News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
The city of Sisters continues to grow at a very rapid pace, according to statistics released last week by Portland State University. Sisters’ population as of July 1 stood at 2,985 — up from a revised 2018 number of 2,725, a 9.5 percent increase. Brendon Buckley of Johnson Economics told the Sisters Planning Commission last February, “You are growing very fast and changing fast, and I know I don’t need to tell you that.” Buckley reported in that February meeting on the draft results of his firm’s Housing Needs Ana... Full story
Jim Fisher of Sisters was located safe at approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, in the Sisters area after authorities put out a bulletin that he had gone missing. Fisher, age 89, was believed to have left his residence on North Songbird Street on foot, sometime after 10 p.m. on November 15. Local people and authorities raised concerns due to his age and the fact that Fisher is known to have hearing loss and memory issues. Fisher contacted a resident in the 16000 block of Perit Huntington Road in Sisters and sought... Full story
A complete application for a Master Planned Development (MP#19-01) has been received by the City from Threewind Partners regarding property located behind and beside Bi-Mart, between McKinney Butte Road and West Hood Avenue. The development, on 7.48 acres, will include approximately 50 multi-family units, 28,000 square feet of commercial area, and supporting site infrastructure. The application has been forwarded to appropriate agencies for their review: City Public Works,... Full story
Sisters Trails Alliance Board Chair Catherine Hayden told two of STA’s most valued board members to “Take A Hike” last week. In STA’s world, that phrase carries a very different meaning than it does in everyday slang: It’s an invocation to go forth and enjoy the fruits of many years of labor. Gary Guttormsen, Chuck Humphreys and Greg Vandehey were feted during STA’s Toast the Trails event at Cork Cellars on Tuesday, November 12, as the organization celebrated their extra... Full story
A matinee performance Sunday, November 17 concluded the four-performance run of the Sisters High School musical “Freaky Friday,” and by all accounts the show was a great success. Directed by Rick Johnson, the musical included a large cast made up of Sisters High School’s choir students and included live music from the high school band as well as set design from students in the art program. In all, Johnson estimated nearly 70 students had some hand in the play’s product... Full story
One of the side effects of democracy is that a small, very vocal minority can grab the podium when the majority of folks are too busy, or maybe too apathetic, to fight for their voices to be heard. It happens in national elections and it happens in small communities. This phenomenon is manifested in the development and expansion of the Sisters township. As I talk to fellow neighbors and other residents, they are overwhelmingly opposed to the development that is currently taking place — and planned to take place in the f... Full story
Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) has targeted December 15 to wrap up its $1.4 million capital campaign to purchase the Sisters Art Works building property and complete upgrades and maintenance of the building. The organization is $60,000 from its goal, and upon meeting that goal will receive a $151,000 “top-off” grant from the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust. The organization hopes to meet the challenge with support from the community. The Sisters Art Works building is home to SFF off... Full story
To the Editor: About a month or so ago, after hearing about the criminal event where an individual broke into a home in our neighborhood, I visited the sheriff’s substation here in Sisters and talked to the admin lady at the counter, asking about the incident. Note this was about two days after the incident. She said she had not heard anything. I told her at least three law enforcement cars were there and you have no information? Then I asked, do you furnish crime reports to the public/newspaper? She stated she does but she s... Full story
Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) wants to hear from the community before they finalize their new two-year strategic plan. To that end, there will be two public meetings on Wednesday, December 4; one during the day, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and one in the evening, 5:30-7 p.m., both at SPRD. After receiving public input through a needs-assessment survey several months ago, the board and staff have been busy identifying top priorities on which to focus over the next two years, 2020-2022. The draft of priorities is what SPRD... Full story
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office recently announced a new four-legged addition to their team. Earlier this month, the sheriff’s office asked for name suggestions from the community for the 15-week-old bloodhound that was donated to the agency by Tamaron Ranch Bloodhounds in September. The top 20 most popular names were put to a vote. After thousands of name suggestions and over 2,600 votes, the name Copper was selected for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s new K9’s officia... Full story
Janice Druian’s artistic path was winding, and it took her through unexpected terrain over the course of a lifetime — but it led her true, out into the vast expanses of the American Outback, which she captures in work that has earned her a spot among the finest, most highly regarded artists in the vibrant arts community of Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. “I really have a passion for painting,” she said simply. She can’t remember a time when that wasn’t the case... Full story
Get ready to walk, shop, sing, and celebrate the season’s bounty of new art and gifts in the galleries of Sisters, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 22. And when you’re done strolling, stop by The Belfry for a community sing-along. Hood Avenue Art is featuring its annual Small Works Show, timely works in small format by all of the gallery’s artists. At Gary Cooley’s Collection Gallery, Gary has special pricing on his sculpture kits for kids, which are a great Christmas gift! Clearwater Gallery is featuring Wendy Vernon... Full story
Four Outlaws earned all-league soccer awards this year, including Ethan Ekert and Ricky Huffman who were second-team selections, and Connor Linn and Nathaniel Alvarez as honorable mention. Kern, the Outlaws’ lone senior, was a co-captain and earned second team holding midfield. Ethan was a solid leader on the team all year, and led the team in assists, with 12. Coach Jeff Husmann said, “Ethan is an intelligent person and brings this intelligence to the field. He has very solid individual skills, can take on defenders one... Full story
Six Lady Outlaws soccer players earned all-league honors, including Olivia Hougham, Hallie Schwartz, Hollie Lewis, Emma Lutz, Analise Backus, and Sage Wyland. Seniors Hougham and Schwartz were both second-team all-league picks. Hougham was honored at center midfield. She scored two goals and tallied two assists during league play. Coach Brian Holden said, “Olivia is reliable on her hard work. She has a motor that never quits, and she never gets tired. She’s a good passer and can control the ball very well while she’s dribb... Full story
The Lady Outlaws had six of their players earn all-league honors. Senior Sam Silva, junior Ellie Rush, and sophomore Greta Davis were all first-team picks. Sophie Silva (junior) was a second-team selection, and senior Addy Myhre and sophomore Sydney Myhre were honorable-mention. Sam Silva was recognized at outside hitter and was a force for the Outlaws on offense. Sam recorded 145 kills, 10 blocks, 195 digs, 38 aces, and eight assists. Sam was a four-year starter and in those... Full story
As students enter the final year or so of high school they are often peppered with the same questions: “What are you going to do after you graduate?” “Where are you going to college?” “Do you plan to apply for scholarships?” Rick Kroytz works daily at Sisters High School to help make sure students have answers to those questions. As the coordinator for ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) he helps match students to mentors, oversees college cou... Full story
The average American can consume thousands of calories at Thanksgiving dinner. It’s far too easy to overload on your favorite comfort foods like buttery mashed potatoes and gravy, loads of stuffing and pumpkin pie. No one ever said Thanksgiving dinner was healthy — but there are certain tricks to make it a little healthier, and avoid riding out the food coma on the couch for the rest of the night. Whether you’re doling out your own portions or you’re at the mercy of yo... Full story
•?Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, there won’t be Sisters City Council meetings on the fourth Wednesday of November and December. The only Council meeting left in 2019 will be Wednesday, December 11. There will be an Urban Renewal meeting at the conclusion of the regular Council meeting. The tentative URA agenda item is continued discussion around updating the Urban Renewal Plan first adopted in 2003, including the project list, duration of plan, and p... Full story
BEND—Fall term enrollment at Oregon State University – Cascades has increased 4.1 percent and includes 28 percent more first-year students than a year ago. The cohort of 145 incoming first-year students dropped the average age of OSU-Cascades students from 25 to 24. In total, 1,311 students are enrolled at the Bend campus. Eighty-two percent of OSU-Cascades’ first-year students are Oregonians, and 26.9 percent are students of color. Overall enrollment of students of color at OSU-Cascades increased slightly to 1... Full story
Sisters Folk Festival, in partnership with the Sisters School District, will offer a gallery show, A Student Art Exhibit: Come Celebrate The Artists, beginning Friday, November 22, at the Sisters Art Works Building, 204 W. Adams Ave. Drawings, paintings, and scratchboard art by middle school and high school students will be on display. The exhibit will open on Friday, November 22, as part of the 4th Friday Art Stroll in Sisters from 4 to 7 p.m. in the gallery space at Sisters... Full story
In all the years Owl and I knocked ’em dead at school assemblies around the Northwest, I think, in some owlish way, Owl knew he was good looking. When we’d walk into a school, him perched on the shoulder of my pinstriped sports coat, the teachers and school secretaries would exclaim, “Oh, look, isn’t he handsome! Look at those eyes, aren’t they something to behold,” and other swell compliments. All the time I thought they were talking about me, but when I looked at Owl he s... Full story
What are the odds? In March 1982, my brother, Rick, and I went to a VW dealer on Burnside in Portland, Oregon. I bought a used, beige, two-door VW Rabbit. This Rabbit was used in the car dealer’s rental fleet, along with another “sister,” beige VW Rabbit — parked in the adjacent parking space at the dealership. Back then, dealers could transfer their plates to buyers. I chose that. The transferred plate was CUT 773. In July, I put an ad in the Portland Oregonian, looking for someone to drive the car to New Hamps... Full story
The City of Sisters is putting forth its first opportunity to access grant/loan funds to eligible agencies and private developers to aid in the construction of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents. In addition to providing $300,000 of City funds to aid in the construction of the Ponderosa Heights apartments on Brooks Camp Road, the City established its affordable housing program to help ease the shortage of affordable housing within the city. Funds for... Full story
Several programs are available for lower-income homebuyers in Sisters. With the median home price here hovering around $450,000, opportunities have been very limited for those in the lower income brackets to even consider purchasing a home. First Story, the nonprofit organization associated with Hayden Homes, will be building homes next year in McKenzie Village Meadow that are meant for those with lower/modest incomes. The application will be made available by the end of... Full story
The Center Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Care, Central Oregon’s largest provider of orthopedic, neurosurgical, and physical medicine and rehabilitative care, has announced the appointment of Christy McLeod as new CEO/COO. McLeod started on November 12 and transitions into the role with advisory support from the previous CEO, Mike Gonsalves. Gonsalves will retire in early 2020. Reporting to the board of directors, McLeod will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations a... Full story
