The record, 6 février 2014, Cahier 1

Happy 117th birthday to The Record Inside 10 h£V.2014 -»oss Murray, Tim Beiford THE RECORD columns Page 6 The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#0040007682 Thursday, February 6, 2014 Public consultation night interesting' according to Sevigny GORDON l.AMMt: Tim Beiford and Steve Pankovitch of the Lennoxville Residents* Association in the Local Jewish leader fasting for funds and awareness By Gordon Lambie Sherbrooke Isaac Romano, Founder and Director of the Jewish Community Centre of the Eastern Townships, began a hunger strike and spiritual fast on Monday as a means of seeking action from the non-Jewish community in the funding of a commemorative exhibit and conference that will be coming to the Sherbrooke Historical Society in March.The local Jewish leader presented the lack of public support for the exhibit as a component of a greater veil of secrecy and anti-Semitism that he says pervades life in the province of Quebec, and pointed to the virtually unknown history of the Camp Newington internment facilities that operated on the shore of the Saint Francis River from 1940 to 1943 as an example of ways that Jewish people continue to be neglected in Sherbrooke.“After 70 years we are looking to lift the veil,'* Romano said on the steps in front of Sherbrooke’s City Hall Monday.“Join with us to make this possible.” Accompanied by a translator and representatives of three local churches, Romano explained that the bringing of the exhibit and conference, entitled, “Enemy Aliens,” is noteworthy in that it is the first time that the Vancouver-based exhibition will ever travel to the site of a former camp.He pointed to its coming as a significant opportunity to closely examine what he called, “a dark chapter in the history of Sherbrooke, Quebec and Canada.” The opening conference on March 9 and 10 is set to play host to three former internees of Camp Newington, all now in their nineties.The problem, according to Romano, is a lack of support for the project.While citing partners like the University of Sherbrooke’s History Department and the Sherbrooke Historical Society, the Jewish Leader said that the response from the broader non-Jewish Cont’d on page 3 By Gordon Lambie Sherbrooke The City of Sherbrooke held the first of its public consultations on Mayor Bernard Sévigny’s proposed municipal government reform plan at the Hôtellerie le Boulevard in Rock Forest Tuesday night.The plan, deposed at The City Council meeting on Jan.20 has been the subject of great criticism from almost every direction, with critiques being presented by citizens, municipal councillors, and local MNAs alike.Despite this, however, the tone at Tuesday’s meeting was civil and respectful, with a predominant aura of willingness to compromise.“The beauty of the process of carry- ing out consultations is that things are carried out with the greatest respect,” Sevigny said at the start of the evening.“I think it is the mark of Sherbrookers that they can discuss sometimes very difficult questions with great maturity and respect.” Six of twelve community groups seeking to offer testimony on the proposed plan were present, including the group against the disappearance of Brompton and the Lennoxville Residents Association.Each presented to an audience of 80, made up of citizens and municipal councillors Pierre Meese, spokesperson for the Brompton Group, expressed that fifteen minutes was a short amount of time to properly express a citizen’s take on the midst of giving their deposition.matter, and that he felt that the consultation would be more effective if groups were given more time to make their ideas clear.Nonetheless, he presented several different proposals, including citizen commissions that would provide a more direct link'be-tween city decision making and the general population and the idea of boroughs being written into the city charter to prevent their disappearance.Steve Pankovitch and Tim Beiford, speaking on behalf of the LRA, voiced concerns primarily focused on the notion of thie centralization of services.“The closer citizens are to their government, and the more they feel that they have some control in their life, the Cont’d on page 3 tomorrow Page 2 Thursday, February 6, 2014 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Winterfest in Potton The Missisquoi North Volunteer Youth Centre and the Municipality of Potton present: Winterfest, A fun filled day for the whole family.Saturday February 8, starting at 10 a.m.until 3 p.m.at the Mansonville Elementary School, 5 Marion Atwell, Mansonville.All activities (weather permitting) Outdoor activities -Tubing (10 a.m.to 3 p.m.) - Inflatable Game (10 a.m.to 3 p.m.) - Snowmobile rides (10 a.m.) - Horse drawn sleigh ride: (10 a.m.to 1 p.m.) - First responder truck rides: (1 p.m.to 3 p.m.) - Participation by the Quebec Provincial Police - Snow sculpting: (10 a.m.to 12 p.m.) - Sugar on snow (1 p.m.) - Door prizes Indoor AcnvmEs: Bingo (for small prizes) - Face painting etc.- Lunch on Sale More information at www.pot-ton.ca Weather * x ^ TODAY: GRADUAL CLEARING ^ HIGH OF-10 LOW OF-19 Ji- 1 FRIDAY: CLOUDY, FLURRIES HIGH OF -9 LOW OF-14 ^ J ,/ / SATURDAY: ' ' ^ SUNNY ' \ ^ /ft HIGH OF -9 LOW OF-15 \ SUNDAY: CLOUDY, , FLURRIES *> , HIGH OF-9 -/jT _>J * -Ù LOW OF-18 V MONDAY: MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS HIGH OF 21 LOW OF 10 South Durham musician Jeff Lemieux 'couldn't be happier COURTESY «HH $ I “The first year we were here,’’ guitarist Jeff Lemieux recalls, “I was teaching four days a week in Montreal.If I wanted to avoid morning traffic I had to get up at 4:30 in the morning, and if I left work at 4:30 in the afternoon I could expect the ride home to last about three hours." By Nick Fonda Record Correspondent South Durham Four years after quitting Montreal to put down roots in South Durham, guitarist Jeff Lemieux has developed new skills to accompany the old ones and he couldn’t be happier.“Before we moved to South Durham,” he says, “I’d never driven a four-wheeler or used a chain saw.We’ve learned to live differently.We have 20 acres of land, mostly wooded, and I now cut and split all of our cordwood.We now bake our own bread and grow most of our own vegetables in our own big garden.I already had a few notions about hardware and construction because, as a student, 1 worked for a big supply chain, but I’ve picked up a lot of practical experience in things like carpentry the last few years.My next big project is to turn part of one of our outbuildings into a recording studio." Life wasn't always thus for the urban-born musician.“When we left Montreal,” he explains, “I was teaching as many as 60 students a week and then playing music a couple of nights a week.I was in a relationship at the time with another musician and her schedule was identical to mine.We were never home.It was after that relationship ended that I realized I had to get out of the city.I couldn’t imagine trying to raise a child in that kind of environment.” Jeff Lemieux was born Jean-François Lemieux and he may owe some of his musical-ity to his father.“He played guitar,” Jeff recalls, “although not professionally.I first picked up a guitar when I was eight or nine, but it was really in high school that I started playing.In my first year of high school, five or six of us got together and formed a band.I was playing in front of audiences at high school dances and youth centres by the time I was 14.At one point I was a member of eight different bands at the same time.The truth is that in high school the only things I cared about were playing hockey and playing music.” Given his interests, one might assume that Jeff would have studied music after high school.Such was not the case.“My mother wanted me to study something practical,” he says.“I was still living at home, so I ended up going to Édouard Montpetit and I studied electronics, a program which was quite far-reaching and included computer studies.” Career-wise, electronics could have been an excellent choice.Almost immediately upon graduating, Jeff landed a job at his alma mater.“The Cégep posted an opening for an electronics technician, I applied, and I was hired,” he says.“It was a great job.I had a sound studio to look after.I was also responsible for programming the school’s server which supported about 3,000 computers.The salary was the best I have ever had." Still, after a year on the job, he quit and went back to school: this time at Vincent d’lndy, a private Cégep and arguably Quebec’s most prestigious music school, to study classical guitar.Up to this point in his life, Jeff had always played by ear, and the music he played was rock and heavy metal.Suddenly he was in an environment where he was expected to read musical notation and play Bach sonatinas.“It wasn’t easy,” he confirms.“Because I’d been at Édouard Montpetit, my mandatory courses were already credited.I was taking only music courses: history of music, music theory, composition, and choir.Some days, I was working eight or even ten hours on my guitar.” Ironically, even though he has given a number of classical guitar concerts since graduating from Vincent d’lndy, he has played more pop and jazz than he has classical music.Still, he considers the training he received invaluable.“I still play by ear, and you can come up with a tune whether you can read music or not—I think I was coming up with tunes almost from the first time I picked up a guitar—but it's a tremendous help to be able to write the Cont’d on page 4 Ben by Daniel Shelton /HOW MANY PIECES ARE IN THIS SET?WaPMEBUIlPTMIS ONE OKAYGRANPA?IT WONT K THAT H4RC7 TMOUOH .WE LOST HALTOETHEM the empire SWE ftJILPING'? The Record Thursday, February (>, 2014 Page 3 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Public consultation night Cont’d from page 1 more likely they are to take part in the process," said Belford.“If they take part in that process we will have a better city, we will have better neighbourhoods, we’ll have better arrondissements.If you centralize things, if you remove extra boroughs like Bromptonville.if you cut back on the democratic representation people have, this is going in the opposite direction.” The Mayor, in response to those concerns, said that the distancing depends on how centralization is carried out and that the council would take their concerns into consideration.He voiced reassurance that the consultation was more than just an information meeting, reacting to concerns expressed by Borough President David Price that the consultations amounted to a farce.Despite having been portrayed as inflexible by his critics, Sévigny expressed an interest and openness to many of the ideas proposed by citizen groups.Ultimately every expression of interest concluded with the reminder that it would be up to the municipal council to determine the ultimate form of the plan.Drawing from the basis he has proposed, the Mayor nonetheless identified different compromise positions or pathways that were potentially beneficial additions.“1 think it was interesting what we heard tonight,” the Mayor said, following the evening.“Aside from concerns, what we heard was people who said that, should this proposition pass despite our opposition, here is what we would like.I think that is interesting." Asked if there is any possibility of coming out of the vote on March 3 maintaining the status quo, Sévigny said no, that there is a proposal on the table to reduce the size of the council and that was what would be happening, “I think there is room to listen to people and perhaps integrate into the project ideas that respond to specific concerns,” he added, calling his reform project a “starting point that could be modified.” Further responding to concerns that the reduction of the number of councillors would lead to neglect of the citizens, the mayor suggested that the situation was not as dire as some suggest.“1 was a city councillor for eight years, I know what the workload is like,” Sévigny explained."These people who say that the telephone rings 28 times a day; that’s simply not the reality." Pankovitch, reacting to the meeting, said that he was keeping an open mind, but did not want to disregard Price’s suggestions that the meetings would amount to nothing.Local Jewish leader fasting Cont’d from page 1 TEP** Wëm rtfi vit, CORDON I.AMIIII: Father Reegan Soosai, Art'' ' Gonzalo Vilches-Cabrera, Translator Laurence Lefcourt, Rev.Carole Martignacco, and Mohamed Kounna with Isaac Romano of the Jewish Community Centre of the Eastern Townships.community has been practically nonexistent, making the event’s $20,000 price tag a daunting challenge to meet.It is as a result of that inattention, he says, that he has decided to undertake his juice-only fast.“This is not just a Jewish issue, this is an issue for the whole community,” Romano said.“It is a chance to learn about what has happened to avoid repeating it.” He explained that he is concerned about history repeating itself, particularly with regard to Muslim groups in the present day.“I worry for my friends in the muslim community, because right now they are targeted,” Romano said indicating that it was for this reason that he invited local Muslim leader Mohamed Kounna to participate in Monday’s Press conference.“International conflicts cannot destroy all that is human,” said Kounna, expressing his support for the mission of demystification that Romano has declared.“I wish for our children to live in harmony with the québécois people.” To that end, Romano declared the creation of the Sherbrooke Camp Newington Working group, a new interfaith organization that will seek to examine the lasting effects of the internment camp on the local community and help promote healing and awareness.He said that there group is modelled after similar groups formed in communities near concentration camps in Germany.Regarding the upcoming exhibit, Romano said he is looking specifically for support from municipal, provincial and federal bodies.He pointed to the fact that there is not even a marker on the grounds of the former camp which was just South of Galt street on the East side of the river.“We’re hoping to get a plaque there,” Romano said,’’but the work of the city has to be much bigger.” The Jewish leader expressed his belief that a general atmosphere of non-welcome carried on through the years and contributed to a consistent lack of support and growth in the Jewish community.“The history of anti-Semitism in the area is partly responsible for keeping the Jewish community marginalized and “When a respected, experienced politician like David Price says it's a farce, I really think people should stop and listen,"Pankovitch said.“David is not an aggressive politician.the mayor seemed to be listening and he seemed to be acting in good faith.That said, if the concerns of the many ERA members and those of Brompton and Movement Sherbrooke Democratic and citizens in general are not implemented, then the whole thing is a farce just as David points out.” The LRA president explained that the ERA has recently decided to try a more reconciliatory approach, as opposed to constantly criticizing some of the Mayors plans."If we only criticize, we could be wrongly perceived as opposed to anything Renouveau Sherbrookois says just for the sake of it.That is not the case.” not feeling as welcomed as they could have,” Romano said, expressing that as a result there are not more than 200-300 Jews across the whole region.As an additional element, Monday’s Press conference also included the unveiling of a painting commemorating Camp Newington by local artist Gonzalo Vilches-Cabrera.The painting depicts a Jewish Refugee with a large Red “target” spot on his hand symbolizing the Red “target” on the back of the prisoner uniforms.The man is surrounded by a message commemorating the history behind the image in both French and Hebrew.Michel Harnois, director of the he Sherbrooke Historical Society, expressed that while the society is happy to host the exhibit and is seeking funding to help ensure that the $20,000 goal is reached, they are not in any way endorsing Romano’s hunger strike.“We hope that the project can be realized, but Mr.Romano is speaking for himself," Harnois explained.“We are, however, still a partner with Mr.Romano in hosting the exhibition.” ( 4th annual BENEFIT DANCE for RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM BRAVEHEARTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 at 8 p.m.at the A.N.A.F.“Hut” 300 St.Francis, Lennoxville Music by Slightly Haggard Tickets: $10., available at the door ¦¦ FOR UFE POURUVIE * jJ A f jMdutn Sot têit .C»oi r> laoMtn-ni y Scot-rr riu tantu Info: 819-837-2363 janet@mcelreavy.com Please join us in the fight against Cancer! Page 4 Thursday, February 6, 2014 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Law firm Heenan-Blaikie not in trouble in Sherbrooke, lawyer says Record Staff Sherbrooke The Heenan Blaikie law firm’s Sherbrooke office is in good financial shape, according to Associate Luc R.Borduas, and is in no danger of having to discontinue its local activities.Borduas was reacting to recent revelations by the La Presse newspaper that indicate that Heenan Blaikie, one of the largest law firms in the country, was in such financial trouble that it has to make fundamental changes to avoid bankruptcy, saying a shortage of con- tracts led to some 75 of its Montreal attorneys billing fewer than 800 hours service in 2013, or about 15 hours a week.“The profitability of the Sherbrooke office has never been questioned,” Borduas says, “The year 2013 has been great financially, as in previous years also.It’s business as usual, as they say,” he affirms.Heenan-Blaikie employs 25 professionals and a total of 47 employees in Sherbrooke, and is the city’s biggest law firm.In Canada, the firm has over 500 lawyers in eight offices, including Mon- treal and Quebec City.The firm opened its Sherbrooke Offices in 1997 and specializes in labour, employment, and business law, as well as handling civil and commercial litigation.“In Sherbrooke, lawyers who charge less than 800 hours per year do not exist.Our billable hours are among the biggest,” Borduas insists.Borduas admits that several Heenan-Blaikie offices have seen lawyers leave recently, but says that this has not been the case in Sherbrooke.“Our turnover rate is very low.If two lawyers left the office for personal reasons during the past year, we have also hired three others.In addition, we are currently in a recruiting period,” said the office’s human resources and administration officer.In October, the firm moved its offices from the corner of King and Belvédère to the new Cité du Parc complex on Jacques-Cartier, occupying an entire 22,500 sq.ft floor.Heenan-Blaikie partners across Canada include former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, former Supreme Court Justice, and former PQ premier Pierre-Marc Johnson.South Durham musician Jeff Lemieux Cont’d i-rom page 2 music down.Nor could I be doing arrangements if I couldn’t write music.” Just as studying at Édouard Mont-petit led to a job at that Cégep, so too did Jeff land a job at Vincent d’lndy immediately after earning his second degree.“There’s a private preparatory school affiliated to the Cégep and I had lots of students,” he says.“I’d start at 8:30 in the morning and teach, always one-on-one, till the end of the afternoon.” After three years at his second alma mater, Jeff started teaching at Pan tonal, a music school under the direction of Outremont’s public works department.“It was a very good place to work,” he says.“It was community run and very successful from all points of view.I had more students than I could handle and there was always a waiting list to take lessons.” “Being a music teacher sometimes involves more than just teaching music,” he notes.“Because it’s one-on-one, there’s a triangular relationship that forms between the student and the teacher and the parents.As the teacher, 1 sometimes became a sounding board, both for students and for parents.Sometimes a child will try the instrument and give it up after a few months, but I’ve also had a few students who’ve gone on to earn a university degree in music and who are still in touch with me." “I’d also say,” he continues, “that I’ve seen a societal change in the ten or so years that I’ve been teaching.The typical child today is much less likely to be drawn to music or the arts, less willing to give time to the practice that is necessary to learn an instrument.It’s as if kids have been co-opted, body and soul, by TV and Internet and video games.” Despite a heavy teaching load, Jeff always remained busy as a musician.As the result of a performance he gave at Cégeps en Spectactle, an annual event that shines the spotlight on students in the performing arts, he was invited to perform at a festival in France.In 2006 he won the Grand Prix de Guitar de Montréal.The following year he released a CD entitled Synopsis d’un Fondation du CHUS .¦ .Video stroboscope Designed especially for ear, nose, and throat specialists and speech/language pathologists, this device allows the voice to be not only heard but also seen.It is a basic tool in research on the voice.It is very frequently used in the early detection of cancers and most often of benign pathologies such as nodules, polyps,, and laryngo-oesophageal reflux.hospital CHUS Hôtel-Dieu department Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) investment $ 82 000 www.fondationchus.org fou {S3 temps.A multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, bass, and saxophone as well as guitar, Jean-François Lemieux became Jeff Lemieux as the result of a misdirected phone call.“I came home one night,” he recounts, “and there was a message on the answering machine asking me to come to a particular place at a particular time to play.This wasn’t out of the ordinary.I’d had calls any number of times to fill in for someone at the last minute.But this particular phone call wasn’t for me.There’s a fairly well known bass player in Montreal by the name of Jean-François Lemieux, and the phone call I got was for him.If it had been a jazz concert I might have filled in just the same, but it was a set show and I had my guitar, but not my bass.” “I had a manager at the time,” he continues, “and after talking it over with him, I took the stage name, Jeff Lemieux.” The manager, like the rest of his Montreal life, is no longer in the picture.“The first year we were here,” he recalls, “I was teaching four days a week in Montreal.If I wanted to avoid morning traffic I had to get up at 4:30 in the morning, and if I left work at 4:30 in the afternoon I could expect the ride home to last about three hours.” Life is different now.“I haven’t given a concert in five years,” he says, “and I don’t miss it.I love music but I’m not really a showman.I don’t really get a thrill from being on stage.I still play for an occasional wedding or special event.I still do some accompanying.I write some music and write some arrangements for a musician friend.I am working on a second CD.Our living expenses in South Durham are a tenth of what they were in Montreal.Mind you, my income is also a fraction of what it was before.I do a bit of teaching and a bit of computer repair work, but really, I’m mostly a stay-at-home dad.My wife and I, and our three-year-old daughter couldn’t be happier.” For more information Jeff Lemieux can be reached at 819 858-1176 or at cours@jefflemieux.com. The Record newsroom@sherhrookerecord.com Thursday, February 6, 2014 Page 5 Mould moves Barnston students to Coaticook Record Staff Students and faculty of l’école Saint-Luc will be moving to La Frontalière high school in Coaticook next Wednesday over fears the Barnston primary school has been infested with mould.Testing revealed high concentrations of Aspergillus/Peni-cillium in the gym and locker rooms.“Considering that many children and staff have health problems consistent with the presence of mould, that further investigation should be carried out where the fungal profile is abnormal, and that the situation cannot be corrected in the short term.The Department of Public health has recommended the removal of the children,” said the Director of Public Health Estrie, Dr.Melissa Genereux, before sixty parents attending an information meeting Tuesday evening.Testing also revealed high levels of C02 in most classrooms, combined with relatively low humidity.Preliminary results of a health survey conducted among parents staff, and teachers in recent weeks indicated that one in four had symptoms related to air quality.The response rate for this survey, however, was only 56 per cent and the Department of Public Health has decided to extend the polling period until Feb.12.Although preliminary results are representative enough to validate our recommendation, better sampling will allow us to refine our understanding of the situation,” said Dr.Linda Pinsonneault, medical counsellor for the Public Health directorate.The transfer will be effected next Wednesday, Feb.12, and pupils will be off until then.The school’s daycare will open at La Frontalière on Monday, and the high school is busily readying a wing to receive the primary school's 144 pupils.Parents expressed concern over student transport at the meeting, specifically about schedules and the mixing of primary and secondary students on the same buses.A meeting was held with students Wednesday to explain the situation and to prepare them for the move.Meanwhile, those absent from the Tuesday meeting evening have been contacted by telephone to inform them of the decision, as well as invite them to retrieve their children’s personal belongings from lockers.With the collaboration of the Centre for Health and Social Seivices of the MRC de Coaticook, psychological support for children upset by the change will be provided.Meanwhile, efforts will be made to ensure the Barnston school’s readiness for next fall, the school board says.Be wary of virtual currency says watchdog Sherbrooke With the arrival of the virtual currency ‘Bitcoin’ on the Quebec market, the Quebec Financial Markets Agency (AMF) is warning people to be cautious regarding their use.The AMF warns that transactions involving the virtual currency are not covered by either the Financial Services Compensation Fund, or Deposit Insurance.As a result, those using the electronic money are exposed to potential losses in doing so an SMF communiqué says.Earlier this week, it was revealed that a Sherbrooke business had become the first in the region to adopt virtual currency.The Nomad BJJ jiu-jitsu school accepts Bitcoins for online payment.The Sherbrooke Chamber of Commerce is also expressing reservations because it may take several years before the use of virtual currency becomes commonplace in the city.Economists consulted have been skeptical because the money is still far from global acceptance.With the opening of the first virtual currency ‘ATMs’ the AMF is monitoring its use” from the point of view of the Securities Act, the Act on derivatives, as well as the law governing monetary services.If breaches to any of these laws are uncovered, the Authority will intervene," the statement says.The organization pointed out that warnings have been issued over the potential for fraud associated with the use of the currency by financial regulators and banks, including the American Securities and Exchange Commission and the Banque de France.“The anonymity of virtual currency transactions and their relative low cost could result in fraudsters implementing schemes, including Ponzi schemes, to attract investors.Virtual currency is then used to facilitate fraud or simply make fake investments.This type of fraud usually involves online investments and investment platforms, unauthorized by the authorities,” the AMF concludes.Cardin confirmed as PQ candidate Sherbrooke Professional backbencher Serge Cardin has been confirmed as the Parti-Québécois candidate in the next provincial election, hoping for a second mandate in his ongoing career as successor to Jean Charest as Sherbrooke represen- tative in Quebec electoral politics.Cardin succeeded Charest federally, as a Bloc Québécois MP, in 1998 and served continuously until he was defeated by then 19-year old New Democrat Pierre-Luc Dussault in the ‘Orange Wave’ that swept the province in 2011.The nomination was con- firmed at the PQ riding association’s Annual General Meeting at the Cégep de Sherbrooke.During his acceptance speech, Cardin praised the accomplishments of the Marois Government despite its minority status.Cardin was accompanied by Culture and Immigration Minister Diane de Courcy.Sylvain Bergeron enters not guilty plea of cocaine possession Record Staff Sherbrooke The Stanstead College Director of Security arrested last month for possession of nearly a kilogram of cocaine during a routine traffic stop has entered a plea of not guilty to the most serious of the charges against him.Sylvain Bergeron gained national attention to mid-January when it was revealed that he had been intercepted while driving a car near Chicago carrying a large quantity of cocaine.Bergeron was stopped when police noticed that he was driving erratically while talking on a cell phone.Bergeron will be back before the Will County courthouse on Feb.17.He is also accused of reckless driving and using a handheld device while driving.Tire judge demanded a deposit of $2 million for Bergeron’s release.Bergeron, who is being represented by a public defender, will await his trial in detention.HSF offers more public transit Cookshi re-Eaton The Haut-Saint-François MRC and the Hauts-Cantons School Board have come to an agreement regarding the development of public transport for the region.School Commission Chair Gaétan Perron, says t hat the school board is proud to be able to contribute its resources to ensure a wider community benefit, adding that this kind of partnership is directly related to a part of its mission to contribute to the socio-economic development of its regions.The agreement will make available unused high school bus spaces in the areas of Weedon, Dudswell, Chartierville.La Patrie, Scotstown, Saint-Isidore-de-Clifton, Newport, Sawyerville, Cookshire, Bury, West-bury, and East Angus.These are in addition to other places already made available by para-transport services.The agreement increases the possibilities of booking transport, adding to the collective transport pool.The goal of the MRC is to offer more service and it is thanks to the partners involved in the community like the CSHC that people will have a unique quality of service in the region.To reserve a place, those interested should contact the Haut-Saint-François transportation service at 819-832-1717 to obtain a personal identity card.To qualify, an applicant must not have a criminal record.This restriction is required due to the presence of adolescents on the school buses.On other modes of transport offered, this restriction is not applied.SQ Snowmobile safety campaign continues Sherbrooke The Sûreté du Quebec’s ingoing offensive against snowmobile misuse lias nabbed another male rider in the Haut-Saint-Francois as he was caught cruising at 110 km/h in a 70 km/h zone.In addition to the speed demon, an underage rider was stopped as was another snowmobiler caught transporting a child in a modified seat without having a permit to carry passengers.This latter offence cost the man $332.Police intercepted about twenty snowmobilers and • ATVs and issued seven statements of offence and 18 warnings under the Act respecting off-road vehicles.“The law on off-road vehicles stipulates that any addition of seats must be done according to the manufacturer’s standards and the driver must obtain a certificate to drive his modified vehicle,” says SQ Estrie spokesperson Aurélie Guindon.“In this case, the child was being transported on a homemade seat and was not able to reach the foot supports." - Last week, a 25 year-old from Valcourt was arrested while traveling at a speed of 130 km/h on the trails.“The Sûreté du Québec is planning to carry out other operations in the Eastern Townships to enforce the Act concerning off-road vehicles and make for safer recreational activity on the trails,” Guindon adds.Michel Puval Advertising Consultant Serving the entire Eastern Townships with three publications RECORD Townships Outlet Brome County NEWS One number 819 569-9525 mduval@sherbrookerecord.com Page 6 Thursday, February 6, 2014 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Editorial My father, among many things was colour blind, one-eyed, and I believe slightly dyslexic.Fish and turtle trouble Tim Belford Brando the Wonder Dog and I were having our morning nap the other day when it struck me how nice it is to have a canine cohort.He’s there in the morning when I awake and he’s on his rug on the bedroom floor when my head hits the pillow at night.And, as I mentioned, he likes to nap which makes us entirely compatible.We are both great walkers and if 1 am not quite as enamoured of sticks as he is, I can still hold my own in a game of fetch.He’s a gardener at heart and loves nothing more than replanting flowers, vegetables, small bushes or anything else he can manage to dig up.In short, we are a perfect match.It is perhaps hard, dear reader, for you to understand why this is so important to me.Let me explain.My mother, you see, was never a pet person.This is perfectly understandable since she had her hands full raising three boys and, some time later, a daughter.My father worked shift work and as a result slept at odd hours leaving her to cope as best she could.Knowing full well that the allure of a dog, or a cat or, for that matter, any creature that needed tending and care would in short order wear off, leaving her, once again, to cope, she decided wisely to forgo pets entirely.This stance came, I should add, despite the manifold vows, pleas and promises of myself and my siblings.There were, however, two instances that I can recall where, in a state of siege or despair, I don’t know which, my mother gave in.One involved a turtle and the other five goldfish.The turtle was one of those that can be purchased in any pet shop and came with it’s own plastic bowl.In the centre of the bowl was a tiny island upon which stood an equally plastic palm tree.The turtle spent most of his day on the island sleeping, with occasional forays into the water for a quick swim or to pick up the bits of turtle food that we took turns sprinkling into the bowl.One Saturday morning my mother asked my father if he would clean the turtle’s bowl.This, by the way, was one of the tasks that my brothers and I had declared we would faithfully carry out each week, but after all it was Saturday.Thus it was my father who dutifully filled the sink so the turtle would have someplace to go while the cleaning was carried out.Now, I should mention, at this point, my father, among many things was colour blind, one-eyed, and I believe slightly dyslexic.For whatever reason, he had inadvertently filled the sink with hot water.You can probably guess the result.The turtle hit the water like a live lobster.By the time my father had realized his error and rescued the twitching tortoise it was too late.An appropriate service was held later that day in a corner of the back yard.Unfortunately, with the gold fish, it was my father who was once again involved in a minor domestic tragedy.Conscripted to clean the fish bowl - my brothers and I being AWOL once again -father carefully filled the sink with water and, with the memories of turtle soup lingering in the back of his mind, tested it.All was well so in went the fish.It wasn’t until the bowl was sparkling clean and filled with fresh water that disaster struck.As he attempted to catch the fish and transfer them to their now pristine container, his hand accidently hit the drain plug dislodging it and with a dramatic swoosh out went the water and down went the fish.So you see, my experience up to now with pets has not generally been a good one.As a result, every time 1 awake and feel a cold, wet nose pressed against my face gently indicating it is time for a walk or a game or to fill the food bowl, I smile.RECORD 1195 Galt East, Sherbrooke, Quebec JIG 1Y7 Fax: 819421-3179 e-mail: newsroom^sherbrooken'o) rd.com Website: www.sherbrookereeord.com Sharon McCuli.y Pubusher .(819) 569-9511 Daniel Coulombs News Editor .(819) 569-6345 Stephen Blake Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Serge Gac;non Chief Pressman.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Accounting.(819) 569-9511 Advertising .(819) 569-9525 Circulation .(819) 569-9528 Newsroom .(819) 569-6345 Knowlton office 5B Victoria Street.Knowlton, Quebec, JOE IVO TEL’ (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-5155 PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST T O T A 1.Quebec: 1 YEAR 120.00 6.00 11.97 S 13 7.9 7 6 MONTHS 63.00 3.15 6.28 $72.43 3 MONTHS 32.00 1.60 3.19 $36.79 ON-LINE SUBSCRIPTIONS Quebec: 1 YEAR 55.00 2.75 5.49 $63.24 1 MONTH 4.99 0.25 0.50 $5.74 Ruft’s for out of Quebec and 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 9.1897.and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.18791 in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership.PM #0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 1195 Galt East.Sherbrooke, QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA If a skier falls in the forest, does it make you laugh?Ross Murray Of all the wintertime activities -skating, sliding, dry-knuckle boxing, the 100-metre layering - cross-country skiing is among my favourites.I particularly enjoy the solitude, but not for the nature-loving reasons you might think.To fully explain why, I have to go back to when I was 12 years old and went downhill skiing for the first time.Located some miles out of town, the so-called mountain was a meagre slope that had been fitted with a T-bar to gently push skiers bumward up the hill.I could not master the T-bar.I spent much of that afternoon trying to settle my kiester on the T, falling over and over into the snow.“Just hang onto it,” my friend said as he disappeared up the hill without me.Trying to hang on turned out to be like trying to waterski in slow motion, except with harder, icier landings.When I finally did make it to the top, skiing down was more of the same, only with the added force of gravity, speed and the leering grin of imminent death.“Bunny Hill,” my Aunt Fanny! That day, I vowed I would never again downhill ski, a vow I have kept all these years and one I’m unlikely to break now, and if I did break it, I would be far too embarrassed to start on the Bunny Hill, so I would choose a more difficult run, and then I would die.What I like about the solitude of cross-country skiing, then, is that hardly anyone sees you fall on your face.There’s my wife, of course, but she’s used to seeing me fall on my face, literally and metaphorically.“How’s your groin?” she likes to call out as we ski, not so much out of concern for past incidents but because it’s fun to say, especially if you pronounce it “growin’.” Being able to carry on such conversations is one of the beauties of cross-country skiing.It’s like walking in the woods, except faster, which is how I like my exercise: over with as quickly as possible.Unlike downhill skiing, cross-country skiing is not hard to master.Are you moving forward?Congratula- tions, you’ve mastered it! Deb and I began skiing again three winters ago after a few years’ absence following the ultimate disintegration of our old hand-me-down boots.Which brings me to another reason I like cross-country skiing: I’m cheap.After the initial outlay for skis and boots, that’s it.No lift passes, no costly outfits, no funeral expenses.Just you, your skis and maybe a pair of sweatpants thrown over tights or long Johns - the perfect winter activity for people who have let themselves go.Curling is also good.Despite the simplicity of skiing, there are certain guidelines you should follow.Tip #1: Make sure there is snow.Skiing on dirt is hard on the skis, and then you'll have to replace them, which kind of defeats the whole cheap purpose, doesn’t it?Tip #2: A number of factors can slow you down: ignoring Tip #1 ; using the wrong type of wax for snow conditions; and falling over.The latter can occur when you take your eyes off your skis to look around you.Never look around.Instead, have a better skier follow you and describe your surroundings.Tip #3: Always ski with a buddy, especially in the woods.You never know when you might need someone to go for help, give you a push up a hill, describe your surroundings or hand you a snack.Tip #4: While it’s tempting to ski on snowmobile trails, this is dangerous.A collision can cause serious damage to the snowmobile, and those things are expensive.Skiers should stick to the woods and ski trails, while snowmobilers should stay on snowmobile trails, ski trails, sidewalks, schoolyards, highways, in front of my house, in fact anywhere they damn well feel like, apparently.Cross-country skiing, on the other hand, is a quiet and courteous activity.1 was thinking this just this past weekend as Deb and I were trespassing through someone’s sugar camp.Skiing can be almost spiritual.Surrounded by all that nature, just you and your ineptitude, it’s easy to get so carried away that you suffer a growin’ incident.Maybe you should just calm down.Watch your skis and think of England. The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Thursday, February 6, 2014 Page 7 ij) n i ¦*d I 1 ie J oorder .rve port “You get to know a lot of nice people.’’ Popular monthly jam keeps toes tapping in Derby Line Village By Matthew McCully Special to The Record There is a well-kept secret in the border area, bringing people together monthly for a night of music and dancing.Never mind the ‘Tennessee Waltz’.Just ‘Walk the line’, and head to Derby Line village hall for some classic old country, jazz and folk tunes played by a variety of local performers.The music jam, which takes place the fourth Friday of every month, has been running for at least 12 years now, and attracts upwards of 100 people, according to organizers Jim and Kitty McIntyre.“We never know who’s coming.” Jim said.Musicians of varying skill levels come together and form a stage band.Some play, some sing, but all have a ball, according to Jim.“Tltey just get together and it sounds real well.” Most of the players and audience are seniors, but that doesn’t mean others aren’t welcome.“We love to see young people come.That’s one of our missions," said Kitty.Over the years, Jim said, he has seen high school students perform, who have gone on to become professional musicians.Each month, Jim and Kitty, with the help of a number of friends and volunteers, get the village hall, just a hop, skip and a jump from the border, ready for the event.“We can’t take all the credit,” Jim said, mentioning the support he receives from the village and from volunteers.There is a sound system, and over the years, the jam has been able to upgrade, adding some cordless mics, and an amplifier available for use as well.Musicians of all ages and skill levels are welcome to sign up to play, and COURTESY PHOTOS ' it* though old country is a favourite, any type of music is welcome.Jim has said people have played jazz, classical, and even some pop music, all to the delight of eager listeners out for a good time.It’s not uncommon to see audience members dancing in the aisles.“They do that most of the time,” Jim said.One of the jam’s regular performers is a 98-year-old woman, who comes from a nursing home in Waldon to sing.He added that another singer retired from performing at the jam at 99.She lived to be 104, supporting the old adage that singing keeps you healthy.The event runs for around three hours, with a break in the middle, at which time people can enjoy some snacks donated by jam supporters.Admission is $3, and all of the funds collected go towards music scholarships and autotech programs in surrounding schools.“We don’t keep anything for ourselves,” asserted Jim.Surprisingly, Jim and Kitty, both in their late 70s, are not musicians themselves.“I have trouble tuning a radio,” said Jim, referring to his musical abilities.Kitty was, at one point, learning to play the mountain dulcimer, but was unable to continue when she lost her sight.“I’m not one who can play by ear,” she said, adding that she enjoys listening to the music, as well as the social aspects of the jam.“You get to know a lot of nice people.” Roughly 12 years ago, the jam was started up by two Derby area residents.After four years, they decided to move on to pursue other interests, and approached the McIntyres to take over.“I credit my wife with that idea,” Jim said, adding that the idea made sense since they lived nearby and didn’t want to see the event shut down.Music jams are a popular tradition in the area, according to Kitty.She said she and Jim attend one on Wednesdays in Westfield, Vt.The Derby village hall jam attracts people from both sides of the border, according to Jim.He has met performers from Sutton, Magog, St.Armand, Brome, Stanstead, Richford and other surrounding towns.The official date for the jam is the fourth Friday of every month, although in winter the date is usually changed to Sunday afternoons to accommodate bad weather and shorter daylight hours.The next jam will take place Friday, Feb.28 at the village hall, between 6:30-9:30 p.m.Reserving in advance is not necessary.Musicians can just show up, and they will be added to the list.Most musicians will be given an opportunity to play two songs, depending on time constraints.One ofjim’s favourite tunes to hear is Chateauguay Waltz.“Some can play it, some can’t,” he said.Kitty said she enjoys hearing anything by Hank Williams, and added that one of her all-time favourites is a classic called.It’s Such A Pretty World Today. Page 8 Thursday, February 6, 2014 newsroom@sherbrookei-ecord.com The Record K Pi J 1 T3 / I In fact leprosy is not very con tagious when there is good 1 j lie j OordeF .TVe; ID CD TP L sanitation, no overcrowding and generally good health.January activities at the Boundary Rotary Club By Jan Draper North Hatley The third speaker was John Hoblyn, who spoke on dealing with the media during times of crisis.Hoblyn used an entertaining PowerPoint to illustrate his talk explaining how to prevent an event from escalating into cataclysm through bad media relations.>¦ Slfliis PHOTOS COURTESY Oh TUH ROTARY CLUB OFTHE BOUNDARY Father Daniel Lokanga, who is working on a vocational school in Kinshasa.fhe new year began with a speaker from Africa, Father Daniel, based currently in Rutland, Vermont, but originally from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.Fr.Daniel is building a vocational school in Kinshasa to be named for his father, a former teacher killed in the war.The Boundary is donating $4,400 to help Father Daniel ship equipment for the school.The following week featured Monika Sholia from the Rotary Club ofVieux Montreal.She spoke on the book she has written on the philosophy of non-violence.Ti President Lionel Emond with John Hoblyn (centre) and Stephen Rocke, next year’s president.At the last meeting Stephen Rocke discussed a project of the Hong Kong South Rotary Club of which he was a member until he returned last year to Georgeville.His former club supports leprosy clinics in Sichuan province, China.In the past people suffering from leprosy were consigned to isolated villages because leprosy was mistakenly assumed to be highly contagious.In fact leprosy is not very contagious when there is good sanitation, no overcrowding and generally good health.Rocke’s daughter visited the villages and was very touched by the people living there.For more information go to the http://www.theleprosypro-ject.org.: President Lionel Emond with guest speaker Monika Sholia (right) and Sonya Rocke, the program chair.Ml ÜW/1 .'13 Children living in a leprosy village in Sichuan, Chino from The Leprosy Project website.Winter fun in February There is no shortage of winter activities to take advantage of in the region throughout the month of February.Reports from groundhogs suggest winter will loosen its grip earlier than usual, so get out and enjoy the snow while it lasts.Magog —February 1,2, 8, 9.15 and 16 — Merry Point from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.Be part of the party for this 20th edition.Six days of festivities and happiness for everyone! All activities are free! Some of the highlights will include snowshoe races, ice fishing, skating contests, broomball, dog sled rides, and more.The festivities will conclude on Feb.16 with a fireworks show at 6 p.m.Visit www.fetedesneigesdemagog.com for details Ayer’s Cliff — February 7, 8, 9 — Tyler Park 6 p.m.to 9 p.m.on Feb.7 — hockey for women or mixed broom-ball game - $30 for each broomball team.Feb.8—10 a.m.to 8 p.m.— free skating, costume skating, face painting, parade, sleigh rides, inflatable structures, camp fire, fireworks, hot dogs, hockey and Frontier Animal Society Featured pet: Luna ¦ «¦ll ill :1 ill m ! ^ ^ If « broomball games.Feb.9 — 8 a.m.to 3 p.m.— fishing competition and snowboarding at the beach For details call 819-838-5006 Hatley — February 8 — On the common and at the old fire hall (center of the village of Hatley) from 1:30 p.m.to 8:30 p.m.Skating, snowshoeing (snowshoes available on-site), inflatable game, sliding, ball hockey, sleigh rides, various games, campfire, hot chocolate.Supper: Hotdogs, dessert and beverages.Prizes, fireworks, broomball and hockey.For details call - 819-838-5877 or 819-838-5048 Stanstead - February 8 — Beebe Memorial Park — Noon to 4 p.m.Hot dog and soup lunch, sliding, broomball tournament.snowshoeing and games.For details call 819-704-0660 Canton de Hatley - February 9 - Parc Mont Hatley from 8 a.m.to 4 p.m.COURTESY OF FRONTIER ANIMAL SOCIFTY Over the last several weeks, readers of this column have been introduced to many of the dogs that temporarily call our shelter home.This week we thought it seemed only fair to give one of our furry felines a chance to find a forever home.As such we have chosen to feature an adorable kitten named Luna who is as cute and playful as she is beautiful.With her lovely blue eyes and just a touch of beige on her ears and around her eyes she has quite the elegant and unique appearance.Luna is extremely friendly, very affectionate and loves to gently wrestle with the other kittens and cats.She is also accustomed to dogs.At just six months old, although she still has some growing to do, Luna will likely remain smaller than an average cat.She is a little bundle of cuteness and it’s time for this sweet girl to find a family of her own.Luna’s brother is also available for adoption.For more information about Luna or any of our other cats and kittens please send an e-mail to frontieranimalsoci-ety@gmail.com or call our adoption coordinator, Brenda, and we will be happy to set up a visit to the shelter.Brenda can be reached any day of the week between 8 a.m.and 8 p.m.at 819.876.7747.There are so many homeless cats in need of rescue placement and sadly we have no choice btit to turn many away.We simply cannot meet the demand.Thousands of unwanted cats are euthanized every year in this province and many strays forced to live outdoors are fighting to stay alive while battling sickness, hunger and frigid temperatures.It is a sobering message, we know, but awareness is the first step in creating positive change.Please do your part, don’t let your cat have kittens and please spay and neuter.Thank you! $18 special for kids and adults.Bring your helmet and skates for the skating rink! Dynamic dinner time: At 11 a.m.and p.m.mily snow hoe (available on-site) rally on the mountain.There will be activities and prizes between noon and 1 p.m.and the grog at 2 p.m.For details call 819 842-2977 North Hatley — February 15 —River Park from noon to 4 p.m.Skating, hockey, broomball tournament, bouncy castle, sugar on snow, sleigh ride, snowman/snow sculpture contest, and more.St.Catherine de Hatley — February 22 — Skating rink and community centre, from 1 p.m.Broomball game, skating, face painting, games for children, supper, and dance. The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com 117th RECORD ANNIVERSARY Thursday.February 6, 2014 PageV Record staff of 1997 Still at The Record are Michel Duval, Jo-Ann Hovey, Janet Daigneault, Laurie Schoolcraft and Sharon McCully.S ?*****•*'••• I .Advertisers have always been key The Record Sherbrooke Since the first issue of the Sherbrooke Daily Record was published on February 9, 1897, advertisers have been an integral part of the newspaper.Ads in the earliest editions often appeared on the front page, were hand-drawn and ran for an entire month because they were so time consuming to create.New businesses and products were introduced through the newspaper and established businesses used the ads to pledge their loyalty to the newspaper and its readers.Viewed historically, advertisements from the turn of the 20th century, present a portrait of the time: the fashions of the day, prices of goods and services, health and farm products, the latest in bicycles, tractors and sleighs.The names of merchants and service providers reads like a who’s who of the business community of the day, many of which are immortalized on street signs and emblazoned in the memories of long-time residents.H.C WILSON & SONS, PIANO WAREROOMS, Established 1873.Th.!< a«îi«»K in ihc EhnN'i-h Townuhlp* for High •Ti'- HMfi ‘hynn*.lirtn-s iimi I»«-rum«r>U, tnti t< \in iVu'nifi-n ai w-xxi- Snip Auem y for Uit Mamiolin Tnimf- ivn i U»(ï '5ym:^iorty‘ PUyingl Drgfcim.N< n PiAtkHÈ in rKh k frrnn f lUtlKHo $KAiO, 5 > 'Stnontihtvral io a lock thi« wwk at 9SS to flXL .) orw-ana L> rvn?:n anv îatrt of tl»1 Province.ArUaiio Toiiinx ^nJ livKulatth^ at.towns* city i>ric tmy fcddrtm.foHt'in a/;ray* u'tïçoMt ni 01 ¦ irarrrootna» W WtUinçtiM