Gymnasium project meets stiff opposition: The Notre Dame de la Joie Elementary School in Luskville is short of classroom space and may have found a novel solution to accommodate a growing number of students: build a gymnasium.

The idea is to convert a common room now being used as a lunchroom into a classroom for about 30 students. The gym would then serve double duty as a recreational facility, both for the school and the community and as a lunchroom.

Louise Durocher-Lafortune of the school’s governing board says a steady rise in the student population for the past five years has created the space shortage and the school has reached its capacity.

The Ministry of Education is contributing 60 per cent and the school board has offered to match the community’s contribution.

But the project may have a considerable hurdle to clear with council before it can be realized. After meeting with council, Durocher-Lafortune refused to comment on council’s position, only saying “there is interest, that’s all I can say.”

Wee bit of Irish at Bryson Theatre: The spirit of St. Patrick visited the Bryson Theatre Sunday in the guise of lilting songs and dances.

For the third consecutive year, Cardinal Promotions hosted a St. Paddy’s Day concert featuring valley entertainers performing traditional Irish songs and reels.

“It was a good concert,” says Stan Callaghan, who along with his wife, Barbara, organized the event.

For the finale, all of the entertainers took to the stage for a rendition of “Lord of the Dance,” highlighted by the “Clickers” tapping out the tune.