Author: paedwards

Sweet Lorane Community News – March 17, 2016

March 17, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 17, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The Rural Art Center wants to remind everyone that the Lorane Rug Hookery group (they call themselves the Rug Hookers) is actively meeting again. Their evening meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lorane Fire Hall.

The morning get-togethers are from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Lorane Rebekah Hall at 80284 Old Lorane Rd. Please let them know if you are planning to attend one of the meetings by sending an email to ruralartcenter@gmail.com so they can be sure bring the materials that you need. They will also add you to their reminder list.

Items that you will need to bring are: scissors, cheater glasses if you wear them, any of your own equipment if you have it, including a rug hook, a hooking frame or sturdy embroidery hoop. Starter hooks are available for $6 or can be borrowed and you can rent a hooking frame from the group for $10 per month.

The group has also put together kits which include backing material with a design drawn on it and wool strips to hook into it for $5.50 for 8″ x 8″ square  burlap and $8.50 for the same size primitive linen. At the meetings will be two strip cutters for you to use to turn your own wool into strips. These kits are a bargain compared to those you can buy on-line. The group has put them together in order to “get you hooked.” More info can be found on their website at http://www.ruralartcenter.org/#!programs/c1t44.

Spring break for the C-A-L schools begin Monday, March 21 through Friday, March 25. Yeah!

We are delighted to hear that two Crow High School students have won honors for their short stories as a part of the Eugene-based Wordcrafters Annual Writers Conference. Wordcrafters is made up of a group of professional writers, publishers, speakers, teachers and business people from the Pacific Northwest.

For the high school division,  Crow High sophomore, Hunter Black placed 3rd with is story, “Copenhagen Estates,” and Rylan Larsen’s story, “A Dream at Death’s Door: The Long Flight” took 1st place. These prestigious awards were presented at the UO Baker Center. Congratulations Rylan and Hunter!

I hope everyone enjoyed their two days of sunshine this past week. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the opportunity to take advantage of the sunny days to mow lawns. I am going to be so far behind the 8-ball! Spring’s a comin’!

Sweet Lorane Community News – March 10, 2016

March 10, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 10, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Greetings from Lorane!

I just heard that long-time resident, Pat Elliott, of the Fawn Creek area of Siuslaw River Road west of Lorane suffered a stroke caused by a brain bleed on February 12. The condition caused a seizure and surgery was performed to correct the bleed. He’s been in rehab for the past 3 weeks and will begin receiving regular therapy at home. According to Linda and Bridgett Johnson-Elliott, “We’re now faced with enormous medical bills and monthly expenses which Pat’s Medicare covers only a portion of.” The Johnson-Elliott family has set up an on-line account at https://www.youcaring.com/pat-elliott-536507 to accept financial help for Pat’s medical expenses. Get well soon, Pat. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Last week I reported on the hospitalization of a Creswell High School sophomore, Blake Nelson, who has been battling a flesh-eating bacteria throughout much of his body. His situation has touched the hearts of many who don’t even know him. Prayers and donations from generous people have been sent and a GoFundMe account that his wrestling coach set up for him has reached over $18,000 as of this writing. In addition, his coach and parents have been posting updates on Blake’s condition. The following from his parents, Pete and Michelle Nelson, is the latest one…

“Blake is finally doing consistently better! He seems to have turned the corner and is past the worst of this nastiness. The doctors think they have all the infection sites under control and have started the process of sealing the biggest wounds back up. He had his 7th surgery last Thursday to continue that process. He has another surgery scheduled for Saturday and they are optimistic that they will be able to close both of his big wounds and he will not need any skin grafts. Hopefully that will be his last surgery…” For the full update, go to https://www.gofundme.com/6gs9rbpg

The Lorane Grange’s Dinner and Bingo Night is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Come join us for a fun evening!

The Applegate Elementary will soon be hosting an “Artist in Residency” program featuring professional artists at their schools. This spring’s schedule will begin with Terri Robertson who will conduct a class on cartooning.  The next theme will be on Japanese-American art and culture in all forms.  This particular program is another one sponsored by the local Rural Art Center. We are so lucky to have them in our community! Thank you, RAC!

The schools in the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District are participating in Open Enrollment during the month of March. Please encourage anyone seeking a small rural school with great teachers, smaller classes and an amazing and caring staff to contact the district office at 541-935-2100.

The Lorane Fitness Group reminds everyone that they are meeting regularly at the Lorane Grange on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. for dance and aerobics and on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. for yoga, pilates and Tai Chi.

I’ve been told that the newly-reopened Lorane Deli is getting a partial face-lift. It’s good to see it open again!

The Rural Art Center’s Lorane Movie Night finished its season last Saturday night. It will resume in October.

Wow! Tax season and grass season are really upon us. Hopefully, I can get the taxes wrapped up this week, but now that I think I’ve finally kicked the “cold virus-that-keeps-returning,” I’d better take advantage of one of these dryer days to get my lawns mowed. The grass has really started to grow, but I’m not complaining – I think that spring is really on the way!

Sweet Lorane Community News – March 3, 2016

March 3, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 03, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The Rural Art Center- and Lorane Grange-sponsored Lorane Talent Show is still a month away, but they are still looking for new talent and have added more information about what they are hoping to present. For those of you who are too shy to share your singing voice, your dexterity with a musical instrument or your nimble dancing feet with an audience, there is still hope for sharing other talents you may have. Bring your artwork or craft projects – pottery, quilts, hooked rugs or whatever you make or do that brings you and your family enjoyment. They will be displayed and possibly even judged… April 3 at 3:00 p.m.

UPDATE: Norm Fox is back home from his extended hospital stay. He returned home on March 1 and seems to be doing much better.

I received word from my granddaughter, Hannah Edwards, that a fellow student at Creswell High School – a young man from Lorane’s neighbor to the northeast – is fighting for his life at the time of this writing.

On Tuesday, March 1, Blake Nelson was rushed into surgery after doctors found that Blake’s fever and swelling in his leg was related to a bacterial infection which caused compartment syndrome. They have since found necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria), and strains of staph bacteria in his lungs, his mouth and other parts of his body.

Blake has been in the ICU at Riverbend Medical Center, intubated and anesthetically unconscious, and will have more surgical operations until medical staff feel that they have controlled the spread of bacteria in his body. He is expected to be in the hospital at least for two weeks if all goes well.

As a CHS wrestler, Blake’s “strong spirit and bright personality are un-matched.” His coach, Wayne Joseph Roberts, has set up a GoFundMe account for the family and asks us each to keep Blake and his family in our thoughts and prayers. Please add yours to ours. That’s what neighbors do, after all!

I hesitate to go into this next topic. I’m not a political person, nor will I become one now, but I have some observations and comments that I have felt strongly that I must share.

I have been raised with an enduring pride in my country and the foundations from which it was built. I’ve taken pride in voting and doing what I could to participate in the rights that are afforded me. I’ve tried to keep myself informed on the candidates, issues and measures that each election involves, and I’ve cast my votes according to my heartfelt belief in what I felt expressed my informed opinion… not by party line.

But, right now I join so many others in a growing discomfort and actual trepidation on how our political canvas is being painted this year. It’s the first time that I have feared for the future of our country. How can I vote with my heart and my head when both, if the current trend continues, tell me that neither candidate will take us confidently into the future? How are we expected to choose between the lesser of two… maybe not evils… but of two candidates that I have no confidence in?

I know that there are those of you who will disagree with me, but these are the conclusions I have come to and unless some Independent “messiah” appears on the horizon who will rekindle our hopes for strong leadership in this country, this may be the first Presidential election that I’d consider sitting out… or at least writing in the name of someone who would have absolutely no chance to win. There is no way that I can put my mark beside either name.