Sunriver Airport becomes a summer support base for aerial firefighting Page 6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SROA News.................... 4 Calendar...................... 13
Public Safety................ 20 Classified Ads.............. 31
The highs and lows of Sunriver’s trumpeter swan story Page 10
S U N R I V E R
S C E N E A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
SEPTEMBER 2022
VOLUME XLV • NUMBER 9
By Susan Berger, Sunriver Scene SROA NEWS – The SROA board and staff have opted to table updating Sunriver’s Ladder Fuels Reduction (LFR) Plan, for now, to allow more time for staff to educate owners on the proposed changes. Although Sunriver’s LFR Plan has been in place since 1995, owners who commented during the 60day review of the updated version felt they needed additional time to learn about the updates and how the proposed changes will affect them and their property. The plan was last revised/updated in 2003. There was also some confusion on language related to “shall” and “should” throughout the document. “Many items were classified as ‘should’ to allow the owner to have the choice to perform a particular activity, such as removing conifer shrubs within the five-foot zone,” said Patti Gentiluomo, SROA Natural Resources Director. Sunriver’s LFR Plan details both forest management and wildfire risk reduction and reflects the National Cohesive Strategy by focusing on three key topics: • Creating fire-resilient landscapes that are able to recover quickly from fire related disturbances. • Being a fire-adapted community that acknowledges wildfire risk and implements actions so that people and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property. • Safe and effective wildfire response to protect firefighters, life and property. Some of the proposed LFR updates are to include and define the need for a zero- to five-foot immediate protection zone surrounding a home Turn to LFR, page 3
Changing of the
GUARD
SUSAN BERGER PHOTO
Retiring Sunriver Police Chief Cory Darling, center, will be succeeded by Lt. Mike Womer, left. Sgt. Stephen Lopez, right, has been promoted to lieutenant.
Sunriver Police Chief retires; new chief appointed by district board After four years at the Sunriver Police Department and more than 34 years in law enforcement, Chief Cory Darling officially retired at the end of August. “Being the chief of Sunriver was a great way to wrap up a career. I have accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish in Sunriver and now it’s time
to turn it over to the next generation of law enforcement executives,” said Darling. The Sunriver Service District (SSD) Board unanimously voted at the Aug. 18 meeting to appoint Lt. Mike Womer as the new police chief effective Sept. 1. Womer has more than 28 years of ex-
SROA hosts annual meeting
SROA NEWS – More than 50 Sunriver owners attended the 2022 SROA Annual Meeting held Aug. 20 at SHARC. Attendees were able to learn what the association has accomplished in the past year despite ongoing challenges related to the pandemic, such as supply chain issues, increased costs and staffing shortages. The 2022 board election was announced naming Linda Beard, Gerhard Beenen and Larry Ishmael to seats on the board through August 2025. There was also an overview of the past year’s financial health and upcoming projects, including telecommunications, updating SROA’s vision, improvements to the Public Works yard, Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Design Manual and Ladder Fuels Reduction Plan updates, IT Strategic Plan, a reserve study and a departmental operations analysis and class and compensation study. Owners unable to attend can view the meeting and download the meeting presentation at www.sunriverowners.org via a link from the homepage under the main buttons.
perience in law enforcement and began with the Sunriver Police Department in January 2014. He has worked his way through the chain of command as an officer, acting in capacity sergeant and, most recently, as lieutenant. “I have had the tremendous opportunity to be mentored by Chief Darling, who is an exceptional leader and friend,” said Womer. “I look forward to taking on the new challenges that come with the position of police chief. I am honored and humbled by this opportunity, and grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the SSD Board, community members and amazing officers of the Sunriver Police Department.” Womer joined the U.S. Navy in 1991 and spent most of his enlistment in the Naval Security Police and airport operations. He started his career at Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) in 1995. Some of his professional accomplishments and honors includes graduating from the FBI National Academy Turn to Chief, page 3 SUNRIVER SCENE SUNRIVER OWNERS ASSN. VOLUME XLV • NUMBER 9 P.O. BOX 3278 SUNRIVER, OR 97707
LFR Plan update on hold; town hall scheduled
PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BEND, OR PERMIT NO. 213