The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVIII No. 50 // 2025-12-10

The Nugget

Ugly sweaters on display at local run

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

A festive spirit filled the streets of Sisters on Saturday morning, December 6, at the annual Ugly Sweater Run and Walk that included well over 300 participants, which was a record for the event.

This year’s event, organized by RunSistersRun, benefited the local nonprofit Living Well with Dementia, which received a $1,000 check prior to the race in cooperation with the Sisters Rotary Club, which supports the organization. RunSistersRun also made a donation to the organization.

According to the group’s social media page, Living Well With Dementia “offers support, education and resources for people living with dementia and their care partners. They provide personalized guidance, coaching, support groups, and other

No retrial

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

for pastor

There will be no retrial in the case of a former Sisters pastor convicted by a nonunanimous jury in 2007 on charges related to sexual abuse of a minor. The case roiled the Sisters community for months.

In 2022, the Oregon Supreme Court found that nonunanimous jury verdicts, which had been allowed in Oregon since 1934, are unconstitutional under the

Oregon Constitution. Several criminal cases, including that of Jeremy Shane Hall, were returned to Deschutes County for review and potential retrial.

Hall was originally convicted by 11 of 12 jurors, and was sentenced to 18 years and nine months in prison. He was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla County, Oregon, and served most of his sentence before being released under

See SHANE HALL on page 31

A snapshot of Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Adair set for congressional run

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Longtime Sisters Country resident Patti Adair, announced her intentions to run as a Republican for the U.S. House of Representatives District 5 seat currently held by Democrat Janelle Bynum, who has filed to run again.

Adair is currently one of three Deschutes County Commissioners, a position she has held for seven years.

Her announcement came via a press release noting she has not yet officially filed paperwork and faces a March filing deadline that will force her to choose between seeking reelection as county commissioner or pursuing the congressional seat.

In a recent survey taken by 405 Sisters Country folk aimed at learning the reasons people choose Sisters as home, we learned that 20 percent of us came here from the Portland metropolitan area; 16.6 percent from the Willamette Valley at large; 10.7 percent from the San Francisco Bay Area; and 9.3 percent from Bend. Between 5 and 10 percent are from Seattle and Southern California but the most — 28.3 percent — are from somewhere else.

See SNAPSHOT on page 28

The 5th District is considered highly competitive. Adair will enter a hyper-partisan general election environment. In addition to Adair, Republicans Joseph Lehman and Jonathan Lockwood have announced plans to run in the May primary.

In her statement, Adair

emphasized constituent service and bipartisan problem - solving as central themes of her campaign while signaling a conservative approach to representing Central Oregon communities.

Adair agreed to meet with The Nugget to talk about her candidacy. She has always been accessible to the media and is not shy about

answering questions. Our very first dealt with what has become a thorny issue in both parties: the age of its representatives.

The Nugget asked, “Given the sentiments in both parties regarding a change in guard and wanting younger leaders, do you expect your age (74) to be an issue?”

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.

Sisters shines for the holidays

To the Editor:

As the holiday season arrives in Sisters, I’m reminded why this community is such a wonderful place to live, work, and welcome visitors. This time of year brings a special warmth to our town. From the glow of downtown lights to the friendly greetings shared between neighbors.

I’m excited to share that this season we’ve launched a new celebration: Sisters Hometown Holidays, which is an invitation to slow down, savor the season, and support the local businesses that form the heart of our community. Beginning Thanksgiving weekend and continuing through December,

the promotion highlights festive experiences throughout Sisters Country, such as makers markets, live music, gallery showings, special menus, workshops, and other family-friendly activities. Our business community has embraced the opportunity with creativity and enthusiasm, adding even more charm to the holiday season. For information on holiday happenings visit www. SistersHometownHolidays.com.

It is inspiring how this effort reflects the values that define Sisters. The holidays are about connection to traditions, to this place we call home, and to one another. Whether you’re gathering for a winter event, shopping

See LETTERS on page 23

Sisters Weather Forecast

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Blessings of the season

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Christmas was a big deal at Valley View Elementary School.

There were Christmas concerts and plays, and for weeks our classroom art time was devoted to making ornaments and gifts for family. Fun stuff — except for one girl who sat alone, excluded, and did not participate in any of it. If memory serves, her name was Samantha.

We kids did not know why she didn’t participate, just that she was somehow different. Turns out, Samantha’s family was Jewish and were serious about it, and would not allow her to partake in the events and activities of her Gentile peers. The teachers didn’t give her other things to do or places to be; she just had to sit there, singled out at an age when that is painful, and when other kids aren’t real nice to anyone who doesn’t conform.

This was somewhere around third grade, the first time I remember knowing that not everybody celebrated Christmas. The suburban Southern California town where I grew up was then virtually 100 percent white and middle class, at least nominally Christian and that mostly Protestant — culturally homogenous. It was a safe and (mostly) wholesome place to grow up — but it did not expose its children to a wider, more diverse world. We didn’t really understand that not everybody looked, thought and acted the same — or celebrated the holiday season in the same way.

Every year, it seems, some folks get grumpy about others not marking the holiday season in the “right” way. Usually, this is a complaint that the holiday season has been secularized; people saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” and so forth. Seems to me that calling the season “the holidays” is a means of acknowledging that, like Samantha, there are people who celebrate a different holiday at this time of year — Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Or people who don’t have a particular faith, but still enjoy the festive season, which also includes ringing in the New Year.

Christmas in America was not always a big deal, even for ardent Christians. In fact, the most religiously observant of the early American settlers, the Puritans of New England, sought to cancel Christmas when they arrived in North America in the 17th Century. Christmas in Merrie Olde England was a wild, raucous affair — a “merry” Christmas meant overeating, getting drunk in public, mummer’s dances, and pranking the neighbors. To the Puritans, it smacked of paganism filtered through Catholicism — anathema to their austere faith.

If the Pilgrims observed the day at all, it was a solemn moment of spiritual contemplation — certainly not any kind of celebration. Christmas actually represented everything the Puritans were trying to “purify” out of the English church.

When non-Puritan settlers arrived in the Plymouth Colony — and there were some in the Mayflower landing — the Pilgrim Fathers felt a need to clamp down on any signs of fun: No “gaming and revelling in the streets.”

Of course, you can’t stop people from having a good time. Out on the frontier through the 18th and 19th Century, German and Scots-Irish settlers spent Christmas Eve riding from farm to farm swilling whiskey, eating pastries, and firing off guns…

Seems to me that the spirit of the season urges us to make room for everybody.

We should all respect those for whom Christmas is a sacred time; and we should all respect those who follow different traditions or none at all. Sisters does a fine job of this. The “Holiday Palooza” over Thanksgiving weekend drew a thousand people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions together to mark the season in fellowship and community. There was music, both sacred and secular, with voices raised together. There was revelry and merry-making and good cheer.

This, in itself, is something worth celebrating. May the blessings of the season — however you choose to welcome them — be upon each and every one.

Expanded recycling in Deschutes County COMMUNITY

Debbie Ayers joined her son Kayden in painting a window. Debbie painted a window when she was a fourth-grader at Sisters Elementary School.

Sisters gets colorful FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

In a tradition of 25 years’ vintage, Sisters Elementary School fourth graders took their paints and brushes to the windows of Sisters businesses along Cascade Avenue last week. They

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills

Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383.

Alcoholics A nonymou s Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of t he Hills

painted festive seasonal scenes of their own design across a total of 53 windows — the most ever painted in the project.

Teacher Clay Warburton launched the seasonal project a quarter-century ago.

“I painted a window

when I was in third grade in Ramona, California, which is where I think I got the idea,” he recalled.

The painting expedition is a family affair in more ways than one.

“Parents come and we

Deschutes County Solid Waste is expanding options for residents to recycle items that can’t be placed in curbside recycling bins. Starting this month, additional recycling containers will be available at County transfer stations and at Knott Landfill for:

• Plastic bags.

• Plastic lids from items like yogurt and sour cream tubs.

• Shredded paper in paper bags.

• Aluminum foil and trays.

Museum offers winter nights events

Families can enjoy extended hours and activities at High Desert Museum’s Winter Nights through December.

It’s getting cold outside, but it’s warm and cozy indoors. The High Desert Museum is offering a warm welcome on Thursdays in December during Winter Nights — a time of extended evening hours, engaging exhibitions, discounted rates, and festive activities.

This year’s Winter Nights features:

• December 11: Winter in the West – Wear your most adventurous sweater as you traverse the Drawn West: A History of Promoting Place exhibition, make your own map, brave a scavenger hunt, and have a listen to a good yarn. There will be more regional beverage tastings, cookie decorating, and storytelling, too. Silver Sage Trading — with complementary gift wrapping — and

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

Ci tizens4Communit y C ommunity

Lutheran Church • Tuesday, noon, Big Book study, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church • Wednesday, 7 a.m.,G entlemen’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Thursday, noon, Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Thursday, 7 p.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Fr iday, noon, Step & Tradition meeting, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-5 48 -0 440. Saturday, 8 a.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Sunday, 7 p.m Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration Central Oregon F ly Tye rs G uild For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om Central Oregon Trail A lliance (COTA) Sisters Chapter meets monthly for a meeting, group bike ride, or event. Contact sistersrep@cotamtb.com for info.

Builders meeting, 3rd Wednesday of ever y mont h, 10 to 11:30 a.m. V isit citizens 4c ommunity.c om for loc ation. Council on Aging of Cent ral O rego n Senior Lunch In- person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab -and -go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters C ommunity Church. 5 41-4 8 0-18 43 East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wed. (September- June), Stitchin’ Post . A ll are welcome. 5 41-5 49 -6 061.

G o Fish Fishing G roup 3rd Monday 7 p.m., Siste rs C ommunity Church. 541-771-2211

Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s) 2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Siste rs Communit y Church. M ater ials provided. 541- 408 -8 505.

Hero Q uilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 5 41-6 68 -1755

Living Well W ith Dementia Sisters

Care Par tner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Park & Recreation District Communi ty Center. 541- 588 -0547.

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

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

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom. 503- 93 0- 6158

Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 3:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church. 5 41-5 49 -6157.

Sisters Area Woodworke rs First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 5 41-231-18 97

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Sup por t G roup 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Library Communit y Room. 5 41-588 -0547. (M eets with Living Well With Dementia Sisters)

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

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

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

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

Sisters Kiwani s 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at S PR D in Sisters 541- 632- 3663

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School Commons. 917-219-8298

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon to 1 p.m., at SPR D. 541-76 0- 5645

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

Sisters Trails A lliance Board Meetings take plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In- person or zoom. Contact: info@sisterstrails.org

Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of Direc tors M eets 2nd Tuesday, 10 a.m., TSI D Of fice 541- 903- 4050

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 5 41-419 -1279.

VF W Po st 8138 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., The HUB, 2 91 E. M ain Ave. sistersveterans@gmail. com.

Rimrock Café will be open throughout the evening.

• December 18: Snowology! – For the final Winter Nights event, wrap yourself in the colors of the season (think silver or white pajamas, onesies, track suits, all are welcome!) as you savor the ways winter can be warm and wonderful. Take family portraits at the photo booth, create your cookie masterpiece, explore beverages from regional craft vendors, and more. Gift wrapping, storytelling, and fun activity tables will be happening all evening.

Each evening at the Museum includes a selection of craft beverages for tasting from regional vendors such as Sunriver Brewing, Cascade Lakes Brewing, Avid Cider, and Laurel Ridge Winery. For those who like a little sweet treat, Bonta Gelato will be scooping up

SCHOOLS

Black Bu tt e School Board of Dire ctor s 3rd Tuesday, 9 a.m., Black But te School. 541- 59 5- 6203

Sisters School District Board

CIT Y & PARKS

Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters Cit y Hall 541- 549- 6022

Sisters Park & Recreation

Board

FIRE & POLICE

Black

Lady Outlaws battle to road win

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws girls basketball squad opened their season in dramatic fashion with a come-from-behind 50-43 victory on the road at Santiam Christian on Friday, December 5.

The first half was rocky as the Outlaws struggled to find any rhythm on the offensive end, and turnovers led to transition points for the Eagles. Sisters trailed 20-31 at the half and didn’t get their first tie of the night (38-38) until approximately 2:30 remained in the game.

Coach Kevin Cotner said nerves and newness played a large role in the slow start.

“I think the first half was just the result of a lot of nerves. There is a lot new for this team this year — new offensive packages and schemes, defensive adjustments, situational full-court pressure, game management expectations, as well as an increased intensity from the bench. Sometimes when so much changes, there will naturally be a time of regression while the team is processing information and maybe thinking more than they normally would. I think this was evident in the first half.”

Following halftime adjustments, the Outlaws were a different team. They settled in offensively, executed late-game sets with confidence and were relentless defensively — holding the Eagles to just 12 points the entire second half. Sisters

dominated the final quarter, and outscored Santiam Christian 19-5 to secure the victory.

The Outlaws pride themselves on defense and rebounding, two categories they controlled convincingly. They won the rebounding battle 35-18, with sisters Paityn and Maici Cotner combining for 21 boards. The team also capitalized in transition, scoring 16 points.

Free-throw shooting proved crucial down the stretch, as Sisters went 10-13 from the charity stripe in the final quarter, including a perfect six-for-six from Audrey Corcoran. Both Corcoran and Maddie Durham came up big late, combining for 19 fourthquarter points.

One of the Outlaws’ goals is to score 10 points per quarter while holding opponents to 40 points per game — a benchmark Cotner believes will put them in position to win games.

“I could not be more proud of these girls,” Cotner stated. “I think they showed a lot of heart and fight tonight as we opened our season against a much-improved Santiam Christian team. There is a lot of grit on this team — when you give up 31 first-half points and then take a breath, refocus your energy, and come out with a renewed mindset — that shows resilience.”

A day later, the Outlaws recorded a solid 59-31 victory at home against Lost River. The Outlaws scored 18 points in transition, just short

of their team goal of 20 per game, but still showed clear improvement from their season opener.

Defensively, Sisters controlled the game from start to finish, holding Lost River to under 10 points in three quarters, a mark that reflected both pressure and consistency on that end of the floor.

Cotner said the team continues to focus on decisionmaking during fast-break opportunities.

“Our Achilles heel thus far, and something we will continue to work on, is differentiating what is an advantage situation and what’s not during our transition offense,” said Cotner. “We have to do a better job protecting the ball and limiting unforced turnovers.”

Sisters also totaled 15 deflections in the game, a figure Cotner tracks closely as a sign of active defense.

“This is one of the major stats we track, as it shows me how active and ‘handsy’ we are on defense,” said Cotner. “Hands in the lane shrink the court, and deflections often lead to quick transition points.”

The Outlaws had balanced scoring, with seven players contributing. Three finished in double digits, led by Durham.

Sisters was scheduled to play at home against Trinity Lutheran on Tuesday, December 9. They will play at home on Friday, December 12, against 4A Mazama, and again at home on Saturday against 4A Klamath Union.

Outlaws drop season opener

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws basketball squad opened their season on Friday, December 5, with a 49-38 loss to Santiam Christian on the road.

Both teams showed some first-game jitters early, and defense controlled much of the action in the opening quarter. Sisters jumped on the board just six seconds into the contest when Charlie Moen drove the baseline, drew a foul, and knocked down both free throws. Despite solid defensive pressure, the Outlaws struggled to finish at the rim and trailed 7-12 at the end of one.

Early in the second period, Sisters quickly fell behind by nine, but tightened up their defensive grips and responded with an 11-2 run, tying the game at 21-21.

Kieren Labhart scored the first seven points for Sisters — a three-pointer on a baseline out-of-bounds play, an offensive rebound put-back and a transition layup. A costly turnover in the final seconds allowed the Eagles a transition bracket and a foul, and Santiam Christian converted from the line to take a three-point lead into the half.

The Eagles used a 7-0 run in the third to extend their advantage to eight, and although the Outlaws

trimmed the deficit with a late 4-0 surge, they entered the fourth still chasing from behind. The final period proved difficult for Sisters as shots continued to miss, resulting in just three points in the quarter, and the Outlaws were unable to mount a final push.

Labhart led the Outlaws with 15 points. Will McDonnell scored seven, Thomas Hamerly added six, and Teegan Schwartz and Moen finished with five points each.

Coach Chad Rush said, “I was very proud of the effort the team gave. That is something that coaches can’t coach, so to see that level of effort in the first game leaves me optimistic about this team. We will look at finishing around the rim and taking care of the ball in the coming practices.”

The Outlaws were scheduled to face a tough Trinity Lutheran squad on Tuesday, December 9. They will face 4A Mazama at home on Friday, December 12, and then take on 4A Klamath Union at home on Saturday.

Wrestlers open season at Bend tourney

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

The 2025-26 wrestling season is underway for the Sisters Outlaws, and a record turnout has Head Coach David Kemp brimming with optimism about the upcoming campaign.

“I think we are going to have a great year,” he said.

Currently the team has 14 boys and seven girls on the roster.

The Outlaws competed at the Adrian Irwin tournament hosted by Bend Senior High School December 5-6 to open the season.

All seven girls on the Outlaws team placed at the tournament, with Sierra Jaschke leading the way with three pins for wins on her way to first place in her

class. Freshman Sadie Darst won two of three matches to place second. Tanner Gibney and Goose Henderson placed third in their respective weight classes, Sofia Clark placed fourth, Ava Stotts placed fifth, and Julieanne Kemp took sixth.

Jaschke and Gibney are the leading returnees on the team as both competed at State last year. Darst and Kemp are new to the team as freshmen.

“I am pleased with how these girls got off to such a good start,” said Coach Kemp.

Senior Tyson Kemp had the top place among the boys team, making the finals where he faced Caldron of Mountain View, a returning 5A placer from last year.

“Tyson had an

exciting finals match that was a rematch from last year’s semifinal match against Caldron, who he bested last year, but Caldron turned the tables this year to take the top spot,” said Coach Kemp. “Tyson is looking great for the start of his senior year. I believe he has a great shot at making a run for the state title.”

Another senior, Jace Owens, went on a tear after losing his first round match, clicking off five straight wins, including a rematch with his first round loss on his way to third place.

Sophomore Zack Kemp took fourth place among 28 athletes in his bracket.

“Zack didn’t win a single match at this meet last year,

and showed that he can compete with anyone this year,” said Coach Kemp.

Cole Morris, in his first ever high school tournament, picked up two wins on his way to sixth place. “That was a standout performance for sure,” said Coach Kemp.

The boys team includes five freshmen and Kemp sees

plenty of potential there.

“I can just see these guys are going to just keep getting better and better,” he said.

“The team is really coming together after three weeks together and putting in the hard work to be successful. We are looking forward to our next tournament in Culver this week.”

Guatemala tour connects Oregonians with culture

By Lilli Worona Correspondent

Amy Abramson, owner of Blue Burro Imports in Sisters, is no stranger to international travel. In fact, Abramson has been traveling the world for over a decade perusing artisan markets and procuring one-of-a-kind clothing, home decor, jewelry, and accessories. Abramson’s artisan- and community-focused travel took her first to India, where she sourced products that would later find their way to her booths at music festivals and street fairs.

Abramson’s success at these events paved the path for opening her own import store, a goal that she had been dreaming about for years. In 2010, when she found Sisters, she instantly knew she had found the ideal place to launch her dream business.

“There’s outdoor activities, there’s music, there’s like-minded people; I just felt like I had found my community… and in the long run, I wanted to own an import store in a cool town and share products from around the world,” she said.

After a few years of living in Sisters, Abramson finally made her dream a reality when she opened Blue Burro Imports in 2013.

By this time, Abramson had begun traveling frequently to Guatemala, where she fell in love with Guatemalan culture, art, and the country’s natural beauty. Abramson developed friendships with several artisans in the small villages of Guatemala, and began stocking her shop with their oneof-a-kind products.

“A big piece for me was being able to buy [the artisans’] product, and then for them to know that it was going to the States and that it would be on this bigger platform. Then I would get to reorder with them, or I’d

get to come back and then continue to support them through my purchases. That was always just a big driving piece... being able to buy their products and then take it home and share their stories,” she explained.

Recently, due to frequently shifting global tariffs, Abramson has made a shift towards thinking globally. Instead of solely focusing on Latin American products, she has expanded her inventory to include direct-sourced items from around the world. Currently, her shop boasts artisan products from Africa, Nepal, Thailand, India, Mexico, and, of course, Guatemala. Examples of some of these one-of-a-kind goods include Haitian metal art, handmade silver earrings from a talented Mexican silversmith, and colorful handcrafted sling bags made in the Himalayas.

All goods that Abramson carries in her shop are fair trade and ethically made.

“People now come in [to the shop] and they’re like, ‘Wow, you got products from all over the world now’… It’s just more diverse…. it’s not so heavy with Guatemala and Mexico and there’s been a really great response to that; more diversity just makes the shop even more interesting to people and to me as a buyer… I felt like it has kind of brought life and energy back into the shop,” Abramson explained.

That new, fresh energy is also moving Blue Burro forward in an entirely different direction: offering sustainable and culturally focused group travel experiences to Guatemala.

Abramson’s inspiration for leading tours was inspired by all of her years of travel and an impromptu guided music tour of Ireland with John Smith, an English folk singer who has been a frequent performer at the Sisters Folk Festival. Abramson

was invited on the tour by her partner, Jeff Wester, a blacksmith, musician, and owner of Ponderosa Forge in Sisters.

“It was really neat for me to be able to see kind of how a tour ran and what were the backbones of the tour... I was making mental notes in my head... [thinking] ‘I could do this in Guatemala!’” she said. “It helped me kind of see the bigger picture of what a tour is, why people do it... the benefits of it. I just kept telling Jeff, ‘when we get back, I’m going to start working on a tour to Guatemala.’ When we landed and got home, I literally just hit the ground running... trying to figure out how I was going to do it in Guatemala. Fast forward a year and a quarter, I actually had built a trip and was selling it.”

The trip Abramson described took place this past October, and drew 10 Central Oregonian travelers who accompanied Abramson and Wester on a

once-in-a-lifetime trip that Abramson had spent an entire year planning. The group spent 11 days traveling to Antigua, Panajachel, Lago de Flores, and Guatemala City, exploring artisan markets, hiking the world famous Pacaya volcano, and touring a sustainable coffee farm.

The group also visited Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was once the epicenter of the Mayan civilization. It was here that the group explored Mayan jungle temples, towering pyramids, and expansive ancient plazas.

Abramson also planned a volunteer day where the

group delivered water filters to needy families near Lake Atitlán and a day where the group attended Sumpango’s famous kite festival for Day of the Dead. An expert local guide drove the group to attractions around the country, taught them about Guatemalan culture, and interpreted for group members.

The trip went off without a hitch, which Abramson describes as a dream come true.

“I just wanted it to be life changing for people,” she said. “I really wanted it to hit

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OPINION: Sisters’ identity

By David Purviance Columnist

Bill Bartlett is onto something. In his column titled “Where does Sisters begin and end?” in last week’s Nugget he makes several keen observations. He notes that we don’t have prominent entry signs that say, “You’ve arrived. This place is special. Stop and stay a while.” And he goes on to suggest the reason we haven’t done what Camas, Washington, Madras and Tumalo have done to announce themselves, is that we don’t really know who we are. We flounder at defining our wonderful town because we have several entities trying to market Sisters, each with its own message.

I want to suggest that we take Bill’s observations a step further. Sisters has a secret. It’s one that we who reside here all know, but we seem either unwilling or unable to share with people passing through town. Our secret is the Three Sisters mountains. They are our town’s namesake, and they are one of the most incredible views in all of Oregon. They are an important reason why we all live here. High school students know the view between Hood Avenue and the middle school is a great place to meet up. Workers know it’s a great place to have lunch while

sitting in their car. Hundreds of people every day enjoy walking, biking, jogging, or pushing a stroller along the asphalt path that borders Highway 242 between Hood Avenue and the high school. Two churches oriented their buildings to take advantage of the view.

Why then is it a secret? Because we do not in any significant way promote the incredible, eye-popping view that we all enjoy. It is very possible for someone driving from the Willamette Valley and entering Sisters for the first time to wonder about our town’s name without ever realizing it is tied to three majestic mountains. There are no views of the Three Sisters from Highway 20 until you are well past town heading for Bend or Redmond. Why isn’t there a sign at the intersection of Hood Avenue and Highway 20 that says, “Turn here for the most beautiful view in Oregon?”

If you’ve ever visited Joseph, Oregon you quickly understand why it is called Joseph and why the awesome mountain range and lovely lake bear the name Wallowa. Bronze art structures and informational signs around town tell the story of Joseph. We don’t do that in Sisters. Instead, we argue about a piece of art that will go in

a roundabout. We debate whether our annual rodeo, quilt show, music festivals, or Western theme is our defining element, when the reality is in plain sight. My career was in marketing and communications for a university and two nonprofit charities. Everyone in the marketing field knows that you must constantly reassess your marketing to ensure it is a unified message and you are reaching the people you want to influence. You must be both consistent and flexible, in addition to being relentless in finding new ways to reach people.

When my wife and I moved to Sisters nine years ago, it was the mountains that first drew us and have entertained us ever since. I was perplexed at why the town we had chosen did nothing to promote those mountains. I had several ideas for doing that. I took the city’s development director at the time for a ride along Highway 242 where I suggested that benches along the asphalt path would allow people to sit and enjoy the incredible view. A sign identifying the panorama of Broken Hand; Broken Top; and South, Middle, and North Sister would orient visitors. Other signs could give the history of the mountains, including the Native American myth of a

bachelor (Mt. Bachelor) who unsuccessfully courted three sisters. I further suggested that a road cam installed on Pole Creek Ranch property (if they agreed) would allow people who had visited Sisters to view the mountains throughout the year. Just like those of us who live here, they could enjoy the early morning sun or the evening alpenglow on the mountains. They could see the first dusting of snow in the fall and the total whiteness of winter. It would bring back memories of their visit and perhaps prompt plans for a return. But he shrugged and said

it would be too costly, and too difficult. I took those ideas to several local organizations and got a similar response. Was it lethargy, complacency, or just a failure to understand the marketing potential? I could never figure that out and gave up trying to explain the opportunity I saw.

But maybe with Bill Bartlett’s nudge it’s time for a much broader discussion about Sisters than what artwork should go in a roundabout or whether we are a Western town or an artistic town. We should be thinking bigger, and doing so as a community.

Remote Access

Lilli Worona Columnist

Soaking and unplugging at Crane Hot Springs

Activity:HotSpringing

Lengthoftrip:Weekendtrip

Abilitylevel:Noathleticability required

DrivingdistancefromSisters: Threehoursoneway

After spending almost half of my life in Oregon, I sometimes forget that easy access to beautiful, natural hot springs is a luxury. Hot springs are abundant in the Pacific Northwest thanks to our volcanic landscape and all the hydrothermal benefits they bring, but this is not the case for many other areas in the United States. Growing up in the Boston area, my only awareness of hot springs was thanks to the popular ‘90s movie “Dante’s Peak,” where a young volcanologist played by Pierce Brosnan tries to save a town, located at the foot of an active volcano, from imminent destruction by fiery hot lava. The scene that has always stuck in my mind is of two 20-somethings going for a skinny dip in a hot spring near the volcano, a hot spring that suddenly rose to boiling hot temperatures and boiled them alive due to the uptick in volcanic activity in the area.

As a teenager watching this movie, I was fascinated with the idea of a hot bath

in the woods, but a little freaked out by the whole boiling alive thing. To this day, I’m not sure if death by sudden boiling hot spring is really plausible, but, in my opinion, a good long outdoor soak is more than worth the risk.

One of my favorite and most easily accessible hot springs in Oregon is Crane Hot Springs, located in Harney County, approximately twenty five miles east of Burns along Oregon route 78. When I first started visiting Crane about fifteen years ago, the soaking area was a large, gravel lined pond with no frills. During the pandemic, Crane renovated their space, adding underwater concrete benches for soakers to recline on and a small “lobster pot” soaking pool for those looking to turn up the heat. Also added in the past five years is an outdoor and indoor shower area and underwater lights that add ambiance to the nighttime soaking experience.

Speaking of ambiance, Crane Hot Springs is situated seemingly in the middle of nowhere, which creates a sort of off-grid tranquility that is typical of Eastern Oregon open desert. During the day, migrating birds can be spotted flying in deep V’s overhead or perching on nearby cattails next to the pool. Coyotes often yip and howl at dusk, followed by an impressive star show free of light pollution. In my opinion, the star-gazing in Harney County is unparalleled; it’s an extra treat to enjoy it while floating on one’s back in 100-degree, sparkling clear waters.

The healing waters at Crane Hot Springs contain calcium, sodium, silica, and magnesium, minerals known for soothing the muscles and bringing the body into balance. Many visitors attest to how these minerals soften skin and help with restful

sleep.

Another reason to love Crane Hot Springs is for its variety of lodging options. There are affordable dry camping and RV hookup sites a short walking distance from the main soaking area, or you can splurge on an onsite apartmentstyle home with multiple bedrooms. Other options include small waterfront cabins, camper rentals and even a large heated teepee with its very own soaking tub inside. Visitors can also rent a private cedar bathhouse by the hour, complete with a tub big enough for two and hot and cold water valves that allow visitors to set their own temperature for their soak. There is an onsite shared kitchen available for visitors with a stove, a small dining area and a shared refrigerator. This is especially useful for winter campers looking for a warm place to cook a meal in the evenings.

Not surprisingly, there has been an uptick in visitors to Crane Hotsprings over the past several years, and reservations for accommodations are generally booked out months in advance. I have found that camping is almost always available, and a great option for last-minute travelers.

This time of year, the springs are especially beautiful and enjoyable when the air is crisp and snow blankets the rolling hills surrounding the hotsprings. If visiting during the holidays, the owners at Crane have a flair for glitzy Christmas lights and decorations that make a night time soak or evening walk around the premises even more magical. Overall, Crane is an ideal destination for those looking to unplug and relax for a weekend.

For more information and booking information, check out www. cranehotsprings.com.

Author Mark D. Owen will present his newest book, “WISDOM Starship Emissary,” in a free event at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, December 18, at 6:30 p.m. This book is the second in Owen’s sci-fi Pan Nationals series embarking on thrilling adventures and exploring philosophical and technological near futures.

A rookie crew, an untested spaceship, an implausible first contact mission of galactic importance...what could go wrong? Facing an alien threat, Flax Venture assembles a Pan National crew for a peace mission to Proxima Centauri b. Meanwhile, his friend, Tamarind Chase, builds Starship Emissary and restarts Moonbase Verity, searching for an encoded mystery essential to their mission. Amidst personal sacrifices and rising international tensions, the crew embarks on a perilous journey, facing dangers both from without and within, while each pursues their elusive path toward wisdom. Following the cataclysmic events in “IMPACT,” “WISDOM Starship Emissary” chronicles the ongoing adventures

of extraordinary individuals — the Pan Nationals — trained to solve intractable global problems.

Mark D. Owen is an Oregon native who began writing science fiction in 2018 after a career as an inventor and entrepreneur. He founded Puralytics, a water purification technology using light-activated nanotech, and Phoseon Technology, providing UV LED photo-curing systems to the inks, coatings, and adhesives industry. Mark also held management roles at Agilent, Electro Scientific Industries, and Tektronix. He has over 50 patents issued or pending, and more than $1 billion in revenues have been derived from products involving his patents. Owen holds a Masters in Advanced Manufacturing Technology from the University of Limerick, Ireland, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from Oregon State University. Mark was inducted into the OSU Engineering Hall of Fame in 2015.

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

By Chester Allen

The world as it is Tight Lines

I drive around Sisters’ new roundabout each day — sometimes several times a day. It’s how I get home.

On each trip, I notice that the long-roiling dispute about what art belongs in the center of this busy traffic circle is still boiling away in our little town. All I see in a mound of dirt, and I’m irritated that people now fight over every damn thing. This is a good reason to go fly fishing on the Metolius River, even though it is 35 degrees and the sky is grey.

So, I keep going around the roundabout and head through town and on to the river.

The parking area is empty, and I’ll have the Metolius to myself. This is a gift. I drape my body in layers of fleece and pull on my waders.

As I head down the riverside trail, I hope to see the gentle rings of wild trout rising to insects on the surface. This can happen any day of the year, but it happens less often — and lasts for only a few minutes — during the short, cold days.

A voice, one belonging to one of the two old men who taught me how to be a man, echoes in my head.

“Live in the world as it is,” the long-dead man says. “If you don’t like it, work to change it.”

On this December 3, the world serves up five or six nice wild redsides rainbow trout gently rising amid flotillas of tiny grey mayflies and bigger yellow mayflies floating in slow, flat water. The tiny grey mayflies are smaller than the word “trout” on this page. Trout noses poke above the water, and then shining backs and dorsal fins appear in the wrinkled water of the rise. Then the water smooths out until the next rise.

The sight of rising trout has taken my breath away since I was five years old.

I slip into the water and cast my fly — and my hopes — onto the clear water. I start out imitating the tiny grey mayfly, and the trout ignore it. I tie on the bigger yellow imitation.

While I’m tying on this fly, a small herd of deer

minces along on the other side of the Metolius. The deer are used to seeing anglers waist-deep in the water, and they ignore me. The underbrush rattles, and a truly huge mule deer buck — with massive shoulders, thick body, and a giant rack of antlers — steps into view. I know that hunting season is over, as this buck would never show himself in daylight when hunters are in the woods.

The trout ignore the bigger yellow fly. So, what’s the deal? I reel in and wade to the bank. I watch bugs float downstream, and the fish leave them alone. The trout are feeding on something I can’t see.

That, oddly, is good news.

Because I live in a part of the world with many trout streams, I fish a lot. I’ve learned that trout feeding on invisible things could be eating mayflies that have laid their eggs and died — and their tiny bodies are now mired in the water’s surface film. Or they could be eating the emerging mayfly nymphs that got stuck in surface film and can’t turn into the

winged adults that the trout are ignoring.

Trout love meals that are stuck and can’t get away.

I tie on a fly that imitates a tiny mayfly nymph trapped in the surface film. The fly looks like a fleck of pocket lint on the water, and it is almost impossible to see when I make a 30-foot cast.

I wade — slowly, like a heron — through the smooth currents and cast my nearly invisible fly to visible fish feeding on something invisible.

Success — in the form of a trout eating my fly — doesn’t happen.

I focus on one trout, and I keep dropping my almostinvisible fly into the fish’s feeding lane. After 17 casts — yes, I was counting — the trout rises where I think my fly is.

I gently lift my rod, and the trout boils and zips across the water. My reel chatters, and the world is perfect.

On the drive home, I travel around the roundabout and visualize wonderful art in the center. After all, we have great sculptures of elk and pronghorn at the

roundabout at the west end of Sisters.

I think of a sculpture of a jumping trout. I think of a pack of wolves frozen in time. I think of a rearing horse, a rodeo bull, or heroic wildland firefighters. All of these things make me happy, and I think most of us will end up liking what is eventually installed in the roundabout.

And that art will be a good part of the world as it is.

COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS

SIST ER S COMM UN IT Y FOOD RE SOURCE S

Free Lu nches for Seniors For t hose 6 0+, t he Cou nc il on A ging of C entra l O regon o er s a f un, no-cost soc ia l

lu nc h e 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

reserv at ion s needed . No-cost

Grab-N -G o lunche s t ake place

week ly on Wed ne sd ay a nd

u rsday, f rom 12:3 0 to 1

p. m . Cal l 5 41-797-9367.

Week ly Food Pa nt ry

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

Ma rket h ou r s a re Mondays , 1 to 2 p.m . I nfo: 5 41-5882332

Wi nter is Comi ng: Solstice

Gather ing and Si lent Meditation Wa lk

A com mu nit y gat hering a nd

Solstice w al k tow ard t he re at t he l abyr inth ’ s center.

Cocoa & te a a erw ard! Dress for w ar mt h & celebration

No dogs, smokes, or boo ze plea se. S unday, December 21, 7 to 8 p.m . Cor ner of Hw y 2 42 a nd Hw y 2 0 (ne w Gateway Park); d rive way on W. Hood Ave. Det ail s at sisterscom mu nity laby ri nt h. org. Free; donat ions apprec iated.

Check-In Ci rcle: Come As You Are

Show up for a s ma ll , open suppor t c ircle — a welcomi ng space to be seen a nd hea rd

Free Week ly Meal Serv ice

Famil y K itchen hos t s a weekly to -go hot mea l on Tuesd ay s, 4:30 to 5:3 0 p.m. , at Sisters

Commun it y C hu rc h, 130 0 W

Mc Kenzie Hwy. I nfo: www

Fami lyKitc hen.org.

Free Pet Food

Need pet food for you r dog or cat? Cal l t he Furr y Friends pet food ban k at 5 41-797-4 02 3 to schedu le you r pic kup. L oc ated at 412 E . M ai n Ave., Ste. 4, behind e Nug get.

Kiwa nis Food Ba nk

Located at 382 W. M ai n Ave . Weekly d istr ibut ion i s u rsday s f rom 9 a .m . to 2 p.m . I nfo: 5 41-632 -3 663.

Nu rture and Grow

Pa renti ng Work shops

Cu lt ivat ing Stronger

Families , One Day at a

Ti me. A t ra nsform at ive work shop empower ing pa rent s w it h pract ic a l tools , in sights , a nd con dence to s trengt hen c on nect ion and build f amil y resil ienc e.

Presented by Dr . K el ly Dav is Ma rti n of Growt h R ings Famil y erapy. Tuesd ay, December 16 , 5:3 0 to 6 .3 0 p. m. , “ Nurturing t he Parent.”

Free. Co ee a nd te a provided.

19 2 E . M ai n Ave. I nfo: www

Grow th Ri ngsFami ly erapy com or c al l 5 41-6 68 -5238.

Mont hly Song wr iters’ Sharing Ci rcle

n a c reat ive com mu nity

d be i ns pi red w hile sha ri ng songs, bei ng a g reat l istener, d providing feedback.

d Sunday of t he month, 6 .m. , ups ta ir s i n t he Sisters ork s bui ld ing (accessible i r l i ), 2 0 4 W. A da ms

. Free. I nfo: cal l/te x t 5 418494

Wi nter Joy

A Per form ance by Black

Bu e School on u rsday, December 11, 6 p.m . at C amp Sher ma n Com mu nit y H all. Enjoy a c oz y e vening i n t he hi stor ic Com mu nit y H al l w hi le st udents per for m shor t plays and son gs . i s e vent i s f ree a nd open to t he public . 5 41-59562 03 for more i nfor mation

Intergenerationa l

Commun it y Connec tions December 19, f rom 4 to 6 p.m

Joi n a n e vening of food, f un, and act iv it ies prepa ring our heart s for t he Joy of C hr istm as e Epi scopa l C hu rc h of t he

Tran s g urat ion, 121 Brook s

Ca mp R d . i s i s ou r rev ised date for D ecember only. A ll are welcome. I f i nterested, plea se c al l 5 41-5 49 -7087 for con r mation

Wreaths Ac ross Amer ica Ceremony — “K eep Movi ng Forward”

On December 13, at 10 a .m., loca l veter a n organiz at ions wi l l host a ceremony at Vill age Green Park to honor the ser vice a nd sac ri ce of

Si sters veter an s l aid to rest at

Ca mp Pol k Cemeter y. i s year ’s t heme, “Keep Mov ing Forw ard,” re ect s t he enduring st reng t h of ou r veter an s , our commun it y, a nd ou r sha red respon sibi lit y to c arr y t heir stor ies i nto t he f ut ure . e publ ic i s enc ou raged to a end thi s mea ni ng fu l t ribute

Wreath s w il l h ave been l aid on the g raves, a nd t hi s ceremony helps ens ure ou r veter an s’ legacie s l ive on—not j ust i n hi stor y, but i n t he hea r t of

Si sters . I nfo: Ji m Mor rel l 5 41610-20 98

Hu nter Educat ion Class

St art s M arc h 3 , 2 026 . R eg ister on line at www.odf w.com . For more i nfor mation c al l

Ric k Cole at 5 41-420 -6 93 4.

Shhh…

Guess who’s coming to town this month, in addition to Santa Claus? one other than Mr. Jackson Scalise!

ack is visiting his family om Austin, Texas. If you run into Jackson, please extend a warm Central egon welcome to this cowboy. Good news he’s cleaned up his act and appearance post this picture being taken. Yeehaw, Jack!

Uncle Mike

We

Decembe

:3 0 to 11 a .m . Sisters

Librar y - Com mu nity Room . I nter ac tive s tory time w it h books , son gs , a nd rhymes! 0 -5 y rs

Thrive Cent ra l Oregon Drop -I n Consultations Fr id ay, December 12, 10 a .m . to 1 p.m . Sisters

Librar y - Stud y R oom. Drop -i n soc ia l ser vice s as sist ance t hat con nect s you w it h hou si ng l ists, medica l access , menta l healt h resou rces , veter an s serv ices , soc ia l sec ur it y appl ic at ions , a nd much more.

Free Christ mas Rena issa nce Sisters

Concer t

Lot s of aud ienc e c arol singalongs . December 18 at 6 p. m . Epi scopa l C hu rc h of t he

Tran s g urat ion, 121 Brook s

Ca mp R d . R eception to fol low.

Cont ac t L ol a: 5 41-390 -4 615

p.m . Sisters L ibra r yCommun it y R oom . C hill out w it h w inter songs, cra s , storie s a nd more! For ch ildren 3 -11 y rs . Takehome k it s ava il able

GO FISH Group

Mond ay, December 15 , at

Si sters Com mu nit y C hu rc h at 7 p.m . Gue st s peaker G ar y Le wi s w il l present “Fly Fishi ng for Steel head ” For more in form at ion c al l 5 41-7 71-2 211.

An nounce Celebrat ions! Em ai l nug get@nugget ne ws com.

SIST ER S- AR EA CH UR CH ES

Ba ha’i Fa it h For i nfor mation, devot ions, study g roups, etc ., cont ac t S hauna R ocha 5 41-6

Guatemalan handcrafts are an important part of Amy Abramson’s Sisters business, and she has long gone to the source for them.

GUATEMALA:

More tours are in future plans for Sisters woman

Continued from page 6

people right in the heart… it was the dreamiest first trip I could have had. Everyone was just so excited and ready for an adventure every day… there were no issues, no hiccups, nothing. It was just a great group.”

As for what’s next, Abramson has her sights set on a second group tour in 2026, as well as a shorter Guatemalan craft tour that

will focus on weaving, natural dying, and rug hooking. Abramson’s focus on cultural experiences and meaningful connection with Guatemalans is at the core of her trips, and she is hopeful that attendance will continue to grow so that she can introduce more people to this amazing part of the world for years to come.

Blue Burro Imports is located at 170 W. Cascade Ave. For more information about Abramson’s upcoming tours in Guatemala, check out her website at www.blueburroimports.com.

Kotek to seek reelection

By Shaanth Nanguneri Oregon Capital Chronicle

Governor Tina Kotek formally announced her 2026 reelection bid, leaving her less than a year to convince Oregonians she remains the best choice to lead the state.

The news came after weeks of clear signals that Kotek, whose campaign has been emailing supporters for months to fundraise, was officially gearing up for the November 2026 election. Kotek’s most prominent political opponent, state Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, revealed in late October that she would be trying her hand for the governorship again, teeing up a possible rematch with a rival who came within a few percentage points of defeating her in 2022.

As Oregon battles sluggish economic growth and rising unemployment, Kotek framed herself as a champion of the state’s values who was aware of the plight of working families. Kotek, who began her career as an advocate for the Oregon Food Bank, rose to political prominence as the state’s longest-serving House Speaker from 2013 to 2022. She worked to pass progressive policies in the Legislature before becoming one of the nation’s two first openly lesbian governors.

On Thursday, Kotek highlighted her central role in fighting President Donald Trump’s attempted deploy ment of the National Guard to Portland and his admin istration’s opposition to

releasing food assistance during the recent government shutdown.

“We stopped an unnecessary military deployment, restored SNAP benefits and got help to families fast,” Kotek said in a Thursday morning statement. “The choice is between a governor who will stand up for Oregon and protect what we believe in, or a governor who will let Donald Trump do whatever he wants.”

The official “Tina for Oregon” announcement marks a notable shift in tone from when Kotek announced her 2022 bid and denounced “the politics of division” on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, her approval ratings have ranked among some of the most unpopular Democratic and Republican governors.

One of her most highprofile controversies involved the nixed “Office of the First Spouse” Kotek was considering creating in 2024 amid scrutiny

over multiple departures of staff from her office. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission went on to dismiss complaints against her on the grounds that there was no evidence that Kotek or her wife would benefit from an unpaid volunteer position. But a challenger to Kotek will likely face an uphill battle, with the most recent Republican Oregon governor winning election in the 1980s. Results from off-year and special elections suggest the upcoming election year will also be difficult for Republicans, who have majorities in both chambers of Congress while an unpopular Republican president holds office. A recent poll of Oregon voters commissioned by the Democratic Governor’s Association found that 61 percent of respondents prefer a candidate who will challenge Trump’s policies, while 34 percent said they were in favor of someone who will implement them.

SISTERS-ARE A Events & Enter tainment

• DECEMBER 10

Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em

5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).

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

THURSDAY • DECEMBER 11

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

FRIDAY • DECEMBER 12

Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Live Music: Casey Parnell & Co. Christmas Dance Party Kick off the holiday season in style with live music good friends, and plenty of room to dance the night away 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com.

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

SUNDAY • DECEMBER 14

Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Live Music: Motel Kalifornia A rockin' Christmas concert like no other! 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com.

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

TUESDAY • DECEMBER 16

Sisters High School Auditorium Live Music: Sisters Community Holiday Showcase.

6:30 p.m. A festive showcase of students and local talent! An unforgettable night of entertainment plus silent auctions and more to raise funds for Sisters High School music programs. Suggested donation of $5 at the door Info: kayla.golka@ssd6.org or steven.livingston@ssd6.org

WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 17

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

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

THURSDAY • DECEMBER 18

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

Luckey's Woodsman Trivia: Megan's Christmas Trivia 5:30 p.m. Info: luckeyswoodsman.com.

Three Creeks Brew Pub Hoodoo Wintervention 6 to 8 p.m. Thousands in prizes including lift tickets, gear skis, boards, and more. Info: www.hoodoo.com.

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Mark D Owen presents "Wisdom: Starship Emissary," the story of a rookie crew, on an untested spaceship, with an implausible first contact mission of galactic importance. 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

FRIDAY • DECEMBER 19

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

SATURDAY • DECEMBER 20

The Belfr y Live Music: Never Come Down with Skillethead, Solstice Celebration! 7 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A blend of modern and traditional Americana and bluegrass, characterized by thoughtful songwriting, technical skill, and dynamic arrangements, Never Come Down is a high-energy traditional stringband playing with a fresh, contemporary sound. Tickets: BendTicket.com.

Frankie's (formerly Sisters Depot) Live Music: Open Mic Music lovers can enjoy a variety of local talent, 7 to 9 p.m. Sign ups, 6:30 Info: sistersdepot.com.

Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Live Music: Jessie Leigh Christmas Concert this Nashville recording artist channels small-town heart, patriotic soul, and powerhouse energy into every performance. 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com.

SUNDAY • DECEMBER 21

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble

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

TUESDAY • DECEMBER 23

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Trivia 6 to 8 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 24

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 7 to 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).

FRIDAY • DECEMBER 26

Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk

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

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

The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch Live Music: Outlaw Jazz Combo Enjoy jazz renditions of festive tunes on guitar, bass , and saxophone For dinner reservations, call 541-595-1260

SATURDAY • DECEMBER 27

The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch Live Music: Outlaw Jazz Combo Enjoy jazz renditions of festive tunes on guitar, bass , and saxophone For dinner reservations, call 541-595-1260

SUNDAY • DECEMBER 28

The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch Live Music: Outlaw Jazz Combo Enjoy jazz renditions of festive tunes on guitar bass and saxophone For dinner reservations, call 541-595-1260

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

WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 31

The Belfr y Live Music: NYE with Kota Dosa and Jeshua Marshall & The Flood! 8 p.m. Known for their eclectic sound that blends blues, funk, psychedelic rock, and jazz, Kota Dosa cr afts an experience that’s as gritty as NY, as soulful as NoLo, and as laid-back as Oregon. Jeshua Marshall & The Flood brings a mix of punk rock, folk, reggae americana and indie rock. Tickets, BendTicket.com.

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

MONDAY • JANUARY 5

Paulina Springs Books Poetr y Gathering "The Pause Button," an informal monthly gathering for poets and poetry enthusiasts Bring a poem or two to share. Listen, discuss, and write. Free 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. More info at www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

TUESDAY • JANUARY 6

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

WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 7

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

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

THURSDAY • JANUARY 8

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

SATURDAY • JANUARY 10

Sisters Librar y Live Music: Cascade Chamber Players Quartet Enjoy an hour of music courtesy of Central Oregon Symphony, 2 to 3 p.m.

Submit items by 5 p.m. Fridays to jess@nuggetnews.com.

HolidaysSisters

This is the season when we remind ourselves of all we have to be thankful for: the natural beauty that surrounds us; the bonds of a strong community; friends and family who bring us joy. We are also fortunate to live in a community of creative makers, who provide food, gifts, and experiences that offer real meaning and lasting value. Meet them here…

WINTER HAIKU

— By

Daphne Draper —

Sleigh bells flying by Santa delivers presents Snowflakes falling down

Walk into the heart of the holidays: Winter Solstice...14 SHS musicians host holiday showcase...15 High Desert Chorale tradition continues...18 Hearty recipes for cold days...19 Holiday Events...20

Walk into the heart of the holidays: WINTER SOLSTICE

— By T. Lee Brown —

It’s a cold, dark night. The shortest, darkest night of the entire year, to be precise. Under towering pines, people of Sisters Country walk silently, weaving in and among each other, seeming to walk in circles.

They’re actually following a specific design, laid out on the ground among native shrubs and grasses, punctuated by candles.

Last solstice, an out-of-town visitor joined the labyrinth walk for her 50th birthday. After the walk, she wept and wept – for joy, for appreciation of the moment, for marking the big changes of her life with open-hearted strangers. The small-town feeling of friendliness and acceptance was as important as the walk itself.

Their destination? An impressive boulder, sitting at the center of their perambulations. Once they’ve all arrived, a fire is lit.

If all this sounds too serious, never fear: the event is casual and nonreligious. Before the walk, mingling and introductions take place briefly. After the walk, some folks stick around to drink hot cocoa and tea in the park’s sheltered area.

Labyrinth patterns have captured the imagination of human beings since ancient times, all around the world. Sisters Community Labyrinth uses the most famous medieval design, originally laid down on the floor of France’s Chartres Cathedral in the year 1201.

On winter solstice, our labyrinth walkers in Sisters commune with the fire, with each other and the beautiful night. It’s a special moment, one that changes from winter to winter, from person to person.

For one participant, it might simply feel like a calm occasion, a time to peacefully enjoy a short time in nature with fellow locals. Maybe a fun time to chat over cocoa once the walk is over, get to know some neighbors.

For another, the walk is about setting intentions and lighting a candle, a time to meditate or pray.

Others spend the first half of the labyrinth walk – walking toward the center – in contemplation of the previous year. Perhaps they contemplate things they’d like to symbolically let go of in the fire, making room for a whole new year.

Come summer solstice in June, celebrants will sing and drum, blow bubbles and ring bells in broad daylight as they walk the labyrinth, welcoming the hot season to come. For winter? Quiet smiles suit the darkness.

The Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk takes place Sunday, December 21, 7-8 p.m., at Sisters Community Labyrinth. Dress for warmth and celebration, bring a flashlight, and be sure to wear sturdy shoes. No dogs, alcohol, or smoking please.

The labyrinth, built in 2012 by local folks, sits within Gateway Park and Transportation Hub at the corner of Hwy. 242 & Hwy. 20. The driveway is on West Hood Avenue. It’s free, though the nonprofit labyrinth is always happy to accept donations.

A metal sculpture “finger labyrinth” enables people to participate while sitting in front of the labyrinth instead of walking through it.

More details available online at www.sisterscommunitylabyrinth.org. See you there!

The Sisters High School and Sisters Middle School music departments invite the community to bring their holiday spirit and join in the celebration of music at Sisters High School with the annual Holiday Showcase, Tuesday, December 16, 7 p.m., at Sisters High School auditorium. This fun and festive concert will feature bands and choirs from both schools – as well as community members – to celebrate the holiday season.

“The Holiday Showcase lets us demonstrate what we’ve been learning and share a few fun and festive tunes,” said Kayla Golka, Sisters middle/high school band director. Along with lively performances, concertgoers should come eager to help support the music program with a silent auction, raffle, and cookie sales. This concert is one of the only fundraisers for music at both the middle and high schools. A suggested donation of $5 per person is requested at the door. All proceeds will be split between the choir and band programs at both schools. Funds will help support high school students attending competitions and workshops throughout the state. For Sisters Middle School, funds raised will help support purchasing needed percussion equipment and choir

uniforms. Silent auction and raffle items include Hayden Homes Amphitheater concert tickets, a beautiful quilt from Stichin’ Post, a holiday adventure basket, games, puzzles, a karaoke machine, and much more. Choir Director Steven Livingston, who enjoys teaching choir at both Sisters Middle School and Sisters High School, said “working with students at all ages and levels to share the love of music is such an amazing opportunity. Music can add so much to students’ lives – including helping them better understand the importance of being part of a team, hard work, and dedication, and can even improve their creativity and lead to success in other areas of their schoolwork.”

The doors open at 6 p.m. for the silent auction, Sisters Elementary School’s Outlaw Singers will kick off the music performing three songs in the commons at 6:30, then the concert begins in the auditorium at 7 p.m.

For more information on the holiday showcase call 541-549-4045. To make a donation to the music program, mail checks or money orders to Sisters High School, 1700 W. McKinney Butte, Sisters, OR 97759 with “Music Department Donation” noted in the memo line.

Gypsy Wind Clothing SHS musicians host HOLIDAY SHOWCASE

Comfort and style are important during the holiday season. At Gypsy Wind Clothing, they go together.

Take, for example, their loungewear, which offers classy, comfortable, allday wear. It’s a step up from your Jammies, but just as comfortable.

Gypsy Wind offers sizes small to 3x across the board, and they specialize in one-size-fits-all items that make your gift-giving pleasantly mistake-proof. There is colorful, comfortable, and fashionable clothing from scarves to shawls to sweaters to hats and more — all at affordable prices. There’s nothing over $100. You can put a lot of check marks on your list — but why not shop for yourself, too, and look fabulous at your holiday parties with something unique and affordable?

Shopping at Gypsy Wind Clothing is an experience. Seeing and touching the fabric gives you a true appreciation for its beauty. Personalized shopping means you can find just what you’re looking for. The folks at Gypsy Wind Clothing love helping men shop for wives, daughters, girlfriends, or moms — and you can always give the gift of a shopping experience at Gypsy Wind with a gift certificate.

WINDOWS: Annual

Sisters school tradition is 25 years old

Continued from page 3

put the designs on the windows in black paint,” Warburton told The Nugget. “The kids fill it in with color.”

In many cases, fourth graders are following in the footsteps of siblings who painted a window in the fourth grade.

“It’s kind of a cool family connection,” Warburton said.

That connection is important to the educational philosophy of Sisters schools, who seek to foster a sense of community and belonging in all that they do.

This year, Debbie Ayers joined her son Kayden in painting a window. Debbie painted a window when she was a fourth-grader at Sisters Elementary School.

“She was having a big moment remembering her life as a kid growing up in Sisters,” Warburton said.

All the fourth-grade classes participated, led by Warburton, Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. McMahon, and Mrs. Bearson.

“We had lots of help this year from many amazing parents,” Warburton said. “Mrs. Gunnerson even brought several students from her high school arts class.”

Warburton expressed gratitude to all the Sisters downtown businesses who eagerly participate in what has become a beloved tradition. Many have been involved for 25 years; some are new — and all benefit from the bright cheer brought by happy students and happy parents, sharing in a creative moment.

Where Santa Shops!

High Desert Chorale TRADITION continues

Shortly after the 2024 Christmas concert, Sisters High Desert Chorale members lost their long revered director, Irene Liden.

Fortunately, a new director has emerged to keep the free concert going — on Friday, December 12, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14, 2:30 p.m., at Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Highway.

Following a period of uncertainty, members were delighted when a fairly new Sisters resident and fellow singer stepped up to tackle the job. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Carol Lisek worked as a research chemist until her passion for music earned her an M.F.A in vocal performance and a D.M.A. in Early Music, both focused on vocal performance.

While Lisek’s powerful contralto voice has been featured in solo and group settings, she has also compiled extensive experiences as an educator in colleges, and as a music director.

Knowing the Chorale’s tradition and reputation, Lisek clearly stated that she was totally committed, adding, “Let’s do this!”

With the gracious guidance of Lola Knox, Liden’s long-time partner and an accomplished music educator, director, and performer herself, Knox has helped chorale members adjust to the third change in recent years. She has supported

Stitchin’ Post

Lisek in learning to work with people who love to sing, though have varied musical expertise and aren’t required to audition. Members pay dues, bake all the cookies, rehearse two hours each week for months, and do all the physical setting up and cleaning, simply to share the joy of music.

The dues and donations pay for music, printing costs, church space, some musicians, risers, and scarves.

Following tradition, Director Lisek has selected songs reflecting varied cultures including Ukranian, Austrian, Irish, Czech, German, and English, with Handel’s beloved “Hallelujah Chorus” from “The Messiah.”

Again sharing her expertise on a diverse variety of instruments, Knox will add the drum and flute to some carols, as well as directing the Twelve Tones Bell Choir and the Renaissance Sisters Recorder ensemble. One of the rehearsal pianists, Becky Smith, will also add her talents on the harp.

Two other accompanists have aided rehearsals, Mark Oglesby and Jean Schrader, with Schrader doing the concerts.

All members are grateful for these instrumentalists, who have added “depth and sparkle to the performance,” according to Wendie Vermillion.

“And,” she said, “they keep us on pitch!”

The Stitchin’ Post is one of Sisters’ legendary shops — a craft center that has inspired generations of fabric artists.

The shop really shines at this time of year. The whole back wall is given over to an Employee Boutique, featuring the work of the many folks who work at The Stichin’ Post in part because they are artists themselves.

“It’s so wonderful to showcase our employees,” says owner Valori Wells. “They’re such talented people.”

You’ll find ornaments and Christmas-themed fabric art, as well as gift items that will be appreciated by anyone who loves hand-crafted work made with intention and love.

Shop Stitchin’ Post’s collection of Christmas fabrics, and sign yourself or someone on your list up for Stichin’ Post’s wide selection of classes for 2026.

This year, you can give the gift of the wonderful book “Sisters, Oregon: Five Decades of Quilting in America,” commemorating a half-century of creativity and

HEARTY RECIPES for cold days

KIMBERLY’S CASSOULET

This is something I love to serve on those cold winter nights when we want something warm and hearty – and affordable.

Ingredients:

5 slices bacon, chopped

13 oz. smoked sausage, sliced

1 small onion, finely-diced

1 green bell pepper, finely-diced

2 stalks celery, finely-diced

2 carrots, finely-diced

1 tsp minced fresh garlic

2 Tbs tomato paste

1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained

1C chicken broth

½ cup dry white wine

2 (14.5 oz) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

2C cooked, diced or shredded chicken

1 tsp red wine vinegar

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp chopped fresh/dry thyme

In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon and sausage over medium-high heat until

POTUS’ EGGNOG

In the spirit of a historical Christmas, Susan Cobb offers up this recipe based on George Washington’s late-1700s recipe. This is made cold and served cold or hot, yeilding five quarts.

Ingredients:

½ gallon whole milk

1 quart half & half

1 quart whipping cream

½ cup brandy

½ cup rum (Bacardi)

½ cup whiskey (Bushmills, Honey Whiskey)

12 oz. bottle of Nepal’s Cream de Pistachio

2 tsps of vanilla

6 separated eggs

½ cup sugar (or 1 cup if sweeter is preferred)

Dash of Kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

Jar of cinnamon sticks

Preparations (need a 7-quart cooking pot):

bacon is crispy and sausage is browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a plate, reserving the drippings in the pot.

Add the onion, bell pepper, celery and carrot to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 6-8 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 more minute

Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 more minute

Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth and white wine; bring to a boil, scraping the bits from the bottom of the pot

Stir in the beans, chicken, vinegar, salt, pepper and thyme

Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes. Return the sausage and the bacon to the pot. Cook and stir until heated through, about 3 to 5 more minutes.

In a bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar until not grainy.

Add vanilla, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, milk, and half & half to above and beat again, then pour into pot.

In a bowl, whip egg whites to stiff peaks and fold into pot.

Cover pot and store in cool place two to three days – stir gently once in a while.

About 20 minutes before serving, whip the cream with a touch of sugar.

Cup - hot (if heated, keep temp low and stir periodically – DO NOT BOIL) or Glass - cool (not necessary to refrigerate).

Pour eggnog, spoon whipped cream on top, sprinkle with ground nutmeg, and add a cinnamon stick.

Any left over should be refrigerated.

Black Butte Ranch

There is no more magical place in the world than Black Butte Ranch at Christmastime.

The Ranch has been a holiday destination for families across generations, a place where lifelong memories are made in a beautiful and festive setting.

The Ranch is in the midst of 12 Days of Christmas. Whether you need the perfect gift, looking for stocking stuffers, or just want to treat yourself, they’ve got something special each day.

The annual Breakfast with Santa is set for Sunday, December 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Lodge, featuring a buffet breakfast, photos with Santa, and cookie decorating. Reservations are required; call 541-595-1260.

For many, Christmas Dinner at The Lodge is a family tradition. Reservations are required at 541-595-1260.

Carriage Rides are one of the delightful activities on the Ranch from December 26 through January 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rides are approximately 30 minutes long. Reserve your seats early. Tickets required.

Keep an eye out for an announcement regarding festivities to ring in the new year.

Holidays Events

Daily through December 15

Kids can drop off letters to Santa at The Nugget, 442 E. Main Ave. All letters received by 12/15 (with a return address) will get a reply.

Daily through December 20

Three Sisters Lions Club 14th Annual Holiday Faire

Great selection of handmade items by local vendors.

282 S. Cedar St., M-F 10-5, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4

Thursday • December 11

Winter Joy: A Performance by Black Butte School 6 p.m. at Camp Sherman Community Hall. Students will perform short plays and songs. Free and open to the public. Information: 541-595-6203

Friday •December 12

Winter choir concert #1 at Sisters Community Church, 7 p.m. Presented by High Desert Chorale & Bell Choir

Casey Parnell & Co Christmas Dance Party at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards, 5-8 p.m.

Tickets: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com

Saturday • December 13

Winter Dance Recital: Silver Screen & Snowy Scenes presented by Sisters Dance Academy at Sisters High School auditorium, 1700 W. McKinney Butte Rd., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

Tickets & information: www.danceinsisters.com

St. Lucy Day holiday celebration at Fika Sisters Coffeehouse, 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Christmas reading from Melody Carlson, gingerbread decorating, music, a St. Lucia children’s craft, and more. Santa Claus is Visiting Sisters Bakery, 251 E. Cascade Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon. Photos and ornament making. Information: www.facebook.com/sistersbakeryoregon

Sunday • December 14

Breakfast with Santa at Black Butte Ranch Lodge. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., reservations required. Information: BlackButteRanch.com/Holidays Winter choir concert #2 at Sisters Community Church, 2:30 p.m. Presented by High Desert Chorale & Bell Choir.

Ladies Ornament Exchange at Friends & Vine, 2-4 p.m. Bring an ornament to exchange. Wine for sale.

Motel Kalifornia Christmas Concert at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards, 5-8 p.m. Tickets: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com

Tuesday • December 16

Sisters Community Holiday Showcase

A festive showcase of students and local talent! An unforgettable night of entertainment plus silent auctions and more to raise funds for Sisters High School music programs. Suggested donation of $5 at the door. Info: kayla.golka@ssd6.org or steven.livingston@ssd6.org

Wednesday • December 17

Solstice Book Flood Community gathering and paperback book exchange at Paulina Springs Books, 252 W. Hood Ave., 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Information: paulinaspringsbooks.com

Thursday • December 18

Snow Much Fun

Winter songs, crafts, stories, and more, for ages 3–11. 3 to 4 p.m. at Sisters Library. Information: https://dpl.libnet.info/event/14386221

Christmas Renaissance Sisters Concert at Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 121 Brooks Camp Rd., 6 p.m. Includes many audience carol sing-alongs. Reception to follow. Information: 541-390-4615

Hoodoo Wintervention at Three Creeks Brewing presented by Hoodoo Ski Area. Win lift tickets, gear, skis, boards, and more. Free for all ages. 6 to 8 p.m.

Friday • December 19

Christmas Movie & Ugly Sweater Contest at Cold Springs Resort 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Information: www.coldspringsresort.com

C4C Hosting Let’s Sing! at The Lodge, 4–5 p.m., 411 E. Carpenter Ln.; sing along at this free family-friendly caroling party! Information: www.citizens4community.com/ events/lets-sing-dec-25-2

Saturday • December 20

Wagon Rides & Photos with Santa at Cold Springs Resort 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Information: www.coldspringsresort.com

Breakfast With Santa at Frankie’s 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Two seatings at 10 and 11:30; can book in advance. Information: www.sistersdepot.com

Jessie Leigh Christmas Concert at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets: ww.faithhopeandcharityevents.com

Sunday • December 21

BREATHE Ice Skating Day

for high school students, meeting at Sisters Community Church then going to The Pavilion (Bend), 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Information: https://www.sisterschurch.com/events/ breathe-ice-skating-day

Blue Christmas at Sisters Community Church, 4 to 5 p.m. A special service of worship, prayer, and a message of hope for those whose hearts are hurting in this season.

Information: www.sisterschurch.com/events/

Winter Solstice Celebration at Sisters Community Labyrinth 7 to 8 p.m.

Information: https://sisters-community-labyrinth. mailchimpsites.com/

Wednesday • December 24

Christmas Eve Celebration at Sisters Community Church, 3-4 p.m.

Celebrate the birth of our Savior with scripture, candlelight, a dramatic monologue from Jesus’ Mother, Mary, and worship. Coffee & cookies afterwards.

Information: www.sisterschurch.com/events/

Christmas Eve Service in the Park at Fir Street Park, 5-6 p.m. hosted by Sisters Community Church. Celebrate the birth of our Savior with scripture, candlelight, a dramatic monologue from Jesus’ Mother, Mary, and choir singing. Hot cocoa, coffee, and candy canes. Information: www.sisterschurch.com/events/

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at Sisters Church of the Nazarene, 5 p.m. Information: www.sistersnaz.org/christmas-eve

Thursday • December 25

Community Christmas Dinner at Sisters Firehouse, 301 S. Elm St., 1-3 p.m. Free. Information: www.sistersfire.com

Christmas Dinner at BBR at Black Butte Ranch Main Lodge, 12-4 p.m. Reservations required, call 541-595-1260

December 26-31

Carriage Rides at Black Butte Ranch

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Rides approximately 30 minutes long; advance tickets required: www.blackbutteranch.com/events/carriagerides/

Friday • December 26

Outlaw Jazz Combo Plays Festive Jazz at The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch. Jazz renditions of festive tunes on guitar, bass, and saxophone. For dinner reservations, call 541-595-1260.

The passing of the Christmases we took for granted

By Wendy Bachmeier Columnist

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

There were certain things that made Kansas into the Kansas Dorothy knew and loved: the rolling wheat fields, the small family farm, the wide open skies, the tornados. Nowadays, Kansas might resemble more of the Land of OZ than that 1939 memory of Kansas. With its large-scale farming operations and aerospace industry, I doubt Dorothy would recognize it. Sadly, there’s no place like home, but what do you do when home is gone forever? We are all part of the ever-present, everincreasing push-pull struggle to hold onto the things about our home and traditions we love while grabbing onto new and modern changes of the future. You can’t have both, and ultimately, without concerted effort on everyone’s part, change is inevitable and, within a few generations, the past is left behind.

Sadly, this was my family’s experience in attending the Bend Holiday Parade

this weekend. Every year, we troop together as a family to cheer on the entries we love and wave to all of the brave parade participants. We’ve been doing this for all of my life and it’s always been one of my dad’s favorite Christmas traditions.

Who knew we were taking Christmas for granted?

When did things change?

Like every year, the parade route was packed with tons of people. But, unlike in the past, the mood was gray and the crowds were silent. Looking around, everyone was wearing black and watching without participating. Was my family the only ones clapping and cheering? Sure enough! Isn’t that something we are all supposed to do at a parade? I guess people don’t know that tradition. My dad, who is now in his 80s, is a veteran, a cowboy, a pastor, and loves America. So, he was appalled to see that none of the men around him took off their hats as the flag was marched by at the beginning of the parade. I don’t think they were even taught to do so. Another lost tradition.

My dad loved the

traditional Bend Christmas parade, with its marching bands, its long line of stamping horses and cowboy riders, its large representation of veterans from all military branches, its Christmas carols and well decorated nativity displays from all different churches. Who knew these were things of the past?

I don’t know if they just weren’t invited this year, or what happened, but very few of our favorite things were present. The Grinch was the holiday focus of most of the entries, which makes me wonder if he has replaced Santa Claus and Jesus these days.

Poor dad. He declared this was his last parade. He was so disappointed, not in the entries that were there, but in the entries that were not. Just like the folks in Portland who went to their traditional Christmas Tree lighting only to be told they must call it “The tree!” It’s just the tip of the scale, which will inevitably become an avalanche, as our past Christian values and traditions become swallowed up in the new influx of other cultures,

other religions, other ideas of what this time of year should look like. Like it or not, I was reminded afresh that the USA is no longer a Christian nation, and it is being changed right under our noses and now in front of our eyes. As we change, it is still in the balance whether we will keep the values and traditions that define us as a nation and make this grand experiment of America actually work?

When Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war after Pearl Harbor was bombed, he designated December 7, 1941, as “a date which will live in infamy.” This year marks the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Was it even mentioned in the news, or around the dinner table, or even in the daily Google feed? If it wasn’t for my grandfather who served on the USS Arizona, maybe I wouldn’t have noticed it either. How long before we completely forget the events of World War II because we are embroiled in the next one?

There are certain traditions and events we try to

keep alive, to pass down to future generations, to get out the boxes and dust off the memories, for a reason. One of those reasons is to remember our history and why we are the people we are today. It’s part of our identity as a nation, as a culture, even as a religious group. Another reason is to keep our society from crumbling. We have to have some agreed-upon values and history that hold us together, such as the Revolution and the Bill of Rights. Without respect for each person’s opinion, respect for each person’s life and property, and respect for each person’s religion, who are we? America was meant to be the place where people from all over the world and from all different perspectives and religions could live together peaceably. I hope that in this new era of change, if Christmas is banned from our public arena, we are still allowed to practice our Christian faith and traditions in peace and freedom. Still, we will grieve the passing of the Christmases we took for granted. We’re not in Kansas anymore.

LETTERS

Continued from page 2

locally for meaningful gifts, or simply enjoying a quiet snowfall in the forest, the season in Sisters offers countless moments of joy. Explore Sisters is grateful for the partnerships with Citizens4Community, Sisters Business Association, Sisters Park & Recreation District, The Nugget , and Economic Development for Central Oregon, that have brought Sisters Hometown Holidays to life. This initiative showcases the best of what happens when our community comes together with shared purpose. We hope it encourages residents and visitors alike to celebrate the season in ways that feel authentic, heartwarming, and uniquely “Sisters.”

Wishing everyone in our community a joyful and connected holiday season.

Scott Humpert

Executive Director, Explore Sisters

s s s

Fast one

To the Editor:

The Deschutes County voting districts proposal engineered by Commissioners Tony DeBone and Patti Adair is really a “fast one” designed to defeat the purpose of the recently adopted increase in the number of county commissioners. If approved, this proposal will limit county voters to voting for only one commissioner candidate in gerrymandered districts favoring Republican candidates, instead of several choices under the present “at large” voting system. DeBone and Adair deserve to be removed from office for this attempt to pull off this stunt. Furthermore, Adair should not be approved by voters in her bid to be elected to Congressional office.

Roger Detweiler

s s s

A gift

To the Editor:

After The Nugget was kind enough to put an article in the paper for me, I figured it was a long shot that someone that SAW it would actually help me with a vehicle. So I broke down after someone handed me a “You’re going to burn in hell” pamphlet. I’ve never been godless. I’ve had my moments, and might have taken some wrong turns. Who hasn’t. Show me the perfect person. One night when I was about to go to sleep on a concrete mattress, I prayed. “God I need a miracle. Can you pull me out of this pit, in Jesus name.” Then next day I couldn’t stop thinking about stopping smoking weed, righting all my wrongs, getting my life in order. So I quit smoking weed, stopped buying lottery tickets, apologized and exposed the lies I told my parents. Started to apologize to all the people I was rude to and when I did it, the next day a man named Jody Vogal came up to me on the corner while I was holding a sign. Said, “I am moving out of Sisters, I have this van. Do you need a van?” I said, “You better not be messing with me.” He said God put it on his heart to help someone out with it. I asked him, “Did you read the article I got posted in The Nugget?” He said, “No, I didn’t catch it.” Next day brought me a 1990 Ford Econoline van with 180,000 miles on it, clean title and bill of sale as a gift. Has minor issues, needs some work, $600 front end repair, main tank needs to be hooked up, O2 censor — nothing substantial. Runs great, shifts smooth.

God works in mysterious ways working through people’s hearts. By the grace of God a man that had no idea about the last article brought me a house on wheels. Just got it transferred and insured, also got veteran

MUSEUM: Exhibits

delicious gelato for visitors each night, while Wildwood Chocolates will dish out sweets during the December 18 event.

All interior exhibitions are open for Winter Nights, including the newest exhibition, Drawn West, which opened on November 15. Featuring 50-plus artworks, maps, and advertisements from the Museum’s extensive collection, the visually appealing exhibition explores a century of salesmanship. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/drawn-west.

In Soil Alive!, visitors of all ages step into the

world beneath our feet in an immersive family-friendly exhibition. Visitors can see, touch, smell, and even hear life underground. Featuring interactive wall-sized illustrations, Soil Alive! teaches visitors that healthy soil is the result of thousands of intricate relationships. Learn more at highdesertmuseum. org/soil-alive.

Winter Nights visitors can also explore Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky, which showcases close to 100 pieces from the Indigenous artist’s prolific 40-year career. Indigenous themes and contemporary life intertwine on baskets, prints, ceramics, and glass. Organized by the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Washington, the exhibition celebrates the collective

SNAP benefits on normal schedule

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is issuing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on its normal monthly schedule in December, following disruptions in November due to the federal government shutdown.

richness of Feddersen’s body of work. Discover more at www.highdesertmuseum. org/feddersen.

Admission for Winter Nights for adults is $12 in advance and $14 at the door. It’s always $6 for ages 3-12. Ages 2 and under—and Museum members—are free. Visitors who arrive earlier in the day may stay for Winter Nights without paying additional admission. The outdoor exhibits are closed during Winter Nights. Regular winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information and tickets are available at www.highdesertmuseum. org/winter-nights.

According to ODHS, SNAP plays a major role in Oregon’s food security and economy. Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity, contributing an estimated $1.6 billion to Oregon’s economy each year.

“Every month hundreds of thousands of children, older adults, and hardworking families and individuals depend on getting their SNAP food benefits on time to get enough food,” said ODHS Director Liesl Wendt. “After last month’s uncertainty and disruptions, we are grateful to be able to return to issuing SNAP food benefits when and how people expect us to. We also recommend that people take

simple steps today to protect their EBT cards. By changing your PIN, locking your cards, and blocking online and out-of-state purchases you can keep your benefits safe.”

SNAP is entirely federally funded and helps more than 1 in 6 people in Oregon, about 18 percent of households, buy groceries, including children, working families, older adults, and people with disabilities.

EBT cards are vulnerable to compromise by skimmers. ODHS will turn off and replace cards potentially hit by skimmers.

If your EBT card suddenly stops working:

• Check your EBT balance at https://ebtEDGE. com or using the ebtEDGE mobile app. If you see a balance amount that is different than what you expected, your benefits may have been stolen. ODHS does not support any other EBT management apps or websites.

• If you see a balance,

See SNAP on page 29

plates coming. Figured I would get my artwork going again next spring. I have to keep this short. Thank you everyone who prayed and care about me as a person. Just ask me if you want to know my plans, I’m around town. Can’t go anywhere yet, have to be responsible with what I got.

I’m far from an idiot, so don’t think I’m just going to burn off out of here. Nobody would do that unless they are dumb. I apologize if you’re one of those weirdos that think I need to leave your city like you own it, remember it’s in America. The country I signed up to die for. My plan is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I can’t wait to start working on my art again. God bless, and thank you again everyone who cares about me.

Brian Owens

s s s County commission

To the Editor:

I was surprised to see a letter to the editor (November 26) describing the proposed Five District County Commission as “classic gerrymandering,” and accusing the advisory committee of setting the districts up along political lines. Anyone who has followed this process knows that the committee did not look at political affiliations. In his letter, Mark Kelley makes an overtly partisan play to convince us that the districts were gerrymandered for political reasons. Instead, he lays out exactly why Sisters Country needs to support the district concept.

A little math will help here: Half the county population lives in Bend which no longer resembles the small town many of us had known for decades, and will continue to become more urban in the future. Allowing this urban center to vote for all of the Commissioners could easily lead to the Board being urban centered — which would disenfranchise all of us in Sisters Country. It is pretty obvious that issues that affect us are way different than what city

dwellers are concerned with. Having a seat on the County Commission that represents Sisters Country will ensure that our concerns get heard.

By the same standard, Bend will have two seats representing their urban concerns. That is called a win-win!

Mr. Kelley suggests that only being allowed to vote for one of the five Commissioners should be “repellent” to us. This leaves one to wonder if he also finds being limited to only voting for one of the six Congressional seats in Oregon repellent? Our County Commissioners are now, and will continue to be elected on a non-partisan basis. We have enough partisan divides in our community and should reject arguments from those that want to further that divide.

Don’t allow loud voices or sign waving partisans to impact our voice on the County Commission.

Please call or write to the County Commissioners letting them know that we want a voice for Sisters, and ask them to place the Five District plan on the ballot for us to vote on it.

Carey Tosello s s s

Nonpartisan commission

To the Editor:

The crucial Deschutes County Commissioner election in 2026 — a historic race expanding the board to five members — requires every voter to shift focus. While partisan national battles dominate headlines, the Commissioner’s job is fundamentally nonpartisan. The 2022 decision to officially make these roles nonpartisan was a commitment to governing based on local needs, not national loyalties. The Commission’s duties—managing budgets, public safety, and land-use planning—are practical matters of local administration, not party platforms.

As a former City Councilor who served on the nonpartisan dais for the City of Bend and currently serving as a Deschutes County representative for business and industry on the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), I feel compelled to share my perspective.

My experience on the Bend Council and the solutions-focused, collaborative COIC demonstrates that the central task of local governance is always listening and prioritizing shared prosperity over political scoring. This necessity for cooperation drives three key principles:

Practical governance: Managing local issues requires financial acumen and common-sense problem solving. The best candidates bring proven experience in management and coalition building, not just party allegiance.

Serving all constituents: A nonpartisan commissioner must serve the core needs of every resident, including the large bloc of Nonaffiliated Voters, ensuring fairness and equal representation across the county.

Encouraging collaboration: Effective governance demands teamwork. Removing partisan labels encourages a focus on consensus and pragmatic solutions over political points.

The onus is now on us, the voters, to adhere to this nonpartisan spirit. We must look beyond the campaign rhetoric that mimics national debates and focus instead on core competencies and local vision.

To achieve a balanced and effective Commission board in 2026, we must adopt a higher standard of research:

Scrutinize the résumé: Look for proven experience in managing budgets and leading complex organizations.

Demand specificity on local issues: Ask candidates for their specific plans on solid waste, public safety funding, and housing/land-use balance.

Focus on temperament: Look for candidates committed to civil discourse who listen more than they talk.

The 2026 election is an opportunity to elect a Commission dedicated to sound governance, not political theater. Our local future depends not on who shouts the loudest, but on who is best prepared to manage the complex business of our county. Let’s commit now to being informed, nonpartisan voters in 2026.

Chris Piper

See LETTERS on page 27

Portraits O F SISTERS

In Lubbock, Texas there’s rich musical history but little to do for a kid — so Beth Wood took up music at age 5. One of her favorite memories as a child was her mother playing the piano as she fell asleep. “I didn’t fully understand music as a child, but I was drawn to it,” she says. She dabbled in violin, harp in high school, sang in the choir, and learned by the rigid structure of a classical music upbringing. But her real musical love came when she discovered songwriting to the tune of her guitar. “It was total freedom when I discovered that,” she says. In 2006 she attended her first song camp through the Sisters Folk Festival. She later moved to Oregon in 2009 and to Sisters in 2020 but the Sisters Folk Festival was an annual pilgrimage. When I asked how to best describe her music, she said, “If Sheryl Crow and James Taylor had a baby, that’s my style.” It’s folk and Americana, singer-songwriter, poetry and tunes hand-in-hand. With four published poetry books and 15 albums to her name (and a 16th in the works) Beth shows no signs of stopping. She’s carefully crafted her style for 50 years and also found a new love for teaching. This year, she took on the role of Song Camp Director for the Sisters Folk Festival. “I want to help people access their creativity, because I believe it really makes life better.”

RUN: Course started and ended near Fir Street Park

Continued from page 1

programs to help families navigate the dementia journey with confidence.”

The Sisters Outlaws Alpine Ski team also provided volunteer help for the race and will receive a donation for the team from RunSistersRun.

“None of this happens without all our helpers and sponsors,” said race director Kelly Bither.

Simon Noling of Milwaukie, Oregon pulled away from runner-up Chase Anspach of Terrebonne to win the five kilometer run in 16:49. Anspach came through in 17:03, followed by 15-year-old Fisher Olin of Bend who clocked 17:11.

Justyna Mudy-Mader of Bend placed fourth in 19:01 as the first female finisher. Ben Hayner, a Sisters High School junior, placed fifth as the top local runner across the line in 19:53. In all, 100 of the 328 finishers hailed

from Sisters and most others came from the Central Oregon region.

The course started and finished near Fir Street Park and looped around the north side of Sisters through the Clear Pine neighborhood and the Industrial Park area.

“It’s so fun to see

everyone together embracing the holiday spirit,” said Bither.

The next event on the calendar by RunSistersRun is the Lucky Leprechaun, scheduled for March 14. Information and registration can be found soon at the RunSistersRun website.

Sisters Folk Festival launches ticket sales

Discounted tickets for the 29th annual Sisters Folk Festival go on sale Wednesday, December 10 at 10 a.m., kicking off the countdown to one of Oregon’s most beloved music events. The festival returns September 25–27, 2026, transforming downtown Sisters into a vibrant stage for music lovers and community alike.

Three-day festival tickets will be sold in a tiered pricing structure, rewarding early buyers with the best rates. Discounted holiday tickets have sold out within minutes in past years, so be sure to set a reminder. The first 500 tickets are available at a special holiday price of $195 (limit four per person), followed by an early-bird price of $220 (limit four per person), and the remaining tickets at the advance price of $245. Youth tickets (ages 17 and under) are $90, and children under 5 enter for free. All prices include fees.

The Sisters Folk Festival

blends small-town charm with world-class musicianship, creating a truly unique festival atmosphere. From nationally touring artists to rising songwriters and genre-bending bands, performers take the stage at seven venues including expansive tents, a historic church, and intimate courtyards nestled into local restaurants.

With a long tradition of cultivating a true listening environment — plus room for dancing, laughter, and late-night magic — attendees can expect a transformative weekend that reaches far beyond the music.

Lineup announcements begin this spring, with single-day tickets available next summer when the performance schedule is released.

Follow @ SistersFolkFestival on Instagram and Facebook for updates and announcements. Tickets can be purchased at www.AftonTickets.com/ SFF2026.

Thank you, Sisters!

To the Editor:

Thank you to our amazing community for another great Sisters Farmers Market season! 2025 was Sisters Farmers Market’s sixth season as a program of Seed to Table, and we are thrilled to announce that together we welcomed over 20,000 visitors from June through October, distributed over $5,000 in SNAP and Double Up, welcomed over 70 individual small businesses, and hosted 19 local nonprofit organizations!

Whether you joined as a vendor, gave your time as a volunteer, performed on the stage, tabled for a nonprofit, or supported the market as a visitor — we are here because of you: thank you!

We also want to share our deep gratitude for the City of Sisters’ ongoing support of the farmers market’s long-term sustainability and to Citizens4Community for collaborating with us at The Hub. We are grateful and honored to work among community leaders who are committed to fostering spaces for community gathering and connection.

Thank you for your commitment to supporting local farmers, food producers, and artisans by visiting Sisters Farmers Market, and we can’t wait to see you again in June!

Willa Bauman

Sisters Farmers Market Program Director s s s

Trump’s fault

To the Editor:

In last week’s Nugget Mr. Detweiler’s letter to editor claimed that it’s Trump’s fault National

Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom was murdered; coincidently by deranged ‘D.C. Dad’ who was personally invited into our country by Biden administration.

I seriously doubt Sarah’s family or those she served with will be comforted by the vile hatred of Detweiler, who is afforded the same protection demanded by 77 million voters in the last election.

Here’s believing that during this Christmas season across America hearts and minds may shift from hate that separates us to the love of Jesus Christ that joins all humanity.

Jeff Mackey

s s s

More thankful, less critical

To the Editor:

Thank God for the majority of people who voted for Donald Trump! And, thank you to the brave young National Guard woman who made the courageous choice to serve her country for what she believed in.

Trump’s response to her sacrifice has been to call out more soldiers who have chosen to defend the citizens of our United States, and to defend the honor of this young woman and all who answer the calling.

We are the most free country in the world because of our insightful founding fathers who believed in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those rights were given to us by God. The two national guards freely made their sacrificial choice whom they wanted to serve.

I truly hope we as a people choose to be a lot more thankful and a lot less critical to be living where we do.

In response to Mr. Detweiler’s latest letter dated December 3, 2025, how about we tone down the rhetoric and stop the slanderous comments and

look toward the motive and spirit in which our decisions from our leaders are made. Slander is not free speech, but a crime. “Come let us reason together” are very wise words, especially during this Christmas season.

Jan Pray s s s

Happy Holiday Palooza indeed

To the Editor;

I should be writing my Holiday Palooza letter to go with my Holiday Palooza cards that I send out this time of the year, or Krampus might give me a switch with his birch rod, but instead I am writing to the editor.

It is not a Holiday Palooza parade — it is a Christmas parade whether you like it or not. We do not celebrate winter break coming up, it is Christmas break. Spring break always coincides with Easter — the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and thus is called Easter break. Santa is a reminder of the Magi — the Wise Men who came bearing gifts to worship the birth of Jesus. It is not a “tree lighting” — it is a “Christmas tree lighting,” a tradition with German roots, signifying the birth of Jesus bringing light back into a broken world.

May I remind you that the first thing communists do when they dismantle society is change the names of important places, symbols, and celebrations, and things that give that society its identity and sovereignty?

You may not adhere to Christian beliefs, and you may not agree that Holiday Palooza is abhorrent, but please remember that these celebrations are Christian, not Paloozas.

Every minister in Sisters should be writing a letter to the editor similar to this one.

Happy Holiday Palooza indeed.

Jayne Simmons

ADAIR: Commissioner will contest for District 5 seat

Adair responded “No, just the opposite. In fact, Dave Doyle, Deschutes Attorney, signed a SEL 400 stating that I have more energy and work harder than most 40-year-olds.”

Doyle is in-house legal counsel for the county. An SEL 400 is a statement of endorsements in the Voters Pamphlet.

Adair has long touted her work ethic.

The Nugget: Given that the district has more registered NAV’s (nonaffiliated voters) and Democrats than Republicans and NAVs having shown a preference for Democrat candidates, how do you expect to win the NAV voter? Said another way — how hard will it be to win a district that is trending from red/purple to solid purple?

“Throughout my time on the County Commission, I have consistently united and brought together people from all political and ideological backgrounds. That is because I have a proven track record of delivering results for our community and putting people first, not politics. In Congress, I will do the same,” she answered.

The discussion turned to national implications.

The Nugget: The Trump administration has stated

Over the course of my time in public service, I have been a strong advocate for preserving Oregon’s beauty. One of my proudest achievements on the County Commission was saving Worrell Wayside Park in Bend — Patti Adair

interest in selling some federal lands for natural resource extraction. What is your position on privatizing federal land?

Adair’s initial response was: “My preference is to cut back on building regulations. We have way too many in Oregon. Time costs money.”

In a follow up she said: “Over the course of my time in public service, I have been a strong advocate for preserving Oregon’s beauty. One of my proudest achievements on the County Commission was saving Worrell Wayside Park in Bend from becoming a parking lot. At the same time, I believe we need to balance preservation and economic factors. I support responsibly using our natural resources to lower energy costs, create jobs, and improve Oregonians everyday lives.”

Neither response directly answered the question.

Adair doesn’t know if she will get the President’s

endorsement: “I can’t speak for the President. What I can say, is that unlike our current Congresswoman, I will work with the President to deliver for Oregonians — not be an obstructionist. I will work with the President and members of both parties to tackle the problems facing Oregonians and deliver real results.”

The Nugget tried to learn who specifically is backing Adair, asking who are the key players in her run. She didn’t name names or groups.

Adair: “My backers are hard-working Oregonians who play by the rules, pay their taxes, but keep getting left further behind by out-oftouch politicians,” she said.

Can she raise the money needed to win? “Absolutely. Prior to being in elected office, I raised large sums of money to support various charitable efforts. I am confident I can raise the money to win this race,” she said confidently.

The 2024 District 5 race drew $25 million in campaign spending.

The Nugget: What does Adair bring to the table that Bynum doesn’t?

Adair: “Unfortunately, our current Congresswoman has proven that she is more interested in partisanship and obstructionism than problem solving and governing. I have a proven record of common-sense leadership and will work across the aisle in DC to put Oregonians first, not any political party or special interests.”

SNAPSHOT: Hiking is by far Sisters’ favorite pastime

Continued from page 1

A little more than half were already Oregonians when they moved to Sisters.

The reasons given for choosing Sisters are led by: “Small town atmosphere (civility, neighborliness)” with 54.1 percent marking it one of their two top choices. “Recreational Opportunities” was cited by 36.6 percent. “Less hectic lifestyle (commuting, accessibility)” was mentioned by 28.8 percent and fourth most checked — 19.5 percent — said “To be near family member.”

Schools, safety, western lifestyle, job, health were well down the list ticked between 5 and 10 percent of respondents.

Hiking and climbing dwarfed all other categories of outdoor pursuits as the favorite. And it was the second-most favorite among those who chose another

activity as their first choice. Cycling and golf, far down the list from hiking, were nearly equal and virtually tied with gardening.

Reading and quilting/ sewing dominated the rankings of favorite indoor activities with a goodly number engaged in woodworking. Cooking was high on the list.

Pets are well represented in the survey: 51.5 percent own dogs and 15.7 percent have cats.

Some fun findings: 32.3 percent are Duck fans. 14.9 percent root for the Beavers. 17.4 percent list another team as their favorite and 35.3 percent follow no team.

Some 57.2 percent favor Lee jeans, 18.9 percent Levi’s, 8.5 percent Wrangler. Just under 10 percent don’t wear jeans.

Toyota was the most mentioned foreign brand and Chevy was the most calledout domestic emblem for vehicles. Subarus were right behind Toyota, and Ford and Jeep were often checked. Foreign brands outweighed U.S. brands substantially.

the Editor: Jim Cornelius, 541-390-6973 (cell), editor@nuggetnews.com Advertising: Kimberly Young, ads@nuggetnews.com Classifieds, Subscriptions, Announcements: Wendy Bachmeier, nugget@nuggetnews.com Events, Poetry: Jess Draper, jess@nuggetnews.com

but your EBT card is still not working, it may have been turned off to prevent fraud. You can call the ONE Customer Service Center 800-699-9075 or your local ODHS office (https://bit.ly/ ODHSoffices) to determine if that was the case.

Most theft occurs in the beginning of the month immediately after SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are issued to EBT cards. Criminals use methods like skimming devices, internet scams, and fake websites to steal card numbers and personal identification numbers (PIN). Once they have this information, they use online or out-of-state purchases to drain SNAP food and TANF cash benefits from a person’s card.

ODHS recommends that everyone with an EBT card take these steps to keep their benefits safe:

• Only use the official ebtEDGE website and mobile app for Apple or Android: ODHS does not guarantee the safety of any other EBT management apps or websites.

• Freeze your card between uses: When you’re not using your EBT card, consider freezing it as an extra layer of protection. Simply unfreeze it when you’re ready to make a purchase. To do this, visit the ebtEDGE website or use the mobile app and look for “Freeze Card” under “Account Services.”

• Block out-of-state and online purchases: You have the option to block transactions made outside of Oregon and online purchases to safeguard your card from unauthorized use. To do this, visit the ebtEDGE website or use the mobile app and look for “Protect My Account” under “Account Services.” You can remove the blocks later.

• Change your PIN regularly: Get into the habit of updating your PIN often. This can help protect your account if someone does gain access to your card number. Here are the ways you can change your PIN: Call 888-997-4447; log into the ebtEDGE website; take your EBT card to the closest ODHS benefits office.

• Keep your PIN secret: Never share your PIN or write it on your card. Cover the keypad whenever entering your PIN in a public setting. Thieves may use small cameras to capture your PIN entry.

• Inspect card readers carefully: Before swiping

After last month’s uncertainty and disruptions, we are grateful to be able to return to issuing SNAP food benefits when and how people expect us to.

— Liesl Wendt

your card at an ATM or other card reader, check for anything unusual. Skimming devices are often placed on top of existing card readers. If you see anything that looks out of place or tampered with, avoid using it and let the business know.

• Monitor your EBT account activity: Make it a habit to check your account regularly for any unusual charges. If you see a charge you didn’t make, report it immediately, cancel your card and request a replacement. Here are the ways you can get a new card: Call the EBT Replacement Line at 1-855-328-6715; go to an ODHS benefits office.

• Don’t respond to suspicious texts: If you receive a text message asking for your EBT card number or PIN, ignore it. ODHS will never ask for your information this way.

• Avoid social media scams: Only trust posts and messages about your benefits from official ODHS accounts. ODHS will never ask for your benefits case number, PIN, or other card information on social media. More information is available on the Protect Your EBT Card and Benefits webpage. There is a brochure, flyer, and wallet card available in many languages. There are also short videos about using an EBT card, how to replace an EBT card, and all the ways to protect your EBT benefits. These are posted in the How-to Videos section of benefits.oregon. gov.

How to request replacement for TANF benefits:

ODHS can replace TANF benefits that are lost due to fraud. TANF families who believe benefits have been stolen from their EBT card should contact ODHS to request replacement benefits within 30 days of the benefits being stolen. Information on card safety and how to request replacement TANF benefits can be found online here: https://www.oregon. gov/odhs/benefits/Pages/ protect.aspx.

ODHS cannot replace SNAP benefits. The federal funding to replace benefits ran out on December 21, 2024, and ODHS is no longer authorized to replace stolen SNAP benefits.

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:

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

PONDEROSA PROPERTIES

–Monthly Rentals Available–Call Debbie at 541-549-2002

Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: PonderosaProperties.com

Printed list at 178 S. Elm, Sisters Ponderosa Properties LLC

104 Vacation Rentals

Downtown Vacation Rentals Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom SistersVacationRentals.net

Great pricing. 503-730-0150

201 For Sale FREE BLINDS

White, in Good Condition 28"x40", (2) 34"x58", 46"x46" Charlie: 415-726-8683

202 Firewood NEW DISCOUNT PRICES

SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS

DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD • SINCE 1976 • Fuel Reduction Forestry Doug Fir – Lodgepole –Hardwood – Juniper – Fir DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES – 18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com Order Online! 541-410-4509

205 Garage & Estate Sales

Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions!

Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths? Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150

206 Lost & Found FOUND

black prescription glasses and car keys near the Village Green Park after Halloween. Please call 541-549-4451.

301 Vehicles

—— UTV Bush Hog 4400 —— Honda 670cc twin motor Not drivable, but runs. FREE U-HAUL, 503-509-1791

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

Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

CLASSIC CAR STORAGE!

Oversized, lights/power, $275/m • 541-419-2502

302 Recreational Vehicles

Early 17-ft. '60s Can Ham Trailer, $3,900. 971-331-9709.

401 Horses

ORCHARD GRASS HAY ALFALFA TRITICALE

New 2025 crop. Barn stored. 3-tie bales. $240-$340/ton. Hwy. 126 & Cline Falls. 541-280-1895

403 Pets

PUPPIES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Pure Bred Yellow Lab Puppies 5 males and 4 females

$100/puppy Call Ben 541-527-6087

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

SISTERS WHISKERS

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

500 Services

SMALL Engine REPAIR Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers

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

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

CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS

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

Junk removal, new home, garage & storage clean-out, construction, yard debris. You Call – We Haul! 541-719-8475

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

501 Computers & Communications

3 Sisters TeleNetworks, LLC

Audio/video, data networking, WIFI, security camera, alarms. CCB #191099 541-306-0729 UPLOADED EVERY TUESDAY! The Nugget Newspaper — C L A

502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

GORDON’S LAST TOUCH

Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY

Member Better Business Bureau

• Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon Since 1980 Call 541-549-3008

M & J CARPET CLEANING

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

504 Handyman

3 Sisters Handyman Services

20+ years experience No job too large or small. Snow removal services available.

Licensed, Bonded, and Insured Call Nate 907-748-4100 sistershandyman@gmail.com CCB# 253556

AlpenGlow Handyman Services

Small & Large Jobs (1hr–2wks) 20+ Years Experience CCB#180099 Call/Text: 541-728-8607

AlpenGlowHandymanServices.

com • Credit Cards Accepted

600 Tree Service & Forestry

• Wildfire Fuels reduction

• Debris Chipping/Mastication

• Forest Health Thinning

• Wildfire Cleanup & Restoration

• Tree Removal

Will Moore, 541-409-5404

ISA Certified Arborist

We are the experts you’ve been looking for!

LCB# 100129 & Oregon Professional Logger 71395048

TimberStandImprovement.net

Tree Removal & Pruning TRAQ Arborist/ CCB#190496 541-771-4825

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

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

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

601 Construction

SPURGE COCHRAN BUILDER, INC.

General Contractor Building Distinctive, Handcrafted Custom Homes, Additions, Remodels, Cabin Renovations Since ’74 A “Hands-On” Builder Keeping Your Project on Time & On Budget • CCB #96016 To speak to Spurge personally, call 541-815-0523

ROBINSON & OWEN

ROBINSON & OWEN

Heavy Construction, Inc.

Heavy Construction, Inc.

All your excavation needs

All your excavation needs

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

*General excavation

*General excavation

Custom Homes • Additions

Custom Homes • Additions

*Site Preparation

*Site Preparation

Pat Burke LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT

Residential Building Projects

Residential Building Projects

*Sub-Divisions

Serving Sisters area since 1976

Serving Sisters area since 1976

Strictly Quality

CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062

www.sistersfencecompany.com

*Road Building

Strictly Quality

CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764

*Sub-Divisions

*Road Building

*Sewer and Water Systems

*Sewer and Water Systems

All Landscaping Services

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

SHANE HALL: Case was deemed no longer prosecutable

*Underground Utilities

*Grading

CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764

John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com

John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

*Underground Utilities

*Grading

*Sand-Gravel-Rock

– 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

*Sand-Gravel-Rock

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CCB #124327

Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #124327

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

Factory Trained Technicians

CASCADIA DESIGN BUILD

Factory Trained Technicians

• CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

Remodel / Renovate / Repair

541-974-2282

541-549-1848

Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

Earthwood Timber

Full home remodel, little home fixes, and everything in between. cascadiadesignbuildllc.com 541-974-2282

– 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

STEVE'S HAULING

STEVE'S HAULING

541-549-1848

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwood Timber

• Recycled fir and pine beams

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

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

• Recycled fir and pine beams

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Sawmill/woodshop services ewdevcollc@gmail.com

Uncompromising quality. Local personal. You can trust me. projects: From new construction to those little you don't seem to get to. local subcontractors get it done right, fair, pain-free so you can make spouse happy.

Jared 503-949-9719

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

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

Residential & Commercial CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977

www.BANR.net

• Sawmill/woodshop services ewdevcollc@gmail.com

602 Plumbing & Electric

604 Heating & Cooling

602 Plumbing & Electric

Ridgeline Electric, LLC

Ridgeline Electric, LLC

Serving all of Central Oregon

Serving all of Central Oregon

• Residential • Commercial

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

• Industrial • Service 541-588-3088 • CCB #234821

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Service 541-588-3088 • CCB #234821

CONSTRUCTION

Continued from page 1

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

604 Heating & Cooling

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

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

Sisters, Oregon's

Commercial • Residential • Industrial • Remodels • Generators • Hot tubs/Saunas monteselectric@hotmail.com

701 Domestic Services

701 Domestic Services

monitoring in March 2023, pending retrial. Last September, the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the case, stating that due to “lack of available witnesses and evidence, prosecution is no longer possible.” Judge Beth M. Bagley issued a judgement of dismissal in October.

Sisters, Oregon's

Exclusive HVAC Service

Exclusive HVAC Service

Residential & Commercial Heating • Ductless Air Conditioning • Maintenance Installation • Repair 541-588-5667

Commercial • Residential • Industrial • Remodels • Generators • Hot tubs/Saunas monteselectric@hotmail.com

CCB#200030 • 541-480-9860

GEORGE’S — SEPTIC SERVICE

LOCAL CONSTRUCTION

SERVICES & HOME MAINT.

541-419-3148

SERVICES & HOME MAINT.

Remodels • Landscaping

Remodels • Landscaping

Firewise Maintenance & Much More!

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

Residential & Commercial

Heating • Ductless Air Conditioning • Maintenance Installation • Repair

SistersHeatingAir.com

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

541-588-5667

SistersHeatingAir.com

ACTION AIR

ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

CCB#200030 • 541-480-9860 — GEORGE’S — SEPTIC SERVICE 541-419-3148

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

Firewise Maintenance

Decks & Much More!

Co. Contracting

Deputy District Attorney Aaron Brenneman confirmed to The Nugget that his office had been unable to locate some witnesses, some people’s memories had faded after nearly two decades, and that some evidence from the case had been lost.

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

704 Events & Event Services

Heating & Cooling, LLC

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

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

CCB #195556 541-549-6464

605 Painting

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

SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

Pease Co. Contracting

Tanner at 541-588-0136. and small jobs!

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

CCB# 256258

“That’s what happens when you get a case returned that’s 20 years old,” he said. Brenneman confirmed that Hall is free, and no longer faces any legal jeopardy in the case.

Events & Event Services

CCB #195556 541-549-6464

605

~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~

SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling

CCB# 256258

Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks

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

“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling

• New Construction

• Water Heaters 541-549-4349

Construction LLC.

• New Construction

• Water Heaters 541-549-4349

Residential and Commercial

Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #87587

Residential and Commercial Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #87587

603 Excavation & Trucking

Full Service Excavation

Lara’s Construction LLC.

CCB#223701

CCB#223701

Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call

estimate 541-350-3218

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

Painting

CENTRAL OREGON'S GUN & KNIFE SHOW!

~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620

December 20 & 21, Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3 Deschutes County Expo Center

www.frontier-painting.com

Interior/Exterior Painting

RECYCLING:

New options available for some items

Continued from page 3

• Rigid product buckets and pails from items like cat litter or laundry detergent.

Interior/Exterior Painting

Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491

603 Excavation & Trucking Full Service Excavation

ADMISSION: General $10; Military/Vets $8; 2-day pass $16; Children under 12 are free. For info call 541-699-1585 OregonGunsandMoreShow.com

Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327

A great place for last minute Christmas shopping!

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491

EMPIRE PAINTING

CENTRAL OREGON'S GUN & KNIFE SHOW! December 20 & 21, Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3 Deschutes County Expo Center ADMISSION: General $10; Military/Vets $8; 2-day pass $16; Children under 12 are free. For info call 541-699-1585 OregonGunsandMoreShow.com A great place for last minute Christmas shopping!

999 Public Notice

EMPIRE PAINTING

Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining

Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining

BBR RFPD Meeting Date Change

Free On-site Visit & Estimate

CCB#180042 541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk

CCB#180042 541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

Free On-site Visit & Estimate

Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com

Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com

541-549-1472 • CCB #76888

Drainfield

Custom Homes

Additions - Remodels

541-549-1472 • CCB #76888

Drainfield

• Minor & Major Septic Repair

• Minor & Major Septic Repair

• All Septic Needs/Design & Install

Custom Homes

• All Septic Needs/Design & Install

General Excavation

Additions - Remodels

Residential Building Projects

• Site Preparation

Residential Building Projects

William Pierce 190689 • 541-647-0384

General Excavation

• Site Preparation

• Rock & Stump Removal

Becke William Pierce

CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384

Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com

• Rock & Stump Removal

• Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation

Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com

Sisters Since 2010 — Construction & Renovation Residential Projects Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448

— Serving Sisters Since 2010 —

The regularly scheduled board meeting for December has been canceled due to the holidays. Questions? Call (541) 595-2288

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

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

• Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation

• Building Demolition Trucking

• Building Demolition

Trucking

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

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

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

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

SUDOKU SOLUTION

for puzzle on page 30

• Rigid plastic package handles such as six-pack carriers.

Residents can drop off these items — along with all previously accepted recyclables — at the Negus, Southwest and Northwest Transfer Stations, and at Deschutes Recycling at the Knott Landfill.

“Residents now have additional recycling options for some of those hard-torecycle items and can drop them off at our county transfer stations for free,” said Solid Waste Director Tim Brownell. “These changes allow us to keep valuable materials out of our landfills and put them back into use as new materials.”

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

• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks,

• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

• The Whole 9 Yards or 24 Whatever You Want!

Construction & Renovation

Custom Residential Projects

• The Whole 9 Yards or 24 Whatever You Want!

HAVE A PROPERTY TO SELL?

All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448

Eastern Cascade Solutions

Eastern Cascade Solutions

Landscaping & Construction

HAVE A PROPERTY TO SELL?

Advertise it in The Nugget

Landscaping & Construction

www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195

Advertise it in The Nugget

www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

This expansion is part of Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA), which took effect in July. The RMA is making recycling simpler and adding more convenient drop-off locations across the state. Producers of packaging and paper products help fund these expanded programs. For more information about what items can be recycled, as well as dropoff locations and hours, visit the Deschutes County Solid Waste https://www.deschutes. org/solidwaste/page/ recycling-what-can-i-recycle.