By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
SPRD cuts ribbon on community center
A vision years in the making was realized on Monday, March 31, as Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) officials officially cut the ribbon on the district’s new community center. The center is located at the former site of Sisters Elementary School at 611 E. Cascade Ave.
A crowd of Sisters folks ranging from pre-schoolers to city officials to local volunteers involved in realizing the project gathered for the observances.
“I want to first thank all of you and the citizens of the community for supporting the District,” said SPRD Board Chair Bob Keefer. Keefer cited the partnership with the Sisters School District that was essential to the project.
In 2024, SPRD entered into a long-term lease agreement with the Sisters School District to repurpose the former elementary school into a community center.
Construction of the fitness studio, restrooms,
and commons area was completed by Bremik Construction. Volunteers from Kiwanis, Rotary, and community members, coordinated by David Hiller, president of the Sisters Kiwanis Club put in something like 500 hours on renovation efforts on two multipurpose rooms. In addition to the multipurpose rooms, there is
Record numbers of steelhead return
Record numbers of adult steelhead returned to the Pelton Round Butte hydropower project on the Deschutes River during the 2024-2025 run. With more than 950 fish passed upstream of Round Butte Dam, the Upper Deschutes Basin is now home to more steelhead than at any time since the 1960s. Scientists attribute this year’s returns to beneficial ocean conditions and improvements in fish management practices.
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (the Tribes) and Portland General Electric — co-owners of the threedam Pelton Round Butte hydropower complex — began an ambitious effort in 2010 to reintroduce oceangoing salmon and steelhead to the Deschutes River after more than 50 years without
passage for these species.
Scientific modeling completed in the 1990s established an annual goal of 955 steelhead adults upstream, based on the available habitat for fish.
“While the return of steelhead fish to the watershed marks a significant milestone, the journey toward full restoration continues,” said Austin Smith Jr., natural resources manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. “The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs remain committed to ongoing conservation efforts, adaptive management, and education.”
Of the 950 adult steelhead passed upstream, 675 traveled through Pelton Round Butte’s fish collection facility as juveniles. Young fish
See STEELHEAD on page 9
a new fitness studio; two ADA-compliant single-user restrooms; and a revamped commons area, designed as a welcoming gathering space.
The gym is open for daytime drop-in public use. Wednesday evenings feature pickle ball, and there are evening volleyball and basketball opportunities.
“We have more steps to take here,” Keeper noted.
“We’re going to start creating a real community park here, to go with the community center.”
SPRD is leveraging approximately $1 million in grants and other funding to create the park space on the former elementary school grounds.
For information on SPRD programing, visit https:// sistersrecreation.com.
Quakes are common in Central Oregon
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
You may not feel them but earthquakes in our vicinity are more common than you might think.
“I never thought of earthquakes in Deschutes County. Are you sure?” challenges Doug Norman in Sisters. He was surprised to learn that a magnitude 1.4 happened last month seven miles eastnortheast of Terrebonne and a 2.7 magnitude quake less than four miles southwest of Prineville occurred January 29.
In 2024, Central Oregon had 67 quakes of magnitudes up to 2.3 within 63 miles of Bend. Five quakes registered magnitude twoplus and 62 quakes below magnitude two that people normally don’t feel.
Snow levels bode well for summer
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
A look at the horizon is not only pleasing to the eye, but the deep white snow in our surrounding mountains is bringing joy to farmers and ranchers in Sisters Country who rely on snow to fuel their crops in the summer.
As of Sunday, the snow water equivalent in the Upper Deschutes and Crooked River Basin stood at 140 percent of median average going back to 1991. And as good as that looks, much of the rest of the state is even more impressive. The John Day Basin is at 173 percent; the Harney at 175 percent.; the Malheur at 165 percent. To the south, the Klamath Basin is at 169 percent.
As you go north, however, it’s not as rosy with the Hood-Sandy-Lower Deschutes Basin at 91
percent, the only basin in Oregon below 100 percent. Nearest to Sisters at the Three Creeks measuring station it sits at 120 percent.
It’s the amount of water in the snow that’s the key, not just snow depth. Snow water equivalent (SWE) determines the amount of
water available in the snow. Measuring how much water is in snow can be difficult since the temperature of the air controls how much water is held in an inch of snow. One inch of rain can produce from two inches of sleet
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Sisters Park & Recreation District celebrated moving into expansive new digs at the former site of Sisters Elementary School. The grounds are to become a community park.
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
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.
Wolf myths
To the Editor:
Matt Cyrus’ published comments in The Nugget Newspaper in the article “Sisters community reacts to wolf killing” suggesting that our gray wolves here are not native, is a misconception. Matt also falsely claims that our gray wolves were “reintroduced.” Gray wolves from Idaho and Washington dispersed on their own in the 1990s to Oregon. None were dropped in by helicopter or trucked in!
Matt’s quoted “research” studies on super wolves from Canada being the origin of our Oregon wolves have not been located in recent academic, accredited reference websites on wolves.
As an advisory board member of the nonprofit Predatordefense.org, I have attended many scientific presentations on wolves for over a decade. Many consist of webinars, documentary films, conferences, and presentations at the High Desert Museum and the Tower Theater by multiple wolf biologists.
Wolf evolutionary research from the 1930s to the 1970s did evolve due to advances in molecular genetic techniques and whole genome sequencing. As of 2024 current genome research concurs with our Oregon wolves belonging to the Northwest gray wolf populations which historically occupied western United States and adjacent Canadian Provinces. No field data supports unusually large or aggressive wolves here or in Canada. All Oregon wolves weigh between 80-100 pounds consistent with historic wolves across the West. Habitat variability along with prey base can cause some variable body size, but these factors do not support the “super” subspecies or origins that Matt claims.
Pacific Northwest wolves all belong to a continuous, well-connected population. Tracking radio-collared wolves reveals that
they move freely across all these regions from the Rocky Mountains to Canada and to the Northwest states, maintaining genetic continuity. In other words, the claims that non-native wolves that were abnormally large and aggressive were dumped here in Oregon from Canada are not supported by science, but by myths.
Donna Harris D.V.M
s s s
Slow down growth
To the Editor:
The speed and the greed that are dictating the explosive growth in Sisters is more than troubling. Sisters simply does not have the infrastructure in place to handle the growth that is already happening. There needs to be pause in any new developments — time given to integrate and assess this new growth and the ability of the city to provide services for it. Practical issues like water, sewer, traffic flow, school access, and fire danger need to be addressed.
There needs to be oversight and wisdom on the part of our elected officials to mitigate undesirable consequences of too much growth, too soon. Without this intelligent oversight the City will be complicit in those undesirable consequences.
With regards to the proposed development bordering Tollgate, the high school grounds and another subdivision, they want to build several hundred houses in the middle of the forest. For those of us already concerned about fire danger and the water table this is a nightmare scenario.
Tollgate owners are presently being informed that we are losing our house insurance. Will these same agencies grant policies to any potential buyers of the proposed
See LETTERS on page 12
Sisters Weather Forecast
The Nugget Newspaper, LLC
Website: www.nuggetnews.com
442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759
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Editor in Chief & Co-owner: Jim Cornelius
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Pondering on Artificial Intelligence
By Melody Carlson Guest Columnist
As a writer I must admit the idea of AI has been unsettling. I wasn’t pleased to see that most of my novels (more than 200) have been absorbed into AI’s vast system, supposedly for “teaching purposes.” Not sure what AI can learn from my fictional stories, but it does give me pause. So I started pondering and reading up on AI. And what I learned is more than unsettling — it’s downright disturbing.
One of the more interesting “facts” I read is that AI will soon be smarter than the combined intelligence of the entire human race. I’m not sure that means it’s getting smarter or we’re getting dumber or both, but I think it should concern everyone. Okay, I’m not suggesting AI will become like Hal 9000 and overtake the world, and I’m no intellectual, but I just don’t like the idea of surrendering all human intellect to a machine with the potential to control everything electronic. Consider how much of our daily life is electronic — banks, cars, communication….
So anyway, while noodling on AI’s influence on society, I got to thinking about the news and I started to wonder how much AI has infiltrated into today’s journalism. According to some articles I just read — a lot! And why should that surprise anyone? Students have used AI to write term papers, why wouldn’t an overwhelmed journalist utilize AI to throw together an article? An article that could be read and possibly quoted by millions.
So that got me thinking about politics — not one of my favorite discussion topics these days. Mostly because it can be so divisive to conversation. I’ve witnessed friends, family, neighbors leap from communal congeniality to angry arguments faster than you can count to 10. But what is the basis of their
opinionated perspectives? Where do they glean their information? Our sources may vary, but our news is generated by media. And what influences our media? Reality, truth, honesty . . . artificial intelligence?
What if AI was partially responsible for our divided world? Now, I realize AI is programmed by man and filled with human intellectual properties, but how can a computer program contain true human compassion, genuine kindness, unconditional love . . . God?
How do you feel, as a human, to imagine that our severed society, our lack of peace, our compromised congeniality, our outright hatred for oppositional political viewpoints . . . could be partially fueled by AI?
I don’t know about you, but it makes me feel a bit used, or even duped.
But think about it: what an easy way to dominate the human race — a universal device that could be used to divide and conquer. Especially if everyone is so busy fighting, they’re not paying attention. And does it concern you to think that, if some predictions are correct, AI will be smarter than all of us as soon as 2029?
So what is the purpose of my little literary rant here? All I really want to say is that we need to open our eyes — and our minds and our hearts. We need to think for ourselves, pay attention to lessons in history, value real wisdom over artificial intelligence, and not fall prey to “intelligent sources” that may or may not be true. Sources with possible ulterior motives.
I believe God made us human for a higher purpose. Let’s not abandon our human reasoning to artificial intelligence that might not have our best interests at heart—oh yeah, AI has no heart. Let’s not forget that. After all, to quote that old anti-drug ad from the 1960s, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Classifieds & Circulation: Lisa May
Proofreader: Kema Clark
Co-owner: J. Louis Mullen
Postmaster: Send address changes to The Nugget Newspaper, P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759. Third Class Postage Paid at Sisters, Oregon. The Nugget is available to pick up free at The Nugget office and at businesses throughout Sisters and Tumalo; mail subscriptions are
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in the 97759, 97756, 97730, and 97703
Views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and are not necessarily shared by the Editor or The Nugget Newspaper.
Living a life of adventure
Community takes on wildfire threat
The Sisters community is always aware of the threat of wildfire. We’ve seen our share over the past 20-plus years. Awareness has been heightened by the increasing problem of finding and affording homeowners insurance in wildfire-prone areas of Sisters Country — which is virtually all of it.
Citizens4Community (C4C, in partnership with The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters Rotary and Sisters Kiwanis, is offering a twopart series of community forums on this critical issue. The first part of this free, public, in-person and online series will examine our state of preparedness for wildfire threats — as individuals,
neighborhoods, agencies, and a collective community.
The forum is set for Sunday, April 13, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The event features local experts with decades of experience in wildfire and emergency management: Steven Lord — Community Risk Specialist, SistersCamp Sherman Fire District; Jennifer Letz — Mayor, City of Sisters; Sgt. Nathan Garibay — Emergency Services Manager, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office; Craig Letz — Principal and Co-Owner, Tamarack Wildfire Consulting. The panel discussion will be
A Sisters native who summited one of the world’s highest peaks has a local program to thank for starting her mountaineering career.
Dani Rudinsky, 27, recently conquered Aconcagua in Argentina. At nearly 23,000 feet, it is the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres; the top pinnacle outside of Asia.
Rudinsky’s January ascent, one of her several trips up Aconcagua, was her first to the summit and made international headlines.
“I had someone on that trip who was the first Pakistani woman to stand on the summit of this
mountain,” said Rudinsky of Samar Khan. “That was a huge honor for all of us, especially for her and her country and her people. Samar has a reputation as an athlete and has been breaking down barriers in her country for more people to get into adventure sports, especially for women to break into those areas that are harder to do in her country and a bit stigmatized in Arab cultures.”
The Class of 2015 grad credits Sisters High School’s Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition (IEE) program for getting her there.
“When I was interning in the program my senior year, I believe it was Kirk Metzger who helped me
show the students how to put on crampons and how to clip into a rope team that he had set up so we could safely shuffle-step a few feet out to peer into an open crevasse that had really beautiful, blue ice formations. I think it was on Hayden Glacier on Middle Sister. That did it for me,” Rudinsky said.
The volunteerism that keeps IEE running impacted her as much as the Three Sisters Wilderness.
“Being able to see an intergenerational approach to the mountains, and to see people older and wiser than me still living very adult lives that included getting out into the mountains, and showing other people how to
StorySLAM set in Sisters for April 25
The Sisters Festival of Books (SFoB) will host a Spring StorySLAM & Fundraiser, set for Friday, April 25, at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters, Oregon. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the stories kicking off at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $10, with all proceeds supporting the SfoB. The StorySLAM was a highlight of last year’s festival, and SFoB is excited to offer this Spring iteration of the event. Participants are invited to come to tell a story or just to listen.
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.
“Laugh, gasp, and maybe even tear up as we explore what it means to begin again, see the world differently, or take a chance on something unknown,” said festival founder Lane Jacobson.
The night’s theme is “Fresh”...fresh starts, fresh perspectives, fresh disasters, fresh food, or whatever creative spin our storytellers can put on “fresh.”
This live storytelling competition invites 10 brave individuals to share their
CIT Y & PARKS
Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters Cit y Hall 541- 549- 6022
Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Dire ctor s 2nd & 4th Tues., 4 p.m.,
FIRE & POLICE
PHOTO PROVIDED
Dani Rudinsky built the foundation for a life of adventure during her high school days in Sisters.
See WILDFIRE on page 7
See STORYSLAM on page 10
By Matt Van Slyke Correspondent
See ADVENTURE on page 10
Top producing Realtor changes location in Sisters
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty, a longtime fixture in Sisters, has moved from one end of Cascade Avenue to the other in a seamless transaction aimed to provide a better environment for its clients and prospects. The new location on the southeast corner of West Cascade and South Oak Street is brighter with a more spacious and open floor plan, agents told us as we toured the facility last week.
“Our new Sisters office location will offer increased visibility, improve the brand recognition and perception, elevate the client experience, and offer better opportunities for collaboration and networking. This will ultimately contribute to company growth and success,” said Marta Boelens, managing principal broker.
Boelens oversees five of the 18 branches. Besides Sisters, there are two offices in Bend, one in Sunriver, and another in Redmond.
Boelens adds, “The Sisters office is special because it’s been a staple real estate location in a charming, small-town setting, offering a blend of rustic charm and modern convenience. The Sisters real estate market is growing, and our brokers are some of the top professionals in the business partnered with our well known, international brand and premium marketing. This new office offered a great opportunity to expand our brand and presence with additional exposure.”
The office takes pride in being the 2024 market leader in Sisters Country real estate sales, notching $75 million in closings. The firm has a 20 percent market share in all price ranges among several dozen agencies serving the area. In the over-$1 million category they account for 32 percent of all transactions.
Sotheby’s International Realty is a luxury real estate brand founded in 1976 by Sotheby’s fine art dealers. Sotheby’s International Realty operates as a franchise focusing on brokering and marketing of residential real estate.
Sotheby’s International Realty network is more than 19,000 sales associates in 990 offices in 72 countries and territories worldwide.
The company publishes Reside, a semi-annual real estate and lifestyle magazine, which won the Hermes Platinum Award for creative excellence and outstanding design and editorial.
In 2022, Cascade Sotheby joined forces with Hasson Company founded in 1991
by Mike Hasson that had more than 180 real estate advisors working in seven offices across the Portland metro area, Central Oregon, and Southwest Washington.
The combination of two of the most iconic realty firms in the Pacific Northwest luxury residential market created Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty. In 2024 the group handled $3.2 billion in sales volume with 500 brokers scattered among its 18 offices in Oregon and Washington.
Thirteen brokers count the Sisters office as home:
Joanna Cooley, Tanner Head, Sheila Jones, Tammy Martin, Kacie Stott, Mark Morzov, Maddie Fischer, Suzanne Carvlin, Marcea DeGregorio, Sabrina Gustat, Patty Cordoni, Ellen Wood, and Jenna Raanes.
They have specialists in farm, ranch and vineyard properties and offer relocation services.
Cascade Hasson
Sotheby’s will host a grand opening on April 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. The event will be a benefit for NeighborImpact, which distributes over 6
million pounds of food each year to some 55,000 needy households in Central Oregon.
All are welcome at the grand opening and donors to NeighborImpact will get a complimentary grocery tote bag.
Sotheby’s has long been associated with the luxury real estate market, but Chief Marketing & Business Strategy Officer Gary Nolan tells The Nugget that they serve any size listing or any level of buyer income.
“We’re number-one in listings under $1 million as well as those over $1 million,” he said.
Their message when selling Sisters is “it is the perfect place to explore Central Oregon. This enchanting town offers stunning natural beauty and a wide variety of outdoor adventures and cultural activities that appeal to all interests, like the Sisters Rodeo, Sisters Folk Festival, and the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. There is never a shortage of fun things to do in the Deschutes National Forest on the edge of town with trails, lakes, scenic drives, and
gorgeous vistas.”
To reach a broker in Sisters call 541-588-6614
Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty is now located on the corner of Cascade Avenue and Oak Street in Sisters.
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
The Red Wedding In the PINES
By T. Lee Brown
Europe, a long time ago, religion, something something.
That’s where we left off last time: 16th century France. This deeply Catholic country is now dotted with Huguenots, a.k.a. French Protestants.
Not everyone in France believes exactly the same thing anymore. This is a problem, apparently.
Thus begins our season finale, episode three of “ITP: France.” Catherine de’ Medici is a power player, mom to the king, and one smart cookie.
She decides that her Catholic daughter Margaret should marry Protestant princeling Henry of Navarre, bringing the two warring factions together.
The royal wedding is set for August 1572 AD in Paris, a mostly Catholic city. The Pope, the King of Spain, and various other Catholic traditionalists are totally not into this intermingling of people who don’t hold the same beliefs, and, you know, “accidentally” forget to RSVP. Margaret and her maid of honor are super duper pissed off, and the caterer threatens to quit.
I promised you a Red Wedding á la “Game of Thrones.” At last, here it comes.
Lots of Huguenots travel to Paris for the wedding, which appears to go off okay.
For a minute.
This is pre-private-jet, pre-Charles-de-Gaulle-airport Paris. So a few days post-wedding, Paris is still full of Huguenot wedding guests.
What’s a Catholic to do?
It is Catherine’s son, King Charles IX, who kicks off the proceedings. Under his direction, royal forces attempt to assassinate my Huguenot great-great-etcetera Uncle Gaspy, a.k.a. Admiral Gaspard II de Coligny, who rises from the dais holding his bloodied ear and pumps his fist into the air.
Oh wait. Different incident. I don’t actually know how Uncle Gaspy responded, other than by not dying — yet.
It’s St. Bartholomew’s Day in Paris. (Remember the foreshadowing last week? Barthélemi?) Extremists descend upon the palace, well armed, waving grey flags, frolicking in their horned shamanic headgear.
Oh wait. Different century.
Anyhoo, royal forces try again in a few days. Coligny is successfully picked off, along with nearly all the Huguenot guests. Hostages are exchanged, American students fly Palestinian flags and the king suggests turning Gaza into a luxury resort.
Back to our story. Regular everyday Catholics drag regular everyday Protestants out of their houses and workplaces. They murder the Huguenots and throw their bodies into the River Seine, causing hundreds of American tourists to cancel their 50-Euro river outings and flee to CDG airport.
Thousands await King Charles IX’s response on the platform formerly known as Twitter; he eventually, belatedly posts that the violence should cease. I imagine it coming off like Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka, saying with a noted lack of conviction to the doomed, bratty kids touring his candy factory, “Stop. Don’t.”
By this time, the folks in bicoastal Paris and flyover
country alike are super duper pissed off and/or caught up in blood rage, a state of ravaging madness not confined to sexy vampires in “A Discovery of Witches.”
It would seem that while killing one’s neighbors may be a matter of principle, it is also a matter of fun. What better way of bonding with one’s other, better neighbors than through bloodshed? All those AR-15-style rifles the nobles and peasants have been stockpiling can finally be put to use!
Despite the king’s tardy tweet, the slaughter continues in Paris. Then it spreads out to the provinces, where for decades now, residents have been sick and tired of both Catholic and Huguenot élites referring to their fields and vines as “flyover country.” Quelle impolitesse.
Contemporary historians put the number of victims at around 30,000, though Catholic apologists place it lower and Huguenot fans weigh in with a whopping 70,000 dead.
The Pope is super duper stoked, decreeing celebratory bonfires, victory arches, and parades. He even issues his own cryptocurrency — I mean, he orders the minting of a St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre commemorative medal.
The blame for all this mayhem is often laid at the feet of Catherine de’ Medici. She is said to have masterminded the whole thing, not for kumbaya peacemaking, but using the wedding as Huguenot bait. Hence George R.R. Martin’s inspiration for the infamous Red Wedding in “Game of Thrones.”
This view has proved
incorrect. Catherine is sincere, historians say, and intends to stop the French Wars of Religion for strategic reasons if nothing else. She’s not throwing her daughter to the wolves and she doesn’t want France suspended in a state of endless partisan violence.
Contrary to what people think when imagining Catherine’s alleged glamorous, Machiavellian exploits (no, I haven’t watched “The Serpent Queen” — yet), she actually went for the moderate politique vibe much of the time.
Historians believe the massacre wasn’t planned at all, but exploded out of the attempted assassination of Coligny (my Huguenot Uncle Gaspy, if you’re losing track here).
For many Americans, sometimes including me, history can be summed up as “We Won the Revolution with a dollop of Yankee Doodle, a drizzle of ‘Uh, what about slavery and Native American boarding schools?’ and a sprinkle of ‘I am not giving away my shot.’”
Maybe we’re sort of aware that stuff happened in Europe a long long time ago, on a continent far far away. Religion, war, something something.
Fascinating as history may be, learning about it gives one pause. Is this what humans simply are? Is this what humans do, over and over? Are we doomed to eternal partisanship or do we have the hearts and smarts to break free?
The king’s advisors, for reasons of their own, convinced Charles IX that a coup d’état was on its way, a dubious claim debunked by historians with alluring British accents on podcasts to this day. Wouldn’t it be better if he went on the offensive first?
ar e Or egon natives r epr esenting thr ee generations of meat ar tisans, r ecipes and techniques, driving the high quality you expect. You can r egularly see us working in the shop to ensur e we sour ce the best — focused on local pur veyors when possible, and of fering a wide selection of meat, poultr y, seafood, and game. That’s why we say our meats are unbeatable!
Outlaws tennis team heads into season
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Outlaws boys tennis team returns five players to their varsity squad and will add five new players to fill out their 10-man roster. The team began their first week of practice on Monday, March 3, and with the good weather, have been able to practice outdoors. Players are extremely happy with the weather as it is in sharp contrast to last year when they spent the first three weeks shoveling snow off the courts and were forced to practice in the gym and hit balls against the wall.
Varsity players back for another year include juniors Dominic Pulver, Jack Murray, Weston Dean, and William Welty, and sophomore Liam Hubble.
Pulver returns as the Outlaws No. 1 player, and is entering his third season on the squad. Last year he was the lone representative from the boys tennis team to qualify for the state championships at Oregon State University.
“Dominic is known for his exceptional court awareness and strategic game play,” said Coach Vince Grace. “Dominic is a ‘gamer’ who knows how to win. His extensive preparation at both Eagle Crest and the Athletic Club of Bend has ensured he is ready to lead the team again this season.”
Murray also returns as a third-year player.
“Jack is a polished tennis athlete with an arsenal of skills,” stated Grace.
“Encouraged by Dominic and Assistant Coach Greg Everson, Jack has refined his strong serve, net play, and quick movement on the court. With his athleticism and competitive spirit, Jack is poised to be a top performer and a consistent winner this year.”
Dean is in his second year with the team, and is building on a solid foundation from last season, where he earned a singles win at Districts.
‘Weston’s strengths lie in his powerful backhand as a left-handed player, though he plays tennis with his right hand,” said Grace. “Weston’s regular participation in winter club practices at Eagle Crest has been pivotal in refining his skills. This season, he is developing confidence and aggressiveness on the court, making him a strong contender for multiple wins.”
Hubble is a second-year player.
“Liam has demonstrated remarkable growth since his debut season,” said Grace. “Inspired by former team captain Dylan Rundle and current No. 1 player, Dominic Pulver, Liam excels in doubles, and enjoys the camaraderie with his partner. His regular participation in winter club practices at Eagle Crest has greatly improved his footwork and ability to anticipate his opponent’s moves. Liam’s energy and understanding of the game make him an integral part of the team.”
Welty rounds out the returning players and is in his second year on the squad. He is currently abroad on
an extended Spring Break, and will rejoin the team next month. Grace told The Nugget that Welty’s presence and contributions will undoubtedly add strength to the squad as the season progresses.
Joining the team this year is junior Levi Brigido, a 16-year old international exchange student from Fortaleza, Brazil, and freshmen Carter Anderson, Silas Green, Parker Johnson, and Odin Rea.
Brigido will bring six years of tennis experience to the team.
Grace said, “Inspired by his father and godfather, Levi has worked hard to prepare for the season by attending winter club practices at Eagle Crest. His quick footwork and adaptability make him a standout player. With continued improvement in serving and consistency, Levi has the potential to place at districts this year.”
Anderson is trying out tennis for the first time, but according to Grace, has embraced the sport with enthusiasm and a fantastic attitude.
“Carter’s dedication has already led to significant progress in his first week,” said Grace. “His eagerness to learn and consistent positivity set him on a promising path.”
Green comes into the high school program with prior tennis experience through the Sisters Park and Recreation program under Coach Bruce Fenn.
Grace said, “Supported by his dad, Tim Green, and
Coach Fenn, Silas is focusing on building a strong foundation for competitive play. His instincts at the net and consistent winter practices at Eagle Crest have been crucial in his preparation. Silas is working on improving his deep forehand shots, which are expected to become a key weapon in his game.”
Johnson is a first-year player, and Grace told The Nugget that despite being new to the sport he has developed a spin-heavy forehand that will serve as his primary weapon.
“Parker is known for his respectful demeanor and positive attitude,” said Grace. “He contributes significantly to the team’s supportive and enjoyable environment.”
Rea is also a first-year player, and Grace stated he is embracing the learning process and enjoying his journey into tennis.
“Odin’s presence and contributions will undoubtedly
add strength to the squad as the season progresses,” said Grace.
Grace stated the team feels very fortunate for their four outdoor courts, which are shared between the boys and girls teams.
“It wasn’t that long ago we had no courts at all, but sharing the courts we now have makes effective practice quite challenging due to the limited space,” said Grace.
The Outlaws continue to work hard, despite the obstacles and their goal for the season is to compete strongly at every level — the regular season, district, and at state.
“The team is dedicated to cultivating skilled players who exemplify teamwork, sportsmanship, and dedication both on and off the court,” said Grace. “We will work to be a competitive tennis team that is dedicated to becoming the best tennis players and best citizens we can be.”
followed by a Q&A session with the audience, moderated by C4C Executive Director Kellen Klein.
C4C board member Bruce Rognlien had a personal and harrowing education in the perils of wildfire when he and his wife Marleen were caught up in the catastrophic Pacific Palisades fire in January.
“Marleen and I have lived part-time in Sisters since 1962,” Rognlien said. “Marleen’s family owned a cattle ranch, the Lazy Z. We also live in Pacific Palisades, CA. part-time for the past 50 years. We have been evacuated three times in 50 years because of wild fires.”
Rognlien recalled the day his neighborhood burned, January 7, 2025.
“Fire has three parts: fuel, oxygen, and heat,” Rognlien said. “Pacific Palisades had all three on January 7, 2025. The hills behind the town (north) were very dry (no winter rain yet). The seasonal ‘Santa Ana’ winds were forecasted to blow 60 to 80 mph, which has rarely happened before, creating a ‘super red flag’ day. Santa Ana winds are warm to hot (off the desert). Somehow a small fire started in a canyon above the town, and there was no real preparation to control a Red Flag fire.
“The fire started about 10:30 a.m. I was getting a haircut and heard an extraordinary number of police car sirens blasting on Sunset Boulevard. I went outside to see huge billows of black and gray smoke towards downtown Pacific Palisades. Twenty-four hours later 90 percent of the town was gone, including 6,000 homes. How did it happen? It’s called ‘ember showers’ that can travel up to a mile and land like hot coals on a home, store, church, or school and start them on fire.”
Rognlien and his wife evacuated. Their home survived, though most of their neighborhood did not.
“Believe me, you have to experience, asking every day, ‘is our house still there?’” he said. “‘Yes’ was the answer from our wonderful neighbor, who stayed on. We were evacuated for 30 days and returned after a lot of remediation (smoke,soot, and ash) work.”
Rognlien recalled that “very few fire trucks were prepositioned in various neighborhoods to kill spot fires. For example, later in that week the fire restarted, moving toward the San
Fernando Valley. The winds reversed and started coming toward our home. An ember fire started on our hillside, 50 feet from our front door (we evacuated on January 7). This is a week later. Thank God, there was a fire truck from Utah putting out another spot fire 50 yards away from our house, and they put it out!”
Rognlien noted that there was not enough water to fight the fire.
“All the hydrants that were working ran out of water,” he said. “A major reservoir above town was empty and offline for repairs.”
The 60-80 mph winds spread ember showers through the town, burning
everything in the fire’s path. Houses were not hardened for fire, Rognlien noted.
“No need,” he said. “Fires never come into town.”
Rognlien sees lessons to be learned from his experience for those living in Sisters Country — particularly around the vulnerability of homes inside the city limits or in neighborhoods once a fire actually gets among houses.
Immediately following the discussion, participants are invited to walk through an on-site Preparedness Fair. Dozens of local organizations will be on hand offering resources and expertise around critical topics like evacuation routes,
communication systems, “go bags,” home hardening, defensible space, first aid training, and more.
Child care will be available on site, and those who cannot attend can view a livestream of the discussion.
For more information, visit https://citizens4community.
com/events/spring-forum-25. A second forum will address the challenges posed by insurers raising rates or pulling out of wildfire-prone areas due to the catastrophic losses created by fires across the West,like the one that devastated Pacific Palisades.
Sisters resident Bruce Rognlien took photos of the destruction of Pacific Palisades, where he and his wife live part-time. He believes there are lessons to be learned from the experience that apply to Sisters.
PHOTOS BY BRUCE ROGNLIEN
Sisters Country birds
By Douglas Beall Correspondent
The White-breasted Nuthatch’s habit of climbing upside down on tree trunks and branches makes it easy to identify. Adult upper parts are bluish gray, with a black forehead crown and nape, and white cheeks. The cap of females is gray. Adult underparts are white with buff flanks. Their song is a rapid series of lowpitched nasal sounds: “whewhe-whe-whe-whe.” The often-heard call is a nasal “yank” or “yank-yank” and is lower-pitched than that of the red-breasted nuthatch. White-breasted nuthatches are cavity nesters that enlarge existing hollows in trees or move into abandoned woodpecker holes. Thus they require standing dead trees with wood soft enough to be excavated. This is a big reason to allow “snags” to remain standing.
Nuthatches forage for insects, seeds, and berries and frequently visit bird feeders. They sometimes create caches of seeds for later consumption and often participate in mixedspecies foraging flocks in winter. They provide a good example of how each member of those flocks utilizes
BY DOUGLAS BEALL
the forest differently. The nuthatch’s unusual foraging behavior, by acrobatically creeping on all sides of trunks and branches, enables it to find food where other insectivores can’t.
The female nuthatch builds the nest in an existing cavity in trees, sometimes an abandoned woodpecker hole, using grasses, feathers, fur, and bark. She lays five to nine cream-with-brownspeckled-eggs, which are incubated for about two weeks. The young fledge in 26 days. There is one brood a year and pairs remain together throughout the year, chasing other nuthatches from their territory.
A group of nuthatches are referred to as a “booby” or a “jar” of nuthatches. For more visit http://abirdsings becauseithasasong.com/. recent-journeys.
Native species face threats
By Sean Nealon Oregon State University
CORVALLIS – Climate change could pose a dual threat to native species by reducing their suitable habitats and increasing predation pressure from non-native species, a new study by Oregon State University researchers finds.
The effects of climate change and biological invasions on the geographical distribution of native species have been studied separately, but their combined effects remain overlooked, said Ivan Arismendi, an associate professor in Oregon State’s Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences.
The new study, published in Global Change Biology, begins to change that. The researchers found that future climate conditions will reduce
habitat suitability for native and non-native species, but an increase in habitat overlap might exacerbate the negative effects of non-native species, potentially leading to local extinctions of native species.
“Climate change and biological invasions are increasingly affecting ecosystems globally,” Arismendi said.
“It’s critical to understand their combined impacts so that we can anticipate and adapt management strategies that account for shifting interactions between native and non-native species.”
Using ecological niche models, which are computational tools that use environmental data to predict where species live, Arismendi, Guillermo Giannico, and Arif Jan developed a framework to assess how climate change influences the range of and habitat overlap among species.
For the study, they evaluated the invasion of nonnative smallmouth bass and northern pike in the Pacific Northwest and their impact on native redband trout and bull trout.
They found that the distribution of suitable habitats for redband trout, bull trout, smallmouth bass, and northern pike will undergo reductions under future climatic conditions, and this will be accompanied by these species shifting to higher elevation habitats, where the water is colder.
“Cold water refuges in upstream areas will serve as converging zones for native and non-native fishes,” said Jan, a doctoral student at Oregon State.
The researchers fear that this increased negative interaction could lead to local extinctions of native salmonids, similar to what has happened in southeastern Alaska .
White-breasted Nuthatch.
PHOTO
Partners 2025 artnersin Giving
Central Oregon embodies the ethic of “see a need, fill a need.”
And it’s built on a generous spirit of giving. That’s what makes this a special place, where people want to put down roots.
Dedicated local people staff and volunteer for an array of nonprofits committed to making life better for all Central Oregonians.
They are enabled to do their invaluable work by the generous support of a giving community — you and me. We are the partners of these dedicated outfits.
Volunteer or donate — and keep the circle unbroken. The dedicated volunteers of Partners In Care o er a wide variety of services for patients and their families. As a volunteer, you can: Give back to your Sisters neighbors as a volunteer at Partners In Care
Support patients with friendly visits wherever they call home
Deliver medications throughout the Sisters community for patients
Provide respite relief for a caregiver
Capture life stories via video, audio, or written transcription
Bring canine companionship with your furry friend as a certified HosPet volunteer
Assist at the inpatient Hospice House as a greeter, musician, or supporting sta Honor veterans as a vet-to-vet volunteer
Enjoy the outdoors by caring for patient’s gardens and yards
The many benefits of giving
giving community. This small community supports a staggering number of nonprofit organizations. According to Citizens4Community, Sisters is home to some 77 organizations, including churches, that contribute in myriad ways to the life of the community. From caring for animals to promoting the health and welfare of families, to preserving the natural environment that is so important to people here, there are all kinds of local, grassroots organizations that enhance the local way of life.
All of these organizations rely on financial support from the local community — and on dozens upon dozens of volunteers.
Fortunately, Sisters is full of people with the means, the time, and the passion to make those organizations successful in their varied missions. What local donors and volunteers know is that the benefits of contributing to these organizations run in two directions. The beneficiaries obviously receive a benefit — but so do those who contribute. Giving enhances their lives.
Nicole Woodson, executive director of Circle of Friends, a local mentorship program, tells The Nugget that one of the most gratifying aspects of the organization’s work is that the mentors get as much from being a mentor as the kids get from being mentored.
That’s something that we all grasp, because we feel it — but there’s science to back it up. The University of Alabama published a paper last year on “How giving to others can boost mental and physical health.” In the article, Megan Hays, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, noted that:
“Giving back has been shown to boost happiness, reduce stress, enhance self-esteem, and
strengthen social connections. Engaging in acts of generosity
Engaging in acts of generosity activates the brain’s reward system, fostering positive emotions and a sense of purpose.”
The article reports, “...studies have shown that such acts improve mental health and can contribute to physical health benefits, such as lower blood pressure and a healthier immune profile. Research suggests that volunteering — particularly when driven by a genuine desire to help others — is associated with a longer lifespan.”
Giving to large national or international charities has value, both in supporting their work and in reaping the rewards, Hays cites. But there are strong indications that we get more out of our efforts on both ends of the spectrum when we contribute locally.
When we contribute to local organizations, we can see the results of their work playing out right before our eyes, in our own community. We know that our efforts are having an impact — and they also make our community a better place to live.
Volunteering locally gives the volunteer a stronger sense of social connection. It’s probably the
most effective way for newcomers to the community to find “their people.” As you will read in these pages, volunteer commitments are flexible; you can do a lot of work or a little — it can be a one-time thing or an ongoing commitment.
There are so many ways to contribute that virtually anyone can
find work or a beneficiary of their financial generosity that aligns with their values and passions, and fits their way of life.
Giving is a joyful exercise, not a chore. It brings vital services to those in need, creates cultural vibrancy, and brings innumerable benefits to those who give.
Volunteers with Happy Trails Horse Rescue interact.
Photo courtesy Happy Trails Horse Rescue
Nonprofit organizations enrich lives
The warp-and-woof of the community of Central Oregon is comprised of nonprofit organizations that embody the spirit of the land and its people. These organizations put a floor under individuals and families at risk of falling through the cracks; they offer peace and guidance to people experiencing the hardest travails of life; they offer a hand up, and they enrich the lives of children and adults alike.
And they don’t forget about the four-legged who are also part of our lives and communities.
• Happy Trails Horse Rescue, located in Bend, is dedicated to the protection of horses and their quality of life, to be free from abuse, neglect, abandonment, slaughter, or early euthanasia without just cause within Central Oregon. While rescue is at the core of the mission, founder Dianne Scott notes that, “A big part of our mission is to help people keep their horses... we also have a surrender prevention program that is unique.”
This program offers a hand to responsible horse owners who are going through a hard time, and struggling to afford the upkeep of
their horses. Happy Trails offers a hay and grain bank, temporary boarding, assistance with gelding services, and more.
Direct donations help support this program. You can make onetime or ongoing contributions, and corporate sponsorships are available. There are also opportunities to volunteer (see related story, page 6).
• Thrive Central Oregon meets with Central Oregonians to connect them with the help they need in a variety of aspects of life. There are many resources in Central Oregon, but they can be difficult to access alone. Anyone can meet with Thrive at a drop-in site or by phone. As their website notes, “We always use a personcentered approach to services, meaning we work on what you want to work on.” Direct donations on the website support this effort.
• United Way of Central Oregon is committed to fighting for the health, education, financial stability, and resilience of every person in the Central Oregon community.United Way has been in Central Oregon for 71 years, identifying needs and mobilizing
Growing funds for
resources to meet those needs.
Diana Fischetti tells The Nugget that as Central Oregon becomes an increasingly expensive place to live, there is a broad need to help the large segment of the local workforce that struggles to make ends meet — even with full-time work or multiple jobs.
“The population that is working, but not making it, is the population we are most focused on,” she said.
United Way is currently developing direct service programs, including community resilience and disaster preparedness, and Ride United, a transportation program to help people whose ability to thrive is inhibited by transportation limitations. They are currently raising funds for that program.
There are several options for financial contributions. You can donate a vehicle, donate stock, offer a bequest through your estate planning, or simply make a cash donation. Corporate partners are greatly valued.
“We’re certainly looking for opportunities to communicate with our corporate partners around the work we are doing,”
Fischetti said.
• When it comes to transportation, the innovative Sisters nonprofit STARS has built a first-ofits-kind-in-Oregon all-volunteer model that other communities are seeking to replicate. STARS’ mission is: “To provide non-emergency medical rides to Sisters residents who are unable to drive themselves.”
The service has proved an invaluable asset in improving livability for seniors in Sisters. Indeed, it is vital for many in their effort to stay in their home and their community. Volunteers dispatch drivers to pick up local residents and take them to medical appointments. In 2024 STARS provided 726 roundtrip rides and volunteer drivers completed over 32,000 miles. Dispatchers spent 520 hours actively dispatching, and hundreds of hours monitoring telephones to make sure passengers and drivers could communicate in case of emergency.
Donations are vital to maintaining the service, funding mileage reimbursement, insurance, computer licensing, and office
See NONPROFIT on page 4
Thank you so much for putting your time and effort into GRO and granting us these opportunities! You truly make our lives shine brighter and I am extrmely grateful for everything you have done
NONPROFIT
Continued from page 3
supplies. Donations can be made on a one-time or ongoing basis through the website. There are also many opportunities to volunteer (see related story, page 6).
• Sisters Kiwanis has become a key player in making Sisters a more livable place for all of its citizens. According to long-time Kiwanian Doug Wills, thanks to strong community support, the service club’s flagship food bank is in good shape financially, despite the impact of inflation on food costs.
“A lot of our people are living on Social Security, they’re living in a minimum income situation, so they need help getting their food,” Wills said.
Food drives and food bank donations remain important, but Kiwanis does more than provide access to food. They also provide scholarships for graduating seniors, support the Circle of Friends mentorship program, and support the services of CASA.
According to Wills, the best way currently to support Kiwanis work is to come out and participate in their major fundraisers — their Antique Sale at the Sisters Fire Hall, the Buckaroo Breakfast at Rodeo time, and the
summertime Run to the Top at Hoodoo Ski Area. Those events not only raise funds for Kiwanis outreach — they build community. Keep your eye on The Nugget for event details as they come up.
Cash donations should be made to the Sisters Kiwanis Foundation, which has 501(c)(3) status.
• CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. They are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for children in foster care to make sure they don’t get lost in the system. Donations support their work, which is heavily reliant on trained volunteers (see story, page 6).
• Sisters GRO (Graduate Resource Organization) ensures that every Sisters High School graduating senior who applies ends up with scholarship support to pursue their post-high school endeavors. To that end, the organization needs donations to add new scholarships, to contribute additional to existing ones, and to support the general fund.
The general fund covers operating costs, including the executive director’s salary. Financial support also helps Sisters GRO step up and fill any gaps in scholarship offerings to ensure full coverage. Donors can direct their donation to start a new scholarship, or they
can contribute to an existing one, or to be used as the organization’s needs dictate.
The need is significant. Posthigh school education, even at the community college level, is increasingly expensive, leaving
applies
a scholarship.
many families overburdened and students facing the prospect of heavy debt.
“We’ve got to do more,” said Sisters GRO Board Chair Tim Ross. “We’ve got to support them.”
RESCUE
Happy Trails Horse Rescue, located in Tumalo is dedicated to the protection of horses and their quality of life. We rescue horses in need and we also provide community outreach and educational resources such as our SURRENDER PREVENTION PROGRAM (food, medical/farrier or temporary shelter) in an effort to alleviate an owner’s difficult choices of relinquishment or euthanasia. We believe that every equine deserves respect, love, compassion and dignity, regardless of age, health, or behavior.
DONATE OR VOLUNTEER TODAY!
Sisters GRO ensures that each graduating senior that
receives
Photo courtesy Sisters GRO
• Supporting youth so that they can thrive in school at home is the work of Circle of Friends. Circle of Friends offers every Sisters child or youth in need trained mentors who provide consistent, long-term, meaningful relationships. Working collaboratively with Sisters School District, community service providers, and parents, Circle of Friends develops and implements inclusive plans and support systems for mentees. Circle of Friends works to provide children and youth with positive experiences and opportunities that contribute to their current and future success.
Donations to Circle of Friends are high-impact. The donation page on their website offers data on what a financial gift provides. For example, $75 can provide four swimming lessons, while a $5,000 gift can provide a Camp Tamarack experience of 10 youth. The organization also needs volunteers (see related story, page 6).
• Partners In Care offers vital home health care to people in Sisters — and they currently have availability for clients. Home health care is available to people who are homebound and have a particular need that requires the skills of a nurse or therapist. That could be an injury requiring
wound care for post-surgery needs. Needs like physical therapy and speech therapy can be met.
A fundraising campaign for Partners In Care kicks off on April 12, and direct donations may be made through their website.
• Sisters Habitat for Humanity is one of the most successful chapters of the homebuilding nonprofit in the nation. Their work in Sisters has evolved, and Executive Director Peter Hoover says that the most important thing that the Sisters community can do to support their mission is to come out in support of housing affordability as a community priority.
Hoover notes that many people who work in Sisters and contribute to the community either struggle to stay in the community, or can’t afford to live here at all.
“We need to have a place that they can afford to live,” he said.
Direct donations can be made through the website, and shopping at the Sisters Habitat Thrift Store and ReStore directly benefit the organization.
Each of the organizations profiled here work directly in our community. That means that your donated dollars stay in the community and provide tangible benefits that we all can see every day.
12, 2025
Are Home Film Festival Sharing stories of home and belonging with our community in Central Oregon. www.thrivecentraloregon.org/we-are-home
Building Homes, Strengthening Community
At Sisters Habitat for Humanity, we are dedicated to making homeownership possible for those who contribute to our community but face challenges due to the rising cost of housing.
For over 30 years, we have built more than 80 homes, and we remain committed to creating affordable housing opportunities so more of the families who make Sisters a strong and vibrant community can call it home.
100% of ticket sales and proceeds go back into our community as rental and deposit assistance.
in building a brighter future for Sisters. Donate or volunteer today and make a lasting impact.
CASA advocates serve children in the foster care system.
Photo courtesy CASA of Central Oregon
Volunteerism is the heart of community
The nonprofits that serve Sisters run on volunteers. Donations are critical, but hands-on work is equally vital. Fortunately, Sisters is full of people with a bias for action, who are willing to pitch in. And they reap benefits of their own.
Circle of Friends mentors provide experiences and companionship for the youth they work with, but the relationship is a two-way street.
“It also provides a sense of belonging for the adults who come out to volunteer to mentor,” said Nicole Woodson, executive director.
Circle of Friends currently has eight kids in need of a mentor. The commitment is serious, but it’s flexible, with an hour a week of time spent with the mentee being the expectation. And the “work” doesn’t feel like work.
“If you have an interest or activity that you like, we have a kiddo that we can match with you,” Woodson said.
CASA of Central Oregon’s entire function is to recruit train and support volunteers. Those volunteers serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates. They are the eyes and ears of the court to promote the safety and well-being of children in foster care. CASA volunteers gather
information on a child’s circumstances and use the information to make individualized recommendations to the court that support the child.
Volunteers have an initial interview to determine interest and whether the work is for them. Training takes about eight weeks.
“It totals about 40 hours once you’ve done all the training points,” said CASA Development Director Angelique Zojonc.
Volunteers are sworn in by a judge. Their work may include helping families navigate Individual Education Plans at school, and there are regular visits with the family at home. Most volunteers put in 10 to 15 hours a month. The need is significant.
“We currently have about 160 volunteers and we have 300 children in care,” Zojonc said. “We’re seeing an increase of children in care [in Deschutes County], so that need is growing.”
STARS operates on an entirely volunteer basis.
“The biggest thing right now
For horse lovers, Happy Trails Horse Rescue offers an opportunity to interact with a herd of horses while doing the ranch work that is key to keeping them all in good shape. There is a volunteer orientation on the first and third Sunday of each month at 10 a.m., where prospective volunteers can meet the herd and see if the work suits them. If it does, there is further training in basic ranch
is we need drivers,” said Rennie Morrell, STARS executive director.
Drivers pick up clients and transport them to medical appointments. The work is flexible and there is no minimum trip requirement. Mileage is reimbursed.
“They take people when they can,” Morrell said. “Some will drive for a while and then be gone for a while.”
Morrell noted that the organization could also “use a dispatcher or two. The person would need to be good with people and good with computers.
While the needs of Sisters GRO (Graduate Resource Organization) are mostly for donations, they are looking for potential board members, particularly someone with marketing expertise.
Sisters Habitat for Humanity offers volunteer opportunities at their Thrift Store and ReStore. In fact, Executive Director Peter Hoover says, “it’s the volunteers who make those stores shine.” There are also opportunities to work on construction crews during the week.
Whatever your interest or ability, there is a place for you in as a partner in giving in a community built on generosity of spirit.
Sisters
Kiwanis Club of Sisters has been serving Sisters Country since 1977.
In addition to the SISTERS FOOD BANK, we provide FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIPS for Sisters High School seniors.
Local donations fund Sisters Kiwanis, which also SUPPORTS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS such as:
Camp Sunrise - Court Appointed Special Advocates; Sisters Park and Recreation District - Train Your Brain; Oregon Adaptive Sports - Outlaw Black & White Club; Family Access Network and others.
The CAREER OPPORTUNITY FUND provides grant money to Sisters residents that wish to improve, or change, their careers. Sisters Kiwanis Club is a totally volunteer organization so 100% of the money raised goes to the charities we support.
Volunteer at Sisters Habitat for Humanity
Help Habit at build hope and homes in Sisters, connect with new people, make f riends, and make a di erence in our communit y. Volunteer today! Learn more at sistershabitat.org/ volunteer or call 541-549-1193.
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 ever y 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 9, 16, and 23 , at 10:30 a .m. in the Communit y Room at Sisters Librar y. Go to https://www deschuteslibrary.org/kids/ programs for more info.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday, April 6
Let’s Talk Dementia Sisters Fire Dept. Community Hall
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.
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 www starsride.org and volunteer to keep Sisters healthy one ride at a time.
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 available for $15 at Paulina Springs Books , e Gallimauf ry, and Metamorphosis Day Spa 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 local nonprofits. Get your copy now. ey make great gif ts . Please c all 971-246040 4 to ask questions and find more information
Sisters Garden Club Meeting
Sisters Garden Club invites the public to their monthly meeting on Saturday, April 12. e presentation will be by Jerad with Accelerated Organics , an engaging talk on best practices for organic lawn care and landscaping in the high deser t! Learn how to nurture beneficial microbes and create thriving soil habit ats . e meeting is at Sisters Community Church , 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. e meeting starts at 10 a .m. with doors opening at 9:30.
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.
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 between 9 a .m. and 2 p.m. 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.
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
Sisters French Club
For people interested in French culture and language, Sisters French Club meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m . at e Barn, 171 E . Main Ave. All levels are welcome. For more information, visit Facebook @SistersFrenchClub.
Cele ation o f Life
A Celebration of Life for Jan Baldwin will be held at noon on Saturday, April 19, at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters. A reception will follow.
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.
CHIEF
Chief is a strong , loving Rott weiler who was brought to HSCO as a stray. He has all the breed’s wonderf ul, loyal tendencies , but he will thrive in a home experienced with Rottweilers or similar breeds . Chief is friendly and gets along with other dogs, particularly females . He’s reportedly housetrained but will need training and a structured routine to help him adjust.
— SPONSORED BY —
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
Seventh-Day Adventist Church 541-815-9848
11 a .m. S aturday Worship
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 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
POLICY: Nonprofits, schools , churches , birth, engagement, wedding , and anniversar y notices may run at no charge. Business items do not run on this page. All submissions subject to editing and run as space allows . Email lisa@nug getnews .com or drop o at 4 42 E . Main Ave. Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays
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STEELHEAD: Evidence of wide-spread spawning found
from the Upper Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius Rivers are collected in Lake Billy Chinook at the Selective Water Withdrawal (SWW), a structure that enables fish to be safely transported around three dams to continue their migration to the ocean. The SWW also facilitates more natural conditions in the Lower Deschutes River by reducing temperature impacts from the dams.
“We’re excited to welcome these steelhead back to the Upper Deschutes Basin. Their journey is remarkable,” said Megan Hill, senior environmental science manager at PGE. “Most of these fish passed through the SWW, traveled 100 miles down the Deschutes to the Columbia River, then migrated another 200 miles past Bonneville Dam to the ocean. After spending about two years at sea, they made the 300-mile journey back. This year’s run highlights the power of strong ocean conditions combined with our collaborative efforts to improve fish passage and reintroduction strategies.”
Steelhead released upstream of Round Butte Dam since the reintroduction program began. Totals include reintroduction fish as well as excess hatchery broodstock.
Most of the returning
steelhead traveled through the SWW as juveniles in 2022, a record-breaking year for juvenile collection. Since 2010, the Tribes and PGE have improved their ability to safely capture more fish through science-based strategies. These include the installation of a net that guides fish toward the collection area, a new stressrelief pond to allow fish time to recover after handling, and collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in the practice of smolt acclimation: holding young fish in-stream for a period of time to imprint and adjust to the river’s conditions.
Additionally, with more than two thirds of the steelhead lifecycle spent in the Pacific, recent beneficial ocean conditions likely played a significant role in steelhead survival and return rates.
In addition to the 675 reintroduction program fish, 275 Deschutes River hatcheryorigin steelhead were also released upstream — a reintroduction strategy adopted in recent years. These adults, referred to as excess broodstock, are screened for disease, monitored post-release, and are genetically identical to the other steelhead from the upper basin.
“The DRC and its partners have been working over the last 15 years to restore streamflow and improve habitat in the Crooked River, Whychus Creek, and Metolius system to benefit
these fish coming home,” said Kate Fitzpatrick, executive director for the Deschutes River Conservancy. “This marks the largest return since the efforts to reintroduce fish above the Pelton Round Butte Dam Complex began, and shows the promise of restoring anadromous runs back to their home waters in the upper basin.”
“The steelhead return to the Upper Deschutes Basin during the 2024-2025 run has been much stronger than we anticipated, and we are seeing evidence of widespread spawning,” said Terry Shrader, Pelton Round Butte mitigation coordinator for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. “The adaptive management changes we’ve made in the reintroduction program have undoubtedly contributed to this strong return. Additional factors such as favorable ocean conditions and freshwater migration conditions also play a significant role.”
Using radio tracking technology, biologists will continue to monitor the adult steelhead released upstream to gather data about their movement and spawning activity. A subset of the adults, known as kelts, will travel through the SWW and to the ocean a second time. More information about the Deschutes fish reintroduction program can be found at portlandgeneral. com/healthydeschutes.
Fri., April 4 • 7 p.m.
SISTERS-AREA EVENTS & Enter tainment
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.
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.
WEDNESDAY • APRIL 9
Suttle Lodge Live Music: Dirty Jazz with Wolfe House Records 6 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets, $15, at www.bendticket.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 10
Suttle Lodge Fireside Concert Series: Beth Wood 6 to 8 p.m. Doors at 5:30 Inside The Skip Bar & Restaurant. Tickets, $15, at www.bendticket.com.
The Belfr y Live Music: The Pairs — classically trained vocalists who make it their mission to employ 3-part harmony and honest storytelling Doors open at 6:30 p.m., music at 7. Tickets and info: aftontickets.com/thepairs. Presented by SFF Presents.
FRIDAY • APRIL 11
Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
Bon Bon Viv ant with Jet Black Pe arl up-tempo,indie-flavored New Orleans music BendTicket.com $20
Tue., April 8 • 7 p.m.
Deb Talan writingsongssince14,shebelieves music heals,songscanbeprayers BendTicket.com $20
Fri., April 18 • 7 p.m.
Bo y Named Sue Oregon’s finest horn band tribute to JohnnyCashandother countrylegendsby Cuchulain BendTicket.com $20 13
Pub opens 30 minutes prior to shows 302 E. Main | BelfryEvents.com
SUNDAY • APRIL 13
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 16
Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Rod Scher presents "Ship of Lost Souls: The Tragic Wreck of the Steamship Valencia." 6:30 p.m. More info: www.PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.
Sisters High School Commons ART(ifacts) Annual interactive art experience featuring high school art showcase, live music upcycled T-shirts, hands-on art fun, silent auction. $7 per person or $25 per family Tickets and merch available at the door by cash/check, or pre-pay online: bit.ly/SHS-ARTifacts2025
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
PHOTO PROVIDED
STORYSLAM:
Spring event echoes success of festival
Continued from page 3
personal, unscripted tales centered around the theme “Fresh.” Participants will take the stage without notes, delivering authentic narratives in front of a supportive crowd.
Community members interested in sharing their stories are encouraged to sign up by Wednesday, April 23. Registration and additional event details are available at https://www.sisters fob.org/springstoryslam25. Storytellers will be selected at random during the event, and prizes for the top stories include a night’s stay at Suttle Lake Lodge and more.
While the event welcomes all ages, be advised that some stories may contain adult content.
This event will also serve as a fundraiser for (SFoB).
SFoB is a nonprofit organization that promotes access to literature and storytelling in Central Oregon. They sponsor author visits to local schools, book fairs, and put on a three-day festival every fall.
ADVENTURE:
Sisters programs provided inspiration
Continued from page 3
get there, too,” Rudinsky said.
Out of IEE, Rudinsky took a backpacking guide job in upstate New York, then spent a season in Alaska, guiding sea-kayak trips and cutting her teeth as a guide on the glaciers. From there, she joined AWExpeditions, which organizes mountaineering and remote adventures for women, by women. Rudinsky guides weeks-long trips on both Mount Baker in Washington and Aconcagua.
“The acclimatization process adds an extra day every few days to rest; to make sure you’re sleeping and eating well enough, and that you’re not missing any signs that your body is developing altitude sickness,” Rudinsky said. “A lot of what I manage as a guide is making sure people are staying healthy, or lining up evacuations for the people who might not be. We take the acclimatization process really seriously.”
Aconcagua is known for very extreme weather. One year, Rudinsky said, no one summited for two weeks because the winds across the summit were greater than 60 miles an hour.
“It’s as much as we can do, with weather windows like that, to just complete the ‘360,’ or the circumference of
the mountain, which means we have to climb up to around 19,000 feet to the highest camp to get up and over and circumnavigate the whole mountain.”
Rudinsky is taking steps here in the Pacific Northwest to keep safe amid a mountainous threat: she’s been accruing avalanche certifications since being caught in an avalanche five years ago.
“Just last week, I took a week-long avalanche course to get certified as a professional,” said the proud Level-1 pro with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE).
With that course in Washington State complete, Rudinsky is one course away from becoming an international AIARE instructor. She aims to continue a professional path of empowering others.
“I’m most passionate about the teaching side, instructing people and passing on hard skills so they can continue their own journeys with a bit more education, a bit more expertise, and something to inform their decisions so that, hopefully, they can keep themselves safe but also go do some things that might scare them and grow from the experiences that come out of that.”
Rudinsky’s personal goals include learning Spanish and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
“I’ve wanted to hike it since seeing all the throughhikers pass through when I was just a little student at Sisters High School, giving rides to the hitchhikers and buying them coffee to pepper them with questions. Hopefully, I’ll get to do it either next summer or the summer after,” she said. “And then someday I would like to climb Denali. I know it would be a huge physical and mental challenge but that’s also the allure of it.”
Challenge is the name of the game for a lot of Rudinsky’s jobs, helping her grow into the type of person she says she’s been trying to become since high school.
“I definitely got a lot of value from being in the IEE program, not just as a student, but as an intern learning the skills necessary to lead groups of people in the wilderness and manage safety out in the wild. Even being trusted with that and having that baton passed off to me was really empowering for me,” Rudinsky said. “It’s pretty unique at my age to be able to say that, because of those early guiding experiences with IEE, I have been guiding for over 10 years now.”
An American Robin sat for a portrait.
PHOTO BY KRIS KRISTOVICH
Pondering transitions in Sisters
By Marianne Straumfjord, MD Columnist
I’ve recently become fascinated by transitions: my own, my surroundings, my country, and more mundane things like the ebb and flow of the ease and cost of buying eggs. We all face changes but transitions are more permanent, less reversable. My good friends, neighbors I walk with early every morning, and I see changes all the time during our outings. Because we are out quite early the differences in sunrises is remarkable, sometimes glorious and sometimes just a gradual brightening. If we walk on Peterson Ridge trails there are obviously the seasonal changes but also it is remarkable to watch the ebb and flow of other morning participants. Their dogs, and there are many, have mostly grown to be friends, a pleasant change from their initial hesitancy about greeting us. We make a point to be counted by the camera even to the point of walking back if we missed it. Getting counted is in itself a transition from times past when I would almost have resented the need for such an intrusion into my private time. Notable too is people’s attention to “pack it out.” The trails are much less garbage strewn, and now when we do see something discarded we pick it up. And for us who live near the trails, what a great change to have a parking lot and not lines of parked cars blocking driveways.
But we often walk in town and keep track of all manner of things: roundabout construction and use, some new home construction, houses for sale, who has cleaned off
the sidewalk in a snow fall, who has a remarkable vegetable garden and who needs a new roof or paint job. We watch the ebb and flow of Whychus Creek, sometimes almost white with runoff and sometimes nearly frozen over. And sometimes we see things that are wonderful but you wouldn’t find us doing. That means not following the eight women celebrating a 50th birthday into the ice-covered creek to sing Happy Birthday at 7:30 on a very cold January morning. Or how about the four or five workers on the ice-covered porch of Ace Hardware replacing the roof. They didn’t fall off while we watched anyway. And sometimes there is a new kind of pastry at the bakery or a different special at Spoons. Changes occur everywhere.
I remember Sisters from my childhood visits in the ’50s, including when I helped drive a herd of cattle on horseback from Black Butte through downtown Sisters, taking a night shift during an overnight in Dry Canyon, and then on into Redmond. Tell me how things have changed!
Much later the owners of Camp Tamarack and Lake Creek Lodge, who were good friends, got us started in Camp Sherman, first at the Lodge, then at our cabin, and finally in 1993 a house in Metolius Meadows as permanent residents. I would say Camp Sherman does not change much but it supported a huge transition in our life as my husband retired. I didn’t retire but as any spouse can tell you that is a life-changing event. Among other things he announced he didn’t retire to do housework, which resulted in some words and finding a housekeeper. We experienced
evacuations twice for forest fires. That situation is another that hasn’t changed. It is still a threat, something to be prepared for. There has been one big change: we could get fire insurance then.
In 2005 we moved into Sisters. And there have been changes. The recycling center behind the fire station is gone. The Post Office now has adequate parking, Ray’s took over the grocery store, moved and their old building greeted BiMart. Sisters Drug and Gift gave up their landmark business. A tree fell on the best place for breakfast in town. My home grown bank became First Interstate. Sisters Folk Festival got so crowded we quit going. And then came the roundabouts and much less need for “Sisters left hand turns.”
But life transitions happen too. Widowhood happens and that turns you over and spits you out. You try to adjust to being the odd person at dinner parties and eventually just quit going. You develop a “village” to manage your home. A handyman becomes your best friend, you know the guys that mow your lawn on a first name basis, your neighbor makes sure you have their phone number ... and your son moves into the second floor or your house and works remotely. Oddly enough you realize he knows and does things he didn’t when he last lived with you 30 years ago. You still remind him to wear a coat however.
And then you retire. I was in a health care
position and now I can’t tell people what to do, just where to go. I’m paying off my “last” car this week. I sleep better and have time to exercise more but I have more doctor appointments. I’m probably OK financially if politics don’t intrude but I came from poor beginnings and spent my life saving money only to find myself spending it now. That is uncomfortable. I am definitely a liberal and I am a strong believer in women’s rights so the current national news keeps me on edge.
I definitely have more time to attend all kinds of Historical Society, C4C presentations, town halls, and musical events which is a welcome development. And now I am on the prowl for
volunteer opportunities and have found a couple I am excited about.
Yes, changes and transitions are bound to happen on small and large scales. I find practicing breathing slowly is helpful when they are overwhelming but I must say on the whole life events are exciting and worthwhile. Opportunities abound. I can make new friends and keep up with the old ones more frequently, I can watch current events with a long history of experience and knowledge, and I can judiciously influence the younger crowd with that knowledge ... sometimes. I’m looking forward to the next tree that falls, the next cougar sighting, the new mayor’s input, and next week’s Nugget!
Continued from page 2
development? No, they will not.
We must all face the reality that we live in what they call a dangerous fire hazard zone. This means we have to be very careful and responsible — and that’s including the City and the County.
I’m wondering if it’s all really about the money that the landowner, the Realtors, the builders, the city, and the county can accrue? For the citizens who will be most affected (which really means all of us) there is a dismissive “good luck.”
Unless we the people are vocal and make our voices heard then this unrestricted growth will swallow the small town we all moved to and turn it into something else entirely. And so, we shall see if the City and the County are judicious or complicit in the speed and the greed that are afoot. They possibly will only act on our behalf if we act first.
Write to The Nugget. Attend the county hearing in Bend April 7 at 1 p.m., Barnes Sawyer Rooms of the Deschutes Services Bldg., 1300 NW Wall St. Katherine Lewis
s s s
Medical services
To the Editor:
I’m writing about a non-political problem that has been on my mind for several years. Several times my wife and I have had serious problems arise immediately where we needed help.
The only place to go is Bend or Redmond. I think it’s overdue to have an immediate care facility and discount full service drug and pharmacy store store in Sisters now instead of more empty apartment buildings. What do other people think about this?
Chet Davis
s s s
Invest in wildlife crossings
To the Editor:
As a resident of Black Butte Ranch, I am keenly aware of the risks of driving Highway 20 between Bend and Suttle Lake. This stretch has the highest density of deer and elk-vehicle collisions in Oregon, endangering both people and wildlife. Every year, our state sees over 7,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions, leading to serious injuries and even fatalities. In a room full of BBR friends, I
can point in any direction to someone who has been affected by a wildlife-vehicle collision. In the high season, the carcasses of elk and deer trim the edges of Highway 20, a sight both tragic and cautionary.
We don’t have to shrug and accept this as the norm. Wildlife crossings — overpasses and underpasses — are proven to improve safety. In Central Oregon, the crossings at Crawford Road and Lava Butte on Highway 97 south of Bend reduced deer-vehicle collisions by over 90% while supporting safe movement for 31 different species. Investing in crossings isn’t just good for wildlife — it’s cost-effective, saving millions in accidentrelated expenses and keeping our roads safer.
If you are in support of these wildlife crossings, please take a few minutes to contact Rep. Levy, Rep. Kropf, and Sen. Broadman and urge them to ensure that this budget includes dedicated funds for wildlife crossings in Oregon.
Nancy Hinnen
s s s
Golden goose
To the Editor:
If the proposed McKenzie Meadows Village development goes through, it will be the latest example of plucking a few more feathers off the golden goose of a town that we live in. In fact, some would argue that we already have managed to downgrade our goose status to silver. These feathers don’t grow back, and no amount of “mitigation” or “minimization” will replace a cut down tree that has been around longer than anyone of us has.
I suspect the majority of Sisters residents that took a quick walk through the proposed development area would not be in favor of bulldozing this beautiful forest area in order to replace it with more stacked housing that the average income person/family will not be able to afford. Yet, that is the direction this project seems to be headed.
If you think this forest area that sits behind Sisters High School is worth saving, please take a few minutes to email Haleigh King at the Deschutes County Planning Division prior to April 4 and share your thoughts. Haleigh’s email: Haleigh.king@deschutes. org. There is also a public hearing in Bend on April 7 at 1 p.m. that will be accessible by Zoom. For more information on the hearing, please email Jamie McFarland at Jamie.McFarland@deschutes.org.
Greg Werts
to 50 or more inches of snow depending on how cold the air is. Different storms bring different types of snow that can hold different amounts of water. Warmer-weather snowstorms can create two inches for sleet for an inch of rain, whereas very cold snowstorms may create over 50 inches of very dry, powdery snow for an inch of rain.
Throughout winter, different storms bring different types of snow, so snow depth does not translate directly to the amount of water held in snow. Because of this variability, SWE helps to understand how much water the snow contains.
Reservoirs are lapping up the water. Wickiup near Bend – the largest — is at
88 percent full. Prineville Reservoir, the second largest, records 84 percent. They would easily be at 100 percent but water managers must leave room for the coming snow melt.
Winter recreationalists are ecstatic over the snow build up and Sisters continues to benefit from large numbers of snowmobilers, skiers, and snowshoers who work their way through town often stopping for food or beverages or supplies on their way to and from the high country.
Ski Hoodoo is having a big year. Sunday, it boasted a 101.1-inch depth, part of a season that has produced 286 inches of snow. Over at Mt. Bachelor it’s even more “epic” with a base of 137 inches and a season total of 418 inches. The destination mountain will close on May 26, undoubtedly with plenty of remaining snow. Hoodoo is tentatively scheduled to close April 27.
“It is a common misconception that there are no earthquake hazards in Central Oregon due to the shallow rock in Bend and the area’s distance from the mega fault off the Oregon coast. Central Oregon is after all the state’s safe haven for those that will be affected by the looming Cascadia Subduction Zone ‘big one.’ While, in comparison to the Oregon coast and the Portland area, our risk of damage and injury are much lower,” says Lisa Splitter, a senior geotechnical engineer with Wallace Group in Bend.
“It helps to first get some background on the geology in the region. Our local geology includes shallow basalt bedrock with deep groundwater in Bend; thick sand, and gravel deposits with areas of shallow groundwater in Prineville; and deep sands with shallow groundwater in La Pine. When an earthquake occurs, the shaking experienced at the ground surface is a function of the magnitude of the earthquake, distance from the fault, and the thickness and type of soil over rock. Earthquake motions with shallow rock will exhibit strong, but short shaking periods while deep soil areas can exhibit much longer durations. Shaking with deep soft or loose soil can be equated to shaking a bowl full of Jell-O,” Wallace said in a statement.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 700-mile fault that runs from northern California up to British Columbia and is about 70-100 miles off the Pacific coast shoreline. There have been 43 earthquakes in the last 10,000 years within this fault. The last earthquake that occurred in this fault was on Jan. 26, 1700, with an estimated 9.0 magnitude. This earthquake caused the
coastline to drop several feet and a tsunami to form and crash into the land.
We are not immune from such a quake in Sisters Country. Not because of the tremors or tsunami, but from the likely arrival of thousands of disaster immigrants who will descend into Deschutes County, most passing through or stopping in Sisters.
Andrew Meigs, an Oregon State geology professor, says the aftermath will be felt east of the Cascades. According to the state’s emergency management blueprint, the Bend-Redmond area is designated as the state’s hub for emergency operations.
Deschutes County continues to work on emergency plans in the wake of a major Cascadia earthquake, including the Redmond Airport, which will serve as the state’s biggest transportation location for emergency supplies.
“That important role that, transportation corridors, functioning airports, unaffected highways, and others have for moving emergency relief, towards the affected region,” he said.
Liquefaction is of higher concern to preparedness experts.
According to Splitter, “Two types of earthquakeinduced settlement typically occur. Settlement of loose, dry sands with no cohesion, and liquefaction of saturated, loose soil. Locally, liquefaction is possible when strong shaking occurs in loose, saturated sand causing a temporary loss of soil strength.
“Depending on the strength and thickness of the loose soil deposits, settlement during and after an earthquake can be significant. Loose, saturated sands in areas of Prineville, La Pine, and even Tumalo may be subject to liquefaction settlement. Based on the thickness of loose sand or soil, expected settlement can be several inches in some areas.”
Mike Hernandez
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
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
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.
103 Residential Rentals
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
CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS
Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792
Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com 104 Vacation Rentals
~ Sisters Vacation Rentals ~ Private Central OR vac. rentals, Property Management Services 541-977-9898 www.SistersVacation.com
Downtown Vacation Rentals Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom SistersVacationRentals.net Great pricing. 503-730-0150
201 For Sale
Hydrow rowing machine
Used 5 times, like brand new. Stores upright. Buyer pick up. Retails $2,500, marked down to $800. 503-319-9338, text only.
NuggetNews.com
Classifieds are uploaded to our website, too... Every Tuesday, no extra cost!
202 Firewood
• SPRING 2025 • NEW DISCOUNT PRICES
SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS
HARDWOOD IN STOCK FOR 2025 - DRY WHITE OAK AND MADRONE MIX
SistersForestProducts.com 541-410-4509
ELPEEZ@AOL.COM
205 Garage & Estate Sales
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
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.
CLASSIC CAR STORAGE! Oversized, lights/power, $275/m • 541-419-2502 403 Pets
Cavapoo F2B puppies for sale. Please visit www.saunders hideawayhomestead.com or call 541-829-8429 for more information.
Caring, loving pet care in my home. Daily rates and in town. Cheryl 541-420-7875
I’ve got your cats covered! Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com
Home of Brando's Natural Dog Biscuits • 541-306-7551 • Julie T H E N U G G E T S I S T E R S O
online at NuggetNews.com 500 Services • DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279
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
CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS
DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD
• 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
Junk removal, new home, garage & storage clean-out, construction, yard debris. You Call – We Haul! 541-719-8475
501 Computers & Communications
3 Sisters TeleNetworks, LLC Extend internet to shop, security cameras, Starlink. CCB #191099 541-306-0729
502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 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
M & J CARPET CLEANING Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-owned since 1986. 541-549-9090
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
– All You Need Maintenance –Tree removal, property thinning & clearing, forestry mastication & mulching, stump grinding. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122 TimberStandImprovement.net Tree Removal & Pruning TRAQ Arborist/ CCB#190496 541-771-4825
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
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
601 Construction
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
INSPIRED CUSTOM HOMES www.teeharborconstruction.com 541-213-8736 • CCB#75388 THE NUGGET NEWSPAPER
Answer: Page 23
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.
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
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
HAVE A BUSINESS TO PROMOTE?
SERVICE TO PROVIDE? Advertise in The Nugget!
Pat Burke
LOCALLY OWNED
CRAFTSMAN BUILT
CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com
602
Plumbing & Electric
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
SWEENEY
PLUMBING, INC.
“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling
• New Construction
• Water Heaters
541-549-4349
Residential and Commercial
Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #87587
603 Excavation & Trucking
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
Full Service Excavation
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!
604 Heating & Cooling
ACTION AIR
Heating & Cooling, LLC
Retrofit • New Const • Remodel
Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com
CCB #195556
541-549-6464
Y O U R S O U R C E for up-to-date Sisters news! www.NuggetNews.com
605 Painting
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
EMPIRE PAINTING
Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining
CCB#180042
541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk
606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance
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
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
Eastern Cascade Solutions
Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195 LCB #9958 • CCB #222039
– 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
BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897
I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051
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
802 Help Wanted
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 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.
Work Wanted
I AM A CAREGIVER Looking for work in Sisters, Part-Time Please call Lynn 503-274-0214.
SERVICE TO PROVIDE? BUSINESS TO PROMOTE? VEHICLE FOR SALE? HOUSE TO RENT? 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
999 Public Notice
NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Sisters School District #6, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, will be held at Sisters School District Office, 525 E Cascade Ave, Sisters, Oregon. The meeting will take place on the 16th day of April, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. and an additional meeting will be held on the 7th day of May, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting(s) is to receive the budget message, review the proposed budget for FY 25-26 and to receive comments from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained at the meeting on April 16th or at the Sisters School District Office, 525 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters, Oregon, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on or after April 15th.
NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
The Budget Committee for Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, will meet in public session to discuss the budget for fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The budget meeting will be held at Fire Station No. 2, 67433 Cloverdale Road, Sisters, Oregon 97759, April 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and proposed budget document for the district. A copy of the proposed budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after April 17, 2025, at 67433 Cloverdale Road Fire Station between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. This is a public meeting where deliberations take place. Budget Committee will hear and discuss proposed programs for the next fiscal year.
Construction Contractors'
LICENSING
– Information for the Public –• • • • • • Oregon law requires those who work for compensation (except bona fide employees) in any construction activity involving improvements to real property to be licensed with Oregon CCB. (There are several exemptions.) An active license means the contractor is bonded and insured. Visit www.oregon.gov/CCB
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