The record, 9 mars 2011, Supplément 1

» Brome County NEW PLUMBING YOUR HEATING SPECIALIST (oil, gas, electric) Tuesday, March 8, 2011 plomberiegoyer.com 450 263-2226 150 Sherbrooke St., Cowansville if Depuis / Since FRIDAY BUFFET Winter Weekend Dining Room Special: 3 Course meal for 2 with bottle of wine - $99.00 "pub" $49.95 for 2 Incl.bottle of wine 50 Victoria St., Knowlton, QC RSVP: (450) 243-6183 Local libidos strut unchecked DOUG HOOPER Queen Lilt’s girls Julie Senier and Sheila McMannus.By Doug Hooper f Haskell Opera House in Stanstead is a well-known historical .X.oddity in the Townships.The border between Canada and the US runs straight through the building and has led to stories, both real and legend, of individuals and groups who were unable to travel to one country, but could still perform or watch from the other.Bury, too, is the site of more border stories because it too sits on the line.But there is one location whose history is almost obscured that must hold the record for notoriety.In a building near Glen Sutton, history records there was a bordello called Queen Lill’s, where the border ran be- tween our two countries right through the building.Not much remains of the stories of Queen Lill’s, but the foundations of a building that might have been the brothel are still there.And the Knowlton Players have done their best in recent weeks to make sure that the memory of the establishment doesn’t die anytime soon.Local actor and writer Laura Teasdale crafted a play from the details gleaned from research done for another play in collaboration with Sarah Biggs, Maurice Crossfield and Doug Hooper.“Ourstory,” slated for a tour this fall, contains other tales of local interest, but it was the Queen Lill section that Teasdale chose for this year’s dinner theatre.This is the fourth year for what has be- US Federal Court Sutton man gets prison term as leader of pot smuggling ring Marc Andre Cusson was sentenced in US District Court in Burlington, Vt.Friday, March 4, to serve 168 months in prison for a conviction on charges related to a huge marijuana smuggling operation.The term amounts to 14 years.The 41-year-old Sutton resident was given credit for 70 months (five years, 10 months) served in Canada, according to a press release from the United States attorney’s office.He will be on supervised release for two years when he completes his sentence.Cusson pleaded guilty to money laundering in December 2010.The US attorney says Cusson led an organization that smuggled tons of high-grade Canadian marijuana from Canada into the US between 1998 until he was arrested in 2002.Meanwhile the group smuggled millions of dollars of US currency back to Canada as payment for the drugs.Several co-conspirators were prosecuted in Canada and the US.Because Cusson was one of the ringleaders, the press release says, the United States government sought extradition, which Cusson fought for eight years.He was finally extradited after serving time in Canadian prison, in March 2010 on two counts of attempted money laundering.He pleaded guilty nine months later.Federal Judge William Sessions imposed the sentence Friday.Because Cusson was extradited only for money laundering, marijuana smuggling charges have not been filed, but he could be charged if he is arrested in the United States.A marijuana smuggling conviction carries a mandatory 10-year minimum in the US.Cusson’s conviction and sentencing was the result of a two-year investigation by the US Drug Enforcement Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the RCMP.More than 30 people were convicted in the US and Canada for the parts they played in the smuggling ring.More than $2.5 million in currency and assets were seized in the US and Canada.come something of a Valentine’s tradition.Teasdale’s dinner theatre pieces have always been performed in an upstairs room at the Knowlton Pub with dinner being served as part of the action.The pub itself is a part of history - formerly a stage house on the coach road to the US - called the Bolton Pass Inn.Actors are from the Knowlton Players, and their characters have been fashioned to reflect local people and stories sometimes with hilarious results.“Love for Sale” is the most theatrical of Teasdale’s dinner offerings and cer- tainly the most adult.Families were warned in advance of the bawdy nature of the evening, and those who attended were not disappointed.The pub became Queen Lill’s with the border running straight through the centre of the room.Patrons were seated on one side of the border or the other and became part of the story as either the sheriff or the RCMP entered to try to catch Canadians engaged in “blue” activities with the bevy of bordello beauties or Americans CONT’D ON PAGE 3 René-Claude Gagnon FREE DELIVERY - Demo-cosmetic Ctr.Medicare/Passport photos OPEN 7 DAYS" Home Health Care Equipment for Rent or Sale Produits Pétroliers LAVICNE mc 310, chemin Knowlton Knowlton 450-243-5700 N'K Call now for your fill-up for the winter heating season HEATING OIL HUILE À CHAUFFAGE GAZ - DIESEL LUBRICANTS LUBRIFIANTS 227 Knowlton Rd„ Knowlton 450-242 3^ « Auberge 6 Spa West Brome Spa West Brome Provençal-inspired Cuisine Award-winning wine list Full conference facilities www.awb.ca 450-266-7552 page 2 Tuesday, March 8, 2011 Brome County News Fire and Ice Festival rained out rJvKtTUtS LIONS lU H ^ Ll0M Entrés gratuits -m TAsrlK _____ *.I FRANK NIXON COURTESY OF JOHANNE MORIN The first Brome Lake Fire and Ice Festival scheduled for March 6 was cancelled “due to the weather” said town hall officials.Mayor Gilles Decelles said the decision to cancel the festival was made on Sunday morning “around 8:30 a.m.Notwithstanding the inclement wet weather the day before a record snowfall, one remarkable event took place at the festival in Knowlton.Volunteers with the Quebec Association of Ski Joringputon quite the demonstration, taking turns skiing over mounds of iced-over snow while towed by specially trained galloping horses.This Swedish cross between water-skiing, alpine ski jumping and sulky racing caught more than one area resident’s attention.In the photo (above right) one of a dozen local limit-setters takes up the challenge and the moguls while attempting to gather as many hanging hoops as possible.Association Chairman Bertrand Caron puts on events throughout Quebec, Ontario and the US just for the love of the sport.There were promises of repeating the no-cost event during next year’s winter festival, snow permitting, and even entering Brome Lake into the provincial competition circuit.Best get to shining your helmet early! CONSULTATIONS SPARK n lUONAL LIFE COACH INC.Michèle Brunt-Martel B.A., F.L.E.6, rue Fowler, Knowlton, Qc.JOE 1 VO tel.: 450-243-6612 www.consultationspark.com The Brome County News was not published on Tuesday as usual because of the snow storm Monday.As a result, it could not be included in this week’s PubliSac.You may pick up your copy of the BCN at businesses in Knowlton.Planning ahead does not have to be complicated.We allow you to control the decision-making process while keeping it simple.BROME-MISSISQUOI Funeral Complex SINCE 1927 For more information, contact us or visit our website COWANSVILLE 450.266.6061 ¦ BEDFORD 450.248.2911 ¦ WWW COMPLEXESM COM Brome County News Tuesday, March 8, 2011 page 3 Pet of the Week Amy Libidos isfer Hello everyone! I am a 10-year-old lady, tan fur and I weigh about 50 pounds.I came here two weeks ago with my young brother.My master was getting old and couldn’t afford to feed us well.We miss him.I wish him the best, but we must get on with our lives.I’m an easy-care dog, calm and ladylike with lots of enthusiasm for walks, love and life - you wouldn’t give me my age! I am waiting here with all my friends for a new chance - please come.There is lots of choice! Visiting hours are 2 p.m.to 4:30 p.m.Thursdays and Saturdays at the SPCA Mon-térégie, 178, ch.du Vide, Ste-Angèle-de-Monnoir (exit 37 on autoroute 10).Cont’d from page 1 drinking during the recently imposed prohibition.Most patrons on both sides of the border were drinking with dinner, of course, and, of course, the only “blue” activities were innuendo and double meaning.But the performances were delightful, the story engaging, although it is a little disconcerting to see the libidos of people we know being allowed to strut a little.As usual, Teasdale fashions characters to fit her actors: there were teachers who instructed the girls; there was a master of disguise who looked remarkably like other members of the cast; there was a sheriff with pistols in his belt and a rough-talk- ing style; there was a Dudley Doright RCMP officer; and there was the bevy of beauties.And crossdressing Remi Martin, showed us the origins of the pole dance -splinters and all.Whether or not Queen Lill’s was the site of such shenanigans remains to be seen.There is a photograph of her and her parrot looking very protective and matronly, and it’s certain she would have enjoyed watching “Love for Sale.” PORTABLE NETWORK GRAPHICS IMAGE An early photo of Queen LUI.>\ # *s' êi Can 1-866-734-9425 or visit www.medicalert.ca jm*»» es miter vos émissions ptéfoee*.les tiamirm u»t hsbtiem, ri Litevnrtu* |»4fi *U sg» • •««itiMAikiaitt », Listen To The hub of The Eastern Townships Your community Radio 450-242-9873 Visit out will site.fHttl > inniiiii nl list* n to our live sirs iin 4n { Halttrd»% j Sundae 6;