The record, 21 janvier 2009, mercredi 21 janvier 2009

75 CENTS + TAXES - ¦¦¦THE—i RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 - 1 i - PM#(X)4()(X)7682 ^ge> SUBARU SHERBROOKE - Estrie Auto Centre - Come see our new showrooms 4367 Bourque Blvd.Rock Fores! 819-564-1600 • 1-800-567-4259 www.subarusherbrooke.com Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Obama officially becomes 44th American President.PAGE 7 Nurse shortage is not that bad By Rita Legault Sherbrooke Hiring more than 1000 nurses would not have a significant impact on waiting lists and patient care in Quebec, a new study suggests.The Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations (Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organizations), or CIRANO released this week a study assessing the shortage of nurses in Quebec.Mathieu Laberge, a co-author of the CIRANO study, told The Record that the nurses shortage is not as bad as calculated by the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, which only considers staffing levels needed to reduce overtime.Laberge and co-author Claude Montmarquette, Vice-President of Public Policies at CIRANO, argue the ministry does not account for the nursing workforce needed to meet the demand for health care services.SEE NURSES PAGE 3 ?Worth his weight in gold RITA LEGAULT Sherbrooke council got an ear full Monday night.PAGE 5 He says, SHE SAYS.“It was impossible to do better this morning.” -Yves Vermette (THE RECORD, JANUARY 20TH) PHOTO COURTESY OF CFSC Sherbrooke's Eric Saucke-Lacelle has come home heavier than he left since he skated to a gold medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Saskatoon last weekend.For more see page 4.Rental units scarce ¦ ¦ PERRY BEATON Normand Couture (left) and Jean-Claude Laporte say that people are spending more on housing.Sherbrooke (McD)—The current economic crisis places Sherbrooke renters in a particularly vulnerable position, says a local urban renewal group, and the situation is likely to get much worse in the near future.Jean-Claude Laporte, an organizer for the Front d’action populaire en réamenagement urbain (Popular action front for urban renewal -FRAPRU), says that economic recessions historically have a severe impact on renters, particularly those living alone.“The recession in the beginning of the 1990s ended with an increase of 46 per cent of the number of rental households in Sherbrooke that dedicating more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, 26 per cent of whom were spending more than 50 per cent,” he said.A recent report released by FRAPRU indicates that since 2001, the number of households spending more than 30 per cent of their income on rented housing has increased by 815 to 38 per cent, compared to the provincial average of 36 per cent According to Normand Couture, president of the Sherbrooke renters association, “It’s the people living alone who most find themselves in the most alarming situation and these represent more than half the rental households in Sherbrooke.According to the census of 2006, 9,110 single renters in Sherbrooke paid more than the 30 per cent standard.This represents 53 per cent of the total.Of these, 4,440, or 26 per cent, spend more than half of their income on rent.Since 2001, the average rental in Sherbrooke has risen by 14.4 per cent, while incomes have increased by approximately 15.6 per cent.The overall cost of living has increased by 11.6 per cent during the same period.According to Couture, the scarcity of rental units in Sherbrooke since the early 2000s is the main reason for rent increases.FRAPRU and the renters association are asking both federal and provincial governments to consider the need for low cost housing in the region and to include investments in this area in their upcoming budgets.FORD IS OFFERING 0% FINANCING! on selected 2009 vehicles.Trade-in Offer Val Estrie will give you an additional $1000 rebate when purchasing a F-Series truck and trading in a competitor's truck.Hybrid of the Month 08 Escape Hybrid ‘42>eg $31,876 • 26,500 km • All wheel drive • Moon roof *GPS • Fully equipped ¦WkSmIB^uncoen SHfftftftOOKS 819-563-4466 office 819-822-8055 ceil mikepage72@hotmail.com chael Page Over 14 years experience t page 2 Wednesday, January 21, 2009 RECORD Get ready Townshippers, Youth are in Action! Keeping In Touch Townshippers’ Association By Alanna Fernandes Here I am, tucked away in between the Executive Director’s and Assistant Executive Director’s offices (yikes!) here at Townshippers’ headquarters, and in pockets all around the Townships trying to encourage the active involvement of youth within their communities.As coordinator of the Action Project, 1 work with seven groups - Bury, Cookshire, Lennoxville, Mansonville, Richmond, Stanstead, and Sutton - to help create healthy relations between youth and their communities and to assist them in gaining valuable skills, knowledge and experience in the process.In Bury, continuing where the Farms Alive project left off, the formation of a horse and pony club for youth of all ages is brewing.Ideas for the club’s initiatives include having plow matches, going on sleigh rides and picnics, and organizing workshops (grooming, showmanship, veterinary care, etc.).In Cookshire, the Centre d’action locale Hop Up! Coordinator and I have been collaborating to organize opportunities for English-speaking youth.We are having trouble finding interested participants.If you or someone you know would be interested, please let us know.Youth in Lennoxville are interested in attending the National Town Youth Participation Strategy (TYPS) Conference taking place at the end of March in Ottawa.As part of the Action Project, we are fundraising to send six youth.Our first major fundraiser, the Underground Café, is on Friday February 13th at 7 p.m.The youth are serving home-made dessert, coffee and tea, and have arranged for local musicians and artists (including the participants).There will also be a 50/50 draw and an interactive scrapbook to which all are welcome to contribute.In addition to raising funds for the conference, this event will promote and integrate their Youth Centre into the community.Admission is $10 Four-year-old Anthony Green has given The Record his masterpieces depicting your weather forecast.If you would like to depict the Townships weather via a drawing, send them to 1195 Galt East, Sherbrooke, Qc.JIG 1Y7.Don't forget your name, age and address.Weather Today: Becoming cloudy in the morning.Periods of light snow beginning in the afternoon.High minus 12.Tomorrow: Periods of snow.Low minus 12.High minus 7.Friday: Periods of snow.Low minus 23.High minus 4.Saturday: Periods of snow.Low minus 19.High minus 19.and free for those under 17 years of age.Everyone is welcome.A Townships Youth Retreat Day is planned for Saturday March michellelepitre I14]1!’ T*1.e day wi.!11 b,e The Lennoxville Youth Centre is organizing its Underground led by Mansonville s Cafe'fundraiser to be held on Friday the 13th of February.Top m^rnvn)Uth ”v° 'It row in the usml onkr' is Jessie’ Albert0’ Louise, Kathleen, and h is a OU?fti lMura' Bottom ww’ is Stephanie Beaudoin (Head Animator), agea o and up) lor die Aianna permndes (Action Project Coordinator), and Emile.structive Decisions (SADD) groups (youth aged 11-17) across the Townships.This will be an opportunity for all participants in the Action Project and other interested youth to come together to share what they have been doing in their communities.It will be an encouraging time where youth can connect with similarly motivated and active peers outside school boundaries.There will be workshops, leadership and team-building activities, meals, and fun hang-out time.Collaborating with Donald Debuc, a Youth Project Manager from Richmond, we are planning to form a bilingual youth council and organize a retreat (hopefully during March break) full of leadership and team-building activities, workshops, brainstorming and organizing efforts to encourage more positive and constructive options for youth in the Richmond area (including Melbourne, Cleveland and Ulverton).The new Stanstead Cultural and Recreational Centre is a small grassroots project that is completely volunteer-run.It began just a few months ago.As part of their plans, which incorporate the whole community, we have formed a bilingual youth council to help brainstorm and organize activities in a “by youth, for youth” style.Interest for activities includes sports, gardening and art.In Sutton, we’re looking for wall space! Calling our project “Colour Your Town,” youth are getting ready to do just that - paint a public mural.Bruno, an artist from a mural-painting collective in Sherbrooke has agreed to contribute his experience and knowledge to make our mural a success.The Action Project is always looking for donations (materials, space, experience, etc.) and interested youth participants.It is carried out by Townshippers’ Association and partnering youth groups, and is supported by the Development of Official Language Communities program of the Department of Canadian Heritage.If you would like more information or to get involved, call me, Alanna Fernandes, at 819-566-5717 (1-866-566-5717) or visit af®townshippers.qc.ca.Interested in a career in the health industry?Come listen to this Telehealth video-conference given by the Montreal Children’s Hospital.Featured speakers include a public relations manager, emergency room doctor, radiology technician, nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist, nutritionist and a researcher.The presentation is on Tuesday January 27th from 1 to 4 p.m.in two locations: Champlain College Administration Building, 1301 Portland, Sherbrooke, and Massey-Vanier High School in Cowansville.For more information, call Shannon Keenan in Sherbrooke, or George Courville or Kate Murray in Cowansville.Townshippers’ Association is a nonpartisan, non-profit community organization serving the Eastern Townships English-speaking community.Contact www.townshippers.qc.ca; ta@townshippers.qc.ca; 257 Queen, Sherbrooke (Lennoxville), (819-566-5717; 1-866-566-5717) or 203 Principale, Cowansville (450-263-4422; 1-866-263-4422).Then and now on The Record Front page news: A large Perry Beaton news photo told the story of affordable housing activists that greeted local MNAJean Charest as the premier held a Quebec Liberal caucus meeting in Sherbrooke.The ‘issue du jour’ as the accompanying story stated appeared to be the future economic prosperity of Quebec at the caucus meeting.The article featured the title, ‘Feared US recession may impact Quebec”.Good call in hindsight.Charest was quoted saying; “This will be a year very focused on the economy.Our infrastructure plan will create jobs in every region of Quebec.” Charest went on to say that his party continues to work towards the creation of social housing across the province.Comparison: Today featured a brief that was titled, “Yippee! Rinks are open”.The Townships was finally past the warm spell that brought warm winds and flooding that closed most of the region’s outdoor skating rinks.It was announced that the Saint-Boni-face, Saint-Alphonse-de-Liquori, Lac-des-Nations, Domaine-Howard, and Andre-Viger Parks opened today.This year local rinks were shut down for only a few days at the beginning of the month due to mild weather.—North Hatley council was faced jwith the decision of either expropriating the land where the municipal tennis courts sit or rezone the land from I recreational to residential to give owners, the North Hatley Golf Course, the tools necessary to sell it.Club treasurer Jack Noble said: “I wish they would expropriate.We just want to sell it.Qf course we want to work on a settle-' ment between the town or North Hatley residents.” He was referring to the NHRS (North Hatley Recreational Society) comprised of residents charged | with maintaining the courts and the public beach, which attempted to collect funds to purchase the land.After a full year of negotiation between all three parties the courts still stand and a renting contract has been signed for the time being.North Hatley director Leonard Castagner said yesterday that council and the club are still open to negotiations, but how and when a sale: would happen has yet to be determined.—He said, she said.“Whether we believe or not, people still place their mangers in their homes over the holidays.”—Josee Perrault.—Weather: It was snowing today with an expected 5 centimtres to fall by the afternoon.The sun peeked out | periodically and the high was minus 2.| f\rs 50 NICE TO BEAPLE ^ TO SEE AMP HEAR YOU/ Ben by Daniel Shelton THE IMA&E IS SO CLEAR/ ANP ALL THE WAV FROM VANCOUVER/ ISN'T TECHNOLOGY6REATf/ r mfr+w.TECHNOLOGY/ l YOU’RE RIGHT/1 CANSEEBEHINP YOU- NEEPS A LITTLE SPRUCING UR DOESN'T ITf HEE RI .CORD Wednesday, January 21, 2009 page 3 nurses: The provincial health ministry has argued more than 1800 nurses need to be hired to eliminate the current shortage.But Laberge and Montmarquette say that hiring 1807 nurses, in accordance with the initial shortage calculated by the ministry in March 2007, would have little impact on waiting times or patient care.“Despite the overtime, waiting lists remain long, so the method for computing the shortage needed to be overhauled to make it account for the actual requirements of the health care system and not only the number of overtime hours worked,” explains Laberge, project director at CIRANO.“This was a prerequisite for generating a transparent portrait of the shortage.” Laberge told the Record the calculation method used by the ministry overestimates the shortfall by 458 nurses, or more than 25 per cent.He said the overestimation is partly due to the fact that it did not include overtime.It also does not account for the fact that nurses work less than their counterparts in other provinces.The study notes that Quebec nurses average 28 hours of work including overtime, holidays, vacations, and sick leave.“For purposes of comparison, civil servants in Quebec work 30.2 hours (8 per cent more than nurses) while Quebec private sector employees work 33 hours per week (18 per cent more than nurses),” says the study.Nurses in Ontario work 31.3 hours per week, 12 per cent more than their Quebec colleagues, says the study.In the rest of Canada, nurses work an average of 30.9 hours (10 per cent more than Quebec nurses)."Nurses are not lazy, and they are not more lacking in vocation than their counterparts in Canada," Laberge said.“The only difference is that they are paid less.” Laberge said nurses in Quebec are still reçu- What the.?Now why didn’t I think of that?A man from Tyndall, Manitoba has launched a lawsuit against the mother of his child claiming “mental distress and anxiety” and asking to be relieved from child support payments.His reasoning: he was asleep at the time the child was conceived.According to court papers, the unidentified man had been visiting the woman in Selkirk, Manitoba in late 2006.He fell asleep and suddenly woke to find the woman having sex with him (mornings can be like that).According to his statement, the man “demanded that she cease and desist”, which she did, apparently understanding that he wasn’t merely “talking dirty,” but clearly not in time because, lo and behold, nine months later a child was born.The man admits that the child is his, but says he shouldn’t have to pay for what was essentially his own rape.The woman launched a court action last year in an effort to collect child support.Tile man is seeking both damages for his distress and reimbursement for all child support expenses he has already dished out.Good luck with that buddy, but as the old saying goes “you snooze, you lose!” (McD) perating from a wage freeze imposed upon them during their last negotiation with the government.“The drop was so drastic they have not caught up," he said.Contrary to popular opinion, the study notes the lower number of hours worked is not compensated by a larger number of overtime hours.There are two probable causes for the lower work intensity of Quebec nurses, the study observes.The first is the greater proportion of nurses working part time.CIRANO determined that 15 per cent of all nurses and 21 per cent of nurses below age 35 work part time because they cannot find full-time employment.However, those proportions are comparable to those of the rest of Canada, said Laberge.The second cause is Quebec nurses more frequent and longer absences from work.“Compensation levels may partially explain these choices of Quebec nurses, because they are less well paid than their colleagues elsewhere in Canada,” say the authors of the study, who suggest some solutions, including increasing the number of full time positions and reorganizing work to make it more efficient.“Among potential solutions, we might seek to increase the supply of services by nurses,” the study suggests.“An initial solution path may be to increase the number of available full-time positions.Barring that, we could also promote a hybrid solution by encouraging nurses working part time but desiring full-time employment to complete their schedule with other employers, especially in the private sector.” Offering a premium on wages and providing skills upgrading programs could also make the profession more appealing, allowing retirement age nurses to remain on duty and even convincing some who have already retired to return to active service.Finally Laberge notes that if the government’s goal is to respect budgets, it will not succeed in eliminating waiting lists.“To eliminate waiting lists the government will have to invest in the right policies including reorganizing work for nurses and increas- The Record needs your help The Record has an annual supplement soon to be published called our ‘Seniors Supplement’.In the past its pages were filled with generic information pertaining to the age group, but this year we would like to make it special and unique.We would like to feature our own seniors.If you know of someone who fits this age group who does something special for die community, does something interesting, or is simply a joy to be around, let us know.Send us a photo and text about that individual and we will print it in the February 19th edition.We need to receive all correspondence by the 13th of February.You can email us at jyoung@sherbrookerecord.com, mail it in to 1195 Galt E, Sherbrooke, JlH 5L6, or call us at 819-569-634 5 for suther information.Let us show our seniors how proud we are of them.Older slashers on the fly Have you seen them?(RL)—Police are on the lookout for a middle-aged couple who visited the Future Shop store and wrecked some $13,000 in damage to merchandise before nonchalantly walking out.Sherbrooke police spokesman Martin Carrier said a man in his sixties entered the store at 3450 Portland Blvd on January 7th along with a woman in her fifties.Using an exacto knife or another sharp object, the man visited the store damaging a television and computer screen and slicing open a leather couch, said Carrier.The female suspect followed about eight or ten feet behind.The man apparently returned to the store alone the next day.Without doing any mischief, he left in a pale grey sedan, possibly a Chevrolet Lu-mina.On Tuesday police released photos of the two suspects.The heavy set man, who has gray hair with a small grey mustache and beard, weighs about 95 kilos (200 pounds) and is about 1.88 meters (six feet) tall.At the time of the crime, the suspect was wearing a brown midlength leather jacket, a brown suede hat, jeans and a wool sweater.The man was accompanied by a redheaded woman, about 1.67 meters tall (five-foot-five).She was wearing a long winter coat with a fur collar.Anyone with information about the crime of the suspects is asked to call Sherbrooke police detection Manon Gaudreau at 819 821-5555.public A success storv: The Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) is one of the most improving school boards in Quebec, with two of our high schools, Richmond Regional and Massey-Vanier, placing in the top ten fastest-improving schools.This success can be attributed to the excellent teaching staff and personnel, innovative programs and commitment of the ETSB to provide the best possible learning environment for our students.Programs such as the Enhanced Learning Strategy, the only one-to-one laptop program for all students from Grades 3 to 9 in Canada, Early Intervention (literacy and Numeracy) and a dynamic drop-out prevention program, allow the ETSB to offer the best education in the Eastern Townships! / ran «BPS Ksmwm Quebec English School Boards Association Eastern Townships School Board he English public schools of Quebec: 'T~ h e /rt a.n y C o / o ct r- S of S c/ C C e S S w ww.qesba.qc.ca pag,e 4.Wednesday, January 21, 2009 ; ¦ ¦«tiri ¦ i RECORD Council got the message loud RITA LEGAULT P»* Sherbrooke skater is golden By Corrinna Pole Sherbrooke Sherbrooke skater, Eric Saucke-Lacelle, can now chalk up another victory to his already growing list.The 19-year-old athlete and his partner, 17-year-old Karen Routhier of Vanier, Quebec, achieved the gold medal in the junior category dances at the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships held from January 14th to 18th in Saskatoon.The pair, who have been skating together since 2006, dominated the junior dance category capturing three clear victories in all three parts of the junior dance event.The win means that the duo will go on to represent Canada in the 2009 ISU (international skating union) World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, from February 23rd to March 1st.“We skated three solid programs and exceeded our expectations and our points,” Lacelle said.“It was a good competition with 20 teams competing.” Both Lacelle and Routhier took home gold medals from the competition and received the BMO Possibility award.Each award consists of a $500 BMO Financial Group training grant and a glass sculpture.“It’s a huge, really heavy piece of glass shaped like an iceberg,” he said.“We found out about it three seconds before we got it.” The Possibility award takes into account some of the following criteria during individual performances in any part of the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships - personal best performance, performance given above adversity, performance that stuck in the minds of the spectators and performance that displayed new and creative skating talent and set new standards or sought a new horizon, according to Skate Canada’s website - www.skatecanada.ca.This year's BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships took place at the Credit Union Arena in Saskatoon from the 14th to the 18th of this month.Over 150 of Canada’s best competitive skaters - senior and junior-level skaters in the men’s, women’s, pair and ice dance events - were competing for spots on the Canadian teams that will compete at the ISU world championships.“We’ve been to Bulgaria before for other competitions,” Lacelle said.“The first time we came in fifth place and the second time, we did very well but I think nerves got the better of us.” To get to the competition in Saskatoon, the pair had to compete at the provincial championships in Quebec then the BMO Skate Canada Eastern Challenge.The top ten skaters from competitions in both the east and the west were able to compete in the Canadian championships.Lacelle told The Record he has been skating since he was three years old and moved into ice dance when he was eight years old.“Initially I did ice dance to develop the artistic side of free skating,” Lacelle mused.“But I found I liked holding a girl’s hand so I stuck with it.” Despite the humour Lacelle is very serious when it comes to his sport.He practices about seven hours a day, four of those hours are spent on the ice, one hour off the ice and in addition he spends time doing warm ups and stretching.All that practice has paid off well for the Rock Forest raised skater.Lacelle has gone on to participate in competitions around the world including Bulgaria, Mexico and Vienna.He has no plans of slowing down any time soon.“In junior dance you are allowed to compete until your 20th year, if you’re a male,” he said.“As soon as I turn 211 can’t skate as a junior so I will move to the senior level.” The duo trains at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ontario with their coaches David Islam, Tyler Myles and Pavol Porac.Last October, Lacelle and Routhier won the bronze medal in the junior ice dance competition in Ostrava, Czech Republic.By Rita Legault Sherbrooke More than 150 citizens crowded into city hall this week, most of them Fleurimont residents and merchants angered by a committee report that suggested shelving plans for commercial development in the east end.It was standing room only as council opened the VIP gallery above the council room to accommodate the crowd that spilled over into the hall.Fleurimont residents monopolized question period during Monday’s meeting, spending more than an hour lecturing council on why more commercial development is needed on King Street East.Council was also handed a petition with more than 1200 signatures supporting the group’s demands.Council chairman Bernard Tanguay, who ended question period by telling the crowd their concerns had been heard.All five of the Fleurimont boroughs councillors, including Tanguay, as well as Mayor Jean Perrault publicly assured residents and merchants that they would support the development of commercial space on King East.“Who better than us, the residents of Fleurimont, can say what we need,” commented Councillor Mariette Fugère,.The majority of visitors to City Hall were opposed to the final report of the city’s Dialogue-citoyens committee which originally supported some 400,000 square feet of development in the east end, but backed off that recommendation in its final report.To loud applause, a half dozen merchants, representatives of the Fleurimont and Sherbrooke Chambers of Commerce, and a handful of citizens told council that King East was stagnating and that more commercial development is needed to attract consumers back to the area.Fleurimont Chamber president Michel Tessier said more businesses were essential to the vitality of the sector and badly needed to ensure the harmonious development of the borough.“We don’t want another Plateau St-Joseph,” said Tessier, explaining residents and merchants want small, medium and large businesses that can respond to the needs of the growing local population.Tessier’s argument were supported by merchants René Couture, the owners of the IGA Couture on King Street East, and Denis Fortier, the owner of Boulangerie Georges.All three argued that King Street East is a major entrance to the city and that it is dying.Couture pointed out that while Fleurimont is home to 28 per cent of Sherbrooke residents, only 18 per cent of businesses are located there.Couture said the Dialogue-citoyens committee dropped the idea of commercial development with no explanation and no alternative.In the meantime, he said businesses are suffering and closing their doors.Couture told council the east-end and clear CPC wants to relocate to a spot with more parking in order to compete.But instead of being able to move and create more jobs, they are laying off staff and considering closing.The Canadian Tire is also seeking a larger commercial space.“I am surprised to be here defending something that is just so obvious,” said Fortier, listing the names of more than a half dozen businesses that closed shop, many of them to move across town.“Would they have moved to the north end of town if there had been customers here?” he asked.“We want innovative small business, but we need big ones too,” said merchant/resident Ugo Beaulieu, noting the large businesses act as anchors for smaller ones.Beaulieu told council he simply could not justify opening a store in the east end.Fortier, who notes his is the only commercial bakery left in Sherbrooke, said he and Couture have invested more than $15 million on King Street East because they believed in the future of the commercial artery.“We need to create more business for our merchants and residents.We need to stop the erosion.” Tessier and Fortier said the city needs to forget about studies and reports and let merchants go about their business.“We don’t need more market studies to determine what commercial offer is needed to meet the needs of the local population,” said Tessier.“Business people wants things to happen here and now.” About two dozen members of the Coalition milieu de vie attempted to dissuade council from allowing more development in the east end, but their voices were drowned out.Thierry Nootens, the spokesman for the coalition said the commercial sector in Sherbrooke is over-saturated and that current businesses already cover 160 per cent of the needs in the community.“Does every neighborhood need a Brault et Martineau and a Future Shop?” he asked, commenting that the Fleurimont Canadian Tire being unable to move into larger premises "was hardly a humanitarian crisis”.Nootens compared the proposed 400,000 square feet of development to “the size of four Wal-Marts” and said it was “the equivalent of disguising an elephant as a mouse”.Nootens argued further commercial development will only hurt existing merchants and that it was useless to try and revitalize the downtown sector while building more shopping centers on the outskirts of town.But residents, and some members of council, resented Nootens’ remarks.“Who are they to tell us we don’t need businesses,” said councillor Roger Labrecque.“Where do they live?Where to do they work?” “Nootens said it not dramatic if the Canadian Tire cannot move into larger premises.But they are overflowing everywhere.And the CPC will die if it cannot expand." see Brochu page 5 RECORD Wednesday, January 21, 2009 page 5 The Show The lights go down.Voices seem to have sprung forth directly from the toes to the throats of everyone in the crowd, and there it is - that group sound that we human beings make, that roar, those whistles and shrill emissions.The opening act has left the stage, the roadies have done their sound-checks, fussing with wires, mics and set lists.The band you have come to see is somewhere there, making their way on stage.Suddenly it doesn’t matter that you’ve been indeed standing for hours, perhaps in the pouring rain(Radiohead, Parc Jean Drapeau), waiting in line out in the cold (Duran Duran, Metropolis), or braving a sea of young women that is overpowered with the smell of hair conditioner (Panic! At the Disco, Metropolis).I have been a relatively late bloomer in developing my concert-going interests.While my first show was Canada’s own Barenaked Ladies at Centennial Theatre in 1992, and I have had the opportunity to see many concerts in the seventeen years since, the majority of the shows 1 have attended have been in the last few years.1 am learning my preferences for shows quickly: 1) Smallish venue - Metropolis is my favourite to date.2) Under S75 per ticket, under S50 is even better.3) Opening acts who really give it their best shot and promote their merchandise.4) Artists who pay attention to the crowd, smile and joke around while on stage.5) New, fun, lesser-known acts, or the bands I’ve loved forever on a smaller-scale tour.6) Fun merchandise that is ALL under S40.Preferably no more than S25 for a t-shirt.7) When the crowd cheers like it’s the end of the show after every song, and at the end of the show like it’s “the end of the world as we know it” (yes, I’ve seen R.E.M.).8) When total strangers become friends for a few hours in celebration of a common fanaticism and shared amazement.9) When a roadie who is cleaning up takes the time to find you a guitar pick, and you feel like you’ve just caught the “golden snitch”.My dislikes are also forming a chain-gang of their own: 1) If you crowd-surf over my head with your big boots more than once, I will pinch you.2) If you arrive just as the main act is coming on stage, and try to push your way to the front, those of us who have been standing there for quite some time will form a wall of solidarity and you will NOT have a pleasant time with us.Next time show up early, and we’ll all have fun.3) While I’m certain the bartenders circulating with full trays through the throngs on the floor are agile, deft creatures with the utmost steady hands, I do not particularly want him holding said tray single-handedly over my head while he makes change with the other.4) If you arrived ages before the show began, and have simply been consuming alcohol at another point in the hall, and THEN try to push your way to the front, the aforementioned Wall of Solidarity will really, REALLY not enjoy your presence, and someone (generally of the bigger, male variety) may physically assist your departure.5) Tickets in the $150 + range, even if you’re Genesis, or Madonna.Admittedly I almost saw Madge’s Montreal show this fall, from the floor at the Bell Centre, at a whopping $350, but it was so be a group gift, and the show was on my 35th birthday.My disappointment was easily relieved when the acquisition fell through.These few dislikes are certainly among others, yet at this point have been far-outweighed by the thrill of the show, and I have yet to attend a concert I didn’t enjoy.1 have always had eclectic taste, be it in fashion, music, or film, and as a result have enjoyed concerts from an assortment of acts, from bands I have followed since childhood, such as U2 (thankfully these expensive tickets were won on CHOM radio station), Depeche Mode, Crowded House, Sloan and recently Duran Duran to current groups Mika, Motion City Soundtrack, Johnny Reid, Radiohead, the Dixie Chicks and the Scissor Sisters.Prior to a show I enjoy a playlist steeped in the band I’ll be witnessing live, and following the event, that playlist brings back memories, making me smile as I drive my sons to school and daycare, busy myself around the house, etc.Occasionally a surge of memories requires a phone call to a friend who attended the show, “Val! Remember THE REFLEX! THE REFLEX! THE REFLEX! FLE-FLE-FLE-FLE-FLEX?!” Such a conversation often includes shrieking and swooning, and “Can you believe we actually saw (insert group name), in this case, Duran Duran?!” My radio has always been handy.“Little Steven’s Underground Garage” and “That 80’s Show”, both on CHOM 97.7 fm are campy and fun, with just enough talk to keep things interesting, but enough music to keep you listening.February will find me at my favourite venue, Montreal’s “Metropolis”, for a performance by the band “Flogging Molly”.Expatriate Dubliner, current LA.resident Dave King, singer and songwriter for Flogging Molly is quoted on their website: www.floggingmolly.com, “If it didn’t have mandolin, accordion, fiddle and whistle, it would be punk rock, and if it didn’t have guitar, bass and drums, it would be traditional Irish music," King admits, adding, “You can’t be bothered being labelled.” With tickets priced at less than $30, a cozy venue and such a mixture of sound and style, I greatly anticipate the spirit of the show.I’ve got the Irish heritage going for me, and the combat boots for the rest.For more on Flogging Molly, visit www.floggingmolly.com, for the Metropolis concert venue, visit www.metropolismontreal.ca and click on Metropolis.Dishpan Hands: Sheila Quinn ***%*w- , .4.v * jSfe.* - .- — tagjt uimhui1 i> Thousands witness Obama's inauguration as Americas's first black president. page 8 Wednesday, January 21, 2009 JŒCORD: Harper must forge favourable relationship with Obama: experts By Mike Blanchfield and Richard Foot Canwest News Service With a panel of experts press-ing him to establish a strong personal rapport with Barack Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Monday it was a “wonderful gesture” that he chose Canada as his first foreign trip.On the eve of the historic inauguration of the 44th U.S.president, Harper said Obama’s visit in the next few weeks is “a wonderful gesture and a great sign of re-establishing the strong Canadian-American relations which this country had for many decades.” Harper also said Obama’s inauguration as the first African-American presi-dent is a “hugely symbolic and important page in American history,” but added that “none of us are under any illusions about the great challenges” he will face.Harper said Obama must implement “the right” U.S.stimulus package and also stabilize the American financial sector.“Unless there is a solution in the U.S., there will be a continuation of problems for the world economy.” Harper’s remarks in Halifax came as a new report urged him to elevate U.S.relations to the next level by establish- ing “personal chemistry” with Obama.From energy to the economy, oil to Afghanistan, Canada must become a “credible contributor” and not an “annoying diversion” to Obama’s new administration, concludes the “blueprint for Canada-U.S.engagement" released Monday by Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.The result of months of research and consultations with major political, business and academic leaders from both countries, the wide-ranging plan urges first and foremost, “sustained co-operation” between the two countries in tackling the economic crisis.It also calls for joint action on combating greenhouse gas emissions while still meeting the continent’s oil and gas needs, speeding the flow of commerce across an increasingly thick and bureaucratic border, and better co-operation on the Arctic.Harper was briefed on the report last week, said Derek Burney, a former Canadian ambassador to the U.S.and the head of Harper’s transition team three years ago, who co-wrote the report with Paterson school director Fen Hampson.The report recommends an annual Canada-U.S.summit, and urges Ottawa not to be shy about taking the lead with creative ideas that have mutual benefit for the countries.Canada should push “bold national goals" while at the same time presenting itself as a valued partner with the U.S.on broader global issues, such as Afghanistan.“This is a window of opportunity that will not necessarily stay open forever, particularly as the new administration begins to deal with the challenges of the day,” said Hampson.The report credits Harper with strengthening relations with Washington over the last three years, but says he needs to do more.Canadians have shown angst over the years over whether their prime ministers should appear too close to the American president.Burney said Obama’s popularity gives the Canadian government “more room to manoeuvre” in building a relationship.“What we’re taking about is an adult, mature dialogue, free of all of the narcissisms in Canada or the hang-ups in Canada about getting too close to the United States.You have a remarkably, intelligent, articulate individual who's just been elected president of the United States.You have a prime minister who’s regarded, even by his enemies, as articulate, intelligent and well-informed on most policy issues,” ex- plained Burney.“We very much hope that an effort will be made to establish the kind of chemistry that will allow an exploration of ideas that will be of mutual benefit.We’re not saying, let’s go fishing together, let’s go golfing togeth-er.’The blueprint also cautions that even though Canada is the leading supplier of crude oil to the U.S., the “energy cards” it holds “are not a weapon to use against the United States but an incentive to work together to find common solutions.” Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Monday that Canada “must get its relationships back” with the United States on energy, the environment and the Far North.“Harper has a lot of catching up to do with Mr.Obama on the environment,” said Ignatieff.“The Americans have to wake up and realize we ship more petroleum to the United States than Saudi Arabia.So when we talk, when Canadians talk, Americans have to listen.” Harper has suggested in the past that if Obama were to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement, energy issues would be on the table.Salmonella health warning issued for peanut-flavoured snacks Canwest News Service Some peanut-flavoured snack foods sold in Canada could be contaminated with salmonella tainted ingredients linked to a growing recall in the U.S, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a health warning.The federal agency said the snack foods should be put in the trash because they contain peanut butter or peanut paste ingredients that were recalled by Peanut Corporation of America over concerns they could be tainted with salmonella.No illnesses in Canada have been linked to the growing salmonella outbreak in the U.S., said the agency in a statement.Kellogg Canada released a statement Monday saying that none of the 16 products it recalled in the U.S.over salmonella concerns had been shipped to Canada.Asalmonella outbreak in the U.S.has been linked to at least six deaths and 470 illnesses across 43 states.The outbreak is being blamed on contaminated products made by the Peanut Corporation of America.The company does not sell products found on store shelves, but ships bulk peanut butter and peanut paste products to about 85 companies.Eating foods tainted with salmonella can trigger serious illness in the young, elderly and those with weakened immune systems.Symptoms of B» PiAN U T fis U T TIft Ori«inal Fruit & Nut Fool ***** _ HVT WT.u 07- : salmonella poisoning include high fever, sever headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.The health warning in Canada includes the following products: • Hebert’s Fully Loaded P.B.Crunch mini-bars produced Aug.26.2008 and Sept.9, 2008.• Nature’s Path Organic Optimum Energy Bar-Peanut Butter with an Oct.1, 2009 expiry date.• Clif Bar Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch with a Sept.7, 2009 expiry date.1 Clif Bar Crunchy Peanut Butter with expiry dates between Sept.6 and Sept.11, 2009 and Nov.13, 2009.• Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz with an expiry date of Sept.12, 2009.• Clif Builders Peanut Butter Protein Bar with expiry dates of June 20, 2009 and Aug.20, 2009 • Clif Bar Club Pack 18 Variety Pack with expiry dates of Sept.8, 2009 and Nov.3, 2009.• Làrabar Peanut Butter Cookie snack bars • LàrabarPeanut Butter Cookie Bite Size With a file from Reuters Harper urged to follow Obama’s green lead By Margaret Munro Canwest News Service ¦ i «he Harper government is being | urged to follow Barack Obama’s lead and inject billions of dollars JL into green jobs and green energy.Leading environmental, union and forest groups called Tuesday for the Conservatives to include a Green Economy Action Fund in their upcoming budget to “supercharge growth in the green economy.” The groups are pushing for a $41-bil-lion stimulus package over five years to make Canadian homes and buildings more energy efficient, ramp up renewable energy; expand public transit and support clean-tech manufacturing.“There is no reason for Canadians to lag behind our American neighbours,” environmental advocate Tzeporah Berman, executive director of PowerUP Canada, who has pulled the groups together, said in a statement.“Barack Obama is planning millions of green jobs.Why should Canadians be left behind?” The organizations pushing for the massive stimulus package have more than 850,000 members.“That’s a lot of Canadians,” says Berman.The list includes the Canadian Association of 45Plus (CARP), the United Steelworkers, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the Pembina Institute, Environmental Defence, ForestEthics and the Forest Products Association of Canada, which represents Canada’s major wood, pulp and paper producers.Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence, describes the proposed green stimulus package as a “ no-brainer” saying it could fight both the recession and global warming.“There are jobs just waiting to be created and businesses poised to grow,” he says.Obama has long touted his commitment to clean energy and a “green economy." He has pledged to double U.S.wind, solar and geothermal generating capacity over three years, and last week his team proposed an economic-stimulus package that includes $20 billion in tax cuts for renewable-energy production and $54 billion of spending to modernize the country’s aging electricity grid, and to make homes, vehicles and buildings more energy efficient.The Canadian groups are calling for Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to launch a national program that harmonizes with both the U.S.and provincial initiatives.Their proposed action fund, which the groups say could be financed with loans of $18.6 billion and federal spending of $22.7 billion over five years, calls for retrofitting of government real estate, housing, commercial buildings and acceleration of creation and use of renewable energy and clean technologies.The Harper government is under pressure to take steps to help both the economy and the environment.Last week the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, a federal agency, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada, a federal corporation, said in a joint report that Canada’s 440,000 commercial buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and could be made much more energy efficient through use of new technologies.“Strong policy action is needed to pull through ready and waiting technology,’” said Vicky Sharpe, president and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada. iTIIK INSIDE Sports More girls high school basketball results .see Page 10 Newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, January 21, 2009 page 9 Stanstead girls senior basketball takes BCS tournament for second straight year By Zachary-Cy Vanasse Stanstead Make it two in a row for the Stanstead College Spartans senior girls basketball team, who captured their second consecutive BCS Invitational Basketball Tournament this weekend on the back of stellar defense that allowed just 62 points in four games.“That's not even four points per quarter,” said proud head coach Erik Van Dyke after the win.Van Dyke’s team was rebounding from a heart-breaking loss to LCC in tournament finals the previous weekend, but came into the BCS tournament more ready and motivated than before.“We used those six days to prepare,” said Van Dyke of his team’s bounce-back from the finals loss to the Lions.Twelve schools took part in the BCS tournament Saturday and Sunday with the championship banner and bragging rights on the line.Stanstead’s tournament win the previous season was just the second time in its history that the Spartans had brought home the tournament banner.The Spartans would open the tournament against tough competition in the form of the ECS Beavers.Despite a weak first-half effort from Stanstead the Spartans managed to lead 17-10 at the break.The Beavers played hard through the second half causing some worry on the Spartans’ bench and on the floor.“You could feel the panic seep through the players,” said Van Dyke comparing the possible-second half fall-apart to the team’s finals loss the previous weekend.Up 21-20, Stanstead’s Flavia Calvar turned the game’s momentum around with a defensive rebound which the team then turned into two-points from Rume Kakpovia to give the Spartans the three point lead and shift momentum back towards Stanstead.The Spartans would cruise the rest of the way with a late 8-0 run to win 32-24.The Spartans handled Montreal’s Queen of Angels Academy easily in their second game, downing them 54-12.Dawn Namagoose played what Van Dyke felt was her best game of the year in the round-robin win.With the win the Spartans moved on to the semi-finals.The semi-final had the Spartans meeting the Sacred Heart Saints for the third time this season.The Stanstead defense was the underlining story of the tournament but, also the only story in the semi-final.“They turned in their best defensive effort of the season," said Van Dyke, a high compliment to a team whose defense has been pretty much lights out thus far.Krista Blackned, Ling Chiu and Juliet Numfor led the Spartans' defence, allowing just two first-half points to the Saints to lead 18-2 as the teams hit the locker rooms.While scoring was sparse for the Spartans as well, key threes from Necola Gurreina followed by a Calvar tre iced the 28-10 Stanstead victory.Westwood would be Stanstead’s final hurdle in their hope for back-to-back banners.The Spartans had yet to see Westwood this season and knew very little about their style of play.“Turns out they were a big, strong team that liked to crash the offensive glass, which proved problematic for us until we made some adjustments at half-time,” said Van Dyke.While the Spartans shooting was painfully cold in the tournament final (16-for-65, 24.6%) the defence once again made up the difference as the Spartans took the final 36-16.If the hard-wood proverb “defence wins basketball games” is to be held true, the Spartans BCS tournament win is testament to that.The Spartans have relied on their defence heavily this season when the offence wasn’t quite where they have wanted it to be, and that has translated into wins for the ETIAC co-leaders along with Massey Vanier.Calvar was selected to the tournament All-Star team and Guerrina was named the tournament MVP.The tournament was the second the Spartans have taken this year, after winning the Stanstead Invitational before the new year.The 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the ETIAC Spartans will play in the Gatineau Tournament this coming weekend in search of their third banner this season.COURTESY STANSTEAD COLLEGE Stanstead College’s girls senior basketball showing off its second of back-to-back BCS tournament championships.Ifl/flV a pair of tickets! Plus! Win a WWE Exercise Eleventh call wins Value of *75 CINEMAS TO WIN A PAIR4 OF TICKETS, JUST CALL IN AT RECORD THURSDAY, JANUARY 22nd AT 9 A.M 819-569-9525 SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 8 P.M.The first 10 callers win! One pair of tickets per family page 10 Wednesday, January 21, 2009 RECORD __=^=_= SPoRTS ' Massey Vanier’s senior girls basketball sits in first place [ilf#] - w- 4’ •v* 0» j .% Mountain Fun Centre réeréotouristique MONTJOYE j JElWis__& 1 ^ • Upcoming activities: NATIONAL SKI AND SNOWBOARDING WEEK JANUARY '17 TO SS ROSSIGNOL RACES JANUARY IB AND 31 SNOWSHOE EXCURSION TO SUMMIT! JANUARY SA SEATED SKIING DEMO! JANUARY 31 By Zachary-Cy Vanasse Cowansville At 13-2, the Massey Vanier Vikings senior girl basketball team sits atop both the ETIAC league standings and the SSIAA.The team, though it resembles last year’s team in personnel, is quite different than last year’s in that this team fields a full starting line-up of seniors as opposed to last year in which all but two players were of junior age.“This year all those players grew up, they are solid,” said their head coach Henry Blumenfeld.“One of the main things that’s different from last year is they are stronger and the bench is deeper, I’m comfortable putting anyone in the game.” .- .Casey Lachapelle, Summer Blumenfeld, Olivia Robinson, Ophelia Gasser and Kim Jacobs have led the way as the starting five this season but a deep bench has given Blumenfeld the kind of depth he wants from his teams.“I wanted to have a well spread out kind of basketball philosophy, I want an inside/outside game, run the ball, put pressure on the floor’,” said Blumenfeld.The starting five have given the Vikings the kind of leadership they need to establish the style of basketball they were looking to play this season.“Last year we didn’t win a lot of games but we we’re in a lot of / close ones,” said Blumenfeld on the team’s development into the league leaders this / season.While only having lost twice all season, once to / SSIAA rivals in Chateauguay Valley Regional High School with whom they share the top spot in their South Shore | league., the Vikings have played some close games, and won most of them.Massey Vanier’s senior girls squad are strong in character and don’t shrink in tight situations, instead they have risen to the opportunity on several occasions, led by the front five with the bench, still largely made up of junior age players, picking up whenever they were called upon.“You don’t really notice a big difference whether our bench is out there or not,” said the head coach.Sarah Magnone has been a key sixth player the Vikings have been able to go to when needed all season, but the coach recognizes that his whole bench is the reason that the Vikings have had so much success.“Good teams find a way to win, it’s not always the same player, but someone always rises,” said Blumenfeld, and that is exactly what the Vikings have done since the beginning of the season.The Vikings have yet to face their fellow ETIAC top-rankers in Stanstead and have a few weeks yet to prepare for the Spartans, which is expected to be a close and hard fought battle.As for changes Blumenfeld and his team might be working on the rest of the season, he said, “You always want to improve, tinker with certain tilings; really for us the thing is to peak at the right time.” That right time for the Vikings would be at the end of February for the ETIAC finals and provincials, right now they lay the regular season groundwork in hopes of doing just that.Don’t miss our super specials! * Centre réeréotouristique MONTJOYE wwmr «mont joye.qc.ca •Specials end March 16, 2009.Not valid for Spring Break, from March 1 to 8, 2009.STS SHUTTLE ON FRIDAYS SHERBROOKE MONTJOYE www.monfejoya.qo.oa Massey Vanier sports round-up By Zachary-Cy Vanasse Cowansville It was another busy sporting week at Massey Vanier with Vikings teams in action on both the hardwood and the ice.On Monday night the bantam girls basketball team remained undefeated in the ETIAC this season downing Richmond Regional 42-16.Brook Stoddard led all scorers with eight points.Sarah Magnone had 19 points and Summer Blumenfeld contributed 12 to keep the senior girls’ squad undefeated in the ETIAC with a 52-23 win over Richmond.Tuesday night basketball action meant another pair of wins for the Vikings.Massey Vanier’s boys bantam and basketball teams played host to Richmond Regional, with the bantam team edging Richmond 48-45 under Sean Turner’s 14 points while the juniors defeated Richmond 57-32.Eli Michaud led the Vikings scorers with 14 points and Malcom Gardner also hit double digits with 11.On Wednesday night the Vikings were in Lennoxville to face-off against BCS on the ice.Chad Croteau netted a hat-trick while Josh Jette and Matt Martin netted a pair each in a 9-0 Vikings win.Nick Cote and Alex Daigneault also scored for the Vikings. ¦—TH K —h RFrnRn Wednesday, January 21, 2009 page 11 In Memoriams Death Death Death Y':;- BURRILL, Frank - In loving memory of a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, Frank, who left us two years today, January 21, 2007.Days go by so slow But memories never die.You 're always in my heart Dad, you were the best.We think of you at night Before we go to sleep.And you’re always on our mind.Grandpa, we love you and miss you so much.Love you forever.Sadly missed, BEV AND FAMILY GUY - Precious memories of our loved one, Luella Pearl (Johnston), who passed away January 21, 1998.Deep are the memories.How precious they stay.No passing of time Can take them away.Always loved and dearly missed by YOUR FAMILY FOSTER, Eric (1918-2009) - At the Centre d’Accueil Cowansville, January 15, 2009, at the age of 90 years, Mr.Eric Foster, husband of the late Bernadette Bisson-nette of Brome.Suvived by his children, Lionel (Rose Doiron), Randall, Muriel (Robert Watson), Maureen (late Stanley Ashton), Wesley (Brenda Wilson), the late Susan, Elaine (Wayne Meyer), Donna, Eric Jr., his 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.His brother and sisters, Shirley, Steve, Betty, Eileen.Also survived by many other relatives and friends.The family wishes to thank Dr.Lalla for his kindness at this difficult time, the staff at Knowlbanks for their help and genuine caring, as well as the staff at the Centre d’acceuil Cowansville for the special attention given during his stay.Cremation was held in Granby at the Jardins Funéraires Bessette crematorium.Funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the St-John’s Anglican church in Brome at 2 p.m.Family will receive condolences, Thursday, day of the funeral from 1 p.m.directly at the church.Interment at the Brome Cemetery at a later date.Funeral arrangements Les Résidences Funéraires Bessette, 5034 Foster, Waterloo, QC.Tel: 450-539-1606 or 1-888-730-6666 Fax: 450-539-3035 www.famillebessette.com GEBERT, Camille - Passed away, after a battle with cancer, at the C.S.S.S.Mem-phremagog on Monday, January 19, 2009,at the age of 82.Cherished husband of Pauline Julien and precious father of Janie (Leslie Webster).Loving brother of Jeannine (Emile Therrien).Camille will also be sadly missed by his aunt Blanche Lussier, along with his sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, close friends Danny, Lynn and Tanya Gustin, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and numerous friends.There will be visitation with the presence of his ashes at the Cass Funeral Home, 545 Dufferin, Stanstead 819-876-5213/ www.casshomes.ca on Friday, January 23, 2009 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.A celebration of his life will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, January 24, at 2:00 p.m.As a tribute to his memory, donations made to the C.S.S.S.Memphrema-gog, 50 St-Patrice Est., Magog, QC.J1X 3X3 or to the Frontier Animal Society, 1 Bigelow, Stanstead, QC.JOB 3E5, would be greatly appreciated by the family.Card of Thanks LAKE -1 would like to express thanks on behalf of myself and my sister Karen and brothers Murray and Scott to all those who have helped us cope with the death of our father Sam.Special thanks to Michel Mercier, Ross and Mary Kirby, Walter Lindsay and Sharon Moore for their help and many kind gestures.Thank you to all those whose thoughts and prayers have been with us, and to all those who have taken time to share memories of Sam with us.Also thanks to the staff at Cass Funeral Homes and Rev.Barbara Willard for their help with the service and thank you to the Sawyerville U.C.W.and the Legion for the luncheon following the service.We felt that time of fellowship truly helped us to celebrate our father’s life.Sincerely, WENDY-ERIN (LAKE) DE BLAUW : TANNER, Grace Andersen (1932-2009) -Wife of the late Frederick Tanner, passed away at the BMP Hospital in Cowansville, on Monday, January 19, 2009, at the age of 76, a long struggle with bone cancer.She is survived by her four children, Pamela, Deborah, Shirley and Ted, her eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.She will also be missed by her brother Anker and her sister Shirley along with numerous other family and friends.There will be visitation in the presence of ashes at the Des-ourdy Wilson Funeral Home, 109 William St., Cowansville, QC.J2K 1K9.Tel.: 450-263-1212, fax: 450-263-9557, email: info@desourdywilson.com on Saturday, January 24, 2009 between 10:00 a.m.to 12 noon.A reception for family and friends will be held at 12 noon at the Days Inn, Auberge des Carrefours, 111 JJ Bertrand, Cowansville.As a tribute to her memory, donations made to the Cancer Research Society Inc., 402-625 Av du Président-Kennedy, Montreal, QC.H3A 9Z9 or Oncology Dept, at the BMP Hospital, 950 Principale, Cowansville, QC.J2K 1K3 would be gratefully acknowledged by the family.(Forms available at the funeral home).Your generous contribution will help finance research into lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer.Over 700,000 Quebecers who suffer from respiratory disease thank you.^ Tollfree: 1 800 295-8111 Montreal: (514) 287-7400 MS lives here.Multiple sclerosis never hits just one person.It affects the entire family.MS Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada 1-800-268-7582 www.mssociety.ca RATES and DEADLINES: ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES BIRTH i DEATH NOTICES.CARDS OF THANKS, IN MEMORIAMS.BRIEFLETS: Text only: 340 per word.Minimum charge $8.50 ($9.69 taxes included) Discounts: 2 insertions or more: 15% off With photo: additional $18.50.DEADLINE: 11 a.m., day before publication.BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY & GET-WELL WISHES, ENGAGEMENT NOTICES: Text only: $7.00 (includes taxes) With photo: $20.00 ($22.79 taxes included) DEADLINE: 3 days before publication.WEDDING WRITE-UPS, OBITUARIES: $19.50 ($22.22 taxes included) WITH PHOTO: $29.50 ($33.62 taxes included) Please Note: All of the aforementioned (except death notices) must be submitted typewritten or neatly printed, and must include the signature and daytime telephone number of the contact person.Can be e-mailed to: classad@sherbrookerecord.com - They will not be taken by phone.DEADLINES FOR DEATH NOTICES: For Monday’s paper, call 819-569-4856 between 1 p.m.and 5 p.m.Sunday.For Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday’s edition, call 819-569-4856 or fax 819-569-1187 (please call to confirm transmission) or e-mail: produc-tion@sherbrookerecord.com between 9 a.m.and 5 p.m.the day prior to the day of publication.The Record cannot guarantee publication if another Record number is called. PAge A2 Wednesday, January 21.,.200*) RECORD I don’t want to punish my wife Dear Annie: Two weeks ago, we were informed that my wife’s brother, “Bob,” and his wife, “Marcia,” were splitting after eight years.A few days after this surprise, it came to light that they had never really been married.Apparently, they never intended to make the arrangement legal.They had a ceremony in a church and swore their vows before God in what we believed was a traditional wedding.1 have no idea if the minister was aware of this charade, but my wife has now admitted that my mother-in-law knew.I find this astonishing, as my in-laws are devout and active church members, and I cannot imagine they would condone this farce — in their own church, no less — or the embarrassment this has caused them in their small community.The more 1 reflect on this, the less I want anything to do with my wife’s family.My wife says to let it go, but by attending future family gatherings.I’d be giving tacit approval to their bad behavior.I don’t want to punish my wife — it’s not her fault — but for the last eight years we’ve been spending family time with people who were only living together as a matter of convenience.Should I tell my wife to go to these gatherings alone?— Miffed in Maryland Dear Miffed: You feel duped, which makes you understandably angry.And we are surprised the church would permit this couple to take vows without filing the necessary legal papers.If Bob and Marcia had simply chosen to live together, would you feel the same?They were a committed couple for eight years and didn’t intend to hurt anyone.In fact, the “marriage” may have been an effort by your mother-in-law to make others believe they were not living in sin.Yes, your wife can go on her own to future family gatherings, but we hope you will find a way to forgive Bob.You should still register your disapproval, but he is your wife’s family and avoiding him will create an estrangement only for you.Dear Annie: Fourteen years ago, a good friend gave me several articles of clothing that no longer fit her.These were expensive clothes and I appreciated everything she gave me and have worn them consistently ever since.Recently, this friend lost a great deal of weight and has asked me to return a leather jacket.She says the other things were gifts, but she only intended to loan the jacket in case she could ever wear it again.Should I return it?I have spent a great deal of money over the years having the jacket cleaned and am quite resentful.What do you suggest?— N.C.Dear N.C.: That must be a special jacket for both of you to want it so much.You might consider that for 14 years you’ve worn lovely clothes that you received for free, and now you begrudge your friend the jacket she’s finally able to wear again.You aren’t obligated to give it back, but you will lose the friendship if you refuse.Is that what cleaning costs are worth?We think she’s been very kind to you and this is your opportunity to return the favor.Please try.Dear Annie: Your suggestion to “M.E.” to create vegetarian dishes for that lazy parasite of a daughter-in-law misses the point.That poor mother shouldn’t have to cater to a younger and perfectly capable woman.Adult children who take advantage of their parents should be firmly lectured about manners, the purpose of motels and restaurants, invited for a few select meals and activities and then shown the door.In our family, adult children stay in a nearby motel.That way, we each have privacy.Children like hers aren’t adults at all, merely spoiled kids.— Sarasota, Fla.Dear Sarasota: If adult children can afford to stay in a nearby motel for a two-month visit, all the better.Unfortunately, not all families can manage it.Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marty Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column.Annie’s Mailbox Fenian docu-drama presented at Community Center in Stanbridge East Friday, November 28, 2008, approximately 90 people attended the much anticipated movie production and reenactment of the 1800’s Fenian invasion at Eccles Hill.Thanks to Townshippers’ Foundation, a grant was awarded for a special project for youth to have the possibility to learn the basics of film making, based on a real-life incident that occurred in the Eastern Townships.Mrs.Louise Abbott was hired to teach our youth how to produce a script, film, direct, act, and edit the material.More than 15 children were involved in the project.Eliza Rhicard and Rob Young were in charge of the project.All the filming took part in Stan- bridge East.The viewing was most anticipated, as the crowd along, with the children involved, was astonished by the finished project.Many laughs were shared.Parents, grandparents and relatives were very proud of the efforts that were put in the whole process.Eliza Rhicard gave a brief explanation to the audience why the Battle of Eccles Hill was chosen for the project.Light refreshments were served after the showing of the film, while the people exchanged thoughts and comments about the film.Submitted by Thelma Rhicard % 1 : v iifftsgl ¦iss» Sr%J itc \ **¦»« .•%‘j >v •V> ¦ M kWfi il: 1 AL-Ji: IL r7 ill r.-O* {//cAie t/eft/qyfi// Ona My name is Meco and I am almost 20 years old.I live on the North River Road and my name is short for a lot of names.My owners, Gordon and Audrey Bowker, took 2 or 3 letters from each of their grandchildren's names to make up mine, but everyone calls me Meco for short.a/?d CTosAo t/e />€At y?not a ao/c/A I’m Poutchie (the big dog).I am a 6-year-old Rotweiller-boxer mix and I am very friendly.I love to play in the snow with Tosko (smaller dog), an American bulldog-boston terrier mix.He is almost 2-years-old and he can be a real pest, because he just loves to play with everything!!! -Amelie and Sebastien My name is Orion, I'm a leopard gecko.I actually belong to Lèe-Anna (Angela's daughter).I'm the newest addition to the house.I've been here for about a year.When I first arrived the cats thought I looked like an interesting treat.They don't bother with me anymore.I'm a quiet pet.I'm not much for cuddling, I like to stay in my "cave".I'll come out at meal time when you drop a few live crickets in my cage.-Angela Hodge, Sawyerville P.S.All my pets have been spayed or neutured except for the lizard, either through the Humane Society or the clinic at the SPA.GROOMING Proud sponsor of the Pet Corner • DOG TRAINING • DOG DAY CARE • PET FOOD & SUPPLIES The Animal Nutrition Centre 1730 Wellington S., Sherbrooke 81 9-348-1 888 Dog Obedience Courses starting January 8 * 53978