June 30, 2021

 Get bready for the summer market - it’s kind of a big dill! The Kagawong market will be up and running again this year, starting Wednesday, July 7th. Make sure to get there early to see the huge selection of produce, baking, arts and crafts that are available each week from these profreshionals! If you are a vendor looking for a space, the market cabanas are up for grabs. The 8x12 kiosks are available to rent for the 2021 season. Contact the township office for more information (tgordon@billingstwp.ca), and don’t forget to market on your calendar! 

Start gathering up your hazardous waste items - the annual Island collection day is this Saturday, July 3rd! The morning is for NEMI residents only, but the afternoon from 1pm-4pm at the Mindemoya Roads building is open to residents of other townships, including Billings. Check out the Kagawong Facebook page or the township website for more information on what will be accepted.   

One half of Team Fergmeijer had a bad headache the last time they went to a farmer’s market. She looked all over for some pain killers. No luck with Farmer A, he only sold pumpkins. Farmer B was a bust, too. She only had strawberries left. She finally lucked out with Farmer C!  (You might have to use your melon on this one; it’s a thinker!)

Billings Library is back open to the public! Step 2 in the Ontario reopening plan allows patrons to browse the aisles, select their own books, use their devices in our work area, and stop in for a visit with summer librarian, Emily. And not a moment too soon! The library is already on its summer hours (Tuesday - Saturday from 9-5; closed for an hour at lunch) so head on over.  

While in lockdown, the library and the Billings Heritage Centre have been working on a revamp of the local history book, “How It All Began.” Copies of the new edition will soon be available for sale at the library and museum, as well as at the Kagawong market. 

Another fundraiser the library is launching in July is the Blind Date With A Book project. The library has  curated a collection of high quality recent books from a variety of genres. They will be lovingly enclosed in brown paper wrapping with only the genre and a few clues as to what the book is about. NO author and NO title! Like any good date, your book comes with chocolate (a specialty treat from Manitoulin Chocolate Works), and will take you out for a drink (free coffee compliments of Sugar Bush Canadian Coffee House). In addition to these, there are a selection of other treats, treasures and goodies that might be included with your blind date. Blind date books will be for sale at the Kagawong market starting in July, but supplies are limited!

Speaking of dating, a friend was telling us how he met his wife. He said the first time he saw her standing at her honey stall at the farmer’s market, he knew she was a keeper. 

The government has approved vaccines for youth ages 12 years and up, and they are available on the Island. Book your child’s appointment by calling 705-674-2299 or visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ 

While we peppered this column with farmer’s market puns, we don’t have any vegetable jokes to include. If you think of one, lettuce know! Have a great week!

June 23, 2021

 Monday was National Indigenous Peoples Day. There were a variety of events and celebrations around the Island to recognize, commemorate, and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Here in Billings Township, be sure to check out the Billing Connections Trail. The Anishnaabeg (Odaawaa, Ojibwa and Pottawatomi) occupied what is now Billings Township long before European settlers arrived. Archeological and oral evidence has established at least 10,000 years of Indigenous occupation on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island). To learn more about the history of Billings’ original and settler inhabitants, visit the full series of historical plaques around the township, link to the QR codes on each plaque, and drop in to the Old Mill Heritage Centre in Kagawong, as well as the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in M’Chigeeng First Nation.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Kagawongian-at-heart Stephanie M who turns 29 on Sunday. Enjoy your birthday meal at the end of the literal road! A happy birthday also goes out to Ben T who is not quite 29, but getting closer every year. 

This weekend we were just hanging out on the deck and noticed 2 snails fighting. We’d never seen anything like it; they were really slugging it out. 

Start gathering up your hazardous waste items - the annual Island collection day is coming July 3rd. The morning is for NEMI residents only, but the afternoon from 1pm-4pm at the Mindemoya Roads building is open to residents of other townships, including Billings. Check out the Kagawong Facebook page or the township website for more information on what will be accepted.   

Team Fergmeijer’s Manitoulin Mom went to the doctor the other day. He said she was losing her hearing in one ear. She told us that was really difficult to hear. 

At the time of writing, Billings Township is still in a full fire ban until further notice. Check the township website (http://billingstwp.ca) for the latest details.

The library is limited to pick up service only until July, but they have started their summer hours a little early this year! The library is now open Tuesday - Saturday from 9-5 (closed for an hour at lunch). Follow the library on Facebook or check out their website (www.billings-library.com) to see the books and games we have available. Then email or call with your wish list and summer librarian Emily will put together your selections. Starting in July, they will be able to welcome patrons back into the building to browse to your heart’s content. 

In our quest to improve our eating habits, Team Fergmeijer has been eating more salads. It’s not easy, though. Yesterday we bought a package of lettuce from “Mamas and Papas Grocery” down the street. We got home, and guess what? All the leaves are brown!

 

The Kagawong market will be back to its regular Wednesday time slot and to its regular location at the pavilion by the tennis courts. With the market back at its old stomping grounds, the cabanas are up for grabs! These 8x12 kiosks are available to rent for the 2021 season. Contact the township office for more information (tgordon@billingstwp.ca). 

The government has approved vaccines for youth ages 12 years and up, and they are available on the Island. Book your child’s appointment by calling 705-674-2299 or visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ 

Do you know our friend, Jack? He says he can communicate with vegetables. Jack and the beans talk. Have a great week!

June 16, 2021

 The weather has been so nice lately that your intrepid reporters have taken a bit of time off of our intrepid reporting to spend some time at the beach. When we first got there, we were so excited, we couldn’t decide whether to protect our noses from the sun or run directly into the water. It was a zinc or swim situation!

At the time of writing, Billings Township is still in a full fire ban until further notice. Check the township website (http://billingstwp.ca) for the latest details.

The bridge along the river trail is still off limits to foot traffic until it can be repaired or replaced. We contacted the township with our concerns about it being completed in a timely manner. The head of public works was very understanding and said, “Truss me! It will be fixed up very soon. You know I wouldn’t keep you in suspension!”

Rumours continue to swirl around the 2021 Kagawong Market. It looks like the market will be back to its regular Wednesday time slot and to its regular location at the pavilion by the tennis courts. With the market back at its old stomping grounds, the cabanas are up for grabs! These 8x12 kiosks are available to rent for the 2021 season. Contact the township office for more information (tgordon@billingstwp.ca). 

Kagawong’s newest venture to be launched held its grand opening this weekend. Artisans by the Bay offers a variety of arts and crafts items by local artists as well as products carried and/or created by various entrepreneurs. Stop in to explore what they have on offer at the Austin Hunt Marina.

A very happy 29th birthday goes out to Audrey, from her fellow psaltery psociety psidekicks. It’s no psweet psixteen,but we hope you had a pswell Psaturday!

The government has approved vaccines for youth ages 12 years and up, and they are available on the Island. Book your child’s appointment by calling 705-674-2299 or visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ 

The recent rain has sent the flower boxes around town into overdrive. The efforts of the Late Bloomers volunteers are quite impressive, especially those tasked with caring for the boxes and gardens in and around the Park Centre. If you peer through the dust of construction, you’ll see pops of colour everywhere! 

Words of wisdom for this week: never yell into a colander; you’ll strain your voice. Have a great week!

June 9, 2021

Last week, Team Fergmeijer (your unofficial Billings tourism ambassadors) did NOT welcome you to our lovely village, due to the main street being inaccessible because of construction. But we need detour no longer! While construction continues, you are cordially invited to Kagawong as local shops and businesses begin opening again under the province’s reopening plan. Tell them Team Fergmeijer sent you!

Congratulations go out to Billings Senior of the Year Jim Chambers! Jim has served, and continues to serve, in a variety of roles within the township over the years. From church events, to the Recreation Committee, to the Fire Department, Jim has his hand in most volunteer activities happening around here. Thank you, Jim, for all your hard work, dedication, humour and caring that you share with us every day! 

In related news, we’ve heard that Team Fergmeijer has been shortlisted for a new award for Billings’ most secretive person. We can’t tell you how excited we are to be nominated! 

With summer on our doorstep, Billings is slowly but surely waking up. With construction moving forward at a blistering pace (oh wait, that’s just the recent heat wave), the future of the Kagawong Market looks bright. Rumour has it the popular outdoor market will be returning to its regular Wednesday time slot and to its regular location at the pavilion by the tennis courts. We will strive to confirm this with the proper authorities, as our extremely high journalistic standards would never permit us to print something that was not entirely accurate and fact-checked. 

In addition to the town market, Kagawong is also welcoming a new venture that will be located in the Austin Hunt Marina. Artisans by the Bay will host local artists and craftspeople, their various arts and crafts items, as well as products carried and/or created by various entrepreneurs. The opening is dependent on the provincial reopening plan, so stay tuned for more information!

Side note, when the COVID restrictions are finally lifted and the landfill is allowed to return to its traditional functions, may we suggest a name change from the “Kagawong Mall” to the “Billings Emporium?” It adds a sophisticated edge to the whole experience. Don’t worry Denis, you won’t be expected to wear a tie. Not right away, anyway.  

There will be a planned power outage this coming Sunday, June 13, from 8am until 12noon. Plan to rise a little early to get the coffee going, and then enjoy a quiet morning!

At the time of writing, Billings Township is in a full fire ban until further notice. Check the township website (http://billingstwp.ca) for the latest details.

A very happy 29th birthday goes out to Maria M-L! Once a Kagawongian, always a Kagawongian (and hence, always fair game for mention in this column!). We hope you have a fantastic day. We would be remiss if we missed Karlene’s 29th birthday as well - she keeps us in line, on our toes, and always smiling. Happy birthday, Karlene! If you know of anyone you would like to have us embar… umm… celebrate here in the community column, drop us a line at kagawong@live.ca or message us on the Kagawong Facebook page (facebook.com/Kagawong1).

The government has approved vaccines for youth ages 12 years and up, and they are available on the Island. Book your child’s appointment by calling 705-674-2299 or visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ 

The Late Bloomers are hard at work sprucing up the village - flowers are popping up everywhere! The flower boxes and gardens around town are looking beautiful thanks to those green-thumbed volunteers. 

One half of Team Fergmeijer saw a doctor about their hearing problems last week. The doctor asked her to describe the symptoms. She replied, “They’re yellow, Homer likes doughnuts, and Marge has blue hair.” Have a great week!

June 2, 2021

Hello there! Although sad to say goodbye to The Recorder - our home for the last 7 years - we at Team Fergmeijer are also very excited about our new digs here at The Expositor! Our west-end readers will be very familiar with us, but there was concern that some of the more… unique… elements of the column (and of Billings) might be confusing to our new east-end friends. Never fear! As president of the Fergmeijer fan club, Jamie Ward says, “Stick with Team Fergmeijer; I promise it’s totally worth it, yo!” 

As the self-appointed tourism ambassadors for Billings Township, Team Fergmeijer proudly invites you to come and spend the day in Kagawong! But not this week, as our main road is under construction and impassable. There will be no through traffic at Main Street near the post office and Anglican church. For travel within the village, drivers should use Upper Street. For those travelling from Maple Point or Maple Ridge subdivision, use the Beach St/Rainbow Heights route to bypass village construction. These detours are through residential areas that do not usually experience high traffic volume, so check your speed and watch for pedestrians.   

There is a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan Virtual Community Consultation on June 9th from 6-8pm via Zoom. This is a community framework meant to address the root causes of crime and complex social issues by implementing protective factors to raise the wellbeing of communities. Your input is valuable! Contact the township for information on how to join the conversation.

Don’t forget that the Billings Public Library is open for item pick up! Contact the staff with a title, author, or even general genre, and they can put together a package of goodies for you. New books are entered each week, and who could forget their extensive collection of board games!

That reminds us, we have been going through our magazine collection, trying to get rid of all our old copies. We’re having a hard time with it. What can we say...we have issues. 

 

A very happy birthday goes out to a couple of real swell gals, who wish to remain anonymous. May this year’s 29th birthdays be better than last year’s 29th birthdays! If you know of anyone you would like to have us embar… umm… celebrate here in the community column, drop us a line at kagawong@live.ca or message us on the Kagawong Facebook page (facebook.com/Kagawong1).

The government has approved vaccines for youth ages 12 years and up, and they are available on the Island. Book your child’s appointment by calling 705-674-2299 or visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ 

Have you ever wondered why the sound from a musician on stage bounces off the auditorium walls to surround the audience, but the sound of a pigeon on a stage does not? The reason is a coo sticks.

A reminder that with the provincial lockdown, the Municipal office is closed to the public. Most staff are working remotely to provide municipal services via telephone and email. Staff email addresses are available at www.billingstwp.ca. All council meetings are being held via Zoom meeting. Contact the office (tmills@billingstwp.ca) for the link to attend. 

The Late Bloomers are hard at work sprucing up the village - flowers are popping up everywhere! The flower boxes and gardens around town are looking beautiful thanks to those green-thumbed volunteers. 

100 years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today, everyone has cars and only the rich have horses. Oh, how the stables have turned. Have a great week!