The record, 29 septembre 2004, mercredi 29 septembre 2004

70 CENTS PM#0040007682 WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM Wednesday, September 29, 2004 THE RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Operation Christmas Child in Lenn.See Page 11 Improving literacy levels tops education ministers’ agenda >N/SPEI Quebec Education Minister and Orford MNA Pierre Reid, chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada said improving literacy levels across the country is a major preoccupation of all education ministers.By Leah Fitzgerald Orford Improving literacy levels across Canada will be the main priority of provincial education ministers it was decided during a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Educations, Canada (CMEC).Orford MNA Pierre Reid is the chair of the council, which met for the 86th time, this time in his home riding in Orford Monday and Tuesday.The council meets regularly to discuss Canadian education issues, most recently in March to discuss the future of CMEC within the recently created Council of Federation, which groups the leaders of the provinces and territories for lobbying purposes.At this week’s meeting, the education ministers also set aboriginal education as a priority, which Reid said was ideal for everyone involved because, though it’s a federal issue, the provincial ministries have the personnel and the expertise to better serve aboriginals.“We will jealously protect the jurisdiction of the provinces, but ask for funding and other kinds of aid from the federal government,” Reid said.Funding for post-secondary education was the third priority set during the conference.Reid said the council will approach the federal government for funding to help provide more access and more seats for students in post-secondary institutions.Reid said the federal government could be more forthcoming with funding for projects at universities and research centres, which are paid for directly by the provinces, but which should have federal support.The council also discussed issues facing all provincial ministers -things like copyright, which is currently an issue because of rulings made about the use of Internet material, and whether it should fall under a system similar to CanCopy, which distributes payment to authors for the use of their works reproduced for academic purposes.Please see education Page 3 Boisvenu most likely strangled: Pathologist By Tom Peacock Montreal During cross-examination Tuesday morning at the murder trial of Hugo Bernier at the Montreal courthouse, defence lawyer Marc Labelle attempted to discredit the report filed by police investigator Daniel Charest, who worked on the case from day one.Labelle asked about a pair of denim shorts Charest mentioned in the report.Charest did not remember the shorts.When Labelle pulled Julie Boisvenu’s denim mini-skirt from the pile of evidence, he said he remembered seeing it.“Was it this item you were refer-ringTo, Mr.Charest?Because a denim skirt and a pair of denim shorts, there is a difference,” Labelle said.Charest said he couldn’t remember asking anyone to identify the skirt, even though in his report, it says he showed it to Boisvenu’s friend and roommate Mathieu Boisvert.As for the dish towel which was found near Boisvenu’s body and which, later in the day, biologist Vahé Savafian testified contained traces of the suspect’s DNA, Charest remembered seeing it.But he didn’t remember taking it out of the police station.“It seems to me we showed this to Mathieu Boisvert and Marie-Eve Gagnon (another friend of Julie’s who was with her the night before she disappeared) at the police station,” Charest said.Some months after the beginning of the investigation, Charest visited Bernier’s friend in Verdun, Please see Bernier Page 12 page 2 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 ^RECORD.Honoraria for retired persons Townshippers’ Association seeks retired individuals to deliver a new wellness program to English-speaking seniors in their local area of the Estrie region.The program.Healthy Active Living (HAL) 50+, organizes popular education workshops.Coordinators’ Profile: -Are concerned about seniors’ needs -Have strong ties with their community -Demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills -Work well with volunteers Responsibilities: -Identify, recruit and work with volunteers -Liaison with resource people in the community -Promote program in their region -Become knowledgeable about the education modules -Coordinate delivery and in some cases lead presentations -Be willing to travel to surrounding communities -Write monthly reports on activities Remuneration: Monthly honorarium September 2004 - March 2005 based on program objectives met.For information, contact Kim Bailey, HAL 50+ Coordinator, Townshippers’ Association, 100-257 Queen, Lennoxville, QC JIM 1K7, by phone, 566-5717 (toll free 1-866-566-5717), or by email, kb@townshippers.qc.ca Healthy Active Living 50+ is made possible in part by the financial support of the Government of Canada and the program “Engagés dans Taction pour les aînés du Québec” of the Government of Quebec.Buttons, buttons, make your own BUTTONS One of the big hits in Townshippers’ Association’s 25th anniversary tent at Townshippers’ Day in Magog was a button machine, and the nifty 2 1 /2-inch buttons it made.There were Townships Tartan buttons, there were Memphré the Lake Monster buttons, there were T-Day and 25th anniversary logo buttons.And there were also a whole slew of unique creations - small drawings or collages that people enshrined in a button as wearable art.Would you like to get in on the act?The button machine is available for your button-making pleasure the next three Thursdays, Sept.30, Oct 7 and 14, from 9:30 a.m.to 2 p.m., in the Association’s Lennoxville office at 257 Queen St., just across from Pep’s Restaurant.The “button expert” - Johanne Bilodeau - will be on hand to assist you during those hours.The cost for making a button is just $1, whether it is of the Townships Tartan, one of our logos, or a drawing or name tag of your own design.So stop by! Community groups or school classes who would like to borrow the machine for a day or so to make buttons for your own special cause or event are invited to contact Cathy Turner at 566-5717 (toll free 1-866-566-5717) or ct@town- Keeping In Touch Townshippers’ Association MS lives here.MS is the most common neurological disease affecting young adults in Canada.MS Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada 1 •800-268-7582 www.mssociety.ca shippers.qc.ca.But act fast - the button machine will only be in the Townships until Oct.14.Why can’t I sleep?If you have ever asked yourself this question, a presentation this afternoon will interest you.It’s free and it’s in English at 2 p.m., at the Amédée-Beaudoin Community Centre, 10 Dépôt St., Lennoxville.Use the side door entrance, and go up the stairs or the elevator to the second floor, just above the fire hall.The presenter is Dominique Lorrain, a researcher at the Research Centre on Aging, at the Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute.This is part of the conference series on Autonomy and Aging offered by the Geriatric Institute in partnership with Townshippers’ Association and others.Short Season ." ¦ t X 'S;:‘ A short hunting season Compton’s Jean Louis Lafaille had a short moose hunting season this year.He and three other companions were at their usual location in the Reserve des Laurentides.On the first day of their hunt, at 7 a.m., forty-five minutes after he started hunting, Lafaille brought down this prize 1,400 pound moose having a rack with 25 spikes and which measured 58 1/2 inches across.Weather Today: Cloudy.30 percent chance of showers this evening.Clearing overnight.Low 5.Wednesday: Sunny.High 17.Thursday: Sunny.Low 7.High 20.Friday: Sunny.Low 7.High 19.Saturday: Cloudy.30 per cent chance of showers.Low 8.High 18.Normals for the period: Low 3.High 16.Ben by Daniel Shelton f WAVfl/A PASS T///S MV BACK HURT5, MYANKLES AW FEET ARE SWOLLEN, I'M USING THE 6ATHR00M EVERY HALF HOUR/ I'M MORE THAN REAPY'/ BELIEVE I GOT IT ON TAPE! YOU CAN REFER TO IT PURING PEU VERY. : I—THE.1 RECORD Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 3 Support for laptop project will come in other ways: Reid By Leah Fitzgerald Orford j-|-jhe Eastern Townships School Board S is unlikely to get funding from the provincial government for its Enhanced Learning Strategy, better known as the laptop project.When put on the spot after the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada press briefing, Orford MNA, Minister of Education and chair of the council Pierre Reid said that the province will likely support the laptop project “in other ways.” “They showed us a business plan that involves fundraising in both the public and private sectors,” he said.“I will be providing my support.They are in my riding.” The ETSB’s laptop initiative is in its second year of implementation.In its third year, students from Grades 3 through 11 will have their own laptop for use in school, including Internet access and other electronic databases.This year, Grades 3 through 8 and 11 have the laptops.Education: Cont’d from Page 1 “Quebec already has a system in place to deal with these issues,” Reid said.“We are happy to sit in and offer our experience during those discussions.” But the main focus will be on literacy, with a national forum planned for the coming year.Reid said that the provinces all use different techniques and methods, but that the goal is the same: increasing literacy to give citizens a better chance of being informed.“There’s the possibility of increasing their ability to read, to make sure the citizen has the right to information,” he said.Whether it’s information we provide to citizens on varioùs issues, or from the media, or wherever, we want citizens to be able to exercise their right to be informed.When asked whether national standards for literacy might be put in place, Reid said that the ministers were not yet at that point.“That might come out of the forum,” he said.“It would require discussion.” As for post-secondary education funding, Reid said Quebec is going to come to an agreement with McGill, which is planning to lift the freeze on tuition fees for resident students to relieve a cash squeeze at the university.The university is already charging more to international and Canadian students from outside Quebec.“We will maintain the tuition freeze for this mandate,” he said.“It’s clear we have not changed our position on that matter.” 1 ?PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL wr- , > xjjz Education ministers from across Canada met for the 86th time, this time in Orford.Brief Missing teen found in Granby On the lam for most of the month, 16-year-old Marie-France Pomerleau has been found hiding in a friend’s apartment.Police found Pomerleau at the Granby apartment of a 20-year-old man.Sûreté du Québec spokesman Const.Louis-Philippe Ruel said it appears Pomerleau had been hiding out there since she was last seen in Cow- ansville on Sept.4.Ruel said police were able to track down Pomerleau after getting a call from someone who recognized her in a news article in the La Voix de l’Est newspaper.Pomerleau has been turned back over to youth protection officials.The man has been questioned by police, but no charges have been laid yet.James Meat & fish Market 135 Queen, Lennoxville 569-11 51 FRESH T-BONE MARINATED STEAKS 'sgoo lea.ro MARINATED CHICKEN CORNED FINE HERBS BEEF KEBABS 3/3000 $059 0 lb.ORDER YOUR TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING NOW! Free delivery in Lennox min.$20 Reid said that yesterday’s protest by students from the University of Sher brooke about the change to the finan cial assistance programs foi post-secondary students might be mis guided.“Unlike my counterparts in the rest of Canada, we offer a good financial as sistance program,” he said.“Probably the best in North America.I see numbers come out, showing student debt and funding, and they don’t correspond to the reality.” 88.9 FM Annual Meeting You are invited to CJMQ's Annual General Meeting which will be held in the Faculty Lounge of the McGreer Building located on the campus of Bishop’s University, October 1st 2004 at 7pm.The Annual General Meeting is your chance to get involved.Our Board of Directors will be decided upon by our members at this meeting and an update of the state of the station will be presented.CJMQ is a non profit public organisation, all of our meetings are open, but our general meeting is the most important meeting of the year so we urge you to attend.CJMQ is your local English Community Radio Station come out and show your interest and support.We at CJMQ appreciate your interest and hope to see a good turn out for this important meeting.For more information please contact us at (819) 822-9600 ext 2689 If you would like to become part of our volunteer family please contact us at the above number.Everyone welcome! David Teasdale - Station Manager CJMQ 88,9 FM page 4 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 RECORD Mackenzie Bridge to reopen soon Stephen McDougall Special to The Record Richmond Motorists who have had to divert their trips to the highway 116-143 bridge because of construction on Richmond’s downtown Mackenzie bridge may get a break by October, according to town manager Guy-Lin Beaudoin.“The work on and under the bridge is near completion and only a few tests are needed now before we reopen it to traffic,” he told The Record.“The transport department had to check the structure to make sure it was safe and we had to install a new water main underneath to make sure that our Melbourne borough was adequately supplied for this winter.” Beaudoin said the town is making sure the water pressure and quality are acceptable before they reopen the bridge.“We are now planning to do some tests,” he said.“We don’t want any problems with this main in the middle of winter." The steel bridge has been closed before for renovations given its age.It was ariginally built in 1903 to replace an earlier steel bridge that was taken away by ice.That bridge had been built in 1882 to replace an older covered bridge that originated in the late 1840s.The present bridge’s last refitting was in 1998 when the provincial government spent $700,000 to replace corroded steel beams and increase the traffic load to 12 tons from the previous five tons.Beaudoin also reaffirmed that Thomas Street in the Melbourne sector will be rebuilt starting later this week.The street extends from Melbourne Ave.all the way past the golf course into Melbourne Township.Its dilapidated condition has been an irritant for residents for years given that the pavement is cracked and heaving and there is no proper drainage system.All water is collected in ditches on either side of the street and some water has even seeped into basements in the spring.Beaudoin said residents will have to put up with a month of construction, given that a new drainage system and rebuilding and repaving of the street is planned.Beaudoin added that a project to rebuild Clevemont Street must wait until an agreement can be reached with neighbouring Melbourne Township on funding it.nm m Making Bury More Beautiful COURTESY BURY HISTORICAL AND HERITAGE SOCIETY The Bury Historical and Heritage Society presented the municipality of Bury with a cheque in the amount of $18,303$ for the restoration of the Old Town Hall.This money was raised during the past two years through fundraising activities, including two golf tournaments and a raffle for a trip.The next planned activity is a letter writing campaign with a goal of50,000$.Pictured are (right to left) Karin Fisher, president Bury Historical and Heritage Society, Orvil Anderson, mayor of Bury, Yvon Bégin, municipal councillor responsible for the project Parent’s guide to homework help Organizers have been working hard at preparing a workshop to help parents deal with ightly homework.COURTESY LENNOXVILLE ELEMENTARY Parents, teachers and administrators from Lennoxville Elementary School have been working lard to prepare for the first ‘home-vork workshop to be held Thursday, !ept.30 at the school from 6:45 to 9 t.m.Participants will learn how to void spending excessive time on homework and learn strategies for homework success.The workshop will deal with such topics as : why homework, the role of students, parents and teachers in homework as well as a few do’s and don’ts.Participants will have a chance to win gift certificates.Giving Caregivers A Hand PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Baluchon Alzheimer Estrie had its official launch Friday in Sherbrooke.The nonprofit organization provides caregivers to give an Alzheimers patient’s regular live-in caregiver a respite for a period of seven to 14 days at a cost of $60 per day.If needed, the “baluchonneuse" — the French word for hobo — can act as a resource person for the permanent caregiver.The group, which was founded by Marie Gendron, a gerontologist, is already active in Montreal, Quebec, Saguenay, Nicolet and Ottawa. RECORD; Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 5 Language teachers not worried about computer competition BY Stephen McDougall Special to The Record Richmond Despite the introduction of new computerized gadgets that can translate one language into another, some language teachers The Record talked to say they are not worried they will be replaced by a digital wonder box.“The people I teach want the personal touch and that means being taught and conversing with another human being,” said Sharon Shaw, a language teacher from Richmond who works at the Victoriaville Cégep.“Not everyone is connected to the Internet or able to handle sophisticated computers, so translating machines are no use for them.” But Shaw admits that new computer language programs have been usefiil for people who cannot learn a language well because they are in an isolated setting such as some parts of the Eastern Townships.“I have a colleague who is learning Spanish even though it is not spoken here,” said Shaw.“It can pick up on bad pronunciations and nuances better than any immersion program she has heard of and her Spanish is improving rapidly.” But the need for instant translation is growing, given the rapid increase in worldwide travel, trade and conflict.Earlier this year, some American soldiers were equipped with “phrasela-tors,” a $3,000 plus palm-held device that can translate short English expressions and conversations into Iraqi Arabic and help them get more information about weapons caches and militant extremist hideouts.The device is made by the American firm Voxtec and the hope is it can be used in the future for American tourists and companies that frequently travel abroad.But Shaw and others believe the electronic marvels will have limited use given that the younger generation of students in Canada and other countries is more and more bilingual or trilingual and can handle foreign languages a lot easier than their parents did.“Even in the United States, where the majority of people are still very unilin-gual, the trend is catching on and more young people are exploring other languages,” she said.“If you want to work in a global economy, having two or more languages is a must.” John Binns, the owner of the English Conversation Institute in Drum-mondville, argues most of the machines being developed still translate word for word rather than getting an equivalent expression or establishing the context of the conversation.“There will always be a need to speak correctly and get your point across effectively,” he said.“I don’t see it replacing us anytime soon, but if the machines do improve, they could be convenient for large companies that need to converse and get information quickly.“Yeah, it could eliminate some language schools in the future, but I’m not panicking.” Shaw and Binns are aware that a growing number of programs can translate text messages on the computer.Many of them have been adapted by American companies that want to do business in Quebec, Mexico or overseas.But talking to a person is still an obstacle that only lengthy, time-consuming courses have been able to partially solve.The hope that one day the Tower of Babble would come tumbling down occurred in 1993 when American and Japanese researchers created a computer program that was able to translate short conversations over the telephone between Pittsburgh and Kyoto, Japan.A short sentence of 10 English words took between 10 and 20 seconds to be turned into Japanese via the computer.The researchers for ATR interpreting Telephone Research Laboratories said faster computers would be needed to speed up and increase the number of words and sentences translated.New ice creams from Waterloo’s Laiterie Chagnon Staff Waterloo’s Chagnon dairy has launched six new varieties of nut and peanut-free ice creams to mark its 50th anniversary.Laiterie Chagnon has been working on the ice creams for two years now, becoming the first in Quebec to offer nut-free ice cream varieties.“The project was launched in response to the growing number of food allergies, particularly among young people,” said Jessica Chagnon, head of research and development at Laiterie Chagnon.Chagnon noted that all of the company’s ice creams are made from real cream, while many competitors use a milk derivative.Chagnon is one of the rare family dairies to have survived the influx of multinational products.Its dairy products and juices have been distributed for many years in the Townships and South Shore regions, and are now moving into Montreal and Laval as well.Got a hot news tip or a great story idea?Call The Record newsroom at 569-6345.Those who like sums love this number: Fixed-rate Bonds: Once you choose the term of your investment* you know what its return will be.Capital guaranteed.Strictly positive.BONUS OF 1% Term tvr 1 P 2yts ¦M 4yrs 6s«b 6yre 7)W 8yre 9#$ 10yrs Annual rate (%) 2.65 3.40 4.05 4.3D 4.50 4JS5 nmsp mu 4.75 1 These rates may vary depending on market conditions.www.epq.gouv.qc.ca Call us Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.to 8 p.m., and Saturdays during October and November, from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.•Redeemable at maturity.the first year of the term for new RRSP funds.Épargne Placements Québec So page 6 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 ¦ THt» RECORD Community Forum Letters to the editor Important questions on national defence Dear Editor, The recent defence announcement of acquiring G-wagons as new “Jeeps”, an additional 5,000 personnel for the regular force, and perhaps 3,000 for the Militia should be good news for the military.It is sadly not the case for the nation’s defence.The problem is that the prime minister and the want-to-be prime ministers must decide upon a defence intention.This does not require an expensive inquiry or further boards of study.It requires some quiet reflection upon their part followed by a decision.For example, does Canada want to send a peacekeeping force abroad, fully armed, and capable of imposing the will of the UN or whatever coalition?Or do we want to send UN police overseas to encourage law and order?The former is a task for a regular force military.The latter is a task for the RCMP whose origin is peacekeeping.Furthermore, how many lives will be spent before whichever force is withdrawn?Either force is discretionary.Neither is essential to the survival of Canada.Both are not so much National Defence as they are Foreign Affairs.They are Canadian tools used to build good will with allies.In addition, does Canada need a national defence to defend its vital interests against natural or man-made threats?This would be THE role of a militia.No country can afford to have a standing mobilized army capable of its defence, but the part time army must nevertheless be well armed and have the necessary training.Twenty years are required to build it.Such a force is by circumstance dispersed across the country in most communities, along with its resources.This is an insurance policy which like a domestic one, seems a waste of money until it is needed.The country must be educated to understand this historical condition.The militia is trained as a general combat force capable of meeting any mechanized threat.This is not an obsolete notion of expecting another European war.Rather it is the proven means of equipping and training a force to meet all contingencies of conflict.It involves the greatest amount of coordination within the force, of any of the conflict types: and an army is essentially coordination of diverse parts within a very restricted amount of time.The equipment can be used in general war, nuclear, biological, or chemical war, guerrilla or urban conflict.The hybrid diesel-electric armour with dozer blades will also prove absolutely essential to survival and recovery in the forecasted major earthquake of the Western coast.Before the discussion can begin about what equipment we need, we must have a national consensus on the purpose.Without it, many difficulties can follow.For example: the US entered IRAQ without a clear relationship being established between the defence of the US and US foreign policy.The former deserves the mobilization of the army and the reinstatement of the military draft.The latter requires only the US volunteer army.Instead the US is now “calling-up” ex-reservists in their 50s.Was the Iraqi conflict supposed to use the nation’s defence or just its active forces?Another example is in the question: was participation in World War 11 an act of defending Canada or not?The conscription crisis that resulted was a result of differing opin- ¦¦THE —in RECORD P.0, Box 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 516 or 1195 Galt E, Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Fax:819-569-3945 e-mail: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Website: www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Nelson Afonso Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(819) 569-9931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-4856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)569-9511 Advertising.(819)569-9525 Circulation.(819)569-9528 Newsroom .(819)569-6345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton.Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 2435155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 114.40 8.01 9.18 S131.59 6 months 59.00 4.13 4.73 $67.86 3 MONTHS 30.00 2.10 2.41 S34.S1 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 are available.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.The Record is published by Hollinger Canadian Newspapers L.P.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record.1195 Galt East, Sherbrooke, QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA ions.Many Québécois (but certainly not all), saw the European war as irrelevant to Quebec’s and Canada’s being.Finally, the implication of this national defence versus foreign affairs instrument is, what will be the nature of the military?Frankly, the country can afford casualties in a military force that is an instrument of foreign affairs.Canada can cut its losses and run with only embarrassment results.On the other hand, in matters of national defence, each life is not expendable.Like the Israelis, equipment must ensure the survival of the scarce soldier, as seen in their remarkable Merkava battle tank.To lose soldiers in the nation’s defence is to increase our weakness, and bring about internal national dissension again.The pragmatic approach may seem callous, but we must be clear about where we spend scarce resources— both lives and dollars.The distinction between a militia with the role of national defence and the regular police or military force with the role of meeting demands of foreign affairs is important.Both the government and the volunteer soldier have some discretion in forcefully expressing national will overseas.The government can choose the tasks and level of participation or acceptable costs.So also does the volunteer.Canadian society is only an observer to all of this.On the other hand society is the participant in national defence.There is no discretion for the government to exercise.All resources are directly or indirectly committed.The militiaman is then the basis for a widening military force focus.Herein lies the reasons for compelling civilian employers to support the militia.The employer is not losing an employee temporarily, the business itself is committed in the conflict.For this reason, volunteers to the militia are distinct from those of the regular force, despite similar appearances.To confuse the two allows Vietnams to happen, wherein a small regular contingent is grown a little at a time, until, the whole nation is bleeding: and to what end?Political leadership may consider itself omniscient in foreseeing these circumstances, but Canadians would be wise to ensure the circumstance cannot arise in the first place.Not only must the Prime Minister and the shadows consider this question carefully, so must all members of parliament.This includes our local Bloc members.In their separate nation state, they also must face this question.To dismiss international affairs as a matter of establishing the right “karma” shows them to be fools in a violent world.With the Canadian Forces having so few weapons and equipment, now is the time to establish the foundation.The question is difficult but not technical.Military experience is not necessary.Nevertheless, the response will say as much about the future of National Defence, as it will about the person stating his or her position.W K Sanderson Lennoxville fJ&L BSSfrM =RECORD^= Perspectives Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 7 About Martha Stewart’s decision to serve her time I can’t say I’m losing too much sleep now that Martha Stewart has decided to swap her luxurious home for a plain old jail cell.Let’s just say that I’m having a hard time digesting her official explanation to the media.The part that really struck me was when she said, “I feel an intense desire and need to put this nightmare behind me, both personally and professionally.” For someone who has long maintained her innocence and portrayed herself as a victim of overzealous prosecutors, it makes little sense to me that she would want to serve a prison sentence even before the federal appeals court decides her fate.After all, if her conviction is dismissed so will her sentence.Imagine in what situation she could find herself if after spending five months in prison, her conviction is quashed?Add to that her admission during her Nov.7, 2003 television interview that she is scared of prison and nothing seems to click.So what that her appeal cannot be argued before January at the earliest.Everyone knows that appeal cases drag on for years especially when the parties have deep enough pockets to fight their way to the Supreme court.Besides, when it comes to exploiting appeal delays, some lawyers know how to turn it into a refined art.Instead of starting her sentence in a few weeks, what would be the big deal if she waited an extra four months?Seeing that she was convicted in March and sentenced in July, a January appeal would mean that her case is actually moving quite rapidly.What about the promise she made immediately after her conviction on obstructing and lying to the FBI, namely that she would “battle to prove her innocence?” It started off well.Her first victory, albeit a mere formality, was when a Manhattan federal judge allowed her to stay out of prison while she pursued her appeal.As for her “nightmare” explanation, you can bet it applies to thousands of appellants whose prison sentences have been suspended pending their appeals, especially those who contend they were wrongfully convicted.However, instead of giving up their temporary freedom, they hope and pray the appeal courts will strike down their conviction or at least grant them a new trial.Like Stewart, they too would prefer to get on with their lives and not be bogged down by the incertitude of their appeals.Yet, they don’t go around asking a judge, as did Stewart, to vacate the stay on their sentence.For those who are lucky enough to obtain one, the last thing they have in mind is occupying a prison cell.It is extremely unusual for convicted offenders free on appeal to begin serving their sentence and for good reasons.Why would any convicted offender wish to suffer the pain and indignity of prison sentence as long as there is a remote chance that it will be struck down by a higher court?What makes her decision all the more surprising is that she is supposed to have a strong and convincing case, that is if we are to believe her battery of attorneys.In fact, right after Stewart read her 10-minute announcement, her lead appeals lawyer, Walter Dellinger, a former U.S.solicitor-general, repeated once more that he was confident that an appeal court will reverse the jury conviction.Was it all part of an exercise in public relations?The other equally troubling explanation about her wanting to serve her sentence, has to do with her business interests.Her attorneys claim that a delayed resolution to Stewart’s legal situation looks bad for her investors and advertisers.By getting her sentence over with, it will supposedly give her shareholders more certainty.I must confess that I’ve never heard of a 63-year old millionaire executive of the likes of M.Stewart who voluntary sacrificed her luxurious lifestyle for a prison stint in a federal penitentiary, just because of her business interests .What makes this explanation that much more difficult to believe is that it comes from someone who has the reputation of a perfect homemaker and who still insists that she was wrongfully convicted.The mere thought that she is prepared to sacrifice her personal interests, including her reputation, for those of her companies, is a pretty sad tribute to her lifestyle priorities.It seems clear to me that her business interests would be far better served if she were cleared by the federal appeals court and never served a day in prison.I strongly suspect that the real reason she decided to serve her five-month prison sentence was because she realized that her chances of succeeding in appeal are just about nil.Remember, her motions to overturn the conviction, first because a juror failed to disclose an arrest record and then after a government witness was charged with perjury, were rejected.So why not withdraw her appeal and provide a straightforward and simple explanation to her diehard fans?Because, to do so, would not be in her business interests.Ironically, her long and ensuing nightmare could have so easily been avoided.All she had to do was to come clean with the investigators .Instead, for a measly stock profit of approximately $70,000 which in her world is little more than chicken feed, the diva of good living will be heading prematurely to prison .Like I said, I’m not losing too much sleep but then again, I don’t own any shares in her companies.comments : hemjk@endirect.qc.ca Henry R.Keyserlingk Say you read it in The Record YOU LAW-ABIDING IDIOT .WHAP! When a driver stopped at a red light in Bochum, Germany, a truck driver, who had been behind him, got out and beat the man up because he didn’t like his driving.When he was arrested, he told police he became enraged because the other guy was driving the speed limit.COME LET US REASON TOGETHER, POW1 The mother of a middle school student in Anchorage, Alaska, body-slammed an assistant principal at a middle school’s open house.She was upset about the school’s anti-bullying policies.AND GOD DOESN’T LIKE DISTRACTIONS: In order to put a step to cell phones ringing during Mass, four Catholic churches in Monterrey, Mexico, are disrupting the phone signals with Israeli-made jamming devices.One official said, “Time in church belongs to God.” IS IT ME, OR IS IT A LTITLE CHILLY?Members of the Bay Area Naturists club spent a recent Saturday cleaning up California’s Bonny Doon Beach in the nude.A MAN WITH A MISSION: A man with a grudge against the sheriffs department in Dalton, Ga., took out his anger by scattering nails on the roads around the station and the jail.He did it for more than six months, flattening the tires of at least seven patrol cars and seven of the lawmen’s personal vehicles.Finally, an alert officer spotted him in the act.A search of his car turned up boxes of galvanized roofing nails and aluminum siding nails.IT PROBABLY DOESN’T WORK, BUT .: A man in Japan has developed a ring tone song for mobile phones that he claims will increase the bust size of women who listen to it.Some 10,000 women downloaded the tune from the Internet and installed it in their phones the first week it was available.GREAT! NOW WE CAN DRINK EVEN MORE: The hard-drinking citizens of Finland were elated at their government’s decision to slash alcohol prices by 40 per cent to protect the local industry from cheaper imports.But one health official predicts trouble.Ritva Varamaki, of the Finnish Health Promotion Center, said he sees an increase in consumption, and related violence, by Finns who already “have the traditional Friday and Saturday night of drinking to get drunk.” COME ON, rr WAS NO BIG DEAL: A judge was brought up on charges before the Italian Supreme Court for patting the bottoms of three female employees.He claimed that his behavior had merely been fleeting and impulsive and amounted, at worst, to vulgar behavior.It was not sexual ha- rassment, he said, and did not warrant jail time.But the women testified that the judge relentlessly fondled their rear ends at every opportunity.The court sent him to jail for 11 months.THIS IS SOOOO EMBARRASSING: A woman was painting the inside of a closet in her home in Staffordshire, England, when the door slammed shut.She immediately regretted having removed the closet door handle before beginning the job.She was trapped for the next 14 hours until a neighbor heard her frantic banging.THEY HOPED NOBODY WOULD NOTICE: Police in Omaha, Neb., raided a home where residents had set up a lab to make methamphetamine.They were tipped off by the fact that the suspects had placed a 9,600-gallon tank filled with anhydrous- a key element in meth - on the front lawn. page 8 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 RECORD Perspectives A victory for English health and social services This fall, the Canadian government, with the support of Québec, has created a $10 million program to support public establishments in Québec in the development and improvement of health and social services in English.The program responds to priorities set out in a report to the federal Health Minister from an advisory committee representing Québec’s English-speaking communities.The Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN) is charged with carrying out the program’s aim to improve community access to primary health care.The announcement of the new program is an opportunity to reflect on how far the English-speaking community has come in the last 20 years.It took time, but we have succeeded in getting governments to recognize that our community has been underserved by public health and social service institutions.And we have put in place legislative guarantees and administrative processes that are making things better.Francophone institutions in Québec are required by law to make certain services available to English speakers, within regional access program guidelines.That legal responsibility has existed for 18 years.But we know from recent studies that the use of key frontline services like Info-Santé is limited among English-speaking Quebecers.The new federal-provincial funding program is supported by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec and by the Health Canada Primary Health Care Transition Fund.It’s designed to help institutions meet their legal and social responsibility to serve English-speaking citizens better by supporting service development costs including consultation, communication, training, planning, and technology.The new program will provide funding to public institution in Québec aiming to improve the English-speaking population’s access to primary health care services, including Info-Santé, general and medical services, first-level social services, as well as long term care.The program is divided into three sub-programs that address directly the areas of greatest need, especially in regions outside of Montreal.These subprograms will support innovative approaches to improving access to Info-Santé for the English-speaking population in general, to enhancing primary care services to English-speaking people dispersed throughout the province and to creating living environments adapted to English-speaking people living in institutions.The program will assist public institutions in their responsibility to serve minority communities well by supporting developmental and transitional costs but it will not pay for recurrent expenses.At the CHSSH, we expect this program will also foster closer links between English-speaking communities and the health and social service institutions in their regions to the long-term benefit of both.The program will fund transition costs for the establishment or enhancement of services for a period of up to 17 months.Project applications must be received by Oct.29, 2004.Experience in Quebec City and in other regions shows that this kind of investment in creative, transitional efforts to improve English-language services can pay big dividends.We believe that this new initiative is a great example of how organized and persistent community effort can affect government policy and improve services for people.By working collaboratively with all levels of government, the CHSSN through its membership of 57 community organizations and public institutions will continue to promote the provision of high quality, culturally and linguistically sensitive health and social services to all members of the English-speaking community.For more information about the CHSSN and the program to improve access to English language health and social services, visit the CHSSN Website at www.chssn.org James Carter Coordinator Community Health and Social Services Consultation on future of English community Local English-speaking citizens will soon have a chance to voice their hopes and vision for the future of their community.At a meeting coming up in Lennoxville on Oct.6 and in Cowansville on Oct.7, members of the public will be encouraged to share their opinions as part of a provincewide consultation on the future of Quebec’s English-speaking people and their communities.The meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m.at the AmédéeBeaudoin Community Centre, 10 Depot St., Lennoxville and 7 p.m.at the Townshippers’ Association Office, 203 rue Principale, Cowansville.It is being organized jointly by the Townshippers’ Association and the Quebec Community Groups Network, a provincial coalition of two-dozen leading community volunteer groups representing all Quebec’s regions and many major fields of activity.Quebec’s English-speaking communities are in the midst of an unprecedented effort to ensure their revitalization.At least 22 similar meetings are planned across the province, as the Network holds a broad public discussion with members of English-speaking communities in every corner of the province.The working document to be used as a basis for discussion is called the Global Development Plan.The content of the Plan was generated by eight task forces made up of community volunteers from the fields of Arts and Culture, Employment, Heritage, Education and Training, Health and Social Services, Media, Visibility, and Leadership and Youth.Each group prepared detailed proposals for their sector and presented them at a conference in Montreal in May, 2003, attended by more than 100 delegates.This next stage, the public consultation, is expressly intended to learn what the English-speaking public of Quebec think about these proposals and how they fit with their hopes and expectations for the community.Once endorsed by the English-speaking community, the Global Development Plan will help give voice to those needs and concerns at all levels of government.“We believe this process is critical for the future of Quebec’s English-spea king people,” says Townshippers’ Assoca-tion’s Rachel Garber.“The meetings in Lennoxville and Cowansville will be our local opportunity to be heard.Everyone is invited and we hope all who care about our community will come.” The public meetings will be complemented by a GDP Web site, www.eng-lishspeakingquebec.ca, to provide access to documentation and the opportunity for individuals to register comments.Briefs CHUS launches information series Staff Sherbrooke In tomorrow’s newspaper, The Record will begin a monthly series of features produced by the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke aimed at informing English-speaking readers and patients on happenings at the university centre.The series, which is the fruit of a collaboration between the CHUS and the Record, begins Thursday with a full page discussing hospital-acquired infections like Staph (a.k.a.MSRA or staphylococcus) and C.Difficile (Cloristidium difficile), which are particularly virulent for elderly people.As well as explaining the causes of outbreaks, the articles will also offer advice on preventing the spread of infections for people visiting and staying at the hospital.Mammograms and breast screening The Canadian Cancer Society & the O.P.A.L.S.group in Lennoxville invites local women to an English conference on breast cancer screening.Dr.Ginette Varin will be the speaker.Dr.Varin is the regional medical director for our breast screening program.When: Thursday, Oct.7 from 1:30 p.m.to 3:00 p.m.Where: Lennoxville Community Center ( over the fire hall) Who: This conference is free for all women.Dr.Varin will discuss the recommendations for mammograms over 69 and below the age of 50 years of age.The participants will hear how the program is working in our region, regional statistics and percentages of participation etc.Some time will be allowed for questions and a short video will be shown.Call 564-8108 for further details. NO MERCY RECORD Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 9 Salers to hold national show in Victoriaville curried this way and that to best show off the expensive end, (that’s the rear where the steak grows).Excess hair on face and ears, special diets that are supposed to fill out any gaunt areas, usually beet pulp or a bit of hay.Mother cows will not be allowed to feed their calf on show-day morning, giving udders time to fill with milk and show off typical breed shape and milking ability.“Showing takes lots of time and plenty of experience,” said McGee, already a veteran and a winner at such prestigious shows as the Royal.“But we’ll really be putting extra effort into our own show with so many visitors from the west and the east too.“We’ve had to raise funds, plead for money from the various organizations involved, contact breeders across Canada.It’s been quite a challenge but we feel we’ve succeeded quite well.Just a look at the program tells the tale when you realize how far our visitors have come to be at this, our first National.We’re very proud,” Mason said.The sale begins Friday immediately after the wine and cheese.Showtime on Saturday begins in the morning for real fans of the Salers.Championships begin after the junior classes and include the female and male ribbons, always for the juniors.After lunch, things get serious as older animals make their appearance ending with the grand champion male and female about mid afternoon.Admission is free and the entire event takes place on the Victoriaville exhibition grounds with the competitions in the coliseum, Friday and Saturday, Oct 8 and 9 By Claudia Villemaire Special to The Record Richmond For the first time in the history of the organization, the Canadian Salers Breeders Association will hold their National show in conjunction with the annual Expo Boeuf.The national association, already 30-years-old, has finally been persuaded to bring its national event to Victoriaville Thanksgiving weekend for an exhibition, competition and sale of Salers (pronounced salersse, with the emphasis on the last syllable) beef-type animals.“We have been working at first of all persuading and then planning this all-important event,” said Mark Mason, one of a committee of three local breeders.Christine McGee and Douglas Beard, all well-known exhibitors of the Salers locally, across the Townships as well as the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, have been working long and hard to put together a ‘show’ that will put Quebec breeders in the spotlight on a national scale.“We have exhibitors coming from coast to coast,” said McGee.“Response to our invitation has been quite exciting and we now have 45 animals registered from out side the province with a total of 77 scheduled to strut their stuff in the showring on Saturday, Oct.9,” McGee explained.Quebec Salers got their start at the McGee Windbec Farm, just outside Richmond just over 20 years ago.With just two vials of semen, Gerry and Mona Lee McGee were the first to bring Salers breeding into their small herd of Herefords and mixed breeds.Known for their ease at giving birth and their ' CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE Breeders Mark Mason and Christine McGee have been working hard to put together the show.strong maternal instincts, the Salers didn’t take long to begin to show up as sires in herds where sometimes long nights were spent helping a cow to calf or persuade her she should ‘mother’ her newborn calf, bringing the aforementioned qualities to commercial herds as well as introducing hybrid vigor.This breed, which originates in France where the animals are bred for both milk and meat, produces very little back fat and seems to thrive on rough pasture and little grain, a decided plus in the hills of the Eastern Townships and beyond.“We have a full slate Of activities planned for the few days our visitors will be here,” Christine McGee added.“First event is the auction sale Friday evening, preceded by a meet and greet wine and cheese,” she explained.Then it’s back to the stables to get ready for the big show on Saturday.For the uninitiated, getting ready doesn’t mean just having a shampoo and a hairdo.These animals will be bathed, scrubbed, briskly brushed and blown dry.Their hoofs will be trimmed, their ‘top-line’ clipped and trimmed meticulously.Hair will be Brief Poetry reading at the North Hatley Library Alison Pick will read from her award-winning book of poetry, Question and Answer, on Saturday, Oct.9 from 4 to 6.Alison Pick is the author of Question & Answer which was nominated for the 2004 Gerald Lampert Award for best first book of poetry in Canada.She won the 2003 Bronwen Wallace Memorial Award and the 2003 National Magazine Award for Poetry.Her fist novel is due out next fall.Alison has lived and published across the country and currently makes her home in St.John’s, Newfoundland.All are very welcome! Ifl/rnf a pair of tickets! SUNDAY, at BALAXY C I N e M A s X OCT.3RD, 8 P.M.( {MS' “Pre-Show” starting at 7 p.m.Lots of great prizes to win! To win a pair of tickets, just call in at RECORD | Wednesday, September 29th at 1 p.m.819-569-9525 The first 10 callers win! page 10 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 RECORD ;e society Restoration effort to restore Barnston Baptist By Wendy Denman Record Correspondent A beautiful old Baptist church has been taken under the wing of the Barnston Heritage Society.The campaign to restore and preserve the old building continues this Sunday with an autumn celebration beginning with a service at Barnston Baptist Church, followed by a sale of baked goods, coffee, juice for the children and music.“We held the first open house last year and people were just flabbergasted by the beauty of this old church.It really is a wonderful building and the Society feels its very important to preserve it,” said Heritage volunteer Judith Bolduc.“This past summer, we received a grant from the MRC Rural Pact funds and another as well, once the MRC grant came through others seemed to follow.But the paper work takes a long time.Last year we raised over $1,000 at the open house and it was a lousy day, we had to move everything inside.We used that money get architectural advice on how we should proceed with restorations.Now we are ready to go ahead.” Barnston Baptist was built in 1837, making it not only the oldest surviving church in the MRC of Coaticook, but for the Estrie region as well.The interior of the building was redone in the 1890's.The walls and ceiling are a perfect example of Diamond style woodwork.The church seats about revitalize the congregation." Repairs must be made to the foundation, the bell tower, the roof, the windows and the wood siding.The estimated cost of the whole project is $200,000.The grants will go towards phase one — fixing the foundation.“It’s a big project, they are going to dig a basement and that means hoisting up the building, taking away and numbering the granite blocks and supports and then putting it all back together.We estimate this cost will exceed $70,000,” added Bolduc.“The grants must be used for specific restoration work — and there is a lot of that.Although the church is not in that bad condition, there is a wish list we have that is not covered by grants — that includes putting electricity in the building, and possibly in the future toilets.“We really need the public’s help and invite people to come Oct.3 between 1 and 4 p.m.and visit this site which has intrigued many for generations.” A short service will be held during the afternoon along with a few musical interludes.Apple pie, coffee, tea and other goodies will also be available.All the proceeds go to our restoration fund.“I pray it doesn’t rain again this year, we’ll have tents outside, but if it does we’ll go to plan B, the church will be open rain or shine,” concluded Bolduc.Barnston Baptist Church will be open to the public this Sunday as a fundraiser for the restoration fund 150.Services are held at least once a year, under the direction of the Baptist congregation in Lennoxville.“There are really so few Baptists left,” explained Bolduc.“We are hoping that the restoration will also help Plowing match coming soon to Bishopton By Claudia Villemaire Special to The Record f » jhe traditional all-horse plowing 1 match comes to the Bishopton JL area Oct.9 once again attracting competitors from all over the Townships and as far away as Ontario.“It’s no easy task, transporting horses and equipment sometimes hundreds of miles like our friends from Ontario do.It takes them two days to get here,” Knight George, well-known heavy-horse breeder and exhibitor explained during a telephone conversation Monday.“These folks go to competitions in Ontario too so they bring a keen edge of expertise to our competition,” he added with a chuckle.The match, which will require plowers to turn the sod on a patch of land 30-feet by 100-feet, is being held this year on the Allen George Farm, just outside Bishopton.Participants and spectators should travel the 255 to Bishopton, drive through the village and across a bridge where the marked-out land will be in plain view.“Last year we had 35 participants and we’re hoping for 40 this year,” George said.The event is sponsored by the CCRCQ, (Comité Conjoint de la race Chevaline du Quebec) so there are prizes and some compensation for expenses,” he added.Registration starts early, around 9 a.m.“We hope everyone gets started by 10 a.m.or shortly after as the crowns are judged at noon.And speaking of ‘noon’, there will be lunch in the field available to competitors and spectators too," George concluded.“Don’t forget, Oct.9 in Bishopton,” he said.Both Knight and his son Allen George are well known in local competitions and parades with their teams of Clydesdales, the tallest heavy horse breed in this region, surpassed only by the Shire.“We have Belgians and Perchersons and just good dependable heavy horses that come out to plow.And sometimes, someone gets brave enough to hitch four light horses to a walking plow and take part too.Actually it’s great fun to watch how the sod was turned by our ancestors so long ago.” ' ¦iifcivÜi-h JpNw CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE The Bishopton area plowing match will attract competitors from all over the Townships and as far away as Ontario Oct.9. RECORD Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 11 Fusiliers provide musical treat By Claudia Villemaire Special to The Record The Sherbrooke Fusiliers military band brought a rare musical treat to Richmond area residents last weekend.The event, including supper and an evening of superb band music reminiscent of the days when band concerts in the park were the fashion, is one of a series of events planned to raise funds for the local cadet corps’ own brass marching band.Sylvain Côté, conductor of the Fusiliers band took time out to encourage the community to support this effort.“Instruments and instructors are very expensive.But don’t let this discourage you.In Sherbrooke, sometimes two, three or even more enterprises or business people join forces to raise funds for one instrument, or one instruction session.” “As you can see, and hear, we have been quite successful in Sherbrooke and region,” Côté added.The band with 31 members, most under 30-years-old, were skillfully directed by Côté, giving the audience a taste of various styles of music.Medleys of traditional marching band music, 40s’ style dance music, a tribute to Quebec composers such as Jacques Brell and Gilles Vi-gneault, a medley of the ever-famous Glen Miller style and sound and even a bit of Edith Piaff, performed by the drummer who soloed the well-known torch song, Ne Me Quitter Pas, bringing the audience to their feet for several standing ovations throughout the evening.Special tribute was paid to local volunteers and supporters with the extraordinary tribute of performing a specific regimental march for well known supporter, legionnaire Gary Pollock.Organized by the Canadian Legion committee that fosters the local corps, the evening was deemed a great success from every point of view.“We thought long and hard about bringing this type of concert to the area.It’s been many, many years since folks here have heard anything resembling a military band,” said John Hill during intermission.And it was a very simple spaghetti supper prepared by the cadets themselves and the Legion volunteers and citizens’ committee.Local sponsors were very generous too.When we realized that all of the over 300 tickets were sold, we were elated.Many thanks go to all who supported this effort in any way,” Hill emphasized.The cadet corps, which is just beginning a new season, has already hired their band instructor with sessions beginning in October.E N V t WtiÊÊk I: > I ' CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE It’s been many, many years since folks here have been entertained by a local military band and it took many people to make it happen.It’s time for Operation Christmas Child The project is part of an international effort to collect and distribute Christmas gifts to children in war-torn countries or dealing with poverty and disease.Participants fill shoe boxes with small gifts, toys and candies and simple utilitarian items such as school supplies, soap, socks, tooth brushes and wash cloths for kids in war zones.School supplies are always a great need.Green Ridge Baptist Church at 47 Queen Street in Lennoxville will be the regional collection centre for Operation Christmas Child again this year.Operation Christmas Child is part of the Samaritan’s Purse international charity.Last year the group distributed more than 6.6 million shoeboxes to children in 95 countries.You can pick up this year’s supplies (pamphlets, videos, shoeboxes) Saturday, Oct.2, 1 p.m.to 4 p.m.and Thursday, Oct.7, 6:30 p.m.to 8:30 p.m.at Green Ridge Church.The project literature includes suggestions on what to pack and what is not allowed — including anything breakable, liquid, or any medications or vitamins.The project does not send toys that promote violence or war, such as toy guns or knives.For more information, visit the Web site www.samaritanspurse.org or call Frances at 876-5700 or Janice 563-8954.Brief Historical exhibit The Lake Massawippi Region Historical Society will present an exhibition ‘Memories: Places and People of Early North Hatley’ in the Library.All are invited to the opening, Oct.6 from 6:30 to 8:30.If you don’t make the opening, you can still visit the exhibit during Library hours until October 28.Library hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 to 12:30, Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30, and Saturdays from 10 to 3 p.m.Low cost housing in Eastman r ! the Quebec government has an-j nounced the construction of 18 -A.new low cost residential units to be built in Eastman.The announcement was made in a press release from Brome-Missisquoi MNA Pierre Paradis.The new units are among 112 announced by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Sports and Leisure, Jean-Marc Fournier.“We are committed to investing in social housing and this announcement is proof of that commitment,” Paradis said.The low cost housing is part of the 3,000 new homes for low income families announced in last April’s budget.The aim is to create 16,000 new affordable apartments in Quebec by 2007.Help your children learn about their community by reading ¦ I I HI.Ml RECORD To subscribe, call (819) 569-9528 or (450) 242-1188 1-800-463-9525 page 12 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 ; ¦ TH£ — RECORD Bury gets new aerobic bioreactor if .¦ i i GS| ; H >.v • BRJON ROBINSON The new ecocentre and bioreactor in Bury is a new way of managing waste.En vironmen tails t says it’s a step in the right direction By Brion Robinson A sod-turning ceremony to mark the construction of an aerobic bioreactor, the first of its kind in Quebec, and a new eco-centre was held Tuesday at the centre for environmental management of the MRC of Haut-Saint-François.The Sherbrooke-based company, GSI Environnement will oversee construction of the project.The eco-centre will permit the public to drop off used furniture and appliances and other objects for recycling or reuse.It will also include an expanded depot for dangerous household wastes such as paints, oils and solvents, as well as a site to stockpile construction and demolition materials such as concrete, bricks and wood, also for recycling.The site will include the building and testing of a bioreactor that transform rotting garbage into energy.The new technology aims to speed up the decomposition of garbage by watering the waste with leachate - the liquid created by water percolating through rotting garbage.The end product is a biogas that is mainly composed of methane which can be used like natural gas to power local industries.“In the past we put our waste sites wherever there was a hole between two mountains,” Depot said.“Now we’re beginning to understand how biodegradation works and how we can use it.” The project will be completed by the end of October and trucks will start rolling in with waste by early November.The testing of the bioreactor will continue for about 14 months before it can accurately be rated.“We will have learned a lot by December, 2005,” said Daniel Théoret, the director of special projects for GSI Envi- ronment.“But this type of accelerated biodegradation needs to be validated.” Théoret said that when people hear the word reactor the first thing that comes to mind is Chernobyl and they have some reservations.He explained that this is just a facility that turns waste into energy.Depot said that he was impressed with the set-up and since the bioreactor must remain closed to produce the methane gas, there is less risk of harmful fumes escaping into the air.“It's a better form of management,” said Jean Guy Depot, president of the regional environmental council of the Estrie.“We have to stop just burying our trash.” Over half of the dumping stations in Quebec only eliminate 20, 000 tonnes of waste per year.Aerobic bioreactors are becoming more and more feasible for managers throughout North America where dumping regulations are becoming stricter.Aerobic bioreactors can use the waste in these stations and prolong their use.Although the final results from the bioreactor will not be available until next winter, officials in the region are convinced that the site will help the region.“I’m convinced this project will give us a positive result,” Gendron said.Besides creating energy from gas, the new site will also create five new permanent jobs and employment through sub-contractors in the region.The cost of the project is $1, 853, 520 and is financed in part by the infrastructure program, Canada-Quebec 2000.Dignitaries at the Tuesday’s ceremony included Michel Gendron, deputy prefect of the MRC of Haut-Saint-François, le préfet suppléant de la MRC du Haut-Saint-François and Daniel Bouchard, Member of Parliament for Mégantic-Compton.brobinson@sherbrookerecord.com Bernier: Cont’d from Page 1 Rénald Lemieux, and asked him if he would agree to wear a wire, in order to record any conversations he might have with the suspect.At first, Lemieux agreed, but then at the last minute, fearing trouble, he refused.That was in September of 2002.It was the last time before Bernier’s arrest that Charest spoke with Lemieux.The next witness to take the stand was Dr.André Lauzon, a pathologist who carried out the autopsy on Julie Boisvenu’s body.Lauzon told the jury that Boisvenu’s body was badly decomposed and discoloured, making it difficult to determine the exact cause of her death, and rendering it impossible to know for sure whether or not she was sexually assaulted.He did say, however, the fact that the body was found naked except for a bra indicates that it was very likely Boisvenu was assaulted before her death.An internal examination of the body showed Boisvenu had suffered two blows to her head, one on top and one at her hairline.The blows had caused two large bruises, but her skull was not fractured.“The blows were not severe enough to cause her death, but may have rendered her unconscious,” Lauzon said.The internal examination also showed that there was a large area of bruising on the right side of the victim’s larynx, and a small bone on the right side of her throat was also broken.According to Lauzon, this indicates a strong possibility that Boisvenu was strangled.“It led me to the hypothesis that the victim was strangled with the most pressure being placed on the right side of the neck,” Lauzon said, adding that this theory was made even stronger by the absence of any other visible indications of violence.During cross-examination, Labelle questioned Lauzon about his conclusions regarding Boisvenu’s death.“Would you say in this case you were quite far from determining absolutely the cause of death?” he asked.“No,” Dr.Lauzon replied without hesitation.“Given the trauma to the neck area, I think it is safe to conclude with some reservation that strangulation was the cause of death.“Of course, in a case like this one where we cannot say for sure, then we prefer to have reservations,” he added.The next witness to take the stand was Dr.Vahé Savafian, the biologist who tested various pieces of evidence for DNA and compared the DNA he found with samples taken from the witness.He testified that DNA matching that of Hugo Bernier was found on the seat material cut from the backseat of Julie Boisvenu’s car and on the dishtow-el found by police near where Boisvenu’s body was dumped in a ditch in Bromptonville.Savafian’s testimony will continue today.Correction: A witness during Monday’s session was mistakenly identified in yesterday’s story as Bruno Bernier.The witness was in fact called Bruno Dorion.Dorion is Hugo Bernier’s friend from the Gaspé.He was living in Sherbrooke at the time of Julie Boisvenu’s murder.Dorion and Bernier spent the evening before Boisvenu’s murder drinking together.They separated shortly after midnight.Diabetes The_N*"/, epidemic REACT NOW! 06 *¦5 Diabetes t# Québec Information and donations: (514) 259.3422 or 1.800.361.3504 www.diabete.qc.ca .THE Sports INSIDE Winner of five gold medals, Benoit Huot led Canada to a great showing at the Paralympic .see Page 14 WWW.SHBRBROOKERECORD.COM Newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 13 Church and Hinkley named Expos minor league players of the year Stanstead, CVR dominate in fooball wins Expos play final game at Big O tonight, could be on way to D.C.By Mike Hickey Special to The Record The Montreal Expos named outfielder Ryan Church and left-handed pitcher Michael Hinckley their Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year Monday, although the news didn’t create the same buzz as in previous seasons.In the past, local baseball fans could look forward to seeing the Expos farmhands within a year or two.In fact, Montreal’s system produced the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Randy Johnson, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach and Tim Raines to name but a few.Montreal plays its final home game of the season at Olympic Stadium tonight and most likely it is the team’s last game ever in Montreal so news about future prospects has little appeal to fans that have given up hope of maintaining a National League team in the Belle Province.To their credit, both Church and Hinckley have proven themselves in the minors as legitimate major league prospects.Church hit .343 with 29 doubles, eight triples, 17 home runs and 78 RBI in 98 games for Triple-A Edmonton before being recalled by Montreal on Aug.21.The 25-year-old was ranked among the Pacific Coast League’s top five in both batting (fifth) and on-base percentage at the time of his promotion.Since being recalled, Church has played in 24 games for the Expos, going 10-for-48 with one homer and six RBI.Church was acquired from Cleveland with shortstop Maicer Izturis in exchange for left-handed pitcher Scott Stewart on Jan.5.Hinckley earned the Expos Minor League Pitcher of the Year award for the second straight season.Hinckley, 22, followed up his fantastic 2003 campaign (13 wins, 3.14 ERA) by going a combined 11-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 26 starts for Dou-ble-A Harrisburg and Single-A Brevard County.He led the Expos organization in both wins and strikeouts (131), while his ERA ranked second behind only Clint Everts (2.45) among pitchers with at least 90 innings.Hinckley was Montreal’s third round selection in the 2001 draft out of Moore High School in Oklahoma City.Both Church and Hinckley were honored before Tuesday’s contest against Florida.Hinckley will be flying in from Oklahoma City for the ceremony and it will probably be his only trip to Montreal.Major League baseball appears intent on relocating the team to the Washington, D.C.area despite the protests of the Baltimore Orioles and the lack of a viable stadium.Lavoie earns CIS honour ua ( )Sa yy ci; Tuesïfcÿ ' uarterback Steve Bilan of the Saskatchewan Huskies was named the CIS football offensive player of the week while defensive back Jerome Lavoie of the Bishop’s Gaiters earned the defensive award.Bilan, a fourth-year kinesiology student from Saskatoon, was threw for five touchdowns in a 41-14 win over the Manitoba Bisons over the weekend.He completed 20 of 32 passes for 347 yards.Quarterbacks Scott Syrvet of Concordia and Mark Stinson of Toronto and receiver Brian Poz-zobon of St.Francis Xavier were also nominated for the award.Lavoie, a third-year arts and science student from Beauceville tied a Quebec conference single-game record with three interceptions in a 25-13 win over the Mount Allison Mounties.Linebackers Lee Maggiacomo of Wilfrid Laurier and Neil Ternovatsky of Alberta and cornerback Eric Nielsen of Acadia were also considered for the honour.m p PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL The results were similar this week for the Galt Pipers and BCS Crusaders (pictured here when they faced each other recently).Galt lost 20-0 to CVR while BCS was pounded 45-0 by Stanstead.By Mike Hickey Special to The Record The Stanstead College Spartans opened their 2004 Eastern Townships Interscholastic Athletic Conference football season in impressive fashion as they defeated Bishop’s College School 45-0.Despite the one-sided loss, BCS’ coaching staff feels the Crusaders can compete with the Spartans and the rest of the ETLAC.“It was a learning experience, a developmental step for a young team,” head coach Duane Liverpool said Monday.“Stanstead played very well Saturday in front of their Home coming crowd and now we have to see how we are going to react when we play them again Saturday, this time in front of our Homecoming crowd.” One of the areas the Crusaders have to address is stopping Stanstead’s power sweep.“They just send a lot of people to one spot on their sweeps,” BCS’s Albert MacDonald said.“We need to do a better job of having players fill holes.We moved the ball well effectively but in football you need everyone working together, on the same page.We need to be aggressive, that will be a key in Saturday’s rematch." See Games, Page 14 ¦ THfc page 14 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 0 O O O o o o o o tJCJ CJ Sports Notebook Calvillo named Player of the Week Quarterback Anthony Calvillo was named the CFL’s offensive player of the week Monday after leading the Montreal Alouettes to their 12th win in 13 games this season.Calvillo was 29-of-40 passing for 475 yards and four touchdowns as Montreal defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 47-25 to improve its league-best record to 12-1.Defensive back Reggie Hunt was named the defensive player of the week.Hunt had six tackles and a sack in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 36-22 home win over the Ottawa Renegades.Winnipeg rush end Elfrid Payton is the lineman of the week.Payton had five tackles, two sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown against Montreal.Toronto’s Arland j Bruce III received the special-teams player award.Bruce had an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown and accumulated 166 total return yards in the Argos’ 26-17 road win over Edmonton.Government backs London 2012 bid London’s campaign for the 2012 Olympics received a high-profile boost at the governing Labour Party’s annual conference Tuesday.Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government said it was wholly committed to holding the Games in the British capital.London is one of five cities bidding for the Games, along with Paris, New York, Paris and Moscow.On TV Wednesday • BASEBALL: 2 p.m.; Major League Baseball regular season, Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs, Sportsnet.7 p.m.; Florida Marlins at Montreal Expos, RDS.Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles, Sportsnet.• SOCCER: 2:30 p.m.; UEFA Champions League, FC Porto vs.Chelsea, TSN, RDS.• FOOTBALL: 7 p.m.; Canadian Football League, Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts, Sportsnet.Around Town To submit your sporting event, fax it to 819-569-; 3945, e-mail newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com or contact Mike Hickey at 819-569-6345.Upcoming • SENIOR HOCKEY (NAHL): Friday, Sorel Mission at Sherbrooke St-François, Léopold-Drolet Palais des Sports, Sherbrooke, 8 p.m.• JUNIOR AAA HOCKEY: Saturday, Coaticook Frontaliers at Champlain Cougars, Léopold-Drolet Palais des Sports, Sherbrooke, 7:30 p.m.• MEN’S CEGEP AA SOCCER: Sunday, Sherbrooke Volontaires at Champlain Cougars, Lennoxville, 3 p.m.• WOMEN’S CEGEP AA SOCCER: Sunday, Victoriaville Vulkins at Champlain Cougars, Lennoxville, 1 p.m.• WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY SOCCER: Sunday, Montreal Carabins at Bishop’s Gaiters, Lennoxville, noon.Concordia Stingers at Sherbrooke Vert & Or, University of Sherbrooke Stadium, 1 p.m.• MEN’S UNIVERSITY SOCCER: Sunday, Concordia Stingers at Sherbrooke Vert & Or, University of Sherbrooke Stadium, 3 p.m.• MEN’S CEGEP AA FOOTBALL: Saturday, CEGEP de l’Amiante at Sherbrooke Volontaires, University of Sherbrooke Stadium, 7 p.m.• MEN & WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CROSS-COUNTRY: Saturday, University of Sherbrooke Vert & Or Invitational, University of Sherbrooke.RECORD SPORTS Paralympics Paralympic parity challenges Canadians By Gary Kingston The swimming pool and track’s wheelchair events were a gold mine for Canada again at the 2004 Paralympic Games, which ended Tuesday in Athens.To prevent a cave-in of medal hopes four years from now, however, the country needs to develop a more comprehensive feeder system for its athletes with a disability, says Louis Barbeau, Canada’s chef de mission in Athens.Even that may not help Canada match its 2004 total of 72 medals — 28 of them gold — as such is the threat posed by a dominating Chinese team in Beijing in 2008 and the emergence of other countries as Paralympic contenders.But without a better grassroots network and some progressive steps, Canada is in danger of lagging.“In order to be as strong in Beijing, we need to work on recruitment of young athletes,” said Barbeau, after Canada wcm the final gold of the Games with a 70-53 win by the men’s wheelchair basketball team over Australia.“The detection is so critical.We need to have more opportunities for athletes to compete at home, same way as we have the Canada Games, we need to have something like that.Right now, you have a bit of grassroots in some provinces .but that’s not enough.Between that grassroots and then if you want to reach the national team, you need to have the steps along the ladder.Right now those steps are missing.” Barbeau said a Canadian Paralympic Games would trigger more development work by the provinces and help attract media attention and corporate sponsorship opportunities for athletes with a disability.Canada’s 72 medals (28 gold, 19 silver, 25 bronze) represented a drop of 24 from Sydney in 2000, although the 28 gold were good for third-best in Athens behind China (63) and Great Britain (35).Several countries’ overall numbers were down — Australia by 49 to 100, Spain by 37 to 70, the U.S.by 21 to 88 — as China nearly doubled its medal total to 141 from 73 and Ukraine burst into prominence.In Sydney, Ukraine had 37 medals, just three of them gold.In Athens, it was 55 medals, including 24 gold.“There’s just a lot more parity,” Patrick Jarvis, president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, said of what is now the world’s second-largest sporting event by athlete numbers.“For the movement, it’s exciting.For Canada, it presents a whole new challenge.When I competed in ‘92, China was a small non-factor.Now, they’re bringing athletes with extraordinary performances.“I facetiously said on the bus today it should be China against the rest of the world in the medal tally.” Says Barbeau: “Beijing is going to be difficult.I think China is going to grab probably half of the medals.They were so dominant here.And it’s going to be the same at the Olympics.” Canada won 40 of its Athens medals in the pool where there are 10 different race classifications for swimmers based on their level of muscle strength, scope of movement and functional ability in the water and three classifications for the visually impaired.Kirby Cote of Winnipeg and Benoit Huot of Longueuil, Que., each won five gold medals, while Stephanie Dixon of Caledon, Ont., won one gold, six silver and a bronze.Canada had one other winner of five golds, wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal.Petitclerc, who set three world records, served as the flag bearer in Tuesday’s closing ceremonies.Barbeau said while Canada won more than half its medals in the pool and three athletes combined to bring home more than half of the country’s gold medals, he emphasized Canada does well elsewhere.“Look at team sports where Canada does extremely well .and other nations, they’re not necessarily as strong,” he said.“We won men’s basketball and were third in women’s basketball.We won women’s goalball and were second in wheelchair rugby and fourth in men’s goalball.Even if Paralympic parity means Canada slips down the medal tally somewhat, Barbeau said he thinks a country that has never finished out of the top seven will remain a dominant force in the Paralympic movement.—CanWest News Service High School Sports Games: Cont’d from Page 13 Pipers drop to 0-2 While BCS saw its record dip to 1-1, the Alexander Galt Pipers dropped their second game of the season when they lost 20-0 to Chateauguay Valley Regional High School on Saturday.Like his counterpart at BCS, Galt head coach Pat Dubois believes valuable lessons were learned from the loss.“We are a young team and the CVR game was a learning experience for us,” Dubois stated.“I think all of the teams in the league are young and there should be a lot of improvement as the season progresses.We need to correct some things and are looking forward to playing CVR again Thursday.Soccer action In soccer action, Claudia Nadeau scored four goals to power the Galt bantam girls to a 5-0 win over BCS.Danica Montgomery accounted for the other Galt goal.Josh Meating provided all the scoring the Galt junior buys needed as he notched a hat trick in the Pipers’ 3-0 win over Richmond.Nathan Scott and Bryce Dezan scored a pair of goals apiece as the Galt bantam boys defeated Richmond 6-2. RECORD Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 15 Deaths Deaths High Forest Theda Lowry 889-2734 Theda Lowry enjoyed several special occasions over the last few months, the wedding of her granddaughter Jody Robinson and Jonathan Girard at the Sawyerville United Church, and bridal showers previous to her wedding at the homes of Liane Anderson, Sharon Bailey and Ida Robinson.A most enjoyable evening was the banquet h onouring “Outstanding Townshippers” at the Cheribourg Hotel in Orford, summer family gatherings, the Frasers at Malcolm and Doreen’s, the Lowrys at Justin and Jeanne’s, the Orange Picnic at the MacRae Grove, Inverness.I also enjoyed visits with cousins June Patterson and Ray Keneson, friends Betty Moore, Mary Nutbrown and ones nearby, a bridal shower for Amanda Kirby at Mapleledge Farm, and a party for Raymond and Elizabeth Mastine in Melbourne celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and Raymond’s 65th birthday.Special family events were Carolyne Lowry’s confirmation, Alexandria’s 5th and Kimberly’s 9th (Lowry) birthdays and Katie Robinson’s 15th.Merrill Jackson of Tilton, N.H., spent a week with his sister Theda.During that time they were supper guests of Garth, Marcia and family, Kent, Lynda and family, Carl and Barry Jackson of Franklin Centre were guests also.Merrill and Theda were luncheon guests of the Robinson family when Katie celebrated her “special” day.Malcolm and Doreen were evening visitors when we enjoyed a “sweet treat”.Alice Price and Theda enjoyed “Kingfisher Days” at The Piggery, a fine production, compliments of my “Outstanding Townshippers” award, thank you.Inverness Maxine McCrea In August, Margaret Cruikshank’s daughter Caroline came from California to spend some time with her mother.Margaret then accompanied Caroline to visit her sister Lil Macintosh at Thurso, Que.While there, they were all invited to a birthday party at the home of Mr.and Mrs.Roydon Brown to celebrate Margaret’s special birthday, her son Bill with his wife Sharon and family also joined them for the celebration.Belated best wishes Margaret from your friends here! Doreen Cox from Ottawa was a weekend guest of her mother Grace Cox and brother Dale, Carolyn and family.In Memoriam BEAULIEU, Elizabeth (Betty) - In memory of a wife, mother, grandmother and stepmother who passed away September 28, 2003.Gone but not forgotten.GEORGE and all YOUR CHILDREN Cards of Thanks KIRKPATRICK, Austin - We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks for the kindness and support shown to us in the sudden passing of our dearest husband, father, grandfather and brother, Austin Kirkpatrick.A special thank you to family, friends and neighbours for food, flowers, memorial donations, cards and expressions of sympathy; to Rev.Cora Krommenhoek for her comforting words; Raymond Thibodeau for his words of remembrance and to the Legion Ladies Auxiliary for the wonderful luncheon.To Dr.Walley and the staff at the Durham Hospital for their kindness.Our sincere appreciation to Dawn Watson for her support and thoughtfulness.Your many acts of kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness will always be remembered.HELEN KIRKPATRICK AND FAMILY PATTON - A big “thank you” to all who wished us well on the occasion of our 45th Wedding Anniversary.Psst.a special thanks to our devious daughter, Sharon, and her accomplices, Stewart, Bev.and Paulette.Sincerely, SHIRLEY & BRUCE Brieflet BROMPTONVELLE Compton County Historical Museum Society Fall Foliage and Cemetery Cavalcade, Thursday, September 30, if raining, October 1st.Meeting time, 9:30 a.m., Bromptonville exit off Route 55.Turn right on chemin de la Riviere, parallel to #55, park there just off highway.Sites to visit, Brompton and Windsor, Upper and Lower Melbourne, Tren-holmville, Spooner Pond, Maplewood, Sydenham and Denison’s Mills.Bring a picnic lunch.Details at meeting spot.If you need a ride, contact Peter (819) 875-3182, Serena 875-5210 or Sharon 875-5776./ M BARRETT, Anne Emily Lucretia (nee Coddington) - At St.Peter’s Hospital on Sunday, August 22, 2004, in her 87th year.Born in Gore, Quebec on October 6, 1917 to Edward and Mary Coddington.Anne was predeceased by her husband of 30 years, Claude Barrett.She was the loved mother of Lynda and her husband David Bowen and Jeanne Barrett.Dear sister of Olive Robinson, the late Reta Warner, William Coddington and Hazel Dance.She was the sister-in-law of Florence Westphal (deceased) and Albert Barrett (deceased).She will be fondly remembered by Todd Bowen and his wife Jane and Rebecca Bowen, and her many nieces and nephews.Anne proudly served Canada as a Sergeant both in the C.W.A.C.during WWII and later with the Canadian Army Militia (8th Field Artillery Regiment).She rested at the MA.Clark & Sons Funeral Home, 567 Upper Wellington Street, Mount Hamilton.The Funeral was held in the Chapel on Wednesday, August 25 at 1 p.m.Interment in Woodland Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciation donations to the Endowment Fund of the YMCA of Hamilton, or a charity of your choice.FINDLAY, Marjorie Jean - Passed away quietly after a long illness on Sunday, September 26, 2004 at Carleton Lodge, Nepean, Ontario, in her 93 rd year.Predeceased by her parents, Earnest and Connie, and sisters Genevieve and Annie Mae, brothers Earle and Harry.Survived by sister Bonnie Laxson and brother Jack.Burial of ashes to be at a later date in the Protestant Cemetery, Danville, Quebec.PHILBIN, Eugénie (nee Bonnette) 1922-2004 - Passed away at the BMP Hospital of Cowansville on September 27, 2004, in her 83rd year.Beloved wife of the late Gerald Philbin.Dear mother of Terry and Brian (Patricia Tonelli).She leaves to mourn her sisters Adeline and Mary and her brother Louis, many other relatives and friends.The family will receive condolences at Denis Meunier Funeral Home & Chapel, 402 River St., Cowansville, Que., Tel.: (450) 266-6061, fax: (450) 266-6057; 1 e-mail: funerariumdm@qc.aira.com Friday, October 1 from noon to 2 p.m„ followed by a Memorial Service in the chapel at 2 p.m.The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the personnel of the Residence Principale of Cowansville who provided loving care to Mrs.Bonnette - Philbin.In lieu of flowers, donation to the West Island residences for the Intellectually Handicapped (111 Donegani, Pointe Claire, Que., H8R 2W3, (514) 694-7090.Forms available at the funeral home.WRIGHT, Hilda (Mathers) - Peacefully on September 26, 2004, in her 94th year, Hilda Wright, beloved wife of Kenneth Mathers.Dear mother of Helen (Donald Martin).Cherished grandmother of Susan (Hans Laroche), great-grandmother of Benjamin and Edward.Predeceased by the late Ruby, Ernest, Charles and Harold.Resting at Gamache Funeral Home, St.Alphonse Street, Thetford Mines.Visitation Thursday, September 30, 7 p.m.to 9 p.m.Funeral service Friday, October 1, 2 p.m., Christ Church, Lower Ireland.Interment Christ Church Cemetery.Cemetery Meeting AYER’S CLIFF General meeting of the Ayer’s Cliff Cemetery Association will be held on October 2, 10 a.m., at Beulah United Church Hall.All lot holders welcome.cîD Medic Alert ALWAYS ON CALL www.medicalert.ca Far more Information 1-BDD-66B-15D7 RATES and DEADLINES: ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES BIRTH & DEATH NOTICES, CARDS OF THANKS, IN MEMORIAMS, BRIEFLETS: Text only: 320 per word.Minimum charge $8.00 ($9.20 taxes included) Discounts: 2 insertions -15% off, 3 insertions - 30% off With photo: additional $18.50.DEADLINE: 11 a.m., day before publication.BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY & GET-WELL WISHES, ENGAGEMENT NOTICES: Text only: $7.00 (includes taxes) With photo: $20.00 ($23.01 taxes included) DEADLINE: 3 days before publication.WEDDING WRITE-UPS, OBITUARIES: $19.50 ($22.43 taxes included) WITH PHOTO: $29.50 ($33.94 taxes included) Please Note: All of the aforementioned (except death notices) must be submitted typewritten or neatly printed, and must include the signature and daytime telephone number o.f the contact person.They will not be taken by phone.DEADLINES FOR DEATH NOTICES: For Monday’s paper, call 819-569-4856 between 1 p.m.and 5 p.m.Sunday.For Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday’s edition, call 819-569-4856 or fax 819-569-1187 (please call to confirm transmission) between 9 a.m.and 5 p.m.the day prior to the day of publication.The Record cannot guarantee publication if another Record number is called. page 16 Wednesday, September 29, 2004 ^RECORD: 80th Birthday Wishes 1 wish you a very special happy 80th birthday today Mom (Frances Picken).I Love You Mom.From your loving daughter Ruth and son-in-law Bert Happy Birthday If you would like to help celebrate Tollv Elaine Sherrer Hamelin’s birthday on J •/ October 3, 2004, please send best wishes to: 5 Neil Armstrong, Mansonville, Quebec JOE 1X0 Lennoxville Women’s Institute meeting The regular monthly meeting of Lennoxville Women’s Institute was held at Uplands on September 16th.Vice-President Thelma Picken called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.and the Collect for Clubwomen and the Salute to the Flag were repeated by all.The Motto for the month’s theme of Education and Personal Development was “Minds are like parachutes, they only Daniel Loveland Fennessey Ayer’s Cliff - On September 21st, the Jolly Twelve resumed their get-together at Maurice Restaurant for a lovely dinner.Following the dinner we went back to Dien Brus to play cards, thanks to Lille Sharman for filling in and to Alice McHarg for filling in too, she is here visiting from the West (Edmonton).Prizes were won by 1st Alice McHarg, 2nd Debbie Smith, consolation, Dien Brus, special prize, Muriel Mosher.Following the card game the hostess Dien Brus served a lovely lunch, social hour followed.Next meeting, Oct.19, at Lorraine Harrison’s 2 p.m.See you all then.Lorraine Harrison function when they are open.” The Roll Call “Bring a baby or child photo, in a sealed envelope” was answered by the nine members present.The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved as read.In business from the minutes, Nancy Barton, as our representative, gave a detailed report of the County meeting held on August 10th, and noted that the next County meeting would be held at St.George’s Church Hall, Lennoxville, on November 9th.Since several members had entered items in the recent Ayer’s Cliff Fair, they had brought these to the meeting and it was noted that they had placed 3rd in the exhibition with 63.5%.Those who had entered articles felt that in some cases the instructions for the items were not clear, and will present a letter of protest in regard to the judging.The Treasurer’s report given by Gwen Parker showed a satisfactory balance on hand.Correspondence read included a letter from “La Maison ISA Calacs, asking that we distribute stickers they have prepared, denouncing violence against women, and copies of the Protecteur du Citoyens Chronicle.Next on the agenda was discussion on our Luncheon and Bazaar.This will be held on October 22nd, at the Lennoxville United Church Hall.Members were told what each should supply for both food for the luncheon and items for the sales tables.There will also be a drawing for several items, including a 25” knitted doll, Christmas Potpourri jar, and a knitted lap robe.The price for the luncheon will be $7.00.Next on the agenda was the Rally being held in Lennoxville on October 2nd.Members will be supplying food, as required.To close the business of the meeting, a motion to give $200.00 to the High School Scholarship Fund was made by Marg.Williams, seconded by Pat Hurley.Carried.The program for the afternoon was guessing the names of the children in the photos that had been turned in Roll Call.We wren’t too successful.Later, we had the opportunity to examine and admire the several articles that our members had exhibited at the Fair.To bring the afternoon to a close, members enjoyed a cup of tea and a variety of sweet breads, with cheese, served by Donna Davis and Phyllis Worster.Phyllis Worster, Publicity Why are you so willing to give up?Daniel Loveland Fennessey, one year old grandson of Ray and Donna Loveland, Kirkland, Quebec.Great-grandson of Carl and Ruth Dillon, Lennoxville, Quebec and the late Herbert and Dorothy Loveland.Happy Birthday-a P P y B ¦ 1 r t h d a y.Serge from all of us at: RECORD Dear Annie: My husband, “Lenny,” was laid off from his job nearly three years ago.He decided to return to school, but he attends classes in another city.I will be living with some friends while he is in school for the next two years, and we’ll see each other every other weekend.Lenny and I will celebrate our third anniversary this year, and sometimes I’m not sure I want to be married anymore.I’m having a hard time coping with his absence.I have started to find other men attractive and did something I never thought I’d do: I made a pass at a friend.I always have been faithful, yet this one time I came so close to throwing everything away.I have no intention of telling Lenny, .because it only would cause him pain that he doesn’t deserve.This is not what I signed on for when we married.How long do I have to wait before I call it quits?- Washington Wife Dear Wife: Why are you so willing to give up?Two years may seem like an eternity, but it isn’t really that long.If you are committed to Lenny, and you see Annie’s Mailbox him every other weekend, you should not find this arrangement so impossible.Can you find a job where Lenny is attending school and perhaps live in student housing to save money?Is there a town midway between your current place and Lenny’s school where you both could live together and commute?Explore these options and see if they can work.Of course, if you don’t WANT to be married anymore, that’s a different story, and one that Lenny deserves to know about in advance.Dear Annie: My friend, “Jake,” has lived with me on and off for the last 16 years.I love him like a brother, and my kids call him Uncle Jake.In the last two years, Jake has become less of a friend and more of a burden.He has no job, pays no bills and doesn’t offer to help around the house.All he does is eat, sleep and play on our computer.Jake has had only two jobs in his entire life, and neither lasted more than six months.He has two kids and recently stopped contact with them.The children and his ex moved 200 miles away so she could get work, because he is not able to pay child support.I cannot understand how any parent won’t fight to see his children and why Jake will not take responsibility for what he has helped create.I don’t want to lose him as a friend, but he’s wearing on me.If I kick him out, he will move in with his mother.This would solve my problem, but not his.Any ideas?— Illinois Friend Dear Friend: You are not responsible for Jake’s immaturity, but you certainly are enabling him to continue freeload-ing.It’s time to cut the cord.If Mom lets him move in with her, too bad, but it doesn’t help the situation for you to be the patsy.Tell him you love him but he needs to grow up - preferably somewhere else.Dear Annie: I’m writing about the letter from “Worried in Wyoming,” who fears her 14-year-old stepson, “Warren,” may be a potential pedophile.As a psychologist specifically trained in this area, it seems that the teenager is very troubled.If the boy’s current therapist is not specifically trained to deal with such children, he or she is probably out of their professional expertise.I cannot stress enough how critical it is that Warren seek help from properly trained professionals.Please suggest the parents contact the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (atsa.com), 4900 S.W.Griffith Dr„ Suite 274, Beaverton, OR 97005.— James Man-ley, Ph.D., Kona, Hawaii Dear Dr.Man-ley: Thank you so much for your excellent suggestion.A few readers also recommended STOP IT NOW!, an organization with a confidential help-line at 1-888-PREVENT (1-888-773-8368).We hope the parents will follow through.Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Wednesday, September 29, 2004 page 17 iTHE i RECORD CELEBRITY CIPHER by Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present Each letter in the cipher stands for another.Today's clue: Z equals V “ R N XNRHX JM KEZS, WTAK GDKX.” - ATHRCSE ADEHDK “KZKHS N R A K T WHRKEG XJOOKKGX, R GRK T CRNNCK." — IDHK ZRGTC PREVIOUS SOLUTION — “We believe that to err is human.To blame it on someone else is politics." — Hubert H.Humphrey (c) 2004 by NEA, Inc.9-29 Kit n’ Carlyle 9-29 0 Laughingstock International Inc./dist.by United Media, 2004 www.comics.com lwright@ic.net /UlMAt' Ct^AMel &AUTV 4WoW, eye fa Herman “George .Have we got 900 rolls of this ‘imitation stone’?” Alley Oop AMD NOW.v * Igy f -TRANSWMAXION TW6 MOMEMT YOU'VE WAITED FOR.U NEW 9 ZQ O 2004 by NEA, Inc ARLO & JANIS The Born Loser r\\‘b GOOD TO P.UN INTO YOU^ ^GUKjE, SRJJTUS! KM£ Y0D(z7 ^UH.1 NFILK.SO LOKGJON\! LOT'S PLOPLL CALL fAY PEOPLE ! DO LUNCH SO/AC TlfAE I DONT HWC ANY PEOPLE! For Better or For Worse I CAN’T €>H0W UP OhJ WEEKENDS EITHER,COME TO THINK OF IT, BUT I COULD MAKE UP THE TIME IF THE#E WAS SOMETHIN# I COULD DO from Home,- J OH,ABSOLUTELY, I WANT FULL-TME EMPIOYMENT.NO auEsrioN.i just can't WORK ON WEDNESDAYS.I ALSO, I’M HAVING A PROBLEM WllVi TRANSPORTATION RI&HT NOW, &0 IF ANY of you soys dr.ne by my PLACE, MAY&E I £ COULP HlTC-H A RIDE IN-.?Grizwells nWiu\ Soup to Nuts WHEN You D3NCE.THE whole World dsnces EI&5T of at,YoU'VE (XmoComWO.UftfNWUE TO Cro } OIT NJUU YoU (T>RE ToYU\5 Ptt\HSi TW\H