April 29, 2016

Team Fergmeijer would just like to point out, with all due respect to Mother Nature, that April Fool’s was a month ago. It isn’t funny anymore. Yeesh. Get with the times, eh?

Stopping by the Kagawong Fitness Centre? Plucky says, “bring your shades!” The KFC is sporting shiny new equipment that should be ready to go by the end of the month. To up the suspense, there will be a short interruption to gym services from now until the equipment is installed. Contact Sharon Jackson for more information or to get a membership.

Last weekend’s Green Living Expo was a huge success. The sold out Mac ‘n’ Brew saw participants sampling a number of new ales from Split Rail Brewing Company who was on hand to serve up the suds. Saturday’s expo had a full roster of vendors and speakers that attracted a steady stream of the green-minded. Huge thanks to the Kagawong Go Green committee and the Rec Committee for organizing such a fine event!

A very happy birthday to Jean Ward who turned 29 last week. She celebrated in style with friends and family. The party was so wild, the OPP were knocking on the door by 10pm!

Keep an eye out for the rows upon rows of daffodils popping up as the weather continues to warm! Please don’t pick the flowers that brighten everyone’s day as you come down into the village.

Euchre is running each Wednesday night at 7pm at the Park Centre and everyone is welcome to come out for a hand. Last week’s results are: 1st Prize Susan & Mike, 2nd Bill & Brad, 3rd Elva & Doris, low score Oliver & Ardiss, loner hands Bill & Brad, special prize went to Lilly.

The river was hopping this week as fishermen from all over converged on the Kagawong River for the annual smelt run. By all accounts it was a bumper crop this year.

As April draws to a close, let us look forward to the glorious month of May. Season of blossoms, butterflies, chocolate cupcakes, ice cream cones, onion rings, and more candy than you can shake a stick at.

April 22, 2016

Smelts running, deer bounding, turkeys strutting, cranes squawking - yep, spring is here to stay!

Spring is an excellent reminder that Team Fergmeijer intended to get in shape for spring. Better late than never. We intend to check out the upgrades to the Kagawong Fitness Centre. New equipment for KFC has been confirmed and should be ready to go by the end of the month. There will be a short interruption to gym services from now until the equipment is installed. Contact Sharon Jackson for more information or to get a membership.

Tai Chi is cancelled for Tuesday, April 26.

This weekend, get in the spirit of spring with the Billings Green Living Expo on April 22nd & 23rd. There are still a few tickets available to the “Mac ‘n’ Brew” evening tonight featuring Split Rail Brewing Company (offering up to 4 different brews), live music by Paul Best, and special guest Brian Bell speaking on “Ontario and Manitoulin Bio-Economy”. Get your $20 tickets to this licensed, age of majority event today by calling 705-282-8044 or 705-282-6252. Tomorrow features a vendor expo, guest speakers and door prizes.  Don’t miss it!

The library will also be at the Green Living Expo, hosting a table for a free seed swap. Bring your extra and unwanted seeds (clearly marked with vital info) and swap them with others of the green thumb persuasion.

The next movie on the big screen will be JOY, at 7pm tomorrow (April 23) at the Billings Library. Check out the library’s Facebook page to find out more about this week’s movie, as well as upcoming films (facebook.com/kagawonglibrary).

Euchre is running each Wednesday night at 7pm at the Park Centre and everyone is welcome to come out for a hand. Last week’s results are: Ladies’ High Muriel Hunt, Men’s High Fred Pickard, Ladies’ Lone Hands Bev Pickard/Susan Arbour, Men’s Lone Hand Lil Boyd, Low Score Winner Ria Mack. It would seem that the euchre organizers were not impressed with Team Fergmeijer’s suggestion of adding the category of Extreme Euchre Champion of Kagawong (EECK), so we humbly put forth the alternate title of Kagawong’s Excellent Euchre Player (KEEP).

As always, dogs and owners are invited to attend the Kagawong Canine Social Club’s weekly meeting at 1pm Sundays at the off-leash dog park on Carter Crescent. As reported in our April 1st column, a feline social hour was tested, but has since been discontinued as the cats couldn’t make up their minds if they wanted to go in the gate door, or out the gate door. Or in the gate door. Or out the gate door.

April 15, 2016

It must be SPRING-time when you see people out jumping on their trampolines! Team Fergmeijer has been diving into our spring cleaning. We are convinced that somewhere out there our tupperware lids and single socks are hanging out together laughing at us.

Summer is just around the corner, and that means several shops serving delicious treats will be opening again for the season. Prepare now by getting into shape! Meet up with other fitness-minded folk every Thursday at 7pm and rock out at Zumba at the Park Centre, or for those looking for a more mindful activity, there are Tai Chi lessons every Tuesday at 6:30pm, also at the Park Centre. 

Don’t forget about the Kagawong Fitness Centre, too. Rumour has it the fitness centre might be getting an upgrade soon. Contact Sharon Jackson for more information or to get a membership.

Happy belated birthday to Sharon Alkenbrack who turned 29 last week.

Next weekend, get in the spirit of spring with the Billings Green Living Expo on April 22nd & 23rd. Kick off the weekend on the Friday with a “Mac ‘n’ Brew” evening featuring Split Rail Brewing Company, live music by Paul Best, and special guest speaker Brian Bell. Get your tickets to this licensed, age of majority event today by calling 705-282-8044 or 705-282-6252. Tickets are $20 each and space is limited. Saturday features a vendor expo, guest speakers and door prizes, all on the upper level of the Park Centre, with lunch available on the lower level. Don’t miss it!

The library will also be at the Green Living Expo, hosting a table for a free seed swap. Bring your extra and unwanted seeds (clearly marked with vital info) and swap them with others of the green thumb persuasion.

Chris enjoyed a visit from Arik this past week, briefly doubling the number of male Theijsmeijers in Kagawong.

The next movie on the big screen will be JOY, at 7pm on April 23 at the Billings Library. Check out the library’s Facebook page to find out more about this week’s movie, as well as upcoming films (facebook.com/kagawonglibrary).

Euchre is running each Wednesday night at 7pm at the Park Centre and everyone is welcome to come out for a hand. Last week’s results are: Ladies high score Bob, Men’s high score Jim, Ladies lone hand Muriel, Men’s lone hand Lynda, Low score Mike, and the door prize went to Jim. Still no word on the introduction of EECK.

Until next time, may your devastating winter blues finally give way to your debilitating spring allergies.

April 8, 2016

Good news Kagawongians! Due to your outcry and an impromptu letter-writing campaign, the town council has reversed its decision to turn off Bridal Veil Falls. Team Fergmeijer was quite relieved to hear this bit of news after reading about that FOOLISH idea on APRIL FIRST.

Zumba is back! Meet up with other fitness-minded folk every Thursday at 7pm and rock out at the Park Centre. For those looking for a more mindful activity, there are Tai Chi lessons every Tuesday at 6:30pm at the Park Centre, too. Beginners welcome.

Happy birthday to Andy Culgin who turned 29 last week and celebrated in style. Sadly, we can’t tell you the specifics because what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Despite the weird weather, spring is on our doorstep. Get in the spirit with the Billings Green Living Expo on April 22nd & 23rd. Kick off the weekend on the Friday with a “Mac ‘n’ Brew” evening featuring Split Rail Brewing Company, live music by Paul Best, and special guest speaker Brian Bell. Get your tickets to this licensed, age of majority event today by calling 705-282-8044 or 705-282-6252. Tickets are $20 each and space is limited.

Come out to the library this Saturday at 7pm to watch Norm of the North on the big screen. Check out the library’s Facebook page to find out more about this week’s movie, as well as upcoming films (facebook.com/kagawonglibrary).

Euchre is running each Wednesday night at 7pm at the Park Centre and everyone is welcome to come out for a hand. Last week’s results are: high ladies - Sheila Fogal; high men - Blaine Nelder; lone hands men - Graham Fogal; Deanna Benoit; lone hand ladies - Kal Merrylees; low - Lily Third, Mike Arbour. At the time of printing, Team Fergmeijer had not heard back from the organizers about our suggestion of a new category: Extreme Euchre Champion of Kagawong (EECK).

A fiasco occurred last week when the instructor of the mime class was forced to cancel at the last minute and had to call all attendees. Turns out, mimes aren’t great with answering machines. Purportedly, when the instructor called around to let participants know, only a blank message was left. Instead of trying to get out of an invisible box, the participants spent an hour silently trying to get IN to the locked Park Centre.

April 1, 2016

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz… I wonder where them birdies is! Oh wait - they’re everywhere! We hope you’re enjoying the longer days and warmer temperatures.

After a review by the Ministry of the Environment, our beloved Kagawong turkeys have recently been classified as a stage 8 at-risk species. Under new legislation, the township is required to provide habitat for them, as well as a feeding program. Members of council will be launching a door-knocking campaign in the Main Street area to sign people up for rotating turkey care.

Billings library is jumping into the 21st century and going digital! In an effort to stay up-to-date with the needs and wants of its technology-loving patrons, the library is moving away from paper books and going completely digital. When questioned about this move, e-reader enthusiast Jamie Ward had this to say: “By this time next year, we’ll be completely out of the paper book business and jumping into the digital future, yo.”

Last Thursday, Julie visited Tom and Bobbie from Toronto, after stopping in to see Melinda along the way. They went for a walk by the falls with Natalie and Richard before dropping in on Charlie for supper, and then getting together for a nightcap with Andrew and Diana. A good time was had by all!

Happy birthday to Brick Chestwell who turned 32 on Tuesday.

In response to the rumours regarding a Tim Hortons outlet coming to Manitoulin, the Esso is starting up their own coffee cup contest! Each evening at 7pm, join the regulars around the coffee counter as they transform their used coffee cups into indomitable water crafts using just popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and sparkles. The glitter-laden crafts will be dropped into the river next door and launched over the falls. Surviving ships will be displayed throughout the summer months in a special display case adjacent to the new parking lot.

Due to several inquiries by community members, a new equity bill was recently passed in town council, ensuring that not just dogs have access to the Kagawong Canine Social Club grounds on Rainbow Heights. Effective immediately, Saturdays from 3-4pm will be Cat Hour. Cats of all species are welcome to come and frolic in safety and camaraderie.

Billings township is looking for volunteers to be members of a new committee of council. The pothole protection committee is being created to work towards preserving the historical potholes in the roads of Billings township. Please contact the town office by Wednesday, April 13 to have your name included in those interested.

After several complaints about having to use the passe term ‘mayor’ to address our august leader, Aus, Team Fergmeijer has been approached to solicit a new title for the head of our town council. So far we have had the following suggestions: His highness, Lord Mayor; Emperor Aus; Lord Ausome; High Mucky-Muck; and Grand Poohbah. Log your vote on the Facebook page and stay tuned to this column for the results.

Looking for something different to try? New mime club starting up on Mondays at the Park Centre. Bring your own face paint and gloves and spend an evening silently trapped in an invisible box with fellow enthusiasts.

As always, it’s been a busy week in our little village. Until next week, happy April Fool’s day!