The record, 15 août 2006, mardi 15 août 2006

THE RECORD COOKSHIRE FAIR fwr1^ The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 A Ç/7 ident cnnp in Sherbrooke See Page 3 * - P; -v * « ' ; ^.- , - v > 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#0040007682 Tuesday, August 15, 2006 Saving Quebec Lodge Group hopes to reopen next summer By Brion Robinson Sherbrooke A committee formed to save the cash-strapped Quebec Lodge has plans to run the summer camp throughout the year.The proposal includes the building of a year-round conference centre.Quebec’s Anglican diocesan council gave a local group of volunteers, Re-Imagining Quebec Lodge Committee, one year to submit a proposal to save the camp after shutting it down in January.The Re-Imagining group recently released an update of its activities that included fundraising and a business plan.Quebec Lodge, located on the shores of the Massawippi River in Hatley Township, is one of the few camps in the province where people sleep in tents, and was founded 63 years ago to help young people aged 10 to 16 strengthen themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.North Hatley resident and Re-Imag-ining member John Moses said the camp’s facilities, which include a lodge and a handful of cabins, have the potential to accommodate adult groups.“Most adults don’t want to sleep in a tent,” he said.The committee wants to turn the campground into a year-round facility for adults and children, and the short term goal is to reopen for next summer.Former camp director of 15 years Quentin Robinson said that summer camps similar to Quebec Lodge are run on a shoestring budget.But he agrees that a year-round facility will attract more people and make more money."It’s too big a property to run on a shoestring budget," he said.Robinson said the camp was never intended to make money (it can sleep up to 475 campers).But he noted camper numbers had been increasing in his first 11 years as director.Please see Lodge on Page 4 A Moving Experience GORDON ALEXANDER Getting a 65 kilogram Newfoundland !xib mix with a bad leg around town could be a problem.But since necessity is the mother of invention, seven-yearold behemoth Frank’s problem has been solved.Frank regularly enjoys a ride in his cage on wheels with Richmond resident and owner Dora Mills, whose motorized chair is up to the task.Mills said some gasp at seeing the pair at first, thinking that Frank is a bear."Frank enjoys the outing and doesn't like to be left behind,” Mills said.Frank’s job description requires that he be wet nosed and good natured, and he must allow the humans to spoil him.Tfle Pirjcjerjy presents Words and Music by Bob Dylan August & AiujttSt 24tfi-26tfl 8 f>.m.Reservations/Information Te(~ 919-042-24M fritjqeryQabacorn.com 4* Country Dinners arc available. page 2 Tuesday, August 15, 2006 JRECORD: A convoy, a crash and cigarettes Canadian Base Reinforcement Group Ghent Barracks, Belgium (Former Nazi SS Headquarters) October 28, 1944 Congratulations, Mac," said Major Bill Walker.“You’ve just been promoted to captain."I read my name on the list with mixed feelings: “Lieut.G.C.McDonald, RCA, to be Troop Commander, T Wing, No.2 Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit, and to be Acting/Captain whilst so employed, effective 9 June 44." “That's nuts." I said.“I quit that job four months ago to get over here.Bill.You know that." “Yes, but look at the plus side, Mac.You’ll be paid $1.50 more per day until such time as the order reverting you to lieutenant arrives.You escape battalion orderly officer and guard commander duties.But more to the point, Mac, I’ve got a captain's job for you today.Go get your third pip up and go down to the hospital at Bayeux.They’ve just discharged a couple of hundred wounded officers and men fit to return to duty.I’ll send word that Captain McDonald’s coming with a convoy to pick them up.” “The captain thanks you, sir! I’ll get cracking, lickety split!" I saluted my senior-ranking friend, spun on my heel and doubled back to my quarters.In rapid succession, 1 dispatched a batman on the double to quartermaster stores to pick up my new pips and sew them on my battledress; saw the Motor Transport Officer and signed for the convoy; drew rations for my drivers; threw my blankets and kit together; ate on the run.and set off for Normandy at 1:10 p.m., leading 18 empty three-ton lorries.Licking a motorcycle rider to sheepdog the convoy, I led the parade from a small British vehicle that had a turret.1 stood on my seat with my head and shoulders outside and controlled the convoy with hand signals.Ahead lay a 500-mile round trip that would see me crashing into a Norman Memoirs G.Campbell McDonald ditch and threatening a French civilian with my pistol.I wrote home: “We went hell-bent for election and crossed the Belgian-French border by mid-afternoon, ar-riving at Abbeville at 6:00 p.m.just as it was getting dark.I saw the Town Major and arranged to stay overnight at the barracks of the French Forces of the Interior (French resistance fighters).Our gallant allies provided us with free beer and a hot meal cooked by the FFI chef, who kept his staff of German prisoners rushing about to impress us.“After profuse mercis, mes amis to our hosts after breakfast, 1 led the convoy back onto the Maple Leaf Down route for a fast run to Bayeux.It was a beautiful morning, sunny and warm, not a cloud in the sky.the sounds of war long departed to Belgium and Holland.All was simply serene as my driver, Dave, caught up with a civilian car moseying along in the middle of the narrow road.“Dave honked to pass, but the car didn’t budge.'Try getting around him,’ I said.‘We can’t hold up the convoy.’ We gradually drew even with our horn blaring.I glared across the narrow space between us and motioned angrily at the stubborn Frenchman to give us more room.His response — abruptly and incredibly — was exactly the opposite; he spun his wheel and cut in front of us.“’Man’s effing mad!’ I yelled.’Hold us steady, Dave!’ ‘Can’t, sir!’ he screamed.“We’re crashing!’ “His hands were ripped from the steering wheel as we veered into the ditch at 50 miles an hour and slammed sideways into a hedge.We flew down its length for 100 yards before nose-diving and skidding to a whiplashing stop with steam hissing out of our ruptured radiator.“I was alarmed to smell gasolene.With both doors jammed shut by the ditch, I fumbled with the catches on our roof hatch and got them free with a struggle.I managed to pull myself up and through the turret, then reached back for Dave’s hand.‘Can you stand up, Dave?’ Silence, then a deep breath.‘I’ll try, sir.My left wrist’s sprained, but I’m not bleeding.’ 'O.K., I’ll see you up on the road.’ “I loosened my pistol in its holster, dropped to the ground and started climbing awkwardly up the bank.I knew I must be bruised but I felt nothing but a consuming rage.When I crawled out onto the verge, I saw three things — my convoy was halted in a long line, the car that nearly killed me was parked across the road, and the villain of the piece was bearing down on me with eyes bulging and hands outstretched.“He burst out in a torrent of French before I could catch my breath.“‘Ah, monsieur, monsieur!’ he exclaimed, looking at my Canada patches.‘Vous etes Canadien! D’accord! Avez-vous des cigarettes Canadiennes a vendre?’ “‘Quoi?Quoi!! Etes-vous idiote?!’ I gasped in shock.‘Sell you the cigarettes I get from home?! You must be out of your effing mind!’ I whipped out my pistol and fired a round at his feet.He leapt back, startled, with fright in his eyes.I shoved him across the road to his car, pistol pointed at his heaving chest.“‘I’m giving you two minutes to get out of the way of my convoy!’ I shouted."Va-t’en, you effing maniac or I’ll shoot your tires out!’ He ducked into his car.There was a clash of gears, his wheels spun and then he was gone, hugging the right side.of the road as if his life de- FILE PHOTO For some, a memorial is a statue; G.Campbell McDonald recalls the war by writing about it.pended on it.“When I cooled off, I told Dave I’d send a Light Aid Detachment wrecker out for him from the next town and we’d meet again at the hospital.I swung up into the cab of the leading three-ton-ner and signalled the convoy to roll on.” To be continued.Journalist and Record columnist G.Campbell McDonald was married to Sue Danford for 57years prior to her death in 2002.His occasional writings are based on letters written between himself and his future wife when he was posted overseas.Comments to gcmcd@rogers.com.Weather Today: Cloudy with sunny periods.60 per cent chance of showers late in the day.High 22.Wednesday: Cloudy.Low 13.High 21.Thursday: Sunny.Low 9.High 23.Friday.A mix of sun and cloud.Low 10.High 23.Ben by Daniel Shelton tri» VRAqOMm ÏMSCAREP I CAMT SLEEP.' MOMMY?pappy?cum \Nlli &o UB POWN WITH J0U FORA WHILE, OKAY? ¦—THE ¦¦¦¦¦¦ RECORD Tuesday, August 15, 2006 page 3 Student-run cooperative opens PERRY BEATON * .'a* Wmm , an *v Students and Sherbrooke university president Bruno-Marie Béchard showed off the new coop residence that will begin accepting tenants on Wednesday.‘First of its kind, ’ says president By Sondip Chatteijee Sherbrooke Cooperation was the operative word at the opening ceremony for a new student-run cooperative in Sherbrooke.The apartment-style residence, located near the downtown public transit bus terminal, will house 104 Université de Sherbrooke students.And its creators asked for help from a local group that already had some experience in the coop field.“Our cooperatives have a 100 per cent survival rate,” said Gaston Michaud, president of the cooperative federation of the Estrie region.The group provided the groundwork for the school building’s management structure, even sending their own consultant in to set it up.The new building, called Estudiantine, will be run by students, who’ll organize everything from repairs to rent collection.Estudiantine received a loan of $5 million, which went towards renovating and operating the building on du Depot St.The amount will also cover the construction of an additional pavilion, making room for an extra 20 students.The majority of the funds came from another local cooperative, the nearby Mont-Bellevue Caisse Populaire, with a small amount also coming from the university.“It’s a cooperative that is well-situated to providing all students with all services,” said Didier Benoit St-Pierre, chief Estudiantine administrator (and a student).The downtown location provides students with access to a grocery store and plenty of bars and clubs, all within walking distance.What more does a university student need?The students involved in the project are the the university’s main student association (the FEUS) and the graduate students’ group (known as the REM-DUS).Others partners include university administrators and the city.Sherbrooke officials said they were impressed with speed with which the building was made ready, with students able to move in starting Wednesday.They were also impressed by the lack of budget overruns.“We were given $5 million and a deadline of August 2006.We made it,” said Serge Paquin, municipal councillor for the downtown Sherbrooke borough of Mont-Bellevue.Estudiantine will be required to pay off the loan through revenues generated from rents.“This is the first off-campus student-run cooperative in Quebec,” said Sherbrooke University rector Bruno-Marie Béchard.“The fact that the university has created a free access to public transit has made the town accessible.” So students will be able to easily trek across town to the Sherbrooke University campus located on the west side of town.The city’s contribution included $1.8 million to fix du Depot St.and the sewage system for the building.“There are so many cities where the downtown empties after 5 p.m.This will help revitalize our downtown by bringing youth into it,” said Mayor Jean Perrault.Students can also look forward to living in the first apartment building in Sherbrooke that meets Hydro-Que-bec’s Novoclimat standards, which reduce energy consumption by an average of 37 per cent.The savings translates to $1,500 per unit annually, according to Karine Lavertu, vice-president of sustainable development at REMDUS.The building has reinforced insulation, especially with windows, and a ventilation system that reduces humidity within the building.The faucets are fitted to conserve water to boot.The new student residence used to house the non-profit used furniture and equipment store Estrie-Aide, which equips those with low budgets (sometimes for free).Owner Normand Groleau agreed to move his store down the street last November.He has had several months to settle in to his new location a half-block away, and is now busy with the 104 students coming to his store in need of chairs and appliances.“This has been the worst summer in terms of the number of people needing furniture and equipment,” said Groleau.Groleau said his stock was at times in danger of running low.Much of his furniture comes from donations, but some is also purchased.Building already brimming The student building’s 104 spaces have already been filled.FEUS president Pascal Rousseau could not say whether the additional building will be enough to ward off a student housing shortage this year.“We’re usually only able to tell once classes are underway in September," said Rousseau.The university’s population is growing quickly, with well over 25,000 registered this fall.Last year there was a reported 200 students on waiting lists for housing as the first day of school approached.The coop's additional pavilion will not be ready for September.If you have furniture to spare, call Estrie Aide at (819) 346-9714.161s' EDITION Cookshire Fair August 17th to 20th, 2006 Thursday, August 17th at 7:00 p.m.-< SUPER BINGO $2,000 in prizes with a $1,000jackpot ” at Salle des Loisirs, Castonguay St., Cookshire pace 4 Tuesday, August 15, 2006 RECORD Lodge: Cont'd from Page 1 “Camp numbers are cyclical," he said, noting numbers would eventually drop.Robinson said children are spending more time with their parents and less time in camps.“It's not a high end camp," he added, noting many children in this country are fortunate to have the opportunity to take trips across Canada and Europe with their parents.“Scheduling kids' time in camps has become more complicated," he said.Robinson, whose position was terminated shortly al ter the church made the decision to close the camp, said lie's not surprised, but is disappointed by everything that has happened.“I would have preferred to leave the camp in a stronger financial situation,” he said.He still lives on the campground, but will leave with his wife and two daughters.But Robinson has no regrets he stayed as long as he did.“It was a vehicle to structure the spiritual lives of campers," he said.If the camp closes, it will also be missed by the children of Hatley Township.Earlier this year, Robinson’s daugh- ter and North Hatley Elementary School student, Elizabeth, and her two friends Akayleh Langlois and Hannah Bowen, tried to raise money to save the camp through a bake sale.They made more than $100 in an attempt to buy the multi-million-dollar property.The Re-Imagining Quebec Lodge Committee will submit its proposal to the diocesan council in April 2007.Diocesan Chancellor David Blair said a final decision to sell or hold onto to the camp will be made in shortly after proposals have been received, noting this could even be in April.The camp had incurred a $500.000 debt in the last few years due to rising insurance and maintenance costs.The diocesan council has considered selling the $5-million property.That's something Moses does not want to see happen.“We need to do everything in our power to see that property not sold off for condo developers," Moses said.“I’m a believer in camps.” brobinson@sherbrookerecord.com SAVE ON THE NEWSSTAND PRICE! 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Around the Townships in 2 Days : PERRY BEATON The fourth edition of the Tour cycliste Frederick Duguay (pictured) gets underway this morning (at 8 a.m.at 2660 King St.W.in Sherbrooke, arriving at 320 St.Joseph Blvd.in Drummondville around noon, and in Victoriaville around 4:30 p.m.at 1,000 Jutras St.E.; the cyclists will then leave that city at 8:30 a.m.on Wednesday to arrive back where they started in Sherbrooke around 4:30 p.m.).Participating firefighters and police officers hope to raise $15,000 for the Quebec office of Muscular Dystrophy Canada.Briefs Shermag to layoff 90 in Disraeli SHERBROOKE — Money-losing Shermag will lay off another 90 workers at its factory in Disraeli in October due to “excess capacity" as a result of its restructuring, the company announced in a press release yesterday.The Sherbrooke-based furniture manufacturer said the temporary layoffs will take effect Oct.9, but it did not say how long they will last.In June, Shermag Inc.announced it was moving more production to Asia due to stiff competition in domestic and foreign markets and high labour costs, as well as the depreciation of the American dollar.Shermag stock declined four cents on the Toronto Stock Exchange Monday morning.Since the beginning of its restructuring plan, which includes saving money by outsourcing labour intensive tasks to Asia, Shermag has laid off hundreds of workers — mostly in the Eastern Townships, where it is closing its Victoriaville plant.Despite this, Shermag lost $4.38 million in the first quarter of the 2006-2007 financial year, compared to $1.5-milIion losses in the same period last year.The company's revenue dropped from $48.2 million to $42.5 million, while Canadian sales dropped by 25 per cent.Company president and CEO Jeff Casselman admitted last week the company’s “transformation process” has proved to be “much more arduous than we had anticipated.” At the time, Shermag announced it was moving out of its main furniture warehouse and distribution centre in Sherbrooke as well as those in Victoriaville and St-Jean, in order to consolidate warehouse and shipping operations at its new 350,000-square-foot facility in Lasalle.Estrie Aide collects dictionaries SHERBROOKE — Have you got a dictionary you are no longer using?Consider donating it to a student whose family cannot afford to buy a new one.Preparing from the back to school period, Estrie Aide is collecting dictionaries and other school supplies for families in the Sherbrooke, Coaticook and Stanstead areas.The Sherbrooke-based aid group is hoping to collect about 100 new or used dictionaries, plus other school supplies, between now and the end of the month.The dictionaries and supplies will be given to schools, whose staff will determine how the materials will be given out.Books and supplies can be delivered to the Estrie Aide centre at 345 Wellington South in Sherbrooke, or call 819-346-9714. JŒCORD: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 page 5 Only one herd entered in Bedford Fair’s beef section Organizers happy with attendance By Claudia Villemaire Bedford By Saturday evening, attendance records were hovering around the ten thousand mark, just two days into the three-and-a-half-day exhibition.“We’ll most likely hit our goal of 15,000, thanks in large part to a sun-filled weekend, tolerable temperatures and — most importantly — no rain,” said fair manager Mona Beaulac early Sunday.With a wide variety of activities and entertainment on the program, this exhibition, chalking up its 178th edition, hoped to attract both rural and urban visitors.“Being located just an hour from the South Shore and Montreal itself, we try to provide entertain for all tastes, ages and lifestyles,” Beaulac said.But the agricultural aspect is suffering.Holsteins were in ample supply for judging classes, but the only other dairy type breed was a display herd of three Canadian animals, a breed unique ' Laat?CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE Nothing grand, but a typical country-fair atmosphere with quips from the grandstand and horses and cattle with a bit of mischief in their heels! This year's 178th edition will be recorded as a great success, due, in large part, to a weekend of sunny, warm weather.SMOT in Canada and Quebec but ever so gradually disappearing from farms in the region.Entries in the beef section were limited to one herd of Hereford, exhibited by the Robinson family of St.Armand, 65-year veteran exhibitors at the Missisquoi County fair.Although the midway was smaller than in other years, there seemed to be plenty for the young fry to try out and attendance on Sunday seemed to indicate that the organizers’ attendance goal was met — and perhaps even surpassed.MotoCross races seemed quite popular as well, with bleachers filled by 3 p.m.But the horse and cattle parade didn’t seem to attract more than 100 or so people to the grandstand.“I guess city people are losing inter- est in the farm animals although there always seems to be a crowd around the small animals’ pavilion.I think the younger generation are a little fearful of the big animals but can’t resist feeling the softness of a rabbit or touching the fine feathers of a bantam chicken," said Beaulac.According to Beaulac, organizers are happy with the turn-out at this year’s fair.“It’s been good, in large part due to a sunny weekend.Rain other years really affected attendance.With all the different bands in the pavilion, the light horse show in the arena and the pulling competitions every evening, we’ve seen more people coming through the gates than we’ve seen in a few years.“Yes, this has been a good fair — and we’ll be back next year with another full program." CENSUS fîTl/Aï/nW If you have not returned your census form, call: 1 877 594-2006 By law, your household must complete a census form.Census staff will contact you if your household has failed to meet this legal requirement.Call today and an operator will help you complete it.1877 594-2006 ¦ Statistics Statistique w ¦ Canada Canada Canada CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE page 6 Tuesday, August 15, 2006 .mi THE ¦¦in —¦ RECORD- Community Forum Everyone lost in the Lebanon war It was a predictable paradox of the Lebanon war that the fiercest fighting would come after both sides had theoretically decided to stop.The fury of the Israelis’ offensive in extra time, as it were, amounts to an admission that they have achieved nothing like the goals they set themselves.Already commentators in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, reflecting the Li i ti ks to i m Editor Flexing dramatic muscles Dear editor, On behalf of the students involved, and myself as their instructor, 1 would like to thank the Township-pers’ Foundation for helping fund drama classes at the Lennoxville United Church.During the spring, 14 youth in the Lennoxville area came together every Saturday afternoon to explore storytelling, improvisation, character sketch, theatre games and physical expression.Over the course of 10 classes these inventive and talented young people brought their imagination and sense of play to the stage, working together to create and perform their stories.Without the help of the Township-pers’ Foundation the enrollment fee would have been cost-prohibitive for several of the students, thus denying them an important opportunity to flex their dramatic wings.It is foundations such as Townshippers’ that remain vital to our community, supporting events such as this one that contribute to the well-being of our youth.Laurel Thomson Lennoxville Come back soon Dear Editor, Your coverage of "Old Fashioned Day” at the Museum in Eaton Corner is much appreciated (In the Aug.11 Record).What is appreciated even more is the participation of all the people who made the day possible.The Museum Society thanks sincerely all the crafters who shared their knowledge and expertise: Rev.Jervis-Read, Ann Rothfels, Alberta Everett, Verna Westgate, Linda MacLeod, Joyce Standish, Joyce Booth, Allie Bailey, Margaret Goodhue, Marie Burns, Faye Rand, Serena Wintle, Audrey Lemaistre, Margaret Wright, Mildred Lowry, Brian Creelman and Mme.Turcotte.We also thank Welles Coates and Richard Goodhue for showing the machinery and the musicians who provided “old-tyme” music all afternoon: Janice Brazel, Viv Bell, Chilston Lowry, Wayne Alden, and Richard Goodhue.Plus all the volunteers in the museum and the tea room.Thanks to Rainer Lowry for providing the wagon rides, and to young Christa Sylvester and Bethany Roth-ney for taking the initiative to sell popcorn outside the front door and making it with one of the museum’s popcorn makers! And finally, thanks to all the visitors for your interest and support.We hope to see you again at the museum.Jacqueline Hyman for the Compton County Historical Museum Society ¦¦i— 1 Ml.¦¦¦! RECORD ro Bat 1200ShrrbraokrJ1HSL6or1t«GillE.S'hfrt'rooktJIC IY7 Fax: 819-5693945 frMAli: newt roomLhhfrbrookrmrord com Weemtï: wwwihcrfcrookrrroordcom Randy Kinnpar Pijbushiw .(819) 569-9511 Eleanor Brown Eprro* .(819) 569-6345 Nelson Alonso Corresp Editor (819) 5696345 Richard Lessard Prod Mgr.1819) 5699931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman (819) 5699931 Pranoine Thibault Prod Superv.(819) 5694856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting (819)5699511 Advertising .1819)5699535 CIRCULATION.1819) 5699538 Newsroom .1819) 5696345 Knowlton oppice 88-A Lakeside.Knowlton.Quebec.JOG 1VO TEL (450) 343-1188 Fax: (450) 343-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 YEAR 120.00 7.20 9.54 $136.74 6 MONTHS 63.00 3.78 S.01 S71.79 3 MONTHS 32.00 1.92 2.54 $36.46 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services assailable on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 7.1897.and ao quired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Glacier Ventures International Corp.PM #0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 1195 Galt East.Sherbrooke, QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD.CNA.QCNA views of a belligerent public, are marking the contest as, at best, a draw.There will have to be a rematch.In truth, this is a war that everyone lost.The biggest losers are the Lebanese.The smoke clears to reveal more than 1,000 dead, the infrastructure in ruins and the south once again under occupation.The slow progress of recovery from the civil war has been thrown into reverse.Hezbollah may believe it has won.Perhaps it has, in the logic of asymmetric wars, which holds that anything that, is not a defeat is a victory.But this does not get it very far.Its military strength has surely been sapped severely by the endless bombardments.Hezbollah may increase its political power as a result of its showing, but it will not be long before the Lebanese ask themselves who pressed the trigger that launched the mayhem.Its currently balmy relations with the country’s other communities will darken and the spectre of internal strife will spring up again.US President George W.Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair do not come out of the conflict well.You do not have to be an Arab or a Muslim to conclude that, for men who present themselves as big-time Christians, they seem little inclined to turn the other cheek.They accepted the Israelis’ breezy assertions that Hezbollah was ripe to be smashed and delayed at- tempts to stop the fighting, even when it was obvious that the campaign was faltering.Their stance will have reinforced the already dominant conviction among ordinary people in the region that America and Britain will always side with Israel.Talk about bringing peace, justice and democracy to the Middle East is therefore rubbish, just as the radical Islamists have been saying all along.Some Israelis are already admitting they have los*t.Others regard the outcome more as a failure to win.Both views reflect a mind-set that has driven most of Israel’s dealings with those around it since the creation of the state.Israel was born in fire and blood, and the trauma has affected all its subsequent dealings with the Arab world.The defensive wars it fought in 1967 and 1973 only deepened its belief in the doctrine of might.Israel has shown the same attitude towards the Palestinians.Its initial reaction to the first uprising of the late 1980s was purely military.Its response to the arrival of a Hamas government in Gaza and the West Bank, and the militarily insignificant attacks of its armed supporters, has been the thud of the mailed fist.The credulous political leaders who led Israel into the war will no doubt claim to have won it.Please see War on Page 7 Viewpoint Patrick Bishop i IUJ/E , , tou,11 iouiot ]UEZeCLLAH JtECORD: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 page 7 She’s all about the lavender I nrt I fri JL fO! A Susan Mastine It was the postcard ie view was spectacular, as jreathtaking as that postcard from years ago.Her passion for lavender goes back nearly 30 years, to a time before she became a married woman.A flirtatious co-vol-unteer mentioned an upcoming trip to France.“Send me a postcard!” she responded light-heartedly, never thinking he would take her seriously.A hopeless romantic, she’d always been attracted to this country she associated with expressive gestures, artists wearing berets, sidewalk cafés and the Eiffel Tower.Several weeks later, a postcard arrived in the office mail, addressed to her.The scene on the front of the card was stunning — fields of lavender with mountains in the background — in vibrant shades of purple, blue and gold.And it was signed, “Pierre.” There was no Pierre in her life.She was puzzled.The blue-penned, hand-written message was nothing short of shocking.The salutation read, “Chérie.” The text was in French.She felt colour creeping into her cheeks as she continued to read the content.The sender none too subtly expressed his vision of her wandering through the pictured fields of lavender, and he implored her join him — soon.As she attentively re-read the postcard, it clicked.“The devil!” she thought, but she couldn’t keep from grinning.She had never expected the on-the-go professional to take the time to select a postcard, inscribe a message on it, locate a French stamp and post it.Had he, an English-speaking person, composed his note in French to m„sk his identity, or had he been influenced by his surroundings?The two were solely co-committee members, each with significant others in their lives.What must her work colleagues be thinking of her?The postcard is long gone, transformed into ashes in a kitchen wood-stove several weeks later.How could she explain this to the love of her life?And even if she could, keeping it could create a feeling of uncertainty in his mind.Her fascination with lavender has lingered throughout the years.She clipped magazine photos of fields of lavender and posted them on her bulletin board, and when work got extra demanding, she would daydream of being in such surroundings.Almost any chaos or crisis could be calmed by focusing on those pictures.Others in her entourage discovered her passion for this fragrant plant -over the years, she has been given several lavender-related gifts: scented lavender sachets brought back from France by a dear friend, books by Peter Mayle based in Provence from a caring boss, and live lavender plants from her green-thumbed sister that still thrive in her husband’s flower garden.Last weekend, she sighed as she pointed out the new kitchen tablecloth to her aunt.In shades of gold, purple and green, it is splashed with landscapes reminiscent of the French countryside, with sprigs of lavender here and there.In the centre of the table stood a ceramic dish featuring a lavender field scene and filled with flowers — pink coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, white bridal roses and three stems of lavender.“This is as close as we’ll get to “ France, 1 guess,” she softly said.A few hours later, her darling husband drove her off in search of her much-loved lavender fields.Near Fitch Bay, at Bleu Lavande, everything is purple, blue and mauve mixed with nature’s hues of green.There were the thousands of lavender plants grouped together she had longed to see, with valleys and mountains in the background and magnificent vistas from the farm to the horizon.She bent down to take a close-up photo of the strongly scented blooms with the hills beyond.Nothing happened.She had forgotten to put the batteries back in the camera.Oh, the frustration.She was somewhat soothed by purchasing a gorgeous greeting card and a soft-hued placemat featuring lavender, which have been added to her home office décor.And there’s a lavender-sprinkled chocolate bar in the fridge for the next time she needs a boost to her morale.Perhaps she no longer needs to dream of travelling to “les champs de Provence” or wherever else in France lavender grows.Yet she still yearns to capture those fields and those colours on film.Maybe next year.Praying for peace, its keepers I By Falice Chin CanWest News Service CALGARY n what may turn out to be the deadliest month for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, veterans and families of fallen soldiers prayed silently for peace in a ceremony commemorating sacrifices made through 50 years of peacekeeping efforts.Two days after Cpl.Andrew James Eykelenboom became the seventh Canadian to have died in Afghanistan in the past two weeks, Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, told a crowd of approximately 200 people gathered here at Garrison Green S.W.to continue their support for those in service.“I know it’s a high price to pay," said Thompson.“But they're not in vain and it’s not in vain today.Great men and women are out to make a difference — a difference in peace and war.” Sunday’s ceremony honouring Peacekeeping Day was bittersweet for those have been touched by recent deaths as they grappled with mixed emotions of pride and grief.Tim Goddard, father of fallen soldier Capt.Nichola Goddard, said he would like to see a peaceful resolution ratified in the region soon.“Hopefully, we are moving on and all these deaths won’t be in vain.” It’s been a long time since Canada has lost so many soldiers, said Brig.-Gen.Tim Grant, Commander of Land Forces Western Area.“From that standpoint, its very heart-wrenching,” he said.“But at the same time, the soldiers returning from Afghanistan that I've spoke to — while they’re very happy to back here — they also understand the work they did overseas was very important." Grant said the media need to report more on the success stories, such as how Canadians are helping rebuild schools in Afghanistan.“We’re still doing the same kinds of operations — helping the disadvantaged, helping the poor, bringing stability to the region for them to enjoy the freedom," he said.Twenty-six Canadian soldiers have died since the nation started deploying troops to the region in 2002.Together.Canada has lost more than 140 peacekeepers since 1956, the year Lester Pearson proposed sending UN troops to the Suez Canal area to deter a war between Egypt and Israel.The greatest number of Canadian peacekeepers who died in a single day was Aug.7, 1973 when an aircraft carrying nine soldiers was shot down during a mission in Egypt.To commemorate the tragedy.Peacekeeping Day is celebrated during the week of Aug.7 in all provinces.War: Cont’d f rom Page 6 A victory could eventually emerge, but not the sort they are thinking about.It has nothing to do with defeating Hezbollah — that is not possible under the prevailing doctrine of overwhelming force.It concerns the much bigger prize of achieving peace with their neighbours.Spotting silver linings in the war clouds over the Middle East is usually a mug’s game.But from time to time, Israel has been prepared to accept that the mailed fist isn’t working.The 1973 war, which was a relatively close-run thing, ended with Israel trading the Sinai peninsula in return for peace with Egypt.The first intifada finished up in negotiations with the Palestinians, albeit fruitless ones.I suspect that, once the initial anger has subsided, the principal feeling among Israelis and Arabs will be fear — cold awe at the speed with which a border incident turned to all-out war.With fear should come a resolution that this cannot be allowed to happen again.Then will be the time for America and Europe to make good their multiple promises to create a lasting settlement of the region, starting with Palestine.That is the only way this is ever likely to stop.- The Daily Telegraph RECORD Yves Robert Advertising Consultant Sherbrooke - Magog - Stanstead Tel.: 819-569-9525 • 800463-9525 email: production@sherbrookerecord.com Individual - Couple - Family Lies Ouwerkerk MA, M Ed (819) 578-4778 Interpersoiiiil Relations Marital Issues Separation / Divorce Stepfamilies IjOss/ Bereavement Depression / Anxiety Post-Traumatic Stress Confidence Building jj Dating issuers pace 8 Tuesday, August 15, 2006 «¦ ¦¦THr ¦¦¦¦ RECORD The Massawippi Lake dam debate One municipality holds out, but will give money By Brion Robinson Sherbrooke Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley’s municipal councillors must accept they have responsibility over Massawippi Lake in same the way the four other municipalities located in the Massawippi regional park have, says Michel Clairoux, president of a local water protection group.Clairoux said the support of all municipal councils is needed to ensure proper water level management.At Saturday’s annual general meeting of Lake Massawippi Water Protection Inc, the environmental group’s members voted to apply pressure tac- tics to municipalities that do not support measures to control the lake’s rising water levels.Local politicians will have until Oct.15 to approve control measures — and the pressure tactics will include submitting petitions to councils and a letter writing campaign.“The rising water levels have eroded the shoreline and dirtied the water,” said Clairoux, noting docks have been damaged and business and homes located along the water have been flooded.Clairoux said the Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley council is the only one that has refused to accept responsibility for its share of the dam’s renovations.He said the municipality must accept some type of ownership over an old dam on the Massawippi River.Other municipalities included in the regional park include North Hatley, Hatley Township, Ayer's Cliff and Hatley Municipality.Clairoux said each of these municipalities has accepted shared ownership of the dam.Clairoux said the dam is ill equipped to deal with the lake’s rising water levels and needs to be fixed.He said a study completed in 1999 said that the dam’s two seven-foot-wide doors should be replaced by three 17-foot-wide doors.Clairoux said the municipality occupies 40 per cent of the lakefront and has hundreds of people who could benefit from the renovations.At the time the work was estimated at $500,000.Clairoux said that cost can be doubled by today’s estimates.A resolution passed by Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley municipal council earlier this month did not recognize its responsibility for the barrage’s mainte nance.But it did vote to fund part of the dam’s renovations with profits earned from selling boat stickers collected from its part of the park.The profits are usually injected back into the municipality.“This money will go to renovating the dam,” said Mayor Jacques Demers, noting thousands of dollars will go towards the dam’s renovations.But Demers does not believe the dam will make that much of a difference to water levels.“The dam will only control about 14 cm of water [height] in the lake,” he said.Clairoux agrees that the dam will not prevent flooding during major rain storms.But he said it will allow the municipalities to manage water levels more efficiently.brobinson@sherbrookerecord.com nouveaux appartements ¦ ¦¦¦¦ : : ?rv*2 maintenant MmM Rturvenow 819-562 0875 «MAUÏCUX St-Francis Manor expansion is a $2.4 million investment ‘We're a family business, ’ owners say By Jen Young Record Correspondent LLNNOXVILLE Underground parking and 27 brand new luxury apartments are only some of the renovations set to be made to Lennoxville’s Manoir St-Francis, and the Fauteux family says that the $2.4 million investment is all to better serve the area’s retired population.“We already have a pretty long waiting list, but you never know what can happen so we are still taking names,” says Vincent Fauteux, whose parents, Raynald and Francine, built the Manor 14 years ago."Where the parking lot is now will be part of the building.It will be a large sunroom to fill that gap on Queen Street, and we will build underground parking.There will be 12 condo-style 4 1/2 apartments and 12 5 1/2 apartments with private balconies, along with three studio suites.These new dwellings will be more luxurious than what we presently have.Each will be equipped with washer and dryer hook-ups.” The expansion has been a long time in the making.The first step was purchasing surrounding land.“We have purchased the Bio 8i Alternatives building, but for the next year that building will stay there.We may not need to take it down,” said Fauteux.The family is in the midst of gather- PERRY BEATON The Fauteux family is spending money on lennoxville’s Manoir St-Francis.ing figures and prices, but they say that conserving local landscape is a priority.“We had to cut a couple trees in the back of the Manor to make way for the expansion, but for every tree we have to cut we will plant a new one.There is no need to worry about that because we want to keep the trees as much as every- one else,” Fauteux says.“We want to make sure that everyone knows that we are not a retirement home.That was a rumour for a little while, but we are really for active retired individuals." The expansion is on a very tight schedule as the Fauteux family hopes to have apartments ready next December.Briefs Sports equipment theft A man who allegedly robbed two sports stores — in Granby and Sherbrooke — appeared in court Monday.Sherbrooke police spokesman René Dubreuil said the suspect is alleged to have robbed a La Source du Sports sports equipment shop in Granby, and then a shop in Sherbrooke, before being arrested.The suspect had some $2,000 worth of equipment when he was taken into custody, Dubreuil noted.is your central vision becoming blurred?j Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Canada.If you experience any change in vision, consult your eye-care professional.The Canadian National institute for the Blind 1-800-513-7813 www.cnib.ca I'Extne Court» immobilier agréé Helen Labrecque, Aft.Real Estate Agent 1650 King Street West, Suite 10 Sherbrooke Tel.: (819) 562-8024 • (819) 823-7474 email: hlabrecque@sutton.com 1 -800-OREILLE (450) 372-1022 TRAVEL Are you looking for a travel agency with experience?Look no further! Our office has been in operation since 1973.33years! Vie surely can answer all your needs! Bon Voyage! UPOUTIOME m VOYflQE , __ oe LESTRIE (1980) INC ¦^2339 Les Promenades King, Sherbrooke (819) 563-7343 525 1st Avenue.Asbestos (819) 879-7188 * Fax Consult our professionals first.Send your questions to:The Record, P.O.Box 1200, Sherbrooke J1H 5L6 821-3179 • E-mail: production@sherbrookerecord.com