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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2018)
6 Wednesday, July 18, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon ‘Doing something’ about Food preservation hotline Region a hot spot housing is complicated opens for the season RECYCLE In a recent forum on houselessness in Sisters, Community Development Director Patrick Davenport provided an overview of the multiple issues at play for the City regarding affordable housing. He said people often ask, “Why can’t the City do something about affordable housing?” The City Council has identified for the last three years as one of their explor- ing ways to encourage the construction of more afford- able housing in Sisters. The term affordable housing means different things to dif- ferent people, depending on their income, other financial resources, and any programs for which one may qualify. People earning 60 per- cent of the adjusted median income (AMI) for Deschutes County are eligible for hous- ing that has monthly hous- ing costs that don’t exceed 30 percent of their monthly income, but there are many more applicants than avail- able housing. For others, an affordable house might mean a home priced at under $300,000 or $200,000 or whatever amount for which they can qualify for a mort- gage. At various times so far this year, the word on the street has been there is noth- ing for sale under $300,000 in Sisters. Davenport pointed out the City has a small staff and budget with which to work. The $300,000 provided last year to Housing Works to help build the 48-unit low- income apartments currently under construction was a monumental commitment for the City, and not likely repeatable. Council is currently con- sidering adopting a con- struction excise tax on all new construction to help create a fund to encourage REUSE Correspondent affordable housing projects and to offer purchasing or rental programs to citizens. Builders and realtors are gen- erally against the tax, stating it will eat into their bottom line. Davenport explained that land-use and zoning laws govern where and what type of housing can be built or occupied. He said tension could arise among neigh- bors when people share living quarters, with two or three families in one residence. The number of long- term rentals is dwindling as property owners convert their houses and condos into short-term rentals, leaving permanent Sisters renters unable to find replacement housing when they have to move. Small businesses in a small town have diffi- culty paying wages that enable employees to pur- chase a home or pay the high rents being charged on the few rentals that are available. The cost of land and cost of housing continues to rise throughout Central Oregon as the region attracts more people. The increased land costs get passed on to the homebuyer. The new tariffs being imposed by the federal government could impact the cost of building materials, which could result in higher home prices. Davenport cautioned the stakeholders at last week’s meeting that any plans to build a year-round shelter in Sisters would run into numerous zoning and land- use issues as well as neigh- bors or businesses who may be hesitant to have a shelter near them. REDUCE By Sue Stafford Three Sisters Lions Club 9th Annual YARD SALE Thurs-Sat, July 19-21, 9 am-6 pm Sun, July 22, 9 am-2 pm West end of Main Avenue, next to Bright Spot Juice & Java and Sisters Car Wash — Questions, call 541-419-1279 or 541-410-6831 — By Kym Pokorny Correspondent CORVALLIS – As can- ning season gets underway, the food preservation hotline from Oregon State University Extension Service starts tak- ing calls July 16. The toll-free hotline at 800-354-7319 runs until October 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. When the hotline is closed, callers can leave a message. The hotline is staffed by certified Master Food Preserver volunteers in Lane and Douglas counties, but it’s available statewide. Thousands of callers use the hotline each year and approximately half the questions are about food safety. That’s a good thing, said Jeanne Brandt, Master Food Preserver program coordinator. “There is a tremendous amount of misinformation on the Internet, so it’s hard to figure out what is reliable and what is unsafe,” she said. “That’s partly why the hotline is so important. Our volun- teers know we have reliable, research-based information and they can guide people to success.” While food preservation continues to be popular, it is less of a family tradition than it used to be, Brandt said. “We aren’t learning from our family and friends much anymore and we don’t have them to call for directions and advice,” she said. “That’s where the hotline comes in. We step in for the information that used to be distributed – correctly or not – among canners.” Most commonly, people ask about preserving salsa, tomatoes and tuna. OSU Extension offers publications on each: Salsa Recipes for Canning, Canning Seafood, Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products and Safely Canning Foods: Pressure Canners, Pressure Cookers a n d E l e c t r i c P r e s s u r e Cookers. Search the catalog for “Food Preservation” and you’ll find more publications, including some in Spanish. E x t e n s i o n ’s A s k a n Expert, an online ques- tion-and-answer service, is another way to get informa- tion. Post a question and an expert will get back to you within 48 hours. They can offer information about any- thing related to food preser- vation from safety concerns to recipes. There’s also an app – Canning Timer & Checklist – for more experienced can- ners that provides reminders of essential steps in the can- ning process. A d d i t i o n a l l y, m a n y Extension offices offer free pressure-gauge testing. for Colorado tick fever BEND (AP) — Central Oregon has seen at least four confirmed cases and one suspected case of Colorado tick fever in just more than a month. The Bend Bulletin reports the Oregon Health Authority says eight of the 11 confirmed cases of the viral disease state- wide since 2011 have been Deschutes County residents. Four of the recent cases involved Deschutes County residents, while the fifth was a resident of Jefferson County. Colorado tick fever is a sometimes painful but rarely fatal tick-borne virus usually diagnosed in only one or two Oregonians per year. In rare cases, the infection has led to viral meningitis or encephalitis, and pregnant women can be at risk for spontaneous abortions or birth defects. The barber is in! Call Jeff for an appointment today! 152 E. Main Ave. • 541-549-8771 Jeff • Theresa • Ann • Jamie • Shiela • Terri • Shanntyl • Brittany Low-Cost Dog & Cat Vaccination & Microchip Clinic Saturday, July 28 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Questions? Call 541-699-9149. NuggetNews.com your online source for Hosted by Sisters Feed & Supply and Sunshine Vet Services Classifieds | Weather 102 E. Main Ave. | 541-549-4151
