December 28, 2018

It’s almost time to set those new year’s resolutions. For Team Fergmeijer, our goal for 2019 is to accomplish the goals of 2018, which we should have done in 2017, because we promised to do them in 2016 and started planning them in 2015.

There are numerous birthdays in town over this most festive of seasons. One might even say they are multitudinous, plentiful, untold, abundant, or even copious. Darren H and Melanie H both turned 29 over Christmas. Jen W-F and Doryell N just turned the big 29 yesterday. Chris T and Bev W are joining their ranks this weekend. Whew! That’s a lot of celebrating in just 7 days. If any of you need help disposing of any leftover cake, Team Fergmeijer is happy to offer our services. 

If walking in a winter wonderland isn’t your jam, sign up for a membership to the Kagawong Fitness Centre, where you can walk in the comfort of a dry, warm, comfortable room. Contact Sharon Jackson for more information. As Plucky, the KFC mascot says, “Come out and get some eggsercise!”

Once again, Billings came together for the annual Christmas concert. The MC kept the bar low with jokes of questionable quality, but the night was a fine mix of comedy and song. In addition to a mountain of non-perishable food, $200 was raised for Manitoulin Family Resource. Thank you to everyone who came out to welcome Santa to the community!

In related news, if Peter G is the crane, and Willa W sees him, which one of them do we crown in the Sandhill Crane spotting contest?

Euchre Night in Kagawong is on hiatus for the next couple of months: the regular Wednesday night games won’t be continued in 2019, but regular tournaments will run every third Wednesday starting on January 16th.

Save the date! Manitoulin Secondary School is presenting The Mikado, featuring a number of local youth, February 14-16, 2019. Don’t miss it!

Have you missed some of Team Fergmeijer’s columns? Are you new to the community and need to get caught up on the happenings over the last 3.5 years? Good news - we’ve been keeping an archive! Visit teamfergmeijer.blogspot.com for more Gobble Brigade antics, local news, and bad puns than you could ever want. 

And as we ring in the new year, remember: An optimist stays up to midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. All the best for a Happy New Year!

Holiday Special 2018

‘Twas the night before Christmas -

And ‘tis time for a rhyme!

And this year we submitted

Our column on time!

As usual we look back

On our year with reflection,

And certain events

Deserve closer inspection.

We can start with the vote,

And then reminisce,

On the many new faces

Brought into office.

Mayor Aus called it quits

And kindly stepped aside.

His long legacy though,

Cannot be denied.

Even with a fire ban

We sometimes awoke

To a hot sunny day

And a town filled with smoke!

St. Paul’s closed down,

But filled with music still:

It came back to life, as the

Old Church on the Hill!

A hot housing market

Saw lots of home buyers,

And we tripled the number of

Island Theijsmeijers!

Paikin sightings continued

From summer to fall,

And we held our first contest

For the sandhill crane call.

This year had a so many

Fundraising dinners with snacks,

That we may have started

To outgrow our slacks.

Thank goodness for Plucky

After meals extravagant,

A KFC workout

Kept us from living sans-pants

The Green Living Expo

Talked electric cars.

That rec committee is

Really filled with all-stars.

Summerfest, winterfest,

and concerts galore

Ask anyone and they’ll say

This town has lots to explore.

Even if the town

Was wholly uneventful,

It wouldn’t matter to us

It’s you who make it special.

So we wrap up our review

With wise words from long ago:

“Kagawong may be small

Be we are mighty, yo!”

Until spring time

When the first crane is seen

Have a happy and safe

2019!

December 14, 2018

Tonight’s the night! Kagawong Community Concert night! Meet us (and Santa!) at the Park Centre tonight at 7:30 for the usual song, skits and shenanigans you have come to expect from this (in)famous event. Admission is free, though donations of cash or non-perishable food are gratefully accepted and will be passed along to Manitoulin Family Resource.

As it is community concert tonight, we are easing back on the silly jokes this week. The MC will need all the help she can get tonight and we don’t want to steal her thunder. Plus, Team Fergmeijer is doing some last minute lobbying to get on Santa’s ‘nice’ list and we couldn’t be sure where the big guy falls on the pun issue.

Happy birthday to Hailey F who celebrates this weekend (although she is not turning 29 for quite some time). Her birthday is just far enough removed from Christmas that she doesn’t have to share presents between the two special days. Despite being geographically challenged by living way out on the east end, we feel Christine L-M is a Kagawongian where it counts, so we wish her a very happy 29th birthday next week.

The Island Singers also have a concert coming up! Sunday, December 16 at 3:30pm at the Missionary Church in Mindemoya. See posters around town for more details.

If walking in a winter wonderland isn’t your jam, sign up for a membership to the Kagawong Fitness Centre, where you can walk in the comfort of a dry, warm, comfortable room. Contact Sharon Jackson for more information.

Euchre Night in Kagawong is on hiatus for the next couple of months: the regular Wednesday night games won’t be continued in 2019, but regular tournaments will run every third Wednesday starting on January 16th.

The United Manitoulin Transit group is currently involved in a feasibility and needs study for local transit on the Island. If you are resident living on the Island you can complete the online survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/United_Manitoulin_Community_Transit_Survey

If you are an employer/business owner on Manitoulin you are invited to fill in this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Manitoulin_Island_Transit_Employer_Survey

Looking ahead to Christmas supper, the Kagawong Gobble Brigade urges you to mix things up a little this year when it comes to the main dish and invites you to visit www.CookingwiththeGoggleBrigade.com for dozens of fabulous pork and beef recipes. (Who wants to be the one to tell them they might want to rethink the URL?)

December 7, 2018

As we prepare for the holiday season, did you know that children around the world leave different treats for Santa? In North America, children leave cookies and milk, while in Denmark they leave rice pudding. Team Fergmeijer wonders what certain Kagawongians would leave for Santa on Christmas Eve?

Plucky, the Kagawong Fitness Centre mascot would leave Santa a protein shake, to help him recover from lifting all those heavy bags of presents.

Happy belated 29th birthday to Chantelle this past Monday way over there in Gore Bay. We’re pretty sure she partied as hardy as any Kagawongian would. And by party we mean had a healthy dinner, some quality time with the kids and was in bed by 9:30pm. Also celebrating her 29th birthday is Team Fergmeijer superfan, LZ. Happy living the quiet life in Evansville, LZ prefers to keep a low profile, so we promised her husband Peter we would never reveal her identity here in the column.

Tomorrow, don’t miss the Manitoulin Community Choir’s annual Song and Cider concert at the Park Centre! Be sure to get there early if you want a seat - the concert starts at 7pm.

The Kagawong Gobble Brigade would leave Santa a ham, so he doesn’t get any funny ideas for Christmas supper.

It will be here before you know it! Friday, December 14th is Kagawong’s (in)famous Community Christmas Concert! We are a bit short of performers and are always on the lookout for new acts to grace our stage. If you want to join the fun, but need some ideas, drop us a line at Kagawong@live.ca or send a message on the Kagawong Facebook page. As always, talent is not a requirement for any performers. Santa has already sent in his RSVP!

The Island Singers also have a concert coming up! Sunday, December 16 at 3:30pm at the Missionary Church in Mindemoya. See posters around town for more details.

Jean and Jamie would leave Santa some Twinkies. All their baking would have been snatched up at the cafe.

Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean Fido can’t get some exercise! The Kagawong off-leash dog park is still open throughout the winter! And if it’s you that’s looking to keep fit, and not your pooch: Plucky would like to remind you that a membership gets you 24/7 access to a gym full of equipment! Contact Sharon Jackson for more information.

Steph, Jenna and family would maybe leave a gingerbread house combining their construction skills and artistic flair. Of course, whatever they leave out, they have to make sure it’s out of reach of the goats.

Euchre Night in Kagawong is on hiatus for the next couple of months: the regular Wednesday night games won’t be continued in 2019, but regular tournaments will run every third Wednesday starting on January 16th.

Sandi and Dave, as well as Keith and Louise, all leave Santa a healthy selection of fruits and vegetables. Not a chocolate or jelly bean to be seen! Have a great week!