Sweet Lorane Community News – January 24, 2019

January 24, 2019Newspaper ColumnsA Winter Writing Workshop, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Crow Middle/High School, Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District, FFA, Hesitate No Longer: Abigail Scott Duniway and Susan B. Anthony in Oregon, Jennifer Chambers, Lorane Eta Theta Rho #94, Lorane Rebekahs, Oregon’s Remarkable Women: Revolutionaries and Visionaries, Sandra Larsonpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
January 24, 2019
By Pat Edwards

I’m going to try to get back on track this week with Lorane news, although there isn’t much of it right now. I missed reminders on a few events that have come and gone, but my hope is that I can share some of the messages from my heart with you, as needed, too.

Crow Middle/High School has announced that a new program on the study of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been approved. Students will now have the opportunity to explore careers in those fields. I also understand that the Crow-Applegate-Lorane school board also approved the establishment of an FFA Chapter.

To me, this is great news. Along with being offered instruction in some of the manual trades – mechanics, construction, welding, etc.—students who either might not be destined for a 4-year college education or who plan to go to college, but have shied away from considering agriculture and/or natural resources since the demise of the timber industry in Oregon, will get a chance to get some hands-on experience in these fields before setting their goals. It’s long been my belief that too much emphasis has been placed in recent years on getting formal college educations that they may not be able to afford and may lead no where. Kudos to C-A-L!

Mark your calendar! Lorane Eta Theta Rho, the girls’ youth service organization sponsored by the Lorane Rebekah Lodge has set a new date and time for their annual “Parents’ Night Out.” In the past, they have offered the gift of a night out to the parents of local children in the C-A-L school district during the holiday season. This year, however, they have scheduled it for Friday, February 15, from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Parent’s Night Out is an evening where Eta Theta Rho Girls Club #94 provides free babysitting/daycare for the evening so parents can go on a date, relax at home, or do whatever they’d like to do, sans children. It is chaperoned by Eta’s adult female advisors. It will be held at the Lorane Rebekah Lodge at 80284 Old Lorane Rd, Lorane OR 97451. Contact Tara Wigle, Head Advisor (cell – 541-520-4151; or home – 541-935-5245), for more information.

The Celebration of Life for Sandy Larson, Veneta’s former mayor and friend to many of us from areas all over Lane County, will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fern Ridge Middle School in Elmira. Parking is expected to be limited at the school, but the lots at the Fern Ridge District Office, Elmira Elementary School and possibly, the church next to the Middle School are being made available, too. In lieu of flowers, those who want to contribute to Sandy’s memory are encouraged to do so through Mid-Lane Cares, Friends of the Fern Ridge Library, or the Applegate Regional Theatre.

My good friend and co-editor of Groundwaters, Jennifer Chambers, has been asked to conduct a 6-week series of classes called “A Winter Writing Workshop” on the basics of writing short stories and fiction. Jen, a recognized author of various genres of books and stories, has recently lectured around Oregon on her two most recent books, Oregon’s Remarkable Women: Revolutionaries and Visionaries and Hesitate No Longer: Abigail Scott Duniway and Susan B. Anthony in Oregon.

The classes will be held on Wednesday nights, beginning on February 20 and continuing through March 27 at the Fern Ridge Library’s Konnie Room from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The cost will be $50 for the entire series and you will get personalized feedback on your stories from Jen.

For more information, contact Vicki Sourdry, c/o Friends of the Library, at vsourdry@hotmail.com; 541-337-7007

Sweet Lorane Community News – January 17, 2019

January 17, 2019Newspaper ColumnsCelebration of Life, Fern Ridge Review, Jim Burnett Sr., Mayor of Veneta, Sandra Larsonpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
January 17, 2019
By Pat Edwards

It’s just not fair! It was only a couple of months ago that I wrote about paying a visit in Vancouver, Washington, to my brother as part of his own Celebration of Life. Knowing he was dying, he wanted to reach out to as many family and friends as possible… not necessarily to say goodbye, but to have the opportunity to tell each of them how much they have meant to him throughout his life. It meant so much to me to have those last two visits with him. He quietly passed less than a week after my final visit.

It was comforting to me at the time to be asked to share part of his journey with him and I feel so fortunate to have been able to discuss so many of our memories together as well as learn some of his own stories that he had never told me. In a way, I felt it was a cleansing and I will be eternally grateful to him for giving me that opportunity.
Two weeks ago, I learned of another dear person in my life who was suddenly and unexpectedly placed in hospice care. More tragically still, I just learned, after finishing the rough draft of this piece, that she passed early this morning, Thursday, January 17. My heart is aching.

Veneta’s own Sandy Larson had been a friend of mine for about 8 years since we met after I became involved with Groundwaters magazine. We didn’t have the chance to get together very often, but we had a casual email correspondence through her work with the Fern Ridge Library and mine as the one who printed their newsletters each month.
As one of the most respected reporters for the Fern Ridge Review, she interviewed me several times concerning various events and activities I was involved in. I quickly formed a huge respect for her abilities as not only a writer, but whose work ethic and care of detail in her writing assignments were exemplary. Whenever she interviewed me for a Fern Ridge Review article, she paid attention to all that I offered and double-checked anything she was not sure of so that each article was right on-point in honesty and accuracy. I marveled at the amount of time and effort she expended in running down stories and attending events to provide the most comprehensive news features possible for the paper and the community.

In addition, I respected her so much for her willingness to take on the civic responsibilities for the City of Veneta. In that regard, she was extremely modest. Whenever I would introduce her to someone and mention that she was Veneta’s mayor, she would downplay her role as no more than someone who loves her community and is willing to work to make it better.

I had lunch with Sandy not too long ago at Our Daily Bread. She wanted to go over some details of an article she was writing, and I found myself thinking about how much I enjoyed it and how we should take the time to meet more frequently on a social basis.
She talked about how excited she was about a new history project for Veneta that she was looking forward to working on. It was obvious how much she loved her community.
After hearing about her diagnosis, I was hoping to visit Sandy as I did with my brother, but a persistent cold prevented me from setting up a time. I did write her a note to let her know how much respect I have long held for her and what she has meant to me as a friend over the years.

Sandy Larson had a life that is truly worth celebrating. I’m just sorry that we had to say goodbye so soon. Godspeed, Sandy… I will miss you, my friend.

Sweet Lorane Community News, January 10, 2019

January 10, 2019Newspaper ColumnsBingo, Connie and Dan Suing, Creswell Grange Bingo, Crow Grange Bingo, From the Madding Crowd, Lorane Dinner and Bingo Night, Lorane Movie Night, Randy and Marty Eschleman, Rural Art Centerpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
January 10, 2019
By Pat Edwards

It’s time I get back to updating everyone on upcoming Lorane events. There aren’t many scheduled yet since most were put on hold during the holidays, but, there are a few things that are “back in action.”

The January Lorane Movie Night was held last Saturday and I regret not letting you know about the movie that was shown, “East Side Sushi.” So, let me give you a head start on February’s offering by the Rural Art Center. On Saturday, February 9, the movie, “Far From the Madding Crowd” (PG-13; 2015) will be shown at the Lorane Grange. The main female character, Bathsheba, was an independent landowner in a time when women were not meant to be either. Three suitors present themselves to remedy the situation in this romantic drama, based on the book by Thomas Hardy. The dinner portion is being billed as a Valentine chocolate potluck. Hmm…

Mark your calendars for dinner at 6:00 p.m., antics and doorprizes at 6:45 p.m., and the feature film at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donations are $7 for adults and $5 for children, 12 years of age and under.

The Lorane Grange’s dinner and bingo night will resume on Saturday, January 26, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and bingo following. The blackout progressive jackpot has grown substantially and is ripe for the winning. Bring the whole family out to eat the spaghetti dinner and join your neighbors and friends in our raucous games of bingo. Randy “Santa” Eschleman is a great bingo caller who takes a lot of ribbing, and his sidekick Marty has her computer handy to compute each game’s prize. Join the fun. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors.

The Crow Grange has resumed its regular 1st and 3rd Saturday dinner and bingo nights, as well. The next one is scheduled for January 19. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. when dinner becomes available and bingo begins at 7:00 p.m. Connie and Dan Suing, dedicated grangers, have been hosting it for the Crow Grange for many years now and welcome everyone who wants to join in their fun, as well.

Another neighboring grange that is going to try its hand at a bingo night is the Creswell Grange. They have scheduled their first bingo night on Wednesday, January 16, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00. They are located at 298 W. Oregon Avenue in Creswell. They will be offering refreshments, but no dinner.

Jim and I are going to have to see if we can make it. As many of you know, we are “old hands” at bingo. We’ve spent our whole marriage playing bingo. Both of our mothers were huge fans and taking them as often as possible allowed us quality time to spend with them in the years when they were both widowed. Later, it became a fun, inexpensive “date-night” for us. Unlike movies (which Jim won’t go to), or dinner out, we were able to sit and visit with each other as well as other family members and those around us for a whole evening… and much of the time we spent less than we would have on the other activities. It got me away from my computer for an evening and Jim was able to stare at a bingo monitor instead of his TV screen.

These granges depend on the receipts of these fundraiser nights to help maintain their buildings and organizations. If you haven’t been to one, please give it a try and I can almost guarantee that you will enjoy your evening.