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Today's weather in Sisters

Sisters business boosts Kiwanis Food Bank

Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank is facing continually increased demand as Sisters enters the winter season. A Sisters market is stepping in to help.

Melvin’s by Newport Ave. Market has launched its Food for February campaign.

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Huge success for local vet’s dogs in AKC competitions

Dr. Little Liedblad of Broken Top Veterinarian Clinic has been involved with competitive dog training for over 15 years. She’s traveled the country with her dogs, Suture, Kanga, and Kiva to American Kennel Club (AKC) shows.

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The Center announces new CEO

The Center Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Care, Central Oregon’s largest provider of orthopedic, neurosurgical, and physical medicine and rehabilitative care, has announced the appointment of Christy McLeod as new CEO/COO.

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Housing programs available to residents

Several programs are available for lower-income homebuyers in Sisters. With the median home price here hovering around $450,000, opportunities have been very limited for those in the lower income brackets to even consider purchasing a home.

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City offering grants for affordable housing

The City of Sisters is putting forth its first opportunity to access grant/loan funds to eligible agencies and private developers to aid in the construction of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents.

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The people behind The Nugget...Kema Clark

Visitors to The Nugget office in Sisters will be greeted by a new face. Kema Clark has taken on the role of front-office and classified-advertising manager for the newspaper. Lisa May, who previously held that position, is shifting her focus to graphic design and paper layout, in partnership with Jess Draper.

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SPRD invites feedback on strategic plan

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) wants to hear from the community before they finalize their new two-year strategic plan. To that end, there will be two public meetings on Wednesday, December 4; one during the day, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and one in the evening, 5:30-7 p.m., both at SPRD.

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Sisters continues growth spurt

The city of Sisters continues to grow at a very rapid pace, according to statistics released last week by Portland State University. Sisters’ population as of July 1 stood at 2,985 — up from a revised 2018 number of 2,725, a 9.5 percent increase.

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Gift Cards and Certificates

Shop in-store or online for the gift that makes everyone’s dreams come true, with no returns!

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Legislators tour Habitat projects

Salem came to Sisters last week with a visit from Representatives Cheri Helt and Jack Zika who came to see two Habitat for Humanity projects, Village Meadows South and ClearPine.

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Laird Superfood awarded for excellence

Local up-and-comer Laird Superfood received an Award of Excellence in Economic Development at the annual convention of the Oregon Economic Development Association (ODEA) in Salem, October 27.

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Iconic family business wins honors

Taking on a thriving family business and pushing it into new territory might sound like a dream job — but it can be extremely challenging.

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Sisters gym to host grand opening

Sisters’ options for pursuing a healthy, fit lifestyle keep growing. Ashlee Francis has opened Sweat PNW at 392 W. Main Ave. She will host a grand opening of the new fitness program and facility on Saturday, October 19.

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Foster home has new ownership

Lori Owen, a registered nurse, recently purchased the adult foster home at 182 E. Tall Fir in Sisters, formerly Absolute Serenity, owned by David Tolle.

Owen is calling it “Our Home.”

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Can’t find a place to rent… help! — The Property Guy

Dear Property Guy:

I’m trying to move to Sisters. I just need a little apartment for me and my dog. Can you help me find anything? I need to be under a thousand.

— Ashland

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Painted Lady Antiques open in Sisters

Marla and Kent Stevens opened Painted Lady Antiques this summer with a firm goal: to be an uncluttered, reasonably priced shop that people want to return to again and again.

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Farmers market to close out season

Music, bellydance, and beekeeping will enliven this Sunday’s closing-day celebration at Sisters Farmers Market. Organizers are inviting the community to “Come bee happy with us!” at Fir Street Park 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Five establishments sold to minor decoy

Five Sisters-area liquor licensees sold alcohol to a minor decoy during an Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) operation conducted late last month, the agency reported last week.

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HolyCow Ranch aids India orphanage

Jared Vogt didn’t come to Sisters with the intent of being a cattle rancher. Nor did he come to Sisters with the intent of starting a charity that is building an orphanage in India. But God had other plans.

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Dear Property Guy

Dear Property Guy,

I’ve had a timeshare for almost 20 years. When the kids were younger, and I was travelling more, it was fun. But now, it’s just an expensive hassle. The maintenance and annual fees are killing me. I just want to be done with it.

— Timeshared in Tumalo

Dear Timeshared:

Property Guy has a few rules for clients and friends: First, we don’t sell, we BUY property in Oregon. Second, we NEVER buy timeshares. We’ll go over the other rules in a different column…

Timeshares can be structured a few ways, but basically you are a part-owner with the right to use the property for a pre-determined period of time each year. The rub is that you are on the hook for: maintenance, management, repair, and any other fees the timeshare company dreams up in the future.

I’m not a timeshare expert, so I reached out to some attorney friends who are. Strangely enough, none of them actually own timeshares.

Timeshare presentations can be pretty slick. And when combined with free food and booze, can also be very compelling. Timeshare salespeople have even been known to (gasp!) lie about facts to get you to buy. Timeshare staff actually rank somewhere between used-car dealers and politicians on the trustworthy scale.

When it comes to exiting a timeshare, you have a few options; none are really awesome. But let’s work through them.

Talk it out. Always start here. It’s easy and it doesn’t cost anything. Call the company and ask what your options are for sale or for a “deed back / surrender.” You’ll find that (surprisingly) most timeshare companies don’t even want their own stuff back for free. Most will even try to sell you something else during the call.

Try to sell. Websites like Sharket, RedWeek, and Timeshare User Group can help you determine market value your property. These sites also provide listing services. This is probably the best option if you can make it work. Unfortunately, the market value of many timeshares is less than free as a result of high annual maintenance fees. A quick search on those sites showed pages and pages of listings for under a dollar.

Timeshare exit companies. These come in all flavors. Some are outright scams and others are very good. The ones that are scams will demand an upfront fee, and you will never hear from them again. Good ones will come with excellent references. There are many lawyers who specialize in this. The key here is to research, research, research before you pay anyone to help you get out from under a timeshare. There are no guarantees here, and the average cost for these services is about $5,000.

Walk away. This is just as it sounds. You can stop paying the bills, but this doesn’t stop the obligation. You will start getting nasty letters from important-sounding attorneys and collection agencies. Your credit may take a significant hit, and there is potential for legal judgments and attachment of assets. Or you may never hear from them again. Just the luck of the draw.

The best way to avoid getting burned by a timeshare is not to get involved with one. With the advent of AirBnB and VRBO, there is no reason to “own” something to explore different areas of the world. If you’ve already taken the timeshare plunge, there are always options.

Mike Dear Property Guy,

A few columns ago, you talked about the importance of reviewing HOA financial documents. I have asked our HOA for our records, but they have not been forthcoming. Help?

— Concerned HOAm Owner

Dear Owner:

This is not a good situation, and one that may require a competent attorney, and perhaps even the District Attorney. It is important to note that HOA officers are bound by their governing documents and state laws. HOA officers can face criminal prosecution, and be sued for breaches. My experience is that HOA members tend to be more forthcoming with documents when reminded of this fact.

— Mike

Mike Zoormajian is principal at WetDog Properties in Sisters. Providing local property management and investor services. Questions, comments to: letters@

wetdogpnw.com. Free legal advice is worth what you pay for it. Consult a real attorney before doing anything crazy.

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