July 31, 2024

As we close out the month of July, Team Fergmeijer would like to take this opportunity to be serious for a moment, and shine a light on a little-known cause that is worth sharing: Lasagna Awareness Month. We know our puns tend to be a little saucy, but in all seriousness, ricotta tell you that there are layers to lasagna awareness that go beyond a simple ingredient list. We’re not noodling around - could lasagna be the best meal ever? Pastably. So be grate-ful for this amazing dish, and enjoy a slice for a good cause!

The annual History Day in Kagawong is coming up on August 8th at the Park Centre in Kagawong. In both the matinée (3:30pm) and evening (7:30pm) sessions, author & journalist Mike Strobel will speak about the North Channel “Rhu” tragedy, and author & journalist Richard Thomas will celebrate the Chi-Cheemaun with 50th anniversary sailing stories. Don’t miss out! Follow the Old Mill Heritage Centre on Facebook (facebook.com/KagawongMuseum) for more information.

The township is looking for naming suggestions for the covered rink area, because although we will forever know it as The PickleDome, it would appear some people weren’t happy with that option. Name suggestions for the Kagawong covered rink are being accepted at the town office until the end of August. Check their Facebook page for more information. 

Along with naming the covered rink (and perhaps the township’s new tractor), it has come to our attention that the Kagawong Market Pavilion is in need of a more accurate name since the market moved up the hill. Thus we begin a second completely informal, not-affiliated-with-the-township, and unlikely to get approval, naming competition for the town’s picnic pavilion across the road from the beach. So far, submissions include the Kagawong Kanopy, Picnic Paradise, the Turkey Tent, the Alfresco Experience, and the Chuckle Hut. Email fergmeijer@gmail.com and let us know your pick!

Team Fergmeijer received a lovely compliment last weekend from long-time fan, Mary N. While we strive to report on the recent goings-on in Kagawong, we admit our info about the geographical region around the Thames River isn’t very… current.

The totals have been tallied! The Billings Public Library would once again like to thank everyone who stopped in and added to their to-read pile by purchasing books at their annual used book sale a few weekends ago. The library raised over $2000 at the event! If you missed out, fear not - you can still check out some books (and games) from the library, Tuesday through Saturday from 9am until 5pm (closed 12noon - 1pm for lunch). 

Happy birthday to Willa W who has a birthday sometime around now, as well as Lisa H. Happy 29th to you both! We have two birthday tips for you: 1) forget the past, you can’t change it, and 2) forget the present, because we didn’t get you one. 

What’s that? You haven’t yet been to the Kagawong Summer Market? Be sure to come down into the village Wednesday from 10am until 3pm to check out the over 70 regular vendors! There is something at the market for everyone.

The Manitoulin Tennis Club meets twice a week, and welcomes players of all abilities to come out and play on Sunday mornings at 10am and/or Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, both at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. 

Our words of wisdom for this week: Life is like lasagna. It’s all about what you pack between the layers. Have a great week!

July 24, 2024

Team Fergmeijer are well known for their love of getting out in nature - hiking, canoeing, camping, etc. (maybe one of us more than the other but whatever). This love of the great outdoors has us looking to one of our favourite philosophers of nature - the US National Park Service - for our words of wisdom this week. Their social media posts have helped us learn and grow in really important ways with advice like “Believe in yourself like park visitors who believe they can pet bison” and “If you drink a lot of water, you won't have time for other people’s drama because you’ll be too busy looking for a bathroom.” They also have our safety at heart with cautionary warnings such as “Your chances of getting hunted by a turkey is low, but never zero.” Their advice tends to be both practical and profound at the same time: “One does not simply become a master of karate. First, you must accidentally walk into a spider web” and helps us navigate tricky social situations: “If you come across a bear while hiking, never push a slower friend down…even if you feel the friendship has run its course.” 

The township is looking for naming suggestions for the covered rink area, because although we will forever know it as The PickleDome, it would appear some people weren’t happy with that option. Name suggestions for the Kagawong  covered rink are being accepted at the town office until the end of August. Check their Facebook page for more information. 

And don’t forget Team Fergmeijer’s completely informal, not-affiliated-with-the-township, and unlikely to get approval, naming competition for the town’s recently acquired new tractor. So far we have a good start with some new submissions including Attract Her, Sir-Chugs-A-Lot (or Lady Chugs-A-Lot), and Muddy Buddy. Email fergmeijer@gmail.com and let us know your pick!

The Manitoulin Tennis Club meets twice a week, and welcomes players of all abilities to come out and play on Sunday mornings at 10am and/or Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, both at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. 

We have another big group of folks celebrating birthdays this week. Many happy returns go out to Jen C, Meredith C-N, Mike C, Dawn N-M, and Beth G. We hope that just like our puns, you never get old!

A huge thank you goes out to all the volunteers who helped to make the library book sale another wonderful success. Many books found new loving homes and the funds raised all go to support the public library!

The annual History Day in Kagawong is coming up on August 8th at the Park Centre in Kagawong. In both the matinée (3:30pm) and evening (7:30pm) sessions, author & journalist Mike Strobel will speak about the North Channel “Rhu” tragedy, and author & journalist Richard Thomas will celebrate the Chi-Cheemaun with 50th anniversary sailing stories. Don’t miss out! Follow the Old Mill Heritage Centre on Facebook (facebook.com/KagawongMuseum) for more information.

The township is hosting a public consultation session and an open house tomorrow (July 25th) at the Park Centre. From 2-4pm you can head to the second floor to learn about Oakville Enterprises Corporation and the power generation that happens on the Kagawong river. From 2-6pm you can stop in downstairs to voice your thoughts on how the township should use the ‘Graham’s Hill’ property. Seniors’ housing, municipal garage, recreational trails… let the ideas flow. The more input, the better!

One last bit of National Park Service wisdom to wrap up this week’s column: There’s nothing wrong with following your heart, but it never hurts to check the map, too. Have a great week!

July 17, 2024

Did you know? The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024). The Year highlights how camelids (such as camels, llamas, and alpacas) are key to the livelihoods of millions of households in hostile environments across over 90 countries. Not sure how to celebrate? No prob-llama! Your best pal-paca Team Fergmeijer will get you over that hump! So, pour yourself a glass of llamanade and enjoy the jokes and puns in this week’s column. We are confident they aren’t an alpaca-lapse in judgment.  

Don’t forget about the ongoing PickleDome naming contest. Name suggestions for the Kagawong  covered rink are being accepted at the town office until the end of August. 

Team Fergmeijer loves a good competition, so we are pleased to announce a (completely informal and not-affiliated-with-the-township) naming competition for the town’s recently acquired new tractor. In first place is Tractor McTractor-Face but also in the running are Tiller Swift, The Mower Ranger, Darth Blader, Tractosaurus Rex, Wheely Willy, and the Tillage Tycoon. Email fergmeijer@gmail.com and let us know your pick!

The Manitoulin Tennis Club meets twice a week, and welcomes players of all abilities to come out and play on Sunday mornings at 10am and/or Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, both at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. 

No one is afraid of llama kisses, so why is everyone so worried about the alpacalips?

Happy birthday wishes go out to a bevy of Kagawongians: Linda R, Ardiss F, Arik T, Ethan T, and Carol G (who is Kagawong adjacent, but we don’t let that stop us) are all turning 29 this week. We hope your big days are absolutely llamazing!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Kagawong Show and Shine car show last Saturday, and thanks especially to the Billings Parks, Recreation, and Wellness committee for sponsoring the event!

Thanks also to the Billings Public Library for hosting the beach movie Saturday night. We all learned that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's what you do with your dancin' shoes!

We tried to phone the spiritual leader of Tibet once, but was sent a big goat with a long neck instead. We must have phoned Dial-a-Llama by mistake.

This weekend, July 20th, the Billings Library is hosting their annual book sale and a local author showcase on Saturday (11am-3pm). Come on out to the picnic pavilion and get your read on, and ask the township librarian about having your library card llamanated. Also that weekend, the Manitoulin Art Tour will spotlight a number of Billings artists in the region over the course of the entire weekend - don’t miss out! Finally, the island-wide Household Hazardous Waste Day is also on July 20th. Residents of Billings Township can bring their batteries, old electronics, paints, and chemicals to the Mindemoya Roads Building that day from 1pm-4pm for disposal.

The annual marine service at St. John’s Church is this Sunday, July 21st. The service starts at 9am and all are welcome.

Riding a camel isn’t as hard as you think, though it does have its ups and downs.

Save the date! The annual History Day in Kagawong is coming up on August 8th at the Park Centre in Kagawong. In both the matinée (3:30pm) and evening (7:30pm) sessions, author & journalist Mike Strobel will speak about the North Channel “Rhu” tragedy, and author & journalist Richard Thomas will celebrate the Chi-Cheemaun with 50th anniversary sailing stories. Don’t miss out! Follow the Old Mill Heritage Centre on Facebook (facebook.com/KagawongMuseum) for more information.

This week’s words of wisdom: Llisten to your heart. Do your best to llook on the bright side. Llet your hair down once in a while, and llearn to llaugh more. Llive and llet llive, and most importantly, llove llife! Have a great week!

July 10, 2024

If you haven’t heard already, the township has put out a call for name suggestions for the covered rink area. The township will choose their top three options of those submitted and Kagawongians will  then vote on their favourite of those choices. Team Fergmeijer has already submitted their suggestion - with the new lines painted, we thought The ‘PickleDome’ has a nice ring to it. If you have a name idea that pickled your fancy, submit it! The process isn’t a jarring experience; it’s not cucumbersome at all. You don’t have to wait in a queue-cumber or anything - you can submit an entry any time. We are sure we’ll be dillighted with the final decision and Team Fergmeijer will relish the opportunity to announce it to you when the time comes. 

The Kagawong market continues to impress! The largest weekly market on Manitoulin offers so many opportunities to pick up some great finds and to support local artisans and bakers. There is so much to explore with vendors in the covered rink, in the colourful cabanas, and in pop-up stores in the parking lot, as well as the many local shops in the village. 

The Manitoulin Tennis Club meets twice a week, and welcomes players of all abilities to come out and play on Sunday mornings at 10am and/or Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, both at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. 

Happiest of happy birthday wishes go out to Mary N and Laura H this week as they celebrate their 29th birthdays. It’s weird to be at an age when your back goes out more than you do. 

Normally, yours truly would have spent a good portion of the weekend fangirling over Steve Paikin at the Jabbawong storytelling festival, but this year he had some competition with Waubgeshig Rice on the lineup. Congratulations to all the organizers and volunteers for a great weekend event!

This weekend! Come out to the Kagawong Show and Shine car show Saturday (July 13th). The cars will be at Dig and Doug’s Cedar Furniture on Main Street from 10am - 3pm. There will be lots of great vehicles on display for all to admire. 

That same evening - July 13th - come out to the main beach to see a movie with a car that is auto-matic. It's system-matic. It’s hyyyyydro-matic. Why, it's greased lightning! Bring your own chair or floaty to see Grease, beginning at 9pm that evening. Did we mention it’s a sing-along? This will be a great time out for the whole family! Check out the library facebook page (fb.com/Kagawonglibrary) for more details. 

Next weekend, things REALLY take off! July 20th, the Billings Library is hosting their annual book sale and a local author showcase on Saturday (11am-3pm) - local authors interested in participating can reach out to the library (billingsreads@gmail.com) to be included. Also that weekend, the Manitoulin Art Tour will spotlight a number of Billings artists in the region over the course of the entire weekend. 

And don’t forget about the island-wide Household Hazardous Waste Day, also on July 20th! Not as summer-y, we know. But an important part of helping the environment by keeping hazardous things out of our community landfill. Save up your batteries, old electronics, paints, and chemicals - residents of Billings can drop off items at the Mindemoya Roads Building that Saturday from 1pm-4pm.

Tip of the week: don’t ever let anyone make you feel like you aren’t a big dill. Have a great week!

July 3, 2024

We had a lovely visit with a couple of Team Fergmeijer fans this week who were passing through on a cross-Manitoulin road trip in their new car. Turns out one had his own car ignition installing business. He’s a real self-starter. We promised them that we would incorporate their love of driving into this week’s column. As usual, we’ve been pretty subtle about it, so watch carefully and see if you can catch our sneaky car and driving references. Hopefully the jokes don’t backfire and have you Saab-ing by the end of things.

Nothing revs our engines quite like seeing all the amazing and creative goods available at the largest weekly market on Manitoulin. Stop in for some great finds and support local artisans and bakers. There is always lots to explore between vendors in the covered rink, in the colourful cabanas, and in pop-up stores in the parking lot, as well as the many local shops in the village. 

It must really be summer now, because the Manitoulin Tennis Club is meeting twice a week! Come on out Sunday mornings at 10am and/or Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, both at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. Players of all abilities are welcome, with lessons available in the near future.

Don’t forget to email us (fergmeijer@gmail.com) with any significant events like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, really great sand castles, terrific naps, or any other accomplishments you would like to see recognized here in the column. 

Jabbawong Storytelling Festival is nearly here! This festival is part of the ARTINFUSION weekend (July 5-7) which includes a vendor market, a BBQ lunch on the Saturday, an exhibition of the Manitoulin Island Artists Guild, art workshops on the Sunday, and an evening with author Waubgeshig Rice on the Friday night. Team Fergmeijer has it on good authority that Steve Paikin will also be part of the festivities. Commence the fangirling! Check out the Jabbawong Storytelling Festival on Facebook for more information.

Need more fun to fuel your summer? Come out to the Kagawong Show and Shine car show next Saturday (July 13th). The cars will be at Dig and Doug’s Cedar Furniture on Main Street from 10am - 3pm. There will be lots of great vehicles on display for all to admire. Then, it’s time to hit the beach that evening for the library’s annual open air movie night! Check out the library facebook page (fb.com/Kagawonglibrary) for more details. 

Take some time to catch your breath, stretch and hydrate so you don’t blow a gasket and are too exhausted for when things REALLY take off the weekend of July 20th! The Billings Library is hosting their annual book sale and a local author showcase on Saturday (11-3pm) - local authors interested in participating can reach out to the library (billingsreads@gmail.com) to be included. Also that weekend, the Manitoulin Art Tour will spotlight a number of Billings artists in the region over the course of the entire weekend. 

And don’t forget about the island-wide Household Hazardous Waste Day, also on July 20th! Not as summer-y, we know. But an important part of helping the environment by keeping hazardous things out of our community landfill. Save up your batteries, old electronics, paints, and chemicals - residents of Billings can drop off items at the Mindemoya Roads Building that Saturday from 1pm-4pm.

With the Show and Shine car show coming up, perhaps we should have started this column with a spoiler alert. Have a great week!