Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your friendly frozen fly!
Camo and silly season is in full swing. That means it’s all about the meat, the mingle and the jingle. This time of year, we take lock, stock and with two smoking barrels and a bow we count the blessings of a good hunt and harvest, make preparations for the countless cold months ahead and sharpen our blades on all fronts.
Providence Bay had some wonderful and memorable events to kick off the official silly season with the Community Living Masquerade Ball, the chart topper bingo event and the fowl supper. We are ready to settle in and set the stage for time with family and friends and countless months of eating and catching up on those indoor honey-do projects and lists that have exponentially grown in size. This time of year is like being in the ring or in the stand. It’s a time where there are so many preparations and plans paired with many hours of waiting in anticipation of the main event. Getting there, seeing it all come together is a big part of the magic. Sometimes we have the deer by the reins, sometimes the deer has us. However it unfolds we have to have courage, keep the faith and follow the path. As December comes hurtling toward us like an unexpected snowball to the back of the head; remember to laugh, breathe, hold steady and be ready for the next weird, wild and wonderful chapters ahead.
Here’s what’s happening:
Providence Bay Arena: The operating season at the Providence Bay War Memorial Community Arena is from December until the end of March and is the host site for the Pearson Cup and the Bradly McAllister sportsman 4 on 4 hockey tournaments. Last year the Providence Bay arena had first ice on December 6, hoping it’s an earlier start this year. Stay tuned!
Providence Bay Curling Club: The season is off to a great start! Join us for Manitoulin’s first bonspiel of the season! Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1. This is an open spiel, men’s, women’s, mixed, or any combination welcome! Entry fee is $220 and includes a minimum of three games plus a delicious Saturday dinner! Email providencebaycurling@gmail.com or call David at 705-377-4668 to register your team!
Youth Curling continues Saturday mornings from 9:15 am until 12 noon.
Providence Bay Hall: Friday mornings is exercise classes which continue until December 6 from 10:30 to 11:30 am. For
information contact Alison at 705-377-5726.
Community of Christ Peace Church service at 10:30 am. Christmas carols and sing-along is Friday, December 20.
Spring Bay/Providence Bay Lions Bottle Drive: Drop off your empties next to the arena for a good cause. This helps keep our township clean and helps us give back to the community.
Manitoulin Pet Rescue Operation Santa Paws pet food and supply drive is in full swing. Check the Facebook posts and ads for details on where to donate and what items are needed!
The Heavens: The next full moon will occur on Sunday, December 15 at 4:02 am. It is also known as the
Cold Moon. The next meteor shower is the Geminid meteor shower which is active to December 24 and will peak overnight on December 13 to December 14. Clear nights on the Island are always a delight, keep your eyes to the skies!
Mentions: Happy November and early December birthdays, happy holiday parties, happy tree trimming and decorating. Enjoy the time with friends, neighbours and loved ones. Play safe and be sure to check your municipal news and social media notices and this paper for updates around the Canada Post strike, deadlines and delays.
Go Mindemoya Thunder and Manitoulin Panthers!
Reminder there is a PA Day sponsored public skating and sponge puck on Friday, November 29. Public Skating from 1 to 2 pm. Sponge Puck from 2 to 3 pm. These skates have been sponsored by Huron Sands Motel and Restaurant and The Artisan’s Nook Giftshop.
“It’s coming on Christmas; they’re cutting down trees. They’re putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace. I wish I had a river I could skate away on.”
– Joni Mitchell
‘River’ from Blue Songs
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
As the days get shorter and nights longer, we thought you might be needing something uplifting, so forgive us for leaning into a more motivational/inspirational lane this week. Remember, Count Dracula was 412 when he moved to America in search of new blood, Sauron was 54,000 years old when he forged The One Ring, and Cthulhu had seen galaxies flare into life and fade to darkness before he put madness in the minds of men. In other words: it’s never too late to follow your dreams!
The township is now accepting applications for those interested in joining the NEW Senior’s Advisory Committee! The Senior’s Advisory Committee (SAC) will: act as a liaison to Council, promote ways to enrich and enhance the lives of seniors within the township, identify barriers, form partnerships with the community, provide recommendations to Council based on input received from the community to improve policies regarding the programs and services provided to seniors, identify barriers to access township programs and services by seniors and those with accessibility issues, work with decision makers to achieve an age-friendly community. If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your application no later than December 11th, 2024 at 4 pm to tmills@billingstwp.ca. Check out the town website for more information.
Not only have we moved from daylight savings time to standard time, but we’ve also gone from summer landfill hours to winter landfill hours. You can now access the landfill Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6 pm, Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.
This week we are wishing Nora U, Candy T and Chantelle W a happy birthday, as they all celebrate the big 2-9! In banana years, you are ripe enough for bread, and the best is yet to crumb!
Thank you to everyone who took part in the Billings Library silent auction last weekend. It was a huge success, raising funds to support our local library. Auction winners are reminded to pick up their items by December 10 at the library (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 pm; Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm). Contact the library directly if you need to arrange a pickup outside of regular library hours. Any items not paid for/picked up by the deadline will be offered to the next highest bidder.
The Manitoulin Community Choir will be performing in Kagawong this Friday, November 29 at 7:30 pm at the Park Centre. They’ll be presenting a mix of songs and styles with a little something for everyone. Admission is $15 per person with tickets available at the door.
As we get older, Team Fergmeijer remembers all the people we have lost. In hindsight, perhaps a career as tour guides was not the best idea. Have a great week!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
Friday night, November 15, at cards there were 18 people. There were four tables with one man and one lady sitting out. We enjoyed having several of the hunters out. High lady was Karen Noble with 74 points. High man was Doug Carter with 75 points. Lady’s lone hands went to Lisa Townsend with six. Men’s lone hands went to Gerald V. with four. Most euchres went to Nathan R with eight. Karen Noble took home the juice. The door prize was won by Joyce Benoit. Gerald V. won the 50/50 draw. The money jar is safe.
Hunt week is on and there are many trucks parked in front of camps and houses. In the Loon Lake area a deer was hanging. The McDonald hunting group got an eight point buck. The Van Every group as of the 21st had two deer and the Sheppard group had two deer. Good luck to everyone and stay safe.
My sister-in-law Norma and I went to Carter House in Kagawong. The meal was excellent. I had never been there before, and after the event we were given a tour. It was quite impressive. Barbara Pennings gave a talk about Mending Hearts, which is a work she is involved in. It was interesting and informative.
Have a great week everyone!
Barrie Island
Enid Runnalis
The Barrie Island community is mourning the recent loss of a few of their dearest – Pat Best, Grant Baker and Ron Chatsivas, each with a connection to Barrie Island. They will be remembered and missed by many, and our condolences go out to their families.
Hunting week is here and Barrie Island has become a busy place. Before dawn, you can see lights and blaze orange as the hunters find their positions in the various fields. From what I’ve heard, many have filled their tags already and the dark evenings are spent recalling the thrilling details by the fire with family and friends.
Coming up on November 30, is the Holiday Market at the Gordon Community Centre on 29 Noble Side Road. Come out for lunch and shop the offerings of our local artisans, bakers and craftspeople. A voluntary donation towards the Gore Bay Food Cupboard would be gratefully accepted at the door.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday, November 15 there were four tables of euchre players in Meldrum Bay. It was great to have five hunters come out to join us.
On Saturday morning, we cooked all the sausages for the pancake breakfast. After lunch, Doug and Brenda Carter helped us set up the hall. Albert Meijer and I went to Tehkummah for their turkey dinner. We were part of the first setting of over one hundred people.
Sunday morning was the annual hunters’ pancake breakfast at the Silver Water Community Hall. We raised $1,500 for the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary. About 160 people were fed. Thank you to everyone who came out to eat and to all the people who worked at the breakfast. It took a lot of people to make it such a success. The UCW sold baking and earned over $400.
On Monday evening there were six tables of euchre players at the Burpee/Mills Complex.
On Tuesday there was yoga at the Silver Water Community Hall at 1 pm.
On Wednesday evening there was a spaghetti supper in Evansville. The food was great.
The deer hunting stories are starting to be told. The rain stopped in time for a clear sky on Wednesday so hunting should be good.
The Local Services Board is having the budget meeting on Wednesday, November 27 at 7 pm.
The next UCW meeting is on December 5. It is the Christmas party starting at 12 noon with a potluck lunch. There will be a loonie table full of items to bid on. DonnaKay McDonald is collecting donated items for that. All ladies are welcome to join in, upstairs in the Silver Water Hall.
The community turkey dinner for all residents of Robinson and Dawson Township is on December 14.
Condolences to the family of Pat Best.
Condolences to the family of Doreen Fogal.
