Newsmaker

On December 8 Nathan Vanek will hold a launch for his new book The Bridge Between at Galerie Art de la Paix in Wakefield, at 7 pm.  Everybody is welcome.  The book is a collection of stories sketched largely from comparisons between life in Wakefield and life in the small village in India where the author lived for many years.  Many of these pieces were first published in The Low Down to Hull and Back.  The author will read from the book has already been launched in England by the Yorkshire publisher Bluemoose Books.  Music and snacks.  For those who cannot attend the Canadian launch, orders may be placed through the website www.bluemoosebooks.com or through amazon.com

Suzanne Glandon of Low has published her first book, centred on her West Highland terrier Westieti.  Entitled Westieti on the Fishing Pier, the book inaugurates what the author hopes will be a children's series, with Westieti as the main character.  Most of the stories will be based on real incidents.  The book is self-published and printed in English and French by Baico Press of Ottawa.  It can be obtained, for $12.95, at Charles IGA in Farm Point, Solstice Books in Wakefield and Marché Manitou in Low.  The author intends to donate 10% of the profits to children's hospitals.

On November 28 Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary School held its public speaking contest. The winner, Hannah More, will have the opportunity to compete in Maniwaki.

For many months Catherine Joyce has been contributing Artists' Profiles to The Low Down to Hull and Back, highlighting the works and activities of artists who live in the Gatineau.  She now plans to publish these profiles as a book, through Chelsea Books, in time for next fall's Studio Tour.  She asks any local artist who has not been profiled and would like to have a profile to contact her at joyce@magma.ca.  Deadline: April 1, 2007.

The December 8-12 issue of The Low Down to Hull and Back, at page 12, offers a list of CD's produced by local singers, some of which can be purchased from Solstice Books in Wakefield and others directly from the artists themselves.

For information on upcoming songwriters' evenings at Café 349 in Shawville email giggly@magma.ca

The Chuckle Bros comic, the work of Brian and Ron Boychuk and Ronnie Martin, which for many years has appeared in The Low Down to Hull and Back, is now appearing in the Ottawa Citizen (on page 2) and in major dailies in five other Canadian cities.  This is the outcome of a syndication agreement between the creators of the comic and Torstar Syndication Services.  The comic is already published daily in Charlottetown.

People who think that they might have a book to publish would do well to contact Frances Curry at Livres Chelsea Books, who can offer them on-demand publishing of small print runs. For information email franny@chelseabooks.com , or visit the website at www.chelseabooks.ca , or drop in to the bookshop at 101 Old Chelsea Road in Chelsea.

The Pontiac Museum, housed in the former CPR station at Shawville, recently received a cash donation of $6500 from the Fair Board of the Pontiac Agricultural Society, as a contribution to the campaign for a new roof.  The Museum is looking for further donations.For information call Peter Haughton at 819-647-3778.

The Pontiac School of the Arts (PSOTA) is looking for instructors for its 2007 summer session. Interested art instructiors have until December 8 to submit their proposals. To obtain an application form email PSOTA at info@pontiacschoolofthearts.com , or download the form at www.pontiacschoolofthearts.com

To sponsor a student for the Young Artists' Workshop Series (YAWS), organized for children aged 8-14.  . To receive an instructor's application form, call 819-647-2447.