Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your friendly shoo fly! As a proud member of the Spring Bay Providence Bay Lions Club, I got to thinking about our Mantra and Motto. “We Serve,” this holds true to all of us, through this incredible journey and adventure we call life. We are all accountable. We serve. We serve our parents, our brothers and sisters, our friends, our neighbours, our churches, our schools, our institutions, our charitable organizations, our teams, our causes, our needs and if we’re really lucky, we get to serve our community and serve a higher power and calling. It’s just like Bobby Dylan said, “gotta serve somebody.” At the end of the day, it’s important to serve and share courtesy and kindness. I teach my daughter this every day and she gets it. She understands it. She gets that act of kindness and good virtues of gratitude, empathy, patience and respect; can change not only the people you are connecting with, but they too, can change you. The takeaway? If you can make one person smile or laugh or feel happy, they too will somehow, someway, someday pay-it-forward and so on and so forth. Teach your children well and be good, that’s my mantra for better or worse and for life. I get a little heavy on the heartstrings at this time of year, can you tell? Enough of my sappy poppycock. Here’s what’s happening: Providence Bay Arena and fairgrounds: Family Rec Nite continues Friday night from 7 to 9 pm until the end of September. Drop in and join the fun! Play pickleball, badminton, basketball, cornhole, ping pong and air hockey with friends, family and neighbours.
Fall Market: Central Manitoulin Markets invites you to the Fall Market at the Providence Bay Arena on Saturday, October 19 from 10 am to 3 pm. Over 60 vendors all under one roof! It will be tons of fun and a great opportunity for getting some gifts for the holidays.
Providence Bay Curling Club: Interested in learning about ice maintenance? Visit https://curlinginontario.ca and sign up for the Ice Tech Assistant course on Saturday, October 26 from 8 am to 4 pm at the Espanola Curling Club.
Providence Bay Hall: Exercise class Fridays for adults age 55+ from 10:30 to 11:30 am with a start date of September 20. It’s a 12-week program. For information contact Alison at 705-377-5726 asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca.
Spring Bay Hall: Yoga continues at the Spring Bay Hall Wednesday evening from 6:15 to 7:15 pm.
Lions Club Golf Tournament and Sea Cadets Fundraiser had a great turnout, congratulations to the Spring Bay/Providence Bay Lions Club on another successful golf tourney. Thanks to all the participants and sponsors for your support!
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.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church: Sunday Service is at 10:30 am; Youth Group Meet ups Wednesdays at 6 pm.
The Heavens: The full harvest supermoon ushered in the autumn equinox of September 22. Equinox marks the start of the fall season in the Northern Hemisphere. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will reach perihelion and visit the inner Solar System, it’s closest to the Sun at 36 million miles (58m kms) on September 27, followed by its closest approach to Earth on October 12. Only two minor meteor showers peak in September, the September Epsilon (ε) Perseids was September 9 and the Daytime Sextantids will occur on September 27.
Huron Island Time will remain open through the early Fall season right through to October. Be sure to drop by for a smoothie, ice cream, sweet and savory food and Island souvenirs! Stroll along the beach and boardwalk, enjoy the spectacular views along Lakes Huron and the Mindemoya River. Lake Huron Fish and Chips and Co. had an epic and super busy season, way to go Matt and crew thanks for all the great food and good company! The Mutchmor Peace Café is open Friday/Saturday and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm all September! Congratulations on another busy and fun filled Season of exhibits and gallery events. Be sure to grab a selfie in front of the Bear and Owl Mural by Shalak Attack, her sister Fiya Bruxa, and Bruno Smoky across from the town Square.
Providence Bay Tent and Trailer Park: Yes! They’re still open until mid-October to boot. Check out their on-site store for sundry items, pharmacy must haves and more or just pop over 5466 Hwy 551 for a selfie in front of Maxim’s butterfly and mural. Don’t forget to hashtag your mural photos “#iheartprovbaypark” and tag the Artist @maximgruninart.
Mentions: Next week is Every Child Matters and Orange Shirt Day Commemoration where we remember and honour children and families in a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Reminders: Looking for cool costumes for Halloween and Harvest Glory Days Scarecrows? Check out Treasures in Mindemoya, local yard sales, Facebook Marketplace or the Providence Bay Transfer Station at 4077 Government Road. Hours are Thursday and Saturday 1 to 5 pm (September long weekend to May long weekend). Great job so far on all of your Harvest Glory Days decorations and scarecrows everyone! Remember, the more “corners” that are decorated, the more Island pride there is for visitors to see! For any further information, please contact The Expositor Office by email at services@manitoulin.com or call 705-368-2744. This event is organized as a public service by The Manitoulin Expositor. Judging will take place the week before Thanksgiving. Deadline for entries is October 4. As we enter the season of gratitude and giving we count our blessings big and small, enjoy the bounty of our harvests and enjoy the gift of making holiday memories with family, community and friends.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
– Leo Buscaglia
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
For those of you new to the column, you might not realize that here at Team Fergmeijer we pride ourselves on subtly inserting the odd bit of wordplay. The casual reader might be completely pun-aware of it, but the savvy reader is not punfamiliar with the odd quip or bon mot we sprinkle into the column (judiciously applied, of course). Even if at first you don’t really appreciate our humour, at some point you will pun-doubtably realize our punchant for wordplay has groan on you. Then, before you know it, the column isn’t a source of pun-ishment, but rather a pundle of joy you look forward to each week.
At time of writing, Billings Township is back in a partial burn ban. Campfires and fireworks are still allowed, but other fires are banned. Check the township website for the most up-to-date information.
We don’t know about you, but for us, last weekend was fully booked! Thank you to everyone who took part in the many events that were part of NorthWords and 4e’s Elemental Festival this weekend.
Not ones to sit idle, now that the festival of words has come to a close, the library board is pleased to announce the dates of this year’s silent auction: Thursday, November 21 to Sunday, November 24. Last year’s auction had over 70 items up for bid. This year is shaping up to be just as impressive (can anyone say Ripley’s Aquarium tickets?!). All bidding is done via facebook.com/groups/libraryauction and with nearly 400 participants, it is always a lively event. If you would like to donate an item or service to the auction, or would just like more information, drop a line to billingsreads@gmail.com.
Do you have a friend or family member you would like to honour (or embarrass) with a mention in the column? Birthday coming up? Anniversary? Birth announcement? Six days chocolate free? Adopted a new chinchilla? Reach out to fergmeijer@gmail.com and we will make sure they feel extra special.
Did you know? You can catch up on all past Team Fergmeijer columns at http://teamfergmeijer.blogspot.com/. That’s right – all the punfoolery in one spot.
Never blame others for the road you are on. It’s your own asphalt. Have a great week!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
Sunny warm weather, the bay has been smooth as glass. Some boats are coming and going and some campers are in the campground. The store is open for business and I’ve been in there a couple of times to pick up things that I needed. I managed to catch some sort of cold and I missed a barbecue and also playing for the Sunday Service. Thanks to Kay for filling in for the church service. Tuesday was chair yoga in Silver Water and I drove there and quite enjoyed it. It was just hard enough to make me work but easy enough to be fun.
This week was Quilts and Kits again to produce items to aid others in need. People are very gifted and produce lovely things. The amount of stuff that gets sent out is amazing. I am so proud of everyone who works so hard.
There are some young bucks running after the does. I’ve noticed three different arrangements of antlers so I know that there are at least three young bucks in the village. There was a whole family of grouse that I think are really cute. I’ve eaten grouse and enjoyed it, but I do hope that these ones escape the hunters.
We picked lots of plums. I am cutting them up and freezing them, my brother and sister-in-law prepared plum jam from a unique recipe. I am hoping to get a chance to try some. I’ve also picked apples from our back yard. My grapes are next. I only have one vine so far. My grapes are just turning blue. My neighbour has a large vineyard. She has all sorts of shiny things hanging and swinging among the grapes to deter the wildlife. I hope it works because the vineyard really looks bountiful. I wish her lots of success.
Have a great week everyone.
Barrie Island
Enid Runnels
Big thanks to all who responded to my post on the Barrie Island Group on Facebook. Lil doesn’t go on social media, but I read your messages to her and she was very appreciative.
This week on Barrie Island, people are harvesting their tomatoes and loading up firewood in their basements. You’d think winter must be around the corner, but at 26 it feels more like a summer day!
Lyle Phillips of Manitowaning, brother of Carolyn Calback, was in for a visit with his sister Carolyn and George. He brought some vegetables from his garden for them to enjoy.
Gord and Karren Fountain of Abbotsford, B.C. stayed for a few days with Wayne Jeffkins. They are Ryerson University friends from back in the day. While here they enjoyed the Cape Roberts hiking trail.
Happy 87th birthday to Richard Runnalls (September 15), who was here gathering honey from his hives with his son Aaron from the Bruce Peninsula. So far, they have 400 lbs of the liquid gold and say there is more to come!
Carolyn Lane-Rock is off for her annual visit to the Sudbury Cinefest. When she returns, she will let us know which ones get ‘two thumbs up,’ stay tuned!
The Little Free Library at the corner of 5th Side Road and East Line Road has been painted up and getting a lot of visits, someone was in there for a Clive Cussler thriller and also the Fredrik Backman book and it looks like there are a few new books in stock. Hope you’ll visit!
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday, September 13 Rick and Jennifer Stelzer arrived at our house in the morning. Jennifer is the granddaughter of Jack Fleming and Marie Fleming Hall and daughter of Beverly. They live in Ottawa now. Jennifer and I used to ride our bicycles when we were young to visit Mary Ellen Lane who lived in the house I live in now. Rick, Jen and I went touring to Purvis Fisheries on Burnt Island where we had a visit with Denise Sheppard. We had lunch at Stop 540. Then we went to Cape Roberts where I had not been since the cattle went there for the summer.
On Saturday, there was a vendor market in our yard. The markets will continue each week except Saturday, October 12 which is the Rotary Fall Produce Auction in Gore Bay.
I had a swim on Saturday afternoon and visited with Gladys Duncanson and her granddaughter Jamie while they sat in their chairs on the beach. Jamie visited with Murray and Gladys for several days and went back to Sudbury on Thursday. Blake Duncanson and his brother, Craig were here for part of the weekend.
Monday evening there was euchre at the Burpee Mills Complex. There were 27 players, DonnaKay McDonald won the money jar with 97 points.
On Tuesday, Colleen Julseth, Albert Meijer and I went to Meldrum Bay for the kits and quilts. The group tied two more quilts and packed another 130 hygiene kits. We have been lucky to have a number of people offer to take the finished items to New Hamburg to the warehouse.
Tuesday afternoon, there was chair yoga at the Silver Water Community Hall.
Tuesday evening was fire practice in Silver Water.
On Wednesday evening, I went to the Manitoulin Municipal Association meeting in Mindemoya.
On Thursday evening it was euchre at the Silver Water Community Hall.
I have been swimming by myself every day, knowing the days are numbered in the lake.
Thursday evening, Colleen Julseth, Gladys Duncanson and I went for a walk. We will have to start earlier another time as it was getting very close to too dark by 8 pm.
Sara-Lyn Arnot has sold her house as of Thursday and she has left in her travel trailer with her dog Dolly to visit family for the next few months. We thank her for all her time in the community, she was on the local boards for years and helped at local events. She sold the house to Carol Hazzard Chandler who will be moving in soon.
Debbie Addison Brawn is at her parents’ house doing more packing up. She made a trip to Vermont recently for a family event.
The Local Services Board election meeting is Wednesday, September 25 at 7 pm.
There will be a luncheon at 12 noon followed by a euchre tournament starting at 1 pm on September 29 at the Silver Water Hall.
There will be a Silver Water Recreation Centre meeting including an election on October 2.
The Local Roads Board meeting will be Monday, October 7 at the Silver Water Hall.
Condolences to the family of Gary James.
Condolences to the family of Wayne Croft.
