Tag: Rural Art Center

Sweet Lorane Community News, January 4, 2018

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
January 4, 2018
By Pat Edwards

Well, it’s time we leave behind “holiday mode” and return to some kind of normalcy. Our family had a busy-but-great Thanksgiving and Christmas together, but there’s something about settling back into a routine within our comfort zone following the holidays that always appeals to me.

The November and December weekends spent in the company of Joe and Saundra Blakely and Jen Chambers in our Holiday Market booth was very special. We’ve become good friends as well as “Oregon Author” colleagues and we met a lot of people and sold a lot of books, to boot! I was amazed at how much demand there was for my new The Baileys of Bailey Hill book and I ran out of them at the end. I’m trying to get them distributed to local bookstores and libraries now.

The bad part of this holiday season was that so many of us came down with some type of cold, flu or other bug. I was one of them who was a bit quiet on Christmas day. I managed to get the house in order for company, but thank goodness I had a huge volunteer crew of cooks and “bottle washers” on hand to allow me to kick back and watch the dinner and celebration unfold.

I’ve finally got a few things to tell you about that are coming up this month in Lorane, so let’s take a look.

On Saturday, January 13, the Lorane Movie Night, sponsored by the Rural Art Center, will be showing the movie,”Sita Sings the Blues” (2009). It is an animated film which has “received rave critical reviews.” It’s been described as “a tale of truth, justice, and a woman’s cry for equal treatment” created by Nina Paley. It’s the story of Sita, an Indian goddess, combined with parallel scenes from Paley’s own life and features music by jazz singer, Annette Hanshaw.

For times, prices and program events, go to the RAC website at https://www.ruralartcenter.org/movie-night

The Lorane Grange’s Dinner and Bingo Night will resume on Saturday, January 27. Dinner usually begins at 5:30 p.m. and bingo follows at 6:30 p.m. It’s a fun evening for the whole family.

Jim and I have been observing the recent 40th anniversary of the Lorane Family Store by providing a history of not only it, but of the Lorane Service Station, aka The Mitchell Store, that preceded it. There have only been two owners of the grocery store—the Mitchell family and the Edwards family—through its history. We purchased the store in December 1977 from the Mitchells who established it in 1934.

I have included a couple of stories about the history of the store on my website. The first is a story of the Mitchell Store written in 2008 by Bill Mitchell’s great-grandson, William Olsen. It is followed by the history that I included in From Sawdust and Cider to Wine which I have updated a bit for this purpose.

They can be found on my website at https://allthingslorane.com/lorane-interests/. Also, there are several old pictures of the store posted on the Lorane, Oregon Facebook page for those who enjoy the nostalgia.

Happy New Year, All!

Sweet Lorane Community News – November 02, 2017

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…

Sweet Lorane Community News, October 12, 2017

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 12, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Whew! I think I just put the final touches to this year’s Groundwaters annual anthology called “Groundwaters 2017: An Anthology.” Jennifer Chambers and I have been producing these books since we ceased publication of our quarterly magazine three years ago. We distributed the magazines free through libraries, organizations and businesses in the West Lane area and throughout the rest of Lane County for over 10 years.

2017 Front Cover small

For those who don’t realize it, the annual anthologies are the equivalent of 4-plus issues of the magazine that was so popular. We still feature stories and poems from many of the authors and poets who won your heart then, as well as many talented new local writers. Each of our three issues have showcased the stories, memories and poems of over 60 contributors. They make wonderful gifts. Check out our website at http://groundwaterspublishing.com, and look for them in the Fern Ridge Library and local stores soon.

To celebrate the publication, Groundwaters and the Applegate Regional Theater on the corner of Central and Fleck Roads, north of Crow, on Sunday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m., will host a free Groundwaters LIVE! event. Writers and poets whose works appear in this year’s anthology will give readings and refreshments will be provided. It’s become a hugely popular event and the ART theater is amazing. The gym of the former Central Elementary School, with its large stage and theater seating, has been turned into a wonderful venue for not only plays and musical shows that are performed there, but for community events as well.

Each writer and poet represented in the book have earned Jen’s and my respect and I hope our readers realize how much it takes to reveal so much of ourselves through our writing. We’d like to see a large group of local people show up to meet the authors and poets and to tell them in person how much they enjoy their work. You can probably even be able to collect some autographs.

Canning and Preservation.jpgFor those of you in Lorane, don’t forget to sign up and participate in the free 3-day “Canning, Preservation and Sharing Clinic” on October 20 through 22. A new non-profit organization called “Lorane Community Cares” is sponsoring it in conjunction with their community garden project located on south Territorial Road. The produce from those gardens will be used in the clinic where those who want to fine-tune their canning and preservation skills can work together to process it. At the end, the food will be donated to those who need it within the community.

The clinic will begin with a dinner prepared from locally-grown products. At that time, donations can be made to help support the program. That will take place on Friday night, October 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange. What a wonderful way to combine learning and sharing. Everyone benefits.

The Rural Art Center-sponsored Ukulele group will once again be meeting at Crow Middle/High School on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The lessons started last week, actually, but you can still sign up or show up this Thursday if you are interested. This successful program has been happening for several years now, thanks to the sponsorship of RAC and the grant funding from the Oregon Country Fair Assn.

Other calendar notes: The Lorane Grange’s baked potato bar and bingo evening will be Friday, October 27. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. with family bingo to follow.

The annual Fall Harvest Festival will be held on October 28 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Applegate Elementary School. I understand that they would love some help with decorations and setting up and tearing down. Call or text 541-517-8556 for information or to volunteer. In addition, candy donations would be appreciated.

Finally, don’t forget the Fern Ridge Library’s annual book sale on October 20-21 at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thousands of books, movies, music and more for all ages at great prices.