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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 27, 2019)
20 Holidays in Sisters Wednesday, November 27, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor person in your life? Christmas tree hunting We carry a large selection of clothing, footwear, hiking, back-packing and climbing supplies, snowshoes and more! — By Craig F. Eisenbeis, Correspondent — Gift cards available for the hard-to-shop-for person! 103 E. Hood Ave. • 541-904-0778 | Open 10-5 every day HOLIDAY TRADITIONS Pick up your Christmas Tree Permit and rent or purchase a Chainsaw or Handsaw to cut it down! 506 N. Pine St. 541-549-9631 Sales • Service • Rentals • Accessories • www.sistersrental.com BREWER SAYS... LAST DAY TO SHIP UPS... Ground: Friday 12/13 3-day: Thursday 12/19 2-day: Friday 12/20 Overnight: Monday 12/23 LAST DAY TO SHIP FEDEX... Ground: Monday 12/16 3-day: Thursday 12/19 2-day: Friday 12/20 Overnight: Monday 12/23 Mon.-Fri., 9-5, Sat., 9-1 • 160 S. Oak St., Sisters • 541-549-1538 Thank you to my clients past, present and future… …I am very grateful and I wish you all a wonderful holiday season! Suzanne Carvlin , Realtor S 818.216.8542 | Suzanne@HomeinSisters.com 8 cascadesothebysrealty.com Each off ice is independently owned and operated. Sept. 11, 12 & 13 2020 Festival Passes on Sale December 9 (Sales start at 10am PST; Early Bird Pricing for fi rst 500 tickets. Limit 2 per customer) Perfect Holiday Gift! 541-549-4979 https://sff 2020.eventbrite.com in Sisters Country Although we saw the first signs of Christmas creeping into our lives even before Halloween arrived, the Christmas season is now officially headed into full swing. And, for many of us, one of the first things that comes to mind is finding a Christmas tree. Oregon is, by far, the nation¾s largest pro- ducer of commercial Christmas trees, nearly doubling the production of its nearest rival, North Carolina. Still, news stories currently circulating warn of a 2019 Christmas tree short- age and skyrocketing prices. Purportedly, short- ages stem primarily from recent droughts and reduced plantings at the depths of the recession a decade ago. Yet, those of us living in Sisters Country are surrounded by potential Christmas trees. So, what do we have to fear from a tree shortage? The answer, of course, is “nothing!” Each year, the U. S. Forest Service throws open its gates for private Christmas tree hunters; and there is no better way to obtain your Christmas tree than by staging a family hunt for a wild Christmas tree in our neighboring National Forest. The first step, of course, is to obtain a Christmas tree permit from the local Forest Service office or one of several commercial outlets. “When we think of holiday traditions, this is a great one,” says Kassidy Kern, pub- lic affairs specialist for the Deschutes National Forest. <I have a 4-year-old son; and we¾re already talking about making some hot choco- late, taking along the sled and making a morn- ing of it.” For many Central Oregon residents, a for- est hunt for a Christmas tree is a long-stand- ing family tradition, with a hint of adventure. <Since we¾ve had a relatively light snow year to this point,” Kern noted, “many areas remain accessible now that, in years past, would have been blocked in by drifts, and you would¾ve had to snowshoe or ski in. That¾s pretty tough for little kiddos, so my family has gone pretty close to main roads. This year I look forward to being prepared—but also perhaps being a little more adventurous about where we¾re able to go….” The culture of tree hunting in our local for- ests is hardly a secret. According to Kern, “The Deschutes National Forest sold more permits in 2018 than any other forest in the Pacific Northwest; nearly 12,000 Christmas tree per- mits were sold both by the agency and by our many vendor/retailers who partner with us on this program. “While 12,000 trees seems like a lot, this sort of thinning of smaller-diameter trees helps the dominant trees in a stand grow taller because they don¾t have to compete as much for the available resources (sun, water, etc). This is why we ask that you look for a tree in a thick stand; removing a tree to enjoy in your home actually improves the health of our forest.” Christmas tree permits cost $5 each, and up to five permits are permitted per house- hold. The Northwest¾s Douglas fir tree is com- monly considered the nation¾s Christmas tree. In fact, Oregon¾s Douglas fir Christmas trees are shipped all over the world. Douglas firs are common in many areas near Sisters, as are true fir species such as noble, white, Pacific silver, red, and grand firs. Keep in mind that a Forest Service permit is valid only on Forest Service lands, so tree hunt- ers must be certain that the selected tree is not on private land. If unsure, it is a good idea to have a Forest Service map that clearly shows forest boundaries. Trees selected for cutting must be at least 150 feet from state highways, picnic areas, campgrounds, or other developed sites. Trees within 300 feet of streams and lakes are also off limits. Other guidelines include selecting a tree that is no more than 12 feet tall. Trees taller than 12 feet require a special permit. The tree to be cut must also be within 15 feet of another tree; so, if the tree is standing alone in an open space, find another tree. Complete copies of Christmas tree hunt- ing guidelines and regulations can be obtained wherever tree permits are sold. Forest Service personnel will also provide guidance on areas where cutting is permitted and where to find particular tree species. The Sisters Ranger District office is located at the corner of Highway 20 and North Pine Street, on the west side of town. For further information call 541-549-7700. In addition to the Forest Service office, tree permits are also available at Sisters Ace Hardware, Bi-Mart, Sisters Mainline (Chevron) Station, Sisters Rental, and the Camp Sherman Store. For the first time, this year permits can also be obtained on-line under the Open Forest Continued on page 21 Sisters Folk Festival There is no gift more sublime than the gift of live music. usic. The music-lovers on your list will be delighted to find ind tickets to the 2020 Sisters Folk Festival in their stock- ing — and if you act quickly, you can get in on our best pricing of the year! Sisters Folk Festival tickets will go on sale on Monday, December 9, at 10 a.m., with early bird pric- ing for the first 500 tickets sold (limit 2 per person). The 24th annual festival will be held September 11-13, 2020, and will feature more than 40 acts on 11 stages spread throughout the town. Help your loved ones discover — or rediscover — a musical experience ce like no other, one that has garnered Sisters an international tional reputation. Visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org for more information, and be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with our concerts and events all year long!