Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan
Alexia here with your friendly September fly! Some days hit right and some days are a fly ball gone foul then again, some days are…record scratch soundbite. Wait a minute! It’s September? Anyone with a Gob smacked overtired teen knows it, because today the kids and teachers went back to the bells and books. The sleep schedules will finally fall back to where parents and grandparents can catch some peace at night and reanimate their end of June to-do lists that they found crumpled and covered in smidges of cotton candy, ice cream and smores, evidence of a summer well spent.
Here’s what’s happening: Fairgrounds, no events for now but there will be the Providence Bay Fall Market around mid-October and a few more fun fall events to look forward to before the recreation night skating and hockey season goes full tilt, stay tuned!
Manitoulin recreational events calendar with class schedules for Providence Bay Hall, Mindemoya Hall and
Spring Bay Hall visit: centralmanitoulin.ca or contact Alison Sloss at asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca, or call 705-377-5726.
Providence Bay Community of Christ Church: Joys and community updates Sundays at 10:30 am. Service is Sundays at 11 am. Check the Providence Bay Community of Christ Facebook page for announcements and updates!
Sunset Music Series went out with a big finish! Thanks to all the amazing organizers and staff and crew who made the magic happen and to the incredible community of musical artists who came out and serenaded us with music and storytelling, we look forward to seeing some of you again next season!
Thank you to all of the staff and crew of the Discovery Centre who hosted and organized lots of fun learning events for everyone this summer. It was a great season of learning and fun under the sun!
Reuse/Recycle: The Providence Bay Reuse Shed is open at the Providence Bay Transfer Station. For more information contact 705-377-5726. Visit the transfer station at 4077 Government Road.
The Lions Club bottle drive continues next to the arena, this program is open to the public and we encourage everyone to drop off their used bottles and cans, your empties help fund great local initiatives.
The Providence Bay and Spring Bay Lions progressive “Catch the Ace” lottery continues to benefit the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary Inc. Draws are broadcast live on the Providence Bay and Spring Bay Lions Facebook page so check it out weekly for updates. From each ticket sale, 20 percent funds the weekly jackpot, 30 percent contributes to the progressive jackpot and 50 percent goes directly to the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary Inc.
The Heavens: Manitoulin Island is a dark sky reserve so find a dark sky spot, bring your telescope and enjoy the wonders of the cosmos.
September 7th Corn Or “Harvest” Moon.
Total Lunar Blood Moon Eclipse September 7-8
The Friends: Happy Birthday to all of you early September babies! Regards and remembrance for JahVai Roy and family.
Wishing everyone a happy, safe and successful new school year! Go easy out there on the roads as there are more kids and critters crossing and commuting at this time of year, so eyes up! If you are visiting Manitoulin Island, welcome! Check out your favourite local businesses, art gallery and restaurant social pages for updates or you can visit the Central Manitoulin Township webpage or visit exploremanitoulin.com for updates on all the events happening near you.
Reminders: The Marc Hovingh Memorial Youth Bike Ride and Rodeo is happening on September 6 at 1 pm! For more information, please see the poster on the Central Manitoulin page or contact Marie Ford at 705-348-8472.
Registration for September’s Knowledge Sharing Sessions are now open!
We have Nancy and Erin-Blythe joining us on Wednesday, September 10 to share their tips on seed saving and Geranium clippings! Then, on Wednesday, September 24, Alison McAllister is back with a fun fall decoration, turkey pumpkins! To register for either session, please email Alison at asloss@centralmanitoulin.ca.
Harvest Glory Days is around the corner! Start gathering up your haybales, mums’, flowers and scarecrows, time for some good old fashioned fall fun! Stay tuned for details and deadlines!
Happy Brrr, back-to-school and big comfy sweater season and countdown to the silly season!
“First there’s summer, then I’ll let you in September when it comes”
– Rosanne Cash
Kagawong
Team Fergmeijer
Today is the first official day of classes for students across Manitoulin. We wish all students and staff a happy and productive start to the new school year. Team Fergmeijer will never forget the inspirational words our teacher once said to us: she said we were just like Superman, except that he had super vision and we needed supervision.
Good luck, too, to all the young (and young-at-heart) Kagawongians moving away for post-secondary studies. Always remember the important life lessons that Kagawong has taught you: you have to show up early if you want the best baked goods, never swim in the plunge pool after the salmon have spawned, and always alternate your ice cream scooping arm for balanced muscle development!
Kagawong has closed the door on another market season and we would like to thank all the marketers who help create such an iconic event each week. Most of all, we need to offer heart-felt thanks to the one and only Ethel Newburn, who works tirelessly to organize and manage all the moving pieces that make the market happen. We appreciate everything you do!
We’ve had a new book idea! It’s a crime novel where the twist is that the chicken did it. It might not win a lot of awards, but we are hoping for a pullet surprise.
Body Stories Dance has announced their 2025/26 dance schedule for classes in Kagawong, which include offerings for children, youth, adults and seniors. You can register on their website: www.bodystoriesdance.com.
Happy Birthday to our Manitoulin Mom who turned 29 last week. Age is just a number, but you know you are getting up there when people call at 9 pm, only to apologize and ask if they woke you up.
After an incredible summer, the village is settling into the quieter fall season. The Old Mill Heritage Centre is now open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, and the library is back to their winter hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 7 pm; Saturdays, 10 am to 1 pm). The landfill remains on its current schedule (Tuesdays and Thursdays 2 to 6 pm; Saturdays and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm) until October 31.
Today we saw a man dragging a clam on a leash behind him. It must be difficult to walk with a pulled mussel.
Want free books for your little ones? Billings families can register their children (under 5) for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library! Each month, your child will receive an age-appropriate book in the mail, absolutely free. To take part, complete and return the registration form found on the library’s Facebook page (FB.com/kagawonglibrary), or visit the library in person for a paper copy and more information!
Getting paid to stand in line for others is a strange ocqueuepation. Have a great week!
Silver Water
Karen Noble
On Friday night, we went to euchre in Meldrum Bay.
On Saturday morning, we had another market in our yard. There were lots of vendors and lots of shoppers. We are getting close to our goal of fundraising for the Angel Bus.
On Saturday afternoon the recycle bins were open. We had lots of people out. Thank you to all the people who continue to donate their liquor containers and pop cans.
On Monday night we went to euchre at the Burpee and Mills Complex.
Tuesday evening was fire practice.
Wednesday evening, there was a Local Services Board meeting with an election at the Silver Water Hall. The new board for the next three years is Paul Sorbara, Charles Pickard, Doug Wismer, Gerard Binsfeld and Karen Noble. The new fire hall roof grant has been approved and next steps in the process were discussed. A tender for the project will be placed in the Expositor soon.
Larissa Chevrette spent Thursday with us helping me bake muffins for Saturday’s market. We went out for supper at Randi’s Snack Shack in Sheshegwaning. Then we took her to Zhiibaahaasing for a tour and saw all the construction that is happening.
On Thursday evening there was euchre at the Silver Water Community Hall.
Anne Boyd went with Jim and Patsy Kling on the cruise out of Little Current to fundraise for Manitoulin Family Resources on Saturday, August 23.
Gladys Duncanson, Irene Duncanson and Ardith Cull went to the anniversary party for Jack and Betty Wood on Sunday, August 24.
Lara and Chad Chevrette spent last week in Algonquin Park.
The UCW monthly meetings resume on Thursday, September 4 at St. Andrew’s United Church in Silver Water at 1:30 pm.
The Tekhummah euchre tournament is on Sunday, September 7 at 1:30 pm.