Wednesday, August 30, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Running commentary
By Charlie Kanzig
Correspondent
Mother Nature has been
a big part of the news here
in Sisters Country over the
past two weeks, in ways that
have impacted all of us.
First it was the buildup
to the solar eclipse that
brought droves of people
along the path of total-
ity. I recall the last solar
eclipse in Oregon in 1979
as a freshman in college, but
don’t remember any hype
compared to the 2017 event.
It was overcast in Eugene,
so, although it got dark and
the birds roosted, there was
no view of the corona, no
brilliance of the “diamond
ring.”
The invasion of thou-
sands to Central Oregon
didn’t quite pan out fully,
but since my wife and I
had already decided to stick
close to home, we joined
friends about 10 miles
out Wilt Road just below
Geneva. As the obstruction
began and the air cooled I
stepped away from the small
crowd seated near me, feel-
ing a sudden need for tran-
quility and quiet. Many peo-
ple have described witness-
ing the moments of totality
in spiritual terms. I have
not come up with words
adequate to express the
experience, but beyond the
sense of wonder and peace-
fulness, I truly felt thankful
that for that minute or so
there was a feeling of unity
that has been sorely miss-
ing in our current political
climate.
The second “act of
nature” impacting our com-
munity is the Milli Fire and
its accompanying evacua-
tions and nearly constant
smoke. While most evacu-
ees have now returned to
their homes, the smoke
persists and seems to be
taking its toll on everyone,
physically and emotionally.
Runners have had to travel
out of the area, wear masks,
stay indoors, or take a break
from running. Of course,
there are some die-hards
who run regardless of condi-
tions. In my younger years,
when I had the feeling of
invincibility, I would have
been one of those die-hards.
Now I am just trying hard
not to die.
These two natural occur-
rences have in common the
factor of shared experience.
We shared the grandeur of
the eclipse and now we are
sharing, as a community, the
challenges of a major forest
fire in our backyard. Homes
threatened, favorite trails
endangered and burned,
school start disrupted, and
fatigue of smoke inhalation
… none of us can escape the
impact.
I have noticed that while
looking after ourselves, we
are also looking out for one
another. I have had calls
and messages from all over
asking if my family is in
harm’s way. In turn we have
offered refuge for those dis-
placed by evacuation. Dutch
Bros. is handing out cof-
fee to firefighters. It’s not
a dazzling moment, like the
eclipse, but there is unity
just the same.
This togetherness theme
is one for us to pay atten-
tion to, I think, both at the
micro and macro level.
For me, it’s the start of
another school year and
another season of coach-
ing runners. Teamwork,
striving for a common goal
of improvement, school
spirit, and cooperation are
foundational to a success-
ful and meaningful school
year and cross-country
season.
Beyond the boundaries
of the Sisters community,
in the broader picture and
in light of rising racial and
political tension and divi-
siveness, I was encouraged
to see images of thousands
of people simultaneously
gazing skyward wearing
their goofy paper-and-
plastic glasses, with smiles
stretched across their faces.
We got to experience some-
thing truly awesome in a
very memorable shared
moment.
The eclipse has come and
gone and the fire will even-
tually die out, but August
2017 will be remembered
around here as a time of
unity.
15
SPRD gets set to
bury the beef
Sisters Park & Recreation
District will once again bring
to the Sisters community their
Buried Beef & Brew Feast.
“This event has grown
in size every year, which is
what SPRD hopes for with all
their events,” said Shannon
Rackowski, adult/senior pro-
grams coordinator.
SPRD strives to create
and bring to Sisters Country
events that are different, yet
fun, affordable, and great for
families.
The main attraction to the
Buried Beef & Brew Feast
is the BEEF. What makes
the beef tender and flavor-
ful? How it is prepared: A
12-hour roasting process
starts with digging a large pit
in the ground, packing it with
wood, creating a bed of coals,
seasoning the meat (secret
family recipe), wrapping the
meat in water-soaked burlap,
then foil, and laying it out on
the bed of coals. Other fix-
ins with the beef will include
beer keg beans, corn, artisan
bun, dessert, and lemonade.
This event is sponsored
by First Interstate Bank and
Three Creeks Brewing Co.,
and will be held at Fir Street
Park on September 23, from
5:30 to 7:30 pm. Dry Canyon
Stampede will once again
entertain the crowd, so get
your dancing boots on!
Tickets ($12 for adults
and $5 for youth) are avail-
able from SPRD: online at
www.sistersrecreation.com,
by phone at 541-549-2091,
or stop by the office at 1750
W. McKinney Butte Rd. from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
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