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`SOUHAITER LA BONNE ANNEE' OR `BONNE HEUREUSE ANNEE'

A recent holiday column motivated an anonymous reader to question the French-Canadian term beaucoup de plomb (lots of tinsel).

It apparently is an unfamiliar term to some French-speaking people when used to describe the long silver strands that decorate a Christmas tree.

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, 431 words

L'ARBRE DE LES CANARDS SYMBOLIZES LA JOIE DE NOEL

Arbres de Noel (Christmas trees), reveillons (midnight parties) and tourtieres (pork pies) are Franco-American symbols of les fetes (the holidays). For at least one Sanford Franco-American family, another holiday symbol may have joined this short list.

Claire Thibodeau's family recently experienced an outpouring of seasonal goodwill from people who were outraged by the vandalism of a local Christmas tree.

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, 425 words

CONSULATE GENERAL SEES TREND TOWARD DOUBLE IDENTITY

Maine's Franco-Americans have a friend in the Boston office of the Consulate General De France.

Eighteen months ago, Patrice Paoli, 38, a native of Paris and a lifelong veteran of the French foreign service, took the helm at the consulate.

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, 387 words

DECORATING L'ARBE DE NOEL WITH MEMORIES

Decorating l'Arbe de Noel (the Christmas tree) conjures up delightful memories of a time when celebrating les fetes (the holidays) was the highlight of the Franco-American family's religious year.

An old-fashioned Christmas tree was usually freshly cut from the forest. For stability, l'Arbe de Noel was nailed to a handmade wooden stand. Beaucoup de plomb (lots of tinsel) became the tree's primary decoration because fancy colorful ornaments were hard to get.

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, 435 words

FRENCH LANGUAGE SKILLS ARE APPRECIATED, NO MATTER THE ACCENT

No matter how often Franco-Americans are told their particular French accent is acceptable in the rest of the Francophone world, some continue to feel the language they learned as children is not good enough to be spoken outside of Maine.

Frequently, people say, ``Oh, you don't speak REAL French.''

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, 470 words

A COMPLIMENT FOR THANKSGIVING: 'TON FORT EST BON!'

A teller at a Portland bank recently asked me if I was about to prepare ``du fort'' for my Thanksgiving turkey. The question took me by surprise because there are not many people who use that French term anymore.

Du fort is pronounced like the English words ``do-fowl.'' It literally means strong or great. This particular usage, however, refers to the preparation of a Thanksgiving turkey's traditional Franco-American spiced ground meat stuffing.

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, 455 words

ORONO'S FRANCO-AMERICAN CENTER DEVELOPS TIMETABLE

A rich amount of Franco-American research and historical information is coming out of the University of Maine's Franco-American Centre in Orono. Last week's column described the fresh face of Le Forum, the center's quarterly newspaper.

One of the center's newest undertakings is the development of a Franco-American historical timeline compiled by a retired university professor, C. Stewart Doty. Doty recently received a Creative Achievement Award for his work in Franco-American history at the universi

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, 475 words

LE FORUM SEEKS TO BE VOICE FOR FRANCO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Twenty-two years ago, a small group of students at the University of Maine in Orono were astounded to discover the incredible lack of campus information about Franco-Americans. This surprising revelation planted the seeds for the subsequent creation of Le Forum, an international publication that represents the Franco-American culture in Maine. Despite financial hard times the publication has evolved with the support of the University administration.

Today, Le Forum is a quarterly newspaper published b

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, 480 words

SPECIAL SESSION HIGHLIGHTS JUDGE'S PORTRAIT HANGING

Maine's first Canadian-American Superior Court judge, the late Albert J. Beliveau (1887-1971), was honored Oct. 13 at a portrait-hanging ceremony at the Oxford County Courthouse in South Paris.

A special session of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court highlighted the occasion.

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, 493 words

AUTHOR OF `MARSEILLAISE' DIED DESOLATE AND IN POVERTY

It's surprising how many people are interested in national anthems. Dozens of readers sent stamped, self-addressed envelopes for copies of Canada's national anthem, offered in a recent column.

Margaret Stewart, a Portland reader, decided to research the origins of France's popular patriotic anthem, the ``Marseillaise.''

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, 513 words

SACO NUN CRAFTS HEIRLOOM ROSE PETAL ROSARIES

Praying the rosary is a centuries old Roman Catholic tradition. It is experiencing renewed public interest, says Sister Rachel Courtois, s.c.i.m, 67-year-old Franco-American Good Sheperd religious nun from Saco. She is one of a handful of people who makes heirloom rosaries. Special orders for her rosaries are increasing.

Courtois makes exceptionally beautiful rosaries. Each individual prayer bead is crafted from a rare recipe using the petals of crushed roses.

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, 521 words

IT'S APPLE SEASON AND TIME TO VISIT `THE BROTHERS'

Apple harvesting season is a reminder to my family that it's time to visit ``The Brothers'' (as locals call them), in Alfred.

The Brothers of Christian Instruction, a Catholic teaching Order, was founded by Jean-Marie Robert de la Mennais, who founded the international order in 1819, at Brittany, France.

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

PERFORMING ARTS PROJECT TO HIGHLIGHT ETHNIC CULTURES

Portland Performing Arts Inc. is planning special projects to advance awareness of the Franco-American culture, as well as other ethnic cultures in Maine, through presentations of theater, dance and music.

Beau Graves, director of the program, is looking for sources of information and folklore to expand the public's knowledge about ethnic performing arts through a program he calls the Southern Maine Community Cultural Initiative.

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, 497 words

PROJECTS TARGET AWARENESS OF FRANCO-AMERICAN CULTURE

Portland Performing Arts Inc., is planning special projects to advance education and awareness about the Franco-American culture, as well as other ethnic cultures in Maine, through organized presentations of theater, dance and music.

Beau Graves, director of the program, is looking for sources of information and folklore to expand the public's knowledge about ethnic performing arts through a program he calls the Southern Maine Community Cultural Initiative.

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

RUDY VALLEE'S STILL THE ON MINDS OF MAINER FANS

Rudy Vallee, the Franco-American singer from Westbrook, who became an internationally known 'crooner' of the 1930's, would be pleased (if he were alive today) to know how many people are aware of details about his life and times.

Readers responded to a statement about Vallee written in a recent column highlighting the dedicated work of another Westbrook native and local historian, Philip LaViolet.

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, 545 words

ACADIAN SQUABBLE THREATENS ST. JOHN'S VALLEY PROJECT

Ethnic diversity among North American French speaking people raises the question of who is Acadian and who is not? The answer could affect the location of a cultural center that could bring a possible $10 million grant to Maine's St. John River Valley under terms of the Federal Cultural Preservation Act of 1990.

Acadians hope the money will be used to establish a cultural center that will define their unique heritage as distinct from Canadian Quebecois.

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, 546 words

FRANCO-AMERICAN MEMORABILIA EXHIBIT ASSEMBLED

Franco-Americans are quickly amalgamating into our cultural mainstream. But some are committed to leaving something behind to remind future generations about their culture.

Philip LaViolet, a Westbrook native, is one of these dedicated people. LaViolet is collecting all the historical information he can about Franco-Americans.

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, 533 words

BOWDOIN PROFESSOR: `FRANCO VOTERS ARE TICKET SPLITTERS'

Moods of political cynicism have caught on among today's voting public but, according to one Maine pundit, the Franco-American voter is an influential trailblazer in the arena of government distrust.

Franco-American voters are an independent voting group in Maine, writes Christian Potholm, a Bowdoin College Political Science professor, in his recently published book, ``Just Do It.''

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

HISTORIAN SEEKS INFORMATION ON THE OLD CANADA ROAD

There is a Franco-American archeological dig taking place west of Augusta, in an area of Maine that extends into Quebec City, Canada.

Barry Rodrigue, a Maine historian and writer, is spending his summer vacation in this region looking for people who may have information about artifacts from The Old Canada Road - an obsolete French-Canadian migration route into the United States.

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, 544 words

BOOK FOCUSES ON A FRANCO-AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR

New Hampshire's spectacular Castle In The Clouds, an eccentric mansion overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee in Moultonboro, does not reveal much about the humble Bath origins of Tom Plant (1859-1941).

Plant was an exceptional 19th-century Franco-American entrepreneur who built this hide-away with the fortune he amassed as a controversial industrialist wheeling and dealing in Boston's turn of the century shoe-making industry.

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, 539 words

NEW ALLIANCE FRANCAISE HEAD SEEKS CHANGE OF IMAGE

A new French president of the local Alliance Francaise A Portland is looking to broaden the base of membership in this strictly traditional French language organization.

Valerie Guillet, 26, is a resident of Portland who grew up in France. She studied as a graduate student at New York State before moving to Maine. Guillet wants to expand the Alliance's historically subdued role in keeping the French culture alive in Maine.

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, 530 words

MUSEUM PLANS CULTURAL FRENCH FESTIVAL WITH RODIN EXHIBIT

The summer exhibit of the Portland Museum of Art's impressive Rodin sculpture collection should serve as a healthy self-esteem booster to Franco-Americans.

The 60 bronze sculptures displayed in the Portland exhibit are strong examples of the richness of French art and culture in the world, a quality that is sadly overlooked by many Franco-Americans.

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, 492 words

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT TARGETS PENOBSCOT RIVER ISLANDS

A project to record the oral histories of Franco-Americans from two Penobscot River islands - French Island and Indian Island - is now underway at the University of Maine's Franco-American Center in Orono.

Bridges connect the two islands to Old Town.

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, 467 words

HENRY GOSSELIN STEPS DOWN AS `CHURCH WORLD' EDITOR

Maine's Franco-American community will note a changing of the guard at ``Church World,'' Maine's Roman Catholic weekly newspaper.

Henry Gosselin, a Franco-American and a Brunswick native leaves the editorial helm of the paper after serving as editor for 26 years. His retirement marks an era of accomplishments for the diocesan weekly, which holds a reputation for excellence among United States and Canadian weekly diocesan journals.

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, 517 words

COURTS

BIDDEFORD

Norman D. Barron, 32, Arundel, operating a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating substances, $300, 48 hours in county jail, license suspended 90 days.

Nancy L. Beeler, 22, Biddeford, operating a vehicle after license suspension, $100.

Complete Article, 1035 words

AUTOBIOGRAPHY TELLS OF IMMIGRANT'S TIMES
A CANADIAN DESCRIBES LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND'S MILL TOWNS AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

Franco-Americans, unfortunately for us, were not diligent about writing their personal history.

``Immigrant Odyssey: A French-Canadian Habitant in New England,'' is one of the only books in publication that details what life was like for 19th-century French immigrants. This account could have been lost were it not for the dedication of some people at the University of Maine.

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, 565 words

FRANCO PLAYERS SPARKLED ON THE DIAMOND

A Franco-American's passion for baseball was given a shot of adrenalin when Will Anderson, a Portland writer, responded to my request for an All-Time New England Franco-American Baseball Team.

On first base, he puts Del Bissonette. Born in Winthrop, nicknamed The Winthrop Wonder, he starred from 1928-1933 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He batted .336 from 1928-1933, with 113 runs batted in in 1930.\

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, 528 words

THE ORIGINS OF FRANCO-AMERICAN FOLK DANCES SOUGHT

A recent lunch conversation with a friend raised a question about the origins of Franco-American folk dances. Particularly, what is the origin of the celebrated ``chicken dance''?

In this circle dance, men and women act out the gestures of a chicken in accordance with instructions given by a caller during a fast paced musical accompaniment. The dance is a featured number in practically every Franco-American dance band's repertoire.

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, 534 words

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