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BOOK TELLS ABOUT THE TRAGIC EXPULSION FROM ACADIA

A newly published historical book about Acadia is kindling more interest about the series of events that led to the 1755 tragic exportation of thousands of French Acadian settlers from what is today Nova Scotia.

``A Land of Discord Always: Acadia from Its Beginning to the Expulsion of Its People, 1604-1755,'' provides a thoroughly readable account of the people and the history of Acadia. It begins in the year 1500, describing the Indians who met the first French settlers, and ends 259 fascinating p

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 522 words

FOR THE FRENCH, HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS BEGIN WITH REVEILLON

In Franco-American families the many traditions of Christmas are rooted in the religious significance of les fetes (the Christmas Holidays). The celebration of Midnight Mass, where the congregation joins with the choir to sing old French Christmas carols before the opening procession, continues to be the most important tradition of the Franco-American Christmas celebration.

At one time the Midnight Mass was so important that Roman Catholic churches could not hold all who wanted to attend. Consequen

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 508 words

TOURTIERE IS A SYMBOL OF FRANCO-AMERICAN CULTURE

Tourtiere is a culinary subject where both Franco-Americans and non Franco-Americans alike apparently share equal amounts of enthusiasm and interest.

Judging from the large volume of mail generated by a column describing how one present generation Franco-American continues the tradition of making the Christmas pork pies called tourtiere, it appears that people from all cultures are interested in having recipes for this gastronomic symbol of the Franco-American ethnic holiday celebration.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 500 words

NEW ORLEANS COOKBOOK SHARES FRENCH HISTORY

A recent trip to the French Quarter in New Orleans brought together a piece of shared French religious history between Maine and Louisiana.

Oddly enough, an award-winning cookbook written by the Parents Club of the Ursuline Academy, Inc. is full of fascinating information about the work of the French order of Ursuline nuns in North America. This history is interesting to Franco-Americans because Ursuline nuns are an important teaching order in Maine's Roman Catholic schools. Thousands of Franco-Ame

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 513 words

IT SIMPLY WOULDN'T BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT THE TOURTIERE

With les fetes (the holidays) approaching, Franco-Americans are planning family get togethers that undoubtedly will include serving tourtiere, the heavily seasoned pork pie synonymous with Christmas. Eating tourtiere is a tradition during the holidays particularly during reveillon, the midnight supper, held after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Franco-Americans associate tourtiere with their most cherished Christmas memories.

``It wouldn't be Christmas without tourtiere,'' says Franco-American Dani

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 495 words

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS MUSIC IN FRANCO-AMERICAN CULTURE

The French Canadians who migrated from Canada to the Lewiston area brought with them a cultural identity characterized by a strong connection to the Roman Catholic Church, a distinct language identity and close family and community ties. Part of this cultural identity found expression in music. On Nov. 5, the Lewiston-Auburn College campus opened two concurrent exhibitions that highlight the importance of music in the Franco-American culture: Keepers of the Song and The Franco-American Family Songbook Tr

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 487 words

FRANCO-AMERICANS REFLECT ON QUEBEC SEPARATIST VOTE

Augusta native Kellie Laplante was stunned by the emotion that erupted during the singing of the Canadian national anthem at an ice hockey game she attended at the Montreal Forum on the weekend before the separation referendum in Quebec.

``We couldn't hear anything. The loud cheers and emotional singing was overwhelming,'' she said. It was obvious to her that people in Montreal did not want to see Canada divided by the referendum.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 552 words

INSTITUT FRANCAIS IN WORCESTER MAY HELP RESEARCHERS

There is a good deal of interest in learning more about the French in New England but not many people know where to begin looking for information. Readers frequently write asking where they can find material about Franco-Americans. For example, a recent letter from Portland reader Dale Moteau asks several questions, one of which is, ``I am looking for the book, `Moreau de Saint Mere' (or Meri). It was translated from the French by Kenneth Roberts. My husband's uncle once had a copy but he can't seem to l

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 502 words

OLD FASHIONED FRENCH-CANADIAN RECIPES SOUGHT

Westbrook native Rebecca Lemieux, 81, is understandably nostalgic when she recalls the peaceful and simple ways of the past.

Lemieux was born and raised on Winslow Street in Westbrook in the same house where she continues to live today. She wistfully recalls the years between 1918-20 when the French people in Westbrook would gather together to visit and talk nearly every Sunday afternoon after attending Mass and before returning to church to pray at evening Vespers. Lemieux agrees that she has witn

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 493 words

BIRTHS

MIDCOAST HOSPITAL

Andrews, Joshua Perry, born Oct. 17 to Timothy Lee and Jennifer Anne Perry Andrews of Nobleboro.

Complete Article, 442 words

PRIEST TRACES AN ANCESTOR TO `LE GRAND DERANGEMENT'

Haunting facts surrounding the fateful 1755 expulsion of Acadians from Nova Scotia by the British are more than a series of catastrophic historic events to Father Frank Morin, 47, a Portland Diocesa priest. Recent columns about the Longfellow epic poem ``Evangeline'' stirred Morin to comment on how this terrible time in history has a personal meaning for him.

Father Morin is an avid student of genealogy. He traced his paternal genealogy to one Acadian ancestor, Pierre Morin, who immigrated to Port

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 504 words

BUDGET CUTS PUT FRANCO-AMERICAN CENTER AT RISK

Practically every public program appears threatened by the budget ax these days and the Franco-American Center at the University of Maine at Orono is no exception.

The Center's allocation for the 1995-96 academic year was leveled to only $6,000, a considerable cut from its estimated $25,000 budget. This is not nearly enough money to run programs that are already in the works and future planning is on hold, says Yvonne Labbe, Director of the Franco-American Center.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 494 words

ORAL HISTORIES PROVE LINK TO FRANCO-AMERICAN PAST

Writing life stories or recording personal oral histories to leave in your family's archives was given renewed emphasis recently at the St. Hyacinth's Parish, Ladies Sodality of St. Anne, in Westbrook. While delivering a guest talk at their Sunday afternoon luncheon meeting, the women members discussed with me some of their family stories.

Franco-Americans have an urgency attached to telling their stories because members of the current generation may be the last ones who will be able to recallthese

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 479 words

BIRTHS

MAINE MEDICAL CENTER

Ahlquist, Elizabeth Karen, born July 23 to Carl E.T. and Judith H. Harris Ahlquist II of 33 Mitchell Hill Road, Scarborough. Grandparents: John and Hazel Harris of Saco, Clarence and Winnie Ahlquist of South Portland. Great-grandmother: Ruth Bean of Cape Elizabeth.

Complete Article, 2250 words

`EVANGELINE' CALLED ONE OF CENTURY'S DEFINING FILMS

There is continued interest in ``Evangeline,'' the epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that drew international attention to the 1755 forced evacuation of French settlers from Nova Scotia.

Northeast Historic Film, in Bucksport, a nonprofit film preservation archive, is working with the University of California, Los Angeles, to restore the original 1929 United Artists film ``Evangeline,'' starring Dolores Del Rio as the Acadian maiden.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 502 words

QUEBEC TRIP SPURS FRANCO-AMERICAN CULTURAL WEEKEND

A recent trip to Quebec sparked one Old Orchard Beach Franco-American to create a program to educate people about his culture. Richard Pitre, 41, has joined with Old Orchard Beach and surrounding area enthusiasts to organize a cultural weekend where scholars will converge to present lively activities and discussions on the history, folk arts, music, food and research about Franco-Americans. The program will be held Oct. 27-29.

Pitre, 41, moved to Maine from Berlin, N.H. in 1992. He is completing a

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 504 words

FIREFIGHTERS AND FAITH COMBINE TO SAVE THE BROTHERS

There is a little reported piece of Franco-American folklore associated with another dry fall when a forest fire burned much of Maine to the ground. Many Mainers remember with a great deal of horror the dry period in 1947, when fires leveled over 200,000 acres of forests in the state. York County was particularly hard hit by the deadly, quick spreading flames.

For some, like my husband's family, the first glimpse of the feu gregeois (wildfire) came during apple picking season in October. They were

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 507 words

COLLEGE STUDENT SEEKS OUT FRANCO-AMERICAN CULTURE

A recent letter from college student Kristin Fuhrmann, 21, an undergraduate at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in Durham, raises again the question about whether the Franco-American culture in New England will survive beyond the current generation?

Fuhrmann is a native of Kennebunkport. At UNH, she studies linguistic anthropology (meaning, the development of different languages). She spent her summer vacation working on a fellowship from the university to investigate the Franco-American cultu

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 456 words

MISSIONARY ADVOCATES THE NEED FOR BILINGUAL SKILLS

When Father Ronald Carignan left Sanford's St. Ignatius High School in the early 1950s to join the Oblates of Mary Immaculate missionaries, he never dreamed that by 1995 he'd be an international traveler for his religious order with a residence in Rome only seven walking minutes away from the Vatican.

His job as General Councillor for the Oblates takes him to unusual countries like Zaire in Central Africa, to Soweto, to Johannesburg, South Africa, and recently to Auschwitz, Poland. This fall he pla

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 514 words

ANTHOLOGY: `JE SUIS FRANCO-AMERICAINE ET FIERE DE L'ETRE'

A soon-to-be-published anthology of Franco-American women's writings brought to mind characteristic difficulties of dealing with Franco-American names. In the anthology, ``Je suis Franco-Americaine et fiere de l'etre'' (I am Franco-American and proud of it) there is a comical article, ``What's In a Name: A Woman Returns to Her French Name,'' by Irene Simoneau. In it, she describes her name searching dilemma. Hundreds of Franco-Americans, including those who share the L'Heureux surname, will identify with

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 526 words

POEM HUMANIZES EXPULSION OF ACADIAN FRENCH SETTLERS

Anyone who visits the Maritime Provinces of Canada or the St. John River Valley in Maine can corroborate the spirit of Evangeline that continues to permeate the culture in that area.

Evangeline's spirit is a tragic memory that lives among the French who, in many families, are descendants of the 18th century settlers who are immortalized by ``Evangeline: A Tale of Acadia.'' The poem has recently been released by Nimbus Audio, on audio-book, a tribute to the compelling character of this disastrous ti

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 493 words

BOOK DESCRIBES 16TH CENTURY COLONY OF NEW FRANCE

One of the pleasures relished during Maine's relaxed summer months is the opportunity to browse through the interesting antique and old book shops that dot the countryside.

Recently, such an outing uncovered ``The White And The Gold'' by Thomas B. Costain. The book, published in 1954, is about the 16th century Canadian colony of New France.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 496 words

FRENCH-CANADIAN PERFORMERS TO TEACH IN MAINE

Two French-Canadian performers will join three groups of other ethnic cultural masters to teach a series of dance and music residencies in Maine, thanks to several grants received by Portland Performing Arts to advance community cultural diversity.

Musician and Quebecois step-dancer, Benoit Boruque connects with Guy Bouchard, a Quebecois self-taught guitarist, singer and fiddler, to entertain at five community soirees scheduled to begin on Sept. 9 followed by events planned for November and January

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 518 words

MAINE'S NEW BISHOP SAYS FAMILY `INSTILLED LOVE IN ME'

Maine's new Franco-American Auxiliary Bishop Cote comes from solid ethnic roots. He grew up on quiet Allen Street in Springvale, an almost invisible extension off a main road. The street is dotted with a mix of old and somewhat older, but well maintained bungalow homes. The type of houses where middle class Franco-Americans who settled in Southern Maine's mill towns raised their families under one roof for multiple generations.

One of the modest houses aligning this nearly invisible side street was

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 534 words

MAINE'S NEW YOUTH GOVERNOR CHATS WITH CHELSEA

When Tom Frechette, 17, of Sanford, won a statewide YMCA election for Youth governor of Maine, he did not realize how his election might finally put politically frustrated Franco-Americans ``on the move'' toward the Blaine House.

Being a fourth-generation Franco-American had no bearing on winning the election, says Frechette about his victory last May. He ran for the honorary office while attending a YMCA Youth and Government of Maine Convention in Augusta. He is the third youth governor from Sanfo

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 508 words

IT'S THAT TIME: `VIENS, NOUS ALLONS TROUVER DES FRAISES'

Strawberry picking is a tradition with Maine families and particularly with Franco-Americans. People simply can't resist the lure of 'picking them fresh'. It only takes a few minutes at any one of the meticulously cultivated fields and farms that dot Maine's rural roads and countryside to overload dozens of quart sized baskets with large and succulent berries.

It's a lot easier to pick strawberries today than it was when my mother-in-law, Rose L'Heureux, joined her children as they searched out the

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 502 words

A DEATH IN THE FAMILY SADLY SPOTLIGHTS A CULTURAL VOID

The caller was pensive and reflective when we answered the telephone at the start of the July 4th weekend. It was a cousin, Emile L'Heureux of Sanford, who called to notify us about the death of another first cousin, The Rev. Conrad W. L'Heureux, 71, who passed away June 30 in Ellsworth.

Father Conrad, as we affectionately knew him, ironically died exactly one year to the day after he retired as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Auburn. He faithfullyserved the Portland diocese as a priest and pastor

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 468 words

POETRY BOOK CAN HELP EXPAND FRENCH LANGUAGE SKILLS

A poignant bilingual translation of selected poetry by the French Resistance poet Paul Eluard (1895-1952), ``Ombres Et Soleil-Shadows and Sun,'' was recently released by Oyster River Press of nearby Durham, N.H. This mind expanding collection may be one way to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the World War II liberation of Europe, and brush up on French language skills in the process.

This is the first book of French poetry I have read whereby the use of the language has not overwhelmed me. To th

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 527 words

HISTORIC POSTER DISPLAY FEATURE FRANCO-AMERICANS

Sanford and Springvale Franco-Americans are featured in an historic poster display, accompanied by an impressive collection of local ethnic, religious and nostalgic memorabilia, in a recently organized Sanford/Springvale Historical Committee exhibit. Coordinator of the display, Gerard J. Lamontagne a Sanford native, has devoted many years to collecting and borrowing items for this exhibit. About 45 invited guests and members of the public attended the exhibit's open house June 15 at the Historical Commit

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 481 words

FRANCO-AMERICAN FOOD REIGNS AT LA KERMESSE FESTIVAL

C'est le temps de penser aux autres'' (It's time to think of others), is the Kermesse theme marking the 13th year for this popular Franco-American festival that begins tonight in Biddeford. Thousands of people crowd St. Louis Field for three days of dancing, eating and enjoying plenty of other festivities.

One person who thinks a lot about the ethnic Franco-American food booth at the festival is Jerry Letellier, 59, chairman of ``La Cuisine.'' This is Letellier's third year managing ethnic food ser

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 500 words

SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF BARBOTTE FISHING - `AYOILLE!'

The first time my husband saw a barbotte (catfish), he was four years old and fishing with his father at New Dam Lake in Sanford. They were fishing for bass but up to that point they had only caught one sunfish.

After landing the fish, he watched his father remove the hook by stepping on the body of the fish and pulling out the hook. The next fish pulled from the water was a barbotte. My husband ran over to claim the little prize. To show his father that he could also remove a fishhook, he proudlyp

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 512 words

NEW BISHOP RECALLS HIS BOYHOOD DAYS IN SPRINGVALE

Michael R. Cote, recently appointed new auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Portland, recalls his boyhood days in Springvale as peaceful times.

``When I think back, I recall feeling secure and comfortable in that environment. We knew all the neighbors. I was an altar server at nearby Notre Dame Church,'' he says.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 491 words

FRANCO-AMERICAN MUSIC IS BIDDEFORD MAN'S PASSION

A Franco-American `help wanted' poster is circulating around York County to promote a project sponsored by the Maine Arts Commission called the Franco-American Folk Arts Survey. The purpose is to seek out the County's quiet and average Franco-Americans who are interested in the traditional arts and the ethnic culture of the Biddeford-Saco/Sanford areas.

Leo Simoneau, 43, a Biddeford native, is just the kind of person this group is seeking out. He is a collector of Franco-American traditional and mo

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 501 words

YORK COUNTY SURVEY TARGETS FRANCO-AMERICAN CULTURE

Who would think that memere's (grandmother's) old holy pictures, the kind she framed with hand made lace, would one day make a cultural contribution to Franco-American history?

Many Franco-Americans, by virtue of having learned particular talents from their parents, may be unsung heroes of their quickly evaporating culture. Recently, a group of York County Franco-Americans received some support from the Maine Arts Commission to find people with particular talents who probably did not know they coul

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 480 words

WHO'S NEW

MAINE MEDICAL CENTER

Edes, Ryan Michael, born April 19 to Michael and Jennifer Breton Edes, 8 Edes Road, Cumberland. Grandparents: Roland and Jeanette Breton, Topsham, Arlene Edes, South Casco. Great-grandparent: Lucille Bolduc, Waterville.

=r Bagley, Joshua Stephen, born April 28 to Stephen and Susan Martin Bagley, 20 Brookwest Drive, Westbrook. Grandparents: Philip and Patricia Martin, Westbrook, Clifford and Barbara Bagley, Portland. Great-grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. Francis Martin, Westbroo

Complete Article, 937 words

AN ETHNIC SLUR MAY BE THE ORIGIN OF `PATE CHINOIS'

There were some interesting responses to a recent column asking about the origins of Pate Chinois (Chinese pie), a unique Franco-American phrase that describes what most people know as the traditional Shepherd's Pie made with ground meat and potatoes.

George E. Ouelette, of Old Orchard Beach, speculates that the root of this unusual translation may be the ironic result of a Franco-American ethnic stereotype. The term might be traced to a landmark turn of the century immigration phenomenon that was

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 497 words

A STRONG INDEPENDENT TRAIT MARKS FRANCO-AMERICAN WOMEN

One curiosity about Franco-American Women is that they retain their maiden names after marriage, frequently using it as a middle name, or hyphenating it with their married name. This trait may be an indication of the under-reported strong role of the Franco-American woman.

Evidence of this interesting tidbit is found by walking around Maine's Roman Catholic cemeteries, and especially in the Canadian cemeteries. Almost every French family's headstone will hyphenate the mother's maiden-married name.<

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 505 words

GOV. KING MEETS WITH MAINE-FRENCH ACADEMIC GROUP

Maine's Governor Angus King is enthusiastic about an April 20 Maine-French accord to promote closer ties between the University of Maine and the University of Angers, located in the French Province of Maine, near the Loire Valley in Western France.

Franco-Americans who participated in the signing say this accord is a first step towards helping Maine to take a leadership role in international discussions about the Atlantic Rim economy. It is hoped that this and other exchange alliances with the Fren

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 465 words

PATE-CHINOIS EVOKES FOND MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

Many readers ask about the origins of a traditional Franco-American layered meat and vegetable casserole called pate-chinois, pronounced phonetically `paaate-chin-woa' (meaning Chinese pie). In the Anglophone community, this hearty dish is more commonly known as shepherd's pie. Franco-Americans call it pate-chinois or sometimes, simply chinois. It is a favorite dinner selection at practically every potluck church supper.

Jean Lemieux Pottle, a Raymond resident, writes, ``One of my favorite childhoo

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 482 words

MAGAZINE TELLS ABOUT LA REPUBLIQUE DU MADAWASKA

Portland resident Forest Barter learned some little known French-American history while tending to his ill wife, who was hospitalized while they were visiting in the Caribbean.

Among a limited selection of old magazines in the hospital's reading rack, he found a January/February 1993 edition of Canadian Geographic, with a feature story about La Republique du Madawaska (Republic of Madawaska), in Maine-New Brunswick. ``I thought this article might be interesting to readers,'' wrote Barter, who claim

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O. Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 525 words

READERS RECALL TRIALS OF BEING UN ENFANT DE CHOEUR

There was a pious tone to letters sent by nostalgic readers regarding a recent column about my husband's recollections of being an enfant de choeur (altar boy).

As recently as one generation ago, les enfants de choeur took on serious responsibilities to earn 10 cents a day serving at daily Mass, or 25 cents at funerals and weddings.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 499 words

RICHELIEU CLUB SPONSORS WWII PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAY

Vintage photographs of World War II are compelling for their rare sense of history. Some memorable scenes taken at the Normandy invasion and during the liberation of Paris are currently visiting Saco, commemorating this special war anniversary year.

Biddeford's Richelieu International Club is sponsoring the World War II display of 40 French government photographs, marking the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landing at Normandy.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 623 words

BELLY BRINGS HOME HOOKS AND BARBS
THE ALTERNATIVE GROUP'S BRIGHT FEMALE VOICES CARRY MESSAGES THAT OVERRIDE THE SOUND OF THE DRIVING GUITARS.

Byline: By Jon Pareles The New York Times The voices are girlish and blithe, on top of the world. The guitars chime and push, promising buoyant, catchy pop-rock. But the songs aren't so single-mindedly eager to please.

``Beware of me,'' Tanya Donelly coos, sweet as a lullaby, on Belly's second album, ``King.'' ``You forgot to rip my heart out before you let me go,'' Juliana Hatfield sings on her new album, ``Only Everything.'' She adds, ``A heartbeat says you haven't died.''

Complete Article, 857 words

`CANADA DAY' WEEKEND GOOD TIME FOR SHOPPERS

Old French-Canadian furniture and unusual artifacts may have looked ordinary in Memere's house, but some of the most common pieces may actually be worth quite a bit of money today. Like an early 19th-century handmade, double-sided cloth coverlet worth $435? I remember how Memere's cat, `Minou,' laid undisputed claim to a similar hand crafted soft treasure, and the family was more than glad to share it with the feline too. Unacclaimed bijoux of the pastare selling fast and at some steep prices, in auction

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 487 words

DENNIS LEDOUX TOOTS HIS FRANCO-AMERICAN HORN

Lewiston's Franco-American writer, Dennis Ledoux, 48, felt a tug of hometown pride when asked recently to present a historical lecture about the city's 1860-1960 French-Canadian immigration experience, in a program commemorating Lewiston's Bicentennial.

His lecture was one of 12 monthly historical programs promoted by Charlene Belanger, a supporter of local culture, held at the Lewiston-Auburn College.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 501 words

FRANCO-AMERICAN MISSIONARY SISTERS WORK IN BRAZIL

Humanitarian work by Franco-American missionary sisters who help young Brazilian prostitutes, touched editor and writer Henry Gosselin, a Franco-American who was invited to visit the Centro Bom Pastor Rocas mission in the city of Napal last December.

A religious order from Saco, called the Good Shepherd Sisters, also known by their French name of Servante du Coeur Immacule de Marie (Servants of the Immaculate Mary), founded the Natal mission in 1972 to help young pregnant girls. Missionary work inB

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 486 words

LA TABLE DU PERE NATURE SELLS `EPICES A TOURTIERE'

Following the advice of York reader Margaret Baldwin, my husband and I took time recently to discover a remarkable grocery store located adjacent to a French restaurant, just across the Canadian border in LeVille de Saint-Georges, Beauce (Quebec), Route 173N.

Baldwin gave me a tip about La Table du Pere Nature (The Table of Father Nature), on l'Avenue Est in Saint-Georges. In the grocery store, she said, they sell `epices a tourtiere' (spices for touriere-the traditional French-Canadian pork pie us

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 507 words

REV. ARTHUR H. ST. PIERRE
FORMER PASTOR TO MANY PARISHES STATEWIDE

The Rev. Arthur H. St. Pierre, 74, of Union Street died Thursday at Maine Medical Center.

He was born in Brunswick, a son of Arthur and Alice Laliberte St. Pierre.

Caption: PHOTO: b&w
Rev. A. St. Pierre

Complete Article, 346 words

`I HAD A FATHER' EXAMINES AUTHOR'S FRANCO-AMERICAN ROOTS

Someone observed recently that New England's Franco-Americans have split personalities. ``At times they want to be different from everybody, and at other times they want to be just like everybody else.''

This commentary is vividly portrayed in ``I Had A Father,'' an autobiography by Clark Blaise.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 489 words

JOURNALISTS EXPERIENCE FRENCH-CANADIAN CULTURE

A winter trip across the frozen St. Lawrence River to Ile d'Orleans in Quebec, recently kindled nostalgia for Franco-American traditions and celebrations.

``Simon Tailleur et filles'' (Mr. Simon Tailleur and his daughters) threw an old fashioned French-Canadian soiree for a group of surprised international journalists at his family's apple orchard and maple tree farm named Cabane a Sucre L'En-Tailleur (Sugar Shack of the Tree Tapper), in St. Pierre, Ile D'Orleans.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 488 words

IS THE NEATNESS TRAIT A CULTURAL OR INHERITED ONE?

Cape Elizabeth's Historical Society appeared entertained last week when I told them a story about the admirable but compulsive cleaning habits of my Franco-American sister-in-law.

There's obviously no correlation between house-cleaning and history. I simply used my unsuspecting sister-in-law as an example of one descriptive character trait that endears Franco-Americans to their neighbors, especially when the attribute is applied to women.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 495 words

QUEBEC CELEBRATING ITS ANNUAL 11 DAYS OF CARNIVAL

Franco-Americans inherit their love of parties from spirited Canadian ancestors who understood the meaning of making lemonade from lemons. This week's Carnaval de Quebec is a lively example of this resourceful trait.

It is Quebec's annual time of year when people from all over the world fill the city's historic hotels and restaurants to capacity, just to celebrate cold harsh weather!

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 481 words

LES ENFANT DE CHOEUR LEARNED RESPONSIBILITIES EARLY

A generation ago, one of the sacred honors of a young Franco-American boy's life was being selected to serve in his local church parish as ``enfant de choeur'' (an altar boy). Mothers prepared their sons for this responsibility by teaching them how to memorize the Latin responses to prayers recited at Roman Catholic Masses before the time when English was the vernacular language for religious celebrations.

This serious task was no easy job for boys ages 8 to 18 years old. It meant getting up before

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 511 words

STEREOTYPE OBSCURES EXPERIENCES OF FRENCH IN NORTH AMERICA.

A stereotype of the Franco-American is a descendant of a textile worker, who most likely grew up in a ``petit Canada,'' a parochial ghetto in any one of dozens of New England industrial cities and towns.

A Maine historian, Barry H. Rodrigue, writes in the Summer 1994 Maine History journal that this Franco-American stereotype obscures the experiences of the French in North America.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 484 words

FOLK HERO'S EFFORTS PROVE A STIMULATING MESSAGE

At Gov. Angus King's inauguration Jan. 5, the Rev. Michael J. Seavey, pastor of St. Joseph's-Sacred Heart Parish in Wallagrass, told the story of the St. John River Valley folk hero Marguerite-Blanche Thibodeau Cyr, known as Tante Blanche.

Father Seavey chose Tante Blanche's story for his stimulating message because the Franco-Americans of the St. John Valley have been an inspiration to him during his three years as pastor in Wallagrass.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 468 words

GRANNY KILLAM'S OFFERS UP MIXED WEEKEND BAG

Byline: Patti Lanigan Horvat is a staff writer and musician. You can revel in punk pop, funky hip-hop and the spoken word this weekend at Granny Killam's. Hanging Francis starts it up tonight, Chucklehead funks it up Friday and Saturday and a poetry slam finishes up the weekend Sunday night.

If you like guitar-driven rock built from punk and pop, check out Hanging Francis. The four-piece group from Atlanta churns out power chords and throbbing bass lines in the vein of Lemonheads and Dinosaur Jr. Vocals are low in the mix, and guitars reign supreme over a su

Complete Article, 822 words

FRANCO-AMERICANS ARE EXPERTS AT `MENUS DE CHASSE'

French Canadians and Franco-Americans are world class experts at preparing hearty wintertime meals from wild game. These dishes are called ``menus de chasse'' (menus of the hunt).

As recently as a generation ago, Franco-American families living in very rural areas took advantage of the protein value of wild game. Friends tell stories of their mothers capturing animals and preparing them for the family's dinner table. It was a very cheap way to fill dozens of empty stomachs in the typically large Fr

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford, 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 481 words

`LES FILLES DU ROI' IS SAGA OF MAIL-ORDER BRIDE IN 1600S

A reader recently asked that I revisit a column written about five years ago titled ``Les Filles du Roi'' (daughters of the king).

A made-for-television movie would have gotten big ratings for this late-1600s mail order bride saga. It is a true story about how hundreds of French maidens became adopted daughters of France's King Henri IV for the purpose of marrying Quebec colonists.

Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted at 7 River Run Road, Sanford 04073, telephone 324-7494.

Complete Article, 501 words

GERARD P. DESMARAIS
RETIRED FROM AIR FORCE AFTER 28 YEARS

Gerard P. Desmarais, 62, of Farview Drive died Friday at Mercy Hospital in Portland of Lou Gehrig's disease.

He was born in Sanford, a son of Philias and Louise Paquette Desmarais. He attended local schools and graduated from St. Ignatius High School.

Marion Robertson

Complete Article, 251 words

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