Tag: Michael Matchulat

Sweet Lorane Community News, March 1, 2018

March 1, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
March 1, 2018
By Pat Edwards

Lorane’s own Birth to Beyond and Oregon Institute for a Better Way have come up with another extremely valuable program for our area. (The Oregon Institute for a Better Way is the group which sponsored the 3-day Preservation and Canning Clinic in Lorane this past fall.) This current program is a series of meetings called “Mentoring Ideas to Plans” to learn how to sharpen and hone our life skills. One of the topics currently under discussion is “doing income taxes OLD SCHOOL! We seem far removed from the fine print of the income tax forms and the details are constantly changing! Come talk, drink tea and connect!”

The meetings take place every Tuesday until May 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange.

Information on other topics and details can be obtained by visiting the Oregon Institute for a Better Way Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/intentionalcommunities/ or contact Misty Burris.

A fundraiser is being planned at Papa’s Pizza Parlor beginning at Thursday, March 29 at 11:00 a.m. for our hometown hero, Michael Matchulat, who has been battling Stage 4 colorectal cancer for the past couple of years. The purpose is to help defray some of the huge medical expenses he and his wife Amber are facing.

As I am writing this column, I just received a phone call that breaks my heart. I’m going to share the news with you now as by the time it is in print, the information will be out. The phone call was from a woman at the emergency room of Sacred Heart River Bend. She had been instructed by family to deliver the devastating news that my good friend and co-author, Jo-Brew, passed away this morning.

 

The two of us have become so close over the years we’ve worked together. She was a strong, vibrant, knowledgeable woman who shared so much of herself with me. Our years as colleagues and friends were rich and rewarding and I am going to miss her so very much.

With this said, I am going to close out this week’s column. I find I cannot continue further. I’m not quite over the flu I’ve had this week and I won’t be able to join her wonderful family at this time. My thoughts, prayers and love are with them… Ken, Mike, Melissa, Bob, Jeff, her grandchildren and great-grands. I think they know that.

Godspeed, Jo!

Sweet Lorane Community News, January 18, 2018

January 18, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
January 18, 2018
By Pat Edwards

Bill Becker of Crow notified us that his brother-in-law, Jerry Robertson, recently passed away. Jerry was from Crow originally. His brothers, Gene and Alva, also from Crow, preceded him in death. He was married to Bill’s sister, Caroline Becker, also of Crow. Jerry and Caroline moved to La Grande in 1967 and have lived there ever since. Our condolences go out to Jerry’s family.

Remember: Lorane Grange Dinner and Bingo Night is to be held on Saturday, January 27, 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.

The Oregon Department of Forestry, Western Lane District, is announcing its “Fuels Reduction Grant Program” that offers to provide defensible space around your home, reducing the risk of wildfire on your property. They still have room for landowners to sign up for the program. It currently centers around the Lorane area (Coyote Ridge Communities) and maps are posted on the Lorane Facebook page so you can see if your property is eligible. Best of all, it will be done at no cost to the landowner. The Fuels Reduction Crew will create a 30′ to 150′ safety buffer around your home and surrounding structures to increase the chances of saving your home in the event of a wildfire.

You are encouraged to contact their Fire Planning Coordinator, Casey Smith, with any questions or to schedule an on-site evaluation visit (541-935-2283 x244 or email, Casey.A.Smith@oregon.gov). Lorane resident, Shane Kronberger, commented that “This is a great program. ODF and Lorane RFPD have already utilized this program on one property in the community and it turned out great!”

In a column last June, I included a message from Michael Matchulat who wrote about his 2-year-long battle with Stage 4 colorectal cancer. Last Wednesday, he took another significant step in his continuing battle with the disease. He’s been on a bit of a hiatus this summer while a new program and new strategy was worked out by his team of doctors at OHSU. Wednesday was the beginning of what Michael described as a “chemically-induced hell” to rid him of the tumors that have been growing in his lungs.
Afterwards, he reported that the new direction in his treatment was rough.

“As my crushed body observed joy in everything at home, surrounded by my community, family and church, I was forced back to why I started this journey in the first place… Love. I’m living in a microscope again and I have to be careful of the petri dish of the mind and physical world around me. My thoughts must focus on goodness and optimism, which are easy goals right now as opposed to feelings produced by the ‘I-don’t-want-to-go-there’ thoughts. The list of things I can do has shrunk, but it will be replaced with another list of how to do things a new way.” (I’ve paraphrased a bit.)

In the meantime, Michael’s family, friends and community—those who have been with him from the very beginning—have, indeed, continued to reach out to him, offering up prayers and positive thoughts and, most of all, love. Even if you don’t know Michael, please add yours, as well. He is a fighter and I so respect the grit and determination that he has used to face his enemy head-on while sharing with us the real fears and uncertainties that every warrior has felt during life-and-death battles throughout history.

Sweet Lorane Community News – November 02, 2017

December 8, 2017Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 2, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Jennifer Chambers and I want to personally thank all of the people who made the Groundwaters LIVE! event such a success this last week – those who read or had their stories read (Emily Horton, Stanley Buck, Millie Graves, Mary Daniels, Michael Matchulat, Tom Oroyan, Joe Blakely, Darlene Demmer, Vicki Sourdry and Rachel Rich), most definitely – but also Marti Byers and Vicki Sourdry of the Applegate Regional Theater (ART, Inc) for providing us with such a beautiful, comfortable and perfect venue.
The West Lane area can be so proud of the gift that these ladies and their board of directors have given our communities. Getting to this point has been a long, difficult road, but they persisted and now the communities benefit. Sometime, if you get the chance, ask for a tour of their facilities which was once the former Central Elementary School on Central Road. Behind the scenes, one former classroom is filled with almost every kind of costume imaginable to be used for plays and even prom dress rentals; another former classroom is filled will furniture and other props. They have a large stage, lighting, a sound system, podiums, theater curtains and inclined theater seating.

Out front are display booths where local art, books and crafts can be displayed, depending on the event being held. There’s even a ticket booth and tables for refreshments. If you have an event coming up, contact them about holding it at the Applegate Regional Theater. It’s a non-profit organization and they need our support. Thank you, ART, Inc!

And thank you also to Sandra Larson who did such a wonderful job with the article she wrote in the Fern Ridge Review this past week.

The Rural Art Center’s Lorane Movie Night has scheduled “Fantastic Mr. Fox” for its November 11 program held at the Lorane Grange. According to their website, this animated movie, based on a story line from Roald Dahl, “brings to life a tale of a sly fox and his quirky community as they find themselves drawn into battle with three determined and disgruntled local farmers.” The voices of the animated cast are provided by George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and more. A pre-show Sing-Along is being provided by the Ukulele Community Group. A soup dinner begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by pre-show “antics and door prizes” at 6:45 p.m., and the movie begins at 7:30 p.m. The suggested donation is $7 for adults and $5 for children, 12 and under.

Here are some reminders of upcoming events to put on your calendars. The Lorane Community Thanksgiving dinner will be held on Sunday, November 12, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Lorane Grange. It’s free to community members. The turkey dinner (meat, potatoes, stuffing and gravy) will be provided and those attending are asked, but not required, to bring a side dish or dessert to share. They are also asking for donations of canned goods or non-perishable foods to be given to the local food pantry.

The Crow Grange has the same type of event planned. Their Community Potluck and Open House will be held on Thursday, November 16 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
I’ve been told that Crow Middle/High School is holding an “all-year can and bottle fundraiser.” Please contact Mrs. Hohnstein at 541-935-2227 or email hhohnstein@cal.k12.or.us to schedule a drop off or pickup.

Fall Back! I hope we all have our watches and clocks synchronized by now. Daylight Savings Time has ended…