The record, 14 février 1986, vendredi 14 février 1986

0- Weekend Births, deaths .7 Business.10-11 Classified .12-13 Comics .14 Editorial .4 Environment.5 Living .6 Sports .8-9 In Townships Week this week: the Montreal Symphony Orchestra will give a concert in Sherbrooke to help restore the St-Michel's cathedral organ.Dick Lo-ney raves about a new Robertson Davies novel and some local musicians prepare for a chamber concert at Centennial Theatre.Inside You can read about how the pollution control business is growing in the Eastern Townships area.See page 5 .and about the launching of the annual Share Lent fundraising campign.See Philip Authier’s story on page 3.Nielsen announces de-regulation plan By Dan Leger OTTAWA (CP) — The federal government thinks Canadians are being buried under a mountain of expensive regulations and, after a year of review, announced Thursday that Ottawa now will “regulate smarter.’’ Deputy prime minister Eric Nielsen told the Commons his cost-cutting task force had determined that regulations cost the economy $30 billion a year and the Conservative government thinks more control should be in the hands of elected officials.However, officials admitted the $30-billion figure is "not a scientific estimate,’’ but rather a calculation drawn on educated guesses of the cost of regulation.Nielsen says it takes 35,000 bu- Cheaper gas within weeks — Carney OTTAWA (CP) — Motorists will start to see a drop in gasoline prices at the pumps in two to three weeks, Energy Minister Pat Carney told the Commons Thursday The projected price drop, which began worldwide two months ago, comes a month earlier than the Conservative government has long been promising and coincides with its budget to be presented by Finance Minister Michael Wilson Feb.26.Carney was again under fire from opposition MPs who said she should use her ministerial powers to force oil companies to immediately pass along price decreases to consumers.As she has reiterated for weeks, Carney told Liberal energy critic Russ MacLellan that ‘‘consumers will get all the benefit of those lower prices.as soon as those price decreases move through the system.” But instead of repeating that those decreases will show' up at the pumps at the end of March, Carney said: “He knows there are already signs of price declines in his own region.I want him to be able to come back to the House and report what those declines are in two or three weeks when they start showing up.” reaucrats to run Ottawa’s 146 regulatory programs, which take up 10,000 pages in 19 volumes weighing 40 kilograms.And new regulations, on everything from tuna fish to toy safety, are being churned out at a rate of 100 a month.And to keep the wheels of review rolling, Government House Leader Ray Hnatyshyn has been appointed minister responsible for regu latory reform.A new secretariat will be established to operate the review, replacing two bodies that did the same thing at Treasury Board.Nielsen and the Conservatives think regulation kills initiative, especially in business.So.10 “guiding principles” have been established that will “recognize the role of entrepreneurial spirit” among Canadians.The rate of growth in new regulations will be quelled and the public will have more to say about how new rules are formulated.Nielsen said the government w'ill ensure that the benefits of regulation outweigh the costs.PUBLIC KNOWS BEST “Canadians know best how to run their own lives .they want government to support them, not direct them,” he said.But the promise of more review left opposition spokesmen cold.Liberal MP Jacques Guilbault described Nielsen’s announcement as “a rain of words in a desert of ideas,” and said the minister had been vague about the specifics of when and how all this regulatory reform would be accomplished.And he said there are dangers in deregulation, if it is not carried out carefully.The government, he said, should make sure that “streamlined regulations will not allow tainted tuna back on the shelves.” * « * * Ik « * SNOVh USA VLKNIGHT LLNNOXVILLE ELEMENTARY * Weather, page 2 Sherbrooke Friday, February 14, 1986 50 cents 1986 to be year of decision for language reform OTTAWA (EB) — The personal right to be served in either French or English was one of several proposals commissioner of official languages D'Iberville Fortier made this week to the standing joint committee of Parliament whose mandate includes updating the Official Languages Act.The change would complement the existing institutional cbligation to provide bilingual services.“Nineteen eighty six will be a year of decisions for language reform, at least on the federal level,” Fortier said."These decisions will need to address all the major dimensions of the reform, if for no other reason because, from the citizen's point of view’, they are indissociable," Fortier added.The proposals are drawn to a large extent from recommendations made by a special parliamentary joint committee.The addition of a preamble to the act and recommendations concerning the scope of the legislation as it relates to service to the public and the mandate of the commissioner are among the suggested changes.CLARIFY OBJECTIVES The proposals Fortier brought forward would clarify the objectives of the official languages act and bring it into line with the char-terof rights and freedoms, he said Fortier's goals also include making the scope and application of the act more precise and reinforcing the mandate and powers of the commissioner.Fortier advocated the inclusion of a preamble to the act consisting of four main elements to achieve his objectives.The first would specify that two objectives of Canada's official languages legislation are the equal treatment of English and French in the federal administration, and promoting language equality in other sectors.The preamble would include a statement that the federal government recognizes the need for ongoing co-operation between the fe- See CHANGES, page 3 l6?3É^ ¦* MmÆ •r '."A* RI> PHILIP AtITHIKR l\I V » l|\l > I I 111 II PXX IIUI Share Lent campaign Thursday.Donations will be used to sponsor community projects in underdeveloped countries.Bishops launch Lenten aid campaign By Philip Authier SHERBROOKE — With a plan to top the $68,000 they raised last year, local Development and Peace organizers have kicked off their annual Share Lent campaign.At a press conference held Thursday, organizers called on E.T.residents to once again sup port the project, which is sponsored by Roman Catholic bishops right across Canada through the Development and Peace program.Development and Peace was established 20 years ago to promote development in the Third World.And there were even a few bishops at the meeting to start the fundraising drive.Archbishop Jean-Marie Fortier of the Sherbrooke diocese and Archbishop Vincenté Zico, of Bélem in Brazil, co-chaired the proceedings, along with Asbestos Catholic priest Fr.Edmond Pouliot, who acts as secretary-treasurer of the local D and P organization.BIGGER CAMPAIGN For the second year in a row, organizers are expanding the campaign beyond local churches in a bid to reach more donors.This year, for example, the bright yellow contribution cans are available in all local caisse populaires.On the fifth Sunday of Lent, which started Wednesday (Ash Wednesday), Catholics in the 130 diocese parishes will be asked to contribute to the campaign in special collections.The policy of stepping beyond church borders has paid off.By publicizing the annual event in the local media, organizers have gratefully watched total contributions climb.Last year they were up by 50 per cent from the previous year and the Eastern Townships region was cited as the region with the single biggest percentage increase in donations.PART OF LENT Archbishop Fortier said that Share Lent is especially significant for Catholics who — while encouraged by their faith to give up something for the Lenten season — are urged to turn over some of the savings to worthy causes.The Share Lent campaign is one of those causes.In contrast to some aid programs though, program results materialize in grassroots, community-oriented projects in all Third World countries.In that way spending priorities are set by those who know community needs best.Archbishop Zico said.The priority in the Share Lent campaign is on development, over emergency food aid.Archbishop Fortier compared it to the old proverb of giving a man the tools he needs to create his own food, rather than just the food.MATCHING GRANTS Development and Peace raised $5 million in Canada last year.But because the group is considered a non government organization, it is eligible for matching grants from the Canada International Develpment Agency (CI-DA), which explains the $10 million figure.While the public may have the impression that Third World countries are the only ones benefiting from the donations, Canada also stands to gain, Archbishop Fortier said.He said Canadian religious personnel involved in the Third World projects come back to their parishes with a visible zeal to improve things, due to the work they have done in struggling nations.The campaign runs until March 30 and organizers are hoping to maintain or better the records they set last year.Poison doctor to testify at inquest COWANSVILLE (JM) — Michel Durand, coroner for the judicial district of St.Francis, has been instructed to hold a public hearing into the death of 31-year-old Germain Morin, who apparently committed suicide at the Cowansville penitentiary Oct.10 1985.Morin was found hanging from a sheet in his cell two days after he had allegedly been advised to commit suicide by prison physician Dr.Noël Etienne Monast.Three inmates claim to have overheard the alleged conversation and made the findings known to the weekly publication Alio Police François Ghali the press attaché for provincial Justice Minister Herbert Marx confirmed that the inquest is to be held March 24, 25, and 26.Monast, a medical coroner, submitted his resignation to the provincial ministry of justice on Feb.6, the day the Alio Police article went to press.The warden of the Cowansville penitentiary, Jean Paul Lupien would only say that Monast was not active at the penitentiary as he was on sick leave.Monast had pneumonia, he said.OTTAWA CONFIRMS Spokesman Dennis Finley of the Solicitor General’s office in Ottawa confirmed Thursday that Monast had applied for and had been granted an indefinite sick leave.Said Finley, “I believe that this is the beginning of the third week.” Monast’s functions have been assumed by Jean-Marc Daigle.Warden Lupien — on loan from the Solicitor General’s office — will be leaving Cowansville March 1 to supervise the operation of a new 100-inmate prison in Grand Cayman Island, British West Indies.Morin, of the Quebec City area, was sentenced to four years on March 29,1985, following a conviction of involuntary homocide.He had attempted to escape from the medium security facility in Cowansville and is reported to have requested medical help Local prison authorities refused to comment on whether or not he had been visited by the prison psychologist before he took his own life.The allegations made by his fellow inmates indicate Monast’s suggestion that he kill himself took but two days to trigger the act.Sutton drug suspect to be charged SWEETSBURG WARD (JM) -Quebec Police Force spokesman Denis Haché confirmed Thursday that Kenneth Fisher, 39, of Montreal, had been picked up in connection with a Jan.30 raid by members of the QPF drug and morality squad in Sutton Township.Haché described the “farmer” as a member of the “West-End Gang”, however refused to comment on whether or not he was the leader.Fisher appeared before a justice f of the peace here Thursday morning when he pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to traffic-drugs, to having trafficked in 134 kilos of suspected illegal drugs, possession with intent to traffic in 80 kilos of hashish, another charge of possession with intent to traffic in 10 kilos of hashish, and another of possession with intent to traffic in 2.6 kilos of hashish.The alleged crimes occurred in Montreal and Sutton Township between Dec.30, 1985 and Jan.30, 1986.Twelve people have been arrested as part of the ring to date and Fisher will be the fourth to be formally charged when he appears in Sessions Court this morning (Friday).He was automatically remanded in custody pending a bail hearing by the justice of the peace.Alleged drug traffickers must prove why it is not contrary to the public interest they be released pending completion of all legal proceedings.Changes to Language Act would define equality D'Iberville Fortier.Wants official language law srengthened Continued from page 1 deral and provincial governments and other bodies to respect Canada’s fundamental linguistic duality.IN CONSTITUTION The right to demand federal services in both official languages is already enshrined in the Canadian constitution.Federal employees have the right to choose their language of work, and both anglo- and francophones have the right to participate fully in the public service.The preamble would define the concept of equality of status of English and French.Finally, the commission proposes that the act decree the rights are enforceable before the courts in the same way as under the charter of rights.Principal amendments to the act itself as proposed by Fortier include: • Primacy of the act over the provisions of other federal statutes, unless a provision to the contrary is passed by Parliament; • A personal right to be served in either language that would complement the existing institutional obligation to provide the service; • Formal recognition of the right of federal employees to carry out their duties in either English or French: • Clarification of the institutions covered by the act.Businesses of which the federal government owns a large number of shares should be subject to the principals of the official languages act.And newly-privatized crown corporations should be obliged to continue serving Canadians in both official languages; • Extending the present provisions of the act concerning services provided by third parties.The federal government should ensure that services subcontracted out to other groups be available in English and French: • An amendment concerning the powers ol icuerally regulatory bodies.Communications involving health and safety standards, broadcasting and airport security and others regulated by federal bodies, should be provided to both the French and English-speaking populace; • That the mandate and powers of the commissioner be made more explicit and be extended to cover public hearings, language audits, power to ask for remedial measures, investigation of linguistic provisions of other federal acts, and administrative autonomy of the commissioner’s office similar to that afforded the auditor general.4 4—The RECORD—Friday.February 14.19H6 #¦__ UBcmti The V oice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Editorial Regular people Do you ever get the feeling you're caught on a treadmill?That no matter how fast you run or how slow you walk, you stay in the same place?That no matter howr much you try to change things, they stay the same?Do you ever get the feeling that you can’t w in for losing?That no matter what you do you'll wind up in a bad situation?That maybe you should be named Yossarian?If you do.don’t feel alone.There are going to be hundreds, no, make that thousands, of people in Ottawa today who feel the same way.Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Eric Neil-sen said Canadians and their economy are being strangled by regulations and he’s going to regulate that.Neilsen said a regular study imposed by the government shortly after it took power in 1984 has come up with the highly irregular figure of $30 billion as the annual cost of regulations to Canadians.There’s one irregularity in the estimates, though.Neilsen says they aren’t scientific, but rather an educated guess of the cost of regulations.Examples indicate it takes 35,000 bureaucrats to look after the federal government’s 146 regulatory programs.The programs, in turn, take up 10,000 pages in 19 volumes and weigh 40 kilograms, a measure of weight regulated-in by the Liberal government to replace the old regular pound.To correct the problem of overregulation, Neilsen has appointed Government House leader Ray Hnatyshyn as minister responsible for regulatory reform.The goal Neilsen has established is to allow Canadians more say in the formulation of rules and regulations that are set out for them.“Canadians know best how to run their lives.they want government to support them, not direct them,” Neilsen said.So he has come up with 10 guiding priciples, or regulations, if you will, to ensure that the entrepreneurial spirit of Canadians is recognized, because he feels regulations kill initiatives, esecially in business.A dandy idea, indeed, but one must wonder if the new' regulation Neilsen has established for the regulations couldn’t be deregulated just a little bit itself.Instead of creating another regulatory body of government officials to rid Canadians of their constricting regulations, w'hy not set up a board of extraordinarily regular people, the ones who are most affected by government regulations, and let them decide wdiich is the best way to cut overregulating.They would decide in a regulated amount of time that we’re better off as we are.Just regular.BOBBY FISHER Bruce Levett lit How to be swingers Americans are old stay-at-homes and something must be done to change that.• Canadians began to realize just how bad the tourism business was becoming — Americans are spending a miserable $3.1 billion a year north of the border— when tourists in a recent poll ranked Toronto ninth among North America’s top cities.Ninth! Toronto! Just ahead of Dallas and (shudder) Minneapolis, for heaven’s sake! “Canada’s basic problem in regards to its U.S.neighbors is one of ignorance and benign neglect,” the $1.2-million government report states.They can’t do this to us! Don’t they realize that Canada is the land of Mounties and mountains?What’s that?Mounties and mountains is just the image we’re trying to discourage?Well, if that’s the case, just what is it we’re marketing?Tourism Minister Jack Murta says Canada is going to be sold as a sophisticated, swinging foreign country with a hot night life and an air of elegance.Oh! The government must “emphasize Canada’s foreign mystique in national advertising and communications and portray Canada.as an exciting foreign place,” the report insists.Us?Come to think of it, it might be fun being sophisticated, swinging, and foreign for awhile.It might take a bit of getting used to, though.I mean to say, you can’t become sophisticated, swinging and foreign overnight, can you?We’ll have to take lessons.We’ll have to change our way of talking and if that ain’t enough, we ll have to change the way we strut our stuff Our fashions will have to undergo radical change in order to emphasize the fact that, by George, when you journey north you'll know immediately that you’re not in Dallas or (shudder) Minneapolis.Sophisticate?Well, let’s look it up “Involve in sophistry, mislead.Deprive of natural simplicity; to make artificial by worldly experience.Worldly wise.Cultured.Tamper with for purposes of argument.Adulterate as in wine.Highly developed or complicated.” In future, then, it will be said of us that we are a misleading people deprived of theirnatural simplicity; a people made artificial by worldly experience, who tamper with stuff for purposes of argument.We shall be known as those who adulterate their wines and whose mommies sure dress them funny.Oh.Rose Marie we loved you.Problem is.you weren't real either Make sure you’re prepared for power failures Recently we've gone through a number of evenings when a combination of rain, wet snow and an immediate temperature plunge have played havoc with our hydroelectric powerlines.We are used to having the lights flicker once or twice and then finding ourselves in the total blackness that results from a tree crashing through the lines.Usually this tree is located somewhere near the Arctic circle or in some other location totally inaccessible to humans, as it seems to take longer and longer for the men in the grey trucks to find the problem and fix it.In many cases it has been the sheer number of these errant trees that has kept the power off.Many people have asked; "What do we do when the power goes off?” As yet there has been no comprehensive work in print to help these people.Humbly, I leap into the breach.When the lights flickerthe first time most people freeze and hold their breath until the lights return.The second flicker however, is the one that brings cries of "Oh-oh, here we go!” and other descriptive phrases unprintable in a family newspaper.Normally, however, it is the third flicker that you have to worry about as usually it is the last.After sitting still in the black house for half-an-hour or so, waiting for the lights to return, it is time for some action.In our house this waiting period is ended by someone shouting (usually me): “Alright, where’s the gawddam flashlight?” or "Who took the flashlight batteries for their radio?" These shouts are the signal for a Where the pavement ends ?JIM LAWRENCE major exodus when everyone runs from the room, tripping over chairs and stamping on the cat, to try and find the flashlight, a candle or a book of matches.In most cases the flashlight is found on my desk or some other unusual place, which proves I was the last one to use it.The other odd circumstance directly traced to the lack of power is the immediate need for everyone in the family to use the toilet, which because of the dearth of power will never flush more than once.Another odd phenomenom caused by the lack of hydro is the discovery that there is no kerosene for the lantern, a discovery which can never be made unless it is 8:30 and the power has just gone off.In houses which do not have auxiliary wood heat, the rest of the evening is spent sitting around one tiny, flickering candle, watching your breath and listening to the pipes bursting in the cellar.Short power failures (those lasting not over six or eight hours) can be spent securely wrapped in your beds.In fact I’ve known many single men to throw the main breaker in order to force this situation on unwary lady friends, using the phrase: "Well Judy, we can’t freeze to death now.There’s only one thing to do.Heh.Heh ! ” Twisting the ends of one’s mustache is optional.Unfortunately, falling asleep during this period of false blackout can result in burst pipes and having to explain to the plumber why you threw the main breaker and then forgot about it.Such are the w'ages of skullduggery.Longer power failures (those lasting for days, perhaps) are more of a problem.The warmth created by two or more bodies covered in a pile of blankets is simply not enough to combat the creeping cold that is prompted by one of these major power failures.When I was a child I solved this problem once by simply lighting a huge fire in the livingroom, which annoyed my father greatly, as we had no fireplace.A bicycle-powered generator located in the basement is a good way to combat these blackouts and prepare yourself for a hernia.No friends, unless you have some form of auxiliary heat which does not require electric power, you are, as the Bard quoth “Up the creek without a paddle.” Your only alternative is to quickly check into your local motel and try to forget the sounds of destruction you have left behind.It is far better to prepare yourself in advance for this unhappy situation.Now is the time for action (unless you’re reading this by candle light).Quickly go down to your local hardware store and purchase a flas- $ p m i mm, fy WSÊÈÊÈÊÊÊËÈÈm.w ¦ t ! blight.Better still purchase two flashlights in case the first one is inoperable when the power fails.Better still buy three flashlights.Add to your purchases twm kerosene lanterns and two gallons of kerosene in separate half gallon containers (which you can place all over the house, so that when you can’t find the first two containers, surely you can find one of the two remaining ones).Then go to the wood stove department and buy a wood-burning stove and small furnace and all the needed pipes and accessories to install them in your home.Quickly throw out all your electric appli-cances and purchase a propane stove, refrigerator, micro-wave and television set.A propane power stereophonic sound system is optional and could really be considered a luxury pur chase at this time.Now that you have all these nonelectric essentials a small pick-up truck will enable you to get them to your home.Two or three days of hard labour by yourself or hired flunkies will easilly install them and prepare you for the next power failure, which will not come (even now that you are fully prepared.The same theory guarantees it will not rain if you carry an umbrella, but will pour the second you emerge wearing a sun-hat.This is the fourth law of reality and it applies equally to power failures.Note: For those of you who were waiting for an instruction manual for the violin this is not it.However if read completely backwards does contain as much information as I was able to impart, in any case.On this day in history.Feb.14, 198fi By The Canadian Press British explorer Captain James Cook was killed 207 years ago today — in 1779 — by natives of the Sandwich Islands, now Hawaii.Famous for his explorations in the Pacific Ocean, Cook first sailed there on a scientific expedition in 1769 after attracting attention for astronomical observations made in Canada.Present at Wolfe’s capture of Quebec, Cook had been put in charge of charting the St.Lawrence and Newfoundland coasts.Also on this date in: 1918 — A fire at the Grey Nuns Orphanage in Montreal took the lives of 64 children.1929—The St.Valentine’s Day Massacre occurred when the A1 Capone gang machine-gunned seven members of the rival O’Banion mob in a Chicago garage.1939 — The German battleship Bismarck was launched.1958 — Iraq and Jordan formed a federation called the Arab Union to counter the merger of Egypt and Syria as the United Arab Republic.1975 — P.G.Wodehouse, prolific writer of light fiction, died in New York at age 93.Letters Doctors: We need you and thank you Editor: The letter to the editor of Feb.5 concerning the Waterloo Medical clinic welcomes comments by asking if others “are also disturbed and distressed”.We are very disturbed, not with the services of the clinic, but the public criticism, which, ‘thanks’ to freedom of the press, gives us the same rights to express our opposite point of view.The support and medical attention given to our family by the competent team of doctors far outweighs the opinions of one "family doctor”.As patients we do feel that one doctor studies and knows us better than another.This explains the importance of regular conferences by the doctors, in case one doctor is away and another doctor must act.At the clinic in Waterloo, nine times out of 10 a doctor is absent because he or she is making house calls, or is still busy at the hospital.Speaking of hospitals, did many readers of the recent letter realize that the case files are difficult to keep up-dated when reports are sometimes months or even never sent back to the local doctor, from the hospital?The patient must take some responsibility to help our overworked professionals, by relaying facts to them, such as visits to hospitals or other specialists.It’s ironic that on the same day of the letter criticizing the Waterloo clinic, we were visiting a family member who recently underwent major surgery.(We receive our Record a day later in the country, so hadn’t read the article yet.) In conversation, we remarked how effectively two doctors from the clinic, one recommending blood tests, the other ordering an x-ray, had immediately suspected a serious problem.To perform the x-ray and examination, the patient’s choice of hopsital was respected by the Waterloo clinic doctor, although he doesn’t practice at the Centre Hospitalier de Granby.During the ap- pointment of one-half hour, the diagnosis was confirmed, the surgeon had contacted the Waterloo Medical Clinic, and the patient was given a message to report to the clinic for consultation that same day.Upon arriving back in Waterloo, the family was well received by the clinic doctor, who, through his words of encouragement, detailed explanation of the medical problem, and most of all.the time he spent with us as a caring, concerned human being eased our feelings of worry and shock.The very next day the patient was admitted to the Centre Hospitalier de Granby, where very successful surgery was performed.Being very concerned while the patient was still hospitalized, we called the clinic late one afternoon for an up-date from the hospital.Upon assuring the receptionist that this call was only for information, and she could have the doctor phone us back at his convenience, we expected a reply the following day.But no, at 10 p.m.the same day, an exhausted doctor took time, not only to relieve our minds, but also to apologize for being so late in returning the call, and hoped he hadn’t disturbed us too late at night.Can you imagine?We could take all of The Record's editorial space, relating other experiences we have had with the clinic in Waterloo, and praising the quality of service, and dedication of the doctors, receptionists, and general administration.However, we will leave room for other positive views, hoping that the doctors at the Waterloo Medical Clinic will not “burn themselves out” or feel unappreciated.DOCTORS: We need you and THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.Most sincerely, DOUGLAS and SHIRLEY BEAKES, West Bolton A solution to the problem Editor: Recently I have been placing letters to the editor of The Record.These are for the benefit of the Sherbrooke and area English-speaking community.Some schemes are grandiose, others are not.One plan which I would like to see come to fruition is a fifth-floor addition to the Sherbrooke Hospital, mainly for maternity.If funds cannot be made available then this is grandiose.English-speaking Townshippers have seen the demise of too much of their culture.Entrepreneurs or business people have become French-Canadian at the exclusion of English-speaking people.We have a race to race.Look at what the City of Sherbrooke used to be with the last hold out being Montreal Street.Bryant’s soft drinks (Bull’s Head ginger ale) is defunct.Construction companies such as Newton’s’and Williams are now defunct.It seems that the power in the Sher-brooke-Lennoxville area of the Townships is Freneh-“Canadien” and little chance is given to anyone En- glish-speaking and if it is given it is subservient power.Out-migration has weakened English-speaking Sherbrooke and Len-noxville.French Canadians may be the white negroes of North America but they have enslaved their English-speaking minority.Everyone has a cause, some grandiose, most weak, stupid and futile.English-speaking people would return to this area of Canada if the odds were right, that is if they were going to be given a fair shake, a chance.Every city in North America has a focal point somewhere.Why not let the English-speaking residents of the Sherbrooke-Lennoxville area have one.We need work.A fifth-floor addi tion to the Sherbrooke Hospital with a request that it be primarily a maternity ward is one step in the direction to a “real good” solution.We the English-speaking Sher-Lenners do not need to send out SOS signals.We have the tools we need.Quebecers in Ontario are not really accepted as they should be.The expulsion of English-speaking people from here has been nothing more than racism at its fullest.I am sure we have all stood enough.Thank you.Sincerely, JIM CRAWFORD.Ascot Township Some mail service Editor: As they say in some parts of Eastern Canada — “some mail service we have”.Today (Feb.3) 1 received two letters: one from Pickering, Ont.the other from Thornhill.Ont.The first dated Jan.23 and the other dated and stamped Toronto, Jan.24.The handicapped boys who walked across Canada in aid of cancer research and against terrific odds would have made delivery in less time than our bus, rail or air.1.11.Y.CRUICKSHANK East Angus 1 4 The RECORD—Friday.February 14.I!IM> Environment —____fo-i necora Trees, like martinis, are best when shaken I have just come across a book that I wish I could have had when I was 12 years old.But now7 that I’m almost 401 had to sneak a peek at it when a 12-year old wasn't looking.The book is called Private.Parents Keep Out! and my son Luke has been carrying a copy around wherever he goes and looking at it every chance he gets.It was written and i'lustrated by Austin Stevens and is published by Yankee Books, Dublin.New Hampshire.$9.95 U.S.Private.Parents Keep Out! is a triple-barreled hit with the kids and scores w ith any parent lucky-enough — and sneaky enough — to get hold of a copy.First, the book is an adventure story in the classic style.A small group of boys and girls are pitted against the forces of evil in an epic struggle.I w-on’t give away any of the details in case you want to read it for yourselves, but the story is a true saga — a long string of episodes stretched over a period of time.Second, it is a freely written memoir of the author's own youth, interspersed with bits of pertinent poetry and prose, mostly by late-19th and early-20th century writers from the American mainstream.Third, and to me this is the best part.Private.Parents Keep Out! is a bookful of how-to lessons on timeless, low-tech, relatively old-fashioned country fun for the young in mind and body.I only have vague memories of either, but I have a feeling most kids still enjoy the simpler joys of life.I know Luke does.The book takes its reader through the country ways.From the contents list: A crow’s nest, a tree fort, invisible ink, making maple syrup from sap stilts, two great slingshots, mapmaking.many more.• • • My favorite how-to is Swinging Birches, shown here.Aside from the memory it brought me of the days when I was young enough, fit enough and daring enough to climb trees, I recognized the bending birches in the drawings as very similar to the ones which draped the Brome County countryside after the big ice storm last month.Over they go, under a light load of either ice or children.When the load is removed — when the ice melts, or the children fall off — the trees regains their shape, none the worse for wear.Indeed, bending trees makes them thicker and stronger.One of the most amazing aspects of the forest is the trees, uh, if you know w hat 1 mean.Birch is a dense hardwood used in furniture and other objects where strength is important.It’s incredible but true that this strong material can be so easily flexible.Of course, wood used in furniture is kiln-dried to a moisture content of only 12 to 16 per cent, whereas standing trees can contain up to 40 or 50 per cent water, by weight When the wood is wet it’ll bend, when it’s dry it won't.But still, the things trees can do are amazing.THOUGHT THEY WERE NUTS As I said, bending trees makes them stronger.This surprising fact was brought to light in a 1950s study at New York State's Cornell University.A group of Cornell w oo-dlot-management researchers (their bosses must have thought they were nuts i spent a whole year walking through a tree plantation, shaking dow n the plants.The trees were in their twenties, and if I remember.it w as a maple grove.But the principle is the same for all species.The Cornell crew shook only every second tree every second day.They left the others standing still.They let them grow a while longer and then cut some down to check.The shaken trees proved to have thicker grow th rings for the years they got the shakedown.They proved as well to have stronger resistance to physical stress and tension.The shaken trees grew thicker and stronger.The still ones were thinner and weaker.The Cornell crew reported its research, and pointed out that what they proved is visible in every woods.Take a look at a stand of trees all the same age.to make the comparison easier.Plantations are the most likely place, but a naturally regrown cut or burn w ill do Trees at open edges of the grove are shorter and thicker — and stronger — than those inside.The w ind does it.blowing the outside trees around like crazy when it blows.Within the woods, the trees are sheltered from the wind.The researchers imitated Mother Nature to prove their point.Trees, like martinis, are best when shaken.• • • A comment about the ’80s.Young people today are still interested in simple, outdoor play, as Luke shows by hauling that book around with him everywhere.How did 1 get hold of it?I waited until he started fooling around with my word processor.He didn't look up for a couple of hours • • • Thanks to Townships Sun conservation columnist Gladys Mackey Beattie for reminding me to remind you of a big outdoor event this weekend Head for the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Centre this Saturday.Feb.15.” Gladys w rites.“This is the annual 'Promenade en Hiver' of La Société d'Attelage du has Canada (the Lower Canada harness association.a major Quebec group of work horse enthusiasts).There should be about 100 sleighs/horses for the affair ’’ Call Donald Pro teau for more info, but call today On the wild side By Charles Bury (Friday) because the outing is to morrow (Saturday).See you there.Swinging Birches — After Robert Frost When I see birches bend to left and right Across the lines of straighten darker trees.I like to think some boy's been swinging them.* way.When I was near the top and the birch had begun to bend under my weight, I reached out and grabbed a THE GREAT AMERICAN POET ROBERT Frost didn’t make that up.We used to swing birches.Much later, when I was in college, 1 told a friend of mine from the city that as a boy I had done that.“You can swing birches?” he asked.We were camping on Mount Cho-corua at the time.Nearby stood a birch tree that 1 told my friend I would swing, if he was really interested.He was.1 started up the tree.About halfway to the top I realized I couldn't remember the one key thing in swinging birches that you must not do.But I kept climbing, hoping that what I had forgotten would come to me along the •From • Birches" from THE POETRY OF ROBERT FROST edited by Edward Connery .Lathem.Copyright 1916, “ 1969 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.Copyright 1944 by Robert Reprinted by permission of Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Publishers.branch extending from its trunk.And the instant I swung out, 1 remembered this was what you must not do.Too late.The branch peeled off like a banana skin, ripping the white bark all along the trunk and I came down — down through thirty feet of branches, landing in disarray at my friend’s shoes.“Is that,” he asked, “how one swings birches?” “Well, sort of,” I said.HERE’S HOW YOG SHOULD SWING A BIRCH Find a tree to suit your weight — one not too big, one not too weak.It should lean a little.Climb up it along the outside of its curve — not on the inside, or you’ll bend it only halfway down before you have a chance to really swing it.Climb as high as you can.Near the top, the tree will start to bend.Grasp the trunk as high up as you can on the inside of the bend, hold on tight, and swing your body out and around under the bend.The tree will droop down under your weight.Most trees won’t take you all the way to the ground.You’ll probably have to drop the last two feet.do noT reach out To smung 61RCH FRO/M AM EXTENDE'D UlfAB. send early.Call or visit us today k.RITA FLORIST (SHERBROOKE) INC.1255, KING ST 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