News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 23 of 23
More than 200 bicyclists pedaled up McKenzie Pass or explored a Camp Sherman loop in the second annual Ride for Two Rivers on Saturday. Cyclists from all over the state came together on a cool, windy late-spring day for a great ride and to help two local watersheds. The event, a collaboration between the National Forest Foundation (NFF) and Cycle Oregon, is designed to raise money for and awareness of the needs of Whychus Creek and the Metolius River. All of the proceeds from... Full story
First-year Superintendent Jim Golden delivered an additional $170,000 in budget cuts Wednesday night, and got approval of the $11.4 million general fund budget, which is now down approximately $1,170,000 from last year's budget. A majority of this reduction was achieved during annual contract negotiations with the teachers union, which concluded a week earlier. To achieve the extra $170,000 reduction, the Sisters Education Association (SEA) agreed to convert two non-contact days to student-contact days: the first day after su... Full story
Whatever was your palate for fermented beverages this weekend, the Sisters Wine & Brew Festival at Village Green City Park had it covered. Extended to two days for its second outing, the festival drew thirsty locals and tourists to sip and mingle in the June sun, sampling some outstanding micro-brewed Oregon suds and the regional grape. Visitors paid for tasting packages, using tokens for each sample. Organizer Kim Gammond, of Specialized Events, counted nearly 500 people... Full story
The fate of some 62 acres of Forest Service land at the western end of Sisters still looms large on the community's horizon. The Forest Service needs to sell the land to finance construction of new headquarters facilities for the Sisters Ranger District, replacing its inadequate and aging current facilities. The City of Sisters and members of the community want to ensure that future development of the property is compatible with the character of the community. Last week,... Full story
To the Editor: The City of Sisters has been doing a lot of planning to prepare for the future sale of the Forest Service property at the western edge of the city. Planning is a good thing. One of the things coming out of this planning process is the desire to have some large setbacks along the highway side of the property. Why should the city place the financial burden to provide these setbacks on the shoulders of the developers? If the city was serious about, and committed to, providing these setbacks, the city would agree... Full story
Sisters Starry Nights will welcome back the High Street Band for "A Starry Summer Night," set for Friday, August 12, at Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters. The event is a benefit for the Sisters Schools Foundation and will raise critical funds for classroom and co-curricular programs at Sisters schools during this time of major budget cuts for public education locally, statewide and across our country. The event will feature a menu of barbecue sliders, side dishes and dessert... Full story
When a pony is halfway through his third decade, there's a pretty good chance he has a long list of fans holding onto memories of him. Ponies, known for their somewhat independent ways, don't always foster warm fuzzy memories, but in the case of one elderly Sisters gelding named Studley, there is a legion of riders who call him beloved. Ceili Cornelius, 12, took lessons on Studley at O'Neal Farms. She was 6 or 7 at the time, a vulnerable age for beginning riders. She credits... Full story
Classic cars will "Cruise to the Moon," in a poker run fundraiser for the Sisters Park & Recreation District Foundation on Saturday, July 16. The poker run will be followed by an evening of music, food, and a silent auction at Crescent Moon Ranch. Crescent Moon Ranch is one of the nation's largest alpaca breeding ranches and features spectacular views, waterfalls and ponds, and beautiful landscaping The proceeds of this evening will benefit the scholarship fund at Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD). This fund helps... Full story
Mounted search and rescue volunteers are a valuable resource available to Deschutes County Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel. A recent training session in Camp Sherman with clinician Terry Nowacki enhanced the mounted unit's skills. Nowacki (pronounced Nowaskee) is a horse trainer and SAR team member from Minnesota. About a decade ago, he pioneered the concept of training modern horses to detect human scent in search situations. Even though humans have used their horses for... Full story
Competing in the equestrian sport of three-day eventing is a test of physical and mental stamina for both horse and rider. Add in the element of a teen competing at training level against adult riders and there are bound to be even more nerve-wracking moments for the rider and her entourage. Olivia Chandler, 15, and her mother's horse TGI Friday, came through just such a test on June 9-11 at Aspen Farms in Yelm, Washington. Chandler won the ZEIT Capital Challenge, a... Full story
Distance running can be humbling, and reality can hit you pretty hard sometimes. That's what I found out at my namesake race, "Charlie's Challenge," held on Father's Day. While the event was quite fun in many respects, the reality of how far out of condition I have become pounded into my head with every dusty footfall of the final two miles of the nearly 10-mile course. First the fun part. I got to start 20 minutes ahead of the rest of the field, along with my wife, Deirdre. A... Full story
The weather was perfect. The mood was right. Kah-Nee-Ta Resort was the place for Sisters youths to celebrate in a trip organized by local Girl Scouts. "We stayed overnight in teepees and had so much fun!" stated Melanie Farley. "And, the swimming was great," Natalie Marshall said. "The pool was really warm and the water slides were a blast!" Thirteen girls celebrated promotion from middle school to high school. "Eighth grade was awesome," said Molly Boyle. "Now we're looking forward to what high school brings." "We had a... Full story
The Friends of the Sisters Library (FOSL) is holding its Annual Membership Meeting, Thursday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sisters Library Community Meeting Room. FOSL President Jim Anderson - who has served in that capacity for five years - will give the welcome address and then, after the annual FOSL business has been taken care of, will present a keynote program: "10 days in the Galapagos." There will be the election of officers, in which Anderson will be replaced by a new... Full story
It will likely cost more for Sisters youth to participate in sports next year. Funding Sisters High School athletics for 2011-2012 will face substantial shortfalls due to major cuts to public school funding coming down from the state. Responding to the budget cuts and the coaches' fundraising concerns, Superintendent Jim Golden presented a draft sports funding proposal to the school board last Wednesday night. Golden based his proposal on recommendations from a committee of two board members and selected district sports... Full story
Eighty-four players participated in the 15th annual Outlaw Open golf tournament last Friday at Aspen Lakes Golf Course. The tournament generates funding to support football in Sisters from sixth grade through high school. Traditionally, some other athletic programs also share in the proceeds. This year the programs included girls' basketball, lacrosse and equestrian. Approximately $14,000 was raised from the golf tournament and a silent and verbal auction. Gary Hedin, dean of... Full story
Jeanne Fairman has always wanted her own place to practice her trade as an esthetician. Recently, all the pieces fell into place to allow her to do just that. Face Oasis & Body Care opened this month in a homey location at 490 E. Cascade Ave. "I saw a need for something besides a spa atmosphere," Fairman explained. "Something that was approachable and affordable. So far, the response has been amazing." In keeping with her mission, Fairman emphasizes that her services are not... Full story
Sisters High School graduate Joseph Schlatter recently hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim. "We did it in one day," says Schlatter, who with his father, David Schlatter, achieved the goal in just 12 hours, and two of these hours were for rest breaks. The hike was 21.5 miles and included a descent of 5,000 feet and an assent of more than 7,000 feet. "It was a mile downhill and over a mile uphill," said Schlatter, who said his legs were sore for a week. Yet he considers this... Full story
Sewing enthusiasts with wee ones in their lives are likely to make Little Buckaroos Fabric & Quilts a regular stop for creative inspiration and supplies. Lined with bolts of brightly colored, playfully patterned nursery fabrics, the recently opened store on Hood Avenue offers everything one needs to fashion adorable one-of-a-kind items for children. Says owner Lee Cooley, "Everyone that comes through the door says, 'Oh this is just so darling!' "There are a lot of... Full story
• Friends of the Sisters Library (FOSL) wishes to thank all the private and Sisters business members who support the work FOSL does for the library system. Business members are: Bedrock Gold & Silver, Inc., Black Butte Ranch, Bright Spot, Cork Cellars, Desert Wings Travel, FivePine Lodge, Fullhart Insurance, The Gallery Restaurant, Lana Labuda - Coldwell Banker, Lonesome Waters Books, M... Full story
It had been 30 years since East Coast friends Chris Goelz and Mike Heil rode their bicycles across America, ending in San Francisco. Chris now lives in Seattle and works at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Mike teaches middle school math in Eugene. They often get together and reminisce about their cycling adventure that changed their lives. Mike's wife, Laurie Bernstein, recently retired from her Fisheries Biologist position with the Forest Service, so she suggested... Full story
There are many people who think the Great Sandy Desert of Oregon has nothing other than pronghorn and jackrabbits; there's a lot more. Take, for example, the little Pacific tree frogs that are calling in the ponds just about everywhere around Sisters these nights; they're also out on the Great Sandy Desert. I've found them on hot summer days hiding in deep cool muddy holes cows make when they walk around desert playas looking for water. I say, "looking for water," as I can't... Full story
• Best Western Ponderosa Lodge sheared 21 llamas in three hours, resulting in 29 large bags of wool. The wool is washed, dried and spun into yarn that is sold at Best Western Ponderosa Lodge. All proceeds go to the Bill and Jan Reed Memorial Scholarship fund. • Slick's Que Co. is now open seven days a week. • Twice a month children ages 1-5 are invited to play together at A Joyful Noise Learning Center. The play day is free. The third Sunday... Full story
Sharon Ann Sowa, of Bend, flew away from this earth with her loving family at her side on June 10, 2011. Sharon was an extraordinary wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma and a very special friend. She was born in Portland on December 9, 1942 to Adeline and John Jasker. She moved to Central Oregon from Tigard in 1959 and graduated from Crook County High School. After marrying Jim Klukkert in 1960, she spent many years working in the farming community of Cloverdale and was... Full story
