LITTLE CURRENT—The laughter of small children and murmur of conversation could be heard echoing across the grounds of Low Island Park in Little Current on Sunday, as the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands held its annual community picnic.

“It’s been great,” said NEMI events coordinator Lisa Hallaert, “the kids are really enjoying the touch a truck event. We have firetrucks, excavators, the OPP have brought a cruiser and we even have a school bus for the children to check out.” Best of all, everything was free.

Meanwhile, over in the pavilion, NEMI Mayor Al MacNevin and town Councillors Patty Aelick, George Williamson and Al Boyd were kept busy serving up burgers and hot dogs to a host of hungry patrons. Off to the side there was plenty of watermelon and bottles of water to fend off the hot weather thirst being offered by summer student town employees.

Musician Tristen Hall was set up and providing musical entertainment for one and all, while children played in the splashpad, clambered about the bouncy castles, enjoyed the games or simply went for a swim, as their parents and grandparents looked on.