The Nugget
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters had a spooktacular Halloween
Goblins and ghouls. Vampires and zombies. Pirates and astronauts. Superheroes and princesses, and all manner of fashioned town folk from infants to octogenarians gathered for the annual Halloween festival held last Friday.
It was a tripartite affair, conducted by Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Corps, and most downtown merchants, prompted by Sisters Business Association (SBA).
More than a thousand took part in the affair that began at 3:30 p.m. in Village Green Park. Dubbed Trunk-or-Treat by organizer SPRD, the spooktacular event sponsored by Rotary Club of Sisters featured a row of vehicles with their trunks of treasure lined on South Elm Street between Washington and Jefferson avenues directly opposite the fire house. That block was closed to traffic.
Participating vendors including the Sisters substation of Deschutes County
Firewise community is growing — slowly
By Susan Cobb Correspondent
Sisters Country property owners want to reduce the risk of losing a major investment in a home or business to a fire. A few owners are finding that getting Firewise certification has given them
a hedge against inflated fire insurance rates or cancelations of insurance.
There are 32 certified Firewise communities in Sisters Country. Another three communities are working on getting certified.
19
Food insecurity jolts Sisters Country
By T. Lee Brown Correspondent
“We just had our busiest day ever in our history,” said Jeff Taylor last Thursday. He is a director of Kiwanis Food Bank in Sisters.
Like thousands of other Central Oregonians, many food bank patrons usually receive government benefits
to help pay for food, via the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
A recent political struggle over benefit payments plunged nonprofits, food producers, and customers alike into chaos and uncertainty. The Sisters community is scrambling to meet the need.
See INSECURITY on page 14
Sheriff’s Office, Roth Home, and Seed To Table handed out treats — demanding no tricks in return. Inside the park itself several fun things
were happening from games to dancing witches — a crowd favorite. The witches are members of the SPRD Zumba class.
Toward 4:30 p.m. the costume contest began, where spectator applause levels
See HALLOWEEN on page 17
Outlaws claim XC district title
The Outlaws girls team ran according to the plan on their way to claim a narrow victory over Santiam Christian last week, winning the Special District 2 cross-country title, earning a berth to the OSAA State Championships.
The Outlaws scored 77 points to Santiam Christian’s 79 in an epic competition.
“We knew going in that the battle with Santiam Christian would come down to just a few points one way or the other and we are super happy to have squeaked out the two point win,” said head coach Charlie Kanzig. “The girls each ran the race we needed from them.”
Brooke Duey pulled away from a small lead pack in pursuit of the eventual winner Kalkidan Ellis of Western Christian, and finished second in a personal best of 19:23. Ellis clocked 19:15.
Josie Ryan put together her best race of the year as well, finishing ninth in 20:43. Her job was to split up Santiam Christian’s second and third runners, which she
accomplished. “Josie looked great and ran with a lot of confidence,” said Kanzig. Every runner counted and the next three scorers for Sisters each had work to do to hold off Santiam Christians’ final two scorers. Althea Crabtree (22:28) and Naomi Bennette (22:36) placed 21st and 22nd, and first year
runner Sofia Clark sealed the deal by holding off Santiam Christian’s fifth runner by 10 seconds, placing 34th in 23:31 to cement the win. Jayden Durtschi (25:16) and Ryah Nordell (26:46) completed the varsity team for the Outlaws.
Althea Crabtree and Naomi Bennette placed 21st and 22nd, providing crucial scoring in the Outlaws narrow championship victory over Santiam Christian in cross-country district finals.
PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG
Sisters Park & Recreation District hosted Trunk-or-Treat and other activities at Sisters Village Green. The local events drew big crowds.
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
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.
Serving Our Seniors
To the Editor:
Serving Our Seniors (SOS), a recently formed ad hoc group of individuals, has been conducting community listening sessions in October to give voice to the needs of seniors, their caregivers, families, as well as anyone living in Sisters Country who hopes to age well in their own homes. Their sole intent is to listen and reflect these hopes, ideas, concerns, stories, and suggestions in future Nugget articles, as well as with the community in a public forum to be conducted early in 2026.
SOS appreciates and benefits from the support of Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC is the group’s fiscal sponsor) and
Citizens4Community, who will facilitate a community forum midwinter to share what has been learned from the listening sessions, along with related health research data, best practices in aging services, and various community models designed to promote aging well.
The SOS team hopes to hear from many more people this month, and invite all to attend the additional listening sessions scheduled for November 12, 17, and 19 at 2:30 p.m. at The Hub (291 E. Main Avenue, next to Fir Street Park). This small and mighty team is hopeful neighbors throughout Sisters Country will continue to gather together to learn more, consider the variety of issues and opportunities,
Sisters Weather Forecast
No ‘overwhelming victory’
By Mark Parchman Guest Columnist
This is in response to Jeff Mackey’s letter last week and its various inaccurate claims. First, the claim of an “overwhelming victory.” I think this is the second or third time I have clarified this, sigh.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump received approximately 77.3 million votes (49.9 percent), while Kamala Harris garnered approximately 75 million votes (48.4 percent).
Trump won both the popular and Electoral College votes, securing 312 electoral votes compared to Harris’s 226. The difference between Trump and Harris was 2.3 million votes (1.5 percent).
Another fact is that Trump received less than 50 percent of the vote as there were other candidates that received some votes. Trump’s vote tally was not a majority, and hence, not an “overwhelming victory.”
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An outstanding example of an “overwhelming victory” is illustrated by the victory of President Reagan over Walter Mondale in 1984 where he won by 17 million votes (18.2 percent). Reagan additionally won 49/50 states in the electoral college as compared to Trump who won 31/50; 18.2 percent and 49/50 is an “overwhelming victory” Clearly, Trump did not have an “overwhelming victory,” and being honest and accurate, any reasonable person would have to admit that Donald Trump did not even have a majority.
Secondly, “what were Americans demanding with their vote?” This statement implies that all Americans, well at least all voting age Americans, were demanding all the same thing with their vote.
not demanding what Trump had to offer, and up to 72 percent were not demanding what Harris had to offer. The answer to the author’s question above is that voting age Americans were demanding something other than what was offered and not what they received. And that is why there’s division in our country.
Third, the author cannot unsee the image of the “overly obese” teacher mocking the murder of Charlie Kirk. Has the author conveniently unseen the image of our president mocking a disabled person during one of his speeches? Has the author unseen Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade suggesting that homeless persons should get lethal injections? Has the author unheard the many derogatory and dehumanizing terms our president has used to refer to his opponents such as, garbage, scum, animals, poison, vermin, human refuse, lowlife, etc.? It is interesting how the author felt the need to include what some, not me, might consider a negative physical description of the person when just calling them a grade school teacher would have sufficed. Is that a clue to bias?
Lastly, it is just ridiculous to claim that hatred is the foundation of the Democrat party and that because of their Nazi/Fascist rhetoric we will never be able to unite as a nation. That had to have come from FOX, OAN, or Karoline Leavitt. Come on, we all know, according to our president, that there are “many fine people on both sides.” Is the author aware that Antifa stands for Anti-Fascist?
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As you can see above, statistics, at least honest statistics, don’t lie. In 2024, there were 265 million voting age Americans. Only 29 percent of voting age Americans voted for what Trump was offering. Twenty-eight percent voted against what Trump was offering. Again, as above, neither percentage was a majority of voting age Americans. The largest group of voting age Americans, 43 percent, did not vote. One could take this as an implication that the largest group of Americans did not like what either candidate was offering. Let’s assume they didn’t. That would imply that up to 71 percent of Americans were
And it would be worthwhile for the author to review the history of the rise of National Socialism (Nazism) in 1930s Germany as the parallels between Germany then and now in our country are similar in many instances. The author envisions that the solution to “unite as one nation” is to unite around “actual solutions” that only 29 percent of the voting age Americans chose. At least 28 percent and maybe up to 71 percent do not choose those solutions, and that is not national unity.
The problem is that to unify a country, you have to put forth solutions that are inclusive and not exclusive, and that benefit the majority, not just the minority. “Our way or the highway” will never work for unifying a nation.
Erik Dolson captured a stunning and almost eerie sunset over Sisters Country on Halloween, October 31.
Youth help preserve cemetery
A team of 18 young adults working under the auspices of Heart of Oregon Corps joined around a dozen veterans last Friday at Camp Polk Cemetery for the fourth annual cleanup of the historic pioneer burial site.
Heart of Oregon Corps (HOC) programs engage 225 youth annually in meaningful, growth-filled workforce development and educational opportunities that help address the negative impacts of poverty. They primarily serve low-to-moderate income youth ages 16-24 who are disconnected from school and work but are ready to thrive when given adequate support.
With the goal of career readiness, HOC programs provide training in conservation, construction, and childcare. Since its inception 25 years ago, HOC has grown into a nonprofit leader with programs and projects in Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and northern Klamath counties, including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
The group Friday was a HOC YouthBuild team, young adults transforming their lives and roles in society through earning their GED, high school diploma, or college credits, learning job skills, and serving their community primarily through building affordable housing in Central Oregon.
Members in the program
divide their time between classroom education, worksite training, and leadership development. Their campus is in Cloverdale.
The cemetery has no funding and relies entirely on volunteer labor for its care and maintenance.
Sisters Country veterans groups have taken the lead in preserving the grounds. Camp Polk Pioneer Preservation Committee Vice President & Secretary Rachael Woods noted that, “We are actively seeking volunteers, specifically a treasurer.” She encouraged those interested to inquire at info@camppolk pioneercemetery.org.
The committee and
See
The Addams Family comes to Sisters
finding out who she is outside of them.
Fall is a busy season for most students, but especially for those students at Sisters High School (SHS) involved in The Addams Family Musical, which is gearing up to premiere November 6–9 in the SHS auditorium.
Two years ago the art department put on “The SpongeBob Musical.” This year they’re focusing on the well-known and loved spooky family we’ve seen on television for years.
The story follows the main character Wednesday Addams, played by junior Caitlin Carter, and her struggle between family and
“I think it has a very unique twist on the standard Addams Family story,” said Choir Director Steve Livingston. “It expands on Wednesday’s growing up and finding someone who isn’t in the same genre as her family. I really like it because in the end it’s still the same kooky Addams Family with a different aspect.”
Despite this being Livingston’s first year directing a musical, he’s already implemented a class called Musical Theatre, which takes place during second period and takes a weight off of
Science talk: Biodiversity begins with a ‘B’
Most people can name perhaps three or four kinds of bees. They are incredulous to learn that there are actually 4,000 species of native bees in North America and this does not include honey bees (which are non-native). As a general fact, most people have no clue about the biodiversity that surrounds them. This is partly because of steadily increasing urbanization. Partly because our lives are so specialized. And partly because society has not seemed to
SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR
BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS
Al -Anon
Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383.
Alcoholics A nonymou s
Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of t he Hills
Lutheran Church • Tuesday, noon, Big Book study, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church • Wednesday, 7 a.m.,G entlemen’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Thursday, noon, Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Thursday, 7 p.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Fr iday, noon, Step & Tradition meeting, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-5 48 -0 440. Saturday, 8 a.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Sunday, 7 p.m Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration Central Oregon F ly Tye rs G uild For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om Central Oregon Trail A lliance (COTA) Sisters Chapter meets monthly for a meeting, group bike ride, or event. Contact sistersrep@cotamtb.com for info.
Ci tizens4Communit y C ommunity
Builders meeting, 3rd Wednesday of ever y mont h, 10 to 11:30 a.m. V isit citizens 4c ommunity.c om for loc ation.
Council on Aging of Cent ral O rego n Senior Lunch In- person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab -and -go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters C ommunity Church. 5 41-4 8 0-18 43 East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wed. (September- June), Stitchin’ Post . A ll are welcome. 5 41-5 49 -6 061.
G o Fish Fishing G roup 3rd Monday
7 p.m., Siste rs C ommunity Church. 541-771-2211
Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s) 2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Siste rs Communit y Church. M ater ials provided.
541- 408 -8 505.
Hero Q uilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 5 41-6 68 -1755
Living Well W ith Dementia Sisters Care Par tner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Park & Recreation District Communi ty Center. 541- 588 -0547.
Mili tary Parent s of S isters Meetings are held quarter ly; please c all 5 41-388 -9 013.
Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 5 41-5 49 -6 469.
Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom. 503- 93 0- 6158
Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 3:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church. 5 41-5 49 -6157.
Sisters Area Woodworke rs First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 5 41-231-18 97
Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.
Sisters Caregi ver Sup por t G roup 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Library Communit y Room. 5 41-588 -0547. (M eets with Living Well With Dementia Sisters)
Sisters Garden C lub For monthly meetings visit: SistersGardenClub.com.
Sisters Habitat for Humanit y Board of D irectors 4th Tuesday, 4:3 0 p.m.
Location infor mation: 5 41-5 49 -1193.
Sisters Kiwani s 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at S PR D in Sisters 541- 632- 3663
Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School Commons. 917-219-8298
Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon to 1 p.m., at SPR D. 541-76 0- 5645
Sisters Veterans no- host lunch, Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Rest aurant. All veterans welcome, 5 41-241-6 56 3.
Sisters Trails A lliance Board
Meetings take plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In- person or zoom. Contact: info@sisterstrails.org
Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of Direc tors M eets 2nd Tuesday, 10 a.m., TSI D Of fice 541- 903- 4050
Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 5 41-419 -1279. VF W Po st 813 8 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:3 0 p.m., Pine Meadow Village Clubhouse, 596 W Jef ferson Ave. 541-241- 6563
value natural history. Bees are the topic of the next Frontiers in Science lecture set for November 18, at The Belfry.
Today we speak of “Ecosystem Services.” We have a general understanding that living things create the oxygen we breathe, clean the water we drink, and provide every molecule of food we eat. Yet we have only the vaguest notion of the species that provide these services.
SCHOOLS
Black Bu tt e School Board of Dire ctor s 3rd Tuesday, 9 a.m., Black But te School. 541- 59 5- 6203
Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m onthly, Sisters School District Administr ation Building. See schedule at www.ssd 6. org. 5 41-5 49 -8 521 x5 002. CIT Y & PARKS
Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters Cit y Hall 541- 549- 6022
Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Dire ctor s 2nd & 4th Tues., 4 p.m., C of f ield Center. 5 41-5 49 -2091.
Sisters Pl anning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:3 0 p.m., Siste rs City Hall. 5 41-5 49 -6 022.
FIRE & POLICE
Black Bu tt e Ranch Polic e Dept. Board of Dire ctor s M eets monthly 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date
Black Bu tt e Ranch R FPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 5 41-595 -2 28 8
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Heart of Oregon Corps workers engaged in their fourth annual cleanup effort at the historic Camp Polk Cemetery on October 31. See MUSICAL on page 20
See SCIENCE TALK on page 20
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
CEMETERY on page 15
By Olivia Nieto Correspondent
Collaboration aided Flat Fire fight
Quick decisions and collaboration between agencies across the state of Oregon were critical in staving off even more catastrophic impacts from the Flat Fire last August.
According to SistersCamp Sherman Fire Chief Tony Prior, the mobilization plan that was in place and having a regional coordinator on hand from the State Fire Marshal’s Office helped expedite decisions that brought substantial resources to bear quickly in defending Sisters against the blaze, which forced thousands to evacuate, and took five homes and several outbuildings.
Chief Prior will be one of four speakers at a forum titled “The Flat Fire: Reflections, Recovery and Resilience,” set for Sunday, November 9, 4–5:30 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School (SES), 2155 McKinney Butte Rd.
The forum, sponsored by Citizens4Community (C4C) and The Nugget , will allow the community to “reflect on challenges faced, lessons learned, the state of recovery, and the work still ahead. Through panel discussion and community dialogue, we’ll consider how wildfires shape not only our landscapes but also our connections to each other. The forum will provide space to share experiences, honor the work of recovery, and discuss strategies for living with fire in ways that
Stuck in Sisters
By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Brian David Owens has been stuck in Sisters for five years, and he’s looking for a way out.
Owens and his dog Dude are well-known figures in Sisters, living unhoused. He never set out to be a wellknown figure, and doesn’t like it.
“I was stranded here five years ago,” he told The Nugget. “Had to get on Social Security, got approved, used all my money (back pay) on a car I had to get rid of. Now I’m stuck here. Didn’t want to be. Now I’m told I’m famous. Didn’t want to be famous here…”
Owens is a U.S. Army veteran. He had plans to go to Ranger school or into Officer Candidate School, but he recounted a conflict with a sergeant over his perception of favoritism that led to trouble.
“I cussed him out, had a mental breakdown,” he recalled. “They sent me to the mental hospital in San Antonio, Texas.”
According to Owens, he was medicated, put on nondeployable status, and eventually given an honorable discharge. He returned home to his parents in Oklahoma, and got a job, but a litany of trouble and misfortune followed, including a run-in with the law that he believes should have been handled as a civil manner.
“It should have been, like, a Judge Judy case,” he said.
He said he “had more jobs than I can count. The last job before I got stranded in
Sisters, worked for him over a year, didn’t document me as working for him, sexually harassed me; he wouldn’t pay me over $100 a week. Got me a car that broke when I got here. Had to get rid of it, couldn’t afford [it]. After spinning my wheels trying to look for work … end[ed] up having to dig in the trash for cans to make money.”
Once he got on Social Security, he was able to buy a car, but that didn’t work out.
“When I got that approved, spent $6,000 on a car, and another $2,000 getting it ready for travel,” he recalled. “After driving less than 300 miles, the oil light came on and there were no leaks. I realized everything was bad about this 2009 Toyota Camry.”
He had to get rid of that car, too.
“Now I’m stuck, broken, living on $967 a month,” he said. “No, I don’t want to be in Sisters. No, I don’t want to be famous here. I’m stuck and a bus ticket doesn’t help my situation. Wish someone would help me with a car that wasn’t broken so I can leave and get what’s left of my life together.”
He said he’s looking “for a leg up, not a handout.”
He asked that anyone who might be able to help call him at 458-600-2754.
Owens is struggling and
feeling hopeless. “I give up,” he said. “I’m just tired of getting ripped off. The only thing I’ve got to be thankful for is my best friend, my dog Dude.”
Brian Owens and Dude want to get out of Sisters.
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
Hall of Fame welcomes new class of inductees
By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent
The 2025 Outlaw Hall of Fame celebrated a new class of honorees at a celebration held Sunday, November 2, at Sisters High School (SHS).
The inductees included three individuals, one community contributor, a special program and a coach and the two teams he led to state soccer titles.
Emcee Dennis Dempsey, one of the HOF board members, who served as the high school principal when the school reopened in 1992, welcomed the crowd and described the purpose of the organization.
“When we hear the words ‘Hall of Fame,’ we might immediately think of legendary athletes or accomplished alumni, however the true purpose of the Outlaw Hall of Fame extends far beyond simply celebrating individual or team achievements. It serves as a living testament to the values that define the Sisters schools and community — excellence, dedication, integrity, and the drive to make a difference.”
The first recognition of the evening focused on the Project Unify program facilitated by Josh Nordell and his assistants at SHS.
Project Unify is an initiative connected to the Special Olympics which is designed to create a culture, understanding, friendship and belonging for students with special needs. The program allows these students to have the opportunity to play and compete in sports with teams from other Project Unify schools. Project Unify is represented in over 2,100 schools nationwide.
Senior Grace Fendall introduced Nordell, saying, “Through his dedication, vision, and heart, Josh Nordell has redefined what community means at Sisters High School. Project Unify is a celebration of compassion in action and serves as a reminder that inclusion doesn’t just change lives…it builds the very best kind of team.”
Sisters Middle School teacher Rob Jensen was inducted along with the state championship teams that he coached in 2013 and 2015. As a coach Jensen compiled a record of 107-51-14 between 2007 and 2018. One of his star players from those years, Jake McAllister, was inducted as an individual for his tremendous athletic fetes while attending SHS. McAllister was a three-time League Player of the Year in Soccer
and was named the State 4A player of the year as a senior. He also excelled in track and field as a jumper and sprinter. He continued his career at University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska, where he is operating a business and working in the construction industry.
Justin Harrer, one of the finest three-sport athletes in SHS history, was inducted based on his prowess in football, basketball, and especially baseball. A 2015 graduate, he was named the 4A Player of the Year as a senior and was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of high school, but chose instead to attend Washington State University where he also excelled. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018, he played professionally until 2021. He now resides in Hawaii, where he works for ProService Hawaii.
The third individual athlete recognized, David Martin class of 1999, made his mark on the football field and on the track. As a senior he amassed over 2,000 yards of rushing and helped power the Outlaws to the 1998 state championship. On the track he cleared 14 feet 10 inches in the pole vault and played a key role on the 4 x 100
meter relay team that finished second at state. After graduation he served in the U.S. Army and now works locally for the construction firm Kirby Nagelhout as a general superintendent. The Sisters Kiwanis Club rounded out the evening as the 2025 Special Contributor awardee for the support the Kiwanis has provided the community since the club’s inception in 1978. Among its areas of focus, the Kiwanis Club supports the youth in Sisters through Sisters Park and Recreation funding and projects, scholarships for high school graduates, Circle of Friends, FAN, and more.
In addition, the Kiwanis Food Bank has been meeting the needs of the Sisters Community for many years, including 88 families and individuals just last week. According to co-chair of the Outlaw Hall of Fame Don Pollard, local contributors have given over $100,000 over the past 11 years in support of the Hall of Fame and the Outlaw Booster Club. “None of this would happen if not for the generosity of the sponsors in our community,” he said.
Complete information about the Outlaw Hall of Fame can be found at www. shshalloffame.org.
Josh Nordell was inducted to the Outlaw Hall of Fame on November 2.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Outlaws shut out Elmira on senior night
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Outlaws capped senior night with a commanding 20-0 shutout over visiting Elmira on Thursday, October 30. Sisters honored their nine seniors: Hunter Bronson, Trent Gordon, Ethan Eby, Jozua Miller, Jace Owens, Jackson Spor, Cinch Chew, Parker Larrabee, and Joseph Derksen. See related story, this page.
Sisters wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On the opening offensive series, Ethan Eby picked up seven yards to spark the drive, and Tyler Johnson followed with a 10-yard run to set up firstand-10 on the 25-yard line. After two plays went for no gain, quarterback Hunter Bronson hit Grant Roberson on a slant route for a 25-yard touchdown. Joseph Derksen’s PAT made it 7-0.
The Outlaws struck again on their next possession. Jace Owens took a speed sweep around the right edge and sprinted 24 yards to the end zone. The PAT attempt failed, but Sisters carried a 13-0 lead into the second quarter. Neither team scored in the period, and the Outlaws held their advantage at halftime.
Sisters’ final touchdown came from the defense in the third quarter. Owens intercepted an Elmira pass and ran 50 yards down the sideline for the score. Derksen added the extra point to push the lead
to 20-0, where it remained through the final whistle.
Bronson finished the night six-for-nine for 94 yards and a touchdown. Eby rushed four times for 20 yards, and Owens tallied 37 yards on three carries with a rushing TD.
Roberson recorded one catch for a 25-yard touchdown, and Atom Fetteroff added two receptions for 38 yards.
Defensively, Fetteroff led the team with three tackles. Owens and Ace Chew each notched an interception, contributing to a dominant performance that resulted in Sisters’ third shutout of the season.
The game took an unusual turn early, as two Elmira players suffered injuries just six minutes in. At Elmira’s request, the remainder of the contest was played with a running clock.
Coach Hayden Hudson praised the defense for their outstanding play.
“Our defense again played lights out all night long,” said Hudson. “The defensive line was a problem all night for the Elmira line and was constantly creating pressure on the quarterback, forcing him to throw the ball early and often off target.”
The Outlaws advance to the postseason and will host North Valley in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday, November 7, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
Football program honors seniors
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Outlaws football program honored the team’s nine seniors — and then went out to crush the Elmira Falcons in a 20-0 shutout (see related story, this page).
Hunter Bronson, Trent Gordon, Ethan Eby, Jozua Miller, Jace Owens, Jackson Spor, Cinch Chew, Parker Larrabee, and Joseph Derksen all received recognition.
Bronson is a three-year starter at quarterback for the Outlaws.
Coach Hayden Hudson said, “Hunter is always working to make himself better at his craft. He’s a student of the game and is always looking for ways to spread the ball to our playmakers on offense. He will be missed both on the offensive side of the ball and on the sideline while the defense was playing.”
Gordon plays as a defensive back.
“Trent used his length and athletic abilities to become a league standout at the defensive end position anchoring the defensive line,” said Hudson. “His charm and quick NFL knowledge will be missed.”
Eby plays as both a running back and linebacker. Ethan was a three-year starter at the linebacker position and a two year starter at running back.
“Ethan has the kind of motor that cannot be taught
and he is always working on his craft in the weight room and on the field,” said Hudson. “His leadership on the field was among his highest strengths as a football player.”
Miller plays on both the offensive and defensive line. Jozua has been a three-year starter in both these positions, but unfortunately suffered an injury this past winter that kept him from playing until midway through the season.
“When Jozua was able to return, his impact was felt immediately and he helped push an already dominant defensive line over the top in stopping the run game,” stated Hudson.
Owens is a wide receiver and also an outside linebacker.
“Jace didn’t play football last year and came out to the team a couple weeks into the season, but his presence was felt on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball when he stepped out onto the field” said Hudson. “Jace has a tremendously high athletic ceiling and can be a problem for the other team in any sport he plays.”
Spor plays on both the offensive and defensive line.
“Jackson was a backup player last year and came out to the team late this year,” said Hudson. “When he was available to play he made an impact almost immediately on the defensive line. His tall frame and strong use of his hands makes him a handful
to block and keep out of the offensive backfield.”
Chew is a wide receiver and a defensive back. He’s played football all four years and this year was a starter on both sides of the ball.
“Cinch has tremendous top end speed and can break away from defensive players in the secondary,” said Hudson. “As a defensive back Cinch is a lockdown corner and led the team in interceptions this year.”
Larrabee plays on both the offensive and defensive line.
“Parker transferred from Redmond to Sisters his senior year and made a massive impact on the Outlaws offensive and defensive line,” said Hudson. “Parker has the ability to play multiple positions with his frame and quick feet. He played defensive tackle and defensive end this year putting his abilities on full display.”
Derksen rounds out the senior players, and is both a kicker and a punter. Derksen came out for football this year and split his time between being the goalie for the boys soccer team and the kicker and punter for the football squad.
“Joseph was new to the game but caught on quickly and excelled at his position, routinely converting PAT attempts and flipping the field on punts,”said Hudson. “He even made a couple TD saving tackles this year from his kicker position.”
Dementia support group sets community events
Living Well With Dementia Sisters (LWWDS) invites the community to our special events this holiday season focused on connection and creativity. Show your support for people living with dementia and their care partners and family.
Memory Book Workshop
Thursday, November 20, 10 a.m. to noon at Sisters Parks & Recreation District Metolius Room, 611 E. Cascade Ave. A hands-on, heartwarming workshop where you will be guided through creating your own personalized Memory Book. This a wonderful way to preserve stories, photos, and meaningful moments. All materials are provided, and preregistration is required. For more information or to sign up visit the events page on LWWDS.com.
Run Sisters Run! Ugly Sweater Run/Walk
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. at The Barn, 171 E. Main Ave. Get ready to lace up, laugh, and show off your ugliest holiday sweater! LWWDS is honored to be one of two beneficiaries of this festive community event, alongside the Sisters High School Outlaws Downhill Ski Team. Proceeds will support both organizations’ programs in our local community. Can’t
join the fun? Donations are always welcome to help further our mission. Register for the race online at www. runsistersrun.com.
LWWDS Christmas/ Holiday Social
Thursday, December 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Pine Meadow Clubhouse, 596 W. Jefferson Ave. The annual Holiday Social is a joyful gathering for people living with dementia, their care partners, and family members. Enjoy holiday treats, music, conversation, and connection in a welcoming environment designed to celebrate the season with warmth and understanding. Registration is required. For more information or to sign up visit the events page on LWWDS.com.
“Each of these events reflects our mission to empower and support families living with dementia,” said Debbi McCune, executive director of Living Well With Dementia Sisters. “Whether you’re creating memories, running in the name of community, or sharing holiday joy, these moments remind us that no one walks this journey alone.”
For more information, visit LWWDS.com and follow Living Well With Dementia Sisters on Facebook.
SPRD Community Park set to open
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Drivers and pedestrians passing by the old elementary school — now home to Sisters Park and Recreation District — are at once curious and growing excited as they see months of work appear finished and ready for action.
“Not quite yet,” said Jennifer Holland, executive director. “Almost, just a few more weeks and we’ll have a grand opening announcement.”
Meanwhile the eight pickleball courts are technically playable, but some last-minute work on the nets means, despite appearances, that players will have to hold off a wee bit longer. It is these courts that are the most anticipated feature of the park.
“The basketball courts are open as are the playgrounds,” Holland said. “But it will be about three weeks before the bathrooms are completed.”
“We have roped off the landscaped area to give the newly seeded grass more time to take hold,” she added, hoping that visitors will keep off the grass especially with recent and expected rains.
So yes, the Park is open — sort of. Holland and her Board want as much utilization of the facilities as soon as possible and are grateful for the public’s patience during construction.
The Sisters Community Recreation Center (SCRC) is
a 36,000 square foot facility and offers a variety of health and wellness, and recreational opportunities.
The $1.3 million project is being funded with minimal use of general fund dollars, instead drawing from a mix of funding sources including, a grant from the State of Oregon’s Local Government Grant Program, City of Sisters System Development Charges, a major donation
from the Pine View Tennis Club and Sisters Pickleball Club, and additional contributions from the SOAR Foundation and private donors.
Inside, meeting rooms are filling with local organizations staking out dates. Likewise a range of classes is full of fitness seekers for courses like Zumba, Better Bones & Balance, Muscle Maintenance, and Tai Chi.
Outlaws punch ticket to volleyball quarterfinals
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Lady Outlaws volleyball squad made quick work of the visiting Warrenton Warriors on Saturday, November 1, sweeping the second-round state playoffs match in straight sets, 25-13, 25-18, 25-20. The victory sends Sisters to the 3A state championships — the ‘big dance’ — set for Friday and Saturday, November 7 and 8, at North Bend High School. The Outlaws will take on Dayton in an 11:00 a.m. quarterfinal battle on Friday.
Sisters came out firing in the opening set. Paityn Cotner set the tone early with four straight serves, including two aces, for a 4-0 lead. Emma Long later delivered a four-point service run of her own, highlighted by two big kills from Maici Cotner to push the margin to 12-4. Long also made a spectacular pancake save that kept a long rally alive, finished off by a kill from Shanitah Few to extend the lead to 16-7. Audrey Sybesma added several hard-driven kills late, and Jessica Stahn closed out the set with two serves, including an ace, for the 25-13 win. Momentum stayed firmly on Sisters’ side in the second set. Sybesma and Brooke Lindsay hammered down early kills, and an ace from Lindsay lifted the Outlaws to a 12-7 advantage. Paityn Cotner continued her serving success with four consecutive points, two of them aces, to make it 17-12. Sybesma kept swinging with authority, and a crafty setter dump from Cotner pushed the score to 23-18. Maici Cotner handled the closing duties at the service line, serving the final two points and sealing the set win with a kill.
Early in the third set, Sybesma delivered two monster kills, and Alli Fogerty stepped up at the service
line with a five-point run that included three aces, giving Sisters a 7-4 edge. Maici Cotner later added a four-point service run capped with an ace to double up Warrenton, 14-7. The Warriors fought back within two,17-15, but another setter dump from Cotner stopped their momentum. Sybesma once again powered down crucial kills to widen the gap to 20-16. With the match in hand, Coach Mahryahna Callegari subbed in three players brought up from JV, who showed poise in finishing the job. Stahn calmly served out the final three points, ending the match — and the sweep — with an ace. Sybesma led the offense with 13 kills, followed by Malia Hernandez with nine. Lindsay added eight kills and two blocks. Defensively, Maici Cotner tallied nine digs, while Hernandez and Fogerty each recorded eight, with Fogerty adding three aces. Paityn Cotner ran the offense and dished out 37 assists, and led the squad with four aces.
Senior standout Audrey Sybesma reflected on the moment.
“In this match we saw all our hard work pay off,” said Sybesma. “We’ve worked toward this moment since June. For us seniors, this match meant so much and we
Paityn’s setting keeps getting better. Every game, her setting efficiency gets higher and higher.
— Mailee Utu
knew we had to play our best, and we did. Our families and friends believed in us and gave us motivation to go all out like we did.”
Coach Callegari praised both the team’s performance and the opportunity to give younger players a taste of playoff volleyball. “I am so proud of the girls. And it was special to let our young ones get to play and get to feel what it’s like to play in a playoff game. The girls put in a lot of work this week and there were a lot of emotions and their hard work paid off today.”
Callegari also highlighted the play of Lindsay and Hernandez.
“Brooke had her best game yet,” said Callegari. “Her hitting was off the charts, and it was so special to see her hard work pay off. Malia had an outstanding game. She was a really good leader and captain for us today.”
Assistant Coach Mailee Utu recognized the defensive anchors. “Maici and
Malia played very well. They moved around to pick up the deep corners as well as balls in front of them.”
Utu also praised the continued growth of setter Paityn Cotner. “Paityn’s setting keeps getting better. Every game, her setting efficiency gets higher and higher. I think there’s a level of confidence she has gained — she’s not only putting up better balls, she’s running the court.”
With the sweep, the Outlaws head to North Bend riding confidence, momentum, and a united sense of purpose as they prepare for a high-stakes showdown with Dayton.
Sisters salutes...
• Catherine Black wrote: I recently visited Bird Gard in Sun Ranch Business Park with an old Weitech product (remember Weitech? our very own home-grown business started by the Weitzman family). A big shout-out to both Kathy and to Quinn, two wonderful employees at Bird Gard. They went above and beyond to help me. Outstanding customer service! Perfect example of why it pays to shop locally! • Hats off to everyone who made Halloween fun for little — and not-so-little — kids in Sisters Country.
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Lady Outlaws defeat Rogue River in overtime
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Lady Outlaws soccer squad delivered a statement win on the road Saturday, November 1, defeating the Rogue River Chieftains 2-0 in the first round of the state playoffs. It took all 80 minutes of regulation and then some before Sisters finally broke through, but once they did, their relentless pace and pressure proved overwhelming.
Sisters controlled the tempo throughout the match, pushing the pace and staying aggressive as Rogue River struggled to keep up.
“I knew we were going to come away with the win when I overheard the other coach say that we were just too fast and in shape to stay with for long periods of time,” said Coach Ken Polachek. “That probably explains why they were substituting literally every five minutes to give their players a chance to catch their breath.”
Regulation ended in a deadlock and the match went into overtime that consisted of two 10-minute halves.
Just two minutes into the first 10-minute overtime period, the Outlaws found the breakthrough they’d been hunting for. Mia Rosas fired a well-placed shot from just outside the top of the 18yard box. The powerful strike skipped off the wet turf and rocketed past the keeper,who had no time to react as it slid into the back of the net.
Three minutes later, Sisters struck again. Verbena Brent made a run up the left flank and sent a clean cross to
the back post, where Maddie Kirkpatrick was perfectly positioned for a simple tap-in.
“Maddie had been working hard all game to be in the right place, and the stars aligned for a well-deserved goal that gave us the cushion we needed to relax a little and not have to take too many chances,” said Polachek.
From there, the Outlaws kept the pressure high, preventing the Chieftains from gaining any momentum.
Polachek said, “I can’t be more proud of how the back four defenders played; Mia (Rosas), Rylie (Bick), Verbena (Brent), and Olivia (Lajko). Communication, physicality and mental toughness prevailed for the back and bled its way up the field. Everyone kept their heads held high, even when calls weren’t going their way.”
The win was more than just a playoff advancement — it was a statement.
“The Lady Outlaws had something to prove tonight, that they were better than the OSAA ranking of 17th,” said Polachek. “And they all left everything they had on the field.”
They traveled to Valley Catholic for the next round, a match against the Valiants on Tuesday, November 4.
Soccer playoffs open with a shutout
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Sisters Outlaws boys soccer squad earned a gritty 1-0 shutout at home on Saturday, November 1, in the first round of the state playoffs against Umpqua Valley Christian (UVC). It was a crisp fall afternoon, perfect soccer weather, and the Outlaws made the most of it.
UVC came in wellcoached and athletic, but Sisters, despite several players still under the weather, adjusted their lineup and took the field confident in their plan. From the opening whistle, the Outlaws were focused and energized. They controlled early possession, identified UVC’s strongest threats, and effectively neutralized their offensive options.
Looking to spark more attack, the Outlaws slid Jesse Polachek into a more advanced role, and the shift paid immediate dividends. Polachek received a clean pass from Nick Palmer, then dribbled straight through the heart of the UVC defense before placing a composed shot past the keeper for the lone goal of the match.
“We’ve lost some very close games this year and it was such a relief to see the boys excited knowing they could win this game if we stayed focused,” said Coach
BY
Jeff Husmann.
Though Sisters controlled much of the run of play, Husmann admitted he was eager for a second goal to settle nerves. The Outlaws continued to press in the second half and generated chances, but couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net. They held on until the final whistle and recorded the shutout.
Senior defender Ivan Alport delivered one of his finest performances of the season, stepping up with aggressive composed play and strong leadership along the back line. Goalkeeper
Joseph Derksen also stood firm, anchoring the defense and securing the clean sheet.
“This group of seniors really is special and such a close bunch of guys,” said Husmann. “It was great to see them working for each other to get the win on their last home game together.”
The victory advances the Outlaws to the second round of state playoffs. Husmann told The Nugget that they have nothing to lose when they face Catlin Gabel on Wednesday, November 5. He stated they are ‘just stoked to be playing in November.’
Goalkeeper Joseph Derksen stood firm in keeping Umpqua Valley Christian scoreless in their playoff opener.
PHOTO
NATE LICHVACIK
COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS
SIST ER S COMM UN IT Y FOOD RE SOURCE S
Free Lu nches for Seniors For t hose 6 0+, t he Cou nc il
on A ging of C entra l O regon o er s a f un, no-cost soc ia l
lu nc h e very Tuesd ay, 11
a.m . to 1 p.m . at Sisters
Commun it y C hu rc h, 130 0
W. McK en zie Hwy. No
reserv at ion s needed . No-cost
Grab-N -G o lunche s t ake place
week ly on Wed ne sd ay a nd u rsday, f rom 12:3 0 to 1 p. m . Cal l 5 41-797-9367.
Week ly Food Pa nt ry
COR E M arket , loc ated at 22 2 N. Trinity Way i n Sisters
Ma rket h ou r s a re Mondays, 1 to 2 p.m . I nfo: 5 41-5882332
Spea ki ng Ci rcle: Fi nd Your Voice in a Group
Joi n a sma ll , s upport ive
ci rc le to pract ice s peak ing from presence rat her t ha n perfor ma nce. Based on L ee
Gl ic kstein’s Speak ing Circles ® method , e xplore aut hent ic connec tion t hroug h s usta ined
eye contact , empat hic l isten ing, and m indf u l pau ses . Speak ing isn’t requi red — s ilence cou nt s too. L ea r n more about t he method at r elat iona lpresence.
com . Biweekly at e Hub, 291
E . M ai n Ave., r st Monday s 8:30 –10 a .m . (beginning 11/3) and t hird Monday s 5:3 0–7 p.m
RS V P to M ic hael Gra nt 503688-48 81 or just show up.
SIST ER S LI B RY EV EN TS
Fa mily Stor y Ti me
Wednesday, November 5 , 10 :3 0 a .m . to 11 a .m . Sisters
Librar y - Com mu nity R oom Interact ive story t ime w it h books , son gs , a nd rhy mes! 0 to 5 yea rs
Intro to Jour na li ng for Kids
u rsday, November 6 , 4 to 5 p.m . Sisters L ibra ry - Com mu nity R oom.
Decorate a nd sta r t you r own jour na l w it h t he l ibra ry!
Fa mily Pl anetar iu m Ex plorat ion
Fr id ay, November 7, 2 to 3:3 0 p.m . Sisters L ibra ry
- Com mu nity R oom
Invest igate problem s of t he un iverse: black holes , d ark ma er, a nd other my ster ies!
Teen Mont hly D& D Club
Fr id ay, November 7, 2 to 4
p. m., Sisters L ibra ry meeti ng
room . Joi n u s for t hi s mont hly teen D& D c lub!
Navigati ng
Peri menopause & Menopause:
Understa nd ing Hor mone s
Su nd ay, November 9, 3 to 4 p.m . Sisters L ibra ry -
Commun it y R oom . L ea rn
about t hi s n at ura l t ra nsit ion and m anagement of sy mptoms
Free Week ly Meal Serv ice
Fami ly K itchen hos t s a weekly to -go hot mea l on Tuesd ay s, 4:30 to 5:3 0 p.m. , at Sisters
Commun it y C hu rc h, 130 0 W
Mc Kenzie Hwy. I nfo: www
Fami lyKitc hen.org.
Free Pet Food
Need pet food for you r dog or cat? Cal l t he Fur ry Friends pet food ban k at 5 41-797-4 02 3 to schedu le you r pic kup. L oc ated at 412 E . M ai n Ave., Ste. 4, behind e Nug get.
Kiwa nis Food Ba nk
Located at 382 W. M ai n Ave . Weekly d istr ibut ion i s u rsday s f rom 9 a .m . to 2 p.m . I nfo: 5 41-632 -3 663.
Craf ters Needed for Fu nd ra iser Holiday Bazaar
“Help Hope Spa rk le Hol id ay Bazaar” November 13–16 , at Sisters F ire Department Commun it y R oom . Vendors and c ra er s needed . Don at ions to Help Hope L ive u sed to fu nd med ic a l bill s for Tracy Ly n n Hendr ic kson . Sig n up at helphopel ive.org/ ca mpaign/2 52 59 or contact Wendy at 5 41-389 -6 859.
Fi rst Fr id ay Fa mi ly Fun Bi ngo November 7 at 4 p.m . Come celebrate Veteran s! Come early and enjoy d in ner for pu rc hase at 4 p.m . Veteran s w il l be honored wit h a f ree mea l a nd dessert
Ga mes beg i n at 4 :3 0 p.m . $20 packet i nc lude s t hree c ard s for each of 10 game s w it h a loc al merc ha nt g i ca rd awa rde d a s pr ize, plu s an add it iona l ca rd for the 11t h ‘Fl ag ’ game w it h $10 0 cas h pri ze. 5 0/5 0 R a e opt ion — ticket s $2 eac h or 6 for $10 . P roceed s bene t Central Oregon Veteran s O ut reac h (COVO). I nter mi ssion w il l feat ure a s peaker f rom COVO and M ar ionber ry cobbler à l a mode w il l be ser ved . Fu n for a ll ages! e Epi scopa l C hu rc h of the Tra ns gu ration,121 Brook s Ca mp R d., Sisters
Ar t Sparks: Connec tions New & Fa miliar
A n e vening of con nect ion, meaningfu l conversat ion, a nd arti st ic e xcha nge Tuesd ay, November 11, 6 to 7:3 0 p.m Kick s o wit h a f un, s peeddati ng-sty le act iv it y desig ned to bre a k t he ice a nd spa rk di alog ue. A erw ards , feel free to h ave a moc ktai l a nd mi ng le to k eep conversat ions going a nd e xpand you r arti st ic com mu nity. Free and open to t he public.
Regi st ration requi red: roundhou sefoundation org/events/. I nfo: 5 4190 4- 070 0 or i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org.
Pine Meadow R anc h Center for A rt s & A gr ic ultu re, 6 84 67 ree Creek s R d., Sisters
Ar t Supplies & Pu zzle SWAP
Satu rd ay, November 8 , 11 a .m to 1 p.m . at Sisters L ibra ry Commun it y R oom . Bring new or gently u sed item s to s wap. A ll ages welcome
Ca lling Al l Submariners
Meet ing Sunday, November 9, at 1 p.m . at Power s of Automation, 61533 A merica n Loop, B end . Pot luc k lunc h a nd aw ard s ceremony (tablew are prov ided). Contac t Fra n w it h what you a re bri ng ing at 5 41527-5484. P repa re to be i n t he Redmond Parade on Nov. 11.
Cent ra l Oregon Federated Republ ican Meet ing COFRW (Cent ra l O regon Federated R epublica n Women) meet s t he r st u rsday of ever y mont h f rom 10:45 a .m (reg istrat ion) to 1 p.m . at As pen L ake s G ol f C lub i n Si sters . Come lea r n f rom g uest spea kers, a nd hea r a nd quest ion loca l a nd state c andidate s. Meet ing s i nc lude lunc h for $ 27 RS V P requi red to a end . L ea rn
more about upcom ing meeti ngs and s peakers, a nd R SV P at COFRWB end@gm ail.com.
Gr iefS ha re Su rv iv ing the Holidays Semi na r
I f you h ave los t a love d one or know someone t hat w il l nd it d i c ult to f ace t he com ing holidays , t hi s progra m o ers prac tica l, act ionable s trateg ies for mak ing it t hroug h t he
season . Sat urday, November 15 , 9 to 11 a .m . at Sisters
Commun it y C hu rc h . I nc lude s video pre sent at ion a nd di sc us sion w it h f ac il it ator s w ho have e xper ienc ed g rief- l led holidays . Free . R eg ister at bit.ly/SCC holiday s2 025 . I nfo: Todd , 5 03 -577-3366.
Livi ng Well With Dement ia Sisters Suppor t Groups
Livi ng Wel l o ers a suppo rt group for t he c are partners and f ami ly of t hose d iagnosed wit h some for m of dementi a, and now o ers a new E arly
St age Suppor t Group. B ot h groups meet t he 2nd a nd 4th Wednesday of t he month from 1 to 2:3 0 p.m . at Sisters
Pa rk & R ec reat ion D istr ic t
Commun it y Center. e E arly
St age Suppor t Group meets
i n t he W hychu s R oom . e
Ca re Partner G roup meet s i n the Metol iu s R oom . For more in form at ion c al l 5 41-588 -0547.
Serv ing ou r Seniors (SOS)
Listen ing Sessions
SOS i s hosting f ree com mu nity li sten ing session s at e Hub, 291 E . M ai n Avenue, S isters, on November 12 , 17, a nd 19, at 2:3 0 p.m . e xploring how to be er s uppor t sen ior s w ho w ant to rem ai n i n t hei r homes a s t hey age. Sen iors , adu lt c hi ld ren of senior s , c areg ivers , a nd others welcome.
COIC/WorkSou rce & ODHS Mobi le Serv ices e Centra l O regon Intergover nmenta l Cou nc il (COIC)/WorkSou rce Mobile
Employ ment R esou rce Van wi l l be partner ing w it h t he Oregon Department of Hum an Serv ice s (ODHS) mobile unit to provide ser vice s at t he Si sters Com mu nity Center on November 12 a nd November 25 , 1 to 4 p.m . o er ing free job sea rc h a ssista nce, résu mé s upport , i nter view preparat ion, a nd acces s to on line employ ment tools . Stop by to c on nec t w it h employ ment specia li st s w ho c a n help you ex plore c areer oppor tunities , training program s , a nd other work force resou rces . A longside the employ ment v an, t he ODH S mobile u nit w il l be on site to help i nd iv idua l s a nd f amilie s apply for bene t s , i ssue EBT c ards , a nd provide s upport wit h other ODH S ser vices.
Amer ican Legion and VF W VF W Post 8138 a nd A merica n Le gion Post 8 6 meet t he rst Wed ne sd ay of eac h mont h at 6 :3 0 p.m. , at P ine Meadow V il lage C lubhou se, 59 6 W. Je erson Ave. E ma il sister sveteran s@gm ail.com for i nfor mation
Mont hly Song wr iters’ Sharing Ci rcle
B e i n a c reat ive com mu nity and be i ns pi red w hile sha ri ng songs, bei ng a g reat l istener, and providing feedback . Second Su nd ay of t he mont h (Nov. 9), 6 to 8 p.m. , ups ta ir s i n t he Si sters A r t Work s bui ld ing (accessible by c ha i r l i ), 2 0 4 W Ad am s Ave. Free. I nfo: cal l/te xt 541-97 7- 8494
Ou ltaw s Vetera ns Day Assembly Invitations e O ut law s a re i nv it ing a ll
vetera ns on Tuesday, November 11 to a n e vent to honor t heir serv ice a nd sac ri ce: 8:4 0 a .m at Sisters E lement ar y School for a m in i break fast; 9:3 0 a .m . 5th graders escor t veter an s to h ig h school; 9:40 -9:45 a.m. a ssembly at Sisters H ig h School.
SIST ER S- AR EA CH UR CH ES
Ba ha’i Fa it h
For i nfor mation, devot ions, study g roups, etc ., cont ac t S hauna R ocha 5 41-6 47-982 6 • www.bah ai .org www.bah ai .u s • www.bah aiteac hi ng s.org Chapel in the Pi nes Ca mp S herma n • 5 41-815 -9153
10 a .m . Sunday Wor sh ip
e Church of Jesu s Chri st of La er-Day Saints 452 Trinity Way • Bra nc h P resident , 5 41-9 77-5559;
0 a .m . E cu menica l Sunday Wor sh ip
10 :15 a .m . Epi scopa l Sunday Wor sh ip
e Rest ing Place meet ing at Sisters Com mu nity C hu rc h,
0 0 W.
Protecting seniors from AI scams
A few weeks ago, a local senior went to pay for a new home for himself and his daughter. He’d been saving for years and finally had $150,000 for the down payment. He opened his email, clicked the link, and transfered the money to his Bendbased mortgage agency. Or so he thought. An online company had hacked his email and created a faulty link. He lost every dime. He was no longer able to purchase the house and will never be able to in his lifetime.
These types of scams are becoming more and more commonplace here and around the world. Experts estimate Americans could soon lose $40 billion to scams annually, with an average loss of $83,000 per person.
The Bend-based creative agency “We Co-Create AI” is putting on an event next month in Sisters to help protect folks in Central Oregon. The event, “How to Stay Safe in the Age of AI,” will bring clarity to this fast-changing topic through a friendly, informative session designed especially for Central Oregon residents 50 years old and up.
The event takes place Wednesday, November 12, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Belfry. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch for a relaxed, conversational session moderated by We Co-Create AI.
Participants will learn what AI is, how it’s being used, and what it means for everyday life. The session will offer practical tools to recognize AI-generated misinformation and protect against fraud.
“No tech background is required — just curiosity,” said Tana Verbouwens, director of outreach at We
We’ll explore the real-world impacts of AI... — Tana Verbouwens
Co-Create AI. “We’ll explore the real-world impacts of AI and help people feel more confident navigating what they see and hear online.”
Quinn Rose, story and strategy partner with We CoCreate AI, told The Nugget that the topic is personal to her.
“I have parents that are in their late 70s, and watching them navigate online can get concerning,” she said.
Scams like the one that took the Bend man’s money are particularly dangerous and damaging, because they are often untraceable and thus unrecoverable.
“It’s not like a fraudulent credit card transaction,” Rose said.
Increasingly sophisticated technological tools make scams more believable and harder to detect.
“It’s almost like a tornado of potential for people getting scammed,” Rose said.
She said that the session
will provide techniques and protocols to “unwind something that might look very real.”
It’s not just financial scams, Rose noted. People are more and more subject to misinformation that is hard to separate from solid information. The session aims to help people learn to “take a step back, slow down, look things up from more than one source,” Rose said. “[To} gain skills to navigate this age of misinformation is crucial to protecting yourself and your family.”
Rose said that We Co-Create AI chose to host an event in Sisters because they have many friends whose parents have chosen to live here, and Sisters’ demographic is particularly vulnerable to scams and misinformation — though Rose emphasized that “ anyone is at risk now.”
The event is ticketed at $18 beforehand, and $20 at the door. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/ai-scamsseniors. Attendees can also call 458-202-1007 to register by phone or email hello@ wecocreateai.com.
The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave.
$100k in PRIZES this SEASON OVER THREE CREEKS IS OPEN DAILY 12 TO 8 PM 541-549-1963 | 721 S. Desperado Cour t, Sisters threecreeksbrewpub.com
NOVEMBER 9 • 6-8PM
SISTERS ART WORKS, W. ADAMS AVE. All styles, instruments, skills, ages welcome! FREE Special Guest s Jim Cornelius and Mike Biggers will share about their co-writing process on “The California Rose,” just recorded for a documentary. Questions? Call/ Text Jess, 541-977-8494 FREE for ALL AGES Thursday, 11/13 6 to 8 p.m.
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
and collectively create solutions that will make Sisters an even better place in which to age safely and confidently.
Additional articles, information related to preliminary findings, and specifics about the community forum will be published in The Nugget before the end of the year.
Kris Bergstrom
On behalf of Chris Laing, Jane Paxson, Sue Stafford, and Jane Killefer
s s s
No to McKenzie Meadows Village
I have been following the McKenzie Meadows project in The Nugget and I need to be direct about what I see. There are so many reasons to not develop that parcel for environmental, social, economic, energy, property infringement, traffic impact, etc.
But the developers just won’t let it go and they are going to appeal the decision if that property is not in the UGB, thus delaying the timeline of deciding the UGB for Sisters.
Have you seen the map of this? It does not fit into a natural expansion of a city as it sticks out like a sore thumb. The property has already been rezoned, and now they want it to be part of the urban growth boundary. And I am not so sure about the
WEDNESDAY • NOV. 5
ers-Area Events & Ent er tainment
entire issue of affordable housing as justifications to go ahead with this project. Impact vs. that? Doesn’t Sisters have enough affordable housing? I see for lease signs in many apartment complexes and Woodlands just broke ground on more.
The community of Sisters and local conservation groups have expressed their disapproval of this project for the reasons expressed above. If you are not in agreement with this project going forward please speak up and write to Haleigh.King@ deschutes.org and the councilors and mayor of Sisters. The next meeting is November 5 for a decision.
I almost did not submit this, as it seems that developers usually get their way and I feel so defeated. Why is that even when there are so many reasons against it and so many people and wildlife will be affected?
Kathy
Marshall
To the Editor:
s s s
I have lived in the Tollgate neighborhood for 10 years. Since my moving here, Highway 20 has become so busy that, on weekends, there is a line of stalled traffic between the Tollgate entrance and the western roundabout. Now the new Woodlands development has an exit just south of that roundabout and directly across the street from the Bi-Mart entrance. To the west of there we have three new developments and another school.
See LETTERS on page 15 EVENT S ARE SU BJ EC T TO CHANGE
Sisters Movie House Autumn Arts & Adventure: "Köln 75" 6:15 p.m. Information and tickets at www.sistersmoviehouse.com.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Sisters High School Musical: “The Addams Family” SHS students bring Broadway-level energy to every performance, on stage, in the orchestra, and behind the scenes! 7 p.m. Tickets: $15/adults, $8/students at the door or online: givebutter.com/bdbc19
Pine Meadow Ranch Open Studio 4 to 6 p.m.
Presenters: Writer Margot-Boyer-Dry, Multimedia Artist Leah Crosby, and Multidisciplinary Artist Andrew Paul Keiper Free; registration required: roundhousefoundation.org/events/ Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Michael Cooper presents "Miscalculated Risks: Attacked, Crippled, Paralyzed, Drowning, Unconscious and Freezing in the Wild (Just Not All At Once)," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
Lazy Z Ranch Wines Guided Sip & Sketch
4 p.m. to sunset. Free Create art at a special version of our daily Sip & Sketch, guided by local artist Sloane Earl. Bring a sketchbook; props/pencils provided. All levels welcome Info: @LazyZRanch, 68540 US-20.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7
The Slow Down State Magazine Release Party
The Nugget Newspaper presents their latest issue of "Spirit of Central Oregon." Pick up a free copy, mingle with freelancers, staff, and story subjects. Live music, coffee, and hors d'oeuvres! 5 to 7 p.m. Info: 541-549-9941.
Downtown First Friday in Sisters 5 to 7 p.m. Shops open late, live music pop-ups, and more!
Enjoy community and support local. Info: sisterssba.com. Sisters High School Musical: “The Addams Family” SHS students bring Broadway-level energy to every performance, on stage, in the orchestra and behind the scenes! 7 p.m. Tickets: $15/adults, $8/students at the door or online: givebutter.com/bdbc19
Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $20 Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
Pine Meadow Ranch Sound Walk 2 to 4 p.m.
Led by 2025 PMRCAA Resident Artist Leah Crosby
Explore the grounds of Pine Meadow Ranch and get in tune with the world surrounding us; experience the different sonic environments. Free; registration required at https:// roundhousefoundation.org/events/.
Tollgate Clubhouse Holidays in The Pines
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4th annual event! A marketplace featuring fall and winter items: locally handmade and homegrown products with a touch of vintage. A portion of proceeds will benefit Sisters Ha bitat and Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. For info/ photos see Facebook or email holidayinthepines@outlook.com.
Located at 15004 Saddle, Sisters Episcopal Church of Transfiguration Family BINGO Bingo Night 4 p.m. 10 games/3 cards each for $20 prizes dinner available for purchase (free for Veterans), 50/50 raffle to benefit Central Oregon Veterans Outreach. 121 N. Brooks Camp Rd
SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 8
Sisters High School Musical: “The Addams Family” SHS students bring Broadway-level energy to every performance, on stage, in the orchestra and behind the scenes! 7 p.m. Tickets: $15/adults, $8/students at the door or online: givebutter.com/bdbc19
The Belfr y Live Music: Dr y Canyon Stampede
7 p.m. Central Oregon’s favorite country dance band covering a wide variety of country dance tunes sure to get you on the dance floor Info: belfryevents.com.
Tollgate Clubhouse Holidays in The Pines
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4th annual event! A marketplace featuring fall and winter items: locally handmade and homegrown products with a touch of vintage. A portion of proceeds will benefit Sisters Habitat and Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. For info/ photos see Facebook or email holidayinthepines@outlook.com.
Located at 15004 Saddle Sisters Paulina Springs Books Knitting Circle Bring your own project and supplies. This is not a workshop but there are experienced knitters who are happy to help those just starting out. (2nd Sat.) 4 p.m. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.
SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 9
Sisters High School Musical: “The Addams Family” SHS students bring Broadway-level energy to every performance, on stage, in the orchestra, and behind the scenes! 2 p.m. Tickets: $15/adults, $8/students at the door or online: givebutter.com/bdbc19
Sisters Ski Inn Live Music: Mark Barringer & Bob Baker 6–8 p.m. bobbakerviolin.com/calendar Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble, socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 11
Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Trivia 7 to 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.
WEDNESDAY • NOVEMBER 12
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
Sisters Movie House Autumn Arts & Adventure: "RunNation Film Festival 2025 World Tour" 6:15 p.m. Info/tickets at www.sistersmoviehouse.com.
Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 7 to 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.
THURSDAY • NOVEMBER 13
The Belfr y Live Music: Darrell Scott weaves Americana, folk, and blues into timeless storytelling 7 p.m. Tickets: SFFPresents.org/Concerts. Sisters Middle School “Now You're Talking" Holiday One-Acts Silent Echo Theater Company presents seven one-acts. 7:30 p.m. $25/adults, $22/seniors 62+ and students. Tickets/info: www.boldtypetickets.com.
FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 14
The Belfr y Live Music: Emily Scott Robinson & Andrea von Kampen singing songs of hope and change. 7 p.m. Tickets: www.sffpresents.org/concerts. Sisters Middle School “Now You're Talking" Holiday One-Acts Silent Echo Theater Company presents seven one-acts. 7:30 p.m. $25/adults, $22/seniors 62+ and students. Tickets/info: www.boldtypetickets.com.
Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards Live Music: Kurt Silva & Cynthia West 5 to 8 p.m. Adv. tickets req.: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com/event-center
SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 15
Studio 6000 Open House & Sale 9 a.m.–4 p.m. See artists at work in the studio — how an original hand-pulled print is made This is the annual art sale for the 10 studio members. 211 Sun Ranch Rd., Sisters Sisters Middle School “Now You're Talking" Holiday One-Acts Silent Echo Theater Company presents seven one-acts. 2 & 7:30 p.m. $25/adults, $22/seniors 62+ and students. Tickets/info: www.boldtypetickets.com.
P artners 2025 in Giving
Partners 2025 artners in Giving fall edition
Central Oregon embodies the ethic of “see a need, fill a need.” And it’s built on a generous spirit of giving. That’s what makes this a special place, where people want to put down roots.
Dedicated local people staff and volunteer for an array of nonprofits committed to making life better for all Central Oregonians.
They are enabled to do their invaluable work by the generous support of a giving community — you and me. We are the partners of these dedicated outfits.
Volunteer or donate — and keep the circle unbroken.
Providing key family support in Sisters Country
In Sisters Country, community is more than a word — it’s a promise. Whether it’s a ride to the doctor, a meal on the table, or a check-in for a neighbor living with dementia, local nonprofits work to make sure no one is left behind. But none of it happens without community partners — the donors, volunteers, and businesses who believe that livability starts with compassion.
This month, Sisters Transportation and Rideshare (STARS) launches its second annual Sponsor-A-Ride – “Gift a Ride. Change a Life.” campaign, inviting the community to help keep neighbors connected to medical care. Every $50 donation sponsors a round-trip ride for a senior, veteran, or community member. The campaign runs through Dec. 31 and on Giving Tuesday will celebrate the power of local generosity.
In 2024, STARS volunteers provided over 726 rides — more than 32,000 miles of free transportation — helping aging, disabled no matter the age, and underserved residents reach essential healthcare appointments. More than 6,000 volunteer hours were donated by local drivers, dispatchers, and coordinators. Behind every number is a story: a veteran receiving post-surgery care, a senior managing chronic illness, a neighbor keeping a cardiology appointment they otherwise would have missed. These small acts ripple outward — improving health outcomes, reducing isolation, and strengthening the fabric of Sisters Country.
Research has shown, over and over again, that children and youth experiencing trauma or adverse living conditions benefit tremendously from the availability of accessible outdoor
activities and spaces. Because of this, Circle of Friends Shaeleen Hughes, youth program lead, has spent the better part of the year creating programs and activities that get children outside and into nature.
“They have been skiing, hiking, fishing, riding bikes, swimming, kayaking, working with animals, and many other activities which improve mental and physical health,” said Executive Director Nicole Woodson. “Looking ahead to 2026 we hope to provide even more opportunities for our children and youth to get outside and enjoy the amazing playground that is Central Oregon. We need both monetary gifts, as well as gifts of time and skill. If you have a talent or passion, we would love to match you with a child who is eager to learn from you. And if you want to help, but don’t have the time to give, your donation can help us purchase lift tickets, trail passes, bicycles, and other equipment which allow our children access to these transformative experiences.”
Over many years, Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (GRO) has built a strong base of support to ensure that every graduating senior at Sisters High School gets assistance in pursuing their post-graduation dreams. This year, they are upping the ante, raising the minimum amount that each student will receive.
According to Executive Director Regan Roberts, “each student who applies should receive at least $1,000 this year.”
That is a real boon as families face increasingly steep costs for college. Sisters GRO is also getting set up for endowed scholarships.
Donors can set up a scholarship in their name or the name of a loved one — and they direct its purpose.
activities and spaces. Because of this, Circle of Donors can set up a scholarship in their
“It is truly the donor’s scholarship and I just facilitate it,” Roberts said.
General fund donations are welcomed as a means of funding operations of an increasingly vital service for students.
Children in foster care need particular attention to make sure they have the best chance at thriving and succeeding. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recruits and trains volunteers to work within the court system in collaboration with key agencies to advocate for children.
A volunteer training is upcoming in January. Volunteers make a two-year commitment that includes 40 hours of training and approximately 10 to 15 minutes of work per month with an average caseload of two children.
Sisters Kiwanis Club supports students with financial scholarships, and youth in many other ways, from providing funding to CASA and Sisters Family Access Network (FAN), as well as providing grant money to adults who are looking to improve or change their careers.
Secretary Jan Failing notes that they couldn’t do what they do without community support. She highlighted the community turnout at their fundraising luau in the midst of the Flat Fire last summer.
“That was huge for us, and we were able to give $6,000 to the Sisters Middle School nature trail,” she said. “My heart is full for what our community does.”
Local donations fund Sisters Kiwanis, which also SUPPORTS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS such as: Camp Sunrise - Court Appointed Special Advocates; Sisters Park and Recreation District - Train Your Brain; Oregon Adaptive Sports - Outlaw Black & White Club; Family Access Network and others.
The CAREER OPPORTUNITY FUND provides grant money to Sisters residents that wish to improve, or change, their careers.
Sisters Kiwanis Club is a totally volunteer organization so 100% of the money raised goes to the charities we support.
Taking care of the land and animals
Our natural environment is a critical part of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Sisters Country is one of the most blessed places in the world when it comes to natural beauty, healthy streams, and the kind of outdoor experiences that profoundly enrich lives.
It takes devotion and a lot of work to protect and preserve those resources, especially in the face of ever-increasing impacts of wildfire, drought, and thousands upon thousands seeking to enjoy all the bounty that Sisters Country offers.
Nonprofits also play a key role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment that makes Sisters a beloved place to live and visit.
The Deschutes Land Trust’s mission is to conserve and care for the lands and waters that sustain Central Oregon, so local communities and the natural world can flourish together for generations to come.
The Flat Fire had a major impact on Deschutes Land Trust lands. Four preserves were burned in the August conflagration that ran up Whychus
Canyon, in some places burning at very high intensity.
The organization is focused on recovery from the fire and building resilience for the next one. Drone footage shows that the canyon bottom where work was conducted to restore natural stream channels withstood the blaze. Spring recovery tours are planned to give the public a look at fire impacts and recovery. However, the Whychus Preserve will remain closed through spring due to the large number of hazard trees left by the fire.
Community Outreach Director Sarah Mowry says that the Flat Fire impact “underscores the importance of support from the community” in conducting the Land Trust’s ongoing work. That support can be financial, but it also involves work on the ground.
“We’re going to start to have more and more volunteer opportunities,” she said.
Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) has become a critical element in creating community connections in Sisters Country. The trails the organization has created connect the community in a literal sense, providing miles upon miles of
hiking in areas both remote and near to the community, creating opportunities for adventure or simply casual enjoyment of nature. Their work also connects people, building vibrant social networks of people who are passionate about the outdoors in Sisters Country.
With ever-shrinking budgets, The U.S. Forest Service relies heavily on organizations like STA to do trail work, from planning and maintenance to new sustainable forms of recreation. When you donate to STA, you donate to doing more for your community trails and forests.
STA specializes in making trail maintenance a fun and safe way to give a little something back to the trails we love to hike, bike, walk, ride, and run. Join one of our specialized teams or volunteer for trail work parties. No experience is required.
Direct donations are also welcome, providing tools, materials, and training to keep the trail system in top shape.
The Pet Evacuation Team of Central Oregon (PET) plays a vital role in keeping animals and their families in Sisters Country
safe. They were very active in the Flat Fire, as thousands of people had to evacuate their homes at short notice, creating potential crisis with their pets and livestock.
PET exists to serve Central Oregon people and animals in crisis. Emergency animal evacuations and sheltering during disasters are critical to our community and save lives.
PET works in partnership with the Red Cross, law enforcement, and local emergency services during Central Oregon evacuations, providing care and a safe haven for animals who have been evacuated. PET also provides crucial support to individuals with animal/pet-related emergencies, and to law enforcement in animal seizure cases. Our allvolunteer, nonprofit organization serves all of Deschutes County, and parts of Jefferson and Crook Counties.
Donations are critical to helping the all-volunteer organization continue its mission, and new volunteers are always welcome. Donations or volunteering can both be accomplished through the website.
Taking care of each other
roles supporting children, older adults, caregivers, and families. Together, they form a compassionate network that ensures no neighbor is forgotten. And all are affected by diminishing resources.
Resources are particularly tight around issues of food insecurity. As always, the Sisters community steps up.
Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank operates a food bank that serves many in Sisters Country who are struggling as food prices rise.
Each year at this time, Ray’s Food Place operates a “Stuff the Truck” drive that allows customers to conveniently purchase food that goes directly to the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank.
“We have pre-built bags of groceries here in the store,” said Manager Jeff McDonald.
The customers pay $25 for a bag and secure $45 worth of groceries.
“The customer donates their portion, and we donate the rest,” McDonald said.
Seed to Table brings the vital power of farm-fresh food to bear in a wide range of services
and
activities in Sisters Country
— from sponsoring the Sisters Farmers Market to providing educational opportunities for youth across the region.
Seed to Table seeks to build a vibrant and resilient community where everyone has access to fresh produce that is nourishing, locally grown, and in keeping with their preferences. From a four-acre farm plot, Seed to Table strives to model a food system that restores ecosystems while providing equitable access to fresh foods and opportunities for community members to engage positively with farm-fresh foods.
Thousands of pounds of produce are donated to Central Oregon partners, including local food pantries.
“We became one of the largest and most consistent providers of vegetables for local food pantries,” noted S2T Executive Director Audrey Tehan.
Sisters Farmers Market promotes access to quality fresh food by accepting SNAP benefits, and promoting Double Up Food Bucks.
Donations from the community are vital to sustaining the farm
and all of its community outreach work. They have set a goal of raising $275,000 to sustaain programs. Donations may be made through their website.
Thrive Central Oregon helps connect Central Oregonians with resources they need — from food to shelter to employment and health care. Services are free and available by drop-in or by phone. There are multiple portals for help — and to offer help — at their website, https://www. thrivecentraloregon.org.
Living Well With Dementia has become a vital resource for families facing a tough diagnosis. They provide support and education to care partners, family members, and those who are themselves experiencing the onset of dementia.
Debbi McCune notes that Living Well With Dementia is currently developing a respite program.
“It’s important for the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of the care partner,” she said.
The program will offer a safe and engaging place where a care partner can leave their person for
a short period of time, getting a much needed break from a care cycle that often consumes them 24/7 — “a creative time where they can rejuvenate themselves a little bit.”
Volunteers and donations are welcome to support the work, which is ever more important as more and more people are diagnosed across Central Oregon, where resources struggle to keep up with demand.
Partners in Care has become a critical resource for those facing life-changing illness and end of life. Partners in Care is currently in the midst of its Queen of Hearts Campaign, seeking to build an endowment for Hospice House, a facility in Bend that has been strongly supported by donors in Sisters Country.
They are seeking 1,000 donors to donate $1,000 each to the cause.
“These donors can make that donation in their own name, or as a way to honor a woman in their life who is still with us or has passed,” said Tyler Carskadon of Partners in Care.
Many local businesses generously support nonprofits.
That includes Hayden Homes, who promote a “Give As You Go” program that matches the money employees contribute to the First Story program that provides affordable homes to first-time buyers. They also provide team members with two work days a year to volunteer for local community service programs.
The Sisters community is a generous one, with a see-aneed-fill-a-need ethic that only
becomes stronger as we move into the traditional season of giving.
As nonprofit leader Rennie Morrell notes, “As the season of giving begins, remember that your support stays right here in Sisters. Every contribution — whether it’s a ride, a meal, or a moment of kindness — strengthens our collective well-being. When we invest in each other, we keep Sisters healthy, connected, and strong.”
Pet Evacuation Team (PET) exists to ser ve Central Oregon people and animals in crisis. Emergency animal evacuations and sheltering during disasters are critical to our community and save lives.
DONATE TODAY petevacuationteam.com/ donations/
• Share a Thanksgiving message with the community as part of the November 19 ad in The Nugge
• Help build community as the ad pr the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner
• Provide financial support to buy food f the Community Thanksgiving Dinner (30% of your purchase!) To reserve your spot for call 541-549-9941 by Fri., N . 14.
Stars over Sisters
By Olivia Nieto Correspondent
No longer are the evenings short and hot, it is finally the time of year when you can stargaze during cool clear evenings. November is a wonderful month to gaze up at the sky, and I implore you to take extra time to study the constellation of Canis Major. Canis Major is notable because it contains the brightest star in our sky, Sirius. Sirius has a magnitude of -1.44 and is only 8.6 light years away from Earth.
Orion’s Belt points directly towards Sirius, and is the origin of a wellknown Greek myth. Canis Major and Canis Minor were hunting dogs for Orion, a skilled demigod hunter, and were extremely loyal. When Orion was made into a constellation, it was thought that his two dogs should also be granted a place in the sky near him. The dogs were even given a hare constellation (Lepus) to chase for eternity.
While looking at Canis Major, there are a few other things you should observe in the sky in November. Saturn will be shining bright, and Venus and Jupiter will also be fairly visible. The Milky Way can be seen, but that visibility is starting
to decline, so make sure to view it earlier in the month rather than later.
There is also a Leonid meteor shower taking place from November 3 to December 2, with a predicted peak on November 17. This Leonid meteor shower is perfectly timed because the peak falls a few days before the new moon on November 20. This means that the sky should be very dark and increase the ability to spot the meteors overhead. Additionally, there will be full moons visible on November 5 and another on December 4.
For the dark sky tip of the month, remember to turn off your lights at night
to help with bird migration. Now that we are transitioning into colder months, birds are firmly in their migration period. A related littleknown fact is that 80 percent of migratory birds migrate at night and use the moon and stars to help guide them to where they are going. Light pollution has caused issues for these migratory birds. It disorients them, making them lose their way, and it can even cause collisions, leading to a high number of bird fatalities each year. Even though it may not seem like a big difference, making sure to turn off your lights at night can be a big help, potentially meaning that you save some birds’ lives.
Obituaries
Gary Eugene Stone
April 30, 1953 — October 19, 2025
Gary Eugene Stone, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, greatgrandfather, and friend, passed away surrounded by love on October 19, 2025, in Bend.
Born April 30, 1953, in Long Beach, California, to Fred and Mary (Sanders) Stone, Gary met the love of his life, Lawren, in 1976. They married in July 1977 in Redmond. Soon after Gary completed his journeyman plumbing program and built a successful business that thrived for 45 years in Central Oregon. In the early 1980s, Gary and Lawren moved their young family to Sisters, where he spent countless hours building their dream home. They lived there happily until Lawren’s passing in 2023. Gary loved his family deeply. He cherished being a husband, dad, and grandpa “Papa,” and found joy in playing golf — especially with his kids and grandkids. Later in life, he fulfilled a dream by buying a Harley-Davidson, which he rode whenever possible. A poet and songwriter, Gary believed music was medicine for the soul. He loved good food, good whiskey, and meeting new people
wherever he went.
Boisterous, outspoken, and full of life, Gary’s booming laugh could fill a room. He was generous, kind, tough, and always supportive — a man whose presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Gary is survived by his children Jeff Stone; Natasha (Shawn) Stowers; Karma (Jerry) Crafton; Simon Stone; and Sara (Cary) Nickless; his sister Mary Hill; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lawren; his parents, Fred and Mary; and his sister, Sharon.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gary’s honor to Partners in Care Hospice House (www.partnersbend.org/donate) or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).
The Leonid Meteor Shower.
PHOTO COURTESY NASA
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
Taylor considered the busiest day both a good thing and a bad thing. With SNAP disruptions, there is more need, “but maybe the people in need are accessing needed help.”
“Clients are definitely expressing concern for the month of November,” he added.
Lori Blanchard is the manager of CORE Pantry, a provider of groceries and services to people experiencing food insecurity in Sisters Country, operated by the nonprofit Sisters Cold Weather Shelter.
“We just received a grant, over ten thousand dollars from the 100+ Women Who Care group,” she said. “That’s huge!”
Blanchard continued, “We now have some funds and we will now strategically fill the shelves with things we haven’t been able to get for the last few months. That money is going to get us through, hopefully, ‘til the government opens up.”
SNAP may be a topic of urgent public conversation due to the current crisis, but food insecurity has been on the rise in Central Oregon for years.
Five years ago, food organizations in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, along with the Warm Springs reservation served
350,000 people annually, according to Blanchard.
These days, the organizations receive approximately the same amount of food to give out as they did in 2020. But the population experiencing food insecurity has grown.
“Now it’s almost one million,” she said.
“That is the need. Over three times as many people are using these services now, where the food itself has remained at same levels,” even before the current food benefits disruption.
For farmers and other food producers, the SNAP rollercoaster has been a challenging ride. Seed to Table founder and executive director Audrey Tehan called it “an unexpected jump, all of a sudden.”
The nonprofit organization grows and donates fresh produce to food pantries and regional partners, to the tune of 40,000 pounds given last year. Additionally, some participants receive food directly from the farm, free or at low cost, via Seed to Table’s produce share.
In November, produce share members who usually pay with SNAP will receive their weekly veggies “regardless of if they have the SNAP dollars or not. We definitely rely on income from our produce share to fuel our programs, but our first priority is ensuring people get the food they need,” the organization announced last week.
Considering the remaining
crops on the farm, Tehan said, “The food insecurity landscape was already high when these were put in the ground five, six months ago, but it wasn’t at this catastrophic level.”
Farmers are searching for every last carrot and beet in the ground.
Trucking produce to Kiwanis and CORE food pantries, collaborating with local partners such as NeighborImpact, Seed to Table aims to help fill the gap. “Everybody is doing everything that they can right now,” Tehan said.
To summarize the SNAP situation: the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Trump administration indicated that they would freeze SNAP payments starting November 1 if the federal government shutdown continued. (In previous government shutdowns, SNAP was never allowed to pause or cease, as the program helps feed 42 million Americans each month.)
Oregon and 24 other states, the District of Columbia, and various cities and community organizations sued the federal government last week to release contingency funds for SNAP. On Friday, two judges ruled in favor of those suing.
Early this week, responding to the rulings, officials from the Trump administration implied that partial funding might be restored soon. However, the Trump administration previously warned that providing SNAP benefits on a
CORE Pantry volunteers, staff and food producers are working harder than ever to tackle food insecurity in Sisters
from right, says that food insecurity in
from 350,000 people to nearly 1,000,000
partial basis could take weeks to enact.
Additional lag may occur due to logistics involving the debit-card style food cards used for SNAP shopping.
Separate from SNAP, the State of Oregon has committed $5 million to food banks throughout the state; Governor Tina Kotek acknowledged that these funds won’t go far, and called the ongoing situation a “hunger emergency.”
The Sisters community is activating to help on a local scale. Blanchard’s eyes misted up as she said, “I’m just really impressed with the love that the community has for this organization. The community has stepped up and it’s been such a blessing.”
Long before the current
benefits disruption, she said, “I have people tell me all the time: ‘Thank you for being here. I don’t know what we would do without you. This month was so tight, it was either going to be rent or groceries.’
“Our prayer is that they keep their houses,” she finished. “Anything we can do to keep them in their houses and augment their food for the month is our goal.”
The Nugget’s coverage of food insecurity and economic ripple effects of SNAP disruption continues in this issue and throughout the month of November. To find food access or support local organizations, see “Help with food insecurity: Resources for donors, volunteers and patrons,” page 23.
Country. Manager Lori Blanchard, fourth
Central Oregon has grown
since 2020.
PHOTO BY T. LEE BROWN
LETTERS
Continued from page 12
Add to that mix, all the churches that are along the McKenzie Highway and a new transportation hub. The north and western end of Sisters is getting extremely crowded!
For good reason, the Sisters community has resisted inclusion of the McKenzie Meadows subdivision by “an overwhelming majority.” Not only would it take away yet another natural area that provides habitat for non-human residents of Sisters but it will exacerbate congestion and decrease safety for both locals and tourists alike. This is not the quality of life envisioned by those of us who love living here. Please let your City Council know that the McKenzie Meadows proposal is not a tenable choice for Sisters. And any UGB expansions would be much better suited to the northeastern part of town.
Susan Prince
s s s
Meanings
To the Editor:
Perhaps if we are reminded that “meanings” are in people, not in things, labels, symbols, art, politics, religion or anything, we can step back and take a breath on this roundabout art. Accepting the fact that every idea presented has had merit, but that meanings are different for every single person, so efforts to convince others of a choice seem not to work. We all have special passions or caring for our bits of Sisters! Forty years ago when we brought our boys over to camp or ski, the most important thing about Sisters wasn’t the rodeo, quilt show or music, but that the old bathrooms in Village Green had hot water in the taps! Fortunately our “meanings” have widened substantially! We acquire values through experiences, but the shared meanings don’t happen for everyone simultaneously.
So perhaps instead of limiting ourselves to our history, past or present, we might reach for some humor, like the numerous art installations in Bend that make me smile, however wacky or weird they might seem! Our town is full of artists, and no one will ever have the identical feelings or reactions to any piece of art, but we can evoke smiles or wonder, rather than competitive angst at those who differ
evacuations.
from our tastes.
Let a committee choose and surprise us, so we can forever debate what on earth “it” might mean. We need to lighten up and laugh more now than ever!
Wendie Vermillion
s s s
Sports star
To the Editor: Sisters has a sports star.
How many sport stars were born and groomed in Eastern/Central Oregon? Being born in Burns, and at two years of age sold to a Sisters rodeo contractor, which aided the opportunity for this athlete to begin a career in rodeo. Sports stars such as: football, baseball, soccer, skier, golf, and rodeo.
Sisters claim-to-fame hero is recognized by worldwide audiences and special features on the “Cowboy Channel,” example (100 rodeos in 100 days — no small feat) a monumental achievement Sisters featured on National TV. Featured among the Challenge of the Champions Red Rock was among this elite stock to compete. Notoriety acknowledgement came from USA Today and Sports Illustrated.
This awe-inspiring hero was being challenged by many bull riding cowboys to succeed an eight-second ride. Many cowboys raised their free hand with hopes to successfully ride to the eight seconds, but without success.
Red Rock, a legend and is an all-star. A statue of Red Rock is symbolic, an opportunity to honor our hero, a fierce athletic competitor in his own character contributor of the pioneer way of life. Definitely a grassroots athlete from Burns to Sisters and on to national history, NFR.
This champion Red Rock made history at the Sisters Rodeo in 1988 when a bull rider made the eight-second qualifying ride. Thus being the first winning ride on Red Rock at Sisters Rodeo.
Cheers to Red Rock — home groomed, Burns to Sisters. We are property owners in Sisters, Oregon, since the mid 1980s. Sisters population at that time, approx. 981. We live for the high desert air and outdoor activities this area has to offer.
K. Waide
“People in Central Oregon are really attuned to those apps or wherever they’re getting their information,” he said.
strengthen both our safety and our sense of community.”
Prior will talk about the mobilization that began on the first night of the fire, as a range of agencies met near Lake Billy Chinook as the fire began to move.
“They were able to do quite a bit to help us get set up that first night,” Prior said.
The statewide declaration of a conflagration came early the following morning, August 22. That created the authority to dispatch substantial firefighting resources to the community.
“We were very fortunate that there weren’t any other large fires going on,” Prior said. “We were the only show in town... That was just a fortunate event.”
Prior will also talk about aspects of the incident that went well, including
Residents stayed abreast of quick-developing events and acted when it was time to go.
The Chief also said he will address the critical nature of the work that was done beforehand by residents and agencies to harden neighborhoods and mitigate risk, noting that these efforts are ongoing and continuous. He said that the Fire District will encourage local residents to act as though they are in a Level 1 evacuation status all through the summer.
“We’re asking that people be cognizant that [wildfire] can happen at any time,” he said.
He also noted that the Fire District will continue to ramp up efforts and support neighborhoods in becoming Firewise, and help the City of Sisters develop code that enhances fire safety.
The forum will be held in the SES commons.
CEMETERY: Youth cleanup program is an annual event
Continued from page 3
veterans have made several noticeable improvements recently, including meditation benches. The trees have all been limbed up and a work shed has been constructed. Most importantly the vets keep the American flags, many of which adorn graves, fresh and upright.
Over the course of a year, tree debris from fallen limbs and branches and a vast accumulation of cones and needles requires the kind of intense cleanup as took place Friday.
The work taking several hours to complete resulted in dump trailers full to the brim of collected rubble from hand raking and pruning. Weeds which encroached on the entry road were quickly dispatched by the crew.
Most touching was the scene of kids on their knees using their hands, some without gloves, to sweep away fallen needles and twigs that landed on grave markers. Gently and silently, they cleaned off each stone pausing to read the inscription.
One worker, Addison Martin, told The Nugget, “I have family in this cemetery. It means a lot to me to be here today.”
Hunter Whitehead said: “I am happy to help. It’s a good feeling.”
The day began with a brief history of the cemetery and ended with an American flag folding ceremony followed by snacks.
The interaction between veterans and the work team was inspirational as vets, working side-by-side with their youth counterparts, told their service stories and in some cases their family connections to the cemetery, which has stood since 1880 and contains around 170 gravesites.
December 13 will be the next important event at the cemetery as one of nearly 5,000 locations nationwide where veterans’ wreaths are placed on headstones of our nation’s service members.
In 2024, more than four million volunteers helped place wreaths, a third of whom were children. This was accomplished with the support of more than 7,400 sponsorship groups, corporate contributions, and in-kind donations from the transportation industry across the country.
A full life — with illness and food insecurity
By T. Lee Brown Correspondent
In 1987, a young woman named Kathyn got sick — very sick. Doctors thought she had cancer at first, then tested her for other potential illnesses. She was 27 years old.
Once doctors finally reached a diagnosis, they predicted she wouldn’t live to 30. She had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
“This is way back in the Dark Ages, when HIV testing took six months,” said Kathyn, now 66, sitting in a charming Sisters townhouse bedecked with colorful Halloween decorations.
“It was devastating. There was really one treatment back then, AZT, and it was brutal. It made you so anemic and sick,” she explained. “But hey, I’m still alive.”
With her bright smile and bubbly personality, Kathyn doesn’t appear to be sick at all, much less someone who lives with a very serious immune condition. Later she also developed cancer and survived both the cancer and the treatments for it.
An avid gardener, Kathyn belongs to Sisters Garden Club. She has a knack for bringing people together, and hosts a weekly meditation gathering for people of all faiths and belief systems.
She offered a plate of delicious homemade pumpkin bread, then explained how the HIV infection occurred.
“I got sick first,” she said. Next it was her former husband.
It turned out that he had contracted HIV before she did. Prior to their marriage, “his complete sexual history was not disclosed to me, even though I asked,” she said. “I didn’t really find out the full
of good, healthy food, and the programs that make it available to people.
These days she receives $14 in SNAP benefits; SNAP is the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, recently in upheaval and uncertainty.
“It’s a small amount, but it’s helpful. I use Double Up Food Bucks with my produce share CSA.”
Produce shares, also known as CSAs for Community Supported Agriculture, are a way that farms sell fresh local vegetables and sometimes locally ranched meats or eggs. The state’s Double Up program turns Kathyn’s $14 SNAP payment into $28 worth of vegetables.
“I feel so good, all summer long, when I’m eating those organic veggies! I try to eat organic as much as I can, but it is expensive,” she said. She has savored produce shares from Mahonia Gardens and Seed to Table, small farms nestled next to each other within walking distance of her house.
Advice from a doctor early on helped HIV patients learn how much protein they needed and how their bodies would respond poorly to
processed foods and additives. Kathyn found his advice to be true.
“Anything that’s been premade, prepackaged, full of preservatives... it’s bad for me. I know how I feel in my body when I’m eating good food,” she said. “I try to have locally sourced, organically raised stuff.”
Because her health has been “pretty stable” since moving to Sisters seven years ago, Kathyn said she hasn’t needed “a ton of help.” Still, she is on a fixed income and has been in a position before where she was sick, in cancer treatment, and could not work. She knows many people who use food benefit programs.
Hearing that SNAP payments would likely be paused for November, she felt “horror. Horror and rage—because they have the money, they’re just holding it hostage.”
For herself personally, Kathyn has considered what she’d do if the government programs she relies on were to be cut or reduced: SNAP, Medicare, Social Security income, and the state CareAssist program that helps HIV patients with medical copays.
“It’s terrifying,” she said. Making air quotes with her fingers, Kathyn said, “I don’t feel ‘poor.’ But there is no Plan B.”
If budget cuts or health conditions require it, she will “absolutely, yes” partake in programs offered in the Sisters community: using food pantries, getting rides to medical appointments from
STARS, and signing up at the low end of Seed to Table’s CSA produce share, which operates on a sliding-scale basis and accepts SNAP and Double Up benefits. Staying active and giving back to the community, Kathyn lives a full life. The meditation group she leads meets at 4 p.m. on
Wednesdays at her house, 737 E. Black Butte Ave. in Sisters.
“It’s a good time to sit and be quiet,” Kathyn explained.
“Then we do a little reading and have a dharma discussion. It’s a safe space to share, and it is not repeated outside of the circle.” Everyone is welcome except dogs, she added. “I have cats in the house.”
Serious medical conditions haven’t kept Kathyn from living a full life, thanks to support from community and government programs.
PHOTO BY T. LEE BROWN
determined the winners in five categories — infant to pre-K, K through fifth grade, sixth through eighth, ninth through 12th and adults.
This was clearly the moment all had been waiting for and the judging turned out to be a heavier lift with so much creativity.
Inside the fire station it was a double feature. There was the carnival with games and treats which often saw lines 20 to 30 deep waiting patiently for a turn at the playful contests. The entire department was on hand along with volunteers to spread the good times aided by a juice, popcorn, and cookie table and glow sticks.
As kiddos and their chaperones finished feasting on the park and fire house funtivities, they began a steady stroll to Hood, Cascade, and Main avenues where costumed shopkeepers and food purveyors feted them with even more goodies.
“My pumpkin is all full,” said Kirsten Shane, 6, as she looked at her parents perplexed at how to get more into her bulging bucket. This was a common problem, if you can call it that, as merchants were quite generous in the size and quantities of handouts.
“How do you top this?” asked Ginny Gardner, a visiting grandmother from Philadelphia. “This is such a Sisters thing. Yeah, I’m sure lots of towns have an organized Halloween event for the kids, but there’s just something so special about this one.”
“It’s spontaneous. It doesn’t feel rehearsed,” added Grandpa Von. “It’s a bit chaotic but in a good way. It’s inescapable fun. I can’t imagine not being here for it.”
“This is all my kids have talked about for two weeks,” said Tanya Nagel, costumed with her three children eight, six, and three, as Harry Potter characters. “We home school, and this is a perfect way for them to hang out with their traditional schooled friends.”
It was the haunted house that kids, moms, and dads were still talking about Saturday and Sunday.
“That was so over the top,” exclaimed Mindy George in appreciation as she exited with her two kiddos.
“Whoever did this, give them a raise,” said Cory Unger exiting with his toddlers, who wanted a return visit.
The haunted house was created and staffed by the Fire Corps. Since its start in 2004, Fire Corps has helped fire and EMS departments in 49 states build more capacity by engaging community volunteers to assist in a variety of nonemergency roles.
Fire Corps volunteers provide compassionate support
to victims of emergencies and support the firefighters by providing food and drinks during extended fire operations. Fire Corps Volunteers also provide fire prevention, public education, and community service programs within the communities of Sisters and Camp Sherman. The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District’s Fire Corps began in 2010 and boasts more than 40 members.
The Haunted House has been a tradition at the fire house for years.
“It was due for an
overhaul, and we also felt a friendlier portion of the maze for younger kiddos should be included,” Stephony Duda told The Nugget.
“When I took on the activities leader role I followed on with the tradition. Last year I was lucky enough to have Stephony volunteer to help. She became our design leader,” said Monica Matthews. “This year Stephony, with support from her mother-in-law and her husband, Ben, completely revamped the maze. Basically, giving us two
sections: a younger, nonscary section, then an older kids section. She has such wonderful ideas. The challenge was having to rebuild the maze panels. Captain [Jeff] Liming handled all that. Then we had a week to put the maze together and two days to decorate and bring Stephony’s ideas to life. Then tear it down and pack it all away. It takes many volunteers many hours to create all this. The smiles and thank you’s from the community made the maze and games in the bays all worth it.”
Costumed kids (and adults) had a blast at all of the Halloween events in Sisters.
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
When The Nugget needs a photog rapher to come through in the clutch, Cody Rheault is the go-to player. One of Central Oregon’s f inest photog raphers and videog raphers, Cody has the special magic that the tr uly talented have to capture moments and the very essence of those whose por traits he takes.
Time at The Nugget : 8 years
Position: Photographer
Favorite part of the job: The access it gives me to local events, stories, and insider stories. There’s always something new to capture.
Favorite activities: It depends on the season, but anything outdoors. Skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, or riding my motorcycle over McKenzie Pass. Farthest traveled from Central Oregon: According to an antipode map, Uganda. (Buta’26Madagascartripwillchangethat.)
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had small but mighty team this season
“The team results could not have been closer,” said Kanzig. “It was a real barnburner.”
Central Linn, last year’s champions, scored 113 points to finish third and nab the automatic berth to state. Four other teams from the four 3A/2A/1A special district will receive at-large berths to round out the State Championship field.
The Outlaws advance to the state meet set for Saturday, November 8, where they will join 15 other 3A/2A/1A teams.
Asked about how the team might fare, Kanzig said, “All I know for sure is these girls will give it their best. Our teams have qualified many times and I’ve learned that it’s tricky to predict how things will work out. We are one of the four district champion teams and we match up well with many of the teams ranked in the top eight.”
The boys team ran very respectably on the way to a fourth-place team finish among the 11 3A teams
FIREWISE:
Neighborhood work critical to fire safety
Most are Home Owners’ Associations (HOA), a few are designated communities like Tollgate, and some are neighborhoods like Edge O’ The Pines, in Sisters.
Last October 16, Tollgate Firewise Committee Chair, Christina Maier led a meeting of the Project Wildfire Neighborhood Coalition (PWNC). About 30 people were in attendance to hear from representatives of the National Forest Service, Sisters Camp Sherman Fire Department (SCSFD) and from each other — leaders within the various Sisters Country Firewise communities. Maier serves as a resource for anyone interested in learning more about “why Firewise,” and can be reached at firewise@tollgatepropertyowners.com
The primary conundrum voiced in the meeting was the continued reticence of property owners across Sisters Country to become certified, given the recent Flat Fire and increases or cancellations of fire insurance. Several in attendance were surprised there was not a rush of interest after the Flat Fire. In Camp Sherman, someone noted fire insurance coverage
entered in the meet, ending a three-year streak of winning the District title.
Freshman Caden Warner ran a lifetime best that ended in high drama as he got nipped at the finish to miss a berth at state by just .05 seconds, finishing eighth.
“I have coached hundreds of runners and I can’t think of a time that a freshman ran such a smart and gutsy race,” said Kanzig. “Caden did everything possible to get seventh place. He made those older runners earn their places, that’s for sure.”
Warner finished in 17:44.05 and Jordan Ness of Santiam Christian clocked 17:44.00.
Ben Hayner (18:58), Zack Kemp (19:40), Landon Kirkpatrick (19:43), and Jaxxon Saunders represented the team well, according to Kanzig.
“The boys weren’t real sure prior to the meet how they compared to the other teams, but came to understand that fourth place was within reach and they did it, sure enough,” said Kanzig.
Santiam Christian won the team title with 39 points, followed by Yamhill Carlton (61) and Harrisburg (81), Sisters (109), La Pine (170), Blanchet (180), Scio
was pulled from two properties in the past week. Another stated, “We all need affordable insurance.”
SCSFD, Community Risk and Fire Specialist, Steven Lord noted that when owners are told about ways to mitigate fire dangers around their structures during a free defensible space inspection offered by SCSFD, the owners often have reasons to not do the work. Some will tell him, “their property is fine, it’s the neighbor causing the fire risk,” and others will say, “I love my trees,” and that one “is Dad’s Tree.” Some owners note they can’t afford to clear the defensible space, and some are not physically able. To address the latter two reasons, there were mentions of possible grants during the meeting and free services to assist in clearing, such as Heart of Oregon Corps (https://heartoforegon.org).
Lord shared circumstances in Sisters Country which limit owners getting involved. There are the numerous second homes — owners who reside locally a few months out of a year may not be as attached to the community. There are many rental properties where renters may not be inclined or even asked by the owners to clear away fire fuels. Some owners do not have trucks to haul materials to a dump. Here again, options were mentioned to get hauling help, like a free
(194), Willamina (195), Amity (205), Taft (239), and Jefferson (264).
“Having the smallest team in school history presented a challenge all year long,” said Kanzig, “But they did the work all season and stuck together. Though it was hard to not have either depth or experience, they competed.
“I’m sure next season we will be back to our typical numbers and take another crack at qualifying for state,” said Kanzig. “There are plenty of kids in the school who could fill the ranks and help us out in 2026, including some talented eighth graders.”
The girls will toe that line at Lane Community College
service offered by Republic Services to leave a dumpster in a neighborhood for a week or more.
The group was concerned the community at large does not understand the fire danger in Sisters Country and the responsibility of all to reduce that danger. Tollgate has an average of 400 trees per acre when it used to be 150 trees per acre, because owners planted trees. In our outlying forests, there is growing beetle infestations and the trees are becoming heat-stressed. There is a documented increase in conflagrations in Western states driven by three conditions: high winds, extreme heat, and dry atmosphere and vegetation.
The general advice to all local owners is to arrange to have a free SCSFD defensible space inspection. Owners decide what SCSFD advise to follow or not. Minimally one should consider removing any fire fuels within five feet of structures, clear gutters, and assure vents are eight-inch grid or less. If the property has a raised deck, clear underneath and close it off. Fires can occur any time of year.
Editor’s note: Citizens4 Community and The Nugget are sponsoring a forum titled The Flat Fire: Reflections, Recovery and Resilience on Sunday, November 9, 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School. See related story, page 4.
at 10:35 Saturday. All classifications in Oregon run at the same site on the same day providing a full day of
cross-country action. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.osaa.org/shop/ tickets.
Freshman Caden Warner ran a lifetime best, narrowly missing a berth at state.
PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG
Continued from page 3
As the human population of the earth doubles and triples, our natural support system is stressed. And as our pollution causes the climate to change, it is cavalier to think that those services will always be there for us.
This lecture will focus on biodiversity in one small corner of the animal world. This program uses the bees as a microcosm of the larger world of biodiversity that sustains us. The talk is intended to expand our thinking to those other arenas of the ecosystem where we know virtually nothing and to encourage people to dive deeper into their knowledge of the natural world.
Jerry Freilich is a Philadelphia native who started his career as curatorial assistant at the Academy of Natural Sciences at 11 years old. He has a master’s degree in environmental education from Cornell University and a PhD in entomology from the University of Georgia. He was science director for the Wyoming Chapter of The Nature
MUSICAL: Shows run November 6-9 at high school
Continued from page 3
the whole choir by allowing rehearsal time that doesn’t interfere with first-period Concert Choir.
“Adding the extra elective made it so the Concert Choir hasn’t taken any steps back, while allowing kids who play sports to be involved, which means a wider variety of students to be a part of it,” said Livingston.
A lot of hands are involved; an estimated 75 people throughout the art department and community have come together to make this show happen. Outside of the choir and band, there are students participating in set-building and musical tech.
“We’re super grateful for Ian Cash, Julia Cash’s son, who has been volunteering twice a week during Theatre Tech to help out, and during the actual performances he’ll be running sound,” said Band Director and Theatre Tech teacher Kayla Golka.
Golka has been leading a group of nine students to perform in the orchestra, but this year they’ll be stationed in front of the first row of seats to allow for better visibility for the cast members and musicians.
“Our people are very busy; out of the nine players in the
Conservancy and subsequently worked 25 years at six national parks around the U.S. as a ranger, naturalist, and research scientist. He regards his life’s mission as devotion to the joy and splendor of biodiversity. He’s worked on biodiversity studies, especially bees, since 1996.
Dr. Freilich will have a microscope and insects available for audience members to view starting at 6 p.m.
This event is part of the Frontiers in Science lecture series sponsored by the Sisters Science Club. Doors open at 6 p.m., lecture begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door; teachers and students are admitted free. The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave. For more information, visit www.sisters scienceclub.org.
I’m
— Analia Hodge
band there are two varsity soccer players, one varsity football player, one sports photographer, one dancer, and one member who also participates in a worship band. The time that we’ve gotten to dedicate to it is great but the process of helping students navigate all the things has been challenging. But in the end I know it’ll have been something we’ve overcome,” said Golka.
The students were cast in late May and have been working both individually and together since, and they are ready to display their effort to the community.
“I’m really excited to be part of this, I’m so glad I got to make a little family out of it. I’m really looking forward to seeing all of our hard work in the actual show,” said Analia Hodge, a junior playing Alice Beineke.
Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/ywev2z9a for Thursday, November 6, through Saturday, November 8, at 7 p.m., and Sunday November 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and $15 for adults, and can also be purchased at the door.
Jerry Freilich.
PHOTO PROVIDED
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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
Removal
Tree Pruning Good for Trees. Good to People. SparTreeArborist.com (916) 619-6317
• 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
TimberStandImprovement.net Tree Removal & Pruning TRAQ Arborist/ CCB#190496 541-771-4825
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
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
Page 14
Custom Homes
Additions - Remodels
Residential Building Projects
Becke William Pierce
CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384 Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com — Serving Sisters Since 2010 —
CASCADIA DESIGN BUILD
Remodel / Renovate / Repair
Full home remodel, little home fixes, and everything in between. cascadiadesignbuildllc.com 541-974-2282
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
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
Construction & Renovation
Custom Residential Projects
All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448
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
CASCADE GARAGE DOORS
Factory Trained Technicians
Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553
Earthwood Timber
• Recycled fir and pine beams
• Mantels and accent timbers
• Sawmill/woodshop services EWDevCoLLC@gmail.com
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
ROBINSON & OWEN
Heavy Construction, Inc.
All your excavation needs
*General excavation
*Site Preparation
*Sub-Divisions
*Road Building
*Sewer and Water Systems
*Underground Utilities
*Grading
*Sand-Gravel-Rock
Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #124327 541-549-1848
Full Service Excavation
Free On-site Visit & Estimate Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com
541-549-1472 • CCB #76888
Drainfield
• Minor & Major Septic Repair
• All Septic Needs/Design & Install
General Excavation
• Site Preparation
• Rock & Stump Removal
• Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation
BANR Enterprises, LLC
Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls
Residential & Commercial CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net
604 Heating & Cooling
Sisters, Oregon's Exclusive HVAC Service
Residential & Commercial Heating • Ductless Air Conditioning • Maintenance Installation • Repair
541-588-5667
SistersHeatingAir.com
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
– 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
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
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
Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company.
Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com
All Landscaping Services
Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740
701 Domestic Services
BEST IN THE CLEANING BUSINESS!
Are you looking for an excellent cleaning service, specializing in office and commercial locations? Offering a discount for religious institutions.
M. K. HAINES SERVICES 541-977-3051
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
704 Events & Event Services
18th Annual Country Christmas Bazaar
Fri.-Sat., Nov. 14-15 • 9-4
Homemade, affordable gifts of all kinds. Delectable array of homemade cookies, candy, jams. 69427 Crooked Horseshoe Rd. Off Camp Polk Rd., Sisters Trudy, 541-410-3858
The 49th Snowflake Boutique
Friday, Nov. 7, 1-8 p.m. & Saturday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center South Sisters bldg. Admission $4, kids under 12 free. Local artists, crafters, and food specialties. Post-expense proceeds are donated to local Central Oregon charities.
* Help Hope Sparkle * * * * Fundraiser Bazaar * * * * * November 13-16 * *
802 Help Wanted BATTALION CHIEF TRAINING & SUPPORT OPERATIONS
of
Black Butte Ranch RFPD
This role is second in command of the Fire District and assists the Fire Chief with the development, coordination, and oversight of the District's training programs, personnel management, operational support initiatives, and interagency coordination. Position works closely with internal staff, regional partners, and allied agencies to ensure a high level of readiness, operational efficiency, and professional development throughout the organization. For a list of minimum and preferred qualifications or to request an application packet, please email jellison@bbrfire-or.gov and jvohs@bbrfire-or.gov or call 541-595-2288. Completed applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on November 26, 2025 Salary range: $115,000–$125,000 annually, DOQ, plus benefits. Black Butte Ranch RFPD is an equal opportunity employer.
999 Public Notice
BBR RFPD
Meeting Date Change
The regularly scheduled board meeting for November has moved to November 20, 2025, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The regularly scheduled board meeting for December has been canceled due to the holidays. Questions? Call 541-595-2288 Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services 7730 Market Center Ave Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79912 TS No.: 2025-00050-OR ACCOUNT NO.: 185944 MAP NO.: 181207CB00600
TRUSTEE'S NOTICE OF SALE
T.S. Number: 2025-00050-OR
Pat Burke LOCALLY OWNED
CRAFTSMAN BUILT
CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com
– Sisters Oregon Guide –Pick up a copy at The Nugget or read at SistersOregonGuide.com
• Building Demolition Trucking
• Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water
• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly
• The Whole 9 Yards or 24 Whatever You Want!
Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345
Sisters Fire Dept. Community Room, 301 S. Elm St. Thursday 12 noon to 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations go towards local friend's medical bills. Become a vendor at helphopelive.org/ campaign/25259
Wendy 541-389-6859
Reference is made to that certain trust deed made by RANDY C. BARNES AND BRENDA M. BARNES, AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY as grantor, to Deschutes County Title Company as trustee, in favor of WILMINGTON FINANCE A DIVISION OF AIG FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK AS LENDER MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., MERS IS A SEPARATE CORPORATION THAT IS ACTING SOLELY AS A NOMINEE FOR LENDER AND LENDER`S SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS., as beneficiary, dated 06/02/2005 recorded on 06/08/2005, in the Records of Deschutes County, Oregon, in book at page and/or as fee/file/instrument/microfilm/rec eption No. 2005-35761, covering the following described real property situated in the above-mentioned county and state:
MAP OF GATE, COUNTY, LANE, beneficiary OWNER Residential 2016-4 Title PTS have real obligations and a been ORS which the due TO 08/17/2025: TO 08/17/2025: charges, vary due be for before reinstatement you exact required to the sums secured immediately default and and/or due on charges, installments balloon impounds late payable. given Inc. Services on 10:00 Inside the Courthouse, Bend, by County of sell highest the property had time of the any his acquired trust foregoing and sale, charge by any has five
C L A S S I F I E D S
C L A S S I F I E D S
ACCOUNT NO.: 185944 MAP NO.: 181207CB00600
LOT NINETEEN, OF MOUNTAIN GATE, DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON.
Commonly Known As: 19634 BLUE SKY LANE, BEND, OR 97702
Both the beneficiary CITIBANK, N.A. AS OWNER
TRUSTEE for New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust 2016-4 and the trustee Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS
Foreclosure Services have elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by said trust deed and a Notice of Default has been recorded pursuant to ORS 86.752(3). The default for which the foreclosure is made is the grantor’s failure to pay when due the following sums:
TOTAL REQUIRED TO REINSTATE AS OF 08/17/2025: $41,196.50
TOTAL REQUIRED TO PAYOFF AS OF 08/17/2025:
(5) days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the trust deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation or trust deed, and in addition to paying the sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and trust deed, together with trustee’s and attorney fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778.In construing this notice the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes the plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to this grantor as well as any other person owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by the trust deed, and the words “trustee” and “beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any.
Because of interest, late charges, and other charges that may vary from day-to-day, the amount due on the day you pay may be greater. It will be necessary for you to contact the Trustee before the time you tender reinstatement or the payoff amount so that you may be advised of the exact amount you will be required to pay.
Pursuant to Oregon Law, this sale will not be deemed final until the Trustee’s Deed Upon Sale has been issued by the Trustee. If any irregularities are discovered within 10 days of the date of this sale, the Trustee will rescind the sale, return the buyer’s money and take further action as necessary.
By reason of the default, the beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by said trust deed immediately due and payable, said default being the following:
If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney.
If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holder’s rights against the real property only. As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report reflecting on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligation.
Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representation or
Installment of Principal and Interest plus impounds and/or advances which became due on 07/01/2024 plus late charges, and all subsequent installments of principal, interest, balloon payments, plus impounds and/or advances and late charges that become payable. Therefore, notice hereby is given that Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services the undersigned trustee will on 12/12/2025 at the hour of 10:00 AM, Standard of Time, Inside the main entrance of the Deschutes County Courthouse, 1100 NW Bond Street, Bend, OR 97703 as established by ORS187.110, in the County of Deschutes, State of Oregon, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by grantor of the said trust deed, together with any interest which the grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said trust deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the trustee.
Notice is further given that any person named in ORS 86.778 has the right, at any time prior to five
warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential properties sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential properties should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale.
(5) days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the trust deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation or trust deed, and in addition to paying the sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and trust deed, together with trustee’s and attorney fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778.In construing this notice the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes the plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to this grantor as well as any other person owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by the trust deed, and the words “trustee” and “beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any.
warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential properties sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential properties should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale.
BY
NOTICE TO TENANTS: TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY HAVE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEM UNDER ORS 86.782 AND POSSIBLY UNDER FEDERAL LAW. ATTACHED TO THIS NOTICE OF SALE, AND INCORPORATED HEREIN, IS A NOTICE TO TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY AND WHICH SETS FORTH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE COMPLIED WITH BY ANY TENANT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE AFFORDED PROTECTION, AS REQUIRED UNDER ORS 86.771.
Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA
PTS Foreclosure Services Dated:
Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services 7730 Market Center Ave Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79912
Trustee Phone number: (866) 960-8299
Pursuant to Oregon Law, this sale will not be deemed final until the Trustee’s Deed Upon Sale has been issued by the Trustee. If any irregularities are discovered within 10 days of the date of this sale, the Trustee will rescind the sale, return the buyer’s money and take further action as necessary.
Dated: STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF EL PASO
NOTICE TO TENANTS: TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY HAVE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEM UNDER ORS 86.782 AND POSSIBLY UNDER FEDERAL LAW. ATTACHED TO THIS NOTICE OF SALE, AND INCORPORATED HEREIN, IS A NOTICE TO TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY AND WHICH SETS FORTH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE COMPLIED WITH BY ANY TENANT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE AFFORDED PROTECTION, AS REQUIRED UNDER ORS 86.771.
Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services
Dated:
Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services 7730 Market Center Ave Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79912
Trustee Phone number: (866) 960-8299
Help with food insecurity
By T. Lee Brown Correspondent
Sisters-based nonprofit organizations are stepping up to meet the needs of our locals. To participate in offerings, volunteer, or donate funds and food to local nonprofit organizations based in Sisters, see list below.
If you’re buying food such as canned goods or rice to donate, contact the food pantry or visit its website ahead of time to learn what types of foods they need and what foods they can accept.
no cost. This event lets people buy food in bulk, stocking up on local products for winter. November 8, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Location: Deschutes County Fairgrounds, OSU Extension Parking Lot, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond; www.centraloregonfillyour pantry.com.
• Sisters Thanksgiving Dinner Free Thanksgiving dinner for all Sisters Country community members to gather, give thanks, and eat. Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Hwy., Sisters. For details, email Deri Frazee, derifrazee@gmail.com, or call 541-549-1201.
REGIONAL ONGOING RESOURCES
Central Oregon regional organizations offer services and food in Bend, Redmond, and other areas. Some provide food on site in Sisters.
If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney.
On before me,
Personally appeared who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument. WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Dated: STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF EL PASO On before me,
Personally appeared
• CORE Hot meals, socializing, and service information sessions are offered Mondays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food pantry shopping is available Mondays, 1–2:30 p.m. Drop-off donations are welcomed then and are possible throughout the week. Location: 222 N. Trinity Way, Sisters. More info at www. coresisters.org/services.
• Kiwanis Food Bank Kiwanis distributes food every Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food donations can be dropped off during this time and Wednesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Location: 328 W. Main Ave. See sisterskiwanis. org/food-bank.
If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holder’s rights against the real property only. As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report reflecting on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligation. Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representation or
who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Notary Name (Seal FOR TRUSTEES SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (866) 960-8299
Notary Name (Seal FOR TRUSTEES SALE
(866) 960-8299
• Seed to Table This nonprofit grows veggies, donating over $200,000 worth of fresh produce last year. Over 40,000 pounds of veggies went to partnering programs for distribution, such as NeighborImpact, Meals on Wheels, and food pantries; www.seedtotableoregon.org.
NOVEMBER SPECIAL OFFERINGS
Events this month help mitigate the disruption in SNAP food benefits and provide holiday meals.
• Luckey’s Woodsman
This local restaurant responded to the SNAP crisis by creating a series of dinners and soup kitchen-style offerings, all on a pay-whatyou-can basis. Pints of soup will be available throughout the month. “Hold the Line” hearty dinners scheduled for November 7, 14, 21, and 29 at 352 E. Hood Ave, Ste. B, Sisters; www.luckeyswoodsman.com.
• Central Oregon Fill Your Pantry Open to everyone; people experiencing food insecurity will receive food at
• Council on Aging Community Dining Offered to seniors, a sit-down, community lunch is offered Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To-go lunches are available on Wednesday and Thursday, 12:30 to 1 p.m. Hosted by Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Hwy.; www.councilonaging.org/ programs/food-nutrition/ community-dining/.
• NeighborImpact Mobile Food Pantry The organization is an important source of services for lowerincome folks throughout Central Oregon and networking among other nonprofits. The pantry offers free food at SPRD Community Center on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 3 to 4 p.m. Location: 611 E. Cascade Ave.; www.neighborimpact. org/mobilepantry.
• Meals on Wheels This national organization delivers nutritious meals to older adults who are homebound due to injury, illness, or disability. Learn more at www.councilonaging.org/ programs/food-nutrition/ meals-on-wheels.
MORE RESOURCES A comprehensive list of Central Oregon food resources can be found at tinyurl.com/SNAPinSisters. This evolving list was created by Citizens4Community, which contributed research for this article.
Farmers at Seed to Table harvest food for the community. The nonprofit donated over 40,000 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries and other partners last year.
PHOTO
EMILY GREEN
