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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2021)
The Nugget Vol. XLIV No. 42 P OSTAL CUSTOMER News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon www.NuggetNews.com Wednesday, October 27, 2021 Autumn magnificence... Elementary school plans on schedule Forest restoration plans in the works By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent According to the latest timeline published by the Sisters School District, the new elementary school build- ing will be completed for the opening of the 2023-24 school year. Last May, voters approved a $33.8 million bond for the construction of the new school and other district projects. The current elementary school is pressed to capac- ity, and remodeling the facil- ity was not a viable option, according to Superintendent Curt Scholl. Additionally, PHOTO BY CAROL STATTON The Metolius River put on its fall colors in an annual reminder of why this place is special to everyone who lives and visits Sisters Country. See SCHOOL on page 9 Correspondent Visitors enjoy Sisters, but several key areas 4 traffic, and the availability of din- ing options and overnight accommodations 4 could be improved. Those are conclusions drawn from a series of sur- veys conducted in order to create data for the destina- tion tourism management work going on in the City of Sisters (see related story on page 15). ECONorthwest of Bend conducted surveys for Sisters from August 12 to September 8, via emails and social media, to people who had previously visited Sisters. Lists came from Creekside Campground, Sisters Folk Festival, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, and other public events. They also conducted in-person tourist surveys from Friday, August 13 to Monday, August 16. The intercept sites in town included local restaurants Inside... The Sisters Ranger District released a draft envi- ronmental assessment of the Green Ridge Landscape Restoration Project for a 30-day public comment period last Friday. The 25,000-acre project area is located about nine miles north of Sisters. The goal of the project is to pro- mote ecosystem sustainabil- ity, resilience, and health under current and future con- ditions in the Green Ridge project area. The assessment addresses both land and water issues. <After significant inter- disciplinary teamwork See PLANS on page 21 Tourists satisfied, but room for improvement By Sue Stafford PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15 and shops, trailheads and trails, recreation sites, and Black Butte Ranch and Camp Sherman. Between both types of surveys, the largest number of respondents came from Oregon (721), fol- lowed by Washington (171), California (140), other west- ern states (90), Midwest (34), South (26), and East (24). The data collected revealed that visitors to Sisters are in general highly satisfied with their expe- rience, but several key areas could be improved to enhance visitor experience and encourage repeat vis- its. They complained about the traffic, lack of available restaurants and accommo- dations, and affordability. Distance, cost, crowding, and other preferred destinations are among the main reasons people would choose to not visit again. The visitors in the surveys tend to be older, traveling without children, on three- or See TOURISM on page 14 Habitat celebrates home ownership By Jim Cornelius Editor In Cheif Habitat for Humanity homeowners must always take a long road toward the moment when they cut the ribbon on their new abode. For Terri Gookin and Patrick and Diane Yates, who cel- ebrated the dedication of their new homes on Bluebird Street in the ClearPine subdivision on Friday, October 22, the road was longer 4 and more filled with rocks and potholes 4 than most. Volunteers and families spent the past two years work- ing in pandemic conditions, with growing supply interrup- tions. Construction Manager Darleen Snider acknowledged all the local suppliers who help provide materials, and the volunteer <cast of char- acters it takes to build one of these houses.= The threat of COVID-19 reduced that cast of characters from around 20 to <six hardcore guys who have finished these houses.= Snider said that <With COVID, it has become a defi- nite challenge.= But Habitat for Humanity PHOTO BY ANGELA LUND Terri Gookin cut the ribbon on her new townhome on Friday, October 22. is accustomed to challenges. Its entire model 4 securing land, building with volunteers and often donated materi- als, with the <sweat equity= of homeowners poured in and a zero-interest mortgage to make it all viable 4 is a challenge. Sisters Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Sharlene Weed acknowledged this in her remarks at Friday9s dedication ceremony. <It9s truly a miracle,= she said. <These houses are a miracle. These houses are impossible.= And yet, there they were, newly minted homeowners, their family partners and a host of volunteers and com- munity members, watching ribbons taped across entry- ways as they were sliced through and fluttering to the See HABITAT on page 23 Letters/Weather ............... 2 Announcements ................ 8 Sisters Salutes ................. 9 Crossword .......................18 Classifieds ................. 20-22 Meetings .......................... 3 Entertainment .................. 9 At Your Service............ 12-13 Sudoku ........................... 20 Real Estate ................ 22-24
