«Was it a success?» she asked. «Yes,» I replied. «The sun came back!»

On August 21st, we were in the deep south, in a hotel parking lot in little Piedmont, South Carolina. How we got there on a rrreally hot Monday was vvvery slowly, along with 3 million others crawling into South Carolina, looking for a prime view of the total solar eclipse. We arrived just a minute after the eclipse began.

It was spectacular, the totality part. I’m sure you’ve heard about it. But just to let you know: Rachel Writes of the Journal Le Haut-Saint-François was on location, tracking the moon’s progress all the way across the face of the sun. The few fluffy clouds dissipated as the shadows lengthened and the air mercifully cooled. Totality lasted only about two and a half minutes.

We were with friends who had the foresight to reserve a hotel room some six months in advance. Even then, space was hard to find. Leading up to the event, rental fees skyrocketed. The hotel maid said a friend of hers had rented out her house for $3,000 for just one night.

Are you listening up? Here is a business tip for you. While the path of totality for the 2017 eclipse went west to east across the United States, the one forecast for 2024 will describe an arc from Mexico northeast up through the mid-section of the States through Vermont, Maine, southern Quebec and New Brunswick. And, yes, the little red central line of totality touches the lower part of the Haut-Saint-François, slicing right through our little Maple Leaf, QC. According to the NASA website, eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov, we are the only place in Canada to be touched by this grace, along with New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

While a few other bits of southeastern Canada, including Montreal, are within the edge of the path of totality, we are at the centre of it. That means the eclipse will be longer and more spectacular chez nous. Ink this date into your agenda: April 8, 2024. The partial eclipse begins at 2:17 and ends at 4:30 p.m. The total phase begins at about 3:28 p.m. and ends at 3:31 p.m. It will be about a full minute longer than the one we saw in South Carolina.

Now’s the time to snap up deeply discounted eclipse eyeglasses, but be sure they’re good. If you can see anything besides the sun with them, they’re not strong enough.

And if you miss out on the 2024 eclipse in Maple Leaf, you can catch another in Iceland in 2026. See you there!

VIACTIVE EXERCISES ARISING
The bilingual Viactive exercise groups are warming up. They’re for people age 50-plus, and all four groups meet every Wednesday, are volunteer-led, and are free of charge.
In Bury, starting September 6, Doris Eryou welcomes you at 10 a.m., at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main St., Bury. Info: 819-238-8541.
In Cookshire, starting September 20, Serena Wintle and Lyne Maisonneuve lead the group from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Manoir de l’Eau vive, 210 Principale East. Info: 819-875-5210.
In Newport, Ruth Shipman and Christiane Côté facilitate the Viactive group at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, Island Brook, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Info: 819-889-1340 or 819-560-8565.
And in Sawyerville, starting September 27, Denise Nault and Gérard Nault invite you to the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street, at 10 to 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2630.

HAM HARVEST SUPPER
St. Barnabas Church in Milby and St. George’s Church in Lennoxville invite Haut-Saint-Françiscans to a harvest supper on Saturday, September 16, at 5 p.m. There will be ham, scalloped potatoes, squash, baked beans, salads, homemade rolls and dessert. It’s to help support the little church in Milby. At: Ives Hill Community Hall, 370 Ives Hill Road, Compton. Cost: $13/adult or $6/child 12 and under.

SAWYERVILLE VILLAGE MARKET
The Village Market at the Sawyerville Community Garden is open every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30, until the end of September, in the Community Garden at 70 Randboro Road. Info: Chantal Bolduc at chantalbolduc99@bell.net or 819-889-3196.

SAWYERVILLE HARVEST FESTIVAL
Plan ahead: In the enchanted space that is the Sawyerville Community Garden, you will find Irish music, baked goods from the outdoor bread oven, a variety of activities, workshops and local products, and a lunch made of fresh local produce. That’s the Garden’s harvest festival, and it is planned for Saturday, September 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: chantalbolduc99@bell.net or 819-889-3196.

GIGANTIC GARAGE SALE
Plan ahead for the Gigantic Garage Sale at the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale St., Cookshire. There you will find household items, small furniture and lighting, dishes, jewellery, books, movies, movie recordings, toys, linens, and much more. Have lunch at the canteen. The sale goes Saturday, September 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, October 1st, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and then on Saturday, October 7, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It winds up with a Bag Sale on Sunday, October 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at which you can fill a big bag with items of your choice for $5.

EATON CORNER MUSEUM
The museum is open during September weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments for special visits can be arranged by leaving a message at 819-875-5256, or info@eatoncorner.ca. The Foss House currently features documents, books and artefacts from the Home Child collection. Info: www.eatoncorner.ca.

CHURCHES
United. Sunday worship services are in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and in Sawyerville at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. Sunday services are in Bury at 9:30 a.m. and in Cookshire at 11 a.m. Info: 819-887-6802.

Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email ra.writes@gmail.com by September 11 for publication September 20 and by September 25 for October 4.