I’d personally like to invite you, dear reader, to the launch of my first book of haiku poetry, One More Day. Haiku are a Japanese form of poetry, usually in three lines, short enough to read in one breath. My 100 haiku were written over a two-year period, mostly about nature, wildlife and partially tame creatures surrounding our house. The launch by Write Here, Write Now! is by Zoom on Saturday, June 15, at 1:30 p.m. Interested? Contact rawrites@gmail.com.
Take a breath―here’s one of my haiku: planting / stick fences / groundhog high
FUNNY
Guest-edited by Ross Murray, the June issue of the Townships Sun tickles my funny bone. The theme is Townships humour, and it features cartoons by Xania Keane, an exposé on shrinkflation by John Mackley, and a story by Janice LaDuke, in which Aunt Mary eats her words―Haut-Saint-Franciscans, all. Plus other names of fame. Your copy is either in your mailbox (subscribe at TownshipsSun.ca/Subscribe) or on magazine shelves at the Cookshire IGA and the Dépanneur Lachance in Sawyerville.
OUTDOOR PAINTINGS, till June 30
Until June 30, En Plein Aire, an exhibit of outdoor paintings by Stuart Main, Pauline Boudreau, and Chantal Julien is in the Louis-Pierre Bougie Hall at the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery, 125 Principale West. The Gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
STAINED GLASS, till July 1st
A special exhibit of 14 “stained glass” mosaic artworks is on until Canada Day. Children aged 5 to 15 created the works during Paspareil workshops led by stained glass artist Chantal Guertin. It’s at the Bury Library, located at 569 Main Street in Bury (side door of the Victoria Multifunctional Centre). Open Monday, 2 to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon.
CANTERBURY CONCERT, 21st
Featuring traditional Quebec music with guitar, mandoline, accordion, violin, bass, and voices is a concert at the Canterbury Centre on June 21st at 8 p.m. for the Fête Nationale. The musicians are Paula Chiasson, Normand Breton, and Christian Nolet. Space is limited; reserve at 819-872-3400. Tickets: $15. The Canterbury Centre is at 1095 Victoria Road (Route 214), Bury.
THEATRE IN ENGLISH, 21st―30th
The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical comedy by the Borderline Players, is on at the Haskell Opera House, June 21 to 30. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays.
“This hilarious Tony-winning musical farce delightfully blends nostalgia with a contemporary flair,” says the blurb at www.catamountarts.org/show/details/the-drowsy-chaperone/, where you can read more details and get your tickets. Children under 12 are not admitted.
BROOKBURY, 22nd
The Brookbury Barbecue is planned for Saturday, June 22, at 5 p.m. Entry: $10/person. Hotdogs, salads, chips, and ice cream sundaes will be there. Will you? The Brookbury Hall is at 571 Brookbury Road (aka Route 255). Info: Brenda Bailey, 819-884-5984.
EATON CORNER MUSEUM, 22nd―Sept.
The Eaton Corner Museum opens soon for the summer season, beginning the weekends of June 22-23 and 29-30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: adults, $8; seniors, $6; and youth, $5. A family of two adults and two youth, $20.
PARTY IN SAWYERVILLE, 23rd
Loisir Sawyerville is to host a Fete-Saint-Jean-Baptiste party on Sunday, June 23, from 3 p.m. to midnight at the Sawyerville ball park. Bouncy castles, a canteen/bar service, a bonfire, and music are lined up for the evening. More details to be posted soon on the Loisir Sawyerville Facebook page.
CAPTURE YOUR HERITAGE, 24th―Sept.
The “Capture ton patrimoine” exhibit of works by 5th and 6th grade students at the Cookshire Elementary School will be June 24 to September 2 at the John-Henry-Pope Maison de la Culture, 25 Principale W. in Cookshire-Eaton. Organized by Chloë Southam of the Haut-Saint-François MRC and Rebecca Coates, teacher at the Cookshire Elementary School, it is inspired by a photography contest of Action patrimoine. The Maison de la Culture is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CANADA DAY IN BURY, 29th
The last Saturday in June―here comes Canada Day in Bury!
The festivities begin at 10 a.m. in the Armoury with sales tables of crafts and products, and of course, the famous strawberry shortcakes prepared by the Bury Historical and Heritage Society.
Downtown at 12 noon is the Grand Parade, and Melissa Chapman is still looking for floats to participate in it. She is also seeking participation in the home decorating contest, and in the talent competition. Interested persons or organizations are invited to register for any of these activities by calling 819-212-2423.
After that, it over to the Memorial Park; admission $20 (free for persons age 12 and younger). Visitors will find food, inflatable slides, face painting, an acrobatic trampoline, a machinery exhibit, a petting zoo. “Olympics” for children are at 1:30 p.m. and fireworks are planned for 10 p.m.
Music with Moving On is from 1 to 4 p.m., a Talent Contest with DJ Doug is from 4 to 6 p.m., and more music, with Winslow Dancers, is from 6 to 9 p.m. Smoking Whiskey offers 70s and 80s Rock ‘n’ Roll from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Bury’s Canada Day festivities are sponsored by the Bury Athletic Association, with Tony Hartwell, Melissa Chapman, and Daryl Mroz heading the organizing committee. Kudos to these hardworking volunteers!
CHURCHES
Anglican. Sunday services: June 9, at 10 a.m., at St. John’s, Brookbury; June 16, at 9 a.m., at St. Peter’s, Cookshire. To find services in the deanery, check the schedule at deaneryofstfrancis.com/calendar/. Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. Sunday services are at the Trinity United Church in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m., and at the Sawyerville United Church at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
Baptist. Sunday services are in French at 9 a.m. and in English at 11 a.m., 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 June 6 for publication June 19.