How are we surviving the pandemic? By now, we’ve each discovered our own coping strategies. In our house, one of these is Star Trek. Most evenings, we’ll be sitting together, absorbing and critiquing two episodes of the various series.

We’re never so attentive as when they are about pandemics in farflung sectors of the universe. The noble fight against the evil virus inevitably involves urgently developing a vaccine. The episode ends in a blaze of glory, humanoids saved once again.

The story assumes the whole population is eager to get the shot in the arm. I guess the writers couldn’t imagine vaccine hesitancy.
“If you think of this as a war,” said Michael Carney of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “we’re about to enter the hand-to-hand combat phase.” And it’s risky, said the New York Times article which quoted him. “If it takes too long to reach ‘herd immunity,’ the point at which the spread of the virus slows, worrisome new variants could emerge that evade the vaccine.”
Here, Star Trek gives us another useful metaphor: the Borg. One of their unique strengths is their ability to quickly mutate. “Resistance is futile.”
And so it is with the coronavirus. Give the virus enough time in enough lungs, infecting cells and hijacking them to make new viruses, it will make little copying errors, or mutations. Eventually, a set of inherited distinctive mutations is shared by a group of coronaviruses, and we have a variant.
By not getting enough people vaccinated quickly enough, and by not preventing its spread, we give the virus the opportunity it needs to develop a new set of weapons against us.

Let’s be clear: The war is against the virus, not other people. But I’ve not yet seen a dystopian movie that imagined the war could be lost by people refusing the remedy. Except, now, in real life. Those refusing measures to prevent continued infections are, in fact, fighting on the side of Covid-19. Imagine that!

GARDENING TIPS
Learn about Pollinator-friendly Gardening from master farmer/gardener Mary Ellen Kirby of the Bergerie Heritage Hill Farm in Martinville. It’s a Zoom presentation on Thursday, May 13, at 7 to 8:30 p.m. Townshippers’ Association offers this free of charge; just register in advance by contacting Vanessa at va@townshippers.org.
STRESS-BUSTERS
The last of the “Building Your Mental Wealth” workshops from Townshippers’ Association are via Zoom, on the next three Fridays.
May 14, from 12 to 1 p.m., learn how reflexology can reduce stress and anxiety with Carol Faguy, certified training reflexologist.
May 21, from 12 to 1 p.m., nutritionist Cora Loomis will give an introduction to intuitive eating, which means learning how to trust and respect your body and its natural weight.
May 28, from 7 to 8 p.m.: an inspirational, interactive wrap-up activity.
To register, for information, or for help mastering Zoom, email Michelle at ml@townshippers.org.
BURNOUT TO BALANCE
Regulating stress can take you from burnout to balance, and that is the topic of a workshop on Wednesday, May 19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom, led by Amanda Rocheleau, a social worker and compassion fatigue specialist. She will “explore the impact of chronic stress in our lives and introduce fundamental daily practices that we can all do to help process our stress in order to prevent burnout.”
To register, for information, or for help mastering Zoom, email Vanessa at va@townshippers.org. This workshop is offered by Mental Health Estrie in collaboration with Townshippers’ Association.
TRANSLATION NEEDED?
Community groups can benefit from Townshippers’ Association’s offer of translation for key documents or research, through two programs, Enhancing Regional Community Capacity and Eastern Townships Partners for Health and Social Services. Info: townshippers.org/translation-requests/.
LITERACY HELP?
Need support to connect with services online? Literacy Quebec volunteers offer help to English speakers age 16 or older who need information and support for tasks that require digital literacy skills and/or reading or writing. Info: Literacy Helpline, 1-888-521-8181 or literacyquebec.org/helpline.
LANGUAGE LEARNING?
Want to improve your French, or English, for that matter? Meet Mauril, a new free platform to learn English and French through a wide range of stimulating and entertaining content from CBC/Radio-Canada. The approach is developed by teaching and linguistic experts and is based on official Canadian Language Benchmarks. Info: mauril.ca.
HEALTH LINK
Camille, Diane, Jenny and Michelle of the Health Link Committee have distributed care packages to seniors on special occasions during the pandemic. The bags are replete with information about services and (mostly healthy) goodies. “We would like to thank you all for your kind words and messages of thanks,” they say. “We wish you all a wonderful summer… and look forward to re-connecting with you in the fall! In the meantime, we are always available to help you or connect you to services you might need.” Info: Diane Grenier, 819-560-8540 x 9.
CHURCHES
United. Home worship services are available Fridays after 2 p.m. at Sawyerville United Church (box on top of freezer), or at Trinity United Church (plastic bag at basement door). To receive services by mail or email, or for pastoral care, contact Rev Tami Spires at 819-452-3685 or spiresta@hotmail.com. Facebook info: United Eaton Valley Pastoral Charge.
Baptist. In-person Sunday services for 25 or fewer persons with Covid-19 protocols in place (wash hands at the entrance, stay 2 metres apart, use assigned seating, wear masks, do not shake hands, and leave via the exit door). The service in French is at 9 a.m., and in English at 11 a.m. Persons with flu symptoms are asked not to attend services. The pastor’s message is also available on YouTube: For the link, contact Pastor Michel Houle: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. Bishop Bruce Myers continues to offer Home Prayers at 10:30 a.m. Sundays on Facebook, and at quebec.anglican.ca (Worship Videos). Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@gmail.com by May 17 for publication May 26, and by May 31 for June 9.