If plants could speak, what a tale they would tell! They do speak, but we are mostly deaf to their chemical murmurs. Plants offer humans so much in so many ways. Archaeologists tell us that humans have been using plants as medicine for more than 60,000 years. The World Health Organization says many in the world still do so, today. And many of our pharmaceutical drugs, including aspirin, are descended from herbal remedies.
Telling us some of their secrets is the plan of a Townships herbalist who has trained in the therapeutic use of medicinal plants. She is Jessica Marais, and her topic is "An Introduction to Herbal Medicine: Natural Self-care in Times of Stress." She will touch on the history and philosophy of herbalism, and offer some easy tips for soothing stress by using plants. She'll also offer some cautions, and then answer questions.
Marais has a Master's in Holistic Science from Schumacher College in England, and she teaches herbalism at the Pacific Rim College, Victoria, BC, commuting from her residence in Bolton.
The event is a conference-luncheon in English on Friday, February 26, at noon to 2 p.m., at the Manoir de l'Eau vive, 210 Principal E., Cookshire, in the 2nd floor activity room. Lunch is $5. The event is organized by the English-speaking caregiver groups of the Centre d'action bénévole du Haut-Saint-François (CAB, Volunteer Action Centre). Please register NOW by calling 819-560-8540 x 9, or emailing coordo@cabhsf.org. All are welcome!
INCOME TAX CLINICS
Ready, set, go! The CAB's income tax clinics are free of charge for persons with low income. For a single person, that's $25,000 or less; for a couple or for an adult with children, it's a maximum of $30,000 plus $2,000 for each dependent child. The maximum income allowed from interest is $1,000, and you should have no income from rental or self-employment. The clinic in Sawyerville offers services in English. It's at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church St., on Wednesdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, from 1 to 4 p.m., and also on March 9 and 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Trained volunteers fill out your returns, respecting your confidentiality. Bring all your papers, and collect them a week later. New this year: To be eligible for the Solidarity Credit, a "RL-31" slip is required. Tenants, get this from your landlord. And whether you are a property owner or a renter, please bring your RL-31 slip or a copy of your municipal taxes along to the Income Tax Clinic, so you can benefit from the lodging tax credit. INFO: 819-560-8540 x 9, or coordo@cabhsf.org.
LEGAL INFO
Do you have a burning question about something legal? Contact the Legal Information Service offered by Townshippers' Association in collaboration with the University of Sherbrooke. Third-year law student Nancy Ly offers free, easy and confidential access to legal information in English. She is at Townshippers' on Tuesdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., until April. INFO: Confidential calls to 819-566-2182 (toll free: 1-877-566-2182), email legalinfo@townshippers.org, or visit Facebook.com/townshipperslegalinfo.
WHY SMOKE?
What makes smoking so hard to kick? Amanda Rizk, PhD, from Concordia University will speak via videoconference on Wednesday, February 24, at 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Eaton Valley CLC, Pope Memorial Elementary School, 523 Stokes, Bury. All are welcome. Free. In English. Info: 819-872-3771.
25,000 TUQUES IN COOKSHIRE
Thursday, February 25, at 1 to 4 p.m. is the next knitting circle for the 25,000 Tuques initiative for new Syrian refugees. It's at the John Henry Pope Cultural Centre at Craig and Principale streets, Cookshire. INFO: sofy_ange@hotmail.com; 819-875-1100.
MEALS TO YOU
Here's to the new program that creates and delivers your choice of frozen meals to your door. The next bi-weekly delivery is Wednesday, March 2. Place your order by Monday, February 29; the sooner the better. The frozen meals program is a partnership between the CAB and IGA-Cookshire, which creates the meals. For the menu or to place your order, contact the CAB at 819-560-8540 x 9 (English).
SNOWSHOEING
Viactive counsellor and kinesiologist Arianne Chabot is offering several sessions to introduce seniors to snowshoeing with poles. The Haut-Saint-François session is planned for Thursday, March 10, at 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., in the Parc des Deux Rivières, at the end of Willard Street, East Angus. Arianne will even lend you the snowshoeing equipment, for free. Reserve it by contacting her at 819-565-1066 or viactive@sercovie.org, now.
VILLAGE MARKET
Plan ahead for the 2016 Sawyerville Village Market situated at the Sawyerville Community Garden, 90 Randboro Road. "The market will have local producers who offer their fresh products, cultivated without pesticides and synthetic fertilizer. Every Saturday morning from July to September or October, the market will also be organizing activities and services that will bring a smile to all," says Chantal Bolduc. If you want a kiosk in the market, contact her at chantalbolduc99@bell.net or 819-889-3196, now.
CHURCHES
Baptist: In Sawyerville, the worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
United: Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. in Cookshire and 11 a.m. in Sawyerville. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message or leave one).
Anglican: Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. in Bury and at 11 a.m. in Cookshire, in the lower level of the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale West. Holy Eucharist is the first and third Sundays of the month, and Sunday morning prayers are the second and fourth Sundays. Info: 819-239-6902.
Messy Church: Wednesday, March 2, at 5:15 p.m. at the St. Paul's Anglican Church in Bury. It is for all ages, but especially for families with young children. It's a free evening of stories, crafts and supper. To register for your place at the table, call 819-884-1203 or 819-239-6902. All are welcome.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email ra.writes@gmail.com by February 29 for publication March 9 and by March 14 for March 23.
