Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Hello everyone Alexia here with your Friendly Papa Fly!
Here we are in the beautiful throws of the countdown to summer solstice and we have the bites and bruises to show for it. Nothing says true grit and summer like swollen bites, blisters, shiners and Sunburns! All in the name of showboating our best Bluegrass in the Country, guest-ready homes ‘n gardens and best boats and bikes. Well done everyone! June is a time when people gather to celebrate, remember and reunite. Where dad’s get to show, shine and show-off a little so this is an ode to all of our sons, brothers, uncles, nephews, best buds, fathers of brides to be, fathers, grandfathers and forefathers.
You are the rock-steady, remarkable rockets your mothers raised you to be and you’re doing great! A toast and a tip of the hat to all you vaders, waders and men of men. It’s certainly not an easy role to fulfill so take a minute to congratulate yourself for your physical prowess, mental fortitude and multi-tasking, even if it is just taking a nap while balancing a beer and a butter tart on your belly. We don’t say it often enough: Dearest dads, this one’s for you! We Love you and we are grateful for you.
Here’s what’s happening.
Providence Bay Arena and Fairgrounds: youth soccer continues Saturdays from 10 to 11 am on noted dates: soccer on Saturday, June 15. Soccer is cancelled on Saturday, June 22.
Bluegrass in the Country rocked hard and was a huge success Hats off to all the builders, organizers, stagehands and musicians!
Providence Bay Hall: exercise class continues on Friday mornings at 10:30 am; Lions Den meeting downstairs, 7 pm tonight, Wednesday, June 12.
Mindemoya: The Central Manitoulin Historical Society is having its annual general meeting On Wednesday, June 12 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at the Pioneer Museum and refreshments will be served. New members welcome; Taekwon-do continues Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Mindemoya Hall; 42nd Pearson Cup mixed softball tournament, Father’s Day weekend, in Mindemoya, June 14, 15 and 16; 8 am to 10 pm at the Mindemoya ballfields
M’Chigeeng: Kenjgewin Teg Open House, Thursday, June 13 from 4 to 7pm; babysitting course at KenjGewin Teg on Saturday, June 15 from 9 am to 4 pm, prepaid pre-registered event.
Providence Bay beach and boardwalk: Providence Bay beach is an amazing 2 km sand beach on the Lake Huron coast that is open to the public. Grab some refreshments and snacks, enjoy some local art and fanfare and say hello to Lance and the crew at Huron Island Time, Bridget, Catherine, Obayaa, Lizze, Clau, Lex and also the crew at The Mutchmor Gallery and Peace Cafe, Matt and Ben and crew at Huron Fish and Chips Co. The Water is perfect now for swimming so play safe and enjoy the beautiful beaches and views!
If you see any big branches or sticks, please gather them close to the docks and keep our water and beaches clean and safe.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church 11 am Sunday, June 16 is Father’s Day service is a musical ode to dads.
‘Toulin Turtles: Turtles are nesting and all over the roads right now so please watch closely and slow down while driving around lakes and wetlands. If you see an injured turtle, contact Turtle Pond at 705-691-0433 or visit Friends of Manitoulin Turtles online.
The Heavens: Rewards this month are numerous, with a beautiful crescent moon shining close to the stars of Gemini and Leo, a big moon close to the brightest
star in Scorpius, and noctilucent clouds visible in the
northeastern night sky. After the summer solstice on Thursday, June 20, the first full moon of
summer occurs on June 21, with a big rocket launch from
Kennedy Space Center scheduled for June 25. So, space
fans and stargazers have plenty to get excited about in June.
A special toast and toe tap for the dads that are watching over us from up above, we love you we, miss you.
Happy Father’s Day weekend to all.
“Well, that’s the thing about life, is the surprises, the little things that sneak up on you and grab hold of you.”
George Banks, Father of the Bride (starring, in their various eras, Spencer Tracy (1920), Steve Martin (1991) and Andy Garcia (2022).
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Took a quick flight down south and we are actually writing the column from the airport this week. It has been a bit of a crazy trip. We just got here and there’s a woman completely passed out on the luggage carousel! She’s slowly coming around now. We spent some time in South America on this trip. We Ecua-dore it there! The next stop on the trip was Cuba and we are Havana great time! One half of Team Fergmeijer decided we should jump out of a perfectly good airplane while we are here. She is definitely the more adventurous of the two of us; she tends to chute first and ask questions later. The friend we were staying with loves to travel by Zeppelin (she hasn’t figured out there are faster and easier ways to get around yet). She’s happy though. It’s true what they say: ignorance is blimps.
Thank you to Manitoulin Streams for orchestrating the planting of new native trees and shrubs along the Kagawong beach and waterfront area! These plants will provide shade to the playground area, prevent geese from coming into the playground, reduce runoff and provide food for small bird species and pollinators. Thank you also to all the volunteers who came out to help plant!
Body Stories Dance is hosting free adult and teen Mindful Movement workshops throughout June and July at the Kagawong Park Centre! Workshops are Mondays from June 3 until July 15 (but not July 1) from 7 to 8:30 pm. Teens are welcome with a participating adult. For more information or to register, email bodystoriesdance@gmail.com or call 647-213-1497.
Come on out for a delightful evening of music, hosted by the Island Singers and the Manitoulin Community Choir on Saturday, June 22 at 7 pm. Manitoulin choirs and musicians will be performing at Manitoulin Secondary School that evening for a pay-what-you-wish donation to Manitoulin Family Resources. It will be great music for a great cause!
Happy 29th birthday wishes go out to Trish T and Karlene S. We hope you both enjoy an all-nighter to celebrate (even if these days that just means sleeping through the night without getting up to pee).
It’s just around the corner! Kagawong’s summer markets run weekly on Wednesdays beginning on June 26. Be sure to stop in the village for some great finds and support local artisans and bakers.
Looking to spin a yarn? The Jabbawong Storytelling Festival is back, Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6 in Kagawong. Check out Jabbawong Storytelling Festival on Facebook for more details.
Start your engines! The Kagawong Show and Shine car show is back! Join classic car enthusiasts on Saturday, July 13 from 10 am to 3 pm at Dig and Doug’s Cedar Furniture on Main Street (free parking available right next door in the township lot). There will be lots of great cars on display for all to admire. Sponsored by the Billings Parks, Recreation, and Wellness Committee.
The Billings Library keeps things going in the summer with the annual book sale and local author showcase on Saturday, July 20. Don’t forget about the Manitoulin Art Tour that same weekend!
The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open seven days a week! Don’t miss the popular vintage camera and photographic exhibition (back by popular demand). There is also a new exhibit featuring local representatives who have gone on to have storied political careers. Be sure to stop in! Also in museum news, mark Thursday, August 8 in your calendars: History Day in Kagawong is back with speakers Richard Thomas and Mike Strobel. Check out the Old Mill Heritage Centre Facebook page for more details.
Billings Library is planning another beach movie night and they are taking suggestions! Email billingsreads@gmail.com to give your suggestion of a movie title for a community movie night by the water.
Tennis, anyone? The Manitoulin Tennis Club is back to meeting Sunday mornings at 10 am at the Manitoulin Secondary School courts. Players of all abilities are welcome, with lessons available in the near future.
Do you know what is worse than raining cats and dogs on your holidays? Hailing a taxi. Have a great week!
Barrie Island
Lillian Greenman
Scott and Enid Runnalls had their daughter Katie from Toronto home last week for a visit.
Sandy and Jim Miller from Ottawa visited last week with Oliver and Barb Runnalls.
Bill and Gail Lewis from Espanola visited George and Carolyn Calback Tuesday afternoon.
Best wishes to Oliver Runnalls on his birthday on June 8.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday, May 31 Murray and Gladys Duncanson’s family arrived for the weekend. They organized a 60th anniversary party on Saturday at the Silver Water Community Hall. There was a large crowd at the party who enjoyed the speeches, dancing and supper.
On Friday night, there were four tables of euchre players in Meldrum Bay.
Saturday evening, Keith and Iris Clarke invited Tom and Linda Rumley, Myra Duncanson and myself to their house for six handed euchre.
On Sunday, June 2 Myra Duncanson, Shawn Noble and I went to Tehkummah to play in their monthly euchre tournament. Natasha McVey and Harold Rogers brought home the prizes.
On Monday night, Murray Duncanson, DonnaKay McDonald, Myra Duncanson and I went to the Burpee and Mills Complex to play euchre. It was their final night until late September. There were 11 tables of players.
On Thursday afternoon, the UCW meeting was held at Sylvia Pfeifer’s home in Evansville. There were 18 ladies. A huge number of events were discussed.
Thursday evening, there were eight tables of euchre players at the Silver Water hall.
Shawn Noble told me that he went for a walk through the bush on Wednesday. He happened upon two mother partridges who were very unhappy about him being there. He did get to see a bunch of baby partridge before he got out of the area.
On Saturday, June 15 there will be a vendor market in our yard. There will also be the UCW’s annual yard sale in the basement of the community hall. Donations for it can be dropped off Thursday or Friday morning.
The annual picnic will be held on Saturday, June 29. The theme is “On the Farm”. Everyone is encouraged to decorate their yards and get a float into the parade. Maybe we will have a lot of tractors entered. There will be lunch available and ball games to watch.
