Lorane Community News – March 31, 2016

March 31, 2016Newspaper ColumnsApplegate Regional Theater, Creswell High School track, Diamond Lake, Groundwaters, Hannah Edwards, Lorane Elementary School, Lorane Fitness Group, Mt. Bailey, Rich Mitchell, Rick Oswald, Tami Drullinger Oswaldpaedwards Leave a comment

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.

Lorane Community News – March 24, 2016

March 24, 2016Newspaper ColumnsLorane Fitness, Lorane Grange, Lorane Talent Show, Sharon Malcolm, Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo, Western Bluebirdpaedwards Leave a comment

I had a pretty nice welcome to spring the other day. Shortie, Outlaw and I took advantage of a break in the clouds and rain to walk up Easy Acres to get some fresh air and exercise. The sun was peeking through the clouds just as I noticed a flash of blue on the fence running next to the road. I was so excited to see the first Western Bluebird that I’ve seen in many years… if ever. I’ve put out birdhouses for them, but all they have attracted are swallows. This little guy was are NOT a Blue Jay or one of the beautiful little turquoise Lazuli Buntings that come to my feeders. It was about the size of a sparrow and had bright royal blue feathers with a dark orange breast. He was only about 20 feet away and did not seem skittish. In fact, he jumped down to the ground under a nearby tree to carry on whatever business he was tending to. Oh how I wish I had taken my camera or phone with me! It was a real treat to see it. I was beginning to think they were mythical.

Congratulations to Sharon Malcolm who won the $415 jackpot at the Lorane Grange’s Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo Night. When she yelled bingo that night, there were a lot of good-natured, “Awww’s” and “Darn its” as the adrenaline rushes plunged for all but Sharon. But, we all had a great time and as the bingo pot begins its re-growth next month, we’ll once again feel that same adrenaline rush when the prizes are $2 to $5 or a pick from the prize table. Most of us are doing it for the fun and camaraderie, anyway. The prizes are just a nice addition.

This past week our Lorane Facebook page continued to prove what a valuable tool it is for our community. One person was able to find a sheep/alpaca shearer for a group of residents with small flocks; someone else was able to locate and borrow an extra large dog crate to haul a new goat home in; an alert went out about an EPUD power outage; and a stray dog was found and, hopefully, returned home.

The Lorane Grange Exercise group get-togethers were cancelled last week due to Spring Break, but exercise classes will resume with Richard Simmon’s “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” on Tuesday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. The current schedule is: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. (aerobic/dance) and Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. (pilates, yoga). The organizers are projecting exercise videos on a big screen and everyone is welcome. The classes are suitable for beginners. They will go through April and then take a break until the rainy season returns in the fall. They are planning a “Limo Wine Tasting Event” in May to celebrate everyone’s hard work. For more info call 541-942-6193.

Don’t forget… the Lorane Talent Show will be held on Sunday, April 3 beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange. Try to make it out to see what amazing talent we have in Lorane!

Happy Spring, Everyone! May we all have enough dry days to keep our grass mowed, but enough rain to keep our beautiful spring flowers growing!

Sweet Lorane Community News – March 17, 2016

March 17, 2016Newspaper ColumnsCrow High School, Hunter Black, Lorane Rug Hookery, Rylan Larsenpaedwards 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’!