News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
Terri Gallegly died Saturday, April 18, at the age of 58. Terri was born in Alton Illinois but was raised in Pinehurst, Idaho. She moved to Sisters in 1984. Terri worked as a waitress at Shari’s Restaurant in Redmond and her favorite pastime was going on many adventures with her friends and family. Terri was preceded in death by her parents William “Jack” and Darlene Simmons, and brother Ronald Simmons. She is survived by her husband, James “Larry” Gallegly; daughter,... Full story
Evolution designed our brains for maximum efficiency by automating as many tasks as possible. The brain stem oversees respiration, the contraction of our heart muscle, digestion, and so on. Located within the midbrain, the amygdala is tasked with monitoring our environment and alerting us to danger. We also come equipped with an autopilot that enables us to automate routine tasks. Thanks to the autopilot, we can simultaneously wash dishes while dreaming about our next vacation or preparing for a new project. The autopilot... Full story
Michael Ray Smith passed away April 20, in Vancouver, Washington, from complications from heart and kidney disease and diabetes. He was 79. He was born to Naomi and Ray Smith (Sisters, Oregon), in Imperial, California in 1940. Michael’s parents met and married in Sisters. They eventually moved to Imperial because of work opportunities where Mike was born. After the 1940 earthquake, they moved back to Sisters. Mike attended first grade through 12th grade at Sisters schools, g... Full story
People in Sisters scarcely need reminding of the threat posed by wildfire. Sisters Country has seen nearly two decades of major wildfires that have disrupted life and threatened the local economy and the health and well-being of citizens. May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Keep Oregon Green, in partnership with federal, state and local fire agencies and organizations, is using time to encourage the public to create defensible space around homes this spring and prevent the start... Full story
We Oregonians are still faithfully practicing social distancing as a way to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. At least we’ll have some fine sights to see in the night sky to help pass the time. One of the more prominent springtime constellations is Virgo. It is also the largest zodiacal constellation and second biggest overall; only Hydra takes up more area of the celestial sphere. Virgo is easy to locate because of the constellation’s brightest star Spica, sixteenth bri... Full story
Jaimee Simundson, Sisters High School graduate, class of 2015, is applying her passion for nature and plants to her career and business. Simundson is a certified clinical herbalist with her own self-named business, Jaimee Simundson: Herbalist. Simundson recently started up her own business speaking to clients virtually. “I treat the consultation as a sort of interview and get to know the patient and their health history,” said Simundson. She then creates a customized for... Full story
Kids and adults alike can enjoy a regular “sit spot” in a natural setting. From reducing anxiety to improving test scores, the benefits of nature time has been proven both by common sense and by over thirty years of scientific research. Formerly a nature educator in California, Susan Prince has taught Sisters Country kids through Deschutes Land Trust, SPRD, schools, and New Oregon Arts & Letters. Here she shares tips on getting reacquainted with nature. Turn off your pho... Full story
The act of consciously being in nature is remarkably good for mental health and brain development. Simple techniques such as the “sit spot” help people lower their stress levels and feel more in tune with their environment. Life coach and nature connection instructor Susan Prince helps people learn how. During the COVID-19 crisis, she is offering free sessions to help people cope. Anthropology and neuroscience, among other disciplines, suggest that aware time in nature “ac... Full story
Dear Property Guy, I just moved out of a rental I lived in for several years. The Formica countertops had some cuts and burns (my fault) in it when I returned the house. The landlord wants to charge me for a whole new countertop even though the thing was pretty beat down when I moved in. — Deposited Dear Deposited, Great question. A slight twist on the old “Wear and Tear” vs. “Damages” discussion. This is one of those areas that can turn into a huge hassle and get nasty and expensive. Or it can go relatively smooth... Full story
This time last year, Seed to Table Farm was brimming with the excitement and laughter of students visiting for our farm field trip series. Although we have had to pause on-farm field trips this spring, Seed to Table is committed to bringing the farm into students’ homes. As students picked up their belongings and packets from their teachers a few weeks ago, a Seed to Table Home Garden Kit was also tucked in. Seeds, potting soil and access to our online farm school bring the h... Full story
Through eight growing seasons, Mahonia Gardens in Sisters has produced quality vegetables and greens for the local Central Oregon market. Now, local buyers will be able to access their produce at a farm stand located downtown on the corner of Adams Avenue and Spruce Street. The Stand opens on May 1 at noon. Carys Wilkins and Benji Nagel have been working toward this spring’s opening for about a year. The Stand will eventually be a self-serve installation, but Wilkins said t... Full story
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, people are discovering ways to deal with fear and uncertainty. It’s an eerie feeling pushing a grocery cart, with the faint smell of disinfectant, down aisles with empty shelves while masked shoppers try to keep their distance. Many are wondering about food shortages, especially fresh produce. Relying solely on over-burdened grocers and their heroic staff to provide supplies might not be enough. During World War I and World War II, ... Full story
COVID-19 has been great for shelter animals. During the coronavirus pandemic, dog and cat adoptions and applications for foster homes have been on the upswing. Many shelters and rescues have suspended the ability for the public to casually visit the shelter in order to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 to staff, and have transitioned to by appointment for adoptions or for placement of animals into foster homes. Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO) is now available by... Full story
Oregonians may have a clearer picture of a roadmap to recovery during the first week of May. A presentation by Governor Kate Brown dated April 20 lays out a tentative three-phase plan for lifting “Stay At Home, Save Lives” restrictions, a plan that is expected to be more fully lined out during the week of May 4. The presentation keys off of Trump administration guidelines that say that “reopening” requires downward trajectories during a 14-day period of influenza-like illnesses, COVID-19-like cases, of documented cases o... Full story
While much of Sisters has shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Personalized Nutrients ramped up its operations in its manufacturing facility on North Pine Street. While customer service and sales staff are working from home, the manufacturing plant is humming — producing custom formulations of high-quality nutriceuticals. Zoe Noe, the company’s operations manager, told The Nugget, “We’ve added staff, we’ve hired temps, we had mandatory overtime for two wee... Full story
The coronavirus is a once-in-a-generation event. As it has ended many lives, going forward it will define many others. It will perhaps define our country, what we have become and who we will be. The virus is an insidious enemy, spreading among people who do not appear to be sick. It can attack in terrifying ways, causing blood clots and strokes in young and seemingly healthy people, invading the lungs in a way that does not cause shortness of breath until there is too little o... Full story
To the Editor: As the district continues to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, I want to give an update from our last school board meeting. Sisters School District grew by 8 students as reported in the April board meeting. Bond work continues as our new transportation center construction moves forward and the walls are starting to go up. Additionally, the board approved the 2020-2021 school calendar with some modifications. As soon as those modifications are completed, we will post the calendar on the district webpage and send it... Full story
A trip of a lifetime rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon ended with the world turned upside down for Sisters Middle School Counselor Brook Jackson and his wife, Marie. Permits to float the river are selected by lottery and can be hard to come by, so when a friend half-jokingly asked if Jackson could go, Jackson replied, “Let me ask my wife.” Jackson, an avid outdoorsman who has worked in Sisters since 2014, said, “I had a sense that this was the time for me to... Full story
