The Paint Job

It’s a Saturday night in the summer of 1963 at Frenette’s restaurant where a local prankster is entertaining the crowd outside. But first, the twenty-ninth installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir kicks off in March 1958 as the same prankster is the star of the show at the annual St. Patrick’s Day concert. So who is…

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Grandpa and the Buttons

Dad, Granny, Grampa, Mom, Aunt Greta, me, and Aunt Patricia. The two little girls in front are my little sister Leslie, and Aunt Greta’s daughter, Colleen. Note the chamber pot that Dad’s holding in his hands. He went and got the pot to pose with before the picture was taken. And Granny laughed and laughed!

It’s the summer of 1963 and Pat Fournier’s Sturgeon grandparents are down from Dalhousie for a visit. In the next installment of his memoir, the sixteen year old boy recalls his Dad’s retelling of a story about Barry MacKenzie to his visiting family in “Grandpa and the Buttons”. GRANDPA AND THE BUTTONS Written by Pat…

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Memories of War: Byron & Ella Curtis

Byron & Ella Curtis

In late January, I was approached by the Blackville Women’s Institute and asked to participate in their Heritage Day celebrations.  Heritage Week is celebrated in communities throughout New Brunswick each year. This years theme was New Brunswick Remembers: 1914-2014, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War and the…

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Hitchhiking Home

A man hitchhiking on a dark snowy night

It’s the winter of 1963 and Pat’s father Sylvernus is working at the mill in Newcastle. In the twenty-seventh installment of his memoir, the fifteen-year-old boy recalls a cold January morning when his dad has just hitchhiked a ride home from work. HITCHHIKING HOME Written by Pat Fournier January 1963 – fifteen years old It…

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Meals on Wheels Program Available in Blackville

Are you unable to prepare meals for yourself or have a loved one in this situation? That is the reason Meals on Wheels is here. Freshly prepared meals are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of every week. To see if you are eligible for funding assistance for meals, please contact Social Development at 1-866-441-4246…

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Ninety-Nine Bottles

Patty ‘the acrobat’ on the back yard swing

It’s the summer of 1962 and fifteen year old Pat takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane in Ninety-Nine Bottles, the twenty-sixth installment of his memoir Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. NINETY-NINE BOTTLES Written by Pat Fournier August 1962 – fifteen years old The swing tree was the focal point in our…

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The Slingshot

In this twenty-fifth installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, fifteen year old Pat Fournier learns a lesson in empathy after making a slingshot with his friend Gary Gillespie. THE SLINGSHOT Written by Pat Fournier July 1962 – fifteen years old My friend Gary Gillespie sniffled and rubbed the back…

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The Paper Route

A canvas newspaper carrier bag, similar to the one I used to deliver the Telegraph Journal

When the regular paper boy Terrence Walls leaves Blackville for college, fifteen year old Pat takes over his paper route in the next installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. THE PAPER ROUTE Written by Pat Fournier Early April 1962 – fifteen years old Terrence Walls had a paper route,…

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Provincial Government Invests in Blackville Municipal Park

Blackville Park announcement

The provincial government, along with the village of Blackville, is investing a total of $80,000 in improvements to the community park. “Our investment in the Blackville Municipal Park will continue to promote a healthy lifestyle for families and residents of the Blackville area,” said Premier David Alward. “Investing in community priorities is an important part…

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Ice Time

On a chilly winter evening in 1962, fourteen year old Pat Fournier walks the two mile trek to Morgan’s Rink for a night of skating that doesn’t quite go as planned. Ice Time is the twenty-third installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. ICE TIME Written by Pat Fournier February…

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Wayne Curtis Recipient of 2014 Order of New Brunswick

Wayne Curtis

The names of the recipients of the 2014 Order of New Brunswick were released as part of New Brunswick Day celebrations.  The award honours current or former long-time residents of New Brunswick who have demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, having made outstanding contributions to the social, cultural or…

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The Sensitive Moose

A moose in the snowy woods - looks like ‘our’ moose!

It’s the bitter winter of 1962 and Pat, along with his brother Johnny, friend Alton Underhill, and their father Sylvernus, travel the Bartholomew Road to gather firewood. On their way the boys venture upon a not-so-pleasant moose, the focus of the twenty-second installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville.…

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