News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
• Three Sisters Lions Club would like to congratulate eighth-grade student Reina Barnes-Rubio for her winning art piece, “Circle of Peace.” Reina, with the assistance of Judy Fuentes, middle school art teacher, worked remotely to create her art piece and submit it to the club for consideration in the nationwide Lions Club competition. The theme of this year’s competition was “Peace around the World.” Reina’s piece was submitted for statewide competition and hopefully will... Full story
Young writers from Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson and Lake counties are now invited to submit essays exploring desert landscapes to the High Desert Museum’s Waterston Student Essay Competition. The Waterston Student Essay Competition, now in its second year, is part of the Waterston Desert Writing Prize. It’s open to students in grades nine through 12, in public or private school, or home-schooled, who live in Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson and Lake counties. Submission is free. Students may submit essays of 750 to... Full story
Ah the common Song Sparrow, (Melospiza melodia) — our winter companion, chirping their way through cold soggy weather. Unnoticed by many, loved by a few, the Song Sparrow is a bright light if you are enjoying the small things. It sings from a high perch to claim territory and flicks its tail to the sparrow rhythm, as it tells a story of weeds and grasses and seeds. Look closely, they possess ornamental patterns of russet and gray and white stripes. Songs enable the... Full story
’Tis the season to be … stranded? Winter weather is here, and Oregon Office of Emergency Management State Search and Rescue Coordinator Scott Lucas says Oregon is seeing an uptick in lost or stranded travelers on foot and in vehicles. He is reminding Oregonians and visitors of ways to stay safe. The search and rescue community in Oregon stands ready to respond when needed, but citizens need to do their part to be prepared for winter travel — and to avoid g... Full story
The Sisters Tie Trail is a frequently overlooked all-season outdoor opportunity that actually begins right in town. This trail is not at all wild, especially at the eastern, in-town end. However, it couldn’t be more convenient or accessible. This inviting path is part of the local trails network established and maintained by The Sisters Trail Alliance (STA) for the enjoyment of the public. The trailhead is located off North Pine Street where the pavement ends. From the STA k... Full story
Exercise enthusiasts always fear losing the physicality they’ve accumulated meticulously with sweat equity over months or years of constant struggle under the resistance of gravity. Perhaps they’ve succumbed to injury, have a long vacation, or — worst of all — are summoned for jury duty. Fear not, there’s a phenomenon that will delight those anxious about losing time in the gym. Muscle memory is a topic that many gym coaches and skilled learners talk about. “It’s like riding a bike,” they’ll say. Learn the skill a... Full story
We’ve all seen them: Those really long flatbed, semi-trucks stacked with hay bales (or is it the more nutritious alfalfa?) inching through town. The drivers look happy for the most part. Maybe not so much on those crowded summer weekends when traffic crawls. Some smile for photos or blow their air horns for the begging teens as necks snap to look. We only notice the westbound rigs, the loaded ones. Seems like one every 20 or 30 minutes and that would be a good guess. On t... Full story
A giant corporation is in financial trouble. It’s overextended itself and cannot manage its debt load. A recession brought on by long and costly wars has shrunk its market. The company is so integral to the functioning of the nation — and so many members of its government are heavily invested in it — that it simply cannot be allowed to fail. So, the government steps in, with a policy that will have unforeseen consequences that shake the world. That thoroughly m... Full story
Did ya’ ever think When the hearse goes by That some sweet day you’re gonna die? They’ll put you in a neat pine box And cover you over with soil and rocks Well, all goes well for about a week And then the pine box begins to creak The bugs crawl in, the bugs crawl out Into your stomach and out of your mouth And the worms play pinochle on your chin… * Harley Poe (Edited by Jim Anderson) Back when I was a kid, that’s a poem my uncles turned into silly song we sang while s... Full story
Twenty years. It seems like a long time and yet in many ways has passed by like the blink of an eye. October marked the 20th anniversary of my family’s move to Sisters; a move that was difficult for me because I was leaving a place that felt like my forever home. I couldn’t imagine any place away from the ocean making me feel as complete, and yet, the life that was awaiting me within the Sisters community was to hold more than I could ever imagine possible. As we all began our new lives here, we got involved and connected. It... Full story
In a quiet ceremony, Molly, Scott, Heidi and their families laid their father, Michael G. Duggan to rest next to their mother, Diann Newsom Duggan, in Pankey cemetery. With respect to the rampages of COVID, it was an intimate burial in the place Mike and Diann had chosen with their three children and families bearing witness. Michael Guy Duggan was born in Medford, on May 1, 1942 to William and Rosellen Duggan. He was raised in Sams Valley, where his family were founding... Full story
Long-time Sisters resident David Banks remembers a day long ago when he rode down Cascade Avenue on the back of a Triumph motorcycle on his way to the B Bar B tavern. He was familiar with Sisters because his parents had a place at Black Butte Ranch where he visited often. When things changed for him in Palo Alto, California, where he was living, he made the decision to “matriculate north,” to Sisters. He had a best friend in Tumalo and Banks decided to settle in Tollgate, whe... Full story
In a year that has challenged teachers in ways no one ever imagined, the annual call for nominations for the Oregon Teacher of the Year likely has more meaning than ever before. In a recent press release the Oregon Department of Education, along with the Oregon Lottery, announced that nominations for the Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year are open through January 31, 2021. Recognizing the strength of the teaching staff in the Sisters School District, administrators Curt Scholl, Joe Hosang, Alison Haney, and Joan Warburg all... Full story
So, you’ve been driving into town from Bend or Redmond all these years and just past the Highway 20/126 merge you see the FivePine campus. Hardly give it a second thought, right? What’s on the other side of the road never really registered. Until last week, that is, when those huge pre-cast concrete blocks rose up from the ground to form a two-foot-thick wall, eight feet tall. The block design is meant to look like hand hewn limestone as you might find in European castles or... Full story
When Governor Kate Brown announced a return to restrictions on businesses and gatherings in a “two-week freeze” to combat a spike in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, gyms across Oregon went dark again. But evidence is accumulating that indicates that gyms are not a vector for spreading the coronavirus — and that preventing people from using gyms for exercise may be having a negative impact on the health and wellness of many Americans. Last week, the Int... Full story
• Sisters Elementary School Principal Joan Warburg praised school district nurse Trish Roy for her professionalism and hard work during the pandemic in helping the entire district in navigating and managing health protocols, contacting families, and keeping students cared for. She is grateful to have had all of the grades in school the past month. The preschool expects to be up to 12 students by the end of January and has a maximum capacity of 18. Warburg acknowledged the hard work and sacrifice all of her staff have... Full story
The 31.56-acre parcel of USDA Forest Service land located off of Highway 20 in Sisters recently sold for $2,818,244. Brokers Robert Raimondi, CCIM and Graham Dent, partner with Compass Commercial Real Estate Services represented the Forest Service in the deal. The Forest Service sold the property to finance the construction of a new ranger station building on the parcel they will retain at the intersection of Highway 20 and South Pine Street. “The Deschutes National Forest is excited to use the proceeds from the sale of t... Full story
“There’s no place like home for the holidays,” the classic song says, and as we cruise into the winter holiday season during an upsurge of COVID-19, experts across the country have insisted that staying home is the best and safest option. COVID-19 related closures and restrictions have impacted many small businesses in challenging ways. We hear “shop local,” “support local,” and “eat local.” This holiday season it’s really time to follow through and support local and family-owned and operated businesses. These restaurants a... Full story
Blazin Saddles’ annual bicycle donation drive has seen extraordinary participation — and the Sisters bike shop is seeking people to benefit from the community’s generosity. “The bike drive is going crazy this year,” said shop owner Casey Meudt. “We have had more bikes dropped off to us this year than ever before. We have kids’ bikes, adult bikes, mountain bikes, commuter bikes and more so if you or someone you know that lives in or around Sisters could use some help this year in the form of a bicycle, please contact us.... Full story
• The December 9 Council meeting marked the end of term for two councilors, Richard Esterman and Mayor Chuck Ryan, neither of whom sought re-election. Councilor Andrea Blum was re-elected to another four-year term. The two newly elected councilors, Gary Ross and Jennifer Letz, will be sworn into office at the January 13, 2021 Council meeting. • At last week’s City Council meeting, councilors voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the City Municipal Code 5... Full story
The school counselors in the Sisters School District have continued focusing on the social/emotional well-being of students during the pandemic as well as in response to the loss of three local teenagers earlier this year in accidents. The holiday season, while designed to be a time of joy and togetherness, can be particularly challenging during times of unusual stress, such as a global pandemic or following the loss of loved ones. Sisters Middle School counselor Brook Jackson shared an article compiled by staff at the Mayo... Full story
‘Tis the season of giving and the members of the Sisters Garden Club showed their holiday spirit last week with donations distributed to the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank, Sisters Family Access Network (FAN), and to the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department for their Giving Tree Drive. Giving is nothing new for the Garden Club. Every year in the past, the members have gathered for their annual holiday party in early December. At that event, all the members would bring donations for... Full story
On Thursday, December 10, the Sisters VFW Post 8138 presented the 2019-2020 Voice Of Democracy award to Anna R. Mensing. Anna was presented a letter of achievement and commendation as well as a check for $400 in front of Sisters High School to comply with COVID-19 requirements. Bill Anttila reported that “Masks were removed in 38 degree temperatures with a deep breath to take the photo.” This is the second year in a row that Anna, a senior, has won this prestigious award. Men... Full story
Letters to the Editor that are filled with “alt-facts” are dismaying. Before we can have productive discussions about policy, we must agree on the facts. But that is difficult when a right-wing media machine churns out broadly-shared falsehoods. From Jeff Mackey’s LTE, December 9 — Assertion: “…[Democrats] concocted the biggest failed hoax in history with a Russian connection that in fact was based on a fake dossier paid for by Hillary Clinton and the DNC.” Facts: Department of Justice Inspector General H... Full story
Do you find climate-change talk off-putting or just plain scary? Fortunately, author Mary DeMocker published a book in 2018 that makes facing the facts of climate change not at all daunting: “The Parent’s Guide to the Climate Revolution (100 Ways to Build a Fossil-Free Future, Raise Empowered Kids, and Still Get a Good Night’s Sleep).” Like her title declares, it is a handy book for parents who want answers to help their children step into this future with knowledge and it provides actions for a family to mitigate the cli... Full story
