Author: paedwards

Sweet Lorane Community News, March 1, 2018

March 1, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 1, 2018
By Pat Edwards

Lorane’s own Birth to Beyond and Oregon Institute for a Better Way have come up with another extremely valuable program for our area. (The Oregon Institute for a Better Way is the group which sponsored the 3-day Preservation and Canning Clinic in Lorane this past fall.) This current program is a series of meetings called “Mentoring Ideas to Plans” to learn how to sharpen and hone our life skills. One of the topics currently under discussion is “doing income taxes OLD SCHOOL! We seem far removed from the fine print of the income tax forms and the details are constantly changing! Come talk, drink tea and connect!”

The meetings take place every Tuesday until May 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange.

Information on other topics and details can be obtained by visiting the Oregon Institute for a Better Way Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/intentionalcommunities/ or contact Misty Burris.

A fundraiser is being planned at Papa’s Pizza Parlor beginning at Thursday, March 29 at 11:00 a.m. for our hometown hero, Michael Matchulat, who has been battling Stage 4 colorectal cancer for the past couple of years. The purpose is to help defray some of the huge medical expenses he and his wife Amber are facing.

As I am writing this column, I just received a phone call that breaks my heart. I’m going to share the news with you now as by the time it is in print, the information will be out. The phone call was from a woman at the emergency room of Sacred Heart River Bend. She had been instructed by family to deliver the devastating news that my good friend and co-author, Jo-Brew, passed away this morning.

 

The two of us have become so close over the years we’ve worked together. She was a strong, vibrant, knowledgeable woman who shared so much of herself with me. Our years as colleagues and friends were rich and rewarding and I am going to miss her so very much.

With this said, I am going to close out this week’s column. I find I cannot continue further. I’m not quite over the flu I’ve had this week and I won’t be able to join her wonderful family at this time. My thoughts, prayers and love are with them… Ken, Mike, Melissa, Bob, Jeff, her grandchildren and great-grands. I think they know that.

Godspeed, Jo!

Sweet Lorane Community News, February 22, 2018

February 22, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , 1 Comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 22, 2018
By Pat Edwards

Unfortunately, due to the recent spate of winter weather—aka, snow—the planned Lorane Barn Dance was cancelled. Plans are to reschedule it for another time. I know there are a lot of disappointed people. Many were really looking forward to going.
Another cancellation was the weekly Birth and Beyond meeting. Hopefully, things will become more “spring-like” soon.

The Crow Booster Club, which serves and supports projects benefiting all of the students in the C-A-L schools, is having a Bingo and Soup Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, March 10. The 5:00 p.m. Soup Dinner will be $3/child; $5/adult, and at 6:00 p.m., BINGO begins. It is $5 per single game pack and $1 for the blackout game which will pay out $100 to the winner if they bingo in an allotted number of calls. A consolation pot of $25 will be paid if the bingo does not go in the allotted number. There will also be a 50/50 raffle for those who want to participate. All proceeds are earmarked to support the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District.

I’ve received word that another former long-time Lorane resident has passed away. Nora Olson was a big part of Lorane while here. She was a nurse, but did so much more than that for the community while here. She served as the Noble Grand of the Lorane Rebekahs and volunteered in other capacities. Many of the comments posted to the notice on the Lorane Facebook included the words, “She made me laugh” and “She was always willing to help someone out…” She was born in Vienna, Austria and came to Lorane from her homes in New Hampshire and Maine, I believe. Jim and I extend our condolences to the Olson and Brackett families for their loss.

Jim and I just returned from a 5-day trip to the San Diego area of California. We went with my sister, Barbara, and her husband Dwight, to see our half-sister and brother who live down there. A cousin also lives in Camarillo, California, so we flew into Burbank and made that our first stop, driving the next day to San Diego. That was actually the worse part of the whole trip. I dislike driving Belt Line during rush hour, but it’s a piece of cake compared to the 405 traffic. It took us about an hour longer each way than it used to.

We had a beautiful hotel in the Old Town/Mission Bay portion of San Diego with a fantastic view. The time we spent with our older sister and brother was very special to us. Our sister, Virginia, recently moved to a memory-care facility following the death of her husband, but we were greeted with huge hugs and her memory for years past was extremely sharp. Together, they gave us a tour of the Point Loma area where they grew up as well as the old lighthouse where many military ships passed on their way out to sea during World War II. It was a special time in which we shared special memories.

Now it’s time to get back to work…

Sweet Lorane Community News, February 15, 2018

February 15, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 15, 2018
By Pat Edwards

I am writing this column earlier than usual as, by the time you read it, we will have left on a short vacation. I’ll have to tell you a little about it next week. In the meantime, I have some news to share…

Because of the great attendance and the fun had by all after the last similar event, the Lorane Grange is hosting a Barn Dance on Friday, February 23. It will be happening between 7:00-10:00 p.m. The music group will be announced later on the Lorane Facebook page as soon as arrangements have been finalized. All ages are welcome to participate and a suggested donation per person is $10. There will be refreshments served at the intermission.

The Lorane Community Association has got some big plans in the works if everything falls into place, according to the minutes of the last meeting.

Their main issue is addressing the Lorane Community food basket program. The current storage space needs to be repaired and revamped. Misty Burris is working with Food for Lane County to expand the pantry stock and they are hoping to involve other organizations in the community to help run it.

Little Lorane Library has outgrown its current space and the issue will be addressed sometime in March.

Also, the possible creation of a neighborhood watch is being revisited. The Lane County Sheriff’s Department and Oregon State Police offices are being contacted about issues the community has regarding the seasonal break-ins and lack of response from law enforcement agencies. The Easy Acres Neighborhood Group has already held two meetings to set up its own Neighborhood Watch. We’re planning to share information with the Lorane group.

In a response for more recognition and support for veterans returning from war zones, the LCA wants to make an effort to reach out to local vets and establish more connections. A proposed veteran-specific banner will be added to the reader board and discussions of future activities are in the works.

The LCA also wants to assist a member of the community with the building of a house. According to Mina Knittel, Secretary of the Lorane Community Association, ideas for a fundraiser, work party, etc are in the works and will be decided at the next meeting.
In years past, communities and neighbors came together for barn-raisings! Why not a house in Lorane? I strongly believe that communities need more of these projects where neighbors can join together in helping each other. I’m proud of those who are not afraid to set goals and reach for the stars. Good for you, LCA!

The next monthly meeting of the group is scheduled for Thursday, March 1 at 9:00 a.m. at the Lorane Deli.

More next week!