The record, 26 janvier 2021, C1

[" T H E V O I C E O F T H E E A S T E R N T O W N S H I P S S I N C E 18 9 7 T H E Understanding the \u2018gear head\u2019 in your life On the Hook - Page 7 From routine outing to surreal experience Dian Cohen - Page 4 $1.00 + taxes PM#0040007682 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Generosity strikes again Active COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline in Quebec Record Staff The Province of Quebec reported 1,203 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of people infected to 254,836, with 16,428 of those currently considered active.The data also reported 43 new deaths, for a total of 9,521 deaths.The number of hospitalizations across the province decreased by six compared to the previous day, for a cumulative total of 1,321 and among these, the number of people in intensive care also decreased by two, for a total of 217.In the Estrie Region 50 new cases were recorded on Monday alongside three new deaths; one at the Granby Hospital, one at the Les Bâtisseurs private seniors\u2019 residence in Cowansville, and one at the Place Primevère residence in Waterloo.The total number of COVID-19 infections in the region since the start of the pandemic is now 10,343 with 619 cases currently active.Local hospitalizations outside of intensive care decreased to 58, ?ve of whom are now considered recovered, but intensive care hospitalizations increased by two to 13.Due to the well-publicized supply issues from P?zer, progress in the province\u2019s vaccination campaign has slowed signi?cantly, with only 1,960 doses administered across Quebec as of Monday afternoon.So far 220,715 doses have been administered across the province, 9,962 of which were in the Estrie.The Record\u2019s E-Edition allows you to read the full edition of the paper without leaving your home 24/7.The best way to stay abreast of local news.To subscribe, go to www.sherbrookerecord.com.Click on E-Edition and follow the simple instructions.And then start enjoy The Record for as little as $9.78 plus tx per month.Enjoy The Record online Already a print subscriber?Get the E-Edition free! Contact: 819-569-9528 billing@sherbrookerecord.com View issues of The Record, Brome County News, Townships Outlet and our special sections with just a click of the mouse! COURTESY Record Staff Eager for some sweet treats, customers ?ocked to a mobile Queues de Castor or beaver tail food truck in Ayer\u2019s Cliff over the weekend.The truck owner, Sylvain Ayotte, pledged 15 per cent of sales from the beaver tails to the Massawippi Valley Health Centre (MVHC).By Sunday night, a total of $1,700 had been raised.The food truck spent the weekend in the parking lot of Marché Tradition, owned by Guy Patry, a long-time supporter of the health centre.Community-owned, the not-for- pro?t rural cooperative delivers health care close to home in a small, bilingual setting.The centre has doctors, nurses, and health professionals who proactively counsel on illness prevention, providing a local, easy to access supplement to regional hospitals and Emergency Rooms.For more information on the clinic and membership, consult the website at www.csvm.ca or telephone 819-838-1082.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 2 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Ben by Daniel Shelton The Record e-edition There for you 24-hours-a-day 7-days-a-week.Wherever you are.Access the full edition of the Sherbrooke Record as well as special editions and 30 days of archives.Renew or order a new 12-month print subscription and get a 12-month online subscription for an additional $5 or purchase the online edition only for $125.00 Record subscription rates (includes Quebec taxes) For print subscription rates, please call 819-569-9528 or email us at billing@sherbrookerecord.com 12 month web only: $125.00 1 month web only: $11.25 Web subscribers have access to the daily Record as well as archives and special editions.Subscribing is as easy as 1,2,3: 1.Visit the Record website: www.sherbrookerecord.com 2.Click e-edition.3.Complete the form and wait for an email activating your online subscription.Weather TODAY: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUD HIGH OF -6 LOW OF -10 WEDNESDAY: PERIODS OF SNOW HIGH OF -2 LOW OF -6 THURSDAY: FLURRIES HIGH OF -3 LOW OF -13 FRIDAY: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUD HIGH OF -12 LOW OF -20 SATURDAY: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUD HIGH OF -9 LOW OF -18 To Sleep, Perchance.To Sleep Sheila Quinn Dishpan Hands \u2018To sleep\u2026perchance\u2026.well, just to sleep.Please.Just TO SLEEP.\u2019 \u2013 William Shakespeare, probably after his ?rst child was born.At least I imagine he may have said that \u2013 it could also just be attributed to exhausted people everywhere.I was the kid who didn\u2019t sleep.Who lay awake, staring at my surroundings, eyes wide in the fuzzy night, watching shadows, light play, the closet door, listening to the sound of dishes in the sink as Mum washed them up, the hum of evening television shows, and often a book hidden under the covers, read by the hall light (that I insisted stay on, that my brother often wanted off).He was a better sleeper, and the dark helped.My door was closer to the switch.(Sorry, Chad.) Flash forward to parenthood.I have my ?rst child and the precious, precious gold of sleep is suddenly something I\u2019m acutely aware of.The brain-quenching, glimmer delivered by angels, the thing of zzzzzs, when you can\u2019t think or worry, often dreamless too, was hopelessly delicious \u2013 it was really a question of not knowing what I had\u2026until it was gone.With a special needs child, sleep issues unfortunately are pretty common, and in our case they certainly were/are very much a part of our lives.Afternoon naps were the bane of our existence for a while \u2013 a period where we could get things done around the house, or just to breathe and relax a little, but come bedtime, there just seemed to be no end to the energy.Phasing naps out was complicated at daycare, as the entire place shut down for a period in the afternoon.For a stretch the ?ght for bed went on for hours.We tried so many different approaches, including crying it out (while I cried into the sink washing the dishes while he cried in his bed), including lying down with him, co- sleeping, you name it.No routine or ritual seemed to work.Thankfully an arrangement was made so that the educator who worked with our son (support for his Autism and the various challenges he had navigating the world as a result of his diagnosis) would come in the afternoon.They worked together while the rest of the place slept.Little bodies on little mats, curled up with little blankets and educators keeping watch as the place ?owed with the rhythm of tiny lungs.And our son in a room apart, hopefully meaning the evening would be better.In time, it was.The bedtime routine has never been perfect, but at some point he learned the boundaries of bedtime, staying in his bed, talking to himself in his own language, until he was snoring.I\u2019ve been sleeping with one ear open for eighteen years.The pandemic offered an additional challenge \u2013 with fewer physical outlets to tire his high-energy needs, his beloved swimming going by the wayside, the daily walks we took were good but didn\u2019t lend enough of a release for him.Several months in, frustration resulted in challenging behaviour shifts that were increasingly challenging\u2026.and then he began wanting to sleep on the couch.In a bid for some kind of peace, at ?rst I relented.After some time on the couch, he would fall asleep.I began adjusting my night-time routine so that I could retire to my room/the bathroom and leave the open-concept kitchen-living room area to serve as his sleep zone for the strange times we were living.Recently, however, it became clear that he wasn\u2019t falling asleep any more\u2026.my open ear meant I rested, but didn\u2019t sleep until sometimes 2:00 a.m., as I heard him get up, look out the window.At times, I wondered if he was watching for the Polar Express to come chugging powerfully down our street, cleaving the snow, hissing to a stop, opening a golden doorway to a magical trip to the North Pole.The challenges of not being able to communicate never end.Either way, he needed sleep.And so did old Mum over here.Last week, with a return to school after a month away, I realized that the arrangement had outgrown its \u2018Strange Times\u2019 scenario, and that even in a world where we\u2019re still not terribly sure where we\u2019re going, routine, ritual, structure, and boundaries are an important thing for our well-being.Thus began Sleepgate 2021.There was some heavy déjà-vu from our ?rst years together.On the ?rst night, I stood outside of their bedroom door, and when he emerged, hauling his bedding over his shoulder, I blocked the way, and in spite of being amply capable of steamrolling me like an offensive lineman, he leaned against me, but relented, turning with mutters and mumbles to re-settle in his bed.This went on for most of the night.Every night I\u2019ve maintained the same vigil, getting ready for bed at the same time as him, and occupying the opposite terrain of the past \u2013 making sure to get everything done in my room and the bathroom (including laundry) before getting him settled, so I can remain in the living room, reading or watching something, laying low, dozing a little if I need to, but always with that open ear.I ordered a special calming laser light to project onto their ceiling to create a restful atmosphere.A weighted blanket sleep-aid is on its way (the pressure of weighted items, such as vests, special weighted stuffed animals and blankets can be soothing, although it is recommended to use them for short periods of time \u2013 these are proving great tools for neuro- typical people as well).After a week, ?nally, after a few attempts at emerging, by 12:30 a.m.he was out.In spite of the current upheaval of so many areas of our lives, letting the edges fray on routine, ritual, boundaries and rules are one thing, but allowing them to full-on unravel is another.A little vigilance, and well, perhaps a little coffee (thank you to the Townships\u2019 own Virgin Hill), a little determination and we can re-build some of the habits that lend themselves so well to mending what has become frayed.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Page 3 Local News The young people Director General Sebastien Laberge sees at Partage St-François are typically at their breaking point.But even so, they use the facility to get their bearings and then head back out.Memphremagog MRC looking to support cultural projects Record Staff Despite the challenges facing the world of arts and culture at the moment, the Memphremagog MRC has launched a new call for projects under its Programme de soutien ?nancier aux initiatives culturelles, which offers ?nanacial assistance to different creative projects within its territory.\u201cThe MRC wishes to encourage those working in the cultural sector not to be discouraged by the current situation,\u201d said Michèle Turcotte, President of the of the Memphrémagog MRC\u2019s cultural committee and Mayor of Saint-Étienne-de- Bolton in a press release announcing the new call for projects.\u201cOn the contrary, we strongly believe that cultural initiatives have the potential to help people cope with this situation and also stimulate public creativity.This ?nancial support is a great opportunity to develop original concepts that will allow us to stand out as a territory.We are counting on the artistic community, on the collaboration of municipal authorities and on volunteer commitment to achieve this.\u201d Artists and organizations with cultural projects in mind are invited to prepare and present their proposals to the committee by Feb.26.A sum of $30,000 has been set aside for the chosen projects.In 2020, 19 projects bene?tted from $61,835 in ?nancial assistance through this program, including the mural of the Narrows Bridge that was inaugurated last July on the eastern wall of the Fitch Bay hardware store and the Trail of Children\u2019s Rights that was inaugurated in Austin in November.The funding for the Programme de soutien ?nancier aux initiatives culturelles is provided through the support of Quebec\u2019s Ministry of Culture and Communications.The form for those looking to participate in the program is available on the MRC website at www.m r c m e mp h r e m a g o g .c o m / c u l t u r e , and funding requests must be sent by email to Marie-Christine Perron-Marier at mc.perron@mrcmemphremagog.com.Perron-Marier is also available to answer any questions that may arise about the program or application process.Sanitary measures keep vulnerable youth away from shelters By Michael Boriero - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Auberge du cœur La Source- Soleil, a shelter for troubled and homeless youth in Sherbrooke, is witnessing a signi?cant amount of short stays throughout the pandemic, which is hindering employees\u2019 ability to connect with guests.The shelter holds nine available spots for people between the ages of 18 and 30 years old.According to Source-Soleil Director Amandine Vial, there are several beds available right now, but those who use the facility are staying for less than a week.\u201cFor us to build a connection to the youth, and in order to advance in their steps, they need to trust our social workers, which takes at least two or three months,\u201d said Vial.The shelter is like a stepping stone for young folk stuck in a dif?cult home situation, she explained to The Record in a phone interview.They also often carry other burdens, like struggling with drug or alcohol addictions.Although young people aren\u2019t staying quite as long as she would like, Vial added that the shelter\u2019s staff tries to keep tabs on everyone who walks through the building in an effort to ensure they are staying safe.\u201cWe often know where they are going, some go to the streets, but in general they go to other resources,\u201d Vial said.\u201cWe work with them when they leave in order to make sure they don\u2019t end up on the streets.\u201d While La Source-Soleil is a medium for youth seeking to get over tumultuous life hurdles, it\u2019s not to be mistaken for an emergency shelter.This isn\u2019t like a homeless shelter, said Partage St-François Director General Sebastien Laberge.People need to set up appointments where a social worker will evaluate their needs, he continued.They are given a room and responsibilities to maintain throughout the house and under no circumstances are people allowed to consume drugs.\u201cIt\u2019s a house with more of a family atmosphere.Everyone eats together, there\u2019s good food, it\u2019s clean and it\u2019s a home,\u201d said Laberge.\u201cIt\u2019s for another type of person, someone that has dif?culty transitioning to adult life or struggling to ?nd a stable job.\u201d Laberge is on the board of directors for the youth shelter and he was the interim director last year.He said it\u2019s dif?cult to quantify how many young people are living in vulnerable situations because they often lose track of them for a number of years.La Source-Soleil is perfect for people ready to shed their drug habits, but many vulnerable youth fall through the cracks because they are not prepared to ditch their old lifestyles.They usually spend years burning through their own resources before seeking help.\u201cThey\u2019ll join a gang, they\u2019ll ?nd an apartment, party for a few months, go to someone\u2019s house in exchange for sexual favours, deal drugs, commit crimes, or they\u2019ll ?nd someone in their family willing to give them a second, third or fourth chance,\u201d said Laberge.The young people he sees at Partage St-François are typically at their breaking point.But even so, they use the facility to get their bearings and then head back out.Only those dealing with severe mental health issues choose to stay longer.He said that with all of the added sanitary rules in place due to the pandemic, many homeless people, old and young, are avoiding emergency shelters.It\u2019s the same across Quebec, he continued, the vulnerable youth just don\u2019t want to go to shelters.\u201cPeople living in the streets are generally people who don\u2019t like rules, they\u2019re in opposition of everything, so when we tell them there are more rules, they don\u2019t want anything to do with it,\u201d said Laberge.He opened more beds this winter than he has in previous years hoping to accommodate more people, especially with a curfew in place.But Laberge noted that there are less people using the shelter; a lot of the beds remain empty every night.There are weeks where the shelter is only completely full for two nights, meaning there are spots available for ?ve other nights, he said, and it has a lot to do with the new process.He needs to check for symptoms, hand out masks, and explain the rules to everyone.\u201cNow the process lasts until about 10 or 11 p.m.,\u201d said Laberge.\u201cAnd this leads to less people coming to shelters because people would rather just sleep outside over following rules.\u201d New affordable housing for seniors in Weedon Potential hotel quarantines for returning travellers Record Staff The federal government has investment of $2,455,395 in collaboration with the government of Quebec for the creation of 26 affordable housing units in Weedon.This federal-provincial investment will ?nance Phase II of the construction of the Ruisseau Weedon Housing Co-operative, also known as the Moulin des Cèdres.The residence welcomes seniors aged 75 and over, who are self- reliant or with a slight loss of autonomy.The project falls under the Rapid Housing Initiative, part of the National Housing Strategy.The initiative will allow for the construction of 3,000 housing units across the country for vulnerable Canadians.\u201cWe all have the right to a safe and affordable home.This also goes for every senior in our region.Pandemic or not, our government is always there to help Canadians in need get adequate housing,\u201d commented Compton- Stanstead MP Marie-Claude Bibeau in a statement announcing the investment.The Canadian Press Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is \u201clooking seriously\u201d at tougher travel measures to ?ght the COVID-19 pandemic, including mandatory hotel quarantines for air travellers returning from non-essential trips abroad.Freeland\u2019s remarks build on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau\u2019s leaving the door open earlier this month to tighter restrictions, sparking questions about how a stricter isolation regime would roll out relative to other countries.Successful pandemic repellers from South Korea to Australia and New Zealand require 14-day hotel quarantines for passengers arriving from abroad.Dr.Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician at St.Joseph\u2019s hospital in Hamilton, says the move would deter leisure travel, and could include scheduled testing that allows guests who come up negative to go home earlier.Federal data suggests only a small fraction of COVID-19 cases are linked to travel, but there is still virtually no testing at the border and many recent cases do not have an identi?ed source.NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the government should consider mandatory hotel quarantines as well as outright bans on non-essential international travel, which Quebec Premier Francois Legault has also called for.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 4 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Are food prices up because of COVID?Are we spending more or less because we\u2019re ordering our groceries online?How much does delivery add to the food bill?And what\u2019s the effect of ordering from Door Dash or Uber Eats?How do we factor in the time we spend standing in line or waiting for delivery?Are we better or worse off?To start with food prices themselves, and not counting the Chilean or California strawberries you may want on a snowy Estrie January, the pandemic shifted consumer demand, caused slowdowns, closed plants and distribution centres, caused labour shortages and logistics disruptions\u2014 all of which drove up food prices.According to Canada\u2019s Food Price Report 2021, expect to pay about 5 per cent more this year than last \u2013 if you\u2019re a family of four, that\u2019s about $700 more, unless you shop a lot differently.Meat and veg will go up the most \u2013 as much as 6.5 per cent.\u201cWhile the virus will continue to impact food prices\u201d, the report notes, \u201cthose along the food-supply chain learned valued lessons and may be more adaptable to future challenges.For example, grocery retailers are investing more in their e-commerce capabilities.\u201d Before COVID, hardly anyone ordered food or groceries online.Now, more than 1 out of 5 of us do.It\u2019s hard to say who\u2019s paying more of the added costs involved in changing the supply chain, us or the grocers.All grocers have some version of physical distancing markings on the ?oor and special sanitizing stations and special hours for seniors and extra cleaning and disinfecting.Says Sylvain Charlebois, a professor of food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University, \u201cIncreased operational costs through salaries and stepped-up cleaning measures will hit the bottom line.At a 1 to 2 per cent pro?t margin, grocery stores have little room to absorb increased costs.\u201d For sure we consumers are paying part of the cost.If the grocers can\u2019t absorb the costs, they\u2019ll raise prices.There\u2019s no charge to you for shopping online and picking up your groceries, but these are hours you\u2019re not working at whatever you do to make a living.Your \u201copportunity cost\u201d equals your hourly rate times the number of hours waiting around for the groceries.Delivery is another story.IGA and Provigo both have a delivery option.Depending on the franchise, IGA will charge between zero and $10.Plus an \u201cassembly\u201d fee \u2013 that is, someone in-house to do your shopping for you.Some of Provigo\u2019s stores use the Instacart app.For orders less than $35, the associated fees are $7.99 for 2-hour delivery window ($9.99 for a 1-hour delivery) while for orders over $35, the fees are $3.99 for 2-hour delivery.Costco offers delivery, but only in Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau.To access deliveries from Épicerie Métro, you\u2019ll need to order at least $50 worth of groceries before taxes.You\u2019ll also have to count $8 as a delivery fee and $4 as an assembly fee \u2013 and I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s available in Sherbrooke.For sure, if you\u2019re in a village or small town, you\u2019ll be lucky to have delivery from your local grocer, and it will more likely than not be free.(If you have it, treat that supplier very well.) Aside from changes in the way we grocery shop, many of us are ordering from restaurants as well.Both Uber Eats and Door Dash are available to deliver in Sherbrooke but not in the boonies where I live.Delivery is free if you order $15 or more, and you\u2019re expected to tip the driver $2-4.Sylvain Charlebois is not reluctant to venture into predictions.He says it\u2019s likely that grocers will pare down the variety of products they offer \u2013 it\u2019s way more expensive to manage 15,000 distinct products than say, 8,000 or 10,000, and who really needs to choose between 8 different brands of peanut butter?He thinks it\u2019s possible that food retailers will invest in a system of automated micro-ful?lment centres dedicated to serving online ordering.He sees the advantages of more consumers buying directly from farmers, signing up for subscription- type services to stock up on staples from regional suppliers and supporting niche markets in their neighbourhoods.That\u2019s certainly a sentiment you often hear in the country.So at the end of this week\u2019s head- scratcher, only you can decide if you\u2019re better or worse off.For myself, I\u2019m contemplating the fact that Canada is one of the few self- suf?cient nations in the world when it comes to food.We produce maybe 2 per cent of the world\u2019s food and consume maybe 1% of it.In most food categories, we import less than 20 per cent of our needs, except for fresh fruits and vegetables.Says Diane Brisbois, CEO of the Retail Council of Canada, \u201cOur farmers, processors, distributors and retailers haven\u2019t let us down.The availability and affordability we have is not found in many parts of the world.\u201d Dian Cohen is an economist and a founding organizer of the Massawippi Valley Health Centre.Cohendian560@gmail.com.By Linda Knight Seccaspina I have a love-hate relationship with IKEA, and when I enter the store I have to walk miles through areas I have no interest in.In fact it is the only place where you can achieve your FITBIT daily goals in no time.I end up forgetting to purchase yet another box of tea lights and somehow exit the building with $200 of things I do not need for my home.I\u2019ve heard customers complain about this same issue at Costco: \u201cJust came for milk and eggs\u201d and $500 later, still no milk and eggs.Sometimes I like to stand in the IKEA parking lot and watch people try to ?t everything into their small cars.Do you not want to argue with the person who wrote that anyone that cannot assemble something from IKEA should go back to kindergarten?When no text is used in assembly, instructions should be the ?rst warning that the bed you just bought that morning is not going to be slept in that night.I am sure whoever else is assembling the same product in another part of the world like Thailand is having the same dilemma.Exactly what is that little illustrated Swedish man pointing at?Are we accidentally summoning demons while trying to pronounce IKEA furniture names?A word of warning to remember is that your completed furniture is only as good as the \u201cchosen one\u201d who has volunteered to put it together.Welcome to IKEA, they just throw in extra parts to mess with you.IKEA sells over 16,000 products online, of which 9,209 items are now being resold on Kijiji.Half are dresser drawers that are missing knobs which have long fallen off and been lost.Most have mislaid the instructions so you know your end result will look like something that does not look like the picture.IKEA also started making homes in Europe in 1996 called \u201cBoKlok\u201d.It was a move to allow ?rst-time home buyers to have a chance at a cheaper place to live.What if the owners of one of these homes divorce?Who gets custody of the Allen wrenches?Do they share?Didn\u2019t that Allen wrench once put together the Eiffel Tower?Really, in the end it\u2019s about who you want to share your Swedish Meatballs with at IKEA, and the ultimate purpose of going to IKEA remains just as mysterious as the little dots they put over the vowels in their names.Even IKEA realizes the struggle us mere mortals face when assembling their furniture! I would love to tell you more jokes about IKEA, but in the end the setup is too long and the ?nal product mediocre.I mean I tried for hours but I just couldn\u2019t seem to put anything together as I am as unstable as an Ikea side table.From routine outing to surreal experience IKEA - Lego for Adults?Dian Cohen CREATED BY MIKE MCCUBBIN PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Page 5 By Marianne Lassonde, Special to The Record A friendly personality and an approachable smile are key components in making a great real-estate agent.So, when you throw on a mask and have to be ?rm about social distancing measures, it can really put a dent in your marketing strategy.According to Kassidy Davey, co- owner of Agence Immobilière La?eur Davey, the real-estate market was thrown for a loop during the pandemic and they were forced to revisit their approach, despite the growing interest in Township estates.\u201cWe have so much demand but we don\u2019t have enough houses to sell,\u201d said Davey.\u201cWe have a huge imbalance on the market.\u201d During the ?rst lockdown in April, visits were limited to one or two people per household with children having to stay home.Elderly folks wishing to visit a house had to do so from the comfort of their home, which, according to Davey, can put some people off.\u201cPeople are not as willing to purchase houses if they cannot feel the \u2018vibe\u2019 of the house,\u201d said Davey.But virtual visits have weened themselves into the many ?rst steps before in-person visits.Additionally, La?eur Davey encourages people to drive past the location to minimize in- person gathering for neighborhoods that might not ?t the pro?le of potential buyers.According to her, however, that did not slow down the market.In December, there were 47 per cent less houses on sale than the previous year, with most buyers relocating to the Townships from Montreal.\u201cThere are so few houses on sale right now, so it makes for very prepared and serious buyers,\u201d said Davey.She added that housing in the Townships is also considerably cheaper than in Montreal and, with most people working from home, people are willing to move away from their of?ces.With people crossing regions, Davey said sanitary measures were treated word-for-word.Residents were encouraged to leave their estate to prevent gatherings.As for the tours, all potential buyers were provided with personal protective equipment and asked not to touch anything.\u201cWe are the ones that turn on the lights and open doors,\u201d said Davey.\u201cWe want to make sure we are not putting the occupants at risk.\u201d Although masks can make house tours a little more tense for buyers.Davey said that the biggest issues real-estate agents face is trying to communicate with elderly folks or hard-of-hearing individuals who rely heavily on visual cues like smiles or reading lips.In-person work, however, stops at house tours.Similarly to all privately- owned businesses in the Townships, real-estate agents at Agence La?eur Davey are working from home.Davey said using Zoom has become a staple for sale pitches to limit contact as much as possible.\u201cDuring the ?rst lockdown, [switching online] was a huge shock for everyone,\u201d said Davey.In Sherbrooke, the real-estate market had to stop all operations until April 20 which, according to Davey, was the reason the market became so chaotic.She added they were obligated to prioritise clients in urgent need of a house and could not open up any new residences for sale.\u201c[The second lockdown] is a lot less restrictive,\u201d said Davey.\u201cWe are a lot more organized this time around.\u201d Before closing in December, all employees had been provided with computers were familiarized with their newly acquired virtual toolbox.But Davey said the team was ready for in-person return in February.\u201cWe are all very social beings,\u201d laughed Davey.\u201cWe are keeping faith that we will be able to return to the of?ce after Feb.8.\u201d Selling a home over Zoom Granit Prefect to step down this fall Record Staff Marielle Fecteau, Prefect of the Granit MRC, has announced that she will be stepping down from her role at the end of her present mandate in November of 2021.\u201cI have had the opportunity to take part in many important projects for our MRC, our municipalities and our citizens,\u201d Fecteau stated in a press release issued about her decision not to run again.\u201cNow is the time for me to leave, to make way for the next generation.Representing you and working alongside many elected of?cials, members of the community, and representatives of various organizations over the past few years has been a real honor.\u201d Having served as mayor of the municipality of Lac-Drolet between 2006 and 2014, Fecteau\u2019s local political career will have spanned some 15 years by the time she retires, leaving a vacancy to be ?lled by this fall\u2019s elections.The Granit MRC includes the municipalities of Audet, Courcelles, Frontenac, Lac-Drolet, Lac-Mégantic, Lambton, Marston, Milan, Nantes, Notre- Dame-des-Bois, Piopolis, Saint-Augustin- de-Woburn, Sainte-Cécile-de-Whitton, Saint-Ludger, Saint-Robert-Bellarmin, Saint-Romain, Saint-Sébastien, Stornoway, Stratford, and Val Racine, and occupies the territory east of Cookshire up to the U.S.border.As in other MRCs, the role of prefect is selected from among the mayors of these communities following each municipal election.Sherbrooke offers up a fun-?lled winter Record Staff To liven up the winter season, the City of Sherbrooke is offering a variety of activities including snow sculptures, illuminated walking trails and disco skating, all in compliance with current health measures.\u201cOnce again, our services have done everything possible to offer the population activities so that they can enjoy the joys of winter and counteract the harmful effects of the pandemic.I invite the Sherbrooke population to take part, while respecting the health measures in effect,\u201d commented Sherbrooke Mayor Steve Lussier in a press release.Between Jan.24 and Feb.7, sculptures will be built on ?ve sites, the ?rst of which, located in Jacques-Cartier Park, will be created by artist Clôde Beaupré and his team.Other sculptures by artist Luc Pelletier will be created in Belvedere Park, André-Viger Park, Nault Park and Central Park.In each of the parks, Pelletier will be accompanied by a local artist.In addition, Carrefour Accès Loisirs, Sherbrooke Loisirs Action, Centre Multi Loisirs Sherbrooke, Espace Loisirs Brompton, Loisirs Fleuri-Est and Loisirs Acti-Famille will offer snow sculpture contests available to the public.To participate, people will have to create their own snow sculpture on their property and present it on the Facebook page of the organizations.Each organization has different contest rules.All the information will be available on their Facebook page as of February.Illuminated parks Lighted pathways will be set up in Parc de la Rive, Victoria Park and Alguéric-Bussière Park, and will be illuminated from dusk until 7:30 p.min order to respect the curfew.People will be able to take advantage of these trails to admire the stars before heading home.The trails will be created by Espace Loisirs Brompton, Loisirs Fleuri- Est, Sherbrooke Loisirs Action and Carrefour Accès Loisirs.Other courses may be added during the season.Disco skating Over the next few weeks, skaters may be surprised to ?nd their ice rink suddenly immersed in a festive musical atmosphere.Considering the importance of not creating a gathering, this activity will be set up in secret to surprise skaters on site with a fun experience.A dozen Sherbrooke skating rinks will be visited by Sherbrooke\u2019s partner organizations, which will offer festive music and lighting.GORDON LAMBIE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 6 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record EDITORIAL Previous research indicated rapid heating would continue long after we reduce emissions because gases such as CO2 and methane remain in the atmosphere for many years.6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 2E2 FAX: 819-821-3179 E-MAIL: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com WEBSITE: www.sherbrookerecord.com SHARON MCCULLY PUBLISHER (819) 569-9511 MATTHEW MCCULLY MANAGING EDITOR (819) 569-6345 GORDON LAMBIE ASSOCIATE EDITOR (819) 569-6345 SERGE GAGNON CHIEF PRESSMAN (819) 569-4856 JESSE BRYANT ADVERTISING MANAGER (450) 242-1188 DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNTING (819) 569-9511 ADVERTISING (819) 569-9525 CIRCULATION (819) 569-9528 NEWSROOM (819) 569-6345 KNOWLTON OFFICE 5B VICTORIA STREET, KNOWLTON, QUEBEC, J0E 1V0 TEL: (450) 242-1188 FAX: (450) 243-5155 PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS For print subscription rates, please call 819-569-9528 or email us at billing@sherbrookerecord.com ON-LINE SUBSCRIPTIONS QUEBEC: 1 YEAR 108.72 5.44 10.85 $ 1 2 5 .0 0 1 MONTH 9.78 0.49 0.98 $ 1 1 .2 5 Rates 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.1879) 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, 6 Mallory Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 2E2 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA RECORD THE Science Matters By David Suzuki Another year, another record.Even with a global seven per cent drop in fossil fuel burning during the pandemic, 2020 tied 2016 for the hottest year recorded, making the past decade the warmest.The previous record in 2016 was set during an El Niño event, which contributed somewhat to rising temperatures, meaning last year was likely the hottest in terms of global heating.Average global surface temperature was 1.25 C higher than the pre-industrial average, nearing the 1.5 C aspirational target the world\u2019s nations set under the Paris Agreement ?ve years ago.In the Arctic and northern regions, average temperature was 3 to 6 C higher.As the world heats up, we\u2019re experiencing ever-increasing impacts, from deadly heat waves to more frequent and intense extreme weather events.Last year, the Western U.S., Siberia, Australia and parts of South America were hit with some of the biggest, most expensive wild?res on record, and studies showed climate disruption played a major role.These ?res release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and destroy important carbon sinks, driving warming even faster.Smoke and particulates also cause health problems and death.Last year also set records for Atlantic hurricanes and tied 2018 for the most tropical cyclones.It\u2019s dire, but there\u2019s still time to avoid the worst consequences \u2014 if we act quickly and decisively.New research shows global average temperatures could stabilize within a couple of decades if we quickly reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero.Reducing emissions to \u201cnet zero\u201d means not releasing any more than are being removed from the atmosphere.Although dramatically bringing emissions down is the critical factor, methods to remove CO2 and other greenhouse gases \u2014 such as forest and wetland protection and restoration, and carbon capture and sequestration \u2014 can balance out some released emissions.As the UN points out, affordable methods to get to net zero exist.At the end of 2020, 126 countries representing 51 per cent of emissions had either adopted, announced or were considering net-zero goals, according to the World Economic Forum.The European Union, Japan, South Korea and the U.K.have pledged to do so by 2050, as has the incoming U.S.Biden administration.Canada has introduced legislation but must do even more.Previous research indicated rapid heating would continue long after we reduce emissions because gases such as CO2 and methane remain in the atmosphere for many years.New ?ndings offer a hint of optimism.This is in part because as we bring emissions under control, natural systems such as oceans, wetlands and forests \u2014 and possibly technology \u2014 will remove some greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.Of course, that means we must also take better care of those natural systems.It\u2019s all interconnected.We\u2019re not on track to meet even the aspirational target of 1.5 C warming.We\u2019ve already heated to at least 1.1 C above pre-industrial levels and are heading to 2 C or more.We\u2019re still looking at more heat waves, ?ooding, wild?res, disease spread, displacement of people and refugee crises, biodiversity loss and water shortages.But to avert even worse catastrophe, we can and must do all we can to bring it under control.We already have affordable methods to achieve net-zero emissions, and it\u2019s likely we\u2019ll continue to develop more and better solutions.Resolving the crisis will lead to a less-polluted, healthier world with greater opportunities for all.Look at how rapidly the world has been able to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.Not that it\u2019s under control, but vaccines have been developed in record time, and countries that have acted decisively to implement safety measures have seen success.And the powerful computers that most of us now carry in our pockets and purses show how quickly technology can develop.As climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe told the Washington Post, \u201cIt\u2019s no longer a question of when the impacts of climate change will manifest themselves: They are already here and now.The only question remaining is how much worse it will get.And the answer to that question is up to us.\u201d We must all get behind rapid and decisive climate action.Taking steps in our own lives is important, but holding governments and industry to account is crucial.There\u2019s no time to waste.David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation.Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.Learn more at davidsuzuki.org.Net zero offers affordable path to climate stability The Record welcomes your letters to the editor.Please limit your letters to 300 words.We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, legality and taste.Please ensure there is a phone number or email where you can be reached, to con?rm authorship and current town/city of residence.Names will not be withheld but the address and phone number of the writer are not published, except by request.Please email your letters to newsroom@sherbrookere- cord.com.Preference is given to writers from the Eastern Townships.Letters DEAR EDITOR: I too received via Canada Post a French copy of the Epoch Times, as described in Gordon Lambie\u2019s article on Jan.31.I must say that I was surprised by the tone of some readers\u2019 reactions that, \u201cit was a heavily biased newspaper having articles that were against certain groups, namely the Chinese Communist Party.\u201d Why on earth would any Canadian who espouses democracy not have a bias against the CCP and its billionaires, while at the same time remain sympathetic to the Chinese people oppressed by the CCP regime?The CCP are responsible for the destruction of Tibet and its people; they are presently doing the same to the Muslim population of Uyghur; they were responsible for the cover-up of the outbreak of the present pandemic that left other countries unprepared for its spread; they have locked up the two Michaels in squalid conditions on bogus charges in retaliation for a legal proceeding against a Chinese telecom executive who spends her time in one of two mansions in Vancouver; they have reneged on the Hong Kong Treaty and are jailing innocent people for protesting against this outrage; they threaten Taiwan with armed invasion; Ai Wei Wei, China\u2019s best known artist and civil rights advocate, lives in exile in Cambridge, UK; and the list could go on.Quite simply, totalitarian Communist China is a threat to any democracy, and the Epoch Times merely provides a token opposition to its state-sponsored propaganda.RONALD EWING ULVERTON PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Page 7 Andrew Howarth On The Hook Understanding the \u2018gear head\u2019 in your life When my non-?shing friends and family ask routine questions like how many ?shing rods I own, or how much I paid for a certain rod and reel, the answer never\u2014and I mean never\u2014 fails to surprise them.Of course, my perspective on this is biased, but what might seem to others like an alarming tendency to accumulate gear is actually more like the pursuit of a better golf game.And, if things get really bad, there are some convenient solutions to angling \u2018gearheadism.\u2019 Sometimes, when trying to rationalize my possession of numerous ?shing rods and reels, I ?nd it helpful to analogize my rod and reel \u2018lineup\u2019 to a set of golf clubs.But, then again, numerous are the family members and signi?cant others who groan about their companion\u2019s seasonal hoarding of golf equipment.The fact is, most people are content to experience the sport of golf with nothing else but a putter, ball, and miniature windmill that are each conveniently available at a putt-putt course.Most people are also content to experience ?shing on similar terms.And yet, if you can accept that the most passionate golfers ?nd mini- putt unful?lling on its own, you can be understanding and sympathetic toward the \u2018gear head\u2019 angler in your life.According to the more inclusive de?nitions, every dedicated angler is, to some extent, a gear head.Even the anglers who express and abide by a minimalist philosophy will admit explicitly or implicitly to being captivated by a well-crafted and meticulously designed rod or reel.In golf, certain clubs are undeniably necessary for a player to stay near par, and the importance of each club is situation-dependent.In ?shing, this \u2018game\u2019 typically plays out over the course of a full season, although the demands of a ?shing situation can also change in just hours or minutes.To see the golf club analogy in its most ?tting application, look to professional bass ?shing, where boat decks are often lined with ten or more rod and reel \u2018combos.\u2019 When ?shing a river, my \u2018club\u2019 selection consists of one, two, or three options, which can be likened to a driver, ?ve iron, and putter.For most people, two options will provide suf?cient ?exibility for a day of ?shing, and in virtually all types of ?shing, my one-two punch consists of a \u2018high and fast\u2019 and \u2018low and slow\u2019 option.On a trout river, this could mean a streamer rod and a dry ?y rod, and on a bass lake, this could mean a topwater rod and a jigging rod.This approach saves time and enables an angler to ?sh more freely.There are, of course, drawbacks to gear accumulation.Among other things, a true gear head will ?nd that the ?nancial, time, and emotional costs of managing so much equipment begin to detract from their overall enjoyment of angling.Like other things in life, ?shing becomes less fun when your goal is to do everything all of the time.Lately, I\u2019ve begun prioritizing my favourite species and techniques at the expense of other more trivial pursuits, and this has reduced my tendency to accumulate gear.These priorities also enable me to regroup and re?ect more often, and put forth a better effort when it does come time to pursue my favourite species.The bene?ts of becoming a \u2018specialist\u2019 are both tangible, and intangible.Take a closer look at any icon in the world of ?shing, and you\u2019ll probably ?nd that they\u2014perhaps more than anybody\u2014are THE specialist in a particular domain.Legends like Roland Martin and the late Lee Wulff seem inextricably linked to species such as largemouth bass and Atlantic salmon, and techniques like patterning and dry ?y ?shing.Despite never having met either of them, I think that both Lee and Roland\u2014different as their respective legacies may be\u2014probably shared the singular focus and passion for their preferred quarry that enables one to reach a pinnacle of expertise.Material and immaterial simplicity are probably also bene?ts of this.Evidently, there\u2019s some utility to the specialist mindset, and just maybe something serene about it too.Most anglers have no hope of achieving mastery like a Lee Wulff or Rolan Martin, but we can dedicate ourselves to the techniques, species, and ?sheries that truly drive us.COURTESY SPORTS PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 8 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Death Death In Memoriam In Memoriam BIRTH NOTICES, CARDS OF THANKS, IN MEMORIAMS, BRIEFLETS: Text only: 40¢ per word.Minimum charge $10.00 ($11.50 taxes included) Discounts: 2 insertions or more: 15% off With photo: additional $18.50.DEADLINE: 11 a.m., day before publication.BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY & GET-WELL WISHES, ENGAGEMENT NOTICES: Text only: $16.00 (includes taxes) With photo: $26.00 ($29.90 taxes included) DEADLINE: 3 days before publication.WEDDING WRITE-UPS: $26.00 ($29.90 taxes included) WITH PHOTO: $36.00 ($41.40 taxes included) Please Note: All of the aforementioned (except death notices) must be submitted typewritten or neatly printed, and must include the signature and daytime telephone number of the contact person.Can be e-mailed to: classad@sherbrookerecord.com - They will not be taken by phone.DEADLINES FOR DEATH NOTICES: For Monday\u2019s paper, email production@sherbrookerecord.com or call 819-569-4856 between 1 p.m.and 5 p.m.Sunday.For Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday\u2019s edition, email production@sherbrookerecord.com, call 819-569-4856 or fax 819-569-1187 (please call to con?rm 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.Rates: Please call for costs.RATES and DEADLINES: ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES Linda BUZZELL August 21, 1946\u2013January 17, 2021 Passed away on January 17, 2021 in her seventy-fifth year, resident of Cowansville, daughter of the late William Buzzell and Marguerite Hopps.Linda is predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend Arthur \u2018Bill\u2019 Todd.She is survived by her sister, Janice Allen and her brothers Wayne (recently deceased) and Douglas Buzzell, her daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.Fondly remembered by family and friends.In keeping with Linda\u2019s wishes, a private committal service will take place at a later date at Riverside Cemetery, Brigham, Quebec.A special thank you to the staff at the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital.Donations in Linda\u2019s memory to La Fondation BMP or the SPCA Montérégie would be greatly appreciated.Coote, Margaret Helen Peacefully at Lombard Manor on Sunday January 24th, 2021.  Margaret Helen Coote (nee Adams) age 96 years, of RR1 Frankville. Beloved wife of the late Galen Norman Coote.Dear mother of Stephen Coote (Audrey) of RR1 Frankville, Melanie Lockwood (Allan) of Kemptville and Grace Johnston (James) of Melbourne Ridge, Quebec.Loving grandmother of Tara Pattemore (Scott), Lisa Cowan (Glen), Shawn Coote (Sherri), John Lockwood (Rebecca), Corey Lockwood, Jamie Lockwood (Chrissie), Jennie Rees (David), Jessica Hogg (Dan), and Joshua Johnston (Kayla).  Margaret will be sadly missed by 21 great-grandchildren.Predeceased by one great-grandson, Curtis Pattemore, one sister Ruth Mountain of Quebec and her parents, Stephen Adams and the former Alice Marie Rogers.Due to Covid Restrictions, A Private Family Service will be held at Plum Hollow Cemetery.  In memoriams to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Arthritis Society will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.Visit a Book of Memories at: www:judsonfuneralhome.ca JUDSON FUNERAL HOME 613-924-2626 10th Anniversary MATTHEW CLOUTIER In loving memory of our dear son and brother, October 31, 1996 \u2013 January 26, 2011.A special smile, a special face, Part of our lives we can never replace, We will remember our whole life through The wonderful person we had in you.Thoughts of you are always near, And in our hearts we hold you dear.We love and miss you, MOM, PAPA, MELISSA, RYAN xx GIFFORD, Marina (nee Sells) In loving memory of a dear wife, mother and grandmother who passed away eighteen years ago, January 26, 2003.Our memories build a special bridge when loved ones have to part- To help us feel we\u2019re with them still and soothe a grieving heart.They span the years and warm our lives preserving ties that bind- Our memories build a special bridge and bring us peace of mind.Forever loved and missed, ALTON, CHILDREN, AND GRANDCHILDREN TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 Today is the 26th day of 2021 and the 37th day of winter.TODAY\u2019S HISTORY: In 1837, Michigan was admitted as the 26th U.S.state.In 1950, the Indian Constitution went into effect, marking the birth of the Republic of India.In 1998, President Bill Clinton denied allegations of an extramarital affair during a televised speech.In 2020, NBA great Kobe Bryant and eight others onboard were killed in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles.TODAY\u2019S BIRTHDAYS: Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), military leader; Maria von Trapp (1905- 1987), matriarch of singing family/ memoirist; Paul Newman (1925-2008), actor; Jules Feiffer (1929- ), cartoonist/ writer; Scott Glenn (1939- ), actor; Gene Siskel (1946-1999), journalist/ critic; David Strathairn (1949- ), actor; Eddie Van Halen (1955-2020), guitarist/ songwriter; Ellen DeGeneres (1958- ), comedian/talk show host; Wayne Gretzky (1961- ), hockey player; Vince Carter (1977- ), basketball player; Sasha Banks (1992- ), professional wrestler.TODAY\u2019S FACT: The ?rst Library of Congress was burned (along with the rest of the Capitol building) by British soldiers in 1814, and its 3,000 books were destroyed.The library was rebuilt in part through the purchase of President Thomas Jefferson\u2019s personal library of 6,487 books in 1815.TODAY\u2019S SPORTS: In 1986, Chicago crushed New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX, as the Bears\u2019 renowned defense held the Patriots to seven yards rushing.TODAY\u2019S QUOTE: \u201cObviously the Man Upstairs gave me something and it touches people, and I\u2019m just so blessed.\u201d - Eddie Van Halen TODAY\u2019S NUMBER: 1.37 - weight (in pounds) of the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality diamond ever found.The 3,106.75-carat gem was discovered in the Premier Mine near Pretoria, South Africa, on this day in 1905.TODAY\u2019S MOON: Between ?rst quarter moon (Jan 20) and full moon (Jan.28).Datebook Canadian Red Cross Quebec Division Become a Volunteer: 1-877-356-3226 Make a donation: 1-800-418-1111 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 Dear Readers: A number of you wrote in concerned about the woman who is Living With Scrooge, the husband who has plenty of money but keeps his wife on a tight budget and makes her life miserable.I suggested marriage counseling, which many readers agreed with, but an equal number feel that the horse has left the barn and I should have advised her to run for the hills.I would agree if there were an issue of physical safety, but that was not the case.Still, I ?nd alternative opinions to be interesting and wanted to share some with you.Dear Annie: Pease get back to this lady.By the tone of her letter and what was left unsaid, I\u2019m sure she is being emotionally, and even perhaps physically, abused.I would de?nitely suggest that this lady leave Scrooge as soon as possible.She is suffering, and God knows what her insides (heart, liver and brain) must be like, slowly dying as well.My sister died at 65 because she didn\u2019t leave such a horrible man.Please, suggest that she leave now.If she stays, it will only get worse.I have no accreditation in this ?eld, but I know a bad situation when I read about it.Thanks, Annie.- You Do So Much Good Dear Annie: I agree with your comment that dwelling on her daughter-in-law is a waste of time and energy.However, I believe that Living With Scrooge should seek the advice of an attorney rather than a marriage counselor at this point.The reader said nothing about having any affection for her husband and admitted that she made a huge mistake by marrying him.She needs to ?nd out what the property division laws are in her state, and what assets her husband actually has, rather than depending on hearsay and snooping.- Reader in New Mexico Dear Annie: This lady does not need a marriage counselor.She needs a very strong divorce lawyer! Both must work together to ?nd where his assets are located, i.e., bank accounts, investments and the like.I am not familiar with the laws in Las Vegas and what she would be entitled to receive, but she is legally married to him and should be entitled to something.A petition for divorce should be ?led as well as a document freezing all his assets.This is a marriage that is not worth saving under the circumstances described by her.It is toxic; she is treated poorly by her husband and the family, and she is dying inside.What is there to save?It is time for her to move forward.I send my prayers to her and wish her the very best.- That Marriage Is Over Dear Readers: Thank you for your insights and suggestions.You make good points, though I am hopeful the marriage can be salvaged through marriage counseling if he goes with her.Remember, the woman who wrote in had her own job, bought her own house and was able to support herself before allowing Scrooge to change her life.If he refuses to go, then I agree that ?nding a good attorney to protect her would be the next logical step.Dear Annie: I\u2019ve noticed a strange habit that some people seem to have.Recently, several friends have talked to me on the phone while using the bathroom.I can hear everything that is going on, including the toilet ?ushing.It makes me very uncomfortable.Is it proper etiquette to be using the bathroom while talking on the phone?- Heard Too Much Dear Heard: Is that a rhetorical question?No, it is not polite to bring someone into the bathroom with you telephonically.The next time someone does this, don\u2019t be afraid to say: \u201cI\u2019ll try you back later.You sound busy.\u201d Dear Annie: I was born with a cleft palate and nose, and I have a psychological complex from it that makes me self-conscious around others.But I would really like to meet someone and have a romantic relationship.Can you give me advice on how to go forward and just be myself?- M.P.Dear M.P.: I hope this goes without saying, but having a cleft palate or nose doesn\u2019t make you unattractive.Anyone who says otherwise doesn\u2019t deserve the pleasure of your company.Now, you cite your self- consciousness as a barrier to meeting people.I encourage you to consider trying therapy to nurture healthier self-esteem, ?rst and foremost.The moment we fully love ourselves is the moment we\u2019re ready to accept love from someone else.You might also bene?t from talking with other people who understand your experience.The Cleft Lip and Palate Association facilitates such support communities.Though they\u2019re based in the United Kingdom, you can join their online support communities at https://www.clapa.com/support/online-support.Dear Annie: You recently published a letter from \u201cMonarch Watcher,\u201d who said that Hass avocados led to habitat destruction of monarch butter?ies.Do not swear off avocados as of yet.Monarchs have indeed experienced a sharp decline in habitat, but avocado production is not to blame.Here are some facts for you.1.Eastern Monarchs winter in Mexico, western monarchs mainly in California.2.Mexico established the Monarch Butter?y Biospace Preserve to help preserve the habitat.3.In 2016, the U.S.stated it will accept avocados from all of Mexico, provided they can meet the measures put into place to prevent the spread of disease and insects set up by the farms in the Michoacan areas.4.One contributing cause to the decline of monarch populations has been the weather in Texas: All the butter?ies need to pass through Texas, which has had some severe droughts in recent years.5.U.S.agriculture has been killing off weeds including milkweed.Milkweed ?ora is a big food source for monarch butter?ies.A 2020 report estimates a loss of 165 million acres of habitat.This year, monarchs should come under the endangered species act.They were petitioned in 2014, and the ?nal decision is expected this year.Please note that I do enjoy eating avocados but I am not associated in raising or production; I am just after truth in reporting.- Luke B.Dear Luke: I am deeply sorry for publishing misinformation on monarchs.I referred to an older FDA document and didn\u2019t realize they\u2019d changed their guidelines in 2016.Your fact-checking is appreciated.Dear Annie: All my life, since I was a kid, I always got abuse, judgment and blame from my own family.Now, as an adult, I still get all of that.When I got divorced, my family thought it was their right to judge and blame me.And they cut me off like I didn\u2019t exist.It\u2019s like I did some terrible crime so they had to punish me.There have been so many family functions and gatherings over the last few years, but no one invited me, as though I didn\u2019t matter.It was hard, but I tried to deal with it, and slowly moved on with my new normal.Then, earlier this year, out of nowhere, my sister contacted me after so many years as if nothing happened.And she still seems to think that they did nothing wrong.And I have a hard time accepting what my sisters and brother did to me.So, I expressed to them that I was still upset about the way they treated me in the past - and then the attacks started.They said that the reason I was divorced was because I was so dif?cult.Just to be clear, they were the ones who cut me off.I didn\u2019t break my relations with them.But it looks like that is the only way they will accept me if I agree that it was all my fault, that I deserved to be cut off.How do I accept it?I am a human being and didn\u2019t deserve such cruelty and punitive behaviors.Please help me.Am I right to feel the way I do?Was it cruel for my family right to throw me out when they felt like it and then contact me again when they felt like it?I can ?ght the world, but I can\u2019t ?gure out how to deal with my own family.- Bewildered and Beleaguered by Family Dear Bewildered: Feelings are not right or wrong.They simply are.But your hurt feelings are certainly understandable.It sounds as though you\u2019ve been hauling some heavy emotional baggage for a long time - far more than I can begin to unpack in the space of a column.I strongly encourage you to seek therapy, and if the ?rst therapist you ?nd isn\u2019t a great ?t, try another.With counseling, you can ?nd peace within yourself, no matter what\u2019s going on with your family.Dear Annie: You mentioned the great need for blood and plasma, but platelets and double reds are also in great need.My local Red Cross is open 365 days a year to collect these vital lifesavers.- Pete Dear Pete: I appreciate the important addendum.Platelets are essential in surviving and ?ghting cancer, chronic diseases and traumatic injuries.The American Red Cross says that every 15 seconds someone needs platelets.Because donated platelets must be used within ?ve days, new donors are needed daily.Not all blood donation centers are capable of taking platelets.For more information, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org; from the website menu select \u201cDonate Blood > Types of Blood Donations\u201d and then click \u201cLearn more about platelet donations.\u201d Or call 1 (800) 733-2767.\u201cAsk Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie\u201d is out now! Annie Lane\u2019s debut book - featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette - is available as a paperback and e-book.Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information.Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Page 9 Horse Has Left the Barn Dear Annie Happy Birthday to Leslie Bliss, 89 years young today.From Katharine and Brian Due to COVID, those who would like to wish him a happy birthday can drive by and honk their horn or they can simply give him a call.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 10 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Go grocery sho pping with diet itians.When you choo se products with the Health Chec k symbol, it's like shopping with t he Heart and Str oke Foundation\u2019s die titians, who eval uate every partic ipating product b ased on Canada 's Food Guide.www.healthche ck.org REALITY CHECK HERMAN ALLEY OOP ARLO & JANIS THE BORN LOSER FRANK AND ERNEST GRIZZWELLS THATABABY PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Page 11 Call Sherbrooke: (819) 569-9525 between 8:30 a.m.and 4:30 p.m.E-mail: classad@sherbrookerecord.com or Knowlton: (450) 242-1188 between 9:00 a.m.and noon CLASSIFIED Deadline: 12:30 p.m.one day prior to publication Or mail your prepaid classi?ed ads to The Record, 6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 2E2 100 Job Opportunities 100 Job Opportunities 100 Job Opportunities 100 Job Opportunities 100 Job Opportunities 100 Job Opportunities 275 Antiques WE BUY from the past for the future, one item or a household, attic or basement, shed or garage.We like it all, give us a call.819- 837-2680.Lennoxville and District Community Aid is a non-pro?t organisation that promotes and coordinates services and volunteer work making it easier for seniors to continue to live in their own homes.Working in collaboration with the Director General, the person holding this position ensures the optimal management of the human resources of the organization (establishing objectives, evaluations, staff improvement, skill development and discipline).In collaboration with the Director General, works in drawing up, reviewing job descriptions as well as recruiting staff.Its management practices must promote operational ef?ciency and follow-up in accordance with Community Aid\u2019s mission, policies and objectives.In collaboration with the Director General as assigned by the Board, this person will work in establishing and reviewing internal and external policies, while solely responsible for the implementation of these policies related to staff.She provides feedback to the Director General on: the overall functioning of all departments, improvement of client satisfaction, and response to problems in Community Aid\u2019s client operations.She collaborates in developing formal complaints procedure.Participates in the preparation of promotional tools and updates the Web site.Sits as an ex-of?cio member on the Administrative Board, Executive Committee and at the Annual General Meeting.TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: The person has a College degree diploma (DEC), a University Certi?cate or an undergraduate University degree or a combination of training and work experience related to the job as well as a minimum of four to ?ve (4-5) years of experience in working with personnel development and mobilisation of staff and team engagement.This person is familiar with the community environment and is known for his/her professional approach.KEY SKILLS: She demonstrates leadership and has good communication skills.She also has excellent skills in developing and maintaining harmonious and productive relationships with staff.Good organisational and listening skills.Demonstrate leadership, initiative and a good sense of planning.Has a team spirit, an ease with adaptation and is dynamic.Respect of con?dentiality.Sound knowledge of Outlook, Word, Excel, Publisher, and social media.Bilingual (written and oral; English and French), 4/5 minimum.Please forward your application to Sylvie Gilbert-Fowlis at: direction@communityaid.ca Deadline for applications: February 3, 2021.Starting date: February - March 2021.Only candidates selected for interviews will be noti?ed.Director of Human Resources 21 hours / week Different types of chocolate to give this Valentine\u2019s Day Chocolate is a popular gift on Valentine\u2019s Day.According to the Nielsen Company, Valentine\u2019s Day is the third busiest holiday for chocolate sales, following Halloween and Easter.More than 70 million pounds of chocolate are purchased each year and offered as Valentine\u2019s Day gifts.Chocolate connoisseurs can learn more about the different types of chocolate to ?nd the one their loved one will ?nd most appealing.· Milk chocolate: Milk chocolate is produced with low levels of cocoa and high amounts of sugar and milk.In addition, it contains cocoa butter and chocolate liquor.Milk chocolate often is made up of 3.39 percent butterfat, 10 percent chocolate liquor and 12 percent milk solids.· Semi-sweet chocolate: Semi-sweet chocolate is largely an American creation and term.It contains at least 35 percent cocoa solids and is darker than sweet dark chocolate.The amount of sugar varies across brands.· Bittersweet chocolate: Bittersweet chocolate typically contains at least 50 percent chocolate liquor, but some will have between 70 and 80 percent.The sugar content is unregulated, so one manufacturer\u2019s bittersweet may not be as bitter as another\u2019s.· Baking chocolate: Also known as bitter chocolate, this is pure chocolate liquor made from ground cocoa beans.It may look like chocolate, but it is used in recipes where it is combined with sugar.It should not be eaten on its own.· White chocolate: White chocolate has cocoa butter but no chocolate liquor or cocoa products.Therefore, it is not truly chocolate.· Candy coating chocolate: This has no cocoa butter and uses vegetable or palm oils in the recipe.It often is used in dipping or enrobing because of its excellent melting ability.· Couverture chocolate: In the United States, the ideal standard for couverture chocolate involves a minimum of 35 percent cocoa solids and 31 percent cocoa butter.This chocolate is tempered and used when coating ingredients or dipping items in chocolate.Chocolate shines on Valentine\u2019s Day.Gift givers can select a chocolate variety that appeals most to their recipients\u2019 palates.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 12 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Your Birthday TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 Let your creative imagination take charge, and you\u2019ll come up with ideas that will improve your living space, relationships and outlook.Listen to suggestions, mull over your intentions and pursue your goals with passion, integrity and the desire to make your life better.A change of pace will be enlightening.AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb.19) - Refuse to let negativity set in, regardless of what those around you do or say.Keep your emotions under control, and set a standard for others.An optimistic attitude will help you attract supporters.PISCES (Feb.20-March 20) - Make changes at home to suit your needs.Feeling comfortable encourage you to do things that make you happy.Reach out to someone who makes a difference in your life.Romance is in the stars.ARIES (March 21-April 19) - Be conscious of what\u2019s happening around you.Look for solutions that are fair and practical.Learn from mistakes, and make adjustments that will help you achieve the success you desire.TAURUS (April 20-May 20) - Keep things simple.Don\u2019t alter your life because of what someone else does.Use your imagination to come up with a plan that will utilize your skills.Take ownership of your life and decisions.GEMINI (May 21-June 20) - Seek refuge in what you know and what you can do, not in what others want.Manage your money well, and don\u2019t make donations you cannot afford.Take better care of yourself.CANCER (June 21-July 22) - Put more thought into how you do a job or take care of your responsibilities.Taking a different approach will draw the attention of someone in?uential.Don\u2019t be afraid to ask direct questions.LEO (July 23-Aug.22) - Keep your secrets to yourself.Someone will use personal information against you if you are too trusting.Look for ways to stabilize your life; focus on saving and personal growth.VIRGO (Aug.23-Sept.22) - You\u2019ll get help when needed.A friendly gesture will bring high returns.Fitness, self-im- provement and quality time with someone special are favored.Make a plan and get moving.LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct.23) - Emotions will surface if you mix business with pleasure.Choose your words carefully, and direct your energy into something constructive.Use your imagination.SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov.22) - Do your own thing.Refuse to let anyone draw you into an impossible or confounding situation.Soul-searching will lead to self-improvement and greater con?- dence.Romance will enhance your life.SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec.21) - A change at home may be upsetting, but, in the end, you\u2019ll adjust.It\u2019s time to embrace new beginnings and discard what no longer works for you.A change of scenery will be enlightening.CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan.19) - The changes you make should result in greater comfort for you and your loved ones.Look over your options and weigh the pros and cons.Ask for the approval of anyone affected by what you do.TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 Top pairs signal with most cards By Phillip Alder Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, \u201cShips that pass in the night and speak each other in passing; / Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness; / So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, / Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.\u201d Bridge defenders do not play in the dark, but they must signal to each other.If you watch a well-versed pair, it is surprising how much information can be sent across the table.In today\u2019s deal, how did East and West defend against four spades after West had led the diamond ace?North made a cue-bid raise, showing three or more spades and at least game- invitational strength (at most eight losers).South, with only a six-loser hand, jumped to game.From East\u2019s point of view, it was likely that his partner had led a singleton.If so, she would want to know where East has an entry so that she could receive a ruff.Since that was in clubs, the lower- ranking of the other two side suits, East played the diamond three.Now West did very well, shifting to the club two.What did this tell East?Leading low from length guarantees at least one honor in that suit and expresses interest in trying to win tricks in that suit.So East now knew that his partner had not led a singleton ace.If she had, she would have switched to a high club.Therefore, East won with his club ace and returned the club eight (high from a remaining doubleton).A moment later, West\u2019s spade ace defeated the contract.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW "]