If you didn’t make it to the recent conference on the military history of Bury, you can still have a small taste of the experience. John Mackley is creating a series of short videos of the event, one for each speaker. One of the first up is one by Colin Standish, talking about his grandfather’s experience in the battle of Hong Kong. More are coming. They are on YouTube/@histoireBuryhistory.
REMEMBRANCE SERVICES, 10th & 11th
War is terrible. Don’t forget.
The Royal Canadian Legion Sawyerville Branch 165 plans a series of bilingual Remembrance Day services on Friday, November 10. The first is slated for 11 a.m. at the Sawyerville cenotaph at 6 Principale North. The second is at 11:45 a.m. at the East Clifton cenotaph in front of the United Church, Route 253, between Clifton Road and Store Road. Next, at 2 p.m. at the cenotaph in front of the Cookshire Elementary School, 95 Park Avenue. The last one is at 2:45 p.m. in Island Brook, at the cenotaph in front of the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212. All are welcome. Info: Branch 165 Past-President Jack Garneau, 819-889-2989.
The Bury Branch 48 of the Royal Canadian Legion plans two bilingual Remembrance Day services on Saturday, November 11. The first is at 10:30 a.m., at the cenotaph in front of the Scotstown Town Hall, 101 Victoria Street. In Bury, a ceremony is at 2 p.m. at The Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street. All are welcome. Info: Branch 48 President Richard Grey, 819-889-1024.
Remembrance Day poppies are available in poppy cans in local businesses in Bury and Cookshire-Eaton.
BOOKS & BRUNCH, 12th
Invited authors Ross Murray and Louise Carson will be featured at the second Books & Brunch offered by the Townships Sun on Sunday, November 12.
The first Books & Brunch, on October 15, featured memoir writers Mark Abley and Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt. It got the series off to a rousing start, attracting more than 50 readers. I was there. People were really engaged! The readings by both authors sparked a lively conversation.
For the second Books & Brunch, the focus is on humour. “Everyone knows it’s good for your health,” said organizer Angela Leuck. “In these troubling times, we can use as much humour as we can find!”
Murray provides the laughs as he reads from his new book, Smileyville, the much-anticipated follow-up to his novel A Hole in the Ground. Then we’ll all be swept away into the world of whimsy with Montreal-born Louise Carson, who will read from her latest cozy mystery, The Cat Looked Back. This sixth book in her acclaimed Maples Mystery Series combines art, intrigue, gourmet food and far too many cats!
Ross Murray has published three collections of his humour and has written and directed two plays: All Together Now for Borderline Players in 2019 and Bride of Memphre this past summer.
Louise Carson is the author of 15 books. In addition to mysteries, she has also turned her hand to poetry, a lyrical novella, a historical fiction series set in 18th century Scotland, and a psychological thriller.
The Books & Brunch event begins at noon with a tasty and varied brunch. The authors will read at 1 p.m., followed by a discussion and question period. Their books will be available for purchase and author signing. The event is at the Amédée-Beaudoin Community Centre, 10 Samuel-Grantham, Lennoxville.
Admission is free, but places are limited. The Townships Sun asks participants to reserve in advance by emailing TownshipsSunRSVP@gmail.com or 819-640-1340.
Books and Brunch is a Townships Sun initiative and part of the magazine’s year-long 50th anniversary celebrations. Info: townshipssun.ca.
WILDLIFE
Say “wildlife” at this time of year, and hunting season comes to mind. But now there’s another response on the tip of my tongue, and it’s the October-November issue of the Townships Sun. On the cover is a beaver like you’ve likely never seen before, a photo by François Demers. Inside is a revealing study of biodiversity in the Townships. Also, two articles on wild habitat and how to rescue it by Jim Ferrier, a forest ranger who is been involved with several conservation groups. He offers a roundup of various organizations, and how they can help us hold on to the bits of wilderness we still have.
An exciting result of this issue, for me, is that a reader from my neck of the woods phoned to get contact information to help them conserve their back 40 acres. This Townships Sun is on the magazine rack in both the Cookshire IGA and the Lachance Dépanneur in Sawyerville.
VIACTIVE
The bilingual Sawyerville Viactive group is back in business! Gérard and Denise Nault facilitate the sessions in the basement of the Saint-Rosaire Catholic Church, 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville, on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Info: 819-889-2630.
The Newport Viactive is also bilingual, led by France Demers and Lyne Maisonneuve on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., at the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212 in Island Brook. Info: 819-889-1340.
CHURCHES
Baptist. 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.
Anglican. On November 19, the service is at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 45 Principale West, Cookshire. Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. Sunday services are at 10 a.m., as follows: November 12, at Sawyerville United Church, and November 19, at the Trinity United Church in Cookshire. Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
Jim Robinson and Susan Fowler will offer a Benefit Concert for the BBCI/Trinity United Church to help offset some of the costs following the oil spill and clean-up at the Church. Tickets are $15, and the concert is on Sunday, November 19, at 1:30 p.m., at the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale West, Cookshire.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by November 13 for publication November 22.