A Free Pair of Bauer’s

I buy a majority of my athletic shoes and clothing at our local Habitat for Humanity store. It’s both a pleasure and necessity these days. And, having spent many years working in the athletic footwear industry, I know that the “landed” cost (what a manufacturer pays to produce and ship an item to the U.S.) of most items is pretty close to what I pay at the Habitat store.

For me, in this economic climate, that’s about the right price to pay for non-US made products.

Buying at Habitat feels good for several reasons. I know I bought something, albeit used, that I really need (not just want) and got a tremendous deal on it. And my purchase helps local families achieve the American dream of home ownership. With the threat of losing my own home still hanging in the balance, it’s comforting to know my purchase is helping someone buy an affordable home. Purchasing from a big box retailer just doesn’t have the same immediate pay back.

And, as one of the forty-five plus million people without health insurance, I consider my purchases of athletic gear (mainly shoes and running apparel) to be my “insurance premium.” Much less expensive than traditional health insurance, I’m hoping that my proactive approach to wellness will pay off. (Unless, of course, I get hit by an eighteen-wheeler while cycling down Cascade Avenue.)

OK I admit it; I’m addicted to shopping at Habitat. But I’m not alone. Many locals make a weekly trip to the store hoping to snatch an item before someone else does.  

Back to my story about those Bauer’s.  

One of the bonuses at our Habitat store is the “free” table located just outside the front door. These are items that just don’t sell. Mostly it’s filled with knick-knacks.

Leaving the store after a recent visit, I glanced over at the table and was shocked at what I saw. There sat a pair of Bauer Supreme men’s hockey skates.

Now, for those who didn’t grow up in New England playing ice hockey, this is like finding your very first car, forty years later and in perfect condition, parked in downtown Sisters. I wore this same model during my high school and college playing years. And youth ice hockey in New England is as popular as soccer is here in the Northwest.

Standing there stunned, I was instantly transported back to my youth hockey days in the Boston area. Stunned because, had these appeared in a Habitat store in Boston, grown men would have been fighting over them. (If that culture is foreign to you, listen to Car Talk sometime on National Public Radio, Tom and Ray joke about crazy Bostonians a lot.)

Back in the 60’s and early 70’s, Boston-area youth hockey players wore the skates that their professional hockey player idols were wearing. If you were a hard-hitting defenseman you probably wore Bauer’s. But if you considered yourself to be a flashy forward you likely gravitated toward CCM Tacks. 

Picking the Bauer’s up, my first impulse was to smell the leather. Bauer’s have rich, deep leather smell that’s unique to skates. And hockey arenas have their own distinct smells which permeate everything. Sweat-soaked equipment mixed with the sickly sweet smell of the popcorn machine. And, of course, in the larger arenas, the scent of spilled beer. If only these skates could talk.

Old rink rats like me can smell a skates’ history - the dank concrete locker rooms with rubber mats all around where they were laced-up. Transported back to the late sixties, I swear I smelled a player’s sweat, mixed with the sweet smell of Gatorade splashed on the boot after a hard period of play.

The compression and curl of the padded tongue told me how tight the player laced his skates for competition. I ran my fingers down the blades, feeling for nicks that told me these skates had glided only over indoor ice, not frozen ponds, and had been used in light competition, perhaps a senior no-checking league.

Standing there in front of Habitat, memories of Massachusetts high school hockey flooded my brain. Lugging a large duffle bag full of gear into Lynn Arena for 5:00 am practices – the only ice time available. Practicing on Phillips Andover Academy’s outdoor ice rink in January, with the temperature hovering around twenty degrees, fearing that a slap shot would hit your nearly frozen foot.

Like playful wolf cubs, on the team bus we practicing our fighting skills (a part of hockey that, unfortunately, fans love even today) by pulling another guy’s jersey over his head – so you could then pummel a straight-jacketed opponent. Again, a part of hockey culture foreign to most North westerners.

Our Habitat store serves many functions in our community. It’s making the American dream possible for many who could not otherwise afford it, provides gently used clothing and household items at reasonable prices, and it’s providing a place for volunteers to serve the local community in a meaningful and direct way.

And for me it’s a place where wonderful memories are rekindled. 

Emil Smith – Fifty Years in Sisters

This article was published in the 10/26/11 Nugget Newspaper
Listen to the podcast here: 

Talking with Emil (pronounced “Eeemil”) Smith is both entertaining and educational. You’d never guess that this spry man with the lilting voice was seventy-eight years old.

Throughout our conversation I couldn’t shake the similarities between the actor Robin Williams and Emil – the little boy charm, sparkling eyes, and quick wit. Almost leprechaun-like in demeanor, Emil is an engaging and intelligent man that can talk for hours about his life’s passions and adventures.

Born in Brighton, Colorado in 1933, Emil had three siblings – a brother, Eastburn, born in 1935, sister Karen in 1940, and another sister, Kristin, in 1944. Emil’s mother, Doris, was a homemaker and Emil’s father, Marvin, was a federal forester.  Marvin’s vocation meant the Smith family moved frequently, something many children don’t appreciate.

But not Emil. An inquisitive boy, he cherished the educational opportunity of being exposed to new cultures and learning experiences. “I was very curious so new locations were fascinating to me,” said Emil.

In 1933 Marvin was transferred from Montrose, Colorado to Park Falls, Wisconsin, located in the Chequamegon National Forest of northern Wisconsin. The family spent six years there until 1939 when, at age six, another transfer brought the family to Springfield Missouri.

Music was a shared love in the Smith family and Emil’s humor was evident while recalling a family decision in their new town. “My parents chose their church in Springfield based on which one had the best choir,” recalled Emil. (A choir member to this day, Emil also played the clarinet and piano, becoming an accomplished trombonist at Cass Lake High School in Minnesota, winning several prestigious awards.)

Five years later, in 1944, the Smith’s were on the road again. Eleven years old, a fifth grader and avid Cub Scout, Emil was thrilled to learn they were moving to Cass Lake, home of the Chippewa Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota. 

 “As a Cub Scout I thought I had died and gone to heaven because I really admired all the Indian skills – tracking and all their natural abilities I had heard and read about,” said Emil.

Stoking Emil’s interest in the concept of “community,” the seven years spent in Northern Minnesota lit a spark that burns to this day.

“I really began to appreciate the value of a community where everybody knew everybody and you were exposed to a very diverse population. The Native Americans in that area were very poor, and the surrounding logging and railroad community barely eked out a living,” recalled Emil.

Common threads throughout Emil’s early years were a love of the outdoors, music, and literature. He recalled reading an issue of Life magazine in which Oregon was featured.

“I just drooled when I was the photos of Mt. Hood and Timberline Lodge. I was really into cross country skiing and the biggest ‘mountain’ in Wisconsin was 400 feet high,” said Emil.

The Smith’s remained in Northern Minnesota until 1951 when they relocated to Portland and Marvin assumed the position of Deputy Operations Chief for Oregon and Washington. Recalling the Life magazine article he read about Oregon, Emil couldn’t wait to move.

But college was his immediate future and, the very day they landed in Portland, Emil boarded a bus for Eugene to begin his college years at the University of Oregon. Torn between his love for music and his affinity for the sciences, Emil could not decide on a major after his sophomore year. And he didn’t want to stay in school simply to avoid the draft. After all, these were the Korean War years - June 1950 through the “cease fire” in July 1953.

Although a cease fire had been called the war was not yet over so, in October of 1953, Emil joined the “Volunteering for the Draft” program which limited military service to two years. “The advantage was that you knew when you were going to be called into service, and it would only be 2 years,” recalled Emil.

Soon after his eight weeks of basic training in Southern California the Korean War officially ended and Emil was transferred to Fort Devens in Massachusetts. While waiting for his next assignment he learned about the shortage of qualified people for the “Army Security Agency” (ASA.) Composed of soldiers with high scores on Army intelligence tests, the ASA was tasked with monitoring and interpreting military communications from the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, and their allies around the world. 

Emil applied and was accepted into the army’s language school in Monterey California in 1954. 

Already well-versed in German (his father and grandmother spoke it regularly); Emil studied both German and Russian, becoming fluent in both. “My Russian is a little rusty now but I’m trying to keep it up,” said Emil.

Having attained fluency in two languages, Emil was reassigned to Bamberg Germany, north of Nuremberg, for two years 1955-1957.

Following his two years of service Emil returning to the states in 1958. His military experience had clarified his life’s path. “I went into the Army because I couldn’t figure out what to major in. I came back to the states fluent in two foreign languages. I loved the cultural dimension of languages and I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” said Emil.

Taking his time crossing the country, he stopped in Cass Lake, Minnesota for a very special reason – he asked his high school sweetheart, Nancy, to marry him. “She didn’t accept right away but she eventually came around and accepted,” said Emil wryly.

The couple returned to Eugene in 1958 so Emil could complete his German language degree at the University of Oregon. Once completed Emil applied for a position with the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency.) This turned out to be a frustrating experience.

“The CIA was very slow in responding and I needed a job so I applied to teach high school-level German in Boulder Colorado. I didn’t get that position so Nancy and I decided to go on an adventure,” recalled Emil.

The couple decided to embark on a month-long bicycle camping tour, starting in Eugene and finishing at Crater Lake. Bicycle touring was not well known in the fifties, the basic equipment almost nonexistent.

“We were oddities for sure in 1958. We had 3-speed bikes and had to engineer all our own gear. The hardest part was the climb up and over the McKenzie Pass. Thankfully several car campers helped us along the way. We had a great time,” recalled Emil.

International and national events during the fifties would play a role in helping Emil determine his path. First it was the Korean War, and then came the launch of the first artificial satellite to be put into Earth’s orbit. Sputnik 1, as the Soviet Union dubbed it, was launched in October 1957, igniting both the “space race” and playing into the “cold war” between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

With a national desire to surpass the Soviet Union’s accomplishments, the U.S. government passed the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) in September of 1958 as a means of expanding the number of students in universities studying sciences, math, and foreign languages.

Knowing that he could tap into the “G.I. Bill” to take his language education to a higher level, Emil applied for and received a year-long NDEA grant to study German at the University of Colorado. After obtaining his Master’s degree Emil was hired as a teacher by the university to supervise the teaching of first-year German students.

Comfortably situated in Colorado with his new wife and growing family (Rebecca Hilary was born in 1959; Randy in 1960, and Rachel in 1962,) Emil felt he was doing what he loved career-wise in a place that he loved environment-wise.

Oregon, however, had never left Emil’s mind and the couple wisely invested in Sisters land in 1962.

“I had a sense back then that Californians were ‘discovering’ Oregon; and as a result the prices of land were already going up faster than my salary. So we found a landowner that sold us directly, under contract, seven acres of land on Whychus Creek for four thousand dollars,” recalled Emil. Returning each summer during the school break period in Colorado, Emil built a comfortable “cabin” on the property.

Then, in 1970, fate intervened again to alter Emil’s path. The University of Colorado didn’t renew his teaching contract and Emil was faced with a decision. Remain in Colorado and seek a new position – or move back to Oregon and his cabin on the Whychus?

The family chose Oregon. “I figured that I could at least substitute teach in Central Oregon if nothing else surfaced,” said Emil.

But fate again intervened. As the family was packing-up for the move, Emil received a phone call from Bend Senior High School. Would he be interested in teaching foreign languages at Bend High?

“I told them I was packing right now and jumped at the opportunity!” said Emil.

A long teaching career (1970 until retirement in 1991) in the Bend school system once again allowed Emil to pursue his career and lifestyle passions.

Emil recalls Sisters as being a much different place in the 60’s and 70’s than it is today. “A four-room Army Quonset hut was the elementary school, located at the same location where the new one now stands. It contained one or two grades,” recalled Emil.

Downtown Sisters was also unique. “The main food market, Leithauser’s, was located where Sisters Drug is now and the Post Office was right next door to that (the parking lot of Sisters Veterinary Clinic)”, said Emil.

Present-day Sisters has a state-wide reputation of being tourist-friendly and community-oriented. But was it like that back in the 60’s and 70’s?

“Even back then people would comment on how ‘amazingly friendly’ Sisters was. Early on I wasn’t that aware that it was – but over time it became clear to me. Neighbor helping neighbor, strangers helping strangers. And to this day I believe this is one of our hallmarks, our strength, a real motivator for people moving here,” said Emil.

Although Emil’s teaching career was based in Bend he’s always made a point of using his skills, experiences, and energy to benefit the Sisters community.

A member of the Sisters School Board from 1976-1980, Emil served when local taxes primarily supported the schools and there was very little state funding. “We were making a big push to get a bond passed. Our goal in 1978 was to get a replacement high school. After extensive research, we split the bond issue so that some funding would go to both an elementary school and a new high school. Unfortunately only the funding for the elementary school bond passed,” recalled Emil.

Having lived in and experienced a number of diverse communities and cultures, in 1999 Emil became active in the growth and development of Sisters by joining the Community Action Team of Sisters (CATS.)

CATS was a group of about twenty community volunteers representing a wide range of values, views and backgrounds. The group’s goal was to create a “vision statement” that would form the basis from which the community would determine priorities and establish goals.

“I got involved with CATS because I didn’t want to see Sisters follow Bend’s example – no foresight in planning and growth. It was pretty clear to me - did we want growth by default or design?” said Emil.  

Over the years CATS continued to work on the Sisters Community Visioning Project, resulting in the Sisters Country Vision Statement and the Sisters branding project in 2007. The Vision Statement, posted throughout town in public buildings, is now widely used in community goal setting and decision making.

In October 2010 CATS dissolved its non-profit status and transferred its remaining assets to a community grant fund managed by the City of Sisters.

When asked how he would characterize his fifty-plus years of living in Sisters, Smith said “I’ve always felt that Sisters was like living in my personal Lake Wobegon.”

Sisters Born & Bred - Georgia Gallagher

(This article first appeared in the 5/28/08 issue of the Nugget Newspaper)

There aren’t that many people living in Sisters today that can say they were actually born here. Georgia Gallagher is one of them and, at eighty-six, her positive spirit and good health is a testament to the ranching lifestyle she was born into.

Georgia was born in 1922 on the 640-acre Edgington Ranch which was located about two miles south of Sisters, west of South Elm/Three Creeks Lake roads and south of the present-day Patterson Ranch. Georgia Edgington became the youngest child in a family of four children born to Ellis and Ellen Edgington. Oldest brother Bob was born in 1915, sister Jean in 1917, and youngest brother Jesse in 1918.

“I was closest to Jesse because we were closer in age, my sister Jean used to get irritated with me always wanting to tag along with her,” mused Georgia.

Georgia’s father, Ellis, was born in 1884 and grew up in Wasco County (Maupin/Tygh Valley area.) A single man in the early 1900’s, he traveled to Oregon State University in Corvallis to take agricultural courses. He traveled through Sisters Country on his journeys to and from Corvallis.

“Dad worked harvesting wheat in Wasco County and decided to file on a 160-acre homestead claim at the “old Tumalo reservoir” site (next to what is now the Tumalo Reservoir.) He worked that land in the early 1900’s when he wasn’t harvesting wheat in Wasco County or in school,” recalled Georgia.

In 1910 the lure of farming in the Sisters area motivated Ellis and his cousin to “partner-up” and purchase the land that would become the Edgington Ranch. “The land had been the site of one of the many saw mills in Sisters at the time, most of which burned down,” said Georgia.

Ellis also purchased parcels of land from Sam Johnson who was acquiring forest parcels in exchange for his timber work in Sisters Country. The total of Ellis’ land acquisitions eventually equaled about 640 acres. Ellis’ cousin began to lose interest in the venture and moved on, leaving the Edgington Ranch to Ellis.

Ellis Edgington met Ellen Crawford about 1912, most likely at one of the “Elocution Club” gatherings that took place at the Plainview school. Elocution Clubs were popular at the time, community gatherings where poems and writings would be learned and recited.

Ellen Crawford had moved to the Plainview area with her mother and five sisters after trading a ranch in Ashland for a ranch in the Plainview area (near the site of the present-day stone house on the Bend highway.) “My grandparents moved to Ashland (from Palouse, WA) for health reasons but sadly both my grandfather and their only son both died, recalled Georgia.

Ellen was teaching in the Plainview School when she met Ellis. “In those days teachers were not supposed to get married, if you did you had to quit,” said Georgia. So after “courting” for awhile Ellen Crawford became Ellen Edgington in 1914. Their wedding was filled with fun.

“Dad had a bunch of “homesteading buddies” who loved to play tricks on each other. With their wagon hitched to the horses, loaded down with food and supplies, and ready for the honeymoon trip to Crane Prairie (south of Bend), his “buddies” decided to unhitch the horses and scare them off to the far end of the ranch. My Dad had to round them all up while his “buddies” all had a good laugh at his expense,” recalled Georgia.

Throughout the 1920’s and into the depression era the Edgingtons ran cattle and dairy cows on their property, selling cream to a dairy in Redmond that would come out once a week to pick it up. Horses were a regular part of their ranch life as well.

“We rode horses to school, doubled-up with me behind my sister and my two brothers together. I’d hold tight around my sister’s waist when she rode faster but, one time, she didn’t tell me she was going to speed up and I fell off right in the middle of the road!” recalled Georgia.

“Mostly you didn’t ride for pleasure in those days, you either had a job to do or you had to get somewhere,” added Georgia.

The family was active with the Presbyterian Church which was located where the Church of Christ is today. Ellis Edgington was also active with the Civic Club and a member of the Sisters Rodeo Association, helping to organize the rodeo when it was held at the site where Hoyt’s Hardware sits today.

“Mom objected to Dad working on the rodeo so much. She felt he should have been home working on the farm,” recalled Georgia.

Georgia graduated from Sisters High School in 1939. The school was located at the site of the present-day City Hall and Library. She went on to college at Oregon State University to study Foods & Nutrition, graduating with her degree in 1944. Returning to Sisters she was named Sisters Rodeo Queen in 1944, an honor she remembers well to this day. “I had to go around to all the Sisters businesses and convince them I was the one they should vote for. I guess they agreed,” said Georgia.

During her senior year at OSU Georgia met a man in Corvallis, Vince Gallagher, an enlisted Army man also studying at OSU. Sparks flew but they were not destined to be together in the short term. Vince had overseas war duty and Georgia still had an internship to serve as part of her education. In 1945 Georgia took the train from The Dalles to Chicago for a year’s “Dietician Internship” at the Michael Reese General Hospital on the south side of Chicago. The entire experience was eye-opening for a young woman from Sisters Oregon.

“The hospital was basically located in a slum at the time. I had never experienced city life like that. We worked hard, cooked meals, cleaned, etc., because it was wartime and it was hard to get help in the hospitals,” said Georgia.

After the war, Vince and Georgia’s relationship blossomed and they married in June of 1946. A native of Bayonne, NJ, Vince had a good job waiting for him with the General Cable Corporation as an industrial engineer so the couple decided to move back to New Jersey. They stayed a year in the state before Vince heeded the advice of a relative “You’d better take that girl back home.”

This was just fine with Georgia, who was pregnant and it was difficult to find a good apartment anyway with all the returning veterans from the war. In 1947 they relocated to Redmond for six years, then to Salem for 22 years where Vince found a job with the highway department and Georgia worked at three different state institutions. The Gallagher family grew to five with a girl, Nora, and two sons, Dennis and Vince. All three still live in Oregon.

By the mid-1950’s Ellis and Ellen Edgington decided to move into Sisters, purchasing a home right next to the Village Green. Around 1970 the family sold the Edgington Ranch property to Don Frisbee, the present owner. After Ellis and Ellen passed away Georgia and Vince acquired the home in 1975, the same year Vince retired from the highway department. Vince passed away in 1981 and Georgia still lives in the house to this day.

Georgia served the Sisters community as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) from 1981 – 2000 and is still a member of the Garden Club, helping to beautify the various gardens and gazebos around the city. In 2006 she was named Grand Marshall for the Sisters Rodeo, a tribute to her contributions and heritage in Sisters Country.

Recently Georgia received another honor when she was named the Deschutes County Pioneer Queen for 2008 by the Deschutes Pioneer Association, a group of approximately 900 people who’ve lived in the county for over 40 years. The association researches the heritage of prospective queens very thoroughly before naming one each year. Georgia was notified of her nomination last December and is thrilled by the honor.

“We had a wonderful dinner in January and I was awarded my queen’s tiara and cape. This summer I ride in a number of parades including the Sisters Rodeo, Bend’s 4^th of July, the Veterans, and the Deschutes County Fair. I was very surprised and honored,” exclaimed Georgia.

It won’t be hard to recognize Georgia in the parades this summer. She’ll be the vibrant woman sitting in a classic car with a big beaming smile and wave for everyone she passes.

Edith Leithauser – Pioneering Sisters Retailer

(This article first appeared in the Feb. 13th, 2008 edition of the Nugget Newspaper)

Edith Leithauser recalled, “Must have been about 1944, I was in another part of our store (Leithauser’s Grocery on Cascade Avenue) when I heard my two young children, Frank and Joanne, giggling wildly with a customer in one of the aisles.”

“Thinking they were bothering the customer I apologized to the pleasant-looking man as he approached the cash register.”

Smiling, the man said, “They’re not bothering me at all. I was talking with them in my Daffy Duck voice and they thought it was hilarious!”

The man was Mel Blanc, the well-known voice actor behind the animated characters of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester the Cat, Tweety Bird, and many others.

This is just one of the many interesting stories that Edith Leithauser, eighty-nine and a resident of Sisters since 1941, relates about the early days of owning and operating a retail store in Sisters.

Born in 1919 in Boring, Oregon, Edith was the second of four daughters born to Floyd and Viola Lake. Boring, at the time, only had an elementary/middle school so all four girls attended and graduated from Sandy High School.

The depression affected many families in the area but the Lakes’ fared better than most. “My father was a postal carrier in the area so he had consistent employment throughout those years,” she recalled.

Steady employment, however, couldn’t prevent her mother’s debilitating illness during that time. Even after all these years Edith still gets emotional when she remembers her mother’s pain.

“My mother was bedridden with peritonitis so I had to step in and take care of my sisters, getting them ready for school, putting the cow in the pasture, and preparing meals. I learned about responsibility at a very early age,” she recalled.

Edith’s mother eventually had surgery in a Portland hospital with a full recovery and lived to be ninety-five years old.

Following graduation from Sandy High, Edith Lake attended Behnke-Walker Business College in Portland to obtain basic business skills. Her stay at the College, however, was short-lived as she caught the eye of another student, a young man raised in Sisters by the name of Pete Leithauser.

“Pete was ahead of me at the college so he was more prepared for what was ahead of us,” Edith recalled.

Edith had never been in Sisters before visiting Pete’s family in the late 1930’s. Trading barbs about each other’s home towns, Pete would call Boring “a lighted up cemetery” and Edith would counter that “Sisters was a wide spot in the road.”

Pete and Edith married in 1938 and soon after made their first move to Sisters. This initial move didn’t work out and they departed, only to return again in 1941. With one child in tow (Frank, born in 1940) the Leithauser’s began the process of buying Pete’s father’s grocery store, Leithauser’s Grocery, which was located at the present site of Sisters Bakery on Cascade Avenue.

“We lived in the back of the store in a large room, it had everything we needed and it was convenient because we worked all the time, all my kids too!” recalled Edith.

As the 40’s rolled into the 50’s and the Leithauser family grew to five children, Pete simply expanded the store to accommodate both an expanding product line and his growing family. “We built on a couple of rooms in the back so our family could have more room,” laughed Edith.

The store name changed as well to keep up with the changing times. Initially named Leithauser’s Grocery, the new store became known as Leithauser’s Supermarket.

“Seems like we were always expanding, moving stock, bringing in new items to meet the needs of people at the time. I listened very carefully to what folks wanted because there wasn’t anywhere else locally to get certain items,” said Edith.

Interestingly there were three food retailers in Sisters at the time. Residents were generally very loyal and “traded” (a term used at the time for “purchased”) items with one retailer. This may have been due to family relationships, business ties, proximity to the store, or the availability of credit from the retailer.

“I was always very friendly to my customers and, as a result, we had a loyal following. I even made a point of remembering tourist’s names – folks who only came in once a year,” recalled Edith.

Leithauser’s Supermarket operated from the early 1920’s to 1977. After operating the store for thirty-six years, Pete and Edith sold the store to Art Tennell, who then transformed the store into the first Ray’s Supermarket, eventually moving it to its present location in the Three Winds Shopping Center.

Edith and Pete moved into a new home they built on forty acres just outside the city limits north of town in 1977.

Early promoters and volunteers with the Sisters Rodeo, Edith fondly recalls cutting out pieces of oil cloth to use as numbers for the contestants in the 1942 rodeo which took place in the field just north of the present site of Conklin’s Guest House.

“A few of us did everything, from making numbers to operating the chutes, seems like everyone in town got involved in some way,” remembers Edith.

In recognition of their heritage with the Sisters Rodeo, both Pete and Edith were honored by being named Rodeo Parade Grand Marshals. Pete in 1986, Edith in 2005.

Recalling the experience, Edith said “They treated me so well! A beautiful jacket with my name on it, wonderful seats at the rodeo, and being parade marshal, it was so nice!”

Sadly, Pete did not live long enough to see his wife receive her honor. He passed away in 1990. At eighty-nine Edith still enjoys all that life has to offer. She’s active in her church, attends senior events in the community, and enjoys Model A Fords, a passion she shares with her family.

Be sure to watch for Edith Leithauser’s bright smile and shining eyes in next summer’s rodeo parade – she’ll be riding in a Model A Ford, waving to everyone, just like she does every year!

Kit Stafford - Artist, Dancer, Poet, Educator

(Click on the Sisters Talk podcast audio file above; about 40 minutes total)

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Kit Stafford, longtime Sisters resident, artist, dancer, poet, and arts education advocate for the Spring 2011 issue of 1859 Magazine. A fascinating woman, it's impossible to capture all facets of her life and work in a 500-word article. I think you'll find both the Sisters Talk podcast and the 1859 Magazine article (available on newsstands now) fascinating.

Sisters Talk - interview with Christian Mintiens

This episode of Sisters Talk is special for me as host. Having the opportunity to interview one of your children is very special - and difficult at the same time. My son, Christian, is now 27 and living/working in New York City as an audio engineer for News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch's empire best known for the FOX cable TV stations. (News Corporation also has properties in film,

television, cable, magazines, and newspapers to name just a few.)

Having been raised in Sisters Oregon, a product of the Sisters School System, Chris is a good example of how a strong and vibrant arts culture, combined with many mentors and supporters, can guide and motivate young people to pursue their passions in life.

I hope this interview will be heard by both students and their parents.

I also personally believe that Sisters' current state designation as a "severely distressed community" can be turned around by an emphasis on expanding the already thriving arts and culture programs and businesses. It's clear that people who visit Sisters for an event are far more likely to move or start a business here.

So, in reality, I also have an agenda with my son's interview. We all need to remember and thank those mentors in our lives, those folks who took an interest and helped guide us in life - especially in these difficult times.

There are many stories like Chris' here in Sisters. My hope and dream is that, one day, all these talented young people will return to Sisters - bringing with them their talents and skills to collaborate, start new entrepreneurial ventures, and perhaps start families.

I hope you enjoy the interview.

Hiring controversy spills into council meeting

This article was published in the 11/3/10 Nugget Newspaper

By Bill Mintiens City Councilor Sharlene Weed pressed City Manager Eileen Stein for answers regarding the controversial hiring process for Sisters' economic development manager last Thursday evening during the regular Sisters City Council meeting. She didn't get any. And she's not the only one pressing for answers. Weed has been pressing the city council for several months over what she considers the lack of transparency with the hiring of Sisters' new Economic Development Manager Mac Hay. Widely reported, the entire hiring process - position description, solicitation of candidates, interview panel members, and final recommendation - was outsourced to EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon) by Mayor Lon Kellstrom. Mayor Kellstrom purposely kept all other city council members entirely out of the process citing a "need to keep the council at arm's length so as not to appear to have hired a friend of the council." During the "other business" portion of the council meeting Weed admonished Stein for not replying promptly to the questions sent to her by Mike Morgan, also present at the meeting Thursday evening. "They were just two simple questions, not public records requests that he was asking for. And you didn't respond to the questions. Not responding is not OK," stated Weed. Morgan, along with Ed Protas, has been a vocal critic of the hiring process at past council meetings. Both men have sent several emails to Stein requesting "public records" information. Stein stated that she felt she had addressed their public records requests. "I was not 'not responding' to the request. I took the tack that these were public records requests; there's a $100 deposit required before we can proceed to figure out the total cost," said Stein. Initially Morgan had indicated he wanted certain public records, subsequently boiling his request down to two yes/no questions for Stein for which he believed no records were required. He received no response to these questions. Pressing Stein, Weed said, "The point is we just need to respond." The two questions were: "Was there a board resolution delegating the council's powers and responsibilities as the contract review board to EDCO per paragraph 2.32.020 of the contracting ordinance?" And "Did the city manager set selection criteria per 2.32.120 of the contracting ordinance?" Morgan read both of the questions aloud during the "visitors communication" portion of the council meeting Thursday evening. Morgan added "Oregon Public Policy requires transparency in government. We seem to have a mayor, supported by two other councilors, that disagrees with that policy and the laws of this state that effect that policy." Councilor Weed asked Stein directly, "Did you receive anything in writing concerning EDCO's recommendation (of Mac Hay)? To which Stein replied "No, just Mac's résumé." Stein deferred answers to other questions to the city's attorney Steve Bryant. The furor over the hiring process does not seem to be diminishing, even though Hay's position as an independent contractor has begun. Councilor Weed's final remarks on the situation were, "I feel like we made a mistake (about the hiring process); we need to tell the truth so that the public doesn't think there are shenanigans going on." No other councilors spoke on the issue. Mayor Kellstrom was out of town.

Holzman makes Second Run for Council Seat

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Wendy Holzman. photo provided This article was published in the 10/20/10 Nugget Newspaper By Bill Mintiens Wendy Holzman, 54, a Sisters resident for the past six years, does not give up easily. She ran unsuccessfully for a city council seat two years ago, losing by only 14 votes. Now she's thrown her hat into the ring again. Born and raised in Palo Alto, California, Holzman spent her initial college years at the University of California, Santa Barbara. "This is where I first became involved in community politics," she said. The unincorporated community of Isla Vista, adjacent to the college, offered many opportunities for Holzman to get involved. "I became involved with the community council and was on the board of directors of the Isla Vista Food Co-Op. I also volunteered at the medical clinic," said Holzman. "I really enjoyed what that felt like to give back to your community and to see the great things that people can do when they pull together and work in their community." After marrying Alan Holzman, also a student at the time, the couple moved to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University. Alan attained a master's degree, Wendy finished her undergraduate degree. Finishing their college degrees, the couple moved back down to the "peninsula" where Alan began a career in the computer industry. They also started a family. Their daughter was born in 1984, a son followed in 1987. "We were lucky in that we were financially able to have me stay home with the kids during their early years. Those years wound up being about 15. I really loved it because I got involved with the kids' schools as a volunteer," she said. The Holzmans moved to Beaverton, Oregon, in 1989 when Alan joined Sequent Computers. With the children now six and three, Wendy went to work for the Beaverton School District, staying with the district for six years mainly working in library services. It was during this period that the family was spending summer vacations at Black Butte Ranch. Loving the area, Wendy and Alan began wondering if a move to the Sisters area could be possible. "Alan's team was international, and we wondered if it would be possible for him to telecommute if we moved to Sisters," said Wendy. Prior to buying their home, however, Wendy and Alan really checked out the town. "I walked and biked around town, asking people what they thought about Sisters. People told me what a great community it was, all the wonderful things the community does. That sounded really good to me," said Holzman. In 2004, as their son was entering his senior year in high school, the family made the move to Sisters. They live in the Buck Run subdivision. Wendy participated in the 2006 Sisters "visioning" process, a community-wide effort which resulted in the current Sisters Visioning Statement. This process was stimulating for Holzman, motivating her to get more involved with the community. "This process was eye-opening for me. The facilitator indicated that Sisters was on a 'knife's edge,' it could go one way or the other. I knew I loved this community and wanted it to be a good place to live. So I jumped in and got involved," she said. Holzman never regretted getting involved. Since the visioning process, she has been the volunteer chair of the Citizens for Community Involvement (CCI), a committee spun out of the visioning process. CCI's purpose is to help the city council better understand the "pulse" of both city and Sisters Country residents. Wendy also served on a committee that brought two leadership programs to Sisters, The Ford Family Foundation program and a second program geared toward students in the community. "A lack of leadership training in the community was cited in the visioning process. These two programs trained several people who went on to leadership roles in the community. This was very exciting," said Holzman. By 2008 Holzman felt it was time to take on a greater leadership role in the community. Running for city council was another eye-opening experience for her. "It was a different election than Sisters had ever seen. For the first time ever a political action committee (PAC) was formed for a city council race. $12,000 was raised to back their three candidates - Lon Kellstrom, Pat Thompson and Jerry Bogart. It changed how politics was done in the city. Sharlene Weed said she spent $35 four years ago when she ran for city council," said Holzman. "There's nothing wrong with forming a PAC, it's perfectly legal, but it did set a new tone for the way things were done in Sisters. I was afraid it would discourage everyday citizens from feeling like they could run for city council without the backing of a PAC or a lot of money." Holzman feels the influence of the PAC's contributors is hard to avoid. "I would say it's difficult not to be (influenced), especially in the economy right now. My other big concern, beside that, is that I believe a diverse council is a stronger council. Right now we have three councilors who vote, not always, but on major issues have tended to vote as a 'bloc.' Development voices are certainly pieces of the 'pie' and should be represented on the council but I think there are more pieces of the pie that need to be represented," said Holzman. Holzman is concerned about "economic vitality" versus real estate development in Sisters. "Real estate development is certainly a part of a community but, especially in these times, it should not be the major part. I attend all city council workshops and meetings and I've noticed that the first lens that decisions are looked (at) through is 'how will development be affected by the decision?'" she said. Holzman has concerns about the EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon) model that has been adopted for the new economic development manager's position recently filled by Mac Hay. Holzman does not believe trying to lure traded-sector companies (goods and services which are traded out of the area) to Sisters will work in these economic times. "EDCO works with all communities in Central Oregon. Some of those communities are much better situated with transportation (highways, rail service) and cheaper for them to move into than we are. This should not be, in these economic times, our main focus," said Holzman. She believes small companies are the key to Sisters' success. "I think if we can bring in individuals who can work from their homes and telecommute; they bring wealth into the community, they buy things in town; to the small two-to-five to 10-person companies," said Holzman. Holzman believes a strong "downtown core" is vital to economic development. "Everything I have read and researched says that a small rural town has to have a vital downtown core to survive. But we don't just want a strong downtown core, we want a strong industrial park too, because they feed off each other," she said. Regarding the current campaign slogans centered on jobs, Holzman said, "I would love to bring more living-wage jobs in but we've got to be realistic. Two years ago they (Kellstrom, Bogart, Thompson) said they were going to bring jobs in. Well, I haven't seen a lot of jobs come in. In fact we've lost jobs." Holzman likes the idea of developing companies and jobs within the community. "I like the idea of working with people to build businesses from the ground level up. I think we can do more of that, as a community, to support businesses and to bring new businesses in," she said. When asked how she felt the present council has performed over the last two years, Holzman preferred to speak about her decision to run again. "A man stopped me on the street and indicated that he wanted me to run again. When I asked him why he said, 'Because we don't feel like we're being listened to.' I think for many citizens this set the tone," said Holzman.

Weed Seeks Another Term

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By Bill Mintiens


Sharlene Weed, 45, has been a Sisters City Councilor now for about six years. She's running again this year to retain her council seat.

Raised in Yreka, California, Weed spent much of her early years in that Northern California community of about 5,000 people. She's also proud of the fact that the nearby town of Weed was named after her great-great-grandfather, who founded the community.

"Having lots of family around was really a 'pioneering' feeling, really grounding for me," said Weed.

Sharlene's first move away from Yreka was attending the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"This was really eye-opening for me, it was the first time I became aware of politics," said Weed.

Weed studied communications and political science and served as vice president of the student body one year. During her sophomore year she spent a summer in Washington, D.C. working as a congressional intern for the late Congressman Gene Chappie.

When asked how the experience influenced her perspective on politics, Weed said, "I was responsible for responding to constituent mail. I was discouraged. The issues were big and the packets of information were large and I knew my congressman didn't read them."

Following college Weed traveled for six years, including 14 months in South America.

"It just seemed like the natural thing for me to do at the time," she said.

Weed also spent three years off and on in Japan teaching English. Returning home briefly to California, Sharlene soon moved to Taiwan, again to teach English, but this time with her boyfriend.

"While in Taiwan we had a pleasant surprise; found out I was pregnant! By that time I was tired of traveling and ready to nest," said Weed.

Returning to the states Weed felt that Northern California was no longer the right fit. Her mother was living in Bend and that motivated Sharlene to check out Central Oregon.

"We drove into Sisters one day and I immediately loved it. I said 'OK this is it, let's find a house,'" said Weed.

Weed moved to Sisters in 1995. Later that same year Sharlene's son was born and she started her career with Sisters Habitat for Humanity as a part-time stipend-based volunteer.

"I held that position for two years while I worked on my master's degree in teacher's education through Eastern Oregon University," said Weed.

Weed has worked with Habitat for 15 years and serves now as the Sisters chapter's executive director.

Weed served on city councils with mayors Dave Elliott, Brad Boyd, and now Lon Kellstrom.

"My first council was very reliant on (city) staff and pretty much rubber-stamped things. Things have gotten more transparent as the councils changed," said Sharlene.

However, Weed has found the current council particularly challenging.

"This council has been a huge challenge for me. I see decisions made that are not transparent, not in keeping with the town's vision, and processes that are very sloppy. I hadn't seen that before, even in my first council," said Sharlene.

Weed describes herself as very process-oriented.

"I'm OK with losing the vote as long as the process is done properly," she said.

When asked whether she feels the three councilors elected in 2008 (Lon Kellstrom, Pat Thompson, and Jerry Bogart) have fulfilled their campaign promises about being pro-business, economic development, and job creation, Weed was pointed in her remarks:

"What is pro-business? I'm pro-business; I'm just not pro-giveaway to businesses or being irresponsible with citizens' tax dollars. I want to see businesses thrive and survive. I'm open to spending money to do that but there has to be a plan first. I've seen a lot of spending on this council without a lot of results."

Weed cites as an example of wasteful spending, Sisters' expenditures on economic development over the past two years.

"We were spending $750 on economic development (Economic Development for Central Oregon dues) two years ago. Now we're spending $57,000. That's a huge jump. We increased our dues to EDCO to $7,500 from $750; and we're getting the same support from EDCO that we got when we were spending $750. That huge jump I just couldn't support," said Weed.

Sharlene bristles when discussing the recent hiring process for a part-time economic development manager.

"This is a great example of botched process. From the get-go there were things going on behind the scenes that nobody knew about, actions being taken that should have been approved by council. There weren't transparent discussions about what was best; things seem to have been decided," said Weed.

"It looks like they hired a 'friend' of the council (Mac Hay). And that's what people are saying to me," added Sharlene.

Looking back on the annexation of the McKenzie Meadows Village (MMV) property into the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) in 2006, Weed indicated that, if she could do it all over, she wouldn't vote for the annexation.

"Hell no, are you kidding? In 2006 we were in boom times, things were a lot different then," she said.

Weed believes there is more than enough land now within the UGB to accommodate MMV's proposed development plans. This includes "affordable" senior living apartments, independent and assisted living for seniors, and a school-based medical facility.

"At the candidates forum back in 2008, all three of them (Kellstrom, Bogart, and Thompson) all said that MMV did not need to be annexed into the UGB. Within a few weeks of being elected they started working on it," said Weed.

"We have a surplus of commercial properties, a surplus of light industrial, a surplus of residential and bank-owned properties. We don't need more land. We have an over-30-year supply of land right now," said Weed.

Concerned about the influence of money in campaigns, Weed has decided not to accept campaign money or to form a political action committee (PAC). Weed has asked supporters to make monetary contributions to the Sisters Food Bank in the name of her campaign.

"So far we've been able to raise about $3,000 for the food bank," said Weed.

Although Weed, Holzman, and Shepardson are not running as a slate or financed by a PAC, Sharlene thinks the council would act very differently if all three were elected.

"We'd be very community-focused; very inclusive, making sure all the stakeholders are at the table when we're making decisions. We'll take the time to get all the facts and hear different perspectives to get to the best decision," said Sharlene.

Weed also indicated that, should the three women be elected, she would like to be Mayor: "Yes, absolutely, I'm ready. I think I'm very fair and honest. There wouldn't be any behind-the-scenes things or hidden agendas."

Hay tapped for Economic Development job

This is the Sisters Talk podcast with guest Mac Hay.

(This article was published in the 10/6/2010 Nugget Newspaper) by Bill Mintiens

Mac Hay will be Sisters' part-time Economic Development Manager. EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon), after culling down the applicants to four, recommended Hay to the council. The recommendation was passed on before the council's regular workshop last Thursday. Councilors voted 4-1, with Councilor Sharlene Weed dissenting, to accept the recommendation. Hay was a leading candidate for the job, presently serving as the volunteer chair of the SBART (Sisters Business Attraction & Retention Team), a volunteer group of area business people. Hay is looking forward to the challenge. "The energy and creativity of our community is needed to make this effort of economic vitality and stability a success. Together, we have the passion, talent and resources to create an even more vibrant community. I look forward to working with the citizens of Sisters to retain jobs, attract businesses with sustainable jobs and add to an economy that has tremendous potential," said Hay. Although the recommendation of Hay was no surprise to those following the process, the city council has wrangled over the matter for several months. The need for the position, the recruiting process, and the position's scope of work have been controversial since last spring. The economic development manager's statement of work reads: "Contractor shall develop specific performance measures and deadlines for the period of this agreement (in consultation with the Sisters City Manager and as approved by the Sisters City Council) within the first 30 days following the execution of this agreement." During last Thursday's regular council meeting, Councilor Weed aggressively challenged the hiring process, the lack of transparency with the public, and the scope of work for the position. "I've never seen anything like this. I can't imagine, in my job (Sisters Habitat for Humanity Executive Director), hiring someone and then asking them to develop their own performance measures," said Weed. Weed was referring to her repeated requests for the council to discuss and create measurable "deliverables and benchmarks" to be written into the statement of work. Similar positions in Prineville and Redmond have measurable goals and benchmarks. Council candidate David Asson, speaking during the visitors communication portion of Thursday's regular council meeting, said: "I'm troubled that it's taken five months to write an agreement. Here it is September 30 and you're voting on an agreement that is supposed to start tomorrow. I personally think the independent contractor designation won't fly. Pushing it through now does not make sense to me. If there's any way to spend a few more days to address this I think you should." Following the meeting Asson added, "The city is going to spend $30,000 on this program. We need this kind of economic development, but I personally think the program needs a lot more money than that to be successful. If we blow this $30,000 we may not get community support next time around." Budget committee member Gwen Chapman said, "I am a bit confused as to how the city could have recruited for this contractor before the services to be provided and performance expectations were decided on by the council." Back in July EDCO was asked by Mayor Kellstrom to "take the reins" regarding the position description, hiring process, and interview panel. Neither city councilors nor city staff were involved in that decision. "My choice was to keep the council out of it in favor of an arm's-length relationship in the hiring of the economic development director," Mayor Kellstrom said last July. "We need an arm's-length arrangement, through EDCO, to keep the council out of trouble. We don't want to be accused of using public funds to hire a 'friend' of the council." That "friend" was Mac Hay. Concerned that the council and taxpaying residents were not included in the process of choosing Hay, Councilor Weed, last Thursday evening, asked Mayor Kellstrom several direct questions. "Why were councilors excluded from this process, and why do we not know who the candidates were, or who sat on the interviewing panel? Was anyone from Sisters represented on that panel?" asked Weed. Mayor Kellstrom, shrugging his shoulders, indicated as he had before, that he made the choice to "keep the council at arm's length from the process" and "I don't know who was on the interviewing panel." Weed asked Hay, sitting in the audience, who was on his interviewing panel. Hay took a moment and answered, "I don't feel like I'm the one to divulge that information." Stepping into the conversation, City Attorney Steve Bryant said, "Why not have Eileen (Stein, Sisters city manager) e-mail EDCO and ask them? They may tell you or they may not." Weed said she would vote no on EDCO's recommendation because of her concerns with the process. Councilor Pat Thompson defended the statement of work and said he was comfortable with the process. "We have to expect a general statement of work (versus specific deliverables) because we don't know what to expect going forward," he said. "I think this statement of work does a good job and, frankly, we need a man in the trenches right now." Commenting on the entire process of recruiting for the position, Thompson said, "At no time did I not understand what was going on. This (hiring for this position) is the logical next step to keep our city on the right path."