Tag: Birth and Beyond

Sweet Lorane Community News, March 1, 2018

March 1, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 1, 2018
By Pat Edwards

Lorane’s own Birth to Beyond and Oregon Institute for a Better Way have come up with another extremely valuable program for our area. (The Oregon Institute for a Better Way is the group which sponsored the 3-day Preservation and Canning Clinic in Lorane this past fall.) This current program is a series of meetings called “Mentoring Ideas to Plans” to learn how to sharpen and hone our life skills. One of the topics currently under discussion is “doing income taxes OLD SCHOOL! We seem far removed from the fine print of the income tax forms and the details are constantly changing! Come talk, drink tea and connect!”

The meetings take place every Tuesday until May 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange.

Information on other topics and details can be obtained by visiting the Oregon Institute for a Better Way Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/intentionalcommunities/ or contact Misty Burris.

A fundraiser is being planned at Papa’s Pizza Parlor beginning at Thursday, March 29 at 11:00 a.m. for our hometown hero, Michael Matchulat, who has been battling Stage 4 colorectal cancer for the past couple of years. The purpose is to help defray some of the huge medical expenses he and his wife Amber are facing.

As I am writing this column, I just received a phone call that breaks my heart. I’m going to share the news with you now as by the time it is in print, the information will be out. The phone call was from a woman at the emergency room of Sacred Heart River Bend. She had been instructed by family to deliver the devastating news that my good friend and co-author, Jo-Brew, passed away this morning.

 

The two of us have become so close over the years we’ve worked together. She was a strong, vibrant, knowledgeable woman who shared so much of herself with me. Our years as colleagues and friends were rich and rewarding and I am going to miss her so very much.

With this said, I am going to close out this week’s column. I find I cannot continue further. I’m not quite over the flu I’ve had this week and I won’t be able to join her wonderful family at this time. My thoughts, prayers and love are with them… Ken, Mike, Melissa, Bob, Jeff, her grandchildren and great-grands. I think they know that.

Godspeed, Jo!

Sweet Lorane Community News – November 16, 2017

December 8, 2017Newspaper Columns, , , , 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.