The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLIX No. 11 // 2026-03-18

The Nugget

Rekindled burn pile gets out of hand

It’s only March, but Sisters got a reminder that fire season is already upon us last week.

At approximately 1:25 p.m. on March 11, SistersCamp Sherman Fire District (SCSFD) firefighters were dispatched to a wildland fire that was reported to be spreading into brush and trees being pushed by high winds in an area between Wilt Road and Whychus Canyon Estates northeast of Sisters.

Fire crews arrived on scene and began an initial attack on both flanks of the fire, and were able to stop the forward progress at 2:27 p.m., and transitioned into mopping up the fire.

The total area burned was estimated at 1.8 acres. The cause of the fire is a rekindle of a burn pile from two days prior that was incorrectly believed to be out.

Partner agencies, Black Butte Ranch Fire District, Cloverdale Fire District, Sisters Ranger District, Oregon Department of Forestry, and our Fire Corps Incident Support Unit contributed to the response.

Firefighters suppressed a wildfire that started when a burn pile rekindled under high wind conditions on Wednesday, March 11.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District reminds homeowners that, especially with high winds in spring, they

Dental practice helps those in need

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Some of the people most in need of dental care in Sisters don’t have access to it.

Last weekend, Sisters Dental hosted a free dental clinic for folks in need in Sisters. Dr. Trevor Frideres and his staff volunteered their time on Saturday, March 14, performing procedures ranging from extractions to installation of crowns, from wound care to fillings for people who otherwise would not have been able to get the work done.

“For the longest time, the whole team here has wanted to give back to the community,” Dr. Frideres told The Nugget . “It took us a while, but we put it together and made it happen. Honestly, it

was my team that did most of it.”

The practice reached out to Luis Blanchard of the Cold Weather Shelter in Sisters to get the word out to the homeless community and others who avail themselves of services at the shelter.

“That was the fire that got everybody going, and here we are,” Dr. Frideres said.

There were 30 people signed up for the clinic, and walk-ins were also accommodated. The offices buzzed with enthusiastic activity.

Bogusia Johnson, who was checking people in for the clinic, noted that everybody at Sisters Dental is “servant oriented,” and eager to help their fellow Sisters community members.

must double- and triple-check any old burn piles to ensure they are completely out and cold to the touch. Even piles

that appeared extinguished days ago can rekindle under windy conditions and quickly spread.

Recreation businesses get some liability protection

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Outdoor outfitters, ski areas, and local gym owners have been operating under a cloud for the past decade as Oregon courts effectively stripped them of the protection against lawsuits provided by liability waivers. Now they are cautiously optimistic that a bill passed in the recent Oregon legislative session will restore a good portion of that protection. SB 1517 passed after hours of negotiation and revision. It restores the effectiveness of liability waivers, but allows for some exceptions in which a customer or client would still be able to sue — improper maintenance or inspection of safety

See BILL on page 7

Runners celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

The starting line of the fifth annual Lucky Leprechaun Run and Walk resembled a sea of green as some 250 participants took part in the annual event to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with costumes, camaraderie, and good cheer.

Taylin Bowen, a Sisters resident and Summit High School grad, stormed to victory in the 5-kilometer race in an outstanding time of 18:38. The 18-year-old’s closest competitor for most of the race was her sister Rylee Horner, 26, who ended up third in 20:54.

In fact, the top four finishers were all female, as Abigail Stockamp, 30, placed second (20:43) and Stephanie Browne, 50, took fourth (20:55).

Casey Fitzpatrick, with the most fitting name for the

occasion, led all male finishers with a time of 21:58.

A total of 182 runners and walkers completed the 5k according to RunSistersRun race director Kelly Bither.

In the 10-kilometer race, Robert Hershey, 36, took top honors in a time of 41:04, just ahead of runner-up

Sevag Sirinian who clocked 41:26. Nicole Nemiroff topped the women’s field with a time of 45:44. Members of the Sisters Trails Alliance helped out on the course that took runners west on Jefferson Avenue

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.

Progressive echo chamber

To the Editor:

The Nugget took one more step down the path of becoming an exclusive progressive echo chamber with Steve Woodside penning his departure from contributing to the “Letters to the Editor” section. I for one do not rejoice in his departure, because his conservative voice provided a balancing tension in the community discussion. Balanced tension between opposing points of view, while not always comfortable, helps readers become informed and forge their own opinions. Silencing one side only makes that task more difficult.

His letter published in the March 11, 2026, issue of The Nugget reviews his AI research into the political makeup of voices published over the last two years. The query for conservative voices returned six (inclusive of Mr. Woodward), while the same query for

progressive voices yielded 18 which did not include the progressive voices of Susan Cobb and T. Lee Brown. One could opine, that 20 to six is not a very balanced conversation! So, once again, the conservative voice is quieted, and the progressive voice is elevated. Victory for the progressive echo chamber? I think not. In this context, it is hard to consider the “Letters to the Editor” section truly representative of our collective community voice. If I were Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief of The Nugget, I would invite Steve Woodside to consider becoming a regular contributing correspondent. That would truly start the process of establishing a degree of balance and equal representation of voices.

David Pruett

Editor’s reply: No “side” or individual is being

Sisters Weather Forecast

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Sleazebags and slime balls

By Cliff Brush Guest Columnist

On February 20 the Supreme Court held the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize President Trump to impose tariffs. He called justices who ruled against him, including two he appointed, “fools and lapdogs” who are “very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution.” Without evidence, he suggested they were influenced by unnamed “foreign interests.”

He called plaintiffs who sued him and won “major sleazebags” and “un-American slime balls.” They include the owner of Learning Resources, Inc., a small toy manufacturer. The founder of a wine and liquor importing business. A fishing tackle retailer. A manufacturer of pipe products. A company specializing in cycling products.

Other individuals have earned better treatment under interesting circumstances. Changpeng Zhao emigrated from China and has Canadian and UAE citizenships. He founded the crypto exchange Binance. February 9 Forbes reported “Binance holds about 87 percent of USD1, the stablecoin issued by a Trump family crypto venture—a greater concentration than any other major stablecoin has at a single exchange.” The value of Binance’s holding then: $4.7 billion. In an October 2025 60 Minutes interview, Norah O’Donnell reminded President Trump federal prosecutors had successfully prosecuted Zhao for causing “significant harm to national security,” basically by money laundering. That October President Trump pardoned Zhao. O’Donnell asked why. He answered, “I don’t know who he is.”

administration officials, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., and others at Mar-a-Lago for a “carefully curated” event on the future of finance and technology.

Readers may remember Andrew Wiederhorn. He lived large in Oregon. How? Mostly through fraud, according to the Justice Department. February 18 the New York Times reported his case never went to trial. In late 2024 Wiederhorn’s company donated $100,000 to President Trump’s second inaugural committee. Within months a White House official fired the prosecutor, and the government dropped the case.

In May 2025 The Hill reported the president pardoned Paul Walczak. He’d plead guilty to not paying employment taxes and not filing individual returns. Walczak received his pardon less than three weeks after his mother attended a $1 million cost per person fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.

over Sisters last week.

When asked if the pardon indicated pay-for-play, he responded, “I know nothing about it because I’m too busy.”

Forbes also reported that in 2025 the Security and Exchange Commission dropped a lawsuit against Binance “days after the exchange listed USD1.”

In December 2025, the BBC reported on President Trump’s pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras. In 2022 Hernández was arrested and extradited to the U.S. on drug trafficking and weapons charges. Prosecutors argued he was key to an 18-year scheme that brought enough cocaine to the U.S. to supply 4.5 billion individual doses. Hernández was convicted and sentenced to 45 years. President Trump pardoned him in November 2025. Why? According to “many people that I greatly respect,” Hernández had been unfairly treated by prosecutors. Despite overwhelming evidence, it was an unjust Biden-era prosecution. An odd use of pardon power given the president’s commitment to fight drug trafficking.

A leisurely Internet search turns up more such cases.

What about controversial pardons by other presidents? Past abuses of power don’t justify current ones. They are more evidence that voters should restrain the presidential pardon power — by amending the Constitution, if necessary.

February 20 The Wall Street Journal and LiveBitCoinNews reported that, despite still being restricted from daily Binance management activities, Zhao recently joined Trump

Meanwhile, the tariff case plaintiffs might wonder why they’re the ones called sleazebags and slime balls.

COMMUNITY

a memorable experience participating in the many offerings of the Wintergrass Festival in Washington.

Sisters fiddlers take festival stage

Last month, 22 students from Sisters traveled north to Bellevue, Washington, to take part in Wintergrass, a four-day festival celebrating roots music traditions. Representing the local youth program Outlaw Strings, the students, ranging from sixth grade through high school juniors, immersed themselves in a whirlwind of workshops, jam sessions, and performances alongside some of the most respected musicians in traditional music.

This year’s festival theme, “Rad Trad,” emphasized the living, evolving nature of traditional folk and bluegrass music, and the students from Sisters leaned fully into the experience.

Outlaw Strings

participated in three educational programs during the festival, Jamz 2, Jamz 3, and the Youth Orchestra, each designed to give young musicians the opportunity to learn new tunes, techniques, and collaborative skills from master musicians. The lessons and musical ideas gathered during the festival will continue to inspire the group long after their return home.

The learning didn’t stop in the classroom sessions.

Wintergrass transforms an entire hotel into a living, breathing music festival. Every corner becomes a stage: ballrooms, hallways, stairwells, and hotel rooms fill with impromptu jam sessions and musical collaborations that stretch late into the night.

For first-time attendees, the experience can be almost overwhelming in the best possible way. The sounds of fiddles, banjos, guitars, and voices drift through every space, creating an atmosphere where music is constantly unfolding.

The Sisters students quickly found themselves saying “yes” to every opportunity that came their way.

On the first day of the festival, the group was invited to sit in on a private recording session. The following day, some of the veteran players were asked to perform in the artist and patron lounge at the top of the hotel. Later, the Oregon Bluegrass Association welcomed the

See FIDDLERS on page 16

Roundabout turns into art gallery

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

The best kept secret in Sisters is who is responsible for the whimsical, ad hoc art that adorns the new Locust Street roundabout with seasonal renderings. You’ve no doubt seen them and have probably smiled or outright chuckled driving by flamingoes, turkeys, gnomes, penguins, Santa Clauses, and presumably in a week or two — Easter bunnies.

These 18 to 24-inch cutout characters, typically a dozen or more in number, somehow (in the dead of night?) make it when all the might and weight of an organized and

Big

occasionally ornery citizenry cannot get any official art, long ago promised, to even be on the drawing board.

The Nugget struck out when we pursued the answer on social media and our deep network of those supposedly in the know.

Folks tell us they know, but won’t say or know who knows — and won’t say. Nobody is ratting out the gallery master.

“I don’t know but it makes me so happy and is the perfect solution to the art debacle,” said Sarah Morrow.

“Makes me smile every time I go around! Sometimes

Ponderoo announces schedule

Sisters is going to need to dust off our dancing boots.

SFF Presents has revealed the official performance schedule for the 2026 Big Ponderoo Music & Art Festival. As the countdown to summer begins, singleday tickets are officially on sale, inviting patrons to experience an intimate festival with world-class performances on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, in Sisters.

Now in its fourth year, Big Ponderoo transforms Village Green Park into a high-desert haven for

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383. Alcoholics Anonymous

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 the 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 Tyers Guild

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

Ch eck- I n Circle: Come a s you are Open c ircle for simple check-ins, self-ref lection, and authentic c onnection.

1st & 3rd Mondays, 4:3 0 p.m., at The Hub,

291 E. M ain Ave. RSV P: 503 -6 88 -4 881.

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 Cen tral O regon

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.

Go 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

Partner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Sisters Park & Recreation District Communi ty Center. 5 41-588 -0547.

Mili tary Parent s of Sisters Meetings are held quarter ly; please c all 5 41-388 -9 013.

Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 5 41-5 49 -6 469.

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., m eeting 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 Woodworkers First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 5 41-231-18 97

Sisters Bridge C lub Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sistersb ridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Suppor t G roup 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Park & Rec. Communit y Center. 5 41-588 -0547. (Meets with Living W ell With Dementia Sisters)

Sisters Cribbage C lub Wednesdays, 11 a.m. at The Lodge, 411 E. Car penter Lane. 5 09 -9 47-574 4.

Sisters Garden C lub For monthly meetings visit: SistersGardenClub.com.

Sisters Habitat for Humanit y Board of D irectors 4th Tuesday, 4:3 0 p.m.

Location infor mation: 5 41-5 49 -1193.

Sisters Kiwanis 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at SPR D in Sisters 541- 632- 3663

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Element ar y School Commons. 9 17-219 -8298

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon to 1 p.m., at SPR D. 5 41-760 -5 64 5.

Sisters Veterans no- host lunch, Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Rest aurant. All veterans welcome, 5 41-241-6 56 3.

Sisters Trail s Alliance Board M eetings take p lac e every other month, 5 p.m. In -person or zoom. Contact: info@ sisterstrails.org.

Songwriters Sharing Circl e All ages welcome. 2nd Wednesday 6 p.m., at The Hub, 5 41-977-8 49 4.

Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of D irectors M eets 2nd Tuesday, 10 a.m., TSID Off ic e. 5 41-9 03 -405 0.

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 541- 419-1279

VF W Post 813 8 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., The Hub, 291 E. M ain Ave. sistersveterans@gmail. com.

SCHOOLS

Black But te School Board of Direc tors 3rd Tuesday 9 a.m., Black But te School. 5 41-595 -6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m onthly, Sisters School District Administr ation Building. See schedule a t www.ssd 6.org. 541- 549-8 521 x5 002.

bluegrass and Americana lovers.

The party kicks off on Friday, June 26, with music running from 4 to 11 p.m. The Friday lineup features high-energy performances from The California Honeydrops, The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., Mountain Grass Unit, Big Richard, Reb & The Good News, Broken Compass Bluegrass, and Stephanie Anne Johnson.

The celebration continues Saturday, June 27,

CITY & PARKS

Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:3 0 p.m., Siste rs Cit y Hall 541- 549- 6022

Sisters Park &

FIRE & POLICE

Black But t e Ranch Police Dept Board of Direc tors M eets monthly 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date

Black But t e Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 5 41-595 -2 28 8 Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Wed., 5:3 0 p.m., 6743 3 Cloverdale Rd. 5 41-5 48 -4 815. c loverdalef ire.com. Sister s- Camp She rman RFPD Board of Direc tors 3rd Tuesday, 9 a.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 5 41-5 49 -0771. Sister s- Camp She rman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 5 41-5 49 -0771.

silenced, nor is any side or voice being elevated. Mr. Woodside is welcome to continue to contribute opinions, and so is Mr. Pruett or any other voice, be they “conservative,” “progressive,” or somewhere in between. The only limitation is that only one letter or column will be accepted per month so that no one voice is dominant in the conversation.

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief s s s

Letter policy

To the Editor:

I get it. The downside for me, an occasional contributor, is deciding to which single issue I will respond to each month. In most cases, such as this week, it’s a fairly obvious choice. I’ve been out of town for a week or so. A reader recently laments the editor’s choice of which letters to publish. I see his point. But Jim’s willingness to publish some absurd or offensive letters is something we should all value. The content itself of such diatribes is of little value but reminding us that people hold such bizarre views (assuming that they are not just “pulling his chain”) is a factor worthy of our consideration. They walk among us!

So, the next time someone rudely cuts us off in traffic, ‘steals’ our parking spot, or jumps the line in the store or airport it is well that we keep this in mind in formulating our response.

Ross Flavel

s s s

Letter from the Superintendent

To the Editor,

At the most recent Sisters School District Board meeting, several updates highlighted the strength and forward momentum of our schools. The Board approved the annual Local Service Plan developed collaboratively with the High Desert Education Service District. This plan allows smaller districts like Sisters to access specialized services and expertise that would otherwise be difficult to provide independently. Through this partnership, students benefit from expanded support in areas such as special education services, school improvement initiatives, and technology resources.

The district also received the results of its annual financial audit. The report confirmed a clean audit, with no findings related to state minimum standards, federal program audits, or state grant programs. These results reflect the careful work of district staff and the continued commitment to responsible stewardship of community resources.

Updates were also shared regarding enrollment trends and new opportunities designed to attract and support families in Sisters. Programs such as IGNITE will help expand learning pathways for

students, offering innovative options that help prepare them for the future while strengthening the appeal of Sisters schools.

Looking ahead, the district continues thoughtful planning around long-term use of district properties and facilities. Conversations with community partners and the City are exploring possibilities that could benefit both students and the broader community.

Like many school districts across Oregon, Sisters faces financial pressures related to enrollment shifts and rising costs. District leaders are actively preparing for upcoming budget committee discussions with a focus on prioritizing resources, improving efficiency, and ensuring the greatest possible impact for students.

The support of this community continues to be one of the district’s greatest strengths. The commitment of families, staff, and community partners helps ensure that Sisters schools remain places where students can learn, grow, and thrive.

Community members interested in staying connected with district updates are encouraged to sign up for the district newsletter at https://district.ssd6. org/.

Curt Scholl Superintendent

s s s

Support for Dudley

To the Editor:

Sisters’ residents should take a hard look at supporting Chris Dudley for governor.

Over the past several years, our state has fallen to or near the bottom nationally in several critical areas — education outcomes, access to timely health care, homelessness, and the overall affordability of living here in this place we love. These trends did not happen overnight, but they have accelerated under Kotek. The result is a state that too often feels like it is moving in the wrong direction.

Many of us who have lived here for decades remember when Oregon was widely admired for its quality of life, strong communities, and responsible governance. Today, we are leaving the next generation of Oregonians with mounting problems and fewer opportunities. That should concern everyone who cares about the future of this state.

Dudley represents an opportunity to change course. He brings a practical, solutions-oriented approach and understands that our priority must be fixing problems here at home. Too much of Oregon’s political conversation is focused on national politics and reacting to figures like Trump. Whether people support Trump or oppose him, that debate does nothing to fix Oregon’s schools, clean up our streets, or help families afford to live here.

We need leadership that focuses on Oregon — improving education, addressing homelessness with real accountability, strengthening public

safety, and restoring an environment where businesses and families can thrive.

In short, let’s focus on fixing our own neighborhood. Oregon needs less political theater about D.C., and more attention to the problems right in front of us.

If we want our children and grandchildren to inherit a state that offers the same opportunities many of us enjoyed for the past 50-PLUS years, it’s time to choose a different direction.

Dave Swisher s s s

Strait of Hormuz

To the Editor:

Think about this for a minute: There is a strip of water about 21 miles wide at its tightest length and it supplies about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply — the Strait of Hormuz! Currently, Donald Trump is on social media asking China to send warships to help us open it. Since February 28, when Donald announced the start of this war on Truth Social, what concerns me is the lies being told to us and what is true on the ground. Donald says we have destroyed 100 percent of Iran’s military capability and we see the Strait is still closed. Oil is up 25 percent.

On February 26, the U.S. negotiators, Jared Kushner, Donald’s son-in-law, who is no longer in the government, who received $2 billion from Saudi Arabia just before Donald left office the first time, and Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer and long time friend of Donald, and Iran were mediating in Geneva with Oman. The talks stopped, but they did not end — still hope for an agreement. But 48 hours later, the U.S. and Israel struck Iran with 900 bombs in the first hours alone. The supreme leader was killed and Donald announced it on Truth Social.

A president usually has a process before bombing a country. You would need to discuss the situation with your national security team, your allies, then you go to Congress to discuss the process, the plan, get approval and you inform the American people.

In America we are a democracy not a dictatorship.

Well, now Iran fought back with missiles and drones against Israel and U.S. bases. The Strait of Hormuz has shut down and Donald again goes on his trusty Truth Social and asks Britain, France, China, Japan, and South Korea to send their ships to help solve this problem. Donald obviously had no plan going into this war and it shows.

This war is helping Russia due to the oil crisis since Russia’s wealth is tied to oil and he is one happy camper thanks to his buddy Trump. This is who we have in the White House now, a man who is a felon, a fraud, a traitor, and a big, fat liar.

We all need to be out on March 28 to march in the No Kings Protest!

Diane L. Hodgson

Judge: Oregon gas tax question can go on May ballot

By Alex Baumhardt Oregon Capital Chronicle

A recently passed law that moves a citizen vote on new taxes and fees to pay for transportation to the May primary instead of the November general election does not violate the Oregon Constitution, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Marion County Circuit Court Senior Judge David Leith, appointed by former Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber, ruled in favor of Secretary of State Tobias Read on Wednesday in the lawsuit brought against him by leaders of the gas tax referendum effort.

They include Right to Vote on the Gas Tax Political Action Committee, two Republican politicians who led the referendum effort — Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr of Dundee and Rep. Ed Diehl of Scio — and 37 Oregon voters representing each of the state’s 36 counties. Their attorney Julie Parrish, a former fourterm Republican state lawmaker from West Linn who now works for Portlandbased firm Kell, Alterman & Runstein, indicated in a hearing on the case Tuesday she would immediately appeal the decision.

In an email to the Capital

Chronicle following the ruling Parrish said “we’re reviewing steps” regarding a potential appeal. Diehl, who is running in the primary for the Republican nomination for governor, echoed Parrish in a statement, saying he and other referendum leaders are “exploring all our options.”

“We feel like it is a travesty of justice,” he wrote.

Diehl said he and other plaintiffs were “especially concerned” that reporters viewed Leith’s decision before his attorneys received it and that he was calling for an investigation. The decision was posted Wednesday afternoon to Oregon’s online court records database, which lawyers, journalists and anyone else with an account can access. Diehl and Parrish did not immediately respond to Capital Chronicle questions regarding the allegation.

Read in a statement thanked the judge for providing a fast resolution in the case.

“We will continue to follow the law, as set by the Constitution, the Legislature, and the courts,” he wrote.

“We will do everything in our power to give every Oregonian the opportunity to weigh in on our shared future: every eligible, registered Oregon voter will be

mailed a ballot for the May 19th primary and have an equal chance to weigh in on this referendum.”

Leith said at the Tuesday hearing that he would publish a longer explanation of his opinion by Friday, after he’d had more time to process arguments, but that he knew the parties needed a fast resolution to the constitutional questions.

That’s because content for the state-issued voters’ pamphlet must be submitted by Thursday for any candidate or cause on the May primary ballot. To get their message urging a vote against the taxes in the pamphlet, referendum leaders and any other Oregonians must either present 500 signatures or pay a $1,200 filing fee to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Parrish at the Tuesday hearing argued the compressed timeline disproportionately harms the plaintiffs by limiting the time they have to gather resources and qualify for inclusion in the pamphlet. She also argued it limits the time they have to reach voters, giving them two months instead of seven months to launch a “vote no” campaign on the tax question.

In December, the plaintiffs collected more than three times the signatures required

to get the decision on a sixcent gas tax increase, hikes to car registration and title fees, and a temporary doubling of the payroll taxes used for public transit out of the Legislature’s hands and into voters’.

But Democratic lawmakers, with the backing of Gov. Tina Kotek, passed Senate Bill 1599 earlier in March to move the referendum vote from November to May, arguing the state needs to know sooner rather than later if it can collect the new revenue to pay for critical services at the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Referendum leaders argued it was an effort by Kotek, who is running for reelection, to ensure the question about raising taxes wasn’t on the same general election ballot as her. At the hearing, Parrish argued the bill violates the state’s

constitutional referendum protections, due process, and fair election principles.

Lawyers for the state, in turn, argued that the Oregon Constitution explicitly gives the Legislature the power to decide when a referendum will take place.

A judge on Wednesday in a separate federal lawsuit ordered Read to let Klamath Falls resident Mary Martin submit language against the gas tax for the voters’ pamphlet by the Thursday deadline without meeting fee or signature requirements. Martin, who is on a fixed income and uses a wheelchair, argued that moving the referendum election date and truncating the time she had to submit to the voters pamphlet violates federal discrimination laws for people with disabilities.

Reprinted courtesy Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Cloverdale ranch nonprofit to aid abuse victims

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Domestic violence across Central Oregon is rising at an alarming rate, leaving women and children with few safe options for escape. Sexual assault reports have increased 31 percent since 2021, while local provider Saving Grace is experiencing a 20-year high in domestic violence cases, and operating at capacity, meaning many survivors are turned away.

The impact on children is profound — 31.7 percent of child welfare reports in Oregon involve domestic violence, and nearly one in three adults will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, exposing thousands of children to trauma, instability, and unsafe environments.

Forty percent of the nationwide homeless population is made up of women, primarily due to domestic violence and sexual abuse. Enter M Perfectly, who believe in the resilience and potential of every woman. They partner with organizations in Central Oregon to provide education, training, and more to give women the tools they need to overcome their circumstances for good. Employing interactive workshops, tailored coaching, and practical exercises, they help participants rebuild their lives and embrace a promising future.

Through comprehensive programs and partnerships, they provide the tools and resources necessary to help

vulnerable women in Central Oregon find long-term success. They provide help and training in life skills, financial literacy, career development, health and wellness, and goal setting.

SMART Goals

M Perfectly’s alliances with organizations in Central Oregon provide education and training while helping women set SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These goals keep residents informed about their progress and areas needing extra focus. Through interactive workshops, personalized coaching, and practical exercises, partici

pants are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to rebuild their lives and embrace a promising future.

Thirty women are currently enrolled, 18 of whom have successfully completed their program, secured stable housing, and are thriving in rewarding careers.

Many women overcoming homelessness, addiction, and abuse lack basic life skills. Tasks like opening a bank account, setting a budget, finding health care, or making healthy friends can be overwhelming. Partnering with shelters to provide holistic life skills training, M Perfectly empowers women to achieve self-sufficiency and take control of their lives.

The organization is fundraising for $6 million to raise hope and restore families by way of Ranch of Refuge in Cloverdale, a permanent

working ranch refuge where mothers and children can heal, regain stability, and move toward lasting independence.

The restorative residential ranch will be the foundation for long-term programming. The initiative will provide safe housing, equine-assisted healing, workforce development, and trauma-informed care – breaking cycles of instability and transforming land into refuge, opportunity into growth, and crisis into hope for families ready to begin again.

The not-for-profit is the inspiration of Ashley Smith, its founder and executive director, who says: “Having spent 10 years in medical device sales and five years as a communications coach

with Own the Room, coaching C-suite executives from LinkedIn, Facebook, Delta Airlines, Google, and more, my passion for communications has only increased.

“My awareness for voices heard and unheard has become keen and my heart extends to women who have conformed to societal expectations which have crippled their ability to choose excellence over perfection. From corporate leadership and development to shelters for women in need, I’m using my expertise and passion to help women build a strong foundation in self-confidence that radiates to all parts of their lives.”

When asked what her greatest challenge was, Smith told The Nugget , “Over the

past four years, I’ve worked with more than 120 women in the recovery community and have built strong relationships rooted in trust. Women often come to me and share deeply painful stories of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual abuse. Recently, these disclosures have increased. The most difficult part of my work is looking into the eyes of frightened women and children, knowing their home situations are unsafe, yet not having an immediate, safe solution to offer them.”

There will be a communitea informational gathering Tuesday, April 18 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Sisters Library Community Room. For more information visit https://www.mperfectly.org.

Nature trail gets finishing touches

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

A few dozen volunteers from Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) rolled up their sleeves, donned gloves, and took up shovels and rakes to top off the Nature Trail, a 3,500foot path created last year with some of the work then performed by Sisters Middle School students. It’s all part of what eventually will become a 3.5-mile community trail circumnavigating the outer boundary of all three Sisters schools set for completion in 2027.

The serpentine trail running from the middle school, past the elementary school, and terminating near the high school now has a barrier free surface thanks to the weekend endeavor. Two hundred fivty tons (500,000 pounds)

of trail mix was added to the incomplete surface previously compacted with a gravel base.

Trail mix (TSA) is designed for use as a wearing surface for trails. It is different from traditional materials used to surface trails such as “number 10s.” TSA is designed to have a uniform mixture of a range of rock sizes from 3/8-inch all the way down to fine material.

This uniform mix allows excellent compaction to achieve a higher in-place aggregate density than commonly used aggregates to resist wear and erosion. It’s what is used on the Whychus Creek overlook trail and the High School-Tollgate trail. It allows for wheeled chairs, strollers, scooters and bikes to traverse easily. Plus, it has excellent drainage

characteristics.

On top of the TSA a stream of bentonite was laid down. Bentonite is a natural clay commonly used as a trail topping to stabilize and harden soft or dusty paths. When mixed with native soil or aggregate and lightly moistened, bentonite swells and binds particles together, creating a firm, compact surface that resists erosion and rutting.

This improves durability for hiking, biking, and equestrian use while reducing dust. Because it holds moisture and forms a cohesive layer, bentonite-treated trails require less frequent maintenance and can perform well in dry, high-traffic environments.

STA volunteers applied about 12,000 pounds. The trail is ready for use and will be accessible year-round.

BILL: Recreation leaders worked hard for passage

Continued from page 1

equipment; negligent safety training; abuse or assault; negligent hiring, training, or retention of an employee; or the operation or use of vehicles.

While the exceptions raise questions as to their scope, Tate Metcalf, owner of Sisters Athletic Club, is satisfied with the outcome.

“I think it’s a good compromise,” he told The Nugget last week.

Metcalf serves as secretary for the Oregon Health & Fitness Alliance, and he was intimately involved in the effort to revise the law.

He has said that the liability waiver enforceability issue has impacted health clubs and gyms, including his own Sisters Athletic Club, which he has operated for the past 24 years. According to Metcalf, insurance costs have increased by three- or fourfold across the industry — and many clubs and gyms are

having a hard time finding and retaining insurance. There seems to have been an immediate impact on that front. Metcalf told The Nugget that a number of insurance agents whom he had contacted in the past have reached out since the bill’s passage to indicate that they are now comfortable doing business.

“The insurance industry is already recognizing it, so that’s absolutely a benefit,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf thinks it is important to recognize that the legislature worked in a bipartisan fashion to find a solution to a problem that had grown to crisis proportions that threatened the viability of Oregon’s entire recreation sector.

“It’s really positive that the Oregon legislature recognized that something had to be done,” he said.

Metcalf also noted that people in his industry get into it because they want to help people, and they take safety very seriously.

“Safety is a key thing,” he said. “It’s always been a key thing.”

WORD OF THE DAY… Putative

Generally believed, supposed, or assumed to be true, but not yet proven

Recognizing

Dementia:

Community Presentation Tuesday, March 24, 2026 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. At Sisters Library Community Room 110 N. Cedar St., Sisters Presented by Margaret Smith

have been busy researching and interviewing people connected with some of these great shows. There will be personal stories, behind-the-scenes photos, and bits of memorabilia reflecting how and where they were made, along with popcorn, of course, for your viewing pleasure! H ll dd ti

Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St.

Tickets are $10 at the Door (Free to TSHS members)

2 p.m. , doors open at 1 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served. Questions? Call 541-610-6323.

City snapshot — workload progress

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

The City of Sisters is working on many infrastructure, research, and administrative projects. The City has 20.5 full-time equivalent employees who run and maintain the City. City employees also complete projects on time and within budget as defined in the City Council goals.

The City Council schedules to meet 21 times annually. Another 10 or more Council meetings include executive sessions, special workshops, and joint meetings with local districts (fire, recreation, school, water). Additionally, the five Council members share responsibility to represent the City in 13 meetings with local, state, and federal agencies each month. Council members also engage with local groups to continuously improve public services within the City. The City Manager, the directors of departments, the Mayor, Council President, and Council members will frequently attend local events throughout the year to have conversations with the public.

The Council workshop and regular meeting of March 11 included many efforts in progress, including:

• City Manager Jordan Wheeler presented Council with the 2026-27 fiscal year (FY) council goals for final revisions. The Council goals will be reviewed to approve April 8 and will feed into the budget for the same FY which begins July 1. The Council has defined six goal categories, under which are a total of 18 strategies, having a total of 32 actions and 15 major projects. The Essential Infrastructure category includes 10 major projects.

• Wheeler shared the City’s Urban Renewal Agency (URA) goals. The

URA’s focus is downtown improvements. The URA goals are: to construct the Adams streetscape improvements, continue exploring public art and installations of art pedestals, create a plan to install way — finding signage, and explore property acquisition opportunities within the URA area for public facilities and amenities. Wheeler indicated that a city Public Art Advisory committee will be formed within the current FY.

• City’s Principal Planner Mathew Martin and NV5 consultant Jon Champlin summarized the preferred NW Park master plan. The Council has assessed what is feasible and reasonable for a park on a 2.7-acre parcel next to residential developments and adjacent to US 20, alternate US 20, and the Barclay Roundabout. NV5’s planning process included reviews and input by the public, the City’s planning and park boards, Sisters Park and Recreation District, the Council, and local stakeholders. The final NW Park master plan is anticipated to be approved by Council April 8, after which the plan enables a funding search.

• Community Planning Director Scott Woodford shared that the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion application before the Deschutes County Planning Commissions could be approved by May. A month or so later, the applications to the City Council and Deschutes County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) are reviewed for adoption. Once adopted a 21-day appeal period begins.

• Woodford presented to Council examples of two other city’s annexation policies. The cities’ current annexation policy is lacking some developer incentives and limitations which Council has been considering. Council voiced concern

that the new annexation policy needs to be approved on or shortly after the UGB expansion applications are approved by the City Council and BOCC. Woodford noted that annexations will follow the Area Planning phase of the UGB expansion process. It can take six months to complete area planning – the mapping of land use designations (location of parks, a school, residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) including streets and walkways.

• City Manager Wheeler requested approval to file a notice to terminate the solid waste franchise agreement with Republic Services (RS). The County, Bend, and Redmond gave notices starting with Redmond in 2023. Per the current agreement, as of a notification to terminate, the service would continue for six years. During those years, the City will participate in a regionally coordinated effort led by the County to improve the overall waste removal service with an alternative provider for better service agreements throughout the County. The City expects no lessening to the quality of waste removal services by RS. Councilor Michael Preedin welcomes constituents to inform the City or Council should new or increased RS problems occur.

For the full discussion, watch the City Council meeting video at, www.ci.sisters. or.us, in the Agenda & Meetings tab under Recent Meetings.

Forum to focus on housing affordability

Partners for Affordable Housing (PAH) announced it will host a 2026 four-part candidate forum series called “Housing is a Math Problem” focused on solutions to our housing affordability and availability crisis.

The slate of events will begin with Deschutes County Commission Candidate Forum from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at Open Space Event Studios.

“Our region’s housing crisis is impacting low-income families, nurses, small business owners, students, builders, and employers alike,” said Eliza Wilson, executive director for RootedHomes and a member of the PAH steering committee. “This series helps elevate housing as the defining issue of the 2026 election cycle. It creates a platform for candidates to clearly articulate how they will increase housing production and reduce costs — and allows voters to evaluate those plans side-by-side.”

The 2026 “Housing is a Math Problem” candidate forum series will feature forums that convene candidates in key races to address a housing production shortfall driving up costs for families, workers, and businesses.

The series aims to include:

• Deschutes County Commission Candidate Forum: 5 to 7 p.m. April 30 in Bend.

• Gubernatorial Candidate Forum: late May/early June.

• Bend Mayor and Bend City Council Candidate Forum: mid-September.

• Redmond City Council Candidate Forum: Late September.

The Deschutes County Commission Candidate Forum will be free, open to the public, and nonpartisan. This event will be emceed by Central Oregon Daily News (KOHD), and recorded. Recordings of the event will be available on Central Oregon Daily’s website as well as the Partners for Affordable Housing website.

“Housing is a Math Problem” candidate forums will feature questions developed by coalition members representing a broad crosssection of the Central Oregon community, presented to the candidates by Central Oregon Daily News.

Register for the Deschutes County April 30 forum at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/deschutes-countycommission-forumwith-partners-foraffordable-housingtickets-1984909523818.

“Sky Hunters” returns to High Desert Museum

Spring break kicks off this Saturday, March 21, at the High Desert Museum with special programs, new exhibitions, and summer hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The popular indoor flight demonstration, “Sky Hunters” returns to the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. Visitors experience powerful predators close up as raptors fly just overhead, showcasing the birds’ agility and grace while learning about their lives in the wild. The program is daily from Saturday, March 21 – Saturday, March 28 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and is first come, first served. Tickets are $7 and available at Admissions on the day of. Museum members receive a 20 percent discount.

“Sky Hunters” is made possible by Fly Redmond with support from the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy daily talks about High Desert flora and fauna,

free with admission. These include the Nature Walk at 10:30 a.m., “Otter Encounter” at 12:30 p.m. and “Mammal Encounter” at 3 p.m.

Spring break visitors will also be able to experience the Museum’s temporary exhibitions. The new, original exhibition “Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration” in the Spirit of the West Gallery invites visitors to discover the science, spectacle, and significance behind the giants that live among us. For many in the West, the impact of volcanoes is forever tied to the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980.

Blending history and geology with interactive storytelling and hands-on exploration, visitors will encounter lava rocks, a volcanic hazard map, and hear the rumble of a volcano. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/ under-pressure.

Information on the High Desert Museum is available at highdesertmuseum.org/ visit-bend-oregon.

AI and jobs

By Erik Dolson Columnist

The Wall Street Journal (subscription only) ran an article Sunday morning, March 15, about an automotive parts plant in South Carolina bringing humanoid robots to the factory floor. In the story, Agility, builder of the robots, and the WSJ emphasized that there would be no job losses.

The WSJ reported that, according to a researcher at consulting firm McKinsey, “fewer than 200 humanoids are working in the world’s factories today, up to five million could be in place by 2040. That could increase productivity and shift humans into new roles without slashing the manufacturing workforce…” (emphasis mine).

An included video clip presented a spokesman for Agility who said: “We’ll need humans to do the high value, high execution type tasks and the humanoids to do repetitive, mundane tasks…”

I’m a fan of clever engineering, but I had a couple of thoughts: First, before Agility’s grasshopper-legged robots were moving crates of heavy parts, humans were doing those “repetitive, mundane” tasks. It might be a stretch to think each of those humans is capable of moving up into a supervisory or quality control position. Those entry-level jobs have had an important role in the past.

Second, according to

the story, the cost of the robot will work out to $10 to $25 per hour, though “Damion Shelton, Agility’s co-founder, has said it could eventually fall to $2 or $3 an hour.”

No human can work for $3 per hour, so it’s safe to assume those jobs will evaporate from the labor market and as a contribution to the economy.

Maybe that’s okay. Economists have long pointed out the “lump of labor” fallacy: “the incorrect belief that there is a fixed, limited amount of work to be done in an economy. It wrongly assumes that if one person works more or if technology advances, another person must work less or lose their job. In reality, the economy is dynamic, and demand for labor grows through innovation,” according to a quick Google search.

I’m a fan of economics, so let’s accept that, for now: Automation is good because demand for labor grows through innovation. Got it.

But, as we unfortunately learned through globalization, there are winners and losers. Economists also knew that “comparative advantage” would lead to increased standards of living overall, albeit with some “creative destruction.” That resulted in cheaper underwear, tables, and carpets for consumers.

But to the forgotten textile and furniture workers whose livelihoods and cultures were “creatively destroyed,”

it seems like a raw deal. There’s another, little discussed issue: Tax law. I’m not sophisticated in accounting, but my limited exposure leads me to believe that capital expenditure (price paid for a robot) is taxed differently (depreciated) than labor (cost of operations). So, just dropping the cost of entry-level labor from $30/hr (wages, benefits, and taxes) to $3 per hour (amortized purchase, electricity, and maintenance) doesn’t tell the whole story.

I don’t know the impact of that. It may be trivial, it may not.

I understand that automation is inevitable. Any photo of a modern car factory shows that. Robots and AI are inevitable. Hooked to capitalism, the most efficient means of allocating resources, they will transform the human working experience, and they will transform economies.

Hopefully the coming revolution will be positive. Hopefully, the “repetitive, mundane” work, the difficult and dangerous work, will be automated and humans will get promotions to more technical, high-paid employment with a better future.

But we need to have hard discussions about values now, before these technologies become so deeply rooted that human beings are reduced to cogs that no longer fit into any machine.

Eric Dolson publishes at https://erikdolson.substack. com.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS

“Family Money Ta lk s”

Free Class

Wed ne sd ay, M arc h 18 , f rom 6 to 7 p.m . A rr ive at 5:45 p.m for f ree b u et d in ner at a loc al ar t gal lery, loc at ion sha red

once you R SV P to 5 41-5 4918 66 , E dw ard Jones o ce of Ka ren K assy. Topic: lea r n a n approac h to hold engag ing and product ive conversat ions about wea lt h a nd estat e pl anning – w it hout d iscu ssing as sets . P resented by H artford Mana ging D irec tor of A pplied

In sight s A ma nd a Sta h l a nd Regiona l V ice P resident C asey Miller

Fu rr y Fr iend s Volu nteers

Needed

Fu rr y Friends i s looki ng for volunteers to g reet c lients a s the y a rr ive to pic k up t heir lled pet food order s . It i s helpfu l i f volunteers c a n l i up to 45 pou nd s to a ssist cl ient s i n loading order s . e commitment i s one u rsday a ernoon a mont h f rom 12:30 to 3:3 0 p.m . Sig n up w it h a f riend or famil y member to h ave a tea m of t wo. To volunteer ple ase c al l 5 41-79740 23

A nnou nce Celebrat ions!

Si sters com mu nit y birth , engagement , weddi ng , a nd mi lestone a nn iversa r y not ices may r u n at no c ha rge on t hi s A nnou ncements page.

SIST

ER S

COMM UN IT Y FOOD RE SOURCE S

Free Lu nches for Seniors

For t hose 6 0+, Cou nc i l on

Aging of C entra l O regon

o er s a f un, no-cost soc ia l

lu nc h e ver y 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 reser vation s neede d. No -cost Grab-N-G o lunches ta ke place weekly on

Wednesday a nd u rsday, from 12:3 0 to 1 p.m

Ca l l 5 41-797-9367.

Week ly Food Pa nt ry

COR E M arket , loc ated at 22 2 N. Trinit y Way i n

Si sters . Mondays , 1 to 2 p.m

In fo: 5 41-588 -2 332.

Free Week ly Meal

Serv ice

Famil y K itchen hos t s a week ly to-go hot mea l on Tuesdays , 4:3 0 to 5:3 0

p. m., at Sisters Com mu nity

Church, 130 0 W. McK en zie

Hw y. I nfo: www

Fami lyKitc hen.org.

Free Pet Food

Need pet food for you r dog or c at? Cal l t he Fur ry

Fr iend s pet food b an k at 541-79 7- 40 2 3 to s chedule

you r pic kup. L oc ated at 412

E . M ai n Ave., Ste. 4, beh ind 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.

“A sk for More” Free Class u rsday, M arc h 19, f rom 6 to 7 p.m . A rr ive at 5:45 p.m . for free bu et d in ner at a loc a l a rt ga ller y, loc at ion sha red once you R SV P to 5 41-5 49 -1866, Edward Jones o ce of K aren

Ka ss y. Topic s: u nloc ki ng t he power of eve ryday negot iation i n relat ionships a nd for pu rc hases; negot iation t ac tics to avoid ove rpay ing , u nw anted commitments , or lower pay Althoug h gea red tow ard women, e veryone i s welcome Presented by H artford Mana ging D irec tor of A pplied

In sight s A ma nd a Sta h l a nd Regiona l V ice P resident C asey Miller

Honey Bees & Brews

Mont hly soc ia l gat hering at Laz y Z R anc h on u rsday, Ma rc h 2 6 , at 5 p.m . A ll beekeepers a nd w an na-bees welcome. F or more i nfo: C lyde, 458-20 6- 8470

Craf t & Connec t u rsday, M arc h 2 6 , 3 to 5 p.m at t he P ine Meadow R anch Center for A rt s & A gr ic ultu re, joi n a n a ernoon of fel lowship and c ra . Bring a ny s ma l l project and m ater ia l s neede d to wor k alongside c om mu nit y members and enjoy c onver sation w it h fellow a rt ists. R eg istrat ion i s requi red at h ps:// roundhou sefoundation .org / events/. For more i nfo c al l 5 4190 4- 070 0 or ema i l i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org

Sisters Commun it y Ment al Health Fa ir

Satu rd ay, A pr i l 4, 11 a .m . to 3 p. m . at e Hub, 291 E . M ai n Ave . L ea r n f rom pros a nd peers, joi n f ree a ct iv it ies , a nd nd resou rces . Hosted by t he Nationa l A ll ia nce on Menta l Illness . n amicent ra loregon.org. Cont ac t: 5 41-316 -0167.

10 0+ Women Who Ca reSister s

10 0 + Women W ho Care-

Si sters , w hic h pool s i nd iv idua l donation s to f und loc al nonpro t s nom in ated by i ts members, m ark s t he beg inni ng of it s t hird yea r i n A pr il!

More t ha n $80, 00 0 h a s been donated s ince t he g roup’s founding i n 2 02 4 . P reviou s recipients i nc lude H ar mony Fa r m Sanctua ry, STA RS , Famil y A cces s Net work (FAN), Seed to Table, Fur ry Fr iend s Fou nd at ion, Mea ls on W heels , StirrUp P ur pose, COR E M arket , a nd L iv ing

Wel l w it h Dementi a . New members a re welcome; t here i s no membership fee. For more in form at ion on how to a end a meet ing or joi n the group, e ma il

10 0w wc .Sisters@g ma il .com or ca ll/tex t 5 41-912 -0 75 0.

Recognizing Dement ia:

The Four Key Areas of Change

A n I nfor mative C om mu nity

Presentation by M arga ret

Sm it h on Tuesd ay, M arc h 2 4, 10 :3 0 to 11:3 0 a .m . at Sisters

Librar y Com mu nit y R oom, 110 N. Ceda r St.

Hang s @ The Hangar

Wednesdays , 3:3 0 to 4 :3 0 p.m., Fr id ay s , 7 to 8:3 0 a .m . a nd 1:15 to 2:3 0 p.m . at e H anga r at Si sters Com mu nit y C hu rc h, 13 0 9 W. McK in ne y Bu e R d.

A safe place to h ang for m iddle and h ig h school student s . Two certi ed adu lt volunteers a re present to help w it h homework, etc . Fol lowi ng t he school schedu le for c losu res . Contact jfol in @sisterschurch .com or 541-549-12 01 e xt .208

Sisters Muse um is Open Fr id ay s a nd Sat urdays , 10 a .m to 4 p.m . e museu m i s loc ated at 151 N. Spr uce S t., i s f ree a nd o er s e xh ibit s on loc a l h istory and c ultu ra l e xper ienc e s for al l age s . e ree Sisters

Hi stor ic a l Soc iet y i s seeki ng volu nteers to be M useu m hosts , m arketing s upport , rese archers, a nd w riters . No pr ior museu m e xper ienc e i s requ ired . E ma i l volunteer@ th reesistershi stor ic al societ y. org.

Livi ng Well With Dement ia

Sisters Suppor t Groups

Suppor t g roups meet t he 2nd and 4 t h Wed ne sd ay of t he mont h f rom 1 to 2:3 0 p.m at Sisters P ark & R ec reat ion

Dist ric t Com mu nit y Center.

e E arly Stage Suppor t Group meet s i n t he W hychu s R oom.

e Care Partner G roup meets i n t he Metol iu s R oom . For in form at ion c al l 5 41-588 -0547.

St ud io Tours u rsday, M arc h 19, 5 to 6 :3 0 p. m . P ine Meadow R anch

Center for A rt s a nd A gr ic ultu re invites com mu nit y members to c ome a nd engage w it h cur rent a rt ists-i n-residence.

Joi n a g uided tou r of t he st ud ios w here t he resident s a re ex peri ment ing , doi ng resea rc h, and wor ki ng on proje ct s at t he R anch . R eg istrat ion

i s requi red at h ps:// roundhou sefoundation .org / events/. For more i nfo c al l 5 4190 4- 070 0 or ema i l i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org

Free papers at The Nugget

I f you need paper s to s ta r t res i n you r replace, mulc h you r ga rden, pac k to move , we h ave a wooden box on t he porch wit h past- date paper s for you r recycl ing u se

Sisters Rodeo Pa rade

Appl ic at ion s a re now open . B e pa r t of a lon gtime t radition i n Si sters . L im ited ent rie s a nd t he dead line i s M ay 15 . V isit www

sistersrodeo.com . C lic k u nder

Get I nvolved a nd l l out t he entr y online . Parade l ine up in form at ion w il l go out b y t he rst of June by ema il

Sisters Commun it y Ga rden Plot s 2026 e SCG h a s moved i nto t heir ne w loc at ion at 22 2 N. Trinity Way. ere a re severa l rai sed bed g arden plot s ava il able for the 2 02 6 gardening sea son. Appl ic at ion m ater ia l s a nd in form at ion a re ava il able on the Garden website, www Si stersC om mu nity Ga rden .org. For add it iona l i nfor mation, ca l l 5 41-760 -2 084.

M Perfec tly Commun i-Tea

Suppor ting women on t heir jour ne y f rom t raum a to tr iu mph . e nex t Com mu niTea event wi ll be Tuesday, A pr il 28 , 3 to 5 p.m . at Sisters L ibra ry Commun it y R

12 p.m Meet ing R oom E njoy a q uiet space w it h t he bene t of ot hers’ compa ny

Thrive Cent ra l Oregon Drop -I n Consultations Fr id ay, M arc h 2 0, 10 a .m . to 1 p.m . Stud y R oom . D rop-in socia l ser vice s a ssista nce t hat connec t s you w it h resou rces

Aging In Your Ow n Home: St ay Independent Longer

Fr id ay, M arc h 2 0, 11 a .m . to 12 p.m . Com mu nit y R oom. Disc us s t ips a nd resou rces wit h C learPat h Hea lt hc are, formerly Hospice of Redmond.

Fa mily Stor y Ti me

Wednesday, M arc h 2 5, 10 :3 0 to 11 a .m . Com mu nity Room . 0 -5 y rs . I nter ac tive stor y t ime w it h books , son gs , and rhy mes!

Need le Felt Fu ng us u rsday, M arc h 2 6 , 3:3 0 to 5:3 0 p.m . Com mu nity Room . Create a c ute l il ’ u y fu ng i! Teen program

541-420-9997 phil@arendsrealtygroup.com Thomas Arends: 541-285-1535 thomas@arendsrealtygroup.com

SIST ER S- AR EA CH UR

Skiers finish second at Oregon State Championship

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Sisters High School Ski team fielded a roster of just seven skiers this season, almost an 80 percent reduction from last year. Although the team was small they were defined by resilience, adaptation, and determination.

Their challenge was compounded by one of the worst snow years in decades. The small squad performed well and earned a second place finish at the Oregon State Championships.

The team was only able to get three days of on-snow training on their home mountain, Hoodoo Ski Area, so much of their preparation took place off the snow through dry land conditioning.

When the chance to compete finally arrived, it required flexibility. Several Emerald League races were combined with Central League competitions at Mt. Bachelor, which provided the primary opportunities for Sisters’ racers to get into the gates this season. Despite their limited training and racing days, six Sisters athletes qualified to represent

the Outlaws at the Oregon State Championships.

The state meet, which was originally scheduled to be hosted at Hoodoo, was moved to Mt. Hood Meadows just two weeks before the event due to lack of snow. The championship field included 106 girls and 118 boys. On the girls side, juniors Pia Grummer, Jayden

Durtschi, and sophomore Mary Roberts, and boy racers senior Styopa Myagkov, and juniors Ben Hayner and Spencer Davis all competed in both the slalom and giant slalom.

Sisters delivered strong results. The boys teams finished ninth overall out of 19 teams, and all six Outlaw racers placed in the top half.

WEDNESDAY • MARCH 18

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

Sisters Movie House Spring Adventure & Art Series: "Women's Adventure Film Tour 2026" A celebration of inspiring women doing extraordinary things in the name of adventure. 6:15 p.m. Tickets: sistersmoviehouse.com.

Suttle Lodge Live Music: Dirty Jazz Come hang and listen to jazz with Wolfe House records 6 to 8 p.m. $15, or free for Suttle guests Info: www thesuttlelodge.com.

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

THURSDAY • MARCH 19

Lazy Z Ranch Wines BYO Vinyl Night Bring your favorite records! Guest picks spun in a cozy listeninglounge vibe 6 to 9 p.m. Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events. Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Melody Carlson presents "All Booked Up," a heartwarming contemporary romance featuring a bookish widow finding a second chance at love 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com. Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Jordan Wolfe 6 to 8 p.m. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com.

Suttle Lodge Live Music: Kar yn Ann Firesides Music Series inside The Skip Bar & Restaurant, 6 to 8 p.m. Reservations required: www thesuttlelodge.com.

FRIDAY • MARCH 20

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa

6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $20 Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Spoons Comedy: The Roundabouts Improv

A night full of laughs and quick wit starts at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30 Tickets: https://shorturl.at/4z9NT Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Chris Beland

Accomplished Santa Maria singer/songwriter new to Central Oregon who makes music for the dreamers of the world.

6 to 8 p.m. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

SATURDAY • MARCH 21

The Belfr y Live Music: Anna Moss with Laurie Shook and Sari Jordan Anna has a voice that will stop you dead in your tracks — unique & deeply healing 7 p.m. Tickets: www.bendticket.com.

Frankie's in Sisters Open Mic Music lovers can enjoy a variety of local talent, 7 to 9 p.m. Sign ups, 6:30 No cover; upstairs. Info: frankiesinsisters.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • MARCH 22

Sisters Fire Hall Fireside Series: "Hollywood Comes to Sisters" The beautiful scenery around Sisters Country has been featured in numerous Hollywood productions. Three Sisters Historical Society has been researching and interviewing people connected with some of these shows Enjoy personal stories, behind-the-scenes photos memorabilia...and popcorn! 2 p.m., doors at 1. $10 at the door Info: 541-610-6323

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

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Lazy Zunday: Books + Bubbles 12 to 6 p.m. Bring a book or just come have a lazy Sunday! Enjoy mead-mosas, ambient music firepits, and big views More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Paulina Springs Books House Concert: Cosy Sheridan An intimate evening of song and story with Americana/folk singer-songwriter Cosy Sheridan with Charlie Koch. 7 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

MONDAY • MARCH 23

Spoons Open Mic: Music, Poetr y, Comedy Bring your talent (or come cheer) and enjoy a night of local music, poetry and comedy hosted by Jordan Lewis Lee. 6 to 8 p.m., sign-ups at 5:30 p.m. Dinner menu available Info: 541-719-0572

TUESDAY • MARCH 24

Sisters Saloon Bingo Night 5:30 p.m., upstairs, BINGO supporting Sisters GRO Foundation. Info: 541-549-7427

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Pool Tournament 5:30 p.m. Info: 541-549-6114.

WEDNESDAY • MARCH 25

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em, 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).

THURSDAY • MARCH 26

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Bees & Brews (and Mead!) 5 to 6 p.m. Gather with beekeepers to discuss all things bees and the upcoming season. Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Pamela Steele presents "In The Fields of Fatherless Children," a love story set in rural Appalachia during the Vietnam War. 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Suttle Lodge Live Music: Lindsay Clark

Firesides Music Series inside The Skip Bar & Restaurant, 6 to 8 p.m. Reservations required: www thesuttlelodge.com.

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Joel Chadd

6 to 8 p.m. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com.

Sat., Mar. 28 • 7 p.m.

Joe & Hattie Cr av en bendticket.com...$22.94

Hattie effectivelyreimaginestraditional folk,bluegrass, country, jazz,andpop , creatingnewmusictrulyherown.

Pub opens 30 minutes prior to shows 302 E. Main | BelfryEvents.com

Sat., Mar. 21 • 7 p.m. ANNA MOSS w/ Laurie Shook & Sari Jordan Anna has a voicethatwillstop you dead inyour tracks—unique&deeplyhealing. bendticket.com...$22.94 Fri., March 27 • 7 p.m. Blackwat er Railroa d Ahigh-energyfolk-rock and Americana powerhouse beloved for their raucous live showsandsoul-stirringstorytelling. bendticket.com...$ 1759

SISTERS-AREA EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY • MARCH 27

Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk

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

The Belfr y Live Music: Blackwater Railroad A high-energy folk-rock and Americana powerhouse beloved for their raucous live shows and soul-stirring storytelling 7 p.m. Tickets: www.bendticket.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Use'ta Do Oldtime country and bluegrass, bringing fun stage energy, paying homage to the pioneers of American music 6 to 8 p.m. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $20 paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa 6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

FRI –SUN • MARCH 27–29

The Belfry Workshop: Your Poem, Your Song, Your Voice with Joe & Hattie Craven. Includes workshops, Saturday concert, and five meals from Frankie's for $299 Space is limited; call 541-306-0797 to register by March 23

SATURDAY • MARCH 28

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Meet the Meadmaker Facility Tour 4 to 5 p.m. A behind-the-scenes tour of the ranch winery, barrel room, and farm, featuring ranch history and stories from the owner — plus an optional guided flight with a special barrel taste (if available). Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

The Belfr y Live Music: Joe and Hattie Craven Hattie effectively reimagines traditional folk, bluegrass, country, jazz and pop, creating new music that is truly her own. 7 p.m. Tickets: www.bendticket.com.

SUNDAY • MARCH 29

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

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Lazy Zunday: Books + Bubbles 12 to 4 p.m. Bring a book or just come have a lazy Sunday! Enjoy mead-mosas, ambient music, firepits, and big views More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

The Established Leader Leaders at the THRESHOLD

Hank Minor Columnist

In the earlier columns of this series, we explored the journeys of Emerging Leaders and Established Leaders. Each stage carries its own pressures, responsibilities, and opportunities for growth. But there is another threshold that fewer people talk about openly: the transition into legacy leadership.

For many leaders, this stage arrives quietly. The company is successful. The systems are working. The team is capable. From the outside, things appear stable — even enviable. Yet internally, something begins to shift. Questions arise that never appeared earlier in the journey. What happens next? What will all of this ultimately mean? And perhaps most unsettling of all — who am I if I’m no longer the one carrying everything forward?

For decades, leadership often requires total immersion. You build the company. You make the critical decisions. You hold the vision when others cannot yet see it. Your identity and your role become deeply intertwined. That intensity serves a purpose. It helps build something real.

But eventually a different kind of leadership becomes necessary.

The challenge of legacy leadership is not building something. It is learning how to release control without abandoning responsibility. Many leaders struggle here. Control has been the engine of their success, and letting go can feel dangerous. If they loosen their grip, will the quality slip? Will the culture change? Will the vision dilute?

These concerns are understandable. But legacy leadership asks a deeper question: What is the highest contribution you can make now?

For some, the answer is mentorship — shaping the next generation of leaders who will carry the

work forward. For others, it involves stepping back from daily operations and focusing on the long-term impact of what they have built. And for many, this stage becomes a profound inner transition.

The role that once defined you begins to loosen its hold. Titles matter less. Authority becomes quieter. Influence becomes more subtle, but often more powerful. Leadership begins to move from achievement toward meaning There’s a shift from driving outcomes toward shaping people, from building something successful toward leaving something enduring.

This transition is not always easy. It can surface unexpected questions about identity and purpose. The structure that once organized your life may begin to dissolve. Yet it also offers one of leadership’s greatest opportunities.

When leaders navigate this threshold well, they become something rare: a stabilizing Presence for everyone around them. Their experience brings perspective. Their calm steadies uncertainty. Their wisdom helps others see further. They no longer need to prove anything.

Instead, they help others become who they are capable of becoming.

That is the quiet power of legacy leadership — not simply what you built, but what continues because you were here.

And for many leaders, that becomes the most meaningful chapter of all.

If you find yourself at a threshold in your leadership, you’re not alone. I’ll be hosting The Leaders’ Coffeehouse gathering on Thursday, April 2 at The Hub in Sisters, 5:30 to 7 p.m. This is an intimate, thoughtful conversation for leaders exploring the challenges and opportunities that come with growth and responsibility. If you’d like to join the conversation, go to: thewayofleadership.com/invitation.

ROUNDABOUT:

Impromptu decoration crops up in circle Continued from page 3

several times a day!” Heather Tinseth mused.

Dan Neal’s not telling: “So, the City and County can call it vandalism and shut it down? Nope, not on my watch.”

Michael Curly doesn’t mince words. “Nothing screams a high-tax bracket community like a bunch of stupid paper cut outs. I’d have that roundabout done in a week. What on earth is taking so long?”

And so, it goes.

The Nugget asked the City of Sisters and ODOT about the art.

Kacey Davey, ODOT spokesperson, answered, “I chatted with our maintenance folks and with the City of Sisters and we collectively came up with a response for you.

“ODOT’s standard policy is to remove items placed in the highway right of way. Objects placed in roundabouts or along highways can create distractions for drivers, potentially block signs or sightlines, and sometimes require people to cross busy roadways to place or retrieve them, which introduces safety risks.

“When we remove items, they are stored at the closest local maintenance shop for 30 days in case the owners wish to reclaim them. No one has come forward to claim items that have been removed in the past.

“To your question about who is placing the displays, we do not know who is responsible.

“While it is our policy to remove items placed in the right of way, maintenance crews prioritize work based on safety-critical needs across the region. Because of that, it can sometimes take some time before crews are able to address things like this.

“We do appreciate the community spirit and creativity behind the displays; however, we encourage people not to place objects in the roundabout or along the highway. The City of Sisters continues to work on installing landscaping and the process for selecting and procuring art for the roundabout. Once the landscaping and permanent art is installed, responsibility for maintaining the roundabout will transfer to the city.”

Town folk are also curious about the seeming delay in getting the arts commission off the ground.

“The Council is tentatively scheduled to discuss the formation of the Board at its May 27 workshop,” said Assistant City Manager Kerry Prosser.

“After the Council determines the Board’s parameters, it will need to formally approve them through a resolution. Once that step is completed, staff will begin the recruitment process for board members. If the Council moves forward with the Board, I expect it would begin to meet in September. Please note this timeline is tentative as the Council’s scheduled agenda items can change.”

Wired and tired: The physiology of stress in midlife

By Siobhan Gray, MD Guest Columnist

It is two in the morning.

The house is quiet. Your body is tired. You went to bed at a reasonable hour. And yet, without warning, your eyes open and your mind begins its quiet inventory: the conversation you replayed, the child you are worried about, the parent who needs more from you, the work waiting in the morning. You are exhausted, but your nervous system feels alert, almost electric.

Many people describe this state as “wired and tired.” In midlife, it becomes remarkably common.

What is less commonly understood is that this experience is not weakness, nor a failure of resilience. It is physiology. And once you see it that way, the pattern begins to make more sense.

The human stress response is governed by a system designed to keep us alive. When the brain perceives stress, it releases cortisol and adrenaline to sharpen focus and mobilize energy. In short bursts, this response is protective. In chronic activation, particularly without adequate recovery, it becomes disruptive.

Midlife is a season of accumulation. Careers often reach peak demand. Children are navigating adolescence. Parents may require support. Financial responsibilities are real. At the same time, the body itself is shifting.

In women, fluctuating estrogen during perimenopause affects sleep stability and mood regulation. Sleep often becomes lighter and more fragmented, and the nervous system more reactive. In men, gradual shifts in testosterone can influence sleep depth, muscle recovery, and stress resilience. These changes are not catastrophic. They are biological transitions. But layered onto decades of responsibility and output, they narrow the margin for recovery.

Cortisol, often blamed in wellness culture, is not inherently harmful. It follows a rhythm. Under healthy conditions, it rises in the morning to help us wake and gradually declines by evening. Chronic stress, late-night screens, alcohol, irregular meals, and underfueling can disrupt that rhythm. The result is a body that feels foggy in the afternoon, alert late at night, and awake in the early morning hours.

Blood sugar plays a quiet

role as well. Stress hormones raise glucose, and glucose swings stimulate more stress hormones. Many of my patients under-eat protein, rely heavily on caffeine, skip meals, or overtrain in an effort to maintain control over changing bodies. The nervous system interprets these fluctuations as instability. The internal alarm never fully turns off.

I increasingly see midlife stress not simply as burnout, but as autonomic overload.

The autonomic nervous system governs heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, sleep transitions, and inflammatory signaling. When it becomes stuck in vigilance, the whole body feels it.

Signs your autonomic system may be overloaded

• Waking between 1 and 4 a.m. with a racing mind.

• Feeling tired during the day but alert late at night.

• Slower recovery from workouts.

• Reliance on caffeine to function and alcohol to unwind.

• Small stressors triggering outsized reactions.

• Digestive changes, tension headaches, or persistent muscle tightness.

• A higher resting heart rate than in previous years.

• A constant sense of

being “on edge”.

These are not character flaws. They are signals. The nervous system is asking for rhythm and recovery.

Recently, I was reminded how powerfully rhythm shapes physiology. While traveling in Mexico, I slept in a canvas cabana with open air and early morning light filtering through the fabric. I woke with the sunrise and fell asleep shortly after dark. There were no glowing screens extending the evening, no artificial light blurring the edges of day.

My sleep was deeper than it had been in months. Nothing about my responsibilities had changed.The rhythm had. And it reminded me how quickly the body responds when we stop fighting our own biology.

Circadian alignment is not a wellness trend. It is biology. Morning light anchors hormonal timing. Darkness signals restoration. When we respect those cues, the autonomic nervous system recalibrates.

The encouraging news is that this system is trainable. Moderate aerobic exercise improves nervous system flexibility. Strength training buffers the physiologic effects of stress.

Consistent sleep timing

restores hormonal cadence. Practices that help the body downshift: breathwork, quiet walks, dim evening light, can gradually restore resilience.

Sometimes the shift begins with very simple signals: stepping outside in the morning light before checking your phone, eating real food early in the day, moving your body at a pace that allows conversation, dimming the lights earlier in the evening.

Small rhythms repeated daily begin to retrain the nervous system.

If you find yourself awake in the early hours, heart beating just a little too fast for the darkness around you, consider that your body may not be failing you. It may simply be responding to years of responsibility layered onto changing physiology.

Midlife is not a breakdown. It is a recalibration point. The work now is not to push harder.

It is to find your rhythm again.

Siobhan Gray, MD, is a physician in Sisters and founder of PeakMD Health, where she focuses on metabolic health, longevity, and whole-body resilience.

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Making the red flag fly

By Randy Stapilus Oregon Capital Chronicle

Another legislative session is over and new laws are about to go into effect that will change things, some things, in Oregon. Right?

What people around government know and everyone else should, is that passing a law is one thing and getting it to work as intended is a whole different matter.

Consider legislation from nine years ago and working only in part: the red flag law.

A decade ago, many Second Amendment advocates argued that the problem with persistent shooting deaths was not so much the broad availability of guns as the ability of specific dangerous people to get hold of them. A response to that emerged around the country in the form of red flag laws, which provide for removal of weapons (mostly but not exclusively firearms) from people who seemed at high risk of harming themselves or others.

Oregon’s track record on shootings tends to follow national rates, by population. It does have a belowaverage number of shootings of one person by another, but also has an especially high rate of suicide by firearm.

So far, 22 states including Oregon have enacted red flag-type laws. (Those without are mainly Republican-led states, and one, Oklahoma, has a law generally barring them.) Some of these laws refer to Extreme Risk Protection Orders (that’s the proper name in Oregon), and others refer to Risk Warrants, Gun Violence Restraining Orders, or Extreme Risk Firearm Protection orders. The operating idea is similar.

The process for using it starts with someone either in law enforcement or in the family or household of the person thought to be a hazard applying to a court for an order. If the order is approved, notice is served on the person. Any readily available firearms must be turned over either to law enforcement or a third party, who could be a friend or relative.

A judge considering an order has to consider risk factors specified in state law, including reports of threats of suicide or violence (or past history of those things), lawbreaking involving violence or drug abuse or other indicators.

In August 2023, the Secretary of State’s Office reviewed the results so far of the 2017 Oregon red flag law, which took effect in 2018. The resulting report

sounded ambiguous: The red flag concept had potential which was so far unfulfilled, the report suggested.

“In the first four and a half years that Oregon’s ERPO [Extreme Risk Protection Orders] law was in effect a total of 564 petitions were filed, with the vast majority requested by local law enforcement,” the report said. “Respondents only requested a hearing to challenge an order in about a third of these cases, with the orders being upheld about half of the time. ERPO use has varied widely among counties, with seven counties not having any since the law was implemented.”

As national use has varied — states such as Indiana and Florida use it more than Oregon — so do Oregon’s 36 counties vary not only widely but unexpectedly. You might guess heavier use of it in Multnomah County than elsewhere, but the numbers of red flag orders issued was higher in raw totals (and much higher per capita) in Washington and Deschutes counties and much higher per capita.

The highest number of orders in any county in Oregon per capita was — brace yourself — in Lake County (with 99 orders per 100,000 people). The second-highest per capita rate was in another haven for the Second Amendment, Josephine County.

Why the disparity? When Portland City Councilor Steve Novick recently reviewed the state red flag report, he was puzzled by the low Portland rate.

In a March 3 email, Novick said “After doing some reconnoitering, I concluded that a major likely reason for that is that the Portland Police Bureau never prioritized training officers on the existence and use of the law, which was passed in Oregon in 2017.

The PPB Behavioral Health Unit is trained in the law, and actually files the paperwork to initiate what are called Extreme Risk Protective Orders, or ERPOs — but they are largely dependent on patrol officers to identify and inform them of situations where ERPOs might be appropriate.”

Novick convened a group to review this, and invited a police officer from Bend who talked about how the red flag law was used more there. Since, Novick said, he received a note from Sergeant Josh Silverman of the Behavioral Health Unit, who said, “BHU officers and I are starting next month to teach a one-hour, in-person ERPO class at in-service to every sworn member of the bureau. It will take until December to get everyone trained up, as we’re running about one session a week for groups of 20–40 officers.”

That may have some practical effect. The lower use of red flag capabilities probably isn’t due either to an inability or unwillingness to use it, but to a failure to build it into a standing part of police procedure. Once it’s there, it may be used more often.

And a considerable number of lives may be saved, through a law put into effect as it was, so many years ago, originally intended.

Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, courtesy of https://oregon capitalchronicle.com.

Sisters Dental provided care for people in need at a one-day free clinic on Saturday.

PRACTICE: Thirty people

were signed up for services

Continued from page 1

“We’re doing it with joy,” she said. Clinic clients expressed great gratitude at being able to get vital care in Sisters.

The staff acknowledged support for several Sisters businesses who provided food and drink, including Country Coffee, Martolli’s Pizza, R Spot, and Angeline’s Bakery.

Stars over Sisters

By Maddie Varner Guest Columnist

Thanks to DarkSky International, Sisters has officially been recognized as an International Dark Sky Community, thanks to its clear night skies and stunning views of the stars. In January 2025, this city became the second community in Oregon to receive this designation, recognizing local efforts to reduce light pollution and protect the night sky.

A prominent spring constellation, Virgo, will be rising in the eastern sky from this month through late June, making it visible for much of the night. For optimal viewing, look toward the southeastern sky between roughly 9:00 and 11:30 p.m.

To find Virgo, look first for Spica, the brightest star in the constellation. A helpful method is to “follow the arc,” from the handle of the Big Dipper to the bright orange star Arcturus, then continue the same curve to reach Spica. To the naked eye, Virgo may appear as a somewhat lopsided shape, with lines of fainter stars extending outward from

its center.

Virgo holds additional connection with mythology, primarily from Greek and Roman traditions, where it is often associated with the maiden Astraea, a figure connected to justice and purity. Many Indigenous cultures across North America also have their own interpretations of the night sky, connecting star patterns to animals, changing seasons, and cultural stories that guide navigation and agriculture.

Several planets will also be visible during March evenings. Mercury and Venus may appear low in the western sky shortly after sunset during parts of early March, while Mars and Jupiter can often be seen higher in the southern sky during the evening hours.

The Moon will reach several phases throughout the month: the full moon was on March 3, the third quarter on March 11, the new moon on March 18, and the first quarter on March 25. Around the time of the full moon, a total lunar eclipse was visible across parts of North America. During a total lunar eclipse, Earth’s

shadow causes the Moon to appear dusty red often referred to as a “Blood Moon.” This phenomenon happens gradually and can be safely viewed with the naked eye.

Daylight Saving Time began on March 8, when clocks moved forward one hour across most of the United States, leading to later sunsets and longer evenings.

As we enter the beginning of “Milky Way season,” the bright core of the Milky Way becomes increasingly visible in the early morning hours. The best views occur on clear nights with little or no moonlight. Later in the month and into April, astronomers will also be watching the sky for Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) as it approaches the inner solar system, although its brightness and visibility aren’t totally clear.

Spring officially begins on March 20, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator during the March equinox, bringing nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness around the world.

Outside of celestial events, the space industry

is also expected to have an active year, with potential milestones from organizations such as NASA and SpaceX, including progress toward NASA’s Artemis lunar missions and continued launches of satellites and cargo missions.

To continue to preserve our dark skies, implementing outdoor lighting ordinances to reduce light pollution can both protect wildlife and ensure clear vision

of our night stars. Using warmer colored lights, targeting light downward, minimizing unnecessary brightness, etc. also creates an ideal environment for stargazing and astronomical education. As our community continues to prioritize its dark skies, everyone can appreciate the beauty of the night sky, fostering a sense of community and connection to the world around us.

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FIDDLERS: Students got many playing opportunities

Continued from page 3

students to join a jam session in their hospitality suite, sending them home with gift bags filled with shirts, hats, stickers, and tuners.

The generosity of the bluegrass community left a strong impression on the young musicians.

Still, the most unforgettable moment of the trip came Saturday night.

Outlaw Strings had been invited to participate in the festival’s most anticipated performance: “Väsen and Friends,” held in the Grand Ballroom at 10 p.m. Väsen, one of the most celebrated bands in traditional Scandinavian folk music, was hosting a special set featuring legendary guest musicians.

Each guest group was invited to perform a tune with the band, and months earlier Outlaw Strings had been asked to join them on stage.

The students began practicing Väsen’s tune “Dragonship” back in November in preparation for the moment.

That afternoon, they met the musicians for rehearsal in one of the hotel’s executive suites. During the practice session they learned that acclaimed musicians Bruce Molsky and Darol Anger, who had just performed before them in the show lineup, planned to remain on stage and play alongside the students as well.

When the Grand Ballroom filled that evening, Outlaw Strings took the stage as the

Where

fourth act in the set.

What followed was a performance the group and their chaperones won’t soon forget.

Six of the fiddlers on stage had only started playing with the program in September. Yet surrounded by seasoned musicians and an audience packed with festivalgoers, the students rose to the moment and delivered what many in the group described as their best performance yet.

For those accompanying the group, the festival offered something equally inspiring: watching a diverse group of students, from middle school beginners to experienced high school players, come together through their shared love of traditional music.

Outlaw Strings director Melissa Stolasz founded the program. Her enthusiasm for folk traditions and her encouragement of collaboration create an environment where students not only develop musical skills, but also discover a deep sense of community.

The excitement she brings to every rehearsal and performance is contagious. For the students of Outlaw Strings, Wintergrass 2026 was a rare opportunity to stand with the musicians who inspire them.

PONDEROO: Festival is set for end of June in Sisters

Continued from page 3

for a full day of performances from noon to 11 p.m. featuring Steep Canyon Rangers, Fruition, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Boy Golden, Big Richard, Damn Tall Buildings, Pixie & The Partygrass Boys, Reb & The Good News, The Fretliners,

and The Rosa Lees. Weekend passes are available at advance pricing of $215/ticket for adults and $90/ticket for youth ages 13 to 17. Friday-only tickets are $115/adult and $55/ticket for youth ages 13 to 17 and Saturday-only tickets are $135/adult and $65/ticket for youth ages 13 to 17. Children 12 and under enter the festival for free when accompanied by an adult. Ticket prices include all taxes and fees plus a complimentary

pint cup for adult ticket holders ($10 value). Tickets are available online at www.aftontickets. com/BigPonderoo or inperson at the SFF Presents offices located in the Sisters Art Works building at 204 W. Adams Ave, Sisters, OR. For the full schedule, artist websites, and the official Big Ponderoo playlist, visit BigPonderoo.com and follow @BigPonderoo on Instagram and Facebook for festival updates.

The Top Producing Real Estate Team in Sisters Country and Black Butte Ranch

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PONDEROSA PROPER TIES LL C 541-549-2002 | 178 S. Elm St., Suite 102/103, Sisters, OR 97759 arendsrealtygroup.com

Thomas Arends Broker 541.285.1535 thomas@arendsrealtygroup com LICENSED IN THE STATE OF OREGON

to pick up your FREE copy of The Nugget…

SISTERS LOCATIONS:

• Angeline’s Bakery • Bedouin

•Best Western Ponderosa Lodge • Bi-Mart

• Black Butte Realty Group

• Cabin Creek Home & Style • Cascade Fitness

• Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s • Central Oregon Eyecare •Chevron/McDonald’s • Country Coffee

• Dairy Queen • Dixie’s • Eurosports

• Fika Sisters Coffeehouse

• First Interstate Bank • FivePine Lodge

• GrandStay Hotel & Suites • Habitat Thrif t Store • Habitat ReStore

•Hard Tails Outlaw Country Dive Bar & Grill

• High Camp Taphouse

• Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply

• Lef t Coast Lodge • Les Schwab Tire Center

• Luckey’s Woodsman • Makin’ it Local

• Martolli’s of Sisters • Mid Oregon Credit Union

• Oliver Lemon’s • Paulina Springs Books

• Philadelphia’s Steak & Hoagies

• Pine Desert Dental • Ponderosa Properties

• Rancho Viejo • Ray’s Food Place

• Sinclair Gas Station • Sisters Ace Hardware

• Sisters Apothecary • Sisters Art Works

• Sisters Athletic Club • Sisters Bakery

• Sisters Bunkhouse • Sisters City Hall

• Sisters Coffee Co.• Sisters Community Church

• Sisters Creekside Campground

• Sisters Dino Market •Sisters Depot

• Sisters Elementary School

•Sisters Feed & Supply

• Sisters Gallery & Frame Shop

• Sisters High School • Sisters Inn & Suites

• Sisters Library • Sisters Liquor Store

• Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

• Sisters Middle School • Sisters Moto

• Sisters Movie House & Café

• Sisters Nails & Spa • Sisters Post Off ice •Sisters

Pumphouse & Country Store

• Sisters Ranger Station • Sisters Rental

• Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill

• Sisters School Administration Building

• Sisters Veterinary Clinic

• Ski Inn Taphouse & Motel

• Sno Cap Drive In

• Space Age Fuel

• Spoons Restaurant

• Sisters Park & Recreation District

• St. Charles Family Care • Stellar Realty NW

• Suttle Tea • Takoda’s Restaurant & Lounge

• The Barn in Sisters • The Gallery Restaurant

• The Gallimaufry

• The Lodge Retirement Community

• The Nugget Front Porch

• The Pony Express • The Slow Down State

• Three Creeks Brew Pub • Three Sisters Floral

• Western Title & Escrow Company • Your Store

BBR & CAMP

SHERMAN:

• Black Butte Ranch General Store

• Black Butte Ranch Post Off ice

• Black Butte Ranch Welcome Center

• Camp Sherman Post Off ice

• Metolius River Lodges

REDMOND:

• M&W Market • The Ranch Market • Redmond Library • Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

TUMALO:

• Pisano’s Pizza • Shell Station • Tumalo Coffeehouse • Tumalo Farmstand • Tumalo Feed Co.

• Tumalo Home

Legislature gives cities flexibility with tourism dollars

By Jill Shumway Oregon Capital Chronicle

Most of the year, the coastal city of Newport, Oregon, is home to 11,000 residents. In peak tourist season, the number of people staying overnight can rise as high as 40,000.

The same drastic swing in population is true in cities up and down the Oregon coast, while small cities in the state’s wine country and mountains see similar influxes of tourists. Cities and counties that welcome large numbers of tourists benefit from higher spending at local businesses and from state and local transient lodging taxes, charged when people stay overnight at hotels, short-term rentals, and campsites.

But for more than two decades, state law has required most of the proceeds of those taxes go toward attracting more tourists. Tourism-heavy cities for years have argued for more flexibility, reasoning that visitors are more likely to return to cities with potholefree streets, clean and well-lit parks and enough police, fire, and emergency medical personnel to respond quickly to incidents.

“My communities are drowning,” Sen. Suzanne

Weber, R-Tillamook, said on the Senate floor Thursday. “We’ve had consistent reductions of revenue and simultaneous massive increases to demands on services.”

The tourism industry maintains that any reduction to tourism spending will hobble the industry and ultimately cost communities. Those arguments succeeded last year in blocking legislators’ efforts to change a 2003 law requiring 70 percent of transient lodging taxes proceeds go toward tourism.

But the Oregon Legislature landed on the side of local governments this year, passing House Bill 4148 to reduce the share of transient lodging tax that must be used for tourism promotion or tourism-related facilities from 70 percent to 50 percent and let cities and counties use up to half the proceeds for services, beginning next January. The Senate voted 23-6 to pass the bill on Thursday, after it passed the House on a 40-12 vote last week.

Weber, who can’t run for reelection this year because she ran afoul of a voter-approved constitutional amendment blocking lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from seeking another term, represents a city of 5,000 that for

many is synonymous with cheese and ice cream. The Tillamook Creamery welcomes an average of 1.3 million visitors each year – on par with the Space Needle in Seattle, Northern California’s Redwood National and State Parks, and Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

“What doesn’t increase with the population is the budget of our first responders, our police departments, our fire departments, our road departments,” Weber said. “All operate on the same number of dollars they get, whether we have 100 tourists or one million tourists.”

In letters submitted as legislative testimony, other cities and counties across Oregon described their pride in hosting events that draw visitors, as well as the toll those tourists take on local services.

Albany, for instance, spends approximately $10,000 in overtime for police and emergency services during its River Rhythms summer concert series. Central Point, home to the Jackson County Expo, saw supplemental staffing costs exceed $5,000 during the 2024 Jackson County Fair and $9,000 during that year’s Fourth of July parade.

And Seaside has a roughly $11 million surplus in its

lodging tax revenues that must be dedicated to tourism, while struggling to maintain community infrastructure, Mayor Steve Wright wrote.

“Today, the question is no longer how to bring visitors to Oregon,” Wright wrote. “The question is how to sustain the communities that make those visits possible.”

The bill also would allow for some of the proceeds earmarked for tourism to go to resiliency grants for small businesses in the restaurant and lodging industries. Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, proposed and later withdrew an alternative version that would keep a 50-50 split between tourism and local services but eliminate resiliency grants.

Anderson, who voted for the measure, said he supported the split but wanted local governments to know that legislators will be closely watching how they use money meant for tourism.

“Unfortunately, we have a history in Oregon of swiping revenue streams for uses other than originally intended,” he said.

Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, said greater flexibility in how to use transient lodging tax would have been helpful in his prior role as a Wallowa County

commissioner. The northeastern Oregon county has about 7,400 residents and an outsized role in search and rescue because of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa Lake State Park, and Eagle Cap Wilderness.

“We were taxed pretty heavily with a county the size of the state of Connecticut and a sheriff’s department that was funded by the 7,400 people only,” Nash said.

Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, was the only Democrat to join Republican Sens. Fred Girod of Silverton, Cedric Hayden of Fall Creek, Diane Linthicum of Beatty, Mike McLane of Powell Butte, and Art Robinson of Cave Junction in voting against the measure.

She said she heard significant opposition from the tourism community in her district and mixed support from local governments. Corvallis instituted its nine percent lodging tax before the 2003 law, so the city already dedicates 70 percent of its lodging tax revenue to general city services and 30 percent to tourism.

“I wish that this could have been narrowed to those coastal areas,” Gelser Blouin said.

Republished courtesy https://oregoncapital chronicle.com.

Getting good rest

By Dr. Amy Aronsky

Board Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist, United Healthcare

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, adults should get seven or more hours of sleep per night. However, more than a third of adults in the U.S. and 30.9 percent in Oregon report sleeping less than seven hours in a typical 24-hour period.

The average American adult gets just 6.8 hours of sleep a night, adding up to nearly 2,500 hours a year. Despite spending so much of our lives asleep, many don’t prioritize their nightly rest as much as other parts of their daily routine.

And yet, sleep plays a critical role in brain function and physical health. Quality sleep helps us stay alert, supports growth and recovery and impacts mood and nervous system regulation.

Not getting enough sleep can lead to a higher risk of certain chronic conditions like heart disease, type two diabetes and stroke. It can also disrupt metabolism, impair hormone regulation, and weaken the immune system.

Sleep needs vary by age, with younger people requiring more hours than older adults. And because sleep is closely tied to learning and development, sleep deficiency can make it harder to process information and stay focused, effects that are particularly crucial for children and teens. In Oregon, where nearly one in five residents is under 18, ensuring healthy sleep habits is especially important for supporting youth development.

Sleep often gets pushed aside in busy schedules, but it’s essential for helping you function and feel your best. Sleep Awareness Month is a perfect time to take charge of your sleep health. Consider the following tips to support better nightly rest:

• Create a relaxing and consistent nighttime routine. A steady sleep schedule is one of the most effective ways to improve sleep quality. Prioritizing going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, including weekends, can encourage stability and good rest.

• Your sleep environment plays an important role too. Consider blackout curtains, eyes masks, ear plugs or a white-noise machine to help minimize disruptions and create a calming space to support good sleep. Temperature matters as well. Many people sleep best around 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit, but individual comfort varies, so make sure to see what works.

• Limiting screen time before bed is another key part

of a healthy routine. Light exposure, especially blue light from digital devices, can suppress melatonin and interfere with your natural sleepiness cues. Aim to turn off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime. A good tip is to put your phone to charge at a distance from your bed to avoid the temptation of late-night scrolling. This matters more than many realize, and half of adults report using screens in bed every day.

Support better sleep with healthy daily habits.

Good sleep starts with what you do during the day. Eating a balanced diet can be key since proper nutrition can help with serotonin production, which directly impacts sleep. Consider including lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats into your diet. It’s also important to limit caffeine in the afternoon and avoid alcohol before bed since it can keep you from getting much-needed deep sleep. Staying physically active also contributes to more restful sleep; however, make sure to not work out too close to your bedtime as this can be too stimulating and trigger sleeplessness.

Managing daily stress is equally important. Elevated stress levels can make it difficult to relax at bedtime, so incorporating calming practices like deep breathing, gentle stretching, mindfulness or brief meditation can help quiet the mind and prepare your body for rest.

Strengthen your internal clock with light and lifestyle awareness.

Your internal clock depends heavily on light cues. Getting natural morning light, even for a few minutes, helps regulates wakefulness and can improve sleep quality at night. Stepping outside, sitting by a window or using a light-therapy lamp during darker months can offer a helpful boost.

A few simple habits can reinforce this rhythm: maintaining consistent sleep and wake times, winding down with relaxing rituals and avoiding late-night snacking. During seasonal changes, like the start of Daylight Saving Time, gradually adjusting your bedtime can make the transition easier.

Losing an hour of sleep can temporarily disrupt your internal clock, leaving many people feeling groggy or lowenergy as they adapt. While this adjustment is normal, regularly oversleeping can further throw off your sleep rhythm and make it harder to settle into the new schedule. Getting enough natural morning light can help your body adjust more smoothly.

On a recent Tuesday evening as I was loading up The Nugget for deliver y, a woman came up on the porch and g rabbed a handful of papers. She told me it is a weekly ritual for her to pick up papers for her neighbors, who all enjoy reading the paper “cover-to-cover.” She’s been doing this for years, and she said:

“I hope you keep going forever.”

We hear from readers like that on a regular basis, and it’s the most g ratifying aspect of our work.

Our goal is to keep going forever — and to do that, support from our readers has become vital. It’s no secret that print media is in trouble across the nation. Costs continue to rise, and can’t simply be passed on to advertisers who are already stressed by their own higher costs of doing business. Readership declines as people’s habits change, and in many places, people don’t read at all, to a point where many think we’re entering a ‘post-literate’ society

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that Sisters is still home to readers — and writers, too. We know that the community values their newspaper, because you tell us so — and many want to support their newspaper so that it does stay vital for years to come. And we continue to seek to find new ways to provide value for their support. There are now multiple ways that readers can directly support The Nugget that are easy and aren’t expensive but have a big impact:

Suppor ting Contributions: Direct contributions to The Nugget are allocated to support our outstanding stable of freelance reporters, columnists, and photographers. You can make a supporting contribution online at www.nuggetnews.com (hit the “Donate” button); or you can mail a check to P.O. Box 698, Sisters OR 97759; or (best of all) stop by the office at 442 E. Main Ave. We love to talk with our readers.

Subscribe to the “Nuggets From A Small Town” Substack: Substack is an online subscription platform for creators. “Nuggets From A Small Town” offers longer-form essays from Editor in Chief Jim Cornelius, for readers who like to engage with thoughtful writing on topics ranging from identity to the power of empathy, what we learn — or don’t — from histor y. This week’s essay looks at the importance of reading what it might mean to be a “post-literate society.” You can access “Nuggets From A Small Town” at https://jimcornelius609. substack.com. All subscriptions directly support The Nugget Newspaper Online subscription: The content published on Substack and other subscriber-only content is available with an online subscription to nuggetnews.com. Click the subscribe button to sign up or call the office and we can assist you.

Print subscriptions cover only the cost of deliver y; the paper continues to be “free.”

Directly paying for our content is the best way readers can help us continue to provide it. It’s also vital to shop local and support the businesses that advertise in The Nugget — and provide Sisters with so much of its character

Change is inevitable, and more rapid than ever — but, with your help, we can preserve good things that “make Sisters Sisters.” With your suppor t, we can ensure that The Nugget is there for you each week to read “cover-to cover,” with more content for readers online. And maybe we will just go on forever.

Thank you,

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Obituary

Mary Elizabeth Haasl Richards

Heaven gained a new angel. Mary Elizabeth Haasl Richards, 91, passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends on March 3.

Mary was the eldest child of Hector and Theresa Haasl born April 10, 1934. She and her eight siblings grew up on a dairy farm in Milladore, Wisconsin. While in primary school, Mary entered the convent and started her training. After graduation, she took her vows and began her nearly 25-year service as a nun. She continued her education in math and sciences until parting from the convent, and started teaching college in her field of chemical engineering in 1972 until she retired in 1992.

Mary married Earl Andrew Richards in 1973. Mary and Earl lived in Aloha, Oregon, until 1988 when they built their home in Sisters. They loved the small town, mountains, and friends they shared time with. They enjoyed 27 years of marriage until Earl passed away in 2010.

Mary enjoyed many hobbies but especially loved her quilting, crafting, and the companionship of her dog. She was a

self-described teacher. Even after retiring from teaching chemistry, she continued sharing her talents and skills with her sewing and quilting crafts.

While it is sad to let Mary go, it is comforting to know that she is reunited with Earl, other family members, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Richards, parents Hector and Theresa Haasl, her sister Delores Mathiesen, and brothers James Haasl and David Haasl. Mary is survived by her sister Virginia Haasl and brothers Ronald Haasl, Charles Haasl, Joseph Haasl, and Patrick Haasl.

Service will be held at St. Edward Catholic Church in Sisters on Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Mary asked that donations be made to your church or local humane society.

1025

ALL advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

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$3.50 per line for first insertion, $2.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1.50 per line 10th week and beyond (identical ad/consecutive weeks). Also included in The Nugget online classifieds at no additional charge. There is a minimum $5 charge for any classified. First line = approx. 20-25 characters, each additional line = approx. 25-30 characters. Letters, spaces, numbers and punctuation = 1 character. Any ad copy changes will be charged at the first-time insertion rate of $3.50 per line. Standard abbreviations allowed with the approval of The Nugget classified department. NOTE: Legal notices placed in the Public Notice section are charged at the display advertising rate.

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CATEGORIES:

102 Commercial Rentals

Two Offices for Rent at Sisters Art Works

•80 sq. ft. - $175/month

•211 sq. ft. - $425/month

All utilities & Wi-Fi included. Month-to-month lease.

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103 Residential Rentals

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CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS

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Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com

104 Vacation Rentals

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200 Business Opportunities

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202 Firewood NEW DISCOUNT PRICES

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205 Garage & Estate Sales

Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions! Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths? Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150 301 Vehicles Mountain High RV & Boat Storage – Large unit available. 541-410-0458. We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397

HEATED GARAGE power, lights, security. $275/mo. Jack 541-419-2502

Your purr-fect friend is waiting for you at our local nonprofit cat rescue! Apply to adopt at: sisterswhiskers.org

I’ve got your cats covered! Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com Julie 541-306-7551

Caring, loving pet care in my home. Daily rates and in town. Cheryl 541-420-7875

500 Services

SMALL Engine REPAIR Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Authorized service center for Stihl, Honda, Ariens/Gravely, Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki Engines CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS

Bend Window Works, LLC is offering a 10% discount on new window coverings. FREE in-home consultation. Same day in-home repair services available. New and repaired blinds make rentals look better! Contact us at 541-383-2455 or andy@bendblinds.com.

Junk Removal, Dumpster Rentals & Demolition Services – Done Right. Remove-Junk.com 541-719-8475

• DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279

501 Computers & Communications

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502 Carpet & Upholstery

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600 Tree Service & Forestry

4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts!

– TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –

Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

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601 Construction

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Custom Homes Additions - Remodels

Residential Building Projects Becke William Pierce CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384

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Answer: Page 22

C L A S S I F I E D S

STEVE'S HAULING

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604 Heating

& Cooling

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ACTION AIR

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Heating & Cooling, LLC

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

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

RUNNERS:

Event drew 250 people

Continued from page 1

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

Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com

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Electrical Service & Repair

Est. 1947, CCB#54572 Local in Sisters 503-357-2146

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All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

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701 Domestic Services

701 Domestic Services

Sisters, Oregon's Exclusive HVAC Service

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and out to Trinity Way and back (10k participants did two laps). Festivities were in full swing as runners crossed the finish at Luckey’s Woodsman, which was one of the sponsors of the event, according to Bither.

“This turned out to be such a fun day, partnering with Jackson from Luckey’s Woodsman, and it was great being able to work with all the fine helpers from Sisters Trails Alliance,” she said.

SistersHeatingAir.com

605 Painting

Interior/Exterior Painting Deck Refinishing

Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491

Free On-site Visit & Estimate Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com

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Drainfield

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• Sawmill/woodshop services EWDevcoLLC@gmail.com

802 Help Wanted THE GARDEN ANGEL LANDSCAPING

is filling crew lead and crew member positions. We want YOU to join us for an awesome season this year! thegardenangel@gmail.com 541 549 2882

They're on the Web at www.nuggetnews.com

CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 www.frontier-painting.com

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

• Minor & Major Septic Repair

• All Septic Needs/Design & Install General Excavation

• Site Preparation

• All Septic Needs/Design & Install

General Excavation

• Site Preparation

• Rock & Stump Removal

• Rock & Stump Removal

• Pond & Driveway Construction

• Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation

• Building Demolition

S!! They're on the Web at www.nuggetnews.com

Uploaded every Tuesday afternoon at no extra charge! Call 541-549-9941

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

Uploaded every Tuesday afternoon at no extra charge! Call 541-549-9941

Deadline for classified is Friday by 5 p.m.

Deadline for classified is Friday by 5 p.m.

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

• Building Demolition Trucking

• Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water

Lara’s Construction LLC.

CCB#223701

RunSistersRun will make a donation to the Sisters Trails Alliance for their help, according to Bither.

Information on future events, including the Fourth of July celebration, will be posted on the RunSistersRun website.

CORRECTION

999

999 Public Notice NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

Public Notice NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

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

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

• Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water

• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

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

• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

• The Whole 9 Yards or 24 Whatever You Want!

Alpine Landscape Maintenance

• The Whole 9 Yards or 24 Whatever You Want!

T H E N U G G E T

An All-Electric Landscape Company.

T H E N U G G E T

N E W S P A P E R Your Local News Source! www.nuggetnews.com

N E W S P A P E R Your Local News Source! www.nuggetnews.com

Breaking News / Weather Online Extras / Letters

602 Plumbing & Electric

Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company.

Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com

Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com

Breaking News / Weather Online Extras / Letters

– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, snow removal, moss removal, lawn care, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122

BRANCHWATER EXCAVATION & SEPTIC, LLC

Sisters Owned and Operated

Serving all of Central Oregon

• Residential • Commercial

541-408-4204 sophia@branchwater excavation.com

• Industrial • Service

BRANCHWATER EXCAVATION & SEPTIC, LLC

541-408-4204 sophia@branchwater excavation.com

Sisters owned and operated

Hot tubs/Saunas • Generators Car Chargers • Panel Upgrades Light upgrades

Sisters owned and operated

Josh & Sophia McCarthy

– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, snow removal, moss removal, lawn care, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122

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

Josh & Sophia McCarthy

Experience you can trust.

All Septic Systems: New Install & Repairs * Driveway Refurb & New * Fire Breaks * Site Prep

541-588-3088 • CCB #234821 SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

Experience you can trust. All Septic Systems: New Install & Repairs * Driveway Refurb & New * Fire Breaks * Site Prep

* Land Clearing & Clean Up

“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling

FREE ESTIMATES

* Land Clearing & Clean Up FREE ESTIMATES

CCB# 256753

• New Construction

BANR Enterprises, LLC

• Water Heaters

541-549-4349

CCB# 256753

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential and Commercial

Licensed

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial

• Bonded • Insured CCB #87587

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Sisters School District #6, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 will be held at Sisters School District Office, 525 E Cascade Ave, Sisters, Oregon. The meeting will take place on the 15th day of April, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. and an additional meeting will be held on the 6th day of May, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting(s) is to receive the budget message, review the proposed budget for FY 26-27 and to receive comments from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained at the meeting on April 15th or at the Sisters School District Office, 525 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters, Oregon between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on or after April 16th.

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

Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation.

Residential & Commercial

CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977

www.BANR.net

CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net

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

CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Sisters School District #6, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 will be held at Sisters School District Office, 525 E Cascade Ave, Sisters, Oregon. The meeting will take place on the 15th day of April, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. and an additional meeting will be held on the 6th day of May, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting(s) is to receive the budget message, review the proposed budget for FY 26-27 and to receive comments from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained at the meeting on April 15th or at the Sisters School District Office, 525 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters, Oregon between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on or after April 16th.

In her Bull By Bull column, Judy Bull misidentified the owner of the store where hunters sighted in their rifles. Floyd Leithauser noted that it was Louie Johnson who owned the store at the corner of East Cascade Avenue and South Pine Street; hunters sighted in their rifles off the porch. When Louie Johnson owned the store in the early 1960s it was not called Whitney’s.

SUDOKU SOLUTION

for puzzle on page 21

a great photo of life in Sisters Country? Send your high-resolution photo to editor@ nuggetnews.com.

Otis’ vast vocabulary makes him an insurmountable opponent.

BY

SUDOKU Easy Peasy!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such that each row across, each column wn, and each small nine-box square of the numbers from one to nine.