The Town That Drowned Released

River Valley Flood: A Memory, Not Just A Novel Idea

By Ethan Haslett

Reil Nason reads from her newest novel "The Town That Drowned"

WOODSTOCK- The story leapt from the pages as the novelist read the lines as they were intended to be heard. The Town that Drowned is a new novel written by the region’s newest published author, Reil Nason. 

Based on a true event, the novel is written from the viewpoint of a 14-year-old girl as the community she lived in flooded. The flood was caused by the dam being built just down-river from Woodstock in Mactaquac.

Fern Bail is a member of the Historical Society and to her the new novel rings an old bell. “I find it very interesting because I lived through the time that she’s referring to,” said Fern

The dam was built in the 1960s so for some residents it’s still a memory and not just a novel idea. For them, the novel has brought to life their past.

 

“I remember very well when the Mactaquac dam was built. It didn’t affect me personally but it affected a lot of people in the Woodstock area.”

Several communities flooded at the time. Families were moved, along with some houses. Bail will always remember the time as she saw it, a time when people weren’t given a choice, merely told that it was going to happen and to get into line with progress.

Nason, an experienced short story author, shared her favorite excerpts from her book during the book signing at Connell House Thursday to promote her first full length book. It was an eye opening experience for Nason, as she talked to guests.

“It’s been really nice talking to people after hearing a few personal stories and personal connections, especially back to that time period,” she said. “It’s been very nice. For me, it’s only based on knowing the local area. It’s imaginary people, dealing with a real situation.”

The Town that Drowned will be on book shelves in October. Nason hopes people read the story not only for its entertainment value, but also for a look at what people living in the Saint John River Valley went through during this turbulent time of growth.

The Dangers of Quitting

Smoking can kill. So, can quitting be that bad? New Health Canada reports state that smoking cessation tools can have serious negative side-effects.

By Ethan W. Haslett

It's up to the consumer to decide which pack of risks they're willing to take.

Woodstock- Everyone knows about the risks associated with smoking.  Warnings are clearly stamped on each pack along with a discouraging picture resembling one of the disadvantages of inhaling the hazy smoke.

According to Health Canada the number of cigarette users in the country has gone up and down in recent years. Except for a one percent increase in male smokers in 2010, both teenage smokers and female smokers have dropped by at least 2%, according to Stats Canada. Many attribute this to the increase and availability of more smoking cessation tools.

One of the most popular tools for quitting in the United States and Canada is the new electric cigarette. Called E-cigs for short, electronic cigarettes produce white water vapour instead of the gray cloud usually seen. They may contain nicotine or other chemicals to dampen the effects of nicotine withdrawal.  

The biggest selling point and the one most advertised is the fact that they contain fewer dangerous chemicals. Drug companies also advertise that they can be used in smoke free environments.

E-cigs are made to mimic the look and feel of a real cigarette, causing confusion for business owners trying to decide whether patrons should be able to use them in their establishments. 

 “Well, first off people are gonna think they’re real, and we have a strict no smoking policy and we have to up-keep that image,” was the personal opinion of one Walmart supervisor.  

That’s not the only reason the government is discouraging Canadians from buying into the new E-cig fad. 

“Health Canada advises Canadians not to purchase or use electronic cigarettes as these products may pose health risks and have not been fully evaluated for safety, quality and efficacy by Health Canada,” said Olivia Caron, a media spokesperson for Health Canada.

 “To date, no rigorous scientific evidence has been submitted to Health Canada demonstrating the safety of an electronic cigarette product.”

Without concrete evidence of the safety and effectiveness of E-cigs, Health Canada advises consumers to talk to their doctor before buying them.  Health Canada fears that people, blinded by the fear of what smoking can do to, are blindly grasping at anything that might help them stop. They are concerned that consumers might not know that there are risks associated with the use of E-cigs.

“I wasn’t told about any health risks when I bought mine. In fact, it was quite the opposite, I was told that they were healthier for me,” said Taylor McConnell, an ex-smoker who used an E-cig to stop.

The risks associated with smoking are known, but the dangers of inhaling a chemical mix of water vapour isn’t. Very few brands of E-cigs have been cleared for sale in Canada, and even then it’s recommended that you talk to a doctor first. However, there are no pictures or warnings on the package.

Health Canada recommends that people on smoking cessation drugs should be closely watched by their friends, family and physician. Signs to look out for are: increased depression, aggression, and self-harm.