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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2015)
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 7 Phyllis Lewis receives BPAC award By Craig f. eisenbeis Correspondent For the second year in a row, a Sisters-area resident is the recipient of the Big Chainring Award. Phyllis Lewis was honored last week with the 2015 award. The Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) selected her for the honor in recogni- tion of her volunteer contri- butions to pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly environ- ments in Deschutes County. Last year’s award went to Patrick Eckford, also of Sisters. Started in 1996, the Big Chainring Awards are pre- sented annually. The awards were conceived to honor indi- viduals, businesses, and pub- lic agencies that have made significant contributions in support of better bicy- cling and walking in Central Oregon, and in encouraging children and adults to walk and ride their bikes, thereby making Deschutes County communities healthier and happier. A chainring is the main pedal-driven gear ring that moves the bike chain to pro- vide energy and propulsion to a bicycle. In a similar man- ner, Big Chainring Award recipients are seen as a driv- ing force in the community. Lewis received the award at last week’s county com- mission meeting. “Honestly,” Lewis said, “I was totally stunned when I got the letter telling me that I had received the award. It had never entered my mind that I would even be nominated.” The formal name of the award conferred on Lewis by BPAC is the Peter Hanson Memorial Award. Peter Hanson was a BPAC member who died of cancer in 2005. BPAC noted that Hanson’s contributions were in such areas as trail building and environmental and outdoor community projects. BPAC members determined that Lewis’s contributions to the community have been in the same spirit as those engen- dered by Hanson’s work. A BPAC news release for last week’s award ceremony said, “Phyllis Lewis has pro- vided tireless dedication as a volunteer promoting bicycle and pedestrian improvements through service as a member of the Sisters Trails Alliance Board of Directors, City of Sisters Parks Advisory Board, and the Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. In these roles she has been instrumen- tal in development of many projects that have improved bicycling and pedestrian facilities in Sisters Country and throughout Deschutes County. She also led efforts that received national recog- nition of Sisters as a cycling and pedestrian friendly com- munity. Phyllis exemplifies how that dedication will lead to a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment to benefit all members of the community.” For her part, Lewis insisted that there are many deserving candidates for the award. “This particular award is supposed to go to someone who has made great contribu- tions, and I feel that I am just one of the many people who volunteer. So I was very, very honored; and I still don’t even know who nominated me!” Chuck Humphreys, chair- man of the Sisters Trails Alliance, had plenty to say about Lewis and the role she has played in the community. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Phyllis for years on trail issues,” he said. “Of course, she is tenacious, and smart, and committed, and capable of getting things SISTERS ROUND-UP OF GEMS Thursday-Sunday, July 2-5, 2015 Beads • Crystals • Jewelry Fossils • Jade • Slabs • Minerals Rough Rock • Sunstones 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thur Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9 a a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday Sisters Eleme Elementary School | 611 E. Cascade Ave. Off Hwy. 20, Sisters, Oregon FRE ADMISSION - FREE PUBLIC PUB WELCOME! Wheelchair Accessible Whe done — while being disarm- ingly unassuming. But most importantly, she is simply wise, with a heart of gold. She embodies all that is good about Sisters Country.” Humphreys went on to say, “This BPAC award is the highest commendation of a volunteer, because it reflects the values of Peter Hansen. Before he died of cancer, Peter worked hard to get things done, not to be recog- nized. He gave himself to his volunteer work — setting a standard that this award tries to recognize in others. Phyllis is an incredibly deserving recipient of this award — almost as if this award was designed, years ago, with her in mind.” The Sisters Trails Alliance was not alone in singing Lewis’s praise. Sisters City Councilor Wendy Holzman had this to say: “I am very fortunate to have gotten to photo provided Phyllis lewis, second from left, receives BPaC award from Deschutes County Commissioners. know Phyllis and worked While obviously pleased with her. The fact that the with the award, Lewis seemed BPAC committee chose to even more pleased that all the elevate her award from the fuss stirred up by her award ‘individual’ category to the was bringing attention to the Peter Hanson Award speaks important role of volunteer- volumes about her. She is ism in the community. committed, tenacious, and “I’m really happy that does the work of two, while folks in the community can at the same time being one of see that there are volunteers the most genuine and caring who are looking out for their people I know. It is a privi- best interests; and I am very lege to know her.” happy just to be a part of it.” Beautiful horse property Come In… Relax…Enjoy! Tim Westcott Ronnica Westcott Jenny Duey Mary Morgan 541-588-6611 220 W. Cascade Ave. Come in, Relax, Enjoy! 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