Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your Friendly Fly. October 2 officially marks the beginning of the silly season in my books, so it is officially time to fall-in. Fall in to the cooler temperatures, get lost in the orange hanging crescent moons and the quick fade of the cotton candy sunset skies, get nostalgic at the fall scenes and scarecrows, poised around our favourite landmarks; get glints and glimpses of childhood memories from neighbourhood porch pumpkins; get busy with Thanksgiving gatherings and holiday planning; get creative with costumes and decorations; get grounded with the inherent knowledge that despite the chaos and kaleidoscope that is October, you will see your way through this season again, as you have so many times before. The cyclical nature of history and nature’s history of cyclical balance will make it so. Remember, when leaves are plentiful, the ground is soft. Breath deeply, remember fondly, live graciously. Be fastidious and fierce and with all your might and mane, fall in!
Here’s what’s happening: Providence Bay arena and fairgrounds: Final Rec Nite frenzy of 2024 has begun! Join the final night of Rec Night fun at the Providence Bay arena on Friday night from 7 to 9 pm. Enjoy a game of air hockey, badminton, pickleball or basketball with family and friends.
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 is Fridays for adults age 55+ from 10:30 to 11:30 am. It’s a 12-week program. For info contact Alison, 705-377-5726 or email asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca
Spring Bay/Providence Bay Lions Club: 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 at 10:30 am; Youth Group Meetups is Wednesdays at 6 pm.
The Heavens: October 2 is the Annual Solar Eclipse A ‘ring of fire’ which will be visible in the sky across Easter Island and parts of southern Chile and Argentina. October 2: Micro New Moon, the first of two New Moons in October is a Micromoon which explains why today’s solar eclipse is annular. On October 8 and 9, the Draconid Meteor Shower occurs, the best time to see the shooting stars of the peaking Draconids is just after nightfall.
Providence Bay Boardwalk and Discovery Centre: Huron Island Time will remain open through the early fall season right through to October. Nothing better than good maple syrup, butter tarts, spicy patties, hot soups and delicious roti to set you right on a crisp fall day or evening. And you bet, they’re still serving up great treats and ice cream!
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. The hours are Thursday and Saturday, 1 to 5. Great job so far on all 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 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 Friday, 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.
Mentions: Happy Birthday wishes to my darling daughter Ceilidh, Ruby, Grayson, Kennedy and all you beautiful October babies out there. Happy Thanksgiving and Halloween countdown to all! This is a fun time of year, play safe and take it easy out there.
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
It is ofishally salmon run season in Kagawong! Please don’t harass them or give them any carp as they are working hard to head upstream. We aren’t just moaning and whaling for the halibut with no porpoise. If their return trip upriver is made too difficult, the whole process for spawning a new generation will flounder. As they reach the end of their lives, the returning salmon can definitely use more friends than anemones.
At time of writing, the township burn ban has been lifted. Better to be safe than sorry, for the most updated status, check out the township website at billingstwp.ca.
We know there is no use crying over spilled brine, but Team Fergmeijer was a little disappointed that our suggestion to name the covered rink the “Township of Dillings PickleDome” didn’t make the shortlist of potential names. With the announcement of the top four names, voting is now open! Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSDCSV9 to have your say. Voting will close Tuesday, October 22 at 12 noon.
Body Stories Dance is back at the Kagawong Park Centre this fall, with programming for dance enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Check out their website at https://www.bodystoriesdance.com/schedule for class times and fees.
Mark your calendars and get your bidding hand ready: the Billings Library will be holding their annual online silent auction from Thursday, November 21 to Sunday, November 24. Last year’s auction had over 70 items up for bid and 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.
They say good things come in threes, but we at Team Fergmeijer are more inclined to find groups of four superior. Many good things come in fours: Ninja Turtles, the Golden Girls, the A-Team, the Ghostbusters, the Fantastic Four, ghosts in PacMan, horsemen of the apocalypse (okay, maybe we should have stopped while we were ahead). We would like to wish many happy returns to a fantastic foursome of Kagawongians: Keith, Kim, Dennis and Jamie
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? Matched every single sock to its correct partner on laundry day? 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.
Did you know that you can take your basic, everyday caramel popcorn, add some homemade maple syrup and nuts, and you will have some delicious and sappy poppycock? You’re welcome! Have a great week!
There was a fashion show in Silver Water on Saturday which I missed. A friend of mine from Meldrum went and said that it was very nice. I was disappointed to miss it because I had enjoyed it last year.
I did make it to chair yoga on Tuesday and brought a friend with me. I was a little more coordinated this week which was a relief.
The carrots I bought from the market gardener here in Meldrum were so sweet and delicious that I will need to go back for more. The onions were hot and juicy and I have been going through them quickly too.
Friday night, September 20 at cards, there were four tables. High lady was Myra Duncanson with 72 points; high man was Harold Rogers with 77; ladies’ lone hands went to Sara with three; men’s lone hands went to Lois Wismer with three; most euchres went to Mildred Kelly with eight; Karen Noble brought home the juice; the money jar is safe. Murray Duncanson won the 50/50 draw and also brought home the door prize.
Barrie Island
Enid Runnalls
Bird hunters have been active on Barrie Island in various fields. It is a good goose season so far.
Last week, Enid Runnalls attended Rod Carley’s Book Launch at the Gore Bay Harbour Centre, as well the Book and Brew and a workshop with children’s author Sahar Golshan during the North Words and Elemental Festival events in Gore Bay and Kagawong last weekend.
Carolyn Lane-Rock has returned from Sudbury’s Cinefest after attending the Gala and seeing 14 films! She has given two thumbs up to the following films: ‘Aberdeen’, ‘The Mother and the Bear’, ‘Bob Tarino Likes This’, and the ‘Count of Monte Cristo’. She also recommends ‘Seeds’, and ‘Bookworm’. For a thorough review, please give her a shout because she will tell you all about it.
Visiting Carolyn, this week, are her friends from Sudbury, Mary Waddell and Kath Salidas. They hiked the Noble Trail in Gore Bay and found it to be quite beautiful.
Katie Runnalls is up from Toronto and visiting her parents for a few days this week. She has also spent some time with Cameron and Micah Runnalls and her grandad, Oliver Runnalls.
I know it’s early but keep your eye on the local bulletin boards; Gordon/Barrie Island Holiday Market posters will soon be posted so mark your calendars for Saturday, November 30, 1 to 4 pm and come out for some holiday spirit and shopping!
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday Albert and I went to town to do our errands. We had lunch with the Elizabeth Bay church group at the Watersedge. They were very busy during the two hours we were there.
On Friday evening, I took Myra Duncanson, DonnaKay McDonald and Lois Wismer with me to euchre in Meldrum Bay.
On Saturday morning, we had a vendor market in our yard. Jose Daniels is bringing more produce with her every week and beautiful gladiolas.
Holly Scott and her granddaughter stopped at our house to pick up the lunch for the 14 people involved in the bicycle ride to Meldrum Bay to raise funds for the Mindemoya Hospital.
On Saturday afternoon starting at 2 pm at the Silver Water community hall there was a fashion show featuring clothing from Diane Paquette’s store. There were 42 ladies in attendance. The lunch was wonderful thanks to Marie Leeney and her helpers. It was a fundraiser for the UCW.
On Monday evening we went to euchre at the Burpee/Mills Complex. There were eight tables, I won the money jar.
On Tuesday at 1 pm there was chair yoga at the Silver Water hall. Thank you to Nell Staalstra for leading the group.
On Wednesday evening there was the Local Services Board’s election meeting. Thank you to the services of Murray Duncanson, Brenda Carter and Sara-Lyn Arnot who have gone off of the board. The new board starting on October 1 is Paul Sorbara, Doug Wismer, Colleen Julseth, Charles Pickard and myself. The pre-budget meeting is scheduled for October 23. The big discussion will be the garbage cost with GFL Environmental who have asked for a large increase. There will be regular roadside pickup on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving weekend, October 15.
On Thursday night there was euchre at the Silver Water Hall, there were six tables. Congratulations to Natasha McVey who had 87 points and won the money jar.
I swam on Friday, September 20. It seems time to go for walks going forward.
There will be a Silver Water Recreation Centre meeting including an election on Wednesday, October 2.
The Local Roads Board meeting will be Monday, October 7 at the Silver Water Hall.
On Saturday, October 26 starting at 9 am there will be a Christmas Market in my yard and at the community hall. There is still room for more vendors so please contact me if you are interested.
There is no tournament in Tehkummah in October. The next one is November 3.
Happy 80th birthday to Oliver Coburn.
Condolences to the family of Stanley McLean.
Condolences to the family of Alberta Graham.
