The record, 30 décembre 1997, mardi 30 décembre 1997

60 CENTS Townships Digest Storm promises to be one to write home about Weather watch Today's weather could be frightful.By the time this newspaper hit s your doorstep the biggest snowstorm of the year might have already hit Quebec.Environment Canada issued a storm warning as long ago as Sunday forecasting up to 30 centimetres of precipitation in some parts of the province.The storm, which is coming from the U.S., has already caused snow in southern states not used to seeing the white stuff.Around the Eastern Townships the storm was expected to begin around midnight and last 12 hours.The snow is predicted to change to freezing rain overnight so check road conditions before travelling today.Winds of up to 50 km/h are expected to make driving conditions miserable.Environment Canada is also forecasting that the freezing rain will change back to snow this morning.Total accumulation in the Townships should be between 5 to 10 centimetres.At least the temperature will be moderate.Today’s forecasted high is 2 C with a low of -8 C for predicted for tonight.Today’s Weather Rain and snow Complete weather: pace 2 Inside Ann Landers .12 Community Births and Forum .6 Deaths .II Sports .10 Classified .14 Theme Page: Comics Crossword .13 .15 Agriculture .7 .record m The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Looking to buy something?Sherbrooke: 569-9525 Knowlton: 242-1188 Tuesday, December 30, 1997 65 get pink slips Kmart to close Granby store By Paul Cherry Sherbrooke Attention Kmart shoppers! The major retailer, one of the biggest in Canada, is shutting the doors of ten of its stores, including one in Granby.The closings are expected to include more than 1200 layoffs across the country early in the new year.Surprisingly, the announcement comes after retailers are reporting one of the strongest holiday shopping seasons on record.Yet Kmart Canada Co.announced yesterday it will close 10 of its 122 stores by February or March.The closings include the Kmart in Granby located in the shopping mall Les Galaries de Granby.The 65 employees of the store - 30 full-time and 35 part-time -found out the news in a general assembly meeting yesterday morning.Other closings announced include one in Rimouski, three in Ontario, and two in British Columbia.The Kmart is one of a few major stores in the mall.One of Kmart’s competitors, Zellers, is opening a store right across the street from the mall.Yesterday, managers at the Kmart in Granby were referring all questions to their Toronto offices.Graham Spicer, general manager of marketing for the chain said each store had a particular reason for being closed.Frosty Friend PERRY BEATON/CORRESPONDENT Mitchell Young and a vast number of relatives gathered at their Church Street home in Lennoxville to spend a beautiful Christmas Day building this fabulous snowman.At least 20 people stopped by to take pictures of the wonderous sculpture.We will see what today's snowfall does to him and his neighborhood.Although he said he couldn’t specify why the Granby store was closing he said, “all were underperforming and not profitable.” The Kmart executive said the company sent representatives to discuss things like pensions and to answer questions with the employees.It appears all 65 will lose their jobs as well as 1200 people across the country by March.The company’s president, George Heller, reportedly said the company is no longer interested in investing more money in the chain of stores even though the group that now owns Kmart Canada Co.has only controlled it for less than six months.“Mr.Heller was very open, forthright and up front when the new management took over, saying that there would be some closings in order to keep the whole company going,” Spicer said.See Kmart, page 3 afijh Mew Tetri vm mmmMÊmiÊmÊKJËmm&mJm4a*MtÊHÊÈÊmÊmÊÊmÈmÊÊmmmKmÊmÊiÊÊaiKKmmmm »’mi Restaurant St Pub 842-2971 55 Main St., North Hatley page 2 Tuesday, December 30, 1997 RECORD: Full agenda for ’98 Memorable moments of life this year With the approach of the New Year, I couldn’t refrain from looking back over the past 12 months.What follows is a quick synopsis of my highlights of 1997, in more or less chronological order: 1.Letting my hair go au naturel, seeing my grandmother’s reflection in the mirror frequently, and managing to still feel relatively young: 2.Being part of The Record’s centennial, thus getting to participate in all kinds of activities, and to dress up from time to time; 3.Managing the sugar camp fires, not burning the pans and ending up with thick, golden sweet stuff; 4.Expanding my collection of primroses; 5.Welcoming more than 90 friends and relatives to our annual garden party; 6.Auction-going, bringing home more cups and saucers and a black velvet headband that looks like it came from the 1920s -1 can’t wait for next Halloween; 7.Enjoying the Maxville Highland Games, Grosse Isle, all kinds of Townships festivals and celebrations, time spent with friends and moments in my own back yard; 8.Witnessing my brother’s wedding and not crying -1 was too busy taking photographs; 9.Surprising my husband with a limousine ride on his 50th birthday; 10.Marveling at the changes that adolescence brings - increased maturity, the need to socialize, height - both young men now look down on me.I can’t look back without also looking ahead.Here are a few of my hopes for 1998: Susan Mastine 1.Putting my gentle thoughts and good intentions into actions; 2.Remembering my own youth when my teenagers play loud music, ask to go out, decline to accompany us, 3.Exercising more, i.e., moving more than my fin-gers, facial muscles, and gray matter; 4.Drinking more water and eating healthy food; 5.Keeping my office neater, thus being able to find things immediately -which reminds me of the game played at the ‘going-away’ party Townshippers’ Association held for me two years ago.Former president David Morgan responded to the question, “What will Susan find when she leaves Townshippers?” with the quip, “Her desk!” Well, David, some things never change; 6.Doing our bookkeeping regularly, and not stuffing all of the bills and receipts in an envelope, all to be tallied during the last week of April; 7.Finding a memory booster, so I’ll have instant recall of names of people I know I know, of events that happened years and moments ago; 8.Completing our new bedroom, i.e., painting the 15 foot high peaked ceiling and walls, putting the floor covering down, installing the window and door casings, etc., etc.; 9.Finding ways to discreetly cope with real or perceived temperature changes - why am I exposed to such extremes and others not, especially not men?It’s not fair! 10.Contributing in some way to give hope to others.God bless us all.May 1998 bring you and yours peace, good will, health and happiness.Finding the best of the best The best of the Web in 1997 By klapointe(at)southam.ca Southam News Hamilton At year’s end, the pundits and critics reflect on the finest creations and most memorable events in the preceding 12 months.The Internet hasn’t yet developed the same sense of annual celebration.The virtual world is less loyal to borders, so it’s not surprising to find it less loyal to dates.Rather than save up its accolades for the end of the year, its best-of compilations are upgraded Today’s Weather J Thktpord , Minis * ./ I./ \ I' J Sherbrookev iCoWAMSVf • " f T- « .i V ¦*?Richmond/ i , u8méoaNti^w daily.The dozens of large-scale World Wide Web sites that house five-star pages seem to change each time you visit.The good news is that it’s not difficult to find the best of the best-of sites.From there you can be guided to many of the most instructive, intelligent, entertaining and passionate creations of the Internet.To skeptics of the new media there can be found strong answers.About the only problem is that the best of the Internet is also very modern and unconventional.Think of it not as a fine book, but as a great television station, spot on the radio dial, and shelf of a library.Some sites come with ambitious titles, like Top lper cent, Top Ten Links, Best of the Best of the Web, Best of the Best, 10 Best of the Web, Best of the Planet, Awards Central, or Best of the WWW.All include wide-ranging categories and strong sites within them.There is a healthy antidote to the male-oriented Web in the Best of the World Wide Web Women Sites, a very compelling place to find the best of whatis new in Your Web Scout, and some omnibus sites that appeal to the hip person within you in Project Cool, the ultra-smart Cool Site of the Day, and the excellent Cool Central.Best-of sites • Top 1 per cent: www.web-search.com/cool.html • Top Ten Links: www.toptenlinks.com • Best of the Best of the Web: www.microsoft.com/powered/bestof- best.htm •Best of the Best: top.monad.net/7/8severus • 10 Best of the Web: www.10-best.com • Best of the Planet: bestoftheplan-et.com •Awards Central: www.catalog, come/cgibin/var/krs/centrall .ht ml • Best of the World Wide Web: www.onetinc.com/best.html • Best of the World Wide Web Women sites: www.wwwomen.com/fea-ture/bestwww.shtml • Your Web Scout: www.web scout.com • Project Cool: www.projectcool.com • Cool Site of the Day: cool.infi.net/index.html •Cool Central: www.cool central, com I'SrANSTKAD REGIONAL forecasts MAX MIN Sherbrooke Rain 01 M12 Thetford Mines Snow MOI M14 Cowansville Snow 00 M12 Richmond Snow MOI MM Stanstead Rain 01 M12 Lac Megantic Rain 01 M12 Outlook for the Eastern Townships for Wednesday BENCE) by DANIEL SHELTON Light snow and blowing snow , max minus 8 Environment Canada : The source of the weather RANGE MARIN -r- «Wood & coal ¦Warming closet • Roasting oven 4350 Industriel Blvd.Sherbrooke HEY/HOW'BOUT SWITCHING WITH ME IWOULPNTMINP HAVING A LAMP LIKE TWAV I PONT REALLY NEEP ANOTHER TIE., 564-8333 MAY0E' TOGETHER WITH THE PERSON 0EHINPYOUWE CAHWRK SOMETHING OUT NEVER MINP T7 \ iz-tof SuelT/tl -fl-1- *• * i* i 4, a»*4*fcfc- * THE' Tuesday, December 30, 1997 page 3 Briefs No tax hike for Dunham Thanks to a construction boom in Dunham in 1997, residents there won’t see tax increases, while municipal workers will be getting a slight raise.In 1998 Dunham will have to pay $131,416 in provincial government cost transfers, as well as a one per cent pay increase for town employees.Meanwhile property taxes will remain at 97.4 cents per $100 evaluation.Additional taxes, including garbage collection and a special tax to pay for the gymnasium at the school also remain the same.According to Dunham mayor Pierre Bernier, the town was in a better position to handle cost increases because of new construction and cutting expenses to the bone.In the last year about a dozen new homes were built in the municipality, and numerous other homeowners carried out extensive renovation projects.The end result was a higher property evaluation role, and thus, more tax revenue expected for the year ahead.Nasty walk in the woods A man was injured during a late night walk in the woods in Iron Hill Sunday morning.The man was walking with friends at about 1:30 a.m.in the woods near his father’s house.During the walk he fell several metres into a ravine.His friends then carried him back to the family home on Centre Road, where he was taken by ambulance to the Brome-Missisquoi Perkins Hospital.He was treated for a cut to the back of the head and injuries to a shoulder.Snowboarder injured A snowboarder remains in serious condition in hospital in Greenfield Park after hitting a pole at the Bromont ski hill Sunday afternoon.The' British man was snowboarding on a difficult run late in the afternoon when he hit the chair lift pole.By the time ambulance attendants arrived on the scene the 27-year-old was vomiting blood.He was immediately taken to the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital, but due to his condition was transferred to the Charles-Lemoyne Hospital in Greenfield Park.Nez Rouge tops record The Brome-Missisquoi and Haute-Yamaska Operation Nez Rouge’s are setting new participation records and the holiday season isn’t even over yet.As of Monday the Brome-Missisquoi Operation Nez Rouge, which covers all of the Brome-Missisquoi MRC, reported that it had given 1063 rides to holiday revellers who chose not to drive themselves home.That’s 101 more than in the entire 1996 edition.Some nights they gave rides to as many as 120 people, said spokesman Mario Landry.In the Granby-Waterloo-Saint-Ce-saire Operation Nez Rouge, volunteers picked up their 2000th party goer Saturday night.That shatters the 1996 record, when 1524 people called for a lift Operation Nez Rouge wraps up December 31.Payroll tables on the way Employers will have to wait a bit longer before getting their 1998 payroll tables from the federal government.In a press release from Revenue Canada, the taxman said a decrease in Employment Insurance deductions means they now have to revise all of their payroll tables.The tables are expected to be available by mid-January.In the meantime Revenue Canada is advising employers to continue using their 1997 tables.Beware Sleeping Buddha Consumers are being warned not to take Sleeping Buddha capsules, because some of them have been contaminated with prescription drugs.Sleeping Buddha is a traditional Chinese herbal remedy used to treat insomnia and restlessness.It is commonly found in health food and drug stores in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.Two lots of the herbal capsules have been tested and found to contain flurazepam or esatzolam, drugs belonging to the benzodiazepines class of prescription medications.If taken during pregnancy, these drugs can cause nervous disorders and birth defects in the unborn child.Consumers of Sleeping Buddha are asked to return their pills to the store where they were purchased.More money for safety In the wake of the December 16 Air Canada crash in Fredericton, N.B., the Canada Safety Council is calling for a careful look at risk management.“In this age of tight budgets and dwindling resources the time has arrived for this country to seriously look at how we manage risk, including airport emergency services,” said CSC president Emile J.Therrien.Over 9000 Canadians die every year in accidents, 3347 in traffic fatalities.Though that total is down from 1973 when 6700 people died in traffic accidents, the CSC says it’s still too much.In that same period the number of cars and licensed drivers has nearly doubled.Therrien said more public money should be spent on ensuring the highest level of public safety in all aspects of life.Tasty town CAROLINE KEHNE/CORRESPONDENT \ *"*»*«< IS li An entire edible gingerbread village stands in the lobby of the Inn at Essex at Essex, Vermont.The village, which consists of homes, a barn, a church and a train station constructed of gingerbread, chocolate, icing and marzipan, are part of an elaborate holiday display prepared annually by students and staff of the New England culinary Institute.All will be on display to the public throughout the holidays.KMART:- Continued from page 1 During the summer the parent company in the U.S., Kmart Corporation in Michigan, sold its operations on this side of the border to a group of three investment companies.The group included the Capital d’Amerique CDPQ.Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which invests funds from the province’s public sector pension and insurance plans.The other two investment partners are based in the U.S.Kmart Corp.received $185 million and retained a more than 12 per cent interest in the company.The takeover included installing Heller as the new president and CEO.Before that he was an executive with Bata Industries.In November the company underwent a restructuring with the objective of reaching what they refer to as their target customer, the 25 to 49-year-old female shopper.It introduced new product lines like Martha Stewart Everyday and others.Part of the restructuring included bringing in three new executives from other retailers like Wal-Mart and Eaton’s to run different branches of Kmart Canada’s operations.Before the closures, the company ran 122 Kmarts across Canada and employed more than 12,000 nationally.It is the third largest retailer in the country with sales of more than $1 billion in 1996.Spicer would not confirm whether or not other closings might be announced soon.“This was a gut-wrenching process for us,” he said.“It’s not something we want to go through again anytime soon.” mfflmgnmMmmam r 1 Prime Rib ROAST $495|b.É t* J smoked SALMON Q95 J Atlantic & Sockeye 1 v /lb.l Lean, Smoked $069 | BONELESS HAM dL lb.i* j y, page 4 Tuesday, December 30, 1997 ¦ ¦THE» RECORD Foster family doesn’t want to return children to birth parents Tom between two families By Randy Boswell Southam News Ottawa An Iranian-born sister and brother living in Ottawa are the focus of a custody battle between the birth parents who sent them to safety and the foster parents who provided it.It is a story filled with sorrow, each person an unwitting victim of political upheaval, the imperfection of justice and the limitless capacity of people to love.Sara Pakbaz, 13, and her brother Saman, nine, were born in Iran in the 1980s - the wrong place and time for millions of children who suffered the after-math of Iran’s fundamentalist revolution, violent resistance within the country by Mujahedeen rebels and years of cross-border conflict with Iraq.By 1990, their mother, Mahsomeh Aliabadi, and father, Mehdi Pakbaz, were targeted as opponents of the Iranian government and the couple fled with their children to northern Iraq.But the Gulf War in early 1991 sparked violence throughout Iraq and a painful decision by Sara and Saman’s parents, whose movements were constrained by their association with the Mujahedeen.Daughter and son were smuggled to safety, first to Jordan and later to countries in Europe and North America.The Pakbaz children arrived in Ottawa in 1992, were each issued a renewable “minister’s permit” and lived in several foster families before meeting Turkish-born Nes-rin Behbahani and her Iranian-born hus- band, Masoud.The Behbahanis, landed immigrants who came to Canada in 1990, provided a secure, happy home for the Pakbaz children as they mastered English and immersed themselves in North American life.The children’s remarkable adjustment is captured in a report for Ottawa’s family court system.It says the foster parents “must be given credit for the care and security they have provided for Sara and Saman.” They “have felt blessed with the arrival of these two young children.They have provided excellent care.” It also details genuine efforts by Aliaba-di and Pakbaz - despite living as political fugitives and refugees through much of this decade - to reunite with their children.Their migration from Iraq, “fraught with exposure to bombing and active warfare as well as to political persecution and torture,” eventually took them to Turkey and then Denmark, where they were granted refugee status.But the closer the couple came to their children, the frostier their relationship grew with the Behbahanis.In the court assessment, the Behbahanis are described as having taken guardianship of the children believing they were orphans.Later, after Aliabadi and Pakbaz found the children and began communicating with the Behbahanis, both families seemed to think Sara and Saman would join their birth parents and their younger sister, Raha.Finally, as Aliabadi and Pakbaz tried to immigrate to Canada from Denmark, it became clear a custody battle was brewing.In 1996, the children’s natural mother was issued a minister’s permit.She arrived in Ottawa on June 27.Initially, she was granted only supervised visits with Sara and Saman, largely because of claims by the Behbahanis that the children were at risk of being abducted to Denmark or the Middle East.Both sets of parents hired lawyers and sought permanent guardianship of the children.In July 1996, an Ottawa family court judge ordered a professional assessment that took almost a year to complete.The report, by a psychologist and a social worker, describes the children as struggling with an intense “conflict of loyalties” and suggests both sets of parents are loving, competent and ultimately guided by what they perceive to be the children’s best interests.It says the custody decision - still probably months away - will be agonizing.“What we seem to have here is a set of unfortunate mistakes, that were made without malice, that have resulted in these children having two sets of good and competent parents available.To choose one set of parents over the other will deny what positives each adult has been able to provide for these children.” The report recommended the birth parents be granted full custody but pro- poses “some unusual arrangements for their ongoing care” - namely, a gradual transfer of custody to the birth parents but long-term involvement in the children’s lives by the foster parents.It also recommends that Ottawa “be encouraged to make whatever arrangements are necessary to permit the children and their birth parents to remain in Canada as landed immigrants.” Aliabadi says she is making the report public because she is frustrated with the lack of progress on the case since the assessment was completed this spring.Although she now has unsupervised visitation with Sara and Saman every two weekends and on alternate Wednesday nights, she says there are no guarantees the court will rule in her favor.And, she says, her refugee status remains unclear and there are no signs her husband will be officially admitted to this country.Pakbaz came to Ottawa a month ago using forged documents.He did it “because my wife, my kids, my family are here.” He faces a deportation hearing on Jan.5 and fears that “if I’m forced to go back (to Denmark) I won’t be able to come back.” The children’s foster father said he would not discuss them until he gets advice from his lawyer.He said he is worried “the children are going to lose their opportunity to live in Canada” and stressed that “they’ve been living with us for five years.” A wallet stolen six years ago causes mix-up Mistaken identity lands Canadian in Rv Take Rnnprt -a u.,4.i r*.» .By Jake Rupert Southam News Ottawa In a case of mistaken identity, a Canadian PhD student was thrown in a Chicago jail and almost shipped to Florida for a crime he didn’t commit.Brian Radke, 32, is completing an economics doctorate at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.He was on his way back to school on Boxing Day after spending Christmas with his parents in Vancouver when he was arrested and jailed during a Chicago stopover.Radke was wanted for failing to appear in court on charges stemming from a robbery in Key West four years ago.Radke’s wallet had been stolen six years ago and someone had assumed his identity.He tried to explain this, but it fell on deaf ears.He was eventually re- leased, but only after an Ottawa-area MPP intervened.“I feel a lot better now, but for a while it was a nightmare,” a shaken Radke said.Radke’s wallet was stolen in 1991 while he was camping in the Maritimes.It ended up in the hands of someone who assumed his identity.And when that man was arrested for a robbery in Key West in 1992, he produced Radke’s identification.The man was released on a promise to appear in court a few months later but he failed to show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest.Now, every time Radke and his wife Natalie Hamilton, of North Gower, near Ottawa, have crossed the border, he has to explain that he is not a robber.“It’s a serious hassle, but, after a little while and a couple phone calls, they let me go across, but this time that wasn’t the case," he said.In Vancouver, he talked to a customs agent before being allowed to get on his flight.He told the agent his story and boarded the plane.But when he arrived in Chicago, twc armed customs officials and two plain clothes police officers met him just out side the plane door.“It was surreal.I just couldn’t believe what was happening,” Radke said.He was allowed to call Hamilton, then was taken to the city police’s central booking station, where he was finger printed and put in a cell with two othei inmates.“I thought the fingerprints would prove right away that they had the wrong guy and I would be released,” Radke said Instead, he spent the night sitting on a Chicago jail metal bench in of one of the most violent city jails in the U.S., eating baloney and white-bread sandwiches.In the meantime, Hamilton contacted her parents, who reached MPP David Pratt.Pratt spent most of Saturday trying to sort out the mess.By 4 p.m.Chicago time, Radke’s prints had been compared to the Key West robbery suspect and he was released.“I’m really not impressed with the (customs official) I talked to in Vancouver.I mean what sense would it make for a grad student from Canada to fly down to Key West and mug somebody for $50, then declare who I am whenever I’m asked by officials?” To avoid a repeat of this trying experience, Radke will ask the FBI for a letter explaining the situation.^ Don't get caught.Call "Weather One on One" * before leaving! Fee of $1.9S ^ minuh> 1 900 565-4455 & 6 sppipp»^! Environment Environnement Canada Canada 1 THE < Tuesday, December 30, 1997 page 5 Township kids have grown up without knowledge of their own Loyalist background If there is any doubt about Loyalists.Concerning the article in The Record of December 1, “It’s a Myth the Townships Were Settled by Loyalists” It strikes me the whole article was just a steamed up reply to that someone, (descended from a Loyalist) who dared to question the author about his ancestry.I am sure most of our Township readers would consider the article just a lot of nonsense, assuring themselves the writer did not really mean much of what he wrote.However, some descendants of Loyalists no doubt found it quite insulting (especially the part about the mutineers) and arrogant (especially that most Loyalists settled in Montreal).The author said he was half a Montrealer so would naturally make that claim.Others, not knowing the truth too well, might be, by now, pretty disillusioned and mixed up about their origins or where to find some truth.I myself will elaborate on the last possibility.N.B.One should read “The Loyalists of the Eastern Townships” published by the Sir John Johnson Branch of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada in 1984.No SPECIAL list Since there never was any special list of Loyalists made for Lower Canada, as there was in 1789 for Upper Canada, a sincere effort was made in this book to show that the Eastern Townships did have bona fide Loyalists among their settlers.The truth is that a representative was sent to the Eastern Townships of Quebec from the Toronto based Loyalist headquarters back in the 1950s to accomplish such work and set up branches in Quebec.For the benefit of our readers I will add that there are now three Loyalist branches in Quebec, one in Montreal, one in Brome-Missisquoi and one in the Sherbrooke-Lennoxville area.All have been doing good work in establishing origins of Loyalist families here in the Townships.Another interesting book on the subject, is “The Loyalists of Quebec” put out by the Montreal Heritage Branch, which covers many of the Townships Loyalists too.Now, what about Nicholas Austin, the Quaker from New Hampshire who settled on Austin Bay in 1792?He was a little ahead of time, but then, he had helped Governor Benning Wentworth of N.H.to escape to Nova Scotia early in the Revolution so the Americans were after him.He was respected by the British authorities at Quebec City for his loyalty, was given grants of land in Bolton Town- ‘Late Loyalists’ settled in Stukely, Brome, and the Waterloo - Frost Village parts of Shefford.There are now three Loyalist branches in Quebec, one in Montreal, one in Brome-M i s s i s q u o i and one in the Sherbrooke Lennoxville ship for himself and Associates and a Charter in 1797.No question there, ask the people of Austin, they will set you right on that.Or, you could read “Nicholas Austin, the Quaker and the Township of Bolton” by H.B.Shufelt, a documentary history published by BCHS in 1971.1 would expect Nicholas was on your exception list.The Townships had been opened for settlement by 1792 and opportunities of this kind offered.Studying what was happening during the Revolutionary War in the land that became the State of Vermont, helps to understand the origins of some of our early settlers.We learn that Brattleborough and New-fane were nests of Tories (Loyalists) during the War and after.After the War the Americans moved in on them and unfortunately that area did not become British as they perhaps expected, instead it became the State of Vermont in 1791.Even though the war was over, they chose to leave their homes rather than be second class citizens (as we would say today) because of the stand they had taken.They were called the “Late Loyalists” by our historians.This group of Loyalists were the ones that moved finally into Canada and settled in the Townships of Stukely, Brome, and the Waterloo - Frost Village parts of Shefford.They now had a chance to get away from their new unrelenting neighbours and make a new life in Canada.The New-fane people who settled in Brome and Sutton would have included the families of Willard, Knowlton, Foster, Williams, Robinson and Wood.The Samuel Willard Papers (which we have in BCHS Archives) tell all about the Newfane, Brattleborough people.One historian said the papers were overwhelming.Someone, someday may have the courage to bring them to light.Samuel Willard, the leader of the settlers in Stukely Township was the son of an old British Colonial soldier, Major Joshua Willard.His wife was the daughter of Luke Knowlton.Willard’s efforts to get the Townships set up properly took him many trips to Quebec to deal with the difficult Land Committee.All this is well told in his papers so that history would give us a place.English universities in this province, until recently, have manifested a complete disregard of the history of the people of the Townships.Township kids have grown up through the years having missed acquiring knowledge of their own interesting historical Loyalist background.Even French Quebecers call all us English “Les Loyalistes” which make us feel we are somebody after all.Brattleborough roots The same trend of origins can be applied to East Farnham, since the Wells family that settled there, were also from Brattleborough.Their father was the noted Tory (Loyalist) spy, Samuel Wells, a well-documented Loyalist.Governor Haldimand’s papers mention him along with Luke Knowlton and John Savage who were serving with the British Secret Service.The Wells family life in Brattleborough during the 1780s was not a happy one because of constant harassing and dispossession.Since one of the daughters married Governor Prescott’s (of Lower Canada) secretary, Samuel Gale, influence was used to find a home in 1798 in East Farnham Township where this large family moved to.I think they could well be called Loyalists.Last July, I was invited to attend the Savage Family Reunion which took place in Spencertown, New York.1 am glad 1 was able to go as it brought to life events 1 had read about concerning Captain John Savage’s narrow escape from death in serving the British cause during the Revolutionary War.The Albany jail was not far away in which he spent different times having been captured by the authorities when slipping home to see his wife and family.It must have been difficult to leave their nice old home at the time when all Loyalist wives and children were banded together and shipped up Lake Champlain to Canada.The years spent, after the war ended in the 1780s, while living with other refugees on Caldwell's Upper Manor, near the boundary line, were not easy either with the Allens wanting him out.In 1792 the Townships were opened for settlement and (Savage had already chosen Shefford) as his future home) he lost no time in moving his family there.The Savages today are proud to bear the name.My visit to Spencertown opened my eyes as to how it all happened.Different story to tell The Missisquoi Loyalists have quite a different story as their loyalty was for a different reason.They were the groups of Palatine Germans that had settled in America in New York State less than half a century before the Revolutionary War broke out, by Queen Anne of England.She had rescued them from religious persecution.There was no question of their loyalty to the British Crown.They’d barely had time to build up homes in the Hudson River Valley when they were caught up in the War and driven northward and had to find refuge near the boundary in the area of High- gate and what is now Philipsburg and St.Armand.Here they decided to settle in spite of Haldimand and the British government orders to place them somewhere else.This is the mutiny you speak of.I could mention here that the Deutchers had brought their German bibles with them, one was rescued for our museum.It seemed they called themselves Deutchers, because I think Deutchland is another name for Germany.There were some real Dutch with them which mixes things up, like Dutch Street in Bedford.In a short time, everything was settled because Haldimand went back to England soon after the War ended and Sir Guy Carleton took charge as Governor again, and he favored Loyalists and so the Deutchers were allowed to stay where they were and the government even provided them with sustenance.Their descendants sleep peacefully in the Dutch Street Cemetery and you find the names Boomhower, Creller, Sheltus, Rhychart, Kemmel, Emmerick, Throop, (I think they were real Dutch) Bockus, Ploss, Primmerman, Rosenberger, Stine-hour, Synder and many more.They had come a long way to find a home.Missisquoi County which has included St.Armand and the Manor (the area around Clarenceville and Noyan), is part of the Eastern Townships.At least two Canadian histories state that Loyalists settled in the Eastern Townships.One is The History of the Dominion of Canada by W.H.Clements 1897 p.134 Smart settlers He writes: The first comers into the Townships were Loyalists, most of them were leaders of the settlers in reality, and they brought with them an industrious and intelligent class of settlers.The other is A History of Canada by W.L.Grant 1916 p.136 He writes: “In Canada Loyalists took up land in the strip north of the American border and south of the seigniories on the St.Lawrence still known form the method of government introduced by them as the Eastern Townships.” If there is any doubt about Loyalists having settled in the Eastern Townships, turn to Mrs.C.M.Day’s History of the Townships (1869) pp.150, 153 and 154, 286, 316 and 357.It was her people who saw it all happening and told it to her.Anyone wishing to do research confirming that the Townships have a Loyalist (but not exclusively Loyalists) heritage may contact Brome County Historical Society, Knowlton where there is an abundance of material on the subject.Marion L.Phelps, Archivist Brome County Historical Society PAGE 6 Tuesday, December 30, 1997 C _____RECORD OMMUNITY FORUM People of Canada were forces of unitv As someone who considers himself fortunate beyond measure to be a Canadian citizen, I have to be grateful that my country faces a new year looking a little less likely to split open at the seams than it did last year at this time.And since last year’s chances looked better than 1995s that we’d stay intact, somebody must be doing something right.So who is it and what are they doing?Let’s have a look.And let’s start at the top.Is there a particular person that Canadians can identify and credit as a unifying force?Any chance that our Head Of State, Queen Elizabeth, is responsible for pulling our country back, little as it might be, from the brink of disillusion?Surely no one will take offense if I suggest that she is not.And her Canadian representative, the Governor General?If he is, it’s a well kept secret.So here we are at the CEO’s office.Can Prime Minister Chretien be described, in Jacques Parizeau’s words, as the “steady hand on the tiller” after his recent assertion that the federal government, given the right circumstances, would negotiate the break-up of the country?If that unifying force does not reside at 24 Sussex Drive but somewhere else in Ottawa, where is it?Is there someone close enough to the prime minister with the influence needed to compensate for his boss’ inadequacies?The PMO or the cabinet, maybe?Some might credit Stéphane Dion, our federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, but it seems to me that his philosophical musings frustrate more than they satisfy when he debates so skillfully in support of unity one day, then gently lifts his alleged opponents off the hook the moment he sees they are upset.One wonders whether his well-reasoned arguments in support of one Canada are truly dear to his heart or just a finely tuned academic exercise.At times, his Quebec nationalism seems to defy his commitment to Canada.Could there be a force toward unity somewhere in Parliament’s Opposition?If there is and it is exercising an influence powerful enough to offset the government’s ineptitude, it is doing so in a manner too subtle for this scribbler to detect.If the force of unity - and there evidently are such forces - are not resident in the nation’s capital, could they reside in the provincial capitals?Could it be that there is a provincial premier who is restoring Canadians’ faith in their country?Surely our own premier, Monsieur Bouchard, would be offended if I were to suggest that he might be guilty of such a sin, so I won’t.Instead, I’ll ask who is.Is there a Messiah in our midst?In light of the Calgary declaration, I confess that I am Thomas.With so little respect felt for those in power, you might wonder what it is that keeps this volunteer sending his thoughts to the newspapers?Well, it’s no secret.It’s the people of this country in whom I have faith.While I often marvel that we elect those I do not trust, we also tell the untrusted when the opportunity arises what we think of their opinions.This will never be better demonstrated than it has repeatedly been with the never-ending and ill-conceived attempts to re-write the country’s constitution for the benefit of the governors - a process that began almost the moment they got their hands on it (when it was patriated) and Canada no longer had to go on bended knee to London to amend it.But despite the political elite’s devious efforts, we got the message across by due process in 1990 and ditched Meech Lake’s first edition.Then again in the second (titled Charlottetown), by referendum in 92, and I have no doubt that the third version, the Calgary Declaration, will be put where it belongs too once it comes up for insertion in our supreme law.The requirement of referenda in BC and Alberta for insertion to happen dooms it even if Quebec ratifies it, which it won’t any day soon.Now this is just one example of the checks and balances that are built into our democratic system that protect us from the unwise and the unscrupulous.As I see it, the 1990s will in time be looked upon as a decade of darkness as far as Canada’s political leadership is concerned, but an age of enlightenment on the part of the people.And in this most wonderful and fortunate of countries, of we can survive politicians, what more can we ask?Viewpoint Don Healy ¦ THE— - Record a division of Communications Quebecor inc.2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.J1K1A1 Fax: 819-569-3945 Newsroom e-mail: record@interlinx.qc.ca Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Sunil Mahtani Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Susan Mastine Community Relat.(819) 569-9511 Julie Vinette Adv.Dir.(819) 569-9525 Richard Lessard Prod.Mcr.(819) 569-9931 Mark Guillette Press Superv._(819) 5694931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton, Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (514) 242-1188 Fax: (514) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 104.00 7.28 7.23 $118.51 6 MONTHS 53.50 3.75 3.72 $60.97 3 months 27.00 1.89 1.88 S30.77 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record ordered one week after publication are available at $1.00 per copy.The Record was founded on February 7,1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.Accounting Advertising Circulation Newsroom .(819) 569-9511 (819) 569-9525 (819) 5699528 (819) 5696345 Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD, CDNA, NMB, QCNA Mm © 1997 by NEA, Inc Fruitcake head Letters to the Editor How long can we continue?Dear Editor: It is true that Bishop’s is feeling the impact government cuts to its budget.(The Record, Dec.17,1997).However, I am not entirely convinced that “budget cuts are affecting the quality of education,” at least in the Division of Social Sciences.Yet.Despite substantial cutbacks, the Division of Social Sciences continues to offer and maintain high academic quality in our geography, political science, psychology and sociology programs.Indeed, the Division has stretched its resources to the limit and is hard-pressed to sustain more cutbacks in finances.However, the Division is coping admirably.Professors in the Division have been teaching some courses pro bono.At the same time, we are doubling our efforts to launch new and exciting programmes and projects.In 1997, three members of the Division won separate and substantial research grants and the Social Sciences remains as one of the most prolific Divisions in the realm of research and publications.In addition, we have Dean of Social Sciences new facilities - a brand new state-of-the art “smart room” which boasts twenty-four work stations - and each department has its own computer lab.We still have a solid undergraduate library which will even get better with some of the new CD-ROM initiatives that we are considering.Above all, the Division still offers small classes and personalized attention, features that one simply cannot find at other universities.Put otherwise, one cannot find a better university for a young person, wishing to pursue an outstanding education in geography, political science, psychology, or sociology.Amazingly and as a result of the indefatigable dedication of Bishop’s faculty and staff, the quality of education in the Division of Social Sciences has not declined so far.However, I wonder how long my Division and Bishop’s (and other Quebec universities) can continue to offer high quality education in the context of the financial constraints imposed on us by a government which claims to be fully dedicated to preparing young Quebecers for participation in the “knowledge society” of the next century.Sincerely, Andrew F.Johnson, PhD Tuesday, December 30, 1997 page 7 AGRICULTURE Pork-carving prototype produced in Canada New robot turns Babe into bacon , ¦ ; À am* By Richard Foot Southam News Toronto When Canadians sit down to breakfast a year from now, their bacon won’t have been cut by skilled butchers on a factory line.It will most likely have come from the claws of a robot.That’s because Canada’s pork packers believe that knife-wielding, computer-driven machines are key to making their factories more efficient in 1998, in the face of growing American competition.In fact, the industry has a prototype robot proving itself in an unnamed Quebec test factory.It cost the Canadian Meat Council and the federal government more than $1 million to build over three years.Researchers say it’s the first robotic pork butcher in the world.“This particular technology, as far as we know, we’re ahead of the world on this,” says Dave Proulx, technology coordinator for the meat council.“This is truly leading edge.It’s something we’re very excited about.” The robot looks like a cross between the Canadarm and the extremities of Robby the Robot on the 1950s episodes of Forbidden Planet.Except this robot isn’t destined for outer space.It’s designed to replace some of the people who turn pigs into pork chops inside Canada’s hog plants.Those plants have been under pressure this decade from giant American competitors, who, because of their size and lower wage scales, can process more pigs more cheaply than Canadian companies.The U.S.factories are luring live hogs away from Canada and threatening to eat up local and overseas retail SOUTHAM This $1 million robot was designed to replace some of the people who turn pigs into pork chops.markets.So the Canadian pork industry is restructuring to fend off the competition.Schneider Corp., Fletcher’s Fine Foods and Maple Leaf Foods are all building modern new production lines in the West.Maple Leaf is also demanding tighter contracts from some unionized workers, which has led to angry labor disputes at pork plants in three provinces.And now, workers also face job pressure from the robots that their industry is eager to employ.Maple Leaf Foods did not return phone calls on the subject.But Claude Bolduc, a coordinator of the robotics project, says the computerized butcher would be a perfect fit with the state-of-the-art hog plant Maple Leaf plans to open in Brandon, Man., in 1999.Schneider opened a factory in Winnipeg last year and the company’s president of agribusiness says he’s keen to get one of the robots working on the line there.“We’re definitely excited about this technology,” says John Lauer.He says one robot could replace four people now toiling in a repetitive, high-stress workplace.“In most manufacturing environ- Four people have died, three are in critical condition Chicken cull ordered to halt ‘bird flu’ in By Graham Hutchings Southam News Hong Kong The Hong Kong government will slaughter its entire chicken population of up to 1.3 million birds today in an effort to wipe out the territory’s deadly “bird flu.” The decision came after birds at a chicken farm and wholesale market were found to be infected with the H5N1 virus.The two sites have been declared infected areas: nothing, whether animate or inanimate, can be moved in or out without permission.Previously the virus had been found only in poultry imported from the Chinese mainland, the source of about 80 per cent of all chickens in Hong Kong.Birds at the 200 chicken and mixed poultry farms will be placed in containers and gassed, while those at shops and market stalls - of which there are close to 1,000 - will be killed by their owners on orders from the government.The carcasses will be disinfected and placed in sealed bags before burial at six landfill sites.“For the sake of ensuring public health we have decided that all chickens in the territory will be slaughtered.I believe this can be done inside 24 hours,” said Stephen Ip, the secretary for economic services.The government will compensate farmers whose stock is destroyed.Authorities on both sides of the border introduced a ban on imports last Tuesday, pending the establishment of a certification system to ensure that only uninfected birds could enter Hong Kong.Officials say the discovery of the deadly virus in chickens on a local farm does not rule out the possibility that the disease originates on the mainland.So many chickens have entered Hong Kong in the past few days that cross-contamination between local and imported birds cannot be ruled out.They believe that the only sure way to eliminate the infection is to kill all the chickens in Hong Kong and cleanse farms, stalls and shops.Once the mainland authorities have established a new monitoring system, the import ban can be lifted.New measures designed to prevent ments automation is coming forward, often at the expense of labor,” Lauer says.“And it will continue to be so.” The robot was built at the Centre de Recherche Industrielle du Quebec, a provincially owned research and development agency near Montreal.“The equipment we’ve developed is designed to cut the pork bellies,” says CRIQ’s Claude Bolduc.“It replaces the rib pullers - the butchers who take the portions of the pig and make ribs and bacon.” Canada’s busiest pork plant kills and butchers about 400 hogs an hour, says Bolduc.One of his robots can handle 600 an hour.Bolduc says his agency simply borrowed existing robot technology and squeezed it into the needs of the meat industry.“These are standard robots,” he says.“They have a computerized system with artificial vision that controls the thickness of the meat being cut.The robot analyzes the portion that comes along the conveyor, determines where the knife will pass under the ribs, and cuts the meat.“Production never stops, the robot never gets tired, and it sharpens its own blade.” Bolduc says up to 14 work stations could be automated in most Canadian hog plants.So far the first prototype takes care of only one, although another robot for a second station is in the works.But Bolduc doesn’t believe the technology will take jobs from workers, saying automation tends to increase productivity in factories and therefore creates more jobs in other areas of a plant.Hong Kong any more people contracting bird flu will accompany the slaughter of chickens.Fourteen outpatient clinics have been designated for chicken farmers, retailers and poultry workers, groups believed to be at greatest risk from the disease.So far, 24 people are either known or believed to have fallen victim to the virus.Four have died and three are in critical condition.The remainder are described as being in satisfactory health or have made a full recovery.Experts say that preliminary evidence suggests the virus is transmitted mainly from bird to man.But they have not ruled out the possibility that it is being passed on by humans and that the current “cluster” of cases could develop into an epidemic. page 8 Tuesday, December 30, 1997 See all on Jan.1 Bingo! New Members Night at the club 1am convinced that George and Elma Jobel have a special aptitude for selecting gifts for whatever the occasion.Dec.10 was the night when new members, and their wives, are introduced at the club.Traditionally, to create an atmosphere of get-togetherness, we play bingo after supper.To see the colorful variety of prizes laid out at the front of the hall was a real attention-getter, thanks to the Jobels for their imagination.Had I left my Christmas shopping ’til later, I could have copied their choices and been sure of an enthusiastic response from the recipients.Thanks Geo and Elma.This was the last meeting before Christmas and you would have known by the colors that Christmas was upon us.Not only the red coats of members, but the ladies had dressed for the occa- sion in a phantasmagoria of reds, greens, sil- 1877 vers, etcetera.Of course Janice Q Graham was li)HERBROOKE tickling the ivories with a variety of seasonal songs, with which members joined in spontaneously on their favorites.The head table were all in place: Don Lougheed, lst-Vice introduced them and supper was on the way.Ed Stracchi-no was absent due to sickness, so the hall was quieter than usual.That’s not to say that we were quiet, only quieter.2nd-Vice Ron Smith proposed a toast to Canada and all enthusiastically joined in singing “0 Canada”.Pres Ed “The Echo” asked for guests to be introduced and Ed Mills invited Janice and Bill Hey-man to rise and to be acknowledged.1997 :G HOE Vs-LUB INC.Norm Glad-wish rose to propose a new member, Mr.Doug Macdonald, who was absent.Ed Mills seconded the proposal and we immediately voted to accept unanimously Mr.Macdonald.Pres.Ed then asked all to join him in thanking Reg and Jeanette Lacroix and the White Knights for a delicious meal complete with impeccable service.Gus Curmudgeon then brought his friend John Foster to the stage to sing “Green Christmas”.Gus is our only self-admitted ‘dummy’ - very outspoken, complaining and comical.He and John brought many chuckles and downright belly laughs before they got to the song.Then, instead of the choristers leading El Nino, El Schmino Have you looked outside lately?Why not treat your poor frozen car to a little hot chocolate with marshmallows?Or even better, Shell Winter Formula gasoline.It's specially blended for better starts and better combustion on days like today.And the best part is, it doesn't cost extra.Kinda warms the heart, doesn't it?Winter Formula FORMULA Seasons change.So do we.the sing-song, the choir led us in a round of carols and X-mas songs ending with, of course, “Jingle Bells”.Even I, ‘old Cec’, did not interrupt as I usually do.Pres.Ed then thanked Geo and Elma for the decorations and for organizing the bingo prizes, and thanked Janice for her pre-dinner music.He then called for the ‘half and half and Jean Tetreault walked off with $58 while Roger hastened to join her to protect that precious cash.Shirley Patton’s name was drawn for the beautiful centerpiece and Pearl Ball’s for a lovely corsage.New members Peter Meesen, his wife Gerry, and Robin Mallory and his wife, Jane, were called to the front to be officially recognized.Jane could not be present.Past Pres.Malcolm Juby welcomed these new members to the club and ‘charged them’ -explaining the club is a ‘dry’ club, that our language is expected to be exemplary (witness the “Bird”) and that we are all to do our darndest to continue in fun, frolic, fellowship and participation for this, the 120th year of the Sherbrooke Snow Shoe Club.Hon.Purveyor Melvin Bryant then collected the new members to fit them with white coats and explain their responsibilities as White Knights.John Foster asked for a show of hands as to the acceptability, at some future Ladies’ Nite, to have two, 40-minute comedies by a popular local group instead of a dance.A majority (46) were in favor.Pres.Ed then reminded all that the next meeting was President’s Reception at 6 p.m.on Jan.1, 1998, at which dinner would be ‘Cabaret Style’.Widows of past members are cordially invited.A dance will follow.The meeting was then turned over to Geo Jobel for bingo.Cec Blenkhorn Hon.Secretary Sherbrooke Snow Shoe Club THE RECORD is your newspaper.Criticism, praise, suggestions, ideas are always welcome.Call or write to us: Community relations: 569-9511 Newsroom: 569-6345 Knowlton office: 242-1188 2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke JlK 1A1 88 Lakeside, Knowlton JOE 1V0 Record ¦ THE»m Record Tuesday, December 30, 1997 page 9 Memories ofYuletide trees of yore O Tannenbaum: About this Christmas tree business As it began to warm up, though, it started releasing a strong and unpleasant odor.Before long, someone else close to the tree pronounced that it was a ‘skunk spruce’.(Another argued it was a cat spruce, but they realized quickly that their positions were not far apart.) A year ago, the drive home from the Brome Hotel wild game supper took longer than usual, with three inches of wet fresh snow on the road.And nearing home, a large lump loomed on the pavement, about a 100 yards before the south driveway.Under the white cover it was a chunky Christmas tree.I stopped and moved it onto the shoulder.In the morning it was still there so, accepting this as something meant to be, we put it to use on the lamppost in front of the main house.Hopefully our Yuletide bonus was not someone else’s major loss.A very recent Record article gave a brief history of the Christmas tree tradition.The practice began in Germany, it is revealed, and didn’t start over here until 1781.(By the way, it is apparently not true that Newfoundlanders decorate their trees with frozen fish heads.) Occasionally some avant-garde radio DJ will play the original version of O Tannenbaum.It’s kind of Wagnerian, sort of heavy and imposing for what is supposed to be a celebration.(Was it Mark Twain who said that Wagner’s music is better than it sounds?) There is a rowdy British pub song done to the same tune as O Tannenbaum.If you know them both, it’s hard not to think of one without the other.It starts out with, ‘The working class can kiss my—, / I’ve got the foreman’s job at last!’ But that’s not really very Christmassy, unless you are of the same frame of mind as the Grinch.y-vV.¦ v jNv •*>* • Ay mm If short-term memory serves, the group was called the Royal Canadian Kilted Yaks-men.They produced one comic video, than seem to have quietly disappeared.Two scrawny, shivering cartoon characters, not much more than stick figures, rode their mangy yaks while a panorama of north-ern landscapes slid by in the background.Their satirical national anthem, sung to the tune of God Save the Queen, began with ‘Our country reeks of trees, / Buzzards fly o’er us all.’ and contin- ues with several lines about what unwashed buffalo really smell like.Humor aside, the part about the country being dominated by trees rings true enough.It follows, naturally, that we should be the major player in the commercial pine, spruce, and balsam Christmas tree business.A recent article in The Record provided the statistical information, and while the actual figures elude me, the Eastern Townships accounts for the bulk of the produce.We have been vaguely aware of this for years, but I had no close contact with a major operation until my first job out this way in rural Compton County.redundant as that is, come to think of it.I lived in a hotel, and that’s not just a figure of speech in this case.I had a room, paid rent, and frequented the dining area as well as the other part.The family that owned and ran the place probably figured from the start that a second income would provide a buffer against the slumps and down-time in the hospitality business, especially in such a small-market area.They also owned and worked a Christmas tree farm.Most of the paperwork was handled out of the hotel office; starting in late November the truck drivers would stop by to pick up bills of lading, customs forms, and whatever.Tractor-trailer after tractor-trailer would pull up in front of the main entrance, idle a while, then head south for the U.S.border.This was never more than a minor inconvenience, and served as yet another remainder that the time was closing fast.When there were no more Christmas tree trucks, you had only about three days left to the big event.It was in this place too that I learned not any old spruce makes a good indoor decoration.At that time natural moss garlands, wreaths, and trees could be used in public buildings.A young fellow had generously offered to provide a tree from the farm for the group, and he and his dad delivered it, complete with homemade stand, early one morning about ten days before Christmas.Country Squire Brian Eddington Caroling at St.Thomas’ Anglican Church CAROLINE KEHNE/CORRESPONDENT Local Anglicans from Hemmingford, Clarenceville and Noyan attended a Christmas concert at St.Thomas’ Anglican Church in Noyan on Saturday, Dec.20.Reverend Ian Liversuch presided over the Advent service which included readings by church members and carol singing led by vocalists Linda Wand (left) ofHenryville and Liz Morgan of St.Bemard-de-Lacolle.This will be the last Christmas service in Noyan for Reverend Liversuch, who will be leaving in February the local parishes that he has served for the last six years for a new parish in Lasalle.- Caroline Kehne, Record Correspondent.New from Sears and StarChoice.Direct-to-Home satellite TV Sears offers a complete digital direct-to-home satellite system including a dish, receiver.$|S remote control, installation and a one-year maintenance agreement for only 749.98'.'A programming package must be purchased with the system.Call 1-800-361-6665 lor more information 12521 Copyright 1997.Sears Canada Inc. page 10 Tuesday, December 30, 1997 SPORTS Athletes seek other challenges Number of local road racers dropped in ’97 The local 1997 road running season had it’s ups and downs.While age-class winners posted excellent times, categories lacked depth as purely recreational runners turned to other pursuits.The overall race registration was down by about 20 per cent from 1996 and most events were dominated by older athletes.With the exception of the Philipsburg- Clarenceville-Toronto ‘Reynolds Clan,’ the refreshing presence of ‘running families’ with parents and youngsters legging it out together seems to be a thing of the past as the more tech-oriented pursuits vie for attention.Despite a solid core of regular participants, some local races are now in jeopardy.As usual, the calendar was a mosaic of personal stories, a mixed bag of success and disappointment.There was, as always, a strong upcurrent of improving runners reveling in their gains from race to race.Paramount among these was Bob Morell who not only lowered his PRs at distances from 5 kilometres to the marathon, but also lead all runners to win the 40-plus division of the combined West Island Running Circuit Series.In contrast, there was also a marked increase in the number of long-term competitors who acknowledged a decline in overall performance.Disturbing was the tendency of many of these veterans to choose alternative forms of expression for their physical exercise, rather than face the inevitable relegation to the back of the pack.On the positive side, there is a substantial shift from road running to the demanding domain of the biathlon, or triathlon, comprising various combinations of swimming, cycling, canoeing, running, horseback riding, snowshoe-ing, inline skating, and cross-country skiing.Events lasting three to six hours are commonplace.Excellent total body conditioning and endurance are mixed with tenacity and lightning reflexes by top performers.On the negative side, high-tech gear is expensive and demands a long-term commitment.Schedules are tight.Registration fees are high.Support crews are necessary.Long distance travelling is often required.Finding additional time for the simpler life of the roads can be difficult.Family members sometimes ridicule the flip-flop involved.Running suffers.Multidisciplinary races can abruptly become a battle for survival as Colin Gage learned in the white water canoe section of the Sugarbush Triathlon last spring.Always willing to tackle a new challenge, Colin soon found himself dodging jagged rocks in the 30 km/h spring flood torrents.Sleek racing canoes disappeared downstream as he struggled to maneuver his overweight craft, water crashing over the gunwales.With ingenuity, courage, and persistence, he wrestled the water beast to the end but exhaustion forced him out of the contest once back on shore.His response: “Just wait till next year!” Earlier this season, Colin used a little forced rest from his grueling hockey schedule to perfect his inline skating.He has since rolled with the best in close pursuit of the overall leaders while lowering his own 10k time down into the mid 20-minute range.Unfortunately, diversity tends to diminish the presence, at local events, of this tireless veteran of the roads and the track.Despite adversity, the roads and their warriors will still be there in 1998.This sport that dates human existence has seen its popularity ebb and flow throughout the ages.The purists carry it through the tough times and ensure its propagation to the next wave of interest.At once, it is a sport for the slow and the speedy, for the sleek and the awkward, for the gifted and the trained.Highly individual, yet renowned for the manner in which camaraderie and long-lasting friendships emerge from the solitude and sacrifice of years of training and racing.Its clarifying and calming effect on the spirit rivals the ancient healing meditations of the East.All this, and, running is still the cheapest game in town - by far.All the best for the New Year.Coming Events Jan.1 First Run Burlington 5k, 11 a.m., 46 Leddy Park Drive, Burlington Vt, Andrea Rhea, 802-864-0123.Please send information or comments to: Bill Williams, 1574 Mystic Rd., Bedford, Quebec, JOJ 1A0 Phone or Fax: 514-248-7273 Aerobic Sports Bill Williams Canadian junior hockey team is shooting for its sixth consecutive world championship Networks welcome new year with a bang TVData Canada’s two biggest hockey broadcasters are welcoming the new year with a bang along the boards.TSN’s coverage of the World Junior Hockey Championships in Helsinki, Finland, continues through the gold-medal game on Friday, Jan.2.Check local list- ings for teams and times.The Canadian juniors are shooting for their sixth consecutive championship.Paul Romanuk calls the action, while Gary Green and Bob McKenzie provide commentary.Sports on the SMALL SCREEN Ted Shaw NHL ALL STAR GAME ^3* I0U0H0I 3 I HT MM AI I OH At Y BAHTAM Ç lie SHIRBHOOKI IRC.f\ SHERBROOKE INTERNATIONAL S BANTAM TOURNAMENT PRESENTS The best players of the Tournament vs The best 15 year old players of the Quebec Midget AAA league Sherbrooke Sports Palace December 31st, 1997,1 p.m.Admission: $3.00 Adults $1.00 12-16 years old Free for children under 11 Internet site: http://tournoi-bantam.netrevolution.com E-mail: tibs@netrevolution.com TSN’s game this week is a New Year’s Day matchup featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs in Chicago to take on the Black-hawks on Thursday, Jan.1.Following a slow start, the Blackhawks gradually have been improving, while the Maple Leafs have picked up their play on the road.CBC-TV’s Hockey Night in Canada presents a special Friday edition this week.The Montreal Canadiens, one of the best road teams in the league, travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers.Don Cherry and Ron MacLean take their Coach’s Corner show on the road for - the game.On Saturday, Jan.3, CBC’s weekly doubleheader features Toronto at the New Jersey Devils in the opener followed by Montreal at the Vancouver Canucks.Former Maple Leafs forwards Doug Gilmour and Dave Andreychuk have led the Devils offensive attack this season.New Jersey has one of the best records in the league, and goaltender Martin Brodeur has been selected as one of the three netminders on the 1998 Canadian Olympic hockey team.• TSN rebroadcasts the Oscar-winning documentary When We Were Kings on Wednesday, Dec.31.The film follows the events leading up to the 1974 heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire.• On Sunday, Dec.28, the Utah Jazz are in Vancouver to play the Grizzlies in NBA action on CTV.The Detroit Pistons return to Toronto to take on the Raptors at the SkyDome Friday on TSN.The Raptors are in turmoil this sea- TVDATA TSN’s Bob McKenzie will be calling the shots for coverage of the World Junior Hockey Championships in Finland.son and have one of the league’s worst records.They are without general manager Isiah Thomas, who resigned in November, and several key players have suffered injuries.Brendan Connor hosts TSN’s coverage.• Outdoor Life Network’s continuing coverage of the snowboarding trials for the 1998 Canadian Winter Olympic team resumes Sunday with the men’s and women’s giant slaloms in Whistler, B.C. Tuesday, December 30, 1997 page 11 ¦¦—THE» RECORD Obituary BERNARD LENEY Graniteville, Quebec May 5,1930 - November 7, 1997 Bernard Leney was born in Graniteville, Quebec on May 5, 1930, son of the late Reginald Leney and Iva Bacon.He was predeceased by three brothers and one sister.In 1953 he married Lois Cooke of Fitch Bay and had four daughters -Katherine, Judy, Susan and Sandra.He attended school in Georgeville and Fitch Bay, then worked five years for Brodie Ltd., and Stanstead Granite Co.Ltd., in Graniteville and Iberville, the next 30 years, for Butterfields, then Litton Industries in Rock Island, followed by two years with International Cutting Tools.During this time he acquired a farm, his true vocation, and raised beef cattle.In 1986 he left ICT to farm full time, and also drove school buses for 12 years.Due to Alzheimer’s disease, he left ETRSB and last February was forced to sell the last of his cattle.Bernard maintained membership in The Butterfields Quarter Century Club, The Club Farmers Association and The Canadian Standardbred Association.His love of horses resulted in the ownership of several racehorses.He leaves to mourn his wife, daughters and their husbands, 11 grandchildren, four brothers and spouses, two sisters, two brothers-in-law and spouses, aunts, nieces and nephews.Bernard passed away November 7, 1997 at the Centre Hospitalier de Magog, Magog, Quebec.Visitation and funeral services were held at the Cass Funeral Home in Stanstead.Interment was at the Marlington Cemetery.Pallbearers were Robert Alger, Steven West, Dale Rediker, Doug Stevenson, Wilder Hatch and Melvin Smith.The many contributions to the Alzheimer’s Society and the Marlington Cemetery, the visitation of friends and their attendance at the funeral attest to Bernard’s friendly nature and neighborly spirit.He will be sadly missed by all who knew, and loved him.Kinnear’s Mills Mrs.L.Allan 424-3252 A Halloween party was organized for the children on Oct.31 at the Community Hall.Prizes went to Jerome Moren-cy, Jason Lowry, Sabrina Breton, Jeffrey Louis, and Damuel Quirion.The children collected for UNICEF.Thanks to Helen Lowry, Dixie Nadeau and Audrey Allan for organizing the party.In Memoriam DESCOTEAU-MCNAB, Travis - December 25, 1960 - December 27, 1980.Cherished memories of our beloved son and brother who was taken from us so suddenly and unexpectedly 17 years ago.Although we miss him sadly, Somehow we have a way To be close beside him In memories - everyday.We can still treasure every smile, Each tender word and look And keep them as a rose is pressed In memories treasured book.Some days our eyes shall see him The one we love so well Some day we’ll clasp his loving hand And never say farewell.We’ll put our arms around him And kiss his loving face, And maybe then, our broken hearts Will fall back into place.Missed with a grief beyond all telling, Loved with grief beyond all tears.Love MOM, DAD AND CHRIS AND FAMILIES GILLANDER - In loving memory of my husband Clarence, who passed away December 30, 1978.I think of you today As I have so often, And feel again the bitter blow That never seems to soften.Sadly missed by EDNA (wife) KELLY, James - In loving memory of our dear husband, father and grandfather who passed away December 29, 1996.Always remembered and sadly missed by EVA (his wife) AND FAMILY STURGEON, Evelyn and William - In loving memory of dear parents and great great grandparents who passed away on December 30, 1993 and on October 31, 1977.Gone are the faces we loved so dear Silent are the voices we loved to hear, Too far away for sight or speech But never too far for our thoughts to reach.Sadly missed and always remembered by YOUR FAMILY Dixville Elise Mayhew Deer season is over here and we understand that quite a few deer were shot, ranging from a 65 pound spike to 275 lbs., a nice 8 pointer.Deaths HUNTING, Margaret — Peacefully at the C.U.S.E., Fleurimont site, Sherbrooke, Que., on Wednesday, December 24,1997, Margaret Loach in her 86th year, beloved wife of the late Henry Hunting.Dear mother of Betty (Bob) St-Laurent and Bill (Joelle) Hunting.Much loved grandmother of Brian, Christopher, Deborah, Troy, Bill Jr., Lisa, Shawn, Sonia and Stéphane and great-grandmother of Jasmine, James, Brittany, Brandon, Nicolas, Trevor, Tony and Daniel.Also survived by other relatives and many friends.Resting at Cass Funeral Home, 6 Belvidere St„ Lennoxville, Que., where friends may call on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.Funeral service will be held at St.George’s Church, Lennoxville, Que., on Tuesday, December 30, 1997 at 2 p.m.Rev.Keith Dickerson officiating.Spring interment in Huntingville Cemetery.LUPIEN, Sylvie - At the CUSE, Fleurimont, on Friday, December 26, accidentally passed away, Mrs.Sylvie Lupien of Rock Forest.She was 34 years old.Mrs.Lupien leaves behind her son, Joshua Patrick, her parents, Mr.Denis and Mrs.Madeleine Lupien, of Richmond, her sister, Danielle Lupien of Sherbrooke, her brother, Guy Lupien (Christiane) of Sherbrooke, her brother, Réal Lupien (Nicole) of St-Denis de Brompton, her brother Yves Lupien (Daphne) of Richmond, aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.Funeral arrangements entrusted to Salon Funéraire Yves Houle 8r Frère, 198 Adams St., Richmond.Pauline Fecteau, Dir., tel: 819-826-3747.Visitation on Wednesday, from 2 to 3:45 p.m.The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 31 at 4 p.m.at Ste-Famille Church in Richmond, followed by cremation.The family especially thanks the personnel of the CUSE Fleurimont, Intensive Care, for the attention and medical care provided to Sylvie.KIROUAC, Leona Shard - In Sherbrooke on Monday, December 29, 1997.Leona Shard, beloved wife of the late Fernand Kirouac and loving mother to Geraldine Kirouac.Funeral service will be held at the Steve L.Elkas Funeral Home, 601 Conseil St„ Sherbrooke, Que.JIG 1K4, tel: 565-1155, fax: 820-8872, on Wednesday, December 31, 1997 at 11 a.m., the Rev.Blake Walker officiating, followed by interment at the Elmwood Cemetery.In lieu of flowers donations to Rev.Walker’s radio show, “The Word of Grace”, would be appreciated by the family.Please note: The family will be at the funeral home as of 10:30 a.m.to meet friends and family.Deaths McGILUVRAY, John - Mr.John Cuyler McGillivray of Irvine, beloved husband of Mrs.Elva McGillivray, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 1997, at the age of 91 years.Cuyler leaves to cherish his memory his wife, his son, Wayne, daughter Audrey (Bill) Leith, all of Irvine, one grandson, George (Tammy) Leith and two great-granddaughters, Ashley and Megan Leith, all of Medicine Hat, Alta.Cuyler is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Helen Crawford of Victoriaville, Que., and Mabel Henderson of Ayer’s Cliff, Que., and his brother-in-law Herbert Wright of Ayer’s Cliff, Que., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.He was predeceased by his parents Charles and Margaret (MacKinnon) McGillivray.Cuyler McGillivray was born on March 13, 1906 at Adderley, Que.He married Elva Wright on September 28, 1934 in Adderley.Cuyler farmed all of his life in Quebec before moving to Irvine in 1977.The funeral service will be held in the Pattison Chapel “Downtown”, Medicine Hat, Alta., on Wednesday, December 31, 1997 at 2 p.m.with Rev.Richard Worden officiating.Interment will follow in the family plot at Hillside Cemetery.As an expression of sympathy donations may be made to the Medicine Hat and district Food Bank, 532 South Railway Street SE, Medicine Hat, Alta.T1A 2V6, or to the Alberta Lung Association, 631 Prospect Dr.SW, Medicine Hat, Alta.T1A 4C2.Arrangements are by the Pattison Funeral Home and Crematorium, 540 South Railway St.SE, Medicine Hat, Alta.T1A 2V6.Please call 1-403-526-2214 for further information.WELCH, Grant — Grant Welch, formerly of the Eastern Townships, passed away in his 84th year at the Scarborough General Hospital, after a lengthily illness.Beloved father of Gloria Welch (Montreal), Catherine Hayes (Toronto), Richard Welch (Kamloops), and Tanna McSweyn (Penticton); and grandfather of Stacey, Kelly, Patrick, Heather and Correne.Funeral services will be held at the O’Connor Bros.Funeral Home, 1871 Danforth Ave.Toronto, Ont., on Tuesday December 30.Kinnear’s Mills Mrs.L.Allan 424-3252 Mr.and Mrs.Paul Leblanc have returned from a very pleasant trip visiting his family out west.Hélène Faucher and Richard Vachon were Sunday guests of James Allan.________________________ RATES and DEADLINES: BIRTH & DEATH NOTICES, CARDS OF THANKS, IN MEMORIAMS, BRIEFLETS: Text only: 290 per word.Minimum charge: $7.25 ($8.25 taxes included) Discounts: 2 insertions -15% off, 3 insertions - 30% off With photo: additional $18.00.DEADLINE: Noon, day before publication.BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY & GET-WELL WISHES, ENGAGEMENT NOTICES: Text only: $6.00 (includes taxes) With photo: $18.00 ($20.52 taxes included) DEADLINE: 3 days before publication.WEDDING WRITE-UPS & OBITUARIES: With or without photo: $18.00 ($20.52 taxes included) ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES ___________________________________ 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.They will not be taken by phone.DEADLINES FOR DEATH NOTICES: For Monday’s paper, call 819-569-4856 between 5:30 p.m.and 7 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) between 9 a.m.and 7 p.m.the day prior to the day of publication.The Record cannot guarantee publication if another Record number is called. page 12 Tuesday, December 30, 1997 Record Tax collectors have been clobbered enough Dear Ann Landers: Can you stand one