News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 280
In 1932 Walter H. Beech began designing and manufacturing airplanes in Wichita, Kansas, with his business partner and wife, Olive Ann Beech. They had one objective: to build the finest aircraft in the world. They began their business during the Great Depression and were warned a cabin biplane with a fancy exterior wouldn't "fly." The naysayers were wrong. Beechcraft airplanes are still flying today. Sisters resident Steve Harris is a longtime pilot. He has been intrigued by... Full story
Many people talk about writing a book. Some achieve their goal, but most can't quite get it done. Alexandra Miller, raised in Sisters and a Sisters High School graduate, has some advice for aspiring writers: "Do it! It's super fun to write a book, but if you're looking at it as a way to make money or be successful, it's not very rewarding. If you just love writing, it's one of the most rewarding things in the world." Miller offered that advice from her dorm at Seattle Pacific... Full story
Staff at Black Butte Ranch (BBR) are ready for BBR homeowners, the Central Oregon community, and visitors from around the globe to make memories within their new space. Standing proudly with ponderosa pines, the new lodge is 22,100 square feet and has expansive windows. The architecture and décor was created to capitalize on the setting and offer a variety of spaces for dining, sharing a drink with friends, or hosting all kinds of events from weddings to intimate evenings... Full story
When Sisters lawyer Peter Straumfjord receives a call from someone needing legal advice about a family law issue, his calm demeanor can help during an often-stressful time. Straumfjord has been there and knows hearing that better times will eventually come can get folks through a sad and frustrating situation. With a law office focused on divorce, custody, and modifications, Straumfjord knows staying the course and working toward resolution is something he can help his... Full story
Dr. Sing-Wei Ho moved to Central Oregon 10 years ago after residency training in Colorado. She was offered a job with St. Charles in Redmond, so she and her husband headed farther west. She lives with her young family in Tumalo. Along with her children and husband, they've created a small farm with livestock and flora. When she's not taking care of her patients, she and her family enjoy hiking, skating, cooking, dancing, singing, and practicing sustainable living. "We like... Full story
There is a movement across the West — indeed, across many parts of the world — to restore ecosystems and bring back the keystone species that used to inhabit them. This movement is called “rewilding.” A rewilding conference last Saturday at Lake Creek Lodge in Camp Sherman focused on initiatives across the state of Oregon Panels were held on carnivores, native fish, desert ecosystems, forest ecosystems, and a 30x30 panel. (Now referred to as the America the Beautiful Initiative, 30x30 refers to conserving 30 percent of terr... Full story
People interested in returning Oregon habitat to a more wild state will rendezvous in Camp Sherman next month. The Re-Wilding Oregon Conference, set for May 13 at Lake Creek Lodge, is a public conference focused on conservation initiatives across Oregon. Sponsors include the Western Watersheds Project, Wolf Welcome Committee, and Lake Creek Lodge. Two of the organizers, Adam Bronstein and Susan Prince, hope the sold-out event will bond groups together and begin inclusive and... Full story
Losing a baby is a heart-wrenching event that often leaves grieving parents feeling alone. That was Alissa and James Cowan's experience after having a miscarriage six years ago. Their sense of isolation left Alissa feeling numb and unsure about who could relate to or understand her pain. Last April, Alissa started a nonprofit called I Am Seen. With her husband James' constant support, she wanted to bring a voice to the silent grief of pregnancy and infant loss. "We offer Care... Full story
Longtime Sisters residents Dr. Tom and Peggy Rheuben raised their family in Sisters and ran a busy, friendly dental business. When it was time to find someone to take over the business, they looked for a person with business priorities that matched their own. Strong relationships with patients and supporting the community were hallmarks of Dr. Rheuben’s practice. When Dr. Zachary Sunitsch read about the practice, he felt like it was fate. He and his wife, Leah, love Sisters f... Full story
The Black Butte Ranch (BBR) Lodge has always been the centerpiece for the resort. Built with Black Butte’s pyramid-shaped mountain overhead and Phalarope Lake reflecting the Cascade Range to the west, the setting has always been awe-inspiring. Keeping the iconic location in mind, architects, designers, and builders worked to surpass the magnificence of the original Lodge by creating a building that is a culmination of design and function. Even with power tools humming and h... Full story
Photographer Wendy Birnbaum spent years perfecting her craft. Her photographs are on display at Sisters Gallery and Frame Shop. A world traveler, she always wanted to go to Africa. When she found her dream trip, called “Tribes and Animals,” it felt like her heart jumped out of her body. The trip Birnbaum found was guided by renowned photographer Piper Mackay. Because of deep relationships Mackay established with various tribes, her African tours are more than snapping photogra... Full story
It’s been almost three months since we introduced readers to Maddie Siler and her mustang, Lola. The two are edging closer to the big day when they’ll compete in the final stage of the Teens & Oregon Mustangs Challenge. Lola has come a long way since being rounded up and kept in holding pens at the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse Corrals in Burns. Before Siler loaded her into their trailer and brought her home, Lola had never been touched by a person. Her first... Full story
This is the story of a kind, caring young man, Connor Lake, who died by suicide in November of 2019. He left behind a shocked, grieving family and countless friends. But this story is also about his family and the gratitude, forgiveness, and blessings found in sorrow. If you’re having thoughts of suicide or struggling from the loss of someone you love who died suddenly, there are resources available to you. As sad as it is, this is a story of hopefulness. Anyone can have thoughts of suicide, but we may not know who those p... Full story
Jeff Lake is Connor Lake’s father. He’s had his share of hardships and loss; from learning he’d been adopted, to losing a parent, divorce, and facing a drinking problem. It took time for him to realize blessings can be found in pain. That hard-won wisdom came in the aftermath of feeling swallowed by grief, resentment, and anger. With support from mentors, Lake realized destructive reactions only made matters worse. He learned that a faith-based mindset, giving over his pain to... Full story
As drivers head into Sisters on Highway 20, they might look to the south near the 76 station and see High Camp Taphouse, (at the former site of Hop & Brew). They are offering delicious food from Nepal. Dishes are enhanced with locally sourced beer and ciders from twenty rotating taps. It’s all served in an open, welcoming atmosphere. There’s a couch, cozy chairs and tables, and a bar for guests. Pema Sherpa says she and her partner, Nurbu, enjoy introducing new flavors and... Full story
I heard a writer say he saw his writing as a candle in the dark. I love that image — the idea that words can light a way for someone else. It’s also a big burden to shoulder. I feel mine sagging under the pressure just thinking about it. But I also read that this is my moment to shed self-doubt and be who and what I was born to be. Do the things I was meant to do. Can I be a candle in the dark? First, I must light my own candle and make sure the flame can’t be easily extinguished. Resilience and fortitude are qua... Full story
The view from my writing room looks out on Greenridge, Black Butte, Mt. Jefferson, and our American flag on a gray flagpole just above the barn. I look at the flag often and for many reasons. It shows which way the wind’s blowing and reminds me of the service my father and husband gave to our country. I think about my relatives, male and female, who have served more recently, or are still in service to our country. I am filled with gratitude. I look at the flag and think of th... Full story
Maddie Siler was a horse-crazy kid with dreams to rescue and train a mustang. When her family lived in the Sacramento suburbs, she saw an article about mustangs being captured and held in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) corrals, and she begged her parents to put a round pen in their tiny backyard. The answer was no for many years, but eventually, after her family relocated to Oregon and Siler was a freshman in high school, she finally got her first horse. It wasn’t a m... Full story
Sometimes I do writing meditations. I ask my inner wisdom to speak and share what’s important. In this time of short days, cold nights, and hibernation, internal work is embraced. Using the prompt Here’s what I want you to know, I’ll share what came through in hopes these words might inspire you as well. This is it. The big one, the one chance, the N.O.W.… No Other Way. Speak truth. Your truth only helps if it’s said with respect for other ideas. How you say something makes all the difference. How much thought you put... Full story
What do avocados and books have in common? Slicing into an avocado is like opening a book. Sometimes, I know from the first page a book is going to feed me — take me away to another time, culture, or place. A good book gives me refreshed eyes to see the world, and often a new tongue to taste it. Some avocados look and feel good from the outside, but sliding the knife into the bumpy skin, I feel a squishy give that tells me it might be rotten. I slide the blade along the other side, pull it out and pry open the fruit.... Full story
Circle of Friends Executive Director Nicole Swisher Woodson has been running a metaphorical marathon, with all kinds of obstacles in her way because of COVID-19 challenges. Like many organizations, over the past two years she’s learned new ways of facilitating connections when face-to-face time wasn’t possible. By far, that has been her greatest challenge. Especially with an organization whose mission is based on building strong, long-term relationships between mentors and... Full story
Five years ago, Craig Rullman told in the pages of The Nugget Marvin Emmarson’s incredible story of survival during the Pearl Harbor attack and later enduring a catastrophic torpedo assault that almost took out his ship, the U.S.S. Selfridge. Emmarson is a man of few words, so his story has to be told by loved ones and the pages of U.S. history books. Regardless of who’s recounting Emmarson’s life, his 100 years on the planet have been full of adventure, loss, and findi... Full story
What is time? Maybe it’s a gift… or a curse? Or simply an hourglass turned over at birth? “It’s not your time” is a phrase I’ve heard in movies, from oncologists and employers. Hearing it could fill me with hope or deflate me with dread. Who’s in charge of loading the hourglass? God? Me? Maybe the guy in a bar reaching for keys after six bourbon-and-sevens? Contemplating time and how it works hurts my head. Sundials, pyramids, and Stonehenge are positioned to track the sun’s movement. Ancient ancestors used the sun,... Full story
How can brightly colored pots and curated indoor and outdoor landscapes create community connections? Mose Lenowitz has figured out how. With an extensive background in garden pottery, home décor, and landscape design, Lenowitz braided together the three to enhance people’s lives. The answer is simple… when you feel good about your home, you feel better about yourself. A welcoming home inspires time together with family, friends, and your surroundings. Driving b... Full story
Their coats are long and fuzzy, but Sisters Country horses are getting ready for another season of competition with the Oregon High School Equestrian Team (OHSET) from Sisters High School. Team Coach Theresa Siler just secured a practice location for the six students planning to participate next year. Their first practice will be December 1. Siler is excited to welcome back returning athletes as well as some new faces to the team. The first meet for competitors will be in... Full story
