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Sweet Lorane Community News, March 24, 2022

March 24, 2022Uncategorized, , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 24, 2022
By Pat Edwards

This morning, as I try to figure out what I can write about, I’ve decided that it would be fun to tell you a little about a subject I’ve been trying to work in for quite some time. As most everyone knows, for Jim and me, our family is the main focus of our world. Many of you know our daughters and son, our grandchildren and even our great-grands. Each of them have their own homes and live their various, busy lives in ways that make us proud. Since we have been “empty-nesters” for some time now, we’ve turned more and more to our “furry kids” to help fill our lives. Unfortunately, their life spans aren’t long enough. Each time we have had to say goodbye to any of them, it has been heartbreaking. Each one is special and as much a part of our family in their own time and place as our human kids. I’d like to introduce three of our current ones to you today.

Jo-Jo, aka Joey

We’ve had Jo-Jo the longest… I usually just call him Joey. His mama and another female cat had been dumped at our store over 14 years ago. Both were pregnant, so we caught them and kept them in the old tavern building where they delivered and raised their kittens. We took the mamas in to have them spayed after the kittens were weaned and found homes for them all. Jo-Jo came home with us.

Toby

We adopted Toby from a rescue in San Diego, California. He’s a small blue heeler with a big attitude. He arrived in Eugene in a crowded dog carrier sitting precariously at the very back and top of an enclosed van where he had been for the two-day trip. He was scared and very quiet on that morning as he was unloaded from that van. I was very quiet, too, and I remember my eyes were red and swollen, for, very early that same morning, I had returned from the vet’s office where I had been forced to say goodbye to my beautiful, sweet Shortie dog who was to be Toby’s brother. We had not planned it that way… it just happened. So, Toby and I immediately bonded in our fright and sorrow.

BB… Can you believe his daddy is a blond Labradoodle? 🙂

BB came into our lives as part of a local rescue. His mother and litter of puppies had been found running down Siuslaw River Road. We found the owners and they willingly turned the puppies over to a nearby rescue group. We fell in love with BB and he, Toby and Joey have become “brothers.” We have two other female feline members of the family, but I’ll have to tell about Oreo and Xena in another column sometime.

Toby, BB and Joey are quite the challenging group. Each one is very possessive of me, especially. They love Jim, too, but Toby has set himself up as my protector and he would like to keep others (people and animals) away from me whenever possible. BB, who looks like a black Irish Setter with brindle accents, is usually submissive, but wants, and sometimes demands, his attention, too. And, the older Joey gets, the more determined he is to not be left out when he feels attention is needed… which is often.

One morning I was sitting at the breakfast table reading the paper and all three were gathered around. They don’t beg for food… they each just want to be the ones getting the attention on each side of my chair. All of a sudden, BB and Toby got into one of their very rare fights. It sounded real, but they’ve never hurt each other in any way. I got up to break it up when all of a sudden there was a flying hairball with clawed feet splayed out, pouncing on top of the melee. Joey had had enough of their childishness and decided to end the fight himself. Toby, whose back was blanketed by a very angry cat, yelped and disengaged from BB. I grabbed Joey and threw him outside so the dogs wouldn’t turn on him, and told the other two “kids” to stop it immediately.

They soon settled down and when I let Joey back in the house, he immediately walked over to Toby and nuzzled up against him. Toby, in turn licked Joey’s ear tenderly.

It so reminds me of what it was like raising our own kids so long ago. Being family has always meant we love each other, but arguments and fights are inevitable. It’s ok—and expected—to fight amongst ourselves, but if you really want to feel the fangs, just let someone from outside the family circle hurt one of us. I love it! If only we could all be one big family!

Sweet Lorane Community News, February 17, 2022

February 17, 2022Uncategorized, , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 17, 2022
By Pat Edwards

I’m finding that, with the recent days of sunshine and a bit warmer weather, I’m beginning to slough off some of the lethargy I’ve felt this past winter. I never seem to stop writing—after all, the commitment to write a weekly column for two newspapers helps to keep me on track, but it’s been difficult to concentrate and focus on larger projects during this pandemic. Before it descended on us, I had done much of the research and was preparing to begin the writing of a third book in my “Early Lane County, Oregon, Families with Lorane Connections” series, but the disruption of “normal” life as we knew it two years ago was accompanied by the need to focus on some personal issues, too, so I set it aside to finish “later.”

Thanks to the encouragement of Creswell Chronicle publisher, Noel Nash, I’ve begun the research and compilation of information for another local history project that has piqued my interest and I’m anxious to see where it leads.

In addition, I’ve agreed to assist in the writing of some grants to help find funding for the Lorane Christian Church’s critical need for a new roof.

, the promise of spring and the resulting work necessary to get our yard and flower beds in shape—chores that I love doing— along with a couple of writing projects I can work on while resting tired muscles, I’m looking forward to what 2022 will bring.

There are a few community news notes that I want to share with you this week. The Rural Art Center’s hoped-for launch of the 2022 Movie Night series, scheduled originally to be held on February 12, has been postponed to Saturday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange. This popular movie series, like most other community activities, did not take place last year because of the pandemic, but it’s being brought back and I suggest that you put the date and time on your calendars. Masks will be required. Unfortunately, I can’t give out the title of the movie that will be shown. The only way you can find out is if you join RAC’s “member list,” because the company that they contract with for the movies prohibit them from advertising. To join the member list, send them an email at ruralartcenter@gmail.com. Members can then request the movie names which will be emailed as long as you promise not to publicize them. Curious…

RAC has long worked with the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District to provide their “Half Day of Art” classes to students. Each begins at noon when regular classes are dismissed. This program is funded through art and culture grants that are awarded to RAC each year. On the days when the school district has only half days of classes, RAC arranges for professional artists to come to the school to provide a three-hour “stimulating art experience” for the students who sign up. A $15 per child, per class, fee also includes a recess break and a healthy snack. They only have three classes left in the 2021-2022 school year. The next one is scheduled for Friday, May 4, and it will feature Brenda Brainard working with the class on Native American crafts and stick games. The one on Thursday, April 21, will welcome artist Shawn Goddard who will oversee the carving of the student’s own stamps and print designs. The last half-day class of the school year will be on Friday, May 20, when Patricia Montoya Donohue returns with her popular clay monsters class.

Another fun activity that RAC has helped sponsor for several years is Ukulele lessons for 4th graders to adults. We just got started last Wednesday.” They are held in the Crow High School music room from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Classes are free and are funded by the Rural Art Center, the Umpqua Indian Foundation, and the Oregon Country Fair. For more information, contact music director, Pat Dixon (pdixon@cal.k12.or.us). Everyone must wear face masks and adults are required to show proof of vaccinations for the ukulele classes.

event to put on your calendar… On Saturday, March 19, the Creswell Grange will hold The Spice of Life Food Drive to benefit the Creswell Food Pantry. It is a drive-and-drop event in which much-needed cooking seasonings such as salt and pepper, spices, herbs, cooking oils, vinegar, condiments and sauces are requested. Volunteers will be curbside at Creswell Grange to accept donations from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. More information will be made available closer to the event or you can contact Carolin Pettit at 541-913-1859.

Sweet Lorane Community News, January 13, 2022

January 13, 2022Newspaper Columns, Uncategorized, , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
January 13, 2022
By Pat Edwards

Everything remains quiet in Lorane these days as far as activities are concerned, but hopefully, things will be gearing up once again as we get into spring. Even now, though, there are still cars with bicycles in racks heading for the BLM mountain bike trails on Carpenters By-Pass, a few miles southwest of Lorane. It’s a year-round recreation area that has become quite popular. And, because the once-dangerous curves on Stoney Point, north of Lorane, have been tamed by Lane County, and converted to a beautiful, safe, winding portion of Territorial Road, access is much easier.

The Crow Grange (1st and 3rd Saturdays; 7:00 p.m.) and Creswell Grange (3rd Wednesdays; 7:00 p.m.) have resumed their dessert and bingo nights. The Lorane Grange does not have a regular schedule, but the next one is planned for Saturday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. In order not to miss out, it’s best to watch for notices on the various community Facebook pages for more information on each.

This is a bittersweet time for Jim and me. After a potential sale of our Lorane Family Store didn’t go through last year, we are once again in the process of selling it, and this time it appears that the sale will go through. Closing is set for the end of this month or early February. After owning and running it for 44 years, it’s not easy for either of us to let go. It has provided a good life for our family and after being open seven days a week for 364 days every year (we close on Christmas), it will be a complete lifestyle change for us… but it is past time. The past few years have taken a toll on our health and energy levels and we have been fortunate enough to step back and allow our wonderful manager, Tracie DeBoer, and our equally wonderful staff of employees to deal with the day-to-day business of selling groceries and gasoline. Jim and I have continued to make grocery and bank runs three times a week, and he has opened the store three mornings a week himself, but even those things are becoming harder to do.

The Old Store

… and the new

 

 

 

 

 

In December 1977, when we bought it, we named the store The Lorane Family Store because we could foresee not only our own family working in it, but enfolding the special people who worked for us and those who stopped in to buy their RC Colas and lean against the counter to visit for awhile as part of our family, as well. And, that’s just what happened. They have all become our store family and good friends over the years. We’ve sadly lost several of our long time friends and employees, including Nancy O’Hearn, Marna Hing and Marilyn Wenger Cooper, who all logged many years there. Fortunately, Kathy Warden, another long-time employee is still with us. I like the fact that many of them have brought in their daughters and sons to work at the store, too… another reason that we chose the right name.

 

 

 

 

Jim and long-time employee, Marilyn Wenger Cooper

Jim and great-grandson, Sawyer Haxby

 

 

 

 

 

 

To commemorate it all, our granddaughter, Stephanie Furlong, has arranged a special gathering to take place at the store on Sunday, January 30, where our own family, most of whom have worked at the store, will have our photos taken professionally by her employer, Natalie, of McFarland Productions. In addition, to those of you who have worked for Jim and me through the years we’ve had the store and who made the “family” in “Lorane FAMILY Store” come to life, we would love for you to join us in the photoshoot. We will be gathering in front of the store at 10:00 a.m. that day.

Also, if anyone has photos of the store (inside or out) or of the people working there, we’d love to have copies for our memory book.

The store will be entering a new era and continue to benefit our community. Thank you to all of you—employees and customers—who have been part of our family for so many years.

You’ve touched our hearts in many ways.