Special prayers and wishes need to go out to Tami Drullinger Oswald whose husband  Rick (Oz) Oswald died last Tuesday, March 22 in an avalanche on Mt. Bailey near Diamond Lake where he worked as a ski guide and an avalanche control specialist.  A memorial service was held last Saturday, April 2, at Lorane Christian Church followed by a potluck at Lorane Grange.

Tami grew up in Lorane and went to the local schools before moving away following graduation. We send our heartfelt condolences to Tami, their son Ryan, and to her mother, Connie Loveall and father, Bob Drullinger, for their loss. More information about Rick “Oz” Oswald can be found at http://www.theinertia.com/mountain/avalanche-kills-lead-guide-at-oregons-mount-bailey-cat-operation/

What a blessing this past week has been to those of us who have been longing for some warm dry days to chase away the winter blues. The 70 degree weather was about perfect and the sunshine significantly raised my spirits.

Jim, our son Rob and I spent a fantastic day in Glide last Tuesday, watching the Creswell High School track team compete. I love the Glide venue. Our older granddaughters have competed there numerous times for Crow High School. Another granddaughter, Hannah, competed in the javelin, discus and 100 meter hurdles for Creswell and we were able to pull the car right up to fence by the track and place our chairs out in the warm sunshine while we watched Hannah chuck her spear in the infield. While we were sitting there, we looked up and saw two large eagles soaring in wide circles above us as if they were watching, too.

Hannah improved her previous throws from the week before by 4 feet, so we were all quite pleased. In addition, her cousin, Stephanie Kau, who is coaching the throwers at Glide High School this year, was running the event. It was a regular family affair!

The Applegate Regional Theater, Inc. of Veneta who has provided a non-profit umbrella to Groundwaters for many years, has recently purchased the former Central School on Central Road out of Crow for their theater. There are a lot of items left in the school that they are offering for free. I thought that it might be of interest to local organizations, especially. The offerings include chairs, furniture, book/magazine holders, dishes/silverware… (lots of glasses), makeup, soaps, lotions, TV’s, overhead projection screens, computer monitors, record albums, clothes, bathroom cabinets/mirrors… and SO much more!! You are asked to call Sharron at 206-939-2732 to set up a time to view the offerings.

One of our most well-kept secrets in Lorane is “What’s Happening with the Lorane School?” Well, I just found out. The owners have recently set up a website where you can go to see what’s happening at http://www.theloraneschool.org. The most recent plan is to begin regular yoga classes conducted by owner Rich Mitchell. According to the website, “The plan is to develop a dedicated movement studio in the school. We would like to equip and decorate it as well as possible, as we feel it would serve to draw in quality instruction for weekend classes and workshops. So, we need to charge for classes, and feel $7 per drop-in class and ten classes for $50 is fair. We can use a punch card system. All first year proceeds will go to developing the studio.”

They also have a game room set up and tiny homes (or at least one, right now) are being built there.

In a related update, the Lorane Fitness Group has dropped Thursdays from their schedule. They will be meeting Tuesdays only at 6:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange through April and will then break for the summer.

Lorane Grange’s next spaghetti dinner and bingo evening is Saturday, April 16.  It will be the last one until September.