Kagawong
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 7 pm 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 7 pm, or for a 2 pm 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 7 pm, 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 to 8:30 pm, starting March 22nd and running for six 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 to 8 pm 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 11 am 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!
Meldrum Bay
We are covering two weeks because I missed getting the column in early enough last week.
Friday night, the 17th of February, at cards there were three tables plus one sit out. High lady was DonnaKay McDonald with 67 points; high man was Helen Black with 77 points; Chris Bigras won the ladies’ lone hands with two. Men’s lone hands went to Myra Duncanson with two; most euchres went to Bob Benedict with eight and he took home the juice as well; the money jar was still safe.
Saturday morning, we were cleaning up and setting up for the Fun Day event. Sandra Hartley looked after a lot of the organizing of the event. It is fun to work together getting everything clean and ready to go.
Sunday morning the food started coming. There were beef stews and chili con carne and many desserts. We served two kinds of chili, one with corn and another without. As well, someone made a very hot version for the people who liked spicy. There were lots of desserts.
A scavenger hunt was set up. As the people were arriving everyone was happy and chatty, and it was like one big party. At the entrance was a large basket which was won by John Bonwick. After the meal and dessert there was a euchre tournament. At half time everyone came down and ate again, then returned to the euchre game. A good time was had by all.
The report for the euchre tournament was supplied by Myra Duncanson: The day started with a delicious stew and chili luncheon with lots of desserts. We had eight full tables of euchre players – fantastic day! Winners for first place were Larry and Sylvia Pfiefer, tied with Karen Noble and Myra Duncanson, each team had 85 points and won $80; two teams also tied for second place, Sally Lanktree and Irene Duncanson, plus Harold Rogers and Paul Sorbara, each team had 82 points and won $30; the 50/50 winners were Scott Harley with $57.50, Colin Frame with $27.50, Mary Leeney with $43.50, Bob Benedict with $26.50, Guy Bigras with $31 and Myra Duncanson with $25.50; prize winners were Mary Leeny (three), Larry Bednarz, Harold Rogers, Larry Pfeifer, Myra Duncanson (two), Colin Frame, Elaine McDonald, Sara-Lyn Arnot, Mildred Kelly, DonnaKay McDonald, Guy Bigras, Susan Arbour, Karen Noble and Joyce Benoit. Dawson Citizens get a big thank you of appreciation for their invitation to invite us to organize the euchre tournament. We had loads of fun and were able to give them $215.50. Special nod goes to all who helped set up and worked all day long, especially Karen Noble. Thanks, from Myra.
Rene Lampe has registered with ChatGPT. He asked it to give him description of Meldrum Bay. It was amazing. He thought maybe it could write my column for me.
Last Friday night at cards there were four tables. High lady was Rose VanEvery with 74 points; high man was Harold Rogers with 69 points; ladies’ lone hands were won by Myra Duncanson with three; men’s lone hands went to Bob Benedict with five; most euchres were won by Brenda Carter with 11; the juice went to Karen and the money jar is safe. We were getting a little low on prizes, so Rose and Diane put their heads together and decided to make cookies for the prizes. Great idea!
Silver Water
Saturday, February 18, there was a belated 80th birthday party for Gladys Duncanson. Her sons, Craig, Blake and Clarke and other family members did the work, and everyone enjoyed the meal.
There was a large crowd out for the Winter Fun Day in Meldrum Bay on February 19. The stew and chili luncheon were enjoyed. There were eight full tables for euchre upstairs in the afternoon. Thank you to all the people involved in the day, it was a lot of work and very successful.
Last week was full of snow falling and kept the snow removal people very busy.
There was a pickup truck accident in Fernlee this week with no one hurt.
Doug and Brenda Carter and Albert and I went to the old Twin Bluffs building for Sunday brunch. Thank you to Carol Chandler and her crew for a wonderful meal.
There were lots of snowmobiles around last week. The trail groomer is on its way west this coming week now that there is enough snow on the ground.
There were nine euchre players out on Thursday night in Silver Water. There were 16 out in Meldrum Bay on Friday.
We had lots of households out to the recycle bins on Saturday, February 25. Thank you to everyone who saves their egg cartons and Farquhar milk bags which get reused. Thank you to everyone who brought liquor containers that will be returned with the proceeds going to the Silver Water Community Hall.
Happy 89th birthday to Joyce Benoit on March 1. Happy 75th birthday to Myra Duncanson on March 3. Happy 49th birthday to Chris Wismer on March 4.
Get well to Joe Williams.
