News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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An appreciative audience turned up at Paulina Springs Books on Saturday evening to hear two authors whose works reach beyond entertainment into the emotional and spiritual realms of hope and redemption. First-time author and Eugene resident Shelley Houston and beloved local writer and horsewoman Kim Meeder read from their most recent books. Houston has penned "Julia, Coming Home," a novel based in Sisters Country, though the town is called Sage Meadows in the book. Meeder's... Full story
Trail riders took to the forest around Sisters Cow Camp on Saturday to ride for a cause. The annual Saddle Up For St. Jude benefit had a record 57 riders raising dollars for the Memphis, Tennessee children's research hospital. The annual ride, now in its 13th year in Sisters, is organized by the Central Oregon chapter of Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET), an equestrian service group that advocates for responsible trail use and maintains trails and horse camps. Participants in... Full story
Sisters Habitat for Humanity celebrated a happy doubler-header in the Timber Creek neighborhood with a groundbreaking and a home dedication on a chilly Sunday afternoon. Jamie Audrain-Glenn and sons Joshua and Jacob broke ground at the site of her new home. All three of them plunged the Habitat golden shovel into what will become the living room of the home. "We're pretty blessed in this town," said Jamie. Her family partners, Margaret Doke and Kevin and Carol Neary, were... Full story
The Mountain Cubs' Den at the Hoodoo Ski and Ride School is getting a cheerful facelift, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Black Butte School (BBS) students and ski school staff. The room, at the south end of the lodge, was formerly a large, white space. It's now a brightly painted candy mountain wonderland, with chocolate-covered hilltops pointing into a dreamy blue sky with a rainbow arching overhead. A chocolate waterfall cascades down one wall and lollypops,... Full story
In the seven years since "Riding Central Oregon Horse Trails" was first published, author Kim McCarrel has seen many positive changes in the trail-riding scene. Some trailheads have been moved, new ones created and most important, many miles of new trails have been built or mapped. McCarrel updated and expanded her book this year, with the new edition now containing detailed information on 150 trails, 14 horse camps and 1,800 miles of trails. Several changes have taken place... Full story
Long-time Sisters childcare advocate and worker Barbara Turner recently took over the reins at A Joyful Noise Learning Center, 104 E. Adams Ave. Now known as Little Frog Learning Center, the daycare and preschool caters to children from 2-and-a-half to 5 years old. Parents may opt for child care or preschool, and Turner offers a flexible, fun schedule for the children. Students may come for half or full days; the schedule allows for students to attend every day or a few days... Full story
A New York City-themed fundraiser is set to take place at the Camp Sherman Community Hall on Saturday, March 17, from noon to 3 p.m. The event will help Black Butte School eighth-grader Megan Ellsworth and seventh-grader McKenzie Banks as they plan a trip to the Big Apple. Black Butte School has a long history of field trips that take students out of the forest and into large metropolitan areas. Students have made pilgrimages to the East Coast several times over the years and... Full story
Any lifestyle change involves a transition period with the potential for set-backs, frustration and wondering if its all worth it. Changing food habits is no different. Whether it's a CSA box full of early season kale or a freezer packed with hundreds of pounds of beef, figuring out how to prepare all that farm-fresh food can be daunting. Your corespondent must admit to never cracking the kale code, but years of raising, preparing and eating grass-finished beef has yielded a few fail-safe techniques. The first secret to... Full story
The Sisters High School equestrian team trotted into third place among large teams at the first Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET) meet of the season. Held February 10-12 at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, the meet provided a good opportunity for the team to assess strengths and weaknesses. "Horses and athletes react differently to competition as opposed to practice," said head coach and team adviser, Beth Jacobsen. "It gives us a place to work from." With the season running until early May, they'll have... Full story
Equestrian sport is a family affair for many Sisters Country families, and the Chandler sisters recently made it a winning one. Olivia, 15, and Ellie, 13, emerged as year-end champions in the United States Eventing Association Region VII (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska.) The girls, who work with Sisters trainer Karen O'Neal, compete in the junior divisions of their sport. Olivia, on her mother's horse, TGI Friday, rode Jr. Training Level, where the jumps are a... Full story
Students at Black Butte School (BBS) recently completed a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) bicycle and pedestrian safety program. The six-session course was organized through Commute Options by way of a grant from Oregon Department of Transportation. The school was one of only three in the state to receive the grant, and by far the smallest and most remote. The grant allows for the initial course and for the school to formulate an action plan that may allow the SRTS program to... Full story
The Loudermilk family cut the ribbons across the doorway of their new Habitat for Humanity home on Sunday afternoon. Several dozen people shared the moment with Jimmy Loudermilk and his children Michael and Kayla. Sisters Habitat Board of Directors President Jerry Hanford spoke to and about the family, congratulating them on the significant accomplishment of homeownership and welcoming them home. "You are on a new journey of family and home," he said, as he and the family stoo... Full story
The Camp Sherman Hasty Team, an all-volunteer search and rescue group, is gearing up to host several months of specialized training called the SAR Basic Academy. Run by Deschutes County search and rescue, the training begins in January and consists of 140 hours of both classroom and field work. Course work covers all aspects of search and rescue, from basic map and compass skills to understanding how a search base is set up. The academy concludes in the late spring with an overnight survival field test which participants... Full story
Autumn Saunders, a sophomore at Sisters High School, proved that one doesn't need to spend large to achieve success in the dressage arena. Saunders and her "not expensive" 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Oliver Twist, competed at 1st Level in Jr./Young Rider division. She finished the season ranked eighth in the nation, fourth in the five-state Region 6, and third in Oregon Dressage Society rankings. Saunders also picked up a Silver Stirrup Award, given by the United States... Full story
The Sisters High School equestrian team is gearing up for a new season, and organizers want interested equestrian athletes to know that there is space for all on the team. Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET) "has a place for all riders, from beginners to very competitive," said Beth Jacobsen, who co-advises the team with Ann Gates. An introductory meeting is scheduled at SHS on October 27 at 6:30 p.m., and Jacobsen said flyers will be posted at the school with more information about the meeting. OHSET is a club sport... Full story
Sisters Middle School student Patience O'Neal recently received a scholarship designed to further her equestrian ambitions. O'Neal, 12, is deeply involved in the world of three-day eventing, a horse sport that encompasses the discipline and grace of dressage, the adrenaline rush of cross-country, and the drama of show jumping. It's a world she's been immersed in since birth - her mother, Karen O'Neal, is herself an accomplished eventer and trainer. The scholarship was awarded... Full story
Volunteers who didn't mind getting a bit grubby and tired had a great day out on Saturday. It was National Public Lands Day, and participants were put to work in the Metolius Basin, doing restoration projects alongside the river, in the forest and on Black Butte. The workday was organized by the National Forest Foundation, in conjunction with the USFS Sisters Ranger District and Trout Unlimited. A good-sized group of volunteers met at the Sisters Art Works building. A morning... Full story
Carriage driving enthusiasts from around the Northwest recently enjoyed a week of learning and fellowship at Eagle Bear Ranch in Sisters. A five-day clinic, dubbed a "summer camp for adults" by organizer Gerry Pearson, enabled participants to engage in multiple days of personalized teaching with two world-renowned driving clinicians. A dozen drivers from Oregon, Idaho, California and British Columbia came to hone their skills. Several Sisters Country residents were in... Full story
Creating prototypes of a portable artist studio has several University of Oregon graduate students in architecture visiting Sisters fairly regularly. Two of the students, Halla Hoffer and Jenn Pecenka, spoke to the Sisters Rotary Club at their weekly lunch meeting on Tuesday, July 19. The project began in April, with 16 students tasked with coming up with ideas for sustainable, movable spaces that an artist could live and work in. With support from The Roundhouse Foundation... Full story
Sisters Country resident Kay Patterson recently became the first llama breeder to be selected as a recipient of the National Pedigreed Livestock Council's (NPLC) Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented on May 3 at the NPLC annual meeting, held in Nashville, Tennessee, and marks the milestone 100th year of the organization. Patterson is an industry icon and, prior to the dispersal of Hinterland llamas last September, was an active participant in all aspects of... Full story
Mounted search and rescue volunteers are a valuable resource available to Deschutes County Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel. A recent training session in Camp Sherman with clinician Terry Nowacki enhanced the mounted unit's skills. Nowacki (pronounced Nowaskee) is a horse trainer and SAR team member from Minnesota. About a decade ago, he pioneered the concept of training modern horses to detect human scent in search situations. Even though humans have used their horses for... Full story
Competing in the equestrian sport of three-day eventing is a test of physical and mental stamina for both horse and rider. Add in the element of a teen competing at training level against adult riders and there are bound to be even more nerve-wracking moments for the rider and her entourage. Olivia Chandler, 15, and her mother's horse TGI Friday, came through just such a test on June 9-11 at Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington. Chandler won the ZEIT Capital Challenge, a... Full story
Central District OHSET took away top honors at the state meet last weekend, with two Sisters riders bringing home medals. Olivia Chandler took gold in Hunt Seat Over Fences, and Jenna Jacobsen garnered silver in the Driving competition. There was a drop in numbers of participants, due to concerns about the recent outbreak of EHV1 virus, but according to coach Beth Jacobsen, those who did attend were upbeat and extremely careful to follow protocols for keeping their horses safe (see related story, page 1). More than 400... Full story
The long days of winter in Camp Sherman brightened up when the Metolius Culinary Club formed two years ago. When new arrival Frank Conte searched around for ideas to get involved in the community, food and books were at the top of his list. His home lends itself to gatherings, and Conte loves being a host. The book club idea didn't really fly, but local foodies have happily gathered around Conte's table. They also cluster in his spacious kitchen prior to dinner for tips on preparing the delicious repast set before them. The c... Full story
"I get by with a little help from my friends..." These words from a Beatles song could well sum up the philosophy of "life coaches," people who specialize in helping others realize their potential, improve relationships and become better leaders. Life coaches don't offer therapy, and they focus on what's to come, not what's been. There's a whole toolbox of techniques to use, but one of the more unusual integrates the concept of "horse whispering" into a coaching session. Koelle Simpson, a young woman from Scottsdale,... Full story
