Category: Newspaper Columns

Newspaper columns that I have written for the Fern Ridge Review in Veneta, Oregon and the Creswell Chronicle in Creswell, Oregon. I began writing them for the Fern Ridge Review on August 4, 2010; on December 6, 2012, the Creswell Chronicle began printing them, as well. I am still the Lorane columnist for both papers.

Sweet Lorane Community News – April 21, 2016

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Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
April 21, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Lorane has an exciting new on-line resource, thanks to local resident, Chris Starfire. There has been a lot of interest shown in developing a list of Lorane resources, but no one, until now, has come forward to make it happen. Chris took the initiative and has set up a Facebook page called “Lorane Directory.” She has already put together a listing containing information on local businesses, services and other resources. She has also set it up so that people can post items for sale or trade from the area. In addition, she’s hoping to provide a section where locals can offer their recommendations on those services and goods offered.

Because Chris is not able to run it herself, she asked for volunteers to administer it once it is set up. Immediately, Marissa McNutt Cooper and Patrick Dearth generously offered their help along those lines.

This new resource will free up the Lorane, Oregon page for discussions, concerns, notices and happenings so that advertisements can now be kept separate. Check out the new Lorane Directory, https://www.facebook.com/groups/999281663489459/, if you want to contact local businesses or are looking for local products, services or resources in the area.

If you have a small cottage business, are a crafter, have a skill or are willing to provide various types of labor to local residents, be sure to post your information to the Lorane Directory and you will be added to the resource list. It is growing daily.

Thank you Chris, Marissa and Patrick for providing this much-needed and wanted service to the community!

The Yoga classes at the former Lorane Elementary School are being held in the upper building, the first classroom to the right, on Mondays and Fridays at 8:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. They are $50 for 10 classes or $7 drop-in fee. Bring a yoga mat if you have one. Call Rich Mitchell, 541-942-5459, or check out his website at http://www.theloraneschool.org/whats-happening/ for more information.

The Crow Grange is hosting a play night on Thursday May 5th at 7:00 p.m. Come and see three one-act plays. It’s free! They are a lot of fun to watch and they will have refreshments afterwards.

The Crow Grange is also putting on its annual Mother’s Day Breakfast on Sunday May 8th from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Last year, my family took me there and it was so much fun! They provide a wonderful breakfast of pancakes or biscuits and gravy, sausage, eggs, fruit and coffee or juice all for a suggested donation of $5. They give each mother a special treat as well.

Crow Middle/High School P.E. teacher, Tracy Engholm, put out a request to area patrons to volunteer a few hours of their time for the Survival Class that she is teaching. In it,  the students are learning how to sew using sewing machines. The students are assigned to make a bag of some sort by the end of the school year. Since Tracy is also teaching gardening at the same time, she hasn’t been able to figure out how to do both at once. She is hoping that someone from the district is willing to help the sewing class from 8:20 to 9:10 a.m. on school days. The school has two machines, so the volunteer would only be working with a couple of students at a time.

Tracy would also welcome donations of new or used thread, zippers, material, belting, buttons, etc. You can drop them off at either Crow High/Middle School or Applegate Elementary or leave a message for her at 541-935-2227.

Congratulations to Crow High/Middle School students, Teancum Jentzsch of Lorane and Grace Wagner for scoring among the highest at the countywide 2016 Math Fair held at Lane Community College in April. They both scored 12 out of 15 on their tests. There was only one other student from the participating schools that scored as high. The state competition will be held on May 14. Our congratulations and best wishes go to both students. Way to go!

Mark your calendars on May 17 for the upcoming Crow-Applegate-Lorane musical event. The C-A-L schools will present a night of music performed by district students and some guest performers from local music groups. There will also be food, raffles and door prizes to raise money for the district’s music department. There will be a spaghetti dinner at 6:00 p.m. for $5 per adult, $3 per child, or $15 per family of four.

Sweet Lorane Community News – April 14, 2016

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Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
April 14, 2016
By Pat Edwards

I’m struggling this week to come up with a column for Lorane events. Fortunately, I have a couple of upcoming events at the district schools. When I begin writing my column on these “slow news weeks,” I never really know where they will go. For me, at times, writing “just happens.” I don’t want to fill my space with nothingness, though, and it seems rather vain to write about my family or myself for the entire column, but sometimes, that’s all I have at the moment. So, here goes…

The West Lane Distinguished Service Awards event will be held at the Applegate Elementary gymnasium this year on Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. In years’ past it has been held at the high school, but they are trying a new location this year. Come out and help honor the award recipients from local service organizations and schools. I believe that Lorane’s own Jamie Ledgerwood has been chosen as “Certified Employee of the Year” (aka Teacher of the Year) for the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District. Congratulations Jamie!

Jamie and I have a long history together. Not only have I known her since she was born, she worked for me at the University of Oregon as a work study assistant at the Institute of Neuroscience for all 4 years that she was there. I couldn’t have asked for a more dependable, eager assistant and I was so sad to lose her to graduation. Later, Jamie was our go-to person whenever we needed a housesitter for vacations. It was her secondary job until she was hired on with the school district.

Jamie has taught full time at C-A-L for the past 6 years and is currently teaching first grade.  I’m so proud of you, Jamie!! They couldn’t have selected a more deserving person.

The annual Grandparents Tea will be held at Applegate Elementary on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.  Parents, friends, and grandparents are all invited to come enjoy tea and a talent show. Parents are collecting items for the classroom baskets that will be auctioned at the tea, so check with the classroom teacher for the theme of the basket they are putting together and plan to donate an item to it.

I remember attending one of the first Grandparents’ Teas at Lorane Elementary School when our granddaughter, Hayley Kau, was in 6th grade, I believe. The students put on skits and provided other entertainment and snacks for us. They also had an open house where we grandparents were given tours of the classrooms by our favorite hosts and hostesses. It was a beautiful spring day and I remember heading outside where Hayley and I sat on the swings next to Jim Jentzsch who was there for his grandkids, too. Hayley had to leave to get ready to go home, so Jim and sat swinging, talking and reminiscing. The thoughtfulness that had gone into the day meant so much to me. I also realized that I hadn’t been on a swing in decades and found out that I could still pump a swing to get it soaring. What fun! If it had been about 60 years earlier, I would have let go and bailed off the swing, landing (usually) on my feet. But 60 years of wear and tear on these bones wouldn’t allow me to journey that far back into my childhood that day.

Memories…

Lorane Community News – April 7, 2016

April 7, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Oh, it’s so hard to sit at this computer for long. With the beautiful spring weather we’ve been having, I’ve been bitten by the spring fever bug hard. I was really needing a good dose of that sunshine and warmth for not only my physical, but mental health, especially. It’s been a rough few months and that sunshine is really welcome.

I’ve built a petunia planter, which is already filled, planted 2 new rose bushes, and several tubs of flowers. I even jumped the gun a bit by planting a bunch of strawberries in a planter box and some tomatoes and cucumbers in another one. I hope I haven’t jinxed everyone’s hopes for no additional frost this spring, but I just couldn’t help myself.

Apparently the recent Lorane Talent Show, sponsored by the Rural Art Center and the Lorane Grange, was a huge success this year. In past years, there are sometimes rather small turnouts, but Lil Thompson reported that 11 different contestants from not only Lorane, but from neighboring communities of Sutherlin, Elmira, Eugene, Triangle Lake, Cottage Grove and Crow participated. In addition, over 50 people turned out to show their support and appreciation for the talent offered. It was a fun time for all as everyone visited over refreshments in the grange kitchen following the entertainment.

In addition to the talent show, the Lorane Grange hosted its annual Outstanding Community Awards to honor those chosen by each of the area’s organizations. Those receiving the awards this year are Markay Wilson (Lorane Christian Church), Jim Bailor (Lorane Fire Department), Jeri Porter and Carol Morehead (Lorane Grange), Effie Hughes (Lorane Rebekahs) and the Rural Art Center for its community service programs.

For you parents and grandparents who want to be able to check out the dates and times of upcoming Crow-Applegate-Lorane school district activities and athletics, information will now be included on the District’s website at http://www.cal.k12.or.us.  It will also have instructions or an app on the website to enable you to access info by your cell phone or tablet.

There’s some exciting news on the horizon for C-A-L students who will be 16 or older by June 2017. Plans are being discussed for a 12-day European adventure to Greece, Italy and Spain. A very important meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. for parents and students interested in such a trip. If you are unable to attend or need further information, you may contact Ms. Smith at asmith@cal.k12.or.us.

Both Lorane and Crow will be holding their dinner and bingo fundraisers on the same night this month – Saturday, April 16. For Lorane, dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and bingo at 6:30 p.m. This will be the last one until September.

Crow’s doors open at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and bingo begins at 7:00 p.m. Please be sure to support our local granges. Lorane and Crow Granges have both given so much to their communities – not just their members – and it’s important to support them as much as possible. They are a large part of what makes our communities strong and so very special.

Happy spring everyone! It’s the time for track meets, flowers and gardens. My favorite time of the year!