For Charlotte in Calgary, I asked about stencilling lessons. Stellar detective work by Janet Angrave pointed me to stencilling teacher Naisi LeBaron in North Hatley. Thanks, Janet!
Then I received an email from Naisi herself. She wrote:
“In our stencilling world, things have come full circle. My aunt Emily LeBaron taught stencilling in the 50s and one of her students was Janet Gale who took the craft to a whole new level of skill and creativity. Janet became a member of the American guild, Historical Society of Early American Decoration (HSEAD).
“A group of women, including Dot Newton, met once a week for years. In the late 70s, Janet expanded the group to include myself and other younger women. We were the Wednesday class. We were much louder than the well behaved Thursday class, but Janet carried on with us until her health made it impossible for her to continue.
“By that time, I had also become a guild member and Janet passed the class torch to me. I have been teaching the group now for 13-ish years. Some of us have now been in the group for 43 years! Two days a week in late fall and winter, we meet in a studio space from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to paint, stencil, and most importantly laugh and share our lives.
“We owe Janet a huge debt,” she concluded, “for bringing us together and for passing on all her equipment, which includes hundreds of carefully cut stencils and patterns.”
TOWNSHIPS SUN
New location: To get your new December-January Townships Sun, check the Cookshire IGA’s magazine racks, lower left, just before (not after!) the check-out counters. Or you can subscribe at townshipssun.ca/subscribe.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS, 10th
On Saturday and Sunday, December 10-11, a Christmas Market is in Bury, at the Armoury, 563 Main, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
But Bury offers more. Enjoy inflatables and music on Main Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and sleigh rides from noon to 2 p.m. Donate cash and nonperishable goods to Moisson HSF. Buy Beaver Tails from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Make Christmas cards and ornaments at the United Cultural Centre, 560 Main, and buy child-made ornaments from 1 to 4 p.m.; profits go to Moisson HSF. Visit the used book sale at the Bury Library, 569 Main, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Another Christmas Market is in La Patrie on Saturday, December 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 10th
Pierre Heault, tenor; Catherine St-Arnaud, soprano; Julien LeBlanc, piano; Marilène Provencher-Leduc, flute: These are the four musicians offering a Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the St-Camille Catholic Church, 170 Principale E., Cookshire. Admission is by voluntary contribution at the door.
FRAUD, SCAMS
Beware. Fraudsters thrive in the shadows of holiday activity.
Do not despair. Read a free bonus article on the Townships Sun website. “I Was Scammed,” writes Marie Moliner. “If it happened to me, it can happen to you.” (She’s a lawyer, by the way.) Her article tells about investment fraud, email fraud, phone and internet fraud, and grandparents scams. Forewarned is forearmed. See six steps to take if you are being defrauded. Read the article here: townshipssun.ca/recent-issues.
SMALL ART, BIG GIFTS
Small, diverse artworks – just right for gift-giving – are at the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery until December 24. In the Gallery’s upper level are paintings, prints, collages, and sculptures by 24 different artists. Among them are John Ward, Yong Sook Kim Lambert, Denis Palmer, and Jo Cooper. Downstairs is a photography exhibit, Treasures of the Countryside. The Gallery, 125 Prinicipale West, Cookshire, is open Saturdays and Sundays, as well as December 23 and 24, from noon to 4 p.m.
SMALL GIFTS, BIG NEEDS
This year’s HUGS for the Homeless campaign by Mental Health Estrie accepts donations of “NEW Hats, Underwear, Gloves, Socks, Scarves, and other warm articles of clothing,” from now until March. Donations received before mid-December are prepared in holiday gift bags gifted to people in local shelters, but HUGS continue to be needed throughout the winter.
Until March, drop off items at Mental Health Estrie, 3355 College, Lennoxville. Deposit them in the beige bins next to Door #2. To make a cash donation for the HUGS campaign, please email info@mentalhealthestrie.ca, or call 819-565-3777. Receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more.
PEACE, JOY, LOVE
To our world.
CHURCHES
Anglican. No Anglican services are planned in Cookshire until the spring of 2023. For the schedule of services at the St. George’s Anglican Church, 84 Queen St., Lennoxville, visit deaneryofstfrancis.com and click on the “Calendar” link. Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. On Wednesday, December 22, at 7 p.m., is a Blue Christmas Service, with a quiet time of readings, hymns, and reflections on the struggles, griefs, and pains that come with the holiday season when it’s hard to see light and joy.
On Saturday, December 24, at 2 p.m., is a Christmas Eve Service, celebrating communion. Persons attending the service are asked to please bring their own communion elements.
Weekly Sunday services are at 10:30 a.m., but there will be no services on December 25, January 1st, or January 8. Until further notice, all services are at the Sawyerville United Church, 42 Principale N., Sawyerville (before Bédard Road). Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
Baptist. On Saturday, December 24, at 7 to 8 p.m., is a Christmas Eve service, and on Sunday, December 25 is a Christmas Day service, from 10 to 11 a.m. On Sunday, January 1st, is a New Year’s service from 10 to 11 a.m.
Otherwise, weekly in-person Sunday services are in French at 9 a.m. and in English at 11 a.m. All services are at the Sawyerville Baptist Church, 33 rue de Cookshire. For information, please contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-889-2819.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by December 12 for publication January 4 or by January 9 for January 18.