World Cleanup Day volunteers on September 15 collected something like 10 tons of garbage in Canada, and 75 percent of it was plastic. The thing about cleanups is that the next day more garbage accumulates, much of it recyclable, in theory. Too bad we don’t live in Theory.
In practice, we’re awash in plastic refuse, and who’s responsible? To find out, Greenpeace Canada carried out a Plastic Polluters Brand Audit in five cities across Canada, including Montreal.
What did they find? Of the plastic trash audited, 46 percent came from five companies: Nestlé, Tim Hortons, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s. Other branded plastics came from Starbucks, Hershey, Loblaw, Danone, Costco.

We’re talking single-use plastics: Food wrappers, plastic bottles, cups, bottle caps, shopping bags, lids, straws, stirrers, cutlery and containers, in that order. The thing is, so many of these items are recyclable, but were discarded instead.

“The only way to curb plastic pollution is by stopping corporations from producing throwaway plastics in the first place.” So said Sarah King, Greenpeace Canada’s head of oceans and plastics. She said more, and you can find it at www.greenpeace.org.

VIACTIVE IN HSF, HERE
On Wednesdays are bilingual Viactive exercises for seniors: 10 a.m. at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street in Bury; the Manoir de l’Eau vive, 210 Principale East in Cookshire; and Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. And at 1:30 p.m., at the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, Island Brook. Info: Diane, 819-560-8540 ext.9.

DENIS PALMER AT UPLANDS, NOW
Denis Palmer’s exhibition of watercolours and prints, Lessons from Friends & Mentors, continues at Uplands, 9 Speid St., Lennoxville, until October 28, Wednesday to Sunday, at 1 to 4:30 p.m. Info: www.uplands.ca.

TAI CHI IN HSF, HERE & NOW
Taoist Tai Chi courses: Mondays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the Scotstown Community Centre, 101 Victoria W., and Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Église Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville. (Rachel Writes apologises for giving an incorrect address two issues ago.) All are welcome to come and try it out. Info: Pierre, 819-875-1384.

STORIES OF COURAGE, 18th
Lighting the Dark… Stories of Hope, Courage and Illumination is the theme of an evening of stories by The Townships Tellers on Thursday, October 18, at 7 p.m., at the Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre, 9 Speid, Lennoxville. Storytellers: Ann Rothfels, Shirley Nortcliffe, Michel Thibault and Heather Davis, and Selina Eisenberg of the Montreal Guild of Storytellers. Refreshments. Donations accepted for the support of Uplands. Info: Ann Rothfels, 819-875-5428.

CARDS IN BULWER, 18th
A 500 Card Party is at the Bulwer Community Center, 254 Jordan Hill Road, on Thursday, October 18, at 1:30 p.m. Admission: $6 for cards, lunch, and prizes.

WATERWAYS IN THE TOWNSHIPS, 20th
The Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network and the Richmond County Historical Society Museum celebrate Heritage Waterways in the Townships at their Eastern Townships Heritage Fair on Saturday, October 20, at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Melbourne Town Hall, 1257 Route 243, Melbourne Township. On display will be a new exhibit on Waterways of the St. Francis River, which meanders through Bishopton and East Angus. Admission is free. Info: Townshipsheritage.com.

MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM, 21st
Musicians Jude Cloutier, Benoit Héguey and Dave Gillies will share the bill with Crooked Pine (Janice LaDuke and Dave Gillies) at a performance, Music for a Fall Afternoon, on Sunday, October 21, at 2 p.m. at the Foss House of the Eaton Corner Museum, 374 Route 253, Eaton Corner. Music by Georges Brassens, Harmonium, Félix Leclerc, some jazz standards, folk ballads, and some original compositions. Benefit for the Museum. Admission: $10. Seating is limited. Reserve with Elaine at 819-563-8700 or info@eatoncorner.ca.

DANCING IN SAWYERVILLE, 26th
The Sawyerville FADOQ hosts country dancing on Friday, October 26, at 7 to 9 p.m., continuing every two weeks, at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. All members are welcome.

COLOUR CAFÉ IN COOKSHIRE, 31st
Colour Café: Wednesday, October 31, at 2 to 4 p.m., at the John-Henry-Pope Cultural Centre, 25 Principale West, Cookshire. Info: Townshippers’ Association at 819-566-5717 or ml@townshippers.org.

SALE IN LAWRENCE, Nov. 3rd
A This & That Sale will be at the Lawrence Community Centre, 449 Lawrence Road in Newport, on Saturday November 3, at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch of lasagna or shepherd’s pie, with coffee, tea and dessert: $8. Info: 819-875-5227.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR IN NEWPORT, Nov. 3rd
A Little Christmas Bazaar featuring goodies, weaving, soap and bath balms, preserves, Christmas balls and wreaths and other decorations, crafts, and handmade purses of recycled fur: All this and more on Saturday, November 3, at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Municipal Hall of Newport, 1452 Route 212, in Island Brook. Info: 819-889-1340 or 819-875-5227.
Caregivers: heads up for a chance to explore mandala art colouring as a way to de-stress. Life’s Experiences in Colours is the theme for this workshop with artist Debbie Mosher. It’s on Thursday, November 8, at 2 to 4 p.m., at the Hôtel de Ville, East Angus. Space is limited. Register now. Info: Diane Grenier, 819-560-8540 ext.9.

CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church in Bury, and at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Cookshire. Info: 819-887-6802.
United. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. at Trinity United, Cookshire, and at 11 a.m. at Sawyerville United. Rev. Spires will be away October 15 to 27: For pastoral emergencies, contact Rev. Samuel V. Dansokho, Plymouth-Trinity United Church, at 873-200-2011. Confirmation classes begin Wednesday, November 14, at 7 p.m. at the Trinity United Church, Cookshire. Info: Rev. Tami Spires, 819-452-3685. General Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Messy Church. Stories, crafts, singing and supper at the next Messy Church at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 550 Main St., Bury, on Monday, October 29, at 5:30 p.m. A joint United and Anglican intergenerational event. All are welcome. Freewill offering. 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.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by October 22 for publication October 31 and by November 5 for November 14.