News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 1025
Whychus Creek runs 41 miles down off the Cascade glaciers, right through Sisters, and joins up with the Deschutes River as it flows to the Columbia. Over the past two decades, the creek has been the recipient of extensive restoration projects by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC) and the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT). This winter the UDWC is partnering with Central Oregon Community College to present a six-part informational speaker series about Whychus Creek and its... Full story
Sisters has been my home for 20 years. I love living here, surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature and all her critters. I never tire of gazing up at Faith, Hope, and Charity, especially when they are cloaked in their white winter coats, set against a crystalline blue sky. Sisters and Camp Sherman are places holding fond memories from my childhood summers. The smell of sage and pine scenting the air after a brief summer rain carries me right back to my youth. For me,... Full story
Harmony Farm animal sanctuary relies on volunteers for help caring for the rescued farm animals in their care. Heart of Oregon Corps YouthBuild students visit the farm on a regular basis to participate in work parties and engage in a Compassionate Communication program designed by volunteer Carolyn Miller, based on ideas from Robine Bots, the founder of Harmony Farm. The teens learn empathy, kindness, and compassion while working with the animals. This symbiotic program... Full story
Kellen Klein was chosen as the new full-time executive director of Citizens4Community (C4C) as of mid-November. He has been serving as the interim director for the past five-and-a-half months, and recently signed a two-year contract with the board. Klein said he is honored and thrilled with his new position. "I've been telling folks that it feels like I'm getting paid to do the community building I'd want to do anyway," he said. "It perfectly aligns with my passion for... Full story
Whether you're a local or a visitor, there's nothing more enjoyable than setting aside a day or two here and there just to take in the sights. Spirit of Central Oregon offers here a couple of off-beat opportunities to touch Oregon history. Riding the Rails There's something about climbing aboard a historic train that slows the world down, providing the opportunity to truly enjoy the scenery along the rails. Not far from the High Desert is just such an excursion, on the Mount...
Central Oregon is well-known for its multitude of outdoor activities - hiking, camping, snow sports, fishing, river rafting, biking, horseback riding. A newer, less-well-known attraction is agritourism, with local farmers and ranchers opening their properties to visitors and offering a wide variety of locally grown products and crafted wares. The High Desert Food Trail is a year-round self-guided adventure designed to be taken at your own pace through the awe-inspiring landsca...
"Blessed beyond what I deserve," is the way retired KTVZ meteorologist Bob Shaw describes it. After 24 years in front of the camera, 21 as the "Most Popular TV Personality in Central Oregon," Shaw plans to do some traveling with his wife, Cheryl, and some teaching. His is an engaging story that began in Anchorage, Alaska, expanded across the U.S., and came to rest here in Bend, Oregon in 1983. Weather wasn't always Shaw's forte, and his worklife has been full of variety. Born...
Dr. Bonnie Malone, longtime Sisters chiropractor, is retiring and closing her clinic as of November 27, 2023. For 42-1/2 years in Sisters, Malone has been deeply engaged in the life of the community, well beyond her chiropractic practice. She is a walking encyclopedia regarding the people, places, organizations, history, and fun stories of Sisters Country. Malone, her dog, Morgan, and her horse, Caesar, arrived in Sisters in late May 1981, when the population was around 800...
Dr. Bonnie Malone, longtime Sisters chiropractor, is retiring and closing her clinic as of November 27. For over 42 years in Sisters, Malone has been deeply engaged in the life of the community, well beyond her chiropractic practice. Malone, her dog, Morgan, and her horse, Caesar, arrived in Sisters in late May 1981, when the population was around 800 and the speed limit through town was 30 mph. In those days, Sisters was a logging town. The major employers were the U.S.... Full story
Two points emerged from an exploration of the loneliness and isolation epidemic now impacting people across the nation, and here in Sisters and elsewhere: The most effective ways to counter these negative feelings are to get engaged in your community, and start your day with gratitude. There seems to be general agreement, both locally and nationally, that loneliness and isolation are on the rise, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Surgeon General has... Full story
Explore Sisters Board Chair Greg Willitts shared a cautionary tale at last week’s public forum on Sisters’ Destination Management Organization (DMO), making the case for tourism management — not just marketing. Willitts is also the vice chair of the Oregon Tourism Commission, which directs the activities of the Travel Oregon staff. In about 2010, their advertising campaign centered around the Seven Wonders of Oregon, featuring the Columbia Gorge, Crater Lake, the Painted Hills... Full story
Last Thursday, October 10, the bar at Three Creeks Brew Pub was full of good food, good friends, and good feelings as the Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) organization gathered for their second annual volunteer appreciation event. STARS provides free rides to nonemergency medical appointments (physicians, dental, vision, physical therapy, hearing, lab work, and testing) in Sisters, Bend, and Redmond for residents of Sisters Country who can't drive themselves. Ride... Full story
When my cell phone rang one morning a while ago, the caller ID said, “unknown caller.” Usually I simply ignore calls like that, and delete them. I hadn’t heard from my younger son in another town for a while and he had been on my mind, so I answered the call, figuring maybe he had lost his phone again. Over the years, I have received many distressing phone calls regarding my youngest, who is often living on the edge. The voice on the other end confirmed my worst fears. Thoug... Full story
Walking into the classroom at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, I was immediately drawn to a table covered with cast hands, each unique in appearance, size, and pose. I had heard about the work being done by Sandra Honda, one of the artists doing a month-long residency at the Ranch, that she was looking for more volunteers for her art installation, and I was curious. The jumping-off point for our time together was my telling Honda a little about myself,... Full story
Oregonian Bob Welch is the consummate storyteller. He will bring that storytelling gift to Paulina Springs Books on Wednesday, October 5, with his latest book, Seven Summers (And a Few Bummers): My Adventure Hiking the 2,650- Mile PCT. He and his brother-in-law, Dr. Glenn Peterson, completed the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail trek over the course of seven summers, spanning a decade. The different sections of the trail were taken in no particular order, but by August 10, 2022,... Full story
Short-term rentals (STRs) were originally heralded as a way to increase tourism dollars in a city by offering a wide variety of lodging quality and affordability, as well as a different experience from that found in a hotel. Homeowners and landlords would also benefit by earning additional income from renting out rooms and entire properties as STRs. After more than a decade of experience, the STR impact on local economies and rental markets is highlighting problems that may... Full story
With the increasing number of record-breaking wildfires occurring in recent years, the availability and cost of homeowner’s insurance is becoming a concern for communities located in fire-prone areas. Many traditional insurance companies have announced they will no longer write policies in fire-prone areas, having seen millions in losses due to wildfire. Other carriers have stopped renewing policies due to the increasing liability and cost of replacements. This topic and m... Full story
The anticipation of a new school year colored my August for years. First, as an eager student, the beginning of school meant a few new clothes and a new pair of shoes, after my shorts, T-shirts, and bare feet of summer. In high school, it meant the return to seeing friends every day and the excitement of new experiences and more freedom. As a mother of two boys (and four stepchildren for a decade), August meant shopping the back-to-school sales for clothes, shoes, and school... Full story
The City of Sisters Planning Commission decision to deny the application for a major renovation of the Space Age Fuel station at the corner of Highway 20 and Pine Street will stand. “No appeal of the Planning Commission denial of the Space Age service station (file nos. SP22-02/MCU 22.01) proposal was filed prior to the end of the 14-day appeal period which ended August 3, 2023. Therefore, the Planning Commission decision is final,” according to Matthew Martin, City principal... Full story
Work has begun on the Sunset Meadows development by Woodhill Homes located between Felicity Lane and Highway 242. Trees are being removed to make way for street construction. The entire 12.92 acres was approved as three parcels, one for the single-family homes and townhouses, one for apartments, and a third one on the southeast corner of the property bounded by West Hood Avenue and Highway 242, which will be an open space with trees. During their January 19 hearing on the... Full story
Eighty-two-year-old Glenda Warren has been a resident of Sisters for 20 years. For much of that time, she has walked to her regular destinations, like BiMart, her hairdresser, and the Habitat Thrift Store. Warren’s daily routines began to shift back in 2021. She started watching more television and walking less. During COVID, she cut back on walking due to reduced energy, which she attributed to her age. Cleaning the house became a difficult chore, partially due to her a... Full story
With a unanimous vote at their July 13 public hearing, all seven members of the Sisters Planning Commission agreed to deny the Space Age application to redevelop their gas station at 411 W. Cascade Ave. The commissioners agreed with City staff, who had recommended denial of the application based on the incompatibility of the proposed station with the surrounding businesses and neighborhoods. They cited the size of the convenience store at 3,500 square feet, and the size and... Full story
Two buzz words increasingly used when talking about present-day farming and ranching operations are "agritourism" and "regenerative agriculture." Both are departures from traditional farming practices. By diversifying their operations to offer opportunities for the public to experience what goes on at a working ranch or farm, farmers and ranchers can create additional income. Agritourism allows people to connect with the products, practices, and places that produce our food,... Full story
An afternoon spent listening to Kathie Olson talk about her life as a quilter was filled with fun stories, amazing creativity, and great humor expressed when considering her long dedication to the art and craft of quilting. Olson said her sewing machine died years ago and she just never replaced it. For all the years since the machine's demise, Olson has hand-stitched every bit of every quilt to create professional pieces that are a feast for the eyes. Studying her quilts,... Full story
When people find out that, after seven years, I am no longer going to be writing about what’s going on at City Hall, they ask what I’m going to do with my time. Retire? Find other work? Although my assigned beat has been City-related, I do write articles having to do with other topics. And now I will have time to do more of what I love: interviewing people for feature stories, and researching topics to learn more in order to write an in-depth article. I should also be abl... Full story
