As a child, Ginny Sand found the French language she didn’t speak to be a barrier between her and her Quebec relatives. She has Albert and Delaroisbil ancestry from Paspebiac.

But a recent trip to the Canadian province went much better, Sand wrote in an article for Le Forum, a French and English newspaper published by the Franco-American Center at the University of Maine.

First, she took French classes for the past year through the University of Maine at Augusta. Then she joined 33 students from UMA and University College on a three-day trip to Quebec City.

Sand’s French classes helped her a lot, it turns out, and the people in Quebec were very hospitable. The tour guide told her the city belonged to the world, and, she wrote, it seemed “that Quebec City belonged to me, too.”

It’s a story that warms the heart. My husband is blessed to be fluent in both French and English, and we have found it a wonderful experience to go to Quebec to see, hear and “feel” the culture of his forebears.

Another feature in the June-August issue of Le Forum is Jacqueline Chamberland Blesso’s “Le Magasin a Gerard,” a story about Gerard and Eva Chamberland, reprinted from the St. Agathe Historical Society newsletter. In addition, there is an historical supplement, Sentinelle Affair, researched by George Andre Lussier.

Subscriptions to Le Forum are $15 for an individual in the United States, $20 outside the U.S., and $35 for libraries. Send a check to the Franco-American Center, University of Maine, Orono 04469-5719. Le Forum accepts donations, which are especially welcome now. This publication is worth preserving.

An online World War II Registry is newly available at www.WWIImemorial.com, under the auspices of the National World War II Memorial.

I found more than a couple of dozen Sauciers already listed. You may enroll someone who served in WWII by going to the Web site. You also may look up names. Each entry gives the name, hometown, branch of service and source – either the National Archives or the person who submitted the name. If you click on the name itself, you’ll get the service rank and ID number.

I’m going to get out my dad’s discharge papers from the Navy before I go online to enroll him.

July and August are the months to visit the Harriman School Museum, the one-room school from 1860 operated by the Sebec Historical Society. The museum is open 2-4 p.m. Sundays and other times by appointment, at 388 North Road in Sebec. Admission is free.

Sebec is a lovely area, a great place for a drive this time of year.

You’ll find that the society has a very nice Web site at www.sebechistoricalsociety.com. There are some nifty old photographs, and the group is working on putting the town’s vital records on the site. I’ve already found some that interested me.

Also on the site is a transcription of B.C. Lanpher’s historical address at the town’s 100th anniversary in 1912.

You may write the society at 388 North Road, Sebec 04481; or e-mail the group from the Web site.

That little blue magazine that’s full of history is going glossy. Jim Burch, publisher of Discover Maine, called to say the magazine that is published by region throughout the state will still be free, thanks to advertisers, but it will be a nicer publication.

The new format starts with the Washington County issue and will be free in stores, shopping centers, restaurants and motels in that area in August. Come September, the second issue will be out in the Bangor area.

Many of us don’t get to all 12 regions of the state, especially at the right time of the year for each edition. If you want to make sure you get all the editions, get a subscription by sending $25 to CreMark Inc. in care of Discover Maine, 10 Exchange St., Suite 208, Portland 04101.

Check out the Web site at www.discovermainemag.com.

The Mid-Coast Genealogy Group will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at the LDS Church on Old County Road in Rockport. I’ll be speaking on “Genealogy Resources at Bangor Public Library and the University of Maine Fogler Library.”

The public is always welcome to attend these meetings. For more information, contact Marlene A. Groves at 594-4293.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or send e-mail to familyti@bangordailynews.net.