Sisters' citizens earn honors

Every February, the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a fête to honor individual citizens, organizations, and businesses who contribute to making Sisters an economically and culturally vibrant place.

This year's honors got underway with a special nod to a woman who seeks no fanfare in her work, who nevertheless has a big impact on some of the most vulnerable lives in the community.

Chamber President Chris Wilder offered up the President's Award to Sherri Hermans, who works as a paraprofessional in the Sisters School District. She works with special-needs children, with particular emphasis on providing them with adaptive sports opportunities through the Unified Sports Program. An accompanying video brought tears to eyes at FivePine Lodge & Conference Center, as the audience saw children light up with joy, including a youth who stood up from his wheelchair - a very rare occurrence for him - at Hermans' encouragement.

Hermans was tearful herself.

"We live in such a great community," she said. "So many great people. I'm just really humbled. I don't know what to say."

Sisters Park & Recreation District was presented with the Chamber's Pioneering Award for its work serving the community - from youth to seniors - with a variety of programing. Shannon Rackowski, who works at SPRD, was honored individually as Volunteer of the Year.

Jeanette Pilak, executive director of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, presented the award.

"This person gives 600 percent all the time. They give joy; they give passion..."

Rackowski, visibly stunned by the honor, told the assemblage that she often has friends from the Coast ask her when she's returning home. But she feels at home here.

"I couldn't have found a better second home than Sisters," she said.

Non-Profit of the Year went to the Three Sisters Lions Club for its charitable outreach work in the Sisters community, supported by a holiday bazaar featuring locally made handcrafts and a yard sale that people can spend days perusing.

Paulina Springs Books earned the customer-service award for creating a welcoming space where people can browse books and games and take in cultural events featuring authors from across the region. Owner Brad Smith saluted long-time store manager Sue Tank as "The face of Paulina Springs."

Citizen of the Year honors went to City of Sisters Public Works Director Paul Bertagna. Chamber Executive Director Judy Trego said she got exhausted just reading out a list of the tasks Bertagna undertakes to make Sisters look good and function smoothly.

Bertagna was quick to spread the credit.

"This is pretty cool," he said as he was handed his award. "But I've got to give it up for our public works crew. They bust their ass and they do a great job."

Greg Willitts accepted the Business of the Year award for FivePine Lodge & Conference Center, though he, too, was quick to share credit with his parents, Bill and Zoe Willitts.

"This award is really my parents'," he said.

The vision for the FivePine campus, which started with Sisters Athletic Club, then grew to include Shibui Spa, Sisters Movie House and Three Creeks Brewing Co., was Bill's. He was unable to attend due to illness.

Greg Willitts also cited the symbiotic relationship between his family's business - which is marking its 10th anniversary - and the Sisters community at large.

"What we sell is the town of Sisters, and it's an incredible town to sell," he said.

He noted that the relationship is a model for what can be done when people share goals and efforts.

"When we work together, incredible things can happen," he said.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

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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