News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 205
Local musician Gabrial Sweyn will bring his evocative folk, country, and blues inflected music to Sisters Farmers Market this Sunday, July 10. The show begins at 11 a.m. at Fir Street Park and continues through 2 p.m. Melodic and tuneful, Sweyn’s voice carries an undertow of grit and melancholia. He formerly played with Holy Smokes & The Godforsaken Rollers in Portland and across the country. The band then flew to South Africa, where they performed “just a ton of shows, a few... Full story
Along with fresh local produce, handcrafted goods, and locally pastured meats and eggs, Sisters Farmers Market will feature something different this Sunday: quilts for display and raffle. “We are big fans of the quilt show here at Sisters Farmers Market,” manager Michelle Jiunta told The Nugget. “In addition to the beautiful quilt donated by Katy Yoder for our raffle, Seed To Table will be displaying their beautiful farm quilt by Janet MacConnell.” Sisters Outdoor Quilt S... Full story
The first time I tasted grass-fed beef, it came from an animal that I’d raised myself. Back then, “grass-fed beef” wasn’t a thing, as far as teenage-me knew. I bought a calf to raise. I worked with my dad to build fences, shovel manure, and castrate the young bull (ah yes, that’s a column for another day). Sure, our cattle ate grass. Ours was a hobby farm, not a large-scale ranch. Dad was a heavy equipment parts salesman by day. We could never earn a living on our couple do... Full story
Sisters in Sisters held its inaugural gathering on Thursday evening, celebrating Pride Month with a casual get-together including food, drinks, and music. Kids ran up and down the spine of The Barn’s outdoor garden while the band Oregon Fryer buoyed up the atmosphere, playing country-flavored rock and honky-tonk. Co-organizers Stefanie Siebold and her wife, Teresa Laursen, moved to Sisters about five years ago. “We have met some amazing individuals here in this community, fel... Full story
More sun, less night. That’s summer solstice in a nutshell. This year, it takes place Tuesday, June 21. Sisters Community Labyrinth invites the community to join in a free gathering at 7 p.m. that evening. Guests are encouraged to wear colorful clothes and hats; some hats will be provided for those who wish to decorate them. Summer solstice is associated with feasts, fires, fecundity, and fairies. Marking the longest day of the year, it’s also called Midsummer’s Day. Shake... Full story
“Wolf, eat me. End my miserable life,” begs Akiko, heroine of an ancient Japanese tale. But the wolf explains that his kind do not eat human beings. Instead, the wolf gives Akiko eyelashes she can wear to see the truth about people. Akiko’s story was one of several relayed by celebrated storyteller Susan Strauss at the Wolf Welcome Committee’s event on Saturday at Paulina Springs Books. An audience of over 40 attendees listened intently to Strauss and author Rosanne Parry,... Full story
Award-winning author Rosanne Parry came to Sisters last weekend to speak about wolves (see story page, page 18). Her middle reader fiction title “A Wolf Called Wander” echoes the travels of a gray wolf known as OR7, a.k.a. Journey, who walked across much of Eastern and Southern Oregon and into Northern California. Fifth-grade student Gusty Berger-Brown interviewed Parry on a walk along the Metolius River, near the habitat of two wolves who have recently begun to call Sisters Country home. Their conversation contains min... Full story
A busy crowd, live music, and sunshine characterized opening day at Sisters Farmers Market last Sunday. So did wild bursts of wind, smatterings of hard rain, and a runaway booth tent. Jessie Curry moved to Sisters about a year ago but has spent time here seasonally for a decade. “My mom is visiting from out of town, and we decided to check out the farmers market after having lunch at the Saloon,” she said. “A big gust of wind came in, and a bunch of people lifted their hands... Full story
Sisters Farmers Market opens a new season starting Sunday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shoppers can browse fresh Oregon strawberries, locally ranched meats and eggs, produce from local farms, and a variety of artisanal foods and handcrafts. The music of Derek Reynolds promises to get people’s toes tapping. A relaxed, friendly feeling surrounds the Sisters community’s outdoor market, which runs from June through early October. “I just love the vibes of this market,” said Aa... Full story
Students of Sisters Middle School (SMS) and their families gathered Thursday evening for STEAM Night at the school. Student-made art was on display throughout the campus. Kids enjoyed activities involving STEAM subjects, while parents sipped hot cups of Sisters Coffee and sometimes got hands-on, too. STEAM is a buzzword in education, like STEM before it. Fifth-grade student Annabelle Molesworth took a guess at what the acronym stands for. “Science, Technology, something, A... Full story
Sisters Farmers Market will launch a new season of microlocal food, artisanal goods, and live entertainment on June 5. While many slots are already filled, the market is still seeking volunteers, vendors, nonprofit organizations, and musicians to participate. Volunteering can take many forms. At age 11, Sisters Middle School student Molly Fredland volunteered throughout last season. “It was very fun and it was a great learning experience,” she said. Helping vendors set up boo... Full story
Members of Sisters Community Garden gathered Saturday for a work party and to bid retiring garden manager Robert “Bob” Lawton farewell. A cold wind blew, interspersed with snatches of sun and sprinkles of snow. Lawton was presented with a memory book and a golden rake in thanks for all his help and commitment. “I had a community garden plot in the Portland area; my mom was always a gardener,” Lawton told The Nugget. Growing up, he lived in West Linn, Oregon and Camas, Washing... Full story
What do a group of Christians in urban Philadelphia; a Native American elder of the North Fork Mono in California; and a radical, off-grid, transgender, nomadic rewilder wandering Eastern Oregon have in common? They’ve all made significant impact on our struggling planet — not by carrying signs and calling senators, but by working hands-on with plants, soil, and people. They and other fascinating characters are featured in Lisa Wells’ recent book, “Believers: Makin... Full story
It’s that time of year again. Crusts of half-melted, iced-over snow dot the winter earth. Shafts of cold, slanted sunlight glance off withered grasses and amber pine needles. Just the time to think of bright garden veggies and bursts of colorful flowers. Summer may seem far away, but gardening preparations start soon. For Sisters Community Garden... Full story
“I sell contentment,” said the guru then known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. “I sell enlightenment.” It was a big claim. For many followers, it rang true. During the 1970s the India-based cult grew in popularity among well-off, educated Westerners, and tensions increased around their ashram in Pune (Poona). The Rajneeshees decided to build their own utopia in the United States. They found a location right here in Central Oregon: Big Muddy Ranch, near the town of Antelop... Full story
High Desert Museum members glimpsed hints of utopia and indigenous futurism on Friday, at the preview for the new exhibition “Imagine a World.” Featuring themed, catered treats and a live DJ, the event also offered access to other temporary shows currently on display. The brightest, most exciting section of “Imagine a World” features original artworks. Called “Indigenous Futurisms,” it shows three Native artists who “envision alternative worlds and recognize the ways that cos... Full story
Sisters residents commemorated the January 6, 2021 riot at the United States Capitol with a lively online event. Members of Indivisible Sisters hosted 72 attendees, gave rousing speeches, and presented guest speaker Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a local candidate who has personal experience related to authoritarian governments. Master of Ceremonies Mary Chaffin opened with a land acknowledgment to tribes that historically lived in or roamed upon what is now called Sisters Country.... Full story
Struggling with tech use—phones, tablets, devices, gaming, computers? You are not alone. Holiday tech Especially during COVID times, many people are lonely during the holidays. The Nugget asked Catherine Price, author of the books “The Power of Fun” and “How to Break Up with Your Phone,” what does appropriate use of technology look like for those folks? Should they just Zoom their hearts out? “Oh, I think we’ve already Zoomed our hearts out!” she responded. “M... Full story
The holidays involve a lot of logistics even in the most normal of times. Preparing for hopefully-fun moments around a glimmering Christmas tree or a well-laid table can be quite demanding. Schedules may be packed with choir rehearsals, shopping, church services, and volunteering. These days, there are added stresses. Pandemic conditions, vaccine statuses, and political leanings may perturb gatherings. Some folks are unaccustomed to gathering indoors anymore, or feel socially... Full story
The Longest Night is a national event memorializing the lives of people who died due to conditions of houselessness. During the Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk on December 21, local advocate Mandee Seeley will undertake a labyrinth walk to commemorate folks who have died while unhoused in Sisters Country over the last several years. In 2020, when the annual solstice walk was canceled due to COVID-19, Seeley had the idea of connecting the large national memorial with a... Full story
“Penguins, attention!” yelled a man in a wild red jumpsuit. “Penguins, begin!” answered a small group of tots dressed as aquatic flightless birds. Thus began the annual Winter Performance in Camp Sherman on Friday, December 10, presented by Black Butte School. Dancing and singing on the road in front of their picturesque school, the kindergarten and first-grade penguins made way for Frosty the Snowman. Kids sang and danced the familiar story, with Zoe Gonzalez playing the par... Full story
Since ancient times, people have gathered together when the day is darkest and the night is longest. They often light fires or candles to symbolize the return of the sun on winter solstice. Around these parts, solstice is marked by walking the Sisters Community Labyrinth. After skipping a year due to COVID-19, this year the walk takes place on Tuesday, December 21. Participants are invited to contemplate the theme “Honoring Our Losses,” as they gather together for a brief chat... Full story
Parents learn a lot from our children. They teach us about ourselves and the world around us. When a parent and a child are of different races, a whole new avenue of learning opens up. Cheryl Soleim is a local mom, a white woman. Her daughter Natalie is Black. Until recently, Cheryl considered herself “color-blind.” As I’ve reported in The Nugget, Natalie experienced bullying at Sisters Middle School, bullying that involved race and gender. “I had to go through this in order t... Full story
A last-minute anonymous donation sparked excitement at Music in the Garden, an event featuring traditional Irish music. About 150 people attended, according to Darlene McGrady, who coordinated the event. Sisters Community Garden is a nonprofit organization, but organizers weren’t raising money for their own group. Nonperishable edible goods were collected for Kiwanis Food Bank, and monetary gifts were gathered for Warfighter Outfitters. Pleasant weather, before the h... Full story
Call it “the Sisters area” or go for “Sisters Country,” a successful marketing tagline rolled out by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce a while back. I like calling it Sisters Country. Our home. Where we live and work and play. Where the heck is it, exactly? Bill Bartlett mentioned in last week’s issue of The Nugget that it might be defined by the borders of Sisters School District. I respectfully disagree. Wherever The Nugget covers news and community? That’s Sisters Cou... Full story
