News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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On February 21, 2019 a stroke felled Ed Helton and sent him on his eternal ride in the Crooked River National Grasslands very unexpectedly at age 73. I miss Ed Helton. I first met Ed through work developing standards for healthcare, where, with this calm but persistent approach, he always got the job done. Ed was a kind, thoughtful man, always willing to share his time, to really listen and to lend a hand. Ed believed in making our world a better place and was not afraid to be... Full story
As Camp Sherman slowly adjusts to life without their resident deputy Dave Blann, a familiar face is on the road, making sure that the community continues to have law-enforcement coverage.... Full story
Sisters Rhythm and Brews Festival will return to Sisters for its second year on July 26-27. Sisters residents Jennifer and Joe Rambo are back for another round after last year’s successful event. “We had hopeful expectations for the first year, but we knew it was going to be a process to build,” Joe told The Nugget. “We got a kind of master class on what not to do, what to do and where to spend the money.” The result is a streamlined festival in a single open-air venue at... Full story
One of the main takeaways from the conclusion of Robert Mueller’s “Russia investigation” is that the national media — especially the cable TV news networks — are not serving the Republic well. For nearly two years, commentators and panels convened nightly to pick over the daily dose of “breaking news” from the Mueller investigation, acting for all the world like a coven of Roman Haruspices studying the liver of a sheep to divine the future. And they were just about as effective.... Full story
I have followed plans by the Forest Service to limit public access to three of Oregon’s most popular wilderness areas for years. The Cascade Wilderness Strategies Project is intended to protect the wilderness from overuse by controlling public access.... Full story
To the Editor: If you did not get the chance to attend the BendTED X on Saturday, March 30 you missed a very inspired speech from a local student at Sisters High School. Wyatt Hernandez retold his personal story of suffering through and recovering from a concussion he received while playing football. After a long recovery he realized the passion that he still had for playing football and the importance of the sport in his life. It takes grit to put aside fears after a traumatic injury, and this young man came back to play... Full story
Susan Wilson and Virginia Silvey are concerned about the ever-present threat wildfire poses to the future of Sisters. Watching the horrific events of the Camp Fire unfold in Paradise, California, last summer spurred them to action. The Sisters women are in the process of forming a non-profit called Green Forests Matter – and they’re hosting a series of presentations on wildfire mitigation at Sisters Library through April. “We think that what happened in California could happen here,” Wilson told The Nugget. “And... Full story
Sisters artist Paul Alan Bennett’s latest venture makes it very easy to have his world-renowned art in your home — and in your hands. He has combined a lifelong fascination with the night sky — which he has depicted often in his art — and his love for Greek mythology in a new book titled “Night Skies.” The book features 44 paintings with text that feature the night sky. Bennett has had a long relationship with the night sky. “I remember being about 10 and... Full story
Implementation of a statewide rule that would limit the use of the weed killer believed responsible for the death of thousands of trees along Highway 20 west of Sisters has been stalled by a last-minute request from Bayer, the company that produces it. The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s new permanent rule slated to be adopted on March 22 would prohibit the use of the chemical in areas where the roots of desirable trees — like ponderosa pines — may be p... Full story
Like everyone else here in Sisters, I have to say that I will be ecstatic when I see daffodil clusters instead of mountains of snow in my yard. Our delayed winter certainly caught me off guard, and when I had an ice-dam leak in my bedroom, and ended up having to get snow shoveled off my roof, I reached the point of lamenting, “I am done!” Enter the Relaxation Room. While I was getting my hair styled by Tim Westcott, owner of Salon Renaissance here in Sisters, he mentioned his... Full story
How do you know when you’re old? When the person looking back at you in the mirror has wrinkles and gray hair? Maybe a medical condition signals the advancement of years — arthritis, forgetfulness, joint replacement or repair, failing eyesight, or congestive heart failure. You may catch yourself reading the obituaries more frequently and more thoroughly. Funerals and memorial services for friends and family become a more frequent occurrence. Maybe you’ve taken to wearing... Full story
The following is dedicated to dogs and dog-lovers everywhere. While this column is about one dog, it’s quite apparent that most owners feel the same way about their dogs. Molly was a 50-pound shepherd mix — though one vet said she looked like a Czechoslovakian wolfdog — that I was privileged to spend 15 years with. She came to me from the Bend Humane Society when she was six months old. She died on February 28 of many things common to old dogs. But, thankfully, she... Full story
Out here in the West water is precious, particularly when living on the east side of any mountain range between the Sierra-Cascades and the Rockies. Eastsiders live within a perpetual loop of drought and diminishing returns. The diminishing returns are a result of aggressive settlement beyond the 100th meridian, which has been a desert since before the end of the last Ice Age. The illusion of abundance in the western deserts was easy enough to sustain for more than a hundred... Full story
Chops Bistro owner Tracy Syanovitz just brought a new chef on board with over 30 years’ experience working in the food-service industry. Laotian-born Jerry Phaisavath, a former Black Butte Lodge executive chef, is the new culinary artist in the kitchen at Chops Bistro. With a diverse background, Phaisavath has an impressive list of work credentials including executive chef positions at private golf clubs, resorts, gourmet restaurants and hotels. He moved to Central Oregon f... Full story
Rover’s easy run around the yard becomes a stiff walk; his jump to a favorite chair is no longer possible, and lying down is accompanied by a deep groan. As your dog ages, things that were once second nature become an effort. Domesticated animals are living longer, and with longevity you’ll see increases in the odds that they’ll suffer from some form of arthritis. It’s time for a vet visit if you find that your furry family member has decreased activity and is relucta... Full story
I’ve been working on the computer for about an hour. I see a black Scottie pushing his ball with his nose toward my feet. It’s Chewy, he’s telling me it’s time to take a break and play ball with him. If you came to my house you would immediately know which Scottie is Chewy. He’s the one whose tail is always wagging. He was starved and abused in his former home, but it took no time at all for him to be cheerful; wagging his tail and wanting to play ball a lot with his new family. What an attitude! Years ago, when I was worki... Full story
Our home has a thick chain that hangs about 20 feet from our roof to the ground. Nothing fancy; it funnels water into a rocky planting area. The bulbs I planted there years ago thrive from the soaking rain or spring thaw. After the big snowfall at the end of February it was encased in crystalline ice. It glowed in the morning sun, then melted slow teardrops as the day warmed up. At first only a thin ice layer covered it. Colder temperatures froze the water before it reached... Full story
Following an incident involving a guest outside the Cold Weather Shelter earlier this winter, neighbors raised some concerns about the shelter and its proximity to schools and neighborhoods among other things. Shelter leadership convened a public meeting with professional facilitation in early February to hear comments and questions from the community concerning the shelter. Some brief answers were provided that evening, but the meeting’s main purpose was to collect the c... Full story
