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Wednesday, July 4, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Psychiatrist launches local practice
Transient merchant
regulations arise again
By Kathryn Godsiff
Correspondent
By Sue Stafford
Correspondent
Issues swirling around per-
mits for transient merchants
in the downtown area ate up
a lot of time and aroused con-
siderable ire and controversy
in Sisters before apparently
being put to bed late in 2015.
They’re back.
In a review during their
June 27 workshop of the cur-
rent transient merchant regu-
lations, members of the Sis-
ters City Council heard from
City Attorney Jeremy Greene
that the entire ordinance is
poorly written and needs to be
overhauled, with greater clari-
fication and specificity.
The transient merchant
ordinance is being reviewed
regarding the 100-foot set-
back required on Cascade
Avenue and the fact there are
no exemptions for nonprofit
organizations such as the vet-
erans who would like to sell
raffle tickets on Cascade dur-
ing the Quilt Show. Greene
indicated that having no
exemptions is not the norm.
City Manager Brant
Kucera indicated the most
recent revision to the tran-
sient merchant regulations
was done with regard to the
aesthetics of Cascade Avenue
and to protect the interests of
full-time, brick-and-mortar,
taxpaying local merchants.
Council President Nancy
Connolly said she favors the
100-foot set-back because she
sees Cascade Avenue, which
is a state highway, as the front
window of the city.
Councilor Andrea Blum
doesn’t see groups being
located on streets other than
Cascade as a deterrent to their
sales and favors keeping the
100-foot set-back.
Councilor Richard Ester-
man, who acknowledged his
conflict of interest on the mat-
ter due to his being an event
promoter, contends that the
ordinance is a violation of the
First Amendment.
Staff will work with legal
to develop a policy and bring
it to Council in a workshop.
Sisters Country residents
searching for an empathic ear
as they struggle with mental-
health issues have another
choice with the recent arrival
of Dr. George Mecouch, D.O.,
a board-certified psychaitrist.
He has long wanted to be a
small-town psychiatrist, hav-
ing grown up in rural New
Jersey.
Dr. Mecouch did his
psychiatry training at
The Medical College of
Wisconsin, graduating in
1982. He worked in the
Midwest for several years
then came to Oregon in the
mid-1990s. He spent the past
28 years living in West Linn,
Oregon and maintained a pri-
vate practice in Vancouver,
Washington. In addition, he
was the medical director of
a community mental-health
center in Clark County,
Washington.
When the opportunity pre-
sented itself, Dr. Mecouch
and his wife, Susan, made the
move permanently to their
home at Black Butte Ranch
and he set up his practice in
Sisters.
Specializing in Jungian
analysis and depth psychol-
ogy, Dr. Mecouch places great
emphasis on delving deep
into the soul of a patient. He
treats more than symptoms
and seeks to help his patients
figure out ways to connect
the soul to the world around
them, allowing the psyche to
heal itself with time and hard
work. Practical applications
are the end goal, and he uses
a variety of techniques to get
there.
“Psychotherapy tries to
determine what the depth of
the soul wants,” he said.
Dream analysis, cognitive
behavorial therapy, talk ther-
apy and empathic listening,
as well as medication when
necessary are techniques Dr.
Mecouch uses with patients.
He also advocates getting
outside and finds his personal
best therapy is fly fishing.
PHOTO PROVIDED
One of his favorite T-shirt
slogans reads, “Therapy is for
the rich, fly fishing is for the
rest of us.”
“Fly fishing is the best
therapy, but if it doesn’t work,
come see me,” he said.
Dr. Mecouch can be
reached at 503-705-9208
or through his website
www.drgeorgemecouch.com.
Dr. George Mecouch , D.O.
Board Certifi ed Psychiatrist
New to Sisters with 36 years experience.
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Mark your calendar for... Author
Presentations
Wed. • 7/11 • 4 PM Marie Bostwick
— AT SISTERS PUBLIC LIBRARY —
Just in Time Marie explores the themes of marriage and loyalty in
this novel as Grace refl ects on her 15-year marriage. When an accident
leaves her husband in a coma, she fi nds herself wondering about her
future and capabilities as she becomes burdened with responsibilities.
She must look to her friends and inside herself for the answers.
Thurs. • 7/12 • 4 PM Rene Denfeld
— AT SISTERS PUBLIC LIBRARY —
The Child Finder
Happy
th of July!
4
We will be closed
W
July 4.
Oregon author Rene Denfeld speaks
about her book during quilt-show week. Her lyrical, beautiful writing
is inspired by her work with sex-traffi cking victims and innocents in
prison. Rene has also been a foster adoptive parent for 20 years.
Three years ago Madison Culver went missing at the age of 5 while
looking for a Christmas tree with her family. Naomi’s personal journey
from foster child to adulthood parallels her search for Madison.
Friday • 7/13 • 4 PM Elise Hooper
The Other Alcott
Pacifi c Northwest debut novelist Elise
Hooper brings the story of May Alcott, the youngest of the Alcott
sisters, eclipsed by her sister’s literary triumph in 1868, who sets out
to pursue her own career as a painter. The quest takes her to major
cities in Europe where she fi nds herself on a collision course with her
famous sister. Professional accomplishment comes at a steep cost.
We can order & receive most books in a couple days – free shipping!
506 N. Pine St.
541-549-9631
Sales • Service
Rentals • Accessories
www.sistersrental.com
SHOP LOCAL for: Books, Games, Toys, Gifts, Audio Books
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Our artisans are 3rd-generation meat and
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order. We’ve got tasty sandwiches,
NW craft beer on tap and in growlers.
541-719-1186
Excellent meat case!
110 S. Spruce St.
Beer & wine, too!
Open 9 AM -7 PM Every Day
MEATS • CHEESES • EATERY • DRINKERY