Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia Here with your Friendly Fly!
The MS Chi-Cheemaun had its first sail last Friday, May 3rd and The Township has officially rolled out the blue carpets and posted the beach area “Children Playing SLOW sign”. And yes, a lot of those kids will be out and about riding their bikes, so please keep your eyes open and watch your speed! Season opener in Prov means everything is slowly regaining momentum and there is indeed a hum and buzz in the air. Mostly saws and heavy equipment mind you, but who’s complaining. The Mother’s Day Market was a big hit and the kick-off to the Providence Bay Youth Soccer at the arena field was tons of fun and will continue again this Saturday from 10 to 11 am, weather permitting. If you’re on the CMPS soccer team, you’re likely on the road today. Have a great game kids. Go juniors and seniors. Bend it like Beckham! I was on the road myself last week, Anna and I went to Gore Bay for a day and did some Mother’s Day shopping and spotted only three lawn deer, less than one would expect for Gore Bay. As far as Providence Bay goes, there are a lot more critters out and about including the elusive chipmunk that has been tormenting and taunting my cat Scaramouche. She remains on high alert.
As we welcome guests over the coming weeks to our fair Island let’s continue to encourage and mandate those garbage and beach clean-ups to keep our beautiful township beautiful. Dear visitors, we welcome you! Be sure to keep those campfires safe and well attended at all times and please for the love of God’s Country, clean up your cups, straws, plastic bags, pop and beer cans! This is our home and that of our elders and children. If you’re staying in town for a while, come by the Mutchmor for a Selfie in front of Artist’s Shalak Attack epic Bear Mural- Bridget, Clau and I will be busy serving up coffees come month end, so be sure to come by; say hello and grab a cup of Joe! Here’s what’s happening:
Providence Bay Arena: Providence Bay/Spring Bay Recreation Soccer Saturdays 10 to 11 am, weather permitting. Those who are registered will continue to receive updates via email.
Providence Bay Hall: Tonight, Lions Club meeting lower level at 7 pm.
Exercise Class continues Friday mornings at 10:30 am
Yoga night continues Wednesdays at Spring Bay Hall at 6:15 pm.
Taekwondo continues Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6 to 8 pm at the Mindemoya Hall
Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary Luncheon, Bazaar and Bake Sale Saturday, May 11 from 11 am to 2 pm at the Mindemoya Community Center.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church Mother’s Day Service, May 12 at 10:30 am, community chat at 11 am service.
If you’re Spring cleaning why not bring some books to add to the Book Box.
I will continue to keep everyone informed of all the food, festivities and community events as our season of fun unfurls. Wishing our Earth Mother and all of you wonderful Moms, pet-moms, sisters, aunties, grandmas and great-grandmas a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend filled with laughter and ove.
Gizhe Manidoo
(Creator)
I’iw nama’ewinan, maaba asemaa, miinwaa n’ode’winaanin gda-bagidinimaagom.
(We offer our prayers, tobacco and our hearts.)
Miigwech gda-igom n’mishomissinaanig miinwa n’ookomisinaanig jiinaago gaa-iyaajig, noongom e-iyaajig miinwaa waabang ge-iyaajig.
(Thank you for the Grandfathers and Grandmothers of yesterday, today and tomorrow.)
Miigwech manidoog iyaajig noodinong, iyaajig nibiing, iyaajig shkodeng miinwa iyaajig akiing.
(Thank you spirits of the winds, water, fire and earth.)
Miigwech manidoog iyaajig giiwedinong, waabanong, zhaawanong miinwa epangishimok.
Thank you spirits of the north, east, south and west.
Daga bi-wiidokawishinaang wii mino bimaadiziyaang.
Please help us to live a good life.
Ahow!
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
This weekend, take a mom-ent to celebrate the mothers and mother-figures in your life. Team Fergmeijer is fortunate to have moms in their lives that have helped and supported them over the years, so to our Manitoulin Mom and our Mainland Mom, we wanted to let you know how much you mean to us in true Team Fergmeijer fashion. Because let’s face it, raisin us was a bit of a mom-umental task at times, but we clearly hit the mother lode when it comes to parental love. Not to get too cheesy, but you are absolutely grate! You can’t be beet. Thanks for pudding up with us; your love means a waffle lot to us.
It must really be spring because the Chi Cheemaun is back in action! You can check out the sailing schedule on the Owen Sound Transportation Company website:www.ontarioferries.com/ms-chi-cheemaun/.
Things moms know: cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth with Oreos.
The museum has launched a new program to honour veterans who lived in Billings Township. Families of veterans are invited to contribute towards the purchasing of a banner that will feature their loved one’s name, photo and regiment. Banners will be displayed throughout the village in the fall lead up to Remembrance Day. Contact the museum (oldmillheritage@billingstwp.ca) for more information.
May had a, shall we say, damp-ish arrival, but nothing can dampen our excitement for all the wonderful events and activities going on in Billings over the coming months! Team Aelick are gearing up for their Stroll for Liver in early June. Visit https://bit.ly/strollforliver to donate to this worthy cause. The Jabbawong Storytelling Festival is July 5th and 6th. The library book sale and local author showcase will be held July 20th, and the Manitoulin Art Tour is on that same weekend. And don’t forget about Kagawong’s huge market on Wednesdays throughout the summer! If you have (or know of) any other events and activities, let us know so we can let everyone else know! Email us at fergmeijer@gmail.com
Things moms know: “It’s spicy.” is mom-code for “I don’t want to share.”
We’ve seen plenty of people taking advantage of the lavender Sic Sox boxes near the Kagawong Park Centre. Drop off any unwanted textile items and the Sic Sox team will take them from there. Items in good shape will be re-sold at the Sic Sox retail store. Other textiles that would otherwise be garbage are recycled into insulation. It’s a win-win for you and for the environment!
Another great green initiative the township has is the used battery drop-off for recycling at the town office.
Happy birthday wishes go out to Sherri C, who is turning 29 to the best of our recollection. Though to be honest, we believe that birthdays are like playing golf. It’s a lot more fun when you aren’t keeping count.
Billings council has established an Ad-Hoc Committee to create a Municipal Owned Water System Policy. The committee will be responsible for developing clear procedures on capital projects and major upgrades to the water lines, as well as reviewing options for implementing a capital levy that can be used to create a water capital reserve, among other important tasks. The Township is looking for 4 members of the community to serve on the committee. Application details are available on the Township website.
Things moms know: kids make a lot of plans for people who can’t drive anywhere.
Be aware that the Old Mill Rd. Bridge replacement has begun and there will be several weeks when the bridge is out of service and the only access to properties on Old Mill Rd. will be via Newburn Rd/Graham Hill. Full closure of the bridge is expected to be no later than May 15th. Please note that construction will also affect those using the river trail. Anyone walking on the east side trails (along the bluff) will not be able to cross the river at the river mouth and will have to retrace their steps to the new pedestrian bridge.
Silence is golden. Unless you have children. Then silence is suspicious. Have a great week!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
Here in Meldrum a few of us have been cutting, splitting and stacking firewood. We’ll be nice and warm next winter.
A shipment of quilts and disaster relief kits has gone down to Southern Ontario to be shipped out to people in need. Kits and Quilts will be meeting the first and third Tuesday in May and everyone says that they have a great time working together to fill this need.
Thursday there was a UCW meeting in Silver Water for the West End and several ladies from here went.
From now on for the rest of the summer, church will be every Sunday at the Meldrum Bay St. Andrew’s.
For the past two weeks we have had a collection bin set up for waste metals. The container has now been filled and has been shipped out.
Don’t forget the Quad Run and Dinner here at Meldrum Bay Saturday May 18. Everyone is working very hard to ensure that it is great fun for everyone.
At cards, April 26, there were 4 tables. High lady was Lois Wismer with 74. High man was Karen Nobel with 72. Lady’s lone hands went to Myra Duncanson with 2. Men’s lone hands went to Bob Benedict with 3. Most euchres was won by Lisa Townsend with 10. Lois Wismer brought home the juice. The 50/50 draw was won by Donna K. McDonald. Once again, the money jar is safe.
Barrie Island
Lillian Greenman
Sandy and Jim Miller as well as daughter Moya Rothwell and her girls Lucy and Olivia from Ottawa were here on the weekend and visited with Oliver and Barb Runnalls and Scott and Enid Runnalls.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
Doug and Brenda Carter came home on Friday Apr 26 from southern Ontario visiting family.
Friday evening we had four tables of euchre players in Meldrum Bay. Welcome to Joe and Laura who are new to the West End.
Saturday afternoon the recycle bins were open and we had lots of people out to them.
Sunday, after services at St Andrews United Church, the annual meeting was held. After that, there was a baby shower for Iris Rain Clarke Porter, daughter of Duncan Porter and Mya Clarke. Her brother, Ivan, also got some gifts. Thanks to Lynn Pickard, her daughter, Abby Morrison and all the other people who helped do the organizing.
Tuesday, there was an exercise class at the Silver Water hall.
At 3:00 pm on Tuesday, Wendy Van Every and I went into Silver Lake. We spent about one minute. The water was very cold. We both agreed we would do it again. This was the first time I can remember being in the lake in April.
Sara-Lyn Arnot returned home on Tuesday. She was in southern Ontario taking her son, Chad, back home. He had spent three weeks here helping his mother with a number of chores.
The fire team had practice on Tuesday night.
Wednesday, Albert Meijer and I took our cat, Charlotte, to the veterinarian. She has poked her eye with something and she will get drops for two weeks to help heal it.
While we were in Mindemoya, we picked up the ice cream for the fish dinner on Saturday.
The UCW meeting was held at the church on Thursday afternoon. Fifteen ladies attended.
Gladys Duncanson and I went for our walk after the meeting.
There were five tables of euchre players on Thursday night at the Silver Water hall.
May 11 there is a fashion show at the Silver Water Hall from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, $10 entry fee.
May 18 is the annual ATV run in Meldrum Bay.
May 25 there is a ham dinner at the Silver Water hall.
Get well to Donna Noland.
