The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

A growing group of individuals and organizations engaged in addressing emerging issues and needs in Sisters Country gathered at the new Wakefield Inn on March 15. The monthly meeting of Community Builders, facilitated by Citizens4Community (C4C), offered a bird’s-eye view of the myriad community-supporting projects underway, along with ways residents can get involved.

This month’s presenters included:

The Roundhouse Foundation. Grants Program Specialist Dawn Cooper shared that the Foundation received 115 grant requests for their spring awards. The Roundhouse Foundation’s vision is “to create a positive impact through collaboration in communities by encouraging creative problem solving, innovative programming, to stimulate local economies.”

Age Friendly Sisters Country. President Judy Smith noted that April 20 is National Volunteer Day. A number of action teams are working on new projects and could use volunteers. Sisters Transportation and Ride Share Service (STARS), which offers free transportation to nonemergency medical appointments, seeks to recruit a passenger coordinator.

In Our Backyard. In their efforts to create local awareness of sex trafficking in our community, the organization is working to have “freedom stickers” strategically posted throughout town. Stickers contain the National Human Trafficking Hotline. When a trafficking survivor calls or texts this hotline, they’re offered hope and help.

Family-Friendly Restrooms. An effort is underway to expand the number of diaper-changing stations throughout Sisters. The hope is to obtain funding and offer installation services for local businesses.

Sisters School District (SSD). Superintendent Curt Scholl gave a progress report on the new elementary school. Vertical construction should begin in April. Working with Sisters Park & Recreation and students from the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program, the District is still exploring options for reuse of the current elementary school, including the possibility of workforce housing on the property. Scholl also gave a heads-up that citizens will be asked to vote in May on a local option levy. The levy, he pointed out, will not cost voters additional money but rather will simply replace the levy that is retiring.

Scholl said that of the approximately 3,000 pieces of legislation before the Oregon State Legislature, 300 or so deal with educational issues. He encouraged residents to contact their legislators and give feedback on proposed legislation, particularly a bill requiring mandatory P.E. for 30 minutes every day. The SSD offers four special classes – art, music, P.E., and technology. Offering P.E. every day would require eliminating one of those. The District requires a total of 1.5 P.E. credits for graduation, more than most districts. Several other proposed bills deal with special education issues.

Three Sisters Historical Society. A board member provided information about upcoming Fireside Evening events, Camp Polk Cemetery tours, and a Santiam Wagon Road walk. Volunteers are needed to help in the museum and with various special projects, including oral history interviews.

Circle of Friends announced two upcoming events, a Family Night on May 13 and a fundraiser to be held at the Rodeo grounds on July 22.

Sisters Little League. Opening Day kicks off on Saturday, April 1 at 9 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. Joe Eckstein is on deck to sing the national anthem.

C4C launched as a nonprofit in 2015 with a mission to “develop and implement tools, projects, and events that encourage respectful communication, strengthen trust, and build local community and leadership.” Community Builders meet the third Wednesday of each month, with the next gathering taking place April 19 at 10 a.m. at The Belfry. Jim Goodwin of radio station KJIV will speak. For more information visit Citizens4Community.com.