News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 206
Veterans and their families munched on bagels, donuts, fruit, and hard-boiled eggs in local-farm hues of green, blue, and brown. Many wore military gear, or jackets and caps celebrating their service, labeled with the branch in which they served. They drank coffee and talked in the Sisters Elementary School gym, hosted by fourth-grade leadership students and the Sisters Parent-Teacher Community group (SPTC). Bill Phillips described himself as active from 1965 to 1969, when he... Full story
Should a person become a parent? More specifically, should a woman become a mom? Such questions weren’t always asked in earlier generations; people simply had kids. No longer taken for granted, these decisions inform the twists and turns of a contemporary life path. As many women do, Jackie Shannon Hollis faced losing her love relationship if she chose to prioritize having children. In her book “This Particular Happiness: A Childless Love Story,” Hollis explores her journ... Full story
On the Friday before the holiday weekend, veterans were honored at an assembly presented by Sisters Elementary School (SES). The respectful, educational, and emotionally moving assembly was professional in its presentation and sincere in its gratitude. “I’ve never been more honored as a veteran than here,” David Vaux said of Sisters. He moved here a little over a year ago, shortly before the SES Veterans Assembly of that year. He enjoyed it greatly. “And then I spent three h... Full story
Commentaries dotted The Nugget for weeks. Folks chit-chatted about whether the evening would be tense or free-flowing, whether it might erupt. Then, last Thursday night, people gathered at Sisters Fire Hall for a panel discussion on free speech and the First Amendment. It’d make sense for me to be there; I seem to yammer on about finding and using one’s voice quite a bit. Acquaintances asked if I’d be attending. Local women texted me when they noticed that all the panel... Full story
New Oregon Arts & Letters and Sisters Farmers Market recently co-presented the inaugural Food & Farm Haiku Contest. The judge was the State of Oregon’s official poet laureate, Kim Stafford, soon to appear at the inaugural Sisters Festival of Books. Stafford chose a poem by Holly Crosson of Corvallis as the first-place winner in the adult Out-of-Towners category. Crosson wrote a triptych of poems, which she later revised; the full triptych will be published online at s... Full story
“I firmly believe that access to fresh foods and vegetables should be a basic human right,” said Aude Gire, education coordinator for Seed to Table farm. “It’s disappointing the way that our culture and society views food — and here in Sisters, the grocery stores are expensive.” With Seed to Table, she hopes to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables for people of all incomes. “I really believe that food is deeply rooted in community, or it once was,” said... Full story
Stories of Change brought Native American artist and performer Jefferson Green to the shores of Blue Lake this weekend. The annual fundraising event for Caldera presents storytelling, documentary film and performance showing how the organization’s programs change the lives of youth. Founders Dan Wieden and Priscilla Bernard Wieden, also known by their camp names Papa Bear and Moonflower, greeted people at the door. About 200 celebrants mingled in Caldera’s central Hearth Bui... Full story
After I used the term “my truth” in a column, a reader sent thoughtful feedback: “I’ve heard this in the news and on TV ads in various forms — their truth, my truth, her truth, etc.,” Lisa wrote in an email. “I’m being honest here that my first emotional response is kinda angry… I’m wondering if you can educate an older, maybe more traditional lady like me on what the younger folk mean when they use ‘my truth.’” Since she also wrote, “I absolutely loved your c... Full story
Folks blended their own herbal teas, read haiku onstage, and taste-tested chai at Sisters Farmers Market last Sunday, the second-till-last market of the 2019 season. Krayna Castelbaum led a “poetry playshop,” and winners of the Food & Farms Haiku Contest were announced. The judge was the State of Oregon’s official poet laureate, Kim Stafford. Deschutes Public Library set up a poetry activity booth where kids wrote poems on paper leaves. Sisters Ukulele Group sang and playe... Full story
It’s not unusual to hear music outside. Guitars and ukuleles pop up around campfires. String quartets cluster on lawns at outdoor weddings. What’s more unusual: a classical piano concert en plein air. A recent performance of pianist Hunter Noack and the “In a Landscape” project brought this experience to the Playa residency site in Summer Lake. Along a desert lakebed, at the foot of a stern desert mountain, Playa offered an oasis. Audiences, complete with kids and picnic... Full story
Being active. People know it’s good for their bodies and minds. It’s essential for the developing minds, emotions, and bodies of children and teens. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to get kids off the couch, off the phone, and moving around. Families in Sisters Country enjoy a plethora of options (see related article, page 22). Local mom Brittany Morioka believes that being active starts with being in community. “Our neighborhood has created an environment in which our kids do... Full story
“It is such a need today to get kids out and moving,” said Chad Rush, recreation programs director at Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD). Families in Sisters Country have a wide array of choices for getting active, from SPRD’s organized classes and sports leagues to last-minute dashes into the National Forest. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Woods Wandering “Sisters is a great place for us to walk out our front door and explore the outdoors,” said Molly Baumann... Full story
A pickup truck full of used music gear. A love of the high desert landscape. A guitar class at SPRD. These three elements were crucial to the formation of Appaloosa, a lively Americana act playing a free show in Sisters this Sunday. Dottie Ashley and her husband, Eli Ashley, retired from their careers about seven years ago. Dottie told The Nugget, “Eli said, ‘You know, I think we should play music,’ and I thought it was a big joke. Then he came home from Olympia, Washi... Full story
Ever heard of the smash hit show “Unicorns Really are Real: The Story of How They Save the Earth from Global Warming”? Not yet, perhaps. It just debuted in Sisters last Friday. It was all part of Starshine Theater’s debut theater camp. Director Jennie Sharp, known locally for the winter kids’ performances she directs in Camp Sherman, saw a need for hands-on theater experience in Sisters Country. Options in Bend often present traditional shows in classes that go on for weeks o... Full story
The second annual Rhythm & Song in the Park event brought local residents of all ages out to share music, movement, and food. In a relaxed atmosphere, free of charge, musicians shared their talent and invited audience members to play drums, dance, and sing along. Dottie Kemble of Sisters came with her two granddaughters, after experiencing the inaugural Rhythm & Song last year. “I think it’s great for the community to get together and celebrate,” Kemble said. “You know, t... Full story
Cindy Miskowiec is new to Sisters. She grew up in Florida, got a degree in psychology, and moved to Hawaii and Albuquerque. No matter where she landed, she danced, especially ballet. “I danced throughout my whole life,” she told The Nugget. Then came 2012, when she moved to join her sister Christie Reid in Central Oregon. “I didn’t really start getting into the nutrition and wellness aspect until I moved to Bend,” Miskowiec explained. “Based on things that we were going throu... Full story
Mandee Seeley of Sisters has won a scholarship from The National Alliance to End Homelessness to attend the sold-out 2019 National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington, D.C. In addition to covering her entrance fee to the conference, the organization will fly Seeley to the capitol, pay her hotel costs, and supply her with a modest stipend. “I want to learn what other states are experiencing and their different methods of tackling homelessness,” Seeley said. She wil... Full story
There’s a new youth group in town. It doesn’t have a name. It charges no fees. And it allows no electronics. So far it’s helped stage a Halloween flash mob, arranged for fly-fishing lessons, and hosted several “jazz cafés” with young musicians and guest performers. There’s also a youth choir and a weekly gathering of OGG, the Outlaw Gamer Group. “The idea is that if a young person has a calling and wants to do something, we have a group of people who are there to supp... Full story
Insects and birdsong livened up Sisters High School last week. Was the high school installing a zoo? No: it was a performance by Sisters Elementary School students. “The music teacher at SES, Sara Miller, has done a phenomenal job this year not only teaching music theory but also providing all students with performance opportunities,” said Joan Warburg, principal of Sisters Elementary School. Miller directed a double bill nicknamed “Bugs and Birds” in the high school auditor... Full story
Ever stand in front of strangers and share your original songs, stories, or poems? Given the right circumstances, it can be rewarding and downright fun. The atmosphere was friendly, appreciative, and nonjudgmental—in other words, perfect—at the Paulina Springs Books open mic last week. More formally known as “Music, Poetry & Storytelling Open Mic,” the monthly event invites the Sisters community to share their work in a low-pressure environment, free of cha... Full story
A fine mist of dust, electric-yellow, descends upon Sisters Country this time of year. It lands on decks, cars, and roads. It shudders onto the forest floor and sifts into people’s hair. It’s ponderosa pine pollen, the trees’ way of saying, “Hey, baby, let’s make saplings together.” The pollen bursts from the prominent male pollen cones to be seen on branch tips this time of year. It’s dispersed at random by the wind. Each grain contains air sacs to help it remain airbor... Full story
One day a few years back, I staked out my favorite table in the bustling coffeehouse. It was an antique school desk, wobbly and funky, resting near the great stone hearth. I was new to Sisters. I’d visited many times, but now I actually lived here. We camped in a little trailer in Deschutes National Forest. Then we bounced around furnished homes, from Black Butte Ranch to Pine Meadow Village. Sisters Coffee, with its brews and breakfasts and friendly strangers, felt more l... Full story
What are labyrinths and how can they help us? Our town has two public labyrinths, but locals and visitors alike aren’t always sure how to approach them. This Saturday, a certified labyrinth facilitator will present a workshop to show Sisters Country how it’s done. Sara Hopkins will present a free Introduction to Labyrinth Walking at Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration on June 1. Hopkins has led over 100 walks for students, adults, and senior groups. Her own fir... Full story
Screen-Free Week was celebrated school-wide for the first time this year at Sisters Elementary School. The international event encourages kids, schools, and families to eliminate unnecessary screen time — and find hands-on activities to take its place. “There was a lot of enthusiasm in our building and conversations with students about Screen Free Week,” said principal Joan Warburg. Warburg and her staff printed out bingo cards that made the challenge into a game. In... Full story
Citizens of Sisters Country joined Sisters Parks and Recreation District (SPRD) for snacks, chats, and the debut of SPRD’s bright new summer catalog on Thursday. Johanna Talus displayed child-sized garden tools on her table. She spoke knowledgeably about growing ornamental plants and edible vegetables in the Sisters climate. Talus will be teaching a family vegetable gardening class beginning in mid-June, where parents can dig in the dirt alongside their kids. She said that h... Full story
