The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLIX No. 27 // 2026-07-08

The Nugget

Sisters shows hometown charm in 4th Fest

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

When Rotary Club of Sisters and Citizens4 Community (C4C) set out to create a community Fourth of July event to replace the beloved Rumble on the Runway tradition that ended three years ago, they wanted to offer something that captured a sense of grassroots, downtown charm.

Their success could be seen and heard across Sisters Village Green on Saturday. “Charm” was a word that was heard a lot as people described a festive morning that included music, a pancake breakfast, displays of firefighting equipment, a bike parade, a fun run and more. Mike Shannon recalled moving to Sisters, unpacking

See 4TH FEST on page 14

City snapshot: golf carts, pedestrian safety, projects

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

Sisters City Council pondered the question of golf carts in downtown Sisters, reviewed Cascade Avenue pedestrian safety improvement recommendations, and unanimously approved two resolutions, two public works improvement projects, and a City attorney services contract.

Lieutenant Chad Davis headed up the June 24 workshop and was pleased to report that the Sisters Rodeo went off without a hitch. He added that Sisters has been very busy since the school year ended. Mayor Jennifer Letz wondered if it was legal to have golf carts driving

Sisters set to celebrate fabric arts

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Sisters celebrated the 250th anniversary of America’s birth in fine style last weekend — and immediately rolled into a celebration of one of our country’s most beloved artist traditions.

around and Lt. Davis said it was, as long as they are licensed. On the other hand, he had also seen dirt bikes which are not legal on the roads.

Capitol Projects Manager Paul Bertagna introduced Kittelson and Associates Inc. (KAI), Associate Engineer Matt Kittelson and Engineering Associate Cameron Thompson, who presented the 2026 Road Safety Audit (RSA) conducted from March 25 through March 27. The RSA focused on Cascade Avenue from the North and South Pine Street intersection to that of Jefferson East. The KAI presentation

Quilter’s Affair kicked off with hundreds of fabric artists taking classes at Sisters High School from legends of the quilting world. They will be followed by thousands who will arrive in Sisters on Saturday for the 51st Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS). SOQS is both a steward of tradition and a pioneer of possibilities in the fabric arts realm. Both missions are served by encouraging the next generations of quilters. Brooklyn Oathes (8) and Jordan Oathes, age 13, are carrying the torch of the quilting tradition. For years they have been creating quilts under the tutelage of their

See QUILT SHOW on page 17

Dishwasher fire badly damages home

A home east of Sisters suffered significant smoke damage from a fire that is believed to have started in a dishwasher last week.

Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD) responded to a reported residential structure fire on Goodrich Road on the afternoon of Monday, June 29.

The initial 911 call was received at 1:04 p.m., with the reporting party advising that flames were visible in the kitchen. Responding Cloverdale firefighters arrived to find fire involving a kitchen island. Crews quickly knocked down the fire, preventing it from spreading beyond the immediate area.

The fire was contained primarily to the kitchen island and appears to have originated in a dishwasher, according to fire district

reports. Firefighters removed the dishwasher from the residence to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. Although fire damage was limited to the kitchen area, smoke spread throughout the home, resulting in smoke damage throughout the structure. Estimated damage is approximately $125,000.

No injuries were reported. Cloverdale RFPD was assisted at the scene by Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch Fire Department, Redmond Fire & Rescue, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and Central Electric Cooperative. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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.

Lame duck

To the Editor:

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners is expected to hold a hearing soon — possibly as early as July 15, though the date could shift — on a ballot measure, based on Map C, that would carve the county into five voting districts. Residents need to watch for the announcement and be ready to show up and speak out.

Commissioners Adair and DeBone, who support the measure, say it’s time to “let the voters decide.” But the choice on offer isn’t a fair one. It’s a single, take-it-or-leave-it map drawn by a committee that split 4-3 along partisan lines, then pushed through by Adair and DeBone over Commissioner Chang’s objection. Independent analysis, including from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, found Map C is built to lock in a Republican majority on the newly expanded board — even though our county leans progressive, as the May election showed.

Timing raises a basic fairness problem, too. Both commissioners championing this map are on their way out: DeBone was voted out, and Adair isn’t running again. A decision that will shape county representation for the next decade should belong to the newly elected board voters just chose — not be rushed through by commissioners heading out the door.

If commissioners truly want voters to decide, the ballot measure should offer a real choice: keep at-large voting, or adopt districts drawn through a fair, transparent process — decided by the board voters have actually elected to serve going forward.

Check Deschutescounty.gov/meetings for the confirmed hearing date and location. Hearings typically are held in the Barnes Sawyer Room, Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, and streamed online. Written comments can be submitted here: citizeninput@deschutescounty.gov.

Sheila Kelley

Sisters Weather Forecast

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Can AI help Oregon prepare for wildfires?

By Randy Stapilus Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon and the Northwest generally have gotten off light so far this year when it comes to wildfires. That can change and probably will, because wildfires tend to take a worsening turn in the month or so ahead.

But starting this year, we may have some new tools for planning for their arrival.

The Oregon Department of Forestry said June 15 that all of its forestry districts are now considered to be in fire season. Fire Protection Division Chief Michael Curran said that “Looking at the current conditions and projections for the summer, ODF is prepared to have another busy fire season.”

Apart from the usual preparation efforts of assembling firefighters, equipment and supplies, is there anything Oregon can do to get ready?

Might this, in part, be a job for artificial intelligence?

An April 10 report from Oregon State University and the Nature Conservancy offers what amount to predictive tools about wildfire probabilities, including some factors wildfire analysts may have missed in the past.

Their model breaks wildfire risk into three groups of factors. One of them, wildfire hazard, includes the probability and intensity of burns. Relative dryness, availabili

y of burnable material, climate changes and other environmental considerations are all readily reduced to numbers.

live based on elements ranging from building materials to how development is concentrated or scattered can be reduced to a specific number — and implicitly, more factors besides those. The study found large degrees of social vulnerability around the Cascade and Coastal ranges and across much of eastern Oregon, though the most vulnerable tracts were widely scattered.

In the new study, all these things were developed for about 400 communities in Oregon and Washington.

For example, co-author Chris Dunn from the OSU College of Forestry said, “Warm Springs and Goldendale have slightly lower wildfire exposure than some nearby, betterresourced communities like Bend and Leavenworth, but they experience greater social vulnerability and therefore are likely to experience greater impacts if a fire occurred.”

The manipulation of vast amounts of information and assessment of new patterns and sets of probabilities is very much in the wheelhouse of artificial intelligence. Its use in wildfire analysis has not been central yet, but could become more so.

For example: An extensive September 2025 academic study based in Switzerland titled “AI for Wildfire Management: From Prediction to Detection, Simulation, and Impact Analysis” looked into the uses even at that point, and existing limits, for AI in fire prediction and planning for containment.

WelcomeQuilters!

But the new study also includes two more major areas: Infrastructure vulnerability(structural and neighborhood characteristics and defensible space) and social vulnerability (demographics, socioeconomics and types of housing and transportation), both of which seem a little less obvious.

The ability of an area to resist major fires can be broken down into specific physical factors (access to water, materials to block fire, easily burnable buildings or other materials). And detailed information about those factors can be developed at a hyperlocal level using Census and other data.

In other words, the relative fire risk of the places we

It said “the main domains of wildfire management where AI has been applied — susceptibility mapping, prediction, detection, simulation, and impact assessment — highlight critical limitations that hinder practical adoption. These include challenges with dataset imbalance and accessibility, the inadequacy of commonly used metrics, the choice of prediction formats, and the computational costs of largescale models, all of which reduce model trustworthiness and applicability.”

Going forward AI looks like exactly the sort of tool that might be useful in working our areas of risk from wildfire.

Oregon may need all the help it can get.

COMMUNITY

Jill Cummings presented a check for $17,000 to Living Well With Dementia Sisters last week. The funds were raised in a themed “Mob Together For Alzheimer’s” event and presented to the nonprofit through the Werner Legacy Fund in honor of Jerry and Jan Werner.

Fundraiser nets $17,000 for dementia support group

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Caring for a loved one with dementia is a profound challenge. Living Well With Dementia Sisters is a grassroots organization that has stepped up to help people in the local community face that challenge. The organization offers resources and support for families who are dealing with the tough diagnosis of dementia, and those who have been grappling with the condition for a long time.

The program got a significant boost last week as Jill Cummings presented the organization’s leaders with a check for $17,000 to support its mission.

The funds were raised

in an earlier, themed “Mob Together For Alzheimer’s” and were offered through the Werner Legacy Fund in honor of Jerry and Jan Werner.

“The disease has touched so many people,” Cummings said. “No one should have to walk this path alone.”

The cause is a personal one for Cummings. Her mother, Jan, was diagnosed

The disease has touched so many people. No one should have to walk this path alone. — Jill Cummings

with dementia at 64.

The connection to Sisters is also personal. Jerry Werner, who died in 2020, was a noted artist in Sisters, who created the quilt mural that graces Barclay Park in Downtown Sisters. Cummings grew up in Sisters and attended Sisters schools.

The board members of Living Well With Dementia Sisters, including cofounder Debbi McCune, are all intimately familiar with the challenges of living with the condition, having been caregivers for loved ones with various forms of dementia. Care partners carry a significant load of responsibility, especially as

Ed Park, the Bearded Bachelor of Black Butte

By

In the autumn of 2008, my friend Ed Park passed away. Ed had been a fire lookout on Black Butte in the 1940s.

In the summer of 2009, I had occasion to climb Black Butte and remember my friend while working on a lightning protection project for the forest service.

As I started up the butte

with Dick Kelson, who was the project lead, I speculated that Ed Park must have left something for me to remember him by. Ed and I had been friends for 15 years and I knew him well enough to know he had left sign up on Black Butte.

It might prove difficult to find tracks from 60 years before, but I was confident. There had been a fire the

Sisters gets set to ‘play it forward’

Community members of all ages are invited to lace up their sneakers and join the inaugural Sisters Play It Forward 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, July 25, at Sisters Elementary School.

Presented by Ninebark Real Estate and Advantage Mortgage, this familyfriendly community event will raise funds to support Sisters Youth Athletics and Sisters High School athletics, helping provide opportunities for local youth athletes to grow, compete, and thrive.

The tournament will feature divisions for players ages eight through adult, creating an exciting day of competition, community connection, and giving back. In addition to basketball

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. 5 41-771-2 211.

Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s)

2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Siste rs Communit y Church. M ater ials provided. 541- 408 -8 505.

Hero Q uilters of Sisters

Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 5 41-6 68 -1755

Living Well W ith Dementia Sisters

Care Par tner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th

Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Community Recreation 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 & 4t h Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs 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 T he Lodge, 411 E. Car penter L ane. 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 3rd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 5 41-410 -739 0. 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.

games, attendees can enjoy food vendors, local sponsors, prizes, and a fun atmosphere designed for players and spectators alike.

“We wanted to create an event that brings the community together while directly supporting local youth,” said Jenna Jacobsen Swain, co-owner of Ninebark Real Estate. “Sisters has always been a town that shows up for one another, and we’re excited to provide a fun way for families, athletes, businesses, and community members to make a positive impact.”

“We have been hosting the Nothing but Net tournament in Canby for over 25 years and we are looking forward

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

NeighborImpact serves Sisters

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

NeighborImpact plays an important role in supporting families across Sisters Country — primarily through food and housing assistance.

NeighborImpact was created in 1985 by three counties (Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes) as a Community Action Agency (18 of these agencies across the State of Oregon) born out of the Great Society program of 1964. There are about 1,000 such agencies across the United States.

NeighborImpact is the regional provider of HeadStart, childcare resource services, housing counseling center, and the Food Bank. NeighborImpact represents and serves lowincome and working-class individuals and families. It is currently the largest nonprofit in Central Oregon based on clients served; over 60,000 annually and on a duplicated basis (people using services more than once – mostly from the Food Bank) more than 1,000,000 annually. NeighborImpact has 34 facilities in the region.

The June 24 City Council workshop, included NeighborImpact Executive Director Scott Cooper who shared the organization’s history and statistics. Cooper added that NeighborImpact primarily serves the three counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and recently expanded limited services to Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Harney, and Grant counties.

NeighborImpact has a $47 million budget of which almost 70 percent goes to clients. Cooper said NeighborImpact provides assistance in 12 programs; childcare, housing, energy (electrical, heating,

cooling), weatherization, HomeSource, Head Start (currently taking applications for the 2026-2027 school year), Early Head Start (more on this follows), representative payee, community development, lending, the Food Bank, homeless, and miscellaneous support.

Council President Sarah McDougall asked how people get help. Director Cooper shared that NeighborImpact will soon have 24/7 phone service and encourages people to contact NeighborImpact at 541-5482380 to seek support, “all they have to do is ask.” The hearing-impaired should dial 711. All applications for any program are available on the Neighborimpact.org website with translations available in 192 languages. Cooper noted NeighborImpact will, “do stuff that nobody else will do.”

After speaking about each of the major programs, Director Cooper talked about what NeighborImpact has provided to the Sisters community. Under the Food Bank program in the City, NeighborImpact served 21,440 people last year. NeighborImpact supplies food to CORE (Community Outreach, Resources, and Emergency Shelter) Market, Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank, and Family Kitchen. NeighborImpact provides the monthly Mobile Pantry in front of the Sisters Park & Recreation Building on East Cascade Avenue.

Also, over the last year, NeighborImpact’s housing program provided in Sisters a total of $13,792 for eviction avoidance to five households and eight individuals, and another $77,634 in rental assistance, and case management work aided four households and 10 individuals. NeighborImpact awarded $15,000 to CORE, formerly

the Sisters Cold Weather Shelter.

The energy assistance program helped 86 households in the Sisters area to a total of $40,153. NeighborImpact supported availability of 180 childcare slots through five area providers. Weatherization assistance to three homes and NeighborImpact HomeSource helped 34 with home ownership finance management, six purchases, and opened five matched savings accounts.

Cooper was excited to share that NeighborImpact will be opening an Early Head Start center in Sisters in 2027. The program is for pregnancy support to care of infants up to 3 years old. NeighborImpact is seeking property to establish a liaison office in Sisters. He also indicated NeighborImpact is getting a smaller food truck to bring into smaller neighborhoods, as needed.

During the Flat Fire response, NeighborImpact in coordination with Citizens4 Community (C4C), opened a community chest fund that helped five families who lost their homes. That chest was the seed to the establishment of a Regional Disaster Recovery fund which Cooper thanked Sisters C4C and the community for initiating.

Mayor Jennifer Letz expressed gratitude to NeighborImpact for all they do within the community. Letz added that because the City is a small government, with fewer than 20 employees, it is not able to provide similarly supportive services and facilities recently developed in neighboring cities. Mayor Letz shared that the City appreciates and will continue to support the many nonprofits which provide support services to the community at large.

Author shares colorful tales of Costa Rica

Author Willa Goodfellow will present her latest memoir, “A Gritty Little Tourist Town: Bar Tales from Costa Rica,” at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. A collection of stories full of humor, heart, and wisdom from unexpected places, the book follows Goodfellow as she discovers connection within a community of strangers — one bar tale at a time.

Goodfellow and her wife travel to Costa Rica to visit family — but what they discover is far more than they expected. In a sleepy fishing village on the Pacific coast, they meet a vibrant, curious group of expats who have come looking for paradise — or at least cheap beer. At the Pato Loco, a local bar where stories flow as freely as the drinks, they meet Mama, the blind 72-year-old co-owner of the place; her partner Mary, Willa’s sister, a bartender and installation artist; Richie, the aging hippie whose words are few but weighty; and a whole cast of unforgettable characters who will answer questions like: What is it really like to live in another country? How important is it to learn the local language? How does a tight-knit community face the pressure of development? Can you survive dengue — and would you want to? Oh, and how do you perform CPR on a fish?

Willa Goodfellow likes to travel. In college she hitchhiked through Germany and cleaned hotel rooms in

Liechtenstein. She cometgazed in Australia and camped in Arches National Park. She gambled in Mexico and won a pasta-making contest in Tuscany. She swam in the Irish Sea. No, she jumped in, screamed, and jumped out. And she likes to write. Some of her best stories come from quietly listening at the Pato Loco, her sister’s bar in Costa Rica. “A Gritty Little Tourist Town” is Willa’s second memoir, the result of those afternoons at the Pato Loco. Goodfellow’s first career was as an Episcopal priest. After decades in more conventional ministries, this graduate of Reed College and Yale Divinity School turned her preaching chops to mental health journalism and speaking. Her first memoir, “Prozac Monologues: A Voice from the Edge” combines comedic monologues written in the throes of hypomania with later edgy commentary and information about the bipolar spectrum.

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

18th The Sleepless Tr uckers

25th Guitar Gods

. 1st Major Dudes • 7-10 (Steely Dan Tribute) Tickets: BendTicket.com

7th DJ Chris Ossig

Hotshots: the elite crews who battle our biggest blazes

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Motorists and pedestrians traveling past the Sisters District Ranger Station last week likely noticed two “buggies” in the parking lot loaded with “Hotshots.” The buggies are agency slang for vehicles designed to transport 20 firefighters, their tools, camping gear, food, and personal equipment to remote fire assignments.

When wildfire season hits its peak across the West, one of the first calls often goes to an Interagency Hotshot Crew, especially trained to do what engines and aircraft cannot: cut directly into the most dangerous part of the fire by hand.

These crews, known simply as “Hotshots,” represent the highest level of wildland firefighting in the country. Their roots trace to the aftermath of the 1910 Big Burn, a catastrophic firestorm that killed 87 people, including 78 firefighters, and torched roughly three million acres in the Northern Rockies in just two days.

That disaster shaped federal fire policy for decades, pushing the U.S. Forest Service toward a strategy of suppressing every wildfire as quickly as possible.

The two crews hanging out in Sisters were on standby in case of fire. Throughout the summer the District is host to varying rotating equipment and crews on loan from different agencies to provide extra coverage, usually preventative in nature such as checking campgrounds, By the late 1940s and early 1950s, fire managers in California recognized that conventional crews weren’t

enough for the steep terrain and fast-moving fires of the West. The first Hotshot crews were organized there, earning their name for the job they were given: working the “hot spots,” the most punishing and hazardous sections of a fire line.

Grant Ammon, a public affairs specialist with the Service, tells The Nugget , “These specialized wildland fire hand crews perform some of the most demanding and hazardous tasks in wildland firefighting. They are assigned to the most challenging terrain and/or priority wildfire incidents throughout the country and work long hours doing strenuous work in challenging environments.

“Interagency Hotshot Crews construct fireline using chainsaws and an assortment of hand tools to remove vegetation and fuel to stop fire spread, and on average, spend more days on the fireline performing fire suppression activities than any other ground-based firefighting resource.

“The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, and State agencies sponsor the more than 100 Interagency Hotshot Crews.”

Crew members hike for miles carrying 45- to 60-pound packs, work 16-hour shifts, and can spend up to 14 consecutive days on a single fire assignment, often in extreme heat and heavy smoke. Using Pulaskis, shovels, and chainsaws, they construct firelines entirely by hand, cutting containment routes through forest and mountain terrain that vehicles simply can’t reach.

Before anyone joins a crew, they must pass the

Work Capacity Test, better known as the “Pack Test” –a three-mile hike carrying a 45-pound pack that must be completed in 45 minutes. From there, training continues throughout a firefighter’s career, covering fire behavior, weather interpretation, incident command, aviation safety, and prescribed burn operations. Some go on to become incident commanders, smokejumpers, or fire behavior analysts.

On major incidents, Hotshots are often described as the “ground troops,” building containment lines, conducting burnout operations, removing hazardous trees, and protecting homes as fires bear down on communities. Between fire assignments, the same crews do less visible but equally important work: prescribed burning, fuels reduction, trail building, and habitat restoration aimed at reducing the intensity of future fires.

The job carries real risk. Wildland firefighters face entrapment from rapidly shifting fire behavior, falling trees, rolling rocks, heat illness, and aircraft hazards, among other dangers. The deadliest reminder of that risk came during the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona, when 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed after becoming entrapped by a sudden shift in fire behavior.

This remains the deadliest wildfire incident for American firefighters since 1933. The tragedy led to renewed scrutiny of safety protocols, communication, and risk assessment across the wildland firefighting community.

As drought, insect-damaged forests and expanding

development in fire-prone areas continue to lengthen and intensify fire seasons across the West, Hotshot crews remain central to protecting lives, infrastructure, and watersheds. Their work largely unfolds out of public view, deep in forests and mountains, but it shapes

outcomes for communities across the region every fire season.

Many folks in Sisters make it a habit that when they come across any Hotshots or other Wildland firefighters protecting Sisters to give them a shoutout of appreciation.

Oregon’s minimum wage increases this month

By Alex Baumhardt Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregonians making minimum wage got a 50-cent bump per hour beginning this month, resulting in an average of $573 more per year for someone working full time.

In the Portland metro, the floor for hourly wages will rise to $16.80. In 15 counties and parts of three counties in the Willamette Valley, Northwest Coast, and southern Oregon, the minimum wage rises to $15.55 per hour, and in 18 mostly rural eastern Oregon counties, the minimum hourly wage will be $14.55. The rural wage is always $1 less than the standard wage, and the Portland minimum wage is always $1.25 more due to the higher cost of living.

A 2016 Oregon law requires the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to adjust statewide minimum wages annually for inflation. The bureau announced the 50-cent per hour increase in April, which reflects a 3.3 percent rate of inflation for the cost of food, energy, essential goods, housing, and medical services between March 2025 and March 2026, according

to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Inflation has since gone up, in large part due to the higher cost of fuels driven by the U.S. war in Iran. The most recent rate of inflation calculated between the end of May 2025 and the end of May 2026 was 4.2 percent, according to the federal labor statistics bureau.

Calculated at that rate, the average hourly minimum wage bump would be closer to 63 cents.

Oregon is one of more than three dozen states that pay higher minimum wages than the federal standard of $7.25, which has gone unchanged for 17 years.

Over the past decade, Oregon’s standard minimum wage has gone up by $6.30 per hour, or about 63 cents per year.

About four percent of Oregon workers earn minimum wage, according to state data. Among them, slightly more than half are women, more than 40 are Black or Hispanic and most — nearly 90 — are adults at least 20 years old, according to recent analysis from the left-leaning Washington, D.C.-based think tank Economic Policy Institute.

Help your grad use cards wisely Commentary...

As your new graduate prepares to step into the next chapter of life — whether that’s more education or starting a career — one of the best things you can do is help them understand how to use credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards wisely. They can be powerful financial tools, but without some basic knowledge, they can also lead to trouble.

Here are a few things that graduates, whether from high school or graduate school, should know.

Credit cards have benefits — and risks. About 69 percent of Americans ages 18–29 have at least one credit card, according to the Federal Reserve. They can borrow money up to a set limit, pay it back and borrow again — a cycle known as revolving credit. Used responsibly, credit cards can help build their credit history, cover unexpected expenses, and even earn rewards like cash back or travel discounts.

On the cautionary side, if your child or grandchild doesn’t pay the full balance each month, interest charges can accumulate quickly. Carrying a high balance

relative to the credit limit can hurt their credit score. Perhaps most importantly, it’s easy to fall into a debt cycle in which they charge more than they can pay, interest can add up to more than the original purchases cost, and they might even open new cards to cover old ones. It creates a hole that’s hard to climb out of.

The key message is simple: pay off the balance monthly, pay on time, and treat the card as a convenience, not a lifeline.

Debit cards can be a good option. Since debit cards draw directly from a bank account, they naturally limit overspending. But they aren’t risk-free. Overdrawing the account can trigger fees, and debit cards generally offer fewer fraud protections than credit cards. Additionally, since you’re spending your own money rather than borrowing, debit cards don’t help build a credit score. Still, for a young person just starting out, a debit card can be a practical way to manage day-to-day spending.

Prepaid cards can help teach the basics. Money is loaded onto the card before

use, and your young adult can only spend what’s already on the card. Because of this, there’s no risk of debt, no credit history needed, and no bills to pay.

Prepaid cards come in several forms. General purpose reloadable cards can be used anywhere cards are accepted. Payroll cards are sometimes used by employers to distribute wages. Gift cards are another option.

The downside is that prepaid cards typically don’t help build a credit history, since transactions usually aren’t reported to credit bureaus. Some also come with fees for activation, reloading, or transactions. These fees can add up, so it pays to read the fine print.

Teaching your graduate the difference between these tools, and how to develop good habits for each, can help them build financial confidence for decades to come.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Sisters’ local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Karen Kassy, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor Edward Jones, Member SIPC.

SATURDAY, JULY 11 • 9 AM12 PM

Catherine Cowles will be signing copies of her novel All The Missing Pieces along with other books

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 • 5:307 PM

Analog night! Crafting, puzzles, coloring, embroidery, games, k nitting, journaling, or whatever analog activity you enjoy. Bring your activity or purchase something in store.

THURSDAY, JULY 16 • 6:307:30 PM

Willa Goodfellow presents A Gritty Little Tourist Town: Bar Tales From Costa Rica. A collection of stories full of humor, hear t, and wisdom from unexpected places

MONDAY, JULY 20 • 5:306:30 PM

PSB Fic tion Book Club will be discussing Red Dog Farm by Nathaniel Ian Miller

THURSDAY, JULY 23 • 6:307:30 PM

Suzy Vitello presents Grif topia, exploring the struggles of a modern family in free fall who turn to grif ting for sur vival

10 AM

MONDAY, JULY 27 • 5:306:30 PM

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

THURSDAY, JULY 30 • 6:307:30 PM

Hilar y Conway presents Radical Wellness: Pathways to a Healthy Body, Mind, and Planet, an intimate evening of guided meditation, reading from the book, and meaningful conversation.

MONDAY, AUGUST 3 • 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.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 • 6:307:30 PM

Jenn Donahue presents Becoming the Warrior: Harnessing Your Inner Strength to Silence Self-Doubt The framework is designed to move those who feel stuck and afraid to feeling equipped to take action with courage

Wildlife crossings gain momentum

Every year, thousands of deer, elk, bear, and other wildlife attempt to cross busy roadways in search of food, water, and mates. Sometimes those crossings end in tragedy for wildlife — and for motorists.

Oregon Wildlife Foundation is leading efforts to improve habitat connectivity. Proceeds from the sale and renewal of the “Watch for Wildlife” specialty license plate are allocated to habitat connectivity and wildlife passage projects throughout Oregon. The Foundation also serves as the fiscal sponsor for multiple passage projects — providing fiscal administration and fundraising support to these initiatives throughout their development.

“Our participation in wildlife passage work began in 2017 with an undercrossing on Highway 97 in Central

Oregon” said Tim Greseth, executive director of the Oregon Wildlife Foundation. “This experience deepened our understanding of the impact that wildlife-vehicle collisions are having on many different species and led us to adopt habitat connectivity as an organizational priority.”

Recent project milestones include the Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative. This section of Highway 20 experiences the highest frequency of deer and elk collisions in Oregon. The Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage coalition has completed a Phase I wildlife crossing mitigation study, and developed conceptual crossing designs for multiple locations along the corridor.

Following that work, four wildlife overcrossings were identified as the highest priorities for Phase II design and

engineering.

Potential crossing places are located at Milepost 90, Milepost 92, Milepost 94, and Milepost 94.6 — all between Indian Ford Creek and Suttle Lake near Black Butte.

The Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative coalition includes Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service-Deschutes National Forest, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Branch of Natural Resources, Central Oregon LandWatch, Oregon Wildlife Foundation, Oregon Hunters Association, Wildlands Network, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Pew Charitable Trust, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, The Nature Conservancy, Deschutes Land Trust, Protect Animal Migration & Movement, Black Butte Conservancy, Black Butte Ranch, Friends of the Metolius, and Oregon State University-Cascades.

Detailed information may be found at www.bend2 suttlelakepassage.org.

The coalition has raised more than $850,000 in nonfederal matching funds in preparation for the Federal

Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, which is slated to open for applications sometime in July or August.

Oregon Wildlife Foundation has retained a consulting team to evaluate existing bridges and culverts throughout Oregon that may already be in use by wildlife or, with modifications, can be improved or made ready for wildlife to use — all in service of keeping animals off busy roads by providing them with safe alternatives.

The consulting team is evaluating existing conditions at culverts and bridges large enough to accommodate deer and elk, documenting evidence of wildlife activity, and recommending cost-effective

modifications that may increase use by wildlife.

“Building new wildlife overcrossings and undercrossings can be expensive, so we’re enthusiastic for opportunities to provide safe passage for animals through simpler modifications to the areas around existing bridges and culverts wherever and whenever possible,” said Greseth.

Central Oregon sees drop in homelessness

By Mia Maldonado Oregon Capital Chronicle

Homelessness in Central Oregon is finally on a decline following years of steady increase, a milestone housing advocates, state lawmakers, and Governor Tina Kotek celebrated Monday, June 29.

Nearly 1,700 individuals experienced homelessness across three Central Oregon counties in 2026, a 19.1 percent drop from about 2,100 people in 2025, according to the Homeless Leadership Coalition’s point-in-time count.

The point-in-time count is a federally mandated survey counties are required to submit to the federal government to qualify for funding. It’s an imperfect snapshot of what homelessness looks like, and it requires volunteers and housing advocates to count the number of homeless people sleeping on the streets or in shelters on a single night in January.

“Homelessness is a challenge as complex as the people experiencing it, and there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution,” Kotek said in a statement. “The progress we’re seeing in Central Oregon is a direct result of a community-wide commitment to tackling this challenge.”

Between January 27 and February 2, the Central Oregon-based Housing Leadership Coalition surveyed people living on the streets or in shelters across Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties, including people on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, asking them where they slept the night of January 26.

Nearly 300 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the region in 2025 were rehoused the next year, the survey found.

Central Oregon’s drop in homelessness, however, contradicts with what happened statewide last year.

A new report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows Oregon saw an 18.9

percent increase in people who experienced homelessness between 2024 and 2025.

More than 27,200 people were homeless across Oregon on a single night in January in 2025, about 4,600 more than in 2024.

Nearly 1,040 individuals experienced homelessness in Deschutes County in 2025, according to the data. There were 864 in 2026. While still high, local housing advocates celebrated the turning point.

Kotek, who is running for reelection in November, said she and lawmakers are doing everything they can to solve the homelessness crisis, adding that she spearheaded efforts to increase housing access to unsheltered seniors.

“I need the Legislature to be more serious than they already are about the eviction prevention work and the rehousing piece,” she said, noting that she expects a tough budget environment for lawmakers in the 2027 legislative session. “We can maintain the shelters, but if we can keep people from having to need a shelter, or help people get into more permanent housing, that is going to be important.”

Housing advocates attributed the region’s decline in homelessness to housing investments under Kotek.

On her first day of office, Kotek signed three executive orders declaring Oregon in state of emergency because of unsheltered homelessness. The orders aimed to boost housing production and improve coordination between state agencies and localities.

Kotek has since extended the state of emergency twice, including in January when she ordered state agencies to use $20 million in legislative funds to support permanent housing, expand behavioral health capacity, and improve coordination between housing and healthcare systems in regions that experienced a 50 percent or more increase in homelessness between 2017 and 2022. That included parts of the Portland region, Central Oregon, and Clatsop, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, and Polk counties.

The emergency actions have resulted in nearly 6,300 new shelter beds, 5,500 people rehoused from unsheltered homelessness, and homelessness prevention assistance for about 26,000 households, according to the governor’s office.

“These critical resources arrived at a time when we needed them the most and allowed us to leverage additional local, state, and federal funding to maximize our collective impact,” said Eliza Wilson, coalition chair and executive director of Bendbased housing nonprofit RootedHomes.

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler recalled that the city barely had an overnight shelter when she was first elected onto the city council in 2021.

“Now, we have over 500 beds, and that is directly the result of local leadership partnered with state leadership,” Kebler said. “Cities cannot do it ourselves, but neither can the state, because we are the

folks on the ground knowing what our community needs.”

For the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, state investments over the past three years have assisted the tribe in expanding tribal members’ access to hygiene amenities, tiny huts, and an indoor dining room to keep them warm or cool from Central Oregon’s unpredictable weather.

Caroline Cruz, the chief operation officer of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, said the tribes rely on what she calls “braided funding,” or funding from the state, local, and federal government, and a public transportation partnership with Cascadia Transit Program.

Housing affordability in Central Oregon is a key contributor to the region’s homelessness, she said.

Single adults made up 84 percent of households experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon, followed by seven percent families, five

percent youth between ages 18 to 24, and four percent of youth in that same age range who are raising children.

Half of the people surveyed said they’ve lived in Central Oregon for over 10 years. More than 75 percent have lived in the region for at least the last three years.

In Deschutes County, where most people experiencing homelessness in the region live, the median cost of a home is $675,000 according to Redfin, a real estate platform. That’s nearly $150,000 more than the median cost of a home in all of Oregon. Most people surveyed cited economic struggles as their reason for being homeless, followed by personal issues, eviction, domestic violence, substance abuse, legal struggles, and health reasons.

Republished under Creative Commons license

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, courtesy of https://oregon capitalchronicle.com.

What Oregon added to America 250 time capsules

By Julia Shumway Oregon Capital Chronicle

What would help Americans 250 years from now understand the Oregon of 2026?

For the eight members of Oregon’s congressional delegation who selected the state’s contributions to the semiquincentennial congressional time capsule, the answers were as eclectic as the Beaver State’s geography and people: A gemstone found only in eastern Oregon, a pair of socks, a mail ballot, sheet music from “Portlandia,” a portrait of a trailblazing state senator and more.

“Although there may have been skeptics who feared that asking several Oregonians to agree on time capsule items might resemble a ‘Parks and Rec’ episode, our state’s diversity, beauty, and innovative spirit made this task a labor of love,” the state’s senior senator, Democrat Ron Wyden, said in a statement. “What my colleagues and I have submitted shows why Oregon is such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.”

The congressional time capsule, sealed in late June beneath the U.S. Capitol’s visitor center to be opened in 2276, is distinct from America’s Time Capsule, the 900-pound vault that will be interred in Philadelphia on July 4. Oregon’s contribution to that time capsule, selected by a state commission, is a handcrafted pin from Portland-based artist Lillian Pitt, who is of Warm Springs, Wasco, and Yakama descent and grew up on the Warm Springs Reservation in Central Oregon.

Pitt’s pin, “She Who Watches,” is a depiction of a famous petroglyph that represents Tsagaglalal, a wise and powerful chief transformed to stone who continues to keep vigil over her people and the Columbia River.

“I am honored that my work will be included in this time capsule and am heartened to know that when it is opened in 250 years, people will be reminded of those who have made this land their home since time immemorial,” Pitt said in a statement.

One day, someone will open this time capsule and get a glimpse of who we were in 2026. I hope they’ll see a state that took pride in its natural beauty, celebrated its culture, valued its farmers and workers and believed deeply in democracy.

Here’s a closer look at the items Oregon’s congressional delegation picked for their time capsule.

A ballot and envelope

Oregon was the first state to vote entirely by mail, running every election by mail since 2000. The time capsule includes a ballot envelope from Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess, addressed to the famed suffragist Susan B. Anthony at her New York home-turned-museum.

Songs about Oregon

The state’s largest city has long had a fraught relationship with the eight-season sketch comedy show “Portlandia,” equal parts love letter and lampooning of the city’s hipster culture. The song “Portland, Oregon (You’re My Home),” canonically a theme song the show’s mayor asks Carrie Brownstein’s and Fred Armisen’s characters to compose, includes references to public transit, “underemployed coffee drinkers,” and beards on men and women alike.

Dolly Parton’s “Eugene” is a love song to the Lane County fans who welcomed her at a Valentine’s Day show in 1972, when she was a little-known young singer traveling the country.

Only one Oregon-born musician made the cut, Eugene’s Mat Kearney, with his song “Coming Home (Oregon).”

Photo of Avel Gordly

Avel Gordly, who died in February, was the first Black woman elected to the Oregon state Senate and an

— Andrea Salinas

advocate for social justice, mental health, and education.

U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, Oregon’s first Black member of Congress, urged her inclusion in the time capsule.

“In a time when Black women’s contributions and accomplishments in service to America are being overlooked, recognizing Sen. Gordly stands as a testament to strength, resilience, and independence,” Bynum said in a statement. “These are not just her values, but they are Oregon values.”

A sunstone

The official state gemstone is a rare labradorite found only in eastern Oregon’s high desert, where it formed from lava flows millions of years

ago. Indigenous people historically traded them across the West and used them in ceremonies, burial sites, and sacred bundles.

The small gem in the time capsule is a pale yellow, but they can range in color from pale yellows and pinks to deep red and bluegreen. Some sunstones appear to glow from within because of copper particles.

Socks

The capsule includes a pair of “Crater Lake” patterned socks from Pendleton Woolen Mills, established in 1909 in eastern Oregon. The company, known for its famous blankets and the sweater Jeff Bridges wore in “The Big Lebowski,” operates two of the longest-running woolen mills in the U.S. News article about the Portland Fire

Oregon’s newest professional sports team, the WNBA’s Portland Fire, played its first game May 9. It ended in a 98-83 loss to the Chicago Sky, but as the printed version of an OPB article in the time capsule

notes, the team and the soldout crowd of nearly 20,000 were more excited about the birth of a new team than that temporary setback.

Agriculture and iconic landscapes

Agriculture is big business in Oregon, which leads the nation in producing hazelnuts, Christmas trees, rhubarb, and grass seed. A map in the time capsule highlights the fruits, vegetables, plants, meat, and fish grown in each county.

Members of Congress also selected printed photos of iconic Oregon landscapes, from snow-capped peaks to lush forests and the jagged coast.

“One day, someone will open this time capsule and get a glimpse of who we were in 2026,” Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, said in a statement. “I hope they’ll see a state that took pride in its natural beauty, celebrated its culture, valued its farmers and workers, and believed deeply in democracy.”

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

COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS

“Timeless Treasu res”

Museum Benefit Sa le Satu rd ay, July 18 , at t he

Si sters Fire H all . ree Sisters

Hi stor ic a l Soc iet y w il l be havi ng it s r st-ever museu m bene t sale, “ Ti meless

Trea su res.” You don’t w ant to mi s s t hi s! e one -day sale w il l feat ure a col lect ion of ‘gent ly used ’ a nd new piece s don ated by YOU, ou r wonderfu l Sisters

commun it y. We a re g ratefu l to t hose w ho have been so generou s i n don at ing a rt work , antiques, c hi ld ren’s items , home f urni sh ings , col lect ibles, tech nology, garden e qu ipment , tool s , s porting a nd c ampi ng gear, a nd more . L ook to our Facebook page i n t he com ing day s for t ea sers of some of t he am azing t hi ngs t hi s sale w il l be f eaturi ng. ere w il l be something for e veryone! 5 41610- 6323

Interpretive Wa lk s Su mmer 2026

Free Sat urday mor ning w alks o ered by F riends of t he Metolius . K id s a re welcome, but please no dogs . Wea r stu rdy footwea r a nd bring w ater

Ju ly 11, 8:30 to 10 :3 0 a.m.

Bi rd and Wi ld li fe Wa lk

Along the Metolius . Join Si sters R anger D istr ic t w ildlife biolog ist L i z Day to look a nd li sten for t he r ic h bird a nd ot her w ildlife s pecie s t hat c al l the Metol iu s home. Watch for woodpeckers, song b irds , water bird s a nd others w hi le ex plor ing t he w ay s i n w hich the y l ive i n t hi s r iverside

habitat . Meet at 8:3 0 a .m . Bri ng a pai r of binoc ul ar s i f you h ave them! Leader: Li z day. For in form at ion, ca ll 971-7182505 .

The Sisters Mu seum Qu ilt Show Display

Mont hly Song wr iters’

Sharing Ci rcle

Second Wed ne sd ay of t he mont h , 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

2026 Histor ical Wa lk ing

Tours of the Ca mp Polk

Histor ical Cemetery

Gu ided w alk s sta r t at 10:30 at 6 985 Cemeter y R oad, Si sters , O r. e cemeter y i s not handicap accessible and w alk s i nc lude u ne ven

grou nd . e nex t jou rney th roug h Sisters’ H istor y sta rt s

Ju ly 18! R eg ister at www ca mppolk pioneercemeter y.org.

Free papers at The Nugget I f you need paper s to mulch you r garden, pac k to move , keep pet a rea s c lean, or a ny thing else , stop by e Nug get . ere i s a wooden box on t he porch wit h past- date paper s for you r recycl ing u se

The Arends Group

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 S

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

Commun it y C hu rc h, 130 0 W. McK en zie Hwy No reser vation s neede d.

No -cost Grab-N-Go

lu nc hes weekly on

Wednesday a nd u rsday, from 12:3 0 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

Famil y K itchen hos t s a week ly to-go hot mea l on Tuesdays , 4:3 0 to 5:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Com mu nity

Church, 130 0 W. McK en zie

Hw y. I nfo: www

Fami lyKitc hen.org.

Free Pet Food

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

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

you r pic kup. L oc ated at 412 E . M ai n Ave., Ste. 4, beh ind e Nug get. Kiwa nis Food Ba nk Located at 382 W. M ai n Ave . Weekly d istr ibut ion i s u rsday

St ud io Tours Tuesday, July 14, 5 to 6 :3 0 p.m at t he P ine Meadow R anch Center for A rt s & A gr ic ultu re. Engage w it h c ur rent A rt ists i n R esidence Tonye B Ph illips, Sujat a S ha h, Sue Spargo & L au ra Wasilow sk i i s e vent i s f ree 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 ema i l i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org

Volu nteers Needed to Help

Horses

Ca lling a l l hor se lover s! H appy

Trail s Hor se R escue i n Tum alo need s volunteers! Ca n you help u s help hor ses? New Volunteer Or ient at ion i s t he r st a nd t hi rd

Su nd ay s of t he mont h at 10 a .m or c al l to s chedule! L ea r n more at h ps://www.h appy trai lshr org.

Notice of Elec tion for Sisters City Counci l Notice i s hereby g iven t hat a Genera l E lect ion w il l be held on November 3 , 2 026 , for t hree position s on t he Sisters Cit y Counci l . e r st d ay to le for a Cit y Cou nc i l pos it ion w as

Wednesday, June 3 , 2 026 . To be el ig ible one must be a q ua li ed elec tor i n O regon, a c ur rent regi stered voter i n t he Cit y of Si sters , a nd must h ave been a resident of t he Cit y for 12 mont h s preceding t he elect ion. Cit y Cou nc i l pos it ion s a re nonpa rt isan . E lect ion m ater ia l s c an be fou nd on t he Cit y website at: www.c i. sisters.or.u s . e term s of C ou nc ilor M ic hael

Preedin, Cou nc ilor Gar y R oss, and Cou nc ilor C hery l Pel leri n wi l l end on December 31, 2 026. Al l t hree a re e ligible to apply for reelect ion . Candidates a re encouraged to obt ai n elect ion material s by A ug ust 4, 2 026.

Al l l ing requi rement s for incu mbents must be c ompleted

by 5:0 0 p.m . on A ug ust 18, 2026, a nd new c andidates by 5: 0 0 p.m . on A ug ust 2 5 , 2 026. For quest ion s about t he process , em ai l Mon ic a Bur meister at mbur meister@ci.sisters .or.us , or stop by Cit y H al l at 52 0 E Cascad e Avenue.

A Dai s y A llen & Tillie W il son 1930’s double w edding r ing qu ilt i s on d is pl ay now t hrough Ju ly 11 at t he Sisters M useu m, 151 N. Spr uce S t., Sisters e ree Sisters H istorica l Societ y’s ora l h istor y i nter view wit h Jea n Wel ls , fou nder of t he

St itch in’ Post a nd t he SOQS, i s ava il able for l isten ing i n t he mu seum, a s wel l a s a story board highlighting her h istor y a nd accompli sh ment s – one of those w ho t ruly “Made Sisters, Si sters.” 5 41-5 49 -1403.

Th ree Sisters Histor ical Societ y Wa lk ing Tours Free g uided Wal ki ng Tou rs: Heritage Homes or H istoric

Bu ildi ngs Dow ntow n . E xplore the c ha r m 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

Sisters Ga rden Club

Mont hly Membersh ip

Meet ing

Satu rd ay, July 18 , at 10 a .m

Tom R od house, PhD, OSUCascad es , w il l e xpla i n t he role bat s play i n n at ure a nd i n our ga rden s . Find out w hy bat s a re cool! Meeting loc at ion i s e Hub, 291 E . M ai n Avenue. 5 4142 0- 62 39

SIST

Su mmer Concer t Series 2026

Su nd ay, July 19, at 5:3 0 p.m . at Si sters Com mu nit y C hu rc h, 13 0 0 McK en zie Hwy, enjoy Motel K alifor ni a . Food tr uc k s ava il able. Don at ions suppor t H abit at for Hum an it y.

Ne x t concer t i s A ug ust 15, wit h Je Miller B and a nd donation s s uppor t COR E . For in form at ion go to s isterschurch com/event s . contac t i nfo@ sistersc hu rc h.com.

Bible St udy for AL L 6:3 0 p.m . e ver y u rsday i n t he eat re room at e L odge i n

Si sters , 421 E . Car penter L n. 541-233- 6189

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 ment s 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 mbur sement prov ided . L ea r n more a nd apply: h ps://www.sta rsride org/dr ive-for-us

Sisters

Save the Fat Rubberba nd s Br ing t hem by t he Nug get o ce, or c al l for a R ubberband pick-up. a nk s! Ba ha’i Fa it h For i nfor mation, devot ions, study g roups, etc ., cont ac t S haun

SISTERS-AREA Events & Enter tainment

WEDNESDAY • JULY 8

Makin' it Local Artist Reception: Susan Porteous of Green Bird Press 3 to 5:30 p.m. Fall head over heels for her quilt-inspired letterpress prints. The kind of beautiful that makes people suddenly decide they “need one for the guest room.” (Or the living room. Or all the rooms.) Wine, refreshments, and light hors d’oeuvres Info: makinitlocal.com/pages/calendar

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. $10 Info: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. The Suttle Lodge Live Music: Lickety Split 6 to 8 p.m. "Big Lawn Series," Free; all ages 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 • JULY 9

Makin' it Local Artist Reception:Cher yl Chapman of Silly Dog Art Glass 3 to 5:30 p.m. Experience her stunning reverse-enameled painted fused glass — a yearly favorite that always leaves people saying, “Okay… that is simply unbelievable.” Wine refreshments, and light hors d’oeuvres Info: makinitlocal.com/pages/calendar

The Suttle Lodge Live Music: Old Growth

6 to 8 p.m. "Big Lawn Series," Free; all ages 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 Live Music: Kar yn Ann and Dean Mueller 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets and more information: www.frankiesinsisters.com/our-events/.

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.

FRIDAY • JULY 10

Makin' it Local Artist Reception: Kathy Deggendorfer 3 to 5:30 p.m. Beloved Sisters artist releases five new fine art prints during Quilt Show Week! Kathy, a six-time Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show poster artist, has outdone herself with wonderful new work capturing the beauty and spirit of Central Oregon. This reception is not to be missed! Wine, refreshments, and light hors d’oeuvres Info: makinitlocal. com/pages/calendar

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Joyful Lane

6 to 8 p.m. Multi-instrumentalist Lane Weiss brings his joy-filled music to the ranch. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Music: Switchback

5 to 7 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Info: 541-549-2471

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa 6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft 5 p.m. $20 paulinaspringsbooks.com.

SATURDAY • JULY 11

Downtown Sisters Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 51st annual outdoor quilt showcase. 1000+ quilts hanging all over town. Free Info: www.soqs.org. Paulina Springs Books Book Signing: Catherine Cowles will be signing her new book “All The Missing Pieces” and others. 9 a.m.–noon. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

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

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

Hardtails Live Music: Amarillo By Morning America’s #1 George Strait tribute in their only Oregon show. 7 to 10 p .m. in The Yard Tickets: BendTicket.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Mavis & Bretz 6 to 8 p.m. Craig Mavis on mandolin and piano and George Bretz on guitar No cover. Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

SUNDAY • JULY 12

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble

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

Sisters Saloon Live Music: Big Treble 6 to 8 p.m. on the patio Free and open to all ages

MONDAY • JULY 13

The Suttle Lodge Live Music: Eel Salad 6 to 8 p.m. "Big Lawn Series," Free; all ages

TUESDAY • JULY 14

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

WEDNESDAY • JULY 15

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. $10 Info: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

Paulina Springs Books Analog Night

5:30 to 7 p.m. screen-free evening of crafting puzzles, games, coloring knitting embroidery journaling or whatever analog activity you enjoy. Bring your own activity or choose something from Paulina Springs. All ages welcome! Hosted by textile artist Krista West Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

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

THURSDAY • JULY 16

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Mike Biggers and Lilli Worona 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets and more information: www.frankiesinsisters.com/our-events/. Lazy Z Ranch Wines Wine & Watercolor Workshop 6 to 8 p.m. $35 Sisters Art Station will host a beginner-friendly watercolor workshop Make 1-3 art pieces! Register: www.sistersartstation.com.

The Suttle Lodge Live Music: Leadbetter Band 6 to 8 p.m. "Big Lawn Series," Free; all ages

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Willa Goodfellow presents “A Gritty Little Tourist Town.” 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

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 • JULY 17

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Doublewide: Rick and Sue Moore 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets and more information: www.frankiesinsisters.com/our-events/.

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

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Music: Mortal Soulstice 5 to 7 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Info: 541-549-2471

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

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Sidney Joseph 6 to 8 p.m. Smokey-voiced multi-instrumentalist. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

SATURDAY • JULY 18

SATURDAY • JULY 18 (cont.)

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 Live Music: The Sleepless Truckers 8 to 10 p .m. in The Yard $10 cover begins at 7 p.m. Info: hardtailsdivebarandgrill.com.

SUNDAY • JULY 19

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music, community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

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

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Soccer Finale 12 to 2 p.m. Match on with sound. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Sisters Saloon Live Music: Desert Howlers 6 to 8 p.m. on the patio Free and open to all ages

Sisters Community Church Live Music: Motel Kalifornia on the lawn at 1300 Old McKenzie Hwy Doors at 5:30 p.m., concert 6 to 8 p.m. Free, with donations welcomed to support Sisters Habitat for Humanity. All are welcome for an evening of music dancing and fellowship Info: sisterschurch.com/events.

MONDAY • JULY 20

The Suttle Lodge Live Music: Blair Borax 6 to 8 p.m. "Big Lawn Series," Free; all ages

TUESDAY • JULY 21

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

WEDNESDAY • JULY 22

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Jimmy & Dee Fretwell 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets and more information: www.frankiesinsisters.com/our-events/.

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 • JULY 23

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Suzy Vitello presents “Griftopia" at 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

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; outside in the courtyard Info: frankiesinsisters.com. 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

The Suttle Lodge Live Music: Sun Threaders ft. Travis Ehrenstrom 6 to 8 p.m. "Big Lawn Series," Free; all ages

FRIDAY • JULY 24

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Jesse Meade 6 to 8 p.m. Finger-style acoustic guitarist, singer/songwriter No cover. Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events. Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. The Barn Live Music: Ky Burt & The Feel Goods 6 to 8 p.m. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

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.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Music: Toothpick

Shaker 5 to 7 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Info: 541-549-2471

Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk 4 to 7 p.m. Galleries and shops feature art and demonstrations. Information: www.sistersarts.org.

SATURDAY • JULY 25

Hardtails Live Music: Guitar Gods

FivePine Lodge campus Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show "Save it for Sunday!" 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Display of quilts by Michelle Wilkie Free Info: www.soqs.org. Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Language Gathering 4 to 6 p.m. Practice, listen to or converse in another language! Italian, French, Spanish speakers planning to attend, and all languages welcome for friendly conversation at this free community event. Hosted by Bend Language Institute. Info: bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or 541-728-3022.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Pete Bush

6 to 8 p.m. Touring Pittsburgh songwriter Pete Bush delivers an energetic solo acoustic set that fuses indie rock with roots in jazz. No cover. Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events. Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

p.m.

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Natural Dye Workshop: From Plants to Pigment" In this two-day, hands-on class Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, students learn to create pigments and paints from dye plants grown right here on Pine Meadow Ranch. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $225 Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

FivePine Lodge "Changing Futures" Circle of Friends Fundraiser Dinner celebrating 15 years of community impact. Live music by singer-songwriter Megan Alder live and silent auctions, and emcee Anthony Poponi. All proceeds directly fund life-changing mentorship programs that help local youth build resilience and shape a brighter tomorrow 5:30 p.m. Tickets: www circleoffriendsoregon.org.

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Haute Mélange 6 to 8 p.m. Gypsy jazz the way it was meant to be heard, hot, intricate, and completely alive. Tickets and information: www.frankiesinsisters.com/our-events/.

The Barn Live Music: Funk Around & Find Out 6 to 8 p.m. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

8 to 10 p .m. in The Yard $10 cover begins at 7 p.m. Info: hardtailsdivebarandgrill.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Lickety Split

6 to 8 p.m. Original music grounded in American roots traditions, including jug band stomps, vaudeville blues, old time No cover. Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

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

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

SUNDAY • JULY 26

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

summer of 2008, and the top of the butte had partially burned, although the structures had been saved.

Our first job was to assess the damage done to the existing lightning protection system. This would include a physical survey and ground and soils testing. As the youngest member of the group, I carried the equipment up on my back. And I reflected.

Outdoor writer

When I first met Ed Park, he was leaned up against the wall at a meeting of the Farewell Bend Writers Roundtable in Bend, Oregon. We introduced ourselves and I heard something in his modest introduction. I went home and dug out old fishing

and hunting magazines and realized I had been reading Ed’s stories for most of the last three decades. That was in 1994. In 1999, when I wrote and edited my first book “Hunting Oregon,” it was Ed Park’s picture I chose for the cover.

Ed’s career began in 1948, when he spent a summer as the fire lookout on Black Butte. In 1951, he joined the U.S. Army and worked in counter intelligence in the United States, Japan, and Korea. He finished college with a Masters Degree in Wildlife Management in 1959 and took a job with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

Topping out

I hiked Black Butte the first time in the early 1990s and several more times that decade. Maret Pajutee was the lookout, I believe, when I went up on forest service lightning protection business the first time in ‘94.

In 1961, he returned to Oregon and began his career as a full-time freelance writer and photographer. Over the course of the next 47 years, he published approximately 4000 articles and produced 10 years of radio programs. For six years, he wrote an outdoor column for The Bend Bulletin

With a story in Sports Afield magazine, he popularized canoe hunting for moose. He loved the long drive to Alaska and made it several times in a Volkswagen Beetle. He would remove the passenger and rear seats to make room for the boned-out moose and caribou meat that he and a partner brought back from the North, antlers strapped to the roof. Bundled in parkas, windows open to keep the meat cool, they took turns driving, the passenger sleeping on the meat.

This time I had a lot of work to do. Over the course of many summers doing these part-time lightning protection surveys, I had climbed 44 lookouts in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. I went right to work with camera, clipboard. First task was to visually inspect the lightning protection system air terminals and look for obvious signs of system failures. Next, I took out the instruments, which included a hand-cranked megger, and performed the earth resistance test and the four-point soils resistivity test.

Having arrived at the top before the boss, I showed him what I had found and had him look at the results. He would always ask me to redo something or run the test in another spot. I tried to anticipate all those things in advance this time. And when he began to wander around the top of the butte, I had my chance to go exploring.

It is always a thrill to top out Black Butte. I like to look back to the south and west at each of the peaks and then look out over the meadows at Black Butte Ranch below, then turn and look north.

With work to do, or dinner plans in town, or an

Black Butte holds signs from the past

of Ed left on top of his world in the late 1940s for those of us that climbed up after him. Ed said that any night there was a dance in Camp Sherman he would wait till sunset then run down the mountain, run all the way to Camp Sherman, “dance all night,” then run back to the butte and get back to work by daylight.

One more turnaround

What else was left for me to find on top of the butte?

What had Ed left for me to find?

He had in fact, written his name on a rock. I found it in the old cabin.

“R.I.P. Here lies a lynx killed July 9, 1948 by Edwin C. Park B.B.L.O.”

The way I remember Ed telling the story, he had shot the cat in defense of his dog. He told the story while I sat on his couch against the tanned hide. It was a bobcat, by the way, not a lynx. A big spotted bobcat, as big as they get. After Ed had given away all his trophies, he kept that cat’s pelt.

The next thing I found was a big boulder under the old cupola. Here Ed had inscribed “Eddie Park, the bearded bachelor of Black Butte 19489.” Ed had used a nail and looking at the photo of the engraving now, I can imagine him there on some summer day, a few white puffs of cloud scudding across the sky, sketching the letters in pencil then patient with hammer and nail, chipping out the block letters, satisfied when he was finished.

And I was satisfied too, having found these memories

Picking my way around to the back, facing north on the other side of a rim of rock, I found a charred pole. Knowing the first lookouts used delimbed pine trees upon which steps were installed and baskets mounted on top, I searched for and found rusted remains and a boulder upon which Lynn Wilson had recorded the length of his sojourn on the mountaintop: June 28, 1919 to Sept. 30, 1919.

Not much has changed on the top of the world. Today Black Butte is still a great hike and a destination with an unforgettable view. Those of us that live near it, mark when to plant our gardens by when the snow melts on the north face.

Take time to climb Black Butte again this summer or plan to climb it next year. Look for the signs left by the men and women who watched for the wisps of smoke out over the forest. They left something for you to find.

Gary Lewis is an outdoor writer and the host of the TV show Frontier Unlimited and the podcast Gary Lewis Outdoorsman. For more information, visit www. garylewisoutdoors.com.

BASKETBALL:

Tourney is a fundraiser for youth athletics

Continued from page 3 evening hatch to catch on the Metolius, my experience is always a hurried one up there, and it’s fun to remember the lookouts who live there all summer and see the butte in all its moods. Watch the shades shrink, shift and lengthen again. And watch the play of cloud and shadows.

to bringing this fun event to Sisters,” said Derek Hill from Advantage Mortgage. “The kids love it and we get to raise a little money to give back to the community.”

Registration is open now, and teams are encouraged to sign up early. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for local businesses interested in supporting the event and increasing community visibility.

For registration information, registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit the Sisters Play It Forward website (www.sistersplay itforward.com) and follow Sisters Play It Forward 3 on 3 on social media. Sisters Elementary School is located at 2155 McKinney Butte Rd.

Saturday, July 11, 2026

and heading over to the park last year.

“I was charmed,” he said of his new hometown’s celebration. It reminded him of holiday celebrations in his former home of Canadian, Texas. He and his wife Kimberly came back for more this year.

C4C Executive Director Kellen Klein heard a similar story from several tourists.

“They had returned specifically for the Fourth of July because they had so much fun last year, and they wanted to do it again,” he said.

Sisters’ “Flag Man” Earl Schroeder led the assemblage in a heart-felt Pledge of Allegiance. Many participants took photographs in front of the massive flag on display at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District headquarters across Elm Street from the park

Kids swarmed around fire engines pulled out from their bays at the firehouse, and Smoky Bear came out to represent the U.S. Forest Service. Kids also got their faces painted and zoomed

around the park on festive two-wheelers, decorated at a Blazin’ Saddles booth, in a bike parade that drew cheers from the assembled crowd. Runners and walkers trekked through Sisters neighborhoods in a threemile run (see related story, page 15)

All the while, 16-year-old Tristan Marshall dazzled the crowd with his astonishing ukulele chops.

“Tristan Marshall — man, he nailed it,” exclaimed Bill Kelly, who is Sisters Rotary Club’s leader for the event.

Dry Canyon Stampede took the stage mid-morning to play country music for a horde of line dancers.

Some 750 people milled around the Village Green at the height of festivities, and an estimated 1,500 people came and went through the event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The enticing scent of batter wafted across the park, tempting even those who had already had breakfast to get in a long line for a pancake breakfast — a line that turned into a mix-and-mingle where new friends were met and made.

Kelly initially couldn’t define a favorite part of the event.

“Each part was sort of my favorite,” he said.

“Everything was magic.”

He was surprised that a water balloon toss got such enthusiastic participation — and not just from kids.

“Who would have thought we’d extend the whole park to throw water balloons at each other,” he said.

Pressed to pick just one, he decided that the kids bike parade was actually his favorite event — but he confessed that that might be because his grandchildren were in it.

The pie-eating contest presented by Sisters Bakery has become a centerpiece of the event, with a giant crowd assembled to watch adult

4TH FEST: Event

and youth contestants as they plunged their faces into pie dishes in a display of competitive speed-eating.

In the adult division Chris Swartz finished a nine-inch deep-dish marionberry pie in about 8.5 minutes to take top honors. His daughter, Vivian, placed second in the kids’ division, and Swartz seemed determined to one-up her.

Mayor Jennifer Letz and City Manager Jordan Wheeler also competed in the adult division, along with locals, folks from as far away as California, and a woman who was 32 weeks pregnant.

In the kids’ division, Andrew (last name unknown) from Portland took top honors. He was the defending champion from the 2025 contest, and returned to Sisters with his family to defend his title, wearing a homemade T-shirt that read “2025 PieEating Champion.” Sure enough, he beat his record from last year, blowing away his competition, and finishing a five-inch chocolate cream pie in one minute 57 seconds.

Andrew’s dad, John, who took first place in the 2025 adult division, came in second this year; he was in the lead but appeared to hit a crust-filled wall in the final minute.

Winners received handmade pie plates from Canyon Creek Pottery, blue ribbons, and another whole pie from Sisters Bakery to take home.

The whole thing hit the X-ring of the organizers’ mission.

“When we first started it, it was about making sure the people had a way to come together as a community on the Fourth of July,” Klein said. “That may sound simple, but that’s the foundation of community.”

Klein noted that the event has drawn wide participation and that, while C4C and Sisters Rotary are the topline sponsors of the event, the whole community has leaned in.

“It 100 percent feels like a communitywide effort to pull this off,” he said. “It’s very touching as a leader of a community organization to see how people came together for the Fourth.”

He also recognized that a great part of the charm that so enchanted festivalgoers lies in the “vibe” of the event. It’s not low-key; there’s plenty of excitement — but it’s not a carnival either.

“We don’t need bells and whistles,” Klein said. “We just set the table and people show up — and that’s how the magic happens.”

celebratory vibe as more than 200 people turned out Saturday morning at Village Green.

Runners celebrate 4th

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

The annual Red, White & Blue 3Miler Fun Run and Walk kicked off festivities at the Village Green Park on the Fourth of July with more than 200 participants taking part.

Former Outlaws runners placed among the top in the field, including Hayden Roth who finished second overall and Ella Bartlett who won the women’s division.

In the spirit of celebrating America’s birthday many entrants came festooned in flag-related garb and face paint.

The field of entrants was

made up of many locals and also visitors from out of town all over Oregon.

Race director, Kelly Bither of RunSistersRun, who organizes three other local themed races during the year, felt quite pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm this year.

“People really got into the spirit of things and it was a beautiful morning and a great way to start the day,” she said.

Following the run, participants enjoyed the pancake breakfast put on by the Rotary Club of Sisters which was a co-sponsor along with Citizens4Community of Sisters 4th Fest, that included games, a bike parade,

information booths, live music, and more.

One visitor from out of the area said, “This is a classic small-town event and great fun for our family.”

Complete results can be found at the RunSistersRun website, which also includes information about the other races offered by Bither, including the next one, which is the Giddy Up 5K/5Miler Ranch Run (Halloween edition) on Saturday, October 31,

DEMENTIA:

Program offers support to care partners

Continued from page 3

the disease progresses. They often cannot leave their loved one alone at home, and must be constantly attentive to their safety and well-being. The demands can be exhausting — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The work can also feel isolating.

One of the key missions of Living Well With Dementia – Sisters is to provide support to care partners. They offer recurring support group gatherings for people facing a new dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and also supportive space for dementia care partners to connect, share, and feel understood. (For more information visit www.livingwellwith dementiasisters.com.)

That feeling of connection is vital, and a significant motivator for Cummings’ fundraising effort. In presenting the funds to the organization, she said: “Thank you for the difference you make in our community, and for reminding caregivers that they are valued, supported — and never alone.”

Obituaries

End election injustice

By Ted Kulongoski, Cheri Helt, Andrew Kaza Columnists

Oregon’s statewide election last month exposed yet again the injustice of our partisan election system.

Injustice is a strong word. But it’s clearly an injustice to bar our largest group of voters — those who choose not to join a political party — from participating in our primary elections as candidates and voters.

Under our closed primary system, nonaffiliated voters are treated as secondclass citizens when it comes to selecting members of Congress, the Legislature and our top statewide offices, including governor. They can’t become candidates for any of these offices in a primary election, nor do they have a say in who the state’s major party voters send on to the general election.

In last month’s primary election, voters who are members of the Democratic and Republican parties could write a check for $25 to become candidates for the Legislature. Ninetynine Democrats and 97 Republicans did just that. Another 28 Democrats and 32 Republicans wrote checks for $100 or $150 and became candidates for Congress and governor. All had their names on the ballots in May’s primary election conducted at the expense of Oregon taxpayers.

Yet nonaffiliated voters, taxpayers too, had no such options. They couldn’t write checks of any amount to gain access to the primary ballot. Nor could they make use of an alternative system to qualify as candidates by collecting signatures for the primary. They faced a closed door with a No Entry sign for nonaffiliated voters interested in competing for our most important elected offices. Then, nonaffiliated voters

were shut out of voting for these offices in the May election whose Democratic and Republican winners will now receive top billing in November’s general election.

Oregon has been running elections this way for most of our lifetimes. But during our lifetimes, we’ve seen a steady decline in the proportion of voters who choose to affiliate with the Democratic and Republican parties – a trend which has accelerated in recent years. Nonaffiliated voters in Oregon now exceed 1.1 million, more than each of the major parties.

The major parties in Oregon are no longer “major.” In 1970, 98 percent of Oregon’s registered voters were members of the Democratic or Republican parties. Today, only 32 percent of registered voters in Oregon are Democrats; only 24 percent are Republicans.

They can’t say, as they could decades ago, that the choices their members make to put two names on the leader board in our general elections represent the choices of the voters overall. But Democratic and Republican party leaders like it this way, as their closed primaries allow them to maintain control over our election choices in spite of their diminishing numbers.

There is nothing in Oregon’s Constitution that favors this process; it’s a creation of the Legislature. But all members of the Legislature are, with rare and usually temporary exceptions, members of the major parties that benefit from this system and have little incentive to change it — unless the voters demand that they change it.

We filed an initiative last year to take to the voters a proposal to open up Oregon’s primary system.

Our Voters Fairness Act would have established equal voting rights for nonaffiliated

voters to select two nominees from a field of nonaffiliated, Democratic and Republican candidates for the general election ballot, while leaving minor parties free to conduct their own nominations at their own expense as they do now.

Unfortunately, our proposal became embroiled in partisan wrangling over a ballot tile that obscured its major purpose. With a misleading ballot caption and little time to collect the signatures needed to qualify for the November election, we decided to halt our effort for the 2026 ballot.

But we are going back to the drawing board. And, our goal going forward remains the same: Establish equal rights for nonaffiliated voters in all of our taxpayer-funded elections.

There are a number of ways to accomplish this. In addition to the proposal we drafted last year, we are now considering other ways to ensure all voters can participate fully and equally in taxpayer-funded elections.

We will encourage the Legislature to take up this matter in the 2027 session and, if necessary, we’ll look to the ballot again in 2028. Otherwise, Oregon will continue to conduct our elections for our most important public offices the way we did last month — unjustly excluding our largest group of voters from full participation in our democracy.

Learn more and sign up for updates at www.voter fairness.com.

Ted Kulongoski served as Oregon’s 36th governor from 2003 to 2011. Cheri Helt is a former Republican state representative from Bend. Andrew Kaza is a co-chair of the Independent Party of Oregon. He is the owner of the Sisters Movie House.

Republished under courtesy of https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com.

July 25, 1933 — June 28, 2026

Julius Louis “Jess” Cordoni, age 92, of Bend, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026.

Born on July 25, 1933, Jess made his home in Bend, where he built a rewarding life surrounded by family and friends. As a proud patriot, Jess was a veteran of the Korean War serving his country with honor and distinction. His dedication to his fellow servicemen/women continued throughout his life in Central Oregon, where he was an active member and served faithfully as a chaplain for the Central Oregon Band of Brothers. He will be deeply missed for his guidance, his faith and his unwavering commitment to his community.

Jess is survived by his beloved wife, Virginia Cordoni; daughters Kathy

Geary and Patty Cordoni; and a large circle of extended family, neighbors, and fellow veterans in the Central Oregon area who will miss his steady presence.

In lieu of flowers, the Cordoni family requests that donations be made in Jess’ memory. Please send checks to: Band of Brothers, 61535 S. Highway 97, Ste. 5-327, Bend, OR 97702.

QUILT SHOW: Event is set for Saturday, July 11 in Sisters

grandmother, Diane Tolzman, and entering them in the Quilt Show.

The youngsters’ interest in quilting evolved naturally out of their close relationship with their grandmother, who is, herself, an avid quilter.

“I enjoy it, and we hang out together a lot, so they wanted to do what I was doing,” Tolzman told The Nugget.

The young quilters work on their projects bit by bit during time with Tolzman. Brooklyn said it took about five months to finish her quilt.

“It’s really worth it,” she said.

She said that her design was inspired by her enjoyment of the game Minecraft.

The youths will be entering their quilts in the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo show as well, so Jordan decided to go with a rodeo theme for this

year’s effort.

“I just randomly think of things,” he said of his sources of inspiration — an approach that will be familiar to many an experienced quilter.

Tolzman said that, in addition to being a pleasant way to connect with her grandchildren, the annual quilt-making effort is a good learning experience, requiring them to manage a long-term project with many steps. She also tries to incorporate practical learning into the work.

“We try to incorporate math,” she said.

She tries to keep a light hand in her guidance.

“It’s fun to see them be creative — and letting them be creative,” she said, “working really hard to not intervene and let them do what they want to do.

“It always makes me really proud to see what they’ve done. It’s a long process for all of us.”

SOQS will feature a Kids Activity Center where nextgeneration artists can get a taste of the fun of creativity. Kristy Rawls will host a Kid’s

Activity Center at Village Green Park on Quilt Show day, featuring fun activities that spark curiosity about quilting as an art form and as a useful skill. All materials are provided for attendees.

Qristy Kurtz of Powell Butte is the founder of the nonprofit, Fashion for Everyone. She invites all quilting curious to stop by the Fashion Workshop Mobile Classroom on Hood Avenue across from Bedouin for a free Stop and Sew activity from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. She’s offering a fun sewing project making a little coin purse or credit cardholder. Part of Kurtz’s mission is using recycled materials and making things that won’t just get thrown away or left on a shelf.

There will be a multitude of special exhibits and displays across Sisters on Quilt Show Day (with an additional “Save It For Sunday” event at FivePine Lodge and Spa). A complete rundown may be found in the event program created by SOQS and The Nugget Newspaper. Print programs can be found in the July 1 edition of The Nugget, the will also be available on Quilt Show day at SOQS information tables and on the porch at The Nugget (442 E. Main Ave.). To access the program digitally, visit www.soqs.org.

One of the annual highlights of Quilt Show day is the Quilts of Valor presentation to veterans at 11 a.m. adjacent to U.S. Bank at 123 W. Hood Ave.

The theme of this year’s show is “Whimsical & Wild,” captured in the poster art by Sisters artist Katie Daisy. The show kicks off at 9 a.m. with more than 1,000 quilts

on display throughout town. Cascade Avenue will be open to traffic, but there will be a car-free corridor along Hood Avenue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Deputies from Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will assist with pedestrian crossings of Cascade Avenue at Pine, Elm, and Fir streets.

CITY: Council continues to work on local business

showed that between 2015 and 2024 there were 71 corridor crashes on the Cascade corridor; 75 percent were in intersections, 49 percent resulted in injuries, about a third occurred in the months of August and September, and half were rear-end crashes. Seven of the crashes injured pedestrians or bicyclists.

The RSA included over a dozen road speed and pedestrian safety tools (from zipper merge signs to rapid flashing beacons), short- and long-term safety approaches, priorities, and possible pilot safety projects. Some of the long-term approaches depended on approval and/or coordination with Oregon Department of Transportation.

Councilors offered several considerations, including Council President Sarah McDougall noting that since several of the proposals to increase pedestrian safety on Cascade Avenue require the Highway 20 alternate route (Locust Street and Barclay upgrades) needs to be in place, the City might want to “bump up” that project on the schedule, if at all possible. Councilor Cheryl Pellerin suggested reducing the speed east of the Barclay roundabout to 20 or 25 miles per hour rather than jumping to 35 mph after the roundabout and before Pine Street intersection.

Public works staff will return to Council with an implementation plan to review and approve and Manager Bertagna hopes the road safety project can get started before August.

Finance Director Joe O’Neill presented the Supplemental Budget 202526 fiscal year adjustments, Resolution 2026-12.

“Such adjustments can be done at various points in a fiscal year,” said Councilor Gary Ross, adding that doing so can get confusing to the public. He appreciates the finance director’s approach. Director O’Neill also asked for approval of Resolution 2026-13 the Master Fee Schedule for FY 2026-27, which was updated to reflect recent rate increases previously approved.

Capital Projects Manager Paul Bertagna presented motions to award funding for two major public improvement contracts and in both cases requests for proposals were won by Robinson & Owen Heavy Construction. Bertagna noted that ending up with the same company constructing both of these major projects is advantageous to the projects’ quality and timelines.

• Council awarded the $1,863,033 contract to construct the Edgington Transmission Line. This project was identified in the 2023 Water Master Plan update. Most of the project transverses U.S. Forest Service lands which required a National Environmental Protection Act analysis. NEPA conducted the analysis and gave the City approval September 2025. The original estimate for the project in 2023 was $3,635,000, More recently the design engineer’s cost estimate was $2,750,000. The project includes 2.5 miles of 16-inch PVC piping from Highway 126 near the new Sisters Elementary school then up Edgington Road to the reservoir and includes four fire hydrants. This new line will help

provide greater water flows to the west side of town and provide another transmission line to the reservoir(s) for system redundance and maintenance. The project started June 29 and will be mostly complete by the end of 2026. Later, Bertagna noted that the requests for proposals for designing and engineering a new reservoir are going out this month with funding searches during FY 2026-27.

• Council awarded the $993,033 contract to upgrade the Rope Street Pumpstation. Identified during the 2024 Wastewater Master plan update, the project will replace the 25-year-old pumps duplicating the same size pumps and Smart Control Flygt pumping system as installed at the Westside Pump Station. These stations must work together so using the same systems is key. Construction expected to begin July and substantially complete by March 2027. The timeframe of the project includes a 20- to 24-week window to receive a standby generator from the date of ordering which pushes the bulk of the project work into 2027.

City Manager Jordan Wheeler requested Council approve the professional services agreement with Bryant, Lovlien and Jarvis (BLJ) to provide City attorney services for the next five to seven years (extensions after five years are allowed in the contract). This is not a change of legal counsel. Three firms replied to the request for proposals, it was BLJ that passed the review and evaluation criteria and had competitive rates. BLJ partners are $325 per hour and the associates are $275 per hour.

Nugget Poetry Corner

ByEdieJones

New state forester gets to work

By Alex Baumhardt Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon’s new state forester Kacey KC’s first experience with wildfire was watching flames move down the mountainside toward her childhood home in Nevada.

On a summer break from college in 1996, “literally working at the car wash,” she explained, she saw from across town a huge plume of smoke growing around her neighborhood. She called her father, who frantically explained that he’d seen the fire start a street over, and that the wind was blowing the flames straight at their house.

After racing home to help him, it also became when she learned firsthand what not to do in the event of a wildfire.

“We didn’t know at the time, I mean my dad was on the roof with the hose, putting out hotspots. I was on the deck, I was just doing what my dad told me to do,” she explained, “but it was a wind shift, really, that saved our home.”

KC has become a lot more pragmatic about fighting fire since then, but does not underestimate the power of

changing winds. She is hoping to harness that energy as the Oregon Department of Forestry’s new director, taking over after her predecessors were embroiled in accusations of financial mismanagement and workplace misconduct, including creating a hostile culture toward women.

She’ll be the first woman to permanently lead the agency in its history, and comes to the job after 24 years at Nevada’s forestry and natural resource agencies, including eight years as Nevada’s first female State Forester Firewarden.

KC said she brings with her from Nevada a “zero tolerance policy for a lot of different issues, both financially and treating people poorly.” As she embarks on her third month on the job, she said she is still in learning mode and ensuring “everyone understands my expectations and that we are moving forward together in the right direction.”

KC sat down briefly with Oregon Capital Chronicle to talk about her first couple

Look ar ound…

Muc h sur rounds us, beckoning – tantalizing

Look car efully.

What’s the fuss that calls you?

Is it r eal – or something that pr etends?

Is it glitter y and bold, displaying the ric hness of silver and gold?

Or is it the specialness of a friend, r eac hing out with ar ms and hugs, alw ays ther e, keeping you warm and snug?

Keep that vision c lose. T her e’s muc h that w ants to lead you astr ay

Be car eful, it can be mor e enticing than w hat you know is tr ue.

Does life’s fool’s gold deceive, causing you to tur n aw ay?

Be aler t, stay aw ake – T hat gold is skilled, it knows how to take you of f your path and get you in its gr asp.

Don’t be deceived. If it’s glittery, shiny, nice – look aw ay

Not just once or even twice – go back to the one that holds you solid, on the ground

Pay attention…

It’s so easy to go digging w her e gold isn’t to be found.

Beyond the city

ByBethEckert

pric k my bar k gently pic k the flower marigold or rose. c lic k the gate latch ever so easy to enter that sacr ed space, filled with spider lace. pathw ays narr owly inviting guar ded with gently sw aying weeds, pr otected by br ush and tr ees.

sit among those living and br eathing other wor ldly gr owing seeds be come gr een with the company sur rounding your resting fo rm as you lie beyond the city tuc ked aw ay in the garden wher e you belong.

months on the job, preparing for a long fire season likely to leave her overseeing some of the biggest blazes of her career, and negotiating desires and dollars between conservationists, the timber industry, ranchers, firefighters and local, state, federal and tribal governments.

Bigger responsibilities

In Oregon, KC is taking over an agency with almost five times as many staff as she managed in Nevada, and with a significantly larger budget. She’s well versed in working with federal natural resource agencies — more than 80% of Nevada’s land is federally owned and managed — but will be new to overseeing a larger state-run land and forest portfolio in Oregon, where the agency depends on logging to fund its operations.

Tina Kotek’s Wildfire and Military Advisor Doug Grafe, and later worked alongside Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple as an advisor on the Congressional Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.

And though on average more acres burn annually in Nevada — about a million on average, compared to Oregon’s 10-year average of 680,000 — they tend to lead to less home loss because they burn in much less densely populated areas, she said.

Creating change

KC said she’s currently evaluating what kinds of changes might be needed at the forestry department following the departure more than a year ago of its leader Cal Mukumoto amid misconduct claims among

senior leaders, and an unexpected emergency infusion of funding from the Oregon Legislature when it became clear the agency could not pay all its bills after the 2024 wildfire season.

“I don’t believe in coming into an agency and making big changes before I really have an understanding of how we operate, and so I’m spending a lot of time learning,” KC said, and acknowledged that “the increasing costs of wildfires, and being able to get that funding to be able to pay your bills on time, has been a challenge across both states.”

When it comes to paying to fight wildfires, she said she understands well the complex system of payments and reimbursements that exist between the forestry department and state, local, federal, and tribal agencies and governments and private contractors. She said her job is to balance all of that so partners have a reasonable expectation for getting paid, and to make sure lawmakers and budget writers understand, if not the full complexity she has to manage, the cost and timing needs and demands she is trying to meet.

spending a lot of time with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s strategic plan and thinking of ways to build on it, including when it comes to accountability for leaders and staff.

There are about 8.5 million acres of forested land in Nevada and practically no timber industry, compared to Oregon’s more than 30 million forested acres. Although the state Forestry Department manages just 3% of that, it is the primary fire-fighting resource for 16 million acres of land across the state, including private forest and rangeland acres.

KC is one of few leaders in the Oregon Department of Forestry’s history with no background in timber, but she said she is used to managing the desires of industry and of conservation.

In her first few weeks she said she met with environmental organizations, timber operators, tribes, rural and rangeland fire protection associations, and said she meets at least twice a month with the directors of Oregon’s other natural resource agencies.

Her work in forestry started in conservation, and she spent years managing the state’s sagebrush ecosystem program meant to protect native species and return the landscape to a more fire-resistant state. She said she sees wildlife and habitat conservation as critical to the work of a department tasked with protecting forests from drought, disease, and climate change, and fighting fire.

“Any project that I’m doing for fire mitigation should be considering habitat,” she said.

And though she’s never been a firefighter, she said she has “been supporting firefighters for all of my career.”

KC participated for years in the National Association of State Foresters, where she recently spent a year as president, and during that time got to know Oregon Gov.

When she took over in Nevada, she started building the agency’s first ever strategic plan that included policies around this, and around workplace conduct. She said she is

When it comes to the cultural issues that came to a head at the forestry department in recent years, including complaints that leaders were hostile to women and to employees based on race and sexual-orientation, KC said they are not new issues for her and she takes them seriously. She described her strategy as being transparent about addressing complaints, discussing challenges with staff, and enforcing accountability, especially among

agency leadership, as well as training.

The biggest changes will likely occur first in her own life. She is, for the first time since college in Montana and a two-year stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, living away from the “little town” of Gardnerville, Nevada, where she grew up and where she saw that first wildfire 30 years ago.

“My family’s all there. I wasn’t really seeking a new career,” she said of her move to Oregon, “but I definitely saw the opportunity.”

Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, courtesy of https://oregoncapital chronicle.com. FORESTER: New director comes to Oregon from Nevada

Limited single-day tickets available for SFF

Coming off a successful Big Ponderoo festival, SFF Presents is releasing a limited number of single-day tickets for the 2026 Sisters Folk Festival.

The tickets, along with the full performance schedule, drop at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8. This year’s lineup includes 33 diverse acts playing at seven venues in Sisters on Friday, September 25–Sunday, September 27. Purchase tickets and view the schedule at www.sistersfolkfest.org.

Throughout the SFF festival weekend, most artists will perform multiple times, with several acts scheduled for all three days. Music performances will take place on Friday, September 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.; on Saturday, September 26 from noon to 12:30 a.m.; and on Sunday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This long-running annual event will transform the heart of Sisters into a music lover’s paradise, utilizing seven venues that each offer a unique atmosphere for performances, including Sisters Art Works, The Belfry, Frankie’s Kitchen & Cocktails, The Open Door, Sisters Saloon, Oliver Lemon’s, and Village Green. The festival is designed to be a walkable experience, allowing attendees to easily navigate between venues and discover new artists at every turn.

A few of the standout artists on the 2026 lineup are Tommy Emmanuel, Ozomatli, Brandy Clark, John Gorka, Michael Cleveland, Margo Cilker, Mason Via, Thunderstorm Artis, and Maya de Vitry with many

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

more incredible acts representing a wide spectrum of roots music from around the world.

Adding to the familyfriendly appeal, a free KidZone will be available at Fir Street Park on Saturday, September 26. This venue does not require a festival wristband, making it accessible for families to enjoy music and activities specifically tailored for younger audiences.

On Sunday, September 27, the annual Community Celebration returns to Village Green Park for a free morning gathering featuring performances by an array of festival artists. Often described by attendees as “church,” this beloved tradition offers a joyful, music-filled start to the day and is open to everyone, whether you’re attending the festival or not. After the Community Celebration, the festival resumes at 12 p.m. across all seven downtown venues.

Friday passes are $95 for adults and $40 for youth; Saturday passes are $160 for adults and $65 for youth; Sunday passes are $75 for adults and $35 for youth; and 3-Day passes are $245 for adults and $90 for youth ages 17 and under. Festival passholders will have access to performances and workshops at all seven venues on a firstcome, first-serve basis for the day(s) their pass is valid. Festival tickets can be purchased at https://aftontickets. com/SFF2026.

Be sure to follow @ SistersFolkFestival on Instagram and Facebook for the most current updates and additional information.

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

Avoiding health trouble at summer events

Deschutes County Public Health is urging residents to take precautions to prevent Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections as picnics, fairs, petting zoos, and other summer events take place across Central Oregon.

“Each summer, Public Health sees an increase in intestinal illnesses in our community,” said Deschutes County Communicable Disease Program Manager Rita Bacho. “Because outdoor gatherings, travel, animal contact, and food-related exposures are more common this time of year, it is especially important for families to take precautions to prevent exposure to STEC and other intestinal illnesses.”

STEC bacteria can be found in the intestines of healthy cattle, goats, sheep, and other animals. People can become infected through:

• Contact with infected animals

• Contact with contaminated environments

• Eating or drinking contaminated food or water

• Person-to-person spread.

Most people recover within a week, but some — especially young children — can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that can cause kidney failure and other life-threatening conditions. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for severe illness.

How to help prevent STEC infection

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water after touching animals, animal enclosures, or anything in animal areas.

• Wash hands before eating, drinking, or preparing food.

• Watch young children closely and help them wash their hands after animal contact.

• Avoid eating or drinking

in animal exhibit areas.

• Keep strollers, toys, pacifiers, bottles, and sippy cups out of animal areas whenever possible.

• Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F.

• Avoid unpasteurized milk, juice, and dairy products.

• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating.

• Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meats separate from ready-to-eat foods.

• Drink water only from safe, approved sources.

Know the symptoms Symptoms usually begin three to four days after exposure but can appear one to 10 days later. Symptoms may include:

• Severe stomach cramps

• Diarrhea that often becomes bloody

• Vomiting

• Low-grade fever. Anyone experiencing bloody diarrhea should seek medical care right away. Watch for signs of HUS Seek medical care if any of the following occur:

• Decreased urination

• Extreme tiredness or unusual sleepiness

• Pale skin

• Easy bruising or unexplained bleeding

• Swelling of the face, hands, or feet.

Early recognition and medical care is important.

A note about antibiotics

Antibiotics are generally not recommended for people with suspected or confirmed STEC infection because they may increase the risk of HUS in some patients. People with diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids and talk with a health care provider about evaluation and testing.

For more information, contact Deschutes County Public Health at 541-3227400 or visit the Oregon Health Authority or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.

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.

DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 5 PM preceding Wednesday publication.

PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due upon placement. Major credit cards accepted with a 3% processing fee. Billing available for continuously run classified ads, after prepayment of first four weeks.

CATEGORIES:

101 Real Estate FOR SALE

4 BR, 2 BATH CONDO AT BLACK BUTTE RANCH

Fabulous views, newly updated Lodge Condos #35 & 36

Great location on the ranch!

corrielake.realtor@gmail.com

Stellar Realty NW 541-521-2392

HOME FOR SALE

1005 E. Horse Back Trail 1807 SF single level 3 BD/2BA $689,000. 541-420-1143

102 Commercial Rentals

STORAGE WITH BENEFITS

•8 x 20 dry box

•Fenced yard, RV & trailers

•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

CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS

Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792

Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com

SERVICE TO PROVIDE?

BUSINESS TO PROMOTE?

VEHICLE FOR SALE?

HOUSE TO RENT? LOOKING FOR LAND?

GARAGE TOO FULL? NEED SOME HELP? Advertise in The Nugget Newspaper's CLASSIFIEDS. For no additional cost your classified goes ONLINE!

Go to www.NuggetNews.com DEADLINE: Friday by 5 p.m. email nugget@nuggetnews.com Call 541-549-9941

104 Vacation Rentals

Downtown Vacation Rentals Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom www.SistersVacationRentals.net

Great pricing. 503-730-0150

Looking for something to do while vacationing in the Sisters area? Visit SistersOregonGuide.com

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

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

302 Recreational Vehicles

2021 Tiffin Open Road Allegro 34PA, $120,000, 43,300 miles, Ford 7.3 liter gas engine, new tires, many upgrades. Shown by appointment. Mark 541-668-1524 or Deb 402-496-9579.

401 Horses

Orchard Grass Hay For Sale $250/ton, 541-408-6258

ALFALFA TRITICALE

ORCHARD GRASS HAY

New 2026 crop. Barn stored. 3-tie bales. $250-$350/ton. Hwy. 126 & Cline Falls. 541-280-1895

403 Pets

Mini Golden Doodle Puppies

Special pricing considerations for seniors and service dog prospects goldenlegacydoodles.com 541-647-7630

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

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.

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

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT? Check out the Help Wanted ads NEED ASSISTANCE?

Advertise in the Classifieds Call 541-549-9941

SMALL Engine REPAIR

Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers

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

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

502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

M & J CARPET CLEANING

Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-owned since 1986. 541-549-9090

505 Auto Repair

BURLINGTON AUTOMOTIVE

Mobile Mechanic in Sisters Diagnostics, Inspections, Oil Change, Tune-up, and more! Wide variety of vehicles and skid steer loaders. (503) 509-9354

600 Tree Service & Forestry

4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts! –TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –Native / Non-Native Tree

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

–FOREST MANAGEMENT –Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale Projects!

Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003 ** Free Estimates **

Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342 4brostrees.com

Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057

TimberStandImprovement.net Tree Removal & Pruning

TRAQ Arborist/ CCB#190496 541-771-4825

Running Out of Firewood?

Check The Nugget Classifieds Category 202 to resupply!

LOLO TREE WORKS

Tree Services: Tree Removal, Tree Pruning, Stump Grinding, Emergency Tree Services. ISA Certified Arborist

Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com Call / Text: 503-367-5638

Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com

CCB #240912 •Wildfire Fuels reduction •Debris Chipping/Mastication •Forest Health Thinning •Wildfire Cleanup & Restoration • Tree Removal Will Moore, 541-409-5404

ISA Certified Arborist We are the experts you’ve been looking for! LCB# 100129 & Oregon Professional Logger 71395048

Tree Removal • Tree Pruning Good for Trees. Good to People. SparTreeArborist.com (916)619-6317

Construction & Renovation

Custom Residential Projects All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448

Custom Homes • Additions Residential Building Projects Serving Sisters area since 1976 Strictly Quality CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764

John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com

Level: Easy Answer: Page 23

Landscape & Construction LLC

LCB#8874

CCB#224224

Serving Oregon since 1991

503-849-6090

Creating beautiful outdoor living spaces * custom patios & decks

*water & fire features * outdoor kitchens * pavilions * barns everythingoutdoors@ymail.com Rooted in family, Built with pride

Lara’s Construction LLC.

CCB#223701

Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call for a free estimate 541-350-3218

Uncompromising quality. Local and personal. You can trust me. All projects: From new construction to those little projects you don't seem to get to.

My team of local subcontractors and I will get it done right, fair, and pain-free so you can make your spouse happy.

Call Jared 503-949-9719

–

Sisters Oregon Guide –Pick up a copy at The Nugget!

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

Factory Trained Technicians

Since 1983

• CCB #44054

541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

Custom Homes

Additions - Remodels

Residential Building Projects

Becke William Pierce

CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384

Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com — Serving Sisters Since 2010 —

LOCAL CONSTRUCTION

SERVICES & HOME MAINT.

Remodels • Landscaping

Firewise Maintenance

Decks & Much More!

Pease Co. Contracting Call Tanner at 541-588-0136. Big and small jobs!

CCB# 256258

Earthwood Timber

•Recycled fir and pine beams

•Mantels and accent timbers

•Sawmill/woodshop services

EWDevcoLLC@gmail.com

602 Plumbing & Electric

— GEORGE’S — SEPTIC SERVICE 541-419-3148

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

Sisters Owned and Operated

Serving all of Central Oregon

•Residential • Commercial

•Industrial • Service

Hot tubs/Saunas • Generators

Car Chargers • Panel Upgrades

Light upgrades

541-588-3088 • CCB #234821

SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling

•New Construction

•Water Heaters

541-549-4349

Residential and Commercial

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CCB #87587

Electrical Service & Repair

Est. 1947, CCB#54572

Local in Sisters 503-357-2146

603 Excavation & Trucking

Full Service Excavation

Free On-site Visit & Estimate

Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com

541-549-1472 • CCB #76888

Drainfield

•Minor & Major Septic Repair

•All Septic Needs/Design & Install

General Excavation

•Site Preparation

•Rock & Stump Removal

•Pond & Driveway Construction

Preparation

•Building Demolition

Trucking

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

•Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

•The Whole 9 Yards or 24

Whatever You Want!

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial

CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977

www.BANR.net

604 Heating & Cooling

ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

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

CCB #195556 541-549-6464

Sisters, Oregon's Exclusive HVAC Service

Residential & Commercial Heating • Ductless Air Conditioning • Maintenance Installation • Repair

541-588-5667

SistersHeatingAir.com

605 Painting

Interior/Exterior Painting Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491 ~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks

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

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

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

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

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

Alpine Landscape Maintenance

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

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

All Landscaping Services

Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

Eastern Cascade Solutions Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195 LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

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

702 Sewing

YARN,YARN,YARN& MORE

Knitting supplies, needles, buttons, etc., all brand new!

July 10-11, Friday & Saturday ONLY, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 69130 Barclay Dr., Sisters

802 Help Wanted Part Time Sales Associate Love people, fabric, and creativity? Stitchin' Post is seeking a friendly, dependable team member to join our retail staff. Three days per week; may require weekends. Apply in person at Stitchin' Post, 311 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters, or email diane.j@stitchinpost.com. T H E N U G G E T N

www.NuggetNews.com

Driver to assist my parents with transportation twice in a week. Offering a competitive weekly salary of $402. The ideal candidate should have a valid driver's license, be calm & responsible. smlawrence1129@currently.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 •

• • • SERVICE TO PROVIDE? BUSINESS TO PROMOTE? VEHICLE FOR SALE? HOUSE TO RENT? LOOKING FOR LAND? GARAGE TOO FULL? Advertise in The Nugget Newspaper's CLASSIFIEDS For no additional cost your classified goes ONLINE! Go to www.NuggetNews.com DEADLINE: Friday by 5 p.m. Call 541-549-9941

SUDOKU SOLUTION

for puzzle on page 22

Pat Burke

LOCALLY OWNED

CRAFTSMAN BUILT

CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062

www.sistersfencecompany.com

S

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

RANCH

13569 VALERIAN, AH3 BLACK BUTTE

Aspen House 3 is a rare find! Surrounded by aspen trees and ponderosa pines. Enjoy lake views from the living areas and upst airs primary bedroom suite. Lovingly caredfor, 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home is close to South Meadow Pool/tennis, and Glaze Meadow Recreation Center. $849,000 MLS#220224588 | Susan Bird

69435 GREEN RIDGE LOOP | SISTERS

Stunning handcrafted log

69307

SCABBARD | SISTERS

Private .65-acre setting offering quiet serenity. Relax on huge back deck where you’re hidden from the world except for birds and wildlife. After your respite, cozy up to the woodburning fire or enjoy Tollgate community amenities: saltwater swim pool, pickleball/tennis, hiking/biking path easily accessible to U.S. forest land. Furnished; can sleep 6. $515,000 MLS#220219264 | Catherine Black

a

that overlooks the

Perfect for entert aining or simply unwinding in the ambiance of nature’s embrace. $949,000 MLS#220218327 | Winfield Durham 67395 RABBITBRUSH

16840 BUCK HORN DRIVE | SISTERS

This cozy 508 sq. ft. studio cabin

Amazing mount ain views! Tucked at the end of a quiet road, this stunning 5+ acre

Open

SW METOLIUS MEADOWS DRIVE CAMP SHERMAN

821 E DESPERADO TRAIL, UNIT 201 | SISTERS

Condo with 2 primary suites, one with separate exterior entrance for added flexibility. Home features new flooring and interior paint throughout. Picture yourself retiring to the covered deck to unwind after a day of Central Oregon adventures — summer or winter! Access to community pool, hot tub, sauna, and clubhouse.

$395,000 MLS#220220297 | Leslie Cutler

maintenance,