Sisters salutes...

•From Virginia Lindsey: I've had the pleasure of serving on the city's budget committee for three years, the last two of which have been working with Lisa Young, our new director of finance and administration. She has truly been a joy to work with. That is due in part to her knowledge and her willingness to assure we understand all the facts as we work through the yearly budget.

I am so pleased that Lisa has won the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This is the highest award in governmental budgeting, a first for the City of Sisters and for her first submission!

I am proud of the city staff for having selected her, and for the incredible job she has done for us since her arrival.

•The Sisters Trails Alliance wishes to extend a very warm "thank you" to Jen and T.R. McCrystal for their sponsorship of this fall's Jen's Garden fundraiser dinner.

Jen and T.R. generously donated their time, talent and all the proceeds from the dinner to help build additional trails in Sisters and the surrounding area. In addition, Brad Boyd, owner of Eurosports, donated a mountain bike, and Clay Warburton donated a painting for the silent auction. Thank you Brad and Clay from the bottom of our hearts!

All in all, Sisters Trails Alliance raised over $3,000. Phenomenal!

•From Rebeccah Lovegren:

There are the people who live in the spotlight. People who are followed by thousands of fans. People who are praised for every speech and every cause they support. There are people who pride themselves on their good deeds or their tribute to mankind. People who gain recognition with every step they take.

And then there are the people who don't. These are the ones who live their lives from day to day, silently bestowing little tokens of love and kindness on all who cross their paths. These are the people who work behind the scenes, who never gain the attention they so truly deserve. They are the ones who slowly and anonymously change the world.

All this may seem sentimental, but in light of the season, I would like to give a little recognition to a person in our community who has touched my family in a beautiful way.

Over the summer, my grandmother was in an accident in which she broke five ribs and her leg. Over the weeks that followed, many get-well cards and packages came in the daily mail. Our mail-woman, Fifi, noticed the unusual number of cards she was putting into Grams' mailbox and was concerned. You can imagine my grandmother's surprise when Fifi called and said, "I saw all the cards coming in and knew that your birthday was already passed. I was worried something had happened. Are you okay?" Needless to say, we were moved by her thoughtfulness and caring. And again last week, we were equally surprised and touched.

My sister Rachel was recently featured in an article about her artwork. When we picked up the mail, we were confused to find not one but two copies of the newspaper. On the top of one was written, "Thought you might like to have an extra copy."

I'm writing to say that these simple little acts of kindness do not go unnoticed. My family is very grateful to be surrounded by such a loving and caring community. It is the little things that oftentimes make the biggest difference. After all, two thousand years and one month ago, a little baby born in a stable changed the world forever.

Merry Christmas.

•Katy Yoder was hospitalized with severe complications from the flu:

My deepest thanks to all of you who helped my family survive the last two months. Your gifts of food, cards, flowers and calls while I was in the hospital and when I got home helped get us through.

It's the tough times that offer the opportunity to know just how many people love and support us. A big thank you to my folk festival family as well; it feels great to be back at work after all this time. I've never been on the receiving end of this town's amazing giving spirit; now that I have, I will never forget it.

Special thanks to my wonderful husband, Gary, I still don't know how you did all the things you had to do to get me well. You're the best!