The 47th season of the Sunriver Music Festival kicks-off on August 11 at the Tower Theatre Page 23
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SROA News ............. 4 Calendar ................ 13
Public Safety........... 38 Classified Ads ......... 47
Sunriver Airport has become a homebase for a aerial firefighting operations Page 40
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 2024
VOLUME XLVII • NUMBER 8
SROA Strategic Plan draft available for review, owner comment period
Sunriver recycling depot to officially sunset Oct. 31
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SUSAN BERGER PHOTO
Be ‘unlost’ in Sunriver; pathway kiosks to be replaced – thanks to a grant By Susan Berger, Sunriver Scene SROA NEWS – Thanks to a $74,148 grant from Visit Central Oregon in 2023, Sunriver’s 34 miles of pathways will soon be graced with new, modern wayfinding map kiosks. At more than 20 years old, Sunriver’s current wood kiosks have started to deteriorate under Sunriver’s harsh winters. Most of the maps encased inside the kiosk have not fared well either due to sun, snow or rain exposure. At close to seven feet tall, the kiosks also are far
from being user friendly and readable by a smaller child or adult, those in a wheelchair or anyone using other modes of adaptive transportation. The new kiosk structures are powdercoated metal that will frame a map panel made of heavy duty laminate to withstand any weather condition. The signs will be lower to the ground and positioned at a 30 degree angle for easier viewing. A newly designed map T K,
SROA NEWS – In August 2023, a task force was created to prepare a strategic plan that would guide the community for the next five to seven years. The draft plan was presented to the SROA board at their July meeting, has been accepted and is now available for owner review and comment. The task force, comprised of 33 members, included a diverse group of Sunriver owners and community partners to represent the broad spectrum of those who influence Sunriver on a daily basis. Members included resident and non-resident owners, owners with vacation rental homes, property managers and other area stakeholders such as Sunriver Resort, Village at Sunriver, the Sunriver Nature Center and the Sunriver Service District. To date, the task force has held 12 meetings to create the draft plan, which first included an update to SROA’s mission statement followed by the creation of four guiding prinT P,
Draft wildfire hazard map available for public comment By Oregon Department of Forestry Draft versions of the statewide wildfire hazard and wildland-urban interface maps are available on Oregon State University’s Wildfire Risk Explorer website (https://tinyurl.com/3f9tbwmj) for public review and comment. The comment period is open until Aug. 18. Within Sunriver proper, the map shows the community rated as “moderate” with the exception of a pocket in and around the Sunriver Airport and a small area in the north end of the community deemed as “hazardous.” The purpose of the wildfire hazard map is to:
• Educate Oregon residents and property owners about the level of hazard where they live. • Assist in prioritizing fire adaptation and mitigation resources for the most vulnerable locations. • Identify where defensible space standards and home hardening codes will apply. A series of open houses about the state’s new community wildfire risk reduction programs were held from June 3 to July 1 throughout Oregon. It was an opportunity to learn about wildfire hazard assessments, new defensible space and home hardening programs
and standards, insurance concerns, and statewide wildfire policy. "Defensible space around your home and property is just one of the ways Oregonians can be better prepared for wildfire," Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. "No matter where you live, the simple actions you take to limit where an ember can land and catch fire can make all the difference, saving your home and protecting your community." “Home hardening standards are extremely important because they help T W,
SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XLVII • NUMBER 8 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
SROA NEWS – The Sunriver Owners Association Board of Directors has officially decided to close Sunriver’s recycling depot, effective Oct. 31, 2024. Side-yard recycling for Sunriver residents began in January 2023, with Cascade Disposal providing pickup of comingled and glass recyclables at the home. Thanks to the side-yard pickup service, the tonnage of recyclables coming to the depot has reduced by 35%. Side-yard recycling is now included as part of the monthly bill for weekly trash service in Sunriver – whether an owner chooses to utilize the recycling pickup service or not. To date, Cascade Disposal reports approximately 85% of Sunriver properties are actively using trash service – either year-round or seasonally. Sunriver’s recycling depot has been a contentious topic of concern for years due to associated issues with its proximity to homes, noise, aesthetics, illegal trash dumping and the safety risks of those who use it. Located in SROA’s Public Works yard, there are added safety concerns with the public mixing with heavy equipment and other vehicles coming in and out of the yard. With the ongoing revamp of the Public Works campus, closing the center will allow other usage of the area. With the end of Sunriver’s depot, those who still wish to recycle, but don’t have room in their side yard enclosure, will need to use the Southwest Transfer Station north of La Pine (approximately eight miles south of Sunriver on Highway 97) or Knott Landfill in Bend (approximately 16 miles to the north on 27th Street off Knott Road). For more information about
PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213