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Smuggling revealed in new book - The two sides ‘have always gotten along’ |
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“If you didn’t live here, you wouldn’t really know about the issues that come up on the border,” says Matthew Farfan, who expects to publish a book on border life and its trials — or lack thereof — by 2009.
His project is titled Life on the Line: the Vermont-Quebec Border, and he believes readers will enjoy learning of the life and issues that touch American and Canadian residents, and their famous border issues, as much as he did during his almost two years of research.
“For one thing I live on the border,” said the Stanstead area author. “People are fascinated by the border. It’s an interesting place to live, that’s for sure. There are issues that come up with customs, and smuggling, that people don’t really know about.”
With a combination of first-hand accounts from longtime border residents, photos that go back almost 150 years, and featuring stories from both Americans and Canadians, Farfan said the publication will depict a harmonious and unique way of life.
“It’s a special way of living,” he explained. “It depicts how they’ve coped and intermingled. They have always gotten along. The border between them has always been a technicality.”
Townshippers Foundation seconded his findings and fascinations with this subject, and his book has been given a financial boost of $500.
“It’s very encouraging and I appreciate the support,” said the already published author, who cannot even begin to estimate a total cost to get his book on the shelves, but anticipates a hefty bill. “I can’t say enough about what they do for people and how hard they work. All I can say is I greatly appreciate the help. Publishing a book is an expensive task.”
Farfan hopes to have the book readily available and on store shelves throughout the Townships for all to discover life on the border.
This is one in a series on the people and projects funded by the Townshippers’ Foundation.
By Jen Young
May 15, 2008
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Montreal Canadiens
