Wednesday, November 4, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
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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