News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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You might assume a novelist with a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award adorning her shelf writes mainly about romance. But Sisters author Melody Carlson considers women's contemporary fiction her go-to genre - "books about relationships, and issues, and life," she says. "I know how to write a love story, but I don't do the (romance genre) formula." Carlson's mountainous body of work - she stopped counting at 250 books - ranges from children's books to teen novels to young... Full story
Back in the mid-1990s I stopped calling my sandals “thongs.” Because none of us wants to be like that guy to whom “The Princess Bride” character Inigo Montoya said, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” If we hope to be understood, word choice matters. Word choice can mean the difference between a good-natured snowball fight and throwing stones. Writers and editors are a special kind of weird. I never close the Merriam-Webster tab on my browser. A fun feature of M-W’s landing page... Full story
A growing group of individuals and organizations engaged in addressing emerging issues and needs in Sisters Country gathered at the new Wakefield Inn on March 15. The monthly meeting of Community Builders, facilitated by Citizens4Community (C4C), offered a bird’s-eye view of the myriad community-supporting projects underway, along with ways residents can get involved. This month’s presenters included: The Roundhouse Foundation. Grants Program Specialist Dawn Cooper shared that the Foundation received 115 grant requests for... Full story
“If you want to see hope, stop and take a look at these girls,” Sisters Area Director of Young Life Shannon Miller says. Miller is blown away, not only by the ownership 39 middle schoolers have taken in spearheading a project designed to ease the burden of Sisters residents experiencing houselessness, but by the success of their recent fundraiser. With frigid weather bearing down on Sisters Country, the girls’ vision is to provide practical items — everything from snow... Full story
Sisters resident Melody Carlson began writing books with little more than a can-do attitude, a yellow legal pad, and a dream. Thirty years and over 300 published books later, Carlson has long since exchanged her legal pad for a typewriter and her typewriter for a computer. But with the same unwavering pluck, she has now entered an all-new creative realm — writing for film. Recently Carlson was on location in Colorado to observe production of “The Happy Camper,” the film... Full story
Our homes are more than the sum of their square footage. And they’re more than a place to hang our hats. With her latest book, “The Unexpected Power of Home: Why We Need It More Than Ever,” local author Nancie Carmichael hopes to remind us that our dwelling places overflow with powerful, life-shaping potential. Carmichael will give a free holiday-themed presentation and sign copies of her newest book at Suttle Tea on November 5, at 6:30 p.m. “Home is such a powerful metapho... Full story
This week when our youngest graduates alongside the rest of the Sisters High School Class of 2017, our family will count it a profound miracle. You see, early in her sophomore year we were forced to let that expectation go. Broadsided by the onset of strange and scary symptoms, she received an unusual diagnosis: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus Infections (PANDAS). For the next two-and-a-half years, we did our best to cope with a rollercoaster of physical and emotional challenges,... Full story
Bestselling author John Green once remarked that novel writing is "a profession for introverts who want to tell you a story but don't want to make eye contact while doing it." Indeed, many of us envision writers pecking away at their keyboards while holed up alone, perhaps even teetering on the brink of madness. But some aspiring novelists in Sisters Country have lately defied that stereotype, emerging from isolation to work together in a public space, united by a common... Full story
One of Sisters' newest residents, Henley Lorenzen Frutos, entered the world on Friday in the front seat of a Chevy Tahoe. Her parents, Brooke and Damon Frutos, received her with joy and surprise, while parked next to a Subway Restaurant in Bend. "She got here when she wanted to get here," said Brooke. On Friday morning, just a few days past the baby's due date, Brooke was sent home from her weekly obstetrician's exam with the directive to "wait and see." Waiting is something... Full story
There's a character in C.S. Lewis' story, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," an awful, whiney boy named Eustace who turns into a dragon while thinking selfish thoughts. Panicked, Eustace tries to scrub off the dragon scales, and he succeeds - to a point. But there's always another layer of nasty scales under the one he just removed. His only hope is to allow the great, resplendent lion, Aslan, to remove the stuff. "I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nea... Full story
Most teenagers regard their vacation days as precious and all too fleeting. But a group of Sisters High School students exchanged the last days of spring break for something they believe holds enduring value. They spent four days in Portland serving the homeless. Pastor Jared Vogt of Vast Church led six students on the "Project Portland" mission trip, aided by six adult volunteers and in partnership with two Portland ministries, the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) and BridgeTown... Full story
As a fireman, Damon Frutos makes his living by saving lives. On Sunday afternoon, he'll exchange his fire hose for an acoustic guitar to help save the lives of children suffering with blood cancer. Frutos will perform at Sisters Coffee Company to raise funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). His goal is twofold. Frutos must first raise $1,000 in donations in order to earn the privilege of raising more funds; the $1,000 mark qualifies him to register early for the... Full story
Moved to action by a cherubic little boy's medical crisis, members of the Sisters High School Sparrow Club are on a mission. Until April 1, the students are selling raffle tickets to raise funds for the family of one-year-old Mason Fronk. For $10, ticket buyers get a chance to win one of these donated prizes: four guest passes to Sisters Athletic club; a homemade quilt; an Adirondack chair built by an SHS student; a crocheted afghan (donated by Lorry Williams, a long-time cust... Full story
It took well over 40 days and 40 nights for a team of crafty Sisters women to complete a Noah's Ark-themed series of quilts, but it brought them a boatload of joy. The trio of quilts are now destined for Sisters Christian Academy's fundraising dinner and auction at FivePine Lodge on February 28. Kristi Bobbitt said the idea germinated after she attended the SCA auction last spring. "I love children's art," she says. She also drew inspiration from American history. Harriet... Full story
Local novelist Melody Carlson has a new accomplishment to add to her vast list of writing credits: Carlson penned the companion novel to "Grace Unplugged," a faith-based feature film that releases nationwide this week. And this may mark the beginning of a new career direction, the gateway to Carlson's "big dream." "Grace Unplugged" is the prodigal-daughter story of a talented 18-year-old singer-songwriter whose convictions are tested as she grapples with Hollywood stardom. The... Full story
On African soil, Katie Keranen witnessed hardship and hopelessness. And on African soil she experienced her greatest personal tragedy. Now from her office in Sisters, as the new administrator for the Hope Africa child sponsorship program, Katie works to cultivate hope and alleviate tragedy for the African people she has grown to love. She invites the community to "meet" some of the locally sponsored children (through video) and learn more about the program, during their... Full story
When Stephanie King stepped onto the bow of the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor earlier this month as conductor of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration Choir, she knew her team was ready. King had pushed and stretched them in the weeks leading up to the 4th of July Salute to Valor Music Festival, teaching them several traditional patriotic songs in a short time. But she didn't yet know in what ways she, too, would be stretched. And she didn't know that her... Full story
Can a single quilt save the world? One colorful homemade quilt, hand-carried eight years ago by Sisters Country resident Janet Storton to a Ugandan village where women are a marginalized group, has inspired threads of real socioeconomic change. And through the nonprofit Storton launched, Sisters of the Heart Foundation (SOH), those threads continue to be artfully arranged into a vibrant banner of hope for Africa and beyond. Storton will be sharing the stories of the women... Full story
Eight-month-old Abel Bloss smiles all the time "unless he's in pain," says his mother, Misty, of Sisters. In his short life, Abel has endured three major surgeries to correct a dangerous congenital condition, and his family is facing down crushing medical expenses. But the caring students of Sisters High School's Sparrow Club have come alongside the Bloss family to offer emotional and financial support, and they've come up with ways members of the community can help, too. While in the womb, Abel was diagnosed with a... Full story
When good kids engage in risky behavior, and their friends keep it a secret, the consequences can be deadly. Just ask Sisters resident Penny Whipps. Four years ago, Penny received a phone call that altered her life forever: Her son Kyle was dead of an accidental heroin overdose. In the wake of an unimaginable nightmare, Penny felt she had two choices: go crazy, or go public. She chose to speak out, and founded the non-profit organization Just1x. In 2012, she delivered a... Full story
Long-time Sisters Country residents Bill and Nancie Carmichael traveled to Costa Mesa, California, last week to accept a Career Achievement Award from Vanguard University. Both Bill and Nancie are bestselling authors, publishers, and speakers. "We feel humbled and grateful," says Nancie. "Bill and I met at Vanguard, and three of our five children graduated from VU. It was special to have two of our sons, Chris and Andy, and their wives, Jami and Michelle, attend the award... Full story
If you're a senior citizen in need of physical help around your house, or if you know someone who is, now is a great time to speak up. A group of Sisters High School upperclassmen are at the ready, waiting to take your call. In an undertaking they call "Seniors Helping Seniors," four high school students hope to assist in a variety of practical ways: shoveling snow, yard work, clearing gutters, or heavy lifting. "We're a bunch of able-bodied people and we want to have an impact on our community," says Natasha Pepperling. Pepp... Full story
Imagine you're a teenager and you're granted one wish, any wish - what would it be? For an 18-year-old aspiring writer from Texas battling a deadly disease, it was to meet her favorite author, Melody Carlson, of Sisters. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Bethany Bridgewater traveled from Austin over the summer, spent time under Carlson's tutelage and watched as the popular author wrote her into a key scene of a forthcoming youth novel, titled "Prom Queen." At first,... Full story
During 10 months of duty aiding communities across the country through AmeriCorps, Sisters High School graduate Hillary Johnson saw places and met faces that are now forever etched in her memory. And despite long hours and hard work, in trying conditions, she can't wait to do it again. "I got to do and see things that most people don't. You're getting all these skills, developing relationships with people all over the country," says Hillary. While many of her friends were... Full story
What does it take to become one of those successful authors whose books grace library shelves? Sisters Middle School students can answer that question with some authority, thanks to Wendelin Van Draanen's visit last week. With 27 books to her credit, including the 14-book Sammy Keyes mystery series, which scored her the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children's Mystery, Van Draanen held students at rapt attention with a lively account of her uphill journey to success. One of... Full story
