Some things are just landfill fodder. They’re neither compostable nor recyclable. Plastic straws have received a lot of attention. They’re small but ubiquitous. And plastic shopping bags, too. We’re oh so slowly learning to Just Say No.
Montreal is considering a ban on single-use plastics. The state of New York has recently announced such a ban, effective March 2020. More than 27 countries now have similar bans, according to www.businessinsider.com.
The same source is full of fun facts about plastics. Shoppers still use 500 billion plastic bags worldwide. If we’re lucky, they can languish in landfills for up to 1,000 years.
But we are filling up our oceans with plastic, too, between 8 and 14 million tons of it each year. More than 100,000 marine mammals die annually, entangled in plastic or having ingested it. Recent cases in point: A dead whale washed up on shore with nearly 50 pounds of plastic in its stomach, and another having eaten 88 pounds of plastic.
Among the giant trash-islands in our oceans, the largest is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This disgusting vortex is now about as large as Quebec. Not the city. The province.
At our current rate, the amount of plastic in the ocean could triple in the next decade.
Good bye, beaches. Good bye, swimming. Good bye, boating. (Tell me, is the convenience of single-use plastic really worth it?)
But what can we do? Entering the grocery store is to swim in a sea of plastic. So many items are sheathed and sheathed again in layers of unrecyclable plastic, including so-called fresh vegetables.
Here’s an alternative: Local farmers’ markets. See you there!
RURART & DANCE, 3rd
RURART is a seasonal event starring the arts in a rural setting. This spring, eight artists from various disciplines related to movement are showcasing their outdoor creations on the theme Ce qui nous unit, or That Which Unites Us. The artists are Marie-Pier Laforge-Bourret, Montreal; Deborah Davis, Sherbrooke; Claude-Andrée Rocheleau and Aurélien Marsan, Cookshire-Eaton; Marysole Gagnière, Eastman; Amadine Garrido, North Hatley; and the artistic director of RURART, Amélie Lemay-Choquette. It’s at La Généreuse Farm, 540 Labonté, Cookshire-Eaton, on May 3 and 4, at 5 p.m., in partnership with ICI Danse. Info: www.rurart.ca, info@rurart.ca, 819-342-9348.
BOOKS FOR KIDS, 4th+
Starting Saturday, May 4, in Newport, the Croques-Livres resumes service. Children aged 0 to 12 will be able to borrow books again for free or exchange books from home with new ones, at the Pavilion in the Park across the street from the Municipal Hall, at 1452 Route 212, Island Brook.
YOGA IN NEWPORT, 6th+
An 8-week yoga session with Vanessa Salvatore, Mondays at 3 to 4 p.m., begins on May 6 and ends June 24 at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212 in Island Brook. Info: 819-875-1767 or vanessa.salvatore@gmail.com.
CARD PARTIES, 9th+
The Spring 500 Card Parties are Thursdays, May 9 and 23, at 1:30 p.m., at the Bulwer Community Centre, 254 Jordan Hill Road, Bulwer. Cost of cards and lunch: $6. Prizes distributed after lunch.
STAMMTISCH IS BACK, 11th+
Atelier Auckland is once again hosting Stammtisch, bilingual dinner parties, starting Saturday, May 11, at 15 Principale, Saint-Isidore-de-Clifton. The May 11th theme is En mai le Stammtisch fait ce qu’il lui plaît, and the May 18th theme is Les Entretiens d’Aukland – Du Bonheur. Reservations required. For details, visit atelierauckland.com.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, 14th
Where can I access mental health services? Mental Health Estrie and the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS invite English-speaking residents in the Haut-Saint-François to an information session about the help available in Estrie and how to best access these services when needed. The information session and question period also offer a chance to meet the local organizations serving our area. When? Tuesday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. Where? The Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre, Pope Memorial Elementary School (far end of building), 523 Stokes Street, Bury. Info: 819-565-3777 or mhe.info@bellnet.ca.
CONCERT TERRY HOWELL, 24th
Heads up! A concert with Terry Howell & Friends featuring country, gospel, bluegrass and “musique country” by his French-speaking friends is planned for Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale W., Cookshire-Eaton. Proceeds will help pay for the painting of the church building. Admission: $10; students: $6. Light refreshments. Info: 819-875-3796 or 819-875-3863.
VALORIS WORKSHOP, 25th
In the context of the “social acceptability process” for the proposed expansion of the technical landfill at Valoris, the next workshop is on the topic of infrastructures, management and treatment of leachates, and integration into the landscape. Leachates are the soluble constitutents from soil or landfills, resulting from leaching, in downward percolating ground water. When: May 25 from 8:45 a.m. to noon. Where: École du Parchemin (Salle des commissaires), 162 Saint-Jean Ave., East Angus. To register: Call 819-560-8403, email communication-valoris@hsfqc.ca, or online at letvaloris.com.
GARAGE & PLANT SALE, June 1st
Heads up for a giant sale of garage and plants in the Pavilion in the Park and the Chez Pierre et Céline restaurant parking lot at 1442 Route 212, Island Brook. Participants are invited for $5/space. Info: Francine Rouleau, 819-820-4667.
VIACTIVE PAUSES
The bilingual Viactive exercise groups are winding down for the summer. The group in Cookshire ends May 15; in Bury, May 29.
CHURCH SERVICES
United. Sunday services: Cookshire 9:30 a.m.; Sawyerville 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message). While Rev. Tami Spires is away April 30 to May 6, Rev. Wayne Beamer will offer emergency pastoral care (819-578-0556).
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 worship services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire (May 5 in the theatre at the Manoir de l’Eau Vive; May 12 at St. Peter’s Church).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by May 6 for publication May 15, and by May 20 for May 29.