Kagawong
Team Fergmeijier
The difference between weather and climate is that you can’t weather a tree, but you can climate. And the weather lately has been positively spring-like! Other than that one ice storm, of course. A typical Manitoulin spring after all!
Look out, gobbling ninjas… there’s a new bird in town! Meriwether the woodpecker is taking advantage of Kagawong’s many woodpecker amenities (that is, trees and treats from Phyllis C) and appears to be taking up permanent residence in our lovely village. If you are a birder or general nature lover, why not join the Manitoulin Nature Club? Check them out at www.FB.com/ManitoulinNatureClub or contact them via manitoulinnatureclub@gmail.com.
Don’t miss out on the chance to work in the loveliest community on the Island! The township is still looking to fill three student summer positions. Applications are still being accepted for positions at the marina and with Public Works. Send your resume to tmills@billingstwp.ca as soon as possible.
It’s a trio of celebrations! Many happy returns to three wonderful women this week: Marilyn P, Jean W and Kristy C all turn 29 next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. They say you should take every birthday with a grain of salt. We say be sure to add some sugar, flour, butter, eggs and vanilla, then bake at 350 for 35 minutes!
This weekend! Join the Billings Climate Action Committee in celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 22. From 10 am to noon they’ll be hosting a circular economy sale (community yard sale) at the Kagawong outdoor rink. Book a table at the rink with Tina Beckerton (tbeckerton@billingstwp.ca), or, if you prefer to host your own on your property, let Tina know and the location of your sale will be added to a community list. There will also be a community clean-up that day.
Compost – it can be more than a pile in the yard! A new addition to the aforementioned Earth Day activities, members of the Climate Action Committee will have an alternative composting demonstration set up at the Park Centre. Bring along some compostable material if you’d like to see it in action! Looking to learn more about how our township is working to become greener? Check out https://billingscac.blogspot.com/.
It’s just around the corner! Billings Volunteer Fair is happening April 26. Stop in at the Park Centre from 2 to 8 pm to meet the many organizations that work to make our community so special. Learn about their efforts and events, and you are sure to find a comfortable fit for you. There will be refreshments as well as prizes to be won.
Mark your calendar! Treat Mom this Mother’s Day and bring her out to the Anglican Church Mother’s Day Lunch. Saturday May 16, the church is offering delicate sandwiches and delectable desserts from 11 am to 2 pm. The cost is $20 per person.
Don’t forget – the landfill is now operating on summer hours. The Billings landfill will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.
Bulk water users can access the new quick-fill station at the water treatment plant (75 Beach Street). It has options for 2” and 3/4″ fill spigots. Remember to bring your clean Cam-lock female fitting to connect to the 2” option. Contact Tiana Mills at the town office for more information (tmills@billingstwp.ca).
What do you call a snowman in April? A puddle! Have a great week!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
Easter was beautiful here in Meldrum Bay. At 7 am Easter Sunday morning, people from Meldrum Bay and Silver Water got together for a sunrise service at the waterfront. It was overcast so we did not see the sun and the bay was frozen over. It was one degree above zero. We were dressed for the weather. There were 20 people there and it was lovely. Rev. Janice Frame led us in an Easter service celebrating the resurrection of Christ. Eric started us on his mouth organ, and we sang Easter Hymns. Several people did readings that covered the Easter story from the perspectives of different biblical characters. After the service we went to the community hall for coffee, muffins and an egg casserole that was delicious. Some ladies had stayed at the hall to ensure that everything was hot and ready for us. As we sat around our tables and visited, we felt like it was a wonderful Easter celebration.
The MacDonald family got together for a Saturday meal at the hall. It was the best place to accommodate everyone, and it was delightful for everyone to be able to get together. Several of the VanEvery family members were here as well and they enjoyed getting together.
All week maple syrup has been collected, boiled and bottled. Now everything is being packed up for the season. It turned out to be a good maple syrup year.
Easter seems to mark the beginning of spring. Snow drops are blooming and the leaves of daffodils and tulips are poking through the ground. I can hardly wait for everything to be in bloom.
Have a nice week, everybody.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
Murray and Gladys Duncanson and her sister, Ardith Cull, drove to Sudbury on March 29. They picked up Craig Duncanson who drove them to Toronto. Gladys had a doctor’s appointment on Thursday. Murray, Ardith, Craig and Clarke Duncanson attended a Toronto Maple Leafs game on Wednesday night. Everyone was home late Thursday night.
We had a great April Fool’s joke on the first: a terrible snowstorm which kept me at home. We were planning to attend the 60th wedding anniversary party for Bill and Eileen Sloan in the afternoon. I understand the party was a success, despite the weather.
I understand there was a party or two to celebrate Doug Smith’s 90th birthday on April 2.
There were eight people from the West End who drove to Tehkummah on Sunday, April 2 for their monthly euchre tournament. Myra Duncanson and I won the top prize with 95 points. DonnaKay McDonald and Ken Duncanson won second prize with 85 points. Erwin Thompson won the 50/50 draw. There were 12 tables in total. There were lots of deer in the fields.
A bunch of card players went to Evansville to play on Monday night.
Thursday, April 6 the UCW meeting was held at St Andrew’s United Church in Silver Water at 1:30 pm. There were lots of ladies out and Janet Joyce talked about her work in Nova Scotia after hurricane Fiona passed through.
Thursday evening, there was euchre at the Silver Water Community Hall.
April 7 was Good Friday. Euchre in Meldrum Bay was cancelled.
Saturday, April 8 I cooked a turkey dinner. I understand there were turkeys cooked on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend.
Saturday morning, I went to Gore Bay to shop. The grocery store was very busy, which was nice to see. The gas pumps were just as busy.
Sunday morning Albert Meijer and I drove to Meldrum Bay in time to attend the Sunrise Service at 7 am. We thought there was no wind until we got to the end of the big dock where Rev. Janice Frame held the service. There were a lot of people there. Everyone went to the community hall afterwards to have breakfast, including hot coffee.
Sunday morning, I woke up with a head cold. Albert and I both wore our masks and stayed away from everyone in Meldrum Bay. The cold is not getting any better six days later. I hear stories from the neighbours about it lasting weeks so I am trying to be patient.
We ordered the Easter dinner from Stop 540. The ham and scalloped potatoes were very good.
The recycle bins were open on Monday, April 10. Twenty households were out.
Tuesday, April 11 was fire practice.
Thursday, April 13, there was euchre at the Silver Water Community Hall. Thanks to Diane Jones for looking after it for me. I was supposed to run the game for Sara-Lyn Arnot, but I stayed home hoping to keep from spreading this cold.
I see maple sap being transported past our house on its way to be boiled down. The warm weather we have had this past week will have finished the season.
We see road crews going past trying to keep up with the potholes.
The crocus plants are up in our yard but are not flowering yet.
I saw a robin in the backyard this past week. That is a wonderful sign of spring.
Have a great week!
