Sweet Lorane Community News, August 19, 2021

August 19, 2021Newspaper ColumnsCrow Chicken 'n Pickin, Groundwaters anthology, Lorane Bingo Night, Lorane Community Potluck, Lorane Community-Wide Yard Sale, Lorane Ice Cream Socialpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 19, 2021
By Pat Edwards

The recent Lorane events were quite successful this past month. It seems that everyone was ready to get out and socialize a bit after our long period of social distancing during the pandemic. The Lorane Community Potluck, the Ice Cream Social, the Lorane Grange’s Bingo and Dessert Night, and the Community-Wide Yard Sale events were all well-attended. Unfortunately, the potluck, which was changed a year ago to be held on the day before the Ice Cream Social (held on the 2nd Sunday in August) fell on the 1st Saturday—the same day as Crow Grange’s “Joe’s BBQ (aka Chicken ‘n Pickin’ BBQ), and there was a conflict. Next year’s potluck will fall on the 2nd Saturday, as it normally will, on August 13th. Thankfully, both had a good attendance this year. The organizers apologize to our neighbors in Crow for the overlap, though.

The next Bingo and Dessert Family Night at the Lorane Grange will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 27. We’ll all need to wear masks, but come and join in the fun if you’re able.

Plans for school in the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District are revving up. August 24-26 has been set for the Crow Middle/High School registration. The first day of school is September 7. For more information on what students and parents can expect from the 2021-2022 school year, check out their website at http://cal.k12.or.us or call the district office at 541-935-2100 or the high school at 541-935-2227.

Fall football practices and conditioning are underway. The middle school is in need of more students to sign up before they can field a team, however.

On Wednesday, September 1, the C-A-L School District will be hosting a “Welcome Back Hotdog BBQ.” It will take place from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Applegate Elementary parking lot followed by Ice Cream Sundaes served between 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Crow Middle/High School. Everyone is invited to meet our new superintendent, Heidi Brown, tour the new classrooms, and find out more about the athletic teams that are forming. I understand that there will be a bounce house and giant slide at the elementary school for the younger kids’ enjoyment, too.

I, personally, have begun work on what is supposed to be my last year of publication of the Groundwaters anthology. It’s been a labor of love that I’ve participated in for the past 10-plus years, but the process of juggling personal commitments with the labor-intensive job of showcasing the writing talents of over 60 ‘mostly-local’ authors and poets each year is beginning to take its toll, and I feel the need to put the publication to rest before it’s quality begins to diminish.

Right now, my colleague, Jennifer Chambers, and I are in the midst of reading, reviewing and editing over 200 submissions sent by 58 contributors. The short stories, essays, memoirs, nostalgia, poetry and photography submitted each year are truly amazing. Many of our contributors have been participating for a long time, but each year, we get new ones—some of whom are already published authors. Others, are frequently those who have never seen their work in published form before now. All of them are talented people we want to honor in print. If you haven’t read one of our anthologies before, please look for them on-line (our local bookstores do not sell anthologies, unfortunately), or in your local libraries. We have donated these books and quarterlies to the Fern Ridge and Creswell Libraries over the years, but I need to update them with the latest issues and will try to do that this week.

This has never been a “for profit” endeavor for us. Most of Jen’s and my labor is donated and the proceeds are used to cover our business license, taxes and website fees. As I said above, it’s a labor of love that I will truly miss.

Sweet Lorane Community News, August 27, 2020

August 27, 2020Newspaper ColumnsCreswell Grange, Groundwaters anthology, Picnic in a Box, Writingpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 27, 2020
By Pat Edwards

As an author, at this time of the pandemic, protest movements and the upcoming Presidential election, it has been hard to focus on anything other than those events. The news of these events constantly swirls around all of us. I’ve temporarily given up trying to complete the third book of my “Early Lane County Settlers With Connections to Lorane” series that I began a year ago. I’ve done most of the research for it, but I just haven’t been able to concentrate on it since the first of the year. I’m able to write my weekly columns because I can share my thoughts and feelings about current events.

I’ve found I’m not the only writer who is having difficulty writing creatively. Each year for the past 5 years, Jennifer Chambers and I have been publishing an anthology of wonderful stories, essays, memoirs and poetry written by mostly local authors and poets called Groundwaters. Each year, we have included more than 150 stories and poems that have showcased the amazing talent we have in this area, but in 2020, when the deadline for submissions of August 15 was fast approaching, we had fewer than 40 despite the reminders that we had sent out to our regulars. I was ready to shut down our project after 11 years for the magazine and 5 of the anthology, but we decided to put out one more call for submissions at the beginning of the month. Since then, the stories and poetry have been flooding in. Our writers made a supreme effort to keep it going and I know, only so well, how much effort it took. So, we hope to have this year’s anthology in print by November.

This past week, one of my very favorite people in this world, Millie Graves of Crow, who is also a long-time contributor to our publications, posted the following on Facebook:

“Oh happy day! Received word from Pat Edwards and Jen Chambers that our voices/authors will NOT be silenced. They have decided, after all, to turn to the monumental task of publishing the Groundwaters Anthology which is like a lifeline for so many of us. Thank you for opening an outlet for our thoughts and feelings… On behalf of all your contributors and more to come, I am grateful!”

That’s a testimonial that warms our hearts and I just can’t help it… I have to share it. Thank you, Millie!

Labor Day is fast approaching and many people are trying to figure out how to celebrate the social end of summer in such a new type of normal. There are so many questions surrounding it: about school opening—or not; fall sports’ seasons starting—or not; a last camping trip—if you can find a place to go.

Well, if you have lowered your expectations this year to a one-day picnic along your favorite stream or at the coast, you might make a stop at the Creswell Grange on Monday, September 7, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., to pick up your pre-prepared “Picnic in a Box.” You will need to call ahead and pre-order enough for your needs and pick it up curbside at the grange at 298 W. Oregon Avenue in Creswell. Each picnic box includes a pulled pork sandwich, chips, a dill pickle, coleslaw and a mini cheesecake… all for $7.

To place your order, call Dottie at 541-895-2155 by Saturday, September 5, at 4:00 p.m.

Sweet Lorane Community News – September 15, 2016

September 15, 2016Newspaper ColumnsBlue Rooster Inn, Brent Haxby, Crow Grange, Crow High School, Groundwaters anthology, Home & Farm Class, Linsey Kau, Lorane Facebook Page, Lorane Grange, Lorane Growers' Market, Movie Night, Rural Art Center, Taco Dinner and Bingo Night, Tears of the Red Oni, Water shortages, weddingpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 15, 2016
By Pat Edwards

I apologize for missing last week’s issue of the paper, but it was a busy, busy week with a wedding, out of town guests and the fast-approaching deadline for our 2016 Groundwaters anthology. There was little Lorane news to report and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I asked to be excused.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. Our granddaughter, Linsey Kau, and Brent Haxby were married on Saturday, September 10, at the Blue Rooster Inn next door to us. They’ve bought a home in Veneta and will move in once they have completed some renovation projects that are in progress.

The weather was perfect and the combined efforts of family members to provide food, photographs, wedding decorations and setup have allowed the couple to begin their marriage without being so hopelessly in debt as so many couples are. Thank you to Nancy Pelton of the Blue Rooster for providing such a beautiful venue, as well.

The Lorane Growers Market is really a popular spot these days. With all of the produce that’s now available – apples, prunes, pears, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes and whatever else residents have to spare – there been a lot of donations which quickly get grabbed up.

Another home for extra produce is Crow High School. The school is offering a new class this year called Home & Farm. Students are learning food preservation and are in need of fresh fruit and vegetables to can, dehydrate, infuse, juice, etc. They are also needing donations of canning jars.

Students are wanting to make pickles and salsa, so tomatoes, onions and cucumbers are especially needed. If you have anything you would like to donate, please drop them off at Applegate Elementary or Crow Middle/High School.

This seems like a wonderful new offering for our students since the traditional cooking, shop and woodworking classes have been disappearing from many schools for lack of funding. Let’s encourage these valuable classes for our local students by donating what we can.

The Lorane Grange will be trying out a new menu and, through football season, a new schedule, for their upcoming dinner and bingo nights. The first one of the fall season will be held on Friday, September 23, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tacos with all the trimmings will be on the menu instead of the traditional spaghetti dinner. Bingo for the whole family will follow dinner at 6:30 p.m. It’s become a fun evening for many of the local families. Yes… kids are welcome to play, too! The winners of the games can select from the prize table for some regular games and win cash awards for others. The evening will culminate with a blackout game which will grow until it’s won. Come join us. There are lots of laughs and good, old-fashioned fun for all.

The Crow Grange has begun its Fall dinner and bingo night, as well. These are held every 1st and 3rd Saturdays beginning at 6:00 p.m. Bingo games start at 7:00 p.m. and pay cash prizes including a large blackout game at the end. Families, including adult-chaperoned children who are old enough to play, are also welcome. It’s also a night of good food and lots of fun.

The Rural Art Center movie night returns to the Lorane Grange on October 8. The first feature will be “The Little Shop of Horrors,” and the premiere of “Tears of the Red Oni,” the Japanese folktale movie produced by the 2016 RAC Movie Camp and starring our local residents. It is also “Costume Night” and you’re asked to come as your favorite monster. Dinner precedes the movie at 6:00 p.m. The schedule of movies will be presented every 2nd Saturday of each month at the Lorane Grange. For a list of upcoming features and to learn “the drill,” go to the RAC website at http://www.ruralartcenter.org/movie-night. Proceeds go towards local community projects.

There are some community concerns being discussed on the Lorane Facebook page currently. One involves suspected mail thefts from local mailboxes and the other is the fact that many residents are experiencing water shortages right now. If you’re interested in getting in on the discussions, log-in to the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page.