News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 82
When Drew Berding first met an auburn beauty named Marilyn in his high school cafeteria, he was won. He asked her out. She said no. As he tells it, "I was a nerd. But Marilyn was so kind and lovely. When I saw Marilyn, I knew she was the one." Back then, in 1963, it seemed nothing short of miraculous to Drew that he eventually persuaded her to become his wife. Fifty years later, Drew is now chalking up another miracle to the power of love: a remarkable breakthrough in his wife... Full story
Inspired by the musical success of local school kids, Jay Mather kicked off the new year by dusting off his old guitar and venturing into the inaugural Adult Americana class offered through Sisters Park & Recreation Department (SPRD). Mather joins a dozen other grown-ups with latent musical aspirations, gathering weekly for guitar and songwriting instruction that, up until now, has only been offered to middle and high school students. SPRD Executive Director Anne Heath wasn't... Full story
Most days of the week, giant boxes loaded with life-saving equipment - ropes, harnesses, headlamps and carabiners - depart from Sisters, en route to rescue organizations worldwide. Now Lance and Monica Piatt, owners of Rescue Response Gear, are expanding their scope of operations in Sisters to include a state-of-the-art training facility and filming studio. The couple recently moved their growing company to larger digs in the former Weitech Building, across from the post... Full story
The home-ec room at Sisters Middle School was redolent of the sounds and smells of a family kitchen recently as clusters of students chopped apples, measured out sugar, flour and spices, then mounded their mixtures into pie crusts they had rolled out by hand the previous day. All the while, they chatted and laughed and helped each other. "Does anyone remember what the flour does?" asked Rebecca Sokol. "It makes it thicker," responded a boy. As a recurring special guest in Kit... Full story
David Uttley has a talent for portraying the real faces behind some staggering geopolitical crises. While on assignment last week with one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations, his passion for photographing Third-world peoples nearly placed Uttley in harm's way. On Thursday, November 10, four bombs were dropped on a refugee camp at Yida, in the newly established country of South Sudan. The government of Sudan has denied responsibility for the bombing, but... Full story
Rhonda Funk is probably most recognizable seated behind a piano. An inspirational singer-songwriter, she has three CDs to her credit as well as performances locally and across the country. But the busy Sisters mom wears another hat now: that of a published children's author. The first two books in a series entitled "The Adventures of Pookster and Bubs," are now available in retail outlets nationwide, and other books are on the drawing table. "Pookster and Bubs are an ordinary... Full story
Karl Baldessari's job assignments with the Coast Guard routinely placed him in perilous situations, often performing dramatic helicopter rescues at sea. The work also required his family to live an unsettled lifestyle for nearly three decades. But after closing out his distinguished career with a tour as the Chief of Operations for the Northwest, Baldessari retired from the military, landing on solid ground: the Sisters resident is now settling into a new full-time position... Full story
You might say that 1999 Sisters High School graduate Aubrey Denzer spent the last ten years jumping, dancing, climbing and fighting her way into a career as a Hollywood stuntwoman. This summer, visitors to Universal Studios theme park in Los Angeles can watch her doing all of those things: Aubrey scored the lead female role of "Helen" in "WaterWorld," an explosive live-action show based on the post- apocolyptic motion picture starring Kevin Costner. And fans of the CBS TV... Full story
In the face of a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, it never occurred to 9-year-old Colton Seymour that one little boy couldn't make a difference. When Colton learned that kids like him are perishing in East Africa due to the worst drought in 60 years, he cleaned out his piggy bank. Already he has inspired others, young and old, to do the same. "I can't stand people dying. It just makes me super sad," says Colton, a fourth-grader at Sisters Elementary School. On a... Full story
Hawks Haven Reserve, a lovingly cultivated, 90-acre restored wildlife habitat, pays tribute to the area's diverse flora and fauna as well as to one local family's rich Western heritage. Adjoining Highways 20 and 126 at the east entrance to Sisters, its pastoral landscape now teems with native songbirds, waterfowl and insect life and extends a gracious howdy to travelers on either route. Less than 10 years ago, the only remnant Marleen Rognlien retained of her family's... Full story
If compassion were a flavor, it might taste something like Kabum Coffee. Sisters residents can now enjoy this new, high-grade, east African coffee-with-a-cause at Sisters Coffee Company, knowing that their own community had a hand in bringing it to market. "We are really, really excited about Kabum," Justin Durham, marketing manager for Sisters Coffee Company, told The Nugget this week. "It was always a really compelling story, and we're pleased and excited about the quality... Full story
Often, as the afternoon sun wanes over the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, an uninvited guest blows in: the wind. Fabric masterpieces flutter and flap, threatening to break free. Yet every year their fate is secure, thanks to the steadfast presence of the Quilt Rescue Team (QRT) - a highly organized volunteer crew, devoted to assuring that no harm will befall the town's textile treasures. Are the QRT superheroes? As of yet, they don't wear capes. But they have indeed proven to be... Full story
When Donna Rice got the call from Ann Richardson over a year ago inviting her to hold court as the Featured Quilter at the 2011 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday, July 9, Rice was thrilled. "It's the greatest honor in the world," she says. It's a distinction akin to being "Queen for a Day," but Rice has actually been highly visible in Sisters since the Around the Block Fiber Art Stroll last weekend, previewing her work and answering questions at The Culver House,... Full story
Rob Appell is a study in contrasts. He's a laid-back surfer as well as a super-industrious businessman. He's a bit of a jokester, yet he's serious about a cause. And, most notably, he's a guy and also ... well, a quilter. He'll be displaying pieces from his endangered species quilt series at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday. When The Nugget caught up with him by phone last week in his hometown of Morro Bay, California, Appell detailed the genesis of his endangered... Full story
Sewing enthusiasts with wee ones in their lives are likely to make Little Buckaroos Fabric & Quilts a regular stop for creative inspiration and supplies. Lined with bolts of brightly colored, playfully patterned nursery fabrics, the recently opened store on Hood Avenue offers everything one needs to fashion adorable one-of-a-kind items for children. Says owner Lee Cooley, "Everyone that comes through the door says, 'Oh this is just so darling!' "There are a lot of... Full story
As the Sisters Rodeo Parade moseyed down Cascade Avenue under the Saturday morning sunshine, Peggy Dorsett stood watching, feeling exceedingly grateful. Thanks to an outpouring of community support, the owner of Sun Buster Video recently underwent hip replacement surgery, and she has ditched her walking cane for good. "I have so many people to thank," says Dorsett. "It was life-changing." Peggy came dangerously close to losing her ability to walk altogether due to a deteriorat... Full story
Parents and teachers have important messages to impart to teenagers, and only a small window of time to do it in. Yet teenagers are notoriously hard to connect with. So what's the secret? Andrew Robinson, author of "The Teen Age," believes he has cracked the code of adult-teen communication. And judging by his success last week with a group of Sisters High School students, it would appear that teenagers are just as eager as adults to engage openly, given the right conditions.... Full story
While many of his Sisters High School Class of 2010 classmates are returning home from college for the summer, Grayson "Gray" Gould is anchored in Los Angeles focused on making a name for himself as a Hollywood actor. Already he has contributed to a number of productions including the Fox TV hit "Glee" and the just-released movie sequel "Hangover 2." "To really go after what I want, this is where I need to be," says Gray. The busiest season for actors is summer into fall. "I h... Full story
Most eighth graders do not volunteer to stand before a classroom filled with their peers to talk about life's difficulties. Yet that is exactly what Craig Wessel did last week. But then again, Craig is not your typical eighth grader. Craig lives with autism. And at the age of 14, he's decided it's time to tackle the subject of his disability head-on. "I often wonder if everybody understands me," he told students at Sisters Middle School last Thursday. "Some kids are big jerks... Full story
Amid a galaxy of brightly colored balloons and live music by Americana Project students, 150 community members dined on soup and bid on silent auction items at Sisters High School Tuesday evening, in a hearty show of support for young cancer patient Avrey Walker and her family. Optimism reigned at the Sparrow Club benefit, which featured an array of handmade ceramic keepsake bowls crafted by local artisans for purchase. "The number of student groups that pitched in to make... Full story
"Can you imagine trying to build a building in Africa by email?" Janet Storton asks rhetorically. She's referring to the challenge that commanded her focus for much of the past year: construction of a new vocational center for the Sisters of the Heart quilting project, within a strict time frame dictated by the American Embassy in Uganda. Storton was anxious to see the outcome - even as her plane landed recently in the capitol city of Kampala and she made her way up the... Full story
Volunteers young and old are being mobilized for the annual "I Heart Sisters" community service event scheduled for this Saturday, May 7. Working together, members of seven local church congregations will be rolling up their sleeves to serve their neighbors in a number of practical ways. "Our target is mostly seniors, single moms, veterans and disabled folks," says coordinator John Gerke. "Most of the work is raking pine needles and clearing debris from rain gutters, and there will also be some window washing." Gerke says... Full story
Western-themed home décor is pretty common in downtown Sisters; at Open Range Western Lodge and Decor, it's what takes place behind the scenes that promises a different sort of retail experience. Owner Denelle Martin moseyed into town this winter, opening shop next door to Martolli's Pizza, thrilled to be able to personally showcase the items she has been wholesaling to other local retailers for years. When Martin is not helping customers, she's often soldering or... Full story
For much of 2010, the Walker family of Redmond had much to celebrate. After nearly three years of treatment, seven-year-old Avrey Walker had, by all counts, triumphed over her cancer. "We thought we had it beat," says Avrey's dad, Aaron Walker. But then December ushered in disappointment and devastation. "I came back from a hunting trip and looked at my little girl. I knew it in my heart that it was back." Avrey is now back at her old stomping grounds, Doernbecker Children's... Full story
You may see Seth Flanders on your TV in the coming weeks; you may hear his name on your radio. At 18, the Sisters High School senior holds an impressive list of accomplishments; enough so that The Center Foundation, in their ongoing quest to recognize student leaders with "superlative personal attributes," has chosen to honor Flanders as their April High Desert Hero. Nine "Heroes" are selected each year; in the coming weeks Flanders will compete against eight other stellar... Full story
