The record, 14 mars 2012, mercredi 14 mars 2012

Mike McDevitt The Bloc is back - Page 6 THE RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Keepin in Touch Page 2 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#0040(X)7682 Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Daffy days are back Sunny buds help fight cancer * By Corrinna Pole Spring has defiantly sprung in the Townships but while grey rainy skies may dampen some spirits, several volunteers are preparing to infuse a jolt of sunshine into the area through the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Days campaign.From March 29 to April 1, volunteer campaigners across the province hope to sell about two million daffodils supplied by British Columbia growers, at shopping malls, banks and grocery stores throughout the region.While others plan to sell on site in bustling locations, a committee of ten local women employs a more direct approach of taking order from residents in Lennoxville, Cookshire, Bury, Hatley, North Hatley, Milby and the surrounding areas.It’s a big job and an even larger area to cover but one that members like Maureen Quigg, who has been on the committee for more than a decade and is a two-time cancer survivor, says has become a much anticipated labour of love.“The organizing committee have all experienced cancer in one way or another, just about everybody in the community has been touched by cancer or knows someone who has been, but everybody so believes in the cause and is committed that it’s not really work at all,” Quigg explained.Last year, thanks to the efforts of a cooperative community and volunteer canvassers, some of whom are still in high school, the Lennoxville group, which has been going strong Cont’d on page 5 Search efforts increased for missing 16-year-old Letters discussing suicide lead police, parents to fear for the worst FVAN LEPAGE A mobile police command post, which includes a quiet room for interviews, was set up at the marché de la Gare so any citizens with information about missing 16-year-old Maxime Richard could come speak with the police in person.Police have already received information that Richard was sighted on a public bus in Sherbrooke.By Evan LePage Officers with both Sherbrooke and Longueuil’s police forces stepped up their efforts to find missing 16-year-old Maxime Richard Tuesday and jointly set up a mobile command post near the marché de la Gare Tuesday.The command post was set up in order to meet with citizens who may have come into contact with the teen, as public information offered to police already lead them to believe he may be around downtown Sherbrooke.“Some people informed us that they have seen Maxime on public transportation here in Sherbrooke, so that’s why we are here today,” said Martin Simard, spokesperson for the Longueuil police department, adding that it would be impossible to identify Richard simply using security camera footage.“We got more than 60 calls with information from the public and today we are trying to verify this information." The command post in question contained a quiet room where citizens were invited to come speak with police.It has now been over two weeks since Richard went missing on Feb.28.After attending his high school in longueuil, ConTd on page 3 Beaulieu is simply one of the best Page 10 Page 2 Wednesday, March 14, 2012 newsroom@sherhrookerecord.com The Record The Sherbrooke Record Do you have an idea for The Record news reporters?We’re always looking for new stories.Send us an e-mail or call us if you have knowledge of a story you think we should investigate.We won’t be able to take on every project, but we will read every message! Newsroom telephone: 819-569-6345 e-mail address: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tomorrow in your Record Ross Murray Weather , TODAY: A CLOUDY W/ J DRIZZLE — HIGH OF 6 J , J ,OWOF3 ^ J 1 / THURSDAY: ^ VARIABLE *-CLOUDINESS y 1 HIGH OF 11 LOW OF 0 l J V w, FRIDAY: CLOUDY W/ SHOWERS HIGH OF 11 LOW OF 4 SATURDAY: SUNNY HIGH OF 11 LOW OF 3 SUNDAY: SUNNY HIGH OF 18 LOW OF 4 Townships Expressions: What is It?MICHELLE LEPITRE .* .T!t»*Z*****r Help us support local artists.make a purchase in our online boutique between March 15 and April 30, 2012 and you could win this Townships Expressions basket! For more information about the Townships Expressions collection, visit http://www.townshippers.qc.ca/townships-ex-pressions or contact us at 819-566-5717 (toll free: 1-866-566-5717).ToWN/hipper/ Keeping in Touch Townshippers’ Association Townships Expressions is a project of Townshippers’ Association which assists English-language artists in the Eastern Townships to sell and publicize their works.The collection features a unique selection of greeting cards, music, books, calendars, postcards, cookbooks and prints.All of the works for sale have been created by Eastern Townships artists and/or have a Townships theme.They are on display in the Townshippers’ offices in both Sherbrooke and Knowl-ton, or can be viewed online at www.townshippers.qc.ca, in the new online Expressions Boutique.You may be asking yourself: what does Expressions have to offer me?Well, here’s just a brief look at the hundreds of items available to you.Books A large variety of books are available through Townships Expressions.These volumes will suit all tastes and interests.The collection includes cookbooks, children's books, poetry collections, novels, historical books and more.Featured authors include: Louise Abbott, Nick Fonda, Matthew Farfan, Ross Murray, Ronald Sutherland, Louise Penny and many, many more! CDs For music lovers, many CDs are available through Townships Expressions, including music by Gail Klinck and Keith Whittall, Donald Patriquin, Jim Robinson, Mike Goudreau, the Canadian Harmonists, Choromondo, Allyna Harris, David Francey, Betty Piette, the Boppin’ Blues Band, Akbar Eric Manolson, Le Vent des Cantons, Peter Mendieta, Julia Rohan, Stacey Clark, Matthew McCully, Amos Joannides, Michael Ayles, Sarah Biggs, Kate Morrison, Lynn Hamilton, Trisha Pope, Jan Graham, the Road Schol- ars, Laurencio Beaudin and others.Cards, Calendars and Other Items Our card collection features original cards made from prints of watercolours and other media by Marie-Therese Fitzgibbons, Zdanka and Kristine Fonda, Sonia Palik and Annis Karpenko, among others.We also have a number of DVDs for sale, including Louise Abbott’s “Crisscrossing Fences” and “Giving Shelter: Historic Barns of the Eastern Townships”, Keith Whittall and Victoria Moulton’s “Salmon Creek Days, Memories of Dance Halls” and Albert Nerenberg’s “Laughol-ogy”, among others.New Online Boutique Want to take a closer look at what is available through Townships Expressions?Not only can you stop by our Townships Expressions boutiques, located in the Sherbrooke and Knowlton offices of Townshippers’ Association, but you can now also shop online! Yes, it’s true.the Townshippers’ Association website now has an online boutique for our Expressions collection.Head on over to www.townshippers.qc.ca and click on the Expressions button to check out what’s available and make your purchase.Win a Spring Surprise! To welcome visitors to our new online boutique, we are offering one lucky customer a Spring Surprise! How can you win?It’s simple.All online orders completed between March 15 and April 30, 2012 will be entered into a drawing for a very special Townships Expressions gift basket.On May 1, 2012, we will pick one winner (at random) from all of the orders received.The winner will receive a special Townships Expressions gift basket filled with goodies created by local artists (approximate value: $50).It’s a perfect way to reward yourself, or a loved one, this spring, while also supporting local artists! Over the coming months, as Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day approach and you ponder ideas for suitable gifts, be sure to consider exploring the Townships Expressions collection for gift ideas.You may just find something unique to offer your friends or loved ones.especially if the Eastern Townships hold a special place in their hearts! Ben by Daniel Shelton «¦«I UXX HOW CUTE.' HE HEARS TME VOQ BARKING ON TV' HniE HEE, HE KEAUY ECU EVES THERE'S A TOO a IN THERE' y MUST PE A GIRL POG, Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Page 3 The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com ocal News The city noted that budget estimates are not an exact science and were accurate for the large majority of projects.Over 60 capital projects over budget in 2008 By Evan LePage Over 60 of the City of Sherbrooke’s capital expenditure projects went over their initial budget allocations in 2008 it was revealed on Monday.City treasurer Francois Poulette presented two analyses to the city council during a plenary committee session Monday evening, one of which nr lyzed the difference between the initr ! budget estimates for projects and the final budget required for their completion.“For starters, we compared the original budget given to a project with the real amount of the costs of a project, as soon as the project was finished,” Poulette told councillors.“Obviously to do an analysis like this the project needs to be completed,” he added, explaining that this is why they chose to complete the study on projects from 2008.In 2008, 239 projects were included under the city’s capital expenditure budget.Out of these projects, 122 were voted on under the form of global budgetary envelopes.A staggering 47 of these surpassed the original budget estimates they had been given, representing 38.5 per cent of the projects.The lion’s share of these were road repair project, 25 out of 44 of which went over budget estimates, something the city is attributing to increases in the cost of gas.Of the 117 projects not voted in with global financial envelopes, a smaller portion, 12.8 per cent or 15 of the projects, exceeded their initial budgets.Work on the J.-M Jeanson network, which exceeded its budget by over $700,000, and the restoration of the Monument Braves, which was not even given an initial budget estimation and ended up costing the city over $60.000, are among the 15 projects with the largest budgetary variations.Despite the overages, the city noted that budget estimates are not an exact science and were accurate for the large majority of projects.Elsewhere, it was also pointed out that some projects did not use the full amount initially allocated for them, so there were some savings which helped compensate for overages.This seemed to be confirmed in the second analysis presented to the council Monday, which looked at all the projects completed over the course of 2011 in order to give a portrait of one budget year.Of 256 projects closed last year, savings totaled over $4.7 million.$ince the projects as a whole cost in the area of $79 million, the $4.7 million in savings represent just under six per cent of the whole budget allocation.“What this demonstrates is that globally projects are estimated in a relatively positive manner.” Poulette said.“Project managers don’t need to make additions of 30 or 40 per cent (of their budget) for the completion of projects." The treasurer also noted that project managers were clearly not overestimating in the hopes of not exceeding their budget, and that this allowed the city to reduce the amount of money they borrow.Of the $79 million allocated to projects, nearly $35 million was borrowed by the city.On a completely different financial matter, a comparative analysis of the financial profiles of Quebec’s ten biggest cities in 2011 was presented to the council Monday.Based on the financial profiles published by the minister of municipal affairs, regions and land occupancy, the analysis indicated that, among cities with over 100,000 residents, Sherbrooke taxed its citizens the least annually.The average tax revenue by resident in Sherbrooke was $986 in 2011, compared to $1,044 for second place Longueuil.Montreal taxed its residents the most in 2011, $1,558 on average, followed by Quebec City at $1,503.“We are doing better than all the other large l ilies," mayor Bernard Sévi- Coaticook Cabico evacuated due to gas leak Employees at a Coaticook company j were forced to evacuate their workplace due to a gas leak created during construction work Tuesday morning.The fire department was called to the Cabico custom cabinetry location at 677 Akhurst Street in Coaticook at around 10:40 a.m.yesterday.Employees from both the offices and factory were evacuated from th scene when it was identified as a gas leak, as were employees from a neighbouring factory as a precautionary measure.The leak, caused by near-by excavation work, was stopped by Gaz Métro workers by around 12:15 in the afternoon.Search efforts Cont’d from page 1 the teen reportedly hopped on a bus to Sherbrooke.A Sûreté du Québec helicopter was brought in to the Townships last Wednesday to search Abbaye Saint-Benoit-du-Lac and Austin, areas near Magog close to a cottage owned by the boy’s parents.The search continued on Thursday when the aerial effort brought no results.The increased effort Monday is due in part to the fact that police, and Richard’s parents, fear for the boy’s life.“We found letters about suicide, that’s why we think that his life could be in danger and that’s why we are here today,” P01 CE mmcan MoafiT - •’*«** COURTESY Sixteen-year-old Maxime Richard.The increased effort Monday is due in part to the fact that police, and Richard’s parents, fear for the hoy’s life.Aimard said.“We hope that f-laxime is still alive but it’s becoming more and more worrisome.” The police spokesperson also noted hat the teen’s parents were completely shocked to -iind the letters.It was the first •time hç.ran away from home, Simard said, and the parents did not see it coming at all.Due to the public information re eived already, police believe the een may still be in the urea.Around 30 police officers were surveying the area around Lac des Nations in particular Monday, and firefighter boats Were reportedly being brought in to continue the search on the city’s large network of waterways.Additionally, ATVs and canine units continued to search the area around Austin and the family cottage in the hopes of finding the teen there.Richard was last seen wearing a black shirt with the AC/DC band logo on it and a jacket.Richard stands at approximately 6-feet, weighs around 140 pounds and has blue eyes and long hair, either natural blond or dyed black.Anyone who has seen the teen or with information about his possible whereabouts is being asked to phone police at 819-821-5555'or even 911.BEST BUY On the Mart h ') flyer, page 18.please be advised that these products: Xbox 360/FSJ Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (We-bCotle 10187163/ 10187114) may not be available in-store on the release date advertised due to delayed shipment.The games are estimated to be available on March 14.We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers FUTURE SHOP be • i ih,a i p.i i.pi« Reniai on Um-maNow Intituled With I hr Adventures of hntm Movie” (Weblf): 2I'M695| was im or reclly advertised W«- regret lo inform you Ihat l hr tree rental offer is NO I valid, and will not be available with the movie Also on page 20, this prodtu i AK(> I nld.ibh On-Ear Head-pluM03 'WrbID tOIMSIT) shows an imorret t feature.(Mease be advised that the headphones are NOI notscM a in cl ling We sinterely a|M>lo-this may rd t FUTURE SHOP Please note on Popup page 3 of t he Mart h 9 f Iyer.I he mit rowave advertised is limited in slot k This model is available while quantities last as it is being dis continued No raine bet ks will In-issued In the unfortunate event that this model is no longer avail able, we are pleased to offer the Sunbeam SBMW759W (Web Gode: 101433701 as a subslitute for the same price.We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience • his may have < aused out valued customers Page 4 Wednesday, March 14, 2012 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Potton Income tax service for low income earners The Scoop Mable Hastings The Missisquoi North Volunteer Centre in Potton (CAB) located at 314-B, Main Street in Mansonville (2nd floor) 450-292-3114 is offering an Income Tax Service for low income earners in Potton till April 13, 2012.Volunteers trained by the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenue Quebec will be available to fill out income tax returns for single individuals earning up to $20,000 per year and couples earning up to $26,000 per year.There is a $5 fee to cover printing costs and those interested must bring their tax forms to the CAB with them.Each year, volunteers like Rick Fer-gusson and Marina Cote as well as Peter Clark, Janice Sweet and Kenneth Wraight (this year’s team), attend a training session with the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenue Quebec to receive the latest information on how to best fill out the forms required by the government in filing income tax returns.These volunteers then offer their time and expertise through the CAB’s Income Tax Clinic, to help the community and those in low income earning situations.Most program volunteers like Rick Fergusson, now in his 16th year, have been giving of their time and talents for many years.“Most of us have become friends having volunteered together for so long,” said Rick.“When we aren’t sure about something or need some advice in filing a return, we usually give Kenneth a call; as a member of our team who works in this'field as his profession, he is very helpful,” he added.According to the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenue Quebec, they rely Canadians pay less.And keep cfettinq mtSTET Our fares are lower.Our parking is better.Our planes keep growing bigger.you see so many Quebec license plates In our garage" Continental I Airlines i 4V U N I T E 0 jetBlue A DELTA m US AIRWAYS porter k BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BURLINGTON.VERMONT For more info or to book a flight go to flyBTV.com/march P MABLE HASTINGS ÎSSaf 4SJ*1 lip THAMK YOU, OOOUA/ see you soon.' 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