THE SOAPBOX CARMEN MARIE FABIO
Books and covers “People are afraid of you,” I told my boyfriend over 20 years ago as we walked through one of the seedier areas of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a very low-budget vacation. “Good,” he replied. It didn't matter that he was a really nice guy. His long hair, full beard, and dark sunglasses had a menacing effect that seemed to offer a layer of protection as people – like they're apt to do – judged the book by its cover. The fact that bank employees and small children were also afraid of him was an unfortunate side effect. I was reminded of the Florida incident recently following the latest addition to our family, a Doberman/German Shepherd mix who, at 70 lbs. and 30 inches high, isn't huge but sizeable enough to make people think twice about approaching us when we walk him. Not only is his frame imposing, he was originally a rescue and suffered an unknown incident as a puppy that left a mass of scar tissue on his left side. It doesn't matter that he's a really nice guy. In fact, he's so timid and gentle that I often refer to him as “Kitten.” But some people automatically sum up the scars and teeth before jumping to conclusions and crossing to the other side of the street when they see him coming. By the time my first son was born, that long-haired boyfriend that I came to marry shaved off the beard and cut the locks, and with the style of glasses he had at the time, he ended up looking exactly like Mom Boucher. “People are still afraid of you,” I told him. “Good,” he replied. I have no scientific proof but it's logical to suppose we're hardwired to make split-second decisions based on whatever visual information we can gather at the moment. Some vestiges of our primal brain had to ascertain whether whatever we encountered on a daily basis was out to kill us or not. Being the biological creatures that we are, these reflex actions remain though we're less likely to use them to determine our survival than we are to go on a date, buy a bottle of wine, or – yup – even buy a book. As recent media reports of a hijab-wearing woman who was attacked last week in Toronto would indicate, we still live in a world where people's characters, values, and intentions, are judged on their outward appearance which encompasses how they dress. Despite having thousands of years of history behind us from which we ostensibly have evolved, there will always be enough hateful cretins to fill the vacuum in the collective common sense. As I watch that first-born son now grown to a long-haired young man, clad in a black leather jacket taking our scarred Doberman out for a walk, I remark on how intimidating a sight the pair of them make. And if looking dangerous offers them a degree of protection when I'm not there to be Mama-bear, then good. No one needs to know what nice guys they are.
Letters Continued from page 6 Hudson Mayor Ed Prévost commends town’s First Responders I would like to make special mention of a medical intervention in which three fire fighters from our First Responders team received commendation on behalf of a citizen. Our First Responders answered a call on Lower Whitlock and according to Christine Robert, the mother of the child, the responders performed resuscitation swiftly, professionally and with dedication, saving the child’s life. Christine Roberts and Antonio Cavallo have been Hudson residents for six years and also are parents of an eight-month-old baby girl, Stella Cavallo. On this November 8, at 13:06 p.m., they encountered a very stressful emergency and called 911. Their daughter fell off their bed, after climbing over some pillows, falling onto the ceramic tile floor. The parents had no idea where her injuries were, and were panic stricken in this difficult situation. Within minutes of calling 911, three First Responders were at their door. They calmed everyone
Registry Continued from page 3 The municipality, however, has stated on its website that the current city hall building, “…cannot be renovated, changed or extended to meet these standards” (i.e., the standards set by the Quebec Construction Code). “We gave it a good shot,” commented resident Richard Meades who has been using his blog, Saint-Lazare Truth Serum (trappedinchalinevalley.tumblr.com), to help spread word regarding the project and the registry. While he feels the blog helped to raise awareness of the project and of the registry, he is of the opinion that the city did not advertise it sufficiently. “They announced it in the legal section of Première Edition in the French section
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450-458-5766 PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO
8
YOUR LOCAL JOURNAL
Thursday, November 26, 2015
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down and took charge of the situation. They dealt with Stella with the utmost genuine concern and showed great care and concern. The parents said the following: “I only realized yesterday … living so far from ambulatory services or a hospital, I don't know what we would have done without this important service and these three men. I will never forget this call for the rest of my life, and please know that Corey Bowen, Sammy Schiavone and Nick Matlashewski are heroes to me and my daughter. A simple ‘thank you’ does not suffice; I am so grateful that the Town of Hudson actually invests in this fire department and First Responders’ team. I do not know what to say except for thank you from the bottom of my heart for the immediacy and concern that your three First Responders gave me and my daughter. Christine Roberts & Antonio Cavallo Hudson, Qc Footnote: The First Responders service of the Town of Hudson which has existed since 1991, received a mention of recognition in April, 2012 on behalf of the Agency of the Health and of the Social services of Montérégie.
only. Nothing in the English paper. The only reason it came out was because Marc-André [Esculier] and I read it.” “We have been fully transparent,” Grimaudo responded. “We announced it in both French and English newspapers.” Even though the registry decision was a close one, Esculier still feels that an insufficient number of residents cared about the project. “If enough people cared, we would have had one or two thousand signatures.” Both Esculier and Meades are afraid that the project will result in an increase in municipal taxes. “It will increase municipal taxes, for sure,” Grimaudo said. “Any large municipal project will increase taxes. Worse case scenario is sixty-three dollars.” Results of the registry as well as further details on the proposed project, including the presentation made during the November 21 information session can be found on the municipality of St. Lazare’s website at ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca.
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