The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVIII No. 43 // 2025-10-22

The Nugget

News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

‘No Kings’ rally draws hundreds in Sisters

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Several hundred demonstrators lined Cascade Avenue in Sisters on Saturday morning, October 18, joining thousands across Central Oregon and millions nationwide in a “No Kings” protest against the policies and actions of the Trump Administration.

Chants of “This is what democracy looks like!” competed with the honking of car horns as passersby acknowledged the demonstration, most waving and shouting encouragement as they rolled through town. Signs protested aggressive ICE immigration enforcement action, decried what demonstrators believe is increasing authoritarianism, and proclaimed the “No Kings” message of the protest. There were many American flags in evidence, as several demonstrators explicitly refuted Republican Speaker of the House Mike

Johnson’s characterization of the demonstrations as “Hate America rallies.”

The mood of the estimated 800-plus crowd was exuberant. Some wore costumes in a reflection of the

Tariffs raise some City project costs

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

The City of Sisters is seeing local financial impacts of recent tariffs.

During a City Council workshop September 24, Northwest Housing Alternatives representative Clayton Crowhurst made a presentation and reported a “new twist” in the financing for the Trinity Place project in Sisters. He added that the summer closing date is not achievable; they are behind schedule.

The current estimated cost is about 22 percent more than the original 2022 budget. Construction costs have escalated up to 27 percent. Current cost stands at $19.5 million.

Crowhurst said, “The biggest financial bump is due to the tariffs.”

Crowhurst is now seeking an alternative funding solution to fill the financial gap and considering making municipal trade bond

offerings on the open market. He is also seeking to change the terms on the agreement with Deschutes County of $500,000 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds held by the City for this project, to extend the funding end date. In other news, the City’s the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) has awarded the Highway 20/Locust Landscaping Project to Rickabaugh Construction, not to exceed $248,477.73. The planning diagrams (66 pages of them) will include soil amending, decorative boulder placement, rock mulch, planting, and irrigation improvements. The work extends from the roundabout in all four directions for 100 feet or more (about 500 feet to the southeast). Due to some financial impacts (tariffs increased product prices, wages are up, etc.) the budget is 30 percent over the projected URA allotted budget of $175,000. Capital Projects

See

street theater that has become a popular means of protesting, particularly around the ICE facility in Portland.

The crowd was overwhelmingly local, with some traveling from other cities

in the region to participate. Many had participated in a previous “No Kings” rally in June, but others were attending their first-ever rally. One

Recall petition withdrawn

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

The chief petitioner in an effort to recall Mayor Jennifer Letz and City Council President Sarah McDougall has withdrawn the petition. In paperwork received by the City of Sisters on October 20, chief petitioner Frank Claxton stated that he is moving outside the city limits of Sisters, which would disqualify him as a petitioner.

In an email, Assistant City Manager Kerry Prosser stated that, “I have forwarded it to both the State and County and at this time I consider the recall officially withdrawn.”

The recall effort, which had not gathered any of the

See RECALL on page 10

Naomi Bailey named Sisters Rodeo queen

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

The only thing brighter than the sun Friday morning at the rodeo grounds were the smiles on the faces of the six contestants trying out to be next year’s Sisters Rodeo Queen. The honor fell to Naomi Bailey, a poised and accomplished equestrian. She’s already rodeo

royalty serving as the 2025 Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo Queen.

Bailey is the 21-year-old daughter of Timothy Bailey and Wendy Wente. She is originally from Newberg but splits her time in Corvallis where she attends Oregon State University. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology, with an emphasis in pre-veterinary medicine and

hopes to attend OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Her riding career spans as far back as her elementary school days when she began riding in the English discipline. She has dabbled in nearly every equestrian sport, and enjoys promoting the equestrian, agricultural, and western community.

See QUEEN on page 18

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.

Affordable housing

To the Editor:

As the City of Sisters finalizes its Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion, it faces a crucial question: are we dedicated to creating affordable housing, or just talking about it?

We represent Sisters Opportunities for Unified Living (SOUL), a nonprofit working to build long-term, affordable housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)—people who live and work in Sisters but are being pushed out due to lack of housing options.

SOUL has the plans, partners, and community support. What we haven’t had is land.

That changed when McKenzie Meadow Village (MMV) offered to donate a half-acre parcel to SOUL for one dollar — if their property is brought into the UGB. This gift would finally allow us to move forward, unlocking funding and allowing us to build homes for residents with IDD to live independently in their hometown.

But “affordable” housing isn’t just for lowincome individuals. Our schools are struggling to hire and retain teachers and staff because they can’t afford to live here. Businesses can’t find reliable local employees. This crisis

touches everyone.

Some have asked, “Why MMV? Can’t affordable housing be built elsewhere in the proposed expansion?” Good question. We’ll work with anyone who will sell or donate property to us. But the reality is: most of the proposed parcels are small and constrained by HOA rules or existing structures.

Affordable housing requires scale — room for both market-rate and affordable units to make projects pencil out. MMV has a plan, and another major advantage: it’s shovelready. They can start building now.

MMV is offering a real solution. It bakes affordability and inclusion into the plan. If anyone else has an actual plan, let’s hear it so the city can make the right call for the next 20 years: housing that’s truly affordable, for people who already live and work here.

Tina Mensing, President; Rebecca Smith, Vice President; Julia Huni, Secretary; Jennifer Heiden Smith, Treasurer; Cole Gonzales, Member at Large Sisters Opportunities for Unified Living (SOUL) s s s

See LETTERS on page 17

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC

www.nuggetnews.com | 541-549-9941

442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Nugget Newspaper, PO Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759. 3rd Class Postage Paid at Sisters, OR.

The Nugget is available to pick up free at The Nugget office and at businesses throughout Sisters and Tumalo; mail subscriptions are available in the 97759, 97756, 97730, and 97703 zip codes for $55/year; subscriptions outside these zip codes: $70/year, $45/six months (or less).

Editor in Chief & Co-owner: Jim Cornelius, editor@nuggetnews.com

Graphic Design, Billing: Leith Easterling, accounting@nuggetnews.com

Creative Director: Jess Draper, jess@nuggetnews.com

Community Marketing Partner: Kimberly Young, ads@nuggetnews.com

Classifieds, Circulation: Wendy Bachmeier, nugget@nuggetnews.com

Proofreading: Kema Clark

Co-owner: J. Louis Mullen

The deep, dark woods

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Many years ago, when my daughter Ceili was a young girl, we went for a hike in the woods between Zimmerman Butte and Indian Ford Creek. It was a gloomy day, and very suddenly a dense fog rolled in, enveloping the trees in a white gauze that shrunk visibility to a few yards.

We’ve all seen eerie, misty days in Sisters, but it is rare for a fog like that to roll in in the afternoon. Soon, it was very hard to discern direction. Sound was strangely muffled, and the trees took on an eerie cast, their black trunks looming starkly in the white, smoky, shifting mist. Ceili trusted her dad, but I could tell that she was getting nervous. I assured her that we could find our way back to the truck, and that we were fine even if we had to hunker down and wait the phenomenon out. I never go out into the woods unprepared to get stuck there. Still, it was an uncertain, uncomfortable feeling, one that can’t help but stir the nigglings of primordial dread. We humans do not like being lost in the deep, dark woods.

We made it back to the truck and crawled out of the forest to a warm fire, some cocoa, and a Harry Potter movie. All was well, and now it’s just a story.

I got to thinking about that episode in a conversation with a reader of my Frontier Partisans blog. I’ve been posting bits of folklore through the spooky season, and we got to talking about the way our Puritan forebears viewed the forest wilderness they encountered when they arrived in what would become New England in the 1620s. William Bradford wrote in “Of Plimoth Plantation”: “What could they see but a hideous & desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts & wild men? And what

multitudes there might be of them they knew not.”

The Puritans saw the forest wilderness as the natural abode of the Devil — and the Devil was no mere metaphor to them. They carried the common European belief that it was their duty to tame the wilderness, to rationalize and cultivate where only wild nature grew — to conquer nature or risk being conquered by it.

My correspondent, who grew up in New England, noted that the Puritans may have feared the forest, but the fear certainly wasn’t paralyzing. They went out into it to build their towns, and to engage in the fur trade — and especially hardy folk ventured into the Great North Woods of Maine.

We have a dichotomous relation with the deep, dark woods. We who have made Sisters our home tend to see the forest as a place of adventure and joy — but we also carry an ancient trepidation somewhere deep within. Folklorist Mary Hays notes, “The idea of being lost in the forest touches something ancient in our psyches, a cluster of buried memories and associations that runs through our dreams and exists, at best, as a low murmur in our consciousness. These are things that we know, even if we don’t know that we know. As heirs to the history of the human race, we carry them with us wherever we go, like it or not.”

The autumn season — with its descending darkness and mournful, soughing wind, and the associations of Halloween — is a great time to get out into the deep, dark woods and experience not only a sense of adventure and joy, but maybe a little tingle of that awe and trepidation that comes with touching something deep and ancient within our spirit... and that of the trees that watch us.

Sisters Weather Forecast

COMMUNITY

Student creates artwork for USFS

By Olivia Nieto Correspondent

Olive Morris, a former Sisters High School student, was asked to collaborate with the Sisters Ranger District to create artwork for their new ranger station.

“We really wanted to have something that was symbolic of the district and region in the new lobby,” said Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid.

As the construction for the new building was underway, discussions of special visual additions began. During a regular meeting with the Sisters Vision Implementation Team, Superintendent Curt Scholl introduced the idea of integrating student involvement.

“Ian Reid reached out to me and asked if I had any students who would be willing to work on a project for the station, so I checked in with Olive Morris who had an independent study and it

all worked out,” said Bethany Gunnarson, Sisters High School art teacher.

“When I first heard about it I thought it would be a lot of work but then I started to get really excited about it. I initially started on a medium canvas before switching onto a larger one,” describes Morris.

Morris, who is now attending Ridgeview High School, has had a passion for art from a young age, and took this opportunity to experiment with developing contracted art.

“I like doing different graffiti sketches as a hobby, but I got into landscapes last year, and have loved doing them ever since,” said Morris. She did some experimentation with different focal points and media before settling on her final product.

“Talking with Ian Reid gave me the idea to paint the Three Sisters across three canvases. I really tried to

collage my favorite parts of Central Oregon together but it was a lot of trial and error,” said Morris.

Morris also used inspiration from other artists to jumpstart her creativity, visiting the Mockingbird Gallery to analyze artists such as Tom Browning and Kevin Courter.

“These two artists had such stunning styles so I took home two huge pamphlets of their art to look over and figure out how they painted the snow, light, and trees,” said Morris.

The project spanned over four months, beginning in early May and wrapping up around September. Morris said that she loves the way it turned out but it was difficult looking at it from afar after having spent so long focusing on the details.

“I think it turned out better than I could have ever imagined,” Reid said. “One

Sisters gets spooky

Sisters has plenty of spooky fun on tap for Halloween — from a candy crawl to a haunted house to costumed dance parties at local venues.

The Slow Down State is kicking things off on Friday, October 24, with a Punk n’ Treat youth fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. An upbeat night of punk and pop for teens and adults, dancing to the tunes of vinyl DJ Josh Lewellen. There will be pizza and beverages on hand. The goal for the night is to raise over $1,000 to provide gifts, toys, and essentials for local kids in need. The Slow Down State is located at 192 E. Main Ave.

Sisters Business Association is facilitating

trick-or-treating through downtown Sisters at 3:30 p.m. Kids can visit participating businesses to collect candy and show off their Halloween costumes. Chaperones are encouraged and volunteers will offer crosswalk assistance for safety. Participants can head over to Sisters Village Green for Sisters Park & Recreation District’s Trunk-or-Treat event, featuring decorated stations (vehicle trunks) throughout the park with holiday activities, and eerie music. Attendees are encouraged to bring a canned food donation.

Spooks, goblins, and kids are invited to a howling good

STARS celebrates volunteers at The Hub

The Hub, C4C’s new working and event space was filled to capacity earlier this month as Sisters Transportation and Rideshare (STARS) gathered to celebrate the heart of its organization — the volunteers. The celebration, catered by Luckey’s Woodman, offered great food, drinks, and a lively opportunity for STARS volunteers to connect in person.

Because STARS operates entirely remotely, dispatchers and drivers rarely meet face-to-face. The event gave

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

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

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.

Ci tizens4Communit y C ommunity

Builders meeting, 3rd Wednesday of ever y mont h, 10 to 11:30 a.m. V isit citizens 4c ommunity.c om for loc ation.

Council on Aging of 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 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 813 8 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:3 0 p.m., Pine Meadow Village Clubhouse, 596 W Jef ferson Ave. 541-241- 6563

them a chance to put faces to familiar voices and to meet many of the supporters who help ensure that STARS continues to provide sustainable transportation services in the Sisters community.

Guest speaker Scott Crabtree, chief happiness officer at Happy Brain Science, shared insights on the health and well-being benefits of social connection. His presentation, Building Belonging, co-developed with Carlos Salcedo, St.

SCHOOLS

Black

Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m

CIT Y & PARKS

Sisters

Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of

FIRE & POLICE

Black

City ponders future of recycling

Citizens can tell the City of Sisters (City) what they want to happen regarding waste removal, and the future of Sisters Recycling Center (SRC).

During the City Council workshop of September 24, Republic Services presented waste alternatives including recycling statistics for consideration. City Council reviewed a chart of seven options from keeping the SRC as is and increasing residential monthly expense by $2.66, another keeps the SRC and adds residential curbside glass pickup services once per month — an increase of $6.66 per month, to just closing the SRC with no change to monthly fees.

Council asked Republic Services to work with the City of Sisters to create a survey on the recycling options for the public’s consideration and input. The survey of about a dozen questions has been made public and is available at https:// lp.constantcontactpages. com/sv/MRPsNA6/ sistersrecycling.

For those wanting background before taking the survey, see the packet of the September 24 workshop on the City website under the homepage tab Agenda and Minutes, recent meetings.

The Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) found at https:// www.oregon.gov/deq/ recycling, requires producers of residential and commercial packaging, printing and writing paper, and food serviceware (covered products) to join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) and pay fees to the PRO to fund the end-of-life management of covered products, which includes processing and recycling.

The Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is the

nonprofit PRO for Oregon and other states. CAA administers the statewide program for covered products and assures the fees paid fund recycling improvements across Oregon communities. The CAA thus funds the costs associated with adding and managing covered products to existing depots, to pay for trucks, added carts, etc.

All PRO funding for July 2025 through December 2027, has been prioritized following RMA rule guidelines. Requests have been categorized according to six priority groups. The City of Sisters is listed as qualified to expand the SRC or add curbside recycling, under priority groups B and D. For Priority B, Sisters would qualify for a maximum of $5,357 and for priority D, the funding is $687,280 with a portion paid in 2026 and the remainder in 2027.

Priority group D is, “Local governments with populations less than 4,000, according to the Portland State University (PSU) Population Research Center’s most recent Population Estimate Report, or such other estimate approved by DEQ.”

Per PSU, the City of Sisters’(City) 2024 population estimate is 3,738 — a 22 percent increase over the 2020 census. That is an average of 5.5 percent annual population growth as of July 2024. Using that average over the next two years, by July 2026 the population of the City will be 4,159.

Another applicable but not “hard” requirement relates to location of collection points: “at least one collection point for covered products in cities with populations of at least 8,000 in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, and in cities with populations of at least 4,000 in all other counties.” This requirement is negotiable.

First responders slated for disaster drill

Sisters and Black Butte Ranch fire department personnel will participate in a major exercise simulating an aircraft incident at Redmond Airport this week.

Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) and Redmond Fire & Rescue will conduct a full-scale emergency response disaster training drill Thursday, October 23, beginning at 8:30 a.m., as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Several emergency response vehicles and personnel will be onsite RDM officials assure travelers the exercise will not impact commercial flight operations.

The FAA requires airports to conduct realistic commercial passenger aircraft disaster training drills once every three years. Approximately 75 participants will act as passengers with a wide variety of challenges including triage of realistic mock injuries, transportation of the injured, identification and reunification of passengers with their family.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Deputy Fire Chief Tim Craig, who has participated in the drill in the past, told The Nugget that it is an exceptionally good and valuable exercise.

RDM and Redmond Fire & Rescue have coordinated with multiple regional partners to practice, learn and prepare together including: Black Butte Ranch Fire Department, Bend Fire Department, Sisters–Camp Sherman Fire District, Crook County Fire and EMS, Sunriver Fire Department, Crooked River Ranch Fire and Rescue, St. Charles Health System, Deschutes County Health Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office including Search and Rescue (SAR), Oregon Health Authority, Life Flight, Air Link, The American Red Cross, Hillsboro Aero Academy’s Ascend Flight

Student program, and local air carriers and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) representatives that serve RDM.

“Redmond Fire & Rescue personnel train year-round to ensure we respond with precision and professionalism,” said Fire Chief Ryan Herrera.

“Participating in full-scale disaster exercises like this is vital for maintaining the readiness and coordination

of all emergency response stakeholders. This exercise provides an opportunity for Redmond Fire & Rescue and the Redmond Municipal Airport to refine procedures and strengthen collaboration with public safety agencies, hospitals, and other support partners.”

The airport will be open during the disaster drill exercise. Flight operations will not be impacted by the drill.

SAA’s 4th Friday Artwalk echoes fall color

By Helen Schmidling Correspondent

The Sisters Arts Association’s October Artwalk takes place the Friday before Halloween, so be prepared for lots of treats as you visit the Galleries and ArtWalls of Sisters.

Galleries will be open all days, and featured artists and light refreshments served between 4 and 6 or 7 p.m.

The Campbell Gallery will be open and welcoming visitors to view the artwork of Sheila Dunn. Known for her large-scale oil paintings, Sheila is dedicated to activism, channeling her art to support various conservation and social justice causes. Her contributions benefit organizations such as the Conservation Alliance, Wild Salmon Center, and the ACLU.

Central Oregon landscapes in acrylics, and the studio features both originals and prints. There is a new stock of jewelry by Derive, including originally designed sterling silver earrings and necklaces.

Hood Avenue Art features the work of Vivian Olsen and K.C. Snyder. Vivian is a professional wildlife artist and illustrator who’s also worked

as a high school art teacher. She recently published a children’s book, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” that is filled with colorful paintings of animals and fun stories about behaving badly. K.C. has also been an illustrator of children’s books for Guardian Angel Publishing. Her Western paintings portray American bison.

Makin’ it Local partners with the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank for the gallery’s annual Feed Sisters Food Drive. With demand for food assistance in Sisters more than doubling since 2021, community donations are vital. Drop off nonperishable items at Makin’ it Local during store hours or bring them to special events Fourth Friday Art Walk and Halloween Food Drive. Donors will be entered to win prizes, and raffle proceeds benefit the Sisters Kiwanis Foundation.

Sisters Gallery & Frame features the popular paintings of Brad Earl and fall’s finest colors by Randall Tillery.

Brad’s gallery, Flying Horse, closed last month so the gallery welcomes him back as a featured artist with original acrylic paintings featuring classic typewriters, vehicles, architecture, and quirky salmon. Randall’s golden fall foliage warms the walls with aspens and landscapes in oil and acrylic.

Stitchin’ Post features “A Stitching Showcase,” curated fiber arts by Linda Weick, Jean Wells, Tonye Phillips and Sheryl S. Rudolph. These women gather regularly for social time and creative stitching of all kinds, learning from each other and weaving the group together.

Toriizaka Art presents a Fall Spectacular, a collection of beautiful fall colors by many of the gallery artists. The entry and several walls are curated to highlight colorful landscapes. Sip and nibble while enjoying the warmth of the gallery.

Wildflower Studio features the work of Bill Hamilton and Derive Jewelry. Bill paints

The Rickards Gallery is spotlighting the baskets and gourd art of Leslee Burtt and Chris Warren. They are known for their intricate pieces that blend natural materials like seagrass, reed, and cedar bark into the weaving. They also work with hard-shell gourds which are dyed, pine needled, and finished with semi-precious stones.

Be sure to visit SAA’s Art Walls at businesses that feature local art monthly. The Hub has original acrylics and watercolors by Sisters High School art instructor Bethany Gunnerson and artful collages by poet and artist Beth Eckert. Megan Nielsen of Canyon and Cove shows her whimsical animals in nature at Fika. Sisters Bakery is featuring

Gloria Enchanted, who is presenting themed art for the holiday season. The Barn is showing original paintings by Sheila Dunn, this year’s Sisters Folk Festival Poster Artist.

Sisters Arts Association welcomes artists who want to support the arts in Sisters and be part of our thriving creative community. New artist memberships beginning or renewing in October will be good through 2026. SAA also welcomes tax deductible donations from supporters who appreciate the value that the arts add to the culture of our community.

Sisters ranch offers views, beverages — and sense of community

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

John and Renee Herman think of the Lazy Z Ranch as Sisters’ front yard — and they are inviting the community to come out and enjoy it.

The couple purchased a parcel of the legendary ranch that lies on the eastern edge of town in 2020 with an eye toward engaging in regenerative farming and building a sense of community. A long and winding path brought them to Sisters — and there was a steep climb to get to where they are today — opening Lazy Z Ranch Wines to share with the public.

John Herman grew up in a farming family.

“I spent my formative years farming traditionally in Northern California in Modoc County, Alturas,” he recalled. “Cattle and hay.”

He did not like it. Farming,

he believed then, was not for him. He thought of himself as a misplaced city guy.

“I wanted to be where people were,” he said. “I cared about people.”

He earned a degree in philosophy from Point Loma Nazarene University. He worked as a youth pastor for a time, and ran a shelter in Seattle, “trying to connect community there.” Along the way he married his wife Renee, who is a marriage and family therapist. She also comes from a farming background, in Washington. John worked for nine years as a high school math teacher.

In all that time living in cities, connected with people, Herman realized that he still felt disconnected. He craved a connection with the sources of the food and material goods he consumed. He and Renee wanted to go back to farming — but not in the

traditional manner.

“We started looking for a place where we could raise our family, and create a healthy system of some kind,” he told The Nugget . “We started to look for property to do farming of some kind. We knew it wasn’t going to be traditional farming.”

They found themselves powerfully drawn to Sisters — for the mountains, the scale of the community, the strong schools for their children. The 84-acres of the Lazy Z Ranch were the right fit.

“We wanted to be here, but we just didn’t think we could afford it,” he said. “We took a leap that was very scary. We wanted to do something that was close to a town — and that was really hard to find… We got really lucky — that’s how it happened.”

The Hermans’ approach to farming — and everything else in life — orbits around the concept of regeneration. The term “regenerative” is often used around agriculture, but Herman believes it applies to just about everything — the concept being to leave everything better than you found it.

Herman got involved in

the Sisters community, and began to set about determining what their farm would be.

“I met with as many local farmers as I could right out the gate,” he said.

Herman describes the farm as a “triple bottom line business.” Success is defined through three elements: ecology, community, economy. He settled upon hay and honey bees as initial crops. Beef cattle will become part of the operation soon. The honey bees are key to hitting

all three elements of success — in more ways than one.

“Honey bees harvest nectar off the top of a system of abundance,” Herman said.

“The more healthy that biodiverse system is, the more honey you’re going to get; the better honey you’re going to get.”

Herman began selling honey, and honey bees. Then, another opportunity hit him, when he read an article that

Couple operates with regenerative principles

Continued from page 6

extolled the rise of mead as a favored fermented beverage. Perhaps there was an opportunity there…

“I had been home brewing — mostly beer — for my entire adult life, so I knew [the] fermentation world,” he said. “It was a tool in the tool box.”

Nobody in Central Oregon was crafting mead.

“Would people drink that?” he thought. “Would people want that? Is that a viable business? I don’t know. Are people going to keep thinking I’m saying ‘meat’?”

Mead is humankind’s oldest fermented beverage — but it is not well known in modern times as a commercial beverage. It is made from fermented honey; another name for it is “honey wine.” Herman has taken to calling it “ranch wine.”

The Hermans began crafting “ranch wine,” and it has become a key part of their operation.

“The money we’re making off of our wine is floating the rest of the regenerative ag practices we do, which hopefully leave our land better and better and make it more productive for the long haul,” he said.

After an arduous — and sometimes excruciating — land-use process that took several years to grind through, Lazy Z Ranch Wines’ “meadery” or tasting room is now open, right off Highway 20. The room is simply, but beautifully appointed with a gorgeous locally crafted wood bar, and expansive windows that take full advantage of the spectacular view of the Three Sisters. There are outdoor picnic tables available, and Herman emphasizes that the farm is “picnic friendly.”

They offer charcuterie and other food options, and while the emphasis is naturally on Lazy Z Ranch Wines, there is a variety of beverage types available — other wines, beer, kombucha, and lemonade made with Oregon honey.

The Hermans have designated the hours of 3 p.m. to sunset as an opportunity to “sip and sketch,” inviting artists to avail themselves of the view shed to create.

They can do up to 10 events a year, and several ideas are in the concept stage. Herman plans to host a food truck, and live music. He hopes to see the tasting room become a community gathering place.

“We have been blessed with this very historic piece of Sisters lore — the Lazy Z Ranch out here,” he said. “How can we make this part of the greater Sisters story

again? … This is our best attempt at it.

“We really care that people in Sisters view this as coming out to their front yard and enjoying this beautiful view they have in the front yard with their friends, with their family — and a good beverage made with local farm ingredients.”

Lazy Z Ranch Wines is located at 68540 Highway 20.

For more information visit www.lazyzranch.com.

Clearwater Classic brought tough opponents

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Sisters High School Outlaws volleyball team (3A) tested themselves against some of the best in the state at the Clearwater Classic on Saturday, October 18, facing off against powerhouse 5A and 6A programs and holding their own throughout the day.

In pool play, the Outlaws fell 17-25, 14-25 in their opener against Sheldon, then split with West Salem 25-21, 17-25. They closed pool play with a hard-fought 19-25, 20-25 loss to Caldera.

Sisters advanced to bracket play where they faced West Linn in the opening round. The Outlaws dropped the match 11-25, 17-25, but showed resilience and energy, particularly in the second set.

In the second set, Paityn Cotner put Sisters on the board with a setter dump to make it 1-2, and Shanitah Few followed with a big kill from the middle to bring it to 2-3. Alli Fogerty stepped to the line and delivered a three-point serving run, including one ace, to push the Outlaws ahead 6-4.

Malia Hernandez came up with two huge saves to give Sisters an 8-6 edge. Paityn Cotner later added another setter dump to close the gap to 9-11, and Hernandez tooled the block for a kill to make it 10-14. Paityn Cotner’s five-point serving run, highlighted by three consecutive aces, pulled the Outlaws to 16-20 before a kill from Audrey Sybesma notched their final point of the match.

Despite the loss, the Outlaws showed heart and execution against top-tier competition. Hernandez led the offense for the day with 17 kills, followed by

Sybesma with 13, Maici Cotner with 12, and Few with 11. On defense, Fogerty anchored the back row with 34 digs, while Hernandez added 25, and Maici Cotner tallied 22. Sybesma also recorded four blocks.

From the service line, Paityn Cotner racked up five aces, and she also dished out 54 assists, while Fogerty added four aces of her own.

Assistant Coach Mailee Utu praised the team’s effort, saying, “Paityn did incredibly well today. She was having to run around a ton, but was doing a great job putting up solid, hittable balls. Malia also played very well. She was our most efficient and effective hitter today by far, and defensively she picked up so much too!”

Head Coach Mahryahna Callegari added, “While today wasn’t the result we had hoped for, I think there was a lot to learn from. Teams can learn a lot from losing, and this is one of the most competitive tournaments in the state. Everyone who goes is 5A or 6A (except for 3A Sisters) so it was really neat to see our team hanging in some of these games with top-10 ranked teams.”

Outlaws fall to Pleasant Hill

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Sisters Outlaws fought hard, but came up just short in a rough 18-14 loss on the road at Pleasant Hill (PH) on Friday, October 17.

Pleasant Hill struck first, and put six points on the scoreboard in the opening quarter to take a 6-0 lead. The Billies added another TD in the second quarter to jump to a 12-0 advantage.

Sisters answered in the second quarter with a wellexecuted drive. The series began with a two-yard swing pass from quarterback Hunter Bronson to Spencer Davis on the left side. After a short loss on second down, Bronson connected with Davis again, this time hitting him in stride down the middle for a 58-yard gain to the Billies’ 14-yard line.

Ethan Eby followed with a five-yard run, and on second down Atom Fetteroff was met at the line for no gain. On third down, Bronson looked to Ace Chew on a slant route, but the play was broken up, setting up fourth-and-five from the nine-yard line.

After PH called a timeout to adjust its defense, the Outlaws capitalized. Bronson hit Eby on a swing pass to the right, and Eby powered through a defender to cross the goal line. Joseph Derksen

converted the PAT, and Sisters entered the half down 7-12.

The Billies extended their lead with another TD in the third quarter to go up 18-7 and held that margin throughout the frame.

Sisters rallied in the fourth. The Outlaws came up big and forced the Billies to punt deep from their own red zone, which set up the Outlaws’ offense at midfield. Eby opened the drive with a strong 15-yard run to the right before being pushed out of bounds at the 35. On the next play, Jace Owens took an end-around pass up the left side for a 17-yard gain, moving the Outlaws into the red zone.

Eby followed with a three-yard carry, and after an incomplete pass the Outlaws faced third and long. Bronson then connected with Chew on an outside screen and Chew raced 14 yards to the oneyard line to set up first-andgoal. Bronson finished the drive himself, running it in from one yard out. Derksen’s PAT narrowed the gap to 14-18.

The Outlaws defense continued to fight. After an interception by Owens, Sisters had another chance at the go-ahead score. But

the Billies’ defense held strong, stopping the Outlaws on a fourth-and-two run and running down the clock to secure the win.

Bronson finished 11-19 for 115 yards and one TD, and added 42 yards on nine carries. Eby had two receptions for 19 yards and a TD, and rushed 13 times for 72 yards. Davis caught four passes for 28 yards.

On defense, Owens led the team with seven tackles and one interception, Eby, Fetteroff, and Sean Moffet recorded five tackles each, and Tyler Johnson and Davis added two each.

Coach Hayden Hudson said, “This was a tough game to lose. The boys played great all night, but when you go back you can pick out five plays that made the difference in the game. After the game you could see the disappointment in their eyes after all the hard work they put in this week and the effort they put forward on the field. Both sides of the ball, offense and defense, played physical and fast and we had two great opportunities to score, but just couldn’t convert when needed.”

The Outlaws will travel to La Pine on Friday, October 24.

Outlaws remain in playoff contention in girls’ soccer

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Lady Outlaws soccer matchup against Central Linn (CL) at home on Tuesday, October 14, was a wet and wild thriller that ended in a 1-1 tie — a score that didn’t reflect the number of chances both teams created throughout the contest. On the road at Siuslaw two days later the Outlaws recorded a 4-2 victory, which bumped them up in the state rankings and kept them in playoff contention.

In Tuesday’s action, Sisters struck first 20 minutes into the match when Mia Rosas stunned the Central Linn defense with a quick shot from just outside the 18-yard box. Her low, skidding strike was to the right, and as the keeper dove to save the shot it slid right underneath her chest into the back of the net, giving the Outlaws an early 1-0 advantage.

The Outlaws continued to press and created multiple opportunities to extend their lead, as did CL, but neither team could capitalize.

Sisters 1-0 lead held firm until the second half. In the 50th minute a CL player broke through the middle and placed a well-timed shot into the net to even the score 1-1.

Both teams continued to create dangerous chances, but footing proved to be a challenge.

“The chances weren’t because of lack of defense,” said Coach Ken Polachek.

“Players just couldn’t plant and trust their cleats. There had been a lot of rain leading up to the game and the root structure of the grass wasn’t holding, and there were slips, slides, and twisted ankles on both sides.”

Despite the conditions, the Outlaws remained composed and disciplined.

“The team showed up to play!” said Polachek. “They marked CL’s threats to the point that they completely shut down and subbed themselves out, or just got so physical that they got calls against themselves every time they touched the ball. All the while, we stayed calm, stuck to our game plan, and continued to push when we had opportunity.”

Goalkeeper Kennedy Davis came up big with multiple saves, including several on the goal line, and she even rushed out on several occasions to act as a last line of defense.

Polachek said, “The defense is playing more and more as a unit, the back line continues to show strong development, while the midfielders and forwards are starting to shine. As a team we should be ranked much higher in the OSAA rankings.”

The Outlaws turned their attention to their road match against Siuslaw. They fell in the first round to the Vikings and are looking for redemption. “They’ve got a different mindset this time around,” said Polachek. “We’re not giving them any leeway

— even though we have to travel. It took a little while, but like cream, we are rising to the top.”

And two days later, the Outlaws did get redemption, and recorded a win at Siuslaw, but it came after shaking off what Polachek described as ‘the most melancholy first-half game of his 45-year career.’

Sisters arrived in plenty of time for a solid warmup and appeared ready to play when the whistle blew, but the energy quickly faded. “Sisters stood and watched passes roll by and communication seemed to die to a whisper,” said Polachek. “This is a game that will go down in the record books for what is and will always be the most melancholy first-half game that I have ever seen, played, or even coached.”

The Outlaws fell behind early after a defensive miscommunication allowed the Vikings to slip in a welltimed shot at the 26-minute mark. Nona Smith gave the Outlaws a spark when she used her speed to break behind the Vikings’ defense and tuck the ball past the keeper to even the score at 1-1.

Four minutes later, Siuslaw regained the lead on a goal that rolled through a crowd and into the back of the net. But Smith responded again seven minutes before halftime, once more beating her defender and sliding the ball just out of the keeper’s reach to tie the game 2-2.

Polachek said halftime was quiet but constructive.

“It was sparse and limited, but still positive,” he noted.

Team captain Rylie Bick provided the turning point when she asked her teammates, “Why are we playing down to their level?”

“That one sentence seemed to be the spark the players needed,” Polachek said. “The mood, excitement, and intensity changed almost immediately.”

The Outlaws came out firing in the second half and dominated play. Their pace and precision overwhelmed Siuslaw, forcing mistakes and constant substitutions from the Vikings in an effort to keep up.

Zoee Bafford broke the tie in the 55th minute with a well-played shot, and Maddie Kirkpatrick followed five minutes later, beating her defender down the right side and scoring on a tightangle strike that found the far post.

Siuslaw tried to battle back with physical play and constant communication, but Sisters held strong to secure the win.

Polachek praised his players’ resilience and second half energy. “The pace, touch, and overall play overwhelmed Siuslaw,” he said. “It was a completely different team out there.”

The Outlaws will face two key opponents, traveling to Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, October 21, and wrapping up league play at Creswell on Thursday.

COMMUNIT Y ANNOUNCEMENTS

SISTERS LIBRARY EVENTS

Fa mily S to ry T im e

Wednesday, October 2 2, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Sis ters

Librar y Communit y Room. Interactive s tor y time with books, songs, and rhymes! 0 to 5 years

Gr ie ving a nd He al in g in N at ur e Wednesday, October 2 2, Noon to 1 p.m. Sis ters

Librar y Communit y Room. Hear about the redemptive and healing powers of the outdoors

Pu mp kinl icio us

Tr ic ks & Tr eat s Wednesday, October 2 2, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sis ters

Librar y. Treat yourself to creepy science, carnival games, and pumpkin art

Fa mily S to ry T im e

Wednesday, October 29, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Sis ters

Librar y Communit y Room. Interactive s tor y time with books, songs, and rhymes! 0 to 5 years

B.U.R.S.T.

Thursday, October 30, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sis ters Library - Communit y Room. Sensory development and e arly literacy skills through games and play!

Honey Bees & Brews

Please join us for our monthly social gathering at our new location, L az y Z Ranch, on Thursday, October 23 at 5 p.m

All beekeepers and wanabees welcome. Contac t Clyde for more info at 4 58-206- 8470

Fre e Weekly

Meal Ser vice

Family Kitchen hos t s a weekly to -go hot meal on Tuesdays, 4:3 0 to 5:3 0 p.m., at Sis ters Communit y Church, 130 0 W McKenzie Hwy For more information visit www.FamilyKitchen.org.

Aging In Your Own Home: Stay Independent L onger

October 24, 11 a.m., Sis ters

Librar y. There are many s tages to a ging, and for many people, remaining in their own home is their goal. Join us as we discuss the following, so you can char t a clear p ath ahead: Medication management tools, transitions, home c are, home health, Hospice. Tools for aging seniors isn’t one -sizefit s all, and there are amazing tools and resources available to you to help you along the way Learn what they are!

Vaccine Clinic at Sisters High School

Safeway Pharmacy will b e at Sisters High School on Friday, October 24, from 1 to 5 p.m. to provid e f lu, f lu high dose, and COVID immunizations. O pen to all communit y members Minimum age of s even; Bring a copy of your identification and insur ance card; bring a completed consent form. Safeway will bill your insur ance For more information call 5 41 -5 49-404 5 (x5 505).

Fre e Lunches for Seniors

For thos e 60+, the Council on Aging of Central O regon offers a fun, no- cos t social lunch ever y Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m at Sis ters Communit y Church, 13 0 0 W. M cKenzie Hwy. No reservations needed. No- cost Grab -N-Go lunches t ake pla ce weekly on Wednesday and Thursday, from 12:3 0 to 1 p.m Call 5 41 -797-9367.

Lecture Series: Peaceful Presence Project with Elizabeth Johnson & Judah Slavkovsky. Please join PM RCA A for an evening l ecture series event Thurs day, October 23 from 6 to 7:3 0 p.m. These events are free and o pen to the public. Regis tration is required at roundhousefoundation.org/ events/. For more information call 5 41 -904 -070 0.

Transfigure Yourself

New fre e chair fitness class for matur e adults and individuals with limited mobility Increase balance f lexibility and s trength all set to l ively fun music. Tuesdays, from 9:45 am to 10:15 am. All are welcome. Episcopal Church of Transfiguration, 121 N Books Camp Rd. Q uestions? Call 5 41 -5 49-7087.

Serving our Seniors

Listening Sessions

SOS (Serving Our S eniors) is hos ting thre e community listening sessions at Paulina Springs Books on Wednesday, October 22, at 5 p.m., and Wednesday, October 29, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. We will be exploring how to b et ter suppor t seniors who w ant to remain in their homes as they age. Seniors, adult children of seniors, caregivers, and others are all welcome

Furr y Friends

Volunteers Needed

Furr y Friends Foundation is seeking volunteers to help at the p et food bank on Thursdays from 12:3 0 to 3:3 0 p.m. Volunteers are needed to gre et and a ssis t client s with order pickup. Sign up for one Thursday a month or more. Call or tex t Kiki a t 5 41 -797-4023 for more details

Craf ters Needed for Fundraiser Holiday Bazaar

Donate items to s ell or man a table and don ate a por tion of pro ceeds to Tracy Lynn Hendrickson's medical bills through nonprofit Help Hope Live. "Help Hope Sparkle Holiday Bazaar" will t ake pla ce Novemb er 13-16, at Sis ters Fire Department Communit y Room. Cont ac t Wendy Bachmeier for info at 5 41 -389-6859.

Firs t Friday

Family Fun Bingo

You are invite d to the First Friday Family Fun Bingo on Friday, November 7, at 4 p.m Come Help Us Celebrate Veterans! Come early to pick your seat and enjoy dinner for purchase at 4:0 0 p.m. All Veterans will b e honored with a free meal and des sert. Games begin at 4:3 0 p.m. $20 packet includes three cards for e ach of 10 games with a l ocal merchant gif t card awarde d as prize, plus an a dditional c ard for the 11th ‘Flag’ game with $10 0 cash prize. 50/50 Raf fle option — ticket s $2 each or 6 for $10 — will b enefit Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) Intermission will feature a speaker from COVO and Marionberr y Cobbler ala mode will be ser ved. Fun for all a ges! Locals and visitors welcome! The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration,121 Bro oks Camp Road, Sis ters

Living Well With Dementia Sis ters

Suppor t Groups

Living Well offers a sup port group for the care p ar tners and family of thos e diagnosed with s ome form of dementia, and now of fers a new Early Stage Suppor t Group. Both groups meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 1 to 2:3 0 p.m. at Sis ters Par k & Recreation Dis trict Communit y Center. The Early Stage Suppor t Group m eets in the Whychus Room. The Care Par tner Group m eets in the M etolius Room. For more information call 5 41 -588 -05 47

Weekly Food Pantr y CORE M arket, lo cated at 222 N. Trinit y Way in Sis ters

Market hours are M ondays, 1 to 2 p.m. For more information call 5 41 -588 -2332.

FISH FRY

Meet Fish Fry, an af fectionate and outgoing kitten with a big hear t and an even bigger p ersonality! He's friendly with other cat s and great with kids, making him a wonder ful companion for a loving home. Fish Fry has tes ted positive for feline leukemia virus (Fe LV ), a lifelong condition that some cat s contract from other cat s. Because of t his, he'll need to live indoors and should be placed in a home with either another FeLV- positive cat or no other cat s at all. He may also be able to l ive with an adult, vaccinated cat, but we recommend discussing this with your veterinarian first. Come meet him at the shelter!

SI ST ER S- AREA CHURCHE S

Baha’i Faith

For information, devotions, s tudy groups, etc., contac t Shauna Rocha 5 41 -647-9826 • www.bahai org www.bahai.us • www.bahai teachings.org Chapel in t he Pines

Camp Sherman • 5 41 -815 -9153

10 a.m. Sunday Worship

The Churc h of J esus Chris t of L at ter- Day Saints 452 Trinit y Way • Branch President, 541 -977-5559; 10 a.m. Sunday Sacrament Meeting

The Epis copal Chu rch of t he Transfiguration 121 N Bro oks Camp Rd. • 541 -549-7087 www.transfiguration -sis ters.org

8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship

10:15 a.m. Episcopal Sunday Worship

The Res ting Place meeting at Sis ters Communi t y Churc h, 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy www.restingplace.us • hello@res tingplace.us

5 p.m. Sunday Worship

Seventh- Day Adventist Churc h 541 -241 -6086

11 a.m. Saturday Worship

Email nugget@nuggetnews.com or

Shepherd of t he Hills L utheran Churc h (ELCA)

386 N. Fir St. • 541 -549-5831 www.shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com

10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Sisters Churc h of t he N azarene 67130 Harrington L oop Rd. • 5 41 -389-8960 www.sis tersnaz.org • info@sistersnaz.org

10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Sisters Communi t y Churc h (nondenominational) 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541 -549-1201 www.sis terschurch.com • inf o@sisterschurch.com

8 a.m. Day break Ser vice • 10 a.m. Sunday Worship

St. Edward the M ar tyr Roman Catholic Churc h 123 Trinit y Way • 541 -549-9391 5:3 0 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mas s • 9 a.m. Sun day Mass 12 p.m. Monday Mass • 8 a.m. Tuesday-Friday Mas s

The Wednesday Bible Study Home Chu rch (nondenominational)

Call for time and location • 5 41 -728 -2717

Wellhouse Church 442 Trinit y Way • 541 -549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10 a.m. Sunday Worship

TARIFFS:

Cost of housing project jumped considerably

Continued from page 1

Manager Paul Bertagna added that a supplemental budget of $78,000 will need funding to cover the stated expense. As usual, Bertagna noted he will find savings as the project progresses to keep under budget where possible. Members agreed to an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City and the URA where the City will provide the URA administrative support, budget development and financial oversight, contract procurement and administration, real estate acquisition and management, legal, engineering, planning, and project management services. This will allow for fewer meetings of the URA, without taking away from URA’s role of planning and executing redevelopment efforts within the boundaries of the Urban Renewal District as guided by the URD Plan.

RECALL:

Petitioner is moving out of Sisters city limits

Continued from page 1

signatures required to place it on the ballot, came in the wake of controversy over the Sisters City Council’s actions regarding the placement of a statue, commemorating Lane Frost’s legendary 1987 ride of the bull Red Rock at Sisters Rodeo Grounds, in the Locust Street/ Highway 20 roundabout. A majority of Councilors, led by Letz and McDougall, have made it clear that they do not want to place the sculpture, titled “The Match” in that location, citing safety concerns. The City is creating an arts council to develop procedures and processes for public art placement.

The move to recall the mayor and council president was met with skepticism, including from supporters of the bull sculpture. Patty Cordoni, one of the leaders of the effort to promote the sculpture, stated in a letter to the editor of The Nugget that, “the disagreement between citizens and individual Council Members concerning the Red Rock statue does not constitute sufficient grounds for a recall.”

Cordoni expressed hope for a process to choose art for the roundabout that “will be transparent, equitable, and inclusive of all residents of Sisters Country.”

Council President Sarah McDougall said, “I’m glad to see this come to an end.”

Mayor Jennifer Letz could not be reached for comment at press time.

Outlaws upset No. 2 Siuslaw on soccer pitch

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Sisters High School boys soccer team played to a 1-1 tie at home against Crosshill Christian (CC) on Tuesday, October 14. Two days later they pulled off an extraordinary 4-3 upset at home over the visiting Siuslaw Vikings that kept their playoff hopes alive.

The Outlaws entered Tuesday’s match against CC with confidence that it was a winnable match, but the visitors’ athletic lineup and strong goalkeeping proved to be a challenge.

In the first half, Sisters controlled much of the possession but struggled to find their rhythm. Despite creating several quality chances, the Outlaws couldn’t convert.

Coach Jeff Husmann said, “Crosshill Christian’s goalkeeper was likely the best we’ve seen this year.”

The score was even at 0-0 at the break.

The Outlaws came out energized in the second half, and about 10 minutes in, Nick Palmer played a perfect ball to Frank Trask, who hammered it into the back of the net.

“Frank doesn’t always get a lot of playing time, so it was great to see him get his first varsity goal in a game that mattered,” said Husmann. “This seemed to energize CC as the momentum shifted their way.”

With about 12 minutes left in the match, miscommunication in the Outlaws’ defense allowed CC to capitalize and even the score. The final minutes were frantic as both sides pressed for the winner, but neither team could break the tie.

“Our boys were certainly disappointed, as this was a game we needed to stay in the playoff mix,” said Husmann. “One asset this year has been the depth of our bench. It’s great to see those guys getting meaningful minutes and work together as a team.”

On Thursday against Siuslaw the Outlaws recorded a remarkable victory over the Vikings.

The Outlaws have struggled recently to find the back of the net, and one of their key goals heading into the match against the Vikings was to strike the ball cleanly and start the game strong. Husmann told The Nugget that his squad did just that.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game as Siuslaw is No. 2 in league,” said Husmann. “It was certainly full of excitement for the crowd and anxiety for the coach.”

Sisters took control early and created quality chances

from the opening whistle. JB Greenwood broke through the Vikings’ defense in the sixth minute with a strong run up the middle and slotted home the first goal of the game.

At the 15-minute mark Palmer assisted Jasper Jensen, who battled in front of the goal and poked the ball in to put Sisters up 2-0. Jensen struck again nine minutes later on a lovely assist from Ivan Alport, giving the Outlaws a commanding 3-0 lead halfway through the first half.

“Our bench and our crowd were excited, but the game was far from over,” said Husmann. “We knew they were capable of scoring some quick goals — and they did.”

Siuslaw came roaring back, scoring twice within a 10-minute stretch to close the gap. With about 10 minutes left in the half, the Vikings found the equalizer to make it 3-3.

“They gained momentum because we got away from our game plan, which is to possess the ball and expose the wings,” said Husmann. “I was most impressed with the resilience of our team. We

didn’t panic.”

Just before halftime, goalkeeper Joseph Derksen launched a long ball that found Jensen, who buried his third goal of the night to complete the hat trick and reclaim the lead for Sisters, 4-3.

The second half turned into a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to maintain possession. The Outlaws created a few chances, but were unable to finish, and as fatigue set in, Siuslaw applied increasing pressure.

“It was one of those games from a coach’s perspective where you’re just hoping for the time to go more quickly,” Husmann said. The Outlaws held strong to preserve the 4-3 victory.

“I was very impressed with our group of seniors who stepped up and led this team,” said Husmann. The Outlaws were scheduled to wrap up league play at Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, October 21.

Sisters event will showcase duos

Four of the region’s finest musical duos will take the stage at The Belfry at a one-night-only concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 21.

“With just two voices and an instrument or two, an acoustic duo can stonecold blow your mind,” said the show’s producer Benji Nagel. “And all four of these duos are wellknown for truly soul-stirring performances.”

The duos are: Dennis McGregor & Beth Wood; Vern Johnson & Benji Nagel; Faddis & Adkins; and True North Duo.

Tickets are $20, available at https://bendticket. com/events/just-duet-ashowcase-of-acousticduos-11-21-2025.

The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave. in Sisters.

Alpine Land Management

Vernon Stubbs has a deep passion for land stewardship. Fo rest restoration an d fuels reduction is a primar y aspect of the work of Alpine Land Management. Stubbs applies the same proven efficient and effective model he has applied on his own land, with a strong focus on juniper removal.

His approach is to promote biodiversit y through thinning, especially of juniper, and controlled “jackpot” burning of concentrated fuels. His work not only improves forest health, it makes land more resilient in the face of the kind of wildfire that swept across

Sisters Countr y last summer

Landowners re t ain the product of the work Stubbs encourages clients to investigate grant opportunities through Oregon Dept. of Forestr y, www.oregon.gov/odf/.

Alpine Land Management has welcomed Joe Souza of Sisters aboard. His hard work and commitment to good st e war dship enables Alpine Land Management to d o more work more efficiently

Alpine Land Management offers true and solid juniper fence posts. You may also inquire about firewood.

Sisters Fence & Deck

The turn in Sisters’ weather does not mean the end of p roject season. Sisters Fence & Deck builds fences throughout the winter months.

“A ny d ay we’re n ot out plowing snow, we’re building fences,” says office manager Christi Davis.

They keep two or three crews in the field doing the work, which includes commercial fencing, residential backyard fences, ranch fencing, dog runs — just about any thing a client can come up with, Sisters Fence & Deck can deliver And they deliver their work

Rosenzweig Or thodontics

For Dr Brian Rosenzweig, Or thodontics has been a passion for his entire adult life. His practice, Rosenzweig Or thodontics, is at the forefront of a field that has evolved significantly in recent years.

They t re at p atients of all ages an d handle ev er y thing fr om the easiest to the most complex c ases. Dr Ro senzweig was the first Board Cer tified Or thodontist in Ce n tral Oregon, is the direc to r of the Ce n tral Or egon Chap te r of the Seattle Study Club, which meets to discuss comple x c ases, and is a R ecognized

Specialist at the pre stigious Kois Dent al Center

Dr Ro senzweig is passiona te about d ev eloping personal r elationships with his patients and ta ke s pride in ha ving the most e xperienced t eam in Ce n tral Or egon. Most members of R o senzweig Or thodontics h ave been on the t eam for 15 to 20 y ears. Our O r thodontic Team considers each o ther and our patients as family, and we look for ward to expanding this approach to the Sisters communit y!

with exceptional professional craftsmanship, and superior customer ser vice

Davis recommends that prospective clients visit the Sisters Fence & Deck website at sistersfenceanddeck com to look at the range of ser vice options that are available. The team at Sisters Fence & Deck will then work with them to understand their cust omers goals for f encing, deck or p aver projects and come up with a plan to meet their needs and design goals.

The team is also fully equipped to meet their customers’ snow removal needs.

Dr. Brian Rosenzweig is a Board Certified Orthodontist and has provided high quality personalized care in Central Oregon for over 22 years.

NEW! Sisters: 304 W. A

Schedule your complimentar and office tour with Dr. Rosenzweig t Bend | Redmond | Burns 541-382-6822

BANR Enterprises

While BANR Enterprises takes on major commercial projects across Oregon, owner Scott Davis re a lly l oves doing residential work in Sisters Countr y. “ The best part of it for me personally is seeing the faces of the people when it’s done,” he said.

BANR brings three decades of experience to bear on all kinds of jobs — and customer satisfaction means that most of their work comes through referrals. “For me, personally, that means a lot,” Davis said.

BANR does a wide range of work: building rock walls, removing trees, grading,

paving, and concrete work They do a lot of maintenance and rehabilitation for local r oad districts. Davis emphasizes tha t addressing any road issues as early as possible helps keep costs down.

The quality of BANR’s work earns plaudits — but equally important is responsiveness.

“We don’t know any other w ay,”  Davis s aid. “Your project is significant —  simple as repairing a sidewalk to building a horse arena or (building) a mile of road.”

BANR also offers screened yard products and gravel direct to the consumer

Mike Hernandez, 2 years of service

“Bestvue Blinds, Residential Sales, Installation and Service”

BestVue Blinds

BestVue Blinds, a division of Lakevie w M illworks, continues to o ffer Sist ers Countr y homeowners top-tier products. A commitment to ex cellence has led them to become a Centurion Dealer exclusively selling ALTA and Hunter Douglas to their residential customers.

turning heads with their attention to detail and their professionalism.

Mi ke Hernandez has taken ove r as the leader of BestVue Blinds Residential. With his background in installation, he strives to h elp custo mers make informed decisions on their window-covering selections while making sure that eve ry thing will function smoothly

The lowest price ever y day on top-quality window coverings!

A division of Lakeview Millworks BestVueBlinds.com | 541-588-6201

BestVue Blinds has taken the last few y ears to jump in to the commercial window-covering market. They are committed to selling the leading pr oducts in the market, with a team of professionals dedicated to doing the job right the first time, and

Faith, Hope & Charit y Vineyards

Faith, Hope & Charit y Vineyards continues to shine in Oregon’s wine scene , re cently e a rning multiple D ouble Gold awards for its exceptional estate wines. From the rich and complex Maréchal Foch to the crisp and ar omatic La Crescent, each vintage showcases the vineyard’s dedication to qualit y.

Building on this success, the winer y has announced plans for an expanded t asting room designed to enhance the guest experience. The new space will offer more indoor seating, improved event areas, and

panoramic views of the Three Sisters mountains — creating an inviting atmosphere to enjoy their handcrafted wines year-round.

“Our guests are at the hear t of eve rything we do,” said Cindy Grossmann, owner of Faith, Hope & Charit y Vineyards. “ This expansion allows us to welcome even more visitors to share in our story and the beaut y of our wines.”

Construction begins soon, with completion expect ed in 2026 — just in time for another award-wor thy season of Central Oregon wine adventures

Big-time qualit y and small-town ser vice has made BestVue Blinds a leader in the Sisters business communit y for more than 15 years.

& CONSTRUCTION

Citizens can apply for advisory boards

The City of Sisters is seeking community members to apply for its advisory boards. These boards play a crucial role in shaping the city’s future by providing valuable insights and recommendations to the City Council. Serving on a City Board offers an opportunity for direct involvement in local government and the chance to make a positive impact on the community.

Citizen participation can help shape the future of Sisters. City boards serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council and consist of unpaid volunteers who contribute their time to the community. The City of Sisters is currently accepting applications for openings on three advisory boards:

• Budget Committee: One opening for a three-year term.

• City Parks Advisory Board: Two openings, for three-year terms.

• Public Works Advisory Board: Two openings, for three-year terms.

Applicants must live within the city limits. While most boards allow for up to two members from the Sisters School District boundary, those seats are currently filled.

The application period for these positions will close on November 12, and interviews will occur in the weeks following. Appointments will be made at the City Council meeting on December 10. The new term for each appointee will begin at the first board meeting in 2026. If you are interested in contributing to your community by serving on one of these advisory boards, complete an application and submit it to recorder@ ci.sisters.or.us, or drop it off at City Hall located at 520 E. Cascade, or mail it to P.O. Box 39, Sisters, OR 97759. For more information or inquiries, please contact kprosser@ci.sisters.or.us.

MORRIS:

Student artist created mural for new Sisters facility

Continued from page 3

of my favorite parts is the native plants that she added in the foreground, a small colorful detail that really captures Central Oregon. It’ll be really nice to see when you walk in, we’re really indebted to her for it and for our partnership with the Sisters School District and this wonderful, supportive community.”

Work is underway for mounting the art on the wall so it’s visible for everyone to see. The Forest Service is aiming to open for public viewing in the next few months when the new Sisters Ranger Station construction contract is completed.

Sist ers-Area Events & Ent er tainment

WEDNESDAY • OCT. 22

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

Sisters Movie House Autumn Arts & Adventure: "A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant" 6:45 p.m. Information and tickets at www.sistersmoviehouse.com.

THURSDAY • OCTOBER 23

SUNDAY • OCTOBER 26

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

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 28

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Trivia 7 to 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

WEDNESDAY • OCT. 29

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture Lecture & Exhibition: "Care & Stewardship: Kindness, Grief & Loss" 6 to 7:30 p.m. presented by Elizabeth Johnson. Registration and info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

The Belfr y Live Music: Jeffrey Foucault with Sam Weber 7 p.m. Tickets, $25 BendTicket.com.

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 24

Sisters High School Auditorium Live Music: Jim-Isaac Chua Shaped by Chopin piano concert. A fundraiser for Sisters Habitat for Humanity. 7 p.m. Tickets, $20/$10 students, at www.bendticket.com.

Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Galleries and shops feature art and demonstrations. Information: www.sistersarts.org. Makin’ it Local Art Walk & Live Music Artist reception 4 to 7 p.m. Enjoy Oregon wine and beer sampling, gingersnaps, and live music Info: www.makinitlocal.com.

Sisters Movie House Autumn Arts & Adventure: "Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between" 6:45 p.m. Information and tickets at www.sistersmoviehouse.com.

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).

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: George Sorensen presents "Hot Dish Confidential: That year my Friends Taught Me to Cook," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 31

The Belfr y Live Music: David Jacobs-Strain & The Crunk Mt. Boys with Christopher Worth Halloween Extravaganza with costumes, dancing, and frivolity! 7 p.m. Tickets, $25, www.bendticket.com.

Sisters Saloon Live Music: Thomas T and the Blue Chips 8 to 11 p.m. Costume contest: Funny, cute, scary, most creative. Info: www.sisterssaloon.net.

The Slow Down State Punk N' Treat youth fundraiser 6 to 9 p.m. An upbeat night of punk and pop for teens and adults courtesy Vinyl DJ Josh Lewellen! Dancing, raffle, food & drinks avail., donations welcome The Belfr y "Let's Dance!" Family-friendly ol’ fashioned community social dance featuring fiddling and dance calling by local youth strings dance band Scandalous Chutney 6 to 8:30 p.m. Free; all donations go to Sisters Middle School Outlaw Strings Club Drinks, snacks, and merch available for purchase. Presented by C4C in partnership with SFF Presents. Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards Live Music: Grits N' Gravy 5 to 8 p.m. Advanced tickets required: www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com/event-center

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

SATURDAY • OCTOBER 25

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

SUNDAY • OCTOBER 26

Paulina Springs Books Creative Writing: Workshop: Cat Tadlock presents "Nature’s Voice: Exploring the Wisdom of the Natural World and Inside Ourselves as Part of Nature," a 90-minute nature writing workshop 2 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com. Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors, music, community booth, kids activities. Info: www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 1

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Dia de los Muertos 7 p.m.–midnight. DJ costume contest, raffle. Tickets $20 adv./$25 day of 541-549-6114.

MONDAY • NOVEMBER 3

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.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Michael Cooper presents "Miscalculated Risks: Attacked, Crippled, Paralyzed, Drowning Unconscious and Freezing in the Wild (Just Not All At Once)," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

The Slow Down State Magazine Release Party

The Nugget Newspaper presents their latest issue of "Spirit of Central Oregon." Pick up a free copy mingle with freelancers, staff and story subjects. Live music coffe e, and hors d'oeuvres! 5 to 7 p.m. Info: 541-549-9941. Downtown First Friday in Sisters 5 to 7 p.m. Shops open late, live music pop-ups, and more! Enjoy community and support local. Info: sisterssba.com.

A time of make-believe

By Edie Jones Columnist Commentary...

Halloween will soon be here! That wonderful time when a costume turns young and old into someone or something different from who they are; a time of make-believe. What is it about this time of play that is compelling and beneficial, especially for kids? To understand that, we need to first look at play itself.

In the first years, young children primarily play by themselves. This changes around age three, when children engage more in play with other kids. Why is this important?

The same question applies to why we see increased emphasis on the value of pre-school. Why are we so lucky to have received Pre-School Promise grant dollars that allow the Sisters School District to provide a publicly funded pre-school? Why should this be the norm instead of an add-on? Play, the primary activity of any good pre-school, is the answer.

As young ones play and socialize, they start to think about what’s going on around them. This leads to language development and encourages dialogue. As every parent remembers, the word “Why?” was one of the first words of that dialogue. How tiresome it got trying to answer that question. Instead of being irritated, it’s something to celebrate, because what is demonstrated is an increase in higher levels of thinking, a natural outcome of play.

When children play, they behave at a higher level of development. Through imagination, unrealized desires are recognized, helping kids learn about delayed gratification. Play contains rules that impose controls separate from actions. This leads to abstract thinking and new ways to look at their world.

The rules of makebelieve play demand that children act against immediate impulses. We call what they are doing Free Play, but it is not free — it requires self-restraint, which leads to action, moral decisions, and an understanding of social norms and expectations.

From make-believe, children choose from a variety of alternative courses of action, which brings us back to Halloween. Even though fun is behind everything that happens, it’s meant to be scary. Why do kids want to be scared? This holiday allows them to experience it and discover how they will respond. Since the nature of

play is rule-based, self-regulation automatically kicks in, and they quickly learn what they can handle and what they can’t. It’s a safe place to experience being scared.

Play goes from unreal imaginary stories and strong rules to more real situations and decisions about rules. This leads to setting goals, which regulate behavior in pursuit of one’s own desires and create actions that fit rules instead of impulses.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, play often takes a backseat to the technology that infringes on most of our lives. Laptop games, phones, and TV watching are normal parts of the lives of many young children. If rules and boundaries are not established early, they can easily impede on time previously spent outdoors or playing with an imaginary friend.

How many of the above attributes of play are gained from screen time? Is this what’s being lost with the normalcy of these devices in our lives? What are teachers noticing about kids in the classroom that leads to less cooperation and inappropriate behavior? Could there be a correlation between too much screen time at an earlier age and what a fourthgrade teacher is seeing?

Often, we adults gain time to accomplish what’s on our plate by turning on the TV instead of sitting down and playing with our youngest members of the family.

It’s long been recognized that children develop at a certain pace. There are things they just can’t do until they reach a particular level of thinking. However, it is also known that tasks that normally wouldn’t be attempted are tried when a more mature peer or adult provides aid. This aid creates a scaffold that leads to a higher cognitive level and teaches cooperative learning.

So, the next time you are tempted to allow the TV to babysit your young one, think about what’s being lost. What might be happening instead, if you participate one more time in a game of “Duck, Duck, Goose” or “Hide and Go Seek?”

As you help your child pick out their costume or lovingly create one, find a way to build a story into the creation — a story that will add to the fun of dressing up and pretending. And while you do that, let yourself get carried away with the fun of the holiday, surprising your child as you become something different. Not only will your child benefit from the experience, so will you.

STARS: Ride share organization runs on volunteer work

Continued from page 3

Charles Health System’s manager of community partnerships, highlighted how volunteering not only helps others but also reduces loneliness and supports a longer, happier life. Crabtree’s message was especially meaningful — his own mother was once a STARS passenger who benefited from the kindness of volunteers. Organizations interested in learning more about Building Belonging can contact Scott through his website, www.HappyBrainScience. com.

The evening’s highlight was the presentation of STARS’ volunteer awards:

• Dixie Eckford, 2025 STARS Driver of the Year.

• Margaret Smith, 2025 STARS Dispatcher of the Year.

• Norene Gonsiewski, 2025 STARS Spotlight Volunteer.

• John Finley, 2025 STARS Leadership Award.

“These volunteers represent all of the incredible people who make STARS possible,” said Executive Director Rennie Morrell.

“The cohesiveness of our remote team amazes me. I think knowing how needed and appreciated we are by our passengers is the key. ”

Now in its sixth year, STARS continues to grow thanks to dedicated volunteers and community support. The program offers flexible

opportunities — volunteers can give as much or as little time as their schedules allow. To learn more about STARS or to get involved as a volunteer, donor, or sponsor, visit starsride.org. As Morrell notes, “Community engagement is vital — we are stronger together.”

Obituaries

Howard DenHartog

April 17, 1937 – October 5, 2025

Howard DenHartog, age 88, of Pasadena, California, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025, at Huntington Memorial Hospital, surrounded by family and friends.

Born on April 17, 1937, in Eddyville, Iowa, to Tunis and Alice DenHartog, Howard grew up on a farm alongside his dear sister, Alta Mae, who was two years older and passed away in 2018. In 1958, while attending Central College in Pella, Iowa he married the love of his life, Esther Rezelman. Together, they shared nearly sixty years of marriage until Esther’s passing in 2017.

Howard devoted his professional life to high school education. He spent the majority of his career at Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, where he not only taught but also oversaw the volunteer program and served as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. His career also took him to Presbyterian-related schools in Iowa, New Mexico, and Alabama, where he inspired countless students and friends through his teaching and example.

Upon retirement, Howard and Esther settled in Sisters, Oregon, where they built a beautiful log home together. It was there that Howard’s love of woodworking flourished, creating handcrafted furniture and whimsical wooden toys that became cherished family heirlooms. He often said that, of all the places he lived, Sisters was his favorite—a place of peace, nature, and community.

Howard’s later years were spent at Monte Vista Grove Homes in Pasadena, California, a community he dearly loved. He remained active and engaged, taking daily walks, traveling when he could, and joining a

writing group whose collective stories were eventually published. Pride in his Dutch heritage shown through with his yearly planting of tulips, making tasty Dutch treats at Christmas, shared with family and friends.

Howard is survived by his four children: Sherri Wilson of Ephraim, Utah and husband Lynn Wilson (deceased); Jacci DenHartog of Los Angeles, California and husband Pat Nickell; Rebecca Nord of Bellevue, Washington and husband Jeff Nord; and Nathaniel DenHartog of Silverton, Oregon. He also leaves behind five grandchildren: Grant and Tim Wilson, Romero Nickel-DenHartog and Kyler and Elsa Nord; and five great-grandchildren: Kesli, Marlie, Corhyln, Emeryiell, and Remy Wilson. Howard will be most missed by his beloved Chihuahua companion of the last 13 years, Trina.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Monte Vista Grove Homes later this winter, with details to be announced.

Robert W. Sumner

Passed September 2, 2025

Robert W. Sumner, 73, of Black Butte Ranch, passed away on September 2, 2025.

Rob was a proud husband, parent, and grandparent who lived life to the fullest. He cherished the simple pleasures of the high desert: skiing, hiking Black Butte, and spending time with his beloved horse and dogs. Known for his kindness, sharp humor, and unwavering loyalty, Rob had a way of making everyone around him feel valued and cared for.

Born in Denver and raised in Roseburg, Rob learned early on the importance of family. James and Connie Jean Judd took on special roles as second parents.

Rob met the love of his life, Deb, at Southern Oregon College in 1971 and married her in 1973. Their 52-year marriage is a testament to his love and loyalty.

Rob is survived by his wife, Deb; sons, Jamie and Blake; and the women he loved as his own daughters, Gretchen and Jordan. He was a proud and adoring “Papa” to Lucy and Dutch, whose laughter and energy were some of his greatest joys. Rob is also survived by his father, William, and his sisters, Karen and Patty. He also leaves behind extended family and many dear friends who will carry forward his memory.

Rob’s professional journey began at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, where he worked while also holding a parttime job at the Ski Chalet — combining his strong work ethic with his love of the outdoors. He went on to serve in roles at U.S. Bank and Timber Operators Council in Tigard before joining Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. Later in his career, he worked as an independent insurance agent before retiring.

In retirement, Rob stayed active, working parttime at Black Butte Ranch and Sisters Smokehouse between ski seasons and rounds of golf. In addition, Rob proudly served on the boards of both Healing Reins and his local Young Life organizations.

Rob’s life was defined by his love for family, the outdoors, and his faith. He found God’s presence in the mountains, joy in the laughter of loved ones, and peace in every sunset over the high desert he called home.

HALLOWEEN:

Spooky holiday is fun in Sisters

Continued from page 3

time at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station at 301 S. Elm St. There will be carnival games and two haunted houses to choose from. In true Sisters spirit, live music will be a big part of Halloween night. David Jacobs-Strain & the Crunk Mountain Boys will return to The Belfry, 302 E. Main Ave., in an annual Halloween tradition, kicking off the music and dancing at 8 p.m. Over at Sisters Saloon, 190 E. Cascade Ave., Thomas T and the Blue Chips will play for a costume party that offers prizes for best costume in multiple categories: Funny, cute, scary, and most-creative. Hardtails Outlaw Country Dive Bar & Grill will keep the party going through Saturday night, with Dia de los Muertos in the Hardtails graveyard on Saturday night, 7 p.m. to midnight, November 1. There will be a live DJ and a costume contest and a donation box to benefit Ronald McDonald House. This is a ticketed event — $20 in advance and $25 day of event.

Roundabout art

To the Editor:

Being away for the past two Nugget issues, I arrived home to read continuing comments on the roundabout art. In the October 8 issue, Mr. Brush lays out a thoughtful plan to select an appropriate piece of art. Lest we forget, that process was held (twice) previously, with two finalist models for the public to “vote on”...to no consensus.

In the October 15 issue, Council President Connelly (correctly) points out that a “recall” just because you don’t like a decision (correctly given, I might add), is not only a costly waste of money, but misguided (in my opinion). In the same October 15 issue, Ms. Cordoni also points out that yet again, city staff is developing yet a third attempt to create an Art Commission to thereby solicit, grade, review, allow public comment and choose a piece that represents the (entire) Sisters Community and heritage, not just one segment.

As both a lifelong architect and artist, I sincerely hope that this latest effort achieves resolution, harmony and does so before the proposed landscaping (which I agree with) grows eight feet tall.

Brad Earl s s s

To the Editor:

Fighting indigestion over yet another piece in our beloved Nugget Newspaper about the roundabout sculpture, I’m reminded why seeking popular opinion on design decisions is rarely the wisest course. History offers plenty of examples of once reviled works:

• The “useless” Eiffel Tower (Gustave Eiffel, 1889, Paris).

• The “gash of shame” Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Maya Lin, 1982, Washington, D.C.).

• The “too expensive” Cloud Gate (Anish Kapoor, 2004, Chicago).

• The “garish” Golden Gate Bridge (Joseph Strauss, 1937, San Francisco).

• The “monstrous” Statue of Liberty (Frédéric Bartholdi, 1886, New York).

While none of these cities is in the same league as beautiful Sisters, it’s worth remembering that the choice we make will likely outlive us. Perhaps trusting those with perspective and experience to choose the theme and the work would lead to a more lasting — and less ink-stained — result.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to raking pine needles.

Winston Saunders

s s s

To the Editor:

Placing an historic sculpture of a bull ride in the roundabout is a nod to Sisters history. From a logging town with farming and ranching supporting the tiny community, Sisters evolved because of Sisters Rodeo.

As those industries faded, shops, motels and eating establishments depended on their rodeo income to get them through long winters that had few visitors and a small population. Anyone who had a shop or a restaurant between the 1970s and 1990s would verify this statement. Long-term residents will also agree.

The rodeo was such a force of economic survival that even the developers of Black Butte Ranch recognized the marketing value in the closest shopping village for their residents and guests. Those developers promoted the Western theme of Sisters with grants to businesses that changed their storefronts to Western architecture. They recognized the potential, and gave Sisters a new, clean and more inviting face. Thus, the city made the Western theme the standard for commercial development.

The results are evident in population growth, the spread of commerce to the north and south sides of town and the birth of new events, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Sisters Folk Festival. (Jean Wells had begun the quilt show in the ’70s, but it took city growth to complement its growth.) Granted, these events probably out-produce income for the shops and restaurants today, but chances of them existing

without Rodeo promoting Sisters through its history are slim.

This Rodeo has been featured in the New York Times, Sunset Magazine, major West Coast cities, and even The Late Show with David Letterman in 2006.

The sculpture of Lane Frost and Red Rock is the most logical choice for a town that values its history and healthy, inviting growth.

Bonnie Malone

s s s

Tribute to firefighters

To the Editor:

I think it would be a wonderful town gesture to erect a tribute to our firefighters.

We have lived in Sisters for nine years now and have been very active in Fire Corps which has been a very fulfilling experience. We lived through the Milli Fire as well as the recent Flat Fire and have seen the toll it takes on everyone involved. Some of our firefighters even went to California to assist during the Palisades Fire.

Where would our town be without the endless dedication of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Firefighters!

Charlene Leep

s s s

Cash or candy?

To the Editor:

Back when we lived in Corvallis our dentist made an announcement in the local paper every October. He offered to buy candy for a dollar a pound in the week following Halloween. His intent was to reduce cavities in kids. He told me that every year he paid hundreds of dollars during that week. That got me to thinking about the enormous amount of candy we assume kids want. If many of them would prefer to have cash rather than candy, why not give them that choice on Halloween night?

Ever since then, I always have two shopping bags sitting on a bench just inside my front door. One bag has “CASH” written on it with a large magic marker; the other says “CANDY.” I give every kid who comes to my door a choice. Which bag do you choose? Earlier in the day I would have put about $1.50 or so in change in several plastic snack bags. I learned that the younger kids usually opted for candy while the older ones wanted cash.

A few years ago, I got a surprising response from my cash or candy tradition. A boy of about nine or 10 came to my door on Halloween night. He was dressed in a costume like all the kids, and I saw his mother standing out on the sidewalk. He seemed particularly excited when he learned that I was offering cash. About a minute after he left there was a

knock on the door and there was the boy’s mother. She said “I want to thank you so much for giving my son a choice of cash instead of candy. He is diabetic and can’t eat candy, but he wants to participate in Halloween like all the other kids. But when he gets home, we have thrown all the candy he collected in the trash. He was so excited that you gave him something he can keep.”

Folks, please consider giving the kids an option this Halloween. Sisters’ dentists will appreciate it and maybe there will be one child who comes to your door who will be particularly grateful to you for offering a choice.

David Purviance

s s s

Trump Derangement Syndrome

To the Editor.

Concerning your guest columnist, Gary Hickman’s recent guest column which began as thoughts on the roundabout art and evolved into a tirade by someone who obviously has a severe case of Trump Derangement Symptom, one can only hope he seeks therapy for his disorder.

I am sure he must be suffering to an extreme with the recent return of the hostages and peace that Trump orchestrated.

Any legitimate ideas he had regarding the roundabout were completely lost as he went into his political rampage. Many in the community do not share his political feelings.

Bob Norman s s s

Ladies and gentlemen

To the Editor:

Can we please stop with the whole “Lady Outlaws” and “Outlaws” thing? There’s no reason to assume that Outlaws refers to guys. It’s outdated terminology, and it’s sexist to assume a sports team is male when just as many girls play sports. It’s also confusing to refer to girls specifically but say Outlaws when you really mean boys. The only time it makes sense to not specify which gender you are referring to is for coed sports, like cross-country or track and field. Calling girls “ladies” in the context of sports also seems somewhat odd. You wouldn’t refer to football players about to score a touchdown as gentlemen, so you shouldn’t refer to volleyball players as ladies. It would make more sense to either call everybody an Outlaw or come up with specific labels. Personally, I’m a fan of leaning into to the horse theme and referring to girls by mares and boys by stallions.

Paige Marks-McGuire

Bailey dedicates her passion for perfect horsemanship to her many years in Pony Club, where the health and comfort of the horse is the highest priority.

She went on to participate in 4-H with both chicken and horse projects during her middle school and high school years. She competed with her local Newberg FFA chapter during her senior year of high school. With her many commitments, Naomi also competed in the 2021 Teens and Oregon Mustang Competition with her horse Ochoco, which sparked her passion for promoting wild horses.

Upon high school graduation, she took the opportunity to delve further into supporting her local equestrian community. During the summer of 2022, she managed a horse summer camp, taught horseback riding lessons, and she was a volunteer clinician for Yamhill County 4-H in the areas of dressage and jumping.

She’s an all-around rider — Western and English saddle — and showed her skilled horsemanship in the first section of the morning

long selection process. The tryouts were open to young women who are Oregon residents aged 18 through 25 as of June 1. Entrants were judged on horsemanship, speech, personality/interviews, and appearance.

Bailey received a silver buckle, a wardrobe, and will be awarded the Sally Leavitt Queen Scholarship of $2,500 for her continued education. She will represent the Sisters Rodeo Association at rodeos throughout the state and will be hostess to other courts during our 86th Annual Sisters Rodeo.

The skills shown by rodeo royalty are not merely cosmetic. Carrying a 25-squarefoot flag at full gallop around an arena packed with dazzling lights and raucous cheering is not a ride in the park.

“The Sisters Rodeo Queen tryouts are more than a competition; they are a celebration of our community and Western heritage,” said Amorita Anstett, the Rodeo’s Arena Director. “This year, young women from across the region step forward with grace, humility, and strong horsemanship skills to represent the rodeo. The title of the Sisters Rodeo Queen is a pillar in our community, carrying on a proud tradition that has been a part of our rodeo family for over 85 years.”

Anstett told The Nugget, “We are continually impressed by the quality of candidates who participate, and each winner becomes a true ambassador not only for the rodeo, but also for the values of hard work, hospitality, and Western pride that define Sisters. This tradition is a living legacy, reminding us of all the importance of preserving our roots while inspiring future generations.”

Aly Fazz, queen advisor for the Rodeo said, “We had six wonderful contestants, hailing from all over Oregon for the coveted title. The day consisted of a horsemanship portion, where the ladies all rode a pattern, showcased an American flag run as well as the traditional Queen run around the arena.

“The competition continued with personal interviews with our panel of three amazing judges and rounded out with a prepared speech, sharing their passion for rodeo and the western lifestyle. Naomi will travel to rodeos, parades, and public appearances all over the state of Oregon representing the Biggest Little Show in the World. We are so grateful for everyone’s continued support of our Rodeo Queen

Program.”

Bailey rides only wild mustangs for all her disciplines — rodeo, dressage, eventing, the latter where she is currently competing.

The Nugget will report on her commitment to mustang rescue in a later issue.

“I couldn’t be more

excited and grateful to be the Sisters Queen. This is such a great rodeo, one that keeps growing in importance and prestige,” Bailey said. “I came to this rodeo as a little girl, when I just started riding and wished then that this day might happen.”

Outlaws perform well at home meet

Pole Creek Ranch offered an idyllic setting on a fine autumn afternoon for the annual “Clash in the Cascades” cross-country meet hosted by Sister High School, and the Outlaws came through with strong performances on their home course.

The meet included a number of small teams, mostly from the Central Oregon area including Culver, La Pine, Trinity Lutheran, along with Cascade and Santiam.

In the girls’ race Brooke Duey battled Trinity Lutheran’s Grace Delay over much of the 5000 meter course before the freshman pulled away over the final half mile to win in 19:47. Duey crossed in 20:09 and Josie Ryan came through next in 21:10. Althea Crabtree put together a lifetime best to finish fifth in 22:31 and Sofia Clark (24:08 and Jayden Durtschi (25:11) crossed the line in eighth and 10th to lift the Outlaws to the team win. Ryan Nordell (26:27), Alexis Lowe (28:36), and Elizabeth Beaver (36:02) all ran personal bests for the Outlaws as well.

For the boys, Ben Hayner led the way, finishing third with a personal best of 18:12. He and freshman Caden Warner, who finished fourth in 18:19, moved up throughout the second half of the race, showing grit, according to coach Charlie Kanzig.

“This course is pretty wide open and with a relatively small field of runners, it’s easy to go into a lull, but those two kept their eyes on the runners ahead of them and really reeled them in over the final mile,” he said.

Two other boys competed for the shorthanded Outlaws. Freshmen Landon Kirkpatrick and Noah Adams clocked 21:13 and 24:06 respectively.

Elias Piercy of Santiam won the race in 17:52.

The Outlaws hit the road Tuesday, October 21, for the final regular season meet before District at the Bigfoot Classic at the Alderbrook Golf Course near Tillamook. District, which serves as the qualifier for the state championships, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, at

Art auction event benefits food bank

This week brings Makin’ it Local’s Fourth Friday Art Walk Feed Sisters Silent Auction in support of the Sisters Kiwanis Foundation Food Bank.

The public is invited to bring their nonperishable food donation and bid on original paintings by Kathy Deggendorfer and Susan Luckey Higdon — each custom framed by High Desert Frameworks.

The Fourth Friday Artwalk Silent Auction is set for Friday, October 24, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Makin’ it Local, 281 W. Cascade Ave.

A Susan Luckey Higdon original is part of a silent auction benefiting the Sisters Kiwanis Foundation.

Bidding runs through

October 31 at 5:30 p.m. Makin’ it Local is partnering with Sisters Kiwanis Food

Bank this October for the annual Feed Sisters Food Drive. With demand for food assistance in Sisters more than doubling since 2021, community donations are vital. Drop off nonperishable items at Makin’ it Local (281 W. Cascade Ave.) during store hours or bring them to special events — including the Fourth Friday Art Walk and Halloween Food Drive October 31. Donors will be entered to win prizes, and silent auction proceeds benefit the Sisters Kiwanis Foundation. Visit www.feedsisters.com for more information.

SMS boys close second at district XC

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

The Sisters Middle School cross-country team came up just short to Trinity Lutheran at the Central Oregon District meet held at Juniper Hills on Thursday, October 16.

Trinity, behind the win by Calvin Delay (10:51), nipped the Outlaws 46-52. Obsidian placed a distant third with 79 points.

Augustus Nibur (12:05) and Nolan Craig (12:09) placed fourth and fifth in the 3,000-meter race, while teammate Pierce Walker just missed the top 10, finishing eleventh in 12:20. Malachi Reyes (12:54) and Tanner Geraths (12:55) completed the scoring in 19th and 21st places.

The team finish was the best in recent years, according to coach Jonathan Kelly.

The girls “varsity team” placed fifth among seven complete teams. Seventh grader Ohana Dalton placed

fifth in 12:53, as the top placer for Sisters. Emma Burke (14:24) placed 17th out of 49 finishers and fourth among sixth grade girls in the race.

Redding Dennery of Trinity Lutheran, took the individual title in a time of 12:04.

Kelly is assisted by Amber Tollerud and Tiffany Tisdel. Overall, the team included 25 runners this season.

The kids really got into it this year and it showed in their performances. They have been a fun group to work with. — Jonathan Kelly

“The kids really got into it this year and it showed in their performances,” said Kelly. “They have been a fun group to work with.”

RALLY: Mood at demonstration was exuberant

Continued from page 1

woman told The Nugget that she had never participated in a rally before, but that President Trump’s commutation of the sentence of convicted fraudster and former U.S. Congressman George Santos was too much for her to accept.

The Sisters demonstration, which was larger than

the June event, was one of an estimated 2,600 such events that took place in cities across the U.S. A rally in Bend drew thousands of participants, and the overall attendance across the country was in the millions.

The demonstration in Sisters was entirely peaceful and without incident, and other than a few scuffles reported here and there across the country, the day was peaceful. Some rallies drew counter-protesters, but there were none in evidence in Sisters.

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

473 W. Hood Ave., Suite 102 Office Suite, 512 Sf. High Traffic Exposure 503-730-0150

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

10x20 SHIPPING

CONTAINER, $3,000. Call Deb Prairie, 541-780-5400

LIKE NEW 2009 VESPA GTS

250ie scooter for sale. Asking $3,950 obo. Call 541-350-2262.

202 Firewood

• • • FIREWOOD LOGS

3-cord minimum + delivery fee Lodgepole, Pine, Fir Mix

Call for quote • 541-306-8675

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

LODGEPOLE PINE

Very Seasoned Firewood Logs

205 Garage & Estate Sales

Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions!

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

Sharie 541-771-1150

301 Vehicles

CLASSIC CAR STORAGE! Oversized, lights/power, $275/m • 541-419-2502

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

Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

302 Recreational Vehicles

Travelers Rest RV Storage 30' and 23' RV spaces with low monthly rates available now! Secure your spot before winter. bekah@travelersrestrvstorage. com - 541-719-8644

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

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.

Delivery avail. • Call for quote 541-306-8675

I AM A CAREGIVER Looking for work in Sisters, Part-Time

Please call Lynn 503-274-0214.

501 Computers & Communications

3 Sisters TeleNetworks, LLC

Audio/video, data networking, WIFI, security camera, alarms. CCB #191099 541-306-0729

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

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

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

– All You Need Maintenance –Tree removal, property thinning & clearing, forestry mastication & mulching, stump grinding. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122

• Wildfire Fuels reduction

• Debris Chipping/Mastication

• Forest Health Thinning

• Wildfire Cleanup & Restoration • Tree Removal Will Moore, 541-409-5404

ISA Certified Arborist We are the experts you’ve been looking for!

LCB# 100129 & Oregon Professional Logger 71395048

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

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

TimberStandImprovement.net

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

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

CASCADIA DESIGN BUILD

Remodel / Renovate / Repair

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

Custom Homes Additions - Remodels

Residential Building Projects

Becke William Pierce CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384 Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com — Serving Sisters Since 2010 —

LOCAL CONSTRUCTION

SERVICES & HOME MAINT.

Remodels • Landscaping Firewise Maintenance Decks & Much More! Pease Co. Contracting Call Tanner at 541-588-0136. Big and small jobs! CCB# 256258

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

Lara’s Construction LLC. CCB#223701

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

Earthwood Timber

• Recycled fir and pine beams

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Sawmill/woodshop services EWDevCoLLC@gmail.com

INSPIRED CUSTOM HOMES

www.teeharborconstruction.com

541-213-8736 • CCB#75388

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

Factory Trained Technicians

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

Construction & Renovation

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

Custom Homes • Additions

Residential Building Projects Serving Sisters area since 1976

Strictly Quality

CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764 John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com

Pat Burke LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT

CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com 602 Plumbing & Electric

Ridgeline Electric, LLC Serving all of Central Oregon

Residential

Commercial

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

ROBINSON & OWEN

Heavy Construction, Inc.

All your excavation needs

*General excavation

*Site Preparation

*Sub-Divisions

*Road Building

*Sewer and Water Systems

*Underground Utilities

*Grading

*Sand-Gravel-Rock

Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #124327

541-549-1848

Full Service Excavation

Free On-site Visit & Estimate

Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com

541-549-1472 • CCB #76888

Drainfield

• Minor & Major Septic Repair

• All Septic Needs/Design & Install

General Excavation

• Site Preparation

• Rock & Stump Removal

• Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation

• Building Demolition Trucking

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

• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

• The Whole 9 Yards or 24 Whatever You Want!

604 Heating & Cooling

Sisters, Oregon's

Exclusive HVAC Service

Residential & Commercial

Heating • Ductless

Air Conditioning

• Maintenance Installation • Repair

541-588-5667

SistersHeatingAir.com

ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

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

CCB #195556

541-549-6464

605 Painting

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

www.frontier-painting.com

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

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491

EMPIRE PAINTING

Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining CCB#180042 541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing.

Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122

J&E Landscaping Maintenance

LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, thatching, aerating, irrigation, mowing. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

Eastern Cascade Solutions Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039 All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

701 Domestic Services

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

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

704 Events & Event Services

CENTRAL OREGON'S LARGEST GUN & KNIFE SHOW! October 25 and 26. 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 HAVE A SERVICE TO PROVIDE? Let the public know what you have to offer in The Nugget Newspaper’s C L A S S I F I E D S! Call 541-549-9941. Deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday for that Wednesday's edition.

Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial

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

C L A S S I F I E D S

being the following:

C L A S S I F I E D S

being the following:

Public Notice

999 Public Notice

Title Agency, Inc.

Premium Title Agency, Inc.

PTS Foreclosure

DBA PTS Foreclosure Services

Market Center Ave Suite Paso, TX 79912

7730 Market Center Ave Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79912

2025-00050-OR

TS No.: 2025-00050-OR

NO.: 185944 MAP

181207CB00600

ACCOUNT NO.: 185944 MAP NO.: 181207CB00600

TRUSTEE'S NOTICE OF

TRUSTEE'S NOTICE OF SALE

Number: 2025-00050-OR made to that certain made by RANDY C. AND BRENDA M. AS TENANTS BY ENTIRETY as grantor, to County Title as trustee, in favor of WILMINGTON FINANCE A OF AIG FEDERAL BANK AS LENDER MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, MERS IS A SEPARATE CORPORATION THAT IS SOLELY AS A FOR LENDER LENDER`S

SUCCESSORS AND as beneficiary, dated recorded on in the Records of County, Oregon, in page and/or as fee/file/instrument/microfilm/rec 2005-35761, covering following described real situated in the above-mentioned county and NO.: 185944 MAP

Installment of Principal and Interest plus impounds and/or advances which became due on 07/01/2024 plus late charges, and all subsequent installments of principal, interest, balloon payments, plus impounds and/or advances and late charges that become payable. Therefore, notice hereby is given that Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services the undersigned trustee will on 12/12/2025 at the hour of 10:00 AM, Standard of Time, Inside the main entrance of the Deschutes County Courthouse, 1100 NW Bond Street, Bend, OR 97703 as established by ORS187.110, in the County of Deschutes, State of Oregon, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by grantor of the said trust deed, together with any interest which the grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said trust deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the trustee.

T.S. Number: 2025-00050-OR Reference is made to that certain trust deed made by RANDY C. BARNES AND BRENDA M. BARNES, AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY as grantor, to Deschutes County Title Company as trustee, in favor of WILMINGTON FINANCE A DIVISION OF AIG FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK AS LENDER MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., MERS IS A SEPARATE CORPORATION THAT IS ACTING SOLELY AS A NOMINEE FOR LENDER AND LENDER`S SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS., as beneficiary, dated 06/02/2005 recorded on 06/08/2005, in the Records of Deschutes County, Oregon, in book at page and/or as fee/file/instrument/microfilm/rec eption No. 2005-35761, covering the following described real property situated in the above-mentioned county and state:

181207CB00600

NINETEEN, OF MOUNTAIN GATE, DESCHUTES COUNTY,

ACCOUNT NO.: 185944 MAP NO.: 181207CB00600 LOT NINETEEN, OF MOUNTAIN GATE, DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON.

Known As: BLUE SKY LANE, 97702 the beneficiary N.A. AS OWNER for New Residential Loan Trust 2016-4 trustee Premium Title Inc. DBA PTS Services have sell the said real satisfy the obligations said trust deed and a Default has been pursuant to ORS The default for which foreclosure is made is the failure to pay when due sums: REQUIRED TO REINSTATE AS OF 08/17/2025: REQUIRED TO AS OF 08/17/2025:

Commonly Known As: 19634 BLUE SKY LANE, BEND, OR 97702 Both the beneficiary CITIBANK, N.A. AS OWNER TRUSTEE for New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust 2016-4 and the trustee Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services have elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by said trust deed and a Notice of Default has been recorded pursuant to ORS 86.752(3). The default for which the foreclosure is made is the grantor’s failure to pay when due the following sums:

TOTAL REQUIRED TO REINSTATE AS OF 08/17/2025: $41,196.50 TOTAL REQUIRED TO PAYOFF AS OF 08/17/2025: $406,402.91

interest, late charges, charges that may vary day-to-day, the amount due you pay may be will be necessary for contact the Trustee before tender reinstatement amount so that you advised of the exact will be required to

of the default, the has declared all sums the obligation secured trust deed immediately payable, said default

Installment of Principal and Interest plus impounds and/or advances which became due on 07/01/2024 plus late charges, and all subsequent installments of principal, interest, balloon payments, plus impounds and/or advances and late charges that become payable. Therefore, notice hereby is given that Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services the undersigned trustee will on 12/12/2025 at the hour of 10:00 AM, Standard of Time, Inside the main entrance of the Deschutes County Courthouse, 1100 NW Bond Street, Bend, OR 97703 as established by ORS187.110, in the County of Deschutes, State of Oregon, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by grantor of the said trust deed, together with any interest which the grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said trust deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the trustee.

Notice is further given that any person named in ORS 86.778 has the right, at any time prior to five (5) days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the trust deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation or trust deed, and in addition to paying the sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and trust deed, together with trustee’s and attorney fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778.In construing this notice the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes the plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to this grantor as well as any other person owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by the trust deed, and the words “trustee” and “beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any.

Because of interest, late charges, and other charges that may vary from day-to-day, the amount due on the day you pay may be greater. It will be necessary for you to contact the Trustee before the time you tender reinstatement or the payoff amount so that you may be advised of the exact amount you will be required to pay. By reason of the default, the beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by said trust deed immediately due and payable, said default

unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney.

unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney.

If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holder’s rights against the real property only. As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report reflecting on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligation.

authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument. WITNESS my hand and official seal.

authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument. WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Notary Name (Seal FOR TRUSTEES SALE

If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holder’s rights against the real property only. As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report reflecting on your credit record may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligation.

Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representation or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential properties sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential properties should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale.

Notice is further given that any person named in ORS 86.778 has the right, at any time prior to five (5) days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the trust deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation or trust deed, and in addition to paying the sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and trust deed, together with trustee’s and attorney fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778.In construing this notice the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes the plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to this grantor as well as any other person owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by the trust deed, and the words “trustee” and “beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any.

Pursuant to Oregon Law, this sale will not be deemed final until the Trustee’s Deed Upon Sale has been issued by the Trustee. If any irregularities are discovered within 10 days of the date of this sale, the Trustee will rescind the sale, return the buyer’s money and take further action as necessary.

INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (866) 960-8299

Notary Name (Seal FOR TRUSTEES SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (866) 960-8299

SUDOKU SOLUTION

for puzzle on page 21

Nugget Poetry Corner

Where No Haints Go

ByJackie Page

A calm, a hush, w her e no haints go,

Uninvited, tur ned aw ay;

Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representation or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential properties sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential properties should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale.

NOTICE TO TENANTS:

TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY HAVE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEM UNDER ORS 86.782 AND POSSIBLY UNDER FEDERAL LAW. ATTACHED TO THS NOTICE OF SALE, AND INCORPORATED HEREIN, IS A NOTICE TO TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY AND WHICH SETS FORTH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE COMPLIED WITH BY ANY TENANT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE AFFORDED PROTECTION, AS REQUIRED UNDER ORS 86.771.

NOTICE TO TENANTS: TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY HAVE CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEM UNDER ORS 86.782 AND POSSIBLY UNDER FEDERAL LAW. ATTACHED TO THS NOTICE OF SALE, AND INCORPORATED HEREIN, IS A NOTICE TO TENANTS OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY AND WHICH SETS FORTH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE COMPLIED WITH BY ANY TENANT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE AFFORDED PROTECTION, AS REQUIRED UNDER ORS 86.771.

Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA

PTS Foreclosure Services

Dated:

Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services Dated:

Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA

PTS Foreclosure Services 7730 Market Center Ave Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79912

Trustee Phone number: (866) 960-8299

Premium Title Agency, Inc. DBA PTS Foreclosure Services 7730 Market Center Ave Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79912 Trustee Phone number: (866) 960-8299

Dated: STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF EL PASO

Pursuant to Oregon Law, this sale will not be deemed final until the Trustee’s Deed Upon Sale has been issued by the Trustee. If any irregularities are discovered within 10 days of the date of this sale, the Trustee will rescind the sale, return the buyer’s money and take further action as necessary.

If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is

Dated: STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF EL PASO

On before me,

On before me,

Personally appeared

If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is

who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their

Personally appeared who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their

Allowing his blood to f low

An angel w alked in,

With a dog named Geor ge

Who snif fed again and again. And again.

The dr agonfly lay dead on the walk, They named his co rpse Chris

Then walked on down the bloc k.

A wind blew cold

A deer pr anced past

A piano w as hear d, the melody old.

The haints were clawing

At his hear t, at his soul.

But the dog, the dr agonfly and the deer

Sang to the haint

Whispering hair line cr ac ks into its cere br al dignity.

The Ghost Trees of Detroit Lake

ByPaulAlanBennett

It’s the time of the year when they star t to appear

The ghost tr ees of Detr oit Lake

When the w ater is low their stumps star t to show

Right next to the highw ay you take

Old Benjamin Rudd w as driving that r oad

Enjoying the color s of fall

The maples, the aspen, bright yellows and r eds

He smiled, so pleased with them all

When he star ted to cr oss the bridge at Detroit

Fr om the water a fog soon did rise

then it cover ed the r oad, so he had to go slow

A wor ried look now in his eyes

Then up fr om the lake those stumps with their roots

Pulled themselves right out of the mud

And like spider s they cr awled up the ridge to the bridge

Wher e they stood to meet Benjamin Rudd

He had slowed down his pace, fear a ppear ed on his face

When the r oots wr apped themselves ‘r ound his wheels

thr ough his windows they cr awled, gr abbed a hold of old Ben

And he never w as hear d fr om again

When you’re next on that road

Take a look at those stumps that ar e sticking up high in the mud

And one of those stumps, or so it’s been told

Wear s the face of old Benjamin Rudd

Following his solo debuts at Carnegie Hall and the Kosciuszko Foundation in 2009, Filipino American pianist Jim-Isaac Chua has per formed internationally to critical acclaim for his dynamic and emotionally rich playing.

Now returning for his second year in Sisters, Oregon, he presents a program centered on the life and music of the great composer Frédéric Chopin, featuring works by Chopin as well as composers who infl uenced or were influenced by him. Each piece will be introduced by the ar tist to of fer insight and enrich the listening experience.

Sisters High School

1700 W. McKinney But te Rd., Sisters General : $20, Student s : $10