Tag: Angel Tree

Sweet Lorane Community News, November 22, 2018

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, December 14, 2017

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
December 14, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Last week, I selected two angels off of the Angel Tree that resides at the Lorane Family Store. I always try to choose one for a boy and one for a girl. My husband Jim, not usually known for his participation in our family’s gift-giving, decorating, gift-wrapping or helping to fix the Christmas meal, really looks forward to selecting a special gift for the boy “angel” each year. I oversee the selection for the girl. We always go together to buy these gifts and it’s fun to see the joy he gets in finding the perfect gift according to the instructions given on the felt angel. This year, he knew exactly what he was going to give the 14-year-old young man. I, on the other hand, had to do a bit of searching and making some creative choices for the 9-year-old girl I was buying for, but we both felt really good at the end of our shopping trip.

If you haven’t experienced the joy of giving in this way, please consider making sure that each of the Lorane and Crow children whose families are experiencing hard times this year have a special gift under their tree. The Angel Trees in the Crow-Applegate-Lorane school district are in place right now at the Lorane Family Store and the Crow Middle/High School gymnasium. New angels are placed on the trees often until everyone on the list has a gift. I’m sure there’s one just waiting for you right now.
The food boxes are also placed in area stores and organizations in Lorane. Let’s make sure that these families in need have food on the table, as well.

Jim and I attended another Creswell Middle School choir concert last Tuesday night. I was absolutely amazed at their rendition of “Carol of the Bells.” It’s the carol where two or three different groups sing different parts at the same time. The choir was spot-on! Good job!

I missed out on seeing our son Rob, grandson Kevin and two of our granddaughters, Linsey Haxby and Hayley Kau play in the Crow High School Alumni Basketball tournament on December 9. For those who have known me a long time, you know that, through the decades, I very seldom ever missed a game or meet in which our own “kids” and grandkids participated. I wouldn’t have missed this one either, but there was no way I could get away from the two author tables/booths I was running at the Lane County Fairgrounds that day. Jim was there to represent us both, but I had to be there in spirit only. At least I had the biggest day ever in selling books. It was some consolation, but not a lot.

I finished baking about 10 dozen sugar cookie cut-outs today for our grandkids—and now, great-grands—who will be decorating them on Saturday. It’s become a tradition for all of us… and so much fun!

For some reason, this year I’m feeling the holiday spirit for the first time in a long time. I think that many of us find ourselves feeling overwhelmed with all of the activities surrounding the holidays. We tend to pile on more than we are really comfortable with. I am no exception.

Let’s all strive to make the holidays truly joyful this year.

Sweet Lorane Community News – November 30, 2017

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 30, 2017
By Pat Edwards

I’m going to cheat a bit and use Marissa McNutt-Cooper’s words to tell you about Lorane and Crow’s Angel Tree Project.

“It is that time of year again. We are getting ready for our annual Angel Trees. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the trees, they are trees that will soon be located at the Lorane Family Store and Crow High School gymnasium. They are decorated with felt Angels that have suggestions/ideas for gift or necessity items for a child in our community whose family is in need of assistance this holiday season. The forms went out with the Weekly Buzz newsletter to all children attending Crow-Applegate-Lorane schools. I just wanted to let everyone know to be on the look out for them in your children’s backpacks.

“Also, the Angel trees are for families in need of assistance with children age birth through 18 who live in Lorane or Crow. The children do not have to be of school age or attend CAL schools—just live in our community. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance this year, please return the form to the school office or contact me at 541-517- 6608. Please know that all information received is completely confidential and that the Angels on the trees do not include names; just age and gender.”

Marissa has been heading up this project for the past several years and it has proven to be a popular and much-appreciated way for each of us to give to our community. Combined with the food boxes, these gifts allow those less fortunate to experience the joy of the holiday season, too. Please open your hearts and your wallets this year. Thank you, Marissa for all that you contribute to the Lorane community!

The Community Ukulele group will be performing at a couple of events this holiday season. The first is only a possibility, but they are hoping to participate in the Crow Middle/High School Choir and Band’s Winter Concert to be held on Wednesday, December 6, at 7:00 p.m.

Then, on December 9, they will provide the “pre-movie” entertainment at the December Lorane Movie Night, featuring my all-time favorite, “The Sound of Music,” also at 7:00 p.m.

The Applegate Elementary School will be holding their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m. Along with that will be their Canned Food Drive.

My last holiday reminder is for the Lorane Grange’s Christmas Dinner and Open House, scheduled for Sunday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m. I’ve given you full details in past columns, but one thing new they are suggesting is that you bring a simple and/or funny “white elephant” gift to exchange.

Long-time Lorane resident, Patrick Dearth has announced this past week that he and his wife, Teresa, are opening a new business in Lorane called the Lorane Saw Shop and Small Engine Repair. They hope to provide repair and winterizing services locally and offer free pick-up and delivery for the Lorane/Crow area. Included in their plans is to make some loner and rental equipment available. They also hope to establish a mentoring program by holding various classes (i.e. blade sharpening and seasonal preparedness) at the Lorane Grange. His shop is located at 80485 Old Lorane Road in Lorane, and his phone number is 541-520-5383.