February 28, 2024

Team Fergmeijer wasn’t initially going to celebrate Leap Day, but eventually we decided to jump on the bandwagon. Did you know a person born on February 29th is called a ‘leapling’? If this is you and you need ideas about where to celebrate your birthday, may we suggest IHOP? We were wondering, instead of an extra day every four years, could we just sleep in for an hour every day for 6 days out of the year? Will Office 365 work on a leap year? If you get married on February 29th, do you only have to remember your anniversary every four years? 

The next Manitoulin Streams Youth Rangers event is just around the corner! Youth in grades 1-8 are invited to join Manitoulin Streams on Wednesday, March 13 from 11am - 2pm at the Park Centre in Kagawong, making it a perfect mid-March-Break activity. Participants will do some maple tree tapping, and enjoy a pizza lunch. Cost is $10 per child, with limited space available. Contact getinvolved.manitoulinstreams@gmail.com for more information or to register.

Town council approved a new Municipal Owned Water System Ad-Hoc Committee. The town will be issuing a call for members on their website soon (billingstwp.ca). 

The community rink is closed at the time of writing due to the mild weather. Follow the township Facebook page for the most up-to-date information as conditions can change pretty quickly.

It’s true! One half of Team Fergmeijer heard a Canada Goose honk its way across the sky just last week. Given the unseasonably warm winter, it is possible we might see the iconic Sandhill Cranes arriving early this year. Will YOU be the first to hear the majestic coo of the cranes? Email any sightings to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate in our annual Sandhill Crane challenge!

The final submission in our short contest of Short Poems for a Short Month is the shortest of short poems - a simple rhyming couplet:

In leap year's span, an extra day we earn,

A fleeting gift, for time's swift turn.

Do you know what the best part of a leap year is? You don’t have to endure our leap-themed puns again for another 4 years. Have a great week!

February 21, 2024

Team Fergmeijer is always up for learning new things (which is why the fact that some people can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bugs us in ways we can’t put into words), and we thought we would share one of our newfound bits of knowledge with you! Did you know that William Durant co-founded General Motors and Chevrolet. Most importantly, he also founded Frigidaire which made him the very first refrigerator magnate. 

At time of writing the community rink is OPEN again due to the cold weather, but follow the township Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.

The Park Centre in Kagawong was a-buzzin’ for the Winter Market on February 10th. Thanks to all the vendors and visitors for making the day so successful!

Thanks also to everyone involved in the Kagawong Winterfest, especially the volunteers with the Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee who organized it all! It was nice to see everyone out and about, enjoying themselves. 

Happy belated birthday wishes go out to Valentine’s babies Neil L and Chase C, and Valentine’s-adjacent baby Heather S. Celebrating this week are Ruth F, Suedy H, and Maddy M. Remember, age is just a number. A big, really annoying number that keeps getting bigger every year, but still. 

This week’s submission for Short Poems for a Short Month is an ode to one of our favourite majestic birds. 

In fields where the tall grasses sway,

Sandhill cranes greet the break of day.

With coos loud and clear,

They migrate each year,

In formations that dance and sway.

Given the unseasonably warm winter, it is possible we might see the iconic Sandhill Cranes arriving early this year. Will YOU be the first to hear the majestic coo of the cranes? Email any sightings to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate in our annual Sandhill Crane challenge!

Did you miss Beauty and the Beast last week at the high school? There are still two more chances for you to be our guest! Performances run Friday Feb. 23rd (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 24th (2pm). Tickets are $20 ($15 for youth under 12) and can be purchased at the door, online at bit.ly/MSSmusical, or at participating pharmacies across Manitoulin.

Baha’i children’s programing is throwing a party this Sunday! Children 8-10 years old, as well as their friends and family, are invited to join in on the fun from 1-3pm at the Park Centre. There will be skits, games, music and crafts. Organizers also provide a healthy snack! Contact Ina Swain (705-282-3498) for more information. 

We decided that if we ever built our own house, we would add a waterway around it with a bridge that we can raise and lower with the push of a button. We will insist on having a remoat control! Have a great week!

February 14, 2024

For those of you who might be punfamiliar with Team Fergmeijer … saying we love a cheesy joke is a definite punderstatement. We hope that the joy we get from this column is apundantly clear, but while we love what we do, writing this column each week can sometimes feel like a huge pundertaking. Each week we have to sit down and put pun to paper, and it can be pundamentally exhausting. Especially because we have to make sure we get the pun-chlines just right. Hopefully, our punchant for jokes has not offended you. If they do make you a bit puncomfortable, just give it a chance - this column really groans on a person over time. 

Today we are celebrating Valentine’s Day AND Short Poems for a Short Month! Sprinkled throughout today’s column will be some love-themed poems. Have a short poem you’d like to share? Email it to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate. 

Congratulations to Ian Anderson who was appointed to the vacant council seat last week. Several interested citizens put their hats in the ring and were given the opportunity to address the mayor and council before voting commenced. Although there was an initial tie, Mr. Anderson was ultimately appointed to the position. 

Roses are red, Our poems are short:

Some make you laugh, some make you snort!

At time of writing the community rink is closed again due to the warm weather. Please stay off the surface as long as the rink is closed so we don’t undo all the hard work the volunteers put into making and maintaining the ice surface. Follow the township Facebook page for regular updates on the rink.

Roses are red, Kagawong is pretty.

We’d rather live here than in a big noisy city!

Attention all youth! Want to come work in the best village on the island? Kagawong summer student position applications are now open for two marina assistants, one public works assistant, one museum assistant, and one library assistant. Check out the township website for more details (http://billingstwp.ca) but don’t dilly-dally… applications will only be accepted until this Friday, February 16. For more information, contact Tiana at the township office, at tmills@billingstwp.ca. 

Roses are red, February has been sunny.

Our column this week is particularly punny!

Be our guest! The Manitoulin Secondary School Musical Theatre Program cordially invites you to their 2024 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. With singing and dancing galore, all accompanied by a live band, it is an upbeat show perfect for the entire family. Performances run Friday Feb. 16 (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 17th (2pm), as well as the following weekend - Friday Feb. 23rd (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 24th (2pm). Tickets are $20 ($15 for youth under 12) and can be purchased at the door, online at bit.ly/MSSmusical, or at participating pharmacies across Manitoulin.

Roses are red, poetry’s not easy

All of our efforts seem pretty cheesy.

It’s back! Don’t miss Kagawong Winterfest on the Family Day weekend! On Saturday and Sunday there will be Family Pick-up Hockey (contact Andrew at 705-968-0375 for more details). On Monday, February 19th from 10am-3pm, there will be skating and sliding for the whole family at the rink/Park Centre, with free hot chocolate, hot dogs, pizza, and treats! Indoors at the Park Centre, stop in to see family-friendly displays from Trapper Ian Anderson and Manitoulin Streams from 11am-1pm. The fun continues at the Park Centre with an afternoon of family fun and movement with Candice of Body Stories Dance from 1pm-3pm. Thank you to the Parks, Recreation and Wellness committee for hosting!

In case anyone is interested, Team Fergmeijer’s favourite love song is “My Punny Valentine.” Have a great week!

February 7, 2024

Our Manitoulin Mom asked us this week why we were suddenly learning a foreign language. We told her we weren’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition. Our interest in learning a new language comes from our elderly neighbour. When we were growing up he would always say, “If it weren’t for me, you’d be speaking German!” He was such a lovely man. Terrible foreign language teacher, though. No idea why the school board hired him. 

Things are heating up in the village! This Saturday (Feb. 10th) come on out to the Kagawong winter market from 10am to 3pm at the Park Centre. Candles, teas, cute clothing, baked goodies, a chili lunch, and more! Just in time to get a Valentine’s gift for the someone special in your life!

Help brighten up the short winter days of Kagawongians near and far by submitting your short form poetry as part of our third annual Short Poems for a Short Month challenge. Your effort should be short (think haikus, rhyming couplets, limericks, etc). Email it to fergmeijer@gmail.com to participate. Sadly this challenge does not have a cash prize, because everyone knows that rhyme doesn’t pay. Here’s a very timely submission that arrived just recently:

This week’s warm weather we’ve felt, 

All the snow is starting to melt.

One step closer to spring,

There’ll be birds on the wing, 

And next, we’ll be catching some smelt!

At time of writing the community rink is closed again due to the warm weather. Please stay off the surface as long as the rink is closed so we don’t undo all the hard work the volunteers put into making and maintaining the ice surface. Follow the township Facebook page for regular updates on the rink.

We were sad to hear that the town clerk, Emily Dance, will be leaving us come the spring. We are so grateful for her work here and wish her all the best in her next endeavors.  

Attention all youth! Want to come work in the best village on the island? Kagawong summer student position applications are now open for two marina assistants, one public works assistant, one museum assistant, and one library assistant. Check out the township website for more details (http://billingstwp.ca) but don’t dilly-dally… applications will only be accepted until Friday, February 16. For more information, contact Tiana at the township office, at tmills@billingstwp.ca. 

Be our guest! The Manitoulin Secondary School Musical Theatre Program cordially invites you to their 2024 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. With singing and dancing galore, all accompanied by a live band, it is an upbeat show perfect for the entire family. Performances run Friday Feb. 16 (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 17th (2pm), as well as the following weekend - Friday Feb. 23rd (7pm) and Saturday Feb. 24th (2pm). Tickets are $20 ($15 for youth under 12) and can be purchased online at bit.ly/MSSmusical or at participating pharmacies across Manitoulin.

It’s back! Don’t miss Kagawong Winterfest on the Family Day weekend, February 17-19. Lots of details still to come, but if we know there will be Family Pick-up Hockey on the Saturday and Sunday. If you want more information to put in a team, contact Andrew at 705-968-0375.

Baha’i children’s classes each Sunday from 1-3pm at the Park Centre. Youth ages 8-10 are welcome to participate in prayer and meditation, art, and music activities. Organizers also provide a healthy snack! Contact Ina Swain (705-282-3498) for more information. 

It’s a sad fact that a lot of us do NOT know the meaning of the French word “pourquoi.” Translate that into English and you’ll see why. Have a great week!