French heritage served up at school

OLD TOWN – Julianna Alex, 11, of Old Town never knew her grandfather had so much in common with the people who gave French Island its name until Wednesday afternoon. That’s when Amy Morin brought a slide show to the after-school program at the Stillwater Montessori School.

Morin, who works at the Franco-American Centre at the University of Maine, has deep roots on Treat & Webster Island, better known as French Island. Faded black-and-white pictures of her grandparents are in the slide show.

Morin and Lisa Michaud make about half a dozen visits to area schools and community groups each year in an effort to share their culture and heritage.

“I didn’t know the workers came down to Old Town from Quebec,” said Alex, whose parents Joanne and Joe founded the school. “I haven’t studied the history of the town I live in. My great-grandfather came to America from Italy. It’s kind of cool, really. He and the people here came from different countries, but they both came to find work.”

Morin and Michaud’s visit is part of a six-month after-school program focusing on French culture designed to complement the school’s French language program, said Joe Alex. The program, which is open to the public, is funded by the River Coalition.

Last month, Acadian musician Lillian Labbe performed at the school and later this month an event will be coordinated with the university’s Mardi Gras program on Feb. 27, said Alex.

“Many after-school programs are focused on sports or recreational activities,” he said. “We wanted to offer a program that was more culturally oriented and since we have a French program, that seemed to be a good fit, especially in this community.”

The Franco-American Centre was founded in 1972, according to Michaud. She said that for about two years they have been presenting the program about French Island that includes slides of old photographs and stories collected from elderly residents. Michaud said she and Morin are willing to speak not only in schools but also to community groups.

The best part of the program, according to the pupils at Stillwater Montessori School, were the ployes – the thin buckwheat pancakes that were a staple in every Acadian household. Michaud poured the thin batter on an electric griddle Wednesday afternoon, then “cheated” by flipping them like pancakes, so they would cook faster.

She passed one out to each child on a paper plate. Some poured butter on the ployes, rolled them up, then dipped them in maple syrup. A few tried creton, a meat pate, on their ploye.

“They’re awesome,” said Levi Ashley, 11, of Glenburn. “They’re really, really good. That’s all I can say.”

For more information on programs available through the Franco-American Centre, call 581-3764.

For information on the Stillwater Montessori after-school program, call Joe Alex at 827-2404.