The Irish are an amazing lot. Samuel O’Reilly invented the tattoo machine. Earnest Walton was the first to split an atom. Dr. Vincent Berry developed a cure for leprosy. The submarine, steam turbine, flavoured potato chips, the White House, and modern economics were all Irish brainchilds.
Not to mention their gifted with words: Oliver Goldsmith, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, and James Joyce, to name a few.
So this St. Patrick’s Day, may the leprechauns dance over your bed and bring you sweet dreams. May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live. And of course, bottoms up with the green beer, and “Sláinte”! Health!
WHO READS?
It’s the 20th Anniversary Edition of the “Canada Reads and so does Lennoxville” event organized by the Lennoxville Library. Five local luminaries will present the five Canada Reads books: Bruce Gilbert will present Mexican Gothic by Ivia Moreno-Garcia. Brandon Moores will defend Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Isabelle Menard will advocate for Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton. Curran Jacobs will promote Greenwood by Michael Christie. And Judith Munger will speak on behalf of Hotline by Dimitri Nasrallah.
The quest this year is for one book to shift your perspective.
The debate is to be on Wednesday, March 15, at 7 p.m. Guests are invited to attend either in person at the Hope Community Church, 102 Queen St., Lennoxville, or via a YouTube livestream (the link is at BiblioLennoxvilleLibrary.ca). Info: 819-562-4949 or bibliolen@gmail.com.
ST. PAT’S IRISH FESTIVAL
Richmond is the place to be on St. Patrick’s Day! The Parade is on Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m., but a series of activities extend throughout the month: Concerts, a St. Pat’s Party, a Celtic Celebration with Solstice, a St. Patrick’s Day Mass, an art show, an outdoor bandstand show, and more. The activities end on Sunday, March 26, with a second showing of the Irish Embassy’s Irish diaspora exhibition from 12 to 3 p.m. and music by Isabelle Gosselin from 1 to 3 p.m. The exhibition highlights the history and contributions of 20 Irish immigrants to Canada, and is at the Richmond County Historical Society Museum, 1161 Route 243, Melbourne. Admission is free. For details about the Richmond Irish Heritage Festival, visit richmondstpats.org. It is organized by the Richmond St. Patrick’s Society.
STORYMAKERS
Literacy in Action is offering a creative and fascinating workshop series in Eaton Corner. “Together, we’ll use wood burners, button makers, old photographs, and so much more to create all kinds of stories,” says LIA’s poster. “Easy and fun activities for all ages. Come solo, with your kids, or with a friend!” Accomplished storyteller, author, and Sawyerville Library coordinator Ann Rothfels will share a story with participants at the start of the first four workshops.
The first workshop is Tuesday, April 4, at 5-7 p.m., with five more to follow on April 11, 18, 25, May 2, and 9. “Ideally folks sign up for all six workshops, but drop-ins are welcome,” wrote Yolanda Weeks, LIA’s organizer of this series. “For our archive collage workshop, we have lots of local pictures for folks to make collages with, and we have a copier and printer this year, if folks want to bring their own family photos to get creative with.”
The workshops are free of charge. Dinner and gas money are provided. The workshops will be at the Academy building of the Eaton Corner Museum, 375 Route 253, Eaton Corner. Yolanda invites participants to reserve their spot by calling Literacy in Action at 819-346-7009, or emailing info@lia-estrie.org. “Drop-ins are welcome too!”
VIACTIVE
Bilingual sessions of Viactive, those lively and regenerative exercises, have returned to the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212. Anyone age 50+ are welcome to participate on Wednesdays at 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Prefer mornings? Join the Sawyerville group Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in the basement of the former Sawyerville Catholic Church, 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville. Info: 819-889-1340.
WRITING WORKSHOPS
It’s interesting how many people got bit with the bug during the pandemic. The bug being creative writing, of course. Coming up are more free online workshops with the Write Here, Write Now! team of the Bishop’s University Lifelong Learning Academy (BULLA).
On Friday, March 24, 10 a.m. to noon, Rachel Garber (shameless self-promotion happening!) leads a workshop on Writing Nonfiction for Magazines, especially different forms of personal essays. On Monday, March 27, at 7 to 8:30 p.m., Etienne Domingue offers a “V is for Vengence” storywriting workshop. To register and get your Zoom link, email bulla@ubishops.ca.
CAREGIVERS TALKING
Here is an opportunity to hear two articulate caregivers talk about what they do. “Life Lessons from Two Accidental Caregivers: Self-Care” is their series of three presentations on Zoom, with “The Caregiver’s Journey” by Lizanne Ryan, and “Proud and Out Loud” by Marie Moliner.
The three sessions will permit lots of time for reflection, discussion, and questions. The first workshop, Wednesday, March 29, will focus on Self-care. The second, April 26, is on Advocacy, and the third, May 31, is on Rituals. All three are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Organized by BULLA, you can attend it at no cost by registering through bulla@ubishops.ca.
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. Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. at the Trinity United Church in Cookshire, and at 11 a.m. at the Sawyerville United Church. Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
Baptist. 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 March 20 for publication March 29.