Sweet Lorane Community News – November 23, 2017

December 8, 2017Newspaper ColumnsAngel Tree, Community Ukulele Club, Holiday Market, Lorane Christmas dinner, Lorane Movie Night, Sound of Music, Thanksgivingpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 23, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Well, we’ve survived the overeating frenzy of another Thanksgiving day. Oh! How good it was (and still is), though. Jim and I had 22 people at our house for a 4:00 p.m. dinner followed by two tables full of card games going until after 10:00 p.m… There were at least 8 playing Contract Rummy at the big dining room table and four of us playing Pinochle at the smaller game table in the family room. Gosh! It’s been years since I played Pinochle. I had forgotten how much fun that can be. Having family and friends gather at our house each year is so special for us and we know how blessed we are to have each other.

The next Lorane Movie Night sponsored by the Rural Art Center will be held on Saturday, December 9. It will feature what has got to be my very favorite movie of all time… “The Sound of Music” with Julie Andrews. My daughters and I know the lyrics to every one of the songs in that show by heart. We must have seen the movie dozens of times… “Do, a deer, a female deer; Re, a drop of golden sun…”

There will be a pre-show that night featuring the Community Ukulele Club leading a sing-along. This sounds like an evening I could really get into… maybe they can even strum a few lines of “My Favorite Things,” although I’m having a hard time envisioning a ukulele version of it.

The soup dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by the pre-show at 6:45 and the movie at 7:30 p.m. There will also be doorprizes drawn. The suggested admission price is $7.00 for adults; $5.00 for children with most or all of the proceeds going to the each night’s sponsoring area non-profit organizations.

A reminder… The Lorane Grange will be holding its annual community Christmas dinner and Open House on December 10, beginning at 12:30 p.m. The turkey and trimming dinner is free! We are encouraged to bring a dessert or side dish to share, but no one will be turned away. Unfortunately, I will be working our booth at the Holiday Market that day, so I won’t be able to go, but I know from past years that it’s a great event.

Speaking of our booth at the Holiday Market, if you are planning to go between now and Christmas Eve, plan on stopping by to say “Hi!” Joe Blakely, Jennifer Chambers and I share the space in the far southeast corner of the hall at the fairgrounds where it is located. It’s just down the back wall from the entertainment stage and food booths. We offer our collection of Oregon and Lane County history books. They make great holiday gifts. I have to laugh, though… so many people who buy a book from us confide that, “Of course, I’m going to read it before I give it to – (name the family member) – for Christmas.” Even if you’re not in the market for books, we’d love to have you stop by to chat. I’ve seen so many people I haven’t seen in years there, and some who are neighbors that I have never met.

The Angel Trees will be going up at Lorane stores and at Crow High/Middle School again this year. Be sure to plan to take one or more tags off the trees to fill with a holiday gift for a local area child in need. These gifts are so important in making the holidays less stressful for the families that have fallen on hard times. ‘Tis the season to be generous.

Sweet Lorane Community News – November 16, 2017

December 8, 2017Newspaper ColumnsAngel Tree, Birth and Beyond, Community food baskets, Crow High School Alumni Basketball Tournament, Lorane Christmas dinnerpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 16, 2017
By Pat Edwards

I’ve been told that boxes are now all in place in Lorane organizations and businesses to collect canned and non-perishable foods for the Community Food Baskets that will be distributed to local families. Let’s make sure that no one goes hungry at any time during the year, not just the holiday season. We have shown ourselves to be a community that cares for one another.

I don’t have info on the Angel Tree, but I’m sure that Lorane will also be participating in that wonderful project as well. Details next week!

Mark your calendars for the Lorane Grange’s Christmas Dinner to be held on December 10 at 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome and it’s free. If you want, bring a side dish or dessert to share. The rest of the meal will be provided by the grange. A collection box for the food baskets will also be available.

A new group is forming in Lorane called “Birth and Beyond.” The goal will be “to connect as individuals, couples, families, guardians, grandparents” by initially providing play date opportunities for local preschool children, but branching out as needs are found to involve the whole community. Anyone interested in taking part in this group, sponsored by Lorane Community Cares and Oregon Institute for A Better Way, should come to the Lorane Grange on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 noon or you can contact Misty Burris to find out more about it.

The Crow High School Alumni Basketball Tournament for both men and women is being planned. The proposed dates are December 9 and 10. If you’re interested in participating, leave word with Geena Zimmerman Cull, Kevin Stevens or at the school.

It’s hard to believe that we’re swiftly entering the holiday season, but I’m looking forward to it this year. It’s a busy and sometimes stressful time for all of us, but I think that this year, especially, we need to shift gears and immerse ourselves in this season of thanks, joy, hope and love. Let’s take this opportunity to put aside, for a short while, the frustrations and anger of a world gone crazy and let our hearts be filled with the positives of the season.

Sweet Lorane Community News – December 8, 2016

December 8, 2016Newspaper ColumnsAngel Tree, Applegate Elementary School, Crow High School, Fairytale Christmas Carol, Holiday Market, Jennifer Chambers, Jo-Brew, Joe Blakely, Lorane Fire Department, Lorane Food Bank, Lorane Grange, Marissa McNutt Cooper, Rebekah Lodge, Roberta Miller, S.A.N.T.A. Project, Thanksgivingpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
December 8, 2016
By Pat Edwards

I can’t believe that the holidays are upon us already! As nice as our family Hawaiian luau was for Thanksgiving, I’m having a hard time adjusting to the fact that Christmas is just two weeks away. When I think about what I need to fix for our annual prime rib dinner on Christmas Day, my mind keeps conjuring up visions of turkey and dressing.

This is the second time in 74 years that I have seemingly “lost” Thanksgiving. The first time was back in 1983 when I was released the day before Thanksgiving from a week’s stay at the hospital following surgery, only to be rushed back a half-day later with a high fever. They thought it was a complication of the surgery, but instead, an ultrasound revealed that I had a large tumor encapsulating my left kidney. I spent Thanksgiving Day in a feverish fog and had my kidney removed on Black Friday. I had a lot to be thankful for that year because, despite the 80-20 odds against me, the tumor proved to be benign. I don’t dig up those memories often, for obvious reasons.

Fortunately, this year’s “lost” holiday was not really lost… just different, and I’m having a hard time adjusting to the fact that it’s time to decorate and prepare for Christmas. But, you know, I can deal with that!

If you get a chance, try to make one of the two performances of “A Fairytale Christmas Carol” by the drama group on December 12 and 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Crow High School. Admission is $5 per adult and $3 for students and children. They encourage you to bring an item for the S.A.N.T.A. project of Veneta. By doing so, you will receive a $2 discount. Toys, dolls, stuffed animals, games, books, and coats for children 3-17 are needed.

The Lorane food boxes are in all organizations (Rebekah Lodge, Fire Hall and Grange) and the Lorane Family Store. The donated food will go to deserving families within the community. If you know of a family in our community that would benefit, please contact Marissa Cooper. There is a list of items that are suggested for donation at the Lorane Family Store. You may also contact Roberta Miller, who lives in the house across from the Grange.

An Angel Tree has been set up at the Lorane Family Store, too, as well as at Crow High School. Selecting an ornament from the tree will ensure that a local child or teen will have a good Christmas this year. All food and gifts must be in by December 15.

Get in the holiday spirit by attending the Winter Concert at Applegate Elementary on Tuesday, December 13. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. The school district has always benefited by a strong music program. For many years now, under the direction of Mr. Pat Dixon, our students have gotten a good introduction to band and choir, and the concerts always have provided joy to the holiday season.

Joe Blakely, Jo-Brew, Jennifer Chambers and I are sharing a booth at the Holiday Market located at the Lane County Fairgrounds again this year. We’re not only selling our mainly Oregon history books, but even better… we’re getting to see and visit with friends we have not seen in years who happen to be passing by. I enjoy that part of it, especially. If you visit the Holiday Market, stop by and see us. We have a corner booth in the southwest corner of the main building, just down from the entertainment stage. We’d love to have you drop in and say “hi.”