News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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I am sitting at my office peering at the Three Sisters peeking through the trees surrounded by soft blankets of blushed pink and wisps of orange cream sunsetting on their peaks. I have a lot of charting to do, but tonight feels ripe for a little procrastination. I would rather stare at the mountains. I find myself pondering at how our natural world, with its beauty, renewal, and resilience continually provides an endurable response to the ugliness and suffering our world... Full story
Dear Property Guy: We recently moved out of an apartment and the management company charged us over $500 for holes in the walls. Which not only seems unfair, but totally unreasonable for the work that was done. We had a few pictures and a TV up on the wall. All of which I consider normal. How should this all work. — Nailed in Sisters Dear Nailed: Here’s a dirty little secret about some, but not all, property management companies. Repairs are a profit center. There, I said it. Separate conversation. You are asking the million-... Full story
• The first time I fell into the cyberworld abyss was when I was planning a horse camping trip with a couple of horsewomen, long years ago. While we were going over our to-do lists, Carol offered to check “Craig’s list,” to which I asked indignantly, “WHO IS CRAIG?” • Talking falling, while packing hay out to Riddle the other morning, I went arse over teakettle and landed in a huge puddle of water the color of three-day-old coffee. It was really quite comical and luckily I’ve gone off enough horses in my lifetime to automat... Full story
Since May is the month we traditionally honor mothers, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the many things they do in that role. In many small ways their love manifests itself in common gestures that are easily overlooked as important. Yet so important. From the time of a child’s birth a mother’s hands are there to cradle, clean, caress, and correct. Have you ever given thought to what life would be like without those four “C’s”? In the worst scenario, a child would not live, unless someone else stepped forward to perform tho... Full story
As we're finally starting to see temperatures rise and clearing skies become more frequent, there are a few celestial sights you should look for during your nightly stargazing this spring. Let's begin by locating Corvus, our featured constellation for May. Corvus, Latin for "crow," or "raven," is a small constellation that is best seen during the first half of May. From our latitude, it will stand 25 degrees above the southern horizon at about 9 p.m. local time. Look for a... Full story
Smoke curls around the knees of the ponderosa trees. It's just a prescribed burn, nothing to worry about, but it sets my nervous system a-twangling. I'm reminded of the Milli Fire in 2017, and the bouts of smoke or fire we've experienced since. Seven years ago, my family was "full-timing"-living in a small travel trailer, traveling and camping. Here is what I wrote then: I saw the sun, a shiny reddish-orange thing, sulking behind a veil of forest fire smoke. I saw two gray... Full story
The first time I heard a mountain lion scream I was standing in the horse barn at Soldier Meadows Ranch, Nevada. The barn was made of stone stacked by members of the U.S. Cavalry who had lost the deployment lottery and been assigned to this bewildering outpost in the wilderness known as Camp McGarry. It could only have been tough duty — they were out there to protect immigrants along the notoriously unpleasant Emigrant Trail, where many died of thirst, exhaustion, or l... Full story
AI is wrong To the Editor: Relative to a letter to the editor published in The Nugget, April 17, in which artificial intelligence (AI) is the trusted source: the misinformation perpetuated therein must not stand. Yes, when Jamie McLeod-Skinner was the city manager in Phoenix, Oregon, she was fired, but AI did not search to learn that Jamie was a whistle-blower who was attempting to hold the mayor, some city council members, and staff accountable for violations of laws and regulations both state and local. You, dear reader,... Full story
It was a quiet morning, I had just gotten my latte at Sisters Coffee, sitting in the corner with my dog, Bo. The young man sitting next to me was busy working on his laptop. He asked me what kind of dog Bo was and I informed him he was a 9-year-old Shiba Inu. We exchanged pleasantries and he informed me he was an administrative assistant to an entrepreneur. As we continued to speak about religion, the environment, and current political issues, I learned he was very religious, very driven in his current job, happily married... Full story
As the smallest bird in North America, and the smallest long distance migrating bird in the world, the Calliope Hummingbird's [Selasphorus calliope] migration of 5,000 miles from southern Mexico to western mountainous regions is prodigious and inspiring. When heading north the Calliope flies along the Pacific coast and returns south along the Rocky Mountains for a round trip total of 10,000 miles. This tiny hummer weighs in at 0.1 ounce which is similar to a ping-pong ball.... Full story
Better angels To the Editor: Tim Hockett’s guest column, “We Must Do Better” in the April 10 Nugget was beautifully written and so important. It’s a reminder of where we as a nation have been and a caution to where we’re going. Jim Cornelius, would you offer Mr. Hockett his own column? In these times, we could use someone who speaks to the “better angels of our nature.” Terry Weygandt Pets and pot To the Editor: A quick PSA for all the dog owners out there and a request for those partaking in cannabis products in public spa... Full story
Tejanos curse in Spanish and a Cajun eyes the weather There’s black mud on the belly of the yellow colt I ride Never thought I’d catch myself so calm out in the open As a gulf storm deals in bucket loads and hits from every side — Turnpike Troubadours, “A Cat in the Rain” “We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” — Seneca, First Century Roman Stoic These are unsettling times, no doubt about it. Wars and rumors of war. A “b... Full story
As a young professional who has lived and worked in Sisters for nearly four years, I have been invited to share my story for C4C’s Community Forum about local housing challenges, “Who Gets To Live Here? The Search for Local Housing Affordability.” It was spring 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown was in full swing in Portland, when I graduated with a degree in urban planning. It was important for me that I get a job in my field as soon as possible, but as uncertainty from the ongoing pandemic continued, fewer job openi... Full story
There’s nothing like contemplating the end of the world to start off your weekend. I headed out at daybreak on Saturday to get in a good training session at Zimmerman Butte. Kettlebell complexes and shooting — a kind of biathlon. I like to listen to a podcast while I drive out there and set up, so I scrolled through the new stuff, and ran across a fresh one from Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. He was interviewing Annie Jacobsen about her new book “Nuclear War: A Scenari... Full story
Prescribed fire To the Editor: Spring is in the air and so is the smoke. Prescribed burning season is upon us and in an effort to get in front of a contentious subject I’d like to voice my support of the efforts of our local resources devoted to protecting our community from wildfire. Smoke in the air is never fun. It makes breathing difficult for many, it ruins our beautiful views, weekend plans, and is unwelcome by all. Mechanical thinning is an option but the budgets our government has left for the agencies charged with f... Full story
Not long ago, I sat on a beach. I was warm - too warm, actually, quite hot - so I took a dip in the wide, thunderous ocean. With my family, I navigated the cobbled streets of a beautiful Spanish colonial city center. The trip was a wedding gift to me and my husband, offered long ago. Finally here we were, in a place we love: Oaxaca, México. Incredible architecture divided rooms and corridors with brightly painted walls and black wrought iron. Shaded, cool hallways created... Full story
A few years ago, in the very early morning hours, I visited the Lincoln Memorial. A crew was busily cleaning the huge statue. I acknowledged the workers with a wave. One man shouted to me, “Sorry for the inconvenience, but we don’t want grime to build up on Mr. Lincoln’s face.” April 15 marks the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. One hundred and fifty-nine years ago, a ruthless bigot, John Wilkes Booth, resentful that the federal government dared to stop white folks from owning black folks, shot Mr. Lincoln in the back of the... Full story
Dedicated volunteers To the Editor: This month, prior to the regular School Board Meeting on April 3, three candidates for the Budget Committee were interviewed. Each presented their various experiences and what they could bring to the committee during a three-year term. This session was followed by a presentation from the auditors from Pauly Rogers and Co. who have been working with Sherry Joseph, the Sisters School District business manager. The audit findings were positive, with no issues of non-compliance and no... Full story
Have you ever wished you could travel through time? What would it have been like to set out on the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon in 1840? What was life really like in a European castle in the Middle Ages… or in the villages outside? What if we could actually climb into a time machine to experience life alongside the people of another time period? I suggest that there is a sense in which we can. For thousands of years humans have seen the value of recording their stories i... Full story
There is nothing quite like sitting across the table from a fisherperson. There is genuine happiness in their eyes, laughter, and pats on the back. Their faces light up like a warm campfire when they start spinning yarns with hands outstretched ("It was that big!"). We eavesdropped as the older guys shared the location of their favorite fishing holes. Some kids from a middle school fly tying club sparkled with anticipation and awe as they took in every word. Best of all,... Full story
If you work for a paycheck in Sisters, it’s hard to find a place to live. Really hard. Home prices have soared out of reach for most working folks, and there aren’t a whole lot of rental options — and they’re often not all that affordable when you find one. That means hard-working people, often established for years in the community, are facing hard choices, wondering if they can stay in the community they call home. Business owners have a hard time finding staff, because... Full story
Sisters Country homeowners and business owners are struggling to access affordable fire insurance coverage. I’ve worked for 20 years to protect our homes and communities from wildfire and now I’m working as your Deschutes County Commissioner to keep insurance accessible and affordable for residents. We need to make our homes and communities more resilient to wildfire and then we need to get insurers to recognize those improvements in coverage and premium decisions. Since 2004, I’ve worked to build collaborative agree... Full story
Student safety To the Editor: In response to the recent allegations against SHS choir teacher Rick Johnson, who has represented Sisters Folk Festival’s Americana Project for nearly 20 years, a simple question needs to be addressed: Is the Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) creating a successful and safe atmosphere for both teachers and students involved in its Americana Project? Should the Americana Project and its leadership be supporting their leading educator instead of distancing itself from the problem? Note that The A... Full story
Don’t reuse eclipse glasses To the Editor: There is an important safety issue that people should be made aware of concerning the upcoming eclipse on April 8, 2024. People should NOT use old eclipse glasses, especially ones that they used during a prior eclipse, such as the one in 2017. The protective coatings on some eclipse glasses deteriorate over time and will not protect a person properly. It is entirely safe to use new glasses, and those who experience the period of totality do not need any glasses during those few m... Full story
Living in a place like Sisters, we can all appreciate how visitors are drawn to its natural beauty, recreational activities, and small town charm. And there’s no arguing that tourists provide a healthy livelihood for many local businesses. But some are using that very rationale to defend an increase of STRs (short-term-residences, aka vacation rentals) in Sisters. But do we fully comprehend the price our town could pay if that happens? I visited Jackson Hole a couple decades ago. Another beautiful “small” town that got disco... Full story
