News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
At the annual Sisters Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony Friday night, Three Creeks Brewing Co. walked off with the prestigious Business of the Year award. Wade Underwood, owner of Three Creeks Brewing Co., accepted the award along with several of his business partners. "We are all humbled to be here," said Underwood. "My name was mentioned a lot, but my partners behind the scenes helped make this happen. It took a big effort to get our project off the ground. We made it... Full story
Sisters has a skilled professional fire department. However, the department continues to rely heavily on volunteers. In fact, many professional firefighters have started out as volunteers, including Captain Gary Lovegren, who volunteered for 14 years before turning pro. "It was the reason I changed my career path, because I enjoyed it so much," Lovegren told The Nugget. Folks in Sisters currently have a chance to serve their community while enjoying the close-knit camaraderie... Full story
The second annual Sisters Science Fair was an electrifying experience - in every sense of the word. The atmosphere was crackling with energy - literally with a display on conductivity, and figuratively, as students of every age reveled in discovery, competition and the pure joy of learning and displaying knowledge. Sparks flew as Tasman Rheuben demonstrated the principles of conductivity at a table sponsored by Bend Research. Rubber bands on pulleys generated a charge that a... Full story
Local option support for schools is the soundest community investment taxpayers in Sisters Country can make. Strong, healthy schools are the key engine of economic vitality in the Sisters Country. They attract families and businesses willing to invest in a community that invests in its children and its future. Strong, healthy schools are critical to sustaining property values. And local option is critical to sustaining strong, healthy schools. The modest tax, 75 cents per... Full story
To the Editor: The accomplishments of the Sisters School District have been well documented: 2012 Oregonian Cup, given to the top high school in the state for academics, sportsmanship and athletic success; 2012 Model School Designation, given to the Elementary School for being in the top five percent in the state for student achievement; 2012 designation of "Outstanding" for all three schools by the Oregon Department of Education, one of the highest graduation rates in the state, and the highest state testing scores... Full story
Ours might be one of the best school districts in Oregon but our state and country do not compete well internationally. We must do better or we will not be a world economic power when the next generation is old enough to vote on local option. I've long been a vocal advocate for education reform. Our district is ideal for implementing change because most teachers are excellent, there are hundreds of volunteers, and deep community support. Unfortunately, this has not resulted in significant reform. We have not used merit in... Full story
Local thespians Lisa Fetrow and Angela Lund were hired by Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) to offer theatre arts in Sisters. After the drama departments were cut from the 2012/2013 school year, the friends wanted to provide an outlet for aspiring actors of all ages to enjoy and improve their craft. Their efforts, with the support of SPRD, the Sisters School District, and funding from the Community Schools Foundation will come to fruition when "Play On!" debuts on Febr... Full story
If you walk into Mike Geisen's science classroom at Sisters Middle School (SMS)and wonder why the lights are going on and off, it's because the sun is rising in summer and winter. His students are demonstrating houses they designed and built to their specifications as a "Dream Home of the Future." Students had to: • Incorporate at least seven solar design features. • The model could not be larger than two feet in any direction. • No industrial... Full story
People in Sisters take the arts and recycling seriously. On March 3, those two community priorities will be combined in the Common Canvas Community Art Day (CCCAD). A part of My Own Two Hands, CCCAD will be headed up by Bend recycling innovator and artist, Sara Weiner of "Sara Bella Upcycled." Held at The Belfry (302 E. Main Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the community event is open to anyone with a desire to learn something new and create unique pieces out of recycled... Full story
The Lady Outlaws basketball team defeated Elmira 36-26 at home in the 4A state play-in game on Friday, February 22. A week earlier Sisters beat Elmira to clinch the third-place spot in the Sky-Em League. Both teams got off to a slow start and neither team scored for the first two minutes of play. Taylor Nieri hit the first bucket of the game to get the Outlaws started. With three-and-a-half minutes left in the quarter, the Falcons finally scored and tied it up 2-2. Elmira quic... Full story
• Bald Eagle Music Education Station will host a small class for toddlers during spring break. "Join us for some fun-filled time exploring singing, dancing, and music. We'll play instruments and learn how to create some tunes during spring break 2013. Ages 3-6," said teacher Rebecca French. "This is a free program due in large to all the wonderful donations we have received within the last year. Please call 541-410-9064 to sign up as the class will fill quickly." • Local author and counselor... Full story
Each year, visual artists from the Sisters community and beyond donate art pieces to be offered during the 'My Own Two Hands' live and silent auctions. The event, which benefits programs of the Sisters Folk Festival, has become a signature Sisters event in its own right. Last Friday was the day when the festival received the art for this year's MOTH event, with the theme of "Deep Roots." "It's one of the most incredible days of the year for us, as immensely talented artists do... Full story
Superheroes commandeered the stage at the annual Mr. SHS pageant held Sunday, February 24, at the Sisters High School auditorium. The pageant is a fundraiser for Sisters Family Access Network (FAN), which provides support for families in the Sisters School District including everything from school supplies and clothing to gas vouchers and applying for the Oregon Health Plan. The eight senior boys, clad in comic-book superhero costumes, entertained the crowd with their diverse... Full story
March is a good month to try to identify Cancer the crab, the zodiac's dimmest constellation. It helps an observer to know that Cancer is bordered by two brighter constellations, Gemini to the west and Leo to the east. Situated about halfway between the stars Pollux in Gemini and Regulus in Leo is a dim, fuzzy object that is just visible to the naked eye in dark skies. This body, called Praesepe, was discovered to be a star cluster when Galileo viewed it with his telescope in... Full story
The Sisters Parent Teacher Community (SPTC) will host its annual fundraiser for Sisters Elementary School, called The Benefit at the Belfry, on Saturday, March 2 at 6 p.m. There will be a sliding-scale ticket cost of $10-$20 to make this event accessible to all. This cost covers a heavy appetizer-style dinner, a no-host bar with beer and wine, live music by Grit and Grizzle and an auction with items and services donated by local businesses and families, as well as one-of-a-kind artwork created by SES students. Donated... Full story
Bim Gander has been named as the new Outlaws boys tennis coach. Gander brings with him 50 years of competitive play. Gander holds a USTA (United States Tennis Association) rating for tournament league play at 4.5. That number converts to a low handicap golfer, which proves Bim is a master at the game. Gander started to play tennis at age 12, while living in Wilson, Connecticut, a small town located about 50 miles from New York City. Bim played tennis for four years at St.... Full story
A windstorm took out the first-base-side dugout on the Sisters Little League T-ball field last winter, leaving nothing but a concrete slab. A group of Little League dads wasn't going to stand for that. Charlie Patterson, Ryan Vohs and Dan Tucker picked up their hammers and got to work. "They went out there on their own and did a tremendous amount of work in three days," said Little League President Casey Zampelli. They got a key hand with materials. "Hoyt's Hardware in... Full story
Lots of folks use Kickstarter to raise funds to create a CD. Lots of those artists play at The Belfry. Now, Angeline Rhett is using the innovative crowd-sourcing program to fund renovations and enhancements at the Sisters venue. "Our goal is to offer a space where community can come together for celebration, fundraising, collaboration, school events, and entertainment," Rhett says. "Purchasing The Belfry on a shoe string, we have done a lot with a little. Relying on the help... Full story
City Attorney Steve Bryant told City Planner Pauline Hardie she could decide whether or not to enforce code requirements on the Wild Mountain food stand - but, he says, he was just kidding. Bryant wrote to the city council last week explaining his contradictory advice regarding code enforcement regarding Wild Mountain. The stand has been a point of contention between its owner and the city for a year and a half. During the Thursday, February 14, city council meeting, Bryant... Full story
LaVern (Vern) Dotson died on February 18 from complications of a series of strokes. He was 77. Vern was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Upon graduation from the University of Washington, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and continued a career path which led to a specialty in the fields of Employee Benefits and Estate Tax Planning. He became a CPA while working for Price Waterhouse. After graduation from Boast Hall School of Law at U.C. Berkeley, he practiced... Full story
Not all backcountry ski touring involves long distances or wild, remote terrain. Here's a little excursion that is short, pretty easy, and readily accessible. There are a number of ways to reach the North Blowout Shelter, just south of Santiam Pass. The most commonly traveled route is from the Ray Benson Sno-Park. We decided to take a slightly different approach and avoid some of the more heavily trafficked, and often icy, ruts that sometimes accumulate near the popular... Full story
The Sisters Oregon High School Equestrian Team (OHSET) completed their first meet on the weekend with satisfied athletes and coaches. Despite wintery conditions at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center grounds and the loss of three athletes due to injury, the team persevered and athletes finished in the top 10 in 15 of the 23 events that Sisters entered. The English riding events have historically been Sisters' strongest, and the tradition continued with Olivia and Ellie... Full story
First it was the rumors: "The barred owls are coming." Next, it was the dire warning that barred owls were going to either chase the northern spotted owl out of the northwest, or breed with them. In the 1980s one turned up in Alfalfa, and then about five years ago another strayed into Tumalo State Park on the Deschutes River, and another down near Crescent; then recently one was seen hanging around the Old Mill District in Bend. Just a while back, Gary Landers, of Wild Wings... Full story
Patty Silva has brought an exercise party to Sisters. Silva is teaching Zumba classes at Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) four days a week. "Patty's classes were such a hit in March of last year that we asked her to 'Please, teach our older adult population,'" said Kelly Sheets, SPRD's adult program manager. Zumba Gold, the beginner version of the exercise class, was the answer. It started off slowly with three to five participants until "Patty's exuberance became... Full story
