The Nugget
and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters community reacts to wolf killing
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Last week’s news that Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff responded to the report of the death of an adult male gray wolf, set off an outpouring of grief among wildlife advocates.
The wolf, an adult breeding male of the Metolius pack, was found dead near Sisters. Gray wolves are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the western two-thirds of Oregon.
A $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest, criminal conviction or civil penalty assessment was posted by USFWS. Citizen groups quickly tripled the reward. The Center of Biological Diversity and Sisters-based Wolf Welcome Committee is offering $10,500, while the Oregon Wildlife Coalition is contributing $10,000, bringing the total reward to $30,500. The amount is expected to grow.
Authorities are exceedingly tight-lipped about the location and manner of death, as it is an ongoing investigation.
The wolf and its mate were first identified in 2021 in the Metolius wildlife unit of Jefferson and Deschutes counties. Following a litter
Wyden town hall packs Sisters gym
By Sue Stafford Correspondent
At last week’s Town Hall, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) entered in true politician style, moving briskly with arms outstretched and a big smile. He told the crowd in the Sisters High School gymnasium, which was just about full to its capacity of 2,000 people, “This gym is exactly what democracy looks like.” The audience was respectful and appeared to be generally in agreement with the Senator’s point of view.
The number one issue on citizens’ minds, worded in a variety of ways, was: “What can we do to stop Trump and Musk in their assault on the government?” Wyden began by assuring the assembly, “We will fight ‘til we prevail.” But people wanted
concrete things they can do. Wyden replied, “Keep gyms filled up like this.”
He continued, “Find your passion, find others who share your passion, form a coalition, and drill down.”
Wyden firmly believes that political change comes from grassroots efforts and moves up, as opposed to from the top down. “No one person can do it. It will take grassroots efforts, including moderate Republicans, to form a nationwide coalition,” Wyden said.
There was no visible presence at the town hall event of supporters of President Donald Trump, and no one spoke or asked questions indicating affinity with the administration.
Locally, Wyden suggested
of four pups last April, the wolf family was designated as an official pack. Three of those pups and their mother are still alive, according to state wildlife biologist, Aaron Bott, who spoke with The Nugget.
“It’s a bummer for sure,” Bott said. “Chances are she’s
pregnant again and will birth in April. Even with the help of the yearlings from last year’s litter, the odds aren’t good. The male parent is vital in survival.”
Bott doesn’t know if any of the yearlings have
See WOLF on page 18
Wildfire map gets significant pushback
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
The second iteration of the highly controversial Oregon Wildfire Hazard map is the subject of an intense effort to have it repealed or otherwise shelved. On March 18, Oregon House and Senate Republicans introduced legislation to repeal the state’s “flawed” wildfire hazard map. The legislators claim it is riddled with inaccuracies and the map threatens the property values and livelihoods of rural homeowners. HB 3944 would repeal the map and the “extreme” regulations it places on landowners and homeowners by requiring state agencies to focus their wildfire efforts in areas that are most
See WILDFIRE on page 8
Sisters grad weighs in on FS firings
By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Jamie Werner (née Cundiff) credits her time at Sisters High School with sparking her interest in a career in public lands stewardship.
As a Sisters Outlaw running cross country through the forest, participating in the school’s Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition (IEE) program, growing up across the street from the Deschutes National Forest boundary, her Sisters experience led directly to her college major in environmental science.
Graduating from high school in 2002, she served as a wildland firefighter and on a timber marking crew on the Sisters Ranger District in the summer of 2003. She went on to Stanford University to earn a degree in Environmental Science and Geology. Moving to Colorado, she lives in the Roaring Fork Valley. She recently worked for the nonprofit National Forest Foundation, working closely with the U.S. Forest Service. In January 2024, she went to work for the U.S. Forest Service on White River National Forest.
“It just felt more community-based to me,” she said. Werner worked as a fulltime Program Management
Jamie (Cundiff) Werner spoke in Washington, DC with Senator Michael Bennet regarding firings of probationary USFS employees.
PHOTO PROVIDED
A wolf of the Metolius pack.
PHOTO COURTESY ODFW
OPINION
Letters to the Editor…
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer’s name, address, and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond, or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday.
Make America decent again
To the Editor:
Some call it TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome); others call it paying attention.
Trump University closed due to fraud. Trump Foundation closed due to fraud. Trump businesses closed in New York City due to so much fraud that the CFO was jailed and Trump Inc. was banned from doing further business in New York City and fined $355 million! Fraud is a fancy word for lying. Trump convicted of slander after sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll and fined a total of $88.3 million. Trump convicted of multiple felonies after fraudulently reporting payoff to a porn star (whom he slept with while his wife was pregnant). Trump uses judges that he appointed so as to escape justice. FOX News, Trump’s spin machine, paid $787 million settlement for lying about a voting machine company. Trump’s high-profile attorney, Rudy Giuliani, disbarred in multiple jurisdictions and also received a $150 million judgement against him for slandering good, decent election workers.
Trump pardoned several of his first-term advisors after they lied to the FBI. Trump pardoned war criminals convicted via court martial. Trump pardoned January 6 rioters who beat police officers and trashed the Capitol.
And now we suffer from his erratic (on again, off again tariffs), bigoted/racist (scrubbing black history from military records, etc.) and undependable (turn our back on Ukraine,
Wednesday
March 26 • Partly Cloudy 72/42
NATO, and close neighbors Mexico and Canada) policies. He consistently feathers his own nest and rewards his highest donor (Musk) with unlimited power and billions (reportedly $38B) in government contracts. Trump’s behavior betrays his self-awareness that he truly is a king, not to be questioned. We all know that Trump loves to call people names. His anti DEI campaign isn’t just insulting, it is thinly veiled prejudice. It gives any of his followers permission to imply that any worker who is a woman, person of color, foreign-born, gay, or disabled, was actually just a “DEI hire,” that is, without merit. I suggest that the term “TDS,” like “DEI hire,” is just another of Trump’s schoolyard bullying, name-calling tactics. Make America decent again. Hold Trump accountable.
Timothy Hockett
s s s
Wolf killing
To the Editor:
As a citizen of Sisters I am outraged and saddened that someone (most likely a man with a gun) would kill a wolf that is endangered. What is wrong with a human being that has no regard for life of an innocent animal? If you know or suspect anyone who did this please call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 503-682-6131. Your call can be anonymous.
Kathy Marshall
Sisters Weather Forecast
Thursday March 27 • Partly Cloudy 53/37
See LETTERS on page 11
Friday March 28 • Snow Showers 49/33 Saturday
Consequences of good intentions
By Lori Chase Guest Columnist
In life we must always ask the question: What are the needs of others and how can we best serve our community and what are the consequences of our good intentions?
In a recent opinion in The Nugget, Bill Carmichael, guest columnist, raised concerns if there is indeed a need for new housing in Sisters, especially when Zillow estimates that there are currently 129 apartments available for rent in Sisters. He adds that ApartmentGuide.com states there are 188 vacancies for rent. He asks for new ideas and community input to explore solutions to our housing concerns.
Yet, the City of Sisters intends to expand its Urban Growth Boundary to create more housing in Sisters. I am very concerned about the letter they sent to Deschutes County to expedite a rezone of a 58-acre parcel of land zoned F2 that is adjacent to the Trout Creek Conservation Area by Sisters High School, McKenzie Meadows Village Subdivision, and Tollgate Subdivision. A rezone approval could potentially allow a few hundred houses to be built. (File Number: 247-24-000839-PA,840-ZC McKenzie Meadow Village Request for Zone Change of a 58-acre parcel zoned F2 to Urban Reserve/Multi-Use Agricultural.)
I do not believe that a rezone from F2 (which is considered “Impacted Forest” land) is in the best interest of the Trout Creek Conservation Area nor neighboring subdivisions and their residents for the following reasons:
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Environmental Impact: This property and the nearby Trout Creek Conservation Area (TCCA) provide a wildlife corridor and habitat for sensitive and rare wildlife and plant species. (White-headed Woodpecker, Flammulated Owl, Pinyon Jays, and Peck’s Penstemon.) Trout Creek, an ephemeral stream, runs and rushes through the middle of this F2 zoned property and should be protected. The TCCA and the surrounding forest habitat provide an outdoor science classroom for our students at Sisters High School, Middle
School, and Elementary School.
Water impact: We have no guarantee that a hydrology study will be done to assess the factors that could have an impact on our public water supply, including the Tollgate community whose sole water source are two wells, one of which exists in the corner of the proposed property rezone area. In Central Oregon, sustainability of water resources is rapidly becoming a critical issue due to rapid urban growth and the impacts of progressive climate change on the annual recharge (replenishment) of groundwater aquifer systems that provides the public water supply. Potential damage to the local aquifer could be irreversible.
Wildfire risk: A rezone and potential high-density development of this F2 property could create an increased risk of wildfire that could impact the surrounding subdivisions and the entire town of Sisters. It could impact the emergency entrance for firefighters and emergency vehicles to the neighboring Tollgate community. In the event of a wildfire evacuation from a housing development on this property, there could be limited exit access through the adjacent subdivisions. This could potentially create a reenactment of the Paradise, Lahaina, and Palisades fires.
I urge the Deschutes County Planning to seriously consider rejecting the rezone of the abovementioned property and I encourage the City of Sisters to seek different options for UGB. They do have other options that they have considered.
I also urge people to address their concerns and ideas by writing letters and/or testifying to the Deschutes County Planning Department:
Write a letter to: Haleigh King: Haleigh.King@ deschutes.org.
Attend and testify at: Deschutes County Hearing
Date: Monday, April 7 at 1 p.m.
Location: Barnes and Sawyer Rooms of Deschutes Services Center 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend.
May the voice of the people help determine what are the needs of others and how we can best serve our community!
Festival announces new poster artist, lineup
SFF Presents has announced the initial 26 artists slated to perform at the annual Sisters Folk Festival on September 26 - 28, in Sister. Amid the announcement, the organization unveiled this year’s poster artist, Sheila Dunn.
The preliminary lineup includes Loudon Wainwright III, Katie Pruitt, Kyshona, Martyn Joseph, Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, John Fullbright, Sean Hayes, Gaby Moreno, Whitehorse, Tray Wellington Band, Humbird, Kaleta & Super Yamba Band, Bobby Alu, The Fretless, Max Gomez & Shannon McNally, Cordovas, Joy Clark, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Alysha Brilla, Maia Sharp, Seth Bernard, The Faux Paws, The Rebel Eves, Madeleine Roger, Kora Feder, and Sadie Gustafson-Zook. Read more about the performing artists at https://www. sistersfolkfest.org/lineup.
Longtime Sisters Folk Festival collaborator Dennis McGregor has retired from his role as the official poster artist, ushering in a new era of festival art. Bendbased painter, Sheila Dunn, has stepped in to create the
2025 poster art featuring an unnamed musician performing in front of Mt. Jefferson. Best known for her largescale, vibrant oil paintings, Dunn is a celebrated artist whose work can be found scattered throughout Central Oregon in mural form, and sold in many local galleries and shops. Dunn received a BFA in painting and a minor in art history from Colorado State University and was recently selected by the U.S. State Department to be a featured artist in the Art in the Embassies program, founded by the Museum of Modern Art and President Kennedy in 1963. Much of her work explores the fluid relationship between figure and
environment with colorful, fractured brushstrokes.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the poster art Dunn said, “Having been to the [Sisters] Folk Festival for years now, I love that time of night after the dinner break when the sun starts to set and the stars start to peek out and you know you’re in store for such a wonderful, fun night of music. I wanted to capture that almost ethereal, magic time of night in this painting.”
The 28th annual discovery music festival will feature more than 30 artists from all over the world representing many different
See POSTER on page 13
Sisters students can access funds
Middle and high school students in Sisters are eligible to apply for funding to pay for educational enrichment opportunities through the Roundhouse Enrichment Experience program, a branch of the locally based Roundhouse Foundation, which has generously funded the program for many years.
Through the program students have received assistance for everything from aviation to music camps to Spanish immersion to environmental/cultural experiences.
According to Roundhouse, experiences that qualify for
consideration include “workshops, seminars, camps, or other activities and must include an enriching benefit to the student that pertains to the discovery of post-graduate career selection or aspirations, and/or makes a difference in the community.”
The funding cannot be used for sports-related activities, faith-based experiences, online courses, or travel vacations, or for activities sponsored by the Sisters School District.
For the current budget year $3,600 in funds remain in the high school budget (enough for 4 or more SHS students that can apply for up
School counseling programs among best
Sisters Elementary School and Sisters Middle School are celebrating achievements three years in the making: top honors and national recognition for their school counseling programs.
Both schools have been awarded American School Counselor Association (ASCA) certification as Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) schools.
RAMP certification requires diligent
SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR
BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS
Al -Anon
Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383.
Alcoholics A nonymou s
Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church • Tuesday, noon, Big Book study, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church • Wednesday, 7 a.m.,G entlemen’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Thursday, noon, Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Thursday, 7 p.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Fr iday, noon, Step & Tradition meeting, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-5 48 -0 440. Saturday, 8 a.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration
Central Oregon F ly Tye rs G uild
For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om Central Oregon Trail A lliance (COTA) Sisters Chapter meets monthly for a meeting, group bike ride, or event. Contact sistersrep@cotamtb.com for info. Ci tizens4Communit y C ommunity Builders meeting, 3rd Wednesday of ever y mont h, 10 to 11:30 a.m. V isit citizens 4c ommunity.c om for loc ation.
Council on Aging of Cent ral O rego n Senior Lunch In- person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab -and -go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters C ommunity Church. 5 41-4 8 0-18 43 East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wed. (September- June), Stitchin’ Post . A ll are welcome. 5 41-5 49 -6 061.
G o Fish Fishing G roup 3rd Monday 7 p.m., Siste rs C ommunity Church. 541-771-2211
Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s) 2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Siste rs Communit y Church. M ater ials provided. 541- 408 -8 505.
Hero Q uilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 5 41-6 68 -1755
Living Well W ith Dementia Sisters Care Par tner suppor t group. 2nd & 4th
Weds 1-2:30 p.m. Sisters Senior Living. 541- 647- 0052
Mili tary Parent s of Sisters Meetings are held quarter ly; please c all 5 41-388 -9 013.
Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 5 41-5 49 -6 469.
Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom.
503- 93 0- 6158
Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 3:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church. 5 41-5 49 -6157.
Sisters Area Woodworke rs First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 5 41-231-18 97
Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.
Sisters Caregi ver Sup por t G roup 3rd Wednesday., 10:30 a.m., Siste rs Episcopal Church. 503 -616 -8712.
Sisters Cribbage C lub M eets 11 a.m. ever y Wed. at S PR D. 5 09 -9 47-574 4.
Sisters Garden C lub For monthly meetings visit: SistersGardenClub.com.
Sisters Habitat for Humanit y Board of D irectors 4th Tuesday, 4:3 0 p.m. Location infor mation: 5 41-5 49 -1193.
Sisters Kiwani s 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The Lodge in Sisters. 5 41-6 32-3663.
Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School Commons. 917-219-8298
Sisters Red Hat s 1st Friday. For location infor mation, please c all: 541- 8 48 -1970.
Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 5 41-760 -5 64 5.
Sisters Sno- Go -Fers Snow mobile Club Meets 2nd Wednesday at Takoda’s, 6 p.m. Email mailt o:Sisterssnogofers@ gmail.com.
Sisters Veterans no- host lunch, Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Rest aurant. All veterans welcome, 5 41-241-6 56 3.
Sisters Trails A lliance Board Meetings take plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In- person or zoom. Contact: info@sisterstrails.org
Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of Direc tors M eets 1st Tuesday 10 a.m., TSI D Of fice. 5 41-9 03 -405 0.
Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 5 41-419 -1279. VF W Po st 813 8 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:3 0 p.m., Pine Meadow V illage Clubhouse, 596 W Jef ferson Ave. 541-241- 6563
SCHOOLS
Black Bu tt e School Board of Direc tors 2nd Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Black But te School. 541- 59 5- 6203
Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m onthly, Sisters School District Administr ation Building. See schedule at www.ssd 6. org. 5 41-5 49 -8 521 x5 002.
documentation of school counseling programs and their impact on students. Only a select number of schools nationwide receive the honor each year, said Lorna Van Geem, Sisters School District Director of Student Services.
“The journey to RAMP certification has been a rewarding challenge,” Van Geem said in a statement. “It has strengthened our counseling program, improved how we serve students, and ensured that we are
CIT Y & PARKS
Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters Cit y Hall 541- 549-
FIRE & POLICE
PHOTO PROVIDED
Sheila Dunn is the new poster artist for Sisters Folk Festival.
See ROUNDHOUSE on page 19
See COUNSELING on page 7
By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent
By Matt Van Slyke and Olivia Nieto Correspondents
Insurance continues to roil Sisters
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Some 200 homeowners in Sisters Country are opening their mail to non-renewal notices from Farmers Insurance, who are continuing to offer property insurance in Oregon, but limiting their exposure in areas of wildfire probability. Panic is setting in.
Jason Rybka is the Farmers agent in Sisters, and he will be closing his office in June given that so much of his business is affected by this decision.
There are only three insurance agencies in Sisters –Rybka’s, Country Financial, and Risk Strategies, formerly Bisnett Insurance. Country Financial’s agent in Sisters is Linda Alldredge. She and Rybka are considered “captive” agents, meaning they work for only one carrier whereas Risk Strategies is an independent agency representing multiple insurers.
Alldredge is set to retire at the end of May and is hopeful that a replacement agent will be found. In discussing the current wave of doubledigit premium increases and widespread cancellations, Alldredge told The Nugget: “It’s all about the trees!”
She is having no trouble in renewing her legacy clients. It’s the new ones that are both taking up almost all her time and who are the most panicked. She dispels the notion of nameless, faceless underwriters or policies determined by AI. She spends hours every day with her underwriter team in Illinois trying to convince them to OK an application.
Most of her time with new clients is in coaching them on making their home presentable to an underwriter. She must submit countless photos, and other evidence that the home is not prone to loss.
“Trees are the number one issue,” she said. “If they’re Blue Spruce, forget it. Junipers? Probably not. Ponderosas? Not a particularly big issue if they are properly limbed up and not touching the structure or each other.”
She uses the exemplary record of Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District as an arrow in her quiver when debating underwriters.
“We haven’t had a structure loss inside the city,” she said.
She, like other agents in Sisters, is apologetic in trying to keep up with the volume of calls from worried policy holders.
“I’m 20 calls behind,” she told us.
Across Sisters, homeowners are reaching the breaking point with rates. 4th Sister Lodge Condominiums on the east side of town was shocked when presented with their renewal notice. The rate increased from around $15,000 to $82,000 — a 450 percent increase in one year. That was a $2,392 bump for each of the 28-unit owners.
Karen Whisler whose home is in the Indian Ford area saw her premium double from $5,000 to $10,000.
“It’s terrifying,” she said. “To think that you could lose your home over insurance premiums. I was worried and am still not certain that I have coverage. The agent has told me I’m covered but I don’t have an actual policy yet. To get insurance at all I had to accept a $10,000 deductible. My previous deductible was $500.”
Laurel Pierson who lives in a manufactured home in Crossroads saw her premium double. She’s a retiree dependent on Social Security as her primary means of income.
“I never had a claim in the whole 25 years,” she said. “This is a real hardship and I’m worried that it will get
“I’m proactive, and try not to let the problem stand in my way. — Joanna Cooley
worse. People like me can’t afford such increases.”
Real estate takes a hit
Realtors are seeing a dent in their sales as often prospective buyers are unable to obtain insurance. Some insurers will renew the policy on a particular property but not write a new policy for the same address.
Some closings have completely fallen through at the last hour due to what many are now calling a crisis.
Joanna Cooley a broker with Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty in Sisters said, “I’m proactive, and try not to let the problem stand in my way. I’m having to go as far as the Valley now to help my clients find coverage.”
Asked if it’s a problem, Greg Davidge, a broker with Ponderosa Properties in Sisters, said, “Absolutely it is. Particularly in Black Butte [Ranch] and Camp Sherman, and some parts of Sisters.”
Ballooning insurance costs along with stubbornly high interest rates saw a broad spike in canceled home sales in January. Some 41,000 purchase agreements collapsed, or roughly one in seven deals that went into contract in January. It was the highest cancellation rate since at least 2017, according to real estate giant Redfin.
A mixture of economic uncertainty and rising inventory likely explains buyer “skittishness,” according to Redfin.
Davidge says that the inventory of homes for sale in Sisters Country however is low, with many sellers staying on the sidelines.
Decoding your body clock for sleep cycles
By Ashlee Francis Correspondent
Have you ever wondered why your body naturally senses sleepiness at night but feels alert during the day? The answer lies within your body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. This roughly 24-hour cycle governs various physiological processes, including sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, body temperature, and even digestion. Understanding your circadian rhythm can be key to improving sleep quality and overall well-being.
What is a Circadian Rhythm?
Think of circadian rhythm as an internal conductor, orchestrating the timing of different bodily functions. The circadian rhythm is primarily influenced by light exposure. When light
enters the eyes, the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleepiness. As darkness falls, melatonin levels rise, preparing the body for rest.
The modern world vs. our internal clock:
Our modern lifestyles, with artificial light, shift work, and irregular schedules, can disrupt the natural circadian rhythm. This disruption can lead to various health problems, including insomnia, fatigue, mood disorders, and even increased risk of chronic diseases.
Biphasic Sleep — a potential alternative?
While modern society largely promotes monophasic sleep (one long sleep period at night), some individuals are experimenting
See SLEEP on page 15
Spring into SAA’s Fourth Friday Artwalk
By Helen Schmidling Correspondent
Join the Sisters Arts Association’s Fourth Friday Artwalk on March 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. Visit galleries, meet artists, and sign up for the Quick Draw, sponsored by Stellar Realty Northwest.
Wildflower Studio’s artist, Sandy Melchiori, is showing large colorful floral and landscape paintings in oil and charcoal. The studio is stocked with new room sprays, diffusers, and candles along with consumable gifts, prints, readymade frames, and custom framing.
Makin’ it Local celebrates its second “Go Wild Sisters,” a celebration of everything wildflowers, handing out packets of Oregon wildflower seed mix to guests. Wildflowers aren’t just pretty to look at, they are the backbone of ecosystems for pollinators. A group showcase features Central Oregon honey from The Royal Bee, and pollinator-related artwork by Kathy Deggendorfer, Lindsay Gilmore, Rachel Dantona, James Parsons, Green Bird Press, Cheryl Chapman, Charlotte Wallace, and Sheila Dunn.
Sisters Gallery and Frame features poppies and tulips by Barbara Berry, watercolor landscapes by Don
Zylius, and just-in-time for Easter, bunnies (acrylics and notecards) by Kimry Jelen. New work also includes mountain paintings in oil by Sandy Melchiori, and oil on linen paintings by Lynn Brush.
Hood Avenue Art features the dramatic photography of Scott Cordner. His work has a deep connection to the natural world, both through the lens and in the materials used to present his images. He photographs with intention, prints each piece using non-glare archival materials, and crafts his frames by hand
from natural woods such as walnut, cherry, and hickory, that are finished with linseed oil and beeswax for a timeless connection between nature, photography, and craftsmanship.
Flying Horse Gallery hosts a group show titled “Tales from the Tattoo,” by amazing artists behind the tattoo machine. Not only do they understand traditional art practices, but they require the skill to create images on a living, breathing canvas. Sloane Earl will show her most recent western skies painting. New paintings by
Brad Earl include two from his whimsical “River Rider” theme that combine a classic western vibe with the love of angling. Stop in to see “New Sheriff in Town” and “More than a Cowgirl.” Feeling creative? On Sunday, March 30, Sloane Earl hosts a still life drawing workshop. For more information and a reservation, go to www.flyinghorse gallery.com/events.
The Rickards Gallery kicks off the season with work by father-and-son painters, Jerry Dame and Dennis Dame. Jerry looks at the world with the eye of an artist, to see how light falls on an object or how shadow defines its shape. Dennis is amazed by paint: how shapes, values, and colors can convey something that cannot be communicated in words.
The Campbell Gallery’s show is “(De)Signs of Spring” by Karen Z. Ellis. This two-month show includes selected early and recent pieces celebrating rhythms and patterns of nature dancing through the seasons, water-media and soft pastel works, and original hand-pulled prints, including intaglio and monotype. Ellis’ life-long love of drawing, painting, and printmaking, and 20 years as a teaching artist have nurtured her creative responses to nature and cultivated her deep sensibility in the visual arts.
Toriizaka Art owners are away, but the gallery can be accessed through Sisters Gallery and Frame.
Stitchin’ Post’s show, “When Books Become Quilts,” is presented by the Undercover Quilters. Founded in 2009, the
book-loving fiber artists have one rule: “You can’t quit!” As a result, they have become fast friends and better artists. The exhibit displays quilts derived from “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus and “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt.
Gallery Maps: Available at each gallery and online at sistersartsassociation.org, where you can find out more about this month’s Artwalk and join the Arts Association as a contributing member, artist, or local business.
QuickDraw: At the close of the Artwalk, a drawing will be held for two $50 gift certificates, good at any participating gallery. Visitors may sign up once per gallery. Winners will be notified by phone and email, so it is important that all fields be complete. Thanks to Stellar Realty Northwest for their generous sponsorship.
The Sisters Arts Association officially welcomes the longer days of spring. Athough flowers may not yet be blooming outdoors, there are florals and more in the galleries of Sisters.
Quilt by Cindy O’Neal at Stitchin’ Post.
PHOTO PROVIDED
“New Sheriff in Town“ by Brad Earl at Flying Horse Gallery.
PHOTO PROVIDED
“Clearing Storm“ by Scott Cordner at Hood Avenue Art.
PHOTO PROVIDED
“Handful of Seeds“ by Kathy Deggendorfer at Makin’ it Local.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Senator held Town Halls across region this month
getting involved with organizations like Indivisible Sisters, which is sponsoring a demonstration in Sisters on April 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., by the Outlaw horse statue on East Cascade. He also encouraged providing support to the Latino Community Association in Bend to help mitigate what he called the “staggering situation” being experienced by many in the local Latino community.
Wyden referred to himself as the “Senate’s designated driver” because he is “the only one formally not running for president.” He describes himself as the “voice of consistent reason” in the Senate.
Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid/healthcare garnered a variety of questions from the audience. One local woman described her predicament with Social Security as having her disability benefits suspended, causing her to have to reapply, and now with staff cutbacks and office closings, she is still waiting. Wyden said that Musk and his DOGE team (Department of Government Efficiency) are cutting back on and hollowing out Social Security in an attempt to privatize it.
“They are going to have to walk all over me,” he challenged.
This week, Wyden was to be part of a committee reviewing the Trump nominee to head the Social Security Administration. He said he won’t approve the nomination unless he is shown data supporting the need for staff cuts and elimination of offices and programs. Wyden also said he would like to lift the current wage cap on Social Security so that billionaires would pay their fair share.
Wyden has joined forces with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to promote getting rid of pharmaceutical middlemen
who drive up the costs of prescription medication. He said that our current health system provides “sick care” and what we need is more support and funding for wellness programs. His association with the Gray Panthers and their concerns about healthcare early on is what led Wyden to enter politics.
According to Wyden, 30 percent of Deschutes County residents are on Medicaid, the insurance program for low income, children, disabled and the elderly. If the program is reduced or eliminated, many Central Oregon residents will be living with no health insurance.
A woman in the audience told Wyden that she has been unable to access the website where she makes payments on her student loans. He said he and Bernie Sanders are also working together to address the student loan issue. He encouraged people to make phone calls and write letters to their U. S. representatives and senators voicing support for the student loan program.
In response to a comment calling for eliminating Citizens United, Wyden thinks the “campaign finance system in this country is a mess. It’s got to go.”
When someone wondered about the merits of a flat income tax, Wyden said that with a flat tax, the middle class would pay higher taxes than they currently do, and it would be a windfall for the rich. He thinks at every income level, taxes must be progressive to be fair.
He sees the property insurance situation as a calamity given all the recent damaging hurricanes, tornados, and fires across the U.S. Wyden thinks it will take a private/ public coalition to create coverage that will meet the needs of the citizens.
Wyden encouraged people to call and email Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) who is one Republican he thinks can be convinced to support the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program that
gives state and local LITHCallocating agencies the equivalent of approximately $10B in annual budget authority to issue tax credits for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of rental housing targeted to low-income households. Wyden said, “We need money for housing, not billionaires.”
One young audience member expressed his frustration, saying, “Central Oregon students are sick of the lack of Democrats fighting fascism and authoritarianism.” An educator was concerned about federal funding for education and cuts to Title One, which provides supplemental federal funding to states to provide all children an opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, particularly in schools with high concentrations of low-income students.
Regarding the cutting of timber on public land, Wyden said, “I would not be for an indiscriminate wholesale sale of our public lands …. I would be very interested in looking at ideas that don’t sacrifice our treasures. The federal government owns 53 percent of the state of Oregon, and you can’t just indiscriminately go in there and devastate it with something I think Oregonians will regret for decades.”
When asked if the country is already in a constitutional crisis given the fact that the Trump administration is not abiding by rulings of the courts, Wyden offered, “I don’t want to sugarcoat this. I think what Trump is doing, in the last 24 hours in terms of the courts, has enormous implications. We haven’t
had a president say something like, ‘I’m just basically going to go do what I want and ignore the courts.’
That’s why Chief Justice John Roberts, who is a conservative Republican, reacted very quickly.”
Wyden concluded, “If you have a president who says he is just going to ignore what the courts are doing, that kind of activity is the making of a coup.”
As he always has done at his town hall meetings, Wyden offered immediate staff assistance in response to several audience members’ personal concerns.
From 1981-1996, Wyden served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon’s Third District. He is currently serving as the senior senator from Oregon, a seat he has held since 1996, filling the seat vacated by Bob Packwood. He has been a prominent advocate for privacy rights, internet freedom, and limiting government surveillance.
Wyden is currently serving
on several Senate committees including chair of the Finance Committee (as chair, he is an ex-officio member of all Finance subcommittees); Budget Committee; Select Committee on Intelligence; vice chair of the Joint Committee on Taxation; Select Committee on Intelligence; and Energy and Natural Resources (subcommittees on Energy; Public Lands, Forest, and Mining; chair of Water and Power).
The Sisters High School gym was filled with attendees at a town hall last week.
PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD
Senator Ron Wyden encouraged engagement.
PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD
COUNSELING: Rating was a team effort in schools
implementing the best practices in our school counseling program.”
The certification is the pinnacle process for measuring a comprehensive program against the ASCA national model, said Jim Boen, Regional Director of Mental & Behavioral Health for the High Desert Education Service District (HDESD), which supports regional schools and districts.
“This is a high bar that you just cleared — on your first attempt,” Boen told Sisters School District officials in January, when Sisters Middle School was awarded RAMP status. “Matter of fact, this is the highest bar used in evaluating a school counseling program, and you just nailed it.”
Sisters Elementary followed, earning RAMP certification a few weeks later. HDESD says only eight of the 1,200+ public schools in Oregon have received this award. Many states don’t have any RAMP-certified schools, said Sisters Middle School Counselor Brook Jackson.
“It’s not surprising to me that we have been recognized as doing a lot of amazing
work in working towards the school counseling goals,” said Jackson. “There’s doing the work, and then there’s organizing the work and presenting it in a way that’s recognized. That’s all Kelsey Jaeckel. She’s a school counselor at heart.”
Jaeckel, a former Sisters Middle School counselor, now provides counseling services through her private practice in Bend, where she also instructs future counselors at Oregon State UniversityCascades. She and Jackson went to graduate school together and are good friends.
“In grad school, you learn the (ASCA) model and implement it, but RAMP has always been on this pedestal, like going to the Super Bowl for school counselors,” said Jaeckel.
To reach this height, she and Sisters Elementary School Counselor Kate Kuitert each completed a 10-section program with a very specific rubric of standards in mindsets and behaviors, learning strategies, selfmanagement skills, and social skills, including interaction and advocacy.
“A big piece of it is the comprehensive aspect, making sure we’re making datadriven decisions that are moving toward discipline and education; seeing what we can do with counselors to collaborate to see if some
students are being underserved,” Jaeckel explained.
Jaeckel and Kuitert attended quarterly ASCA training sessions with Sisters High School counselors Rick Kroytz and Charlie Kanzig, and implemented their learnings into the classroom.
“There are so many pieces to it but we try to look at how we’re spending our time, which is really powerful data,” said Kuitert. “Making sure we’re spending our time doing things we should be doing is essential.”
The profession has changed quite a bit since the first ASCA model was published in 2003.
“In the last three decades, the role of a school counselor has become something that serves the whole building,” said Jaeckels.
Van Geem chalks up the twin successes to the hard work and dedication of not only the counseling team but all Sisters School District employees.
“It’s really rewarding because of so much work, excitement, and gratitude, but it was such a team effort,” said Jaeckels.
“This was definitely a team effort,” agreed Kuitert. “The primary emotion we feel is gratitude for everybody who helped along the way.”
Printmaking workshops on tap in Sisters
Studio 6000 Printmakers, a collective of people sharing presses and space, is opening its studio doors to people curious about fine art printmaking by offering a series of hands-on beginning workshops on several printmaking techniques.
The series kicks off April 5-6 with “Beginning Linocut,” taught by Paul Alan Bennett. Each student will create a printing plate by using carving tools to cut out their designs using Gomuban (similar to linoleum but softer and easier to cut). Students will learn how to apply ink to the plate, and then print it using a hand pulled technique or by using one of the presses available.
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost is $80 and includes materials. The class will run Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6.
Additional classes are:
• On the evening of Thursday, April 24, Diane Phillips will be teaching a basic bookmaking class from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $45 and includes
materials.
• On Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, Barbara Kennedy will be teaching a class at Studio 6000 called “Intro to Collagraph.” Students will build up a plate with textures, and print on the following day. Class time will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $80 and includes materials.
• On Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Beale Jones will be teaching a class called, “Intro to Monotype.” This will focus on colorful painting using a brayer tool. Cost is $60 and includes materials.
The studio is located near Fika Sisters Coffee at 211 E. Sun Ranch Dr., #103, Sisters. For more information contact pbennett3@gmail.com.
Studio 6000 members will be having a group show at the Bob Barber Library at COCC from April 1 to June 26. The show will feature the art of 11 printmakers. The reception is Thursday, April 3, from 3:30 to 5:45 p.m. Light snacks will be provided. All are welcome.
cost-effective and protect as many resources as possible. The bill also seeks to protect access to financial resources that rural communities can use to safeguard their homes.
“It’s unfair to penalize property owners while our state and federal governments fail to manage our forests and public lands,” said Representative Christine Drazan (R-Canby), House Republican Leader. “This bill empowers rural Oregonians by allowing them to make decisions on how to manage their properties.”
“Instead of threatening Oregonians with unfair mandates, this bill incentivizes local communities and homeowners to take responsible protective measures to protect their properties, creating a plan that will actually keep Oregonians safe,” said Representative Bobby Levy (R-Echo).
At the county level, on February 24, the Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to submit an appeal form on behalf of all county properties within the wildlandurban interface and designated “high” on the wildfire hazard map. Commissioners DeBone and Adair voted “Yes,” and Commissioner Chang voted “No.”
The state wildfire hazard map, published on January 7, was developed by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Oregon State University (OSU) under Senate Bill 762. It provides a wildfire hazard classification and a wildland-urban interface (WUI) designation for every property in the state of Oregon. Properties classified as high hazard and within the WUI, or within an area where wildland vegetation intermingles with urban structures, may be required to meet fire hardening standards in the future.
The wildfire hazard map currently classifies 21,258 Deschutes County properties as high hazard and within the WUI. Property owners who disagree with their property’s classification came to a recent BOCC meeting to express their concerns about the validity of the statewide map and to ask commissioners to advocate against it.
Locally, farmers Keith Cyrus and his son, Matt Cyrus of Cloverdale were among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the OPOA (Oregon Property Owners Association) Legal Center, Harney County, Grant County, and several aggrieved property owners against the Oregon Department of Forestry and
the State Forester challenging the recently enacted Oregon Wildfire Hazard Map.
The lawsuit, filed in Harney County Circuit Court, seeks a range of remedies, including a judicial order to set aside the Wildfire Hazard Map and invalidate all the Orders sent to property owners so far.
The lawsuit raises several arguments challenging the validity of the hazard map. Chief among them plaintiffs say is that the State Forester failed to follow proper procedures when assigning wildfire hazard or wildland urban interface designations to each Oregon tax lot, thus depriving property owners of proper notice and prejudicing their constitutional rights and ability to challenge their designation.
In a statement OPOA said:
“On behalf of the OPOA Legal Center, we want it to be known loud and clear — we stand with the hundreds of rural families and property owners across Oregon who have called our office asking for help. This is our way of demanding that your voices are heard, and your rights are protected.
“We would like to thank and commend the property owners who agreed to be Plaintiffs, as well as Harney County and Grant County, for stepping up for their neighbors and constituents in
this fight. Without this effort, too many Oregonians are left in the dark about what this Map means for their lives and properties.”
Citizens 4 Community’s next event in their bi-annual series of community forums tackles the issue.
“In addition to our ongoing partnership with The Nugget , C4C is teaming up with Rotary Club of Sisters and Sisters Kiwanis to produce a two-part series covering one of Sisters Country’s greatest threats – wildfire,” the organization posted.
Part 1 of this free, public, in-person and online series
will examine the state of preparedness for wildfire threats for individuals, neighborhoods, agencies, and the collective community. Featuring local experts with decades of experience in wildfire and emergency management, the forum will discuss the risks to Sisters Country and what citizens can do to be
more prepared. The forum will be held in the new Sisters Elementary School cafeteria Sunday, April 13, from 4 to 6 p.m., with light refreshments provided. Following the initial panel discussion, the event will be turned over to the floor for audience Q&A.
Wildfire has been a common feature of life in Sisters Country. Now it’s affectinng insurability.
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
The Affair In the PINES
By T. Lee Brown
Last episode of “In the Pines: France” here on The Nugget Channel found us a long time ago, on a continent far far away, where people with different worldviews couldn’t get along. We were getting to The Red Wedding.
Recap: Europe, a long time ago, religion, something something.
It’s the 16th century. The Huguenots are French Protestants practicing Reformed Christianity, a.k.a Calvinism, in the largely Catholic country of France. What appear to be matters of spirit and theology greatly impact matters of power and finance.
(Here I would suggest a tangent about how the French Calvinists get named Huguenots, but there’s like 17 paragraphs of arguments about this on Wikipedia. Moving right along.)
Protestants gain some power and followers. Catholics don’t like it. The factions fight. The French Wars of Religion become a thing.
Last week’s teaser implied slaughter by the printing press, the Renaissance’s answer to Twitter and TikTok, Facebook and Fox, TV, and AI.
Allow me to reassure you that guillotines and presses are not interchangeable (something 18th century revolutionaries will learn whilst chopping off people’s heads) any more than Allen wrenches and Philips
head screwdrivers are interchangeable (something 21st century Americans will learn whilst building Ikea furniture).
Besides which, back here in the 16th century, guillotines have yet to be invented.
What has been invented: the movable-type printing press, courtesy of a guy named Gutenberg. This innovation results in wild consequences. More people are learning to read; ideas of all sorts can be printed and spread.
It’s not all about the monks and their (omg gorgeous) illuminated manuscripts anymore. Printed material plays a big part in how Calvinism spreads, kinda like how The Nugget’s printed newspaper in the faraway 21st century will play a part in residents of one small town in “purple” Central Oregon solidifying their community and engaging with a variety of viewpoints.
As 16th century printing press shenanigans unfold, sometimes the French royalty push for neutrality and tolerance of the Huguenots. Darned moderates! This approach pisses off many a fellow Catholic.
Along comes the Affair of the Placards. Despite its name, it is neither a soap opera nor a misspelling of a long-lost episode of “Star Trek: Next Generation” in which Captain Picard and an alien hottie fly off to Planet Vegas together, sipping Earl Grey tea all the way.
Nope, the Affair of the Placards is what happens when Huguenots print up posters opposing a certain Catholic belief and hang them up around Paris. Incroyable (pronounced ONN-cwroy-AHB-luh).
It is October, 1534. The belief stated on these posters sufficiently angers Catholics that they’re emboldened to call the Huguenots élites. I mean, deplorables. I mean, fascists.
Actually, I mean heretics.
King Francis I, who has been all like trying to be cool with the Huguenots for a while, is super duper (pronounced SOOP-air DOOPair) pissed off to find one of these poster-placards on his bedchamber door. Ooooh. Burn.
When the King, who is according to Catholics God’s own representative on Earth, gets super duper pissed off, you can bet heads will roll.
Instead of being fired via email written by some random guy from South Africa or forcibly flown to Venezuela, some participants in L’Affaire are executed in front of Notre Dame cathedral, presumably because gendarmes and royals, merchants and nobles, clergy and commoners alike all get a kick out of watching people squirm and perish.
So there you have it: printing presses, attempted free speech and attempted freedom of religion = more chopping off of heads.
Actually, the techniques employed to sever Huguenot
souls from Huguenot bodies take other forms: languishing in Châtelet prisons seems popular, that and being burned at the stake. The first burned is a disabled man named Barthélemi , a name we might pronounce more like Bartholomew.
(Remember that for next episode. Don’t you just love foreshadowing?)
The religious wars ebb and flow for decades.
If you are at this point thinking, “Why didn’t these people just accept that they weren’t going to agree on everything? Why did they have to kill each other?” then you are clearly neither a student of history nor a fan of “Game of Thrones.”
Speaking of the latter: let’s pop forward to Gaspard II de Coligny, who is, despite his name, neither a multinational oil company nor a colonoscopy alternative. He’s a big-shot Huguenot leader (and brother to my great-great-times-a-bunchgrandfather, who I just found out existed, which explains why your humble columnist is suddenly playing Lil’ Huguenot Historian. But I digress).
The violence between factions goes both ways. At
first “Uncle Gaspy” Coligny is accepted as a notable noble, albeit a Protestant one, in the Catholic royals’ court. As tension ramps up, Coligny becomes an admired admiral on the Huguenot side. Boom. A peace accord is reached in 1570, and the royals invite Coligny back to court. Not to sue him, as going to court meant something a little different back then, but to let him strut about wearing his fancy ruff.
Various Catholic nobles are displeased. But you’ve heard of Catherine de’ Medici, right?
She and her son, King Charles IX, invite the factions to sing kumbaya around the campfire, in the form of a wedding.
Moderates plan to attend, marshmallows in hand. All along we’ve had folks who think people of different beliefs can get along. Unlike contemporary moderates, who have a boring name, the French ones are called politiques
Mon Dieu! We’re out of room, and we still haven’t gotten to the Red Wedding. Tune in next week, or binge “In the Pines” on the streaming platform of your choice.
Honey Bees & Brews
Join the monthly social gathering of beekeepers at e Barn on ursday, March 27, at 5 p.m. All beekeepers and wanabees welcome. Contact Clyde for more information at 458-20 6-8470
Americ an Legion and VFW
VF W Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 meet the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at Pine Meadow Village Clubhouse, 596 W. Je erson Ave. Email SistersVeterans@gmail.com for information
STAR S Seeks
Dispatch Volunteers
While working from home, help STAR S transport Sisters Country resident s to nonemergenc y medical appointments . Needed: A computer, the abilit y to use online apps, and a telephone. Call 541-9 04-5545
Free Lunches for Seniors
For those 60+, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon o ers a f un, no-cost social lunch every Tuesday, 11 a .m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. No reservations needed. No-cost Grab-N-Go lunche s take place weekly on Wed . and urs ., from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Call 541-797-9367
SISTERS LIBRARY COMING EVENTS
B.U.R. S.T. Creating With Confidence
On ursday, April 3, f rom 10:30 to 11:30 a .m., in the Sisters Librar y Community Room, explore the senses through art while learning creative confidence! Children and their f amilies will get to play with and explore di erent art/craft mediums while learning tools to regulate emotions and sensory stimulation ere will also be a focus to learning how to create without self-doubt. is will be accomplished by practicing language with each other that uplif ts without criticism . For children ages 0 -5 years . Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting a bit messy! For more information or questions about this program, please cont act Betsey at betseya@ deschuteslibrary.org
Family Story Time
Interactive story time with books , songs , and rhymes for children ages 0-5 years ese stories and songs are designed to support early literacy skill development, social-emotional awareness, and f amily engagement. is 30 -minute program is on Wednesdays , April 2, 9, 16, and 23 , at 10:30 a .m. in the Communit y Room at Sisters Librar y. Go to https://w ww deschuteslibrary.org/kids/ programs for more info.
A NNOUNCEMENT S
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday, March 27
Let’s Talk Dementia Sisters Library
Thursday, March 27
Honey Bees & Brews The Barn in Sisters
Let’s Talk Dementia: Clear & Compassionate Guide Class Living Well with Dementia Sisters presents Let’s Talk Dementia, a series of sessions for care partners and families of those diagnosed with dementia. Feel free to join for all eight monthly sessions throughout 2025 or just for one. On ursday, March 27, f rom 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Sisters Library, the topic is “Starting the Conversation: Building Understanding & Facing Dementia Together.” RSVP online at w ww.LWWDS .com
Questions: call 541-588-0547 or email Debbi@LWWDS .com
10 0+ Women Who Care
10 0+ Women Who CareSisters is delighte d to announce that it has added a “+” to its name! Having topped 100 memberships last month, the group is actively recruiting women to join and support that beautif ul “+.” 100+W WC pools donations to fund local nonprofits nominated by its members . More than $42, 000 has been donated since the group’s founding a year ago. ere is no membership fee; the group meets quarterly. For more information, email 100wwc. Sisters@gmail.com or call/text 541-912- 0750
STARS Seeks Volunteers to Transpor t Patients
Help Sisters Countr y residents get to nonemergency medical appointments in Sisters , Redmond, and Bend . Attend a free t wo-hour training. Emails from STARS dispatchers allow you to accept dates and times that work for your schedule, and a mileage reimbursement is included. Learn more at w ww starsride.org and volunteer to keep Sisters healthy one ride at a time.
Living Well With Dementia
Sisters Suppor t Groups
Living Well now o ers t wo support groups . A support group for the care partners and family of those diagnosed with some form of dementia meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month f rom 1 to 2:30 p.m . at Sisters Senior Living, 411 E . Carpenter Ln. A support group for the person diagnosed with some form of dementia in the early stages meets the same days and times , also at e Lodge. Info: 541-6 47-0 052.
Weekly Food Pantry
Changes
Wellhouse Food Pantr y has a new name: CORE Market . It is still located at 222 N . Trinity Way in Sisters . Market hours are now Mondays , f rom 1 to 2 p.m. Info: 541-588-2332.
Sisters Garden Journal
Sisters Garden Club has Garden Journals that are availabl e for $15 at Paulina Springs Book s & e Gallimauf r y here in Sisters e multiyear journal includes pages for notes on weather, monthly garden activities , plant details , and more. Sale s support the Garden Club and other lo cal nonprofits . Get your copy now ey make great gif ts Plea se call 971-24 6-040 4 to ask questions and find more information
Free Weekly Meal Service
Family Kitchen hosts weekly togo hot meals on Tuesdays , 4:30 to 6 p.m., at Sisters Community Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. Visit www.FamilyKitchen .org
Let’s Talk Dementia: A Conversation Wor th Having Join Living Well with Dementia Sisters on Sunday, April 6 , f rom 3 to 4:30 p.m., at Sisters Fire Department Communit y Hall. ere will be an interactive discussion for care partners, those living with dementia, and their f riends. Panelist s will include a representative from Partners in Care, a Certified Dementia Professional, a Licensed erapist, and a person living with dementia. RSVP and more information online at www.LWWDS .com. Questions: call 541-588-0547 or email Debbi@LW WDS.com.
Your Announcement Here Schools , churches , nonprofit, recreational and community groups: this is your page to announce your free gatherings and event s! Regularly occur ring Sisters Countr y meetings are listed on the Sisters Area Meeting Calendar on page 3 and featured meetings can be listed on this page. All submissions are subject to editing and run only as space allows . Email nug get@ nug getnews.com or drop o at 442 E . Main Ave. Your text must include a “ for more information” phone number. Deadline is 5 p.m . on Fridays
SE S Kindergar ten Roundup Sisters Elementar y School (SES) will hold their annual Kindergarten Roundup preregistration on Friday, May 2, in the school g ymnasium, for one hour beginning at either 9 or 11 a.m. Students will participate in a teacher-led activit y while parent s are involved in a parent orientation. Sign up by contacting the elementar y school at 541-549-8981. Children who will be five years old on or before September 1 are eligible for the 2025-26 school year. Enrollment forms may be picked up at the SES o ce bet ween 9 a .m. and 2 p.m. (closed for Spring Break through March 28) Forms need to be completed and returned to the school o ce on May 2 at the time of the scheduled appointment e following documents are required to register : enrollment packet; copy of birth certificate; immunization records; proof of address . Students will not be registered until all forms are in.
Central Oregon Federated Republican Meeting COFRW (Central Oregon Federated Republican Women) meet s the first ursday of every month f rom 10:45 a.m. (registration) to 1 p.m. at Aspen Lakes Golf Club in Sisters. Come learn f rom guest speakers , and hear and question local and state candidates. Meetings include lunch for $27. RSVP required to attend. Learn more about upcoming meetings and speakers, and RSVP at COFRWBend@gmail.com
Sisters Rodeo Parade Sisters Rodeo Parade applications are now open. Be part of a longtime tradition in Sisters . Limited entries and the deadline is May 15 . Visit www.sistersrodeo.com , click on Events/Par ade and proceed to fill out the application. Line-up will go out around first of June.
Monthly Songwriters’ Sharing Circle
Be in a creative community and be inspired while sharing songs , being a great listener, and providing feedback. Second Sunday of the month, 6 -8 p.m., in the Sisters Folk Festival “JA M Studio” upstairs in the Sisters Art Work s building , 20 4 W Adams Ave. Free. Info: 541-9778494, jessaneene@msn.com.
POCAH
Pocah is a f riendly 5-year-old female tabby cat that loves gentle strokes on her sof t coat and will seek attention when you are near. She and her buddy Zazu have been indoor cats that are good with children.
SISTER S- ARE A C HURCH ES
Baha’i Faith
For information, devotions, study groups , etc., contac t Shauna Rocha 541-6 47-9826 • www.bahai.org www.bahai.us • www.bahaiteachings .org
Calvar y Church
484 W. Washington St. , Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288 10 a .m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org
Chapel in the Pines Camp Sherman • 541-815-9153
10 a .m. Sunday Worship
e Church of Jesus Christ of L at ter-Day Saint s 452 Trinit y Way • Branch President, 5 41-977-5559; 10 a .m. Sunday Sac rament Meeting
e Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration 121 N Brook s Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087 www.transfiguration-sisters.org
8:30 a .m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship
10 :15 a .m. Episcopal Sunday Worship
e Resting Place meeting at Sisters Communit y Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy www.restingplace.us • hello@restingplace.us 5 p.m. Sunday Worship
POLICY: Nonprofits, schools , churches ,
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
541-815-9848
11 a .m. S aturday Worship
Shepherd of the Hills Luther an Church (ELCA) 386 N . Fir Street • 541-549-5831 www.shepherdof thehillsluther anchurch.com 10 a .m. Sunday Worship
Sisters Church of the N az arene 67130 Har rington Loop Rd. • 541-389-8960 www.sistersnaz .org • info@sistersnaz .org 10 a .m. Sunday Worship
Sisters Communit y Church (Nondenominational) 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201 www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com
7:30 a .m. Daybreak Ser vice • 9:30 a .m. Sunday Worship
St . Edward the Mar tyr Roman Catholic Churc h 123 Trinit y Way • 541-549-9391
5:3 0 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass • 9 a .m. Sunday Mass 12 p.m. Monday Mass • 8 a .m. Tuesday-Friday Mass Wellhouse Churc h 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com
10 a .m. Sunday Worship
s s s
Simpler times
To the Editor:
As a lifelong resident of Oregon I had a love of this state because of the values and traditions of simplicity we embraced. Neighbors knew each other and supported one another. Times were different.
We moved from the Valley to Sisters for the experience of that simple life I once knew.
Fast forward to our politically charged environment. Folks on each side seem to think they are the smartest person in the room using the letters to the editor to espouse their “expert” opinion.
Broad sweeping generalizations and the vilification of others seems to be the plan of the day. May I suggest that before you lead with your chin, perhaps you should do some research and learn the truth instead of airing your feelings.
I’ve seen some pretty ridiculous comments from people who don’t appreciate how their words make them divisive and offensive.
This is a small town. We all cross paths frequently. Perhaps we can find some common ground with each other rather than attacking one another.
I, for one, miss those simpler times.
Owen Herzberg
s s s
It’s not hate
To the Editor:
In the March 19 edition, the TDS writer asks “what’s up with all the hate for the current President?”
The divisive feelings (not hate) for the New York City grifter began when he announced for his run in 2015. Everyone there knew him as a failed narcissistic bankruptcy pro, from T University, T Vodka, T Airline, T casino, et al. Yet he was elected and America survived the inexperience and chaos that followed.
In 2020 he couldn’t accept being voted out, whined forever about his loss, yet (historically) reclaimed the White House in 2024 by one of the closest (1.5 percent) popular votes in history. Bush v. Gore was closer. And again, this time, despite the anger and revenge he spews each day, America will survive, though the billionaires he surrounds himself with will continue to bask in his tax breaks, while the rest of the middle class will suffer and our allies here in North America and around the world look down on us with distrust.
www. nuggetnews.com
The previous administration had its own downsides and embarrassments as well, yet got us through the pandemic, grew a strong economy, and left our country with the moral clarity and respect of our neighbors and allies, all.
Note that I’ve not used our current president’s name once because it’s not necessary. I don’t spend energy fretting over his negative, divisive rants. Life’s too precious, and fleeting.
Speaking only for myself, the emotion perhaps half of America is feeling isn’t “hate” but a profound sense of concern for the future of our democracy and those that come after us.
Brad Earl
s s s
Reclaiming our health
To the Editor:
As a Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner living locally, I am deeply inspired by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), whose resistance against oligarchy speaks to more than just politics — it’s about reclaiming our health and future. Their fight for justice isn’t just political — it’s personal, affecting each of us in our daily lives, particularly women.
Oligarchy, where power and wealth are concentrated in the hands of a few, is more than a political issue. It impacts our physical and mental well-being. Women, especially, bear the brunt of this inequality. From hormonal imbalances to autoimmune diseases and mental health struggles, our healthcare system—driven by corporate interests—often overlooks us. Chronic stress, exacerbated by these inequities, manifests in inflammation, fatigue, and disease.
This is where functional medicine offers a vital solution. By addressing the root causes of disease rather than just masking symptoms, functional medicine empowers us to take control of our health. Through a holistic approach that focuses on diet, stress management, and lifestyle changes, it offers women the tools to combat the chronic effects of living in an unequal system. It’s a form of personal resistance—a way to prioritize our health and wellness.
Just as Bernie and AOC fight against systems that hurt us, functional medicine provides us with a pathway to resist by taking control of our bodies. Through mindfulness, nutrition, and addressing stress and imbalance at the root, we don’t just heal — we resist. When we heal ourselves, we contribute to a larger movement for justice and equity. Together, we can reclaim our health and
SISTERS-AREA EVENTS & Enter tainment
WEDNESDAY • MARCH 26
Sisters Movie House & Café Spring ADVART: "Climbing Film Tour 2025" Part of the Adventure & Art series; a selection of short films celebrating the global climbing community. 6:45 p.m. Tickets $17 at www.sistersmoviehouse.com. Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $50 buy-in, freezeout.
THURSDAY • MARCH 27
Suttle Lodge Fireside Concert Series: Austin Quattlebaum 6 to 8 p.m. Doors at 5:30 Inside The Skip Bar & Restaurant. Tickets, $15, at www.bendticket.com.
FRIDAY • MARCH 28
Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Galleries and shops feature art and demonstrations. For additional information go to www.sistersarts.org.
Makin’ It Local "Go Wild Sisters" celebration of everything wildflowers 4 to 7 p.m., handing out packets of seed mix
Refreshments served (including sparkling wine, light hors d'oeuvres, IPA, the “famous” gingersnap cookies) Group showcase featuring local honey and pollinator-related artwork by KF Stoneware, Kathy Deggendorfer Lindsay Gilmore, Rachel Dantona, James Parsons, Green Bird Press, Cheryl Chapman, Charlotte Wallace, and Sheila Dunn. 281 W. Cascade Ave. More info: www.makinitlocal.com.
Spoons Restaurant Comedy: The Roundabouts Improv Join Bend’s short-form improv group for an evening of laughs. Everything is made up based on audience suggestions. 7:30 p.m. $15 online/$20 at the door Reservations: bit.ly/roundabout3-28
Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
SUNDAY • MARCH 30
Flying Horse Gallery Still Life Drawing Workshop
2 to 4 p.m., hosted by Sloane Earl. Newbies and pros welcome Tickets and more info at www.flyinghorsegallery.com/events.
Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Come to play Scrabble, socialize, and drink coffee. Open to all. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
WEDNESDAY • APRIL 2
Sisters Movie House & Café Spring ADVART: "Janis Ian: Breaking Silence" Part of the Adventure & Art series. Over six decades Janis Ian gained 10 Grammy nominations in eight categories — despite intense controversy and life-threatening illness. 6:45 p.m. Tickets $17 at www.sistersmoviehouse.com.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
THURSDAY • APRIL 3
Suttle Lodge Fireside Concert Series: Shelby Natasha 6 to 8 p.m. Doors at 5:30 Inside The Skip Bar & Restaurant. Tickets, $15, at www.bendticket.com.
FRIDAY • APRIL 4
The Belfr y Live Music: Bon Bon Vivant bring up-tempo, indie-flavored New Orleans music Jet Black Pearl opens. 7 p.m. $20. Tickets and info: www.belfryevents.com.
Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
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SATURDAY • APRIL 5
The Belfr y Sing Your Hearts Out, Sisters! with the Low Bar Chorale presented by AFSC. Doors at 6 p.m., singing at 7 No-host bar Free, but tickets recommended: eventbrite.com.
Studio 6000 Printmaking Class: Linocut with Paul Bennett 10 a.m. to 2 p.m April 5 and 6, $80 For information and to register, email pbennett3@gmail.com. Classes held at 211 E. Sun Ranch Dr #103
SUNDAY • APRIL 6
Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Come to play Scrabble, socialize, and drink coffee. Open to all. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
MONDAY • APRIL 7
Paulina Springs Books Poetr y Gathering "The Pause Button," an informal monthly gathering for poets and poetry enthusiasts. Bring a poem or two to share. Listen, discuss, and write. Free 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. More info at www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.
TUESDAY • APRIL 8
The Belfr y Live Music: Deb Talan — writing songs since 14, she believes music heals and songs can be prayers. 7 p.m. Tickets and info: www.belfryevents.com.
Sisters Saloon Bingo Night in Sisters 6 to 8 p.m. BINGO upstairs on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Jokers Wild lays cards on the table
By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Poker players looking for a game of Texas Hold ’Em or Omaha can find like-minded folks gathered around the tables at Jokers Wild Social Club in Tumalo.
The club, located next to Tumalo Tavern and Pisano’s Pizza in Tumalo Junction just off Highway 20, opened November 8, 2024, and has built a steady group of players from across Central Oregon for nightly games and Friday night tournaments.
Owner Brett Hildebrand enjoys the community he has built around love of the game.
“It brings people from all walks of life,” he said. “It brings your waiter all the way to executives, and they’re all sitting at the table having conversations.”
The club is donationbased and offers free snacks, sodas, and water for players.
“The donation chips come out, and that keeps our lights on and keeps our snacks free,” Hildebrand said.
Jokers Wild is open Wednesday-Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight. Hildebrand has built a text list for players to let them know what’s in the cards for that day’s play. The club has multiple tables, including three tournament tables. Auto-shufflers keep up the pace of play, and trained dealers allow players to focus on their play, as well as ensuring the integrity of the game.
A recent tournament drew 21 players — a perfect number for the location.
All levels of player are welcome. Hildebrand says that a good player has some math skills and the ability to apply odds under pressure.
“The best way to learn is to play,” he said.
Hildebrand was drawn to poker in his youth in Klamath Falls.
“I played as a kid with my family a little bit,” he said.
A friend introduced him to online poker, which he enjoyed; then he played his first in-person tournament and won. He was hooked.
“I started running tournaments when I was about 21 years old,” he recalled.
Life intervened and put poker on the back burner for a while, before Hildebrand decided to launch Jokers Wild.
Hildebrand’s focus at
Jokers Wild is presenting a good experience for the players.
“I try not to play here that much,” he said. “It’s not great to play where you work, in that sense.”
The games are Texas Hold ’Em and a variant called Omaha.
Texas Hold ’em is the most popular version of poker, and the one played at almost all tournaments. The goal in a Texas Hold ’Em game is to use two hole cards in combination with five community cards to make the best five-card poker hand. In the Omaha, each player is dealt four cards and must use two of them plus three of five community cards to build their best five-card hand.
Jokers Wild is located at 64670 Strickler Ave., Suite 102. For information, call or text 458-327-0262.
helmets to third graders
This spring more than 2,000 third graders throughout Central Oregon will learn about brain injury prevention and helmet safety through the Train Your Brain program taught by local athletic trainers, now part of St. Charles Health System. This program, formerly led by The Center Foundation, provides interactive assemblies and free multi-sport helmets to local elementary students.
“St. Charles is proud to continue this injury prevention program and to continue providing athletic trainers at eight local high schools, helping to ensure the safety
and education of students in Central Oregon,” said Christy McLeod, Senior Vice President of Specialty Service Lines for St. Charles. The 2025 program begins in April, to prepare students for a safe and active summer. The presentations include interactive demonstrations on injury prevention, helmet safety, proper fitting and care. A highlight of the assembly is the melon drop, which emphasizes the importance of wearing a helmet. Following the presentation, St. Charles caregivers and volunteers will properly fit free helmets for every student who needs one.
Kiwanis Club seeks jewelry donations
Kiwanis Club of Sisters will once again be holding the annual Antiques, Jewelry & Collectibles Sale on Saturday, May 24, Memorial Day weekend at the Sisters Fire Hall. The hours will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We have held this charity sale for many years only due to the generosity of the Sisters community donating antique and collectible items for the event,” said Jeff Taylor of Sisters Kiwanis. “If
you can help by donating, please contact us at 541-8159299. We especially need smaller items this year. Item pickup is available. Thank you Sisters!”
Brett Hildebrand is the proprietor of Jokers Wild Social Club in Tumalo, where local poker players gather to play.
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
Specialist in Glenwood Springs, managing complex, high-priority recreation infrastructure and restoration projects. In February, she recalled in a letter to her Colorado Senator, Michael Bennet, “I received a call from my supervisor … informing me that I was being fired, effective immediately, and that call was accompanied by a termination letter stating that, ‘The agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.’”
The notice was part of an initiative undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reducing the USFS workforce by 3,400 employees, approximately 10 percent of the workforce. A court order recently reinstated Werner and other probationary employees of the Forest Service who were terminated in the same manner, but as of Thursday, March 20, she remained on paid administrative leave and had not returned to work.
“It’s been changing by the day,” she told The Nugget, regarding her status and that of her fellow USFS employees.
Werner took exception to the characterization of the firings as being based on performance.
“If I can be honest, it’s just not true,” she told The Nugget. “And it’s not just not
true for me. Across the board, that is not a fair assessment of the Forest Service probationary work force.”
In her letter to Senator Bennet, Werner noted that, “Past performance appraisals indicate that my performance ‘meets fully successful,’ with a note under the ‘Mission-Results-Oriented’ category stating that my performance ‘demonstrates a commitment and personal responsibility to strive for excellence in the accomplishment of work assignments that are aligned with and ultimately contribute to the achievement of the Agency’s mission and goals.’ I was also recently honored with a USFS Region 2 Regional Forester’s Award for my role in helping the Forest Service excel as a high performing agency.”
Werner’s letter garnered the attention of Senator Bennet, who invited her to Washington, DC, as his guest to attend President Donald Trump’s speech before a Joint Session of Congress on March 4. Werner was seated next to Isabella Isaacson, a terminated USFS employee from the Deschutes National Forest.
She described the session as a “surreal experience.”
There was more to the trip than sitting in on President Trump’s speech. Werner was featured in three minutes of remarks at the Democratic Caucus’ pre-session press conference (her remarks may be viewed with the online version of this story at www. nuggetnews.com).
“It was a big moment for me,” she said.
She also met with other
representatives to offer her perspective on the value of her colleagues’ work.
“I did truly feel that every congressional representative that I met on the trip did listen,” she said.
Werner believes that public lands stewardship should not be caught in a political crossfire.
“People enjoy our national forests in so many ways that transcend political boundaries,” she said.
People hike, hunt, fish, ride bicycles and ATVs and simply drive to view the spectacular vistas the land offers, she noted.
“The people who participate in those (activities) come from all political backgrounds,” she said.
While she still has a job, in the wake of the court order, the future is unclear for Werner and her colleagues.
“It’s unclear as of now what any plans are in the Forest Service in terms of a reduction in force,” she said.
But she knows that she wants to continue work she believes has real value — work that she loves and has strived all her life to do. She wants to continue working for the U.S. Forest Service.
“Yes I do,” she said. “For as long as they’ll have me.”
Deputies arrest Sisters man for vandalism
A 26-year-old Sisters man was taken into custody after a vandalism spree at the west end of town in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, March 22, deputies responded to an alarm at Mainline Station in Sisters at 2:50 a.m. A citizen spotted a suspicious figure in dark clothing fleeing the scene.
“What followed was a short-lived crime spree involving broken windows
POSTER: Festival announced initial lineup
Continued from page 3
genres of roots music with performances on seven stages throughout downtown Sisters.
Three-day festival passes are available at the advance pricing of $235/ticket for adults and $90/ticket for youth ages 17 and under.
and scattered merchandise,” the sheriff’s office reported. Damage was found at the Chevron Mainline Station convenience store, McDonald’s, Ray’s Food Place, and Level 5 Fitness.
Deputies located and arrested 26-year-old Christien Richardson of Sisters. He faces charges including Burglary II and Criminal Mischief. Businesses were temporarily closed for repairs, but were back in operation on Saturday.
Children under five attend for free. Single-day tickets will be available in July alongside the full performance schedule. All ticket prices include fees for maximum transparency. Tickets are expected to sell out in advance. and attendees are encouraged to purchase early. They can be purchased online at https:// aftontickets.com/SFF2025. Follow @Sisters FolkFestival on Instagram and Facebook.
The Democracy Game Life is a GAME
Robert Kruger Columnist
Just over a month ago, I posted the following on Facebook in reference to American Democracy, and Editor Jim Cornelius asked if I’d elaborate in an article.
Politics is always a Procrustean bed: it will stretch and distort the individual or cut off parts, to make a fit.
Politics is always somewhat wrong.
I don’t want my political side to win. I want my political side to check the worst excesses of the other side.
Each side has perceived with alarm that the other side is winning and must do something. That’s fine. But God help us if we break the game to ensure our side wins to prevent the other side from winning.
That way leads to universal suffering. It takes courage to stand up to your side when it is breaking the game. It takes courage just to admit to yourself that your side is breaking the game.
We need to be meta-political and form the coalition, across party lines, of NOT BREAKING THE GAME.
In the United States, we have a republic with representative democracy, thus “Democrat” and “Republican” emphasize the same role from different perspectives. The democracy game as laid out by our founders sought to extend participation in governance. We have no king and elect a head of state and representative legislators. We recognize the individual, not the group, as the most basic unit of justice, equal before the
law. We recognize a set of universal rights, which are protected by an independent judiciary. Even if a senator or president elected by majority vote proposed, say, to deny rival party members the right to vote, they couldn’t, so neither the mob nor autocrats get to make the rules.
Democracy is an ongoing negotiation between competing interests: the game ends in universal loss if any one side wins.
If you have to say, “We’ve invested our leader or leaders with the power to do some horrible unaccountable thing but they won’t because they’re good people fighting for what’s right,” then you have stepped outside the game, and if this becomes accepted play, it’s no longer democracy. If you allow your opponents to step outside the game, whether because you hope eventually to use the same tactics or because you cynically believe they will suffer politically, you have collaborated in breaking the game. You can break the game through action; you can break it through inaction.
But why play this game and not empower a benevolent monarch, enlightened oligarchs, or an AI planner?
I joined a book club at Paulina Springs recently. While discussing Yuval Noah Harari’s “Nexus,” which concerns the history of information networks culminating in the rise of AI, we asked whether AI might displace democracy. After all, it might come to know more about us and how our decisions impact society than any messy
human negotiation could. Leroy Riche noted that AI could figure out whether you had a health condition and punish you for buying the wrong food or drink, say by snitching on you to medical insurers or denying you a passport.
“AI is in its infancy,” he noted, “but when it grows up, we may not have a choice.”
Tony Carboni said, “Democracy addresses something AI doesn’t. We don’t care about calculation as much as how much the system resonates with us.” In other words, AI can’t negotiate our values.
Democracy can be viewed as a calculation engine for balancing everyone’s values and demands. The vast, messy store of information and ideas kept alive by this system contains the seeds of new art, technology, and scientific discovery. When we’re all obliged to look at things the same way, say in an authoritarian human system or an over-optimized mechanical one, we lose that vital trove. In promoting freedom, democracy makes us both richer and more resilient.
Of course, I have my own, strongly held ideas about how to play the democracy game and what amounts to breaking it. For instance, I believe that wealth inequality threatens democracy, especially given weak checks on money in politics. However, others see things differently, and we can all play this game if we share a common understanding that if our side decisively wins, we all lose.
To strengthen democracy,
I propose we get offline and reach out to our neighbors who have different views. There’s a communication game I’ve played that I’d recommend, developed by author and game designer Jonathan Tweet, along with his friend Brandon Hendrickson. (Jonathan has made a guest appearance at Paulina Springs before, and I’m sure could be persuaded to come back). The goal of the game is not to persuade but to demonstrate understanding.
You and the other player choose a divisive topic you disagree about, and then discuss it by turns. Each person gets three minutes to expound on the topic without interruption while the other listens. The listener then gets a minute to summarize the speaker’s views. The speaker either approves the summary or reminds the listener of significant points they’ve left out, in which case the listener gets another minute to repeat the summary with corrections; if that summary still isn’t correct, then the listener gets
a third and final try. Three strikes you’re out, and you both lose. If the first speaker has been understood, then you flip roles. The game ends in a mutual win after each player has gotten a turn at both speaker and listener roles and been understood. It helps if there is a referee to time the exchange and notify the speakers when they have half a minute left to talk and then when time is up.
Again, the goal is not agreement or persuasion; it is mutual understanding. At no point in the game do you argue. At all. When I mentioned the game to the book club, they held out little hope that it would be productive.
Give it a try all the same, and let me know how it goes.
A death in the family
By Susan Prince, Wolf Welcome Committee Guest Columnist
The adult male wolf of the Metolius pack has been illegally killed, leaving behind a small family: his mate (likely) pregnant and three of their juvenile pups. Killing one wolf in an adult pair can often lead to the death of the entire pack as it takes at least two adult wolves to successfully raise and feed juveniles and pups. So, it is not known if this female wolf and her offspring will survive.
Already, public reactions to this event range from grief to glee. I acknowledge that, for some people, much of what I write here will fall on deaf ears, because they still believe that all wolves deserve to die. This cruel perspective appears impossible to alter, both with proven science and lived experiences. A culture of hatred towards wolves is deeply embedded in some people’s world views.
How did this happen? In the mid-1900s a policy of manifest destiny was established as a justification to colonize our country, killing everything that was in the way. Including some of our own species, Native Americans, who were conveniently considered less than human. As we relentlessly pushed our way across the landscape into the wild west, clearing land for homesteads and livestock grazing, any nonhumans that were in the way of progress were also taken out: notably beavers, bison, and wolves - keystone species that healthy ecosystems depended upon. This exploitative pattern of destruction has continued unabated to the present day as we focus on becoming more efficient at producing things to feed the machine of economic progress.
When we thoughtfully consider the state of today’s world, we can see that it is not better. Nor are humans smarter, kinder, or more compassionate. In fact, it is sadly the reverse. As we have become more disconnected from the natural
world and our place in it, we have also lost some of the best parts of our humanity. The Latin root of which is “humanitas: human nature, kindness.” We need to become more generous people. What if we were to view all life as having intrinsic value? That’s to say that every living thing has value in its own right.
What if that was enough? What if that were the goal: to protect life instead of destroying it? The Rights of Nature movement is growing globally, with many countries recognizing nature’s rights through local laws, court cases, and constitutional reforms. The aim of the movement is to alter the way humans interact with and impact the non-human world and to change the way that citizens can defend and restore nature. Here in the USA, we have certain laws in place like the Endangered Species Act (currently under threat), which is the legal codification of the notion that all species ought to have intrinsic value.
If it were our father, daughter, family, or dog who was at risk of being destroyed we would be horrified. Why do we think that is different from the perils
facing our wolves, bees, forests, rivers, and oceans? There was a time when each of these things had equal value. A time when all of life was seen as inextricably linked. The natural world still operates by the basic rule of interconnectedness. What we do to one part of the system affects the whole. And what if we were also to follow the lead of another natural process — reciprocity? Where giving and taking also occur in equal measure. Many modern humans have forgotten that we are still accountable to this fundamental natural principle. How we treat animals is a reflection on our connection with all life. We would do well to re-evaluate this relationship for it is an ancient bond. When this bond is sustained and honored, we all thrive — cooperatively, compassionately and inseparably — with the whole. In closing, let me leave with a blessing of great gratitude for the male gray wolf who traveled to Green Ridge, found a mate, had pups, and lived alongside us long enough to remind us that we are of one family and to remember that all living things have value and the right to exist.
Continued from page 4
with biphasic sleep schedules. Biphasic sleep is characterized by two distinct sleep periods separated by a period of wakefulness. Historically, this often involved a few hours of sleep after dusk, followed by a period of wakefulness for activities like reading, socializing, or prayer, before a second, longer sleep period until dawn.
Proponents argue that it can align more closely with our natural sleep patterns and potentially improve alertness and productivity. However, it’s important to note that adapting to a biphasic sleep schedule can be challenging and may not be suitable for everyone.
Optimizing your circadian rhythm and sleep:
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up around the same time each day, even on weekends.
• Expose yourself to natural light: Spend time outdoors during the day, especially in the morning. It is highly recommended to be outside
looking up into the sky (but not directly at the sun) during the sunrise.
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine: Engage in calming activities like reading, taking a warm bath, or listening to soothing music.
• Optimize your sleep environment: Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.
• Limit screen time before bed: The blue light emitted from electronic devices can interfere with melatonin production.
• Consider a sleep study: If you’re struggling with persistent sleep problems, consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
The Bottom Line: Understanding and respecting your circadian rhythm is crucial for achieving optimal sleep and overall health. While biphasic sleep may offer an alternative for some, it’s essential to prioritize consistency and create a sleep schedule that works best for your individual needs and lifestyle.
resist systems that undermine us. It’s time to fight for a healthier, more equitable world.
Colette Whelan DNP, FNP-c, AFMCP
s s s
Tariffs
To the Editor:
There has been much misinformation lately regarding tariffs. Trump consistently says that foreign countries will pay billions of dollars in tariff fees. This is not true! Tariff fees are paid to the U.S. government by the American individual or company that imports a product from another country. Tariffs will result in additional costs for American consumers like you and me. As an example, let us say ABC Hardware imports a tool that costs it $100.
Without a tariff, ABC would sell the product for $100 plus an assumed 10 percent profit of $10 for a price to consumers of $110.
After a 25 percent tariff is invoked, the cost to ABC would be $100 plus a 25 percent tariff fee of $25 paid to the federal government. The price to consumers would then be $100 plus the $25 tariff fee plus a 10 percent profit of $12.50 (10 percent of $125) for a total price of $137.50. This would result in an increased cost of $27.50 to consumers with absolutely nothing paid by a foreign government. Trump says that tariff fees will help pay for his planned tax cut. This may be the case but it will not be foreign countries helping to pay for it, it will be American consumers like you and me. Trump should tell the truth.
As an aside, this past week Musk reposted a lie that [implied] managers rather than Hitler were responsible for the execution of millions during World War two. The “seig
heil” salute to Trump was bad enough – so why is this guy still allowed to screw around with our government?
Dwight Hardin
s s s
Take action
To the Editor:
If you were one of the 2,000 persons at Senator Ron Wyden’s town hall last week, then you heard, and may have felt frustration, at the lack of specific action ideas! We all want to “do something!” While Wyden used “We” often, the words we wanted were, “You can do this.” So here are specific actions Senator Merkley and other prominent leaders are urging that can make a difference.
1. Get off the couch. 2. Call or e-mail all your congressional representatives to offer support for their efforts and ideas to try. 3. Above all, go to protests and marches! This is the most impactful means of promoting change, historically, and shows the world and our neighbors that we can act!
People need the visual assurance of others who care about the same things, and the mass images actually affect the targets. It feels good to stand for something you believe or want, and it is action.
The activits organization Indivisible Sisters is sponsoring a nationwide protest in every possible town and city on Saturday, April 5th, so we are offering protests in Sisters, Redmond, and Bend at staggered times all day, because many folks cannot go to the bigger events in larger cities, Portland, Salem, Eugene, or DC. Come with or without a sign to Cascade and Larch, by the horse statue, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Saturday, and join us. We stand, wave, smile, and make a statement by being there. Families are welcome; lawn chairs, too. It isn’t scary, but quite fun!
Wendie Vermillion
Jill Neal has landed the cover for Pink Magazine, this time for
BBR & CAMP SHERMAN:
• Black Butte Ranch General Store
• Black Butte Ranch Post Off ice
• Black Butte Ranch Welcome Center
• Camp Sherman Post Off ice • Metolius River Lodges
REDMOND & TERREBONNE:
• Bi-Mart • Oliver Lemon’s Terrebonne • M&W Market
The Ranch Market • Sisters Meat and Smokehouse
TUMALO:
• Pisano’s Pizza • Shell Station • T umalo Coffeehouse
T umalo Farmstand • T umalo Feed Co.
SISTERS LOCATIONS:
• Angeline’s Baker y • Bedouin
•Best Western Ponderosa Lodge • Bi-Mart
• Black Butte Realty Group
• Cabin Creek Home & Style • Cascade Fitness
• Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s • Central Oregon Eyecare
•Chevron/McDonald’s • Countr y Coffee
• Dair y Queen • Dixie’s • Eurosports
• Fika Sisters Coffeehouse • First Interstate Bank
• FivePine Lodge • GrandStay Hotel & Suites
• Habitat Thrif t Store • Hardtails Bar & Grill
• High Camp Taphouse • High Desert Chocolates
• Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply
• Lef t Coast Lodge • Les Schwab Tire Center
• Luckey’s Woodsman • Makin’ it Local
• Martolli’s of Sisters • Mid Oregon Credit Union
• Oliver Lemon’s • Paulina Springs Books
• Philadelphia’s Steak & Hoagies
• Ponderosa Properties • Rancho Viejo
• Ray’s Food Place • Sinclair Gas Station
• Sisters Ace Hardware • Sisters Apothecar y
• Sisters Art Works • Sisters Athletic Club
• Sisters Baker y • Sisters Bunkhouse • Sisters City Hall
• Sisters Coffee Co.• Sisters Community Church
• Sisters Creekside Campg round
• Sisters Dino Market •Sisters Depot
• Sisters Elementar y School •Sisters Feed & Supply
• Sisters Galler y & Frame Shop • Sisters High School
• Sisters Inn & Suites • Sisters Librar y
• Sisters Liquor Store • Sisters Meat and Smokehouse
• Sisters Middle School • Sisters Moto
• Sisters Movie House & Café • Sisters Nails & Spa
• Sisters Post Off ice •Sisters Pumphouse & Countr y Store
• Sisters Ranger Station • Sisters Rental
• Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill
• Sisters School Administration Building
• Sisters Senior Living • Sisters Veterinar y Clinic
• Ski Inn Taphouse & Motel • Sno Cap Drive In
• Space Age F uel • Spoons Restaurant
• Sisters Park & Recreation District
• St. Charles Family Care • Stellar Realty Northwest
• Suttle Tea • Takoda’s Restaurant & Lounge
• The Barn in Sisters • The Galler y Restaurant
• The Gallimaufr y • The Nugget Front Porch
• The Pony Express • Three Creeks Brew Pub
• Three Sisters Floral
• Western Title & Escrow Company • Your Store
Continued from page 1
dispersed.
“The killing of the pack’s breeding male may consign the pups to death by starvation or could lead the pack to dissolve,” Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said when announcing the group’s reward.
“Wolves are a highly cooperative species,” Bott said. “Especially when raising their young and hunting.”
“The illegal killing of this breeding male wolf is devastating to the overall recovery of the species in Oregon and to his family, the Metolius pack, who would be counting on him to help feed pups this spring. This senseless killing is inexcusable and has no place in civil society,” Adam Bronstein told The Nugget in a statement.
Bronstein is the Oregon director for the Western Watersheds Project.
“Wolf Welcome Committee is devastated by the killing of the Metolius wolf pack’s breeding male. In the spring of 2021, we formed our group anticipating dispersing wolves’ choice to settle here. A few months later, a pairs presence was confirmed by ODFW. In 2024, we celebrated the arrival of their first pups. Now as the likely pregnant female will be settling into her den, this little family has been left without their only adult male to provide food and mentorship. Green Ridge is about as wild as it gets here in Deschutes County. Can we not allow the space for one wolf family to thrive?” the Committee told us.
Matt Cyrus, a farmer and rancher in Cloverdale, said: “The indiscriminate killing of an animal is never acceptable.” He talked with us at length on the impact of wolves on livestock losses.
“Can we even be sure if the wolf was killed by a bullet – nobody knows the means – that the wolf wasn’t mistaken for a coyote? From 300 yards it would be hard to distinguish.”
Cyrus believes ODFW is purposely undercounting the number of wolves in Sisters Country. He claims to have seen photographs from a fellow rancher showing as many as nine wolves and says wolves are routinely spotted on Cloverdale Road and Hurtley Ranch Road.
When asked why such evidence hasn’t been made public, Cyrus answered that the rancher doesn’t want the publicity and attention it would draw to his property and way of life.
Cyrus presented research studies concluding that the wolves reintroduced into Oregon are not Canis lupus nubilus (Great Plains wolf) and Canis lupus irremotus (Northern Rocky Mountain wolf). The wolves currently
residing in Oregon primarily descend from Canis lupus occidentalis (Mackenzie Valley wolf), reintroduced from Canada, which Cyrus maintains are larger and more lethal.
In a hypothetical The Nugget posed to Cyrus, where any rancher would get immediate, full, state paid compensation just on the word of the rancher that his loss was from a wolf, Cyrus said ranchers would still be opposed to wolves in Oregon.
“Just the presence of wolves causes livestock stress resulting in lower body weight and making them more susceptible to disease,” Cyrus said.
Cyrus talked about how a cattle dog costing several thousand dollars can do the work of two cowboys and the cattle accepted the dog’s attendance, but with wolves present cattle learn to evade them, making them ineffective and further driving up costs.
Nugget Poetry Corner
ByBobWood
Ear lier today I got an email from God
It’s one of those emails that says Do not Reply – Mailbox not monitor ed
Like so many social media missives
It star ts out with mundane stuff – the weather
But not – What’s the weather?
Rather – Do you like the weather now?
I can c hange it, you know I nor mally don’t interfer e
I’m r eally quite hands-off especially with you meddlesome humans but I can change it
Last Sunday I w as r elaxing, listening to all the pr aying
—So many on the same topic
I near ly decided to ste p in
But then I r emember ed My resolution to allow human af fair s to play out naturally sor t of a macr o
You get what you asked for Humans ar e My most exasper ating experiment. Even wolverines ar e not as muc h a pain in the r ear
Yesterday I was comfor ting a tiny bi rd who was the last of her species when more bombs went of f and mor e buildings cr umbled and mor e c hildr en died
It’s as if they can’t see that no one gains anything fr om killing and maiming innocent s or by disr upting their lives
It just cr eates mor e r eser voir s of hatr ed
I must say that it sabotages My se renity to have that kind of activity being done under the unauthorized guise of invoking My name
Enough of that. It’s not why I emailed you. I know you pr etty well after all, you ar e made of stardust that has been ar ound fo rever
I just w anted to aler t you that next Tuesday and Wednesday will have magnificent sunrises — mor e so than usual Set your alar m
It’s some of My best wor k
God
Followed by this postscript
T his email comes to you because you ar e on a mailing list. You can update your pr efer ences or unsubscribe her e.
Juvenile grey wolf play fights with parent.
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN FRITSCHI
Seeking cooperation on wolves
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Ander Rhoads, age 14, is an incoming freshman at Sisters High School next September. His mother, Sevilla, describes him as “focused on building community and helping each other, no matter what the issue.”
Rhoads has made a particular study of wolves and the Metolius pack. He was disturbed by news of the killing of a male wolf of the Metolius pack, but still appeals to all sides impacted by wolf predation.
He told The Nugget , “I have been studying the Metolius pack since last October. I have been trying to learn about them so I can help our community, including livestock owners, better understand the behaviors and movements of the few Central Oregon wolves in our area.
“There are likely less than eight wolves living in and around Deschutes County’s wild areas and there is relatively little known about them. They are hard to study because they generally avoid humans and can travel great distances even on a daily basis.
“When I read the press release about the death of the Metolius Pack breeding
male, I had a lot of reactions. As a youth growing up in a rural area, I know people have really different views about wolves returning to Central Oregon. Particularly now, when I hear about and experience what some call the ‘divide’ in our community, I don’t want the death of this wolf to make things worse between people.
“I hope that no matter what your opinion about wolves might be, we can come together against poaching. My friends who hunt say poaching harms our communities by negatively impacting the reputation of responsible, law-abiding hunters and others.
“I have learned that the death of a pack’s breeding male can sometimes — not always — cause issues for local livestock owners. So, let’s also come together to make sure our ranchers and farmers have access to any resources they might need to adapt their stewardship practices over the next few months.
“Please spread the word that there are many resources for livestock owners wanting help with the legal way to manage wolves in our area, which is non-lethal deterrents. If you call ODFW or U.S. Fish & Wildlife or OSU, they can get you to volunteers and other resources
who want to help. Also, there are ranchers wanting to help other ranchers and are volunteering their time also.
“One of the best things about being a youth in a rural community is how we do come together when faced with challenges. The death of a wolf can be the start of new friendships and partnerships to support our livestock owners.”
On Saturday Rhoads headed to the woods to study whether any of the pack remains and if so, how they are behaving. He will be out as much as possible trying to find tracks and check his trail cameras as he pursues improving his knowledge about the wolves and man’s relationship with them.
to $1,000) and $4,000 in the middle school budget (which is enough for eight or more SMS students that can apply for up to $500).
Sisters High School senior George Roberts took part in a Spanish immersion program last year and said, “I have not just become more comfortable speaking, listening, and hearing Spanish, but thankful for the opportunities it can bring for me in the future.”
Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (GRO), the nonprofit that manages the Sisters High School scholarship program, also helps facilitate them. Interested students can apply at https://www. sistersgro.org/roundhouse. “Roundhouse and Sisters GRO are committed to contributing funding for enriching the educational experiences of Sisters area students,” said Sisters GRO Executive Director Regan Roberts. “If students and their families have opportunities in mind for summer experiences we really hope they will apply in the upcoming month or two.”
Paula Leonard and Hank Klein, C4C Director Kellen Klein’s dad, recently traveled to East Africa and shared The Nugget with Kwenya, a Maasai elder, in southern Kenya.
New Orleans sound to ring in The Belfry
Music lovers in Central Oregon are in for a treat as two eclectic and energetic acts take the stage at The Belfry on Friday, April 4.
Bon Bon Vivant, a genreblending band hailing from New Orleans, will headline the evening, with the singular and spirited Jet Black Pearl opening the show. Tickets for the event are available at bendticket.com.
Bon Bon Vivant, known for their fusion of singersongwriter, pop, Americana, dark ballads, and indie dance music, has been captivating audiences since 2013. The group, formed in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, is led by the dynamic duo of songwriter and vocalist Abigail Cosio and saxophonist Jeremy Kelley. Together, they weave an intoxicating mix of storytelling and sound that channels the soulful energy of their hometown while incorporating an indie twist.
The band’s music is a celebration of life in all its forms—joyous, fierce, honest, and, at times, heartbreaking. Their signature brassinfused instrumentation and ever-changing lineup of talented musicians create a unique and immersive live experience. Bon Bon Vivant has built a strong reputation in the New Orleans music scene, earning the title of Best Emerging Artist of 2018 from OffBeat Magazine. They have graced the stages of the French Quarter Festival, Jazz Fest, and Bayou Boogaloo, in addition to an extensive national
touring schedule.
During the pandemic, Bon Bon Vivant found new ways to connect with their audience, hosting weekly livestream performances and launching a Patreon community. This virtual outreach laid the groundwork for extensive touring, allowing the band to foster a devoted fan base along the West Coast and Pacific Northwest. Their performances have become a must-see event for those who appreciate a mix of reverence, revelry, and raw musical talent.
Kicking off the night at The Belfry is Jet Black Pearl, a musician whose career began in the back of a Prague thrift store 25 years ago with an impulse accordion purchase. Originally from the Netherlands, she honed her craft across Europe, winning multiple French songwriting awards before relocating to Portland, Oregon.
Jet Black Pearl’s performances are a whirlwind of playful eccentricity, blending French and English lyrics with a distinct Dutch accent. Her shows feature an inventive mix of flute, vocal percussion, plastic bottles, rubber pigs, and her signature red accordion. Creating loops and grooves on the spot, she delivers a madcap European tea party with a funky twist—guaranteed to get feet tapping and bodies moving.
The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave. in Sisters. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at BendTicket. com.
Jet Black Pearl will kick off a night of music at The Belfry on Friday, April 4.
PHOTO PROVIDED
ALL advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.
CLASSIFIED RATES
COST:
$3.50 per line for first insertion, $2.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1.50 per line 10th week and beyond (identical ad/consecutive weeks). Also included in The Nugget online classifieds at no additional charge. There is a minimum $5 charge for any classified. First line = approx. 20-25 characters, each additional line = approx. 25-30 characters. Letters, spaces, numbers and punctuation = 1 character. Any ad copy changes will be charged at the first-time insertion rate of $3.50 per line. Standard abbreviations allowed with the approval of The Nugget classified department. NOTE: Legal notices placed in the Public Notice section are charged at the display advertising rate.
DEADLINE: MONDAY, noon preceding WED. publication. PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due upon placement. VISA & MasterCard accepted. Billing available for continuously run classified ads, after prepayment of first four (4) weeks and upon approval of account application.
CATEGORIES:
102 Commercial Rentals
MINI STORAGE
Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631
Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor
RV parking. 7-day access. Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies. RETAIL/OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE
220 S PINE ST, SISTERS
1st Floor Retail - 582 SQFT
Office Suite 209 - 500 SQFT
Office Suite 210 - 502 SQFT For information call: Lorna Nolte 541-419-8380
Lorna@NolteProperties.com
Executive Office Space
Very nice executive office space for rent in Sisters light industrial park. 224 sq. ft. private office.
Shared restrooms with shower. Shared conference/kitchen room. Easy parking. All utilities included. Starting at $750 per month. Call 541-549-9631
AVAILABLE NOW
Prime retail space in The Gallery Annex Bld. next to The Hen's Tooth. Approx. 2,000 sq. ft.
Contact Jim at 1-208-318-4323
STORAGE WITH BENEFITS
8 x 20 dry box
Fenced yard, RV & trailers
In-town, gated, 24-7 EWDevcoLLC@gmail.com
103 Residential Rentals
CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS
Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792
Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com
PONDEROSA PROPERTIES
Monthly Rentals Available–Call Debbie at 541-549-2002
Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: PonderosaProperties.com
Printed list at 178 S. Elm, Sisters Ponderosa Properties LLC
Downtown Vacation Rentals
Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom SistersVacationRentals.net
Great pricing. 503-730-0150 ~ Sisters Vacation Rentals ~ Private Central OR vac. rentals, Property Management Services 541-977-9898 www.SistersVacation.com
205 Garage & Estate Sales
Estate Sale in Redmond! 2749 Cedar Ave, Fri & Sat, 9-4
Matco toolbox, Liberty gun safe, live-edge dining table, coffee/end tables, couch, bedroom sets, home decor, art & more! View pics on estatesales.net
– Hosted by Happy Trails! –Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions! Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths? Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806
Sharie 541-771-1150
301 Vehicles
CLASSIC CAR STORAGE! Oversized, lights/power, $275/m • 541-419-2502
We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com
Wanted: 1963 Corvette car, split window coupe. Some repairs ok. Numbers need not match. Grandpa Don, 541-232-3748.
403 Pets
Cavapoo F2B puppies for sale. Please visit www.saunders hideawayhomestead.com or call 541-829-8429 for more information.
I’ve got your cats covered! Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com Home of Brando's Natural Dog Biscuits • 541-306-7551 • Julie Caring, loving pet care in my home. Daily rates and in town. Cheryl 541-420-7875
500 Services
Junk removal, new home, garage & storage clean-out, construction, yard debris. You Call – We Haul! 541-719-8475
• DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279
CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS
Bend Window Works, LLC is offering a 10% discount on new window coverings. FREE in-home consultation. Same day in-home repair services available. New and repaired blinds make rentals look better! Contact us at 541-383-3455 or andy@bendblinds.com.
NOTARY PUBLIC - LOCAL – Call Cheryl 541-420-7875 –
501 Computers & Communications
3 Sisters TeleNetworks, LLC Extend internet to shop, security cameras, Starlink. CCB #191099 541-306-0729
502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
M & J CARPET CLEANING
Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-owned since 1986. 541-549-9090
GORDON’S LAST TOUCH
Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY
Member Better Business Bureau
• Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon Since 1980 Call 541-549-3008
504 Handyman
3 Sisters Handyman Services 20+ years experience No job too large or small. Snow removal services available. Licensed, Bonded, and Insured Call Nate 907-748-4100 sistershandyman@gmail.com CCB# 253556
600 Tree Service & Forestry
LOLO TREE WORKS
Tree Services: Tree Removal, Tree Pruning, Stump Grinding, Emergency Tree Services.
ISA Certified Arborist
Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com Call / Text: 503-367-5638 Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com CCB #240912
– All You Need Maintenance –Tree removal, property thinning & clearing, forestry mastication & mulching, stump grinding. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122
4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts! – TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.
– FOREST MANAGEMENT –Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale Projects!
Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003 ** Free Estimates ** Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342
4brostrees.com
Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057
TimberStandImprovement.net Tree Removal & Pruning TRAQ Arborist/ CCB#190496 541-771-4825
601 Construction
Pat Burke
LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT
CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com
Uncompromising quality. Local and personal. You can trust me. All projects: From new construction to those little projects you don't seem to get to. My team of local subcontractors and I will get it done right, fair, and pain-free so you can make your spouse happy. Call Jared 503-949-9719
SINCE 1976 • Fuel Reduction Forestry
Doug Fir – Lodgepole –Hardwood – Juniper – Fir DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES – 18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com Order Online! 541-410-4509 541-699-7740 T H E N U G
SMALL Engine REPAIR Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631
Authorized service center for Stihl, Honda, Ariens/Gravely, Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki Engines
GEORGE’S SEPTIC TANK SERVICE
“A Well Maintained Septic System Protects the Environment” 541-549-2871
Lara’s Construction LLC.
CCB#223701
Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call for a free estimate 541-350-3218
CASCADE GARAGE DOORS
Factory Trained Technicians
Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553
INSPIRED CUSTOM HOMES
www.teeharborconstruction.com
541-213-8736 • CCB#75388
Construction & Renovation
Custom Residential Projects
All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448
SPURGE COCHRAN BUILDER, INC.
General Contractor
Building Distinctive, Handcrafted Custom Homes, Additions, Remodels, Cabin Renovations Since ’74
A “Hands-On” Builder
Keeping Your Project on Time & On Budget • CCB #96016
To speak to Spurge personally, call 541-815-0523
Custom Homes • Additions
Residential Building Projects
Serving Sisters area since 1976 Strictly Quality CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764
John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com
Custom Homes
Additions - Remodels
Residential Building Projects
Becke William Pierce
CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384
Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com
New construction, addition, remodel. Large and small projects. Contact for estimate. Excavation: septic system, site prep, demolition, road and driveway construction. 541-325-3020 sales@gardnercontractingllc.com
Earthwood Timber • Recycled fir and pine beams
• Mantels and accent timbers
• Sawmill/woodshop services EWDevCoLLC@gmail.com
602 Plumbing & Electric SWEENEY
PLUMBING, INC.
“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling
• New Construction • Water Heaters
541-549-4349
Residential and Commercial
Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #87587
Commercial • Residential • Industrial • Remodels • Generators • Hot tubs/Saunas monteselectric@hotmail.com
CCB#200030 • 541-480-9860
Ridgeline Electric, LLC
Serving all of Central Oregon
• Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Service
541-588-3088 • CCB #234821
L E A K Y P I P E S ? Find your plumber in The Nugget Newspaper's
603 Excavation & Trucking
Free On-site Visit & Estimate Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com
541-549-1472 • CCB #76888
Drainfield
• Minor & Major Septic Repair
• All Septic Needs/Design & Install
General Excavation
• Site Preparation
• Rock & Stump Removal
• Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation
• Building Demolition Trucking
• Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water
• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly
• The Whole 9 Yards or 24
Whatever You Want!
BANR Enterprises, LLC
Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls
Residential & Commercial
CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net
ROBINSON & OWEN
Heavy Construction, Inc.
All your excavation needs
*General excavation
*Site Preparation
*Sub-Divisions
*Road Building
*Sewer and Water Systems
*Underground Utilities
*Grading
*Sand-Gravel-Rock
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
CCB #124327
541-549-1848
604 Heating
&
Cooling
ACTION AIR
Heating & Cooling, LLC
Retrofit • New Const • Remodel
Consulting, Service & Installs
actionairheatingandcooling.com
CCB #195556
541-549-6464
605 Painting
EMPIRE PAINTING
Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining
CCB#180042
541-613-1530
• Geoff Houk
Interior/Exterior Painting
Deck Refinishing
Jacob deSmet
503-559-9327
peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491
~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks
CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620
www.frontier-painting.com
Do You Provide a Service?
It pays to advertise in The Nugget Newspaper
606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance
Eastern Cascade Solutions
Landscaping & Construction
www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195
LCB #9958 • CCB #222039
Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345
STEVE'S HAULING Yard and other debris, landscaping services, chain saw work, etc. 707-328-8370
Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation.
CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com
541-515-8462
Lawn Maintenance Service
Sisters Landscape is adding another maintenance crew. We have a limited number of spots available on our schedule, give us a call for a free estimate. 541-549-3001
J&E Landscaping Maintenance
LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, thatching, aerating, irrigation, mowing.
Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982
jandelspcing15@gmail.com
All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740
Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company.
Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com
– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing.
Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122
701 Domestic Services
I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC
Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051
BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897
– Advertise with The Nugget –541-549-9941
704 Events & Event Services
CENTRAL OREGON'S LARGEST GUN & KNIFE SHOW! April 5 and 6. Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3 Deschutes County Expo Center
ADMISSION: General $10; Military/Vets $8; 2-day pass $16; Children under 12 are free. For info call 541-699-1585
OregonGunsandMoreShow.com
801 Classes & Training
Looking for Bridge/Pitch, Pastel/Acrylic, Sewing teachers, 503-319-9338, text only.
802 Help Wanted
Sisters Athletic Club is seeking an experienced swim instructor to join our aquatics teaching staff. The position is part-time/weekday afternoons. Submit resume with references to rosie@sistersathleticclub.com. Senior (female) needed to help as an occasional companion to a Senior in Tumalo. Must be willing to drive, have references. For healthy 90-year-old. 610-888-3551.
We are Hiring!
Join our summer camp culture at Lake Creek Lodge. We're recruiting for: Housekeeping, Barista & Maintenance/ Landscaping. PT/FT. We are proud to offer flexible schedules and excellent compensation. www.lakecreeklodge.com 13375 SW Forest Service Rd. 1419, Camp Sherman
Sisters Athletic Club is looking for a part-time front desk person. Shifts are Tuesday 4:15 to 7:45 p.m. and Sunday 12:15 to 5:15 p.m... possibly more. $16/hour and includes a free membership. Submit resume to darcey@sistersathleticclub.com.
Property maintenance needed: mowing, cleanup. 4 hours/ week, $100 per week. 541-749-8074
803 Work Wanted
I AM A CAREGIVER Looking for work in Sisters, Part-Time Please call Lynn 503-274-0214.
– Sisters Oregon Guide –Pick up a copy at the Nugget!
999 Public Notice
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the City of Sisters City Council will conduct an in-person public hearing at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters, on April 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. regarding the application listed below. The hearing will be held in accordance with Sisters Development Code (SDC) Chapter 4.1 and the rules of procedure adopted by the Council and available at City Hall. Prior to the public hearing, written comments may be provided to Sisters City Hall at 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters (mailing address PO Box 39, Sisters, OR 97759) or emailed to mmartin@ci.sisters.or.us. Comments should be directed toward the criteria that apply to this request and must reference the file number. For additional information, please contact Matthew Martin, Principal Planner at (541) 323-5208 or mmartin@ci.sisters.or.us. The staff report and recommendation to the hearings body will be available for review at least seven (7) days before the hearing. All submitted evidence and materials related to the application are available for inspection at City Hall. Copies of all materials will be available on request at a reasonable cost. The City Council meeting is accessible to the public either in person or via Zoom online meeting. Meeting information, including the Zoom link, can be found on https:// www.ci.sisters.or.us/meetings. PUBLIC HEARING: April 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. FILE #: TA 25-01
APPLICANT: City of Sisters
REQUEST: Text Amendments to the Sisters Development Code (SDC) Chapter 1.3 – Definitions and Chapter 3 – Design Standards. The purpose is to establish defensible space standards for new development to mitigate the impacts of wildfire.
APPLICABLE CRITERIA: SDC Chapter 4.1 – Types of Applications and Review Procedures, Chapter 4.7 – Land Use District Map and Text Amendments; City of Sisters Urban Area Comprehensive Plan; and Oregon’s Statewide Land Use Goals
ACTION AIR
Heating & Cooling, LLC
Retrofit • New Const • Remodel
Notice is hereby given that the City of Sisters Planning Commission will conduct an in-person public hearing at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters, on April 17, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. regarding the application listed below. The hearing will be held in accordance with Sisters Development Code (SDC) Chapter 4.1 and the rules of procedure adopted by the Council and available at City Hall. Prior to the public hearing, written comments may be provided to Sisters City Hall at 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters (mailing address PO Box 39, Sisters, OR 97759) or emailed to swoodford@ci.sisters.or.us. Comments should be directed toward the criteria that apply to this request and must reference the file number. For additional information, please contact Scott Woodford, Community Development Director at (541) 323-5211 or swoodford@ci.sisters.or.us.
Consulting, Service & Installs
actionairheatingandcooling.com
meeting. Meeting information, including the Zoom link, can be found on https:// www.ci.sisters.or.us/meetings.
Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company.
Sisters Athletic Club is looking for a part-time front desk person. Shifts are Tuesday 4:15 to 7:45 p.m. and Sunday 12:15 to 5:15 p.m... possibly more.
CCB #195556 541-549-6464
605 Painting
PUBLIC HEARING: April 17, 2025, at 5:30 pm FILE #: TA 25-02
Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com
EMPIRE PAINTING
Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining
CCB#180042
541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk
Interior/Exterior Painting Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327
peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491
APPLICANT: City of Sisters REQUEST: Text Amendments to SDC Chapter 2.7 – Public Facility and Institutional District (PFI). The purpose is to add additional permitted uses to Table 2.7.1 Use Table for the Public Facility and Institutional District.
~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 www.frontier-painting.com
Do You Provide a Service?
C L A S S I F I E D S ! It pays to advertise in The Nugget Newspaper
606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance
– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122
701 Domestic Services I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051
APPLICABLE CRITERIA: SDC Chapter 2.7 Public Facility and Institutional District (PFI), Chapter 4.1 – Types of Applications and Review Procedures, Chapter 4.7 – Land Use District Map and Text Amendments; City of Sisters Urban Area Comprehensive Plan; and Oregon’s Statewide Land Use Goals
•
Eastern Cascade Solutions
Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195
LCB #9958 • CCB #222039
The staff report and recommendation to the hearings body will be available for review at least seven (7) days before the hearing. All submitted evidence and materials related to the application are available for inspection at City Hall. Copies of all materials will be available on request at a reasonable cost. The Planning Commission meeting is accessible to the public either in person or via Zoom online
Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345
STEVE'S HAULING Yard and other debris, landscaping services, chain saw work, etc. 707-328-8370
BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897 – Advertise with The Nugget –541-549-9941
704 Events & Event Services
SERVICE TO PROVIDE? BUSINESS TO PROMOTE? VEHICLE FOR SALE? HOUSE TO RENT? OFFICE TO LEASE? LOOKING FOR LAND? GARAGE TOO FULL? NEED SOME HELP? Advertise in The Nugget Newspaper's CLASSIFIEDS For no additional cost your classified goes ONLINE! Go to www.NuggetNews.com DEADLINE: Every Monday by noon. Call 541-549-9941
CENTRAL OREGON'S LARGEST GUN & KNIFE SHOW! April 5 and 6. Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3
Deschutes County Expo Center
ADMISSION: General $10; Military/Vets $8; 2-day pass $16; Children under 12 are free. For info call 541-699-1585 OregonGunsandMoreShow.com
801 Classes & Training
Looking for Bridge/Pitch, Pastel/Acrylic, Sewing teachers, 503-319-9338, text only.
802 Help Wanted
Sisters Athletic Club is seeking an experienced swim instructor to join our aquatics teaching staff. The position is part-time/weekday afternoons. Submit resume with references to rosie@sistersathleticclub.com.
Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation. CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462
Lawn Maintenance Service
Sisters Landscape is adding another maintenance crew. We have a limited number of spots available on our schedule, give us a call for a free estimate. 541-549-3001
Senior (female) needed to help as an occasional companion to a Senior in Tumalo. Must be willing to drive, have references. For healthy 90-year-old. 610-888-3551.
J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, thatching, aerating, irrigation, mowing. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com
All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740
We are Hiring! Join our summer camp culture at Lake Creek Lodge. We're recruiting for: Housekeeping, Barista & Maintenance/ Landscaping. PT/FT. We are proud to offer flexible schedules and excellent compensation. www.lakecreeklodge.com
ccb#165122
13375 SW Forest Service Rd. 1419, Camp Sherman
$16/hour and includes a free membership. Submit resume to darcey@sistersathleticclub.com.
Property maintenance needed: mowing, cleanup. 4 hours/ week, $100 per week. 541-749-8074
803 Work Wanted
I AM A CAREGIVER Looking for work in Sisters, Part-Time
Please call Lynn 503-274-0214.
– Sisters Oregon Guide –Pick up a copy at the Nugget!
999 Public Notice
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the City of Sisters City Council will conduct an in-person public hearing at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters, on April 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. regarding the application listed below. The hearing will be held in accordance with Sisters Development Code (SDC) Chapter 4.1 and the rules of procedure adopted by the Council and available at City Hall.
Prior to the public hearing, written comments may be provided to Sisters City Hall at 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters (mailing address PO Box 39, Sisters, OR 97759) or emailed to mmartin@ci.sisters.or.us.
• be informed
Comments should be directed toward the criteria that apply to this request and must reference the file number. For additional information, please contact Matthew Martin, Principal Planner at (541) 323-5208 or mmartin@ci.sisters.or.us.
• connect with community
• hear someone else’s perspective on a topic
• discover local businesses & organizations
• have something fresh to talk to your neighbor about
The staff report and recommendation to the hearings body will be available for review at least seven (7) days before the hearing. All submitted evidence and materials related to the application are available for inspection at City Hall. Copies of all materials will be available on request at a reasonable cost. The City Council meeting is accessible to the public either in person or via Zoom online meeting. Meeting information, including the Zoom link, can be found on https:// www.ci.sisters.or.us/meetings.
• talking about what you’ve read in The Nugget with another person
• sharing your perspective in a Letter to the Editor or opinion column
• becoming a correspondent
PUBLIC HEARING: April 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
FILE #: TA 25-01
• shopping at a local business
APPLICANT: City of Sisters
REQUEST: Text Amendments to the Sisters Development Code (SDC) Chapter 1.3 – Definitions and Chapter 3 – Design Standards. The purpose is to establish defensible space standards for new development to mitigate the impacts of wildfire.
• advertising your business
• submitting an original poem
• selling something in the classifieds
• recognizing a good deed done in a “Sisters Salutes”
APPLICABLE CRITERIA:
SDC Chapter 4.1 – Types of Applications and Review Procedures, Chapter 4.7 – Land Use District Map and Text Amendments; City of Sisters Urban Area Comprehensive Plan; and Oregon’s Statewide Land Use Goals
• buying a subscription for yourself or a family member
• hiring local service professionals
• sending in a great photo of life in Sisters
• being a “supporting contributor” with a one-time or recurring financial gift to support community
lisa@nuggetnews.com
together, we spin the threads that connect our community in a rich and colorful tapestry. We appreciate you, Sisters!
• Thirty years strong! The effective, affordable way to promote your business, event, or organization.
• Comprehensive information and articles on recreation, the art and music scene, events, shopping, history, dining & lodging directories, local resources, and more.
• Extensive distribution locally in Sisters, Redmond, Bend, Tumalo, Sunriver, Prineville, Madras, and Redmond Airport…and statewide through chambers of commerce, welcome centers – including Portland International Airport, and visitors and tourism associations.
