News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Bonnie Malone congratulates Peter Storton. photo by Jim Cornelius
Peter Storton's leadership in creating Barclay Memorial Park earned him Citizen of the Year honors from the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber held its annual awards dinner at Eagle Crest Resort on Thursday, February 26.
Storton chaired the committee that raised funds and organized the construction of Barclay Park facilities, including long-awaited public restrooms.
Last year's Citizen of the Year Bonnie Malone took advantage of the humor opportunities inherent in honoring a person for restrooms. Malone, dressed in camouflage pants, a sleeveless T-shirt and a backwards baseball cap, introduced this year's honoree by rapping "Where is the Loo?" to the tune of the Grammy-winning hip hop single "Where is the Love."
The act brought down the house, but the applause for Storton was equally loud and sincere as chamber members recognized how important the downtown park and restrooms are to the tourist-dependent downtown businesses.
Storton reflected on the importance of good citizenship, noting how much he valued the opportunities available in the United States when he immigrated here as a boy from Great Britain.
Rich Hummell, Tracy Tandy, Ross Kennedy and Tate Metcalf of Sisters Athletic Club. photo by Jim Cornelius
"I think good citizenship is probably the most important thing in the world," he said.
Sisters Athletic Club won honors as Business of the Year. The club is moving into new facilities this spring. The chamber recognized the club's broad impact in the community, providing health resources for members, and active participation with schools and community groups to promote healthy living.
The President's Award went to long-time chamber treasurer Jack McGilvary. Outgoing chamber president Chuck Fadeley reflected on the many ways McGilvary enhances the quality of life in Sisters.
"Sisters is the way it is because this person is who he is," Fadeley said.
Fadeley handed over the chamber's reins to incoming president Caroline Lucas. Fadeley praised Lucas' hard work as vice president and expressed confidence in her leadership.
"The chamber is not only headed in the right direction, I think it's going to pick up speed," he said.
Lucas said one of her primary goals is to increase chamber membership.
She, too, believes the chamber is heading in the right direction.
"We're stepping up to the plate and doing things a little better every year," she said.
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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