Rachel Garber

Rachel Garber

Rachel Garber writes from her home in the old hamlet of Maple Leaf, in Newport. (rawrites@gmail.com)
Non classé

La Ferme Patry accueille la fête du Charolais

La famille Patry. Rangée arrière : Jean-Pierre Patry, Éléonord Patry, Arthur Patry. Deuxième rangée : Jean-François Patry, Brigitte Turcotte, Myrianne Lessard, Pierre-Marc Patry. Première rangée : Shania Patry, Alexia Patry, Anthony Patry, Cédrick Patry.

Quelque 240 personnes de tous âges et provenant de divers coins du Québec sont venus à La Ferme Patry de Weedon le 3 août dernier. Ils avaient amené avec eux leur bonne humeur et un intérêt commun pour ces énormes bovins blancs appelés Charolais.


C’était au tour de la famille Patry d’organiser le pique-nique annuel des membres de l’Association Charolais du Québec, et elle l’a fait de belle façon. L’événement a débuté à 14 heures et comprenait des visites du troupeau charolais et des environs, autour des tables de pique-nique, une vente aux enchères de bétail, un méchoui et de la musique jusqu’à 2 heures du matin.
Partout, on pouvait voir la touche soignée des propriétaires de La Ferme Patry : Jean-Pierre Patry, Pierre-Marc Patry et Myrianne Lessard. Un espace d’affichage présentait l’histoire de la ferme et des kiosques offraient des services et des ressources. Une rangée de magnifiques dahlias en fleur longeait des abris et des tables de pique-nique où les adultes circulaient et discutaient. Les enfants ont pu profiter d’une aire de jeux gonflable, observant les poules et admirant le troupeau charolais broutant dans le pâturage adjacent.


Puis, la fierté de la ferme : les bovins charolais eux-mêmes, de pure race et élevés en pâturage. La foule s’est rassemblée autour de la basse-cour pour une vente aux enchères de deux taureaux charolais et de deux génisses de la Ferme Patry. Les enchères étaient féroces pour les animaux poids lourds sans cornes, et Jean-Pierre Patry s’est dit « très satisfait » des résultats.
Et le soleil a résisté à la pluie tout l’après-midi jusqu’à ce que le méchoui soit prêt. Quatre rangées de tables alignées ont été installées dans le grenier à foin de la grange pour accueillir la foule affamée. Le méchoui était composé de rôti de bœuf juteux charolais de la Ferme Patry, sans hormones ni antibiotiques, et de porc provenant de la porcherie voisine Denis Nadeau.
Sans parler d’un tirage de cinq doses de sperme d’un taureau populaire Patry, et des prix de présence, puis de la musique et de la danse jusqu’aux petites heures du matin.


Les bovins charolais remontent probablement à l’époque romaine quand les Romains les avaient emmenés en France et en Angleterre lors de leurs invasions, nous mentionne le site web de l’Association Canadienne Charolais. Les ancêtres charolais d’aujourd’hui sont originaires de la région de Charolles en France et les premiers ont été importés au Canada en 1953.
Dans l’ensemble, Jean-Pierre Patry s’est dit très heureux de l’événement. « La météo était de notre côté et ça été une journée parfaite. »


Bien que les invités de l’Ouest canadien n’aient pas pu y assister comme prévu, au moins un anglophone était présent : le très précieux taureau Tri-N Stout 376A vendu aux enchères, qui avait «immigré» du Manitoba à La Ferme Patry en 2014.

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Patry Farm hosts Charolais Celebration

Picnickers, Charolais lovers.

Of all ages and from various corners of Quebec, some 240 persons descended on La Ferme Patry de Weedon on August 3. They brought with them good cheer and a shared interest in those massive white beef cattle known as the Charolais.


It was the Patry family’s turn to host the annual picnic for members of the Charolais Association of Quebec, and they did it in style. The event began at 2 p.m., and included tours of the Charolais herd and the neighbourhood, visiting around picnic tables, a cattle auction, a mechoui, and music until 2 a.m.


Everywhere was visible the fine touch of the owners of La Ferme Patry: Jean-Pierre Patry, Pierre-Marc Patry and Myrianne Lessard. A display area showcased the history of the farm, and booths offered services and resources. A row of magnificent dahlias blossomed alongside the sheltered picnic tables, where the adults circulated and chatted.The children enjoyed an inflatable playground, watched the chickens and checked out the Charolais herd grazing in the adjacent pasture.


Then to the pride of the farm: the Charolais cattle themselves, pure bred and pasture-raised. The crowd gathered around the barnyard for an auction of two Charolais bulls and two heifers from the Patry farm. Bidding was fierce for the heavyweight, hornless animals, and Jean-Pierre Patry said he was «very satisfied» with the results.


And the sun held off the rain all afternoon until the mechoui was ready. Four long rows of tables were set up in the spick-and-span hayloft of the barn to accommodate the hungry crowd.The mechoui featured juicy Charolais roast beef from the Patry farm, without hormones or antibiotics, and pork from the nearby Porcherie Denis Nadeau.


Not to mention a drawing for five doses of semen from a popular Patry bull, and doorprizes, and then music and dancing until the wee hours of the morning.


Charolais cattle probably date back to ancient Roman times, when the Romans took them into France and England during their invasions, says the Canadian Charolais Association website. Today’s Charolais forebears came from the Charolles region in France, and the first were brought to Canada in 1953.


Overall, Jean-Pierre said he was very happy with the event. «The weather was on our side, and it was a perfect day.»


Although guests from western Canada were not able to attend, as had been planned, at least one anglophone was present: the very valuable bull Tri-N Stout 376A, sold at auction, who had «immigrated» to La Ferme Patry from Manitoba in 2014.

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Bury reconnaissant envers les bénévoles

« Que puis-je dire ? C’est un cimetière ! » a déclaré Austin Bailey, lorsque le maire Walter Dougherty lui a demandé de décrire son travail pour le cimetière Grace United.

Des groupes de bénévoles réunis à Bury, un stupéfiant 20 d’entre eux dans une population d’environ seulement 1200 personnes, ont été honorés le 25 avril lors de la première Soirée de reconnaissance des bénévoles de la Municipalité de Bury. Quelque 60 bénévoles se sont régalés à un généreux buffet de salades, viandes froides, desserts et vin. L’Armoury Centre résonnait au son des conversations et des éclats de rire.


« Habituellement, nous sommes ceux qui s’occupons de la communauté, qui préparons et nettoyons après les événements », dit M. Tony De Melo. « Je pense que c’était simplement merveilleux que quelqu’un le fasse pour nous. » M. De Melo est un membre du comité Canterbury de la Société d’histoire et du patrimoine de Bury.


Après le dîner, le maire Walter Dougherty a présenté 20 certificats d’appréciation aux différents groupes et chaque récipiendaire décrivait le travail de son groupement.


« J’ai pensé que c’était un bon geste, et que c’était une belle façon pour tous les différents groupes communautaires de se connaître mutuellement, et pour savoir ce que nous faisons tous », a commenté M. De Melo.


Les groupes honorés furent l’Association athlétique de Bury, le Women’s Institute, le Centre communautaire de Brookbury, le Centre culturel uni de Bury, le Centre de loisirs de Bury, les Jolly Seniors, la Légion canadienne branche 48, l’Image de Bury, le Foyer St-Paul, la Société d’histoire et du patrimoine de Bury, la bibliothèque municipale, Viactive, la Paroisse St-François-de-Laval – secteur Bury, la Bury Cemetery Association, le Cimetière Brown, le Cimetière Grace United, la St-Paul’s Guild et l’Église anglicane, les Bury Sunrays, ainsi que 3 bénévoles qui ont nettoyé la patinoire tout l’hiver.

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 Arts et culture

Duo Ludwig dans le parc

La flûtiste Myriam Genest-Denis et la bassoniste Karine Breton lors du concert pique-nique avec un public de tout âge.

Les musiciens du duo Ludwig, Myriam Genest-Denis et Karine Breton, ont réjoui plus de 40 personnes lors d’un concert le 14 juillet au belvédère du parc des Braves, au cœur de Cookshire. C’était un dimanche occupé sur la Route des églises, mais le bruit de la circulation et les voix des enfants se fondaient au loin à la faveur de la musique de la flûte traversière et du basson, accompagnés d’une douce brise qui bruissait dans les feuilles. Le public a accordé une attention particulière et de généreux applaudissements à la musique qui a débuté par une Courante de G.F. Handel, se terminant par une Romance du compositeur Ferdinand Hummel.


Deux autres concerts pique-nique sont prévus cet été : la Quintette de cuivres le 18 août et le Quatuor Estrielle le 8 septembre. La série est coparrainée par la Galerie d’art Cookshire-Eaton, le Chemin des Cantons, IGA Cookshire et la Ville de Cookshire. Pour en savoir plus, veuillez vous adresser à la Galerie d’art Cookshire-Eaton située au 25, rue Principale Ouest, ouverte sept jours sur sept de 9 h à 17 h.

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Duo Ludwig in the Park

Duo Ludwig musicians Myriam Genest-Denis and Karine Breton treated more than 40 people to a concert on July 14 at the gazebo in the Parc des Braves in the heart of Cookshire. It was a busy Sunday, during the Route des Églises, but the noises of traffic and children’s voices faded away in favour of the flute and bassoon music, joined by a gentle breeze rustling the leaves. The audience gave rapt attention and generous applause to the music, beginning with a Courante by G.F. Handel, and ending with a Romance by composer Ferdinand Hummel.


Two more picnic-concerts are planned this summer: The Quintette de cuivres on August 18 and the Quatuor Estrielle on September 8. The series is co-sponsored by the Galerie d’art Cookshire-Eaton, the Chemin des Cantons, the IGA Cookshire, and the Town of Cookshire. Information is available at the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery, 25 Principale West, which is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Route des églises Unveils Secrets

Priestly robes from times past, religious relics, and symbols adorn the St-Raphael Catholic Church in Bury, and surround its president, Lee Ann Sévigny.

The Route des églises offered churches and activities as varied as the weather of the day, with its fleeting showers, soaring clouds, and luscious sun. Altogether, 11 churches participated, receiving visitors throughout the day on July 14.


There were two Roman Catholic churches: St. Raphael’s in Bury, and St. Camille in Cookshire, which hosted an ecumenical service at 4 p.m., attended by more than 40 people and led by Father Roger Roy, Rev. Tami Spires, Deacon Gabriel Kwenga and Mme Monique Lemelin.


There were four Anglican churches: Christchurch Canterbury, St. John’s Anglican near Brookbury, St. Paul’s in Bury, and St. Peter’s in Cookshire. And there were four United churches: East Clifton United in St. Isidore, Grace United in Brookbury, the United Cultural Centre in Bury, and the Sawyerville United Church Manse in Sawyerville.


Each had its story. The St. Camille bell tower collapsed in 1933. The Sawyerville United church burnt down in 2006, and its bell was stolen in 2016 but later recovered. The back of the United centre in Bury consists of the Presbyterian chapel from Gould Station, moved to Bury in 1958. The chancel of the St. Raphael church consists of its original chapel first erected in 1872.


The tour offered Protestant visitors a chance to explore the many symbols filling the Roman Catholic churches. And Catholics were able to clear up a few mysteries behind the “secret doors” of Protestant churches. In the Trinity United Church, Rev. Tami Spires said a visitor told her, «I always wondered what those numbers on the front wall meant.» (Answer: They’re the page numbers of the hymns for each service.)


For the tour organizer, Ed Pederson, a high point of the day was a ceremony celebrating the newly refurbished stained glass windows in the Christchurch Canterbury. Bagpiper Matthew Fowler led a procession into the church. The Bury Historical & Heritage Society’s president, Praxède Lévesque-Lapointe, made a presentation honouring the master artisans Hugo Baillargeon, who restored the glass, and Steven Aulis, who framed and installed the windows.


Baillargeon, from Montreal, said the «very important» windows were created by M.T. Lyons, a prominent artisan in Toronto, who immigrated from Scotland in 1846. The windows were installed in 1922, the same year that Bury resident Irwin Watson was baptised in the church, remarked Watson himself during the ceremony.


About 40 people attended the ceremony, and 75 persons signed the Christchurch Canterbury guestbook during the day. This cultural centre was just recently moved onto a new foundation next to its previous one, which had been collapsing.


Pederson summed up the tour by quoting a young visitor: «It’s wonderful to be able to come to a cultural event in our own community!»

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Rachel Garber
 Non classé

CUTE LITTLE BAGS

I’ve noticed cute little cloth bags proliferating lately. The aim is to use them to buy foodstuffs in bulk, thereby reducing the use of single-use plastics. Oh they are so cute… and so expensive. How do we manage to turn every new environmental initiative into a money grab?


A few weeks ago, I got my very own Eco-Kit, a collaboration of the FondsEco IGA and the Jour de la Terre. For it, I paid $30 and gave 15 minutes of attention to a nice young man speaking about the importance of reducing the glut of plastics surrounding our unfortunate globe.


The kit is said to be worth $75. It contained 14 items:
Four small net fruit/vegetable bags, zippered and labeled “100% Polyster [sic] Made in China.”


Two silicone food “stashers,” one sandwich-sized, the other snack-sized, designed in California, made in China. Good for dishwasher (how good is that for the environment?); good for microwave, stovetop or oven; good for fridge or freezer. Reusable. Little problem: The opening is too small to fit a real sandwich into it.


Three Abeego reusable beeswax food wraps, one for Papa Bear, one for Mama Bear, one for Baby Bear. They breathe, like a lemon peel. They mold tightly to a bowl top or foodstuff, like a peel. You can wash them in cold water. Reusable, but no microwaving or heat. Wax melts, after all. “Lasts one year or longer!” says the box. Made in Canada.


Four stainless steel drinking straws, fashionably bent, and one straw-sized brush for washing them. Reusable, for sure. Distributed by Danesco in Montreal. No idea where they were made. Now, Danesco, a good trick would be to make a brush capable of slithering through the bend in the straws, no?


IGA, Jour de la Terre, folks: All the items in the Eco-Kit are cute, and so is the initiative. But we can do better. How about, IGA, you tell your suppliers you require them to stop using single-use plastic wrapping? How about, we customers, we tell IGA we require this, too?
Now that would be really cute.


OLD FASHIONED DAY, 11th
Old Fashioned Day at the Eaton Corner Museum is a chance to fling up your heels and celebrate the Museum’s 60th Anniversary. Yes, in 1959, the women of the Compton County Women’s Institute undertook to leave a tangible legacy for future generations. They founded the Compton County Historical Society, and turned the former Congregationalist Church in Eaton Corner into a regional museum.


The Museum is still telling the story of the past, its own and ours in the region. Old Fashioned Day will feature heritage crafts, antique machinery, “old time” music, and of course, an old fashioned tea service with delicious homemade scones and jam. It’s this Sunday, August 11, from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission (including the tea service) is $10. The proceeds help support the Museum’s historic buildings and the conservation and display of its artefacts.


Devoted volunteers work hard to carry on the vision of the pioneering Women’s Institutes, and the Museum’s board invites members of the public to help by becoming members and participating in the fundraising events.
The Eaton Corner Museum summer hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday. Info: Serena Wintle at 819-875-5210 or the Museum at 819-875-5256, or www.eatoncorner.ca.


DARK SKY, 9th & 20th
We have just two more chances for a front-row seat in the Dark Sky Reserve at the “largest show in the world,” offered by the Astrolab in collaboration with the MRC. One observation evening is planned for August 9 at 8:30 p.m. in Lingwick, in the municipal park. Another is to be on August 20 at 8 p.m., in Cookshire at the Parc des Braves. Dress warmly, bring binoculars or telescope, and only a headlamp with a red light. Cancelled in case of rain. Info: 819-560-8400 x 2118, nathalie.laberge@hsfqc.ca.

PICNIC CONCERT, 18th
A Brass Quintet is featured in the next picnic concert on Sunday, August 18, at 11:30 a.m., in the gazebo of the Parc des Braves in the heart of Cookshire. The musicians are Jean-Philippe Dutil (tuba), Gabriel Gauthier-Beaudoin (horn), Bruno Laurence-Joyal (trombone), and Robin Doyon and Stéphane Beaulac (trumpets). Bring your chairs and lunch. In case of rain, the concert will move into the Victoria Hall. Organized by the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery, 25 Principale W., Cookshire.


VALORIS, 28th
Heads up: The next Valoris consultation is planned for Wednesday, August 28, at 6:45 p.m., regarding the proposed expansion of the engineered landfill site. It will focus on economic aspects of the project, communications and community contributions. The location of the meeting is to be determined. In September will be a final public meeting and feedback. To register for the events, or for more info: 819-560-8403 x 2916, email communication-valoris@hsfqc.ca, or visit the website letvaloris.com.

ROSENGARTEN VISIT, Sept. 1st
The artist Morton Rosengarten will be at the John Henry Pope Cultural Centre, 25 Principale W. in Cookshire, on Sunday, September 1st, from 2 to 4 p.m. His special visit is in the context of his exhibit, “The Portrait, A Forgotten Art: Drawings and sculptures.” Rosengarten will be there to speak about his works and answer questions. The Art Gallery is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican. The 10:30 a.m. Sunday services are at St. Peter’s church in Cookshire on August 11, and at the St. John’s Church in Brookbury on August 18. Info: 819-887-6802.
United. Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. are at the Trinity United in Cookshire on August 11, and at the Sawyerville United on August 18. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.


Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by August 12 for publication August 21 and by August 26 for September 4.

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Rachel Garber
 Non classé

HAPPY SUMMER

Summer is at last here! And here are some things to do.
SAWYERVILLE MARKET, 6th
The weekly Sawyerville Village Market begins Saturday, July 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sawyerville Community Garden, 70 Randboro Road. Available are fresh vegetables, bread and baked goods, cheese, berries, honey, maple products, crafts, herbs, body care products, hot pizza from an outdoor oven, a massage (on a chair), games for children of all ages, and music by the Sweet Poutin group. Info: Chantal Bolduc at chantalbolduc99@bell.net or 819-889-3196.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, 8th+
A non-denominational Cookshire-Eaton Bible School is planned for the week of July 8 to 12, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Cookshire Fairgrounds, 580 Route 108. For ages 4 to 12. Cost: $5 per child. Registration in advance is appreciated, but not required. Info: Roberta Sylvester, 819-889-2608.

ORFORD IN COOKSHIRE, 10th
Students from the Orford Music Academy are offering a free concert to the Cookshire Trinity United Church, 190 Principale W., on Wednesday, July 10, at 8 p.m. Musicologist Louis Brouillette will introduce the artists and their repertoire. This is part of the annual Orford en Route tour of the Townships.

THE ARTISTIC TRAIL, 12th-14th
The Sentier artistic des Hauts-Boisés is a tour of the studios of nine artists and artisans on July 13 to 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participating studios are Artemysia Mystica by Gwendolyn Rivera and Bout du chemin by Tammy & Gilles in Cookshire-Eaton, Charlene Audrey Chouinard in Bury, Djinn (Ginette Bertrand) in Scotstown, Louise Belisle in Hampden, Wendy Main in Bishopton, Meaghan Cuggy in Weedon, Denis Palmer in Randboro, and Normand Gladu in St-Isidore-de-Clifton. A brochure/map is available at the John Henry Pope Cultural Centre, 25 Principale W., Cookshire, and various other locations. Info: 819-889-2549 or Facebook.com/Sentier-Artistique-des-Hauts-Boisés.

ROUTE DES ÉGLISES, 14th
The annual tour of churches is spreading its wings, once again this year, to take in 11 churches in the Haut-Saint-François, both in and beyond Bury. The tour is organized by the Bury Historical and Heritage Society as a way to recognize the contribution of churches as “an important part of our heritage,” quoting from their press release.
On Sunday, July 14, the participating churches will be open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities inside the churches will give visitors an opportunity to see their interiors. Some churches will ring their bells at 10 a.m., 12 noon, and 3 p.m.
The John Henry Pope Cultural Centre, 25 Principale W. in Cookshire invites visitors to a picnic and mini-concert in the adjacent Parc aux Braves at 11:30 a.m., and to their exhibit, “The Portrait, A Forgotten Art: Drawings and sculptures” by Morton Rosengarten, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A bilingual Christian ecumenical celebration will be presented at 4 p.m. at the St. Camille Church, 170 Principale E., Cookshire.
See the bilingual Route des églises ad elsewhere in this issue.

Route des Églises tour brochures with a map are available at participating churches and other locations. The tour is free of charge. Info: 819-872-3400; Facebook at buryhistoricalandheritagesociety.ca; website buryhistoricalandheritagesociety.ca.

HYMN SING, 14th
An Old Time Hymn Sing is at the Eaton Corner Museum on Sunday, July 14, at 2 p.m. Join Sharon Moore in singing old time hymns accompanied by the Museum’s harmonium, followed by light refreshments. Voluntary donation. This annual event coincides with the Route des Églises tour of area churches.
The Eaton Corner Museum summer hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday. Heads up for Old Fashioned Day on Sunday, August 11. Info: 819-875-5256, or www.eatoncorner.ca.

DARK SKY, 19th
Here’s a chance for a front-row seat at the “largest show in the world,” in the words of Sébastien Giguère of the ASTROLab at Mont-Mégantic. In collaboration with the MRC, the Astrolab is offering several observation evenings in areas of the Dark Sky Reserve that inhabits the Haut-Saint-François. The next one is planned for July 19 at the Parc des Deux Rivières, on Willard Street in East Angus. On August 9, it’s in Lingwick. Info: 819-560-8400 x 2118, nathalie.laberge@hsfqc.ca, or 819-212-7424, lise.got@amenagement.ca.

CANTERBURY MARKET, 27th
The Canterbury Farmers’ Market on Saturdays begins July 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s at the Christchurch Canterbury, 1095 Route 214. Info: Christian, 819-345-2969.

VALORIS IN AUGUST
Heads up in August for the next step in the Valoris consultation process regarding the proposed expansion of the engineered landfill site. At a date to be determined, the August consultation will focus on economic aspects of the project, communications and community contributions. In September will be a final public meeting and feedback. To register for the events, or for more info: 819-560-8403 x 2916, email communication-valoris@hsfqc.ca, or visit the website letvaloris.com.

CHURCH SERVICES
United. Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. are as follows: July 7 at the Bishopton United Church, 54 Principale. July 14, East Clifton United Church, 110 Route 253.
July 21, Island Brook (in the park opposite the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212), then proceeding to the Island Brook Protestant Cemetery to dedicate a plaque commemorating the Island Brook Methodist Church (1868-1925) and the Island Brook United Church (1925-2015).

July 28, Grace United Church, 712-800 Brookbury Road (1/2 km beyond Route 255 North); August 4, Sawyerville United, 42 Principale N. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).

Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. The 10:30 a.m. Sunday services are at St. John’s church in Brookbury on July 7; at the St. Paul’s Church in Bury on July 14; at the St. Peter’s Church in Cookshire on July 21; at the St. John’s Church in Brookbury on July 28, and the St. Paul’s Church in Bury on August 4. Info: 819-887-6802.

Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by July 15 for publication August 7, and by August 12 for August 21.

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Linda Hoy Receives Governor General’s Medal

Mayor of Cookshire-Eaton, Sylvie Lapointe, and Linda Hoy, recipient of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.

Linda Hoy had a broad smile as she received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers of the Governor General of Canada on April 26 from the hands of the Cookshire-Eaton Mayor, Sylvie Lapointe.

She was nominated for the honour by the Ascot Women’s Institute, a small branch of the international organization. She has been active at all levels of the organization since 1983, as well as in her church and the Eaton Corner Museum.
Hoy is currently the Canada-area president of the Associated Country Women of the World, which numbers 9 million women throughout 70 countries.

Her mother, Marion Annesley, was present for the event. She is president of the Ascot Women’s Institute. Wanting her mother to attend, Hoy chose to receive the medal at the Bulwer Community Centre among her fellow volunteers rather than going to Ottawa at some future date. “My mum’s 87 years old,” she said. “I’m really glad I did it this way. It really was a special day for me.”

The Women’s Institute is Hoy’s self-confessed passion. Over the years, the organization has been responsible for advocating many things we now take for granted. “The WI lobbied for that white line on the edge of the highway,” she said. Today, said Hoy, the WI’s twin areas of interest are education and agriculture, similar to the Francophone organization, AFEAS. For example, it offers hot lunches in schools, a creative writing competition, and help for students with special needs. (For more information about the Women’s Institutes’ achievements, visit http://100objects.qahn.org/content/womens-institutes-banner-compton-county-2011.)

The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recognizes passion, dedication and commitment to community, and exceptional volunteer achievements across Canada.

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Volunteers Appreciated in Bury

“What can I say? It’s a cemetery!” said Austin Bailey, when Mayor Walter Dougherty asked him to describe his work for the Grace United Cemetery.

Volunteer groups in Bury, an amazing 20 of them in a population of only about 1200, were honoured on April 25 at the Municipality of Bury’s first Volunteer Appreciation Evening. Some 60 volunteers were treated to a bountiful buffet of salads, coldcuts, desserts and wine. The Armoury Community Centre resounded with conversation and laughter.

«Usually we’re the ones that are catering to the community, and setting up and cleaning up for events,» said Tony De Melo. « And I just think it was marvellous that someone was doing it for us.» De Melo is a member of the Canterbury Committee of the Bury Historical and Heritage Society.

After dinner, Mayor Walter Dougherty presented 20 framed certificates of appreciation to the groups and each recipient described the work of their group.

«I thought it was a nice gesture, and it was a fine way for all the different community groups to get to know each other, and to know what we all do,» commented De Melo.

The groups honoured were the Bury Athletic Association, Women’s Institute, Brookbury Community Centre, Bury United Cultural Centre, Centre de loisirs de Bury, Jolly Seniors, Canadian Legion Branch 48, The Bury Image, St. Paul’s Rest Home, Bury Historical and Heritage Society, Municipal Library, Viactive, Paroisse St-François-de-Laval – Bury Sector, Bury Cemetery Association, Bown Cemetery, Grace United Cemetery, St. Paul’s Guild and Anglican Church, Bury Sunrays, and three volunteers who cleared the skating rink all winter.

1940
Rachel Garber
 Non classé

BEWARE THE 3, 6, AND 7

The Ides of March long past, now we must beware of something much more pervasive: Those little recycling triangles with a 3, a 6, or a 7 in its centre. Yes, we’re talking plastics. And the worries go far beyond recycling.

Plastics No. 3 are used in cosmetics, condiment bottles, toys, shower curtains, detergent or shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, and more. A recent New York Times article quotes Dr. Leonardo Trasande, environmental pediatrician at the N.Y.U. School of Medicine. Plastics marked with a 3, he said, risk releasing phthalates into food and drinks. Phthalates inhibit male sex hormones and disrupt metabolism.

Plastics No. 6, aka polystyrene or styrofoam. Look for them in disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out food containers, and more. They’re made of styrene, known to cause cancer. A hot beverage in the cup can speed up the release of styrene into your drink. And No. 6 is not easy to recycle.
On to Plastics No. 7. This category includes several types of plastics found in baby bottles, 3- and 5-gallon water bottles, bullet-proof materials, sunglasses, DVDs, computer cases, nylon and some food containers. Some contain bisphenol, a synthetic estrogen which in the lab has been shown to be related to obesity.
The bottom line: Dr. Trasande recommends avoiding plastics 3, 6 or 7, not to avoid polluting the environment. It’s a matter of ailing our own bodies.

EATON CORNER MUSEUM OPENS
The summer season of the Eaton Corner Museum begins June 1st, and the Museum is open weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the month of June. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., during July and August. For group visits or info, contact 819-875-5256 or info@eatoncorner.ca.

GARAGE & PLANT SALE, 1st
Annuals. Blueberry plants. CDs. Crafts. DVDs. Herbs. Medicinal plants and products. Peonies. Preserves. Perennials. Vegetable plants. Vinyl records. All these and more, at a giant garage and plant sale on Saturday, June 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Pavilion in the Park and the Chez Pierre et Céline restaurant parking lot at 1442 Route 212, Island Brook, in Newport. Sellers can participate for $5/space; shoppers also welcome! In case of persistant rain, the sale will be on Sunday instead. Info: Francine Rouleau, 819-820-4667.

CARDS IN BURY, 3rd+
Card parties at the Bury United Cultural Center, 560 Main St., Bury: Games of 500 cards are on Mondays, June 3 and 10 at 2 p.m., and Military Whist is on Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. Lunch and prizes. Info: Serena Wintle, 819-875-5210.

SAFETY WITH SeniorPower, 6th
How to assert yourself when your loved ones become overwhelming? A workshop by SeniorPower on “relationship safety” will show how to set effective boundaries with people we know. Strategies to help to set boundaries, build better relationships, and improve communication. Ways to protect yourself and stop inappropriate, intrusive or hurtful behaviours, and to deal with negative responses to boundary-setting.
This workshop in English is at the Salle Guy-Veilleux, 75 Castonguay St., Cookshire. The doors open at 2 p.m. and a snack will be served between 2 and 3 p.m., followed by the SeniorPower workshop at 3 p.m., and closing at 4 p.m. Tickets, covering cost of the snack and workshop, are $5. Get them in advance from Diane Grenier (819-560-8540), or Michelle Lepitre (819-566-5717).

CLASSICAL CONCERT, 8th
A concert of classical music is at the Trinity United Church, 180 Principale W., Cookshire, on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 p.m. The trio of musicians are Antonin Cuerrier, clarinetist; Myriam Genest-Denis, flutist; Mariane Patenaud, pianist. The profits are destined for the foundation of the CLSC and the CHSLD of the Haut-Saint-François. Admission: $20; age 12 or younger, $10. Info: 819-875-5697 or 819-821-4000 x 38506.

WITCH OF NEW MEXICO ROAD, 9th
The Witch of New Mexico Road: Irish Folklore in the Eastern Townships, is the title of a talk by Grant Myers on Sunday, June 9, from 2 to 3 p.m., at the Eaton Corner Museum’s Foss House, 374 Route 253, Eaton Corner. Grant is the president of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN), and he will be speaking about his research into the legend of Peggy Green, the witch of New Mexico Road in the Municipality of Newport. The presentation is free of charge, but RSVPs are invited at: Christina, 514-266-9682, or communications@qahn.org.

SPROUTS WORKSHOP, 9th
At the Sawyerville Community Garden, 70 Randboro Road, on Sunday, June 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. That’s when Chantal Parent, herbalist, will lead a workshop on picking and transforming sprouts. The outing will allow participants to get to know the different hardwoods and conifers and their medicinal properties. The famous fir tree, how well do you know him? Registration or info: jcsawyerville@hotmail.com or 819-889-3196.

TERRY HOWELL IN BURY, 14th
Terry Howell and Friends will bring music to the Bury United Cultural Center, 560 Main St., Bury, on Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m. The concert will feature French and English-speaking musicians with great music of the country, gospel, bluegrass and musique country kind. Proceeds will help support the installation of electric heaters in the McKenzie Chapel. Entrance: Free will donation. Info: Margaret James, 819-884-5563.

CHURCH SERVICES
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. On June 2, Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire in the theatre at the Manoir de l’Eau vive. On June 9, the service is at St. John’s Brookbury at 10:30 a.m. Info: 819-887-6802.

United. Sunday worship services are in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and in Sawyerville at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by June 3 for publication June 12 and by June 24 for July 3.

1852
Rachel Garber
 Non classé

REAL RESPITE

I was lucky to accompany a representative of the Bury Historical & Heritage Society to a Townshippers’ Foundation luncheon in Magog, where the Society received a small grant in mid-April to help support a conference this fall on the history of Townships food over the past 150 years. Congratulations to the Society!

And just why was I lucky? Because seated at our table were representatives of the Fondation Baluchon Alzheimer, which also received a grant for its “Baluchonnage” service. And now I can tell you about it. It’s an in-home respite service for a period of 4-14 days, with a trained, experienced, English-speaking Baluchonnage caregiver to replace the caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s.

Now that’s a well-deserved and sorely needed respite for a 24/7 caregiver, maybe even a two-week trip to Cuba! While your loved one is cared for at home. The service is available throughout Quebec, including here. The cost for you is only $15/day, with possible financial aid. Info: 1-855-762-2667, info@baluchonalzheimer.com, or www.baluchonalzheimer.com.

ECO-FRIENDLY JUNK
The Écocentre at 105 Maine Central in Bury is now open to receive dangerous items such as batteries, oils or acids, electronics, metals, construction materials, textiles, organic materials, tires, styrofoam marked with a number 6 inside a recycling triangle, or more. And people who bring items for disposal can, in turn, receive some good compost once a year.
Find out the Centre’s hours at 819-560-8404 or at http://mrchsf.com/environnement-eco-centre.html. There’s loads of other information there, lists of what can and cannot be disposed of, what other locations will receive paint or certain other items for disposal, and so on.
And an ad in the Journal gives the locations, dates and hours of the Écocentre mobile, which will make its way this summer to various municipalities. For example, it will be at the Bury municipal hall on May 25, and at the Newport municipal hall, 1452 Route 212, on September 7.

PHYSIOTHERAPY & PHYSIYOGA, 15th
Today, Wednesday May 15th, rush right out to a Health Link presentation by Jami Crook on the benefits of physiotherapy and physiyoga. Try out a little chair yoga. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. was to be reserved by May 13, but all are welcome to the presentation at 1 p.m., without reservation. It’s at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main St., Bury. Info: Kim Fessenden, 819-872-3771, x 2.

FREE TREES IN BURY, 16th
Bury residents can receive up to five trees for replanting by just showing up at the Pope Memorial Elementary School, 523 Stokes, Bury, on Thursday, May 16, between 1 and 6 p.m. Many kinds are available: White Pine, Spruce, Hemlock and more. Students will be handing them out on the 16th, and leftover trees will be available Saturday, May 25, between 8:30 a.m. and noon in the Bury Municipal Hall yard during the Mobile Ecocentre collection. Partnering with the school and the municipality for the tree giveaway are the Forêts, Faune et Parcs Québec, Association forestière du sud du Québec, and the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre.

FREE TREES IN SAWYERVILLE, 18th
Another tree giveaway is at the Sawyerville Community Garden, 70 Randboro Road, on Saturday, May 18, between 9 a.m. and noon. The trees, both deciduous types and conifers, are available from Nature Cantons de l’Est. Limit of three trees per person.

GIANT FLEA MARKET, 17-19th
Antiques and all kinds of things old and new. It’s a giant flea market and garage sale, all for the restoration and upkeep of the Canterbury Centre, erstwhile Christ Church Canterbury. The Victoria Day weekend sale is right there, at 1095 Route 214, Friday May 17 to Sunday May 19, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No early birds, please. Info: Tony de Melo, 819-872-3400.

ENTRETIEN D’AUCKLAND, 18th
The Atelier Auckland offers the first Entretien d’Auckland on the theme of happiness with special guest Nathalie Plaat, on Saturday, May 18. Reservations required. Info: https://atelierauckland.com/

CARD PARTY, 23rd
A Spring 500 Card Party is on Thursday, May 23, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bulwer Community Centre, 254 Jordan Hill Road, Bulwer. Cost of cards and lunch: $6. Prizes distributed after lunch.

CONCERT TERRY HOWELL, 24th
A concert with Terry Howell & Friends featuring country, gospel, bluegrass and “musique country” by his French-speaking friends is the thing. It’s planned for Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale W., Cookshire. Proceeds will help pay for the painting of the church building. Admission: $10; students: $6. Light refreshments. Info: 819-875-3796 or 819-875-3863.

VALORIS WORKSHOP, 25th
The next Valoris workshop is on the topic of infrastructures, management and treatment of leachates, and integration into the landscape. This is part of the public information series in the context of the “social acceptability process” for the proposed expansion of the technical landfill at Valoris. Leachates are the soluble constitutents from soil or landfills that result from leaching, in downward percolating ground water. When: May 25 from 8:45 a.m. to noon. Where: École du Parchemin (Salle des commissaires), 162 Saint-Jean Ave., East Angus. To register, call 819-560-8403, email communication-valoris@hsfqc.ca, or online at letvaloris.com.

GARAGE & PLANT SALE, June 1st
Coming up on Saturday, June 1: A huge sale of household items and plants is to be in the Pavilion in the Park and the Chez Pierre et Céline restaurant parking lot at 1442 Route 212, Island Brook. Participants are invited for $5/space. Info: Francine Rouleau, 819-820-4667.

CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire at St. Peter’s Church. Info: 819-887-6802.
United. Sunday worship services are in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and in Sawyerville at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by May 20 for publication May 29 and by June 3 for June 12.

1768
Rachel Garber
 Non classé

GREAT GARBAGE!

Some things are just landfill fodder. They’re neither compostable nor recyclable. Plastic straws have received a lot of attention. They’re small but ubiquitous. And plastic shopping bags, too. We’re oh so slowly learning to Just Say No.

Montreal is considering a ban on single-use plastics. The state of New York has recently announced such a ban, effective March 2020. More than 27 countries now have similar bans, according to www.businessinsider.com.

The same source is full of fun facts about plastics. Shoppers still use 500 billion plastic bags worldwide. If we’re lucky, they can languish in landfills for up to 1,000 years.

But we are filling up our oceans with plastic, too, between 8 and 14 million tons of it each year. More than 100,000 marine mammals die annually, entangled in plastic or having ingested it. Recent cases in point: A dead whale washed up on shore with nearly 50 pounds of plastic in its stomach, and another having eaten 88 pounds of plastic.

Among the giant trash-islands in our oceans, the largest is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This disgusting vortex is now about as large as Quebec. Not the city. The province.

At our current rate, the amount of plastic in the ocean could triple in the next decade.
Good bye, beaches. Good bye, swimming. Good bye, boating. (Tell me, is the convenience of single-use plastic really worth it?)
But what can we do? Entering the grocery store is to swim in a sea of plastic. So many items are sheathed and sheathed again in layers of unrecyclable plastic, including so-called fresh vegetables.
Here’s an alternative: Local farmers’ markets. See you there!

RURART & DANCE, 3rd
RURART is a seasonal event starring the arts in a rural setting. This spring, eight artists from various disciplines related to movement are showcasing their outdoor creations on the theme Ce qui nous unit, or That Which Unites Us. The artists are Marie-Pier Laforge-Bourret, Montreal; Deborah Davis, Sherbrooke; Claude-Andrée Rocheleau and Aurélien Marsan, Cookshire-Eaton; Marysole Gagnière, Eastman; Amadine Garrido, North Hatley; and the artistic director of RURART, Amélie Lemay-Choquette. It’s at La Généreuse Farm, 540 Labonté, Cookshire-Eaton, on May 3 and 4, at 5 p.m., in partnership with ICI Danse. Info: www.rurart.ca, info@rurart.ca, 819-342-9348.

BOOKS FOR KIDS, 4th+
Starting Saturday, May 4, in Newport, the Croques-Livres resumes service. Children aged 0 to 12 will be able to borrow books again for free or exchange books from home with new ones, at the Pavilion in the Park across the street from the Municipal Hall, at 1452 Route 212, Island Brook.

YOGA IN NEWPORT, 6th+
An 8-week yoga session with Vanessa Salvatore, Mondays at 3 to 4 p.m., begins on May 6 and ends June 24 at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212 in Island Brook. Info: 819-875-1767 or vanessa.salvatore@gmail.com.

CARD PARTIES, 9th+
The Spring 500 Card Parties are Thursdays, May 9 and 23, at 1:30 p.m., at the Bulwer Community Centre, 254 Jordan Hill Road, Bulwer. Cost of cards and lunch: $6. Prizes distributed after lunch.

STAMMTISCH IS BACK, 11th+
Atelier Auckland is once again hosting Stammtisch, bilingual dinner parties, starting Saturday, May 11, at 15 Principale, Saint-Isidore-de-Clifton. The May 11th theme is En mai le Stammtisch fait ce qu’il lui plaît, and the May 18th theme is Les Entretiens d’Aukland – Du Bonheur. Reservations required. For details, visit atelierauckland.com.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, 14th
Where can I access mental health services? Mental Health Estrie and the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS invite English-speaking residents in the Haut-Saint-François to an information session about the help available in Estrie and how to best access these services when needed. The information session and question period also offer a chance to meet the local organizations serving our area. When? Tuesday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. Where? The Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre, Pope Memorial Elementary School (far end of building), 523 Stokes Street, Bury. Info: 819-565-3777 or mhe.info@bellnet.ca.

CONCERT TERRY HOWELL, 24th
Heads up! A concert with Terry Howell & Friends featuring country, gospel, bluegrass and “musique country” by his French-speaking friends is planned for Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale W., Cookshire-Eaton. Proceeds will help pay for the painting of the church building. Admission: $10; students: $6. Light refreshments. Info: 819-875-3796 or 819-875-3863.

VALORIS WORKSHOP, 25th
In the context of the “social acceptability process” for the proposed expansion of the technical landfill at Valoris, the next workshop is on the topic of infrastructures, management and treatment of leachates, and integration into the landscape. Leachates are the soluble constitutents from soil or landfills, resulting from leaching, in downward percolating ground water. When: May 25 from 8:45 a.m. to noon. Where: École du Parchemin (Salle des commissaires), 162 Saint-Jean Ave., East Angus. To register: Call 819-560-8403, email communication-valoris@hsfqc.ca, or online at letvaloris.com.

GARAGE & PLANT SALE, June 1st
Heads up for a giant sale of garage and plants in the Pavilion in the Park and the Chez Pierre et Céline restaurant parking lot at 1442 Route 212, Island Brook. Participants are invited for $5/space. Info: Francine Rouleau, 819-820-4667.

VIACTIVE PAUSES
The bilingual Viactive exercise groups are winding down for the summer. The group in Cookshire ends May 15; in Bury, May 29.

CHURCH SERVICES
United. Sunday services: Cookshire 9:30 a.m.; Sawyerville 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message). While Rev. Tami Spires is away April 30 to May 6, Rev. Wayne Beamer will offer emergency pastoral care (819-578-0556).
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire (May 5 in the theatre at the Manoir de l’Eau Vive; May 12 at St. Peter’s Church).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by May 6 for publication May 15, and by May 20 for May 29.

2222
Rachel Garber
 Non classé

“FOR SHAME!” SHE CRIED

I’ve heard that the need for lawyers is a disgrace to humanity, that we cannot resolve our disputes non-adversarially.

Another disgrace to humanity is our garbage landfills, albeit engineered. How different from my childhood, when we burned our little weekly pile of trash, and composted the ashes along with our organic matter. My mother reused paper bags with a ferver fired by the Depression. Now we discard far more than we reuse, and we damn ourselves and others to living amidst our waste.

How can we blame Valoris for expanding our landfill, when it’s our garbage that fills it?
And so she is in the office of Louis Longchamps, director of communications at Valoris, with her bag full of questionable garbage. “Is it recyclable?” she asks about a plastic Powerade bottle. Longchamps points to the miniscule “recycle” triangle cleverly disguised on the bottle’s ribbed bottom. So yes, it is.

At home, she employs a magnifying glass to read the tiny number inside the triangle. It’s a 1, which Google says signifies the most frequently recycled plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE). PETE is also found in plastic bottles containing peanut butter, soda, water and salad dressing, microwavable food trays, and clamshell trays containing cookies.
(Never fear. Longchamps says the Valoris sorting system doesn’t depend on human eyesight to read the tiny numbers; seeing-eye sensors discern the different types of materials.)
PETE plastic is unsafe to reuse for drinking, because heat and soap cause it to break down, resulting in harmful chemicals leeching into the liquids you drink. So if you’re not using them as a flower-garden border or storage containers for your screws, the Gaterade bottles go into the recycling bin.

It’s better to take off the lid first, and rinse out the bottle with water, Longchamps said. “If you have, say, a can of beans, and it’s not washed out, it’s going to be rejected in the line, and it’s going to end up in the landfill.” But the clamshell cookie container’s paper label gets burned off in the recycling process, so no worries about it.
Next item: a milk carton of wax-coated paper with a plastic spout. Yes, a recycle triangle is visible, and even a website address: how2recycle.info.
“What should be done is this,” he said, tearing open the top and ripping out the plastic spout and cap. Both the plastic and the cardboard are recyclable, but separating them makes sure the container won’t be rejected.

“The biggest enemy to recycling is when you have an item that is made out of a lot of things,” said Longchamps.
That, and the sheer volume of plastics we have to deal with. “For shame!” she cried. “It’s a disgrace to humanity.”

VALORIS PRESENTATION
Curious about the information session of April 6th workshop on water quality? Check out www.letvaloris.com to view the presentation.

AIR WORKSHOP, 27th
The next workshop at Valoris is about air quality (odors, greenhouse gases or GES) and circulation (cleanliness, security) in relation to the landfill enlargement project, and is on Saturday morning, April 27. Pre-registration is required at www.letvaloris.com/contact-us, info@valoris-estrie.com, or 819-560-8403.

CARD PARTIES, 25th+
The Spring 500 Card Parties are at 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, April 25, May 9 and May 23, at the Bulwer Community Centre, 254 Jordan Hill Road, Bulwer. Cost of cards and lunch: $6.

SPAGHETTI SUPPER, 27th
The Sawyerville Elementary School Spaghetti Supper fundraiser will be April 27, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the St-Rosaire Catholic Church, 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville. Vegetarian options are available. All proceeds go toward school activities. Adults: $10. Children aged 6 to 12: $5. Aged 5 and under: Free.

FLEA MARKET, 27th
The Bury Women’s Institute’s Flea Market/Craft Sale is April 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bury Armoury Community Center. Table rental is $10: Contact Irma Chapman (819-873-3600) or Frances Goodwin (819-872-3318).

RURART & DANCE, 3rd
Heads up for a celebration of springtime and movement at Amélie Lemay-Choquette’s RURART, situated at La Généreuse farm, 540 Labonté, Cookshire-Eaton. It’s May 3 and 4, in partnership with ICI Danse. More news next issue, or contact www.rurart.ca, info@rurart.ca, 819-342-9348.

YOGA IN SAWYERVILLE
Myrna MacDonald has just begun the spring session of yoga, continuing until May 28, on Tuesdays at 10 a.m,, at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church St. INFO: 819-875-5393 or myrnamac44@gmail.com.

YOGA IN NEWPORT, 6th. An 8-week yoga session, Mondays at 3 to 4 p.m., begins on May 6 and ends June 24 at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212 in Island Brook. The teacher, Vanessa Salvatore, is trained in a number of yoga styles and offers a course that encourages students to relax, release tension, improve mobility, and regain energy and well-being. INFO: 819-875-1767 or vanessa.salvatore@gmail.com

VIACTIVE DEACTIVATES
The bilingual Viactive exercise groups are winding down for the summer. The group in Island Brook ends April 17, and in Cookshire, May 15.

CHURCH SERVICES
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church.
United. Easter week services: Maundy Thursday is April 18, at 5 p.m. in Sawyerville, with a potluck supper. Good Friday is April 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity United in Cookshire. Easter Sunday Sunrise is April 21, at 5:51 a.m. (please arrive earlier) at the Gazebo on Route 210, Eaton Corner, followed by a potluck breakfast at Sawyerville United. Lastly, Easter Sunday service with Holy Communion is April 21, at 10:30 a.m., at Trinity United in Cookshire. April 28th services: Cookshire 9:30 a.m.; Sawyerville 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).

Messy Church. On Monday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m., a story, crafts, worship and home-cooked supper are at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 550 Main St., Bury. A joint United and Anglican intergenerational event, with a free-will offering. All are welcome. Info: Rev. Tami Spires, 819-452-3685.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by April 22 for publication May 1st, and by May 6 for May 15.

1580
ACTU-Rachel
 Non classé

GRUNGE

It was a sunny day at Valoris, as I entered the office of Louis Longchamps, director of communications. I arrived with a shopping bag full of items to discard. Questionable items, ranging from pipecleaners to shopping bags. Which ones could be recycled, and which would end up in the landfill?
To his credit, Longchamps didn’t flinch once as I unloaded some pretty grungy stuff onto his table. Until I came to the pipecleaner. Then the rubber band, toothbrush, toothpaste, and little wooden brush with plastic bristles.

Not recyclable. Neither are candybar wrappers or the little plastic covers that seal peanut butter, yogurt, jam and such containers. Or those vaguely tinfoil-like Smartfood popcorn bags by FritoLay Canada. No recycle triangle visible means it’s not recyclable, Longchamps said. I can’t imagine how long they will lie in our landfill, undecayed.
Soiled paper towels or tissues belong in the compost. But the rest is, yes, recyclable, with some cautionary comments. To be continued in my next column!

VALORIS PRESENTATION
Curious about the information session of last March 16th, concerning the proposed enlargement of the engineered landfill at Valoris? The detailed presentation in PDF format is available in French (English to come) at this link: http://letvaloris.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Projet-agrandissement-16-mars-2019VF.pdf.

WATER WORKSHOP, 6th
The next workshop at Valoris is about water quality, wildlife and wetlands in relation to the landfill enlargement project, and is on Saturday morning, April 6. It’s in French, but Louis Longchamps, the Valoris director of communications, is fluently bilingual and invites questions in English. Pre-registration is required at www.letvaloris.com/contact-us, info@valoris-estrie.com, or 819-560-8403.

ART OF LUC, 9th+
Artist and author Luc Pallegoix of St-Isidore-de-Clifton is exhibiting original artworks that illustrated the delightful children’s book, Un Arbre, in a group exhibit at the Galérie d’art du Centre Culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke until April 28, as well as being exhibited in Montreal. The book was published in 2014, co-authored by Luc and Sylvain Dodier, and will soon be published in China, in the Mandarin language.
You can also se an installation of Pallegoix’s “hommes-cerfs” series at the same Centre Culturel on April 9, on the occasion of the famous Sacre du printemps (Rite of Spring) by Igor Stravinsky, performed by the ballet company Marie Choinard. Ticket information is at http://www.centrecultureludes.ca/. “I am also the author invited to write a text à chaud about the show (I came to Canada for the first time as producer of a Sacre du printemps in 2001)” wrote Pallegoix in an email. Info: https://lucpallegoix.com/.

HERBAL THERAPY, 11th
Plants and Care is the topic of a talk by Chantal Parent, herbal therapist, for the Sawyerville Community Garden on Monday, April 11, at 7 p.m., at the Sawyerville Ball Field building, on Randboro Road. It will be part of the Garden’s AGM. All are welcome. Info: 819-889-3196 or jcsawyerville@hotmail.com.

VOLUNTEERING IN SCHOOLS, 7th to 13th
Happy Volunteer Week, this April 7 to 13! The Centre d’action bénévole du Haut-Saint-François is leading an activity in the English-speaking primary schools in Bury, Cookshire and Sawyerville, about how volunteering can be fun and rewarding. “An act of volunteering can leave them feeling good about themselves….This year’s theme is What if we dared to VOLUNTEER. We would like everyone to take the time to have fun, all while volunteering and making a difference,” wrote Diane Grenier, volunteer coordinator for the CAB du HSF. Info: Diane Grenier, coordo@cabhsf.org, 819-238-8541.

ON THE FARM, 14th
Every second Sunday of the month is Yoga on the Farm at La ferme La Généreuse, 540 Labonté Road, Cookshire-Eaton. The next session is April 14. A walk precedes the yoga session; a brunch follows it. Registration required. Info and fees: www.yogalaferme.com, or Aurélien at 873-888-9870.
Also every second Sunday are Biography and Kasàlà workshops, with the next one on April 14. Info: Gésaël, 819-588-8259.

BRUNCH IN BULWER, 14th
All homemade: Pancakes with maple syrup, scrambled eggs, ham, baked beans, potatoes, desserts, juice, tea/coffee. It’s a Palm Sunday Brunch to the benefit of the Eaton Corner Museum, on April 14, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Bulwer Community Centre, 254 Jordan Hill Road. Price: $10 adults; $6 children. Info: Serena Wintle, 819-875-5210.

FLEA MARKET, 27th
The Bury Women’s Institute’s Flea Market/Craft Sale is April 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bury Armoury Community Center. To rent a table, contact Irma Chapman (819-873-3600) or Frances Goodwin (819-872-3318).

ART IN COOKSHIRE
The Ici on étire le temps (here we stretch out time) show by Townships artists Céline Gendron, Françoise Euzénat, Ida Rivard, Marie-Claire Plante, and Yong Sook Kim-Lambert is at the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery, 25 Principale East, Cookshire, until May 20. The Gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Paul’s Church in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire. On April 7, the Cookshire service is in the theatre of the Manoir de l’Eau vive, 210 Principale East, and on April 14, in the Trinity United Church hall, 190 Principale West.
United. Sunday worship services are at Trinity United in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and at Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. Heads up for Easter week services: Maundy Thursday is April 18, at 5 p.m. in Sawyerville, with a potluck supper. Good Friday is April 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity United in Cookshire. Easter Sunday Sunrise is April 21, at 5:51 a.m. (please arrive earlier) at the Gazebo on Route 210, Eaton Corner, followed by a potluck breakfast at Sawyerville United. Lastly, Easter Sunday service with Holy Communion is April 21, at 10:30 a.m., at Trinity United in Cookshire. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by April 8 for publication April 17, and by April 22 for May 1st.

1650
Rachel Garber
 Non classé

WE’RE LAB RATS

“Humanity is conducting an unintended, uncontrolled, globally pervasive experiment whose ultimate consequences could be second only to a global nuclear war.”
The year was 1988. Those words began a statement by the World Meteorological Organization entitled The Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security. Since then, the world has thrown a lot of talk and little action at the experiment, in which we are our own lab rats.

Flash forward to October 15, 2018. Few people noticed the emergency debate in the House of Commons about the urgent need to take real action on climate change. But now, five months later, it seems that a winter of extreme weather events worldwide has underlined the urgent need for action. Indications are that this is not a passing phenomenon. It is now apparent to most of us that we have already entered the maelstrom of climate change.

Last October, the occasion was yet another special report by the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It discussed the impacts of global warming of 1.5 ºC or more above pre-industrial levels: Very real impacts on health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, protection of life, and economic growth (www.ipcc.ch).

The burning question in the emergency debate was: How can we limit the climate changes to protect the lives of our children, “the grandchildren I tuck into bed at night”? said Elizabeth May in her cogent speach during the emergency debate (see YouTube).
Any good news? Here are a few examples, collected by rabble.ca:

The European Union voted to dedicate 25% of its budget for the next seven years to decarbonizing Europe, and transitioning to clean energy.
Certain women CEOs are turning their corporations green: GreenBiz lists 25 of them.

In the brouhaha about General Motors closing its Oshawa plant and others, we didn’t notice its announcement that it will be making only electric cars from now on.
Volkswagon has also announced plans to make 15 million electric vehicles in the next few years, and phase out gas-powered vehicles.
And finally, a footnote about Tesla: Elon Musk reminded everyone in January that he made all his electric vehicle patents “open source” four years ago. Any takers among us, inventive Townshippers?

VALORIS WORKSHOPS
Our very own Valoris, that brave repository of all our rubbish and recycling, is reaching out to the public on the eve of the planned expansion of its engineered landfill. (You were wondering what is happening to all our recycling now that China has refused to accept any more of it? And what was behind their refusal, anyway?)
Three workshops are planned on three different themes. Water quality/ Wildlife/ Wetlands on Saturday morning, April 6; Air quality (odors, greenhouse gases) and traffic (cleanliness, security) on Saturday morning, April 27; Integration into landscape, noise, dust on Sunday, May 26.
The dates and themes may be subject to change, said Louis Longchamps, the Valoris director of communications. Three ways to register for a workshop: Visit www.letvaloris.com/contact-us. Email info@valoris-estrie.com. Phone 819-560-8403.

TAX SEASON, NOW
Just a reminder that the income tax season is speeding by, and if your income is limited, it’s high time to avail yourself of a tax assistance program. In Sawyerville, the clinic sponsored by Loisirs Sawyerville is offered free of charge and in English. It is open on Wednesdays, March 20 and 27 from 1 to 4 p.m., and on March 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. and is at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. Questions? Call Danielle at 819-889-2614.
And in Lennoxville, the clinic is open until April 30 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 1 to 4 p.m. It’s at the Literacy in Action office, 7 Conley St., Lennoxville. Questions? Call Evelina at 819-346-7009, option 2, or email incometax.lia@gmail.com.

COLOUR CAFÉ, 27th
A Colour Café is on Wednesday, March 27, at 2 to 4 p.m., at the John-Henry-Pope Cultural Centre, 25 Principale West, Cookshire. No registration needed; just show up for fun colouring and conversation, with snacks and hot beverages. Info: Townshippers’ Association at 819-566-5717 or ml@townshippers.org.

BU SINGERS, 29th
Hurry to get tickets for the spring show of the Bishop’s University Singers featuring Gospel-inspired favourites from such popular songwriters as James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Levon Helm and Joe Cocker. It is Friday, March 29, at 8 p.m. in the Centennial Theatre.
Tickets: Adults $25; seniors $23; students $15. (Note to members of BU’s Senior Academy for Lifelong Learning or SALL: Tickets, just $20; ask for the “Senior Academy Rate.”) Purchase from the Centennial Theatre box office, 1-4 p.m. weekdays, or call 819-822-9692. (Psst: Melanie Cutting asks ticket-buyers to mention her name; she’s in a ticket-sales contest. We heard it from her!)

RURART FOR ARTISTS
Dance and visual artist Amélie Lemay-Choquette announces a unique opportunity this summer for artists or artisans, whether young or professional. It is to participate in the RURART collective residency at La ferme La Généreuse. If interested in a $325 grant, find the info in French at: http://rurart.ca/residence-production/residence/dossier-dinscription/ Deadline: April 1st. For general information about RURART, visit www.rurart.ca.

RESERVE A TABLE
The Bury Women’s Institute is having a Flea Market/Craft Sale on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Bury Armoury Community Center. To rent a table, contact Irma Chapman (819-873-3600) or Frances Goodwin (819-872-3318).

CHURCH SERVICES
United. Sunday worship services are at Trinity United in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and at the Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. March 24: Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire (Trinity United Church hall). March 31: 11 a.m. only, St. George’s Church, Lennoxville.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by March 25 for publication April 3, and by April 8 for April 17.

1977
 Arts et culture

Pilgarlic la pièce de théâtre ovationnée

Deux petites pierres tombales sont posées sur le devant de la scène plongée dans le noir. La voix rassurante d’une narratrice raconte : « Dans le silence précédant l’aube, le brouillard grandit comme l’herbe le long de la rivière, argent, doux, silencieux. » Au même moment entre un personnage vêtu d’un costume noir, barbu, par l’allée centrale, traînant un grand cercueil noir sur son dos.

Ainsi le vieux Hell Fire, un prêcheur itinérant joué par Dany Lachance, fit son entrée en scène au Centre communautaire de Sawyerville le samedi 23 février. L’occasion était deux représentations de Pilgarlic, une pièce de Janice LaDuke basée sur des extraits d’un roman, Pilgarlic the Death, par Bernard Epps.
M. Epps est mieux connu pour ses récits historiques concernant les communautés de langues anglaise ou de gaélique dans le Haut-Saint-François, comme son livre au sujet de Donald Morrison, le hors-la-loi de Mégantic. Quoiqu’il s’agisse bien d’une fiction, l’histoire de Pilgarlic se situe aussi dans notre région, dans une ville fictive appelée «Stormaway».

L’histoire est en effet orageuse, dépeignant en quelque sorte un côté sordide de la vie rurale autour des années 1961. Avec humour et caricatures bienveillantes, les villageois sont représentés dans leur travail, leurs relations interpersonnelles, vivant vigoureusement et confrontant les difficultés de la vie et inévitablement la mort. Et au travers de tout cela brille l’amour pour notre magnifique coin de pays.

Le personnage principal est l’enseignant du village, Dougal the School, interprété par Mead Baldwin, qui noie ses déboires conjugaux dans l’alcool, rumine sur la vie et la mort, et parcourt ses chers coteaux qu’il aime tant. L’ombre de la mort est toujours présente, spécialement quand elle frappe le coquin d’Old Hugh, joué par John Mackley, un personnage dont les exploits font l’objet de discussions de village.

Le public a rempli la salle pour les deux représentations, et l’a aussi remplie avec le son de l’appréciation pour la directrice et narratrice, Janice LaDuke, et sa troupe de 18 comédiens. Les autres comédiens étaient Don Atkinson, Caleb Campagna, Alex Dougherty, David Gillies, Marlene Lowry, Craig McBurney, Kaely Morrison, Kiana Morrison, Denis Palmer, Vanessa Salvatore, Tami Spires, et Scott Stevenson. Ils ont eu droit à une ovation debout lors de la dernière représentation.

Janis Graham jouait le piano électrique entre les scènes et les deux actes. Steve Coates a orchestré le son et l’éclairage, pour le plus bel effet. Linda Hoy et Elaine Lebourveau ont géré la billetterie et la publicité.

La scène du Centre communautaire est petite, mais la vision était large, pour les concepteurs du décor, Denis Palmer et Royce Rand. Ils ont bâti une rue Principale complète, avec une salle de danse, une station d’essence, une épicerie, le bar et l’hôtel, où Old Hugh venait s’assoir et se bercer. Sans oublier une église transformée en maison familiale.

La pièce se voulait une collecte de fonds au profit du Musée Eaton Corner, le cinquième événement de la sorte.
« Je pense que ça s’est très bien passé, particulièrement parce que c’était différent, parce que c’était totalement une fiction », racontait Sharon Moore, vice-présidente du Musée Eaton Corner. « J’ai beaucoup aimé de la pièce et j’ai entendu beaucoup de commentaires positifs. Je pense que Janice LaDuke a fait un travail merveilleux avec tout ça. Je pouvais entendre Bernie dans ces mots. Et je suis tellement reconnaissante envers les bénévoles qui ont donné si généreusement de leur temps et de leurs talents. »

1662
 Arts et culture

Pilgarlic the Play Receives Accolades

Two small tombstones stand in front of a dark stage. A narrator’s soothing voice says “In the pre-dawn silence, mist grew like grass along the river, silver, soft, silent.” Then a black-garbed, bearded figure stomps up the centre aisle, lugging a large black coffin on his back.

Thus old Hell Fire, an itinerant preacher played by Dany Lachance, made his dramatic entrance on stage at the Sawyerville Community Centre on Saturday, February 23. The occasion was two performances of Pilgarlic, a play by Janice LaDuke based on selections from a novel, Pilgarlic the Death, by Bernard Epps.

Epps is better known for his historical stories about the English- or Gaelic-speaking communities in the Haut-Saint-François, such as the book about Donald Morrison, The Outlaw of Megantic. Although clearly fiction, the Pilgarlic story is also based in our region, in a fictional town called «Stormaway.»

The story is indeed stormy, sketching a somewhat seamy scene of rural life around 1961. With humour and goodnatured caricature, villagers are portrayed in their work and relationships, living lustily and confronting the heartaches of life and the inevitability of death. Through it all shines a love of our magnificent neck of the woods.

The main character is the village teacher, Dougal the School, played by Mead Baldwin, who drowns his marital sorrows in alcohol, ruminates on life and death, and roams his beloved hills. The shadow of death is ever-present, especially when it arrives for the rascally Old Hugh, played by John Mackley, a character whose exploits are the topic of village talk.

The audience filled the hall for both performances, and also filled it with the sound of appreciation for the director and narrator, Janice LaDuke, and her cast of 18. Other actors were Don Atkinson, Caleb Campagna, Alex Dougherty, David Gillies, Marlene Lowry, Craig McBurney, Kaely Morrison, Kiana Morrison, Denis Palmer, Vanessa Salvatore, Tami Spires, and Scott Stevenson. They received a standing ovation for the final performance.
Janis Graham played the keyboard between scenes and the two acts. Steve Coates masterminded the sound and lighting, to great effect. Linda Hoy and Elaine Lebourveau managed the tickets and publicity.
The community hall’s stage is small, but the vision was large for the set designers, Denis Palmer and Royce Rand. They built a complete Main Street, with a ballroom, gas station, grocery store, bar and hotel, where Old Hugh sat and rocked. Not to mention a church transformed into a family’s residence.

The play was a fundraiser for the Eaton Corner Museum, the fifth such annual event.
«I thought it went very well, especially because it was something different, because it was totally fiction,» said Sharon Moore, vice-president of the Eaton Corner Museum. «I thoroughly enjoyed the play and I heard lots of very positive comments. I think Janice LaDuke did a wonderful job with it. I could hear Bernie’s in the words. And I am so grateful to the volunteers who gave so generously of their time and talents.»

2400
ACTU-Rachel
 Non classé

GRETA AND THE RULES

“I sat myself down on the ground in front of the Swedish parliament on a school strike for the climate.” After a summer of heat waves and wildfires, that was ninth-grader Greta Thunberg’s one small action last August. It has sparked a growing international student movement.

“Some people say that I should study to be a climate scientist so that I can solve the climate crisis,” she said in a recent TEDx talk. “But the climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions. All we have to do is wake up and change. Why should I be studying for a future that soon will be no more?”

“Today we use 100 million barrels of oil everyday. There are no politics to change that. There are no rules to keep that oil in the ground. So we can’t save the world by playing by the rules. The rules have to be changed.”
You can see her amazing talk on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAmmUIEsN9A. And thanks to Brian Creelman for pointing me to it.

ONE SMALL CHANGE
One small change we can make is to stop using single-use plastic packaging. Now we can participate in a 15-minute workshop on alternatives to plastic, and receive a $30-kit (market value $75). The workshops are between June 1st and July 13, in the parking lots of IGA Cookshire and IGA Couture in East Angus. The initiative is by the Jour de la Terre (Earth Day) organization and the Fonds Éco IGA. Here’s the link to register online as of March 19 (there is an English version): https://www.jourdelaterre.org/qc/tous-les-jours/programmes/distribution-d-articles-ecologiques/

BEST SINGER, March 7th
Will the Searchlight find Tim Brink? CBC Radio’s 2019 Searchlight competition for the best new musician in Canada has been underway for some time, and our very own Tim Brink was among the 100 selected in the first cut. His song: I Ain’t Leavin’. The top ten finalists were announced on Thursday, February 28. Visit www.cbcmusic.ca/searchlight/ to see if Tim made it to the top ten, and then listen to Q at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday March 7, when the winner will be announced. (Tim, you’ll always be Number 1 in our hearts!)

PERFECT WOMEN, 8th
Marking the March 6th International Women’s Day, a photo vernissage entitled Perfect the Way They Are, organized by the La Passerelle Women’s Centre, is Friday, March 8, 5-8 p.m., at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main St., Bury.
Photographer Kim Gaudreau’s blurb says “By sharing these photos of themselves, the women involved in this project wish to raise awareness of the importance of valuing body diversity.” In an email, she explained in French, “In order to appreciate and celebrate the body’s diversity, most of the photos are partially or totally nude. The women who participated came from an Anglophone background, and others, Francophone, and we are happy to have participants aged 20 to 70.”
Diverse people are welcome: English- and French-speaking, women and men, “and even children,” wrote Gaudreau. Some presentations will be in English. Tickets are $5 until March 5, or $7 at the door; free for children under 12. Info: 873-825-7060.

HEALTHY EATING, 20th
Eating Healthy on a Budget is the topic of a Health Link presentation by the Cuisines Collectives du Haut-Saint-François (community kitchens) on Wednesday, March 20, at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main St., Bury. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. ($5 donation), followed by an interactive presentation (no fee) offering tips to help keep grocery costs down while still eating healthy. “Be ready to get your hands a little dirty!” they tell us. Reservations required for lunch: Contact Kim Fessenden at the Eaton Valley CLC, 819-872-3771, ext. 2.

COLOUR CAFÉ, 27th
A Colour Café is on Wednesday, March 27, at 2 to 4 p.m., at the John-Henry-Pope Cultural Centre, 25 Principale West, Cookshire. No registration; just show up for some fun colouring and conversation, with snacks and hot beverages. Info: Townshippers’ Association at 819-566-5717 or ml@townshippers.org.

BU SINGERS, 29th
Now is the hour to get tickets for the spring show of the Bishop’s University Singers, Gospel and Other Good News. It features Gospel-inspired favourites from such popular songwriters as James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Levon Helm and Joe Cocker. It is Friday, March 29, at 8 p.m. in the Centennial Theatre. Tickets: Adults $25; seniors $23; students $15. Purchase from the Centennial Theatre box office, 1-4 p.m. weekdays, or call 819-822-9692. (Psst: Melanie Cutting wants ticket-buyers to mention her name; she’s in a ticket-sales contest. We heard it from her!)

CHURCH SERVICES
World Day of Prayer. The Sawyerville United Church Women is hosting the World Day of Prayer Service on Friday, March 8, at the Sawyerville United Mance, 46 Principale North. The service of readings, praying and singing begins at 2 p.m., followed by a light potluck lunch of cheese, crackers, fruit and sweet breads.
Justice, peace and reconciliation for women is supported not just by prayer, but also by a collection which offers grants by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada. The grants aim to “restore hope for women touched by injustice.” Info: worlddayofprayer.net or wicc.org/grant-programs/grant-stories.
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. An Ash Wednesday service will be at the St. George’s Church in Lennoxville on March 6 at 5 p.m. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Paul’s Church in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire. On both March 10 and 17, the service is in the lower level of the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale West.
United. Sunday worship services are at Trinity United in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and at the Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by March 11 for publication March 20 and by March 25 for April 3.

1765
ACTU-Rachel
 Non classé

TAX TIME

The good news about tax time is the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program organized by the Canada Revenue Agency. Trained volunteers prepare both Canada and Quebec tax returns for persons with limited income, and various community groups organize the services.
The Centre d’action bénévole du Haut-Saint-François offers this service in French in Cookshire, East Angus, La Patrie, Scotstown, and Weedon, with a suggested donation of $5 to help cover expenses. (See the details elsewhere in these pages.) But I can tell you about two other clinics that are offered free, and will also fill out your tax returns in English.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
You are eligible to use the Community Volunteer Income Tax Service if you are:
– a single person with a maximum annual revenue of $25,000.
– a couple with a maximum revenue of $30,000, plus $2,000 for each dependant.
– a single parent with a child with a maximum revenue of $30,000 plus $2,000 for each additional dependant.
Also, your income from interest does not exceed $1,000, and you have a simple tax situation (your tax return does not include income from self-employment, bankruptcy, deceased persons, etc.).

PAPERS NEEDED
Bring along any slips you’ve received from the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec in the past months, and of course your notices of assessment from last year’s returns.
You will need your T4 and Relevé slips from your employer, or any other forms you received regarding income or tuition. Also, if you are a renter, you will need the RL-31 form from your landlord. House owners will need their property tax number which is on the municipal property tax bill.
Bring receipts for any payments you made for pills, dentist visits, glasses, or other health expenses. (Tip: Your pharmacy can give you a printout listing your pharmaceutical costs for the year.) These expenses may give you a tax credit.
Persons above age 70 should inquire about a refundable tax credit for expenses incurred to continue living independantly, either for purchasing, leasing or installing eligible equipment or fixtures or for stays in a functional rehabilitation transition unit.
Now then, where do you go? Here are two income tax clinics that offer services in English, and coincidentally do not request a payment or donation from users.

SAWYERVILLE SERVICE
The Sawyerville income tax assistance program features the same team of volunteers as in the past – Danielle Paré, Francine Bolduc and Suzanne Laperle. They’re experienced, and can file your returns either on paper or electronically, as you wish.
The only difference is that the clinic is now sponsored by a very local community organization, Loisirs Sawyerville.
The schedule is Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27, from 1 to 4 p.m., and also on March 13 and 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. It’s at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. Questions? Call Danielle at 819-889-2614.

LENNOXVILLE SERVICE
Coordinated by Evelina Smith at Literacy in Action, this income tax clinic also has an experienced team and can also file your returns either on paper or electronically, as you wish.
The schedule is March 6 to April 30, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 1 to 4 p.m. The clinic is at the Literacy in Action office, 7 Conley St., Lennoxville. Note that it is not wheel-chair accessible (four steps outside; 15 inside). Questions? Call Evelina at 819-346-7009, option 2, or email incometax.lia@gmail.com.

PILGARLIC THE PLAY
Pilgarlic the new play, a fundraiser for the Eaton Corner Museum, is this Saturday at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, available at Black Cat Books, 168e Queen St., Lennoxville, or can be reserved by calling Elaine Lebourveau, 819-563-8700. Tickets are also available at the door, while they last.

ART ICI & NOW
Ici on étire le temps (here we stretch out time) is a fascinating show by Townships artists Céline Gendron, Françoise Euzénat, Ida Rivard, Marie-Claire Plante, and Yong Sook Kim-Lambert – a group rich with influences and experiences from far and wide. The show is at the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery, 25 Principale East, Cookshire, February 23 to May 20, and the vernissage is Saturday, February 23 at 4 p.m. The Gallery is open weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MUSIC GALA
A gala of the best traditional songs with a group of regional musicians on Sunday, February 24, at 1 p.m. at the Guy-Veilleux Hall, 75 Castonguay, Cookshire. Tickets $5, at Chez Laro Depanneur, by phone 819-875-5681, or http://salleguyveilleux.com.

IRISH NIGHT
Irish Night, the Eaton Corner Museum fundraiser, is on Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m. at the Bulwer Community Center, 254 Jordan Hill Road. Musical performances, singalongs, skits and more. Admission: $8.

CHURCH SERVICES
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Paul’s Church in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire. On February 24, the Cookshire service is at the Trinity United Church (lower level), 190 Principale West. On March 3, it is in the theatre in the Manoir de l’Eau Vive, 210 Principale East. Ash Wednesday service is on March 6 at 5 p.m. at the St. George’s Anglican Church, 84 Queen St., Lennoxville. Info: 819-887-6802.

United. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. in Cookshire, and 11 a.m. in Sawyerville. On Monday, February 25, a service is at St. Paul’s Rest Home, Bury, at 3 p.m. The annual board meeting of the United Eaton Valley Pastoral Charge is on Monday, February 28, at 10:15 a.m., at Trinity United Church in Cookshire. An Ash Wednesday service is planned for March 6, time to be determined, and the Sawyerville UCW plan to host a World Day of Prayer service, date to be determined. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).

Messy Church. On Monday, February 25, at 5:30 p.m., a story, crafts, worship and home-cooked supper are at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 550 Main St., Bury. A joint United and Anglican intergenerational event, with a free-will offering. All are welcome. Info: Rev. Tami Spires, 819-452-3685.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by February 25 for publication March 6, and by March 11 for March 20.

2123
ACTU-Rachel
 Non classé

PILGARLIC, THE PLAY

In just two weeks, the Eaton Corner Museum will be pulling another cat out of the hat with its new fundraiser, the play Pilgarlic, based on a novel written by Bernard Epps. Tickets are available now.

“If you have any interest at all in the Eastern Townships, in the people of the Eastern Townships, in the history of the Eastern Townships or the geography of the Eastern Townships, in literature, in plays, in comedy and in tragedy… if you have any interest at all in LIFE, then you must come and see this play,” says its playwright Janice LaDuke.

About the book, LaDuke wrote “Pilgarlic the Death celebrates this particular patch of earth that we call home. It is drama: it is comedy and it is tragedy. It is life.”
The novel is based firmly in the Haut-Saint-François, in the 1960s. Here’s how The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature described it. “From the Eastern Townships has come a small-town genre painting full of Breughellian love of life in the novel Pilgarlic the Death by Bernard Epps.” (“Breughellian” refers to Peiter Breughel, a famous 16th century Dutch artist known for his large paintings of landscape-and-peasants scenes.)

LaDuke noted that the Oxford Dictionary defines Pilgarlic as “a ‘pilled’ or bald head; a bald-headed man; from 17th century applied in a ludicrously contemptuous way: ‘poor creature.’”

She has been in the bookstore business since 1985, when the first event in the first month of opening the McRat’s Bookstore in Lennoxville was a book launch for More Tales of the Townships by Bernard Epps. This began a long and close friendship with “Bernie” until his death in 2007 following a stroke. He used to frequent LaDuke’s current bookstore, Black Cat Books.

The Pilgarlic novel was last printed in the 1980s by Quadrant Editions, and then went out of print, to LaDuke’s dismay.
And so she proposed the play to the Eaton Corner Museum, as a way of giving a voice to Epps’ novel and as the latest in the Museum’s annual theatrical performances that have put local history in the floodlights.

These plays “were so well done, so brimming with life and enthusiasm and pride in the history of this place where we live, that they filled the hall three times over, said LaDuke. “Many of those who acted in or took part in writing the plays were descendants of those whose stories they were telling. A look at the cast list in the programs for any of these productions was always confusing simply because so many of the family names appeared on both sides of the list – as actors and as characters in the plays.”

The play is based on parts of the novel. “The dialogue in this play is Bernie’s dialogue. The humour is Bernie’s. The reverence and the irreverence are Bernie’s. And these people who are working with me on the play are giving all of this a VOICE!” said LaDuke.

Playwright LaDuke also directs and narrates the play, which is peopled by some 16 local actors, including Denis Palmer who, with Royce Rand, also created the set.
Pilgarlic will be at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street, on Saturday, February 23, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each, available at Black Cat Books, 168e Queen St., Lennoxville. Or to reserve yours, call Elaine Lebourveau, 819-563-8700.

VALORIS EXPANSION
Where is our garbage going? Valoris invites citizens to an information and exchange session on its landfill expansion project. The session is Wednesday, February 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main St., Bury.

SEED FESTIVAL
The Sawyerville Community Garden’s Seed Festival is on Saturday, February 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. See the article about it in this issue. Entrance and lunch: $20 for ages 15+; $15 for ages 8 to 15; and no charge for ages 8 or less. Family fee for more than three persons. Info: Chantal Bolduc at chantalbolduc99@bell.net or 819-889-3196.

VALENTINE’S BRUNCH
A St. Valentine’s Brunch is on Sunday, February 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street, Bury. Good food (pancakes, sausages, quiches and more) and good company. It is the annual fundraiser for the Bury’s Image. Tickets available now, or at the door: Adults, $12. Children 6 to 12 years, $6. Children 0 to 5 years, free. Families (2 adults, 2 children), $30. Info: Kathie McClintock, 819-872-3685.

YOGA
A new session of Yoga is Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street, Sawyerville. Info: Myrna MacDonald, 819-875-5393.

TAI CHI
Taoist Tai Chi classes are in Scotstown Mondays 1:30 p.m. and in Sawyerville Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., with bilingual Pierre Robitaille. Info: 819-875-1384.

VIACTIVE
Bilingual exercise groups for people aged 50-plus are on Wednesdays and are free of charge. In Bury at 10 a.m. at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street. Info: 819-238-8541. In Cookshire at 10 a.m. at the Manoir de l’Eau vive, 210 Principale East. Info: 819-875-5210. In Newport at 1:30 p.m. at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, Island Brook. Info: 819-889-1340 or 819-560-8565. And in Sawyerville at 10 a.m. at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. Info: 819-889-2630.

CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Paul’s Church in Bury, and at 11:15 a.m. in Cookshire. On both February 10 and 17, the service is in the lower level of the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale West.
United. Sunday worship services are at Trinity United in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and at the Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.

Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by February 11 for publication February 20, and by February 25 for March 6.

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©2026 Journal Le Haut-Saint-François