Sweet Lorane Community News – November 30, 2017

December 8, 2017Newspaper ColumnsAngel Tree, Applegate Elementary School, canned food drive, Community Ukulele Club, Lorane Christmas dinner, Lorane Movie Night, Lorane Saw Shop and Small Engine Repair, Marissa McNutt Cooper, Patrick Dearth, Sound of Music, Winter Concertpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 30, 2017
By Pat Edwards

I’m going to cheat a bit and use Marissa McNutt-Cooper’s words to tell you about Lorane and Crow’s Angel Tree Project.

“It is that time of year again. We are getting ready for our annual Angel Trees. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the trees, they are trees that will soon be located at the Lorane Family Store and Crow High School gymnasium. They are decorated with felt Angels that have suggestions/ideas for gift or necessity items for a child in our community whose family is in need of assistance this holiday season. The forms went out with the Weekly Buzz newsletter to all children attending Crow-Applegate-Lorane schools. I just wanted to let everyone know to be on the look out for them in your children’s backpacks.

“Also, the Angel trees are for families in need of assistance with children age birth through 18 who live in Lorane or Crow. The children do not have to be of school age or attend CAL schools—just live in our community. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance this year, please return the form to the school office or contact me at 541-517- 6608. Please know that all information received is completely confidential and that the Angels on the trees do not include names; just age and gender.”

Marissa has been heading up this project for the past several years and it has proven to be a popular and much-appreciated way for each of us to give to our community. Combined with the food boxes, these gifts allow those less fortunate to experience the joy of the holiday season, too. Please open your hearts and your wallets this year. Thank you, Marissa for all that you contribute to the Lorane community!

The Community Ukulele group will be performing at a couple of events this holiday season. The first is only a possibility, but they are hoping to participate in the Crow Middle/High School Choir and Band’s Winter Concert to be held on Wednesday, December 6, at 7:00 p.m.

Then, on December 9, they will provide the “pre-movie” entertainment at the December Lorane Movie Night, featuring my all-time favorite, “The Sound of Music,” also at 7:00 p.m.

The Applegate Elementary School will be holding their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m. Along with that will be their Canned Food Drive.

My last holiday reminder is for the Lorane Grange’s Christmas Dinner and Open House, scheduled for Sunday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m. I’ve given you full details in past columns, but one thing new they are suggesting is that you bring a simple and/or funny “white elephant” gift to exchange.

Long-time Lorane resident, Patrick Dearth has announced this past week that he and his wife, Teresa, are opening a new business in Lorane called the Lorane Saw Shop and Small Engine Repair. They hope to provide repair and winterizing services locally and offer free pick-up and delivery for the Lorane/Crow area. Included in their plans is to make some loner and rental equipment available. They also hope to establish a mentoring program by holding various classes (i.e. blade sharpening and seasonal preparedness) at the Lorane Grange. His shop is located at 80485 Old Lorane Road in Lorane, and his phone number is 541-520-5383.

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.