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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2021)
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon C O M M U N I T 3 Y Learning history in real time By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent PHOTO BY NORM EDER Beth Wood will introduce her new book of poetry in a virtual event on Friday. Local poet celebrates book A six-week class dur- ing the presidential elec- tion, and the tumult and upheaval that followed, gave Sisters High School teacher Gail Greaney9s Advanced Placement Government Politics and Policy students a chance to study history in the making. A January 21 article pub- lished by the state9s largest paper, The Oregonian, fea- tured her class and focused on the challenge and strate- gies of teaching a course of this nature during an eventful political period. The Nugget followed up with Greaney and two of her students to uncover more of what she and her classroom experienced during and after the presidential election. Greaney was approached by a reporter from The Oregonian due to her involvement in the Classroom Law Project (CLP) which promotes the teaching of Constitutional law through programs such as We the People and Mock Trial. According to the group9s website, CLP9s mis- sion is <working to equip students with the knowledge, essential skills, and motiva- tion to participate in our democracy.= Greaney, a long-time par- ticipant of CLP, takes that mission quite seriously and found it hard to stay abreast as an educator with the fast- evolving events surrounding the elections and leading up to the January 6 uprising at the nation9s Capitol. <I would literally check my phone when I got up in the morning to catch the news and think about it on my way to work, then look again at 9 a.m. and change what I was going to talk about,= she told The Nugget. <Kids would arrive at 9:35 for class and ask a ques- tion about something that had happened between 9 and 9:30. There were days I could not keep up.= Often, a history or gov- ernment class focuses on happenings of the past, but Greaney9s group had a front- row seat as election results were challenged, a riot took place inside the nation9s Capitol building, and calls for presidential impeachment began to rumble. Policies, laws and the Constitution became part of every news cycle, in a See HISTORY on page 20 with virtual event Sisters poet and singer- songwriter Beth Wood will celebrate the release of her latest poetry book, <Believe The Bird,= with a virtual reading hosted by Paulina Springs Books on Friday, February 19. Wood will be joined by Kim Stafford, Oregon9s poet laureate from 2018 to 2020, and author of a dozen books of poetry and prose. Wood and Stafford will share poems, conversation, and even a song or two. The event is free and open to all. Wood follows up her award-winning poetry book, <Ladder To The Light= (2019 Oregon Book Awards Readers9 Choice Award and 2019 finalist for the Stafford/Hall prize for poetry), with a collection of forthright, shimmering poems that examine the sto- ries we tell ourselves. Some stories are true, some may no longer be true. Some are based on history, cultural messages, direct experience. Wood asks, <What if we examine the stories we tell ourselves to see if they resonate with who we are now? What if we allow our inherent wisdom to override See WOOD on page 21 Retirement… Central Oregon style By Katy Yoder Correspondent Oscar and Gabrielle Pena decided to begin retirement in Sisters in 2017. But slow- ing down hasn9t been on their agenda. Their love of the outdoors, sports, and pre- paring great food has kept them busy and moving fast. Choosing Sisters as their for- ever home is a true testament to Central Oregon9s allure. They had the whole world to choose from and settled in Sisters Country. The Penas have lived around the world, start- ing with their homeland of Mexico. Oscar9s work as an electrical engineer with sev- eral technology firms, like Hewlett Packard, took their family of four to a variety of places, including Brazil and Miami. After a successful career, he was ready to retire and travel. In 2016, the cou- ple took eight months and traveled to 15 countries. <By traveling around, we looked for the best place to start our new life,= said Oscar. The couple included a few rests at home before starting out again. <With COVID, I9m so glad we did it,= said Gabrielle. After completing their global travels, and while Oscar was still working, they intensified their search to find the best place to live. The couple was invited to a wedding in Montana. See PENA on page 23 As the COVID-19 crisis continues to affect gatherings, please contact individual organizations for current meeting status SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR Council on Aging of Central Oregon Senior Lunch Tuesdays, noon, Sisters Al-Anon Mon., noon, by Zoom. / Thurs., Community Church. 541-480-1843. 10 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Church. 541-610-7383. Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061. Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs. & Friends of the Sisters Library Board Sun., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 9 to 11 a.m., Transfi guration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal Sisters Library.www.sistersfol.com. Church of the Transfi guration / Mon., Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, ages welcome. 541-771-2211. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Heartwarmers (fl eece blanketmakers) Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Sisters City Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Hall. Materials provided. 541-408-8505. Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 4 p.m. 541-549-1028 or 541-719-1230. Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 3rd Monday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. RSVP at Church. 541-548-0440. citizens4community.com Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Military Parents of Sisters Meetings Support Group 1st Tuesday, noon, are held quarterly; please call for details. SPRD bldg. 800-272-3900. 541-388-9013. Black Butte Ranch Bridge Club Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., BBR community Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., room. Partner required. 541-595-6236. Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469. SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. For Saturday meeting dates and to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation location, email: steelefl y@msn.com. District. 541-549-2091. BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS Central OR Spinners and Weavers Guild One Saturday per month, Jan. thru Oct. For schedule: 541-639-3217. Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom. 503-930-6158. Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 4 p.m., meeting by Zoom. 541-549-6157. Sisters Speak Life Cancer Support Group 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 1 p.m. Suttle Tea. 503-819-1723. Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-639-6216. Sisters Trails Alliance Board 1st Monday, 5 p.m. Sisters Library. Public welcome. 808-281-2681. Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846. Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123. Sisters Bridge Club In-person gathering suspended until further notice. Three Sisters Irrigation District For free online bridge info, Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, call Barbara 541-914-6322. 4 p.m., TSID Offi ce. 541-549-8815. Sisters Caregiver Support Group 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., The Lodge in Sisters. 541-771-3258. Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd Tuesday, noon, Ray’s Food Place community room. 541-419-1279. Sisters Cribbage Club Please call for details. 541-923-1632. VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-903-1123. Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location information: 541-549-1193. Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870. Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654. SCHOOLS Sisters Parent Teacher Community 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Saloon. 541-480-5994. Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203. Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting by Zoom. 541-668-6599. Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wed. monthly, SSD Admin Bldg. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002. Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday. Location information: 541-279-1977. Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Thursdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-760-5645. 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