February 22, 2023

With Family Day long weekend looming, we decided it was time to stop putting off the various home repairs that have needed doing for some time now. We hired a local handyman and gave him a list. By the time he left that day, he had only done numbers 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 on the list. Turns out he only does odd jobs. 

Monday’s Family Day Skate was a fantastic success! Plenty of kids of all ages came out to play, skate and slide at the refreshed rink. Thank you to the Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee and all the volunteers who made the day happen. 

Mark your calendars! Western Manitoulin Volunteer Fairs are happening in April. Stop in to meet the many organizations that work to make our communities so special. Learn about their efforts and events, and you are sure to find a comfortable fit for you. Gordon/Barrie Island & Burpee-Mills is April 12th at the Gordon Community Centre. Gore Bay will hold theirs April 19th at the community hall, and Billings’ is April 26th at the Park Centre. All Volunteer fair days run from 2-8pm and include refreshments as well as prizes to be won. If you are a volunteer organization interested in taking part in the fairs, contact Annett (westman@lambac.org) by February 20th to reserve your spot. 

Mary B had a friendly visit from her favourite veterinarian (and family) last week. Mary, Neil, Megan, Simon and Sebastian all enjoyed a weekend of laughs, stories, and equalizing the Snormalizer. 

Manitoulin Secondary School’s musical theatre program is back in action this year with the hilariously ridiculous Broadway show, Something Rotten! Set in 1595, it’s the story of two brothers desperate to write a hit play, but who are constantly outshined by the rock-star playwright, William Shakespeare. A local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre will involve singing, dancing, AND acting, all at the same time! The brothers then decide to write a (wait for it) MUSICAL! The world’s very first musical! Come out to experience the MSS stage on March 3rd and 4th at 7pm, or for the March 5th matinee at 2pm. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at the door or in advance at Guardian pharmacies in Mindemoya, Little Current, and Manitowaning, as well as the Gore Bay IDA and Betty’s Convenience. For more information contact Yana Bauer (bauery@rainbowschools.ca).

A very happy birthday wish goes out to Ruth F on her 29th birthday this week. Happy anniversary of another trip around the sun, and congratulations on not getting lost along the way!

Reminder that the fire hall is still off-limits for safety reasons. Please utilize the water at the public works garage at 34 Carter Crescent. Please be mindful of the bay doors, and do not leave your vehicle unattended. NOTE: Please bring your own hose. Thankfully, a new bulk water system will be installed at the Water Treatment Plant by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) in the next few weeks. 

We are sending positive vibes to Bill S who has racked up some frequent flyer miles recently. There must be easier ways to fly the friendly skies! 

Now that township committees are up and running, be sure to check the township website for meetings dates and times if you would like to attend as a member of the public.

It’s time for more Short Poems for a Short Month! Submit your haiku, rhyming couplet, limerick, or sonnet to fergmeijer@gmail.com and we will add them to the column! This week’s poem was submitted by C. P. Chatterbox and is an ode to Manitoulin:

Manitoulin Island, oh how grand, 

The largest freshwater isle in all the land.

Surrounded by water, with beaches so fine, 

A paradise of nature, simply divine. 

The air is so fresh, the forests so green,

A breathtaking view, like nowhere else you’ve seen. 

A place to unwind, and escape from the rush, 

Manitoulin Island, a beauty you can’t hush. 

And finally, we know times can be tough, but just remember, 3027 years from now, life will either be really good, or really bad. It’s 5050…Have a great week!

February 15, 2023

Despite all their efforts to fly below the radar, the Kagawong Gobble Brigade (KGB) are in the news again this week. According to the highlights notes posted to the township’s Facebook page (FB.com/billingstownshipkagawong), council will be sending a request to the MNRF for action on concerns around having the KGB in the area. The notes were not specific about what the council’s concerns were but given the recent ‘weather’ balloon incursion near Manitoulin Island, it seems clear to us where their concerns SHOULD be.  Perhaps the Gobble Brigade thought if they can’t stay below the radar, a balloon would let them fly above it. 

The Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee is hosting a Family Day Skate and Slide event this  Monday (February 20th) at the Kagawong Outdoor Rink from 11am until 3pm. If you haven’t tried out the new rink yet, now is your chance! Rumour has it there will be coffee and hot chocolate and maybe some pizza to enjoy as well. We hope to see you there!

Are you looking for ways to get involved in your local community? Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered! And be ‘we,’ we mean the Western Manitoulin Volunteer Fairs that will be happening in April. Stop in to meet the many organizations that work to make our communities so special. Learn about their efforts and events, and you are sure to find a comfortable fit for you. Gordon/Barrie Island & Burpee-Mills is April 12th at the Gordon Community Centre. Gore Bay will hold theirs April 19th at the community hall, and Billings’ is April 26th at the Park Centre. All Volunteer fair days run from 2-8pm and include refreshments as well as prizes to be won. If you are a volunteer organization interested in taking part in the fairs, contact Annett (westman@lambac.org) by February 20th to reserve your spot. 

Did you know? MSS has ‘late’ buses running every Tuesday and Wednesday after school to allow students to participate in extracurricular clubs and sports. Buses run to both the west end and east end, leaving the school at 5pm and stopping at multiple central drop-off locations along the way. Students are encouraged to sign up before lunch time each late bus day, but the buses run regardless of numbers. (You would have known if you read last week’s column… just saying.)

Happy birthday wishes go out to Neil L and Heather S; two people who are a whole lot of fun, and only a little bit old. They are both celebrating a 29th trip around the sun. We hope your birthdays are as cool as you think you are. Also celebrating this week is Chase C, though he’s not quite 29 yet, he’s definitely cooler than the rest of us.  

Reminder that the fire hall is still off-limits for safety reasons. Please utilize the water at the public works garage at 34 Carter Crescent. Please be mindful of the bay doors, and do not leave your vehicle unattended. NOTE: Please bring your own hose. Thankfully, a new bulk water system will be installed at the Water Treatment Plant by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) in the next few weeks. 

Now that township committees are up and running, be sure to check the township website for meetings dates and times if you would like to attend as a member of the public.

It’s the second annual Short Poems for a Short Month! Submit your haiku, rhyming couplet, limerick, or sonnet to fergmeijer@gmail.com and we will add them to the column! This week’s was created by a friend who works in IT who wishes to remain anonymous. 

In Northern Ontario, it's a blast,

The winters are long, but they pass,

With a sled and some whiskey,

You'll laugh and be frisky,

It's a place where the fun’s not surpassed! 

Have a good week!

February 8, 2023

Team Fergmeijer spent the last few very chilly days keeping warm by cooking up a storm, and we weren’t the only ones. Local foodie Jamie Ward was baking, too. He found a new recipe from Morocco for homemade dinner rolls he wanted to try. He said it called for fresh thyme, and even though all he had was some that was outdated, he decided to use it anyway. According to him, “As I reminisce, I really like that old thyme Moroccan roll, yo!”

We know Manitoulin is an amazing place filled with amazing people, but every once in a while, even we are shocked at just how amazing. Last week, the Angel Bus (a service which provides free accessible transportation for those with mobility limitations) appealed to the public to help them raise an ambitious $30,000 for a new bus. An opportunity had come up and to take advantage, the Angel Bus Committee had to have the money in FIVE days. Loving a challenge, the fundraising committee put out the word across Manitoulin, and boy-oh-boy, did Manitoulin come through. In just 4 days, donations had hit the fundraising goal and then some! Thanks to your generosity, the Angel Bus will have some much needed new wheels. Any funds raised above and beyond what is needed for the new bus will be used for operational expenses throughout the year. 

Along the bus transportation theme, the high school has ‘late’ buses running every Tuesday and Wednesday after school to allow students to participate in extra curricular clubs and sports. Buses run to both the west end and east end, leaving the school at 5pm and stopping at multiple central drop-off locations along the way. Students are encouraged to sign up before lunch time each late bus day, but the buses run regardless of numbers. 

The deadline for applying for summer student positions is quickly approaching. Get your application in for positions with Public Works, the marina, and the library by noon on Friday. Visit the township website for more information: https://billingstwp.ca/employment-opportunities/

Happy birthday to the man who invented the automatic tennis serving machine. We wish you many happy returns!

The Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee is hosting a Family Day Skate and Slide event on Monday February 20th, 2023 at the Kagawong Outdoor Rink. If you haven’t tried out the new rink yet, now is your chance! 

If indoor activities are more your thing, Zumba classes have started up at the Park Centre, Tuesdays (5pm) and Thursdays (6pm). So get on out there and boogie your way to healthy living!

Reminder that the fire hall is still off-limits for safety reasons. Please utilize the water at the public works garage at 34 Carter Crescent. Please be mindful of the bay doors, and do not leave your vehicle unattended. NOTE: Please bring your own hose. Thankfully, a new bulk water system will be installed at the Water Treatment Plant by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) in the next few weeks. 

It’s the second annual Short Poems for a Short Month! Submit your haiku, rhyming couplet, limerick, or sonnet to fergmeijer@gmail.com and we will add them to the column! 

Oh here's the tale of Marcus Spout

who wears his suit coat inside out.

It isn't custom he's declining;

it's just that he adores the lining.

When Team Fergmeijer first moved out on their own, they bought two pretty lockets and put their pictures in them. You could say we were finally independent. Have a good week!

February 1, 2023

We came, we jigsaw, we puzzled! Thanks to everyone who came out to the puzzle swap at the Billings Library this past weekend. Here’s to many days of frustratingly trying to pound pieces into the wrong spot.

We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of John Buie on the weekend. He was a fixture of Kagawong and Manitoulin, with a ready smile and silly joke for anyone who crossed his path. We will miss him terribly and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. John’s funeral will be 11am this Thursday, February 2nd at St. John’s Anglican church in Kagawong with refreshments to follow. 

Summer student positions with the township are open for applications. Positions available are: Public Works, Marina Assistant, Library Assistant, and Museum Assistant. Applications will be accepted until Friday Feb. 10th at 12pm. Visit the township website for more information: https://billingstwp.ca/employment-opportunities/

In a bid to shift the local paparazzi’s focus off of themselves, it would appear that the KGB (Kagawong Gobble Brigade) has lured in an attractive distraction in the form of a rare Lewis’ woodpecker. Seen mostly in western regions, ‘Meriweather’ (as he has been named by the keen eye’d Phyllis C who spotted him) may have been blown off course in the nasty weather that passed through several weeks ago. The turkeys’ distraction tactic has worked, with dozens of keen twitchers stopping in to catch a glimpse, leaving the turkeys to roam the village in peace.

Happiest of happy birthdays goes out to the one and only Doug C. It’s a milestone year for Doug - he turns the big 2-9 this year. It’s a big enough deal that you should probably buy yourself something sparkly and new to celebrate. Maybe something with chrome trim, to set off your eyes. Also celebrating this week is Gabe H, although he is not quite at the 29 mark, we wish him cake and presents and fun for his big day!

The Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee is hosting a Family Day Skate and Slide event on Monday February 20th, 2023 at the Kagawong Outdoor Rink.If you haven’t tried out the new rink yet, now is your chance! 

If indoor activities are more your thing, Zumba classes are also starting up at the Park Centre, Tuesdays (5pm) and Thursdays (6pm) beginning January 31st. So get on out there and boogie your way to healthy living!

Missed the last Billings council meeting? The township is now sharing Council Meeting Highlights in the days after the meeting. Check out the township website at http://billingstwp.ca. The next council meetings will be February 7th and 21st. 

Reminder that the fire hall is still off-limits for safety reasons. Please utilize the water at the public works garage at 34 Carter Crescent. Please be mindful of the bay doors, and do not leave your vehicle unattended. NOTE: Please bring your own hose. Thankfully, a new bulk water system will be installed at the Water Treatment Plant by the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) in the next few weeks. 

February is here! To celebrate the shortest month of the year, we are pleased to announce the second annual Short Poems for a Short Month! Submit your haiku, rhyming couplet, limerick, or sonnet to fergmeijer@gmail.com and we will add them to the column! 

Needing water to clean dirty clothes, 

Off to the works building he goes! 

He stopped in mid-week,

But ended up cursing a blue streak, 

‘Cause he forgot to bring his own hose.

Have a good week!