The record, 22 décembre 2004, mercredi 22 décembre 2004

¦THE RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Drummondville’s budget is ready.See Page 5 70 cents PM#0040007682 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 City’s tax accounts to balance in 2012 Cop braves icy river to save teen By Rita Legault Sherbrooke A Sherbrooke police officer braved the icy waters of the St.Francis River Monday afternoon to save a teen who tried to commit suicide by jumping in the river under the Joffre Bridge.Constable Michel A.Blais was tossing a life saver towards the victim when the ice broke under his weight.Up to his waist in frigid water, Blais waded over to the impassive teenager and dragged him to shore.Blais, who had walked carefully to the edge of the ice to try and talk to the teen, tossed the life preserver towards the boy who failed to grab ahold of it.When the ice gave way beneath him, he had tossed it twice already, and he told The Record he would have been forced to dive into the water if the teen had not held onto the preserver that time.“I was going to throw the life preserver one more time.After that, there was no choice.” See Help, Page 12 PERRY BEATON/S PEC1AL Constable Michel A.Blais waded over to the impassive teenager and dragged him to shore.City suspends four officers following guilty verdicts By Rita Legault Sherbrooke Four Sherbrooke policemen found guilty of assaulting a prisoner in their custody two years ago have been suspended without pay until Jan.10, when a final decision will be taken regarding their fate.The city issued a press release on Tuesday noting the “administrative sus- pension” will continue until Jan.10, when the council will decide on what measures will be taken during the judicial appeals process.In the meantime the city will get some legal advice and look at how other cities have acted in similar situations.On Saturday, patrolmen Hughes Ré, Pierre Bégin, Denis Turgeon and Guy Hovington were found guilty of 10 of the 13 charges they were facing including assault, assault with a weapon, and assault causing bodily harm.The incident occurred after Hugo Lemay was arrested for assaulting an off-duty officer during a brawl downtown the night before.The union representing police officers, which announced minutes following the verdicts they would be See Suspension, Page 3 By Leah Fitzgerald Sherbrooke The budget’s been passed, but what does it mean for citizens of the city of Sherbrooke?Taxes aren’t going up, and in many cases will go down just slightly, unless you live in St-Elie-d’Orford, Brompton, Deauville or Rock Forest.About 31 per cent of Sherbrooke’s citizens are still subject to a raise in taxes this year, at a rate of about 5 per cent, as part of the equalization scheme across the city.Because taxes were as low as $0.90 per $100 of evaluation in some areas, councillors voted to limit the increases to 5 per cent per year.The city’s tax accounts are expected to balance in 2012, thanks in part to the recently-passed bill that allows the city to share the profits of Hydro-Sherbrooke against the debts of the former municipalities.The private member’s bill modifying the merger legislation was passed Dec.15 by the provincial government, allowing for the Sherbrooke budget to go forth as planned.And the budget is full of big plans.There’s no Plateau St-Joseph this year, but updates to the water and sewage treatment systems will cost about $9.2 million, not counting another $3.8 million to be added in by the province.See 2005, Page 4 Not*: The Carrefour de I'Eiitri*, will b* cloaad December 25th, January 1at * 2nd OPEN December 26th ~1 1:00 p.m.to 5:00 p.m.r“ Saturday, December 25th: CLOSED S CTH E 'D^LKL E£ •Ï5>, IV - .4 » I Wednesday, December 22nd: 9:30 a.m.to 9:00 p.m.Thursday, December 23rd: 9:30 a.m.to 9:00 p.m.December 24th: 9:30 a.m.to 5:00 p.m.Sunday, December 26th: Monday, December 27th: CARREFOUR DE L’ESTRIE 1:00 p.m.to 5:00 p.m.9:30 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. page 2 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 RECORD Scrooge story still a pleasure COURTESY DOUG HOOPER Pictured isACapella performing at the CBC reading of A Christmas Carol at Arts Knowlton.Anew English-Language Arts Network, ELAN has just been formed, and Townshippers’ Association encourages the participation of Eastern Townships artists in it.It grew out of the Quebec Arts Summit, which was held in Montreal on November 25-27.The Summit brought together more than 100 English-speaking artists from across the province.They included representatives from all artistic disciplines — literature/publishing, theatre, film/television, music, dance, and visual arts — who expressed a strong desire to build a new and inclusive organizational link among themselves.That desire has taken the form of Quebec-ELAN, with a mandate to discuss new programmes and new approaches in support of English-language minority artists in Quebec.Quebec-ELAN is currently operating through the Quebec Writers Federation (QWF), which was the organizer of the Quebec Arts Summit, but includes representatives of all of the artistic disciplines present at the Summit.The Committee is headed by Guy Rodgers, a past head of both the QWF and the Quebec Drama federation, and its current members include Chuck Childs (theatre), Ian Ferrier (writing), Margaret Goldik (publishing), John Hetherington (music), Brandi-Ann Milbrandt (film), Nadia Myre (visual Arts), Jane Needles (QDF), Lin Snelling (dance), Kate Wisdom (regional representative).Along with taking part in the initial meetings with government representatives, the role of the committee members is to keep all of the artists in their disciplines appraised of any new developments and to ensure that their concerns are represented at the table.Quebec-ELAN now has its own website where you can find documents from the Quebec Arts Summit, summaries of ELAN meetings with government officials and biographical notes for 85 English-speaking Quebec artists.The Web site address is http://www.que- bec-elan.org.Artists in any of the above sectors who have questions or wish to get involved should call Kate Wisdom, Culture and Community Coordinator at 450-263-4422, or toll free 1-866-263-4422 or e-mail kw@townshipper.qc.ca.CBC Christmas Carol Readings Few events hosted by CBC Radio are as eagerly anticipated or as warmly received as the readings of Dickens, A Christmas Carol.This year, Townshippers’ Association teamed up with CBC to host two readings: One at the United Church in Georgeville and another at Ai ts Knowlton in Brome Lake.On the evening of Dec.10, about 50 Townshippers braved the first snow storm of the season to go to the Georgeville United Church to hear David Beebe, Ross Murray, Maureen Cameron, Fraser Adams, and Sonya Rocke read the classic dramatic tale of Scrooge’s transformation.The audience also enjoyed Erin Dougherty’s singing of ‘Little Road to Bethlehem,’ accompanied by Sarah Hoblyn on keyboard.The whole audience raised a collective voice to sing ‘Good King Wenceslas.’ Following the reading, participants and the majority of audience members descended the hill from the church to Murray Memorial Hall for hot cider, cranberry bread, and cheese.Organizers Rev.Dr.Deane Moffat and Judy Bachelder were delighted with the event, the first CBC reading to be held in Georgeville.“People kept saying to us that we should do this again next year,” said Moffat.The Georgeville reading received many boxes of food items and about $200 in cash donations for the St.Paul’s Christmas basket campaign and the Magog Food Bank.On Dec.18, approximately 60 people attended the reading at the Arts Knowlton theatre.This popular annual storytelling event has been a favourite holiday activity in Knowlton for the past three years.CBC reporter Sonali Karnick read the classic favourite along with actors Emma Stevens, Doug Hooper, Don Wilson and Danny MacAuley who also created a Victorian theatre set, thus adding a feeling of authenticity to the reading.In addition, audience members were treated to holiday music from the A Capella Ensemble led by Susan Reininger.“It was like being invited into a drawing room for a cosy evening of storytelling and carolling by the fire.It provided a very old-fashioned Christmassy feel to those present,” remarked Kate Wisdom, Townshippers’ Association’s Community and Culture Coordinator.The Brome Lake reading also received many boxes of food items and $260 in cash donations for the Knowlton Food Bank and emergency fund.Townshippers’ Association would like to thank organizers Rev.Dr.Deane Moffat, Judy Bachelder, Doug Hooper and Arts Knowlton for making the CBC readings possible.The Association also thanks everyone who attended the readings for their generous donations.Holiday office hours Both Townshippers’ Association Lennoxville and Cowansville offices will be closed for the period of Dec.24-Jan 2.The offices will re-open Jan.3 at 8:30 a.m.EMAIL YOUR CLASSIFIED TOUS! Fast and convenient! classad@sherbrookerecord.com Keeping In Touch Townshippers’ Association Weather Today: Cloudy.Sixty per cent chance of showers in the afternoon.High plus 3.Thursday: Periods of rain.Low 1.High 8.Friday: A mix of sun and cloud.Seventy per cent chance of flurries.Low minus 14.High minus 10.Saturday: Sunny.Low minus 24.High minus 17.Normals for the period: Low minus 16.High minus 5.Ben by Daniel Shelton THE TOKOUMES ARE SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH YOU?1 THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING BACK TO VANCOUVER THIS ^ WEEK WELUWEASKEP THEM TO STAYANP 1W&AGREEPT; -BUT USUALLY 5PENP CHRISTMAS n“,rrU TOU GUVS' .f PONT WORRY MOM WZ'RE.Be/NO .WELL ' WORK SOMETHING v OUT' > RZPAACBP, mi THOUGHT irreplaceable/ ;da&!a!SiiB*! RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 3 iw.:« v ' ' — l brilliant idea 4.3 Wellington North, downtown Sherbrooke 563-6460 : : PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL The union believes suspending the officers immediately without pay is unfair.Suspension: Cont’d from Page 1 appealed, was angered by the immediate suspension.It complained the decision was unilateral and that it was not given a chance to speak for the officers.Police Chief Constant Robidas, who was not consulted either, said it was not his place to question the decision.“I have to live with it.” Robidas admitted the guilty verdicts and suspensions have causes an uproar at police headquarters.“The guilty verdicts have shaken up many members of the police force and caused an upheaval in the working climate in the department,” commented Robidas, adding later that it was normal for police officer to be sympathetic to officers who were charged with something that happened in the line of duty.“Police are often faced with that type of situation and their job will not be easy until a final decision is rendered.” Robidas is also concerned about public and media perception of the force in lieu of the verdicts.“We are asking the population and the media to judge the force by the whole of its work and the 65,000 acts its members performed last year,” he said.“Yesterday’s rescue is a good example,” he added, noting that one of his officers did not hesitate to dive into the ice waters of the St-Francis to save a troubled teenager.“It’s important as management to say that despite everything that has been said in the media, this is a good force,” he said.“It’s not because four people had a lapse in behaviour that all police officers are bad.” Robidas restated the confidence of the police brass in its troops.“We recognize that work on the ground is not always easy,” he said, noting that efforts at better training and more support must continue.Police union president Paulin Aube went a lot further in his remarks about council’s rush to suspend the officers.“They chose to preserve their image instead of having a real debate,” Aube said, charging that council did not have any motives for the suspension.“They’ll decide that in January.” Aube' said the decision to suspend the officers immediately without pay on the eve of Christmas was unfair, making it impossible for them to provide for their families.He also pointed out that because the officers are still policemen their employment options are limited by police law and their ethics code.Aube said the suspended officers cannot work as investigators, security agents or private detectives.They are also forbidden from working anywhere that requires a liquor license or at any job that would put them into a potential conflict of interest with the its employers — the city of Sherbrooke.Aubé said the right to appeal a verdict is a fundamental right and that the city should have waited for the process to be completed before taking a decision on the fate for the four officers.“The law is clear.We need a final judgment,” Aube said, explaining police law states a final ruling must be rendered before a police officer can be dismissed.This is not the first time the union has been critical of council’s hair trigger reactions in this particular file.The four officers, who have an average of 10 years of service, were suspended without pay last spring when the charges were first laid and then reinstated following pressure by colleagues.Aubé said council was ignoring a deal where the officers were assigned to desk duty and other officers were reassigned to patrol duty, ensuring there were not additional costs to the department or taxpayers.During the earlier suspension, the officers were provided for by their colleagues who unanimously agreed in May to contribute a percentage of their weekly salary to pay the five accused until they were reinstated in the fall.The union has a special general assembly on Thursday morning where a similar arrangement will be discussed.rlega ul t@sh erbrookerecord.com PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Police chief Constant Robidas admitted the guilty verdicts and suspensions have causes an uproar at police headquarters.Fire In Brooks St Building NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS PERKY BEATON/SPEOAL Afire at 55 Brooks Street in Sherbrooke saw about 40 people evacuated.Const.Rene' Dubreuil of the Sherbrooke police said no one was injured in the fire, which was isolated to one room in the apartment complex.No cause was known for the fire at The Record’s press time.Holiday Schedule: December 13th to January 3rd If you plan to make changes to your subscription (i.e.start, stop, address change), please be advised we need one (1) week notice (prior to date of change).Thank you (819) 569-9528 RECORD RECORD page 4 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 Wales Home Gets $10,000 Donation ¦ mbBS COURTESY OFFICE OF MNA YVON VALUÈRES Richmond MNA Yvon Vallières (centre) presented a S10,000 cheque in the name of the Minister of health and social services to the Wales Home fundraising campaign.Malcolm Wheeler (right), president of the campaign, and Stuart Simms, director of the Wales Home, accepted the cheque on behalf of the seniors residence.Game wardens pick up poachers Staff The 2004 fall hunting season saw game wardens in the region picking up 127 people for illegal hunting activities.A press release from the ministry of natural resources, wildlife and parks said that in all some 348 complaints were filed in the Estrie administrative region over the last three months.The 127 that were caught will face a total of 183 charges, which could result in $134,000 in fines.The main charges included exceeding big game limits and illegal possession of big game.Others were charged with hunting out of season, hunting deer or moose at night, hunting with- out a permit or with a prohibited weapon.Some of the hunters will also face charges of giving false information to wildlife protection officers.There were also several counts of unsafe hunting practices such as having a loaded firearm in a vehicle, hunting from a road or not wearing an orange vest.Ministry spokeswoman Marie-France Boulay said the complaints also lead to the seizure of eight moose and 11 whitetailed deer.Several investigations are ongoing, and could lead to further criminal charges.If you have witnessed an act of poaching, contact the government’s antipoaching line at 1-800-463-2191.2005: CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 Also in the budget, in the way of infrastructure investment, are: • $1.2 million for parks.The mayor couldn’t elaborate during the budget meeting as to which parks would see improvements, except to say Mont Bellevue would be seeing an increased budget.The mayor said plans for the city’s parks would be announced in January or February.• $3.3 million for road improvements, and $1.1 million for pedestrian and driver safety improvements to intersections.Of that $4.4 million, only $800,000 comes from the operating budget.The rest will be a long term loan.• $900,000 in improvements will be made to the Montcalm, Saint-François and Saint-Roch bridges.• $2.7 million for urban development, including $450,000 for social housing.The budget also provides $1.1 million towards a program for revitalizing older areas of the city, and $1 million for Dépôt Street in downtown Sherbrooke, the future site of the theatre arts production centre and current home to the Limocar bus station, which has undergone massive renovation.• Another $2 million will go towards renovating some municipal buildings, including $1.2 million for a new refrigeration system for the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet.The total operating budget of the city for 2005 is $176.7 million, balanced, an increase of more than $5 million over 2004.The city will collect $112.2 million in taxes alone, with nearly $70 million coming from property taxes, another $30 million from service fees for water and garbage pick-up for businesses and another nearly $12 million from business taxes.The rest will come from fees charged for services and permits, as well as fines, and from the Hydro-Sherbrooke surplus.In terms of expenses, the city will spend $29.6 million (up from $27.9 million the year before) on general administration, including legal services, human resources and communication.Another $32.6 million, up from $30.9 million, will be spent on public security, including $21.8 million for Sherbrooke police, $10.3 million for fire protection and $537,300 for crossing guards.For municipal works, the city will spend $56.4 million.Most of that, $36.5 million, will be spent on road maintenance, with $7.4 million going towards recreational services.The boroughs will share a budget of $8.7 million, divided by the size of area served.Fleurimont, the biggest borough population-wise, will have a budget of $2.7 million, while the smallest boroughs, Brompton and Lennoxville, will have a budgets of $662,250 and $693,100 respectively.The other boroughs have budgets between $1.1 and $1.8 million.The city will pay $33.2 million in financing fees for its numerous loans in 2005, which is comparable to 2004.Several councillors expressed concern over upcoming financing fees for several projects which are expected to pay for themselves in the long term, including the Plateau St-Joseph development project.The city borrowed just over $12 million towards the $18 million project.As well, projects like Cité des Rivières, which had received $3 million a year for the previous two years, with just $2.2 million this year, are contributing to the city’s long-term financing debt.Councillor Serge Paquin said the city has an easy few years coming in terms of debt payment, even if the agreement providing a share of the gas tax to municipalities for infrastructure comes through in mid-2005, as expected.Councillor Louida Brochu said it was important to continue development investments because the city needs to be ready to receive developers when the time comes, not after they’re knocking at the city’s doors.Maintaining the current property taxation level, as well the current service costs, has been a priority of the current council.A municipal election will be held in November of the coming year.Ifitzgerald@sherbrookerecord.com Cowansville Sports Experts burglar nabs clothes, skis Staff Police have been left with few clues after one or more burglars broke into the Cowansville Sports Experts store and hauled away $66,000 worth of clothing and ski equipment.Between Monday night and Tuesday morning the thieves entered the store at 1777 Sud through the roof.Sûreté du Québec spokesman Const.Louis-Philippe Ruel said the burglars managed to enter and then leave the building without setting off the alarm system.“At the moment we have no suspect and no vehicle," Ruel said.The theft was discovered by employees as they arrived to open the store Tuesday morning, and they immedi- ately contacted police.The Brome-Mis-sisquoi detachment of the SQ is continuing its investigation.In the meantime the SQ is also advising the public to be aware of anyone selling cheap clothing or sports equipment.It may well have been stolen.For many years the Sports Experts store had been in the Domaine du Parc shopping centre in downtown Cowansville.But seeing commercial activity booming at the south end of town, the sporting goods store moved into a larger space next to the Super C grocery store in November.Anyone with information on this robbery is asked to contact the SQ at 310-4141, or the Info Crime line at 1-800-711-1800. * * + * *.^ y /*/¦ JŒCORD, Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 5 Most Drummondville residents to get tax decrease in 2005 By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record Drummondville The majority of Drummondville residents will see a property tax decrease in 2005, due mostly to a reduction in debt costs and last summer’s merger with three surrounding towns.According to figures released after Monday night’s budget presentation, the mill rate for residents goes from Si.11 to $1.02 per $100 of property evaluation.Business and industrial property owners also get a mill rate cut, from $2 to $1.91.The rate cut was due mostly to a 24 cent cut in debt servicing rates for each property owner.The debt is estimated to be S11.2 million in 2005, down from $11.3 million in 2004.All other service taxes for residents in the central Drummondville area will not change in the new year.The water tax remains at $80, the drainage tax at $90 and the garbage and recycling tax at S82.The total municipal budget will be $58.2 million in 2005, versus this year’s $57 million.But the tax savings does not apply to all residents and business owners of the three towns that merged with Drummondville last summer.In the new sectors of $t.Nicephore, St.Charles and St.Joachim de Courval, the tax rates will vary.In St.Nicephore, residents will see their mill rate drop from $1.20 to $1.15, Canada over the 32-million mark CanWest News Service Canada’s population has increased to just over 32-million residents, according to Statistics Canada The population jumped 0.3 per cent to 32,040,292 - that’s up 93,976 since July and 292,622 since October last year.Ontario made the biggest jump, with a 0.4-per-cent increase to 12,439,755 residents.Only Prince Edward Island, the Yukon and Nunavut dropped in population.Saskatchewan's population continued to climb.but their service taxes will increase.Water goes from $67.50 to $80, while a new $90 tax is imposed for drainage.The garbage charge of $25.50 and the recycling charge of $10.50 do not change.Another jump in taxes comes for non-residential and business owners, who will pay a mill rate of $1.53 in 2005 versus their 2004 rate of $1.20.In St.Charles, residents will see their mill rate drop from $1.16 in 2004 to $1.01 in 2005.Their water charge drops from $122 to $80, but their water treatment and drainage tax goes from $68 to $90.The blackfly tax goes from $4.80 to $12 per household.The business owners will see little change in their mill rate, which goes from $1.15 to $1.16.In St.Joachim, residents will see their mill rate go from 98 cents to 97 cents.But the non-residential and business owners will see a mill rate hike from 98 cents to $1.15.All other service taxes remain the same except for the blackfly tax which goes from $6 to $12 per household.Sherbrooke City Employees Not Happy PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL A chill between blue collars workers and the city of Sherbrooke became apparent when workers were willing to brave freezing temperatures to demonstrate on their lunch break Tuesday afternoon.Between 400 and 450 blue collar workers for the City have been without a contract since December 31, 2002.Talks are bogged down on a number of issues, including the harmonization of contracts between the former towns that joined to create the new city of Sherbrooke, as well as so-called "orphan" clauses, where younger worker have a lower pay scale than their more senior colleagues.Workers for the former city of Sherbrooke earn between $16 and $20 an hour — except for younger workers whose starting wages is $3 to $4 less than their more senior colleagues.Those in the boroughs earn between $10 and $22 — the latter exceptionally high wages paid to municipal workers in Bromptonville.The city is also seeking to cut back on its share of insurance.Unable to break an ongoing impasse with employers, the workers have called for a conciliator.The noisy lunchtime demonstration at the municipal garage in Rock Forest was done on workers own time.CHFCirUMAS \ ?It's qiaick & easy and_there's no line to stand in ! Give RECORD as a Christmas gift for only $124 (12 months), $64 (6 months) or $33 (3 months).To : Taxes ira eluded From : Postal code: Tel.: Postal code : Tel.: Send gift card Start the gift Q No [] Yes From : ?1ST ow ?Jan 2005 QExtend current Q Other________________ Bayment by :Q Cheque Q Money Order Q JVE/O QVisa Amount paid : $ Credit card # : ~ V Expiry date : / / *"*B£CORE) I B.O Box 1200, Sherbrooke QC, JIB 6L6 Tel.: (819) 569-9528 Offer valid in Canada until December 31, 2004.Subscription amounts include GST and PST page 6 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 RF.CORD Community Forum Religion, unplugged Finally, some good news out of the Roman Catholic Church.It has been slim pickings for a very long time.From the Christian Brothers in Newfoundland & Labrador to the inhuman punishment in residential schools where far too many nuns beat the youngest of native children for speaking their own tongue, to U.S.priests and bishops abusing precious little boys, the landscape has long been bleak, seemingly without respite.The fact that the Vatican called Boston's Cardinal Bernard F.Law home to the bosom of Rome to enjoy a sumptuous residence and assume responsi- ble holy duties after he had failed to protect the youngest of altar boys from corrupt diocesan pedophiles, struck one too many dark chords.Assailed from all sides with violence on a daily basis, did we really need Mel Gibson wallowing in a blood fest of mortification of the flesh in a crucifixion that leaves even the most pious cringing in their seats ?God as love does not appear to enjoy a leading role in The Passion.At least The Da Vinci Code poses alternative questions.Then I happened to catch a CNN documentary filmed in India featuring an Viewpoint Ivy Weir TÏTOfâ vivou NfcKMOW UO i—THE — ¦¦¦ RECORD P.O.Box 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 516 or 11® Gall E, Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Fax:819-569-3945 e-mail: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Website:: www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Nelson Afonso Corresp.F,ditor .(819) 569-6345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(819) 569-9931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 5694856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819) 569-9511 Advertising .(819) 569-9525 Circulation.(819) 569-9528 Newsroom .(819) 5696345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton.Quebec, JOE 1 VO Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: i year 114.40 8.01 9.18 S131.59 6 MONTHS 59.00 4.13 4.73 $67.86 3 MONTHS 30.00 2.10 2.41 S34.51 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rales for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 7,1897.and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Hollinger Canadian Newspapers L.P.PM80040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record.1195 Galt East.Sherbrooke.QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA interview with a Jesuit priest who had worked among the poorest in the country for over 30 years.Coolies, he said they were.Infants and toddlers without proper anything.Shacks to house them, rags to clothe them and unidentifiable food being crammed into hungry mouths.Gradually the story evolved to take on a little order that grew and spread among the young charges.It began quite by chance with an effort to communicate with the tots.The priest had observed their rare and mesmerized attention when they heard a visiting violinist he had invited to perform for their benefit.Rather than the bedlam and interruptions he had anticipated, the priest was struck with the idea that he could take advantage of their attention to music to speak to and to listen to the children.A second violin was soon added, followed by another and then by a music teacher.The tentative first painful squeakings were followed a year later, as more and more children and instruments were added, with all of them sounding better and more enthusiastic with each performance.Without belabouring the point, their appearance, their dress, even their space for practising improved and expanded.Lured by the music, the children stayed in school to learn other subjects.A few years later they were playing classical music with some authority for their proud parents, themselves unable to read and write.The word spread on the mastery achieved by the accomplished young musicians and guests from visiting countries began to appear in the audience.Soon the students were invited to those same foreign countries to perform and to teach and to be appreciated and applauded.Facing the Jesuit, who was dressed casually in lay clothes and who spoke in an unassuming manner, the reporter asked, “And you Father, you are a Jesuit priest, yet throughout this long interview I have not heard you mention the word religion even once.” “Religion,” the priest said, “my religion is to get these children fed at breakfast.” At that moment he was surrounded with yet another generation of toddlers, they too, looking ill kept and hungry and in obvious need.The word God had never been spoken, yet, to my mind.He had never been more present.“If faith does not think, it is nothing,” as St.Augustine put it 1,600 years ago.Surely that same thinking leads one to ask if the wrong people are being exalted.Such an heretical thought could well lead one to conclude that the Jesuit in India would be too busy feeding hungry children to make his presence known in the midst of all the elaborate and opulent ceremonies in Rome.Letters to The Editor Ftghan.com A great gift idea Dear Editor, Bravo, Anna May Kinney! (“The gift that keeps giving .Monday, Dec.20, p.12) Recording family memories is a great idea and can be thoroughly enjoyable.Christmas is such a nostalgic time.As Anna May Kinney says, the younger folk know how to operate the equipment.They may also be more than willing to do it, and allow you to concentrate on the interviews.Another suggestion is to unearth those old home movies, or slides, or even videos or photographs, and have them transferred to CDs or DVDs to preserve them for future generations.This should not harm the originals.An offer to get this done would be a good last-minute gift idea.The young folk probably also know how to do this, or, at least, know where to have it done.Consider also informing the appropriate historical society of what you have, providing them with names, dates and places.Happy holiday reminiscing .Lillian Rider Archivist, Lennoxville-Ascot Historical & Museum Society The spirit of Christmas is alive and well Dear Editor, Christmas came early for the friends and staff of Dixville Home’s Day Service from Lennoxville.While enjoying a holiday dinner together at St-Hubert restaurant in Sherbrooke on Dec.9, an anonymous “Santa Clause” charitably paid for the meal, plus donated a gift certificate for each client.A sincere thank you is sent to the gentlemen who made our day even cheerier.Happy holidays to you and yours.Kathryn Fletcher, educator Bernice Keats, educator ’ X.DON'T MAKE THOSE AROUND YOU SMOKE.SECONDHAND SMOKE CAN CAUSE LUNG CANCER AMONG NON-SMOKERS.msss.gouv.qc.ca Québec SS Tempted or temptress?Dear Editor, Poor Adam.It seems that from the beginning of time he has been tempted by that damned apple and every time he takes a bite he gets punished.Who is worse?He who is tempted or she who tempts.Jim Innés Sherbrooke Editor’s note: Tempt me once, shame on you.Tempt me twice, shame on me.Reverend should promote ‘normal’ relationships Dear Editor, Re: letter to editor, Dec 13 by Rev.Carol Martingnaco I would like to put my two bits in the paper to reply to previously mentioned letter from a person who is supposed to be a representative to teach God’s word to us ordinary folks who believe in God’s works and other teachings which we learn to observe and respect.A subject well talked about is same-sex findings or a blessed marriage, whichever one prefers.I have two questions, probably a lot more but I’m afraid that might take up too much space in the paper.Is this a normal society by allowing this unnatural behavior?What will be happening to words like husband or wife, father or mother, etc?What does this reverend mean in her letter by ‘families?’ I would like some explanation.As far as I’m concerned, I like to call myself and my wife normal and true believers in the good book called the bible.I would also like to mention these so-called Christians, also called ‘people of the cloth,’ and others are supposed to teach us how to live a happy, normal relationship according to the prophets and other figures like Jesus.By writing this letter I may get shot by some people but I still believe in freedom of expression.Casey Vriesendorp Ayer’s Cliff Until there’s a cure, there’s us.record.Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 7 AM Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada Letters to The Editor page 8 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 : i ¦the™» RECORD Perspectives Is concern over Karla Homolka’s release justified?Now that Karla Homolka’s 12-year manslaughter sentence is only seven months from running out, the media and public are showing signs of growing concern.While her role in the sex slayings of Ontario teens Kristen French, 15, and Lesley McHaffey, 14, has guaranteed her a footnote in the annals of Canada’s most vicious crimes, the question is whether she poses a greater risk than many other released prisoners.Homolka, now 35, is certainly not the first prisoner deemed dangerous by the National Parole Board.Every day hardened criminals who have faded into obscurity are returned within our midst without the slightest sign of being rehabilitated, yet we rarely hear a peep from the media, much less from our politicians.Had it not been for her notoriety it is more than likely she would out on parole at a halfway house, as is the case with many hardened criminals.Do we really believe that the gang of convicted bikers will be less of a threat to society once they finish serving their 6,12-or 20 year sentences ?How about the thousands of murderers, rapists and psychopaths that have been released from prison over the last 50 years?Have we already forgotten that our prisons are considered by many experts as schools of crime?Just last week the Ontario Attorney-General, Michael Bryant, declared that if she takes up residence in his province he will give the go-ahead for a court ap- plication to secure restrictions on her freedom.While such measures are perfectly valid, they never come with strict guarantees.One has only to think of the tens of thousands of convicted criminals who, at any one time, are subject to stringent probation conditions.Not only are they not always followed, they haven’t prevented their signatories from committing further crimes.Why, because everyone knows that we don’t have the manpower to enforce the conditions.The same can be said of our accused persons who, pending their trials, are subject to a slew of conditions.So what is it about Karla Homolka that makes us react as if she is Canada’s most dangerous prisoner?Aside from the outright depravity of her crimes, perhaps the main reason is that we have yet to digest the way she bamboozled the Crown into agreeing to a lenient sentence in return for her testifying against her former husband, Paul Bernardo.Instead of the picture of a battered woman under the control of an abusive husband, it turned out that she was just as much a psychopath as her former husband.In the words of the Ontario Appeal court, had the incriminating videotapes depicting the couple’s torture and rape sessions been found before the plea bargain, today she would be serving a first degree murder sentence.Unlike Bernardo, who was sentenced on his two murder charges to one maximum life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years and designated a dangerous offender, Homolka will be Scott-free this coming July.Then again, have we forgotten that plea bargaining rarely leads to criminals receiving just sentences.As I have repeated ad nauseam, it mainly protects our court system from coming apart at the seams.If we are so concerned over Homolka not receiving her just sentence, why aren’t we crying foul over the thousands of unresolved murders, rapes and kidnappings which have allowed their authors to completely escape punishment?So how does Homolka’s criminal profile fit into the big picture?Before we start waving placards and demonstrating against her release, we might want to consider a few sobering administra tion-of-justice facts of life.The daily average number of prisoners in Canada’s federal and provincial institutions is close to 36,000 or approximately 117 per 100,000 population.Almost nine out of 10 offenders sentenced to federal penitentiaries have a previous youth or adult court conviction.By law, all offenders must be considered for some form of conditional release during their sentence.It follows that the vast majority of them will at some point, return to society whether it be by temporary absence, day parole, full parole or statutory release.Every day in Canada, there are nearly 8,500 federal offenders living or working in our communities under some form of conditional release.Being representative of the profile of federal inmates in custody, they necessarily include homicide offenders, sex offenders, robbers and drug offenders.They are living in our midst because the National Parole Board determined they could be safely managed with proper supervision, support and controls.Yet,we all know that many of them will commit new crimes.In conformity with federal legislation, the National Parole Board sends the most difficult prisoners to halfway houses to serve their parole.Yet, according to a Corrections Canada study, up to a third often escape and commit new crimes, most of them violent such as robbery and assault.As for Homolka enjoying her freedom once she walks out of the women’s prison in Joliette — before we make too much ado, let’s not forget that her attorney once said she fears that if she’s freed from prison she’ll be slain by vigilantes.Whether or not Canada’s most notorious female prisoner has good reason to worry, one thing is certain — she stands to be tracked down as much by the media as by the police.Meanwhile, other male and female released prisoners, albeit less notorious but just as dangerous, will fade into the background until their next arrest.Comments: henryk@endirect.qc.ca Henry R.Keyserlingk An action for peace three days before Christmas On Dec.22, people from all countries and all religions will be invited to pray and to do something for peace in all countries, especially those that are endangered by instability in the Middle East, as well as Irak, Somalia, Sudan, Palestine, Israel and many other countries in the world.Are we aware, for example, that 54 countries in the world are poorer today than they were in 1990?Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, wrote last year on the occasion of a European meeting in Paris, “There are so many young people in the world who are deprived of prospects for the future.For them, each day is a bitter struggle .against-starvation, illness and misery.In addition, many live in regions which are prey to armed conflicts.We have to do everything we can to give them hope.” Everyone is warmly invited to join in festivities today at 7:30 pm in the St-Francois d’Assise Church in Sherbrooke.Angèle Legris, president of Développement et paix in the Sherbrooke diocese, will give a speech.Representatives from various cultural and spiritual communities of the Eastern Townships will be on hand.Dominic Chamberland, soprano will sing two songs and will be accompanied by Clotilde Hubert, a flutist.The meeting will be held in French —Submitted by the Franciscan Secular Order Spider lily shows promise as cancer killer By Elisabeth Johns of those side-effects.A University of Windsor biochemistry professor has found that a compound discovered two decades ago has an unexpected ability to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy neighbouring tissue.Siyaram Pandey’s research that pan-cratistatin (PST) — a compound found in a spider lily plant native to Hawaii -could be effective in the treatment of cancer has been hailed as an “exciting and important finding” by medical reviewers.Last week, his manuscripts were approved for publication in biomedical journals.The most common cancer treatment, chemotherapy, results in hair loss and a weakened immune system because it kills healthy cells, as well as cancerous ones.Pandey predicts that if PST is used in cancer treatment, it won’t have any Pandey headed up a research group that compared PST, which was discovered and isolated about 20 years ago by an Arizona State University professor, to other types of cancer treatment drugs, including new drugs like Taxol and VP 16.The group includes Dr.Caroline Hamm of the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, who supplied researchers with cancer samples from her patients, and James McNulty, a chemistry professor at McMaster University.They’re trying to figure out why PST kills only cancer cells.Researchers speculate that cancer cells “might be making a protein very specific in the mitochondria, which is targeted by PST,” Pandey said.Mitochondria, the “powerhouse of the cell,” is a substance found within cells that generates energy.—Can West News Service THE RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 9 y^^mmrnÊfk Pa ra »«»i PSSina ?FUTURE SHOP SAVE *400 w 429" 27" Stereo TV With Component Video Input • 3-line digital comb filter • S-video, 3 A/V inputs • Game mode • Unified remote M-fflMWHO.ItXW*» — JVC HITACHI 51" Widescreen HDTV Projection TV ¦ Super-Contrast II picture tubes and high contrast lenses ¦ HDTV compatible progressive scan display • HDMI, component, S-video, A/V inputs • Magicfocus automatic digital convergence SlfSlOWïlVO: 10046762 •Requires HDTV source il Li^kà ® iPod Apple iPod 20GB with Click Wheel •Holds up to 5,000 songs • 25 minutes anti-skip • Earbud style headphones • Blue white LEO display iPod >008 We» 10047970/945 ^ mobiilty- LG 6070 Trimode IX Digital Phone • Vibrant 65K colour inner display with external backlit display • Voice-activated dialing and voice memo 6O.’0Wf»U»!«08;2ôS [SAVE $200 Counts] q3p IN PRINCE WISER! AND THUNDER BAY 1999 HUUMü ITKM OBCDUHT -SO00 TERMDGOXW -15000 New activation required in-store on a \3 year term.See in-store for details.fc^^tttUJiARPHONBNOUVAjUBU ti>oa fuira» Setting* Shut ne song» eackîight jpf»()tiMrtt if 'Tjay £.TBfc The Perfect Holiday Gift Gift box included.Pentium if Cicero IT1 Perfect Flat Monitor f inwlK.100464861 IPAQ.?799?Pentium 4 Power In A Very Affordable Package SR1224HX WHX0: l«J0>08SS/hX-777MS WeblO: KW46486 Processor Memory Hard Drive Our Lowest Price Guarantee We will beat any priced advertised by another authorized dealer.See in-store tor details Prices and product in effect December 22nd-24th, 2004.tPrices and payments are subject to applicable taxes before rebates or programming credits.IN-STORE PRICING ACCURACY POLICY: If the price indicated at the cash register is higher than the advertised one, the lower price prevails.If this error concerns an item lor which the advertised price is MO ot less, we willgive the ilem to the customer free of charge.Foi an item in excess of MO, we will give a MO rebate on the corrected price of the item.Some conditions apply.See in-store for details.ADVERTISING POLICY: Where rebates or programming credits are indicated any applicable taxes are calculated and payable on the price before rebate or credit.Applicable postage must be paid on mail-in rebates.Rebates payable in US dollars are subject to currency fluctuations and may be subject to Canadian bank processing fees.Future Shop is not responsible for manufacturers' mail-in rebates.Not all products are available in all stores.While Future Shop is committed to accurate pricing, advertised prices are subject to error.In the case of a discrepancy between our price tag and our cashier's computer, a customer will he able to purchase the product at the lower of the two prices.We will then take steps to correct the error.'52004, Future Shop.All rights reserved.No part of this document, including pricing information, may be reproduced in any form by any means without Future Shop's prior written permission.Website prices, products, and promotions may differ from our retail store offerings.References to savings or sale prices are comparisons to future Shop regular prices.INTEL*: Intel, Intel Inside, the Intel Inside logo, Intel Centrino, the Intel (entrino logo, Pentium, and Celeron are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.Intel Pentium 4 2,8GHz 512MB Optical Drive CD Bwner/EWD- ROW Combo Graphics Processor Inter Pemium*4 2.8GHI Optical Drive CBtorner/BSOROM Combo Digital Camera • 4.1 megapixel • 3x optical zoom ¦ 1.5" 1C!) W407 WehID I00S144J Connections fin-1 Card Reader Graphics Connections ISgh-SpKdWiretess 128MB ATI Radeon * 9000 Networking Memory Hard Drive invent Handle Demanding Digital Applications With Ease 4*Y5320 Wt'MD: 100507?/?& SAVE s1001 ?1499s WHILE SUPPLIES LAST page 10 THE RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 afttltfiV Photosmart 375 Printer OPEN SUNDAYS coupon V»Md (R Omwntwr 31.2004 Ona coupon per customer.Canoot be combined with «ny other promotion.^ A\oMo X ^ /SPORTS mv selection )or ski • Spyder • Rossignol • Columbia • The North Face • Karbon • Head • Atomic • Lange • Nordica • Giro • Carrera • Oakley • Smith • Burton • Kanuk Sherbrooke 822-3077 Magog 868-6968 Granby 450-372-9066 facing Carrefour de I Estrie Galeries Orford 192 Denison St.East Boutique St*UiA U'ü»1'*6 1446 Wellington St.South SHERBROOKE• 819-821-2492 'Beautiful selection of gifts for “tier and dlim’ Sweaters • Cashmere Sweaters • Kilts • Scarves Shirts • Qloves 'Mohair Socks Throws • Slippers • Scented Candles .and lots more! Shop tarty for best selection.' fitness Biggest fitness store in the Townships The real permanent clearance center me— NEW ARRIVALS EVERT DAT 5215 Blvd.Bourque, ROCK FOREST 3 floor* to *hop! (819) 864*0825 DESPRES LAPORTE Restaurant Equipment * Gourmet Sommelier Boutique The renouined place for uline and cuisine connoisseurs Top quality brand names used by professionals: Riedel • Ptupeet • Uquicte • Sttci • Cololie • KitchuAid • Cuisimn • Scrtutpull • I’m stherm • hilltop Gift certificates available Sherbrooke 185, Burlington Sherbrooke Granby 44, St-Jude Sud Granby Tel.: (819)566-2620 Tel.: (450) 777-4644 1-800-378-2620 1-800-378-4644 UNIVERSITÉ BISHOP'S Il N I V E R S I T Y "Give the gift of Learning" For evening course information and registration details call: Continuing Education Bishop’s University Lennoxville QC J1M 1Z7 (819) 822-9670 • 1-800-567-2792 ext.2670 topping Baps ‘til Christmas • Treadmills • • Ellipticals • • Bikes • • Home gyms • Delivery & Assembly INCLUDED within 40 km a with this coupon ~ Boutique STRATA ftmnrwmm shetotooke 2500 King St.W.819-821-9211 UMBRO LACROSSE ihngtnn campeA The Hockey - Baseball - Soccer Lacrosse Specialists $ Italian Sports Design www.sportwellington.com 3333 King St.W.Sherbrooke * (819) 564-8525 HOURS turtlenecks —\ GLOVES Monday-Friday 9:30a.m.-5:30pm CAPS Saturday.10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.Sunday 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.f» ¦¦¦ 0*0 ¦¦¦ omm torn mom mm mom % off DUR AV Socks KODIAK on gloves, scarves, KOMBI 1140 Panneton St., Sherbrooke • 569-2531 THE RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 11 » ¦« » ** 0 .* « Merry Activities! Healthy New Year! The holiday season’s here! Time for fun and getting outdoors to enjoy yourself.Hundreds of open-air skating rinks, thousands of kilometres of cross-country ski and walking trails, and so many downhill ski centres are out there waiting for you, all across Québec! It’s also the season of good food! Time for gathering around the festive table, loaded with the things we love best and plenty of those that are good for us too, like fresh fruit and vegetables.Go on.Enjoy it all! Do it for you! www.doitforyou.gouv.qc.ca Québec S i i for family and friends 3*r.- m Police searching; the page 12 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 RECORD Consumer spending stronger than expected By Eric Beauchesne Consumer spending started the final quarter of the year with a bigger than expected bang and was continuing at a healthy pace into mid-December, new reports suggest.Retail sales jumped 1.4 per cent to a record high $29.6 billion in October, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.However, analysts disagreed about whether the consumer can continue to support an economy being slowed by a strong dollar and slumping exports.“Retail activity continues to benefit from low interest rates, but the slower pace of job growth and existing home sales in recent months may be starting to temper buying plans,” cautioned Scotia Capital economist Adrienne Warren.And Statistics Canada’s barometer of the short-term economic outlook, its index of leading indicators, after months of slowing, finally stalled in November, suggesting the economy may soon run out of steam.However, it was weakness in manufacturing and exports, not consumer spending that put the brakes on the index, a basket of 10 economic indicators that tend to foreshadow the overall direction of the economy.“Consumer spending remained the This holiday season, give the gift of community contact.¦—THE i RECORD gift subscriptions The Voice of the Eastern Townships Since 1897 The Record 1195 Galt Street East, Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Tel: (819) 569-9528 Brome County News 88 Lakeside Street, Knowlton JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 E-mail: accounting@videotron.ca major source of growth,” Statistics Canada said.And some economists think that will continue.Job growth has been strong and pushed the proportion of workers that are in the labour market to it highest level in over a decade, said RBC economist Jack Homareau.“Clearly, individuals who are employed have the ability to spend and consume.” Also, consumers are benefitting from low interest rates and rising house prices which are making them feel wealthier, he added.“When consumers feel wealthier they are more likely to spend.” Most of the increase in retail sales in October was for autos, reflecting increased buyer incentives, and for the gasoline to power them, reflecting surging prices at the pump.Overall consumer spending, however, has advanced almost without interruption this year.“While a burst in auto sales provided a big kick to the overall tally, the all-important ex-autos reading was also strong, posting a 0.9 per cent advance, and this, on the back of a solid 0.6 per cent reading in the previous month,” said TD Securities economist Marc Levesque.“Although higher prices were part of the story .inflation-adjusted sales were nonetheless up by a still-healthy 0.9 per cent.not a shabby result by any means.” And a major credit card processing firm reported that during the first two weeks of December consumer debit and credit card spending was up 3.5 per cent from a year earlier.“This solid growth at the midway point of the busiest shopping time of the year points to a strong conclusion to the holiday season for retailers big and small," said Moneris Solutions Corporation.Leading the surge in sales were video tape rental stores, up 15.4 per cent, followed by bakeries, pet stores, clothing stores, jewelry stores and home furnishing stores.Meanwhile, a national polling firm, reported that consumer confidence remains high, with expectations about the economic outlook a little more upbeat that at the start of the fall.Décima Research Inc.consumer confidence index was at a relatively high 88.0 in November, up 0.4 points since August.The largest increase in confidence was in Alberta, up 8.4 points to 97.0, while confidence in Quebec fell 6.7 points to 83.6, a one-year low.Nationally, there has been a slight increase in consumer expectations about economic conditions into the future," it said.Consumers in Alberta, British Columbia and the Atlantic Provinces are increasingly positive in their outlook on the economy, while consumers in central Canada, particularly Quebec have become significantly more cautious about the future, it said.—Can West News Service Help: Cont’d from Page 1 Blais said he and his partner Gilles Labrecque were patrolling Monday afternoon when a call came in that a depressed person was going to jump in the water.Sherbrooke police spokesman René Dubreuil said police traced the call to 555 Grandes Fourches and they assumed an attempt would be made near the Joffre Bridge where Galt Street crosses over the St.Francis.Patroller Sébastien Duquette was the first to the scene and he called in to say he saw someone across the river in the water near the City of Sherbrooke’s public works buildings.Blais and Labrecque parked on the bridge and saw the teen struggling in the water.Blais said he ran down to the river while his partner got the life preserver and some blankets from the back of the police van.On the bank of the river, Blais said he approached as close as he could to try and establish contact with the youth.“I was talking to him, but he was not responding,” Blais said, adding that Labrecque and Duquette arrived mom-netarily with the life saver.“I threw it twice towards the victim, but he was not grabbing hold of it,” Blais said.“On the third toss, the ice gave way beneath me.Luckily, I was only up to my belly button in water.” Blais said he was a dozen feet from the victim so he waded out to get him.“The water was really cold,” he said, noting that he was not concerned because his partner and colleague were on the riverbank waiting to help.When he waded ashore with the frozen victim, Blais said two citizens were there in a heated van.Florian Belisle and Lucie Gagnon, who saw the incident from the bridge, had driven down to the shore.They invited Blais and the victim to warm up in their van and drove them over to the emergency room of the Hotel Dieu.Blais said the teenager expressed some regrets for the trouble he had caused.“He said he was sorry,” Blais said.“He seemed happy to be alive.” Blais said he was really cold, but did not suffer any serious consequences from his icy swim.The youth was apparently treated for light hypothermia.It was minus 24 Celsius on Monday afternoon, minus 35 when you calculate in the windchill, said Dubreil.rlegault@sherbrookerecord.com - i ¦ ¦THE —i Record WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM Newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com WED EMBER ZZ, ZUU^ PAC.E I.J INSIDE Is the Big Unit Randy Johnson headed to the Yankees?.see Page 14 Jones siblings excel at international track meet Potton's Blake and Brooke Jones recently competed in the International Track & Field Youth Meet of Champions in Toronto and the brother-sister duo collected a total of eight medals.| i «, ; .' lPi> mSÊM.* I Brother and sister combine for eight medals By Mike Hickey Special to the Record Track and field no longer has the status it once held in the Eastern Townships Interscholastic Athletic Conference, but that has not stopped two Massey-Vanier students from competing at the highest level.Potton’s Blake and Brooke Jones recently competed in the International Track & Field Youth Meet of Champions in Toronto and the brother-sister duo collected a total of eight medals.Blake captured gold in four events; Martin among winners University of Sherbrooke volleyball player Annie Martin was among the big winners this week at the 32nd annual Sports-Que-bec.Martin and her partner Guylaine Dumont took home the gala’s Maurice award in the Team (club) category thanks in large part to their remarkable fifth place finish at the Athens Olympics.Other winners included wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc (female athlete — international level), diver Alexandre Despatie (male athlete — international level), swimmer Stéphanie Horner (female athlete -provincial level), cross country skier Alex Harvey (male athlete — provincial level), curler Marie-France Larouche (female athlete — Canadian level), skier François Bourque (male athlete - Canadian level), Emily Hey-mans/Blythe Hartley (partners of the year) and Sidney Crosby (athlete of the year - team sport).the 400-metre sprint, the 800-metre as well as a member of the 4 x 200-metre relay and thel600-metre sprint medley relay.He then added a silver in the 200-metre race.Brooke’s performance was equally impressive as she took home three medals; a gold in thel600-metre sprint medley relay and silver and bronze medals in the 60-metre hurdles and shot put (8.55m), respectively Blake’s next competition will be the Dartmouth Relays in Hanover, New Hampshire in January.ETIAC HOCKEY ACTION The battle for second place in ETIAC hockey is going to be a dogfight until the very end.The Galt Pipers won the latest battle, a 4-0 shutout over the Massey-Vanier Vikings.Derek Troelstrop led the Pipers offensive attack with a pair of goals while Josh Vanasse and Rowan Phendler added singles.Ryan Seguin collected three assists.The Pipers then split a pair of exhibition games with Maine’s Greely High.Phendler and Corey Main scored goals and Chris Porter had 34 saves but it was not enough to avoid a 3-2 loss on Saturday.The Pipers bounced back for a 3-2 win of their own on Sunday as Glenn Bowers, Bruno Levesque and Phendler scored a goal apiece.Basketball In senior girls basketball, the Massey-Vanier Vikings defeated Val des Cerfs 46-38, as Alyssa Campbell scored 11 points while Trish Gorecki and Kristin Lee chipped in with 10 and seven points respectively.In other senior girls action, the Galt Pipers lost three close games, dropping a 29-23 decision to Séminaire de Sherbrooke, a heartbreaking 30-29 contest to Séminaire Salésien and finally, a 34-23 decision to Chateauguay Valley Regional.Kassie Norrie and Grace Herring combined for 14 points against Séminaire de Sherbrooke while Rachel Lassenba and Norrie had 10 points apiece in the loss to Salésien.Samantha Halfyard led all scorers in the CVR contest with nine points.Kevin Dezan scored 15 and Jordan Montgomery added 11 as the Galt se- nior boys downed CVR 5140.Elsewhere, the Galt junior boys defeated Massey-Vanier 68-15 as Sam Gele led a balanced attack with 21 points.Roger Dugas and Steve Deadman added 19 and 10 points respectively.Rebecca Dion, Aisha Ladak, Melissa Fequet, Jessica Poudrier and Carley Smith all scored six points as the Galt junior girls recorded an easy win over the Vikings.Galt also defeated the Richmond Regional Knights 32-23 as Dany Lumley paced the Pipers with eight points while Maggie Camire was the Knights’ top scorer with six points.Richmond rebound to defeat Massey-Vanier 28-20 behind the eight-point performance of Roxanne Marcotte.The Vikings’ Lizzie Allen led all scorers with 15 points.In bantam action, the Galt boys defeated Richmond and Massey-Vanier.The Pipers downed Richmond 46-17 as Jason Ochman scored 10 points while teammates Jordan Gass and Alex Quiri-on had nine apiece.Mathieu Smith netted 10 for the Knights.Richmond’s Mathieu Paterson had a game-high 18 points to lead his team to a 40-11 win over Massey-Vanier.The Richmond bantam girls beat Galt 26-20, as Galt’s Ni-chelle Davidson and Richmond’s Sally Smith and Kelsey Keenan shared scoring honours with six points apiece.Vanessa Brault collected 12 points while Tessa Hebert and Ashley Hadlock added 10 points apiece to lead the Vikings to a 57-10 win over Galt.Emily Pominville scored 18 to spark the Vikings to a 40-9 win over Richmond. page 14 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 RECORD SPORTS National Hockey League Answering questions about the NHL’s situation otJ By Ben Kuzma Q\ What is an impasse?A: The National Hockey League could declare an impasse in its collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the NHL Players’ Association if it can successfully argue in the courts it has bargained in good faith and that further negotiations are fruitless.Q: If successful, what power could the NHL wield?A: It would impose its last offer on the players — including a salary cap - in the hope they would accept and attend training camp next fall.If unsuccessful, the owners could attempt to break the union by using replacement players next fall.Q_: What option would the players have if an impasse were declared in the U.S.?A: “When the National Labour Relations Board makes a ruling — regardless of what it is — the players could appeal it to the U.S.Circuit Court in whatever jurisdiction and finally to the Supreme Court,” said Denver-based agent Kurt Overhardt.“If you think of all those legal layers - and you bring in Canada with its six teams and Canadian labour laws that are significantly different than the U.S.— it’s very complicated.“The investigation (for an impasse) would be at least a couple of months.And to get a decision by the NLRB, you have to deal with a federal circuit court and they would see that rather quickly.“But they just don't jump for anybody.And the Supreme Court is not going to jump because it (impasse) is not a state of national security”' Q,: If declaring an impasse is such a long and winding road, why would NHL commissioner Gary Bettman be intent on pursuing replacement players?A: Bettman has pledged that the NHL will re- JAY PEAK rilsORT Home of the most snow in eastern North America.Period.Conditions 802.988.9601 JAYPEAKRESORT.COM main a 30-team league with cost-certainty.That’s why his floating salary cap proposal of $34-$38 million US won’t come off the table.Q; Will players cross a picket line to become replacement players?Ottawa enforcer Rob Ray said he’d do it.A: Most players have budgeted for a year with no cheques.But two?It’s going to be interesting how loyal players who make less than $800,000 are to the NHLPA knowing they wouldn’t take a pay cut in the league’s latest proposal.“I wouldn’t cross to be a replacement player and I don't think fans would pay to watch that kind of hockey,” said Vancouver Canucks defenceman Bryan Allen.Q; Is the threat of an impasse and replacement players just the latest bargaining chip?A: You would hope so.Bettman prides himself on the fact he believes the league and the NHLPA are only three percentage points apart conceptually (53 to 56 per cent) in what portion of revenues would be eaten up by payrolls in a new CBA.Q; Sources have told Vancouver The Province that moderate NHL owners will present Bettman with a proposal to end the lockout.Would that work?A: Yes and no.Bettman would listen, but hardline NHL owners like Jeremy Jacobs (Boston), Bill Wirtz (Chicago), Peter Karmanos (Carolina) and Craig Leipold (Nashville) carry considerable clout with the commissioner, who needs a 30-team league to save his job.“You can’t tell me that if you had a couple of GMs and some owners get together that they couldn’t get a deal done,” said Overhardt.“I’m praying these owners step up.If they meet, we’ll have a season.If they don’t, we won’t.” —CanWest News Service Jay Peak (Vermont) Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 0 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 43 Open Trails: 69/76 Lift Hours: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.Mont Bellevue Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 0 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 15 Open Trails: 5/6 Lift Hours: N/A Baie des Sables Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 5 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 12 Open Trails: 0/7 Lift Hours: N/A Mont Orford Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 0 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 10 Open Trails: 31/56 Lift Hours: 9 a.m.- 3:45 p.m.Montjoye Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 2 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 23 Open Trails: 24/24 Lift Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.Owl’s Head Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 0 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 15 Open Trails: 10/44 Lift Hours: 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.jy Shefford Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 0 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 7 Open Trails: 12/28 Lift Hours: 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.Ski Bromont Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 0 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 5 Open Trails: 30/56 Lift Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.Sutton Snow, last 24hrs (Cm): 0 Snow, last 7 days (Cm): 19 Open Trails: 32/53 Lift Hours: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.Shorts Noth book Grandi wins giant slalom in Austria Thomas Grandi credits a more relaxed approach to competition and work with a sport psychologist for his sudden success on skiing's World Cup circuit.The skier from Canmore, Alta., who had been winless in 12 years of World Cup racing, won his second giant slalom in three days in Flachau, Austria, on Tuesday.He did it while still on a high from a win Sunday in Alta Badia, Italy, that was the first in the discipline by a Canadian male in the 38 years the world's top circuit has existed.He had the reputation for years as one of the best technical skiers in the world.All he needed to do was alter his technique, to be more loose and relaxed in competition, and it appears that mission has been accomplished.Working with team psychologist Terry Orlick of Ottawa since September “really has made a difference,” Grandi said during a conference call.The Alta Badia triumph was highly emotional because it occurred near Bolzano where he was born.He kissed the hard-packed snow on the course after getting his medal.( # Teams submit Big Unit deal to Selig The three teams in the proposed trade that would send Randy Johnson from Arizona to the New York Yankees signed off on the deal and submitted it to baseball commissioner Bud Selig for approval.Paperwork for the deal, which also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers, was sent to Selig at about 2 a.m.Tuesday, two people involved in the complex talks said on the condition of anonymity.Selig’s approval is necessary because more than $1 million US will change hands.The Dodgers are sending the Yankees the money to pay part of lefthander Kazuhisa Ishii’s salary.Once Selig approves, New York wants a 72-hour window to negotiate a contract extension with Johnson.The five-time Cy Young Award winner is owed $16 million in the last year of his contract.Los Angeles would receive right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Yankees along with two top prospects, catcher Dioner Navarro and third base-man Eric Duncan, and the Dodgers would get pitcher Mike Koplove from Arizona.Los Angeles might redeal Vazquez to another team.Arizona would get outfielder Shawn Green and pitchers Brad Penny, Yhency Brazoban and Brandon Weeden.Johnson and Green have no-trade clauses.Johnson wants to play for the Yankees; Green has not yet waived his right to block a trade.On TV Wednesday • HOCKEY: 8:30 p.m.; IIHF exhibition game, World Junior Championships, Canada vs.Switzerland, TSN, RDS.Around Town To submit your sporting event, fax it to 819-569-3945, e-mail newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com or contact Mike Hickey at 819-569-6345. RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 15 St.Andrew’s Church Guild Death Death Lennoxviixe St.Andrew’s Guild met at 11:00 a.m.Wednesday in the church hall.The President welcomed 5 members and 2 guests.She then called upon Norma Brown for devotions.Norma’s scripture reading was from John 3:16-21.God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son.Reading the story of “Who needs Christmas”.she read that God sent His son into the world over 2000 years ago to save mankind.God had an overwhelming love for us.our need for His love is far greater than His need to give it.She closed with prayer.Nancy Brown will do the January devotions.The minutes of the November meeting were read and approved.No errors or omissions.The treasurer’s report was then given showing a very good balance plus the donations.A roll-over in the Flower Fund brought the total balance higher.The Guild then proceeded to the disbursement of funds, where monies were distributed, to the WM.S.on a motion by Norma Brown, and seconded by Blanche Stocks: to the Board of Managers: and to the Word of Grace.Blanche stocks reported the Christmas gift for the minister was ready to be presented at our luncheon later that afternoon.Christmas cards are presently being sent to former members, and shut-ins.The president reminded the executive that annual reports should be ready, as well as books audited for the January meeting, Jan.18th.Jan.18th, 2005 meeting will be held at the church hall at 2 pan.The meeting was adjourned by margaret merrill, and was followed by a lovely Christmas luncheon where several of the ladies of the congregation joined the Guild.Thanks to Eileen Drew who played Christmas carols on the piano both before and after the meal.Respectively submitted Nancy Brown, Acting Secretary HARRISON, Hazel Irene (nee Haddon) - Peacefully at the Grace Christian Home, Huntingville, Quebec, surrounded by her children, on December 20, 2004 in her 85th year.Beloved wife of the late Frederick Lloyd George Harrison.Dear sister of Ed (Eileen) Haddon and the late Jack (Elsie), Harry (Charlotte), Adelaide and Norman (Dora).Dear sister-in-law of the late Sarah Irene Lillian Harrison.Cherished mother of Donna (Rodney) McKell, Patricia (Brian) Heath and David Harrison.Loving grandmother of Kimberly, Sandra and Steven McKell, Julie Heath and Sarah (Steven Brown) Heath and Emily Harrison.Fondly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.Resting at the Cass Funeral Home, 6 Belvidere, Lennoxville, Quebec, where relatives and friends may call on Wednesday, December 22 from 2-4 p.m.and 7-9 p.m.The funeral service will be held at St.George’s Church, Lennoxville, on Thursday, December 23, at 11:00 a.m.with the Venerable Heather Thomson officiating, assisted by the Rev.Michael Canning and the Rev.Canon Ron West.Interment to follow at Lakeside Cemetery, Bishop-ton.In her memory, donations to the Grace Christian Home, 1501 Campbell Road, Lennoxville, QC, JIM 2A3 or to UNICEF Canada, 2200 Yonge St., Suite 1100, Toronto, ON, M4S 2C6 would be appreciated by the family.Cards of Thanks BAILEY - Thank you to Ola Streeter, Muriel Whitehead, Kay Kindred, Jessie Blanchard, Donna Wright, Rolland Page, Lois and Len Sturgeon, Roy Everett, Audry Benoit, Richard Picken, Nellie Streeter and Rollie Gleason.Your support and helpful hands were so very much appreciated during the time of the sale of my home and move.With appreciation, GEORGE, GEORGIA, ROD and ALLISON I also wish to extend my very sincere wishes to all for a very Merry Christmas and health and happiness in 2005.HARRON -1 wish to express my sincere thanks to all for the many telephone calls, cards and visits during my stay in the hospital and since my return home.Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated.Merry Christmas to all of you.HAROLD HARRON NUTBROWN, Jean - Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Monday, December 20, 2004 at Lisaard House, Cambridge.Jean (nee McCrea) Nut-brown in her 73rd year was the beloved wife of Floyd for 49 years.Loving mother of the late Peter (1991), Terry and his wife Jill of Kitchener, Lori and her husband Mark of Brampton.Jean will be missed by her daughter-in-law Wendy Nutbrown of Waterloo.Dear grandmother to Alicia, Amelia, Eric, Kyle, Kaylee.Dear sister of Helen Lowry, Kenny McCrea, Connie Little, Eva Leith.Predeceased by parents Edward and Edith (nee Taylor) McCrea and brothers Bruce and Donald and sisters Marion McCrea and Dorothy Learmouth.Jean’s family will received relatives and friends from 7-9 p.m.Wednesday and will continue from 10-11 a.m.Thursday at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener, (519) 749-8467.Funeral service 11 a.m.Thursday, December 23, 2004 in the chapel of the funeral home.Rev.Julia Gill of the Church of the Holy Trinity officiating.Cremation has taken place.Interment will take place in Woodland Cemetery.As expressions of sympathy, donations to Lisaard House would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home).Special thanks to all the staff and volunteers at Lisaard House and CCAC of Kitchener and Cambridge for all their care and support.Visit www.obit411.com/1472 for Jean’s memorial.In Memoriams BURNHAM, Irvin (Hap) - In loving memory of Hap who passed away December 22,1997.Always remembered, AGNES BURNHAM, Irvin (Hap) - In loving memory of a dear father, grandfather of five and great-grandfather of eight, who passed away December 22, 1997.I miss you Dad.CAROLYN (daughter) CHILDERHOUSE, Robert - In loving memory of a dear husband, father and grandfather who left us December 22, 2000.Sadly missed and always remembered.ROSEMARY, STEVEN, WAYNE, KAREN, AND FAMILIES Christmas 1914 Eight-eight years ago on Christmas Day All soldiers put their arms away: And the battlefield stood still Enemies met and stopped the kill For those soldiers of good-will.All shooting stopped for a while To honour Heaven’s new-born child And it was truly a Silent Night When a league of love replaced the fight.The war might not have started again Were it not for leaders who needed a gain; Since then, mankind dies and buildings burn From the specter of battles no one seems to learn.Is it a delusion to make ideas become reality, When delusions of leaders pave a road of no trust and no pity?Can leaders talk longer at the top?Can they convince warfare to stop?The answer must lie in the hearts of the front-line fighters, As well as in the hearts of their loving mothers and fathers.Ideally - a day will come when leaders will send Their soldiers with gifts, and not guns - for to mend.To battlefields of peace where soldiers meet to embrace; Where leaders understand how to make the world a batter place.Really - it is time for the lead to grow up from when they were little boys -For their childhood games with soldiers are no longer with plastic toys!!! G.Lawrence Brown Christmas 2002 RATES and DEADLINES: ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES BIRTH & DEATH NOTICES.CARDS OF THANKS.IN MEMORIAMS, BRIEFLETS: Text only: 320 per word.Minimum charge $8.00 ($9.20 taxes included) Discounts: 2 insertions -15% off, 3 insertions - 30% off With photo: additional $18.50.DEADLINE: 11 a.m., day before publication.BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY & GET-WELL WISHES, ENGAGEMENT NOTICES: Text only: $7.00 (includes taxes) With photo: $20.00 ($23.01 taxes included) DEADLINE: 3 days before publication.WEDDING WRITE-UPS, OBITUARIES: $19.50 ($22.43 taxes included) WITH PHOTO: $29.50 ($33.94 taxes included) Please Note: All of the aforementioned (except death notices) must be submitted typewritten or neatly printed, and must include the signature and daytime telephone number of the contact person.They will not be taken by phone.DEADLINES FOR DEATH NOTICES: For Monday’s paper, call 819-569-4856 between 1 p.m.and 5 p.m.Sunday.For Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday’s edition, call 819-569-4856 or fax 819-569-1187 (please call to confirm transmission) between 9 a.m.and 5 p.m.the day prior to the day of publication.The Record cannot guarantee publication if another Record number is called.ft J 'J\c%r \ , .J * r4', ^ 7fm .f i 4 s y *, / / r .rj* •-/ /* r page 16 Wed sday, December 22, 2004 ^RECORD: Dear Annie: I am 10 years old.My cousin, “Zoe,” just moved to our town and is going to my school.We’re in the same classes, in the same youth group and in the same after-school activities, and we are going to the same summer camp next year.Zoe is really nice, but we live in a small town, and it can take a while to meet new people.So, she hangs out with my friends and me a lot, and even though I have no problem with that, some of my friends are hinting that they’d like her to leave us alone once in a while.I love my cousin, but I could use a little breathing room.What should 1 do?— Cousin Problems Dear Cousin: Can you introduce Zoe to some schoolmates with whom she might have something in common?Perhaps she would like to join a sport or after-school group that doesn’t include you.Zoe is still new to your area and needs time to find her own friends and her own interests.She is relying on you Try to be patient with her to make the transition easier, so try to be patient with her.You won’t regret it.Dear Annie: I’ve heard people complain about the overblown Christmas newsletters they receive.You know what I’m talking about — the husband got his third promotion, the son was offered a full scholarship to Harvard, the daughter was voted homecoming queen, the 9-year-old plays three musical instruments, the oldest daughter married an ambassador, the first grandchild is a genius who already speaks three languages, and Grandma is embarrassed because she is so often mistaken for her daughter’s older sister.So here’s my Christmas Letter Revenge.I hope you will print it.— Had Enough of That Dear Had Enough: Thanks for a good chuckle.Here it is: Dear Everybody: Once again, the happy holidays are upon us.We have so many things to appreciate.Bob got a promotion to french fry specialist at the fast-food joint, so we were able to pur- Annie’s Mailbox chase two more buckets at the flea market.We now have enough for all the holes in the leaking roof.We’ve actually collected so much water that we can flush the toilets every day.The Feds found this year’s marijuana crop before we could harvest it all, but we should make it through the winter with the profits from the still.Jimmy got out on good behavior just in time for Christmas and the birth of his fifth child.Fortunately, all four mothers have stopped fighting over him.Junior ran off again, and it gets harder and harder to get the sheriff to look for him.Just because he’s 35 doesn’t mean he can take care of himself.I hope that the holidays find you whole and happy.I don’t understand why the family reunion announcements again didn’t reach us until after the event.— Bertha Mae, Bob, Jimmy, Junior and all the Grandkids Dear Annie: I couldn’t believe your answer to “Bride in Alabama,” who says her future husband’s family is wealthy and hers is not.You said it isn’t unusual for both sets of parents to help pay for the wedding.People who want to have a memorable wedding should save up and pay for it themselves.It is not the parents’ responsibility.My wife and I had a beautiful wedding, and we didn’t ask for any financial help from our parents, although we received a cash gift from my in-laws.People need to stop thinking that they have a right to their parents’ savings.— It’s the Vows that Count Dear Vows: Many young brides and grooms do not have the financial wherewithal to pay for any kind of wedding, and their parents are more than happy to pick up the tab (within reason).Older couples, however, especially those who have been living together, should make every effort to pay for their own nuptials.Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column.Heritage Cars on Heritage Nite at SSSC Dec 18 was Heritage Night at the Sherbrooke Snow Shoe Club.The meeting was held in the small hall and the ambiance went up about 75%.About 72 sat down to supper and there was room for another 20.The hall was noisier, more crowded, and the tom-foolery was at a new high.The meeting started as usual with John Foster leading us in “0 Canada”, Rev Michael Canning asking the Blessing, Second Vice Alan Cox pointing out the fire exits, and Pres Harry inviting us to sit down to allow the White Knights to serve the soup.Well Did they serve soup! Doug Beattie, of the kitchen crew came forward to remind all that this is ‘The year of the Fly’.As nobody likes flies the White Knights had diligently searched for a means of keeping the President’s soup ‘fly free’.Their solution of course had to be ecological sound.They decided that a ‘dragon fly’ liked to eat flies, was environmentally correct, and was therefore an ideal choice.To find a dragon fly, at this time of year, was a feat of epic proportions.To assure that it did not fall into the soup they had constructed a sort of flag- pole on which it balanced.Then a soup bowl 5 bowls high to assure the dragon fly did not attack it’s own image.I forgot to notice how long a ladle was given Pres Harry to access the soup.The 12 White Knights then detoured back to the kitchen to get soup for the rest of us.I should mention that there was a bit of a crisis in the kitchen.Reg Lacroix was taken to the hospital for what he thought was a heart attack.Ginnette of course went with him.It turned out to be hiatus hernia.Carol handled this absence with great aplomb, children and grand children all pitched in and there was no delay in supper’s being served.We even had home made ‘mille feuilles’ for dessert.The only guest introduced tonight was Rev Michael Canning the new priest at St George’s Anglican Church in Lennoxville.We welcomed him with applause.Pres.Harry had already made him comfortable by having asked him to Say Grace.Pres Harry invited Chorister John to lead a sing-a-long.The band was a conglomeration of guitar players with John leading on his Banjo mandolin(I think).Richard Goodhue, Wyatt Savage, Robert Wooller-ton played real guitars, Old Cec played his old wooden box.John chose ‘Jingle Bells’ to start.That brought on a chorus of ‘Row Row, Row your Boat’ with the Kazoo band in full antiphonal harmony.Enough to give one a headache! John switched us to ‘There Once Was A Farmer’.This got everyone singing and we ended by standing to sing “Silent Night”, an appropriate finale for this Advent season.Pres.Harry called out the kitchen crew to thank them for supper.He thanked the White Knights for their excellent service.(He has to do this to assure that head table gets served.) He thanked Bill Lyon for the donation of firewood.He called on the Red Party’s Max Salvas to demonstrate the new ‘In Memorium Board’ on which any one may place an ‘ in memory of salutation.This nice piece of carpentry is a donation from Red Party and will be ready for President’s Reception.The mounted Snow Shoe carvings are by Richard Goodhue.Burton McConnell stood to question ‘What 4 letter word was the name of an early car maker who had two models and a truck named for him.HERBROOKE HOE NOW (JlUB INC.Keith Baldwin won a new Volkswagen for naming OLDS.We re ceived a very nice thank you letter from Rose Lowry thanking us for the SSSC bursary awarded at AGRHS.Secretary Cec moved that the minutes of the Dec 08 meeting be accepted as they appeared in The Record with the amendments as noted, seconded by Bill Lyons Carried.Capt.Malcolm Juby advised all trampers to not get behind in their tramps and, if possible to catch up now.Bill Lyons advised the Building Committee to note the ice build up on the building.Secretary Cec read a letter from Ron Cottterell, Club President in 1960/61, now living in St John NB, congratulating the Club, sending us a very nice contribution, and asking that ex Presidents Stan and George Lothrop be recognized on the ‘In Memorium’ board.He also read a letter from Don Martin, friend of the Club living in Melbourne Ont., ordering a ‘history book’ and offering several ideas on recruiting new members.There being no further business the President introduced Past president Burton McConnell to bring tonight’s program.We were asked to move to the big hall, arrange ourselves in groups of five, to put our thinking caps on, to appoint a group captain and to prepare for a contest.Group Captains were given folders, told to return to the group and to open the folders on his signal.Car enthusiasts were in their glory.The folder included photos of Durants, Hupmobiles, Franklins, Willys-Knights, Nashes, a Whippet, the Pierce-Arrow, a Reo, A McLaughlin-Buick and other more current names.There were cars from 1900 to 1925.We were asked to state whether the identity as shown was correct or the alternate as shown?Would you know which was a 1904 Eldridge as opposed to a 1904 Ford Model C?There were cars from 1925 to 1950; coupes, convertibles, Kaiser, Essex, Checker cab, Pierce-Arrow, V12 Auburn, with engines up to 16 cylinders.Antique cars from 1950 tol975: Austin Mini, Edsel, Rambler, Hudson, DeSoto, Henry J.There were 40 Antique cars 1950 -1975.They each had a number.All we had to do is to match them up with each of the 40 names.HA! We were given a list of 21 cars all more than 75 years old and asked which were the 2 most expensive?Which the 2 least expensive?AGAIN HA! We were given a list of restored cars shown at the Antique and Classic Car Auction in Toronto in Oct 2004, given a selection of prices, and asked to put the prices paid against each model.A most interesting and instructive program, a real pleasure to have participated in.The winning group: Dave McCormack, Brian Heath, Ernie Garbutt, John Osborne, and Ken Dezan.All took home a new Volks(the 4” racing model)Congrats you antique car bugs! Burton was congratulated for the work done to prepare for this evening.The folder itself is a “classic”.Thanks for sharing with us Burton.Mark your calendar NOW.The next meeting is President’s Reception Jan 01, 2005.It is a Lady’s Night, supper is at 6:00.Widows are invited.Come to your first big Party of the NEW YEAR.Come-Dance the night away.Until then, to all you readers, A Very Merry Christmas and A Healthy, Happy New Year.Respectfully Submitted, Cec Blenkhorn, Secretary, SSSC RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 17 CELEBRITY CIPHER by Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present Each letter in the cipher stands for another.Today's clue: Y equals S "XEXONALVKT UGPZY, KPALVKT YASNY YAVGG.” — LXOSHGVAJY “ A L X O X V Y KPALVKT VK A L V Y ZPOGW HPKYASKA DJA VKHPK-YASKHN." — MPKSALSK YZVUA PREVIOUS SOLUTION — “Winter lies too long in country towns; hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.” — Willa Cather (c) 2004 by NEA, Inc.12-22 Kit n’ Carlyle lwright@ic.net www.comics.com Herman 0Mi 12-22 © Laughingstock International Inc./dist.by United Media, 2004 .VeVeVa W.VeV.' VeV*V»V aVaVeV.VeV.’.V v*v»v.»*•*?*•*«*•*•*•*•*« .?WAV vw WAV* WAV VAWaWAVaVaVAv AVA*AVAVAWA.% AW^WAVAVAvV.VA'AV *« A:AVA ?: VAV VAV V*V A>.VA > V.“What do you mean, my blood pressure pills aren’t working?!” Alley Oop The Born Loser T WE'D BETTE*GET BACK TO /TEAM, AND BEFORE' THE 21W CENTURY BEFORE DOC T GUZ GETS WISE AND WON MUG GETS FREE ANO SENDS t FIGURES WE'RE UP > Y SOMEONE AFTER US.' Vf TO SOMETHING.' / HEY, GUYS.HOW'S If -r GOIN'?’ J W6U- O 2004 by NEA.Inc.wm ARLO & JANIS YOU D0UT ACAJOU IT'S A CATNIP .aou6&, y 7 WR£Ï>H0THIH6 1 UKEMSEAL ^ CHfclSTfAKMKEE! ^  * 56MJTV' INDOOR PUJfABING WONDcKFUL For Better or For Worse 6-REAT y«J ASKED SHANNON LAKE TO COME onstage at THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT AN'SHAKE THE BELLS?WEU, WHAT IF SHED SAID "yes'?I MEAN,SHE'S NOT gXACUy'WiTH IT," APRIL.SHE COULD HAVE MES6eDI” us up so &a t>i i—-—£R/ neither do i SHE SAID NO Grizwells TU\5 YEAR I'fA m Tb oUT KHY m&m p awovie i wtA^vou,,, i’M W5T 9m>m AHY oUT,E\mfe - Soup to Nuts SamtAs watching You GOYs BQN'BAD THfoWlN' SMoviBAUS 8T CARS?HE sets Stoo WHEN You're: SLFeP/NG».HE KNows WHENi Wcu'Re AvJAVe.HE «Novis \r I Yoove: 6eeh bad or Good,.www comica.com email aoup2nutz@cox.net SaNTAS PART OF The IXt^iotact? page 18 Wednesday, December 22, 2004 C*u Sherbrooke.(819) 569-9525 between 830 a.m.and 4:30 p.m.E-mail: dassad@sherbrookerecord.com or Knowlton: (450) 242-1188 between 9:00 a.m.and 4:00 p.m.Record CLASSIFIED 001 Properly for Sale ASCOT - 388 Sandy.New construction, 3 bedrooms.$150,000., negotiable.Call (819) 345-2971.030 Property Wanted SEEKING FARM, 75+ acres, with buildings, in the C Cookshire, Bury, Island Brook and Sa-wyerviile area.Will pay up to $300,000.Call (819) 889-1062.Looking to rent an apartment?Or want to rent one?Place an ad in the classifieds! 035 For Rent 118 MITCHELL -Large 4 1/2, new, small building, condo style, private entrance.Available immediately and January Special! Reserve now! (819) 569- 4977.LENNOXVILLE -Renovated apartments, 3 1/2, 4 1/2, 5 1/2.Pool.Close to town and buses.Includes hot water.(819) 823-5336.050 Rest Homes LONDON RESIDENCE - Private room available.24 hour care, call bell, nurse and doctor, family atmosphere.Member of A.R.R.Q.301 London St., Sherbrooke.Call (819) 564-8415.100 Job Opportunities A JOB AT HOME.$529.27 weekly.Mail work, assemble products or computer work.(416) 703-5655, 24 hour message.www.TheHomeJob.ca or write: Consumer 599B Yonge St.#259-430, Toronto, ON, M4Y 1Z4.WEEKLY PAYCHEQUES! Company needs help processing coupons.Start immediately.1-800-279-0019 ext.CP8.www.supermarketk-ing.com/3497.125 Work Wanted EXPERIENCED WOOD CUTTERS, 15 years experience.Own equipment.Best price around.Call Hank at (819) 838-4584.100 Job Opportunities 100 Job Opportunities 190 Cars For Sale URGENT! Carrier wanted in Lennoxviile for Carl, James, Massawippi, and Winder Streets If interested, please call iTHE .RECORD at 569-9528 between 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.or leave a message.145 Miscellaneous Services LENNOXVILLE PLUMBING.Domestic repairs and water refiners.Call Norman Walker at (819) 563-1491.Want your ad to stand out?For .50 a word - bold it.150 Computers 160 Music Holiday Classified Deadline 11:00 a.m.From December 24th to 31st, 2004 the Classified deadline will be 11 a.m.On January 4th, 2005 we will resume our 12:30 p.m.deadline.Thank you AS SEEN ON TV! Get a fully loaded MDG computer for only .81 cents per day (o.a.c.+ s&h)! Includes everything you need: free printer / scanner / copier, loaded with free software, 17” perfectly flat monitor, Windows XP! Call 1-800-791-1174.1999 VW GOLF, 4 door, manual, 107.000 km, CD player, security system.Thule ski rack, almost brand new winter and summer tires.Used for commuting, excellent condition.New transmission and clutch, belts replaced.Call (450) 538-3387 after 6 p.m.195 Trucks For Sale 1988 GMC SIERRA 1500, 4x4, 5L, 160.000 km., very good shape, $5,000.Call (819) 876-7579 or 578-0935.205 Campers-trailers tare HONOLULU MAGI MUSIC, 201 King St.East, Sherbrooke, (819) 562-7840.Sales, trade-in, rental, repairs, teaching of all musical instruments.Full warranty since 1937.Visa, Mastercard and layaway plan accepted.Honolulu Orchestra for all kinds of entertainment.2002 DODGE PHOENIX B Class, 80,000 miles, sleep 4, V8 350 gas engine, like new, fully equipped, excellent condition.$39,000.or best offer.Call (819) 829-0779.230 Tires 16” STEEL RIMS for VW Passat (1998+), Jetta, VW vans and Audi, fit on 5x112 bolt patterns.$200.Call (819) 566-0446.Deadline: 12:30 p.m.one day prior to pubucation Or mail your prepaid classified ads to The Record, P.O.Box 1200, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5L6 281 Firewood VW GOLF & JETTA FACTORY roof rack, 1993-2003, complete with lock, like new.New value with taxes $250.Selling for $150.2 VW ski carriers available, $150.Call (819) 566-0446.290 Articles For Sale 16” DRY FIREWOOD for sale, $65./cord.Call (819) 889-2876.290 Articles For Sale ELECTRIC DOUGHNUT FRYER.$500.Moffat gas bread oven in working condition.$350.3 & 5 h.p.refrigeration compressors on 208V, $300.each.84 nice staking chairs, $12.Jackson dishwasher with sink and counter, $1,500.12 ft.buffet table, hot and cold.30 tables 36x36.5 ft.electric pizza oven, $600.Wisco electric convection oven, $250.And 300 more pictures on our website www.restau-servicecowansville.com, 1-877-534-6891.HARDWOOD FLOORING from Brazil.Also available: Cherry, Maple, Oak, Birch and much more.Contact Monbert Flooring (819) 580-2227.Have something to sell?Make your classified stand out.For $10.00 more per day, run a photo with your classified! Deadline: 2 days before publication.Drop by our office in Sherbrooke or Knowlton.(819) 569-9525.NEED A PHONE?Connect for just $44.95 a month! Transfer from your current reseller for free! Ask about our long distance packages from $13.95.www.telereconnect.com, 1-866-392-5066.330 Pets Looking for a new home for your pet?Make yeur classified stand out.For $10.00 more per day, run a photo with your classified! Deadline: 2 days before publication.Drop by our office in Sherbrooke or Knowlton.(819) 569-9525.425 Bus.Opportunities CHANCE TO DOUBLE your paycheck.Get your share of riches from Canadian blue chips shares.It is a load of fun! Go to: www.canrich.ca.EARN $10.000 per month+.Take advantage of record year in Housing Industry.Low mortgage rates, growing employment and increasing income is surging new housing starts.Masterbuild-ers is accepting applications for exclusive new home distributorships in select territories of Canada and USA.Construction background and realtor license not required.Executive income potential from home f/t or p/t representing our new home selections.Eye for new home design a must.Free information package 1-888-616-0181 or Director of Business Development direct 1-877-261-1998.www.masterbuilders.ca or www.masterbuilder-susa.com.430 Personal ALL KINDS OF PSYCHICS.Be ready for 2005! Love?Money?Life?1-900-677-5872 or Visa/MC and PayPal 1-877-478-4410.24 / 7.18+, $2.99 per minute, www.mysticalconnections.ca I'M LEARNING FRENCH Because.French is a working language.CPF Gmaffcm Famti for intwk Join CPF - for answers and support as they discover French.WWW.cpf.Ca .- - • n É—THE.1 - RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 page 19 Your Birthday Wednesday, Dec 22,2004 CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan.19)—This is an excellent day to put your affairs in order and there’ll not be a better time to do so.You possess a tremendous flair for organization and order at this time that’ll serve you well.AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb.19) — Outside influences will not easily dissuade you from the course of action to which you commit yourself today.Lay out your game plan because your objectives can all be achieved.PISCES (Feb.20-March 20) — It might do you a world of good today to treat yourself to a change of scenery, even if it means merely taking a walk in the park.It’ll refurbish your energy and make a new person out of you.ARIES (March 21-April 19) — If you’re still shopping for the holidays, today will be one of your better days for selecting only the best for the money you have to spend.Your taste is impeccable and will be appreciated.TAURUS (April 20-May 20) - Occasionally, we all require time to get our own act together and today may be one of those times for you to attend to your own needs.Don’t feel guilty about it; everyone will end up benefiting.GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — Don’t hesitate to throw all kibitzers out of your space so that you can get done today what needs doing.You’ll operate far more effectively without others under your feet CANCER (June 21-July 22) - Today, try to involve yourself in creative endeavors or those things that bring spice in your life.Stimulating changes will have a very constructive affect on your attitude and outlook.LEO (July 23-Aug.22) — Others might duck challenging conditions today, but not you.In reality those things that test your mettle and stimulate your senses will spur you on to achieving bigger and better things.VIRGO (Aug.23-Sept.22) — It isn’t likely that neither large nor small nuisances will shake you up or throw you off track.Your ability to keep everything in perspective will be your greatest gift to fall back on today.ILBRA (Sept.23-Oct.23) — Don’t be surprised today if you’re asked to manage situations for others.Associates view you as the perfect choice to operate their affairs, which for a multitude of reason they can’t handle themselves.SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov.22)—There will be little doubt in anybody’s mind as to where you stand on important issues today.You won’t hold back on what you think or what you plan to do about matters.SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec.21) - Make certain you put your precious hours to productive use today, because if, for any reason, you waste valuable time on frivolous activities, you’ll end up collecting a lot of selfguilt.North 12 22 04 A J 7 6 ¥ K Q J ?5 2 * 8 6 5 3 2 West East A 3 A Q 10 9 ¥ 10 8 5 3 ¥ A 9 6 2 ?J 10 8 7 4 3 ?Q 9 6 * K 10 A Q J 9 South A A K 8 5 4 2 ¥ 7 4 ?A K A A 7 4 Dealer: South Vulnerable: Both South West North East l A Pass 2 A Pass 4 A Pass Pass Pass Opening lead: ?J Wednesday, Dec.22,2004 Was number two, now number three By Phillip Alder Henry David Thoreau said, “I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.” In bridge, we have three signals: attitude, count and suit-preference.And that used to be the frequency order.Most often, one made an attitude signal.Once attitude was known, one gave count.After attitude and count were known (or irrelevant), one gave suit preference.Nowadays, though, count has moved into third place behind suit preference; count is given only when vital — as in today’s deal.Against four spades, West leads the diamond jack.South wins with the ace and cashes his two top spades.Now declarer sees four potential losers: one spade, one heart and two clubs.But maybe one of those pesky low clubs can be discarded on dummy’s third heart.Therefore, South continues with the heart seven to dummy’s jack.If East wins the trick, the contract makes.But West signals with the heart eight, starting a high-low to show an even number of cards in the suit.(With four cards, play the highest if the top two cards are touching.If the top two are not touching, play the second-highest, unless that card is so low that partner might be unable to read it as high; then, play the highest.) East, assuming his partner has four hearts, ducks the first round of hearts, captures the second round, cashes the spade queen, and exits with a diamond or the club queen.Then, declarer has no chance to get home.When dummy has a semisolid suit, the defender without the ace should signal count.CROSSWORD ACROSS 37 1984 Bill Murray movie 29 Sure shot 47 Ransacker 1 Pipe root 41 -Magnon 30 Amusing one 48 O’Neill or Ormandy 6 Spill the beans 42 Disregard an offense 31 Plus 49 Puts away 10 Cancun cash 43 Mottled 33 Kind of car or setter 51 “Kama ” 14 Hair-raising 46 Wight and Skye 34 Alligator-logo brand 52 Blanched 15 Leisure 50 Steeple top 35 2000 lbs.53 Named at birth 16 Lab medium 51 “Lelia” author 37 Golf hazard 56 Zadora and others 17 Animated Disney feature, with 54 Inning ender 38 Pueblo people 57 A single time “The” 55 Marry 39 Author Bagnold 58 “Doctor Zhivago” character 20 McKellen and McEwan 58 Company’s emblem 40 _ Plaines, IL 59 London gardens 21 Lessening of hostilities 59 Polanski’s first feature film 41 Today’s LPs 60 Louis or Carrie 22 Doctor of music?63 “Jane 44 Give priority to 61 Author Levin 23 London art gallery 64 Land portion 45 -majesty 62 Triumph 24 28 30 32 36 Remove the bolt 65 Icelandic sagas 66 Southwestern saloon 67 Government seat 68 Utmost degree DOWN Tuesday's Puzzle Solved Dunne or Cara Have on Dramatist O’Casey Nostrils A S W A n| C H 1 L E R E N E W E D S W B A S C A R V A R T 1 e| S A R A S W A N S A C1 R E A T H O R S E A W A K E O A T E S N O W iJ M O L R E E S R£ ON.W"Ë| L A W H A T JH E A G H R F R E U D L 1 M B O U N 1 O N 1 S T L E D E S T E 1 C A L L S L E 1 A |C O V E S E N 1 S H L t S R A H 1 M A G E 1) R G E R Is T U D S 1 Next to 2 Bounty 3 Pressed 4 Affectations 5 Blushing 6 “John Brown’s Body” poet 7 Starbucks order 8 U.S.tennis stadium 9 there, done that 10 Proprietary right 11 Psyche part 12 Diego 13 Raw mineral 18 Actress Lupino 19 Dumbfound 23 Winter Palace ruler 25 Crooner Crosby 26 Pay to play 27 Stadium cheer 15 20 22 28 41 121 29 130 31 132 137 33 35 44 45 50 59 60 151 155 63 6S 61 56 57 164 52 53 1 ,0 11 12 13 16 19 24 25 26 27 36 39 40 ¦ L_ 47 48 49 L |g|H :-4 ¦ 58 162 j 65 ¦ 68 (C)2004 Tribune Media Services, Inc.12/22/04 By Philip J.Anderson 12/22/04 page 20 THE RECORD Wednesday, December 22, 2004 Sears reg.Twin, Double SAVE 7%' Sears décor stores FURNITURE APPLIANCES ¦ MATTRESSES Quebec City Blvd.de la Capitale S Hwy.du Vallon (418) 760-9084 Sherbrooke Hwy.410 & Blvd de Portland (819) 564-3010 Ste-foy Blvd.Duplessis S Blvd.Wilfrid-Hamel (418) 871-9595 Trois-Rivières Hwy.40 S Blvd.des Recollets (819) 379-0992 Choose your destination.Sears décor stores or Sears department stores We have over 165 department, home, and décor stores tor your shopping convenience Use your Sears Card and collect double Sears Club Points SAVE7 ON ALL SALE-PRICED FURNITURE**, SLEEP SETS AND ALL NATIONAL BRAND MAJOR APPLIANCES INCLUDING WHIRLPOOL*, KitchenAid*, MAYTAG®, FRIGIDAIRE , GE & BOSCH except Sears More Value, Sears Essentials and Special Purchase items •Sears will deduct 7% from the item price.Offer does not apply to deferral lees, maintenance agreement, delivery or installation charges.Excludes items in our Liquidation/Outlet stores.Catalogue and Website purchases.Offer ends Friday.December 31,2004 on all furniture", sleep sets, major appliances, home electronics, sewing machines and On approved credit.Excludes sears.ca orders.Otter does not apply to maintenance agreement, delivery or installation charges.For Catalogue orders, quote Bonus offer number 94)6 22399.Offer ends Friday.December 31,2004.••D/601 Furniture Shop; excludes baby furniture in Sears Retail Mall stores."*D/620 Sewing and Floor Care Shop; excludes wet/dry vacs 0 /ofinancing 'til January 200?on all major appliances, furniture* S sleep sets when you use your Sears Card Sears department stores APPLIANCES • MATTRESSES fPay in 25 equal monthly installments, interest free, until January 2007.On approved credit, only with your Sears Card.Minimum S200 purchase.All applicable taxes and charges are payable at time of purchase.When billed, any unpaid portion ot your Sears Card Account balance will attract credit charges, commencing on the billing date for such unpaid portion.Excludes items in our Liquidation/Outlet stores.Offer ends Fri„ Dec.31.2004.Ask for details.Payment options and plan details may be changed or discontinued at any time without notice.Ask about other payment options.Major Appliances Department excludes sewing machines and vaccums.KitchenAid: Registered Trademark of KitchenAid USA.KitchenAid Canada licensee in Canada Whirlpool: ©Registered trade-mark/TM Trade-mark of Whirlpool, U.S.A., Whirlpool Canada Inc., licensee in Canada 300 %J\J\J Plus SAVE 7%* EDIC* INTEGRATED COIL >’HORIZON’SERIES 1564BD E SLEEP SET 1099.98.799.98 nd King sizes also on ul* Washer Dryer 599” 499”.save Plus SAVE 7% NATUZZI 'CARRARA' LEATHER SOFA Sears reg.2899.99.2099.99 Matching pieces and custom options also on sal* Chicoutimi Place du Saguenay (418) 549-8240 Québec les Galeries Cbagnon févis (418) 833-4711 Ouébec les Galeries de la Capitale (418 ) 624-7311 Ouébec Place Fleur de Lys (413) 529-9861 Ouébec Place Laurier (418) 658-2)21 Sherbrooke Le Carrefour de Lestrie (819) 563-9440 St.George-De-Beauce le Carrefour SI.George (418) 228-2222 Trois-Rivières Trois Rivières Mail (819) 379-5444 Victoriaville La Grande Place des Bois Francs (819) 357-4000 visit us at www.sears.ca QUALITY, VALUE, SERVICE, TRUST Sale prices end Friday, December 31,2004, while quantities last MAYTAG WASHER AND DRYER - ONLY@>SEARS! Super capacity washer.• 4 water level options.#37902 Extra-large capacity dryer.• 4 temperature options.#77912.Look lor the ENERGY STAR* logo on our products.It show that the product meets CNENY STAR guidetints lor energy efficiency NE124MIQ4 2004, Sears Canada Inc.9035