Wednesday, November 4, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon C O M M U N I T 3 Y Schools form partnership for grief, loss, trauma help By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent PHOTO PROVIDED Outlaw Martial Arts recently celebrated the achievements of numerous taekwondo black belts. Some are new black belts, some have achieved higher ranking. Martial artists mark milestones By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief Reaching the rank of black belt at Outlaw Martial Arts is no small achievement. It rec- ognizes not only a high level of skill in taekwondo, it also reflects commitment, dedica- tion, discipline and fortitude. This fall, several stu- dents at Outlaw Martial Arts reached the level of black belt for the first time, or achieved a higher ranking. The decade-old dojo in Sisters has evolved from its roots in taekwondo. Brazilian jiu jitsu is now an integral part of the program, and founder Marty Kaczmarek, better known as Master K, has handed the reins to skilled martial artist and teacher Tony Gonzalez. <We9ve really switched to a mixed martial arts school over the years, but honoring our roots and tradition has been very important to me,= Kaczmarek told The Nugget. <And Tony knows that as well.= The coronavirus pandemic has forced the school to adapt, as have programs of all kinds across the nation. The ethic that lies at the bedrock of the school positions Outlaw Martial Arts to weather the storm. <Perseverance is a true tenet that people can rally behind,= Kaczmarek said. Perseverance is a hall- mark quality for the Buller family, who have practiced martial arts at the school for most of the time it has been in existence in Sisters. Angela, Emmitt, and Kathryn Buller each earned their black belt this fall, and Jeremy Buller achieved the rank of 2nd Dan Black Belt. Emmitt started very early 4 as a youngster who had a lot of anxiety about separa- tion from his parents. <He didn9t want to start,= his mother Angela said. <We put him into martial arts. He needed more structure.= Emmitt, his family, and Master K all acknowledge that it was a rough start, but Emmitt persevered and hit his first turning point. <When I turned 6, I wanted to be in the big kid class,= he recalled. And now, at age 11, he is a black belt 4 a status Master K says was well-earned. He says his favorite aspects of training are board-breaking and boxing. His sister Kathryn, 14, has found a high level of poise See BLACK BELTS on page 22 Counselors for the Sisters School District have been col- laborating with other agen- cies to better respond to grief and loss, in part following the deaths of two high school seniors and a recent graduate. The community was rocked by the tragic loss of young lives earlier this fall, which underscored the ongo- ing need for resources to help both students and adults be aware of information, resources and other forms of support in our area. In addition to the recent vehicle accidents, Sisters has experienced a number of other losses of young adults in recent years due to suicide. Jessica Jacks, the preven- tion programs supervisor for Deschutes County mental health, and Joel Stutzman of Central Oregon Chaplaincy have been collaborating over the past few weeks with Sisters Middle School counselor Brook Jackson, high school counselor Lindy Weddel and school nurse Trish Roy, among others, to provide in-school and com- munity support associated See GRIEF on page 19 Community Thanksgiving dinner will go forward By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief Many events in Sisters have been disrupted or can- celed this year, but the hardy volunteers who provide a community Thanksgiving dinner each year at Sisters Community Church are undeterred. The meal will go forward from noon to 4 p.m. 4 pri- marily on a to-go basis. Longtime event coor- dinator Jennifer Seher told The Nugget that the event is just too important to too many people to completely forego due to the coronavirus pandemic. < We 9 r e doing Thanksgiving because a year ago, it was something every- one was looking forward to,= she said. Vo l u n t e e r s w i l l p u t together the dinner with all the fixings in the church kitchen. <The food is already donated. Josh (Reed) from Three Creeks (Brewing Co.) is going to partner with me this year to do the cooking,= Seher said. See THANKSGIVING on page 13 As the COVID-19 crisis continues to affect gatherings, please contact individual organizations for current meeting status SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS Al-Anon Mon., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. / Thurs., 10 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-610-7383. Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs. & Sun., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfi guration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfi guration / Mon., 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-548-0440. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Support Group 1st Tuesday, noon, SPRD bldg. 800-272-3900. Black Butte Ranch Bridge Club Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., BBR community room. Partner required. 541-595-6236. Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelefl y@msn.com. Central OR Spinners and Weavers Guild One Saturday per month, Jan. thru Oct. For schedule: 541-639-3217. Council on Aging of Central Oregon Senior Lunch Tuesdays, noon, Sisters Community Church. 541-480-1843. Sisters Speak Life Cancer Support Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., Ponderosa Lodge Group 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 1 p.m. Meeting Room. 503-930-6158. Suttle Tea. 503-819-1723. East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061. Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 4 p.m., meeting by Zoom. 541-549-6157. Sisters Area Woodworkers Friends of the Sisters Library Board 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-639-6216. of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 9 to 11 a.m., Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Sisters Library.www.sistersfol.com. Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846. Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All 12:30 p.m., The Pines Clubhouse. ages welcome. 541-771-2211. Novices welcomed. 541-549-9419. Heartwarmers (fl eece blanketmakers) Sisters Caregiver Support Group 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Sisters City 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., The Lodge in Hall. Materials provided. 541-408-8505. Sisters. 541-771-3258. Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board 4 p.m. 541-549-1028 or 541-719-1230. of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location information: 541-549-1193. Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 to 3rd Monday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. RSVP at 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at citizens4community.com Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870. Military Parents of Sisters Meetings Sisters Parent Teacher Community are held quarterly; please call for details. 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters 541-388-9013. Saloon. 541-480-5994. Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., Meeting by Zoom. 541-668-6599. Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469. SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation District. 541-549-2091. Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday. Location information: 541-279-1977. Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Thursdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-760-5645. Sisters Trails Alliance Board 1st Monday, 5 p.m. Sisters Library. Public welcome. 808-281-2681. 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 Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-903-1123. Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654. SCHOOLS Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203. Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wed. monthly, SSD Admin Bldg. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002. Sisters Middle School Parent Collaboration Team 1st Tuesday, 2 p.m., SMS. 541-610-9513. CITY & PARKS Sisters City Council 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022. Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m., SPRD bldg. 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 Wed., 7 p.m., 67433 Cloverdale Rd. 541-548-4815. cloverdalefi re.com. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541-549-0771. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771. This listing is for regular Sisters Country meetings; email information to lisa@nuggetnews.com