March 29, 2023

As spring showers come down, our umbrellas go up, but with the spring equinox just passed, we know that we’ll all soon have a spring in our step. Business will soon be absolutely blooming at the local greenhouses. Yours truly will soon be trading in our winter weight for spring rolls. With April 1st just around the corner, remember: there are two kinds of April Fools jokes - the funny kind and the kind played on you. 

At time of writing, the title is still up for grabs! Keep your binoculars and ear horns handy if you want to be the first to spot or hear the migratory Sandhill Crane this year! If you see (or hear) a Sandhill crane, drop us a line at fergmeijer@gmail.com or message us (Facebook.com/kagawong1) to let us know when and where you spotted them. Winner gets bragging rights!

This Saturday! Don’t miss the annual Sandhill cooing competition! Annually, and always on April 1st, competitors from far and wide are said to gather on the steps of the Old Mill at sunrise to offer their best, most melodious coo. New this year is the Sandhill Crane Mating Dance competition. Competitors will be given 5 minutes to warm up and stretch, and then they will flap down with their best moves! Winners will be determined by an esteemed panel of judges. In order to avoid another blackmail scandal, the identity of the judges is being held secret. 

The township is looking to fill three student summer positions! Applications are still being accepted for positions at the marina and with Public Works. Send your resume to tmills@billingstwp.ca as soon as possible.

We are sending out very happy birthday wishes to one of the few people whose birthday we can remember without a Facebook reminder. Former Kagawongian Micki B turns at least 29, but since she moved out of the township boundaries, it’s hard to say how old she is now. Many happy returns! 

Get those egg baskets ready - the Easter Bunny is coming to Kagawong! The Billings Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at the Park Centre on Saturday April 8th at 11am. Everyone is welcome to hop on by!

Speaking of eggs, Team Fergmeijer has been taking some cooking classes with a focus on omelets. After an intense month of study, yesterday was our last day. That’s right, it was our final eggs ham.

It’s that time of year to get your green on! The Billings Climate Action Committee is planning Earth Day activities including a community garbage pick-up, as well as a circular economy sale in the township. Looking to learn more about how our township is working to become greener? Check out https://billingscac.blogspot.com/

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. Billings’ is April 26th at the Park Centre from 2-8pm and includes refreshments as well as prizes to be won.

Bulk water users can access the new quick-fill station at the water treatment plant (75 Beach Street). It has options for 2” and 3/4" fill spigots. Remember to bring your clean Cam-lock female fitting to connect to the 2” option. Contact Tiana Mills at the town office for more information (tmills@billingstwp.ca)

Peruvian owls always hunt in pairs. It’s because they are Inca hoots. Have a great week!

March 22, 2023

What in carnation?! It’s the spring equinox already! We know evergreens might not mind winter, but for all the other trees it must be a great re-leaf to see spring is on its way. You can be sure we here at Team Fergmeijer lilac spring a lot and are rooting for warm weather to arrive sooner rather than later. We asked local gardening expert Jamie Ward for his advice about whether we should start our seedlings in April. He told us, “May as well, yo!”

Big News! As part of the first annual NorthWords Festival, the Billings Library is bringing TV writer and author Claire Ross Dunn (clairerossdunn.com) to Manitoulin this summer! She will be holding a writing workshop while she is here and we would love your input on the topic. Complete the survey at tinyurl.com/NorthWordsWorkshops (or find the link on fb.com/KagawongLibrary) and let the library know which topic you like best. 

Happy Birthday to Brett V who is diving head-long into adulting. We wish you maximum fun on your big day with minimum hangover in the morning. 

Island Time Dancing is bringing beginner line dancing classes to the Park Centre! Join Joe and Beth Arnold, Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm, running for 6 weeks. Space is limited! Email joebeth.arnold@gmail.com or call 519-490-5586 to pre-register. Cost of the full 6-week session is $50.

Crocheting for beginners! Stop by the Kagawong Park Centre Sundays at 7pm through the month of March and learn to crochet. All are welcome.

Have you had your ears perked lately? Keep your binoculars and ear horns handy if you want to be the first to spot or hear the migratory Sandhill Crane this year! If you see (or hear) a Sandhill crane, drop us a line at fergmeijer@gmail.com or message us (Facebook.com/kagawong1) to let us know when and where you spotted them. Winner gets bragging rights!

Also coming soon is the annual Sandhill cooing competition! Annually, on April 1st, competitors from far and wide gather on the steps of the Old Mill at sunrise to offer their best, most melodious coo. New this year is the Sandhill Crane Mating Dance competition. Competitors will be given 5 minutes to warm up and stretch, and then they will throw down with their best moves! Winners will be determined by an esteemed panel of judges. In order to avoid another bribery scandal, the identity of the judges is being held secret. 

Looking to learn more about how our township is working to become greener? Check out the Climate Action Committee’s blog! Follow along and watch for new posts at https://billingscac.blogspot.com/

Bulk water users can access the new quick-fill station at the water treatment plant (75 Beach Street). It has options for 2” and 3/4" fill spigots. Remember to bring your clean Cam-lock female fitting to connect to the 2” option. Contact Tiana Mills at the town office for more information (tmills@billingstwp.ca)

Get those egg baskets ready - the Easter Bunny is coming to Kagawong! The Billings Parks, Recreation and Wellness Committee is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at the Park Centre on Saturday April 8th, 2023 at 11am. Everyone is welcome to hop on by!

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. Billings’ is April 26th at the Park Centre from 2-8pm and includes refreshments as well as prizes to be won.

Have you heard of a three-season bed? There’s no spring in the mattress. Have a great week!

March 15, 2023

Saint Patrick’s day is one of Team O’Fergmeijer’s favourite times of the year. We are always ready to shamrock and roll, but we do our best to celebrate it without being O’ffensive. Each year at this time, we try to fit a little Irish into the column, and this year is no different. After all, if it ain’t brogue, don’t fix it! 

Happy Birthday to local leprechauns Mike O’M, Doug O’H, and Sharon O’J who are all celebrating their 29th birthdays. Miss O’Poppy is also celebrating soon, though hers isn’t quite 29 yet. May you all live to be 100, with one extra year to repent - let the shenanigans commence!

Island Time Dancing is bringing beginner line dancing classes to the Park Centre! Join Joe and Beth O’Arnold, Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm, starting March 22nd and running for 6 weeks. Space is limited! Email joebeth.arnold@gmail.com or call 519-490-5586 to pre-register. Cost of the full 6-week session is $50.

Crocheting for beginners! Stop by the Kagawong O’Park Centre Sundays at 7pm through the month of March and learn to crochet. All are welcome.

The next regular Council meeting of O’Billings Township is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21st at 7pm at the Park Centre. The agenda will be posted on the township website, www.billingstwp.ca, the Friday prior to the meeting.

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, Peter O’Gordon once again took the trophy, but this spring it’s anyone’s game! Willa O’Wilson and Rachel O’Ball are both former champs keen to steal back the glory. If you see (or hear) a Sandhill crane, drop us a line at fergmeijer@gmail.com or message us (Facebook.com/kagawong1) to let us know when and where you spotted them. Winner gets bragging rights!

The fire hall is no more, and a reminder that until the new structure is built, bulk water users can access the new quick-fill station at the water treatment plant (75 O’Beach Street). It has options for 2” and 3/4" fill spigots. Remember to bring your clean Cam-lock female fitting to connect to the 2” option. Contact Tiana O’Mills at the town office for more information (tmills@billingstwp.ca)

Mark your calendars! Western O’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. Billings’ is April 26th at the Park Centre from 2-8pm and includes refreshments as well as prizes to be won.

Wayne and Anna O’Aelick, a pair of fundraising Kagawongian superstars, are already raising funds for this year’s Stroll for Liver! Mark Sunday, June 11 on your calendar for a stroll through the village at 11am to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Liver Foundation. More details to be announced as we get closer to the date.

If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough. Have a great week!

March 8, 2023

We nearly forgot that March 12th is National Pancake Day. It really creped up on us this year! You butter believe it would have been waffle if we had missed it. We probably would have flipped out, because you know our motto is ‘the more pancakes, the batter!’ We once had a roommate who hated pancakes, so we had to celebrate National Pancake Day syruptitiously. Thank goodness those days are over! Now we can go out and celebrate our love of all things pancake - like the new movie with a huge pancake monster in it that we saw last night. We enjoyed it, even though it was critically panned. 

Manitoulin Secondary School’s show, Something Rotten! was a smashing success! The lights! The costumes! the music! Congratulations to all the students who put so much of themselves into the show, both on stage and behind the scenes. We hope you get a well-deserved rest over March break. 

Happy Birthday to Shirley F and Arthur H, who are both turning 29 this week! Celebrating you both on your birthday week is a piece of cake!

The fire hall is no more! In just a couple of days, crews had it down to the foundation. We can’t wait to see the new building go up. For bulk water users, a new quick-fill station has been set up at the water treatment plant (75 Beach Street). It has options for 2” and 3/4" fill spigots. Remember to bring your clean Cam-lock female fitting to connect to the 2” option. Contact the town office for more information (tmills@billingstwp.ca)

Looking for activities for the kiddos over March break? Manitoulin Streams has a Youth Rangers event happening March 16th at the Park Centre. From 10-3pm, kids in grades 1-5 can explore the maple syrup process! Cost is $10/child - register by end of day March 10th to take part (getinvolved.manitoulinstreams@gmail.com).

Island Time Dancing is bringing beginner line dancing classes to the Park Centre! Join Joe and Beth Arnold, starting Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm, starting March 22nd and running for 6 weeks. Space is limited! Email joebeth.arnold@gmail.com or call 519-490-5586 to pre-register. Cost of the full 6-week session is $50.

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. Billings’ is April 26th at the Park Centre from 2-8pm and includes refreshments as well as prizes to be won.

Wayne and Anna Aelick, a pair of fundraising Kagawongian superstars, are already raising funds for this year’s Stroll for Liver! Mark Sunday, June 11 on your calendar for a stroll through the village at 11am to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Liver Foundation. More details to be announced as we get closer to the date.

Just in case you think that if you throw a bunch of books in the water you’ll get a title wave, know that what you’ll really get is an enraged librarian giving you a piece of her mind. Have a great week!

March 1, 2023

We hope you got a good sleep last night and rested your legs because today we officially start a 31 day March. Or if you’re not into walking, you can ring in the new month by celebrating the Ides of March with a doughnut. In fact, eat two, Brute. 

Feeling crafty? Get your crochet on this weekend, March 5th at 7pm at the Park Centre. Drop by, and learn basic skills and pattern deciphering for free! Bring what you are working on, or get ideas for your next project.

Manitoulin Secondary School’s musical theatre program is back in action this year with the hilariously ridiculous Broadway show, Something Rotten! It's the story of two brothers 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! Come out to experience the MSS stage Friday March 3rd and Saturday March 4th at 7pm, or for a 2pm matinée on Sunday March 5th. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at the door. 

If you see Shirley F or Nancy C around town this week, wish them many happy returns as they both turn 29 in the coming days. March birthdays are a bit of a family affair for Maddy M, Slade M, and Steve S, who conveniently all celebrate birthdays at pretty much the same time. We were going to say that you are certainly aging gracefully, but it feels like another way of saying you are slowly looking worse. So, instead, we’ll just say - congratulations!

Council is working towards updating the township strategic plan. Have your say on priorities by Thursday March 2nd to get your ideas on the agenda for the next council meeting. Contact Tiana (tmills@billingstwp.ca) for more info or to pass on your thoughts. The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, March 7th at 7pm, in person, at the Park Centre. The agenda is posted the Friday prior to the meeting on the township website.

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. 

A friend of ours said her boss sent out a company-wide email saying they were planning to fire the employee with the worst posture. She has a hunch it might be her. 

Island Time Dancing is bringing beginner line dancing classes to the Park Centre! Join Joe and Beth Arnold, starting Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm, starting March 22nd and running for 6 weeks. Space is limited! Email joebeth.arnold@gmail.com  or call 519-490-5586 to pre-register. Cost of the full 6-week session is $50.

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. Billings’ is April 26th at the Park Centre from 2-8pm and includes refreshments as well as prizes to be won.

We are so jealous of Pavlov’s hair - it’s so soft. He probably conditions it. 

Wayne and Anna Aelick, a pair of fundraising Kagawongian superstars, are already raising funds for this year’s Stroll for Liver! Mark Sunday, June 11 on your calendar for a stroll through the village at 11am to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Liver Foundation. More details to be announced as we get closer to the date.

We hope you have enjoyed another season of Short Poems for a Short Month. We are closing it out with one last ode to our favourite place - Manitoulin! 

A Winter Poem:

Dang, it’s cold. 

The end.

It’s true: the best way to carve wood is whittle by whittle. Have a great week!