This week, Volunteer Week, falls in the midst of Poetry Month. The Volunteer slogan is: I do it, you do it, Let’s join our voluntary efforts! And the Poetry slogan is: The Twenty, signifying the 20th annual National Poetry Month organized by the League of Canadian Poets. Then there’s Earth Day, April 22, urging us to help end plastic pollution.
The Poets’ website gives a definition of self-care: «an act or series of acts undertaken with the intent to ease one’s own mind and body into well-being. See: reading poetry.» Self-care for volunteers, I say! Read poetry and ease into well-being.
Specifically, Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day on April 26 is celebrated to our delight by Black Cat Books. As you go shopping, look for little rolled-up scrolls of poems near cash registers, courtesy of the Black Cat. Take one, enjoy it, put it in your pocket, and pass it on. Read poetry; don’t buy plastic.
April 18: SENIOR-AWARE
On Wednesday – yes, tomorrow! – is a Health Link session from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Senior-Aware: Fraud. The session begins with lunch, followed by the main presentation at 1 p.m. The speaker is Quebec police Sergeant Patrice Grégoire, who will offer advice for recognizing and preventing fraud in everyday life.
To reserve your spot for lunch, please call Kim Fessenden: 819-872-3771, ext. 2. A $5 donation is asked for lunch; the presentation is free of charge. The Health Link session takes place at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street, Bury.
April 20: MINDFUL COLOURING
On the basics and benefits of mindful colouring, here is a unique workshop with local artist Debra Mosher Roy and her daughter Cynthia Dawn Roy, also adept at colouring. Debra will share tips about interesting techniques, such as patterning and shading. Students from the Pope Elementary School will be there to share some of their tips, too.
The workshop is on Friday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Community Learning Centre, at the far end of the Pope Memorial Elementary School, 523 Stokes, Bury. It is open to all: no colouring experience or talent is needed. It is free of charge, but participants are requested to let the organizers know they plan to come. Info: Deb or Michelle at Townshippers’ Association, 819-566-5717.
April 22: LIVING LABYRINTH
To be launched: this year’s Labyrinth Community Garden, a spiral-shaped garden at 55 Main Street, Bishopton, right beside the Bishopton United Church. At the Bishopton United’s Earth Day service, Sunday, April 22, at 2:30 p.m., donations are invited of soil, old newspapers, seeds and seedlings, especially strawberry or blueberry seedlings, or money. Info: Wendy Main, 819-884-5417.
April 27: FAMILY CINEMA
Woody Woodpecker, the film: It’s the story of an animated hyperactive red-headed woodpecker in a war with a big city lawyer who plans to cut down the tree where the bird has his home (1-1/2 hours). It’s a family cinema event on Friday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m., at the Pope Memorial School, 523 Stokes, Bury. It’s in English, and admission is free. And it’s offered by La Relève du Haut-Saint-François. Snacks are available for purchase, and parents must accompany their children. Info: Jacky Mathieu, at jacky@la-releve.org.
April 28: SPAGHETTI SUPPER
Spaghetti is for the slurping at the annual fundraising Spaghetti Supper hosted by the Sawyerville Elementary Parent Participation Committee. Proceeds will help all children participate in the end-of-year trip. The supper is Saturday, April 28, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Notre Dame du Rosaire Church, 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville. All are welcome.
April 28: FLEA MARKET
Flea Market/Craft Sale on Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street, Bury. Lunch for sale. Hosted by the Bury Women’s Institute. To rent a table: Frances Goodwin, 819-872-3318, or Irma Chapman, 819-872-3600.
May 2: VILLAGE MARKETERS
In preparation for the new season of the Village Market at the Sawyerville Community Garden, a meeting of merchants, artisans and friends of the market is to be on Tuesday, May 2, at 7 p.m., at the building in the Sawyerville ball ground. Info: chantalbolduc99@bell.net ou 819-889-3196.
May 4: TERRY HOWELL
For your calendar: Country, Gospel and Bluegrass music in concert with Terry Howell & Friends/Amis on Friday, May 4, at 7 p.m., at the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale West, Cookshire. Proceeds will help raise money to paint the exterior of the historic church building, erected in 1863. Admission: $10/adult; $6/student. Light refreshments available. Info: 819-875-3796 or 819-875-3863.
Anytime: FROZEN MEALS
If cooking is difficult, here’s a service to ease your day: Frozen meals-on-wheels are offered bi-weekly by the Centre d’action bénévole du Haut-Saint-François. Just call the coordinator of English services, Diane Grenier, at 819-560-8540 (press 9 for English), or email coordo@cabhsf.org. She can give you a long menu of meals to choose from, at a reasonable price.
CHURCH SERVICES
United. On April 22 will be three services: In Cookshire at 9:30 a.m., in Sawyerville at 11 a.m., and in Bishopton at 2:30 p.m. On April 29, Sunday services are at the Cookshire United Church at 9:30 a.m. and the Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Messy Church. Stories, crafts, singing and supper at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 550 Main St., Bury, on Monday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. A joint United and Anglican intergenerational event. All are welcome. Info: Rev. Tami Spires, 819-452-3685.
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. On April 22, Sunday services are in Bury at 9:30 a.m., and in Cookshire at 11 a.m. On April 29, the service is at the St. Barnabas Church, 640 Sherbrooke Road, North Hatley; no services in the local Anglican churches. Info: 819-887-6802.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email ra.writes@gmail.com by April 23 for publication May 2 and by May 7 for May 16.