It's 1847. Once the papers caught up with the news, the
headline of the day could have been "Leg amputated - painlessly" and "first
major surgery performed using anesthesia in Canada. In Eaton Corner." In the
day, all the attention was on the innovative surgeon, Dr. Worthington.
He was the good
doctor who administered sulphuric ether to his patient via a contraption made
of a large beef bladder, a chronometer, a thick leather tube that used to be
part of an umbrella, black silk and a cushioned mouthpiece. He built it
himself.
But William Stone's
Leg, a theatre piece by Marlene Lowry, has changed all that. In the spotlight
on February 15 and 16 was the guy who had his leg amputated, William Stone. He
and his wife Olive Stone were the leading roles in the play, along with the
large beef bladder, of course. A troupe of 30 - casts, crew and musicians - put
their energy and creativity at the service of co-producers Sharron Rothney and
Lowry.
And they delivered!
The Sawyerville Community Centre was packed three times. More than 400 people
attended. The ovations were generous. Some $3,800 was raised for the Eaton
Corner Museum, said Pat Boychuck. "It was fabulous. Everyone did a great job,"
said Lowry.
There are no plans to
put on the play again, but the final performance was videoed. The Eaton Corner
Museum is producing DVDs of the play. Boychuck said they already have a number
of orders. To order your DVD, contact the Eaton
Corner Museum at 819-875-5256 or pboychuck@eatoncorner.ca, or visit www.eatoncorner.ca.
Income tax clinics
To brighten up our
March, here comes income tax time. And the Centre d'action bénévole du
Haut-Saint-François (volunteer action centre) is once again deploying an army
of trained volunteers across the MRC. They're staffing income tax clinics in
Bury, Cookshire, East Angus, La Patrie, Sawyerville, Scotstown and Weedon.
The volunteers do
income tax returns free of charge for persons with limited income. To be
eligible, a single person should earn a maximum of $20,000. A couple, or an
adult with children, the maximum is $26,000 plus $2,000 for each dependent
child. Interest income should not exceed $1,000. And no income should be from
rental or self-employment.
No appointment is
necessary, but it is important to bring your papers with you - your T4 slips,
tax forms, and Assessment Notice (avis de cotisation) from Revenu Québec.
The clinics in Bury
and Sawyerville have English-speaking volunteers - Danielle Paré and Ping Su.
They've both had several years of experience. They can help make sure you get
all the credits that are due to you.
The Sawyerville
clinic is open Wednesdays - March 5 and 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and March 12
and 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. It's at the Sawyerville Community
Centre, 6 Church Street.
The Bury clinic is a
bit later, on one date only. Bring your information on Wednesday, April 2,
between 9 and 11 a.m. Then pick up your completed forms on Wednesday, April 9,
between 9 and 11 a.m. It will be at the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre,
at the far end of the Pope Memorial School, 523 Stokes St.
Info: Centre d'action bénévole du
Haut-Saint-François, 819-560-8540 (option 9) or hcs@cabhsf.org.
Bulwer Purple Prose Project
The Bulwer Purple
Prose Project is looking for florid and flowery first sentences to the worst
novel ever. Try your hand at purple prose, and win the chance to win a
pittance. Check out the rules at www.bulwerpurpleprose.wordpress.com. Then
send submissions by email to BulwerPPP@gmail.com.
The deadline is just around the corner - March 15.
And then get your
purple ticket to the awards supper. It's a highly hilarious event emceed by
Ross Murray on Saturday evening, March 29. It's at the Bulwer Community Centre,
for the benefit of the same. Tickets are $20 for students, seniors or persons
in 1800s costumes, and $25 for others. For your meal ticket, contact Peggy Roy
at the Bulwer Community Centre (819-640-3571) or Black Cat Books at 168A Queen
St., Lennoxville (819-346-1786).
Herbalist's Shop
In French, it's
called Initiation à l'herboristerie. It's a workshop on using herbal plants,
with Chantal Parent. When? Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where? At
the Eaton Corner Museum. How much? $40 for the day. What about? In the morning,
learn how to make herbal teas. Decoctions - that must mean brews. And
macerations - that's either scourging, fermentations or liquids. Come and find
out. In the afternoon, learn the secrets of creams and body lotions. The
workshop is presented in French, but some translation is available. To
register: Eaton Corner Museum at 819-875-5256, or Chantal Bolduc at
819-889-3196.
Military Whist
Military Whist,
courtesy of the A.C.W. and St. Paul's Guild in Bury. When? Friday, March 21.
Where? Note new location - in the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street,
Bury. To reserve a table, please call Serena at 819-875-5210 before March 17.
Rope's end
At the end of my
rope : Stress and anxiety. This videoconference will explore the difference
between stress and anxiety. Can too much stress lead to burnout or depression?
How does your personality affect the stress you feel? How can we best manage
stress? The speaker, Dr. Camillo Zacchia, is a psychologist at the Montreal
Douglas Hospital. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders,
depression and interpersonal problems. The event is at the Eaton Valley
Community Learning Centre, 523 Stokes St., Bury, and it's on Wednesday, March
26, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Info: 819-872-3771 or fessendenk@etsb.qc.ca.
Church services
United: Sunday
services and Sunday school are at 9:30 a.m. in Cookshire, and at 11 a.m. in
Sawyerville (listen to message at 819-889-2838, and leave a message, too).
Anglican: Sunday
services are at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Paul's Church in Bury (with Sunday school
for children) and 11 a.m. in Cookshire. Until April 13, the St. Peter's
Anglican Sunday services in Cookshire will be in the Trinity United Church, 190
Principale St. West (819-239-6902).
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 (819-239-8818).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email ra.writes@gmail.com
by March 17 for publication March 26, and by March 31 for April 9.
