The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVIII No. 39 // 2025-09-24 by Nugget Newspaper

The Nugget

News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Runners hit their stride in Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Some 400 long-distance runners took to the trails of Sisters Saturday for the Three Sisters Skyline, one of 10 events produced by Alpine Running. Two courses — a half marathon (13 miles) and a 50K (31 miles) — were both challenging and exhilarating, runners said.

The 50K began at Park Meadow near Three Creek Lake. The first 9.7 miles was a steady gain of 2,300 feet. It ended at Village Green, as did the half marathon, with a total of 3,700 feet climbing and 4,700 feet of descent over 95 percent singletrack trail.

The half marathon started at the junction of FS Road 1516 and 970 and worked its way south over Peterson Ridge. It was run on 85 percent singletrack with only a 500 foot gain and 1,500 feet of downhill, making for a fast course.

Three aid stations assisted the 50K runners, with one in service to the 13 milers.

Some 145 finished the

50K, striking out at 8 a.m.; 265 completed the half marathon taking off at 9:30 a.m.

Tim Morin (42) from Bend finished first in the 50K with a time of 4:23:43.9.

Fourth and fifth-place

Firefighters recognized in badge-pinning

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

A cadre of young aspiring firefighters successfully completed their Firefighter 1 Academy this summer, and have attained the status of Resident Volunteers. They were recognized in a badge-pinning ceremony at Sisters Fire Hall on Friday, September 19.

The annual event packed the fire hall with more participants than ever before. The recruits are part of Northwest Fire Training, which incorporates the Sisters-Camp Sherman, Cloverdale, and Black Butte Ranch fire districts.

SCSFD Deputy Fire Chief Tim Craig saluted the young recruits, recalling how they showed up at their first day of the academy to make a

roomful of individuals. Those individuals, through the often-arduous course of training, became a team — a kind of cohesion that is essential to success in the fire service.

“You have all changed dramatically in that time,” Craig said.

Battalion Chief Cody Meredith and Cloverdale Captain Travis Bootes both noted how challenging the academy is — challenging enough to make recruits question whether the fire service is for them. Bootes described search training in which recruits in full turnouts in 90-degree weather were put in conditions of zero visibility and required to crawl into a structure to search for fire victims. Despite the brutal conditions, there was no

winners were women.

Ariane Hendrix-Roach (37) from Portland was first in the women’s division with a time of 4:37:21.7.

Anthony Socotch (37) also from Portland crossed

the half marathon finish line with a time of 1:26:08.6 and Justyne Mudy-Mader (40) from Bend was third overall and first in women’s

See RUNNERS on page 20

Sisters Folk Festival rolling into town

With preparations complete, volunteers and staff ready to roll, and an idyllic autumn forecast ahead, the 28th annual Sisters Folk Festival is all set for this weekend, September 26-28. Downtown Sisters will soon be transformed into a walkable hub of music and creativity, with more than 30 artists performing across seven intimate venues.

This year’s lineup features legendary songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, who continues to delight audiences more than five decades into his career. Fresh off the release of his live album Loudon Live in London, Wainwright brings the wit and humanity that earned him a Grammy, a Netflix special, and songs

See SFF on page 15

Hundreds drawn to artist studio tour

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Sisters was a hive of activity drawing large crowds of locals and visitors alike to town over the weekend. Parking spots and coffee shops filled early Saturday for the Three Sisters Skyline runs (see story, this page). Right behind were art lovers from all over Oregon and a few from Washington, California, and Idaho.

They were on a mission: A gentle, noncompetitive journey through Sisters Country to meet 25 artists who participated in 16 home studios and hosting galleries. Some locations featured more than one artist, so visitors could meet many of our local talent.

These artists represent some of the best in art, design, creativity, and fabrication in Sisters Country. Many rely on sales of art for

their livelihood, so the event was a win-win. Not only did the artists retain 100 percent of the proceeds from their works, but several offered special one-time only sales.

As in prior years, Saturday’s spectacular weather was a bonus. Mild temperatures under a full

Paul Alan Bennett delighted visitors with the story of how his career as a painter and printmaker evolved.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Anthony Socotch of Portland won the half marathon portion of Saturday’s Three Sisters Skyline race, crossing the finish line at 1:26:08.6.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

OPINION

Free speech is always in danger

Free speech has been under threat virtually since the founding of our republic. In 1798, embroiled in a quasi-war with revolutionary France, and besieged by often vicious critics, the John Adams administration pushed four acts through the Federalist-dominated Congress as “wartime” measures to limit dissent. One was the Sedition Act, which made it a crime for American citizens to “print, utter, or publish...any false, scandalous, and malicious writing” about the government.

In part because of his assault on civil liberties, Adams was swept out of office in the 1800 election, and the Sedition Act was allowed to expire. The Federalist Party dwindled and then imploded, and the infamous act was consigned to the ash heap of history.

Yet, the impulse to constrain speech keeps rising from the ashes like a revenant to undermine the keystone of our civil liberties.

Any party in power has a natural tendency to want to mute, suppress, or ban criticism, especially when they believe it is false and unfair. The framers of the Constitution knew this, which is why they enshrined freedom of conscience and expression as the first among the enumerated rights laid out in the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.

There can be no greater threat to free speech than silencing a political actor like Charlie Kirk with a bullet. His work was built around free, public debate and dialogue, and using violence to silence him is a profound violation of everything our republic stands for.

Our reaction to this violation — and the ugly applauding of it in some quarters will either shore up or further erode our commitment to our fundamental liberties. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s statements in the aftermath of the Kirk assassination were alarming:

“There’s free speech, and then there’s hate speech. And there is no place — especially now, especially after what happened to Charlie — [for that] in our society.”

To their credit, many prominent voices from the right immediately pushed back on this fundamentally false understanding of American liberty.

As the free speech advocacy outfit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) argues, Bondi’s take on “hate speech” and the First Amendment is plain wrong, and she should know better:

“Some consider criticism of Israel or Black Lives Matter to be hate speech. Others believe criticizing LGBTQ+ advocacy or Christian conservatism fits the description. And some, like President Trump, want to push the idea that even critical news coverage of an elected official — namely, him — can be a form of hate speech… [Bondi stated]:

“‘We will absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech.’ This is absolutely chilling. It’s why carving out a ‘hate speech’ exception to the First Amendment is so dangerous. It grants the government the power not only to decide what constitutes hateful speech, but to punish it ... Nothing is more antithetical to what America stands for than enabling federal speech police.”

Bondi’s statements are especially ironic as she invokes action in the name of an ardent, absolutist free speech advocate. Kirk’s own words refute Bondi:

“Hate speech does not exist legally in America. There’s ugly speech. There’s gross speech. There’s evil speech. And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment. Keep America free.”

Bondi immediately backtracked, clarifying that she meant the government would only go after people who advocate violence. Even then, her words indicate that she does not recognize how narrow the standard is even for that exception to free speech protection. She cannot fully get the mask back in place after it has slipped — we have seen the face of an AG who does not understand, much less respect, this fundamental American right. That bears watching — no matter where you stand in the political spectrum.

Nobody’s hands are clean when it comes to government power intruding upon free speech. It is well-established that the Biden Administration exerted pressure on social media companies to censor Americans, particularly around COVID-related issues such as the efficacy of vaccines. Examples are legion, they go far back into our history, they are found across the left-right political spectrum — and no matter where they come from and what their purported intent, they are always dangerous.

Incursions on the sanctity of free speech are often cloaked in the imperative to respond to a crisis — a quasi-war with France; a public health threat. When “safety” is invoked, it’s a good idea to go on alert, because “safety” and “security” are so often used as a cloak to shroud nefarious inroads against liberty.

And that’s where the protection of free speech comes down to us — We The People: The First Amendment must be a first-principle. It cannot be defended when “their guy” is undermining it and compromised when “our guy” is in charge.

If we lose the First Amendment, we lose the country. Keep America free.

Jim Cornelius — Editor in Chief

Note: A community conversation on freedom of speech is set for Thursday, October 9, 5:30 p.m. at Sisters Fire Hall. Details to come next week.

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Civil discourse

By Josh Curtis Guest Columnist

If you ask someone what civil discourse means they’ll likely say something about respecting the humanity of the speaker while disagreeing with their ideas. In practice, I think most people believe it means you must listen to whatever they have to say, and if you disagree with them, you are being uncivil. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, people of all stripes are arguing for civility, and while I think many are making admirable attempts, it is overshadowed by cynical bad actors and those whose concept of justice is revenge.

At this flashpoint, our world is intensely stratified, leaving us with increasingly less in common. This is enforced by the internet, where it is easy to find your people and hideout in walled gardens. Cultural monoliths are increasingly rare and political motivations at the individual level are complicated. Every few years we vote for our tribe, but to claim a party’s voters think and behave as one is naive.

It is understandable this thinking persists — the human brain operates by comparison and pattern. In the wake of a horrific public murder of a political figure, people naturally want to identify motivation and ascribe the same violence to anyone who appears similar. There are influential people within each major party rushing to link the shooter to their political enemies, using flimsy evidence to justify their claims. The frustrating reality is we are unlikely to truly understand what motivated someone to kill Charlie Kirk. I would argue that even if we do, it is irrelevant to understanding other’s politics and desires.

If there was an ironclad causality between political affiliation and violence, then those loudly calling for the eradication of the left might be disappointed by what the numbers show. But since so many people are fixated on what motivated Kirk’s killer, it is worth unpacking. The recently instituted FBI classification of Nihilistic Violent Extremism is a timely descriptor. The suspect is a meme-coded, largely apolitical young person, who snapped and acted out in horrific fashion. Another recent example

would be the Palm Springs car bombing of a fertility clinic. The commonality is violence and confusion.

Even if Kirk’s murderer shouts in open court, “I killed him because he hates trans people,” this doesn’t mean all defenders of transrights are biding their time until they too can murder. Nor that the violent political acts cataloged by the FBI, of which 2:1 are committed by right wing extremists, means that a conservative neighbor is plotting my death. This is simplistic and wrongheaded.

Unfortunately this thinking was present in last week’s Nugget. I was disappointed that the first op-ed published after Charlie Kirk’s murder perpetuated further divisiveness. The piece insinuates a past letter writer’s refusal to use the President’s title is a call for violence, and within a few paragraphs claims “the left” wants to shut down free speech and they’re responsible for Kirk’s death. It ends by pleading for conservatives and Christians to answer a call to truth before things become worse. I must ask, within that exhortation is there space for nonChristians? Can the many Christians who do not identify as conservative join this effort?

This kind of writing deepens the divides that make civil discourse impossible. Since the right to free speech was invoked, I would remind the author this means people will say things you don’t like. If you think political violence grants an exception to that right, then I welcome your polemic on how the plague of right wing violence requires the silencing of conservatives. While I certainly don’t possess the ecumenical authority of the author to declare people demonic, I am quite certain they’re still allowed their opinions.

I won’t deny things are difficult but there is a great opportunity to reflect. If you feel persecuted because you share the same faith as Kirk, I invite you to imagine what it must feel like to be trans. And if you found yourself making excuses for the assassination, imagine it was your parent or child who was shot. My ask is we all take a breath and summon the same grace for those you disagree with as you would hope they extend to you.

Sisters man felt called to honor Kirk

Ethan Cron was deeply affected by the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus on September 10. In response, he provided the impetus behind a prayer vigil held near the stallion sculpture on Cascade Avenue on Tuesday evening, September 16.

Cron is just shy of turning 19, and is among the many American youth influenced by Kirk’s activism and his faith.

“I saw a lot of other young men and young women across the nation organizing events and vigils like that,” he told The Nugget.

Cron thought he should “step up and be the change I want to see.”

The vigil consciously focused not on politics, but on faith. Cron recalled that a podcast host asked what Kirk would want to be remembered for, and answered that “he’d want to be remembered for his faith in Jesus Christ, which I thought was really beautiful. I just wanted to honor Charlie in the best way he would want to be remembered.”

Cron realized that he had no experience organizing an

Storey takes reins at Sisters Elementary COMMUNITY

event, so he turned to Ryan Moffat, a pastor at Sisters Community Church, to help pull the vigil together and give it structure.

Both Cron and Moffat emphasized that the vigil was not in any sense a political event. Participants prayed for Kirk and his family — and for his alleged killer and his family, and for those who were celebrating Kirk’s death.

Moffat told The Nugget that the principle behind the vigil was to emphasize that “you can’t drive back darkness with darkness. You can only drive back darkness with love.”

Cron is one of a multitude of young people deeply affected by Kirk’s assassination. Nearly 200,000 people attended his memorial services, held in a football stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, and numbers estimated to be in the millions live-streamed the assembly.

“His death really sparked something in me,” Cron said. “[Kirk] fought for young men like me and young people across this country to have a better life. I think genuinely Charlie Kirk was a martyr for the faith, because he lived a

First Story offers home ownership opportunity

Home ownership may seem entirely out of reach for many folks trying to make their way in Sisters.

First Story has, for decades, brought that aspiration within reach for individuals and families in Central Oregon. The nonprofit currently has a home available in Sisters and is actively seeking applications.

First Story is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded in 1998 by Hayden Watson of Hayden Homes, headquartered in Redmond. First Story provides a zero-down, no-interest, 30-year loan for a newly built or remodeled home to

individuals and families who qualify and earn 80 percent or less of the area median income before taxes (ranges from $64,000-$98,000 depending on household size in Deschutes County). The program is for first-time homebuyers.

There are nine First Story families in Sisters and 40 across Central Oregon. The currently available home is the middle unit of a triplex in the Hayden Homes McKenzie Meadows Village development. (Scan the QR code with the ad accompanying the online version of this story for more information or to share the information with

Megan Storey was ready for a change.

She had been the assistant principal at Elton Gregory Middle School in Redmond for the past four years and thought it might be exciting to try working at a larger school, near her extended family, in Tahoma, Washington. She had been hired as an assistant principal at the middle school there, and her family had started the process of packing up their home this past spring.

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

Mon., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 541- 610-73 83

Alcoholics Anonymous

Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Tuesday, noon, Big Book study, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Wednesday, 7 a.m.,G entlemen’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Thursday, noon, Sober Sisters Women’s meet ing, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

Thursday, 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transf iguration • Fr iday, noon, Step & Tradition meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 541- 54 8- 04 40 Saturday, 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transf iguration

Central Oregon Fly Tyer s Guild

For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) Sisters Chapter meets monthly for a meeting, group bike ride, or event.

Contact sistersrep@c otamtb.c om for info

Ci tizens4Communit y Communit y Builders meeting, 3rd Wednesday of ever y mont h, 10 to 11:3 0 a.m. Visit citizens 4c ommunity.c om for location

Council on Aging of Central Oregon

Senior Lunch In -person communit y dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab -and -go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs. 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters Communit y Church 541- 48 0-18 43

East of the Cascades Quilt Guild

4th Wed. (September-June), Stitchin’ Post All are welc ome. 541- 549- 60 61

Go Fi sh Fishing Group 3rd Monday 7 p.m., Sisters Communit y Church 541-771-2211

Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s)

2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sisters Communit y Church Materials provided 541- 40 8- 8505

Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 541- 668 -1755

Living Well With Dementia Sister s Care Partner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th Weds 1-2:30 p.m. Sisters Librar y Communit y Room. 541- 58 8- 05 47

Mili tary Parent s of Sister s Meetings are held quarterly; please call 541-38 8- 9013

Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys, 11:3 0 a.m., Takoda’s Rest aurant. 541- 549- 6469

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4t h Saturday, 10 a.m., meet ing by Zoom. 503- 93 0- 6158

Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church 541- 549- 6157

Sisters Area Woodworker s First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-231-18 97

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:3 0 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Support Group 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Sisters Librar y Communit y Room. 541- 58 8- 05 47 (M eets with Living Well With Dementia Sisters)

Sisters Garden Club For mont hly meetings visit: SistersGardenClu b.com.

Sisters Habitat for Humani ty Board of Director s 4t h Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.

Location information: 541- 549-1193

Sisters Kiwani s 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at SPRD in Sisters. 541- 632- 3663

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sister s Elementary School Commons. 917-219- 8298

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-76 0- 5645

Sisters Veterans no -host lunch, Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Rest aurant. All veterans welc ome, 541-241- 6563

Sisters Trails Alliance Board Meetings take place ever y other month, 5 p.m. In -person or zoom. Cont act: info@sisterstrails.org

Three Sister s Irrigation District Board of Director s Meets 2nd Tuesday, 10 a.m., TSID Of fice 541- 903- 4050

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 541- 419-1279

VF W Post 8138 and American Legion Po st 86 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., Pine Meadow Village Clubhouse, 59 6 W Jefferson Ave. 541-241- 6563

SCHOOLS

Black Bu tt e School

Board of Director s 3rd Tuesday, 9 a.m. Black Butte School. 541- 59 5- 6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wednesday mont hly, Sisters School District Administration Building. See schedule at www.ssd 6. org. 541- 549- 8521 x5 002. CITY & PARKS

However, amidst the packing and moving logistics, Storey found herself at an impasse: The school district was having trouble getting Storey’s contract in order, and as a result, her move was stalled. In the end, Megan Storey decided to pull the plug and look for other alternatives.

Luckily, Sisters Elementary School had recently posted a principal position, and Storey decided

Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall 541- 549- 6022

Sisters Park & Recreation District

Board of Director s 2nd & 4t h Tues., 4 p.m., Coff ield Center 541- 549-20 91

Sisters Planning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall 541- 549- 6022

FIRE & POLICE

Black Bu tt e Ranch Po lice Dept

Board of Director s Meets mont hly. 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date

Black Bu tt e Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 541- 59 5-2288 Cloverdale RFPD

Board of Director s 3rd Wed., 5:30 p.m., 6743 3 Cloverdale Rd. 541- 54 8- 4815 cloverdalefire.c om

Sister s- Camp Sherman RFPD

Board of Director s 3rd Tuesday, 9 a.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541- 549- 0771

Sister s- Camp Sherman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall 301 S. Elm St. 541- 549- 0771

PHOTO COURTESY CATHY STADELI

Ethan Cron was the impetus behind a vigil held in Sisters on September 16 to honor the memory of slain activist Charlie Kirk.

See FIRST STORY on page 9

See STOREY on page 14

Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

See KIRK on page 21

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

By Lilli Worona Correspondent

Makin’ It Local is featuring the art of Susan Luckey Higdon

Makin’ It Local will feature regionally acclaimed Central Oregon Artist Susan Luckey Higdon in an Artist in Attendance reception during the Fourth Friday art walk on September 26, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The artist is featured in the exhibition “Moving Color” through the month of September, featuring newly released fine art prints.

A lifelong Oregonian, Susan Luckey Higdon is well known for capturing the essence of Oregon’s dramatic landscapes, from mountain peaks to wild rivers, especially the high Cascade lakes and streams. Her paintings depict the complex interactions of color and pattern in what she describes as natural abstractions.

“Color, light, texture, shapes — I want to communicate what I see in a way that captures the spirit of the place, showing accurate mood and detail, but working toward simplicity,” she said.

Over 30 years ago, Susan began painting with soft pastels in stolen moments while working full time as a graphic designer in an advertising agency and raising two young children. Her motivation was to do something completely creative for herself, working intuitively and moving color around for sheer joy.

In the beginning, because she didn’t have a studio, Susan used soft pastels because of the pure, vivid colors, which gave immediate, gratifying results. They also fit her method of laying

colors next to each other to play upon each other rather than blending. Later, moving to acrylics allowed her to work larger and removed the need for glass over the artwork. She developed a technique of using acrylic paints on cradled birch board, adding thick color, and then rubbing it off. Scratching and working the medium quickly to achieve an impressionistic effect with rich depth, building up layers, and adding detail, the final image emerges.

A founding member of Tumalo Art Co., an artist-run gallery in Bend, Oregon’s Old Mill District in its 20th year, Susan was the signature artist for the Deschutes River Conservancy’s RiverFeast

event for 11 years and has been featured in Italian flyfishing magazine H2O, Bend Magazine, and a segment on OPB’s Oregon Art Beat, among others. She is an invited artist to the High Desert Museum’s prestigious juried, annual exhibit Art in the West. Her underwater fish series was displayed in McCormick & Schmick restaurants across the country, and a long list of images have been installed in corporate settings and medical centers. Susan’s paintings have been juried into prestigious

shows like the Pastel 100 and by jurors such as Wolf Kahn and are collected widely. Her greeting card line, which began in 2000 and features panoramic views of iconic Central Oregon scenes, is still available throughout the area.

The reception will be held at 281 W. Cascade Ave.

Live music from Erin Cole — Baker and refreshments, light hors d’oeuvres, and appetizers by Jackson Higdon of Luckey’s Woodsman, along with Oregon wine curated by Friends and Vine, will also be featured.

Artist Susan Luckey Higdon’ s work captures the spirit of Sisters Country.

SAA’s 4th Friday Artwalk warms up to Fall

By Helen Schmidling Correspondent

The Sisters Arts Association’s Fourth Friday Artwalk is filled with the colors of Fall. Stroll through the galleries of Sisters before the Sisters Folk Festival, or just enjoy a nice evening out on the town. Galleries will be open all day, though several may confine Artwalk hours from 4 to 6 p.m. in order to partake in the music.

Makin’ It Local features newly released fine art prints by Susan Luckey Higdon, who is known for capturing the essence of Oregon’s dramatic landscapes, in what she calls natural abstractions. Folk music will be by Erin Cole-Baker.

The Rickards Gallery hosts Garth Williams, a fly fisherman who translates that joy to canvas. With palette knife, he entwines colors and textures to create eye- catching aspens and dramatic landscapes. Garth will be at the Rickards Gallery from noon to 7 p.m. painting live. Stop by and watch it all come together.

Stitchin’ Post continues to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and founder Jean Wells with “Golden Memories,” a gathering of quilts from the Central Oregon Studio Art Quilting Associates (SAQA).

Sisters Gallery and Frame has new work by Lynn Brush and Linda Wolff. Known for her iconic street scenes, Lynn paints city views from frequent travels to Europe and the Middle East, and recent landscapes inspired by the colors and wide-open vistas of Central Oregon. Linda Wolff turns plain white tissue paper into colorful collage landscapes that probe the layers beneath us, the mountains around us, and the skies above us.

Toriizaka Art shows new landscapes from internationally renowned CambodianVietnamese artist Lim Khim Katy, created during her residency here September 17 to 23. Katy is celebrated for her figurative works that reveal the resilience of daily life, as well as her radiant landscapes filled with imagination and tranquility. She is known for her meticulous brushwork, evocative color palettes, and balance of realism with poetic sensitivity. Alongside Katy’s work, the gallery unveils five new wood-burn and mixed media figurative pieces by celebrated Vietnamese artist Ngo Van Sac. A profound theme in Van Sac’s art is his use of Hanzi scripts, tied to his family history. When Vietnam’s language was modernized under French colonial rule, his grandfather—a poet and professor—was forced to burn his manuscripts, but secretly buried them instead. By integrating these

preserved texts into his art, Van Sac honors his grandfather’s resistance while bridging history and creativity.

Wildflower Studio is featuring new paintings by Sandy Melchiori. Sandy recently had the opportunity to paint plein air at an event in the beautiful Wallowa Mountain town of Joseph, Oregon. The studio has also restocked jewelry, skin care, candles, diffusers, and art supplies.

The Campbell Gallery features work by Sheila Dunn. This year, Sheila took over the creation of the Sisters Folk Festival poster art from longtime predecessor Dennis McGregor. Hanging in this month’s Campbell Gallery show, the poster depicts an unnamed musician set against the backdrop of majestic Mount Jefferson, symbolizing both the universality of music and its deep roots in the Oregon landscape. The original artwork is available in this year’s JAM Auction and Raffle — bid on it now through September 28 at

https://givebutter.com/c/ JAM2025. The gallery will not be open during Artwalk, however, due to the concurrent Festival event.

Hood Avenue Art’s featured artists are Carolyn Platt and Paul Alan Bennett. Carolyn’s printmaking journey is one of constant exploration. She loves loose marks and gestural approaches to form, so translates those drawing impulses to printmaking. Nothing preplanned, she lassos her gestures into a loose organization which can include layering, color saturation, transparency and muting through overlapping, scale, and textural variations. Paul creates lava-like textural effects on a printing press using a technique called collagraphy. He works back into these textured papers with gouache paint to create new continents, world maps, islands, sea creatures, pathways, and dwellings.

Flying Horse Gallery, moving from its gallery location at 161 South Elm for the winter, is holding an End of Season Sale. Selected

artwork is reduced from 10 to 30 percent. This includes works by Brad Earl, Sloane Earl, and several guest artists. Enter the gallery’s sweepstakes (no purchase necessary). There will be two drawings: the first is for an original print by either Brad or Sloane and second for a certificate for 60 minutes of Stretch Therapy with Mel Marth at Mellness Whole Body Wellness. Two Trick Pony will be performing on the green space at the back of the gallery from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 27.

Folk Festival poster by Sheila Dunn at the Campbell Gallery.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Art by K.Hewer at Stitchin’ Post.

PHOTO PROVIDED

“Joseph Barn” by Sandy Melchiori at Wildflower Studio.

PHOTO PROVIDED

“Oregon Gothic” by Brad Earl at the Flying Horse Gallery.

PHOTO PROVIDED

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.

To the Editor:

Climate

What do heat waves, hurricanes, catastrophic storms, floods, and our recent wildfires have in common? Climate change! We The People in our local communities across the nation are paying increasingly steeper prices for this spate of climate disasters.

While individual actions certainly play a large part, a large reason for this is the decades long dishonesty of fossil fuel companies, who have long realized — and actively hidden — the proven and direct link between fossil fuel extraction and consumption and climate change. This has been, and continues to be, bolstered by government policies that encourage, protect, and shield them from liability.

As a direct result, individuals, families, organizations, and communities now face the fallout: higher insurance premiums (or cancelations), soaring food costs, new types of insect infestations, worsening diseases, and other mounting problems. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel companies driving this crisis continue to post record profits — without paying a dime toward the damages they are creating and are thus responsible for.

It’s time for those of us in Oregon to stand up. Ask our elected officials to join us in supporting “The Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act” now before Congress. This bill would require fossil fuel producers to contribute a small share of their (still record-making!) profits into a federal fund. This climate fund would mitigate costs to thus help rebuild communities after disasters, protect frontline neighborhoods, and invest in resilience so we’re better prepared for the next storm, flood, fire, or disease outbreak.

The states of Vermont and New York already have taken leadership and created similar “climate superfund” laws, and other states are considering it, but we need action at the federal level. Our leaders in Congress must put people over polluter profits and pass the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act.

The time to act is now — before the next disaster strikes!

Scott R. Bowler

s s s

Intersection

To the Editor:

“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” may apply to the intersection at East Barclay and North Locust.

In my case it was “extraordinary intersection requires extraordinary caution.”

Heading north on North Locust I approached the half-roundabout cautiously as I prepared to enter the twilight zone before proceeding north.

To proceed north you must first bear left, then bear right to continue going straight north to avoid hitting the white markers in the middle.

As I bore right to go north I was confronted with a California SUV facing me in my lane thankfully at a full stop.

The California driver had assumed that the left lane going south was for vehicles headed south on North Locust and that the right lane was for right turns onto East Barclay.

There I sat in the middle of the twilight zone while the California driver realized her error, backed up and moved to the right lane. I could then continue to proceed north on North Locust and she proceeded south.

There was no other traffic on either road, which allowed this altercation to be laughable.

It was broad daylight in clear weather, yet a visiting driver made an honest mistake at an “extraordinary intersection.”

In a community that prides itself on welcoming visitors, it is incumbent on the traffic engineer to provide clear intuitive interchanges.

The intersection at North Locust and East Barclay is not intuitive, it is an “extraordinary intersection that require extraordinary caution.”

Bob Brown s s s

Defending president

To the Editor:

In the September 10, Letters to the Editor, a man wrote a letter that truly disappointed and angered me.

He said, “No more ranting from me. Never does any good.” He is right!

Nothing good comes from such contempt for others. Your words and feelings detract from the wholesomeness of what this community, country, and you should stand for. God, Family, Country, Human Rights, Respect.

It’s sad that your opinions and beliefs are shared by others because the goodness, true leadership, brilliance, and determination to make our country great again is hidden by

Sisters salutes…

Starshine would like to give a huge shoutout of gratitude to the Sisters Community Foundation for providing $2,000 of scholarships for kiddos to attend Starshine Summer Camps who wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

Cultivating Community IN SISTERS

Steve Stratos Columnist

The violence of the summer

The violence of the summer, the many shootings and stabbings across party lines, the assassination of Charlie Kirk and Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in June has rocked our nation to the core. Many of us have mourned these acts of evil. Evil is not a respecter of political preference. Sociologist Simon Sinek says it’s funny how in our divided political culture each side calls the other “evil” when each side believes it is coming from a place of “good.” Is there genuine evil in the world?

Yes, of course. Does anyone see what they are doing or believing as evil? Probably not, in many cases. Could the way forward be to ask questions, be curious, and try to source where the good one believes is coming from? What should be our response?

While we seek a response, we know it isn’t pointing fingers at one another. We need examples to look to, to give to our children. As we try to be a partner and influence our community what should our response be? Our political obsession cannot carry the weight of the moment we are in. Our moral compass has been shattered and we have lost our common ethic. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. Where do we look for an answer? Many have their heroes. Some turn to the message and life of Martin Luther King, Jr., but where did he get his inspiration from? He turned to his creator, and he turned to Jesus. Our common ethic is given and demonstrated in a profound way by this profound person, Jesus. The ethic is called the golden rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Overly simplistic and naïve, you say! This was no ordinary love. This was sacrificial love that existed for the flourishing of others. This is what produced the flourishing of western

civilization. This is the value they organized their politics around. This lived out overcame an oppressive evil empire. It was demonstrated as people cared for the poor, the oppressed, widows and orphans.

In the last hours of Jesus’ life he brought his disciples together. He knew what awaited him. It was the hour of the betrayal of Judas, the thrice denial of Peter, and the abandonment of the other disciples. What a disappointment! What oppressive evil! Jesus rose from the table and washed their feet. This demonstration of care, service, and love would change them and eventually the world. This is what they ultimately gathered around. This was the value that changed them from hiding as cowards to world changers. Servant, sacrificial love is the value. Jesus changed their future. So let’s just admit the plain facts; every person and every culture has an ideal for how it will gather and function. For most it is selfserving not sacrificial love. The question is: “Whose politic or ideal will govern?” Our partisanship and rhetoric have reached fever pitch. Everyone is yelling, not many are thinking. Some are even cowardly killing. People are vying for power, not sacrificial service love. Many caricatures of Christianity have been

dismissed as “myth,” “naive” or wishful thinking. At the risk of exposing my naivete would you at least consider the claims of Jesus of Nazareth?

The story goes like this: Jesus, being fully God came in the form fully human. He put down his divinity and died a death on a cross he did not deserve as the only innocent person who has ever lived. The story says that all of us (regardless of political background) are guilty but if we trust the story of the gospel something radical happens in us; the power of divine love and divine grace is poured into our hearts and we receive the gift of God (His righteousness, His Love, His grace). But the key part of the story is that Jesus does something so counter-cultural, so surprising, and so radical in how he builds his family and his community (his “polis”). Jesus builds it

by dying for his enemies, not shouting at them.

Consider the beauty of this ethic from the Apostle Paul (who infamously killed Christians until he became one):

• Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

• If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

• Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

• On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

• Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Isn’t that a compelling vision of the future?

Sisters Weather FORECAST

from page

the liberal news media. They do not tell the good things or truths. They only slander, lie, and degrade our President for the purpose of dividing us. Look what happened to Charlie Kirk, then what happened to Jimmy Kimmel being suspended for spewing his hateful false statements. Not humor, hate. It’s about time.

There are 77 million American citizens who voted for a great man who is doing his very best to bring us out of the total disarray, mess, and embarrassment the previous “President” has brought to our nation. Many thousands of our young people have died of Fentanyl poisoning, murders, plus child trafficking, rapes, rioting, criminals allowed to enter our country, the wars around the world that were allowed because of Biden’s lack of leadership. These truths were an attempt to destroy our nation.

Biden, Harris, and others who were led by puppet masters were close to succeeding in destroying us but haven’t totally succeeded, and will not!

So before you condemn “our President” and the other millions who desire our country to come back to the standards we should hold dear, you, my friend, better take a good look at yourself and say, “do I want to be that hateful? Why do I want to bring more unrest to our country?”

Don’t pity us. The darkness of the destroyer has infiltrated our world. Please forgive me for being so abrupt, but unkind language only causes more unrest.

God loves you, you are his son, treat others with respect in all circumstances.

The first and second great commandments are to “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Please show your inner goodness before it’s too late.

Yvonne Suckow s s s

Keep shining

To the Editor:

Thank you so much for your wonderful featured article and color photos in The Nugget Newspaper , detailing the annual Glory Daze Car Show held on Saturday, September 13! I know I speak for my fellow classic vehicle owners

when I say this car show was amazing, and a great time was had by everyone who participated in this show as well as all attendees.

I also was so grateful to you for including in your article that “First through the gates was a pristine Chevy Nova from the early 1960s driven by a woman who was all smiles, especially knowing she was in a male-dominated hobby. Fewer than 10 percent of cars entered in shows like this are owned by women.”

Indeed, I am that woman and the owner of the “pristine Chevy Nova;” however, my Chevy Nova is from the early 1970s (a 1971 model). I am also that woman who was and always is all smiles whenever I drive my Chevy Nova, especially knowing I am in a male-dominated hobby. Call me partial, but during every car show in which I participate, I make an extra effort to locate my fellow ladies’ classic vehicle owners to acknowledge them and congratulate them for their devotion to such an amazing hobby and passion.

Whether or not you are a man, woman, boy, or girl, if you have a passion for all classic vehicles, and are fortunate to own, drive, and participate in car shows, people may not realize the time, effort, dedication, and hard work involved in maintaining such beautiful, rare, and classic examples of priceless and treasured memories. May this beautiful tradition and amazing hobby live on!

Keep polishing, shining, and smiling!

Janet Swarts

Editor’s note and correction: The Mack truck shown in the page 1 photograph in the September 13 edition is owned by Jesse Christensen. The caption misidentified the owner. s s s

To the Editor:

Preemptive response

In a preemptive response to anticipated criticism of my recent column, I want to address the inevitable whataboutism regarding my closing remarks on the left’s efforts to censor free speech.

In a September 23, 2016, Atlantic article, Salena Zito observed, “The press takes [Trump] literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally.” This insight remains relevant today. When Attorney General

See LETTERS on page

others).

This housing opportunity is in a “Fresh Start” home, meaning that it was previously occupied by a First Story owner. First Story has first right of refusal to reacquire a home upon default or sale, according to nonprofit board chair Matt Robinson.

Executive Director Claire Duncan explained, “Homeownership builds wealth for families as they build equity in their home, and First Story families are no different. As their home increases in value over the years, they can watch their potential profit grow. While many First Story families will stay in their homes for decades, some may move on when their family grows or when they leave the area for new opportunities. In these cases, First Story has the first option to purchase the home back. The appreciation in the home is then split between the homeowner and First Story. The family benefits by receiving a nest egg for their next home. And First Story benefits as proceeds from the sale help to remodel the home into a ‘Fresh Start’ for a brand new family while maintaining the affordable housing stock in the region. ”

“This was in really good condition,” Robinson said. “The [original] homeowner took really good care of it.”

Robinson noted that an important aspect of First Story home ownership is that the homes are part of a

neighborhood, and not distinct as “affordable housing.”

“There’s a lot of pride of ownership, and it’s not like they feel isolated in an ‘affordable housing’ community,” he said.

Prospective homeowners must complete an education program to help set themselves up for success.

To apply for a First Story home, families first complete a homeownership education course with one of our trusted partners,” Duncan said. “In Central Oregon, we’re grateful to work with NeighborImpact, which offers regular workshops and financial coaching. After completing the education requirement, the family, if they meet the base eligibility criteria … can submit an application.”

Information on NeighborImpact’s classes may be found at https://www. neighborimpact.org/housinghelp/home-buyer-coaching/. Contact NeighborImpact about the required Homebuyer Education Course at info@ neighborimpact.org.

That application process is straightforward, Robinson noted.

“The unique thing about First Story is we don’t have an 80-page application process,” he said.

Robinson noted that the program “wouldn’t exist without the partnership with Hayden Homes. It’s a very special, unique partnership.”

Robinson is gratified to be part of an effort that changes lives for the better.

“These homeowners just have incredible stories — so well-deserving,” he said.

For more information, visit https://www.firststory.org.

Jen McCryst al, Broker 541-420-4347 jennifermccryst

LETTERS

Continued from page 8

Pam Bondi, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, stated that the administration might “go after” individuals using “hate speech,” or when President Trump suggested to a reporter that the administration could target journalists for “hate speech,” the media reacted as if the Constitution itself were under siege.

Meanwhile, conservatives understand these statements as an attempt to highlight an issue fueling violence, such as the heckler’s veto (or assassin’s veto) at universities when conservatives are invited to speak, or when congressmen face disruptions at town halls, or when Democrats like Chuck Schumer (2020) and Maxine Waters (2018) have encouraged their supporters to target Supreme Court justices or Trump administration officials.

As a free speech absolutist, I remain unalarmed because conservatives and conservative-adjacent voices quickly pushed back. Influential figures like Megyn Kelly, Matt Walsh, Tucker Carlson, Brit Hume, Charles C. W. Cooke, Mary Katharine Ham, Will Cain, Kat Timpf, Ted Cruz, and Thomas Massie publicly opposed Bondi’s remarks, prompting the administration to clarify its stance.

This feedback mechanism is absent on the progressive side. Democrats and leftleaning media often march in lockstep, with dissenting voices swiftly attacked until they conform. Notably, in the past week, few Democrats condemned Charlie Kirk’s killing, someone who also would have opposed criminalizing “hate speech,” without prefacing their remarks with qualifiers like

“while I disagree with his views” or attempting to justify the killer’s actions through whataboutism.

My goal in all my writing is not to inflame but to offer a perspective rarely heard in The Nugget. Differing opinions should be welcomed, not silenced.

Steve Woodside

s s s Culture clash

To the Editor:

Some (more) thoughts inspired by recent discussions: Just spent some time in a very small Montana town (about a quarter of the size of Sisters) visiting an old friend. He asked me if I’d watched “Yellowstone,” and then laughingly said he hated it; it had inspired all sorts of outsiders to move to and “ruin” Montana. He smiled ironically, because 25 years ago he had been one of those outsiders. A long-time avid fly fisherman he’d been visiting the area for many summers before he got shot in the face working as a cop in Los Angeles. So eventually he pensioned off and retired to the small community in Montana. He stayed very active, has traveled all over, and is definitely a snowbird, so he has a foot in several different worlds.

Anyway, his mix of insider/outsider perspective got me thinking. Lots of nativeborn folks everywhere; and lots of us moved about during our lives, too. One way is not superior to the other; they just are. The importance of respecting local traditions and history/culture is obvious. Yet places do change. I remember growing up in an urban

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SISTERS LIBRARY EVENTS

Family Story Time: Interactive stor y time with books, s ongs, and rhymes! 0-5 yrs. Wednesday, S eptemb er 24, 10:30 a .m. and O ctober 1, 10:30 a .m.

You and your child will hear great stories while als o becoming more familiar with letter s ounds, rhyming , vo cabulary, and print

Write Your Own Obituar y in Four Easy

Steps: Writing your own obituar y is an opportunity to reﬂect on your life, your accomplishments (and foibles!), your passions, your quirks. Start a working do cument that you can edit through the y ears . Friday, October 3, 10:30a .m.-12p.m rive Central Oregon

Get help with housing list s, medical access, m ental health resources, v eterans services, s ocial security applications , and more. rive Central Oregon sta help you navigate the complex forms, websites, and waitlist s needed to access resources.

Appointments are ﬁrstcome ﬁrst-s er ved and last 30 minutes . Friday, S eptemb er 26, and Octob er 3, 10 a .m.–1 p.m. To s etup a remote phone appointment call 541-782-1022 or email info@thrivecentraloregon org . Info: www thrivecentraloregon.org

Sisters High Deser t Chorale Welcomes

New Singers

Come sing with us this f all as we prepare for our holiday concerts in December. We are a f unloving community mixed chorus that meets at the Episcopal Church of the Transﬁguration in Sisters weekly on Monday evenings 6:30 –8:30 p.m. First rehearsal was Sep tember 8 . No audition is required . For more information, contact C arol Lisek at carolshdc@gmail.com

C4C launches online volunteer dashboard

Citizens4Community (C4C) has developed a new online dashboard for local volunteer roles . Nonproﬁts can post Sisters Country-based volunteer needs for f ree, and community members c an search for oppor tunities aligned with their interests and availabilit y. Learn more at volunteerinsisters.org.

Craf t Consignors Wanted

Qualit y craf t-consignors for the 49th Snowﬂake Boutique, November 7 & 8 , 2025 . Next jur y is Saturday, October 11, 9 a.m. Final jur y will be Monday, October 20 , 6 p.m . Both will be held at the Redmond Senior Center. Info on website http:// www.snowﬂakeboutique.org or call Brenda 541-350 -4120 or Pat 541-383-1821

A NNOUNCEMENT S

Free Weekly Meal Service

Family Kitchen hosts a weekly to-go hot meal on Tuesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy

For more information visit www.FamilyKitchen .org inking about volunteering for STARS?

Be our guest at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on Tuesday, October 7, 4 -7 p.m . at e Hub ,-291 E Main. Meet our ama zing volunteers and our special guest, S cott Crabtree of Happy Brain Science Scott will share the science of volunteering and building connections to boost happiness and well-being. Catering by Luckey ’s Woodsman. No cost to attend . R SVP by Friday, October 3 , is required . E-mail Rennie at rennie@starsride.org if interested

Weekly Community Meditation: Mondays 5:306:30 p.m.; no charge. Ten minutes of stretching and breathwork , followed by a 20 -minute guided meditation session and a 20-minute silent meditation session. Inspire Dance and Fitness Studio, 592 N . Sisters Park Ct., Ste. B . Info: Bonnie Rose, 541-306 -3320.

Camp Polk Cemetery Tour

Sunday, September 28, 1–2 p.m. is historic pioneer cemeter y has 325 gravesites including 70 veterans . It sits atop a beautiful t wo-acre hilltop three miles north of Sisters 69875 Camp Polk Rd., Sisters . Register at Eventbrite: Camp Polk Cemeter y Tours . Learn more at: www camppolkpioneercemetery.org

Sisters Sno-Go-Fers First meeting of the Snowmobile season at 6 p.m. on Octob er 8, at Upper ree Creeks Sno Park . A p otluck will be at the warming shelter with the club providing the main dish. Pleas e bring a side or des sert. Dinner starts at 5:30. Come earlier to visit with other club members . Take S . Elm St. out of Sisters all the way to the park. Meetings are held ever y s econd Wednes day of the month through Snowmobile seaso n. All are welcome

Transﬁgure Yourself

New f ree chair ﬁtnes s class for mature adult s and individuals with limited mobilit y. Increase balance ﬂexibilit y and strength all set to lively fun music

Tuesdays , f rom 9:45 am to 10:15 am. All are welcome. Episcopal Church of Transﬁguration, 121 N Books Camp Rd. Questions? Call 541-549-7087.

e Episcopal Church of the Transﬁguration: Free Outdoor concert

Featuring Bob Baker and his band Haute Melange, Sunday, September 28, 10:30 a .m.–12:30 p.m . Food, f un and games for all ages . Ecumenical Ser vice 9:30 –10 :30 a.m.

New Community Work space

Citizens4Community (C4C) has opened a community work space at 291 E. Main Ave (next to Fir Street Park). " e Hub" o ers donation-based coworking , meeting space, a shared kitchen, nonproﬁt resources , rotating art displays, and more. Operating hours are Monday–Friday, 10 a .m.–4 p.m. Info: https://citizens4communit y. com/hub.

e Episcopal Church of the Transﬁguration: First Friday Family Fun Bingo Night: First Friday Family Fun Bingo Night on Friday, October 3 , new time 4 p.m. E arly Bird Specials feature Pulled Pork or Veggie Wrap Meal Deals as well as other favorites . Featuring Marionberry Cobbler ala mode for dessert. Two sizes of frozen cobblers , available for purchase. Games begin at 4:30 p.m. $20 packet includes three cards for each of 10 games and one additional card for the blackout game. Bingo prizes of cash and local merchant gift cards awarded at the end of each game. 50/50 Ra e optiontickets $2 each or 6 for $10 Ra e proceeds will be split half for the winner and half for Flat Fire Relief Fund through NeighborImpact!

Social Security: Free educational class Guest expert and vice president of Hart ford Casey Miller will go over options and implications for taking Social Securit y beneﬁts and how to maximize them . Class is about an hour long : 6 –7 p.m. (arrive 5:45 to get started on time and enjoy f ree appetizers and dinner bu et) Tuesday, October 14, downtown Sisters . Free, but must R SVP to 541-549-186 6 Edward Jones o ce of Karen Kassy. Location and details will be shared once you RSVP, so that headcount will be accurate for the organizers and caterers.

Retain Your Brain: Free education class Learn practical tips on how to ageproof your brain and how brain health can impac t your lifestyle and ﬁnances . Join guest expert and vice president of Hartford Casey Miller for this class noon–1 p.m. (arrive 11:45 to get started on time and enjoy f ree lunch bu et), Tuesday, October 14, downtown Sisters . Free, but must RSVP to 541-549-186 6 Edward Jones o ce of Karen Kassy. Location and details will be shared once you RSVP, so that headcount will be accurate for the organizers and caterers.

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

Free Lunches for Seniors

For those 60+, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon o ers a f un, no-cost social lunch every Tuesday, 11 a .m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. No reservations needed. No-cost Grab-N-Go lunche s take place weekly on Wednesday and ursday, f rom 12:30 to 1 p.m. Call 541-797-9367.

Sisters Careg iver Support

A f acilitated support group for caregivers of those with chronic or life-shor tening diseases meets 10 :30 to 11:30 a .m. on the third Wednesday of ever y month at Sisters Episcopal Church of e Transﬁguration, 121 Brook s Camp Rd . For more information, please call 503-616 -8712.

Free Pet Food

Need pet food for your dog or cat? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4 023 to schedule your pickup. Located at 412 E . Main Ave., Ste. 4, behind e Nug get

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 to 8 p.m., in the Sisters Folk Festival “JA M Studio” upstairs (accessible by chair lif t) in the Sisters Art Works building , 20 4 W. Adams Ave. Free. Info: 541-977-8494, jessaneene@msn.com

SISTER S- ARE A C HURCH ES

Baha’i Faith

For information, devotions, study groups , etc

cont ac t Shauna Rocha 541-6 47-9826 • www.bahai.org www.bahai.us • www.bahaiteaching s.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, 541-977-5559; 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 541-241- 6086

11 a .m. S aturday Worship

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA) 386 N . Fir St. • 541-549-5831

www.shepherdof thehillsluther anchurch.com

10 a .m. Sunday Worship

Sisters Church of the N az arene 67130 Har ring ton Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960 www.sistersna z.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

8 a .m. Daybreak Ser vice • 10 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 e Wednesday Bible Study Home Church (nondenominational) Call for time and location • 541-728-2717

Wellhouse Churc h 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10 a .m. Sunday Worship

Cell phone ban met with acceptance in Sisters schools

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Sisters students are taking the state-mandates ban on cell phone devices in stride — at least so student and teacher reactions in the early days of adoption at Sisters schools would indicate.

On July 2, Governor Tina Kotek signed Executive Order 25-09, which aims to improve student educational outcomes and mental wellbeing across the state by prohibiting cell phone use by students during the school day in Oregon’s K-12 public schools.

“Oregon’s schools should be a place where students find belonging, support, and the joy of learning something new,” Governor Kotek said. “The research is clear: cell phone use can create a trifecta of consequences for our young people — mental health issues, safety in school, and distraction from learning. I signed this order to stand up for the promise of every student in every corner of the state.”

The order called for districts to have a policy in place by October 31 with implementation no later than January 1. Sisters School District No. 6 chose to begin the “bell-to-bell” policy effective with the start of fall classes rather than make the

change mid-year (see The Nugget, September 10, page 1).

Teacher Heidi Dixon told The Nugget, “So far, the new cell phone policy has allowed me to spend more time attending to student learning. The 5-10 minutes I used to spend managing cell phones every class period, is now spent answering their questions, giving feedback, and managing the classroom. We see more eye contact in the hallways and smiles on faces, which feels like a step in the right direction.”

That teachers would find immediate benefit is of not much surprise, but a few students have expressed similar impressions. One, a sophomore girl, said, “As someone who has grown up in a generation where we always had cell phones, it’s easy to be dependent on them and it can be really difficult to set them down. With the new PEDs (Personal Electronic Device) policy, we have an amazing opportunity to connect with our peers and friends in a way deeper than through a screen.

“I’ve heard more laughing in the halls in between classes, seen more smiles during lunch, and felt a more free energy in the classrooms. We get a chance to take a deep breath and be with our friends the good, old-fashioned way.”

We are not using the students’ names for as one mother put it: “Might be social suicide to give a quote about being in favor of it, and hesitant to speak out against, too.”

Charlie Kanzig, a high school counselor, said, “Since I am not a classroom teacher I don’t have my finger on the pulse, but it seems like students are adjusting just fine. In my experience when rules are black and white, but also understandable and reasonable, people accept them fairly readily. I have noticed that at lunch kids are out at the picnic tables in the sun talking and laughing rather than being engrossed on their phones.”

A junior boy weighed in: “We don’t talk about it that much. Everybody seems OK with it. It feels like kids are having a lot more fun and talking more. I’m spending more time with my friends and I’m not stressing about what’s happening that I don’t know about the second it happens.”

Another teacher, Brittney Hilgers, sees a difference.

“While it’s early in the year, students have really

risen to the occasion,” she said. “There has been minimal chatter about their attitudes, and classes in general have been more productive and interactive.

“Last year it was quite tiresome policing phones (even if they were kept in a caddy), so it’s really relieved a layer of stress for me, that I can just focus on connecting with and teaching kids.”

“My parents are surprised that my sister and I aren’t all mad about it,” said one junior. “We knew it would happen one day. Kids know they are hooked on their screens, and

this helps us, I guess. There is more talk now in class, kids asking more questions, I think. My friends and I talk about more stuff now. Before we only talked about what was happening on TikTok.” Singing the same chorus, teacher Dan Oliver said, “I’ve noticed my students connecting more since the change. They’re more engaged in class, having real conversations in the halls and at lunch. It’s encouraging to see friendships grow when devices aren’t in the picture, and the school community feels stronger because of it.”

Recreational burning reopened

The Sisters-Camp Sherman and Cloverdale Fire Districts have announced that recreational burning reopened on Tuesday, September 9, in all areas within the Sisters-Camp Sherman and Cloverdale Fire Districts. During the peak of the summer fire season, several local fire agencies banned all burning, including recreational fires, due to red flag warnings and extreme predicted fire behavior in the area.

Recreational fires include those used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes and do not include yard debris burning within the Sisters-Camp Sherman and Cloverdale Fire Districts. Open yard debris burning typically opens around November 1 each year.

Residents are strongly encouraged to contact their local fire protection agencies for additional burning information and regulations. Sisters-Camp Sherman and Cloverdale Fire Departments will continue to monitor weather and fuel moisture conditions in their district and may make modifications on a day-to-day basis. Call your local fire agency for more information: Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District, 541-3892345; Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, 541-549-0771 office, 541-549-2333 burn information.

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Sat., Oct. 4 • 7 p.m.

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Thur., Oct. 23 • 7 p.m. Jeffrey Foucault with Sam Weber BendTicket.com $25

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Sist ers-Area Events & Ent er tainment

WEDNESDAY • SEPT. 24

Sisters Movie House Autumn Arts & Adventure: "It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley" 6:45 p.m. Information and tickets at www sistersmoviehouse.com.

Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em, 21+, 5:30 p.m.–close, upstairs. $50 buy-in, freezeout. The Barn Live Music: Silvertone Devils 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

THURSDAY • SEPT. 25

Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards Live Music: Eric Leadbetter Duo 5 to 8 p.m. Advanced tickets required: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com/ event-center

The Barn Live Music: In the Rounds 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 12th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 Info: call 541-549-2471

FRIDAY • SEPT. 26

Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Galleries and shops feature art and demonstrations. Information: www.sistersarts.org.

Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke with Gaby 8 p.m. to midnight. Information call 541-549-6114.

Makin’ it Local Art Walk & Live Music

Artist reception with Susan Luckey Higdon 4–7 p.m. Enjoy Oregon wine and beer sampling, gingersnaps, and live music by Erin Cole-Baker Info: www.makinitlocal.com.

Downtown Venues Sisters Folk Festival

An intimate, multi-genre festival that puts 33 great artists on seven stages! Information and tickets at www.sistersfolkfest.org.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Live Music: Toothpick Shaker 4-6 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Info: 541-549-2471

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

SATURDAY • SEPT. 27

Downtown Venues Sisters Folk Festival

An intimate, multi-genre festival that puts 33 great artists on seven stages! Information and tickets at www.sistersfolkfest.org.

The Barn Live Music: Ky Burt — The Feel Goods 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Live Music: NTT 4-6 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Info: 541-549-2471

Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke with Gaby 8 p.m. to midnight. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • SEPT. 28

Downtown Venues Sisters Folk Festival

An intimate, multi-genre festival that puts 33 great artists on seven stages! Information and tickets at www.sistersfolkfest.org.

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble, socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

WEDNESDAY • OCTOBER 1

Sisters Movie House Autumn Arts & Adventure: "RITUAL Mountain Bike Film Tour 2025" 6:45 p.m. Information and tickets 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).

The Barn Live Music: Mama's Boy 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

THURSDAY • OCTOBER 2

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 12th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 Info: call 541-549-2471

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 3

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Thor Hanson presents "Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature just Outside Your Door," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Episcopal Church of Transfiguration Family BINGO Bingo Night 5 p.m. 10 games/3 cards each for $20, prizes, $10 dinner deal, 50/50 raffle to benefit Flat Fire Relief Fund. 121 N. Brooks Camp Rd., Sisters

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 3 (cont.)

Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke with Gaby 8 p.m. to midnight. Information call 541-549-6114. Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

SATURDAY • OCTOBER 4

The Belfr y Live Music: Hillstomp’s “Last Hurrah,” 7 p.m. Portland’s junkbox blues duo is here for their ﬁnal Central Oregon show — send them off in style! Tickets, $25, BendTicket.com.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Spontaneous Car Show 5-7 p.m. Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool car to display, or just come look — different every week. Free Info: 541-549-2471

Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke with Gaby 8 p.m. to midnight. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • OCTOBER 5

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors, music, community booth, kids activities. Info: www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble, socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

MONDAY • OCTOBER 6

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.

WEDNESDAY • OCTOBER 8

Sisters Movie House Autumn Arts & Adventure: "Hung Up On A Dream: The Zombies Documentar y" 6:45 p.m. Information and tickets 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).

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 10

SATURDAY • OCTOBER 11

Paulina Springs Books Knitting Circle Bring your own project and supplies. This is not a workshop, but there are experienced knitters in the group who are happy to help those just starting out. (Second Saturday.) Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke with Gaby 8 p.m. to midnight. Information call 541-549-6114.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Spontaneous Car Show 5-7 p.m. Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool car to display, or just come look — different every week. Free Info: 541-549-2471

SUNDAY • OCTOBER 12

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

WEDNESDAY • OCT. 15

Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 17

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke with Gaby 8 p.m. to midnight. Information call 541-549-6114.

SATURDAY • OCTOBER 18

Frankie's (formerly Sisters Depot) Live Music: Open Mic Music lovers can enjoy a variety of local talent, 7 to 9 p.m. Sign ups, 6:30 Info: sistersdepot.com. Eurosports Food Cart Garden Spontaneous Car Show 5-7 p.m. Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool car to display, or just come look — different every week. Free Info: 541-549-2471

Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke with Gaby 8 p.m. to midnight. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • OCTOBER 19

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors, music, community booth, kids activities. Info: www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

Natural history writer opens door to nature

Award-winning natural history writer Thor Hanson will present his book “Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door,” on Friday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Paulina Springs Books.

Hanson highlights that any backyard or neighborhood park can yield exciting new discoveries, and anyone’s observations can contribute to biodiversity research and conservation efforts around the globe. Hanson will also be a special guest at Storytime with Sloth on Saturday, October 4, at 10 a.m. Hanson will share his illustrated children’s books “The Escape Artist: A True Story of Octopus Adventure,” and “Star and the Maestro: How a Musical Bird Made Melodies with Mozart.” Storytime is free and open to all ages.

A practicing field biologist with over three decades of experience, Hanson retrains our eyes to reveal the hidden phenomena all around us in “Close To Home.” Hanson takes readers on a tour of his own backyard, teaching us how and where we can reacquaint ourselves with local species. Through community-driven efforts like the BioSCAN project in Los Angeles or the iNaturalist app, anyone can contribute to scientific research that will help us learn more about the world, improve biodiversity, and even discover new species. Hanson introduces us to communities across the globe that are banding together to fight climate change and environmental degradation. For instance, one canton in Switzerland has built over 850 ponds to bring back dwindling amphibian populations.

Citizens in Oklahoma City boost monarch butterflies on their long migration, planting the critical milkweeds they rely upon to feed and reproduce. And in Alaska, one homeowner’s backyard soil sample has yielded a promising new cancer drug, plus a compound that neutralizes pet odors.

In an era of global environmental challenges, Hanson argues that hyperlocal, hands-on efforts to connect with nature have never been more important. He shows readers the myriad, simple ways to improve habitats and increase biodiversity on virtually any patch of ground, whether by planting flowers, installing birdfeeders, or leaving our lawns unmowed. Moving and reverent, “Close To Home” provides a much-needed lesson in curiosity and community, one that reminds us to slow down and invest in the world waiting for us just outside our doors.

Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave.

Outlaws earn road win over Delphian

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Sisters Outlaws boys soccer team battled through a tough start and a long bus ride on Tuesday, September 16, to earn a 4-2 victory over Delphian.

Sisters knew they’d need to be sharp against a strong Delphian squad, but just two minutes into the match, a lazy pass in the backfield cost them. Delphian pounced on the mistake and buried a shot to take an early 1-0 lead.

“It took us a while to get used to the firm and fast surface,” said Coach Jeff Husmann. “But the boys didn’t panic. They adjusted and began working well together defensively.”

About 20 minutes into the first half, the Outlaws earned a corner kick. Nick Palmer sent in a dangerous ball that deflected off a Delphian defender and into the net for an own goal, and leveled the scored to 1-1. Moments later, Delphian responded with a curling strike to the upper right corner to reclaim the lead 2-1.

The Outlaws pressed on, and just before halftime Jasper Jensen chipped a perfect ball over the defense to Palmer, who slotted it home to tie the game 2-2 as teams headed into the break.

“At halftime we sensed that if we kept the tempo high, we could wear Delphian down,” Husmann said. “For the most part, we stayed focused and were linking passes together,

while they relied on long balls.”

Seven minutes into the second half, Felix Montanez made a strong run down the right wing. Palmer slipped him the ball, and Montanez calmly finished to give the Outlaws their first lead of the night, 3-2. The goal shifted momentum firmly in Sister’s favor.

“Delphian has many good players, but they couldn’t seem to play together as a unit,” Husmann said. “That goal seemed to take the wind out of their sails.”

The Outlaws sealed the win in the 70th minute when striker JB Greenwood muscled his way through the middle of the field and was fouled inside the box. Palmer stepped up to the spot and drilled home his second goal of the match to push the lead to 4-2. That score held to the final whistle.

…the boys didn’t panic. They adjusted and began working well together defensively. — Coach Jeff Husmann

“This was such a good win for our boys,” said Husmann. “It builds confidence, but it also shows us what we need to work on. I’m proud of how they played together.”

The Outlaws were scheduled to play at home against La Pine on Tuesday, September 23. They will play at home against Santiam Christian on Thursday, September 25.

Husmann noted Alex Nieto, who he stated is really playing well as a holding midfielder, and mentioned he sees the field well and distributes the ball. He also acknowledged Mason Dahl who continues to gain confidence in his new role as a holding midfielder.

Award-winning natural history writer Thor Hanson.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Elementary

to give it a shot.

“This position [at Sisters Elementary] was posted…. and so it just felt like, wow, Justin’s headed that way. I would have such an amazing mentor next door if it were to work out. So why not see what happens? And so I applied with no preconceived notions that I would get [the job]... and here I am working next door to one of my great mentors, and back in a school district I totally love and adore,” she said.

Storey was referring to Justin Nicklous, who was hired as principal this year at Sisters Middle School (see The Nugget, September 17, page 3). Nicklous and Storey worked together as principal and vice principal at Elton Gregory Middle School in Redmond, and also taught together at Sisters Middle

School when they were both starting their careers in education. After teaching in Sisters and before her vice principalship at Elton Gregory, Storey worked in the Redmond School district as a teacher, and then as the Dean of Students at Obsidian Middle School.

Storey’s long career in education started out when she had a sudden change of heart the summer before starting law school.

“The summer before I was going to leave [for law school], I did some soul searching. I have a strong background in rafting and had done so much raft guiding and was doing a lot of camps with kids, and I thought, you know, my heart is really into doing something that is kidfocused,” Storey said.

“So I did a little pivot and ended up applying to go to Concordia University to go get my masters in teaching so that way I could work with kids all the time and still have my summers to do some rafting, which is my

other passion.”

Storey’s zeal for working with kids has been at the center of her career from the beginning, and she is eager to bring that passion into the Sisters School District, where she got her start over 20 years ago.

“I feel like this is a community I love and know and understand really well,” she explained.

“This is a community that supports our schools through thick and thin…that’s super willing to give and make sure our students have what they need to succeed and beyond,” Storey added.

Storey’s aim in her first year as principal at Sisters Elementary School is to support her staff, and help them achieve their goals in the classroom.

“My vision is to be somebody who can remove barriers out of the way for teachers so that they can keep going with their amazing ideas that they have… it’s so cool to be in a place where I can say, ‘yes, let’s try it!’” she said enthusiastically.

Storey also aims to continue to build the community partnerships that the Sisters School District is known for, and to offer extracurricular programming to students.

Storey explained that some of this programming was already offered to the entire student body during the first week of school; Sisters Elementary partnered with Central Oregon Commute Options to teach students

about bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Storey shared that she is especially excited about getting to know the Sisters Elementary School staff; she is spending her first few weeks as principal visiting their classrooms and watching their amazing work.

“I can’t say this enough… [the staff] truly care about the success and outcomes of our students, each and every child. It’s just such a good feeling to walk through these halls… our kids are in just amazing hands, you know, of

very caring adults,” she said. Storey is settling into her new role and enthusiastic about the months to come as she launches into her role as principal of Sisters Elementary School.

“It’s good for me to try something different….to challenge myself,” she said. “As I really start to learn systems and learn [about] this staff, [I can meet] up with teams to really say, ‘Okay, what’s our next step?’ … what are we going to do together to push us forward and make our students stronger and better?”

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Megan Storey is overjoyed to lead Sisters Elementary School.

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recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash and Bonnie Raitt.

Also performing is Nashville’s Katie Pruitt, whose acclaimed sophomore album “Mantras” was revered for both its emotional honesty and fearless explorations of identity. Nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year by the Americana Music Association and praised by outlets like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, Pruitt has quickly established herself as one of the most celebrated young songwriters of her generation.

Brooklyn-based Kaleta & Super Yamba Band bring a high-energy blend of Afrobeat and psychedelic funk to the festival lineup. The group is led by Leon Ligan-Majek aka Kaleta, whose guitar chops earned him a spot touring and recording alongside Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Lauryn Hill, and more. He and the Super Yamba Band have electrified audiences nationwide with performances at the Apollo Theater, Paste Magazine’s Emerging Music Festival, and in national television appearances.

These standout acts join a bold and eclectic lineup that includes Grace Bowers, John Fullbright, American Patchwork Quartet, Gaby

Moreno, Martyn Joseph, Kyshona, Robert Mirabal & Rare Tribal Mob, The Bones of J.R. Jones, Goodnight, Texas, and many more. Performances span genres from roots, indie-folk, and bluegrass to Latin and experimental fusions, offering audiences the chance to discover both familiar classics and unexpected new favorites.

Music runs Friday evening through Sunday afternoon across downtown venues including Sisters Art Works, Village Green, Oliver Lemon’s, The Belfry, Sisters Depot, Open Door, and Sisters Saloon. The festival is designed as a walkable experience, with each venue offering a distinctive listening environment.

Families can also enjoy the free KidZone at Fir Street Park on Saturday, September 27, featuring kid-friendly live music, interactive art activities, an instrument petting zoo, and performances by The Rebel Eves, Mo Phillips & the Spaghetti Pants Dance Band, and the University of Oregon Roots Music Ensemble. At 4 p.m. there will be a community dance, called and led by Sisters’ own Outlaw Strings. A wristband is not required to attend or participate in any of the KidZone activities.

Locals don’t miss the beloved SFF Community Celebration at Village Green on Sunday, September 28, led by local songwriter Beth Wood and featuring collaborations from a

variety of festival performers. This event is free and open to the public, no wristband required. Gates open at 9 a.m. for this popular performance Saturday single-day tickets are sold out, but Friday and Sunday single-day tickets remain available along with three-day weekend passes. Tickets can be purchased at aftontickets.com/ SFF2025 and the full schedule and lineup are available

at sistersfolkfest.org. Follow @Sisters FolkFestival on Instagram and Facebook for the most current updates and additional information.

Kaleta & Super Yamba Band are featured in their year’s Sisters Folk Festival. PHOTO

from page 9

neighborhood changing from Irish/Italian working and middle class to Blacks and Puerto Ricans and other ethnic groups moving in and shaking up the culture a bit. There were tensions to say the least. Different from Sisters and a tiny Montana town, to be sure.

When my family moved to a small college town in California there were different types of tensions between town and gown, and the folks with long roots and those who came there recently. All part of the great mix of this country. Nothing simple about it. But some things seem simple: Be a good neighbor; stay open to new people, ideas, and culture; don’t impose your own ways on others but stay true to yourself. Give of yourself when you can and don’t overreact when someone compares you to a noxious weed; you don’t know everything about everybody.

Laura West

To the Editor:

s s s

Red Rock

Lane and Red Rock would be just fine with being turned out to pasture at the rodeo grounds. He either rodeoed or went huntin’ or fishin’ and was a crack shot dairyman, too!

Brad Livsey

To the Editor:

s s s

Wonderful world

A concerned neighbor called saying "evacuate now'' so I drove to Redmond to stay with someone. Much time was spent at the Redmond Library where they have newspapers and computers to get updates. Library staff helped me with pen and paper to write a sister. A gas station attendant mailed it. Another day a complete stranger dropped my mail off at the Redmond Post Office

When I fled from a situation to the Red Cross they bent over backwards to help. The sheriffs and Red Cross made it possible to contact a worried sister. They housed my harp so I played a bit and taught a Red Cross worker how to play. It was a happier time.

A friend handed me two large zucchinis when I got home as power had been out and some food

Portraits

had to be tossed. Angels had watered my veggie garden and saved it. A new friend drove out from Redmond to check on me. So many wanted to help others. Neighbors and I checked burned areas with new mini-roads but their houses were saved. Firefighters were concerned with the extra dust, and wear and tear on our roads but they left our roads in better condition, frequently putting down water. Once they stopped and handed me a bottle of cold water as I was walking. These guys did an excellent and almost unbelievable job.

What a wonderful world it is when we choose to see it!

Lindy Zeeman

s s s

First amendment

To the Editor:

I can find nothing in the First Amendment of our Constitution that says the President can use the power of his position to attack speech that he does not like. Nor does it say that citizens can harass, threaten, or kill anyone whose speech and opinions offend them. I think all readers can agree on this.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

My thought, after reading the First Amendment of the Constitution, was that the Constitution of our United States is the glue that holds us together, giving each of us the potential as well as the right to be treated equally.

It does seem that we are in a time when “We the People” need to be reminded of what the Constitution of the United States is. I needed to be reminded. I found the following in the U.S. Senate’s website. I hope readers will find it as interesting as I did:

Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the United States Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. Its first three words — “We The People” — affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. The supremacy of the people through their elected representatives is recognized in Article I, which creates a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The positioning of Congress at

Rubye Fangmeier finds a lot of and sports. “It’s physical, requires teamw rewarding,” she says. The Calif business at the University of friend after graduation to try Sisters.” Rubye learned all about farming at Seed to summer of 2018. It had nothing to do she had just earned, but the farming lif healthier eating organic pr she returned as a full-time empl to farm manager. She is no oversees the field and planting cy timing and season. “I like the natur over time,” she says. There’ a sense of belonging. “The farm f When the farm closes in late N for a two-month vacation in Indonesia. But, she sa return. “I love farming and can

the beginning of the Constitution affirms its status as the “First Branch” of the federal government.

The Constitution assigned to Congress responsibility for organizing the executive and judicial branches, raising revenue, declaring war, and making all laws necessary for executing these powers. The president is permitted to veto specific legislative acts, but Congress has the authority to override presidential vetoes by two-thirds majorities of both houses. The Constitution also provides that the Senate advise and consent on key executive and judicial appointments and on the approval for ratification of treaties.

For over two centuries the Constitution has remained in force because its framers successfully separated and balanced governmental powers to safeguard the interests of majority rule and minority rights, of liberty and equality, and of the federal and state governments. More a concise statement of national principles than a detailed plan of governmental operation, the Constitution has evolved to meet the changing needs of a modern society profoundly different from the eighteenthcentury world in which its creators lived. To date, the Constitution has been amended 27 times, most recently in 1992. The first 10 amendments constitute the Bill of Rights.

Nancy Bright, Sisters resident for 21 years s s s

Musings on Flat Fire

To the Editor:

Early one morning the week after the fire the sky was cloudy and gray. No birds were singing. There was an eerie silence inside and out. I stood on the deck of our home overlooking Whychus Canyon. I deeply felt the impact of the fire that morning — looking over the blackened canyon in the absolute quiet and seeing how close it came to all the houses was overwhelming and surreal.

It was also a reminder of how fortunate we are to have had the resources available and here to fight this fire at the moments they did. Made me think of people living in war-torn countries who live with fear and destruction daily as a way of life.

That was the first day I’d just sat in the silence to feel the magnitude of all this. And the depth of the gratitude and appreciation for those who saved our paradise. Thank you.

Wendy Birnbaum

PHOTO AND STORY BY Cody Rheault

Outlaws take down 4A Mazama on gridiron

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws earned a 35-18 win over the Mazama Vikings on Friday, September 19, in front of their home crowd.

Sisters struck on the opening drive, sparked by quarterback Hunter Bronson’s 30-yard connection with Jace Owens on third-andfive. Moments later, Bronson found Spencer Davis on a short end-around pass for a 15-yard touchdown (TD).

Joseph Derksen hit the PAT and the Outlaws took an early lead. Mazama was able to score a TD of their own at the close of the first quarter but Sisters was up by one, 7-6.

Late in the first half, Bronson and Atom Fetteroff got the crowd on their feet with a one-play drive. Bronson dumped off a short pass, and Fetteroff took it 80 yards down the sideline for the score. Derksen’s extra point made it 14-6 at halftime.

The Outlaws came out strong in the second half. Ethan Eby fueled the drive with a 20-yard sweep, then capped it himself, breaking tackles up the left sideline for a 35-yard TD run to push the lead to 21-6. Mazama was able to put six points on the scoreboard and at the close of the third the Outlaws were on top 21-12.

Mazama rallied in the fourth, and pulled to within three with 4:53 left on the clock. Mazama tried for an onside kick but it went deep. Davis scooped it up and sprinted 80 yards for a momentum-swinging TD return.

Sisters sealed the win with 3:30 remaining when Eby broke loose for another 20-yard run. Fetteroff capped the drive with a 45-yard TD off an end-around pass

Defensively, the boys played fast and loose on the field….

— Coach Hayden Hudson

from Bronson. Derksen’s PAT made it 35-18 and the Outlaws closed out the win.

On defense, Jace Owens led the Outlaws with six tackles. Ace Chew had two interceptions and a tackle, and Eby added three stops.

On offense, Bronson was 11 for 20 passing for 218 yards and three TDs. Eby rushed 13 times for 116 yards and a TD, Fetteroff had four receptions for 151 yards and two TDs, and Davis added one reception for 15 yards and a TD, and 130 yards on kick returns.

Coach Hayden Hudson said, “I was very happy with how the team played tonight. Defensively, the boys played fast and loose on the field, they trusted their reads and teammates, and made plays left and right. Mazama has a very good run game and our gap integrity by the defensive line and inside linebackers was spot-on the entire night. Our secondary played extremely well most of the night, didn’t allow many deep routes, and came away with two interceptions.”

Hudson added, “This was the best game for our offensive line so far this season. They played aggressive and got after it all game long. Tonight was a coming out party for Atom and it was awesome to watch. He is fast when running around the corner, but when he gets to the open field he has an entire new gear.”

The Outlaws hope to carry the momentum into Friday night’s game at Douglas on Friday, September 26.

Helping the body to heal itself

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

The heart of Julia de Castro’s practice is the principle that the body knows how to heal itself.

Through the gentle practice of craniosacral therapy and ortho-bionomy and the use of microcurrent therapy, de Castro helps create the right conditions to allow healing.

Craniosacral therapy is a hands-on, light-touch designed to release restrictions in the nervous system and surrounding tissues. It can support relief from headaches, neck and back pain, stress and tension, and TMJ dysfunction. De Castro says that the therapy also promotes deep relaxation and overall nervous system balance.

Ortho-Bionomy is described by de Castro as a “gentle, osteopathic-based method that works with the body’s natural reflexes and preferred movement patterns. It is often used to address musculoskeletal pain, postural imbalances, injuries, and chronic tension — helping the body self-correct and restore ease.”

Use of the Equiscope “delivers gentle microcur rent to support cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and encourage optimal function. It is frequently used for pain relief, recovery from injury, and overall nervous system regulation.”

“Everything is about lis tening, responding to what shows up,” de Castro told Nugget.

She says that the body is priority-driven and responds to stress in ways that can put the nervous system in a heightened state of alert that leaves people “stuck in stress.”

“The fancy word is para sympathetic,” she said.

She describes her work as “talking to the nervous sys tem” in a way that creates calm, repair, and regeneration.

She also works with people experiencing joint pain and stiffness and muscle tension, strains, or repetitive stress injuries. The modalities can be used pre- or postsurgery to set the body up for recovery.

The work is not doing something to the body.

“The holds are actually quite gentle,” de Castro said. “There is no manipulation.”

She readily and cheerfully acknowledges that some may regard the modalities in which she works as “woo-woo.” But she vouches for their efficacy personally.

“I have experienced so much healing from these modalities,” she said.

She also acknowledges that people respond differently to different modalities.

“I don’t believe any modality is a panacea,” she said. “There is no such thing.”

Julia emigrated to the U.S. from Brazil after meeting her husband, Michael Grant. The couple lived in Santa Fe, where de Castro became interested in the healing arts.

“I went to massage school,” she said. “And that is how I got in touch with all

Desiring to leave Santa Fe, the couple sought out the Pacific Northwest, and landed for a time in Seattle.

“The rain,” de Castro said with a rueful grin. “I couldn’t.”

She said they “bumped into Sisters” in 2015, and almost immediately decided to move here.

Julia’s practice is part of the Sisters Wellness Collective located at 392 E. Main Ave. She said she seeks to help “people who are wanting to feel better in their bodies — to get more embodied.” For more information, visit https://www.juliadecastro.

Julia de Castro.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Volleyball squad opens league with come-from-behind win

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Lady Outlaws opened league play on the road at Elmira with a marathon come-from-behind match. They recorded scores of 12-15, 23-25, 25-19, 25-15, 15-10. Two days earlier they wrapped up non-league play at home with a sweep over the visiting 4A Madras White Buffs (25-9, 25-21, 25-14).

On Thursday against Elmira, the Outlaws pulled off the reverse sweep in a fiveset thriller. The night started rough for Sisters as they were without starter Maici Cotner, who suffered an ankle injury in practice the day before. Coach Mahryahna Callegari told The Nugget that with the changes in the lineup it “took a while to find a new normal.”

The second set looked much better as Sisters jumped to a 10-4 advantage, but a nine-point Creswell run closed the gap. The scored stayed tight with ties at 14, 15, and 16 before the Bulldogs surged late. Down 20-14, Josta Fuentes hammed a kill to spark the Outlaws, and Alli Fogerty followed with three straight aces to pull within one at 23-24. The comeback fell just short, and the Bulldogs went up two sets.

Sisters buckled down in the third. Audrey Sybesma served a five-point run to build an early lead, and Paityn Cotner’s four-point service

run stretched it further. Later, Sybesma stuffed Creswell’s standout Piper Hanson with a momentum-shifting block that sent the Outlaws rolling to a 25-19 win.

Sybesma stayed hot in the fourth with an early serving run that included an ace and a kill from setter Paitlyn Cotner. Fogerty added late aces at the line and Sybesma put up another big block on Hanson to highlight the set. The win tied it at two sets each and the match went to a fifth and final set that was tied six times early before Sisters pulled ahead. Emma Long fired off four straight serves, including two aces, while Brooke Lindsay smashed a kill to make it 14-8. Creswell fought for two more points, but Malia Hernandez delivered the final kill and Sisters recorded the come-back win.

Sybesma had an outstanding performance and Callegari told The Nugget that “her game speaks for itself.”

The lefty right-side hitter finished the night with 15 kills, three monster blocks, and four aces.

Setter Paityn Cotner recorded 15 digs, 32 assists, and two kills.

“Paityn had zero errors the entire match,” said Callegari. “She was flawless setting and her defense was next level.”

Hernandez posted eight kills, and libero Fogerty had 15 digs and seven aces.

Of the win Sybesma said, “Our team has a habit of

getting down in the first and second sets and our momentum goes down. We had to do a mental switch and realize just because we’re down doesn’t mean it’s over. We have to remember why we play for Sisters. We want to carry on the great legacy and tonight we came together and did our best.”

Callegari said, “We definitely came together and learned to win with all eight players. The biggest thing in that third set win was Alli (Fogerty) and Audrey (Sybesma) shutting down their D1 commit (Hanson), and it gave us the confidence we could win. The fifth set was our girls playing under the mentality that we are one family and wanting it for past layers, current players, and future players. Creswell is ranked top 10 in the coaches poll and with this win we’re still first in league.”

In Tuesday’s match against Madras the opening set belonged to the Outlaws. Long sparked a mid-set surge with a four-point serving run that featured kills from both Maici Cotner and Brooke Lindsay, and took Sisters to a 16-5 lead. Addie Clayton added two aces at the line, and the Outlaws easily closed out the set.

Sisters had a shaky start in the second set and trailed by three or four points for much of the frame. Momentum

shifted when Hernandez hammered down a kill to tie the score at 19-19. From there, the Outlaws buckled down and closed out the set 25-21.

In the third, Sisters left no doubt. Maici Cotner put down three consecutive kills to push the Outlaws to an 8-0 lead, and late in the set Hernandez went on a seven-point serving run which powered the Outlaws to the 25-14 win and the sweep.

The Outlaws had contributions from across the lineup.

Maici Cotner led the team with 11 kills, and also recorded 13 digs and two aces. Sybesma had eight kills on the night and five huge blocks at the net. Hernandez finished with eight kills, 12 digs, and two aces.

Fogerty recorded 13 digs on the night, and Addie Clayton posted three aces at the service line. Paityn Cotner dished out 27 assists, and also had seven digs, two kills, and two aces.

“Maici was a stand-

out tonight!” said Coach Mahryahna Callegari. “She hit almost perfect for the whole game. This was a special moment for our freshman as she’s been working so hard. This was the game where everything clicked for her and we couldn’t be more proud and excited for her growth.”

Callegari added, “Another standout tonight was Audrey! She had five blocks tonight and was crucial in getting kills in the most important moments. She is also one of our captains and we saw her help the team to the win in the second set after being down most of the game.”

Callegari said, “This was one of those games where I saw all the items click. Everything we’ve been working on came out during the game. Even in the second set, after digging themselves a small hole, they worked together to pull themselves out, They steadily played at their pace for all three sets.”

Residents can share fire recovery needs

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management, along with local, regional, and state organizations, is working to better understand and support ongoing community needs stemming from the Flat Fire. In partnership with Citizens4Community (C4C), Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), United Way of Central Oregon, and the Oregon Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM), the County has created an “Assistance Request Form” where residents impacted by the Flat Fire can share their continuing needs.

The form — available at bit.ly/flatfireneeds — provides a way for individuals and households to let the County and its partners know about ongoing challenges and needs such as cleanup, debris removal, home repairs, well testing, counseling, rent assistance, and more. “If you and your family are not yet fully recovered from the Flat Fire in any way, we want to hear about it,” explained Ben Duda, Deschutes County Emergency Manager.

While filling out the form does not guarantee that every need will be met, it ensures that those needs are visible to the organizations best positioned to help. The County and its community partners will meet weekly to review submissions, identify available resources, and coordinate responses.

Personal information will remain protected and used only to connect individuals with resources or as required by law. In some cases, responses may be anonymized and combined to give local leaders a clearer picture of overall community needs.

“With only five homes destroyed, we know that we were very lucky as a community,” said Kellen Klein, Executive Director of C4C.

“But we also know that fire recovery has a ‘long tail’ needs trickle in over time, and can be wide-ranging. There are resources available and folks that want to help, but only if we know where to deploy them. This form is a first step toward hopefully matching those in need with various types of support, and advocating for more aid for Sisters Country if necessary.”

By completing the Flat Fire Assistance Request form at bit.ly/flatfireneeds, residents can help ensure that recovery resources are directed where they are most warranted. Those needing assistance to fill out the form should call Deschutes County Emergency Management at 541-388-6501.

STUDIO TOUR: Big turnout to behind-thescenes event

Continued from page 1

sun with a light breeze added to the ambience and bright mood of enthusiasts wending their way through a range of exhibits that had something for every taste.

Sunday gave way to some clouds and temps only in the 60s but artists and galleries suggested that the day would draw even more aficionados, many of whom spent Saturday on the golf course, hitting the trails or getting their kids to soccer.

“You expect to see a lot of paintings — oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil — that’s a given,” said Sadie Llewellyn from Bend. “We like this tour so much because of the variety — sculpture, glass, fabric, clay, wood. Jewelry, decor.”

“It’s a treat to be in some of the artists’ homes,” said Ted Moulton from Sunriver. “It’s very intimate, feels like a private showing as if we’re somebody special,” added his wife, Lucia.

“I am fascinated as much by their stories as their art,” raved Ruth Farnham who came with three pals from Spokane. “We really don’t need much of an excuse to come to Sisters,” her friend Violet chimed in. “We’re all amateurs and what we find in Sisters is so satisfying, so motivating.”

And so it went, one after another as The Nugget made the rounds of the studios. We observed a few purchases, but it will be a few days before sales are tallied. A few commissions were reported as being made.

Even those artists not on gallery row, working from home, no sign on their doors, were seemingly delighted to find sos many strangers so genuinely enthusiastic about their work.

The event is sponsored by Sisters Arts Association (SAA) formed in 2015 by local volunteers, artists, and others who believed that the arts are an important part of a healthy community, culture, commerce, and the development of our young people.

In addition to the Annual

Artist Studio Tour, SAA sponsors monthly Fourth Friday Art Walks through the galleries of Sisters, advocates for public art, art education, and community support of the arts.

Not every gallery participated per se although all members of SAA were open, enhancing the visitor experience.

Restaurants had lines for lunch and were rushed at 4 p.m. when the Tour finished for each of its two days.

Merchants all over town were in good spirits, reporting solid foot traffic.

Visitors were more or less evenly divided, men and women, and ranged from teens to 93 year old Darren Albertson from Bend who took it all in on his electric three-wheeler.

Outlaws rally in second half to top Elmira

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Sisters’ girls’ soccer team recorded a 4-1 win at Elmira on Tuesday, September 16, but two days later suffered a 0-2 loss at Central Linn.

The Outlaws faced misfortune before their match against Elmira on Tuesday, when their bus once again broke down and left them arriving to the field behind schedule. Add in the hot, humid weather, and the stage was set for a tough outing. Both teams agreed to water breaks midway through each half, a decision that Head Coach Ken Polachek told The Nugget proved to be to our benefit.”

Elmira struck quickly, and scored in the opening three minutes, and that early strike held until halftime.

The second half, however, belonged to the Outlaws.

RUNNERS:

Conditions were perfect for distance race

Continued from page 1

at 1:34:21.4.

Runners came from across the U.S. as far as Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, and Minnesota. The youngest runners for the 50K were 22 and the oldest 69. Runners ranged from 16 to 73 for the half marathon.

With family, friends, course volunteers, and staff, around 1,000 participated in the event. The atmosphere at Village Green Park finishing point was festive, filled with camaraderie and play.

“I don’t know how you can have a better race day and venue than this,” said Marguerite DeVoe from Park City, Utah, as she and her two children cheered on her brother, a 50-miler. “Having the playground right here in the park is so helpful. And it was so close to all the stores.”

“If they do this again, we will so be back,” said Parker Chisholm of Bozeman, Montana. “My kids are having a blast. They’re across the street at the fire station and my wife’s roaming the town. Everybody has been so helpful and friendly. It means a lot when you’re a stranger in town.”

With the Artist Studio Tour (see story, page 1) and trails full of cyclists and equestrians, Sisters was full to the brim. Nearly as challenging as the races was competition for lunch and dinner tables. Libations flowed, cash registers rang, and spirits rose as Sisters laid out its customary hearty welcome.

Sisters regrouped, settled into their game, and took control. About 10 minutes in, Zoee Bafford fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box to level the score.

“The goal really rocked Elmira on their heels,” said Polachek. “From there we started to pick up the pace and play a much more controlled and precise game.”

Caroline Dean gave the Outlaws the lead when she slipped between Elmira’s center defenders, rounded the keeper, and calmly tapped the ball into the back of the net. Not long after, Devon Stevens extended the margin with a quick inside-foot volley from near the penalty spot just before the 20-minute

water break.

Bafford sealed the victory with her second goal when she lofted a chip shot over the keeper, who had drifted too far out of position. Sisters ran down the clock and recorded the win.

“I’m super proud of how the team kept their heads up and rallied into the second half to come away with a win,” said Polachek. “We definitely did not give Elmira enough respect coming into today’s match and it showed by how we came out and played.”

Two days later, the Outlaws fell on the road against Central Linn (CL) in a match marked by strong competition and challenging

field conditions.

CL struck first just 13 minutes into the match with a shot that sailed just over the fingertips of keeper Kennedy Davis. Later in the match, CL doubled their lead with a strike from just outside the 18-yard box — what Polachek described as “an impressive and perfectly placed shot.”

Field conditions added to the Outlaws’ challenge.

“I was told that someone had driven on the field and tore it up quite a bit,” said Polachek. “There was still evidence in one of the corners with ankle-swallowing holes that luckily neither team got hurt on, and in front of both goals there were

visible gravel patches that made the ball deflect in an odd manner.”

Despite the obstacles, Polachek praised his team’s composure, and persistence.

“The girls kept their heads up and continued to stick to the game plan by connecting passes and playing good defense in our half,” he said. “It was a great learning lesson for a lot of them on how to handle constant physical pressure. Everyone played their part but unfortunately we came up a little short today.” The Outlaws were scheduled to play at home against Siuslaw on Tuesday, September 23, before traveling to Pleasant Hill for another match on Thursday.

KIRK: Vigil emphasized prayer and pushing against darkness

Continued from page 3

Biblical life day-to-day.”

Cron defined that better life as a life of faith, the ability to marry and have children at a young age, own a single-family home, and prosper in a small business.

He describe it as “that classic American Dream that

FIREFIGHTERS: Recruits, others honored in annual event Continued from page 1

quit in any of the recruits.

“They kept showing up, and kept digging deeper, and pushing forward,” he said.

SCSFD Captain Jeff Liming told the recruits that “You have excelled in your willingness to learn, and have become valuable members of Northwest Fire. Learning never stops, especially in this business.

The event recognized not only new recruits, but also those in professional service who have received promotions. In each case, those recognized received badges that were pinned on their chest by loved ones in attendance. Those loved ones were also recognized.

SCSFD Fire Chief Tony Prior noted that the fire service makes demands not only of members, but of their families. The families of recruits have already begun to experience this.

has been somewhat taken away over the years.”

Cron’s family moved to Sisters in 2021, and he graduated from Sisters High School. He is uncertain exactly what his future path holds, but he is considering enlisting in the U.S. Army and going into politics in some form.

“It’s mostly about where God wants me,” he said.

“I’ve just got to pray and meditate on that, see where he puts me.”

“All of the people in this room have gone through these things,” he said. “This celebration is as much for you as it is for them.”

Prior noted Meredith’s role as training officer. The Battalion Chief started himself as a graduate of the Sisters recruit academy, and now is responsible for seeing to the program, keeping abreast of best practices that assure not only that firefighters are equipped to do the job well, but to ensure that they stay safe.

“In my opinion, there’s no more important position in the fire department,”Prior said.

Chief Prior also noted that a great many of those recognized have a family heritage in the fire service — as he does himself. That reflects the nature of the service as a calling.

“It’s in your blood,” he said. “It’s something you are meant to do.”

For a complete listing of those recognized in the badgepinning celebration, see the online version of this story at www.nuggetnews.com.

Young resident volunteers received their badges after completing a multiweek academy, in a ceremony held at Sisters Fire Hall.

PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS

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I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC

Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051

BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897

802 Help Wanted

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

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

602 Plumbing & Electric

Ridgeline Electric, LLC

Serving all of Central Oregon

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Service 541-588-3088 • CCB #234821

Commercial • Residential • Industrial • Remodels • Generators • Hot tubs/Saunas monteselectric@hotmail.com

CCB#200030 • 541-480-9860

— GEORGE’S — SEPTIC SERVICE

541-419-3148

A 63-year tradition for Sisters www.georges-septic-service.com

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

STEVE'S HAULING

Yard and other debris, landscaping services, chain saw work, etc. 707-328-8370

Eastern Cascade Solutions Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345

– 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

Seeking a caregiver. Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the life of my Mother? I am seeking a dedicated & compassionate caregiver to take care & provide exceptional care for my mother. As a caregiver, you will play a crucial role in supporting my mother who is Elderly. Schedule is 5 days a week & 5 hours per day. Salary is $30/hr. Apply by contacting me via email at George (gwssheets@gmail.com) for more details.

The Nugget Newspaper is seeking a 5th crew member! PT, Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. Ideal candidate is comfortable with systems, learning new software, communicating by phone, email, and in-person. Work is varied, including managing subscriptions, walk-in traffic, classifieds, directing phone calls, answering questions, supporting staff as needed. Must love working with a tight-knit team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven office. Stop by 442 E. Main Ave., call 541-549-9941, or email jess@nuggetnews.com.

605 Painting

~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 www.frontier-painting.com