Building Blocks: Sisters folks are getting involved

With 30 attendees, the September 18 Community Builders meeting at City Hall was the most well-attended yet, including one very cute infant who came with mom.

• A majority of the meeting was an overview by Scott Woodford, community development director, of the study currently being done on Sisters’ Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) — should it be enlarged and, if so, where? More information is available on the City website, http://www.ci.sisters.or.us, administration, land use planning spotlight.

• Kellen Klein, Citizens4 Community executive director, announced there is still money available for five to eight more neighborhood picnics/get togethers to help build community, connectivity, and resilience.

• Sunday, November 17, is the date for the Fall Citizens4Community Forum on Youth Well-Being in Sisters, at the new Sisters Elementary School. There will be a repeat of the popular Holiday Sing-Along on December 19 at Sisters Senior Living (formerly The Lodge) and then at The Barn.

• Alyssa Cowan described the work of the nonprofit I Am Seen, which she formed to give voice to women who have lost a baby through miscarriage or death. It began here in Sisters, and they have shipped 500 care boxes to 26 states and 61 different cities.

The boxes are individually packed with local soaps, a book on grief, a commemorative candle, and wooden plaques inscribed with “You were carried for only a moment but loved for a lifetime.” A box can be requested on their website for free – IamSeen.org – for oneself or someone else. There will soon be another care box packing day to create 400 more boxes. Contact Cowan at alyssa@IamSeen.org to volunteer. Donations are welcome on their website or send to P.O. Box 127, Sisters, OR 97759.

• Sisters High School Athletic Director Matt Hilgers (matt.hilgers@sisters.k12.or.us) reported they are looking for bus drivers to take athletic teams to away games. Recently, there is a shortage of drivers and students are having to drive their own cars. The district pays for the background check and fingerprinting and provides two online trainings. The district’s budget includes $100,000 for bus costs and $55,000 for officials. Counting band and choir, there are 310 students involved in extracurricular activities needing bus transportation.

• Laura Leis of Paulina Springs Books is looking for a volunteer to fill in for her occasionally with the 10 a.m. Saturday morning story time. If you enjoy reading stories to young children, you can reach Leis at the store 541-549-0866.

• City Manager Jordan Wheeler announced the Community Conversation on Houselessness on Sunday, October 6, 4 to 5:30 p.m., at the new Sisters Elementary School. After hearing from community partners, government agencies, and nonprofits about what they are currently doing to address houselessness, attendees will be able to discuss their questions, concerns, and ideas which will be recorded and shared with partners. Wheeler stressed, “This is the start of a community supported plan. We want to hear your ideas and concerns.”

• In other City news, there have been 30 proposals submitted for the art in the new roundabout. It will take time for the committee to review all the submissions, select the finalists, display their mockups for the public to vote, and then the actual production of the winning entry.

• Work is proceeding on plans for the proposed park and ride lot, shuttle stop, EV charging stations, and parking lot for downtown between Highway 20, Hood Avenue, and Highway 242, the former East Portal. Planning is also underway for improvements on Barclay Drive through the light industrial area.

• Cheryl Pellerin, Habitat for Humanity board member, announced a special benefit concert on October 25, 7 p.m., at the high school auditorium with concert pianist Jim-Isaac Chua, who has performed world-wide. The Filipino-American Chua has a passion for using concerts to benefit nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. Tickets are $20 and available on the Habitat for Humanity website, http://www.sistershabitat.org.

• On October 10, 6 p.m., at Sisters Fire Community Hall, there will be a candidate forum to hear from citizens running for three City Council seats.

• Circle of Friends reminded everyone about their free Spooktacular Scavenger Hunt family-friendly event on Saturday, October 26, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. It will include a costume contest and raffle prizes. Register on their website http://www.circleoffriendsoregon.org.

• Living Well with Dementia will present Demystifying Dementia on Thursday, October 3, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Sisters Library. RSVP at http://www.LivingWellWithDementiaSisters.com.

Sisters.com. They also have a support group for care partners of those with dementia at Sisters Senior Living, 411 E. Carpenter Ln. on Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m., on September 25, October 9 and 23, and November 13 and 27. They are also looking for volunteers to provide respite services, general office help, and support group facilitation. For more information call 541-647-0052.

• Regan Roberts of Sisters GRO (Graduate Resource Organization) said they need to establish a long-term sustainability program to assure future funding beyond the annual donations. Besides scholarship support to graduating Sisters High School seniors, GRO also administers funds from the Roundhouse Foundation to provide support to students in fifth-to-twelfth grade who are participating in special programs like flight training and music camps. Roberts also said they are looking for some new board members.

Donate as little as $25 to the general fund or an existing scholarship on their website http://www.sistersgro.org. You can also fund a scholarship or build long-term support with recurring donations.

• Jessica Sanchez-Millar of Better Together gave a brief rundown of what they do. Better Together and the Early Learning Hub (BT+ELH) have aligned their efforts across sectors and communities to transform systems, prenatal to career, with 400 stakeholders from early care and education, school districts, higher education, healthcare partners, foundations, government, business and industry, parents, and members of the community at large. They focus on equity work involving students of color, low-income students, emerging bilingual students, students with disabilities, rural students, and their peers. For more information http://www.bettertogethercentralOregon.org.

• Dawn Cooper of Roundhouse Foundation announced they received 180 grant applications this fall. The next round of applications will start being accepted in mid-January 2025.

• Economic Development director Eric Strobel announced a new rural-oriented program, Central Oregon Starters Boot Camp, for people interested in starting a new business. The program can take 10 people and all 10 spots are already filled. Strobel assured there will be another one offered. They will meet four Monday evenings at the Sisters Makers building on NE Main Avenue.

• Caitlin Green, OHSU academic researcher, said there is data supporting the theory that a sense of belonging leads to improved physical and mental health. She is currently involved in the Community Belonging Measurement Program. The data collected is informing the creation of programs that promote a sense of belonging for all Central Oregonians. For more information access https://www.ohsu.edu/community-research-hub/community-belonging-measurement-project.

• Rennie Morrell, STARS executive director, is participating in the Regional Health Improvement Plan Transportation Sub-committee. She invited anyone who has input regarding transportation issues in our area to contact her at rennie@starsride.org.