The wonderful trip that was outlined in last week’s column was an excerpt from an email that was sent in by Janet and Peter Fathers. Thank you so much for the submission. It sounds like you had a well deserved and enjoyable holiday.
Last week we mentioned the renovations being done to the kitchen of the Providence Bay Centennial Hall. We inadvertently only identified the people that were helping out that day. This is a big project which required many community partners. So with all due respect, we would like to thank the other volunteers. Merdick McFarlane is the foreman of the project. Thanks also go out to Ben Lentir, Darren Dewar, Ben Seabrook and to Steve Orford and to anyone else striving for the betterment of the village.
We’d like to redirect your attention to a very important issue that was first written about in the February 5, 2016 edition of this paper. The city of Waukesha, Wisconsin has submitted an application to divert water from Lake Michigan while being outside of the Great Lakes watershed basin. Comments about this application are being accepted by both the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council until March 14, 2016. If you are concerned about the effect this may have on the Great Lakes water levels you should make your voice heard prior to that date. You can contact them by email at comments@waukeshadiversion.org or on their website at www.waukeshadiversion.org/comments. Since these are both US agencies, it may also benefit to speak to our local MP/MPP offices.
Matthew Garniss has taken possession of the old Home Hardware building and it appears that the hard work has now begun. We look forward to seeing his plans for the building come to fruition. Best of luck is wished to you on your new endeavour, Matthew.
Thank you to everyone that came out to support the monthly Providence Bay Curling Club breakfast. This is held the first Thursday of each month. There is also the regular weekday coffee club where you can also enjoy coffee and toast every Monday – Friday from 7 to 9 am.
Most people will tell you that they are done with winter and with all of the snow. Many of us are ready for warmer weather but the other morning after a light dusting of snow the landscape looked spectacular. All of the evergreens had silvery frosting highlights which were beautiful. All of the coniferous trees had the snow stuck to all of the branches outlining them in a fantastic display of nature. We’re blessed to be able to experience all four seasons.
Tiffany Smith was up visiting from near Woodstock, Ontario. She brought her beautiful three-month-old daughter Charlie up for her first visit to Manitoulin Island. Charlie visited many friends and relatives including great grandmother Barb Neill and special Papa Gordie Neill. Proud Grandma Marie Neill enjoyed the visit.
The maple trees have been tapped and are dripping. It’s not going quick yet but with the warm weather that’s expected, it’s sure to speed up. Local residents Cheryl Sheppard and Anna Neill tapped last weekend. Cheryl also had a visit from niece and nephew Kate and Quinn Sheppard to help with this annual event. Other buckets have been spotted in maple bushes around the area. It’s nice to see and produce one of the best sounds on earth.
A big, beautiful snowy owl was spotted on Monument Road. It must have been an older male because he was pure white. Typically, the females and younger males will have brown feathers in their plumage. It’s their mating season now so he must have come south looking for a partner. As part of their mating ritual, the male snowy owl often kills a prey and will hold it in his mouth to attract females. We’re learning things by writing this column.
Ingrid Blay and her husband were down to southern Ontario to celebrate her mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. Happy Birthday Mrs. Blay.
Don’t forget that this Saturday, March 12 when you go to bed, it’s time to turn your clocks ahead by one hour. We will lose an hour of sleep but we will gain an additional hour each evening before the sun sets to enjoy our favorite activities. It may cause us to feel sluggish Monday morning as we head to work in the dark but our bodies should adjust in a day or two.
The annual Bradley McAllister 4 on 4 windup hockey tournament is being held the weekend of Friday, March 25 beginning at 7 pm. The sportsman division is already full but they are still looking for teams for ladies and 45s. For more information, contact Maureen Pearce or Rob Pearson.
Thank you so much to people who are calling to make contributions to the weekly column. It is a community column and we can’t print anything if we don’t know about it so thank you for letting us know. If there is anyone else out there with anything to contribute to the Providence Bay News and Notes be sure to let us know. We’d love to hear about birthday or anniversary wishes, trips, adventures or anything interesting in the village. We do require the information each Sunday afternoon by 3 pm. Holidays may alter the schedule.
We’d love to hear from you.
Contact Cheryl at 705-377-7511 or email at (prov_chick@hotmail.com).
