Wednesday, September 9, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
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Schools building
Chinese program
By Jim Cornelius
News Editor
The arrival of three new
Chinese language teachers in
Sisters is further evidence that
an innovative program estab-
lished here in 2008 is estab-
lished for the long haul.
David Perkins, a Black
Butte Ranch resident and
retired businessman with
strong ties to Asia, established
the Mandarin language pro-
gram and was its first teacher.
In recent years, Sisters has
hosted teachers from China
through a program of the
Chinese government and the
Confucius Institute at Portland
State University.
The program has extended
from Sisters High School
downward through the grades
to include introductory cul-
tural and language expe-
riences in the elementary
school and middle school. It’s
all part of creating a sustain-
able Mandarin language pro-
gram that has become one of
Sisters’ signature educational
strengths.
“I don’t want this to
be a one-man show, and I
leave and the whole thing
p e t e r s o u t , ” s a i d P e r-
kins, who remains deeply
See CHINESE on page 29
Care-A-Vanners make a lifestyle out of helping Habitat families.
Care-A-Vanners help Sisters families
By Diane Goble
SPRD restructures
lacrosse program
The Sisters Park &
Recreation District (SPRD)
Board of Directors voted
unanimously last week to
approve a five-member advi-
sory committee to Outlaw
Lacrosse. Sisters Country
citizens Winter Lewis, Jay
Wilkens, Rob Fish, Michele
Hammer and Paul Patton were
selected to serve as committee
members to ensure lacrosse
continues to be a strong and
successful program for the
youth of Sisters.
The board of directors
heard of perceived policy
deficiencies in the lacrosse
program committee in May
and took immediate action to
photo by diane Goble
Correspondent
rectify the situation, the board
reported. At the September
board meeting a memoran-
dum of understanding for all
SPRD committees was voted
into place. A portion of this
policy requires a committee of
at least five people to advise
each program in order to oper-
ate with transparency, promote
smooth and clear communi-
cation, and create additional
oversight.
SPRD reports that the
directives are designed to pro-
vide “safeguards” for commit-
tee members, encourage inclu-
sive decision-making and help
See LACROSSE on page 30
For some, an RV vacation
means doing some real work
— and having some real fun.
Sisters Habit for Humanity
board members and volun-
teers welcomed a group of
Habitat RV Care-A-Vanners
with a potluck supper last
weekend. RV Care-A-Vanners
is a volunteer program for
anyone who travels around
the country in a recreational
vehicle, and wants to build
Habitat houses and have fun
doing it. RV Care-A-Vanners
welcomes people of all ages,
from all walks of life, who
want to pick up a hammer and
help change lives.
Karl and Paula Hatrak
rented out their house in La
Quinta, California, to find out
if they liked life on the road —
which they did. They decided
to continue traveling, visiting
the kids, and “giving back for
all we’ve been given,” Karl
said. This is their second year
and their third build. Karl had
done some building projects
in their home over the years,
and Paula said, “I’m a fast
learner.”
Bill and Deborah
Brown retired in Fair Oaks,
California, and decided to
try out the RV lifestyle for a
couple of months. They read
an article about the RV Care-
A-Vanners and decided that
sounded like a great way to
give back. They are enjoying
their experience and next year
hope to extend their road trip
to five or six months and vol-
unteer at more Habitat builds
around the country.
Dan and Jean Bissell do
volunteer work at home in
Salem, and they travel a lot in
their RV. They wanted to find
something to do to give back
while they were on the road
and came across the RV Care-
A-Vanners on the Internet.
This will be their sixth build
in two years.
Kevin Schinke comes
from Sacramento. He sold his
home, bought a van, joined
RV Care-A-Vanners and plans
to drive around the country
helping wherever he finds a
need. He says, “I did a lot of
work on my house. It’s not
rocket science. I figured I can
figure it out.”
Gary Vines and Deb Locke
were from Maine, but they
live full-time in their motor
home. They both love experi-
encing different perspectives,
meeting new people, having
meaningful conversations, and
being on the road. They have
been RV Care-A-Vanners for
See VOLuNTEERS on page 28
SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR
Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild
4th Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For
location information: 541-549-2072.
ALANON Monday, noon, Shepherd
of the Hills Lutheran Church •
Central Oregon Spinners and
Wednesday, 6 p.m., The Episcopal
Weavers Guild 4th Saturday, 1 to
Church of the Transfi guration.
3 p.m. Sisters Library. 541-639-3217.
541-549-8737 or 541-549-1527.
Central Oregon Woodworkers
Alcoholics Anonymous Thursday &
Guild 1st Monday. 541-610-9022.
Sunday, 7 p.m., The Episcopal Church
East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th
of the Transfi guration • Saturday,
Wednesday, September-June, Stitchin’
8 a.m., The Episcopal Church of the
Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061.
Transfi guration • Monday, 5 p.m.,
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Friends of the Sisters Library
• Tuesday, noon, Big Book study,
Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday,
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • 9 to 11 a.m., Sisters Library. Public is
Thursday, noon, Sober Sisters Women welcome. 541-977-8285.
Meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Heartwarmers (fl eece blanketmakers)
Church. 541-548-0440.
1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Sisters City
Authors Support Group 2nd Friday,
Hall. Just bring scissors! 503-880-5832.
10 a.m., Sisters Area Chamber of
Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to
Commerce. 541-588-0081.
4 p.m. 541-549-1028 or 541-548-3304.
Black Butte Macintosh Users Group
3rd Thursday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Sisters Military Parents of Sisters 2nd
Library community room. 541-549-1471. Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Ray’s Food Place
community room. 541-647-7483.
Black Butte Ranch Bridge Club
Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters
Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., Black Butte
Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.,
Ranch community room. All welcome;
Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-408-5594.
partner required. 541-595-6236.
SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings
Central Oregon Council on Aging
Senior Lunch Tuesdays, noon, Sisters & Enrichment) Wednesdays, 1 to
4 p.m. at SPRD. 541-549-2091.
Community Church. 541-678-5483.
BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS
Sisters Area Photography Club
2nd Wednesday, 4 p.m., Sisters Library
community room. 541-549-6157.
Sisters Area SketchUp Users Group
2nd Wednesday, 7 p.m., Earthwood
Timber Frame Homes. 541-549-0924.
Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd
Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846.
Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays,
12:30 p.m., The Pines Clubhouse.
Novices welcomed. 541-549-9419.
Sisters Cribbage Club Tuesdays,
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Ray’s Food Place
community room. All are welcome.
541-923-1632.
Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board
of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Location information: 541-549-1193.
Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 a.m.,
Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes.
541-410-2870.
Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday.
Location information: 541-279-1977.
Sisters Rotary Tuesdays, noon,
Aspen Lakes Lodge. 541-977-6545.
Sisters Trails Alliance Board of
Directors 2nd Wed., 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The Pines Clubhouse. 541-719-8822.
Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon,
Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123.
Three Sisters Irrigation District
Board of Directors 1st Tuesday,
4 p.m., TSID Offi ce. 541-549-8815.
Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd
Tuesday, noon, Ray’s Food Place
community room. 541-419-1279.
VFW 8138 & American Legion
1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters
City Hall. Service offi cer available.
541-903-1123 or 541-549-1132.
CITY & PARKS
Sisters City Council 2nd &
4th Thursday, 7 p.m., Sisters City Hall.
541-549-6022.
Sisters Park & Recreation District
Board of Directors 1st Tuesday,
5:30 p.m., SPRD building. The public is
welcome. 541-549-2091.
Sisters Planning Commission
3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters
City Hall. 541-549-6022.
FIRE & POLICE
Black Butte Ranch Police Dept.
Board of Directors Meets monthly.
541-595-2191 for time & date.
Black Butte Ranch RFPD Board of
Directors 4th Thursday, 9 a.m., Black
Butte Ranch Fire Station. 541-595-2288.
Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors
3rd Wednesday, 7 p.m., Main Station,
George Cyrus Rd. 541-548-4815. See
the agenda at www.cloverdalefi re.com.
Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD
Board of Directors 3rd Tuesday,
5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St.
541-549-0771.
Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Drills
Mondays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall,
301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771.
SCHOOLS
Black Butte School Board of
Directors 2nd Tuesday, 5 p.m.,
Black Butte School. 541-595-6203.
Sisters Christian Academy Board
of Directors 2nd Thursday, 8 a.m.,
RE/MAX Revolution offi ce at Outlaw
Station. 541-549-4133.
Sisters School District Board of
Directors One Wednesday per month,
SSD Admin Bldg. See schedule at www.
sisters.k12.or.us. 541-549-8521 x4011.
This calendar is for reg
scheduled meetings; ularly
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teresa@nuggetnews.c ail to
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