Sweet Lorane Community News – October 13, 2016

October 13, 2016Newspaper ColumnsCrow Church of the Nazarene, Dave Langstraat, Family Barn Dance, GoFundMe, Groundwaters 2016 Anthology, Groundwaters Live!, Halloween, Jennifer Chambers, Lorane Christian Church, Lorane Family Store, Lorane Grange, Lorane Growers' Market, Lorane Trunk or Treat, Mike and Joanna Cantrall, Payge Bowman, TEDxVenetapaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 13, 2016
By Pat Edwards

The whole community has been mourning the loss of a beautiful little 4-year old girl named Payge Bowman who died early last Tuesday morning when her mother’s car went off Cottage Grove-Lorane Road. Payge was riding in the back seat with her older sister and younger brother when the car left the road and rolled about 30′ down the steep hill. Her mother, Courtney, who was driving, and her sister and brother had minor injuries, but little Payge did not survive. The Bowman family live near Lorane and each of us are stunned and hoping to help the family in any way we can.

Besides the Bowman family, our local first-responder volunteers were particularly affected by Payge’s death and Jim and I extend our thanks and appreciation to each of you who opened your hearts and souls by being there to treat and try to comfort the family.

A GoFundMe account that was set up by Payge’s aunt has raised enough to cover her funeral expenses and, as I write this, a meal train is being planned by Lorane residents to allow the family time to mourn. If you’d like to participate, check the information posted on the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page for particulars.

Our deep condolences go out to the Bowman family. We are truly grieving with you.

A couple of weeks ago, Mike and Joanne Cantrall, announced that they are collecting warm clothing – shoes, socks, jackets, blankets and hygiene items – for homeless veterans. They placed a large collection barrel at the Lorane Family Store and when I asked Jim how the collection effort was going, he told me that the barrel has had to be emptied several times already because of the huge response from the Lorane community. We have plenty of warm hearts here. Thank you!

Speaking of warmth, I hope that everyone was able to weather the nasty storm that came through Oregon this past weekend. A number of events were cancelled because of the forecast including the cider pressing and the Lorane and Crow Grange’s dinner and bingo nights.

A new event that is being planned was just announced. There will be a Family Barn Dance at the Lorane Grange on Friday, October 28, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The suggested donation is $10 per family. The last time a barn dance was held there a couple of years ago,

Also, the Lorane Christian Church is once again planning its annual Lorane Trunk or Treat on Halloween night, Monday, October 31. According to Dave Langstraat, those who want to take part will be meeting in the church parking lot. Cars are parked and decorated and treats are offered to ghosts, witches, goblins and super-heroes of all ages from the trunks. Set-up starts about 4:30 p.m. Soup and cider will be offered to everyone and they usually wrap-up between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. I’ve heard that it is as much fun for the adults as it is for the children.

Apparently, for those of you in Crow, the Church of the Nazarene in Crow is also having a Trunk or Treat on Halloween night. I don’t have details, but the times should be about the same as Lorane’s.

The Lorane Growers’ Market is still happening. Yesterday, I noticed a whole bunch of wonderful looking grapes on the table out in front of the Lorane Family Store. Be sure to check it out.

Don’t forget the Groundwaters LIVE! event at the Applegate Regional Theater on Central Road on Sunday afternoon, October 23, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Meet some of your favorite authors and pick up a copy of the 2016 edition of the Groundwaters anthology. It’s like getting four issues of the popular magazine in paperback format.

Also, on Sunday, October 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a new event is being planned called the TEDx Veneta Women. A roster of area women has been lined up by organizer, Jennifer Chambers, to give live and video talks about subjects of interest to local women, in particular, “to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group setting.” The theme that is set for this event is “Use the Time We’re Given.” Jen will be releasing the names of the speakers – three from the Lorane area – and the times each will be assigned soon. We hope to see you there.

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.”