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.

Sweet Lorane Community News – August 25, 2016

August 25, 2016Newspaper ColumnsCrow-Applegate-Lorane School District, Drain Black Sox, Joe Blakely, Karen Vosika, Lorane Growers' Market, Semi-Pro baseball, The Drain Black Sox of Oregon vs The Alpine Cowboys of Texas; The Glory Days of Semi-Pro Baseball: 1930-1960, Victory Garden Skillet, zucchinipaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 25, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Things are pretty quiet in Lorane these days as far as news is concerned. The Lorane Growers’ Market continues to be busy. Jim brought home some luscious prunes that were left last week. He only brought me about a dozen to eat – which I did in short order – but he said there was a whole large box of them and they went fast once people discovered them. Pears were also brought in and lots of apples, squash and other produce. I need to get some of my ripe tomatoes down there, too. I don’t have a large garden… just a few tomato plants, one zucchini and one crookneck squash plant… but they are keeping us in fresh produce. Even our dog, Outlaw, is benefiting. I’m trying to get him to lose the weight… or at least not gain any more since he went on phenobarbital for seizures. The medication tends to increase appetite. I dice the large zucchini and cook and store it in the refrigerator to supplement his dry dog food. I was told to do this with canned green beans, but he likes the zucchini much better and gobbles it right down along with his pill. My plant production is slowing down, so I may have to begin checking out the growers’ market for oversize zucchini. That’s a first!

Speaking of zucchini… since I don’t have much community news to report… I’d like to thank Veneta resident, Karen Vosika, for sharing this great recipe with Groundwaters many years ago. It’s always a big hit with Jim and me this time of year when my mini-garden is producing. It’s called “Victory Garden Skillet” and best of all, it’s easy. Ingredients: 1 lb. hamburger; about 2 or 3 cups of diced zucchini, 1 cup of uncooked rice; 1 large diced onion; 1 or 2 sliced tomatoes; 3 beef bouillon cubes; ½ tsp dry mustard; 2½ cups water; 6 slices of cheddar cheese; salt and pepper to taste.

Brown the hamburger in large skillet; add rice, onion, zucchini, bouillon cubes, dry mustard and water. Boil, stir and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in or layer on top (I prefer to layer) the cheese and tomato. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes so the cheese will melt over the top. Delicious!

I just completed the layout for a new book that Groundwaters was asked to publish by author, Joe Blakely. It will be of interest to not only local baseball fans and history buffs, but to our own community because it is about Lorane’s neighbor to the southwest, Drain, Oregon. It’s called The Drain Black Sox of Oregon vs The Alpine Cowboys of Texas; The Glory Days of Semi-Pro Baseball: 1930-1960 by Joe Blakely. It’s a great book that contains a lot of names of those who played for the Drain Black Sox that most sports fans will recognize. The book recounts in detail the 1958 National Semi-Pro Championship game between these two teams. “Who’da thunk” that such a small community could field a championship team?

We published the book this past week and more information on it can be found on the Groundwaters website at http://www.groundwaterspublishing.com/Bookstore.html.

School for the C-A-L School District starts on Tuesday, September 6… the day after Labor Day. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sweet Lorane Community News – August 18, 2016

August 18, 2016Newspaper ColumnsAlesong, Alesong Brewing and Blending, Crow Booster Club, Crow Car Show, Doug Coombs, Linsey Kau, Lorane Community Potluck, Lorane Country Cafe, Lorane Growers' Market, Lorane Ice Cream Socialpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 18, 2016
By Pat Edwards

I wasn’t able to attend last weekend’s Lorane Community Potluck and Ice Cream Social events because of a prior family commitment, but I heard that both went really well. Lil Thompson said that 42 people showed up for the potluck and the Fire Department seemed very pleased with the turnout at the Ice Cream Social. They have extended their thanks to all who participated.

I was at my granddaughter, Linsey’s, bridal shower brunch for much of the day and as people began to leave to return home, I reminded them that they really should stop and check out the events in Lorane. I always enjoy it each year. I’ll be back.

A new business is coming to Lorane, but some of its neighbors have concerns that need to be addressed. Alesong Brewing and Blending has begun building a small brewery behind where the former Lorane Country Café now sits. One of the neighbors is quite concerned as it will be situated where it will look down on her home and backyard and feels that it will be invading her family’s privacy. She posted her concerns on the Lorane Facebook page and others have also voiced other concerns about the possibility of having more intoxicated drivers on the road. One of the owners of Alesong Brewing and Blending, Doug Coombs, sent a response that I feel should be shared with others in the area.

We want “to reach out and introduce ourselves. We’re really excited to be part of the Lorane community and hope to be respectful neighbors and have a great relationship with everyone. We’re also hoping to set up an in-person meeting with the community to meet everyone and help people understand what we’re up to in the coming weeks.

“The short summary is that we’re moving to the country because we want something peaceful and idyllic and are hoping to get closer to brewing’s original, community-oriented, agricultural roots. We plan to use as much local fruit, hops and other crops as possible in our beer and hope to work with local farmers on many collaborative creations.
“In terms of what we’re building – it’s a very small, farmhouse-style brewery that will only be open to the public with limited (mostly daylight) hours similar to a small winery tasting room. Hopefully it ends up providing you all a new spot to come on a hot summer day to have a delicious draft beer without having to drive all the way into Eugene.

“(We’re) happy to respond to anyone’s questions directly… We’re trying to set something up to chat in a public forum with the broader community in the near future.”

I’ll try to let you know in this column when that public meeting will be.

The Lorane Grower’s Market is still proving popular with everyone. Don’t forget to bring in your extra produce and pickup what others share. The proceeds go towards Lorane community projects.

A brief reminder for the upcoming Crow Booster Club Annual Car Show and Auction to be held on September 10, 2016 at Crow High School… This event has become one of the Booster Club’s major fundraisers and all proceeds benefit the Crow-Applegate-Lorane Schools… not just the athletic program. They have a Facebook page that will give you information and updates listed under “Crow Car Show.”

I hope that everyone survived last week’s heatwave. That’s a bit too hot for me and the added fire danger is downright scary. While walking my dogs up Easy Acres Drive last year when it was so dry, I found quite a few fresh cigarette butts tossed alongside the road. One of our neighbors put a sign up asking people to cease and desist the practice, and they did… for the most part. This year, I’ve spotted one or two fresh ones at the edge of the road and although, that’s better, it only takes one live cigarette butt to cause devastation to a great many people, homes and livestock in the area. Let us all be aware of our actions and how they can affect others. Take care everyone.