Author: paedwards

Sweet Lorane Community News – October 13, 2016

October 13, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 13, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The whole community has been mourning the loss of a beautiful little 4-year old girl named Payge Bowman who died early last Tuesday morning when her mother’s car went off Cottage Grove-Lorane Road. Payge was riding in the back seat with her older sister and younger brother when the car left the road and rolled about 30′ down the steep hill. Her mother, Courtney, who was driving, and her sister and brother had minor injuries, but little Payge did not survive. The Bowman family live near Lorane and each of us are stunned and hoping to help the family in any way we can.

Besides the Bowman family, our local first-responder volunteers were particularly affected by Payge’s death and Jim and I extend our thanks and appreciation to each of you who opened your hearts and souls by being there to treat and try to comfort the family.

A GoFundMe account that was set up by Payge’s aunt has raised enough to cover her funeral expenses and, as I write this, a meal train is being planned by Lorane residents to allow the family time to mourn. If you’d like to participate, check the information posted on the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page for particulars.

Our deep condolences go out to the Bowman family. We are truly grieving with you.

A couple of weeks ago, Mike and Joanne Cantrall, announced that they are collecting warm clothing – shoes, socks, jackets, blankets and hygiene items – for homeless veterans. They placed a large collection barrel at the Lorane Family Store and when I asked Jim how the collection effort was going, he told me that the barrel has had to be emptied several times already because of the huge response from the Lorane community. We have plenty of warm hearts here. Thank you!

Speaking of warmth, I hope that everyone was able to weather the nasty storm that came through Oregon this past weekend. A number of events were cancelled because of the forecast including the cider pressing and the Lorane and Crow Grange’s dinner and bingo nights.

A new event that is being planned was just announced. There will be a Family Barn Dance at the Lorane Grange on Friday, October 28, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The suggested donation is $10 per family. The last time a barn dance was held there a couple of years ago,

Also, the Lorane Christian Church is once again planning its annual Lorane Trunk or Treat on Halloween night, Monday, October 31. According to Dave Langstraat, those who want to take part will be meeting in the church parking lot. Cars are parked and decorated and treats are offered to ghosts, witches, goblins and super-heroes of all ages from the trunks. Set-up starts about 4:30 p.m. Soup and cider will be offered to everyone and they usually wrap-up between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. I’ve heard that it is as much fun for the adults as it is for the children.

Apparently, for those of you in Crow, the Church of the Nazarene in Crow is also having a Trunk or Treat on Halloween night. I don’t have details, but the times should be about the same as Lorane’s.

The Lorane Growers’ Market is still happening. Yesterday, I noticed a whole bunch of wonderful looking grapes on the table out in front of the Lorane Family Store. Be sure to check it out.

Don’t forget the Groundwaters LIVE! event at the Applegate Regional Theater on Central Road on Sunday afternoon, October 23, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Meet some of your favorite authors and pick up a copy of the 2016 edition of the Groundwaters anthology. It’s like getting four issues of the popular magazine in paperback format.

Also, on Sunday, October 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a new event is being planned called the TEDx Veneta Women. A roster of area women has been lined up by organizer, Jennifer Chambers, to give live and video talks about subjects of interest to local women, in particular, “to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group setting.” The theme that is set for this event is “Use the Time We’re Given.” Jen will be releasing the names of the speakers – three from the Lorane area – and the times each will be assigned soon. We hope to see you there.

Sweet Lorane Community News – October 6, 2016

October 6, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 6, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Fall is finally upon us and there has been enough rain to end the fire season. LRAPA (Lane Regional Air Protection Agency) has even opened rural backyard burning of yard debris a week early. It has been allowed, providing weather conditions are acceptable, since last Saturday, October 8. Before lighting that match or igniter, you must call ahead (541-726-3976) or check the LRAPA website at http://www.lrapa.org to find out if burning is allowed on that particular day in our area, however.

The Crow-Applegate-Lorane Booster Club, which also includes the district’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is in dire need of new members. Marissa McNutt Cooper has recently posted a plea to area residents to become members.

“I am hoping to spread the word to people who have children at Crow who might be interested in joining (the Booster Club). If they don’t get some new members soon, they may have to close, which would be catastrophic for our district. They fund an astonishing amount (usually around $20,000-$30,000 annually) for the entire district. Last night alone (Thursday, October 6), they approved close to $5,000 in funds requested for supplies for Science Classes at the high school, new welders, welding hoods and welding jackets for the shop and automotive class, and supplies and materials for the drama club. They also provide sports scholarships, buy new curriculum for the elementary and they’ve purchased new projectors for all of the classrooms. The list is endless. They meet once a month, usually the first Thursday of the month.”

This is a vital organization in our community. The boosters sponsor large fundraising events throughout the year that enable our area’s students to get the best education possible from our small school district. Until the state legislature figures out a better system for school funding, we are all going to have to do what we can on a community level. We all get frustrated with national and state elections and feel that we have no voice. But we do have a voice at the community level and if each community takes care of its own, then we are making a difference that may extend even further. We are all busy these days, but we need to find the time for something as important as this. For information on how to join, contact Linda Lay, Crow-Applegate-Lorane Booster Club President (541-844-5840), or one of its members.

Mark October 15 on your calendar! Roberta Pietila Miller and Pam Kersgaard have organized a community apple cider pressing at Roberta’s house, across from the Lorane Grange, on Saturday, October 15 starting at 10:00 a.m. All you have to do is bring your own apples and containers. They’ll break for a potluck lunch and proceed until all of the apples have been processed. For questions or more info, contact Roberta (360-318-6028 or e-mail robertamiller77@yahoo.com) or Pam Kersgaard through the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page.

Another date to mark is Sunday, October 23. Groundwaters will be presenting a program, Groundwaters LIVE! at the Applegate Regional Theater, 87230 Central Road, Eugene, in the former Central School gymnasium, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. to launch our just-completed 2016 Groundwaters anthology. We will feature 11 of our 63 contributors who will each read 5-minute portions of their stories and poems that are included in the book. The readers list includes: Jeanette-Marie Mirich, Jo-Brew, Vicki Sourdry, Demetri Liontos, David Erickson, Karen Wickham, Sherry Hunter, Michael Foster, gael Doyle-Oroyan, Eunice Scruggs and Stanley Buck. Refreshments will be provided and books will be available to purchase before, during the break and afterwards. There’s no admission… it’s free! Please come join us!

Attention all female Crow High School alums who played basketball for the Cougars! A women’s alumni basketball tournament is in the planning stages in conjunction with the annual men’s tournament to be held on December 9 and 10. Four teams from all age groups are being formed. If you are interested in participating, please contact Marissa McNutt-Cooper (541-517-6608) or a booster club member. More information can be found on the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page.

Sweet Lorane Community News – September 29, 2016

September 29, 2016Newspaper Columns, Uncategorized, , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 29, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Approximately 30 people attended the community meeting, held this past Tuesday night (September 27) at the Lorane Grange, so that the owners of the Alesong Brewing and Blending (Brian & Doug Coombs and veteran brewer, Matt Van Wyk) could present their visions and plans for the new brewpub that is being built near Lorane. Ground has been broken behind the former Lorane Country Café on Territorial Road, next to the entrance to King Estate Winery. Rather than paraphrase the notes I have from Doug Coombs, I’m going to provide you with his comments directly:

“Thanks to everyone who came out last Tuesday night! It was great to meet some of the community! To give a quick recap of what we’re doing and cover some of the Q&A that came up for those who weren’t there…

“Alesong is a very small brewery run by three founder/employees. We’re focused on barrel-aged and farmhouse-style beers and our dream has been to have a farmhouse brewery in the country inspired by the French-Belgian brewing tradition. This is what we’re building in Lorane. Most of our beers are aged in oak (retired wine or spirits barrels) for 3-36 months before release, making what we do a bit unique as compared with most breweries that have a roughly 3-week production cycle. The majority of our initial brewing (and water usage) will happen in our Eugene facility, but the Lorane location will house most of our barrels that are maturing and a small tasting room.

“Although we fall under the county’s definition of a “brewpub,” our tasting room will operate more similarly to a winery tasting room, with limited – mostly daylight – hours and a family-friendly atmosphere where people can come to enjoy a drink responsibly in a beautiful setting. The facility we are building is at the back of the property, behind the old café, which we aren’t using. We haven’t yet decided what we will do with it.

“Our hope is to be open by the end of the year, although with construction, you never know…” http://www.alesongbrewing.com/

Some of the concerns that were discussed concern the additional use of water since several families in the Territorial North area are experiencing their wells going dry after two dry summers. Also, some residents have expressed concerns about more intoxicated drivers on the local road. I believe that these issues have been addressed in the statement above.

There is also evidence of a great deal of support for the new business and many residents are looking forward to having it in our area.

The return of both the Lorane and Crow Granges’ dinner and bingo nights were well attended at each this past month. Lorane Grange has changed its dinner offering to tacos which seemed to be a very popular choice with those attending, so tacos will be on the menu again at the next event on Saturday, October 15.

The Crow Grange’s dinner and bingo night was well attended, too, but there was a definite feeling that “someone was missing.” That someone was Joe Canaday, the long-time Master of the Crow Grange who was under hospice care. Sadly, Joe passed away three days later. His passing is a huge loss for the Crow community. Joe was an icon . He descended from a pioneer family in the Crow area and was a logger most of his life, although he also enjoyed reading, music and art. I remember him personally as a kind and generous friend with a welcoming smile. Our love and condolences go out to his wife Leah and the Canaday family. A memorial service will be held at the Crow Grange on Sunday, October 9 at 2:00 p.m. Godspeed and God Bless, Joe! Your smile and friendship will stay with us always.

The Crow dinner and bingo nights are held every first and third Saturday of each month.

Remember the Rural Art Center movie night at the Lorane Grange on Saturday, October 8, too!