News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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The first executive director of Explore Sisters, Scott Humpert, told The Nugget that the primary goal for the new destination management organization (DMO) is to sustain Sisters’ quality of livability by managing tourism to insure they attract “the right person at the right time in the right place.” Rather than simply promoting general tourism through broad marketing, the DMO’s messaging will work to attract certain kinds of tourist who value the small-town atmosphere and sur... Full story
According to Scott Crabtree, to get the best from our brain we must feed it with nutritious foods and rich information. In his presentation last Thursday morning at the Sisters Fire District Community Hall, sponsored by Citizens4Community (C4C), Crabtree gave an engaging, information-packed workshop, providing guidelines for better remembering. He used the visual concept of a “memory palace” in which each room represents one facet of memory assigned a vivid visual aid. Mem... Full story
How did my beautiful golden-haired, blue-eyed boy who grew to six-foot-five, who loves animals (he’s a dog whisperer), has a wicked sense of humor, is enviably creative in a variety of ways — how did he morph into a 46-year-old shell of a man, living on the streets? His physical body is wracked by damage from years of addiction and recurring infections. His mind slips into and out of a world of paranoia that sometimes even questions my motives. He made his entrance i... Full story
The Sisters Planning Commission will decide whether to approve a revised version of a controversial subdivision plan at their first meeting of 2023. The revised plan reflects changes requested by citizens at previous hearings. At the close of their December 8 public hearing on the Sunset Meadows Master Plan, the Planning Commission left the written record open to allow for submittal of additional information. The Planning Commission is scheduled to deliberate and make a decisi... Full story
The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District is adequately equipped to fight fires with their current equipment, and the fire station could hold a ladder truck if the District had one, according to Fire Chief Roger Johnson. Comments made at the December 14 City Council meeting by Mayor Michael Preedin, which were reported in the December 21 Nugget, were inaccurate. During Council discussion regarding the proposed increase in building heights allowed in Sisters to implement... Full story
Interest in serving as volunteer City board and commission members was high this year, with 11 people being selected for one-, two-, three-, or four-year terms. Eleven people applied for the three Planning Commission positions. Named to the Planning Commission for another four-year term are Cris Converse and Art Blumenkron. They are joined by Jeremy Dickman. Dave Moyer and Rachel Rupple will serve for three years on the Public Works Advisory Board, and Dane Zehrung for one... Full story
Recruitment for a new city manager for Sisters will go public after the first of the year. Jensen Strategies of Portland, who oversaw the first recruitment effort, will lead the new one beginning in January 2023. The first search resulted in the city rejecting all candidates. During December 2022, work behind the scenes included a few adjustments to the profile, an interview with new City counselor Susan Cobb to bring her up to speed, and brochure edits. At their December 14... Full story
• City staff is currently negotiating a development agreement with Northwest Housing Alternatives (NHA) for a multi-family rental workforce housing project on Trinity Way. The development will be a multi-story building with one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, and possibly some studios. The building design will feature a minimum of 40 affordable workforce units with an additional manager’s unit. Amenities will include a community space, outdoor play area, and easy a... Full story
There will be no increased building heights in Sisters for the foreseeable future. City officials asserted that Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District doesn’t have the equipment necessary to fight a fire in a 50-foot building. Furthermore, they said, the current fire station may not be able to house a ladder truck equipped to reach 50 feet. In the interest of public safety, the increased height conditions were dropped from code changes approved by the Sisters City Council last w... Full story
At her final City Council meeting on December 14, after eight years of serving the people of Sisters, Council President Nancy Connolly was showered with gratitude and well wishes from the other councilors and City staff. Public Works Director Paul Bertagna provided a comprehensive list of all the projects, programs, personnel, and plans in which Connolly had a hand. It is an impressive list which, with a moist eye, led Bertagna to summarize by telling Connolly, “Everywhere y... Full story
The Sisters Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to make a decision on the controversial proposed Sunset Meadows development along Highway 242 at their meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2023. At the conclusion of the December 8 Planning Commission meeting, the public hearing on Sunset Meadows was closed, and the written record left open for submittal of additional information. With the public hearing now closed, the Planning Commission will not receive any additional... Full story
Ten Friends Silent Auction and Himalayan Dinner, sponsored by the Cascades Academy MUSE Club, will be held Wednesday, December 14, 6 to 8 p.m. at Cascades Academy. After two years of a virtual auction, this year’s event will be live. The evening will include speakers, a raffle, a dinner of dal bhat, and the silent auction. The auction will include an assortment of goods and experiences donated by local businesses and individuals. Items include a ski package donated by Crows F... Full story
At their November 30 meeting and public hearings, the Sisters City Council rolled up their sleeves and for four hours wrestled with the toughest topic of late: how to plan appropriately for growth without destroying the small-town character of Sisters.... Full story
Each Tuesday in December at the Sisters Community Lunches sponsored by Council on Aging of Central Oregon, there will be seasonal entertainment for the enjoyment of the attendees. The no-charge, in-person lunches are held at Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Hwy., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sisters High School Jazz Band and Choir will be playing and singing on Tuesday, December 13. The ever-popular Sisters Ukelele Group will liven things up on December 20. The year will be... Full story
Despite no proposal brought to the City for winter camping at Creekside Campground, and a number of barriers to using the campground for such purposes, emails and rumors have continued to circulate regarding use of the facility for a winter camp for homeless people. Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang thinks the spot would make a good location for “safe parking,” a program in place in other areas of the county. He acknowledged, however, that the park is a City of Sis... Full story
Ten Friends Silent Auction and Himalayan Dinner sponsored by the Cascades Academy MUSE Club will be held Wednesday, December 14, 6 to 8 p.m. at Cascades Academy. After two years of a virtual auction, this year’s event will be live. The evening will include speakers, a raffle, a dinner of Dal Bhat, and the silent auction. The auction will include an assortment of goods and experiences donated by local businesses and individuals. Items include a ski package donated by Crows Feet... Full story
Farms and ranches around the country and right here in Central Oregon are diversifying their operations to offer opportunities for the public to experience what goes on at a working ranch or farm while providing additional income for ranchers and farmers. Agritourism is a way to add value to a farm/ranch without adding acreage. In Deschutes County, the term agritourism refers to a commercial enterprise at a working farm or ranch that is incidental and subordinate to the... Full story
As the last brittle leaves of fall skitter across the frozen ground, I stare out the window, lost in contemplation of my own journey, which finds me in the winter of my life. As an adult, late fall and early winter have usually prompted some feelings of loss and sadness for me. No more long, leisurely warm summer evenings at twilight. Waking up to darkness that returns by late afternoon. The end of the year is stuffed with holiday hype, full of commercials featuring smiling fa... Full story
For each fiscal year, July 1 to June 30, the City Council, with input from staff, adopts a set of goals to direct the work at City Hall for the coming year. The goals for 2022/23 cover seven specific areas including Livability and Growth, Wildfire Mitigation and Community Resiliency, Economic Development, Essential Infrastructure, Good Governance, Environmental Sustainability, and Urban Renewal Agency Goals. At halfway through the year, at least 16 of 23 specific projects are... Full story
Concerns about the pace and nature of growth in Sisters loom large as the City of Sisters works on its housing plan. At their November 17 meeting, the Planning Commission approved resolutions acknowledging the Sisters Housing Plan Update and the Efficiency Measures Report related to the updated Comprehensive Plan. Following those two approvals, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing addressing proposed text amendments to Sisters Development Code to support the reco... Full story
Numerous complaints and accompanying photographs have arrived in The Nugget office, reporting on the dismaying condition of Sisters Recycle Center located on West Sisters Park Drive. People are using the location as an unofficial dump, leaving large quantities of discarded oil and other fluids, furniture, copious quantities of styrofoam packing materials, and just general junk that is not recyclable at the center. Public Works Director Paul Bertagna told The Nugget that, unfor... Full story
A small storm of rumor has been brewing in town regarding the possibility of Creekside Campground becoming a location for houseless camping this winter. According to Mayor Michael Preedin, “No one has currently come forward with a proposal to use the campground in the winter. No one on the City Council or City staff has made such a request.” At a town hall on houselessness in October, when responding to a hypothetical question about using the campground for a houseless cam... Full story
After a month of advertising the city manager opening in Sisters, screening applicants, narrowing the field to three finalists, and a week of panels, receptions, tours, and a final interview in front of the City Council, the Council decided not to offer the position to any one of the three candidates – Ron Tinseth, Keith Witcosky, or Simon Kim. The City will begin the process over again. Following the Council’s executive session on Friday morning, November 18, Mayor M... Full story
The 2023 Sisters City Council will see only one newcomer, Susan Cobb, who will take the seat vacated by retiring Council President Nancy Connolly, who has served for eight years. Gary Ross and Michael Preedin were reelected to serve for four years, and Cobb will serve for two. They join continuing Council members Andrea Blum and Jennifer Letz. Ross, who garnered 28 percent of the vote with 1,179 votes, said, “I want to thank the voters of Sisters for trusting me with their v... Full story
Citizens packed the hearing room at City Hall last week to register their opposition to the proposed development of Sunset Meadows by Woodhill Homes on Highway 242. At the first public hearing before the Planning Commission on October 20, it was standing room only and the hearing was continued to Thursday, November 3. There were over 60 people in attendance at Thursday’s meeting, with 17 people testifying. No one testified in favor of the development. Prior to last week’s mee... Full story
