Tag: Neighborhood Watch

Sweet Lorane Community News, February 15, 2018

February 15, 2018Newspaper Columns, , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 15, 2018
By Pat Edwards

I am writing this column earlier than usual as, by the time you read it, we will have left on a short vacation. I’ll have to tell you a little about it next week. In the meantime, I have some news to share…

Because of the great attendance and the fun had by all after the last similar event, the Lorane Grange is hosting a Barn Dance on Friday, February 23. It will be happening between 7:00-10:00 p.m. The music group will be announced later on the Lorane Facebook page as soon as arrangements have been finalized. All ages are welcome to participate and a suggested donation per person is $10. There will be refreshments served at the intermission.

The Lorane Community Association has got some big plans in the works if everything falls into place, according to the minutes of the last meeting.

Their main issue is addressing the Lorane Community food basket program. The current storage space needs to be repaired and revamped. Misty Burris is working with Food for Lane County to expand the pantry stock and they are hoping to involve other organizations in the community to help run it.

Little Lorane Library has outgrown its current space and the issue will be addressed sometime in March.

Also, the possible creation of a neighborhood watch is being revisited. The Lane County Sheriff’s Department and Oregon State Police offices are being contacted about issues the community has regarding the seasonal break-ins and lack of response from law enforcement agencies. The Easy Acres Neighborhood Group has already held two meetings to set up its own Neighborhood Watch. We’re planning to share information with the Lorane group.

In a response for more recognition and support for veterans returning from war zones, the LCA wants to make an effort to reach out to local vets and establish more connections. A proposed veteran-specific banner will be added to the reader board and discussions of future activities are in the works.

The LCA also wants to assist a member of the community with the building of a house. According to Mina Knittel, Secretary of the Lorane Community Association, ideas for a fundraiser, work party, etc are in the works and will be decided at the next meeting.
In years past, communities and neighbors came together for barn-raisings! Why not a house in Lorane? I strongly believe that communities need more of these projects where neighbors can join together in helping each other. I’m proud of those who are not afraid to set goals and reach for the stars. Good for you, LCA!

The next monthly meeting of the group is scheduled for Thursday, March 1 at 9:00 a.m. at the Lorane Deli.

More next week!

Sweet Lorane Community News, October 5, 2017

October 13, 2017Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 5, 2017
By Pat Edwards

I want to begin this column to acknowledge the tragic and horrendous event in Las Vegas earlier this week. It affected all of us in some ways – some knew someone who was at that country music festival, but most of us just felt deep in our gut the horror of what those who were there experienced. Locally, some of you may know the Robinson family whose children attended the Crow schools in the early part of the millenium. A daughter, Dixie, who was, I believe, a student at Applegate Elementary at the time, was tragically killed in a car wreck.

On October 1st, her older brother, Cameron Robinson, age 28, became a statistic… a victim… of the shooting. He was one of the 58 innocent people killed that night. The family came to Crow from Salem area where they lived with their grandmother, and were only in Crow for a short period of time before they moved out of the area.

If any friends or family are still in the area, please accept our prayers and heartfelt condolences. There is a GoFundMe campaign in his name for those interested in donating. https://www.gofundme.com/you-will-be-missed-cameron-robinson

The Rural Art Center’s annual offering of the Lorane Movie Night will open its six-month-long 2017-2018 season on Saturday, October 14. This first evening is proclaimed to be “Family Night” and those attending are encouraged (but not required) to come in costume and/or bring a carved pumpkin.

A soup and dessert dinner precedes the movie at 6:00 p.m. Before the movie begins, however, judging takes place and prizes awarded for “The Most Original” and “The Most Elaborate” costume, and “The Most Traditional” and “The Least Traditional” pumpkin carving.

The movie scheduled for this first date is a Ron Howard-directed fantasy called “Willow” (PG 1988). It begins at 7:30 p.m. Go to their website at https://www.ruralartcenter.org/movie-night for more information and a list of the upcoming features.

The Lorane Community Association’s October 1 meeting discussed upcoming plans for the Canning, Preservation and Sharing Clinic to take place at the Lorane Grange. It will be a 3-day event in conjunction with the non-profit “Lorane Community Cares” group that has recently formed. Friday night, October 20 at 6:00 p.m., will kick off with a “Community Garden-to-Plate pasta dinner which will be created from the harvest… grown and collected,” according to the promotional flyer. The dinner and clinic are free to all ages, but a donation is requested Friday night to help fund the newly formed non-profit group. All foods preserved and canned during the 3-day clinic will be donated to local families on Sunday, October 21.

Also discussed quite extensively was the possible formation of a Neighborhood Watch group, but it appears that the majority of those in attendance believe that an unaffiliated group be formed as a “Community Watch.” It was noted that our community’s Facebook page has proven to be an excellent resource for neighborhood issues and communication. To benefit those who do not have internet access, phone trees will be set up, as well.

The next meeting of the Lorane Community Association is tentatively scheduled for October 15. More information will be posted on the FB page.

The Crow-Applegate-Lorane School Board meets at the Lorane Grange on Thursday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. Executive session precedes the open meeting. If you are interested in keeping track of how our school district is being run and how you can help on budget committees, etc., this makes it much easier when the board comes to Lorane. Plan to attend, if possible.

Remember to mark your calendars for the next Dinner and Bingo evening at the Lorane Grange. The October event will be held on Friday, October 27, and the dinner for October will be a Baked Potato Bar. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. with family bingo to follow.

Sweet Lorane Community News, September 28, 2017

September 28, 2017Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 28, 2017
By Pat Edwards

There has been lots of excitement around the Lorane and Crow areas this past week, and it’s not the good kind. Several reportings of burglaries, break-ins and thefts from both areas have been reported. One of the victims was our daughter, Gloria Edwards, whose house was broken into and a TV, laptop and some wine were stolen. I’m sure the thieves planned to help themselves to more, but Gloria’s sister, Michele, and her husband Brian happened to drive by at the time and saw the strange car – an older model “goldish” Toyota Corolla (or Camry) – in Gloria’s driveway. Michele immediately got Gloria on the phone to ask about it. Michele and Brian only got as far down Territorial as Powell Road when they turned around and sped back to Gloria’s house, which is located just west of Gillespie Corners. By the time they got there, the car was gone – in a bit of a hurry, judging by the amount of gravel that the tires spun out.

Today, as I write this, there was a report of a 1999 “pewter” or “browish-gray” Toyota Camry leading 5 police cars on a chase towards Veneta. The deputies had to stop the chase at Noti as speeds had reached 114 mph and it was a danger to other drivers on the road. We strongly suspect that it may have been the same car and person. The Oregon license plate number is reported to be ZWE 645 by the Lane County Sheriff’s office. They ask anyone with information to call 541-726-3714.

Because of the recent rash of thefts, the Lorane Community Association will be discussing the establishment of a Neighborhood Watch in the area at its scheduled meeting on Sunday, October 1. The Crow Grange is interested in discussing a Neighborhood Watch for its area, as well. I will need to report more on these in the next issue.

Last week, I gave you the incorrect date for the upcoming Crow Booster Club’s “Crow Fall Auction and Carnival.” It will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Crow High School. The Carnival will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and the silent auction and dinner is at 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. The Live Auction starts at 6:30 p.m. I apologize for any problems this may have caused.

According to my doctor, flu season is expected early this year and everyone is being encouraged to get their flu shot right away if you want to avoid it. I got mine!

I’ve already had a nasty cold this past week. I haven’t had one of those for quite some time, but it hit hard with non-stop coughing and nose-blowing for two straight days and nights, and I know others are experiencing similar ones, too. Even Jim, who never seems to get sick, was hacking well into the nights and during the days a week ago. In fact, both Gloria and I are blaming him for sharing it with us.

I plan to order copies of my new book, The Baileys of Bailey Hill this week, so look for it on-line or in local stores, libraries and bookstores, soon. They are an interesting family with connections to Lorane and the Siuslaw Valley and I think you’ll enjoy their stories.

Flyer