Sweet Lorane Community News – October 29, 2015

October 29, 2015Newspaper ColumnsAva Linder, Joe Blakely, Linda Hughes, Lorane Grange, Lorane Movie Night, Rebellion Murder and a Pulitzer Prize, Rural Art Center, Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo, The Farm Store, The Rainbow Chasers, The White Man's Brotherpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 29, 2015
By Pat Edwards

I’m very late in reporting on the passing of another long-time Lorane resident… Linda Hughes. I didn’t hear about her death until a week or two after she passed away on September 28 and feel badly that I haven’t mentioned it until now. Linda lived on Gowdyville Road with her husband Vergil. They had three children, Grant, Rick and Jason. The Hughes family moved to Lorane in 1966 and I got to know Linda when she’d come by the store while I worked there. She was involved in school activities in those days and later became active in making crafts of all kinds. She proved to be quite gifted and sold many of them through the old Lorane Country Café and craft sales around the area. Our thoughts and prayers have been with the Hughes family for their loss of a very caring wife, mother and grandmother.

With Halloween in the past (and even before), the stores have been telling us that we need to be thinking about Thanksgiving… and even Christmas. It seems that with such early reminders each year, the excitement and anticipation begin to wear thin by the time that the actual celebrations get here. I don’t know if it’s just my age or if others feel relief to get through the holiday season and move into a new year.

In truth, I love Thanksgiving Day, especially when our family gathers at our house to give thanks for our blessings. I hand over the potato peelers to Steph and Lins (this year it will be Hayley since Linsey is in Italy), the carving knife is presented to Gloria and the table setting duties to everyone else. Christmas day itself is special for that same reason. I guess that it’s the expectations and yes… commercialism… surrounding both holidays so early in the season that tire me out and turn me off.

Be sure to mark a couple of upcoming events on your calendar. The next Rural Art Center Lorane Movie Night will be held on Saturday, November 14 at the Lorane Grange. It will feature the movie, “Royal Wedding,” with Fred Astaire. You can find all of the information on times and schedules at at http://www.ruralartcenter.org/#!movie-night/ck0q.

The next Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo Night will be on Friday, November 20, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Lorane Grange. It is fun evening with good food, good friends and lots of fun for the whole family.

Beware! There have been recent theft and suspicious activities reported in both the Lorane and Crow areas. Try to be alert to cars and people in the area who seem out of place or acting strangely. A man was seen wandering through the arena building of a local stables this past week and ran away when confronted. A theft was reported at a home between Simonsen and Briggs Hill Roads. We all need to watch out for our neighbors and report any incidents or concerns to the Lane County Sheriff’s tipline at 541-682-4167 or their non-emergency line at 541-682-4141.

The staff of Groundwaters would like to thank the Soverns at The Farm Store in Veneta for agreeing to be the local distributor for our new annual issue, Groundwaters 2015: an Anthology. They have a supply on hand right now, so if you’re missing our quarterly issues that we’ve had in the past, drop by to pick one up at the Farm Store located on Territorial Road, south of Veneta or at the Lorane Family Store in Lorane.

We have also just completed two more books by local authors. A new novel by Elmira author, Ava Linder, called The Rainbow Chasers, is a sequel to her first book, The White Man’s Brother, and both take place in the 1850s. The Rainbow Chasers brings Bob and Rebecca Tanner to the Oregon Territory where they settle in the Canyonville area. Ava was featured in a recent Fern Ridge Review article.

Another new book is Rebellion, Murder and a Pulitzer Prize by Joe Blakely. Joe lives in Eugene, but has had Groundwaters publish his last two books. This one tells about the actual murder trial of the leader of Southern Oregon’s “Jacksonville Rebellion,” Llewellyn Banks. The 1933 change of venue trial was held at the Lane County Courthouse and resulted in a Pulitzer Prize being awarded to Robert Ruhl of the Medford Mail Tribune. Joe’s books are available on his website at https://joeblakelyauthor.wordpress.com/

Check out all of our Groundwaters’-produced books at https://allthingslorane.com/published-books/.

Sweet Lorane Community News – October 8, 2015

October 8, 2015Newspaper ColumnsCrow Booster Club, Lorane Grange, Lovina Ford, Rural Art Center, Sportsman Auction, ukulelepaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 8, 2015
By Pat Edwards

It seems as though I’ve had to report sad news quite a bit in this column over the past month. I have another to report, and then we’ll try to get back into the things that don’t tend to pull so painfully on our heartstrings.

Two weeks ago, I learned of the passing of one of my very favorite people from the Crow area. I had not known Lovina Ford long, as so many others in the Crow area have. We became “table-mates” with Ruth Teafatiller at the Crow Grange bingo nights about 3 years ago. Lovina had been attending the twice-a-month sessions with her young great-grandson, Brendon, for several years before that. It was obvious how much she enjoyed Brendon’s company. It was only one of many activities they did together, one-on-one. You could see the strong bond that connected them. I was told that Lovina volunteered at the Applegate Elementary in Brent’s classroom on a regular basis and was adored by not only the children, but the teachers and administrators, as well.

She always had a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face and she obviously enjoyed life. Like Charlotte Mitchell, who also recently passed, there was a lot of use of the word “spit-fire” in the stories told about her. Unfortunately, Lovina suffered a massive stroke about a year ago and had been in rehab centers and under the care of caretakers since then. She passed away on September 21.

I attended a standing-room-only memorial service for her at the Eugene Elks Lodge last week and learned about the phenomenal life this beautiful, vibrant lady lived on their ranch with her husband Steve, a rodeo cowboy, and how they raised not only their own 3 children, but a good many of the neighbors’, as well. Brenden was at the service with the rest of the close-knit family and a recording that he made, singing one of their favorite songs, was played. Apparently, following her stroke, Brenden loved to visit his great-grandma, and brightened her days by singing to her. Brenden is immensely rich in having had her in his life, as are we all, and I can only imagine how much he will miss her. Rest in peace, Lovina!

I missed telling you about the first in the 2015 Rural Art Center Movie Series at the Lorane Grange. This year’s theme is “Public Domain” and features a group of oldies-but-goodies. The October movie was “Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein” (1948).

According to a RAC promo: “We’re serving soup (including a vegetarian choice) and bread before the festivities. After all, it’s about more than entertainment; it’s about rubbing elbows with far flung neighbors, getting in out of the cold and damp, supporting local organizations, door prizes, popcorn and coffee, the surprises and the good movies. Gather at the Lorane Grange at 6:00 p.m. every second Saturday of the month, October through March.”

The November 14 movie will be “Royal Wedding” with Frank Sinatra (1951). In addition to dancing with his sister (Jane Powell), and his new love (Sarah Churchill) Astaire dances with a hat rack, and on the walls and ceiling of his room in this romantic musical comedy set in London at the time of Queen Elizabeth’s wedding. (93 min). The shorts and entertainment accompanying it will be a vintage dance shorts collage and a mystery guest dancer. It’s pie night – bring a pie to share. The non-profit beneficiary will be the RAC scholarship fund.

The full schedule and all the information you might need about this series can be found at http://www.ruralartcenter.org/#!movie-night/ck0q.

The next Spaghetti dinner and bingo night at the Lorane Grange will be Friday, October 23 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Just a reminder. Now that the Lorane Deli is closed, there is a regular group meeting for coffee, muffins and conversation each Wednesday morning at the Rebekah Lodge from 7:00-9:00 a.m.

The free Ukulele Club is starting up on October 15 at Crow Middle/High School. I believe that it’s open to all ages who want to learn how to play the ukulele. Contact the district music teacher, Pat Dixon, at pdixon@cal.k12.or.us or Lisa Livelybrooks at ruralartcenter@gmail.com for more information.

Volunteers are needed to help artists teach K-6 half day art classes. Contact ruralartcenter@gmail.com or call Alyssa -541-556-8151.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Crow Booster Club’s Annual Sportsman Auction to be held on October 24. Classes K-12 will participate with projects and the Crow Middle/High School will have themed baskets to auction in addition to the other many spectacular items that will offered. This event has proved to be highly successful and helps support the Booster Club’s funding of the C-A-L School District’s student activities, athletics and other projects benefiting all age groups from K-12.

Thanks to Lil Thompson for providing me with these school activity reports. We’re hoping that someone will come forward who can write a column specifically for the C-A-L schools! Interested? Contact the district office at 541-935-2100.

Sweet Lorane Community News – August 6, 2015

August 6, 2015Newspaper ColumnsCruise and Ride Benefit, George Budington, Lorane Community Potluck, Lorane Grange, Lorane Ice Cream Social, OPVA, Oregon Paralyzed Veterans of America, Pancake Breakfastpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 06, 2015, 2015
By Pat Edwards

I promised to give you a report on the Pancake Breakfast fundraiser that was held at the Lorane Grange last week for Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Matchulat who has been diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer. It was a huge success! Over 250 people showed up to eat pancakes, eggs and sausage and to visit with friends and, best of all, to give Michael a hug and assurances of many prayers. The large turnout was comprised of not only Lorane community members, but many other friends, co-workers, family and perfect strangers who opened their hearts and their checkbooks for this young man. There was a large group of volunteers who stayed for the whole four hours to set up, prepare the food and clean up afterwards. I volunteered to wash dishes, but since paper plates were used, I was handed a spatula so I could man one of the three large pancake grills under the watchful eye of pancakologist, Bruce McDonald, throughout the morning. By doing so, I got to see and talk to so many people I haven’t seen in years as they passed through the line. Michael’s mother, Trish, worked next to me and we were so touched at the outpouring of love and concern shown towards her son. In the end, when the donation canisters were emptied and counted, Michael was able to deposit over $6,200 into his medical fund for the breakfast alone. From what I understand, the garage sale that was held for Michael in Eugene was also a big success. Thank you to each one of you! It’s amazing what can be accomplished when we all have a common goal.

Have there been more activities than usual this summer? It seems that Lorane has been the site of several events. This past Saturday was the “Cruise and Ride” Benefit for the Paralyzed Veterans of America in which granges around Lane County, including Lorane’s and Crow’s, were visited by a large contingent of cruisers. In addition, the Lorane Community Potluck and the Ice Cream Social was held on Sunday. I will need to give you reports on those next week as my deadline takes place before the events. Then, on September 12, we’ll be having the Lorane Celebration for the first time.

I want to thank those of you who sent well-wishes and kind thoughts to Jim when I posted a picture of him lying on a hospital bed in preparation for one of three epidermal steroid injections that he’s scheduled for to try and locate the source of a lower back problem that has been causing him quite a bit of pain and discomfort. It’s slowed him down considerably in the past few years and has now begun affecting one leg, so it’s time to get something done.

Thank goodness the weather has cooled down. Even the few, scattered drops of rain I felt one morning last week, felt good. We need a lot more to help out with the forest fire situation. Fern Ridge Lake looks so desolate and muddy with the water level being so low. Summer’s quickly sneaking by, so be sure to enjoy what’s left. Here’s a little reminder how a quiet summer evening in the country, away from city lights, can be spent…

A Bit of Lorane History:

“Willard Gowing recalls the friend that the children of Lorane had in George Budington in the 1930s. Mr. Budington was a bachelor who lived by himself in his home on Old Lorane Road. On warm summer evenings, the children, tiring of playing “Hide and Seek,” would drift over to George Budington’s house. He came outside and talked to the kids about the stars in the sky. ‘He was hard of hearing, so it was hard to ask him questions, but we watched and listened as he pointed out the stars…'” (From Sawdust and Cider; 1987; 2006)