Sweet Lorane Community News – September 1, 2016

September 1, 2016Newspaper ColumnsAlesong Brewing and Blending, Brent Haxby, Crow Booster Club, Crow Car Show, Duane Coop, Jean Coop, Linsey Kau, Lorane Christian Church, Women's Ministriespaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 1, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Jim and I wish to extend our deepest condolences to Duane Coop and family at the passing of his dear wife, Jean. His devotion to Jean during her final illness was so very touching and I know that her loss will leave an empty place in his heart for some time to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time, Coop.

The Lorane Christian Church’s Women’s Ministries is collecting cans and, I’m assuming, bottles by September 8, to raise money for their mission projects which include food baskets for Lorane residents and to put towards their annual retreats.. If you have any to donate, please leave them at the church.

The ladies of the church have begun a craft night for anyone who would like to bring their own craft project to work on. If you don’t do crafts, bring a coloring book and just visit with friends and neighbors. It takes place every other week on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at the Lorane Christian Church. The next one should be scheduled for Tuesday, September 13.

Also another quick reminder about the Crow Middle/High School Booster Club’s annual Crow Car Show to be held on September 10 at Crow High School. More information can be obtained from the Crow Car Show Facebook page or one of the Booster Club members.

I’d like to share with you a chuckle I had one morning last week… During the summer, before the day gets hot, I frequently open my sliding glass door onto our front porch to let the cool, fresh morning air in. That particular morning, as I was ready to sit down for my morning coffee, I saw movement on the floor under our breakfast table. It was a tiny tree frog, leaping through the forest of chair legs. I gently caught him in my hands and took him back outside to one of my flower planters and let him go. How a little frog got into my house, I have no idea, but he provided a fun interlude before I sat down to read the dreary morning news.

Maybe my little visitor was a harbinger of the wonderfully refreshing days to come of waking up to drops of rain from a night-time shower dripping from the bushes, trees and very happy flowers this past week.

The owners of the planned new Alesong Brewery that is being built in Lorane are currently trying to arrange a meeting with the Lorane community to answer questions and inform neighbors of what their plans are for the new business. At this time, the day and time of the meeting have not been set, but I will try to get the information out in my next column, or if that is too late, it will be posted on the Lorane Facebook page.

I’m going to cut this shorter than usual as I’ve run out of news, and our family has a wedding to get ready for. Our granddaughter, Linsey Kau, and her fiancé, Brent Haxby, will be getting married on Saturday, September 10, so we’re all in a’flutter.

Go Ducks!

Sweet Lorane Community News – August 25, 2016

August 25, 2016Newspaper ColumnsCrow-Applegate-Lorane School District, Drain Black Sox, Joe Blakely, Karen Vosika, Lorane Growers' Market, Semi-Pro baseball, The Drain Black Sox of Oregon vs The Alpine Cowboys of Texas; The Glory Days of Semi-Pro Baseball: 1930-1960, Victory Garden Skillet, zucchinipaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 25, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Things are pretty quiet in Lorane these days as far as news is concerned. The Lorane Growers’ Market continues to be busy. Jim brought home some luscious prunes that were left last week. He only brought me about a dozen to eat – which I did in short order – but he said there was a whole large box of them and they went fast once people discovered them. Pears were also brought in and lots of apples, squash and other produce. I need to get some of my ripe tomatoes down there, too. I don’t have a large garden… just a few tomato plants, one zucchini and one crookneck squash plant… but they are keeping us in fresh produce. Even our dog, Outlaw, is benefiting. I’m trying to get him to lose the weight… or at least not gain any more since he went on phenobarbital for seizures. The medication tends to increase appetite. I dice the large zucchini and cook and store it in the refrigerator to supplement his dry dog food. I was told to do this with canned green beans, but he likes the zucchini much better and gobbles it right down along with his pill. My plant production is slowing down, so I may have to begin checking out the growers’ market for oversize zucchini. That’s a first!

Speaking of zucchini… since I don’t have much community news to report… I’d like to thank Veneta resident, Karen Vosika, for sharing this great recipe with Groundwaters many years ago. It’s always a big hit with Jim and me this time of year when my mini-garden is producing. It’s called “Victory Garden Skillet” and best of all, it’s easy. Ingredients: 1 lb. hamburger; about 2 or 3 cups of diced zucchini, 1 cup of uncooked rice; 1 large diced onion; 1 or 2 sliced tomatoes; 3 beef bouillon cubes; ½ tsp dry mustard; 2½ cups water; 6 slices of cheddar cheese; salt and pepper to taste.

Brown the hamburger in large skillet; add rice, onion, zucchini, bouillon cubes, dry mustard and water. Boil, stir and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in or layer on top (I prefer to layer) the cheese and tomato. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes so the cheese will melt over the top. Delicious!

I just completed the layout for a new book that Groundwaters was asked to publish by author, Joe Blakely. It will be of interest to not only local baseball fans and history buffs, but to our own community because it is about Lorane’s neighbor to the southwest, Drain, Oregon. It’s called The Drain Black Sox of Oregon vs The Alpine Cowboys of Texas; The Glory Days of Semi-Pro Baseball: 1930-1960 by Joe Blakely. It’s a great book that contains a lot of names of those who played for the Drain Black Sox that most sports fans will recognize. The book recounts in detail the 1958 National Semi-Pro Championship game between these two teams. “Who’da thunk” that such a small community could field a championship team?

We published the book this past week and more information on it can be found on the Groundwaters website at http://www.groundwaterspublishing.com/Bookstore.html.

School for the C-A-L School District starts on Tuesday, September 6… the day after Labor Day. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sweet Lorane Community News – August 18, 2016

August 18, 2016Newspaper ColumnsAlesong, Alesong Brewing and Blending, Crow Booster Club, Crow Car Show, Doug Coombs, Linsey Kau, Lorane Community Potluck, Lorane Country Cafe, Lorane Growers' Market, Lorane Ice Cream Socialpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 18, 2016
By Pat Edwards

I wasn’t able to attend last weekend’s Lorane Community Potluck and Ice Cream Social events because of a prior family commitment, but I heard that both went really well. Lil Thompson said that 42 people showed up for the potluck and the Fire Department seemed very pleased with the turnout at the Ice Cream Social. They have extended their thanks to all who participated.

I was at my granddaughter, Linsey’s, bridal shower brunch for much of the day and as people began to leave to return home, I reminded them that they really should stop and check out the events in Lorane. I always enjoy it each year. I’ll be back.

A new business is coming to Lorane, but some of its neighbors have concerns that need to be addressed. Alesong Brewing and Blending has begun building a small brewery behind where the former Lorane Country Café now sits. One of the neighbors is quite concerned as it will be situated where it will look down on her home and backyard and feels that it will be invading her family’s privacy. She posted her concerns on the Lorane Facebook page and others have also voiced other concerns about the possibility of having more intoxicated drivers on the road. One of the owners of Alesong Brewing and Blending, Doug Coombs, sent a response that I feel should be shared with others in the area.

We want “to reach out and introduce ourselves. We’re really excited to be part of the Lorane community and hope to be respectful neighbors and have a great relationship with everyone. We’re also hoping to set up an in-person meeting with the community to meet everyone and help people understand what we’re up to in the coming weeks.

“The short summary is that we’re moving to the country because we want something peaceful and idyllic and are hoping to get closer to brewing’s original, community-oriented, agricultural roots. We plan to use as much local fruit, hops and other crops as possible in our beer and hope to work with local farmers on many collaborative creations.
“In terms of what we’re building – it’s a very small, farmhouse-style brewery that will only be open to the public with limited (mostly daylight) hours similar to a small winery tasting room. Hopefully it ends up providing you all a new spot to come on a hot summer day to have a delicious draft beer without having to drive all the way into Eugene.

“(We’re) happy to respond to anyone’s questions directly… We’re trying to set something up to chat in a public forum with the broader community in the near future.”

I’ll try to let you know in this column when that public meeting will be.

The Lorane Grower’s Market is still proving popular with everyone. Don’t forget to bring in your extra produce and pickup what others share. The proceeds go towards Lorane community projects.

A brief reminder for the upcoming Crow Booster Club Annual Car Show and Auction to be held on September 10, 2016 at Crow High School… This event has become one of the Booster Club’s major fundraisers and all proceeds benefit the Crow-Applegate-Lorane Schools… not just the athletic program. They have a Facebook page that will give you information and updates listed under “Crow Car Show.”

I hope that everyone survived last week’s heatwave. That’s a bit too hot for me and the added fire danger is downright scary. While walking my dogs up Easy Acres Drive last year when it was so dry, I found quite a few fresh cigarette butts tossed alongside the road. One of our neighbors put a sign up asking people to cease and desist the practice, and they did… for the most part. This year, I’ve spotted one or two fresh ones at the edge of the road and although, that’s better, it only takes one live cigarette butt to cause devastation to a great many people, homes and livestock in the area. Let us all be aware of our actions and how they can affect others. Take care everyone.