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, November 29, 2018

November 29, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 29, 2018
By Pat Edwards

We’re already halfway through “the holidays”… I can’t believe it. It’s amazing how much days, weeks, months and years accelerate as we get older. I can remember, as a child, what seemed like long, sweet summer days where I had time to lie in the grassy field near our home and chew on the tender heart of a stem of grass while looking at the blue sky and clouds, listening to the buzz of bees and watching grasshoppers leap off my pants-leg into the tall grass surrounding us. My friends and I formed a club called the “Long-Leg-Hopper Club”… or something like that. We didn’t do anything with the club that I can remember, except join those daddy long-legs and grasshoppers as we played hide-and-seek and “horses” in the tall grass. Those summer days seemed to move lazily through those years of my youth.

In my teen years, those summer days were spent with my sister and friends, riding our horses on our bean and berry farm in Lebanon (OR), or on the island in the center of the Santiam River which flowed past our property. Of course, that was after we had done our chores and helped in the fields during harvest time.

When we were free for the whole day, we waded the horses across the shallow water to “our” island and spent hours on its trails, exploring areas we had seen dozens of times, checking for anything new and interesting like birds’ nests and pretty stones, then we raced full speed along the dirt trails on Rocket and Rocky as we clung to their bare backs… we never used saddles… and the wind whipping and tosseling our hair. Those sweet days seemed to stretch on forever.

Now, as soon as the smoke clears from the fireworks of 4th of July celebrations, it seems that school is starting, followed closely by Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In these fast-paced lives that we lead today, I sure miss those lazy, hazy days of summer.
Enough reminiscing.

Plan on attending the next installment in this season’s Rural Art Center Movie Night on Saturday, December 8. The December featured movie is “The Book Thief” (PG-13; 2013)
“In 1938, young orphan Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) arrives at the home of her new foster parents, Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Emily Watson).

When Hans, a kindly housepainter, learns that Liesel cannot read, he teaches the child the wonders of the written language. Liesel grows to love books, even rescuing one from a Nazi bonfire. Though Liesel’s new family barely scrape by, their situation becomes even more precarious when they secretly shelter a Jewish boy whose father once saved Hans’ life.”

To commemorate the movie, it’s been declared “Book-swap Night.” Bring a book or two to swap with your neighbors. Soup and salad dinner is at 6:00 p.m. and the movie begins at 7:30 p.m. following “antics and doorprizes.” Suggested donation, $7 adults; $5 for children.

Sunday, December 9 is the Lorane Grange’s Open House/Christmas Dinner potluck at 1:00 p.m. Grangers will furnish the meat, dressing, potatoes, gravy and beverages. Everyone else is asked to bring a side dish and/or dessert. Also, plan to bring a white elephant gift for the gift exchange. It’s a fun time for the whole family.

The ETA Theta Rho Girls Club #94 is recruiting new members. It is a community-based organization for school-age girls that meets at the Lorane Rebekah Lodge Hall on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. If you’re interested in joining, contact Tara Wigle. The club motto is “Happiness Through Service.”

Sweet Lorane Community News, November 22, 2018

November 22, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 22, 2018
By Pat Edwards

Just a quick update on my brother, Jim Burnett Sr. He quietly passed in the early morning hours last Tuesday. For the 2 weeks preceding his death, he was surrounded by family and friends and he “held court” at his own celebration of life. When I received the news that morning, it was with a feeling of peace, relief and acceptance that he had made it over the bridge in the way he had hoped. We all will miss him terribly, but he allowed us to gently come to terms with his passing and I will be eternally grateful for that gift.

Today, the day before Thanksgiving, I am preparing for the honor of being a guest in the home of my brother-in-law, John, and wonderful sister-in-law, Vicki Edwards who offered to host the whole family this year. That’s no small undertaking. We have a headcount of 23 this year, which is about the normal size of our family dinners. We obviously don’t all fit around one big table, but we begin the meal, holding hands around the table, while grace is said by one of our granddaughters. There’s always way more food than we can eat, but a few years ago, Tracie, our honorary daughter, brought a whole sleeve of restaurant take-out cartons that we all are encouraged to fill with leftovers to take home. Why didn’t I think of that years ago?

Here’s a message from Lil Thompson of the Lorane Grange that I’d like to share with you…

“The Lorane Grange wants to thank everyone for a fantastic attendance at the spaghetti dinner and bingo last Saturday evening. Thirty-two came for dinner and thirty-eight played bingo. The large progressive blackout was not won, so we hope to see all of you in January.” The next dinner and bingo night will be on January 27.

The Lorane Christian Church will be having “the Hanging of the Greens” on Sunday evening, December 2, at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to bring a Christmas finger food-type of dessert to share. Plan to join your friends and neighbors in this fun event.

Marissa McNutt Cooper has announced that the Holiday Angel Trees will be placed at the Lorane Family Store and Crow High School soon. These provide area children in need with gifts of toys and clothing. The trees will have felt angels bearing information on each—their gender, age and special requests—and anyone who wants to provide a gift can select one or more angels to sponsor. If you know of anyone in the Lorane/Crow area between the ages of birth to 18 who live in the area, contact the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District office, 541-935-2100, or call Marissa at 541-517-6608. In addition, we need to fill the food boxes in several Lorane locations to help the families of these children as well as others in need in the Lorane community. Suggestions for families to receive these food boxes should be given to Roberta Pietila Miller at 541-285-2425.

Daryle Bloom is asking for any donations of small engines that are seized up or no longer working that he can use for shop classes at Crow High School. They will be used as junkers to tear apart, learn and practice on, so working or “fixable” engines are not being sought. If you have one, contact Daryle Bloom at 541-935-4486 after 4:00 p.m.

Joe Blakely, Jen Chambers and I once again have a booth in the southeast corner of the Holiday Market, just to the right of the entertainment stage. We are selling our local and Oregon history-based books again this year. Perhaps my favorite part of doing this these past several years is that I get to see so many friends and neighbors who stop by to say “hello.” Even if they don’t buy any books, it’s fun visiting and catching up. Be sure to look us up if you get a chance.

Sweet Lorane Community News, November 15, 2018

November 15, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 15, 2018
By Pat Edwards

I know that my last column was heavy-duty, but I wanted to share my brother’s experiences with you. Jim and I went to see him again yesterday (last Wednesday), and Jimmy is in a hospice care center. Although he was visibly more frail, his spirit was as strong as ever. I’m not sure that he will still be with us by the time you read this, but he has taught me so much about how important it is to be open with your loved ones and share this final journey with them. We will grieve when he has gone, but he has instilled so much of himself in our lives these last days, that letting go will be much less traumatic. I have been blessed to have him for a brother throughout my life and, oh, how I will miss him.

Now to get back to some community matters that I need to share with you…

The Grange Thanksgiving community dinners for both Lorane and Crow have already been held, but knowing how good they are each year, I’m sure there was a nice turnout for each. I didn’t get word of their dates until it was too late to include them in my column. I apologize if some missed out who hoped to participate.

The 9-member Crow High School Band has returned from its trip to Washington, D.C. It had the distinction of being the only band in Oregon to be invited to participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade of Heroes on Saturday, November 10, and a ceremony at the Iwo Jima U.S. Marine Corps Memorial on Sunday, November 11.

Band member and trumpet player, Mark Simonsen, was given the honor to play “Taps” at the memorial ceremony in the nation’s capital.

I’m told that despite the very cold weather, the band members and its director, Pat Dixon, represented their school and state admirably. They not only fulfilled their obligations at the events, they all worked very hard for months to raise the needed funds to pay for their travel expenses while they were there. Thank you to Band Director, Pat Dixon, the Crow High School band and the community members who helped make such a fantastic experience happen. We are proud of each of you.

Several video recordings are posted on the Lorane and Crow Facebook pages for any of you who want to experience snippets of their performances.

Collection boxes are being placed in many of Lorane’s businesses and organizations for donated canned and non-perishable food items. These will be used for holiday baskets and provisions for those in our community who need them. Let’s all be generous enough to fill them multiple times during the holiday season so that each of us can enjoy our own celebrations with family and friends. Contact Marissa McNutt Cooper or Roberta Pietila Miller if you have questions or suggestions about what might be needed most or to nominate a person or family who would benefit.

I hope that each of you enjoys a warm and happy Thanksgiving Day this year. We really need to take time to stop and reflect on all the good things in our lives that we sometimes take for granted.

Blessings to each of you.