News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
According to quilt show coordinator Jean Wells Keenan, many of the quilting enthusiasts turned out early to beat the heat.
"The peak time ended up being much earlier because it was so hot," Keenan said.
The school district loaned the quilt show water coolers and organizers set up water stations all over town to refresh wilting quilters, who took advantage of shady, grassy spots for impromptu picnics. Fire and police officials reported several people suffering from the effects of the heat, but there were no serious problems.
Quilt show day proved special for Sharon J. Mason of Coos Bay, who won first place and a $300 prize in a contest to create a quilt inspired by Dennis McGregor's sunflower-themed quilt show poster.
McGregor and Camp Sherman quilter and author Andrea Boloskey acted as judges and chose Mason's quilt from the 42 quilts in the contest.
"She was just totally thrilled," Keenan reported.
Keenan said the judges picked several other quilts for honorable mention and chose a "most spirited" and a "most innovative quilt."
Quilt show organizers are trying to track down Sue Bruder, who won the annual quilt raffle.
Heavy pedestrian traffic, which has become a concern to emergency personnel in recent years, seemed to be kept in hand with the aid of Oregon State Police Explorer cadets who directed traffic at crosswalks and intersections.
"It felt like things went really good," Keenan said. "Having the police cadets was fabulous."
Keenan believes that the parking ban on Cascade Street helped with pedestrian flow. She said the show plans to expand farther on Hood and Main Streets to avoid clogging up Cascade.
Sisters Police Sergeant Rich Shawver said he thought "things went as well as could be expected" given the volume of traffic. He and Keenan both said they would like to see the no parking area on Cascade extended farther west along the highway.
Those concerns will be part of planning for next year's big event, a year of work leading up to one festive day. The day was indeed festive and, as always, seemed to be over in a flash.
By evening, the hundreds quilts that wrapped Sisters in color were packed away, like flowers that bloom but once a year.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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