Tag: Jennifer Chambers

Sweet Lorane Community News – December 8, 2016

December 8, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 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.”

Sweet Lorane Community News – October 27, 2016

October 27, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 27, 2016
By Pat Edwards

As I write this, I have just returned from a wonderful day attending and participating in the TEDxVeneta event held at the Applegate Regional Theater on Central Road. I am sure that Sandy Larson will have a nice article on it, so I won’t go into much detail, but it was very well-organized by my friend and co-editor of Groundwaters, Jennifer Chambers. Some time ago, she invited me to be one of the speakers. She asked me to talk about the changes that have occurred throughout my life and, although I accepted, I was not sure what I had gotten myself into. I’m not a trained speaker and, as I mentioned at the end of my talk, “Writing is my passion, but speaking is especially hard for me. I’ve found throughout my life that the words flow much easier from my fingers and hands than vocally, but I feel that facing this particular challenge is another difficult source of change and growth for me that I must embrace.”

Lorane was well-represented in today’s talks. Beth Robinson of Lorane and my “up-the-hill-neighbor, Evelyn Searles Hess, were also featured speakers and it was fun working with them and the others who had such varied and interesting presentations.

Thank you, Jen, for believing in me. Despite all of the stress I felt in being out of my comfort zone, the experience was a very positive one. If you didn’t get to make it to this year’s event, be sure to mark your calendars for next year, because I understand that Jen hopes to continue these TEDxVeneta events.

There are several people in Lorane needing dry firewood. If you have any on hand… and especially if you deliver, you might check out the requests on the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page or post information about your firewood on the Lorane Directory page.

Our Groundwaters LIVE! event held last Sunday afternoon to introduce our 2016 edition of the Groundwaters anthology was, in our opinion, a huge success. We had a good turnout, the Applegate Regional Theater was a welcoming and impressive venue, the readings were entertaining and got great reviews, and the support that Jen and I felt from everyone was amazing. The only “problem” we experienced was that we sold all 100 books that we ordered and some people had to return home without theirs. I have made arrangements, however, to deliver books to those who didn’t get them as soon as the new shipment arrives next week.

When I get the new order, they will be at the Lorane Family Store and we will try to get them into local bookstores, too. If other local businesses want to take them in on consignment, that can be arranged as well. Just let me know at edwards@groundwaterspublishing.com. We will, of course, leave a copy at the Fern Ridge Library sometime next week for those of you who are waiting to check it out. There are 63 local authors, poets and artists represented in this year’s anthology. Go to our website at http://groundwaterspublishing.com/anthologies for more information.

Jim and I became great-grandparents again on October 21. Not-so-little Hayden Rae Furlong was born in Roseburg, weighing in at a hefty 10 lbs. 5 oz. We were not able to see her for several days afterwards as we were in Portland at the time with our son while he underwent a heart procedure. Hayden is doing great, as is Rob, so we are very thankful for both.

I hope your Halloween was a fun one. We had some exciting events last weekend to enjoy. I wasn’t able to make it to the barn dance, the Lorane Trunk or Treat, or the Crow-Applegate-Lorane Halloween Carnival this year, but they were all generating a lot of interest within the community. The Applegate Community Theater was also hosting a Halloween celebration. There were lots of fun things to do and I hope that each received a good turnout.

Sweet Lorane Community News – October 20, 2016

October 20, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 20, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The community is still reeling from the death of 4-year-old Payge Bowman in an automobile accident last week. The proceeds of the upcoming barn dance to be held on Friday, October 28, at the Lorane Grange will go to the Payge Bowman fund. It will be from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and donations will be taken at the door. A suggested donation per family is $10.

The dances will include a combination of squares, line dances and reels. The caller will tailor his calls to the abilities of those attending and the music will primarily be provided by fiddles and guitars. For more information, contact Roberta Miller (360-318-6028) or Pam Kersgaard (541-942-6193).

The Rural Art Center is once again offering free ukulele lessons for children and adults alike. Anyone interested should contact Pat Dixon – pdixon@cal.k12.or.us or Lisa Livelybrooks@ruralartcenter@gmail.com. If you don’t have your own ukulele, some are available for a refundable damage deposit. The classes are being held every Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The next lesson is October 27.

Applegate Elementary and the C-A-L Booster Club is hosting a Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 29 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help run the booths, so if you are able to help, please contact Jen McNutt-Bloom (541-520-4868 or jennifermcnuttbloom@gmail.com) if you have some time available.

The Rural Art Center’s “Half Day Art Program,” being held at the Applegate Elementary on November 2, will be making Hawaiian Kapa-style paper using cornhusks and pebbles. Be sure your kids are signed up to participate. Go to the RAC website at http://www.ruralartcenter.org/ to find contacts and information on other programs they offer.

Another of RAC’s programs that is starting again is the Rug Hookery Group. The group gathers the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Rebekah Lodge hall. They also meet on the first Thursday every month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lorane Fire Hall.

A blurb from their website says, “Please let us know if/when you are coming by sending an email to ruralartcenter@gmail.com so we can be sure that we have the materials you will need.” You will need to bring scissors, a rug hook and a hooking frame. A “kit” including backing material with a design drawn on it and wool strips to hook into it and some of the supplies listed above are available to buy at the meetings.

The Siuslaw Watershed Council will be holding its October general meeting at the Lorane Grange on Wednesday, October 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All local residents are invited to attend. The doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the admission is free.

The topics of the program include “Changing Northwest Climate” and what the USDA Northwest Climate Hub is doing to address climate impacts on farms, forests and rangelands.” – a presentation by Dr. Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, USDA Climate HUB; and “Federal Cost-Share Programs for the Upper Siuslaw” by Dave Downing, District Manager, Upper Willamette SWCD. For more information, contact the Siuslaw Watershed Council at 541-268-3044 or e-mail watershed@siuslaw.orgor visit http://www.siuslaw.org.

Don’t forget the TEDxVeneta event on Friday, October 28 at the Applegate Regional Theater. For more information, you can contact its organizer, Jennifer Chambers (jennifer@groundwaterspublishing.com) or visit its website at http://www.tedxvenetawomen.com.