March 30, 2022

 The surest sign of spring for Team Fergmeijer has always been the melodious coo of the Sandhill Crane and they have officially arrived in Billings. The competition for this year’s Sandhill Crane spotting was fierce with more entrants than ever before, but we are pleased to announce this year’s winner of all the bragging rights is…. (pause for drumroll).... Peter Gordon! Overcoming technological challenges (our bad, sorry), Peter was the first to see a Sandhill this year by a very slim margin. Congratulations! 

 

The results are in! Judges from Gordon/Barrie Island and Billings municipalities were called upon to make tough decisions in choosing winners in the Island-wide photo challenge this past month. Photos were submitted from all over the Island, and it turns out we have prize-winners of all ages here in Billings! In the “19+ years of age” category, Kagawongians ​​Sharon Jackson placed 1st and Barb Erskine placed 3rd, while in the “11-14 years of age” category, Daphne Carr placed 3rd. Congratulations shutterbugs! 

Our Manitoulin Mom has started her vegetable seeds already! We asked her what she had planted and she said, “Summer squash…. and some aren’t.”

 

Beginning this Saturday and until October 31, the Billings landfill will be open extended hours on Saturdays from 10am-4pm. This is in addition to also still being open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2pm-6pm and Sundays 10am-4pm.

 

This weekend we participated in a triathlon. Though instead of swim, cycle, run, it was book, bath, nap. 

 

A reminder that Billings has spring load restrictions in effect until the end of May. Check the township website for full details. In other exciting news, don’t forget that the interim tax bills are due on March 31st. 

 

Happy birthday to former Kagawongian, Micki B. Although it’s another COVID birthday, don’t worry about not being  able to have a bunch of people over; it just means you get to have your cake and eat it, too!

 

Farewell to Marcel & Sabine who have moved to warmer climes across the Main Channel. We will miss you out at the Point!

We feel the need to come clean with you, dear reader. We know revealing this will likely open a real Pandora’s labyrinth, but the truth is, although we have many areas of expertise, we have to admit that our lack of knowledge of Greek mythology is our Achilles’ horse. 

The Township of Billings is accepting applications for the full-time positions of Public Works Operator and Public Works Superintendent. The full job descriptions are available on the Township website at https://billingstwp.ca/employment-opportunities. For both jobs, forward a cover letter and resume by email to Kathy McDonald at kmdonald@billingstwp.ca. Deadline for the PW Superintendent position is April 1st (12pm); deadline for the PW Operator position is April 8th (12pm).

It occurs to us that people who jog on the roads at night in the dark, wearing dark clothing and no lights or reflectors are a unique combination of someone who cares about their health and well-being, and at the same time, doesn’t care about their health and well-being at all. Have a great week!

March 23, 2022

Welcome, Spring! Last weekend saw the arrival of the vernal equinox. Team Fergmeijer has been saying for years now that the only holidays worth celebrating are the equinoxes and the solstices. We find all the others to be astronomically unimportant. And we’re not the only ones feeling comforted by the warmer weather. Soon, the trees will feel re-leaved as well. 

 

The geese have been spotted - a sure sign of spring - but still no peep from the Sandhill Cranes. Who will be the first to spot one, or hear its melodious coo? If you see or hear a crane, drop us a line at kagawong@live.ca or message us (Facebook.com/kagawong1) to let us know when and where you spotted them. Winner gets bragging rights!

 

Kudos to young Kagawongian Hailey F. on spearheading a fundraising campaign at Manitoulin Secondary to support the people of Ukraine. You are an inspiration!

 

After the warm weather this past week, it is with great sadness that we announce that the outdoor rink by the Kagawong Park Centre is now closed for the season. But fear not! Ball hockey season is just around the corner (just let the puddles dry up, first!). Thank you to all the volunteers who maintained the rink over the winter!

 

Congratulations to the winners of the Manitoulin Kids Virtual Perch Derby 2022! Landon Seifried, Ryley Corbiere, Ethan Witty, Lily Carrick, Ava Corbiere, and Kyle Nodecker all placed in the top three of their categories. Special thanks go out to Lake Kagawong Family Cottages and Manitoulin Transport for donating cash prizes.

Don’t forget, the town office has posted the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)/Clerk position and is accepting cover letters and resumes by email to Tiana Mills at tmills@billingstwp.ca until April 4th, 2022 at 4pm. The full job description is available on the Township website (https://billingstwp.ca/employment-opportunities/)

The Kagawong Fitness Centre is open again, and Plucky, the KFC mascot, is so excited! Please contact the town at tmills@billingstwp.ca for information on membership.

Did you know? The only difference between spring rolls and summer rolls is a little seasoning. Have a great week!

March 16, 2022

 Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day and Team O’Fergmeijer are always ready to celebrate the Irish way, and are always sure to wear green on the big day. Did you know that leprechauns like to pinch people? (Apparently just because they can. Leprechauns are kind of jerks.) Traditionally, you wear green on St. Patrick’s Day because green makes you invisible to leprechauns, and saves you from their pinches! 

 

It’s that time of year again! Get your binoculars and ear horns ready… who will be the first to spot or hear the migratory Sandhill O’Crane this year? Last year, surprise crane-spotter Rachel O’Ball narrowly beat out arch-nemeses Willa O’Wilson and Peter O’Gordon. If you see (or hear) a Sandhill crane, drop us a line at live@kagawong.ca or message us (Facebook.com/kagawong1) to let us know when and where you spotted them. Winner gets bragging rights!

The municipal office is officially open to the public again!  Check your mail for your tax bill. The next Town O’Council meeting will be March 21 at 7:30pm. Agendas and minutes for the various township committee meetings can be found on the township website: http://billingstwp.ca 

 

In related news, the town office has posted the Chief Administrative O’Officer (CAO’O)/Clerk position and is accepting cover letters and resumes by email to Tiana O’Mills at tmills@billingstwp.ca until April 4th, 2022 @ 4pm. The full job description is available on the Township website (https://billingstwp.ca/employment-opportunities/)

As spring slowly but surely makes its way to the O’Manitoulin, a friendly reminder that Billings passed a new trailer bylaw that addresses the use of recreational trailers within the township. The new trailer bylaw introduces a fee/permit structure process for those wanting to use recreational trailers on vacant properties, properties with seasonal residences and properties with permanent residences. This bylaw is posted on the Township of O’Billings website for you to review. Any questions can be sent into the town via email:  bylaw@billingstwp.ca. 

Today is the last day to apply for summer student positions with the township: one at the marina, and one with public works. Applications will be accepted by email to Kathy O’McDonald at kmcdonald@billingstwp.ca until 4pm today (March 16). Check out the township’s website for more information: https://billingstwp.ca/employment-opportunities/

 

The Island-wide photo challenge is on for just a few more days! Snap a photo with the theme “winter landscape” and send your submission to info@assiginack.ca. Don’t forget to state your name and age in the email. There are six different age categories and prizes to be won! All photos must be taken on Manitoulin O’Island between February 22 and March 20. Deadline for entry is noon on March 20th. This challenge is proudly sponsored by the Municipalities of Manitoulin O’Island. 

 

The Kagawong Fitness Centre is open again, and O’Plucky, the KFC mascot, is so excited! Please contact the town at tmills@billingstwp.ca for information on membership.

 

This weekend, break out your fishing gear for the Manitoulin Kids Virtual Perch Derby 2022! The derby runs Saturday and Sunday (March 19 & 20), from 6 am to 6 pm. You can fish any in-land lake on Manitoulin (Lake O’Huron and rivers excluded; check with local authorities on ice conditions before proceeding on any frozen lake; abide by Ontario fishing regulations), and it is free to all children under 18 years old. There are prizes for longest perch as well as a mystery length prize (limit of two entries per child). No need to register ahead of time! Cash prizes donated by Manitoulin O’Transport and Lake O’Kagawong Family Cottages. For full submission requirements, check out the Kagawong Facebook page or contact manitoulinfishfinders@gmail.com

In honour of St. Patrick’s day, we leave you with a wish for good luck and this Irish blessing: May the wind at your back not be the result of the corned beef and cabbage you had at lunch. Have a great week!

March 9, 2022

If you are a student or a parent of a student, then you are likely very much aware that March break is just around the corner. It’s a great time to relax and de-stress, but also to get some of those jobs around the house taken care of. Though that is easier said than done. On TV, people can flip a whole house in a month. Meanwhile, Team Fergmeijer can spend an entire week just getting ready to vacuum. 

 

Big news out of the township office! Be sure to offer your congratulations to Kathy on her upcoming retirement. After 18 years of helping and advising multiple councils, she will be leaving some very big shoes to be filled. However, dear readers do not have to be concerned, for Kathy is not officially retiring until November and will be on hand to train up the next generation of town clerk. 

Fun fact: there are more planes underwater than there are submarines in the sky.

 

The community rink has seen regular use and we want to thank all the volunteers who have made it possible. A gentle reminder of basic rink etiquette - remove hockey nets from ice after use. They melt into the ice and once concrete is showing, the skating season is basically over. When using the rink lights, turn them off when you leave. Pack out your garbage. Respecting the facilities allows everyone to enjoy the rink and for the skating season to last as long as possible! 

Happiest of happy birthdays go out to Shirley F and Arthur H this week. Both hit a landmark 29 last week and word on the street has it that they both celebrated in style with family and friends and food galore!

The township office remains closed to the public with the staff working remotely. The next Town Council meeting will be March 21 at 7:30pm. Agendas and minutes for the various township committee meetings can be found on the township website: http://billingstwp.ca . 

There are still two summer student positions available with the township: one at the marina, and one with public works. Applications will be accepted by email to kmcdonald@billingstwp.ca until 4pm on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Check out the township’s website for more information: https://billingstwp.ca/employment-opportunities/

 

It occurs to us that anyone who was sentenced to house arrest last year really lucked out timing-wise.

 

Are you up for a new challenge? The Island-wide photo challenge is now on! Snap a photo with the theme “winter landscape” and send your submission to info@assiginack.ca. Don’t forget to state your name and age in the email… there are six different age categories and prizes to be won! All photos must be taken on Manitoulin Island between February 22 and March 20. Deadline for entry is March 20th at noon. This challenge is proudly sponsored by the Municipalities of Manitoulin Island. 

Friends of the Billings Library is looking for members! FOBL is a group that functions independently of the township and of the library itself. It raises money to supplement and enhance the library collections. If you are interested, contact the library (billingslibrary@vianet.ca   705-282-2944).

 

The Kagawong Fitness Centre is open again, and Plucky, the KFC mascot, is so excited! Please contact the town at tmills@billingstwp.ca for information on membership.

Just a reminder that small steps can make a big difference. Remember, taking 2 seconds to pick up a quarter off the ground basically works out to $450 per hour

Have a great week!

March 2, 2022

Here at Team Fergmeijer, we are very musically inclined. Well, one of us is musically inclined. The other is more of a fan of being reclined. Regardless, we were both excited to hear that several classic songs from the 50s are being revised to keep up with the changing lives of the baby boomers. Do any of these sound familiar? Herman’s Hermits - Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Walker. The Bee Gees - How Can You Mend A Broken Hip? Bobby Darin - Splish Splash, I Was Having A Flash. Ringo Starr - I’ll Get By With A Little Help From Depends. The Commodores - Once, Twice, Three Times To The Bathroom. Marvin Gaye - Heard It From The Grape Nuts. Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Napping. Willie Nelson - On The Commode Again. Procol Harem - A Whiter Shade Of Hair. Johnny Nash - I Can’t See Clearly Now. Helen Reddy - I Am Woman Hear Me Snore. Abba - Denture Queen.

 

Team Fergmeijer is ever so pleased to announce the most exciting piece of news to come about since March 2020: The Billings Landfill is now open on Saturdays!! From now until March 31, you can visit the Kagawong Mall Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2pm-6pm, Saturdays from 1pm-4pm, and Sundays from 10am-4pm. Beginning in April and lasting through the summer, Saturday hours will be extended from 10am-4pm. 

Happy birthday to Brooke C who celebrated her big day last week. She’s still got a ways to go to hit 29, but we are sure she had a fabulous day anyway. Some summer visitors also celebrated over the last week: Maddy M, and her father Steve S, both celebrated birthdays in the last week. Hard to believe they are both 29 years old! Maddy looks entirely too young to be that old, and Steve looks…. Uhm… happy birthday, Steve! Also celebrating is Slade who has a solid 28 years to go before we can wish him a happy 29th. 

The township office remains closed to the public with the staff working remotely. The next Town Council meeting will be March 21 at 7:30pm. Agendas and minutes for the various township committee meetings can be found on the township website: http://billingstwp.ca . 

The shortest month of the year is over, and sadly, so is our Short Poems for a Short Month challenge! We’re closing out with a classic!

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a turkey

Especially the ones that roam

So close to my Kagawong home

Friends of the Billings Library is looking for members! FOBL is a group that functions independently of the township and of the library itself. It raises money to supplement and enhance the library collections. If you are interested, contact the library (billingslibrary@vianet.ca   705-282-2944).

 

The Kagawong Fitness Centre is open again, and Plucky, the KFC mascot, is so excited! Please contact the town at tmills@billingstwp.ca for information on membership.

Did you know that yours truly were in talks to be the songwriters for a very famous band? They were blown away by our songs. They said we should be poets! Poets, firefighters, accountants - basically anything but songwriters. Have a great week!