News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Quickly moving rivers and streams are home to the Common Merganser (Mergus merganser). Cruising jet-like up and down waterways, only a few inches above the ripples, landing and then diving for fish and crustaceans with their serrated bills, this Merganser sports either a vivid rust coloured crest (female) or an iridescent green head (male) that is a joy to behold. The Common Merganser nests in hollowed-out trees, on cliffs or on the ground, normally on the banks of rivers.... Full story
When I interviewed the owner of The Fly Fisher’s place, Jeff Perin, a few months ago, just before his guide trip to Belize, he observed, a little jokingly, that fly fishing is life, and reconciling that idea with the life-is-a-game perspective, it would follow that fly fishing is, too. How is fly fishing – or life – a game? What is the system we’re playing within? What is the objective, and how do we keep score? Where does the game start, and where does the game end? And maybe most importantly, what is the metagame? As I di... Full story
In recent years and especially on the heels of COVID’s onslaught, which generated a potent, collective grief, popular culture has given new fame to concepts such as social-emotional learning, self-care, and burnout prevention. It also put the spotlight on a concept that has long been loved in this country because it evokes sentiments of self-determination, grit, and perseverance central to our national identity. We are talking about the buzz word of resilience. We have all h... Full story
Lighten up! Make your work fun and you will succeed more than ever. This is just another thing I’m learning from these new puppies we’ve adopted. They are nearly a year old, and they are smarter than me sometimes. I’m more than a Scottie mom. I’m also the primary care person for my husband who is dealing with cancer. I have a busy life with lots of responsibilities. It would be easy to get bogged down. But … These Scottie puppies won’t let me do that. Everything is a game to t... Full story
Conversation on houselessness To the Editor: There are many reasons why Sisters is a unique and special place, but what repeatedly stands out to me is that our community members care deeply about their hometown and are willing to put their time, energy, and passion into making the city a better place for all. We see this everyday through the abundance of volunteerism, participation, and attendance at community events, the number of nonprofits and service organizations that support or provide important functions in Sisters,... Full story
We all problem-solve differently, but a healthy psyche is open to disclosure, the ability to self-correct. The frontal cortex solves issues, examines if choices work, then readjusts thinking. It’s not about right or wrong; it’s about what works. For some, problem solving becomes programed, a line drawn in the sand. For others it’s about pivoting, manipulating outcomes. A former president talked to our hopes — bring factories home, secure borders, leave timeless wars behind. Stop being an international police force. Stop at... Full story
Tumalo Falls Loop Trail appears on just about everybody's top five list of trails within an hour of Sisters. If you've been, you'll likely agree. If you haven't then you should make it a priority. It truly is a gem and one of the most-photographed hikes in all of Oregon. At seven miles, it's not a walk in the park. Neither is it grinding despite its 1,200-foot elevation gain. The ascent is gradual and spaced over 3.5 miles. The sheer beauty of the thick forest and cascading... Full story
Greg and Shannon Pozovich wrote: This letter is a thank you and a praise to the staff of Ponderosa Lodge in Sisters. Because of a recent flood in our home, we spent six weeks at the Lodge. We had not expected such a wonderful response from the entire staff. They were so welcoming and good to us and our dog Sage. Management was warm and very accommodating. Everyone was attentive and efficient. A number of times they arranged care for Sage so we could go out to dinner. They treated Sage like royalty and had a lot of fun with... Full story
The Cohen Brothers’ movie, “The Matrix” is returning to the big screen. In the movie, humanity lives within the Matrix, where pleasant virtual reality daydreams have been substituted for reality, and self-aware machines farm the slumbering humans for energy. Neo and his compatriots manage to extricate themselves from the Matrix, fighting back against the artificial intelligence that has enslaved humanity. Perhaps the Cohen Brothers were onto something, that each of us lives within a matrix; not one fashioned by artif... Full story
As we mark the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, a new congressional report on the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan strikes an especially ominous note. The 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda had their origin in the safe-haven of a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Twenty-plus years on, after a vast expenditure of blood and treasure, the Taliban controls Afghanistan again, and that troubled land once again offers safe haven to... Full story
Roundabout Tortoise To the Editor: Here’s my idea for the center artwork at the new roundabout: How about a gigantic replica of a Galapagos Tortoise? Jim Cline Art and owls To the Editor: After reading the article in The Nugget regarding the Roundabout art project I would hope the artists would consider a tribute to the following: Our military veterans. Sisters’ history of their logging industry. History of Sisters Quilt Show and Rodeo. Save a lot of money. Relocate the horse that is presently displayed on the corner of Casc... Full story
Brad Boyd of Eurosports wrote: Thank you to the 200-plus people who showed up to help celebrate Eurosports 35th anniversary and raise $520 for Think Wild's Beaver Works Habitat Restoration. That will buy a lot of willow and cottonwood (food for the beavers). And, thank you to all the thousands of people who have supported shopping local for 35 years.... Full story
While perched on the tip of a branch the Ash-throated Flycatcher [Myiarchus cinerascens] will tweak its head from side to side in a quizzical manner as it waits for its next insect meal. They prefer drier environs and do not drink water because all is needed are the fluids from their insect diet. Small lizards, fruits, and berries are occasionally consumed. Three to seven brown- streaked white eggs are laid after a nest of grasses, twigs, and rootlets are woven together and... Full story
It’s a beautiful September morning in Sisters Country. The sun is out but it’s not too hot yet. The sky is brushed with a hint of smoke, nothing much compared to the last few summers. The forest is quiet, other than some loud equipment, a dog barking, and a small plane flying low. OK, not really that quiet. Compared to a city, though? The forest is heavenly. It’s a good life, in a good place. I am one of the lucky ones and I totally know it. But by late afternoon I may have fo... Full story
History offers little comfort to those who approach it honestly, seeking to truly understand what happened and why. When history deeply informs the course of contemporary events, it is often weaponized to promote a moral case for one side or another in a conflict. But then it’s not really history — it’s mere fodder for propaganda. Such is the case in the war between Ukraine and Russia, and such is the case in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both conflicts have deep roots... Full story
Developers having a heyday To the Editor: Just received a full page glossy magazine in the mail entitled Haven. It featured million-dollar-plus homes for sale all over Oregon. Including our very own Sisters Woodlands. These developers are having a heyday at our expense, sucking our water and resources dry and destroying small communities and pricing out ordinary Oregonians. Let alone bulldozing our trees and devastating the land. If this makes you angry, please contact Governor Kotek and/or your state representative. I did.... Full story
There’s Minnesota nice. And Wisconsin nice. And Canada nice. Maybe some others, probably mostly in the Midwest. I don’t recall Oregon nice. Nor California nice. And then there’s Sisters nice. You know the kind of nice I’m talking about. It mostly just happens, right? It happens so routinely that we don’t need to put it into words. Like many of you, I ride my bike around town. And, much to the chagrin of my adult children, an electric scooter. Not one of those three-whe... Full story
Beware of scams To the Editor: I fell for a scam being operated on FB Marketplace. I was trying to buy firewood and I ended up getting scammed. Luckily it was not for a ton of money. Never give the seller any money up front. Cash on delivery only! I am working with the Deschutes County Sheriff, Facebook, Venmo, and PayPal. Since Monday, August 19, I have located and disabled a dozen different scam pages selling firewood. Once you know what to look for they are easy to spot. The first thing that happens is you will... Full story
As families begin to transition back to school a lot of hubbub starts to take over. After the comparatively schedule-free life of summer, there are many things to think about. What supplies to buy, which clothes still fit, which don’t (how did your child grow so fast in such a short time?), and how to adjust your work schedule for drop-off and pick-up times. What’s top on the minds of the kids? The younger they are, or if they are moving to a new school environment, it’s bound to be anxiety and worry (that includes middl... Full story
The night sky is home to bewildering spectacles. I remember the first time I noticed. I was six years old living in Edmonton, Alberta, with my family. My brother and I were awakened one winter night by our parents. "There's something you need to see," they said with glee. They wrapped us in fleece blankets and cradled us out the front door of our Canadian home into a brilliantly cold evening. My parents were shoveling snow from the driveway when it began. My eyes traced my... Full story
How long has it been since you became giddy with joy just watching a bee scoot around a daisies’ pollen-laden center, amazed at how the bee could fill its pollen basket (also known as the corbicula) with so much pollen and still be able to fly? When did you last watch a procession of ants, being filled with wonder, and then try to follow the line to its end? These are just a couple of the wonders my young Scotties have helped me enjoy seeing recently. The Scotties were born in Idaho during the late fall. Cold had already k... Full story
This delightful, easy to moderate outing is occasionally confused by other nearby trails. It is not the Three Fingered Jack trail or even the Jack Lake Trail (there is no Jack Lake trail per se). At the Jack Lake trailhead you are treated to options one of which is Canyon Creek Meadows Loop part of which is on the Old Summit Trail. The loop section is just at five miles with an elevation gain of roughly 600 feet. There are branches that can turn it into a 7.6 mile or longer ex... Full story
Before moving to Sisters in 2004, I researched the medical community in Central Oregon – doctors, clinics, hospitals, emergency services – and was encouraged that quality medical care would be readily available. And it was, in the beginning. When I moved, I had just turned 60 and was not yet eligible for Medicare. My first job at hospice offered me excellent group health insurance coverage. I quickly established relationships with several medical practices where I found it... Full story
This November will not bring a rematch of two candidates vying for president, but rematches of candidates who previously ran against each other turn out to be a big theme in politics in the Northwest this year. And the dynamics of those rematched candidates could have a big effect on politics, both on the legislative level and nationally. In Oregon, one of the closest congressional races from two years ago is being rerun. Democrat Andrea Salinas prevailed in the 6th Congressional District 2022 by 2.4 percent over Republican... Full story
Expand county commission To the Editor: I am writing to express my appreciation to those making the effort to expand the size of the Deschutes County Commission. With a current membership of only three representing the rapidly expanding population of the county, adding to the viewpoints of those representing us is long overdue. Approving this expansion is particularly critical since only one of three current commissioners shows any interest or ability to properly manage the county. The rampant violations of the county code... Full story
