Author: paedwards

Sweet Lorane Community News – May 11, 2017

May 11, 2017Uncategorized Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review                        
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 11, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Sadly, this week, I received word that two former Lorane residents have passed. Loretta Mann quietly slipped away to join her husband of 71 years, Evan Mann, who died in February. It’s been an especially hard blow to the Mann family to lose both parents in such a short amount of time, but they knew that it was where Loretta wanted to be.  They left behind two daughters, Marsha Westling and Ellen Moore, and son Steven. Jim and I extend our condolences to the family.

Another former Lorane resident, Florence Jentzsch, moved to Lorane with her husband Gerald and family in the early 1970s to be closer to Gerald’s mother, Garda Jentzsch Florence died in January, but we didn’t hear about it until now. At the time, she was living in Minnesota to be near one of her sons. Gerald preceded her in death in 2014.

While in Lorane, Florence and Gerald’s kids joined our 3-L’s 4-H Livestock Club. It was a community group that had individual leaders for different types of livestock. The Jentzsch kids chose rabbits and swine for their projects and their enthusiasm for the club and 4-H, in general, helped make it a wonderful experience for everyone. We were one big happy 4-H family in those days. Our condolences to the Jentzsch family in the loss of a very special lady in our lives.

I was able to attend the Lorane Ladies Tea last Sunday. It was hosted by the ladies of the Lorane Christian Church at the grange and was so much fun.

When I arrived, the tables were beautifully set with lace tablecloths, crystal snack plates and teacups and actual silverware – not a plastic fork to be seen. The centerpieces were flowers and an arrangement of beautifully-patterned china cup and saucer sets, part of a collection that Mar-Kay Wilson brought to share. The sun was shining and the ladies who were there to greet me were welcoming and made me feel right at home.

We were invited to fill our plates with beautiful hors d’oeuvres – chocolate covered strawberries, cheesecake, tea cookies and nuts – and hot coffee, tea and lemon and lime-flavored ice water. Everything was beautiful and very yummy.

Thanks to the ladies of the Lorane Christian Church for providing this wonderful event. I hope that more who were not able to attend last week will try to do so next year. It was so much fun!

The Friends of the Fern Ridge Library are having a book sale on May 19 and 20. They’ve asked me to let everyone know about it. They will have “thousands of books for all ages at great prices – plus movies, music, puzzles and more. Friday & Saturday, May 19 & 20, 10 a.m. to 4  p.m. each day. The sale benefits the Fern Ridge Library. 88026 Territorial Rd., Veneta. For more information, call 541-935-7512.

On May 20, there are several events including the I.0.0.F. Cemetery cleanup on South Territorial Road beginning at 9:00 a.m.. Then, on the same day, the Lorane Community-wide Yard sale. Maps of participating sales will be at the Lorane Family Store, the Lorane Deli, the Grange and the Lorane Christian Church.

Please mark the following important school-related dates on your calendars: Wednesday, May 31 – Crow High School Senior Recognition;  June 1 – Spring Concert at 7 p.m.;  June 4 – Baccalaureate at 6 p.m. at Crow Nazarene Church; June 9 – Crow High School Graduation at 7 p.m.; and June 16 – 8th Grade Recognition at 7 p.m.  Everyone is invited!

Bit of Lorane History: (From “Pat’s People” Lorane 4-H newsletter, October 21, 1974)

The 3-L’s 4-H Livestock Club began its third year last week. The organizational meeting was held on October 10th. Ten new members were enrolled and 14 re-enrolled for their second or third years. Included are: Beef division: Sandra Brewer, Gloria Edwards, Susan Fleming, David Giles, Jason Jentzsch, Clifford and Lori Jones, Kenny Keeler and Candy Trout. Sheep division: Lori Jones, Carol Mitchell and Rose VanDecar; Swine division: Jaylene Jentzsch; Rabbit division: Chuck Bonygne, Lyle Cottrell, Jaylene Jentzsch, Kelly and Keri Mortensen, Jeralee Jentzsch, Todd Sturdevant, Marvin and Tina Taylor and Dean Lawson; Dairy division: Rachel Ashley; Other animals (cavies, I believe): Cindy Cottrell.

Sweet Lorane Community News – May 4, 2017

May 4, 2017Newspaper Columns, , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review                        
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 5, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Sunshine! Need I say more? Well, maybe… planting flowers, taking walks, driving with the windows down, wearing short sleeves and sandals and, now that Jim has put new blades on the lawnmower, moving lawns… my wintertime blues have vanished!

Speaking of lawnmowers, the Lorane Grange has scheduled a cleanup of the Grange Cemetery on Monday, May 15 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Anyone who wants to help will be welcomed. Bring your weedeaters, gloves, rakes and clippers and be prepared to use them as much as possible. There will be a couple of lawnmowers volunteered, but I don’t imagine they’ll turn anyone away who wants to bring theirs, too. Many hands make light work, as Grandpa used to say. It still rings true today.

If you miss the Grange Cemetery cleanup, you can still get in on the action. The I.O.O.F. Cemetery cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 20. It will begin at about 9:00 a.m. for some, and others will arrive at 11:00 a.m. after Rebekah members have done their roadside cleanup chores.

That’s the same day when the Lorane Community-Wide Yard Sale will take place. For that event, the Grange will have tables set up with garage sale items and individuals will be holding their own sales around the Lorane area between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Maps of participating locations will be available at the Lorane Family Store, the Grange and the Lorane Deli. In addition, the Lorane Christian Church will be holding a bake sale that day in front of the church. Tables are still available to rent at the Grange for $10. Call Jeri Porter at 541-942-2448 if you are interested in renting one.

On Sunday, May 14, the Crow Grange will be having its annual Mother’s Day breakfast from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Breakfast will include pancakes or biscuits and gravy,  sausage, eggs, juice and coffee for a $5 suggested donation. You can’t beat that and you don’t have to fight Eugene traffic! My kids took me there a couple of years ago and it was a special treat. It’s so hard to get everyone together in once place these days… after all, we have so many mothers, including in-laws, in the family now. I’m not the only one. They need to be celebrated, too. This is a perfect way to say, “I love you, Mom!”

Don’t forget the Spring Arts Festival being held in the Crow High School gym on May 16 at 5:30 p.m. You will entertained by the Crow Middle/High School drama club, band and choir.  Art, made by the students, will be on display and for sale. Tickets to the event are $5 per person. For further information, contact Linda Lay, President of the Crow Booster Club, at 541-844-5850. All proceeds earned will benefit K-12 students throughout the district.

Happy May, everyone!

Sweet Lorane Community News – April 27, 2017

April 27, 2017Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review                        
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
April 27, 2017
By Pat Edwards

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am so ready for an extended period of sunshine! Enough, already with the constant rain! I sometimes wonder what drivers think as they drive past our house at a little before 7:00 a.m. and see me standing in the driveway… in my jammies and raincoat, throwing tennis balls for Toby and Nora to fetch before I get the R-G and head back in to have my morning coffee. 20170428_121639

After a long night of inactivity, my two, wonderful, sweet… and lively… blue heeler rescue dogs are ready to play and work off some of their pent-up energy. Oh, Jim lets them out into our little fenced backyard area for an hour or two before he heads for the store so that I can sleep in a bit, but we’ve gotten into the habit of fetching balls down the full length of our driveway each morning. It’s a deal that I’ve made with them. We’ll fetch balls for at least 10 minutes, rain or shine, and they agree to lie quietly for the rest of the morning while I’m working at my computer. My right arm has not had this much exercise in years! They patiently await Jim’s return home shortly after noon so they can hang outside with him… if it isn’t pouring down rain. Unfortunately we no longer have cows that they can help work.

Yes, we knew what we were getting into with the heeler breed when we got them. We’ve had two others over the years and we both love their quirky personalities, extreme intelligence and total loyalty, but, I was hoping that none of us would have to be housebound quite this much this spring.

Now for some Lorane news.

Be sure you sign up if you are planning to have a yard sale on the weekend of May 20, when the Lorane Community-Wide Yard Sale is scheduled, so that you can take advantage of the advertising and maps of where the yard sales will be. Give Terrie  Johnson Morris a call at 541-913-3825 if you are planning to have your own sale at home. If you wish to rent a table at the Lorane Grange, contact Pam Kersgaard, 541-214-0261.

I have decided that I’m going to organize our former tavern building, the Dew Drop Inn, that I used as the Groundwaters office for a few years, and find homes for many of the books that I’ve put away for a Lorane Community Library. With the former school building no longer an option, that’s not going to happen, I’m afraid. The little self-help library at the Lorane Family Store is quite popular, but they have more books already than they can display, so for the community yard sale, I will be offering a bunch of paperback books free and selling many of the hardcover novels and cookbooks I have on hand with proceeds dedicated to the Lorane Community Association. Be sure to make it one of your stops on May 20.

The Crow Booster Club is planning the Spring Arts Festival, a fun evening to support the arts in the Crow-Applegate-Lorane schools. It will be taking place on Tuesday, May 16 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Crow Middle/High School. Admission is $5/person. There will be a Silent Auction and you will be entertained by Crow students with drama and music performances. Exhibits of their art, photography and woodshop projects will be offered for sale, as well. All the proceeds for this event support the arts program throughout the district. If you have items to donate for the silent auction, please contact Ali Cheers or leave a message with the Crow High School office for her at 541-935-2227.

Remember… The Lorane Christian Church is holding its Lorane Ladies’ Tea at the Grange this year. It’s scheduled for Sunday, May 7, at 3:00 p.m. They really encourage ladies of all ages to come who want to meet their neighbors or reacquaint themselves with those they don’t often get to visit with. It’s an especially good time to meet some of those we’ve been talking to for quite awhile on the Lorane Facebook page… to put a face to the names we know so well.