Building blocks: Community engagement on the rise

The October Community Builders meeting was held at the U.S. Forest Service Sisters Ranger District garage. Attendees were welcomed by Lauren DuRocher, acting district ranger while Ian Reid is on a four-month temporary assignment on the Modoc National Forest. He will be back in Sisters in early December. (A separate article on the Sisters Ranger District activities will appear in the October 23 Nugget.)

• Kellen Klein, C4C executive director, announced that their first annual report is available on their webpage. They are sponsoring an Outlaws Night for high school students at Paulina Springs Books on Saturday, October 19. There will be a movie, games, snacks, and beverages. On Sunday, November 17, at the new Sisters Elementary School, C4C is sponsoring a forum titled “Are the Kids Alright?” Free drop-in childcare will be available. C4C board chair Sarah McDougall said they are looking for a few new board members who would be working on events, strategic planning partnership, and attending one, hour-and-a-half meeting a month. If you are looking for a place to join in, they would like to hear from you. She encouraged anyone interested to start by joining the board and then finding their niche.

• Danna McNeese of Sisters Community Leadership Initiative announced they have removed and dismantled six old RVs and, with the help of the USFS, towed 11 abandoned vehicles from the forest. A man from Prineville, who read about the work SCLI is doing, volunteered to be of assistance.

• Katera Woodbridge introduced herself as the new marketing director for Explore Sisters.

Over 3,000 people have gone through the new Visitor Information Center.

• Dawn Cooper of the Roundhouse Foundation said they are currently reviewing 180 grant applications and those receiving grants will be notified in mid-November.

• Hannah Joseph of Seed to Table announced one more volunteer day, Friday, October 25, 10 a.m.-12 noon for anyone interested in harvesting the remaining vegetables, probably mostly carrots. Children are welcome with an adult. Two Farmers Markets are left – October 20 and 27.

• Kathy Campbell of 100 Women Who Care Sisters announced they currently have 99 members and are looking for spaces in Sisters that can accommodate that many people for their quarterly meetings. She also announced that the Sisters Science Club is reestablished with a new board of eight people. Dr. Larry Price will be talking about quantum mechanics at their next event.

• According to Diane Prescott, Three Sisters Historical Society will hold their first Fireside Event of the fall on Sunday, October 20, at 2 p.m. in the Sisters Fire Hall. Mike Berry will be presenting “The Dam Fiasco at Bull Flat – The History of the 1914 Tumalo Project.” Tickets are $10 at the door and free to TSHS members. Doors open at 1 p.m.

• Mike Deal of Age Friendly Sisters Country reminded everyone of their event on Sunday, November 10, 4 – 6 p.m. about “What Do You Do with an Idea?” at the Sisters Fire Hall.

The workshop will demystify the process of starting up a new community initiative, how to fund it, etc. Will be both in-person and livestreamed. 

• Rennie Morrell of Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) said they are looking for a new board member who has some fundraising experience. If interested, please email [email protected]. They also need more volunteers, not only to drive but also dispatchers and marketing support. Drivers receive 50 cents/mile reimbursement. Their demand is up 34 percent over the past year, which shows the service is working, but there is also a great need.

• April Farmer of Soul Blossom Child Care said they currently have six children enrolled. They are located in the old elementary school and care for newborns to three-year-olds. There is a big state challenge with families who qualify for EROC or Preschool Promise but there is no funding to provide space for them. Soul Blossom could use subsidies to help families afford the cost of childcare while ensuring their staff receive a living wage, but there is no state funding available.

The state allocated $50 million to build childcare centers, but no funding for helping subsidize low-income families.

On Wednesday, October 16, 4-5:30 p.m., they will be cleaning up the garden area outside their room with members of the Sisters Garden Club. Volunteers who would like to help can gather by the flagpole at the school with brooms, garbage bags, shovels, rakes, and gloves.

• Habitat for Humanity board member Cheryl Pellerin announced they recently had a dedication for a family moving into a new house. On October 25, there will be a benefit classical piano concert with Jim-Isaac Chua at the Sisters High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at http://www.bendticket.com. Habitat has moved into their new office in the old Ponderosa Properties building next to Sisters Coffee. Habitat received a grant for workforce housing from the City.

• Pellerin also has an AFSC Action Team, Romeo’s Joy, a nonprofit that provides animatronic pets for people with disabilities and those who are at risk of being isolated. She recently donated 11 of the pets to special education classrooms in the Sisters School District which will reach 130 students in nine classrooms. That brings to 53 the number of animatronic pets that have been donated in the community.

• Jane Ann Pighin of the Council on Aging said they offer free meals on Tuesdays at the Sisters Community Church for seniors. Council on Aging will be hosting the February Community Builders meeting at the church. They will have a table at Living Well With Dementia Sisters’ resource fair on November 14.