It’s been a challenging winter. Yes, yes, I know, the weather.
But that wasn’t the half of it. The editor of The Townships Sun suddenly passed away, and I had the chutzpah to step in. It’s been a wild ride, fun all the way. I get to work with lots of creative types, all across the Townships.
For the May issue – now on the newsstand at the Cookshire IGA – I visited a slew of ceramic artists who create a kind of alchemical transformation using clay, fire and water. John Mackley writes about his experience as a “Back to the Lander,” and a new generation of them in the Townships today. Scott Stevenson writes about the growing pains of organic farming, stymied by a policy that requires “healthy farming” to “pay to certify its status, while farms using toxic chemicals don’t shoulder that extra cost.”
There’s a story by Janice LaDuke nestled in among the articles, poetry, art and photos by other Townshippers. (Notice all my mentions are of Haut-Saint-Franciscans.) And there’s a description of Young Voices, a new project that aims to involve a new generation of creative types – writers, artists and photographers – in our community and our community magazine, The Townships Sun.
This issue is the last one in Volume 49, on the cusp of the magazine’s 50th anniversary. It was started by a small group of young people – many from around here: Russell Pocock, Roderick Macdonnel, Brian Olding, Susan Mastine, Robert Winter, Bernard Epps. The logo was designed by Stephanie Wells of Scotstown, and shows the sun peeking over the Megantic mountains.
That was then; now we need more readers and contributors from our neck of the woods. Visit TheTownshipsSun.org to get three recent issues in pdf for free, and also to subscribe. A year is only $15 (e-subscription – a pdf version in full-colour), or $25 for the print version. Join us in the Sun!
HAIKU ZOOM
An evening of Haiku readings and conversations is Friday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m., an online launch party for three nifty little poetry books. They are Last Summer Pear, by Angela Leuck, Spring to Lips by Phyllis Sise, and Ditch Walker, by Bernice Angeline Sorge. The poetry is short, the books are little, but all are mighty in humour, beauty, and the joys of nature. Get the link for this free session by contacting bulla@ubishops.ca. The event is organized by the Bishop’s University Lifelong Learning Academy, Write Here Write Now, and Yarrow Press, an imprint of Shoreline Press, right here in the Townships, and the publisher of all three books.
YOU CAN TOO
Write Here Write Now (WHWN) continues to offer free Zoom workshops for new and other writers. For the past year or so, I’ve been participating as both a learner and a leader in these varied workshops. They’ve given me inspiration, ideas, and encouragement, and also an opportunity make new friends among creative persons in the Townships.
Here is what’s coming up: Rebecca Welton offers an introductory workshop on writing Short Fiction on May 11 and June 11, and Short Fiction Readings are planned for June 12. She leads another workshop, Beginner Blogging for Authors, on May 12. For writers of children’s literature, Rebecca Facilitates a Estrie Kidlit Meeting on May 15. All of Rebecca’s workshops are at 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
On Tuesdays, May 17 and June 17, I myself lead a workshop on Editing and Giving Feedback, and on Tuesday, May 31, a special workshop on the Ins & Outs of Magazine Writing – you guessed it, I’m looking for new writers for The Townships Sun! My workshops are at 10 a.m. to noon.
On Thursday, May 26, Jan Draper leads a workshop on Poetry; then on June 3, a Poetry Reading Practice Session. Both are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Viewers and readers are invited to a Poetry Reading on June 17, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Etienne Domingue leads a Fantasy Fugue Forum – on fantasy writing – on May 30 and June 27, at 7 to 9 p.m. Two last workshops are one on Art and Writing led by Christopher Brandon, May 21, and Local Journalism offered by Gordon Lambie, May 28. Both are at 2 to 4 p.m.
For the link for any of these workshops, contact bulla@ubishops.ca.
TREE GIVEAWAY
For families of Pope Memorial School students and residents of Bury, the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre is giving away trees on Friday, May 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the school, 523 Stokes, Bury. Trees are free, two per person, while quantities last. For details, see the Eaton Valley CLC Facebook page, says Jenny Ménard of the CLC at the Pope Memorial and Sawyerville elementary schools. The trees are offered by the Quebec ministry of forests, fauna and parks, in celebration of May, the month of trees and forests.
IMAGINARY WORLDS
An art exhibit at the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery presents three imaginary worlds by three contemporary artists: François Haguier, Guy-Anne Massicotte, and Manon Potvin. The show is open Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 4 p.m., until May 22, at the gallery, 125 Principale West, Cookshire-Eaton.
CHURCHES
Baptist. Regular in-persons services are in French at 9 a.m., in English at 11 a.m., respecting Covid protocols, including masks and hand sanitizing. For information, please contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-239-8818.
Anglican. In-person service on Sunday, May 15, at 11 a.m., at St. Peter’s Church in Cookshire. Also, Bishop Bruce Myers offers Home Prayers at 4 p.m. on Sundays via Facebook, and at quebec.anglican.ca (Worship Videos). Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. For service information, please check the United Eaton Valley Pastoral Charge answering machine at 819-889-2838. For pastoral emergencies, contact Rev. Mead Baldwin at 819-837-1112.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by May 16 for publication May 25 and by May 30 for June 8.