News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 371
Porter the mule has his own Facebook page. And every post garners several hundred likes. The most recent has to do with the latest accomplishment achieved with his Sisters owner, Audrey Goldsmith. Porter, aka Heart B Lonesome Porter, became the first mule in United States Dressage Federation history to carry his rider to a Silver Rider Medal. (He previously took Goldsmith to her Bronze Medal, also a first.) The medals are recognition of achievement as a rider advances through... Full story
They live among us, those quiet contemplatives who burn with passion yet rarely express it verbally. It comes out in their art, in songs and in the poems they pen. On the rare occasions when they do talk about things that interest them, it is with eloquence and purpose. Dyrk Godby is one of them. An accomplished artist and singer-songwriter, Godby admits that he often prefers to be alone or in the presence of animals rather than in a crowd. Growing up on an Idaho horse ranch,... Full story
Farriers - men and women who trim and shoe horses' hooves - are a fiercely independent bunch, working in one of the few self-regulated industries left in America. It's skilled work and takes a determined individual with a good work ethic to succeed. So it was a major commitment for 35 farriers from all over the state and Washington to congregate last Saturday, a workday, for a continuing-education clinic. The idea of a clinic for working farriers was the idea of several... Full story
Fifteen years ago as a Sisters High School junior, Brandon Overstreet, 31, strapped on crampons and picked up an ice axe for the first time. He was a member of the inaugural class of IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition) students. Little did he know that that first step onto Hayden Glacier on Middle Sister would lead to groundbreaking research related to climate change. Last July, he stepped onto the great Greenland ice sheet, one of a team of scientists studying... Full story
The cold wind blowing on Sunday afternoon didn't stop a sturdy crowd of well-wishers from turning up to the most recent Habitat for Humanity home dedications for the Spain and Maxwell families, in Hammond Place on East Cascade Avenue. Toni Landis, the president of Sisters Habitat board of directors, began the celebration with welcoming words and asked Lynn Jones to say the opening prayer for the Spains. Jones sang the prayer and many others joined in. Family Services Manager... Full story
A group of hard-working youth put their labors to use to make a difference in their community on Make a Difference Day in Sisters last Friday. Volunteers and participants from Heart of Oregon Corps/Youth Build, Kiwanis, Rotary and the community descended on Harmony Farm Sanctuary and the Seed to Table garden to tackle a host of projects. Make a Difference Day is a national event, officially taking place on the fourth Saturday of October, involving millions of volunteers and... Full story
Cork Cellars recently changed hands, and new owners Tom Buck and his wife, Jeannie Gilgenberg-Buck, couldn't be happier with their new business and new town. Regulars will notice a revamped menu and rearrangement of furniture. The first Saturday of each month features live music, and the set-up is conducive to open and friendly interaction. The light-fare menu serves lunch and dinner, with seasonal specials. "Soups, stews, and bread bowls are coming for fall," said Jeannie,... Full story
Last Wednesday at 2:20 p.m., Mother Nature let loose with a small hissy fit at the Willows Ranch on Indian Ford Road. Ranch manager Allan Godsiff was working near the ranch buildings and the afternoon wind was blowing as it often does. Godsiff became aware of an unusual noise and looked toward the outdoor arena near the boundary with the forest. A whirlwind was kicking up dust at the south end of arena near a small shed. "I couldn't see the shed," he said. "Then there was a... Full story
Former Sisters resident and carriage-horse trainer extraordinaire Clay Maier was in Sisters Country recently to conduct a carriage-driving clinic at the Indian Ford property of Kanoe Godby. Participants from several western states turned up with their horses and carriages to tap into Maier's wealth of experience. Maier trained the Knapp Friesians a few miles down Indian Ford Road for 15 years, traveling across the country to carriage-horse shows in the early 1990s and later wowing crowds with the Friesians Spectacular, an... Full story
Sisters is known as a delightful place to shop for a special gift or souvenir of fun times in Central Oregon. Dandelion Ranch, a newly opened boutique across from US Bank on Elm Street adds to the stable of quality stores in which to browse and buy. The store is owned by Lisa and Dave VandenBrink, recently arrived in Central Oregon from the small town of Salida, Colorado, where they owned a similar store. Their son, daughter-in-law, and young grandchild live in Bend, hence... Full story
Camp Sherman is a community founded on good times and sweet memories. The original campers returned year after year, creating a legacy of peaceful and relaxing summer vacations. Lake Creek Lodge has been part of that legacy since its creation in the 1920s, when it was known as Hansen's Resort. Generations of families have been coming to the Lodge, passing down stories and memories. Juli Tantum is the daughter of one of those families that has been vacationing at Lake Creek... Full story
A well-organized shearing barn is a place of controlled chaos. Restless sheep constantly move and rustle and bleat in their pens. Dust motes hang in the air, stirred up by activity in a shed that sees a multitude of use. There's a clear space for the shearer, a clean area for the wool to fall and a wool bag in a nearby stand. Extension cords lie ready for the clippers. Brooms are nearby to sweep the wool away. The rancher and helpers shift from foot to foot, waiting for one... Full story
The last Friday of May holds special significance for Sisters Country first grade students. That's the day the Rotary Club of Sisters celebrates literacy with Books for Kids, an event in its sixth year that saw each student heading home last Friday with a hard-cover book and a host of other goodies, all lodged in a backpack. Each student selected his or her book a few months ago, after classroom teachers read from a selection of six books chosen this year by Paige... Full story
The first phase of A Home to Share (AHTS) is complete, with a house called Mary Ellen's Place refurbished and ready for residents. The home, located on Spruce Street in Sisters, was the site of celebration last Friday as board members, volunteers, and community members gathered for its grand opening. Board President Hal Darcey said, "A Home to Share is grateful to all who gave time and treasures to make this possible." Its been a true community effort, with both Rotary and... Full story
Take a group of skilled horse trainers, add some horses languishing at a local rescue, organize an event to showcase the efforts of the trainers and you have the Rescue Revolution Trainers Challenge. This unique collaboration is a first between Equine Outreach horse rescue, Central Oregon Wild Horse Coalition and the trainers, who are scattered across the state. The Challenge culminates in a competition and live auction of the trained horses on May 30-31, at the Rim Rock... Full story
When a pair of Central Oregon sisters launched their unique line of womens shoes a year ago, some very good things happened very fast. Y Knot Branded shoes are well established in several retail outlets in the United States. Customers are giving positive feedback about the lovely and functional shoes that sport a definite Western style. And things that usually take time and angst to bring to fruition fell into place seamlessly as the sisters embarked on a learn-as-you go... Full story
Several months ago, Sisters artist Kimry Jelen launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to take her art to the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France at the end of summer. Because of her enthusiastic backers, Jelen was able to ship herself and several equestrian-themed paintings to the vendor village at the games. She was in France for nearly a month, with time before and after the games to meet some fine horse-people and explore a few Paris art museums. Back home... Full story
There will be no Magical Voices of Christmas show this year - but there will be voices raised in song. For 15 years, The Magical Voices of Christmas concert was one of the first harbingers of the festive season in Sisters. An evening of music, holiday celebration and community togetherness, the event featured music, skits and home-baked cookies at intermission. Organized by the Rotary Club of Sisters, the event was a fundraiser for the Sisters schools music programs. For various reasons, the Rotary Club decided this year to... Full story
Sisters is best known for its affinity for roots and Americana music. There are, however, students of classical music around town, and the discipline it takes to excel in their chosen genre paid off for two of them recently. Lindsey Williams, 16, plays the piano and Alessandra Wentworth, 10, is a vocalist. Both came away from the recent eighth annual Cascades Classical Music Foundation Young Artist Competition with high placings in their respective divisions. Lindsey was... Full story
When one thinks of therapy animals, it's usually dogs or horses that come to mind. Donkeys, goats, ducks and chickens ... not so much. Robine Bots, a Sisters-based licensed marriage and family therapist, uses all these species in her practice - and finds them to be valued assistants. The animals help clients define boundaries, and are a safe and comforting presence. "Horses especially can help facilitate healing, change and growth in humans. When a person is congruent... Full story
Sometimes, when a service club needs a speaker for its weekly meeting and a non-profit needs a champion, serendipity happens. This occurred recently when a new member of the Rotary Club of Sisters was completing a list of new-member tasks. One of those was to find a speaker for a meeting. The member, Gayla Nelson, knew that Sandy Affonso had recently founded a nonprofit called A Home to Share, through which she is creating a home and community for young adults with special nee... Full story
Carol Statton loves mustangs. While that's not an unusual trait, Carol takes that love of wild horses a step further by documenting them with photographs capturing the individual essence of each animal. She's traveled to the Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco National Forest several times since last October to photograph the resident herd there. A selection of those photos are on display at Hop N Bean, and as patrons wait for their pizzas and growler fills, they can peruse the... Full story
Saturday, June 7, dawned a perfect early summer day in Sisters Country. The Two Bulls fire wasn't yet on anyone's radar as 50-plus trailers pulled into Sisters Cow Camp. Horses were unloaded and readied for riding, and their riders headed over to register for the Saddle Up for St. Jude's Benefit Trail Ride. Organizers were delighted that 80 riders decided to do the 10-mile-plus loop, and it all went off without a hitch. The campground was calm, a slight fragrance of woodsmoke... Full story
There are several horses now in residence at Paws n Claws Resort on Cloverdale Road. They aren't boarding there - they're rescued horses adjusting to their new lives and new location in the Mustangs To The Rescue (MTTR) program. Kate Beardsley founded MTTR in 2012, though she's been privately rescuing horses for many years. She is happy to return to Sisters Country after 15 years of living in other Central Oregon locales. MTTR previously operated out of Skyhawk Ranch in... Full story
Sisters was well represented at the Rotary District 5110 Conference, held last weekend at the Riverhouse Convention Center in Bend. This Rotary district covers central, southern and coastal Oregon and northern California, making Bend a sunny, central location to hold it. Sisters' own Anvil Blasters entertained the crowd at Friday night's Western Roundup dinner. This was not a sterotypical group of stodgy service-club members. Rotarians are committed to fostering youth... Full story
