The Nugget
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Music lovers feast on Sisters Folk Festival
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Marjorie Laramee and her husband Mark from Portland were taking in their eighth Sisters Folk Festival last weekend. They likened the event to “one of those sumptuous banquet scenes from a movie. Everybody feasting. Just incredibly good music. And so much of it.”
It was a very full plate last weekend, where packed crowds were feted to 33 acts spread over seven venues with 84 performances — in all, 23 hours of music. Plus, nine workshops and four free sets at Fir Street Park.
“My head is spinning,” said Amber Turpin from Seattle. “It’s so much to take in. I used AI to lay out a schedule, and map for me.”
“It’s a head-scratcher,” said Corbin Matthews from Salem. “We must’ve studied the program for an hour and still were running from tent to tent so we wouldn’t miss anything.”
Indeed, the only work in a weekend full of play was organizing and navigating meal breaks and fastest routes
between venues. Otherwise, it was fun. And more fun. Not that the music wasn’t serious. Serious as in “downright awesome” according to Hal and Jan Blecher from Medford. Like Loudon Wainwright III. His songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt,
Flat Fire reaches $29 million in cost
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
As the fire season comes to a close, only three fires were burning in Oregon as of September 26. The largest, the Emigrant Fire, 24 miles southeast of Oakridge, dropped smoke on Sisters early in September and has consumed 33,000 acres with 41% containment. It has exceeded $50 million in cost and counting. It was started by lightning.
There are 2,113 personnel still at work on Oregon fires.
The Sisters Country Flat Fire, which caused five structure losses in Sisters Country, but no deaths or injuries, burned 23,346 acres. It ranks as the fifth largest wildfire in Oregon for the year and is fully contained with its cause still under investigation. The
cost is estimated at $29 million, according to the multiagency InciWeb management system of the National Interagency Fire Center.
A release from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office several weeks ago has been the last update on the investigation.
“At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication that this fire was caused by homeless individuals or transient encampments,” JCSO said. “The fire originated on private property and is being investigated in coordination with state fire investigators.”
The fire year to date is on target nationally to be relatively mild. While the number of fires — 52,112 — is just shy of the 2022 record,
Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, his son Rufus Wainwright, and Mose Allison, among others. Wainwright has recorded 27 albums, including his 2009 Grammy Award-winning “High Wide & Handsome.”
An accomplished actor, he has appeared in films
directed by Martin Scorsese, Hal Ashby, Christopher Guest, Tim Burton, Cameron Crowe, and Judd Apatow. Wainwright has also starred on TV in “M.A.S.H.” and “Undeclared,” and on Broadway in “Pump Boys
See FESTIVAL on page 13
Petition filed to recall councilors
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Frank Claxton, a resident of Sisters, is the chief petitioner for two recall filings presented to and received by the City of Sisters on September 23. In both filings, with slightly different wording for cause, Claxton alleges that Mayor Jennifer Letz, and Council President Sarah McDougall have breached their responsibilities. The petitioner and supporters are motivated by the Sisters City Council’s actions regarding the placement of a statue commemorating Lane Frost’s legendary 1987 ride of the bull Red Rock at Sisters Rodeo Grounds in the Locust Street/Highway 20 roundabout. A majority of Councilors, led by Letz and McDougall, have made
See RECALL on page 11
Council delays UGB decision
By Susan Cobb Correspondent
Sisters City Council delayed approval of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) “preferred alternative,” until November 5, with a workshop to be held prior on October 22.
The decision came in a lengthy meeting on September 24. It was not an easy decision for Council to delay after close to an hour of public input (20 in person and one online), and an hour of Council deliberations.
The City of Sisters’ UGB expansion project, as executed by the UGB steering committee (UGB-SC) and City of Sisters staff since March 2024, made good progress. The UGB-SC conducted six meetings during their efforts. Council received material updates, which they discussed in five workshops over the same period. Mayor
Jennifer Letz and Councilor Michael Preedin served on the UGB-SC. Community Development Director Scott Woodford was before Council seeking approval of Resolution 2025-14 authorizing his department to submit a
land use application for Comprehensive Plan amendments to both the City and Deschutes County documents. The amendments will revise the current City UGB map to reflect the expanded
Sisters Folk Festival filled Sisters with song last weekend. Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band clsed it with joy.
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
OPINION
Letters to the Editor…
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer’s name, address, and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond, or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday.
To the Editor:
Recall
On September 24, a petition was submitted to recall me from Sisters City Council (see story, page 1). I am responding through a letter to the editor so my words aren’t misconstrued.
The petition is vague, but I believe rooted in frustration from community members (many living outside city limits) that I and others have not taken the requested action on an unsolicited proposal for roundabout art. In a private meeting it was implied by a proponent that my words and actions started a culture war. I rewatched past council meetings to ensure that nothing had been said against the related art or “western culture” (not my term). Contrary to that, each council member spoke in favor of putting the sculpture within the city, some saying possibly just not in the roundabout. In multiple non-public meetings with a proponent, I and others tried to discuss another location for the sculpture within the city, and the conversation was shut down.
In reading the situation, it seems a minority are telling me that if I don’t do exactly what they want, they will bully me. Clearly, not all proponents are bullies, but I don’t have another word for people who won’t negotiate, and then call me names, make jabs at where I was born (Vermont, the state with the highest ratio of cows to humans, for goodness sake), and threaten to recall me, because I have a different perspective.
I find this an unnecessary, negative distraction for our community when we need to be focused on some big decisions that will affect how Sisters evolves. I assure you that the petition hasn’t changed my commitment to that goal one bit.
Sarah McDougall
s s s
Mr. Kirk
To the Editor:
I have not had a TV for 50 years and do not do social media. I get most of my news from print sources. I never heard of Mr. Kirk. Nor had the 30-40 people in my email directory.
Because of the uproar following his murder, I listened to some of his clips on YouTube. He was a good speaker, but I found much of what he said repellant, such as his opposition to civil rights legislation. He seemed to be an authority on very little, and I learned nothing from him. He was not a public intellectual but more like a TV evangelist. Or rather, like a pied piper leading a segment of the population. Some may believe that he was a “national” phenomenon. He wasn’t. He will soon be forgotten and replaced by another “preacher.” His murder was reprehensible, but as a public figure he was of no consequence to me or my directory.
Gary Leiser
s s s
Threats to free speech
To the Editor: Mr. Woodside’s “preemptive” defense last week of his Kirk column collapses under its own weight.
Trump’s threats to punish critics aren’t mere jokes. They are warnings, and pretending otherwise is how authoritarianism takes root. I, for one, think a U.S. President’s words should have some value. Ask Comey and Bolton.
Conservatives “policing their own”? Spare us. The same heroes of the right: Carlson, Walsh, and Cruz have spent years peddling lies and stoking hate. Calling that out is not
See LETTERS on page 4
Sisters Weather Forecast
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Recall is the wrong call
By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Back in 1998, Sisters voters overwhelmingly approved bond funding to build a municipal sewer system. Sisters City Council President Gordon Petrie, who had been an ardent opponent of the sewer, attempted to derail the effort. He signed a letter sent by four Sisters couples to the Oregon Economic Development Department asking the agency to deny a request for $1.25 million to help fund Sisters’ sewer project. In the letter, Petrie noted his position as city council president.
Sisters citizens and Petrie’s fellow councilors were outraged. Fellow councilors and citizens alike demanded that Petrie resign. He refused. The city attorney wasn’t sure that Petrie’s conduct rose to the level of actionable misconduct.
The citizens certainly thought so. They filed an action to recall Petrie, got the signatures to put it on the ballot, and Sisters voters removed Petrie from office.
The 1998 episode is exactly the kind of scenario the provisions for recall of a public official are designed to address. Petrie’s action was in contravention of the clearly expressed will of the voters, and of the work of the council to execute the project in their interest. If it fell a little short of legally defined misconduct, it was clearly bad conduct, and Petrie’s fate was entirely deserved.
The current effort to recall Mayor Jennifer Letz and Council President Sarah McDougall, arising from their actions around the choice of public art for the Locust Street/Highway 20 roundabout doesn’t rise to that standard. (See story, page 1).
A majority of councilors mishandled a citizendriven effort to install a sculpture in the roundabout titled “The Match,” depicting the legendary Challenge of Champions between Red Rock and the late Lane Frost. As we wrote here in these pages a few weeks ago, councilors could have made yet one more call for artists and encouraged the proponents of the Red Rock sculpture to submit the piece again, with private funding attached to meet budget. Or they could have asked that they wait until the City adopts a current art procurement process and policy. Establishing and
following a solid process should have been the council’s focus. They could have simply listened to public input without weighing in. Instead, a majority of the council gave a clear signal that they don’t want that piece of art in that location, and touched off a conflict that is obviously not going to just fade away. Intentional or not, their actions and words came across as disrespectful to a large constituency for whom that piece of history is deeply meaningful. Their actions and words also seem to be in contradiction to the community’s own published vision statement, which emphasizes honoring Sisters’ history and Western identity.
That was a mistake. A mistake is not misconduct.
A recall is serious business, and the process is arduous. Recall should not be undertaken merely out of dissatisfaction with a decision or a policy position. If citizens are dissatisfied with their representatives, they can vote them out of office in a regular election.
All sides of this contention would be best served if everybody took a step back and a deep breath, and reset the whole thing. The council should move forward swiftly with creating a public art commission that is independent from the council. Proponents of “The Match” should be given full and fair consideration in a transparent process that allows for robust public input. Because they have already expressed bias, the councilors should step away from any role in the process other than allocating the funds to execute the desires of the community.
It may still be possible to repair the rift this issue has created in Sisters, and move forward in a constructive direction. A recall won’t help with that. It will just make the community divide all the more acute — and that serves no one.
Recall should not be undertaken merely out of dissatisfaction with a decision or a policy position. If citizens are dissatisfied with their representatives, they can vote them out of office....
COMMUNITY
Linking conservation, recreation
People often say “everything is connected” although sometimes the opposite is true. Stories of reconnecting people, rivers, salmon, wildlife, and communities across Oregon were featured at the annual summer meeting of an advisory group that helps fund the efforts. Project leaders from across Oregon reported on their progress, aided by grants from the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund.
The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) was an innovative idea established in 2019 by the Oregon Legislature (House Bill 2829). Its mission is to carry out activities to protect, maintain or
enhance fish and wildlife resources in Oregon. The Fund prioritizes projects implementing the State’s action plan for Oregon’s wildlife, the “Oregon Conservation Strategy”. Recognizing that helping people care about, enjoy, and protect nature is the key to success, the direction also calls for investing in recreation opportunities that connect more Oregonians to the natural world. An Advisory Committee is mandated to help guide expenditures.
The idea behind the OCRF was to leverage support from public-private partnerships, with the belief that many Oregonians and organizations love and support wildlife and wild places. The Fund and its Advisory Committee are managed by
the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). There are 11 representatives that invite and review project proposals from the ecoregions of the Oregon Coast, Willamette Valley, East and West Cascades, Klamath and Blue Mountains, Columbia Plateau, and Northern Basin & Range. The ODFW Commission makes the final decision on grant allocations. Since 2020 the OCRF has allocated more than 8 million to 183 projects across Oregon.
The dream of returning sockeye salmon was the first story told by Darek Staab of Trout Unlimited, starting along the Metolius Wild and Scenic River, the heart of historic salmon country.
Talk set on free speech
Sisters residents will have a chance to dig into some big and timely questions about free speech at an upcoming community conversation hosted by local nonprofit Citizens4Community (C4C). “Let’s Talk: Free Speech, Censorship, and the Marketplace of Ideas” will take place on Thursday, October 9, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sisters Firehouse Community Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the program will also be livestreamed on Zoom.
The event will feature C4C Executive Director Kellen Klein in conversation with two familiar community voices: The Nugget’s Editorin-Chief Jim Cornelius and Paulina Springs Books owner Lane Jacobson. Together, they’ll explore what “free speech” means in today’s America, examine the limits of this constitutional right, and discuss how a
community like Sisters can nurture a healthy exchange of ideas while staying connected as neighbors.
“Free speech is one of those topics that sparks strong feelings and varying interpretations,” said Klein. “But that’s exactly why it’s so valuable to talk about it openly, face-to-face — rather than in clunky online forums and comment threads. Our goal is to create a space where people can listen to each other, challenge ideas, and still walk away with a stronger sense of community.”
“This event was inspired by the thought-provoking conversations I’ve had with Kellen and Jim over the past year around challenging local and national topics,” added Jacobson. “Sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree…but we’ve always approached these talks with
Reflecting on “The Sound of Music”
By Lilli Worona
The iconic family film “The Sound of Music,” a 1965 classic, is near and dear to many families’ hearts. Some have memories of watching the film each year during the holidays, when the movie aired annually on television. For others, the film’s dreamy visuals created a sense of wonder and awe for
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 • Sunday, 7 p.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 to 1 p.m., at SPRD 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
adults and children alike. Still others reveled in the music, listening and singing along to the film’s soundtrack at home or on long car rides.
For Sisters resident Duane Chase, who played Kurt von Trapp as a 13-year-old boy, what made the film so special is something he can’t quite identify.
“People often ask, ‘what
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
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
PHOTO COURTESY MARET PAJUTEE
The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund works to connect recreation with conservation.
By Maret Pajutee Correspondent
Correspondent
Food drives support families
Makin’ it Local is partnering with the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank this October for Makin’ it Local’s annual Feed Sisters Food Drive. With demand for food assistance in Sisters more than doubling since 2021, community donations are vital. Drop off nonperishable items at Makin’ it Local (281 W. Cascade Ave.) during store hours or bring them to special events— including the Chamber Networking Meeting (October 2), First Friday Celebration (October 3), Fourth Friday Art Walk (October 24), and Halloween Food Drive (October 31).
Donors will be entered to win prizes, and raffle proceeds benefit the Sisters Kiwanis Foundation. Visit www.feedsisters.com for more information.
Volunteers entirely power the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank and have been serving local families in Sisters, for over 40 years. As part of the Sisters Kiwanis Community Service Foundation, the Food Bank remains a vital lifeline for neighbors facing food insecurity.
Demand for services has increased significantly. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of people helped more than doubled. Last year, they welcomed about 3,100 family visits and distributed nearly 100,000 pounds of food — enough to support 5,500 adults and 1,800 children who are housed and 911 adults and 161 children experiencing homelessness.
The Food Bank’s mission has always been to ensure that every resident in need in Sisters has access to healthy food in a welcoming, low-barrier environment.
Currently, the items needed most are: Peanut butter, strawberry and grape jelly, beef stew, canned chicken, corn flakes, refried beans, beef ravioli, chili, canned tuna, chicken noodle soup, and cream of chicken soup.
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
censorship, it’s accountability.
And no, the left doesn’t march in lockstep. Progressives argue nonstop. What conservatives call “silencing” is usually just people refusing to let bigotry slide. That’s democracy.
The irony is rich: the author not only received space for his column but also the ink to write a preemptive response in the same edition, a courtesy many others in this community are never afforded. Consider this a preemptive wish for local conservatives to refrain from claiming liberal bias in The Nugget after being given so much real estate to cry victim.
The loudest threats to free speech today are not hecklers. They are book bans, classroom gag orders, and laws punishing teachers.
Free expression doesn’t mean freedom from criticism. It means we all get to answer back.
Glen Roper
To the Editor:
s s s
Halloween decorations
There is a house in my neighborhood that displays large Halloween decorations on their front lawn. These decorations have been displayed since mid-September and the display is growing.
I have no misgivings about Halloween embellishment. Actually, as a kid, I enjoyed them. But not in September. It is odd to say the least.
I doubt this letter will change anything, but seeing Halloween decorations in September ruins the holiday for me.
William Davis
To the Editor:
s s s
Kudos to firefighters
I am a resident of Sisters and my home was in the direct path of the recent Flat Fire.
I pen this email not as a typical citizen but as a seasoned fire professional having served as the fire chief of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, President of the International Fire Chiefs, and both President and Executive Director of the Western Fire Chiefs whose mission encompasses wildfire.
First, let me compliment the entire fire attack. It was the best I’ve ever witnessed. Interagency cooperation was without blemish, integration of structural, ground and air operations was worthy of a case study. I cannot offer higher compliments to the entire operation.
Worthy of mention is the Office of State Marshal’s structural protection task forces. Under the command of State Fire Mashal Mariana Ruiz-Temple, these structural protection task forces have become refined into an efficient fire fighting force and Sisters needed every one of them.
I would like to specifically recommend the commendation of Chief Tony Prior, and his staff at Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. The Chief and his staff were the consummate professionals. The community of Sisters should be proud of the fire and rescue services you offer.
For me, after 47 years in the fire service, it was interesting to discover that I far prefer being in command than being a civilian waiting as the fire approaches. However, I am comforted to know that, like everyone else who lives here, we live under the blanket of your capable protection and I am grateful for your service to Sisters Country.
Jeff Johnson
To the Editor:
s s s
Facts vs. hate
At the risk of tainting a wonderful weekend of music and positive energy I enjoyed at Sisters Folk Festival, I am responding to the expected proselytizing retort by Ms. Suckow to my recent letter, “Not a rant” in the September 10 issue of The Nugget.
By the way, thank you to the musicians at SFF, some from other countries who encouraged the “other 75 million of us,” to not give up on defending our democracy in the midst of the fascist takeover.
To Ms. Suckow and your letter, “Defending President” letter in the September 24 issue, two things: Please stop bringing God and /or religious biblical passages into the mix to defend a convicted felon ( fact) who is full of hate himself, who happened to get 77 million votes. Fact: at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, as his wife actually forgave the shooter ( I commend her), your Trump, in his rant, said, “ I hate my opponent,” etc. — another awkward mix of eulogy and campaign speech. I am pretty sure that Jesus is not exactly supportive of your hate-filled leader who actually thinks he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Good grief.
Secondly, please take a timeout from your Trump worship and recognize that he is methodically doing what fascist authoritarians do, military take over of cities and suppression of all who protest or disagree with his ludicrous actions. Next stop, close to your home, Portland, Oregon.
Thank God for Jimmy Kimmel. And please, Nugget readers, locally, recognize the attempts to recall Mayor Jennifer Letz for what they are…”bull…”
Steven Blauvelt
UGB: Process requires state approval of plans
Continued from page 1
“preferred alternative” boundary as researched, developed, and recommended by the UGB-SC (see accompanying map page 1).
The UGB preferred alternative was a modification of Concept A located northeast of Sisters City limits. This concept was the public’s choice out of the five options discussed in well-attended public forums. Detailed modifications by UGB-SC to Concept A, generated four new versions of a preferred alternative. One version added 58 acres; some to the north of East Barclay Avenue abutting the airport to allow for business or industrial growth possibilities, and some acres added southeast to increase access to Highway 126, allowing the possibility of an emergency egress route.
UGB-SC titled this version Concept Aa and recommended it to Council as the UGB preferred alternative (see map — area in gold page 1). The City Planning Commission unanimously approved this recommendation.
The City and County comprehensive plan UGB amendments will need to be adopted by both entities and acknowledged by the Land Conservation and Development Commission before the end of 2026 or the
entire UGB project process will have to start over. After adoption, the City has an additional six months allotted for area planning of the expanded UGB.
Council’s hesitance in approving Resolution 202514 primarily included two concerns. Council was aware that a public announcement of the County’s approval of the McKenzie Meadow Village LLC (MMV) land use and zone application will occur in early October. Appeals to that decision by the BOCC, could be submitted 21 days from the public announcement date (see related article, this page). If not appealed, then consideration of the MMV property in the UGB expansion would be possible.
The second primary concern was timing. Woodford confirmed to Council that moving their approval of Resolution 2025-14 or a revised version, out to November would still allow sufficient time to complete the plan amendments and UGB adoption without risking starting it all over.
The financial impact of the proposed resolution is $239,000 and includes the entire UGB amendment revisions, application processing, and hiring of a land use planning consultant. Woodford added that the financial impact, includes $100,000 funded by Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.
Land use advocates watching UGB
By Susan Cobb Correspondent
Central Oregon LandWatch (COLW) told The Nugget that “Sisters is setting a great example” for other cities in Oregon wishing to proactively manage growth.
COLW Associate Program Manager Kristin Reidelberger disclosed that she had been an ex officio (non-voting advisor) member on the UGB steering committee (UGB-SC). She conveyed COLW’s admiration of the thoroughness of UGB-SC’s work. Reidelberger added that the responsive public engagement during the expansion process set a high standard.
Additionally, Reidelberger stated that COLW supported UGB-SC’s recommendation of Concept Aa to Council. “Concept Aa checks all the boxes,” said Reidelberger, adding, “Sisters will benefit by sticking to this plan . . . keeping forest and farm lands intact.” COLW believes that Concept Aa “could sufficiently accommodate the next 20 years of growth—without the need for the McKenzie [Meadow Village LLC] property.”
The MMV property encompasses 58 acres near Sister High School that was discussed, but not included in the UGB-SC’s recommendation of Concept Aa
as a preferred alternative for expansion. On September 17 the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a zone change and plan amendment, which includes conservation conditions, and requested an expedited timeline to approve an ordinance adopting the changes. That would allow MMV to be considered as part of the proposed UGB expansion.
One of the owners of the MMV property, Bill Willitts, who served on the UGB advisory committee, has been on the record promising that should McKenzie Meadows be included in the UGB, the area would be developed with at least 30 percent affordable housing.
Central Oregon LandWatch does not support that potential inclusion.
Reidelberger pointed out that the 315 total gross acres of Concept Aa exceeds the calculated estimate of 256 gross acres needed (determined by UGB-SC in early phases of the project). She predicted the additional acreage could come into question in the future, when the Oregon Department
of Land Conservation and Development Commission reviews Sisters finalized UGB expansion map. She added that the Community Development Director, Scott Woodford, shared with her that the MIG consultants on the UGB expansion project had advised that the increased acreage would likely not be an issue.
Reidelberger spoke to Council in the public hearing of September 24 (see related article on page 1), to declare COLW’s support of Concept Aa and nonsupport of the recent approval of MMV’s land and zoning requests to the BOCC. She told Council that COLC “does not support including the McKenzie [Meadow Village LLC] property in the UGB expansion and plans to appeal the [BOCC’s] decision to [the Land Use Board of Appeals], because we strongly believe the application does not qualify for an exception to [Oregon Statewide Land Use Planning] Goal 4.”
A 21-day appeal period begins when the county commissioners’ approval of MMV’s request is made public, around October 3.
Welcome to Oregon... take time to learn our story
By Dani Nichols Guest Columnist
Dear Neighbor,
You’re not from around here. Let me tell you about Oregon; my Oregon.
It’s a wild country, a place of pioneers and dreamers. It’s young, younger even than most of America, which is saying something because we really are still an experiment, a weird nation founded on a daring proposition.
This is where I learned to drive a stick-shift and a backhoe. My first paid job was picking rocks out of a Southern Oregon hayfield and throwing them on the back of a flatbed truck. It’s where I became a working cowgirl, where I went to my first protest, where I learned to put on snow chains and read a rapid and back up a stock trailer and read a map and build a fire and pour a beer. It’s where my kids are learning to fish and ride horses and snowshoe and stargaze. It is a place where we are known, a rare gift in an online and therefore anonymous age.
We drove up to the Cascade Lakes in June and there was still snow on the highway, the water was cold and clear, the first wildflowers were thinking about poking up but hadn’t gotten up the gumption yet. But when I went to the Willamette Valley a few days later, the roses were blooming and the grass came up to my thighs. In Oregon we have astonishing rugged cold coastlines, which makes one think of explorers and pirates and shipwrecks (“The Goonies” was filmed here).
We have cities of jumbled houses bunched together like grapes on a vine, tiny winding streets of neighborhoods which are the antithesis of suburban blight: quirky, colorful, jammed into tiny spaces as though the city planners thought they had to fit every new resident on one Portland
hillside. We have vast forests with only a firewatch tower as a sign of human interference, and rangeland which is hardly fenced and seems to never end. We have little camel-hump buttes overlooking pastoral green fields, hilly orchard country, and deep canyons which take your breath away.
It’s a place where food and beverages matter. We love our wineries and coffeeshops and boutique kombucha, brewery culture and cult cheeseburger joints. We eat well, you can find vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, locally-sourced options everywhere. We love a farmer’s market and we insist on sustainability. We grow alfalfa, potatoes, onions, canola, beef, lamb, dairy products, grains, apples, cherries, hops, grapes, and of course the ubiquitous zucchinis at every farmer’s market, given away by the bucket to friends and neighbors from overzealous plants. We make some of the best wine and beer in the world (I know, I talked to both a French and an Italian winemaker about it), and our beer speaks for itself. We obsess about coffee and tea.
Lest we sound too twee, we love a small-town diner, with pancakes the size of your torso and waitresses named Fran, taco trucks manned by two sweaty Spanish-speaking teenagers, quirky drive-thru coffeeshops, and we really love a riverside dive bar - not the hipster kind that sells PBR in an ironic koozie but a real one, with grizzled bartenders and locals who eye you warily if you’re not from around here.
In early summer I hauled steers home from La Grande, winding through the backcountry highways of Oregon, through watermelon-growing country to backcountry to cow country. A trek that takes three or four hours on modern, straight highways takes five or six when you take the old
roads, but I didn’t mind. (It didn’t help my rate of travel that I had a couple thousand pounds of beef behind the truck.)
About halfway home I slowed down; a sleek black cow-calf pair was standing in the middle of the road, looking at me as though they were sure it was I who was in the wrong place. I called the sheriff’s office in the tiny town of Dayville, Oregon, and the dispatcher said she knew whose cows those were. “We’ll get out there and get ‘em, thank you kindly,” she said with a chuckle.
People from other parts of the country don’t know how to say Oregon. They say Oreeegon or Oregone or other weird conjugations. It’s probably because they don’t know anyone from here. We’re a state of only six million residents which is two-thirds of the population of Los Angeles, a city from which many escape to come here.
Which is why I’m writing this to you, neighbor. We’re glad you’re here — really, we are. We want you to visit and stay, we want you to spend your money here and support
our farmers markets and our rafting companies and our upscale restaurants, buy our beer, wine, and lattes. We don’t even mind when you ask us for directions, peering out of a rental car with six adults crammed in and everyone looking confused and bug-bitten. We are happy to tell you the best place to put in on the river, where to get a good club sandwich, how much further it is to the trailhead.
But please… Remember that this beautiful country, this wild land, has a story that started long before you got here. Few of us are from here, none of us really remember, because human lives are short and we are frail and imperfect, we often don’t tell the stories we should. But we all ought to remember: it’s ours, but we don’t own it.
A few weeks ago a group of tourists in inner tubes made a fatal mistake and went over a waterfall on the Deschutes River. The water is cold, the current is swift, the stakes are high. It’s a tragedy, one that makes you suck in your breath and kiss your kids. Our beautiful country is not a wonderland after all, it is
the honest-to-goodness wilderness. It is real life. All too often people come here in search of the good life, only to find that reality follows them after all. I know who they are, they give themselves away. They are the ones with shiny new Oregon plates speeding by my horse trailer on a back road, frustrated because the place they moved to for a slower pace is, in fact, slow. So, I will gladly give you directions and recommendations, and ask you how your hike was. But I ask this in return: love this place as so many before you have. Don’t leave your Monster Energy cans at the trailhead, don’t tailgate my stock trailer, don’t loudly complain about the slow service at the madreowned taco shop. Don’t float in the river without knowing the risks, don’t hike without looking at a map. Come and play, taste and see. My Oregon is here for you, it’s glad to be yours too. We just ask for a little respect in return.
Dani Nichols is a wife, adoptive mom, cowgirl, and writer from Bend, Oregon. Find more writing at daninichols/substack.com.
Lady Outlaws lose two on soccer pitch
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Lady Outlaws fell 4-1 at home to the Siuslaw Vikings on Tuesday, September 23, and two days later suffered a 2-0 loss at Pleasant Hill.
Sisters battled hard at home on Tuesday, but came up short against a tough Siuslaw squad.
Sisters looked sharp in the first half, stringing passes together and keeping their defensive shape. The Vikings managed only a few longrange shots, but one slipped through, which gave Siuslaw a 1-0 lead at the break.
Despite the deficit, the Outlaws remained upbeat as they headed into the second half. However, the game took a tough turn when senior center back Rylie Bick, who was already nursing a sore leg from last week’s match, was forced to leave after taking another hard knock to the same leg. Without their defensive leader to organize play, Sisters struggled against the Vikings’ physical attack.
Siuslaw capitalized on the shift, and scored three more goals. The Outlaws did find a bright spot when Devon Stevens surprised the Vikings with a sharp one-touch shot in the second half for Sisters’ lone goal.
Coach Ken Polachek said, “They all played hard, but the loss of our center at the beginning of the second half was a rough blow and a mental hurdle that we’re going to have to learn from and grow as a team on how to combat difficult situations whether they’re in or out of our control.”
Two days later the Outlaws suffered a road loss to Pleasant Hill. A pair of mental mistakes proved costly for Sisters, as both
led directly to goals for the Billies.
Despite the scoreline, the Outlaws displayed grit and determination throughout the match.
Polachek praised his team’s resilience, saying, “Even though we were down 0-2 I was overjoyed with the Lady Outlaws’ attitude to keep their heads up and continue to fight for every ball. Pleasant Hill came out strong physically, but we never backed down, to the point where Mia Rosas got a yellow card in the second half for being too aggressive. Never have I seen this team push so hard to get back in the game!
“I can’t wait to carry that attitude, determination, and fight into the next game,” added Polachek.
Senior Zoee Bafford shared with The Nugget the Lady Outlaws’ main goal for the season.
“Our main goal was to bring us girls together in order to be emotionally connected on the field,” said Bafford. “I think we have incorporated that incredibly well, which has contributed to the success we have had this season. We have fun playing together in games, which makes everything so much more enjoyable and allows us to stay positive and close to one another, win or lose.”
The Lady Outlaws prepare for their match at home against Creswell on Monday, September 29, and then a road match at Santiam Christian on Thursday.
Sisters students join nationwide ‘See You At The Pole’
On Wednesday, September 24, students across the country and around the globe participated in See You at the Pole, a student-led movement that brings peers together before the start of the school day to pray at their school’s flagpole — for their country, school, administration, friends, and families.
See You at the Pole (SYATP) is a decadesold tradition that began in Texas in 1990 and has since spread internationally. This year marked the 35th annual event, which continues to encourage reflection, encouragement, and unity among students. The event is completely voluntary and takes place on the fourth Wednesday in September.
At Sisters Middle School, more than 20 students gathered for prayer, while 25 met at Sisters High School (SHS).
Asher Davis, a junior at SHS who helped lead the event, shared: “I wanted this
to happen because I truly believe what the gospel says and how important it is for us to tell others the good news of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and eventual return. We prayed for big miracles at Sisters High School, and we’re hoping big — knowing the Lord will meet us and
help spread his message.” Young people are hungry for a purpose and identity that transcends the broken world that pervades their lives. There’s a reason students are flocking to Christianity. Not for reprievement, but for a purpose and hope in life and all its fullness.
PHOTO BY PROVIDED
do you attribute [‘The Sound of Music’s’] success to?’ That is probably one of the hardest questions because everybody takes a bit away with them that’s unique from another person who takes another piece of it with them…it’s hard to put your finger on.” Chase said.
Before his work with “The Sound of Music,” Duane Chase got his start as a child actor appearing in commercials in the Los Angeles area. As the story goes, one of Chase’s first commercials was for the International House of Pancakes, a popular commercial that was seen by Bob Wise, the director of “The Sound of Music.” When Chase decided to audition for the cast of the iconic film, Wise recognized him, and immediately asked him if he’d like to play a role as one of the von Trapp children. Chase describes being awestruck, especially because he had not even officially undergone a screen test before being asked to join the cast.
“I was like, oh God, I got the job!? …and I didn’t even have to go through a screen test?” said Chase.
He instantly accepted the role.
“What’s funny is that when Bob Wise walked over to me and asked, ‘Duane, how would you like to go to Austria?’, I was like, ‘oh yeah, and you don’t even have to pay me!’” he said, laughing.
Chase describes his time in Salzburg, Austria, as a dream for a 13-year-old kid. Between the 11 weeks of production, rehearsals, and filming, Chase spent his free time forming close friendships with the six other children cast in the movie. The von Trapp children were constantly together, in work, play and schooling. In between filming, all were tutored by
a teacher who came with the crew from the States.
“[The teacher] would pack us all up in two VW minibusses and take us on all these neat field trips, we got to go to the salt mines and the ice caves and all sorts of places. So, we got to see a lot more than just Salzburg,” Chase reminisced.
Chase described that aside from the field trips and schoolwork, his hours were chock full with the “behindthe-scenes” work that was required before anyone stepped in front of the camera. In fact, some of this work began months before the trip to Salzburg at production studios across L.A.
“You’ve got to do a lot more than necessarily just be in front of the camera. There’s all sorts of time being spent on diction, learning how to speak what they called European or Continental English, rehearsing and recording all the songs, going through costuming and everything,” he said.
Following the success of The Sound of Music, Chase acted in several other productions including the 1966 family film “Follow Me Boys,” and the Western television series “The Big Valley.”
However, after spending much of his teen years acting, Chase decided to change course and work for
the Forest Service after high school. Chase’s passion for the outdoors and the natural world led him to major in geology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and to later pursue a master’s degree in the same field at the University of Alabama.
Chase’s professional life was spent working for two different graphics technology companies, first in Alabama, and later in Seattle, Washington. Chase’s work centered around creating graphic applications for displaying geological data such as seismic activity. In recent years, Chase has retired to Sisters with his wife Petra, enjoying the Central Oregon lifestyle. Chase can frequently be found hiking, mountain biking, or attending the monthly gatherings of the Sisters Science Club.
Chase’s time with “The Sound of Music” had become a distant memory — until now. Come the end of
October, Chase will attend a 60th anniversary celebration of “The Sound of Music,” hosted in Salzburg, with the four other surviving actors who played the von Trapp children.
Chase explained, “The festivities are scheduled to last for three days and three nights between various performances, on stage Q & As, and a grand ball. I mean, it’s quite the deal.”
Overall, Chase is excited to reminisce with his old companions, as well as to honor the work of the many involved in the production who have since passed away. The celebration will also be an opportunity to reflect on that magical quality of the film that is so hard to put a finger on.
Perhaps that quality can best be summed up in a recent interaction that Chase had with a Vietnam veteran, who found solace in the movie after his time in combat.
“We had a minute or two to talk, and he said, ‘if it wasn’t for the movie, I would have lost it’.... he was in ’Nam, and he took every chance to watch the film. And he said it kept him sane. And it’s like, that wasn’t how we planned for the movie to go. It wasn’t meant to do that, but it did, and it did it for hundreds of people over the decades...it’s pretty grand, I have to admit.”
The von Trapp children in “The Sound of Music.”
PHOTO PROVIDED
Duane Chase.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Duane Chase with the legendary Christopher Plummer on the set of “The Sound of Music.”
PHOTO PROVIDED
Outlaws sweep opponents on court
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
Lady Outlaws volleyball hosted the Elmira Falcons on Thursday, September 25, and earned a decisive sweep with scores of 25-21, 25-15, 25-11.Two days earlier they earned a three-set sweep, 25-12, 25-16, 25-21, over the Hawks at La Pine.
Sisters got off to a slow start in the opening set against Elmira, but a big kill from Brooke Lindsay shifted the momentum. That play gave the Outlaws the serve back and Emma Long stepped to the line to deliver five straight points, including an ace, for a 12-8 lead. The run featured a kill and a block from Lindsay, as well as kills from Jessica Stahn and Paityn Cotner.
The Falcons battled back, forcing ties at 12, 14, 15, and 16 before Malia Hernandez tied the score again at 18-18 with her first serve. Hernandez went on a six-point service run highlighted by an ace, helping the Outlaws pull away 23-18. Audrey Sybesma sealed the set with a powerful kill for the 25-21 victory.
Sisters never let up in the third. Alli Fogerty delivered a four-point service run that included two aces, and Hernandez put the match away with a seven-point serving streak that featured three aces, giving the Outlaws a commanding 25-11 finish.
With the sweep, the Lady Outlaws showed their balance and depth, combining tough serving, strong blocking, and big swings at the net to take down Elmira in convincing fashion.
Assistant Coach Mailee Utu said, “I thought the girls did a wonderful job keeping their energy even when they were ahead. It’s hard to not play down when you’re up by a lot. They stayed consistent and played the game they’re capable of.”
Sybesma led the Outlaws with eight kills, and Lindsay tallied seven kills and five huge blocks. Shanitah Few added six kills in the winning effort. Long finished the night with 11 digs, Hernandez tallied four digs and five aces, and Fogerty added four digs. Paityn Cotner dished out 30 assists and served up three aces.
Of the match and the great performance from the middle players setter Paityn Cotner said, “I felt like I connected with my middles really well, and that’s something we’ve been working on in practice. It was really exciting to see that work pay off.”
Middle Lindsay added,
I thought the girls did a wonderful job keeping their energy even when they were ahead. It’s hard to not play down when you’re up by a lot.
— Mailee Utu
“The game was really fun and it’s been great connecting with Paityn. We’ve been trying some new stuff and it’s winning us points.”
On Tuesday against La Pine, the first set was all Outlaws from the opening serve. Hernandez sparked the team with a dominant ninepoint service run, highlighted by three aces, and Sybesma’s two kills, which propelled the Outlaws to a 12-3 lead. Sisters never looked back, and cruised to the opening win.
Coach Mahryahna Callegari praised her team’s start saying, “The girls played their pace and with intention.”
La Pine fought back in the second set, capitalizing on several Sisters’ errors and putting up strong blocks at the net. The Hawks tied the score at 14 before the Outlaws found their rhythm again. Behind a seven-point serving run from libero Fogerty, finished off with a kill by Lindsay, Sisters sealed the second set.
The third frame brought the closest battle of the night. The Outlaws held a slight edge early, but the Hawks clawed back to tie the score at 15, 16, 17, and 18. Sisters held on down the stretch and recorded the sweep.
Hernandez led the Outlaws with nine kills, 14 digs and four aces. Sybesma had eight kills and Stahn added six. Fogerty led the defense with 15 digs, Lindsay put up four blocks, and Paityn Cotner dished out 26 assists.
Hernandez said, “We all had great energy, had fun, and were disciplined from what we learned in practice.”
“It was a battle of effort, but I think the fight was there that helped them win,” said Callegari.
Callegari also noted Hernandez and stated that her leadership and overall play, both on defense and offense, led the Outlaws to the win.
The Outlaws are currently 3-0 in league and 11-3 overall. Sisters was scheduled to play at home against Pleasant Hill on Monday, September 29. They will play on the road at Harrisburg on Thursday.
SISTERS LIBRARY EVENTS
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 cum ent that you can edit through the y ears . Friday, October 3, 10:30 a .m.–12 p.m
Charspookerie Making
Work shop A macabre multiage charcuterie b oard class! Registration required. Saturday, Oct . 4, 10:30 a .m.
SafetyNet Training with KIDS Center * Develop to ols to s afely manage online lives for b oth kids & adults. Registration required.
Tues., October 7, 5:30 p.m
Teen Monthly D&D Club - Friday, October 3, 3 p.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. Appointments are firstcome first-s er ved and last 30 minutes . Friday, Octob er 3, 10 a .m.–1 p.m. To s etup a rem ote phone appointment call 541-782-1022 or email info@thrivecentraloregon org . Info: www thrivecentraloregon.org
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 High Desert 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
Free Weekly Meal Se rvice
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
A NNOUNCEMENT S
Open Studio at PMRCAA with printmakers Rober ta Lavadour, Christ y Turner, and Catherine Alice Michaelis
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 4 - 6 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Registration is required at https://roundhousefoundation org/events/. For more information, call 541-9 04070 0 or email inquiries@ roundhousefoundation.org
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture is located at 68467 ree Creek s Rd., Sisters
Pine Meadow Ranch
Nez Perce Music:
Assimilation & Resistance
Exhibition opening & lecture with Bobbie Conner on the histor y behind Nez Perce music. Free and open to the public. For info call 541-9 04070 0 or email inquiries@ roundhousefoundation.org
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture is located at 68467 ree Creek s Rd., Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration First Friday
Family Fun Bingo Ni ght
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!
inking about volunteering for STAR S?
Be our guest at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event on Tuesday, October 7, 4 -7 p.m. at e Hub , 291 E . Main Ave Meet our amazing 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 . Email Rennie at rennie@starsride.org if interested.
Monthly Song writers’ 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 (October 12), 6 –8 p.m., in the Sisters Folk Festival “JA M Studio” upst airs in the Sisters Art Works building (accessible by chair lif t) 20 4 W. Adams Ave. Free. Info: call/text 541-977-8494, or email jessaneene@msn.com
Weekly Communit y 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. 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.
Sisters Sno-Go -Fers
First meeting of the Snowmobile s eason at 6 p.m. on October 8, at Upper ree Creeks Sno Park . A p otluck will be at the warming shelter with the club providing the main dish. Please bring a side or dessert. Dinne r 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 every second Wednesday of the month through Snowmobile season. All are welcome.
Living Well With Dementia Sisters Suppor t Groups
Living Well o ers a support group for the care partners and f amily of those diagnosed with some form of dementia, and now o ers a new Early Stage Support Group. Both groups meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month f rom 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation District Communit y Center. e E arly Stage Support Group meets in the Whychus Room. e Care Partner Group meets in the Metolius Room. For more information call 541588- 0547
Social Security: Free educational class
Guest expert and vice president of Hartford 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.
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
Retain Your Br ain: Free education class
Learn practical tips on how to age-proof your brain and how brain health can impact your lifest yle and finances . Join guest expert and vice president of Hart ford Casey Miller for this class noon–1 p.m. (arrive 11:45 to get started on time and enjoy free lunch bu et), Tuesday, October 14, downtown Sisters Free, but must R SVP to 541549-186 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
Free papers at e Nugget
If you need papers to start fires in your fireplace, mulch your garden, pack to move, or anything else, stop by e Nug get. ere is a wooden box on the porch with past-date papers for your rec ycling use
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 can search for oppor tunities aligned with their interests and availabilit y. Learn more at volunteerinsisters.org.
SISTER S- AR EA C HURCH ES
Baha’i Faith
For information, devotion s, study groups , etc. cont ac t Shauna Rocha 541- 647-9826 • www.bahai.org www.bahai.us • www.bahaiteaching s.org
Chapel in the Pine s Camp Sher man • 541-815-9153
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
452 Trinit y Way • Branch President, 541-977-5559; 10 a.m. Sunday Sacrament Meeting
e Episcopal Church of the Tr ansfiguration 121 N Brooks Camp Rd . • 541-549-7087 www.transfiguration-sisters.org
8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship
10 :15 a.m. Episcopal Sund ay Worship
e Resting Place meeting at Sisters Communit y Church, 1300 W. McKenzie Hw y. www.restingplace.us • hello@restingplace.us
5 p.m. Sunday Worship
Seventh-Day Adventist Church 541-241- 6086
11 a.m. Saturday Worship
Shepherd of the Hills Luther an Church (ELCA)
386 N. Fir St. • 541-549-5831
www.shepherdof thehillsluther anchurch.com
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
Sisters Church of the Nazarene 67130 Harrington Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960
www.sistersna z.org • info @sistersna z.org
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
Sisters Communit y Church (nondenominational)
1300 W. McKenzie Hw y. • 541-549-1201
www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com
8 a.m. Daybreak Service • 10 a.m. Sunday Worship
St . Edward the Mart yr Roman Catholic Church 123 Trinit y Way • 541-549-9391
5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass • 9 a.m.
e Wednesday Bible Study Home Church (nondenominational) Call for time and location • 541-728-2717
Wellhouse Church 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10
RECALL: Process requires signatures to get onto ballot
Continued from page 1
it clear that they do not want to place the sculpture, titled “The Match,” in that location, citing safety concerns. The City is creating an arts council to develop procedures and processes for public art placement.
Specifically the petitioner claims Letz, “has repeatedly failed to represent the requirements and best interests of the City of Sisters, demonstrating neglect of duty and disregard for lawful responsibilities. Under ORS 244.040, public officials must act in good faith and avoid conflicts of interest. Councilor Letz has disregarded these obligations, thereby eroding public trust and confidence.
“Further, ORS 221.310 provides that elective city
Foundation
officers may be removed for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.
“Councilor Letz’s actions and omissions constitute neglect of duty as contemplated by statute, including a failure to faithfully discharge fiduciary responsibilities to the City and its citizens.
“Her conduct reflects a breach of the ethical and fiduciary standards required of a councilor, creating an ongoing detriment to the lawful governance of the City of Sisters.”
Mayor Letz told The Nugget , “the filing of this paperwork doesn’t change anything for me. I will continue to work hard and serve the citizens of Sisters as I have done for the last 4.5 years.”
McDougall responded with a letter to the editor (see page 2):
“…[I]t seems a minority are telling me that if I don’t do exactly what they want, they will bully me. Clearly,
allocates $6 million to food banks
With costs of living continuing to rise, the number of people experiencing food insecurity is higher than ever, now affecting 47.4 million Americans a year. In Oregon, those living in rural and remote areas are at even higher risk of food insecurity.
Roundhouse Foundation, based in Sisters, is allocating $6 million dollars over the next three years to support rural Oregon food banks.
“We are responding to an acute, basic need in Oregon’s rural and remote communities,” says Roundhouse Foundation Executive Director Erin Borla. “With these new grants, we hope to support the organizations that provide fresh food and economic stability in rural areas.” Roundhouse Foundation hopes to inspire other funders and individuals to chip in.
“We are experiencing record numbers of individuals and families seeking food assistance,” said Viviana Matthews, executive director of CCA Regional Food Bank in Clatsop County. Her organization works with more than 22 partner agencies to distribute approximately 1.5 million pounds of food via food pantries, homeless and domestic violence shelters, senior centers, meal sites, and backpack programs. “We are receiving approximately 25 percent less food from USDA sources compared to prior years. In addition, reductions in state support and charitable donations have compounded the challenge, leaving us with fewer resources at the same time that demand for food
not all proponents are bullies, but I don’t have another word for people who won’t negotiate, and then call me names, make jabs at where I was born … and threaten to recall me, because I have a different perspective….I find this an unnecessary, negative distraction for our community when we need to be focused on some big decisions that will affect how Sisters evolves. I assure you that the petition hasn’t changed my commitment to that goal one bit.”
Recalling an elected official is a serious matter. The last recall, perhaps the only one in Sisters, was in 1998, when Council President Gordon Petrie was removed that November by a vote of the citizens.
The process for recalling an elected official is rigorous and carries substantial penalties for failure to comply or for making misrepresentations. The petition is past deadline to be included on the November ballot, and if
successful, the earliest that citizens could vote would be March 10, 2026.
It takes 15 percent of the registered voters of Sisters — somewhere between 400 and 500 votes to get the recall on the ballot.
Readers wanting to wade into the specifics of the process, can download the 19 page Recall Manual here: https://sos. oregon.gov/elections/ Documents/RecallManual. pdf.
Thank Y Our Incredible Volunt eers!
assistance remains high.”
The Foundation notes that food banks provide more than meals, acting as economic engines in rural communities. Many programs partner with area farmers and ranchers to use the food they supply. Families who get food assistance can redirect funds where they’re most needed: necessities like housing, utilities, and healthcare. Likewise, a person who is not worrying about where their next meal will come from can more easily focus on education or employment.
Charitable giving is critical for rural food banks. There are ways individuals and community organizations can help beyond financial contributions. Many food banks welcome food donations and depend on volunteers to keep their programs running. Hosting a food drive is a great way to help fight food insecurity while getting your local community engaged.
A full resource on how to support rural and remote community access to food is available at https:// roundhousefoundation.org/ foodbanks/.
Roundhouse Foundation grants for rural food-access organizations are available for eligible nonprofits. There are three distinct grant opportunities including support for technical assistance; food pantry and backpack programs; and mobile distribution, vehicle purchase program.
Organizations can apply at RoundhouseFoundation.org/ grants.
Celebra ng t he H ea Sist ers H abitat
We are deeply g rateful to our dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy, and hear ts to make a di erence. Your compassion, generosity, and commitment make our work possible. We are proud to recognize the recipients of our Volunteer Excellence Awards for their outstanding contributions:
LI FETIME AWARD (4000+ hours)
Ken Purkey
Nancy Anderson
1,000-HOUR CLUB
Sally Fairchild
Michael Klemann
PART NERSHIP AWARD
Heart of Oregon
Youth Build GOLD (500+ hours)
Julie Boyd
Linda Hespe
Trudy Kalac
Anne Wageman
Michael Klemann
Michael Anglea
Dave Campbell
Richard MacConnell
SI LVER (250-499 hours)
Janice Baldwin
Jan Bottcher
Kelly Campbell
Lael Cooksley
Connie Cross
Nan D urbin
Sally Fairchild
Terri Gookin
Dana Hampton
Dell Henric h
Tom Hughes
Jackie Kvanvig
Molly Larson
Bev McKay
Mar y Parker
Jean Sage
Ronald Saranich
Sher yl S cali
Fred Parker
Michael Caccavano
L es Cooper
Dennis Mills
John Milne
BRONZE (100-249 hours)
Karla Bailey
Betsy Beaver
Marie Clasen
Cinda Conroyd
Jane Craig
Dana Cunningham
Nan Daschel
Judy Janssen
Judy Kell
Ann Kruger
Susan Mackey
Dian Marr
Gayla Nelson
Sandy O’Neill
Judy Osborne
Deanna Parness
Martha Peterson
Melinda Powell
Car leen Robinson
Rose Rock
Susan Sebastian
Betsy Sparks
Sandra S trader
Cindy Sylvia
Daisy Teske
Gayle Todd
Elizabeth Weeks
Kristi Amsberr y Evelyn Bellotti-Busch
David Brehm
Bob Buchholz
Peter Cohen
Jim Freeman
Gordon Golden
Kasha Hal vorson
Kevin Hodgson
Dena Isbell
Elizabeth Kirke
Tom Laing
Greg McAuli e
Coleen McNerney
Cody O’Rourke
Tom Sigler
Ster ling Williver
Stephen Amsberr y Karen Bergevin
Chris Frazeur
James L eigh
Melinda Pyrch
Phil Strader
Jim Yount
Nez Perce music to ring out at Pine Meadow Ranch
Nez Perce music has always reflected the tribe’s relationship to land and their history. On Thursday, October 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Bobbie Connor, director of the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute on the Umatilla Reservation, will be offering a lecture on how to hear the changes in Nez Perce culture through sound.
The event, held at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, will showcase early examples of Nez Perce music when drums, flutes, and human voices were meant to echo natural sounds of wind, water, birds, and animals. Connor will also trace the sonic influence of forced assimilation, boarding schools for Native youth, and policies that banned language and cultural practice. Today’s Nez Perce musicians blend elements of assimilation, as well as resistance to the attempted erasure of their tribal identities.
In addition to the lecture, there will be an accompanying photography exhibition which will showcase Nez Perce music history. While the lecture is one night only, the photography exhibit will be on display during public events at The Ranch through mid-November.
To register and for more information about the event, visit RoundhouseFoundation. org/Events.
WORD OF THE DAY… Meliorism
The
Sist ers-Area Events & Ent er tainment
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
Episcopal Church of Transfiguration Family BINGO Bingo Night New time: 4 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
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.
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 www.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).
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture Lecture & Exhibition: "Nez Perce Music: Assimilation & Resistance with Bobbie Conner" 6 to 7:30 p.m. Registration and info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 10
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 11
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture Workshop: "Relief Printing and Accordion Book Making with Roberta Lavadour" 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $120 includes all materials. Registration and info: roundhousefoundation.org/events. Frankie's (formerly Sisters Depot) Live Music: "Women Rock — Lilli Worona, Sue Moore, and Tamra Asbell 6 to 8 p.m., $15. Tickets: sistersdepot.com.
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.
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. 22
The Belfr y Live Music: Jeffrey Foucault with Weber 7 p.m. Tickets, $25 www.bendticket.com.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
THURSDAY • OCTOBER 23
The Belfr y Live Music: Jeffrey Foucault with Sam Weber 7 p.m. Tickets, $25, BendTicket.com.
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 24
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 4–7 p.m. Enjoy Oregon wine and beer sampling, gingersnaps, and live music Info: www.makinitlocal.com.
The Belfr y "Let's Dance!" Family-friendly ol’ fashioned community social dance featuring fiddling and dance calling by local youth strings dance band Scandalous Chutney 6 to 8:30 p.m. Free; all donations go to Sisters Middle School Outlaw Strings Club Drinks, snacks, and merch available for purchase. Presented by C4C in partnership with SFF Presents.
Sisters High School Auditorium Live Music: Jim-Isaac Chua Shaped by Chopin piano concert. A fundraiser for Sisters Habitat for Humanity. 7 p.m. Tickets, $20/$10 students, at www.bendticket.com. Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 25
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
Bobbie Connor will lead an exploration of Nez Perce music.
PHOTO PROVIDED
FESTIVAL: Event served up wide range of musical styles
Continued from page 1
and Dinettes.”
More recently, he appeared in the film “Pleased to Meet You” (with fellow music legends John Doe, Aimee Mann, and Joe Henry), and the television series, “Mosaic,”directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Serious like Robert Mirabal, an accomplished, renowned Native American flute player and maker from Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Mirabal’s flutes have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of the American Indian.
And on and on, up and down the lineup.
“It was like being in an encyclopedia of music,” exclaimed Tracy Van der Wellen from Boise. “Yeah, it was folk, I guess, but impossible to pigeonhole. Each act was as different from the next as I’ve ever seen.”
Teenaged guitar phenom Grace Bowers freely acknowledged that she and her band The Hodge Podge “are not a folk band” — as she laid down heavy riffs and screaming lead runs on a Gibson SG. The packed house at Sisters
Art Works on Saturday night roared back their approval.
When Kaleta & Super Yamba Band played, audiences vaulted from their chairs, unable to resist the group’s infectious Afrofunk beats. Alysha Brilla blew the doors off every venue she played, bringing audience members up to dance on stage.
More traditional folk and singer-songwriter performers were well represented with artists like John Fullbright, Max Gomez and Shannon McNally holding audiences in the palm of their hand with no more than an acoustic guitar and a harmonica. Bluegrass bands showed the broad palatte that has come to define that genre.
It was the diversity of music that seemed to bind the crowds into one love-struck pack.
“We’ve run out of superlatives,” said Trish Jansen, a teacher from Eugene with a group of six making their fifth Festival. Her pals were surprised that they liked nearly everything they saw, some of which were second or third choices as their first selections filled before they could find a seat.
As usual there was impromptu dancing, playful banter between artist and audience, stunned silence, occasional tears, synchronized
hand-waving, cascades of laughter, and singalong moments.
Artists came from afar such as Australia’s Bobby Alu who mixed traditional reggae sounds with ukelele and slide guitar. His fusion of rhythms, harmonies, and storytelling that fuses from his Polynesian ancestry had audiences soaking it up.
Neither a hotel room nor RV camping spot could be found within 20 miles. Parking was tight. Most of the locals came by foot, hundreds literally by bike, a few by scooter. Yet, the town seemed surprisingly quiet once a block away from the venues.
The mood, the good vibes were aided by idyllic Saturday weather. Concert goers started their morning routines in fleece, shed it by noon, lathered up with sunscreen, donned wide brim hats and put on the shades as temps rose to mid 80s. By 8 p.m., the fleece returned. A slight tinge of smoke hung over Sisters Sunday, a remnant of the Emigrant fire (see related story, page 1) but it mattered not.
Leanne Summers, SFF Presents Board Chair summed up the annual affair: “Sisters does many things well, and showing up for each and every person in our community is one of those things. I’m proud to be part of that community.
“This year, like every previous year, Sisters Folk Festival invited artists from all over to become part of our town, and like every other year we learned something. In 2025, when there is so much to learn, Robert Mirabal reminded us of ‘one sun, one moon, one earth, one people.’ Joy Clark reminded us to receive and go out into our regular lives and make things better. It is my sincere hope that, together, we rise to the challenge.”
Alysha Brill blew the doors off multiple venues.
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
A hoop dancer with Robert Mirabal.
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
Athlete turns to farming in Sisters
By Katy Yoder Correspondent
Rubye Fangmeier has a background as an athlete playing volleyball and running marathons. Her strength, endurance, and ability to strategize has served her well in her role as a Seed to Table farm manager.
She came to Seed to Table in the summer of 2018 as a Rogue Farm Corps intern. It was her first time farming. After the internship she moved back to her home to California. She decided to give the city life a try and accepted an internship in San Francisco with a nonprofit called the Good Food Foundation. With a new appreciation for farming after working with Seed to Table, she wanted to explore the connection between the environment, agriculture, and people. After a few months in the city, she knew the concrete canyons and neverending city hustle wasn’t for her.
She traveled abroad after working in San Francisco and found herself needing to get home. The pandemic was getting worse, so she changed her travel plans and returned to care for a sick family friend and figure out what she’d be doing next. A friend in Bend reached out and offered a place to live, so she headed back to Central Oregon. That’s when Seed to Table founder Audrey Tehan heard Fangmeier was back in the area. She didn’t waste any time reaching out to invite her back to the farm team. She’s now in her sixth season with a role that fits her skills and interests.
Tehan, Vivian Toll, and Fangmeier worked together doing long crop planning sessions for the coming season. There were seemingly unending decisions and a lot of calculations as they tried to do forecasting.
“That was a really cool way for me to dive into farming,” she said on a break at the farm. “We buy seeds in December, then take a break during winter, then come back in February to start
KAR AOKE
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 8 PM TO MIDNIGHT
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Sunday-Thursday, 4 to 6 PM
Open 7 AM to midnight (1 AM Friday & Saturday)
seeding things. Last year, I started mapping out where everything was going to go, because if you don’t know where it’s all going, you don’t really know how much space you have or room to grow things. I like making a plan and executing it, so we know what we’re doing each week.”
Fangmeier explained that when they need to plant a head lettuce bed, before the plants go in the ground, the space needs to be prepared. She and fellow farm manager, Vivian Toll joke that Toll is very much in the present and Fangmeier enjoys thinking about the future and looking ahead to see what they need to do now. Part of their planning takes into account flipping planting areas from one crop to another during the growing season.
“We flipped the space in the upstairs planting area for the first time this year. We had to mow down all the brassicas like the broccolini and our first plantings of broccoli and cauliflower. We incorporated the plants into the soil and then planted directly back into that space. One of our pieces of equipment broke down so we had to do a lot of broad forking which is very labor intensive. Usually, we wouldn’t put broccoli back into soil where it’s just grown, but with such limited space sometimes we have to do it.”
There’s a delicate balance of letting the soil rest and planting cover crops and still meeting demanding distribution goals. Fangmeier enjoys the long-game mindset but knows sometimes short-term perspectives with farming are necessary to produce enough food. Farm staff are acutely aware that having healthy soil and ecosystem is extremely important to
the overall well-being of the farm and environment. Investing in soil health now, ensures that the soil is healthy for years to come and we can keep growing food down the road.
“It’s great to introduce green materials to feed the beings in the soil. We spread compost in the spring this year in the upstairs planting area, which was great. We also have some nitrogenheavy amendments that we feed everything on the farm, because we’re deficient in that in Central Oregon,” said Fangmeier. “Nitrogen is a big thing that we’re feeding to our plants because that’s what gets them all big and leafy.”
Fangmeier has seen a lot of changes on the farm. Especially between when she did her internment with the Rogue Farm Corps and when she returned as an employee.
“Even just from when I did the internship, there was just the downstairs field. There were five greenhouses and then I came back two years later, and we had that whole upper field and there were three more greenhouses. Now we have nine greenhouses in total,” said Fangmeier. “The growing space has expanded a lot over the past couple years. I think turning away from an internship-based labor force to hiring skilled employees who return has greatly changed what we’re able to do out here, and the quality of the vegetables that we’re able to grow. If you’re always training new people every spring, there’s always that learning curve for your staff which takes time away from growing food.”
Sharing successes and failures together as a team makes the highs and lows of farming easier to bear.
There’s a lot of nurturing happening between team members as well as with the land they’re caring for.
“I have such a give-andtake relationship with the farm. I give it labor, and I give it care, but I feel that nurturing in return with the food produced, but also with the things that I’m learning and the ways I’m evolving as a person by tending to this space,” said Fangmeier. “I think that is a really sweet thing. Working with the land as a farmer is probably one of the most intimate relationships I have. It’s constantly changing, and I’m constantly observing and giving and receiving along with it.”
Fangmeier is grateful for
the farm team and having a job that pays better than most farm-related jobs. She appreciates that Seed to Table promotes sustainability for employees as well as the land they steward.
“A lot of people say oh, you must eat so many vegetables. The answer to that is yes, but when somebody surprises us with a plate of cookies, it is like the craziest day ever, and we’re so stoked!” she said laughing. “We eat vegetables and we’re healthy, but it’s really the coffee and the treats that keep us going. One of our CSA members brought us a box of brownie muffins… we were eating those all day.”
Rubye Fangmeier is a talented athlete — and she brings strength, endurance, and an ability to strategize into her role at Seed to Table Farm.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP Columnist
Fear often has the effect of giving us tunnel vision. In our primal instincts to fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, our ability to see the big picture can diminish as the tactics to secure safety and survival take over.
Fear can come from real circumstance and also from stories based in theory and assumption. Our primal body often cannot discern the difference between real and imagined. Assumptions can frame our perceptions and from perception, comes our personal reality. Trauma and insecurity that may trace back to our earliest days can intensify our defensiveness and if unexamined, can haunt us into adulthood. Our default way of operating may be one of mistrust, suspicion, and isolation. In a place of perceived preservation, we can become more rigid, less empathetic, and less present.
Feeling threatened, our tendency to blame, stereotype, and justify violence grows.
The current state of division in our country is made possible by fear. The stories that have been told about the labels of right-versusleft maximize polarization and minimize commonalities. Our cultivated algorithms greeting our social platforms each day feed a narrative of opposition making it easy to perceive the world as “us vs them” or me against the world. Furthermore, many of us are living in scarcity. Too little money, too few resources, and too much loneliness. We may feel forgotten, cheated, or dismissed. Who is to blame?
From my armchair, I sit with clients across the political, spiritual, cultural, and socioeconomic spectrums. It has become near impossible to separate sociopolitical impacts from a person’s emotional well-being and so I have habitualized asking, “how are you doing with the events in our world today?” While topics of interest and concern vary, for most everyone the conversation ends with concern and hope for their family members, their children, and their safety. Hopes of some version of better unity, a kinder world for our youth, and greater understanding seem to transcend labels and groupings we identify by. Our shared humanity persists regardless of fragile
and fickle politics.
The best we can do is make sacred the energy we bring to our circle of influence, which may ultimately be far greater than we think. We each have our own very unique constellation of influence. For every action there is a reaction. Our energy has influence to everybody and everything we encounter from our morning barista, our partner, our children, our coworkers, our four-legged friends, and our planet.
Coming to terms with the impacts of our energy demands a level of awareness, intention, and commitment to becoming more thoughtful between our triggers and response. A process rooted in compassion, awareness means acknowledging our gifts and our challenges. It means not being afraid to examine perhaps long-repressed grief and trauma.
How have we learned to adapt in this world when needs weren’t met? Do we posture with bravado and fight? Do we over accommodate seeking to please to be accepted? Do we run? Do we numb or detach? In these times of sociopolitical instability, how have trauma wounds of neglect, abuse, judgement, and discrimination resurfaced? Have our emotions been historically repressed or dismissed? What have we learned about anger? Is it something we have been taught to project
or perhaps turn inward on ourselves? This can all be a recipe for explosion or implosion. Greater peace within our communities starts with greater peace in ourselves.
This isn’t about becoming “soft,” this is about responsibility and emotional maturity. The concerns in our world are vast, heartbreaking, and indeed, scary. We are entitled to our feelings, and yet, not entitled to all behaviors. Can we challenge ourselves to a new level of emotional stewardship? Can we understand the origins of our challenges and commit to a different standard? Can we strive most for decency over righteousness? And finally, can we also pay attention and remember the countless daily examples of neighbors continuing to help neighbors, extraordinary kindness, and for folks refusing to let political ideology pervade our legacy of respect despite our differences.
FLAT FIRE: Season is
winding down with fall weather
Continued from page 1
the acres lost is 4,489,828 through Friday as compared to 7,889,846 a year ago with 38,370 fires reported.
Oregon has lost 322,398 acres spread over 2,867 fires.
Drought conditions statewide and in central Oregon are favorable with Deschutes County at level abnormally dry on a five level scale. Regional reservoir levels are at or above average. Three Sisters Irrigation District is still delivering water albeit at 50 percent levels. This is good news for hay and orchard grass farmers, many of whom are into their third cutting.
Anglers are reporting superb fishing conditions on the Metolius and Deschutes with “standout” catches on the Crooked River. Lake fishing is reported as good.
Continued from page 3
Many partners have worked to remove fish passage barriers as well as reduce sediment which degrades fish spawning habitat. The sockeye salmon run, which once flourished here was one of only two in Oregon. The landlocked remnants of that run are still alive and known as Kokanee.
Traveling upstream, alongside the route sockeye once took, the group saw hardened fishing access points and trailside revegetation, then stopped to see the restored fish passage over the dam on the Lake Creek outlet at Suttle Lake, ending at the Caldera Arts campus at Blue Lake and Link Creek. Sockeye once spawned in this headwater after travelling over 700 miles to the Pacific Ocean and back. With the help of two OCRF grants, Caldera, and other sponsors, Staab engaged 1,700 students as well as 277 adult volunteers, teachers, and parents from Central Oregon and the Willamette Valley in restoration work along the sockeye trail.
Improving safety for people and wildlife on busy Highway 20 was the topic of Jeremy Austin of Central Oregon LandWatch. As traffic in Central Oregon increases, it can sometimes make it almost impossible for animals to cross safely and avoid colliding with vehicles. A broad partnership of state and federal agencies, landowners, tribal partners, nonprofits, and institutions have been working on how to improve safety for people and wildlife on Highway 20 between Bend and Suttle Lake.
Data from the Oregon Department of Transportation shows this stretch of road has one of the highest density of deer and elk vehicle collisions in Oregon, with 350-600 deer and elk killed each year by vehicle strikes.
Austin guided the committee away from the roar of the Highway 20/Camp Sherman intersection to a quieter pine grove, and explained progress on the “Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative.”
It received an OCRF Grant to complete the technical engineering and design work for priority wildlife crossings structures.
Four areas along the base of Black Butte were identified in a 2023 feasibility study as priority crossing hotspots as animals funnel around Black Butte. Data from radio-collared elk show their preferred routes from Cascade summer range to winter range cross the highway near Black Butte, traveling from the base of Mt. Washington towards Lake Billy Chinook. There are OCRF funds available for shovel-ready wildlife crossing construction but require completed engineering and design work for eligibility. The group is working on this goal.
The advisory committee tackled the job of recommending projects for funding in the Spring 2025 Grant cycle. As the number of project proposals has increased and funds have been allocated, the competition has grown increasingly difficult. Projects in this cycle had a one in six chance of success.
The fund has been operating from state allocations, federal community assistance funds, special drought funds, and private and corporate donations. Donations from hunters and fishermen who check a box on their license applications for an OCRF donation have been especially important, providing an average of over $105,000 a year. The OCRF is currently not receiving additional state funding.
For this grant cycle, 18 projects out of 101 were recommended, requesting $1,037,461. Of these projects, 67 percent focused on
Conservation connections in Oregon
By Maret Pajutee Correspondent
Groups across Oregon are creating new alliances and partners with the help of the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF).
drought, 50 percent addressed conservation or conservation with a recreation element, and 25 percent recreation with a conservation element. The Willamette Valley ecoregion had the most successful proposals (nine), and the East and West Cascades had seven.
Bryant Atanasio, student and extern for Trout Unlimited came along and summed up the day. “At this field visit, I was able to see OCRF’s work in action on Link Creek. The OCRF has funded remarkable projects for recreation, habitat restoration, and the conservation of Oregon’s most unique and treasured species.”
To learn more about the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund see https://www.dfw.state.or.us/ conservationstrategy/OCRF/ Maret Pajutee serves as the representative for the West and East Cascades on the OCRF Advisory Committee.
Working with ranching communities to protect unique habitats while improving grazing was the topic of a presentation in Sisters by Brent Fenty of the Oregon Desert Land Trust. The land trust received an OCRF grant in 2022 to help acquire the Trout Creek Ranch in remote southeast Oregon. Fenty described restoration work on critical wildlife habitats including creeks, aspen groves, wet meadows and sagebrush shrublands in the 16,645acre area. He highlighted
the success of outreach and involvement of the local community with regular gatherings and offering grazing opportunities that allow rest of private grazing lands, broadly improving habitat conditions.
Getting more people out into nature was the final topic of Ilana Jakubowski of the Mount Pisgah Arboretum, which received an OCRF grant to improve accessibility in the popular Eugene park. She described trail improvements, guided wheelchair nature tours by the “Wednesday Wheelers” and all terrain wheelchairs available to reserve for free use, allowing people to roam freely on most park trails. Many people and children benefit and enjoy these trails.
A Metolius restoration sign lets recreationalists know what areas they should avoid.
PHOTO COURTESY MARET PAJUTEE
Link Creek.
PHOTO COURTESY MARET PAJUTEE
Sisters Country birds
By Douglas Beall Correspondent
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” E. A. Poe
The Common Raven [Corvus corax] is the most intelligent bird in North America. They learn and problem solve using logic and as they mature exhibit greater abilities and more complex behaviors than younger Ravens. They interact with a number of carnivores that provide scavenging opportunities and have been observed calling wolves and other predators to animal carcasses. The predator will tear open the animal allowing the Ravens to feed.
Ravens are the largest passerine [perching] bird. Age member of the crow family with a thick beak, stiff throat feathers, and black legs and feet, and dark brown eyes. The common call of the Raven is a deep hoarse croak. The scientific name Corax is from the Greek word meaning “croaker”.
Three to seven green splotchy eggs are laid which have an incubation period of 22 days and nesting period of 28-50 days. A large protected territory is maintained for all of the family. Groups of Ravens are called a “conspiracy,” a “rave,” a “treachery,” or an “unkindness.” To view more images of Ravens visit https:// abirdsingsbecauseithasa song.com/recent-journeys/.
Swift joins movie/music lineup
With a special emphasis on musical events this fall, Sisters Movie House & Café is back with the popular weekly series “Autumn Arts & Adventure 2025.” It launched last Wednesday with a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley. ”
The series will then continue for a further seven weeks into early November. Next up in early October is the “RITUAL Mountain Bike Tour 2025” on Wednesday, October 1, followed by “Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary” coming October 8. Tickets for all shows in the series are priced at $17 and are on sale now.
Unrelated to the series, but confirmed in recent days, the local cinema will also be screening the special event to celebrate Taylor Swift’s latest music release. “Taylor Swift | The Official Release Party
of a Showgirl” will open on Friday, October 3, and play just eight showtimes across the weekend of October 3-5. All tickets are $12 and also available now at the theater box office or online at www. sistersmoviehouse.com.
“We’re super excited to have Taylor as part of the musical lineup for October,” said Drew Kaza, managing partner of quoin media & entertainment, which owns and operates Sisters Movie House & Café. “The ‘Swifties’ in Sisters don’t have to go far to enjoy this very special event. It should be a lot of fun.”
The Autumn Arts & Adventure series will continue each Wednesday night through the month of October and into early November. Some of the rest of the lineup includes a climbing documentary, a distance running documentary, a film about political artwork, and further music movies involving rock,
reggae, and jazz.
“It’s just a very diverse bunch of films,” said Kaza. “We know the mountain biking crowd is going to love the ‘RITUAL’ film, which includes a little bit of footage shot locally here at Mt. Bachelor, amongst other places.
“Lastly, that Zombies’ movie tells a fascinating story of a band that had their biggest hit — which was ‘Time of the Season,’ — after they had already broken up,” Kaza said. “They were at the leading edge of the British Invasion with the Beatles, but then kinda got forgotten.” Tickets for all of the events in the series through mid-October are on sale now at the Movie House box office or online at www. sistersmoviehouse.com. Further information on the remainder of the series will be released in early October with more times and ticket sales to follow.
The Common Raven.
PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BEALL
City snapshot: Tariffs raise project costs
By Susan Cobb Correspondent
The City of Sisters and Sisters City Council are seeing local financial impacts of recent tariffs.
The evening of September 24 began with a meeting of the members of the Urban Renewal Agency (URA). The agency is comprised of the sitting Councilors. The URA members:
• Awarded the High 20 Locust Landscaping Project to Rickabaugh Construction not to exceed $248,477.73. The planning diagrams (66 pages of them) will include soil amending, decorative boulder placement, rock mulch, planting, and irrigation improvements. The work extends from the roundabout in all four directions for 100 feet or more (about 500 feet to the southeast). Due to some financial impacts (tariffs increased product prices, wages are up, etc.) the budget is 30 percent over the projected URA allotted budget of $175,000. Capital Projects Manager Paul Bertagna added that a supplemental budget of $78,000 will need funding to cover the stated expense. As usual, Bertagna noted he will find savings as the project progresses to keep under budget where possible.
• Agreed to an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City and the URA where the City will provide the URA administrative support, budget development and financial oversight, contract procurement and administration, real estate acquisition and management, legal, engineering, planning, and project management services. This will allow for fewer meetings of the URA, without taking away from URA’s role of planning and executing redevelopment efforts within the boundaries of the Urban Renewal District (URD), as guided by the URD Plan.
• Lieutenant Chad Davis began the Council workshop noting an uptick in the
unhoused population in the forests, and also an increase in traffic ticketing.
• Northwest Housing Alternative representative, Clayton Crowhurst, reported a “new twist” in the financing for the Trinity Place project in Sisters. He added that the summer closing date is not achievable — they are behind schedule.
• The current estimated cost is about 22 percent more than the original 2022 budget. Construction costs have escalated up to 27 percent. Crowhurst said, “The biggest financial bump is due to the tariffs.”
• Crowhurst is now seeking an alternative funding solution to fill the financial gap and considering making municipal trade bond offerings on the open market.
• He is also seeking to change the terms on the agreement with Deschutes County of $500,000 in ARPA funds and held by the City for this project, to extend the funding end date.
• Republic Services was the last to present in the workshop, and offered waste alternatives for Council to consider. They reviewed a chart of seven options from keeping the Sisters Recycling Center (SRC) as is and increasing residential monthly expense by $2.66 per month or six other options that varied from having a more extensive recycling at SRC, to not having SRC at all — with residential curbside glass pickup services once per month at a rate four dollars over current expenses. Council asked RS to work with the City to create a survey on the recycling options for the public to consider.
• Council moved to approve an agreement with Destination by Design Planning, LLC for the development of a Signage Master Plan in an amount not to exceed $30,000. Assistant City Manager Kerry Prosser noted that the firm would be coordinating with Explore Sisters to assure all signage is pedestrian-friendly.
SONGWRITERS
2ND SUNDAY SONG SHARING CIRCLE
Lyrical or instrumental, all styles, instruments, skills, ages welcome!
Questions? Call/ Text
Jess 541-977-8494 jessaneene@msn.com
OCTOBER 12 • 6-8PM SISTERS ART WORKS 204 W. ADAMS AVE.
Nugget Poetry Corner
Love Is The Answer
ByEdieJones
We hear it all the time: The world’s in chaos. What can save us? We’r e ravaged by crime. Love is the answer we’ve hear d many say. But what does that mean, day by day?
Look all ar ound you. You may be sur prised by ever yday moments in fr ont of your eyes.
Small little gestur es that spr ead joy ar ound. Happiness flowing, thr oughout our town.
Friends aid and comfor t, shar e this and that. Shake hands – hug – end a small spat
Let other s know that you r eally care by listening intently to the ne w stories they shar e. Yes, wars and hunger. Gangs r unning wild. Perv ade the ne ws, bring frowns, not smiles. Worry about guns, the safety of kids These ar e the things to purge – get rid.
How do we do that? When will smiles pr evail? Wher e is it tr anquil, hope thrives – excels ?
Look for a way you can make a differ ence. Like allowing another’s desir e and pr efer ence
Make a ne w friend, bring them in fr om the cold. Get out ther e – Step out ther e – be bold. Who is in need, and pr oba bly won’ t ask? Pr ovide fr om your lar der You’ re up for the task.
Sur prise a neighbor, bake, shar e a pie. Who knows w hat’s needed to bring joy to their eyes? Uncer tainty sur rounds us We live with fear. Shall we burr ow inside, concer ned who is near? No – smile – r eac h out. Show other s you car e. Welcome str anger s. Sur e, ther e’ ll be stares. No matter – we’ re needed. Yes, you and me. It’s up to us to keep the world fr ee.
Spr ead love in small ways, day after day. Spr ead it in bu ckets, dispel this gr ay. Spr ead it on sand wic hes, paint on a sign. Even in anger, let your words be kind
When you ar e helped, hug and give thanks. Don’t give a dander for position or rank Yes, love is the answer ; it’s hard to contain. Love is the answer to the world’s pain.
United
ByJessDraper
tre r es e
Connecting under tr Bir ds see Exc hanging soft wor wa
wor ds, inter nal warmth h felelt with sounds that soothhe me s that move me t
Guitar strings ring with sounds that soothe me Voices bring songs that move me
m one
Emotions melt fr om one to another Rising up to c hange a brother, a mother United. Excited. United. Delighted. United.
Eyes open wide looks collide
ge a brother, mother, a friend, a lover nited Delighted United
Souls r eady to r eceive w y see
Exposed to our souls, a jour ney unfolds
Our map innate, by its lifeline we’ ll navigate United. Excited. United. Delighted. United. Loc ked in a gaze we communicate Sensitive, safe, space Electricity flows
A gentle wind blows, like God’s blessing across our lips
An emollient pr esence, a holy kiss
Tastes like honey
ceive what they see ouls, a journey unfolds ll navigate nited. United. we communicate pace ws, sing across our ence, a kiss
Butterflies in tummy take flight
No longer suffering the plight
Now experiencing delight United. Excited. United. Delighted. United. nswer hard world’s pain
my take f light g
Confusion around COVID vaccination continues
Concerns about rising COVID-19 cases and the recent change to federal vaccine guidelines have led to uncertainty and questions from the community regarding the 2025-2026 COVID19 vaccine.
Deschutes County Health Services (DCHS) reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine on August 27, limiting eligibility to individuals with high-risk health conditions, and adults age 65 and older.
Several national medical professional organizations have released their own eligibility recommendations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology for children and pregnant people, respectively, and the American Academy for
Family Physicians for adults under 65.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) supports the recommendations of these medical professional societies and is awaiting further guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
At this time, there are two ways to get a COVID19 vaccine in Oregon: at a health care provider’s office or at a pharmacy with a provider’s prescription. Vaccine manufacturers have begun shipping the vaccines and they are slowly making their way to the state. It is possible that pharmacies will receive COVID vaccine supplies before local clinics. DCHS recommends contacting your health care provider or pharmacy to find out if they have vaccines available and if you are eligible to receive one.
Deschutes County Health
Services does NOT currently have any COVID-19 vaccines in stock. DCHS receives its vaccine supplies from the Oregon Health Authority, which is still awaiting details from the CDC on when the vaccine will be distributed to Oregon. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is due to meet Sept. 18–19.
In the meantime, community members are encouraged to:
• Wash your hands regularly, clean frequently touched surfaces, cover your coughs and sneezes, stay home when you’re sick, and test for COVID-19, seeking prompt treatment if you’re at higher risk. Consider wearing a well-fitting mask in crowded indoor settings, especially when community levels are high, and when around older adults, young
Circuit finals rodeo rides into C.O.
Cowboys and cowgirls from across Washington, Oregon, and Northern Idaho leave it all on the dirt as they compete throughout the PRCA rodeo season for coveted prize money. From that pool of talented athletes, only the top 12 earners in each event secure their spot to compete at the Boot Barn Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo in Redmond.
That event is set for October 16-18 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo.
The top 12 cowboys and cowgirls in their respective events have qualified for the finals and are geared up to showcase their best performances for a chance at winning the Boot Barn Columbia River Circuit Championship. For rodeo fans www.
columbiarivercircuit.com is the only place where official online tickets will be sold.
Prices for Friday and Saturday night performances will increase by $5 on day of the event. In addition to general admission tickets, the rodeo offers VIP Experience tickets.
VIP Experience provides exclusive access to groundlevel rodeo action in the mote area and reserved prime location seating in sections 18 and 19 of the stands.
Additionally, VIP ticket holders will have access to an exclusive area for hors d’oeuvres and private no-host bar service for rodeo fans aged 21 and over. The cost of each VIP ticket is $75.
Chute 9 will be the official post Rodeo after party following each night of Columbia
SUDOKU Level: Difficult Answer: Page 22
children, or individuals with chronic conditions.
• Oregon recently joined Washington, California, and Hawaii to form the West Coast Health Alliance, which aims to provide clear, science-based vaccine guidance and ensure people can access recommended vaccines during the upcoming respiratory virus season. OHA will keep both the public and providers informed as more information becomes available through the OHA immunization website.
• If you believe you may be eligible for a COVID-19 booster or have questions about vaccine availability, contact your health care provide.
For more information visit https://www.deschutes. org/health/page/20252026-covid-19-information.
FREE SPEECH: Audience participation is encouraged
Continued from page 3
open minds and a lot of curiosity. Without fail, I’ve left with a lot to think about and a deeper appreciation and understanding of the ways we can incorporate varying perspectives and worldviews into a civil and healthy community.”
Audience participation is encouraged; attendees are invited to pose questions, and respectfully challenge the panelists.
The event is free to attend, with complimentary food and drinks provided. Accessibility options are available on request.
This event is part of C4C’s “Let’s Get Together” series. For information or to register for the livestream, citi zens4community.com/events.
River Circuit Finals Rodeo action. Located adjacent to First Interstate Bank Center, Chute 9 Stage, Saloon and Afterparty will feature nightly live musical entertainment, food, drinks, dancing and more.
The Columbia River Circuit is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). It is a nonprofit organization that recognizes the weekend or part-time rodeo cowboy.
Outlaws grind out road victory over Douglas Trojans
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Outlaws gutted out a 7-6 road win against the Douglas Trojans on Friday, September 26, a win which relied on a determined defense and a single, perfectly executed third-quarter drive to claim the victory.
The first quarter was a defensive stalemate, with neither team finding the end zone. In the second quarter, Douglas broke the deadlock with a touchdown (TD) and took a 6-0 lead into halftime.
Sisters received the kickoff to start the third quarter and put together their lone scoring drive of the night. Ethan Eby opened the drive with a strong five-yard run, and then quarterback Hunter Bronson found Spencer Davis on the outside for a 10-yard completion that moved the ball near midfield.
Eby followed with a tough three-yard run up the middle, and Bronson added another four on the ground. Bronson then hit Davis on a slant route for a 20-yard gain, which pushed the Outlaws deep into Trojan territory at the 23-yard line.
From there, Eby took over. He churned out four yards up the middle, then ran a sweep to the right side for an 18-yard gain dragging two Trojan defenders with him the final four yards of the run. On first-and-goal, Eby powered straight up the middle on a direct snap for the TD. Joseph Derksen drilled the PAT to give Sisters the 7-6 lead.
Douglas made one final push in the fourth quarter, drove deep into Sisters’ territory, and threatened to score. The Trojans picked up nine yards on first down, but the Outlaws’ defense stiffened. Sean Moffet burst through the line to sack the QB for a loss, and on third down Davis and Kayden Morris broke up a pass in end zone. On Douglas’ fourth down Coach Hayden Hudson told The Nugget that Bennit Hayes delivered what could be called ‘the play of the game’ — breaking up an outside slant pass to end the threat.
Eby led the defensive
effort with five tackles and three forced fumbles. Parker Larrabee also recorded five tackles on the night, while Weston Davidson, Morris, Hayes, Tabor Garcia, and Jace Owens each added four tackles in a complete team effort.
Eby shared his thoughts on the game with The Nugget.
“After the four hour drive I could tell our energy at the start of the game wasn’t there, and it didn’t take long to realize Douglas was doing the exact opposite of what we’d planned for,” he said. “This was a big test for our team, and we all fought together and did what was necessary to get the job done. I am superblessed to have these men on my team where I know that even if we get horrible calls, trash talk, or penalties, we’ll always keep our composure and give it 100 percent until the fourth-quarter clock hits zero.”
On offense, Bronson was 13-for-18 for 96 yards and 17 yards rushing. Eby had 108 yards rushing and one TD. Davis posted five receptions for 58 yards and Ace Chew added four receptions for 38 yards.
Hudson had nothing but praise for his defense.
“Our defense played lights out all night long,” said Hudson. “Douglas has a strong run game and they’re big up front, but defensively our guys played within themselves — trusting their technique and each other. That was the difference in the game. We had big plays left and right, from forced fumbles that ended drives to bigtime fourth-down stops that halted any momentum they were building.
“This was a phone booth game,” Hudson added. “Most of the action happened between the tackles. It was going to come down to who got up last after being knocked down. While the offense struggled to sustain drives for most of the game, being able to put together an almost eight-minute drive to end the game was amazing to see. Our guys fought to the very end and gave everything they had left in the tank
to bring this one home. And, having a running back like Ethan Eby is great. He’s a dude on the football field, breaking tackles and carrying defenders. He is a hard back to bring down.”
The Outlaws improved their record to 3-1 with the road win. They will play on the road at Creswell on Friday, October 3.
ou are a nonprofit or business organizing holiday giving drives and programs, this special section is designed to shine the spotlight on the support services needed (donations, gifts, olunteers, and more) by various organizations you are helping at the holidays. PARTNERS IN GIVING will include feature articles on holiday giving written by our professional writers.
RTNERS IN GIVING is designed as a keeper, pull-out magazinestyle reference section. It will be included inside 5,600 copies of the Nugget and distributed throughout Sisters Country
The Outlaws defense lines up for the final play for the game against Douglas High School. The unit played “lights out” in a gritty victory.
PHOTO BY JOSEPH GORDON
BY CHARLIE KANZIG
Outlaws win Champs Invite in Lebanon
By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent
The Outlaws girls’ cross country team put together its best performance of the season to win the team title at the Champs Invite held at Cheadle Park near Lebanon on Friday, September 26.
The effort featured gutsy running in the second half of the 5-kilometer course.
Brooke Duey closed the last mile in a flourish to take second place in a season best of 20:01, while Josie Ryan ran a season best to place sixteenth in a field of 103 runners, clocking 21:25. The trio of Naomi Bennette (22:51), Althea Crabtree (23:02), and Sofia Clark (23:12) completed the scoring for the Outlaws, finishing 29th, 32nd, and 35th respectively.
Kalkidan Ellis of Western Christian won the race in 19:46.
“The girls truly ran as an inspired team this week, which is what we aimed for going into the race,” said Charlie Kanzig, head coach. “Each runner did her part.”
For the Outlaws boys, freshman Caden Warner had a breakthrough race as the lone varsity entrant for Sisters, moving up throughout the race to finish in 15th place in a personal best of 17:57 in a whopping field of 178 runners.
“Caden is not a typical freshman runner,” said Kanzig. “He locked in on a pace and just kept rolling
along, while most high school runners go out way too fast, die back a bit, and then make a push to the finish. He ran like a veteran.”
Tytus Janssen of Santiam Christian, another freshman, won the race in an outstanding time of 16:36.
The junior varsity runners showed continued progress and Kanzig hopes some will be moving up to the varsity level before long. Ryah Nordell had a banner day on her way to winning the 3,000meter JV girls race, while her teammate Alexis Lowe placed third. For the boys, Zack Kemp, coping with a nagging injury, took first place, while Jaxxon Saunders came through in fifth place, and Landon Kirkpatrick 16th among 63 racers.
“Truly, as a whole, the Outlaw runners met my expectations at this meet,” said Kanzig. “Their performances show that they are doing the work and believing in the process on their way to be their best a month from now.”
Up next for the Outlaws is the Stayton/Regis Invitational on Thursday, October 2, which includes mostly 3A/2A/1A teams from around the Willamette Valley.
“This will be another good meet on a true cross country course for our runners to test themselves,” said Kanzig. “We should have Ben Hayner back from illness and be able to shoot for having a varsity boys score this week.”
Caden Warner ran like a veteran in a breakthrough effort at the Champs Invite in Lebanon.
PHOTO
Mike Hernandez
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102 Commercial Rentals
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PONDEROSA PROPERTIES
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Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: PonderosaProperties.com
Printed list at 178 S. Elm, Sisters Ponderosa Properties LLC
104 Vacation Rentals
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Great pricing. 503-730-0150
201 For Sale
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202 Firewood
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Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions! Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths? Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150
301 Vehicles
CLASSIC CAR STORAGE! Oversized, lights/power, $275/m • 541-419-2502
We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com
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Travelers Rest RV Storage 30' and 23' RV spaces with low monthly rates available now! Secure your spot before winter. bekah@travelersrestrvstorage. com - 541-719-8644
401 Horses
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New 2025 crop. Barn stored. 3-tie bales. $240-$340/ton. Hwy. 126 & Cline Falls. 541-280-1895
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500 Services
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•Wildfire Fuels reduction
•Debris Chipping/Mastication •Forest Health Thinning •Wildfire Cleanup & Restoration •Tree Removal Will Moore, 541-409-5404
ISA Certified Arborist We are the experts you’ve been looking for! LCB# 100129 & Oregon Professional Logger 71395048
–All You Need Maintenance –Tree removal, property thinning & clearing, forestry mastication & mulching, stump grinding. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122
4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts! –TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.
–FOREST MANAGEMENT –Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale Projects! Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003
** Free Estimates **
Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342 4brostrees.com
Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057
601 Construction
Pat Burke
Custom Homes
Additions - Remodels
Residential Building Projects
Becke William Pierce
CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384
Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com
— Serving Sisters Since 2010 — CASCADE GARAGE DOORS
Factory Trained Technicians
Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553
LOCAL CONSTRUCTION
SERVICES & HOME MAINT.
Remodels • Landscaping
Firewise Maintenance
Decks & Much More!
Pease Co. Contracting
Call Tanner at 541-588-0136.
Big and small jobs!
CCB# 256258
Construction & Renovation
Custom Residential Projects
All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448
SPURGE COCHRAN
BUILDER, INC.
General Contractor
Building Distinctive, Handcrafted Custom Homes, Additions, Remodels, Cabin Renovations Since ’74
A “Hands-On” Builder
Keeping Your Project on Time & On Budget • CCB #96016
To speak to Spurge personally, call 541-815-0523
Lara’s Construction LLC.
CCB#223701
Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call for a free estimate 541-350-3218
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
Earthwood Timber
• Recycled fir and pine beams
• Mantels and accent timbers
• Sawmill/woodshop services
EWDevCoLLC@gmail.com
INSPIRED CUSTOM HOMES
www.teeharborconstruction.com 541-213-8736 • CCB#75388
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 SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.
“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling
• New Construction • Water Heaters
541-549-4349
Residential and Commercial Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #87587
603 Excavation & Trucking 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!
ROBINSON & OWEN
Heavy Construction, Inc.
All your excavation needs
*General excavation
*Site Preparation
*Sub-Divisions
*Road Building
*Sewer and Water Systems
*Underground Utilities
*Grading
*Sand-Gravel-Rock
Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #124327
541-549-1848
BANR Enterprises, LLC
Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls
Residential & Commercial
CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net
604 Heating & Cooling ACTION AIR
Heating & Cooling, LLC
Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com
CCB #195556 541-549-6464
605 Painting
~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~
Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks
CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620
www.frontier-painting.com
Interior/Exterior Painting
Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327
peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491
EMPIRE PAINTING
Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining CCB#180042
541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk
606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance
Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation.
CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462
All Landscaping Services
Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740
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
J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, thatching, aerating, irrigation, mowing. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com
Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company. Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com
701 Domestic Services
I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051
BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897
802 Help Wanted
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. – Sisters Oregon Guide –Pick one up throughout town!
NUGGETEERS
Bill Bar tlett is The Nugget’s ‘man on the street’ — his boundless curiosity and enthusiasm driving him to repor t on all the doings and activities of the Sisters community The Nugget serves.
Time at The Nugget : 5 years
Position: Freelance Writer
Stories Written: 700 (giveortake)
Favorite part of the job:
The people and their stories. There are so many interesting people in Sisters. The well of talent , expertise, and life stories is amazing.
Favorite activities: Hiking, biking, skiing — being outdoors in our vast playground.
Working together, we can build prosperity and vibrancy in our community. Keep it local, and keep it strong.
Farthest traveled from Central Oregon: Malaysia (ProbablyMalaysia—Billhastraveledto 63countries!)
Your suppor t of The Nugget helps us suppor t local businesses. While our costs continue to rise, we have held steady on our adver tising rates because we know we can’t simply pass those cost burdens on to our adver tisers, who are facing rising costs across the board. Direct suppor t from readers in the form of Suppor ting Contributions is vital to continuing the work of the newspaper, which is, itself, a long-time par t of Sisters’ small business community R eaders who value the paper and make direct suppor ting contributions help us cover the cost of repor ting the news and serving as an opinion platform for the community You
make suppor ting contributions
send a check to P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR, 97759, or stop by the of fice at 442 E.