Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your friendly, fear and loathing fly.
In case we didn’t feel bloated enough after Thanksgiving, your social calendar decided to throw in a potluck dinner, a birthday party and a cake walk to assure you would achieve maximum capacity. Tip all the scales and bust a button come Halloween, Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty, well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, wow what a ride!” The festive aka silly season (holidays, hockey, curling) always commands the best of the best so we can top the good times off with a big finish. A couple of well- carved slapshots, curls and turkeys and a few more noshes and notches in our bat. Whatever your menu and plans make sure you devour and delight in every last bite! Sharpen and shine all your bells, whistles, edges and slides, buy the ticket, take the ride, eat the cake and smile
It’s showtime folks!
Here’s what’s happening. Providence Bay Arena, after the fair and vendor clean-up the municipality and township will be prepping and looking forward to another exciting skate and hockey season! Stay tuned!
Providence Bay Curling Club: Curling season is finally here! Come by the club and learn about all the Providence Bay Curling Club has to offer and register to become a member.
Providence Bay Hall, Providence Bay Fair Fundraiser, thank you so much to everyone who has purchased tickets, we are so excited to announce that our Chart Toppers Music Bingo Fundraiser is sold out in roughly five5 days! We are going to start a waitlist, if tickets do become available, but at this time they are all spoken for. Thank you again to everyone for their overwhelming support, we are so excited for Saturday, November 9 at the Providence Bay Hall!
Exercise class Fridays for adults age 55+ from 10:30 to 11:30 am. It’s a 12-week program, for information contact Alison at 705-377-5726 or asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca.
Tai Chi Class, Mondays and Thursdays from 10 am to 12:30 pm. For information contact Jean Pearce at 705-885-8444, Canadian Tai Chi Academy.
Providence Bay Spring Bay Lions Club Food Drive, a pumpkin for a non-perishable food item. Come visit the Lions on Saturday, October 26 from 2 to 4 pm in Providence Bay. Visit the Lions Club pop-up pumpkin patch on Hwy 551 in Providence Bay, drop off a non-perishable food item and pick a pumpkin, take some fun photos and give back to a good cause! We want to try to gather as much non-perishable food as we can to donate to the Mindemoya Family Resources Food Bank ahead of the festive season. Happy pumpkin day in Providence Bay!
Spring Bay/Providence Bay Lions welcome their District Governor, Sam Khoury, for a social and dinner tonight. Welcome to Providence Bay Sam Khoury!
Spring Bay/Providence Bay 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 Meetups is Wednesdays at 6 pm
The Heavens: The October 17 Hunter Moon was spectacular!
Providence Bay transfer station at 4077 Government Road. Hours are Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 5 pm till May long weekend.
Mentions: Love and courage to Christine Lee-McNaughton and family, your community is here for you. We wish you well as you begin your healing journey and home visits. Congratulations to the Manitoulin youth cross country teams on your successful meets and runs! Well done everyone!
Wishing everyone a fun and incredible hockey and curling season ahead.
Congratulations Team Douglas on yet another top tiered win and for representing Manitoulin Island on the Motocross Circuit. Congratulations Century 21 on the grand opening of your branch office in Mindemoya. Wishing you all a happy, safe and successful fall season.
Prayers and courage to families and folks affected by the Hurricanes and weather systems south of the border. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/10/organizations-providing-relief-efforts-for-hurricane-milton.html.
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Wednesday, October 23 is International Mole Day. It wasn’t made clear to us if it was referring to the furry rodent variety or the industrial espionage variety, though. And there’s a small chance there was a typo and it is really international molé day. Maybe it’s meant to be a bit more niche – a day to celebrate saucy rodent spies (molé mole moles). Have fun, however you celebrate the day!
The next Youth Rangers event by Manitoulin Streams is coming up this Thursday from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Kagawong Park Centre. Children in grades 1 to 8 are welcome to come and learn about the salmon of Manitoulin. Rumour has it there may also be some sweet treats! Cost is $5 per child. Contact getinvolved.manitoulinstreams@gmail.com for more information or to register.
Remembrance Day is quickly approaching and the museum board’s newest initiative to honour veterans is finally up and out for all to see. The flags honouring local veterans look amazing and remind us of how far our local soldiers went when called by their country.
Not only does the village now have two new bridges, there is also a selection of new signage along the river trail. The signage is just like your favourite columnists – informative and visually appealing.
MPP Mike Mantha will be holding constituency clinics at a variety of locations across Manitoulin next month. On Tuesday, November 12 you can book an appointment to offer your thoughts and ask your questions of our local representative at the Park Centre from 1 to 2 pm. Contact the constituency office to make an appointment or for more information (1-800-831-1899/mmantha-co@ola.org).
You’ve heard of elf on the shelf, but have you heard of art in the Park (Centre)? Christmas in Kagawong is coming up on November 15 and 16! Mark the date in your calendar and get ready to explore all the Kagawong Christmas Market has to offer on those two days.
Lately, the autumn leaves are gorgeous enough to inspire even the least poetic among us to appreciate a good verse. In honour of the humble mangel wurzel, we present an ode to possibly the greatest of the vegetable throwing events (superior even to frozen pea throwing, we hear): mangold hurling.
Each year when autumn comes to pass
And tawny owls do hoot,
We take ourselves out to the grass
To hurl our sacred root.
The maids do come to hope and pray
They’ll be the one who’s chosen,
By the champion hurler of this day
In smock or lederhosen.
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 10 round golf card?!). 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.
Best wishes go out to Rachel B. and Meranda V. who have completed another trip around the sun this week. Few things in this world age really well: wine, cheese, whiskey and quality antiques. Hmmm, kind of forgot what point we were making there. Anyway, happy birthday!
And a very happy, quite belated birthday to Paula M. We are embarrassed to have missed such a big day for you. You’ve turned 29 in Billings Township for a lot of years and now that you are living outside the township, who knows how old you could be turning!? We wouldn’t get too worked up about it though. It’s not like you are going to jump from turning 29 each year to suddenly turning 75 or anything. Despite the tardiness, we hope you accept our most heartfelt and best wishes!
One half of Team Fergmeijer was actually in the hospital getting a weird looking mole checked out last week. Turns out she could have just left it in the garden. Have a great week!
Meldrum Bay
Elaine Bradley
Thanksgiving weekend is over. Hopefully everyone reading this had a great time. We attended a Thanksgiving service at the Meldrum Bay Church. Rev. Melody Duncanson-Hales took the service as Janice was on a study break.
Pat had family up to celebrate the weekend with her and they filled one quarter of the church. Peggy made delicious goodies which we enjoyed afterwards with hot coffee and lots of talking.
We made a turkey dinner and had a neighbour in to help us eat it. Turkeys are expensive but there was a lot of eating on the bird. I sent home turkey with our guest. I put 10 portions in the freezer and we ate leftovers for three days. Not only that, but it was also absolutely delicious. Thank you Valumart.
Plans are in the works for a dinner November 10 here at the hall in Meldrum Bay, with a euchre tournament afterwards. Keep your calendar clear on that date.
The roads around here are getting surface treated. They are working long hours and covering a lot of road area. Almost done as I write this.
Kits and Quilts was this week, also Chair Yoga in Silver Water. I don’t know if it shows but I seem to be getting better at doing the exercises.
Friday night at euchre there were four tables. The money jar was won by Myra Duncanson and Bob Benedict won the 50/50 draw. Congratulations to both.
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Wednesday, October 9, Lois Wismer returned home after visiting her sister in Orangeville and attending the celebration of life for her sister-in-law.
On Friday, October 11 we had a visit with Neil MacNamara and Louise Duke who were spending the weekend at their cottage. They had some friends joining them for the Thanksgiving weekend. Friday evening, we went to euchre at the Meldrum Bay Community Hall.
Saturday morning was the Rotary’s Fall Produce Auction at the community hall in Gore Bay. It was very well attended and there were a lot of items for bid. We bought some vegetables and won the Stop 540 Diner package which we look forward to using.
We invited Anne Boyd to have turkey dinner with us on Saturday evening.
DonnaKay McDonald had her daughter Tammy and son Charles plus 11 others at supper.
Ardith Cull has her daughter Shelley, son Andy, grandson Eli and friend Neil visiting.
Debbie Addison-Brawn is here working at her dad’s house.
Kate Duncanson and Chip Tomisch arrived on Saturday night at her mother Myra’s house. They had a visit with her dad, Charlie Turner on their way here.
Keith and Iris Clarke spent the weekend at their cottage with several of their children and grandchildren. Saturday night, they invited Myra Duncanson, Tom and Linda Rumley and me for six handed euchre. The ladies’ team won again but we all had fun, except for the leftover wasps that had gotten into the house. Thank you to Brendon for being in charge of their removal. I got to hold Brenda and Amanda’s son Hunter for the first time. He is almost a year old and is incredibly solid and does not make strange, lucky for me.
On Sunday, my brother Shawn came over for turkey dinner.
On Monday, the recycle bins were open from 1 to 2 pm.
On Tuesday, Albert Meijer went to the kits and quilts group in Meldrum Bay.
Fire practice was Tuesday evening. There were six guys in attendance.
Murray and Gladys Duncanson arrived home on Wednesday after spending two nights in Espanola at their son Blake’s house.
Doug and Jane Wismer arrived home on Thursday after visiting with their son James and his family in Ottawa and with their son Mark and his family on Vancouver Island.
Thursday evening there were four tables of euchre players at the Silver Water Community Hall. Congratulations to Harold Rogers who won the money jar.
The Local Services Board is having the pre-budget meeting on Wednesday, October 23 at 7 pm at the Silver Water Community Hall.
There will be a Christmas Market on Saturday, October 26 starting at 9 am at 20563 Hwy 540. There are lots of vendors participating. There will be more vendors at the Silver Water Community Hall starting at 9 am until 2 pm. They are serving chili for lunch.
Happy 55th birthday to Colleen Julseth.
Condolences to the family of Chris Vollick.
Condolences to the family of Judy Nocera.
