News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 280
At first glance Grace, a small, bay mustang filly, looks fragile. But in fact, she's overcome incredible odds. Now she's facing another challenge and she and her owner, Carol Statton, need help. With that help, there's hope she will survive. Approximately four years old, Grace is from the Ochoco Big Summit herd, which totals around 130 mustangs. Wild horses are protective, especially mares with foals. For every newborn foal, danger can come as soon as they hit the ground.... Full story
It's hard to believe that December will be my first anniversary of leaving Sisters Folk Festival and starting my career as a full-time writer. I've been asked many times, "How's retirement?" I feel compelled to say that I'm not retired. I just left one job to start another. If I was retired, we'd be traveling often, taking up new hobbies, or dusting off old ones. I still have a responsibility to make money - much less than I was making before, but still I'm contributing to... Full story
Stories abound of mustangs who are captured, gentled, trained and emerge as fantastic riding horses. But that isn't possible for mustangs who've been injured. Last spring a life-or-death story was unfolding for a struggling mustang named Grace. Rescued by Ochoco mustang advocate Carol Statton, the bay mare was born into the Ochoco Big Summit herd. When Grace was captured during a PZP birth control round-up, the Forest Service approved Statton's adoption request and safely... Full story
The adage "don't put the cart before the horse" may be old, but it's still true. Just ask local carriage driving expert Muffy Seaton. She's spent most of her life training, driving and judging carriage driving competitions around the world. Seaton and her husband, Doug, moved to Central Oregon from South Carolina, where they still own a horse farm and training facility. Seaton brings a wealth of experience as a combined driving competitor and educator. Her credentials reflect... Full story
Driving Enthusiasts of Central Oregon (DECO) offered an unusual equestrian event on August 18, just outside of Sisters. Every shape and size of equine from regal black Friesians to miniature spotted mules pulled vehicles using old-fashioned "horse power." The past and present came together for a fun event that tested the training and skills of the participants. The various carriages and carts, pulled by both novice and seasoned horses, were designed for maneuverability and saf... Full story
Doctors Eden and Kevin Miller of High Lakes Healthcare know diabetes is a big problem... and it's growing. Eden developed Type 1 Diabetes during medical school and knows firsthand the challenges and health consequences the disease can bring. The couple spends countless hours learning about the disease and sharing their expertise with other healthcare professionals and the public. They're excited to finally see the first diabetes prevention program coming to Sisters. Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are above... Full story
The 4th of July is an important day for Tom Worcester. It will mark a musical milestone he planned many years ago. At 89 years old, he's lived a long, interesting life that included military service during the Korean War, a career as a journalist and a long-time love affair with music. Now, he's taking the stage in what may well be his final public performance. Worcester inherited his first musical instrument in high school. It came to him when his brother Jack, who was a P51... Full story
The High Desert Museum was the perfect place to host the June 27 Waterston Desert Writing Prize awards event. In its fourth year, the contest was named after actor Sam Waterston. His sister, Ellen Waterston, founded the contest in 2015 and hosted the evening's program. Along with readings from winner Patrick Mondaca and finalist Kathryn Wilder, the event featured a panel discussion focusing on desert issues, moderated by Oregon Humanities Executive Director Adam Davis. Panelists included experts in desert literature,... Full story
Terri Daniel arrived in town 12 years ago after hearing about Sisters from a friend who suggested it would be a great place to heal from the recent death of her 16-year-old son. Living in a remote cabin, Terri grieved - but also began to cobble together a new life, which would ultimately lead her in unimagined new directions. She quickly recognized that her healing process had ignited a passion for building a positive relationship with death and grief. With minimal resources,... Full story
Will Saunders knows how to work hard, push limits and say "Yes" - even if it scares him. A 2012 Sisters High School graduate, Saunders appreciated attending a school with classes like the Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition course (IEE). It helped shape who he is today and the career choices he's making. IEE offers a non-traditional approach to learning English, environmental science and outdoor recreation. This integrated approach provided Saunders the opportunity to... Full story
Writing a memoir is not for the meek! Opening portals into the past, especially places that hurt, may seem counterproductive. I've been asked, "Why do you want to bring that back up again?" and "Why do you want to focus on the bad things? There's so many precious memories to cherish." Those are all good questions to answer. But it's important to remember we're all unique and so are our circumstances. For me, it's all about thinking it through and deciding if looking back can... Full story
When customers visit libraries in Deschutes County, they expect to find books, DVDs and audiobooks. But since May 1, the Sisters library has some interesting new items available. The Sisters Library was chosen by the Deschutes Public Library (DPL) System to launch the pilot program, "Library of Things." Customers can check out a nature and bird-watching kit, crochet or knitting kits, or a GoPro, Instant Pot kit or even a ukulele kit. During the six-month evaluation phase, all... Full story
Starting next weekend, there's going to be all kinds of new wildlife in Sisters. No need to protect your flowers and shrubs, these creatures won't eat a thing. In fact, once they find their way to the Sisters Elementary School fence, they won't move a muscle. To make them feel at home, they'll be joined by rocks, logs and meadowscapes all found from alpine to desert. Former Sisters student and art teacher Laura Campbell has been working non-stop on the continuation of The Rive... Full story
Mike Bush didn't want to be a retiree with too much time on his hands. So he thought about things he always wanted to do but never had. He remembered being intrigued by the old guys in Western movies sitting on a front porch whittling. It looked like fun! It wasn't as easy as he thought. He burned up several Dremel tools that couldn't handle hard woods. Finally a friend steered him to the right equipment and he became a carver. He bought a book and began replicating what he... Full story
Imagine being born 105 years ago: Before cars were commonplace, and only 10 years after Wilbur and Orville Wright made their epic first flight at Kitty Hawk. Comparing life in 1913 to 2018 makes the changes look staggering. But for Christine Dalton, it all happened very gradually and doesn't seem to surprise her. "It's been interesting," she said. "But things change. Back then, we cranked our phones and our cars!" The month before Dalton was born, the Woman Suffrage... Full story
Sisters Country attracts gifted artists, who are inspired by the beauty and "feel" of the landscape. There are all kinds of hidden gems in our area; some easier to find than others. These world-renowned neighbors may live just down the road, but they keep a low profile, preferring a quiet existence conducive to a life of creativity and contemplation. Lying in the shadow of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, the Three Sisters are monuments to an eruptive history that quieted thousands... Full story
My artist residency at PLAYA is done. I drove home from Summer Lake, through 100 miles of volcanic vistas and tiny towns. The Oregon Outback is a special place; sparse and rich with beauty. It's still hard to believe what opened up in those two weeks. I stared down fears and visited long-forgotten memories. Now, the first section of my book is complete, and I'm working on a second draft. The cabins at PLAYA don't have Internet. It took two days for me to realize there was no c... Full story
The world is drowning in plastic. Great masses of the stuff float in the oceans. Living in Central Oregon, people are removed from the visual realities of pollution in the ocean - but a group of Sisters students now know a lot about the subject. And they're taking action. Rima Givot's biology class at Sisters High School recently tackled the topic of how carbon cycles through the biosphere and the role humans play in that cycle. They studied how human waste (carbon emissions... Full story
In 1975 Jean Wells opened Stitchin' Post with a little bit of money and big dreams. With help from a business mentoring program she got the tools she needed to methodically grow her business and her brand. A passionate teacher and advocate for the arts, Wells has taught internationally and single-handedly introduced Sisters to thousands of people. Since she opened her shop, Wells founded the world-renowned Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, has been inducted into the Quilter's Hall... Full story
Recently, Wendie and Mike Vermillion were having a quiet evening watching Masterpiece Theatre. It was after 11 p.m. and their outdoor lights were off and their blinds were up. Suddenly, a tall, slender man walked in front of their window. When their eyes met, the man took off running. By the time the shocked homeowners looked out their front door, the man was tearing across their driveway and heading north. "The startling thing was having him emerge from the very dark back of the house and walk along our narrow sidewalk right... Full story
Women have been closing the gender gap in all kinds of sports. Fly-fishing is no exception. Women have been casting since the sport began. In the 1400s, an English nun, Dame Juliana Berners, wrote the first book on fly-fishing. Fast-forward to the 1940s and it was a woman, Joan Wulff, who influenced generations of anglers. At 16 years old, Wulff took top honors in the national dry fly accuracy championship. By the 1950s after winning the National Fisherman's Distance Fly Champ... Full story
There's something growing in my refrigerator. I see it when I open the door...rising, bubbling and needing my attention. All kinds of things are changing right now. It's a new year, full of possibilities and transformation. But nothing will happen if I don't take a few risks. Once I made the decision to leave my long-time and rewarding job, I began trying new things. Even though I was leaving on the best of terms I still felt a sense of freedom and relief. A big door was closing, giving me a gentle nudge to keep moving away... Full story
Like iron and steel, Ponderosa Forge has proven it's tough enough to stand the test of time. Founder Jeff Wester is celebrating 30 years of growth and serving Central Oregon customers. Wester has a storyboard with photographs that show his company's progression. The images start in 1981 when he moved to Central Oregon. Wester's love for blacksmithing began in high school. He grew up in the coastal town of Tillamook and left home to attend Central Oregon Community College,... Full story
Sisters is a great place to call home. The schools provide art and music, sports, an equestrian team, science and engineering. High school students can even get their pilot's license! What's not to like about that? Opportunity seems to be the theme for our community, regardless of our rural and small population. But is everyone included? Teachers and volunteers have done an amazing job of introducing the world and its potential to our youth. Chinese language classes are offered in the public schools and students can travel... Full story
As natural disasters happen more frequently, it's impossible to remain insulated. Maybe that's the reason for all this? Hopefully, it's waking us up and we'll begin making the changes needed to save this amazing gift called Earth. When things will ever get back to "normal" seems impossible to predict. For Sisters, it's been quite a year - challenging, scary and life-altering. I felt pretty lucky through the snows last winter. At least our buildings seemed to have minimal damage. All through the heavy snows and freezing weathe... Full story
