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}By Matthew Farfan
The Ayer’s Cliff-based organization Sentiers Masawippi has just released its annual springtime letter. Harry Isbrucker, who is the president of the organization, outlines some of the trials and tribulations faced by the organization, which owns and manages the Tomifobia Nature Trail, which follows the old rail bed of the Canadian Pacific Railway along the Tomifobia River Valley.
The 19-kilometre (140 acre) nature trail, which runs from just north of Beebe to Ayer’s Cliff, was purchased from CP by Sentiers Massawippi in 1993. The trail has become a popular walking and cycling corridor as well as a haven for cross-country skiers in winter. It also passes through the habitat of numerous species, including bear, deer, otter, osprey, three types of turtle, and varieties of lily, orchid, and other plants. All motorized traffic is strictly off limits on the trail.
In his letter, Isbrucker recounts some of the difficulties faced by the organization in 2008 and 2009. He recalls the big washouts of the summer of 2008 that forced the closure of the trail for several months in Ogden, and which cost the organization $26,000 to repair. These mishaps, he says, “made us more than ever aware of the vulnerability of the trail’s infrastructure, in the face of heavy rainfalls or of flooding of the Tomifobia River, for example.”
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.jpg "Image") Binoculars needed? The sign in the distance announcing the U.S. border is barely visible to the left of the speed limit sign. This photo is taken from the boundary line. By Matthew Farfan
The latest in a long line of unwitting border-crossers was nabbed and whisked away by the United States Border Patrol last week. The man in question, Yves Beaudry, was visiting the Haskell Opera House in Stanstead for the very first time, when he was picked up and detained in Derby Line, Vermont, for over two hours. Beaudry, a promoter from Montreal, was trying to determine whether the historic opera house, which straddles the Canada-U.S. border, would be a suitable venue for a week-long summer music festival.
Beaudry, who could not be reached for comment, inadvertently crossed into Vermont to park his car on the American side of the Haskell. According to Lynn Leimer, who manages the opera house, Beaudry drove up Church Street in Stanstead, and then turned onto Caswell Street, which is situated entirely in the U.S.
As per the wishes of residents and municipalities on both sides of the border, there are no gates or barriers on Church Street to prevent this sort of thing from happening. The reason for this is that the Haskell has traditionally been seen by the local communities as a symbol of cross-border friendship. The very idea of blocking off the street in front of the Haskell has been vigorously opposed by both Stanstead and Derby Line. The need to allow for the free passage across the border of fire trucks, responding to calls on one side of the line or the other, has also been a factor in the decision to keep the street open. Read the whole story in today'srecord.
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 By Matthew Farfan
In the matter of the Ogden estate of the late Michael Dunn, which has been widely reported in the media and by Memphremagog Conservation as totalling over 400 acres, a sizeable discrepancy has been brought to light by the Record over the amount of property accepted by the Government of Quebec and the amount of property on the tax role of the Municipality of Ogden.
The land accepted by Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources in its February 25 press release totalled exactly 117.6 hectares, or 290.59 acres. However, the land taxed by Ogden totals 170.82 hectares, or 422.1 acres, according to officials in Ogden. That figure is the same as the one on file with J. P. Cadrin and Associates, the evaluators in Magog, which confirmed that the Dunn property includes three lots in Ogden.
Upon noticing the discrepancy, this newspaper immediately contacted government press attaché Jack Roy, who said that he was perplexed by the difference in the figures. He confirmed, however, that according to the wording of Dunn’s bequest, the 117.6 hectares was indeed the amount bequeathed, and that there was no mistake — at least not at his end. He also confirmed that Quebec had accepted “all of the land left to it” by the late Mr. Dunn. Complete story in today's Record. |
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Danville is to host Townshippers’ Day 2010 on September 17-18, announced Townshippers’ Association’s president, Michael van Lierop.
"We are confident the Danville community will put on a fabulous celebration," commented van Lierop. "They are experienced organizers and have a history of bringing together the English- and French-speaking communities on a regular basis with great success!"
Townshippers’ Day 2010 helps mark the 150th anniversary of Danville. Plans include a special arts gala on Friday evening, followed by exhibits and entertainment on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We’re pleased to host Townshippers’ Day 2010 and include it in the celebrations for Danville’s 150th anniversary,” said Robert McKeage, who chairs the new organizing committee. “We’re expecting throngs of people to come enjoy Danville with us.”
Townshippers’ Day is a cultural festival and information fair which brings together English-speaking and French-speaking neighbours to celebrate the Eastern Townships’ rich heritage in a bilingual climate of mutual respect and friendship.
This will be Townshippers’ Association’s 31st annual T-Day. Each year it is hosted by a different municipality or area. In 2009, it was hosted by Ayer’s Cliff. A list of all the T-Days past can be found on www.tday.ca. |
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