Sweet Lorane Community News – August 4, 2016

August 4, 2016Newspaper Columnsanthology, Groundwaters, Lorane Community Potluck, Lorane Family Store, Lorane Fire Department, Lorane Grange, Lorane Growers' Market, Lorane Ice Cream Social, Motorhome, Rescue Horsepaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 4, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The Lorane Grower’s Market, located at the Lorane Family Store, is off and running. It appears that quite a few apples are coming in as well as zucchini, other summer squash, asparagus and plums, according to Jim, but there could be a lot of other items being brought in that I haven’t spotted yet, too. Jim says that “the good stuff” doesn’t last long and is usually gone within a short time after its left.

Last year, several people were collecting windfall apples, regardless of condition, to be used in making horse treats for rescue horse groups. If you have any, contact Robin Rene at 541-521-1023, who is doing it for sure this year.

This must be a good year for apples. My little tree, which has 3 different varieties grafted on it, is so loaded that one of the branches broke. I’ll need to pick some off soon to take down to the Growers Market as the Gravensteins are about ready to eat. The Fujis and Honey Crisp are not far behind.

These past few weeks have been a time of transition for Jim and me. We took the plunge and purchased a nice used motorhome – much bigger than I had envisioned or planned for – but Jim fell in love with it. He’s the one that will be doing most of the driving and since he’s never been a ‘camper’ or ‘RVer’ before, I didn’t want to discourage him now that he seems to have ‘the bug.’

During my childhood, my family took many road trips to destinations including, Southern California, where we had lots of family, the Redwoods, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, among others, and we frequently had a travel trailer which we towed. My grandparents always accompanied us with their own car and trailer and the sweet memories that we made have stayed with me my whole life. I’d like Jim to experience a little of what we had then. We plan to do some traveling with my sister and brother-in-law whenever we can, and on our own to visit our daughter Kelly and to see other areas of the U.S. that we haven’t seen yet. We’re not planning to be gone for long periods of time or become “snowbirds”… home is too important to us both… but, we do need and want to spend some leisure time, seeing and experiencing new things while we can.

I’m going to cut this a bit short this week, but I do want to remind everyone about next weekend’s Lorane Community Potluck, held at the Grange, and the Lorane Ice Cream Social, to be held in front of the fire station and church. The lunch begins at 12:30 (bring something to share) and the Social begins at 1:00 p.m. Both are popular events and we hope to see our friends and neighbors there. It’s a fun time for the whole community!

One other quick reminder for any of you who like to write – stories, poetry, memoirs, essays, etc. The deadline for the Groundwaters 2016 anthology is August 15. Please get your materials to us or at least reserve space in it by that date. We already have many wonderful entries and we expect it to be even better than last year’s.

Sweet Lorane Community News – July 14, 2016

July 14, 2016Newspaper ColumnsAlyssa Shepherd, anthology, Film Camp, Groundwaters, Kevin Stevens, Lorane Christian Church, Lorane Community Assoc., Lorane Craft Group, Lorane Family Store, Lorane Growers' Market, Lorane Movie Night, Marissa McNutt Cooper, Rural Art Center, Takako Bartolduspaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
July 14, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Life has begun to return to whatever “normal” is for Jim and I since our recently aborted attempt at a vacation. My brother-in-law, John, is back under his own doctor’s care and is at home for now. Jim’s been busily working at the store and at home, and Jennifer Chambers and I’ve begun our work on this year’s edition of the Groundwaters 2016 anthology.

Jim has been in seventh heaven since our grandson, Kevin, moved back to Lorane to help him at the store and with our rentals across the street. Kev’s been a godsend and we are so grateful that he is here to help out. It has allowed Jim to take on some projects at home he has been wanting to do for a long time, and Kev’s experience at managing Safeway stores is really making itself evident at the store, too. Thank you, Kev!!

The Lorane Grower’s Market is about to be set up at the Lorane Family Store. Whenever any of you have extra produce from your gardens or fruit trees that you would like to donate to the Lorane Community Association, please bring them to the store and put them on the display rack in front under the canopy. (Flowers and plants are welcome, too, if you bring them in containers with water.) If you know that you will be donating something perishable that needs refrigeration, let Marissa McNutt Cooper or Jim know so that a cooler chest can be made available to store them in.

The way it works is that donated produce is left at the stand and anyone who wants to buy or trade for it can do so. It’s set up on the honor system, and a secure cash box is located beside the produce bench. Place whatever amount you want to donate towards the produce you are taking (or towards the community fund). If you bring produce, you are welcome to trade it for some that others have left. The cashbox is emptied daily and all proceeds go towards community projects that benefit us all.

I am trying to get information on a new group that seems to be forming in Lorane. Apparently, community women are being invited to participate in a crafting get-together to be held at the Lorane Christian Church. An initial meeting has been set for Tuesday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. I understand that if there appears to be enough interest, depending on how many show up on Tuesday night, they may begin holding them on a regular basis. I’ll try to get more details for next week’s column.

Here’s some more information about the free Rural Art Center’s Film Camp…“For the 5th year in a row, Rural Art Center will transform the Art Room at Applegate Elementary into Film Production Central. Thanks to generous grants from Oregon Country Fair Foundation and Plum Creek Foundation we have great equipment to work with. People of all ages are encouraged to come and join in the flurry of creativity and in the making of a film.

“We have used a variety of mediums to tell wonderful stories to our community. The Rural Art Center Movie Night will premiere our production in October. This year’s camp will meet Monday, August 8 to Thursday, August 11 and Monday, August 15 to Thursday, August 18. All days will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

“Takako Bartoldus will join us to share a well-known Japanese story called “Tears of the Red Oni.” This story explores sacrifice, friendship and, especially, Japanese culture. Takako taught high school in Japan for 10 years before relocating to Eugene 5 years ago. She is now an Assistant Teacher at Bridgeway House School.

“The Film Camp is free. Contact Alyssa Shepherd at malyssa2@yahoo.com or call 541-556-8151 for questions or to enroll.”

Sweet Lorane Community News – October 15, 2015

October 15, 2015Newspaper Columnsanthology, Crow High School, Groundwaterfs, Groundwaters Live!, Lloyd Porter, Rural Art Center, Sportsman Auction, ukulele, volleyballpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 15, 2015
By Pat Edwards

People in Lorane have been asking me for updates on Lloyd Porter who had a massive stroke about a month ago. It left him paralyzed on his left side and unable to speak. His wife Jeri was able to provide me with some details… Since Lloyd was released from the hospital, he has been at the Hillside Heights Rehab Center at 28th and McLean in Eugene. They are now trying to get him into the Oregon Rehab Center at the Sacred Heart-University Campus site where he will undergo intensive therapy for about 3 weeks to help him transition to his home environment. Jeri is hoping that will happen in the next one or two weeks.

Lloyd is able to speak in sentences now, but has problems finding the right words still. He’s kept his fantastic sense of humor and when he can’t find the right word, rather than showing distress, he will recite favorite phrases with a twinkle in his eye. His left side paralysis is improving, too. He can cross one leg over the other now. When I asked Jeri if he is open to visitors, she told me that, yes… he definitely would love to have his friends drop by to visit. He will probably be at Hillside for another week, at least.

Groundwaters had a wonderful turnout at our Groundwaters Live! Program held at the Fern Ridge Library last Tuesday to introduce our new “first annual issue” of the popular magazine. I’ll let Sandy Larsen tell you about it in the article that she is writing for the Fern Ridge Review, but if anyone is wanting to obtain a copy of the book, we are trying to set up distributors in the various areas around Lane County. It will definitely be in the Lorane Family Store in Lorane after we’ve gotten a new deliver of the books. Hopefully, we’ll get someone set up to carry them in Veneta, Cottage Grove and/or Creswell and Eugene, as well. In the meantime, contact me at edwards@groundwaterspublishing.com or paedwards42@yahoo.com if you would like to reserve a copy. They are $12 each.

The Rural Art Center’s mural project has unveiled the beautiful new historical mural painted by Crow Middle School students under the supervision of muralist Jessilyn Brinkerhoff. Funded by a grant from Target, their work was done through their American History and Literature classes and the result is a striking 20′ x 2.5′ painting that will hang in the library at the Crow Middle/High School. What a wonderful lesson in both history and art for our students! Thank you, RAC!

The next Lorane Grange’s Spaghetti Dinner and Family Bingo night will be held on Friday, October 23, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m. Bingo will begin at 6:30 p.m. No one won the blackout jackpot last month, so it’s growing. Come out for a great evening of good food and company plus lots of laughs.

Congratulations to the Crow High School volleyball team. They are entering the playoffs on Saturday, October 24, to determine the 3rd seed into the State Tournament. It will be held at Crow High School gym at 1:30 p.m. Come out and cheer them on!

When the game on October 24 is over, though, you’ll need to head back to Crow to attend the Crow Booster Club’s annual Sportsman Auction to be held this year in the Crow Middle/High School gymnasium. Doors open and the silent auction begins at 5:00 p.m., followed at 6:00 p.m. by a BBQ dinner. The live auction begins at 7:00 p.m. The items being offered include “hunting, fishing and camping gear; trips; spa, tools, quilts, wine, an off-road expedition trailer, and much more.” It will also include prizes provided by the elementary classes and baskets of goodies from the middle and high school classes. Besides the silent auction, there will be a dessert auction, too. The proceeds from this event will go toward helping the students in the entire school district… not just the athletic program. Dinner tickets are $16, but there is no charge for the auction. To get your tickets and reserve your spot, contact crowboosterclub@yahoo.com or call Linda Lay (541-844-5840) or Diane Lassen (541-517-9030). Come out and support your C-A-L schools!

Reminder: free ukulele lessons for Crow-Applegate-Lorane students in grades 4-12 will begin on October 15 and held every Thursday from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Authentic ukuleles will be provide. The first concert performance will be held the night of the December RAC dinner and movie at Lorane Grange. Contact Pat Dixon (pdixon@cal.k12.or.us) or Lisa Livelybrooks (ruralartcenter@gmail) for more information.