Tag: Marissa McNutt Cooper

Sweet Lorane Community News – December 8, 2016

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 – December 1, 2016

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
December 1, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Aww… home, sweet, home! We’re back from an amazing family vacation in Hawaii, but before I say anything about our trip, let me give my heartfelt thanks to Marissa McNutt-Cooper for her great job in covering the many Lorane holiday events that are coming up as well as other Lorane news. She was unsure of how well she’d be able to do it, but I’d say that she’s a natural. Thank you, Marissa. I owe you one!

I’m not going to be able to recap our trip in this column… it would take up the whole issue of the paper, but our Hawaiian cruise and Thanksgiving luau get-together for 18 of our family members in Hawaii provided memories that are going to last each of us a lifetime. We owe the coordination and planning of it to our daughter, Gloria Edwards, who was the big motivator in getting all of us literally “on board.” Thank you, Glo!

Now on to Lorane news and a bit from Crow… Marissa covered the detailed information on many of these events in the last two issues, but I want to provide reminders here so that you’ll be sure to have them marked on your calendars.

The Lorane Grange’s Christmas Dinner and Open House is scheduled for Sunday, December 11. Dinner will begin at 1:30 p.m. If you want to share a side dish or dessert, please feel free to bring them, but they are not required. It is free to the community, but you are asked to bring non-perishable foods to donate to the community food drive.

The food drive is also taking place at the Lorane store, deli and organizations to collect provisions to fill the Lorane Community Food Baskets for the holidays. Let’s fill them all up!

In addition to the Lorane food drive, the Crow-Applegate Church of the Nazarene is conducting its own collection for the Lane County Food Pantry from the Crow area.

Marissa McNutt Cooper of the Lorane Community Association has set up Angel Trees in the Lorane Family Store and at  Crow High School. Those who want to participate are asked to take an ornament from a tree and provide a new gift for the child or teen described on it. The unwrapped gifts should be brought back to the place where you obtained the ornament. Help to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter this year.

Also, if you know of a family that you feel would benefit from either food or a gift, please contact the local organizers so that they can be included. (For the Angel Tree, contact Marissa McNutt Cooper, 541-517-6608; for the food drive, Sande Maxwell, 541-942-5083).

Reminder: On December 9, the Lorane Eta Theta Rho #94 girls’ group is offering free child care from 4:30 to 10 p.m. at the Lorane Rebekah Lodge Hall. Games, crafts and food will be provided for a fun evening for children of all ages. Contact Tara Wigle at 541-935-5245 or Mary Houle at 541-942-9341 for more information.

The Crow Annual Alumni Basketball tournament will take place on December 9 and 10.  This year, there will be a women’s team plus a dessert social and a silent auction.  Call Linda Lay for more information, 541-844-5830.

The Rural Art Center’s movie night at Lorane Grange is December 10 and will be showing the original version of the ever popular Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Go to their website at http://www.ruralartcenter.org/movie-night for more information.

I, too, want to add my own personal condolences to the Gleason family who lost their father and grandfather, Jack Gleason, last month. Jack and Helen moved to Lorane in 1986 when Helen’s grandmother, “Grandma” Leona Williams, who had a home on Cottage Grove-Lorane Road, passed away. Their family has been a part of the Lorane community since then. Rest in Peace, Jack.

Also, while we were in Hawaii, I understand that Marjorie Parry suffered what seemed to be a stroke, although the diagnosis showed that it wasn’t. She is slowly recuperating in the hospital and has shown some improvement, but prayers and positive thoughts are being asked by the family for her complete recovery. The Wickwire and Parry families have ours. May Marge be back home soon.

Once again, thank you, Marissa, for the excellent job you did while we were away.

Sweet Lorane Community News – November 24, 2016

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 24, 2016
By Pat Edwards

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Here are a few events that are happening this week in our community.

The Angel Trees are now up at the Lorane Family Store and the Crow High School Gymnasium. The Angels on the trees will include an age, gender and a suggestion of a gift or item that the child is in need of, such as shoes, coat or p.j.s. Please be sure to return the unwrapped gifts no later than December 15, to give Santa’s elves enough time to wrap before delivery. We are still accepting requests for assistance, so if you or someone you know is in need of assistance putting gifts under the tree this year. Please contact Marissa at 541-517-6608. The only requirements are that you live in Lorane or Crow or that your child attends a C-A-L school and are between the ages of birth to 18.

The Crow Booster Clubs alumni tournament is coming up fast! The tournament will be December 9 and 10. There will also be a silent auction, raffles and dessert social on Saturday before Saturday’s games. We are still looking for alumni for the women’s and men’s teams. If you are interested in playing, sign ups will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday the 9th at the high school gym. If you aren’t interested in playing, you can still come out; support your alma mater and cheer on your former classmates. It is a really fun weekend, hope to see you there! If you have any questions please contact Booster Club President Linda Lay at 541-844-5840

The RAC monthly Movie Night will be held December 10 at the Lorane Grange starting at 6pm. They will be showing the classic original “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. There will also be a Uke Club concert and holiday sing along. It will be a fun night for the whole family.

The Lorane Grange is holding their annual Christmas dinner and open house December 11th at 1:30 p.m. at the Lorane Grange. All are invited to attend! The grange will provide the turkey, ham, potatoes and beverages. Please feel free to bring a side dish or dessert and a non-perishable food item for the Lorane Community Christmas food baskets.

Thank you to the Fern Ridge Review and Creswell Chronicle for allowing me to fill in for Pat while she and her family were away on vacation. I appreciate the opportunity to write about our sweet little community. Thank you! Marissa McNutt-Cooper