The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLIX No. 19 // 2026-05-13

The Nugget

Street work impacts downtown businesses

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

An Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) project to improve sidewalk curb access in Sisters has raised concerns from downtown business owners.

The work is being done at night to minimize conflicts with traffic and disruption of businesses — but some have reported that the work has, in fact, been disruptive and had a negative impact on business.

The project is part of an $8.8 million project that includes work on Highway 20 beginning in Bend and including nine intersections in Sisters. The work is being done to correct non-ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act)-compliant curb ramps. ODOT is required to improve all curb ramps adjacent to their highway system to meet current ADA guidelines as prescribed in their ADA settlement with the Department of Justice.

The work has left many areas of downtown blocked off, with no clear way to get around barricades. Business

owners pointed out last week that pedestrians were regularly walking out into the lane of travel on Cascade Avenue, conditions that seemed clearly unsafe. While business access is

Oregon confronts longer wildfire season

By Alex Baumhardt Oregon Capital Chronicle

SALEM—Oregon’s wildfire season started early this year and is expected to last into October, according to state fire experts.

The season is made more difficult by historic heat, drought, and a potentially early El Niño weather pattern that could further stir up temperatures and lightning storms into the fall, fire officials said at a Tuesday news conference with Gov. Tina Kotek. Oregonians need to be proactive about protecting themselves and their properties from wildfire and behave

far more cautiously when starting campfires or burning debris than in recent years, they advised.

“It’s not one thing that brings the wildfire season, it’s many things,” Kotek said.

Although May is officially Wildfire Awareness Month, the season’s first Level 3 fire — meaning residents were ordered to evacuate immediately — occurred in La Pine in March, burning 20 acres.

“All indications suggest a more challenging fire season ahead of all of us,” Kotek said.

Oregon’s winter was

See FIRE SEASON on page 18

Farmers and ranchers face difficult summer

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Central Oregon is heading into summer under worsening drought conditions, with shrinking snowpack, below-normal stream flows, and growing concerns about irrigation supplies, wildfire danger, and long-term water availability.

kept open, business owners say that pedestrians are finding it hard to get around, so even if they can technically get into their shops, they’re staying away.

Rigo Ramirez of Dixie’s in Sisters said that he had noticed a clear drop-off in foot traffic — and the project had not yet made it to his intersection.

The situation has become serious enough that Governor Tina Kotek has declared drought emergencies in several Oregon counties, including Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties in Central Oregon. In March, Kotek issued a declaration for Deschutes County, followed in April by additional declarations for Crook and Jefferson counties as dry conditions intensified statewide.

See IMPACTS on page 15

See FARMERS on page 16

Bynum hears local wildfire concerns

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

District 5 Congressional Representative Janelle Bynum visited Central Oregon last week to gauge the region’s concerns and response to what is anticipated to be a dangerous wildfire season.

Bynum met with firefighting agencies in Sisters, then hosted a roundtable of business leaders in Bend. She kicked off the roundtable discussion with a shoutout to Sisters Meat and Smokehouse, which she visited during her passage through town.

“The meat counter!” she said with enthusiasm. “Have you been there?”

Rep. Janelle Bynum met with firefighting agencies in Sisters and business leaders in Bend to hear concerns about the looming fire season.

and inadequate precipitation, conditions that threaten not only dire fire conditions, but a rough season for growers (see story above)

House of Representatives’ legislative day.

“My speech is a pleading to the government on behalf of you all,” she said.

She teased the attendees about Mother’s Day plans — then got down to the business at hand.

“We just came from Sisters and had an amazing overview of the wildfire season,” she said.

The season is expected to be long and threatening, coming in the wake of a winter with low snowpack

“These visits are about knowing the people in our community, and reminding DC that we’re people, not pains,” Bynum said.

She said that the issues raised by local people often end up in her one-minute speeches, short addresses delivered at the start of the

Last year, Bynum introduced the bipartisan Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act to support wildfire response operations by addressing the impact of unauthorized drones flying in restricted airspace during a wildfire. The

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.

Deschutes County commissioner

To the Editor:

We are proud to support Amy Sabbadini for Deschutes County Commission. We taught beside Amy for 20 years at Bend Senior High and have seen her dedication, hard work, integrity, and intelligence in all she undertakes. She will be an invaluable asset on the County Commission.

Amy is a teacher and a learner. She studies

up on the issues to bring the best information to the table. If she doesn’t have it, she will find the best people to learn from. We witnessed this many times in the classroom where she brought in diverse speakers to share their lived experiences with her students.

Amy is a uniter. She seeks common ground and brings people from a wide range of backgrounds to the common table, where they feel

See LETTERS on page 12

Sisters Weather Forecast

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Injured hiker rescued...

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Preparing for fire season

By Kellen Klein Guest Columnist

It appears that fire season is already starting in Sisters Country. If forecasts hold, it’s going to be a rough year.

But we shouldn’t sit back and wait for the smoke and embers to blow our way. There are things we can all do — individually and collectively — to make our families, homes, neighborhoods, and community more prepared for wildfire.

Citizens4Community has been deeply engaged around wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery over the past year. In spring 2025, we hosted two Community Forums focused on “Wildfire in Sisters Country.” During the Flat Fire, we helped coordinate local nonprofit response, recovery, and communication efforts. And since the fire, we’ve hosted additional public forums, book clubs, and workshops; joined the Governor’s Regional Resilience Forum; and interfaced with numerous agencies and organizations to support ongoing preparedness efforts.

We still aren’t experts in fire resilience…but we’ve chatted with lots of people who are. Below are the most important tips they’ve shared for how community members can take action to keep Sisters Country safe from fire. Visit www.citizens 4community.com/fire to get this list — and accompanying links, resources, and toolkits — in digital form.

1. If you only remember one website, make it deschutes.org/emergency. It’s a one-stop shop for incident monitoring, preparedness resources, evacuation zones, and more.

2. Sign up for Deschutes Alerts to receive emergency notifications and recommended actions via phone, text, email, and more. It’s available in Deschutes County, Crooked River Ranch, and Camp Sherman. Note: You can also sign up for wildfire and prescribed burn text message alerts by texting “COFIRE” to 888-777. This is a separate service.

3. Know what the evacuation levels mean and what your evacuation zone is, and whenever possible, GO EARLY. Assume that Sisters Country is always on Level 1 (“Be Ready”) during the summer and early fall.

5. Get to know your neighbors. Having a strong social network has been shown to significantly improve emergency preparedness, response, and recovery (not to mention your overall well-being).

6. Create a customized emergency plan for your family and home. This includes emergency contacts, evacuation plans, designated meeting places, a communications plan, family roles, and special accommodations for kids and pets.

7. Assemble a “go bag” with essential supplies, gear, documents, and keepsakes that you can easily grab in case of an evacuation.

8. Request a FREE wildfire home assessment from the fire district. Volunteers will visit your home and suggest ways you can make your property more wildfire resilient.

9. Ensure you have sufficient defensible space around your home. Best practice is nothing flammable — no vegetation, wood piles, or mulch — within at least five feet of structures. Want to go the extra mile? Consider pursuing IBHS “Wildfire Prepared” certification.

10. Encourage your HOA to align their CC&Rs with defensible space best practices, and/or pursue Firewise neighborhood certification.

11. Talk to your insurance agent. Make sure you understand your coverage levels, discuss potential gaps, and make changes as needed to ensure appropriate coverage types and limits. If your rates have increased, ask if there are actions you can take to make it less expensive. If you’re not being renewed, ask for specific reasons why. Feeling overwhelmed? Get guidance from the Oregon Department of Financial Regulation’s consumer advocates by calling 888-877-4894.

12. Build a home inventory and financial first aid kit. Creating a record of your possessions can help assess if you have enough coverage before an incident, and help speed up and maximize claim payments after one. Be sure to securely store copies of financial and identifying records, and set aside cash for emergencies.

to

4. Download the Watch Duty app to stay up to speed on local fires, wind directions, air quality, evacuation orders, and more. This is a volunteer-led platform; while they aim to be timely and accurate, do not consider it a substitute for Deschutes Alerts.

Looking to go even deeper? Visit www.citizens4 community.com/fire for more preparedness resources, toolkits, local organizations, and recommended reading.

We dodged a bullet with the Flat Fire. But there’s lots more to do, and we’re only as strong as our weakest link. Let’s work together to make Sisters Country more resilient to the growing threat of wildfire.

COMMUNITY

SISTERS HISTORY: Making a high school possible

By Mark Mew Correspondent

In 1929 the stock market crashed. The year 1933 saw in succession the failure of the banking system, the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the creation of the New Deal. The Civilian Conservation Corps put young, unskilled men to work, generally in the woods and under militarystyle supervision. The Works Project Administration put skilled people and artisans to work, through direct government employment, to build public infrastructure — often majestic projects that remain iconic today. The

Public Works Administration (PWA) also built public infrastructure, but rather than hiring workers directly, it used grants and contracts to get the work done, thus keeping existing businesses afloat. All three of these New Deal agencies were active in our area. But it was the latter one, the PWA, that would have a role in the creation of Old Sisters High School.

Not everything about Sisters was contracting during the time of the depression. The high school program was flourishing. By the 1930s extracurricular activities were on the rise. Basketball had been established in 1924, with a strong

team playing nearby schools. An orchestra was formed as early as 1936. Comedies and other plays were regular events during the era. Dances and other social events, for both students and adults, were held at the school.

School attendance numbers were also up for all grade levels. The first fouryear high school graduating class (1924) had con

sisted of four students. By 1938 there were 26 high schoolers. The total school enrollment was 147. The 1912 building was overcrowded and wearing out.

Rancher behind Olympic uniforms to visit Sisters

The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA) invites the community to two special events on May 18 and 19 featuring Jeanne Carver— the Central Oregon rancher behind the wool used in Team USA’s Winter Olympic uniforms and founder and president of Shaniko Wool Company.

On May 18, Carver will share her internationally acclaimed presentation, “From Ranch to Runway: An Evening with Jeanne Carver” at Pine Meadow Ranch in Sisters. The presentation — which has recently been shared with audiences in Italy, China, and Australia — will offer a rare opportunity

to hear firsthand how local ranching practices are shaping global conversations around sustainability, fashion, and land stewardship.

On May 19, HDFFA, Oregon Pasture Network (OPN), and Jeanne will host a film screening of “Roots So Deep (You Can See the Devil Down There),” a documentary series about regenerative agriculture, at Central Oregon Community College’s Wille Hall in Bend. The evening will include a panel discussion with Carver and OPN Program Director Mike Guebert, along with a locally catered meal from Spork.

FS employment drops over two-year period

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Economic Development of Central Oregon (EDCO) is out with its annual ranking of employers by number of workers. The numbers are collected during the first quarter of each years (see accompanying chart, page 19).

With one exception, the report shows little change in the employment scene.

The U.S. Forest Service workforce declined by 37 percent between its 2024 and 2026 staffing. 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. 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 Boa rd of D irectors 2nd Tuesday, 3:3 0 p.m. 5 41-595 -6203. See schedule www.blackbutte.k12.or.us/

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

unexplained reasons the USFS, despite Nugget inquiries, cannot say how many employees were retained in 2025. During the second Trump administration the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) under whose umbrella the USFS operates, has imposed a near embargo on media accessibility. District rangers and lower ranking employees, are prevented from talking with, providing information, or granting interviews with

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 & Recreation District Board of Direc tors 2nd Tues., 4 p.m., Sisters Communit y Recreation C

FIRE & POLICE

Junipers: A berry good year

By Maret Pajutee Correspondent

We may think of the juniper as a symbol of the West, an ingredient in gin, food for wildlife, or as a native tree that has invaded dry habitats. It’s all those things and much more. Western Juniper trees (Juniperus occidentalis) grow in harsh conditions; well drained, shallow rocky soils, often with grasses and high desert shrubs like sagebrush, bitterbrush, or rabbit brush. In areas around Sisters where forests transition to shrublands they also grow alongside ponderosa pine. Average rainfall in these areas is a meager 8 to 12 inches a year.

Wandering around you may have noticed some juniper trees with massive displays of frosty bluish berries, sometimes on only one side or one branch, and other trees with none. Some references say that what we call juniper berries grow only on female trees and are actually small, fleshy female seed cones. Male cones resemble tiny fir tree cones, grow in clusters on the tips of lower branches, and produce pollen to fertilize the female cones.

But things in nature are not always so simple. According to Forest Service research, studies in Oregon found, in general, 40 to 50 percent of trees in a given population produced only female cones, around 10 percent produced only male cone percent, and the rest produced both female and male cones. Cone/berry production is highly variable year by year and tends to have a boom or bust cycle. Weather in the previous year or two can affect their abundance. Trees can also produce a stress crop of berries after thinning or fire.

The female cones of our Western Juniper contain one to four hard seeds inside and are an important food for birds, rodents, elk, and deer. Interestingly, a study

in 1997 in “The Great Basin Naturalist” by E.W. Schupp et. al., found that coyotes were the most important mammal in seed dispersal with many scat samples containing high numbers of seeds. This is how junipers disperse their seeds, as animals digest and then defecate seeds far from the parent tree. Passing through digestive tracks helps break down the waxy seed coat. But germination is described as erratic, requiring just the right sequence of temperature and moisture.

Ripe blue Western Juniper berries are technically edible for humans but not recommended for regular consumption as they can irritate your

kidneys or stomach. If you’ve ever tasted one, they are very bitter and resinous. Another species called Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) has a much wider range across the globe and is the one used in its dried form to flavor gin, wild meats, and sauerkraut. In Northern Europe, including the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, fresh branches of this species are used to make traditional farmhouse ales. My Estonian cousins joke that it is strong stuff and will easily get you a bit drunk, and if you drink water the next day you’ll get tipsy again.

Before European settlement, juniper abundance was controlled by periodic wildfires started by lightning and in some cases by Native Americans using fire as a tool to aid hunting, improve plant foods, or to clear travel ways. Fire suppression or exclusion allowed many more juniper trees to flourish. Livestock grazing also affected their distribution as native grasses were consumed and non-native cheatgrass and medusahead invaded disturbed soils, creating more continuous fuel beds that can increase the size and spread of fires and kill younger trees. If you have driven out to

the Flat Fire area you can see that a severe fire can kill Western Juniper of all sizes. The taller the tree the greater the intensity of the fire required to kill it, but some older large trees can survive low to moderate intensity fires.

They are a thirsty tree with both deep and lateral roots absorbing water from both shallow soils and fractured bedrock. Water use varies with site and age of the tree, but estimates say a mature juniper can use 10-30 gallons of water a day in late spring through fall. Land managers cut or burn some juniper stands to increase the available moisture for grass and wildflower growth and improve forage for

wildlife or livestock.

Old growth junipers can be 400 to over 1,000 years old and are beautiful, rare trees that provide shade and habitat for wildlife in their twisted limbs and crevices. If you are interested in the spiritual connections related to juniper, in many cultures they are associated with spiritual cleansing and providing protection. Old trees symbolize survival, endurance, wisdom, and adaptability, all good traits for us to think about as we move through our lives. Next time you see a juniper loaded with berries, with a bird or two enjoying its snacks and shade, take a moment to breathe in its piney, spicy scent and appreciate this iconic tree of the West.

Anxiety isn’t just what you feel. It’s also what you do This FREE weekend intensive combines group therapy, psychoeducation and practical mindfulness tools to help you STOP the cycle of anxiety

Friday, May 29, 6–9 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday, May 31, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Held at 392 W. Main Ave., #102, in Sisters. Learn more or register at www.foragewellnesscollective.com/intensives

“What we appreciate mo st about Sister s Athletic Club is spin clas s! We trul y enjoy the warm and welcoming attitude of S AC sta and fellow member s . The overall positive vibe keep s us coming back for ever y workout . On cold mornings we REA LLY appreciate the warm hearth in the lobby. S ociali zing before A M spin is alway s fun.” — Greg Ra et y and Trac y Mackie, SAC Members since August 2025

Lazy Z to host Americana duo

Mike Biggers and Jim Cornelius managed many years back to get off that LA freeway without getting killed or caught. Loving songs was in their cards, so they connected in Sisters to become a pair of honky-tonk heroes dealing out original songs and choice covers from the top of the deck. That’s their story, anyway.

The duo will be playing at Lazy Z Ranch Wines on Saturday, May 23, 6 to 8 p.m.

John and Renee Herman think of the Lazy Z Ranch as

Sisters’ front yard — and they are inviting the community to come out and enjoy it. They’re dedicated to regenerative agriculture, creating mead, and building a sense of sustainable community. Hosting live music is part of that work.

“I love what they’re doing at Lazy Z,” said Cornelius. “John and Renee are doing valuable, important work and creating something really cool there. It’s great to be able to participate in that by getting together with friends

Track teams have some fun at Caldera meet

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

The high school track season includes one or two meets a week for most of the season, and as the championship meets approach it can be good to mix things up a bit at competitions, which is one of the reasons the Outlaws head coach added 12-team Twilight Over Caldera meet to the schedule for the evening of May 8. The meet included some nontypical events including the 4x200 and 4x800 and mixed 4x400-meter relays, and featured some fanfare for athletes as they were called out to their events, according to Coach Jonathan Kelly.

“The kids had a lot of fun with our mixed relays and we ended up making three different teams. They got a dramatic entrance with a fog/smoke machine and flashing stadium lights, running out from under the stands as their names were called,” he said.

When it came to the competition itself some Outlaws showed up ready to show their stuff, including Althea Crabtree who cleared 9-feet10-inches in the pole vault, which is just two inches shy of her best ever.

“She had good attempts at 10-feet-4-inches, so she is ready to better her mark soon,” said Kelly.

Another jumper, sophomore Jasper Jensen, tried something new by running the 1,000 meters, another nontypical event, and came back with a good series in the high jump where he cleared 5-feet-10-inches.

“With fresh legs he’ll be clearing six feet, his personal best, or higher soon,” said Kelly.

Freshman Kaia Backouris continued her stellar season in the 300 hurdles, taking on the 3A state leader on her way to another personal best in the event at 47.88. Brooke Duey dipped under 50 seconds as well, clocking 49.13.

for music. The music and the ranch are trying to accomplish the same kind of thing — offer something handmade and real, honoring traditions and making them work in whatever we call this weird time we’re living in. We’re looking forward to it.”

Lazy Z Ranch Wines is located at 68540 Hwy. 20, just east of town.

Selah Sanford dropped her time to 12.50 seconds to finish as the runner-up in the 100 meters while Joel Vogt (54.33) and Ajax Erdekian (58.39) ran personal bests in the 400. Freshman Will Singleton broke the 12-second barrier in the hundred with a time of 11.94.

With the District meet looming May 21-22 the Outlaws conclude the regular season with the Three Sisters Twilight on Friday, May 15.

“We’re going to celebrate our sole senior, Brooke Duey, and have a little fun with a coaches 4x400-meter race,” said Kelly.

Field events start at 4 p.m. and running events at 5 p.m., and everyone is welcome to come and cheer, according to Kelly. Teams include Pleasant Hill, Creswell, La Pine, and North Lake.

Printmaker talks about art, dreams and hope

Printmaker Denise Kester from Ashland will be the featured artist on Friday and Saturday, May 22-23, at Sisters Gallery & Frame Shop.

She will be the gallery’s Fourth Friday Featured Artist this month, during the Sisters Arts Association Artwalk from 4 to 7 p.m. On Saturday at 4 p.m., she’ll talk about “Art, Hope, and Important Things to Remember,” at the gallery. The program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited to about 35. Kester will also be at the gallery during the day to talk to visitors and sign copies of

her book. At the end of her presentation, there will be a drawing for one of Kester’s print reproductions.

All artists derive their creative ideas from different places. For Kester, that place is her dreams. She writes, “It’s essential that we stay creative, especially when life around us is hard, so I will talk about what I do to keep making art when I’m devastated by the world around me. I will share my list of important things for creative people to remember.”

“This is the time we are in. There is no way around it; we just have to go through it –but we can choose how we go

through it.”

One of Kester’s dreams inspired the creation of “The Pirate Cat.” First, she carved out a linoleum block image, from which she made prints in black and white. Then, one morning, she awakened from a dream about how to lay ink onto that linoleum block to create different colors and effects, and how to create a roller transfer monoprint from the linoleum block.

It was an experiment.

Using the linoleum carving, she rolled oily and dry inks of different colors onto the block. Then using a large, dry, yellow-inked roller, she rolled over the block. This transferred the image onto the roller. Next, she rolled that image onto a sheet of plexiglas, and began wiping and drawing with cotton swabs and carved stamps. She wiped off most of the yellow background and added more colors to the plate.

When she felt like the wetinked plate was ready to print, she lay paper on top of it, and hand cranked it through her etching press. Thus, she

created a monoprint, “The Pirate’s Gift.” As a further enhancement, she mounted the print to a block and added a wax coating in a process resulting in an encaustic print. Both are in the gallery, along with a good number of her original prints, reproductions, handmade books, and note cards.

A single dream can inspire multiple ideas. It’s dreams like this, Kester says, that helps creative people hang on to the love of their art and the world, rather than giving into fear, hopelessness, and smallmindedness. Maintain hope, no matter what.

As writer Toni Morrison wrote: “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how

civilizations heal.”

Kester is an artist, writer, and teacher living in Ashland. She specializes in monoprint and monotype viscosity printing as well as multi-media, drawing, painting, and handmade books. She uses monoprinting with lithography inks to create art. She is author of “Drawing on the Dream,” a book that explores her process and revelations about art and printmaking. The book is filled with beautiful illustrations and practical guidance and personal experience through art and life.

Exploring ‘The Wild Places’

By Sevilla Rhoads Columnist Commentary...

King Charles III recently spoke to Congress about the interwoven history and identities of the United States and the United Kingdom. As someone who has lived in both countries, I appreciated how the King delicately sketched lines around the similarities, then, like an artist trying to accurately render mist or waves, smudged these lines into honest blurs to recognize the impossibility of the description.

The King’s speech times with my rereading of Robert Macfarlane’s “The Wild Places.” Thanks to Paulina Springs Bookstore, Macfarlane, a British naturewriter (to rather brashly oversimplify his work), will be in Sisters on June 3 at The Belfry. I can’t wait. Despite being mountains, plains, forests, cities, and an entire ocean away, Macfarlane is deeply thinking and writing about much on our hearts here in Central Oregon. And he does it so well.

I’m not a fly fisher, but I am told it takes great skill to fish the Metolius. I happen to be sitting beside this river as I write. I marvel at a man in waders fishing the swirling

and shadowed flow, because I have no idea how to entice a fish by touching water with representations of fleeting insects. I am equally daunted when trying to articulate why nature is so important.

Reading Macfarlane is like watching a skilled fly fisher. He has deeply studied, planned, and tied just the right words together. Each line cast is art in itself, and I sense the peace that comes from casting even when nothing bites. Like the King, he strives to articulate what is indescribable, yet critical to describe.

If you read all Macfarlane’s books, up to and including his most recent, “Is a River Alive?” you join him on a journey, informed by history and the places he takes you, to discern our relationship with nature. As Macfarlane well illustrates in his fascinating history forays, he poses questions as ancient as the meaning of life or the existence of God. However, rather than just pushing worn queries up Sisyphus’ hill, we find ourselves with him on the top of the world’s mountains, looking out with fresh resolve to save nature, even if we cannot define it.

I started reading Macfarlane after a friend gave me a day planner based on

his book, “The Lost Words” (2017). I have a macabre fascination with the story behind “The Lost Words” which leaves me chilled all over again each time I share it. In 2007, the Oxford Junior Dictionary removed around 50 words relating to nature, like acorn and otter, and replaced them with words like “broadband,” “blog,” “MP3 Player,” “voice-mail,” and “celebrity.” I would have to rip out entire pages of my scribbled childhood diaries if missing the deleted words which include “dandelion,” “newt,” “fern,” “willow,” “heron,” “bluebell,” “barn owl,” “moth,” “daisy,” “fox,” “goldfinch,” “wren,” and “oak.”

Also haunting was this dictionary’s contemporaneous expunging of words which described so many of my Sunday mornings and Christmas Eves, like “abbey,” “aisle,” “carol,” “chapel,” “parish,” “psalm,” “saint,” and “vicar.” I agree dictionaries should be more inclusive of other faiths, but then let’s add more timeless sacred terms rather than replace them with fad pop culture, and soon-to-be-obsolete technology.

The dictionary editors defended the deletions saying things like they only had

so much room in the book and they needed to focus on “language children will commonly come across at home and at school.” Macfarlane’s response was to publish an illustrated children’s dictionary of all “The Lost Words” pertaining to nature. It is curious we are focusing on words about nature when so much of what we value in the natural world is wordless. Macfarlane embraces this paradox by crafting words into descriptions that evoke a sense of whatever it is we call nature and the wild. He almost writes poetry, whatever that is.

In “The Wild Places,” Macfarlane struggles to find any wild left in the United Kingdom. He has to stretch the definition to include long-ago felled woods where only hundreds, rather than thousands, have been before him. He has to clamber onto remote tiny islands that are really just jutting rocks, and even then he talks of all those who impossibly sought refuge there before him and the trash lining the shores. He deeply wonders at his relatable desperation to experience something “wild” or any place that is not entirely managed and shaped by humans. As I read Macfarlane, not coincidently, I am reminded of a lifetime

of Sunday sermons reminding us to value what is greater than humans. “Children do not spend as much time in nature or places of faith” was a reason given by the Oxford Junior Dictionary for their edits.

In Central Oregon we are blessed with so many places that we can still credibly call wild, even if we are increasingly having to stretch the word to allow for more “management.” We can still wander off the Forest Service roads to find true refugia where we can experience nature free to follow divine rules (however you want to define ‘divine’), rather than being constricted and constrained by human use and control. And when you happen upon one of these spots to sit perhaps in ferns and moss, where a heron watches for newts among the willows while a wren sings, you sense something important and greater than yourself. Something beyond words, but that perhaps only words can protect.

Macfarlane’s new book (you get a signed advance copy with your ticket to The Belfry event) is about the birds we are losing....

Find tickets at https:// www.paulinaspringsbooks. com/events/5000820260603.

Forest Service consolidation raises concerns

By Alex Brown Stateline/Oregon Capital Chronicle

The U.S. Forest Service’s plan to close scores of research stations could threaten the nation’s wildfire readiness, many foresters fear, and erode decades of work to understand timber production, soil health, pests and diseases, watersheds, and wildlife.

In March, the Forest Service announced plans to close 57 of its 77 research stations, located across 31 states, merging them into a single organization in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The agency described the move as a way to consolidate, not cut, the agency’s scientific work, and “unify research priorities.”

It’s unclear how many scientists will be affected by the transition, but it comes as part of a larger agency reorganization that is expected to move roughly 5,000 employees to new outposts. Forest Service leaders have framed the closures as a way to reduce the agency’s real estate footprint, citing a facilities budget Congress has shrunk, as opposed to curtailing its scientific work.

But many longtime foresters fear the closures will threaten vital research that has been the backbone of forest management for state agencies, timber companies, and tribes. Many of the research stations slated for closure study fire behavior, forecast smoke dispersal, and help inform evacuation decisions.

“The research arm of the Forest Service is one of the unsung heroes in forest management around the world,” said Mike Dombeck, who served as chief of the Forest Service under President Bill Clinton and remains a vocal conservation advocate. “It is the premier forest research entity in the world, on everything from invasive species to

wildland fire risk, watershed protection, basic silviculture and harvest methods.”

The Forest Service’s revamp also will relocate the agency’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City and restructure its regional management system.

The Forest Service did not grant a Stateline interview request. The agency has not said how much money it expects to save by closing the research stations.

Many Western leaders are skeptical that the consolidated operation will be able to replicate the work of the existing research stations.

State officials said they’ve been given few details about how the transition will play out and whether existing research will continue.

In Washington state, the Forest Service plans to close research stations in Seattle and Wenatchee, while maintaining a facility in Olympia.

“The station in Seattle does some of the most practical-based research that we use for fire and forest management,” said Washington State Forester George Geissler. “We don’t want to lose that work. They’ve said they’ll keep Olympia open, but we don’t know what that looks like. Are they making sure we don’t lose the ongoing research?”

Forestry veterans say it’s important for the agency to continue its scientific work across a wide variety of forests and climates.

“This is research that’s been going on for decades or even a century or more,” said Kevin Hood, executive director of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, a nonprofit that advocates for agency workers. “They’re able to see how climate change impacts are playing out in a dry ponderosa forest or a humid hardwood forest. There are research plots

and experimental forests that have been diligently studied for decades. This could be a loss of a lot of knowledge.”

The Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, for instance, plays a crucial role in issuing wildfire smoke forecasts that are relied on throughout the Northwest. After a hot, dry winter, that work could be critical as a dangerous wildfire season approaches.

Some conservation advocates are concerned that the research station closures are aimed at suppressing studies that might show the environmental harms of logging or mining. President Donald Trump has pledged to increase timber production on federal lands. He has moved to limit environmental reviews and protections for endangered species to speed up logging projects.

In an interview with the Deseret News, Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said that the move was designed to ensure that the Forest Service’s research “will better align with the priorities of the administration” — minerals, recreation, fire management and “active

management” of forests, which can include timber harvests and thinning projects. He said the research would support not just forests but also private landowners.

“It’s not streamlining, it’s dismantling,” said Chandra Rosenthal, Western lands and Rocky Mountain advocate with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a group that defends whistleblowers in the federal service. “It’s going to really impact how the Forest Service makes decisions on the ground. The way the Trump administration is trying to make a lot of decisions is gut feelings.”

In a webpage set up to respond to news coverage of the move, the Forest Service said it is a “myth” that the station closures will eliminate scientific positions or cancel research programs. But many forestry veterans said that attrition is inevitable, as researchers are asked to move their families across the country to work under a new model with few details.

“There’s concern that we’re going to see a lot of really good individuals who cannot uproot their families

that we’ll lose,” said Geissler, the Washington state forester. “It’s taken a long time to develop that kind of expertise. It’s scary.”

Foresters in both conservative and liberal states said they rely heavily on the research the Forest Service provides. Most were unwilling to comment extensively about the closures without seeing more details.

“That work is absolutely important, and I sure hope it continues,” said Wyoming State Forester Kelly Norris. “I don’t think research should stop. It may need to look a little different.”

Some leaders said there may be opportunities for states, through forestry agencies and universities, to pick up the slack and ensure research continues, even if the Forest Service is no longer playing a lead role.

“This is still a little bit of an unknown area, but we’ll have to make sure that if there’s a gap there, that we’re working with our universities and (state) research centers to make sure that it’s still being provided,” said Utah State

See CONSOLIDATE on page 19

EveryBody’s HEALTH

Tracy Erfling ND Columnist

The skin you’re in

Which is the largest organ of the human body?

The skin! This layer of collagen rich connective tissue, which is only millimeters deep, governs many interactions between our body and our environment. During the summer, a time of higher UV exposure, our skin steps up to provide sun protection and temperature regulation.

Caring for our skin is essential during this season; let’s take a moment to appreciate the skin we’re in.

A vital nutrient we get from the sun is vitamin D. This fat soluble vitamin’s first step occurs in the skin; its power includes helping the body to regulate blood calcium levels and therefore bone health, immune function, and reducing inflammation. Vitamin D deficiency is showing up as a key player in many chronic conditions from cancer to diabetes and heart disease. And, in our more northern latitudes the vital UV rays which create this sunny nutrient are low to none from late fall to late spring. Therefore, screening for deficiency and subsequent supplementation is strongly encouraged.

Temperature regulation is another key function of the skin as the weather warms

our northern hemisphere. The skin directs temperature regulation via dilation or constriction of blood vessels. This action signals sweat glands or goosebumps to expel or conserve heat. Are you exercising and hydrating? Exercise promotes blood flow, and can help increase body temperature through muscular activity. This of course is true in the time spent moving but also ensures that these vascular pathways remain active and responsive even in times of rest. Water! Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water helps the skin to stay properly hydrated. It is much more difficult to sweat and cool off if you are dehydrated.

What about sunscreen?

Our skin’s cells need support with sunscreens, especially during the sunny season. So which sunscreens are safest and offer best protection? Those which can deter both UVB and UVA rays (i.e. full spectrum sunscreens). The ingredients to look for are titanium oxide or zinc oxide, these work via reflection to keep the burning rays away. Avobenzone is another ingredient which absorbs these rays instead of your skin. Sunscreens often have other chemicals however, that can cause skin irritation or damage; a few ingredients to avoid are PABA, oxybenzone, padimate O, or octyl methoxycinnamate. For more information about sunscreens and their ingredients check out www.ewg.org/ sunscreens and www.skin cancer.org.

Foods add necessary vitamins and minerals to promote the health and healing of your skin from the inside out. Adequate intake of fresh fruits and vegetables of the yellow and orange varieties (carrots, yams, squash, melons, peppers) supply the skin with beta-carotene and

vitamin C, assisting in proper cell growth and healing of damaged skin. Oysters, pumpkin seeds, eggs, and legumes contain zinc, which also assist in the skin’s healing process via the immune system. Vitamin E, found in raw nuts and eggs, provides valuable antioxidant protection. Finally essential fatty acids (fish oils, olive oil, avocado, flax, nuts) properly lubricate the cell walls and allow the above mentioned nutrients access to the cell’s interior.

According to local skin care expert Sarah Woods of Roam Natural Skincare: “Simply, the sun breaks down your collagen, slows your skin’s ability to rebuild it, and creates damage that shows up as wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of firmness over time.”

Daily Musts from Sarah Woods:

• Wear SPF 30+ every day.

• Reapply every two hours when outside.

• Wear hats and seek shade.

Sun exposure contributes to photoaging, even without a burn. Also be aware that some medications such as birth control pills, acne medication, corticosteroids (to name a few), as well as some herbs like St. John’s Wort, may all increase your chances of burning...be aware of your risks, protect yourself, and get routine skin exams.

Establishing good skin care and lifestyle habits early and often will help ensure a lifetime of healthy skin.

Hope you enjoy this sunny summer season and don’t forget to think about all the beauty and protection the skin you’re in has to offer!

Celebrating the sacred…

Are you seeking to find a small and welcoming f aith community?

Please join us for our traditional Christ-centered worship service at at 10 a.m. each Sunday. t

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 386 N. Fir St., Sisters • 541-549-5831 www.shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com

THURSDAY, MAY 14 • 6:307:30 PM

Gary Ferguson presents The Twilight Forest: An Elegy for Ponderosa in a Changing West

In the past decade, from Santa Fe to the Sierras, more than two hundred million ponderosa pines have died. How can we come to terms with such profound loss?

MON, MAY 18 • 1011:30 AM

Writers in Community is a 90-minute unstructured quiet time around the big table for writing with others

MONDAY, MAY 25 • 5:306:30 PM

Between the Realms: A SciFi Fantasy Book Club. Last Monday of every month.

THURSDAY, MAY 28 • 6:307:30 PM

Bob Welch presents Writer: How to craf t non c tion stories that touch your readers’ hear ts, souls & funny bones. Af ter more than half a centur y of award-winning non ction writing, Bob Welch nally shares the secrets to writing that will help you leave your readers changed forever.

SECOND SATURDAY AT 10 AM

MONDAY, JUNE 1 • 5:306:30 PM

The Pause Button: A Monthly Poetr y Gathering around the big table for poetr y exploration. Bring a poem or two to share. Listen, discuss, and do a little writing First Monday of every month.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 • 5:307 PM

In conversation with Lane Jacobson, owner of PSB, Rober t Macfarlane presents The Book of Birds and Is a River Alive? He will explore how attention to nature can deepen our sense of connection, care, and responsibility in a changing world. This is a rare chance to hear one of the most in uential contemporar y nature writers Event is held at The Belfr y. Primary tickets, $35, include one copy of The Book of Birds. Tickets and more information at www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 9 • 6:30 7:30 PM

Jane Kirkpatrick presents her new novel, With The Enduring Tides. Inspired by a true story, this is a tale of female friendship, family reconciliation, and pioneering spirit set on the Oregon coast

COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS

Snow flake Boutique

Consig nors Wa nted

GOOS

E

Meet G oose, a gentle, indoor/outdoor c at w ho i s com fort able a round other pets . i s you ng boy i s a li le shy a nd w il l do wel l i n a peacef u l home w it h pat ient adopters w ho u nderst and th at a l i le k indnes s c

The Arends Group

Qu al it y c ra - consig nors wa nte d for t he 50t h Snow a ke Bout ique, November 6 & 7, 2026 . e r st jur y w il l be tu rd ay, M ay 16 , sta rting at 9:3 0 a .m . at t he R ed mond nior Center. A dd it iona l jur ies l l be held t hroug h October. Info on t hei r website h p:// www.snow a kebout ique.org or c al l Julie (503)302- 4427 or i (503)798-2109

Hang s @ The Hangar

Wednesdays , 3:3 0 to 4 :3 0 p.m., 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 sters Com mun it y C hu rc h, 0 9 W. McK in ne y Bu e R d. Follow ing t he school schedule for c losu res . Contac t jfoli n@ sistersc hu rc h.com or 5 41-5 4912 01 e xt .208

Save the Rubberba nd s Bu si ne s s owners: please save the f at r ubberband s on t he ne ws paper bundles , we’ d love to use t hem aga in . Bring t hem by ou r o ce at 4 42 E . M ai n Ave. or c al l u s for pic k-up at 5 41-5 4999 41

Th ree Sisters Histor ical Societ y Free g uided Wal ki ng Tou rs: Heritage Homes or H istoric Bu ildi ngs Dow ntow n . E xplore the c ha rm a nd some of t he r ic h stor ies of Sisters’ past . E ac h tou r i s about one m ile long a nd ta kes one hou r. For dates , t imes , and reser vation s , go to www th reesistershi stor ic al societ y.org under t he “ Wa lk ing Tou rs” t ab 541- 610- 6323

Black Butte Conser va nc y 2nd An nual Native Pl ant Sa le

St ud io Tours at Pi ne Meadow Ra nch May 2 8 , 5 to 6 :3 0 p.m . at P ine Meadow R anc h Center for Ar t s & A gr ic ultu re, 6 84 67 ree Creek s R d . Gue st s wi l l be g uided on a tou r of the studios, w here r esident arti st s a re e xper imenti ng , conduc ting resea rc h, a nd de velopi ng ne w work d uring thei r t ime at t he R anch . e arti sts’ pract ice s i nc lude wr it ing a nd a v ar iet y of v isua l ar t for ms . e e vent beg in s prompt ly at 5 p.m . 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 em ai l i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org

Fu rr y Fr iend s need s volu nteers

Help proces s bo le s a nd c an s one d ay a week , Monday or Fr id ay. Volunteers r e-bag bo le s a nd c an s i nto ou r blue fu nd ra iser bags , t hen t ake t hose bags , a long w it h t he f ul l blue bag s d ropped o on e Nugget porch, to t he Bo leDrop at Rays . e t ime com m it ment

Neig hbors Need Me dica l Rides. You Ca n Help Aging , d isabled , a nd u nderserved pas sengers depend on STAR S volunteer d river s to reac h med ic a l appoi nt ments and t he demand i s g rowi ng. JOI N STA R S NOW to help. You c hoose w hen you d rive. It ’s e xible , mea ni ng ful, a nd di rectl y s upport s neig hbors who u rgently depend on STAR S to get to c are . Tra ining and m ileage rei mbu rsement prov ided . L ea r n more a nd apply: h ps://www.sta rsride org/dr ive-for-us

Phil Arends: 541-420-9997 phil@arendsrealtygroup.com

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

PONDEROSA

SIST ER S COMM UN IT Y FOOD RE SOURCE

Free Lu nches for

Seniors COACO o ers no-cost

socia l lunc h e ver y Tuesd ay, 11 a .m . to 1 p.m . at Sisters

No reser vation s neede d.

No -cost Grab-N-Go

lu nc hes weekly on

S

Commun it y C hu rc h, 130 0 W. McK en zie Hwy

Wednesday a nd u rsday, from 12:30 to 1 p.m . Cal l 541-79 7-93 67

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 . I nfo: 5 41-588 -2 332.

Free Week ly Meal

Serv ice

Fa mily 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 mun it y Church, 130 0 W. McK en zie

Hw y. I nfo: www

Fa milyK itchen .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. — SPONSORED BY —

Jour ney th rough Sisters

Histor y 202 6 H istorica l Wal ki ng Tou rs i n t he Camp Pol k H istorica l

Cemeter y sta r t u rsday, May 21. Guided w alk s sta r t at 10 :3 0 a .m . at 6 985 Cemeter y Rd., Sisters . e cemeter y i s not handicap accessible and w alk s i nc lude u ne ven

grou nd . R eg ister at www ca mppol kpioneercemeter y.org.

Craf t & Connec t: Mend and Repa ir at the Ra nch

May 2 6 , 2 to 4 p.m . at P ine

Meadow R anc h Center for Ar t s & A gr ic ultu re, 6 84 67 ree Creek s R d . Bring a sm al l projec t a nd a ny m ater ia ls you need to work a longside ot her c om mun it y members and A rt ist i n R esidence, V ic Spindler-Fox . e y h ave plent y of needles , t hread , f abric , a nd a fe w f u n tool s to t r y out , plu s suppor t to help you t ac kle you r mending pile or lea r n a new repa ir. R ef use d is posabi lity, suppor t one a nother, a nd repai r the world toget her. Fre e a nd open to t he public . 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 em ai l i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org

Plant Sa le at Pi ne Meadow

Ra nch

May 16 , 10 a .m . to 1 p.m . at Pine Meadow R anc h Center for A rt s & A gr ic ultu re, 6 84 67 ree Creek s R d . Joi n a Pla nt

Sa le c elebrating t he beaut y and d iversit y of loc ally g rown pl ant s i n Centra l O regon, feat uring a v ar iet y of owers , vege table s a nd nat ive pla nt s from P ine Meadow R anc h a nd ot her loc a l f arm s a nd nonpro t orga nization s ded ic ated to sust ai nable g rowi ng a nd commun it y enr ic hment.

Perfec t for g ardener s of a ll ex perience level s . R eg istrat ion i s requi red at h ps:// roundhou sefoundation .org / events/. For more i nfo c al l 5 41-

90 4- 070 0 or em ai l i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org

May 2 3 , 10 a .m . to 2 p.m . at the Black Bu e R anc h G eneral Store . Nat ive f avor ite s l ike Id aho Fescue, Pen stemon, Ya rrow, G olden Cur ra nt , a nd Vine M aple w il l be ava il able e y a re e xpanding t heir inventor y t hi s yea r! Preorder pl ant s M ay 1 to M ay 15 a nd pic k t hem up at t he sale or vi sit t he store on M ay 2 3 a nd choose you r f avor ites . Joi n them i n g rowi ng bio diversit y ac ros s t he Black Bu e reg ion. Any quest ion s about t he event , plea se c ontac t lead volunteer Cathy M ic k , c thm ic k@gm ail. com, 5 03 -780 -4329.

Mont hly Song wr iters’

Sharing Ci rcle

Second Wed ne sd ay of t he month , 6 to 8 p.m. , at e Hub, 291 E . M ai n Ave B e i n c reat ive commun it y a nd be i ns pi red wh ile sha ring son gs , bei ng a g reat li stener, a nd providing feedback. Al l age s a nd ski l l levels welcome. Free. I nfo: c al l or tex t Jes s at 5 4197 7- 84 94

Widows’ Suppor t Group

Widow s of a l l age s a re i nv ited to joi n t hi s s upport ive group of loc a l women to sh are e xper ienc es , stories , and f riendship i n a safe envi ronment . S ha re a pot luc k of sa lads, con nec t w it h others w ho tr uly u nderst and , a nd nd hope together. Monthl y gat heri ngs are t he r st Friday of e very month, beg inning June 5 , f rom 11:3 0 a .m .-1 p.m . i n t he Fireside Room at Sisters Com mun it y Church, 130 0 McK en zie Hwy, Si sters . For quest ions , contact Ci ndy V ice (513-22 6-1222) or Melody C arlson (541- 81535 40).

i s u su ally about 3 0 m inutes , sometime s les s a nd somet imes a l i le longer. For more in form at ion or to vol unteer, c al l 541-79 7- 40 23

Sisters Rodeo Pa rade

Appl ic at ion s a re open . B e par t of a longtime t radition . L im ited entr ies; deadline i s M ay 15.

Vi sit www.sistersrodeo.com

Cl ic k u nder G et I nvolved a nd l l out t he ent r y online. Parade line up i nfor m at ion w il l go out by t he r st of June by em ail.

Prayer Boards, Boxes & Bi nders Satu rd ay, M ay 3 0, 2 to 4

p. m . at Sisters Com mun it y Church, 130 0 McK en zie Hwy Create a per sona li zed prayer board,box or binder to help you remember to pray at t hi s fu n women ’ s e vent . Bring you r ow n decorat ing m ater ia ls . To regi ster, go to s isterschurch org/events . For more i nfo, c al l 541-389- 6859

An Introduc tion to the Ba ha’i Fa it h

Fr id ay, M ay 15 , at 7 p.m . R SV P to S haun a at 5 41-6 47-982 6.

Ba ha’i Fa it h For i nfor mat ion, devot ions, study g roups, etc ., cont ac t S hauna R ocha 5 41-6 47-982 6 • www.bah ai .org www.bah ai .u s

Lady Outlaws beat the Bulldogs

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Lady Outlaws tennis squad came out ready to play on Tuesday, May 5, and defeated the Creswell Bulldogs 3-1,and showed they are ready for district play.

Coach Bruce Fenn said, “The girls got the win due to better strokes, more awareness of game strategies, and hitting with more pace.”

Hudson Jacobs (No. 1 singles) dominated play and easily defeated her opponent 6-1, 6-1. Jacobs trusted her hard serve and followthrough on her backhand and it paid off.

Fenn said, “She is fast and now with more court strategies she is becoming a better player. Her opponent today could not handle her hardhitting ground strokes.”

Isabella Panozzo (No.2

singles) also got an easy 6-2, 6-2, win over her opponent by placing balls out of her reach. She hit her first serve with more pace and won easy points.

“Her consistent followthrough on her forehand puts pressure on her opponents,” said Fenn. “Her foot speed around the court and calm thinking helps her stay in the point. That caused many mistakes from her opponent.”

The No. 1 doubles team of Jessica Stahn and Molly Fredland won in two straight sets with scores of 6-2, 6-2. Fenn noted that the duo are showing they’re a team to be feared. Stahn’s first serves set up Fredland at the net for winning volleys.

“Molly (Fredland) plays the deuce court and her serve returns are hit deep placing teams on the defense,” said Fenn. “She then can move and hit winners from that

side or Jessica (Stahn) can poach crossing over to hit volley winners. Both players are consistent and play well together.”

Although the No. 2 sophomore doubles team of Olivia Newton and Charlotte Beswick lost, they played a very good hard-fought match and took their opponent to a tiebreaker. They won the first set 6-4 with Beswick hitting winning volleys at the net and Newton with great returns on serves. The second set was close, but Creswell edged out the Outlaws pair with winners at the net. In the tiebreak the scored was tied 5-5 and then Creswell scored the next point with a winner from the baseline. Beswick evened the score at 6-6, but from there Creswell took over and secured the win.

“Newton and Beswick are the heart of the team with their efforts and commitment

Sisters-Area Events & Enter tainment

WEDNESDAY • MAY 13

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Info: 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 • MAY 14

The Belfr y Live Music: Glen Phillips Lead singer and main songwriter of Toad the Wet Sprocket for almost 40 years. 7 p.m. Tickets: bendticket.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Music Bingo! BINGO

6 to 8 p.m. Match song clips to your bingo card and win fun prizes! More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 13th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 Info: call 541-549-2471

Frankie's in Sisters Open Mic Music lovers can enjoy a variety of local talent, 6 to 8 p.m. Sign ups, 5:30 No cover; upstairs or outside depending on weather Info: frankiesinsisters.com.

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Gar y Ferguson presents“The Twilight Forest: An Elegy for Ponderosa in a Changing West.”

6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

FRIDAY • MAY 15

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Lilli Worona Central Oregon singer-songwriter guitarist, & fiddle player. 6 to 8 p.m. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

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 5 p.m. $20 paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

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

SATURDAY • MAY 16

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

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

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

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

SUNDAY • MAY 17

The Belfr y Live Music: Jenner Fox Band Poignant, humorous storytelling backed by a 5-piece lineup of Pacific Northwest all-star musicians. 7 p.m. Tickets: bendticket.com. Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

these last two years,” said Fenn.

Fenn said, “In each match I have watched the players gain confidence moving themselves around the court to be in a better position to win points.”

Fenn told The Nugget that the team has the momentum needed that will give them confidence in the district tournament that will be held May 13 and 14 at Hermiston, Oregon. District qualifiers will compete at state which will be in Corvallis, May 22 and 23.

MONDAY • MAY 18

MUSIC, COMMUNITY & SPIRITS Thurs., May 14 • 7 p.m. GLEN PHILLIPS

TUESDAY • MAY 19

Paulina Springs Books Writers in Community is an unstructured quiet time around the big table for writing with others. Drop in for a few minutes or stay the whole time 10 a.m. No RSVP required. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com. 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 open at 5:30 p.m. Info: 541-719-0572

The Belfr y Frontiers in Science Lecture Series: "Waddle We Do Without Penguins?" by Dr Patty McGill presented by Sisters Science Club

Social hour begins at 6 p.m., lecture at 7 p.m. Adults $5 at the door; teachers and students free Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Pool Tournament 5:30 p.m. Info: 541-549-6114.

WEDNESDAY • MAY 20

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

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Handbuilding: Playful Farm Animals" a unique ceramic workshop participants learn beginning handbuilding techniques while they form three or four legged playful farm animals with local artist Nancy Dasen. Session one includes making forms that can be used for vases pitchers, planters or sculptures while the second session will include surface design with underglazes 5:30-7:30 p.m. $150

Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events. Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Info: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

THURSDAY • MAY 21

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Music Bingo! BINGO 6 to 8 p.m. Match song clips to your bingo card and win fun prizes! More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events. Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 13th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 Info: call 541-549-2471

FRIDAY • MAY 22

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Geoffrey Louis Koch 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk 4 to 7 p.m. Galleries and shops feature art and demonstrations. Information: www.sistersarts.org.

Leadsinger&mainsongwriter of Toad the WetSprocket for almost40 years, Glenbringshonest,introspectivelyrics bendticket.com...$28.29 Sun., May 17 • 7 p.m. JENNER FO X B AND Jenner’s reputationisbuiltonpoignant and humorous storytellingandavoice that carries vulnerabilityandconviction. The band is a five-piecelineup featuring Pacific Northwest all-stars. bendticket.com...$28.29

Pub opens 30 minutes prior to shows 302 E. Main | 541-815-9122 Rent The Belfry!Seewebsite for info: BelfryEvents.co m

FRIDAY • MAY 22 (cont.)

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Bill Powers Bend-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. 6 to 8 p.m. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

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

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

SATURDAY • MAY 23

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Mike Biggers & Jim Cornelius Americana music, 6 to 8 p.m. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

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

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

SUNDAY • MAY 24

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Lickety Split Original music grounded in American roots traditions, including jug band stomps, vaudeville blues, old time, 2 to 4 p.m. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

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

MONDAY • MAY 25

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 open at 5:30 p.m. Info: 541-719-0572

TUESDAY • MAY 26

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Trivia 6 to 8 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

WEDNESDAY • MAY 27

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Info: 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).

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Handbuilding: Playful Farm Animals" a unique ceramic workshop participants learn beginning handbuilding techniques while they form three or four legged playful farm animals with local artist Nancy Dasen. Session two will include surface design with underglazes 5:30-7:30 p.m. $150 Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

Sisters Country birds

By Douglas Beall Correspondent

Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) is similar to the more common Song Sparrow, and maintains a somewhat dull grey and brown appearance until a closer look is captured. Living in boggy grassy areas the Lincoln’s Sparrows feeds on beetles, moths, mayflies and leafhoppers during the April to August breeding season. The remainder of the year seeds, buds, and invertebrates are primary food sources. In June a small nest is

built of sedge, grasses, and soft hairs, three to five pale blue eggs are laid which hatch in 10–13 days. In eleven days the chicks are ready to fly. The Lincoln’s Sparrow song is a warblerlike trill that is sung frequently throughout the breeding season. Groups of sparrows are called a “host,” a “ubiquity,” a “quarrel,” or a “tournament.”

John J. Audubon named the Lincoln’s Sparrow in 1833 after a friend’s son, Tom Lincoln. For more photos, visit http://abird singsbecauseithasasong. com/recent-journeys.

LETTERS

Continued from page 2

heard and valued. She is masterful in creating a climate of trust and mutual respect when working with groups from all walks of life.

Amy is a leader. She has boundless energy and determination to tackle hard things. Teaching high school students is a bit like herding cats and Amy has proven she has the skill and tenacity to move us toward a common goal.

Amy is honest and rooted in integrity. As our trusted friend and colleague, we know she has our community’s best interests at heart and will work tirelessly to make Deschutes County the best place to live, work, and play for us all. Please join us in voting for Amy Sabbadini for Position 3!

Diane and Doug Brown

s s s

Support fire levy

To the Editor:

Thursday afternoon, August 21, 2025, three miles west of Lake Billy Chinook and a lifetime away from Sisters, a small fire on private property ignites in Jefferson County.

Nineteen days later the Flat Fire is 100 percent contained. Not before 23,000-plus acres are scorched, 4,000 people are threatened, five homes and 11 structures destroyed, Level 3 evacuations cleared out entire neighborhoods while 1,200 firefighters and support staff joined the fight. Thousands can now say they survived the Flat Fire.

We all lived through it. No one lost their life.

We got lucky in Sisters Country — this time.

But risk is rising and there are significant

weaknesses in our ability to deal with fires and emergencies. Local option levy Measure 9-182 takes major steps toward reducing risk and improving the emergency services we expect.

In this election you’re being asked to approve Measure 9-182. If approved it gives us something better than luck to survive the next one.

Preparedness by wildfire specialists has been identified as a key to no loss of life and few structural losses in the Flat Fire. But Sisters has no full-time wildfire preparedness staff.

Measure 9-182 would change that by adding a permanent risk specialist.

Seasonal wildfire staffing is not currently guaranteed. Measure 9-182 would change that by permanently funding three full-time firefighter/paramedics.

Measure 9-182 would also give Sisters more lifesaving protection!

Sisters’ emergency services staff has not grown in 15 years despite a 65 percent increase in calls from 2015 to 2024. Medical calls are 69 percent of all emergency calls. We’re especially challenged in the event there are simultaneous emergency calls. Current revenues cannot support additional staffing needed to ensure reliable service. Measure 9-182 will change that by adding three full-time paramedics to Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. Measure 9-182 will change that by adding funding for one full-time equipment mechanic. What will this benefit cost me if approved? Approximately $230 yearly or $19 monthly based on the district’s average home taxable assessed value.

Vote yes on local option levy Measure 9-182.

Tom Cohen

See LETTERS on page 17

Remote Access

Southern Oregon Coast

ACTIVITY: tidepooling, camping, hiking

LENGTH OF TRIP: multi-day (four days)

ABILITY LEVEL: easy-moderate

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM SISTERS: 4.5 hours one way

Last month, my husband and I took a four-day trip to the Southern Oregon coast, in search of some coastal unplugging to celebrate my 41st revolution around the sun.

The Oregon coast evokes a childlike fascination for me, reminiscent of my elementary school years where I spent countless weekends at my grandparents’ beachside cottage along the coast of Maine. Maine, like Oregon, boasts rocky crags and outcrops along a windswept shoreline, where one can sit for hours and watch the sea foam or hike along the rocky shore. When I was a kid, I would sneak off every chance I got to climb on, near, or around, the slippery rocks along the beach. This was much to the chagrin of my grandparents who were entrusted with keeping my limbs intact while my mom

and dad took an overnight trip without kids, or went out on a kid-free date in their favorite seaside town.

Now, as an adult, I delight in the freedom to climb on the rocky crags of the Oregon Coast without a watchful authority figure limiting the boundaries of where I can venture. In fact, as my husband would readily tell you, it is now me who is reminding him to not get too close to the edge!

We started our weekend at Sunset Bay State Park near Coos Bay, where we had reserved a forested campsite to set up our pop-up truck camper. We were grateful for the lack of cell phone reception, and a clear, cool evening to enjoy a crackling campfire. The campground itself had well-maintained facilities and was across the street from a gorgeous protected bay, where we spotted several species of gulls and cormorants, alongside a few ambitious kayakers paddling towards the choppy sea.

The next morning, we woke early so that we wouldn’t miss the “super negative” low tide, an event that intermittently occurs from April through August along the Oregon Coast. A helpful park host told us that this would be an ideal time to tidepool, as the extremely low tide would expose a vast array of intertidal marine life. We made a quick pot of coffee to take with us, and journeyed about 10 minutes up the Cape Arago Highway to Cape Arago State Park, where we were delighted to find that we were the only park visitors at 7 a.m. on the foggy and cold coastal morning.

Coffee-filled hydroflasks

in hand, we picked our way along the beach and out onto the coastal rocks, quickly finding the colorful creatures we were looking for. The celebrities of the morning were certainly the sea stars — violet and vibrant orange and clinging to the underside of several wave-battered rocks. We enjoyed lime-green giant sea anemones, purple sea urchins, and dense clusters of snow-white gooseneck barnacles. New to us were large reddish-brown armored marine mollusks with bright orange undersides. We discovered later, when back in googling territory, that these are called Gumboot Chitons, the world’s largest marine Chiton, also known as the wandering meatloaf. (A week later, “wandering meatloaf” has become my favorite nickname for my neighbors’ orange cat that frequently finds his way into our living room — but, I digress.)

After tidepooling and a jetboil oatmeal breakfast at one of the state park’s picnic tables, we decided to venture out for a hike on the Cape Arago Pack Trail; this trailhead was located just 500 feet from where we had parked our truck when we arrived earlier that morning. This easily accessible trail began by winding through dense coastal forest, with sections

of Sitka spruce, shore pine, and vibrant, thick ferns. After a steep, muddy section of trail, we were rewarded with scenic viewpoints overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where rocky headlands and offshore sea stacks defined the rugged coastline. By this time, the weather had cleared and we had a fantastic view of the coast as far as the eye could see. In true, kid-like fashion, Dave and I climbed out on some rocky outcrops to take pictures and enjoy a snack.

The trail eventually led back to the coastal highway and across the road to the Simpson Reef overlook, where hundreds of sea lions and seals could be spotted (and heard!) in the distance jockeying for a place on the sunny rocks of Shell Island. We spent several minutes gazing at them through binoculars along with other tourists enjoying the mild temperatures and sunny coastal afternoon.

The rest of our weekend was spent outside of Bandon at a rustic Airbnb tucked into the coastal hills and away from the tourist crowds. Along the way, we checked out a few great restaurants, tried out a new brewery, and of course, stopped for ice cream.

For the sake of time and reader attention spans, I’ll

add a few of these recommendations below for those who might want to check out the area in the near future. All and all, the Southern Oregon Coast is a place of rugged, natural beauty alongside rich wildlife and enchanting harbor towns. A journey to this part of the state is not to be missed. Until next time, happy adventuring!

Tony’s Crab Shack (Bandon): A casual seafood restaurant on the Bandon Boardwalk known for serving fresh, locally sourced dishes like fish tacos and oyster shooters along the scenic waterfront.

Redfish (Port Orford): A contemporary, slightly upscale coastal restaurant in Port Orford, known for its local seafood dishes and panoramic ocean views.

Face Rock Creamery (Bandon): An award-winning artisan cheese producer known for its small-batch cheddars and other handcrafted dairy products made from locally sourced milk on the southern Oregon coast.

7 Devils Brewing and Public House (Coos Bay): A Coos Bay craft brewery and pub known for its coastalinspired beers, frequent live music and community events. There are two locations, one in downtown Coos Bay and one along the waterfront.

Siobhan Gray, MD Columnist

decision almost immediately.

Not dramatically. Not in some catastrophic way. But enough to notice something uncomfortable: my mind still thinks I am the same person I was at 30.

My body, however, has started offering a slightly different perspective. That realization stayed with me longer than the sore shoulders.

One of the strange things about aging is that our identity often changes more slowly than our physiology. Internally, many of us still feel fundamentally ourselves. Curious. Adventurous. Capable. We still picture ourselves hiking the trail, carrying the pack, taking the trip, saying yes to the experience.

But gradually, quietly, the body begins renegotiating the terms.

Before my recent trip to Uganda, I made a decision that felt very aligned with the younger version of myself. I packed a backpack instead of a suitcase.

Years ago, I traveled this way constantly. Airports, buses, trains, long walks through unfamiliar cities. A backpack represented freedom to me. Simplicity. Adventure. I liked the feeling that I could carry everything I needed on my shoulders, and move easily through the world.

This time, somewhere between long flights, uneven roads, and hauling it through airports, I regretted the

As a physician, I think about this often now, especially living in a community where many people moved here specifically to live actively and outdoors. This is a town of trails, rivers, bikes on the backs of cars, skis in garages, and people who genuinely want to stay engaged with life as they age.

And yet increasingly, I find myself thinking that most people prepare financially for retirement while very few prepare physically for it.

Recently I read an article discussing the idea that while people may live into

their 80s or beyond, the number of truly vibrant, capable years is often much shorter than we assume. Not years alive, but years where the body still easily supports adventure, spontaneity, independence, travel, strength, and resilience.

That distinction struck me deeply. Because in medicine, I see the difference between lifespan and healthspan every day. I see people who technically survive for decades while their world gradually becomes smaller. Knees hurt, balance worsens, energy fades, confidence declines, and little by little life becomes more cautious and constrained. Long hikes become short walks. Big trips feel exhausting. Recovery takes longer. People stop trying new things not because they lose curiosity, but because participation itself becomes harder.

At the same time, I know people who are doing it differently. I have patients in their 70s who spend two months each year living out of a camper in Utah canyon country, hiking and exploring on their own terms. I have a neighbor in her mid70s who regularly hikes Black Butte from the bottom trailhead on weekends, the way most people half her age would not bother. These are not exceptional genetic outliers. They are people

who made consistent choices over many years, and those choices compounded.

The modern conversation around longevity sometimes becomes obsessed with living forever, as though the goal is simply adding more years. But I think many people intuitively want something different. They want to preserve the years where they still feel fully inside their lives.

That requires real investment. Muscle and strength have to be built and maintained. Cardiovascular fitness doesn’t hold without consistent work. Sleep and metabolic health shape nearly everything about how the body functions and recovers. And beyond the physical, purpose matters, connection matters, novelty and community and continuing to challenge yourself mentally and physically all matter in ways the science increasingly supports. Aging well is not just about preventing disease. It is about preserving capacity.

And perhaps just as importantly, it is about resisting the quiet shrinking that can happen long before we realize it. Smaller routines. Smaller risks. Smaller worlds.

I thought about this often in Uganda. Watching people carry heavy loads, walk long distances, adapt constantly, and remain deeply connected

to community and daily life made me reflect on how much of aging in modern society has become passive. We wait for decline, and then react to it instead of building lives and bodies that support vitality as long as possible.

Of course aging is real. None of us are staying 30 forever. I certainly felt that with my backpack. But maybe the goal is not to stay young. Maybe it is to stay capable long enough to continue inhabiting the life we worked so hard to build.

To keep traveling. Keep learning. Keep participating. Keep saying yes to adventure in whatever form it takes.

Because the truth is, there may come a day when the backpack feels too heavy. And that is exactly why the years when it still doesn’t matter so much.

Siobhan Gray, MD, is a physician in Sisters and founder of PeakMD Health, with a focus on metabolic health, longevity, and healthy aging.

Samantha Huhtala told The Nugget that she was concerned about pedestrian traffic being out in the street in front of Sisters Saloon, where she is general manager. She noted that a pedestrian was killed by a vehicle on the Cascade Avenue just a few feet away last winter. Access to the restaurant was less than ideal, as well, she pointed out, noting that she had understood that a temporary ramp was supposed to be in place to access the front door.

And the work has been disruptive for a restaurant that is open after 7 p.m. Huhtala reported that she had to comp food to a customer who was annoyed at the sound of jackhammering on the sidewalk throughout dinner.

The business owners said that they appreciate the need for the work, but were not satisfied with the communication they got from ODOT.

There was a great deal of frustration expressed at the compounding impacts on merchants of a fire-interrupted summer, a low-snow winter, and now a downtown area that is torn up even

as events like the Alpine Running distance race and the Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational brought a couple of thousand visitors to town.

David Moore, president of Sisters Business Association (SBA), was out Thursday trying to find out how the situation developed and how it might be mitigated. He spoke on the phone to the ODOT project manager about the ramp issue at Sisters Saloon, and the ramp was put in place shortly after. The project manager assured Moore that the work crews would have the work wrapped up by Memorial Day weekend

SUDOKU SOLUTION

for puzzle on page 21

“before the busy season.” Moore, who is a contractor, told The Nugget that he understands the challenges of managing a project in a public space like Cascade Avenue. He said he hopes that in the future SBA can be looped into the planning so they can act as a liaison with the business community — all in hopes of finding more effective ways to anticipate impacts and mitigate them.

Farmers and ranchers in Sisters Country are bracing for impact. Situated east of the Cascade foothills in an area running northeast from Whychus Creek through the Cloverdale area and down McKenzie Canyon to Lower Bridge, the Three Sisters Irrigation District provides irrigation water to 7,572 acres of certified water rights held by farming and ranching interests within its boundaries.

Emilia Ellington is the District’s manager.

“This is already a busy irrigation season, with Whychus Creek levels at 40 percent in our first full month of water delivery,” Ellington told The Nugget. “Normally, we don’t see these low levels until August or September. Many have compared this drought to 1977, so this is a first for us.”

According to Oregon’s May 4 Drought and Water Conditions Report, about 70 percent of the state is now classified in moderate to severe drought, with portions of southeastern Oregon in extreme drought. Statewide snowpack has collapsed to just 10 percent of normal for this time of year, a critical indicator for communities that rely on mountain snowmelt to refill rivers, reservoirs, and irrigation systems during the summer months.

Conditions in Central Oregon reflect that broader trend. Snow water equivalent measurements across Oregon basins range from 0 to 24 percent of historical averages, with most basins far below normal. Streamflow conditions in April were below normal across the state, and recent measurements show declining

For Sisters Country, heavily dependent on stored snowpack, the numbers are troubling.

When asked whether the District is changing its operations, Ellington said, “We haven’t done anything completely new this year other than beginning our late-season practices early, and setting expectations with the farmers months ago as we realized what was likely going to happen. The District is currently on a rotation schedule for water delivery, and senior water holders can take 40 percent of their full allotment.”

In a meeting with District 5 Representative Janelle Bynum on Monday, May 4, Ann Pistacchi-Peck of the Bend Farmer’s Market and the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance noted that some farmers have reported having difficulty selling out the subscriptions for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. She said that research into the problem indicated that many consumers anticipate that farmers and ranchers won’t be able to deliver fully on their subscriptions due to lack of water.

Audrey Tehan, executive director of Seed to Table, told The Nugget that the Sisters nonprofit has seen a similar situation.

“We did have a slower time this year filling out our CSA,” she said.

She was not sure that could be attributed to drought fears, however, noting that other economic pressures could have an effect.

“It has to really fit into somebody’s lifestyle to join a CSA,” she said.

Tehan noted that Seed to Table is in the fortunate position of operating off of an agricultural well, which offers consistency of water access for the farm.

“This marks the second drought declaration issued in 2026,” Kotek’s office said in an April statement. “The unusually warm temperatures contributed to a record-low snowpack with likely impacts on natural resources, water supply, and wildfire risk across the state.”

The governor’s office noted that Oregon’s 2025–26 winter tied 1934 as the warmest winter on record. Warm temperatures meant more winter precipitation fell as rain instead of snow, leaving mountain snowmelt reserves dramatically depleted before the start of irrigation season.

Precipitation during the past 30 days also remained below normal for most of Oregon, while temperatures continued running above

average. Soil moisture conditions are drier than normal across western and north-central Oregon.

Reservoir storage is another growing concern. Most U.S. Bureau of Reclamation storage projects in Oregon are below normal levels. While water managers in Central Oregon entered spring with some reservoir carryover from previous years, irrigation districts may still face difficult allocation decisions later this summer if dry weather persists.

The outlook offers little encouragement, though Ellington points to a few silver linings. “What happens for the rest of the season depends on the rain we would normally see in June. I can say we are in a better position now because we are almost completely piped. Also, many of our farmers are helping each other out, taking only what they need or going fallow for the season if they can.”

State climatologists and federal forecasters say drought is likely to continue or intensify across Oregon from May through July, with abovenormal temperatures and below-normal precipitation predicted during the critical summer months. That combination raises concerns not only for farmers and ranchers

but also for cities, recreation businesses, and firefighters preparing for what could be an early and active wildfire season.

Low stream flows are already threatening fish habitat and rafting conditions on some rivers. Ranchers are watching pasture conditions closely, while irrigation districts are warning patrons to prepare for tighter supplies if hot, dry weather continues into July and August.

The drought declarations unlock emergency tools through the Oregon Water Resources Department, including expedited reviews for temporary water transfers and emergency water-use authorizations.

Water experts say the region’s long-term challenge is becoming increasingly clear: warmer winters are reducing the snowpack that has historically served as Central Oregon’s natural reservoir. With the state entering another dry summer after one of the warmest winters on record, officials say communities may need to prepare for drought not as a temporary emergency, but as an increasingly common part of life in the West.

Editor in Chief Jim Cornelius contributed to this report.

USFS ramps up for expected busy wildfire season

By Evan Burks Fire & Aviation Management, U.S. Forest Service

The warning signs flashed early this year. After a dismal winter snowpack across many western high elevations, forests are drying faster and by midsummer may be ripe for extreme fire conditions. Communities face mounting risk, but federal fire leaders are keeping the nation’s wildfire response system ready.

“All of our predictive models point to a challenging summer,” says Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher, head of Fire and Aviation Management for the U.S. Forest Service. “But we have an incredible workforce and an interagency system built to adapt and meet challenges head-on.”

Wildfires are burning longer, moving faster and behaving less predictably than they did even a decade ago. To meet that challenge, the Forest Service is ensuring their national firefighting network of over 28,000 responders are ready.

The network includes more than 90 Interagency Hotshot Crews, 40 Type 2 Initial Attack crews and hundreds of additional Type 2 crews, which are hand crews with different capabilities for quickly containing and controlling wildfires. They are supported by more than 900 Forest Service fire engines and another 1,600 contracted engines and pieces of heavy equipment.

The Forest Service also covers the sky, managing more than 400 aircraft including helicopters, water scoopers and 29 large airtankers that can operate nationwide. These aircraft can respond to fast-changing conditions. They support missions for both the Forest Service, Department of the Interior and states.

Together this entire system of responders and logistical support forms a unified response structure. It moves crews, aircraft and equipment where they are needed most, regardless of agency boundaries.

“Our strength comes from working as one system in full partnership with the Department of the Interior,” Fisher said. “When conditions change, we adapt quickly and overcome.”

While the Forest Service is committed to aggressive suppression, federal fire leaders say long-term solutions depend on reducing fuels and making forests more resilient before wildfires start.

Each year, the Forest Service reduces wildfire

risk across three million to four million acres of land, more than any other federal agency. Through active management of forests and grasslands, wildfire behavior is moderated and the odds that homes and communities can withstand future wildfires increase. Cutting overgrown forests and prescribed burning also increase firefighter safety.

“We can’t control the weather, but we can influence how fire behaves on the ground,” Fisher said. “That’s where active management makes all the difference for firefighters and communities.”

Federal officials stress the importance of prevention and public awareness because most wildfires are human caused. States, tribes, local governments, and private landowners play critical roles in reducing risk and preparing their communities.

“We are doing our part to train our employees and be ready,” Fisher said. “But we need everyone in this effort because fire doesn’t stop at property lines.”

During May’s Wildfire Awareness Month, the Forest Service emphasizes that prevention is the first line of defense. The agency also ensures responders are trained, certified, and available to move at a moment’s notice. Through this shared responsibility and strong interagency coordination federal firefighters are prepared for another challenging season.

For more information visit https://www.fs.usda. gov/about-agency/priorities/ wildfire-readiness-response.

LETTERS

Continued from page 12

s s s

To the Editor:

Residents of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District are being asked to support local option levy Measure 9-182 to strengthen emergency response and preparedness in our community. I offer this perspective as the district’s former fire chief, having served for 12 years, and as someone who engaged in wildfire policy issues at the state and western U.S. level.

Wildfire risk in Sisters is not new — and it is not going away. During my time as chief, our community was impacted nearly every year by fires such as Pole Creek, Milli, Green Ridge, Grandview, Rabbit Brush, and Whychus. The key lesson is that while we cannot eliminate wildfire, we can live with it safely through strong preparation and an effective, well-funded fire department.

Last summer’s Flat Fire was a clear reminder. Although a few homes were lost, the outcome could have been far worse. Preparedness, staffing, and rapid response made a difference — and will continue to do so in future incidents.

Measure 9-182 helps ensure the district is ready. It supports hiring additional firefighter-paramedics, strengthening both wildfire response and advanced life support ambulance service. In a rural community, the fire department is often the first — and only — line of response for both fire and medical emergencies. Adequate staffing improves response times, enhances safety, and ensures reliable service as call volumes grow.

Preparedness ultimately comes down to people. Investing in trained personnel ensures the district can meet increasing demands and protect both residents and visitors.

I encourage the community to support Measure 9-182. It is a practical investment in wildfire safety, emergency response, and the resilience of our community.

Roger Johnson Retired Fire Chief, SistersCamp Sherman Fire District

s s s

Why I am voting for Patti Adair

To the Editor:

Patti Adair offers Deschutes voters in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District a compelling choice for the May 19 election.

Patti has had real world experience in the best training ground for real

world governance and preparation for Congressional office — the Deschutes County Commission. For the past eight years, Patti has been a popular and effective Deschutes County Commissioner. In her job as a Commissioner she has represented well the nearly 30 percent of Deschutes voters who live in unincorporated areas throughout Deschutes County (as she and her husband do) and solely rely on Deschutes County for road and sheriff services, land use decisions, County garbage, 911, and health services. Rural areas have water, wildlife, and wildfire problems, and Patti has responded well and led on them all.

She has also worked closely with the “city” problems of Sisters, Redmond, Bend, and La Pine, on the many issues that crossover between city and county issues. Examples of this are her work on the Veterans Village and the Stabilization center.

Patti has another expertise that will help her immensely in Washington, D.C. Patti has an accounting background and training, and within Deschutes County she is known to scrutinize budgets, like her own brand of an “audit committee.” She tries to be smart in the spending of our tax money to create only programs that show likely benefits. She worked closely with her husband, a medical doctor in his successful business in the Los Angeles area for many years before returning to Oregon in 2014.

The congressional role is natural for Patti. She grew up on a ranch in rural Eastern Oregon outside of Heppner — and has many family members who still ranch and compete in rodeos. Patti has ridden, owned, and competed on horses (barrel racing) all of her life. This matches well with a grounding for her of the issues of the many farm and forest and small-town areas that make up a large portion of the 5th Congressional District west of the Cascades.

Finally, the voters of Congressional District 5 will likely appreciate the “constituent services” of Congresswoman Adair — a big part of Congressional service of helping citizens with their interactions with the federal government. She has been outstanding at helping residents as a County Commissioner — listening to peoples’ problems and needs and helping solve them.

Patti Adair is a terrific choice on May 19.

Phil Henderson s s s

BYNUM:

Congresswoman heard wildfire concerns

Continued from page 1

bill passed the House of Representatives in March. The bill must pass the Senate before it can be presented to the President to be signed into law.

Bynum noted that her family was evacuated during Oregon’s terrible fire year of 2020.

“I’ve experienced it,” she said. “I understand it. We haven’t had a loss personally, but I understand it.”

The business leaders in the meeting noted that the direct impacts of wildfire are only part of the problem for the region’s businesses. Smoke can create bad conditions that curtail activities and impact the economy during the height of the tourist season.

Ann Pistacchi-Peck of the Bend Farmer’s Market and the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance noted that the Farmer’s Market has adjusted its hours to avoid times when some conditions are most acute.

She said that farmers and ranchers who are vendors at the market rely on it for 50 to 80 percent of their seasonal income, so they can’t afford to see the market shut down.

“The Sisters Farmers Market had to shut down one day last year (due to the Flat Fire),” Pistacchi-Peck said. “That was devastating

for those farmers.”

Bynum cited shifting hours or being prepared to bring activities indoors as an example of “controlling the controllables.”

The actual impact of smoky days is not the only problem facing businesses and event producers. The region now has a reputation for smoky summertime conditions, which gives people pause before scheduling an event or a vacation here.

“It makes us a little undatable,” said Marney Smith, general manager of Hayden Homes Amphitheater.

She noted that certain artists will not book in the height of fire season for fear of smoky conditions. The problem is compounded by the reality that wildfire conditions are a problem across the entire North American West. Central Oregon can be impacted by smoke from fires in California, or smoke from fires in Canada.

Dana Whitelaw, executive director of the High Desert Museum spoke about the vulnerability of that cultural institution, surrounded by forest. She noted that funding for forest thinning and prescribed burning is important, and also that organizations like hers often do not qualify for the kind of grant funding that homeowners can get to do “hardening” projects to make buildings and gourds more fire resistant.

Bynum told the business leaders that she needs their

Editor’s note: Debris burning season is closed across Sisters Country.

among the warmest on record and snowpack across the Northwest was one-third of normal levels, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Last year’s wildfire season burned significantly fewer Oregon acres than in previous years, in large part because the Oregon Legislature allocated hundreds of millions of additional dollars to the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Both in turn beefed up preparation and response systems since the 2020 Labor Day Fires that became the most expensive in state history.

But most fires last year — more than 60 percent of wildfires — were started by humans, a disappointing reversal from years prior, which had human-caused fires trending downward. People burning yard waste and other debris is the number one cause of human-ignited wildfires, Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said.

support if she is asked to take a “tough vote” on forest management practices or the aggressiveness of initial attacks in fighting fire.

Bynum and others acknowledged the serious impact of rising insurance premiums — and access to insurance. Bynum posed the problem as a symptom of the creation of “two Americas.”

“There’s those who can afford the risk; then there’s those who absolutely cannot,” Bynum said.

The Nugget asked Bynum after the session if there is a federal mechanism to intervene in the insurance market to ensure access for homeowners who are threatened with loss of coverage.

“There’s always a mechanism,” she said.

However, she indicated that there is little concerted effort in that direction, noting only that some people are talking about treating highrisk homeowners insurance like flood insurance, where homeowners have access to a federal product.

Bynum acknowledged that difficulty of building resilience in the face of natural conditions that can’t be controlled. She referenced her own experience as a business owner.

“To be a business owner, you have to be unreasonably optimistic,” she said. “But that’s the thrill. I hope that you still feel optimistic about everything that is great about Central Oregon.”

WOOL GROWER: Ticket revenue will go to support ranchers

Continued from page 3

Both events offer unique opportunities to connect directly with Carver and engage with the story behind Shaniko Wool, including a close-up look at the custom uniforms worn by Team USA’s Winter Olympians, sourced by Shaniko Wool.

Jeanne Carver has stewarded the land at Imperial Stock Ranch in Wasco County for over 30 years, coming into deep relationship with the landscape and lifeways of the high desert. Her work has been featured on runways, in scientific publications, on the needles of fiber artists around the world, and in the official Team USA uniforms worn at the last five Winter Olympics.

She is one of many regional producers working closely with research and conservation groups. Her work is unique, though, with her message of conservation and craft attracting

the attention of industry giants such as Ralph Lauren and the Textile Exchange’s Regenerative Agriculture Report, among others. While her vision has gone global and Shaniko Wool Company now encompasses ecologically sensitive ranches across the American West, this work remains rooted in the landscapes of Central Oregon. As HDFFA’s Small Farms Coordinator James Faughnan shared, “The contributions to ecology and culture by Central Oregon’s small farmers and ranchers can’t be overstated. They understand the urgency of protecting our soils and waterways and doing so in a way that’s joyful and brings us closer to our agricultural heritage.” Learn more and reserve your spot at hdffa.org/events. These opportunities are made possible by a Thriving Communities grant provided by Philanthropy Northwest. Ticket revenue will support opportunities and scholarships for Central Oregon ranchers. To learn more about ways to support, visit HDFFA’s website or contact Executive Director Kristin Points at kristin@hdffa.org.

Oregon’s new state forester, Kacey KC, said it’s likely that wildfire risk will be above normal east of the Cascades in rangeland areas beginning in June and above normal southwest of the Cascades by July, heading up further into forests that have experienced record-low snowpack this year.

Federal partners?

Oregon’s fire agencies have roughly 700 wildland firefighters and 300 fire trucks ready to protect 16 million Oregon acres this season. They’ll rely as well on more than 300 local fire departments and federal and tribal wildland firefighters to respond in an emergency.

“We are ready, we are coordinated and we are all hands on deck as we prepare for the season,” Kotek said.

Oregon’s congressional Democrats have raised concerns that federal support could be lacking in light of budget and personnel cuts to the U.S. Forest Service over the last year. The cuts, according to a letter from Oregon’s senior U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, included 1,400 employees who hold the necessary

certifications to support firefighting operations during a wildfire.

KC said she talks frequently with the Forest Service’s regional director — at least weekly as the state prepares and gets closer to the fire season — and that she’s been assured no wildland firefighters working for the Forest Service or U.S. Department of the Interior in Oregon have lost their jobs.

Although federal officials have been criticized for consolidating wildland firefighting efforts at both agencies to create the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service so close to the start of the fire season, KC said signs so far indicate that moving all firefighting efforts under the Interior as opposed to several agencies could be beneficial in the long run.

“They’re working together to figure out how to do this more effectively. And so I feel confident that this year, on a firefighting front, they’re going to be as active as they’ve always been, and that it may actually even be a little simpler,” she said.

Republished under Creative Commons license

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 courtesy of https://oregoncapital chronicle.com/.

EMPLOYEES: EDCO has released list of top employers

The Nugget, a vast departure from prior years when the agency was in frequent dialog with the community via The Nugget

Thus, when something so dramatic as a 37 percent workforce reduction occurs, readers want to know what services, programs, or priorities in the District may have been curtailed, especially if that in any way revolves around fire management.

The Nugget asked more than once, “If indeed your numbers dropped from 114 to 72, how is the District able to do the same work with 37 percent fewer workers?” The response from the USFS was somewhat vague.

“The staffing numbers shared with EDCO are a snapshot in time. Employers provide staffing numbers for the pay period with the highest number of employees over the course of that year,” said Jaimie Olle, public affairs specialist in Bend.

“District staff will continue to focus on agency priorities including active forest management, wildfire

CONSOLIDATE:

No impact expected in local districts

Continued from page 8

Forester Jamie Barnes.

Nick Smith, public affairs director with the American Forest Resource Council, a timber industry group, expressed support for the agency’s effort to consolidate its work, saying he’d had “limited interaction” with the research stations.

While some of the Forest Service’s work is controversial, agency veterans say its research program is valued by loggers and tree huggers alike.

“Nobody was asking for this,” said Robert Bonnie, who served as undersecretary of agriculture for natural resources and environment during the Obama administration. “There was no call to do anything like this.”

This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Oregon Capital Chronicle, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 courtesy of https://oregoncapital chronicle.com/.

risk reduction, wildfire response, and outdoor recreation opportunities,” she concluded.

When we pressed about fire preparedness, Olle said: “We will have nine non-fire, seasonal employees working on the Sisters Ranger District this field season, which we did not have last year. Several of these nonfire seasonals will attend Guard School this spring, which is an initial firefighter training course, so they are prepared to support fire suppression efforts during the peak summer months as well.”

Elsewhere in the report,

The Nugget asked EDCO for clarification regarding Sisters Coffee Co., confirming that the number of 82 was Sisters employees only. The company, now with four locations, lists an additional 21 employees in Bend.

The number of workers in the rankings includes all categories: full-time, parttime, seasonal, and part-time seasonal.

A truer picture of employment in Sisters would entail knowing the total dollar compensation of all workers, something employers

are loathe to reveal and for which access to Oregon Employment Department records is restricted or not refined by city or town.

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS:

Partners in Real Estate & Construction has merged with Home & Garden for a fresh NEW section we’re calling...

SI SISTERSLiving

SPRING 2026

This updated special section appearing in The Nugget June 3 and 10 is designed to increasingly reflect the lifestyle, beauty, and character of our community while building strong connections between local businesses and the readers who rely on them.

If you’re in home maintenance, building, real estate, landscaping, design, furnishings — anything that helps people love where they live — this is prime placement! You’ll be in front of readers already thinking about what to fix, build, plant, or upgrade next. In other words, you won’t be just placing an ad, you’ll be putting down roots (We went there!) in the right place in this special pullout section.

Each participating advertiser will have a full-color ad both weeks and a story one week to help people get to know you and your business. Because we know you are busy running your business, we’ll interview you and write the story, and professional design of your ad is included. Four advertising levels available to and budget!

If you are ready for a season filled with doing the w you are passionate about, respond to Kimberly no Deadline is Friday, Ma

your needs

HIGH

Furthermore, in 1938, the town was optimistic that it had emerged from the dark times. The mills were going strong. Central Oregon’s recreational opportunities had been recognized, and tourists were coming. The South Santiam route (the old wagon road from Albany) had been paved and was designated US Highway 20. Highway 22 (the North Santiam route to Salem and Portland) was set to open soon. Sisters had just experienced its best year ever, and more growth was expected. Residents wanted to prepare for this growth, but they expressed their priority not by pushing for incorporation, as one might suppose. They would eventually get around to that. But the citizens’ first priority was to expand their school system. They would do this by adding another building—a dedicated Sisters High School.

On June 30, 1938, 15 “legal voters” submitted a petition to the Sisters School Board. The petition requested that the board call a local bond election — a vote to determine if the public would support the construction of a new high school and the purchase of necessary land. What followed was a year-long avalanche of activity that, to any contemporary observer of government process, would be, in terms of speed and energy, simply inconceivable. The project’s accomplishment is a testament to the commitment and integrity of the Sisters community — of its stakeholders at all levels.

The bond election was held on August 10; the $14,000 measure passing 61-10. Three days later, the school board voted to apply to the PWA for additional funds. John Elwood Isted prepared the application. Approval came in October, with the PWA adding $8,550 to the project. Also that month, the

land was purchased — for $500. Bids for the bond sales, construction contracts, etc. were often opened at school board meetings and awarded on the spot. O.C. “Bud” Hart got the building contract on December 5; he started surveying the next morning.

And on December 29, finding the weather acceptable, Bud Hart started pouring concrete! It was six months to the day since 15 people approached the school board with an idea. And construction — fully funded — was underway.

John Elwood Isted, after having facilitated the PWA grant, was kept on by the board as architect and project manager. Isted had done many projects in the state, and is remembered today for his design of Silver Falls Lodge.

Bud Hart owned Hart Building of Redmond. Bud did several projects in the area, including the 41-structure town of Crescent for the Gilchrist Timber Company, south of La Pine. He also built Camp Abbott for the military (now the site of Sunriver).

The PWA funded a lot of schools. It was one of the agency’s favorite projects. Between 1933 and 1939, the PWA backed 70 percent of all new educational facilities in the country. Many of the country’s schools had been built in the mid 19th century. Most were old, inadequate, and small — reflecting not just the smaller population of the previous century, but the low priority families then placed on education. PWA’s emphasis on schools persuaded congress to keep the depression era agency going a year or so longer than previously intended — just to build schools.

The Sisters High School project was one of the final projects the PWA undertook in its lifetime, receiving the proposal on the very last day the agency accepted grant applications.

Next week: Design and construction of the Old Sisters High School.

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

CLASSIFIED RATES

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

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CATEGORIES:

102 Commercial Rentals

STORAGE WITH BENEFITS

•8 x 20 dry box

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•In-town, gated, 24-7

EWDevcoLLC@gmail.com

MINI STORAGE

Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor RV parking. 7-day access. Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies.

103 Residential Rentals

3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 yards, in town. Dog friendly. Recently remodeled. $2750/month. 541-815-1271

Rental Unit

Studio apartment-separate upstairs room with windows. Quiet 2 acre lot with forest view in a gated community. 700 sq. ft.

Furnished: heat pump, Smart TV, new carpet, ninja, complete bath. $1200/ Month-to-month rent, Electricity included. First and last plus deposit. References required. Pet negotiable. No storage. Call 541-420-0175.

CASCADE HOME

& PROPERTY RENTALS

Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792

Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com

Cowboy Court Apartments

2 bedroom 2 bath. $1,695/month, RSD $1,650. Lease through 6/30/2027. Vacates 6/30/26. Some pets considered (dogs & cats OK with add'l $350 RSD per pet). This is 2nd floor unit in the back building. W/S/Garbage/ landscaping is paid. approx. 1,000 sq. ft. NO SMOKING. 154 W Adams Ave. #222 Dishwasher, microwave, washer & dryer, deck, garbage disposal, granite countertops, energyefficient windows, storage, plank flooring throughout, electric heat w/air conditioning, off-street parking - one reserved space (covered space $20/Month).

104 Vacation Rentals

Downtown Vacation Rentals Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom info@SistersVacationRentals.net Great pricing. 503-730-0150

202 Firewood

NEW DISCOUNT PRICES SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD •SINCE 1976 • Fuel Reduction Forestry Doug Fir – Lodgepole –Hardwood – Juniper – Fir DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES –18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com

Order Online! 541-410-4509

205 Garage & Estate Sales

GARAGE SALE!

May 16 -17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday. 17560 Mountain View Rd., Sisters, in Whychus Canyon Estates. *Health and sports equipment *furniture *snow blower *bikes and women's e-bike *ATV and trailer *kitchen items and more. 503-347-7792

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

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

We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397

Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

403 Pets

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL PUPPIES

2 male puppies looking for a loving/forever home. Delivery avail.  541-413-0912 www.CavaliersAtElkRun.com

SISTERS WHISKERS

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

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

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

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.

SMALL Engine REPAIR

Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers

Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Running Out of Firewood? Check The Nugget Classifieds Category 202 to resupply!

501 Computers & Communications

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504 Handyman

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505 Auto Repair BURLINGTON AUTOMOTIVE

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600 Tree Service & Forestry LOLO TREE WORKS

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CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062

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604 Heating & Cooling ACTION AIR

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605 Painting Interior/Exterior Painting

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606 Landscaping & Yard

Maintenance

PROPERTY CLEANUP AND ITEM REMOVAL SPECIALIZING IN PINE NEEDLES AND CONES. OFFERING OTHER SERVICES CALL THE WORKIN' MAN 541-610-2926.

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

STEVE'S HAULING

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

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

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

802 Help Wanted

Sisters School District invites applications for the position of Director of Operations This leadership role supports essential district operations and services. To see a complete job description and to apply online, visit: https://sisters.schoolspring.com/. 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

999 Public Notice

CITY OF SISTERS

EDGINGTON ROAD TRANSMISSION LINE

EXTENSION PROJECT Bids due 2:00 p.m, June 9th, 2026

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids for the construction of the City of Sisters, Edgington Road Transmission Line, addressed to the City Recorder, City of Sisters, Oregon will be received until 2:00 p.m. local time at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, P.O. Box 39, Sisters, Oregon, on June 9, 2026, and then publicly opened and read at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall, in Sisters, Oregon. Bids shall be clearly labeled: Edgington Road Transmission Line.

Eastern Cascade Solutions Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195 LCB #9958 • CCB #222039 J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, irrigation, aerating, raking, mowing, thatching, hauling debris. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com

– 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

Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company. Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com

701 Domestic Services

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

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

Improvements generally include the construction of approximately 12,000 LF of 16” C900 DR 18 water transmission line from OR HWY 242 to the Sisters Reservoir near Peterson Burn Road along Edgington Road. The work will involve the installation of fire hydrants, air/vac valve assemblies as well as an open trench crossing and pavement repair across OR HWY 242. The invitation to bid, plans, specifications, addenda, and notification of bid results for this project may be viewed at Sisters City Hall at 520 E Cascade Avenue, Sisters, OR 97759; or printed or ordered on line from Premier Builders Exchange at http://www.plansonfile.com. There will be no Pre-Bid Conference for the Edgington Road Transmission Line Extension Project This project is subject to the provisions of ORS 279C.800 through 279C.870 regarding payment of prevailing wages. Bidders must be registered with the Construction Contractors Board (ORS 701.055) or the bid will not be received or considered.

PUBLIC AUCTION NOTICE

On May 13, 2026, at 1 p.m. the entire contents of Unit A-78 belonging to Katie McBrady, Unit D-38 belonging to Cody Hildebrandt, and Unit C-8 belonging to Joseph Hildebrandt will be sold to the highest bidder. The high bidder(s) must remove the contents within 3 days. Sale takes place at Sisters Rental, 331 W. Barclay Drive, Sisters, OR. 541-549-9631

C L A S S I F I E D S

ORS 279B.100. No bidder withdraw his bid after the hour set for the opening and before award of contract, unless award is delayed beyond sixty (60) calendar days from the bid opening date.

CITY OF SISTERS

ROPE STREET PUMP

STATION RENOVATION PROJECT

MAY 5, 2026 INVITATION

TO BID

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS

public meeting of the Budget

Committee of the City of Sisters the Sisters Urban Renewal Agency, Deschutes County, State Oregon, to discuss the budget fiscal year July 1, 2026 to 30, 2027, will be held at Council Chambers, City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters, OR 97759. first meeting will take place Wednesday May 20, at 9:00 via Zoom Meetings online meeting platform. Links to the meeting can be found at the City Sisters website www.ci.sisters.or.us. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and receive public comment on the budget.

The Rope Street Pump Station Renovation Project in Deschutes County, Oregon, consists of providing a Bypass Manhole, a Temporary Bypass System, building and wet well renovations, a sewage pumping system, a standby power generator and CMU screen wall, mechanical and electrical improvements, a SCADA and telemetry system, and related improvements.

Project Bids will be received by the City of Sisters at City Hall, 520 East Cascade Ave., until 2:00 p.m. local time, on June 2, 2026. Bids will not be received after the stated time. A bid opening will be held by the City immediately after the bid closing.

is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.

copy of the document may be inspected or obtained on or after 6, 2026, at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters, between hours of 8:00 a.m. and p.m.

The Issuing Office is Premier Builders Exchange, 63052 Layton Ave. #100, Bend, OR 97701. Registration with the Issuing Office and purchase of a complete set of Bidding Documents in digital form from the Issuing Office are required to become a Planholder for bidding purposes.

Listed below are times of scheduled Budget Committee Meetings.

Bidding Documents may be examined at no cost and ordered online from the Issuing Office. Contact the Issuing Office at 541-389-0123 or https://www.premierbx.com.

DATES AND TIMES:

Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at a.m.

necessary) Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. copy of this notice is available the City of Sisters website, www.ci.sisters.or.us. For additional information, please contact: Joseph O’Neill, (541) 323-5222.

NOTICE OF ROAD NAME AND ADDRESS CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following road name and address been changed:

ROAD NAME CHANGE

segment of W. Hood Avenue between W. McKenzie (Highway 242) to the south and Highway 20 to the north has renamed to W. Sisters Park Drive to allow for accurate property addressing and facilitate emergency response.

Purchase prices for an electronic download or a printed set of the complete Bidding Documents shall be established by the Issuing Office and are nonrefundable. Direct pre-bid inquiries in writing to Ryan Walters, Project Manager at ryanw@hhpr.com. Pre-bid submittals for prequalifying equipment and system integrators shall also be sent to Ryan Walters, at ryanw@hhpr.com or HHPR Inc., 205 SE Spokane St. Suite 200, Portland, OR 97202. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on May 19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. local time starting at City Hall, 520 East Cascade Ave., Sisters, OR 97759. Attendance is encouraged.

ADDRESS CHANGE

property address for 460 W. Highway 20 has been changed to W. Sisters Park Drive published notice is provided pursuant to Sisters Municipal Code Sections 12.15.300 and 12.20.030.

additional information, please contact Matthew Martin, Principal Planner at mmartin@ci.sisters.or.us or (541) 323-5208.

T H E N U G G E T

No bid will be considered unless the required forms are fully completed and submitted in the manner prescribed and are accompanied by a bid security, executed in favor of the Owner, in an amount not less than 5 percent of the total amount of the bid. This contract is for public work being financed by the City of Sisters. The contracting agency may cancel the procurement or reject any or all bids according

N E W S P A P E R

C L A S S I F I E D S

to ORS 279B.100. No bidder may withdraw his bid after the hour set for the opening and before award of contract, unless award is delayed beyond sixty (60) calendar days from the bid opening date.

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETINGS

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the City of Sisters and the Sisters Urban Renewal Agency, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, will be held at City Council Chambers, City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, Sisters, OR 97759.

The first meeting will take place on Wednesday May 20, at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom Meetings online meeting platform. Links to the meeting can be found at the City of Sisters website www.ci.sisters.or.us. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive public comment on the budget.

This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.

A copy of the document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 6, 2026, at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Listed below are times of scheduled Budget Committee Meetings.

DATES AND TIMES:

Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

(if necessary) Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

A copy of this notice is available on the City of Sisters website, www.ci.sisters.or.us. For additional information, please contact: Joseph O’Neill, (541) 323-5222.

NOTICE OF ROAD NAME AND ADDRESS CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following road name and address have been changed:

ROAD NAME CHANGE

The segment of W. Hood Avenue between W. McKenzie (Highway 242) to the south and W. Highway 20 to the north has been renamed to W. Sisters Park Drive to allow for accurate property addressing and facilitate emergency response.

ADDRESS CHANGE

The property address for 460 W. Highway 20 has been changed to 875 W. Sisters Park Drive

This published notice is provided pursuant to Sisters Municipal Code Sections 12.15.300 and 12.20.030.

For additional information, please contact Matthew Martin, Principal Planner at mmartin@ci.sisters.or.us or (541) 323-5208.

T H E N U G G E T N E W S P A P E

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

347

4

– perfect for comfort able living, entert aining, and enjoying the outdoors. Granite kitchen countertops and st ainless steel appliances. Updated primary suite with a walk-in shower and dog washing area. Bonus room above garage with deck. Access to National Forest just moments away. $974,900

3 BD, 2 BA,

4 BD, 2.5

608 S BIRCH STREET | SISTERS

2,477

– Custom

and

| Marina McCurdy

821 E DESPERADO TRAIL, #101 | SISTERS

2 BD, 2 BA, 1,215 SF – Bright and fresh condo! New flooring and interior paint. Patio invites the scenic surroundings in, overlooking green common area, towering pines, and pool. Open floor plan, 2 primary suites, plenty of inside storage, and covered carport. Close to forest trails. Enjoy a low maintenance launching point for all of your adventures. $395,000 MLS#220220297 | Leslie Cutler

70030 ANNIES DRIVE | SISTERS

5 BD, 5.5 BA, 6,146 SF – 2-acres within an 110-acre wildlife preserve. Sweeping views. Timber-framed entry opens to greatroom. Gourmet kitchen blends elegance and function, Viking 5 Series appliances. 3 luxurious en-suite bedrooms on main. Covered patio, hot tub. Native defensible landscaping. Ideal for corporate retreats, STR permit in place. $2,700,000 MLS#220214444 | Connie Mitchell

498 N WHEELER LOOP | SISTERS