Choosing Sisters' Christmas Tree

Sisters' Community Christmas Tree looms 30 feet tall over Barclay Park in the middle of town, a benevolent sentinel representing the holiday spirit.

The selection of the tree is itself an example of the holiday spirit: neighbors coming together to do something special for their community.

Over the past several years, staff from the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Sisters and the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) select a tree from lands administered by DLT. Until this year, the tree has always come from DLT's Metolius Preserve, where they are removing grand fir to restore historical ponderosa pine forests.

This year, the source of the tree has changed. Fidelity International has allowed DLT to take a tree from Skyline Forest, which DLT is trying to purchase and preserve as a large, working forest.

"We have received permission from Fidelity to go onto their property and cut a Christmas tree," DLT's Amanda Egertson said.

Fidelity's forester, Bill Swarts, has helped DLT find a spot near Three Creeks Butte, south of Sisters, where there is a nice selection of 30-foot-plus grand firs.

DLT staff, along with chamber and city employees, went out Monday to make the final selection. Dude Aylor, of Sisters Tree Service, cut the fir and hauled it into town where a city crew erected it in the park next door to The Gallery Restaurant.

This Friday evening there will be a traditional tree lighting ceremony, featuring carol singing, bellringing and a lot of Sisters good fellowship.