July 7, 2021

Here at Team Fergmeijer, although we have a solid fan base, we accept that not everyone is going to enjoy us all the time. We do get the odd piece of criticism. Just last week, we got a less than friendly message making fun of us for how short we are. It might have hurt our feelings, except that we realized that the worst thing this person could say about us is that there isn’t more of us! 

Today is the day! Come on by the pavilion across from the Old Mill from 10am - 3pm for the first Kagawong market of the summer! Rumour has it there are several dozen vendors from crafts to baked goods, jewelry to fresh vegetables, books to clothing. It’s worth the drive to Kagawong!

As you may have noticed, there has been a wee bit of road works underway in the downtown area. The crew has been working quickly, the weather has been cooperating, and very few surprises have cropped up. All of which means that the work is ahead of schedule overall! Some paving has been started this week (from the highway to the Park Centre), with the remaining work on Main Street continuing for the next few weeks.  Continue to use caution when driving or walking in the area.

Another project set to get underway, H&R Noble will be starting work at the outdoor rink at the Park Centre in the next few weeks. Advertising along the new boards is available if you would like to be part of the fundraising efforts for this project. Contact the township office for more information or to donate.

Now that Ontario is in step 2 of the reopening roadmap, the Municipal Office in the Old Mill is open to the public again, but council meetings are still to be attended virtually. Contact tmills@billingstwp.ca by 3:00pm on the day of the council meeting for an invitation. A computer/tablet/mobile phone and internet connection, or a telephone, are required.

A belated happy birthday goes out to Karen C who turned a glorious 29 last week. Remember, you can’t think of getting older as a bad thing. Think of it this way, if you were scotch, you’d be super expensive!

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. 

This week, the library is launching their Blind Date With A Book fundraiser. Purchase one of a specially curated collection of books from a variety of genres that have been 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 this week, and supplies are limited!

An upside to all the rain last week is that the burn ban has been lifted! Remember that though bonfires do not require permits, all other fires do. Contact the municipal office for details. 

Got big ideas? Have a vision for Billings Township? The Township will be engaged in the next strategic planning cycle (2022-2025) during 2021. Watch for strategic planning surveys and have your say! The more people who contribute ideas and comments, the better the process and the stronger the plan for the next planning cycle.

Your favourite reporters (or ‘favorite’ for all of our American fans) are officially on holidays this week. Lazy days on the deck and lounging by the lake have had us pondering more big questions about life, the universe and everything. For example, if your front door has a mail slot, are you living in a mailbox? Are beds just wireless chargers for humans? Is a parking ticket just a speeding ticket for going 0km/hr where it isn’t allowed? If a blacksmith hammered your signature from a piece of metal, has he just forged your signature? If a flight school offered short term flying lessons, are they teaching a crash course? Do they make ‘do not touch’ signs in braille? Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is? Have a great week!