Sisters salutes...

• Dylan MacKenzie wrote:

I would like to send a huge thank-you to everyone in the Sisters community that supported me, Dylan Mackenzie, class of 2009, in my fight against Hodgkins lymphoma, diagnosed on July 14, 2011.

Everything about this town was amazing; they gave me hope. It has been one full year and I am pleased to say I am cancer-free!

The biggest thanks goes to Papandrea's Pizza, Bright Spot Juice & Java, Space Age Fuel, Sisters Coffee Co., St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church, and the Sisters community; Mark Miller, and especially my beloved parents.

Also one special friend, Tyler Miller!

The whole community of Sisters did so much to support me and my family. I do not know really what else I can say about this wonderful town.

The fight against cancer was the toughest fight I have ever faced. Being a student athlete at Sisters High School was the turning point in my fight against cancer because sports at Sisters taught me to be tough, taught me that no one fights alone and that it doesn't matter the size of person in the fight, it matters about the size of the fight in the person. Sports were/are everything to me, and the power of sports is amazing.

• Bill Rexford wrote:

Outlaws Lacrosse just concluded its first-ever team camp and had 90 players from around the state at the high school for the better part of the week. 

We could only host this camp because of key support from community members. First, I want to thank GFP Emergency Services for supplying and constructing the yurts the teams stayed in.

Sisters School District catered healthy breakfasts and lunches for our campers and worked with us to make sure we had everything we needed to help make the camp a success.

Sisters Park & Recreation District registered the campers. Richard's Produce provided great fruit that kept the campers going.

I want to thank the members of the Outlaws Lacrosse Club. Winter Lewis and Joe Hosang and the Stadelis provided invaluable logistics support; Bob and Jodi Nelson and Bob and Tresa Glatz prepared wonderful dinners for the campers. Isaiah Glatz lined the fields and chipped in in numerous other ways to make this camp happen. Because of all these different people pulling on the same rope we were able to provide a great camp experience for a fraction of the price they charge in the Valley.

All teams present have expressed their desire to return next year, and we hope to double the size of the camp next summer. The hard work and service of those mentioned above will pay off in the years to come as we establish Sisters as a summer sports-camp center, which will increase tourism and patronage of our town. 

• Janet Storton wrote: For two years in a row, Amity and Devon Calvin have graced the crowds of thousands who come to Sisters for the Quilt Show by sharing their amazing musical talents out on the streets.  Donations come pouring in from bystanders enjoying the music. Rather than keeping the money themselves, they march over to Sisters Coffee Co. when finished, and place every dollar earned in a donation box for the Sisters of The Heart Foundation.

They have donated over the past two years almost a thousand dollars so that the women of Uganda can help others to a better life.

For further information visit www.sistersoftheheartfoundation.org.