Building Blocks: Quilting us together

There’s a lot of good percolating through Sisters Country as evidenced by the reporting out at the latest Community Builders meeting on August 21 gathering at the Stitchin’ Post classroom.

The meeting opened with Jean Wells, founder of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) 49 years ago and owner of the Stitchin’ Post, providing some history of quilting in Sisters. In 1975, when Wells’ store was in what is now the bar at Sisters Saloon and Ranch Grill, she hung 12 family quilts out in front of her store for the day. Thus, was born the now largest outdoor quilt show in the world. That annual event was responsible for creating a financial impact on the area of $3.2 million in 2009 (the latest available figures) which would be $4.7 million in today’s dollars.

Wells shared she loves what she does. She has had a life centered on inspiration, creativity, and education, designing and constructing magnificent quilts, teaching others around the world to do the same, and writing books.

“I’ve had a very full life here in Sisters, seeing all the ups and downs.,” she said.

The Quilters’ Affair, which is held the week prior to the SOQS on the second Saturday of July, fills the Sisters High School with classes attracting 1,200 students and 32 teachers from around the world. The SOQS has grown from 12 family quilts in July 1975 to over 1,000 hung around town on show day. For that week, Sisters becomes “quilt central,” generating income for local businesses that helps carry them through the winter.

• Citizens4Community Executive Director Kellen Klein announced their new “Land of a 1,000 Picnics” program which will provide mini-grants up to $150 to finance neighborhood gatherings to help build connections. McKenzie Meadows, Saddlestone, and Cougar Springs have already held their gatherings. Groups are encouraged to take photos and make notes about the events to be put in a scrapbook at C4C.

On Wednesday, September 11, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Scott Crabtree of Happy Brain Science will be presenting Building Belonging: The Science of Connecting in a Lonely World at the Sisters Fire Community Hall. A complimentary light dinner will be provided. This workshop is free, but attendance is limited to 50 people. Register on the C4C website, citizens4community.com.

C4C received a Community Grant from the City which will help maintain the data base of Sisters nonprofits, establish a volunteer dashboard, and update the Sisters Country Resource Guide and offer it in both Spanish and English.

• STARS

Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) Executive Director Rennie Morrell announced that STARS officially became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit as of July 15, after five years as the first Action Team sponsored by Age Friendly Sisters Country. Their first grant as a nonprofit came from the City of Sisters Community Grant program.

• Sisters Festival of Books

Mandee Rayne reminded everyone tickets are now on sale for the Sisters Festival of Books happening on September 13-15, 2024. Friday night will be a Community Story Slam. Saturday at the Sisters Movie House, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., will be live presentations and conversations with 15 authors. Refreshments will be available. Saturday evening at Paulina Springs Books, 6:30 p.m., join six authors from the festival for a six-course dinner prepared by Luckey’s Woodsman. Each course will be themed around one of the author’s books and featured authors will rotate tables between courses.

Three writing workshops are available over the weekend, each 90 minutes long and capped at 20 participants. All workshops will take place at Space in Common on West Hood Avenue. To register for any of the weekend’s events go to SistersFOB.org.

• Risky Health Behaviors Assessment

Caitlin Green, OHSU representative in Central Oregon, reported on the results of the Deschutes County Parent and Caregiver Needs Assessment of communication with children about risky health behaviors. The goal of the assessment was to learn what parents/caregivers already know about talking to their fourth to 10th grade children about risky health behaviors and what else they want to know. They also wanted to learn the best ways to get new information and resources about risky health behaviors to parents and caregivers.

Most of those surveyed think conversations about such behaviors should start before ninth grade. Parents of middle schoolers are especially interested in information about all risky health behaviors.

More than 200 parents and caregivers shared their experiences through surveys, community conversations, and mini-interviews. Three Community Collaborators helped center the voices of Spanish speakers through community conversations. Survey participants were 34 percent Spanish speakers.

Next steps include sharing results with the community and partners, adapting programs and communications for families to better meet their needs, using school newsletters to share information, and exploring opportunities for family workshops.

• Three Sisters Historical Society

TSHS received a City grant which will allow them to record their Fireside Evening presentations. They will be closed all of January and half of February as they prepare their new display featuring the history of ranching in Sisters Country. Contact them if you have any ranching memorabilia or stories you would like to share for the display.

• Age Friendly Sisters Country

On November 10, AFSC and C4C are co-sponsoring a workshop on “What to Do with an Idea”, more information coming. Mike Deal, AFSC president, offered congratulations to STARS for their launch as an independent nonprofit. AFSC received a grant from the City which will allow them to record their November workshop and to sponsor another Sing Your Hearts Out event.

Judy Smith of AFSC announced an AARP workshop titled “Fall Scam Jam”: Fraud Prevention Workshop featuring speakers from the Office of the Attorney General, Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, and Federal Trade Commission, and more. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the event ends at 2 p.m. It will be held on Friday, September 13, at the Sisters Fire Station community hall at 301 S. Elm St. Register online at local https://local.aarp.org/sisters-or/aarp-events/.

• Circle of Friends

According to Nicole Swisher Woodson, Executive Director of Circle of Friends, they are in need of volunteers and mentors to meet the ongoing needs of underserved children in Sisters Country. At any given time, there are at least seven children waiting for a mentor. At their recent Back to School barbeque they were able to provide all the school supplies and fees needed by children in their program.

The Saturday before Halloween, October 26, COF will again present their costume Scavenger Hunt, so mark your calendars.

• New childcare opening

April Farmer is opening a new childcare center in the former Sisters Elementary School for zero to three-years-old. To begin with, there will be two rooms – one for newborn to 24 months, and one for 24 to 36 months. As enrollment increases, more rooms will be added.

• Roundhouse Foundation

Dawn Cooper of the Roundhouse Foundation announced that the closing date for their next round of grant applications is September 13.

• Explore Sisters

Scott Humpert of Explore Sisters announced the opening of the new unmanned Visitor Center in the Sisters Makers building at 291 East Main Ave. QR codes will be available to scan for more information. The two visitors kiosks in front of the Sisters Makers building and in Barclay Park will soon be updated.

The Explore Sisters board will soon be undertaking strategic planning. Citizens can sign up for the Explore Sisters industry newsletter at exploresisters.com. Progress is being made in preparing the application for Sisters to be designated as an International Dark Skies Community.

• Sisters Economic Development

Eric Strobel, director, announced that the Laird Foods Building A will become part of Metabolic Maintenance. Building B will become Personalized Nutrient, which builds custom supplements tailored to individual patients’ needs. Building C, the largest building at 25,000 square feet, is still available.

Sisters Makers is a newly forming nonprofit in Sisters. Their mission is to support artists, makers, growers, and innovators with facilities, education, and advocacy. Strobel encouraged attendees to keep their venue in mind for events. It is a great hub location on East Main Avenue located adjacent to Fir Street Park and its stage.

• School of Ranch

Mark Gross is working with Oregon Humanities to present a workshop on land use titled “ Get the Hell Off My Land.” Gross offered the ability for Sisters organizations to piggyback on his Facebook page and his newsletter for free to get the word out about their events. He is hoping to do the same thing with his Google account. Contact him at mark@schoolofranch.org.

• 100 Women Who Care

Chris Laing of 100WWC announced STARS was the latest recipient of donations from members. As ombudsman for The Lodge, Laing reported that The Lodge is now under new management and the name has been changed to Sisters Senior Living. The former Community Relations Director of The Lodge, Jeni Sturdivant, is returning as the new executive director in mid-September.

• Next Community Builders Meeting

Wednesday, September 18, at Sisters Depot on Cascade Avenue, 10-11:30 a.m.