER 10 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
Traffic circle construction moving smoothly By Susan Berger, Sunriver Scene Like clay coming out of a giant PlayDoh Fun Factory, the concrete curbing of the Abbot-Beaver circle was installed over two-days on Sept. 20 & 21. Once the curbs dried, crews backfilled around the curbing and then began work on the stamped concrete “islands” leading in and out of the circle. Construction on the new traffic circle has gone so smoothly that the project is slightly ahead of the originally-planned schedule, with base layer paving of the Abbot circle expected to take place the around the first of this month. “With the help of the stakeholders, and close coordination between Marcum & Sons, Century West Engineering and SROA, the project is moving a
little ahead of schedule and on budget,” said Mark Smith, SROA Public Works Director. The next phase will include creating new entries into the Village near the Country Store and onto Ponderosa Road from Abbot Drive. Crews will also be constructing a new pathway along Ponderosa to Beaver Drive. During pathway construction, a section of Ponderosa Road between Café Sintra and Medical Drive is expected to be closed starting Oct. 5 and could last through the end of the month. Owners who live along Ponderosa Road will need to use the north-end access of Ponderosa Road (across from T C,
New book presents history of Sunriver The history of Sunriver, from its early settlers to becoming a World War II training camp to the creation of a residential community and world class resort, is chronicled in the new book, “Images of America: Sunriver.” Printed by Arcadia Publishing and written by Bend author Tor Hanson, the 127-page softbound book is a photographic journey of Sunriver’s past and present. You may have seen these popular books – as many have been printed about various regions and historical topics within Central Oregon. In fact,
Hanson also wrote the book “Images of America: Camp Abbot” – printed and released earlier this year. Hanson spent hundreds of hours doing research and sifted through thousands of images on file at the Sunriver Owners Association and Deschutes Historical Society. Long-time residents, Sunriver Fire & Rescue, Sunriver Resort and the Sunriver Chamber of Commerce also provided images and information for the book. Hanson also perused every issue of the “Sunriver Scene” as well as its predecessor, “Harold,” looking for tidbits of historical relevance.
PHOTOS BY SUSAN BERGER
Curbing is formed around the outside border of the Abbot-Beaver circle on Sept. 21.
The Sunriver Owners Association will have a limited number of the books for sale at $18.99 for owners ($5 off the $23.99 retail price), while supplies last. The books will be available starting around Oct. 15. Stop by the administration office at 57455 Abbot Drive to pick up a copy. Hanson will give a presentation on the book at Sunriver Books & Music on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. (see story on page 32). The “Sunriver” and “Camp Abbot” books are also for sale at the bookstore. With Christmas just around the corner, these will make great stocking stuffers for anyone who loves Sunriver. PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213